WIP Wednesday

Hello, dreamers. So, with Endurance and MERIT 19 in my rearview, I turn my attention to the next book in Turn of the Century: Ganymede. I released a severely condensed version of the story some time ago here on Writing Tomorrow. But now, I finally have the chance to really make this story what I always wanted it to be. And that’s my goal this week.

Ganymede

From the start, Ganymede was one of my favorite stories. After writing Endurance and MERIT 19, I felt Ganymede was where this series really hit its stride. What began as a simple survival story about a geologist stranded on a Jovian moon became a heartfelt story about how humans bond through adversity. At its core, it’s one of the simplest stories I’ve ever written: only two characters, who never even see each other’s faces.

But after writing the story, once again, conventions in modern literature became a problem. I loved this story. I really wanted to publish it somewhere. But, as with all of the Turn of the Century pieces, it was unmarketably long. So I trimmed it down considerably. The result was, in fact, a more concise story. I was still very happy with it. But there was so much left unsaid.

While the idea of publishing Endurance or MERIT 19 as novellas appeared daunting at first, the idea of expanding Ganymede feels liberating. I can really stretch this story out, and ultimately make it both things I’d intended it to be: a story of one man’s lonely struggle to survive, and a story about connecting with a complete stranger, hearing only their voice.

As of today, I’m two days into the process, and thoroughly enjoying it. Adding quotes as I normally do offers opportunities for nod-and-wink foreshadowing. And I believe, come Friday, I’ll be left with an even better story than I started with. And I couldn’t be happier with that. – MK