By the way…

So, obviously, I usually use this blog to post book reviews because it is something that I enjoy doing. Another activity that I enjoy is editing/proofreading and I have recently joined a website called fiverr.com, which is a website where people can post what they are willing to do for $5. The one gig that I will post (for now) is that I will edit up to 2500 words for $5. This can include essays, personal writing, articles, etc, as long as the piece is in English. I will go over the work line by line and make corrections, although the original author is welcome to ignore anything they want.

Anyway, my profile is at http://fiverr.com/kjoydevine. So, please, check is out and keep me in mind!

Writing Style and Fingerprints

I spend a decent amount of time in the fanfiction community. I read, I write, occasionally I comment (I’m really bad about reviewing, sorry). I know that sometimes, authors adopt fics that have been abandoned by the original author. I have no problem with this practice, but it got me thinking.

When you adopt a fic, there are several ways to go about it. One is to post what the first author has written and just add onto the end. But with this, I think that the transition isn’t very smooth. Writers have different styles. No two people write the same way, the way no two people have the same fingerprints. So you can tell, without being told, that one author has taken over for the other author. And it’s not that it bothers me, but if it were me, I would fuss about being compared to the original author and falling short. And it would really bother me.

Another option is to take the story and re-write it from the beginning, so that your style is the only one present. If I was to ever adopt a story, this is probably what I would do, because it would have me stamped all over it. Sounds kind of obnoxious, but there you go.

And I suppose that really great writers can adapt their writing style to match someone else, but why would you want to? It’s your style that you’ve cultivated and honed over the years, so why try and mimic someone else at this stage?

I’m not dissing anyone’s style. Each person’s is unique and different and that’s great. Because each is unique, I wouldn’t want to try to match someone’s or have them try to match mine.

Just something I’m fussing with at the moment. Feel free to ignore my rants.

Crossroads

                Chloe opened her eyes when the newcomer sat to her left. Without turning her head, Chloe addressed the Duchess. “Didn’t think you were going to come.”

                “You thought I would miss this?” Duchess Garnet chuckled and leaned across the circle. She cupped her hands around one of the white candles and gently blew. The candle lit from the will of her magic, burning indigo for a moment before shimmering into a normal flame. She leaned back and sat cross-legged like her companion.

                “Show off,” Chloe muttered, rolling her head.

                “Tell me you didn’t use magic to light yours.”

                Chloe pointed to the used match in the bronze bowl.

                “Starting the party, ladies?”

                Two more figures slid into the dim candlelight. Faith stopped and unbuckled her knife and sword before sitting down. Liana shimmied out of her heavy coat and folded it in half. Both women knelt; Liana struck a match and lit another candle, then passed it to Faith, who lit the last one.

                “Just the four of us tonight?” Liana asked, settling into a cross-legged position.

                Chloe nodded.

                “What are we here for?” Faith asked, nervously playing with her knife.

                “Inspiration.”

                Liana and Garnet nodded.

                The four women reached for one another’s hands, forming a circle. Faith lifted her face to the sky and took a deep breath. “We call upon powers beyond our ken.”

                “To reach out and part the veil,” Liana murmured.

                “To let in light and make darkness end.” Garnet’s hair stood on end.

                “And may creativity live again,” Chloe finished, squeezing Garnet and Faith’s hands.

                The candlelight flickered, illuminating their faces. For a flicker, an outsider would think the four were related; they shared similar facial features, eye shape, mouths, cheekbones. But blink and the likeness fades, for Chloe was pale with her green eyes and red hair. And while Garnet and Faith were both tan, Faith’s dark hair and blue eyes teased, while Garnet’s glowing indigo eyes intimidated. Liana had a coldness in her blue-green eyes and blonde hair that the other three lacked.

                Chloe smiled as they dropped hands and the candles flickered in the wind. “I think we’ll be fine.”

                Liana laughed as she swung her coat over her shoulders again. “I know we will be.” She swiftly buttoned up. “Now, my children are waiting to go tree hunting.” The candle in front of her sputtered out and her form slowly diminished.

                Faith stood up as Liana disappeared. She fastened her sword onto her belt again and fussed with the tops of her boots. “I’m about to make port in Port Royale. Good times!” Her candle died as she turned her back and walked away.

                Chloe turned to her last companion. “I know you don’t have much time and Timmy is waiting for you.”

                “And I know, like you, that time waits here,” Garnet kissed Chloe’s cheek. “Besides, I have more time than everyone assumes.”

                She blew out her candle and closed her eyes. Chloe felt her presence fade and sighed. She stared at her lonely candle, half melted down.

                “Been waiting long?”

                She looked up and smiled at her new companion. “I had company.”

                “I saw the lights go out.” Lucifer sat across from her and lit the new candle in front of him. Then he reached across and held Chloe’s hands. “What are we waiting for?”

                “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I should be here.” She met his eyes. “It’s about to begin again.”

                “Even more exciting than before?” he teased.

                “It always is.”

Fanon vs. Canon

So, yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’m so not good at this daily thing.

And I’ve been spending most of my time obsessing about Criminal Minds (I still feel it’s a safer addiction than drugs so I’m okay with this). And between reading fanfiction and watching the show (most nights of the week thanks to A&E and Ion) I’ve noticed a distinct difference between the two.

It is a case of Canon (what the show is) and Fanon (what the fanfiction world is). In Fanon, it is more reasonable for the characters to be involved in relationships, both within the team and outside of it. I can get into those worlds and not be turned off by the fact that Prentiss and Hotch are together or, my personal favorite, Morgan and Reid (I’m a certified fangirl and I admit it).

However, if any of these relationships actually happened on the show, I know I would stop watching. On the show, the characters can’t have relationships outisde of the job. These people are workaholics and the audience needs them to stay that way. I know that if the Morgan/Tamara Barnes relationship had continued, I probably would have stopped watching the show. Morgan is a playboy; he doesn’t do commited relationships on the show (and in fanfiction, like previously mentioned, I ship Reid/Morgan).

These two worlds can co-exist peacefully with me, they just can’t mix. On the show, Rossi can’t re-marry, Reid must be socially awkward forever, Morgan will always be a playboy, and so on. In fanfiction, the sky is the limit (I even found one where Reid is a vampire and it is pretty awesome).

Self as Character

When I don’t have anything original bouncing around in my head, I often write fanfiction, although I never post it. Part of the reason I don’t post is because I use the fanfiction as writing exercises and they don’t really make sense. I don’t timeline them or keep track of details, so they seem disjointed.

The other reason I don’t post them is because I often insert myself as a character and try to function within the parameters of canon as best as I can. It doesn’t always work out for me.

Now, the self-insertion is not a Mary-Sue. I try incredibly hard not to make her perfect, because I know that bothers the hell out of me when I read it. No one is that perfect; it isn’t possible. But I do like to put myself as a character because it is fun to see where I could go. The last one that I finished, my character was a single mother working to make a better life for her son. In the one I’m working on currently (it’s 117 pages and counting. It’s really pathetic) my character co-owns a boutique with her sister. I do try to make her successful.

And I only actively insert myself into fanfictions. I try very hard not to do that with my original stories. My characters have enough issues without having to deal with mine on top of everything. But working with myself as a character is interesting, because it is me, but it isn’t, particularly as the timeline moves and she gets older and I’m still twenty-something.

However, writing is writing, and at least my brain is creating something. Even if it is just fantasies.

Saphira Beccascant

This is the latest character/story that I want to start working on. Saphira Beccascant is the daughter of Darien and Lyra Beccascant, who adopted Garnet Ramses. If anyone read the piece on Garnet and David you might know a little bit about the place they live it. Except that Saphira lives at the Mage University Island, part of the Tigra Islands and freely admits that she has only been off the island twice in her life, both times to visit the Royal Family in Marclay.

So, the rest of this might ramble a bit, mostly because I don’t know where I’m going with this.

At twenty-three, Saphira is the oldest of three children. Her younger brothers are twins (I haven’t picked names yet, but both are very powerful mages and have left the University. One works for the Tigran government as the personal warder of the Queen and the other travels Marclay, finding ancient places of power). Saphira has not left the University Island and has been teaching for the last three years. Mainly, she teaches instruments and how to play the piano, flute and lute, rather than the magical portion of it. While she is as powerful as her brothers (all three have the title of Great Mage, like their parents) she doesn’t use her magic.

Part of what she competes with is the invisible ghost of Garnet. As she says, “My father never expected me to be him or anyone other than myself. However, everyone else expects me to be her.” Her being Garnet, Saphira’s adopted older sister, who Saphira never met. Garnet was dead for several years before Saphira was born.

So, I’m not sure what Saphira is going to do. First she has to come to terms with her magic and how to use it (Part of the reason she doesn’t use it is because Garnet’s minor magic was magical. And musical magic is not seen as ‘Great” magic, even though Saphira can bring down a building with the right instrument, intention and notes). Then she has to leave the island and her mother, Lyra (by the way, Darien is dead by now. He was nearly 20 years older than Lyra to begin with and nearly 60 when Saphira was born, I think. I have to check my notes).

Saphira has to become what she expects of herself, like her father did, rather than the dead woman that everyone else expects her to be. I really don’t want to bring Garnet into it much, only as a presence in the back of Saphira’s mind, much like I did with Opal (I don’t think I have anything on Opal on this blog though).

Hmm… I’m going to have to sit down and work through this one with extensive outlines and profiles. It might help if I name her brothers and flesh out more of her background, other than her parentage. Actually, it might help if I typed up Opal and worked out all the knots is that plot before moving onto another story in the Legion Jewels. And I know how I’m going to finish this: in Legion, where it started.

Skills Not Yet Acquired

A few days ago, I heard the song “Battlefield“  by Jordin Sparks while I was driving down Rt. 295 (construction is a pain in a butt) and I could see a Chloe/Christopher video playing out completely. The song is perfect for the two of them.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to draw/create them in a physical form and making a music video is a little beyond me right now.

And it’s killing me.

I could so perfectly see the fight between Chloe and Christopher; Christopher bearing down on her with his broadsword, Chloe blocking him with all her strength. And clips of Chloe and Christopher (in his saner moments) standing on their respective battlements, wishing and hoping for something other than the bitter war between them. I could see the wind whipping her dress and hair around, right down to the tears on her face.

And I don’t have the capabilities to make it true!

I have got to learn to draw. Something to do next summer.

The Need for Organization

This is a completely personal thing, but I need most of my life organized. When I write, I do enough preliminary work to be able to re-create whatever story I’m working on, in case it gets lost. Also, doing character profiles, maps, outlines and everything, helps me to figure out where I want the story to go and to have a solid foundation to go back to if I get stuck. And I file all this information away so that I’ll know where it is at any given moment.

My life is scheduled almost to the minute sometimes. Between work, school, church, sunday school and youth group, meetings and classes and assignments… everything gets organised into nice categories so that I can find time to breathe in between everything.

The one thing that isn’t organized as much as I would like are youth group meetings. I tend to step back and take a junior role, simply because I a) don’t have the experience and b) don’t really have the time. But there are meetings where we have very little planned and the youth just sit around and talk. They could have done that at home and I could have been doing something else with my time. I don’t really mean to sound so nasty, but I have moments where I think, ‘I could have gotten that essay done,’ while I’m at a meeting.

I really, really like my life to be organized. It just makes it so much easier.

Not What I Meant to Do

Kate’s journey through the Labyrinth is just the beginning.

NaNoWriMo

or National Novel Writing Month (November). 50,000 words in 30 days.

I first did this in 2006, but I haven’t done it since. Mostly because I’m usually involved in a writing project already, since I start a new story in September most of the time.

The year I did it, I started a pre-quel to my Draca Chronicles, about Chloe (the main character) and Christopher (the main antagonist), since their history before the first book is really interesting and somewhat complicated. I found that I got stuck about half-way through, around 26,000 words. On the other hand, I have a screenplay of it finished (I did that for class).

Anyway, I’m currently involved in the NaNoWriMo Fantasy community. I subscribe to the feed on my Netvibes ecosystem and answer questions that I feel I can help with, such as titles, character names and ways that I come up with plot and getting past writer’s block.

The biggest thing about NaNoWriMo is the community. It is a huge community of writers and it is really fun to be a part of. Even if I don’t end up writing this year (I’m working on my latest project, which involves vampires and gods), I love being a part of the community and helping other writers.

So, check it out, even if you don’t join.