Other Protagonist

I've always had this secondary protagonist with the End Game thread. He was one of the first characters that I had, and he's always been one that I've been drawn to. His personality seems rather expected - the one that everyone sort of falls into line with. The one that you want to win in case our main protagonist doesn't make it.

You count on this secondary protagonist to stick it through and you count on them to never really deviate from who they are. Sure, they'll make mistakes - at least you hope they do, 'cause otherwise they aren't very believable. But on the whole, you imagine they're who they are, and that's just the way that it is. At least, that's how I've always felt about this one character.

Then this past summer, my brother and I were driving to Ocean City, and we began talking about this character in particular. My brother, being my biggest supporter and main soundboard for all things End Game, delves into my characters and ensures that they're as real as possible. I appreciate this about my brother.

Well, we both decided that at some point, my character in question did something that really changed him. Neither of us knew what it might have been. It might not have even been a bad thing; it just really jarred my secondary protagonist to the point of - most likely - a major change in his personality. Then I purposefully stayed away from finding that out, 'cause I got this feeling that it was going to completely change my image of this character.

The stalling stopped last weekend when I finally said, "Alright, what did you do?" (Just so you non-writers out there know, when I suddenly ask these questions, I really sort of ask myself in the manner of, "Alright, what did this character do, and how bad was it?" I then start thinking and usually, I'll find one random image in my mind and start following it. Next thing I know, I've got a story brewing.)

Now here I am, unpacking my secondary protagonists' history and finding a lot of nitty-gritty. I'm not terribly shocked. I always knew there was something hiding behind him, I had just never tried to figure it out. I always liked him the way he was and I didn't want him to change. I wanted him to always be who he was. That's the thing about writing believable characters - they've gotta change. No matter how much we may like one specific point of who they are, we can't keep them that way. It's in their changes and in their crisis that we see "real" moments for very fictional characters.

So I'll keep unpacking and, hopefully, by April 1st, I'll have enough to start really writing this nitty-gritty story for ZPO.

Adventure well everyone. Here in PA we got a glimpse of spring last week. Yesterday it snowed and tomorrow it's supposed to snow again. Yeah, welcome to winter/spring in my neck of the woods. It's like an identity crisis every day.

Currently Writing: Zero Point One
Currently Listening to: "Here You Me" by Justin Robinett & Michael Henry

Up Next

Tonight was quiet at work. It was a nice change of pace after the past six days of non-stop running every moment I've been there. In the long lulls of nothing going on, I started mulling over what I was going to write next.

Naturally, this next writing adventure won't happen until after the new year. December is normally too busy, and this year I've got boatloads going on that I wasn't anticipating originally. I decided to start thinking about the offshoot stories I planned to eventually write, called The Human-Born Chronicles. I already wrote one (what was supposed to be my only piece for senior sem), but I'd really like the opportunity to write the other five remaining ones.

So, after I finish Arthur (which will definitely be happening!), I'm gonna start tearing into at least some of the HBCs (my affectionate nickname).

Yeah. I really want to beat my nearly 600,000 word total from last year.

Currently Writing: Nothing at the moment. Give me a few weeks.
Currently Reading: Green by Ted Dekker
Currently Listening to: "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" by Chris Tomlin

Breather

I'm taking a brief respite from writing to...write a blog.

This is a different kind of writing. Like stream of consciousness.

7 days into Nano and I'm over the halfway mark for the month's goal. (And honestly, I'm sitting on a 3 chapter buffer of at least another 10k words just in case I don't get a day to write). I'm pleased with the pace I've been taking. The rewrite is going well and I finally tackled the major hurdle of the book. I stalled for a day because I still had no clue what was going on. Then I threw caution to the wind and said, "That's what editing's for!"

So here I sit. I just hammered out 4k in about 2 1/2, 3 hours. I have about three more hours until I'm calling it bed time, so I have the potential to get a nice chunk of the rewrite done tonight. Which would be a pleasant change. It helped that I got off work at two. I'm near dead tired, but thankfully the story keeps my mind reeling regardless of my sleep-deprivation.

How are things going with my fellow Wrimos? Everyone plowing along through their stories and having a blast? I sure hope so. The challenge behind NaNoWriMo is daunting, but incredibly fulfilling. Keep pressing on my fellow writers! There is much more of November left. Don't let the weather fool you!

For those that don't know, it's currently snowing outside. If I wasn't in writing mode, I'd totally be listening to Christmas music.

Happy writing!

Currently [re]Writing: Unity
Currently Reading: Hood by Stephen Lawhead
Currently Listening to: "New World Order" by City of the Fallen

It's That Time

Dust off your keyboards. Renew your interest in a dried out story. Shake out your writing pads & notebooks. Track down your favorite pen or pencil.

NaNoWriMo is back!

In several short days, November will be here. Crazy to imagine that we're already nearing that threshold of a new challenge. For those new to the party, NaNoWriMo is the opportunity for writers (of all ages, genres, levels of expertise, etc.), to band together and attempt a goal that might be insane. In the course of the month of November, hit 50,000 words on a novel of your choosing.

What will I be doing? Well, the rewrite of Unity. Unless if this new story idea hijacks my attention. Or possibly Zero Point. Or I might finish Arthur. This is the first time in a long time that I've left projects hanging. Literally, ZP & Arthur are just chilling until I work up the courage to drag them back into the sunlight.

If you happen to be interested in my goal timeline, this is it. November: rewrite Unity. December: Actually finish Unity (and go to Disney and see one of my favorite couples get married). January: Finish Arthur. February: Knock out a few more stories of Zero Point.

And that's as far as I'm planning ahead. God knows I hate making any plans, let alone ones that have the possibility of cementing into some sort of foundation.

The event today went well. I got the chance to talk with a number of people, both about Genesis and about future events. I've made a lot of connections and contacts now, so that should help open something up for later in the coming months.

So, to tie this back to my original reason for writing: join me! Sign up for NaNoWriMo and give a crack at something insane, but mighty fun. There's a great community of writers out there to help encourage you as you trudge along. Trust me, we understand the pressure of that goal. I'm really going to be fighting to be diligent about it. Crazy - I have to actually find time to write? Ugh, please, can I have my final semester of college back?

Happy adventuring everyone :)

Currently Writing: kinda rummaging through the possibility of this new story. Nothing major yet, just...mishmash plot stuff.
Currently Reading: Hood by Stephen Lawhead
Currently Listening to: "Thankful for You" by TobyMac

P.S. - The TobyMac kick, there is a reason. I just bought his new album and it's kinda been on repeat.

Take 2

I need to be up in five hours. (Aside: I hate that I'm one of those people that counts how much sleep I'll get). Tomorrow/Today, I'm appearing at another event to try to get some more PR out for Genesis. It promises to be a fun day, filled with all sorts of adventuring. This offers a different experience and atmosphere from the first show I did. Not only is this indoors, but all I've got is an eight foot table.

Quite a drastic change from the ten by ten area I had outside in September.

In other news, my rewriting has been stagnant for about three weeks. Whether that's due to my own laziness of late (fighting against lethargy in a myriad of ways), or because I'm actually starting to get a new idea completely unrelated to End Game, I don't know. The other story, by the way, may or may not see the light of day. It might not even be written. But every now and then it pops into my head and I mull it over. I honestly don't think I'll venture far down it simply because there's still so much for me to unwrap with the Tilion world.

Since I really should get to bed, I'll say goodnight/good morning. Have a beautiful day, whomever you are, and if it crosses your mind, wish me luck.

Happy adventuring!

Currently Rewriting: Unity
Currently Reading: Hood by Stephen Lawhead
Currently Listening to: "Eye on It" by TobyMac

P.S. - Anyone good with websites care to explain why my domain won't use my index.html file to automatically connect to the enter page of my site and instead will only display a directory? 'Cause I really am frustrated by the stupid thing. Is it simply 'cause I capitalized the word 'index'? If it is, I'm gonna throw a fit with myself for it being such a simple answer.

P.P.S - Anyone good with websites care to tell me how to link keywords to the site?