Author: AJ Mullican, Author

Good news, everyone! I have a new short story pending on Amazon KDP. The cover isn’t perfect, but I’m proud simply because I designed it myself.

In roughly a day or two, my author page on Amazon should have the link for it up. Go to amazon.com/author/ajmullican and check it out. I’ll update this blog when it goes live. Also, remember that Kamikaze Butterflies is still available in Kindle or paperback format through Amazon or the above author link.

I’m going to try to produce more short story material in the next few days, so keep checking this blog for more info. If anyone has a particular topic they’d like me to write about, let me know 🙂 As always, you can comment on WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, or G+

Thanks to a suggestion from an admin of a writer’s group I follow, I may start publishing some short stories for purchase.

Unfortunately, that means I need covers for them.

Oh, wait, that means I get to draw! I’ve been short on inspiration for drawing lately, but now I have given myself a good excuse to design and draw a couple of covers. 🙂

Here it is, the final serial killer short that I wrote almost a decade ago. My #writing has improved exponentially since then, so I’m excited to finish my #novel first draft and get to the revision stage. (Again, I apologize for the formatting. I find it easier to copy and paste than to jump back and forth between screens to retype the whole thing)

Serial Killer: Endgame

I stand as the jury comes out

Finished deliberating

Verdict pending

I am confident in my testimony

And its explanation

Of why I must kill

The foreman stands

And speaks:

“Guilty on all counts”

My heart sinks in my chest

How could this be?

Can they not see

That my actions were justified?

I am in such a daze

That I almost do not hear

The unbelievable sentence recommendation

Death

I am to be put to death

For doing what comes so naturally

The months fly by

Wasted on appeals

Empty efforts

Simply going through the motions

They do not give me the last meal I requested

Human flesh is not served

On death row

I settle for steak

Extra rare

But it pales in comparison

Minutes tick by

No reprieve from the Governor

Will come on this night

I am led in my shackles

To the last room

In which I shall draw breath

It is so cold, so methodical

Strapping me down

Inserting the i.v.

This is no way to kill a person

I told them the proper way

But to be killed as I wish to be killed

Is considered “cruel and unusual”

So I am left to this

Defeated

I do not have the heart to fight

My reign is over

I watch the injection

Pushed ever so slowly

A heaviness fills me

My eyes slide closed

And the she-killer is no more

Since it appears that the readers of this blog prefer personal updates on my #novel or #art, I shall deliver 🙂

Today I wrote almost 1.5k words on my WIP in just a couple of hours. That may seem slow for most writers, but it’s quite fast for me. I’m trying not to obsess over current chapter length and instead focus on getting the main story down.

At this rate, it will still take me several more months to finish my first draft, but considering I had given myself until the end of the year to finish the draft I’m actually making good progress. I may even change my goal to get my rear in gear.

I definitely need more description, dialogue, and character development, but I keep telling myself to just get the story on the page and let those things develop organically.

I’ve decided that I’ve let my drawing skills become too rusty, and I need to expand on what I can draw.

I’m going to start asking for ideas from my blog readers (whether you follow on WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, or G+) for ideas on things for me to draw.

I haven’t decided how frequently I’ll be doing this. It probably won’t be on a regular schedule like the memes and motivational posts. After I’ve attempted the drawings I’ll post pictures here. 🙂

Today will be the first day. So bring it on, readers! What do you want to see me draw?

Today’s post is about a different aspect of writing: character development.

I have become obsessed with “profiling” people by following their Pinterest profiles. I read what they’ve pinned for the day, and try to determine what kind of mood they’re in or what kind of day they’re having.

Creepy? Absolutely. But in a way, it might help my writing in the long run. By making up imaginary scenarios, I can easier create character profiles for my imaginary characters.

You might want to give it a try (though I recommend knowing the people you follow at first, even if they’re acquaintances; otherwise it’s even creepier). 😉