the bolt of lightening

[cornerofmadness]

I finally realized a few days ago what to do about my last nano novel. Like I said this time I definitely want to find a way to encourage myself and my friends to finish their nano novels (since 50K that's not even publishable lenght) last year's novel has sat around for a year doing nothing because I didn't like how I knew it would end.

Well not exactly. The bad guys in this are the teenagers but the motivation is adult and political and I always knew someone was pulling their strings. I didn't know who and it was going to be some visiting warlord but...who cares about that. That's obvious. That's not much of a mystery. I needed someone a little less obvious and someone who would hurt the main character but so far all the adults he knows are very close to him and not bad guys.

Then I realized he's a student. It struck me that one of the biggest influences on kids are teachers so it'll be a teacher he likes. Which means major rewriting of the beginning to weave this character into the story. I think maybe I shied away from that thinking it was too harry potter or something but unless I want it to be some obvious visiting warlord it'll have to be that. I toyed with the idea of it being the MC's guardian's major domo but I can't really see that person having much contact with the MC and his friends.

Thoughts?

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I like it. It definitely ties in with the theme of the story - and would work so much better than another warlord. Yeah. Good thought!

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite a good idea. teachers really are big influences and it would fit in well. As for it being too Harry Potterish, I think that HP has so many different aspects in it and is so well known that it's quite usual for writers to be afraid something will sound like it's been influenced from there (you can ask Jaki, this was also MY concern when it came to a part of my novel, for entirely different reasons). Just because HP happens to mention something that naturally occurs doesn't mean it only fits in in that verse, and that it isn't just as plausible in another story and setting.

I hope that made sense :/

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks. (we can thank Mad Eye Moody for this) Now to come up with a kindly teacher that both mages and warriors would have (suggestion?) that way all the kids know him. Maybe Kylle likes him less since he would be harder on women

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

HISTORY. HISTORY. HISTORY. A history teacher. Yeah. Either that or heraldry. Or a combo of the two.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah that makes sense. Really the story has zero in common with HP. It's in no way earth based. The closest it comes is that it has three young best friends

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Hmmm well there was a history teacher already but he liked Makai's radical feminist ideas. Heraldry might work or writing...or how about religion

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Religion. Hmmmm. Heraldry or Religion. Hmmmm.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

can you see makai in EITHER class?

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Not really, no but I'm sure that the heraldry, at least, is required. Religion, as we've pointed out previously, isn't really considered any more.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Great, so what do the Qulani use in their heraldry?

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Just like everyone else. Deer, bears, dogs, mythical creatures, designs, people's arms, weapons....

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm also wondering at what kind of palatte they have for colors. Betting white isn't used and just about anything else could be given it's usually showing on snow. Never thought about them even using heraldry. I think Trehvan and Tully mentioned it once but that was about it.

STill thinking religion since these guys are pushing to go back to the old ways

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Religion would work, after all.

Colors? Blue, black, red, probably green, maybe brown or grey. And whatever "furs" come into place, like surely there's something like an ermine out there, or squirrel....

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Makai is assuring me squirrel fur is NOT part of his heradlic symbol

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

No, it's mouse fur - Tully

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Exactly NOT mouse fur in MY symbol - Makai

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

You're scrawny enough that a single mouse's hide could cover you - Tully

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh look who's talking. I swear you're my real father - Makai

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I. Have. Muscles. And definition. - Tully

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Now. But what about when YOU were a vani? - Makai

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

He was skinny as a blade of grass -Trehvan

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I was NOT - Tully