THURSDAY UPDATE - Violent Brain

     "So many ‘Rules’ to writing."

     When I first started writing many long years ago when I was but a dreamer in middle school I never once paid attention to the so called ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ to writing. Sure I took English classes and all that grammar speech stuff, but not once did I pay attention to how challenging the writing world is for I was too busy playing video games and drawing characters while being picked on for my rat-tail and chubby weight… and the fact I was a ‘geek’ not in the ‘Cool Club’.

     Growing up, between poetic spurts to short story plots and character creation I was writing free of critics and ridicule. Nowadays, critics are everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, and one has to be careful on helpful and unhelpful criticism. Through the years I’ve received various advice from many. From people who weren’t writers, to those who have published more than one novel.

     I have only published one, and after that one I’ve decided to revise it in one big reboot. It was a decision made not by others input, but by my own. The various ‘Rules to Writing’ were never an impact.

     Until one night my brain demanded that I ignore all input and just write, then critique later. I’ve done this before, with my first book. Why didn’t I think to do this again? Perhaps I was so open for input after dissolving the shyness I had of my work that I forgot to retain my fortitude? During these hankering stages I noticed a lag in my writing drive (minus the computer difficulties that lead to a reformat of computer) and my conscience started to nitpick due to other nitpickers planting seeds I knew better than to let grow.

     It’s one thing to accept the advice, but not all advice works for you. It was then I realized my whole element shift for the worse… and it needed to end.

     I still hold all advice I ‘DID’ take into consideration, and it worked well, but somewhere in this all I ended up getting violent in the head, or as I said: “My brain demanded I ignore and write for the sake of sanity.” Too many Do’s & Don’ts to writing and the “There are no rules” kicks back. Yes these ‘rules’ are guidelines other writers use for themselves, but as stated they are not for everyone. We all have our own style, and I almost forgot my own in the process of listening to others a bit too much… and that’s a bad thing.

     I wanted to learn from others. There is no harm in that and I learned a good deal. There are basis to grammar and then some, but everyone has their own style and that should never be argued against.

     And rushing a novel is bad juju.

SHADOW GENESIS INCEPTION 3^rd DRAFT PROGRESS: 95%

• SG Book II: (5 Chapter Cut Salvage from Book I) Waiting to expand
• SG Book III: 2^nd Draft Pending
• SG Book IV: 1^st Draft 25% 

     For those who don’t know, I just added another book in the Shadow Genesis series. SG Book II is now Book III, and the newly installed book (taking the former Book II slot) is the salvage of five chapters taken out of the current novel in progress (Inception) and will be expanded into thirty chapters with added content. A wise decision, for I want to expose more of the story and characters that matter in the series.

     Interesting how this all turned out. Just as you ‘THINK’ you got it planned, the story itself surprises you.

THE MULTIVERSE IN FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE: All Up In Ricven's Point Of View

"Kind of hate pulling the last resort method, but it has to be done. A good ole laptop wipe and fresh OS re-install will do the trick."

Meanwhile, to keep from 'going mad' from this computer stuff while holding off on Shadow Genesis's third draft work, I had this idea on rewriting Project Multiverse in first person perspective. Ricven, my main character, is to narrate his adventures this time around instead of writing in the usual third person narrative. This will be my first time trying it out, so I did a free-write 'Pantser Style' to see how it will go, and here is the result below:


(By the way, don't mind the cliche' use of a few things done... pretty sure you'll figure it out. Everybody loves/hates vampires!)

R.T.II

The Multiverse

Vamper Vanquish

(1st Person Narrative Test Run)

(2,496 Words)

    It was too damn hot for anyone lacking good skin health to brave the cooking beams of Earthonia's sun. I mean seriously, the heat was one hell of a hot and bitchy bitch, and given the time it sure hell was not aiming to let up anytime soon.
    Perfect time to do some surface work here in Marysis before even considering going down into the darkness of Celamune's under-earth, for that is where I really need to be. Down in the tunnels with my trusty monster mashing knowledge essential for the job.
    The vampire killing job.
    Now before any of you start tripping under notion of this being some kind of cute and adorable vampire tale done way too many times, and please don't even bother to ask as to how one such as myself even knows about that heart-throbbing teeny romance trend, I'd prefer that you sit this one in and listen from start to finish, minus the prologue, but I can't guarantee an epilogue is not hiding at the ass-end of this.
    I came into Earthonia on a random exploration whim. You know, using the planeswalking forces of Tetracon to open my way into the seemingly infinite world of worlds without much knowledge of what I may get myself into.
    Okay I am slightly lying... I knew what to expect, since what I do serves the Aeon's 'almighty decree', which is snuffing out the forces of evil that threaten to bring an unbalance to the multiverse.
    And by the way, the tetracon is an instrument of the gods. A crafty cube containing mass knowledge, and essential to the whole 'world hopping' thing I explained in a tiny little blip minus the monologue worth of detail.
    It's a full time job, bringing the ole foot-to-ass burying into the ass cleavages of evil, but the in-between work is the funnest.
    Okay, everything is fucking fun about my occupational hazard, especially when one like me is blessed with the powers of Aethra, the all-ingredient that makes up the multiverse. Simply put, I am the bad guy's worse nightmare, on the side of good and justice and all of that, but I do things my way, and although it tends to piss off one of the Aeons, who I find to be a prick, I still get the job done.
    Like this job coming up now, and I am sweating out some serious balls here. Athenius is going to rub it in as to how I didn't take that heat resist charm from him as if I actually need it. Not like I was venturing into a volcano... I sort of did that already, long ago.
    You know, when I saved an entire world by deflowering the last sacrificial virgin who screamed as loud as the raging tribesmen that came at me like a spear-chucking marathon?
    Damn mage has his uses, Athenius that is when it comes to charm enchantments and spells and such, but as usual, I can be a bit hardheaded... says the rest of the group of misfits.
    Not to further digress, Marysis is a region that is arguably the most powerful nation of provinces setting in Earthonia's west. I know all of this after mingling with the fancy crowds in Celamune City.
    In case you're having an issue pronouncing that city name, just say “cell”, “la” like you're “la-la-la'ing”, and “moon”... like the moon.
    Now that's out of the way, Celamune is having a few 'political problems', like every other powerful capitol and there politics and shit, but the worst of the worse has to be the whole attempt in overthrowing Celamune's chair of power for the favor of a not so sophisticated sort. Then again, vampires can be just as sophisticated, but Celamune's consul overseer sure as shit ain't having it.
    Turns out, this bat leader by the name of Eridr wants to 'convert the masses' and bring all of Earthonia into an era of darkness. Do you know how damn cliché that sounds? Converting the masses? Destroy the sun? A world forever in darkness perfect for all things bump in the night?
    You see where I am going with this?
    Yeah, I see you see what I see here.
    I came about this predicament by word of lush mouth, the pretty mouth of a nice looking dame who goes by the name Silvia Hightower, consul adviser of Celamune's overseer, Marquis Celas. It all started when a few sketchy fellows attacked one of the overseer's banquets that carried over into the night, when things got pretty interesting. Hooded up and throwing the authorities around like the toy knights they were at that point, and get this, they were slinging them around with no hands. These grim-looking men crashed the party like a group of angry protestors without the signs and silly rally songs, plus they had some serious TK power.
    Another typical power, TK, which stands for telekenesis... the ole mind-over-matter.
    These men, discovered to be vamps, were quite powerful, and nice with the evasive maneuvers as not a single sword struck them down... until I got froggy and leaped.
    They never seen a being like me wield such a large sword before I reckon, let alone smash one like a metal hand to a mosquito. Poor vamp didn't even see it coming. The others knew better and fluttered away into the night.
    A very smart move.
    Fast forward a bit, my little heroics gained the intrigue of the overseer. A good drink and a tasty plate later, I get word about this head bat named Eridr, who well-played his way into becoming an adversary against the overseer and his hold upon Celamune. There was something not entirely clicking when Marquis spoke in detail about Eridr and his desire for conquest and 'painting the world black', but I knew in the midst of it that all humans are destined to be blood cattle when that happens, and Eridr won't stop with Celamune or Marysis for that matter.
    And judging by how those cloaked henchmen earlier rolled, I am willing to bet Eridr is one powerful fucker.
    So, after a lengthy table talk, evasive statements, and a sleek recommendation of me undertaking the deed thanks to one of the lovely and voluptuous Silvia and her spectating green eyes on my swordsmanship with Edge Breaker, off I went in the beating heat for Cellamune's Peak that holds a old and unused miner quarry that dives deep into the land's under-earth.
    I failed to mention how the mountains are conveniently close to the city.
    The moment I crossed into those jagged stone lands I knew right then how much evil lurked beneath my feet. I can literally feel the wicked throb of utter damnation jolting in a hum under the boot.
    For real though, I can sense the forces of the malevolent, commonly known as Nethra, the dark forces of all things despicable.
    It's also the syrup of death, if you brew it right.
    Through the barren rock and into the mines, I noticed before entering that the entry is broken of its wood barrier, the “Do not enter” sign demolished, but there is no footsteps. You'd think there would be a trail of feet in the dirt leading in and out, tracking logic, but evidently these bats can fly... typical.
    I am quite sure they know I am coming too, and now that I am roaming the cave's main tunnel without a torch, I am open chow for whatever fangbanger is waiting for me.

****

    Fortunately, there were none to greet me like a good door bat, and my eyes kick in the blessed night vision, a kind gift of the Aethric Force, once the light at my back shrinks and shrinks with each lone step I take. The first few walks down I hear nothing but the tunnel's natural hum and few little critters here and there, until reaching a forking path, two ways deep.
    So I pick the right path. Appears the 'right' choice, and pretty much the 'right' way to go, for my hero senses started to tingle 'just right'.
    Onward, the path snakes, winds about, dipping and curving as I reach the 'end of the road'.
    Before me now is a large, gaping, empty, hole... lined to the edge in torches.
    Yeah, someone has been keeping these warmly lit... or is this magic?
    Gonna go with magic on this one. Why? Because I can see the pure mystical essence burning upon their metal rods. That's magic vision for you.
    It gets better. This whole chasm is blazing with fire. More flammable wall torches naturally built into the stone, fired up and quite fancy looking. Or at least they look fancy to me. The carvings are nicely done, like someone took their sweet time making sure every bit of detail counts. These vamps are an dramatic sort with the art I tell you now, for the whole chasm looks like an spotless art piece straight out of an exhibit.
    I hope the architect won an award for this, for this is some damn good architecture.
    Done with my evaluation, I take a dive into the classy ass abyss. The fall is a long one, with every now again a ring of wall torches keep the descent less dark and lonely. I finally hit the ground like a feather, no sound, and my evil-vanquishing senses went off the charts. My whole back lit up in a blazing chill. If the word 'blaze' and 'chill' even works for odd an combo. All around me is more under-earth art.
    Everything from the smooth stone walls to the thick black pillars, silver-crest at their base, with expensive looking drapes colored in reds and chalk white.  Even the rock floor, gray-colored of course, complete with a long rug straight for the great gates, is painstakingly decorated with that archaic regal feel like above.
    Only this time we have two menacingly tall statues a good distance away guarding a set of stairs, and a huge door so big that giants had to have put those things together.
    The statues look like shirtless men in muscle-bound glory. Their faces are hidden in extreme quill-spike helmets, and their groins, if they even have pillar and stones, are modestly covered in actual threads of red and white. Their loin cloths just a shy inch from the floor and bear what I know damn well is the fangers bat-winged emblem of demon head pride, in silver. Can they be so predictable? I mean they could have chosen something less ominous, but I am not going to bother to judge on design choices here.
    As for the brawny works of marble black, they pose stoic in their well-drawn overflow. Too much detail for the eyes, and surely anyone would agree if not have some sort of visual elitist orgasm. For you know, some tend to be suckers for top-notch lookers. Both held spears with crescent moon-shaped blades, giant C-shape hooks like sickles perfect for farm work. The spear's shafts hold coiling serpents hugging the length, with their serpentine heads facing outward fang-open as if they could whip out and strike at any given moment.
    Wicked shit.
    I felt myself drawing towards them actually, though in truth, I am really just taking the step of bravery forward while watching my back despite the fact nothing is really behind but a wall well sculpted and a few pillars. Nothing is as intimidating as these two guard statues, and I get closer than close to them I can see the pure life in their eyes. The snakes eye sockets held gems of glowing white, and their spear holders gaze, seen from their helmets, are black... a dormant... fiery... black.
    I didn't even touch the first step when those long spears came crossing down before my face, too damn close, and those snake eyes came to life in a hot, flashy white hiss.
    “Figures,” I said. All thanks to the spine swelling chill fattening up in sensation since first touchdown in this chamber of stylish overkill.
    And so, the statues come to life.
    All that black marble started looking 'pretty real'. The snakes for one, around those spears like slithering springs, surge with shivering scales like a current to their heads, and the hisses become more and more real, their mouths included, fangs and all... even their damn forked tongues. Those red eyes took on black slits, dangerous cuts on white orbs, and the death scowl is like any other snake's glare. They try for my face, snapping, hissing, snarling and so forth, but I am too damn quick for them to get a taste of this rare Sepian meat.
    As I clear their strike area I am greeted fully to two hulking men blacker than black, and eyes just as darker. The gate keepers step on down for me, moving like careful guardians ready to do me in with those long ass scythe spears as they get into that stalking stance, tip of their spear-scythes in my direction, and slowly nearing my spot without a single word as their mouths, once again noticeable from their cool ass quill-shivering headgear, keep shut.
    Now I knew this shit would happen. I knew this all too well, because it is something I've dealt with times and times before. I can't even count on my fingers and toes come to think of it. You see, when the hero enters the scene, and there is a big ass dread-inducing statue, only in this case there are 'two' big ass dread-inducing statues waiting for me at the end of the line, there is an unarguably fat chance that the stony brutes are not just stonework meant for people to marvel about like a bunch of snooty suit wearing spectators eating royal cheese while they sip from glistening wine glasses gold-rimed and held with two dainty fingers.
    These statues contain the beasts within. Furthermore, these great monstrosities are waiting for one unlucky fellow to just waltz on end and trigger their wrath. In this case, they are all about sticking the punishment to me.
    Actually, they want to just outright kill me.
    As if they knew I was coming.
    I could say this here is just some sort of crafty defense mechanism, the vampers home security that I carelessly tripped off, but I won't. I am going to go with them knowing I am here, for there is no way in all of the many hells and damned and oblivions those  bloody suckers are unaware of my presence.
    Plus, I smell damn good... even as I sweat.
    “And so I, he who is named Ricven, stands before the towering twins of blacken stone, whose spears hiss like the snakes of venomous doom,” I said, then I let Edge Breaker, my six foot silver sword hot with azure courage, come to life in my hands. “This is going to be quite the mid-boss battle.”

SOTP, Myself, Shadow, & Spirit

SOTP vs EAYG

Seat Of The Pants v|s Edit As You Go

I can tell you right now, I have been a SOTP since… well… since ‘almost’ forever. Thinking back, I have tons of notebooks of stories that never made the cut, or was chopped up and used for other projects. I just write and write until I am done, with no thought of pre-planning… until I realize that the ‘shorties’ I do have (like plot synopsis and characters) are actually prep work just waiting to be filled up like a balloon full of air.

And it be just like that… air.

So I have to fill it all in with some worthy weight of solid elements that make the story a story. I done this so many times that I now wonder why I am not back in that mode.

Seat of the Pants Writer (SOTP) are writers who keep the foot on the gas while knowing where they are going in their own works. They don't stop, won't stop, can't stop (sounds familiar?). They plot as they write, and discover just what their brains dish out. It is a thrill-ride of a time with seemingly no end… until it ends… then you look and go into a ‘holy-hell’ moment due to the many plot-holes and so forth that pops up like a bad tear in the pants… from a not-so-good split move. You’re having a good time until that ‘RIIIIIP’ is heard… or seen for that matter.

Record stops like a mofo from then on out.

Now you have to edit, edit, and edit, and that there is one hell of a killer. Such is why I have been trying my best to get SG:I in good condition and standing a fighting chance, and why SG:V1 felt dull to me (and a book I will never forget or totally degrade for it is still my first… and a great story to those who liked). I went and straight revised the whole manuscript, pushed the count over 290,000 (I was straight SOTP mode too) and karate-chopped it into two instead of one.

Editing SG:I is ‘almost finished’ by the way.

I have a schedule I aim to keep and make it second nature to me. Waking up around or after 5am before 12pm (so I can do other geek/nerd things with my day). That there is my window to go berserk in my project with the weekends being free time and whatever minor project (I got loads) I wish to meddle with. Including the two majors (Multiverse and Slicka), which Slicka is actually a graphic novel idea that I went from drawing a bunch of handmade comics to learning how to script write for it.

That’s right… script writing for comics!

So the SOTP is my default, but I have a sense of EAYG too. I’ll write at times then edit over. Tend to jump around between the two more times than before… and maybe that is a bad thing (or a good thing?) but all I know, is that I refuse to not write every day. If I am away (which happens) I am constantly brainstorming.

May explain why I am not up to my usual in social skills since talking to others gets a bit wonky. Can tell I’ve been stuck in my manuscript more than having a social life… which actually I have been repairing (as I said one time I was seen as a ‘Ghost’ to my own fam/friends). Is why now I make sure everyone knows what’s going on.

Shadow, Myself, & I

There also came a time when few had no idea what I was doing. Well, I also like to be ‘hidden’, since some can be a bit troublesome and full of bad energy. I need to be in a positive mode, positive energy, and upbeat before I write… which I believe is for everyone. Many gave me doubts, many acted as if I had no future in this. Then I got published and it all went poof. Seriously… writing a book is no easy feat, and while some pride themselves in acting better than another by killing another’s spirit… I for one will not be broken.

Negative into positive I say once or twice more.

Plus, for some reason I tend to gain inspiration from the bad energy folk in my life. We are authors after all… one has to be careful with bohemians like us because we work off our lives, our feelings, our spirits, the works. I pull ideas from anything and everything. Some pass… some fail on an epic scale.

A very old Shadow Khan concept

Shadow Genesis as I said before sprouted up from a character I created back in 99’. The character is based off my nickname (Shadow), and back then I was more of a ‘hate the world and its people’ phase. Dark phase or something, but with Linkin Park blasting on repeat and then some… I ended up creating some crazy stories. Almost everything was action packed, drama, and pure fantasy combined. I hardly ever do anything that has no kind of sci-fi/fantasy to it. Originally, Shadow was a blend of modern and fantasy, pulling from my own life elements and altering them into fictional stories. Back then, being that young and out there with such things were as I say the 'infantile' stages of my imagination. I had no real sense of direction, and was just 'dinking' around with the concept of a dark and vengeful superhero fighting evil and protecting those he care for. Being the light in their darkness while he himself is dark by nature. 

Cliche' sounding but hey... I was still learning how to make stories.

After a while, things started to create themselves as I say. Growing up, learning, developing, I began to gain a bit more direction. Discovering how much of a fantasy nut I am too. Going to lay it out right now… I have so much to work on with the Shadow Khan Project (Shadow Genesis included) that I just might be writing for the rest of my life. I sometimes wish I did this years ago…

Another 'Shadow' concept (with Shadow Blade idea)

like… graduating from high school and instead of going to AiA (Art Institute of Atlanta) I should have just went to the community college out here, picked up writing, and turn myself into an author early. If that happened… I may not have met those I know today, nor would the stories (what lived from the batch) have sprouted.

There was a bit of supposed issues arising when a few believed I was using their likeliness in my works. I am the type who works off my life, feelings, experiences, and so forth. There are many of us that way, and the moment the fit of fits came to my attention I had to think back. I recall several wanting to be featured, and me letting them know I did such. It was a promise of adoration and acknowledgement, and those few felt extremely honored. All my life I had people wanting me to 'draw them' or 'write a story with them in it' or something of the like... so it came natural that I'd do it in a snap because I am just that imaginative (aren't we all?)

Champion Shadow Khan (Unofficial character idea)

Well apparently some wanted to play amnesia.

When the news of me seriously an Author (because none of them believed) came up as 'proof'... things changed. Though I no longer have them in my works, the concepts created remain, I sometimes get hints of them wanting themselves a 'iconic character' to them as a 'Tribute'.

Unfortunately, I am not as open to such things as I use to be, because some people can be very guileful... and insecure.

Like a dear friend said: "They should be honored, especially when all you did was acknowledge their friendship and support through your work."

Because sure enough, when you are on your way to bigger and better things through your goals, people want to remind you on your beginnings, and how you should never forget where you came from, or those who were there during the struggle.

While some, like to play a cruel hand in bringing you down. 

 

Unbeatable Spirit

They say I have not much time. One once said that due to my age (being 29 now) I should be settled and so forth. I did not understand why I was told that at first, but it occurred to me that this one’s logic was on the whole “You must be successful and stable by the time you reach 25.”

………..

Really?

I know many who didn’t reach this ‘stability/success’ until they were in their 30s and so forth. I never saw this as a race, and I don’t take to statistics unless I am on a goofy b/s stage for laughs, but to me if you’re not doing anything then you fail. If you lose passion in what you do, you lose a part of yourself. I succeeded in one of my goals… and although I have a long ways to go, if I just stopped writing and ‘trying’… I’d despise myself for it.

Moral: Don’t let others put things in your head that can deter you. No one knows your life better than you do. Keep your spirit strong, and have faith in your abilities.

Sovereign Malice & Baby Shadow