Robin Takes The Scenic Route

September Writing Challenges: Week 3: Days 13 - 19

9/20/2019

I can't believe how slow this month is moving along on the calendar. It feels like it's speeding by, though. That might be because I'm trying to get as far ahead with scheduled posts as I possibly can. (Where these writing challenges are concerned, I can only prep a little because I don't do the challenges until the day of...) I'm trying hard to get things set up in advance so I won't have to work so hard when NaNoWriMo comes around. What will you be doing in November, Good Readers?
On to the challenge responses!

#MiddleEarthAdventures2019 Days 13 - 19

Here's the run down:

Day 13 - The Shire: Fictional World You'd Live In - Any of these would be awesome worlds to live in, I think: Pern from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, C.S. Lewis' Narnia, or Tolkien's Middle Earth, particularly The Shire.
Day 14 - Gandalf: Words of Wisdom - You can read it in the frame so I won't retype it here.
Day 15 - Samwise Gamgee: Loyal to the End - I decided to do another aesthetic board for Ili Galeni. He's a big brother and loyal to his family and friends, as well as to those who seeve Andurdrao.
Day 16 - Aragorn: Hidden Heir - Photo 1: In Stephen Lawhead's book “In the Hall of the Dragon King, the main character is an awkward acolyte in a pagan temple. He grows to become something bigger than he ever dreamed possible. Photo 2: Zek has to stay hidden during his early life because of his gift. But eventually he must come out from under that protective cover to take up the mantle he was created to wear.
Day 17 - Eowyn: Complex Female Character: #tobesttheboystuesdays - First, let me say I hate this hashtag. I don't have to compete with boys or men. I also don't have to compete with girls or women. In my mind, life isn't so much a competition but rather a journey to become all I was created to be. But I have written a character who does have to compete in order to hold her place in her guild.
Day 18 - Gollum/Smeagol: Mixed Motive - Outh'n Durr is the best character I've written for this prompt. He's in book 3, though. He's one of the antags we meet at the very beginning of the book. He's also my favorite male antagonist and the hardest to figure out at times. One thing not shown in the picture is his eye patch. He never leaves his home without it.
Day 19 - Legolas & Gimli: Unlikely Friendship - {Zek,Liha} and {Zek, Aon, Tam, Ili}. In the case of Zek and Liha, neither expected to even make friends among their own people. It's also a bit surprising because there's a definite age gap. In the case of Zek and Ili, Tam, and Aon, Zek is Tanderali and the three other younglings are Drositiri. The two factions don't usually get along. When they meet, Zek is definitely skeptical. It was interesting to write the changes in their relationship. Well, I should say “is” since I'm still editing and revising.

#WIPjoy September 2019 Days 13 - 19

Here's the rundown:

Day 13 - Real Life Hero: Who inspires you? - She probably won't thank me for this if she ever finds out. My maternal grandmother has been my hero for a long time. She's not perfect but she always does her best for her people. She's always ready with words of advice (whether we're ready to hear them or not), hugs, and a board game or two. We don't always see eye to eye but I know without a doubt that she loves me (every day) and that she's proud of me (most days). Thanks, Grandma. You've always believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. Thanks for giving me my mother, too. I love you.
Day 14 & 15 - Pack for a quest with some characters. What are their essentials? What are yours? - I'd take a first aid kit, a canteen or thermos with appropriate filter, trail food, a compass, a map, coins, my Bible, a musical instrument (not likely a guitar as pictured, though), sunscreen, a blanket, sturdy shoes, warm socks, extra clothes, and a baseball cap to shield my eyes. The others would have among them weapons, musical instruments (maybe), books, prayer bracelets (dai'irin), medicine, jimetyl (money), and cooking supplies.
Day 16 - Where do you tend to stall out in a book? (reading or writing) - I almost always stall out near the end...especially with book two! :( But it's finally coming together. I just hope I can have it ready by the Plan B deadline. *bites nails and pulls out a few hairs...but not the gray ones...*
Day 17 - Stubborn Characters: The Good & the Bad - I created a couple of simple collages for this prompt, one with protagonists and one with antagonists. Tor and Liha are probably the most stubborn of my good guys. Ka Shi Malaki and a side character, Lev, are the most stubborn of my antagonists, I think. None of these guys are as stubborn as the three siblings in book one of the series, though. It was really hard picking these fellows out!
Day 18 - A Line About Terror or Loss - “You knew this was coming, Obys. They come. They serve. They go on to the next life.” “I know, Creator. But why does it hurt so much when they leave?” “Sorrow and grief are the kin of all who live. They are reminders of what is truly valuable in this life.”
Day 19 - Something about your creative endeavors that scares you and why - Something about your creative endeavors that scares you and why - Am I spinning my wheels? Will anyone besides friends and family pick up my book and enjoy it? How will I react to my first negative review? Am I being stubborn about names and new words? Some of these, I know the answers to and I can push them aside much more easily than the others. My main concern is whether I'm wasting time and if writing these books will do any good at all. I still don't know for certain whether I'm any good at it, even though my friends and family who've taken the time to read my work have enjoyed it. Another thing that bothers me is what happens after the copyright runs out. If someone in film likes my books enough, they might try to make films out of them and I would absolutely hate that. My stories are precious to me, exactly as they are written. And they are written a certain way with a specific purpose in mind...namely, there's more to life/love/relationships than sex, love is not equal to sex, passion has little to do with love, lovers can indeed be friends and it is best when they are, and sex is not required to create a believable, solid story that engages the reader. When book three comes out, you'll see more why this bothers me. You might also understand if you read “A Princess of Mars” before Disney decided to make their movie based off the series. :(

Thank you so much for continuing to read all these things I write, Dear Readers! Please come back on Wednesday for a couple more book reviews. Next Friday, I'll share more about my writing challenges.
Until next time...

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