Search options (Page 35 of 76)

Big issue about making Alina be the primary villain throughout the entire Anver thread is that they need the crypt open to find Faulter's hidden room, as well as Zyrtec's prank jar.  If I made Alina a common thread for both books, she would have to be undead and aware, messing with Anver as he chased Maalok into the lower levels.

Did Maalok animate Alina and the two murdered students? Yes. But bring them back to a semblance of life and capable of using magic? Ooooo, dunno. Gotta think about that one.

My brain is all twisty now. Maalok is wearing a Horror. That much is revealed in the Shadowbook that Zyrtec left for Anver to find (in Acts). I've just revealed that Horrors are a piece of the Defiler (in Dictates). I've also stated that no one but the Defiler can raise someone from the dead (in Dictates).

Unlike Kenny, I like to follow my own rules. (had to get that jibe in, sorry K). So the question I need to answer is whether or not Maalok can raise the dead. I'm going to say that it is unlikely. Maalok's Horror is based on pride, while Charm is based on vanity (or lust-never commited to that decision). I don't think that Maalok would have the power required, even if he used the death energy of the murdered students.

Don't worry, New Jersey. I'll keep the pace going if Kenny's idea is worth my time. As to a book that intercuts all the threads as they happen, that is the way I used to write this story. I would do one chapter of each book at a time, syncing the stories. It just became a bloated monster, (Acts alone is more than 150K words). I haven't given the synchronous story idea up, but like you said, I have to finish the story first.

The thing I'm facing is that Ernie's reaction isn't a surprise. It has happened once or twice before. There have been a few others that felt kind of betrayed by Acts. Almost as if I'd wasted their time by making them read a book and not resolving the necromancer issue by the end. I'm writing a first draft so things will have to be added as I realize their importance (like mentioning that it isn't possible for someone to have read the entire library), so I think that this is a doable solution to my quandry.

I'm not being vulnerable. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how to finish this story in a way that satisfies. The visual I get is Lucas' ending of the 4th Star Wars segment, with everyone standing around at an awards ceremony and everyone laughing a a cute R2-D2. In other words, the main plot kept running in the background, but the first movie wrapped up with HFN (Happy for Now) satisfaction. (yes, Kenny, I learned that one from you)

I've always been good at telling a story, but finding the ending of a book is something that I've only managed once (with Acts). Ernie's reaction (which I consider valid) could be described as irritation. He has called it the never-ending story more than once.

While I know that I'm not going to satisfy every reader, this is still a valid critique. Largely because of Ernie, I've realized that I need to break Acts into two parts. The first will use the conflict with Alina as the driving action and end near or around the duel. The second book will pick up afterwards and deal with the necromancer presence as Anver figures out who is responsible and then explores the crypt after Alina's death. That way, I'll have a focused villain and a tighter plot line. I'll also have the ability to end each book with the HFN resolution.

I am thinking of adding more irritation on Jaylene's part as a way of helping the reader realize there are changes in store. Behira's mysteries are changing the way Jaylene thinks of her religion. Her Goddess has a few warts and these are becoming visible. There should be more outrage as Jaylene discovers these exceptions...kind of like writing Ernie's reaction into the character.

When I decided to make this the point where Jaylene gets a clue about Alda, it was me making the attempt to start a reveal without having everyone hit themselves (or me) in the head with a brick at the end. i'm still on the fence as to whether or not I've succeeded.

Kenny, I like the idea of having Lewellen mention trying the same feat as Alda and how he could never have that much time. That will be added.

Any thoughts?

Did you get the wave file? I wasn't delaying or ignoring. We've been fighting off lethargy from the recent respiratory bug. I've done nothing but sleep for days.

Don't know what you mean by 'declaiming' other than breaking down this piece into component parts. It isn't in Greek or Latin, and it doesn't cover a legal situation or advice on how a hero should act.

Have to admit, I'm confused. Do you want me to break it down by consonant hits? Because that is what we were talking about before.

Just an update. I've been putting shirt blurbs on my Facebook site. Figured that most of what I was seeing there was regurgitated material that people forward and family scrapbooks with an occasional infomercial and blogs about personal depression and hemorrhoids.

Fresh material...I can do that. After all, I'm a writer, right?

So I started giving updates about my autistic son. Then I started pointing out landmarks on the Ohio turnpike.  The writers conference told me to pick one source of media and do it well. So I don't post a lot of family photos. I try to skip forwarded material. Notable exceptions are things that make me laugh, geek moments, and pictures of things or places I want in my books.

Today, for the first time, someone friended me who I don't know. She is a friend of C's teacher from last year. I don't know what to think of this, except to say that I think what I am writing is of value to someone who is a stranger. Does that mean it has more value? Dunno. However, I think this is a milestone.

(Pats self on back)

Just make it so that he has the pain whenever he tries to activate his sorcery. That way, he is locked in one dimension similar to the girl who Merran's mother landlocked (Pengrit). So his suffering is solely caused by himself. If he doesn't try to use power, then he can eat, drink, and move around. That would drastically extend the length of the spell and keep him under control for a longer time.

It makes sense that Merran would use a similar spell that was a combination of what her mother taught her-with the pain being a little detail that got tagged on just for spite.

I have to say that yacht troubles has never been listed as problems with viewing my work. Poor stressed out yacht guy. And in the winter, too!

Thanks for the heads up and will enjoy whatever time you can spare!

OK, another chapter of Dictates is up. "Eyes That Can See".  I'd toot my own horn, but this one was already mostly written and just needed revision once I knew the specific situation.

Review is up, then.

I could pick on you for being awake right now, but I'll give you a pass for a change.

Rub it in, you Hawaii-living-the-dream guy!

Surprised you didn't take up the new chapterlette in B2.

Good point. I'll get there next.

Getting the ending written down (even though I know it will change) made a huge difference. I know I said it before, but I can't emphasize it enough. I had somewhere to take my characters. It doesn't make the process of writing any easier, but it helps aim you in the right direction.