Beautiful People- March

The time has come once again...
To unlock the mysteries of one man...
To reveal that which no one knew before...
To...


Ok, not really.


But it's Beautiful People time! As always, thanks to Miss Sky and Miss Penn for the questions!


But who, exactly, is the man of the hour? Well, seeing as I'm editing Freeborn and Freegiven, and he's my namesake, and he's one of my most favorite characters, it's Farjag! (No, not me. :) )


Quick bit of background; Farjag Tiger-claw is a freeborn who lives in hiding deep within the Tanglethorn, plying his trade as a blacksmith. 


1. If your character could be played by any actor, who would it be?
Wow, I'd never thought about that. *Goes into deep thought* ......... 


An hour later: Well, I based a lot of Farjag off my own personality and appearance, so I have a hard time imagining him as someone else. It's rather funny, because I could totally have given an actor for any other character, but I can't quite find someone for Farjag... because then I'd be finding someone to play me!

2. Does your character have a specific theme song?
Definitely. "Stand My Ground" by Within Temptation sums up his journey as a character in ways mere words could never do. 

3. What’s their worst childhood memory?
Well, I know next to nothing about his childhood. However, a few years before Freeborn begins he, his best friend  Dorben, and Dorben's sister, Nitiren, tried to infiltrate the shieldsfell outpost in Deepdale. But something went wrong and Dorben was killed. Nitiren blamed Farjag, and now hates him, while Farjag lives with the burden of something he didn't do.

4. If your character had a superpower, what would it be?
Oh, come on, isn't turning into a tiger at will enough? :) 

5. If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how would your character help the group survive?
Well, being an outlaw means surviving on your own skills as a hunter, cook, sewer, blacksmith, carpenter... in other words, Farjag can do a bit of everything. Which would make him a valuable asset on any desert isle.

6. Are they married? If not, do they someday wish to be?
Farjag is unmarried at the beginning of Freeborn, but sometime during the book he meets someone he already knew. Someone who he will propose to at the very end of the book. Someone I mentioned three questions above. :)

7. What is a cause they would die for?
Quartorlen's freedom. See, all four freeborn set out on their quest fully expecting to never return.

Then will five arise, hope and honor-driven

Four freeborn, and one freegiven 

Together they will seek out that which is hidden

 Together find that which was written

 The ancient power, savior to the lands 

Bane to the dark, and to the wielding hands 

The Darkstone, cold and hard 

Talisman against all that is evil and marred.

8. Would they rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home?
See, Farjag's answer to this changes from the beginning of the book to the end. At first, he'd like nothing better than to live out his days hiding in the woods, away from the grip of the shieldsfell, away from the agony of his people. At least, that's what he tells himself. But when he is literally forced onto this quest, he begins to realize that he's been hiding from more than shieldsfell soldiers. He's been hiding from himself. And so, by the end of the book, Farjag is ready to die fighting valiantly. 

9. If someone walked up to them and told them they were the child of the prophecy, would they believe them?
He'd give them the raised eyebrow, then tell them to go find his backup. :P

10. Do they prefer the country or the city?
Cities mean shieldsfell patrols, jails, stone walls, locked gates, reward posters for him... I should think the choice is obvious. 


Well, that's BP for this month! Hope you enjoy reading about Farjag as much as I have writing about him!

The Ghostreader Speaks

Way back when... well, in January at least, I decided to edit instead of rewrite Freeborn and Freegiven. And immediately proceeded to do nothing about it. Which is understandable, considering I was just starting a new semester of college and writing two other books. But now college has settled into a steady routine (Three cheers for only one class!), I've laid one of those books aside until I can do the proper research (Grudem's Systematic Theology, anyone?), and Feather and Fang's plot is sufficiently intertwined with that of Freeborn to enable me, nay, require me, to actually begin editing my first true novel.
Now, as most of you readers (who also happen to be writers) are probably keenly aware, editing is a lengthy process involving multiple rereads, countless mark-ups, and almost always several other editors who assist the author with a fresh set of eyes. And while I fall back on these tried and true methods soon, I think I've discovered a method that will allow me to edit mostly on my own.

The trick? Get someone to read it to me.

But, wait... you just said you were going to edit it alone...

I am! The reader I speak of is a ghost, or rather, a Ghostreader. This nifty program (for Macs only, I'm afraid), has some of the best computer voices I've ever heard. Basically, they doesn't sound like a computer. Period. Now, the actual program costs $40, but you can get a free demo for fifteen non-consecutive days (Which is a pretty sweet deal, if you ask me). But, enough of product placement, how exactly does this help me?

Well, first of all, having a British person read your own story back to you is simply awesome. And the best part is, she reads all the typos and doesn't read the words I forgot to put in! So now I can listen as I read, and catch all the mistakes my eyes gloss over or my brain fills in automatically. And second, I'm editing instead of reading, so things move a lot quicker. And not having to focus on picking out every single comma misplacement or missing word means I can pay attention to how the pacing flows, how dialogue moves, and any continuity errors.

For instance, I'm currently editing a scene where Farjag is captured by a shieldsfell Containment patrol. Originally, they just came barging in, surrounded him, and immediately set about Containing him. But what I realized is; if he's one of the last freeborn still uncontained, then the shieldsfell aren't going to suspect that he still has the ability to alter. Their commander keeps sending them out on these patrols, but none of them really believe there are really any more freeborn out there who haven't been contained. Also, they way I portray the shieldsfell during the rest of the book didn't really match with how I was drawing them here. So I drew out the scene a little bit, got some banter between Farjag and Patrollen Slarx, and in general reworked the shieldsfell into a little more of the shape they appear at the end.

And it's way better. What about you? What methods do you use to edit your writing?

"Whatever You Do"

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (ESV)


These are the verses that come to mind whenever I think about my writing. As I have drawn closer to God in the past year and a half, I have come to realize that every single one of my passions, desires, and pursuits should and must conform to God and be solely for His glory. And writing is at the top of that list. Why? Because it's the hardest.

Serving God with my violin isn't that difficult. Music played to Him and His glory has always been at the forefront of my mind as I have learnt and played this instrument.  But writing... that is something much more difficult.

You see, anyone can write. You need only a keyboard or pen and paper. However, not many can write. In other words, not many can write something worth reading. But I, as a Christian and son of the Author of all creation, have a still higher calling. I am called to not only write something worth reading, but something that glorifies Him in the process.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

But here's the really tricky part.

"Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God."


Not only does my writing have be good, worthy of reading and glorifying to God, but it must also be above reproach from without.

Now, this varies slightly based on the audience, of course. If I am writing strictly to a Christian audience, then my writing is going to be largely geared towards them and the common knowledge we all share. But if I am writing both to my fellow Christians and the world, then it must also accessible and grabbing to those who do not share my love of Christ. How can I do both? How can I share the Gospel truth (literally!), while not turning away those whom I am trying to reach?

Well, Christ Himself has given us a strategy in His word.


"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

Boom! Right there. If I can write a tale that grabs my reader from the beginning, starting them out on an innocent little roller coaster of a tale, and then pull the ground out from under their feet, then I will have done all I can do. Every book, movie, or song is a journey for those who read, watch or listen to it. I only hope my books take them on a journey that leads them somewhere worth going.

And finally:


"just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved."


I do not write because I want to be recognized, or because I somehow feel that the world deserves my writing. I write because God has called me to do so. And if He uses it to bring people to Himself, then to Him belongs the glory.

"If at first you don't succeed..."

"Fry, fry, a hen."

Ahem.

Anyways... my latest project in my architectural design class involves designing a dune crossover for a nearby seaside community. Basically, it's a glorified boardwalk. With something on it. Something monumental. Something eye-catching. Something defining. Something worth remembering.

Work has proceeded as follows:

1. Sketch out site map
2. Diagram foot traffic, wind and sun patterns, and sundry other information
3. Come up with words or themes that are important to the town
4. Sketch out concepts
5. Repeat last step
6. Repeat last step

Oi. To date, I have come up with roughly thirty separate and distinct ideas. All of which must fit in a 26 x 26 foot square and be no more than 50 feet high.

I'm ready to fry some hens.

Think about it! I must create something out of the ordinary, something that will grab people's attention, but still fit in with the surrounding landscape and have a underlying concept that has something to do with the surrounding area. Sure, a twisting pillar of fire would be cool... but that won't go over so well with the local populace. And some ideas might fit, but not be appropraite. I.e hurricanes. Yes, they come from the sea. Yes, they have a easily used form. No, I doubt people want to be reminded of them.

Where's those chickens?

No, a dragon will not work no matter how much you tie his fire to the sun or his wings to the wind, his horns to the sea oats or his scales to the dunes. No, a giant hourglass is too literal. Who would want to walk under a giant wine glass filled with half a ton of sand?

I'm gonna find those... *static*


Let's apply this, shall we? Oftentimes in life we find ourselves trying to accomplish something and failing time and again. We keep falling over in our attempts to stand up. We throw ourselves again and again at the iron gate of our problem, but it does not budge. And so what do we do? We give up. We throw up our hands and holler quits.

And as the gates of our problem totter and splinter, we turn away in despair, little realizing just how close we were. Because here's the thing. Someone's already gone through those gates and broken Himself to break the lock. All we have to do is ask Him to show us the combination.

So next you or I find ourselves smashing our heads against a iron gate, just remember, the locks have already been broken. And when we stop making a racket long enough to hear His voice, He will whisper to us the combination.


Anyone care for some Quartorlen Fried Chicken?

The World of Quartorlen

Ladies and gentlemen,

I give you....

Quartorlen

To the northwest is Thunderfell of the chalk cliffs and blue downs while to the northeast liesWhitefall, with its soaring white peaks and icy seas. To the east the Sinkfells, that misty land where the very ground has sunk into itself, divides Whitefall from Deepdale, whose green forests and grassy plains stand tall against the turquoise of Jadewater Sound. In the southeast, Flamehope's volcanos spew lava even during the snows of winter, and the land grows ever more rocky until it reaches Taeltongue peninsula. And in the center of this colorful lands lies what was once Brightdown. But now it has been renamed Darkdell and is enclosed with a stone wall known as the Stonesunder. Here the shieldsfell reign paramount, centered around the Arcpeak and the tyrant who rules from within. 

But no mortal, even a tyrant such as the Titan-mage, has an arm long enough or eyes quick enough to scour the land of all his enemies. For deep in the Tanglethorn lies a small glade covered with small white flowers. Paelglade is its name, and the name of the freeborn who dwells there is Farjag, Tiger-claw. Soon the time will come when he is forced from his hiding to do what must be done. For not until the Titan-mage is slain will he stop his forward-marching tide of conquest, and soon not only Quartorlen, but the entirety of Primorlen and even worlds beyond may fall beneath his vengeful iron fist. 

Soldier's Words

This is a song me and one of my best friends have been working on; he wrote the music and I the lyrics. We're still looking for someone to sing it...

Verse 1

Tonight, I stand
On fields of red
All around
The music’s dead

Softly, now
Unbidden, they come
Memories of old
The tears now run

Hope's fire fades
Sure and fast
Will this battle
Be my last

Valkyries come
To take me away
Will I leave

Or will I stay? 

Chorus
Keep marching strong!
Keep moving forward!
You must move on
Till the battle's over

Hold high your sword
Honor My name
Carve out your hope
In eternal flame

Verse 2
Tonight, hope is gone
The battle
Draws closer
There is no dawn
For those who die
Fear comes still nearer

Bridge
Carved in stone, carved in flame
The words of my king
Telling me to be strong and face
The danger facing me

Chorus

Verse 3
Will I fall or will I rise?

Will I turn or will I flee?
Will I see dawn’s golden light?
I must finish for my king

Now we meet in full array
I stand hard with all my might
Lord, help me to never sway:
I will see dawn’s light!

Chorus 2 
Keep marching strong!
Keep moving forward!
I must move on
Till the battle's over

The sound is strong:
I’m given vict’ry
I will move on
To heaven’s glory