I was looking over my graveyard files today. If you're a writer and you don't have a graveyard or boneyard, you should start one. It's a place for you to put all your cut content. Remember that scene with the wallaby and the honey pot that you loved so much but you just couldn't work into the main story? Boneyard. How about that scene where the cop pulls over your main character, sees that they're a sentient donkey, and just walks back to his patrol car? Funny, but man, it had to go to the boneyard.
Well, I was scanning through mine. Man, my story has changed a lot since I first started. So much better, I'll grant, but I miss some of the little things I had to cut. And some of the big ones, too. Fortunately a writer always has a secret strategy: keep writing. I have lots of cut content from The Paladin that just didn't work out but is still good material. And you know what? It'll be even better when I drop it into the sequel. Need a quick b plot for your next novel? Check the boneyard. Need a great quip from your MC? Check the boneyard! There's no reason everything has to be lost forever. It's your work, it deserves to see the light of day if it's good. And understand, being cut from your novel doesn't mean it's bad, just that it didn't fit. I'm cleaning things up right now, making plans for the sequel's outline and my graveyard is like a goldmine. The next novel is still so open that it could really go anywhere, so working in ideas that didn't work with The Paladin, is not only a godsend, but a time saver as well. And don't just take my word for it. Keeping a boneyard file a strategy suggested by the lovely crew at Writing Excuses. And I can't tell you how many behind the scenes documentaries on movie sequels mention how much recycled content they have from previous endeavors that just didn't work out. You like Yoshi? Yeah, the dinosaur from Super Mario World. He was supposed to be in the first Mario Bros. Yeah. That one. On NES. The very first one. Hand to glob. The system just couldn't handle it, so he was scrapped, but my goodness did he return with a vengeance. So if you don't have a graveyard/boneyard, start one. When you cut some content, drop it there. Art work? Drop it. Music? Drop it. One liners? Drop it. Entire chapters? Freakin' drop it in the boneyard, man! You've done the work, no need to reinvent the wheel. Don't forget to be awesome!
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The idea behind Knowledge Bomb is to share information that I've come across while researching things for my novels. The idea is to share information that writers probably get wrong or just weren't aware of. Firearms was a popular one and I know I learned a lot. Today, however, I wanted to share some info that's been collecting separate from my research.
See, I'm kind of a nerd. I love learning new things. Science was my bag in school and today Neil DeGrasse Tyson is my patron saint. So when looking at fantasy I sometimes have an annoying habit of injecting a dose of reality, of science into the mix. Now, I'm not the guy that goes around saying "magic isn't real!" No, let's assume it is. I just insist that magic make consistent sense. All that is to say that look at fiction, especially fantasy, and question why choices were made. A trope that I see a lot is "humans suck." But what are humans? Well, believe it or not, human isn't a term limited to homo sapiens, which is what you and I both are (unless you're a dog capable of sentient thought, reading, and internet skills superior to a 65+ old human). Human, however, isn't our species, it's our genus! Quick science lesson: your scientific classification is broken down by (in order) Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, and Species. As humans, our genus is Homo. Our species is homo sapiens. With me? Okay, let's get to the fantasy. The same bit of information I'm going to share covers two topics. First, that we as homosapiens are somehow weak or fragile. The second, is that if there were other sapient beings, we'd lose to them (think Elves and Dwarves). Allow me to draw your attention back to our Genus, Homo. That means we aren't the only human species to have existed. Most famous were probably the Neanderthals, or Homo Neanderthalensis. They were stockier, stronger, and had equal or larger brain capacity to us. We existed side by side, in fact your genes contain Neanderthal DNA. Why? We had sex. Totally did. And when we were done? We killed the hell out of them. Yeah, we warred with Neanderthals. They had tools, primitive art, even musical instruments by some accounts. We killed them dead. But there were other humans. Homo habilis, homo floresiensis, homo heidelbergensis, homo erectus, homo denisova, and a whole bunch of others existed on this earth. What happened to them? Homo sapiens (that's us) either killed them, slept with them and then killed them, or just managed to outlast them. Back to the fantasy stuff. A great calamity hits your fictional world and humans die off. Doubtful. We've survived a hell of a lot as a species. Other races come to claim our land as theirs. Let me point you back at the previous paragraph. So when I see Jurassic World say that a few loose dinosaurs is going to transform this planet into a world of dinosaurs... no. We've killed worse. Planet of the Apes (the new series). That's almost literally what we did as an infant species, fought off competing homonids who wanted to the same resources. I know this is a little rambly (as all my posts are) but I hope you understand that, while its trendy to hate on humans, you need to remember just how remarkable our journey to the present is. It's inspiring, but also violent. Incredible, but also sad. I think the main problem is this: we think of humans as individuals instead of as this incredible macro-organism that we are. It's no stretch to think a single ant will lose a fight to a spider. But that's not how ants fight or operate. Humans are no different. Yes, any given human will lose a fight to a T-rex, but that's not how we operate. It's not how we grew, evolved, or shaped our world. We are one species, homo sapiens. Regardless of where we come from, we all share a history that's rich in love and art as well as war and death. But we must never forget that our infancy was one that forged our path in the blood of our foes, those stupid denisovians! Er... I mean... just remember when you're writing about how stupid and lame homo sapiens are, remember that we actually did overcome other races like a cave man Lord of the Rings epic. Don't Forget to be Awesome (because it's in your genes!) So yesterday I talked a bit about romance and whether or not it needed to be in stories. The obvious answer was "it depends," but there's a lot of subtlety to deciding when that moment is appropriate. I have nothing against romance and I make sure that when it should be in, it's in. But you know, there's something else that's just as important, at least for me: comedy.
Whether it's just a light-hearted chuckle moment or some full on slapstick, there's something about adding a giggle to your work that helps the entire thing just feel more complete. The human experience isn't all misery and drama. Marvel has been capitalizing on this concept for almost a decade now with the MCU. Seriously, here's your excuse to go rewatch a bunch of them. After every hard-hitting moment, they hit you with a joke, just to keep things from getting too deep. Well... most of the time, spoiler warning. Gah... I don't feel so good Mister Stark... So, is there comedy in The Paladin. Oh, you bet your sweet bippy there is. Is The Paladin a comedy or a spoof? No. I mean, not really. It's certainly not intended to be that way. Seriously, there are some dark, heavy moments in this novel. But there are also light moments to make you laugh. Why? Because even in a world of vampires and werewolves and demons, not everything is somber and depressing. People are surprisingly adaptive creatures and we crave stimulation and entertainment. Even in the darkest of places, you will find humor. Even if it's gallows humor. So when is humor appropriate in a novel? My cop out answer is anytime it makes sense. For me, I just let my characters decide. I play out the scenario in my head and if Reagan makes a joke, I let it stay in the novel. If Jonathan misunderstands something in a humorous way, it goes. Yeah, I'm anthropomorphizing fictional characters, but sometimes... I mean... that's what it feels like. Let it play out in your mind. Obviously, if humor would seriously kill the mood you're looking for, don't do it. Furthermore, if you're not exactly known for being a stand up comedian, maybe run the idea past a few people before you commit it to paper. Everyone has a different sense of humor and things can get weird if you try to insist something's funny. But beyond all that? C'mon man, just relax and have fun with it. A good writer knows when something feels appropriate. It's in their gut. Or their butt. Whichever is funnier at the moment. DFTBA Without getting too much into what happens in The Paladin, I thought today I'd talk a little bit about romance. Now, obviously there are genres that are built specifically around it, but if your novel or story isn't, how important is romance? It's usually a fairly trusty b-plot to fall back on and most people can identify with it, plus, there's always that group of fans that are shipping anyway, so giving them something to cheer for never hurts.
But what if it doesn't make sense? I feel like there's no pressure to include romance where it doesn't belong. Some stories call for it, even demand it, but others it's just not important. We have a society, especially the fans of fiction, that seem to feel like it's a given that romance will be involved. They'll peel away layers that aren't there to make connections. But that kind of makes the assertion that romance is something that is necessary, that if your MC doesn't have a romantic interest, there's something wrong with them. The truth is not everyone needs to be dependent on another person. This is coming from someone who has a lovely wife with whom I'm deeply in love with. I can't imagine my life without her. But that doesn't mean that everyone needs someone to make give their life meaning. Romance happens where it happens and, just like in real life, I feel like it shouldn't be forced. The fans can see it, the critics will call it out, and people who are happy the way they are will question if there's something wrong with them. Is there romance in my stories? Some of them. Where it feels like it needs to be, I include it. Where it doesn't fit, I don't force it. I don't know if I'm breaking hearts here, but The Paladin and subsequent stories in the some world are not paranormal romance; this isn't Twilight, people. If you feel like shipping my characters, go for it. But I'll only write romance where it fits and makes sense. I'll never write it in just to have it. Love shouldn't be a b-plot. It shouldn't be a plot device. Love is important. It's incredible. Where I decide to put it will be based on the importance of love and romance there, not because I "need" a romantic interest. But what do you think? Are you a shipper? Should all stories have romance? What do you think? DFTBA First off, if you haven't seen my official review, head over to GeekNifty to check it out, the link is HERE.
I have a lot to say about this title. That's usually not a good thing. See, I love Naruto games. There were a handful of standout titles on the PS2 and later that were really good. They let you explore the Leaf Village and engage in brand new stories. But so many just repeat the same fights from the anime in a set order. And let's not even talk about the Xbox 360 one that made you made you waggle the control sticks to form hand signs. Now right out of the box (or digital download menu,) you need to know that this is an online game. But I've played a few online games in my time, and the best has something in common: there's still a single player experience. This is not the case for Shinobi Striker. If you're not playing online, you're cut off from at least half the game. There is no dedicated single player experience. The game even forces you to engage in menus and screens that are designed for multiplayer settings. Cutscenes? Can't skip. Pause menu? Doesn't stop battle. Hub world? Barren and empty. But at least I can make ninja poses for the three NPCs around me to see. Let me try to focus on what I like. The combat is good. It's fun! You pick your role based on Attack, Defense, Ranged, or Healing type, then further customize your moves with pre-determined weapons and powers that fit in those categories. That's not the fun part. The fun part is actually fighting. The AI is smart, even as your companion, which can be a rare thing sometimes. Moving around the world is easy and intuitive, letting you fight on the ground, in the air, and on walls. I feel like I'm in a Naruto fight when play and that's a good thing! Your moves are a bit limited, but if you pick the proper "mentor," you can make a decent two-man team. But that's not what the game's about. The game is about an online tournament; that's your goal and the core of the action. You team up with three other players, fill out your roles, and fight in capture-the-flag, capture-the-base, and straight up fights. Earn rewards from winning and improve your character. Rinse and repeat. If you're not online, you're restricted to the VR Arena. Missions given by NPCs are played out here and, yes, they're all single battles from the Naruto anime. Again, beating these lets you get better equipment so you can... uh... beat more missions? And this is the problem. There's nothing to really do in this game. No overarching story, no meaningful progression to your character, and you don't even feel like you're part of the world. For one, you're restricted to the a single plaza inside a massive Leaf Village (tiny fences keep your ninja from exploring the metropolis). The missions you play in the VR Arena aren't real, so they don't affect any story. And there really isn't any story, to be honest. There's a tournament in town. Do your best. There's the story. If there's more, it's definitely not available to you offline. With such a great fighting system, the game could've given you AI companions to participate in an offline tournament. Or perhaps actually put out a campaign for you to complete. As it stands, the game just feels like nothing by side quests, as though the entirety of Shinobi Strikers was just a side mode to a larger, more complete game. DFTBA Well, I finished up another game review for GeekNifty and filmed another episode for C+ Studios' podcast. Tomorrow I have wrestling practice with my new students. Between now and then I think I might be able to sneak a little writing in.
It's funny, I remember in high school I would crank out hundreds of pages without any effort. Of course my work was pure drivel back then, but still, even with similar responsibilities (wrestling, theater, etc) I still managed to knock out page after page. I won't deny that I'm far prouder of the work I put out now. People above the age of 16 can actually read and enjoy it, so there's always that. But I do miss being able to just plunk down at my screen and knock out a few dozen pages without trying. I wonder what changed about my writing? Have I become more refined and just can't stand to put out bad stuff? Or maybe I've lost the confidence that youth once gave me. Am I totally certain that the stuff back then was bad? Or that the stuff now is good? Oh god, existential writer crisis! Quick! Think of something distracting. Huh... I wonder how long it'll take before people are shipping my two lead male characters. Okay. Distracted. Let's try to get back on topic. I guess the point of all this aimless rambling is that everyone writes differently, even the same person from time to time. My writing style has changed a lot since I was a kid. The Paladin certainly isn't The Adventures of Super Gecko. It has heart. It took time and effort. I cried and lost sleep over it. And in the end, I'm so proud of what I've written. If it takes me ten more years to put out the next one, I guess that's fine so long as I'm happy with what I've made. I don't need to judge myself based on others' writing speeds or even my own from youth. This is how I write. And I like what I've written. And you know what? I think you'll like it, too. I promise it's for more cohesive than this little ramble. DFTBA. Another awesome session with the Smash Fiction guys. All I can say is make sure you're subscribed to their podcast because when the match I was in drops, you'll want to listen. It's freakin' amazing.
Self-promotion aside ... wait. It's MY website, the entire purpose is self-promotion. Oh well, point is, next subject... The Paladin is looking better and better each day and my sights are ready to be set on the sequel. I've had a bunch of ways I could've gone for the sequel. I guess I'm fortunate to have a lot of options for what I have to write next. It's a strange feeling when you've accepted that your work is not only real, but worth your and others' time. When you start thinking about your work in the same way you think about mainstream fiction. When you actually dream about your story and characters. It's so strange to think that soon my work could be, well... real. I've heard published authors talk about "impostor syndrome" and I think I've even mentioned it on the blog here, too. I don't think I'm far enough along to really claim it, but I wonder where I'll need to be in my writing career to feel like an author. Will it be when the book is published? When I bump into it in a book store? When I sign an autograph? When I'm contracted to write the sequel? Of course, this is all assuming any of these thing happen, but... I wonder. Where will it be? Some people feel like a writer after their first page. Some not even after their tenth book. I wonder if I'll ever feel like I'm a writer, like I'm an author, like I'm a success. I don't want to be that person that's bragging about accomplishments I haven't made. I don't want to be the person inserting "by the way, I'm a writer" into every conversation. I guess with The Paladin floating in Pitch Wars limbo I'm feeling a little rant-y and existential. But you know, I think we're all entitled to a little rant here and there. DFTBA I want you to know that at this moment I have three microphones trained on me. And I'm considering a fourth. I'm about to record for Smash Fiction and the last time I did, the audio came out so terrible I was too embarrassed to listen to the episode. Is this overcompensation? Possibly. But in my defense, my setup decided to give me a ton of grief and not work. I've spent well over two days just trying to get my microphone to be recognized by any program other than the music program that comes with it. Success is... limited.
But on to today's topic. Seeing as how I have roughly half an hour before I need to trade barbs with some of the best BSers in podcasting, I figured today I'd talk about an underutilized skill in writing. Lying. Okay, stay with me. DO NOT LIE TO YOUR READER. That's a betrayal that makes your ending feel icky. What I mean is that when I watch television or read books, I rarely see characters that lie. Or at least lie with any degree of authenticity. It's always way over the top and over-dramatic. Lying is one of the first things human beings learn to do. Babies lie ALL the time. So why can't we portray proper lying in media? All I'm suggesting is that someone other than your antagonist lie. And that they do so with a modicum of believability. Is there a reason your side character can't lie to your MC? If they're supposed to feel some level of betrayal, it helps if that lie can catch the reader off guard, too. I understand it's a delicate line, making things interesting without being unbelievable. But I'm sure with a bit of finesse, just a hint of foreshadowing, and a good poker face, your characters can lie with the best of them. Don't Forget to be Awesome. Fifty weeks without missing a blog post. And also still not quite done with the whole "make a book and have people read it thing." But one problem at a time. Today, let's look at another great selection from the Paladin writing playlist. I've said it before and I'll likely say it every time I use a Voltaire song. I feel like this is cheating. Aurelio Voltaire's songs seems to almost be a ready made soundtrack to my stories. Obviously not every one of them is going to fit cleanly into my stories (Pooping on the Enterprise comes to mind) but it's a pretty decent chance that if you select one randomly, I can write to it. So with that today, let's look at (and listen to!) Feathery Wings. I have a lot of parts in my story that reflect on humankind as a whole, especially from the point of view of something entirely not human. Listening to this song is not only relaxing, but it helps spur the mind juices when I try to see what our little species of nearly hairless apes might look like to an outsider, especially one just trying to do what they think is right. One that is trying to either save us from ourselves or perhaps has grown tired and is just watching to see how it all ends. If you like something lighter than his usual fare but still deep, still meaningful, please do yourself a favor and take a listen to Feathery Wings by Aurelio Voltaire. DFTBA The Paladin is ready. It's in the hands of four or so agents looking it over for Pitch Wars. Well, the first chapter, at least. That alone is just... terrifying. But I have time between now and October when they'll get back to me about whether or not they like my work, so what am I doing in that time? Polishing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sending first draft drivel to the agents. It's ready to go if they want it. But I have time and a lot of nervous energy. So I'm combing through every line of my manuscript, for what has to be the hundredth time. I have to! I suppose I could focus on the short story or some other project, but this is what brought me to the dance. This is why I'm here. I have to resist the urge to make any big chances right now. I don't need to, honestly. I really, really don't. But I have this habit of looking at a scene, playing around with it in my mind for the umpteenth time and deciding "Ooo... what if he actually wanted to betray his friend all along? Well... I guess I'd have to change this here... and then this over here..." So I'm filing further changes away for later. After all, if I'm chosen by an agent, they'll have thoughts on the work and I can present the ideas then. If not, then I'll be free to change it again before I submit to the next group of agents. And there will be a next group. It's rare to get accepted on your very first query. Like catching-a-shiny-Mew kind of rare. But I'm not stopping. And if you think that a set back now is going to stop me from pushing until this book is published then... DFTBA
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Matias TautimezKeep your eyes open for my debut novel, The Paladin. Archives
January 2023
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