The Board

I'm running out of crummy excuses here...  So I'm trying to get back on board with my writing blog... and my writing.  So in order to focus more I have decided to return to my favorite writing spot on campus, King Cafe!!!  I came here seeking isolation in a social context, however since no one is here it's more like regular isolation.

Regardless!

I am here to finish chapter three which is moving slowly due to the addition of another plot point that was introduced in the second chapter.

Hey everyone!  I know I said I was going to talk about some of the inspiration behind AGOHAC once the first chapter was published and I still plan on doing that so stick around for some background on Rook in the next couple of days.

Updates:

Chapter two has been a long, grinding process.  I'm working my way through what will be the final draft right now.  I'm not sure what took me so long with this chapter, I suppose I felt really pressured to make it as good as the first in 1/3 the time.  I'm slowly getting used to writing on consistent deadlines.

I have a new assistant editor!  One of my good friends has volunteered his time to read my drafts.  I really enjoy his work and his edits have been good so far, though I feel like he doesn't quite get my style yet.  That will come with time though!

Varia and I will be doing a series on the making of AGOHAC where we post the best of the editing process so our readers can see what goes on each month between chapters. I'm not sure if it will be posted here or on Varia, but I'll have links to it either way.

I'm going to Colorado!

***

Period.  Yes.  It is pretty much perfect and I love it so much.

I can't believe it's almost July.  Only two more months until my new apartment.

Anyway, I've been talking with my buddy in Varia and I think we're going to do some sort of a video series featuring me.  We already made a video of the reading of the first chapter of AGOHAC.  It's pretty much amazing.  So when we start making videos I'll post the link here.

I'm enjoying my new perspectives, or rather my new voice.  I find that there's a lot I want to talk about with writing lately and I find it really exciting. I think it has to do with the fact that my writing is really taking off in a direction that is positive and, so far, fruitful.

Tonight I talked with one of my friends about how he starts a story.  As I have explained before, I play god in my stories.  I create characters first and define a story for them that usually does not end happily.  The characters come first, then the situation, and finally the world (which is sometimes an afterthought and perhaps not very well thought out with the exception being AGOHAC).  He told me that he makes a clearly defined world first, then makes a few characters, and lets them tell him their story.  I really enjoy this organic approach to writing and I think it is reflected well in what he writes.

I have been trying to focus on the world the story occurs in more.  AGOHAC features a world (or at least a large aspect of the world) that governs the people and the way they live their lives, so it needs to have its center in the light.  I feel like my problem lies in the fact that I make larger-than-life characters and they overshadow the world.  So I'm trying to focus more on the subtle political influences that would affect the world of AGOHAC.  In GAP, well I'm not really sure what I'm doing in GAP yet, but I'm trying to create a glorious world and a smaller, more humble protagonist.  I have a lot of ideas for GAP, but the way we're writing it anything could happen.

I have no idea why this is, except for living with apparent ADHD (but I come from a time where ADHD was way over-diagnosed, that argument aside).  My best friend had her internet turned off for a month and she told me how much it helped her writing.  I was thinking about doing something similar, but I sort of need the internet for GAP.  I find that I'm more motivated to write when I'm around other people, especially if those people are working or doing something creative.  It has come to the point where I have considered going to Starbucks and working, problem with that is there are only two in the area, one is in the local Barnes and Noble and the other is just a tad sketchy with minimal seating.  I don't really know what stops me from going.  Maybe I'll try it sometime this week after work.

I'm hoping to get a lot done today, or maybe, I dunno, FINISH AGOHAC FINALLY.  I've already explained my situation in a few words, so I won't go into that.  I'm actually feeling better than I've felt in awhile.  I'm going to try to be more open with my writing from now on.  So after this post I'm going to post my blog to Facebook.  I know a few people will read it and that both excites and terrifies me.  Like I said yesterday, this blog has become more of an online journal than anything else.  So we'll see how that goes.

Anyway I'm having a writing day with two of my best friends.  It's something we try to do often, but honestly it's hard to find a time when we can all get together.  When this post is finished and everything is squared away on Facebook I'm going to finish up AGOHAC and then proceed to write my segment for my collaborative story, GAP (it doesn't really have a title so that's what I call it).  I'm really excited for GAP's protagonist, she's a lot different than any other character I've ever created.  Honestly the world and the races bring me way outside of my general sphere of expertise.  I've never made a race of monsters before.  I think it's a bit evident when comparing my race to the other two, but what my Dra'kil lack in design I feel they make up in social complexity.  So I'll just have to see.

So long story short, this was a chat client username made for me by my ex-boyfriend/close and dear friend.  It wasn't what I went with, but his intent in calling me that was flattering.  I think, to a large extent, he understands my work and what I do, how I feel so involved in my stories.  I take an active role as a god in my stories and I take all of them seriously.  It really amazes me how some authors can publish twenty or more books because I know I'll be lucky to publish two or three in my lifetime, but those I do publish will resonate with my entire being.

Sometimes I get discouraged when my work gets overlooked.  I understand that it takes time to sit down and read a piece, but that doesn't mean that time shouldn't be taken out of a day to enjoy what is essentially me.  There is a part of me that wishes I hadn't quit my dance company or stopped playing the violin.  I feel like performance arts or visual arts get so much more credit than my writing.  And then I wonder why I care so much.  If I write for myself, then why am I so afraid of what other people think of my writing, why am I so reluctant to share?  It could be because most of my work is only shared with a select group of people.  I don't mean to be so shy about sharing.  I don't mean a lot of things that I am.

But back to the point.  I am flattered that he sees what he does in me and I believe he appreciates my art.  He knows how seriously I take my writing and I'm glad he's invested in it.  This summer he created a writing exercise for us to do with one of his friends from home.  It's essentially a big collaborative piece and I'm really excited for it.  Sure it doesn't get updated as much as I'd like, but the fact that he wants to share in my art with me and help me better myself as a writer reminds me that as long as I keep doing what I do, I will continue to attract people who are interested in it.