Earth

The final from hell and the gaming project from hell are sucking up my creative energies. I've sidelined the gaming project (even though it will pay ACTUAL money) and focused on the final for now. It should be much easier to write once this is done. Even easier when I've graduated.

Still, Fire and Vance are nearly ready for submission, and I'll be sending them Friday.
Water is stalled but must be ready by the writing group this Friday. In fact, I'll probably finish it Wednesday.

Which means it is about time to start designing the next story. The design I have in my mind are the third race. And the time is in the third era, right before the novel (whatever that might be) but long after Fulcrum of Prophesy. This is a world in which Pickle has been shattered into seven different parts. One to preserve the wall that protects humans inside of Glashouse, but the other six warped by his brothers and sisters and used for their own purposes. I like the idea of the other six using humans or modifying them in some way. Of course, the problem with this is...how?

For example, the Simsaur would easily change humans and quite frankly would make a lot of them to suit their purposes. The Abysmali could do the same thing, possibly with Mermen or possibly with gnomes or some tech loving race....but I must admit, I've never read about technically proficient mermen before. I'll have to think on it. The Gods...well...I don't know there. On the one hand, they love to meddle, but on the other hand they never got quite as raw a deal as the others, so I don't know. I'll have to think on that. The Bleyoki would just kill the humans in their lands, but I could see them eventually twisting something already modified by the Sopensen. And I could definitely see the Sopensen 'refining' humanity more to their own tastes. Subtle yet verifiable changes. Maybe even Elves. I don't like elves, and consider them...I dunno...boring...but in this case they, or something like them actually make sense given Sopensen sensibilities. Not that there aren't already some similarities between Sopensen and Elves anyway.

That's part of the challenge. The more original I make it, the more freedom I have and the more I'll enjoy it, but the more tropes of classic fantasy and mythology that I use, the more people who haven't read anything I've written before will be able to connect to it.

But the focus of the story that comes most to my mind are the third race. I can't even remember the name of the third race because they're so bland. I mean, intelligent beavers that build shelters with power in them? Whatever.

But, it does seem a wonderful way to segue into the 'magical forest' trope of fantasy. The modified humans, and the shard of Pickle could become Centaurs, or Nymphs or Fauns etc. But the thing that I find most fascinating about this idea is the beginning of the New Age, which starts with Fulcrum building the wall and ends with that wall coming down, but the beginning of the end, which probably takes centuries if not millenia, is the slow distancing of the Elder races and their patron Powers.

So what starts it? Well, why not kill two birds with one stone and have the classic story of fratricide...ie, the 'woodland humans' in whatever form I give them, rising up and killing their masters. Which would certainly make the other races take another look at their 'tame' humans, wouldn't it?

There is writing

And then there is writing that matters.

Progress slow

But steady. Fires is now done and reviewed once. Water is as it is. I'm going to start concept work for Earth Wednesday.

Same thing with Chapter 14-17 of Precyber to Ken. Right now I'm trying to get the revisions to Micronation out the door and should be done with those Tuesday.

One novel at a time.

Fires of Prophesy Done

Revising both that and Wood of the World Wyrm tomorrow. Will probably submit by the end of the week. Feels good. It has been months since I submitted anything for publication and longer for a short story.

Water is at 800ish words. Will write more tomorrow.

Writing Group

The writing group went well. We've scheduled another meeting in three weeks. My current goal is 1000 words a day but unemployment is already taking its toll. I doubt I'll get anything written at all today.

Slow but steady progress

Wrote a bit of water, only a bit of fire, 250 words each. But I wrote 750 words of Chapter 14. So I still got 1000 words done today, which some writers consider a good day's work.

I don't, but that's because on a good day I can do 7-8 times that. I know a lot of artists get their energy from pain...but I don't. I actually have less creative power when I'm stressed about where we'll find our next meal. It isn't that bad yet, but I can't always help but wonder about what if it gets that bad.

One step at a time. At least 1000 words a day, try for 2000. Writing group will meet on Sunday, which will help with at least one story a month.

Writing

Things seem to be going well for the most part. Lots of writing projects and other things to keep me busy when not looking for a job. I finished "Vance the Demigod" for the writer's group this Sunday (just started) but the title is horrific. No idea what to change it to.

I will finish "The Fire of Prophesy" and tomorrow and then start on Water while preforming the next story here.

We'll see how it comes out.