Cameron Montague Taylor

Fantasy Author & Fiction Editor

writing inspiration

Morning Pages: Not My Problem

by 4 Comments

Welcome to Morning Pages — it’s time for a monthly roundup. I hope you’ve got your pencils sharpened and ready to write. Wanna join in on the fun? Read the prompt, set your timer* and get ready to let the words flow. Feel free to post the results of your work in the comments below where we chat about writing and (if the mood strikes us) get a craft discussion going.

If you want critique from other commenters, use #YESTHANKS in your comment. Otherwise, you can tell us about the flash fic and the process you went through to write it. And of course, I’m always open to hear what you think about my excerpts!

*you can write for as long as you want, but most folks choose 15-30 minutes.

What I learned this month: Wow, getting into a brand new character’s head is difficult.

I’ve started a new novel called Tombs of Glass, which at the moment I suspect will turn into a duology. It has three (possibly four) POV characters and the protagonist, Indra, is the most taciturn of the lot. Even after multiple free writes, her voice remains difficult to pin down. Difficult and changeable! She’s sounded completely different every time I’ve gone to write her.

Complicating matters, she starts off the book having recently experienced a significant tragedy. Her recalcitrance has made it difficult for me to convey not only what she’s going through, but the stakes for failure to the reader. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was complaining about the wordiness of anxious characters, and I take it back! I no longer want this change of pace!

I say that, but I don’t mean it. Writing Indra will expand my narrative skills, and I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing how her voice develops over the coming weeks. The closest I’ve come so far is in “Not My Problem,” the piece this post is named after. It’s linked below and unlocked on my Patreon — check it out!

The Prompts:

“Switchblade + Candle.”

“Not My Problem“: Indra takes care of her flock and doesn’t give a damn about the rest of them.

“Why is there a magic portal in the bathtub?”

It’s bad enough he’s hung over — now he needs to wrangle the space-time continuum?

“Why do the townsfolk fear you?”
“Because I can do what they can’t.”
“Such as?”
“Mind my own business, for one.”

Ackernar isn’t popular with the townsfolk.

“Five ways Character X didn’t find out that Characters Y and Z were together… and one way they did.”

Verne from the Oceana ‘verse is utterly oblivious.

“For the first time ever, he had the admiration of the one he most admired.”

“Admiration“: James doesn’t know what to do beneath the full focus of Maestro’s attention.

“I Remember You”

Indra from Tombs of Glass has a bone to pick.

“Watch”

In the most literal sense, sailors spend a lot of time watching their vessels.

“First Meetings”

Long-gone worldbuilding backstory from the Oceana ‘verse. Two legendary characters meet.

Picture Prompts

“Same Spirit Every Night“: Anya and El from Weaver meet a friendly ghost.

Get Involved!

Answer the prompts or dive straight in and respond to others’ comments — let’s share our knowledge, our experience, and have a discussion we can all learn from! Don’t want to miss a post? Subscribe to the blog in the sidebar to get notified about new posts.

Today’s questions:

  • How do you find your characters’ voices?
  • Are there any writing exercises in particular you like to do when you’re preparing to start writing?

Looking for more writing? Become a Patron!

In addition to extra flash fiction (at least once a week), my Patreon hosts my full-length novels, artwork, behind-the-scenes worldbuilding, and more. Click below to check out the tiers I offer and support the blog!

Click the image or visit http://www.patreon.com/ceemtaylor to become a patron!

Morning Pages: Tattoo

by 5 Comments

Welcome to Morning Pages — it’s time for a monthly roundup. I hope you’ve got your pencils sharpened and ready to write. Wanna join in on the fun? Read the prompt, set your timer* and get ready to let the words flow. Feel free to post the results of your work in the comments below where we chat about writing and (if the mood strikes us) get a craft discussion going.

If you want critique from other commenters, use #YESTHANKS in your comment. Otherwise, you can tell us about the flash fic and the process you went through to write it. And of course, I’m always open to hear what you think about my excerpts!

*you can write for as long as you want, but most folks choose 15-30 minutes.

What I learned this month: My subconscious mind is plotting against me.

After my first three months of Morning Pages, I assumed future work would shake out to have a similar ratio; about half of my pages were in known universes (prior or future works of mine), while the other half were completely new. This month not only disrupted that ratio *hard* (all but two fics were in known universes), it went after much rarer characters — all of them from stories I have yet to write.

I know I’m ready to write a story when I start daydreaming about it. Eventually, I get to a point where my mind can’t hold onto all the little scenes I’ve played out like movies in my head, and I start to write — jotted notes, at first, just so I don’t forget what I’ve been picturing. Those notes become the scaffold for what eventually becomes a novel (or an epic, in Oceana’s case). Imagine my surprise — and horror! — when not one, but three different universes clamored for attention throughout the month. All the power in the world to the multi-drafters among you, but I’m absolutely not one of them, so although I’ll never look the inspiration gift horse in the mouth, friends, I am nervous.

Why are all of them talking to me right now?

What do they want?

And at what point will they be ready for me to start writing?

(Fiction writers, I know you feel me on this one.)

The Prompts:

“Tattoo”

A priest has the legacy of conquest and oppression inked into his skin.

“There was a rumor that the driftwood on Blacksand Beach was once a man.”

“Driftwood“: Sometimes shapeshifters get desperate.

“For thirty pieces of silver, he sold out his handler.”

Neveshir from Dark Arm of the Maker didn’t have it easy in his military days. He fought back.

“Talisman + Symphony + Gold”

Val from the Oceana Series hates the symphony, but there’s one person who can persuade him to go.

“If they only knew…”

Max Battista isn’t so easy to intimidate.

Picture Prompts

↑ The last army to march through the gate had disappeared.

← That night, the string sextet played at the waterfront.

Get Involved!

Answer the prompts or dive straight in and respond to others’ comments — let’s share our knowledge, our experience, and have a discussion we can all learn from! Don’t want to miss a post? Subscribe to the blog in the sidebar to get notified about new posts.

Today’s questions:

  • How long do you spend ‘marinating’ on story ideas before you write about them?
  • Do you need your characters to live with you for a while before you can get them onto the page?

Morning Page: Chosen / Imposter

by 2 Comments

Welcome to Morning Pages — it’s time for a monthly roundup. I hope you’ve got your pencils sharpened and ready to write. Wanna join in on the fun? Read the prompt, set your timer* and get ready to let the words flow. Feel free to post the results of your work in the comments below where we chat about writing and (if the mood strikes us) get a craft discussion going.

If you want critique from other commenters, use #YESTHANKS in your comment. Otherwise, you can tell us about the flash fic and the process you went through to write it. And of course, I’m always open to hear what you think about my excerpts!

*you can write for as long as you want, but most folks choose 15-30 minutes.

Things I learned this month: One of the best parts about writing first thing in the morning is getting to carry the mood over from my dreams. Elements of my dreams have ended up in most of this month’s stories, and they’ve been the focal points of my favorite twists and turns. Though my dreams lose their vividness the moment I wake, the creative exercise of digging for details to flesh out and capture the nebulous feeling the dreams left me with was a fun and interesting process on its own. I’d call this month my first ‘dream-journal’ as a result, for each flash fic was an extrapolation of something I saw while I was sleeping.

I wonder what that says about me and my creative process.

From what I understand, my dreaming brain combs through, processes, and settles the events of previous days. If that’s the case, I wonder how much of my writing comes out of those dreams and the images they conjure, whether or not I remember the source of my ideas.

The Prompts:

“A character is banished from their world.”

“Lightblessed“: There are terrible consequences when magic goes awry.

“Smoke hung so thick in the library’s rafters, she could read words in it.”

“Burned Words“: She won’t let them take a generation’s worth of knowledge away.

“Pearl + Bewitch + Thunderstorm”

Bedia would do anything for the chancellor.

“A magical book turns whatever’s written in it into reality.”

Don’t we all wish our daily planners were so powerful?

“Brittle”

An exploratory write that formed the foundation for the ending chapters of Dark Arm of the Maker.

“Equinox”

In a world where everyone receives a name at age twelve, one child remains nameless.

“Winter was the only season they could be together.”

Ehrin and Felix from the Oceana ‘verse enjoy a long-awaited reunion.

“Stutter”

There’s a particular level of risk that comes with insulting a wizard who has a speech impediment.

“You should not underestimate her. She has exquisite aim.”

An Oceana ‘verse from long after the story ends. Imran’s daughter knows what she’s doing.

“Everyone knew no one lived in the Night Lands… but that wasn’t quite true.”

A retiring scientist tells his replacement about his unique relationship with a sentient planet, Sunflower.

“I hope you like the stars I stole for you.”

A little girl tries to get her mother a gift.

“Chosen + Herald + Imposter”

Can you tell the holy from the unholy?

“Protector + Veil”

When the King has triplets, two become protectors and one becomes a queen.

Picture Prompts

“Where to next?” “Anywhere, as long as I’m with you.“

“So what if I swindled a king?” asks the privateer.

Get Involved!

Join the craft of writing discussion in the comments. Every day I’ll base my questions off of thoughts my Morning Page brought to mind. Answer the prompts or dive straight in and respond to others’ comments — let’s share our knowledge, our experience, and have a discussion we can all learn from!

Questions:

  • Do your dreams inspire your writing? How so?

Morning Pages: Blackberries

by 7 Comments

Welcome to Morning Pages — it’s time for a monthly roundup. I hope you’ve got your pencils sharpened and ready to write. Wanna join in on the fun? Read the prompt, set your timer* and get ready to let the words flow. Feel free to post the results of your work in the comments below where we chat about writing and (if the mood strikes us) get a craft discussion going.

If you want critique from other commenters, use #YESTHANKS in your comment. Otherwise, you can tell us about the flash fic and the process you went through to write it. And of course, I’m always open to hear what you think about my excerpts!

*you can write for as long as you want, but most folks choose 15-30 minutes.

Things I learned this month: Being a dyed-in-the-wool perfectionist who struggles when things don’t go right the first time is a *trip* when one is also a writer.

I think perfectionists come in two breeds: procrastinators and tinkerers. I’m the first breed. If something isn’t going well, or if I’m concerned it won’t go well on the first try, I’ll put it off until time ends and the oceans run dry. While it goes without saying that this is a self-destructive habit, it’s also a helluva tough one to try to break. The only ‘hack’ that helps is a hard and fast deadline.

Over time, I’ve gotten better at honoring the deadlines I set for myself the same way I honor external time pressure, but some days it’s more of a struggle than others. I had a lot of those days throughout the past month, none worse than the day I wrote the piece of flash fiction this post is named after. If it weren’t for a very real deadline (I had to write another flash fic the next day!) it’d still sit unfinished on my hard drive.

I could beat myself up about this tendency, I suppose, but I don’t think it’d get me anywhere. Throughout the time I’ve spent as a writer, I’ve had to come to grips with all of my little idiosyncrasies. If needing to game myself into finishing work is one of them, so be it — better to accept this is the way I am and work with it than to fight against my nature.

And ultimately, that’s what a writing process is, isn’t it? Finding a way to produce good work within the boundaries of one’s nature.

The Prompts:

“Your new ring likes to give you questionable advice that only you can hear.”

Mostly about the stock market.

“There was madness in her bloodline.”

Which doesn’t bode well for her subjects.

“Shatter”

What if a heart really could break like glass?

“Secret + Autumn + Ice”

Neveshir from Dark Arm of the Maker visits the shrine of an old friend.

“A rare flower is required to cure a plague. It is deadly if handled carelessly.”

“Deadly Flower“: A brave knight saves her kingdom — but at what price?

“Secret”

A young bride learns something most welcome about her new husband.

“In three days, a planetary alignment will cause the barriers between the planes to become thin.”

Grief doesn’t get lighter; we grow strong enough to carry it.

“Bone + Copper + Vulture”

“Bones“: Beware the mirages in the drylands. They will lead you astray.

“You should not underestimate her. She has exquisite aim.”

An Oceana ‘verse from long after the story ends. Imran’s daughter knows what she’s doing.

“Star + Ink + Rescue”

“Shipbreaker“: A rescue swimmer encounters a man who isn’t worth saving.

“Sin”

I’ve always wanted to write a Zorro-inspired Fantasy.

“Now that you see what I am, do you still love me?”

What if Cinderella’s stepsisters weren’t the monstrous ones?

“Protector + Veil”

When the King has triplets, two become protectors and one becomes a queen.

Picture Prompts

“Don’t Look“: Sirens prey on sailors who acknowledge the beauty of their voices.

A black and white photograph of a nude young man fading into the mist where a grassy field meets a forest.

“Blackberries“: A man remembers a lover from long ago.

“Merfolk“: Arden from the Oceana ‘verse tells a story about a long-forgotten creature.

Get Involved!

Answer the prompts or dive straight in and respond to others’ comments — let’s share our knowledge, our experience, and have a discussion we can all learn from! Don’t want to miss a post? Subscribe to the blog in the sidebar to get notified about new posts.

Questions

  • Do you write well under deadlines?
  • Why or why not?

Morning Pages: Dragon Snacks

by 19 Comments

Welcome to Morning Pages — it’s time for a monthly roundup. I hope you’ve got your pencils sharpened and ready to write. Wanna join in on the fun? Read the prompt, set your timer* and get ready to let the words flow. Feel free to post the results of your work in the comments below where we chat about writing and (if the mood strikes us) get a craft discussion going.

If you want critique from other commenters, use #YESTHANKS in your comment. Otherwise, you can tell us about the flash fic and the process you went through to write it. And of course, I’m always open to hear what you think about my excerpts!

*you can write for as long as you want, but most folks choose 15-30 minutes.

Things I learned this month: This is has been the month of training my brain away from epics to write shorter-form fiction. I’ve been somewhat successful, but I certainly wouldn’t say I’m comfortable with flash fiction yet. I struggled with the format I used, wherein I set a timer and wouldn’t let myself write past the ‘ding’ at the end of the session. Eventually, I got to a point where the stress of the impending timer locked me up too much, so I gave myself permission to set aside 5-10 minutes to clean up and finish the piece later in the day.

I’m well aware that 5-10 minutes of edits aren’t nearly enough to deliver a polished piece of flash fiction; these are exercises and one-offs, and that’s what most of them will stay. But a little extra leeway has helped them serve their purpose. Morning Pages are about jumpstarting creativity, and for that, they get the job done.

My favorite discovery of the month has been how fun it is to pants ideas again. I’m a plotter by nature and work off tight outlines for my long-form fiction. Throwing words at the wall to see what sticks makes me nervous, but the outcomes have been a fun and interesting departure from the weeks (months, years) I spend kicking ideas around for my other works. The structure is a disaster, but the ideas flow free and easy.

I couldn’t write this way all the time. If I did, I’d spend most of my time doing enormous overhaul revisions and rewrites. (Yes, I’m aware this is how many pantsers operate. Power to you if this system works, but I need structure to get a functional story on the paper.) For small-scale flash fic, though? Bring on the pants; it’s time to play in a sandbox of new ideas.

The Prompts:

“That’s the part tales don’t mention: how the hero, forever changed by his journey, can never fit into normal society again.”

“Journeys”: A post-canon short in the Oceana ‘verse

“Can you cook a dragon?”

“Dragon Snacks”: Neveshir from Dark Arm of the Maker deals with a troublesome student

“Lock”

Two characters from the Blight universe attempt to pick a lock

“The old gods are dead.”

Who’s left behind when all the gods are gone?

“Twilight”

A character exploration for an upcoming novel.

“Dawn”

Red sky at dawn, sailors be warned.

“Key”

Neveshir is having yet another bad day.

“I haven’t slept properly in seven years.”

A narrative joke in the Oceana ‘verse.

Picture Prompts

“Starspinner“: A young boy has a beautiful but dangerous power

A hunter watches the fierce green fire fade from the eyes of his prey.

Get Involved!

Answer the prompts or dive straight in and respond to others’ comments — let’s share our knowledge, our experience, and have a discussion we can all learn from! Don’t want to miss a post? Subscribe to the blog in the sidebar to get notified about new posts.

Questions

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
How do you think that impacts your revisions process?