Goal Post: Didn’t Achieve a Single Thing

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

Where to even begin?

Well, I didn’t really achieve any of my goals from last week.  Even the time with my son thing because there was so much to do.  I could count all the studying and homework, but that was most of the time.  Today is the first day I get to relax with the little guy since Sunday.  It’s been that crazy, which means there isn’t much to really report here that would be of interest.

The big reason is that work was busy and that issue I mentioned last week was still rearing its head.  It might have solved itself.  My son had a lot to do as well.  Two tests yesterday and two more coming up.  We’ve been studying and he’s been going to extra help, so we’re exhausted by the time we get to our nightly cartoons.  He has little kid energy to get through things, but I’ve got tired father fatigue.  I tended to pass out soon after he did, so I had no time to myself.  At most, I wanted a random sitcom while letting the anxiety fade away.  No energy to outline, work on puzzles, or bike.  Ended up dozing off on the exercise bike during my one attempt on Wednesday.  Figured that was a sign things weren’t going to be happen.

I am happy to report that my son passed the 2 tests he already had.  So, I will say the fatigue is worth it.  He earned some video game time this weekend, but we still have to study for the other tests.  Going to a place where you can see wild ospreys and other wildlife in about an hour, so we get fresh air.  It’s the ‘May the 4th Be With You’ sale at the Lego store too, so that’s a stop.  Snuck a Lego set for myself into the house too.  I’ll post that when I get around to completing it.  Guess that brings me to another idea I’ve been toying with.

I have an Instagram account, but I’m not a picture person.  I can’t put pictures of my son up there without incurring the wrath of his mother.  Not that I’d really put him out in public like that anyway.  I keep trying to put up book covers, but that’s going slow and it’s tough to do by phone.  Beating around the bush here.  I’m thinking of posting the puzzles I finished on there.  It’s kind of lame and has nothing to do with my writing, but it isn’t like I’m getting sales.  People liked the Lego stuff I posted a few days ago, so I figured why not do the puzzles.  I should try to upload more of my books too.  Legends of Windemere is there up to 6.  Have no idea how to do the story thing either.  This is just a thought that I might put into action over the summer.

Did I say I’m using June to do a poem every weekday for one of my books?  Not sure if anyone reacted to that.  Looks like I have another post about Darwin coming a week from tomorrow too.  Going to let it stay even though I brought him up last weekend.  He’s fairly complicated, which I didn’t expect.

Oh, I’m thinking of changing up Do I Need to Use a Dragon? (Fantasy Writing Tips) in terms of art.  Still having trouble finding an artist.  Might have someone over the summer.  My plan now is to have the cover and 4 inside pictures include Fizzle.  I was going to do him on the cover and end then my series (Legends, Nytefall, Ichabod) being shown for each of the big categories.  I realized that this book isn’t primarily about marketing myself, but sharing my experience.  Fizzle is a fan favorite and I think it works better if he’s the focal point for the art.  Makes it easier to come up with ideas.  Locks him in as my mascot too.

Nothing to report as far as TV shows.  Finished ‘Ranma 1/2’ and ‘Shadow & Bone’.  Both were fun.  I had a little trouble with ‘Shadow & Bone’ since it jumped around a bunch at the beginning.  The timeline seemed off with the stories and I found I liked The Dregs with their heist more than the political/social stuff.  I liked the magic system though, so it kept me going through the slower parts.  Not sure what I want to watch next since I don’t want to dive into a big series.  ‘Castlevania’ Season 4 comes out on the 13th, which I have off from work.  So, I want something that can tide me over until then.  Maybe I’ll do ‘Fire Force’ from beginning to end.  That’s about 52 episodes.  Final season of ‘Lucifer’ is at the end of the month too.  Summer will be either ‘Black Clover’ or, dare I try, ‘Inuyasha.  Not sure how many people get any of this.

So, goals of the week?

  1. Studying with son.
  2. Fun this weekend
  3. Outlining ‘Tales of the Slumberlord’
  4. Puzzles
  5. Resting up
  6. Work, which will be busy
  7. Really should do laundry
  8. Swear something else is happening this week
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Betrayal by Accident: That Make It Any Better?

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

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We all hate it when characters turn out to be traitors.  Betrayal is rarely applauded beyond it being a surprise twist.  At least, it should be, but it can be tough.  Many times, a character who turns out to be a traitor is clearly the type and you can see signs that it’s coming.  Audiences cheer for them to meet a messy end because they’ve caused so much pain and damaged the hero’s progress.  So, what about when a betrayal happens by accident?  Is that the same?

This can come in many forms, but the key point is that the character who turns out to be a traitor didn’t do it with evil intentions.  It could be that they saw the betrayal as necessary to protect others or themselves.  Maybe they were doing what they thought was right and it turns out to be a decision that brands them a traitor.  For example, making a deal with a villain to give them what they want in return for the other heroes surviving.  This stems from a desire to not lose friends, so it isn’t evil.  Audiences will say its foolish, stupid, and short-sighted since you don’t trust the villain of a story.  I think this ignores the fact that characters aren’t supposed to act like they’re in a fictional tale.  That’s why these kinds of mistakes happen.

Still, some people will turn rather angrily on these characters.  It can reach a point where they’re hated more than the original villains.  This makes it difficult to push for their redemption in the eyes of the entire audience.  Authors may see this as a reason to not even try, but that may be a mistake.  This is a great arena for character development on all sides:

  1. The accidental traitor will realize they did something wrong.  Will they try to fix their mistake or accept that they are now with the bad guys?
  2. Those who were betrayed will have emotions to sort through as they change their plans.  Do they becoming angry, disheartened, give up, or find the strength to continue fighting?  What do they do about the traitor and do they realize it was a mistake?  The act of forgiveness is not an easy or universal one.
  3. The villains who masterminded the betrayal may see potential to use their new agent for other purposes.  They wouldn’t cause this event and then act like it never happened.  It was a decisive blow against their enemies, so they are going to think of milking it for more.

Foreshadowing might be necessary to show signs that the character has the personality to commit an accidental betrayal.  Instead of making them selfish or evil, an author can go in the opposite direction.  These characters can reach a point where they want the fighting or suffering to end.  Maybe they refuse to let their new friends die, which they fear will happen if they continue.  It can be seen as a lack of faith in others, but it stems from a fear of losing what one truly cares about.  This is why a deal for the safety of others can be a driving force, which is typically something the villain lies about.  If you make it clear that this was not intentional then most readers will come around and be ready for a redemption arc.  They will want to see the traitor back in the fold after either reversing the damage or preventing another loss.

Personally, I enjoy these twists because they can throw off a story and create a lot of character development.  Relationships are strained even among those who were betrayed because of disagreements in how to handle it.  This allows for a story that is going too smoothly or reaching a point where evolution is difficult to get a necessary jolt.  Now, you have more to work with and it isn’t a typical betrayal.  Being an accident creates a different set of emotions and various responses for the audience to follow.  You can’t really leave the traitor alone until the finale because they aren’t a true villain, but they aren’t a hero any more either.  They land in this limbo that they have to pull out of in order to choose a side once more.  Also, I really do enjoy redemption arcs.

What do you think of accidental betrayals?

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Immortal Wars: Light, Blood, & Tears Part 16

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

(Disclaimer: A warning to those who continue.  This is a sequel to a previous story.  Both of these were written in the mid-1990’s.  While the first one was slightly edited and vanity press published, this one has not been touched in over 20 years.  I figure I should do something with it and people may get a laugh or fright from how I used to be.  Every author comes from somewhere, so this is part of my origin.  To that end, I am deeply sorry for whatever nightmares I will inflict on the literary world and the American English language.  Enjoy?)

PREVIOUS ENTRY CLICK HERE

“Well, I hope you’re happy.  I now have a lot less respect for you as a murderous immortal,” mentions Cybro as they continue walking down the street.  Draveon just smiles and makes a low snorting noise.

They turn around the corner and see the restaurant that they were looking for.  There is a very large crowd standing right outside.  There are also cameras going off in the crowd and every now and then the sound of girls screaming can be heard above the crowd.  The two immortals are left extremely confused.

“Come on,” whispers Cybro.  Draveon follows him up to the crowd and they try to get through the crowd.  The crowd seems to get thicker and thicker around them as the crowd of people swarm them.  Draveon and Cybro suddenly realize that these people are not attacking them, but asking for autographs.

The crowd starts yelling things like, “You’re a lot bigger in real life.  What’s up with those red contact lenses?  What happened to your accent?  I thought your hair was short instead of long.”

“Sorry, people.  My friend and I are in a rush.  We are very sorry, but we have to go now,” announces Cybro as he gets out of the crowd and into the building.  Draveon manages to get through without giving in to the urge to crush the entire crowd.  Once both of them are safe inside the restaurant they get a table far in the back and somewhat shadow-covered.

“You know what?  I miss when we were still fighting those muggers.  At least criminals I can understand better than fanboys,” whispers Draveon as he takes a deep drink of water.

“I have to agree.  I wonder how Adriana and Tegam are doing.”

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Dreams in the Morning

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

Images while I snore
That take me on adventures
Crafting fear
Or joy
Before my body stirs
*
They linger in the morn’
Dew drops
Sitting in my senses
Gone
Before my mind captures
*
On the rarest days
A dream remains
Surviving
To become a story
Before my soul dissolves

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Fiction Dialogue 201

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

Ciao, SEers! My first post for Story Empire was called Fiction Dialogue 101, and it was actually our site’s inaugural post… all the way back on …

Fiction Dialogue 201
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Teaser Tuesday: Pest, Friend, or Foe? #vampires #fantasy

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

Today’s teaser introduces a new character who may be just what Clyde needs to survive War of Nytefall: Savagery.  I was on the fence about making a post about this guy too or even showing his name right now.  He’s a denizen of Mestra, so maybe you’ll get to see him do another day.  Enjoy.

Continue reading →

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House of Horrors by Joan Hall – A #newbook

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

I am so pleased to welcome Joan Hall to Fiction Favorites. Joan is a Member of Story Empire, and she has a brand new book to tell us about. So, Joan,…

House of Horrors by Joan Hall – A #newbook
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How Do You Tackles Prompts?

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

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Long ago, I used to attempt prompts, but I haven’t done them in years.  I’m really too busy with my own stuff and I can never get them to feel right for my blog.  That and I schedule months in advance, so the prompt is already long gone.  In other words, I can’t think of any advice beyond having fun with it.

On the other hand, I have seen how prompts can go wrong.  These would be the ones that are so restrictive that people can only make one story.  Everyone who participates are funneled into a narrow path, which can be frustrating.  You want to make prompts your own and the requires freedom.  I see this in school a lot too.  Imagine being given a setting and a list of 12 objects that you have to include, but they’re all very specific.  It causes some issues for two types:

  1. Novice authors will get frustrated trying to fit everything together, so they won’t really benefit from the experience.  They won’t be flexing their imagination because the list and setting are too rigid.  For some, this can cause some lasting damage and make it more difficult for them to write in the future.
  2. Creative authors who love to go wild will thrash against the leash.  It won’t be an appealing exercise because they can’t see any way to be unique.  They may turn off entirely until something more interesting is presented.  Yet, their standards have risen and they might not want any restrictions this time, so a freer prompt will find itself rejected.

Again, I know very little about this.  I do know many who are prompt experts, so I open the floor to them.  In fact, I’m going to make a post on Sunday to showcase the responses with credit being given.  So, how do you tackle prompts?

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Working Ahead

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

Hi gang, Craig with you again. I may have posted something about this before, but I’ve reached a point in life where “I don’t remember” stops being …

Working Ahead

Great advice. Love the quote at the end.

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Outline Time . . . Trouble Already?

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Charles Yallowitz

First, I don’t really know if that’s an Irish proverb.  Just liked the sound of it when looking for sleep quotes.  Why do I think this is what’s going to get a lot of comments?

The reason I went for this is because I started making the final outlines for my next series, Tales of the Slumberlord.  I’m not that far into it, but I want to get all 9 . . . 10 done before summer when I can dive into the real writing.  Be nice if I can get them all done by end of May too.  Then, I’ll use June to do a final editing of War of Nytefall: Anarchy.  That series has 2 more that I hope to publish this year.  Means 2022 will be a clean start.  I think.

You see, I’ve already run into a small problem:  Darwin Slepsnor.  This is my halfling caster who doesn’t understand his power, isn’t aware of the big picture, wants to help, and is totally different than my previous protagonists.  Luke Callindor was a true hero who set off to save others and had a logic you could follow.  Clyde was an anti-hero protecting his people with violence and you could follow his logic.  Both were able to come up with plans and strategize.  They were subtle at times . . .

Darwin isn’t any of that, which makes writing scenes difficult.

Darwin is prone to panicking when things catch him by surprise and he shouts his spells as he casts them.  This means fight scenes aren’t going to have a great flow.  Doesn’t help that he isn’t a warrior, so it’s more likely that he will be chased or he’ll be paired with a warrior who does the fighting.  That means my protagonist is kind of a sidekick, which goes with his role as someone who inadvertently changes destinies.  He asks questions all the time and can be very confusing in his logic, so there’s some of Lost, Bob, and Yola Biggs in his actions.  He’s not crazy, but he definitely sees the world differently and it’s hard to change his mind when he’s deciding on how things work.

And that’s what happens in the outlines.  Darwin stumbles into situations and through them because he’s an unpredictable entity.  You thought Luke Callindor was tough for enemies?  They would know he’d attack or leap off something at some point.  Darwin will pull out a spell or magic item to use in a bizarre way that changes the entire situation.  He’s a halfling too, so people forget about him in the heat of the moment.  He also doesn’t realize when his actions will kill or hurt an enemy, which increases the danger.  This is all in story, but it’s had a bizarre effect on the outlines.

Every book is starting with Darwin easing into a situation that is massive in scale and bigger than he could comprehend.  He’s with a new friend who needs his help and that’s what he’s there to do.  So, he ignores a lot of the nuanced pieces and barrels towards the main goal.  This has resulted in the stories hitting a point where the events come in quick succession until it’s over.  I tried to extend some of them, but that requires Darwin to think about doing something other than the main goal or use a less ‘black/white’ logic.  That’s not his character.

For example:

His friends are kidnapped and taken to an area.  He goes right there and heads for the first thing that catches his attention.  This sets off the next event and he runs into the following one out of panic.  All other characters with complicated plans are left wondering what went wrong until they see Darwin go barreling through the area.  Chaos ensues with his friends fighting to survive and him hurling spells to help while not understanding that the mess came from his actions.  Things still work out.

This is a simplification, but it shows that I can’t put a lot of thinking and planning on Darwin’s shoulders.  He’s not an idiot.  It’s just that his mind works differently than my previous heroes.  He’s curious with no fear of asking the big villains questions, which also results in him not realizing when he should be afraid.  Darwin is helpful and has no restraint on his use of magic.  He comes up with spontaneous answers to situations that nobody can see coming, but even his allies don’t get it.  This is coming out even in the outline, which makes me a little worried about how he’ll do as a protagonist.  He’s one of my Core Heroes too, so I’m not giving up on him.  Guess that’s why I’m nervous about it as well.

This took longer than I thought.  May have needed to vent.  Next month will be a title reveal at some point though.  Really proud of those.

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