If I had finished my rewrite of Book One on time this year, I'd be posting a holiday-themed story for The Everyday Divinities Project. Maybe next year. For now, you'll have to settle for this little holiday post.
It's getting late here at my dad's house in Colorado, my baby sister is in bed, and Santa is busy placing presents under the tree for her to discover in the morning. I'm getting my writing in while I can, but even so, I have to pause and take in the wonder of the season. The holidays are such a magical time of year, and while the commercialism of the shopping season threatens to overshadow that at times (which I'm sure pleases the inanimate gods), we still understand the essence of it. It's family and friends, good meals with good company, and giving unconditionally of our food, our time, our love. That's what I get out of the holidays, at least, and I hope you do, too.
So, from your penniless writer and his family, I give you all our best holiday wishes. May this season bring you and yours limitless comfort and joy!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Between the Lines - The Alarm Clock
This is an idea that's been brewing in my head for a while, but I've been so busy with other things - not the least of which is my trilogy - that it's been consistently put on the back burner for other things. Finally, in an attempt to keep my poor blog from being neglected while I write the next great YA series, I thought I'd give it a test run and see how it goes. Consider this a "story behind the story" feature that I like to call Between the Lines. We'll kick off this first installation with the first of the short stories that I've posted here...
The Alarm Clock
First off, let me say that I should never edit my own stuff. I'm not objective about my writing at all, and what makes a great story in my head doesn't necessarily translate that well onto the page. For the first short story of The Everyday Divinities Project, I should really have let someone else read it first to see if it made for a strong intro to the world that I'm creating in my fiction. Oh well, I'll eventually figure that out later on in the Project.
That said, I wanted the EDP to focus more on the inanimate objects rather than the people, a contrast to the style of storytelling I'm using for the trilogy where the focus is on a human protagonist. The first story, then, was going to set the precedent for featuring the divinities over the mortals, which is why the boy barely gets more than two paragraphs to himself. I also wanted to start strong with a god that is often abused and rarely gets any appreciation at all. I don't know about you, but I dread my alarm clock going off in the morning, and I can imagine that enough people thinking similar thoughts would adversely affect such a divinity. Garvin, then, would give as good as he gets.
It should also be noted that the alarm clock god was one of several featured gods in the initial draft of Inanimate Gods, albeit under a different name. His character changed radically enough in the rewrite, however, that I decided to revive his original concept here for the EDP. Sometimes ideas that don't work in one fictional arena work just fine in another.
As an aside, Garvin is a modification of someone's actual name. No one I know personally, but I borrowed the name and altered it to fit with the peculiar naming conventions I'd set up for my divinities. With that, Garvin was born!
Oh, here's one more little tidbit about this story, straight from the Twilight Zone. After I'd posted the story up on my blog, my alarm clock refused to work. Well, that's not entirely true. It still displayed the time, but the alarm function refused to work. It simply wouldn't wake me up anymore, as if silently protesting my portrayal of him in my story. Either that, or he decided to move on to a new position in the divine hierarchy, satisfied that he had finally received the attention due to him after all these years of faithful service.
Do you have a question you'd like to ask about The Alarm Clock story? Go ahead and post it in the comments section below, and I'll post answers on this very page!
The Alarm Clock
First off, let me say that I should never edit my own stuff. I'm not objective about my writing at all, and what makes a great story in my head doesn't necessarily translate that well onto the page. For the first short story of The Everyday Divinities Project, I should really have let someone else read it first to see if it made for a strong intro to the world that I'm creating in my fiction. Oh well, I'll eventually figure that out later on in the Project.
That said, I wanted the EDP to focus more on the inanimate objects rather than the people, a contrast to the style of storytelling I'm using for the trilogy where the focus is on a human protagonist. The first story, then, was going to set the precedent for featuring the divinities over the mortals, which is why the boy barely gets more than two paragraphs to himself. I also wanted to start strong with a god that is often abused and rarely gets any appreciation at all. I don't know about you, but I dread my alarm clock going off in the morning, and I can imagine that enough people thinking similar thoughts would adversely affect such a divinity. Garvin, then, would give as good as he gets.
It should also be noted that the alarm clock god was one of several featured gods in the initial draft of Inanimate Gods, albeit under a different name. His character changed radically enough in the rewrite, however, that I decided to revive his original concept here for the EDP. Sometimes ideas that don't work in one fictional arena work just fine in another.
As an aside, Garvin is a modification of someone's actual name. No one I know personally, but I borrowed the name and altered it to fit with the peculiar naming conventions I'd set up for my divinities. With that, Garvin was born!
Oh, here's one more little tidbit about this story, straight from the Twilight Zone. After I'd posted the story up on my blog, my alarm clock refused to work. Well, that's not entirely true. It still displayed the time, but the alarm function refused to work. It simply wouldn't wake me up anymore, as if silently protesting my portrayal of him in my story. Either that, or he decided to move on to a new position in the divine hierarchy, satisfied that he had finally received the attention due to him after all these years of faithful service.
Do you have a question you'd like to ask about The Alarm Clock story? Go ahead and post it in the comments section below, and I'll post answers on this very page!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Turkey Day!
Yep, it's that time of year again, to stuff yourself silly with food alongside family and friends while watching a plethora of movies and sports. I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! See you in the food coma!
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Hero's Journey - The Road Back
I know, I know, we’re all having so much fun on our road trip, it’s almost a shame to have to go back to the real world. That’s exactly what we have to do, however. I mean, they don’t call this stage The Road Back for nothing, right?
No one wants to go back home when they’re in a new and wondrous place, and that includes the Hero. Very rarely, the Hero will stay in the special world, but more often than not, he’ll make the trek back to the ordinary world with all the lessons he’s learned along the way. This is where the main character rededicates himself to the role of Hero and his place in the grand adventure. Just because he’s going back home, that doesn’t mean the reset button is hit and everything returns to normal. It also doesn’t mean he goes back home unscathed. By surviving the Ordeal and claiming the Reward, our Hero is now so much more than he was before… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
You know those thresholds that the Hero has been crossing since stepping into the Special World? Well, this is another one, except it’s the threshold of the Ordinary World. The Threshold Guardian for this one, however, can be anyone. It could be his companions who have accompanied him this far and would love it if he stayed. It could be his own desire to belong in this new place, refusing to go back to being ordinary again. Then again, it might be the Shadow if the villain of the piece wasn’t finished off in the Ordeal. This last one lends itself well to a chase scene, a sure way to spice up this piece of the Hero’s Journey and amp things up after relaxing in the Reward stage.
I wish I had some incredible way to illustrate how the Road Back applies to Rob’s Journey, some dazzling example that would completely wow you and demonstrate how layered this stage can be. Honestly, though, his Road Back at this point is a literal road back home from the NaNoWriMo after party. On the way back, though, he has plenty of time to reflect on his success and realize that he’s very capable of writing a novel. In fact, he’s already got one in the bag. What is he going to do with it? That’s the question that weighs heavily on his mind as he returns to his Ordinary World.
We’re nearing the very end of our Journey! I’m kind of sad about that. I feel like we’ve been through a lot in the course of this year. We’ve been to the Special World and have returned… from the dead? Why not? Next up: Resurrection! (Bring your own phoenix metaphor.)
No one wants to go back home when they’re in a new and wondrous place, and that includes the Hero. Very rarely, the Hero will stay in the special world, but more often than not, he’ll make the trek back to the ordinary world with all the lessons he’s learned along the way. This is where the main character rededicates himself to the role of Hero and his place in the grand adventure. Just because he’s going back home, that doesn’t mean the reset button is hit and everything returns to normal. It also doesn’t mean he goes back home unscathed. By surviving the Ordeal and claiming the Reward, our Hero is now so much more than he was before… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
You know those thresholds that the Hero has been crossing since stepping into the Special World? Well, this is another one, except it’s the threshold of the Ordinary World. The Threshold Guardian for this one, however, can be anyone. It could be his companions who have accompanied him this far and would love it if he stayed. It could be his own desire to belong in this new place, refusing to go back to being ordinary again. Then again, it might be the Shadow if the villain of the piece wasn’t finished off in the Ordeal. This last one lends itself well to a chase scene, a sure way to spice up this piece of the Hero’s Journey and amp things up after relaxing in the Reward stage.
I wish I had some incredible way to illustrate how the Road Back applies to Rob’s Journey, some dazzling example that would completely wow you and demonstrate how layered this stage can be. Honestly, though, his Road Back at this point is a literal road back home from the NaNoWriMo after party. On the way back, though, he has plenty of time to reflect on his success and realize that he’s very capable of writing a novel. In fact, he’s already got one in the bag. What is he going to do with it? That’s the question that weighs heavily on his mind as he returns to his Ordinary World.
We’re nearing the very end of our Journey! I’m kind of sad about that. I feel like we’ve been through a lot in the course of this year. We’ve been to the Special World and have returned… from the dead? Why not? Next up: Resurrection! (Bring your own phoenix metaphor.)
Monday, November 1, 2010
What's Your Word Count?
Is it November already? Sheesh, where did the year go? I swear, it was just July a second ago.
Today is November 1st, which marks the first day of NaNoWriMo! For the uninitiated, that means National Novel Writing Month, where would-be authors from all over are encouraged to stow the "I wish I could..." and finally pen that story that's been playing out in the back of their brain. Don't worry your pretty little head about page count: we're looking at word count here, with the goal being 50,000 words before the calendar turns to December. Want to find out more? Want to see if any of your friends are getting their NaNo on? Check out their site at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ now!
So, while I'm building toward the final few chapters of my rewrite, who among you is hammering out a 50,000 word story this month? Feel free to step up and share your story idea/inspiration/word count here!
Today is November 1st, which marks the first day of NaNoWriMo! For the uninitiated, that means National Novel Writing Month, where would-be authors from all over are encouraged to stow the "I wish I could..." and finally pen that story that's been playing out in the back of their brain. Don't worry your pretty little head about page count: we're looking at word count here, with the goal being 50,000 words before the calendar turns to December. Want to find out more? Want to see if any of your friends are getting their NaNo on? Check out their site at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ now!
So, while I'm building toward the final few chapters of my rewrite, who among you is hammering out a 50,000 word story this month? Feel free to step up and share your story idea/inspiration/word count here!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
He's Still Alive!
Though the past couple days certainly haven't made me feel like I'm alive. Whatever flu/cold/T-virus epidemic has been making people sick this week, it finally nailed me, and hard. So as long as I'm stuck on bed rest with my laptop, I may as well make an update on my blog. Apologies if it's not coherent, I'm still coughing up a lung.
And while I'm apologizing, I'll add another to the list: I'm sorry this month has been so barren of my usual wit and wisdom. The last time I made so few posts in a month was back in March, which happened to be the month that I made some great breakthroughs in my writing and got some quality work done. Three guesses, then, why this month has been so empty on my blog, and the first two don't count.
I've been working my tail off this month to finish the rewrite of my manuscript before the year's end, and I've got some AMAZING work to show for it. Unfortunately, it also means that I've been working on that every time I sit down to write, which meant I was neglecting my poor, lonely blog. In addition to all that, I bought a car, celebrated my birthday, and ventured out into the world more than I might have otherwise. Time is a scarce commodity in my life right now, especially considering that I work a full-time job, but it looks like this week has been one of "Slow the frak down!"
Maybe that's why I got sick. I pride myself on never really succumbing to the usual illnesses that float around and take everyone else out of the game. I've been eating healthier, exercising more (especially now that I have a car and don't need to walk everywhere), and staying true to my obligations. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's because the friend I visited over the weekend wasn't fully over whatever he caught the week before, despite his assurances to the contrary. Maybe this is just nature's way of saying "Slow the frak down!"
Whatever the case may be, it's time to rest and recover so I can meet my self-imposed deadline before the year's end. And speaking of obligations, I haven't forgotten about all of you, my loyal followers. I'll have the last few legs of the Writer's Journey up on this blog, count on that, though it may not come as timely as I'd like. The Journey will reach its end, though.
Mine, however, has barely begun.
And while I'm apologizing, I'll add another to the list: I'm sorry this month has been so barren of my usual wit and wisdom. The last time I made so few posts in a month was back in March, which happened to be the month that I made some great breakthroughs in my writing and got some quality work done. Three guesses, then, why this month has been so empty on my blog, and the first two don't count.
I've been working my tail off this month to finish the rewrite of my manuscript before the year's end, and I've got some AMAZING work to show for it. Unfortunately, it also means that I've been working on that every time I sit down to write, which meant I was neglecting my poor, lonely blog. In addition to all that, I bought a car, celebrated my birthday, and ventured out into the world more than I might have otherwise. Time is a scarce commodity in my life right now, especially considering that I work a full-time job, but it looks like this week has been one of "Slow the frak down!"
Maybe that's why I got sick. I pride myself on never really succumbing to the usual illnesses that float around and take everyone else out of the game. I've been eating healthier, exercising more (especially now that I have a car and don't need to walk everywhere), and staying true to my obligations. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's because the friend I visited over the weekend wasn't fully over whatever he caught the week before, despite his assurances to the contrary. Maybe this is just nature's way of saying "Slow the frak down!"
Whatever the case may be, it's time to rest and recover so I can meet my self-imposed deadline before the year's end. And speaking of obligations, I haven't forgotten about all of you, my loyal followers. I'll have the last few legs of the Writer's Journey up on this blog, count on that, though it may not come as timely as I'd like. The Journey will reach its end, though.
Mine, however, has barely begun.
Friday, October 8, 2010
A Different Point of View
I hesitated posting this because I'm not the type to sing my own praises. I leave that for others to do for me, both because I'm much too modest and I enjoy having other people talk about me, preferably in a positive light. Then I realized that I wouldn't be tooting my own horn here, I'd just be giving my loyal followers a different perspective of me through someone else's eyes. Plus, I'd be promoting a friend's blog, which I'm always happy to do.
All that said, this is the blog of my very dear friend Karuna Tanahashi. She has been an amazing source of inspiration for me while I've been rewriting my trilogy, as well as a wonderful friend who allows me to experience L.A. through the eyes of someone who is still new to the city and hasn't become jaded by it. (She's also the editor behind my last two short stories on this blog, which is no doubt why they're so much better than the ones I've edited myself.) The link leads to a gleefully geeky night we shared together, and fans of Joss Whedon will no doubt get a kick out of our little adventure.
Enjoy!
All that said, this is the blog of my very dear friend Karuna Tanahashi. She has been an amazing source of inspiration for me while I've been rewriting my trilogy, as well as a wonderful friend who allows me to experience L.A. through the eyes of someone who is still new to the city and hasn't become jaded by it. (She's also the editor behind my last two short stories on this blog, which is no doubt why they're so much better than the ones I've edited myself.) The link leads to a gleefully geeky night we shared together, and fans of Joss Whedon will no doubt get a kick out of our little adventure.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tell the Truth Tuesday
Stolen from Laura and Lisa Write, because it's an awesome idea and it adds something to my blog other than story structure or quotes. So here goes!
1. I haven't finished my manuscript. In fact, I recently went back and rewrote the first chapter of my rewrite, which means I need to rewrite the rest of the rewrite so it flows naturally from that new opening. On the plus side, the new first chapter is so much stronger for it. Less talk, more action!
2. It's another overcast day here in "sunny" California. I think I'm going to put on my WoW Horde hoodie for the first time in months and walk to work in it.
3. The Coffee Bean definitely has better coffee, but they don't have the Pumpkin Spice Latte I love so much. Thank you, Starbucks, for having a location near to both work and home.
4. I should really be getting ready for work, not typing up truths for my blog. Whatever, I've got another few minutes.
5. October is my favorite month. It has my birthday, Halloween, and awesome weather. Bring on the Fall!
6. Now that I've mentioned the Pumpkin Spice Latte, I really want one. Mmm, coffee...
7. I still have no idea what costume I'm going to wear for Halloween. I should put more thought into that. Otherwise, I'm going to slap together my usual - Indiana Jones - and I think people have had enough of me as Indy over the years.
8. I should have gone to bed early last night, but I was redlining a manuscript for Barbara Deutsch. Why? Because she's helped me get this far as a writer, I feel honor-bound to help her with her own book. It all comes full circle.
9. I'm countering all the seasonal coffee with actual exercise this time! Hooray!
10. I'm really leaving for work now, I swear. Until next time, my faithful followers!
1. I haven't finished my manuscript. In fact, I recently went back and rewrote the first chapter of my rewrite, which means I need to rewrite the rest of the rewrite so it flows naturally from that new opening. On the plus side, the new first chapter is so much stronger for it. Less talk, more action!
2. It's another overcast day here in "sunny" California. I think I'm going to put on my WoW Horde hoodie for the first time in months and walk to work in it.
3. The Coffee Bean definitely has better coffee, but they don't have the Pumpkin Spice Latte I love so much. Thank you, Starbucks, for having a location near to both work and home.
4. I should really be getting ready for work, not typing up truths for my blog. Whatever, I've got another few minutes.
5. October is my favorite month. It has my birthday, Halloween, and awesome weather. Bring on the Fall!
6. Now that I've mentioned the Pumpkin Spice Latte, I really want one. Mmm, coffee...
7. I still have no idea what costume I'm going to wear for Halloween. I should put more thought into that. Otherwise, I'm going to slap together my usual - Indiana Jones - and I think people have had enough of me as Indy over the years.
8. I should have gone to bed early last night, but I was redlining a manuscript for Barbara Deutsch. Why? Because she's helped me get this far as a writer, I feel honor-bound to help her with her own book. It all comes full circle.
9. I'm countering all the seasonal coffee with actual exercise this time! Hooray!
10. I'm really leaving for work now, I swear. Until next time, my faithful followers!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Welcome, New Followers!
It's been a while since I've made an acknowledgment post, but let me assure you, I've certainly noticed the new people who have joined my small but loyal band of followers.
To the new folks, welcome to my humble corner of the web! If you haven't done so already, check out the links to the right of this post. You'll find a few short stories under The Everyday Divinities Project that will give you a better idea of the world I'm building within my soon-to-be-rewritten trilogy. Then, check out The Hero's Journey posts to learn more about the story structure behind my work of modern mythology. And if you've read through those already, you can read my earlier entries and laugh at how green I was at the whole "blogging about my writing" thing. ("Was?" Still am, in some ways.)
And to both the new people and the longtime followers, you guys (and gals!) are awesome, and your presence helps me keep focus on doing what I do best - writing, writing, writing. I salute you all.
To the new folks, welcome to my humble corner of the web! If you haven't done so already, check out the links to the right of this post. You'll find a few short stories under The Everyday Divinities Project that will give you a better idea of the world I'm building within my soon-to-be-rewritten trilogy. Then, check out The Hero's Journey posts to learn more about the story structure behind my work of modern mythology. And if you've read through those already, you can read my earlier entries and laugh at how green I was at the whole "blogging about my writing" thing. ("Was?" Still am, in some ways.)
And to both the new people and the longtime followers, you guys (and gals!) are awesome, and your presence helps me keep focus on doing what I do best - writing, writing, writing. I salute you all.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Hero's Journey - Reward
We’re finally here! It’s been a long, hard road up to this point, but the payoff is worth it. Through all the battles fought and won, friendships forged and villains thwarted, we’ve finally arrived at the part that makes it all worthwhile – The Reward!
Joseph Campbell calls this stage Seizing the Sword, in honor of all the stories of dragons slain for their treasure. The Hero conquers the Shadow and wins his reward, which may include a magical sword, a grateful kingdom and a very pretty damsel. The exact reward can be anything – a hidden treasure, a captured princess, a secret weapon. In spy movies, it’s usually some key to saving (or, in the wrong hands, destroying) the world. In romances, it’s some hottie (guy or girl) who the Hero has been trying to woo. It can be anything from the Holy Grail to a childhood toy. The one thing they all share in common is that they were fiercely sought after by the Hero. This is also where the characters can relax for a moment and savor their victory. We won the day, so let’s party! This is where the trumpets sound, campfires are stoked, and everyone can relax around the holochess table on the Millennium Falcon while Han takes them to lightspeed.
Story-wise, the Reward stage is where your readers can breathe a huge sigh of relief. We’re not at the climax yet, but after the harrowing battle of the Ordeal, there should be a way to relieve all of that pressure with a payoff. Don’t cheapen the victory over the Ordeal! This is what the whole story has been building toward all this time, and while there could be a strong lesson to be learned in the Hero not getting everything he wants, he’d better get something to show for all his pain and suffering up to now. This is as necessary for the readers as it is for the characters. While the story isn’t over yet, there should be some time to linger in the feeling of accomplishment before launching into the next leg of the Journey.
Now, how does this apply to the ongoing tale of Rob’s Journey? His Ordeal is at an end. He’s got his first novel written – it’s time to celebrate! As the winners of National Novel Writing Month gather to share their novels and the stories behind them, he joins in the revelry, proud to have made it to the winner’s circle. It’s cathartic for him to relax with others who have just made the same marathon run for the literary finish line. For some, this is something they do every year. Others have only completed their first, same as him. And among them all, only a handful dream of having their tale published. Rob’s novel may be complete, but his story is not yet over...
Neither is ours. True, we’ve come a long way, and we’ve reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but where do you go from there? Home, of course! When next we return to the Hero’s Journey, we’ll be packing up to take The Road Back.
Joseph Campbell calls this stage Seizing the Sword, in honor of all the stories of dragons slain for their treasure. The Hero conquers the Shadow and wins his reward, which may include a magical sword, a grateful kingdom and a very pretty damsel. The exact reward can be anything – a hidden treasure, a captured princess, a secret weapon. In spy movies, it’s usually some key to saving (or, in the wrong hands, destroying) the world. In romances, it’s some hottie (guy or girl) who the Hero has been trying to woo. It can be anything from the Holy Grail to a childhood toy. The one thing they all share in common is that they were fiercely sought after by the Hero. This is also where the characters can relax for a moment and savor their victory. We won the day, so let’s party! This is where the trumpets sound, campfires are stoked, and everyone can relax around the holochess table on the Millennium Falcon while Han takes them to lightspeed.
Story-wise, the Reward stage is where your readers can breathe a huge sigh of relief. We’re not at the climax yet, but after the harrowing battle of the Ordeal, there should be a way to relieve all of that pressure with a payoff. Don’t cheapen the victory over the Ordeal! This is what the whole story has been building toward all this time, and while there could be a strong lesson to be learned in the Hero not getting everything he wants, he’d better get something to show for all his pain and suffering up to now. This is as necessary for the readers as it is for the characters. While the story isn’t over yet, there should be some time to linger in the feeling of accomplishment before launching into the next leg of the Journey.
Now, how does this apply to the ongoing tale of Rob’s Journey? His Ordeal is at an end. He’s got his first novel written – it’s time to celebrate! As the winners of National Novel Writing Month gather to share their novels and the stories behind them, he joins in the revelry, proud to have made it to the winner’s circle. It’s cathartic for him to relax with others who have just made the same marathon run for the literary finish line. For some, this is something they do every year. Others have only completed their first, same as him. And among them all, only a handful dream of having their tale published. Rob’s novel may be complete, but his story is not yet over...
Neither is ours. True, we’ve come a long way, and we’ve reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but where do you go from there? Home, of course! When next we return to the Hero’s Journey, we’ll be packing up to take The Road Back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)