Wow guys and gals...just one more week until the start of Camp NaNoWriMo July session. I am really excited for it and I think I'm going to get off to a decent start. My work has already scheduled off days for July 2nd and 3rd, and obviously the 4th and 5th are the weekend, but there are rumors that we might get the 1st and 6th off as well, which would be amazing, and I would definitely try to write as many words as possible during that time.
In the week of June I have remaining though, I am spending most of my time reading books to recharge my creative energies, as well as to hopefully get my book review posts ready for July. We'll see how well that goes.
But you aren't here to listen to me ramble about reading or vague plans, at least today you aren't. No, today the topic is on my replotting efforts for Souls Unknowing. Now, I wish I could say that I've spent quite a lot of time following through on the topic and writing down all of my random ideas, but the truth is that sometimes that isn't really my style. I've learned over the years that if I write down all my plot ideas then somehow my brain likes to think "but you've written that already" and then it is really difficult for me to actually write the scenes or chapters.
So, what I do instead is to just think on what I need to do and have a mental list. Yes, I have considered some plot points to change or to enhance in this rewrite, mostly because some of the plot I remember wanting to write about and then somehow I just didn't write down the scenes. For example, main character Tru spends quite a bit of time with her history teacher, Mr. Malone, and I remember wanting to actually write more scenes and conversations between them, but then I got distracted by my main plot about the ghosts and everything else sort of faded into the background. I hope to fix that issue this time around.
I also need to work on expanding on some of the characters, like fellow mediators Megan and Allie, as well as Tru's friends Tammi and Tess. These characters have lived in my mind for the past decade and I know them quite well, but I think back when I started writing this book I didn't know that much about them, and what I did know I didn't know how to express properly.
There is one really awesome scene involving Tru, Ian, and Ava that I am definitely keeping. It was one of the best moments and twists in the whole story, mostly because it started out as being completely unplanned, but after it happened I realized how much more interesting it made the book. Those of you who read SU back in high school know what I'm talking about, but please do not talk about it. I'd like to avoid spoilers if possible.
For the most part I am following the loose outline of the original draft for this story, but I always give myself room for new scenes or relationships or conversations. I like to let the characters dictate the events of the story, and considering how much everyone has developed since those early days (including me and my writing ability), I know there will probably be changes along the way.
I hope that my early readers will enjoy this new adaptation of the story. I have been thinking about how to improve the story for so long now that it will be really nice to actually follow through.
Okay, so next week I will have my June Book Haul post up on Wednesday, but I might also have a first day of Camp recap bonus post. It all depends on how many words I get on the page. Let's get ready to write.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
From the Stacks: Remedy for Memory by Brista Drake
For today's From the Stacks post, I am pleased to review the debut novel of a local writing buddy of mine. Please note that friendship with the author does not have an effect on my review. Today I am talking about Remedy for Memory by Brista Drake.
Overall rating: 4 stars
I have been following Brista's progress with writing and editing this book since I met her last year during a write-in for NaNoWriMo. Since then I have watched all of her YouTube videos and given as much helpful commentary as I could. So I am immensely proud to see another one of my region's writers reach publication status.
That being said, this book honestly surprised me with how wonderfully realistic it was. Yes, sometimes narrator Trisha jumps around and there will be plot points that are actually left unanswered, but isn't that how life works sometimes? We experience events and then forget them or brush them aside for something we think is more important, regardless of whether or not it actually is. This book did that, thanks to a journal-esque feel to the writing.
While reading it, I could also tell that it was set in the general area where both Brista Drake and I happen to live. This setting is enriched by including details such as a day trip up to Cedar Point--an amusement park--, a performance at The Historic Palace Theater, and of course, the Ohio State Fair. Look, I was completely a band geek through school, and yes, I did participate in the All-Ohio State Fair Band for three years. That, plus all the other details, and the descriptions of the interactions of these high school characters, made reading this book an interesting trip down memory lane for me.
I did note a number of typos in my paperback, but hey, I've found those in my own book, so I typically don't mark down my ratings for that, unless I have no clue what was actually meant to be said. As the typos were mostly use of the wrong homonym (your/you're, passed/past, cord/chord), I can still grasp the overall meaning.
So...I guess the reason why I took this book from a 5-star to a 4-star is because I can see the potential to achieve more greatness, and the stars are my way to show that this was a great first novel, but we can all learn from our first attempts and get better. Also, I do feel like maybe there is more to tell with this story. Most of the plot that we see occurs during Trisha's sophomore year of high school, but there are brief scenes from junior year, and a tiny bit from after she has graduated.
Would the story have been enriched further if more scenes had been added? I can't say. But, once again, that's what you get with the way some people record their lives. Stuff will be missing. That is obviously the case with how Trisha thinks about her high school relationships, particularly with Aaron.
That is the other reason the book scores 4 stars instead of 5. I think we have all had relationships that have made little sense to us, but we go through the motions and such anyway. As an outsider (the reader), I didn't really connect with Trisha and Aaron's romantic relationship on an emotional level, though part of me did remember acquaintances who were in similar relationships back in high school. So I understand the decisions and the sometimes wildly swinging spastic feelings that ruled both Trisha and Aaron's actions, but I still couldn't see them as a couple.
Okay, this is getting long, and may be a little ramble-y but what I'm saying is that this was a really good first book, and a true-to-life glimpse at a typical high school student as she tries to navigate herself and her interactions with her peers. It is a coming-of-age story and a first love story and it did have some sweet moments and some intense ones. I would recommend it to my friends, for the nostalgia factor alone. Sometimes it is nice to think back to those high school days, and then to think about how much we have all learned and grown since then.
“After some time, I could talk to people, but I couldn't say your name. I couldn't put your name next to how I was feeling. There was something broken, and I just . . . didn't think anyone could believe me.
So I wrote it down instead. I wrote this all for me . . . For you.”
If Trisha could summarize in one word her entire past relationship with Aaron, "The Baron," it'd be a long, sarcastic "thanks." For most of his life, Aaron Madison glorified being the butt of every joke, but after meeting Trisha four years ago, everything had changed.
If there was a time to speak, it was now.
Overall rating: 4 stars
I have been following Brista's progress with writing and editing this book since I met her last year during a write-in for NaNoWriMo. Since then I have watched all of her YouTube videos and given as much helpful commentary as I could. So I am immensely proud to see another one of my region's writers reach publication status.
That being said, this book honestly surprised me with how wonderfully realistic it was. Yes, sometimes narrator Trisha jumps around and there will be plot points that are actually left unanswered, but isn't that how life works sometimes? We experience events and then forget them or brush them aside for something we think is more important, regardless of whether or not it actually is. This book did that, thanks to a journal-esque feel to the writing.
While reading it, I could also tell that it was set in the general area where both Brista Drake and I happen to live. This setting is enriched by including details such as a day trip up to Cedar Point--an amusement park--, a performance at The Historic Palace Theater, and of course, the Ohio State Fair. Look, I was completely a band geek through school, and yes, I did participate in the All-Ohio State Fair Band for three years. That, plus all the other details, and the descriptions of the interactions of these high school characters, made reading this book an interesting trip down memory lane for me.
I did note a number of typos in my paperback, but hey, I've found those in my own book, so I typically don't mark down my ratings for that, unless I have no clue what was actually meant to be said. As the typos were mostly use of the wrong homonym (your/you're, passed/past, cord/chord), I can still grasp the overall meaning.
So...I guess the reason why I took this book from a 5-star to a 4-star is because I can see the potential to achieve more greatness, and the stars are my way to show that this was a great first novel, but we can all learn from our first attempts and get better. Also, I do feel like maybe there is more to tell with this story. Most of the plot that we see occurs during Trisha's sophomore year of high school, but there are brief scenes from junior year, and a tiny bit from after she has graduated.
Would the story have been enriched further if more scenes had been added? I can't say. But, once again, that's what you get with the way some people record their lives. Stuff will be missing. That is obviously the case with how Trisha thinks about her high school relationships, particularly with Aaron.
That is the other reason the book scores 4 stars instead of 5. I think we have all had relationships that have made little sense to us, but we go through the motions and such anyway. As an outsider (the reader), I didn't really connect with Trisha and Aaron's romantic relationship on an emotional level, though part of me did remember acquaintances who were in similar relationships back in high school. So I understand the decisions and the sometimes wildly swinging spastic feelings that ruled both Trisha and Aaron's actions, but I still couldn't see them as a couple.
Okay, this is getting long, and may be a little ramble-y but what I'm saying is that this was a really good first book, and a true-to-life glimpse at a typical high school student as she tries to navigate herself and her interactions with her peers. It is a coming-of-age story and a first love story and it did have some sweet moments and some intense ones. I would recommend it to my friends, for the nostalgia factor alone. Sometimes it is nice to think back to those high school days, and then to think about how much we have all learned and grown since then.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Camp NaNo July 2015: Souls Unknowing Prep - Rewrite the draft
Okay, so in September of this year I will have another round of Basics of Writing posts, and one of those will cover revision, but today's topic is a bit different from revision. Also, today's topic is completely relevant to my prep for Camp NaNoWriMo and my project, Souls Unknowing.
I know of a number of writers who rewrite their drafts three to ten times before they are satisfied with the story. Rewriting was never that vital to my writing process. It used to be that I would write a draft, set the whole manuscript aside for at least a couple weeks and at most a few months, and then read through and scribble all over in the margins. I would make little notes about adding scenes or more details or perhaps a longer conversation, but I typically did not scrap a scene and start over from scratch.
But lately it seems like a lot of my projects are becoming unique and veering away from my typical writing process. Souls Unknowing is no exception to this. I have said it before and I will say it again: when I wrote the first draft of SU I was in high school and I thought that third person present tense was a good idea.
Now, for some authors, 3rd person present tense works as a POV, but looking back at that old draft now, I cringe while trying to read it. I am not one of those people. I can do 1st person present tense, but not 3rd. Looking at that old draft, I also cringe at how simplistic it is in a lot of ways. Sure, I ended up with a bit over 50,000 words, but about 75-80% of the draft is dialogue. I know I need to add a lot more description into this story.
So...for the first time, a complete rewrite seems to be in order.
Thankfully, SU was written about three computers ago and was saved on floppy discs and such, which means I have no digital copy available to me so my old way of revision wouldn't work even if I wanted to pursue that option.
I do have a complete printed out copy of the original draft, so I have something I can refer to while writing, but honestly, unless it is absolutely necessary, I think I'm just going to go with the flow and write...see where the adventure takes me this time.
I know my characters and I know the major plot points I need to hit this time around. But other than that, I think the best path moving forward is to try and treat this like a first draft again. I have grown so much as a person and a writer, and I have a much better understanding of the writing process now. It would be a shame to miss out on some great writing possibilities just because I'm trying to stick completely to the ideal of that decade old draft.
So, I may still call this a rewrite, and I may still reference that draft from high school, but I think when I do my writing updates in July that I'm just going to talk about my current writing and the progress I'm making for the duration of Camp NaNoWriMo.
That being said, I guess the question to address is...how do you handle writing a full draft of a book? The answer sounds so simple but is so extraordinarily difficult...you just write. Write down one word followed by another followed by another until you reach the end. Then you go through that draft and read it, with a critical eye as if it was written by somebody else, and make commentary and notes for how to improve the draft. Then you follow those notes and revise the draft. You repeat this as many times as are necessary to make it feel like the best book it can be. And then maybe you do it one more time just to be sure.
Writing and publishing is a long and tiring process, but that feeling of accomplishment at the end is totally worth it.
I know of a number of writers who rewrite their drafts three to ten times before they are satisfied with the story. Rewriting was never that vital to my writing process. It used to be that I would write a draft, set the whole manuscript aside for at least a couple weeks and at most a few months, and then read through and scribble all over in the margins. I would make little notes about adding scenes or more details or perhaps a longer conversation, but I typically did not scrap a scene and start over from scratch.
But lately it seems like a lot of my projects are becoming unique and veering away from my typical writing process. Souls Unknowing is no exception to this. I have said it before and I will say it again: when I wrote the first draft of SU I was in high school and I thought that third person present tense was a good idea.
Now, for some authors, 3rd person present tense works as a POV, but looking back at that old draft now, I cringe while trying to read it. I am not one of those people. I can do 1st person present tense, but not 3rd. Looking at that old draft, I also cringe at how simplistic it is in a lot of ways. Sure, I ended up with a bit over 50,000 words, but about 75-80% of the draft is dialogue. I know I need to add a lot more description into this story.
So...for the first time, a complete rewrite seems to be in order.
Thankfully, SU was written about three computers ago and was saved on floppy discs and such, which means I have no digital copy available to me so my old way of revision wouldn't work even if I wanted to pursue that option.
I do have a complete printed out copy of the original draft, so I have something I can refer to while writing, but honestly, unless it is absolutely necessary, I think I'm just going to go with the flow and write...see where the adventure takes me this time.
I know my characters and I know the major plot points I need to hit this time around. But other than that, I think the best path moving forward is to try and treat this like a first draft again. I have grown so much as a person and a writer, and I have a much better understanding of the writing process now. It would be a shame to miss out on some great writing possibilities just because I'm trying to stick completely to the ideal of that decade old draft.
So, I may still call this a rewrite, and I may still reference that draft from high school, but I think when I do my writing updates in July that I'm just going to talk about my current writing and the progress I'm making for the duration of Camp NaNoWriMo.
That being said, I guess the question to address is...how do you handle writing a full draft of a book? The answer sounds so simple but is so extraordinarily difficult...you just write. Write down one word followed by another followed by another until you reach the end. Then you go through that draft and read it, with a critical eye as if it was written by somebody else, and make commentary and notes for how to improve the draft. Then you follow those notes and revise the draft. You repeat this as many times as are necessary to make it feel like the best book it can be. And then maybe you do it one more time just to be sure.
Writing and publishing is a long and tiring process, but that feeling of accomplishment at the end is totally worth it.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Camp NaNo July 2015: Souls Unknowing Prep
There are only 20 more days until the next session of Camp NaNoWriMo, and that means that it is time to start prepping and planning so I can focus on the writing in July.
Obviously this first post will talk about some of the preparation I am doing so I'm ready to work on Souls Unknowing again. I haven't worked on my Souls trilogy in a couple years, so one of the most important aspects of prep is reading over my original draft which has good bones but is otherwise pretty awful. I'm glad to see how much my writing has improved since high school. When I finished SU then, the draft was 95 pages single spaced and came in around 50,000 or so words. It was an amazing accomplishment at that time, but now most of my novels tend to clock in around 80-90,000 words.
Reading through that first draft also comes complete with the need to review character details. When I was writing this book, I think most of my background information and such was saved on floppy discs...which obviously aren't compatible with my laptop. Some of the work may have been saved on a thumb drive, but I don't know which one, so I'm basically starting from scratch.
One of the more fun parts of prepping for Camp NaNo is getting myself into the mood for writing a ghost story. That can actually be divided into two segments. First: watching Ghost Whisperer. I loved the show when it was on during my high school years and the character development as well as the portrayal of ghosts really helps to inspire me. Of course, in the show the story follows Melinda Gordon, who only shares her gift with her mother and grandmother, but in my trilogy I have a small group of people who can see and speak to the dead, so don't think that I'm trying to copy something I loved years ago.
The second segment of fun prep is doing some actual ghost hunting myself. Back in March, a friend took me to a public ghost hunt at the Mansfield Reformatory, which is also where they shot the movie Shawshank Redemption. We had an awesome time and that sparked some ideas for when I finally came back around to the Souls trilogy, so much so that I decided that I wanted to do another hunt closer to this session of Camp.
Unfortunately, the ghost hunts sell out pretty quickly, so I couldn't get in anytime in June, and in July I'd rather be trying to write as much as I can for Camp. However, there is a ghost hunt scheduled for August 1st, which is also my birthday, so that's a bonus. I'll get to do some more ghost box sessions and see if I can get some good ghostly photos (mostly orbs showing up in the image). It'll really help as I continue my writing process.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that not all prep is completely focused on Souls Unknowing. I also need to re-organize my office and desk. Having a sense of cleanliness and order will be very beneficial to the writing process and will help my mind to not be so cluttered.
And a random bit of prep for Camp NaNo is that I informed my usual lunch buddies at work that during the month of July I will not be joining them to eat, because I will instead be sitting by myself and trying to get as many words on the page as I can. Thankfully, letting them know in advance means I don't have to worry about accidentally blowing them off come July. Letting other people know about your participation in Camp NaNoWriMo also gives you people to whom you are accountable. If people know that you are supposed to be writing, then they will regularly ask for status updates, which for me is super helpful because it keeps me on track with my word count.
Another prep point that has nothing to do with writing or planning is to try and read a few books so I can have my From the Stacks review posts ready for you. I may or may not be all that successful with this one, and if I fail then I will have the posts up after the writing process is over. These past couple months I have been trying to focus more on writing than on reading and reviewing. I do have my review posts planned through the end of August though, so I just need to read the books and write the reviews.
SU Prep also means that I am thinking long term for the writing and publication process. If all goes well then I will write this book in July and August, and then it can be shipped off to my lovely beta readers and critique partners in September. I'm hoping that you all will help keep me focused and motivated on this timeline, because I have put this book off for too many years already and it needs to be done.
If all goes well then I will have Souls Unknowing out to the world this year, with Souls Abandoned to follow next year, and with any luck I can have Souls Crossing out in 2017. We'll see. First I have to get back to all of my prepping and organizing and rewrite the story so it can be so much better than my original concepts.
Are any of you participating in Camp NaNoWriMo in July? If so, how are you prepping for the month? Are you a serious plotter, or do you go with the more adrenaline inducing pantser method? And what writing project(s) are you working on for the month?
Obviously this first post will talk about some of the preparation I am doing so I'm ready to work on Souls Unknowing again. I haven't worked on my Souls trilogy in a couple years, so one of the most important aspects of prep is reading over my original draft which has good bones but is otherwise pretty awful. I'm glad to see how much my writing has improved since high school. When I finished SU then, the draft was 95 pages single spaced and came in around 50,000 or so words. It was an amazing accomplishment at that time, but now most of my novels tend to clock in around 80-90,000 words.
Reading through that first draft also comes complete with the need to review character details. When I was writing this book, I think most of my background information and such was saved on floppy discs...which obviously aren't compatible with my laptop. Some of the work may have been saved on a thumb drive, but I don't know which one, so I'm basically starting from scratch.
One of the more fun parts of prepping for Camp NaNo is getting myself into the mood for writing a ghost story. That can actually be divided into two segments. First: watching Ghost Whisperer. I loved the show when it was on during my high school years and the character development as well as the portrayal of ghosts really helps to inspire me. Of course, in the show the story follows Melinda Gordon, who only shares her gift with her mother and grandmother, but in my trilogy I have a small group of people who can see and speak to the dead, so don't think that I'm trying to copy something I loved years ago.
The second segment of fun prep is doing some actual ghost hunting myself. Back in March, a friend took me to a public ghost hunt at the Mansfield Reformatory, which is also where they shot the movie Shawshank Redemption. We had an awesome time and that sparked some ideas for when I finally came back around to the Souls trilogy, so much so that I decided that I wanted to do another hunt closer to this session of Camp.
Unfortunately, the ghost hunts sell out pretty quickly, so I couldn't get in anytime in June, and in July I'd rather be trying to write as much as I can for Camp. However, there is a ghost hunt scheduled for August 1st, which is also my birthday, so that's a bonus. I'll get to do some more ghost box sessions and see if I can get some good ghostly photos (mostly orbs showing up in the image). It'll really help as I continue my writing process.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that not all prep is completely focused on Souls Unknowing. I also need to re-organize my office and desk. Having a sense of cleanliness and order will be very beneficial to the writing process and will help my mind to not be so cluttered.
And a random bit of prep for Camp NaNo is that I informed my usual lunch buddies at work that during the month of July I will not be joining them to eat, because I will instead be sitting by myself and trying to get as many words on the page as I can. Thankfully, letting them know in advance means I don't have to worry about accidentally blowing them off come July. Letting other people know about your participation in Camp NaNoWriMo also gives you people to whom you are accountable. If people know that you are supposed to be writing, then they will regularly ask for status updates, which for me is super helpful because it keeps me on track with my word count.
Another prep point that has nothing to do with writing or planning is to try and read a few books so I can have my From the Stacks review posts ready for you. I may or may not be all that successful with this one, and if I fail then I will have the posts up after the writing process is over. These past couple months I have been trying to focus more on writing than on reading and reviewing. I do have my review posts planned through the end of August though, so I just need to read the books and write the reviews.
SU Prep also means that I am thinking long term for the writing and publication process. If all goes well then I will write this book in July and August, and then it can be shipped off to my lovely beta readers and critique partners in September. I'm hoping that you all will help keep me focused and motivated on this timeline, because I have put this book off for too many years already and it needs to be done.
If all goes well then I will have Souls Unknowing out to the world this year, with Souls Abandoned to follow next year, and with any luck I can have Souls Crossing out in 2017. We'll see. First I have to get back to all of my prepping and organizing and rewrite the story so it can be so much better than my original concepts.
Are any of you participating in Camp NaNoWriMo in July? If so, how are you prepping for the month? Are you a serious plotter, or do you go with the more adrenaline inducing pantser method? And what writing project(s) are you working on for the month?
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Musical Writing Inspiration Part Two
Welcome back to another musical inspiration post. If you somehow missed my other Project Death: Revelation lyric inspiration posts, you can find them here and here. I've already discussed the wonderful music of Epica and Kamelot, so today I am shifting focus a bit to Amaranthe. Now all three bands are considered metal bands, but have different sub-genres, and Amaranthe is fun because there's is a bit dance/techno/pop. They're just unique and I thoroughly enjoy them, and so need to get to a concert sometime. Anyway, their newest album is Massive Addictive and it is their best thus far. I enjoyed their previous album, The Nexus, too but this one has more songs I gravitate towards. So let's jump into the lyrics then. As with the previous times I'll give you the lyrics and then talk about their relevance to my Project Death series.
Light the fuse, see the sign
Unbalanced heart
I'm in my prime
Get out of here while there is still time
I'm reaching overload
I'm going right on top
While you abide my dynamite
- "Dynamite" by Amaranthe
The more Thanos thinks on his past, the more he sees how unbalanced everything is, especially with the actual unbalance going on in the present as well, and that makes him feel overwhelmed. Honestly, it's fun to see what happens as he teeters on the edge, and see if he gets pushed towards doing something he has worked so hard to control for so long. You can only fight against the darkness of Death for so long, and Thanos has been struggling with his position for over a hundred years. He really is like a stick of dynamite ready to explode.
Can't you see I'm a slave to the darkness
Cutting down
And I know I have done this before
As I stare into the wall
And no it's time to let it shine
Cause don't you know I'm addicted
Massive addictive
And suddenly I'm greatly affected
Like burning fire inside
My cyanide
Scared of losing my mind
Massive addictive
I'm totally completely afflicted
As I inspire the lie like a lullaby
Crawling around in my mind
- "Massive Addictive" by Amaranthe
Yesterday I posted about Kamelot's song "My Therapy" and how Tam is Thanos's antidote. Well, you only need an antidote if you are sick in some way, and Thanos is a bit of an addict, just not in the way you would think. This starts being addressed in the first chapter of Revelation (which you can read here if you'd like. Warning there are spoilers if you haven't read Resurrection yet). Speaking of, you can get an e-book of Resurrection for FREE until August 2015 here. As Thanos's story continues, he fights against his addiction as it starts to affect him more and more. It is an issue I already know won't be resolved by the end of the book, especially since I plan on writing a couple short stories revolving around that particular plot point.
Before the darkness gets me I will spread my wings and fly
I transcend from the chaos and the darkness turns to light
This is the time
For chasing my desires
What's in my heart is true
And if my dreams set everything on fire
Then I would still belong to you
I never doubt the feelings that I had
Could bring me through
And every teardrop leaving me
Was leaving me for you
If all my instincts screamed to me
And tried to guide me through
Would I long for an eternity
Or just come back to you
- "True" by Amaranthe
So much of the first book and then continuing on in this second one seems to be pulling Thanos and Tam apart, and for Thanos particularly he has to take the time to sort out his thoughts and feelings and realize that this is exactly the time that he needs to fight for what he wants. Or else he could potentially lose it all. He knows that his position as Death is one without end and so he has to figure out what eternity means if he doesn't have a companion to keep him from losing himself.
You can try to defeat me, you won't win
You won't beat me on the field
My fortitude beyond unreal
If you dare interfere me
Slow me down or impede me
My vengeance will be so unreal
- "Unreal" by Amaranthe
Thanos can be pretty scary. I mean, come on, he is Death, and he can stop the Resurrectors without even trying. Do we even remember how many of them he killed in the first book? Answer: quite a few. I think even I sometimes forget that because he just seems so uptight and proper most of the time. Several times during the course of writing Revelation, I have seen sparks of the rage dwelling deep inside Thanos, and hints of what it could be like if something happened and he sought justice or vengeance for it. I don't think it would be pretty. Honestly, it does not seem like a good idea to do something to tick off Death, just saying.
Danger
It's dangerous
I am out of control
Will I ever return
And it burns
Til I open my eyes
Danger - Dangerous
I fear what I'd become
I see the danger in
Falling back to giving everything
All away, I've fought it back now
Always on the run
Living in a danger zone
I am alone, I am invisible
To the forces of duality
All I want is what I can't get now
Gotta get up and gotta get away now
- "Danger Zone" by Amaranthe
Thanos stands on the edge of control, so close to just plummeting off the cliff and going on a rampage of destruction. Because of that he has spent so much time pushing people away from him, but now he has Tam, and he has become friendly with the Reapers, and so that makes him feel like even more of a danger, because there are people who could be harmed due to his actions. And of course, being Death, he is working to maintain Balance, working for the duality of life and death. He is constantly trying to see the big picture, which is difficult because he is only Death. It is really Fate who sees everything. I don't know. It might be fun to write an alternate version of events from Revelation, just to see what it would be like if Thanos truly exploded. Hmm...maybe someday.
With unlimited options
It has just begun
I've done things that you won't
I wish I'd never done
As I look through the eyes of
What is my design
You're taken the
Ascendancy
Shaking me, saving me
In the darkest hour
Fear was a part of me
Growing stronger
Breaking into my soul
Let me see eternity
- "Exhale" by Amaranthe
What I love about Revelation is that it is simultaneously a prequel and a sequel to Resurrection, because there are so many flashbacks to Thanos's transition to Death. It forces him to muse on some events from his past that he is not particularly fond of, and even worse, he has now been ordered to tell Tam everything, which means he has to tell her all the awful things he has done. Thanos fears that telling her all of this will make her leave, and while he wouldn't blame her, he doesn't want to be alone. Despite everything he hopes that she will break him out of this fear and darkness swirling deep within him.
Really though, it is all of Thanos's inner turmoil and his reluctance to disclose all the details of his past that has made writing this book take as long as it has. In the end, it will all be worth it, and I feel pretty certain that the book will be so much better than my first, but I have to reach "the end" first. It is coming, and trust me, I will be shouting it on all of my social media platforms when that happens.
So there you go...a peek into my writing process, in particular, the music behind the writing. If you guys enjoy these, let me know, and I'll try to continue with these posts in the future.
Really though, it is all of Thanos's inner turmoil and his reluctance to disclose all the details of his past that has made writing this book take as long as it has. In the end, it will all be worth it, and I feel pretty certain that the book will be so much better than my first, but I have to reach "the end" first. It is coming, and trust me, I will be shouting it on all of my social media platforms when that happens.
So there you go...a peek into my writing process, in particular, the music behind the writing. If you guys enjoy these, let me know, and I'll try to continue with these posts in the future.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Musical Writing Inspiration Part One
In the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo I wrote about some of the music inspiring me as I worked to finish Project Death: Revelation, and it averaged more views than typical, so I figured I would come back and do another post. Unfortunately, I realized there were probably too many songs for one post...so there will be two. First up, I have been listening to the new Kamelot album, Haven, quite a bit and much like with the previous album, Silverthorn, many of the songs spoke to Thanos and Tam's story. Like last time I will post the lyrics and then a little description of why it is relevant to the story or what about it calls forth that writing inspiration.
It becomes clear in Revelation while Thanos is thinking of his past that he has done quite a bit of lying and deceiving, and this song sort of highlights that aspect of his life, while also reflecting his position as Death. The new Kamelot album has been full of amazing songs, and add that to songs from Silverthorn, like "Sacrimony," "Ashes to Ashes," and "Torn" (just to name a few), and I know that Kamelot will continue to be a band that inspires my writing in the future. I so can't wait to see them in concert again this November. It will be amazing.
Part two of this musical inspiration post will be up soon, and it highlights another band whose music inspires my writing. See you then.
Sometimes I'm lost in the silence of empathy
A moment I can reflect
Sometimes I feel I am losing control
And feed on the essence of hate
Walking this world like animals
And into the dark we're wading
You are my reason to stay
Even if daylight's a lifetime away
- "Fallen Star" by Kamelot
The more I re-read over what I have written and think about what I still have to write, I can see a great deal of Thanos's struggles with the darkness inside him, and it really is something he has to fight to control. With Revelation we can see him starting to spiral towards destruction and darkness and he still hopes for a light at the end of a very long tunnel, and he hopes that the "daylight" he envisions includes Tam. I think a lot of these songs I've included in this list speak to the darkness and demons within Thanos and how it is dragging him down to where he could be the greatest threat of all to all life and death.
When the darkness brings the cold
To draw me under
I am caught between
The chapters of a dream
Something is reaching out and
My entire world is crumbling
And it whispers that I am
The chosen one...
Can you hear me...?
When the night begins to fall
I watch the shadows growing tall
Feeding my insomnia
Like a fly on the wall
- "Insomnia" by Kamelot
I think it is mentioned in the summary for this book, but something starts happening to Tam in this book and that makes Thanos feel trapped and helpless and like this life he has created with her and now with the Reapers is in jeopardy. At the same time he keeps thinking back to how he became Death in the first place, and that time of transition was one that crumbled his entire world and he had to rebuild himself. Now it becomes a question of if he can stand to do that again, or if this time he will self-destruct.
My dear I promise
Death comes to all
In a heartbeat...Only silence
Let's play with the fire
That runs in our veins
Trust in the might of a miracle
Now winter has come
And I stand in the snow
I don't feel the cold
And it is all that I will ever need
To believe
- "Veil of Elysium" by Kamelot
Obviously songs that talk about death and solitude and potential for danger really resonates for not just this book, but the whole series. In Resurrection Tam felt quite isolated, and then in Revelation, Thanos becomes Death and separates himself from everyone he had ever known, and from the little bit I've written for book three, Redemption, Julianne (Jules) is alone and hoping for a miracle, so this song really speaks to the series as a whole, and I love when I find songs that resonate that much with what I'm doing and the mood and feeling I'm aiming for with the books and characters.
You may call me a dreamer
Call me a fool
Just a blue eyed believer in you
But I'll die for that someone
In the blink of an eye
So tell me...Please tell me
Just what kind of fool am I
- "Under Grey Skies" by Kamelot
I still need to actually write this scene because I've been putting it off, but there's this great scene towards the end of the book where Thanos actually confronts his father, something he has thought about doing for over a century, but he finally reaches a point where he doesn't care about the consequences or if he steps over the line and does something completely against the Balance and just kills him. Thanos's dad always disapproved of Thanos and while not out-right calling him a fool, it was certainly implied. I have thought about this scene for quite some time and it's nice to have Thanos basically stand up and tell the man that he isn't a fool and that he is willing to die for his beliefs if necessary. I can't wait for you all to read this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Who fears the ticking of the clock
When centuries are passing in seconds
Black is the color of my past
A product of society's abuse
Come and take me off my daily dose of pain
Take me off and shelter me
From this static nothing
You're the antidote
For solitude injected in my veins
May the touch of you hand forever be
My therapy
- "My Therapy" by Kamelot
Every time I hear this song I can't help but think of Thanos and Tamesis. Seriously, when she became the Angel of Death and he started to really develop feelings for her and everything, she became this antidote for the solitude he had felt for so long, and it makes this song kind of perfect.
Would you pray if I said you were dying
Would you be a little stronger
Or fall down on your knees
Would you stay with me
If you knew that I was lying
Would you walk away
Or turn the other cheek
- "Liar Liar" by Kamelot
It becomes clear in Revelation while Thanos is thinking of his past that he has done quite a bit of lying and deceiving, and this song sort of highlights that aspect of his life, while also reflecting his position as Death. The new Kamelot album has been full of amazing songs, and add that to songs from Silverthorn, like "Sacrimony," "Ashes to Ashes," and "Torn" (just to name a few), and I know that Kamelot will continue to be a band that inspires my writing in the future. I so can't wait to see them in concert again this November. It will be amazing.
Part two of this musical inspiration post will be up soon, and it highlights another band whose music inspires my writing. See you then.
Friday, June 5, 2015
From the Stacks: The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott
Today's From the Stacks review is the first book in a new fantasy series by M.J. Scott. The Shattered Court is the first of the Four Arts novels, and has so many of the elements I enjoyed from her Half-Light City novels.
First in a new fantasy series from the author of the Novels of the Half-Light City.
Entangled in a court ruled by tradition and intrigue, a young witch must come to terms with newfound power and desire—and a choice between loyalty and survival.…
The royal witches of Anglion have bowed to tradition for centuries. If a woman of royal blood manifests powers, she is immediately bound by rites of marriage. She will serve her lord by practicing the tamer magics of the earth—ensuring good harvests and predicting the weather. Any magic more dangerous is forbidden.
Lady Sophia Kendall, thirty-second in line to the throne, is only days away from finding out if she will be blessed—or perhaps cursed—with magic. When a vicious attack by Anglion’s ancient enemies leaves the kingdom in chaos, Sophia is forced to flee the court. Her protector by happenstance is Lieutenant Cameron Mackenzie, a member of the royal guard, raised all his life to be fiercely loyal to the Crown.
Then Sophia’s powers manifest stronger than she ever imagined they would, and Cameron and she are inextricably linked in the process. As a witch unbound by marriage rites, Sophia is not only a threat to the established order of her country, but is also a weapon for those who seek to destroy it. Faced with old secrets and new truths, she must decide if she will fight for her country or succumb to the delicious temptation of power.Overall rating: 5 stars
Let me preface this by saying that The Shattered Court is most definitely a first novel, in that it spends a lot of time setting up the world and the characters, and a great deal of the plot is really laying down groundwork for what will likely be a tense and action packed rest of the series. The first 85% of the book had very little action to it, but that did not keep the story from being interesting to me.
Yes, most of the book is spent on: a birthday, a funeral, a coronation, a wedding, and a belated birthday ball. The middle section has a bit of intrigue that sets up the end nicely, but it was that last 15% that really sold the book for me. The pace picked up considerably and all the plot threads started to really weave together in a complex tapestry of awesomeness.
The concept of magic in this world is interesting, and I really can't wait to learn more about all of the four magical arts in this fantastical world. And the romance was pretty good, although yes, there were times when the couple seemed to doubt one another, which I guess makes it more realistic.
Every once in a while, I enjoy reading a book that is more character driven than plot driven. It allows you to delve into the characters' thoughts and emotions and desires in a way that doesn't always happen when an author feels that they have to put action plot scenes in constantly. The change of pace is rather refreshing and allows us to connect to the characters and the world more. Instead of having to jump from action point to action point, we get to almost join in on the day to day journey and life in the world and inhabit it for a while. The escape from reality is something I really look for in the books I read.
I actually like Cam and Sophie both, and I am supremely curious about what will happen next. The book ended with Cam and Sophie in a place completely foreign to them, and they are very unsure of what will happen next. That really works because that is how we the readers feel after finishing the book as well.
The world building and foundations of the magical systems were well done and I really do feel like this series can only get better. I am very much looking forward to the next book, even if I have to wait another year for its release.
Magic, romance, intrigue...what's not to enjoy in this book?
Okay, so I can honestly say that so far, I enjoyed the Half-Light City novels more, but those books also focused on a different couple with each book, whereas I think that this series will mostly focus on Sophie and Cam, so we'll see what effect the different approach has on the over-arching story arc.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Feedback Needed: Blogging and Vlogging
Hey everyone...this is actually going to be a super short post, but I had a question and I'm hoping for some feedback on this.
I try to get on Blogger fairly regularly and check my stats, and I'm always looking for ways to increase viewership and of course, reader participation. That's why I linked this blog to my Google+ and why I post about it on my Twitter and Facebook.
Anyway, for most posts I typically receive between 12 and 30 views, which isn't bad...but I only get comments on maybe one out of every 20 posts. I would like to be able to interact with my readers and fans more.
Lately I have been thinking about the pros and cons of vlogging (as in video blogging in case for some reason you didn't know that). I'm wondering if being able to connect a face and voice with the person behind the computer (aka me) would be more beneficial.
Of course, that has me wondering what to do if you guys would prefer a vlog. Do I then stop blogging and just move all my content over to YouTube...or do I blog and vlog? If I do both then they would cover the same content (likely almost word for word), but would give the reader/viewer the option of whether they want to watch/listen or just read.
So that's my question: would you prefer my writing and From the Stacks posts in written format or video format?
***
Oh, and I'll have my regular From the Stacks review post up tomorrow, and then two special music related writing posts up this weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday). Yay for lots of new content.
I try to get on Blogger fairly regularly and check my stats, and I'm always looking for ways to increase viewership and of course, reader participation. That's why I linked this blog to my Google+ and why I post about it on my Twitter and Facebook.
Anyway, for most posts I typically receive between 12 and 30 views, which isn't bad...but I only get comments on maybe one out of every 20 posts. I would like to be able to interact with my readers and fans more.
Lately I have been thinking about the pros and cons of vlogging (as in video blogging in case for some reason you didn't know that). I'm wondering if being able to connect a face and voice with the person behind the computer (aka me) would be more beneficial.
Of course, that has me wondering what to do if you guys would prefer a vlog. Do I then stop blogging and just move all my content over to YouTube...or do I blog and vlog? If I do both then they would cover the same content (likely almost word for word), but would give the reader/viewer the option of whether they want to watch/listen or just read.
So that's my question: would you prefer my writing and From the Stacks posts in written format or video format?
***
Oh, and I'll have my regular From the Stacks review post up tomorrow, and then two special music related writing posts up this weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday). Yay for lots of new content.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
May Book Haul
Well, hello there. I guess I'm starting the month of June off by showing you my book haul from the month of May. For the remainder of the month I'll be talking Camp NaNoWriMo prep for my complete rewrite of my book Souls Unknowing. More on that next week though.
First up, we have the hardcovers.
I have loved every book I have read by Sarah J Maas, and A Court of Thorns and Roses is no exception. I'll have the review up on Friday, but I just have to say that it was well worth the price to own this amazing book in hardcover. So good. It's fae meets the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.
Julie Kagawa is another one of those authors whose books I tend to devour, which is probably why I waited so long to get into Talon. But now Rogue is out too, so at least I can read both of them in quick succession. It'll be interesting to see how the story develops as we learn more about the dragons and everything going on between Talon and the Order of St. George. I'm already waiting the release of the third book, Soldier.
Okay, and now for the paperbacks:
Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas. I think I actually bought this back in March, but it was through a Kickstarter campaign, so I had to wait for the formatting and such to be finished before I received my copy. I was introduced to the campaign by an author I love, C.E. Murphy, so since she gushed about the book, I decided to give it a try. Come on, the royal family has magic, but it makes them go mad, so they all have protectors called Regents to try to help with the madness. Then when Regents keep dying, Princess Tiana decides to investigate. Along the way she makes a pact with a telepathic demon who is possessing a magical sword. That just sounds interesting.
Shattered by Kevin Hearne. This is the seventh book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and I have to say that I just love Atticus's voice in these books. Kevin Hearne brings an amazing amount of depth and humor to these stories of a badass Druid. This is an auto-buy to me, even though I had to wait so long for the paperback release. This was the first book to get a hardcover release and I have to have matching sets, which meant waiting.
The Fire Seer by Amy Raby. I have read Amy Raby's Hearts and Thrones series and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I've heard mixed reviews on this book, but I'm willing to give it a shot since I've loved her other books. The second one in the series is out too, so if all goes well then I'll have another book to buy.
Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking. The only Amanda Hocking books I don't own so far are the Watersong series, which I have on my to-buy list and I'll get around to them eventually, but at least I can say that I've read them. Her books are such easy quick reads for me that it makes it nice when I need something relatively light and simple. Not that these books are completely simple, but compared to some books I read (Song of Ice and Fire books, Sword of Truth books, Wheel of Time books), these seem a lot less complex. They're still amazing though.
Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett. Come on now, that cover is gorgeous, and I love Jenn Bennett's books. Plus, as I've stated before, these take place in the 1920s, and they include stuff like ghosts and visions. And naturally, good romance.
The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott. The review for this book is coming on Friday, so I won't say too much about it right here, but I thoroughly enjoyed M.J. Scott's Half-Light City books because of the interesting world-building and wonderful character relationships. This book seems to set up the series nicely, and I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
Time's Edge by Rysa Walker. I waited quite a while before I got a copy of Timebound to read, but man was it good. Now I have to know what happens next, so I'm delving into this book fairly soon.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Every now and again I just like to pick up a classic that I haven't read. Even though I have a degree in English Literature and I took more Brit Lit classes than anything else, there are a lot of great novels I was never assigned to read. It is a lengthy process to get through them all, but it is always helpful when a movie adaptation comes around. I don't like to see adaptations without reading the book first, ergo, I have purchased the book. See how easy that is. Yep, so simple.
And finally, the e-books:
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
Claimed by Sarah Fine
First World by Jaymin Eve
Courtlight Boxed Set (Books 1,2, and 3) by Terah Edun
No One's Surrender by Kelly Walker
Basically all of the e-books were on sale for really cheap ($1.99) or for free, so that made them easy choices. I've been wanting to read Afterworlds because it is related to NaNoWriMo which is cool. Sarah Fine is an interesting author, but I have to stray out into Kindle territory to read her most of the time; thankfully this first book in a new series was free so Kindle format it is. First World was free as well, and is a sci-fi book, something I typically read occasionally so why not try it? I already had the first book of the Courtlight series downloaded from a couple years ago, but since I got the first three for free, I guess it's worth having two copies of the same book on my NOOK. And No One's Surrender is the third book of Kelly Walker's Chadwell Hearts series. This one follows Chelsea, and boy is she a pistol. I reviewed the book at the very beginning of the year, so it's about time that I bought my own copy.
Well that's it for May's books. The other three weeks this month I will be talking about my preparations for writing Souls Unknowing during the July session of Camp NaNoWriMo, my thought process for completely rewriting a draft, and what it's like to re-plot a book to make the plot develop better and to get deeper into the characters. Then in July I'll be keeping you updated on my Camp NaNo progress. It's going to be a fun couple of months. Now, because of the focus on writing, I may or may not fall behind on my book reviews. Don't worry; I will make up for them, especially since I have a schedule figured out for book reviews until August. The reviews may be a bit late, but they will eventually be posted.
First up, we have the hardcovers.
I have loved every book I have read by Sarah J Maas, and A Court of Thorns and Roses is no exception. I'll have the review up on Friday, but I just have to say that it was well worth the price to own this amazing book in hardcover. So good. It's fae meets the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.
Julie Kagawa is another one of those authors whose books I tend to devour, which is probably why I waited so long to get into Talon. But now Rogue is out too, so at least I can read both of them in quick succession. It'll be interesting to see how the story develops as we learn more about the dragons and everything going on between Talon and the Order of St. George. I'm already waiting the release of the third book, Soldier.
Okay, and now for the paperbacks:
Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas. I think I actually bought this back in March, but it was through a Kickstarter campaign, so I had to wait for the formatting and such to be finished before I received my copy. I was introduced to the campaign by an author I love, C.E. Murphy, so since she gushed about the book, I decided to give it a try. Come on, the royal family has magic, but it makes them go mad, so they all have protectors called Regents to try to help with the madness. Then when Regents keep dying, Princess Tiana decides to investigate. Along the way she makes a pact with a telepathic demon who is possessing a magical sword. That just sounds interesting.
Shattered by Kevin Hearne. This is the seventh book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and I have to say that I just love Atticus's voice in these books. Kevin Hearne brings an amazing amount of depth and humor to these stories of a badass Druid. This is an auto-buy to me, even though I had to wait so long for the paperback release. This was the first book to get a hardcover release and I have to have matching sets, which meant waiting.
The Fire Seer by Amy Raby. I have read Amy Raby's Hearts and Thrones series and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I've heard mixed reviews on this book, but I'm willing to give it a shot since I've loved her other books. The second one in the series is out too, so if all goes well then I'll have another book to buy.
Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking. The only Amanda Hocking books I don't own so far are the Watersong series, which I have on my to-buy list and I'll get around to them eventually, but at least I can say that I've read them. Her books are such easy quick reads for me that it makes it nice when I need something relatively light and simple. Not that these books are completely simple, but compared to some books I read (Song of Ice and Fire books, Sword of Truth books, Wheel of Time books), these seem a lot less complex. They're still amazing though.
Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett. Come on now, that cover is gorgeous, and I love Jenn Bennett's books. Plus, as I've stated before, these take place in the 1920s, and they include stuff like ghosts and visions. And naturally, good romance.
The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott. The review for this book is coming on Friday, so I won't say too much about it right here, but I thoroughly enjoyed M.J. Scott's Half-Light City books because of the interesting world-building and wonderful character relationships. This book seems to set up the series nicely, and I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
Time's Edge by Rysa Walker. I waited quite a while before I got a copy of Timebound to read, but man was it good. Now I have to know what happens next, so I'm delving into this book fairly soon.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Every now and again I just like to pick up a classic that I haven't read. Even though I have a degree in English Literature and I took more Brit Lit classes than anything else, there are a lot of great novels I was never assigned to read. It is a lengthy process to get through them all, but it is always helpful when a movie adaptation comes around. I don't like to see adaptations without reading the book first, ergo, I have purchased the book. See how easy that is. Yep, so simple.
And finally, the e-books:
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
Claimed by Sarah Fine
First World by Jaymin Eve
Courtlight Boxed Set (Books 1,2, and 3) by Terah Edun
No One's Surrender by Kelly Walker
Basically all of the e-books were on sale for really cheap ($1.99) or for free, so that made them easy choices. I've been wanting to read Afterworlds because it is related to NaNoWriMo which is cool. Sarah Fine is an interesting author, but I have to stray out into Kindle territory to read her most of the time; thankfully this first book in a new series was free so Kindle format it is. First World was free as well, and is a sci-fi book, something I typically read occasionally so why not try it? I already had the first book of the Courtlight series downloaded from a couple years ago, but since I got the first three for free, I guess it's worth having two copies of the same book on my NOOK. And No One's Surrender is the third book of Kelly Walker's Chadwell Hearts series. This one follows Chelsea, and boy is she a pistol. I reviewed the book at the very beginning of the year, so it's about time that I bought my own copy.
Well that's it for May's books. The other three weeks this month I will be talking about my preparations for writing Souls Unknowing during the July session of Camp NaNoWriMo, my thought process for completely rewriting a draft, and what it's like to re-plot a book to make the plot develop better and to get deeper into the characters. Then in July I'll be keeping you updated on my Camp NaNo progress. It's going to be a fun couple of months. Now, because of the focus on writing, I may or may not fall behind on my book reviews. Don't worry; I will make up for them, especially since I have a schedule figured out for book reviews until August. The reviews may be a bit late, but they will eventually be posted.
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