Category: The Story

[2019 Novel] A Story About Self-Confidence: What’s In A Name?

I wrote a 60,000-word novel called A Story About Self-Confidence: What’s In A Name?, a month~long story at Eville Medical in the Sammohini Arc of “The Story.” I want to make a physical release of this book and sell digital copies that might be better formatted for PDF readers. For now, you can read it for free using the following links:

  • PDF – 1.48MB
  • Google Drive – includes first draft, second draft, final drafts with commentaries, along with other related materials to help aspiring writers or those interested in behind-the-scenes things.


Rough draft of the cover

[The Story] Developing Worlds Logically

“I have a question for you.” “…I have an answer for you![1, 2]” From here, we built a world, the details of which should not matter here besides to refresh my memories as being a nice conversation. What is important is starting off with the biggest details: What do you want this world to be like? Is it X meets Y? From there, tell me who inhabits this world. I’ll tell you who inhabits “The Story.”

Spoilers?: None (just wandering world-exploring)
WANNA SEE HOW I MIGHT CASUALLY BUILD SOME WORLD? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[The Story] Safe and Warm

Something woke him as they slept. He looked at the ceiling of their bedroom. Keeping his head still, he looked at her, embracing his left side, her hair still bright even in the darkness. He closed his eyes but his heartbeat felt like it shook the room. She moved.

“Johnny… are you awake?”

His breath was louder than the gentle sounds of distant traffic.

“Sorry I woke you. Say, what do you like about me?”

Spoilers?: Minor (one minor reference)
WANNA READ MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT WRITING JOHN AND TRISHNA’S CHARACTERS… FOR REAL? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[Moving Zeal] Breaks and Lunches

I haven’t written about “The Story” lately, so, is the project dropped? Far from it! Just because most of my time is spent sorting through the remainder of my possessions that haven’t been boxed up yet doesn’t mean scenes won’t pop up. When I’m taking a break, I might imagine Trishna and Pollyanna posing for a cute holiday photo, or when I’m eating lunch, I might wonder how John would eat or shave his face…

WANNA CONSIDER HOW WE CAN STILL WHAT WE LOVE EVEN WHEN WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE MUST DO? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[Sammohini Arc] Boardroom Number Three

‘The holiday season was supposed to be easy… I’m not ready for this…’
The computer repair technician was breathing shallowly as she approached the executive wing of Eville Medical, her stylish winter jacket keeping her warm, but perhaps too warm because she felt her forehead sweating.
‘Their meeting is about to start… what if I can’t get the projector to talk to the computer in time? I only have a few minutes… this isn’t good…’

WANNA SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE OUR OWN SITUATIONS? AND HOW MUCH OTHERS APPRECIATE EVEN THE SIMPLEST GESTURES? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[Sammohini Arc] $200 Per Month?

“tganks again for covering cash 4 lunch
ill get lunch @ urban junction
irs at 8th & polaris”

The furniture mover, on a rainy day off, took the bus into Eville to meet one of the people she briefly worked with on a larger move. Partially, the trip was to get out of the house, maybe meet up with some new people, but mainly it was to see if this hip establishment could rekindle her guitar playing interests.

WANNA SEE HOW BIZARRE THE URBAN JUNCTION COULD BECOME? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[The Story] Banter Between Buddies

There are some people I’ve talked with over the years where I’ve felt an instant connection, where nothing feels weird, there’s no friction even when we disagree, and even when we don’t communicate our ideas well, there’s a degree of empathy that we’re approaching the topic with mutual respect. For others, there’s conflict and anxiety when just saying “hello.” Of all the characters in “The Story,” John and Trishna will have the closest bantering bonds.

Spoilers?: Minor (exploring character interactions)
WANNA CONSIDER HOW OUR ACTIONS CAN AFFECT PEOPLE EVEN WHEN WE’RE APART? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[Sammohini Arc] “What Was It?”

The team’s recently-promoted computer repair technician had just returned from her first urgent ticket. It was a high-priority issue where a computer wouldn’t start for one of the doctors over in Oncology after multiple attempts. The team was short-staffed even without one of their team being out sick for a few days. Sammohini returned with a bit of a sweat to Hank’s desk as he wrapped up assigning out tickets.

“Thanks for stopping over, Sammohini.”

WANNA FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[The Story] Editing With Respect

“By the way, in the interest of time, I am using terse language in my comments, which may come across as patronizing. Totally not my intent.[1]” For two years now, I’ve silently written over 300,000 words, developing the writing/editing skills to properly write “The Story.” In the past month, I’ve hit upon my first major round of success in writing for an audience outside of myself, so thought I’d tie that into John and Trishna’s stories.

Spoilers?: Minor (characters fielding criticisms)
WANNA READ THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BUDDING WRITER ABOUT HOW CHARACTERS MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HANDLE CRITICISM? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!

[Sammohini Arc] Gas Station Mascara

“Why’s this taking so long? It must be back to working order promptly.”
There was a haze around the office, lined with leather-bound wealthy books and well-traveled ornaments, as the computer repair technician averted her eyes away from the small printer on the desk that was not working to the customer, an older woman wearing dusty clothing.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, usually these things don’t take this much time.”

Mechanical chimes.

BEEP… BEEP. BEEP!

Early morning.

WANNA CONSIDER HOW WE OFTEN OVERLOOK THINGS IN LIFE? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!