tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20997516576919735342024-03-14T06:53:00.325+00:00Brian S CreekAuthor and GeekBrian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-576662620605065292019-11-06T19:36:00.001+00:002019-11-06T19:36:22.740+00:00(vol 6) CHAPTER 05: “NaNoWriMo 2019 – Day 6”<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot of years that I do this, my first NaNo post falls within just a few days of starting, so there isn’t always much to talk about. Well today I’ve got almost a week of NaNo’ing beneath me and it’s going well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let’s see what I’ve been up to since the beginning of the month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Day 1 – 2169 words</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well I do like to make things difficult, but this is the first time I’ve done something so extreme for a NaNo project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Months ago I started a writing project that I liked enough that I decided to step away and save it for November. When October rolled around, I got to planning and prepping as much as I could. I was all ready to go and looking forward to where this year’s adventure would take me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then something happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke up on November 1st, thinking forward to my lunch break when I’d finally get fingers to keyboard and start writing. I had breakfast. I got dressed. I said goodbye to family, and I walked out the door. I walked to the end of my road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then a completely new idea for a novel popped into my head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, I don’t know about you, but I struggle to let ideas go. When it happens, I didn’t consider it as a replacement, but something else I would look at in the future. So, I rolled it around in my head, discovered characters, explored settings, and found a pretty decent plot. By the time I got to work about 25 minutes later, I knew this was what I wanted to work on, and I flipped. And this story that appeared from nowhere on the first morning of NaNoWriMo 2019 is what I am still working on six days later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the working title <b>BUNKER</b>, I found my main character on the edge of a clearing, rifle in hand, waiting. I kept writing and gave him a father and a reason to be stood around. Then other people showed up. Then bad things showed up. And it all worked together to enrich this new world with its odd rules. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Day 2 – 1859 words</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keeping with the free-flowing nature of the project, I sat down to write on the Saturday morning, wind and rain lashing at the house, and randomly decided to have <b>BUNKER</b> told from two points of view. So, after bringing a small group of people back to Bunker 24, one of these characters became my second point of view for alternating chapters. I don’t know if I’ll keep it going, or if it will survive the rewrites, or if it’s a good idea, but right now, almost a week in, its working very nicely. It builds the world easier having the perspective from one character from inside the Bunker, and one from the outside world. They’ve led very different lives up to this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Day 3 – 1689 words</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday was a busy day for me, and I only had the morning to produce anything. The chapter was a little bit of a slog to get through as it was mostly just scene setting, but the world I’ve created is paper thin in parts right now. So, there’s very little description in my description.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One good thing that did come out of if was the evolution of the main characters father. A lot of my NaNo first drafts have very 2D characters. They all sound the same and are limited in what they bring. They are mostly place holders. And that’s especially true of <b>BUNKER</b> which was born so suddenly that I’m still finding my footing. But when the fathers look and voice suddenly developed into a fully-fledged character halfway through a paragraph, it felt good. His dialogue and attitude immediately changed. I could hear him speak with every word I wrote for him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Day 4 – 1710 words</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another tough day to write as it was an inset day for my son’s school meaning writing wasn’t going to happen until the other half returned and I could sneak off for a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was also another day of struggling to get the setting down on page. It feels a little more like characters are rehearsing on an empty stage for now, as the sets are finished yet. I’m hoping to draw up an actual plan for the Bunker at some point over the weekend. This way I’ll know where everything is in relation to everything else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the plus side, the scene was a pivotal moment in the story as the first signs of actual conflict are revealed. I’m starting to picture the second and third acts now, so I’m beginning to put pieces in play that will carry our characters in the necessary direction of a finale. Of course, the beauty of NaNo is that it might all change again by the time I get there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the secondary character got revealed a little more but is still a bit of a mystery (more to the reader now, less to me). And I got to write the main characters father once more so that was a pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Day 5 – 1783 words</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I managed to blag a late lunch (3:00-4:00) in the hopes that the canteen would be nice and quiet. It usually is. But when I grabbed my laptop and headed in, it was anything but. Add to that people thinking I was working instead of lunching, yet still talking to me about IT issues when I was doing my best to look busy, and I didn’t hit the 1000 words I can normally get done in my lunch break. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, I carried on, getting down what I could. This scene was all about loss and is close to the end of the first part before a six month skip to part 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got home, stuck on Jack Ryan, and headed towards my daily target (and a little bit extra). I’m already coming up with things that will cause a big rewrite of all that has come before as character and motivation seeps to the surface, but I’m looking forward to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stephen King always says that you find a story like a fossil I the ground. It’s already there, and you have to go gentle and see how much of it you’re able to reveal. I’ve never felt like that before until now. I finally get it. And I really like what I’m finding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s all coming along nicely. For an idea that isn’t even a week old yet, it feels like I planned this one during October instead of the other project (which isn’t dead, just been moved down the list).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On a side note, I’ve been going through the NaNo forums a fair bit in the last few days, more than I normally would. The reason for this is I’ve found I’m not the only one who is having issues with the new look NaNo website. I’ve been looking forward to how the redesign was going to turn out, but so far, it’s been bad experiences for me and a lot of others. And one of the negatives from the overhaul is the loss of people friends list. As it stands today, I currently only have one Writer Buddy on my list (hello Liz 😊).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If anyone wants to add me, my username over at NaNo is just Brian S Creek. I’ve always struggled less when writing alongside buddies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And let me know in the comments how your NaNo 2019 is going. Are you planning or pansting. And how are you finding the new look website for 2019?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, back to writing. My day 6 word count currently stands at 25.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-85683106790720927602019-10-30T21:23:00.004+00:002019-10-30T21:54:47.846+00:00(vol 6) CHAPTER 04: “Plans for NaNoWriMo 2019”<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No matter how bad things get in life, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, since 2007 November always brings me back to NaNoWriMo. It’s almost like a reset now. It doesn’t matter if I haven’t written for ages, if I’m stuck on something, or if I’m dropping thousands of words on another project; as soon as November 1st appears on a calendar it’s 30 days to write 50,000 brand new words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>LUCKY NUMBER 13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My ex has spent a lot of this last year getting into running as something she likes to do. She does a group run on a Wednesday, goes out on random evenings when she feels like it, and does charity runs too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I couldn’t be prouder of her and what I’ve watched her accomplish. As the ‘proper’ running clothes began to appear, along with a smart watch, there then followed the certificates and medals. And then the distances she was able to push herself to, and the pride that showed on her own face at each step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When she started doing well at it, I’ll admit I felt a little inferior. Sure, she might feel that she’s let herself down occasionally when an illness or injury stops her from hitting a target, but she’s just been non-stop with those stats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But wait! No one likes stats more than me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I watched her always pushing herself to go further, to go faster, and it began to dawn on me that I use stats to write my best stuff. Hell, using stats just gets me to write stuff, period. I can sit around for eleven months of the year, moaning that I don’t know what to write, moaning that I don’t like what I write, moaning that it all needs to be rewritten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So how come when that November rears it’s head and calls out to me, I can stop everything and write 50,000 words in a single month?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seriously; what’s up with that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yes, to you observant ones out there that notice all my past NaNoWriMo novels only exist on a couple of thumb drives, and no-one other than me has ever read them, well spotted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I write them. They still exist. 9 novels in at least first draft form. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So while this year will be the 13th time that I’ve sat down and started writing a novel in November . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">. . . will it be the 10th time that I get to that sweet finish line? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT HAS COME BEFORE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every year I like to reminisce over the first drafts of NaNo past before talking about NaNo present. And this post will be no different. Though for my return I’ve made an effort to spruce up the article; no cut and past for 2019. This is a mostly rewritten article.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, lets look back over the almost-failed, the did-failed, the winners, and the record breakers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brian Creek . . . this is you (NaNoWriMo) life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BEFORE NANOWRIMO</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve always enjoyed writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was a kid, I used to write my dreams down. As I gained a few years, I started writing all kinds of things, taking what I’d watched on TV and read in books and mashing all my favourite bits together. Sure, most of it was blatant copyright infringement, but it was my way of finding my feet, of expressing myself on paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I got to collage, it was all about the movies and so I switched to screenplays. I was into the whole indie scene around then, so the killer dolls and spaceships of my teenage years faded away, and instead I took inspiration from GOOD WILL HUNTING, BUFFALO ’66, and all those kind of films; real people going through real pain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then, as winter turns to summer, my screenplays turned back to novels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was while working on an idea about a normal guy who hated his job and was friends with a grim reaper that I discovered an article online about this writing movement born out of San Francisco. It revolved around silencing your inner editor and just writing shit down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It sounded like exactly what I needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2007 - DEATH IS JUST A DAY JOB</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Upon visiting www.nanowrimo.org and finding out what they were about, I didn’t waste more time and signed up to their website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t have the concept back then of what 50,000 words was gonna feel like to write. I judged books that I read visually; a book was thin, thick, or a Stephen King doorstop. I either thought that is wasn’t that many words so this shouldn’t be too difficult, or the more positive version where 50,000 words was a doorstop and I was gonna write an epic novel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I write in November, there are two types of projects; ones that I make up specifically for NaNoWriMo, and ones that I’ve struggled at some point during the other eleven months of the year and am getting nowhere with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I mentioned, this first one was a story I’d been moulding in some form or other for a few months but was getting nowhere after the first ten pages. In some versions the guy was meeting the Reaper for the first time. In others they were long time buddies. But I had no plot, no antagonist, no other characters. Just a scene and a pair of outsiders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite choosing the idea as my project, other than those basics, I planned nothing else for the November 1st start date. I went full Pantster. All I had was ‘a guy’ is friends with ‘a Grim Reaper’ and that it be set in my hometown. It had disaster written all over it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite this pissing into the wind attitude I’d adopted, it started well. I’d sit at my work desk and write ideas down between menial tasks, then take it all home, boot up the PC in the back room, and hide myself away as it all clustered together on the screen into something resembling a story, only leaving the keyboard for basic things like food and toilet breaks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I picked up a new habit after a few days when I hit a roadblock in the story. I was starting to see further out in the plot, have an idea where I was headed, but there were still holes or missteps. So what I did was just step over them. It was a first draft and these things could get fixed later. I learnt very, very early on that momentum is the key. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And sure, this led to some hilarious moments and real head scratchers in the first read through in the December, the most memorable being a character who was killed off and three chapters or so later was just in a scene minding her own business, very much not dead.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did hit the most infamous of roadblocks around the halfway mark when I made the stupid decision to by a new games console. Present day Brian would have set the Xbox up as a reward, something I now do each year too. But back then I was new to NaNo and didn’t foresee how my new toy would derail me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And derail me it did. It very nearly destroyed all progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as well as finding some negatives about my writing that first attempt, I also found some real positives. Like how, when I really knuckle down, I can write a lot if the game close to being lost. With three days to go I, I realised what was a stack, stopped the video games, and knuckled down for two nights of intense into-the-early-hours writing sessions, and went from expecting to fail my first NaNo, to crossing the finish line on November 29th.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every ‘win’ feels amazing. I always slump back exhausted, grin like the Joker, and maybe give a quick little fist pump if no one is looking. But that first one, that was real special and I’ll never quite get as close to the same feeling again, no matter how many times I do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of all the things I have written or will write, <b>DEATH IS JUST A DAY JOB</b> will always be the piece I’m most proud of. While it still lingers in first draft limbo, I’m determined to dust it off one day and release it into the wild.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2008 - THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5 words</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After November 2007, I thought I had finally found my mojo and the novels that had sat unfinished in my brain for the last decade would now just flow onto bookshelves. I mean, thanks NaNoWriMo, but I’m not waiting eleven months to go again. I got this.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Except I didn’t. Editing <b>DEATH IS JUST A DAY JOB</b> came to a halt, and any new projects I started just fell into the same issues as before; loss of interest or a complete block.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I began to think that my first NaNo win would be my only, that it had been a fluke. I definitely went in with more fear than the last time. I knew what it would take. I knew that I was my own worst enemy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, as November 2008 loomed in the distance, I knuckled down and tried to come up with a way to get a second win.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My solution was to right short stories that combined to make a bigger one. Bite size should mean less technical hitches over a linger piece. So I looked back through my binders at everything I’d worked on and abandoned and I found one little story that I thought would fit my requirements; <b>THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like the previous years’ work, it was an idea that had a worked and reworked opening 20 pages but no more. The first chapters had changed over and over again so much, as had the style and genre. But as November 2008 stepped up, I settled on a YA fantasy that was designed to be built of five different adventures across one single quest. It sees the titular character stuck in the world of his favourite novels and travelling backwards trough the series. I thought I could write it bite sized and get through it a little easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t make it past day one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m not sure exactly why, but I’d guess that life was doing things and when that first day rolled around, I was distracted, and my heart wasn’t in it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully that wasn’t the end of me and NaNo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2009 - JUSTICE</b></span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">50,160 words</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was even more anxious going into 2009. One win, and one no show. What was gonna happen this time?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I continued the theme of taking stories that I had started over and over again, and with Marvel kicking off the golden age of Superhero cinema, I took my love of the films and comics and decided it was time for me to write something I was really passionate about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had pictures and stories and characters from my collage attempts at my own comic book, and it was from here that I mined everything I might need.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Originally titled <b>WHAT A HERO WANTS</b>, I wanted to tell an origin story with a twist. Unlike heroes that stumble into powers, or are forced into situations where they finally become the hero, my main character wanted nothing more than to be a superhero and was close to realising his dream when a dramatic moment forces him to turn his back. From hero to zero. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The love of the subject matter showed in how easy I found the story to write. I never had to work around anything, I never got lost or stumped, and I found the ending when I needed to. I like all the characters and where they ended up. I saw room to improve and enlarge the story. And as I wrote, my mind showed other stories in the same universe. A nice big playground to explore. I never found myself stumped and went straight from beginning to end in a nice, cohesive manner. Probably the smoothest NaNoWriMo project to date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2010 - I AM BROKEN</b></span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">57,149 words</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the things people find difficult about NaNoWriMo is finding the time to write. When something comes up any other time of the year it isn’t too bad to miss a day. But under the time constraint, missing a day forces you to find somewhen else to write 1667 (or more words to make up for the loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That year I once again went into NaNo with an old beginning that I’d rewritten and rejigged several times over the years (seriously, I have a cellar full of these), but this time I had something else, something that meant I had no excuse to fail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">None. At. All.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In September of 2010 I was made redundant and put on Garden Leave. No work, but still getting paid. So when NaNoWriMo coasted up 32 days later, I had all the time in the world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t have the normal thirty days with work taking up a massive chunk of change. I had from when I woke to when I went to bed to write as much as I could. I was a gift and I was determined not to waste it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, I was so optimistic, I upped my required work count from the standard 50,000 to 60,000. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I AM BROKEN</b> was hard to write. Not physically. I wrote every day, set personal bests, and managed to be across 50,000 by November 30th. But it was a big story, bigger than anything I’d ever written before. And I don’t mean work count, though the 57,000 I made it too was impressive in my eyes. No, it was big because it was filled to the brim with characters and ideas and plot. I was layer and complicated. And things just kept adding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If everything I’d written before was ‘Carrie’ sized in its length, this thing was my ‘Stand’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing that I found really helped, and it’s something I’ve used to assist me every year ever since, is writing to movie soundtracks. It really helped me write to a certain style and build the story cinematic in my mind. In 2010 I picked one specific soundtrack and played it on a loop as I wrote. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thirty days later I was done. At I didn’t make it to the 60,000, this was the most I’d managed to date, and I only had one lull around the two thirds mark. I crossed 50,000 on the 24th and just kept going. The only thing that makes me sad is that I never got to the end, even to this day, and that part of the story is still sat in my head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day I will get it onto paper. One day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2011 - THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">15,150 words</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As my fifth year of NaNo rolled around, I was beginning to feel quite confident in my taking part. Only one misstep out of four tries, and with a record-breaking previous win, I stepped up like I owned NaNo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, I had a job at this point, so that would be no all-hours-of-the-day writing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I changed my game and decided to fill the hole in the current collection by going back and fixing my one failure. Months before November I started planning <b>THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b> in more detail, ironing out all the kinks and making sure I knew exactly where I was going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once again, this story beat me. Again, I found myself distracted, and the story drifted away. My daily word counts were poor and the finish line moved further and further away. I tried to relight the spark gave me the idea all those years ago, but after two weeks, and only managing 15,000 words, I knew I was dragging a dead novel beside me and I decided to let go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day I will finish Maxwell’s story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2012 - DEAD DOLLARS</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2173 words</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If 2011 was bad, this one was much worse. I don’t like excuses, but for this one time I think you’ll agree that failing wasn’t much of a choice. With another idea from the cellar, I dived into <b>DEAD DOLLARS</b>, a zombie western inspired by the scene from A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I say dived in but, due to the circumstances surrounding November 2012, I’m surprised I even thought about trying to write anything at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wife and I had chosen to move in with her father while she was pregnant, and were looking for a bigger place to live. The space we had in my father-in-law’s bungalow was limited as was TalkTalk’s excuse for Broadband. This is in itself would have been a challenge for most NaNoWriMo participants but for me it was just the tip of the iceberg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add that to another redundancy in less than 2 years, and suddenly writing a zombie western didn’t seem like a priority in life. As November approached, I kept flicking between wanting to take part and thinking it would be crazy to add more stress, but in the end I knew NaNo was good for me and figured I needed something positive to keep me going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I began. It was as tough as I thought with limited internet access and nowhere to sit down and write comfortably. I’ll never know if I would have gotten to the end of the story as our son, who was due at Christmas of that year, decided he wanted out sooner. Right in the middle of November. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Needless to say, <b>DEAD DOLLARS</b> didn’t get much further.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">(to be continued . . . )</span></div>
</div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-24545971064180440762019-10-23T10:26:00.001+01:002019-10-30T19:38:33.652+00:00(vol 6 ) CHAPTER 03: “Where have I been?”<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He stands and looks out at the landscape he left behind two years ago. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Has it really been that long? One minute he was right here, writing his heart out, planning on putting his stories out into the world. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And then the next . . . nothing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He was instead in another place. A faraway place. And the words never came. His ideas, his worlds, his characters, all stalled and trapped like he was. For all this time, the gap between these two places had been thin, and occasionally his ideas had escaped and found their way back home. But it was few and far between.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He stretches, both physically and mentally. He searches his mind, hoping that he didn’t come back alone. For a moment, when nothing replies, he feels breathless and empty. But there they are. Hidden away. Perhaps frightened, but they are there. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>His fingertips itch to get to work, yet he can’t just rush back in. He’s not as strong as he was before he fell away. He’s rusty. To throw himself into something old, or something too big could do more damage. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Or worse, send him back ‘there’.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No, he needs something fun, something easy, where the rules aren’t so tight and restrictive. A playground where a simple spark can grow and grow with nothing but craziness and inspiration to accompany it.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Something created . . . by chance.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I DISAPPEARED</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog has been a bit of a dead zone for the last couple of years, a place where words fell to the page as infrequently as rain falls in the desert. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ask myself how did it go from being so much to so little. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, it started back in 2016 .</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had managed almost two years of blogging every single Wednesday. Which isn’t including all the extras like the story posts. And yes, some evenings I was cutting it fine, and yes, some posts weren’t my finest. But I showed up and got it done, with a big ol’ bag of consistency. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately though, as 2015 faded away in the rear view, taking those highly motivational Flash Fiction contests with it, I suddenly found myself without prompts, and with only my own original work to keep me company. Doubt began to creep back in. Confidence said it was popping out for milk and it never came back.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was struggling with posting regularly, and as much as it hurt after keeping up the strict routine of posting every Wednesday for almost two years straight, I curbed my output and went fortnightly (in the process, killing my catchphrase “see you in seven”).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Halfway through that same year, just before we took our son away on his first holiday abroad, I discovered that it wasn’t the forced routine that had made me struggle with the blog posts, it was the content. I realised that I was talking the talk, but not walking the walk. That is to say that I was posting on how to write, how to do covers, and what I wanted to self-publish, but each year I ended unpublished. I felt like a fraud. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, it was with a heavy heart that I stepped back from the blog altogether and went on hiatus. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, I popped back in occasionally to make sure the digital flowers were watered, that the non-existent fan-mail wasn’t clogging up the hallway, and to continue annotating my NaNoWriMo journey come November. But the blog was effectively closed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I SHOUTED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around this time, the stress of my job claimed my sanity, and after an altercation in the canteen where I ended up losing my temper and being accused of something far worse than that, I was asked to seek help.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spent the next few months attending Anxiety, Stress, and Anger meetings. In my mind it was a mistake, because the thing that could have cost me my job didn’t happen as was explained to my bosses. But listen they didn’t, and so I went along with it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I’m not saying I shouldn’t have been seeking help. I most certainly should have because anxiety, stress, and anger are easily my biggest problems. So I chose another reason to do it. I wanted to be better for my family. I worked hard at the end of 2016, despite coming out thinking it had been a waste of time, and then found people saying I was different, better.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hid away from writing and didn’t think I’d ever find myself back to the way it been during 2014/2015, my golden era. But I did come back and not for the reason I ever thought. Two things happened to me in April of 2017 that knocked me down further than I thought I could go. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kidneys stones hurt me physically.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the next day, my marriage hit the beginning of the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>AN ANTHOLGY CALLED ME</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a tough few months of ups and downs. Shouting, tears, a lot of mental pain. I struggled to not let go of the hard work I’d done on myself at the end of 2016. It’s all a blur now, I know, but I remember that around the August I finally realised that I was fighting for a prize that no longer existed. I found myself stopping and taking a look in the mirror. After that, something weird happened. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the summer of 2017 was in full swing, the blog posts started building up once more when BRISK WORLDS, my collection of Flash Fiction stories, was suddenly shot into production and then released into the wild. It all happened so quickly. I had post after post in the build up as I planned my design and cover. Then, once it was out there, more posts followed as I chronicled my experiences of the process.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The negativity I’d been suffering from had gone away, and the end of 2017 seemed to be exactly where I’d been aiming for. BRISK WORLDS was to be the springboard I’d been trying to get to, the hump I’d been trying to get over, the wall I’d been so desperately trying to smash through. It was only a matter of time now before the first full novel came out. And the next. And the next.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nothing was going to stop me now.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Except, ‘sigh’, that’s not exactly what happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>AVENGERS: DISSASEMBLE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It should have been a case of carrying on with the momentum.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2018 definitely started that way as I continued to post and back up to weekly. Well. At least for the first two weeks. Then it became monthly. Nothing of interest either, just weak, pathetic posts about how I was falling down again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then it was April, and a bunch of Superheroes pulled me back up again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR on the horizon, I did what any self-respecting geek was planning; watching all the preceding MCU films in a marathon for the build-up. With my blog parched, I thought perhaps it would be nice to chronicle the viewing, and post my journey and my views of it, as I went. It started so well as I discussed the highs and lows, talking about memories of when I saw them and what was so good about them in my eyes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, for some reason, even blogging about my favourite subject in the whole damn universe became a chore. What the hell was wrong with me?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The article is still a mess to this day. I did it a great disservice. What should have been a passion project ended up sabotaged and ruined.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And again, I stopped blogging. Again, I fell back into the showers. Again I thought it wouldn’t get much worse. I mean, come on; NaNoWriMo was on the horizon. That always picks me up, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>NANO MORE WORDS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite what ever is happening to me, November is my happy time. It’s my version of Christmas (surprise, surprise, I’m a Bah! Humbug). October is the count down, then it’s 30 days of me in a new world exploring and recording what I see. And it’s one thing that I’m not only good at, but always super proud of.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It also sees me return to post updates for just the month of November.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So why did I get two thirds through and stop posting? Why was the 21st November the last content on my blog until those garbled messages started showing up a few months ago?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Easy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like all good stories, it was because of a girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As Divorce-ville was my main destination from mid-2017 until whenever the solicitor decided, I was pleasantly surprised to find a detour not marked on the map. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It turned out that a work colleague/friend who was probably the only person in the world that I felt actually ‘got’ me, had feelings for me. And guess what folks? I realised the same thing about her. My spirits were more than lifted. I realised that I might not grow up to be a hermit, or that grumpy old next-door neighbour who never returns your football if it goes over the fence. I felt like I might actually be . . . happy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so began months of will they won’t they.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now you’re probably thinking, “well bless him, he was so distracted by love, that he forgot all about writing and was just in a really good place”. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well you’d be f’ing wrong. Unfortunately, during the month of November, it was in the phase of ‘<i>Won’t they</i>’ so I was in an even darker place than normal when it came to fiction. And the novel I worked on (SHUFFLE, DEAL, PLAY) which somehow did make it to 50,000+ words, is the kinda thing you write when you feel like you’ve had your heart stomped on. I thought it might be therapeutic, or something, but it’s was a mess and should have just been taken out back and shot.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Actually, that’s kinda unfair. When things with the girl ended earlier this year (if she’s reading this, which I think she might just be, then I’m still going to the cottage on the hills) I looked back at the story with calmer thoughts and found something deep inside it that I might be able to remould into a pretty decent novel in the near future.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>REBOOT</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which brings us to 2019 and things are a lot different.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a new job (still IT) which I don’t have to travel very far to. I have a new hobby (board games) which I’m loving right now. My family situation is . . . . peculiar (my mom still can’t get her head round it) and it would make a great sitcom. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I have an urge to write again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as I said in the intro, I don’t want to throw myself into anything complicated of epic, and the thought of trying something old, or something failed could also derail me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily some chance things have combined almost effortlessly, and a project now sits on my 2019 NaNoWriMo page that I’m excited about starting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ll go into a little bit more detail next week when I do my annual update on my past NaNo projects.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I’ll just leave it there for now. I’m back and in a more positive place than I have been for a good couple of years. I’ve crossed into a new decade, and the end is nearer, so it’s time I got all these stories out of my head before they are lost forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-39479705603576873042019-10-02T09:00:00.000+01:002019-10-02T09:00:02.497+01:00(vol 6) CHAPTER 02: “Broken Transmission”<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ INCOMING TRANSMISSION _ _ _</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">zzzzzttt . . . . . pzzztt . . . . . happpzzt . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">“—ave found a way back. If I can just manage to hold the portal open for more than a couple of seconds then I should –“ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">pzzztt . . . . . ffffftttzzzz . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">“-home.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">zzzzztttt . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">“How long has it been now? Two yea-“ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">pzzztt . . . . . “</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ SIGNAL LOST _ _ _</span>Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-62362130176949384762019-09-04T09:00:00.000+01:002019-09-04T09:25:04.546+01:00(vol 6) CHAPTER 01: “Garbled message”<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ INCOMING TRANSMISSION _ _ _</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">zzzzzttt . . . . . pzzztt . . . . . happpzzt . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">“-anged to bounce a signal. Don’t have long. I’m trapped in this place and-“</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">pzzztt . . . . . zzzzzttt . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">“nly way back. There isn’t much ti-“</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ SIGNAL LOST _ _ _</span><br />
<br />Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-44356112596389698922019-08-07T09:00:00.000+01:002019-08-07T09:00:07.615+01:00(vol 6) PROLOGUE: "Mysterious signal"<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ INCOMING TRANSMISSION _ _ _</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">zzzzzttt . . . . . pzzztt . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">“Hello? Is there anyone there? This is-” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">. . . . . ffffttzzzz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">_ _ _ SIGNAL LOST _ _ _</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-34377028435007121402018-11-21T19:35:00.001+00:002018-11-21T19:35:48.557+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 06: "NaNoWriMo 2018 - Day 21"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This NaNo is starting to take it's toll.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the story itself is chugging a long, that is also the problem. It's chugging a long. For the last two years I couldn't wait to get to writing each day. And I wrote, A lot for me. I never got stuck or felt like I was worrying about my 1667 daily target.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But this year it's almost become a chore.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong. I like the story. And I think there's promise there. But I didn't plan as well as I could have, and so I'm almost treading water now, throwing ideas for scenes together, knowing that when I edit, a lot will be chopped out and/or rewritten.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I even have the regular issue where I've either forgotten a characters name from an earlier part of the story, or I haven;t even given them a name (Harrison's wife it sill called 'Harrison's wife' and I'm nearly 40,000 words in!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I'm not worried about hitting the target. The 12th was still the only day I didn't hit my target, and I'm not near the end of the story, so every thing should be fine.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-31896087197515348772018-11-14T10:56:00.002+00:002018-11-21T19:30:49.637+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 06: "NaNoWriMo 2018 - Day 14"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, we're nearly half way through the month, people. Millions of words are escaping writers minds and becoming trapped forever on paper and screens across the globe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm still beavering away at a steady pace, keeping myself afloat as apposed to steaming ahead like last year. I'm still finding the book a challenge due to its nature, but I'm not giving up on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 8 -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a lot of fun with this chapter today. The main character is a geek, and us geeks love a good comic book store. In keeping with the shared/mixed universe, our character visits Four Sided Triangle, one of the main locations in last years <b>SUPERGOD</b>. He discusses his favorite comic books with a member of staff, which gave me the chance parody classic comic book story lines. So in place of MARVEL's 'Secret Wars' or DC's 'Infinite Crisis', we have 'The Chaos Fallout Saga' where the comic book hero meets he arch nemesis, the universe is at stake, blah, blah, blah. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 9 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I struggled to get the words down at first on Day 9, as the scene was going to be tough top write and I kept holding back early on. But once the gloves came off, and the conflict between the two main characters ignited (leading to the first real inciting incident) it just flowed. I'm always much happier with dialogue and their argument just hit the keyboard so naturally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 10 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was another slow day of writing, primarily because it was the slow down scene after the big argument previously. IN this scene the main characters is sharing what has just happened, which unfortunately leads to a lot of repetition for the reader if not done correctly. I have not done it correctly. But that's what edits are for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 11 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As well as the video game and the board games shared by the characters, the two main characters also work on a comic together during the novel. So not only is their relationship at stake and very much on/off for the duration, but the unfinished first copy of their joint project risks becoming a casualty. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something that came from this scene that was unexpected and may be developed later, was having the character of the comic, a Barbarian named Banter, manifest himself in Harrison's mind and talk with him when he's alone. Will see how that goes later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 12 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was a bad day. Two kids birthday parties </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and a very late showing of the F1 highlights </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the day before meant I was exhausted, and then the Monday was taking up with getting my sons new bedroom ready (a lot of furniture and books were moved in the making of this bedroom) meant I managed less than 300 words today. It's the first time I haven't crossed the daily 1667 this month and I went to bed grumpy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 13 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I picked up where I left off and completed a scene that present the challenge of being mostly a text conversation. And it was a scene where the status quo almost returns, but is lost at the last moment because the main character stays true to himself. Then what follows is more conflict in the characters past life. He is slowly being pushed out of his past, while a future doesn't seem to exist, and this is what the character is struggling with as he finds himself very alone and cast adrift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 14 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following a couple of crap and meandering days, I hit a scene which made me reevaluate an idea I have for the book which may be extreme enough that a title change will be needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The characters play a video game in the story and this was on top of the gimmick of the board games nights, and the comic book project. It was getting cluttered. So I decided to cut the board games out (hence saying bye ye to the title) and fleshing pout the video game. And I plan on doing this by setting the scenes of games playing inside the world of the game. So chapters will occur in a fantasy world setting, but there will be little tell-tell signs of it being a game experience (XP, areas off limits, etc). And i'll use these scenes to exaggerate real world moments for slightly comedic effect. Hopefully.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sp there we are. Hours away from the half way mark and I'm still on track, despite one road bump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How is everyone else getting on? I see a couple of the @FlashDogs are steadily heading my</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm off to force my way kicking and screaming over the 25,000 word mark. Keep up the great NaNo work all you awesome writers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span><br />
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-19500414982378828962018-11-07T15:07:00.005+00:002018-11-15T09:54:47.306+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 06: "NaNoWriMo 2018 - Day 7"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, it's that time of the year where words must be put to page, and an idea must be brought kicking and screaming into the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year my project is a novel called <b>SHUFFLE DEAL PLAY</b>, and it's a little less genre, and a lot more personal. After a really tough 2018, I'm partly writing to get things off my chest, and I'm putting my main character through some of the shit I've had to deal with recently. I hope he handles it better than I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY ONE - 1672</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Harrison Parker, our awesome yet stressed main character suffers his first humiliation that leads him down a dark path. I've taken to incorporating things from other stories into my works and this opener is no exception. The character is an artist and he loves comic books. But instead of going with the usual MARVEL or DC stuff, I'm once again using superheroes I've created for another project. I did the same thing for last years <b>SUPERGOD</b>. It's fun making things up for my own universe based on my love of all things comic book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY TWO - 2094</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second chapter introduces us to Harrison's working environment. This takes a lot from what I do for a living. A lot of his work life will include anecdotes from my time working in IT. We also meet the first of Harrison's friends, one of the small group who unknowingly keep our hero on the right path when he can't see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY THREE - 1737</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now things get really tough for Harrison. This was a difficult scene to write, but I managed to put myself in his head and really wonder whether he would and could go this far away from himself. I had to remember that Harrison was going through an ordeal in his mind, and this is where he shows the first signs of cracking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've seen Harrison's work life, and now we see that things aren't too much better at home. This introduces his wife and son and explains why he doesn't feel like he has many happy places left. It's going to be a challenge to keep Harrison from just being a pathetic character with everything going wrong. But he also has to have that feeling of being totally suppressed in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY FIVE - 2062</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was my favourite day of writing, partly because I came up with a cool gimmick part way through. The character spends some time playing an online fantasy game (again using something from another project instead of something real world like The Elder Scrolls). I didn't like writing the two characters in two locations while their game characters were in a third fantastical location. So I considered writing these scenes in the future as if they are both in the fantasy setting of the game. Obviously this puts me into a more comfortable position with these scenes, but I think it works well and mixes things up a little while still progressing plot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY SIX - 1838</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was a tougher day of writing. The character meets up with a couple of other friends and takes part in a game of Cluedo, all the while revealing to those closest to him a big secret he himself has just discovered. It ended up as a four way conversation at points and there was a lot of 'he said' 'she said'. Felt messy, and will definitely need saving in the edit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DAY SEVEN - 1718</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And easy scene to write today as it is almost an exact recollection of what happened to me several months ago. A lot of the rewrite of this project will be about bending it away from fact and focusing more on what makes a good story. But true life events are being used at this early stage to plan out the rough route I want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So my running total so far is 13152. The story isn't rolling out as rapidly as the last couple of years, but I think part of that is because I'm quite far outside my comfort zone. No real opportunities to pull and alien invasion or zombie attack at any moment to spice things up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it's still more than zero, and I'm not stuck (yet).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How are your own stories coming alone? Hit any road blocks, or is the story flowing faster than you fingers can type?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me know in the comments below or on twitter (@BrianSCreek).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And keep writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-3279754943107620212018-10-31T11:00:00.000+00:002018-11-07T15:08:20.193+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 05: "NaNoWriMo - A Personal Story"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, hasn't this year been a crappy one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog isn't normally for <i>that </i>kind of talk, but the lack of posting and writing, especially off that back of the release of <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> last year (a wave I'd hoped I would continue to ride) shows that being an author has dropped way down my list of priorities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, like a dependable friend who is there for you even if it's in the face of abuse, NaNoWriMo has come around again. Even the crap I'm going through right now won't stop me from getting 50,000 words on paper during the month of November.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And to keep things interesting, in a departure from my previous work which is normally guaranteed to contain superheros, aliens, zombies, and/or talking gorillas, I'm going for a more real life feel. And I'm using the shit year of 2018 to help.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MviT0YB_5EQ/W9r3SzdZkzI/AAAAAAAAfGI/5efACxShhpsJdADQfIevwkfLAxjy-j7PgCLcBGAs/s1600/Overall%2BStats%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="292" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MviT0YB_5EQ/W9r3SzdZkzI/AAAAAAAAfGI/5efACxShhpsJdADQfIevwkfLAxjy-j7PgCLcBGAs/s400/Overall%2BStats%2B02.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">NANO MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, if you followed me before I dropped off the face of the Earth, you'll know that I've been big on NaNoWriMo for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started way back in 2007, and have only 'failed' three times since then. Much to my own disgust, I still haven't put a single project out there from what I've completed each November. I say every year that "this novel is the one", but it never happens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I won't say it this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But my project for 2018 is definitely someone different to what I normally try.So, as I step up once more, I'm equal parts excited and scared. I'm aiming for a more Douglas Coupland feel (the early stuff like Microserfs). None of the usual genre stuff that I fall back on. It's real life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sort of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been a bad year, as I said before, and this blog isn't a 'Dear Journal' kinda place where I jot down my feelings, draw little hearts with the initials of my current crush, and ask a piece of paper where things went wrong for me. This is a writing blog. At least it is when I'm actually doing some writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But lets just say that my personal life has been through the wringer in the last 18 months and I feel like parts of it could be twisted into a pretty decent story. And, as a friend said when I mentioned my plan to step out of my comfort zone, I don't have to publish, and it might be therapeutic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who knows what will become of it. Only time will tell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And speaking of time . . . lets take another annual look back at my NaNo history.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2007 - DEATH IS JUST A DAY JOB</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in the summer of 2007 someone pointed me in the direction of www.nanowrimo.org. I was told that it was something that might hold the key to dealing with my inner editor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seemed simple enough; 50,000 words in thirty days. Of course at the time I didn't have any concept of how much writing that was. I’d never written that much before and had no idea what the word counts were of books I read. But I was feeling brave, so to hell with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I passed through October of that year, I signed up to the site (under the now deleted Briman79 profile), and started looking at my ideas folder. I settled on something I’d been toying with for a few months that involved a down on his luck guy who becomes friends with the Grim Reaper. All I had was a pub scene I'd written while bored in the office one weekend. No other characters, no setting, and no plot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then November 1st hit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It started well. I’d spend the work time just daydreaming ideas before getting home, booting up the PC, and writing whatever my brain felt like ejecting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hit some road blocks along the way but, instead of stopping, I thought about where I was heading next and just started from there, knowing I could go back later. Of course, this led to some strange happenings, especially when a character was killed off and then returned five chapters later with no explanation. I guess that’s what editing’s for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ploughed on until I hit a much bigger road block in the form of an Xbox 360. It was a stupid time to get one and my word count took a massive hit because of it. As I neared the end of the month it looked like I wouldn’t cross that finish line on my first attempt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that made me mad. So the video games stopped and I knuckled down. Three very late nights later and I crossed the finish line on November 29th.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of all the things I have written or will write, <b>DEATH IS JUST A DAY JOB</b> will always be the piece I’m most proud of. While it still lingers in first draft limbo I always have an eye on it and am determined to dust it off one day and release it into the wild.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With something now complete, I moved straight onto my next project and began planning a superhero novel. I’d just finished reading Austin Grossman’s ‘<b>SOON, I WILL BE INVINCIBLE</b>’ and had an urge to novelise a comic book I’d written in college.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately when November came around I wasn’t feeling it and instead started a project I felt was more manageable; <b>THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b>. This was a YA fantasy that was designed to be built of five different adventures across one single quest. I thought I could write it bite sized and get through it a little easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t make it past day one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2009 - JUSTICE</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was determined to not miss another year and so I went back to my super hero novel called <b>JUSTICE</b>. This went smoother than my previous two attempts with only three days of non-writing across the month. Unlike 2007, I never found myself stumped and went straight from beginning to end in a nice, cohesive manner. Probably the smoothest NaNoWriMo project to date.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2010 - I AM BROKEN</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the time this NaNo rolled around I had received some bad news that inadvertently lead to a very nice silver lining. In September of 2010 I was made redundant and put on Garden Leave. With November approaching I found myself with a lot of time on my hands and was determined not to waste it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With thirty whole days and nothing else much to do, I got on with <b>I AM BROKEN</b>, another of the many, many stories I'd started years before. This was the first NaNo that I began with anything close to a full cast and not much more was added. The plot however exploded thanks in part to the music I was listening to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’d been using movie soundtracks as the background to a lot of my writing including all the previous NaNo’s. But 2010 was the first time I picked one specific soundtrack and played it on a loop as I wrote. I think this helped keep things coherent theme wise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thirty days later I was done. At 57,149 this was the most I’d managed to date and I only had one lull around the two thirds mark. I crossed 50,000 on the 24th and just kept going. Despite the free time I had though, <b>I AM BROKEN</b> still doesn’t have an ending.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2011 - THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After 2010 I went into the following NaNo with a lot more confidence. Other than a new job I’d started a few months earlier, I had no other commitments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to take another stab at my failed 2008 attempt. I planned a lot more this time with character sketches and chapter plans, something I hadn’t really done in previous years. There was a hell of a lot of ‘Pansting’ in the first few efforts but I decided to give ‘Planning’ a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once again this story beat me, although I managed to get further. Still, I knew it wasn’t working and, two weeks and 15,000 words later I gave up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day I will finish Maxwell’s story.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2012 - DEAD DOLLARS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If the last year was bad, this one was much worse. I don’t like excuses, but for this one time I think you’ll agree that failing wasn’t much of a choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With another idea from the vault, I dived into <b>DEAD DOLLARS</b>, a zombie western inspired by the scene from ‘A Fistful Of Dollars’ where Eastwood is shot several times but just won’t die.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I say dived in but, due to the circumstances surrounding November 2012, I’m surprised I even thought about trying to write anything at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wife and I had chosen to move in with her father while she was pregnant, and we looked for a bigger place to live. The space we had in my father-in-laws bungalow was limited as was TalkTalk’s excuse for Broadband. This is in itself would have been a challenge for most NaNoWriMo participants but for me it was just the tip of the iceberg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Add that to another redundancy, and suddenly writing a zombie western didn’t seem like a priority in life. During the last week of October I decided to skip it and focus on other things but, fickle as I am, I changed my mind back by Hallowe’en. Why not, I thought. It will give me something to focus on during all the crap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I began. It was as tough as I thought with limited internet access and nowhere to sit down and write comfortably. But none of that mattered by the middle of the month. Our son was due at Christmas of that year, but he decided that that was too far off and wanted out sooner. Right in the middle of November.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Needless to say, <b>DEAD DOLLARS</b> didn’t get much further.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2013 - MIGHTY GREY: SEASON ONE</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A year into a new job, still stuck in a bungalow with no room to move, and now I had a one year old son.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should have failed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, my episodic ode to Buffy became my most successful NaNo project to date, breaking all kinds of personal NaNo records on the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Somehow, by taking my crappy Samsung NC-10 Netbook to work, and writing a little before shift and a lot during lunch, meant I hit the daily target of 1667 before I even got home in the evenings. Sometimes I was managing up to 3000-4000 words a day which for me is impressive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I powered on with each ‘episode’, hitting around 17,000 words and finishing on a climax before moving onto the next and the next. These mini endings made it easier to move on instead of aiming for that one finale that was miles off in the distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even now I don’t know how I managed to accomplish what I did that year. Not with so much against me when I struggled on much easier years. The main thing is it became another project under the belt and another NaNoWriMo certificate on the wall.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2014 - FRACTURED DAWN</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the summer of 2014, while working on my CampNaNoWriMo project <b>TATTOO</b>, I looked at projects I might want to pick up when that year’s November rolled around. Was it worth taking another stab at my 2011 or 2012 failures? What about the planned sequels to several of my projects?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No and no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided, instead, to try a different approach. Inspired by fellow Flash Fiction writer Betsy Streeter’s excellent ‘<b>NEPTUNE ROAD</b>’, I planned to write a long story that would be released throughout the following year as weekly episodic. Inspired by Game of Thrones, mixed in with the backstabbing and politics of the offices I worked in, I molded the company who employed me into a Fantasy novel continent, and transformed my work colleagues into witches, warriors, monsters, and bandits. The idea was to build up 50,000+ words as a head start, and then release each chapter (roughly 2000-3000 words) once a week, while continuing to write more and more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So how did this backfire, I hear you ask?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, quite simply, things changed too much between December 1st 2014 and February 6th 2015. And not just the name (turns out that Fallen Swords was an online Fantasy RPG). I altered a massive chunk of the pre-story, some characters were expanded upon, the start point was altered. It turned out that by the second episode, I already didn’t like the MNA having amnesia, and the rewrites were so extensive, I was pretty much writing from scratch instead of having a healthy back log to present as I carried on writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the time Episode 11 came around on June 26th 2015, I was switching my attention to starting my CampNaNo project, and the Fractured Dawn project was pissing me off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that was all I wrote.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2015 - CHRIS & MIKE vs THE WORLD</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year was a continuation of a huge output of Flash Fiction. It was from one of these story ideas, the 100 word, weekly adventures of <b>CHRIS AND MIKE vs THE WORLD</b>, that all of my larger 2015 writing projects were ironically spawned from.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">July’s CampNaNo was the expansion of the first Chris and Mike Flash Fiction story. I aimed for novella length with the first book, ‘<b>CHRIS AND MIKE vs THE RISING DEAD</b>’, at around 25,000. So I figured November’s word count allowed me to write two more novellas back-to-back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While editing the first book through August and September, I had one eye on where things could expand for the future adventures. Everything went smoothly. I finishing book 2 halfway through November, before getting the majority of book 3 complete in the remaining two weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Again; big plans, but nothing to show for it. I spent the end of last year planning the remaining novellas and short stories. But you’ll notice a common theme with me; ideas don’t pop into my head to be born. It’s where they go to die.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2016 - UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having over 200 Flash Fiction stories written means I have fertile ground for book ideas. Couple one of my Flash Fiction stories from 2015, with enthusiastically published Author Liz Hedgecock’s placeholder name for her 2015 NaNoWriMo project, Utopia for Ducks, and the result was <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An ode to classic sci-fi like BRAVE NEW WORLD, 1984, and FAHRENHEIT 451, this entry into my NaNo catalogue was one of the smoothest projects I've ever written. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I never missed a day. The final word count smashed anything I'd managed before. I beat my previous finish line date by one day, and the story wrapped up nicely on the 30th.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've revisited the novel several times since then, and it's probably the closest I've gotten to publishing one of my works outside of BRISK WORLDS.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2017 - SUPERGOD</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started a story close to SUPERGOD many years ago and felt like it had legs. So I planned the hell out of it in the build up to NaNo and then let it loose to see what would come out of my head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't expect much, and certain didn't think I could match, let alone beat, the previous years numbers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I was more surprised than anyone when SUPERGOD became a juggernaut that I couldn't stop. Without stopping time or defying the rules of the universe, I manage to find minutes to write all over the place. I finished early, beat all of my personal records and came out of it on December 1st with a truly epic story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And for the first time ever, I haven't gone back to see what I can edit out of a NaNo project. SUPERGOD is a story that really does reflect who I am and contains almost everything I would love in a great book. But it's got a lot going on and the editing on this would be harder than anything I've ever done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not the writer I need to be, yet. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2018 - SHUFFLE DEAL PLAY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which brings us to this year, where I take my personal life, twist it up, wring it's neck, and chuck out a story about a man wondering where his life has gone and why everything suddenly seems so difficult. And meanwhile his friends wonder why he won't let them help him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lost love, broken hearts, the struggle of fatherhood, and board games galore, all surround the tale of one guy just wanting to be loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I could be really proud of this one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT ABOUT YOU GUYS?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that's it. My NaNo backcatalogue grows as another year passes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are you all up to. I know a fair few people who participate ni this awesome annual event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is this you first and your nervous? Is this your second and you scared that last year was a fluke? Or are you like me, where this is an annual treat you look forward to more than Christsmas?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me know in the comments below, and add me as a buddy over on the NaNoWriMo website.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">30 days to go people. Lets go write some stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">(</span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">This is an rewritten version of the October 29th 2014 post, “Never Forget Your First NaNo”</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">)</span></span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-55194754941610425032018-04-04T13:58:00.000+01:002018-04-30T16:00:19.493+01:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 04: "Road To Infinity War"<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the end of April 2018, a little movie called <b>AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR</b> is to be released upon the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm a fan of comic books and superheroes, so it is definitely on my watch list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm still in something close to awe at what Marvel Studios have accomplished with this most epic of epic franchises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each year, as the standard remains high and the ability to reinvent these films improves (and other studio's fail massively to replicate the success; DC stumbles while Universal's Monsters retired early) we seem to take for granted what MARVEL have accomplished. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They have somehow managed to recreate the interconnectivity of the comics books with Easter eggs, cross overs, and summer blockbuster multi-team events and put it all up on the big screen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cast list for <b>AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR</b> alone is something almost incomprehensible. Where a standard summer blockbuster may have three to five big name movie stars, this years AVENGERS movie has more than I can count on my fingers and toes. Just to get that many actors together for one film is a Rubik's Cube puzzle of casting craziness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I simply can't get across how impressed I am with what will soon be on the screen. <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b> was the pinnacle, I assumed, back in 2012. And it was good too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just the other day, as I explained to my mother how much I'm looking forward to seeing this film, she asked me a question; "What if it's rubbish?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I finished laughing at the absurdity of that thought I realised that, sure, it was a massive undertaking and surely the great run the studio has been having couldn't last forever. Maybe this is the one that buckles. Maybe this is where Joe Public gets bored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, if by some Negative Zone manipulation it is bad, it won't be because it didn't try too hard.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>IRON MAN (2008)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sunday, 1st April 2018</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I flipped over my calendar and saw that I now existed in the same space/time as the month in which the new AVENGERS film is released, I decided it was about time to sit down with a big old chocolate Easter Egg and watch the movie that kicked off the greatest franchise ever: <b>IRON MAN</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back then it was just another superhero film in a genre that was starting to really find it's legs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <b>X-MEN</b> films and the Sam Raimi <b>SPIDER-MAN</b> films have finally been given effects and budget to do themselves proud and people were showing their satisfaction with dollar bills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because MARVEL had a few road bumps in the 90's and been kinda forced to sell off their tent-poll characters to stay afloat (<b>X-MEN</b> and <b>FANTASTIC FOUR</b> to 20th Century Fox, <b>SPIDER-MAN</b> to Sony) they weren't left with many recognisable faces to start their new movie studio with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems strange now, but before 2008, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Thor, were characters only known to the geeks, back in a time when we used to hide from the world and only wear our comic book cover t-shirts if we wanted to get beat up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the movies have now made these heroes house hold names to match those that had come before. Now <b>IRON MAN</b> and <b>CAPTAIN AMERICA</b> are almost as well known as <b>SPIDER-MAN</b>, <b>BATMAN</b>, and <b>SUPERMAN</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>IRON MAN</b> works well, planting the origin story in a more recent conflict (Afghanistan standing in for Vietnam) and putting Tony Stark through the ringer as he faces near death before being forced to create a weapon of death while locked in a cave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's believable to a degree while still being fantastical; man uses his genius to put together a rough and ready suit of armour and escape capture. The Mk 1 suit is not pretty, not when compared to the later upgraded versions of suits used across the next 7 appearances. It's practical and basic. It gets the job done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nowadays people complain that MARVEL pushed out a lot of origin stories in the early phases, and the template was getting stale. This can't be held against them as people really didn't know who these heroes were back then. And, though it rolled on smoothly with hindsight, <b>IRON MAN</b> was not just a one off movie, or the start of a small, single character franchise. <b>IRON MAN</b> was the origin of a massive cinematic universe, and for that, I think, the '<i>Originitus</i>' can be forgiven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So on goes the move, new suit, test flight, bad guy revealed, and a massive superhero punch up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The film doesn't outstay it's welcome and doesn't get much wrong. The effects are awesome and are not outdated almost a decade later. Robert Downey Jr, a man looking for a come back, found the best character to fit into and I don't think anyone else could have been a better choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And lets not forget the goosebump moment after the credits had rolled as the ever-fantastic Samuel L. Jackson turns around and mentions something about a certain initiative. 20 seconds that changed cinema history. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A universe was born.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Friday, 6th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A couple of days later and it was time for the other MARVEL movie release from 2008; <b>THE INCREDIBLE HULK</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steering away from the more story driven and artsy Ang Lee version, <b>THE INCREDIBLE HULK</b> is all about pissing Bruce Banner off and bringing out the green guy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stuff in between is okay (Bruce's fear of hurting people, the tension between General Ross and his daughter) but at the end of the day, the movie isn't called "<i>The Incredible Bruce Banner and his Friends</i>" for a damned good reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The film contains three action set pieces. The first, with Bruce running from special forces and then getting cornered by aggressive work place bullies is well executed. It keeps the first showing of the Hulk to the minimum, as he attacks from the shadows. The special forces guys are in the same boat as the audience; not knowing what the hell is coming for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second set piece, and my favourite of the movie, goes in the opposite direction. This time we see the Hulk, out in the daylight, and not holding back. From the explosive arrival on the scene after being cornered once again, through a Humvee smash-a-thon, to the beautifully shot fiery helicopter attack, it shows the Hulk not holding back, taking hit after hit, and proving that there's nothing mortal man can do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which, after some more soppy stuff and a meeting in the rain get out of our way, leads to the finale. This time it's the Hulk versus someone more capable, and Emil Bronsky, aka The Abomination, rears his head and challenges Hulk for title of most angry green monster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the fight is more personal and throws in a couple of nods to the character (Hulks thunder clap put a grin on my face, and the iconic "Hulk Smash!" is roared), because its more CGI vs CGI, it gets a little video gamey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE INCREDIBLE HULK</b> is a pretty decent MCU film that only has one thing holding it further down my list; Edward Norton. While I have nothing against him as an actor, like the character of Rhodey in the Iron Man films, the actor swap out for the following films is jarring, especially when the MCU has done an amazing job of keeping actors for roles. Ten years in, this stuff just doesn't happen any more, but back then, as the MCU found it's feet, things were still being tried out to see what fit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Saturday, 7th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was no stopping me as the next night I rolled straight into <b>IRON MAN 2</b>. It's weird to think now, with at least two MARVEL movies a year being standard, but there was almost a 2 year gap between <b>THE INCREDIBLE HULK</b> and Iron Man's return to the big screen. How I coped back then, I'll never know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While this is still the weakest Iron Man film, and Mickey Rourke's version of Whiplash feels a little limp, my rewatch showed it to still be a pretty good movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things get ramped up after the first film with everyone wanting a piece of Tony Stark, whether it's the US government, or skeletons in the closet. The film is at times a little rough with it cramming in of extra plot points to start setting things up (the MCU was a thing now) to the point that it almost feels like an advert for S.H.I.E.L.D.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whiplash and Justin Hammer are probably two of my least favourite MCU villains and the real danger to Tony really comes from the poisoning he's suffering with his chest Arc Reactor. The man is dying and it seems nothing can help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Monaco set piece is the highlight of the film, culminating with that awesome moment where Tony puts on the suitcase armour. And of course there is that impressive finale where War Machine and Iron Man stand back to back and take on a fleet of Hammer drones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>IRON MAN 2</b> is good. One of the weaker MCU films, but a bad MCU film is still better than other great non MCU film.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THOR (2011)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Monday, 9th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A glance at my calendar this early into Phase 1 suddenly had me panicked. With less than three weeks before <b>AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR</b>, and a couple of days involving pub quizzing or work projects meant I only had 14 days to watch the remaining 14 films. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That meant that as soon as I got in on Monday evening, I informed the wife that I would need to watch <b>THOR</b>. Luckily, with a certain Mr Chris Hemsworth in the lead role, I didn't think she'd mind too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thor<b> </b>was the first tough sell for the MCU They had finally gone from a couple of action movies that showed they were kind of linked, and were heading towards the now announced Superhero smack-down that was to be <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b>. And their first big step was moving away from the science of power suits and gamma radiation and going to . . . Norse mythology?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You wouldn't be wrong in suggesting it shouldn't have worked. But somehow, it kinda did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The success for Thor<b> </b>came from two smart choices. First was picking Kenneth Branagh to direct (it still blows my mind that this man directed an MCU film) bringing with it a Shakespearean quality to fit the tone of the setting perfectly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second was casting the pretty-unknown-at-the-time Chris Hemsworth as Thor. He is ripped from the pages of the comic book, and like Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, it's tough to see anyone else play the role. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the film shows us a world outside of Earth for the first time (and it's a fantastic sight to behold), an Asgard that is grand in scale yet doesn't feel out of place in this new growing universe, it is the fish-out-of-water scenes with Thor bringing his God like thinking to a small New Mexico town ("I need a horse!" he announces to a pet store owner) that sell the film best. And while its not as well realised as the third entry in the Thor trilogy, even at this early stage, Hemsworth comedy chops are showing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oddly I find that the film drags once Thor gets his powers back towards the end. The fight on the bridge with Loki is good, though the emotional heft from the destruction of the Bifröst is quickly swept under the rug in future films.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not a bad start for the first curve-ball-movie in the franchise.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wednesday, 11th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next up is one of the early highlights of Phase One. Directed by the legend Joe Johnston, and oozing with 40's B-Movie charm, <b>CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER</b> tells the story of a skinny kid from Brooklyn who goes on to become the iconic figure head of the Avengers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the clever and believable skinny-fying special effects of Chris Evans, past the hilarious WWII training camp scenes, around the USO shows (complete with '<i>classic</i>' uniform) and onto the one man and his shield storming across occupied Europe final third.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the movie has a real '<i>Indiana Jones and the Nazis</i>' feel to it, from Johann Schmidt's custom car to the flying fortress that is the culmination of the Red Skull's plan. It all has a feel good Saturday morning matinee feel and it just makes the film fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still have a little issue with the ending; I've never understood why Steve has to ditch the plane. He's clearly in control of it so just fly it and land it somewhere. But I also get that his sacrifice is the point of the character. From never giving in to bullies, throwing himself on a dud grenade, or going behind enemy lines alone, Steve Rogers is a man who puts everyone else above himself, even if it means not getting the girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Great fun and love the tease at the end after he wakes up. "<i>You've been asleep for nearly 70 years!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can't believe that when this came out there was a year long wait until <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b>. Thankfully I only had to wait one night.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thursday, 12th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in 2012, a film containing this many heroes, half of whom have their own franchises, was nothing short of crazy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Somehow, MARVEL took what were at the time it's secondary characters and not only created five entertaining movies, but they then folded them into a team movie that does justice to all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b> (2012) should be commended for just existing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that would be fine. A pat on the back for even attempting this. But the fact that it works, and works well, puts this at the top of my MCU list every time. I not only love this movie, I respect it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The only issue it could cause is if you've never watched an MCU film and gone straight into this. Because it really does hit the ground running. Throwing us into Loki's arrival and the decimation of a SHIELD base, we move quickly through the key players as they are rounded up and shipped of to the Helicarrier (Is it a boat? Is it a submarine? No!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a two hour movie, but it flies by from one set piece to the next. Berlin, the forest smack-down, the Helicarrier attack, and onto New York for an alien invasion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The film is so action packed, but the characters don't suffer, and the comedy mixes in nicely ("That man is playing Galaga!").</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's an epic movie that never drops it's pieces. It could have stopped here, already kind of being something new to Hollywood when it comes to expanded universes. <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b> works just like a summer comic crossover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it didn't stop. The MCU carried on. And it got bigger and bigger along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Friday, 13th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first complete MCU trilogy came to an end with <b>IRON MAN 3</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few of my friends don't like this one, but it's up there among my favourite MCU films. I think Shane Black brought a different style to the Iron Man films after Jon Faverau's first two, and as a geek, what's not to love about seeing 38 new Iron Man suits on screen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But what really works here is the stripping down of the main character. Suffering PTS, the billionaire genius has thrown himself into making all these new suits as a way of ignoring his issues. This is why we leave <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b> with the Mk 7, and show up one movie later with the Mk 42. And although all these suits obviously exist in the interim, Tony spends a nice chunk of the film on his own, building gadgets on the fly like a modern day MacGyver (loved that show). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, the much anticipated army of suits doesn't show up until the finale, and it's an epic showdown between super-powered henchman and flying metal suits (extremely happy that my favourite, the Silver Centurion, showed up).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The villains are pretty good (though Rebecca Fergusion is underused) and Guy Pearce gets menacing quickly. But while I didn't mind it, the Trevor Slattery switch divided fans more because of the importance of the Mandarin to Iron Man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all though, its a great film, and finishes the Tony arc started in 2008. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Monday, 16th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a late night work project on the Sunday, I was already very tired when it came to Monday night. So I wasn't looking forward to what is my least favourite MCU film (though it's still better than the best DCEU film, but that's a whole other post).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, I'm all in and time is of the essence, so I (super) soldiered on and sat down to watch <b>THOR: THE DARK WORLD</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thor is back, a better man (God?) than he was in the first film. He pines for Jane who he's not been able to return to since being forced to destroy the only means of travel between Asgard and Earth (*cough* ignore <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b> *cough*). His treacherous brother is locked up. The nine realms are close to peace. Things are looking pretty good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until plain old movie villain Malekith turns up and wants some funky red mist to help him destroy the universe, a funky red mist that also turns out to be one of the six Infinity Stones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not crap. That's not why it's at the bottom of my list. It just doesn't stand out against much stronger competition. It trundles along, not really offering much new, and not really using many colours other than grey, brown, and red. Looks wise, It's almost the opposite of Ragnarok. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yet there are stand out moments. The attack on Asgard is action packed, the Captain America cameo was a nice surprise, and the news footage of a naked Erik running around Stonehenge is hilarious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THOR: THE DARK WORLD</b> does it's job, doesn't offend, and lays down a sting during the credits that sets up things for later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tuesday, 17th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second Captain America film is without a doubt one of the best MCU films to date, despite barely having any flashy super powers on show. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Russo brothers (the movies directors) have stated in interviews that they molded the film as an espionage movie, a present day spy thriller that just happened to have an enhanced hero at the centre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chris Evans' Captain has had time to adapt to modern life now in the two years that have passed since his thawing. He still finds himself behind on history (keeping a notebook on suggestions for movies, music etc) but he seems more comfortable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the reasons he fights for have changed since the more black and white era of WWII, and he begins to doubt what he stands for anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plot itself is a real winner looking at our current society and how we deal with the ever looming threat of terrorism. It's a different world from what the Captain left behind, when the threat doesn't necessarily stand on a soap box in front of a flag. Nowadays it could be anyone, at anytime. And sometimes the heroes need to act like the villains to get results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What follows is a masterclass of action set pieces. From the opening attack on the boat where Captain America shows he can be stealthy when needed, to Nick Fury's four wheeled escape from Hydra, followed by the claustrophobic elevator fight ("<i>Before we do this, does anybody want to get off?</i>"), then there is the highlight in the movie with the bridge fight where the Captain comes face to face with his past, and this is all rounded up with an epic finale over Washington as three terrifying Helicarriers take to the skies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The escalation in these scenes is enough to elevate this film into the top three MCU films, but then there is the world changing after effects as SHIELD is destroyed from the inside and the thought-to-be-dead Bucky is left loose in the world (until Civil War at least). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But despite the dour mood of the film as Steve goes on the run, it still keeps the humuor. The Captain and Black Widow chat constantly throughout the movie about setting him up on a date (at one point just after they've kicked a suspect off of a roof!), while the banter and fresh eyed view with Anthony Mackie's Falcon is the new bromance of the MCU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't recommend this film enough. Not just as a MARVEL film, not just as an action film, but as a film in general. It's close to perfection, and I enjoy it more with each viewing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wednesday, 18th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in phase 1, <b>THOR</b> was a gamble as it took the science and seriousness and plugged on a little out-of-this-world God story. It was asking that extra step from the audience. We've gone with the angry monster and the man in the metal suit, but now we want to add in a sprinkle of Norse mythology on steroids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 2014 MARVEL doubled down and took us even further out of this world, chucking a crude and colourful alien landscape full of strange creatures and great comedy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY</b> is a riot and stands on it's own as great comedy sci-fi. Yet it also does a lot of heavy lifting regarding the overall MCU plot of Thanos and the Infinity Stones. While a couple of stones have popped up in previous films, we get Benico Del Toro's Collector explaining their origin, and the purple faced mad titan himself actually turns up and delivers actual dialogue. It the first move on the board to bring the cosmic bad ass closer to Earth's story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But even when it's not towing the overall MCU plot, it still tells it's own tale well as a bunch of misfits (who make the Avengers look functional) are brought together, get over their differences, and stand up to Thanos when it looks like no one else will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I'd need a whole other post on how well this film uses soundtrack.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thursday, 19th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After several more solo efforts, we're back in cross-over event territory with <b>AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Review wise this movie didn't fair as well as <b>AVENGERS ASSEMBLE</b>, in part due to the opening up of other story lines (Thor jumps ship for several minutes to open up the Infinity Stone plot a little further). And it's been mentioned that Joss Whedon was struggling more with this one as the studio forced more things in than the plot could deal with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it still works well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the epic (I use that word a lot here) opening where the fully functional Avengers take down a Hydra base while hunting for Loki's scepter, things dial down a little as we see the team chill out for the evening and invite friends over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The highlight of this evening, before the villain of the piece interrupts, comes after all the non-hero guests leave. An argument brews over how Thor's hammer actually works and how it deems someone worthy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What follows is comedy genius, from Tony and Rhodey using parts of their suits to assist, Black Widow stating she doesn't have anything to prove, and Steve Rogers making Thor nervous when it almost move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But that's it for our characters having happy times. Because Tony Stark, who does seem to cause most of the problems in the MCU, has unwittingly created Ultron. And the AI sin't too happy with what mankind has done to the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that, the team scamper around the globe, trying to work out Ulton's plan before it's too late.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This includes a smashing beat down between a brain washed Hulk and Iron Man, who brings another suit upgrade in the form of the fan favourite Hulk Buster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that there's meeting the Hawkeye family, the truck chase in Korea, and finally the Battle of Sokovia where the good guys come together and do their damnedest to prevent an extinction level event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Altogether, good stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ANT-MAN (2015)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thursday, 19th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead of ending Phase 2 with and Avengers movie, we round things out with a quite little heist movie involving Paul Rudd and a bunch of ants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Much was talked about when Edgar Wright left the project due to 'creative differences' I guess it must be tough for some directors, especially this late in the day, to make their own vision with MARVEL needing certain plates spinning in certain locations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily the film doesn't suffer from the late director change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul Rudd is the next new face, and we are back in Origin territory.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Friday, 20th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite the epicness of the Avengers movies, with the team roster growing, the third Captain America movie trumps all that went before with the biggest hero cast seen outside of the comics. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Saturday, 21st April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">MARVEL gambled on Norse mythology with <b>THOR </b>and then doubled down on space Avengers with <b>GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 2016 they went all in with the Mystic Arts by (finally) bringing <b>DOCTOR STRANGE</b> to the big screen. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY vol 2 (2017)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sunday, 22nd April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A film that divides, with fans sometimes arguing over which is the best Guardians film, <b>GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY vol 2</b> does what most sequels do and just takes the first movie and makes things bigger and louder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Picking off not long after the first film ended (the time line of the MCU movies is enough to melt you brain; but the comics are worse), we find our heroes as sort of celebrities now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, as with several of the MCU films, there's always one character who goes out of their way to make things difficult for the rest of the group. Usually it's Tony Stark, but as he's busy on Earth, our furry friend Rocket Raccoon steps in and shakes things up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a kinetic and musical opening, we're almost straight into a chase before a crash landing and the meeting of a new character almost immediately solve the 'who is Peter's father' cliff hanger from the end of GOTG vol 1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's here that we step a little into another couple sequel troupe, where are brand of heroes split up to solve separate problems, while also fighting amount themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Monday, 23rd April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the mid 90's, superhero movies were kind of camp and still didn't have the budgets or technology to do them justice. Then came along <b>BLADE</b>, followed a few years later by <b>X-MEN</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then came Sam Rami's <b>SPIDER-MAN</b> (2002). Suddenly superhero films weren't geeky or silly. They were epic summer blockbusters. The follow up was even better, with the Doc Ock train fight being one of the best action scenes in movie history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, what followed was . . . not so good. The third Rami film crammed in too much (including '<i>that</i>' emo scene!), and the Andrew Garfield ones tried to become the MCU too quickly, in much the same way the DC movies attempted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spider-man was the icon he once was and Sony, who own the character rights were desperate for a hit. Desperate enough to effectively loan their money-spinning character out to their biggest Superhero movie rivals; MARVEL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Spider-man turned up in the trailer (and later the film) <b>CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR</b>, fans went nuts. As if the MCU movies didn't have enough characters teaming up as it was, now studios were doing cross overs too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And while this new version was close to perfection, what everyone really wanted was a whole movie of this brand new version. So that's what we got.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's good too. Skipping the origin story was a smart move, as was making the character of Peter Parker closer to a kid than previous incarnations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tuesday, 24th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Thor films are two of my least favourite MCU movies, especially the second one. It's the blandest of the seventeen up to this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THOR: RAGNAROK</b> doesn't just simply change things from <b>THOR: THE DARK WORLD</b>; it completely flips them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead of a serious story and lots or greys and browns, Ragnarok is laugh out loud and neon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Its one of the funniest MCU films thanks to Chris Hemsworth's fantastic comedy timing and the introduction of my all time favourite second tier character; Korg.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BLACK PANTHER (2018)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wednesday, 25th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Originally I planned to skip this due to there not being a home release available. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, by finding myself one day ahead of schedule, and a nearby cinema still showing the 18th MCU movie, I figured I'd complete the set in order. So off I headed, with a work colleague in tow, to rewatch <b>BLACK PANTHER</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still a fantastic movie, with it's own style. The music and setting is like nothing the MCU has shown before, and the film is all the better for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Korea gambling den scene is a highlight, but the CGI fight at the end, as well as the small amount of Andy Serkis' screentime, are a couple of down notes. Yet this movie stands out from the rest of the 17 that came before and is a great lead into the big one.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thursday, 26th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Saturday, 28th April 2018</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow!</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-63478423083508450212018-03-07T11:00:00.000+00:002018-03-13T16:08:49.978+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 03: "February Update"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another average month has passed, one where things didn't go all the way how I'd have liked, but looking at what was accomplished is a victory in itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RAGE HARD</b> is coming along nicely. I'm getting little windows here and there to get stuff down, mostly rewriting older chapters. It's feeling a lot more detailed now and the characters are becoming richer. I'm hoping they are far from two-dimensional by the time the book is released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've also figured out the problem with my other project, <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b>, so that looks like it will jump up to become my next project. It was really bugging me when I wrote an awesome draft for NaNo 2016 and then two months later I found a plot hole the size of Texas. I'd really wanted that one to be my first, but no matter how hard I wracked my brains, I couldn't tie up the issue. The story was broken with no hope of being a project I was happy with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd even changed the title a million times, realising that <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> didn't even make sense. I'd wanted to mimic those classic sci-fi novels of yesteryear where the titles sounded absurd after you read the blurb, but made sense once you'd finished the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then I took that title by the throat and wrestled the story around it. But changing two little things (I won't mention them until after the book is out) everything fell into place. It was like almost giving up on a Rubik's cube after working on it ten days straight, chucking across the room, and then seeing that you were one move away from completing it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a little trimming to do, and a reworked ending, but it fixed itself. Just by sticking with the pears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this year is still looking good. I passing the horrible early drafts and stories are shaping into something I can't wait to get out there. Yet, despite this, I'm embracing patience. Before, I never released anything because I never finished things. Now, I won't rel;ease things because I want to make sure that when, not if, they are done, that they are done right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want you to read a good indie book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And talking of indie books, my reading this year so far has shown that while there may sometimes be a difference between indie and trad pub when it comes to quality, at the end of the day, the number one priority is story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Case in point:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I recently finished <b>LEVEL UP</b>, by Craig Anderson, and <b>NIGHTBLADE </b>by Garrett Robinson. These are both <i>technically </i>indie books, and it shows a little with the occasional spelling error. But the formatting and the covers are way ahead of what used to be classed indie four or five years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also read two books that were traditionally published (with one soon to have it's own movie adaptation) where spelling wasn't an issue. Brought them off the book shelf. They'd had well designed covers and were no doubt edited by paid professionals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And while cover, formatting, grammar are all important to give the reader the best final product, the story is the important thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With this in mind, I was surprised to find that the two trad-pub books contained some of the worst writing I'd every had the displeasure of reading, while I thoroughly enjoyed both indie books. And while I will spend more on a trad-pub book, I'm happier to promote the indie works because they were enjoyed and should be shared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I can only hope that my books receive the same positive response when they come out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And before I go, just a quick reminder to review any book you read, trad or indie. If you loved a book, don't keep it to yourself; share it with friends and family. Spread the word. Authors will love you for it.</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-345562919941539582018-02-07T16:00:00.000+00:002018-02-08T10:50:28.171+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 02: "Plans, they are a changing"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, January has gone a little differently than planned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But in a good way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that's okay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The year did not start as well as I'd like (recurring theme for me), so editing on <b>RAGE </b>is somewhat behind schedule. Yet magic has shone from this failure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While walking to and from the train station each day, I've been doing nothing more than playing scenes from the trilogy over and over in my head. And while it's helped on the little editing I've done, something else happened that will, I hope, make the book even better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like the first draft. It was the story I wanted to tell. So editing has just been fleshing out the characters and their relationships, working in character history, tightening plots, and making dialogue snappier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as my mind has drifted through the story and other things have crossed my mind, I've spotted gabs, huge gaping gaps, where something beautiful was missing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see, the book would work fine as it is. <b>RAGE </b>is, after all, my first release, so I'm not expecting it to be as detailed as a King novella. But these things that were missing screamed at me with their absence. Suddenly I didn't know why these plot points hadn't occurred to me before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For example; the main character has grown up motherless. She died in an accident when he was young, and that event has shaped him and his relationship with his father. But reading <b>RAGE </b>through and knowing what comes in book 2, there was a lot more to that loss than I had touched upon. A hell of a lot more. There would be chapters of reflection and doubt in his goal based around this loss. But my original draft was empty of this sort of character introspective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now I'm writing again, a deeper pass. Knowing these explorations of characters are there to be told means I can't try and finish the story with what I had. Which is why, despite it messing up my plans time wise, I know it's important to work through it and include everything I can to make the book great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fingers crossed.</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-91889845349110067112018-01-10T15:27:00.000+00:002018-01-11T09:10:06.071+00:00(vol 5) CHAPTER 01: "Reads of 2017"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For years now I've found little bits of free time (lunch breaks, train commutes) and used it to get through a good book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes it can take a month to finish a read (Wheel Of Time books are huge!), while other books can take just a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year I managed 38 books. Some of these are immediately on my all times greatest list, while others . . . well let's just say I didn't enjoy them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the 38 I finished in 2017, I've picked my favourite 10.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWIws2IO8Wo/WkuRu_NQg-I/AAAAAAAAXXc/r00UW9UZqsgAW-tX3uQ4Ho-7c9lVW2TiQCEwYBhgL/s1600/01%2BSlade%2BHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWIws2IO8Wo/WkuRu_NQg-I/AAAAAAAAXXc/r00UW9UZqsgAW-tX3uQ4Ho-7c9lVW2TiQCEwYBhgL/s320/01%2BSlade%2BHouse.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30840877-slade-house" target="_blank">SLADE HOUSE</a></u></b> (David Mitchell)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one surprised me. After really not enjoying <b>CLOUD ATLAS</b> I can't say why I picked up another book by David Mitchell. But I'm glad I did. This ghost story told over decades had me hooked from the first chapter and, as it fed tidbits of history for the house and it's residents, I couldn't stop, so eager was I to unravel the mystery and find out just what the hell was going on. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGfwsfMKZE0/WkuR47BKFKI/AAAAAAAAXXg/dtDNL8IqAzk91m5NFoU9nVzfm2FclrHPwCLcBGAs/s1600/02%2BThicker%2BThan%2BWater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGfwsfMKZE0/WkuR47BKFKI/AAAAAAAAXXg/dtDNL8IqAzk91m5NFoU9nVzfm2FclrHPwCLcBGAs/s320/02%2BThicker%2BThan%2BWater.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2808554-thicker-than-water" target="_blank">THICKER THAN WATER</a> (Mike Carey)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <i>Felix Castor</i> novels pull of a neat trick of having self-contained stories but with a slow burning over-riding arc sitting quietly in the back ground. Book 4 ends on an awesome cliffhanger related to this arc that has me desperate to read the final book, but I've enjoyed this series at a leisurely pace so I won't rush it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk_sz9tGtlY/WkumVbTzs-I/AAAAAAAAXXw/uRjv2Kv0tRAXOaL0C0XkFNjS3Pyz-DqhACLcBGAs/s1600/03%2BKings%2BOf%2BThe%2BWyld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk_sz9tGtlY/WkumVbTzs-I/AAAAAAAAXXw/uRjv2Kv0tRAXOaL0C0XkFNjS3Pyz-DqhACLcBGAs/s320/03%2BKings%2BOf%2BThe%2BWyld.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31932961-kings-of-the-wyld" target="_blank">KINGS OF THE WYLD</a> (Nicolas Eames)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cover for this novel pulled me in and the blurb completed the sale. This fantasy novel uses the twist of having fellowships be more like rock bands and it works so well. The story doesn't go for big evil and ancient artifact cliches. Instead it's a simple quest where the heroes are brought out of retirement for one last adventure. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXzOJzXctog/WkumYWWKACI/AAAAAAAAXX0/LcRqjoH24TQzeHFmt5qi4pKtYIwmcyZhgCLcBGAs/s1600/04%2BNOS4R2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXzOJzXctog/WkumYWWKACI/AAAAAAAAXX0/LcRqjoH24TQzeHFmt5qi4pKtYIwmcyZhgCLcBGAs/s320/04%2BNOS4R2.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21087134-nos4r2" target="_blank">NOS 4R2</a> (Joe Hill)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While Joe Hill doesn't have the substantial back catalogue of his more prolific father, he does have (in my opinion) a 100% hit rate with the few novels he's released. This is a vampire story at it's core, but Joe Hill uses a style similar to his father where the story of the characters themselves is more interesting than the 'plot' of the novel. As we follow reluctant hero <i>Victoria McQueen</i> it's easy to forget you're in a horror story instead of just following her failure of a life. I don't think I've ever cheered for such a down beaten character so much as I did for <i>Vic McQueen</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hqx_hQCCk8g/WkunteXL_lI/AAAAAAAAXYA/NUfA8WeVQmoLy3pz8-crd8I3hZFuuWThACLcBGAs/s1600/05%2BIt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="140" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hqx_hQCCk8g/WkunteXL_lI/AAAAAAAAXYA/NUfA8WeVQmoLy3pz8-crd8I3hZFuuWThACLcBGAs/s320/05%2BIt.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23204614-it" target="_blank">IT</a> (Stephen King)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've read the <b>DARK TOWER</b>, and I read <b>THE STAND</b>, but I was always nervous about starting <b>IT</b>. Not because of the horror rumoured to be contained within, or the epic page count, but because it was one of Kings best known and much loved novels and I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. Well, boy did it. As with the very best of King's output, <b>IT</b> has a 'plot' ticking over nicely, but it's the characters themselves that carried me through this book. I could read a book ten times longer just filled with the lives of the Losers Club and not be bored. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53QlaJpDkSo/Wku3y010QBI/AAAAAAAAXYQ/SEIeUJHwRYAJ2CB6W1Ucj-hkLHRrNhDOACLcBGAs/s1600/06%2BA%2BBoy%2BMade%2BOf%2BBlocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53QlaJpDkSo/Wku3y010QBI/AAAAAAAAXYQ/SEIeUJHwRYAJ2CB6W1Ucj-hkLHRrNhDOACLcBGAs/s320/06%2BA%2BBoy%2BMade%2BOf%2BBlocks.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32969120-a-boy-made-of-blocks" target="_blank">A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS </a>(Keith Stuart)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I knew going into this that it was going to be a tough read as my own son is autistic, but this beautiful debut from games columnist Keith Stuart is such a touching tale of a father and son finding something unique to bring them together, that even with the slightly cliched ending, it had seeing my own son in a new light. It doesn't hurt that my boy loves Minecraft too. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it2Dva_vFqE/Wku8iK6FpjI/AAAAAAAAXYg/dYy17jlZOsseSIAPlFOOtI9B_GtGTdCDgCLcBGAs/s1600/07%2BKilling%2BIs%2BMy%2BBusiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it2Dva_vFqE/Wku8iK6FpjI/AAAAAAAAXYg/dYy17jlZOsseSIAPlFOOtI9B_GtGTdCDgCLcBGAs/s320/07%2BKilling%2BIs%2BMy%2BBusiness.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31702755-killing-is-my-business" target="_blank">KILLING IS MY BUSINESS</a> (Adam Christopher)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've enjoyed reading Adam Christopher's books since I got an e-reader back in 2012. When the short story <b>BRISK MONEY</b> came out a few years ago I was instantly enthralled by the tale of the worlds last robot who works as a hitman (with the cover of being a private eye) in 50's LA. The short story was followed by the first in a trilogy, <b>MADE TO KILL</b>, staring protagonist <i>Ray Electromatic</i>, but it's the second book of the trilogy, <b>KILLING IS MY BUSINESS</b> that really builds the world and starts hinting at a secret soon to be revealed (book 3 is out this July).</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ubXwhq9M0/Wku85g7MeCI/AAAAAAAAXYk/B2vda7YQQzAgHWK2yVUhJILwFAm9aOUbgCLcBGAs/s1600/08%2BAnimal%2BFarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="198" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ubXwhq9M0/Wku85g7MeCI/AAAAAAAAXYk/B2vda7YQQzAgHWK2yVUhJILwFAm9aOUbgCLcBGAs/s320/08%2BAnimal%2BFarm.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10913761-animal-farm" target="_blank">ANIMAL FARM</a> (George Orwell)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been getting into a few of the classics this year and finally got around to George Orwell's masterpieces. While I did like <b>1984</b>, it was <b>ANIMAL FARM</b> that presented the darker story as revolution becomes dictatorship in this allegory of Stalin's Soviet Union.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1HM_xSE4N0/Wku9Jm8dzCI/AAAAAAAAXYs/Vos1h6h9Dmg5oTPwG2JEYgJVx44KyUvnACLcBGAs/s1600/09%2BDevil%2BMay%2BCare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1HM_xSE4N0/Wku9Jm8dzCI/AAAAAAAAXYs/Vos1h6h9Dmg5oTPwG2JEYgJVx44KyUvnACLcBGAs/s320/09%2BDevil%2BMay%2BCare.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31549582-devil-may-care" target="_blank">DEVIL MAY CARE</a> (Johnny B Truant & Sean Platt)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Johnny and Sean are legends in the indie community and I've enjoyed a lot of their eclectic output since discovering them back in 2013. While most of their work revolves around book series, they occasionally take on 'money losers' with what they describe as 'artist efforts'. <b>DEVIL MAY CARE</b> is one such a project. Without spoiling too much, the story tells the tale of <i>Cooper Bishop</i> who, bored with his life, heads across America to the land of opportunity. This is no road trip, however, but a story about being an author and why we write, as we follow <i>Cooper's</i> life as it runs parallel with the novel he's writing. Great characters and a clever story.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPOwsmiCN3U/Wku9fT5ts0I/AAAAAAAAXY0/7-jLlQl22G8Buh0WtkbTtOVJ1hpcbZs4gCLcBGAs/s1600/10%2BOn%2BWriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPOwsmiCN3U/Wku9fT5ts0I/AAAAAAAAXY0/7-jLlQl22G8Buh0WtkbTtOVJ1hpcbZs4gCLcBGAs/s320/10%2BOn%2BWriting.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11584.On_Writing" target="_blank">ON WRITING</a> (Stephen King)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since taking writing more seriously back in 2013, I've made the effort to read <b>ON WRITING</b> every December as the year comes to an end. Part mini biopic (it mainly deals with the parts of King's life that affected his author career), and part teaching tool, the book it a good read for both writers in training and King fans who just like to read a great tale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-80727970026880216712018-01-03T09:30:00.000+00:002018-01-03T09:37:12.920+00:00(vol 5) PROLOGUE: "Love It When A Plan . . ."<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last 18 months saw me fall down and hide away from writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Feeling like I didn't have the right to talk about writing and publishing a book with nothing to back it up, I began to feel like a fraud. I stopped blogging and instead got to work on actually doing something about it. But I did it from the shadows, in secret. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were several false starts following my June 2016 shutdown, but I managed to finally accomplish my goal when I looked at existing work and used three years worth of Flash Fiction to produce a collection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BRISK WORLDS</b> has been out since September 2017 and it taught me a hell of a lot about self publishing. Which was something I needed. And now I feel like I can call myself a writer and I can talk about things based on fact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But producing just one book was never the goal. Now that I'm over that hurdle that had been holding me back, I need to build on what I have learnt and get on with more. Because now my fear is getting to this time next year and <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> still being the only published work with my name on the cover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's what I've got in mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">-*-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE ONE ABOUT THE ANGRY GUY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first part of my plan is finishing and releasing the <b>RAGE HARD</b> trilogy. Three novella's following the adventures of Benjamin Brown who, after being attacked by a strange creature, finds his temper gives him new found abilities and a fearsome new look. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plan is to get these released first half of 2018, each novella coming out a month apart in e-book form. Once all three are out, then the trilogy will be collected as a single paperback.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second half of the year will be about releasing my first full novel. Currently the plan is to take <b>SUPERGOD</b>, my 2017 NaNoWriMo project, and work on this while <b>RAGE HARD</b> is out with betas. It's still in scrappy first draft and needs a lot of work, but a year contains a lot of writing hours if you're honest with yourself and know where to find them (not on my Xbox, that's for sure).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The two projects above will be enough for me, but following the last few Novembers, I'm looking forward to once again taking part in NaNoWriMo and seeing what happens. I won't have a project planned for some time yet, but something always grabs my attention during October. What ever comes out will hopefully be good enough to be a 2019 project.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE ONE WITH THE UTOPIA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if that isn't enough, I had an epiphany regarding last years failed project <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b>. A little part of me wanted to place <b>SUPERGOD</b> to one side, but I don't want to be all indecisive and changing things around unnecessarily. So the other two projects are priorities, but <b>UPTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> has become my extra project. Like when you take a book to the doctors, just in case there's a long wait. <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> is something to focus on <i>if</i> there is free time. And if nothing happens with it then it will be first in line for 2019.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that's all for now. 2017 saw me release one collection. Now I'm upping the game with three novellas and one novel. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fingers crossed as always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good luck with all of your writing projects for 2018. May my books follow your books on their way up to the top of the charts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-82609752923780841862017-12-27T09:00:00.000+00:002017-12-27T11:24:49.627+00:00(vol 4) EPILOGUE: "Back On Track - A Look Back At 2017"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the year that was 2017 has come to a close. I've seen some awesome (and some not-so-awesome) movies, my personal life has taken a bit of a kicking, and once again I've reached the end of a year I'm mostly happy to see the back of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But my writing life? That came back with gusto.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writing: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The year started where 2016 left off; no blogging, just daily entries for the FlashDog's <b>#VSS365</b> project and working on <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the NaNoWriMo 2016 draft printed off and last December's notes collected, it was time to read through the novel and start finding the story so I could begin working on draft two. At least that was the plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It started well enough as I got up early in the mornings a couple of times a week, leaving the wife and child asleep upstairs. I'd read a couple of chapters, red pen at the ready for glaring mistakes, full of thoughts for character and plotting. But when I finished I was having a major issue with the ending as it tied itself up several times and began to feel like it wasn't working.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to put it away. <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> is still on the agenda, but it was holding me back, so I moved on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a side project, I started a story using a diary I'd received for Christmas (see last post). While I don't really write down things myself, I thought it would be interesting to write entries as a character. I picked one out of my story notes that I thought would work and started his story, but unfortunately the daily entries started getting missed when life got in the way and suddenly I was a couple of weeks behind. Another writing project started and ended (or was it?). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, David Shakes' <b>INFERNAL CLOCK</b> project entered it's final stage and was released into the world, both e-book and paperback. My story <b>DELAYED</b> was included which was my first attempt at horror writing since the 80's when I wrote <b>HOUSE OF HELL</b> and the ten part epic <b>CHILDREN OF DEATH</b> saga (I was about 10 at that time and the stories mostly contained gory deaths of one-dimensional characters - y</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ou know, because I was ten).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Movie wise the year started off really well. <b>LOGAN</b> was the X-Men film I'd been waiting for since before Bryan Singer's 2000 effort. I'm a massive X-Men fan (as the 2000+ comic collection will attest). It was gritty, real world action, with a sadness to it unexpected from 'comic book movies'. And a perfect swansong for the character as Hugh Jackman's final go at the role.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once that was out of the way it was onto the craziness that was <b>KONG: SKULL ISLAND</b>. Sticking the super aggressive ape in a 60's setting and amping up his size (just a little) set the scene for a movie that, perhaps should have been brainless, but instead knew what it was and had fun with it. And while the human cast are mostly outshone by the CGI headliner (except Craig C Reilly), its good all round action awesomeness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two words; Kidney and Stones. I've had dealings with these before, but nothing as bad as the last week of March 2017 when I had to take time off from work and eventually get taken to hospital. On the plus side, I learned that I drink too many fizzy drinks, not enough water, and codeine makes everything feel great. A little lifestyle change later (plus CT scans and my first suppository) and things are a little better. Needless to say, I did very little writing during this period.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> falling by the wayside, the only writing I was getting done at this point was the <b>#VSS365</b> project on twitter. I was losing the umph to write anything at this time and didn't know where I was going next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then on the 13th April I opened up a Google doc while stuck on a train and began writing what was to become book 1 of the <b>RAGE HARD</b> trilogy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The story of a young guy attacked and infected, left with the ability to channel his anger and change himself into a literal raging beast, <b>RAGE </b>has changed slightly over the months. From it's 'journal' beginnings, I found it wasn't it's own stand alone story, with rewrites bending to produce its now trilogy form.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was younger, my love of comic books was part of what made me a geeky outsider. Back then it was only the Christopher Reeves <b>SUPERMAN</b> films and Michael Keaton <b>BATMAN</b> films that were classed as 'okay'. When it came to superhero movies, there wasn't really much else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flash forward to 2017 and the second of seven comic movies I would see in this year alone was hitting the cinemas. And talk about left field. <b>GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2</b> was now a mainstream superhero movie that your grandmother would be able to hold a conversation about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in 2014 The Guardians were unknown to all but an avid few, and they were a big gamble for<span style="background-color: white;"> MARVEL</span> to take. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now though, the team dubbed 'Avengers In Space' are all household names. And this sequel is everything I expected and then some. More laughs, more action, more colours (!), Guardians 2 is a worthy sequel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The surprise movie of 2017 for me was <b>COLOSSAL</b>. The original trailer had me intrigued, but with rising cinema prices, and a busy slate for this year already, I didn't think I'd get a chance. And then some free tickets fell into my lap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's disappointing just how underrated this film was (me and my friend were the only two in the screening!). It looks silly, but contains a serious message and gets quite dark in the second half. I highly recommend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And to round out the first six months is another superhero movie and another surprise hit. It's no secret that DC are struggling to play catch up to the awesome and superior <span style="background-color: white;">MARVEL</span> movies but <b>WONDER WOMAN</b> was their first real win (though I really like <b>MAN OF STEEL</b>). Offering a more optimistic hero, and really letting her be more than a one dimensional token female, Wonder Woman just works as an introduction to a truly powerful character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">April and May were two of the darkest for me in a long, long time (which probably explains the more aggressive nature of <b>RAGE</b>'s first draft). With problems in my own personal life, and then the passing of a good, good friend of mine, I probably wasn't the best person to be around back then. Things are better now, but (despite the return to writing and some good films) April and May will not be fondly remembered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heading into the second half of the year I had no idea of the big step I was about to make. Frustrated with still not having anything released after being in my forth year of trying, a swift random decision escalated very quickly into my published collection of flash Fiction; <b>BRISK WORLDS</b>. It was hard work as I threw myself into it with gusto. I learnt formatting, Kindle, and basic cover design, all in the space of weeks. The eBook hit shelves early September. Woo hoo!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And with a published project at last, I thought it was also a good time to return to blogging. If I'm honest I really missed it, so much so that I've managed to crank it back up to weekly for the foreseeable future. I feel like I've got shit to blog about now, with knowledge of what it actually takes. I knew I couldn't carry on talking about a process I was only seeing from the outside. But now I'm a doer and so I'm back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#VSS365</b> came to the end of it's first full year on September 5th and I was proud to say I had posted for every single one of them. It was a great idea by <b>METROPOLITAN DREAMS</b> author <a href="https://makingfiction.com/" target="_blank">Mark A King</a>, and although he's stepped away from it on it's anniversary, a couple of FlashDogs jumped in to take over (because that's the kind of people the FlashDogs are). Due to the fact that I'm now rolling with bigger works and stepping away from Flash Fiction, I've stopped taking part (if I did even one, my compulsive side would need to carry on for another year), but I still keep tabs and have some very interesting and amusing reads throughout my day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Geek me was looking forward to the tail end of summer cinema. However, while my writing went from bad to awesome, films went the other way; starting high and ending quickly in disappointment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING</b> was the most impressive in this quarter. Better than <span style="background-color: #999999;">MARVEL</span> promised, it was a return to form for SONY's flagship character that fell from grace after the disappointing <b>SPIDER-MAN 3</b>. Iron-Man didn't out stay his welcome, the effects were impressive, and the story was busy in a good way, unlike the villain filled efforts that had come before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately that was all she wrote, because next up was <b>THE DARK TOWER</b>, a film based on my favourite book series of all time. I had such high hopes for it at every step of it's production. But when it was finally released, it couldn't hide the mess that it was. I offer that someone who has not read Stephen King's magnum opus may enjoy it more, but for me it was a rushed, poorly written adaptation of a far superior source material. I will say that almost all of the actors were on form though (Jake's best friend was the only poor performance).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Weeks before <b>THE DARK TOWER</b> I was aware that it might be a flop. <b>KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE</b>, however, caught me blindsided. The first film was a surprise hit, much like Guardians 1. Many people aren't even aware that the series is based on a comic book. Building on the success of the first should have been simple, but as the film carried on, my excitement drained and I began asking questions of the plot, characters, and pretty much everything else. I was cheering at the opening action sequence, but by the last third I was just a little meh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things were turning around a little. A trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed was a highlight and a much wanted tick off the old bucket list for me and Mrs C. Not a bad way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> published on Kindle was cool, but there is nothing like that feeling when you're finally holding a physical version of your works. After releasing the eBook in September, I dived straight back into the project and worked on the paperback version for October. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And on top of that, I also branched into Kobo for the first time too. With my KU 90 days finished in December, and no real benefits seen, I was eager to get my book on my e-reader of choice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, a year review wouldn't be the same without a November full of NaNoWriMo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2017 saw my complete my greatest NaNo ever. I broke all my personal records with highest word count (83,302), my highest word count in one day (8114), and finishing the earliest (17th).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The story itself is a mess, born from an earlier attempt and blooming almost uncontrollably into something involving God, super powers, aliens, the President, and a Southampton video store. But I see the story in there and I already know what to cut and where to add. And if all goes well, which I'm very confident it will, this book should be out in the second half of next year. My first full novel release.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm a BIG fan of the <span style="color: white;">MARVEL</span> films, and completely respect what they've managed to pull off with their multi film franchise. But despite my passion for anything with the word <span style="color: white;">MARVEL</span> before it, Thor has always been the runt of the litter. The first film was good, but didn't lean enough on the fish-out-of-water comedy that was it's highlight. And the less said about the bore-fest that was <b>THE DARK WORLD</b> the better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RAGNAROK</b>, however, plays to the actors and characters strengths, and it is a truly action packed and hilarious movie. It plays with it's colours and music to perfection, giving the film it's unique (in the MCU at least) feel, placing it closer to the Guardians films than anything like Captain America or Iron Man. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Earlier this year I missed out on re-releases of <b>TERMINATOR 2</b> and <b>ROBOCOP</b> on the big screen, arguably two of the most iconic action films of all time. I wouldn't make that mistake a third time when my all time favourite 80's action movie, <b>PREDATOR</b> came to town for it's 30th anniversary. And it turned out that not only the film was epic that night; just getting there was a mini adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The film itself was glorious. Still my favorite, and a hundred times more enjoyable on the big screen with the soundtrack, alien clicks, and worlds greatest quotes booming out of speakers that put my TV to shame. <b>PREDATOR</b> is a master class in characters, tension, and action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And to end on a high, due to the lights coming up ten minutes early (though it didn't really ruin the film) we all got refunds. Nice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following two great films, <b>JUSTICE LEAGUE</b> had a hell of a challenge to make it three for three. Unfortunately, due to Warner Bros meddling, a director switch out, lazy acting, and a rogue mustache, the film was already crippled before the lights went down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>JUSTICE LEAGUE</b> isn't a terrible film, but it's frustrating seeing the potential just below the surface and knowing that it could have been amazing if the right people only cared enough instead of chasing the buck in lazy imitation. The whole film was just 'Meh'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it was left to Disney again to finish the year on a high and they didn't disappoint. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI</b> picks up right where <b>THE FORCE AWAKENS</b> left off. The film has divided the geek community, but I was one of the few that thoroughly enjoyed it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sure it was different, but the people moaning about these changes where the same people moaning that the previous film was too much of an homage to the original trilogy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I guess you can't please everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been following the NFL since a work colleague got me into it back in 2011. I had family in Philadelphia at the time, so I made myself an Eagles fan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being on this side of the pond, and with no near future plans to travel to the States, seeing a game live was always a stretch. That is until my sister-in-law got tickets for one of the London games.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The atmosphere was awesome, with fans from all 32 teams milling around and being pretty damned polite. The game itself was a good one, with current underdogs the Cleveland Browns hosting the Minnesota Vikings. Based on the last couple of season, the Browns should have lost (Spoiler; they did) but they put up a hell of a fight and surprised everyone by not only scoring first, but keeping it tight through the second and third quarter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Will definately go again.</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Round Up:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that is my 2017. A tough year in parts, but the highlight of finally self-publishing can't be over looked. This year was just about getting a finished product out in the wild with me as the sole creator. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next year will be more about getting multiple products done on time scales. I'm moving from hobby to business, slowly but surely. I'm still not confident to put work up as pre-order as some fellow indie-authors do, but I'm going to work hard to get them done to the plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fingers crossed my personal life bucks up, the films get better (more Marvel and more Star Wars on the way!), and most importantly, my personal bookshelf gets bigger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-9347556766801927722017-12-20T09:30:00.000+00:002017-12-20T10:01:26.941+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 16: "What Is RAGE?"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> out there earning it's keep, it's time to look at what's next for Channel 79 Books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I've mentioned several (like, a million!) times, I've started a lot of projects. And over the years I've wanted them all to be 'the one'. Well my collection of Flash Fiction ended up being the first one out the door, and while I'm proud of it and all that it has taught me about the process, it's time to get on with something a little grander.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unintentionally following Craig Anderson's process with his <b>LUCKY BEGGAR</b> trilogy (check it out <a href="http://www.todayschapter.com/lucky-beggar-trilogy/" target="_blank">here</a>), I'm in the process of finishing up the <b>RAGE HARD</b> trilogy; three novellas that follow Benjamin Brown as he discovers strange powers that turn his life upside-down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The project really got started Christmas 2016 when I received a diary as a present. I've never really used one to write anything down before and wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. But then I had the idea of recording a characters thoughts and feelings instead. I browsed my notebooks and discovered Benjamin's story would work pretty good in journal form.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It went well for a few weeks but it became a struggle to write every day. Sometimes Ben didn't have anything to say. Sometimes real life blocked out the imaginary one. Then a day or two turned into a week or two, and the project fell by the wayside (a common theme with me, I hear the audience shout). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully it wasn't dead; it was just changing.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'Tim Bisley' artwork from SPACED</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next step in the project's journey was a boring train journey where I'd not brought a book to read. I opened my phone and decided to start a Google Doc story to occupy myself. Benjamin's story waved it's hands and grabbed my attention so I started writing down what I could remember from the diary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Slowly at first, but picking up pace as it went, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Benjamin's story grew and grew until I had a pretty decent 25,000 word first draft done. But when I reached the ending, I didn't feel like the story was really finished. Questions were unanswered and Benjamin had another tale to tell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or two, as it turned out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was half way into book 2, when I saw the bigger picture. I stopped with half the second novella done and went back to book 1, working away at setting more stuff up and laying the trail for books 2 and 3. Then I opened up a blank spreadsheet (I love spreadsheets!) and planned a trilogy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It sounds messy with starts and restarts, but it's grown quite organically and changed where and when it's needed to. I'm quite proud of the story as a whole. I thought at one stage to make it a single, novel length book, but it does make more sense as three parts to the overall tale, and you'll see this once all three are released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope to get the books all done before I begin releasing the trilogy, perhaps a month or so apart. I want to keep them fresh and have readers eager for the next and not forgetting about them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, with 2017 coming to a close, this is what I'm looking forward to in 2018. I always said that I needed that first project out of the way, the hurdle cleared, the wall smashed through, and then the next project and the next would become a little easier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well it feels like that. And I have a plan for the year, which is also good. Instead of '<i>have a book out before the end of the year</i>', it's now become '<i>have project one done in first half and project two done in second half</i>'. A production line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Channel 79 Books is under way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How about you guys? Are you planning to wing it for next year, or do you have specific projects set for specific release dates already? As always, let me know how you're doing in the comments below or on twitter (@BrianSCreek).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-69125934373522985782017-12-13T08:30:00.000+00:002017-12-13T12:27:05.284+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 15: "Other Platforms"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the many decisions an author makes when releasing a book is what platform you're going to release on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For e-books the big choice that most default to is Kindle (Amazon), and with good cause; they are the biggest seller of e-books without a doubt. When you say 'e-reader' to Joe Bloggs on the street, most people will just assume you're talking about a Kindle device, not realising that there are other brands out there. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the choice of platform comes down to two simple choices; go wide, or go with the biggest bite of the pie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite what people think, there are other ways to read e-books without passing through Amazon's gargantuan eco-system. I myself have been a proud Kobo reader since 2012. And while Apple don't have a specific device themselves, a lot of people have i-phones which can be used via the i-books app. Goggle Books are the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But Amazon has an ace up it's sleeve; Kindle Unlimited. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While you could sell your book for an upfront price like the other venders, Kindle Unlimited (or KU) follows the subscription style, much like Netflix or an Odeon cinema pass. You pay a block fee and have access to read as many books as you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the other end of the process, the author gets paid not in an upfront lump sum, but at the end of the month based on the number of pages readers read. It's all worked out very technically (Amazon have a formula that normalises pages so large fonts don't benefit) using a pot of money divided by KU authors then divided by page reads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The down side to this option is that Amazon want you all in. If you want the benefits of KU (and for better selling authors with lots of books I assume it can pay quite well) you cannot put you book up anyway else. No Kobo, no i-books, no Google. Once in, you are tied to Amazon and KU for 90 days.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I only have one book at the moment and it's never going to be a big big seller. Flash Fiction collections just don't have the pull of novella's and full blown novels. But I went in on KU for the first 90 days of sale because, quite honestly, I didn't have anything to loose. People could still buy for £1.99 if they didn't have KU membership so I wasn't limited to people only in the program. And because Createspace, one of the two most well used ways of going 'Print On Demand', is owned by Amazon, I was still able to release the paperback version of <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> back in October without breaking the rules.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But benefit me it has not. And my 90 days ended two days ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I chose not to remain and am now working on option two; going wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three months since <b>BRISK WORLDS</b> was released, you can now buy it on Kobo. This is a particularly special moment for me as my Kobo device is my preferred method of e-reading (sorry other e-book apps).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BRISK WORLDS</b> still won't be a big seller but it's nice to have my work out there on two different ecosystems. It was a simple process of just taking the word doc prepped for Kindle and uploading it to Kobo's site. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They say on their web page that it's easy to get started as an indie author, and they're not wrong. Obviously the hard work of formatting was done back in September, but from logging on to pressing publish took me about 20 mins. That's really quite remarkable, to know that technology is at a point where you can put your work out there that quickly.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that's not a bad way to end 2017. I have my first published work done, available in two e-reading formats and also as a paperback (the real dream!).</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I'm looking at 2018 and planning on doing it all over again.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me know your own self publishing stories in the comments below or on twitter (@BrianSCreek). Have you seen success in KU or do you prefer to go wider? And what other channels do you use?</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if anyone has any questions regarding my experience of kindle or Kobo self-publishing, feel free to ask.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven. </span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-67383401497744381442017-12-06T10:00:00.000+00:002017-12-12T17:26:55.781+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 14: "30 Days and Done"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And now a look back at my NaNoWriMo 2017.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY THIRTY - 4266 words</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This final day was all about cleaning up the end of the alien invasion and returning the hero home to realise what he has to do now. But the aliens were only the first finale. He still had to fight the ultimate villain of the story, a being that could destroy all existence. I managed to start this fight scene and was clear of my planned word count for the day (and over my final target word count) so I didn't <i>need</i> to write more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then I sat down with dinner and watched Captain America: Civil War. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the credits rolled I felt rejuvenated, and while I didn't have the time to finish the book properly, I got down the key points of the fight, of resolution, and the ending I didn't know I wanted until I got there. It's very rushed (the hero works out how to defeat the villain via an epiphany with absolutely no foreshadowing), but it'll all be sorted out in the next draft. I just really wanted to have something like a plan down on paper before putting the novel aside (unlike 2010's <b>I AM BROKEN</b>, which to this day still doesn't have it's ending) and more importantly, I just wanted to write THE END. It was a nice bow on top of my best NaNo ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that's the end. Thirty days of writing that has been an absolute blast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've really blown myself away this year with how much and how fast I've written. Just to be clear, I'm not bragging. I'm quite the introvert (aren't all us crazy authors?). But I can't be anything other than proud of what I've accomplished in thirty days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What surprised my during this and some other prvious NaNo's is that when I expect to not do well, I seem to surpass what is necessary. Back in 2007 when I took part for the first time, I had nothing but free time, and yet I allowed myself to be distracted by a games console and found myself slipping behind (only two late night writ-a-thons managed to help me over that finish line). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Others years have been the same, yet when 2013 rolled around, life had pilled a lot of writing distractions on me. I have a one year old son, work was hectic, and I was living in the dinning room of my father-in-laws bungalow. I was quite stressed and depressed at the time, so I only took part in that years NaNoWriMo to cheer myself up and provide a distraction. I was already accepting that I would't get far into it. And yet I found myself unable to stop a lot of days, getting a good thousand done on my lunch break, and a further one or two thousand done in the evening with my laptop balanced on a foot stool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year was truly something special. I was coming through a period where my stress, anxiety, and depression had me seeking professional help. The way I was had affected my home and work life and I wasn't the easiest person to be around. But that constant of November writing couldn't have come at a better time and gave me something to focus on. And considering I only really committed to it the night before it started, my story came through complete, finished on the evening of November 30th, and smashed my previous word count record. Considering some years I made it to 50,000 and stopped, last year the story pushed me forward so that I wrote almost 15,000 more than necessary. With zero road bumps or stalls, and no write-arounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I honestly never thought I get that much done again and was happy to leave UTOPIA FOR PEARS as the flag upon my NaNoWriMo mountain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then this year happened and, despite new personal problems and work being even more stressful, I blew UTOPIA out of the water. The story just kept giving, and with it being set in my favourite genre, it wasn't difficult to stay excited. I know a lot won't be used in the final version, and there's a lot more to be added over the already epic (for me) word count. But I see what it should be, where it needs to go, and have been happy to let the randomness of NaNo add a few extra characters and plot points that I hadn't considered but know will be important to include.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, the plan going forward? Well I have the other project I'm working on which I took a break from during NaNo, and then SuperGod is what I'll be working on to get out before NaNo 2018. And who knows what I'll be writing come November next year. I look forward to finding out, and I wonder if, just maybe, I can set another word count record again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before I go, a big congratulations to fellow FlashDogs Casey, Nancy, Holly, Steph, and Liz, as well as first timers Craig and Mark. These guys set out on the same journey as me and all crossed the finish line followed by a raised a drink at 'The Validated Writer'. November saw the birth of 7 new worlds from these writers minds, new worlds you may hopefully see in the near future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, I'm off now, taking a break from writing for a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in seven.</span></div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-46152511988107842072017-11-29T12:16:00.000+00:002017-11-29T16:55:39.206+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 13: "NaNoWriMo 2017 - Day 29"<div style="text-align: justify;">
November is almost over and NaNoWriMo is coming to and end for another year. After crossing the finishing line as early as the 17th, and having the pleasure of validating the day validation opened up, I've been able to just enjoy myself for the last week and just see where the story goes.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-THREE - 2353 words</u></b><br />
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With our hero stuck on the surface of the moon, and no obvious way to get back to Earth, day 23 consisted of me writing stuff until a solution presented itself. This was the first time I got a little worried during this story, but just when I though about skipping ahead and sporting it out at a later date, something materialized. It will need some fleshing out and setting up in the next draft, but I like it. </div>
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And as I close in on my personal record for NaNo (2016's <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> hit 64034 words), I'm looking forward to exploring this epic ending.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-FOUR - 3619 words</u></b><br />
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First off, this day is awesome because I beat my previous NaNo Record. SuperGod is the story that keeps giving, and while some years I've hit 50,000 and just stopped, whether I'd reached the ending or not, this time I just can't stop carrying on. My aim it to push myself to add 50% and hit 75,000.</div>
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I got a lot done, even going back onto the laptop when I'd already done enough for the day. With the hero back from the moon and ready to kick ass, it was time to get the pieces in place for the finale (well, the first one, anyway).</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-FIVE - 1025 words</u></b><br />
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From such a high over the previous week, I was brought back down to earth with my worst NaNo word count since the end of November 2015. A lot of it was time; being out fore the morning, working on an IT issue for the afternoon, spending time with the family, and watching the Formula 1 qualifying, I didn't even boot up the laptop until 8pm.</div>
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Add to this a scene I wasn't enjoying where I'm, beginning to move the players into position, and it was very stop/start. I'd write a couple of hundred, log off, chide myself for not hitting the target, and try again. It was the first painful day this year, and I'm just glad I got over 1000.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-SIX - 2864 words</u></b><br />
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Coming off the back of a crap word count, I made the effort on day 26. My son was compliant, and gave me a good hour where he just sat and played quietly, and I crossed the 1667 feeling good. After lunch I pushed it past 2000, working on a scene that is my ode to The Suicide Squad, which should have been enough. But like day 24, I had one more effort when I didn't need to and closed to almost 3000. I actually planned on going on again later, but found myself tired watching the Formula 1 and called it as job good enough.<br />
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I'm in that annoying part where it's all build up for the finale and you don't ant to write too much and slow the book down, but you also don't want to rush it and shoot you load with out preparing the drama. Hopefully the drafts will fix this.</div>
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And less than 4000 words to go for my updated target.</div>
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<u><b>DAY TWENTY-SEVEN - 3147 words</b></u><br />
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This day went better than expected. It's the men on a mission scene now as the group go head to head with the alien invaders. They may be the last hope for planet earth, but that doesn't mean that they have to get on. I'm enjoying the conflict between the characters, something I'm not always good at writing. </div>
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This was another day where I thought I'd done enough, see I was just 200ish words from a milestone, write a bit more, then find I was 200ish words from another milestone. My inability to end a day just a few words short of something on my spreadsheet looking tidy is a massive carrot on a stick. People would say I'm weird, but it puts words on my page (and I can make them good words later).</div>
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And in 779 words, I'll have reached my secondary word count goal of 75,000.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-EIGHT - 2445 words</u></b><br />
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Another good word count day and I managed to achieve my secondary goal of 75,000 words. Woo hoo! Though the wife has annoyed me by uttering the phrase "I reckon you could make it to 80,000." So on I go. To be fair, it shouldn't be too difficult as I'm still in the middle of the first epic finale with the hero and his small team knee deep in alien scum. And things are starting to look tough. </div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-NINE - 2370 words</u></b><br />
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This was some tough writing. It's easy to write a lot of the first draft without a plan and without details, but with things coming to conclusion, it's been hard to tie everything up. </div>
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Part of this is because, although I'm not physically editing as I go, my brain still thinks of things to add, delete, or alter when I get to rewrites later. And without an actual plan (because I didn't know what I would have at my disposal when I got to the last third) it's hard to write an ending that makes sense and has punch. Some characters that were big in my plan have faded from the story, while other ones that were completely new several days ago have turned out to be very integral players in the story. </div>
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So while I'm looking forward to working on draft two early next year, I'm scared because I can see how much work there is to do.</div>
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On the plus, I got finale one out of the way (some parts were rushed because my character's motivation and personalities are very 2D and paper thin) and with one day to go, it's all about the big fight; hero vs villain SMACKDOWN!!!</div>
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And that's nearly all I wrote. There is just one day left of NaNoWriMo 2017. I can't believe how quickly it has flown by. Not long until advent calendars are opened, then it's Star Wars, Christmas, and before you know it we're all saying Happy New Year.</div>
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Since I last posted, 3 more @FlashDogs have crossed the finish line. It's good to see the group that formed writing very short fiction spreading their wings and coping with 50,000+ words. Hopefully there will be more FlashDog related works in the next couple of years to adorn everyone's bookshelves.</div>
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For those of you closing in on 50,000, best of luck to you. Whether you're just a thousand away and will ease over it tomorrow, or you've got a mountain to climb and plan on doing some mad dash mega writing, the main thing to remember, crossing the line or not, is that you made yourself write. That's more than a lot of people who say they '<i>want to publish a book</i>' do. And there's no law that says you can only use what hits paper in November. If you don't make it, you don't have to stop. While the NaNoWriMo winners badge can make you feel good, a finished book sat on your bookshelf is the ultimate prize.</div>
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Let me know how you're all getting on, either in the comments below or on twitter @BrianSCreek</div>
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Now go write, write like you've never written before. Write like the wind.</div>
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See you in seven.</div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-83521126185112412582017-11-22T12:15:00.000+00:002017-11-22T14:11:11.553+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 12: "NaNoWriMo 2017 - Day 22"The finish line is in sight but there is still work to do.<br />
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<b><u>DAY SIXTEEN - 8114 words</u></b><br />
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An early start today. Up at 5:00 and a couple of thousand words done before starting work. After two days of writing an epic superhero/super-villain smack down, it was nice to chill and get into my characters head a little, find out how he's coping with things.</div>
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This scene carried me over the 40,000 mark. That should have been enough. I hit my word count and finished a scene. Then things escalted</div>
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I spotted how close I was to my 2017 record daily word count of 4000. So on my lunch break I wrote a bit more. But then I saw how close I was to my 2014 record daily word count of 5833, so that evening I didn't watch a movie or play on the Xbox. I wrote. And then I was so close to my 2007 and '<i>all time personal best daily word count</i>' of 7941 words (that was a night that ended at 3am) that I stuck on a Donald Trump documentary and carried on until, well until my fingers fell off.</div>
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I'm very stat driven (you've seen the spreadsheets) and it's this that can keep me going when it shouldn't be possible. I'm not the fastest writer in November, but every now and then I manage to do something awesome at this time of year, so I kick pessimist me to the curb and give my self a little pat on the back. This was one such day.</div>
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It also meant that, with 14 days still remaining, I only had 3463 words to reach the finish line. This may go down as my best NaNoWriMo yet.</div>
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<u><b>DAY SEVENTEEN - 3484 words</b></u><br />
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I was expecting to hit 50,000 around the 20th, but due to the previous days write-a-thon it happened on the 17th. To say it was difficult to contain my excitement would be an understatement. I was so thrilled to hit 50K so early in the month, a personal best for me. And there's still much more to go after the days attack on a jungle drug compound (yes, this story will be mental). The battle scene ended perfectly on 50,001 so I called it a day with Chapter 22 coming up next.</div>
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<b><u>DAY EIGHTEEN - 2023 words</u></b><br />
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After two days of monster writing, the weekend hit hard and returned me to normal word counts. After the drug compound battle of the last chapter, this was all about bringing the main character back to his day-to-day life; returning to work, spending time with his girlfriend. Normal stuff. I'm still pushing on because the ideas are all still rolling out. A worry I sometimes have is crossing the finish line cutting the enthusiasm. But I'm doing well.</div>
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<b><u>DAY NINETEEN - 2044 words</u></b><br />
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Another weekend day, but when the wife took our son out for an afternoon walk, I took it as writing time and immediately jumped onto the laptop. I managed about 1700 before they got back, and fit a further 300 in after dinner.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY - 2302 words</u></b><br />
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Back to normal today as I opened up another action scene. The fights that the main character goes through are all based on iconic superhero movies, and this scene is similar to one from The Dark Knight. It's a more thinking mans action scene, unlike the previous bust ups.I managed 1700 and called it a day, but then had a burst of 600 around 10pm to keep my average high.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-ONE - 2674 words</u></b><br />
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After the fight the previous day, day 21 was all about the consequences. The main character starts doubting himself and the dual life he's trying to live, and it's up to those closest to him to pull him from the slump. After all, the world could be in danger (spoiler, it's about to be) and need a hero.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWENTY-TWO - 2169 words</u></b><br />
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And so the beginning of the end is at hand. Our hero has been presented with a bigger threat than terrorists, street criminals, and super powered villains. An alien threat is coming. Our hero has faced some big challenges up to this point, but the literal fate of the planet could be in his hands. And he hasn't even dealt with his biggest enemy, who wants to destroy the entire universe (because, you know, one problem at a time). With time running out, and our hero trapped on the moon (I told you this was going to be a weird book) how will this story end? Guess I'll start working that out tomorrow, as my planning only got this far. Should be interesting.</div>
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And in extra awesome news, as this week wraps up, I've crossed 60,000 words and am on target to beat my personal best (2016 <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b> - 64,034 words). My life is at a bit of a low at the moment so this is really pulling me along and keeping me going. I'm pushing myself hard and breaking a lot of personal records and loving every minute of it.</div>
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In other extra awesome news, Steph Ellis (one of the master minds of The Infernal Clock projects) has also joined me at the NaNo pub that is 'The Validated Writer'. We're getting our drinks in and watching out for the other FlashDogs who are closing in. A couple of first timers on my writer buddies list and their doing super well. Virtual drinks ordered for you peeps, waiting at the bar. </div>
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So with just over a week left how is everyone else doing? Ready to validate? On target? Or crazy enough to plan a word blitz with two days to go. Let me know in the comments below or on twitter @BrianSCreek</div>
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The finish line can be crossed if you really want to. In 2007 I was 13,000 words behind with 3 days to go . . . and I managed it without needing to write on the last day. </div>
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Keep on writing. </div>
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See you in seven.</div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-38373208591693550042017-11-15T12:14:00.000+00:002017-11-16T07:44:03.286+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 11: "NaNoWriMo 2017 - Day 15"Half way through the month. How exciting<br />
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<b><u>DAY NINE - 3535 words</u></b><br />
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I love days like this one. It started slow and I was thinking that I wouldn't make it past the 1667. As I was closing out my writing for the day I thought I'd just set up the next chapter so it was easier to begin day 10. And then I couldn't stop typing. I was having brain waves and wanted to get them down quick before I forgot them. I was trying to type faster then I physically could; my fingers hurt by the time it was over.</div>
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And then I'd check my word count and see I was 60 words from a milestone so I;'d add a little more. But then I was close to another milestone, and I kept that up until I was more than double my daily target.</div>
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Good day. Lots done.</div>
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<b><u>DAY TEN - 2100 words</u></b><br />
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Managed a quick sprint on the train journey and made it to within 700 words of the 25,000 half way point. That's the quickest I've gotten to half the November word count target. I'm hoping that I can keep the pace up, hit 50k by the 20th, and make 75k my finale (personal) record breaking total. Lets hope.</div>
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<b><u>DAY ELEVEN - 2091 words</u></b><br />
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I mentioned that last weekend was a surprise result for me as weekends are usually tough to find a decent window. Well the 11th was weekend business as usual. It was the first day this month where I had zero word count in the books before noon. A trip out with the wife and child meant I didn't get behind the keyboard until 4:30pm, and formula 1 in the evening meant I had to make a small window count. Thanks to an action scene that plays homage to a 2006 action superhero movie, I managed to just cross 2000 before calling it a day (night).</div>
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<b><u>DAY TWELVE - 1815 words</u></b><br />
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Typing away late this day, due to a birthday party and the penultimate race in the F1 calendar. Luckily I managed about 800 words while sat watching my son play at Monkey Bizness, and the rest once he was in bed. I left the scene hanging as I ran out of time and wanted to hit the ground running when I was back on track the next day. </div>
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This scene was mostly tying up the previous and then finally hitting the big plot point behind the whole story. </div>
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<b><u>DAY THIRTEEN - 3384 words</u></b><br />
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After a leaner weekend than I wanted (though it was expected), I bounced back today with another count crossing 3000. This was helped by a scene where the background of two major characters were revealed and, in a strange moment around the 2500 mark, I suddenly decided that a good twist was needed and felt right. So while the hero was talking to another main character for 2500 words, I flipped it, and made out that it was the villain the whole time. Then the other character turned up and a fight ensued.</div>
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None of this was in my loose plan. It simply said 'Character B has spent millennium trying to kill Character A'. I had no idea why they hated each other or where they came from. And the twist. I made it up after I written a massive flashback scene. </div>
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It's one of the things I love about the recklessness of NaNoWriMo. Everything is doable, and nothing is off the table.</div>
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<b><u>DAY FOURTEEN - 2714 words</u></b><br />
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An impromptu trip to A&E for my son (he's fine) almost derailed me, but waiting rooms are a good opportunity to whip out the old phone and chuck a load of words into a Google Doc. Today was all about an epic fight, one much bigger than the last. The main characters first real challenge. In fact the scene was so big, I didn't finish it even with over 2500 words done, so I'll hit the ground running for day 15 and the half way point of November.</div>
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<b><u>DAY FIFTEEN - 2177 words</u></b><br />
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The epic fight continues. I had a few moments planned before I started it (a helicopter meets an 'explosive' ending, and a cruise ship isn't left very seaworthy) buit stringing it together was touch. Fight scenes can be difficult, especially in first drafts. There's a lot to keep track of with characters moving around and scenery getting chewed up. No doubt during the January reread before edits start, I'll spot a lot of continuity errors.</div>
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And that's another week out of the way. I'm still over the moon with my progress so far, and confident with how much is still left in my imagination to put on the page. I'm setting all kinds of personal records, and this might be the first year I upload my 50,000+ on the day validation goes LIVE. Fingers crossed.</div>
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How are you guys doing? Are your stories going as planned, or have crazy things and new characters made an effort to derail (or improve)? Share your stand out moments from the first half of NaNo in the comments below, or on twitter (@BrianSCreek).</div>
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It's all go for the second half now, as November 30th and 50,000 closes in. Good luck tyo all participants. Keep writing.</div>
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See you in seven.</div>
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<br />Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-81149912485312079502017-11-08T13:00:00.000+00:002017-11-09T11:43:46.749+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 10: "NaNoWriMo 2017 - Day 8"<div style="text-align: justify;">
First week of NaNoWriMo is out the way and SuperGod is coming along nicely. </div>
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Have managed to pick up where I left off last year with my writing ethos (wish I was this constant through the other eleven months of the year) and I am putting good word counts in. SO good are these daily word counts that my opening aim to cross 10,000 by Monday 6th was smashed when I somehow managed it by Saturday lunchtime. </div>
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As I mentioned before, a lot of this early writing is rewriting a previous version of this story. There are some scene and character changes, and I'm trying it in third person instead, but it's all from scratch without copying from any previous draft. It's like trying to write down the plot of a movie I watched twenty years ago. I remember the broad parts, but the details will be different. This way it's not an exact copy, but still the rough story I wanted to tell.<br />
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<u><b>DAY TWO - 4000</b></u></div>
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Writing when I perhaps shouldn't have been, I managed to hit almost two and a half times my required word count. It's been fun switching the view point and having to write with a little less info coming from the character's heads. And having the end game in my head this time around is allowing me to fill out extra details as I rewrite old chapters from previous attempts. </div>
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<u><b>DAY THREE - 3015</b></u><br />
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A good end to the work week with almost double the 1667 put down. Still going through old ideas and fleshing out more, but little bits are growing new parts that may or may not lead somewhere. That's the fun of NaNo and no editing until January 2018.</div>
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<b><u>DAY FOUR - 2202</u></b><br />
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In the early days of my NaNoing (also known as 'before my son was born') I did most of my writing at the weekends. But since 2012, weekends have always been a difficult time to find a spare hour or so without the little guy wanting my attention, or as is more often the case, not wanting my attention but wanting to make noise. So I was surprised that I managed over 2000 words while at home this day. My son spent some time playing in the garden, while I sat at the dining room table cranking out my word allowance.<br />
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I needed to hit 10,000 by close of writing Monday. But passing that Saturday lunch time was nothing but positive. Hoping the rest of the month carries on like this.<br />
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<b><u>DAY FIVE - 2021</u></b><br />
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One good weekend day of writing is special, but two in a row? Miracle.<br />
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<b><u>DAY SIX - 2236</u></b><br />
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Another good day of writing which I started on the train using my phone (love Google Docs). While walking from one building to another at work I did hit a revelation regarding the first chunk of story; I would be deleting a couple of thousand words when I got round to editing (not yet, because we don't edit in November, do we?). </div>
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The section has been in every version I've written of this story and then I realised while I was thinking about it that the section is unnecessary, that it just bogs things down. If you take it out it changes nothing (except the reader's time is no longer wasted). And better still, the thought of it going doesn't bother me, so that's a good sign.<br />
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At 1667 a day, Monday needed to have me at 10,002 words. Somehow, with a strong start to this November, I was sitting at 15,293. This is a massive confidence boost, and as with last years story <b>UTOPIA FOR PEARS</b>, I have a lot in my head, so I don't think I should hit any lulls. </div>
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<b><u>DAY SEVEN - 2100</u></b><br />
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Busy day today so words were a little slow at getting to page, but a splurge around lunch time took me close to the daily 1667 and then a nice gap in the afternoon coupled with a brand new tangent in a scene carried me over the 2000. I'm about to cross the line now away from my original attempts of this story, so looking forward to seeing what happens next. I have a plan, but it's all uncharted. </div>
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<b><u>DAY EIGHT - 3194</u></b><br />
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Another day of early writing, plus a half day from work allowed me to get some good writing time in. I meant to stop around 2000, but an idea for a scene kept me going and I rolled over 3000 just before dinner time.<br />
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My target for crossing 20,000 was November 12th. Now at 20,587, I've managed to cross it 4 days early. Again; I wish I could write this strong outside of one month a year.</div>
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And that's it for now as I start the second week of NaNo 2017. I'm stronger than any NaNo I've done before (just) and I feel like I've got enough 'Imagination Fuel' to keep going and not hit any road blocks.</div>
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How are you all doing? Is this your first time, or are you a seasoned pro? Let me know in the comments below, and remember to keep writing.</div>
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See you in seven.</div>
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<br />Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-32788391737420592772017-11-01T12:58:00.000+00:002017-11-01T21:20:42.540+00:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 09: "NaNoWriMo 2017 - Day 1"<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, NaNoWriMo 2017 has started.</div>
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It's early days (the earliest) but I've started and that's what matters.</div>
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So far, on SUPERGOD!</div>
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In my planning I've written several chapters previously, and keep changing my mind which one is '<i>Chapter One</i>'. Today I finally settled on one and it feels right. Previous attempts were always the start of the first third of the novel, but now I've got it planned in a bit more detail, it makes sense to open where I have. Of course anything can change before this hits readers minds, but for now, I'm happy.</div>
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<b><u>DAY ONE - 1819 words</u></b></div>
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I'd written this scene before where our main character Gareth Dunsford was introduced. He works at Megamovies video store and has a strange encounter that, unknown to him straight away, will change his life in some really cool and crazy ways.<br />
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In previous attempts of both this scene and the story, I've written in first person. This led to Gareth being a funnier (to himself at least) and bitter character. I'd always thought this story would be first person but was surprised when I sat at my keyboard today and found that I started in third person instead. And so far (two scenes) it feels better. Gareth feels more like I want him to be, and in turn he helps the book become more like what I want from it. Fingers crossed it works out.<br />
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And I not only hit the good old 1667, but went a little over. Nothing feels better during NaNoWriMo than having extra words in the bank.<br />
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That's all for now. November 1st almost snuck up on me this year (busy week last week and then off work with mild kidney stone pain). But I got started and now it's 29 more days to see what comes out of my idea.<br />
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Let me know in the comments or on twitter (@BrianSCreek) how you're doing and shout out your word counts.<br />
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Next weeks update with be a little fuller.<br />
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See you in seven.</div>
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Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099751657691973534.post-87937766618575634832017-10-25T10:00:00.000+01:002017-10-25T17:16:38.153+01:00(vol 4) CHAPTER 08: "NaNoWriMo - This Writers Holiday"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I may now have my first book out, and I may have a mountain of 1st drafts, but it doesn't stop me from getting excited when this time of year comes round. NaNoWriMo, and all the new characters, new locations, and new plot twists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">November is almost the equivalent of a holiday. All my projects are like 'my place of work' with deadlines, cover design, planning, editing. But NaNoWriMo is a secluded hotel on a little known Greek island; just me, a loose plan, and 30 days of unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A QUICK HISTORY OF MY NANO</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I first started taking part in NaNoWriMo back in 2007. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd stumbled upon it by chance and it was more of a 'I'll have a go' than a serious wish to be a published writer. I'd struggled for years to finish a project and NaNo was just another half hearted attempt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I was as surprised as anyone when I managed to cross that 50,000 word finish line on my first attempt. I ended the month with a first draft novel in my hands. Not an outline. Not just the first few chapters. Not a short story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">50,000 words. And I'd managed it in 30 days. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Impressive, no?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So eventually, I became hooked and since then I've written and uploaded <u>400,280</u> words across 10 NaNo's, as well as <u>42,354</u> words for a couple of July CampNaNos.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-erm0pJGdfHE/WdtZxfW42uI/AAAAAAAAVtc/g9NCJ2aZcJolpzhqYI5OqmNu4bff_kchACLcBGAs/s1600/NaNoWriMo%2BResults.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="118" data-original-width="330" height="114" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-erm0pJGdfHE/WdtZxfW42uI/AAAAAAAAVtc/g9NCJ2aZcJolpzhqYI5OqmNu4bff_kchACLcBGAs/s320/NaNoWriMo%2BResults.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2007</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Death Is Just A Day Job - 50,162</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2008</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Adventures Of Maxwell Cooper - 0</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What A Hero Wants - 50,160</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I Am Broken - 57,149</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2011</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Adventures Of Maxwell Cooper - 15,150</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2012</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dead Dollars - 2,173</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mighty Grey (Season One) - 58,185</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>2014 (Camp)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tattoo: The Symbol For Strength - 20,460</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fractured Dawn (Season One) - 52,154</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>2015 (Camp)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Chris And Mike vs The World (1) - 21,894</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chris And Mike vs The World (2-3) - 51,113</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Utopia For Pears - 64,034</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2017</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t70O2HqwwZ0/WdtamGjRYqI/AAAAAAAAVtk/NVAs6U3PRdchh8_I8oeTvpEK1ZuY-OKLwCLcBGAs/s1600/NaNo-2017-Participant-Facebook-Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="147" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t70O2HqwwZ0/WdtamGjRYqI/AAAAAAAAVtk/NVAs6U3PRdchh8_I8oeTvpEK1ZuY-OKLwCLcBGAs/s400/NaNo-2017-Participant-Facebook-Cover.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THIS YEAR'S PROJECT IS . . .</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what will I be writing this year?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well I originally thought, as I headed into my second decade of NaNoing, that maybe I could go back to one of my previous 1st drafts and attempt a rewrite. But NaNo is, for me, all about getting that first draft down. Rewriting is editing and should have time and care given to it. Not November.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I decided against.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next I looked at two previous NaNo's that never got close to the 50,000 finish line. <b>DEAD DOLLARS</b> failed because I was in a low point in my life and had a lot going on (job redundancy, house move, and child's early birth are top of that list). <b>THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL COOPER</b> failed (twice) because . . . well I still don't know why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because they are both fails, I worry that they will hang like an albatross around my neck. I think they will need to be dealt with when I have the time and patience to untangle them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I decided against these too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, I looked through my mountain of notebooks, going through all the unwritten projects I have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was <b>SAND POINT</b>, an expansion of a 300 word story I put up at The Angry Hourglass a couple of years ago. It's a big project, one that spans decades, and it will need a hell of a lot of planning, so that was taken back off the table. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was fantasy/sci-fi project <b>THE 13th CLAN</b>, which is also quite a large project. I've been planning this one on/off since before I even knew what NaNoWriMo was and am struggling to find a good starting point, so it has been left for another time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then a forgotten project poked it's head up, one I'd started last year and left behind by mistake. <b>SUPERGOD</b>; the story of a guy fed up with the world and then finds he's been given incredible superpowers. And while he eventually becomes a world renowned super hero, the source of his powers comes back to bite him in the ass. It's been begging to be written for some time now and I feel like I'm ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus this years NaNo theme is . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">. . . so that has to be a sign, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one. This one IS for NaNo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>COUNTING DOWN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, it's one week to go. I'll be fine tuning the details in my spare time and getting a Scrivener file ready, but I'm going in with a loose plot and seeing what comes out on December 1st. Just like I do every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me know if you guys are joining in this year and what you're working on. Send me a Writer Buddy request over on the NaNo site <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/participants/brian-s-creek" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that's all really. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll be posting regular weekly updates every Wednesday through November; word counts, writing disasters, and other non-spoilery stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that it's all about rounding out the year with work on my next project (more on that in a few weeks) and then planning 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until then . . . get writing.</span></div>
Brian S Creekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518361385062574614noreply@blogger.com0