Current Projects 14

Welcome back!

        March is going to be busy; with two holidays, three birthdays, the end of the fiscal year, tax season, vendor events and work coming in from multiple fronts. I’m going to be pulling my hair out before the month is over! Regardless of work and time constraints, I plan on getting as much writing done as possible.

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Happy

St-Patrick’s Day!

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So March has both St-Patrick’s day and Easter this year, neither of which really inspired me to come up a theme for this month articles. After losing time and being unsuccessful to come up with a suitable theme, I decided to stop questioning myself and simply post content that I had as of yet not associated with any specific topic.

    Which brings me to the first point to be addressed; my blogging. I will be dropping my number of monthly posts from six down to five (and possibly even four). The reason is I simply can’t balance my workload and my personal life. My original plan was to have a first draft of my story completed and ready for review by December, but seeing as we are already March and I only have two full character sheets done out of a possible fifteen, then it just does not seem plausible. Not to mention I still have research to do, setting details to nail down and locations to work on, I am nowhere near ready to get started, much less finish.

My blog’s monthly content will still be the same (book reviews, writing lessons, research, interviews, etc), the only difference being some articles may skip a month. Fortunately after a year of posting, I already have a lot of content to refer to and republish in order to keep generating interest. By reducing my monthly posts, I will free up some time to work on my book and other projects.

Speaking of my other writing projects, my new assignment from Missing Worlds Media is coming along nicely. I have finished my first pass at writing Plot Tokens for the villain storyline and have submitted the final document for review. Presently, I am doing a second pass, this time creating a different set of Tokens meant to give players background information on the story, setting and characters.

Former players of City of Heroes may find these similar to the rewards known as clues or souvenirs which we used to receive during missions. Not everyone took the time to read them, but they were a nice little addition to the game that helped flesh out the CoH lore, and was appreciated by the hardcore Fans, Collectors and Role-Players.

As for my own book, I completed the description sheet of another main character this month; Carter Harris. Without revealing too many details, I can say he is going to be a colorful, yet questionable character in my story. Carter will be a kind of walking contradiction, having powers that won’t fit his personality. It will be interesting to see how he copes with that situation in a storyline. With Carter now completed, I moved on to my next character, the evil henchman named Ivan Maddox.

I was working on a new scene this month, which brought a previously overlooked detail to my attention. My main character Walker is covered in magical writings which, if a section is damaged, will cause certain negative effects to occur. Now, I had a clear idea of what was going to happen in this particular scene and how it would happened, but it dawned on me that this idea needed to be thought through. Being an avid fan of certain franchises, I know how annoying it can be when errors occur in a story (example: say a character is left handed in chapter one, but right handed in chapter twenty). So if I’m going to say Walker has this effect after sustaining this injury, I need to note it down for future reference. This idea, though simple enough at first, turned out to be way more complicated than expected. I suddenly found myself having to note not just one, but over thirty different magic writings, their locations on his body and what effect they would have if destroyed. So long story short, I started a new worksheet entitled “Walker’s Tattoo Map” to keep track of all of this information.

Another small detail; after the loss my first timeline spreadsheet because of my laptop crashing… I finally got around to starting a new one. Though this one already has more characters, locations and items to keep track of.

The comic book project I have been working on since October is almost complete, my part in the project anyway. All copyright sources have been contacted and permissions acquired. The remainder of the project now goes on to the exhibition team, who will design and set up the project. The art exhibition itself, called Alter Ego, is due to take place between May 2nd and october 2nd, 2016. Expect pictures to appear on my blog once it does.

Happy Easter!

That is all I have to report for this month. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to visit my blog, it is truly appreciated. Wishing you all a Happy Easter and St-Patrick’s day! May you all get to indulge in cream-filled chocolate eggs and green beer, just don’t do both at the same time!

Until next time.

Cheer,

            Patrick Osborne

BOOTCAMP LESSON 11: Relationships

Welcome to our monthly writing game!

    In honor of St-Valentine’s day, I decided to create a writing prompt which will help accentuate the importance of relationships within a plot line. The purpose of this exercise is to focus on how different Characters interact with one another, therefore adding depth to the story.

Relationship Triangles

Lesson 11: Character Relationships

Nothing adds more tension to a relationship than a third wheel!

The basics of a story is a plotline which follows the exploits of the main characters as they attempt to resolve a conflict while making their way to their intended goal. The characters are the writer's most important tool, as their interactions help describe everything from their inner thoughts, to the world around them .

The goal of today’s game will be to create Relationship Triangles. Taking three characters, you must create a relationship between them that is believable and sustainable, a task easier said than done.

Rules:

1. Below are eight different character roles, each with their own personality and motivations.
2. Below are three different scenarios, each with their own problematic situation.
3. Select THREE of the mentioned roles to work with.
4. Select ONE of the mentioned scenarios to work with.
5. Using the three selected roles, create a Relationship Triangle.
6. For all three characters, you must explain how they perceive and interact with the other in the scenario you have chosen.

Character Roles:

• Mr. Hero: Central character in a story, whom the reader usually wants/expects to win in the end.
• Personality: Courageous, resolute, honest and  strong willed.
• Motivation: To ensure balance or keep the peace.
• Dr. Villain:  Represents the obstacle or opposing force in a story that must be overcome in order to succeed.
• Personality: Wicked, untrustworthy, determined and back handed.
• Motivation: To take control of his surroundings.
• Ally Sidekick: A character that will always assist, either with actions or information, in order to help the plot progress.
• Personality: Loyal, reliable, helpful and lighthearted.
• Motivation: To support others in their noble acts.
• Goon McHenchman: A character who follows orders from a higher authority, usually on the side of evil.
• Personality: Uneducated, brutish, unwavering and devoted.
• Motivation: To follow the orders they were given.
• Master Mentor: To teach or represent the lesson that must learned within the story in order to achieve the goal.
• Personality: Insightful, wise, patient and selfless.
• Motivation: To share their knowledge with others.
• Rascal Scalawag: Rogue character that can play a role on either side of the moral spectrum, but is usually pursuing their own interest.
• Personality: Manipulative, vulgar, self-centered and lazy.
• Motivation: To achieve their own goal.
• Prof. Thinker: Character who is always rational and likes to give reasonable answers to complicated questions.
• Personality: Intelligent, aloof, eccentric and innovative.
• Motivation: The advancement of science.
• Ms. Romance: Love interest of one or more characters. Is usually seen as the goal in certain stories.
• Personality: Spirited, sensual, affectionate and vain.
• Motivation: Receiving the adoration of others.

Scenarios:

Scenario 1: Deserted Island.

    Being stranded on a deserted island, the characters must live off the land by finding food, water and shelter. Characters may also be forced to fight other survivors for resources if they cannot find a way to cooperate.

Scenario 2: Crime scene.

    Police, SWAT teams and Bomb Squads are all present at a crime scene. Detectives are attempting to uncover the culprit of a crime. How would the characters interact with each other in this situation.

Scenario 3: Space Station.

    The group of characters are stranded on a space station orbiting the Earth. They must work together as a team in order to find a way back home. Will all of them make it back, or will some need to be sacrificed in the endeavour?

If anyone is interested in sharing their entries, feel free to post them as a reply to this article, or send them to me privately. I may create a page for submissions in the future for those who are willing to have their work shared.

Hope you have fun giving this exercise a try. Until next time!

Cheers,

            Patrick Osborne

By the Book: The Time Traveler's Wife

Welcome back!

    This month’s book review marks my first foray into the romance genre. Apprehensive about reading a love story, I decided to make the experience less jarring by finding a novel that had a hint of science fiction to it. The book in question is “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger, and it had me pleasantly entertained (and maybe shed a few tears).

    This book actually came into our possession after the kids brought it home from the library at our campground. Being a fan of the Doctor Who television series, I was attracted to this book by its title. The idea of time travel made the aspect of reading a five hundred page love story much more interesting to a sci-fi fanatic like myself. In the end, I’m glad I gave it a chance, as it turned out to be one of the best stories I ever read.

    “The Time Traveler's Wife” is the debut novel of author Audrey Niffenegger. This book tells the love story of Clare Abshire, a strong-minded artist, and Henry DeTamble, a  resourceful yet troubled librarian. Henry has a genetic disorder known as Chrono-Displacement Disorder, a condition which causes him to time travel unpredictably. The tale examines how an issue like Chrono-Impairment can affect a relationship, exploring themes such as miscommunication, distance, loss, free will and of course, love. Their attempt at a normal relationship, despite dealing with a condition they can’t control, makes for a truly unconventional and original love story.  

Back of the Book:

This is the extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry who met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry thirty. Impossible but true, because Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock periodically resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future. In the face of this force they can neither prevent nor control, Henry and Clare's struggle to lead normal lives is both intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

What I learned from this book:

• Timeline mastery: The story uses alternating first-person perspectives between Henry and Clare. With Henry bouncing back and forth in time, keeping track of historical events from each character's lives is important. I sometimes had a hard time figuring out why a specific character didn’t know certain information, only to realise they were too young at that point in the story. To help the reader keep track, Audrey states the age of each character at the beginning of each chapter (Example: Henry is 43,Clare is 36, etc). I’m sure the author had to make some sort of chart to map everything out on the timeline.
• Chrono-Displacement Disorder: Viewing time travel as a genetic disease was an original approach. Dealing with issues like memory loss, disorientation, medical treatments and inevitable death made it feel like a cross between amnesia, alzheimer's and cancer. It added an extra layer of depth to the story, as well as helping the audience get attached to the characters.
• Foreshadow is a bitch: Being able to move back and forth in time, Henry (and the audience) get to see certain events before they happen. The sad part is, despite knowing the future, Henry comes to the realization that he is powerless to change it. This helps add tension to the story, as readers see devastating events earlier in the story, knowing full well they will inevitably happen later on.
• Wish you were here!: This section is more of an experience than something I learned. The story takes place in some of the more notable locations Chicago, like the Field Museum or the Art Institute Museum. Having been there last summer, I had the unexpected pleasure of being able to envision the scenes as if I was there. This is the first time a book has had this effect on me, and it was a great experience.

Audrey Niffenegger is a professor in the Department of Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago. Published in 2003, “The Time Traveler's Wife” was her debut novel, which became a bestseller after an endorsement on The Today Show. The book was so popular that it became a movie in 2009 (but do yourselves a favor, read the book first).

For those interested in reading more books from Audrey Niffenegger, please check out her website and wiki description, where you can find a listing of her published works and all other pertinent information:

http://www.audreyniffenegger.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Niffenegger

In closing, I would like to thank everyone for the encouragement and for following my blog. And thank you to my wife Linda for the support.

Until next time!

Cheers,

Patrick Osborne

Interview - King Author Royale

Welcome back!

Like my previous writer interviews, I met this month’s author after he replied to one of my requests on Facebook. He not only writes books, but is the founder of a publishing company. So it is my great pleasure to introduce you, King Author Royale.

    When King originally told me the title of his book, I will be honest, I had to look up what hoomomultiamory meant. It is a term I had never heard of before. After reading up on the subject, I gained a deep respect for the man. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been writing a book on such a sensitive subject.

    Even though his subject matter may be controversial, it is still centered on relationships, which fits my theme for February quite nicely. A happy coincidence indeed. So on to the interview.

Short Bio: King Royale is a multi-genre writer from New Jersey and founder of The Royale Press publishing company. He has been a hobby writer for over 15 years.  In 2013, he organized Royale Readings - a writing group for local indie and aspiring authors.  His newly published project #HOMOMULTIAMORY: Love ‘Em All is a self-help book which outlines polyamory for the homosexual culture. This highly controversial topic marks this book as a sure-fire hit – one which is expected to attract the opinions of many.

Published Works: #HOMOMULTIAMORY: Love 'Em All

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=homomultiamory&sprefix=homomultiamory%2Caps%2C783

Current Projects: The Game That Kidd Plays: #FINDINGWADE

Website: www.TheRoyalePress.com

The Royale Press, LLC

When did you begin writing?

I remember the exact moment I began writing. I was about 12 years old. I was in the town laundromat with my father and younger brother.

Did you receive any special training or attend a school?

Oddly, I never sought any formal training. In 7th grade my Language Arts teacher assigned a writing project that she helped us to perfect if that counts. (chuckles)

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am so easily inspired. Someone can say something and I'm like, "That can be a title for a good book." then I come up with a whole plot theme. I get inspired from all kinds of thing but mostly it's a drive to create something from inside my head.

Do you use any special resources when writing?

The only "special resource" I use when writing is a playlist I created to listen to while I'm working. Oh, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. I have to be comfortable while I'm writing. (...lol...)

What is (in your opinion) the most important thing to remember when writing, and why is it so important?

To always stay true to what you want to do. Never be afraid to be creative. No one has the right to dictate your imagination.

What is (in your opinion) the most challenging part of writing, and how do you overcome it?

The most challenging part of writing sometimes can be that infamous block we writers experience. Yes, it is real. You’re a writer too Patrick; you know it's real.

Did you use an agent?

I did not use an agent. I wanted the responsibility of learning how to do what I needed to do by doing it myself.  In the future I may seek out some agents... or vise-versa.

Did you use an Editor? If not, what process did you use to edit your work?

I did use an editor. Jessica Barrow of S&B Manuscript Editing And Critique. She is amazing and I expect to be working with her for quite a while. In fact she's currently working on my new project. I think any good writer will be humble enough to realize we are not editors (the majority of us). Our expertise is writing not editing.

How did you get your book published?

Well I started my own publishing company and published my book through it, so I guess that would qualify as self publishing. I did publish online through Amazon.com and Createspace.

Do you handle your own marketing?

Yes. I felt in order to run a publishing company and publish for other novelist/authors, I have to be hands on. I do what I have to do. I'm definitely still learning but I'm getting it.

What is your best marketing tip?

DO NOT try to do everything yourself. There are people out there who have the qualifications and skills you need; seek them out. Social Media is your friend.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

(thinks for a moment) Honestly no. We are all different and what I can imagine, you can't, and what you can imagine, I can't.  The only "advice" I have is Keep Writing.

What challenges did you encounter writing about a controversial subject?

People's understanding. That was a challenge. Because I had to speak with SEVERAL people (every kind of person) and had to reveal some of my personal life choices, to be through, I subjected myself to some really hard and hurtful judgements. But in the end it was worth it.  I came out with a great book. (knods)

Hopefully everyone will take something away from this interview. I know I was inspired, and this interview has made me realise just how hard some writers have to work at their craft. I would also like to give a heartfelt thanks to King Author Royale for taking the time to take this interview.

Until Next time,

Patrick Osborne