WIP Wednesday: World In My Eyes

Serials and series are a big deal in publishing these days. But damn it if it can’t take what seems like an eternity to fulfill. I have 3 different series on the go right now – all in various stages of completion (not to mention the state of each book). I just can’t say no when a good idea takes hold.

So, I’ve started writing stories that, although set in the same world of some of these series, may not have the same characters, for one. It’s a way to explore the world I’ve created, while giving something to readers to keep (or get) them interested in the world while I work on longer stories.

My buddy Colin F. Barnes (to name but one author doing this and doing it well) has made this one of his trademarks with his Techxorcist series.

He is not only working on what…Book 4? But he has also started a new series under pen name C. F. Barnes in collaboration with another author, T.F. Grant, which will also see separate yet connected novels in the same universe by each author. He’s also working on yet another collaboration project with Darren Wearmouth. I’m not even sure I got all the various series and universes Colin is writing in, both with collaborators and on his own, but one day, I hope to be as efficient and motivated as him to keep up with all my own various series.

It all sounds a little dizzying but I can see exactly why this approach is appealing. As a reader, who wouldn’t want new adventures and new universes to explore (and as often as possible)? As a writer…well I’ve spoken more than once about my million-and-one ideas and the only way any of them are going to see the light of day is if I start to mix things up, ramp up my output and get the stories out to readers.

Right now, I have a suspense/thriller, a near-future sci-fi trilogy, and a paranormal suspense novel set in Victorian England all on the go and I want them to be read! If only that pesky task of editing wasn’t getting in the way…

So when it comes to short stories, I still want to write them. In fact, so many of my longer works have come from the little story seed I’ve explored in shorter pieces. So, I’m not going to quit writing shorts anytime soon…they’re an important tool for me as a writer to uncover bigger stories.

Because I do have big stories to tell.