NaNoWriMO

Well I did it! I wrote just over 50k this year. Magic & Mayhem is raw and very much a rough draft that needs major editing and smoothing out, but it happened. I almost can't believe I managed it.

Now the Faery story I started working on by Jarek (yeah this name) when my muse forced me to write it out in Mid-November is just over 7k. I'm going to be working on it a bit now and then but not so feverishly as I did Magic and Mayhem. I'm not dropping it by the wayside anyhow.

Worst Blogger Ever I know

I am the worst blogger ever I know. Its been freaking forever since I posted anything here.
I've been writing though for the november NaNoWriMo - over 20k words now so I have been writing.

Opps....

I've not been the most avid writer for the past oh 5or 6 weeks. I solemnly swear to try to do better. With that in mind I'm going to do a bit of free writing to see where it takes me. I'll keep you posted.

NEW FF - The Curse Breaker's Trails CH 1

(1)

Bill takes his seat at the family dinner table releasing a heavy sigh as he reaches for the pitcher of ice tea.

Arthur noticing his oldest child’s tense shoulders asks with his calm quiet manner, “Everything alright at Gringotts Bill?”

Trying to decide how best to vent his frustrations without blowing things totally out of proportion Bill starts, “Gringotts is good Dad; they’ve just put me in a spot.”

Concerned because Goblin’s were hard enough to figure out without deals and ultimatums, Arthur enquires softly “What kind of spot Bill?”

Charlie and the Twins listen in as their oldest brother and father talk as Ron shovels food into his gaping mawl like there was a food shortage and he was soon to run out. Ginny their sister had opted to miss supper this night pouting in her room because her current boyfriend wasn’t able to spend every day of the summer with her.

Bill continues, “Ripthorn called me into a meeting today with the managers of the Curse Breaking and Warding section, they want to make me a team leader the only problem with that is that it requires I have or have already had an apprentice.”

Eyes wide at the honor the Goblin’s had paid his son, “They want you to be a manager Bill?  At Gringotts?!”

Bill nods, “Only problem is I have to take on an apprentice.”

Charlie interrupts, “You’re more than qualified Bill to have an apprentice, so what’s the problem?”

“They have someone in mind already for the position of apprentice,” he replies with a frown.

His father curiously enquires, “Is it a Goblin Bill? Are they qualified? What seems to be the problem?”

Shaking his head he answers, “No Dad not a Goblin and although they’re giving me some choices on who the apprentice will be the one they’d really like me to take well, she’s very qualified maybe even over qualified. Goblin’s are insisting on the Traditional forms and contracts and she’s anything but homely.”

His brother Charlie inputs with a wry grin, “So you think you’d stray from your Veela girlfriend?

Arthur calmly inquires, “Are you and Fleur having troubles Bill?”

“Trouble…,” Running his hands roughly through his hair voice just this side of frustrated, “Dad she’s always using her allure; it’s either deliberate or she loses control then after she get what she wanted it’s Oh I’m so sorry Beel.  It’s getting so I really hate those words and that accent. Then to top it off when she found out to get the promotion I had to take on an apprentice she practically demanded I pass on it because it’d take time away from her. I have no idea what inspired the Goblin’s to consider me for this now but there is no way in hell I’m passing on it.

Charlie frowning, “She’s using her allure; Bill I know you care about her but you need to report her for that. It’s completely against the Veela Conventions and if she should use it on the wrong person they could ask for her to be destroyed. They aren’t even allowed to leave the Veela Enclave till they have complete control of it because it’s so similar to the imperious.”

Bill sighs heavily, “I guess I just wanted to keep thinking all the slips were accidents, even when I know they couldn’t be. Ron even talked about during the tournament when she’d pass she’d leave most of the boys panting behind her in a daze. I’ll take care of it Charlie don’t worry.

Uggg the Hated Family Meeting

I guess it's been noted that I'm not the most consistent blogger out there.  (working on that) I tend to come at you in spurts sort of the same way that ideas hit me. This weekend for instance was hellish for me I couldn't think beyond   "Don't Kill Them they can't help what they are" so i'd drift in my own little side world shoving one of my favorite hero's into danger trying to solve world ending problems or even just how do i get the girl to notice me. so many scenarios so little time so hard to write but I'm still trying.

Creativity and time away from the grind

Went away for the weekend and did nothing but picture new scenarios how cool is that?! Unfortunately I wasn't able to write a lot of it down so i have to go on memory alone. Then again looking at the pictures from my trip who cares really about what i was thinking as we were driving along when i can just throw one of them out and interpose a new situation.

Crossroads -- Intro...

Captain Maltor of the Battle Cruiser Kru’Tchek after 5 days of chasing the ships of the aliens that had destroyed their colony world Veigi throughout the V’reiga Star System decided to launch several scouts to check out the inhabitable worlds for lurkers.

Captain Gharrez after 3 days of scouting picks up a small ship belonging to the enemy and stealthily follows it into the atmosphere of B729. Contemplating obvious options he has his pilot follow the small ship in: he grabs the straps and buckles in as the ship comes under fire from behind. They take evasive action but not fast enough, a direct hit takes out their engines and they head into the planet hot. The whole crew does what it can as the ship heads in; from strapping in, firing at the enemy, getting directional fixes, getting the engines restarted, to putting out fires and sending the distress beacon.

Woozy headed and bruised but alive, Captain Gharrez gets to his feet and stumbles towards the emergency exit, nearly falling when his feet encounter something solid. Looking down he fines the straps had broken loose and his medic was crumbled on the floor, but alive.  Checking her over quickly he finds only bruises and contusions, he lifts her up on his shoulder and continues to the exit. He carries her to the shelter of the nearby woods then goes back in to help the rest of his people off the ship. When it’s all over there are 4 dead and two seriously injured, everyone else was just banged up and bruised. Knowing they have to evacuates the area as quickly as possible he orders the able bodied to heft the heaviest equipment packs and disperses the rest among those who could carry them then turns everyone and leads them deeper into the woods. He hopes that the last readings he got before they crashed were accurate, if they were at the base of the mountains on the other side of this wood there was a series of caves that would make perfect shelter while they got their bearings.

After about 4 ½ hours of steady hiking they come to the edge of a small clearing deep within the woods that housed a nice little cabin. Skirting the cabin they find themselves at the base of the mountain and with a little searching they find a cave with a well hidden entrance. After setting up camp and a watch schedule, he moves the back of the cave to help the medic Ch’eiri Srintosz set up a make shift hospital and perform surgery on the two wounded men. He knew that they couldn’t afford to be burdened with very sick or severely wounded men if they had to make a run for it.

Traveling makes me think the strangest things

Spent a lot of time in the truck today. As I was driving my mind started throwing out names and imagining people in situations that just begged to be written down as soon as i was parked and waiting for my other party to join me. 90 minutes and a good chapter later... I've got the beginning to something else going it could be good  could be campy hell it could be compared to Harry Potter (but what hasn't been) a little steampunkish, a little True Blood, Anita Blake over all it came on so quick and easy it should be fun to write on it.

Vampires, Werewolves and big bads or is it goods?!

Kelsey was pacing around worried and impatient waiting for the formal vampire welcoming to be over.. She and the City's Master Pierre had been together over 3 years now. The complication of course is that she and Deacon were on again off again like a yo-yo for that same full 3 years also complicated by being mated to Rafe. No matter how many of these things she's had to attend as Pierre's human servant they always made her nervous; hell vampire politics in general made her head-ache and teeth hurt. this one was to greet a special envoy of the European Councils with all the pomp and circumstance that  that kind of situation always entails.

So here she is wearing vampire formal and sweating the wait... although it does have its perks.  All the men look absolutely fabulous in all that leather. Deep breath finally there is a flurry of activity at the door two extremely large vampires enter and step to the side facing the isle in perfectly coordinated movements a moment later two perfectly matched werewolves in their 1/2 man form enter and after stepping just beyond the vampires take up similar positions along the walk. The wolves are followed by a pair of matched were-leopards in half man form following the same routine. Just when it looked like the greetings could begin they a cage carried by 6 gigantic shifters is brought forward. It's metal, longer than it was wide. It looked way too much like a very tall casket. A casket that you could almost sit in but still a casket.. this being escorted by one overly made up almost clown like vampire who unlike most ancient has absolutely no sense of style.

Ferrok, Pierre's second in command,  steps forward abruptly demanding coldly, "Calus what is the meaning of this?"

His voice high and grating, "Her Grace, Bella Ocella was recalled by the council. They are not allowing her visit at this time, so in her place she sent a special gift to you. She said you may use or dispose of the gift as you wish its no bother to her."

Ferrok even more suspicious than before hand reaching for the long knife at his waist, "A  gift for who exactly Calus? Is it for the Master? or is to for me as you implied? Formal Gifts require specifics and yours are sadly lacking!"

Calus his  make up making him look even more pathetic than seemed humanly possible but who's voice has the edge of anger to it, "Apologies Pierre, Ferrok, I meant no disrespect!: He bows low and continues his head remaining bowed, "IT is very difficult to give away someone I've come to respect and admire on the whims of the counsel and especially the whims of a woman who has no respect for herself let alone someone as wondrous as this."

Appreciation for that Daily Grind

I read on other blogs and author sites  people asking them what's your job? How do you do it? Give me advice.

My first thought is, god how dumb can these people be. Being an author is hard work and its not something you can really explain to others. They get up in the morning get their kids off if they have them then move into their office  whether its a room in the house or apartment or a desk in the corner of the kitchen or the lap top on the coffee table in the living room;then they start writing, putting ideas and thoughts down and filling in the details creating people.. people that other people can visualize and imagine with clarity and then they create situations believable situations for these people.

Can you tell a story: Can you create it on the fly make it something that keeps others listening in and wanting all the little pieces, you may have what it takes. Start trying to write them out. Use a medium that's comfortable to you be it pen and paper or crayon on the wall or using the computer; start writing tell that story describe those people tell us about the mystery and hardships of their lives

I can tell a story, i can even start writing it down but so far I haven't been able to get an entire story down on paper (or into the digital) but I'm not giving up either. I'll keep trying and trying till i eventually succeed.

Writing is hard work. Thinking that hard and coherently isn't easy for8 or more hours a day.

Every author out there has my sincere appreciation for all the hard work they put into their craft.

Already written vs empty page

Today I was bored so I picked up a stack of my old journals and read some of the things I'd written about over the years... Boy do i have a sick mind or was it confused. They did at least mostly make some kind of logical sense even for fan-fiction.  Now I'm sitting here with reams of written words and wondering if I can take and recreate it into something original without wrecking what's already been written.  30 handwritten pages vs. page after page of hmmmmmmm. We'll see I guess. 

Plodding along a bit at a time..

Arriving in Greece proper the portal closed with a whoosh and a blinding flash of light behind them. Looking out over the party the king had decided upon for this first excursion to resupply Atlantis Jerome had to shake his head. How the King thought this mismatched group would be able to work together enough to gather the necessities required by Atlantis without killing each other he had no idea he figured they'd be lucky if they didn't kill each other inside the first week.

Jerome turned to Enrique, "Take 3 men see if the cottage on Thanaglos Peak is still empty. We'll need a base of operations in which to operate from, a place to bring the animals back to, and the portal can focus on us there without the Greeks being aware of it."


Turning his dark unshaven face towards Jerome with a haughty air, "And if its not empty?"


His expression stark and glacier cold, "Then make it so without wrecking it. Remember we need to be able to live there for a year if not longer."

Conray looked up from the pack he was about to swing onto his back confusion and anger warring for dominance on his face, "Longer? What do you mean longer? The King said this mission was no longer than year."

Justice - Tried by Media, Mob or Court

I wasn't going to do this but ever since it happened no matter what's been released by the press or family the situation as it stands is not right.

 Zimmerman should not have been following Martin after the police told him NOT TO. He never should have exited his vehicle or approached Martin. After firing his gun and killing Martin he should have been arrested anyone else would have been just as procedure while the situation was investigated. Good Ole Boy network is good for something apparently the water is so muddy you could be standing on a gator and never know it. Without taking him in and getting the evidence from clothing and his statement this is always going to be a case of he said he said expect one person doesn't have a voice any longer. We the people have to step up and ask questions and make demands on his behalf to find out the whole story and get to the full truth.

Martin was a 17 year old, 6ft 3in young man who weighted 140 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a hoodie carrying an ice tea and a bag of skittles, walking through the neighborhood back to the house where he was staying.

At the time of the incident Zimmerman, was 5 ft 9 in tall and weighed approximately 250 pounds. he was licensed to carry a firearm but its not clear at this point if the home association knew that he would carrying it while performing his watch duties. It's also a fact that he made over 40 calls to 911 over the span of a few months.

Neither one of these men is a monster simply by description. Neither one of these men is perfect either they both have darkness and problems in their past but by actions one of these men is a monster. Don't join the mob, don't become a vigilante but INSIST on a search for the facts and INSIST that justice be carried out by law enforcement.

Into the mix....

Setting the Island to rights after the introduction of the serum and Poseidon's changes was difficult, but not impossible. Choose those few citizens who could be trusted absolutely to be sent away for the 6 months between gate openings was much harder. Finally the decision was made packs were put together of all the items thought to be needed to survive. Greece was a hard mistress to please what with the Gods warring among themselves over petty and trivial things. Their wars always seem to involve the poor citizenry that worship them and hardly ever in any good fashion. 

Life-isms and moods

Yesterday I had a real bad case of the I don't wanna's.No matter what i was asked I really didn't wanna. I didn't wanna go to the movies, I didn't wanna go out of ice cream or bowling or even for a drive. Today it's a little better but really I can't find much energy to do much of anything.  Is it a result of the changing weather or just  mood?  I don't know i really just wish it'd go away.

Plotzing

I've been sitting here today kind of making an outline or at least noting some of the things i want in the  first few chapters. I think the first several are going to change time periods till it catches up to where i want it to be.. ( a little more future than present day but not Star Trek future). It's been fun to say the least even though every time i think of something i end up doing research and then forgetting what i was doing.  Post it notes for my post it notes.  I wonder if their is a computer program that works like sticky notes??! Oh well back to the stacks and racks.

Theft - of mind and of soul...

Yesterday some friends had their role-playing group stolen from them. It may not sound like a lot when its written like that but when you look at it closely they lost a great deal; They lost characters, story that they'd written, pictures and comments from fans. Broken friendships, heart pain that will take a while to heal. They lost a great deal of hard work and on top of it they found out that people that were suppose to be friends, comrades in arms were nothing but lying stealing jerks.

 I keep asking myself why do people feel its OK to do things like this. Why does someone ever feel its ok to take someone else's intellectual property?  

Hmm Starting at the Beginning

 Starting at the beginning is kind of a new concept. I usually end up picturing a scene and building around it. Well today I started working on an actual chapter. It's going to take place before they are forced to sink the island. Gathering information about Ancient Greece has been interesting to say the least.  I may end up having to use a bit of Xena and Hercules to enable myself to picture scenes more clearly. 

Atlants (The Beginning)

Atlantis 199 

Maurice rushes in words stumbling over themselves in his near panic, "Your Grace, I fear the time is upon us, we must lower the city now or the humans will be upon us!" 

The old man had been his adviser since he'd attained office; he knew there was nothing this man would do detrimental to the welfare of my own health or the city even if the two came into conflict he'd explain and give other options. The decision truly out of his hands at this point he turns to the controller hitting a long sequence of buttons and nobs then finally pulling the long lever he sits down. "It's done Maurice! The dome has been activated and the city will start to lower itself until it rests upon the ocean floor."

It took 5.5 days for the city to finally reach the ocean floor; the sounds of the motors and the hum of the shield kept people nervous and active during times when they otherwise would have been resting.

Many months had passed, then a year it was a radical year of change for all Atlantians. With out the sun steps had to be taken to keep plants growing and blooms, crops as well. New spells were created and we now have our very own Sun that rises and sets that doesn't have any of the harmful radiation that the real on posseses.

Time marched on as it always does and a strange phenomena was becoming apparent... something about their lifestyle had stopped the aging process, people were seldom sick and those that were had dangerous life threatening illnesses.

Putting more scientists on it did little good they couldn't find the root cause of this issue not exactly a problem... yet.

It'd been a century since the city had been lowered a plague ravages the city. Maurice was taken this morning it's a most horrible way to end your existence. I've turn all the medical and other scientists to finding a cure and halting it or Atlantis just may end.

They came to me hours ago Ranulf and Ottomas they'd never worked together or really with anyone before both high ranking in their fields their cure/inoculation it was radical but at this juncture it was all we had. I give the go ahead inoculate every person in the city man woman child.. start with me.

At first there was no problem but hours later deep into the dead of night the pain hit... my blood felt like it was boiling then cooling then boiling again my jaw ached from being ground then stretched wide in screams of agony.. all my muscles pulled and stretched Gods please just kill me now!!!!

Darkness total and complete i couldn't even hear the ever present sound of the city shield humming.. was i dead? is it over? Oh gods, what have i done? Atlantis my poor people... I'm so sorry..

Slowly he eased away from the pitch black deep pit of darkness forcing his eyes to open... then crying out at the agony the light causes..he drops a hand over his eyes then slowly letting the light in he takes in his surroundings... He's in his private chambers

Forcing his body to find a sitting position he felt every ache and pain bone deep throughout his body... gods what has he sentenced his people too. Standing up he moves slowly to the bathroom on legs that felt part jelly and part steel a combination that just doesn't work out well not matter what you do.

Automatically the lights come on blinding him all over again sending his body reeling against the wall at the sudden flare. (it suddenly dawns on him he was seeing as if it was day in the complete darkness of his room)

Finally after many starts and stops he's able to take in his appearance... unchanged except for hair growth his once short chocolate brown hair now cascaded well past his shoulders down towards his hips in a near ravens-wing black..and his usually clean shaven face was covered in a bountiful beard and mustache of the same color. But its his eyes that really cause his to pause and ponder.. what were once the color of soft moss are now a deep forbidding amethyst.

Dear God what did that elixir do.. Poseidon father I'm so sorry!! He nearly falls over when in the mirror an image beside his own appears and speaks to him not just any image either but one that's easily recognizable as the one and only Poseidon! My son fear not your changes they are but necessary enhancements made to your corporeal form... The elixir that the scientists were lured into make came straight from my hand it was the only recourse in halting the plague and I would not and could not let my children perish unjustly.

I open my mouth to reply to the reflection when the flashing of pearly white catches my attention... my incisors are longer and pointy as hell actually a lot of my teeth are pointy. Looking back to the Poseiden's image what's happened to us??

 He lets out a booming laugh (Oh man this really can't be good) You've been improved my son, very much improved. you body needs blood and flesh now to keep it in prime functioning order. Your life is endless unless the husk takes more damage than it can repair.

 Looking over his new form his body was taller (That explained the pain filled bones and muscles) and much more muscular (not that he'd been a slouch or a bum before but being Ruler doesn't always leave a lot of time to work out) His long hair was full and shining darkest black with the bluing of a raven's wing and his eyes shone like the jewels that they resemebed

 Uh.. My Lord the hair and musculature and eyes? What's going on?

 Your form is the form of perfection, your eyes can see in the deepest darkness as well as day.. extreme brightness will require shades. You are faster, stronger and more gracefull than any being has a right to be but you are my children and give such perfection where i will.

 Blood and flesh are limited comodoties here in your city so i've installed a door that will take you any where in the known world you wish to go twice a year.. exactly six months a part. Today if you wish you could transport aparty to Athen.. 6 months from now that party could bring back a herd of animals when they return

 Judge carefully who goes and who stays ... you will require less vegitiation some green houses can be turned into fodder for herds Fish is also a flesh and one i suggest you start farming.. portals with air locks will make entrance and exit easier

 As for the blood... well its only a bit at a time two three good swallows... You’ll know when to stop and the taking of it is very pleasurable.. Find a companion or three..

WOW, Who Knew...

Scary thing that empty page. Who knew an empty box and blank lines could be so damned intimidating.  I guess we'll start at the very beginning then I'm Jarek Storme. I'm a budding author meaning I'm not published and my projects aren't finished yet but I've hope and time to write so I am.  What you'll find here on this Blog will be anything from a bare bones idea to some ideas written out and played with. So sit back buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Jarek