Right, well let me tell you about my writing style.
I get the story in my head. When I'm in the mood (or the zone) I write/type depending on what I prefer. I NEVER outline. Not even when I was supposed to do so in high school.
The last some odd years - basically since middle school - I've had this story idea in my head. I'm not ashamed to admit it began with a fanfiction for Lord of the Rings, spanning into Pirates of the Caribbean, Van Helsing, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Over the course of those many, many years it has evolved into something far more frustrating and life/mind consuming. (It may be a miracle I managed to stay sane for so long.)
Now, to this outline.
I realized that this massive fanfiction had an excellent plot, great locations, interesting tech, and a bunch of characters ripe for the picking. Only....they weren't their fictional characters anymore.
Through the course of years the characters left behind their rather copyrighted persona and became something more original. It was a miracle.
So I spent a few hours (yup, hours) going through the story. I made an outline for the first time in forever.
(.....yup....good luck getting that song outta your head.)
Right now it's at seven (7) pages, and I'm still not even close to being done with it.
The only issue I now face.
Writing.
I have 2 1/2 pages written out, but I'm taking my time in doing so. I did set a deadline to have chapter one done by the 15 of April. See how well that didn't turn out? Life happens, and we can't always keep up. (Well, I'd be more inclined to do so if I was getting paid for it. Or if I had an editor or a BETA reader.)
Huzzah for being a free writer!
Here's a little snippet of my outline for WIP week!
THE LIEBRARY
-Liebrary houses ancient books, of magic, obscure, rare finds
- A group of Magicians were in charge of keeping it
- They abused the power in the books
(Possible ghost of the past in charge of it now)
What's something that you are working on? Would you be interested in reading my novel, piece by piece?
The day I randomly talk about a book I've recently read or have previously read before.
Lucky for you I just finished a book the other day. Literally.
Heh, Lit-erally. (I'm bad at bad puns.)
Book: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fy/Tech
With the release of this book-turned-movie, aptly released Easter Weekend, I decided to delve into the covers and read the book before going to see the movie. It's something that I always do when there's a movie that interests me that's based on a book. I've done it before with various other book to movies - Divergent, Lord of the Rings. You get the picture.
With that in mind, here is my little tid-bit review of the novel that has been remade into a film by Steven Spielberg (who honestly was the only director for this film. Stay with me on this, but he was the ONLY choice once you understand the novel).
If you've been under a rock and heard about the novel/move, here in the 5 minute recap.
*ahem*
Future world.
Poverty/war/devastation = dystopia setting.
OASIS = virtual world where everything is shiny.
Founder of the world dies, leaving a quest to find 3 keys and 3 gates to win his money/fortune estimated at xxx,xxx,xxx,xxx dollars.
Random kid lucks out and finds the first key
Cocky friend along for ride
3 other Gunters (self-proclaimed awesome fans)
Sixers = corporate sell outs and scum of the earth want to win so they can make more money = money whores = will cheat and connive (thus making all self respecting pirates look like your dear old granny)
HUNT FOR THE EASTER EGG!
The '80's were the BEST YEARS EVER!!!!
Goonies planet, because Goonies never say die
Second key is found!!
Random free quarter for a perfect Pac-Man game?
Robot figurine is your prize
THE CASTLE IS UNDER SIEGE BY THE CLAN OF MINDLESS DRONES!!
My bad, just the Sixers being scum
(And not the cool scum like Han Solo)
THIRD KEY!!
Keyblade....oh wait, Blade Runner, ooops.....
Unicorns' have the insight
Can't reach your castle? Call Mario the Plumber....wait, wrong person
MASSIVE CALL TO ARMS TO FIGHT THE MAN!
ROBOT BATTLES!!!
So many pop cultural reference, can the movie even get the rights to them all?!?!
Third Gate open!
....and they all die....
SPOILER!
Parzival, "Just kidding!"
Much Egg Hunting!
"Are those coconuts? Where'd you get them?"
What is your quest?
What is your favorite game?
What is the name of my former lover, not really because I was too afraid to talk to her, so instead I referred to her by the nickname, or rather the name of her D&D character?
Much win and gold is yours. Use it wisely.
Also - step away from technology and see the world. It's better than the virtual reality I created.
Character including:
The High Five Group - the only kids on the planet capable of finding the clues and keys for themselves. Also who sorta drop hints to each other even though they're competitors for millions of dollars. Featuring: Parzival, the main character who knows the '80's backwards, until he doesn't; Art3mis, the spunky chick who takes crap from no one and will help you cheat on the final test; Aech, the best friend who kicks your butt at games until you become better, then twists around at the end and slams you with the untilmate "AH-HA!" in real life; Shoto and Daito, the untilmate samuri's who work as a team to make the world better, they will also give you a beat down.
The Sixers - Corportae drove hive-minded bees that function for the sole purpose of finding the Egg for the collective. Spawned by the IOI corporation, which will claim the prize at the end no matter which of their hive finds it. Their skills incluce: manupliation, cheating, breaking into private records, death, and making you remeber why being a Gunter is so much better.
The Gunter Clans - Groups of actual Gunters set to find the egg and keep the balance stable in the universe. Knight who are set to keep the OASIS free from the tyranny of the Sixers and IOI.
Og - The only other dude who created the OASIS. Much nerdy, much awesome. The only one with an avatar who can kill you without moving. Also - the uncle everyone wished they had.
Halliday - The main dude in charge with the other dude respoinsible for the OASIS. He created the Hunt for all his wealthy and income right before he died. The man, the myth, the legend. Can anyone find that darn egg?
*whew*
I didn't include half the spoilers I should have, nor even all the ones that I liked. If I could spoil the entire book for you I would.
Go out and read the book. If you're as nerdy as I am, you'll love it.
Now I can finally go see the movie!
Question of the week:
What is your favorite '80's movie?
(GOONIES!)
Hope your first three months of the year were as productive as mine!
(To which I mean, you were infinitely more productive than I was, as I was trying to survive being in my first musical, getting sick, trying to figure out the meaning of life, and filling out FASA forms to get a grant to continue my education.)
While I was going to give a snarky little piece on pollen and what-not, I made the mistake of visiting Google and came upon the name John Harrison.
If you don't know who he is, don't fret. I honestly didn't realize who he was until I read a little bit deeper.
And then I bust out laughing.
A lot.
John Harrison was born on March 24, 1693 in England. Through his life he was self-educated in both carpentry and as a clockmaker.
He invented the chronometer, which was the first device to be able to measure the precise longitude at sea. They were the portable time standards of the time.
While this is super cool in itself, the name that was given to this new study of time was (and I kid you not) horology.
The measurement of time and making of clocks; the study of time and the art of making timepieces.....this is someone who is called a horologist.
Now, I don't know about you, but that brings to mind the latest movie in a franchise that some think is awesome while others are beginning to find tiresome.
I will leave you with this rare gem of movie trivia.
Right, so because I already did my Obscure Movie Day post this month ("Monster Mash"), this week will be something random.
While I could just post another little excerpt I suppose I can just rant about something instead. (There's only one or two of you who are looking at this anywho, so I don't feel as bad.)
I think I may have already plugged this site, but I have to say how much I LOVE sending postcards via Post Crossing.
Basically you register with the site (all of your information is secure and safe!); then you send a post card - could be to anywhere in the world!
Each card has a unique Post crossing ID number with it, so that the person who receives it can then register it. Once it's registered, you wait and then receive a postcard from anywhere in the world.
I LOVE it.
Here are a few that I have received over the last year or so of being a member.
This is how I can visit the world while being a rather poor student.
Are there any countries you'd want to receive a postcard from? Leave a comment below.
This is something I've posted before on another site. I'll share it again here because I'm likely going to add a bit more to it later on.
The Backstory: This little idea began floating around the internet sometime last year. I kept seeing it pop up again and again everywhere I went on the web. So, I decided to write a quick little blurb around it.
The Prompt: What if during the Beauty and the Beast tale, instead of a big grande finale, the two of them are sitting in the library, reading. At one point she looks over and him and thinks, "You know what, I love this. Sitting here, reading with this guy who doesn't seem all that bad."
My W.I.P.:
It had been a few weeks since she’d taken her father’s place
in the Beast’s castle. After the initial shock and fear they had grown into a
steady rhythm. Most days were spent tolerating each other’s company until it
was strange when they didn’t cross paths. The afternoons were spent in the
library, often sitting apart from each other and reading. It was one such day
that things changed.
Beauty was sitting in one of the plush chairs near a merry
little fireplace. The warmth coming from the hearth placed her into a content
mood, combined with the novel she was reading. They had gone out earlier that
morning for a walk around the gardens. Though it had been pleasant, the effects
of winter continued to linger amongst the foliage. It was what had driven the pair
into the secluded, warm library after lunch.
Turning a page in her book she glanced over the top at the
Beast. As was he custom, he was seated at a table, studying one of the larger
tomes. Since they’d begun their afternoon discourse in the library he had begun
brushing up on his learning of the outside world. He leaned over the table,
absorbed in the writing on the pages. It was an endearing image. No one in her
town would ever consider a book the way he was now.
He isn’t that bad, she thought, returning to her book. I
suppose if anyone could change as much as he has, then I can give him a second
chance.
A small laugh startled her from her thoughts. Looking up she
saw him smile.
He’s smiling at a book; the thought was strange to her. I
think I love him for that.
Returning to her book with a warmth in her chest, Beauty set
aside the burst of light that came next as the Beast moving away and allowing
the light from the far fireplace to show.
A few minutes later the door to the room flew open.
“Master!”
Beauty looked up and blinked. There was a man standing in
the doorway. Blinking she watched a few other people rush into the room and
stare. She followed their gaze to the Beast, the master of the castle. Only the
Beast was no longer there. Instead there was a tall man with dark hair. He
was
staring at his hands in wonder.
“Master, the spell has been broken!”
Unable to look away Beauty watched the man slowly turn
around and stare back at her. A confused look passed across his face.
“You love me?”
What I hope you enjoyed my little blurb. What's something you're working on?
This past week I finished another book. (14 so far this year, woo!)
I found this book on one of the may "YOU SHOULD READ THIS" lists that circumventilate the internet though the year. You know the ones - "Christmas Reading List", "Books to Read Before You Go To College", "Teen Books", etc.
Well, this one had some elements that I was familiar with:
- College Freshman
- Writes FanFiction
- Ignores Everyone
- Introvert
While I am no longer a college freshman, and the others may or may not apply, I decided to check out this book.
She and Wren used to do everything together, including writing fanfiction for their favorite book series, "Simon Snow".
Now that they're in college, they live separately, and don't talk as much.
Writing fanfiction helps Cath to sorta stay grounded. It's the thing that's constant in her life as everything is changing.
Experience your freshman year of college all over again through they eyes of a girl who's just trying to write her story while taking classes, ignoring boys, writing stories with boys, keeping her sister from passing out, keeping tabs on her dad, and trying to make sense of where she stands in the world.
I would recommend this to anyone who love to write; who's been on the nerve-wracking side of dealing with new roommates; who's lived in the dorms; who's ever had that sliver of doubt about life.
It's March, not the time of year for Halloween movies. And I was truly going to go with one that was more related to St. Patrick's Day.....until I realize I may have already done so. And this was on my YouTube watch list and I had such a fun time watching it.
I give you:
"Monster Mash: The Movie" (1995)
I couldn't find a decent image to post on here, so I challenge you to go onto the internet and look it up.
Right - the 90's were full of teenage-coming-of-age-always-in-trouble films and TV shows. Take "Full House" for instance....DJ Tanner is now the protagonist, with her boyfriend in a rather campy, musically fun flick.
"Romeo" and "Juliet" A.K.A. Scott and Mary are on their way to a Halloween party when their car breaks down. Lucky for them there's a rather frightening mansion close by that offers them refuge for the night.
No so luck, it's a house full of literal monsters!
I find this film rather dear because one of my favorite stage actors portrays Dracula (which was a rather big surprise for me when it came up on my playlist. I glanced the name in the opening credits and then freaked out when he started singing.)
With many twists and turns including: Dr. Frankenstein trying to transfer one brain to another body; vampires lusting for fresh blood; a wolf-man with an overbearing mother; a hunchback with a crush; a Mummy with a manager; and lots of campy songs sure to get stuck in your head.
And, of course, the titular title song: The Monster Mash.
Check it out here on YouTube - unless you have a VHS copy in your house!
What are some of your favorite holiday movies?
(Note: I am not paid for this blog. I use the names of things because - well - that's where credit is due.)
