Writing About Writing

NaNoWriMo 2009

2009-10-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

As much as I like to complain that young writers have an atrocious lack of discipline, I have to admit that I am just as guilty as the rest of us. As much as I try to write at least one piece a week, be is a blurb, story or outline for a longer chunk of prose, I struggle to stick to it. After a long day of classes and studying, I find that I'm more dedicated to messing around online or playing video games than I am to my favourite hobby. Down to the core, I love writing. Still, self-doubt tends to keep me on a determined route of procrastination and laziness. If I ever want to be decent at what I love, this needs to change as soon as possible.

Having my father's sense of moderation, I've decided to jump over the baby-steps and dive into the change face-first. Aside from two (horrible) examples, I have never completed a first draft of a novel or script. Short stories would not really count, although I've written a handful of those. My problem rests in my need for perfection, and how I backtrack and correct after every page. And I think that just muscling through a first draft of a novel, in all of its imperfect glory, will be a huge boost to my confidence and a perfect way to stomp down that Inner Editor until I get over myself long enough to finish a project.

That all said, I am taking part of the National Novel Writing Month of 2009. It starts November 1st, and ends on midnight on the 30th. The goal of thousands of people, of all ages, experience and lifestyles, is to write their own complete 50,000+ word novel in a month's time. It sounds like a project that only someone who was entirely mad would partake in, and I have to agree. But people have done it in the past, and finished their first draft come hell or high water. Personally, I think I need this. I need to force myself to finish something big, and commit to it. Imagine how much better one would feel about their own writing abilities if they wrote a novel in a month!

I have joined the site, and I've started to piece together my plots, characters and ideas. I'm starting from scratch; no previous prose I've written will be used or even considered. At first I was terrified, but after browsing the forums for a while I feel much better. Everyone there seems to have the general attitude of "yes, we can do this". It's good to see much a supportive community behind something so big.

Will I panic? Maybe. Will I want to give up 2 weeks in? Possibly. Will I bring myself to angry tears and call my mother? Most definitely. It will be difficult to finish this project, pull off good grades in school, and maintain my sanity at the same time. But I will do this. If I have to wake up at 6am to write, and stay up until 1am to finish homework, I will.

I am a writer, damn it. It's about time I started acting like one. It's about time I stop feeling like it is pretentious to talk about 'my novel' to someone, or to tell a friend that I can't go out because I'm writing.

You can find my NaNoWriMo profile here. I will be updating this blog weekly, at the very least, with my wordcount and deteriorating sanity. Hopefully I will have the time to get a decent excerpt up now and then.

Wish me luck, and check out the site itself if you have any interest in the event. It's definitely looking at, even if you are not much of a writer.

One Small Step

2009-07-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been researching scripts and playwrights for a small project, and I have come to truly realize how much I don't know about it, or professional writing overall. People who know me as an 'artist of words' know that I am always the first to willingly cut myself a generous slice of Humble Pie; I would never call myself a 'writer' or 'author' in an introduction. I don't even consider myself serious was a writer, and I have always known that I have a lot to learn before I have the right to do so. But in studying scripts and soaking in everything I can, it has become even more obvious where my skills lack.

Dialogue, and the many elements of exposing information and character development through it, has always been a struggle for me. I like to describe instead of expose. All of my teachers, mentors and readers who have given feedback have told me to 'show, not tell'. This current side-project has been extremely helpful in helping build that skill. I admit that widely experimenting with my writing is something that I have always been hesitant to do, but I believe that this is something I needed personally as a learning artist. One thing I lack, though, is a true guiding voice.

One of the many challenges of self-teaching is that you have to rely on your own critical thinking if you don't have someone to ask for feedback. And, being surrounded by people who are either unwilling to be blunt or too quick to tell me how I think 'inside the box', I have lacked that semi-professional, honest critique that many people need. I also have trouble trusting internet acquaintances, especially since there is nothing to protect my work of someone deems it worth stealing for themselves. Writing is my hobby, but that does not mean that I want my skills to remain static and unchanging. In my current journey into the world of play writing, I have struggled without a source of feedback.

Despite my complaints and frustrations, I have nothing but good things to say about the results of my endeavors so far. I have learned a lot, and I think over the past few weeks there has been a bit of improvement in the weaker areas of my writing. It should be recommended that anyone who wants to develop their skills, in writing or visual art, to expand to different methods and mediums. I am surprised at what I have learned, and I have no doubts that other people will, too.

The Tragic Past - Some humble advice

2009-05-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

I will begin by making one thing very clear; characters created with an obscenely tragic past immediately annoy me. Many writers and roleplayers fail to make the distinction between a horrible, 'sad' backstory and honest life experience. Too many characters have seen their parents die, live for revenge, have lived with abusive relatives, or simply exist to be miserable because of some unfortunate occurrence in their childhood. We have seen enough of that in Disney and some popular books, but just because the archetype worked for those characters, it does not mean that a heap of skeletons in the closet will always make for a 'deep' personality.

In original writing, fanfiction and roleplays I see these characters. Some are even the dreaded 'Mary-Sue'; people who somehow draw every ounce of attention onto themselves with some sort of tragedy, usually in the past. They come in all shapes and sizes (usually 'strikingly beautiful', though). But really, nobody sincerely cares that your character suffered greatly before, and it will only cheapen the effect if he/she suffers greatly during the story. What real readers will look for is whether or not the suffering affects them as a person.

And some people do attempt that, with a character who was abused by a male relative and in turn distrusts males in the present. While that can be realistic, it is also pretty easy to think up, and a little shallow, Think of every hardship in your own life; did you not gain something from them? Was there not strength, patience, gratitude, or a new way of seeing life to take from the unfortunate event? I could never say that the death of my grandmother was a good thing, but after my grieving I stood up as a stronger person. Characters should have a similar growth after enduring a hardship. But too many are 'crippled' by it in some way, and dwell on the past rather than developing and learning.

Despite all that I say, the upsetting past can be written correctly. And I especially struggle with writing characters with dark histories. But such a thing is not impossible. It is simply a matter to viewing them as real people. Even if the world was dark enough that a person's family could be murdered before their eyes, sparing them and making them suffer years of emotional torment, would they still have sympathy twenty years later if they were still grieving? No. They would be told to get over it and move on (if they even survived that long). This is especially so if the world they are in is so cruel that things like this could easily happen. Writing a tragic past realistically is difficult, but it is about testing the spectrum of human emotion and triggering mental growth.

As I just mentioned I have a particularly hard time working with upsetting backstories. This is mostly because of my own bias against them after years of seeing the same cliche, overused past/personality combinations. But one of my biggest writing projects has the setting of the absolute slums of a poor city. Almost every character, although coming from different ends of town, has endured a fair amount of pain and injustice. But as I write, they show a lot of strength and wisdom that stemmed from their dark roots. Where one young man was a runner for a drug lord, owned and treated like a dog, he grew up to know how to talk and negotiate with bad tempers, handle money intelligently, and had seen enough junkies to avoid anything intoxicating. Where one girl was an unwilling gang member at a young age, forced to fight people for reasons never given, she gained enough self-discipline, strength and life skills to be confident and strong after the oppressive group was disbanded.

These two examples, and every other character in the same story, are personalities that have been established, but steadily grow and mature over the course of the plot. And that is what a character should be; something to be built upon. Never make your character an emotional write-off from page one - nobody will be remotely interested about reading the adventures of Angsty McMonotone. Adding on a trait like 'sarcastic' isn't going to cut it, either. A character can brood, or be bitter and serious, but give them some depth. I cannot even begin to stress how two-dimensional all of these 'living for revenge', 'pity me because I was abused', 'angry at the world' characters are.

I encourage to give your creations some past experience, only to give them some wisdom to be used in the present. Their personality is NOT their backstory, and vice versa. Put some effort into your characters. For the sake of experiment, try to create one who had a decent childhood and adolescence, and see how well they do in the world.

By no means am I trying to be hypocritical or judgemental. All I'm encouraging is originality, for writers to give their best effort. And if someone has criticism for me for how I write, I would hope that they had some advice for me, as well. If someone can argue with me over my stance on this subject, I would be even more thrilled. Somebody stand up, and prove to me that the tragic past can really be renewed and used properly. Because I have yet to see it, and I know even my methods are unoriginal and simple. And really, it's very sad when someone my age is becoming jaded to literature because of cliches.

Notebooks - A Writer's Best Friend

2009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

There is not a surface in my room, both on residence and at home, that lacks a notebook. They sit there, collecting dust and simply starving for ink. I have all kinds; spiral-bound, leather journals, 98% recycled, weatherproof, and a dozen others. Over two thirds of them are empty or have only two pages filled out. It is simply an addiction. Some people play MMORPGs obsessively, some cannot start their morning without coffee and/or a cigarette. I cannot go to a book store without drooling over notebooks. Many people I know have the same problem, where they have millions of blank, aesthetically pleasingly bound stacks of paper.

I believe that allure is within the potential of a fresh, blank book. A hundred empty pages can call to a writer or avid sketcher, and that 'new notebook smell' is like a pheromone to some people. But some simply stop writing a couple of pages in, because that wonderful clean slate is gone, taking away the very thing that dragged you to the cash register in the first place.

I have literally used three notebooks for the same purpose. The first ten pages are filled out in the exact same way. I can find a flaw in any notebook, and find a reason to use a different one for notes about short stories and novel ideas that float around in my mind. It is a waste, and I usually rip out the pages, shred them, and recycle them in order to keep a whole notebook from being wasted.

Through experience, I have learned a very helpful way to cut down or even eliminate Spontaneous Notebook Purchasing (SNP for short). And it is a simple, unrevolutionary concept that you might have considered already. It just requires some decision making and discipline in order to pay off. And if you are a writer or artist of any kind, you should already be well acquainted with both.

Pick one notebook that you already own, and make sure that it's blank. Or, if for some reason you don't have a favorite or want to make one last splurge, buy one that you sincerely adore in every way. Make sure to research brands, or weigh your own likes or dislikes about certain ones. Once you have the Chosen Notebook, it will be your one and only until every page is filled. Separate it into sections, according to your needs. I recommend using four parts, and to set aside as much paper for each one as you feel necessary.

My personal notebook is a large, ruled Moleskine. It is in four sections;
Writing: Everything from ideas for novels, characters, stories, muses, and blog brainstorming goes here.
General Notes: Here is where I have notes and scribbles for things I need to remember. Music lists, book lists, ideas for Christmas/birthday shopping, and all initial brainstorming is in this section
Dreams and Aspirations: My personal 'bucket list', places I want to see, and long-term plans are written out here. This makes my notebook personal and even more special.
To-Do: This part is the biggest list I have ever written. On one side of the page is the task I need to accomplish, and the date it needs to be done by. It has more or less replaced my datebook.

Now, I have to do a little selling out. Forgive me for getting all commercial. If you are planning on purchasing a notebook for serious use, I recommend the Moleskine. They come in different styles and sizes, depending on what you plan to use them for. Mine has become my companion, and I take it literally everywhere with me. There are a hundred little details that make it stylish and functional. Not to mention it looks professional, and even the large ones are compact enough to carry in most purses. As a self-professed Notebook-Connoisseur, I claim this as my absolute favorite.

Also, when you fill out every page of your notebook, keep it. Even if what you write is stupid, or re-written somewhere else, keep every book you fill out. They are proof of your personal growth and genius, and that is worth storing somewhere safe.

Keeping dozens of mostly-empty notebooks is an absolute waste. Note-taking is a huge part of writing, and is usually not treated very seriously. In fact, your brainstorming, research and sequencing notes are the very origins of your work, and a good beginning is essential to a smooth journey.

Twilight - An Overdue Dose of Truth

2009-03-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

It is simply impossible to go to a bookstore, mall, art website, forum, or any other place in the world with teenagers without hearing something about Twilight, the extremely popular series by Stephanie Meyer. It has spread like wildfire, becoming a pop culture giant alongside Harry Potter and other major fandoms. People everywhere are sporting 'Team Edward' shirts and other merchandise, advertising their support for a fictional man competing for the love of a teenage girl. You cannot so much as mention vampire or werewolves without someone mentioning the series, or comparing Meyer's characters to ones in other works of the horror/fantasy genre.

I am going to get in trouble for this. the torches and pitchforks will be at my door within a week. But frankly, I have long since stopped caring. After hearing over and over about how teenage girls want to find true love with a bloodsucking immortal who sparkles in the sunlight, I have reached the end of my rope. Twilight is not revolutionary, wonderful, or worth half of the hype it receives. It is a mediocre series that pushes no boundaries and brings nothing new to the literary world. It is impossible to decide where to even begin, but I will pick apart the actual text first.

The writing, I have to say, leaves something to be desired. Usually when I read something I dislike content-wise, I can say 'hey, at least they were good enough to get published and have a unique writing style'. Twilight does not even give that much. Meyer's writing is choppy, unorganized and all over the place. You can easily tell that she was trying to find her own style during the first two books, at the very least. It is also quite clear that she only slipped past the critical editors who would have slapped her three pages into the book, simply because the content had wonderful marketing potential.

People need to realise this: Twilight is all clever marketing. I do give Meyer and her publisher (Little, Brown and Company) some credit, because they knew their target audience and what would get them worked up. These books are focused towards teenage girls; the up-and-coming women of tomorrow who are too young to have realistic expectations of love, and old enough to have a sense of entitlement and a dying need to be special and different. And what teenage girl wouldn't love to be spotted out from the crowd by a charming, handsome vampire, who lifts her out of her mediocre life and adores her instantly? Not to mention having a vampire or werewolf for a boyfriend would really upset mommy and daddy. That's just the icing on one big sugar-packed, diabetes-causing cake.

Many people say that Meyer's versions of the vampires and werewolves are 'genius'. While I can appreciate her interesting backstory to the wolves, which blends culture and the supernatural in a very balanced way, I still must disagree. The frustrating but commonly known thing about these two races is that absolutely everything has been done. I strongly believe that Meyer slapped the 'sparkling like he had thousands of minuscule diamonds embedded in his skin' into it to avoid some major plotholes. And that in itself is not wonderful. It's a cop-out.

The characters alone do have their merits. There were one or two that made me interested in reading on, but between Bella's insistent bitching and Edward's emo-schizophrenic mood swings, I couldn't get past the fourth chapter in the second book. I think I should leave it at that.

I have a confession to make. When I was fourteen, at the peak of my stupidity and just as desperate to be 'different' and 'special', I decided to give a shot at writing a novel. And I wrote one about a girl who lives a mundane life and is in the middle of her high school years, who is suddenly pulled into the world of werewolves when she is bitten and transformed. Her creator and mentor was a boy who had just arrived at their school, and belonged to the local 'pack'. If you're not as thick as a mountain or just blissfully unaware of storybook cliches, you'll know that they fell in love. It was a shitty book. A really, really shitty book. But if you were to line up that story along with the first Twilight book, the similarities would have blood waterfalling from your eyes.

My point? Aside from some structural, grammatical improvements and an updated vocabulary, Twilight could have been written by a fourteen year-old.

I'm not trying to start fights. I usually hold my tongue when Twilight comes up as a subject in conversation. For teenagers, it's a decent book. It provides entertainment, which a story should do. It is a vampire novel with training wheels, and there are so many better ones out there. Back in my angsty teen years, I had the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. And while I look back on those days and laugh, I can still say that they were good books. Beyond the vampires' whining and effeminate ways, they are at least interesting. There are subtle undertones of a very emotionally erotic kind, and the characters so beautifully brush on the topics of human nature, feral instinct, trust, faith and sexuality. Twilight delivers what kids want more directly; teen angst, forbidden love and sparkly handsome boys. Anyone who gushes about Twilight would have their mind blown by Interview with the Vampire.

I know that there is literally nothing I can do to stop the ridiculousness that is Twilight. I cannot stop the crazed fans from starting gang wars between 'Team Edward' and 'Team Jacob'. And honestly, Meyer got four books published and I am still struggling to write one. But as a long-time fan of the supernatural and an undeservingly opinionated observer, I can say that we could have lived without this series butchering both vampires and young girls' expectations of romance. But congrats, Meyer. You catered to your audience well and earned millions. What's more, your intellectual property was made into a major motion picture. You have achieved what many only dream of. Good on you for doing what you want and doing well for yourself from it.

Am I jealous? Not at all. Even if I never see my ideas on shelves, I can be proud of what I write. Maybe she's proud of what she writes, and that's all that matters. The millions of dollars are just a bonus, right? But there is something inherently wrong with kids expecting to find true love with a vampire based on something they read in a work of fiction. There is also something very wrong about all of the hype around the fandom.

When writing and talking about this post with a good friend, she provided a video that sums up what I cannot stand the most about Twilight - the idiot fans. Bask in the idiocy.

Storytelling in Video Games - A Lost Art

2009-03-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Overprotective mothers and agenda-attentive Republicans can say what they like about video games; they are more than Murder Simulators out to corrupt the soft, impressionable minds of the youth. They are not just there to rot our minds and provide a distraction from responsibility. While there may be too many games now with the 'Shoot now and don't even think about asking questions' philosophy, there are a good handful of gems that provide more than dazzling environments and challenging enemies - they have fantastic storytelling.

Sadly, the story in many games is often sacrificed so the testosterone-driven protagonist can spend more time diving headfirst into gunfights. But there was a time, not too long ago, when a game with a horrible story was laughed off the shelves. While one may think that intricate plots belong in RPGs exclusively, that is far from the truth. Many horror, first/third person shooter, and even point-and-click games have absolutely fantastic story lines. The sad reality is that they are often overlooked. Too often I read reviews that talk about the 'ingenious AI' or the 'dodgy combat system', when there is a novel-worthy story behind every action that the player makes.

One collection of games that I personally believe has wonderful storytelling is the Silent Hill series. It is hard to find a writer, or avid reader, that has played these games and not noticed the deep, coarsely woven story that can shake you to the very core. A popular video reviewer once mentioned this series' wonderful writing, and I was compelled to look into it. I will admit to being a complete coward and having to read LPs and force a friend to play one of these games for me while I looked on in horror, but I was so amazed that it was worth the following week of nightmares. Even the complex puzzles have wonderfully written riddles, that are very poetic and fit disturbingly well with the unsettling atmosphere.

Games like this do seem to be a dying breed. With the constant recycling of ideas and cookie-cutter games, it is difficult to find new releases with good stories. Even the plot-faithful Role Playing Games are dipping into the cliche bin and reusing old concepts. But a good hunt through the game stores and some research will find you a video game with a proper dosage of gameplay and story. They are equally vital.

After all, we really play video games to participate in a story. We become the main character and watch the events unfold through their eyes. A properly written game can feel like living a book. As nerdy as it sounds, I have learned many useful and inspiring things from the more story-motivated games. Many people play just for the entertainment of the game and skip through cutscenes, and I think that is a shame. Some of the best stories I have ever heard can be found in some classic games. Some series like Final Fantasy, Fire Emblem, Silent Hill, Metal Gear and even Legend of Zelda offer wonderful storytelling, and I urge you to go out and find another, less mainstream example and see for yourself.

Good writing is becoming rare in video games. And of course, there are always examples of games that spend too much time expanding plot and place everything else on the back burner. What a game requires is balance. What they need is a good story to bring purpose to your efforts, and proper gameplay to bring the plot along smoothly.

The Final Fantasy series in particular is to blame for my love of writing. Growing up playing those games has made me want to write for a living, simply because the characters, plot twists and world have been so inspiring. Writing for a video game must be difficult, and my boundless respect belongs to those who can do it right.

Commentary - Young Writers

2009-02-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

I should probably state a little disclaimer before I jump head-first into this. I, myself, am a young writer. I know and talk to many people in my age group who write as a hobby and do a wonderful job, and it is a delight to read their work. But there are a staggering number of people who fit at least one of the criteria I will be ranting about, and they wholly get on my nerves.

The great thing about writing is almost anyone can do it. Even without literacy or a shred of talent, someone can weave a story to be shared with others. But just like painting, sculpting, music, and other forms of art, it requires discipline and practice. Not many people recognize this, and a sad number of people feel like they can call themselves 'writers' while giving minimal effort. You are hardly going to be taken seriously about something if you give 10% of your potential.

I do understand that people have busy lives, and that writing is not always going to feed you. My main problem is with the people who feel that they are entitled to appreciation, praise and respect when they call themselves 'writers' or 'novelists', when really they do not take their work seriously, and have not even come close to finishing one of their twenty 'novels'. Someone cannot solely have a few pages of rough, abandoned sketches and doodles and call themselves an artist.

I cannot begin to count how many times I have talked to or met a young 'writer' who claims that they will have a bestseller or already calls themselves an author or novelist. Most of these people are still in high school, and already have such a swelled head that they fail to see that you have to earn those titles and actually work towards your goals. Many people get the impression that you won't have to practise writing, because there is rarely a visual aspect, like in drawing. But that is entirely wrong. Only through practise and peer critique can you develop your skills and gain experience. Real readers will look deep into your words and how you use them, because you are painting a picture in their mind.

Personally, I can hardly take myself seriously as a 'writer'. Sometimes I refuse to call myself that, because while it is my hobby, sometimes I let my scheduled writing time slip by unproductively, or I drop projects out of frustration. Many young people lack discipline, and I am no exception. That is something you simply learn with age and experience. Not enough young writers accept the fact that they have a lot of growing and maturing to do. They think of themselves as precious, young talent who need no training.

As much as I do not want to get into characters yet, I will say that I am entirely sick of the classic Mary Sue-Complex. If you role-play or write for internet publication, you likely know this term. It is, in simplest words, a character that is either flawlessly perfect and desirable, has a tortured past or present that they cannot seem to get over, or has some other characteristic that forces everything to focus on them at all times. And if you look at any young writer's work, 75% of the time the main character will be just that. I'm not trying to initiate a fight, I'm just stating fact based on my own observations. I've had my fair share of Sues in my early writing days. I'm not proud, but I admit it. I was an idiot, and I probably still am. You don't know better when you're inexperienced.

Now, let me cover my own ass, here. Sometimes this works. Sometimes that's what is needed to get the plot going. I have seen some Mary Sue-like characters work well when written correctly. But that too requires skill. And it is an extremely rare occurrence.

Some writers, especially the younger ones, simply need to lose that sense of entitlement. You are not, I repeat, not a novelist unless you have at the very least written a full draft of a novel. You are not a writer unless you take your profession or hobby seriously. And your characters are not you, and vice versa; do not try to live through them like the arrogant ass of a hockey dad you'll see yelling at his kid at any rink on Saturday morning. Really, just either treat your writing like you should or don't call yourself a writer. You're not going to get that book deal until you earn it, and that alone is more work than a full-time job.

Still I would like to clarify that I know a fair share of disciplined, talented people who are passionate and work very hard. I am not by any means biased against the young writing community. Nothing makes me happier than talking to a peer who is willing to share their work. Everybody deserves a fair shot, as long as they can take constructive criticism the same way that they take praise.

The world needs more serious writers. People are having less and less respect for this art, because anyone on fictionpress or deviantART can publish their work and call themselves an author. If you know you have talent, and there is not shame in saying that you do, I urge you to use it. If you like writing, set up time in your busy schedule and even a work area especially for it. Your hard work and improvement will shine through all the pretentious, spoiled word-doodlers, and the writing community will earn a little more respect.

Chapter One - Introduce the Protagonist

2009-02-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

Greetings, Internet!

Apparently I am on a quest to sabotage every ounce of free time I have, because I have decided to start a second blog. This one, as the title may hint, is focused around writing and literature. More than likely, this will be a brutally honest, calling-it-as-I-see-it collection of rants and monologues, pertaining to a number of things I believe about the writing community. My opinions are a little harsh when I believe strongly in something, but I do not plan to single out certain people.

Although I am young and still learning, I have a lot to say and discuss when it comes to writing. I have been writing since I could hold a pencil, and now it is a serious hobby of mine. Several hours of my (busy) week are dedicated to it. Through talking to many people like myself, I have learned a lot and seen many wonderful works. On the other hand, I have developed some opinions about the young writing community that are not so great, but will be probably be covered later.

I suppose a bit of information on me should be shared. Currently, I am a second semester student and Fleming College, in the Fish and Wildlife program. I am a huge nature lover (if you have read the beginning of my first blog, you would know the truth in that), and I adore animals. Generally, I'm a very shy person, and I'm only just now getting over a nearly crippling fear of critique. As a writer, I mainly compose short stories, and I am currently attempting to write a novel. Whether that gets finished, much less published, is rather up in the air. When it comes to my writing I am a perfectionist, and I have been known to tweak a perfectly competent story into a disaster.

A couple of little works I find view-worthy can be found on my deviantART account.
http://www.gealbhan.deviantart.com
You will see that many of the little blurbs and stories that I write center around the same group of characters and world. They are pieces written that either expand on or are in the novel I am trying to write.

Writing is my passion and my vice. I would happily give up my voice if I could keep my freedom to write whatever I please. My goal is to share my opinions, document my progress as an 'author', and develop my skills over time. And hopefully, I can offer something that may be helpful to someone. For now, I will offer the best advice that I have ever heard.

Never, ever stop writing. Practise, brainstorm and read. No matter how discouraged you are, never simply give up and walk away from something. Abandoning something is the only surefire way to fail.

If I can get people to really read this, I would like readers to discuss what I write in this blog and perhaps even challenge me. If I stand high with nobody to throw rocks at me, I might just assume that I'm right and become a pompous asshat. And nobody wants that.