What are you writing about now?

[david_wendelken]

It's a book!

It's not perfectly bound, but it's a bound book!

I still have to finish the enamel book cover designs and attach them, that will take a week or so.

And I don't know what's going on with this photo, it makes it look like the red book cloth is all wrinkly instead of flatly glued to the book board in the cover. It's not wrinkly, it's perfectly flat.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

And I don't know what's going on with this photo, it makes it look like the red book cloth is all wrinkly instead of flatly glued to the book board in the cover. It's not wrinkly, it's perfectly flat.

It's probably just the way the camera is picking up the light reflecting off the rough surface of the cloth.

 

[CirdanLinweilin]

-- This thread is for use by those who write. The intent is to provide a place to list your project(s) in progress, give a brief of what they are, and encourage one another to 'keep going, and keep at it.'
-- Like any artist or crafter, writers' project bins can become filled with 'stuff started....still in progress...' for (a-ahem)... way too long.
-- Let's see if the family here can help each other through a bit of encouragement and accountability to "keep on keepin' on" and get those projects finished.

1. Urban Fantasy: The first in my High Fantasy/Science Fiction Saga
2. A Romance Novel
3. A Sci-fi Retelling of the Book of Exodus.
4. A Religious Children's story.

CL

 

[Ent]

1. Urban Fantasy: The first in my High Fantasy/Science Fiction Saga
2. A Romance Novel
3. A Sci-fi Retelling of the Book of Exodus.
4. A Religious Children's story.

CL

Thank you for sharing. A wide range of subject matter indeed.
We trust all is going well. Keep us apprised of your progress.

 

[david_wendelken]

1. Urban Fantasy: The first in my High Fantasy/Science Fiction Saga
2. A Romance Novel
3. A Sci-fi Retelling of the Book of Exodus.
4. A Religious Children's story.

CL

For efficiency's sake, maybe you could combine some of them in one story? If nothing else, the thought-experiment might lead to new insights!

 

[Ent]

maybe you could combine some of them in one story?

Indeed. An Urban Fantasy Romance Retelling the Exodus, cast as a Children's Story.
Perhaps Grandpa sitting beside the bed of a sick grandchild, telling it. (Shades of The Princess Bride.)
I'd buy and read it..!

 

[CirdanLinweilin]

Indeed. An Urban Fantasy Romance Retelling the Exodus, cast as a Children's Story.
Perhaps Grandpa sitting beside the bed of a sick grandchild, telling it. (Shades of The Princess Bride.)
I'd buy and read it..!

Unfortunately the Urban Fantasy is just one in a very well crafted, detailed. and immersive universe.

The exodus retelling is on the shelf right now, and the children's story is the creation of a friend who is an artist and he owns the characters, I entered into a deal with him to tell the story.

Thought right now I am working on the Urban fantasy right now. Money is tight so I can't work on multiple projects. These are just the ones in the pipeline.

CL

 

[Ent]

These are just the ones in the pipeline.

Well so be it then.
I'll just need to get and read each as it comes out separately. (I've no doubt they'll all be worth it..!)
You're young yet... God willing, you've got plenty time to finish them all.

 

[CirdanLinweilin]

Well so be it then.
I'll just need to get and read each as it comes out separately. (I've no doubt they'll all be worth it..!)
You're young yet... God willing, you've got plenty time to finish them all.

Amen, It's the one after this urban fantasy I am excited about. That's the High fantasy/epic fantasy trilogy I first came up with.

So so excited.
And thank you so much!
CL

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Not writing yet, but it's a small bud of an idea for an original historical novel. I'm so excited for it, though, as it's the first idea I've had which was not related to The Silmarilion or any other fantasy work I'm obsessed with!

 

[Ent]

That's the High fantasy/epic fantasy trilogy I first came up with.

So so excited.

I'm so excited for it, though, as it's the first idea I've had which was not related to The Silmarilion or any other fantasy work I'm obsessed with!

Always good to hear our writers being excited.

On my own front, I'm getting the "big itch"to get back to my writing now as well. Sufficient study and reorganization put into the health issues now to allow me to settle into the new life a bit, and start adding back the "fun stuff."

I've one review project I've taken on to finish up, then I'll be on my way with my first book in earnest again.
(I tried to convince myself to abandon the writing altogether, but well.... i just can't.)

 

[david_wendelken]

I mentioned awhile ago that I was willing to set up a zoom meeting to demonstrate some of the tools I've found useful in my writing. Some help with story structure, beating writer's block, creativity, grammar, editing, or layout.

Let me know if there's any interest.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I'm from Iran, so most apps are banned in here, and I won't be able to have access to it most likely.

Would love to receive in an email format, though, if you're still offering.

 

[david_wendelken]

I'm from Iran, so most apps are banned in here, and I won't be able to have access to it most likely.

Would love to receive in an email format, though, if you're still offering.

Here's one product I found very helpful. https://sefirot.it/fabula-deck. The web page has a video and explanation of how it works. You could make your own deck, of course. Here are a few really important tricks to using this: Every card is a question to ask yourself. Every answer is a To-Do list item to write, and it's also a set of questions to ask yourself. Used that way it helps you fill in the gaps in your story and forces your creativity to get to work.

The word processing/editing software, Final Draft (https://www.finaldraft.com/) includes a framework that lets you incorporate a similar method. It will also turn it into an outline and merge it into your work.

www.Grammarly.com and www.AutoCrit.com are useful tools. The first helps with grammar and punctuation (though don't assume it's always correct!!!). The second provides tools to help you spot bigger problems than a simple misspelt word. I found that after I used them for awhile, I made a lot fewer mistakes to begin with. That's a double win because it means there's much less editing work to get the writing done!

Hope that helps!

PS - for those skimming the above, I think it really helps to see a demonstration of the technique I use with the cards. It's simple but it works, and could be adapted to works as different from high fantasy as a cookbook

 

[david_wendelken]

I'm printing out another copy of my book to bind. I'll try to get a couple more ready. I have more supplies showing up on Saturday and Monday.

Found a sawmill that will cut book covers to the thickness and size I want. I'm going over there on Monday. Hopefully I can get them to do a bit more with a CNC router or laser cutter.

I've also slightly resized the design to etch on the copper panels to be enamelled and attached to the book covers. I'm taking them and some copper sheets to the printer on Monday so they can get those printed. (The light-sensitive ink they use acts as a resist to prevent the saltwater etching I do from eating away the copper where I want the copper un-etched.) Hopefully I'll have both wood and copper ready to use by the end of next week, if not sooner.

I've been going thru my new bookbinding books and looking for various bindings to try out. Hope to have 3 to 4 copies bound and one with completed enamelled covers by then, too.

 

[Ent]

Well, today I re-entered the pages of my first book again.
Rereading everything I've written so far - Contents Page, Acknowledgements, Preface, Introduction, and Chapter 1.
Revising as I go of course...(can't look at it without revising something.)
Then i can begin on Chapter 2.
Excitement overflows again.

 

[david_wendelken]

@Ent, so glad to hear it!!

 

[Ent]

OK I confess, a little more pondering and a bit of sleep are always good things.

I realized this morning I need to restructure my Preface, Introduction and Chapter 1 into just a Preface and Introduction, combining material and streamlining entry into the book matter itself.

Then the book will be broken into 3 sections: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.

Each section will demonstrate both inductively and deductively how Tolkien wrapped his 'moral and religious elements', along with his 'Catholic/Christian' background, into his works.

Virtually every author I've read (27 of them) have approached the subject deductively as I've mentioned. Worse, they've approached the subject from their perspective of Tolkien, rather than from what he did with his work(s).

But as I say in my current Introduction:
- "Most authors and debaters approach this subject focused on Tolkien himself, establishing their reasoning based on deductions extracted from their personal, ingrained views. They believe “because Tolkien was raised, lived in, lived out, and was deeply committed to, his Catholicism/Christianity he was also controlled by it. He could not overcome his conditioning. Because of this, since he said certain things seeming to be in conflict here or there, these following conclusions must be so.
- We can’t blame them. They are, sadly, the ones having been 'conditioned.' Most of us think deductively and draw our conclusions in this same way by nature, having been trained to do so from birth. Only through strong intentionality, turning our thinking on its proverbial head, can we overcome this misfortune of our education and broaden our views."

Anyway, the structure of the book being in the 3 distinct sections will allow the reader to enter anyone's work where they are most 'comfortable' - especially those who may not be familiar with The Silmarillion. They're free to start at either TH or LoTR and work backward, whatever they choose. Each unveils Tolkien's genius within its own context. (Though some will make reference either forward or backward into the other works from time to time, helping the reader see the unity of the whole)

Anyway, once restructured here, on we go.

 

[WatcherWraith]

OK I confess, a little more pondering and a bit of sleep are always good things.

I realized this morning I need to restructure my Preface, Introduction and Chapter 1 into just a Preface and Introduction, combining material and streamlining entry into the book matter itself.

Then the book will be broken into 3 sections: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.

Each section will demonstrate both inductively and deductively how Tolkien wrapped his 'moral and religious elements', along with his 'Catholic/Christian' background, into his works.

Virtually every author I've read (27 of them) have approached the subject deductively as I've mentioned. Worse, they've approached the subject from their perspective of Tolkien, rather than from what he did with his work(s).

But as I say in my current Introduction:
- "Most authors and debaters approach this subject focused on Tolkien himself, establishing their reasoning based on deductions extracted from their personal, ingrained views. They believe “because Tolkien was raised, lived in, lived out, and was deeply committed to, his Catholicism/Christianity he was also controlled by it. He could not overcome his conditioning. Because of this, since he said certain things seeming to be in conflict here or there, these following conclusions must be so.
- We can’t blame them. They are, sadly, the ones having been 'conditioned.' Most of us think deductively and draw our conclusions in this same way by nature, having been trained to do so from birth. Only through strong intentionality, turning our thinking on its proverbial head, can we overcome this misfortune of our education and broaden our views."

Anyway, the structure of the book being in the 3 distinct sections will allow the reader to enter anyone's work where they are most 'comfortable' - especially those who may not be familiar with The Silmarillion. They're free to start at either TH or LoTR and work backward, whatever they choose. Each unveils Tolkien's genius within its own context. (Though some will make reference either forward or backward into the other works from time to time, helping the reader see the unity of the whole)

Anyway, once restructured here, on we go.

I have a query, if you please. When you say "deductively", are you referring to our natural ability to reason? Most of our everyday reasoning is abductive in nature, according to what I have been taught, or inductive. Deductive reasoning is a bit less commonly used.

Because logic and reasoning are an instinctual part of our natures, we do it constantly. However, depending on if we have studied logic, and how much, we may not be very good at it. Our reasoning ability is also driven by our agenda, and this can be quite damaging if our agenda does not align with the truth. In this case, your argument states these authors have agendas not aligned with the truth, and therefore their reasoning was flawed. But this part:

Most of us think deductively and draw our conclusions in this same way by nature, having been trained to do so from birth. Only through strong intentionality, turning our thinking on its proverbial head, can we overcome this misfortune of our education and broaden our views."

This part bothered me, because it seemed you were saying something akin to "deductive reasoning is flawed, and we must overcome it".

Perhaps you were saying "our learned method of deductive reasoning is flawed". But you said we do this by nature(though I am not sure what you meant by "trained from birth").
Perhaps your meant something else entirely, however. I hope I was mistaken, as reasoning, deductive or otherwise, in itself is a major part of how our minds function, and trying to "overcome it" would be as useless as trying to stand on our heads to be taller, and much more harmful to ourselves.

If I have overreacted, I apologize. I have tried to explain myself politely and leave open ways I may be wrong, so I am open to critique. I have been taught all my life by someone very knowledgeable in logic and reasoning, and while I am nowhere near his level yet, I have some ability.

 

[Ent]

If I have overreacted, I apologize. I have tried to explain myself politely and leave open ways I may be wrong, so I am open to critique. I have been taught all my life by someone very knowledgeable in logic and reasoning, and while I am nowhere near his level yet, I have some ability.

Indeed you do. And this puts you in a minority group.
Your questions upen a vast arena for discussion, and I will be happy to discuss them in as much depth as necessary to explain my particular position going into the work. (In short, I address the condition of the majority, not the minority.)

(though I am not sure what you meant by "trained from birth").

This piece opens a massive opportunity for misunderstanding, so requires careful explanation.

I'll come back to all this a bit later. I do believe I have a rather fundamental disagreement with most of our reasoning being inductive. (And I believe there's a difference between deductive, inductive and abductive reasoning.)

In any event, this will be great fun.

One easy clarification - I did not mean to say our 'method of deductive reasoning' is flawed. My meaning is 'to always use deductive reasoning leads to flaw.' (Which couples with the issue of our being 'trained to do so from birth.)

All will be made clear in time. (And I'll consider clarification for the purposes of the book as well.)

Thank you very much.