With Infinitude out in the wild, and some of my storytelling learning behind me, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what I want to write next. It’s unfamiliar territory to have nothing in motion given Infinitude was in the works for so long, but as slightly depressing as that is, it’s also exhilarating. There are so many different directions tugging at me (a good problem to have) that I figured I would jot them down.
Apologies if you came to this post looking for the specific next project I want to embark on, as this is a rather broad look at the various options I’m mulling over. What do YOU think I should write next? Let me know!
Horror
I’ve read a handful of scary novels in recent years, along with watching/playing some truly fantastic horror movies, TV shows, and videogames. There’s just something fun about being scared. This concept digs down into the most primal roots of being human. And all the while I’ve thought, “I think I could write a good horror story”
In my early concepts, I’m wanting to avoid the fantastical or supernatural (I think), and instead tap into real fears. Things that could actually happen. A serial killer…an intruder…something along those lines. Potentially this is a full length novel, or perhaps it’s a series of short stories.
I know horror is niche and I could lose some interest from those who have read my previous works, but it feels like an itch that I need to scratch, even if it never sees the light of day.
Likelihood: High
“John Wick / American James Bond” Series
A return to my action roots? Consider me interested. Building an icon? It’s a must. This one is always going to be a compelling option as I gravitate toward the action realm, and there’s something intriguing about building a series that could exist across several books.
I have lots of ideas in this space, but my hesitation is that it doesn’t really feel like there’s a market for “action” books right now, or at least ones I’m not aware of. And while I’m not exactly the hottest writer on the block – I should be writing what I want to write – it is something I consider. Do I have enough original ideas to make this stand out? Or even stand out from Agents & Angels? I believe the answer is yes, but I think this one needs some brainstorming and world building first. If I’m not satisfied with where I get to, I’ll table it for later, even if the action/spy genre will always be where I started.
Likelihood: 50/50
Uncharted-esque Series
What’s Uncharted, the non-gamers in the room are asking? It’s a videogame series that’s reminiscent of Indiana Jones (with a much better streak across 4 games). It’s about relatable, lovable scoundrels globetrotting to find long lost treasure while racing to beat enemies there.
This one intrigues me because it’s a flavor of what I’ve done in different ways with Agents & Angels and Infinitude, and I think the research could be fun, coupled with the idea that it’s a perfect canvas to test out some of my new storytelling tools. There’s something about this one that tells me it could be a ton of fun.
While not an outright hesitation, I do believe I need to think about my approach in order to make it stand out. Do I go with a lone hero? An organization/agency of heroes? A blend of spies and adventurers? Would I want it R-rated (rare for this genre, but familiar for my writing)? Ultimately I need to read some books in this space – outside of the Clive Cussler’s of the world – to see how they translate into an exciting tale.
Likelihood: Higher than 50/50
Mystery / Thriller Novella
When I wrote The Mask of a Marriage, I very much enjoyed the “novella” aspect of it. It was quicker to write, easier to keep track of, and easier to edit. I believe it was more accessible because of the lower price point and time commitment, and it forces you to be lean with your story. As I could see my life getting busier and busier, both at work and with a kid on the way, novellas may be where I spend my next writing time.
Aside from horror, I’m not sure any of my other ideas thus far lend themselves well to this format. But what’s to stop me from running it back and writing another thriller novella? Or perhaps a mystery who-dun-it, to try my hand at that popular genre? I enjoy these because they allow me to have focused character work, combined with my storytelling tools, I think there could be a very efficient story brewing.
My only problem? It’s probably the mystery/thriller space where I have the least inspiration right now. I don’t even really have the inkling of an idea, where as I’m further down the tracks with the other ones. But that’s what brainstorming is for!
Likelihood: Less than 50/50
A Book About My Dog
Perhaps my most fully-baked idea, not to mention the one my mom and dad keep insisting that I write; there is something really enjoyable about writing a book of stories about my Bernese Mountain Dog, Barley. I’d want to give him a distinct voice and character arc, but also myself, and doing it throughout his life would be a cool adventure.
My “hesitation”, that I’ve mostly decided to ignore, is that it feels like it’s a “one for me” write. Dog books can be big, but I also assume it’s a large, saturated market. Barley is special to us, but would he be special to others? Would stories we find funny make others laugh?
Most of that doesn’t really matter because it could be a cathartic and fun exercise that’s a wonderful look-back to have for my entire life. So aside from actually getting it started (he’s already 3!), I see no reason why NOT to do this one, alongside some other project listed above.
Likelihood: Very high
Other Ideas
As mentioned, I’m not at a loss for ideas or directions I’m intrigued by, so here’s a smorgasbord of potential other paths I came up with:
- Sci-fi short story collection
- “Larger beings” war idea – perhaps build off Infinitude?
- A novella, but releasing as a blog in multiple parts
- More traditional, real-world fiction story, highly focused on character arcs and interactions
- Horror short story collection
- Superhero fiction, R-rated
J. T. Rath 
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