Here we are. 26 blog plosts and a full month on. It's safe to say this has been a roller coaster month for me with some bad lows and some epic highs. There were times when I wondered if it was worth the hassle of thinking up a new post every day, and every time I told myself that it was. Why? Zeal.
I love writing. I love the late nights, the research, the furious rush to get just another hundred words written, the creation of characters, the shaping of a story, even the feeling of punching keys as I type. There's almost nothing else I'd rather be doing than writing. Since I was very young, it's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Over the last month I've met so many new people who share my zeal for writing and I've been welcomed by them all. It's humbling to be a part of a community that is so open and helpful. This is especially true now that I've signed on with WiDo Publishing for the release of my first book. I'm grateful to be part of such a team, and to have so many people in my life, online and otherwise, to share in my journey as I share in theirs.
Well done to everyone in the challenge, and thank you for sharing.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Y is for You're a Mystery
Those who read my F post will know that my wife and I are expecting our first child in July, and that there was some concern after the last scan because the amniotic fluid levels were low and they couldn't identify any kidneys.
Today we had another scan, and they were able to confirm both that there is a functioning bladder and a pair of kidneys. This is good news! The baby's the right size, there are no ruptures in the placenta at all. The bad news is that there's still a very low level of amniotic fluid, but they simply cannot find a cause. This, it turns out, is also good news, because without a medical cause for the low levels, the odds are a lot higher that this is just a medical mystery and the baby will be absolutely fine once born.
Of course, the baby is still being as uncooperative as ever and won't let us find out what gender it is.
So today's post is a message to my unborn child. Kiddo, you're a complete mystery. I love you for it, and hope you're always a complete surprise throughout your life, but I guarantee you if we're driving anywhere and you complain of needing to pee, I'll remind you that you were perfectly content to hardly pee at all while your mother was carrying you, so you can bloody well hold it! :-)
Today we had another scan, and they were able to confirm both that there is a functioning bladder and a pair of kidneys. This is good news! The baby's the right size, there are no ruptures in the placenta at all. The bad news is that there's still a very low level of amniotic fluid, but they simply cannot find a cause. This, it turns out, is also good news, because without a medical cause for the low levels, the odds are a lot higher that this is just a medical mystery and the baby will be absolutely fine once born.
Of course, the baby is still being as uncooperative as ever and won't let us find out what gender it is.
So today's post is a message to my unborn child. Kiddo, you're a complete mystery. I love you for it, and hope you're always a complete surprise throughout your life, but I guarantee you if we're driving anywhere and you complain of needing to pee, I'll remind you that you were perfectly content to hardly pee at all while your mother was carrying you, so you can bloody well hold it! :-)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
X is for X-Rated
Just something which I thought of while trying to work out what to write about for X (damn that letter!).
I'm not a romance writer, and my book isn't about sex, but I do think sexuality is an important part of a character. So, I make reference to, and give very mild descriptions of, sex, at a couple of points in the novel. These scenes are important, but far from graphic. I've read several YA novels with more detailed descriptions than I used.
At what point does content become considered "x-rated?" And how should sex be used in fiction?
There's a trend in urban fantasy to use sex as part of magical ritual. There are times when a character must have sex with a supernatural creature to gain more power themselves. It's an interesting choice for a writer.
I think my book might be different, though. It's not detailed in Locked Within, but if the book sells well and I'm able to continue the series, I will expand on how people in this supernatural society live their lives. That will include differences in day to day life, including sex.
In this world, sex is a very human thing. It's an expression of love between two mortals. Other creatures might try to replicate it, seeking to understand the intimacy that can exist between two souls, but they can't truly feel it. These creatures may use it to seek power, dominance, create offspring, or to try and understand the connection humans can have with one another, but with so many stories out there where humans are lesser beings, unaware of the pleasures enjoyed by powerful beings, I want to tell a story where mortals have something that immortal beings can never have. I want their impermanence, their very nature as limited beings, to be what gives them the strength of will and love to bond with one another.
I'm not a romance writer, and my book isn't about sex, but I do think sexuality is an important part of a character. So, I make reference to, and give very mild descriptions of, sex, at a couple of points in the novel. These scenes are important, but far from graphic. I've read several YA novels with more detailed descriptions than I used.
At what point does content become considered "x-rated?" And how should sex be used in fiction?
There's a trend in urban fantasy to use sex as part of magical ritual. There are times when a character must have sex with a supernatural creature to gain more power themselves. It's an interesting choice for a writer.
I think my book might be different, though. It's not detailed in Locked Within, but if the book sells well and I'm able to continue the series, I will expand on how people in this supernatural society live their lives. That will include differences in day to day life, including sex.
In this world, sex is a very human thing. It's an expression of love between two mortals. Other creatures might try to replicate it, seeking to understand the intimacy that can exist between two souls, but they can't truly feel it. These creatures may use it to seek power, dominance, create offspring, or to try and understand the connection humans can have with one another, but with so many stories out there where humans are lesser beings, unaware of the pleasures enjoyed by powerful beings, I want to tell a story where mortals have something that immortal beings can never have. I want their impermanence, their very nature as limited beings, to be what gives them the strength of will and love to bond with one another.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
W is for WiDo Publishing
Who are, officially, my publisher!
http://karenjonesgowen.blogspot.com/2011/04/w-is-for-wido-publishing-and-winner-of.html
My manuscript for Locked Within was chosen as the winner of a contest for a contract with them, and I'm very pleased to accept! It's an absolute honour to be chosen, and to join the WiDo family. Just a quick look at their website and reading Karen's blog tell me that WiDo are a great company, totally committed to embracing the way the publishing industry is growing and changing. I'm excited to be a part of this and I look forward to working with WiDo to prepare my book for publication.
If anyone needs me, I'll be over here, hoping this isn't all just a dream.
http://karenjonesgowen.blogspot.com/2011/04/w-is-for-wido-publishing-and-winner-of.html
My manuscript for Locked Within was chosen as the winner of a contest for a contract with them, and I'm very pleased to accept! It's an absolute honour to be chosen, and to join the WiDo family. Just a quick look at their website and reading Karen's blog tell me that WiDo are a great company, totally committed to embracing the way the publishing industry is growing and changing. I'm excited to be a part of this and I look forward to working with WiDo to prepare my book for publication.
If anyone needs me, I'll be over here, hoping this isn't all just a dream.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Dullas - Episode 3 Soil Wars
V is for Vampires
My book isn't about vampires, but it does have a few in it. They're all antagonists to one degree or another, and two of them have names.
These days, vampires are either still the hottest thing going, or the last thing anyone wants to see anymore. I grew up on vampire movies, though, so they're kind of ingrained in my mind as go-to villains. The thing is, they're not the villains in most cases anymore.
Something changed, somewhere along the road, and instead of vampires being representations of everything our humanity and society are meant to find abhorrent, they became romantic, tragic figures. Even re-tellings of old stories have changed. Bram Stoker's Dracula, starring Gary Oldman, while an excellent film, is very different from the book. In the original book, Dracula is not a romantic figure. He's a dark, sensual predator. The women he feeds on are not drawn to him by lust or love. They're drawn to him by his supernatural power over others. Dracula is an embodiment of everything Victorian ideals stood against. He is a monster whose own desires are met by inflicting suffering upon others. He is feared and hated. Not loved.
It would be interesting to see vampires return to their place as monsters. Some movies have tried to return to this. The one most in mind at the moment is the upcoming Priest, starring Paul Bethany. I'd like to see these romanticised creatures as the villains again. We need to fear our nightmares, or else what will our heroes save us from?
These days, vampires are either still the hottest thing going, or the last thing anyone wants to see anymore. I grew up on vampire movies, though, so they're kind of ingrained in my mind as go-to villains. The thing is, they're not the villains in most cases anymore.
Something changed, somewhere along the road, and instead of vampires being representations of everything our humanity and society are meant to find abhorrent, they became romantic, tragic figures. Even re-tellings of old stories have changed. Bram Stoker's Dracula, starring Gary Oldman, while an excellent film, is very different from the book. In the original book, Dracula is not a romantic figure. He's a dark, sensual predator. The women he feeds on are not drawn to him by lust or love. They're drawn to him by his supernatural power over others. Dracula is an embodiment of everything Victorian ideals stood against. He is a monster whose own desires are met by inflicting suffering upon others. He is feared and hated. Not loved.
It would be interesting to see vampires return to their place as monsters. Some movies have tried to return to this. The one most in mind at the moment is the upcoming Priest, starring Paul Bethany. I'd like to see these romanticised creatures as the villains again. We need to fear our nightmares, or else what will our heroes save us from?
Monday, April 25, 2011
U is for Unicorn
The Last Unicorn, to be specific.
As a child, this movie was one of my favourites. I watched it so much the tape wore out and my parents had to replace it. There's a specific moment in the movie which has always resonated with me, which taught me how stories are meant to be told.
It's the moment at the climax, when the Unicorn is being chased by the Red Bull, and Lir asks Schmendrick why he can't use magic to save her, he asks what use is magic if it can't be used to save a unicorn.
Schmendrick tells him that's not what magic is for. That's what heroes are for.
There should be no quick fixes, no easy answer that saves the day. There should be someone to risk themselves, to give up something of themself for the greater good and make a stand.
That's what heroes are for.
As a child, this movie was one of my favourites. I watched it so much the tape wore out and my parents had to replace it. There's a specific moment in the movie which has always resonated with me, which taught me how stories are meant to be told.
It's the moment at the climax, when the Unicorn is being chased by the Red Bull, and Lir asks Schmendrick why he can't use magic to save her, he asks what use is magic if it can't be used to save a unicorn.
Schmendrick tells him that's not what magic is for. That's what heroes are for.
There should be no quick fixes, no easy answer that saves the day. There should be someone to risk themselves, to give up something of themself for the greater good and make a stand.
That's what heroes are for.
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