Here's the Alternate/Original Version to the end of Chapter 15 of Imperium et Libertas. The scene at the end is one I still want to have somewhere but I posted it anyway so don't be surprised if I rewrite it elsewhere. Enjoy. Rawrs!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Too Must Fallout?
I had a funny-ish dream this morning. It was a mix of present modern times and Fallout. The thing I remember at the beginning is that I was in an assembly room either at a college or a city hall. There some big meeting going to happen about something and there was a large screen set up to watch some sort of projector video. I was with my friend Will and his girlfriend (one that apparently my mind made up because he's single O.o; ). And he got all upset. He was sitting almost bleacher style, just a little above in the row directly behind me. His eyes kept moving to the right of him. When I asked what was wrong he says, "Benny's here."
In the dream that brought back the memories of my dream self. Benny, yeah I knew Benny. I knew why Will was upset about Benny being there, too. "It doesn't matter."
"He shot you!"
Then his girlfriend looked all surprised and goes, "you mean she's the Courier." Apparently the Courier had become a big news thing lately but no one could figure out who she was. I don't know if in my dream it had to do with a Chip or if there was some other reason the dream Benny shot me.
"Well, somebody has to be." I muttered and looked over to where Benny was sitting. He immediately caught my gaze and gave me this big charismatic smile, which I actually returned. Then we started to talk, banter back and forth. I wish I could remember what was said because it was really funny. We were flirting with each other.
Then the people who had called the meeting of the --town, college, whatever the fuck?-- came in and started the showing. I don't remember what was talked about. When it was over I intended to catch up with Benny and talk to him, but he slipped through the crowd and disappeared. I was disappointed.
Later I was with my friend Tsugi and we were at an old building. This was apparently a place we had been to before and were surprised when we suddenly found a group of ghouls living there. At first we got into an argument because they wanted us to go away, but we argued and said this had been our place to hang out for a very long time and we could share it. So we agreed to stay out of each other's way, which got really difficult because for some reason I started getting this terrible crush on one of them.
Time passed apparently and suddenly I was in the passenger seat of a dream-friend's car and they pulled into the driveway of this old house with a worn wooden fence around it. I got the feeling we weren't supposed to be there because she told me to make it quick and that she wanted to get out of there. I grabbed my backpack (which is weird because I don't use backpacks) and jumped out and went through the gate beside the house into the back area. When I got back there the dream house had the backyard of where I actually live now, and I got the impression I had lived here once but had moved recently and someone else moved in. In that "backyard" which was more like this huge piece of land that belonged to the house, was the building that me and Tsugi always hung out in. When I entered that building I noticed that a lot of our stuff was still there and I started to collect it, but not before I left a note, written in sharpie, for the Ghouls that stayed there. In the dream they had two places that they stayed and I had happened to come back when they were in the other place so I couldn't talk to them.
I wrote to them saying that if they needed any help to come find me. There were three lines but I can't remember the third. I then left it on the table near the step ladder that led up to the second floor, hoping they'd see it. I actually think the real reason in my dream for returning there was not to get our stuff but to see them and I was really sad they were gone and that I couldn't stay and wait for them.
On the way out I realized that I heard voices and dream-friend was talking to someone on the otherside of the gate, owner? maybe. The memory that there had been some sort of murder lately cropped up in my mind, but I don't know if I knew anything about it personally, was looking into it, or perhaps had even caused it. Before I could go back through the gate I woke up. Never did find out if I got together with my dream-ghoul. (Haha, that can have two meanings!)
In the dream that brought back the memories of my dream self. Benny, yeah I knew Benny. I knew why Will was upset about Benny being there, too. "It doesn't matter."
"He shot you!"
Then his girlfriend looked all surprised and goes, "you mean she's the Courier." Apparently the Courier had become a big news thing lately but no one could figure out who she was. I don't know if in my dream it had to do with a Chip or if there was some other reason the dream Benny shot me.
"Well, somebody has to be." I muttered and looked over to where Benny was sitting. He immediately caught my gaze and gave me this big charismatic smile, which I actually returned. Then we started to talk, banter back and forth. I wish I could remember what was said because it was really funny. We were flirting with each other.
Then the people who had called the meeting of the --town, college, whatever the fuck?-- came in and started the showing. I don't remember what was talked about. When it was over I intended to catch up with Benny and talk to him, but he slipped through the crowd and disappeared. I was disappointed.
Later I was with my friend Tsugi and we were at an old building. This was apparently a place we had been to before and were surprised when we suddenly found a group of ghouls living there. At first we got into an argument because they wanted us to go away, but we argued and said this had been our place to hang out for a very long time and we could share it. So we agreed to stay out of each other's way, which got really difficult because for some reason I started getting this terrible crush on one of them.
Time passed apparently and suddenly I was in the passenger seat of a dream-friend's car and they pulled into the driveway of this old house with a worn wooden fence around it. I got the feeling we weren't supposed to be there because she told me to make it quick and that she wanted to get out of there. I grabbed my backpack (which is weird because I don't use backpacks) and jumped out and went through the gate beside the house into the back area. When I got back there the dream house had the backyard of where I actually live now, and I got the impression I had lived here once but had moved recently and someone else moved in. In that "backyard" which was more like this huge piece of land that belonged to the house, was the building that me and Tsugi always hung out in. When I entered that building I noticed that a lot of our stuff was still there and I started to collect it, but not before I left a note, written in sharpie, for the Ghouls that stayed there. In the dream they had two places that they stayed and I had happened to come back when they were in the other place so I couldn't talk to them.
I wrote to them saying that if they needed any help to come find me. There were three lines but I can't remember the third. I then left it on the table near the step ladder that led up to the second floor, hoping they'd see it. I actually think the real reason in my dream for returning there was not to get our stuff but to see them and I was really sad they were gone and that I couldn't stay and wait for them.
On the way out I realized that I heard voices and dream-friend was talking to someone on the otherside of the gate, owner? maybe. The memory that there had been some sort of murder lately cropped up in my mind, but I don't know if I knew anything about it personally, was looking into it, or perhaps had even caused it. Before I could go back through the gate I woke up. Never did find out if I got together with my dream-ghoul. (Haha, that can have two meanings!)
Top Advice for Writers
I'm not exactly the greatest expert and I think that even the most talented at writing is always learning. Although there are a few things that help greatly in the pursuit of good writing.
1. Read, a lot! Nothing helps your ability as a writer than to read books and lots of them. It gives your brain many styles to study as well as expand your vocabulary, which is necessary for good writing. No you don't have to use huge words that most people have to grab the dictionary for, but it would be nice for variety and sometimes some words that seem like they mean the same thing actually don't. Subtle differences can make a huge impact on what you want to say. It can come out completely right or terribly wrong if you won't use the right words and understand the true definitions of them instead of what most people think a work means.
2. Write a lot. Obviously. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs just like you can't write a great story without writing a whole lot of bad ones. I've been writing since I was in the first grade (oh my god, so long ago) and looking back on a lot of my writing, even some that I did in high school that I thought was top notch -- really wasn't. I just laugh though and that's all you can do. There's no need to berate yourself and go "I was so stupid" or tell yourself that you can't write. If you can't write that well, get better. If you really want to write that is. If you have a passion do it and don't let anyone ever try to stop you. Writing is something that is both an inborn talent (some people just can do it without effort) and a learned one (because some people have a love for it but suck at the beginning).
3. Don't write for money. Money is great. Money pays bills and changes the litter in the litter box but it doesn't feed your heart. If the only reason you want to write is because you think it will make some quick money please don't. It diminishes those of us that work our asses off for what we have and love every minute of every word we pen (or type). If you're looking for a job that pays money go be a doctor or lawyer and free up some space for the writers that actually deserve attention.
4. Pay attention in English/Grammar class. For the love of God if you want to write please learn how to do it properly. I don't know how many people I meet that are like "i R gunna b writerzz lol." Uhm, no, you are going to look like a big fool, no matter how many people say they love your 20 chapter story. Each chapter I might note being only a few paragraphs long and having no merit or plot whatsoever. Of course there are writers like this that write 15 page long chapters that are equally wrought with errors and make my eyes (and probably others, too) bleed.
5. When a new person speaks: NEW PARAGRAPH. Never, and I mean never, have two people talking in one paragraph. There is not an exception to this rule. The ONLY time I can see it being acceptable is when its not exactly speech and more when multiple people are talking at the same time. Like "Holy crap!"/"Damn" They said at the same time. I still get annoyed with this. It just depends upon the way the scene is written if it can fit in and look okay. This is an automatic rejection for me. I don't care how good your story is in plot, if you can't do this and you force people to read huge blocks of writing you need to go back to elementary school English class.
6. Learn your tenses. I hate reading something like this: He grabs her hand and pulled her away. It should be: He grabbed her hand and pulled her away. Or: He grabs her hand and pulls her away. Maintain consistent tense.
7. Same goes for POV. There are many kinds. 1st person is where you speak from an I point of view. "I ran away." Then there is second person which is "You ran away." Third person is "She ran away." So on, etc. The most popular one seen is the Third Person POV.
8. Punctuation. Yeah, I know punctuation is hard. All those .... and then the ,,,, with the ; and the : oh and the -text- and the (text). Its hard to tell what goes where. Later I may write a little treatis on punctuation but to be honest even I have trouble with it. But if you learn the basics it goes a long way. No one will hold it against you if you don't know some of the more complicated rules but you could at least learn how to use commas and periods right. (Oh, and I don't care who those people are that say that they changed how many spaces go after a period, its still 2 to me. That's the way I was taught.)
9. Research your topic. Even science fiction and fantasy can be based in fact. Things aren't magically the way they are just because you want them to be. If you are writing a story about biologists make sure you study biologists. If you are writing a story about the government learn about politics and the way the system works. It makes the story more enjoyable, realistic, and easier to read. Being a writer is like any other job, its work! But it can be fun work if you really love it.
10. Love your topic. Write about things you know or things you want to learn. Love the kind of content you write. For instance, if you like zombies don't write about romance, unless of course you like zombie romance. Whatever floats your boat. You will find that the more you have fun with your work the better it will become, the happier you will be. Many times a reader can sense how miserable a writer is by how they write a story. Or at least I can. So yes, Love is the number one ingredient for a good story!
Erm, I think that's all for now. At a later date I may go through and clean this up and edit it, but I think this is good. I hope this helps.
1. Read, a lot! Nothing helps your ability as a writer than to read books and lots of them. It gives your brain many styles to study as well as expand your vocabulary, which is necessary for good writing. No you don't have to use huge words that most people have to grab the dictionary for, but it would be nice for variety and sometimes some words that seem like they mean the same thing actually don't. Subtle differences can make a huge impact on what you want to say. It can come out completely right or terribly wrong if you won't use the right words and understand the true definitions of them instead of what most people think a work means.
2. Write a lot. Obviously. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs just like you can't write a great story without writing a whole lot of bad ones. I've been writing since I was in the first grade (oh my god, so long ago) and looking back on a lot of my writing, even some that I did in high school that I thought was top notch -- really wasn't. I just laugh though and that's all you can do. There's no need to berate yourself and go "I was so stupid" or tell yourself that you can't write. If you can't write that well, get better. If you really want to write that is. If you have a passion do it and don't let anyone ever try to stop you. Writing is something that is both an inborn talent (some people just can do it without effort) and a learned one (because some people have a love for it but suck at the beginning).
3. Don't write for money. Money is great. Money pays bills and changes the litter in the litter box but it doesn't feed your heart. If the only reason you want to write is because you think it will make some quick money please don't. It diminishes those of us that work our asses off for what we have and love every minute of every word we pen (or type). If you're looking for a job that pays money go be a doctor or lawyer and free up some space for the writers that actually deserve attention.
4. Pay attention in English/Grammar class. For the love of God if you want to write please learn how to do it properly. I don't know how many people I meet that are like "i R gunna b writerzz lol." Uhm, no, you are going to look like a big fool, no matter how many people say they love your 20 chapter story. Each chapter I might note being only a few paragraphs long and having no merit or plot whatsoever. Of course there are writers like this that write 15 page long chapters that are equally wrought with errors and make my eyes (and probably others, too) bleed.
5. When a new person speaks: NEW PARAGRAPH. Never, and I mean never, have two people talking in one paragraph. There is not an exception to this rule. The ONLY time I can see it being acceptable is when its not exactly speech and more when multiple people are talking at the same time. Like "Holy crap!"/"Damn" They said at the same time. I still get annoyed with this. It just depends upon the way the scene is written if it can fit in and look okay. This is an automatic rejection for me. I don't care how good your story is in plot, if you can't do this and you force people to read huge blocks of writing you need to go back to elementary school English class.
6. Learn your tenses. I hate reading something like this: He grabs her hand and pulled her away. It should be: He grabbed her hand and pulled her away. Or: He grabs her hand and pulls her away. Maintain consistent tense.
7. Same goes for POV. There are many kinds. 1st person is where you speak from an I point of view. "I ran away." Then there is second person which is "You ran away." Third person is "She ran away." So on, etc. The most popular one seen is the Third Person POV.
8. Punctuation. Yeah, I know punctuation is hard. All those .... and then the ,,,, with the ; and the : oh and the -text- and the (text). Its hard to tell what goes where. Later I may write a little treatis on punctuation but to be honest even I have trouble with it. But if you learn the basics it goes a long way. No one will hold it against you if you don't know some of the more complicated rules but you could at least learn how to use commas and periods right. (Oh, and I don't care who those people are that say that they changed how many spaces go after a period, its still 2 to me. That's the way I was taught.)
9. Research your topic. Even science fiction and fantasy can be based in fact. Things aren't magically the way they are just because you want them to be. If you are writing a story about biologists make sure you study biologists. If you are writing a story about the government learn about politics and the way the system works. It makes the story more enjoyable, realistic, and easier to read. Being a writer is like any other job, its work! But it can be fun work if you really love it.
10. Love your topic. Write about things you know or things you want to learn. Love the kind of content you write. For instance, if you like zombies don't write about romance, unless of course you like zombie romance. Whatever floats your boat. You will find that the more you have fun with your work the better it will become, the happier you will be. Many times a reader can sense how miserable a writer is by how they write a story. Or at least I can. So yes, Love is the number one ingredient for a good story!
Erm, I think that's all for now. At a later date I may go through and clean this up and edit it, but I think this is good. I hope this helps.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
You Should Really Get Out More
Chapter 10 of Liberatus isn't going exactly the way I want it, too. Well, okay, it is but I'm frustrated with the writing. It might have something to do with how I feel like I'm rushing it, but I don't want to spend a heck of a lot of time with the Boomers. I've already gotten about 4 or so chapters worth of stuff with them technically. I hope it will get better next chapter. There's really nothing more I can do on Chapter 10 so I think I'll just finish it up and post it. If I really hate it later I can go back and make some changes, add some details. Sheesh.
And the least my X-Box can do is be nice to be when I'm frustrated with my writing -- like NOT forcing me to have to do a hard restart when it freezes in the middle of a mission. Thanks, asshole. I'm glad it autosaved right before it froze or I would have been super pissed. E tu, New Vegas!?
And the least my X-Box can do is be nice to be when I'm frustrated with my writing -- like NOT forcing me to have to do a hard restart when it freezes in the middle of a mission. Thanks, asshole. I'm glad it autosaved right before it froze or I would have been super pissed. E tu, New Vegas!?
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