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Attention all Spacedock 19 personnel and visitors, Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh is stopping in today. He’s the author of the space operas CassaStar and CassaFire. I know that the third, CassaStorm is in the works and I read a rumor on his blog he may grace us with another writing project after.
Oh jeez! He really is a ninja sneaking up on me like that. Welcome to Spacedock 19, Alex. Would you care for a drink? The renovations are done and, although Craze isn’t currently speaking to me, he is serving drinks.
AJC: I’ll take something non-alcoholic so I can keep my wits about me. Ninjas must stay on their toes!
MP: I hear you on that. Here’s a selection of coffee, tea, and juice.
Stealthy as you are, you don’t go into creating a story mysteriously. You outline. I’m curious how you start the process. What is the first thing you do when you start outlining?
AJC: By the time I begin writing the outline, the story has already played in my head several times. So the first run of the outline is a free-form of the highlights.
MP: So you play the story like a movie in your head for awhile? Do you find some times of the day better for that than others?
AJC: Yeah, like a movie. Guess since I’m such a big movie fanatic, that just comes natural to me. And anytime my brain isn’t directly engaged in an activity is a good time, such as when I’m at the gym or playing my guitar.
MP: I find workouts great for finding inspiration as well. And I can see why you’d find playing your music so, too.
So you have this loose outline, what details must it have before you move on? Then what do you do once you feel that first step is done?
AJC: I don’t do index cards or color-code anything. I just keep adding to the outline, making it more in-depth. It’s where I generally work out plot holes and continuity problems. I guess I’m done with my outline when I realize that if I added any more, I’d be writing the book. During this time I also work on character details. After that, I just start writing. Oh, and this will amuse you – except for established and pre-named characters, I don’t assign character names until I finish the first draft.
MP: That is definitely amusing. I can understand why, though, since I’ve had some hard to name characters. Waiting can be a good strategy. I often do that with titles, then panic. lol So you mentioned playing music while you think about your next story, does the tune or song you play depend on what’s going on in the story?
AJC: Despite my reputation as a prog rock metalhead, I do play a variety of music on my guitar. The faster pieces lend themselves well to action scenes, while slower, more moody tunes fit well will scenes of conflict or tension. If one scene is really dominating my thoughts, I’ll stick to the appropriate tunes to solidify it in my mind.
And I’m worse than you with titles! I didn’t even come up with the last two. Both were suggestions from my publisher for the second book.
MP: Music and other sensory input can be very strong memory cues. That must help you outline and write. Also, I think it’s obvious that you’re a highly organized person. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be the marketing/blogging Ninja you are. Maybe you’ll come back sometime and we’ll chat about that or some other burning topic?
AJC: Wish I was more organized. Think it’s my perfectionist nature that really helps in that area. Be happy to discuss that and the finer points of clones. (They really do help, you know!) Thanks, Mary!
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I sure am looking forward to that clone chat.
CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh
Have you read Alex? Try CassaFire.
CassaStar was only the beginning…
The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend – to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.
The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.
To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves, the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…
CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:
“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” – Library Journal
Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Kindle / Nook
More About Alex
Alex has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and worka in web design and graphics. He’s experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he’s the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
Blog/Website / Twitter
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Beginnings Bloghop
This bloghop hosted by L.G. Keltner of Writing Off the Edge , in celebration of her one year blogaversary.
I actually started blogging as a weight-loss blogger way back when, The Chronicles of MEPS Reconstruction. Then when I became more serious about this writing stuff, I decided that was way too personal, erased it, and started Wistful Nebulae. But I met a lot of great people in my previous blogging life. Some of which remain great friends. If any of them are reading this, I remain the same size I was five years ago. Woot!
How’d you start blogging? Any questions for Ninja Alex on outlining? Now it’s your turn to gab…
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I outline in my head but don’t write it down because I want to keep it fluid.
Ah, names! The bane of many writers. Many minor characters in my Civil War fiction get their names from Civil War historians. I pick lesser-known ones. There’s no Catton or Foote in my novel, but there’s a Crawford and a Mackey!
This might sound odd, but I almost never struggle with naming characters. They just come with names and I get to play a fun game where I guess what they are. :-D
Book titles, though, are another story. These only occur at the end of the draft, if ever.
Thanks again, Mary! And you started blogging about weight-loss? Quite a difference.
Misha, I have no problem naming my characters once I’m done. It’s just a lot of blanks I have to fill.
I do the same sort of thing with outlining. I don’t start writing until I can see it playing out in my mind too.
Please have that clone discussion! ;)
I wish I were as structured about an outline as you are, Alex. I tend to fill in my outline as I go or when something strikes me during the writing of the story.
Did you play your guitar for Craze while you were onstation?
I’m here from the Beginning Blog Fest. I’m sure a science fiction blog is way more fun to write than a weight loss blog!
Laura, we’ll discuss clones later this year. And I’m sure Craze is glad I didn’t offer to play.
I can’t imagine trying to write any part of my story – even the outline – without the name of my mc! The title, however, is another story. About half the time I have a good name for the title, the other half, not so much. Cassastar is a great title, btw :)
Interesting to read about Alex’s methods, thanks for hosting the Ninja, Mary. And I hope you and Craze will be back on speaking terms soon. :D
Also interesting that you started as a weight loss blogger, I love learning about everyone’s beginnings through this fest. And kudos to you on being the same size, I know how hard that is! :)
I’m glad to see the website survived the night and the webhost upgrades didn’t cause any trouble. Morning all!
I don’t start jotting brief chapter outlines until about 1/2 way through my books, Sean. I like your method of coming up with names.
lol I sometimes play that game, too, Misha.
Glad to have you here today, Alex. Yes, I did… once upon a time. Then we moved and things kept changing.
I wish I had such clear vision, Tonja. It refuses to enter my head unless I’m actually writing. Otherwise, it stays fuzzy.
I’m looking forward to that myself, Laura. I’m not much of an outliner either. But perhaps I do more than I think, I just don’t write it down. Perhaps I will try to do some of that with the next book. We’ll see…
It is way more fun, Jolie.
I’m the same with you as titles, MsHatch. Sometimes the MC’s name will elude me for awhile, but rarely. Most of them come pretty well formed. The secondary cast, not so much.
He might forgive me before I start book 4… Maybe. lol It is a feat, Julie. Especially as the years pass.
You GUYS! How much did I love reading this?! Lots. I kept trying to imagine what your voices sound like and when Al snuck into the space dock, I heard something like the leak of air with an automated entry opening, you know like in Space Mountain when the capsule docks to let you board? Something like that.
This was so fun for me! Huge fan of you both. :)
i start out similar with rough bare bones and add layers of muscle & nerves!
but i love making up names! sometimes coming up with a title of a story will trigger the rest…but i am having trouble naming a super hero girl mc for something i have in the works…
great interview!
and m pax, whats your secret!?
I’m glad to read any interview with Alex. He’s a great and helpful blogger and I’m happy about all his blogging and writing success. Writing a novel is hard work and it’s good to get advice from someone who has been in the fray.
Alex, you’re like one of the most organized bloggers I know. How else do you read and comment on all of our blogs! You’re amazing. It’s very kewl that we organized our mss in a similar fashion. I like that.
Hi, M!
Alex, didn’t really you kept outlining until you were force to start writing! LOL
Glad you enjoyed it, Suze.
I call it clay and molding, Tara, but a very similar process. The secret is consistent exercise and making permanent changes in eating habits. Every change I make is permanent. I know eat mostly organic and about 1/2 vegetarian. My cats eat organic now, too.
He is a very helpful guy. Thanks for stopping in Sheena-kay
Hi, Joylene! He is very organized.
I found that interesting, Holly.
Some characters pop into my head with a first name already intact, and some I don’t name until later . . .my villainess in Champion stayed “the dark sorceress” until draft 3, and I changed her name in a later draft because my CP and my family betas hated her name so much . . .and then there are last names and place names, and . . .yikes.
Great interview with Alex today!!!
And that’s interesting how you started your blog . . .I should probably keep my weight loss/exercise goals recorded on mine somewhere . . .maybe. I think I’m flinching over this one because this morning I didn’t hit the exercise bike . . .but it’s still lurking in the basement waiting for me .. .
I, like Alex, see my stories play in my head like a movie. As I write I scene, I have the advantage of playing it over and over again while I record what I see on paper. Unfortunately, I tend to agonize too much over word choice and psyche myself out. I’m working on that one!
Sometimes the blogging journey takes us in new directions, but it’s always a load of fun. There are so many neat people to meet!
Thanks for participating in my blogfest!
Normally I don’t name my characters either until, I’m into the story.
Great interview — guys!
Visiting from Beginnings Blogfest.
I mainly write for my college courses and blog challenges. With a full-time job and part-time college, that is about the extent of the time I have for writing.
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
So now I’m curious how the characters are referenced in the first draft. By letters, numbers??
Great interview!
Alex, I think lots of us movie buffs who are also writers see our stories in our minds first, then put it down on paper. When I get stuck, music, a run or some time on the elliptical, or a shower can really help.
Very interesting interview with Captain Ninja. Thank you. It has been enlightening.
I definitely do outline, it helps to know where I’m going. Funny, though, I just started a novella that I haven’t outlined …
MsHatch, I name the main character but not the others.
Suze, that made me laugh!
Joylene, thanks and great minds think alike.
Holly, it happened!
LG, the movie trick works.
Johanna – blanks! Lots and lots of blanks.
Interesting to read about the correlation between Alex’s music and writing, being very unmusical myself!
I often don’t have names for my characters to start. I have to write about them to find out what they’re like. Then I just sit and think about them for a while and hopefully something presents itself.
I want a clone. Please discuss those soon.
Naming characters before I begin is never difficult though.
Thanks to both of you for this great interview! I need to give outlining more thought for my WIP. This helps, thanks again!
Yay for Alex!! I’ve read both his books and am looking forward to his 3rd. After reading all about his outlining, I’m curious to find out how long this process takes. (I can take 2 months to outline and still end up with plot holes! lol).
I don’t record them anymore, Tyrean, but accountability is a good way to instill new habits. I sometimes have that same issue with characters.
Leave word choices for later, LG. The more you write the more ‘natural’ it’ll become. Yes, the blogging journey is always interesting.
That seems to be more common than I’d think, Teresa.
I’m surprised you have time to blog at all, Tami.
That’s a great question, Johanna.
Showers are the best, Isis.
I have to settle how I’ll end before I start, Gwen. Although, I didn’t do that with my last one either… hmmm.
I’m not very musical either, Nick.
Me, too, Diane. I need at least two. Maybe 3.
I’d like to do more outlining, too, Karen, which is why I was keen to chat on this topic.
I believe I’ve heard him mention it takes him several months, but I’m sure he can give you a better answer, Lynda.
You have that outlining thing down, Alex! It’s interesting you don’t name characters until after the first draft. Names usually come to me first. I really want to hear about these clones too.
I’m so happy you started this blog, Mary! I had a personal blog as well and I deleted it. I didn’t want anyone coming across it once I started up my writing blog. Some things the world doesn’t need to know!
Nick, that’s why I name characters later.
Diane, hopefully we’ll get to clones…
Lynda, my third book took over four months to outline.
Christine, it can get confusing.
Thanks again, Mary!
Fabulous Space Dock interview! I enjoyed learning more about Alex. Outlining is a big part of my pre-writing, too! :)
Very nice interview! I bet your outlines are very detailed since you visualize everything in your head first!
Ooo! Similar origins, Christine. We’re like twins. :D
I envy that you do Stephanie.
I bet they have more detail than mine, Sherry.
Glad to hear someone else finds titles difficult. They kill me. Absolutely kill me.
I do something similar. I don;t necessarily outline. But like you I run the story through my head a few times. Then I start from the beginning and start with chapter titles. I usually have about fifty right away. Then I go back and bullet point the highlights of each chapter. then i start filling them out, and the longer chapters I separate into two chapters. I try to keep my chapters around four pages on average.
MPax, you always ask such great questions. ALex, this is another cool peek into your psyche. Interesting that you eschew typical outlining techniques.
Hi Mary, I enjoyed you and Alex sharing! I love the ideas coming as movies-very cool and so Ninja like~ Wow, Mary you rock! I love what you both shared :D
I often beg for help with mine, Libby.
That sounds very organized, Stephen.
Thank you, Maurice. Looking forward to your alien fest.
Thank you, Ella.
Sherry, they are very detailed!
Libby, I suck at titles.
Stephen, I don’t even do chapters until the very end.
I love metal, but I saw one movie where the soundtrack just detracted completely from the movie itself – it was just all metal and would start chugging away at the most predictable times, namely when the zombie alien dudes from Mars were about to start eating more people. The movie was GHOSTS OF MARS ;)
Nice interview! And I am so intrigued as to why Craze might not be talking to you Mary :) I haven’t read the 2nd story though, so maybe I need to get on that to find out!
Characters seem to come named. I guess Dickens had a huge effect on me, and, although I don’t go for the Scrooge type names, my names reflect the characters’ personalities.
No outlining for me, either. Gah! That’s for essays. I do write synopses, however, and change that as my story or characters take new , and sometimes unexpected, directions.
Enjoyed my visit with you today!
It’s in book #3, Trisha, which will be out soon. Although, he didn’t love me much for the 2nd book either.
I like the synopsis idea, Lee. Most of my mc’s come with their names. Otherwise why would I have named someone Craze? His idea, not mine. :)
Sounds like we have the same process, though I prefer to come up with names before I even start outlining. I’m curious how you write outline. Is it handwritten or done on the computer? Is it free firm or true outline style? How many pages of outline are typical & how many pages if text do you produce from a page of outline?
yay! What a fun interview! It sounds like Alex and I kind of use the same approach. I write like a synopsis (but I don’t call it that) and then try to fill in as much information before I start til it’s almost like I’m writing the book. Then I start and use that as a guide.
Names–gah! I use dummy names a lot. Just to keep who’s who straight. But a lot of times they’ll change. I tend to repeat name types. Like in TTALG, I have Andrews as a last name, and then Andy as a first name for a different character. And while I do know an Andy Andrews, I’m not naming a character after him–at least not intentionally! :D And don’t even get me started on titles…
Great stuff, guys~
Trisha, I just re-watched Carpenter’s Ghost of Mars last weekend! That is a train wreck of a movie.
Lee, wish my characters came named.
Nancy, so many questions! I think I’ll answer that on my own blog tomorrow. Give myself a chance to come up with answers.
Leigh, I should probably use dummy names. I bet it would help during editing…
Loved the interview, Alex & Mary! It’s always fun to get to know our fellow bloggers a little better. :)
I enjoyed learning more about you both. Great interview! :)
OK, you sound very organized, too, Nancy.
I’ve used dummy names, too, Leigh, or XXXX.
Great to see you, Candilynn!
Thanks for stopping in, Melissa.
Great interview! Any peek into the mind of my favorite Ninja is such a treat. I really learned a lot from this. I’ve got the movie in my head of my WIP, but it’s missing some core stuff and has no ending…nice to know I don’t have to start outlining yet…
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Your 3rd book took you 4 months to outline? That makes me feel SO MUCH better! I was thinking I was taking too long (I can be such a nub some times, lol)
I outline on scraps, fragments here and there. Once I have enough for a “skeleton,” I reassemble everything–first on paper, and then on the computer. :)
Great interview, guys! Thank you for sharing it.
Tina, just keep playing it in your head – you will get your ending.
Lynda, it took forever! But then writing and editing didn’t take as long.
Thanks again, Mary!!
Outlining is a weird process for me, since I don’t write everything down – only the key elements. The rest stays in my head and emerges while I write. I tend to keep a lot of detailed information about my characters, setting, plot etc. in well-organized Word documents. My first novel, Forged by Greed, was all typed on the computer, but two other books, that I am now working simultaneously on, are done “old style” with pen and paper. I’m planning to try out Scrivener soon though. Maybe for the fourth book :-)
I made it, but I think the party is probably all over. Terrific interview, my friends. :)
I cannot even imagine a workout as a way of working through a story. I HATE exercising and find it to be EVIL. I have to concentrate on breathing and keeping up with whatever tortuous routine is on the DVD so there is definitely no way I can think about a story. LOL
Angela, I do keep detailed information on the characters. Even those without names!
Melissa, when I’m on the treadmill, I need something to think about!
Interesting how you play ideas out in your head like a movie Alex. I do the same thing on a much smaller scale. It was so nice to see things from both of your perspectives. Thanks Mary and Alex!