ACK!
My goodness, it’s been MONTHS since I’ve updated this thing…
Well, time to play catch-up.
First off, new fics and such… check the link to my fanfic page to check ‘em out, I’ve too much to get out to post individual links.
I’ve added to my Psalmfiction collection, and I’ve written the prologue and first chapter to ‘Solid as Stone’… finally. Check ‘em out!
Also have a couple projects in the works, including this year’s Christmas fic, which should be out before too long.
NaNoWriMo hit with a vengeance this year. Last year I didn’t even get halfway, and didn’t even know what I was writing about until about three days into it. This year… my plot thumped me over the head the month before, simmered all October long, and came out flying when November came along. I spat out 61,000 words or so and STILL I’m not done with the draft. And that’s only the first part… it’s turning into a trilogy.
So, on that note, I started up another blog on more general writing topics. Still getting it on its feet, but check it out at www.beyondthemerewords.wordpress.com.
Finally, the Lion Awards over on The Lion’s Call have come and gone again… this year I took home the Inkling Award, the award given for best emulation of Lewis’s style, for At the Sound of His Roar. One of my favorite awards of the ones offered, and one of my favorite pieces. I was pretty pleased. 
Well, this was a quick li’l catch-up post… so we’ll leave it at that for now.
Dealing With Frustration
Sigh. I should have seen it coming. In fact, I did, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.
As much as I enjoyed the Prince Caspian movie (flawed as it was), and as glad as I am that they actually filmed it… it’s causing an onslaught of Mary Sues and such. Poor, poor Prince Caspian. Peter and Edmund had it bad enough, and now the Prince (er, King, now, I suppose) is getting it as well.
This frustration at the slew of badly written fics led me to get back to ‘Sue spoofing. Of course, now the question was how to go about it. I pondered things on the way to class one day, and an idea struck my mind. What if Nikabrik had gone to something besides a werewolf and hag for help… what if he resorted to the power of Mary Sues?
The idea was too much fun to toss away, and I soon scribbled out a draft of Sorcery and Sudden Perfection. I let it simmer a bit, as something didn’t feel quite right about it, and after I made a few modifications it was soon posted.
Boy it felt good to write.
In other news, I’ve been hard at work on Solid as Stone again, I’ve got the general plot outline all sorted out and after three drafts I’m finally satisfied with how the first chapter is shaping up. Hoping to get it out before too long… but stupid finals aren’t being friendly. We’ll see what happens.
Title: Sorcery and Sudden Perfection
Rating: K
Summary: Nikabrik enlists the help of something besides a werewolf and hag… and of course, Peter and Edmund won’t have it. Especially knowing the effects said help can have. Rather AU, not meant to be taken too seriously.
When it Rains, it Pours…
This holds true with a lot of things, and inspiration is one of them.
So I was out and about yesterday due to nice weather and the itch to write something. Stopped by the bookstore to see what I could find to help with my writing, and picked up a very nice thesaurus that should be extremely helpful. On my way, though, something popped into the back of my head. It was a single word: Roar.
Seemed rather insignificant at the time, but the word wouldn’t go away. It tossed itself about in my head… and everything about it just filled my thoughts. The sound of the word, the images it brought up… wait. Wait just a minute. Maybe I have something here. Yes, perhaps… just maybe…
I tore off to my room at a very brisk pace. Feverishly I dove upon my well-used edition of the Chronicles and paged through it for the passage I was looking for, the bit about Aslan’s earth-shaking roar just before he pounces on the Witch. Somehow I felt I needed to expand on that.
So with my notebook, pen, and new thesaurus in hand, I bolted off once again to a slightly different writing spot than usual, and scribbled furiously. The result: a short but effective (at least I hope) oneshot about the effect of Aslan’s roar. I had a lot of fun with it, and I was glad to have that thesaurus with me, I really got some use out of it. Still, I can’t help but feel words can’t possibly begin to describe the true power of Aslan’s roar. Did the best I could with it, though.
And even NOW, inspiration’s calling my name… I have something floating through my head about the ruin of Cair Paravel, which may manifest itself sometime soon… stay tuned!
Title: At the Sound of His Roar
Rating: K
Summary: Nothing can escape the effect of Aslan’s roar…
Inspiration Comes From Weird Places…
Which was proven to me last weekend…
So I went to go see Prince Caspian the day it came out, last Friday. As this is a blog focused on writing, I’ll pass on putting my thoughts here, but suffice it to say that despite some major issues I had, I still liked it. Anyway, I’m not sure whether seeing the movie was what triggered my inspiration, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
For a while, I’d wanted to do a ‘parting’ type fic. Somebody saying goodbye to somebody else that they cared about a lot. I’d thought of Caspian and Ed saying goodbye to each other on the Dawn Treader, but somehow that didn’t seem to be able to convey what I wanted it to. Still, it seemed to me the best option I had.
Then I had the dream.
The night after I saw Caspian, I had a dream. I dream I still remember fairly well, which is a rare circumstance for me. I don’t remember a lot of details, but I do remember this: in my dream, I was Edmund (for some weird reason) and was talking to Peter, after getting off the train and going back to school at the end of Prince Caspian. I don’t remember much of the conversation there, but I do distinctly remember saying, as Ed, “Going back to Narnia won’t be the same without you.”
I practically shouted out ‘THAT’S IT!’ as I bolted upright.
So I took my pen in hand that day and scribbled out a oneshot between Peter and Ed, in which Ed tells Peter of how he doesn’t feel that going back to Narnia will hold the same feelings it did when Peter was there with him. I really like the way it turned out, and it achieved everything I meant it to. Made me feel better about a few things, too.
In this way was Adelphoi born. And all because of the spark of a dream.
Title: Adelphoi
Rating: K
Summary: Peter and Edmund have a discussion between brothers not long after their second trip to Narnia. Set just after Prince Caspian.
Broadening Horizons
So I’ve been thinking lately about an original fiction idea I had back in high school. Got several chapters into it, but it fizzled. I just couldn’t make it quite work.
Now, I think it might have found new life. It’ll take a lot of reorganization and planning, but I think I might have something workable. Need to scribble notes out… I smell a NaNo for next year!
Of course, I’ve got a lot of fanfic related stuff to scribble out, betas to do, and school still… ay yi yi. Busy busy busy busy busy. Ah well!
The Benefits of Writing
I’ve been told a few times how helpful my writing has been to others, in varying ways and forms…
Only now am I realizing how helpful my writing is to myself.
I have been MAJORLY stressed these days with everything going on in my life. Nothing too drastic, just piled up school stuff, tests, things due, trying to work other things in other places… it was draining. I was tired, I was exhausted, I was sick of things, and I wanted a break. So I grabbed my notebook, left all my work behind me, and just got OUT. I grabbed a warm beverage from my local coffeeshop, headed towards my favorite spot on campus, and wrote out all my frustration.
And in the midst of it all, inspiration struck. And wouldn’t let go.
A bit of background here. I’m taking an astronomy class right now, that I’m finding immensely interesting. And I’ve also recently picked up a copy of ‘Planet Narnia,’ which essentially talks about Lewis’s views of the heavens, and how the Chronicles reflect medieval views of the planets. (Interesting read, not quite sure I agree with EVERY bit of it, but very thought-provoking nonetheless.) During my venting writing, they both coalesced into an idea for a fanfic. An idea that wouldn’t let me go. An idea that wouldn’t let me get anything else done until it was written.
I made off for my room like a shot. I went crazy looking for the verse I wanted… and then I nearly smacked myself as I realized it was one I’d pondered for weeks. It was the start of a Psalm I was thinking on using for a Psalmfic. Everything just fit together too well for this one. I knew right then and there that I couldn’t rest until this plot bunny made its way out.
I ran off to one of my favorite writing spots with my notebook, my pen, and Casting Crowns blasting in my ears. I couldn’t stop. It just went on and on and on, an endless flow of words that didn’t cease until I wrote the final line. Quickly I headed back to my room to type it up, made a few modifications, and within two hours after the idea struck me, The Music of the Stars was born.
And boy did it help. I was a lot more relaxed after that, and much more able to focus on what needed to get done. Reminded me where my true inspiration really comes from, too. Everything just worked together too well on this one for me to credit myself. I so needed that. Never thought that writing could be so therapeutic during times like this… I’m glad I found that out.
I’ll add a link later. Got too much going on to do so now, but you can find in on my fanfic page which is linked to your left if you’re interested and impatient. 
Title: The Music of the Stars
Rating: K
Summary: Prince Caspian and Doctor Cornelius have another Astronomy lesson on the Great Tower, of a slightly different sort.
ACK!
*pant pant pant*
I’M STILL ALIVE!
Been really busy lately trying to get things together, which has left less time than I’d like for writing. Good news is I’ve finally managed to finish one of the articles I’ve been meaning to do for The Lion’s Call for a while, so that’s one thing off my list. Couple more articles, and Psalmfic ideas bounding through my head left and right. Can’t promise much, but we’ll see.
Removing the Block
Wow.
That’s all I have to say. Investing in this journal/pen and taking advantage of my ideal writing environment is really working. I’ve written a lot these past few days. And yes, that includes pieces of fanfics. I managed to spin out a bit of a rewrite of the first section of Chapter Two of RoKM. FINALLY. And a few sentences further of Philia. I tell ya, writer’s block has gone down the drain these days. Really hoping it keeps up, I rather like how this has been going. I’ve filled 14 pages of my journal in three days… which is more than several month’s worth used to be. I can only hope it improves from here.
On Teeny-Tiny Writing Details
This weekend I have discovered the importance of the details when it comes to writing.
And no, I’m not talking about details in the writing itself. I figured that out a LOOOOONG time ago.
I’m talking about details of writing environments and the tools used. I have discovered that little things can make a HUGE difference.
The nice weather led me to do a little poking out and about this weekend. And I spend a good part of it thinking about my writing. I went down to the bookstore and picked me up a nice journal. The notebook I’d previously been using was… much too small. Great for carrying around, insanely difficult to write in. So I bought a new one, a bigger one, still easy to carry around but not too small either. Lines for easier writing. At first I thought no lines would be better for me, but I need a little structure. Lines help.
Next order of business: A pen. I settled on a blue one. Not black. Blue. Shocking for me. But I felt a blue pen might be a good idea. Spend a while testing out pens with blue ink, scribbling all over notepads provided as I did so. Judged on feel, on look, on color, on how smooth it wrote, on how quick the ink dried. EVERYTHING. Finally settled on one I liked, so I went to pay for my journal and pen.
With those in hand, my next order of business was to find someplace to write. I went to my favorite spot on the university campus, chose a bench, sat down, and pulled out my new pen and journal.
And wrote. And wrote. And WROTE.
I couldn’t stop. Well, I did, but not after I’d gone four pages solid in my journal. And I have small handwriting.
Bottom line, I’ve discovered how important the details are. I write better in natural lighting, either outdoors or in rooms with big windows. Blue ink works better for me than black, it stands out a bit more against the page and lines ON the page. The journal’s the right size for me, not too big to be hard to carry around and not so small it’s hard to write in anytime, anywhere. Little things like that are IMMENSELY important. I’ve written more in it these past two days than I did for months at a time before.
Next attempt: Look for good INDOOR writing locales. There’s a Starbucks down the street that looks promising…
Full Year
One year ago from yesterday, I posted my very first fanfic.
Now, one year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 366 days, however you wanna look at it, I’m looking back on it all. I’ve got 13 pieces posted… some complete, some not, some oneshots and some multichaptered stuff, and more on my future plate.
And… wow. I’ve come a long way.
Looking back on my older stuff, it’s really neat to see how far I’ve come as a writer since I started out. I’ve still got a lot to learn and a long way to go, but it’s cool to see the progress I’ve made up to this point. I still can’t believe it’s been a full year… though that might explain the urges I’ve had to get another Narnian poem worked out somehow. 
In other news, I haven’t written much lately at all. Stupid writer’s block. Not really much to update on, just thought it’d be nice to have a one-year-at-fanficing post.
