So I was going along, minding my own post-Nano business, finishing off architecture finals, when I noticed something.
There was a tiny bunny following me. Now, this bunny was of the rare Ploteus Bunnius species, the kind that won't stop following you till you turn and give them attention.
So I did. I stopped, filled half a page with scrawled notes on the interesting creature, and moved on. However, much to my surprise, I soon found another, possibly related to the first, following me as well.
Accordingly, I filled up the rest of the page with illegible scrawlings on the exact nature of this one, and moved on once more.
Imagine my surprise, when a third bunny hopped out of the bushes and joined the gathering crowd. At this point, I realized that not only had my brief foray into writing reawakened normal writing tendencies, it had only produced a litter of plot bunnies.
And bunnies tend to breed with surprising rapidity.
I shall have to fill up my wall with these if they continue to come.
Being a blog of writerly ramblings and jotted notes “For what is said is forgotten in time, but that which is written endures"
December 13, 2013
December 6, 2013
Welp.
Well, if you haven't guessed, I didn't quite finish Nano this year. In fact, I threw in the towel about the fifteenth. There are a lot of reasons why, but the least was the busyness of school. While definitely a contributing factor, there were other, more serious problems with my story.
As evidenced in previous posts, I lost my sense of direction on The Imaginarium/Fair too Far/The Farthest Mile fairly early on, and it was only after fifteen days of wrestling with a story that was fighting tooth and nail to go a different direction that I realized my mistake.
See, the story I had set out to write was far different from the one I found myself writing, and while that can often be a good thing, in this case it left me hogtied, trying to finagle characters and settings into a plot that wasn't theirs.
In addition, by the fifteenth, even though I was a good deal behind on my word count, the story was gearing toward the final act. Which meant that the story would be a great deal shorter than 50,000. That was the final piece of a rather complex puzzle of problems that contributed to my decision to stop and try again later.
Because that's what I plan to do. And though planning and writing have not always seen eye to eye in my mind, there are two full-fledged stories floating around in my brain right, just waiting for me to sit down and write them. One of them is The Farthest Mile, the final iteration of the story I settled on.
Mashing together themes from the parable of the prodigal son and awesome setting of steampunk, coupled with some good old-fashioned story tropes turned on their head will make a wonderful story, once I can separate it from The Imaginarium in my head.
So we shall see. I've been writing a bit since, in tiny spurts and leaps, and plan to continue doing so for some time, perhaps even setting a much smaller goal for myself every other day or so. And since that is the case, the blog shall remain open for a bit longer, though I highly doubt regular posts will become... regular again.
All said and done, I had a blast Nanoing this year, and thoroughly enjoyed diving back into writing. I'm already looking forward to next year!
As evidenced in previous posts, I lost my sense of direction on The Imaginarium/Fair too Far/The Farthest Mile fairly early on, and it was only after fifteen days of wrestling with a story that was fighting tooth and nail to go a different direction that I realized my mistake.
See, the story I had set out to write was far different from the one I found myself writing, and while that can often be a good thing, in this case it left me hogtied, trying to finagle characters and settings into a plot that wasn't theirs.
In addition, by the fifteenth, even though I was a good deal behind on my word count, the story was gearing toward the final act. Which meant that the story would be a great deal shorter than 50,000. That was the final piece of a rather complex puzzle of problems that contributed to my decision to stop and try again later.
Because that's what I plan to do. And though planning and writing have not always seen eye to eye in my mind, there are two full-fledged stories floating around in my brain right, just waiting for me to sit down and write them. One of them is The Farthest Mile, the final iteration of the story I settled on.
Mashing together themes from the parable of the prodigal son and awesome setting of steampunk, coupled with some good old-fashioned story tropes turned on their head will make a wonderful story, once I can separate it from The Imaginarium in my head.
So we shall see. I've been writing a bit since, in tiny spurts and leaps, and plan to continue doing so for some time, perhaps even setting a much smaller goal for myself every other day or so. And since that is the case, the blog shall remain open for a bit longer, though I highly doubt regular posts will become... regular again.
All said and done, I had a blast Nanoing this year, and thoroughly enjoyed diving back into writing. I'm already looking forward to next year!
November 8, 2013
A Change of Pace
With the transitions outlined in my last post, it became apparent that my novel needed both a change of title, as well as a slightly different direction to aim for. So, unless I find a more aptly suited name in the future, the title is now Fair too Far. We'll see how long that sticks.
And as for the change in direction, perhaps a change of theme would be a more accurate description. I try to let everything I write have a purpose. I.e. I try not to write something simply for the heck of it, or simply because its awesome or hilarious. I write because there's a story that needs telling, and hopefully a truth that can be investigated or made clear.
One of my ultimate goals in writing is to create a vacuum of space where I can make a darkness so deep that when it cracks, the light shines through with stunning brilliance. That's why I love writing, because I can create awful scenarios, horrendously dark moments, and put my characters through more than they rightly deserve, so that the reader sees the truth with the same clarity that my characters do.
Sometimes that truth is simple. Or straightforward. Other times it is not. Sometimes it is very clear before I begin writing what the end goal will be. Other times it is not. This time is one of the not so clear times. But at the story gains more strength in my mind, and as words add to words, it will become more and more clear to me what exactly I need to bring to light in this particular tale. Perhaps hope. Or justice. Or patience. Most likely something more complex than that.
I am reminded of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There is a deep message in that book, behind all the wonderful action and science, but it is sometimes hard to put in words that will not make the story seem cheap and fake. The best way to understand what I am talking about is of course to read the book itself.
Hopefully that is what Fair too Far will end up being like.
Gaining courage,
Farjag
And as for the change in direction, perhaps a change of theme would be a more accurate description. I try to let everything I write have a purpose. I.e. I try not to write something simply for the heck of it, or simply because its awesome or hilarious. I write because there's a story that needs telling, and hopefully a truth that can be investigated or made clear.
One of my ultimate goals in writing is to create a vacuum of space where I can make a darkness so deep that when it cracks, the light shines through with stunning brilliance. That's why I love writing, because I can create awful scenarios, horrendously dark moments, and put my characters through more than they rightly deserve, so that the reader sees the truth with the same clarity that my characters do.
Sometimes that truth is simple. Or straightforward. Other times it is not. Sometimes it is very clear before I begin writing what the end goal will be. Other times it is not. This time is one of the not so clear times. But at the story gains more strength in my mind, and as words add to words, it will become more and more clear to me what exactly I need to bring to light in this particular tale. Perhaps hope. Or justice. Or patience. Most likely something more complex than that.
I am reminded of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There is a deep message in that book, behind all the wonderful action and science, but it is sometimes hard to put in words that will not make the story seem cheap and fake. The best way to understand what I am talking about is of course to read the book itself.
Hopefully that is what Fair too Far will end up being like.
Gaining courage,
Farjag
November 6, 2013
On Existential Crises and Ninjas
So after the good start on day one, day two found me suffering from an existential crisis.
I had no idea where my story was going to go. Which is bad. Because I thought I knew that already.
It turns out, the plot I had outlined prior to November 1st didn't have enough forward impetus to be properly labeled a plot. It had character development by the buckets, danger and mystery by the tons, but nothing to dictate what happened next, no forward catalyzation.
Which evidently isn't a word.
Anyways, that was the main problem, but there was a second problem hiding behind it. And that was a lack of setting. I had characters, but nowhere particular for them to inhabit. Which quickly caused the story, already lagging from a lack of forward motion, to stagnate in a undecided place somewhere between Transylvania and the southern half of Virginia.
I.e. nowhere particular.
So all this is running through my head on day two and into day three. The setting was a relatively fix, and helped me push through the existential crisis of wether or not I should even continue Nano.
And then, late on day four, I remembered the old Nano adage: "If your story stalls, add ninjas!" Or something similar. While ninjas aren't exactly suitable to my story, it definitely started me thinking on what I could inject in the plot to completely create a new story. I realized that the plot I had was very thematically similar to 2011's Nano novel, The Trust Hole. I.e. A young, innocent character enters a dark place, meets colorful characters with dark secrets, and turns the place around, learning in the process their place in the world.
So while by day four I was really warming to the characters and setting, I realized the plot had to go.
So I added ninjas.
Or more properly an armada of death-dealing dirigibles breaking out of a cloud-filled sky to the sounds of hundreds of gatling guns.
I'm pretty sure this is going in a far more interesting direction than previously. :)
I had no idea where my story was going to go. Which is bad. Because I thought I knew that already.
It turns out, the plot I had outlined prior to November 1st didn't have enough forward impetus to be properly labeled a plot. It had character development by the buckets, danger and mystery by the tons, but nothing to dictate what happened next, no forward catalyzation.
Which evidently isn't a word.
Anyways, that was the main problem, but there was a second problem hiding behind it. And that was a lack of setting. I had characters, but nowhere particular for them to inhabit. Which quickly caused the story, already lagging from a lack of forward motion, to stagnate in a undecided place somewhere between Transylvania and the southern half of Virginia.
I.e. nowhere particular.
So all this is running through my head on day two and into day three. The setting was a relatively fix, and helped me push through the existential crisis of wether or not I should even continue Nano.
And then, late on day four, I remembered the old Nano adage: "If your story stalls, add ninjas!" Or something similar. While ninjas aren't exactly suitable to my story, it definitely started me thinking on what I could inject in the plot to completely create a new story. I realized that the plot I had was very thematically similar to 2011's Nano novel, The Trust Hole. I.e. A young, innocent character enters a dark place, meets colorful characters with dark secrets, and turns the place around, learning in the process their place in the world.
So while by day four I was really warming to the characters and setting, I realized the plot had to go.
So I added ninjas.
Or more properly an armada of death-dealing dirigibles breaking out of a cloud-filled sky to the sounds of hundreds of gatling guns.
I'm pretty sure this is going in a far more interesting direction than previously. :)
November 4, 2013
On Arson
Now, some of the very astute readers here will notice that the name "Arson" has been used once before here on the blog. Back in March of this year (so long ago!) I waxed lyrical about a plot bunny that momentarily distracted me from my other current literary projects.
That trail went nowhere particular in the end, I wrote about another half page before the trail dead-ended. The reason was very clear, I had no plot. I had two very distinct characters, without a true trail for them to follow. So they were forgotten.
But I very much liked the name, and so I resurrected it from the grave of unfinished tales, dusted it off and set it back to work. And while female protagonist's name stayed buried, the character itself soon found its way into my pre-Nano scribblings and plot prep.
So, in a way the story is finding new life. I took characters with no plot and placed them in a plot that had no characters, and hopefully I shall find a happy marriage between the two before the end of November!
Writing on,
Farjag
That trail went nowhere particular in the end, I wrote about another half page before the trail dead-ended. The reason was very clear, I had no plot. I had two very distinct characters, without a true trail for them to follow. So they were forgotten.
But I very much liked the name, and so I resurrected it from the grave of unfinished tales, dusted it off and set it back to work. And while female protagonist's name stayed buried, the character itself soon found its way into my pre-Nano scribblings and plot prep.
So, in a way the story is finding new life. I took characters with no plot and placed them in a plot that had no characters, and hopefully I shall find a happy marriage between the two before the end of November!
Writing on,
Farjag
November 1, 2013
Off To A Good Start
Well, today went well. Not only was I able to turn in my architectural homework on time, but I also happened to finish off my first 1,700 words just now. Which means I have time tonight to relax and write a blog post!
What's that? Getting ahead while I have time? Pssh!
We shall see. I enjoy stopping writing at particularly chewy points of the story, much like commercial breaks for a tv show. It gives me an impetus to finish the next part the next time I sit down to write, sort of like a self-propelling kick in the rear. All that to say I stopped at a particularly delicious point, more on the comedic than suspense side, but still very much a kicker. To illustrate my point:
Arson grumbled. “Your head’s a little big for your shoulders, Alice.”
“Exactly what will get me a job someday. Or today, for that matter. Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. If I impress your boss, Mr. What’s-what’s-face with what I can do, I get to stay. If he won’t hire me, than I’ll be off back home and you can keep on your merry, solitary way.”
Arson frowned in thought before extending a hand to his sister. “Deal.”
A half hour later Arson found himself setting Alice up in a bunk next to the juggler twins. Apparently her sleight-of-hand magic had duly impressed Mr. Kash.
What's that? Getting ahead while I have time? Pssh!
We shall see. I enjoy stopping writing at particularly chewy points of the story, much like commercial breaks for a tv show. It gives me an impetus to finish the next part the next time I sit down to write, sort of like a self-propelling kick in the rear. All that to say I stopped at a particularly delicious point, more on the comedic than suspense side, but still very much a kicker. To illustrate my point:
Arson grumbled. “Your head’s a little big for your shoulders, Alice.”
“Exactly what will get me a job someday. Or today, for that matter. Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. If I impress your boss, Mr. What’s-what’s-face with what I can do, I get to stay. If he won’t hire me, than I’ll be off back home and you can keep on your merry, solitary way.”
Arson frowned in thought before extending a hand to his sister. “Deal.”
A half hour later Arson found himself setting Alice up in a bunk next to the juggler twins. Apparently her sleight-of-hand magic had duly impressed Mr. Kash.
Mwuah-ha-ha!
October 28, 2013
The Iceman Cometh
And with him November, that dreaded, longed for month. Sometime within the next 36 hours I shall sit down before the white wilderness of the blank page and begin to build, carving line after line of black letters until the wilderness has been civilized and a story has begun.
Time will tell how fast or far my attempt will go, but I hope to reach the other side of the month having built at least a 50,000 strong army of words who tell a story worth remembering. But if I fall midway, to battle or busyness, at least I will have attempted the journey.
I hope to see you on the other side, if my mixed metaphors don't get to me first :)
Forth, and fear no darkness!
Time will tell how fast or far my attempt will go, but I hope to reach the other side of the month having built at least a 50,000 strong army of words who tell a story worth remembering. But if I fall midway, to battle or busyness, at least I will have attempted the journey.
I hope to see you on the other side, if my mixed metaphors don't get to me first :)
Forth, and fear no darkness!
October 10, 2013
Let the Games Begin!
NaNoWriMo has officially entered pre-production! That is to say, I logged into my account... and set up my novel. :D
But that did require some thought, as I had to synthesize all the dozens of different ideas bouncing around inside my mind into a single, semi-coherent train of thought that could be further synthesized into a synopsis.
In addition there was that pesky thing called a title... my novel had been going by the unassuming name: NaNoWriMo Novel. That was going to fly any further, so additional thought was necessary on that front.
And to complete the trifecta of unknowns, I had not named any of my characters yet. They had been simply going by Protagonist and the Sister. So that had to change too.
So after much soul-searching and brain-wracking, I worked the bits and pieces of a story in single whole, filled in the missing pieces and came out the other side with something resembling the skeleton of a novel. It definitely isn't much, but it's enough to go on.
When Arson Folkert ran away to join M. Kardanian's Traveling Imaginarium, he didn't realize he would never see his parents again. Now his younger sister Alice, an orphan with nowhere to go, comes looking for him, but Arson has no intention of leaving. And the Imaginarium hides a dark secret; the small troupe who run it are far more than they seem. The deadly road that Arson has started on will take both him and Alice into the darkest places of their soul, and it will take a strength they don't have to escape.
But that did require some thought, as I had to synthesize all the dozens of different ideas bouncing around inside my mind into a single, semi-coherent train of thought that could be further synthesized into a synopsis.
In addition there was that pesky thing called a title... my novel had been going by the unassuming name: NaNoWriMo Novel. That was going to fly any further, so additional thought was necessary on that front.
And to complete the trifecta of unknowns, I had not named any of my characters yet. They had been simply going by Protagonist and the Sister. So that had to change too.
So after much soul-searching and brain-wracking, I worked the bits and pieces of a story in single whole, filled in the missing pieces and came out the other side with something resembling the skeleton of a novel. It definitely isn't much, but it's enough to go on.
The Imaginarium
When Arson Folkert ran away to join M. Kardanian's Traveling Imaginarium, he didn't realize he would never see his parents again. Now his younger sister Alice, an orphan with nowhere to go, comes looking for him, but Arson has no intention of leaving. And the Imaginarium hides a dark secret; the small troupe who run it are far more than they seem. The deadly road that Arson has started on will take both him and Alice into the darkest places of their soul, and it will take a strength they don't have to escape.
September 23, 2013
Once More Into The Fray
Once again, dear readers (the few, the proud), I'm back. Probably not for long, but definitely for the duration of November and NaNoWriMo, and possibly after that! If it does continue, the theme of the blog will likely shift to represent my more current interest of screenwriting and architecture, but in the end it will still be all the same story I am telling.
So expect the next month to be filled with a smattering of ideas, brainstorming, dead ends, restarts, random plot threads and the like, while the following month of November will be filled with excerpts, rants on plot, more brainstorming, more dead ends, probably at least one reboot and quite a few cringe-worthy grumblings at my own ineptness. After that? Hopefully some cohesiveness as I seek to organize the brain-frenzied creative outpourings of the month previous into a coherent whole.
Until very soon,
Farjag
So expect the next month to be filled with a smattering of ideas, brainstorming, dead ends, restarts, random plot threads and the like, while the following month of November will be filled with excerpts, rants on plot, more brainstorming, more dead ends, probably at least one reboot and quite a few cringe-worthy grumblings at my own ineptness. After that? Hopefully some cohesiveness as I seek to organize the brain-frenzied creative outpourings of the month previous into a coherent whole.
Until very soon,
Farjag
- The Road goes ever on and on
- Down from the door where it began.
- Now far ahead the Road has gone,
- And I must follow, if I can,
- Pursuing it with eager feet,
- Until it joins some larger way
- Where many paths and errands meet.
- And whither then? I cannot say.
March 10, 2013
All Good Things Come To An End
Sadly, yes, dear readers, all good things do come to an end, and for this particular corner of the blogosphere, that time has come. If you are one of the few still reading this, you know how sporadic and intermittent my posts have been of late. College is requiring more and more of my time, leaving little for other activities, and among them blogging has always ranked low.
As a writing blog, this blog depends on how much I write, and with sparse amounts of time for writing, little writing gets done. So instead of me dragging my feeble posts on until one day they simply drop dead and never come back, I shall lay them to rest with some scrap of honor left.
But all is not lost! For come November, and the ubiquitous NaNoWriMo, there exists a strong possibility of a brief resurgence of updates, outlines and the like.
Until then, I bid you all a fond farewell, and will always keep in my heart the memories, comments and wonderful bookish friends I have made during my tenure as a blogger.
Stay strong, dear ones, and may your quills never run dry!
As a writing blog, this blog depends on how much I write, and with sparse amounts of time for writing, little writing gets done. So instead of me dragging my feeble posts on until one day they simply drop dead and never come back, I shall lay them to rest with some scrap of honor left.
But all is not lost! For come November, and the ubiquitous NaNoWriMo, there exists a strong possibility of a brief resurgence of updates, outlines and the like.
Until then, I bid you all a fond farewell, and will always keep in my heart the memories, comments and wonderful bookish friends I have made during my tenure as a blogger.
Stay strong, dear ones, and may your quills never run dry!
February 16, 2013
Attack of the Bog o' Swords
*evil grin* Or Blog Awards.
Because we all know I need an excuse to put anything up here these days...
Anyways, Charley R over in her Leaning Tower of Terror Plot decided to break her normal rule (hah!) about doing blog awards and then decided that in the spirit of breaking rules she would not pass it onto anyone in particular, but instead open it up to the entirety of her readership.
And me, after a mercifully almost homework free Saturday, decided to take her up on it. *evil chuckle to match previous evil grin*
Ze questionz are as followz:
(1) Has a piece of music ever given you a headache? If so, what was it? If not, what was the closest thing?
Every time a car drives past with its speakers up so loud the chassis is actually rattling. It's usually a rap song consisting of ten words, four of which are unfit to be spoken. *rant over*
2) Do you like pens, pencils, or word processor better?
An interesting question, seeing as I'm not sure myself. Most of my writing is done on my laptop, so quantitatively, a word processor. However, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for pencils, as the callouses on my ring and middle fingers on my right hand can attest to. At the same time, as a architectural student, most of my notes are actually in sharpie permanent marker... so it's a hopeless mess.
(3) Out of the last five books you’ve read, what character was your favorite?
Oh, goodness. What were the last five books I read? *five-minute mental computing break. Mutterings about syllabi and textbooks and powerpoints* Well, over Christmas break I read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which was an awesomely fun read (and the first fiction I had read in over a year). And in that book I met Peet the Sock Man, who covers his arms with socks to keep the blades that grow there from being seen. That's the kind of man he is.
(4) Out of the last five movies you’ve seen, what character was your favorite?
Javert, from Les Miserables. Hands down. If I could sing (which I can't [in public]), I would love to act him in a play. The man who would stop at nothing to bring justice to the guilty, and became so fixated on his task that when mercy was granted him could not bear it. The perfect hero, who ended up on the wrong side as the villain instead.
(5) What’s your favorite genre to write?
Fantasy. And its many variations, such as steampunk. When the world is yours to shape, and the rules yours to make, there is no greater freedom. Still, the best story I've written is more dystopian than anything, with perhaps some sic-fi. Hardly fantasy. So I don't know.
(6) Is that your favorite genre to read?
Yup. Ultimately, I like a good book, whatever genre it is. But discovering new lands, creatures, customs, races... that is my favorite thing to experience in a book
(7) When was the last time you wished your library bought more good books, more often?
Because we all know I need an excuse to put anything up here these days...
Anyways, Charley R over in her Leaning Tower of Terror Plot decided to break her normal rule (hah!) about doing blog awards and then decided that in the spirit of breaking rules she would not pass it onto anyone in particular, but instead open it up to the entirety of her readership.
And me, after a mercifully almost homework free Saturday, decided to take her up on it. *evil chuckle to match previous evil grin*
Ze questionz are as followz:
(1) Has a piece of music ever given you a headache? If so, what was it? If not, what was the closest thing?
Every time a car drives past with its speakers up so loud the chassis is actually rattling. It's usually a rap song consisting of ten words, four of which are unfit to be spoken. *rant over*
2) Do you like pens, pencils, or word processor better?
An interesting question, seeing as I'm not sure myself. Most of my writing is done on my laptop, so quantitatively, a word processor. However, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for pencils, as the callouses on my ring and middle fingers on my right hand can attest to. At the same time, as a architectural student, most of my notes are actually in sharpie permanent marker... so it's a hopeless mess.
(3) Out of the last five books you’ve read, what character was your favorite?
Oh, goodness. What were the last five books I read? *five-minute mental computing break. Mutterings about syllabi and textbooks and powerpoints* Well, over Christmas break I read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which was an awesomely fun read (and the first fiction I had read in over a year). And in that book I met Peet the Sock Man, who covers his arms with socks to keep the blades that grow there from being seen. That's the kind of man he is.
(4) Out of the last five movies you’ve seen, what character was your favorite?
Javert, from Les Miserables. Hands down. If I could sing (which I can't [in public]), I would love to act him in a play. The man who would stop at nothing to bring justice to the guilty, and became so fixated on his task that when mercy was granted him could not bear it. The perfect hero, who ended up on the wrong side as the villain instead.
Stars
In your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light
You are the sentinels
Silent and sure
Keeping watch in the night
Keeping watch in the night
Keeping watch in the night
(5) What’s your favorite genre to write?
Fantasy. And its many variations, such as steampunk. When the world is yours to shape, and the rules yours to make, there is no greater freedom. Still, the best story I've written is more dystopian than anything, with perhaps some sic-fi. Hardly fantasy. So I don't know.
(6) Is that your favorite genre to read?
Yup. Ultimately, I like a good book, whatever genre it is. But discovering new lands, creatures, customs, races... that is my favorite thing to experience in a book
(7) When was the last time you wished your library bought more good books, more often?
Last time I went to the library, which was about a month ago. Now, it was my college library, and I was looking for Les Miserables... so it's ever so slightly understandable. I haven't been to any of the libraries in town since I moved out here for college.
Interestingly enough, I wished that the local Goodwill had a better and bigger selection of belts, suspenders and hat racks the other day... You'd think the capital of the state would have a bigger Goodwill than my hometown did...
(8) Do you write with music or not?
Almost always. But silence has its merits, as I discovered last year during NaNoWriMo. You can check that post for an exhaustive list of what music I normally listen to while writing.
More recently my writing has been limited to sleepless nights of scriptwriting, listening to the haunting music my friend composed for Shadowland. (Check it out here!)
(9) Do you outline? If so, what method do you use?
Ha. Ha ha. Maybe....
See, its a sorta-kinda thing. I have a method.
Which I thought I had written a post about some time ago... and so went looking for it so I could link it here and save me some typing...
All I got was an awesome trip down memory lane :D.
Anyways, I got bored of making bullet points out of plot lines a long time ago, and have since developed my own way of keeping track of where the story will go without locking myself into a set path.
I was so sure I had already blogged about this!... Guess I'll have to now! Look for a post soon! Suffice for now to say that yes, I do outline, but in a very particular way.
(10) About what book or movie are you the geekiest, especially in public?
Definitely The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Seeing as that's the one most people talk about, giving me plenty of opportunities to geek out. Other contenders might be Doctor Who (which isn't a book or movie, technically), and Sherlock Holmes (All of them: books, BBC and recent films)
Interestingly enough, I wished that the local Goodwill had a better and bigger selection of belts, suspenders and hat racks the other day... You'd think the capital of the state would have a bigger Goodwill than my hometown did...
(8) Do you write with music or not?
Almost always. But silence has its merits, as I discovered last year during NaNoWriMo. You can check that post for an exhaustive list of what music I normally listen to while writing.
More recently my writing has been limited to sleepless nights of scriptwriting, listening to the haunting music my friend composed for Shadowland. (Check it out here!)
(9) Do you outline? If so, what method do you use?
Ha. Ha ha. Maybe....
See, its a sorta-kinda thing. I have a method.
Which I thought I had written a post about some time ago... and so went looking for it so I could link it here and save me some typing...
All I got was an awesome trip down memory lane :D.
Anyways, I got bored of making bullet points out of plot lines a long time ago, and have since developed my own way of keeping track of where the story will go without locking myself into a set path.
I was so sure I had already blogged about this!... Guess I'll have to now! Look for a post soon! Suffice for now to say that yes, I do outline, but in a very particular way.
(10) About what book or movie are you the geekiest, especially in public?
Definitely The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Seeing as that's the one most people talk about, giving me plenty of opportunities to geek out. Other contenders might be Doctor Who (which isn't a book or movie, technically), and Sherlock Holmes (All of them: books, BBC and recent films)
That's all folks! Till next time (which there will hopefully be),
Farjag
February 9, 2013
Shadowland
Once upon a time, last August to be precise, I wrote a poem based on a concept borrowed from C.S. Lewis. The idea of earth as a Shadowland of heaven. Well, after writing the poem, I went on to do a series of lithographs inspired by the same idea. That was in the middle of last semester. And the idea still wouldn't stop knocking around in my head.
About a month ago I began to ask my college friends if anyone was interested in making a movie. I got enough interest to warrant me writing a script, but didn't have any solid ideas. Until late one night, after several hours of sleepless tossing and turning, God gave me the nudge to start writing. So after scrounging out my old glasses I sat in front of my laptop in the dark of a room lit only by its screen; and began to write. Two hours later I had finished a seven page script across which were scattered the verses of the poem I had written months earlier. A few days and helpful critiques (thanks, Director!) later I had a finalized script.
And we filmed it, less than a week later. And now, exactly one week after filming day, I present you the finished product: Shadowland.
January 17, 2013
The Music of the Light
Let me tell you a story. Or, rather, let me retell you a story.
The year is 1881, the place the Opera Populaire. A young girl named Christine has just replaced the Opera's leading lady and enchants the proprietors with her beautiful voice. But someone else hears her too, a mysterious figure with a masked face known only as the Phantom. He is enthralled with her music, but cannot bring himself to speak to her. The weeks pass and Christine continues to see him peering from the shadows, always watching, always afraid. Finally her curiosity gets the better of her and she follows him down beneath the opera to his wretched abode, a ramshackle dwelling among cast off set pieces and abandoned furniture. Even though his shame is so great that he drives her away, she pities him and continues to venture down to the dark underbowels to visit him in his dark existence. When she discovers that the only way he will ever listen to her is through song, she begins to sing, pouring out her heart in a beautiful melody of hope and light. And this is what she sang:
Night time fades and, waken each sensation
Darkness flee, and stir imagination
Silently commence to abandon your defense
Slowly, sturd’ly, dawn unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, reach it, powerful yet tender
Turn your face away from the shadows oh so gray
Turn your thoughts away from cold and silent night
And listen to the music of the light
Come away and leave behind your darkest dreams
Wash yourself of the life you knew before
Come with me, let your spirit start to soar
You will live as you've never lived before
Strongly, sharply, music shall empower you
Hear it, grasp it, let it now awake you
Open up your mind, leave those nightmares behind
Draw closer to the flame you cannot fight
The fires of the music of the light
Let your mind start a journey in this strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you truly be free
Leaping, running, sweet intoxication
Hold it, trust it, savor each sensation
Let your life begin, let your older self dive in
To the power of the music in your sight
The power of the music of the light
He alone can make your song take flight
Let Him sing the music of the light!
The year is 1881, the place the Opera Populaire. A young girl named Christine has just replaced the Opera's leading lady and enchants the proprietors with her beautiful voice. But someone else hears her too, a mysterious figure with a masked face known only as the Phantom. He is enthralled with her music, but cannot bring himself to speak to her. The weeks pass and Christine continues to see him peering from the shadows, always watching, always afraid. Finally her curiosity gets the better of her and she follows him down beneath the opera to his wretched abode, a ramshackle dwelling among cast off set pieces and abandoned furniture. Even though his shame is so great that he drives her away, she pities him and continues to venture down to the dark underbowels to visit him in his dark existence. When she discovers that the only way he will ever listen to her is through song, she begins to sing, pouring out her heart in a beautiful melody of hope and light. And this is what she sang:
Night time fades and, waken each sensation
Darkness flee, and stir imagination
Silently commence to abandon your defense
Slowly, sturd’ly, dawn unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, reach it, powerful yet tender
Turn your face away from the shadows oh so gray
Turn your thoughts away from cold and silent night
And listen to the music of the light
Come away and leave behind your darkest dreams
Wash yourself of the life you knew before
Come with me, let your spirit start to soar
You will live as you've never lived before
Strongly, sharply, music shall empower you
Hear it, grasp it, let it now awake you
Open up your mind, leave those nightmares behind
Draw closer to the flame you cannot fight
The fires of the music of the light
Let your mind start a journey in this strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you truly be free
Leaping, running, sweet intoxication
Hold it, trust it, savor each sensation
Let your life begin, let your older self dive in
To the power of the music in your sight
The power of the music of the light
He alone can make your song take flight
Let Him sing the music of the light!
January 5, 2013
Tonight
Tonight is the night.
The night all the work is done.
The night when the lights dim, the music starts and a story unfolds.
Tonight was the premiere of Ironwing.
The night all the work is done.
The night when the lights dim, the music starts and a story unfolds.
Tonight was the premiere of Ironwing.
Note: The url at the end of the trailer is to a private blog. Attempts to hack will be shot down by acid firing laser robots. :P
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