For anyone not on my FB list, here are some screenshots of a little project I’m working on via the RPG Maker VX Ace engine.
The software RPG Maker VX Ace is currently on sale via Steam for anyone interested in purchasing.
I’ve been a very long hiatus from both blogging and writing, well fiction writing that is. I thought I’d return with a few of my favorite moments. My favorite comedic one has to be my very short spoof, A Modern Medieval (Picture Perfect). I laugh every time I read that over, even though I know what’s coming. As for The Age of Merrik: The Anointing, which I know some of you are familiar with, here’s a list warning: spoilers.
SPOILERS:
Continue readingAnother year, another birthday (or anniversary) for The Age of Merrik. September 7th or Novem 7th in The Age of Merrik timeline terms is also the birthday of Merrik of Tyera. I look forward to writing more in the series and the prequel that serves as background for the Sword Masters. The sequel should be a challenge to weave everyone together, especially what I have planned for Sethane (Kingdom of Malik). Perhaps a great question is, if you are already Malik’s General, what is to stop you from taking his head and becoming the new king?
Fan Favorites:
Miriam and John have always been a fan favorite. Areya and Miriam will be in this one, plus the new addition, Miriam and John’s child.
A WordPress Prompt Post — Audience, what do you think?
No. Nothing is ever always better than something else. Usually for those of you who read a book and enjoy it then it is a disappointment to see the movie or television adaptation. It will never be similar enough (some exceptions).
As a writer, technically, I could write anything any way I want. Novels are generally written as they come to me and I edit them. Structure per se is not a necessity.
Movies, however, are an entirely different story. The majority of American scripts are written in a particular formula or structure. There are certain variations and sometimes trend changes. To a certain degree, I have started planning my novels in the same structure as a screenplay, at least for its backbone.
An example in action: Number of Characters
The Age of Merrik: The Anointing has a very large cast. I will be cutting down on that cast in Rise of the New Masters but will probably be expanding it in Dark Desires since it focuses on the sword masters. When I wrote the screenplay adaptation of The Age of Merrik: The Anointing, however, I reduced the number of characters and turned The Four and Miriam into two characters.
Movies and novels are generally different. They usually can be both appreciated. Fans may not like a book’s adaptation. I think the Stardust movie is much more enjoyable than the book.
Contains spoilers for the prequel Dark Desires and the sequel Rise of the New Masters:
I’m Okay With SpoilersAn old blog post from 2007. Reposted.
For those of you who have read previous versions of The Age of Merrik–which officially reached back as far as 2000–you will be pleased to know that Cle’an plays a more important part. The sword masters (mildly referred to in the 2000 version) have a much fleshed out history and are truly legendary.
Zaedrif’s role has changed throughout the versions. Beginning in the 2005 version, Zaedrif is hailed as the great Prince and Sword Master of Nemea–a land further explained in this final version.
Working on the screenplay adaptation helped me to develop Zibiah, Zaedrif’s sister, and Cle’an’s admiration of Eleya.
The most recent change to the series is the place and function of “The Journey”. It is a place between the mind of the present and the mind of the future where only sword masters may go. Eleya’s position as the Sword Master Regina has become more important and will be more so in Rise of the New Masters.
from a recovered portion of a 2007 blog post
Ok, getting to another question.
What is the big deal with the vow? Why not break it?
What is with the “I think I might kiss her” obsession from John? What’s the big deal about kissing? Does it mean something else?
(Yeah, put the something else in “”)
To answer them all at once, the big deal with the vow is very cultural. To break it is to lose honor. And, consider the explanation of the vow. Merrik risks losing power by simply breaking it.
Kissing. That relates back to the vow. In real life, kiss all you want. Just be careful of mono. In the AOM world, if you are a sword master or wizard or other magic user, be careful not to lose your life. You are transferring your power to another, whether or not you want to.
The cautions of the vow become part of the culture, and even non-magic users (who may not know the origin) are cautious of it. As for “something else” it does not refer to that. Think of how much more power a character would lose that way. To answer an unspoken question, there was none of that between Merrik and Brianna. Good thing, Brianna did not need to absorb any magic power, and Merrik did not need to lose any.