Well, my Nanowrimo got a bit of a strange start. Two writing sessions in, I decided that Silver and Sable wasn't the story I needed to be writing. I was hit with an idea unlike any other I had had before, a dystopian, slightly off-kilter modern fantasy starring a young boy named Alen, and set in the dog-eat-dog world of robot vs. freak cage-fighting.
The synopsis: Alen Croxale has had a rough if sheltered childhood, getting dumped on old Aunt Silphie's doorstep when the nearby orphanage closed, living with hand-me-downs for clothes and shotgun fanatics for neighbors. So when a stranger arrives to take him somewhere far away, he is more than willing to go. His destination? A complex of buildings known as the Hole deep in the slums of Molson City. The Hole houses the Most Dangerous Game, a secret, illegal form of amusement not many know about and even fewer speak of. For the Game is haven to the world's bizarre and unwanted, those with traits about them which other people fear and do not understand. Here you can find midgets, giants, ex-circus performers, prison escapees, mad sharpshooters, talking animals, out-of-a-job actors and one-eyed veterans, all looking for one last hope of redemption before they die. And the Game pits them against robots, recyclable fighters whose only programming is to destroy their enemy. Colorful characters abound in the white halls of the Hole, but only a few survive. And what is Alen's purpose there? What is so special and bizarre about the young boy of sixteen? Only time will tell, unless the Game gets him first.
That was on the fourth. I spent the drive to church this morning really delving into what the story would be about, by way of quotes (Which I will post on here as teasers fairly frequently). Now I know where the story is headed, and am really excited (not the right word, but it will have to do) about where it will take me.
So, now I've hit my rubber to the road, am well on my way to catching up to where I need to be, and The Trust Hole is up on Google Docs for your perusal.
November 6, 2011
November 5, 2011
November 4, 2011
Time
Well, I haven't exactly gotten off to the rip-roaring start I was hoping for with Nanowrimo, as I'm sure at least someone has noticed. But it's no fault of my book or writing skills. You see, the night before last I stayed up till 4:00am, working on this.
In case any one is wondering, it's a 3d design project focusing on organization. I designed the 2d image first with certain shapes, and then made the 3d transformation.
So, no time at all for writing on the 2nd. I thought that would be ok, though, since I had written almost 700 words extra on the 1st, so it shouldn't be too hard to catch up. But then last night... I didn't get started till 10:00 (Courtesy of design class) and I was falling asleep at my computer barely 400 words in. So I decided to get some much need rest.
So now I'm a few thousand words behind, but don't worry! I can and will catch up (hopefully by the start of next week). Watch for the next three segments of Silver and Sable when they appear shortly!
November 1, 2011
It has Begun
The first 2,305 words are up! They actually went quicker than I expected, I think I've improved in writing speedily since last year. (Probably due to all the writing I've been doing lately. Doing something a lot usually helps with the speed, don't you think? :P )
So, for this first half chapter, I tried to really focus on setting up the... setting. I tried to give a brief look into the culture Rogart is from, what the people are like, what he is used to. This is important, because fairly soon we won't be seeing it anymore, so there has to be a solid groundwork for Rogart to pull from later on. I also wanted to show some of Rogart's relationship with Chain, the man he is apprenticed to. This also will disappear shortly, but it plays a key role in the end of the book, so there has to be something to go on. Until next time,
A fairly excited,
Farjag
P.S. If anyone wants to follow along as I write, shoot me an email!
So, for this first half chapter, I tried to really focus on setting up the... setting. I tried to give a brief look into the culture Rogart is from, what the people are like, what he is used to. This is important, because fairly soon we won't be seeing it anymore, so there has to be a solid groundwork for Rogart to pull from later on. I also wanted to show some of Rogart's relationship with Chain, the man he is apprenticed to. This also will disappear shortly, but it plays a key role in the end of the book, so there has to be something to go on. Until next time,
A fairly excited,
Farjag
P.S. If anyone wants to follow along as I write, shoot me an email!
NaNoWrimo!
The long awaited day is here! Tonight I shall begin my second annual 50,000 words in 30 days marathon! I shall be living and breathing Silver and Sable for the entire month of November, so blog posts will probably decrease, however what I've written each night will go up on google docs, (hopefully) so if you're interested in following along as I write, email me!
October 30, 2011
The Sound of Battle...
I wrote this excerpt for a forum a little while ago and thought it might be a good idea to post here with some additions and editing. (Saves me from having to write a whole new one!)
On how to make large-scale fantasy battles interesting, especially how it relates to being told from one character's point of view:
"There are multiple factors to consider, many depending on the setting.
On how to make large-scale fantasy battles interesting, especially how it relates to being told from one character's point of view:
"There are multiple factors to consider, many depending on the setting.
The first thing to define is the ground. If there is any height involved, someone might have a good view of at least most of the battlefield (useful for getting a clear idea of what's going on). Ridges make good defensive locations, while valleys make for good ambushes. The rougher the ground, the harder it will be to root an enemy out.
Perhaps next most important, what kind of technology is being used, and how will it effect the battle and the watcher's line of sight? Dragons, airplanes, gryphons or hot air balloons would get a literal bird's-eye view, thus helping troop movements on the ground below, while dragon's fire, cannons, muskets or explosions would create smoke dense enough to obscure everything. (Dust from the ground could also do this).
Technology directly effects how information is passed from man to man, and thus how the reader learns what is going on. Aide-de-camps, radios, messenger pigeons, wig-wag signals, bugle calls, all are different methods for transmitting information quickly across large amounts of space. For mainstream fantasy, a tried and true method is to relay information by couriers, this wing calls for aid, this wing sends word it is advancing. This keeps the characters at the forefront, while maintaining a good overall picture of what is going on.
Tactics also play a major role: someone laying in ambush might only hear what is going on until his signal comes, an air strike would provide an excellent overview of what is happening, snipers would be in better positions to observe much of what is going on.
The last factor to consider is who your pov character is in relation to the battle. A general might be more aware of the battle as a whole, a simple foot soldier only of what's directly in front of him. A calvary/dragon rider would see more of the battle, but would be less in direct combat, whereas a archer/siege weapon worker might have more time to watch the battle as it progressed after their projectiles were exhausted or rendered useless by troop movements.
And finally, the most important thing to include is the feel of the battle. No matter how detailed the troop movements, the thoughts of the combatants or the originality of the tactics, it all comes down to what the reader comes away with afterward. Did they sense the chaos, smell the dust, see the price paid by those who gave their lives, hear the whine of arrows, the clash of swords, the roar of beasts? Did they cringe as the flights of arrows came whining down? Did they cheer with the embattled soldiers as the reinforcements came thundering in?
Tactics also play a major role: someone laying in ambush might only hear what is going on until his signal comes, an air strike would provide an excellent overview of what is happening, snipers would be in better positions to observe much of what is going on.
The last factor to consider is who your pov character is in relation to the battle. A general might be more aware of the battle as a whole, a simple foot soldier only of what's directly in front of him. A calvary/dragon rider would see more of the battle, but would be less in direct combat, whereas a archer/siege weapon worker might have more time to watch the battle as it progressed after their projectiles were exhausted or rendered useless by troop movements.
And finally, the most important thing to include is the feel of the battle. No matter how detailed the troop movements, the thoughts of the combatants or the originality of the tactics, it all comes down to what the reader comes away with afterward. Did they sense the chaos, smell the dust, see the price paid by those who gave their lives, hear the whine of arrows, the clash of swords, the roar of beasts? Did they cringe as the flights of arrows came whining down? Did they cheer with the embattled soldiers as the reinforcements came thundering in?
If they answer is a resounding "Yes!" from your readers, then you, the author, have succeeded.
A really good author for making large scale battles interesting is G.A. Henty. He wrote historical fiction during the late 1800's, retelling nearly all the great battles of history in over 120 novels. His method of choice was usually to tell the battles from a bird's eye view, detailing troop movements, then go back and tell what his main character saw of the battle and how it affected him. He was also a master strategist, (if you want any information on guerilla warfare throughout the ages, his books are the place to go). His battles, even told from a historian's pen, accurately convey the chaos, tactics, strategy, mistakes, heroism, and scale of many of history's greatest battles.
Now, I'm no expert in this field, and I haven't written a full-scale battle in some time, (so I'm not sure how my current writing style will affect the final product) but I hope my musings and experience gained from my own writing and reading help someone else.
Passing on what I have gained from others,
Farjag
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