The Cogs Have Aligned

The cogs have aligned and I have finally chosen a genre in which to write. I have decided to try my hand at alternative history, or more specific, it’s sub-genre, steampunk. I’m sure there are some who read my blog that are scratching their heads and wondering what is this steampunk he is speaking about. Since the long version can—and has—filled books, I’ll give you the short version.

We will start with a brief description of alternative history. Much like historical fiction, alternative history relies on well-researched history as the story’s foundation. The difference between these two genres is that while historical fiction takes an actual event and surrounds it with what could have been happening that history simply could not have recorded, alternative history blatantly changes actual events and then crafts the outcome the writer desires.

In the sub-genre steampunk, alternative history takes place between the years of 1840 and 1919. (There are a few exceptions to this rule, but we won’t go into those at this time.) it also has to maintain the feel of the Victorian era—think Sherlock Holmes, Twenty Thousand Leagues Beneath the Sea, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, etc.—even if it is an exception to the time period rule. The story also has to have steam-powered devices, automatons, cogs, gears, mystery, danger, and adventure,

I’m sure you can see the allure, but that isn’t what helped me reach y decision; it was the characters. Sometimes a character, or in my case, characters, just beg to be written. I have historical figures, classical characters that have fallen into the public domain, and original characters that have meshed together so well, their story just keeps growing.

I have begun the research phase that is taking me from the streets of London to the heart of Germany and beyond. So many ideas and subplots have already arisen that I am anxious to get to the writing phase.

When it comes to making decisions, this experience has taught me not to make them before I take time to weigh all of my options. You may miss out on something great by getting in too big of a hurry.

Just thought I would jot this down.