Winter Term

I’ve started my winter term taking two literature courses and retaking a fiction writing class. I will likely workshop the Dollmaster prologue at the end of the term, but the course has a requirement for two stories, which can’t be from the same novel if that is the source for one. Anyway, the deadline for the first story came up fast, so last weekend I had to hammer it out. I ended up writing a bit of Aroal’s past. Soon, after I do a little editing, I will likely post up a polished version of my short exercise and Aroal’s story.

I’m doing a lot of reading this term. I took a Fantasy Fiction course (I mean, I kind of HAD to, afterall), and we’re reading Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea series. We’re on the third book now. I also need to read The Last of the Mohicans for my American Fiction course. Busy busy busy.

2017 in Review, Looking Forward to ’18

Happy New Year!

While 2017 may have been a political dumpster fire, my life was actually pretty good this year. I began attending university after getting my associate’s degree. I’m now pursuing my bachelor’s in fine arts for creative writing. In my personal life, this was the year that a relationship I’ve been patiently waiting for finally crystallized. I moved in with my partner and my quality of life has been substantially improved. I’m more focused and aware of my own mental health, less overwhelmed.

As for Aserra, I’m starting to make progress on building The Dollmaster story. I have some more world building ideas too. Now that my general studies are done, I can focus more on writing, and my writing classes have provided me with more stability. I think when I’m writing using the backbone of our RPG, it’s more challenging than just letting a story flow. I have to revise what’s already been written and put it into a coherent voice.

My writing classes also give me an opportunity to explore other ideas and write some short story ideas that have been bouncing around in my head. Last year, I wrote a couple short stories for character backgrounds that I had been wanting to explore. I wrote a couple personal pieces in different styles. I also wrote “Changeling,” a story that had been kicking around in my head about a man kidnapped by fairies, then unwittingly falling in love with his half-fae daughter after he leaves the fairy world.

Some world building ideas are percolating too. I’m toying with adding another Idayn (or elf) race, which will be Asian in appearance. They will be the descendents of Idayn and humans in the aftermath of the War of the Gods, who make their own sylvan society in western Thiskel.

This winter break, I’ve also been looking at doing some revisions of several races. Iengi (giants), Kiar (hobbits? gnomes?), and Kuzo (goblins), which are all close cousins to humanity. Iengi, rather than being dumb giants, are being given a deeper background and more intellect. They age 33% slower than humans, which includes early childhood development. Aside from this, their challenge in the world is that they are not as sociable as humans (a bunch of introverts), which led to the downfall of their ancient civilization and their current decline as they live as solitary, feral survivalists. However, they have the same intellectual potential as humans.

Kiar and Kuzo are now tied together. I wanted to consider a new origin for Kiar rather than placing them in Kalesten from the start. So, they began in mountain valleys in Ageond (the destroyed continent). They age 33% faster than humans, giving them a short life span and the potential for rapid reproduction. During the War of the Gods, the dark gods created the Kuzo from the Kiar to serve as foot soldiers for the Danaij. With the short lifespan, rapid development from childhood to adulthood, and quick reproduction, the Kiar were an ideal base to start with. The surviving Kiar are descended of refugees who fled Ageond during this time and settled in Kalesten.

So, there are some of my ideas. I also never updated after I workshopped chapter 3 of The Dollmaster, either. After editing, it was clear that chapter 3 would be better broken into two chapters, so now it’s 3 & 4 and the one that I began is chapter 5! The prologue will introduce our villain, Voris. Chapter 1 is Naclia and Terin’s arrival in Kosony and meeting Laban and Rayina. Chapter 2 is Talen meeting Adra and his reluctance to marry being overcome. Chapter 3 is the introduction of Pharen and Thalia, written primarily from Pharen’s perspective, as they go to Talen’s wedding. Chapter 4 is primarily Thalia’s perspective from the beginning of the ceremony to Adra’s kidnapping and the decision for her, Pharen, and Talen to attempt to rescue her. Chapter 5 is then the arrival of Naclia and Terin in Talen’s hometown and the reunion of the one-time lovers at the worst possible time! Avion will likely be introduced in 5 or 6, depending on how things go, and 6 or 7 will be a chapter focusing on Adra and Voris.

The Move – Progress Report

My move is almost completed! I spent most of last week unpacking and organizing. My partner and I also bought a new car sooner than expected. I had been expecting to borrow my mom’s new car (which I had been driving to school) while she kept the old one until my partner was ready to buy one in December. Between moving in, car shopping, and school starting for my son, this has been one crazy week! My partner also hadn’t fully “moved in” to his own house, so unpacking and organizing was also a lot of breaking down his boxes of stuff. The stack of boxes I just took to recycling was probably enough for a small forest.

Anyway, I’m still settling in. The office is the last room that will really need organizing. Most of my notes are still packed, my main computer isn’t set up (and he is getting ready to build me a new one to replace my old laptop), and I also still need a new office chair, since my old one broke and was abandoned at my mom’s house. I still have my surface and phone, but I’m not quite ready to get back to work! My brain is tingling with the need to write though… just not enough hours in the day.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I’m going to be moving shortly, and I’m looking forward to a fresh start in my life! However, writing projects are sidelined for a few weeks as I settle into my new routines. I’m hopeful that a new, clean space and a stable routine will be nurturing to my creativity. My living situation has become a bit chaotic with all the animals my mom and I care for, but I will be taking with me only my son’s two mice and a kitten, so there is less work involved there. The new house is only ten years old, so it has less of the problems that my mom’s 60/70 year old house has–drafty windows, mildew/mold from condensation on the walls in winter, less pests.

I was a little reluctant to leave the space I’ve established for myself, but this move was motivated by my son’s need for a better education. Apparently, his current school rates 3rd to last in the state (which means less funding, which means it only can go downhill). He’s been frustrated and depressed by the bare-bones education he’s been receiving. I couldn’t let this continue for another year, so when the opportunity arose to move into a better school zone arose, I had to take it.

I’m excited for this new chapter in my life!

Projects

While this page hasn’t been updated since 2013, I’ve still been hard at work! World building has continued, characters refined, and stories written. After leaving an incredibly stagnant period of my life, I’ve been making up for lost time, establishing myself as a Functioning Adult in the Real World. I attended college, beginning at my local community college to acquire my Associate’s in Art (Transfer) Degree, and continuing at university to complete my Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. I spent years role-playing, creating characters and stories, and now it’s finally time to take this seriously. Breathing life into these concepts is what brings me joy. This is what I want to pursue. I always hoped that one day I would, and now it’s time to accept that one day has arrived.

My focus has primarily been on The Dollmaster storyline as an introductory story to the series. I’m only a few chapters into revising the original role-play, but still hammering away at it. School has kept me busy, but it’s also provided me with the skills to be a better author.

After The Dollmaster, I plan to continue with Cursebreaking and Atissran’s Tower, as well as a three-part series following Sevrina and Gale in the Forsaken Land. Other stories around the same time should also be included (Azala, Zira, and Mia must be included!) I have a loose plan to shake up the world with a new conflict between the two divine factions, with each story playing a role in progressing the overarching story.

I’ll try and make more use out of this website again as I re-organize myself. I could also use some financial support! If you have a little money to spare (even if it’s only a $1 a month) please consider contributing to my Patreon. Not only will a little money help me feel more secure, getting the positive reinforcement will help me make progress. As a reward, patrons will have access to materials that only the Aserran contributors can access otherwise.

Become a Patron!