Earth

The writing group went well. They gave me great feedback on Fire, though it is going to require a bit of a rewrite. I'm going to do that at the same time as water and start Earth this week as well.

Julie brought an old children's story that she wrote for her nephews a while back that is quite nice. Rita brought another chunk of her novel. This time it was an interesting anecdote about roller skates.

I'm still somewhat at a loss of what to do with Earth. However, I think what I'm going to do is have a human find the place long after the beavers are gone, and have the wild humans (except I need a different name for them) try to keep him from finding out the truth of what they did so long ago.

Role in the Cycle

So I'm thinking the woods in this case are natural enhancers of whatever exist within them. So the Hosted in this case, wouldn't really be changed. Since the Woods, or what would eventually become enchanted woods, were made by the Hosted, they already regarded themselves in their natural and perfect state. Animals would behave more like themselves, be more healthy, more vibrant and more...everything. A bird would be more bird like and a lion more lion like. It would create a healthy eco system that would at the same time reduce suffering.

With the ability to bring the trees to life within at their command (a given for such an enchanted place), it would be foolhardy for anyone to attack them during the dark times. Indeed, they would serve as natural resting places for questing heroes that eventually became human emperors during the light times, thus becoming natural preserves to a theoretically grateful new dynasty. Of course, they also had to have the ability to make trees grow with incredible speed to undo any damage done by the seige engines.

Indeed, the idea of enhanced humans raised in the woods is as old as fantasy, so someone who was a small child and raised by the Hosted could become quite powerful; stronger, swifter, smarter and more skilled at woodcraft than any normal natural human would be.

But until the end of Prophesy, humans were born, raised and then expelled from the Woods to fulfill their destinies as champions of humans. But what if there were multiple generations of humans born in such a place? Humans that become stronger, faster, and the most base animal instincts of all humans, lusty, Emo, passionate in every way imaginable. More Satyrs and Dryads than Centuars it seems.

And eventually the patient hosted would stand in their way one too many times, and the humans they had good naturedly kept sheltered from the storms ravaging the world beyond them would be killed, to a one.

Definitely the stuff of classic myth...now how to make a story out of it?

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.