I'm often inspired by music when it comes to visualizing my characters. For instance, two songs that often make me think of my hero are "Whenever, Wherever" by Shakira and "I've got a feeling" by Black Eyed Peas. It represents how Derek is passionate and carefree. Granted, he doesn't always appear that way in the book, but the songs still apply to his personality.
I've finished writing the primary part of the first book which is from Derek and MaTisha's point of views and now I'm focusing on the twin, Kaio Geotellus. Much like I struggled with the Commander, I'm stuck thinking about what kind of situations this character will get into. He's a very powerful man, ambitious, and completely devoted to his brother. His song is "You're gonna go far, kid" by The Offspring. Kaio is willing to start a war for the sake of his brother's happiness and eventually declares himself Sovereign after his brother is killed.
The next few weeks will be focused on feeling out the Twin's story, finding out what he's truly capable of, and making him a lot more gray than black or white. He's got an arsenal at his command. Assassins, spies, powerful Miasho upholders, and an army of men ready to do his bidding. With what I have written now, he seems like a man resigned to having to fight if he must. It's my goal to turn him into a very dark, yet seemingly reasonable master of war. He's not the bad guy, at least, not in this book. I want the reader to understand why he's doing what he is, feel his loyalty, and not blame him for taking the actions that he does. If I can do that, then I will consider it successful.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
My Goal: Christmas
I have about 150k words typed towards my book. The upper limit of a fantasy novel is 200k. As I reread my work, I know there are parts that are going to get rewritten since my first draft is grossly lacking. It's far more tell than show. But my goal is to have a rough first draft by Christmas. I think I can do it. It's only taken me half of my life to get to this point.
Chris has asked me if I've looked into publishers. The entire idea is quite daunting. But I don't want to settle for self publishing. This book is for me, writing because I love writing and this story is clawing its way to freedom. If I go the route of self-publishing first, then it makes me feel like I'm doing it for the money, which I'm not because I have a great job and I enjoy what I do. Is it important to me that other people read my book? I don't know. I think I'd like to share it with friends and family. I think it would greatly please me to hold a physical copy of my book in my hands, complete with cover art and synopsis, just to say that I did it. I got the story down on paper. And for that reason, I don't want just an e-book either.
I don't know if I'd ever be able to make it big as a writer. I ask "why" all too often. Not "why won't I make it". That's not the issue. It's also not "why do I write". I know that. But "why does Derhan not eat Kieser?" "Why doesn't he just use this power and get the whole thing over with?" "Why don't they see that attack coming?" With each question, it morphs into further considerations and tweaking of the story. Tweaks in the story cause the butterfly effect. I think way too much. But who knows? Maybe I'll get a following like my favorite authors have and be a top seller. I think I'd be able to sell at least 10 copies (with the support of my family). Heck, I'd even autograph them! But before I get carried away, I better get back to writing. Christmas is my goal. Wish me luck!
Chris has asked me if I've looked into publishers. The entire idea is quite daunting. But I don't want to settle for self publishing. This book is for me, writing because I love writing and this story is clawing its way to freedom. If I go the route of self-publishing first, then it makes me feel like I'm doing it for the money, which I'm not because I have a great job and I enjoy what I do. Is it important to me that other people read my book? I don't know. I think I'd like to share it with friends and family. I think it would greatly please me to hold a physical copy of my book in my hands, complete with cover art and synopsis, just to say that I did it. I got the story down on paper. And for that reason, I don't want just an e-book either.
I don't know if I'd ever be able to make it big as a writer. I ask "why" all too often. Not "why won't I make it". That's not the issue. It's also not "why do I write". I know that. But "why does Derhan not eat Kieser?" "Why doesn't he just use this power and get the whole thing over with?" "Why don't they see that attack coming?" With each question, it morphs into further considerations and tweaking of the story. Tweaks in the story cause the butterfly effect. I think way too much. But who knows? Maybe I'll get a following like my favorite authors have and be a top seller. I think I'd be able to sell at least 10 copies (with the support of my family). Heck, I'd even autograph them! But before I get carried away, I better get back to writing. Christmas is my goal. Wish me luck!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Isto
I really should be asleep right now. Unfortunately, my husband hurt his shoulder and I woke up about an hour ago to rub some Tiger Balm on his aching body. As usual, I started thinking instead of falling back to sleep.
The past couple of days have been dedicated to working on my book. To make my main character more interesting (since he wasn't complicated enough) and throw my readers off, I created a fairytale monster called an Isto. My main character is accused of being one and thus all that encounter his elemental/seal-covered form go running in terror since an Isto is said to be the vengeful dead. It is common belief that they are immortal since "how can you kill something that is not alive?" They take on many forms so any sort of terror or foolery is blamed on Isto...Istos? Or Istoes? I haven't decided yet. I think I'll leave out the 'e'.
On to what has been keeping me up for the past hour. I really don't have much content for my second book. I have a basic outline which deals with the consequences of the first book. There's a plague killing off jespers. Rin is introduced to help find a cure. Derhan finds his last guardian on an island. LaTonya has to keep her half-brother from dying. The earth clan demand a new Teymir. The guardians have lost their marks. MaTisha and Kieser must settle the unrest and unite the provinces. It all sounds rather uneventful, doesn't it?
In comes the Miasho deities and the Isto. De, Tu, Li, and Na hunt down their brother Ko with some bad news. Taking on the niniers (which was never part of Derhan's master plan) has upset the balance, releasing the monsters that they had to imprison long before the humans or elementals existed. These are the Isto and they aren't just fairytales this time. The first to be targeted are the upholders. Miasho power kept them at bay so the first item of business is to destroy their adversaries. That means Nicholas, Alistair, Alissandria, and Satch all have their hands full with undead monsters who wish to rip them to shreds. That should add a bit excitement to the storyline. How will the hero vanquish the Isto and save the day? Not sure yet, but the details will work themselves out.
The past couple of days have been dedicated to working on my book. To make my main character more interesting (since he wasn't complicated enough) and throw my readers off, I created a fairytale monster called an Isto. My main character is accused of being one and thus all that encounter his elemental/seal-covered form go running in terror since an Isto is said to be the vengeful dead. It is common belief that they are immortal since "how can you kill something that is not alive?" They take on many forms so any sort of terror or foolery is blamed on Isto...Istos? Or Istoes? I haven't decided yet. I think I'll leave out the 'e'.
On to what has been keeping me up for the past hour. I really don't have much content for my second book. I have a basic outline which deals with the consequences of the first book. There's a plague killing off jespers. Rin is introduced to help find a cure. Derhan finds his last guardian on an island. LaTonya has to keep her half-brother from dying. The earth clan demand a new Teymir. The guardians have lost their marks. MaTisha and Kieser must settle the unrest and unite the provinces. It all sounds rather uneventful, doesn't it?
In comes the Miasho deities and the Isto. De, Tu, Li, and Na hunt down their brother Ko with some bad news. Taking on the niniers (which was never part of Derhan's master plan) has upset the balance, releasing the monsters that they had to imprison long before the humans or elementals existed. These are the Isto and they aren't just fairytales this time. The first to be targeted are the upholders. Miasho power kept them at bay so the first item of business is to destroy their adversaries. That means Nicholas, Alistair, Alissandria, and Satch all have their hands full with undead monsters who wish to rip them to shreds. That should add a bit excitement to the storyline. How will the hero vanquish the Isto and save the day? Not sure yet, but the details will work themselves out.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Back on Track
In the midst of illness, child care arrangements, mini-vacations, and
football games, I'm finally back on track. For the past two weeks,
I've been out of the swing of things, binge eating fast food, desserts,
pizza, chips, and other forms of junk food. I also haven't worked out
at all. But today is the last day. Starting tomorrow, I'll be eating
healthy and exercising once again.
Though I've been a lazy bum, I have reveled in the fact that I've gotten the opportunity to write. A great deal of time spent thinking through my story and revising certain facts. For instance, if the reader is able to figure out what my main character is, then shouldn't the people traveling with him and spending all waking hours with him also figure it out within a reasonable time period. On that note, the reason why he kills all the people that he does is because he's recognizable as a fire elemental when he's transformed. If it's just the hair and eyes, it'd make more sense to have him wear a hat and some form of glasses or blindfold instead of killing a bunch of guys. And if the guys know that he's an elemental, why would they try to fight him? Instead, they run in terror! Well, a short man with red-glazed hair and red eyes just isn't that scary. Let's throw some creepy black markings on his skin (all the seals on him becoming visible) and make his skin glisten like polished bronze, and his eyes glow with a backlight of fire. Now that, that makes him a bit more scary. The glowing eyes bit started with Jebaliah and I decided to keep it as an elemental trait. Since MaTisha's power is sealed, she doesn't have that trait until her power is released.
In addition to the deduction of my hero being a fire elemental, I asked myself "why wouldn't my characters take advantage of the Miasho art to hide from authorities?" I decided that they would. So MaTisha gets a new scarf to hide her identity, which doesn't work on Derek, of course, since he's a Miasho deity. With the changes I've made, I've been rewriting several scenes to make them flow and adding a few scenes to try to add more life to one of my favorite characters, Alistair. I want to make sure to do him justice on paper. A highly intelligent, sociable assassin. I liken him to some of the popular anti-heroes in television, like Spike from Buffy or Xellos from Slayers. Hopefully it shows in print.
Though I've been a lazy bum, I have reveled in the fact that I've gotten the opportunity to write. A great deal of time spent thinking through my story and revising certain facts. For instance, if the reader is able to figure out what my main character is, then shouldn't the people traveling with him and spending all waking hours with him also figure it out within a reasonable time period. On that note, the reason why he kills all the people that he does is because he's recognizable as a fire elemental when he's transformed. If it's just the hair and eyes, it'd make more sense to have him wear a hat and some form of glasses or blindfold instead of killing a bunch of guys. And if the guys know that he's an elemental, why would they try to fight him? Instead, they run in terror! Well, a short man with red-glazed hair and red eyes just isn't that scary. Let's throw some creepy black markings on his skin (all the seals on him becoming visible) and make his skin glisten like polished bronze, and his eyes glow with a backlight of fire. Now that, that makes him a bit more scary. The glowing eyes bit started with Jebaliah and I decided to keep it as an elemental trait. Since MaTisha's power is sealed, she doesn't have that trait until her power is released.
In addition to the deduction of my hero being a fire elemental, I asked myself "why wouldn't my characters take advantage of the Miasho art to hide from authorities?" I decided that they would. So MaTisha gets a new scarf to hide her identity, which doesn't work on Derek, of course, since he's a Miasho deity. With the changes I've made, I've been rewriting several scenes to make them flow and adding a few scenes to try to add more life to one of my favorite characters, Alistair. I want to make sure to do him justice on paper. A highly intelligent, sociable assassin. I liken him to some of the popular anti-heroes in television, like Spike from Buffy or Xellos from Slayers. Hopefully it shows in print.
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