B3 2011 Goals: Write Two Short Stories

I like being creative and I like writing - creative writer, anyone? So why is it that since 2008 I have struggled to write consistently? Not only has my blog suffered, but my short fiction has suffered too. I just cannot write as well as I used to write.


I want to change that in 2011. I have eleven short stories that I have either begun to write, drafted, or otherwise conceived in some form or another. Of these eleven stories, I will finish two this year.  Possible candidates include:


Event Horizon
This is not a short story - technically a novella in length - it is also my most complete work, having one full draft already finished. My interest in revamping the story is high right now, so I hope to spend some time on this later this year. A nutshell: 21-year old Kale ventures away from his home life for a bold new college and falls in love for his first time, but the beautiful Shaylee holds secrets of the supernatural that threaten to destroy Kale's life.


Everyone Else
I drafted an outline of this story last year and it is sitting on top of my queue. A nutshell: Justin is a teenager who is tired of feeling like "everyone else has had more sex than him." Attending his high school senior prom, Justin hopes to change his fortunes, but ends up realizing that there is much more to becoming an adult than getting laid.


Minor Thirsts: Untitled A
This is another short story set in my "Minor Thirsts" universe - the world is running out of potable water and war among the superpowers emerges. A nutshell: The Great Lakes of the northern United States are ground-zero for conflict as multiple factions descend on the area for its supply of freshwater. A young soldier in this war zone is shocked to find that his 16-year-old sister was raped by his commanding officer, but the government wants nothing to do with his case.


Minor Thirsts: Untitled B
Another short set in the "Minor Thirsts" universe. A nutshell: A young girl and her family must leave western Pennsylvania to escape encroaching war. The girl is dismayed, however, to learn that the family dog, an aged beagle, cannot come along. The young girl must learn to overcome a devastating turn of events while finding her place in a changing world.


Translucency IV
A new "Translucency" - the first one in seven years - would be a major time-sink for me, but I just might tackle the project this year yet. This one is a big "maybe."


B3 out.