Tag: Writing

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One year

Scrolling back through my writing journal, I see that today is exactly one year since I started work on Food: Generation Mars, Book Four.

My entry from that day outlines some elements of the plot that have made it into the manuscript. But, oh my!, the Doug writing that entry had no idea of the many wonderful and terrible things that would find their way into the story over the next year. The manuscript I am working on now bears only passing resemblance to what I had in mind then.

And that’s awesome!

I still have a long way to go. What new surprises are lurking out there (or in my subconscious), waiting to find their way in? I don’t know!

And that’s even more awesome!

image: generated by ImageFX

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Food update

Status update for Food, Generation Mars, Book Four

At some point during the past week, the manuscript passed 50K words.

Manuscript is a loose term that covers everything from get-it-down-and-fix-it-later sketch to fully edited and ready for formatting.

At this point, Food is closer to the sketch. A 50K sketch. I won’t say much more, but I will say this: It keeps surprising me, and I think it will surprise you too.

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Luna and Mars

It looks so close! This is an actual image taken from Earth of Mars emerging from lunar occultation. Taken by Andrew McCarthy using a 14″ telescope.

The next Generation Mars book, Food, takes place on both Luna and Mars. And points between…

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Progress

This image shows the progress on the next Generation Mars book as of May 30. Since then, I’ve been on a wild and wonderful vacation with the family and haven’t written a word. I expect this number is about to start growing. A lot.

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Author intervew

Here’s an interview I did with Elena Jagar at Willow Wren Books recently.

From the interview:

What do you hope young readers will take away from your books?

Optimism is a superpower. Kindness is strength. Society is something you create with those around you; what do you want it to be? In the confines of Martian habitation, tolerance is a key virtue. Care for others, as well. No one can exist without the help of others and nowhere is this more evident than in a colony on a distant planet.

Exploring Mars and MG Fiction with Douglas Meredith — Willow Wren Books
Exploring Mars and MG Fiction with Douglas Meredith — Willow Wren Books

Douglas Meredith, author of the Generation Mars series, shares insights into his journey of writing middle grade fiction. Inspired by the need for engaging and age-appropriate content for advanced young readers, Meredith crafted a series following Cas, the first kid born on Mars, and her sister, Ori
Willow Wren Books Willow Wren Books

 

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Food update

A milestone update on Food: Generation Mars, Book Four

1) The entire book is plotted (or, at least, as plotted as I am willing to go while also leaving room for surprise). All I’ll say is that this one is monumental in scope and will take your breath in the first chapter and keep it until the last.

2) As of today, I passed 5000 words in the initial manuscript. A pittance in the face of this monster, but a milestone to be celebrated nonetheless.

image: generated by ImageFX

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Rocket fuel

The next book is turning into an epic. Decided I needed more delta-v to pull it off. This oughta do it.

Sweet Maria’s, fueling writers and rocket scientists since 1997.

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Envelopes

Is cannibalism appropriate for middle grade? Asking for a friend…

But seriously, this next book is shaping up to push the envelope. Several envelopes. All the envelopes, maybe.

image: Twemoji (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Twemoji12_1f914.svg), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en, unaltered

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Hunger

“Hunger, or the fear of it, has always played a major role in determining the actions and attitudes of man. In every age and every land people have starved…”

More light reading in preparation for the next book in the Generation Mars series: Food.

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Light reading

Some light reading for the next book. In 1945, thirty-six men volunteered for the first scientific study of the effects of starvation. It wasn’t pretty.

Really feeling sorry for my main characters right now. I had a cookie about an hour ago, and my stomach is already grumbling.

(Astute followers will notice this wasn’t in the to-read stack image I posted recently. Research requires flexibility.)