The Story Behind The Basement

Much like with The Jump, as I started thinking about this post, I couldn’t remember the origin of The Basement. Where the idea came from or how it got started. So, I decided to do the same thing I did with The Jump — search my blog to see if I talked about the origin when I was writing it.

Turns out that four years ago, I posted a writing exercise over on Writers Supporting Writers. A type of exercise I have done several times now. Pick a word somewhat randomly and include it in the first few hundred words of the story, then pick another word to use in the next few hundred words, and so on. It’s how I wrote the entirety of Deviation: A Long Short Story.

With the writing exercise, I used those words to produce what would eventually become the first chapter, or part, of The Basement. When I wrote it for the exercise, I titled the story Facilitation, because much like with Deviation, that was the first random word used for the story. And it also somewhat fits what the story eventually became. Which is what?

Well, the way I describe it is that it is a domestic thriller about a marriage gone horribly wrong. Frequently, when I’m at a book fair or craft festival trying to sell my books, if I use that description, most people walk away because that description may be a bit too close to home. They don’t actually say that, of course, but it’s amazing how as soon as those words are out of my mouth they turn away and say “no thanks.” (Maybe I need to come up with a different quick pitch for the story.)

How did I come up with the rest of the story? I have no idea. That’s the beauty to me of being a pantser. It just came to me as I went along. One of the things I did that helped me along the way was that I came up with a four-part structure: How It Began, How It Really Began (which allowed me to go a bit further back in time and fill in some history), How It Ended, and How It Really Ended (which allowed me to go further into the future and produce the ending I did).

Where can you find The Basement (paperback and ebook)? Pretty much everywhere books are sold on-line.

And more, much more. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed. I think.

About kingmidget

About the name. I was the youngest of four. Until I got to kindergarten, I didn't have much to say. All I had to do to get what I wanted was to point, and a sibling, or loving parent, would fulfill my request. As a result, my father coined the nickname -- King Midget. At least that's the way the story goes. I am a father, husband, friend, and lover, writer, runner, pizza maker, baker, and many other things. What I am not is my occupation. It is my job that pays the bills and provides for my family. But, it does not define me.

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