The Ruminations of a Teenage Novelist

Migrating...

2011-02-20T23:32:00.003+11:00

Hey guys!

Just letting you know I've started a new blog which I think will become more productive than this one. Going to let this one go dormant for now, here's the link to the new one!

http://letgotrustfall.blogspot.com/

It deals more with my life as a writer than with my writing directly, so there should be a bit more to talk about without being so vague, which I'm sure would be frustrating. I've already made a sizeable post about bouldering (don't know what that is? Read it to find out!) which I'm sure will prove moderately enjoyable, so skip on over and check it out!

God bless, and thanks for reading!

An Unexpected Hiatus...

2011-01-01T20:49:00.002+11:00

Hey guys!!!

It's been a while... work got crazy and I lost track of time, and unfortunately writing. But never fear! I have recently been working a number of juicy ideas to incorporate into my epic, and it's all progressing smoothly. 'Force of Hell' has been slow going since work started back for me, but I'm confident it should be done within 2011. I have been writing some poetry, some of which I may post at some stage later, especially when I get home (back on the road at the moment).

Looking forward to being a bit more... regular!

Researching!

2010-10-25T00:49:00.002+11:00

Well, as the post title suggests, I have been researching. In light of what I'm writing, I'm sure what I'm researching will come as no great surprise: Hell. Results have been interesting as I'm gaining a view of the entire idea of Hell in different cultures and worldview. Of course it will primarily be based upon my own views, but I wanted to look at everything. A very interesting journey indeed!

I am also going to begin reading a book I picked up entitled "Four Views on Hell". In this book the concept of hell and the different ideas surrounding it are discussed by a series of critics and authorities on the subject. There are four 'types' of hell: literal, metaphorical, purgatorial and conditional. I'm going to be interested in looking at them further. I also am contemplating reading Dante's 'Inferno' for a more archaic and traditional view of hell, but we shall see.

Meanwhile, here's something I stumbled upon when researching Hell on the internet, it made me chuckle.

That's all this time around folks!

Gettin' a Touch Soppy...

2010-10-17T21:23:00.002+11:00

Well, many times I have made the insinuation that I also write poetry, but if I recall correctly, I have never actually posted any. That has largely been due to the fact that for me it's emotionally private, so I don't actually show people. But, for once, I have something I am willing to share. So, without any more fanfare, here it is:

Love is like a rose.
With too eager a grasp,
With fervor that cannot last,
You shall be wounded.
But, if you beware,
And handle with care,
You shall be astounded.

I'll leave you all to either agree or disagree, but for me it rings true. This poem actually runs in tandem with a previous poem I wrote, although that one was far more cynical and frustrated. It also used the rose/love analogy, but this one I feel has been tempered by time and thought, and speaks more truly of how I think and feel. This actually came into existence this very evening in my local church service, which proved to be a revelatory night on many different levels. That's what I love about poetry, it's a short, succinct, and yet powerful way of conveying a snapshot of emotion and the way one thinks of the world.

On the note, adieu.

And So It Begins

2010-10-14T21:11:00.002+11:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. And what time is that? The time of course. The time, the moment, where I throw the central character of 'Force of Hell' (yes, you're still not getting the real title) into the pit that makes this piece of fiction interesting. The pit of hell.

Thought it a worthy enough moment to give it a bit of fanfare! Of course, you can also take this as a sign that all is progressing well, despite the business of everyday life outside writing. Something's different, change is coming; I feel it.

So, this post is dedicated to change, whether it be good or bad, for adversity can be weathered with determination and the right spirit!

The Things You Find...

2010-10-10T16:36:00.002+11:00

I have been in the process of trawling back through all my writing and reorganising so I can better find specific pieces (I literally spent half an hour looking for one file not long ago) and stumbled across something I wrote within the last year, but have completely forgotten about. Given the nature of it, I can't actually post it here, as it will probably ruin a lot in the future, but I can tell you what it generally was. If you've been following this blog or know me personally, you will know that I am writing what I consider to be my life work, and have been doing so for very nearly the last five years. If you've kept up that far, you probably also know I've put it on hiatus until I feel I can do it full justice. With that background, I can now say what I found...

I found what I wrote to be the ending for a six novel long epic and... wow. Just wow. I look at it, and it's such a powerful way of finishing it all, both inspiring and moving at the same time, I find it hard to believe I actually wrote it. It's fragmented, but now that I look at it, I see the feeling and emotion I put behind it all. It's then that I realised exactly what this epic is. It's a story that is a reflection of me. Obviously, much creative license has been taken, but the motivations, the emotions; they're all harvested from my own. However, there is no one character that represents myself or these emotions. I am the story. Every aspect, every facet, is a reflection of my journey over the years, and my continual journey. This alone inspires me to continue waiting before I start it. Not only will it be better prepared, but it will be a full reflection. Reflection... the thought of the word makes me smile for reasons you cannot understand until I have finished those six books. But that is what it is: a reflection. I find it difficult to believe I hadn't seen that up until now.

Bit of a ramble there, but hope you can understand it!

A Change

2010-10-09T16:59:00.003+11:00

Well, being fickle old me, I have changed the title of 'Force of Hell'. But guess what? The real title is now a secret until I've finished! So, for now, it shall still be called 'Force of Hell' for working purposes, but that's not the name I hope to publish it under. I think it better suits what I'm trying to achieve with the plot. What that exactly is, well, that's up to you all to decide, although in time it will become rather evident.

Teaser #3

2010-10-04T14:37:00.004+11:00

The writing of 'Force of Hell' continues! And with that, I bring you the latest teaser. Hope you enjoy it!

Alex slipped back inside, sliding the door shut while he surveyed the room before him, a stark contrast to the cold world from which he’d just returned. The music throbbed and flashes of white and coloured light lanced through the artificial smoke clouding the air to splash spasmodically across the normally mundane walls. Bodies, male and female, pounded to the rhythm in different ways, but all following the same beat, their costumes a strange juxtaposition of eternity and its minions. A unification of that which was never meant to be unified in Christian mythology; a corruption of the intended supernatural order. Alex smiled at the thought. All the while, the devilish cackling rose and fell with the music. A chilling, although appropriate, atmosphere for this twisted mixture of demons and angels.

In that moment, he was hit by a thought. What am I doing here? He was in the middle of a world in which he did not belong, seeing past what was meant to be simple fun and identifying the religious walls it sneered at and tore down. It was just a party, and he was analysing to death. This was Grant’s world, not his. He spied his friend across a sea of haloes and horns, laughing with Heather and Georgia while tipping the neck of a beer back, taking a long pull. Yes. This was his world. It was high time he returned to his own.

Alex bowed his head and slid the door back open behind him, stepping out into the frigid air once again. Back to quietness and stillness. Back to his world, uncomplicated by alcohol, girls and dancing and instead plagued by the constant analysis of everything.

Meanwhile the development for 'Running Water' is also going well. The basic plot structure is sorted as well as what genre it will fit into: Crime Thriller. Here's to happy writing!

Announcement!

2010-10-03T01:59:00.002+10:00

Well, today has been one of the best days I've had in a very long time. Woke up, did a few things and then I had a dream I had the previous evening hit me, and as a result, I have a new novel to start once I've finished 'Force of Hell'. This one deals with an investigation into a serial killer and has the current title of 'Running Water'. I've very excited about this project and looking forward to working on it with more dedication once I've finished 'Force of Hell'. Topping it off was an amazing evening with friends. A day to be thankful for indeed!

On the 'Force of Hell' front, things have been slow, although I'm happy with progress. It slowed due to the introduction of a fringe character that actually became critical in the development of the plot, meaning I had to flesh it out some. But, progress is going well and hoping to have a finished product by the end of the year!

"Force of Hell" Teaser #2

2010-09-16T22:22:00.001+10:00

Here's another taste of "Force of Hell", let me know what you think!

The air outside was fresh and moist from the rain. A hedge marked the boundary of the side fence, a gate swinging in the light breeze. A shadowed figure was walking quickly down the sidewalk.
“Hey!” Alex called.
The figure ignored him.
“Hey!” He called again, walking out the gate and following the man. “I’m talking to you!”
The man began to run, his hooded head hung low.
Alex took off at a sprint, unwilling to let the man get away. In moments he’d caught up to the man, who was wheezing with laughter.
He pulled up in front of him, but he just side-stepped Alex. He grabbed the man’s sleeve, dragging him to the ground and holding them there.
“Who are you?” Alex demanded.
That same ugly grin split the man’s pale features, his hood now thrown back to reveal shining wide eyes, a swathe of stubble cutting across his chin and throat. One of his front teeth was missing, nothing but a bloody gap left in its place.
He shook the man. “I said: who are you?”
He chuckled. “Doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
“You’re a goner.” The man continued to grin.
Alex gripped the man’s jumper tightly, pulling him roughly to his feet. “Are you threatening me?”
“Not me. Them.”
“What are you talking about? Who?” This guy wasn’t making any sense.
He looked up into the sky and Alex following the man’s eyes as he pointed. “Them!”
Alex could see nothing but stars in the sky. He began to think he was wasting his time. This guy was nothing but a nut who had, for some bizarre reason, taken some sort of interest in him.
“There’s nothing, nothing you can do.” The man cackled. “And I’m free! Free free free free FREE! Because of it I’m free!”
Alex pushed the man back down onto the path, walking back to the party. From the wet concrete, the man shouted after him. “You can’t escape! They came for me and I tried, but you can’t!” Now it sounded like he was sobbing. “Can’t! Can’t. Can’t...” He shrieked. “Run! Run!”
Yup. There was his answer. Crazy.

Force of Hell

2010-09-14T23:04:00.002+10:00

So folks, the time has come to announce what I have been working on for the past two weeks. A new work I have made much allusion to but never fully described. This project has come to be known under the title of 'Force of Hell', a thriller novella that delves into one man's experience of hell.

Having taken the month off for the sole purpose of travel and writing, I am currently a significant way through the actual novella, and can now give a title, that of this blog post: Force of Hell.

Here is a very small taste, and I mean VERY small taste, of the novella.

The chants. The altar. The torturer. The fire. The water.
Too much. Too much.
What did he have to do escape this place?
“Kill. Her. Kill. Her. Kill. Her.”
That’s right. He had to kill her.
“Kill. Her. Kill. Her. Kill. Her.”
But he didn’t want to- Pain stabbed through his broken chest.
“Kill. Her. Kill. Her. Kill. Her.”
“If I do...?”
Silence filled the never-ending void and the flames began to diminish. The torturer stepped back. The pain, although still excruciating, seemed to ease slightly. His answer.
“Y- yes.”
Pain stabbed through his head and he screamed.
“YES!”
“Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”
“YES!” He screamed. “I’ll kill her, I’ll kill her! Stop, just stop. PLEASE!”
A crushing mass of water crashed across his body and then...

Awake.
And lying in a pool of vomit.
He had to do something...
Kill her.
But how?
However I can.
When?
Now.
Why?
To stop hell.
He glanced at the time. Two oh-six am. Plenty of time.

Well, here's hoping to a finished product soon! In the mean time

From,
One very excited writer!

The Beauty of Falling

2010-08-10T22:42:00.001+10:00

Tonight I was rock climbing with my brother, helping him out with a physics experiment he’s doing on the forces involved in falling. In order to achieve this, we had to climb to the top of the wall and start climbing across the roof, and then, just simply let go. Everyone talks about how much they dislike falling. But I disagree. There’s a certain beauty in falling. In a single moment, you’ve given yourself over to the natural order. You’ve relinquished control of your body to a force indomitably greater than you. To some, the thought of this is terrifying, and yet, there’s a certain exhilaration in giving yourself over in this odd way of ‘trust’. If you let go, it’s a choice, a choice made to trust in something greater than yourself. In some ways it’s a picture of God. We go through life trying to hold on to everything, desperately wanting to guide our own lives. But, we just need to let go, to trust that God will catch us when we fall and lead us safely to the ground, to the solid foundation He’s prepared for us. Too many people just won’t let go, even if they confess they trust God. Trusting God is like swinging precariously from an overhang, with nothing stopping you from plummeting to the ground but the person on the end of the rope. He’s on the end of that rope. So, let go. Trust. Fall.

The Juices Be a Flowin'!

2010-07-11T16:56:00.002+10:00

Well, as if my to-do list couldn't get any bigger, just yesterday I came up with yet another rather brilliant (in my mind) novel idea. Set a few hundred years before the events of the epic series, it involves the duality of man's being and the inner struggle between selfish desire and nobility. Of course, it's really not that simple, but that's the best way to describe it without giving anything away! Keeping with my standard tradition of using paranormal powers and situations to convey struggles faced by humanity on a day by day basis, there are physical manifestations of this general theme that drive the story. It will be interesting to visit the past of my world, where the political scene is far less complicated than that of the 'modern' day world, and I can deal more with myth, legend, etc.

I'm also gearing up for my writing trip, which I'm rather excited about. But thought I'd update you all, I know have about eight novels planned:

Six in the Epic Suspense/Thriller/Sci-fi/Fantasy Series
The Hell Novella (which is on stand still while I've been developing plot lines for the Epic)
The new idea, of which I don't have a 'reference' for yet.

Life is good, God is good, and my writing is just taking off! Life indeed, is good.

Been a bit

2010-07-06T19:54:00.005+10:00

But it's time for an update! Writing has been progressing nicely, and I'm proud to announce that the full, in depth summary of novel one of the epic is almost done, all the plot hangs sorted out! Similarly, I have a starting point and general direction to the second book, returning to much of the mystery first beginning with the first book's opening sequences, but with a somewhat darker aspect to it. All in all, I reckon the reader's will be in for a surprise when I'm done with it.

One of the major things I have been working on is the representation of paranormal powers in both an understood but mysterious way. It has literally taken me about two years to finally come up with something that I believe will work beautifully! So I'm pretty excited about that. Other developments include scatterings of plot hangs throughout the series, which are slowly but surely being crunched down.

Also planning a writing trip in September and will visit family while travelling around and writing. The weapon of choice that I shall be using to 'pen' it? The Alienware m11x. Somewhat overkill for word processing to be sure, but I wanted a powerful ultraportable computer :P Here it is below:

That's the big things going on in life. Still rock climbing, although I was out for a week with a strained wrist. Was just looking for some photos but appears we don't really have many, those that are are rather fuzzy. So, here's a video!

My brother has been climbing this with just his hands for quite a while, so I decided to give it a go, and nearly made it to the top, which I was rather surprised about! Builds forearm and hand strength very quickly, although my hands are rather sore today after last night's session, have callouses re-forming, lovely, I know. Oh yeah, and re opened a rather significant graze for the third time last night, here we come scar! But, all in all, it's amazing fun!

Was just visiting a webcomic I haven't looked at a while and have been trawling through my saved ones. This one never fails to make me chuckle due to the nature of how true it is! Oh yeah, the webcomic is xkcd.

I can thank my college physics class for introducing me to this webcomic. Good times! Anyways, that's all from me for now,until the next post!! Oh, actually, I'll probably be doing a 'travel blog' when I'm away here, so expect that in the future!

Weighing In!

2010-06-21T19:52:00.006+10:00

Well... it's been a little while since the last update, so I think you all deserve another! And this one is rather a good one :)

I have finally, after five or six years, got a writing system in place. There are three key things required for me to write nowadays. These three things being: Main Body (the actual piece of writing being worked on), Character List (a list of all the characters that appear - yes, i mean absolutely all of them - that includes details down to skin tone, eye colour, habits, mannerisms, pet peeves and weaknesses) and a fully detailed Plot Outline (which goes into similar detail to the Character Overviews). What makes this system even better is that I can (or soon will be able to) access it all at once, without the need to flick between computer windows. Yes, a third screen is on the way and will be a welcome addition in speeding up the production of the the 'writing studio'. It's current 'state' can be seen below.

Rather nerdy, yes I know, but then again, that IS me! But yes, the third screen will drastically improve my compartamentalisation of information and ability to process it quickly and efficiently.

Now, having come up with my system (that works, finally!) I'm making steady progress in all writing areas, which is rather heartening! Characters are being fleshed out nicely, the outlines are becoming increasingly well knit, and I feel the final product will have benefited hugely.

In the news of life, rock climbing has become a regular thing, having bought the gear not that long ago. Already feeling better for it.

I am also eagerly awaiting the next available opportunity to download the new version of Mechwarrior: Living Legends, as my original installer corrupted and I can't download it again this month due to internet usage restrictions. Meanwhile, I get to look at pretty pictures such as this.

On that nerdy note, I shall bid you all farewell and continue to be flabbergasted by the world of Xbox Live set ups and gamertags (damn it).

Progression

2010-06-10T22:15:00.003+10:00

Well, for today's update I have a few fleshed character 'files' done for the six novels (still working on the last two names, not sure what they're going to be yet!) which gives some more solidity to what I'm doing there (I will be doing once I leap fully back into it). Also working on the Hell Novella, which is coming along nicely, just finding it odd writing from such a familiar setting instead of something quite 'out of this world' if the use of such a cliché is permissible. The hard part is balancing just what to put in, and what to keep out. I want it to have a sense of familiarity, but not enough for it to seem like I'm focusing entirely on it. An example is that I originally mentioned Facebook within the story itself, but I decided to substitute that out for a larger more generalised field of 'internet social networking', something which I think doesn't 'personalise' it too much.

On another note, rock climbing is going rather well. As I type I'm actually having difficulty feeling my fingers properly. Reached the point where they're starting to toughen up. Then again, three hours of climbing will do that. Did the lead course tonight, which, to anyone not familiar with rock climbing terminology means you 'clip in' to anchor points as you climb up the wall, instead of the rope running up and then back down and attaching to you (the typical way to rock climb). Managed to do many things I haven't been able to do in the past tonight, which gives me hope that I won't always 'suck'. Membership also means I'll be able to visit it all the time for the next three months as well, so I'm looking forward to getting fitter, better and having loads of fun. Given the not too far off acquisition of a vehicle as well, I'm sure it will become very regular. Life is looking rather sweet right now!

Anyway, with that, the sounds of "Remember the Name" by Fort Minor pumping in my ears, I sign off yet again!

Working working! It's actually a wonderful thing!

2010-06-08T21:05:00.002+10:00

I have found that my work is one of the best times to think clearly about my life, its issues and my writing. It gives me a real perspective on everything, the good, the bad, the areas that need work, what I'm doing right; EVERYTHING! And, why am I telling you this? Because my friends, this affects my writing, in more ways than I care to count.

A prime example of this could be found today while I worked. I started to think of titles for my six novels, and the meanings that would go with them. I always had an analogy I was thinking of using, so decided to put it to the test (I'm not saying what it is, that's for you to all figure out when I eventually publish them all!) and had some surprising results. I've all but solidified four of six titles, each neatly tied together with the character's journey through each one.

Also, in other news, I'm currently strategising how to make some of the weaponry in my novels, namely some concealed blades wielded by the main character. It will require some programming, motors, arm braces and a little bit of skill, although I'm confident I will probably be able to achieve it, and man, will it be one rather awesome little thing to show people from my novels! I'm sure I'll post about them again here, who knows? Maybe even post photos of a finished product! I thought of this while working as well, such a great place to think!

In other news, recently got into rock climbing, which is a lot of fun. Very good as some stimulation (which I've sorely needed). Recommended for anyone looking to do some physical exercise beyond the norm!

Signing in... again!

2010-06-05T13:09:00.003+10:00

Well, I'm surprised how long it's been since I last posted here, but I plan on remedying that rather quickly. A lot has happened in regards to writing and life since my last post, so let's give you all a bit of an update...

After hitting a dead end for the Hell Novella everyone seemed so keen for me to write way back when, I left it for a while, not sure how I could make the concept work. But, in recent weeks, I found out how, and ever since I've had a blossoming side project to the major work (which, as I'm sure I've already posted, as exploded into a six novel long epic). In the mean time, I shunned Facebook for a week, making amazing progress on the outline and structure (it's now almost entirely complete). Having done that, I came back to Facebook for a few days before deciding to delete it. So, what time I used to spend on Facebook is most likely going to be devoted to writing. It'll also bring more traffic to the blog as well.

So yeah, current project is the Hell Novella, and I think it's got good direction, just working on it at the moment, building up the characters, the plot lines, themes etc. Should be upgrading the 'studio' soon as well (ie. the computer) which will make it easier for me to storyboard across multiple screens.

So, let's see if we can make this all much much more regular, until then!

PS. Muse are awesome, listening to them right now

Isn't Expansion Amazing?

2010-04-05T17:43:00.000+10:00

What began as a short story written for a Year 7 Fantasy English Assignment has become much much more. I'm not sure if I've ever posted here the journey my novels have taken, but here it is. In Year 7, our class was asked to invent a fantasy story with certain genre specific elements built into it. I decided to make a hybrid of fantasy and science fiction, and ended up with an 1800 word story. The teacher had specified it need to be 600 words long, and despite my requests, I could no submit the story I had written. So I wrote another, crafted in such a way that it was set in the same world, but had a different and more compact story. About this time I found that I enjoyed writing these stories very very much and continued to do so, finishing with about thirteen short stories of varying length, by the time I'd finished Year 7. But the journey didn't stop with those short stories. I had another story idea which I had been continually dabbling with since the last part of Year 6, and turned on that, writing a significant amount on that before returning to the original fantasy/sci-fi story and expanding it in an attempt to convert it to a novel form. Now, you must know, back when I was writing all this, I had no plan when I started writing, I wrote what I wanted when it came to me. As a result, structure was not high on the requirements list. But, as things turned out, I didn't need structure then.

I decided to revert to the other plot line for a while again, not liking where I'd taken the fantasy/sci-fi one but not wanting to scrap it entirely. Then I came back to it again, writing what I thought would be the final novel form, as I had established a rudimentary plot structure and knew where the story was eventually going. I got to about 80,000 words on that one I do believe, and decided AGAIN that I didn't like it, so began again, writing another thirty pages for a fourth version of the story. By this time I was in Year 10 (having skipped Year 9) and life was becoming busier, so writing seemed to wane a while, although I never stopped thinking about it, planning or doing what I could when I had time. Then the 'college years' began of Years 11 and 12, and time was not something of abundance, so the writing sat dormant for a very very long time, with only small chunks done here and there along with planning and idea crunching. It was during this time that I realised that the story I was making was too big for a single novel, so decided to expand it to a trilogy. And thus far, that's what I've been working on. But, things have changed...

The story is larger than I ever dreamed possible when I first started writing it, something I am both happy and proud about. And so appears the next annoucement in regards to my novels. It is not going to be a story, nor a series of short stories, not even a novel. It is no longer going to be a mere trilogy, a collection of three books. The story, the length, calls for nothing less than a saga of six books. Yes, it is now going to be six books long. Obviously this requires some adjustments on my part, but I have the material, so this is the direction it is now taking. This way I don't end up with ridiculously huge novels that no one will dare try to publish due to their length, and it divides the story into distinct stages for the reader. I had always played with the idea, but I never thought it would be possible. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed possible and it's got me excited. Hopefully you're excited too.

So, it's off to the drafting boards for me, and sifting through plot holes, surprises to throw at you all, and character developments. I only have one thing to say right now about it all: WOW!

Bringing in another update...

2010-03-31T21:21:00.002+11:00

Okay, well, I caught up with a mate today, so not much got done besides playing Halo and watching Minority Report (oh yeah, and eating pizza!) but I'm getting some stuff done on the good ol' writing!

Been developing some of the elemental involvement in the trilogy (yes, the classical elements are involved, in a somewhat unconventional manner) which is rather exciting and gives me some interesting material to work with later on that will no doubt excite both myself and you, the eventual readers.

Also added to the plot some more (yes yes, it will lengthen it, but I think it serves the story well). I think it lends to some more realism and ups the tempo some, also leaving the option of dividing the first book in two if it is called for, which... hopefully that's not necessary, but each of the novels will easily be 100,000 plus words.

Anyway, there's the report, now I'm getting back into gear and getting this done!

Mechwarrior: Living Legends

2010-03-29T22:40:00.006+11:00

Here are some screenshots from MWLL, the game I have been playing of late. Now, I didn't 'take' the images, and the screen shots belong to others, so I'm not claiming I took them. Just thought I'd show off how good it looks!

Tropical Mad Cat by Pytak

Nova Cat Attack by (TLL)Sky_Walker

Cougar Pwned by (TLL)Ace

All of these images link to the full resolution ones, which are good for wallpapers etc, you can also look at the 'photographers' pages too, after manipulating links etc.

EDIT: Turns out some of the better images I posted up can't be hotlinked due to people abusing it previously, so there are only the two above now, sorry.

EDIT EDIT: Thanks to Pytak, I now have another image back up, the best in my opinion!

Procrastinator? Guilty!

2010-03-29T21:07:00.000+11:00

Okay, so it's been quite a while since my last post, for a number of reasons. First off was the whole moving into a new year with things to do, places to go and people to see. The normal hussle and bussle of life. Secondly, I picked up an online multiplayer game, which has chewed up a fair bit of time. For any of you interested, it's called Mechwarrior: Living Legends and is a blast to play, take BF2, cross it with the CBT and MW universes and chuck in Crysis graphics and that pretty much sums it up. But moving along...

But onto the important, juicy, what-we're-all-hanging-out-for stuff: Writing! So, as it's been so long, I'll give a brief status report. I'm still working on the first book, and here's the info on it so far.

Chapters: 3 (not including Prologue)
Words: 17,091

So, as you can see, I have been working at it. But what that doesn't show is the almost complete solidification of the first book's main plot as well as tweaks to the story in general, all of which make it better. I also now have a genre specification for it: Mystery/Thriller with a fusion of sci-fi and fantasy, a far cry from its original plot. And, to comment on the line the first book takes, prepare for me to rock your world! I'm excited enough as it is to get to the juicy bits (did I mention I still haven't introduced the main character yet? Yeah, this is going to be an epic) which can only mean you guys will enjoy them all the more! I just need the stimulation, the motivation and a plethora of music to listen to in order to get there! So, feel free to provide any of them :)

So, this is Thomas signing off, going to slug away at the book that will rock your world, and many more!

Progress

2009-12-27T12:43:00.000+11:00

Righteo, so I've made some progress, going back through Chapter 1 and editing and revising, making sure everything fits well with the plot (required some extensive changes in some areas, as I seemed to have been fluffing on unnecessarily). Also wrote out an almost complete plot summary, and my head hurt after that. To condense such a large piece of writing into just a few pages requires a fair bit of effort and brain power to comprehend the scope of just what is happening, but I'm getting there. May work some more on it today, remains to be seen, was up late last night and then early this morning due to a sick sister and exhausted parents needing my help. But I'm hopeful!

Update

2009-12-24T22:34:00.000+11:00

Haven't touched the writing today, just thinking things over really. Considering it prayerfully, hoping I can do this next year. I want to get it done right. Will let you know when things get going. For now, enjoy this tid bit:

Screaming... screaming... screaming. All I can hear is screaming. I cup my hands over my ears; the screaming continues, louder than before. Then the blood... so much blood... running through my hair, snaking into my mouth, the coppery taste sickening... Then the eyes... the terrible glowing eyes. Everywhere, the howls, the screams, the blood... the splintered bones... fear rips me to shreds. I whimper... What have I done? Oh what have I done?

Yet another flash, they're throughout the novels, with varying levels of content.

Surprising Results

2009-12-23T15:43:00.000+11:00

Well, the poll has a had only a few voters, but they've all voted the same thing, and it's surprising me a little. So, post your reasons for your vote in this post's comments section if you do please :)

2009-12-23T01:02:00.000+11:00

Okay people, so here's the deal. I have finished school on a rather good note, all but guaranteeing my place in the course I want in university, but before then, I'm planning a gap year for the express purpose of writing, and am hoping to get at least five novels either partially done, or perhaps even the trilogy, but I need your help. And just how can you help? I need encouragement, reactions and perhaps, at times, advice. I feel, having a year off to write, it's the only way I'll be able to just pound along. Because, I strongly want to get it done, but encouragement just speeds up the creative juices. That and good, high energy music, so feel free to recommend!

But, for an update. I have begun work on the second book (yes, without finishing the first) in the trilogy, constructing the start of the first chapter while formulating an idea for the second prologue for the trilogy that will precede it. I find it's best to work this way, with multiple sections on the go, as if I get stuck, I hop to the next part, in a sort of circle. It can also be good for coherency and tightness in the story, as I am writing what happens in the future at the same time as that which is written further back in the story. It's encouraging for me to know I have enough confidence in the plot line to be able to do this effectively. I still need to flesh out the plot some more, and deal with some of its finer intricacies but I'm getting there, and am hoping to be charging fully through it by the New Year.

In addition to trilogy work, I have also come up with a number of other ideas in the last few months since school has wound down. I've mentioned these in brief but they have a slight bit more substance than before. It faces me with a very slight dilemma of continuing these singular works (one of which isn't actually all that singular, but that's for a future time to be discovered) or constructing the trilogy, which I want to do the most right out of all of them. Alternatively, I finish the trilogy and go back and heavily edit bits that I don't like. The trilogy is the writing I enjoy the most, although I enjoy it all, as it's my brain child, my project that I have spent the last four years on, and that was just plot and world building! But, back to the other ideas. One of them, which deals with the idea of hell from a slightly sci-fi perspective turned supernatural through a physical world, will be a novella that I want to make both tight and meaningful. I have considered doing this one first as it will be the shortest, but I think it will also be one of the hardest considering the plot and material I am working with as well. The other idea is a far more action-ey idea that is based in this world (shocking, I know) but with a supernatural fabric to it, which I'm not going to explain and leave it as a surprise! But, it will be awesome.

So... there's the latest update from my desk. The writing will probably become easier when everyone else begins to settle back into school routines after January. And remember, I'm serious about that music! Just look at my profile to discover my current taste. It's energy I'm after, it helps. Thanks, and, remember! Your encouragement DOES make a difference, whether it be via the internet or in person!

So freedom begins!

2009-12-07T13:34:00.000+11:00

Well, been a while, but now I have finished school and I have a whole year of writing to do interspersed with work. I have five novels in the works now, one new and interesting idea being focused on at the moment. I think having multiple projects running at the same time will prove a more useful use of time if I get stuck on one, just move onto the next. And, they're all pretty awesome ideas incorporating a range of ideas, including specific superpowers and a horror/thriller/thought novel in the works dealing with the idea of hell. I'm going to have fun, hopefully you have fun following my fun!

Coming coming coming coming... COME ON ALREADY!

2009-10-19T16:28:00.000+11:00

I'm at the point where I just want to write, but have to finish school first. I've had so many ideas of recent, ideas that will shape how the story will be played, ideas that will enrich the story, create dilemmas and create solutions. One's a nuclear war, that's enough to spice things up. Elemental powers and abilities have been developed, and work rather neatly I must say. The other idea I've been toying with involves some sort of battlesuit, and I've come up with them, with two nicknames in particular: 'Brawlers' and 'Crawlers'. Each have different roles, as their names suggest. Crawlers are more firing platforms while Brawlers are built for varying roles. Think accelerator suits from GI Joe crossed with Battle Armour from District 9. May can it, may not, we'll see.

Love and Hate, A Musing

2009-10-18T21:02:00.000+11:00

Okay, I wrote this on a long car trip having just finished the the novel "No Great Mischief" for one of my school English classes. I rather good book in my opinion, and I was feeling unusually sentimental at the time. I've just been thinking a lot about life, love and relationships recently and just what they consist of, and I think the book impacted me in some way, prompting me to just randomly write this all out. It wasn't a planned piece of writing, hence the title of 'musing' so logic isn't necessarily 100% correct etcetera, but it was how I was feeling at the time.

There is so much to hate in this world, and yet there is more to love, if you let it. Hate is but the aversion of love; a deep-rooted rebellion against trying. It is easy to hate, but, to love, you must try. How many times does one say, “I hate doing this”? Hating is the act of giving up on what could be; loving is embracing all that can be. To love is to live life to the fullest and to hate is to deny the small yet rich zests of life. Do not live a life of hate or it will lead to the end of it. Irony: to live a life of hate is to deny life in the first place. Living a life of love brings with it all the scathings of this mortal coil – grief, loss, anxiety, responsibility – and, yet, it is through these we know we are alive. To love is to live, to live is to suffer, to suffer is to feel, and to feel is to love. Love then, is not easy, but do not the rewards, the offerings of all life has to offer, far outweigh the curse of mortal failing? Is it not known that one life can make a difference? The difference that will make that life is love, or its denial. The world spins on this axis, and love and hate are its poles. Knowing where you reside on the face of that sphere, that is a constant mystery known to us all.

So, there's a bit of writing from the writer after a while of not writing. Confused? Had to read it again? My little game succeeded then ;) Keep following, blog will be more active in around a month or so's time!

Stat Report...

2009-08-19T16:24:00.000+10:00

Okay, sorry about lack of updating to the blog, just been rather busy with school. I have been sporadically working on the novels, but not in huge depth. Reverted to a bit of world building in the mean time, which is going alright (consolidating some future characters' names and all that, as well as bunch of symbolism, themes, etc, and how I'm going to work things in). It all takes time, and time will come soon enough.

Progress Report

2009-07-28T19:00:00.000+10:00

Well, the fire that had died to nothing more than a pilot light has begun to steadily build itself back up again. I am, now, writing fluently and more often than before. This is in reference to the novels particularly, which are progressing at a decent rate, however slow it may seem to some. I've received immense positive feedback from readers of my full prologue and also constructive advice and criticism from some of my English teachers, all of which have liked it. Prologue is going through an editing stage, and Chapter 1 is well underway, and I'm already tweaking. Starting to try and work the overall themes in, although it's a bit early to take that tact with the amount of story I have to work with, what with going to span three books and all. But, that is how it is progressing so far. Book titles seem to have been a popular question to me of recent, and I have the individual book titles, but not a series title. That will all come in good time, for now, there is the writing of it, and you, the patiently waiting reader, I bid you good night.

Teaser Time

2009-07-21T00:21:00.003+10:00

An extract from the Prologue:

Branches tear at my face and limbs, trying to hold me back, trying to make me embrace the death that is hunting me down with a relentless, unflagging sense of inevitability. The blood-chilling howls echo all around, coming from everywhere, sending needles of fear lancing through my skin, wave upon wave of panic filling my frazzled mind with only one hardened truth: I'm going to die. I have my rifle, but it is no longer any use. It's all too big, far too big; bigger than me; bigger than my rifle. It's something evil, terribly evil, and it wants me. It wants to hook its claws deep into me and tear me apart, laughing while it does it. It wants to crush me with all the brutality it can muster; it wants to raise my hopes and dash them, and then do it all again until I'm nothing but a running, weeping, panic-filled wreck that was once human. And it's achieved it all, and kept me alive. Too much, it's too much...is it so hard to just die? I sob: can't I just die?! Oh God, I want to die, please please please...

Tell me what you think

It's coming....

2009-07-20T15:20:00.000+10:00

Well people, there is a breakthrough, I am now in the territory of letting the story carry me through my writing process, so it should speed up and be more easily done from now on, except for areas that still require some development. I'm hoping to have the prologue finished in the next few days, and from there I'll launch into the chapters and the main story. And, even in third page of the prologue, it's really turning out to be rather awesome, at least in my mind. I've refound the ability to inject power and emotion into how I'm writing, and right now, it's working. And I hope that carries through to you, the reader, once I'm done. Inspiration comes from the most unlikely things, I can tell you, given the way I've been feeling in the last week, but Thomas has finally come back onto the writing screen, both cryptically (riddles) and poetically (poems) as well as with the novels. Stay tuned, it's going to be an awesome ride!

It's been a while....yet a PRODUCTIVE while

2009-07-16T00:20:00.000+10:00

Well, the title says it all. I have had some breakthroughs, namely in historical character background building, event building and the final touches to a long worked on prologue. It is a matter of writing the prologue then, and then begins the first chapters. I have been both awed and inspired by Tolkien's work of recent, and hope to approach at least a portion of the scale he created. A truly amazing writer he was! I've been rolling a few interesting ideas around in my head, trying to solidify plot lines more, although i need to work on the parallel plots quite a fair bit more. Consider this a progress update, a memory dump of thoughts really at the moment. Although, I can tell you, this will be epic, so stay tuned.

My Beginnings

2009-06-21T10:41:00.000+10:00

Even though I haven't realised it, I've always had an interest in writing. At school, I used to fabricate worlds, weapons and villains my friends and I would battle against. In fact, I created two such things, which when I look back at them, I'm somewhat embarrassed about, but they were influences and building blocks nonetheless. The first of these was "Dino Wars" - dinosaurs equipped with different times of weapons. In fact, in class I wrote a short story about them, I'll dig that out some time and type it up here. The second one was something that I enjoyed far more, and 'developed' (as much as a 10 year old mind can) include different guns, swords, vehicles, technologies and villains. Such things ranged from gigantic robotic scorpions, the morphing vehicle canisters (again, 10 years old, cummon), lightsaber like swords that stored as a hilt but solidified once activated. Again, I wrote a story for this as well, and it came to be known by myself and the friends who I played with, battling imaginary foes across the entire playground, as Future Soldiers. This is really the fundamental basis for my current writing, as crude a comparison as that is. I as always interested in the future, what would be created, what would be technologically developed, so naturally my world is of a slightly higher tech level than our world. Not ridiculously so (in some senses), but more advanced nonetheless. It has slowly stepped down in tech levels actually, from that of Future Soldiers, to Star Wars level, to a step below that, to a slight step above current technology, with a few greater advances in some areas and lacking in others (for instance, satellites don't exist in my world as of yet, the weather does not allow for their proper use and the technological advancements have been focused to the surface as war rages). Then, aged 9, I told my teacher I wanted to write a book, which she and another one of the teacher's enthusiastically encouraged, allowing me one morning to begin writing it out on a laptop, while at school. They let a kid in year 3 write a story out on a laptop, during school. It would years before I remembered all this, and I've realised that I've always been on the path to becoming a writer, since those very early stages before I was even 10 years old. But, besides these games, short stories and the likes (of which I will try to find, hopefully that's achievable), I'd like to share with you my first ever piece of poetry. Again, written when I was about 10-12, and I was heavily into knights and the medieval age, hence the styling of the poem. I designed it with the original intent to hang it on my bedroom door: something I have never done, so here it is:

Tis entry at your own free will,
Although Ye might find some comfort still,
Within the stronghold of the Knight,
Thomas in his armour bright.

Forget the exact date, but that was a turning point in my writing - my first ever poem. Although I write less poetry nowadays, it still sticks with me, so much so I can recite it off memory.

And, to the current writing situation: it's going well, quite well. I've written one poem, a handful of riddles (of which I will post some time soon) and have been working on the novel, which is slowly beginning to take even more shape. So, the writing is going absolutely awesome! But, until I find the rest of those old influential writings or have any developments, I'll be off!

So begins the real obsession...

2009-06-15T17:46:00.000+10:00

Okay, I've come to a point in my writing, where it is going to become obsessive, seriously. I have loads of research to do, requiring me to spend copious amounts of money on books and resources, and I'm looking forward to it. The total immersion in knowledge will be an exhilaration I have not felt in years, and will be, summed up in one word: awesome.

So, you could very safely assume that the writing is going well. It is, slow, but very very well. Everything has direction now, I have the entire first half of the first book planned out almost exactly, but this is where the research needs to come in. It'll play an important role throughout, but is crucial to the beginnings. Things that must be researched are: military combat techniques, martial arts, hand-to-hand weapons (blades, knives, staffs, etc), hand-held ballistic fire weapons, missiles, cryptology, evasion techniques, and possibly even torture, not to mention anatomy, psychological analysis, politics and...let's just say, there's a lot of research, and it needs to start now.

Expect this blog to soon flood with ideas, teasers, clues, riddles, research notes, but firstly exams...until then, I hope you're in as much suspense as I am.

The Moment has Arrived...

2009-06-14T14:12:00.000+10:00

Well, it's been a while since the last post, a result of both laziness and busyness, if that is possible. But, I'm posting, so it's all good. I've had some breakthroughs in the novels, thickening plot, solidifying things, although I need to work some more on the geography, but all in good time.

Alright, here we go, an excerpt from my novel. Tell me what you think.

Growls. Glowing red. Teeth ripping...tearing. Blood everywhere. Splashing...suffocating...water flooding my lungs, choking me to death. Thick blanketing darkness. Crushing dread. Nothing.

Light, slowly pulsating ghostly light swims around me and hope sparks in my shattered, exhausted mind as I frantically claw for the surface. The smooth circle of glowing liquid breaks and waves splash gently onto the rune-etched edge. I grope my way out of the pool, retching the water from my lungs and gasping for breath. Waves of dizziness and nausea sweep through my skull and my blood streaked face slowly falls to the glowing runes, my consciousness fading rapidly. But none of this matters. I'm alive, oh God, I'm alive.

Riddle me this...

2009-06-03T17:30:00.000+10:00

OK, the riddles I posted a little while ago have been solved...some of them that is! Go to the original riddle blog and look at comments for answers. Here's another I whipped up, not sure of its difficulty though. Enjoy! Oh, and I include the riddles that have not yet been solved yet either.

Up or down, my arms are many. As for legs? I don't have any, and yet I survive...

Bound I can never be, to be useful you must capture me; my end no one shall ever see.

My dance no one will ever know, but to the whole world, it's on show. I am the curse and the blessing, my touch can be both fierce and caressing.

Bit O' Fossicking

2009-06-01T02:50:00.000+10:00

Am in the midst of a very tedious assignment in the wee hours of the morning, so decided to...PROCRASTINATE somewhat by digging, sifting and sorting through old bits of writing (as well as restarting that journalling, but now going digital, no you can't see it), and here was something that holds deep emotional meaning for me, as I wrote it while enduring one of the hardest times in my life as I experienced emotional turmoil due to the unexpected deaths of two people very important in the way my life has developed (Papa and Paul, I'll forever remember you). It might seem trivial, somewhat stupid and in some places, somewhat stumbling, but it was written in a moment when I was literally choked with tears, so bear with the small amounts of discontinuity in it and appreciate it for what it is: a baring of my soul.

The sun will rise tomorrow, no matter how dark yesterday was; and will bring with it new opportunities. AS long as there is tomorrow, there is hope. As long as you live, there is always hope.

Anyway back to the oh-so-riveting world of physics and sound waves at 3 o'clock in the morning!

The Result of Boring Vehicular Trips

2009-05-28T22:56:00.000+10:00

Yes, when I'm bored, in a car or bus, I think of riddles. Here's a few to amuse you. Comment away with the answers and I'll say if you're correct or not:

Up or down, my arms are many. As for legs? I don't have any, and yet I survive...

I rise, I fall, with the end of the month I grow ever small.

Bound I can never be, to be useful you must capture me; my end no one shall ever see.

I allow all things to fly, but by my fist a miner may die.

Enjoy!

A New "Obsession"

2009-05-28T18:48:00.000+10:00

Alright, let's make this a personal blog as well as a writing one.

I have discovered an awesome new thing, known as "Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance". It's a RTS (Real Time Strategy) computer game that emulates warfare on a large large scale, with up to 1000 units on maps up to 81km x 81km, or as little as 5km x 5km. It also has a very delicate economy system, and to master it, you need to be able to easily balance it, which is a very hard thing to do. Then, you have to building units like a lunatic to keep up with your opponent and not get overrun by all manner of nasties. These can include giant "spiderbots", flying saucers, nuclear warheads, submarines, battleships, aircraft carriers, tanks, bombers, anti-air fighters and guns, shield generators, stealth field generators and unit cloaks...the list goes on and on. It has been a very very very long time since I have got this so involved in a game, and I'm lovin' its strategic and tactic elements, as well as having only ever won one or two games out of about 8-10. And, I'm still doing that on the easy levels, so it's going to be real fun going to the higher ones! Ah, I've forgotten just how much fun RTS's are. Anyway, enough of that, if you think of buying Supreme Commander, DO!!!

Here we go again....

2009-05-28T17:07:00.000+10:00

Alright, the reason for such little posting of recent? I'm had to put down the chess pieces (well...that's not quite true, I play online, sooooo....) and pick up the school books again. Such is life at the moment, but I don't have that much longer to go!!

Anyway, purpose for writing here today is to give a short snippet of an update on the progress of the novel. So far, the progress on the actual storyline writing is zilch, but plots, characters and other aspects of the story are being fleshed out, along with the continually expanding language system (which, I will admit, is really only a shortcut of a language at the moment. Oh well, it will evolve soon enough out of that).

Time to tantalise those literary taste buds of yours. Yes, yes, I am going to tell of some of the aspects of my world, omitting names (you're not that lucky). In my world, there are three separate nations, two of which are totally human, the other which is...well...let's just say they're not your average humans. Now, the two completely human nations were once one, but were split by a political struggle between the east and west. The east emerged the victors and the west immediately withdrew to the western side of the rather expansive continent. Continuous raids by the east saw the west grow into a battle-hardened, military orientated faction whose population were predominantly battle trained, with the warriors and warlords being the upper class of society. The eastern nation, however, due to their superior numbers, continued in a Western-like culture of indulgence and capitalism. As the west slowly began to become more military orientated, the east realised the greater threat potential they now held, and a great arms race, a Cold War, began. For years, the tension trickled out in small skirmishes, with espionage and counter-espionage prevailing as each tried to gain supremacy. The west out of lost pride and for vengeance, the east to continue to gloat over the west. This war continued on for many years, and the original purposes were lost to most. Meanwhile, the other faction's geographic isolation and technological advancements were highly sought by the inferior technologies of these two warring factions. This other nation became a mercenary collection of warring factions, hiring themselves out for exorbitant prices as assassins and spies, as well as selling their superior tech to the other factions. This, my friends, was the beginning, and it is not by far, the end.

Hope that was tantalising enough, comment if you liked it.

There is a time for everything, now it's time for peace and chess, lots of chess

2009-05-21T17:30:00.001+10:00

Ah, the joy of being able to sit back and hear the tap-tapping of the keys beneath your fingers without the constant dread of deadlines hanging above your head...a truly wonderful feeling! Sorry to any of you who check here daily (not that I think anyone would really bother), but I've just pulled through a hard week of writing speeches and essays. But, they are all done, and I have a night to myself, except for that English reading...

Anyway, to the good stuff: I've been thinking...thinking about where to take this project in terms of genre and audience. It combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, mystery, supsense in abundance, but I always think: where will it go on the bookshelves of libraries and bookstores? And: who am I targeting? Questions I won't be able to fully answer until there's an end product, so we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

Now, as I've mentioned before (I think...), one of my current classes is an extra english class (for those nerds who don't think one essay is enough) and in it we are studying "Heroes In Literature". This class is utterly fantastic. So far we have watched...three and a bit movies (LOTR, Star Wars, Matrix, Hercules), we are going to go see Wolverine this coming Tuesday, and next semester's study is whatever we want to study (with structure, of course). But, the most important thing about this class is that it makes me think. It makes me think about how my characters will operate (particularly my protagonist, who isn't our average guy on the street), just what plot structure they will operate in, etc. In conjunction with discussion of genres and the likes in my other english class, I am slowly beginning to realise that what I'm doing doesn't fit any model precisely at all. This is an exciting, but somewhat nervous, thing. I'm doing something that no one has done, therefore I might make it a colossal stuff up. Then again, it can work in reverse as well. Hopefully, by the time everything is smoothed over, it will be the latter.

That's about all for now, although I am getting rather excited for how this is all turning out. Hopefully that means excitement for you too.

What Direction Am I Taking?

2009-05-15T20:37:00.000+10:00

Well (I always seem to start that way, don't I? Why? My question: why not?), I guess I've told you what I am doing, that I am writing novels, but the real question is, what am I doing besides that. One cannot just have a life in writing novels (that is for those who become rich and famous), and I don't plan on reaching that stage for a little while yet at least.

Well, the plan, the plan, one must always have a plan, mustn't they? Anyway, the plan is to: 1) save for uni, 2) continue writing as much as possible (which will be quite a lot), 3) pick my french studies up again, 4) get back into Basketball, 5) decide what I want to do with the rest of my life besides writing! At the moment, I'm looking to study languages and international relations, but nothing too concrete. I just don't want to settle down to a specialising job (like most 'smart' people do) that I'll get bored out of my mind doing, and only having my writing as an escape. Writing is not an escape, writing is a part of life. You can't write well if life is boring, otherwise there is no inspiration. Get what I mean?

Oh, another thing I wish to do next year, get back into writing poetry and riddles; they are always good fun - less serious or more contemplative than large story writing and creating. Riddles are nice little things I fire off in text messages to bug my friends for the next week while poetry is used in a more...dare I say it, romantic sense. Although, I have written poetry about general things as well, but if flows more better on the other topics. Ah, to be poetic again!

Well, the eye lids are drooping, the metal isn't helping at all, and the parental warning gong of "10 o'clock" is sounding in the recesses of my mind...it must be time to finish!

A Funny Thing

2009-05-14T14:09:00.001+10:00

Wow...well, I think what originally started as a "what the heck" thing will become regular. That's right, I'm going to try and keep this blog regular. Not every post will have significant meaning (unless something..well...significant? has occurred). So..that's this post for now.

At the Motivational Insistence of...

2009-05-13T21:16:00.000+10:00

Well...I write because of my cousin's demand that I should write on my blog more, and I whole-heartedly agree, it's just finding the time. This blog allows my thoughts to flow a bit clearer, provides me with a motivation to continue writing.

In a recent English class, we have been studying heroes and anti-heroes and the way they are depicted in works of fiction. In many cases they are clearly defined: Superman, Deadpool, Neo, characters of the like, both hero and anti-hero. And my teacher made a statement: "Real people are neither good or bad, neither hero or anti-hero, but a mixture of both. They have strengths, they have weaknesses, this is what makes them real, this is what makes them human. In reality, there are no true "heroes", no true "villains", no true "anti-heroes", there is just humanity." Well...I took some creative liberties in writing that out (ie. I interpreted and followed that line of thought). This is very much the case for my trilogy. I don't set out to set up a hero that is flawless, I set out to make a 'hero' (used in the non-classical sense) that is real, a person, someone who struggles between the good and the bad. This extends to the rest of my 'cast' (as they can be called) - the whole idea of the first book is not to show the true 'leanings' they hold, but is to show that they are human beings who have made one critical mistake in their moral leanings. I don't have any true villains (OK...that's not true, but he doesn't appear to be a total villain early on), only people. Those who aren't people is an entirely different matter ;)

On that, I finish.

Update from the Desk of One Very Busy Student

2009-05-12T20:14:00.000+10:00

Well, it would be about time for an update, which I am afraid shall be rather uneventful on the writing front, well...mostly.

Life is, once again, hectic, leaving only fleeting moments to snatch at the words and thoughts needed to pen ideas for my trilogy, my project, my dears. The ideas still churn, the thrill of excitement as I envisage the role my character shall play in his epic path of vengeance still flutters occasionally in my stomach, but pen (or pencil) has not touched paper for a couple of weeks. I have, however, developed one character in particular over this last month, if only in my mind. This character is a critical element to the final entailing of my epic undertaking, but I shall say no more, as nothing has hit paper, therefore nothing has been fully decided.

It is only brief, but it is an update nonetheless, which should tide you all over until I have time to start writing regularly again.

2009-05-03T18:19:00.001+10:00

Well, I think we are due for an update, and I'll try to keep it in the premising vein of the title of this blog as well *ahem*

Despite some short language developments (yes, this does involve writing a language), I have done little on the writing front. But that doesn't mean the story has come to a stop. A writer constantly probes his story, constantly seeks its flaws, its strengths; its shortcomings. Do I take the plot this way?? Or that? When should this character die? Or should they? Is this item important to the story? Questions such as these are the constant reminders that the writer's world is alive in his mind: always a good thing if you ask me. And each of these questions I have asked myself in the last few weeks, along with customary obsessive nature which requires me to explain the simple mechanics of important weapons/pieces of equipment/etc. in the trilogy. I am also faced with the question as to closing the trilogy off as one capsule, or blow it open for future sequels. All comes to the final plot twist, and whether, or not, it happens. That shall not be decided in foresight, but, it shall be the process of calculation between now and when that scene is written; a decision made at that precise keystroke when it comes into being. But, I say too much, and with that, I end this blog post:

The Author

The Beauty of Inspiration

2009-04-22T18:16:00.000+10:00

Well, it having been a while and seeing that some people are actually interested in what I have to say, I shall make a second post.

First off, I'll direct you to the personality test I recently took, if you like judging people by such things: Click here for my Personality Test.

Now, to the actual ruminations of a teenage novelist. I have recently been away, traipsing around the Australian state of Victoria, from its Gippsland area to its Grampians mountain range, and amidst all of this I have found the inspiration to further the plot of my epic (I mean that in its literal sense, not its popular culture sense) novel trilogy, much in the vein of Tolkien's but with very different ideas and settings. Now, I don't say much about it, but I will say this much, it is a story all about vengeance, where it takes you, how it drives you and the power and destruction it holds. Interested? Then keep tuning in here, because I might release some more tid bits if I'm in the mood.

Now, on with the blog. What inspired me so much? It was the lack of distractions, the change of environment. Most of what I came up with I did so in the Grampians, an area where there is very little phone reception (to the point where my mobile could not be used) and internet access was far from readily available. Having some of the major occupations of my time now gone, I was left with the time to focus on my writing, very much a good thing. Now, for those who nothing about Victorian geography, the Grampians is a very rugged area and we were in the middle of a magnificent bushland covered valley with spectacular cliffs on either side. A real place of inspiration. The mood was right, the season was right and there was absolutely nothing to distract me, 100% perfect.

Well, I'll sign this one off. Catch y'all later

First Blog...What to Say

2009-04-02T22:37:00.000+11:00

Why not start with the basics?
I'm sixteen, very academically inclined, am writing a series of novels which I have been systematically creating for the past 5 odd years, love playing basketball, keen strategist in both chess and other such games, have dabbled in short stories and poetry, love my English classes, read on a very regular basis, am a metal/alternative music fan, like thrillers and action movies and, my most important statement: I'm a christian and proud of it.

As I sit here needed to study for my Ancient History document study but stubbornly refusing to as time rapidly ticks by, I ask: why in the world did I even start this? The real reason? I was bored, I had a friend make a blog, then another friend and I thought: "what the heck, let's join the crowd". So, basically, that's it for now, let's see how long it takes for me to remember this again.