I cannot state how much I love to write. It is the one thing in life that gives me real enjoyment from doing it. Sure, I have tried to have a couple of relationships, but they broke down because the other person did not have the drive and determination to make it work that I did. I use that same drive and determination to progress my books each and every day that I get out of bed.
While I am still lacking in sleep, that does not matter when you do something you truly enjoy. There is a lot of pressure from other people telling you that you need to get a job to make money to live a comfortable life, but in my view, the chance to do something you want to do lasts far longer than the material possessions any career will allow you to purchase.
The first chapter of Crucible is accessible by pressing your mouse pointer on this lovely blue string of letters: Crucible – Chapter One
The last report I did is available here: Crucible: Confrontations & Cogitations
- What I Did Today
Today I focused almost exclusively on building the major event that drives a lot of the conflict in The Crucible – The Crowning. For it, I focused a lot on hyping up the event as something that people either look forward to or dread in their lifetime. It also allowed me to begin reintroducing characters from Chapter One (here you thought I forgot about them) and using them to help Lumi in her new quest to become the winner of The Crowning.
I envision The Crowning to be the event that brings Ash and Lumi closer together, even though they will be fierce rivals throughout the entire story arc. It is something I’ve never done before so it is interesting for me to do.
I also brought up more of the secretive backstory of Ash to help fuel Lumi’s motivation for making the decision to enter in The Crowning. I found it was a masterful thing on my part.
- Today’s Best Work
The moment where Lumi finds out how much deep water she is in takes the cake for one of the longest pieces of dialogue I have ever written. It also happens to be one of the best and it is included right at the tail end of what I wrote today.
“Quite a frightening decision to make. Foolish, yes, but it was a brave one. I am glad this short time outside Tumbleweed gave you courage to do such a thing. Frost appeared lost in a fit of rage, but you impressed her. That is a rare thing to do, Lumi. Now we have a big task ahead of us. We must prepare you for the trials of The Crowning.”
“I know you. I swear I do. I can’t pinpoint who you are though,” I said.
Snow dipped his head for a second. He reached up and pulled the mask away from his face. A toothy visage grinned at me as all sense of fear flushed out of my body. Gen was a welcome sight in a place I did not know. I did wonder how he got here before I did.
“To those people out there, we do not know each other. I am afraid that Gen is not my true name. I am Snow, enforcer of Her Highness, Queen of the clans and matriarch of Blizzard Clan, Frost. There will be time to explain all of this, but you need to listen to what I have to say. The Crowning is a farce. Every time one happens, the current leader of the Clans predetermines the winner. They do everything in their power to ensure their chosen successor reigns supreme. The arrival of both you and Ash threw Frost’s plans out the window. The two of you are unknown entities and she does not like what she cannot control. I know the souls you will face in the coming trials. The trials never change. I did not wish to admit this in Tumbleweed for you would not believe me if I did tell you. Now that you are here and entered in The Crowning, I am your only ally. I am not a competitor myself but I was during the last event. When it came down to Ash or myself, I fled. There is a reason my name carries a lot of meaning to the Clans. Sure, I hide my true name behind the façade of a wizened old soul, but during the last Crowning, I was the one selected to be the victor. There was never any plan for Ash to ascend to the Fiery Throne. She was not in the tournament until the last moment. Quite like this time. Lumi, there is no way you can beat Ash. No one can beat her. Something greater than you or I drives her to be stronger, faster, smarter, better than the rest of us. I can ensure you get to the final event to face her, but beyond that, it is all up to you,” Gen said.
“What is the final event?” I asked.
“One-on-one combat. Winner takes all.”
- How Productive I Felt I Was
The way I wrote today was in a manner I’ve stuck to all week. Each milestone I hit drives me to write toward the next one with more gusto. I cannot express how proud I am of all the work I’ve done in the past three days alone. If I had to guess, everything I’ve done eclipses most of my previous work but that is not to say I despise my prior work. What it does is show how far I have come as a writer in less than a quarter of a year.
I took some great advice from one of my former professors the other week. He said that the best way to improve is not through rigorous study, but through dedication and perseverance. The best ways to improve your writing are simple and so is the formula.
Read
Write
Write
That is it. Those three things are all you need to improve your writing.
- What I Intend To Write Next Week
Next week begins the major story arc of The Crowning. I am uncertain of how to start it, but I suppose the best thing I can do is what brought me into writing in the first place – head down and go. I do have a rough idea of how The Crowning will go, so it is not like I am without a plan. The way I write is quite unique and it works for me, so I’ll stick with it as I continue to further Crucible.
The three things you can do to help me are:
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I appreciate any and all feedback and the larger my audience, the more encouraged I feel to keep doing what I am doing.
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