Well folks, today is the last day of the RAoA contest I started this blog for. I have somehow managed to write this blog almost every single day of the month!
The goal I was trying to meet was to write fiction every day for 30 days. I realized pretty early on that this is a very difficult goal to meet. Some days there is just not the time, and some days I really need a break from it.
In short, while I didn't make fiction writing a daily habit, I still believe that the attempt has improved the amount of writing I do per day. Perhaps it was the fact that the blog made me accountable, but regardless, I've had a better routine for writing this month than I had the entire time I'd been doing this beforehand.
Will I continue this blog? I'm not sure. I don't think anyone except close friends and family are going to be interested in reading a blog about a book they've never read. However, I will be starting my official website soon, now that I'm getting pretty close to finishing the first draft of the novel. I hope to blog and post tidbits on the upcoming website.
And now, I bid you farewell, as I am off to continue working on the book!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Day Twenty Nine - "I am so overwhelmed..."
The blog contest is almost over! I've somehow managed to blog almost every single day, except for that one day that I was just too darn busy. I must say, I'm pleased with the results.
Today I started working early to beat the heat. However, it's in the mid 80's out now, and I'm still outside. I'll miss this when it's too hot to do my writing outside. I've managed to get a decent amount of a long scene in the novel written. It's still not as much as I'd like to have done, but 1000 words is better than none.
I still can't get my new idea out of my head though. It's pervasive in my thoughts. When I brush my teeth, a snippet of dialogue will come to me. It's hard to go write that stuff down when your mouth is full of toothpaste. All I can do, I suppose, is keep working on my current project and keep the momentum going, and then I can write this new thing sooner rather than later...
This beautiful song has been in my head all day, and it seems to fit with the new idea I'm thinking about...
"Please don't go just yet....
Can we stay a moment, please?
We can dance together.
We can dance forever
Under your stars tonight.
And I am so overwhelmed
By a thousand broken wings."
Flyleaf, "Broken Wings"
Today I started working early to beat the heat. However, it's in the mid 80's out now, and I'm still outside. I'll miss this when it's too hot to do my writing outside. I've managed to get a decent amount of a long scene in the novel written. It's still not as much as I'd like to have done, but 1000 words is better than none.
I still can't get my new idea out of my head though. It's pervasive in my thoughts. When I brush my teeth, a snippet of dialogue will come to me. It's hard to go write that stuff down when your mouth is full of toothpaste. All I can do, I suppose, is keep working on my current project and keep the momentum going, and then I can write this new thing sooner rather than later...
This beautiful song has been in my head all day, and it seems to fit with the new idea I'm thinking about...
"Please don't go just yet....
Can we stay a moment, please?
We can dance together.
We can dance forever
Under your stars tonight.
And I am so overwhelmed
By a thousand broken wings."
Flyleaf, "Broken Wings"
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Day Twenty Eight - Ahhh!
I am having the worst trouble concentrating. I'm also so obsessed with this new idea I have that I'm not able to come up with anything for the novel. My brain is a total wacked out mess today.
I've decided to just go with the flow. I'm typing out ideas for the new obsession. Once it passes I'll have something solid to work off of when I finally get around to writing this new thing. Right now it's just a love story and character development. I have plenty of time to come up with a plot, as I still have the four Greenstone novels to complete!
Perhaps I'm just really ADD after having such a long weekend. Maybe tomorrow I will be more disciplined.
I've decided to just go with the flow. I'm typing out ideas for the new obsession. Once it passes I'll have something solid to work off of when I finally get around to writing this new thing. Right now it's just a love story and character development. I have plenty of time to come up with a plot, as I still have the four Greenstone novels to complete!
Perhaps I'm just really ADD after having such a long weekend. Maybe tomorrow I will be more disciplined.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Days Twenty Six and Twenty Seven
As I predicted, I didn't get much of any fiction writing done this weekend. Yesterday was incredibly hectic. I spent the morning and afternoon cleaning, prepping food, and getting the house ready and the evening with my husband and in-laws. It was a wonderful time and totally worth all the work. (Also, having company over gives me the much needed excuse to get all the deep cleaning done that I normally brush off.) I didn't have any time to write.
Today has been much more low key and relaxing, but once again I didn't write. I very recently came up with the idea for a new novel, however. Whenever this happens, I become moderately obsessed with the new idea for awhile. That's what's going on now. I've been jotting down a lot of ideas and even some dialogue. Once I get over the obsession, I hope to have some ground work laid in place for when I'm finished with my current project and have time to devote to it.
Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get back into the current novel. I've been making more progress this past month than I have in some of the last several months.
Today has been much more low key and relaxing, but once again I didn't write. I very recently came up with the idea for a new novel, however. Whenever this happens, I become moderately obsessed with the new idea for awhile. That's what's going on now. I've been jotting down a lot of ideas and even some dialogue. Once I get over the obsession, I hope to have some ground work laid in place for when I'm finished with my current project and have time to devote to it.
Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get back into the current novel. I've been making more progress this past month than I have in some of the last several months.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Day Twenty Five - Holiday Weekend
I don't anticipate much or any writing getting done this weekend. My in-laws are coming tomorrow for dinner, so most of my time is going to be taken getting things ready for that. Monday I hope to devote solely to a time of enjoyment with my husband. However, if I happen to wake up early enough, I may be able to get something written down.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Day Twenty Four - Other Characters
Today has been a rainy Friday, and coupled with the fact that my husband is off work today, makes for a very unmotivational day. I really don't feel like writing, but maybe I'll manage a few words. I don't much feel like writing the blog either, but hey I said I would do this thing for 30 days, and I'm going to complete it gosh darn it!
So I'm going to do my final post regarding my characters. I have far more characters than I am listing here on the blog, as I am only putting down the major players in Book 1. These characters I will talk about below are the questionable ones: those of dubious loyalty and side changers.
The other Aru's: Osack and Derrel
"You're ashamed of what you've done
Crying 'cause your father's wrong
Trying to be something new
You feel that you have something to prove"
-Flyleaf, "Fire Fire"
Derrel
Derrel is the "spare heir". He suffers from stereotypical "middle child syndrome" - his older brother is the darling of both parents, being both the first child and the heir. His younger sister is also beloved by their mother, by virtue of being female, even though Iris does very little to inspire maternal affection. As such, Derrel has never had the chance to discover his abilities as a natural leader because he’s been in Osack’s shadow. It's always been easier to follow him than to fight him, and he feels the need to prove himself. He has been raised as a younger son aristocrat, leaving him with the possibility of little inheritance and career choices include politics (not his thing), joining the Dictator’s Army, and other “gentlemanly” pursuits. Of course, these future pursuits are put on hold until after the war is over. He manages to fall in love with Robin, even though she's technically a country nobody, and time will see if he will continue in this passion or not.
Osack
As the first child and male heir to his father's estate of Lynden, he has been given everything since birth, and it’s made him arrogant. He is Alpha Male, competitive, and rebellious. He is a rebel without a cause, therefore easy fodder for the Yalu. Because of his aristocratic background and promise of inheriting whatever he wants, he supports the Dictator and his politics. He looks down on everyone not of aristocratic background which does not garner him much friendship or support from the refugee community. This leads him to keeping Derrel with him all the time as his one friend. Osack has never made a secret of his support for the Yalu. He abhors his father's decision to flee their lands rather than turn to the Yalu for help, and it's to this sinister group he turns when his father is taken prisoner.
Lavinia
It's hard to say much about Lavinia here without giving away a bunch of spoilers. We shall suffice to say that she is beautiful and deadly. She is Shank's instrument, posing as a refugee in Mennington and preying on Osack for information and ultimately to convert him to her cause. In some ways she serves as a foil to Robin. Where Robin communicates with Derrel with friendship, openness, and honestly, Lavinia uses Osack with seduction, hidden meanings, and false promises. Her origins remain a mystery for now, and it's left to see if she has any redeeming qualities.
Tym
Most of what we see of him is in his appearances in the town defense classes. He is both the foil for and personal nemesis of Iris. Like Lavinia, he is an undercover operative of the Yalu, searching out information and looking for strong young people to subvert. His roll in Book 1 is relatively small, but he will figure largely later in the series.
So I'm going to do my final post regarding my characters. I have far more characters than I am listing here on the blog, as I am only putting down the major players in Book 1. These characters I will talk about below are the questionable ones: those of dubious loyalty and side changers.
The other Aru's: Osack and Derrel
"You're ashamed of what you've done
Crying 'cause your father's wrong
Trying to be something new
You feel that you have something to prove"
-Flyleaf, "Fire Fire"
Derrel
Derrel is the "spare heir". He suffers from stereotypical "middle child syndrome" - his older brother is the darling of both parents, being both the first child and the heir. His younger sister is also beloved by their mother, by virtue of being female, even though Iris does very little to inspire maternal affection. As such, Derrel has never had the chance to discover his abilities as a natural leader because he’s been in Osack’s shadow. It's always been easier to follow him than to fight him, and he feels the need to prove himself. He has been raised as a younger son aristocrat, leaving him with the possibility of little inheritance and career choices include politics (not his thing), joining the Dictator’s Army, and other “gentlemanly” pursuits. Of course, these future pursuits are put on hold until after the war is over. He manages to fall in love with Robin, even though she's technically a country nobody, and time will see if he will continue in this passion or not.
Osack
As the first child and male heir to his father's estate of Lynden, he has been given everything since birth, and it’s made him arrogant. He is Alpha Male, competitive, and rebellious. He is a rebel without a cause, therefore easy fodder for the Yalu. Because of his aristocratic background and promise of inheriting whatever he wants, he supports the Dictator and his politics. He looks down on everyone not of aristocratic background which does not garner him much friendship or support from the refugee community. This leads him to keeping Derrel with him all the time as his one friend. Osack has never made a secret of his support for the Yalu. He abhors his father's decision to flee their lands rather than turn to the Yalu for help, and it's to this sinister group he turns when his father is taken prisoner.
Lavinia
It's hard to say much about Lavinia here without giving away a bunch of spoilers. We shall suffice to say that she is beautiful and deadly. She is Shank's instrument, posing as a refugee in Mennington and preying on Osack for information and ultimately to convert him to her cause. In some ways she serves as a foil to Robin. Where Robin communicates with Derrel with friendship, openness, and honestly, Lavinia uses Osack with seduction, hidden meanings, and false promises. Her origins remain a mystery for now, and it's left to see if she has any redeeming qualities.
Tym
Most of what we see of him is in his appearances in the town defense classes. He is both the foil for and personal nemesis of Iris. Like Lavinia, he is an undercover operative of the Yalu, searching out information and looking for strong young people to subvert. His roll in Book 1 is relatively small, but he will figure largely later in the series.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Day Twenty Three - The Antagonist
I got a late start today but have still managed to put in some quality writing. I'm still plowing ahead on Part II. (16 pages in!) I finally got to a good stopping point where I can leave the reader on a cliffhanger as the three main characters run into some major trouble on their journey and return to those left behind in the town and the excitement that is to come there.
Today I'm going to introduce the antagonist. In the novel I have only just introduced him in Part I. He does not make his big appearance until the end of the book. If you remember, I am writing a four book series. The antagonist spends most of the time in the first two books working behind the scenes in the shadows. He will not be showing his head much until book 3, and then it will be in a big way. But I'm going to go ahead and tell you a little about him now and will try not to spoil anything.
The Antagonist
Shank
"Never gave a thought to an honorable living.
Always had sense enough to lie."
-Yeasayer, "Madder Red"
Shank is, for all intents and purposes, the leader of the Yalu. The Yalu is the big group of bad guys that ultimately threaten the livelihood of the protagonists. They pretty much serve the purpose of doing the Leader's dirty work - the things he doesn't want generally known and things he can't trust his own guards to do.
He is related to some prominent people of the aristocracy. He possesses many of the traits to make him a good villain: overconfidence, stubbornness, arrogance, greed. He was taught from an early age to use his charisma to lure young men of fortune to gaming hells where they would eventually be tempted to gamble away all their money.
Shank does have characteristics that make him more of a stock bad guy. I won't get into it too much right now, because it would give too much away. Suffice to say, he has a particular interest in finding a healer for the Yalu, and once he discovers one, he will stop at nothing to procure her services.
Today I'm going to introduce the antagonist. In the novel I have only just introduced him in Part I. He does not make his big appearance until the end of the book. If you remember, I am writing a four book series. The antagonist spends most of the time in the first two books working behind the scenes in the shadows. He will not be showing his head much until book 3, and then it will be in a big way. But I'm going to go ahead and tell you a little about him now and will try not to spoil anything.
The Antagonist
Shank
"Never gave a thought to an honorable living.
Always had sense enough to lie."
-Yeasayer, "Madder Red"
Shank is, for all intents and purposes, the leader of the Yalu. The Yalu is the big group of bad guys that ultimately threaten the livelihood of the protagonists. They pretty much serve the purpose of doing the Leader's dirty work - the things he doesn't want generally known and things he can't trust his own guards to do.
He is related to some prominent people of the aristocracy. He possesses many of the traits to make him a good villain: overconfidence, stubbornness, arrogance, greed. He was taught from an early age to use his charisma to lure young men of fortune to gaming hells where they would eventually be tempted to gamble away all their money.
Shank does have characteristics that make him more of a stock bad guy. I won't get into it too much right now, because it would give too much away. Suffice to say, he has a particular interest in finding a healer for the Yalu, and once he discovers one, he will stop at nothing to procure her services.
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