Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Under the Sun (and a Question)

I'm very pleased with the short story I just finished writing with Sandra Seamans. From my Word document:

UNDER THE SUN

By Edward A. Grainger (I began writing this story on June 12, 2010 in Maine. I had a vague idea of wanting to present Cash and Miles in cameo appearances and to center a story around a strong female character. Little d and I fleshed out the idea on our Sunday drive the following day ... I continued working on this in the Balkans on September 19, 2010. On November 21, 2010, Sandra Seamans agreed to collaborate with me and finished a rough draft on 11/30/10.) 3,054 words
I always enjoyed the old Gunsmoke episodes where Marshal Matt Dillon was the bookends to the show and the episode centered on another character in Dodge. I decided to do this with one of my Cash & Miles stories revolving around a character named Delilah Murphy. I had written a good chunk of the story when it came to a screeching halt. Enter Sandra Seamans, who amazingly enough had part of an unfinished western with a similar plot. With some tweaking and great ideas from Sandra, the two stories gelled seamlessly. It was quite the pleasure working with her.

How about you? Have you collaborated on a story and how was the experience?

The Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles stories thus far: "Cash Laramie and the Masked Devil" in A Fistful of Legends | "Miles to Go" | "Kid Eddie" | "The Bone Orchard Mystery" (out for submission) | "The Wind Scorpion" in the Round One anthology | "Justice Served" | "Cash Laramie and the Painted Ladies" | "Under the Sun."

14 comments:

Ron Scheer said...

I did that for a living as a working writer for many years. The projects I worked on went back and forth through various hands, it was hard to know who had written what when it was done - and hard to care. It would just get polished smoother and smoother. Then a graphic designer would set it in type, and after hand-off to the client, it would disappear forever...

Chad Eagleton said...

Keith Rawson and I wrote a story called "Pictures of You" together. I was pleased withe experience. We got along well, no gripes or complaints, and it was pretty exciting honestly. Writing is often such a solitary endevor, kind of lonely at the times, that it was nice to feel like there was someone else involved. We've talked about doing another one, but our schedules and individual projects just haven't made it very likely.

Charles Gramlich said...

I've collaborated on quite a few nonfiction projects and generally find it a kind of tough experience. I prefer not to do it unless I have to.

Charles Gramlich said...

I should say, though, that the Rip through Time piece was different. Since each of us wrote a section on our own. We had to take into account another writer's work but still had that sense of freedom in our own pieces.

Dave King said...

Fascinating tale, that. Can't say I've ever collaborated, but maybe one day... I, too, was a great fan of Matt Dillon and Gunsmoke. (Stillam, of course.)

David Cranmer said...

Ron, that’s what I noticed about my collaboration with Sandra was that it progressively got smoother and smoother.

Chad, Agreed. It’s nice to receive feedback from another writer after spending hours in solitude.

Charles, I think the reason it worked with Sandra so well was I had a large section of the story completed and her addition was tailor-made. Then, we were willing to listen to each other’s suggestions on improving it.

That reminds me I need to e-mail you about Simon.

Dave, And James Arness is still out there God bless him. My buddy Matt Mayo received a nice autograph photo from him.

James Marple said...

Where will this one be?

pattinase (abbott) said...

Only the round robin we're doing now and that's not the same. I am not sure how to do this either but am intrigued and anxious to see the results.

David Cranmer said...

Not 100% sure yet, James. I will let you know.

Patti, I think it's a damn fine traditional western. Sandra took it in a direction that elevated it nicely.

Sarah Laurence said...

How much fun to find the perfect writer for collaboration! We are blogging in tune today. I just posted about writing in dual male/female voice, including collaboration between 2 authors. I have never collaborated myself. My WIP is narrated in 2 voices, British male and American female. My British husband and our children will help me get the voices right. I'll use more readers from the US and the UK too.

sandra seamans said...

David made it easy for me, he set the story up, gave me a bit of a sketch of where he wanted it to go and I started typing. The hardest part for me was slapping my fingers off the keyboard every now and then to keep from running away with the story. I've never worked with anyone before, so I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't just my story. :)

David Cranmer said...

Sarah, I’m looking forward to your WIP. I’m betting your attention to detail is going to make for a riveting read. And I will check out your blog a little later this evening.

Sandra, It really came out nice. Now, I need to get off my arse and finish polishing it off.

Chris said...

Never traded off writing, but there was this little tale called "The Dame, the Doctor, and the Device" I'd say qualifies -- and it was a hoot!

David Cranmer said...

Chris, The biggest hit ever in the webzine's history. And Simon Rip will time-trip again soon.