Kyoushiro15

Beh, it's been a while since I wrote one of these things. Anyway, I'm going to be updating this with entries from my blog (which is primarily about my ongoing novel project IVAR). If you are a regular follower of my blog (or ever have been) you may recognize some of these. Without further ado:

Earlier this year (and for pretty much every year I've been working on this), I was struggling with how best to start off IVAR. Since I had first conceived the idea for this story, I had always had a pretty strong idea of how I wanted the story to start off and what I wanted the prologue to be. However, despite my own convictions, I began to think that maybe the prologue I had in mind wouldn't be enough to really captivate readers and hold them till the more interesting parts of the journey. So, of course, I decided to be an idiot and screw about looking for a better alternative.

I had been reading this DA journal post: link (WARNING: Contains spoilers for Game of Thrones), and I began thinking to myself: Well, gee. You see, I had never really considered the ways in which different authors structured their prologues before, or whether or not that was actually to tell the reader certain things. I mean, I always knew that it was meant as the introduction of your novel, so of course it had to have a hook, but to be honest I've never put that much thought into any of my prologues. To loosely quote a metaphor I read once, George R. R. Martin is constructing a house, with blue prints down to the last detail, while I'm messing about in a garden with all my favorite plants.

So of course you can see why I immediately panicked  and automatically  thought: Oh no! My current prologue isn't good enough! There's no planning here! It doesn't tell the reader anything! It's not even action-packed enough to make up for that!

And so then I spent about a month or so dicking about and trying to find a better prologue alternative. During that time, I also read The Mice Templar, and decided that maybe IVAR would be better off as a graphic novel after all (if it isn't already painfully apparent, I spent quite a lot of time flip-flopping between this story being told in prose or graphic novel format). Of course, in accordance with that, I still had to change my prologue to something more action-packed and/or likely to get the reader's attention.

I did, however, have a sudden epiphany where that was concerned, and suddenly, I had it! I would use this new prologue, continue on with the rest of the story as planned and, because this was obviously going to take more than one book, I could use my original prologue elsewhere. Perfect!

The problem with this, though, is that in doing this, I would have to speed up the story far beyond the point at which I was willing to go, in order to get to the action quicker, and that would necessitate leaving out some long-planned scenes and characters which I really just couldn't bring myself to let go of. Now, I know that this probably happens to a lot of writers. If it didn't, I feel that editors would pretty much be out of a job. But I like to hang on to things more than most, so, doggone it!, I was going to find a way to do so.

And then I read The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand's beautiful masterpiece, and it all became clear to me. These were the words I wrote down while reading that novel:

"This is a highly original work. It doesn't answer to me. It doesn't answer to anybody, only to itself. It is not new; there are signs of influence to be found here, but it is all me, and everything I want it to be. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't write this for the purpose of securing a publisher's check, I wrote this for the pure sake of writing it, and because it had to be done. I don't care what anybody else thinks of it. My only object is to get it done."

I realized that writing the story I came to tell was what was so important to me about IVAR, not pleasing a public I have never met (though I will concede that for the sake of publishing that is rather important). And I can write that story any way I see fit. Those that like it will read it, those that don't, won't. It was all very simple, and I had been stressing myself out over nothing.

Beginnings are important, but always choose the one that's right for your story, not one that appeals to your public but is otherwise shoddy.

I currently have 7 11x14in. canvases. I have no idea what to put upon them and I need some money so, if anyone would be willing to pay me to paint upon them, please feel free to. Prices would be negotiable depending upon what people want me to paint, with a $10 flat charge for the canvas plus shipping and handling. Please note me if interested.

I've been thinking about opening commissions for traditional pieces by me. Commissions would be fairly reasonably priced (I'll post samples at some point), and the additional cost of shipping and handling will be included in the price. Just so you know beforehand, all pictures posted on the internet would be of cell-phone quality, and so of course would be better in real life. I'm posting this to see if there would be any interest before I actually open commissions. In order for me to gauge this, please post a comment and let me know, and the more interest there is the quicker I'll work at posting those samples.

I copied this from un-do's post, so people who follow my journal can help.
Streaming here: www.ustream.tv/channel/skynnyapprentice

Our Kitty Tobias was taken in from the wilds on Monday and seems to be having troubles adjusting after all the medications, He went to the ER last night at 2 am, and was given some expensive medications.
He hasnt eaten since Wednesday, so if he does not get better, I'm afraid he might be in trouble.
But for now, I am simply trying to cover a bit of a vet bill from last night.
Come join the stream to watch, or send me a ref, and for $10 I shall do a little doodle.
PG Please.
(PG-13 for scary creatures only)
This is only going on today as far as I know.
Thanks all.
Please send all donations their way, I'm just spreading the news.

So, long time no Journal entry. Anyway, just writing this to inform everyone who cares that, despite the positive feedback I was getting from my previous webcam (and the fact that I myself have really enjoyed having it) I do feel that it's time for a new one. So have a Mad Men themed one that I made myself, based from a scene that took place during either the second or third Season 5 episode. (And yes, I do have tastes diverse enough to include both Lord of the Rings and Mad Men.)

I really enjoyed watching this scene, as it showcases how much of a phenomenal dick Don can be at times. Got a good laugh out of that, and I've wanted to create this gif of it ever since viewing it. I've now finally gotten down to doing so.

In other news, I don't know why, but this is the first season in which I'm finally realizing how much of a jerk Peter Campbell can be. I mean, I guess he's always put on a nice face, but in this season he seems to be just jumping out at you with a really scary and not-so-nice side of his personality. Rewatching scenes from earlier episodes in other seasons, I can now see bits of this personality shining through, but honestly, until now, I've never really thought of Pete Campbell as having much of a dark side. I kind of thought they saved all that for Don.

Ah well. Everyone who cares probably watches the show already, and they already probably know what I'm talking about, so enough of my ramblings for now, and enjoy the new webcam!