Sugar Rush

Well, the other day I decided to make some sweet tea. We were out of sugar, so I had to go buy some and then it was time for some sweet tea.

The formula is pretty simple.  Hot water to a large container with sugar.  Let the sugar dissolve, then add the tea bags. Let it steep for a while.  Afterwards, slowly add the tea to a pitcher with ice and water. Tea completed.

Well that day I didn’t move fast enough for a family member–who wanted tea, like yesterday. Well, he decided to make it. I didn’t worry or, care until I tasted it, and then I  noticed my newly retouched sugar bowl was mighty empty.

So I asked him how much sugar he placed in the tea.  He gave a modest amount, but that tea was over-sweetened, and I couldn’t drink it.  So I had to go back, and steep two more tea bags, then add it to this pitcher. Therefore the tea is far stronger than I wanted even with more water, but it cut down a lot of the sweetness.

I am so salty now cause I’ve wasted sugar and tea correcting someone who thought they were correcting me. I suppose I should move faster to make the tea, but how the hell is it supposed to steep if I don’t allow it to have time to steep?

I’m not buying any more sugar this week, or tea bags. We’ll just have to drink water if we run out of both.

Happy creative endeavors.

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Softening the Villain

I write this with two particular villains in mind who I thought were the most interesting characters in their respective films. I’m speaking of Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty, and Darth Vader in Star Wars (original trilogy). Both characters held a lot of mystery and a particular brand of evil that was interesting to watch unfold.

What I did notice is when both characters became the central character of their own films, their stories and characters changed, and in many ways we saw they were not evil, but misunderstood, and that has in effect, cut off their true potency.

When I first talked about both characters, I suggested they were more like tragic heroes with a fatal flaw. They had desire, motive, and they made things happen.  Both Maleficent and Darth Vader paid the ultimate price for their actions. Only one of them remained relentlessly evil, while the other had a change of heart.

That said, when looking at the film, Maleficent, we see that Maleficent is the victim, and it is her trust that is betrayed. This betrayal turned her into a spiteful person, who acts out of malice and revenge.

This is a completely different character from the original, who was pure evil, didn’t give a damn how you felt, she was going to do as she pleased.  Granted that would make for a dark live action film (kids may be scared of her), but let’s be honest, she was the mistress of all evil. That’s a huge part of her appeal.

In the prequels of Star Wars, we get to see Darth Vader as Anakin Skywalker. It could be argued that it was only after Obi-Wan defeated Anakin, and left him to die in Revenge of the Sith is when he really turned evil.

Up until that point, Anakin was cocky, murderous, and extremely petulant. After he was defeated, humiliated, and left to burn alive is where he suffered, got angry, and realized the totality of his actions–which had been vile, and sadly this did not make him regret who he became. I would dare say that’s when the story starts.

Maleficent’s origin film allows for her to be re-branded as a dark heroine, while Darth Vader’s origin attempts to depict his tragic fall from hero to evil.  For the purpose of the Maleficent film, the character’s evil roots were purged in favor of a more kid-appealing villain, while the Star Wars prequels took a route to fill in gaps.

Both de-mystified their strongest characters with mixed results.

It’s Not About Me

I write this, searching for a title, then I realizes that it is about me.  Or its not about my ego. What I keep going for is writing on a daily basis to keep me pushing forward. When I don’t have much to say, I still end up wanting to put something down.

Earlier today it occurred to me that I need to get the rest of my ideas in order, otherwise I’d be slacking off. At some point I need to see my writing evolve beyond the stages of plotting, planning, and revisions. It needs to be published and/or produced.

The obvious is always, “keep writing,” however I should add to it, “and keep pushing and evolving as an artist.” I do love the process, and sometimes it does feel like a hard grind, but there needs to be some payoff beside me struggling.  Some light at the end of the tunnel.

Odd to feel at odds with writing, yet that’s what’s happening.

As always, happy creative endeavors.

 

The Genre

When last I spoke on this topic, I merely said it was a science fiction TV series. What I’m going to do is try to define it a little more.  Simply gathered some facts and see what I have written.

• The Main Character (MC) AKA Second Son is the most powerful and influential man in the world, after it was believed he was killed, but surprises he’s back.
• MC often converses with future self.  Future self may or may not have his own agenda to push.
• The MC’s four friends are also back, but have NONE of the global effect the MC has, but don’t leave his orbit for too long.
• The MC’s family has changed.  MOM renews relationship with MC, but on better terms.
• Mom is also the head of the MC’s business.
• Mom has several relations with various men, but none of them work for her, and she’s a master of being discrete.
• Four people have a reason to go after the MC (the antagonists), but for different reasons.
• First Son is attention seeking, and often in and out of problems.
• Ex Husband is around, and hates having his free spirit clipped/hampered, but now wants son’s attention.
• The world needs a stronger leader than they have, who can get things done, and that makes the MC the strongest, viable candidate.
• MC could be the world’s first global emperor but no generals and not ready to solve everyone’s crisis.
• Not everyone is happy that there’s a person with this much power they can’t gain favor with, or influence in some way.

I need to contemplate these facts, because I’m sure there are more questions in there.

Happy creative endeavors.

More Character Development

Hurricane Irma really put some worry in the past few days, and it also gave me time to contemplate where I’m going at with my idea.  I thought a lot about the genre (science-fiction) and how this impacted the world I created.  I thought of some antagonists for the hero outside of his family and friends.

As always, I want to keep them down to two sentences, and haven’t named them.  I’m keeping them to four at the moment, as it will be easy to manage in my head, and on paper.  for abbreviation they are A 1- 4

A #1 is a spiritual leader who is looking to get Mom in her flock and, thus have influence over Mom and second son.  Cannot strike the ideal balance between controlling ways and spiritual guidance.

A #2: Is a businessman who loves to win, dominate, and destroy any competition that dares reveal itself to him. Cannot rest while Second Son holds more power, respect, and influence than him and he has no way to unseat the Second Son.

A #3 is a politician who has a city that is suffering in resources, and has made the decision to do whatever it takes to have what his city needs to survive.

A #4: Is a resourceful journalist who wants to know everything for her stories on powerful people. She’s know for her unflinching focus on the truth, decisive and candid questions, and her tenacity.

My goal is to see how these characters play out in the series.  I hope to have more thoughts on them, as I flesh them out over time. Also I realize them being antagonists doesn’t mean they are 100% evil. They have conflict with the MC.

Happy creative endeavors.

 

 

Games in Before the Storm

Hello, there’s a storm approaching, and as always the Carolinas is a little chaotic. I played some games, which calmed me down. It’s another MOBA called, Paragon by Epic Games. It’s more action oriented, and fast paced.

All you need to know is I’m supposed to keep my towers from being brought down by the enemy team and vice versa. My character, Zinx has a lot of sustain, and I tried to capitalize on that.  She however has no real escape.  So trade off, in my opinion.

Chaos Party

So now that I have my characters, I have been brainstorming episode ideas that I hope will help me expand  into more ideas. I said I wanted ten, but pushing for twenty. My notebook is filled with ideas.  For grins and giggles, I’m posting five of them below.

I want to name the characters, but the generic names kinda helped me not get too attached in an odd sort of way.

These are really raw ideas, and I need to ask more direct/specific questions of the ideas in order to find some tangible answers to the problems.

• Second Son (MC) has meetings with future self. If this an elaborate deception, hallucination, or does future self have hidden agenda?
• Mom is having relationship with ex-husband, and MC’s ex-friend.  She loves neither of them, and goes to great lengths to keep this info from both of her sons, and both of her partners from discovering they aren’t her one and only. She is also plagued with managing a staff that she’s distracted from keeping in line.
• Mom is worried about MC’s stability as people make demands of his time and efforts, so she takes control of his appointments, and people are forced to deal with her.
• Ex-GF shows up, and she won’t be denied the opportunity to see MC. Even thought she made a mess of their relationship, she feels attached to him, and hates that she can’t break things off completely.  MC has great disdain for her and Ex-Friend, and doesn’t want a thing to do with her, but is stuck in her orbit.
• MC has a meeting with important political, religious, and social groups that are hell-bent on him catering to their desires, however, he has to figure out how to resolve all demands on his terms, or face being under people’s thumbs.