Happy New Year, you lovely, awful world

I woke up this morning and checked my news site. I'd entirely forgotten that Saddam Hussein was going to be executed, but there they were: pictures of the man having a noose looped around his neck, then lying dead and bloody.

I remember when I was a teenager that this man scared me. There were always rumblings coming out of Bhagdad that Saddam had a Nuke or a Bio-weapon that could wipe a lot of us out. I remember the photos of the UN inspectors dressed in apocalyptic bio-hazard suits on the covers of Time and Newsweek.

Then, years later, came the invasion of Iraq. Like most Americans I was thrilled by how quickly victory seemed to be ours. I remember listening to radio broadcasts of Iraqis celebrating in the street. I stopped by a Starbucks on my way to work and ran into friend; we were both grinning ear-to-ear, drinking our lattes. Finally I remeber the gung-ho capture of Saddam himself. What did the soldier say? "George Bush sends his regards." How cool!

But seeing those pictures made me sad. Is this how it ends? A fat old man getting his neck broken and going to hell? Revenge is not as sweet as I expected.

Now I have new things fear: North Korea is the new Iraq. Did you hear that they're testing Nukes? One of those things could take out the west coast. Or what about Iran? They've gone Nuclear too and they hate us. We've got to do something!

The story continues to put out the same plot. I've lost the desire to see Kim Jong or Ahmadinejad meet Saddam's fate. I wish this whole thing would end like a Disney movie. But it won't end; it'll just start new loathesome chapters.

This isn't an anti-war rant. That's possibily the worst part of this whole thing. The peace crowd is hiding it's head in the sand. All the stuff that the hawks say is true. The world is honestly a bad place. No amount of protests are going to change that. Nice idea but it's time to come back to reality. (Oh and by the way, science and "progress" are largely to blame for most of our problems today. Yes, thanks for antibiotics but I'm fairly ticked that you gave us massive pollution and the ability to wipe out whole contenients in seconds. I eagerly await what you'll bring us next.)

Ah, but it's just as bad over here on the conservative end. We had six years of government control and not much has changed for the better. People are still killing babies. War has increased. Again, this is not a put-down to President Bush. But I've lost the neive belief that polictical leaders can change the world. They might be able to change situations but changing men's hearts is another thing.

In short here's a prediction for 07: Continued degredation of society, news headlines that keep us up at night, war, rumors of wars, disease, death, chaos.

Last night I was putting my two kids to bed. Jack is four and Lily is two. We have a new tradition of singing a song together to help Jack not be afraid of the dark. "Sing the shield song," he says. We turn out the lights and huddle close together in the dark, Lily under one arm and Jack under the other. We sing:

Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me;
you're my glory;
you're the lifter of my head;

Hallelujah, you're the lifter of my head;
Lord, I love you, you're the lifter of my head;


Jack likes the part about the shield. So do I. Their little off-key voices join with mine and we soulfully sway back and forth together, singing.

All my life, from my earliest memories, I've been singing that song when I'm afraid. I remember lying on my bed singing it in the dark when I was no more than three. I sang it when I was a teenager and I was scared stiff of UFOs (don't ask). My list of fears grows with each year so I find myself singing that song often as an adult.

I feel optimistic about this year. The world is going downhill fast if it ever was uphill to begin with, but all will be well in the end. I've lost faith in many things. I no longer believe that war brings the victory we desire. I don't think politicians make the kinds of changes we want them to. I find little satisfaction in the American dream. I never really had much trust in science in the first place but I think it will only usher new horrors upon us. But Jesus has not failed me. The older I get, the more my idol collection shrinks; more and more I have to cling to the living God.

I don't know what my children will face when they're grown but I don't think it will be any better. It will probably be worse. I hope they remember the song when they're afraid.

Amazing, isn't it? I still find great hope in things I understood before I knew how to use the toilet. The Lord is a shield about me. World, bring what you will. Hallelujah, he's the lifter of our head. Come quickly, Jesus. Only you can end this wonderful, awful story.

This year I'm going to pursue him more than I ever have. What else is there to do? This will be a good year.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! God Bless.

I'd like to do novel stats. I really would. Tonight I sat down at the computer and wrote:

“If we make good time we might reach Whitecloud by tomorrow,”

Then my 3-month-old boy started crying and the evening went downhill from there. So now it's midnight and there's nothing to report.

Goodnight. :-)

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 480 today, 11.9k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Rosie Thomas, The Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack

The good:
Lilith sang softly:

And Jesus looked down in the pen
Where the sheep played poker and drank gin
So he broke the gate and let wolves in
The day the music died
And noise played on the radio
And dirges sounded deep and low
While we all danced close and slow
The day the music died


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm haunted by all the usual specters. Nothing new to report.

***********************************************

I've been filling out the backstory of the first few chapters. Post-apocalyptic is a really fun setting to write in. Nothing is off-limits. I can have a knight program a computer while singing "Hard rain's gonna fall", if I want. Not that I would. But I could...

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 400 today, 11.6k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Rosie Thomas, The Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack

The good:
At this Lilith opened her eyes and blinked at us across the fire. “Enough about Dark Friday; such things should not be spoken of in the night,” she said ominously and then closed her eyes again.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: All the usual problems. Nothing new seems to have cropped up in the past few days.

***********************************************

Work is still insane. It's taken away from my writing time. I'm making it a priority that this next week, I'll make decent time for writing.

I saw Lady in the Water last night. I loved it. It almost made me cry. If you like fairy tales, you should see it.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 630 today, 11.3k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Copeland, Tolkien, The Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack

The good:
“The Diekost once crossed the length of Postworld. The Imperial Express ran this length of track, but its whistle has not sounded for more than a hundred years. Still, the tracks of the Diekost have not curved with time and they will lead us to Whitecloud – and who knows? Maybe even to the end of the quest... But Jack will tell us such things.”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Same as before. Where's the urgency? I'm worried that this section is lacking in some basic logic. Don't the questers worry that they don't know much about their quest? Stuff to fix in a rewrite.

***********************************************

Moving forward. Thank the Lord for Tolkien. The man is amazingly inspirational.

JMeadows posted three chapters of Toil for the Wind to the OWW. Looking forward to reading those.

Work is insane!

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 500 today, 10.7k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Copeland, Tolkien

The good:
As we spoke I felt a mysterious sense of relief and soon Lilith didn’t have to prod me for details and memories spilled out of me. Things I hadn’t thought of since Dark Friday found their way to my tongue. She laughed with me when I told of the how one winter I had carefully laid a snow trap to catch my brothers only to fall in it myself. I recalled how disastrous my first riding lesson had been and my father swearing that I added a gray hair to his beard each time I mounted a horse.


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: This chapter is lacking any sense of urgency so far. I've got to get people running instead of sitting around talking. I need some Black Riders to chase my Hobbits.

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Looking for some good writing music? Try Copeland.

Otherwise, it's been a slow weekend. The kids have decided to not take their naps and inspiration is hard to come by. Here's hoping for a better next-week.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 570 today, 10.2k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Tolkien

The good:
“If only...” Lilith said softly then shook her head. "The woods are not safe anymore. We must travel with more care." In the moonlight I could see her eying me and Fin. "This quest is already waking things that have slept for many years..."


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I need to keep the plot focused, which is hard to do if you don't do any significant plotting beforehand. I don't want to bring in too many elements that I'll have to ditch later.

***********************************************

Still loving The Fellowship of the Ring. Still loving writing.

Dialogue as narration - a few examples

I was talking about this with Simon the other day and was saying how I'm trying to use the dialogue to convey action more often. I don't think I communicated the concept clearly enough so here's a few examples. Hopefully they might serve as inspiration.

First from That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. The setting is a rainy night. A group of people are searching for a man.

"If once we start changing course," said Dimble, "we shall go round and round in circles all night. Let's keep straight on. We're bound to come to the road in the end."

"Hullo!" said Jane Sharply. "What's this?"

All listened Because of the wind, the unidentified rhythmic noise which they were straining to hear seemed quite distant at one the moment, and then, next moment, with shouts of "Look out!"--"Go away, you great brute!"--"Get back!"--and the like, all were shrinking back into the hedge as the plosh-plosh of a horse cantering on soft ground passed close beside them. A cold gobbet of mud flung up from its hoofs struck Denniston in the face.

"Oh look! Look!" cried Jane. "Stop him. Quick!"

"Stop him?" said Denniston who was trying to clean his face. "What on earth for? The less I see of that great clod-hopping quadruped the better--"

"Oh, shout to him, Dr. Dimble," said Jane in an agony of impatience. "Come on. Run! Didn't you see?"

"See what?" panted Dimple as the whole party, under the influence of Jane's urgency, began running in the direction of the retreating horse.

"There's a man on his back," gasped Jane. She was tired and out of breath and had lost a shoe.

"A man?" said Denniston; and then: "by God, Sir, Jane's right. Look, over there! Against the sky... to your left."

"We can't overtake him," said Dimble.

"Hi! Stop! Come back! Friends--amis--amici," bawled Denniston.

That section is a very action filled scene and most of it is conveyed through the dialogue. It works so much better than paragraphs describing how the party was confused by the darkness, how Jane saw the person on the horse, how they realized that Jane was right. These details are all communicated through a few lines of dialogue and the result is a fast-moving scene that reads great.

Another example from another master: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The setting is The Rat and The Mole rowing along the river when The Rat hears something.

It's gone!" sighed the Rat, sinking back in his seat again. "So beautiful and strange and new! Since it was to end so soon, I almost wish I had never heard it. For it has roused a longing in me that is a pain, and nothing seems worth while but just to hear that sound once more and go on listening to it for ever. No! There it is again!" he cried, alert once more. Entranced, he was silent for a long space, spellbound.

"No it passes on and I begin to lose it," he said presently. "O, Mole! the beauty of it! The merry bubble and joy, the thin, clear, happy call of the distant piping! Such music I never dreamed of, and the call in it is stronger even than the music is sweet! Row on, Mole, row! For the music and the call must be for us."

The Mole, greatly wondering, obeyed. "I hear nothing myself," he said, "but the wind playing in the reeds and rushed and osiers."

***

"Clearer and nearer still," cried the Rat joyously. "Now you must surely hear it! Ah--at last--I see you do!"

Again, do you see how the dialogue not only conveys the action but what the characters are hearing. You could re-write the last few paragraphs to be entirely inside the characters heads but when he uses dialogue it's much more natural and interesting to read. Obviously you could go way overboard with this but it's one area that I can stand to improve in.

Can anyone think of some other examples of this?

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 700 today, 9.6k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Tolkien

The good:
Forgive me if I said, “I’d like to sit closer to the fire – no, don’t carry me – I can make it fine just leaning on you. But put your arm around my waist... There. Thank you.”

These were grim tactics. I’m not a flirt. But the situation seemed to be calling for it.


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm having a hard time striking the right note between Fin and Hattie. How do you start a relationship that you know is going to fail? They need to have some sort of connection but it can't be too good otherwise there's no reason for them to fall apart.

***********************************************

I'm reading The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time in nearly six years. I'd forgotten how good it is. It's odd how different the movie feels from the book. I like it that way though.

Tolkien is such an excellent writer too. Great inspiration material.

I'm heavily barrowing from Kenneth Grahame for this chapter. The characters in his Wind in the Willows encounter a creature in the chapter called "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" quite similar to the one my characters also run into. Except they have very different reactions. BTW if you haven't read Wind in the Willows you are seriously missing out on one of the best books ever.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 300 today, 8.5k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Anberlin

The good:
Ms. Lilith continued, “I don’t even remember my family name – but I think it was plain, like ‘Smith’ or ‘Jones’.”

“At least it isn’t Sourburger!” Fin said and snorted a laugh.

There was a silence.

“Was that a joke?” Lilith asked presently.

“Well...”

She sighed. “...at least Heroes aren’t supposed to be funny. If that was the case I would pack up this quest right now.”


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Same concerns apply as before: I need to give my characters unique voices.

***********************************************
Back in the saddle. I'm having lots o' fun exploring these characters. My book is a happy book so far. Horay!

Sunday links and excuses...

It's been an interesting and non-productive-writing-wise week. I haven't wrote a line since Wednesday. Speaking of Wednesday, it was an interesting day. I woke up feeling feverish and sick but the thermomator kept lying and saying I was fine. Nonetheless I decided to "work from bed" for the day, which consists of 20 percent actual work, 20 percent YouTube MS3TK videos and 60 percent sleep. In the middle of this, I got a call from my work partner who informed me that we had lost "the big contract" and just like that 80 percent of my income went "poof!". Interesting...

I'm not freaked out by this development. The same thing happened to me about three months ago (then I freaked out) but everything worked out fine. This smells suspiciously like one of those trust in The Lord moments. I spent the rest of the week scrambling to get some new contracts and writing got pushed to the side. Tomorrow I'll pick things back up.

So for some muching, here's a few links:

• Ever struggled for that perfect metaphor and things just didn't come out right? You're not alone. This is a must-read BTW.
  


• I just got the new Anberlin for my wife and she loves it. Yes, she's that cool.
  


• Looking for visual inspiration for your Fantasy story? Google Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham and Michael Whelan.
  


• Looking for visual inspiration for your Fantasy story? Google Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham and Michael Whelan.
  


• If you haven't watched The BBC version of The Office, you're missing out.
  

Uncanny blog

Exciting news! My pal Simon has started a writing blog of his own. Simon is a creative writing major who never enjoyed writing creatively... until now! He's off and running on a book about Superheros... I think? He's posted some excerpts and *sheesh*, Simon, did you have start off so good? You better finish this book.

Godspeed, Simon.

P.S. Don't judge him by that picture. He doesn't usually look so loco-eyed...

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 400 today, 8.1k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Anberlin

The good:
The blankets the witch had wrapped around me were warm and soft. The cart rocked me like a cradle. The old temptation to suck my finger arose long enough to scare me. What would Fin think if he saw me doing that?

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I've switched first-person POVs to a different character for this chapter. I need to make sure that I give her a different voice than the other POV. Easier said than done.

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The before-mentioned POV switch is interesting. I think it'll help me flesh out the other characters. If it works I might keep doing it through the rest of the novel.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 900 today, 8.1k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Anberlin

The good:
So as I left Postland – my home, the land I had grown up in – my mind was not concerned with things like growing up or the dangers that might lie ahead; I was wondering if the witch was strong enough hold a two-foot-thick log above her head like I had once seen a farmer do.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm pretty sure I rushed the last chapter. I need to give it a major once-over before moving on.

***********************************************
Done with chapter 4 already? This thing is moving fast. I need to read a good quest book for inspiration. I think I might pick of The Fellowship of the Ring...

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 650 today, 7.2k total (out of a likely 40-50k

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Anberlin

The good:
“H-Hi...” I finally managed, finishing with a nervous laugh that made me sound eight years old. Gods, what a jest I was.

Then – worse and worse – she took my hand. Her skin was amazingly soft. If I had been much younger I would've taken her fingers and rubbed them along my cheek. Then I realized with a start that she had been talking. How much had I missed?

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Things feel like they're moving too fast right now. Developments are popping out left and right. Also I don't have a clear enough idea in my head of what the princess looks like.

***********************************************
Into chapter 4 here. Fin really meets The Princess in this one. It has to work. Their relationship is the driving force of the plot.

Non-writing post...

Just in case you're wondering what that little "Radio Unknown" widget is in the sidebar - just click it and (if you're on a slow connection) wait for it to load.

For more info visit radiounknown.blogspot.com

Levi reccomends...

I'll admit that I'm a huge sucker for Tintin comics. I think they're masterpieces of the form. They appeal to me on just about every level. They're funny, touching, wholesome and exciting. Not to mention beautiful. Linge claire is, bar-none, my favorite style of comic art. And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so because they've sold over 200 million copies world-wide.

So why isn't anyone else carrying the torch? Why is it that every comic that appears these days seems to be written by bitter nihlists, who seem more preoccupied with death and violence then fun and adventure? If not for Mike Allred and Jeff Smith I might have despaired.

Then I stumbled across Johnny Crossbones. I can't say how much I love this strip. Tintin fans, don't ask - just read it. Word is that it's going to be published by Dark Horse. I'll be shelling out the cash the second it hits the shelves. The world needs hundreds more comics like this but I'm glad that Les McClaine is finally giving it a start.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 400 today, 6.6k total (out of a likely 40-50k

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Anberlin

The good:
“I always knew that you were wicked inside but I just didn't know how wicked,” I said, sipping my coffee. “Maybe we've never loved each other like kin should – but I cut the wood and weeded the garden so your old hands wouldn't have to. And I always kissed your cheek even when I really wanted punch your nose. Because - no matter how much you look like a toad - you're my Gram.”

She took a drink from her mug made a bitter face.

“Eck - too strong... And you're wrong there; I ain't your Gram. Lilith dumped you on my door ten years ago. I just took you in 'cause I needed the help – Gad, Fin! did you take all the sugar?”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I think that he maybe accepts the revelation of his hero-dom too easily. This chapter was fun to write but it feels a little flat to me. There's a lot of exposition and I need to make sure that it feels natural and flows logically.

***********************************************
Revised Chapter 3 a bit. Fin's Grandma doesn't die anymore and I like it that way. I'm 3 paragraphs chapter 4 now. Tomorrow should really start fleshing it out.

Inspiration for Monday

He fumbles at your Soul
As Players at the Keys
Before they drop full Music on--
He stuns you by degrees-
Prepares your brittle Nature
For the Ethereal Blow
By fainter Hammers- further heard--
Then nearer--Then so slow
Your Breath has time to straighten-
Your Brain to bubble Cool--
Deals--One--imperial--Thunderbolt--
That scalps your naked Soul--

When Winds take Forests in their Paws-
The Universe--is still--

~~~~

My life closed twice before its close--
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me

So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 1,000 today (woo-hoo!), 6.2k total (out of a likely 40-50k

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk

The good:
My thoughts turned to The Princess: What would I say to her? “Hello, m'lady, I'm Fin.” No. “Good morning, Hattie. How's your arm?” It seemed that The Hero should sound more... Heroic. I wondered if I should kneel when I met her. Then a terrifying thought came – would I have to kiss her hand? Gods!

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: This chapter came out super fast. I have the sneaking feeling that it's going to suck after multiple readings. But right now I can't see anything glaring.

***********************************************
I'm already at Chapter 4! Wow. Chapter 3 was like the easiest thousand-plus words that I've ever written. Fun stuff.

Chapter 1 is online

If anyone's interested, I've posted Chapter 1 on my LiveJournal account. Check it out

And yes, it does have the word "breasts" in it. And yes, it does embarrass me! I'm open to alternate phrasings if anyone feels like speaking up.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 430 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk

The good:
When I woke the cottage was dark and quiet; a pale light shone in the windows. The fire had dwindled to a few glowing embers. Morning was near. Had I slept in the chair all night? I wiped a line of drool from my cheek. How long had that been there? Hopefully not all night.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm becoming paranoid that I'm being repetitive with my sentence structure. I tend to get into ruts, I think...

***********************************************
I'm on Chapter 3 now. So far it's going better than my other Chapter 3s.

Interesting links

It's been a lot of fun following the happenings on Maprilynne's blog. It's exciting to see a very good writer getting deserved recognition. If you've read the first chapter of her book you'll know that the success is warranted. I know that it inspired me...
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Just in case you're wondering, I'm writing Happy, The End with an Unreliable narrator.
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Ever had an Ah-ha moment??
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It's on my sidebar but it deserves a call-out because The Evil Overlord Manual will make you crack up.
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I think The Second Coming may be one of the best poems that I've ever read. That and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. I read these poems and I feel humbled and inspired. 1) Because I'll never write anything so beautiful. 2) Because who can't read:

The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.

and not be inspired? Everyone except C.S. Lewis. :-)

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 650 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk

The good:
She might have looked like some fairy sleeping – one pale arm drawn gracefully across her forehead; one eye gently shut; her long silver hair fanned around her. But the other eye was purple and swollen. Two spidery lines of blood came from her nose and rested on her lips.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm having trouble getting my characters from point A to point B. They just need to take a walk through the woods but I'm not sure how much writing to devote to it. Should it be a sentence? A paragraph? Two paragraphs?

***********************************************
Almost done with chapter 2! I'm loving this.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 800 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, the rain

The good:
I felt around me and my fingers came in contact with warm flesh – an arm. I examined more then quickly drew back – it was certainly a girl.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Too wordy again. All my first drafts are too wordy. Forgive me E.B. White... Simple is better.

***********************************************
This chapter is just pouring out. This is the best take on this book yet. I can feel it. Things are finally clicking!

Good writing book: The Elements of Style

The Elements of Style
by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

If you read one book about writing it should be this. It's skinny, to-the-point and full of priceless writing instruction. It really helped to de-mystify certain aspects of the writing process for me. Oh - and Stephen King recommends it too.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 1,000 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, The rain we had today

The good:
The rain had slowed but the wind was picking up. I began to shiver. I breathed on my fingers to warm them. Branches and brush rustled loudly in the wind. If anyone had an ounce of imagination it might sound like something running through the trees. I immediately straighted up. Something was running through the trees; just in front of me and to my left. At least two separate creatures. I could hear them splashing through the rainwater.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I've been in maybe three fist fights in my life and they were all before I was a teenager. This scene has a lot of hand-to-hand combat. I hope it doesn't come off as fake.

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I'm loving the setting change I made. Things are so much clearer in my mind now. I'm liberated from a vagueness. These two chapters had a slow start but now they're flowing great. Fun stuff!

Bad writing descision #1: Needless characters

I covered one incident of this in My Troll evolved into a flying monkey but this tenancy keeps popping up: I write needless characters into my plot.

I just did this the other day. In my first chapter I had my protag. hook up with a character who had the following attributes:

1. Was annoying to my protag.


2. Did nothing but babble and quickly is ignored by my protag.


3. Runs home after six or so paragraphs.

After I wrote him I had to ask why? I totally understand the need for expendable characters such as:

1. A redshirt that a monster can much on (just to show the danger).


2. A street beggar that our hero can 1) Spit on or 2) Buy a hot meal. The beggar just revealed a lot of character in our hero.


3. A cog of some sort that moves the story forward. (A Horatio to our Hamlet, maybe.)

But I keep on coming up with characters that don't do anything... I've got to stop wasting time on this.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 700 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Charlotte Martin

The good: N/A

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I'm scared that this scene could fall flat. It should be tense. As always with my first draft, I'm using too many words.

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Finished my re-write of the first chapter. All-in-all I'm pleased. I may post it sometime soon.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 600 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk

The good:
Seized by an inspiration, I took a quick look around, unzipped my jeans, and peed on the writing. I'd hoped that maybe it would run the paint but it actually made the writing darker. Now I was going to have to walk by my own pee-stain every day. Gross.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I feel like Fin is now a more interesting character but I need to make the witch have a good entrance. Right now she's doing nothing. I'm not exactly throwing my reader into the action with this chapter ether...

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Productive day today (by my standards). I get to write the new witch encounter next! I'm looking forward to that one.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 400 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk

The good:
"I first saw it through the tangle of creepers and brush. The house wasn't like those in town; it was made out of dark stones and mortar, with a straw roof. The two windows were foggy red glass instead of clear. In the dim light it looked unsettlingly like some craggy face with huge red eyes and wild hair, glaring through the trees."

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I still feel like my protag. is boring. I'm trying to give him a better entrance. Do I want to have an adventure through this guy's eyes?

***********************************************
Plowing ahead. Logically I feel better about where this is headed but I'm a bit concerned that I might change this story so much that I'll loose what first inspired me. I've got to be careful.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 300 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens

The good:
"Fin, stop looking at your feet - I want you to get me some Bitterstalk from Lilith," my Gram said. She counted out three Silver Marks into her weathered hand. "This should be fine... Give 'er a kiss if she's difficult. But not the wet kind – I don't want you to start lustin' after witches."

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: My characters are boring! Augh!

***********************************************
Slow writing today. Not much time in my schedule. Got to get to work now. Hopefully, I'll be able to eek out some more words tonight. I'm enjoying writing this stuff, though.

Take a peak at the sidebar...

I added an outline/teaser that should give you a sense of the plot. Also I added an audiozue widget.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Weekend Word Count: 1,000 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Jeremy Enigk (he's going to be the soundtrack for this book).

The good:
I could feel my heart go a little faster now. The forest always did that to me; especially the places where the trees were all bony and bare; or in the deep groves where the ground was so wet that my feet sunk in and moss was on everything – even the rocks. The Ghoulies didn't go there; neither did the Rooks.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Total re-write of the first chapter, which is going to effect the other chapters too. Is it bad that I keep having to change the beginning?

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I totally re-did the setting. I was operating in a vague Fantasy, castles, villages, kingdoms setting. Now I'm in a slightly post-apocalyptic/fantasy setting. It's freeing because it's much more specific and compelling. My characters can shoot guns but there's kings, knights, princesses and castles too. This may be a huge mistake but it's helping right now...

Ch-ch-cha-changes!

I've been thinking about the beginning of Happy, The End and I've decided to scrap the whole orphanage setting. Like the troll, it once served a purpose but now it just feels awkward. Especially since I never go back to it after the first chapter. I have to explain this whole system Fin has set up at the orphanage then it gets ripped right out from under him and he doesn't even really care when all is said and done. I originally thought it would be a good setting to give insight to his character but I think the whole beginning would flow much better without it.

I think this is one of the drawback of the Stephen King plot-as-you-go method...

Also, I've been bugged on Fin's motivation for "the quest". Why should he decide leave everything and trudge off into the unknown to kill a villain he's never met? I still am not sold. I'll probably use the age-old "he needs to save the world" as a red herring but I think the real motivation is lust.

I'm thinking of changing the title to The Last Fairytale or The Last Legend. Both sound like a cheezy movie but they make sense in the context of the story. What do you think?

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 600 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: New age music

The good:
She observed me. Then sighed. “It's too bad you're the hero. You'd make a good sorcerer – always looking for shortcuts. Dark roads open and move with the wind, Fin. Catch them while you can and don't stop to make a map."

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: How do I write about philosophy without sounding like a prig? I don't want my character to start spouting Christopher-Paolini-esque Levi musings that have nothing to do with the plot. Tread carefully here...

***********************************************
Chapter 4 sucks right now. I went back today and fixed some issues that had been bothering me with Chapter 3. I changed Fin's motivation for going on the quest and I think it works better. Still, I think I need to make it more urgent.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 350 tonight, 8.4k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Fireflight. Not much else.

The good:
“Foxes are sly animals,” Hattie said. “They have slippery minds that always go back and forth.”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I was looking forward to writing this chapter but so far it feels disconnected from the preceding chapter. It needs a lot of fleshing out. I hope I can get this one right. I think it's important.

***********************************************
I've been getting up super early and that means I've been going into my writing time super tired. I feel like I can hardly keep my eyes open. Not the best state to try and eek out some prose. I just got to plow ahead though. I can fix this junk later.

On another note, I posted an updated first chapter to the Online Writers Workshop. One positive review so far with some good feedback. That's always encouraging.

My troll evolved into a flying monkey

In early starts of Happy, The End, the main villain was a troll. Except he had to do a lot of talking and writing troll dialogue can be tricky. (Trolls don't strike me as very verbose creatures, y'know. Tolkien could do a right wicked talking troll but that's Tolkien.) So I gave the troll a witch as a partner. We all know how witches love to gab so my problem was solved. Except I noticed now I couldn't just write "the troll emerged from the trees"; I had to go with: "the witch and the troll emerged from the trees." That's a bit more of mouthful.

But that aside, the witch was a lot of fun to write. I envisioned her as twisted Glinda The Good Witch of Oz. I like writing creepy witch dialogue. I like the fact that Fin has a sort of thing for her (what a weirdo). I really got into her character.

In the meantime the troll became a mute. I liked it better when he didn't talk. He didn't really have anything to do because there's more headgames going on in the first chapters than violence. Finally yesterday I noticed that the only thing I have him doing is throw tomatoes at Fin and choke him. The rest of the time he's just standing around. Talk about wasting a troll! He's outta here.

I decided to make him a large flying monkey. It makes more sense. The witch doesn't need a partner. LMF's are scarier than trolls. And the witch can leave a monkey at home if she wants (the troll was getting dragged around from scene to scene). And best of all, I don't have to write "I could hear the witch and troll in the distance" anymore.

It's weird how things change while you write.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 850 today, 8k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: The Life Aquatic, a tall lady I saw in the video store.

The good:
“It's so bright and pleasant today! Listen to that sparrow – look, there - he's as round as an opera singer. I didn't think I'd ever eat toast and jam again!”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Still rambling in spots. I make the same points more than once. I'm going to need a red pen with a lot of ink.

***********************************************
I've finally come to a place where I feel like I can move to chapter 4. Maybe a few more edits on 3 but it's shaped up pretty well. This is always the hardest part. I just know that for the next few days I'm going to write 90% junk. I'm going to write pretentous junk sentances that I think are brilliant. My characters are going act bizarre. And I'm going to forget to add setting. That's how all my first drafts go. I like round two much better.

A sample...

For anyone who's actually reading this (testing... testing... hellooo? is this thing on?) I'm going to stop the navel gazing for a moment and give you a decent sample to read. This is the current opening of the book. I'm in the midst of revising it so take with a jovian grain of salt.

********************************************
1.

“Why does the villain try to kill the hero, Fin?” Francis asked me. “I think it's because the hero rides a white horse and carries a red banner – the villain has to wear a black coat and eat children. That's just how the story goes. When the hero touches a star the villain touches a toad. Then, in the end, the hero sticks a sword in the villain's gut and kisses the princess. But maybe... Maybe, just once, the story would let the villain run that sword into the hero's heart. Take that darling princess for himself... And on that skinny hope he fights the hero. Am I right?”

Francis was a witch. I had first met her many years before when the magistrate hired her and a troll named Durge as the headmasters of my orphanage. I remember that day well.

The day our previous headmaster resigned (after we'd been caught stealing his prized bag of oranges) the magistrate had promised to “fix us for good”. I never dreamed that they'd go to such lengths. Still, my stomach thrilled at the possibility. No more fat old men with droopy eyes and dull low voices trying to “make us respectable” and quoting Bible verses at us. Here at last was a real challenge.

We never saw them arrive but one night a red light appeared in the windows of the headmaster's cottage. I sent Will to investigate and he returned twitching with the news he bore:

“I seen a troll, Boss Fin!” he cried “Ugly as The Devil and hu-uge! Didn't scare me though. An' I saw a fine lady with bloody-red lips wearin' ruffles on 'er arms! She smelled like roses. An' she talked to me from the window, Boss. I wasn't afraid. She asked after you, Boss. Said for you to come to the house, straight away.”

“I'd wait until morning” Peter told me. “Witches and trolls should not be trusted, 'specially at night.”

But I disregarded his advice. If an actual troll and witch were waiting for me in the cottage then I thought it best to have introductions right away.

As I made my way, I rehearsed the act I would present to my new headmasters. When the evening ended I wanted them to think two things: First, that I was a terrified idiot. Second, that they were in complete control of the orphanage.

The cottage was a thach-roofed little building that had flower boxes on each window filled with dead flowers. I made to knock on the door but found that it was ajar. I took a breath and stepped inside.

The only light in the room came from an assortment of candles arranged on a cupboard. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim and I stood in the doorway squinting like a fool.

I first saw the troll, slouching in the corner and I'll admit to a brief fright. He was an impressive figure with ugly scars gnawing at his skin. In spots it looked like he'd been axed as much as a tree trunk. He appeared to have lost his nose altogether. I vaguely noticed that he held a burlap sack in one hand but the sheer size of his hands drew the majority of my attention; they were almost twice the size of my face and looked like they could crush my skull easy as a grape.

"So this is the famous Phinneas!" came a cheerful voice, startling me.

Never in my life had a person's features inspired such drastic impressions in me. Even sitting in her chair, Francis was almost as tall as me. Her mouth was wide, sensual, and smiling so sweet that you could almost taste sugar. She had dark enormous eyes, almost like a cow. Her jaw was hard and sharp. She looked nothing like a woman – or rather she looked too much like a woman. Every inch of her was so fiercely beautiful and defined that the overall impression was inhuman. Just seeing her was the shock of viewing a monster and I had to keep from averting my eyes.

"Sit down, sit down," she said, placing her kitting aside and motioning to a chair.

I immediately knew she was bad. The troll was fair enough and I would've been fine with a green-skinned old hag covered in warts, but the witch was entirely wrong. Wrong, wrong and wrong.

She noticed my hesitation and giggled.

"Now, now, don't be afraid - I’m Francis the Good witch."

I quickly assumed my role of the idiot.

"H-he won't hurt me will he?" I stammered, widening my eyes and pointing at the troll.

“Oh poor boy,” Francis said, “Don't be afraid of Durge – he wouldn't harm a flea.”

I took my seat, never taking my eyes from the troll, trying to look as frightened as a baby.

“I like you, Miss Francis, but he looks mean.” I whispered in the most childish voice I could muster. I was only twelve and small for my age; my voice was still high enough to talk in simple, innocent tones without sounding ridiculous.

Francis squinted at me.

"I'm must say, Fin, I'm surprised. The magistrate couldn't warn us enough about you. Aren't you the reason that the previous five headmasters resigned? You seem to be such a sweet boy."

I merely bit my lip and stared at Durge. For effect, I tried to muster a few tears but had little success. I settled for a whimper.

“Do the children really call you 'Boss Fin'?” the witch said.

“What do you mean, Miss Francis Good-Witch?” I said, wagging my head in befuddlement.

Francis sighed. She took out a handkerchief and blew her nose then said: “Durge?”

Something hit the side of my face, nearly knocking me from my chair. I jumped to my feet swearing. I felt something wet slide down my neck and under my collar. I pawed at my cheek, pulled the thing off and found a smashed tomato in my hand.

“Is something the matter?” Francis asked.

I turned to the troll. He had opened the the burlap sack, which I now saw was full of tomatoes. As I watched he pulled another out and weighed it his palm.

“I think your troll hit me with a tomato, Miss Good Witch,” I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“Durge? Why he's fast asleep.” She giggled. “What an imagination you have! Now – back to our subject.”

She leaned towards me.
********************************************

Enough for now. Just posting it I'm seeing spots that I need to change.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 400 today? (mostly scattered edits so it's hard to tell), 7.15k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: The Life Aquatic, a lady I saw in the video store.

The good:
Never in my life had a person's features inspired such drastic impressions in me. Even sitting in her chair, Francis was almost as tall as me. Her mouth was wide, sensual, and smiling so sweet that you could almost taste sugar. She had dark enormous eyes, almost like a cow. Her jaw was hard and sharp. She looked nothing like a woman – or rather she looked too much like a woman. Every inch of her was so fiercely beautiful and defined that the overall impression was inhuman. Just seeing her was the shock of viewing a monster and I had to keep from averting my eyes.

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Less words. Be more percise. Don't ramble so much.

***********************************************
Still in clean up mode of the first three chapters. I think I've got Fin back in focus but there's still work to do on him. He's a hard character for me. He's my protag' and my villian. He's also not very much like me. I'm finding that all my female characters fall into certain personality traits when I'm not paying attention. I had to go through and fix a bunch of personality inconsistancies with Hattie because of that. She needs work too but I understand her better now.

Pretty soon I'm going to have to start on chapter 4... *augh*

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 250 today, 7.15k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: The Life Aquatic.

The good:
As I ran it seemed that I had split into two distinct personalities. The first was a Fin with mind full of swords, death and also soft hands, flowers and kisses. Music played in his head – violins and deep throbbing drums that matched the rhythm of his footsteps and high above it all, the princess's voice sang her haunted song. He looked around at the trees, all wounded red with autumn, and felt exhilarated. The second Fin protested as loud as he could that this gallant dash was a mistake. We have no plan, he cried. Stop and figure something out! Just don't run out there without thinking about it!

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: My suspicions were confirmed on a re-read of the last chapter: I had totally lost Fin's character. He suddenly becomes this romantic hero when he's really more of a sly villian. I need to remember that this chapter is the most unconfortable, out-of-character and confused that Fin will ever be. He needs to be constantly resisting it. Hattie also needs work. She seems to alternate from noble to childish in her dialogue. I need to get a better bead on her.

***********************************************
Mostly cleanup of my first draft of this chapter today. Low word count but it's been productive. I've made some changes and it's feeling better but there's still work to be done. But I've got to get up at 5:30 tomorrow so it's off to bed now.

On second thought...

After thinking about the last chapter a few major holes just hit me. Fin accepts the quest way too easily. He's all ready to stage a huge fight with the witch and the troll and then he just rolls over with an okay, you win attitude. I don't think his character would accept defeat so easily. He's backed into a corner in this chapter but he should be already forming another plan to kill the witch.

Ignore this, I'm just thinking out loud...

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 716 today, 6.9k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Not much tonight. Maybe a little of The Silver Chair.

The good:
“I can tell you three things for certain and then I will tell you no more. First, if you complete your quest, you will surely kill Johnny Cyclops. Second, only one person can guide you on your quest and he is Jack Christian of King's Vale. And finally, avoid the Singing Cannibal Gypsies; you'll thank me for that one.”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: Is Fin smart or simple? I feel like I lost his character in this last chapter. Hattie feels unfocused. Hopefully she finds more direction as I go. Where the heck is my setting? Does the forest have any scents? Is the air hot or cold, humid or brisk? What do to the trees even look like, for cryin' out loud? I can feel some serious setting coming in the second draft.

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Finally I finshed the chapter! Yay! That's three. It could be a lot better but it could be massively worse. I feel like I managed to get the pertinant details out without too much expository dialogue. I think I answered the right questions and left some good ones to figure out along the way. (Why do I need to tell everything in the first place?) This chapter is quite rough and no-doubt is due for some serious revision but I feel like it's solid enough to work from.

Current mood:

Happy

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: (ugh) 200 today, 6.2k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis.

The good:
"Because the hero is righteous, virtuous; because he rides a white horse and carries a red banner – the villain has to wear a black coat and eat children. That's just how the story goes. When the hero touches a star the villain touches a toad. Then, in the end, the hero sticks a sword in the villain's gut and kisses the princess. Bloody, happy ever after, eh?"

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I feel like my characters aren't acting naturally. I shouldn't use so many vague fluff words - I need to be more concrete with my metaphors.

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Sloooooow writing today. 200 words? 'Nuff said. Got a late start and not much time to write tonight. Here's hoping tomorrow is more productive.

Current mood:

Sleepy

Coffee adict

I've been trying to quit coffee lately. I went cold-turky on Wednesday. Things were going okay until Saturday when I woke in a tired, grumpy mood and couldn't shake it. Sunday I felt like Ewan Mcgregor in Trainspotting. Levi Nunnink: A cauntionary tale.

I'll just tough it out, I thought. Then I tried to write. I lasted maybe five minutes. The inspiration well was not just dry - it had been buldozed, paved over and replaced by an office complex. The connections between my desire to write and the amount of coffee in my bloodstream are disturbing but I was too tired to contemplate at that point.

I broke down around 4:00 PM and feverishly guzzled two cups o' joe; one with cream the other black. Sweet Mary help me, I'm a weak man.

Now I'm chomping at the bit to crank out some more paragraphs. I'm looking forward to the next few scenes.

Where to start?

Character?


Or setting?


It's becoming more and more apparent to me as I forge ahead on these first drafts of chapters that I'm more inspired by character than setting. I was reading one author's blog about how he'll look at pictures of flowers and forests to get inspired. There have been times when I've been driven to write, simply to send my characters into a haunted hotel or a fairy forest that I've been dreaming about. But mostly I'm inspired to write because of my characters: "This is when they realize that... or come to terms with this... or meet him..." Especially in my first drafts, the setting is very sparse. You could change the setting from a forest to a city with very little editing.

I can see this is something I'll need to work on. I don't just need to know who my characters are - I need to know where they are.

Current mood:

Tired

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 470 today, 6k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Loreena McKennit, Pandora.

The good:
Even now her presence inspired a strange feeling in me; like she was someone I'd known before but lost all recollection of except the vague memory of a clean scent and the briefest image of a gentle smile – like a dream feels in the morning.


Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I've got to watch the exposition. I want details to emerge naturally.

***********************************************

This chapter is coming along well enough. I finally figured out the motivation for "the quest" and how Johnny Cyclops fits into it all. I think it works. We'll see if I can write it now.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 677 today, 5.3k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: James Iha Let it come down, Pandora.

The good:
"“I-I've -– phew -– I've got a stitch,"” I panted. "“Just a moment..."

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: I have the sinking feeling that I'm using too many needless words. This first draft is going to have a lot of red pen.

***********************************************

This scene is working much better than yesterday. Instead of just standing around like yesterday, I made my characters go for a run. It's weird how much more urgency the scene has. I need to remember: when things slow down, put your characters in jeopardy. Tomorrow I need to write my dreaded "Council of Elrond" exposition scene. I'll have to remember this rule.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Daily Word Count: 401, 4.5k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Soda Springs, Autumn

The good:
“Oh, Fin,” Francis cried and before I could do anything ran forward and caught me in a tight embrace. “Did you hear, Durge? He wants to kill us!”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: So far, this chapter seems really dull for such an important scene. I can feel a complete rewrite coming. I think I need to get more into what Fin is thinking and feeling.

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This is the first time I've attempted to write this scene. As always, things are rough. Ahh the crappy-first-draft. Only a few paragraphs will survive.

Novel Stats

Metrics for HAPPY, THE END

Word Count: 4k total (out of a likely 40-50k)

Inspirations: Spartian Fedelity, That Hideous Strength, Romeo & Juliet.

The good:
No more fat old men with droopy eyes and dull low voices trying to “make us respectable” and quoting Bible verses at us.

The bad:
“Of course, we have to follow through if he does not appear but if it comes to that we're finished anyway.”

Bad writing skill that needs to go away: "I turned and saw", "I saw", "I looked and saw". Why do need to I point it out every time my POV character sees somthing?

Things to think up before next writing time: What exactly happens when Fin tries to save Hattie. What's the real motivation for "The Quest"? Where and how do Jack and Johnny Cyclops come into the picture?

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I read the first two chapters last night and I really liked them. They felt good enough to show to someone but I don't think I will yet.

Happy, the end.

The book is called Happy, the end. Don't form to much of an opinion about it because it'll probably change. Here's a list of rejected titles:

Sloutching towards Bethleham
Cool name, huh? Well I didn't make it up. That would be W.B. Yeats. It doesn't really relate to my plot so tried about fifty more-relevant variations of "Sloutching towards..." before I scraped the title.

Jack, Fin and Hattie
Is there anything cooler than naming your book after your main characters? Moving on...

Ever After
An excellent name, especially for a Romantic Comedy starring Drew Barrymore and a bunch of other books on Amazon.

So right now I'm on Happy, the end. Check back next week and I'll be calling it Sloutching towards Nantucket.

Outline

Fin is a twelve-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother on the far outskirts of the Postland kingdom. In his town, a few cars still run and you can still hear music on the radio. But when he accidentally rescues Hattie Everling, the last living princess, he is suddenly thrust into the position of hero and savior.

Hattie needs a hero and she finds one in Fin. The land is dying, she tells him. The King is dead. People are sick. Forests swallow up whole cities. Witches and Ghouls haunt the woods and highways. Behind it all, a mysterious villain named Johnny Cyclops is gathering dark forces for one final confrontation between good and evil. Only a desperate quest to find The Well Beyond the World can reverse the course and defeat Johnny Cyclops. The world is falling apart but there may be time for one last fairy tale.

At first Fin is delighted at this opportunity for adventure and glory. After all, who wouldn't want to be the hero of a fairy tale? But when the mysterious Jack Christian joins the duo as guide, Fin begins to wonder about the true destination of their quest. While Jack is good with a sword and knows how to get out of hot situations, Fin suspects that his intentions are less than noble. Even worse, Fin increasingly loves the princess but she's hardly interested and appears to favor Jack. As the quest continues Fin must face not only headless horsemen, savage ghosts and happy cannibal gypsies (don't ask) but the fact that he might be the true Villain of the story. The ending looms and it's looking more like a Greek Tragedy than happily ever after.