Shanung has a meeting with some of his most trusted members. There’s Mourn, a woman of the ‘third-culture’ (a group of rebellious young Shiirati that dislike the old traditions they were raised on). There’s Cyronil, her boyfriend that she indoctrinated into the third-culture. There’s Eth, an analytical, highly intelligent man who’s only ambition is to study literature abroad. And, of course, there’s Marrow.

Writing dialogue between five people was quite a challenge. In fact, I used to rewrite this particular scene for practice over and over again. So really, this is a very familiar scene to me, and this version is a re-re-re-re-rewrite. It feels almost as polished as my short story. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve read this before—and I should have suspected it would come naturally like they said—but I felt like an average person looking into some sort of glass room full of untouchable writers each time I’d read it. The idea was a pleasant, comforting thought for me. But it felt too alien, like it was doubtful it would ever come into play. After all, I was merely a beginning writer.

But writing routinely, even just a few times a week (as I have been doing), really does make the words flow more freely. And before too long, you actually start to feel like writing the next part of your book without having to view a cavalcade of motivational posters; You start getting genuinely excited about all the fantastic possibilities that will come from you sitting down in front of that keyboard. Read the rest of this entry »

Cirellio enters Shiira, ties off his horse and gets hydrated. He wanders the city until he finds his target, a building called a ‘relic house’, which is much like a city museum.

Before long, people start flocking south to prepare for the Feast of the Eight, but a woman appears to be following him.

No matter how many turns he takes, she keeps pursuing. When he finally lets her catch up, it turns out her name is Cauinn, a mystic. A Legionnaire.

She can tell he’s a thief right away and disapproves of his lifestyle. He doesn’t think much of mystics, either. Read the rest of this entry »

Yep, it’s my B-Day. I’m twenty-nine years old now—just one more year ’til I have to start claiming I’m ‘young-at-heart’.

Anyway, G got me a lovely present: http://www.5-Rings.com

There’s nothing there right now. Nothing but liquid-concentrated potential. Am I allowed to squee? ^___^

Prev: The assassin and the guardian angel | Next: Stars

Scene 7 cont’d: Originally I had the last scene and this part merged together as one scene. I was thinking of splitting them, but that’s no good to do this early in the book—this scene is the first real emotional hit and the reader might be like “Okay… so why are we paying attention to these two again? When do we get back to Cirellio?” So this scene needs to weather it through to the hit. As long as I write it quick and interesting, the story shouldn’t lose its footing.

Asyria releases her shielding, opening up the floodgates for the emotions to pass between her and whoever is on the other side of her thread. It turns out to be an older woman, horribly tortured, miserable, panicked, and abused. Read the rest of this entry »

Chapter two returns focus to the Meiallin and Giver Greggor. Written from Asyria’s point-of-view, it seems Greggor has taken up permanent residence at the temple and Asyria has grown quite a bit older. She no longer has the willpower to resist Greggor’s commands and Larimosa has become merely another temple servant. She has lost her connection with her child. Eager to please, Asyria grows worried Greggor has no use for her anymore since she had already found the brightest star, until he sets up a ritual, instructing Asyria to project so she can locate a fully developed anima that will come into existence out of nowhere, which he wants her to form a connection to.  Asyria does as she’s told.

510 words.
4147 total.

Prev: Through the gates | Next: The assassin and the guardian angel

Another very short scene; it ties together the brief flashbacks with the current storyline nicely.
As Cirellio goes through the gate customs, he finds he was expected—something very unusual. The gatesman passes a message to him from Lord Gazic ordering him to return to Aydomar immediately. Cirellio ignores the message and continues into the city of Shiira. There are also posters everywhere for the Feast of the Eight, an event happening later that night. Read the rest of this entry »