A Second Draft's In Da Woiks!

I am currently working on a second draft of one of my short stories.

Technically, it's going to be a complete rewrite. Elements from the first will be there, but the whole plot's going out the window. It's just the way things gotta be

Oddly enough, this was what happened the last time I worked out a short story. Worse, last time the story grew into a novella and really wasn't something I cold send out.

In other artistic endeavors, my sketching is showing marked improvements. I'm not at the stage where I could ever make a living at it, but I advance, I have fun, and that is what matters,

More words as the news progresses. Hopefully more interesting news, instead of this rah-rah stuff...

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble

According to its Wikipedia article, Marian Catholic, my old high school, now offers fencing as an extracurricular sport. Fencing.

I would have gone out for fencing. Wouldn't have been any good at it, probably, but I would have tried. For fencing.

stupid, luck younger generation...

getting all the good stuff

i mean, really

The Horrors

I was going to be the next Stephen King. I thought if I write horror stories half as good as he did, I'd have it made. I geared myself to that goal, read Horror story after Horror story, watching Horror movie after Horror movie. I was going to be terrifying.

As I write this, I'm printing out a draft copy of a story called "Pookie, the Demon Doll of Death."

Does that say terror to you?

Oh, how I've fallen from my goal.

And I'm loving every minute of it...

My Silence Has a Reason Behind It.

Namely, my writing production is up. Way up. I'm currently sitting on three short stories and am working on a fourth. Writing wise, things haven't ever been this good. Oh sure, there's the novel, but the difference is that these stories are good. And with the rewrites, I hope to make them great. More, I think at least one of them might get published.

On top of this, I'm working on drawing character heads. Front view, ¾ view, and side. So far they haven't been perfect, but they have been miles better than usual. Boosting the ego something fierce.

So if I'm a little quiet this week, that's the reason. As always, I'll post when and if the whim hits me.

Which no doubt means two more posts before the night's out. Hi ho.

THEME WEEK over

Yeah, I know. Three day week, what fun. Truth to tell, the whole thing died on me with the third painting. I suspect I know why. Not because the exercise was bad... It isn't. Rather, I've been real productive in my short stories of late and this stuff wasn't helping me with that.

More words later, as I'm house cleaning today. But I wanted a note ending the week.

Painting Story Telling - Cormoran

The Illustration and Its Creator

This illustration is from the 1918 book called English Fairy Tales by Flora Annie Steel. It was done by Arthur Rackham, who is ranked among the greats in his field. Whether or not he is, of course, is a matter of preference. This particular piece seems a combination of excellent in its detail and a bit rushed. You can count every brick on the fence and houses, but the faces of the people seem simplistic. I'm not with a lot of room to talk, though, as this picture is better than most if not all of my work.

The illustration itself is for a retelling of Jack the Giant Killer. The giant is called Cormoran and he is to be the first one slain by mighty Jack. Lucky him.

Steel's collection of fairy tales can be found over at Project Gutenberg

My Exercise

Again, I want to try and avoid the obvious choices. Although, to be honest, even in avoiding the obvious choice I've taken an obvious route:

Cormoran came into the city for a few groceries and wouldn't you know it but everyone he came across started screaming and hollering to all get out. To his disgust, even the dogs scampered away from him like a frightened deer. All he wanted to do now was get to the nearest lake and see if he could wash the scent of stupid people off of himself.

Not much to add to that. If we go by the story, poor Cormoran here gets tricked into a pit by a murderous Jack, who goes on to slaughter many other helpless (and stupid) giants.

Hurray!

Yep, I Missed an Update

I've been writing a short story which has caught up my attention. It's currently called "Pookie, Demon Doll of Death!", though I doubt it'll sell under that name.

Still, I love it.

I'll try for a double post later today. Pookie should be done by then.