Mystic Ward
12 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
Get your hands on a dicta-phone and talk your ideas out for typing up later.
Brilliant idea, Deb and maybe Sian you could take the dictaphone on your walks? You know, recording thoughts, ideas, even conversations and sentences while you walk?
I think it's hard to find the time/stay motivated sometimes, especially if you've gotten off to such a brilliant start and then slowed down. Keep at it. :) And even if you are unable to write - or can't access a dictaphone - just keep the story ideas fixed in your mind, mull over them maybe? Who knows, you might be inspired! :P
RE: Your characters. I think that characters are very important in making or breaking a story.. It can be very difficult to really 'give them life' some times. I don't just mean make them really unique and quirky but to make what they do and say have credibility, to come to life on your page and engage readers. I really like your idea of writing your friends as characters, I've done a similar thing before. :) How's that going? :)
They need to hurry up with functional speech to text devices already!
Anyway, I hear ya on the heatwave front, Sian. It put a total damper on everything, not just writing. Only just getting back into a routine again. But camping might at least offer you some inspiration, even if it does cut down on writing speed due to lack of technology. The change in atmosphere might be just what you need to get peddling again.
And ditto to what Livia said, how went/goes the friends as characters exercise?
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Mon Jan 09 2012, 09:07pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Great idea Deb, I haven't been able to find one today, but I think I will invest in one for future camping trips and for walking like Livia said.
Writing my friends is really hard. I've started a couple and I think the dialogue is going okayish but mannerisms are really difficult. I think I might try to make this a focus of my writing whilst camping. Since I won't have my notes with me, I've decided I should try writing something new while I'm away, so I'm thinking character practice and a new short story. I read an absolutely atrocious short story yesterday and it's given me new motivation because whatever misgivings I may have about my writing I know that it's better than that :P
Update 5
Total Word Count: ~18500
Original Word Count: ~3500
(rounded down)
I actually got some writing done today ;D 1500 words towards the fanfic. Unfortunately, I also edited out 1000 ::facepalm:: but that's okay, the first step is the hardest, I broke the 'not writing at all' problem and so long as I can put down a few hundred a day while I'm away, I should be able to make up the rest when I get back.
Anyway, Matthew and Dameon make their first "Cameo" appearance (I am such a bad person) in one of the scenes I wrote today and it's also the first real shot I've had of writing Michael. I'd like to see what you guys think of how I've written him, since he's (obviously) not a character we've ever really met. This hasn't been edited yet.
[ligne][/ligne]
Michael sat back in his chair, examining the three young people that stared defiantly back at him from the other side of the desk - if you could say that the older boy was staring. Those calm eyes saw nothing, but they were fixed on him all the same and exhibited more resolve than the other two combined.
“This is what?†Michael asked, “you’re third escape attempt in the last two years?â€
The children remained silent.
Michael sighed quietly, “The world is a dangerous place. You have no papers, no friends to vouch for you. When caught – and believe me, you would be caught – they would not send you back here. To escape from a misfit facility is to break the law and all criminals are sent to the council farms. You’d be stuck there for the rest of your lives, which would be cut significantly shorter there.â€
“We know the dangers sir,†whispered the girl.
“Then what must I do to convince you that you’re better off here? Obernewtyn was not built to be a prison. The rules are strict I know, but this is a harsh world and certain expectations must be met in order to continue our existence here. The council investigates us far too often as things are. Better to deal with rules here than capture or burning at the hands of the council.
“If the dangers were not already great enough, one of you is blind. How would you run if discovered? Have your past failures taught you nothing?â€
The blind one smiled. “They would not go without me.â€
“Well ye cannae expect us ta leave ya behind!†the younger boy who protested.
Michael stood and walked around to stand in front of them. He leaned slightly against the desk, to bring himself down to their eye level. “Why the obsession for escape? What could possibly motivate this?â€
“It dinnea be safe here,â€
“Not safe? What has happened to make you feel unsafe?â€
“Selmar.†They responded in chorus.
Selmar. Somehow everything came back to that little girl and the business with Alexi. Even now, years later, the legacy of his adopted son continued to haunt them.
“Listen to me,†he said, his voice firm. “Alexi is dead. He cannot harm you. I admit, there have been troubles in the past, but they have been dealt with. Obernewtyn is as safe a place for you as you will find, I understand that much was taken from you when you were sent here, but it cannot be regained. I advise you to accept this and try to find happiness with the hand that has been dealt to you.â€
Michael looked up to see if his words had any effect on the youngsters, but the defiance was still writ clear across their features. He sighed, disappointed, but not surprised.
The older boy stepped forward. Dameon, Michael remembered his name was. Clearly he was the leader of the trio, for all that he was sightless. “With all due respect sir, you haven’t dealt with the whole problem.â€
“Madame Vega has my full confidence-“
“And that’s the issue,†Dameon finished. “According to her room mates, Cameo has been missing from her bed no less than seven times since Alexi’s death and she never remembers where she’s been.†Michael looked over at the girl, who stared silently back at him. She did not speak to confirm her friend’s words, but the answer was in her eyes. “Rumor has it that Selmar has also been missed on many occasions. This is less telling until you notice who it is that missed her. Alexi may be dead sir, things may be happening more secretly and less often in his absence, but no one is any safer.†The words were spoken seriously and elegantly, every inch as perfect as his own. This boy had been somebody in a past life, yet now he stood as any other misfit, different only in the calmness he exuded with every breath.
Unlike the younger boy, there was no hyperbole or drama in his words or expressions. Perhaps his words were truly spoken.
“You truly believe this?†Michael asked. The boy nodded. “Very well then, I will investigate the matter further, but I expect the three of you to accept this and to forget your plans of escape. If it will make you feel safer, I will have Madame Vega sent to the lowlands for a time to conduct some business there. In future, you will bring any concerns about your safety directly to me.â€
Matthew looked likely to protest, but Michael raised his hand and the boy’s words halted on his tongue. “I am well aware of the stigma attached to those who are believed to be informants, however surely this is a small price to pay for your safety? I can do nothing to resolve issues if I am not made aware of them. Understood?â€
The children nodded and filed slowly out of his office. The blind boy paused for a moment in the doorway. “Thank you sir,†he said, and ducked his head as he closed the door behind him.
[ligne][/ligne]
I've tried to make Michael as firm and commanding as Rushton, but less brooding and more distant? I think I did alright, but I'd be really interested to see what you guys think of him.
Yay for writing!! Well done Sian! I think you wrote Michael really well :) He's how I would imagine him to be, especially with the similarities to Rushton. I had never really though that Matthew and Dameon might have actually met Michael but I like it. Good job :D
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Sat Jan 28 2012, 01:05pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Update 6
Total Word Count: ~20 500
Original Word Count: ~8000!!!!
(To be edited after I type this stuff up and get an exact count)
I have awesome news! Whilst camping, I was hit by a character! And by this, I mean one that seems slightly more alive than they normally do. She seems to have a heart beat and with a bit of editing I'm sure I can get her breathing as well! :D
She doesn't actually have a story, being a 'present era' character and my stories usually either being fantasy set ages ago or Sci Fi futuristic, but I do have [strike]~1200[/strike] ~3000 words describing "things that happen to her" ie; a plotless story :P
I also put down 500 words towards a story I started ages ago but I'd given up on, I think I just wasn't harsh enough with it. Since camping, I'm going to work on making the characters more evil, which I think will fix the story. I was just too soft before, and subsequently made them too soft.
This means that I have written enough to meet my Original Story word goal! YAY!!!!!! :D
I'm currently typing up what I wrote while camping, so the count above will be edited later, but the way I did my estimates, they should definitely be underestimates, not over estimates!
Seeing as it's only halfway through January, I'm going to set a new Original Story Word Goal for 10 000 words by the end of February.
I also found a ~600 word fanfic in my book that I wrote over Christmas but had forgotten about. Aaaaand I figured out what Vega is up to in the major fanfic and what Ariel is up to and where some of the minor characters have ended up in this au.
So yes, [act]happy dances[/act] :rolling:
Wanderer Ward
12 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Dreamscape Artist
That's fantastic Sian! It sounds like you've really been hit with some inspiration! And you've reached your goal! :D And even though your new character may not have a story to live out, at least she's alive and kicking :P I like what you're doing with your other characters too. When in doubt, add a dab of malice :P Good luck with reaching your new goal :)
Well done Sian! A new character is exciting news. Yay! And now we're in a race, to see which of us can hit our 10,000 first :p.
I like how the compassion and fairness I saw in Michael, too. He definitely felt more optimistic than Rushton but had the same masterful air. Things are going well! Keep it up!
Congratulations on reaching your first word goal Sian. I'm glad to hear that your characters are starting to work out too, even if your new one doesn't have a proper story yet.
I also really liked your Michael fanfic scene. It wasn't until I saw the comment at the end that I realised just which Michael it was, but I love the way you've portrayed him and it's making me think of him in a whole new way.
Definite congrats, Sian. I love stumblingn across forgotten writing, its always a nice surprise (especially when you need words haha). Hopefully this run you are on will continue on.
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Sat Jan 28 2012, 01:07pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Update 6
Total Word Count: ~25000
Original Word Count: ~8181
Turned out that I'd written loads more words while camping than I'd thought, so that's good. I now have 4000 words towards iSmoulder, but I can't stand to look at it any more. I think it's a good story, but apart from a few sections, I don't like how I've written it anymore. I think I need to put it away for a few months before I look at it again. I've drafted almost the whole thing now, so it mostly just needs editing and I don't think I'm going to do that particularly well atm.
I also wrote a really short story called Printed Robots that's 945 words long. The only thing that bothers me about it is the iffy science, so I'm going to give that to some friends to read and maybe try putting it in the student paper :-/ :)
It turned out that there were only 200 words for Narcissus (the one I started ages ago) so I've decided not to include it. :(
I don't know if I'm going to make the upper word goal happen. I'm going to new zealand for a unit in a week and a half. If I write then like I did while camping, I'll definitely make the new Original word count, but I probably won't be enough for the upper one. Oh well, I'll still try :D
Definitely! You're making amazing progress. I look forward to reading some snippets when you have some available :). Have fun in New Zealand.
Mystic Guilden
12 years ago
Mystic Guilden
Mage
First of all, New Zealand! [act]is jealous[/act]
Nice work on your word count Sian.
Hopefully NZ is productive too, but you've done so well already (even if you don't reach your goal of 50 000, half that is nothing to sneeze at either).
I can fully understand wanting to give iSmoulder a break. If you do the same as me, fixing the story becomes difficult because rather than re-reading it objectively, you recite the words in your head.....that probably doesn't make any sense, but it basically means distance before editing is essential :P ~:|
Still cheering you on for your word count though!!
Ashlings' guildleader
10 years ago
Mon Jun 03 2013, 11:51pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
[act]dusts off thread[/act]
Well, long time no see. I wrote 246 words today, so that's a start. I've decide that I like these words because they introduce something very important to the story, as well as setting up the introduction of a second thing that I hadn't thought of before, but have now decided to make very important. So yay!
In any case, here they are;
Why? Why? Why? Daryl wondered, as they sped away from the scene of violence; the road was not smooth, and the motorcycle rumbled and thumped its way across the potholes. Why did he have to interfere?
But with the little girl’s arms clamped tight about his waist, he knew there was never any possibility that he would have let her die.
The motorbike slowed as they reached a cross roads, Daryl waiting for the girl to indicate which way they should go. Such a sweet little thing, he couldn’t have let her die - could he?
It was of no consequence now. Taking the path that led further across the saddle and into thickening vegetation, he tried to ignore the question’s gnawing; he had not found its answer yet and it was unlikely he would now.
They did not have far to go, they had been on the road but a few minutes before they arrived. The clearing was small, filled near completely with tents, tarpaulins and two handfuls of families camped beneath them. Daryl stopped the bike and immediately the girl disappeared, skipping off into the crowed.
Daryl himself dismounted more slowly, looking around to observe the people before him.
One of the women detached herself from the crowd. “Welcome, Guardian,†she said. “It would appear that you have done us a great service.â€
Daryl smiled. “How could I have done anything else?â€
The woman returned his grin, eyes crinkling upwards; Daryl studiously avoided them.
Obernowriwin Count: 246/5000
Ooh, intriguing. I want to know what the scene of violence was, and why Daryl is know as a Guardian.
Nice start :)
I bet that sweet little thing isn't sweet at all. They have a habit of not being [act]glares[/act]. But anyway, going well Sian. Keep those words coming.
Ashlings' guildleader
10 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Is the little sweet and innocent? Hmmmm ... I guess it really comes down to you're point of view ;)
I put down another 950 words today, which brings the total count up to 1196 :D
Here is a snippet from near the end;
STAMP! A foot landed hard on his wrist, forcing him to lose his grip on the sword. Prisca kicked it out of the way, taking another step forwards to rest her foot on his esophagus.
“Guardian Daryl, you are charged with bringing harm to a citizen of the Roman Empire. Your life is mine!â€
Daryl spluttered as she turned towards the crowd of onlookers, foot still pinning his neck to the road. “Unless of course any of you would join us.†The crowd stared back in horrified silence. “Come now, who will give me the Guardian’s head?â€
Not leaving her time to build a more convincing argument, Daryl dug his nails into Prisca’s ankle. The warrior shouted out in pain, lifting the wounded limb away from danger. Without the pressure on his neck, Daryl was able to fling himself forwards to grab at Prisca’s wrist.
Skin seared and glowed at the contact. Not understanding what was happening, Prisca swung her blade out on instinct -
And now Daryl is dead. Hooray! ;D
[sub]I'm a bad person.[/sub]
Obernowriwin Count: 1196/5000
I don't believe a word of it. Daryl is dead? Post proof :P.
(I think you need an extra zero on the end of that word count target of yours, Sian :P Congratulations.)
Ashlings' guildleader
10 years ago
Tue Jun 04 2013, 04:36pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Ahahahaha XD
- severing Daryl’s head from his shoulders; both sections of corpse falling to the ground with an undignified thump.
Prisca rubbed at her wrist. Stupid Guardians, she thought, always had to go and make life difficult.
“I think we’re done here.†She called to her soldiers.
Daryl is very, very dead. I promise you :)
Edit: It's probably wrong how happy this makes me.
Awww, but I liked him! I was SURE there were going to be hugs between him and the woman with the crinkly eyes (who was probably Prisca :P).
Mystic Ward
10 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
So soon into the winter write and you are already killing off characters. I like the way you think! :P
YAY! Dead people! I'm not the only one killing people and not feeling bad about it. This makes me feel better :D . . . I mean . . . poor Daryl. You will be missed.
Ashlings' guildleader
10 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
I wrote another 342 words today. I don't like these ones very much, mostly because Daryl dying means that I have to transition POVs and I didn't do a very good job of making it a smooth transition. At least I know what's happening though I guess, it's a start.
Obernowriwin Count: 1538/5000
There is always time to come back and fiddle with it later, it's just good to get it done . . . or at least that is what everyone keeps telling me so I can only assume its true.
Mystic Ward
10 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
Every writer I know (have have read) agrees that there is always time to go back and fiddle. If you've ever read Bird by Bird you'll know there is a whole chapter called 'The [censored] First Draft' which explains this aspect of writing brilliantly.