There are some times where I have to stop and wonder how I've gotten myself where I am. This point in my life is one of those times.
The other night I was late doing chores for one reason or another. By the time I finished milking and such, it was hours past sunset and I somehow managed a moment to look up at the sky. It was a perfectly clear night and there were thousands of stars sprinkled all across the skies.
I've seen stars a thousand times before so it isn't like I'm new to the world of stars at night but for some reason I stopped dead in my tracks and looked up at the expanse above me. I just stared.
That's when I realized that I hadn't taken the time to stop and look up at the sky for quite a while. Life has been so hectic and most days by the time I finish chores my only concern is getting inside as quickly as possible. But that night I stood in the dark and watched in awe as the world glistened above me. It was amazing really. It still is. Thousands of stars, all within sight but still only the surface of a galaxy untouchable and unexplored. Here I was, a simple creature, looking at these lights and wondering at both my own mortality and the beauty of the world.
In that moment, it was just me, nature, and God spending a few private minutes together. It wasn't until later that I realized the reason I stopped and stared. It had been too long since I've looked upon the world with wonder.
There was once a time when I could look around me and see beauty in the simplest things. My faith pushed me onward while the world unfolded before me like pages to a book. I meditated, I questioned, and I sought out answers.
I think I've grown complacent. I've settled into a niche and forgotten that there is so much more than just this. I think it's time I force myself to reach out toward God and invest in my religion and then reach out and invest in my community. It's time I come to grips with the world around me and begin searching out new ways to develop and love the world as I once did years ago.
It's funny that such a profound change can be spurred merely by being late to chores and watching the stars at night.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
What's In A Name?
A lot actually.
When it comes to writing and selecting a name for characters some people aren't sure where to start. In my experience, I've both had successes and failures with names.
I think the best way to go about naming a character is by doing research. My series is of the type where each book is sprinkled with hints and evidence of a plot that doesn't become entirely clear until the final book. If a reader is keen and watchful they could probably discover the end of the series before they even reached the last book.
Because of this, there are tons of meaning-heavy aspects in the series and names are one way I do this. I want each of my characters to provide a puzzle piece to the series and present an aspect that is different from the rest of the crew.
So let's check out a few of the main characters' names and how they correlate to the story.
1) Roan - Roan's name is actually the same word used to describe the color of a horse. The horse would be a sorrel (red) with flecks of either black, grey, or white in its fur. While this wouldn't make much sense to describe a person, it actually applies to the main character here. He is similar to the horse in the fashion that he is the man responsible for the troubles of the nations. He is a beast of burden, forced by fate to carry the burdens of thousands. He is also red in the sense that he is the first and only flame mage in hundreds of years. The grey, black, and white all come in because he wants to represent every side of the war, from good to neutral to evil.
2) Jace - Jace is actually a variation of Jason but I tend to steer away from that meaning. I actually chose Jace for this character because he is a snarky, rude, impatient, yet fiery, fiercely loyal and passionate best friend to Roan. It's only when Jace is at his side that Roan performs his best, making him Roan's ace out of his deck of friends.
3) Aella - Her name descends from Greek mythology. She technically means "whirlwind" but in the books she has a softer side and personality. She is a whirlwind in the fashion that when she shows up, Roan's world basically changes overnight as her beliefs and actions challenge him to take action in a way he never did before.
4) Arobin - This name is purely made up by me. Arobin began as Roan's enemy and murderer of one of his close friends. However, when he switches sides, he actually signifies a rebirth, both of the wicked into the pure, and Roan's past as an innocent child into the veteran he becomes. Basically, the way I saw it, when spring comes around people always shout "Look, a robin!" and point out the bird as the sign spring has come. I wanted his name to represent the same signal.
Here are a few quick meanings of several more characters...
Rand - "Shield". Serves as Roan's general in the west and personal melee guard
Sella - "Freedom". She represents the ability Roan wishes he had to live freely in the wilderness.
Meika - "Meek". She was a quiet desert-dweller who developed feelings for Roan which he reciprocated.
Kaelyn - "Beauty". Represented both physical and emotional beauty as a woman embittered by war but healing.
Travis - "Crossroads". It is with Travis that Roan's realm and the other realm intersect.
Tucker - "One who cleans cloth". A confusing one. He serves as the first of the new race of Steppers, essentially sifting out the old from the new.
Arri - "Lion". She is the first of the Steppers that vow allegiance to Roan despite it meaning they might be executed.
So that's how I choose names for my characters. It takes time and work but I love the names my characters are given. At least, after some editing. Some of these characters have been named and renamed. Aella was once Bridget and Rand was Raul. Other minor things also changed. The spelling was tweaked, etc, but in the end the names fit the characters and become something I feel deeply about.
When it comes to writing and selecting a name for characters some people aren't sure where to start. In my experience, I've both had successes and failures with names.
I think the best way to go about naming a character is by doing research. My series is of the type where each book is sprinkled with hints and evidence of a plot that doesn't become entirely clear until the final book. If a reader is keen and watchful they could probably discover the end of the series before they even reached the last book.
Because of this, there are tons of meaning-heavy aspects in the series and names are one way I do this. I want each of my characters to provide a puzzle piece to the series and present an aspect that is different from the rest of the crew.
So let's check out a few of the main characters' names and how they correlate to the story.
1) Roan - Roan's name is actually the same word used to describe the color of a horse. The horse would be a sorrel (red) with flecks of either black, grey, or white in its fur. While this wouldn't make much sense to describe a person, it actually applies to the main character here. He is similar to the horse in the fashion that he is the man responsible for the troubles of the nations. He is a beast of burden, forced by fate to carry the burdens of thousands. He is also red in the sense that he is the first and only flame mage in hundreds of years. The grey, black, and white all come in because he wants to represent every side of the war, from good to neutral to evil.
2) Jace - Jace is actually a variation of Jason but I tend to steer away from that meaning. I actually chose Jace for this character because he is a snarky, rude, impatient, yet fiery, fiercely loyal and passionate best friend to Roan. It's only when Jace is at his side that Roan performs his best, making him Roan's ace out of his deck of friends.
3) Aella - Her name descends from Greek mythology. She technically means "whirlwind" but in the books she has a softer side and personality. She is a whirlwind in the fashion that when she shows up, Roan's world basically changes overnight as her beliefs and actions challenge him to take action in a way he never did before.
4) Arobin - This name is purely made up by me. Arobin began as Roan's enemy and murderer of one of his close friends. However, when he switches sides, he actually signifies a rebirth, both of the wicked into the pure, and Roan's past as an innocent child into the veteran he becomes. Basically, the way I saw it, when spring comes around people always shout "Look, a robin!" and point out the bird as the sign spring has come. I wanted his name to represent the same signal.
Here are a few quick meanings of several more characters...
Rand - "Shield". Serves as Roan's general in the west and personal melee guard
Sella - "Freedom". She represents the ability Roan wishes he had to live freely in the wilderness.
Meika - "Meek". She was a quiet desert-dweller who developed feelings for Roan which he reciprocated.
Kaelyn - "Beauty". Represented both physical and emotional beauty as a woman embittered by war but healing.
Travis - "Crossroads". It is with Travis that Roan's realm and the other realm intersect.
Tucker - "One who cleans cloth". A confusing one. He serves as the first of the new race of Steppers, essentially sifting out the old from the new.
Arri - "Lion". She is the first of the Steppers that vow allegiance to Roan despite it meaning they might be executed.
So that's how I choose names for my characters. It takes time and work but I love the names my characters are given. At least, after some editing. Some of these characters have been named and renamed. Aella was once Bridget and Rand was Raul. Other minor things also changed. The spelling was tweaked, etc, but in the end the names fit the characters and become something I feel deeply about.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Showing Character Development in Hidden Ways
It took a decent while but Book 4 is finally edited and finished. It clocked in at 302 pages, 195.5k words, and perhaps one of the best climaxes I've ever written. It was a fun book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In the span of this novel, Roan has developed from an overwhelmed soldier into a seasoned leader and politician, realized the true, gritty depth of war, and come to terms with his role in it.
One of my proudest plot points in this book was showing the steady development of Roan being an at-ease, unpolished soldier and barely leader material into an experienced warrior and a leader willing to step up to the plate and take responsibility for his and his administration's faults.
In addition to the plots and dialogue, this was also demonstrated in a far less obvious way. The novel begins with Arobin first seeing Roan after a four-week separation and, by noting he wore a grey tee and unbuttoned flannel shirt, mentioning how he looked like any other kid off the street. In the first few chapters Roan stuck to wearing his flannel shirt and jeans. However, as both the story and Roan developed, he wore the flannel less and when he did wear it he wore it buttoned up. He occasionally reclaimed it and the comfort it provided by sleeping with a flannel blanket but eventually left behind this blanket as well.
In the final chapter, Roan is seen preparing a statement to the nations. Throughout this scene, Roan struggles to come to terms with the fact that he indeed screwed up as leader. As he reminds himself that one of the best qualities in a leader is the ability to admit fault and claim responsibility, he also slowly puts on the garments of a businessman. He buttons up his collared blue shirt, representing the boy who grew up with a blue-collared job turning into a white-collared professional. He then puts on his tie and ties it up, demonstrating his willingness to be tied down by his responsibility and duty to the nations. After a pause for dialogue, he then pulls on his suit jacket. This is the defining moment for Roan as he once in the past refused to dress up for any interviews. At this point in his job/life, Roan is willing to pull on the garb of the professional, figuratively stating that he is prepared to take on any punches the public or enemy might throw at him by wearing the armor he has learned to forge over the past year.
While that plot may seen unnoticeable to most readers, I find it's the little aspects like this that make a story credible and, in turn, make your main character relatable and realistic.
One of my proudest plot points in this book was showing the steady development of Roan being an at-ease, unpolished soldier and barely leader material into an experienced warrior and a leader willing to step up to the plate and take responsibility for his and his administration's faults.
In addition to the plots and dialogue, this was also demonstrated in a far less obvious way. The novel begins with Arobin first seeing Roan after a four-week separation and, by noting he wore a grey tee and unbuttoned flannel shirt, mentioning how he looked like any other kid off the street. In the first few chapters Roan stuck to wearing his flannel shirt and jeans. However, as both the story and Roan developed, he wore the flannel less and when he did wear it he wore it buttoned up. He occasionally reclaimed it and the comfort it provided by sleeping with a flannel blanket but eventually left behind this blanket as well.
In the final chapter, Roan is seen preparing a statement to the nations. Throughout this scene, Roan struggles to come to terms with the fact that he indeed screwed up as leader. As he reminds himself that one of the best qualities in a leader is the ability to admit fault and claim responsibility, he also slowly puts on the garments of a businessman. He buttons up his collared blue shirt, representing the boy who grew up with a blue-collared job turning into a white-collared professional. He then puts on his tie and ties it up, demonstrating his willingness to be tied down by his responsibility and duty to the nations. After a pause for dialogue, he then pulls on his suit jacket. This is the defining moment for Roan as he once in the past refused to dress up for any interviews. At this point in his job/life, Roan is willing to pull on the garb of the professional, figuratively stating that he is prepared to take on any punches the public or enemy might throw at him by wearing the armor he has learned to forge over the past year.
While that plot may seen unnoticeable to most readers, I find it's the little aspects like this that make a story credible and, in turn, make your main character relatable and realistic.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Book 5 'Storming
I'm still 60 pages shy of finishing the first round of edits in Book 4 but I'm already coming up with ideas for Book 5. I'm trying to hold off from making too many in-depth plans or putting anything to paper since I need to keep my head in Book 4 but the ideas I do have seem pretty promising.
For Book 4, the question I wanted posed to readers at the end was if Roan had known about BBG's plan at the beginning of the plot would he have done anything to prevent it? This was effectively brought up at the end of Book 4 and I think most readers will have problems answering this, mainly because of the difference between Roan at the beginning of the story and Roan at the end of the plot. Basically, Roan was so transformed by the events that transpired through the plot that he no longer had the boyish innocence he boasted at the beginning of the series. At this point in the books, he is embittered and jaded by the reality of war and the effects resulting from it. He has come to terms with the fact that he is no longer leading a resistance in just one country but is instead the mastermind behind a war where he struggles just to keep his nations alive while soldiers are being targeted behind every corner.
Book 5 is going to be a REALLY tough one to edit. I already ran through it once and rewrote it. The rewrite was actually a merger of two books that didn't have enough plots to stand alone. Aspects were added, characters were removed, some rewritten. Now that I'm revisiting it I realize that the characters I added in are terribly forced and don't fit the overall plot, which means they now must be removed, which means that I basically have to rewrite this story again. Keeping those characters merely provided a substantial arc and I really don't need an arc that large in the series when it will only be ending in two novels.
So I think I'll be removing the Narron/ninja theme in this book and instead replacing it with a plot entirely surrounding the Steppers. I feel like focusing on the Steppers will work so much better and would allow me to keep the second half of the Book 5 rewrite (the part that I really treasure) and also answer readers' questions about the Steppers. They haven't been investigated too deeply despite having their first appearance in Book 1. Book 2, Roan battled a Stepper and also acquired his Stepper captive Arobin. Book 3 has a little more Stepper action but they didn't become a big part of the series until the last book with Roan meeting Arobin's kid brother, Tuck, and learning that the Steppers are being genetically altered.
So I guess Book 5 will be surrounding this idea. I love the Steppers as a part of my writing universe. They are an enigma even I desperately want to know more about. Even my beta readers have requested more background on them. I'll drop a few Stepper names in the coming weeks as the characters become more three-dimensional.
In addition to the Stepper theme, I'm also looking forward to having two romance arcs in this book. Tuck, Arobin's kid brother, will be faced with getting back together with his ex while Roan, yes, our dear Roan Leah, will be meeting his flame. We will also be returning to the Shukara desert (where we haven't extensively traveled since Book 2) and meeting Rand and his beloved Sella, who is due to deliver her firstborn soon.
Since we will be returning to the Shukara it can be expected that there will be some extrinsic themes going on. Book 2 was a fiercely religious novel due to the religion of the extremist Ial and Kadinrail and this book will be dealing with something similar.
Which brings us back to the basic question of the novel. I don't officially have a plot for this book like I said but I do have ideas. One of which will bring our Serpent's Prophecy from Book 1 back to the spotlight as Roan is forced to choose between living as the Serpent from legends or the young man he feels challenged to be. It won't just be Roan who faces this though. Tuck, a couple new characters alongside the Stepper theme, and Roan's own team will be facing the reality of their fate. I guess the initial basic question of this novel is do we all have the freedom to select our own destinies or do we already have fates selected for us by the gods?
For Book 4, the question I wanted posed to readers at the end was if Roan had known about BBG's plan at the beginning of the plot would he have done anything to prevent it? This was effectively brought up at the end of Book 4 and I think most readers will have problems answering this, mainly because of the difference between Roan at the beginning of the story and Roan at the end of the plot. Basically, Roan was so transformed by the events that transpired through the plot that he no longer had the boyish innocence he boasted at the beginning of the series. At this point in the books, he is embittered and jaded by the reality of war and the effects resulting from it. He has come to terms with the fact that he is no longer leading a resistance in just one country but is instead the mastermind behind a war where he struggles just to keep his nations alive while soldiers are being targeted behind every corner.
Book 5 is going to be a REALLY tough one to edit. I already ran through it once and rewrote it. The rewrite was actually a merger of two books that didn't have enough plots to stand alone. Aspects were added, characters were removed, some rewritten. Now that I'm revisiting it I realize that the characters I added in are terribly forced and don't fit the overall plot, which means they now must be removed, which means that I basically have to rewrite this story again. Keeping those characters merely provided a substantial arc and I really don't need an arc that large in the series when it will only be ending in two novels.
So I think I'll be removing the Narron/ninja theme in this book and instead replacing it with a plot entirely surrounding the Steppers. I feel like focusing on the Steppers will work so much better and would allow me to keep the second half of the Book 5 rewrite (the part that I really treasure) and also answer readers' questions about the Steppers. They haven't been investigated too deeply despite having their first appearance in Book 1. Book 2, Roan battled a Stepper and also acquired his Stepper captive Arobin. Book 3 has a little more Stepper action but they didn't become a big part of the series until the last book with Roan meeting Arobin's kid brother, Tuck, and learning that the Steppers are being genetically altered.
So I guess Book 5 will be surrounding this idea. I love the Steppers as a part of my writing universe. They are an enigma even I desperately want to know more about. Even my beta readers have requested more background on them. I'll drop a few Stepper names in the coming weeks as the characters become more three-dimensional.
In addition to the Stepper theme, I'm also looking forward to having two romance arcs in this book. Tuck, Arobin's kid brother, will be faced with getting back together with his ex while Roan, yes, our dear Roan Leah, will be meeting his flame. We will also be returning to the Shukara desert (where we haven't extensively traveled since Book 2) and meeting Rand and his beloved Sella, who is due to deliver her firstborn soon.
Since we will be returning to the Shukara it can be expected that there will be some extrinsic themes going on. Book 2 was a fiercely religious novel due to the religion of the extremist Ial and Kadinrail and this book will be dealing with something similar.
Which brings us back to the basic question of the novel. I don't officially have a plot for this book like I said but I do have ideas. One of which will bring our Serpent's Prophecy from Book 1 back to the spotlight as Roan is forced to choose between living as the Serpent from legends or the young man he feels challenged to be. It won't just be Roan who faces this though. Tuck, a couple new characters alongside the Stepper theme, and Roan's own team will be facing the reality of their fate. I guess the initial basic question of this novel is do we all have the freedom to select our own destinies or do we already have fates selected for us by the gods?
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Brainstorming
I need to post here more often than just once a week!
I've decided that I'll try to find various aspects of writing, farming, and societal issues to talk about.
Basically, I'll just end up talking about writing just as much as I do now and neglect the other things.
But now that I think about it what are the aspects of writing that need to be addressed?
To the brainstorming lab!!!
I've decided that I'll try to find various aspects of writing, farming, and societal issues to talk about.
Basically, I'll just end up talking about writing just as much as I do now and neglect the other things.
But now that I think about it what are the aspects of writing that need to be addressed?
To the brainstorming lab!!!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Editing, Editing, and Some More Editing
I've been chipping away at Book 4 the last few days. I am now on page 141 of what is now 299 pages. There's not much to report on that front. Editing is a slow and tedious job. This book seems to have a lot more to edit than the other ones did. I think that stems from the fact that I tweaked with the intended plot when I got to the end and now things have to be adjusted to fit the result.
That only means more work!
I have a hefty sized list (pictured) that I have to pay attention to as I edit. Most of the parts on this list need to be added in while I write so it's taking some discipline to remember to check the list every couple chapters.
There's also an assortment of comments I'm leaving in the book itself to remind me to check back on it later. It could range from something that doesn't make sense at the moment (I need to check back at the end to make sure I explained it later) to events that need to be brought up later or got heavily editing and will affect the story later.
I realized while reading today that the story really changes in tone by the time the ending comes around. This is supposed to happen with every story. Your character is supposed to change as the story progresses. The MC starts out with a flaw and that flaw has to be addressed and resolved by the end of the story.
I wrote this story with a definite flaw for Roan in mind but tried to avoid working too hard on showing its development as the story progressed. That really just makes it seem too forced to readers. Instead, I wrote by instinct and allowed the characters to emphasize his flaw and show me how it was resolved by the end. I've said it time and time again but characters really do come 'alive' in their behavior and tendencies. They can form a story and plot just as creatively as the writer can. Thanks to this, the end result was pretty impressive, at least from what I've read so far. I can clearly see a difference between the characters at the beginning and the characters at the end, especially Roan even though all the characters had their own flaw addressed.
More on that later. I need to try wrapping up this chapter before bed.
As my college english professor always said, you never fully finish editing a paper and when you think you have go over it again!
That only means more work!
My To-Edit List
There's also an assortment of comments I'm leaving in the book itself to remind me to check back on it later. It could range from something that doesn't make sense at the moment (I need to check back at the end to make sure I explained it later) to events that need to be brought up later or got heavily editing and will affect the story later.
I seriously have no idea what's causing that portal to appear...Idea for Book 5 maybe?
I wrote this story with a definite flaw for Roan in mind but tried to avoid working too hard on showing its development as the story progressed. That really just makes it seem too forced to readers. Instead, I wrote by instinct and allowed the characters to emphasize his flaw and show me how it was resolved by the end. I've said it time and time again but characters really do come 'alive' in their behavior and tendencies. They can form a story and plot just as creatively as the writer can. Thanks to this, the end result was pretty impressive, at least from what I've read so far. I can clearly see a difference between the characters at the beginning and the characters at the end, especially Roan even though all the characters had their own flaw addressed.
More on that later. I need to try wrapping up this chapter before bed.
As my college english professor always said, you never fully finish editing a paper and when you think you have go over it again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)