My popularity appears to have received a boost this month, as my website informs me that it saw 58 unique visitors, a 2800% increase from last month. However, this date presents more questions than answers. Who are these mysterious people? Why did they visit my website? Did they glean information from my book reviews, or marvel at the beauty of my lone piece of fan art? Or did they think I was really annoying and hasten to click the button to close this website? Alas, it appears I shall never know, for the mysterious visitors left no comments. The result of all this that I have no information about my fanbase and what kind of content they're looking for, which poses an obstacle to my grand masterplan of becoming a famous author, making a bunch of money, and using that money to pay for college.
Either that, or I'll just apply for a bunch of scholarships. Anyway, all this has me thinking that I should announce what I'm planning to write next, so my fans have something to look forward to. Here's a brief list for May: -I have two more flash fiction stories coming out with Havok magazine, one the 2nd and the other on the 15th. -I'm planning to write a review of The Sword in the Stars by Wayne Thomas Batson. I originally read it several years ago. However, since then the author has released a revised version, and I'm curious to see if the changes therein improve the story. -I'm writing, producing and directing a (very short) movie, starring my little brother and slated to come out in June -The Immortality Cure progress bar should hit 50% this month. It's coming along a little slower than expected because I realized a large section needed to be revised. That's all. Are you excited now?
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You can now read my third flash fiction published through Havok magazine. One Shot, a story about vampire hunters and set in the same world as The Dust Smugglers, was the first piece of flash fiction I ever wrote.
Today Safely Through the Flames, the second piece of flash fiction I've written for the online Havok magazine, is out!
This story began when I and a few of my friends challenged each other to write a story in which someone is excited to be in a burning building. Why would someone eagerly rush into a burning building? Well, what if he's testing the capabilities of his new fireproof suit? That story didn't have much to it, but Safely Through the Flames emerged as a sequel of sorts. It takes place after the fire-suit testing incident. Acknowledgements for this story go to the editors at Havok, for helping me vastly improve my first draft, and to Pablo, for helping me brainstorm ideas for a title. Behold: Evidence that a huge budget is not necessary to tell a compelling story in the film medium. You probably have never heard of the film Wreckage, written, produced and directed by Damon Evans in conjunction with Northwest Christian School. That’s sad. I will now fix that problem.
Wreckage, which you can watch for free at cabinfeverfilms.org, purports to be a story of a community in a dystopian world upset by the arrival of a mysterious being whose kind vanished seven or eight years ago. What exactly is this being? A grown man, over twice the age of the oldest member of the community. Rachel, the leader of this community of children who apparently rose from the ashes after abandonment by their parents, face a difficult decision, one made personal by the fact that the newcomer is, in fact, her father. The film raises many interesting questions about its setting - where did all the adults go? Why did a giant crater appear in the middle of the desert? How exactly does the government of this post-apocalyptic society function? And why does one of Rachel’s trusted advisors have the ability to teleport? However, by the end of the film, the plot has twisted and these questions are revealed to be entirely irrelevant. I don’t see a way to discuss the plot of the film without spoiling one of the major plot twists (which I hated at first), but suffice to say that this is not the dystopian story it introduces itself as. I originally had a very strong negative reaction to the film because of this, as I felt the rug pulled out from under me as I realized all the questions I had about the setting weren’t going to be answered. But looking back, I appreciate the film for its strong (and unique) thematic premise. While not perfect, Wreckage is thoroughly worth watching. Themes: The thematic heart of Wreckage consists in the tension of the two biblical precepts, exemplified in two verses: 1 Corinthians 13:7 and Proverbs 4:23. At first, the film seems to present the first verse as a simple, straightforward answer to Rachel’s dilemma. However, Wreckage stands out among Christian films for touching on a rarely addressed question: How do you forgive someone who hasn’t repented? Rachel’s final decision may be controversial. But her situation is a realistic one, and it deserves to be discussed. Content: There’s literally nothing to be worried about here. Go watch the film. Conclusion: Why are you still reading this? Go watch Wreckage. Get some of your friends and family to watch it to, if you can. Just keep in mind that this film is not about survival in a post-apocalyptic landscape. It’s about the relationship between Rachel and her father. If all the other characters come across as one-dimensional, that’s ok. They’re supposed to, for reasons I won’t spoil here. |
Progress on Doombear, Rough draft:10%
Progress on The Lore of Yore, third draft:
100%
"In truth, by leaving, I was seeking only one thing. A journey."
-Oathbringer, pg 981 Types of blog posts:
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