Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Fun Writing Exercises

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Writing a series of books can be one of the most exciting and challenging projects. Finding the connections and carrying them to fruition is fulfilling on an incredible level. But it can also be a slog.

A series can include a number of books of varying lengths plus editing, marketing, publishing and all the other fun activities in the mix. Years can disappear in the blink of an eye.

So what can you do to stay in the moment? To stay fresh and feeling jazzed about sitting down at the keyboard to work on your epic?

How about some fun writing exercises?

Writing exercises – a necessary distraction.

Living in a single world can be constraining. You can feel boxed in, limited in what you can do, in the type of stories you are able to tell. There are rules with any series and being constricting by them while working on a multi-year project can take some of the fun away from the work.

So why not step away every once in awhile?

I do it. I have to and most of the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it. It will come in a dream or while I’m doodling outlines for blog posts…(I mean working diligently at all times… definitely not doodling…)

I’ll remember an idea from years ago and run with it for an hour or two to see where it leads. Usually it goes nowhere. A couple notes here or there. A character sketch or three. Some plot points but nothing coherent.

And then back to work.

Will it become something down the line? Hopefully. But for now it is enough to work through the thoughts – and keep COPIOUS NOTES (ALWAYS!) – and then buckle down to the draft, edit, marketing you’re actually meant to be working on.

Writing Prompts

What happens when I’m feeling burned out and don’t have the lightning strike on another series, script, project, etc.?

I find one.

This is a fun exercise. If you’ve ever done any screenwriting you’re probably aware of the need for spec scripts. These are scripts based on a currently or previously popular television programs.

They are also an interesting challenge and a way to stretch your writing muscles. Any chance to step out of the box created by a long running project and rejuvenate those creative juices is a welcome one.

Take a favorite show. Any show you love.

Write down every trope about the show. Characters. Overarching plot points. Find the inherent rules of the show.

An example is Phineas and Ferb (don’t judge me…)

There are rules within the show. Three separate plots are built in each show. A Phineas and Ferb plot involving some crazy invention. A Perry plot handling the maniacal Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s latest scheme to take over the tri-state area. And a Candace plot to rat out her brothers’ wacky adventure of the day.

Each one may appear separate at first but they all have to come together at the end.

Rules are rules. You have them in your own work and each show follows suit. Learning them and then working within them is a challenge.

In The X-Files there is the obligatory cold opening before the credits where the threat shows up and claims a victim. There is also the dubious, open-ended closing of the episode showing the audience that nothing is ever truly solved with the show.

If you look deeper into the show’s formula you start to see the pattern.

Learn the rules, and then you can stretch them and see what works for you and why.

Other mediums.

Television is only one avenue to take. Don’t feel limited to it.

Personally, I turn to comic books (shocker, I know) for a way to distract from my work on Greystone. Once or twice a month, when I’m feeling slightly burned out Soriya and Loren’s adventures I take a day to play in a different sandbox.

Lately, I’ve been on a DC Comics trip. I’ll take a character like Superman, or a team like the Legion of Super-Heroes, and sketch out what I feel are the strengths and weakness of the book/current direction. From there I might dig into their history and see where they’ve been. Where was the book the strongest in the character’s history and why?

I ask enough questions until I can see a pattern, or at least the start of what makes the property work or connect with the audience.

Then I come up with ten to fifteen ideas of my own. Building arcs, growing tales, using these characters.

Some evolve into full blown scripts, some get scratched at the outline phase.

But the exercise is the key.

Benefits of writing exercises

They are necessary. Living with one story can feel too confining and can make you resent the incredible journey you’re undertaking. Rather than allow that to happen, step back.

Take a day and write anything else. Play in a different world, even if nothing comes of it.

Then get back to work.

Thanks for reading.

Researching Threats

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This is a question that comes up regularly, mostly from my old man in the form of “What the hell is wrong with you?” Researching threats faced within the world of Greystone can be painstaking in some cases, but on the whole it is a blast.

Finding out the perfect villain for the piece, the single voice that opposes Loren and Soriya, is almost always a tough nut to crack. I go about it in a few different ways:

Researching threats

The Process

For me the antagonist of the story, be it short tale or full-length novel, comes after figuring out the main dilemma of the leads. Who is telling this story and where are they coming from? What emotional hook is there in the background before the first sentence?

Knowing the personal stakes gives the reader something to invest in. Friends find this funny about me, but as a comic book reader I could care less about the villain of the story. I read for the drama, the personal conflict behind the fisticuffs. I care if Peter Parker can get home in time to give poor Aunt May her meds and less about if Doc Ock ends up behind bars yet again.

researching threats
This should always be more important…

That’s my methodology with developing my outlines for Greystone. Internal strife and personal conflict for a satisfying character arc come first and the punchy kicky stuff gets added in for effect.

The importance of a great threat

That isn’t to say the threat should be throwaway or shallow in depth. The reader needs to feel the main character’s are in constant danger. Who knows when one might meet their end or by what monster roaming the streets of Portents?

When it comes to researching threats I try to look at two ways:

  1. Do they directly impact the internal conflict? For example, if Soriya is in turmoil over the loss of a dear friend does the threat come from someone connected to that loss? Mentor’s long lost brother comes for a visit and turns out to a Chupacabra. (Meh. It could happen…)
  2. Is the threat more symbolic? Going back to the loss angle. Reeling from the death of someone close to Soriya, our hero struggles to save the life of a young woman (surrogate for dear friend) caught in a situation that is similar yet completely unique to the one that caused her internal conflict in the first place.

The obvious threats

The easy gets, as I say. When, during the outline phase, there is only one threat that could possibly be used to tell this story.

  1. The antithesis of the protagonist in every way. (Standish in Tales from Portents. He is everything Loren is not.)
  2. Plays off the setting/situation the main character finds themselves in. (View from Above – Soriya is mired by responsibility and tries to find a lighter side with Vlad. Enter the Kitsune, a trickster getting kicks from stealing from little old ladies. No responsibility and all lighter side.)

The less than obvious threats

Like pulling teeth, it takes three or four days of heavy thought to find the perfect face for villainy in the story.

This happened recently with the upcoming Pathways in the Dark. I knew the character’s arcs. Knew where they were coming from and the building blocks of an external threat. Just not the threat itself. Having that background with the characters, using them as the basis for telling the story instead of winging it, allowed me to find possibilities until I was left with the perfect threat that spoke to both the internal and external conflict of the story.

Resources for researching threats

I was going to go into depth on the wonderful world of Wikipedia but I thought better of it. Suffice it to say I use the internet and different directories that list classic myths and legends as a starting point before building a short list of finalists for the story in question.

Then it is all about research, research, research and tying it to the protagonist’s journey in the narrative. Nothing is more important than that to me.

Thanks for reading.

Tales from Portents Sneak Peek Preview

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Tales from Portents hits shelves NEXT WEEK! To drum up even more excitement about the upcoming release (and add a few more pre-orders in the process) I figured why not delve into the contents of the collection with a sneak peek preview:

From the back cover:

sneak peek previewSix tales of monsters, the dead rising, and the terrors of Portents.

The beasts Detective Loren and Soriya Greystone battled in Lou Paduano’s debut book Signs of Portents were just a hint of what lurks in the city. Tales from Portents explores the city’s immersive history, including stories of Loren’s descent after his wife’s death—and his opportunity to have her rise from the grave. Among the pages, Soriya battles gremlins, navigates lessons with Mentor, and meets the werewolf Luchik. Follow new characters with expansive histories as they come face to face with the horrors of Portents—both human and otherwise.

From the Greystone Collection, Tales from Portents navigates the cases that make even Detective Loren lie awake at night.

Six tales. Six threats to Portents.

Tales from Portents focuses on the past of the city and the characters introduced in Signs of Portents. I thought it was important for more backstory on the events prior to Signs that would not only offer more depth to the players in the drama but also give clues both thematically and plot-wise for where the series is heading for the rest of the first cycle.

Resurrectionists

You’ve probably already read this one. If not, snag your copy today! It’s FREE. Resurrectionists is the linchpin for the collection, showcasing the fall of Loren. It answers the question of why Loren left the city and gives insight into the incident mentioned several times in Signs involving Detective Standish.

Lots of thematic nods that are picked up in The Medusa Coin as well.

The Great Divide

A spotlight on Captain Alejo Ruiz. As the story for Signs came into focus I realized the importance of Ruiz and his role in The Medusa Coin is crucial. Spotlighting him here ended up working perfectly to shore up his history in Portents and lay the groundwork for his arc in this fall’s release.

A kid is dead. Seemingly dropped from a great height and surrounding by hundreds of black feathers. Ruiz is called to the scene by Detective Julian Harvey to investigate the bizarre circumstance as he learns the truth about the city he has called home his entire life.

Gremlins

A tale from the start of Soriya and Loren’s partnership, before either one considered the term. It was a ton of fun coming up with the lore in this one as well as playing off the beginning of the Soriya/Loren dynamic. A nice counterpoint from where they are in Signs. And a precursor to some changes coming down the line.

Soriya has been arrested and Loren is forced to bail her out only to learn the threat is already in the precinct. As is the potential victim he is now forced to protect from… gremlins.

View from Above

A Vlad story. I felt bad killing the poor guy off in the first chapter of Signs. (SPOILERS.) His character offered a unique glimpse of Soriya and her role in the city so that is where this story starts.

Thefts plaguing the coves north of the city bring Soriya on the hunt for a wild creature. Is Vlad the thief or is something more going on in the background?

Eyes in the Storm

A Loren solo tale. When Signs opens Loren has just returned from Chicago. I thought it was important to spotlight his time in the Windy City and the struggles of adjusting to a big move like that. The connection to Portents came naturally from there.

A murder brings Loren into the middle of an antiquities theft, the artifacts stolen somehow connected with the unending rains plaguing Chicago. Loren, torn between his new life with his family and his place back in Portents, must face a centuries old god before the world drowns.

The Consultant

First one written. Last one included. My favorite piece from the collection. And so important to what comes next. A Soriya solo tale that runs concurrently with Eyes in the Storm. There is even a subtle connection in the background for observant readers to catch.

A vicious killer is on the loose and Soriya finds someone new to help with the case. But is this new consultant all he seems or is he hiding a dangerous secret?

Excited? Thrilled? Can’t wait for the new collection? Don’t! Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

Tales from Portents is on sale February 17th!

A Look Ahead at Greystone

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Every once in awhile there comes a point when the mental conversation that continuously swims in my brain needs to spill out on the page. Or in this case, the blog. I can keep things pretty straight most of the time, tucking little nuggets of information into posts and then keeping the sweet revelations for a later date.

This time I wanted to share what was ahead in the coming year and beyond.

Not only is my hope to whet your appetite so you’re as excited as I am for the upcoming collection, Tales from Portents, but also to add some accountability for myself. A little extra motivation to hit my deadlines (the earlier the better) won’t hurt and give me a roadmap to follow.

2017

February 17th – Tales from Portents. The first short story collection in the Greystone series. A prelude to the events of Signs of Portents, Tales was originally meant to serve one purpose: set up the events already depicted in Signs. As I plotted out the stories I wanted in the collection I realized that it could do much more than that.

It could act as a bridge between novels. Both thematically and in action. A project I was very nervous about publishing has become one of the most influential pieces of the puzzle for what is to come in the first cycle. Trust me, each story plays a part in what is coming.

September 8th – The Medusa Coin. The second full-length novel of the series and a story I have had kicking around my head since 2009. New characters are introduced and a great new threat as well. A few of them actually. When I originally wrote the outline there was a little trepidation.

The Medusa Coin stands as the midpoint for the first cycle of the series. Not only did it need to build on the first novel, there also had to be a path to the final chapter as well. Subplots from seeds planted in Signs start to form a bigger picture without losing sight of the main thrust of this standalone novel.

A tightrope act to be sure, but I think it will work out.

December 1st – Founder’s Day. Much like Resurrectionists, Founder’s Day is a novella offered ahead of the second short story collection. When developing the lineup for the next collection I thought back to Tales for inspiration and realized there were plenty of threads left to pull.

Including a direct sequel to Resurrectionists itself. If you haven’t read it yet, I won’t spoil it here. Suffice it say, Founder’s Day plays off the events witnessed in the novella with a heavy nod to the history of Portents laid out in Signs. The script came together beautifully and I am looking forward to drafting it once The Medusa Coin is set.

2018

February 9th – Pathways in the Dark. The second short story collection plays off the events of The Medusa Coin. It follows our leads directly from the threat posed and builds on the decisions made at the end. Each story stands alone but all connect to the larger framework of the first cycle.

Elements from all the previous books play a role in Pathways. Some of the tales within have been kicking around the old noodle for years so to finally see them come to life is a great feeling.

September 14th – A Circle of Shadows. I’ve been holding back this title for months, waiting to see if someone would ask me about its mention in Signs of Portents. Wondering if people noticed it sitting in the background when they read early iterations of Tales from Portents. This is the big finale to the first cycle.

Every time I close my eyes I see the pieces taking shape. I see each side of the conflict becoming more and more complex and developed. This won’t be like the first two full-length novels. This is bigger in scope and in cast.

There have been threats loose in Portents for longer than anyone has known.

And they are about to come to light.

Get ready.

Get excited. I know I am. Putting this series together (and laying the seeds for the next trilogy) has been one of the best things about the last year. (Don’t tell my kids that though…)

Thanks for reading.

Resurrectionists

Writing Update – January 5, 2017

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Welcome Back! A new year begins. Hopefully everyone is well rested and ready to jump right in. Me? Not so much, but then again, that’s my own fault for working instead of resting.

Has a lesson been learned? Probably not.

Enough with the banter! Your writing update awaits!

Writing

Slowly but surely the final pieces for next year’s short story collection, Pathways in the Dark, are coming together. I’ve had one story, in particular, that I’ve had rolling around the old noggin’ for years but it never went beyond the one line elevator pitch. Finally, over eggnog and gift exchanges something clicked into place and I am very excited to see it come together.

Back in 2017, (yeah, this isn’t going to get confusing quick) I’ve started self-editing September’s release, The Medusa Coin. Feels like I wrote the draft a lifetime ago but it’s only been five weeks. I have this mapped for the next two months so bear with me. I want to make sure this one comes out just right. It is a piece I’ve wanted to put together for years and I want to make sure it comes out right.

First, though, comes Tales from Portents, completing our journey to the present. The order is in for the first proofs! I can’t wait to hold it in my hands while I read through it for the final time. I wrote down the first notes for the project back in April 2016 so I am very excited that it is almost time to put it out in the world.

Hopefully everyone has been enjoying Resurrectionists, the free teaser for Tales from Portents. If you haven’t snagged your copy yet, click on the image below. And if you have, a word of thanks and a small request to not only spread the word through the wonderland of social media but also to leave a review anywhere and everywhere so others can find it to enjoy in the future. Reviews also help me position the books better for promotions. (Something I will be talking about more in a couple weeks.)

Resurrectionists

Reading

I could mention Tales from Portents and The Medusa Coin again but that would seem awfully self-involved, wouldn’t it?  (That Lou Paduano guy is great though, isn’t he?)

Suffice it say, editing and proofing have taken over the schedule so reading for pleasure has been a little lost in the shuffle. Hoping to get back to providing some top notch recommendations soon. If you have any to share with me, please do so. I’m always on the lookout to try something new.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

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happy holidaysA very merry and happy holidays to everyone out there in Toyland! How did the holiday season sneak up on me so quickly? It tends to happen faster and faster every year. I blame my children, but then I do most of the time anyway.

They still love me though.

Off track quickly here. Anyway, an early Happy New Year to all of you and a big thank you for following along on my continued adventures into possible insanity. Kidding. That happened long ago.

These last few months have been amazing. Sharing the world of Greystone as well as my writing tics has been an incredible experience. I can’t wait to show you what’s coming next year! More Greystone, more giveaways, more and more and more!

This will be the last post this year. I will be back on January 5th with a writing update, assuming I can find my computer under the mountain of batteries and Step 2 manuals for the wee ones. After that I’ll be back on the Monday/Thursday routine once again.

Don’t forget to pick up your free copy of Resurrectionists if you’ve been putting it off. (Why would you do such a thing?) Everyone needs a little sacrilege during the holiday season. It is a great primer for what you will find in Tales from Portents, coming this February. Coming quick too! I better get those proofs set!

And if that isn’t enough for you, a little holiday present from me to you:

The Medusa Coin

I freaking love getting a new cover from Kit Foster Design. Always an absolute treat.

The Medusa Coin will be out in September 2017. A lot more about that and the second half of Greystone’s first cycle coming your way in the next year.

Happy Holidays!

Be safe this holiday season and share some love.

Thanks for reading.

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