Friday, August 30, 2013

College, the Sweet Sweet Sorrow (and narrowing my genre)

Yes, I'm officially in college. I have been for the past week, in fact. I've been horribly busy, and haven't been able to work on blogging, book reviewing, or even writing in a sense. 

Where am I, you ask? 
I'm at Northland International Institute. I absolutely love it; it's a small college with a very relaxed atmosphere that I feel that I can actually learn in. 
What am I majoring in? 
That's a different kind of question. . . I'm so far undecided. I have about three different ideas pulling me here and there when ever I think about that, which I could get very deeply into if I wanted. I would rather get this posted before supper, so I think I'll leave it at that until later. 
Northland is up in northern Wisconsin, surrounded by trees (lovely inspiration for my next book! More on that book later, hee hee. ) 
It might be small, but the work load isn't. . . 
Which leads me on to the reason I remembered to write a post. 

I have a huge workload. 
I'll be reading two books of the Bible twice, in two weeks, each semester. That's not counting papers, other scripture readings, memory work, and other projects that I'll be working on. 
The good thing that I can see is that there isn't as many textbooks as I've seen others have to buy when they go to college. Around half of my classes only use the Bible, of which I already have (duh moment for me there, sorry.). 
Where will I find time to work on my writing? 
Yeah. . . About that. . . I'm not sure if I'll write much while in college. Well, at least not on my fictional stuff. If I do, it'll be after my homework is done. 
Which might be a long time. . . 
BUT. I'm not giving up hope.

Since time is so short for a college student, I won't really be working on literally writing, or even editing right now. 
Instead, I'm going to work on the exciting planning stuff (eh, sorta sorta not.). 
Since my last post, I have decided to take a break from the broad genre of Science Fiction and enter a more well known genre of mine, Fantasy. 
I'm going to be working on a story idea that I'm currently call The Gypsy Gift. 
Before I left for college, I'd created a map for the land (I'm currently calling the country Baumhaus. . .) and started to color it in. 
I hope to eventually finish it, and I might even share it on here. I love sharing. . . (Yeah. Right.) 
When I come up with a hook for it, or a synopsis, or any other little descriptive bit, I'll post it. :) 
The dreaded synopsis. . . Well, kinda sorta. Oh man, I could write a whole post on synopsis'. Heh. I am not giving up, though, on Shadow Wings. In fact, I've found since finishing it and setting it aside, a few things about it. 

Shadow Wings now has a sequel in the planning, and I've given it the title. . . *drum roll*
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Shadow Sky

I love the title. 
It makes complete sense to me (and hopefully, eventually, to you), it goes with Shadow Wings, and it gives me something to bounce off of if I'm ever stuck (which you can be assured, I will be at some point). 
But even better than that, something has finally clicked in my head about Shadow Wings. 
Shadow Wings is very similar to a Utopian type of novel (I'm saying that because of what I've heard that kind of novel is like, not that I've read any.). 
It's futuristic, the government is supposed to be almost perfect, and the main problem is centered around the problems of the government not really caring about the citizens. 

I'm off now!
SDG
Joy

Friday, August 16, 2013

It is Finished, but it Doesn't End Here.

I do not own this picture. I found it online and used it for inspiration

My novel is complete. 


I stayed up till midnight last night working on it so I can send it in. I did it. What I sent in isn't my best work, though, because I decided to do it so late and I only edited the first two chapters before the deadline. But I did it.

Shadow Wings First Draft Word Count: 27,037

Now I'm working on the basic plot/outline for the sequel (which is sadly unnamed). I'll be writing the sequel using the 100 for 100 Challenge that Go Teen Writers hosts. If you want to join the Challenge as well, the sign up closes next Thursday. Now, on with the writing, for if I do not continue, it will stay where it is, in need of a voice.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Character Mondays: Mystery Character is back!

Me: Okay Mystery Character.

Mystery Character: I told you to call my Mysty.

Me: Fine. Mysty. What's your favorite animal?

Mysty: Really? Fine. A crocodile.

Me: Why?

Mysty: Because I decided it to be.

Me: You are very obstinate.

Mysty: Thanks Ms. Obvious.

Me: What do you want to accomplish in time?

Mysty: I want to see a forest that never ends. I want to swim in the middle of the ocean. I want to-

Me: No, not do, accomplish.

Mysty: There's a difference?

Me: Yeah.

Mystsy: *sigh* I'm not sure.

Me: Really? That's a big problem.

Mysty: Why?

Me: Because if you don't have one, then you'll be a shallow character. I can't have that.

Mysty: Um, okay. . .

Me: I'll have to ponder this more later. I have to get back to work.

Mysty: Yay! No more confusing questions and statements!

Me: Only until next time. Mwah ha ha!

Mysty: . . . Kallie was right. You are weird.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Writing update: Chapter Six

So, I've decided to enter a writing contest. The reason is because this is the last year that I'll ever be able to enter this certain contest. The deadline is August 15. I'm writing this post in between 'Self Word Wars'. To say the least, I'm burning out on writing, which is a first for me. Then again, writing five chapters in general is a first for me. Yes, I have written five chapters. Number six is in progress.

Chapter Four: This one is still kind of partial, I haven't quite finished a few scenes. . . AKA I've left time holes that I need to finish before I can officially call it all the way written.

Chapter Five: This chapter is the first chapter where I pretty much sat down and wrote all twelve pages of it in one night. Within about four hours with stops for supper and helping my mom when she asked for me too, I'd finished writing it. I'm not sure how I did it, but I did.

Chapter Six: I'm in big burnout mode right now. I've written bits of scenes here and there. I've written close to a thousand words in total of those bits and pieces. I'm currently feeling rather lost as to some of the scenes, mainly because they have to do with a lot of pain, hardship, sorrow, all-of-those-things-that-I-detest-but-will-make-my-story-better-if-I-add-them stuff. I can write it. I can write it. I can write it.

Over all, I've added a character I didn't know I needed, possibly will be throwing some out, have found out a few surprises that I hope will work in my story, and I've almost reached the halfway point.

Chapter Four Word Count: 2,330

Chapter Five Word Count: 2,264

Chapter Six (unofficial) Word count: 1,123

Total so far: 11,966

Monday, August 5, 2013

Character Mondays: Brennan

Starting this week, if you have a question for a character to answer please leave it in a comment below with the character's name and I'll have a group session of my characters answering questions once a month. 


Me: I'm sure you have not heard of this character as he does not yet have an important role to play in my current writing in progress, but I've decided to pull him out for a change because he will have a larger role to play in the sequel of my WIP.

Brennan: Do I have to do this?

Me: Why are my characters such rebels?

Brennan: Maybe because the ones you keep on interviewing are from a novel where rebelling is the thing to do.

Me: Good point.

Brennan: Thank you.

Me: I think we should start off with the typical age question. How old are you Brennan?

Brennan: I am 19.

Me: Are you related to anyone in my WIP?

Brennan: That information is classified.

Me: Wait, why is that classified, but not your age?

Brennan: Because anyone can look up how old I am online, but my relations are top secret.

Me: That's. . . Umm. . . Okay. Fine. I'm not sure what to ask now.

Brennan: That's fine with me. I like turtles, and the colors gray and black. Those are other basic first questions, if I remember your past interrogations correctly.

Me: WHY HAVE YOU BEEN GOING THROUGH MY STORY STORAGE?!?!?!

Brennan: It's my specialty.

Me: You are a pain.