Early in 2013 I had an idea for a story that I didn't know how to tell. Not that I didn't have the words or the desire. The setting which my story required was one in which I was not at all familiar. I went to a friend and confidant and told him my desire to write a story with a "Diesel Punk" setting. This was an area in which he knew quite a lot and was very eager to offer me assistance. That assistance came in the form of an agreement to write the story together as co-authors. It was something I hadn't planned on doing, but was happy to attempt.
We began collaborating then and pinged ideas off of one another daily. We exchanged hundreds of e-mails back and forth and finally settled on telling a very different story from the one I had originally had in mind. Vignettes; that was the answer. Each of us would write several short stories from different characters points of view which would tie into one another in some shape-or-form by the end. We discussed characters, timelines, plot points, and so much more.
After a few months of work I had my 3/5 of the story plotted out and ready to be written and I was just waiting on him. He had a more busy work schedule and more active social life than I did so the fact that I had more ready was no big surprise. Unfortunately time and unhappy events led to a dramatic falling out between he and I. I still retain the strong desire to write the story we had worked on and have only delayed out of respect and fear. Respect, because what we thought of we thought of together while we were friends. Fear, because there is little doubt in my mind that if I were to write the story and publish it he would find a way to crush it.
The idea... the story... the meaning still feels worth it though. Even if it becomes a story I can do nothing with, I would rather write it than not write it. One day the words will flow from my fingertips and be available for interested parties. One day sooner rather than later I hope.
We began collaborating then and pinged ideas off of one another daily. We exchanged hundreds of e-mails back and forth and finally settled on telling a very different story from the one I had originally had in mind. Vignettes; that was the answer. Each of us would write several short stories from different characters points of view which would tie into one another in some shape-or-form by the end. We discussed characters, timelines, plot points, and so much more.
After a few months of work I had my 3/5 of the story plotted out and ready to be written and I was just waiting on him. He had a more busy work schedule and more active social life than I did so the fact that I had more ready was no big surprise. Unfortunately time and unhappy events led to a dramatic falling out between he and I. I still retain the strong desire to write the story we had worked on and have only delayed out of respect and fear. Respect, because what we thought of we thought of together while we were friends. Fear, because there is little doubt in my mind that if I were to write the story and publish it he would find a way to crush it.
The idea... the story... the meaning still feels worth it though. Even if it becomes a story I can do nothing with, I would rather write it than not write it. One day the words will flow from my fingertips and be available for interested parties. One day sooner rather than later I hope.
