tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18013467137948972492024-03-06T00:30:03.393-05:00How To Write FantasyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-61411371126283272682014-06-24T12:07:00.000-04:002014-06-24T12:07:10.536-04:00Liebster AwardWell, I've been tagged with the Liebster Award again. This time by Emmarayn Redding. http://emmaraynredding.blogspot.com/<br />
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<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Here are the eleven random facts about me.</div>
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1. I have been using GIMP a lot these days.</div>
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2. I am reading Gilbert Morris' book, How To Write (And Sell) A Christian Novel.</div>
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4. I am still in school.</div>
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3. Yesterday, my hair smelled like Apple Cider Vinegar. (It was intentional, too.)</div>
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5. I disagree with Kurt Vonnegut on the usage of semicolons; they are quite practical in many cases.</div>
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5. Did you know I'm numbering this wrong?</div>
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6. I'm hoping to do July NaNoWriMo, if I can finish plotting my story by that time. So far it's taken me 2.5 weeks to plot less than a third of it (and I've been working everyday at it, too). Sooo . . .</div>
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8. I am watching the ISIS CRISIS (hehe) intently. Though, with only 400 million, ISIS is clearly not the richest terrorist organization in the world. Apple is.</div>
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7. I know what the meaning of Brobdingnagian is. It's a real word.</div>
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9. I will go to a camp in a few weeks.</div>
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10. I am currently sun burnt.</div>
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11. My hair is curled in the front and partially spiked on the sides. At least my family says I don't look like Caesar anymore. o_o</div>
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1. Would you feel more nervous... a) taking an extensive test filled with difficult questions, or b) Stand up in front of a large auditorium filled with people and give a speech/sing a song/perform a play?</div>
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B, although I've been discovering lately that being an author is not just about writing. Yes, it's also about giving speeches. :-O</div>
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2. If you were to get stuck in a fictional universe from the books/movies that you like, which would you choose?</div>
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I would choose the Chronicles of Prydain world. I like its setting.</div>
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3. Once there, what would you do to make a living and survive?</div>
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A king's bard. :P</div>
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4. If you were to meet the main cast of that story, would you get along with the characters?</div>
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I don't think Taran or Eilonwy are particularly disagreeable, so yes.</div>
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5. Would they get along with you? </div>
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Probably.</div>
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6. If you were to become a private detective, what kind would you be? The cool, collected, and emotionally removed Sherlock Holmes-type? The friendly, charming, hands-on investigating Nancy Drew-type? Opra-loving Morse? Depressed but determined Wallander?</div>
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. . . Never heard of any of them but Holmes. And Holmes is way to . . . inhuman for me. :P</div>
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I'd be that detective who never finds anything out in the end.</div>
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7. Would you have a sidekick? Or maybe just a friend on equal grounds?</div>
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Sidekick. Someone to do all my work for me.</div>
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8. Given a choice between the Grinch and a sea-sick crocodile, which would you take?</div>
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The Grinch, who I would then feed to the sea-sick crocodile.</div>
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9. If you're a writer, answer question a. If you're not, answer question b.</div>
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Because I'm a rule breaker, I'm going to answer both. :D</div>
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-A) If you were given the opportunity to meet one of your main hero and villain from your book, with them knowing that you were the author, would you want to meet them?</div>
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Oh yes. Neither of them hate me.</div>
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I think.</div>
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-B) Do you know what pneumenoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis means? And DON'T CHEAT by looking it up first! ;) Break it down by the root words.</div>
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This quite an elementary question! After carefully observing all such root sayings, I have conducted a suitable answer. It is the title of the Ultra Microscopic Pneumonia of the Silicon Valley Volcano Disease.</div>
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Now that I HAVE looked it up, I find it means something else entirely. I am sorry, dear friends. I have failed you.</div>
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10. Are you fond of musicals? If so, what are your favorites?</div>
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Nope. :P</div>
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11. If you were given the opportunity to play any character from a book/movie/play/musical, who would you want to play and from what show?</div>
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I seriously can't come up with anyone . . . hmmm . . .</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-80411271465893657452014-05-02T12:46:00.001-04:002014-05-02T12:46:34.314-04:00Top 75 Things I Will Never Do As An Evil Overlord1. My evil plan to take over the world will include bathroom stops.<br />
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2. While unleashing the power of Evil Incarnate, I will aptly forget that Evil really doesn't care if I unlocked it or not - all it wants to do is destroy, destroy, destroy.<br />
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3. I would consider the Xanatos Gambit as unnecessarily complicated.<br />
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4. When using the Xanatos Gambit I would remember to leave one tiny path the hero could exploit, just to give him hope. I think it's amusing when he has hope.<br />
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5. I would hire the dorkiest and most pathetic people I can find to be my soldiers. It's a political move, of course. Why else would I have the slogan, "I support dorks!"?<br />
<br />
6. I will not forget to give the immortal "MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" laugh, even though I know the dorky side-kick is coming up behind me with a club. I told you dorks were useful.<br />
<br />
7. I will give my goonies free wifi so they'll be distracted by Netflix while the heroes sneak past.<br />
<br />
8. I am not content with killing the hero. He must become my minion captain, even though there's no real reason why he should join.<br />
<br />
9. I will set up increasingly difficult obstacles so that the hero will gain knowledge and be able to put up a real fight by the end.<br />
<br />
10. The minion I blinded thirty years ago will be exiled from my kingdom. Nah, he probably won't come back as my hero's mentor.<br />
<br />
11. My minions will be of a superstitious breed. The hero's not smart enough to even think he might be able to scare them out of their duties!<br />
<br />
12. The assassin I send after the hero will be young, beautiful/dashing, and of the opposite gender of the hero. The assassin wouldn't dare fall in love with the hero, then spare his life - I paid her good money!<br />
<br />
13. If she doesn't betray me, and actually does kidnap the hero, I'm not going to waste my money on paying her or anything. That would be stupid. That would be honest . . . No, I think I'll make a mortal enemy out of her by not paying her. She wouldn't dare try to rescue the hero out of MY dungeon!<br />
<br />
14. My dungeons will have windows.<br />
<br />
15. I will lock the hero's love interest in the tallest tower of my fortress, even though I know the hero has a griffin.<br />
<br />
16. I will kill my best minion captain because he failed me once. It's tradition.<br />
<br />
17. I will paint my minions' armor pure white, because it wouldn't make sense to hide my infamous harbingers of glory from sight.<br />
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18. Minions who betray me will be rewarded for thinking outside the box.<br />
<br />
19. I believe in a fighting chance.<br />
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20. (Reverse. i.e. something I will do). Any man or woman, girl or boy who has a tragic backstory will be executed. Backstory that.<br />
<br />
21. (Reverse) While building my fortress, I will have magic spells put on the sewers making them <i>faint</i>fully stinky.<br />
<br />
22. I will wear a pink gibus.<br />
<br />
23. My shock troops will consist of klutzes. As <a href="http://reflectingthemirror.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-i-broke-my-glasses.html">Jake points out</a> they are beyond intuitive.<br />
<br />
24. I will wear a ring, so when I punch the hero, it will not only smash his face, but it'll break my finger! Talk about double damage!<br />
<br />
25. If anyone challenges my Overlordicious Throne in full rebellion, I will wait patiently for him to train and gather an army before fighting him. No sense in wasting my time and actually getting rid of him myself.<br />
<br />
26. When my goonie captains fail me, I'll hire a mercenary goonie captain to take their place. Who cares if he has no loyalty to me! He has loyalty to my coin.<br />
<br />
27. I will become enfattened and bloated on the meat and drink of my glory and wealth.<br />
<br />
28. When the hero is finally killed, I, with my villianously dashing heart, will assume that it was the truth when he told me he was dead.<br />
<br />
29. (Reverse) I will have my twin brother executed at birth.<br />
<br />
30. I will lead my armies into battle, valiantly, viciously, villianously!<br />
<br />
31. I will not make a copy of a map concerning the hidden passageways and tunnels of my castle. The hero wouldn't dare sneak up through the sewers into my personal bedchambers through the toilet.<br />
<br />
32. When a callow youth's family is killed and his home burned to ashes by my Imperial Goonies, I will assume the boy didn't really care about his family, and not expect him to want revenge.<br />
<br />
33. Every minion I find to act suspiciously will go under rigorous testing. My eight year old son will take a thirty-second interview with this character. The verdict of my son will be final. If he is declared a spy, he will be executed. If he is not declared a spy, he will move on to the next level of investigation. My crack team of thirteen year olds will represent "Yea" or "Nay". If thirteen year old #1 wins a wrestling match, it is qualified as a "Yea." If thirteen year old #2 wins the match, it is a "Nay." If by chance the suspicious character passes even this tier, he will move onto the last and final one. He will be lined against a wall and shot for good measure.<br />
<br />
34. Rebels will be given a fair trial and placed in a dungeon for a week. If they are found to be guilty, then and ONLY then will they be executed.<br />
<br />
35. I will put all the details of taking over the world plans on a 1 Megabyte floppy disk on the top of my desk for convenience.<br />
<br />
36. When the hero wins a rigged contest I set up for him, I will advise the advisers who told me it was impossible to win, to take a try at the contest themselves. If they fail, I guess its to the crocodile moat with them.<br />
<br />
37. I will not expect anyone to be angry with me for stealing all their things or forcing them into my army.<br />
<br />
38. The good king from whom I usurped the kingdom will be exiled. He would be in a grieving state, I'm sure, so execution is a bit far.<br />
<br />
39. In the process of taking over the world, I won't give a care when I order ten thousand soldiers to destroy themselves by not retreating. I mean, who needs several brigades of well-trained, well-equipped warriors when I have my klutzes at hand?<br />
<br />
40. I will always fly low in my helicopter when the hero is dangling on a rope beneath.<br />
<br />
41. I will treat my pet crocodile harshly so that he will be eager to eat me when I trip and fall in the moat.<br />
<br />
42. Once I kill the hero, I won't expect him to come back to life even though his lover kisses him and places the Stone of Love on his chest. I'm sure it's just some ritual the barbaric tribes practice before cremation.<br />
<br />
43. I will not trust my loyal captains military advice. If you want anything done your way, you have to do it yourself, is what I say!<br />
<br />
44. Top Priority of the Day: Rewatch Frozen.<br />
<br />
45. Before putting my ultimate plan of total world domination into action, I will watch animated series such as Kim Possible, Jackie Chan Adventures and Gargoyles to make sure the old pro villains in them would approve of the plan.<br />
<br />
46. I will paint my castle pink to throw off the invaders.<br />
<br />
47. All my captains will be versed in the art of flamenco dancing.<br />
<br />
48. Every time there is a mistake, someone will be executed.<br />
<br />
49. The Imperial seal will be that of me petting a rainbow unicorn sitting atop a balancing ball on the nose of a professional sea lion.<br />
<br />
50. When a band of entertainers come in, I will not expect the worst of them. Even though there has never ever been such a group here (because these are the Dark Lands), I will trust them and invite them in.<br />
<br />
51. I will make a list of 100 things I will never do as Evil Overlord of Your Pathetic Hairball Lives.<br />
<br />
52. My Imperial Klutzes will be trained in the art of being stupid so that a teenager could simply waltz into my fortress, outwitting and outswordsmanshipping them all.<br />
<br />
53. Open-mindedness is for children.<br />
<br />
54. Can't teach an old dog new tricks!<br />
<br />
55. Overall I will be very nasty in life because I had a bad upbringing. Yes, that's why I have to murder my minions when I am in fits of anger.<br />
<br />
56. I have no remorse because I am just that soulless. I mean, how else is the reader going to root when my head is cut off?<br />
<br />
57. I will wear black clothes and a hoodie so that my eyes are dark. I like the dark. Also, I'm emo.<br />
<br />
58. I am a Whovian. It's pretty much a part of the job description. Of being human.<br />
<br />
59. I am a Let It Goian. It's pretty much a part of the job description. Of being sane.<br />
<br />
60. I am a Derp. It's pretty much a part of the job description. Of being a villain.<br />
<br />
61. Instead of DARPA, my advanced research center will be named DERPA.<br />
<br />
62. Free donuts in the cafeteria every Saturday for my Imperial Minions!<br />
<br />
63. My personal regiment of Goonie Guards will be trained by airsoft to keep training costs down.<br />
<br />
64. (Reverse) My ambush team will have a counter-ambush division in case the hero ambushes the ambush.<br />
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65. When by Imperial Misnomers kill the hero, I will fully trust them and not expect the hero to actually be alive.<br />
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66. My brains are in my stomach.<br />
<br />
67. If they aren't, I will be surgically mutated so that they are.<br />
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68. I will personally march into battle with my Imperial Klutzes. I will certainly not use a robot look-alike to take my place.<br />
<br />
69. I will personally oversee the installment of my new tiddy bear.<br />
<br />
70. I will rename myself something grand. Something ferocious. Something villainous. Perhaps Morning Glory Peach Blossom. Yes, I like the sound of that.<br />
<br />
71. A Brony would never betray his colors. I fight for villainousity, I fight for an evil empire, I fight for <b>My Little Pony!</b><br />
<br />
72. I will not move out of New York City, even though if I did, Spiderman wouldn't be able to ruin my plans every single time.<br />
<br />
73. Put all my power into a ring, so that if it's destroyed everything blows up.<br />
<br />
74. (Reverse) My lead scholar will right a book about me. And for once, the villain will win! MWHAHAHA!<br />
<br />
75. I MUST have only the best of Girl Scout Cookies delivered to my door.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-21630391409882359432014-03-19T12:51:00.002-04:002014-03-19T12:51:32.062-04:00Writing a First Chapter - No Problem No PainAlthough it came out two years ago, I've only finally watched <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i>. I have to say, for a surreal gaming world, it had a smooth overall style which at first I didn't expect. But that's something I might talk about more later. In a review (if that's the right word), perhaps.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In any case, I noticed an important plot element that was established in the very first minutes of the story. There's a problem. <b>A big problem. </b>At least for Ralph.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But that problem wasn't the inciting incident (though to be fair, it is what caused it). In any case, my point is that there's something wrong with Ralph's state. The inciting incident didn't create the problem - <b>the problem already exists.</b></div>
<div>
<br />
Why did I bother to bring this up? Maybe because you, like me, have at least once made a mistake concerning this. On my current novel, I realized I didn't have a problem - a deep problem. Not one that comes from the inciting incident, but one that has a difficult and sometimes ugly origin. It could either be a problem for my hero, someone or something he cares about, or for the whole setting. But there has to be something to motivates the inciting incident. For Ralph, he needed to find something in life besides being the bad guy. Something to show him that, even though he's a bad guy, he's not a <i>bad guy</i>.<br />
<br />
And that problem spurred the inciting incident, which in turn made its own (and more severe) problems.<br />
<br />
In my own story, the inciting incident is the problem of the story (or at least what gets it started). Sure, I <i>could</i> write a story like that, but this is one large plot tool that so many stories have it's hard to take another path. And that's not bad - the elements of plot continue to recur in stories because that's what makes <b>good stories</b>.<br />
<br />
I was never aware of this plot tool in the past, but now that I am I plan to make good use of this knowledge. Because if there is no inherent problem that has to be fixed, right from the beginning, what kind of a story would that make it?<br />
<br />
Robert McKee says in his book <i>Story</i>, a story should go to polar opposite by the end. If it has a bad beginning, it should have a good ending. Or if it has a happy beginning, it should have a sad ending.<br />
<br />
I agree with this completely. Stories are about change - as significant change. No matter what happens by the time that last word is put down, something changes. Even in dark stories there is total and complete change. Change for good, whether that ending is one of joy or not. All good stories are about transformation, all good stories are about that moment when the problem - even in a world that seems to get along well - is finally solved.<br />
<br />
Robert</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-41069806076452793592014-03-12T00:15:00.001-04:002014-03-12T00:15:28.586-04:00Write ItWrite it.<br />
<b>Just write it.</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
It's 11:00 PM here as I write this. I'm sniffling as I enter the frigid wasteland of another sickness. And I'm conflicted.<br />
<br />
There's certainly no point in stressing out over a story, am I right? But somehow, I can't get that through my head. There's no writer out there who would take his or her writing too lightly as they prepare to send it out to the world's bleak eyes. And in many cases, this seriousness - the devotion to the story - is good. When it goes too far though, it will degenerate the writer down with it. It comes in many ruses, but it comes much of the time because of stress.<br />
<br />
I procrastinate when I get doubts and when I'm afraid. Yes, I'm afraid. Fearing that this is all for nothing. And I can't imagine that it isn't a natural feeling. But right now, why can't I write this? <b>It's a minute and a half of dialogue.</b> A few lines, a few words. Why can't I finish it? I need it done by tonight. It shouldn't be that big of a deal!<br />
<br />
But I also procrastinate when I'm conflicted. And I'm conflicted. And maybe afraid too? Afraid I could mess this up so much I'll never be able to amend it later. <b>And once this is done, I won't be able to amend it.</b> A last minute change to a project before it goes live means there's no more time for continued editing.<br />
<br />
Just a few more lines and that's it. But they're loaded lines. Meaningful words. And, as Mr. Schwbauer says, meaning is something (even something very simple) that points to something greater. These scraps of lines are so significant to the story because they're at the very end. And they mean something. They're the end of character arc, they point to something far greater, and simultaneously they expose light to another, more hidden topic the story has hidden before.<br />
<br />
And these lines specifically need to explain why. <b>Why.</b> And the Whying of any story can kill a writer. It's telling the audience why this, or why that. But Whying can be aggravating - because it's <b>telling</b>, not <b>showing</b>. And that's bad, because the Whying should be the showing, and yet most of the time it's switched with the telling!<br />
<br />
Are you confused too?<br />
<br />
Yet I'm resolved to write this tonight. I'm kind of obsessed with it.<br />
<br />
Clocking in at 12:10. I had a long distraction in writing this. Ah, the distraction of a distraction from trying to write . . .<br />
<br />
See you in the morning.<br />
<br />
RobertAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-62169988742599101272014-03-04T07:00:00.000-05:002014-03-04T07:00:08.022-05:00Top Ten Tuesday - March Fourth - Top Ten Popular AuthorsTop ten popular authors . . .<br />
<br />
That I've never read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt_nP7t_Od6caRuLMJYd1W1bDWfTmpNUodDCvdkXtrBp5WaCSG_hSvHiO4OgxbbmgrOCFOMUUFWAQ7IrS_OnoO17pMyW6fuSWbVNTYCrxJ8YBZy9vLVdmmnOi1D9SAjAfO25Qibr76orT/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt_nP7t_Od6caRuLMJYd1W1bDWfTmpNUodDCvdkXtrBp5WaCSG_hSvHiO4OgxbbmgrOCFOMUUFWAQ7IrS_OnoO17pMyW6fuSWbVNTYCrxJ8YBZy9vLVdmmnOi1D9SAjAfO25Qibr76orT/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>10. Stephenie Meyer.</b></div>
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(Thank goodness). I can't even spell her name without looking it up. There are a few logical reasons as to why I've never read anything of her's though - let me explain. Vampire romance. I think those two words work? ;)</div>
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<b>9. J.K. Rowling.</b></div>
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As much as I would like to read Harry Potter, I haven't done it. And watching the movies doesn't count. Sometime or other I'll buy the series, even for the sake of just reading such an acclaimed series. And because everyone says her plot weaving is superb.</div>
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<b>8. Stephen King.</b></div>
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Why am I putting all the really popular authors up at the top? Because they're the ones that matter least to me. I've never read any of Stephen King's, and for the most part I don't plan to do so.</div>
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<b>7. George R.R. Martin.</b></div>
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His books are hardly fit (content wise) for a teenager to read. Enough said?</div>
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<b>6. William Goldman.</b></div>
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For as many times as I've looked at that book on Amazon, you would have thought I'd have bought the Princess Bride by now. But I haven't, and therefore I still haven't read any of William Goldman's work. Have any of you read the the Princess Bride?</div>
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<b>5. Anne Elisabeth Stengl.</b></div>
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Popular enough, right? I would certainly like to read the Goldstone Wood series, and the first book might honestly reach my top ten to read list. But, as always, I'm such a procrastinator from reading anything.</div>
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<b>4. William Shakespeare.</b></div>
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While he's technically a playwright, reading his scripts seems the thing to do. Although I did read a bit of MacBeth at one time (or rather, it was read to me).</div>
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<b>3. Jane Austen.</b></div>
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Seeing as I don't read much Romance/Romance related books, it makes sense that I never read a Jane Austen. Nor have I ever finished watching a movie adaption. The movies have always brought me into a mire of boredom, about which time I hit the off button.</div>
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<b>2. John Green.</b></div>
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I've been wanting to read the Fault In Our Stars since it came out (what, two years ago?) I've been wanting to read it. And it's still sitting on my to-read list.</div>
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<b>1. Charles Dickens.</b></div>
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I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Never once have I read a Charles Dickens. Impossible, you say? I guess I'm the exception. And in this case, being the exception isn't fun. For the sake of all that's writerly good, I must read Little Dorrit, or at least Oliver Twist!</div>
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Truth is, I've actually read Oliver Twist, but it was abbreviated. Talk about dumbing down society!</div>
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- Robert</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-58650285752586169412014-02-26T17:34:00.001-05:002014-02-27T10:18:10.585-05:00Sunflower Blog Tag<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
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<span class="s1"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpzAasD7KFzDpmoCXFteYXCC9aOnqgrnox0bKA-eOutOsot2SsAkSpYUHDMrtE7KbuDPgmywXfSkwudVGc5AP-fYfem0bHbq7jPwZU9NKwiYs8mMV3rGnpUGr9gAaZi8me0lRQlCL5JE0/s1600/Sunflower+Award+Button%5B5%5D.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I was tagged by Ryebrynn with the Sunflower Blogger tag. Here we go.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Rules -</span></div>
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<span class="s1">1. Share 11 facts about yourself</span></div>
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<span class="s1">2. Answer the 11 questions set by your nomination blogger- Nominate 11 bloggers</span></div>
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<span class="s1">3. Set questions for the nominated bloggers. </span></div>
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1. My major writing projects since I began serious writing - my first writing project ended in 45,000 words, my second, 20,000, my third, 60,000, my third, 10,000, my fourth, 10,000, my fifth I'm still writing.</div>
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2. I write incredibly slow. D:</div>
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3. I have dirty blonde hair.</div>
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4. I'm an anachronist.</div>
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5. I have an invisible mustache (according to some people).</div>
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6. I have grey-blue eyes.</div>
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7. I'm not a "Grammar Nazi," and I believe it's impossible to be one. Nazis were the guys who put people in showers and then gassed them.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
8. I'm a sucker for sad books.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
9. I can't think of another one.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
10. I don't watch Doctor Who.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
1. What are you currently reading?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
The Bronze Bow.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
2. What book coming out soon are you most excited about?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Golden Daughter.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
3. Do you like Mountain Dew(if you don't, I'll still forgive you... maybe :P)</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Course! :D</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
4. Who is your favorite author?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Maybe C.S. Lewis.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
5. What is your favorite series?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br />
The Chronicles of Narnia? The Lord of the Rings?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
6. What is your favorite stand-alone novel?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
The Hobbit.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
7. Do you like cats?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Sure.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
8. What is your opinion of dogs?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
They're good boys.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
9. What is your favorite state(In America)\</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Washington D.C.? :)</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
10. Spicy food or sweet food?</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
Spicy, all the way!</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calligraffitti; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">
11. What is your favorite movie?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can't separate the Lord of the Rings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And now I'll tag -</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
MagicandWriting</div>
<div>
Bluebelle</div>
<div>
CrazyAndyMan</div>
<div>
Ellron Silvertree (even though he doesn't have a blog)</div>
<div>
Raptor Elytra</div>
<div>
Hyperlinkzer</div>
<div>
T. Granger</div>
<div>
CNGoodhue<br />
Dmitri Pendragon<br />
<br />
Questions -<br />
<br />
1. If the exact opposite of you (personality wise) showed up, what would you do?<br />
<br />
2. What are your current writing projects (if you write)?<br />
<br />
3. Most depressing thing you can think of in an instant?<br />
<br />
4. Do you know a second language?<br />
<br />
5. Have you read the Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged)?<br />
<br />
6. Have you done the Sunflower Tag before?<br />
<br />
7. Eye color?<br />
<br />
8. Hair color?<br />
<br />
9. Do you want a different hair color/eye color?<br />
<br />
10. How are you? (this is not a rhetorical question. :P)<br />
<br />
11. How's your writing going?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Robert</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-75645217602342653312014-02-11T19:18:00.001-05:002014-02-11T19:18:07.114-05:00February 11th - The Day The Internet Revolts?Today, February 11th, is the day the internet rises up and revolts.<br />
<br />
If you haven't heard about it by now though, I guess the revolt didn't quite work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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" 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" 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Today is the day we - the internet - fight back. Virtual protests rise up from all around the blogosphere and elsewhere. Will the NSA hear us and comply with our demands against Mass Surveillance?</div>
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They better.</div>
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But we'll see.</div>
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(I figured I better post this for my duties to America - and finding something to post.)</div>
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Robert</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-36488086300257878832014-02-09T16:02:00.000-05:002014-02-09T16:02:31.640-05:00Crazy Idea?As it is with anyone in their trade, writers can relate to other writers. Each would have different levels of experience and knowledge on all kinds of subjects. And even without ever having met each other before, we share a connection because we've all gone through the struggles of writing.<br />
<br />
And so, it makes sense for writers to gather and share knowledge and experience, right? Even just to relax and talk.<br />
<br />
And writing together, in one place, is also inspiring. You can feel the power of creation all around you (although it's more of a subconscious feeling than anything else). Your environment can mean the difference between 10 words a day and 10,000.<br />
<br />
And why not?<br />
<br />
Why not a place for writers to gather, to share, to talk, but mostly just to write? It's a crazy idea (although potentially not the first idea of its kind), for a group of writers just to come and write in one room. But it's also kind of empowering. Together is always better than alone, right?<br />
<br />
So just imagine. A large central room of sofas, cushions, desks, beanbag chairs, etc. Pictures line the walls, something to lighten up the walls but nothing distracting like a movie. A speaker in the center plays music. At one end of the room a smaller round room coffeehouse for writers taking a break to talk with others and have refreshments. At another end of the larger room are a few smaller separate rooms, for those who would rather write in silence - these we can call the Art Rooms, or Exploration Rooms, for us to create in or draw in or just to sit in silence in.<br />
<br />
It would be for a collection of writers to just be, well, writers.<br />
<br />
Whaddya think? Would you approve of a place like this, theoretically? What would you like to see in a place like this?<br />
<br />
RobertAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-87384820921623728882014-02-04T15:56:00.002-05:002014-02-04T15:56:48.103-05:00Reading? What's that?A lot of young writers read a lot.<br />
<br />
And the simple truth is - I don't.<br />
<br />
I used to read though. I used to read all the time. Virtually all the time, that is. I read the first three books of the Inheritance Cycle, I read the Lord of the Rings, I read all of the Chronicles of Narnia books. And then I reread them.<br />
<br />
I used to read a lot. But I don't anymore. Last year I might have read ten books - and I was shooting for twenty-five. This year (or really last - still can hardly comprehend it's 2014), I've read five at most. Let's see if I can count them on one hand.<br />
<br />
<i>Prisoner of Zenda</i><br />
<i>The Cross and the Switchblade</i><br />
<i>Beyond the Cross and the Switchblade</i><br />
<br />
One hand. And that's with two fingers missing. Am I just that lazy? And next year I <i>have</i> to read twenty-five books for school. Well, that's it for me. I'm doomed (to borrow the colloquialism).<br />
<br />
But why?<br />
<br />
For one thing, my environment changed in the past three years like it never had before.<br />
<br />
I discovered the internet. O_O (And in the process the key to the future generation of socializing - emoticons) Which has turned out not only to be the bane of my reading time, but also my writing time, my social time, my school time, and my existence in general. But not my thinking time, which of course is always the prime of life as a teen still trying to figure out whether the Affordable Care Act is a token of the Devil or a gift from God (after <strike>months</strike> a year of contemplation, I've discovered it's somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the former - it's a pie in the face from our government).<br />
<br />
But this is a bit sidetracked. Three years ago I lived in a much different environment. One in which there was a couch. A bookshelf. And a fireplace. And a library about twenty minutes away.<br />
<br />
At the time though you must understand - this was not a cool place (actually, considering we had neither gas nor electric heat and only a fireplace, it was a cool place). At the time I hated libraries - and yet I loved reading books.<br />
<br />
Sound confusing?<br />
<br />
Don't look at me. I was the victim to that delusional state of mind.<br />
<br />
So I read on that little couch. And I read. And I read. And then we moved and I stopped reading. About that time was when I starting writing, however. <br />
<br />
So obviously there's a big shift in ideals during this time of my life. I went from feeding of others' work - a consumer - to (trying) to create - a producer.<br />
<br />
I went from living a normal life, to wanting to help others live normal lives (through books - though I was at the time still quite disillusioned, as I believed writing was for the sake of it. As if!)<br />
<br />
And so I can firmly come to this conclusion. My shifting ideals actually affected my behavior subconsciously. I don't, however, believe that I should remain this way. Therefore, maybe 2014 will be a better year for me in terms of reading. Maybe I shall return to those frolicking meadows (the ones I believed I was in on the stormy days of childhood). And once again return to being that fat happy consumer.<br />
<br />
Although I don't think choosing <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> was quite the book to start off with in my return to preexistence . . .<br />
<br />
<i>Adios and vaya con dios</i><br />
RobertAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-53987573426964186472014-01-29T15:54:00.000-05:002014-01-29T15:54:27.217-05:00Swearing in YA FictionI was reading a forum thread today. It was the first page of a debate thread. And being that it is a Christian forum, everyone on there agreed swearing is bad in YA fiction.<br />
<br />
Is swearing bad, then? Is it just inherently evil, or does it not really matter? My immediate reaction might be something along the lines of "Well, it's what the writer means it as."<br />
<br />
But is that true? If I don't really <b>mean</b> what I say when I take God's name in vain, does that excuse me?<br />
<br />
If they're empty words, why is there a taboo on them in Christian culture? Do you see the point in holding up a meaningless tradition?<br />
<br />
If they're just words, I may as well expand my vocabulary! If I don't mean anything by them, how can they harm?<br />
<br />
But do I really mean something? Maybe, maybe not. A lot of teens (and adults) spout out words they might not even understand just for the sake of it. But they're expressions, are they not? For some, swearing is just another adjective. For others, they say it in anger, surprise, or even happiness. They're expressing their feelings.<br />
<br />
So is expressing your feelings - even when you're using swear words - okay? Here's a key point though. I'm not using a swear word for basically no reason - I'm using it to express myself. And so it does mean something to me . . .<br />
<br />
Of course, it may just be a habit I got stuck onto.<br />
<br />
So is swearing really bad? The Bible says using God's name in vain is bad, but what about the other words? The words that aren't using God's name in vain? The f-word, the s-word?<br />
<br />
We might find them vulgar, as Christians. There's nothing wrong with that. Our own beliefs should come out far stronger than what the world excepts. Our beliefs should be more powerful to us individually. Philippians 4:8 validates our shunning of those two words for us personally.<br />
<br />
And so as a writer, it partially depends on what your own moral standard is.<br />
<br />
But going back to this forum. One member said:<br />
<i>"If you need a character to cuss:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>1. Make up swear phrases.</i><br />
<i>2. Simply write "Billy cursed."</i><br />
<br />
Do you agree with this?<br />
<br />
I don't. Why? Because making up your own swear words is just a pathetic excuse to make yourself feel "unguilty". I'm sorry, but I have to be blunt. What's the difference between using the phrase: "Oh my god" and "By the King's beard."?<br />
<br />
The king in the second phrase is referring to a god-like presence in whatever fantasy world writers may be writing in. But there's no difference. Using God's name in vain, only switching the official title? Think about that a while.<br />
<br />
Moving on to number two then. I feel uncomfortable with this too. If someone - maybe an impressionable young kid, reads that his hero curses, then by all means, that should mean he is allowed to do so too . . .<br />
<br />
Even if original intentions are not so, indirect and even subconscious messages can be transmit through the page. I know what "Billy" is saying. And covering up the word with "Billy cursed" is only an excuse to hide what the character is saying. Just write the word if that's what you're trying to say.<br />
<br />
Or would you feel guilty . . . ?<br />
<br />
I don't like swearing in my fiction - or anything that I read. But what's the point of trying to hide it when I <b>know</b> it's there?<br />
<br />
C.S. Lewis swore. Or maybe he just used it in his books to give a more authentic feel to the characters. Whatever the case, he didn't use it in the Chronicles of Narnia. It's a family friendly series. I have no wish to put profanity in children's stories - but covering it up with "he swore"? There's no difference.<br />
<br />
If a kid gets the wrong idea from a curse word, it's your responsibility. You may not be able to fix it - but you could have prevented it. It affects. Words affect.<br />
<br />
And that is why words are so powerful. They can create emotion. And they can create mistakes. If you have swear words, even in foreign languages, show that it is wrong.<br />
<br />
Show that swearing, no matter the random string of letters - but that the meaning of it - is wrong.<br />
<br />
What's your opinion on swear words? Are they inherently evil? Do you not mind "he swore" so much? What about other words? Would you replace a swear word with "rats!"? Also, what do you think about the words that mean different things in different places? In America, bloody is an acceptable word. In the United Kingdom and other British affiliated nations however, "bloody" is offensive.<br />
<br />
Is masking what you mean by using other words acceptable? Even if your meaning is the same? For an evil character, this is sometimes a question you may be faced with, even just for the sake of authenticity.<br />
<br />
And also, what - in your mind - is the difference between using God's name in vain, as in "Good God!" and exclamations of surprise or other emotions?<br />
<br />
- RAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-90774189493484867002014-01-27T22:59:00.003-05:002014-01-28T10:01:21.113-05:00Save Jonathan Park!Jonathan Park is in trouble!<br />
<br />
Jonathan Park is an awesome Christian radio drama. But the series is in a crisis - because last year a business partner with the series folded, and with it seemingly went the hope of Jonathan Park ever returning to the 'waves.<br />
<br />
But recently a new chance came up for the Roys - the family who created, wrote, and directed the series. They were offered a chance to buy back the rights of Jonathan Park. This could mean a lot.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://creationworks.net/sitebuilder/images/Save_JP_Square-412x381.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://creationworks.net/sitebuilder/images/Save_JP_Square-412x381.png" height="184" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
But that chance to get back the full rights is costly. And they don't just have the capital sitting around. So Mr. Roy started a crowdfunding option. 100,000 dollars is a lofty goal - but who said <u>anything</u> is impossible with God on our side?<br />
<br />
Jonathan Park is an invaluable endeavor. The series aired all over. And now they need our help to bring back Jonathan Park.<br />
<br />
It's time to Save Jonathan Park!<br />
<br />
The crowdfunding host is fundable - <a href="https://www.fundable.com/creation-works-of-california">https://www.fundable.com/creation-works-of-california</a><br />
But you can also just search for <a href="http://savejonathanpark.com/">savejonathanpark.com</a> and it will send you straight there.<br />
<br />
Learn more about the Jonathan Park series here - <a href="http://www.jonathanpark.com/">http://www.jonathanpark.com/</a><br />
And visit the group (lead by Mr. Roy and his wife) website who will be buying the rights - <a href="http://creationworks.net/">http://creationworks.net/</a><br />
<br />
~Robert TAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-46313551023670119202014-01-11T10:56:00.000-05:002014-01-11T10:56:32.774-05:00I Don't Have The Patience For WritingWhat if I don't have the patience to write?<br />
<br />
Patience for writing. This is something I have been asked before. Truth is, <b>you don't need patience.</b><br />
<br />
You don't need, even, devotion. Even inspiration. Just interest.<br />
<br />
That's all. If you're interested in writing, you can write a novel. Now I can't promise you'll hit the New York Times bestseller's list, but if you <i>want </i>to write a novel, you <i>can </i>write a novel. To make a career out of it, you need to have an intense devotion to it.<br />
<br />
But if you just want to write as a hobby or for leisurely fun, you should have no problem with silly "patience". And patience to write is also something you will learn over time if you do want to make a life out of writing. All in time, of course (and a lot of patience! Oh, wait . . .).<br />
<br />
But there's more to patience than just that, right? Yes.<br />
<br />
Determination. Persistence. You might not need the patience to write, but you need the determination. If you don't have it, get it. Force it on yourself. Discipline yourself. And if you want to write regularly, set up a schedule <b>that you will follow.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If you want to consistently write every day, try the 100 for 100 on the Go Teen Writers website. You write 100 words a day for 100 days. And of course if you want to keep going that day, write more than a hundred words. The point is not to get a lot done, but to get it done consistently.<br />
<br />
If there is anything in writing you need more than anything else, it's determination. This is all writing really is;<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>10% skill, 90% persistence idiocy.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
An exaggeration, of course. But the point is brought across. And if you don't have the persistence, that's something you can train yourself to have. Do writing challenges - and tell your friends you're doing them. That will put some heavy-handed pressure on you to actually finish them.<br />
<br />
In the end though, your determination will take energy out of you. Writing is like a seesaw. It's a give and take. The more energy you put in it, the less you'll have to put into others things. But of course there are the many rewards of writing it will give back to you.<br />
<br />
Have any of you ever run out of patience with writing? I know I certainly have. How have you mastered this trial? Brute determination or taking a rest, or both?<br />
<br />
Robert T.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-71890094826835685122014-01-07T22:06:00.000-05:002014-01-11T10:57:12.215-05:00InfodumpIt's been done in <i>the Hobbit</i>, it's been done in <i>Robinson Crusoe</i>. But those were books written decades - even centuries in the latter case - ago. Both of them infodumped from the start. Both of them are wildly popular. But now things have changed. Infodumping now is a curse.<br />
<br />
The patience of readers (<a href="http://sunsetrising.blogspot.com/2014/01/i-dont-have-patience-for-writing.html">and writers</a>) alike has dwindled considerably just in the last fifty years, and therefore the art has changed. New genres have arisen - just think of thrillers - that would hardly be possible if they were not so fast paced.<br />
<br />
Every sentence of a novel must matter in some way, but novels in general must be faster. I enjoy a longer novel once in a while, but it bores the soul out of you eventually.<br />
<br />
And so there is at least one inevitable truth in writing: <b>You must keep up the pace.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Especially in the first chapter, something meaningful has to happen. Okay, so maybe you've done that. And this is where a lot of new writers really scuttle themselves. Let's look at it from an outline perspective.<br />
<br />
-MC's village burned down by raiders. Family killed. Inciting Incident.<br />
-MC's backstory told about him being a prince/magician.<br />
<br />
Not only is that horribly cliche, it's <b>infodumping.</b> The process of stopping everything else in the story and telling a block of info - whatever this info may be. Whether it be about the world in which the characters live in (most commonly for Speculative Fiction), about a particular character, or general backstory, what specifies infodumping is that plot, character development, and all else is halted for this information to be given.<br />
<br />
This is always, always bad.<br />
<br />
And it doesn't just have to be at the beginning. Infodumps are bad <b>everywhere.</b> I caught myself in one of my own novels nearly infodumping the backstories of two new characters. Thankfully, I was still in the outlining stages and it was easy to refocus that scene.<br />
<br />
But besides backstory, character, or world infodumps, there are a few more . . .<br />
<br />
<b>The: "As You Know" infodumps.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Just as in narration, infodumps can easily be used in dialogue. But its still just as bad - it stops everything else to explain. To <i>tell</i>, not to <i>show</i>). And therefore, they must be done away. The most common of these dialogue infodumps is the "As You Know" loophole. There's a no-brained insensibility to have one character explain to the other character what they both already know (and they know the others know) just for the benefit of the reader.<br />
<br />
Of course, there's even a loophole around that. To bring in a character who <i>doesn't</i> know the As You Know (whatever subject it is), and so it makes sense.<br />
<br />
But it's lazy. <b>The reader might get the point, but as writers, we're not just supposed to get the message through, we're supposed to do it in a unique and intriguing way.</b><br />
<br />
Give little hints every few pages and let the reader find out the information for him- or her- self. This brings the reader's mind into the book. And once in the book, it's not easy to get out.<br />
<br />
Getting rid of infodumps therefore not only keeps the pace of the story steady, it lets the reader engage himself into the story.<br />
<br />
<i>Robert T.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-59888767683890993442014-01-02T23:15:00.001-05:002014-01-02T23:17:35.094-05:002014 PlansMy planning for 2014 has begun. Setting goals is a good way to, at the least, make yourself feel extremely guilty if you don't get anything done. And that is precisely why I've set up some of my own goals. What's life without guilt, eh?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Aside from completing this year of school - and then starting another - I'm going to be taking a Clep Test for college; Western Civilization 1. Oh the joy of that thought.</div>
<div>
- I will learn how to cut my hair and shave. ;)</div>
<div>
- Blog more frequently after I revamp this place - again.</div>
<div>
- Introduce to the world the new genre of <i>Suavebuckling</i>! Hahaw. Which is sadly nothing but a fancy name.</div>
<div>
- Finish the One Year Adventure Novel curriculum, therein completing <i>Heart of a Hero </i>(temporary title, of course).</div>
<div>
- Outline and write a children's short story. Possibly write more in that story-world, depending on how I like it.</div>
<div>
- Possibly write a novel considerably longer than anything I have ever written before by out 40k words. But I'm not confident about this. Depending on how everything else in life goes, I'll outline this in late spring or early summer, and possibly start writing in August.</div>
<div>
- Edit <i>Heart of a Hero</i> like crazy.</div>
<div>
- Compete in both Church and Homeschool volleyball teams I'm in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sound a little weak for a year plan? It probably is, but speed-writing is most definitely not my style. I'm not the kind of guy who can sit down and in four months have a 100k first draft, along with the printings on the keyboard a little more worn. I also fumble through between going from completed project to promising new first draft quite a bit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, I do have at least two other major things stored for 2014. Two things that will keep me busy each week, consistently.</div>
<div>
<br />
And that's the worst kind of project.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
R. Thacker<br />
<br />
P.S. This is a little contradictory to my last post. I may get lost in pursuit of selfish dreams, that is a fact inevitable. Still, there is one thing that might redeem my name from hypocrisy. Time will tell, of course.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-78363220920669777002014-01-01T12:28:00.000-05:002014-01-01T12:28:30.206-05:00New Year's ResolutionsIt's all good and nice to dream about "New Year's Resolutions," but a lot of the time, we're being selfish.<br />
<br />
They're <i>our</i> resolutions to help <i>us.</i> Maybe we did promise to make our home a better place by "being kinder to our families," but will it happen?<br />
<br />
Is it even possible?<br />
<br />
But then we have to think - is that even what we should be doing?<br />
<br />
Trying to improve life for ourselves and our kin is fine and all, but it's a little selfish. Who, besides us and the ones close to us, is it really helping?<br />
<br />
Okay, so maybe you promised to "go green!" this year. That's splendid!<br />
<br />
Now are you going to do it?<br />
<br />
New Year's Day is a fun time to think up what we'd like to do this year. To fantasize. To say, "maybe this'll be the year I write my book." But we have to remember that what we do or not do will affect others.<br />
<br />
One hundred and thirty-thousand people died in the Syrian Civil War. Their lives were taken away from them without hesitation, without a tear of remorse. The brutal meatgrinder of war will never stop. Is there anything you can do in a "New Year's Resolution" to solve? No, of course not.<br />
<br />
But when you're thinking about what you want to do, consider what you can do. Can you help the 2 million people displaced by the Syrian Civil War? They live in fear, hunger, and poverty, places inhuman to be forced into.<br />
<br />
So while you're in the hype of "doing good things," and "becoming a better person," think about what you can really do. New Year's Resolutions might be a good thing, but it won't resolve the problems of life.<br />
<br />
Alone we cannot resolve our problems. Things will remain unresolved, no matter how we try.<br />
<br />
Resolutions might make you feel good, but look at the results, did it really <i>do </i>good?<br />
<br />
R. ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-87053923771392612112013-12-18T17:32:00.000-05:002013-12-18T17:32:49.949-05:00Developing CharactersThis is the first part of a series titled - New Writers<br />
<br />
Developing character is an extremely important part of writing, and <b>creating a realistic character is the most important thing you'll want to do when first starting a story.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So how do you do it? Well, let's just clear this one thing up first. <b>It's not easy</b>. Never will be, never can be. And this won't make it easy, either. It's hard, really hard. You have to commit yourself to it. Then and only then will you have a realistic, developed character.<br />
<br />
Why do you need a developed, realistic character, though? It's fairly simple. If a story has a faceless character, one who doesn't have any character development, the reader just won't care. It's as simple as that. As a write, you want the reader to cry when the hero dies, or cry <u>in joy</u> when he makes the right decision after a book of confliction.<br />
<br />
You would care if your friend died, yes? You care about your friend because you know him or her. Knowing the character will make the reader feel for him or her. That's all. Knowing that the character is "real". Real in the sense that he (or she) is like humans - I'm not loony, I'm not saying your character should become human, I'm saying he or she should be <i>like</i> a human. Although, they're really not much difference once you get to know a character - only one is taking over your mind and the other is floating around in real life somewhere.<br />
<br />
When you're creating a character, remember they're real - they're just not real in the sense we usually think in. <b>They have to be real <i>in your head</i>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Making them "real in your head" however, is quite difficult. First it requires a lot of time - at least a month before you have their opinions and voice - which are two complicated terms for basically what he or she would do in any random situation life will give - stuck in your head firmly. I told you this isn't going to be easy - but please, don't drop out on me yet.<br />
<br />
And of course, you actually have to <i>do </i>stuff with your character during that month or 2-3 weeks it takes. You have to get into the character's head - or maybe let the character into your head. Exercising the character's opinions and voice and views and personality (like I said earlier, just how they would act in a situation of something) is a good first step making your character realistic.<br />
<br />
If you randomly make up something totally outrageous that your character did or does (i.e. he lives in the sewers) ask yourself, <i>why?</i> Give your character views and opinions (they don't have to be outrageous - just anything you can think of) and ask yourself <i>why?</i> Have your character do something - have him or her react to something (anything!) and then ask <i>why?</i><br />
<br />
It's the Socratic Method, and it works. Ask <i>why </i>of every single thing your character does, and you're starting to learn who your character is.<br />
<br />
Wait -- aren't we creating a character, not learning who he or she is? Well, like I said earlier, your characters are real, they're just in your head. You need to explore them - <b>because they're real.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Real.<br />
<br />
Now unleash the power of the character.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-80446944874075597942013-11-30T09:12:00.002-05:002013-11-30T09:12:58.888-05:00A Tribute to All Those NaNoWriMo NovelistsLast year, November 2012, I took on the National Novel Writing Contest and wrote 60,000 words in the allotted 30 days.<br />
<br />
Those of you who've done it this year, you're probably thinking your pretty tough. I was. Not to dampen your spirits, but if you're truly thinking yourself the master of all writing marathons, think again.<br />
<br />
Yes, there's something even more challenging than NaNoWriMo.<br />
<br />
<b>The 3 Day Novel</b>.<br />
<br />
And it sounds exactly like it is.<br />
<br />
30 days divided by 10. That's all the time you have to write a full length novel.<br />
<br />
And now, this isn't some total spoof of a post. It's real. Thousands of writers have done this - some have even succeeded (without going whack in the old second story, either).<br />
<br />
It's not like I'm going to ever try this. Maybe later. Maybe.<br />
<br />
Sorry I just killed all your pride in finishing a 50k novel, but it had to be done.<br />
<br />
~RobertAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-14913869857209833142013-11-27T10:24:00.002-05:002013-11-27T10:44:04.350-05:00PodcastI decided to do a podcast this time.<br />
<br />
A few parts are sort of rough - I only had about 30 minutes to edit it all. Oh, and no, that's not quite my natural voice.<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B29Swn2bdOOKa1BkdUxaMUhlNlU/edit?usp=sharing">Podcast</a></div>
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Sorry you have download it o hear it. I couldn't figure it out any other way.</div>
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<a href="http://www.oneyearnovel.com/">The One Year Adventure Novel</a><br />
<br />
R.A.H.ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-23945524280756965772013-11-20T08:43:00.000-05:002013-11-20T08:43:12.538-05:00Tuesday Tales (a day late - Again!!!)Nightmares in the Past, Chapter 3.<br />
<br />
It was minutes only before another Jedi arrived, called through Keith’s datapad. Master Rambar, a Kel Dor, quickly released Keith and Tharalia, trapped under the debris, and ordered a team of SP-4 droids to bear Tharalia and Ina off to the medical wing of the Tython Temple.<br />
Keith, Kian, and Kim followed soon after for Keith’s minor wounds to be bandaged. The walk spanned across the entire Temple, which allowed Kian a glance at what had happened in the more heated areas of the temple-wide skirmish.<br />
“So what do you know about this mission?” asked Keith the Kel Dor.<br />
“Two Sithlin’s ‘eaded off a small scale operation.” Rambar took a pull at his breathing mask. “A couple squads a’ mercenaries and Sith troopa’s.” He shrugged, disgusted wrinkles crawling on his face. Finally, he continued. “We dunno what they were tryin’a do, but whatever it was they failed.”<br />
Kian’s ear perked up. Failed? Had they really? He shivered. That was a terrible thought. But was it entirely . . . um, what was that word - unpossible?<br />
“Two Sith?” Keith asked, interrupting Kian’s thoughts.<br />
Rambar nodded. “A Sith warrior and an Inquisitor.<br />
“The Sith warrior was undoubtedly Omar - he’s a madman in its definition - but this inquisitor, was he captured?”<br />
Rambar took in a deep breath. “‘fraid not. He jumped onto a dropship when things went ill for him. Troop a’ his men got away too.”<br />
“Bastasi!,” Keith muttered. “Then we’ll be dealing with this again later.”<br />
“Oh no,” Rambar shook his head, casting his arm up in a wild gesture. “We’ve forced enough information out of one of the merce’eraries. He was ca’pliant with our ques’ions. Apparently, this inquisitor was a rogue of some kind, it be even a possib’ that ‘e was working apart from the Academy. Whatever the point of this operation of his was, it be a myst’ry. But with Omie dead, they won’t be comin’ again. And a good thing that nit-twit is gone, too.”<br />
“Don’t be too convinced we won’t hear from them again. We need to pursue this inquisitor.” Keith hesitated. “Oh, and I think you mean nit-wit . . .”<br />
Rambar’s one eyebrow shot. “That’s what I was saying!”<br />
Kian and Kim exploded into giggles.<br />
Keith growled and shook his head. “Whatever. But what was that about the prisoner? Surely he would have known about the objective.”<br />
Rambar sighed. “Evra’ time we brought up the object of the mission he just clammed up and shook his head. ‘Ventually he’d say he di’n’t know - that he was just a mercenary for “Big ‘Un”.”<br />
Keith shook his head, staring at the floor. “That is unfortunate. If we could have only taken Omar prisoner. He would’ve known.”<br />
“And risk the lives of two Jedi Knights, a padawan, and two younglings, plus countless more if Mr. O was not stopped there?” Rambar appealed. “Nay, that padawan is a brave lass, she did the right thing to end him there.”<br />
Keith replied, but Kian lost interest in the conversation. Instead, he looked around at the damage that was wrought in the entrance hall. Just one small operation caused tremendous damage. Service droids buzzed about, and a group of workers from a building station nearby hustled in to repair the temple.<br />
A worker ruffled Kian’s hair as they passed. Kian frowned and combed his hair back with his hands. They continued on down the hall, during which time he not only received three more hair ruffles, but one big pinch on his cheek.<br />
Now that was a problem. The old preyed on the weak and helpless in all these “harmless” mind maddening ways. So frustrating. How can you ever be manly in such a situation? How he hated being little.<br />
Kian glanced over to Kim. She wasn’t being bugged - no, people knew not to mess with her. But Kian was just another youngling to be pinched, pulled and ruffled.<br />
Once they had reached the medical wing, Keith bandaged his wounds with several bacta pads while Rambar checked on Tharalia and Ina. Keith turned to Kian.<br />
“Son, I need to talk to you about some very important things.”<br />
Kian perked up. Kim edged closer.<br />
Keith eyed Kim up and down. He cleared his throat purposefully. “In private, Kim.”<br />
Kim’s shoulders sank. “Oh-kay . . .”<br />
Keith took Kian behind a curtain. “You are brave, Kian, but you must follow the rules. If you do not follow them, nothing can help you, not even the Force.”<br />
Kian searched his father’s face. “ . . . What?”<br />
“Son, what you did was brave, but you still did the wrong thing. I told you to stay in the clan house. You disobeyed me, you disobeyed the Order. You could have died - that Sith was dangerous. Very dangerous.” Keith sighed. “But still . . . what you did, it was noble, and I thank you.”<br />
Another voice startled in. “You’re very welcome.”<br />
“Wha?” Keith and Kian both looked up.<br />
Kim! Kian’s heart jumped. His friend’s head poked through the curtain’s opening - a broad smile smudged on her face, gleaming pearly white teeth.<br />
“Kim . . .” Keith growled. Still, neither Kian nor Keith could help a chuckle.<br />
Keith huffed and patted Kim’s head. “Well, I suppose that goes for you too, Kim.”<br />
She blushed. “Great.” She began to twiddle her thumbs, stepping into the curtained room fully.<br />
“So was that Sith Darth Yomar?” Kian asked.<br />
“Darth Ohmy,” Kim corrected.<br />
Keith laughed meaningfully, yet strained at the same time. “It was Darth Omar, yes.” His smile fell away. “Now, Kian, Kim, I believe you have something to report to Master Kaleeth.”<br />
They both groaned, but obeyed and scampered away towards the clan house.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-78257946479295465942013-11-17T07:44:00.003-05:002013-11-17T07:44:38.711-05:00A Short Break From Anything Writing-Related . . . (I'm not sure if I'll survive this . . .)The courage . . .<br />
<br />
The bravery . . .<br />
<br />
The heart . . .<br />
<br />
It take all those to do what I am about to do . . .<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIY1UlXN9czaR_-p-a4AKqNS4sr6tMghZNQZE_-tarkFjtB9Tu" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIY1UlXN9czaR_-p-a4AKqNS4sr6tMghZNQZE_-tarkFjtB9Tu" /></a>WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO WRITING?!?!?! :O (And yes, that means I <i>can </i>use emoticons, because I'm officially not trying to be professional).<br />
<br />
Not sure If I will actually finish this post or not, but here goes.<br />
<br />
Several evenings ago was the first practice of our homeschool co-op volleyball team. Last year, on my old blog, I talked about our church volleyball team - well, this is different. The co-op team is putting us through serious training. Two full hours of practice - - awesome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a 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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBhQSEBQUEhQUFBQVFBQVFBQUFBQUFBQQFBAVFBUUFBQXHCYeFxkjGRQVHy8gIycpLCwsFR8xNTAqNSYrLCkBCQoKDgwOFA8PFCkYFBgpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKSkpKf/AABEIAOEA4AMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAACAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwIEBQEHBgj/xABCEAABAwEFBAcECgADCQAAAAABAAIDEQQSITFBBVFhcQYTIjKBkaFCscHRBxQjM1JicpLh8EOCshUWU2ODosLS8f/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A9xQhCAQhCAQhCAQhCAQhV7Rb2M7zgDuzPkEFhCzH7db7LSedAof7YccgB5lBrIWR/tF51A8Aom2P/EfT5INlCxhbpPxeg+S6NoSbweYHwQbCFmR7VOoB5VCsM2k051Hr7kFtCiyQHIg8lJAIQhAIQhAIQhAIQhAIQhAIQhAIQuEoOqtareyPvHHcM1mbR2/m2Pxf/wCvzWKXlxqca+NeamrjTtu2XSYNqwcD2j46eCp2fZYccjxNT806zWXC87Bo8zwG8pks17AC60ZDfxPyQVp7FT7p1TxyPI/wm2OSuBFCMwU6NilNZ64jBw9eaBrWqQal2V9R/c1ZuohXVrtxMuLt1AgxoDap91QIogVQjLBWIdouHexHr/KiWqDmKjWilDhUGqmsRjy01af55rSsttD8Mju38kFlCEIBCEIBCEIBCEIBCEIOOcAKnADM8F8vtbbZk7LcGer+fBc6QbavkxsPZB7RHtEacljtUtakOBWjZLOAL760rQAZkpNhstaudg0Zn4J8kl91cgMGjc35qCckpeanADJoyH8qTQotamtCqJtCsRhKY1WI2oit1d2Tg7Ec9VdAS7ZFgDqHCnjhRNhxCKLq4Wp11cuqoTRRLU8tUS1AmPd5f2tShzUPNMfPl5FTcFFIcEmmPu5qw4JMiqLtj2hXB+eh381fWBM3crmzrfkx3+U/AoNNCEIBCEIBCEIBYnSTa/VsuNPbcMfyt38ytO3WxsUbnuyAy3nQBed2q1mR5e7MmvyAUqyJtKvWKzFxACpQsqtdxuRho7z88cWs1Pjl5qNJyzA0a3uNy/M7K98kyNqrxhWo0ZNaE1jVBgT42qibGJ/WhmeJwN0EVLS6lQDmoPkDW5i9QloJIvEUww5jzUYmEmprmSATeugmtAUEg1zsXHwyGGtNFL6qN270NR6poCkAmIVccMnEZ544k1rju0U+tdqAc941FB5VxTKIogWbQ3UOGeldaaeakKHIg5+hofVBalSWcHMaU8Nyo7JGoRnCmo5+85rtwjInkcda6qNXDGgOAGZHtYmmOiiuOCS9qa6UcR/9ooE1VQlwq0eI8iqzwrbMnDca6ajz0VZ4Qa+zbZfbQ94Z8RvV1fMwTljg4aeo1C+kjeHAEZEVCCSEIQCEKrtO2iKJ7z7Iw4uyA80Hy3TDat6QRNODMXcX7vAe8rBjFUh8xc4uOJJqTxKtWZtVltpbNgFanutBJOdAMTkpumL3l51wbwYO6PL3lEpuxBozkO+huDE+BwHiuRoixGrUZVWMq1EqixGFcs8dVXiau2mT2GkV9qhIc0ihphoQUEjJfdWpuA9kEDDChPvz3lWWJMTKJ7QgYFMKDVNqqJgIuroXUCyFEppCWUECoFMKW5ApzUt0YTSUtxRSnGgw3+OW/wDuapyyEZj4j0VxxVd6IqmULW2Jba1YebeWoWVLGDmPHIqNl7D63jl5HQ+aivrkJNltF9gd58CMwnKoF8n08ttGsjGpvHlkP/LyX1i846XWu/a3DRou+WHvvKVYy2LU2dHVwCzIVs7PfcDnn2Wk45VpgPOiy0nanh0pIyaAwcbtanzJU2lUrNg0DcFZYVUWoyrkKoxlXbOqjShcGtLjWgzoKnnRV4HlxLnYk792i5bSCGsDqOzNDUgU1bXLLPiotsrqYPGmbeOOu5BeYU5pVBsUg1acTvGGinfkA7tcNCEGiFNoWYLcQaFrq/pJHmME6Pajd9M88Ms81UaIXVWjtrTkU5swQdKg5SL1BxRC3FLcVN5SnIrhKW8qRKW4oqDikPTXFJeURXkSHFOkKrvKitno7acXMP6h4YH4LcXyexJaWhvGo/7SfgvrEhXCV5HtCe9K92938/FesWs0jefyu/0lePSO7R5n5fBSrFqArVmkuwZ0L3NbzaO04eix7McVp7Qk7MTP1PPo0fFFqUblYjcqUbk+NyIvxFaNkGKyoHLVsbwAXHAAVJoTTwCqO9YXTOzo3sgEtNNTS7pU64q2wrL2Z3a0ArU0AoMTXAaLRa5EWGvTWyKsHKYcqLbXqRiacwNR4HNVQ5MbKgmdnRnQacMjhkoHZmODnZ1z4UpjomNlUxKgpmySDJwOAzGvh8lwvkGba46HTfirhlUTIgo/Xt4IwBxB1yUhaWnIhWC9Ilgac2jXHXHPFBwvUHOUHWMaFw8ajLcUl0UgyLXehyxRTXFIkKU60kd5rhxpUZbwofWQcig5IVXeUx71XkcoGWGWk0Z/O330X3C88bJRwO4g+q9DSFKtLascN7T7ivG5MzzPvXtBC8ZtbKPeNziPclWG2R2KvbQk+1ArlGwcqlx+KzbK7tDmrVtf9u/kzw7A/viop8bk9r1Sa5Pa9EaMD1etNou2eR1XDClQK0BwNdwxzWTZ5MVo2mcCGhukOc1pDtQTjhXH1RDLDaBdFCtBkix2bDjIrC50J7IABvMABx7Jxy4hTdBaY/ZErb1AYz2qUrUtOWR196o22vUw5YcG22k0NWnEUcC01Geea0orUDqqi6HqQcq4kUg9BYvLt9JvIvIHdYuGRKL1wuQML1EvSi5RL0DS9Lc9LMiW6RAx0iqTwsdmMd4wPmF10iU+RAiWykd11eDvmFQmtRaaOBaeOR5FXpJVXkl0IBG44hRpV6+pXpgXlv1HtgxnAkVadKnMHXkvUwkSheS9I7NctUzfzkjk4kj0IXrS8/8ApAsd2dj9Hsof1MPyolI+UiNCFZtsn254tZ/oA+CqaptrPbad7G+hIWWjmvTmPVNrk4OVRehfir9vnpZtfvI934tan3LJhkV61kusklASQA7C77LgamumGmKC/ZpsFfhtRGqwrJN2QrrJVUbDpmvoJGteBWl4A0rnSuWQ8lSdsGPOGR0RDaBpJcwv3urpllx5JTZU1kyBckdpixLRM2rReiNXEmgr1ZxzKlZ9uMJuk3XA0LXVa4HdQq3FayEyR7JABIxrwCSLwrQnAnnxRHWWkHIqYlWcdgMA+xlfGQKAON9t7ea4+SW+C0xnuCVtaAxntEXa1uHIZjPTkqNbrFwvWI3brQQH1Yc6PBbhvxV2O3NORQXC9RLknrlwyIJuclucoukSnvQdc5IkkQ96rveorkkipzSqcsiozSIrR2IL9pib+cE8h2j6Belr4DoLZ71oL9GMP7nYD0vL79IlC+f6b2DrLKXAdqMh4/Tk70NfBfQKMkYcCCKgggjeCKEKo8UlCjI7ucnD3H5q7tewGGV8Z9h1BxYcWnyIWbIcORB8Mj71hs8OT43Kq0prSqLTTitSzAPjkb2TeY4do0Fbp10WLHItPZktHBEqvsm0VjaeAWmyRYlkFx8kdSbkjhUimBNQacitOJ6qL7XJokVJsiY2RBdEimJFTEi6JEF5s6ay101WcHqXWIjTfag4EOAcCKEEVqNypTbHs7jUNMZJqTG67jSlKDCmuSV1q516CB2NK37udrssJG0NdTebp4JEk1oj78JcN8ZD9aDDP0Vv6wgWviis7/eFlaOqw7ngtyw1ThtNjsnDzVt9sB7wDhuIB1rqqM1ks7s4WcwLp820QddahvVeS0pcmxYNDIz9Mh+NePmqsuxG+zPIP1BrvkgnLaFTfNVKl2U4ZTtPNh+Dk3ZOw3SzMj6y8XGnZbQAakkk4AVPgo09E6CWG5Zr5zkdX/KMG/E+K+kS4IAxjWtFGtAaBwAoExaYCEIQfF/SJsqrWztHd7En6Sey48jh/mC+AlGfHDzXt1pszZGOY8Va4FpG8ELyDb2xnWaZ0bsRmx34mHI89DxCzWozIX4V115jA+qYJFVY/tEeI9x+B809rlFNEi0LFacqrKJQ203SqjU219naGyY3ZmgE1w6xmFP20ToplRtsv1iDq20vghzHH2SM/MVCqNdaIsJInOH44+2PIYjyQfQNlTGyrAs+3GO9qh3HA+RV+O1g6qo1GyqbZFnstCc2VBdEineVRsgU+sCqHlyiXJPXqJmUU4vS3ypRlS3PQSdIoGRQc5Lc9FSfOqstoXJZFVkKih0y9E6BbC6uPrnjtSDs10j3+PuAXyvQ/o99Zmq4fZMIL/zHRnjrwXqwFMArEtdQhCrIQhCAWF0v2F9Zs5DR9oztR8TTFleI9aLdQg/P9rYcwKPacjnhgQR5hSbJUAjIr0rpr0I66s0AHWZvZl1n5m7n+/nn5m6z0JHaBriKkEEZgg5FZbldfaaJsFhc/F3YbvOZHAct6UyUNybjvOJ8ypG1k5lQacDWRijPF2pVuK2kZFYjZk9kyqNqS0RyYSxxycXNBOBrnmq7tgWd33b5ITwdfbnXuu8s1TbMmtlVQP2NaWdx0cwwyNx2e52G7VVJNpvj+9jkj/U00/dktBlrI1VuLbJGqDIg2y12Th5q3Ha66ptpNmf95FHX8TRdd5toVTZ0bqb0cz4mnutf2/OtCOSC2LSutmVJ+w7S3umKQcHFp8nYeqqzOmj+8ikaN4F4ebahFbBlUetWRHtZh9oV3VxTRbQdVBomRKe9VfrK516KY8p2zNmPnlbGwVJ8gNSeAULFY3zPayMXnOOA95O4DevVOj3R9lljoKF577953Dc0ImrOyNlss8TY2ZDM6ucc3FXUIWmQhCEAhCEAhCEAvnek3QuK1AuH2c1MHgYOpkJBqOOY9F9EhB4RtXZclnkMczbrhiNQ5v4mnUf0qmQveNpbKitDLkzA9vHMHe0jFp4heddIPo0ljq+ykys/4bqCQcjk/wBDzWca18Y1ycxyS9ha4tcC1wza4EEHiDiEVUFoSqbZlTUi6mZoOOCC51yiZamgxJVVrq60G8/AapzbWG4Nz1dqf44Ki/DC1naf2naN0aePHimPt5JqSsc2koEyDYG0OK67bLgM1kB6WZq5f3igui1NJLnta4nOrQeQyQXwnOJngLvuoqdVwILTmRHIObyeT76qxszYUlofcgLy7e66WtH4nGmQVno/0RntRBDbsesjgQ2n5fxHl5herbF2JHZYgyMcXOPec7eT8NEw1X6O9Go7Iyje1IQL8h7zuA/C3gFsIQtMhCEIBCEIBCEIBCEIBCEIBCEIM7bPR+C1MuzMDtzhg9v6XjEe5fBbU+imVtTZpWvGjZOy7leAofRenIQeD7R6PWuD72KRoHtBoc397aj1WaxgrWtTvzK/RSz7b0fs833kETzvLG3v3Uqpi68JqFML12b6ObC7/CLf0ySD0vUVc/RfZP8Amj/qfwphryuiCQM/IZr1kfRrY6Uuyc+tfX5J1m+j6xM/wr363vd6VomGvHrpdngN2p5rVsHRueX7uGRw33SG/udQL2OybHgi+7ijZxaxoPnSquK4a8y2f9GU7qGV7IxuHbd6UHqvq9ldBLNDQlvWuHtSYivBuXvX0SExNcAXUIVAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEAhCEH/9k=" /></a>I've been practicing a lot of volleyball in the past, so I had some advantage, I guess (and disadvantages of a lot of things too . . .) but I've basically been re-learning most of my skills, because we're starting with the basics. One of the big things we were learning today was spiking - or rather, the initial steps up to the spike. <br />
As some of you probably know, I'm really short. And that clicks me. Because I can't even touch the roof . . . D: I'm hoping, with jumping exercise , I might be able to.<br />
<br />
<br />
Woo . . .<br />
<br />
Isn't that exciting . . .<br />
<br />
There's about fifteen players, including two coaches.<br />
<br />
But this is already getting boring . . . I better stop now.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
R.A.H.ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-41872529188825261462013-11-14T20:00:00.000-05:002013-11-14T20:00:36.894-05:00Flawed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Flawed.<br />
<br />
Flawed.<br />
<br />
Think about it.<br />
<br />
We're all flawed, which is why it just makes it all the more important. It's realistic to be flawed - because whether we want to be or not, we always will be.<br />
<br />
Flawed characters are realistic. We're not evil - but there <i>is</i> two forces fighting against each other. Light and darkness. And if we don't do anything about it, the light in us will fade to darkness. It's a conflict.<br />
<br />
And, as Mr. S (Daniel Schwabauer, creator of the <i>One Year Adventure Novel</i> curriculum) says, conflict is pretty much the base of any good story. Without it, there's no reason to turn the page.<br />
<br />
A flawed character naturally has conflict - it's born within. A struggle between light and dark, day and night, yin and yang.<br />
<br />
A flawed character can either struggle with himself internally, or he can struggle with others externally because of his flaw. Both are very common and very useful. An example of a flaw that causes internal struggle would be confusion. He's always confused, things aren't what they seem, they're twisted - at least in his eyes. Therefore, he struggles within to flesh out what is and what is not.<br />
<br />
For an external flaw, he could be uncontrollable, leading to arguments with just about everyone around him.<br />
<br />
Both of those I have used. In fact, I've used them in the very same character (he's very flawed, by the way, far over the ordinary).<br />
<br />
But there's much more to flaws. Flaws, unlike many other things, come from the character, not from an external force. It's not his or her fault she has the flaw, but not resisting it is. We all pretty much have a choice of resisting evil, and so should our characters.<br />
<br />
That puts some weight on the character, which is good. It begins to add in personal stakes.<br />
<br />
Moving on to the subject of villains. To what extent should you flaw a villain? The exact same amount as the hero. Villains are not pure, brooding evils. Sorry, but Sauron is not a good villain. He's not relatable - at all. Villains are merely people (yes, flawed, not necessarily overly-flawed, however), who react to bad circumstances in bad ways. At least, that's the ideal villain. The only difference between a hero and a villain (a hero could, in fact, be considerably more flawed than the villain), is that the hero chooses to take a moral stance as to how he will react to misfortune, and a villain will take an immoral stance.<br />
<br />
But back on topic.<br />
<br />
Flaws also make a character relatable, which you probably already know.<br />
<br />
The reason, is, obviously, because we all are flawed.<br />
<br />
You've heard that a million times already, I know - I have too. But it doesn't just make them relatable and realistic, it too adds conflict.<br />
<br />
Aha.<br />
<br />
See there?<br />
<br />
All stories are focused, based, and bred in conflict.<br />
<br />
And another thing about flaws in villains that I hadn't realize until quite recent. In fact, right this moment.<br />
<br />
Your villain should be flawed, yes. Your hero should be equally flawed. Every single character in your story should, in some way be flawed, because we as mortals are - it's in our blood. But a recurring theme in villains is that they go out to be emperors or killers or what not because of one single traumatic event in his or her lifetime. Now this does make sense. If his entire family was murdered in front of his eyes, that's going to hurt.<br />
<br />
But chances are, he's not going to become a dictator. Why? Because he likely either won't have the resources, or, also very likely, he won't foster feelings of vengeance strong enough to devote his life to that.<br />
<br />
Why not end it there with a .22 handgun?<br />
<br />
Give him a reason for becoming what he is. Not the stereotypical reason, but something that would really lead him to do what he does. Chances are, if his village was raided, which caused his family's destruction, other children will suffer the same or similar acts - why is he so different than the rest?<br />
<br />
But I kind of got off the topic of flaws.<br />
<br />
~R.A.H.ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-50600253958507619362013-11-13T19:05:00.001-05:002013-11-13T19:05:06.590-05:00The Exception?Humans are social beasts.<br />
<br />
The exception?<br />
<br />
Writers.<br />
<br />
~R.A.H.Thacker<br />
<br />
Post Script. A post on flawed character is scheduled for tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-74057234308065812882013-11-10T12:29:00.001-05:002013-11-11T21:33:18.141-05:00AbsenceJust a quick post to apologize for my week-long absence. My internet was down, and I hadn't scheduled any posts for the week. My goal is a minimum of two posts a week.<br />
<br />
R.A.H.ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-21765271929887133772013-11-01T00:00:00.000-04:002013-11-01T00:00:01.654-04:00Writing It - Part 2(Sixth lesson in my writing class.)<br />
<br />
Each scene of your story should be based on three things in this order: Goal, Conflict, Disaster.<br />
<br />
Each scene should heighten the suspense of the story until the very highest point of the climax. Each scene should be made up with those three things, Goal, Conflict, Disaster.<br />
<br />
The hero has a goal, but he comes into conflict with something, and disaster is the result. This doesn’t mean your story has to be a tragedy, it simply means that your hero doesn’t win every time he’s confronted with a problem.<br />
<br />
The reason each scene ends in a disaster is because it’s compelling. If the character gets everything he or she wants, then it’ll be boring. Putting in the Conflict and then Disaster tells the reader that there is really a chance things might not end up well. Something real is at stake.<br />
<br />
Of course, you can’t just end a scene with your character being defeated, and then in the next scene he’s already coming up with a new Goal. No, that’s why you need to have a second format for the next scene. A Reaction, a Dilemma, and a Decision.<br />
<br />
A Reaction to the Disaster in the last chapter. Your character is regrouping, recovering, maybe even grieving? But definitely defeated and discouraged. If you write it authentically - with an understandable reason for the way he or she is acting - the readers will be sympathetic, and maybe even feel defeated and discouraged with the character. After your character is defeated, give him or her some time to reflect on it. Even the sprightliest of people will get discouraged and it’s going to take them a while to recover - this is the time for the character to react, not act. Not yet, anyway.<br />
<br />
The second part of this follow up scene is the Dilemma. When there are several possible solutions the character can make - and they all seem bad. The Disaster was so crucial that there is seemingly no hope. But now, he’s recovered just a little, so that he’s decided he has to continue, or maybe a friend keeps talking to him until he finally gets out of his Reaction stage, when he doesn’t do anything to keep going. Now he’s going in the right direction, but he suddenly realizes he has to make a choice between a few ugly possibilities. I can’t stress how much you want to make these possible choices all bad. If one is an easy pick, add something into it to make it more difficult. Let your character ponder over this.<br />
I suggest you write out a full page of your character simply questioning what options he has. Should he sell his house or his car? Selling the car would be the more preferable choice, yes, but now you need to throw a wrench into the gears. What if his car is the only way he can get to work, even if it is a low paying job? Make the decision matter.<br />
<br />
And finally the third part of this second scene; the Decision. Now that he’s thought over the possibilities, he has to make an action. This is a very important part in this scene because once more it’s giving the character the ball. His actions determine his fate. He then decides what Decision he will make. As I said before, don’t make it an easy decision, but make it a decision that the reader will respect, because when a reader thinks about what the possible decisions could end up in, and considers them, he or she will relate to the character, which is always a good thing.<br />
Look at it in another way. What if the reader is holding his breath to see what the character will do, and then suddenly, with no rhyme or reason, the character picks the absolute hardest one. Then the reader will think, “well that was a stupid thing to do.” And that will annoy him. The most important thing for this part of the scene is to get the reader to wonder what he or she would do in that situation, and then give them a satisfying answer as to what the character did. If you can do this, you’ve got a great scene.<br />
<br />
Now, as you see, the character knows what he wants to do. The Decision at the end of this scene is what he will do, in the next scene we’re back to Goal again. The character has Decided what his Goal will be.<br />
<br />
This is why you interlock the two types of scenes every other time. Using there initials, you can create the pattern they are in.<br />
<br />
GCD, which is Goal, Conflict, Disaster.<br />
And RDD, Reaction, Dilemma, Decision.<br />
<br />
And repeat it.<br />
GCD,<br />
RDD,<br />
GCD,<br />
RDD,<br />
<br />
and so on. It’s a full scale of ups and downs for the reader and the character. It visits both despair and hope in one full cycle. If you keep this up, not only will a reader be interested, you yourself will be compelled to keep writing. The best way to get interested in writing a story isn’t just to write it, it’s to get into it. Write the character’s emotions as if you were there. As if you were just encountered with your Disaster. And now your hurting, and finally you come to the Dilemma. Make the reasons compelling, so that you yourself would say, “which one would I choose?” and then you know you’ve made a great scene.<br />
<br />
So have your next scene, be it your first or fifth, planned out in this method.<br />
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I want you all to get out a pencil and paper, and write at the top “Scene 1", then on separate lines: Goal, Conflict, Disaster.<br />
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Then take out a new sheet and write at the top “Scene 2", and in separate lines below Reaction (to the Disaster), Dilemma, Decision.<br />
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Take some time in club today to write beside those words what your character is faced with for that part of the scene, the Decision he makes, and/or the Disaster he faces. Just something simple, just so that you have an idea.<br />
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If you do this with all your scenes, you’ll compel not only your reader to keep reading, but you as the writer to keep writing.<br />
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Do as many scenes as you can.<br />
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Also take time today to share, or listen to, any writings you want to have your audience’s feed back on.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801346713794897249.post-43688634524388206482013-10-31T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-31T00:00:06.639-04:00Writing It(Fifth lesson of my writing class. The goal of the entire class was for each member to have written a short story, and this week we are beginning to write them. Please remember that these lessons are for young writers, and therefore I've only given the basic concepts.)<br />
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It’s finally time to actually get to writing your story. When you write, you’re almost certainly going to look back and see something you want to change.<br />
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Don’t do it.<br />
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Don’t interrupt your sentence, don’t interrupt your paragraph, don’t interrupt your page, keep writing.<br />
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The hardest part of just about everything is doing it. Especially with writing. Sitting down and just writing is one of the hardest things you can do. But now that you’ve got an idea for your story, writing it is the next key thing.<br />
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If you feel like you should write, but are dragging your feet about it, you’ve probably got a case of procrastination, which is one of the main thing that keeps you away from writing. The solution is simple. Tell yourself that today, all I have to write is one paragraph. That’s it. Just one paragraph.<br />
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By the end of that paragraph, you might still feel sick of the story, but more often than not, I’ve found that I tricked myself, and then I write more than that one paragraph because I’m starting to get involved in the story again. If you still don’t want to write, that’s actually okay. Maybe you need a day’s break from the story.<br />
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Then again, you might have another form of procrastination. You’ve likely heard of it before - yes, it’s Writer’s Block.<br />
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Writer’s Block is very real. But it’s solution is very real too.<br />
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You could look up the ‘cure to Writer’s Block’ just about anywhere, and likely they’ll have the same answer: “Just write.”<br />
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That has never, ever helped me because Writer’s Block and procrastination are two entirely different things. For procrastinating “just writing” might be the best way, but not for Writer’s Block.<br />
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Why? Because Writer’s Block, though related to procrastination, isn’t one in the same. Writer’s Block is usually caused from lack of inspiration. Procrastination, well you’ve just been distracted with other things.<br />
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So how do you conquer Writer’s Block? The thing that’s helped me most is just to simply plan ahead. Writer’s Block is basically two things, lack of inspiration, or just simply not knowing where to go in the story.<br />
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That’s why we planned out the story a few weeks ago, and that’s why it matters.<br />
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Some writers just write without even basic outlines, but when they hit Writer’s Block, it’s really going to hurt. Those who outline will have some padding for the fall if the Block does strike.<br />
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It’s not that not outlining is bad, coming up with your own style and voice in writing is critical, but it has flaws (just like outlining does).<br />
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So if you have Writer’s Block, the best way to get rid of it is step back from your writing, stop trying to “just write” and plan out your chapter - change the thing about it that you’re struggling with.<br />
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There are other ways, however. With both Writer’s Block and procrastination, you can simply look at the current situation. Is something boring you? Is that action sequence just “bleh”?<br />
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You need to keep the action flowing in the story. This doesn’t mean its all guns and swords and battle, it just means that something is always happening. Tension is growing higher every minute.<br />
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How do you do this? By increasing the stakes. By making the story goal ever more worthwhile.<br />
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While we’re talking about Writer’s Block, do any of you have questions about this? Are any of you have problems with your story?<br />
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(Yes, I'm opening it up to you on the comments below.)<br />
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~R.A.H.ThackerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953576423545296734noreply@blogger.com3