What A Daily Writing Session Looks Like

Hey, all!

I've been really, REALLY busy, and the weather is Utah is unrelentingly hot and miserable, and as a result, I have the mental health of a wilted dandelion: not gone and it will come back with a little TLC, but that means I need to take that TLC, so this post will be short and sweet.

Writing is fun. Writing is terrible. Writing is an adventure that looks an awful lot like one person sitting, frowning, at a computer. Or like this guy:

SAME.

So here's pretty much what is going on in my head during a typical writing session:

- Okay, time to start. Ugh, I have so much to do! Revise 2 chapters and write another one? I don't wanna do this!
- Fine. I'll just open the document and scroll to my place. That's enough to start.
- Better open my readers' notes so I can compare.
- Whoops, read the first line. Now I'm mentally invested.
- ...I don't know how to fix this problem. Better scroll Facebook until I figure it out.
- I should turn on some music.
- Figured out that problem, and the book is better than ever!
- EW! Why did I write that? I don't even know what I was trying to say!
- ...I hate that my readers are right. I love that they're right, but I hate it.
- This is going to take SO MUCH WORK to fix.
- Google search: "how long does iron take to rust"
- Google search: "what types of metal don't rust"
- Google search: "when was stainless steel invented"
- Google search: "can silver be used to make keys"
- Huh. Music stopped. Time to start it again.
- I can't focus. Turn off the music.
- Revision done, time to draft.
- Yes! Yes!
- If only I could type faster to capture the scene as it's unfolding in my head!
- Turn on the music again.
- Music and story help each other, it's like I'm watching a movie---
- Good feelings gone. Hit a wall.
- Play a game online, free associate.
- Get up and get a snack.
- OOH! What if I---
- Nope.
- Or if I---
- Nope.
- Come up with terrible idea, but one that will hold the story together until revision can fix it.-
- Agonize over final words of a chapter.
- Start the next chapter, and realize I've accomplished my goal for today.
- I DON'T WANNA STAHP!

There you go, my writer's process. Sometimes broken up by long walks and sounding board sessions with friends who are more patient than I deserve. (You're great!)

I'll be back next week to wish you all a happy Harry Potter Day.

Fullmetal Alchemist, My First Anime

I don't really know what to write about today...guess it's time for me to honor my promise to one day talk about the anime Fullmetal Alchemist.

I hesitate a little about this one because as much as I like this show, part of me resists labeling myself as an anime viewer. Which makes no sense because there's nothing wrong with watching anime. I guess the hesitation stems from the negative stereotypes (which aren't earned, most of the time) of anime watchers, and maybe some from the way my parents made fun of us when we watch Pokemon growing up.

But, anyway, Fullmetal Alchemist.

It was in grad school when I first learned about this show. I didn't watch anime at all back then (now I will if it has a good story), but one of my classmates was telling us about this one. He told us about the plot and said that it was a really well-told story, and since I trusted him, I decided to check it out.

I'm glad I did.

So, if you haven't heard of the show, the story takes place in an alternate world based somewhat on 1910s Europe, mainly Germany, in which alchemy is a real, powerful form of science and combat. It follows two young (read, teens) brothers who are alchemy prodigies. Their mother dies and they decide to use alchemy to bring her back to life.

Which is a great plan, except that human transmutation like bringing the dead back to life is a serious taboo in alchemy. This is because in alchemy, nothing can be made without sacrificing something of equal value (known in the show as the Law of Equivalent Exchange), and a human soul is worth too much.

Their transmutation fails, resulting in Edward, the older brother, losing his arm and leg and Alphonse, the younger brother, losing his whole body and having to be bonded to a suit of armor.

(Yes, I know it's more complex than that. Let me summarize.)

Through the course of the show, the boys seek out the legendary philosopher's stone (of recent Harry Potter fame), which should let them transmute without worrying about Equivalent Exchange and get their bodies back to normal. Along the way, they encounter the military and the soldiers in it (both as friends and foes) as well as monsters, immortals, and conspiracies.

There are two series: the 2003 FMA series, and the later FMA: Brotherhood. The latter is based more on the manga and is my favorite, although both are good.

Okay, so summary given, I'm going to explain why I like this show without giving away spoilers.

1. The story. This story is both dark and light, discussing heavy themes like genocide, prejudice, war, the value of human life and the dismissal of that value, but also the importance of bonds of love, and hope and optimism in the face of adversity. With Brotherhood, I leave the show with positive feelings about humanity (less so with the 2003 series. If you prefer a more cynical show, try that one).

It's also well-written, balancing humor and serious moments. You can have a scene where someone gets severely injured followed by a short joke at Ed's expense (he hates being called short) and it works, somehow.

Last, I think it's really well-plotted, Brotherhood more so than the 2003 series. The conspiracies unravel nicely and I'm very pleased about how the characters develop and how their arcs end.

Which brings me to 2. The characters. I really, really like the characters in this show. One thing that can put me off other animes is when the characterization takes a back seat to "anime character tropes," like the pervy guy and the fan-service girl. In this show, characters are fully fleshed out and interesting, even down to many of the side characters.

(The lady is a "housewife." And an alchemist. And so much more.)


I also like that in this show everyone gets to be awesome, in their own ways. The men are strong, the women are strong, and everyone has their own story to tell. They're not all strong in the same ways. Some are fighters, but some are healers. Both the men and the women. Some have personalities that are hardened, but others are soft. They seem like real people, and I find myself rooting for all the good characters and hating all the bad ones.

Characters, good and bad, are also highly capable. Which makes it fun when the good guys go up against a foe that is actually very good at fighting and strategy. It's more interesting that way.

3. Colonel Mustang

LOOK AT HIM

4. The worldbuilding. The magic system is interesting, the world looks and seems like 1914 Europe, and the alchemy is grounded in real-world alchemy, at least a little. The military system reads true, and the whole world is believable as a world. (There may be a few small holes, but nothing too glaring.)

5. All the dark humor around the show. It's about two kids who lose limbs and more. Therefore the fandom can make jokes like "Bet that armor cost an arm and leg," and it's painfully funny. At least to me.

I think that just about covers it. I really don't want to spoil anything; I had some parts spoiled for me and I'm not going to do that to you. But if you trust me, and you trust my taste, you may want to consider this one. If you choose to watch only one series, pick Brotherhood. If both, I'd recommend starting with the 2003 series because it will give you a more detailed background.

The show is suitable for teens and older, as it has some swearing and lots of bloody battles. It was my first anime, and even after having watched a few others, I still think this is the best one I've seen.

A Disney Win

Remember everything I said about things I wish Disney would do better?

Guess what? They are. Just not in their princess movies.

I'm here to talk to you today about Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, also known as Tangled: The Series before the name got changed.

Oh, my gosh. I just found and watched this show over the last couple of weeks. It's a continuation of the movie, going into what happens after "happily ever after." I heard it was good, and I was bored, so I gave it a shot. I was expecting something cute and fun, and sure, I got that. It's based on Tangled, after all. But I was not expected how quality this show is.

Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure is doing everything I've been upset that Disney's latest princess movies haven't. It's definitely marketed to kids, and I wouldn't call this show "dark" (though it has its moments), but there are some complicated and serious discussions in the show.

For example, in one episode Rapunzel is left in charge of the kingdom and everything goes wrong. Her parents go missing, a blizzard strikes Corona and evacuation may be needed, and Rapunzel's friend comes to beg her to leave the kingdom's problems and help him. And there's no easy solution. There's no simple dichotomy like fear=bad/love=good, or a simple solution to fixing everything. There is no false choice: if Rapunzel chooses to do one thing, she can't do the other. If she stays to help the kingdom, she can't help her friend. If she evacuates the island, she still might not save the kingdom.

(Kid's show, right?)

And, there are real, serious consequences for her choice.

Because it's a kid's show, the episode works out. But the consequences of her choices last through the rest of the season, and maybe even through the rest of the series (it's only on its second season, so there's a lot left to be written).

YES! This is the kind of writing I've been looking for! I want to see Disney give us well-written stories with complicated problems that don't always have a clean, easy solution.

I want to see interesting villains that are threatening but complex, and guess what? This show has that too. No more details because this is a part of the show I will not spoil, but I will say that I am very pleased with how this show handled the villain. It's so much better than the so-called villains in Moana and Frozen.

Characters are well-written and likeable; the first episode is mostly filler episodes, but I didn't mind because I enjoyed the characters. The thugs from the movie are still around, and they've added a bunch of new characters, some of which are, for me, new favorites. The king and queen are bigger characters in the show, as well, and you get a lot of material about what it means to them to have their daughter back after 18 years. We also get more backstory on some of the other characters, like Pascal and, of course, Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert. And let me tell you, that boy has a past.

As for the plot itself, there's a strong mystery element that develops and evolves over the show. Personally, I like it and I find it super-interesting and I look forward to what the writers do next. Myth and fairy tale elements are strong, of course, and that also makes me very happy. And, well, there is some beautiful romance...

Writing is great. Well done, very well done. But the animation is also cute:

 Kind of a hand-painted feel, right? I've missed this kind of animation.

Also, the voice actors are the same as the movie, and the music is done by Alan Menken. Alan Menken, the king of Disney songwriters. On top of that, the actors can ALL sing. So many of them are from Broadway. One new character is voiced by Jeremy Jordan, and another by the man who played the original Genie in Aladdin on Broadway (who also won a Tony for that role).

The music is amazing. Seriously, this show almost has no right to have music this good. But I'm not complaining!

All in all, this is a great show! Light, fun, and innocent, but not afraid to deal with some serious problems and situations where there isn't an easy way out of the problem. Not afraid to give the characters consequences for their actions that haunt them for a while. And it's all done well, all quality. I'm just very pleased with this show and will keep watching it.

As for me, writing is going well. I'm deep into edits, which is fun because I get to juggle three marked-ups drafts at once while I alter my own (fourth) draft. But I'm looking forward to the final product!

Snippets of Dialogue Without A Home

The Fourth of July is this week!

That means a 10K run, a parade, and a small break from my teaching and writing. As far as writing goes, I'm fired up for my latest project, which is in revision stages (I spent today altering a rather fun element of the novel). But a break always feels good.

I am still planning a YouTube channel, which will feature puzzles and ciphers and which will likely start in the fall. I'm already starting to develop content to use later, so that's a new and exciting adventure for me!

For today's blog post, I thought I'd share with you some of the random pieces of dialogue that pop into my head as I'm woolgathering. That's part of my process: I'll let my characters chatter in my head, and sometimes I hear words that don't belong to any of my known characters. I'll use those lines. Someday. Maybe.

Some of these potential pieces of dialogue belong to some of my existing characters (try to guess who said what!) and some of them are brand new. Some are more polished or interesting than others. But, anyway, here are the pieces of floating dialogue that I decided to save for a later day.


"Seriously, guys. With our skill sets, what future do we have outside of prison?"
"I always thought we'd work for the government."

(said in a mildly annoyed voice) "Can anyone tell me why I just woke up in the morgue?"

"What are the laws surrounding accidentally stealing a car? Can we just...put it back?"

"Getting shot sucks. One out of five stars."

"You kidnapped the prince."
"I didn't know it was him!"
"I don't think the king will care."
(Prince) "Actually, I don't mind---"
"Shh! This isn't your problem!"

"I AM THE PHANTOM OF THE GRIER HOUSE!"

"Such a warm welcome. I thought you said you'd dance on my grave."
"Well, turns out I don't know how to twerk."

"You play the piano."
"Don't know how."
"You just spent all day telling us what makes a piano player good!"
"That doesn't mean I am one!"

"Note to self: that is the wrong way to fly."

"If this works, I'll kill you. Because you'd clearly be a witch and not to be trusted."

"HAHAHA! Take that, you son of a horned troll, slime spitting, spider-faced gutless---" (swearing continues)

"We hate each other. Don't we?"
"Of course we do, darling. Intense loathing."


Thanks for reading. Have a great week!