Me And My Renewed Creative Projects

We sat by the fire, holding our cups in our icy hands. It brought a sense of humanity, something we both, Me and my Future, needed. The conversation flowed slowly, like a tiny stone rolling down a massive mountain.

F.: 'So, what about 2025?'

M.: 'What do you mean?'

F.: 'Any plans?'

M.: 'Yes, definitely. In January, I'm starting a psychology master's course, which is one of the biggest challenges in my life.'

F.: 'That's exciting! Are you prepared?'

M.: 'I've been preparing for it my whole life, even though not always consciously or voluntarily. Things have worked out nicely, mostly behind the scenes. Recently, I completed two level 2 mental health courses, which helped me deal with my problems.'

F.: 'Let's be honest, Mr. Stress was never our friend.'

M.: 'I agree! I also started a level 3 course on understanding autism. It was challenging at first because the material was much more extensive compared to any level 2 course. However, overcoming those challenges made me realise that, with the right support, I can succeed. It's also complicated because I might have this condition, although it's uncertain yet.'

F.: 'That must be difficult, facing material that may apply to you.'

M.: 'Yes and no. Even if I'm autistic, I'll be on the high-functioning side, so it's not so bad. However, I struggle to understand the rest of the population.'

F.: 'What do you mean?'

M.: 'It's about thinking and processing information. Because of this, and the choices I've made, I find myself in a complete wilderness in the middle of a big city.'

F.: 'Interesting!'

M.: 'Yeah, I think so. That's why I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. I write fiction. I have filled my laptop with started, continued, and completed stories that may find the right publisher someday.

F.: 'What are your books about?'

M.: 'Oh, just the things that happened to me, mixed with my vivid imagination. Abuse, violence, crime, narcissism...'

F.: 'Thrilling subjects.'

M.: 'Yes, it may seem that way. There's a detective, a psychology, and unhappy relationships. All these elements fit nicely into the bigger picture. This detective series will continue, with the detective's character arc evolving with each fresh case. Naturally, I always have a case he's obligated to pursue. We’ll see how it goes.’

F.: 'Will you continue writing on Vocal?'

M.: 'Yes, Vocal is great for practicing my craft. Many of my short stories published here inspired me to expand them into full narratives. For example, a nurse's diary became part of my second crime fiction book. It worked out nicely as a filler to enhance the action.'

F.: 'Where do you find inspiration for your books?'

M.: 'Most of my books draw from my personal experiences. I've lived on the outskirts of society, not in the criminal world, but close to it. Coincidences have played a role, but I believe we have some control over what happens. Although it has affected me mentally, I consider my nuclear family to be the biggest criminals I've encountered.'

F.: 'Did they inspire you to go in this direction?'

M.: 'Absolutely! I feel like I inherited the need to heal from them. When psychological and physical damage fills your life, you question others' actions to recover. Communication is a two-way street, otherwise it's just a monologue.'

F.: 'So you create extensive dialogues in your books?'

M.: 'Exactly. I put everything I lack in life into my fiction. The characters are based on real people I've met or talked to, even if it was just once. Sometimes, one character is a combination of multiple people and myself. I change names and physical traits, but the story is always the most important part. All characters have their roles, and if they're redundant, I remove them. Sometimes they only appear briefly to die in the next moment, but they serve the genre.'

F.: 'Crime fiction.'

M.: 'Yes.'

F.: 'What are your favourites?'

M.: 'I enjoy reading books I wouldn't want to see as movies. Thriller like "Coast to Coast Murders" by James Patterson and romantic drama "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover have had a profound impact on me. B A Paris and her book "The Therapist" and Lisa Jewell’s “The Family Upstairs” were also incredibly captivating. Crime fiction, as Ian Rankin mentioned, can teach us valuable lessons, despite some people, including academics, disliking it.'

F.: 'Why do you think that is?'

M.: 'Jealousy. If someone can write well in popular genres like crime fiction and romance, those who don't like it avoid it and criticise it. But for me, these books offer more than just a genre. They provide entertainment, thrills, easy-to-read sentences, but also new vocabulary, unexpected endings, and relatable characters. Although, you won't find some characters in everyday life or you meet them only once as they are killers. There's also a lot to learn about human behaviour and the risks and lies we encounter. It's interesting how people deceive themselves while thinking they're deceiving others.'

F.: 'Are you referring to real life or fiction?'

M.: 'Both. As a natural psychologist, I can't help but observe and trying to understand people and their motives. However, this ability comes with consequences and sometimes pain. I frequently witness the pain of others, yet I'm unable to assist them all because of the frequent neglect of psychology in our lives, including my own. That's why I'm trying to catch up now.'

F.: 'So, what are your current projects? Do you have any titles in mind?'

M.: 'I have some tentative titles, “Dogging Your Footsteps”, “Tracking Your Blood”, “Mnemonist”, and “Castrateur”. Right now, my focus is on finishing “Mnemonist” in a few months. After that, I'll go back to properly editing “Dogging Your Footstep”. I don't enjoy editing, and yet I false started editing this book last year. Another urgent fiction demanded my attention, so I temporarily took a break from this project. I went with the flow and I don't regret it because now I have two completed rough drafts. The second one, “Tracking Your Blood”, is more advanced. I believe that with the third one, “Mnemonist”, I've come closest to what's expected from a regular book in a bookstore. Of course, it will still need a few edits, but having things in the right places makes the editing process easier. It's still hard, especially for an amateur like me.'

F.: 'Fingers crossed! Hopefully, we can catch up when the first book comes out. Good luck.'

M.: 'I'm not thanking it. For luck.'

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Thank you for reading!