Archimedes M. Quinn

Every writer has an inner editor.  Each editor is as different in personality as their writer is from another writer.  Some have names, some do not, while others are known simply as Ed.  Mine, well, his names is Archie.  Actually, that’s his nickname, his full name is Archimedes M. Quinn.

Archie has been around for quite some time, but recently he decided he was going to come out of his little inner editor shell he put himself into inside my head and let me get to know him better.

I’m sure all of you are wondering, “What kind of an inner editor calls himself Archimedes M. Quinn?”  (btw, he gave himself that name, I had nothing to do with it.)  Well, I shall tell you.

Archie is a red-headed, perfectionist-realist-skeptic.  That’s right.  He thinks of himself as some sort of James Bond, Doctor Who cross over, (not kidding) and is obsessed with his wardrobe.  He likes to be well dressed and tends to look down on inner editors who do not take their appearance as seriously as he does.  (Yes, that means he’s a bit of a snob.  Where did I get such an inner editor?)   His interests include (but are not limited to), rapiers, bow ties, pocket watches and owls.  (Not to mention diving his writer crazy.)  He most recently informed me that he had a pet Spectacled Owl named Theophilus.

There’s Archie, pocketed into one paragraph, though he says I’m exaggerating on some of his lesser qualities, therefore, I shall tell you about his better qualities.  First off, his skepticism.  Yes, I see this as a good quality.  It keeps me on my toes.  If he’s skeptical of something *cough*my romance writing*cough* it forces me to rethink what I’m doing and make sure I’m showing it correctly.  (Though, if it’s a rough draft I usually just tell him to take a hike and come back for the revision.)  Even his perfectionism and realist POV can be good qualities.  Though maybe annoying, they really do help.

Archie and I tend to argue allot, but in the end we’re still writer and inner editor and get along pretty well.  (And he’s slowly learning to be nice.)  There you have it, you have now been introduced to my inner editor, aka, the personality in my head that keeps me thinking, aka, the side of me that was so frustrating it needed it’s own character.

P.S.  Here’s a picture of Archie and one of a Spectacled Owl.

Spectacled Owl (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Six Word Stories

College classes started for me yesterday, and I wanted to share with you all a fun exercise I did in class.

An ice-breaker/exercise my Fiction Writing professor had us all do in class yesterday, was write six words stories about ourselves.  At first I thought it would be hard to think of a six word description of myself, but once I got going, it was easy and lots of fun.

For your enjoyment, here are my six word stories.  How well do you think they fit me?

“People running through me head.  Help!”

“Lost in my own little world.”

“Lost in imagination; be back later.”

And then, one just for fun that came to me later…

“When dealing with dragons, bring candy.”

Can you think of a few six words stories about yourself?  Comment and share them with me!

Hello Geoffrey

You know those pesky characters that you love to pieces but sometimes wish they would leave you alone? The ones who just pop up in the oddest places when you least expect them and make you feel like you’re hallucinating or becoming schizophrenic? Enter Geoffrey; tall, sober, opinionated and constantly peering over my shoulder. I thought Tyra and Stephen were loud, but they’ve got nothing on Geoff.

It’s always the characters who are the most complicated and/or messed up who enjoy stalking my sub-conscious/consciousness, and they won’t leave me alone. Geoffrey is still fairly new. He was born sometime last fall and has grown into quite the personality very quickly. I think he’s one of my more unique characters, not just in looks, but history wise as well. He’s an outlaw, a man on the run, on the run from his past.

The weird thing is; he’s the character I feel the closest to at the moment even though his story is still buried in development. He’s from a deeper place inside me, a place that has been trying to come out and now finally has, but the personality it’s taken on has not only surprised me, it also unnerved me. Let me attempt to describe it. Imagine there is a man in his late twenties. He’s tall, has shoulder length black hair, pale violet eyes and a stern haunted face. He knows everything that’s in your mind, everything in your heart, and you know everything in his. Because he can, he points out all your flaws, trying to humiliate you and draws out your insecurities while at the same time, showing you his own. Oh, and he is just standing there staring at you. Oh, AND, you’re the only one who can see him.

At this point I’m sure you’re wondering whether or not I really am turning into a schizophrenic. Let’s just say this guy is starting to scare me with how real he is, but at the same time it excites me. I’m a writer, I want real characters and now I have one, (who’s really starting to freak me out!).

Okay Geoff, please stop looking at me like that. I’m writing a blog post about you, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Ah!

So, like any other crazed writer with a nosey, leering at me from a dark corner character, I drew him. Funny thing is, once I was done with the drawing, he quieted down and left me alone, for a little while anyway. I think it scared him (muwhahahaha!). Must have, because it scared me too and I had to stuff it in a drawer where it couldn’t stare at me!

Maybe it’s time I should be concerned about my mental state… You think?

And here he is.

The Novel is Done! Can I Sleep Now?

CHOICES draft I was completed last night at 9:40-ish. (Yes, I took note of the time. ) It all comes to a grand total of 173 (8×11) pages and 52,488 words. Why does that seem small? Just wait ‘till draft II. It’s going to grow.

Thank you God for this amazing story I love so much, and the wonderful characters I love even more. I pray it will touch the hearts of those who read it.

I had mixed feelings as I typed the last sentence. I felt like grinning my face off; I just finished my second novel! But I also felt like crying. (I’m so weird…) I’m very thankful I have two more books to write with these characters, plus editing to do, else I probably would have cried.

As far as the title of this post goes… It would seem that when I’m in the midst of writing a novel, sleep tends to evade me late into the night. Plus, the closer I get to the end, the more insomnia plagues me. Guess what? I actually had a descend nights sleep last night. Woot!

Well, here is to Kate, Terren, Connor, Sara and the rest of the gang. They made it through all the terrible, heart breaking, emotional, painful, physically difficult, confusing and hard situations I put them through. Hooray for my cast! Until the next adventure guys, you can relax now.

Tea and Chocolate

The two things I could not live without… besides books and music anyway.
My favorite kind of tea is a black tea called “Consider the Coconut” made by Tea Time Garden, and my favorite chocolate is Dark Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cups. Too bad they don’t go well together ha?

Every writer has their brain food, these are mine. I don’t know what it is about a hot cup of black tea that’s so relaxing, but I just don’t feel ready to sit down and write until that seaming cup, brewed just right with sugar and cream, is sitting on my desk beside me. Mmmm, so good.

One thing’s for sure about chocolate, especially if you’re addicted to it like me, it’s an exhalent motivator. “No chocolate until the writing goal is done for the day!” You have no idea how that little, Dark Reeses Peanut Butter Cup beckons to me as soon as I make that decision. Torture! But it helps put my mind into gear and my fingers suddenly begin to fly over the key board! It’s like running a race and whoever makes it to the finish line first gets the goodies.

What is your brain food?  What helps you slip into your creative zone while you write? Please share!

Oh, To Be a Writer

I’ve added them all up and I have enough stories/ideas to keep me busy writing for the next ten years.  (Just check out My Novels page and you’ll get the idea.)  But then, that’s not counting all the other story ideas I am certain to have in the future.  Now I just need to finish revising Heart of Hope again so I can send it to a publisher and maybe make my living this way. 

Some of the ideas may never be written, or they could suddenly pop back up in my head and proclaim “Hey!  I’m ready!  Write me!” 

Story ideas can be so amusing sometimes.  One thing I’ve discovered with writing and working on a new idea is that sometimes, no matter how much you love the idea, the characters or how much outlining you’ve done, it still may decide it’s not ready, or you’re not ready to write it.  Tyra’s Stone was one such idea.  I’m nearly done outlining and I love the characters of Tyra and Silas, but I’m still not in a place where I can write it properly.   I guess there are still things God has to teach me before I’m ready to tackle this complicated tale of lies and love. 

But then, you have the stories that pop up out of nowhere and are ready to be written in no time at all!  Enter Wren Fletcher (title a WIP).  The characters showed up first, jabbering away in my brain.  The plot and storyline followed soon after, and not being able to resist the intriguing tale, I began scribing scenes and short outlines.   I’m not even done with the rough draft of Choices, and already I have a nearly complete novel idea to begin working on as soon as I’m done.  Not only that, but it appears that Wren Fletcher will end up becoming a trilogy or series! 

But hey, I’m a writer; where would I be without a constant inflow of new material.   My writer friends and I like to call it the “writer’s curse”.  It drives us crazy, but we would never trade it for anything.

That’s one of the fun parts about being a writer.  Stories surprise you.  You never know when a new one will start knocking on the doors of your brain.  Or when you suddenly find you have a new character whose personality is more real than any character you’ve had yet. 

I love the reaction I get from my family when I run downstairs and proclaim, “I have a new story idea and it’s awesome!” 

First they just stare at me.  The phrase that soon follows is, “But you’re not finished with your first one.” 

Then you have the reaction from my fellow writers.

“Awesome!”

“Sweet!”

“New ideas are great.” 

Hehehe.

Oh, to be a writer.

Choices – book 1 of the Aeden Archives

Here is the novel I’m writing for NaNoWriMo! 

Synopsist:
Eighteen and no future.  That’s what Kate thought about her current stage in life, until one fateful day, the day she found herself in Aeden. 

In this new world of fantasy, Kate joins Terren, an outlawed king in a fight to regain his stolen throne.  But as time goes on, Kate unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with Terren, and even more unexpected, he’s falling in love with her.

As Kate’s time in Aeden draws to a close and victory for Terren is in sight, she must make a choice; Return home to her family, or stay in a world she hardly understands, with a man who showed her how to live again. 

 

This story is one that is very close to my heart.  It’s been around for nearly as long as HEAT OF HOPE, but I have never before committed it to paper.  There have been a few times where I started to write it then stopped, and there are several written scene floating about, but the rest has stayed for the most part in my head.

The world of Aeden was born several years ago.  I was about sixteen and having one of those “sixteen year old” days.  I can’t remember the details, just that I was having a hard time with wanting to get away.  So, I locked myself in the bathroom, (the only room with a lock…), had a good cry, and created this world.  I transported myself to a magical land only I knew about.  Where I could have wonderful adventures and never have to think or worry about life.  Along with that world came Terren.  Someone with whom I could share my adventures.  I believe is why I have never fully committed the story to paper.  It was my world.  My own little world, just for me.  Now, that world has evolved into a deep story and I feel it’s time to tell it.

Some of you may remember this poem from a post I made back in ’09.

Over dark mountains I glide,
On wind swept clouds I ride.
To a land that evil had claimed,
To a heart that time had maimed.

Where adventure lay in wait,
Where love plotted with fate.
I stepped into a world of doom,
Entwined in life’s cruel loom.

Two hearts together found healing,
Two worlds in the cosmos went reeling.
Side by side battles we fought,
Hand in hand loves peace we sought.

Together we defeated the evil holding the land,
And watched as victory spread out as a hand.
But fate had something else in store,
That would leave our hearts broken and sore.

When dawn brighten on that cruel day,
Not even love would let me stay.
We said farewell with tears like rain,
Never knowing if I would return again.

To a land where mysteries roam,
Through mist and time,
Ayden, Ayden, take me home.

As you can see the spelling of “Aeden” has changed since then and it was written when the story consisted of only one book.  Now, three books are planned to fully tell the story of Kate and Terren.

Aeden for me will always be a symbol of I world we all long to be transported too.  My Narnia, if you will.  Though time moves at the same rate, and getting there is harder then stepping through a wardrobe, it’s still a place, though mythical, that is very real in my heart. 

This story deals with allot of tough areas.  Pretty much every spiritual lesson I was learning while dwelling on it is crammed inside.  Faith, trust in Christ, unselfish love, the importance of family relationships, patience, God’s timing, things us humans can’t understand and much more. 

My prayer for this story is that it will show its readers a clear picture of Godly love, relationships and the rewards of fully trusting in Christ for/in everything.

Thank you for reading.  God bless.

And,

Welcome to Aeden.