Just kidding on the bad excerpts thing. I didn't bring my old manuscript to work with me, so I think I will save that for tomorrow or the weekend. Not entirely sure...
So anyway.
I'm pretty good at dialogue between characters. In fact, I had that noted at least once in a creative writing class I took for my minor. In writing, it is the thing that comes most natural for me. That's the part that ends up the most believable, and that is helpful because dialogue reveals a lot about characters whose heads you can't get into.
My four characters have helped loads in making my story more believable. When a character is lifelike, it's easier to see their world as real.
I started thinking of this the other day when my brother was watching the Lord of the Rings movies. I seriously have seen the first one no less than twelve times.
Personally, I blame the work that went into the making of the movies.
Those three films weren't slapped together hastily in front of a green screen. The filmmakers took their time to make Middle-Earth as real as it could possibly be. Tolkien did them a favor when he made up an insane history for Middle-Earth.
I had never thought about that before my brother said it.
And I realized it applies very heavily to writing.
I wonder if I lost that for a little bit. Did I believe my story? Am I trying to copy anything? I mean, the book has in no way lost its roots. I worry a little that I tried to put too much grittiness in it and lost...something. I've sometimes described the story as "this, plus this, with a little of that."
I tried to make it too small. Problem is, we live in a very big universe.
I believe my stories now. I believe the world in which they're set.
That doesn't mean the story's perfect yet. But it's really close to being good enough for me.
I think now I've recaptured what I lost, the honesty of wonder.
Showing posts with label speculative fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speculative fiction. Show all posts
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Book Review: Trials of Fire (Divine Order Saga)
Back in November, I purchased Trials of Fire by Richard Hein for $.99 on Amazon. The author had put it on sale, and it looked pretty cool. I downloaded the book to my Kindle and began the long, ADD-laden journey of finishing it. I'm easily distracted.
Trials of Fire is the first in the Divine Order Saga. If I remember correctly, the book will soon be available in print as well. It's a fantasy novel with its roots in the steampunk genre.
The story begins with the graduation of a few twentysomethings from their training for the religious Order, after which they are able to basically act as the will of the gods that they worship, armed with swords. They're a little like the Jedi, only the swords are your basic magic weapons. The main characters set out on what seems to be a routine investigation into some local disturbance, and along the way pick up and shelter a girl who appears to be on the run from the law. There's magic, battles, and all that good stuff. I won't spoil it for you.
But this is a book review, so I must critique. While an interesting concept, the book probably could have used a second eye during the editing process. There were many places where easy-to-catch typos just ran rampant. It seems that find and replace was employed with one of the interesting wording choices, because it was consistent but didn't fit quite right, which leads me to believe that it was a mistake, rather than quirky in-story dialogue. There were often times in the end of the book where "there/their" mistakes, and similar, appeared. A few times, whole verbs were absent from the story. Instances where characters "seemed" to do this or "seemed" to feel that way just occurred too frequently. As a reader, I found these things pretty distracting, and that's never good.
As far as story, it was solidly plotted and does leave some questions open at the end, welcoming a next installment in the series. I did notice that the author took great care, several times and very conspicuously, to mention that there hadn't been a war in a long time. It was a little ham-fisted. I didn't find the descriptions of battle very interesting, but this probably rests with me. I'm not a fan of reading about sword-fights. It's too much like watching something in slow motion, and often I'm lost simply because I know almost nothing about swords or using them in combat. Admittedly, this is a bit of a nitpick.
If you want a nicely plotted steampunk homage to Star Wars, you'll probably like this book. It wasn't quite my cup of tea, but with some tidying up in the grammar department, it would be pretty decent.
Trials of Fire is the first in the Divine Order Saga. If I remember correctly, the book will soon be available in print as well. It's a fantasy novel with its roots in the steampunk genre.
The story begins with the graduation of a few twentysomethings from their training for the religious Order, after which they are able to basically act as the will of the gods that they worship, armed with swords. They're a little like the Jedi, only the swords are your basic magic weapons. The main characters set out on what seems to be a routine investigation into some local disturbance, and along the way pick up and shelter a girl who appears to be on the run from the law. There's magic, battles, and all that good stuff. I won't spoil it for you.
But this is a book review, so I must critique. While an interesting concept, the book probably could have used a second eye during the editing process. There were many places where easy-to-catch typos just ran rampant. It seems that find and replace was employed with one of the interesting wording choices, because it was consistent but didn't fit quite right, which leads me to believe that it was a mistake, rather than quirky in-story dialogue. There were often times in the end of the book where "there/their" mistakes, and similar, appeared. A few times, whole verbs were absent from the story. Instances where characters "seemed" to do this or "seemed" to feel that way just occurred too frequently. As a reader, I found these things pretty distracting, and that's never good.
As far as story, it was solidly plotted and does leave some questions open at the end, welcoming a next installment in the series. I did notice that the author took great care, several times and very conspicuously, to mention that there hadn't been a war in a long time. It was a little ham-fisted. I didn't find the descriptions of battle very interesting, but this probably rests with me. I'm not a fan of reading about sword-fights. It's too much like watching something in slow motion, and often I'm lost simply because I know almost nothing about swords or using them in combat. Admittedly, this is a bit of a nitpick.
If you want a nicely plotted steampunk homage to Star Wars, you'll probably like this book. It wasn't quite my cup of tea, but with some tidying up in the grammar department, it would be pretty decent.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sentience Part 7
And after quite a hiatus...the seventh part of Sentience.
Sentience Part 1
Sentience Part 2
Sentience Part 3
Sentience Part 4
Sentience Part 5
Sentience Part 6
*****************
Macon watched as Marie dropped her shoulder bag onto the floor beside the couch. "Can I just go ahead and get some sleep now?"
"Sure." He glanced around, feeling awkward, glad the shades were closed. Glad for some reason. "How's your head?"
She sat on the couch and shrugged. "I really won't know until I can find a doctor, but it hurts a lot and I feel sick."
"I'm sorry." He clenched and unclenced one fist. "Would it be alright if did some work right over there in the kitchen? Just in case?"
"I'm not gonna steal anything," the girl replied, her voiced muffled by a pillow.
"No, I meant I don't want to be closed off in a closet if someone were to bust in here."
"Whatever makes you feel better." She let out a huff of air. "Now please let me take a nap."
He started to reply, but thought better of it and stepped away to grab his tablet.
His cell phone buzzed. He gulped, feeling nauseous again, and pulled it out of his pocket, hoping it was the normal use one. The fake cell phone, the mask he used.
He knew when his fingers touched it that the small, plain thing was his oversight. He should have gotten rid of it when he could.
They'd be able to find it just because he had it. That was easy for them. He debated answering and just lying. It might buy them time, but he didn't want to leave Marie here and he most definitely didn't want to meet these people anywhere. Not now.
So he turned the phone off and crushed it under his foot.
He turned on the tablet and sat at the kitchen table, doodling idly. The cartoons he drew were cathartic, and he knew they were decent. Any other time, he'd be working on one. It was long due for an update, he knew, but he had no inspiration. He'd do it later, find some way to put it up, wherever he ran, in defiance of these ruthless people he'd become far to connected to.
He waited as the sliver of light visible between the shades changed and dimmed as the sunlight moved ever on to it's setting point.
Restless didn't even begin to describe it.
Sentience Part 1
Sentience Part 2
Sentience Part 3
Sentience Part 4
Sentience Part 5
Sentience Part 6
*****************
Macon watched as Marie dropped her shoulder bag onto the floor beside the couch. "Can I just go ahead and get some sleep now?"
"Sure." He glanced around, feeling awkward, glad the shades were closed. Glad for some reason. "How's your head?"
She sat on the couch and shrugged. "I really won't know until I can find a doctor, but it hurts a lot and I feel sick."
"I'm sorry." He clenched and unclenced one fist. "Would it be alright if did some work right over there in the kitchen? Just in case?"
"I'm not gonna steal anything," the girl replied, her voiced muffled by a pillow.
"No, I meant I don't want to be closed off in a closet if someone were to bust in here."
"Whatever makes you feel better." She let out a huff of air. "Now please let me take a nap."
He started to reply, but thought better of it and stepped away to grab his tablet.
His cell phone buzzed. He gulped, feeling nauseous again, and pulled it out of his pocket, hoping it was the normal use one. The fake cell phone, the mask he used.
He knew when his fingers touched it that the small, plain thing was his oversight. He should have gotten rid of it when he could.
They'd be able to find it just because he had it. That was easy for them. He debated answering and just lying. It might buy them time, but he didn't want to leave Marie here and he most definitely didn't want to meet these people anywhere. Not now.
So he turned the phone off and crushed it under his foot.
He turned on the tablet and sat at the kitchen table, doodling idly. The cartoons he drew were cathartic, and he knew they were decent. Any other time, he'd be working on one. It was long due for an update, he knew, but he had no inspiration. He'd do it later, find some way to put it up, wherever he ran, in defiance of these ruthless people he'd become far to connected to.
He waited as the sliver of light visible between the shades changed and dimmed as the sunlight moved ever on to it's setting point.
Restless didn't even begin to describe it.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sentience Part 6
It's been a while since I've been able to come back to this story. It is time consuming, but look forward to an installment of "Sentience" every week until it's finished. For your convenience, I've included links to the first five parts of the story. Enjoy.
Sentience Part 1
Sentience Part 2
Sentience Part 3
Sentience Part 4
Sentience Part 5
***********************
He stared, not seeing the windshield, not daring to glance at the thing-woman-beside him. He caught her movements out of the corner of his eye. One hand moved around the opposite wrist in a slow orbit, wrapping a bandage over the newly sealed wound. She spoke.
"Who are your employers?" she asked.
He swallowed hard and told her the name of the company.
"They said they made you," Macon said. "They said you malfunctioned and posed a threat."
She snorted. "They would." She leaned her head against the back of her seat. "I worked for them. I found some documents that I don't think I was supposed to see."
Macon took a deep breath, feeling sick. "I believed them."
Marie rolled her eyes, then winced. "Ow."
"I'm sorry."
She waved a hand. "Don't worry about it...just a headache."
"They'll be looking for you now," he said. "I was supposed to bring your...remains back."
Marie closed her eyes. "That's what I was afraid of." She looked through the tinted back window. "I need to get out of here."
"The car?"
She shook her head. "Off-world, somewhere. Anywhere. Wherever I can go." She laughed bitterly. "Guess I better pack."
Macon looked down at the steering wheel. All he could do was help. Now he was involved. Responsible. "I'll take you to your apartment. If you need somewhere to stay, I've got a couch."
Marie smirked. "Thanks."
"No problem," he said as he started the car again.
--------------
They stared together at the orange glow that had been Marie's apartment building. The other tenants stood outside, milling about, many of them in pajamas and consoling crying children. The flames danced weirdly in the gray morning, the smoke darkening the sky.
Macon flicked on the radio.
"Officials are unsure how the fire began but the origin has been traced to one apartment and thought to be the result of problematic wiring. Fire crews managed to rescue all of the residents but one, Marie Boyette. Her apartment was the origin of the fire. She did not make it out before flames consumed the building."
She switched off the radio. "So...I'm officially dead now."
Macon frowned. "I guess so."
Marie studied her fingernails. "You mentioned a couch I could crash on?"
"Yeah," he said. "Let's get out of here."
Sentience Part 1
Sentience Part 2
Sentience Part 3
Sentience Part 4
Sentience Part 5
***********************
He stared, not seeing the windshield, not daring to glance at the thing-woman-beside him. He caught her movements out of the corner of his eye. One hand moved around the opposite wrist in a slow orbit, wrapping a bandage over the newly sealed wound. She spoke.
"Who are your employers?" she asked.
He swallowed hard and told her the name of the company.
"They said they made you," Macon said. "They said you malfunctioned and posed a threat."
She snorted. "They would." She leaned her head against the back of her seat. "I worked for them. I found some documents that I don't think I was supposed to see."
Macon took a deep breath, feeling sick. "I believed them."
Marie rolled her eyes, then winced. "Ow."
"I'm sorry."
She waved a hand. "Don't worry about it...just a headache."
"They'll be looking for you now," he said. "I was supposed to bring your...remains back."
Marie closed her eyes. "That's what I was afraid of." She looked through the tinted back window. "I need to get out of here."
"The car?"
She shook her head. "Off-world, somewhere. Anywhere. Wherever I can go." She laughed bitterly. "Guess I better pack."
Macon looked down at the steering wheel. All he could do was help. Now he was involved. Responsible. "I'll take you to your apartment. If you need somewhere to stay, I've got a couch."
Marie smirked. "Thanks."
"No problem," he said as he started the car again.
--------------
They stared together at the orange glow that had been Marie's apartment building. The other tenants stood outside, milling about, many of them in pajamas and consoling crying children. The flames danced weirdly in the gray morning, the smoke darkening the sky.
Macon flicked on the radio.
"Officials are unsure how the fire began but the origin has been traced to one apartment and thought to be the result of problematic wiring. Fire crews managed to rescue all of the residents but one, Marie Boyette. Her apartment was the origin of the fire. She did not make it out before flames consumed the building."
She switched off the radio. "So...I'm officially dead now."
Macon frowned. "I guess so."
Marie studied her fingernails. "You mentioned a couch I could crash on?"
"Yeah," he said. "Let's get out of here."
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Drapes and Other Trials of Patience
So it's officially summer here in the South. Officially. Most days it's been in the 90s anyway, so we're all practiced for summer. Or warmed up, I should say.* To keep the costs of utilities down, I had to put up drapes in my room, because my corner of the house takes the brunt of the sun every day, mostly in the morning between 9 and 11. (You can actually feel the temperature rise. It's a little scary.) We bought them one at a time, just to see if they work before committing. I had help with the first window the evening we bought it. It worked well, so we got another one, and it stayed on the floor until today, when I decided to put it up.
So apparently, the window frame is made of steel-infused oak. I really think it's just a special kind of tree that the builders grow using secret knowledge. After eventually getting the brackets mounted, I put up the drape, and my room is cooler and a little darker. I really think that marriage counseling should include the couple trying to put up a pair of drapes in an un-air-conditioned room, just to see how fun it gets (and mind you, I put this one up myself.)
Moving on to the books. I'm making huge progress through the first book, but sometimes key characters just don't know when to be quiet. Okay, really, it's just me. I think I'm feeling like I need to explain stuff or provide this huge convoluted catalyst for certain actions. Eventually I get frustrated, make it simple, and then have the information dump marked for movement to another place, occurring later in the narrative, where it fits better.
I try my own patience sometimes. But working through it is really the only remedy. Are you having the same problem? Keep writing, and a better option will present itself, I promise.
So starting tomorrow, I'll be posting some snatches from the original copy of what I'm working on. It's delightfully atrocious. Stay tuned!
*I'm terrible, I know, but I really couldn't resist.
So apparently, the window frame is made of steel-infused oak. I really think it's just a special kind of tree that the builders grow using secret knowledge. After eventually getting the brackets mounted, I put up the drape, and my room is cooler and a little darker. I really think that marriage counseling should include the couple trying to put up a pair of drapes in an un-air-conditioned room, just to see how fun it gets (and mind you, I put this one up myself.)
Moving on to the books. I'm making huge progress through the first book, but sometimes key characters just don't know when to be quiet. Okay, really, it's just me. I think I'm feeling like I need to explain stuff or provide this huge convoluted catalyst for certain actions. Eventually I get frustrated, make it simple, and then have the information dump marked for movement to another place, occurring later in the narrative, where it fits better.
I try my own patience sometimes. But working through it is really the only remedy. Are you having the same problem? Keep writing, and a better option will present itself, I promise.
So starting tomorrow, I'll be posting some snatches from the original copy of what I'm working on. It's delightfully atrocious. Stay tuned!
*I'm terrible, I know, but I really couldn't resist.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Niche? Goodness, I Hope Not...
One of my most recent worries is that the novels I am working on are too much of something that fits only into a niche. My dream is to be the next J.K. Rowling (I'm really only half joking...) and her books appeal and apply to all, even adults like me, despite the very young main characters in the Harry Potter series. Imagine my surprise that, despite the always full shelves at Books-a-Million, speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, etc.) is a niche that not everyone can get into. Honestly, I don't like the pure fantasy genre. Maybe it's the astounding number of chosen ones, or maybe it's the vital-organ-exposing leather bikinis that female characters wear, but all the Tolkien (or Greek epic) clones out there really bug me.
Don't get me wrong, I like fantastical elements. One of my favorite books is The Neverending Story. (Not the movie...the book.) I like it because it reads like a story book, but there's a little bit of scary, a little mystery here and there ("but that's another story and shall be told another time..."), and I love the characters. I love the Harry Potter books. I was recently thrilled to get the first two in hardcover for my 24th birthday. They combine fantasy with a little mystery (yes, I did wonder endlessly about R.A.B.) and some comedy, with a touch of scary on top. Add the characters that feel real and you've got a great story. Concerning sci-fi, the jury's still out on that one. My favorite movie is Star Wars, but that film doesn't really count as sci-fi (space opera is the applicable term.) I enjoyed J.J. Abrams' take on Star Trek (the man knows how to mess with your head...), but it's also that the movie was just plain entertaining. I occasionally indulge in some Next Generation, but that was a very character driven show (and Data is just like my boyfriend. Awesome.) I generally don't read or watch horror, but I enjoyed Sleepy Hollow, mostly because it's a fine mystery, an early CSI: NY, quite literally. These particular stories do well because they can appeal to so many people for different reasons.
That's what I want to do with my books. I'm gonna need encouragement in this area. It's a fantasy mystery that combines the amazing locale of modern Eastern North Carolina, lacks the teenage romance that seems to be the norm these days, a mystery that has to be solved, and time running out for a world that resembles colonial America (seriously, tired of the all-too-common pseudo-Germany/France) with a little interesting machinery thrown in (think the Antikythera mechanism, and little to no steam.) Will it work? If I'm nitpicky enough, yeah, it'll work fine as long as I make it work. As long as I can keep two teenage characters from turning into just another Edward and Bella couple clone (they're nothing like them. Don't worry; I can't stand blatant copies.) I'd like for anything I write to appeal to all audiences of all ages. Wish me well, because I'm writing for everyone's enjoyment. In fact, I'll keep my self accountable. I'll post my progress daily, and y'all feel free to remind me or leave comments. I love comments. I welcome them.
Thanks for stopping by today, and tune in tomorrow for more!
Don't get me wrong, I like fantastical elements. One of my favorite books is The Neverending Story. (Not the movie...the book.) I like it because it reads like a story book, but there's a little bit of scary, a little mystery here and there ("but that's another story and shall be told another time..."), and I love the characters. I love the Harry Potter books. I was recently thrilled to get the first two in hardcover for my 24th birthday. They combine fantasy with a little mystery (yes, I did wonder endlessly about R.A.B.) and some comedy, with a touch of scary on top. Add the characters that feel real and you've got a great story. Concerning sci-fi, the jury's still out on that one. My favorite movie is Star Wars, but that film doesn't really count as sci-fi (space opera is the applicable term.) I enjoyed J.J. Abrams' take on Star Trek (the man knows how to mess with your head...), but it's also that the movie was just plain entertaining. I occasionally indulge in some Next Generation, but that was a very character driven show (and Data is just like my boyfriend. Awesome.) I generally don't read or watch horror, but I enjoyed Sleepy Hollow, mostly because it's a fine mystery, an early CSI: NY, quite literally. These particular stories do well because they can appeal to so many people for different reasons.
That's what I want to do with my books. I'm gonna need encouragement in this area. It's a fantasy mystery that combines the amazing locale of modern Eastern North Carolina, lacks the teenage romance that seems to be the norm these days, a mystery that has to be solved, and time running out for a world that resembles colonial America (seriously, tired of the all-too-common pseudo-Germany/France) with a little interesting machinery thrown in (think the Antikythera mechanism, and little to no steam.) Will it work? If I'm nitpicky enough, yeah, it'll work fine as long as I make it work. As long as I can keep two teenage characters from turning into just another Edward and Bella couple clone (they're nothing like them. Don't worry; I can't stand blatant copies.) I'd like for anything I write to appeal to all audiences of all ages. Wish me well, because I'm writing for everyone's enjoyment. In fact, I'll keep my self accountable. I'll post my progress daily, and y'all feel free to remind me or leave comments. I love comments. I welcome them.
Thanks for stopping by today, and tune in tomorrow for more!
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