Unique

Encouraging people with the idea that "everyone is unique," while partially true, is but a futile attempt to claim a special niche within a world filled with billions of other humans. Though physically we are all different through DNA, and in personality through experiences of the past, we all fall into the category of human. And therefore not all of us, but rather none of us, are special at all. None of us can claim a special place amongst anyone else because we are all subject to the same human cycle: birth, life, and death.

There are names that have gone down in history moreso than others, of course. People of historical, creative, and religious importance. Presidents, writers, popes, etc. These are the names that large groups of people remember. And why? Because they did something significant; something that's lasted. Not because of who they were, but usually because of something they did. It is not their uniqueness of character that causes them to be remembered (though this is sometimes noted after they have achieved something great). It is their "uniqueness" of action. 

Peace With Mortality

Mortality is something I talk about (or at least think about) often. There are a lot of different facets of it to ponder. And I believe it is healthy for any person to think about (at least) their own mortality. Because it isn't something that can be easily ignored, and every person needs to come to grips with it. It's an inevitability of the way we are, and a limitation to what we can do. 

The saddest part, to me, is not that we will die (which we will). But, instead, is the fact that we are limited. We have only a certain amount of time to achieve the goals we set out to achieve. So many waste it, and they don't realize until it's too late that they're time is not infinite. They will not exist forever. And therefore they do not have forever to achieve their dreams.

I still struggle to come to terms with this fact. I want to do a lot of things before I pass. And I realize that I will never know when I will die until it happens. I also realize that until then, there is no need to worry about death itself. It will come, and I will follow. End of story. 

But with the amount of goals that I set for myself, it concerns me that perhaps I am not working as hard towards them as I should. Perhaps I am not giving myself enough credit or time (or both) to accomplish (or start accomplishing) the things I'm aiming for. If I bide my time for too long, I could end up just another body on the pile. Another wasted soul receptacle who accomplished nothing but surviving for x amount of time. Hurray.

Live Now, but Don't Forget to Look Ahead

I am a dysfunctional person. In case you were wondering. I have a terrible habit of not doing anything that I'm supposed to. I lack any motivation to do well in life. I oftentimes have trouble keeping friends. I have some of the worst timed luck (or unluck, more like) ever. 

Simultaneously, however, I want to write novels for a living, of all things. That takes ambition, motivation, the ability to talk with (the right) people, and a whole lotta good luck. And yet my disfunctional ass keeps on trucking towards that singular goal, ignoring the inevitability of real life and my lack of dedication. 

I have always had a simple view of things. There is today. Tomorrow, the rest of the week, the months and years to come, etc. are all just abstract ideas that may or may not come to fruition. The past is an always-present demon that can only be ignored or swatted away temporarily, always haunting you, shaping who you are, and influencing your decisions. You live in the present, because there is nothing else to consider. 

Really, this is true. You don't have much of a choice but to live in the present. But mentally, you do have a choice. You can choose to focus on what is now, or you can choose to focus on what is passed, or what is to come. You can choose how much you think about where you come from or where you're going. Which is good, because I've recently come to the realization that you can't always just focus on the present. Especially not if you're someone like me. 

It Only Took 20,000 Words

NaNoWriMo started on the first. If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, you should check it out. So, of course, in my stubborn determination, I shot for 20,000 words on day one. (And yay for me, I hit my goal!)

It was a good practice run.

See, a lot of people say to "test drive your characters" by throwing them into scenarios and learning how they act and react. That way when you get to your actual story, you'll have a full grasp of your characters within the plotline that you've created.

You see, I didn't have a real story yet when I started my 20k word run. And I hadn't test driven my characters yet. So I guess there's nothing like a 20,000 word test drive in a story you think is the one they should be in to learn what story your characters want to be in. That's right. This is the story of how my dramatic, dark, epic fantasy novel became a sassy, ridiculously over-the-top, urban fantasy novel.

Just Call Me "Cookie Master"

On a good day, I'm able to get a good post up here. I can discuss life's many problems, or review something that I've been reading or playing (or whatever). But today? Nope. Not today. Why not?

Because I've wasted my entire weekend clicking cookies.

That's right. There's a game in which all you do (many of you probably already know of it, and I apologize in advance for this) is click cookies. Clicking cookies gives you more cookies, which allows you to buy things that will auto-click cookies for you, which allows you to buy upgrades to generate cookies faster, which only gets put back into buying more things to click cookies for you.

Fresh and Distant

I'll try and be brief. I thought I'd come a long way with my current work in progress. Twenty thousand words in, I thought I was making pretty decent headway. Except I stopped a while back. Which, especially now, becomes a problem. Not even just a little problem, but a big, work-halting problem. 

It's not just a traditional case of writer's block. It's more of a reflective disappointment on my work since I'm no longer particularly close to it. Common advice dolled out is something like, "After you finish your first draft, put it away for a month or so and work on something else." This allows a fresh, distant perspective on the writing. Then you can cut, edit, and rewrite to your heart's content. 
 

There's another facet of that, come to find out. Just so happens that if, for some reason, you take a lengthy break from writing said project (as you would were it a complete first draft), you will experience that same "fresh" and "distant" perspective on your writing. Which is okay if you want to edit and rewrite it. 
 

Not if you want to finish it.

The Inevitable

It was inevitable that something like this would come. And, hey, here it is. I'm going to lay some things out about the blog (hopefully in a clear, concise manner), and by the end of this post you, my dear readers, will have a better grip of where I want to go and what I want to do with it. This is immensely important to me; this blog, what I have to say, and my readers as a whole. So, here goes.

A while back I started to try to blog on every odd day, which (besides a few month-change bumps) meant I was blogging every other day. It seemed easier than it turned out to be. You see these incredible people posting every single day and still having time to write books and stories (like Chuck Wendig, for example) and you figure, "Hey! I can totally manage to do, what, half of that? Seems easy enough." Turns out, it's a ton of work. Almost too much, in fact. I often find myself slacking on my writing, because, hey. I wrote a blog post. I'm good.

These are huge lies. Blogging is extremely tough. Now if blogging was all I was doing, blogging every other day might not be so difficult. But if blogging was all I was doing, well, I wouldn't exactly have many exciting things to blog about in the first place. And I don't want that to happen. Not for me. Not for you. Just, not really for anybody.

Valkyrja Album Review

Faroese metal band Tyr has long since claimed its seat among Viking metal legends, particularly as the Viking or folk metal band to listen to if that isn't what you're into. Well, the legend is still alive and kicking; Tyr released today their new album Valkyrja with Metal Blade Records today. The cover looks like this: 

Final Verdict: 5/5

Standout Tracks: The Lay Of Our Love, Valkyrja, Cemetery Gates
 

Being Tyr's seventh album release, Valkyrja does not disappoint. The recent signing  to Metal Blade Records changed little to nothing about Tyr's signature style and energy; a pleasant surprise to all. The band has provided on this album thirteen tracks which are sure to please, utilizing many different styles to achieve their desired theme and sound. 

The Circus At The End Of The World Album Review

Abney Park has long been known as the "essential Steampunk band." Starting with their Lost Horizons album, their music has been themed (both musically and lyrically) after the fascinating Steampunk genre and (more specifically) their fictional, post-apocalyptic Steampunk world in which they portray themselves as airship pirates. From deep, philosophical songs to just plain bouncy and fun, Abney Park covers a wide variety of flavors with their quirky, vintage sound. 

Not very long ago (September 14th according to iTunes), Abney Park released their newest album: The Circus At The End Of The World. Here's the album art: 

Final Verdict: 5/5

Standout Tracks: The Anthropophagists' Club, Dominion Of Dust, Katyusha

 

Abney Park carries on with their oh so familiar (yet oh so sweet) sound with this new release. Quirky yet fun, this album will easily find it's place among any Abney Park or Steampunk fan's music library, and probably more than that. Abney Park maintains the vintage "oldness" of past albums, but wraps it in a layer of circus-themed bounciness. 

This Is My Jam

With the current array of social media options there are, it can be difficult accept a new one. Oftentimes, however, new social media outlets become grandiose, huge, massively entertaining parts of lives. (Like, I d'know, Twitter...) If you would lend your ear for a few moments, I would like to present a new contender that has quickly found a place in my life. 

This Is My Jam.

Let's talk a little bit about it, so you have a feel before you go clicking links. This Is My Jam is a music sharing site that allows users to share their current "jam;" you know, that song that's stuck in your head and you've been humming for the past few hours. A jam stays active for up to seven days (or until you change it). During that time, people can listen to, like, and "rejam" your jam. At the end of that seven days, if you haven't set a new one already, your jam expires and you will be prompted to select a new jam. 

Once a jam expires or is changed, it is listed at the bottom of your profile (or jam) page with the rest of your past jams. From there people will be able to view every jam you've previously posted, including the source link to the music. (This Is My Jam uses source websites like YouTube and Hype Machine for their music.) That way if, say, you really like one of your friend's jams, you can listen to it even after they change it. 

Turisas2013 Album Review

Okay! Today is the North American release of Finnish Folk Metal band Turisas's new album, Turisas2013. Looks like this:

Final Verdict: 4/5

Standout Tracks: Greek Fire, We Ride Together

Turisas2013 presents a slightly new sound for the (commonly deemed) "Battle Metal" group. Changes in the group's lineup, and (especially) the addition of keyboard player Robert Engstrand mean big changes for the overall sound of the music. With this album, Turisas has leaned ever more towards the Power Metal side of their music. Including more pounding double bass, fewer harsh vocals, and even synths!

Static (In the Base of the Moon Nazis)

This is for a flash fiction challenge happening over at terribleminds this week. I rolled a fun number (17, for those who like spoilers), and I decided to take a shot at it. Totaled out at 1,013 words here.

“Harbinger. Do you read me?”

Static.

“Harbinger, this is Joni Best. Do you read?”

A voice through Joni’s earpiece, “This is Harbinger III; we read you, Agent Best. What is your location?”

“I’ve infiltrated the base,” she said.

“Perfect,” came the familiar voice. “You’re looking for wing fifty-six. Take the elevator to floor B twenty-five. Once you’re there, you’re on your own. Communication will be blocked.”

“Right,” Joni said.

“Remember: remove the power source and get out. Don’t waste time.”

“And don’t get caught. I got it.”

“Good luck, Joni.”

Re/Discovery

Today, I happened upon some music I had heard before, but could never remember the name to. The moment I started to hear that one song, I swore it was familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It wasn't until halfway through the song when I realized it was that particular song I'd heard before. I looked into the artist, found their album, and bought it. And through "related" searches had another similar experience.

So, yeah, I bought two relatively old (07 and 04) albums today.

And that's alright. So, it isn't the most popular music around. That's okay. I remember first hearing these songs and loving them, and now that I have them, they mean even more. It was both sort of a discovery and a rediscovery. But, together. And that, I think, was the best part about it.

Shall I explain why? Yes? Alrighty then!

Classic Doctor Who

A day wasted (for me, at least) is a day informed. Not necessarily about current events or usually anything integrally important to the flow of the world, but interesting to me and generally able to hold my attention for long enough that I waste a few hours on it.

Well, I wasted just about an entire day... on Doctor Who. I mean, that shouldn't sound terribly surprising. It's easy to waste a day watching The Doctor's adventures through space and time. But I spent my day a little differently. Being caught up with the series (I found out about and started watching Who when they were airing the end of the 6th season), I found a different facet of the show: Classic Doctor Who.

Finish

I just turned down a publisher because I wasn't ready. You can imagine how many times my head has made contact with my desk.

Let me explain...

Yesterday, I talked with a publishing company whom I had briefly contacted approximately a year ago. I sent them a short story I had "finished" without thinking anything of it. It was a short story that had the potential to (and eventually would evolve to become) a full-fledged novel (idea). In reality, this publisher publishes books. Not short stories. So if they read it, they most likely read it under the assumption that it was a prologue or first chapter of sorts. (It would eventually become the prologue to something, so it kind of makes sense. I suppose.)

Well, for NaNoWriMo (I know, I talk about NaNo a lot, but it's a big part of my life) last year, I started writing this story down. Managing 50,000 wasn't all that one story though. It was also the beginnings of the story before that story that wasn't really a story and needed to just be back-story for one character... But that's a little confusing, so I'll skip that full explanation. Now, for real, I got about a quarter of the way through this novel's full word count expectancy. But it was so bad. (I know, NaNo produces quantity, not quality, but still.) I hid it within my folders on my computer and never looked at it again.

Reversion

I want to write. Seems simple. Probably should be. But it isn't... This could be really deep, and probably really personal. And long. Yeah, definitely long. I thought I'd inform you before I really got into it.

Since I was little, I've written stories and always read books with my own little twist on them. It's always been my dream. Especially not too long ago, I got really serious about finishing and publishing. Overall, though, it's kind of been my thing. So much so that half the people I'm acquainted with I'm acquainted with through or for writing. It's become a huge part of my life. I label myself as an unpublished author, because that's what I always wanted to be. I wanted to create my own little worlds and characters; create stories with epic battles and quiet, memorable moments; to show the world the scope of my imagination. And getting paid for it? A dream come true.

But, writing is a religion. All on its own it encompasses the time and mental capabilities required to keep faith. Seriously, when you're a writer it's an integral part of your being unlike any other hobby or occupation. Because, as a human being, you're always thinking about something. Even if that something is mind-numbing nothingness. But, as a writer, you're mind is always dually thinking and imagining. There's literally a different lens life is viewed through. Like any religion would, writing acts at the forefront of anything a writer does. Which is why when someone says "I'm a writer," it's not only an occupation, but also a religious affiliation (whether they deem it that or not).

Just Do It

WAKE UP! You have been sleeping while I have not been blogging, but no more. I have returned from an elongated trip. It being over, I have returned. Albeit with a few different perspectives on a few different things. That doesn't mean that I won't continue to share things.

There are times, where something is sitting in front of you. It might be a ways off, or it could be right in your face (for some reason I have more experience with in your face things than far off things). Either way, they will have to be confronted. Everything will be, but these things (which, for some reason, I imagine as little imps) especially. You can push them off as long as you want to, but eventually you will have to face them.

There is a saying that I hear a lot of the time. It's both amusing and very, very true. Procrastination is just like masturbation; in the end, you're only screwing yourself. Because the longer you push that little imp away, the bigger and meaner-looking his horns get, and (in the token of Hellboy) the larger and more menacing the flame on his head will get.

So, when it comes down to it, you just have to do it. You just have to get out there and solve the issue, start fighting for your dream, do that thing you want to do. Or need to do. (Need to do, in my case.) Because it will only get harder the longer you push it off. So do it while it's at least relatively easier, because eventually, if you don't, it'll become impossible.

Through the Slog

Write. It all starts with a word. You put one word onto the page and then another. You follow that word with one more, and then one more, and one more. Soon enough there's a sentence. Then another sentence. A paragraph. A page. A scene. A chapter. And the more you write the more the characters come to life. The more the plot is revealed and the setting explored.

At first you are driven by sheer inspiration and force of the initial story. Then suddenly your running off of wisps of energy left by that inspiration and more of a desire for the characters to make it to the end. Eventually you're left with fumes of that desire, and the only fuel you've got left is pure force of will to finish that damn story. But even that doesn't last. That will, indeed, run out too.

Now you have, what? An unfinished story with no will or desire to really finish it? Oh, but what about that one scene? You know, that one that comes later in the story. The one you were really excited about writing before. You aren't there yet, and there's a good amount of slog to... well, to slog your way through. (Slog is a fun word.) And that just doesn't sound exciting. In fact, it seems irritating, boring, and you generally just don't want to.

Burn Out

"Yeah, I only got three-hundred words today. I write really slow."

"Dude, you act like you never get burned out."

"What do you mean?"

"You participate in, like, three NaNoWriMo events a year."

This is an actual conversation someone had with me. And it's true, I've participated in every NaNo event since my first one in 2011. But, even through that, my answer really should have been, "No, not really." Because that's something about me that's maybe confusing to some people. Allow me to explain.

I don't burn out. I can't. Sure, I can get tired. I can hit writer's block. It happens. But burning out? I'm honestly curious as to how that happens. See, my problem is that I have so many ideas churning about in my head. There is too much to be done, and very little time to do so. At the speed which I write (not very fast at all), every story that I decide to actually put down will take immeasurable amounts of time. If I sustained the capability to burn out, then I would never finish anything. In fact, that may quite be the reason I have yet to finish anything to this point.

There is too much to say, too many stories to tell, to let myself burn out. And if I am to make the career that I wish to make out of writing, then assuredly this will come in handy.

RWBY: Episode the First

For those who are uninformed, I'd like to inform you that Rooster Teeth's RWBY released yesterday. The first episode was put up on their website, and after a good few months of waiting I am satisfied with the result.

Four trailers were released before the show officially came out. One for each of the main character's (and labeled by the color of that character). Red first, which featured kickass action from my favorite character of the four (Ruby). White released next, Weiss showed off her musical talent and her magical capabilities (along with some interesting yet elegant swordplay). I discovered and jumped onboard just before the Black trailer was released. It was the first with actual dialogue, and Blake robs a train (or something like that). Finally, the most epic (and longest) of the trailers was Yellow, featuring Yang and her beast as hell fighting style.