JBWE, R2, My Turn (Jim Butcher Writing Experience)

JBWE, Round 2, My Turn -- Jim Butcher Writing Experiment



Here go my answers to this round of the writing experiment.  Let's see what we can do!  Who all is talking in my head?  That's disturbing.

Part 04: It All Depends On Your Point Of View
a.    Experience the importance of having a strong char/knowing char:
       i. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from the main character's POV
       ii. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from a back/weak character's POV

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Here goes Part 04, a, i:


"Oh what a day it will be!  I've already done 879,000 push-ups, had 347 eggs for breakfast, and dispatched 14 legions of baddies from the lands of Grayskull.  Nothing more could top the glory achieved under this fine sun!"

I wasn't talking to anyone in particular, but sometimes I just feel the need to let it out!  Yup - here goes again.

"What's that over there?  Is that a flimsy looking cowl of one dastardly skull-faced villain I know?  Come on Battle Cat, let's ride like the wind!"

Fortunately, Battle Cat, my over sized riding cat, decided to stop his breakfast at 411 brush hens.  He strolled over and rubbed up against... well, my whole body, really and let out a comforting rumble.

"Thanks old boy.  Let's hit the roads and follow that cowl!"

I mounted the feline mercenary quickly and dashed my heels into his hind-quarters.  We were off in a flash to hunt down the thing I hate the most.  That vile skulled-man that I see in the shadows on my way to bed.  It was his time to feel the power.

I have it.  Yes, I do.

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Here goes Part 04, a, ii:

"Now where did I leave that bucket of dirt again?"

Mumbling while I dig through the castle dungeons seems to help jar my memory.  Well, it usually does when I've got nothing else to do... which is most of the time.  I mean, I'm not down-playing myself or anything, but how's a cloaked bruddah-from-another-muddah supposed to get some action around here?

Come to think of it, I'm not sure that type of thing would suit me best.  I mean, I see hens and eggs disappear like mad these days and it just spooks the heck-fire out of me!  Sure, He-man says he eats it all, and maybe Battle Cat has a piece or two... that cat can eat ...but the numbers oh the numbers are crazy. Makes me want to crawl back into my corner and shiver until tomorrow.

My knees started bouncing off each other as a bead of sweat rolled down the tip of my nose.  Or what would have been my nose if this dang cloak didn't cover it up.  Glad no one has asked me about the 'O', either.

"Not that I'd want to show anyone.  Now that's a scary thought."

Steadied in my doubt, I figure it's about time to get back to polishing the kitchen-ware.  Where am I again?

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Okay - maybe I'm a bit biased because Orco was a complete waste of space, but man his portion was boring.  Point taken.

The Jim Butcher Writing Experiment - Round 2

[FYI, the JBWE (jib-wee) is based on Jim Butcher's LiveJournal notes]


There are 2 exercises to do this round. Here goes! 

The Jim Butcher Writing Experiment - Round 2

Part 04: It All Depends On Your Point Of View
a.    Experience the importance of having a strong char/knowing char:
       i. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from the main character's POV
       ii. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from a back/weak character's POV

My stab at the exercise coming soon. :)
Get started on yours!

Jim Butcher Writing Experience - Round 1 - My Take

Here goes my response or my take on the:

The Jim Butcher Writing Experiment - Round 1

The Most Important Thing An Aspiring Author Needs To Know

1. Write briefly about the thought that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

It almost like the law of thermodynamics... I forget which one, but I'm sure it doesn't matter.  The point is, that nothing can be had for free without impacting someone else.  If someone else is impacted, then you will be affected somehow, too.  It's best to put in the good work, earn that place, and pass on the wisdom gained along the way.  Winning the lottery may make you rich, but it won't make you wealthy-wise.  Work it to keep it. 

2. Explain how things can be simple, but not easy.

Sure.  Making a baby is relatively simple.  Egg + sperm + time = HELLO BABY.  Do I really have to tell you how NOT easy raising one is?  Worth every minute, but requires 2 minutes input for each.  Nurse that book, nurse that project.  One little bit at a time.  You'll have a grown kid and grand-kids in "no time."

3. Jot down 5 excuses you use to kill your dreams – and then destroy those excuses

1 - I don't have enough time.

2 - No one will like it.

3 - I don't have enough money.

4 - I don't know where to start.

5 - I don't know if it will be worth it.

Now to kill them - or at least get them bleeding:

1 - I make my own time.  as little as 5 minutes a day here and there is one step closer.

2 - Who cares?!  He who doesn't like it is NOT your target audience.

3 - Then do it on the cheap!  All hail open source software and Amazon KDP.

4 - How about writing down the 3 T's of the project: Task, Target, and Topic.

5 - Everything that helps you experience *something* is worth it.  Some more-so than others.  Learn to weigh.

What Is This Craft You Speak Of?

1. Explain how you think good writing is about influencing emotions

 I know that if I am not emotionally involved in a story or topic, I don't want to finish the book.  What is the last good movie you've seen that didn't keep you on the edge of your seat or wanting more?  Exactly.  In order for you to experience these things, someone has to do the 'influencing' in the (manu)script.  You want interest in your work?  You must interest them.

That's it for this round.  Next round coming soon!

The Jim Butcher Writing Experiment - Round 1

[FYI, the JBWE (jib-wee) is based on Jim Butcher's LiveJournal notes]

I am proud to announce that I have slaved over all of Jim Butcher's awesome writing notes. I've come to the conclusion that I would like to write mo' bettah. I believe going through his notes in an exercise format could really tune me up.

I will split these notes and exercises up over several different posts, to keep things more manageable. Plus, I want to do them all myself, too. I hope you'll get on board and do them with me! Let's practice writing and have some fun!

And here goes - I plan to do 1 post per bullet point. Or maybe a combo if they're pretty quick and easy.

The Jim Butcher Writing Experiment - Round 1

The Most Important Thing An Aspiring Author Needs To Know

1. Write briefly about the thought that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
2. Explain how things can be simple, but not easy.
3. Jot down 5 excuses you use to kill your dreams – and then destroy those excuses!

What Is This Craft You Speak Of?

1. Explain how you think good writing is about influencing emotions

Learning From Jim Butcher's Blog

I recently picked up a copy of Jim Butcher's book "Storm Front," which is the 1st in his "Dresden Files" series.  While I will say this is definitely not a Young Adult (YA) class book, it just sucked me right in and keep me interested!

I thought nothing of it, except for making a note to read some of the other books Jim has written.  Until, I ran across his LiveJournal blog:

http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/

Now, whether or not his books are your cup of tea is not my interest here.  Check his blog out.  It is a very successful writer giving you the low-down on how to write successful novels.  FOR FREE.

HELLO!  MCFLY!!!

I immediately digested every bit of it and am anxiously awaiting his next post.  Apparently, he is busy writing for money so his free guidance comes in spurts.  I can understand this. :)

If you haven't already, and have some interest in writing (fiction or not), then I highly recommend checking out his posts.  Now.  Seriously.  Go!

I Salute You, Passing Captain

To wretch.  To reach way down deep.  Grab that thing making your acid roll around without stopping.  Yank it up and hurl it away.  Grab the infestation by the horns and wrangle it on down.  YUCK.

Strolling along the sidewalk... at a leisurely pace - no where in particular to be.  I begin to wonder.  What is it that you think of me?  Know that I use my own God-given flashlight and don't live on the lamps of others for my day to day.

But what is it inside that makes you tick the way you do when I enter the frame?

Do I scare you?  Is there something that I do that makes you want to be less like you?  Is there something less-visible perching on my shoulder that constantly keeps you at bay.  That unconscious tug pulling you the other way?

Or maybe it is completely conscious.  The pull is but a push.  As if you'd rather have little to do with me and hide inside a bush.  This is fine, of course, but I'd like to know the reason.  It seems as if the rope of tension grows more taught with every attempt to loosen.

Another crack in the sidewalk, gently glided over on the way to the park.  Strolling through the green scene from head to toe.  All the while taking in that lovely aroma of leaves just before they let go of their branches.  The branches.

The branches don't seek a reason, but they repeat every season.  How is it that they're never confused by the signs of times ago?  Or is it that they just don't know?  Maybe the trees are so rooted in firm ground that it bothers them not where the leaf drifts.

The trees know why they're here.  They're here to get life to the extremes.  Get water, nutrition, and support to the fluttering leaves.  Worried little about why and where they eventually go.  Always firm.  Always grounded.  Always ready to supply in times of need.

Hop into the boat in the park's lake and what do I see?  A pane of glass with boats gliding in all directions.  Some going in circles - some bouncing off boundaries.  All going in directions that I could not begin to comprehend.  The straighter I go across toward my goal, the more wildly they dance across the water.

It seems as if a boat on point would look lost from the shore, when the captain knows the destination true.  I guess you could say what the captain says matters, and little else - in this lake, anyway.

So to you, passing captain, I salute and wave with well wishes.  I cast my rod and try to feed the fishes.  To bite is a choice I cannot control.  This I know.

Trying Out The Blogger Android Mobile App!

New phone - new app - THE POWER!!!

Just downloaded the mobile app for blogger on android devices.  So far so good.  I think I will have to enter HTML code since it doesn't look like a WYSIWYG editor.  I have to admit I am not that excited about that assumption at all.

However, I think it will work well enough for the quick little posts I plan to do.
Okay... I think I've staggered along enough with this test.

Toodles y'all!