Sunday, December 16, 2012

My Next Big Thing

My friend Imogen from Dancing With Dragonflies tagged me for the "Next Big Thing" blog hop, wherein I get to talk about my current WIP. I was forced to choose between my two current projects (one of them being a collaboration), and I chose the solo project, as in my head that's my next big thing, whereas the collaborative effort is an our next big thing. Anyways, here are the questions and my answers:

1. What is the working title of your book?
Artifact of Paradox (This will most likely change to something else in time.)

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
A good while back, when I was an active member of a short story writing website, one of the monthly challenges was to "write a story about some sort of paradox." I started formulating stuff in my head for a short story, and over time it turned into a full-out novel idea.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
So I know I said that I'd be writing Steampunk the last time I talked about genres, but to be honest, I don't think I'll be able to stick to one genre in particular. This one would fall, most likely, into the Modern Fantasy category.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Blog Post

I will make this known; I didn't plan to post anything like this until my grandfather (who is known to be both crazy and awesome at the same time) gave me the idea. Yesterday was the release of Peter Jackson's first in The Hobbit trilogy of movies being made: An Unexpected Journey.

I went and saw the Hobbit last night; or, rather, this morning. The 11:00 showing of a three hour movie was probably not my greatest idea, but I'm full of ideas like that. It was entertaining, to say the least. I enjoyed it for what it was, despite the nitpicks I have.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows a young Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman) among a large party of dwarves (who's names, for the most part, escape me) and the wizard Gandalf. The dwarf prince, Thorin, has taken up the quest to take back his home land from the dragon Smaug, and Bilbo has been recruited to help him. Among other things, they are troubled by goblins, orcs, a necromancer, and a curiously familiar fellow with a Precious as they make their way to The Lonely Mountain to face the dragon.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

2013 Reading/Writing Challenge

I have set forth a challenge for myself for the next year. Almost every writer could tell you that writing every day is a big deal, and for me, so is reading. So I've devised a system for next year. There will be no days off, and no slacking off. As follows:

I will write at least 500 words of fiction every day for the entire year, excluding November and December. That means that by next November I should have a first draft for a novel. Come November, I will do NaNoWriMo again, the goal being to write a whole novel in the month. December will be the one month of the year that I will break from writing, assuming that I completed my November goal. If I have not, I will finish the novel from the previous month in December.

Also, I will read at least one chapter in any of the genres I am writing each day. This gives me mobility as to what I read, but also forces me to set time aside to read each day. I am free from this challenge during the month of November, as NaNoWriMo will consume my normal reading time. However, I am not exempt from the challenge in December, and I must continue to read through the month of December even though I am not writing.

Hopefully this keeps me well underway to finishing what I start and my goal of one day becoming a published author. I'll end up with at least two first drafts by the end of the year and will have read at least 335 chapters by the end of the year.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Read: Boneshaker - Cherie Priest

Due to the overewhleming acceptance of Priest's Boneshaker and the entire series of which it is the first as an excellent example of steampunk, I've picked up this one for the next book in my reading list. It wouldn't be very far off to say that this book (if not the whole series it's in) is one of--if not the--most known steampunk stories around. People, I introduce to thee, Boneshaker.

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Read: Heart of Veridon - Tim Akers

Due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews it received upon its release and thereafter for being an excellent example of steampunk's potential, I have started off my reading list with Tim Akers' debut novel Heart of Veridon.

 

Monday, November 19, 2012

What Comes Next...

So now with my 50,000 words of fantasy out of the way (though there is a great chance I'll be writing more after and possibly even during this trip), I have officially decided on the next genre I want to write:

Steampunk.

That's right. Get all the comments out now, please, because I promise you I've already thought about it at great length. I love reading fantasy, but am only mediocre at writing it, however I also am a little bit fond of science fiction, and from what I've been told from the very few sci-fi things I've written that it's better than my fantasy. Therefore, I began my search to incorporate both of these elements and happened upon the steampunk genre. I had never actually read any of it, but had heard of and knew a little bit about the genre.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Winn3r


Oh my god, people. I’m a little delayed on the announcement; but I won Nanowrimo! For the first time! I hit 50,000 words around 1:15 this morning. It was a crazy adventure trying to finish so early, but I did it. There were several points where I almost quit (again) but the wonderful wrimos (people that do Nanowrimo, if you didn’t know) here in Alabama pushed me through. I’m very grateful for their encouragement and look forward to spending more time writing with them. One of them even said they’d bake a cake if I hit 50k! My fingers and wrists kind of hurt now, but that’s alright. It was totally worth it.
 
You see, I’m going on a trip for the next week so family will probably prevent me from getting away to write a ton. So that leaves me to have to have won before I left. It’s all good now, though, because now I’m a Winn3r! (Somebody tell me they caught the play on my name there...)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

ASSIMILATE! ASSIMILATE! ASSIMILATE!

People—especially Christians, I'm noticing—seem to have no concept outside of what they believe. Everything else is a lie, and the suggestion of something different shatters their world. It occurred to me recently that people have the hardest time with suggestions that a.) they aren't used to, b.) they don't suggest themselves, or c.) can't think of an answer or better suggestion for.

I’ve been told (and just noticed as well) people believe that without the religion or whatever else that people have, others can't make a difference in the world. This doesn't quite make sense to me. You can't make a difference without X beliefs or X faith? Right... That's why Steve jobs left the imprint of a billion dollar company that’s a core part of an enormous part of the world's population's lives. You could say the same for many others, like Nikola Tesla for example; or Albert Einstein; or Julius Caesar. Even look at someone like H.P. Lovecraft—probably the greatest inspiration to the horror fiction genre. There are plenty of others, most of which are known even by the most uneducated. You say they didn't make a difference or do something valuable with their lives because they don't believe in X? I’m not so sure...

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Learning Experience

So, lately I've been thinking. About what I'm writing. A lot, actually, with Nano coming up and all. Now of course, I already have a story with a world and a map and everything all ready. It's other ideas popping into my head. It's funny, because a lot of the people I know that write have the issue of little to no ideas. My issue? I've got so many ideas I can't keep up with them, and so I get bored when I start writing one.
 
When I get bored writing something, I pass it over and it ceases to exist until I discover it again, usually some years later. It's sad, because some of my good ideas got passed over like that. I hope one day I'll be able to look back and say that I used all of those ideas. Wouldn't it be nice to look back and see you haven't wasted ideas? Or time? Or relationships?
 
Think about that--wasted relationships. How many friends have you had or acquaintances have you met that have been nothing more than civil niceties and small talk? Or that were deeper friendships, maybe even romantic relationships that didn't quite amount to much?
 
Make something out of every moment. Don't waste a day. Don't let your relationships with people be pointless. If nothing else, make them a learning experience. Make your relationships meaningful!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Here Comes November

Currently, there are tons of writers (and non-writers, actually) preparing themselves for the month to come: November. But for a writer, the month of November is a little more than just the month of Thanksgiving. (Though it is that too. Boy, do I love some turkey...) November is National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo. That's right, writing a novel in a month. It's crazy, but, in my opinion, one of the greatest events of all time; inspiring writers to let their words flow and to put their ideas to the page. Where the goal is quantity and not quality. Where creativity and imagination come first and editing and rewriting come second. I will be participating, and I encourage you all to do the same!

Want to learn specifics? Well, head right on over to the Nanowrimo page and see for yourself what's going on during November.

Hoping to see you all write with me soon,
Dream3r

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Passing Time

What is Time, if not just a number we see on clocks? What is this idea that we as humans have created and dubbed “Time”? It is obviously not a heavenly thought, but an earthly one; not made by God, but by man.

Time exists for a single reason. We, as humans, crave knowledge. We could never just be. No, we need a method of measurement; of remembering; of knowing. In fact, knowledge is what any and every person seeks, consciously or not. Without it, we would have no purpose; no direction.
 
Imagine a world where no man knew more or less than another. We, as people, could never maintain such a balance. We have developed a sense of individualism and freedom that has taught us not only to scorn others, but to embrace our own greed. It has told us the more we know, the more we will have, and if we have more, we will worry less.