New Works

I have been working on some different materials in different genres. Before his passing, my father and I worked on a post-apocalyptic survival novel. I also have a couple of other works in progress that are in the science fiction realm.

As a new writer with very little formal education in creative writing or literature, I kind of started writing the same types of books that I was interested in reading. As a fan of military science fiction that followed a hero, I naturally decided to make my first series in that genre. However, as I have dabbled in other genres and archetypes, I have found some limitations provide unique challenges.

Military science fiction, so far, seems like the least restrictive to write. Writing either deep or near future, the growth of technology means that my writing can have any weapons, ships, and armor I want. Interacting with aliens unknown outside of my imagination before putting them to paper also leaves plenty of leeway in writing. Species can be as developed or primitive as I want, as aggressive or passive as I want to write them. Because military science fiction happens at a time and place of my choosing, it is much more forgiving to write. 

Water Depot, the novel I was working on with my father, was far more restrictive. As a near-future story that takes place on earth in northeast Ohio, the storyline and action must be more plausible. As a writer, I can’t introduce as much alien technology to solve problems. I can’t have characters who act too differently from normal human behavior because the story doesn’t include alien species. 

So far, I think the writing of post-apocalyptic work seems to be slightly more complicated. Although it seems to require the same amount of creativity, the path to develop the story is much more restrictive. In Redleg, Zade is exploring unknown space, giving him the chance to run into situations that Dave and Warren would never encounter in Water Depot. 

At first, I was apprehensive that I wouldn’t be able to really develop the story without the flexibility afforded to me in the science fiction genre. Still, I found that although the story wasn’t going to be as diverse as Redleg could be, thinking up solutions to further the characters was just as fun. At this point, near-future post-apocalyptic seems to require less raw creativity but more knowledge of the subject in which I’m writing. Therefore, I must have a wide breadth of knowledge about the tools and situations my main characters can use or find themselves in to make a plausible story.

Because of the difficulty, I have been having finishing the work I started with my father, I have outlined a couple of other works I can focus on until I feel up to finishing the Water Depot. I enjoyed writing about the new and exotic environments Zade found himself in, so one of the works follows a recently separated servicemember who is given an exploration ship. The story will follow him as he develops into an explorer searching for habitable worlds for humanity to expand to. During his exploration, he learns about himself and puts some of the demons he had acquired during his time in service to bed.

The other storyline I was working on was more of a traditional sword and board fantasy. It follows an MC with a unique form of magic, blood magic. Outcast because blood magic is taboo, the MC must learn about and develop his powers using only the people who dare to be seen with him. During his studies and travels, he knows about and tries to put an end to a murderous conspiracy being conducted by the hierarchy of mages. One of the benefits of his power is the ability to use blood to traverse time and distance, essentially making him a teleporter. (He may have made an appearance in Redleg already!)

The exploration story looks to be the most creatively free story. My MC can find him on any planet, in any situation, thus making it the most flexible story to write. Technology can be developed at any level, allowing me to use any exotic technologies I want. The fantasy storyline completely lacks any advanced technology, but that restriction is wholly negated by the inclusion of magic. The second storyline also lacks the inclusion of humanity and known civilizations, so it doesn’t have to follow standard human behavioral norms.

All three stories are a departure from Redleg, so I am excited to try my hand at them and see how they feel to write. If you have made it this far, leave a comment about which one you would be most interested in reading and any suggestions on writing the genres if you have them.

Z.D. Dean