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Post by monkeywright on Aug 18, 2024 3:42:05 GMT
Hello,
I'm Michael Paul Gonzalez. I have a few novels and a bunch of short stories out there. My most recent novel, BENEATH THE SALTON SEA, is a cosmic horror tale of grief and loss. My Latest short story, THE SUM OF OUR PARTS NEEDS JUST ONE HEART, a retelling of the Bride of Frankenstein, just got sold as a reprint, so it's been an OK year!
Trying to finish a fun novel that's a new (I think?) take on vampires, and market my sci-fi sprawling dystopian "powerpuff girls vs. the predator" style tale.
That's me, what are you all writing?
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Post by chan on Aug 21, 2024 2:06:04 GMT
So good to see you Michael! Forums are how we initially met, over on THE VELVET, yeah? That magical place. I'm so glad to hear you're still writing and still killing it. Congrats on the story sale! Where will I be able to pick it up? Hell of a name.
"powerpuff girls vs the predator" is such a vibe too.
As for me... still writing, but darkwebSTREAMER eats all the things I write these days. The whole crux of the project was me asking, "Can I write a story so well I can write a story that writes itself?"
I mean, it's not gonna be Frankenstein, but it's been a really interesting creative project that's forced me to deeply unpack what "a story" actually is and what the important components of stories actually are. What's fluff, what's critical? What makes something sing; what is required to move us? Etc.
I yearn to write a "regular story" but for now I'm focusing on this madness. Will read other people's stuff as solace instead <3
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Post by kliqIMB on Aug 22, 2024 3:41:17 GMT
Hey Michael! (That's my middle name)
I've yet to publish anything, so dunno whether you'd consider me a writer or just "aspiring", but I've been telling stories as long as I can remember. My current project, among so many others, is an epic fantasy novel that I'm about 30K words deep into. It's a tale of a world where the world has been trapped in perpetual winter for a millennia. Where everyone is born with an innate magical power source—Atma—that also acts as the world's foremost currency. The only catch? If you run out of Atma, you burst into flames and die. The story follows a group of magical apathists, those who eschew the use of Atma, as the work together to solve the world's first mass blazing: where half a million people lost their Atma all at once.
It's very trenched in the fantasy authors I grew up reading, though hopefully with my own take. But I've been enjoying working on it, despite it having been far, FAR too long since I started.
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Post by monkeywright on Aug 22, 2024 19:50:01 GMT
Hey Michael! (That's my middle name) I've yet to publish anything, so dunno whether you'd consider me a writer or just "aspiring", but I've been telling stories as long as I can remember. My current project, among so many others, is an epic fantasy novel that I'm about 30K words deep into. It's a tale of a world where the world has been trapped in perpetual winter for a millennia. Where everyone is born with an innate magical power source—Atma—that also acts as the world's foremost currency. The only catch? If you run out of Atma, you burst into flames and die. The story follows a group of magical apathists, those who eschew the use of Atma, as the work together to solve the world's first mass blazing: where half a million people lost their Atma all at once. It's very trenched in the fantasy authors I grew up reading, though hopefully with my own take. But I've been enjoying working on it, despite it having been far, FAR too long since I started. Atma is a great concept! Would also be a cool way for the destitute to take one final run at killing rich people. Run up and hug them as the timer runs out... |
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Post by monkeywright on Aug 22, 2024 19:50:51 GMT
So good to see you Michael! Forums are how we initially met, over on THE VELVET, yeah? That magical place. I'm so glad to hear you're still writing and still killing it. Congrats on the story sale! Where will I be able to pick it up? Hell of a name. Yeah! I was on The Cult more than the Velvet, though sometimes I wish I'd done it the other way 'round. I am super excited for this game to get out! I can see the intense work you're putting in daily, what an endeavor! |
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Post by chan on Aug 23, 2024 3:33:55 GMT
Hey Michael! (That's my middle name) I've yet to publish anything, so dunno whether you'd consider me a writer or just "aspiring", but I've been telling stories as long as I can remember. My current project, among so many others, is an epic fantasy novel that I'm about 30K words deep into. It's a tale of a world where the world has been trapped in perpetual winter for a millennia. Where everyone is born with an innate magical power source—Atma—that also acts as the world's foremost currency. The only catch? If you run out of Atma, you burst into flames and die. The story follows a group of magical apathists, those who eschew the use of Atma, as the work together to solve the world's first mass blazing: where half a million people lost their Atma all at once. It's very trenched in the fantasy authors I grew up reading, though hopefully with my own take. But I've been enjoying working on it, despite it having been far, FAR too long since I started. Oh wow, it's rare I really love a concept, but I love this concept. It's a fascinating and fraught resource management tale! My favourite!
30k words in is nothing to sneeze at. Respect.
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Post by chan on Aug 23, 2024 3:35:05 GMT
So good to see you Michael! Forums are how we initially met, over on THE VELVET, yeah? That magical place. I'm so glad to hear you're still writing and still killing it. Congrats on the story sale! Where will I be able to pick it up? Hell of a name. Yeah! I was on The Cult more than the Velvet, though sometimes I wish I'd done it the other way 'round. I am super excited for this game to get out! I can see the intense work you're putting in daily, what an endeavor! Oh man, I still talk about The Cult all the time. What a place. WHAT A PLACE.
Do you know if they ended up shutting LitReactor down? I swear they said it like 3 separate times and didn't.
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Post by kliqIMB on Aug 23, 2024 18:16:50 GMT
Hey Michael! (That's my middle name) I've yet to publish anything, so dunno whether you'd consider me a writer or just "aspiring", but I've been telling stories as long as I can remember. My current project, among so many others, is an epic fantasy novel that I'm about 30K words deep into. It's a tale of a world where the world has been trapped in perpetual winter for a millennia. Where everyone is born with an innate magical power source—Atma—that also acts as the world's foremost currency. The only catch? If you run out of Atma, you burst into flames and die. The story follows a group of magical apathists, those who eschew the use of Atma, as the work together to solve the world's first mass blazing: where half a million people lost their Atma all at once. It's very trenched in the fantasy authors I grew up reading, though hopefully with my own take. But I've been enjoying working on it, despite it having been far, FAR too long since I started. Atma is a great concept! Would also be a cool way for the destitute to take one final run at killing rich people. Run up and hug them as the timer runs out... Thanks! So, in universe, the Atmatic immolation only affects the person who runs out of Atma for ~~reasons~~; however, the flow of Atma from one person to another is controlled by highly specific contracts call "Writs" that are overseen by a body of the government known as the "Notari". In order for Writ to transfer Atma it must been written on specific Atmatic paper and then each party therein must stamp their thumbprint in their own blood to transfer the Atma. (Notari cut off their hands and donate all of their Atma except for one upon joined the order.) This means that anyone can have a Writ signed with anyone else. If the terms just so happen to very the less fortunate, well that's just good business on their end.  Also, each person only knows how much Atma they alone have left. Though some have spoken of forbidden magics that allow you divine another's remaining Atma. Hey Michael! (That's my middle name) I've yet to publish anything, so dunno whether you'd consider me a writer or just "aspiring", but I've been telling stories as long as I can remember. My current project, among so many others, is an epic fantasy novel that I'm about 30K words deep into. It's a tale of a world where the world has been trapped in perpetual winter for a millennia. Where everyone is born with an innate magical power source—Atma—that also acts as the world's foremost currency. The only catch? If you run out of Atma, you burst into flames and die. The story follows a group of magical apathists, those who eschew the use of Atma, as the work together to solve the world's first mass blazing: where half a million people lost their Atma all at once. It's very trenched in the fantasy authors I grew up reading, though hopefully with my own take. But I've been enjoying working on it, despite it having been far, FAR too long since I started. Oh wow, it's rare I really love a concept, but I love this concept. It's a fascinating and fraught resource management tale! My favourite!
30k words in is nothing to sneeze at. Respect.
Thank you!! I'm pretty excited by it myself. I started writing in... early 2021, which is why I know I should definitely be done by now. But getting laid off back-to-back in 2023 and 2024 after going through a mental health crisis in 2022 means that things have been slow going for quite some time. But! I have gotten back into the swing of things recently. Joined a new writing group. Things might be looking up for the story. (My life is still TBD, lol) That being said if either you or Michael were interested / have the time & bandwidth, I'd be happy to send over the WIP of the Prologue to see what you think. |
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Post by sunspore on Sept 2, 2024 4:57:47 GMT
I write lots and lots of lyrics (and sometimes even begrudgingly record them as songs), and also am picking away at an actual novel(la) with the incredible speed normally bestowed to majestic land-locked animals such as the turtle or sloth. The vibe is filthy grunge steampunk fantasy steeped in a tad of horror and psychedelics.
I would love to read your prologue kliq! I'll definitely be taking a peep at your stuff too, monkeywright, because cosmic horror is very much my jam. And of course who could forget our lord and savior, darkwebSTREAMER, praise be and hail
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Post by kliqIMB on Sept 9, 2024 21:02:22 GMT
I write lots and lots of lyrics (and sometimes even begrudgingly record them as songs), and also am picking away at an actual novel(la) with the incredible speed normally bestowed to majestic land-locked animals such as the turtle or sloth. The vibe is filthy grunge steampunk fantasy steeped in a tad of horror and psychedelics. I would love to read your prologue kliq! I'll definitely be taking a peep at your stuff too, monkeywright, because cosmic horror is very much my jam. And of course who could forget our lord and savior, darkwebSTREAMER, praise be and hailHere's both the Prologue and the Prelude. Prelude is just a short intro. Prelude: 1drv.ms/w/s!As8OKeRwjpfRiashIhFVK4Wv890fWg?e=IN9cFG Prologue: 1drv.ms/w/s!As8OKeRwjpfRiasgxdqtTr_Z6hvlkQ?e=egRacU Well, proboards doesn't seem to like those links, but you can copy/paste the entire thing into your browser and it should work. |
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