Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

 

Hey friend,

If you are familiar with National Novel Writing Month's schedule at all, then you know that October is "plantober". The time for you to plot, plan, put together a playlist, basically do everything except write. All in preparation for November - National Novel Writing Month. The challenge to write a novel's minimum length of words (50,000 words) in 30 days. 

Last year was the very first time I reached the goal. I plan to do it again this year with Ice Sword Chronicles. 

It's a big deal to me. It's a huge challenge. I told you ISC is my dream and this is how I'm putting those words into action. This November, I'm going to finally write ISC. 

"But Savvy, you've said that before. You've tried before and you've always failed."

I know. I'll be honest here, I'm scared. I can't tell you the number of times I've read through ISC, trying to fill in all the missing pieces, the actions, the setting, the plot, the facial expressions, the themes, the narrative, the continuity (what even is that?!). I can't tell you how many times I've started rewriting it only to stop and put it aside. 

ISC is my dragon to slay. ISC is my Smaug as well as my Erebor. I want so badly for it to be perfect and whole and finished. Yet I get so scared of ruining it. Will my coauthors like it if I change x? Will readers still enjoy it if I include y? What was this character's true motive? What was that character really trying to say? How much is too much? When will I know if it's enough? If I wait a little longer, maybe we can all get together and keep writing like we used to. If I wait a little longer, maybe the end will reveal itself. If I wait a little longer, maybe my coauthors will finish it for me (abhorrent of me, I know). 

We started writing ISC in May of  2009. Most of it was written by December of that year, but the story was not finished. It finally tapered off in 2012 when we could no longer keep up with writing, scheduling, and life. I've been waiting a decade for time to rewind so we can finish what we started. That's never going to happen. If I leave it alone, it will never change. It will never get worse, but it will never get better either. Printed book sets on store shelves, animated shows, movie deals, action figures, tshirts, video games (we dream big, ok?) - none of that can ever happen unless something changes. I'm tired of waiting. I don't have time to keep waiting for the perfect word, the perfect day, the perfect song. I have other stories waiting for me to write them. I have other dreams I want to achieve. 

So here's what's gonna happen. Come November, I'll start rewriting. I don't know how much of the story I actually get through, but I will hit the 50k in 30 days mark. I'll win NaNoWriMo again. Maybe I'll get through the whole story. We'll see. The end is still a mystery to me. 

(Almost put in a Fire Emblem: Three Houses image because it is SO CLOSE to ISC's Main Character weapons.) 

I'm planning to post the sections as I write through them. I haven't decided yet if that means post here or post on ISC's blog. Let me know which you'd prefer with the handy poll on the side. 

If you are family and friends, cheer me on. Ask me about my writing. I need the pressure. 

If you are my gaming buddies, I'll probably be online less. Or maybe online more as I procrastinate when I should be writing. One of the two. 

My coauthors - I have a specific request of you. I'm not going to ask you to read through all of ISC and help rewrite it (again). That's a huge ask and Nov is busy enough as it is with holidays, school, work, and end of year chaos. 

What I want is this: as I post the rewrites, let me know what stands out that needs changing. The small stuff - "My character actually has magenta hair." The big stuff - "My character probably wouldn't say/do that, they would say/do this instead." Any ideas for the ending. Anything you've wanted to add or alter. Any helpful ideas or music tracks. Any critiques at all.

I want to be true to your characters. This story is as much mine as it is yours. I have always believed that. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I will try to keep the light-hearted hero vibe, but no promises. I'm also hoping that posting in bite-sized chunks will be easier to read through and give input on than say a 117k word google doc. *cough* FSC *cough*

(Also, I realize Hanna's a pain to deal with... and dramatic... and just awful, but I promise she'll be better.)

Lastly, to everyone, be patient with me and this process. The first draft of anything is going to look bad. It's going to be a hot mess as I figure out continuity and story elements and world building and wrangle the dialog into... something that makes sense. I want to keep as true to the Original as I possibly can, but it may take on a form all it's own (Other?). November will be focused on writing as many words as possible. The months after that are for editing. You can fix anything in editing, but you can't edit a blank page.

I'm done waiting. I'm going to finish what we started. I'm writing for me. For everything ISC can be and more. For Hanna. For Misty. For DJ. For Brady. For Hairam. For Ace. For Jester. For Eve. For Ember. For Iul. For Lui. For Frodo. Whatever it takes. 

So I'll ask you again...

How far would you go to protect the ones you love? 

And if you want to take a whack at NaNoWriMo this year with me, look me up! 

"So you can't fly if you never try

You told me, oh, long ago" 

- Reluctant Heroes

~ Always Hope ~

Born For This - The Score

Hey friend,

Can we talk about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for a minute? I think we should talk about Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs. Because that explains the large gap in time between posts for me (the decade-ish gap, not the month gap since my last post). 

In short, it's a chart someone came up with to describe human needs and their priority. At the bottom you have the very basic necessities: food, water, shelter, clothing, etc. 

The next step up is what a human seeks when those first needs are met: physical safety, financial stability, health, connection, etc. After that: deeper social connections, love, belonging. After THAT, you get to self esteem: respect, achievement, self worth, etc. 

The final tier is self actualization: the highest form of potential a human can reach for. The big questions in life. Morality, purpose, meaning, imagination, creativity.

I'm sure you could google it and look through all the research on it, but the premise is this: a person can't focus on the next tier of needs unless the previous needs are met. A person isn't going to reach for the stars until their terrestrial life is safe and fulfilled. (I'm sure I butchered it, but you get the idea.)

Growing up, it is the hope that children have all these needs met already by their parents/guardians. Children shouldn't have to worry about food, safety, money, etc. They are safe and fulfilled and free to learn, explore, and imagine. 

As we grow into adults, we become the ones fulfilling these needs for ourselves. We have to make sure these needs are still met and then turn around and provide them for the next generation. 

The ideal scenario is that every human is able to reach their full potential. A beautiful dream. The reality is a bit harsher. I don't know that a lot of people get to reach their full potential. I think too many of us are stuck still trying to fulfill the basic needs. 

I've seen a lot of people call it survivial mode. I can understand that. Between the pandemic, the economy, the politics, the wars, and the social ruptures ON TOP of the everyday demands of work, family, friends, and general self upkeep, it's no wonder most of us are a hair's bredth from losing our ever loving minds at any given moment. It's no wonder we live one day to the next looking for the next break, the next rest, the next shoe to drop. It's no wonder we go to bed at night utterly exhausted and wake up the next morning unsure of what day it is because they all feel the same. It's a hard cycle to get out of. Maybe some of us never get out of it. But we still have to try. 

I digress. I don't want this to be another dismal post. Some are able to climb through the needs and reach that top tier. Some fight for that top tier even when the other needs aren't met and we applaud them all the more for it. Eminem's Lose Yourself, Dolly Parton's Nine to Five, Loverboy's Workin for the Weekend. Maslow's Heirarchy of needs isn't a new concept. I didn't learn it in college. I learned it in business.

My point with bringing it up is this. It's really hard to get to the creative and fun things in life if you're barely making it through the day. If you spend an hour or two in transportation to work every day, work a demanding and stressful job for 7-10 hours, then come home to more responsibilities, you don't have the time, energy, or creativity to do anything but survive. And the worst thing you can do is berate yourself for not being able to be as creative as you want. It's taken me a solid 8-10 years to get to a point where I can write again. There were days I wanted to write, but didn't have the energy. Or when I had the energy, I didn't have the time. And if by some miracle I had both, I had no creativity left to spend. Most days, I didn't feel like writing. Most days, I didn't think I had anything worth sharing. It's a hard pit to climb out of. I had a lot of help. I put in a lot of work to better myself so I could better my position. Now, I have time, I have energy, and I have support. Only recently have I been able to get the creativity going again.

The stories I abandoned haunted me. My characters left unfinished whisper in my ear. I think they've been slow cooking on the back burner long enough. Don't you? At the moment, I will write while I am able. I want to breathe life into my stories and let them walk free. That's not to say another cataclysmic life event won't knock me down again. I'm sure it will. And when it does, I'll get back up. I have to. 

The world may be cruel and unforgiving, but now I know my place in it. I'm a writer. I spent so many years trying to figure out what I was good at. Trying to find a purpose. I don't know if I'll ever be a good writer. At least I can be good enough. I don't know if anyone will ever read what I write, but that's okay. What I do know is that I need to finish what I started. After that, we'll see where the road takes me. 

On that note, I have a few changes I want to make. 

1. I miss the person I was 10 years ago. I'll bring her back. It's time to put away the mask. If you see more online activity from me, that's why. 

2. My websites need an update. Desperately. (Looking at you, non-https web address.) Whether that means creating a new site or moving the blog, I'm not entirely sure yet. I know for a fact the ISC fb page is full of bots now so that's on the docket too. Again, not sure what the play is right now, but I'll figure something out.

3. Ice Sword Chronicles is my dream. I'll get it written. I'll finish the prequels. I'll finish the sequels. I'll get them published. It won't die with me. 

It will be a very long road ahead to get these changes into place. I can only take it one day at a time. The changes won't happen overnight, as much as I would love for them to. I've put off these dreams long enough. I'm going to accomplish them with or without your help. Because at the end of the day, I'm not doing them for you. 

I'm writing for me. 

That said, I'm not an idiot. If you would like to help or have tips, I won't turn you down. I need all the help and support I can get. :p

If you made it this far, congrats! You can read the first two re-written sections of Hanna's Prequel here! 

~ Always Hope ~