X-pecting a moment.

Well it is late Friday, but I still made it. This is not so much a review as something that hit me while I was watching the latest X-men movie last week.

I have to admit that while most know me as a massive fan of all things comics, the x-men movies always leave me wanting. Their treatment of the characters and how the stories have been adapted usually has me shaking my head and leaving to complain with my other nerd friends on what could have been. 

I have to admit this was by far the best film in the series. The pacing was decent and the visuals, aside from Mystique's still horrible hair, were great. Without giving spoilers away there were moments that had me throwing up my hands and again shaking my head. 

As usual I left the theater to break down what I liked and didn't like. As I had some time to ponder the situation more I began to apply it to my story telling. I have come down to something that to me is the single most important thing you can do when telling a story.

Moments. Your story is a collection of words expressing ideas. These ideas have to lead to significant moments. They are what separate the great books from the good. Have you ever read a book and thought, "It was good, but that's about it." I can almost guarantee you that this was due to that lack of a big moment/moments.

A story has a lot of elements, but these all have to come together and give that reader that "Oh wow" feeling. The culmination of what you have been working towards the whole time. It doesn't even have to be some big twist, but just reaching that conclusion you alluded to. 

The subtleties of this art are great, but the best authors are all masters of this. For me I strive to always have my reader's leave feeling like they were just on a ride that ended in a way that got them excited. 

Anyway these are some of my thoughts. I hope you are all well. As always, have fun and keep writing. 

Blog Hop.

Hey everyone. So I was asked to do a post for this blog hop called, My Writing Process. I was tagged by Sarah Chafin. It seems a good way for me to jump back into blogging. 

These past few weeks have been so crazy I have not been able to get around to see you all. So starting this week I want to do two post a week on Monday and Friday so I can manage this blog thing a bit better.

Okay on with the hop.


Question 1: What am I working on?

Currently I am working on the third book in the Light Bringer Saga. It is a book that has come with some struggles. I am trying to juggle wrapping up story arcs that have spanned the previous books, while at the same time making a compelling individual story. It is still fun finally getting to reveal so many answers.

Question 2: How does my work differ from others of its genre?

It is an interesting question to ponder. I know one thing I have heard from readers is the my MC Sophia doesn't seem to fall into the same patterns many female leads tend to in YA. In less words, Sophia is not annoying and she is likable. Past that, this story is pretty personal. There is a lot of me in the MC especially and experiences I bring to the book. Combine that with a strange underworld of dark creatures and element wielding guardians regular people can't seem to remember and you have my own original work. 

Question 3: Why do I write what I do? 

I write to say something. Not so much some political or social message, but as with most writers I have questions about life. Writing is where I work through those questions. Personally if I can do that and have a guy throw a fire ball or two then I am a happy person. Fantasy is where my heart is because you can write any type of story and still have that fantastic spin on it.

Question 4: How does your writing process work?

Roughly? LOL. No, I am not sure I have a solid process. I like to free write. It feels more alive than hard outlining. Still I do most of my "writing" in my head before I ever lay it down in a document. I like to shape a story. Usually I know the ending I am barreling toward. Past that I enjoy revisions. My own, then the input I get from my CP, my editor and my beta readers. They truly help me take a good book and make it great.

I am also supposed to tag some people, but most of the people I would tag have already been tagged in this. So I will put it to you to keep the hop going. If you having something you wish to share go ahead and post this.


Anyway, this was a fun blog hop. It feels good to be officially back and blogging. Can't wait to get back to reading all of the amazing blogs out there. As always have fun and keep writing. 

Saving Mr. Banks.

So after A-Z I needed a bit of a blogging break and on course with things I have been very sick most of that time. I think I am finally coming out of it and I wanted to post something short, but important here. 


I really wanted to see this movie in theaters. I missed that with my busy schedule and even when it came out to rent or buy I just had so much going on. Luckily, my wife rented it last night and I was able to sit down and watch it. 

The movie is truly great. All the actors filled their roles perfectly and the movie had me from opening credits to end. If it had just given me a few hours of entertainment I would call the film valuable, but for me it did a bit more.

What do we do as writers? We think up something, especially in fiction, and try to make something solid out of it. Ideas. These are what we deal in. What courage it takes to pull this idea from the ether and say, "not only am I going to spend time on it, but I am going to ask people to spend their time and possibly money on it as well." 

This movie sort of set in front of me just how important this job is. Just how important imagination is. And most of all just how far an idea can go.

Anyway, I hope all of you are well. If you have not seen it I recommend it with my highest of approval ratings. As always, have fun and keep writing. 

IWSG and stuff.

First I want to talk quickly about A-Z. I did survive, barely. It was truly a rewarding experience. I got to meet some new bloggers. I got great advice, learned some history, found out about garden gnomes. It was taxing, but I honestly can't wait to try it all again next April. 

IWSG

This post is less about insecurity and more about my observation. I am starting to get this blogging thing down. It isn't so much that I have all the kinks worked out, but more so that I am starting to feel comfortable with the idea of my purpose here. 

For a writer, blogs are so important. Think of your favorite author. If you are like me you have scoured the internet looking for interviews or websites anything to do with them. As a reader we get attached to the books, but also ultimately attached to the author. 

The version of yourself you put out there in your blog is one of the first impressions a person could get about your writing. You want to have a person/people love to come see what you say and to find you fun or interesting or both. When it comes time for them to put some money down on your writing they might say, "Hey, I like that person. Sure, let's see how the writing is."

I think that the age we live in it is easy to get lost among the masses of other books and entertainment out there. You can do everything right and still never find your audience. One way to start bringing people in is to let them see the person behind the words.

Anyway, this is just my observation. As always, have fun and keep writing.

Z is for....

So I suck. Yesterday was a bit tricky and I should have just scheduled this ahead. Oh well live and learn. Here it is, late, but not forgotten.

Zebra Shark

Fun Fact: A medium sized shark native to Indian and South Pacific oceans. Living around coral reefs the Zebra Shark has a flat body and eel-like tail making it extremely agile in the water. This shark is actually an omnivore though its diet is mainly focused on meat it finds in the reef.