Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jan 7, 2012 2:49:17 GMT -5
Is it...sexy?
I can do it sexy if that's what you want. I can turn you all on just like that.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jan 17, 2012 2:12:28 GMT -5
Here's the thing, as I've written my characters and watched this story unfold, I've become very confident in it. Is it the most intelligent, thought provoking piece ever written? No. That would be Ghostbusters. But I love spending time with my characters, and I hope all of those who waste their time with this potential paperweight will enjoy them just as much.
I was hoping to have a draft done by the end of the month. Did I make that goal? No. Not even close. That's because I came to a dilemma. Not one that is really an issue, but more of a monkey wrench that could change the entire book for either the positive or negative, and I can't figure out which.
It occurred to me a few weeks ago that there was an entire side to the "world" or "mythology" (whichever pretentious word you wish to use to describe my nonsense) I had created that hadn't been represented. This wasn't necessarily a problem, per say, but the issue I was having was "What if the reader asks this question?" There are really two answers to it: I can address that what lies beyond the confines of the story is up to the viewer's imagination or I can create a gateway into that outside point of view that, while not actually relevant to what is going on in my story, provides a peek at the bigger picture to whet the tastebuds.
Now, I can choose the former and leave the story as is. However, if I choose the latter, I can potentially fill in a few holes in my narrative with it. I have characters I want more consistently in the story, and by using this idea I'd give them a more constant role in the book. On the downside, it really has nothing to do with anything, and the idea needs to be dropped before the climax which brings all the other storylines to a head. And there's no way of incorporating this storyline into the finale. I've gone over it several times, and it wouldn't make sense. And I am dead set on using the finale I have in mind, because it was an idea that I built the book around primarily and I don't think anything different would do it justice.
Even if the positives did heavily outweigh the negatives, if I were to pursue this idea, I'd have to create a new character. I'm not really keen on the idea of another one, as I don't want the book to become crowded. I have a primary story centering around several individuals and others stemming off with their own little snippets. How many subplots does it take to clutter up a main plot? Usually it doesn't take many.
And yet, episodic is kind of what I'm going for. One primary focus pieced together by smaller ideas. So I have to ask myself, is that really a problem?
But I keep asking myself, if I execute it, does it set my pacing askew? In some portions, I can see it fitting like a glove. In others, I have to ask what is the point in even bringing it up?
As I search for an answer to these questions, the only conclusion that even makes sense to me is to just write it. If it doesn't work, delete it. If it works, then you have it. I have some kinks to work out, but writing will resume shortly. An new battle plan needs to be written.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jan 25, 2012 21:34:51 GMT -5
EPIPHANY!
As I reworked elements in my mental outline of the book, my new aspect brought to light something about the story that kind of bugged me, but never really thought about all that seriously. It wasn't actually a plot hole, more like something in the plot that just pops up to complicate the second half.
It occurred to me that this might be a building point this subplot could bridge into the story, making it seem more important to the story. As I sit back and ponder the possibilities, I find myself satisfied with where this is going. My story seems like a whole again. No longer dismayed with it, I'm prepared to continue. I'm excited with what will result.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Feb 25, 2012 4:16:05 GMT -5
I was browsing around looking for inspiration lately. I've turned to the work of Rick Riordan primarily, because I feel my style is in the tradition of his...only in a more adult tone (keep in mind, I haven't read any of his adult mystery novels. I'm very into his contemporary mythology novels, though). I think if I were to claim an author to be an inspiration to me, Riordan would probably be the person I point my finger to. I felt he's managed to create so many quality products in such a short span of time is extraordinary. And they're so much fun to read. The man has released 21 books in 15 years! And that's not including companion books and short stories! I can only hope to be half that good. I can't imagine the schedule he has, but it must be insane. It's taking all of my effort just to make time to write one book. Anyway, I started looking some Riordan materials up online, and it led me to this interesting article about authors who sold their work to Hollywood, both positive and negative reactions. Riordan didn't participate, though his book the Lightning Thief was turned into a (mediocre) film in 2010, and the sequel Sea of Monsters is in production for 2013. I'm not really thinking of a movie deal at this point, but the prospect frightens me. It's hard to take your baby and trust it in someone's hands and have them screw around with it while you twiddle your thumbs. But I do like money. "Sell-Out" is my middle name. If any of the guys in LA like the script, bring that contract and a suitcase full of cash up and I'm all yours. Tacking on a great NBC interview with Riordan and his son. Pretty neat info, at least for a fan like myself.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 1, 2012 20:24:04 GMT -5
Was moving into my new place today...long story short my new laptop is completely destroyed.
I dont know what to do right now. I'm so broken up right now I could scream.
The only saving grace is the majority of my book has been kept externally. If it can't be repaired, then it wouldn't have all been for nothing.
I feel trapped. I feel naked. I feel empty.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Mar 3, 2012 5:49:41 GMT -5
Well that stinks. I'm sorry to hear that, truly.
Is there any way for someone to at least pull out files, or is the laptop too far gone even for that?
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 5, 2012 21:14:16 GMT -5
My sister looked it over, said that my hard drive might be damaged. But the most important things I needed were always kept seperately on an external drive. I'd say that was the smartest thing I've ever done.
Are there things I don't want to lose on it? Sure. But mostly what I'm worried about is not having the money for a new one. Every dime I had went to my new apartment. Not having 24 hour access to my work is difficult on me emotionally, and seeing it in peices just tore me up.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 6, 2012 15:57:42 GMT -5
With my computer down I'm just going to keep reading and keep the feel going until I can get computer access again. Within the past week I read the Red Pyramid and the Throne of Fire in anticipation of the Serpent's Shadow this May (Avengers and the Kane conclusion the same week? Hell yes). Today I'm branching out to Riordan's earlier works. I bought Big Red Tequilla at Hastings a few days ago and am cracking it open. Pleased to see that the stuff I admire about Riordan's style is still there in his first novel. Tres Navarre has a fun, dry wit about him. I suspect that Ryan Reynolds patterned his onscreen characteristics after him.
I'm really enjoying it thusfar. Not to the same level as the better Percy Jackson books, but I think I'll follow Navarre on his other adventures.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 20, 2012 12:30:00 GMT -5
The good news: I took it to a laptop repair shop and they were able to save what information I had on it.
The bad news: They weren't able to save the laptop itself. I have to buy a completely new one.
It bites. I really liked my other one. But those are the cards I've been dealt, and I have to play my hand. Luckily I can just buy a blank one and they can load my old settings on it, so it won't be too much.
I should have one within the week.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Mar 20, 2012 23:56:00 GMT -5
Great news! and bad news... all wraped up in one. Glad to hear you could save your info.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 21, 2012 0:31:39 GMT -5
Im bummed at the tragic loss of my LT, but I'm more excited to have my file access again, so I'm accepting that it has to happen. But I've been brainstorming and I think I can start refreshed after the ordeal.
Been watching some Godzilla, which usually calms my nerves. I'm up to Godzilla vs. Gigan, a true trash classic, so compelling in its ineptitude that it gives Plan 9 a run for its money as most hypnotic bad movie ever made. In other words, I love the hell out of it.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Mar 22, 2012 18:07:17 GMT -5
I got my new laptop today. Looks just like my old one, so the difference is minimal. It's smaller though.
Unfortunately, while various things were kept, Bluetooth wasn't. I'm going to need to log from my phone for a little while longer.
I'm going to take a look at my files later tonight. Welcome home my babies. It's been hell, but it's finally over.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on May 2, 2012 0:54:19 GMT -5
How's my project been going? Very slowly.
Stress has been harsh on me lately, so inspiration has been sparse. Add in the fact that my NEW laptop somehow loaded a virus into it and totally screwed me over yet again, writing hasn't been at the top of my to do list lately.
Things are looking up today. In a previous post, I listed Rick Riordan as an inspiration of mine. His newest book, The Serpent's Shadow, came out today. I've been eagerly anticipating his capping off another book series (in this case, The Kane Chronicles) and I hope it's half as thrilling as The Last Olympian. My reception of the previous books in the series were mixed, as I thought The Red Pyramid was a narrative drag yet I thought The Throne of Fire was an absolute blast. I took note that TSS was the shortest book of the trilogy, which gives me hope that the pacing is the tightest.
Even if it isn't that good, it'll kill time until The Mark of Athena brings my beloved Precy Jackson characters back into the fold.
Also on the horizon is The Avengers, written and directed by another inspiration of mine, Joss Whedon. The flow of dialogue between these two writers has shown me that just because a sequence is full of exposition doesn't mean characterization has to come to a halt.
I'm hoping these two events will provide a good one-two punch and give me the energy I need to keep going.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on May 31, 2012 0:15:18 GMT -5
Went looking for inspiration, yet the Avengers underwhelmed, and while the Serpent's Shadow was a rousing end to the Kane Chronicles, it didn't rise to the finest of Riordan's work.
What I did do, however, was split my eggs into multipal baskets. I have not one, but three stories I'm working on similtaniously. There's obviously one I have more work on than the others, but we'll see what happens. Ideas and plans are flowing through all three. It should be interesting.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 21, 2012 2:15:29 GMT -5
Lately I've been whittling away at my stories and putting them together like Legos. What have I been working on today? The thought kind of disturbs me.
I wonder how commonplace it is for a national tragedy to awaken the darkest pit of one's soul. The news of the shootings at a screening of the Dark Knight Rises has left me saddened, confused, angry, and frustrated. Then I came across an article written about one of the girls slain in the massacre. It shared her tweets to friends about how excited she was for the movie and how she dragged her friends to it because she wanted to see it as soon as possible. It went on to the words of her friend, who had survived, which told of her last moments, how she was screaming one minute, screams that had suddenly halted with the sound of another gunshot.
I have the accompanying picture of this girl burned into my head. And I find that all the emotions I had earlier have turned into something else. Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now, but it goes far beyond any other emotion I've ever felt. I had attended a screening of the very same film that same night. The chilling thought occurred to me that if I had lived in that area, I would have been in that theater. Suddenly I pictured myself as that girl, who had sat down in anticipation for something I had waited for all year, enjoying my life...then suddenly chaos strikes. I find my life threatened, I scream for help as I hear gunshots, and then there is nothing else. My life has ended.
I snap out of my trance, realizing that it had happened to somebody else, and I feel cold. What do I use this emotion for? I write. In one of my stories I've had in mind a point in which a character is terrorized by an assailant, yet I hadn't written it yet. Now my first draft is in progress. I've used this emotion to enhance the dread in this part of my story.
And as I do so, I feel immense guilt. How dare I use this girl's fate (along with 11 others) as an opportunity to enhance my work? Believe me, if I could trade this to bring her back to life, I would. But this is all I can do. I wish I could do something else, but it's all I have. I would dedicate this portion to the memory of those lost in this senseless tragedy, but dedicating a violent part of a book to people who have had their lives tragically cut short seems very...immoral, in a way. So this blog post shall be dedicated to them.
But believe me, they will be remembered by me. Not just for this, but because I was enjoying the film they sat down to enjoy at the exact moments that they had their lives taken from them, and I will always feel a sense of guilt because of it. Batman may have risen that night, but your souls shall rise higher and soar far beyond.
In Memory of Jessica Ghawi and all of those who lost their lives 24 hours ago. My prayers shall be with you and your loved ones.
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