tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16435124546944737322024-03-13T00:59:46.989-04:00High Fantasy ProjectIn what promises to be a long effort, this resource will keep the latest information flowing on a new High Fantasy novel in the works.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-22007822282460408272011-04-23T13:37:00.001-04:002011-04-23T13:40:13.664-04:00House to myselfHome alone... time to write!ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-27498229539368478332011-03-13T22:49:00.002-04:002011-03-13T22:58:23.125-04:00Focus GroupI hosted a focus group recently to get feedback on the first draft of the new short story. The idea was to listen to another perspective on the writing... to see if my ideas are communicated properly, etc. and also to establish a milestone with a deadline. It achieved both. It helped me to get in gear and draft up what will ultimately become a critical portion of the opening act of the finished work. I was also reassured that my own impression of what is working and what is not is fairly accurate.<br /><br />No more shorts... time to jam on the novel.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-25877416209552027972011-02-20T16:02:00.002-05:002011-02-20T16:07:15.503-05:00New Short StoryI've been working on a new Short Story over this Holiday weekend. Parts of this story will definitely be included in some form in the Novel. It is told from the perspective of a different character than the Novel version. Hard to tell but this one will likely be over 20 pages, twice that of the first short story.<br /><br />I'm setting up an event for some people to come and review it when it's complete... that type of stuff will hopefully enforce a deadline... to get me in the habit of focusing and blocking out distractions.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-24406150804241586132011-01-26T12:29:00.002-05:002011-01-26T12:32:09.846-05:00Respite OverWhile I've been away from the blog for a while, I have done some work on the book. I won't lie and say it's been a lot of work, but now I'm back at it.<br />In the short term, I've set a goal to work on a second short story based on the themes of the novel. That goal oriented approach seemed to work last year in making progress so I'll attempt it again.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-37870676941344202872010-08-28T10:59:00.002-04:002010-08-28T11:07:08.052-04:00Cool technologySo I downloaded the iBooks App and got free copies of about 15 books I intended to read for reference. Everything from traditional classics like "The Odyssey" and "La Morte d'Arthur" to Epic Poems like "The Volsunga Saga", "Nibelungenlied" and "Kalevata".<br /><br />I had built this reading list when reviewing my favorite authors and learning what their influences were. It seems most of what I enjoy reading derives from Norse and Icelandic Mythology!ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-9436050824202494462010-08-12T23:07:00.003-04:002010-08-12T23:10:34.324-04:00Character BackstoryI've used the techniques I read recently to flush out back story for two main characters. Much of this writing will probably not see the published page, but its existence adds depth and continuity to the characters. With their history in mind, it's easier to divine "what would he do here". These characters are evolving on their own it seems.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-14290034926242150852010-07-27T20:48:00.004-04:002010-07-27T20:53:38.204-04:00Reference MaterialI had been reading Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces", but after the Hero's Journey section I can't pick it up without falling asleep. I'll get back to it later, but for now I've been reading "Character" chapters from some of my older texts, like "Story", "Fundamentals of Screenwriting", "Story Sense", "Making a Good Writer Great", etc. These are all from my screenwriting days, but I think the principals apply to this format.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-61496474222636041672010-07-16T23:31:00.001-04:002010-07-16T23:33:00.825-04:00TranscriptionI transcribed some of my original notes from years ago. Many of these ideas have been in my head in some form all this time, but looking at these notes again has refreshed my memory.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-29066672765036884632010-07-09T23:19:00.002-04:002010-07-09T23:22:12.061-04:00The MuseThroughout this project, when facing writer's block I play Luna Mortis to get going. The new Killswitch Engage should also prove rich in the motivation department! \m/<br /><br />... Act II draft continues ...ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-92155701290548658032010-07-01T08:51:00.004-04:002010-07-01T09:14:41.576-04:00Act III've begun piecing together previously written scenes into an Act II. Not a lot of cohesion yet but if I can keep moving forward it will become more apparent what works and what doesn't.<br /><br />I also spent some time working on character back stories. It's nearly impossible to write characters without knowing who they are. Anyway, this opens up huge cans of worms from culture, to geography, to socio-political and religious implications. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but I don't want stale characters.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-4451025173819510222010-05-17T00:03:00.003-04:002010-05-17T00:06:57.940-04:00UpdateSeriously I have done some work since the last post, I swear! Progress has been slow due to a diversion outside the project... but I believe this was an endeavor worthy of the time spent.<br /><br />I've made a little progress nonetheless. I've hashed out a possible first act, which I'm not crazy about. I may table that as an idea for another book or something. We'll see.<br /><br />So far limited reviews of the short story have been positive.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-54647211875491116122010-04-09T23:51:00.002-04:002010-04-09T23:55:58.620-04:00ShortTook some time to revisit the first short. Did some rewriting and completed a second draft. It's about a dozen pages and is intended to stand alone for now, but it does take place in the same world and involves one of the characters from the main work. It may be incorporated into the book in some form, or at least alluded to. Other than that, I finished a preliminary Plot outline. In its present form I see there is much more work to be done before it's satisfactory.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-87933825640313338642010-04-06T20:07:00.002-04:002010-04-06T20:08:57.058-04:00Progress....The milestone calendar is working pretty well. I've been writing every day since starting that approach. Also, using mass transit during the commute is allowing me to put time into the project that would have otherwise been spent driving.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-34932951652634768242010-03-31T15:21:00.003-04:002010-03-31T15:23:47.593-04:00New approachIn an effort to avoid distractions and procrastination, I've set a calendar full of milestones for the next month or so. After two days it's working OK, but time will tell. I have a first draft target of Mid-May.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-90019679212691763872010-03-17T22:22:00.002-04:002010-03-17T22:26:08.920-04:00Damn DistractionsI assume any author can attest to the constant distractions that get in the way of the effort. Today I was able to fight though that and get some good ideas down. So far I have a bunch of "scenes", but I am continuing to think of these in the context of a greater theme.<br /><br />Btw, it's a pita to come up with good names for places and characters. So far everyone is a pronoun!<br /><br />I began reading Hero with a Thousand Faces the other day. It's good material for getting in the right writing mindset.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-20387757722828945922010-03-01T13:36:00.002-05:002010-03-01T13:37:03.456-05:00Slow ProgressI've had some recent distractions keeping me from the project, but will be back at it soon enough.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-73771891916276154222010-02-18T23:26:00.002-05:002010-02-18T23:27:54.193-05:00Flushing out characterI've spent some time recently flushing out what might prove to be a main character. You know, coming up with compelling names is more challenging than it sounds!ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-6848343975283221942010-01-31T21:52:00.002-05:002010-01-31T22:01:44.633-05:00Short Story UpdateAs expected, reviewing the short story revealed some flaws. The story is OK, but the flow could be dictated better and some description could be streamlined. Also, without the context of the novel I need to include some characterization that readers would otherwise already be privy to. I have set a short timetable to rework these facets.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-48680607647142506192010-01-21T23:54:00.002-05:002010-01-21T23:57:14.773-05:00Epic SessionI just had probably my best writing session of the project. I jammed for about four hours and finished up a first draft of this short story. I'll look at it with fresh eyes later and probably think it sucks but it's progress.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-43962196252512282932010-01-21T12:08:00.002-05:002010-01-21T12:12:50.201-05:00SweetThree followers! This is really taking off now! lol<br /><br />Work continues on the short story... more on that later. I've been reading three books simultaneously, depending on what I'm in the mood for. For training I've started "Hero with a Thousand Faces", for classical reference "The Iliad", and for pure entertainment value I'm on book 2 of the Conan series. Each is providing some insight into writing style and story structure so I'm going to keep reading as much as writing.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-29814602240401614342010-01-18T14:23:00.003-05:002010-01-18T14:24:34.571-05:00UpdateHaven't posted in a while but I have been working. I'm currently focusing on a short story, relevant to the overall topic, but something that can stand on its own. It's probable this may make its way into the final novel in some form.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-64897284418352561872009-12-13T21:56:00.000-05:002009-12-13T21:57:19.503-05:00First follower!Sweet, just got my first follower! This is taking off now! :-PObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-44887654796746879542009-12-12T16:24:00.002-05:002009-12-12T16:33:59.470-05:00UpdateHaven't posted in a while, but things are moving along. Been only putting in less than an hour a day, but have made some progress. Most of what's written so far is concept scenes, with no structure or story arc. Just putting ideas down so far. That's all for now.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-41549793925571170512009-11-20T09:43:00.003-05:002009-11-20T09:56:30.696-05:00Slow ProgressJust bought Iliad and Odyssey, and ordered some Conan books on eBay... Howard's versions. I'm re-reading some of this old stuff for reference. Tolkien's work I've read enough times but I did get a reading list from his influences. I intend to Read as much as Write to keep training myself on what works and what doesn't.<br /><br />To that point, I am finishing up King's Dark Tower now. One thing I learned from Dark Tower is to not use generational references from "our world" to explain things... or to quote within the narrative what was the inspiration for a scene. I hope to do better!ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643512454694473732.post-27151507184560088692009-11-04T14:09:00.002-05:002009-11-04T14:12:05.882-05:00First stepWhat do they say? "Every journey begins with a first step"? We'll the first several steps have been taken. I'm researching several topics to flush out some ideas and I've actually written a couple paragraphs to 'get in touch' with one of the characters.ObiWanCotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991820149332685549noreply@blogger.com0