Robin Takes The Scenic Route

August Writing Challenges - Week 4: Days 23 - 29

8/30/2019

The end is near! Of August, that is, and with that end comes an end to another month of writing challenge posts. Read on to check out my responses...

#AestheticWIPUp Days 23 - 29

This week was definitely a challenge. The photo for the 23 was done in haste so it doesn't look like the rest of the aesthetic boards in this collection. I'm not sure how I feel about that, even though it looks pretty awesome to me. Here's the run-down.

Day 23 - Laugh Out Loud Moment - Zek can't swim. No one swims much in Tanderali Genzet. The waterways aren't always lit and the Genzettin who frequent the cavern towns will be the first to acknowledge they haven't met all the denizens of their realm. So when Zek falls into a shallow pond and freaks out, the single onlooker is amused at first, but then realizes his sheer terror and helps out. His reaction to the whole fiasco is mixed. I won't say much more. I don't want to spoil one of the scenes I feel pretty good about.
Day 24 - Death - There are several deaths in Over Land & Under Stone, starting with Zek's mother (imi'I) who dies in childbirth. I know that's been done so many times but it fit best with what I wanted to write. I'm doing my best to make sure my story isn't too repetitive. :/
Day 25 - Challenges - Yikes! The challenges run rampant in this novel. I wonder at this point if I'm doing them justice...
Day 26 - Homelife - I'm going to copy/paste my comments from IG because I like how I wrote them there. (First Photo) 1.1: M'Neshunnayans are very earth conscious and their homes and lifestyles reflect it. They eat simple meals at low tables as a family. Lifemates are partners and work together for order and harmony in the home. 1.2: D'Koruyi is a clan of tribal hunter gatherers. They live in tents and follow the herds. It's also common for them to eat meals together as a tribe rather than in small family groups. But in bad weather, a family eat on the floor of their tent. The male is the head of the household but his lifemate holds a place of honor and respect and her voice is heard when discussing family matters. 1.3: In Shinnoah, houses are made of stone and/or timber. Families eat at raised tables sitting in chairs. Their meals are usually simple. The male is the head of household in most families, though not all. Family members are fiercely loyal. (Second Photo) 2.1: In Bot'ha, the homes are like Spanish stucco and tile with open courtyards at the center. Their meals are formal. Always. The woman is the head of household in most families, though not all. 2.2: Ikhel'dur is the clan of the islands. They are very laid back as a rule. On most islands, you'll find the whole society raising the children together, eating their meals together. Lifemates are partners, equal in every way. The smaller family groups live in huts built from whatever materials their island offers, from grass to stones. 2.3: In Genzet, the Tanderali live in stone-carved cavern homes, whereas the Drositiri live in stone or brick homes above ground. They are patriarchal but not all families follow this pattern. Meals are formal, but only because they adhere to a certain procedure. The food itself is filling, energizing and usually plentiful.
Day 27 - Symbolism - Also copy/pasting this one from IG because it's pretty well-done, in my opinion. Each clan has a color and a symbol they identify with. (If you've been reading my blog posts for a while, you'll know that much and know what the symbols for each are. Now you'll know the why.) 1. M'Neshunnaya - The Sister Suns - Brilliant Orange - Vibrant Life; 2. D'Koruyi - the Hawikh - Rich Green - Freedom; 3. Shinnoah -The Triple Flame - Royal Purple - Knowledge; 4. Genzet - Min (the largest moon) Waxing (but still a crescent) - Nightsky Blue - Strength & Integrity; Bot'ha - The Double-Blossom - Golden Yellow - Beauty; Ikhel'Dur - The Cresting Wave - Deep Red - Staying Power. The overall symbol of the series is a ripple because every action from least to greatest affects everything in existence. Every living being has a purpose and every living being modifies every other life by the actions they take.
Day 28 - Supporting Cast of Characters - Again, I'm going to copy/paste. I shared some things on IG about these guys that I don't think I've shared on the blog yet. Bal & Tor are Tanderali (underground dwellers). Zim Haya Ne is from Bot'ha, the clan which claims the southern half of the continent they share with Genzet. Ili and Tam are brothers, close in age...no more than two years apart. Aon is is their friend and he's between them in age. Those three are Drositiri (overland dwellers).

So here's the run down for this week in the #fantasyWIPAugust challenge.

Day 23 - Real world locations which inspired your WIP? -
Day 24 - There was a Q&A character challenge. I got zero response. I'm bummed and saying 'whew!' at the same time. You never know what people will ask your character and how your character will react. If you have a question for Ibin, feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to connect with her and answer them. :)
Day 25 - National Kiss & Make-up Day: Friend/Lover Fights in WIP - This was the final straw for me. I think this will be my last run with the fantasyWIP series of challenges. I want to write seriously and I feel like this type of challenge is meant more for simple reading, cozy reading and the like. Nothing wrong with that, I just think it's a bad fit for me and my writing. - Aon and Zek don't get along at first and Zek definitely doesn't trust the trio of younglings they meet on the way to Gild'n. They eventually overcome those stereotypes that placed a wall between them.
Day 26 - #musicmonday: Who would you pick to compose the soundtrack for your WIP? - Electus! I love the style and feelings evoked in the music they constantly put out. I also like Oskar Schuster's sort of melancholy steampunk-ish piano music which for me evokes a sort of broken ballerina in a music box. Some of his work was perfect for Ripples. I also like Atomicskunk's experimental ambient music. I don't know if they're still putting out tunes but what I heard several years ago was so inspiring.
Day 27 - Teachers/Sages/Mentors - I've talked about this before, as well as the characters in my aesthetic. I included the villains because they are religious leaders and people follow them.
Day 28 - #wackywednesday: Silliest/Most Psychotic Character - Ili Galeni is the silliest but only because he's always teasing and provoking those around him. He's definitely not truly foolish, but he plays the fool from time to time. He's always laughing when we meet him but that changes over time as he grows up.
Day 29 - Handwrite or Type? - I believe I've answered this particular question at least five times in five different challenges. <sigh> Type. But I will handwrite if I'm journaling or taking notes from a website or book. I like to handwrite, but it's murder on my fingers. (I've got arthritis in my hands and have dealt with it for a long time. I just bull my way through that, though. Until it really stops me, I'll keep going.)

#WIPLinebyLine Challenge Days 24 - 28

I missed a day for this week's run. I have been finding it very hard to work on my WIP except for what I'm able to accomplish in the challenges. I managed to do some editing one day this week and it was on my novelette. I'm beginning to despair that I'll never complete OLUS. :( But I'll keep trying. Note: Days 25 - 28 are taken from my journal where I write down things I discover in my spiritual walk.

Day 24 - "I'm staying with the Ver'therin for a while."
Day 25 - I think I am weak, but scripture tells me 'His strength is made perfect in my weakness.' 2 Corinthians 12:9
Day 26 - I know I am certainly too complacent by nature.
Day 27 - I've been learning that I still have so much to learn.
Day 28 - "You alone are good, so very good we cannot fully grasp how good." - This was for a devotional reading prompt and taken from my journal.
I'll share Day 29 with you in the next Friday post. :)

Check back next Wednesday for the next book review issue and I'm getting excited about my next indie author interview which is coming soon. Y'all stay tuned for more news on that. Thanks for sticking with me all this time. I appreciate every one of you. :)