NaNoWriMo Log—Days -1 - 3

DAY -1

(Oct. 31)

WORD COUNT: 0

WORD GOAL: 0

Thought of the day: Candy and coffee can be useful to boost energy and morale during a writing splurge. And music is especially good for your mood. On the other side of the spectrum, doing schoolwork kills energy and mood.

[1:45 PM]

Schoolwork. >_> Don't you hate it? I have to do geometry before doing anything for NaNoWriMo. However, Mom said that if I can do today and tomorrow's schoolwork today, then I'll be allowed to stay up until midnight to start NaNoWriMo.

*chomps on a tootsie roll*

I'd prefer a Butterfinger, actually...

Well, I have a lot of schoolwork to do if I'm going to be able to stay up tonight. I'm hoping to get more than just two days' worth, that way I can get a head start on NaNoWriMo to last me through the busy days this November. Au revior!

I hope Geometri doesn't eat me...

[3:20 PM]

After several weeks of no school (due to moving), I've forgotten how much I hate geometry...

[3:30 PM]

Did I mention that I also hate writing geometry proofs?

[4:00 PM]

I've found that Doctor Who soundtrack helps me go faster. ^_^

[10:00 PM]

Okay, slightly freaky...someone just showed up at our door. A trick-or-treater wearing some sort of white fabric over his/her head. O_o We're in the middle of nowhere. We didn't expect visitors, so our porch light was on.

We stole a piece of Dad's candy to give him/her, but...seriously? The nearest town has less than a hundred people. And it's getting late.

Just wondering...who goes poking around century-old farmhouses to trick-or-treat? That's straight out of a Halloween movie.

We turned out porch light off, though. No sense in taking chances. ^_^

And also, two hours until NaNoWriMo starts! (OO) I hope inspiration hits this old farmhouse once midnight hits....and I also hope no other trick-or-treaters hit. <_<

[10:15 PM]

Well, I feel silly. Manny and Vrenith staged the little trick-or-treat trick. Since I only glimpsed the trick-or-treater, I didn't realize that it was Vren wearing a mask.

Yeah, I admit it. They sucked me in. I was completely fooled. *shakes head*

Three cheers for sisters though. XD I have to admit, it was a brilliant scheme. Everyone was fooled.

[11:10 PM]

50 minutes! I'm preparing for a midnight head-start before a write-out tomorrow. Schoolwork is mostly done, so I'll have plenty of time to write.

I'll need to get up early for once, though. xD

Ah, midnight writing, how I've missed thee!

\

[11:25 PM]

I'm getting impatient. As the Doctor would say, "Is this how time normally passes?" *runs downstairs to get a glass of milk*

[11:32 PM]

*transfers "Doctor Who Theme" to computer in preparation for NaNoWriMo* The suspense is killing me... XP

But this soundtrack is epic. ^_^

[11:50 PM]

Ten minutes!! D: *creates a document entitled "The Prophecy of Einarr"*

DAY 1

(Nov. 1)

CURRENT WORD COUNT (today): 3,022

WORD GOAL: 1,667

Thought of the day: Keep writing until you can write no more. And then, write more anyway.

[12:00 AM]

MIDNIGHT! NANOWRIMO HAS STARTED!! WAHOOOOO!

See ya in the morning, folks! I've got energy and writing to burn! :D :D LET THE WRITING BEGIN!

[1:15 AM]

Well, I'm turning in. I got 850 words written, not a bad sum. It's a little over half of my daily quota. And I really like the words that I did get written. They're a good start, I think.

I need to brainstorm before I write more, and also it's getting late.

Vren wrote 2,000 words, though. She writes as fast as I used to! I admit, I'm more than a little jealous. But hey, I wrote 850 words of great quality. Nothing to be ashamed of, ja? Maybe my pace will pick up later on in the month.

So far, I haven't used up my inspiration or energy, so hopefully I can direct that straight to my word count tomorrow. Or today, actually. O_o

[11:30 AM]

Well, I've been up for a little while. Talked on the phone and had breakfast. (I knew staying up late wasn't a good idea if I wanted to get up "early"....) I'll take a shower and do a few other things, and then get started.

[12:40 PM]

All right. Let's get this party started. *goes to write*

[1:10 PM]

My prologue is finished, at 1,319 words. ^_^ It's a good prologue, methinks. I like it.

[2:40 PM]

I just discovered that I lost an entire scene from the Book of Shaldu. I can't find it anywhere.

Blast....

I'm at 1,570 right now. I went and took a walk, though, so I haven't written much.

[3:00 PM]

I hit my goal for today, even though the going is slow. I'm at 1,699 right now. I need to brainstorm before I write any more, so I'll take a short break.

[4:00 PM]

Worked outside some. I'm trying to figure out how to grab some more excitement and conflict for this scene. It's not moving at all. >_>

[8:15 PM]

I worked outside for quite a while, so I didn't write. I got back to it a little bit ago, though, and I broke 2,000. Since we're having a Who-A-Thon tomorrow (hours of watching Doctor Who in celebration of Vrenith's birthday), I need to make sure that I have my quota for tomorrow at least partially done.

Also, I figured out that scene, and I really like it now. *nodnod* I'm writing fairly fast. Although, since I jumped several months from the end of The Book of Shaldu to the beginning of The Prophecy of Einarr, I'm having a hard time letting the reader know what happened during that time without "telling".

[10:25 PM]

Nearing 3,000 words. I'm going to bed soon, since I have to wake up at 6:30 tomorrow.

My novel is turning out to be lighter than I thought it would be. There's quite a bit of unexpected banter that just popped out of nowhere.

[10:45 PM]

My final word count for the night is 3,022 words. Good night!

DAY 2

(Nov. 2)

CURRENT WORD COUNT (today): 3,022

WORD GOAL: 3,334

Thought of the day: Getting up early is good. You get more writing done that way.

[7:12 AM]

Well, I'm up and showered. The sun isn't up yet, so it feels earlier than it really is. O_o At any rate, we'll leave soon. Lots of time for Doctor Who! :D

DAY 3

(Nov. 3)

CURRENT WORD COUNT (today): 3,022

WORD GOAL: 5,001

Thought of the day: Doctor Who might not be good if I'm supposed to be writing, but it sure helps my novel's epicness.

[12:20 PM]

Well, we didn't get back home until midnight, and, guess what? I left my computer at the farm.

Yeah.

At any rate, yesterday was epic. :D Vrenith got a trenchcoat and a lot of Doctor Who-watching for her birthday. We watched Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Christmas Invasion, Partners in Crime, The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang, and most of the Eleventh Hour.

Some of my favorite quotes include:

--

"You know when adults tell you that everything's going to be fine, and you think that they're probably lying just to make you feel better?"

"Yeah."

"Everything's going to be fine."

(The Eleventh Hour)

--

"I'll have to give it a target to get a closer look. You know when I have really brilliant ideas sometimes?"

"Yeah—"

"Sorry." *jumps out into the open* "LOOK AT ME, I'M A TARGET!"

(The Pandorica Opens)

--

"Hold on!"

*dangling off the edge of a building* "I AM holding on!"

(Partners in Crime)

--

"Donna?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay out of the shadows."

(Silence in the Library)

--

"Who takes the Pandorica takes the universe! But, bad news everyone, 'cause guess who! Hah! Me! You're all whizzing about, and it's very distracting, so could you all just be quiet a minute because I—AM—TALKING!"

(The Pandorica Opens)

The rest of the Doctor's Pandorica speech is even more epic. I'll give you a link sometime.

Also, I need to go take a shower, and then we're leaving. Again. I sure hope I have time to write 2,000 words today. O_o

[8:18 PM]

Spent some time with a good friend talking over my novel. I refreshed my memory on some things and solved a plot problem. :)  It's been hectic today, so I'm just getting around to writing.  Hope I can write 2k yet tonight. (OO)

--

(Present time)

How've you been?  NaNoers, how's it coming along?

Also, I reached 85 followers.  When did that happen? (OO)

I'd do a giveaway, but...things are kind of sporadic right now. XD  Did I even spell that right? O_o

Also, here's the video I talked about in the Log.  It's EPIC.

(As a warning to you, there is one instance of the D word, for those of you who won't watch it because of that.  I understand completely. :) )

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!  


EDIT: Also, this was my 200th post!  Hurrah! 

NaNoWrImo Log—Day -3 and -2

(I'll be randomly posting from my NaNoWriMo Log from now until the end of NaNoWriMo—I hope it's not too crazy for you! ;) )

DAY -3
(Oct. 29)


WORD COUNT: 0
WORD GOAL: 0

Thought of the day: Take a lot of walks and long showers. They help with inspiration.

[7:30 PM]

It's Saturday, the 29th of October, and time to brainstorm. Rounding it, there's two days until NaNoWriMo. I'm writing my synopsis right now, to give me something to go off of. This novel isn't nearly as well-planned as my last NaNoNovel, but I'm hoping for a good result. Time will tell, eh?

I've got my writing soundtracks in a playlist:

1) The Battle (Narnia)
2) The Lighting of the Beacons (Lord of the Rings)
3) The Battle of Pelennor Fields (Lord of the Rings)
4) Forth Eorlingas (Lord of the Rings)
5) The Sun's Gone Wibbly (Doctor Who)
6) I Am the Doctor (Doctor Who)

I'm hoping to add "Doctor Who Theme 2005" to that list, but I have yet to download it from my sister's computer.

All right, time to stop procrastinating and go write that synopsis!

[8:00 PM]

The synopsis is written. Not that bad of a synopsis, actually, although I need to work on it some more.

Arowdae is defeated, but the worst is yet to come. Darkness begins to cover the skies. Plants die, trees wither, and hope begins to fail.

The worst nightmare imaginable has been released, and the country is in ruins. The Refuge that held the last of Arowdae's free has been overrun. All that stands between Arowdae and complete destruction is those that rally under Edon Silversword.

And from the ashes of war, the son of Tanoath is rising, a leader who is determined to live—and fight.

In the meantime, the man who was once King is in chains. He's found light in his prison, but can it free him completely? Can he stand what is to come?

Those that follow the High Lord must hold on to hope. The last prophecy of Shaldu points the way to the Prophecy of Einarr, which holds the key to destroying the darkness. But what does the image of the blue half-moon mean, and who else is searching for the Prophecy?

In a ravaged land, light and darkness will collide once more.

And yes, it did take me a half-hour to write that. Don't judge me. I was perfecting it. Although I sure hope that I don't write that fast during NaNo...I might have to sacrifice quality for quantity.

[8:20 PM]

Mmmmm...sugar. I stole some caramels from the kitchen. :D This shall fuel my brain, ja? The Sprite is not agreeing with my stomach, though.

I really like the concept of a blue half-moon...it has to do with a secret organization. Mwahahahaha!

[8:30 PM]

[while chomping on caramels]

I really like the idea of a NaNoWriMo log. I'm going to post this on my blog whenever I can. Hopefully I can do this every day... *adds a word-count thingy at the top* That would be awesome. Then, I'd update it on my blog once I get internet.

It might get long. O_o I tend to gab. The reason I never journal is because I'm not writing it to someone, and it just fizzles out. Since I'm writing to my blog readers, this works out.

*finishes caramels and goes down to steal more*

[9:00 PM]

*glances at the books beside his computer on the desk* Well, I need to read these. I have two review copies I need to read and review before we go to Africa. This shall be tricky...juggling book reviews and school and NaNoWriMo. ^_^

The books, if you're curious, are "Invasion" by Jon S. Lewis and "The Scroll" by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky.

*eats a caramel*

You know, some people talk just to talk...I'm not one of those people, of course. ;) *ahem*

Over the last few weeks, I've been working myself up for NaNoWriMo. It's gotten to the point where I really NEED to write something, but I can't because it's not November yet. And I think that's a good thing. That "need" will probably last a day, though, and then Procrastination will kick in and I'll kick him back.

Maybe I'll write a poem... *disappears*

[9:15 PM]

Two roads diverged in a Kansas wheat field
And I—I took the one trampled the least
And, stopping by the golden heads, I kneeled
And I—I wondered if the gold would go good with yeast.

I'm a very original writer. ^_^ Get it? Wheat, yeast? Bread? BWAH—uh, you didn't get it, did you?....blast.

[9:20 PM]

Maybe this will suit your tastes.

I look up to the starry sky
And see a sickle there
A silver curve about to die
And be reborn anew.

I look up to the starry sky
And see a sickle there
And then, bemused, I wonder why
I look up and think of Dreamworks.

Okay, I admit it. I'm talking for the sake of talking. And now my caramels have run out...

[9:30 PM]

It's really sad when your NaNoWriMo Log is longer than your novel. But I have an excuse—NaNoWriMo doesn't start for another 50 hours!

At any rate, I need to get reading those review copies. And I have church tomorrow. Good night!



DAY -2
(Oct. 30)


WORD COUNT: 0
WORD GOAL: 0

[6:00 PM]

It's been a busy day. Church, lunch with friends, and then we came to our grandparents' for internet. I haven't done any brainstorming, although since I wrote my synopsis, things have been pulling together. I think I have my entire prologue planned out.

I don't have the energy to write much more. <_< I'm 3/4ths of the way through Invasion, though. Not a bad book, though the concept is cheesy.

--

How have you all been doing?  NaNoers, ready for NaNoWriMo?

Kansas - Again!

The farm might not have internet, but it sure fuels inspiration.  I'm going to need it if I'm going to do NaNoWriMo!

A battered stop sign near the farm. :)

The north pasture.  And the cows.  ;)

Both of these pictures were taken by my sister Manny.  We're living at the farm now and loving it!

And good luck to those of you who are doing NaNoWriMo!  Only two days left until it starts!

In Which I Am Not Sure What to Say

Greetings and hallucinations, readers!  I'm back!

(In an all new adventure...)

Don't you just love it that I blog only when I've exhausted all the other things I need/want to do on the internet?

The thing is, I'm not sure what to blog about.  I keep "updating", and I really hate doing the same thing over and over.  It gets old.  And it probably gets old for you.

So what to do?  Let's mix it up.  To the side is a picture that I am very fond of - the Doctor, tipping his Stetson.

And now for updates: as of right now, I'm still planning on doing NaNoWriMo.  We haven't left for Africa yet, but it's looking likely that we'll be off before the month is up.  But we'll see what God has planned, aye?

The novel in question is the Prophecy of Einarr (the title of The Prophecies, Book #2).  So far, I've got a hazy direction for it, and possibly a prologue idea, which is likewise hazy.  Ah, the life of a SOP writer...

I plan to do a lot of brainstorming at the farm this week, however.  It'll be a quiet week, away from civilization (and internet :P), with only school and yardwork to contend with.  Hopefully I can spray some cleaner on this novel and make it shiny instead of hazy.

In the meantime, I'm hoping for snow before we leave for Africa.  It was actually below 30 two nights ago - I can always hope!  A lot of weatherly change can happen in a week.

This turned into an update, didn't it?  Sticklebacks...

So, those of you who are doing NaNoWriMo, what're you doing?  How's the brainstorming/outlining going?  Are you prepared for a month of literary abandon?

If the answer to the latter is no, then you're ready.  It's called "abandon" for a reason.

And, to get this post meaningful in some way or form, here's a little writing tip:

ACTION BEATS


Action beats are extremely useful in dialogue.  In fact, if you use them often enough, it becomes habit and saves you the trouble of editing your dialogue to make it interesting.

Here's a few lines without beats:

"How're you doing?" Joe asked.
"All right," Tom replied.  "You?"
"Well, I'm surviving," he said.

(As a side note, I'd recommend using basic words like "said" in dialogue.  Words like "expostulated" and "screeched" (etc.) distract the reader.  There are purposes for such words, however, if used sparingly in your novel; i.e. "'Forward!' he thundered")

Action beats are basically actions that are used to indicate who is talking in a conversation.  After all, that's why we use phrases like "he said", right?  And it provides a visual of what's happening during the conversation, making the dialogue much more interesting to read.

Here's what action beats are like, used in prose.

Joe plopped himself down beside Tom.  "How're you doing?
"All right." Tom shrugged.  "You?"
"Well..." Joe grimaced. "I'm surviving."

Not the best of writing quality, but it'll do.

So, have you written anything good lately?

With that, I have books to read and more to brainstorm.  Au revior, readers!

::POOF::

Another Little Blog Post

Hey folks!  I'm back again.  It's a little strange for me to blog twice in one day, but I figured I'd get a post in while I can.

Here's what I've been reading/am reading/have to read.

The Book of Names: great book!  I'd recommend a read.  Fantasy lovers should greatly enjoy it. 

Corus the Champion: just finished it today.  It's even better than the sequel. :D  Great story.  Read it, folks!

Can't wait to read this one: the sequel to the previous two, it comes out later this month.

This oddly reminds me of the old Doctor Who credits. xD  Despite the slightly old-school look, it's shaping to be a good book (though I haven't read it yet).  It's sitting on my Kindle and waiting for me.  The last of a trilogy—I'm really excited to read it.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but it's an MLP (Marcher Lord Press, a speculative fiction publisher) book and, from what I read of the Kindle sample, is a going to be a great book.

Recently republished by Marcher Lord Press, Kathy Tyers' Firebird Trilogy is supposed to be one of the great sci-fi classics of Christian fiction.  Besides, it's 1100 pages—I wish all books were that size!

Have any of you read any of these books?  If so, what did you think?

Have YOU read anything awesome lately?

Over and out,

NaNoWriMo

I'm planning on doing it.  The Prophecies, Book Two.  I've got death and twists and pain and...maybe a couple happy scenes.  Maybe just one.  Or...never mind.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN...

And that's about it. ;)  I don't get much time to write these blog posts, y'know.  How's it going with you all?

Quick Update, Folks

Hey, readers, it's me!

I'm trying to type up a quick update on how things are going but my hands and my fingers—GAH—itch!  Mosquitoes love me...and all they can eat are my hands.  All the rest of me is secure.

Anyhow!

First, writing-related news.  The short story I'm working on, the Letter, is getting close to the climax.  However, I've hit some plot problems and I'm trying to work them out.

I started a rewrite on the Book of Shaldu not too long ago. Due to the fact that the heavily narrative and telling style of the novel was strewn throughout the entire book, it's just about easier to rewrite the whole thing with properly corrected prose and also fix the numerous plot holes.

I'm also thinking about doing NaNoWriMo.  In Africa. (No, we haven't left yet, but it's likely that we will before November rolls around.)  It would be crazy.

Crazy awesome.

Other-news-wise, yesterday was my day-of-birth.  It was an absolutely fantastic day.  And, (we didn't even plan it that way) my friend Millard came and stayed at our house while he was in KC.  He's a great guy. :D

My sister Manny also cooked up some awesomeness.  Literally and figuratively.  She and Mom made pie and cheesecake that night, and Manny came home with clothing as a birthday gift.

But it wasn't your normal clothing gift.

No, sirr'ee.

She bought me a—

GENUINE—

BUTTON-UP—

TAN-COLORED—

TRENCHCOAT.

I've been wearing it since.  I'm wearing it now, actually.  It's EPIC.

Well, I have to fly.  See ya, folks!

The Wonder

As the recent months have passed, my writing had become strangely silent. After a frenzied period of time where I raced to finish up my edits on The War Horn, it just...stopped. I submitted TWH to the contest, and that was that. (I'm still waiting to hear back from the contest, actually.) Schoolwork came, our move hung over my head, and my keyboard's smolder turned to ashes.

I could claim that my life was busy. I could claim that inspiration had deserted me. I could claim that I procrastinated. (I did, really, but that's not the point.)

Some might call it writer's block, but nothing was really blocking me. I just didn't do anything.

Here's what happened: I lost my drive. No, scratch that. My drive was still there. I still wanted to tell a good, meaningful yarn to the world and glorify my Creator.

But I lost my desire to fulfill my drive and accomplish my goals.

I keep telling myself I needed to write this or write that or torture a character or something. But I never did it. Sure, that's procrastination, but there's a reason behind procrastination as well.

Where was the allure?

Writing had begun to boil down to words and mechanics and editing. And it took this little short story to regain what I had lost.

Hearken back to when you first started writing. Why did you do it? Why would you write a story? What lured you? (Keep in mind, when I say "Why did you do it?" I don't mean, "What drove you?" but "What drew you?")

Maybe it was a desire for fame. Or a desire to create a book like the ones you read all the time. I know that the latter was part of my desire to write.

But here's the thing. There's something about writing that draws us.

I've been pondering it all day long. And yes, in the shower too. It's the Thinking Room, wot.

There is something about a blank sheet of paper. There's something that clicks, something that hums, something utterly amazing that happens when a writer sits down at a computer, pulls up a blank document, and writes.

Anything could happen. And anything will happen.

When I first began writing, I found it utterly engrossing. I had a childlike fascination with it. It was magic, really. You could create, you could make something out of nothing. You could tell a story.

Those words have lost their magic. In this context, the simple words "you could write a story" are amazing. You have the entire world at your fingertips. You could write whole species into existence, whole worlds could be created, and history could be rewritten. You have all of your infinite imagination to fill.

Daniel Schwabauer said, "People read to live vicariously." (i.e. to live through their imagination.) And the same is true for writers.

This, in my opinion, is the allure of writing: we can write to live vicariously. We get to choose what we want to do. We can race against time to save the world, we can fly with dragons across an azure sky.

And so, we write, not only for ourselves, but so that we can share it. We want others to see the glory that we see. And for Christians, we also want others to see the glory in Christ that we see and experience.

And that's why my writing ground to a halt. I lost the allure. So much of my writing had come down to revision and grammar and mechanics that I lost what got me writing in the first place.

That changed, however. I started writing a little story. I've begun so many stories and never finished them, but this one...this one had potential. It had allure.

And then I wrote this section. In that moment, my keyboard lit, my imagination roared to life, and the ultimate lure and desire to write came rushing back.

--

"He wanted to see home before he died," Rodney said, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. "He wanted to see the grasslands and smell the free breeze. He wanted to taste Kanai fruit again. He wanted to see his old house by the creek and the wood."

--

In that little section, I caught a glimpse into my character, and not only that, his homeland. In this little story, I saw a new world. And it took my writing back to life, because now I want to see new worlds again. I want to write new characters and explore new places. The very word "write" takes on new meaning.

Write well, readers. And when you write, don't leave the wonder of writing behind. Keep ahold of it. Don't let it diminish.

--
Jake

Various Newses

No, I have no idea why I added an extra "es" top, and no, I'm not related to Gollum, and no, I haven't been reading Lord of the Rings.

Questions done?  Good.  No?

No, we haven't left yet for Africa.  I'll post before we do, be sure about that, even if it's a 50-word post. :)  I'll keep you informed.

In the meantime, I still love Kansas and Cheez-Its and Doctor Who.  And writing. 

Kansas! 

I wish these were conveniently and accidentally dropped off at my house. ^_^

Stetsons are cool!

And speaking of writing, all I've been writing of late are geometry proofs (technically, I'm filling in the blanks) and essays.  Blech.  

Hold it, I tell a lie. O_o  I have written five hundred words or so in a modest little story I'm writing in my spare time.  It's a fantasy tale in a world called who-knows-what.  (No, that's not the name.  Call it that and I'll get out my Cheez-It cannon.)

In the meantime, I've been watching Doctor Who and doing a lot of schoolwork.  The series finale of Doctor Who is actually next week. (I am SO. EXCITED. GAH!)

Also, I wish to inform you that the Director at Castles, Quills, and Cameras is having a giveaway!  This most excellent blogger is giving away two books; one of which I can attest to being a great read. :)  Here's the link to the giveaway post.  

And...well, I've run out of things to blog about. O_o  Ask me questions, folks.  Maybe I'll have a Q & A post next time.  It'll at least give me something to blog about. ;)  

See ya later, friends!  Write well, and may your ink stay full!

I'll leave you with one last quote:  "He who laughs last thinks the slowest."

Review: The Dragon's Tooth

For two years, Cyrus and Antigone Smith have run a sagging roadside motel with their older brother, Daniel. Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man with bone tattoos arrives, demanding a specific room.

Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world's secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals who have terrorized the world for millennia.

N. D. Wilson, author of Leepike Ridge and 100 Cupboards, returns with an imagination-capturing adventure that inventively combines the contemporary and the legendary. (From Amazon.com)

"North of Mexico, south of Canada, and not too far west of the freshwater sea called Lake Michigan, in a place where cows polka-dot hills and men are serious about cheese, there is a lady on a pole." ~The Dragon's Tooth

I first heard of the Dragon's Tooth through the fantastic book trailer that premiered just before the release. (See the bottom of this post for the trailer.) It was professionally done and really did a great job at catching my attention. After hearing several good opinions on the book, I decided to check it out from the library.

To say it outright, the Dragon's Tooth was a good book. In comparison to 100 Cupboards (the book, not the whole series in general), I liked the Dragon's Tooth better. Varied characters with rich histories abounded, and the world as we knew it took on a new shine in light of a secret society. For the most part, the characters were well-done and unique. From quirky guys to grim leaders to traitors, they were a motley and colorful bunch.

Wilson's characteristic humor was present throughout the book, albeit in lesser amounts than in his other series, The Books of the 100 Cupboards. (I reviewed 100 Cupboards some time ago.  I'd link you, but I don't have much time. By the way, I ended up finishing the series. The two following books were MUCH better than the preceding. Highly recommended.)

Wilson's writing style is definitely unique. His peculiar and trademark style is like few I've read before. It relies on a lot of showing, which is a good thing. His description, while vivid, left me feeling a little confused during the first few pages. It takes a while to get used to it. If you've read any of Wilson's other books, you'd know what I mean. (An example of this style is found in the first sentence of the book, which I posted above.)

The plot of the novel wandered about, a string of half-random events that wove together into the conclusion. There wasn't a driving force to it. It was the difference between planning an attack or trying to survive a battle, if you get what I mean. One seems more structured and the other darts about. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't have the I-have-to-finish-this-to-read-the-end-or-I'll-die drive that it might have had.

The plot and settings were fairly unique, though I could see a couple of parallels and similarities to Harry Potter in it. These weren't particularly large, however, and didn't bother me.

The idea of a secret society woven throughout history was a brilliant one, as were other such concepts scattered throughout the book, like keys that could open any door. There was also a lady on a pole, a tooth that could kill transmortals and mortals alike, secret passages, and a really, really cool oath that Acolytes have to take. (See the video below.)

There were several borderline things in this book. Firstly, there were dead people who appeared to still have their spirits near their bodies. (However, that section was a little confusing when I read it, so I may have misinterpreted that.) There was also the concept of transmortality. While those things didn't pop up much, it did make me wonder how Wilson (a Christian) would resolve it in the future installments.

In summary; the plot, though wandersome, was unique, the characters were great, and the writing style was a little confusing. There was nothing really spectacular about this book, but there's nothing really bad about it either. I really liked it, but there wasn't much to make me love it. It's a fast read.

I'm hoping, however, the next few books will improve. The same happened with 100 Cupboards, actually. The first book recieved a "forgettable fantasy" rating from me, while the following books were fantastic in many ways. If this series does the same, it'll prove to be amazing.

In a word, recommended.

Rated 8 out of 10.

Check out the epic book trailer:

(Note: I won't be blogging too much, due to the fact that we cut our internet.  I'm posting this pre-written post from Starbucks, actually.)

Review: The Realms Thereunder

A homeless man is stalked by a pale, wraithlike creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. Maimed animals and a host of suicides cluster around a mountain in Scotland. And deep beneath the cobbled streets of Oxford, a malicious hoard besieges a hidden city.

Freya Reynolds is a university student with a touch of OCD and an obsession with myth and folklore. Daniel Tully is living rough on the streets of Oxford, waging a secret war against an enemy only he can identify. Years ago, they found themselves in a world few know is real. They have since gone their separate ways and tried to put that adventure behind them.

But the mythical world is now bleeding into our reality-a dark spiritual evil that is manifesting itself in forgotten corners of the British Isles. Alex Simpson is a Scottish police officer who specializes in hunting mythical creatures. Together, they must confront the past, the present, and points beyond to defeat the ultimate threat to humanity.

Nothing they've seen so far prepares them for what awaits...in The Realms Thereunder.  (Description from Amazon.com)

Ross Lawhead is the son of the well-known fantasy/legend author Stephen R. Lawhead.  Having read much of Lawhead's work, I looked forward to reading this novel (which, by the way, has a fantastic cover).  In some ways, I wasn't disappointed.

I expected a novel grounded in British mythology and legend (one of the senior Lawhead's trademarks), and I found it.  This book felt as old as the earth itself, so steeped was it with mythology and old tales.  From forests that give gifts to strange creatures to sleeping knights and underground cities and ancient, immortal people, this book had a lush and detailed world.  And, at the same time, it was a dark and dangerous world.  The earth was ancient, and while ancient good is harbored underneath the surface, ancient evil is awakening.

The creatures and races were likewise unique.   From gnomes whose mantra is that you "always end up where you happen to be", to terrible creatures, to villains and olde-speaking knights, the creatures were diverse.

The characters were well thought-out and three-dimensional.  They weren't amazing, but they weren't bad either.

The writing quality of this book was average, but this is, after all, the author's first published novel.  There's bound to be a few rough edges.  The writing style itself reminded me, distantly, of Tolkien's writing.

Probably my favorite aspect of the book was the short snippets here and there—slipped in naturally—that caused me to stop and think.  There were some beautiful, poetic moments in the book where the character of the characters was revealed.  Clever dialogue dotted each page; the knights spoke like knights, the Brits like Brits, and gnomes...well, it's hard to compare gnomes to anything.

The book's biggest opportunity was in the plot, and I felt like it missed the mark.  It had great potential, but failed to live up to it completely.  I expected a novel that happened after the preceding, inciting events (i.e. Freya and Daniel's previous journey), but it didn't turn out that way.  That was probably the biggest drawback—the book kept flashing back.  If anything, we spent more time in the past adventure than we did in the previous one, and it was rather annoying for the reader.  The characters and situations in the present were much more interesting than what was happening in the past, and as a result I wasn't quite that interested in the past storyline.

When I had finished the book, I sat back and thought to myself, "It ended just as it was getting started."  Due to the flashbacks, it really felt like it.  Events in the present had just begun to move, and the previous storyline had been resolved—and then the book ended.

Still, don't let it stop you from reading this.  It's a good book—good characters, great worldbuilding, great potiential, with a few drawbacks.  Pick it up sometime and decide for yourself.

Rated 7 out of 10.  Recommended, read it. :)

(I received this book for free from the Bookneeze program in exchange for a review.  I was not required to write a positive review.)

Some Rather Important News

If you follow my blog, please read this post.  It's rather important. 

Take a look at this picture.  And then, read this post.

It's hard to find a way to put this.  To put prayers and work and God and glory and emotion into a sentence, into a blog post; such a task is hard.

Basically, you might find a slight decrease in blogging here at Teenage Writer.  Maybe a major decrease in blogging.  Maybe even a stop in blogging.  Who knows?

The thing is, God's been at work, and some of His plans are coming to fruition.

Like I've told other people, long story short; the Sadaar Clan (a neat name for me, my siblings, and my parents) is moving to the bush.  The big Bush.  The biggest Bush of all.

Africa.  Liberia, to be specific.  See the arrows?  I'm a fantastic artist, as you can see. ;)

We're going to be off, soon (once God sells our house) to see what God has in store for us in Liberia.  It's going to be fantastic.

So, what will this move mean for Teenage Writer?  I have no idea.  I may be able to keep blogging.  I may not.  We'll see.  At this point, I'm unsure how the move will effect my writing and my blogging.

But one thing I do know; we need as many prayers as we can get.  Prayer is essential for this to work.  So, if you could, please pray for the family, for Liberia, and for the house to sell.  Once the house sells, we're pretty much off on the adventure.

And don't worry, I won't disappear right away.  I'll still be around, and I'll keep you all updated.

Thanks for reading my blog, folks.  You are all fantastic. :)

ALLONS-Y!

A Battle Fought at Midday, Part IV

It's back, after a long while and several offscreen bouts with the famed enemy Procrastination.  A Battle Fought at Midday has returned for a smashing conclusion.  My apologies for the lateness of this blog post; it took longer to write than I anticipated.

The last sequence was in May; can you believe it?  Procrastination's had me pinned down, but I've conquered him and I'm forging onwards.

Please note that this is the last segment of a four-part story (which I have finally finished). The first segment of the series is found here.  The second, here.  The third, here.  Beware; my writing has gotten better since then, so the writing quality of the first few segments leave much to be desired.

A BATTLE FOUGHT AT MIDDAY

PART IV

In Which I Defeat an Enemy and My Pen Talks

"Blasted swing." He cursed, sitting up and rubbing a bruised nose.

"Watch your language," I said, stepping aside and letting the personification clamber upright. "I have younger sisters, y'know."

He stood and dusted off his Shadowy Cloak.

"I see that you chose to go name brand," I said, leaning on my sword's pommel. "I can see the tag on the bottom edge. Everything Villainous© Inc."

Procrastination scowled perfectly, raising one lip just so. I could tell that he'd been practicing. "My cousin told me that black was the new blue. And leather was in style."

"'Cause you really care about that stuff," I said, sarcasm drying on my tone. (Making it drip would be rather disgusting.)

"You do." Procrastination spat a few times, evidently trying to rid his mouth of dirt. "Do I see a logo on your hilt?" He mussed his hair, dirt and dust raining down from the black, tangled mess.

I took a look at my hilt. A symbol in the shape of a button was carved there, and I pointed it out to him. "This thing? It's not a logo."

"Then what is it?"

I grinned. "It's a button." I pushed it. "Awaken, Pen!" And then I pushed it again...and it talked.

"I'm awake, I'm awake! Don't push it more than once, ya inked-up scoundrel, all it serves is your own impatience. Patience! Ya don't have any! Be quiet, I don't wanna hear an argument! What's the situation and why didja wake me up? I'm grumpy in the summers, buddy, I hope ya know that. Why, I'd—"

"Be quiet," I interrupted. "I'm trying to have an Epic Showdown with Procrastination. That's your job. We need to defeat him."

"Fight to the Write? Or did ya come up with some other dumb hey-I'm-a-geek phrase for a simple battle?"

I sighed. "Yes, Fight to the Write." The Pen fights better than a sword, I reflected. Especially when it IS a sword. A rather garrulous sword...

"Good," the Pen said. "En garde, Procrastination! You shall die exquisitely!"

Procrastination groaned. "Not the Pen. It talks more than my sister, and that's saying something."

He didn't have time to complain much longer, because the Pen lurched forward, taking my hand with it. "AYEEEEEEEEE!" The less-than-bone-chilling howl echoed down the street. (It would be better labeled a girly screech. It sounded rather like a cross between a dying cow and a turkey that swallowed a marshmallow and can't force it down.) I hoped fervently that the neighbor didn't hear him.

For a long time, we fought. Around the tree, around the tree again, over the downed tire swing (which Procrastination tripped over again), around the tree, up the tree, down the tree, and we knocked over my sister's flowers.

And we fought around the tree once more.

And then, when my strength began to run out and my hand began to tremble, Procrastination broke the Rules of Combat (Copyright © 2011 Villainous and Heroic Enterprises Inc.), which neither of us really paid attention anyway. He summoned help with a literal snap of the fingers.

Instantly, the monstrous Allegebra Mathe stood in front of me. He was one of the only two things in the world that are really indescribable; the first is the Golux's hat. The only thing I could clearly describe was the spray-painted sword, which shone black in the sun. Mathe wasn't the richest villain, but he prided himself in his shiny spray-paint.

"Here we go again!" the Pen cried, and before I could stop him, we hurtled towards the beastie (who was cruelly crushing the flowers by the front door).

I (or the Pen) took a stab at Mathe. He and I exchanged a few blows, steel against spray-painted steel. The paint began to flake off.

And then I realized something.

"Wait a moment!" I shouted. "You can't be here! I'm finished with school for the week!"

And then he was gone, just like that, without a poof or a bang or a ping. Just gone.

"Rats," I heard Procrastination mutter from close behind me. I tried to Heroically Whirl Around, but a black shoe tripped me, making me twist and fall over. I thumped to the ground, flat on my back. The Pen clattered to the ground, where it began to shout insults at Procrastination's trickery.

"You're a foul-faced flapstapper, Procrastination! Fight like a REAL Villain, and let me at ya! You can't hurt an unarmed man, ya persnickety ploshy—"

Meanwhile, Procrastination's blade stared me in the face, and I wondered why he had drawn two eyes on the blade in blue Sharpie.

"Now you're MINE, writer!" Procrastination began to laugh evilly, bringing up his blade to stab.

I winced. "You need to work on your laugh."

"Be quiet! I'm about to stab you in the stomach!" Procrastination paused for a moment. "....what's wrong with it?"

"For one, you laugh like a girl*," I said, and made a footnote. "No modern villain says 'Ha ha ha!'. It just sounds cheesy."

Procrastination rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to enjoy my moment of supreme victory, and you're lecturing me on laughing. It's annoying, stop it."

"Try adding a "Mwah" in there," I continued. "Like you're a chef or something." I kissed my fingertips in what I hoped looked like a chef-like manner and made a "mwah" sound.

"Mwah ha ha ha!" Procrastination laughed.

I winced again. "You sound like you're laughing and kissing at the same time. Cut the smooching bit and try again."

"Mwahahhahaha!" he tried.

"Great job!" I said. "Now, you can proceed to headlock him."

"What?" Procrastination said, puzzled, until an arm locked around his neck. Inspiration looked over Pro's shoulder.

"Hey, Jake." Inspiration grinned. "I'm back. And it's time for Procrastination to go. When inspiration comes, procrastination flees. You can quote me on that."

"I might put it on my blog," I said, standing up. "Now, Procrastination, we've Fought. Now it's time for me to Write."

Procrastination struggled. "Hey! I was about to win! You NEVER let me win, it's not fair!"

I picked up my sword off the ground, pushing the button in the hilt before the Pen could get a word in edgewise. "Yeah...it's far too easy to stall you. Maybe you'll know better next time." I then turned the Pen of Doom back into a pen...and twisted the end, turning it on.

Procrastination let out a classic Villainous "NOOOOOOO!" shriek as I stepped up to him. Inspiration held him fast, though.

I took my pen and wrote on his forehead, "Silence. It held the hall like the cold grip of death...."

And then, with a final shout, he faded out of reality...for a while.

*Please note that I mean no offense to either girls or their laughs.  I was stating a simple fact.  If you have grievances against me or resent me for stating a simple fact, please contact me using the information on my contact page (which I am too lazy to copy-and-paste).  Thank you.

So, what did you think?  Good, bad, needed work?  Feel free to critique.

Farewell for now, folks!  I'm hoping I'll be back soon.