Shane Cooper

Some may know or may not know, but I’ve been a closet writer for several years. I mean “closet” in that it’s just been a hobby and/or passion that I’ve kind of had for years and I’ve not really talked much about it, so “in the closet” in that as a general rule, it’s not something discussed in open. I talk with Jodi, Dylan and have recently mentioned it a few times to people I know, but have kept it on the down-low for the most part.

I guess you could say, I’m kind of “coming out of the closet”. Not because I’m getting over embarrassment or shame or anything like that, but in that I would like more people I know to be aware of my interests as it becomes more “real”. I kind of use the “closet” metaphor (sexual orientation aside) because it sort of fits. I’ve been dabbling for many years with several novel ideas, but rarely if ever discuss it with anyone. I’ve written a ton of short stories, started a few novels, wrote a bunch of outlines & synopsis, but haven’t started or finished any real project. I’ve also worked on formal proposal stuff for work (boring), but nothing in the non-fiction arena. So, I’ve spent time honing skills, but never really done it for more than just that, honing word skills.

Right now, I’m working on three different projects. Two are in the outline stage (I attempt to outline to give myself direction, but find that I deviate a lot). One project I’m working on heavily, like I dream about the story, different scenarios and scenes, that kind of heavy. I took a short story idea and have expanded it. Here on my blog I put out a short story, Snow Blind… and have re-titled it, “White Rain”. I’m very close to getting the story down on paper, err electrons anyway.

Synopsis: In the middle of a snow storm, Nate Sheridan, an aimless, college graduate, ski bum, discovers a young woman, a twin, sitting along the narrow mountain road near his cabin, shot, but alive. Nate is threatened, then forced to kill her assailant, a Russian mobster tangled in a sorted kidnapping ring, who’s brother attempts to exact revenge. Nate, caught between being accused of attempted murder by a vengeful sheriff and the truth, gets entangled with the kidnapers, then becomes the only link to other victims. Taking matters into his own hands, Nate chases the Russians across various Colorado ski resorts only to discover there’s a connection linking the towns, where he and the twins sister, Sam embark on finding and freeing the kidnapped.

So, where do I stand? I’ve had a goal of finishing the rough draft by the end-of-the year, 2009. I’m close. Just today, I’ve banged out a number of chapters, nearly 8,000 words this weekend alone. Whew. I’m right at about 75,000 words and normally 100,000 is average for a full length novel.

So close…

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