tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52097192012-02-16T12:28:44.777-07:00Here is where miscellaneous items will be posted. All content on this blog is Copyright as of date of post A. Shelton.A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-33029111323998365832010-06-02T20:47:00.003-06:002010-06-02T20:51:43.051-06:00

Here's a snippet from my WIP inspired by the bit I posted yesterday. Thanks a lot Justin . . .----------He scooted his feet forward. Yes, he should drown himself. The river would carry him away, so nobody would have to take care of his body. His life meant nothing to everyone here. It didn't really mean anything to him any more. His toes curled over the edge of the bridge's wall. Yes, he

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-64963732219712527802010-06-01T08:36:00.002-06:002010-06-01T08:46:31.651-06:00

Today's exercise: Today, create a word, any word, from a foriegn noun to a proper name, then create a background for that word and use it in a short passage.you never know where it might lead.And what I came up with: My word: anyit.He grew up a lonely child because his mother not only named him after the worst thing she could have, she'd had it Sealed to him as a child so the could not abandon it

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-35608057748505944542010-05-11T23:04:00.002-06:002010-05-11T23:08:43.798-06:00

Okay, today's exercise on FM was being a reporter reporting on an alternate reality world's occurance, lifting a bit from history. Considering my main nonfiction reading interest, I chose Hitler as a watercolor painter in Germany. Here's how it went:I push my hair out of my face as a gust of wind hits me. I look around, because it smells like rain, and, yes, there are clouds gathering.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-54223639653969201862010-05-07T11:35:00.003-06:002010-05-07T11:44:35.884-06:00

This is a scene with Qawra-Pol, before she became Ferodoxis's most famous person. I wrote this in response to todays Justin's Exercise, which asked about poisonous plants. I thought it fitting, especially since the exercise's suggestion inspired one of the reasons why whistlegrass is so dangerous. ------Whistlegrass. Whether made flexible by winter's rains or hardened by summer's sun, it was

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-81915098073648946382010-05-05T02:22:00.003-06:002010-05-05T02:25:54.896-06:00

Well, since I'm going to be doing my best to keep up with as many of Justin's Exercises on Forward Motion, I've decided to resurrect this blog as well. You'll notice a link to the second blog in this trilogy of Pen and Keyboard, but that one's pretty much defunct at the moment. I'm not removing it--and I'll be adding it to P&KI--because I just may need it again at some point.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-90775234775119311982007-04-17T13:08:00.000-06:002007-04-17T13:10:39.797-06:00

It now has its own blog. I decided that since I'd probably be spending quite a bit of time ranting about it (when I work on it), It had better have its own place. You'll find the link on the left, with my other blogs' links.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-47773412703790204682007-04-17T11:40:00.000-06:002007-04-17T11:45:55.273-06:00

And in its place is now a third project. TPoC moved because I made some changes to Ferodoxis, and it suddenly fit. In its place is Pililani's Chosen, a set of Tandem novels that take place on the Mistworld, in the Heartland. I'm probably going to restart Chosen, mainly because I have so many characters, and I want their stories to begin all at the same time.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-28417693754049336962006-10-19T12:27:00.004-06:002010-05-05T02:22:05.772-06:00

This is a poem I wrote for yesterday's exercise on Forward Motion. BENO you have a bloody look!When it I saw, I terribly shook.And what do you want of me?Wait just a moment, while I pee.Now what is it you'd like to say?I see blood on you lips, please don't spray.I must forewarn you, Vampire Lord,Your silence is making me quite bored.Out with it now; must I shout?Or will that put you in a pout?Yes

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-21191265656116492822006-10-19T12:02:00.000-06:002006-10-19T12:06:18.755-06:00

I've reached 5,000, as you can see by the counter I've added on the right. I now have an antagonist, name of Lapis in my story. wheeI've also added a new link, to a writers' site that's just started. It's called A Novel Thought, and the link will bring you to the index where you can create a login. The site needs members, so I encourage you to visit. The more people who sign in and have fun,

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-73052638019892081092006-10-16T00:40:00.000-06:002006-10-16T00:55:42.325-06:00

I've got a little over 2500 words on my new WIP. Tomorrow, I'll see if I can write more and take it a bit further and see where it goes. wheeI'm doing worldbuilding as I go on this one. It's turning out very Egyptian with some hints of Japanese. I've got the same god operating for two different religious systems, and it's already proving interesting. After MC (not POV character) was dragged from

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-21671572070135261762006-10-15T13:00:00.000-06:002006-10-15T13:26:09.638-06:00

My Muses, having decided to take a break from my main WIP, have been working to give me some ideas. They were inspired by someone else's writing on Forward Motion. You'll have to sign in and go to the workshops and exercises board and look for, I think, Day 1954. In any case, look for the exercise on telepathy. It should be near the top. The exercise is about a man and his Familiar, a rat.The

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1083865437617916572004-05-06T11:43:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.527-07:00

I think I know what I'm going to do with the ideas working titled "Darkness So Clear." Instead of following Guen from her point of view, I'm going to follow her from various other points of view. For example, a chapter in a farmer's pov, then another from a shopkeeper's pov, etc. I don't want the reader to know precisely what she's thinking, and when she reaches Vassly, I'll follow her with

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1080175908000427672004-03-24T17:51:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.552-07:00

Haven't been doing much writing. I've gotten a map of Katriega started and need to start writing down the ideas and impressions its given me. Haven't been working on Heidi and Mem's story again. It's there. I know it is. It just won't come out. Oh, well. I checked out a few books on fashion from the library and they've given me some ideas for fashions. I need to either get copies done

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1077310133961785502004-02-20T13:48:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.565-07:00

I'm focusing on Katriega--the country with all the dogs and the four human races. I started the catch-up progress on it at midnight--I've gotten a little ahead on THoL (see Pen & Keyboard I). I opened the one specifically labelled 1A--I do that so I know exactly which one I'm working on, particularly if I've started more than one draft while seeking a good beginning. It had only one chapter.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1077069029765693562004-02-17T18:50:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.575-07:00

Okay. The god-story thing seems to have turned a bit. I'm going to be focusing on the god who really needs the attention. What fun. I've started building a world for my four human races (finally). These populations have been looking for a place to live ever since I began writing (around 1990). Now they have that place, and it's combining with dog breeding and magic and a "what if" idea that

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1073848562687651302004-01-11T12:16:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.649-07:00

What would happen if a god defected? What if he left his world, in an effort to learn what it was really like to be mortal? What if he was the god who personified, and controlled, chance? Well, I think the world would become an extremely peaceful place to live. Yuck. Bo-ring. Well, what if that god settled on earth--yeah, he crossed over our planet--and I'm still in backstory here. heh

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1073518371756302102004-01-07T16:32:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.659-07:00

Ingredients: 1. Two weeks physical exhaustion 2. Two weeks emotional exhaustion 3. Two Salvation Army Bells with problems keeping themselves together 4. One Major Holiday 5. One-half emotional breakdown 6. Stress to taste 7. Five Muses 8. Three to Five Fantasy Realms Blend ingredients 1-6 well in writer's life. Let stand for one Major Shopping Day. Mixture will begin to ferment. When mixture

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1060053805686750012003-08-04T21:23:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.674-07:00

I intend to write a little tomorrow. I want to get at least 2000 words down before I leave. I left Adelaide in the middle of a debate about whether or not it would be worth it to do as Téoshan and his brother want. whee I may switch it to Marion's pov . . . I haven't decided if the brothers have guards or magical wards up. Adelaide will have some trouble getting out, either way, I think.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1059270665271299792003-07-26T19:51:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.686-07:00

Haven't written on this in a few days. Still a little stuck on a couple things I think, but I've gotten most of the "rescue" scene worked out, I think. I'll have Adelaide go in as the hired mage and do her thing and leave. I will write tomorrow. I can feel the story scratching to get out . . . but I've known worse sensations. I think.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1059160074887914912003-07-25T13:07:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.702-07:00

I'm stuck. I don't know if I should go ahead and have Adelaide go and do something, or drag it out into a roundabout third-party thing. *sigh* I kind of like the idea of Ymaldeyv being hired by Yanav and Téoshan to change the geas on Marion so she won't kill them as Melchior wants her to. Not that it'll work. Ymaldeyv isn't as formidable as Melchior, magically speaking, and his skills in

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1059112971185479662003-07-25T00:02:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.714-07:00

Damn. It's too late to write now, but I do know where I want to start off the next chapter--I think. And it's an unexpected turn. I don't know exactly what's going to happen because Adelaide's not easy to predict. Maybe I'll have a better idea of what's going on tomorrow, or she'll change her mind sometime during the course of the night. Right. I'm not counting on it, but I'm not sure what

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1058998356679733992003-07-23T16:12:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.722-07:00

At just over 11k right now, and Koah's gone and asked Jordana if she can help him by spying on his son LÈander. whee Unexpected twists are wonderful. I'm glad this plot's building the way it is, because I'd move it along to fast otherwise. At least I think I know who the antagonist is, though, even if I'm not looking at things from his own pov. LÈander has instigated this hole mess. He's

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1058846262841277772003-07-21T21:57:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.730-07:00

I broke 10K! *dancing in chair* Right now, Mem's in an alleyway, so I have to get back to her problem, but it's carried me all the way to 10,164 words. *giddy*

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1058713913247655812003-07-20T09:11:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.739-07:00

Did not break 10k like I hoped to last night. Debating whether or not I have enough of a mind right now to get back into the WIP. I've marked the infodump chapter for revision/scrapping in my RO, but I haven't done anything in the rough draft yet. I'll do that when I do the rewrite, but the red font is doing fine by reminding me that chapter's got to GO. LOL Been thinking about Velara's

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1058650884401384542003-07-19T15:41:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.751-07:00

I broke 8k on "AToS" last night. whee The title will definitely be changed, I can feel it. I just haven't come across a suitable phrase yet. I'm finding out that Koah's getting more appreances than I originally thought. He's not a happy person, but he's found out his son Revandor's proving to be a better heir than LÈander (the current Heir) is. Unfortunately, LÈander has enough support

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1058117608017762192003-07-13T11:33:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.765-07:00

I hit a block on _A Touch of Shadow_ and popped into HL chat for a bit asking for advice. I don't think I was very clear, but Yvonne (I think that's who helped me) did help. I was really just putting the problem out there for myself, but I appreciated the help. Thus far, the chapters are running: 1. Jordana's diary entry to establish the behind-the-scenes machinations. 2. Marion's pov as

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1057618199993434532003-07-07T16:49:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.773-07:00

Yesterday (when I lost my job), the pieces to Heidi and Mem's story finally settled into place. I'd written a bit in Marion's 1st pov, and that gave me the pivotal point that brought it all together. Wish I had a way to post the result of that sudden brainstorm so you could see it. LOL It's a convoluted thing and the only way I can really get a handle on it is if I look at the "map" of the

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-1057097551540149532003-07-01T16:12:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.781-07:00

Nothing very solid for Mistworld's stories yet. I'm trying to nail down the other countries/continents outside of the Heartland. I may well map the sucker . . . Hmmm. Do know exactly what's going on with Vassly's story--when I get to it. He'll die, but he'll do what needs to be done. This realization, by the way, is thanks to a Zettercize (I didn't participate) posted on HL.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-954814962003-06-09T15:37:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.788-07:00

From now on, this blog will be devoted entirely to the world on which Mem, Heidi, and various others live upon--I saw no reason to continue mixing things up between main WIP and all when I could just sort them into their respective worlds. No writing on anything yet . . . except a something that wants to be a short story but isn't yet--about Blodwen in training. :) Very determined wench, she

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-945178532003-05-17T19:18:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.797-07:00

Surprise, surprise. Nothing on this one. I may restart it again. The more I get to know Mem, the more interesting she becomes. I'll have to reread it to see what I'm going to do. I don't like parts of the first chapter, anyway. And I think Heidi's abilities with magic shouldn't come from her point of view. They're harder to explain in some ways. By the same token, I don't want to go into

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-925894042003-04-14T10:07:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:07:47.807-07:00

Going to write on this. I need to get the next thousand in, and I'm looking forward to the coming scenes. I'm still trying to pin Koah down--I don't know if they manage to kill him, or if he's spirited off to Shadow Hold yet. It could go either way, so long as he's not left in control of Malvesse any longer. I know, too, why Heidi had no memories. Koah's blocked them off; he doesn't want

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-920566152003-04-05T14:23:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.816-07:00

I completed one 1,000 word chapter the other day, which means I can let it slack for a time. Well, the chapter's not complete, but I did do 1096 words in the chapter, and my goal is for four chapters in eight weeks. In the process, I've determined that the Sensitivity spoken of primarily concerns awareness of other life, not empathy, as I had originally intended. I'm not empathic. It's

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-919400402003-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.828-07:00

I'm still trying to figure out a good way to explain how an assassin got subdued by untrained bandits. The only mage the group had was in the cave, and Heidi's firespell found him pretty soon in the timeline of the battle--good mages don't connect everyone's shields in a chainlike manner to each other. They make an individual shield for each person. I read most of yesterday, but I haven't

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-918184332003-04-01T21:07:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.838-07:00

I didn't get to DS tonight. I went out with Mom this afternoon and didn't get to work on my writing until around four this afternoon. I still don't really know what I plan on doing with Heidi and Mem's story. All I know is I need to do 132 words tomorrow for it. Tired. Going to go to bed now. Whee. Maybe I'll have an idea tomorrow. Unfortunately, I won't be able to write much.

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-917622152003-03-31T23:46:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.847-07:00

I AM DONE!!! I'm done the Reverse Outlines for both my WIPS. Now I can go to bed and try to plan what to do next w/A&M tomorrow when I get their first 66 words down. Whee. I've left them out in the forest after finishing off a bandit den. I believe I should send them back to the village that hired them so Mem can be accosted by Heidi. tee hee. I'm so cruel. Hey, they both like it! Whee!

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209719.post-916230242003-03-29T16:23:00.000-07:002007-12-11T13:07:47.857-07:00

Adelaide and Marion want me to type a silly "commencement speech" for this. I refuse to; theirs isn't the only story that's going to be talked about here. Whee. I haven't written because I'm trying to get this thing right. Hah. Wish me luck. :)

A. Sheltonnoreply@blogger.com0