I write very dark and morbid stuff. I'm working on a book of short stories that reads like a novel because all the stories are connected. That one is about a serial killer who tortures victims for weeks before he kills them, and it's kind of shelved for now. I'm also working on scifi novel that I refuse to post anything about because it's one of those rare ideas and this is the internet.
And I love writing short stories. Some are about crime, some are about ghosts and one is about Death and where he lives. These average about 3-5 pages single spaced and I like to write them so much because they are quick, clean and fun. I only wish I could write novels in as many sittings. I've ended the world in some, saved just one person in others. I probably write 10-15 of these a year.
And on the back burner, I have future ideas brewing, like a zombie story, MY zombie story. I have been working that one for a year or so, and part of the reason is the fact that the zombies in a zombie book should be little more than a backdrop for the story, but at the same time are the very thing the entire book will judged on by most readers. I have to have a fresh take on the zombie genre or it's gonna stall the project. I have the story down and the setting and flow, so now I need to work my zombie model and either find one that works or change up the mythos a little bit.
So my process is this — I keep a story in my head and if it still makes sense and feels good after however long it takes, then I write something on it. This something could be a character list or a short story or a study of a mood or something and I file it away. I take it out after weeks or months and read through it. If the idea still is workable and not stupid, I work it. When it's done, I put away my first draft for a while before I start my second (and usually final) draft.
But for my 2000 words a day, I usually write vicious rants, edit them when I'm done and then close the file without saving. It's stuff I wouldn't want anyone to read and though it was a hard lesson, I learned to throw away my writing, which made me realize that creativity festers if it's not in constant motion, so it is like a road that goes on forever so long as you don't stop.
As far as keyboards, I'm using the Topre for everything these days, but if I feel the need for some clicks, I take out the MK96. A clicky keyboard is better suited for writing really violent scenes, fast paced action and stream of conscience. It's like a punching metronome. I would love to write a noir on my Model M mini, since I've written noir on a 1391401 and it came out really gritty and strong.
Anyway, enough about me.
