John Urbancik's Blog: DarkFluidity - Posts Tagged "midnight"
Midnight
The idea for Midnight started with a preposition. IN. It doesn't belong there in a title like Once Upon a Time in Midnight. It's jarring. It almost sounds like a mistake.
It's not a mistake. It's exactly the right word.
Suddenly, this noun, MIDNIGHT, which we usually think of as a time, becomes a place. Or maybe the time is the place? Should it be written for a younger audience? Should it be the darkest, grittiest thing I've ever written?
Or should Midnight be a city that's dark and real, gritty but also mystic, with hints of magic and history and legend? That's the direction I chose, years ago, when I wrote the first Midnight story. I could've gone somewhere else.
The preposition, however, that small two letter word, guided me to where I am today. Where the first novel is (thru July 4) free on Kindle (after the original limited edition, in 2011, sold out in pre-order). Where there are several novellas (including the first, Beneath Midnight, published back in 2004; and the upcoming Madmen, Poets & Thieves) and short stories and, in fact, a lot of other ideas floating around in my head. Where there are as many possible stories, in every genre, as there are stories set in any other city.
That preposition twisted an idea (the original thought being Once Upon a Time in Midnight, which is more ambiguous) and allowed me to discover what it really meant. It gave me room to explore my City of Night.
I know what's coming to Midnight. And I know what's already there.
I hope the City of Night survives it.
In the meantime, Once Upon a Time in Midnight is, I think, an excellent starting place.
It's not a mistake. It's exactly the right word.
Suddenly, this noun, MIDNIGHT, which we usually think of as a time, becomes a place. Or maybe the time is the place? Should it be written for a younger audience? Should it be the darkest, grittiest thing I've ever written?
Or should Midnight be a city that's dark and real, gritty but also mystic, with hints of magic and history and legend? That's the direction I chose, years ago, when I wrote the first Midnight story. I could've gone somewhere else.
The preposition, however, that small two letter word, guided me to where I am today. Where the first novel is (thru July 4) free on Kindle (after the original limited edition, in 2011, sold out in pre-order). Where there are several novellas (including the first, Beneath Midnight, published back in 2004; and the upcoming Madmen, Poets & Thieves) and short stories and, in fact, a lot of other ideas floating around in my head. Where there are as many possible stories, in every genre, as there are stories set in any other city.
That preposition twisted an idea (the original thought being Once Upon a Time in Midnight, which is more ambiguous) and allowed me to discover what it really meant. It gave me room to explore my City of Night.
I know what's coming to Midnight. And I know what's already there.
I hope the City of Night survives it.
In the meantime, Once Upon a Time in Midnight is, I think, an excellent starting place.
Volume 1
TALES OF THE FANTASTIC AND THE PHANTASMAGORIC VOLUME 1 is currently on sale for nothing -- nada -- zero -- zip.
It contains four novellas, including one I feel is one of my strongest works ever, the Midnight tale MADMEN, POETS & THIEVES.
Please enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A...
It contains four novellas, including one I feel is one of my strongest works ever, the Midnight tale MADMEN, POETS & THIEVES.
Please enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A...
DarkFluidity
random thoughts on writing and reading -- by John Urbancik
- John Urbancik's profile
- 64 followers
