Saturday, November 30, 2013

Brainstorming Saturdays: Life's So Short

This time I'm sharing a Short Story/Novella idea.

The Little Match Girl


The little match girl. . .

I've never before been that big in tragedies, but over the last few months I've fallen in love with the Little Match Girl's story.

This little Novella that I'll hopefully write soon, will be a Historical Fiction with a little bit of Steam Punk vibe (1900's with steam ships, early cars and inventions galore).
I think it'll be set in somewhere like New York or Chicago; just somewhere big where it can get really cold.
It'll go through the Match Girl's afternoon, with her remembering yesteryear when she had her loving french grandmother.
Of course the ending is tragic, and I'm probably going to bawl my eyes out when I write it, but I can't wait to write it.

The MG (I don't have a name for her yet) will be about ten or eleven years old, living in an orphanage after she is found with her dead grandmother in a tenants apartment two years before.
No one knows them or where they came from, only  that her grandmother was proud and refused help of any kind.
MG herself cannot remember where she came from or any other relatives, so they send her to the local orphanage where Ma'am starts using her to bring more money in via selling matches on the street.
Over the years she has found odd friends on the street who are kind to her.

I'm afraid to tell you what I have for the ending, as I myself get teary at the thought of it. . .
But then again, what author doesn't get teary when they kill someone, especially a main character?
Well, some characters I can understand (AKA flat characters), but still. . .

*sigh*

Oh well.
Feel free to ask questions!
I will gladly answer them.

Keep Writing!
God Bless
SDG
Joy

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Writing Wednesday: Pinspiration

This Weeks Theme: Endings

AWESOME!


The Bookshelf Muse: Get Into The Fight: How to Write Action That Won’t Show You’ve Never Thrown a Punch
The Bookshelf Muse: Get Into The Fight: How to Write Action That Won’t Show You’ve Never Thrown a Punch

5 Types of Stakes to Raise - I really need this right now.

exactly


Keep on Writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sorry. . . Building Printhia is being held up for a week

Sadly, I have been too buried in  homework to create another Building Printhia post in time.
I'll be back next week with a Building Printhia!
So instead, here's a picture to make you smile.

It’s Dangerous To Go Alone


And one to make you think.

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters



Keep on Writing!
God Bless
SDG
Joy

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Brainstorming Saturdays: I can never leave out the dragons.

Well, with all of the Building Printhia's I've done in the past month or so, I thought I'd let you into one of my Printhian stories.

I might as well start with a story that has been on my mind before I made Printhia, and only came to full after I created Printhian cultures.


Beneath the Dragon's Gate started off just as a normal Fairy Tale retelling, and in fact it probably could still be considered a 'normal' Fairy Tale retelling; I've only used Printhia to give it different twists.

Currently outlined and waiting its turn to be played with and updated, it currently stands at 37 planned chapters.

My current synopsis (really needs updated. . .):
When her country is torn between a truce with the dragons or being conquered by a neighboring human kingdom, Princess Rika is the one who must make the sacrifice. Sent by her parents to marry the dragon prince Iros, she rebels at every twist and turn she can think of. But when they are about to enter the mountainous dragon territory, her trusted maid Fonda turns against both Rika and her own native kingdom. After running for days on end, Rika finds refuge on one of the dragon capital's farms where she is put in charge of the geese with a few other dragon children. After trying to show the dragon king the fraud that is playing out in his palace, both Rika and the prince are kidnapped by enemy dragon's and are held for ransom. After a long and cold winter where the prince thinks she's siding with the enemy dragons, they are finally rescued by a few elite dragon warriors from the prince's own special guard. When they are brought back safely, Rika is blamed for deserting her maid in the sight of danger.

After that, she goes through a few more trials. . . 
Sometimes I feel just plain mean to my charries, but the story wouldn't be worth reading otherwise!

*sigh*

I wish sometimes that Fairy Tale retellings didn't have similar elements.
Then again, if they didn't then I wouldn't have something to jump off of. . .
The complexities. . .

Oh well.

Comment with questions and the like!

Keep on Writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy  

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Writing Wednesday: Pinspiration

This Weeks Theme: A touch of Villainy



A villain should never be idle. . .
In fact, no one should ever be idle.

Neron Towers, he needs another story too. I like his name. :D
There is a story behind this fella, I just haven't found it yet.

Medieval Assassin by *Kat-von-Rose
A yesh, an assassin.
Not always a villain, but a 'stereotypical' villain none the less.


Dark places. . .

Fear


Rules for a Gentleman, #37
Yes.
Yes she does.
(Is guilty of having a few female villains who are like that)

Ten Tips for a Terrific Antagonist
This one actually links to a post on the "Ten Top Tips for an Antagonist".
Tips are always useful.

No right and wrong.
There is so much truth behind this one that it isn't funny.

~

Really, I had a lot of fun with this post.
:)

Keep on Writing!

God Bless,
SDG
Joy

Monday, November 18, 2013

Building Printhia

Without much further ado, I give to you:

Merfolk



First off, I have a specific image in my head about what they should look like.
I have tried to draw them.
In fact, I've almost finished what I consider a pretty decent drawing of a male mer. 
I might as well share it. . . 
:) 


The tail probably should be bigger.
You see, the mers are based off of Betta Fish, aka Siamese Fighting Fish

Isn't it pretty?
:)

I'm still working on designing the female Mers, as they are not like what we normally think of mermaids as being like. . .

Oh.
I'm also guilty of looking at pictures on Pinterest and thinking about changing my design even more. . .
This:


Maybe more than Betta Fish kinds of Mers?
Gah!
Bunnehz, let me be!

I do have one character so far who is a Mer.


Meet Shinti, the Water Witch.
Having promised to serve the (insert dark spirits name) in the afterlife, she now wields a vast power that even she doesn't completely understand.
She is Ieoie's Antagonist.

Oh!

Religion.


A bit of Greek/Roman mythology with a bit of spirit worship mixed in.
A long time ago. . .
Oh.
Maybe I should devote a day to telling history. . .

After I finish with the basic creatures/characters of Printhia!

Keep on Writing!

God Bless,
SDG
Joy

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Brainstorming Saturdays: The Artist in Me Likes to Come Out Sometimes. . .

And sometimes, I'm not sure if that's a good thing. 

Here's why: 

Painted Prisons. 



What if you made a picture so real that it came to life and forcefully switched places with you?


After thinking about that one day last year, I wrote two drabbles.
The MC, Marie, is a very talented artist who has been drawing realistic pictures with charcoal, ink, pencil, and other such mediums since the age of 9.
Unbeknownst to everyone around her, she's now trapped.
Her first 'perfect' picture came to life (villain named Jacqueline) and has taken on Marie's form, trapping Marie again and again whenever Marie finds a way out.
After years of a cycle of hunting for a way out and being trapped again, they make a truce.
Marie would draw pictures at night for Jacqueline, and Jacqueline would give her more freedom (plot weakness, I know, I need a better idea for that one though. . .).
Five years have passed, and Marie is going on her 19 birthday.
She's still a prisoner.

Left: Jacqueline inspiration Right: Marie inspiration
(I do not own the copyright to any of those, I just found them on Pinterest!)

She's just about given up all hope of ever being free when enters:
Duh duh dun!

Moseph Jameson, fellow 'realistic' artist who specializes in color and paint.
He has his own problems, namely a rainbow haired girl who is currently unnamed.
Moseph has found a way past his 'little' problem for a long time.
Now with both of their 'characters' ganging up against them. . .

Yeah.
I haven't done very much past that.

Feel free to ask questions!
In fact, I welcome questions with open arms.
Or you can tell me if I should continue with this idea or not. . .
You should get my drift.
:)

Keep on Writing!

God Bless,
SDG
Joy

Thursday, November 14, 2013

And Then It Hit Me


Bam.

There it is.
My reason for procrastination.

How can I write a novel and its sequel, when I only know the main character really well?


Oh, I know other characters' pasts (some of them are quite interesting, others are bland).
I know plenty about personalities, etc.
What I am missing is what they do in the story, interact in it, and change it.

Oh, Raine and Kallie's relationship (originally planned to be very hostile) was a complete surprise to me when they ended up working quite well together.
In fact, I probably should have realized that when they keep on acting like best friends in my mind when I'm writing (seriously).

So, here's my strategy plan:

Don't start editing again until after I have:
A. Gone through a few scenes from different characters PoV
B. Map out where the most important characters are and what they are doing throughout the book

Hah.

THANKS MR. S FOR HELPING ME REALIZE MY PROBLEM!


Keep on Writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Guess what I found.

Hah.
I never thought I'd do/say this, but I am doing so now.

I have found a theme song for Shadow Wings.


Yup.

It's true.

I always thought that I'd have to make up my own music or use film scores and say 'the theme is kind of like this'.
Now, I've found what is probably the closest song ever.
The only way a better one could be found is if someone wrote a song for it.
Which I'm not seeing in the near future.

Yeah.

Anyways!

The song is: 


Radioactive cover by Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix


Everything, from 'waking up in my bones' to 'all systems go' makes me think Shadow Wings, Kallie, Audriana, Raine, Doctor Aceti, Mr. Atkins, etc.

I will get even more in depth into why it makes me think of Shadow Wings later, as right now it just went 

BOOM! 

"Hello, I'm Kallie's new theme song.
Nice to meet you."
In the middle of my studying for a test. . . 
SO!
Adieu until later!

Keep on Writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy

Writing Wednesday Pinspiration

This Week's Theme: Building Character

Noble Virtues.



I'm planning on using this one to help me fill out a few characters.

Heroine Archetypes, part one. MarisMcKay.com


Heroine archetypes, part two. MarisMcKay.com


The Instant Shakespeare Insult Kit.
Insults, always useful!

Keep writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy

Monday, November 11, 2013

Building Printhia

Before I go on, I must confess something.

.
.
.

Most of Printhia's cultures are not original.

You see, I myself cannot not be biased.
(Double negative there. . .)
Let me restate that.
I am biased.
I cannot think of anything new; only what I've already learned or been taught before.
Why am I saying this?
Because each culture that evolves in my world is influence by different, already existing cultures in our world.
As you can probably tell already, Arabs and the Middle East with a little bit of Indian culture is what influences the Fire Elf culture.

More than that though, ancient and modern religions are also pretty dominant.
What do I mean?
Well, lets just say that Greek and Roman Mythology--something I know very well thanks to Percy Jackson and the other series that I'm forgetting the name of, and a good grounding in ancient history--permeates a lot of the cultures.
That said, lets look at another kind of elf.

Earth Elves


There really isn't a single word that can explain Earth Elves.
They are a little bit of so many things; gypsies, Spanish, a little of Indian, a small bit of modern, with a touch of ruffian throughout.
That doesn't even do them any kind of justice.
I'm serious.
There culture is so diverse, and it's mainly because they are the peddlers and 'gypsy travelers' of Printhia.
I have absolutely loved creating their look.
(Truth be told, I'm still not quite happy with it.)
In fact, here's a picture that comes really close to describing it:


The shirt isn't quite right, but the over all feel just screams 'Earth Elf' to me.

Their religion, sadly, isn't very built right now.
In fact, all that I know about them is that they are one of the first groups that finds Karum's Meegonta, or God's Scriptures.

They are healers, travelers, merchants, performers, name it and they probably have someone who does it.
Thieves, mercenaries, knights, lords, kings, priests, priestesses, the list goes on.
They are the dominant race, in all of Printhia they are everywhere except. . .

Okay.
Almost gave something away there.

More on that later when I get to the Pixies and Fae.
:)

Keep on writing!

God Bless,
SDG
Joy

Sunday, November 10, 2013

LIGHT BULB MOMENTS!

This last week, Shadow Wings and Shadow Sky has been haunting me.
Last weekend, I started to read over the first chapter of Shadow Wings, and had to stop because I wasn't supposed to fix things, only make notes, and it was too hard. 
Either way, that's part of the reason why it was haunting me.

Today, during church, it came back to mind.
That is really quite unusual for me as I normally really concentrate on the service, but today it kept coming back to mind.
During Sunday School, it hit me that what I was really missing from the beginning was a 'knot' or problem in my MC, Kallie, that needed to be 'straightened out' or fixed.
I was missing a Theme for my MC.
Then in the middle of the church service, it hit me what the two 'knots' are.

What are they?
Well, I'm not just going to out and out tell you. 
That wouldn't be very fun now, would it.
So, here's how I figured my theme out, hopefully it would help any fellow writers think through their themes. 

Fact 1

Raven
What is going to happen in the story?
Well in Shadow Wings, Kallie is supposed to turn against the Zoic Betterment Program that is either using Zoics or else killing them.
In Shadow Sky, Kallie is supposed to either destroy or change the Zoic Betterment Program (either option is still open right now because I haven't reached that part in the planning/outlining process yet).

Fact 2

Myers-Briggs Personality Types •
What is the MC's character like?
After taking a personality test while 'in character', I found out that Kallie is an ISTJ.
We don't have very much in common, but what we do have, is being Introverts.

All of this was helpful to me, but what does this all have to do with the theme?

To put it simply, the theme in a story is what pushes both the plot, and at least your MC, through to the end.
I had originally stated that Injustice/Justice was the theme.
That could be true in a sense, but that wasn't a strong enough theme to push through to both novels, and that theme was just strong enough to pull through one or the other book.

So, what IS my theme/s?


Let's look at Shadow Wings.
Introvert, making a rather extreme decision, in a relatively short amount of time (unless I change that, which is highly probable).
What do you think would be the theme?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Answer: Indecisive/Decisive

Let's look at Shadow Sky.
Introvert, taking charge when, as an introvert, she normally wouldn't.
What do you think would be the theme?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Answer: Unwilling to lead/Leading

Ha.
There you are. 
I hope that this was helpful to at least someone. 
I had never realized before how simple this could be.
Before I had gotten into so much depth into why it could be this or that theme (all of which where/are still plausible), that I was literally over thinking it.

Keep on writing!

God Bless
SDG
Joy

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Brainstorming Saturdays: I might as well

So, I thought I'd start sharing some of my ideas for stories, because I probably won't write all of them.

If you like a specific one, feel free to comment and I'll answer questions. :) 

As my latest Writing Wednesday was on Little Red Riding Hood, I thought I'd share my idea for that story.

Oh.
In case you didn't know, I have a dream of rewriting fairy tales. . . 

Maiden of the Wolves.
(So far YA, but lately I've been thinking of moving it to just Adult. . .)

I thought I knew the MC's name, (I think it started with an L) but I cannot find it now.
Anyways, I try to make a one liner for each of my story ideas, as that usually helps them push off.
Let's just say that MotW needs work. . . (AKA it's not in existence)

This SI came to me when I was on Pinterest one day (which used to be a lot last summer. . .) and someone was pinning a lot of fairy tale based pictures of people.
Then, I saw this picture:
 And this one:

That's when the title hit me.
Maiden of the Wolves.

So, who is this maiden?
Why do the wolves follow/possibly-protect her?

To be truthful, I still don't know all the answers to that question, but here is what I have.

L (as I'll use for her name right now) is the daughter of a king, whose whole royal family is somehow connected/guarded by the wolves.
When L's grandmother from her mother's side successfully poisons the king and pays one of the Royal Guards to turn away when she slips some of her own men in who massacre a lot of the people in the palace, L's mother slips away with the toddler L.
Hunted by her own mother's men, the queen leaves L with the one symbol of her true birth (her red cape and hood, red is the symbol of royalty) and some wolves standing guard over her; she runs off successfully distracting and moving the men away from L.

L is kept warm and rather well cared for by the wolf pack, until she is found by a wood cutter.
Seizing an opportunity, he takes her home to his wife where they raise her along with their other children, until she is about 8 or 9 years old, when the wolves come looking for her.
Afraid because of the royal curse (whoever kills a wolf. . . Well, something dreadful happens. . .), they put her out of their home.
The children are confused, and continue to be friendly with her, but the rest of the village considers her cursed.

That's what I know the most of.
What I also know, is that the son of the traitor guard is the one who knows that the princess L survived the massacre, and goes looking for her with the help of some rogue royal guards and a small elite group of warrior women.

Oh.
L is a red head.
It just fits with her spunky, no nonsense-ness.
I have no other words to describe her personality yet.
Yet.

So!
Questions, words of a kind sort, please comment below.

God Bless!
SDG
~Joy

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Monday, November 4, 2013

Sorry about the Building Printhia. . .

Sorry. 
>.< 
I actually did homework instead this weekend, so I decided to do something else this week. 

Drum roll please:

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Shadow Wings has a Facebook Page now. 
I haven't put anything interesting in it yet, but it's up. 
I hope to be putting random stuff up over the next few days/weeks.
I'll be working on a Building Printhia for next week this week. 
:)

God Bless!
Joy