The Three Act structure, defined

Here's an excellent (and brief) analysis and explanation of the three-act drama method. Essential reading for any budding writer.

The Three Act Structure

Press "pause"

Once again I've put my actual writing on temporary hiatus. I have a couple of reasons for this; first, even though I have the basic story arc planned out, I'm not liking the situation so far. My MC isn't as developed as I need her to be (a character with no past still has a past), and I'm not sure her reactions to events fit my concept of her. Second, I realized I also don't know the world as well as I should. The world your characters in habit should be as well developed as the characters themselves, and an author who doesn't know his world doesn't know the story.

So, I'm taking time off from writing to do some serious world building and character development. Unfortunately, this may result in a complete rewrite of the story opening, but so be it. I'm not on a deadline or contract anyway, so this is just for fun.

Dark Matter II

I'm a little behind on pretty much all my writing, so what the heck. Let's keep Black History Month going for a few more weeks so I can get caught up on the bios.

Today we honor Octavia E. Butler, the amazingly talented author who gave us The Parable of the Talents, Wild Seed, and Bloodchild and many others. Born in 1947 in California, Butler enriched the expanding genre of Science Fiction by adding to it the perspective of an African-American woman.

Butler's fiction addresses the themes of slavery and bondage and its social and cultural implications and has won many awards, including the Hugo and Nebula awards, two of Science Fiction's highest honors.

Octavia E. Butler, 1947-2006

Dark Matter 1

This month, in honor of Black History month, I will be offering up a weekly bio of a prominent black author, actor or scientist whose life or career has touched science fiction in some way. This week I've chosen the lovely and talented Freema Agyeman, known also as Martha Jones, companion to the 10th regeneration of The Doctor on the popular series Doctor Who.

Freema with David Tennant, the 10th Doctor

Born in London in 1979 to Ghanian and Iranian parents, Freema Agyeman has appeared on the BBC in such diverse programs as Almost Famous, Torchwood, Little Dorrit, and most recently, Doctor Who.

Her acting credentials are extensive for such a young woman. Freema graduated in 2000 with Honours in Performing Arts and Drama from Middlesex University and also took theatre courses at Radford University in Virginia, USA in 1998. She is also skilled in martial arts, gymnastics, and horseback riding.

In March of 2008 Freema was voted #16 of the Sexiest Women on TV by Wizard Magazine.

In 2006 she appeared in the Doctor Who episode Army of Ghosts, in which her character became assimilated by the Cybermen and later died. The producers were so impressed by her performance that she was later invited to play the role of Dr. Martha Jones. She became Martha alongside David Tennant, the tenth doctor, from 2006 to 2008, becoming the first black woman to appear in the role of the Doctor's companion. Martha is also an actual physician, giving the Doctor an actual doctor to accompany him on his journeys through time and space.

Freema Ageyman, the new face of British science fiction. Beautiful, elegant, and talented beyond belief.

Prisoner no more

Today we bid a fond farewell to one Patrick McGoohan, a.k.a. Number 6. Mr. McGoohan was the genius behind the cult classic spy drama "The Prisoner", a British television series about the adventures of a renegade spy who is drugged, kidnapped, and held prisoner in a place known only as "The Village". The show covered all the bases - philosophical, existential, political and the intensely surreal - and remains to this day one of the greatest and best spy classics of all time.

Patrick McGoohan, 1928 - 2008
Rest in Peace, Number 6

Sophie's World

Haven't gotten much writing done the last two weeks, mainly due to Christmas and holiday preparations at home. For some reason, kids like gettin' stuff for Christmas, and we as parents must oblige them.

Now if I can just keep away from Guitar Hero long enough to revisit my novel every day I'll be in good shape.

Ah, the novel. One thing about fantasy worlds is, not writing does not necessarily mean no development. I have spent a lot of time and effort on world and character development, which are both equally important. In fantasy/sci-fi, the world is just as important as any other element in the story. The world should be thought of as a character in its own way, with personality, quirks, dysfunctions and problems, as well as strengths and virtues. Even the darkest cyberpunk fantasy world has some light in it. For every North Korea or Zimbabwe there should be, say, a France or England. For every George W. Bush there should be a Pope John Paul II.

I'm sure you get the point. Bad must be balanced out with good, or the world becomes less believable. It's true that some worlds appear irredeemably bad on the surface, but even that's largely due to the POV of the main character.

Anyway, world development. It's important. And I've spent a bit of time working on Sophie's world, which in many ways mirrors ours but with several major differences. I shall attempt to explain them in greater detail in future posts, but the major areas of change are Magic, Technology, and Society.

Blue Eyes?

What's the significance of the blue-eyed girl in the margin to the left? Why blue eyes?

It's a plot device I'm toying with. I decided I needed a way to easily identify mages in the story and set them apart from the rest of humanity (other than the obvious, of course) and settled on blue eyes. Not just any blue, though. Eyes so blue they pierce your soul. Blue like looking into layers of glacial ice. The pale, cold blue you usually pay lots of money to get. Blue eyes that simply defy the laws of nature.

I know, it's a bit Frank Herbert, but it seems to be working so far. Oh, and in a further quirk, the color can be disguised from mundane sight by contact lenses, but mages always see through the disguise.