Project Threshold: Team Riker: Division A by Craig Crawford

12/10/2023

Multi-volume, science fiction horror author Craig Crawford introduces us to his third volume in the Project Threshold series, “Team Riker: Division A”:
In Alaska, all manner of entities and monsters cross into our world from other dimensions and Hannah Riker and her team are the gatekeepers. Riker has a personal score to settle, hunting the monster that slaughtered her parents when she was a girl. Neville, Toddy and Melissa McCoy have her back as they follow in the wake of beings dispensing justice and marking their victims. They intervene on a resort where people disappear even during daylight, fend off a tribe of furry humanoids claiming ownership of a valley, and they stumble upon an ancient, unkillable entity bent on the destruction of humanity.

I love these stories, these case files! The book is fashioned as a collection of case files for a particular team. Each book is for a different team. These teams are part of a secret government program to protect the Earth from aliens and the supernatural. Anything unexplainable and unconventional.
The stories don't usually have a happy ending but sometimes they do. The author has a wonderful knack for telling an exciting story without using a lot of words. Descriptions are just enough; action is clearly described also. The dialogues carry the story along so well, the characters are cleverly delineated with economical wording.
You are going to love these fascinating and action-filled stories! 4.8 stars from me.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Project-Threshold-Team-Riker-ebook
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/Project-Threshold-Team-Riker
https://www.goodreads.com/-project-threshold-team-riker
https://www.thriftbooks.com/project-threshold-team-riker-crawford

You can connect with the author:
https://twitter.com/CRAIGLCrawford
https://www.facebook.com/CraigLCrawfordWriter
https://craiglcrawfordbooks.com
https://projectthreshold.com

I reviewed the first book in this series here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/p-t-team-berger
I reviewed the second book in the series here:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/p-t-team-talise
I have reviewed the fourth book in this series:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/project-threshold-finale

Tags: aliens, demons, ghost, paranormal, supernatural, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror

Copyright © 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

59 Comments

Craig Crawford link

12/11/2023 06:53:39 pm

Hi Mark,

Thanks for reviewing the 3rd set in the Project Threshold release. It's a great time discussing writing with you.

Mark

12/11/2023 07:23:02 pm

Welcome back to the Word Refiner channel, Craig. The only live interview for authors on the internet. I have been awaiting the opportunity to chat with you again.

For new visitors, our interview started during the promotion for the first book in your series, Team Berger. There are quick links to access either of those interviews just above. Click on the word 'Comments' near the title block of the review. The interview will open up below the review.

We ended our previous interview, in the Team Talise promotion with a question about critique groups. We will push on from there.

New questions.

What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?

What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Craig Crawford link

12/11/2023 08:24:17 pm

First question: I learned just how much goes into publishing a book. This has been a process starting with the first story. Which turned into 19 stories and working with a press. That changed over time and through a circuitous route took about two years of time to land with RedCape Publishing. After that I got to see a lot of the inside of publishing concerning timing, covers, editing--you name it. There are a ton of moving parts.

As to what I wish I knew before writing my first book? I tend to look at life as a series of steps in almost everything you do and most times things do not progress linearly. I wrote my first novel in 2000 when I was 33 and it was a complex set of events that led me into it. However, I think when I did write it, I was finally ready and I don't think knowing any one or even three things would have made it easier because I was a different person then. I think it's taken the culmination of the last 23 years of writing and submitting and struggling to become an author. I think all of the steps I took in getting to where I am now were necessary--even the fumbles and the failures and the rejections. All of those things made me tougher and stronger as a writer.

The only thing I'll say is that it might have been nice to get jaded a little quicker against the traditional publishing model because I spent a lot of years buying into it. Then again, as I said, even that was part of the process and my personal journey too.

Mark

12/12/2023 08:57:54 am

Quite a journey! Thanks for sharing it from a bird's-eye view. You have shared in greater detail about some of those events in the previous interviews.

Every decision we make is based on our past and it forms our future. I understand. There were many painful events in my life and yours. I am content now to be a product of those events, they were great learning experiences.

Before Amazon, traditional publishing was pretty much the entire game.

New question.

Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

Craig Crawford link

12/12/2023 09:18:26 am

Honestly, my dad. He had to overcome a lot more hell than I've ever gone through growing up and he still turned out to be a decent human being and father. Wasn't perfect, but that's a silly notion. He did the best he could with what he had and raising me he instilled the idea that I could succeed no matter what.

For fictional: I'm gonna be a little conceited and say Collin The Black Lion, from Durell. He got dealt a crap hand (thanks to some jerk of an author) but makes the best of it. He makes the hard decisions others hesitate on while still trying to deal with his own nonsense. He has a lot of flaws but he of all people, and maybe because of his past, is a little more lenient when it comes to judging others. Doesn't stop him from doing what needs doing, but . . . and he's someone worth looking up to ;)

For fictional,

Mark

12/12/2023 01:02:57 pm

Dad is a good choice for many authors. Yes, our dads aren't perfect and neither are their kids. ;-)

New question.

What are three things that you love about writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/12/2023 01:46:15 pm

Hahaha....nope, my Dad's kid ain't perfect by a longshot.

Writing. It's the things that keep me coming back to the keyboard. I love that feeling I get when I sit down, start some music, pull up a new Word Doc and start typing. It's very similar to reading a book and it excites me as the words start coming.

Second, being a pantser, like a reader, as I'm writing I get surprised by the characters and even the plot. I don't always see twists coming until they happen. It's exciting watching my stories unfold all because my fingers are tapping at a keyboard. Which leads me to the third reason.

The magic. It's the best. Writing a story still awes me. I don't fully understand where my ideas come from and how they build themselves into a coherent story. I have epiphanies at odd times which pulls me back to the keyboard. My characters come alive in front of me, doing things I don't expect, or correcting me when I try to make them do or say something they never would. I get so caught up in the world I'm writing in I forget about time and the really real world. I become completely immersed into my stories.

It's what keeps me coming back.

Mark

12/12/2023 03:48:44 pm

Reading is just like that for me. I don't know what is coming most of the time. Nearly everything surprises me, and a few things shock me. I get deeply immersed in stores also. I want to read all of the books. but it won't be in this lifetime.

New question.

What are some challenges to writing in your genre mashup?

Craig Crawford link

12/12/2023 04:16:41 pm

For Project Threshold the military angle was difficult. I have never served in the military and I don't know a lot about that environment. I wanted to at least base P/T around that style of organization. So, it required some serious research into all kinds of things. I also wanted to get to know weapons, vehicles and current tech--I wanted to do justice to the military and not just hand in a Hollywood angle on it. I ended up spending an hour one night researching helicopter crashes for Talise's first story because I didn't really think they exploded on impact (like in every action movie on the planet) or why would the military even use them :) But it meant a lot of research time on it. If I'd had a resource to reach out too at the time, I would have had someone beta read them first.

The second aspect was the antagonists--the monsters and entities. While I am well versed in this subject I also wanted to use or go down paths that weren't the same old critters. I wanted a variety of phenomenon for them to run into and using my background in mythology, cryptids and the strange, come up with adversaries that pushed those known boundaries. I pulled from my own knowledge and did lots of reading on various mythologies and lore--mostly tied to the U.S. For Riker's stories, only one story is actually based in lore, though a couple of the others blend in bits and pieces of Indigenous mythology. And I'm "into" disappearances without known causes so you'll find that working into my stories.

I'm doing the same for round 2 of P/T.

Mark

12/12/2023 06:20:56 pm

I served in the air force for 8 years and I can say you did a credible job with the military angle.

Without fixed wings, a helicopter won't last long if the big blades quit spinning. Without the tail rotor, the helicopter won't go straight. Yes, Hollywood, surprisingly, went for the cheap thrill! What a shock! ;-) I recall an old TV series called "Air Wolf" about a fancy helicopter. There was at least one crash every episode.

Your antagonists reek with creativity for me. I love the hungry merfolk, take that Ariel. I have several granddaughters, don't tell them I said that. My favorite for originality and impressive creativity is the shopping sack creature. I know, that goes all the way back to team Berger. I laughed out loud when you sprang that on me.

New question.

Do you write notes by hand or do you wait until you can get on the computer?

Craig Crawford link

12/12/2023 06:40:17 pm

Thanks for the confirmation on the military. Even though Project Threshold is its own entity, they have a lot of people inside who were military and they recruit from within the military branches and I wanted to portray an organization who represent the best of the military: dedicated, selfless and watching out for the rest of us.

And thanks on the antagonists. I grew up reading and living all of these fringe things and I am always looking for new avenues.

To answer the question, if I waited until I was at a computer to write notes I'd forget lots :) I've literally written on napkins, wallet receipts...I was walking through a mall one time and an idea started hitting me. I happened to find a scrap of paper on the floor and swiped it up, got my hands on a pencil and scribbled things down (I bought a tiny metal pencil that affixes to your key chain and is about 3/4 of an inch long which I have on me for just such emergencies). I get ideas at the darnedest of times and I do not want to lose track of them when they hit me. Also, I tend to get more than one idea at a time, so while I may remember one or two, if lots of things start hitting me I need to write it down.

Mark

12/13/2023 08:14:36 am

You are welcome.

Many authors do as you do. They try to be ready to write down any inspiration from their muse. The little pencil is a good idea. I have a Fisher Space pen, it can write at any angle and underwater. It comes in many forms.

Now, I will create a note on my phone using dictation to be certain I don't lose an important idea.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

Craig Crawford link

12/13/2023 08:28:42 am

I mowed lawns...think I was junior high--so 13-14? We helped Dad with the mowing growing up so it was an easy go to. I thought about a paper route, but I did not like the idea of having to go collect fees in person :)

Mark

12/13/2023 10:40:53 am

Mowing lawns is a classic job like washing cars for a teenager.

I lived on a farm, and we had peacocks. They liked to sit on top of the cars, and they have big poop. We hosed the cars off nearly every day that it didn't rain. I was glad when the last peacock was dead. They were pretty and pretty obnoxious.

New question.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

Craig Crawford link

12/13/2023 11:13:26 am

In 2009 I got the opportunity to workshop one of my fantasy novels with a now defunct group called the Wolf Pirate Project. I had submitted my novel to them from a Writer's Market Guide I used to buy every year. I thought I was submitting for publication but they were more of an educational group, helping writers, creating curriculum for teachers and a variety of projects. I got paired with an editor named May--the group convinced actual editors to donate time in order to help authors out.

May was great. We spent four months going through my novel and then another four on it because she thought I ought to revamp the story, and she offered to stick with me if I wanted to take her advice--so I did :) During that process I was free to ask any and all writing questions as we redlined and reshaped my book.

I got to asking her about description and how much was too much and how little was too little. Her answer to me was simple: "How much description do you need/like when you're reading a novel?"

My answer was that I needed enough to give me the feel of wherever I was at, but not so much I get bored. In my own reading I absolutely cannot read through long paragraphs of description. I zone out and start skimming. I need just enough to set the scene and I'm good.

It was a great answer from May--putting it back to me and getting me to think about description from a reader's eyes. Do they need to know the spoons in the hutch have been polished lately? Or do we need to know the actual temperature of the water coming out of the well? Only if it somehow has bearing on the story or gives us insights into a character or something going on in the plot.

Otherwise it's an info dump or filler. The other thing May taught me is that every single word in your story should be pushing the story forward toward the end. If it's not, cut it. You're distracting your reader and pulling them out of the ongoing story by sidetracking them.

I feel like I'm a minimalist sometimes writing stories because I don't completely describe my main characters or give you all the details of the room their in but I figure with a couple of key descriptors, most readers can make their own mental images and be content. Besides, they want to get into the "meat" of the story, not help Riker figure out what clothing she's picking out for the day ;)

Mark

12/13/2023 03:26:49 pm

Great advice! I concur completely. Many authors get carried away with descriptions. More than once I have come across a detailed description of how a character leaves a building, gets in a car and drives away. No! No! NO! Never describe common actions unless they are critical to the plot. Never describe how a person answers or ends a call. Another thing I caution against is using brand names of real products, unless it is a critical plot point. It's a pickup, not a Chevy Silverado. You will irritate those that hate that brand, and the brand lovers won't care that much. Let the readers fill in the details whenever possible, it will keep them more engaged in your story.

BTW your minimalist writing is perfect in my book.

New questions.

You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?

What are common traps for beginning writers?

Craig Crawford link

12/13/2023 05:29:02 pm

Yes--I've read paragraphs that ran almost an entire page and I dread wading into those--most of the time it is an info dump or not directly related to the story. Each sentence and paragraph should be making your reader want to move to the next line and turn the page.

I grew up reading Roger Zelazny who wrote 200ish page novels and he was my writing role model. Zelazny could tell a great story in a succinct way.

I write stories that I am extremely passionate about and when they hit me, I don't worry about the marketability. In essence, most everything I write is for me first, and then I assess it for publishing. Though sometimes I do have an idea I think is great but after I've finished, it just doesn't wow me like it first did. Sometimes I am "into" it but the passion wanes or the story doesn't turn out like I'd thought. I keep them in files but don't necessarily do anything with them.

Currently I am finishing up a YA sci-fi trilogy I got stuck on but am rolling with again. I think the YA is marketable though I wasn't consciously thinking about that aspect of it. I just got a great idea I wanted to explore and it snowballed as I started in.

For new authors--it's easy to get lost in the "noise" of the publishing world, telling you what trends you should be writing, all the do's and don'ts, and worrying about writing perfectly. Write what you're excited about. Period. It will bring out your best work.

No novel has been perfect from the first draft and you should never try to write that way. Get the bones of your story down from title to end and then go back in and sculpt it into perfection. After, you can edit, get feedback, AND read other books to compare your writing against and see where your strengths are, where your weaknesses are, then find ways to improve. Each story you write makes you stronger--even the ones that stink ;)

I read a quote once that said anything you want to master you have to put at least ten thousand hours into it. It takes time to master a craft, from fishing to gardening to writing. The quote sounds about right to me. Put in the work and the rest will come.

Mark

12/13/2023 07:16:10 pm

Writing well takes time. An author has to read and write a lot to learn what works and doesn't work for them. In most cases, detailed advice from another writer will only be so much help. Each writer has to try, fail and try again. It is a true truth that we learn more from our failures than our successes.

That is good advice to write and read.

I heard a story about a surly editor who when handed the first book by a writer immediately delivered the manuscript to the round file and said, that was a good learning experience. Now, go write a real book. The editor knew how much the writer needed to learn.

New question.

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Craig Crawford link

12/13/2023 09:37:49 pm

I think all writers emulate their favorite authors. I can't imagine not. Reading is a great way to see how the icons do it. And I agree--failure is probably one of the best ways to learn if you can get to the idea that it's not a bad thing but useful, and necessary in order to succeed.

I think an ego is like most things....too much of anything is and will probably be bad. We as writers need to believe we can do this thing and sprinkle in enough ego to not get beat down when we get the rejections. You have to trust your skills, even when they're not perfect or need improving, but you have to take some criticism to heart too.

One of my favorite poems of all is Rudyard Kipling's "If." There's a line in there that relates:

"If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;"

That's the kind of ego and confidence every writer needs to embrace.

D A Wysong

12/17/2023 12:19:37 pm

What author do you admire most and do you think your writing style is like any authors out currently or historically?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2023 01:50:23 pm

Sorry I missed your question! I must have scrolled too fast.

For authors I have several of course. For current I am a huge fan of Mary Downing Hahn. The first book of hers I read was One For Sorrow. She just tells a good story--like I'm sitting next to her and she's relaying what happened.

Another great for me is Christina Henry who spun her own take on Alice and Wonderland and The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. She's SO creative and tells a story in a very down to earth way. Love her books!

Growing up, I started my foray into fantasy and scifi with Roger Zelazny. He wrote the Amber Chronicles which were amazing. Great writing and great creativity. I know early on I tried emulating his writing style because I wanted to write as well as he did. I've read everything he's written.

Another fav is John Steakley. He was a master at writing the dark hero and my two fav books of his (and I don't know that he's written much else) are Armor and Vampire$ He breaks the stories down to the human factor and the toll it takes on people going up against the alien and the supernatural ;)

Mark

12/14/2023 08:02:53 am

That is a great line from Kipling. I agree with you a balance must be found.

Some writers are out of balance also. One mentioned to me that he didn't read books in his genre because he was afraid of having his well of inspiration tainted by the other books. He didn't understand that there are only a few different plots that comprise just about every story. What makes the difference is the writer's voice. Each writer has a unique voice even if they are not aware of it.

New questions.

Other than every person on earth, who do you wish would read your book?

Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader?

Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Craig Crawford link

12/14/2023 03:55:25 pm

Who else to read my books....hmmm....Chris Carter for one. People keep comparing Project Threshold to a different version of the X-Files so I'd like for him to read and see what he thinks. And also Joss Whedon--he is so excellent at creating characters for TV and the big screen, I'd love to get some feedback from him on adding depth to characters in a couple of sentences.

As for demographics--hopefully I've created stories that will appeal to both male and female readers. I grew up watching old sci-fi monster movies and whether it was my mother's influence or just me, I always got annoyed that the female characters in those movies were throw away--they were always on the lookout for a husband and let the men take on the big bad. I was very conscious of wanting to write female characters who could not only hold their own but would lead the fight in Project Threshold.

I like stories that make me think a bit so am guessing (if I did my job well) it's aimed at smart readers who appreciate twists and new takes on monsters and the paranormal.

And my ideal reader: a reader into the fringe and horror with an appreciation of clever and smart alecky humor. Throw in someone looking for action, adventure and some creep and I think they're my people.

Mark

12/14/2023 05:40:58 pm

I like strong, female characters. Most of the women I know are more sensitive and intuitive than many men. I am learning to pay attention to that very quiet voice of intuition. I think women can endure different types of pain better than some men also.

New questions.

Do you have an item or a routine you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

What is the biggest obstacle you face in writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/14/2023 08:20:59 pm

I think women are every bit as capable but they approach things in different ways. For the combat elements, men tend to be bigger and stronger physically so my female combatants tend to fight more strategically--they're not going to trade blows but come in sideways and take advantage of the weak points--quick ways to take an opponent down. I know enough about leverage to understand how to take someone down without throwing a punch. And really, the human body, for all its strengths, has lots of fragile elements and places to it that a smaller, but quicker opponent can take advantage of ;)

As for routines, not really. I can "feel" it when a story is coming into being and if I get ready to write, I just sit down and go. If I'm contemplating some aspect of a story I may sit at the desktop and distract my mind with a game of hearts or other mundane game that I only have to partially concentrate on and let my mind figure things out. No lucky habits here.

I have a story brewing now that popped the other morning and I'm just waiting to get in that frame of mind to tackle it. It might happen tonight--don't know how to describe it, but it's almost like I have to get settled and then jump in.

My biggest obstacle for actual writing is working on one story while another is brewing in my head. Doesn't happen all the time, but right now I keep oscillating back and forth between finishing my YA book and writing more Project Threshold stories. Some nights it's easy because one just takes over but other nights, I can't quite settle on one or the other. Those times I will pull out both and see if one grabs me.

Rekha

12/14/2023 08:59:02 pm

What is your favorite part of being a writer? ☺️

Mark

12/15/2023 07:57:54 am

Thanks for dropping in to join the chat. Excellent question, Rekha. I am going to add that to my list of questions.

Mark

12/15/2023 08:12:17 am

Attacking from an oblique angle is the basis for a lot of martial arts worldwide. Finding a weakness and exploiting it is an important ingredient of victory.

That strikes me as very smart. It seems like you can sense when your muse is coming to visit. Engaging in a simple activity allows room for your muse to get comfortable.

More than one author has related to me how they feel inundated with ideas sometimes. I think having two or three projects going at the same time is a good idea. If you are blocked on one, ideas usually flow on another. I also have recommended keeping an idea notebook, allowing a page or two for each nascent inspiration.

New question.

What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?

Rekha

12/15/2023 08:07:05 pm

Anytime , okay, I understand , you are awesome ☺️

Craig Crawford link

12/14/2023 09:20:40 pm

Hi Rekha--honestly, the best part of writing is the magic that happens. It starts with the idea--I get a story premise and then things start coming: the characters, often the current version of the end and little snippets of plot. As I start writing the rest fills in: the story, the dialogue, the twists. The entire process is inexplicable but so cool. Mostly because I don't fully get how it all works even though it does. Story creation is . . . magic and I love being in the process.

Rekha Chadha, Author

12/15/2023 08:03:01 pm

That's really cool and awesome, I am happy for you 🤗

Mark

12/16/2023 08:31:22 am

Thanks again for dropping in.

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2023 08:31:50 am

On the muse yes--it is like I'm making mental room for her to come in through the door. And, not sure why I refer to my muse as female (maybe Greek propaganda) but mine definitely has a female feel to her :)

And yes, getting too many ideas can be bad. I do write things down but over the years I've learned that the best way to handle that is to mentally just say something like "okay, sit in the background and wait until I get this project done--then it's your turn" and often it works. I don't forget the idea but it holds off.

I do like having more than one project to work on at a time--as you said, if you get stuck on one, you shift to the other and let your muse sort out the first one. The best I have been able to explain it to others about handling more than one story at a time is like changing channels on a TV. I am thinking about two different stories and I just turn the channel over to the other one and focus on it. When I'm done or need a break from the first, I mentally flip the channel.

Kryptonite? I cannot write if I'm sick. On the surface, you'd think,
'great, stuck in bed or on the couch--perfect time to write' but mentally I can't and don't want to write. It's how I know there is some physicality to writing. Not sure why or what but there is. Oft times after a long jag of writing, or writing when I'm emotionally involved, I get done and I am exhausted. Mentally but also physically. I'm just worn out.

Another kryptonite is alcohol. If I've had more than a beer, it's like I can't get in tune with my muse. I've got a buddy who thinks drinking should unleash the creativity, but it absolutely does not for me. It shuts it down. And I am a beer aficionado--I like trying all different kinds and flavors, so I plan accordingly. If I have a story rolling or am working on a novel, I will pick a day after I've done heavy writing before I'll allow myself to have a couple of drinks.

Other than those, if a story gets in my head, it takes center stage and away we go.

Mark

12/15/2023 11:27:36 am

I am not surprised that feeling unwell is an impediment to writing. The inspirational aspect is very important to the writing process.

I love craft beer also. I am in an IPA phase now. Single only please. I find the hoppy influence is very refreshing. I used to be focused on stouts and porters for a long time.

New question.

Have you thought about publishing a story on Vella, Radish, Wattpad or one of the other episode-based publishing platforms?

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2023 12:34:04 pm

It is interesting on the beer front because I have two friends who started the same way--they started with the darker and heavier beers but have progressed to IPA's. So far, I am still in the dark beer phase--not sure if I'll shift to IPA's or not :)

As to the other platforms, I'm aware of them but have not tried them yet. Project Threshold is my first foray into a serial and if I were to do another story laid out in serial form I might try one of those. For Project Threshold, to keep the familiarity I doubt I'll shift it away from my current process, but I do like the idea of having a way to sell serials in chapter form or story form.

Serials were very popular in earlier decades and it seems to me there's a place for it in the present. In this age of being able to binge everything it may not seem like it would but there's a certain excitement (at least for me--ha! maybe I'm the only one left) to getting a piece of a story and then having to wait for a week or even a day and savor that antici.....pation before the next one hits.

Before Project Threshold I had never considered telling a novel length story in serial form, but having done this, I like it. I don't have plans to create other stories in this format yet, though Project Threshold 2 is underway and will be told the same way. I could see doing it again with another story backdrop, however.

Mark

12/15/2023 03:07:04 pm

Serials have been popular for hundreds of years. It is an honored form in many cultures also. There is also a dark side as of the date of this blog. Take a careful look before committing to a contract. Copy-and-paste time or hit the search bar below: The Predatory Contracts of Serial Reading/Writing Apps https://writerunboxed.com/2022/06/24/reading-between-the-lines-the-predatory-contracts-of-serial-reading-writing-apps

New question.

Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2023 03:48:26 pm

Thanks for the heads up--I'm sharing it on Twitter too. It's sad but authors have to watch out for a variety of scams and false promises from groups and organizations promising to help us out. I found an intellectual property rights lawyer in town who has helped me with contracts and trademarking, not to mention answering numerous questions as they come up. Project Threshold originally ran by another name until I looked into trademarking it. My lawyer did the diligence to look into the name and discovered there was another author using the first title (I did look early on but did not find this other person and their usage), though very different books and steered me toward coming up with a new name.

It took me a couple of weeks of playing around with options until I settled on Project Threshold and now I can't imagine any other name for it.

I vet every group who contacts me just out of self preservation of my marketing funds.

Writer's block. It's the bogey man of the writing world. Everyone's heard of it and there is a cringe and a healthy fear of it across the board. In a technical sense I suppose I've had writer's block. I've had stories I've gotten stuck on and yes there are times where I don't have ideas about what to write about.

Having said that, I am very aware and in tune to my writing rhythms. I do not write all year. I look at the creative side of myself as needing rest like physically exercising. Some days you can push yourself but other days you just do the minimum, or even take breaks.

My heaviest writing periods are from January through May. I rarely write in the summer except for an odd story here and there. It starts to pick back up in the fall, though I usually don't write much during the holiday season.

On the other hand, it changes sometimes. Like this year, I've been writing a lot since Halloween and I rarely do. But, I'm into it and the ideas are coming.

I have learned not to force writing and to take natural breaks. IF I just finished a novel, I'll take a month, maybe two or three, and write nothing. Again, I listen to my muse and let her tell me when it's time to hit the keyboard again. I do write regularly but I have NEVER believed in the idea that you have to write every day. I truly believe it's bad advice. You should write regularly, but that can be individual for each person as to what that means.

I think a lot of writers hit "block" because they're trying to force something when there's nothing there. When that happens to me, I take it as a sign there's no reason to write and go do other things. Preferably things that have nothing to do with writing like household chores, projects, vacations or even goofing off reading, watching movies or playing video games.

It's healthy to take breaks from writing and I wish more writers would find and listen to their own internal rhythms. It would cause a lot less stress on their creative sides. Muses need vacations too ;)

Mark

12/15/2023 06:16:24 pm

I am glad to hear you have a lawyer familiar with entertainment law. Intellectual property law is almost as convoluted as the English language.

You are very in tune with your muse, more than some authors I have chatted with. I have a lot of respect for how you write and the periods of time when you don't write. As you said, this is normally a low-writing season for you, yet the muse is keeping you busy.

New question.

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2023 07:46:20 pm

I am not a lawyer and I either can't always make sense of legal-ese or miss things so I don't trust myself to represent myself in most contracts. The short story game--those are pretty simple and I have no issues with those but anything longer, yeah, I want someone looking it over for me.

On writing and muses, yes, I've learned to trust mine completely.

Pseudonyms--I think it could be good depending on the situation. I never have used one yet, but maybe if I really wanted to break into another genre I might. I know Stephen King's son chose Joe Hill as his writing name. I assume it was so he could get published without being under dad's shadow and earn his own reputation.

I'd guess if you were extremely popular and known for a certain genre or style of book it might be advantageous to put something else out under a pseudonym.

Mark

12/16/2023 08:29:31 am

It's good to know your limitations. Legal contracts are very specialized writing and full of weasel words. Unless a contract was written for you by your lawyer, don't expect it to be in your favor.

I understand the idea of a pen name for a different genre. I am sure there are other reasons for a pen name.

New question.

Your books are a genre mashup of sci-fi and horror with a liberal dose of action and adventure sprinkled on top.

Are there any issues that are peculiar to writing this genre that might not apply to other genres?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2023 11:35:51 am

While I'm dealing in the world of speculative and "monster" I still wanted to give it a real feel to it. I had to read up on lore and cryptids and mythology to flesh out some of these aspects. I did some research on things like mermaids for my one story. Did you know whales actually lived on land and walked on legs but evolved to sea life? Of course it took 50 million years worth of evolution to make it happen, but it's tidbits of information like that which open the door for things like . . . mermaids. ;)

The other intensive was the settings. Considering Project Threshold goes anywhere in the U.S. not everything is going to be running into monsters and the supernatural in almost any locale so I had to work a lot of research into the my settings. For the military base guarding "the Hole" in New Mexico, I spent a decent amount of time figuring out the flora of the area.

I guess the gist is, with the nature of these stories it involved a lot of different angles I had to keep in mind when writing. I often started a story, thought about where it was taking place and would stop to check in to make sure things were accurate, with the setting, the lore of the area, how to get my teams to those places, the kind of gear they'd need and so on. It was a lot of background work for each 4-6K word story.

Mark

12/16/2023 03:10:54 pm

I didn't realize that you did so much research. It paid off because your stories ring with authenticity. Just enough little details keep the story anchored in reality. Well done.

New question.

Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but came to like after reading a book or two?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2023 05:02:42 pm

For styles of writing I do prefer minimalist. Ive tried more in depth but it just feels like a waste of words. I don't think I can get beyond my own style, for good or ill.

As far as genres go Ive never had a desire to write or read romance. Nothing wrong with it but it doesn't inspire me. However I ran across a romance author who really makes the characters the focal point and her stories do have a lot of depth to them. Not sure I'd ever write in that genre but I respect it.

Mark

12/16/2023 07:31:48 pm

When I started promoting books, I was not a fan of romance at all. I knew a romance book would hit my desk sooner or later. The first romance book was pretty good. I have read quite a few by this time and discovered that I enjoy the genre. Like any other genre, a well-written book is an even greater pleasure to read.

New question.

What reality show, current or past, would you pick to be on if you had to choose one?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2023 09:54:56 pm

I'm a big fan of Jack Osborne and some of his shows for ghost hunting and cryptid hunting. I'd love to go on that :) Jack leans pretty heavily toward the existence of the paranormal but he does try to debunk a bit. So I think it would be a hoot to meet him and go hunting with him in either arena. I'm well versed on my cryptids and the paranormal, and have had some experiences of my own.

Mark

12/17/2023 07:52:59 am

That could be very exciting. I think I saw a show about ghost hunters in general a long time ago. Beyond strange lighting, I recall very little else except they seemed disappointed to not find what they were looking for.

I am older than both of my sisters by a year or two. They tell me we saw a ghost when we were very young. I have no recollection of that event.

New questions.

What have you seen that would fit into a paranormal or supernatural category?

Will you ever write about your ghost experiences?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2023 11:46:01 am

I think most of those shows put on for the ratings but Jack Obscourne seems genuinely interested in the paranormal. I'm sure he has to make things more dramatic for the cameras too, but he seems like I cool guy worth hanging out with.

I've talked about a few of my experiences on a podcast: https://www.nicollemorock.com/peep-podcast I met her last year at a Monsterfest hosted by one of my fav documentarian groups called Small Town Monsters (shameless plugs :) :) ) She follows the paranormal.

I have been doing some advertising on another podcast called Intothefrayradio.com and I also met the host, Shannon LeGro at Monsterfest too. Actually I'm talking with her now and will end up being on her podcast because I've had several experiences.

I worked in childcare for many years and in the early 2000's we moved our facility to a former assisted living home for older people. We remodeled and moved in. A few months in, multiple people started having weird experiences, seeing things, hearing noises, seeing people. Different staff members would come into the office to tell us about something strange they'd witnessed. It got so frequent we kept a notebook in our kitchen where people could write things down.

As for me, I was in a room at naptime writing notes on the kids when I happened to look up and saw a woman standing in the back corner. I can still remember her features. She was only there for a couple of seconds and then she was gone.

I might have tossed it off but I happened to tell the director at the time about what I'd seen, describing her and the director's eyes widened. She told me she'd seen the same woman in another part of the building.

To further corroborate that, a couple of years later, I was working in the office by then, and a teacher told me the kids in that same room were playing a game. A group of about four kids would go over to the corner where I saw the woman, stand there for a few seconds, then giggle, screech and run out, yelling 'ghost!"

I've had all kinds of experiences over the course of my life but I'm a skeptic at heart and while I've written most of them down I won't 100% say my encounters were supernatural or cryptid related.

I have an audio recording of a howl out in West Virginia that woke me up one morning too. It's odd, very faint and only lasts for 2 and a half yells but it doesn't sound like a known animal. I've compared it to animal vocalizations I listened to on the net.

I don't know if I would directly write about those experiences within my stories, but I think they subtly influence my writing when I go down the supernatural / paranormal path in my stories.

Mark

12/17/2023 12:35:13 pm

Spooky stuff! Pretty reliable reports since multiple witnesses in different areas at different times. Something was certainly going on!

New question.

Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2023 02:09:54 pm

Most definitely for all plus art. I think movies and books let me escape into other people's worlds which relaxes and stimulates my own creativity. Music and art (in all its forms) pique my creative curiosity and open those doors.

I can look at paintings or even sculptures and it will spark questions in my head. I think the 'snapshot' of art is a catalyst for thought and contemplation.

Music definitely sets my creativity loose. I will often take walks and throw on headphones. Just walking and letting my mind wander to music really jumpstarts the creative process. It draws in my muse for sure ;)

Mark

12/17/2023 06:54:33 pm

You seem to have a great relationship with your muse. Your Muse is far more flexible than the muse of some other authors I have talked with. When Author reported to me that her Muse regularly almost nightly, would show up at about 2:30 in the morning. She kept a pencil and a padded paper on her nightstand so that she could write everything down. Her muse was telling her. Sometimes she could read her notes in the morning.

New question.

What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2023 07:26:34 pm

Muse's are quirky entities and I think you have to give in and let them decide how and when they're going to help you out. Fight with them and they can get stubborn, argue and they'll just give you a look telling you they know they're right. I let mine be in charge ;)

Guilty pleasures. When I was a kid I checked a book out of the library that caught my eye: Monsters, Giants and Little Men From Mars by Daniel Cohen. It hooked me on the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot and cryptids and oddities in general.

I keep an eye out for all kinds of books on weird phenomena, cryptids, paranormal and the supernatural. For me it's a chance to step away from the "normal" world and step into places where people seem to encounter all kinds of really crazy things. It still mesmerizes me and if something catches my eye, I'm all over it.

A friend just told me about a book focused on Scandinavian monsters and I'm setting my sights on acquiring it :) :) :)

Mark

12/18/2023 09:01:02 am

I find it rather intriguing that so many stories are common among diverse cultures. It makes me wonder about the veracity of the many different reports.

As a boy, I was very interested in cryptids and legends. I also read books about the mythologies of different countries and cultures. It was spooky and fun for a pre-teen boy. I think I was in the 7th grade when I read the story of Beowulf. Years later, I read a book titled Grendel. The same story as Beowulf told from the monster's POV.

New question.

Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2023 10:18:49 am

Similar. I started discovering there are these shared mythologies and reports of similar creatures across the world. In the case of Nessie, it turns out there are lakes across the 36th parallel where people see similar kinds of creatures. Not sure what they are seeing but they are seeing something anomalous.

Me--I just never grew out of the cryptid phase :)

For books affecting my writing, Stephen King wrote a book on writing and he had some great advice and practices which really struck a chord with me. The biggest was about 2ndary characters: he said something equivalent of--they are not central to the theme but there should be something to give them weight so create one or two distinct descriptions for them. I think he used the example of a bartender in a scene and commented on him having hairy arms. It's a trait which sticks and gives reality to the scene.

Uncle Stevie is a smart guy.

And it wasn't a book but my time with my editor pal, May, I learned so much. She taught me how to pare down my use of words and make them count. She also drove home the idea of creating sentences and paragraphs that flow like a river--each word pools into a sentence and the sentences flow together into paragraphs. Like a river, everything moves down stream, propelling the story along until it empties out...to the climax.

Mark

12/18/2023 11:32:54 am

Steven King is an amazing and prolific author. I read part of an interview with him and he stated he didn't like scary stuff because it scared him. That caught my attention because he writes scary books. He went on to say he knew a book was scary enough when it frightened him a lot. Pretty darn funny if you ask me.

I think his advice is solid. It doesn't take much to make a minor character seem real. Hairy arms are a good one. A misspelled tattoo would be good also.

May is very wise and she has an interesting way of describing the process. I love it. I will likely remember that for a long time. Word pictures can be quite sticky.

New question.

Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2023 11:53:57 am

Books serve multiple purposes for authors. First, I can't imagine a person wanting to write without having a long history of reading. For me, it really does go hand in hand. I was inspired to write because of books I'd read.

Second, it's a great benchmark to see how the professionals do it. By reading you're constantly bombarded by how authors put sentences together, share scenes and create images in your head. Some do it better than others, obviously, but there are skills in play and as a writer, the more I read the more I get exposed to how to tweak my own writing. I've looked at scenes from books that wowed me and gone back over them looking for "how they did that." It's a great way to get tips on how to write well.

3rd, reading is an escape and writers need those too. It's taking a vacation from writing and letting someone else serve you up a great story which recharges your own creativity. Not to steal their ideas, but reading a great book can spark an idea of your own and give you prompts to find new stories for you.

Honestly though, reading is a great way to relax and get involved with someone else's life, fictional though they may be ;)

And then there's the 4th reason. If you're an Indie author, the best way to support the Indie world of publishing is to support Indie writers by buying, reading and reviewing their books. Not only will you find some excellent stories, you're helping them in their publishing journey...

Mark

12/18/2023 12:56:23 pm

That makes a lot of sense!

Just to clarify.

Last question.

Can you read a book as a reader or only as a writer now? Many writers have told me that they have a hard time not picking a good story apart.

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2023 02:10:16 pm

Honestly, I think the only time I start picking a book apart is when it's losing my interest. I still want to read for entertainment, fun and to be pulled out of the really real world for a while and if the author does that for me, then I'm content.

If the author starts doing things that take me out of the story or there are glaring plot holes, then the critical eyes open up..

I just read a detective noir with a supernatural element and I read the entire book without once thinking about the format, the structure or how they could have made it better. It was good writing, a great story and I went along for the ride.

Mark

12/18/2023 06:50:43 pm

That is wonderful! More than once I have heard that an author has lost some of the thrill of reading. Entering a new world and different reality is a pleasure. It is fun to escape for a few minutes.

Craig, thank you for being a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. I love your books; they entertain me and others.

Our allotted time has come to an end, for now.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2023 08:21:19 pm

Thanks Mark. I've had a great time, once again. I love discussing this mysterious process called writing and I appreciate you quizzing me down and your support for my stories!

Take care....until next time.

Craig

Project Threshold: Team Riker: Division A by Craig Crawford

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