It’s a lot of fun writing. I find myself thinking about it in the middle of the night (”Wouldn’t it be cool if…”) …sometimes to my annoyance.

One of the most fun thing about writing, as least as far as the way I do it, is the characters. When I create a character, the basic information is in place… but as I write about them, I learn more about them, as though they’re people that I’ve met and are getting familiar with. It feels like their personality traits are discovered, not created. Granted, these characters are pulp characters; they’re 2 dimensional rather than fully fleshed out, but they become “real” to me as I write them.

Anyway, as an update: a basic skeleton of Isle Of Blood shows about 20 chapters (perfect pulp length), plus a prologue and 3 origin flashbacks (”Interludes”). I’m finishing chapter 4 (”Suspicions and Departure”) now, after overcoming a weeks worth of stalling and direction-seeking.

Back on track, now. It’s all good.

Work has been gruelling lately, with literally no spare minute to breathe. Consequently, work on “Isle Of Blood” is not going as it should be. The self-doubt monster gnaws, but still I persevere. It’s what Challenger Clifton Storm would do.

Anyway, it’s about perseverance that I write today. I have always, always wanted to have a creative work in the public, whether it be art, music… or a piece of writing. I get encouragement all the time from friends and family… but have never seriously made the attempt at the creation of a public piece of work before.

Part of my motivation is this website, my memberships at Comicspace, The Pulp Collective, The Pulp Factory, even MySpace… it’s selling myself, really. According to my wife I’ve never been good at selling my talent, so it’s a new field of growth for me. I’m doing all this so that I have to get off my lazy butt and follow through… or else end up with egg on my face.

And you know what? I’m having a great time.

I’ve met lots of people who like the same thing as me, who seem to like what I’m doing so far. It feels wonderful.

And all because I decided to persevere.

Branching out a little, I took the plunge and (with a little help from Gabriel) put up Miami Aerodrome’s new Myspace page. Might be nice to spread the word a little… provided I get friend requests from someone other than bimbos who wanna boost their friend-count there.

Ah, the internet…

Phew.

Chapter 2 is finished. This was a hurdle to be cleared for me: without being too specific, the chapter was basically a formal introduction to Clifton Storm, his associates, his facility, etc. It was hard to write this chapter and make it feel natural, y’know? In the grand hero-pulp tradition, future “issues” will have a page explaining all this info in a nut-shell, but first issues always have the full Monty.

I would have been done with this chapter sooner, but I had a tooth pulled last week and spent a few days watching TV with no inclination to write. Feeling much better now, thank you.

Now, it’s time to get into the meat, the real plot of the novel.

Heh heh heh.

Oh boy.

(P.S.: If you’re reading this, check out Luis-Gabriel Leal’s promotional movies for his unique noir character, The Red Phantom, at Comflix.net. If he wins the contest there, his character gets to be turned into an animated web-cartoon. Be sure to vote!

In other MARDL alumnus-news, Dave Flora’s “Tales Of The Revenant” is winding down from it’s first story arc… and gearing up for it’s second! This is a great time to jump on and experience the thrills and horrors of this excellent strip.)