"Dark Knight Rises" Second Trailer Out!

I saw the new "Dark Knight Rises" trailer earlier tonight. It was freaking sick!!! I can't wait to see the movie. Bane looks monstruous and Catwoman, though charming, still managed to come across as threatening and vicious. I had no idea that Anne Hathaway could ever successfully play a dangerous villain, but she certainly managed it in the trailer. Check it out!

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/trailer-dark-knight-rises-hits-181716825.html

I Love Icelandic Literature!

BBC UK Articles Read: “David Cameron blocks EU-wide deal to tackle euro crisis” (UK Politics), “Fire at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital” (England), “Titanic project faces EU grant shortfall” (Northern Ireland), “Scotland storm: Engineers battling to restore power” (Scotland), “Miriam Beard jailed for Plas Madoc Communities First fraud” (Wales), “Third examiner is suspended after secret recording” (Education)

BBC Spanish Articles Read: “La jueza María Lourdes Afiuni, “la presa personal de Chávez” (América Latina)

Today I found an awesome anthology called "The Sagas of Icelanders." I studied Icelandic literature when I studied abroad in England and loved the books we read. I wanted to continue when I came back to America, but I had difficulty finding the books in libraries (I make it a point to read books before I buy them). While hanging out at Barnes and Noble, I found this and decided to read "The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords", which was an awesome short story about Audun, a traveler who risks the wrath of the King of Norway by selling his bear to the King of Denmark instead of him. Then I read "The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue." It's a tragic love story in which Gunnlaug gets into a fight to the death with Hrafn when his betrothed, Helga the Fair, is given to his rival. Although this was a rather short saga, I rank it right up there with "Romeo and Juliet" and Chaucer's "Troilus and Crisyde" as a classic. This anthology is definitely going onto my Christmas list.

Also, I plan to incorporate both stories into my own series. In particular, I will allude to "The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue" with Sandra's older sister, who is codenamed "The Narcissist." She, along with Sandra's other sister, almost succeeded in putting down Max in "Daughter of the Seven Seas" and was her archenemy when she attended Nineveh. Suffice it to say that you will learn just how ruthless she is in "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh."

BBC Research Completed

BBC UK Articles Read: “'No movement' in Cameron's pre-EU summit meeting” (UK Politics), “Kelvin MacKenzie 'should apologise' for Hillsborough comments” (England), “Lenient sentences 'hit PSNI morale' - Drew Harris” (Northern Ireland), “Attack on SNP over independence currency plans” (Scotland), “Welsh exam board WJEC's 'reputation at stake', says Leighton Andrews” (Wales), “Two-thirds 'fail new primary phonics reading check'” (Education)

BBC Spanish Articles Read: "Autoridades mexicanas presentan a tres involucrados en matanza en Jalisco"(América Latina)

A Change-Up In Order?

BBC UK Articles Read: “Boris Johnson adds to Tory EU referendum pressure on PM” (UK Politics), “Michael Barrymore admits cocaine possession”(England), “Northern Ireland pharmacists 'use loans to stay open'” (Northern Ireland), “Scottish government calls for school closures as gales threaten” (Scotland), “Paul Flynn MP apologises for Jewish ambassador remarks” (Wales), “UK students lack global outlook, says British Council”(Education)

BBC Spanish Article Read: “El rumbo del estudiantado chileno sin Camila Vallejo” (América Latina)

Today I realized that I may need to change the hierarchy of the Protector's gang. Originally, the character codenamed "The Court Jester" was her right hand. However, the Amazon is a much stronger and more forceful character, so I might make her the Protector's second-in-command instead. I won't do it in this draft, though. I'll simply note it for the future.

Epic Showdown Scene Reached in "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh"

BBC UK Articles Read: "Lord Stevens launches review of policing for Labour" (UK Politics), "London 2012 at risk of exceeding budget, watchdog warns" (England), "Northern Ireland teenagers' tooth decay levels among worst in Europe" (Northern Ireland), "Details revealed of major Scottish capital projects" (Scotland), "Cardiff waterslide woman jailed for £20,000 benefit con" (Wales), "National Literacy Trust highlights book-free millions" (Education)

BBC Spanish Articles Read: "México: Peña Nieto pide disculpas por un comentario de su hija" (América Latina)

Last night, I started editing an awesome scene which features a major battles between two of the main characters. It also gave me more insight into just how important Sandra and Max are to the gangs of the story. I decided to tell it through the eyes of "The Sheriff." Although doing this means that I need to make severe changes, it's definitely worth it.

Organization is Essential, A Close Win In Chess

BBC UK Articles Read: "We will 'get tough' on excessive boardroom pay - Clegg" (UK Politics), "England riots study: Anti-police anger 'was factor'" (England), "Top lawyer Paul Tweed acting for NI phone hack victims" (Northern Ireland), "Scots count price of independence" (Scotland), "NASUWT Cymru: Quiet revolution claim at Swansea meeting" (Wales), "'Coasting' schools told to improve within six years" (UK Education)

BBC Spanish: "El gobierno de Perú y los "antimineros" concluyen un día de diálogo sin resultados" (América Latina)

Milestones reached in Operation Abe Lincoln: 3

Over the weekend, I organized some of my writing folders and files on my computer. It's a pain in the neck, but necessary. Being organized not only helps you find things more easily, but it saves you a lot of time and energy as well. I will continue to do it throughout the week in addition to working on my books.

I also played my friend Bruce in chess. He said he hadn't played in a while, but I've noticed that chess players who say things like that are usually really good, and I was barely able to beat him. He had my king cornered, but not in check, and I only managed to win by constantly checking his king with my knight, forcing him into a trap where I finished him off with my queen. In spite of my victory, he proved that he could very easily defeat me if I had so much as one slip-up, so I will keep studying and practicing techniques so that I stay sharp.

Mayhem Bows To Count Bisping!

I watched the finale of "The Ultimate Fighter" earlier tonight. The best fight was definitely Ferguson vs. Edwards (although neither was a contestant in this particular season). That being said, Dodson and Brandao pulled off some amazing victories. In particular, Brandao submitting Bermudez by flipping him over into that armbar was pretty sick!

The Miller vs. Bisping match taught me a valuable lesson: always train to go the distance. Miller was doing fine early in the match, but near the end of Round 2, he ran out of gas and Bisping simply picked him apart until the referee stopped the bout. I was happy, because I was cheering for the Count, but I think Mayhem would have put up a better fight if he had simply done some more cardio during his training.

Overall, the fights were pretty good and gave me some great ideas for the duels in "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." I can't wait to implement them.

UK Research/Spanish Practice for the Day Complete!

BBC UK Articles Read: "Patients' NHS records could be shared with private firms" (UK Politics), "Oxford Street closed over crush fears to Christmas shoppers" (England), "Apprentice Boys parade for Lundy's Day in Londonderry" (Northern Ireland), "Highlanders receive new colours at RAF Kinloss" (Scotland), "Gary Speed: Football and rugby tribute to Wales manager" (Wales), "Catholic faith schools in academy switch" (UK Education)

BBC Spanish: "América Latina y el Caribe aprueban el nacimiento de la CELAC" (América Latina)

Part I of "A Valiant Effort" Nearly Complete, Awesome Discoveries In "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh"

I'm almost finished typing up the first notebook of "A Valiant Effort" and added two important scenes in "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." In particular, I found out a lot about the enmity between the Consigliere and her little sister, whom she forces to be her lackey due to an act of cowardice she committed when she was a child. Also, while building up to a climactic battle, I began to discover the personality of the Sheriff's older brother and his admiration for Lammy. I'll have to move the scene to a different section of the point, but I'm definitely keeping it.

Whatever Happened To Having A Sense Of Humor?

I just read an article on "Yahoo!Sports" which said that Melissa Kellerman was forced to delete her Twitter account after she tweeted jokes about being accidentally tackled by Jason Witten. I'm not really a sports buff, nor do I have anything against the Dallas Cowboys. That being said, she was just joking around! Not to mention that she wasn't the one who inadvertently tackled someone half her size, but that is a mute point. Also, from what I've gathered, professional athletes have pretty thick skin (they kind of have to, or they'd be having nervous breakdowns every five minutes). I don't think Jason Witten really cares that Melissa made a tough-in-cheek tweet that he might not be as tough as he looks or that she jokingly insinuated that he might not be the best choice for trust falls. Oh well, what's done is done, but I think Miss Kellerman deserves a kudos for having a sense of humor about the whole thing and not getting sue-happy (as well as being able to keep a straight face during this photo, considering all that is going on).

Click on the following link to see the article.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Cowboys-cheerleader-knocked-over-by-Witten-force?urn=nfl-wp12519

(Image from sports.yahoo.com. It is being used for "fair use" purposes only and all rights are retained by the copyright holder.)

Happy Thanksgiving! The Protector Accepts The Vigilante's Challenge!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today, I wrote a beautiful scene between Sandra and the character codenamed "The Protector." I had never really planned to explore the Protector's character, because she was just supposed to be in the backstory to "Black Swan Rises: Fionnuala." However, that would have been a mistake. The Protector is quickly developing into one of my best and most complex characters. In particular, her rivalry with the Vigilante has a long and far-reaching impact that will transform the entire series, even beyond this first trilogy. I continued and wrote a scene where the Vigilante throws down the gauntlet to the Protector through her messenger, the Consigliere. It needs some polishing, but the tension is great.

Enjoy your turkey, everyone.

"The Siren" Blazes Into Nineveh!

Yesterday, I wrote an amazing scene involving the character codenamed "The Siren." She is a relative of Sandra and one of her deadliest enemies. She is also the right hand of Sandra's archenemy, who is codenamed "The Vigilante." Without giving away too much, the Siren's character is definitely going to allude to the beautiful but evil creatures from "The Odyssey" that led sailors to their deaths with their songs. How that will happen will be revealed when the book comes out.

I don't really have a favorite character per se, but the Siren is definitely one of the strongest ones I have ever developed. As Sandra did in "Daughter of the Seven Seas" (which you can read by following the link under "The Few, The Proud, The Linkworthy!" section) the Siren also reached out to Max. However, the Siren's motives aren't nearly as altruistic. Quite the contrary, she sees all of the evil and sadistic acts that Max commits and thinks that they look fun! Desiring to combine Max's wickedness with her own "fiery spirit", the Siren's sole quest in life is to see if she can outdo the most violent student in all of Nineveh. Her actions eventually forced Sandra to make the decision which would determine whether she would survive her world's deadliest school, or die within its walls.

Another side to Cassandra's other brother

BBC Articles Read: "Barclays bank workers jailed for £1.3m fraud" (England), "DUP 'should reconsider £50 Poots charge' - Sir Alastair Graham" (Northern Ireland), "Most Scottish religious hate crimes 'target Catholics'" (Scotland), "Vaughan-Owen sisters' 'mistake in £161m VAT case'" (Wales), "Eurozone crisis: Cameron and Merkel stress unity" (UK Politics)

BBC Spanish: "Diez cosas que probablemente no sabía la semana pasada" (Curiosidades)


Steps Taken On Operation Abe Lincoln: 1

Today, I wrote three more pages in "A Valiant Effort." I also started rewriting the scene featuring "The Amazon" in "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." It really didn't need much, since it was strong from the get-go. However, it allowed me to explore a different side to the character of Cassandra's other brother, who is codenamed "The Outlaw." Without giving away too much, this guy is pretty much the opposite of Lammy. He is very violent and aggressive and doesn't give much credence to laws, rules or morality. That being said, there's more to him than meets the eye, and I was glad to get more revelations about him today.

Rewrote most of an important scene, Next one involves "The Amazon"

BBC UK Articles Read: “St Paul's Cathedral protest camp deadline passes" (England), “Executive agrees key priorities for government” (Northern Ireland), “Inverness firm hands over Spanish wave power plant” (Scotland), “Sacked boundary commissioner Paul Wood speaks out” (Wales)

BBC Spanish Article: “Tropas de EE.UU. en Australia: aumenta la apuesta estratégica contra China” (Internacional)

Steps Taken On Operation Abe Lincoln: 0

I wrote two more pages in "A Valiant Effort Today." I also included some more Nordic Mythology into "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh", as well as some Gilgamesh references. I rewrote the majority of a scene in which the characters codenamed "The Protector" and "The Court Jester" go on a mission. When I first wrote it, I glossed over the details so that I could move on to more exciting and emotionally powerful scenes. However, now the object which they are trying to obtain actually has a major impact on the plot. I only stopped because I really need some sleep. The next scene that gets edited involves "The Amazon." She wasn't a planned part of the book: she just kind of showed up and took over. You know you are writing a good story when characters are actually demanding to be a part of it.

"The Patrician" Rises, Will Not Let Her Sidetrack Me

I've been getting a lot of ideas about a character for my series, who shall be codenamed "The Patrician." She is very elegant and refined, but also ruthless and arrogant. However, I want to do a twist on the stereotypical noblewoman. For example, she is highly trained in martial arts and can take as many punches as she gives. She also has the street smarts of a mob hitman (how she got these is my secret...for now). That being said, I don't want to do too much at once, so right now, she is just getting notes in a folder. However, sooner or later, she will make an appearance, and her impact will never be forgotten.

"The Hunger Games" Movie Looks Epic!!!

A few days ago, I saw the trailer for "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Now, I read the book last year at the suggestion of someone I knew at church, who said that my book, "Black Swan Rises: Fionnuala", reminded her of it a little. The key word there is "a little": other than children killing each other in a dystopian world, there are no similarities. Even then, that aspect of my novel was only shown through flashbacks, since Sandra already graduated from Nineveh when it began. I read "The Hunger Games" out of curiousity and found it to be a well-written action story. Katniss' and Peeta's struggle to survive the games was engaging and the reality TV twist was new and innovative. Collins' also did a great job researching wilderness survival and it clearly showed in her work. That being said, I did think it was overhyped. I gave it a solid 'B', but didn't think that it would be the next "Harry Potter" or "Twilight."

Then the trailer changed EVERYTHING!

I am now hooked! The movie looks amazing! I'm betting that it will be even better than the book! Don't believe me? Check out the trailer!

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/movies-26594261/hunger-games-trailer-makes-debut-on-gma-27248969.html

More progress on "A Valiant Effort", Mentors for Sandra and Company

Milestones reached in Operation Abe Lincoln so far: 2

BBC Articles Read: "Man rescued by Birmingham riot-death brothers" (England), "Police in Northern Ireland consider using mini drones" (Northern Ireland), "MSPs clash over strike day plans" (Scotland), "Leveson inquiry: 'Brutal' for Charlotte Church's family" (Wales)

BBC Spanish Article: "Más cerca de los lagos de la luna de Júpiter" (Ciencia)

I actually read a lot more than that this week, but do you really want me to hunt through my notes and paste everything into one blog post?

Anyway, I was really interested in the Birmingham article in particular, because two of my British friends are originally from Birmingham. It was great to read about how Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir were good Samaritans, rescuing Mohammed Akhtar after he was brutally beaten and carjacked. Those guys were truly heroic not only for that, but also for trying to stop the looters during the riots, and it is nice to read about people doing the right thing in the news and bravely giving their lives to defend others.

I typed up three more pages of "A Valiant Effort." Got to the part where me and my coworkers are doing a summer practicum, which was really fun. I also decided to appoint a mentor for Ian, one of Sandra's best friends. Now Sandra, Schyla, Toni, and Ian are all paired up with older girls for "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." I now know where they get their respective personalities from. Sandra, like her mentor, is very protective and motherly, although she sometimes overdoes it. Schyla, like her mentor, is tough, hot-headed, and has a serious attitude problem, but always backs her friends when they need her. Toni, like her mentor, is very upbeat and funny. Ian, like her mentor, is very thoughtful, observant, and perceptive. Obviously, I am only leaking these details because these characters are copyrighted and already appeared in "Heart of Flesh." Everything else, you are just going to have to wait for.

Dos Santos Owns Velasquez!!!

I went out with a friend tonight to see Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. I had seen Velasquez destroy Brock Lesnar to win the UFC heavyweight championship, and while I was certain that dos Santos wouldn't go down without a fight, I was betting on the champion. So naturally, dos Santo destroys Velasquez in about a minute. Go figure. I still can't believe it. After clocking Velasquez with a right, he pounced on him like a tiger, pounding him until the referee stopped the match. So much for the epic, five-round encounter I was expecting to justify me not watching it at home.

(Image from sports.yahoo.com)

"A Valiant Effort" Takes The Forefront Once More, Fleshing Out Toni's Mentor, Will Zimmerman gets me hooked on "Sanctuary"

BBC Articles Read: “Harry Redknapp and Milan Mandaric in tax evasion trial” (England), “Fermanagh businessman Sean Quinn declared bankrupt” (Northern Ireland), “EIS teaching union threatens strike action” (Scotland), “Ysbyty Ifan honours El Bandito's memory with plaque” (Wales)

BBC Spanish Article: “La muerte de Blake Mora complica el escenario en México” (América Latina)

Make-up Articles: “MoD dismisses wounded soldiers redundancy plan” and “Minister Francis Maude urges '15-minute strike'” (UK Politics), “Free nursery places for 140,000 disadvantaged toddlers” and “Private schools cutting spending in downturn” (UK Education)

Operation Abe Lincoln results: 2 milestones reached.

I made the decision to continue working on "A Valiant Effort." I will still work on "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh" as well, but "A Valiant Effort" is my priority. In other words, if I have another crazy week like this one and only have time to work on one, it will be "A Valiant Effort." I also wrote a small excerpt in which Toni's mentor talks about the new leadership of the gang founded by Sandra's elder sisters. I don't think she's fully come into her own yet, but she is getting there. Basically, she's a free-spirited, happy-go-lucky prankster, but I want her humor to be appropriate to the dark fantasy vibe of the story (i.e. no whoopie-cushions). I'll probably have to write two or three more excerpts before she finally jumps off the phrase and I get to yell "She's alive! SHE'S ALIVE" and laugh like a maniac.

Late last night, after watching WWE Smackdown, I watched an episode of "Sanctuary." My favorite part was the backstory of Dr. Will Zimmerman and his relationship with his father, which was told in flashbacks as he lay recovering in Liberia. The main plot with Dr. Helen Magnus dealing with thieves and smugglers was alright, and it was certainly fun to see the main bad guy be an Irish mobster-type villain. That being said, Will (masterfully portrayed by Robin Dunne) was the one who kept my attention and is my favorite character in the show. I can't wait until next week's episode.

(Photo from en.wikipedia.org. It's being used for Fair Use/Commentary only and its rights are retained by the original copyright holder).

New Strategy for Operation Abe Lincoln, Max's Family Tree Done

BBC Articles Read: “London 2012: Torch relay heading for 1,000 places” (England), “5,402 outstanding arrest warrants in Northern Ireland” (Northern Ireland), “Lamont launches Scottish Labour Party leader bid” (Scotland), “Welsh government urged to justify spending” (Wales)

BBC Spanish Article Read: “Después de Grecia, el blanco del pánico europeo ahora es Italia” (Economía)

Steps Taken In Operation Abe Lincoln: 0

I decided to start reading articles in Spanish to keep my fluency. Also, today will be the last day that I have nothing to show for Operation Abe Lincoln except for a "goose egg." To be more productive, I'm avoiding Barnes and Noble until after I get work done. There are too many distractions there (such as "Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography" by Walter Isaacson, which I will buy as my reward when I make the progress that I need to make), so it needs to wait until I get results.

I also did Max's family tree. Her maternal grandmother's name may be changed later on, but for now, I just decided to put something down so that I can get some sleep.

The Consigliere's Family Tree

BBC Articles Read: “Lion sighting reports disrupt rail service” (England), “Lady Gaga dominates MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast” (Northern Ireland), “QC Paul McBride leaves Tories after two years” (Scotland), “Presumed consent organ donation to be Welsh law by 2015” (Wales)

Sunday Bonus Article: “UK could give £40bn to the IMF, Danny Alexander says” (UK Politics)

Total Steps Taken in Operation Abe Lincoln Last Week: 12

Today I did the family tree of Cassandra's nemesis' chief advisor. I'm going to codename her "the Consigliere" because, if the main antagonist's gang was the mob, that's the position that is the most similar to hers. She's also the cousin of Cassandra's best friend, Schyla, but they get along as well as lions and hyenas. Yangvaadans aren't known for having good family relationships.

Also, since I took karate for seven years, I read an article titled "Fighters in L.A. for BJJ tournament stop a robbery at hotel." Basically, two mixed martial artists named Brent Alvarez and Billy Denney stopped someone from robbing a hotel in L.A.'s Koreatown. However, rather than seriously maiming the burglar, they simply restrained him using holds and talked him into giving up his gun and the stolen money. I am thankful that they have embraced the true spirit of the martial arts (self-defense) rather than use this situation as an excuse to injure someone for the sake of showing off their fighting prowess. When I was student at the American Karate Academy, I once heard a story from an instructor about a teenager who slashed up another karate student with kamas in a dispute over a girl. I am glad these two men chose the higher path, even though they could have done otherwise since they were preventing a crime rather than dealing with a personal dispute. You can read the article here.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fighters-in-L-A-for-BJJ-tournament-stop-a-robbe?urn=mma-wp9093

All In The Family

BBC Articles Read: “Ed Miliband warns of St Paul's protest 'danger signals'”(England), “Lady Gaga set to dominate MTV awards” (Northern Ireland), “Ruth Davidson: David Cameron is not my boss in Scotland” (Scotland), “Tributes to Welsh Jewish leader” (Wales)

Steps Taken In Operation Abe Lincoln: 2

Last night I did the family trees for four of the major characters of "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." Cassandra's was already done beforehand; all I had to figure out was the birth year of her mother's first husband. Her nemesis' family tree was a pain in the neck, because her father (whom, ideally, I'd like portrayed by Kevin Bacon), loves to sow his seed, so to speak. Her protector's family tree was a little less difficult because it was a two-parent household, and allowed me to kill two birds with one stone since the fourth main character is her cousin. I still have to do a couple more family trees, primarily of male characters and Cassandra's nemesis' cousin. I can't wait. I love choosing names, in particular the challenge of giving conventional nicknames to unconventional names. For example, Toni's full name is actually Latona, not Antonia. On a side note, Latona is also the name of the mother of Apollo and Artemis in Greco-Roman mythology. I have no plans of working that into the series as of yet, although that may change in the future. At any rate, naming my characters is one of the most fun parts of writing, and the family trees allow me to do that, so I'm going back to it right about...now.

Nods To WWE/UFC In "Black Swan Origins"? We Shall See...

BBC Articles Read: “FA appeals against Wayne Rooney's England ban” (England), “Stars arrive for Belfast MTV awards” (Northern Ireland), “Ruth Davidson elected new Scottish Conservative leader” (Scotland), “Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match” (Wales)

Steps Taken In Operation Abe Lincoln: 5 (including 2 made right after last post)

Today I was really busy with work, so I didn't get very much writing done. However, I did get some ideas for how the fighting competitions at Nineveh Academy work. These ideas have not been fleshed out quite yet, but let's just say I am going to integrate my interest in WWE more into my work (cocks the People's Eyebrow). The fighting itself is going to be more UFC-esque, but the hype and drama of WWE is definitely going to have an influence as well.

I need to work out some family trees before I catch up on some sleep. Worldbuilding is definitely tough, but as we all know from "Lord of the Rings", it's totally worth it.

"No Air" Becomes Part of My Series' Unofficial Soundtrack

BBC Articles Read: “EDL Leader Suspended Sentence For Headbutt” (England), “Belfast Gets Ready For MTV Awards” (Northern Ireland), “Parties Urge SNP To ‘Think Again” Over Bigotry Bill” (Scotland), “Wrex Factor Win Lands Kayleigh Lebanon Snow White Role” (Wales).

Steps Taken In Operation Abe Lincoln: 5

I finally found the song that I will use as the unofficial theme for the love between two characters of my series. This couple is eventually divinely inspired to write the majority of the "Song of Solomon" of their God's scriptures, which is completed by a couple of the next generation. Ironically, it's a hip hop song, and I don't particularly care for hip hop anymore, even though I am black and proud of it. Nonetheless, it is freaking awesome, called "No Air" by Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks. I won't say which characters it describes because I don't want to give any spoilers. I will, however, give one hint: neither of them are Cassandra.

I finished reading "Gilgamesh." Epic win, literally (pun intended). That being said, the plot was nothing special. It is, however, redeemed by some freaking cool names, neat background in Sumerian culture and myth, and great descriptions.

Gilgamesh: Overhyped Story, But Really Cool Names/Descriptions

Four Articles Read Today: "DJ and TV Presenter Jimmy Savile Dies, Aged 84" (England), "Belfast Talent Agent Banned For Not Paying Young Actors" (Northern Ireland), "Scottish Labour Leader Candidates Warned of 'Ugly' SNP" (Scotland), and "Cymdeithas Drops BBC Licence Fee Boycott" (Wales).

Obviously, the above titles retain their UK spelling.

Moving on, I am almost finished with reading "Gilgamesh." That's not exactly saying much; the footnotes and introduction of the book are longer than the epic itself. It's really a bit of a letdown and, in particular, there's one ridiculous section where a heroic figure is caught in what I will tactfully call an "excremental deluge" from a giant bull while he and his friend are trying to kill it. Never piss off Ishtar if you value your hygiene. However, I am getting some really cool names out of it to use in my stories, such as Humbaba, the monster that Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill in the Cedar Forest. Plus, when I'm done, I'll get to brag to everyone that I read "Gilgamesh." I guess that counts for something...

The description of the underworld, however, was really cool, and I'll definitely be borrowing some ideas from that. I already have incorporated Ereshkigal (whom I read about on the internet before starting this epic) and look forward to adding more Sumerian mythology into my series. It's going to be awesome!

Bucking the Royal Trend

While doing my "Four a Day" regimen to keep informed about what's going on in the UK, I discovered that they are changing the law of succession. Now the eldest child is the heir to the throne, regardless of whether they are a boy or a girl, and the royal monarch is allowed to marry a Catholic (although they themselves have to remain Anglican because the monarch is the head of the Church of England). Way to stick it to Henry the VIII, David Cameron! (see the announcement at this url: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15493227)

It's great to see that gender quality is being recognized in the monarchy of what was once the largest empire in world history. This truly is amazing.

I do, however, realize just how ignorant I am about Britain's politics and monarchy. I have no idea who the 16 Commonwealth nations are (I would guess Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are among them, but that's all it is, a guess). Nor do I have any idea exactly how they were involved in this decision. I'm going to need to do more research...

Four Articles A Day Keeps Ignorance At Bay

Now that I remembered that I actually have a blog, it's time that I start using it again. So what have I been up to since September? I discovered Twitter (@blkprincerising), which is freaking awesome! I've also made more progress in my book, "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." About 105 pages worth of progress! It's awesome! I was also able to sneak in a character called Otter (braces for "Animal House" jokes). I'm actually going more for the Norse myth regarding Otter, a magician-farmer's son who was accidentally killed by Loki. However, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't first hear the nickname from that hilarious movie. I figure I'll be safe as long as I don't wind up with a character named Bluto...

I've also been reading four articles a day about Great Britain, one each from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. To say that I love British culture is an understatement: not a day goes by without me daydreaming about my next vacation in that wonderful country of direct and bluntly honest people. I stay in touch with all of the friends I made there and can't wait to see them again, which will hopefully be sometime next year. I actually read an article tonight about Phil Stead, who won the best overall blog award at the second Wales Blog Awards. I can see why his blog, Ffwtbol, won: it actually made soccer (called "football" overseas) seem interesting. Anyone who can not only get me to finish a whole article on soccer, but actually get me to enjoy it, has God-given talent. Pure and simple. Take a look at it here: http://ffwtbol.co.uk/

Leave Vader alone!

I've always wondered why the original Star Wars trilogy can't be left alone. Those movies are three of the best films ever made (unlike the prequels, although "Revenge of the Sith" was better than a lot of people give it credit for). Yet every time "Star Wars" makes the news, George Lucas is making yet another edit. I'll admit, the Special Edition films that came out in the 1990s were a substantial improvement. I especially loved the revamped Cloud City scenes and the Wampa. However, his later edits prove that if you sharpen a knife too much, you'll weaken it, and the "Star Wars" knife has finally been broken, as you can see at the link below:

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/nooo-george-lucas-makes-more-changes-original-trilogy-191605319.html

The best and most dramatic scene in the series ruined! Ruined I say! Why couldn't he have added a scene with Jar-Jar getting fried to death by the Emperor for the Blu-Ray release instead?! He would have become a trillionaire!

Let this be a lesson to all of you in writing, film, art, heck, any hobby/profession whatsoever. If the thing ain't broke, don't fix it!

No More Movie Reviews

In order to focus on "Black Swan Origins-Nineveh" and "A Valiant Effort", I am no longer doing movie reviews. I may do them again in the future (and by that, I mean distant future), but for now, I'm not writing them. Between working two jobs and writing two novels simultaneously, I am too exhausted to review films, anyway, so something has to give. Sorry.

First Trilogy now "Black Swan Origins", Completed Two Drafts of First Book

My "Battle for Cassandra" miniseries has been expanded into a short novel, which has been renamed "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh." It's still going to be episodic, but it is now the first part of a trilogy, along with "Fionnuala" and "My Sister's Keeper." Lammy's role in the series has been expanded, and many new characters have been added whom are awesome. In particular, the female gangster formerly known as "Bambi" keeps my eyes glued to the page.

I have also typed fifteen pages of "A Valiant Effort." I've been reliving a lot of my memories as I wrote it. I just covered the part where I did an unofficial photoshoot at the Osiauri Wrestling Festival. Georgians love black people. Being an African-American there is like being a blonde in Africa. Everyone wanted their picture taken with me and once I was even asked for my autograph. All the girls thought I was handsome, which was awesome (they behaved themselves, though-Georgians have thankfully remembered God's prohibition against sex before marriage). I would have been honored to marry a Georgian girl. Sadly, we were invaded before I could get to know any of them well enough.

I am waiting to here back from my friends and family regarding "Black Swan Origins: Nineveh" before I start the third draft. I can't wait forever, though; I will start by early Septembet regardless of whether or not they finish. I want the third draft done by late September and the final draft done by December. It's really short, so it's definitely doable.

"Battle for Cassandra" draft 1 complete, will be first part of trilogy

I finished the first draft of "Battle for Cassandra", which I will rename "Nineveh." It will be part of a trilogy with "Fionnuala" and "My Sister's Keeper." It is quite, frankly, amazing! Some revising is needed of course, but the basic plot is great.

Before "Fionnuala", Cassandra's nemesis terrorized her in Nineveh, doing everything in her power to try to kill the young girl. Of course, after reading "Heart of Flesh", you all know that Cassandra graduated. However, you don't know how, and it's a very complex story involving gang warfare, treaties and alliances, deadly spell-casting duels, and Lammy's legacy. I decided to make it the first part of a trilogy because most of the characters that star in "Fionnuala" and "My Sister's Keeper" are Nineveh graduates, becoming Cassandra's best friends and worst enemies. In particular, I get to give more time to Max's archnemesis, showing how, even in her early teens, she considered no deed too wicked to perform.

Writing Tip #16: Recycle!

We all have those stories that will never see the light of day. Either because they are too derivative, too offensive, too lame, or simply too awful, they lie on the hard drive, simply waiting to be deleted.

But wait! Is that dark lump merely coal that needs to be pressed into a diamond (rather than "you-know-what")? Don't be too hasty in deleting bad stories. There may be scenes you can use, characters you can rescue, spells that can be revamped, settings which can be remodeled or get a major landscaping job. For example, I once wrote a book called "Karah and Jesse." It was actually completed before "AIR WARS", although it was begun after I started that series. It was, quite frankly, a crude knock-off of "West Side Story." My own little brother, who loved everything that I wrote, grabbed it, ran out of the room, came back, and yelled, "Hey Michael, this story suuuuucks." Suffice it to say that a novel is bad if you have a gangster named Bambi. I never considered throwing it away, but I wanted to bury it in a box in the darkest corner of my parents' attic.

However, after I completed "Heart of Flesh", I noticed that many characters from "Karah and Jesse" were either resurrected as newer, original, and more tasteful. Cassandra assimiliated Karah's traits into her personality, and Nikki, who was Karah's best friend, reappeared as Schyla. Raf, a Hispanic gang leader with a chip on his shoulder (sound familiar, lol?) was scrapped, but his chip was given to Max. Cody, the cousin of Jesse, came back as Cassandra's female childhood nemesis and the older sister of her crush. I even found a place in Nineveh for Bambi, although her name was changed immediately. If I had buried the manuscript, the Nineveh stories would not have been very good at all.

So there you have it. Recycling is good, so do it!

"Innocent" edited and resubmitted, Max's archnemesis evolves

I finally revised my favorite short story, "Innocent." I got comments from my most trusted critics that, though the plot was good, the style was very difficult to follow due to all the flashbacks, so I condensed them into one to make it easier for people to read. Although I love experimenting with new and different ways to tell stories, my goal is to be read, not to showboat.

While working on "Battle for Cassandra", I discovered the first stage in the evolution of Max's archnemesis. After sustaining an injury that should have ended her career as a warrior permanently, she undergoes an experiment that makes her nearly impossible to kill. She is also assigned the task she must complete for her next stage in evolution: she must destroy someone's soul. Her sadistic mentor pushes her to exceed limit after limit of cruelty and violence, so I now have a better understanding of why she can torture Max so easily later in the series. It's getting to the point where I might have to reign her in a bit to keep MYSELF from getting nightmares, much less my readers. Fortunately, since she doesn't become completely unhinged until book three, I have plenty of time to make sure that she is portrayed in a terrifying but tasteful manner.

"A Valiant Effort" Progress, a tragic villain in "Battle for Cassandra"

I have typed up to the part where I toast Koba, my Georgian host father, in "A Valiant Effort." He and my host mother are the most loving and hospital people that I have met and I consider them as close to me as my real family. What I did was actually a cultural faux-pas; in Georgia, the father is supposed to do the toasts. However, Koba was very gracious, not even mentioning it until I asked him if I had made a mistake and simply shrugging it off after I fervently apologized. That's what I love about Georgians so much; they are extremely patient and understanding.

In "Battle for Cassandra", I discovered that the villain has an eating disorder. Due to always comparing herself to her slender and flawlessly beautiful best friend, this girl has serious body issues and struggles with bulimia. The saddest thing is that she is actually very attractive herself, but doesn't believe it. I didn't set out to address this topic in my work, but now that it has shown up, I want to treat it as seriously as it deserves. Like the other subjects which I cover in my work, this issue may not be very popular in Christian circles, but honestly, I don't care. Sometimes you need to go out of your comfort zone in order to bring healing to a wounded and suffering person. After all, that is what Christ did for us, so it is the responsibility of all Christians to do the same for others, whether they want to face up to it or not.

Writing Tip #15: Dare To Be Different

Nobody likes a knock-off. They might be cheaper to produce, but only because they are inferior, tacky, and ultimately useless. This is especially true in writing, and savvy readers will be able to spot a rip-off a mile away. If you simply copy and paste the elves from "The Lord of the Rings" into your fantasy story or have the knights of your universe defend the weak and innocent with "light-rapiers", don't expect people to get in line to read your story. However, if you bring a new and interesting concept to your series, they will be amazed. For example, if you want to create a fantasy series, instead of drawing from Greco-Roman mythology, try Nordic, Assyro-Babylonian, or African mythology. If you're doing sci-fi, flavor your work with deeper science instead of just rehashing "Star Wars" or "Star Trek." Or look at the advanced technology used by earth's ancient civilizations to gain ideas for what direction it would have taken if used on a different planet. Also, don't be afraid of creating fusion. For example, although I primarily write fantasy, I also love organized crime, so I use gangs a lot in my writing. I love biblical history, too, so I use events which involved ancient Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome in order to brainstorm ideas for how history on my world would pan out differently. Make your work new and exciting and you will not only attract new readers; you will keep your old ones as well.

Chapter 3 of "A Valiant Effort" complete, the Battle for Cassandra begins

I just finished typing up the third chapter of "A Valiant Effort." In it, I describe how I researched the history of Georgia, one of the best countries I have ever lived in. I was sold as soon as I found out it was the home to Kolkhida, known in Greek mythology as Colchis, the Land of the Golden Fleece. However, that is only the beginning of Georgia's wonderful culture and history. Not only are they the friendliest people whom I've ever met, but they are also the second nation to convert to Christianity, had an empire that spanned from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea during the medieval era, and had an amazing writer named Shota Rustaveli, who wrote "The Knight In the Panther's Skin", one of the best epics ever written. They have also survived invasions by the Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks, and Russians, growing stronger and tougher every time they come back. I am truly blessed to have lived there, and cannot wait until I can return to visit my family and friends.

I wrote the rough draft of the second episode in a short story collection titled "Battle for Cassandra." The two most fearsome gangs in Nineveh go to war over her, one desiring to protect her, the other desiring to destroy her. The stories reveal why she was able to survive Nineveh when so many people wanted her dead, even the school officials, and will also hint at what the future holds for her. I want to have twelve episodes in total, and wish to have the first draft complete by the end of next week. After it is done, I am finished writing about Nineveh, at least for now. Cassandra's legacy extends far outside of the walls of Yangvaad's most dangerous school, and it is important that it is revealed so that the greater purpose of my writing is fulfilled: to glorify and honor God.

Started typing "A Valiant Effort", found another actress I would like to cast

I finally started typing "A Valiant Effort." Hopefully, I will be finished within a couple of weeks so that I can edit it and submit it for publishing. I have also finally picked an actress who I would like for a starring role in my series: Renee O'Connor. Sadly, she will probably be too old to play the part if my series becomes a film, but ideally, if I could cast any actress I wanted as Cassandra's first cousin, once removed, it would be her. This person might not sound very important, but she actually is pivotal in the series. No, she is not a "Gabrielle" knockoff. She is much more intelligent, street-smart and quick-witted, and has amazing superpowers. Her mentor (whom I ideally would like portrayed by a young Kim Delaney) is more like a ballerina than a warrior princess and there's no "subtext", if you know what I mean. Nonetheless, Renee O'Conner would be perfect in this role, especially after the outstanding job she did in "Xena", which was one of my favorite shows as a kid.

Writing Tip #14: Create a Soundtrack

Music and writing are like coke and pizza: they taste great apart, but are even better together. The perfect song can inspire you to achieve new heights and stretch your imagination, so create a soundtrack for your novel. Choose any style of music you want by any artist. Choose themes for each character, as well as particular settings and riveting scenes. It will not only help you understand your story better; it will allow you to have tons of fun, too. Just make sure that you don't break any copyright laws when you do it (i.e. using music on your website without the artist's permission, etc.). Here's a list of some songs which I would like on my story's soundtrack if it became a film. Obviously, this is completely UNOFFICIAL and should not be construed as the artists' endorsing my work.

"Savin' Me" by Nickelback (Cassandra's theme)
"Midlife Crisis" by Faith No More (Max's theme)
"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot (Lammy's theme)
"Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit (Cassandra's sisters' theme)
"Number 1" by Nellie (Cassandra's archnemesis' theme)
"Going Under" by Evanescence (Max's archnemesis' theme)
"Burn It To The Ground" by Nickelback (Cassandra's other brother's theme)
"Jeremy" by Pearl Jam (Max's best friend's theme)

"The Greater Good" submitted, indulging my artistic side again, thoughts on Bane, Max's archenemy strikes again

Hello everyone,

I submitted "The Greater Good" today. It was a nice break from the dark, violent halls of Nineveh Academy and is more along the lines of the kind of fantasy which I used to write. I am thankful that I spent all those years learning karate and fencing because it really helped me add realism to the story.

Earlier today, I sketched a picture of Max, inspired by the photograph of Bane featured in this post. I can't wait to see "Dark Knight Rises" and although I was surprised that Bane was chosen to be the main villain over such bad guys as The Penguin and Mr. Freeze, I was sold after seeing this pic. Honestly, look at this sicko! Doesn't he look like he can snap Batman in half (like he did in the comics)? Also, after seeing Tom Hardy in the trailer to "Bronson", it is apparent that Bane isn't going to coast on his sick appearance alone. That guy scared the daylights out of me in just that 2 minute trailer, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to not only match, but surpass the legendary Heath Ledger with his acting in "Dark Knight Rises."

Speaking of villains, I wrote a small excerpt involving a confrontation between Max and her archnemesis, which made me shudder just typing it. The sadist manages to break Max without casting any violent spells or using any weapons. Aside from pinning her against the wall, she doesn't really lay a finger on her, mostly because she knows that she doesn't have too. My readers will probably hate me for what I let her do to Max, but I have to go through with it, anyway. Suffice it to say that she is a major testament to the fact that actions have consequences.

I am going to finish that picture in ink. It's my favorite art medium because it is so precise and detailed. I also love the strong shadows that you can do with it to add a dark and gritty feel to your subjects, be they people or buildings. I'll do more of other characters, but this one will, just the woman it portrays, will be unique among my creations.

(Photo from blog.movies.yahoo.com)

Not Guilty?!

I was at work when I heard the Casey Anthony verdict yesterday and nearly had a brain anuerysm when I discovered that she was acquitted for the murder of her daughter. Seriously? Caylee's are found in the woods near her home with duct tape attached to her skull. She does not file a police report for 31 days. On top of that, she tells more lies than a politician trying to get out of a public scandal and the verdict is not guilty?! I haven't been this shocked since the O.J. Simpson trial. On top of that, one of the jurors claims she doesn't think Casey is innocent AFTER the verdict has been given. No offense, but isn't it a little late for that now? This entire trial was a farce.

(Photo from foxnews.com)

Writing Tip #13: Cast Your Characters

This is a fun exercise that I use to get a better feel for my characters. Imagine that your book is about to become a movie and that you can choose any actor to star in it. It doesn't matter what era the actor lived in: pick them and add them too your film. If you want to go even further, choose a director, where you want it filmed, etc. The key thing is to have fun.

Here are the actors I would cast if my book became a movie:

Cassandra Grettirsdottir-Greta Gerwig
Maxine Njalsdottir-Serinda Swan
Lambert "Lammy" Grettirsson-Carlo Alban (The Panamanian dude obsessed with America who helped Michael Scofield in the third season of "Prison Break")
Eiric Bjartursson-Tom Guiry (the oldest brother from "The Black Donnellys")
Tzigane "Schyla" Bjartursdottir-Kirsten Dunst
Cassandra's elder sisters-Blake Lively and Lucy Lawless

Director: Mel Gibson (due to "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto"), Peter Jackson or Steven Spielberg.

That's only the tip of the iceberg. I have other secret characters who I want played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Christopher Walken, Johnny Depp, Leelee Sobieski, and Amy Adams. However, those are under wraps until "Fionnuala" gets published.

Now go at it, people!

"The Greater Good" almost done, Sam B breaks it down on "America's Got Talent"

I am putting the finishing touches on "The Greater Good", the final title of the short story about Prince Magnus. I love it because it is a return to my roots as an action fantasy writer, complete with swordfighting, spell-casting, and battles against demonic powers. I love writing the "Nineveh Academy" short stories, but they are a recent development and are really dark, so it was nice to take a break and write something more light-hearted for a change.

At church earlier today, the pastor gave a sermon on America's Christian heritage. He stated that 95% of the Founding Fathers would be considered Evangelical Christians if they lived today. The only ones who wouldn't be in that category are Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, and they demonstrated a growing faith in Christ later on. It was an excellent sermon and a rallying cry to bring God back to America, which is the only way to get us out of the total mess that we are in now.

I watched two episodes of "America's Got Talent" with my brother and uncle and they were great. My favorite was Sam B. He was a hilarious break-dancer who had no dance training whatsoever. Nonetheless, his jokes about getting ditched by women and given wrong phone numbers at the club and his outgoing personality really won me over. His dance moves were completely ridiculous and left me laughing for half an hour afterward, which is why I'm glad he made it through. The couple that did a rock opera version of "My Heart Will Go On" was good, too, although they shouldn't have chosen the most overplayed song in modern history. I agreed with the judges' decision to overrule the audience and push them through. However, the biggest talent I saw was the eleven-year-old Hannah singing a cover of an Alicia Keys song. It was absolutely amazing and I hope she goes far in the competition.

Anyway, back to writing. "The Greater Good" will be complete by tomorrow, as will "My Nation and My God." After that, I will focus more on books. My world is much too big for a short story to do it justice and making the 5,000-7,000 word limit is annoying. So I am going to have a publishable book ready by December. It will take a lot of work, but I'll make it happen.

(Photo from zdesi.net)

Writing Tip #12: Set boundaries

Some writers make their living through telling excellent stories. They develop awesome characters, create unbelievable worlds, weave plots that stick you to your seat better than four rolls of duct tape, and have unforgettable dialogue.

Then there are the authors who write smut.

You know what I'm talking about. So-called "love scenes" that would make an adult film star blush. More blood spilled in the first chapter than is collected for a year's worth of donations by The American Red Cross. Language more colorful than Joseph's technicolor coat.

These people appeal to mankind's basest instincts. They bombard your senses with more and more shocking material to either impress their perverted peers or their twisted audience. However, this not only shows a lack of skill and class, but is also foolhardy because you can only shock someone so much before they stop reading out of disgust or boredom. Just like light that is too bright with make you blind, writing that burns with f-bombs and graphic descriptions of female bodies will eventually sear the retinas of your reader. I'm not saying that all sex and violence must be avoided in literature, but just like a bonfire must be surrounded by stones to prevent the entire forest from going up in smoke, boundaries must be set. Most of your readers will thank you for it, and, quite frankly, you can do without those who won't.

"Whitey" Bulger Gets Collared, "Princess Eirian" Finished

I woke up this morning to discover that James "Whitey" Bulger, the last great Irish-American mobster, got busted in California. I was shocked because he had eluded the Feds for over a decade and a half, having had a tip off from John Connolly to give him a head start. His capture is proof that sometimes justice does prevail in this world.

I read two books about Bulger. One, titled "Brutal", was written by his protege, Kevin Weeks. It revealed just how boring organized crime really was. Basically, they would wake up in the afternoon, go around and shake down drug dealers for money, then drink all night and do the same thing the next day. They sounded more like overgrown college kids with a violent streak than the dashing figures romanticized in films. A more exciting book was "A Criminal And An Irishman" by Patrick Nee, who was Bulger's nemesis and later, business partner. Reading about those two trying to gun each other down was more entertaining and similar to the movies. That being said, it still took away the mystique of mobsters, revealing them as nothing more than crooks who are smart enough to know that they can rob more people together than they can on their own.

I finished "Princess Eirian" today. It broke another record: twelve drafts. It turned out very well, though, and I got to explore Max's character more and figure out how much Sandra means to her. It touched on her rivalry with Sandra's elder sister, too, which was key in developing her as a warrior and a sorceress. It was also a chance for me to throw in some Greek mythology references. Granted, I feel that those motifs are overused in fantasy, but the reason why they are used so much is because they are really good! Come on, who doesn't like Achilles, Perseus, and Hercules running around kicking butt?

Anyway, I need to edit "The Battle of Khorsabad." It features Magnus and also references Greco-Roman mythology, only with a bit more subtlely. I can't wait to finish it.

Writing Tip #11: Submit, Submit, Submit...

Once your story is revamped and at its literary peak, it's time to submit it to publications. This is everyone else's least favorite part about writing because they can't stand the inevitable rejection slips. I was prepared for it ahead of time and got enough praise for my writing from my classes and my friends that it really didn't affect me that much. However, I still got rejected six times before "Heart of Flesh" got accepted and another 12-15 times before "Daughter of the Seven Seas" was published. Here are some things to remember when you submit your stories:
1) You're going to get rejected. It's just like dating: you're going to get a lot of nos before someone says yes.
2) It doesn't necessarily mean that you are a bad writer. Most of the time, the editor simply doesn't think that it's a good fit for their publication. Even if you are a bad writer, you will get better as long as you keep at it and get a lot of input from your friends and mentors.
3) If an editor gives you feedback, take it very seriously. Most editors won't do this because they don't have the time or are sick of taking flack from writers with big egos. An editor who takes the time to offer you advice is genuinely trying to help you 99% of the time, so be humble and express your gratitude for their aid.
4) Be a good sport. Many writers burn bridges unnecessarily by personally attacking editors who reject them. This is not only foolhardy (they have more leverage/power than you do), it's also uncalled for and childish. If you really think they made a mistake, prove it by continuing to write until you get so good that you blow them away.
4) Don't give up. The greatest writers in the world have gotten rejected numerous times. For example, Stephen King's book, "Carrie", got so many rejections that he gave up and threw it into the trash. His wife actually fished it out and submitted it for him and he got published. Stephenie Meyer got 7-8 rejections for "Twilight." J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before "Harry Potter" got published and...you get the idea.

Obviously, the best way to get published is to have an "in" at a magazine or company or to know someone who does. That being said, don't let a lack of connections impede your dream. Keep sending your work out, no matter what, and one day, you will see your work in print.

Writing Tip Wednesday #10: Revamp Your Story

Ah, editing, the most important part of the writing process. Of course, it also has to be the most excruciatingly boring aspect of it as well. Nonetheless, it must be done. Like budgeting for an awesome vacation to Europe or the Caribbean islands, you better do it properly, or you'll wind up broke, miserable, and possibly stranded (figuratively speaking for the last one). So how do you do it? Follow these seven steps:
1) Always keep a copy of the first draft. That way, you can harvest ideas to us in other stories, recover important details and scenes that you accidentally cut in haste, and remind yourself of your humble beginnings.
2) Review the criticism that you have received. Accept the advice of the people who know what they are talking about and who are consistent with your vision of the story. Shred everything else.
3) Toss the junk. Fire characters that are lame, dull, or annoying. Remove scenes that put you to sleep faster than Benadryl. Cut dialogue that sounds like it was written by a dirty-minded middle schooler. Get rid of plots that go all over the place to wind up absolutely nowhere.
4) Polish the gem that remains. Tweak details, refine grammar, and do other minor fixes to make it as good as possible.
5) Seek more feedback and repeat steps 1-4 if necessary. This is a definite necessity if you are writing a book.
6) Leave it alone when it has finally reached its peak. Revising is like lifting weights: if you do it too much, you will only make yourself weaker. Trust your gut to tell you when it is ready and submit it.
7) If an editor offers to buy it if you make more revisions, do what they say unless it violates the integrity of the work. For example, if they feel that you are overbearing in the delivery of your pro-life message and want you to be more subtle, find a way to express the theme through the character's actions and their consequences instead of preaching. If they want you to change your pro-life message to a pro-choice message, find another magazine or publisher. Immediately.

Follow these steps and you will not only revise your story. You will revamp it and make it awesome!

Zombie story first draft finished, Baruir debuts, "Princess Eirian" has become awesome

I finished the first draft of my Christian zombie story, titled "Light of Dawn." I like the way it turned out, but there is still a lot of work to do. Also, I'm probably going to set it in another world, because I get bored writing about fiction set on earth really quickly. I also love the freedom creating another world gives me, because I can basically do whatever I want and make my own rules as long as I don't contradict myself. I also created a new male character for "Fionnuala": Baruir. The book needs a serious shot of testosterone because all the well-developed characters are female and, quite frankly, they need interesting men to banter with, fall in love with, and to teach them how to fight. The prequel story which I wrote about Baruir, titled "My Nation and My God", is a step in that direction, full of awesome swordfights, explosions and spell-casting duels.

I also got really into "Princess Eirian", a short story about Max and Cassandra that takes place soon after "Daughter of the Seven Seas." In doing so, I discovered that Max actually has three different names, which I thought was pretty cool. I also discovered how evil Cassandra's mother was, got to reveal more information about Lammy's spiritual beliefs, and introduced a key player in the shady underworld of Nineveh Academy who has a vested interest in Cassandra's well-being. I'm considering putting a miniseries on this blog called "Nineveh: Battle for Cassandra", which explains why she was able to survive in spite of having so many enemies. However, I want to finish my current projects first.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted.

Hiatus over!

Hello everyone!

My hiatus from writing is finished, so now I am writing new material. It's great because for me, writing is as important as breathing. Now I can complete all the ideas which I built up during my break, such as the Christian zombie story.

While looking at vampire vs. werewolf videoclips on Youtube, I came across an awesome song called "Midlife Crisis" by Faith No More. All of my characters have unofficial theme songs which I listen to when I write about them. For example, when I write about Cassandra, I listen to "Savin' Me" by Nickelback. When I write about her brother, Lammy, I listen to "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot. I used to listen to "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails when I wrote about Max, but after I heard Trent Reznor's song, "Heresy", I decided to replace it with something else. I haven't found anything that fits her yet, but currently, "Suffer" by Staind is the strongest contender. There is also a group called Bauhaus that might have a song that is a good fit. I'll just have to see. I listen to "Midlife Crisis" when writing about Max's obsession with Cassandra's other brother, who is the polar opposite of Lammy. He fascinates Max because he is the only student at Nineveh who is more violent and twisted than she is. However, in spite of that, he does have redeeming qualities that make him likeable, which I will reveal in future tales.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted.

Writing Tip Wednesday #9: Deal With Criticism

For many writers, nothing is worse than getting a critiqued on their work. They cringe and squeal in writer's groups and creative writing classes, gasping as though they are watching the murder of their firstborn. Or they become defensive and stubborn, either ridiculing those who dare suggest that they improve anything about their "masterpiece", or pouting and crossing their arms, turning a deaf ear to advice that would be beneficial if they would only be mature and listen. However, the fact is, constructive criticism is the best way to improve your work. Like exercising, it will leave you sore and exhausted, but ultimately, it will make you stronger. So here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to dealing with criticism.
1) Do listen to what everyone has to say. After all, they are trying to help you and can provide a more objective viewpoint about your work than you ever could.
2) Don't try to please everyone. It's not possible and will only leave you frustrated.
3) Do realized that it's not personal...most of the time. Generally speaking, whether or not they like your writing has nothing to do with how they feel about you as a person.
4) Don't sink to the level of the few bad apples who are taking cheap shots at you. This is fighting fire with fire: everyone will end up burnt to a crisp. If someone is really hitting you "below the belt" in their critiques (such as calling you names or insulting your family) it's better to go to the teacher or group leader to handle it. If they turn a blind eye to the behavior, leave. Immediately.
5) Do pay particular attention to the people who most closely resemble your target audience, or who have the most in common with your characters. For example, if you are writing about a teenage boy and you are a woman, or you are a man writing about a teenage girl, pay extra attention to comments made by the opposite sex.
6) Don't argue with the experts. For example, if one of your critics is a black belt in karate and he says that your fight scenes need to be fixed, don't challenge him on it. You'll just look obnoxious and silly. Seek a second opinion from another expert or do some research on your own if you want to prove yourself right that badly.
7) When it's your turn to do a critique, be honest and tactful as well. Your goal is to help them become a better writer, not to massage their ego or crush their spirit.
8) Don't be offended if they don't take your advice. Since it's their work, they have the final say, and they will face the consequences sooner or later if they refuse to fix the errors in their work. Also, sometimes people "see the light" after letting your advice sink in, so just because they don't accept it now doesn't mean that they won't accept it later.

When done right, critiques can skyrocket your writing talent. For example, when I was in college, I took a creative writing class in which there was not just one, but five or six people who ran circles around me when it came to telling stories. That was the first (and last) time in my life that that has ever happened and my writing ability soared afterward because they led by example and provided excellent feedback. So work out your writing muscles and find a group of great critics. Your readers will thank you for it.

"What Makes Us Human" Submitted

Last night I submitted my horror story, "What Makes Us Human." I wrote it about a year ago, so it doesn't count as breaking my writing hiatus. Inspired by all the buzz about "Twilight" (which I have yet to read), I wanted to see if I could write an original story about werewolves and vampires. I wanted it to be scary, but in a psychological way rather than throwing around enough blood and guts to turn the Atlantic Ocean red. I really like the story because it also explores a clash of ideologies, one of strict, self-righteous legalism, the other unrestrained, irresponsible hedonism, which are both equally bad.

I also got an idea about a zombie story (it figures that I get all my brilliant ideas while I am "on hiatus"). However, I don't just want it to be a bunch of animated corpses on a rampage. I want these zombies to be intelligent, cunning, and ruthless, masters of deception who lure their victims in with trickery rather than simply overwhelming them with brute force and numbers. Again, I want it to be psychologically terrifying, not graphic. I'm not quite sure how I will do this yet, but I am filing this idea away for the future.

Writing Tip Wednesday #8: Do Your Research

If you don't know about the topic that you are writing about, it's time to hit the library. Don't want to hit the library? Tough. If you want your readers to care enough about your story to read it, you need to care enough about it to make it accurate. Or, in the case of sci-fi/fantasy, you need to care enough about it to jumpstart your creativity by looking at facts and seeing how you can adapt and change them to make a new and exciting world. For example, in my stories, I researched the Assyrians and the Vikings to make Yangvaad jump off the page. Many people think that they can get away with just making everything up just because they are writing sci-fi/fantasy. The fact is that this doesn't always work. For example, I read a fantasy book in which a warrior disarmed a much larger man by sidestepping and slapping his elbow. As a black belt in karate, I know for a fact that wouldn't make me drop my sword. I would just circle the blade around and decapitate the guy. I stopped reading the book after that, and if you make silly mistakes like that, your readers will ditch you for an author who has more respect for their writing.

So how do you learn about your subject if you don't have the time to study martial arts for several years or earn a Ph.D. in physics? In addition to going to the library, you can also interview experts in the field. Many of these people love to share their knowledge with others, and can show you what resources will be most beneficial to your writing. Be sure to give them a thank you card for their help, or some other token of appreciation, such as cookies or something. You can also use the internet, although you will want to cross-reference the information you find there because many websites don't check the validity of their facts before they post them. Put in the necessary effort and your readers will love you for it.

Movie Review: The Italian Job (Original)

Abstract: Charlie Croker gets out of jail and attempts to perform a $4 million heist in Italy.

Pros:
-Phenomenal action sequences, namely, the car chase with the Mini Coopers and the raid on the armored car.
-Excellent acting from all the entire cast, in particular, Michael Caine as Charlie and Noel Coward as the uber-patriotic British crime boss, Mr. Bridger. Margaret Blye did a good job as Charlie's girlfriend, Lorna and Benny Hill was fantastic as Professor Simon Peach.
-The film was campy and hilarious. A man fights off criminal henchmen with a teddy bear. A getaway driver swipes a chicken off a restaurant table during an escape attempt. The tongue-in-cheek song titled "Get A Bloomin' Move On (The Self-Preservation Society)" is catchy and parodies the greed of the protagonists. One man's obsession with big-boned women puts him at the mercy of the Italian police. The British poke fun at themselves with Mr. Bridger's eccentricities, such as his obsession with the Queen.
-The scenes are very well-edited.

Cons:
-The film endly poorly with an awful cliffhanger. Literally. The movie deserved a much better resolution.
-The Italian mafia was underutilized as antagonists in the film.
-I have a hard time believing that wooden bats would be an effective weapon against the Italian police.

Overall: Excellent (4/5). Gold heist-$4 million. Movie-free on Netflix. Michael Caine as an action star-priceless.

(Photo from filmsdefrance.com. All rights belong to the copyright holder.)

"Wounds That Wouldn't Heal" Submitted

Hello everyone,

Earlier today, I submitted my short story "Wounds That Wouldn't Heal." I actually completed it a while ago, but before I sent it out, I did some minor edits. Nothing changed character or plotwise, just a few grammar things and small adjustments to descriptions to make the story flow a little better. I also reread a short story called "Rain" that I wrote years ago. It features a character called Lucina, who is a generation ahead in the series. I sent it to my friend, Nano, because she loves my stories and is an excellent critic. You really can't do better than a girl who has read masterpieces in over three languages.

"Wounds That Wouldn't Heal" deals with a lot of issues that I feel need to be addressed by Christians. Things such as bad romantic relationships and cutting. I've done neither, but I know people my age who have, and they need to know that Jesus loves them just as much as those who grew up in households that resemble the Cleaver family from "Leave It To Beaver." My friends from these rough backgrounds are usually very receptive to hearing the gospel from me just because I treated them with respect and kindness. They also appreciate the fact that I take their struggles seriously and stand by them while they are fighting to break free and heal. It may not be popular for Christian authors to write about those topics, but sometimes you need to do the right thing, even if it isn't popular.

On a lighter note, stay posted for my movie review of the original version of "The Italian Job." Suffice it to say that I had no idea Michael Caine could still be in his element as an action star.

R.I.P. Macho Man

Today, one of my favorite wrestler's passed away: "Macho Man" Randy Savage. He was killed in a car accident after having a heart attack while driving. He and Hulk Hogan were the first two wrestlers I ever saw on TV and whether he was in the ring, promoting Slim Jim, or doing a hilarious cameo in "Spiderman 3", Macho Man was always totally awesome. Oooooh Yeaah! So my prayers are with his family and may he continue to entertain God, the angels and the saints in heaven.

(Photo from Yahoo!Sports. The original copyright holders retain all rights to the image and it is here for fair use purposes only.)

Happy Birthday to...me!

Hello everyone!

Today I had an excellent birthday. My boss and coworkers had a mini-party for me and ordered pizza, cheesecake, and salad. The salad came in a doughy crust. It was pretty unique and tasty. I loved it. My boss even bought me coconut water because I love it like Kel from "Keenan and Kel" loved orange soda. I ended the night with some really expensive coconut gelato that was worth every penny.

To keep within my budget (especially after the gelato), I'll probably just rent a DVD. I've wanted to watch and review "Robin Hood" for a long time. Russell Crowe is a great actor and Kevin Durand did an excellent job as Little John in the clip I saw on Youtube. I'll see if the library has a copy. Next weekend I'll go ahead and splurge on a snorkeling excursion with some friends to compensate for all the swimming I wish I had done during Peace Corps. Lesson learned: if your ears keep getting infected, buy earplugs and swim anyway.

I will also look for a place to submit "Wounds That Wouldn't Heal." It's one of my better short stories and so far, is my darkest. Let's just say that the protagonist seriously needs to learn how to control her jealousy.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted!

Writing Tip Wednesday #7: Choose Your Audience

Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to post last Wednesday due to personal reasons. However, now I am back on track with Lucky #7: Know Your Audience.

One important thing to consider when you are writing is who you are writing for. If you are doing it just for yourself, that's your decision. However, your talent is a gift, and it's meant to be used to honor God and for the good of mankind, not to be a dirty little secret on your hard drive. Therefore, it is far better to show your stories to others, whether you are simply trying to make someone laugh or trying to expound upon the deepest mysteries of the universe. With that in mind, you need to figure out what kind of person you want to read your work. It is tempting to simply say "everyone", but that is not a good idea for two reasons:
1) Everyone has different tastes, so trying to please everyone with your writing is completely and utterly impossible. For example, one person may love your book because of all the swordfighting, and another person might hate it for the exact same reason, so you'll have to pick a side and leave someone unhappy.
2) It is far too vague an objective, anyway, and will make it very difficult for you to write because you won't have a clear goal in mind. It is like trying to choose a college with the only criteria being that it has to be a 4-year school. You need to use other parameters to narrow down your options.

So how do you figure out who your target audience is? The easiest way is to observe who is already reading your story. Are they your friends from Anime club? Or are they your coworkers from a major corporation? Are they children, teenagers, adults, or the elderly? Are they men, women, or both? Start from there and identify the following things:
What is their age group?
What is their gender?
How do they dress?
What are their key interests?
What other books would they read?
What kind of music would they listen to?
What kind of films would they watch?
What is their outlook on life?

The more you know about your target audience, the better. Here's an example I prepared myself, describing the audience I am trying to reach with the "Heart of Flesh" short story series. Obviously, you can read and enjoy my stories even if you don't fit the following profile.

Age group: Mid-teens to early twenties
Gender: Female
Dress: Sweatshirts/T-shirts and blue jeans. Multiple piercings and tattoos. Dyed hair. They make up their own style rather than following trends.
Key interests: Traveling, art, history, religion/mythology, other languages and cultures, martial arts/working out, video games, and, of course, sci-fi/fantasy
What other books would they read: "Dune", "Lord of the Rings", "The Chronicles of Prydain" ("The Book of Three", etc.), "The Outsiders", "That Was Then, This is Now"
What kind of music would they listen to: Hard Rock (Industrial Rock, in particular)
What kind of films would they watch: Deep, thought-provoking films like "Infernal Affairs", "A Bronx Tale", "The Dark Knight", and "Fireproof."
Outlook on life: This girl will be unusually intelligent, mature and sophisticated for her age. She prefers having a few really close friends to being popular with a million acquaintances. She has some "guy" interests, but still has a gentle, caring, and perceptive heart. She may not be particularly religious, but is seeking the truth, and will be restless until she finds it.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted.

Movie Review: Hop

Abstract: Fred O'Hare tells how he became the first human Easter Bunny with the help of his furry friend, E.B.

Pros:
-Great acting all around, in particular from James Marsden as Fred, Russell Brand as E.B., Hank Azariah as Carlos, and Kaley Cuoco as Fred's sister, Sam.
-Many hilarious scenes, such as the one where Fred and E.B. inadvertently upstage a grade school play, the auditions at "Hoff Knows Talent", in which David Hasselhoff makes a great cameo and an inside joke to "Knight Rider", and a creative resolution to the "Bunny vs. Chick" war at the end.
-Beautiful animation. In particular, the Easter Island factory, the bunnies and the chicks, and the Egg sleigh were amazing.
-An unintentional but hilarious Christian parallel in which E.B.'s father confessed that they "haven't cracked China yet" after it is shown that the holiday is not very popular there.

Cons:
-The movie's greatest selling point, which was the battle for Easter between the bunnies and the chicks, barely even got off the ground. Literally. This conflict appeared much more central to the plot of the film in the trailers than it actually was, and deserved more attention than it got.
-Although E.B.'s attempt to get shelter in the Playboy mansion because he considered himself a "sexy bunny" was humorous, it was still grossly inappropriate for a children's movie.
-Many aspects of the plot were derivative from other children's films. For example, a son doesn't want to follow his father in the family business, even though it is magical. A talking creature pretends to be a stuffed animal when a character's relative walks into the room. There are more, but that would involve spoilers.
-The female characters (even the adorably deadly "Pink Berets") were all depicted as driven, intelligent, and confident whereas the male characters were depicted as childish, immature, lazy, and irresponsible. It's great to have strong female characters, which is why I will say that it is more effective when it is done without putting down the entire male gender in the process.

Overall: Decent. A bit of a letdown from the trailers, but still enjoyable due to the humor.

Osama Bin Busted; Is "Ecgtheow's Way" the path to victory?

I was up late last night revising my entry for the 80th Annual Writer's Digest competition when I overheard that Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan from my grandma's TV.

"No way!" I thought, having come to the belief several years ago that he had starved to death in a cave somewhere in the mountains and would never be found.

I immediately turned on the TV in the living room and turned to ABC. Indeed, it had finally happened! Osama Bin Laden, the evil leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed in Abbottabad, a city outside of Islamabad. President Obama ordered the attack that day and the world's most vile terrorist was killed in the ensuing shootout. I watched the President's speech and immediately started chanting "USA! USA!" Finally, all those murdered on September 11 have received justice. Finally, all the hard work and sacrifices of the brave American men and women (such as my childhood friend, Sarah) and our allies who served in Afghanistan have paid off and borne the ultimate fruit. I have never been more proud to be an American than I am now. Don't mess with the U.S.!

After watching the news, I submitted "Ecgtheow's Way." Now, Writer's Digest competitions are the WWE of the writing world. I knew that I was competing against the best of the best when I sent in my story. That's why I did some serious revision. The plot stayed the same, but I added a lot of backstory so that the reader would better understand how Max winds up in the dilemna she is in. The story takes place seven years after "Daughter of the Seven Seas", when both Max and Sandra are teenagers. It is also the debut of Max's ruthless and cunning best friend, who ruled Nineveh Academy with an iron fist and terrorized Sandra throughout her entire childhood. I thought it was excellent before, but now that I made the necessary changes, it is absolutely phenomenal. Anything can happen in this competition, but I am confident that it will win. If it doesn't, I am certain that I can get it published.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my review of "Hop." Not to give too much away, but Hank Azariah never ceases to amaze me.

Long Live The Future King and Queen of England!

Hello everyone!

Today I woke up extra early to watch the royal wedding. It was totally worth it. I've been looking forward to watching it for days. I mean, seriously! A woman from a self-made family falls in love and gets to marry a prince in real life! How cool is that? On top of that, I've read a lot of good things about Prince William, from him serving in the military to sneaking out and sleeping on the streets of London to understand the plight of the poor. I will be praying that they have a wonderful marriage.

There was also a bit of humor at this historic, enchanting event, which occurred at the most important part: the kiss. I actually was bummed out, because I thought I had missed it. However, I then found out that they weren't actually going to kiss until they arrived at Buckingham Palace. When it finally happened, I applauded and whooped from the seat of my couch. Then I laughed when Piers Morgan and his fellow reporters got into an argument over the couple's kiss.

"It was a great kiss!" Piers said emphatically, "It was a great, big juicy smacker!"

I personally agreed with Piers, but his fellow reporters were not impressed, and neither was the crowd in attendance.

"Kiss again! Kiss again!" They chanted.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge obliged, and indeed, the second kiss was even better. It was a fitting end to a celebration that boasted the kind of class and fanfare that only the British could truly pull off.

To all my readers and friends, I wish you all a Happy Royal Wedding Day, and God bless Prince William and Princess Kate!

*The picture used is from Yahoo!News. I claim no rights of ownership over the image and am posting it for the fair use purpose of commentary only.

Writing Tip Wednesday #6: Talk the Talk

The dialogue of your story will probably be what your readers remember the most. It is the chief way to reveal the heart of the characters, a vivid way to show off the setting, and key to setting up the action sequences. That is why you want to make sure that it is interesting and properly utilized. Many books I have read failed at this because either:
1) The dialogue was full of cliches
2) There wasn't enough of it
3) There was too much of it
4) It was absurd/unbelievable/gross

So what is the solution to avoiding those pitfalls. Basically, do the opposite of what was described above.
1) Use original and vivid dialogue. If you are writing sci-fi/fantasy, really work hard at creating slang to expand and grow your reader's mind and imagination. If you are writing realistic/historical fiction, you have a tougher job to do, but try to utilize the lesser known dialects of the place you are writing about for some local flavor.
2) Use enough of the dialogue to keep the story moving. If no one has said anything for two pages and the setting has been described all the way down to how the light glimmers off the wings of the fly eating the protagonist's cheesecake, it's time to ditch the awkward pause and make the characters say something.
3) At the same time, don't bore the reader witless with a character who is a blabbermouth, blowhard, or chatterbox. In particular, if you are ramming a worldview down someone's throat (even if it's a Christian worldview), you are asking to be thrown into the trash can. Use pointed, insightful words to get your point across and don't beat your subjects to death. If you need to use a Mongol warrior or car chase to knock your protagonist off their high horse so you can move the story forward, so be it.
4) Be tasteful. Don't throw in the foulest, grossest words you can think of just to shock your reader. Those who are decent human beings will eventually toss your book (and lose their lunch) and those who aren't will get bored once they get their cheap thrill and move on to the next perverted book. Neither will be likely to return to read your story again. Think of it this way: who gets married in the end? The fun, kind, interesting, and decent girl, or the floozie who is drunk and strung out on drugs all the time? The hardworking, adventurous, ambitious young man with a career and a house or the bad boy who is always in and out of jail (and his mother's house)? Just like dating, readers ultimately always want the book that is enjoyable and has a good heart. So ditch the leather jacket and the tube top and wear a dress shirt or a nice blouse for a change, eh? Keep your dialogue clean and fun.

Writing Tip Wednesday #5: Drive Your Plot With Conflict

If you want an interesting plot, conflict is essential. Whether you are creating a comic book or an epic series of novels, you are going to need it. Not only must it be believable, but it should also be appropriate for your target audience. For example, it's best not to use a dark, psychological conflict between a repentant assassin and his sadistic, serial-killing ex-girlfriend for a children's book. Likewise, you would be better off not having a bunch of cute little bunny-wunny wizards face off against an adorably wicked warlock kitty in your story if you are writing for teenagers or college students. You need to adapt your conflict so that your audience will actually enjoy reading your story.

There are four basic types of conflict, which are as follows:

Man vs. Man: This is the most common one. One hero faces off against a villain with the stakes ranging from a sports' trophy, a girlfriend, perhaps even the universe.

Example: Bryon's conflict with his best friend, Mark, in "That was Then, This Is Now" by S.E. Hinton.

Man vs. Society: The hero faces off against their family, their culture, or their country. Often, it is in defiance of racism, class warfare, and religious intolerance.

Example: Huckleberry Finn having to decide whether or not he'll turn in his friend Jim, a runaway slave in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.

Man vs. Nature/Science: The hero takes on wild beasts, natural disasters, supernatural beings, or technological forces run amok.

Example: "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov, in which the scientists need to deal all the mishaps that result from their mechanical creations.

Man vs. Self: The hero battles the darkness within, trying to overcome a side of themself that, if left unchecked, will ultimately destroy them. This is the rarest type of conflict in storytelling and the hardest one to write about.

Example: Spiderman's struggle with his thirst for revenge in "Spiderman 3."

There are infinite ways you can use each one of the above conflicts in your story. The key is to use the one that not only fits your genre of writing, but pushes it to a whole new level. Don't just fit into the mold. Learn it and break it!

Movie Review: Arthur

Abstract: Arthur must choose between inheriting $950,000 at the cost of marrying a ruthless businesswoman, or pursuing the aspiring author whom he loves and losing his entire fortune.

Pros:

-The movie was ridiculously funny. The most hilarious scene was Susan's drunken attempt to seduce author when Naomi came over to visit. Other great scenes were the book signing near the end, the engagement photoshoot and date night at Grand Central, which you must see to believe.

-Great acting from Russell Brand as Arthur, Jennifer Garner as Susan, and Helen Mirren as Hobson. Greta Gerwig gave a heroic effort with what she had to work with as Naomi, which really wasn't much. Luis Guzman and Nick Nolte were hilarious in minor roles.

-The plot was great, with an ending that was more sobering than expected, literally. Also, the use of "The Frog and the Toad" for Arthur and Naomi's relationship was a nice touch.

Cons:

-The humor got excessively crude at times.
-Naomi's character came across as really cliche. She was a free spirit who aspired to write children's books. Dull.
-Arthur makes a wisecrack about nails making Jesus famous.
-Mild swearing, some from the mouths of little kids.

Overall: Excellent. An absolutely hilarious movie.

Return of the Movie Critic!

I'm going to be doing movie reviews again. I found a cheap theatre in my area where I can watch new releases for $5.00 before 6:00 on Saturdays and my library has a fairly decent dvd collection. Doing this is going to be my reward for working on "Project Tarsus", during the week. My review of "Arthur", will be posted tomorrow. However, in the future, the reviews will be posted on the weekends.

Writing Tip Wednesday #4: Explore Your World

Whether it is a real place (such as Oklahoma, where "The Outsiders" takes place), or a fictional world (such as Tatooine), the setting is where your characters live and where they develop much of their personality. Therefore, you need to know it inside and out. If it is a real place, the best way to do this is to visit and observe the area. Some authors go as far as to deliberately get lost in their locale, and try to find their way back to their hotel so that they get a good sense of it. However, if your finances are limited, less adventurous, or you are writing about a place in a previous era, it would be more practical to go to the library and do some serious research. In particular, find books with lots of photographs, and make copies of them which you can take home and keep with your notes. If you are making your setting up, draw detailed maps. Don't worry if they don't look like an artistic masterpiece. You are trying to develop a story, not get an A in art class. Additionally, draw sketches of what the people wear, what kind of creatures live there, and what the buildings and landscape look like. To go even further, make notes on the government, the social hierarchy, the local cuisine, how the world's magic/technology works (if applicable), the people's religions and mythology, etc. The key thing is to be consistent and detailed. Describe your setting so vividly that the reader actually lives in it as they read your story. If you do this properly, they'll never want to leave.