Let Me Tell You A Story

This story starts many years ago when I was living in Provo and working at the Provo Library. I had just found a BYU magazine called Leading Edge that I had fun reading. It was/is a science fiction and fantasy short story magazine that is published twice a year, and after reading a couple of issues, I had decided that I wanted to publish a story with them.

The trick was coming up with a story unique and interesting, like all the stories already published were. I brainstormed for a while, thinking of everything I could do, and I finally settled on doing something that I knew about: Libraries. I worked more on that, fleshing out what it was about libraries that was so special, until I came up with the idea that every book or series had it's own reality, and sometimes holes appeared in the fabric between our Reality and the fictional realities. And there were people who fixed these holes.

I liked the idea, but never got around to writing it, so it sort of sat in the back of my mind,fermenting. Jump ahead a few years (but still not the present). I was looking for something to write when I stumbled upon the paper that had the original idea. It had been sitting around long enough that as soon as I finished reading the idea and character beginnings, I began having more ideas about what to do with it. I decided that it was to good to be wasted on a short story for such a small magazine, so I began developing the character some more, and came up with a whole list of interesting things that could happen.

But again I didn't do anything, and it returned to the back of my mind. Skip head to July 2009, when I was living in Provo again. I was going through my writing stuff when I, again, stumbled upon the file with all the ideas I'd had. Again, I'd had enough time that I started thinking of new ideas, and decided that I really wanted to write it.

So I got out the list of things that could happen and began plotting out an eight book series on my bedroom door using post-it notes. And I really liked it. There was action, romance, devastation, happiness, and characters that I could like.

But I got so busy with other things that it got accidentally shelved for a couple of months. When I got it back out again, I decided to just start writing it, and I wrote about three chapters of the first book before losing interest. The characters weren't turning out how I pictured them, and the plot just wasn't as excited as it could have been. So it got shelved again.

Jump ahead another few months, and it's 2010. The series came out again, and this time I decided to revamp the whole thing. So I went back over and made a list of everything that could happen, explained what the main character really does a little more, and developed the girl some more. (Hereafter known as Nikelle)

It got set aside once more (happens way too often) when I started working on another story that I was excited about, and when I went back I spent an entire day just mapping out the plots so that they were done. And I liked them a lot better. They were more jam packed, and there was an overall story arch that carried through the first four books, and allowed for a second story arch through the next four.

Now, through out this entire process, Nikelle, the main character, has been the only character that didn't change from version to version. Originally, when it was just a short story, there wasn't a romantic interest. Then the first version had a romantic interest named Jesse who was a college student. Then he got kicked out of the story and the next romantic interest appeared, named Harry. He has stuck around through the rest of the versions, but Jesse came in and out, unable to make up his mind about whether or not he wanted a part of the story.

In the latest version, however, Jesse made it clear he was there to stay, and that he had been Nikelle's boyfriend previously. Two other men have forced themselves into the story, demanding to have a part of Nikelle's romantic history, one an FBI agent named Price who she dated steadily for a while, and the other her boss's assistant named Ethan who she only dated a few times and never got serious with, but is good friends with.

So then Nikelle had four men vying for her attention. This shouldn't have been too much of a problem because I should have been sure that she would end up with Harry, since he is the main romantic interest, but as I developed the other men I liked them all the same and finally couldn't make up my mind.

One character, made my mind up for me. I sat down on Friday and finally outlined all of book one so that I can sit down and write it, and by the end of the book Ethan had made it clear that while he was in love with Nikelle, he couldn't stand by and watch while I gave her to someone else. So he forced me to kill him.

That was NOT on the menu, and he didn't tell me it was going to happen until I wrote the outline for that scene. It was very distressing, since I really liked him. But he made a logical argument, and it gave the story more dynamic.

So I've finally started writing this project long in the works, and I like this version the best, despite Ethan getting killed. The character is much more likable, and there is enough action to fill the book. And this time I am determined to finish writing it.

This WILL be my first published novel, if it's the last thing I do.

You have been tuned in to Noble's memories, thank you for reading, and sorry for there being so much.

Something's going on that I don't like

Something is going on in TV land and I don't like it. I haven't followed TV shows through an entire season before, and this year I've followed quite a few. And out of those, three have ended in a frustrated romance. I am not happy at all.

The first was Fringe. I missed the entire first season, but after I started watching the second season, I fell in love with it. And I really wanted the two, Olivia and Peter, to get together. So in the season finale I was very happy to see Olivia admitting her feelings for Peter and them getting together. Only the ending ended up with Olivia trapped and Peter not knowing about it, leaving the romance frustrated until next season.

The second was Bones. I have always loved this show, though I've only seen season one, five, and bits and pieces of the other seasons. I love Booth and I think Temperance is really funny with her social akwardness. But is has really frustrated me that even after five years of working together with sexual tension flying all over the place, they still aren't together. And they ALMOST got together in the season finale, but then didn't. And won't see each other for a year.

And the third was Castle. (Notice how each show's title is only one word) This one is a great show, especially for me, because it's about a writer AND detective work, two of my favorite things. And the last few episodes of the season have in the background been about how much Castle really likes Kate but can't have her because she's with the robbery detective. And in the season finale it finally compounded on him, and he seems like he gave up, just as she realized her feelings for him. So he left with someone else, while she's left by herself.

GAH!

And now I have to wait until September or later to find out if there is any chance at redemption for any of the couples. If this turns out to be a pattern for any of the other shows I watch, I'm going to be really angry. (and I can't say either way about White Collar because I missed the last three episodes, even though I love the show to pieces. I have a sneaking suspicion I know what happened because of spoilers, but I'm not sure.)

A little piece of obscure knowledge

I don't think I've ever mentioned this on here, or even told any one, but I am an avid fan of Wendy and Richard Pini's ElfQuest. If you don't know what that is, look it up on Wikipedia. It's a fantasy comic book/graphic novel series from the 70s that has a cult following. Everyone I have ever told this didn't have a clue what it was.

I found it when I was probably twelve, when I was browsing the few shelves at the Dumfries Library back in Virginia. At the time it was something that peaked my interest, since it was beautifully drawn and colored, and was all about elves, riding wolves no less. Both of which were a big plus in my young mind.

Over the years, I have read even more of ElfQuest, and several times tried to create my own fan holt. (tribe of wolfriding elves) It never really succeeded, mostly because I couldn't recruit enough members to keep it active and fun.

It fell into the wasteland of my mind over the years. I collected the books, checked the main website every so often, but generally didn't think about it.

Then, yesterday I happened upon a picture of a wolfrider that I didn't recognize, and I was off exploring as much as I could possibly find until 1 in the morning. (cringe, I know, that's pretty late...) And after thinking about it, I decided I wanted to do more than just look. I wanted to participate, like I had tried to do in the past. Only this time it would be with a holt/club that was already active.

So I found the (almost) perfect holt/club, and joined.

I am so happy to find people who love ElfQuest as much as I do.

If you live in Stafford, VA, raise your hand please

I was just looking on Google Analytics, which keeps track of the traffic here for me. I hadn't been on in a while, and I was looking because of the commenter on the last post. I didn't know who it was, and wanted to see who all was looking at my blog. If there are actually people reading I might have to start posting meaningful stuff.

Anyway, I looked and found that someone from Virginia was looking at my blog. First reaction; huh, I don't think I know anyone in Virginia. Then, I looked closer and saw the city they were in is Stafford. New reaction; HUH?! Someone from my old town is looking at my blog? WHO ARE YOU?

It was a surprising experience and if it's someone I knew from when I lived there, I would love to reconnect. HINT HINT!

It's funny

Every time I say "I'm going to do this from now on," it never gets done. I said I was going to write every day with the goal of being consistent, but it never happened. I wrote for two days, coincidentally the two days I worked that week, then nothing. Now I've missed out on all that time, and have even decided to change around what I'm going to be writing.

I just can't seem to stick with a plan, and it's bugging me.

In better news, I finally reconfigured my urban fantasy series' plots, making everything fit. I'm really happy about it, and excited to start writing tomorrow. The first book of this series is what I plan on being my first published novel. I've had the idea in my head for a very long time, I've revised it a couple of times, and I'm finally ready to get it all on paper.

I'm not going to say that that's what I plan on doing over the summer, because that would jinx it.

Can anyone help me?

I have discovered that I like reading political fantasy more than quest fantasy. This startled me, because I really don't like politics; whenever it comes up in the conversation I tune out or try to change the subject. But when I'm reading high fantasy (apparently this is my own classification; example, Lord of the Rings is high fantasy while Harry Potter is not,) I prefer reading about political intrigue and the like rather than a bunch of people trekking across the world to find something/stop someone.

Let me give you some examples. I loved Brandon Sanderson's Elantris. I have never finished Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule. I loved K.E. Mills' Accidental Sorcerer, but couldn't finish Terry Brooks' Sword of Shannara.

Now this doesn't always hold true; I did read David Eddings' Belgaried series, but couldn't get through Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince. But for the most part I have an easier time reading political fantasy.

The down side to this, is I have a hard time finding something to read. Just like when I'm in the mood for urban fantasy, it's hit and miss, and there really isn't a list out there that tells what is political and what is quest.

So if you have suggestions, I would love to hear them.

This is where everyone thinks I'm insane

In honor of the great Kateness, I'm come up with a solid plan for having four novels written by the end of July, and six done by the end of November. You are all allowed to think I'm crazy; even I think I'm crazy. But I'm going to do it. Here's how.

Starting today (as soon as I stop procrastinating) I'm going to write 2k a day. Granted, that is barely a fraction of what Kateness writes every day for NaNoWriMo, but the goal is to work my way up slowly, so that I don't end up killing myself. By the time July and JulNoWriMo comes around, I plan on being able to pound out 7k a day. Again, not very much compared to Kateness, but that's what I can foresee myself being able to do. Anything more, and I'll just drown.

Now, the goal is to finish the next three short stories in my Monstrum Venator series (roughly 20k), write books one and two of my Reality Repair series (100k each), write a medium length fantasy, what exactly I haven't decided yet (75k rounded up), then for JulNoWriMo write two out of four of the novels in my new fantasy series (100k each). Then finish up the last two out of four during NaNoWriMo (100k each)

This is all theoretically possible if I can work my way up to 7k a day.

Now, this really shouldn't be too much of a problem. I can generally get more than 4k in a day, but not consistently. The real goal here is consistency. The only thing I'm really worried about is being able to stick to one project long enough to finish it. I've only managed to pull that off once (more if you count the short stories in MV)

Now, I'm pretty sure there is no way I will ever be able to truly emulate Kateness; I just don't have the disciple to write a million words in thirty days. But I am going to progress enough that I can produce enough to publish frequently. And publishing frequently=more money=not needing a day job=more time to actually write. Which is the ultimate goal. (Aside from marriage and family, of course.)

So wish me luck on this insane journey!