Eldest

Going to start reading Eldest today! YAY!

Challenge ideas

I thought I'd post a few ideas here for my self imposed 'challenges' :) I haven't picked one for this week yet, its been crazy busy. Hopefully it'll calm down enough so I can write!

• Temples: how many, how do they work, what are they like, what is their purpose, etc.
• The Elements: this one...is tricky. I still haven't decided yet if I want to use four, or five Elements. I also haven't decided yet (and probably won't til the time comes) if this will be one challenge, or four/five. As of right now I only have the basics down for each one, and I want to go more in depth.
• ...ok, so I only have two ideas on the books right now. More to come!

Cheers, and happy writing.

Sometimes

Sometimes you need to write chapter two so you know what to put in chapter one. Just sayin'.

The Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday by Garth Nix

I picked this book up on a whim while browsing the small selection currently available at my local library. I read some of Garth Nix's other novels (the ones about the Necromancer...) while in middle school and remembered really enjoying them, so I decided to give this one a shot.

Arthur isn't one of the cool kids. He never was. So on the first day at a new school, he has no intentions of being the center of every one's attention. Then they gym teacher asks him to run. Which puts him in the center of attention for, you see, Arthur has asthma. Very bad asthma. So, as he begins to run and become short of breath...on comes an asthma attack. He gets help from a brother and sister named Ed and Leaf, who run for help. While in the middle of the attack, Arthur has a hallucination.

A man named Mister Monday, in a wheelchair appears, out of nowhere. He tells him something about a Will, and mentions something about an heir, and after being assured that Arthur is most certainly about to die, hands him something. Only...Arthur doesn't die.

From the minute (no pun intended) that he grabs hold of the 'Key' he can breathe. He later finds out that he can do other things as well...like unlock doors. Or freeze people...literally, if he has the key in his hands. He is drawn into a fight for...well, right? I suppose?

This book started out very confusing to me, with asthma attacks and strange people showing up out of nowhere and deep booming voices...and there were several times that I almost put it down. Its a book that is definitely meant for children. But then I would read a passage like this and it would fill me with wonder and I had to keep going:

The elevator opened out onto a shaded grove of very tall, very thick-trunked trees. They formed a circle around a roughly trimmed lawn, which had the remains of a campfire sitting in a burnt patch at its center. A narrow but beautifully clear stream cut through one corner, burbling gently along. A wooden footbridge crossed the stream, with a paved path leading across to an open summerhouse that was like an old-fashioned bandstand. In the summerhouse were a desk, a lounge chair and some bookcases.

"Here we are," said Suzy. "The Office of the Efficiencer General."

I mean...come on! Who wouldn't want to open an elevator and see an office amidst a forest?? Its the sort of thing my childhood dreams were made of. A forest to sit around a campfire and read in, but still have a place to get out of the rain? :) So maybe its most certainly a kids book. But I'll be reading book two as soon as I can, to find out what happens, and to see what adventures they have next.

Challenges and Libraries.

I quite liked the outcome of my first self-imposed challenge. In fact, I liked it so much that I'd like to impose a challenge on myself frequently. Perhaps once a week? Sounds reasonable to me!

Today, my 'challenge' (not official!) is to finish Eragon. Its taken me far too long to read it. Now, it is a long book, and I have been trying to get a plot line together and keep a house clean...but still, no excuse! I'll probably have another picnic outside with the Tornado today, and finish it then.

Anyway, sort of a short post today. I have a million and one things I'd like to get done today, including going to the library! Ours has been under construction for some time...They built a new addition, which is super exciting...only problem? They opened the new addition, then closed the main part to work on that...and, while they did, they put 95% of the books in storage!!!!!

Isn't that sad? All of the movies were kept out...because, sadly, those are the most popular items that get the most circulation. This is sort of hard to grasp for a bibliophile like myself...but, oh well. Hopefully they bring back my lovely books soon.

Ta, for now.

Bad Guy, Part 2

So, my challenge. Create, at least a wisp, of a Bad Guy. And I do believe I have succeeded!

He is, as of yet, unnamed, and I have not a clue what his...'power' will be, but, he has a back story! And a pretty damn good one, if I do say so myself!

Once again, I found some invaluable links and articles on creating a Bad Guy. I learned that Bad Guys (indeed, all guys) have to be three-dimensional, in order to be convincing. I learned about...different types of Bad Guys, if you will. Madness, revenge, jealous, bad guys that aren't really bad, bad guys that are very bad...the list goes on and on. Mine...

Well, I don't want to tell too much about him yet! I'm still developing him. But I will tell you this. He wasn't always bad. One bad choice lead to another, and before he knew it...yep. Bad Guy. One thing though...at this point, I'm not sure if he is THE Bad Guy, or just A Bad Guy...I'm thinking that...fanatics will be the Bad in this story. Religious fanatics? Perhaps...

So...I did complete the task. I came up with a good Bad Guy. He has a back story. Nameless, yes, but he is there, and if I do say so...he is a little more than just a wisp.

On writing a Bad Guy

I love my characters. All of them. Every single one that I've ever written, from Princess Elizabeth (yes, unfortunately, named after myself) from when I was 12, to The Professor that I'm writing right now, to Alasdair, my rough, 'ranger'-type, Aragorn-inspired character( he really is one of my very favorites...).


Through all of the stories that I've started, all of the plot lines I've developed in my head, I've always, always known that there has to be a bad guy. An evil someone or other. A good friend who turns traitor. (Cliche, I know, but hey. If it works it works.) Bad Guy.


"But...but...I don't want to write a bad guy." The thought has run through my head a lot. Who wants to turn one of their characters bad? I mean, really, really bad? They aren't perfect, sure, but evil? Perish the thought!


Now, sometimes, when I sit down (like right now) with the intent on writing a Bad Guy, it's a little easier. Marginally.


How, and I say this from the POV of someone who always believes that happy endings are best, and that no one can be all bad, HOW do you write a Bad Guy? A guy (or girl, I suppose*) that everyone, including yourself, loves to hate? Hate? Sigh.


And here is the first hitch. I don't want to hate one of my characters. I know I should. I really should. I want to! I want to make a villain so....villainous that I can't WAIT to kill him off, cut off his head, dismember him entirely! Or, something like that. (Too much? Maybe locking him up indefinitely would be better?)



That is my goal for today, my challenge. To get the beginnings of a really wicked Bad Guy started. Even if its only in my brainstorming notebook. He doesn't need a name yet. Or even a purpose (although, taking over the world/empire/whatever seems like a good one). But s/he will be born, today, even if its only little tendrils, or smoky ideas. I have spoken.


*For some reason, its easier for me to hate a Bad Guy, rather than a Bad Girl...call me whatever you want, but this is how it is.

Concerning writing. And little boys.

Last night was a rare night. I was home alone. Now, I know that eventually I'll be home alone more, because that's just the way of the military...however! Last night I was able to do quite a lot of brainstorming! Which is exciting!

I found several very interesting articles on writing fantasy, chock full of lovely advice and tips. Which, I'll have to admit, made me quite happy. Its always good to find blogs from other aspiring writers. Its encouraging.

I read about the importance of a good name, about horses, and about making maps. I read about horrible (and some are, indeed, horrible) fantasy cliches. I even played around with fantasy name generators for fun and found out that my fairy name is:

Moth Willowwand. She is a caster of weird dreams. She lives close to crystal caverns and stalagtite grotto's. She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover.
She collects crystals to wear on her dresses. She has delicate green coloured wings like a cicada.

Doesn't it sound just like me? ;) I also have Elf, dwarf, and a Hobbit name as well, but those aren't nearly as...colorful.

So! Back to the brainstorming. And...other literary topics.

Normally, during the day (and indeed, right now, as I type this), I can't brainstorm, research, or do any sort of writing. A little (or not so little anymore) toddler boy constantly gets in the way! I'm lucky if I can get in a little reading while he plays with trucks and whatnot. Yesterday happened to be one of those days!

Yesterday I got to sit outside on the porch, in the glorious sunshine, and read!

It was so nice...me and the boyo sat in the sun with our books (to be fair, he had a truck too...) and read together. I read Eragon. He 'read' Peek a Who?. T'was lovely.

I'm hoping to finish Eragon today, during nap time. I've never read it before and am finding it fascinating. I always have a soft spot for a book with Dragons...

Anyway. I need to bid adieu...and keep the Tornado from climbing into the oven. With the broom in tow. Ta, for now!

Eragon

I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I've had this book for a long...long...time. And only just recently found the desire to actually read it. Which is strange for me...Usually when I buy a book, its because I want to read it. For some reason, I bought this one just to have it.

My 13 year old sister will be proud of me for finally picking it up :)

Eragon is a farm boy who lives with his Uncle Garrow and cousin Roran. He has lived with them all his life, never knowing any other family. One winters day, while hunting, Eragon discovers a blue stone, unlike anything he's ever seen before. Unsuccessful in his hunt, he takes the beautiful stone home in hopes of trading it for some meat. When the butcher won't trade him, Eragon brings the stone home, hoping to trade it off at a later time.

Except, of course, it's no stone. With the help of the village storyteller Brom, who is more than he seems, Eragon goes on a journey. Its a journey of discovery, of searching, of fear and of hope. Its full of everything a good adventure should be. Along with Brom and Saphirra, his dragon, Eragon begins to learn what it means to be a Dragon Rider, and a man.

Eragon is a wonderful story, full of good guys, bad guys, swords, elves, myths and dragons. I am quite delighted with it!

I watched the movie first, and LOVED it, and so I knew I would like the book. What a delight to discover new characters! Solembum is definitely one of my new literary favorites! I loved learning the deeper plots and intricacies of the characters. The way they learn together, work together, fight together, and in the case of Eragon and Saphirra, grow together. I can't wait to read book two, Eldest.

I am behind!

Somehow, in the midst of seemingly unimportant things (like...life, for instance), I have missed out on two very important things. Like...much anticipated book releases! :)

I have been a fan of Laurie R. King for years. I believe I first picked up her book 'The Beekeeper's Apprentice' when I was 14. I was hooked at the 'Editors Note' right in the beginning.

I have also loved Maria V. Snyder for a few years. I picked up her first book, 'Poison Study' in my home town library book sale room for a grand total of $.50. That's right. Fifty cents. The idea of a poison tester intrigued me. Plus, it was the Luna edition, and I don't think I've ever read a book published by Luna that I didn't like. Also, Ms. Snyder has some excellent writing advice, which I've posted about before. I use her tips frequently in my own writing.

So, like I said, somehow...somehow I missed out on new releases from both of these wonderful ladies!

Laurie R King came out with the next installment in her Mary Russell series (book #10). And Ms Snyder released a book called 'Inside Out' in April. So now, I have to push aside regular life as soon as I possibly can (like...payday?) and make a trip to the bookstore so I can buy these books and lose myself in the wonderful world of words that these ladies have created.

I can't wait.

Huzzah!

Oh Happy Day!

I have JUST (re) realized that, on the 27th of this hot, sultry, humid, miserable month, a long awaited book will be released!

"The Hero's Return" by Moira J. Moore! I cannot wait!!!!

Just letting ya know!

On writing a new tale

Oh boy. If only you knew how many times I mean to get on here and write about some exciting, thrilling, wonderful book, and don't...sigh. Anyways, I guess what I mean to say is...I've read a lot of books recently, and haven't blogged about them. There. I've confessed.

However...sadly, some of them I can hardly remember how they ended, so they must not have really stuck out to me. So I'm not gonna sweat the fact that I don't have a review up for every book that I've recently read. Instead, I'm just going to talk about writing this time.

I have been inspired. Again. (Even tried to write a post about it...but the result was...well, less than inspiring.)

Have you ever had an idea pop into your head, and just refuse to leave? I mean, flat out, heels dragging, refusal? That's what this is. I had an idea to write about a girl with an Elemental power. She didn't have a name, didn't have a purpose, didn't have anything. But she wouldn't go away.

I tried to write about her in Victorian London. Got about...oh...two chapters in, and poof. She kind of...disappeared. Apparently it wasn't her place. (Now, I absolutely LOVE the setting, and what I did write...but for some reason, I couldn't write it anymore! Not giving up on Bea though! I love her, and her cat...)

The idea of an Elemental story just won't leave me though. It is constantly germinating in the back of my head. I decided to give it another go, but this time, in a more...medieval-type setting. No knights, or anything like that (at least, not yet...) just a girl named Matilda.

I've been going through the process of developing a main character, and I am quite enjoying it. I love this stage. The inventing of a person. So, that's where I am right now. The developmental stage. Here's one way I found that helps me organize my thoughts during this process.

Ask yourself What If? Any situation that presents itself to you can be augmented by a “What if” question. For example, it the newspaper you read this morning had an article about a comatose woman who was raped by an orderly and got pregnant. Ask yourself: What if the woman’s mother paid the orderly to rape her daughter so she could have a grandchild? (an episode of Law & Order) What if the woman regained consciousness years later to discover she has a 14-year-old son? What if the child decides to find his father? What if the orderly decides to sue for custody and wins? All these questions can lead to very different stories.

For my food taster idea I asked the following “what if” question: Who would choose to become a food taster? My answer was “No one.” So someone would be forced to take the position – who? Not someone loyal to the king/Commander – he wouldn’t want to risk a good man – even though a loyal man might consider the job an honor. There is a good chance the food taster will die – so who would the king/Commander use and not feel bad if the person dies? Someone on death row. She will be executed anyway – her life is forfeit, waiting in the dungeon for execution. But how to keep that person from escaping? Butterfly’s Dust – a poison that stays in the body and if the food taster doesn’t show up for a daily antidote she will die. Great, but why is she in the dungeon? Execution is an extreme punishment – so she had to do something extreme like murder. Why and who does she kill? See how the story is taking shape? And the questions don’t stop until the story is done.

I copied this from Maria V Snyder's website...and I've found it really useful. I'll let you into my head for a few minutes, to see how I use the 'what if' process.

First I came up with my character: Matilda, aka Mat. I knew I wanted her to have an elemental power, and I was leaning towards the element Earth. So I started questioning myself. I knew that I wanted to have my character meet other Elementals, and my first 'scene', if you will, that popped into my head was of Mat, in a field, where, all of a sudden, a guy appears, wounded, and he ends up telling Mat all about her powers.

-Why would Mat be in a field? Well, she could be a 'shepard'.
-Could a shepard have Earth powers? Sure. Plants and animals could be part of Mat's gifts, since both plants and animals need the earth to live.
-Why would someone 'find' Mat, and go to her while wounded? The man also has Earth magic, perhaps he is a powerful Earth mage, and can sense others of the same power.
-Why doesn't Mat already know about her powers? Her mother never told her
-Why not? She is afraid to lose Mat, the same way she lost Mat's father.

See how it works? I could go on and on. These aren't very good questions...I have many, many more. But I don't want to give up too much right now. For me, when a story is in the 'baby' stages, there are really very few details I'll give out. But, hopefully, I'll keep you updated!

Cheers, and Happy writing!