Starting Stories at the Start

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

Did you know that a story can start at any point?  I’m sure most people did, but they aren’t always easy to pull off.  I’ve never had the urge to start a story from the middle or the end, but I’ve seen it done.  Sometimes it’s amazing.  Other times, it’s incredibly clunky because the pacing was off.  That’s how it goes.  Let’s take a look at the 3 ways of doing this.

I’m starting with the traditional one where you start at the beginning.  This can take various forms, but they all work the same way.  Events go in chronological order with no backtracking unless you’re showing synchronous events.  That’s not really time jumping, but showing two scenes that are happening at the same time.  The beginning of the story is still the beginning.  So, how can this be done?

  1. One way is to jump right into the action.  The first page is where everything is starting and any background will be explained/discovered down the road.  This creates a fast-paced experience, which may have to be maintained for the entire work.  It’s a risk starting off so strong because weakening for too long will turn readers off even if the downswing makes sense.  Still, this is a popular method that can easily be adjusted for what you need.
  2. Historical prologues are another way to start at the beginning without jumping right into the action.  This ‘first chapter’ shows the world and events leading up to the real story.  It reduces the need to explain a lot down the road beyond the characters learning about the past.  With these scenes, you don’t need to do a full info dump, especially if this is an event that is well-known.  It doesn’t always start off as powerful as the first method because it’s more for setting the stage than driving into the action.
  3. A mellow beginning can be done as either a prologue or first chapter.  This may sound like it’s bad advice since we’re told to start off with a strong hook.  Yet, this can be done to create mystery, but, more importantly, show what is leading into the events.  You can even establish what normal life is before the story shakes it to the core.  So, don’t always overlook this type of beginning.

There are probably a lot more ways to start at the beginning.  I’d say it’s the most flexible of the three methods.  That’s why there isn’t much else to say about it.  I’ll open the floor to others in the comments.  Enjoy.

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WRITING AND COMMON MISTAKES

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Hi SEers! Denise here to talk about common grammar errors in writing. Back in the day, run-on sentences used to be a big problem. My teachers would …

WRITING AND COMMON MISTAKES
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The Endangered Giants: Elephants

Posted on July 24, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

I was surprised to see that I never made an animal post about elephants.  Didn’t even have them on my list.  Maybe I did it and can’t find it, but you would think they would be early in my posting of endangered animals.  After all, most people know about elephants and how they are endangered.

The World Wildlife Organization has a great site about them.  I’ll paraphrase since I don’t think I have to explain much.

There are two species:

  • The African Elephant is the bigger one with the subspecies of the Savanna Elephant and Forest Elephant.  The Savanna one is the most common subspecies and what you probably think of first. They live on the plains and is the largest of the elephants.  The Forest subspecies is more elusive since they live in rainforests.  Differences between the two include ear size, tusk size, and family size.  For example, Savanna Elephants usually have family units of 10 females while Forest Elephants have family units of 20 individuals.
  • The Asian Elephant is smaller and has four subspecies.  The Indian Elephant is probably the most commonly thought of one.  The Sumatran Elephant is another and they both have similar information.  The Sri Lankan Elephant is highly endangered and there is even a death penalty if you kill one.  Finally, the Bornean Elephant is the smallest of the species and is also called the Borneo Pygmy Elephant since it gets to only 8.2-9.8 feet tall.

Elephants are highly endangered for a variety of reasons.  The biggest one is poaching because there is a market for their tusks.  This is similar to rhino’s and their horns.  In 1989, ivory trading was made illegal, which helped to some extent.  Yet, the problem got bad once more in 2010 when there people in Asian countries renewed their interest in elephant ivory.  The US and UK became problem areas as well.  On some positive news, the biggest market for elephant ivory was China, who banned the trading of it at the start of 2018.  This was a big victory.

Of course, there are other threats.  Habit loss is one that leads to encounters between people and elephants.  This causes conflicts, especially if an elephant starts eating crops or damaging property.  Sometimes, a person may be killed by an elephant because these are wild animals.  The response from people can end up being a retaliatory killing of the elephant.  This stems from anger over losing a loved one and the fear that the animal will take more lives.  Erecting barriers to keep the elephants in the wild is one way to help, but more importantly is educating locals about their neighbors.

So, let’s get to the pictures.  All found with Google Image Search.  Starting with the 2 African subspecies and then the 4 Asian subspecies.

Forest Elephant

Savanna Elephant

Bornean Pygmy Elephant

Indian Elephant

Sri Lankan Elephant

Sumatran Elephant

Gotta have some videos:

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Goal Post: Another Book in the Books

Posted on July 23, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

So, we have a little bit of a heatwave around here.  I know those who live in hot states will scoff at our high 90’s temperatures.  The truth is that we’re not used to it and I don’t think our homes were designed to be cool.  Feels like this place was designed more to contain heat, which sucks during this weather.  Opening a window resulted in warm air coming and no relief.  So, the new air conditioner has been getting a work out.  That’s made progressing rather rough too.

Last weekend, I got to do a few fun things with my son.  We watched a Netflix movie called ‘The Sea Beast’, which I recommend.  It’s like ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, but with sea monsters.  We took a walk at a marine nature study area.  Got to see the nesting ospreys, who weren’t hiding this time around.  The highlight was getting a video of a heron battling a crab.  We saw the heron on the side of the walkway and were going to sneak by, but it moved about ten feet away from us with the crab.  So, we watched the battle until the heron managed to swallow its prey.  My son was telling every photographer and visitor about it.  Can’t say I blame him.

Rest of the week has been the usual.  I’m still having days where I’m worn down and get rather forgetful.  They’re not as common as they were last week, so I’m definitely getting better.  Had a midweek scare when I woke up with a cough and panicked myself into thinking I caught covid again.  Took a test and it was negative, which relaxed me enough that I went back to normal.  So, I need to make sure to think things through.  Hard to do when I wake up and have to move quickly to get my son ready for camp.

Let’s get to the big event:

I finished writing Darwin & the Halfling Hunt yesterday afternoon.  I was hoping to finish it midweek, but the exhaustion and a change in schedule threw things off.  It didn’t help that I finished a section that was mostly talking and broke down crying because I thought I sucked.  Never had that happen before.  Guess that was my first real taste of Imposter Syndrome, but I don’t think I’m successful enough for that to happen.  It must have been something else that went away as I got to the final battle chapter.  Still, it’s been haunting me for a while.  Probably should have brought that up in therapy.

Speaking of the final battle chapter, Darwin continues to drive me nuts.  I don’t know if I’ve lost my ability to write lengthy, detailed fight scenes or he just refuses to do it.  Even when his friends were battling without him, the events went fairly quickly when compared to my older stuff.  Not a lot of bantering though, which might explain things.  One villain wasn’t in a chatty state and the other got frustrated with Darwin after half a page.  The odd thing is that Darwin can have really exciting and big chase scenes.  Yet, him actually standing his ground and fighting results in shorter sections.  It has to be due to his unaggressive nature and sleep magic.  He simply isn’t the type to go toe-to-toe with an enemy like Clyde and Luke Callindor.  It’s either luck or a ‘Darwin logic’ plan that ends things abruptly.  Now, I’m just rambling.

My plan is to take a few days off from book writing.  Today will be resting up and maybe fiddling in a notebook.  Tomorrow I’m going to hang out with a friend for the day before my son comes home.  I think I’ll take Monday and maybe Tuesday to rest up too.  It’s hard to figure out since my son’s 13th birthday is Thursday and the party is being thrown next weekend.  I’ve planned as much as I can, so I don’t know what else I can do while he’s at camp or his mom’s place.  Darwin & the Avenging Elf might get tackled earlier just to keep my mind busy.

I’ll probably be binging a few shows too.  I got 7 episodes into ‘Vinland Saga’ and got too bored to keep going.  I switched to an anime called ‘Ranking of Kings’ where the main character is deaf and mute.  He’s a cursed boy who is very small and can’t increase his physical strength at all.  Yet, he’s finding other ways to become the strongest in the kingdom.  I really like it.  Not sure what I want to tackle after that.  Keep coming back to ‘Umbrella Academy’, but I also keep thinking that I’m not in the mood.  Not sure what I’m waiting for, but it could be that I’ve still got ‘The Boys’ clear in my mind.  I might finish up the ‘Food Wars’ anime even though there’s nowhere I can find season 3.  Just to get that one off the list.

Plan for the week?

  1. Plan and celebrate son’s birthday.
  2. Get tickets to ‘DC League of Super-Pets’.
  3. Hang out with friend tomorrow.
  4. Sleep in a few mornings.
  5. Start writing Darwin & the Avenging Elf.
  6. Notebook work.
  7. Fit in as many ‘One Piece’ episodes as we can. Our plan to reach a specific story arc this summer might come up short.  (42 episodes to go and maybe a month to watch them.)
  8. Start making a topic list for November.
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7 Tips to Writing Hot/Sunny Day Battles

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

We’ve had rain and snow, so now let’s go to their opposite.  A sunny day that might be really hot.  You’d think the risks and issues with this day are minimal.  It’s basically the standard fighting weather when you don’t want to do anything special.  Still, there are a few ways to spice things up.

  1. Hot weather is a brutal on a body that’s in motion, especially if that body is dressed in armor.  Muscles cramps are possible and the risk gets higher as the character continues fighting.  Vision can blur if things go on for too long and breathing will become labored if there aren’t any chances to cool off.  Think of a warrior like a computer here.  If they keep going without any way to reduce their temperature, they’re going to crash and it won’t be pretty.
  2. With heat and exertion comes sweat.  Aside from the smell, this can lead to a few minor issues.  Anybody be working out and get sweat in your eyes?  It stings and can blind you for a bit.  At least when exercising, you can pause to rub at your eyes.  In battle, you have to push through and keep fighting.  If a character isn’t wearing gloves them their hands can become slippery.  One with limited experience can find themselves swinging wildly out of exhaustion and sending their weapon spinning away.  It’s a foolish accident, but still a possibility.
  3. If we’re talking a heat wave that’s lasted a while, the fight could happen in a desolated area.  Water would be minimal if available at all, which means not much to cool off or drink prior to the fight.  The ground can become cracked and crumble easily as combatants move around.  This may lead to tripping or slowed movement similar to mud.  Like with frozen ground, hitting this earth can stun because it could be dry and hard.  Of course, this is extreme heat instead of the ‘nice day’.
  4. Let’s talk about the sun, which is responsible for the heat.  It can also be the source of sudden blindness.  The light can hit a warrior in the eyes if they look up at the wrong time.  A way to avoid this is to have them remember where the sun is, so they won’t look in that direction.  Of course, that isn’t foolproof.  If you have a lot of warriors in metal armor then you have a chance at polished spots reflecting light.  It’s similar to using a mirror to bounce beams and it can accidentally blind a person if bright enough.
  5. A lot of sun can mean a lack of shadows in some terrains.  This means there are very few places for enemies to hide.  It’s why ambushes tend to happen at night, during bad weather, or in areas with a lot of cover.  If you have a sunny day in an open plain or hilly region then it might not be possible to hide.  Even forests can be an issue because the good weather can draw out enough animals that they’ll be spooked by the intrusion of warriors.
  6. Characters can be lulled into a false sense of security by a sunny day.  They won’t think of the dangers of traveling since there isn’t any clear sign of danger.  We’ve all been there on summer days.  The weather is so nice that we get lazy without realizing our guard is dropping.  I’ve found that there’s a higher chance if you spend a lot of time stressed and then hit this pleasant body.  You think it’s a chance to relax, which is fine for real life.  During an adventure, this instinct can cause trouble and mean that they start the fight in a weaker mindset.
  7. Even with the negatives I mentioned, the hot and sunny day is easier to pull off without making the weather a major factor.  Most readers won’t pick up on these patterns in the same way they think of rain, snow, fog, hail, frogs, and meteors.  So, this is the perfect weather pattern to use if you don’t want the environment to be a major factor in the battle.
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Characters and Diversity. Part 2 – Wealth

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Hello Story Empire friends, Gwen with you today. Last month I initiated a series on including diversity in our stories. I explained that I would …

Characters and Diversity. Part 2 – Wealth
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Poetry Day: Blitzkrieg of Alarms

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

(Written after an insanely noisy night.  How anyone else in the house slept through that is beyond me.)

Singing bird outside my window.

Joined by honking horns.

Sirens blaring two streets down.

Setting off three barking dogs.

A pair of wildcats being to fighting.

Knocking garbage cans about.

Early workers starting engines.

Late night shifters slam car doors.

A pack of people shouting high.

Shattering bottles as they pass.

A car alarm overtakes them all.

The baby cries until all noises stop.

Five minutes pass to sleep again.

Then the damn alarm goes off.

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7 Tips to Writing a Snow Battle

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Kenshin Snow Fight

On the surface, a battle in the snow isn’t different from one in the rain.  Yet, there is enough of a difference to force a change of focus.  Let’s get right into the tips and you’ll see what I mean.

  1. Snow means that it’s really cold.  While rain can be during a variety of temperatures, snow can only be around when it’s cold.  This means that the warriors’ bodies will suffer the effects of low temperatures.  There’s a risk of hypothermia if they aren’t properly insulted.  Metal armor can be an issue because it will get cold even with moving around.  Muscles cramp, noses run, and the list of detrimental responses goes on.  Just think discomfort, especially if the fight wasn’t planned.
  2. Snow builds up over time instead of spreading out or getting absorbed by the dirt.  If the storm started prior to the fight then things begin with at least a few inches for warriors to move through.  Similar to the mud issue, this will impede movement and slow everyone down.  As the battle progresses, this problem may go away, but it depends on the strength of the storm.  It could even be that snow builds up on people and their steeds.
  3. We have that visibility problem again, but this is actually worse than rain.  You can still usually see through rain even if you have to shield your eyes.  Snow is white and can get thick enough in the air to block the view of everything.  Helmets can be covered by snow to make it even worse.  Even without a helmet, snow can stick to the face and freeze the skin to force a person to keep their head down.
  4. Avalanches.  This is really area specific, but we all know this is a tried and true threat to fighting in the snow.  Do I really have to explain it?
  5. Ice and slippery ground are common with snow, but it depends on the terrain.  If the battle is happening around a place that had a lot of water then it makes sense to hit some ice.  Some areas may be prone to having really hard ground.  While rain makes sticky mud, snow/cold can freeze the earth.  A person falling down would find that it doesn’t give as much as softer ground.  This can have a major effect during a battle where the person can be stunned or hurt by the landing.
  6. Snow gives an advantage for anyone who is planning attack.  It can be shifted and moved to create ambush points.  Some areas may have a natural abundance of hiding places.  This doesn’t help when two armies are on the move towards each other, but helps with smaller skirmishes and adventuring parties.
  7. I already mentioned the effects on the body, but I want to end on one that is very important.  BREATHING!  It is harder to breathe in colder temperatures, which is what you have when snow is whirling around.  Not to mention breathing in the snow can cause some issue.  Characters may take precautions like having clothes or something over the lower part of their faces to keep that area warm.  It won’t be perfect, but it could help a little.
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Teaser Tuesday: The Twins

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

I love my weighted blanket. This helps me sleep along with my sleep apnea mouthpiece.

I should really introduce the rest of Darwin’s friends.  This time it’s the twins, Maeve Darkholm and Brid Lightholm.  They’re actually conjoined twins, which is a big part of their story.  Originally, they were both female, but I changed Brid to a male because I felt that would give them a more understandable reason for wanting to be separated.  Also, I couldn’t bring myself to write another character based around my ex-wife, so I switched him around.

*****

“I say we flay him.”

“But the poor thing is exhausted.”

“Means he won’t put up any resistance.”

“Why are you so cruel, Maeve?”

“Because I’m stuck with a goody-goody like you, Brid.”

“Mom and dad would be very disappointed in you.”

“Well, they sold us to this freakshow, so I don’t care what they think.”

“I’m sure it was-”

“Oh, thank god he’s waking up before you finish saying that.”

Arlinger shifts and squirms as if he is still in the wicker basket, but ends up falling off a short bed. He lands on the dirt floor and groans from the stiffness in his joints, which goes away as he stretches. The halfling stops with his arm bent behind his head and stares at the people sitting on a nearby bench. On one side is a handsome man with golden hair and azure eyes, which sparkle even in the gloomy tent. His skintight shirt made from orange silk and glossy black pants leave little to the imagination in regards to his physique. In his hand is a lute, which has the crescent moon and panpipes symbol of Jinx engraved on the back. The warm smile on the man’s face stands in contrast to the angry scowl of the woman sitting next to his left. Unlike her tanned companion, the raven-haired woman is pale and has crimson scars on her exposed skin. The black leather suit she wears looks uncomfortable, especially after Arlinger notices there are barbed straps placed randomly along her body. Meeting the woman’s brown eyes, he shivers and backs away, which causes her to lick her lips like a hungry cat. He is unnerved more at the sight of a metal charm, shaped like arms covered in scars, which is fused to her flexible tongue.

“Sorry to disturb you,” the halfling says with a polite bow. He jumps back when he realizes the man and woman are physically connected, their clothes specially made to fit their shared bodies. “You two are . . . You’re a man . . . You’re a woman. How do you play a lute with one arm? By the gods, I think I’m having a Darwin moment. What’s with the barbed whip? Can I just leave?”

“This little guy clearly doesn’t mean any harm,” the man whispers while gently pushing the angry woman’s arm down. He tries to stand up, but she refuses to follow, so he flops back into his seat. “That’s very rude. My name is Brid Lightholm and I’m a passion priest of Jinx. This is my twin sister, Maeve Darkholm, who is a pain inflictor of Incu. What’s your name?”

“That’s all you’re going to tell him?” Maeve asks with a roll of her eyes. Reaching into a bowl, she takes out a handful of bitter cherries and pops one into her mouth. “We both know what you’re going to ask after you say your name. No reason to wait. My brother and I were born this way. It wasn’t a curse or an accident. Our parents hated it, but raised us as best as they could, which was terribly. We joined our temples with the hope of finding a way to separate because it’s a nightmare being physically connected to your brother. It’s made worse when he’s a cheery optimist like this one. The sleeping pills I have to take when he has one of his passion rituals are so sweet, they make me want to puke. It’s a headache torturing a follower of Incu with this yutz singing about flowers and waterfalls. Obviously, our plan failed and our parents decided it was time to get some use out of the freaks they call children. They sold us to this circus where we’ve been stuck for about three years. You can see the chains on our ankles, which are enchanted to trap us among the tents. The only times we’re let out is for temple responsibilities and shows. Now, grab a shirt from that pile and leave.”

The halfling reaches into a pocket on his belt and pulls out a fresh shirt, which has a ketchup stain on the front. “Thanks, but I always carry this spare. Could use some boots though. Never mind. My name is Arlinger and I’m trying to figure out what happened to my cousin. I fell asleep and he wandered off. Sounds like he was over by the river and caused some damage. Now, I’ve got the mayor and guards after me. So, I think I’m going to leave and not drag you into my mess.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Brid asks before his sister kicks him in the shin. The pain does not cause his beaming smile to waver, which infuriates Maeve. “I know we can’t leave the circus, but maybe we have some advice. It is part of a holy figure’s duty to bestow wisdom on those in need. Although, I do have to ask if you’re a criminal of any kind. I understand that you want to help your cousin, which is beautiful. I’d simply like to know the situation before I speak my mind. Otherwise, I will have to remain silent.”

“Why stop blabbing now?” Maeve mutters under her breath.

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The Stakes are High

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Charles Yallowitz

Let’s all welcome Judi Lynn today. She’s a long-term blogger/author friend, and she has a new book to tell us about today. Please check it out, maybe…

The Stakes are High
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