Wow! I had no idea that nine days had passed since my last post. I had intended to keep this blog at least bi-weekly. I still have every intention of doing that and, all I can say, is that I really hate trying to choose from between different numerous, different options.
What do I mean by this? In one of my last posts I talked about wanting to fill my plate and do more things with the hope of motivating myself toward a greater efficiency and impetus to work on those items already before me. Today I begin to fulfill that plan by giving you the continuing story of the Lost Realm.
What do I mean by this? In one of my last posts I talked about wanting to fill my plate and do more things with the hope of motivating myself toward a greater efficiency and impetus to work on those items already before me. Today I begin to fulfill that plan by giving you the continuing story of the Lost Realm.
The Lost Realm is an anthology of flash fiction tales set in a fantasy world roughly corresponding to Western Europe during the European Middle Ages. I started it in the final days of my undergraduate degree as an exercise to work on my exposition and descriptive abilities. There is little dialogue and characters are known only by their most significant, descriptive factor. Each tale is seperate and complete, begun and finished in 500 words or less. Some characters and storylines return while others will keep to their single appearance. It is the story of a kingdom, of a people, in good times and bad.
So who is the central character? No one.
In deciding to bring this story to you I did some research looking at the different stories some of my friends have on their websites and blogs. My friend and frequent poster here Wilson Geiger is telling a first person, post-apocalyptic story containing a strong Western flavor. Another friend and poster, Nils Durban, has a number of different stories he is sharing on his site. Since my posting about it, I have been warring with myself as to whether or not I should follow in their footsteps with a tight, linear plot with a small cast of characters who would be easy to latch on to and follow from installment to installment. However, I also wanted to start bringing you this story relatively soon.
Of course, I have a heap of story files on my computer. Random ideas, strong characters with no story, and concepts so broad and grand they have only a place between the covers of an actual book. As any significant amount of time spent plotting and outlining is likely to draw me farther away from the novel I am trying to write, I decided it would be best to mine one of these ideas for any gold they might still hold. That was when I remembered the Lost Realm.
As you may have caught on to, the Lost Realm is not a linear story. It does not have a single, or even a small number of characters that you can follow from one tale to the next. Rather, it is, as I said, the story of a kingdom. Of a people.
I think there is a lot to like about the Lost Realm. But of course I would say that, I'm the author! Each story is complete, in and of itself, telling of a short instance in the life of its own, central character. Some tales are humorous. Some are filled with melancholy and woe. Others hold hope and love and happiness. Whatever you find from in the Lost Realm, I hope it brings you a new understanding of the human condition. Or, at the least, a moment's enjoyment.
The first story is up, titled "Ruined Realm", and can be found on my Lost Realm page. Keep checking back; I'll be posting a new story every Tuesday.
So who is the central character? No one.
In deciding to bring this story to you I did some research looking at the different stories some of my friends have on their websites and blogs. My friend and frequent poster here Wilson Geiger is telling a first person, post-apocalyptic story containing a strong Western flavor. Another friend and poster, Nils Durban, has a number of different stories he is sharing on his site. Since my posting about it, I have been warring with myself as to whether or not I should follow in their footsteps with a tight, linear plot with a small cast of characters who would be easy to latch on to and follow from installment to installment. However, I also wanted to start bringing you this story relatively soon.
Of course, I have a heap of story files on my computer. Random ideas, strong characters with no story, and concepts so broad and grand they have only a place between the covers of an actual book. As any significant amount of time spent plotting and outlining is likely to draw me farther away from the novel I am trying to write, I decided it would be best to mine one of these ideas for any gold they might still hold. That was when I remembered the Lost Realm.
As you may have caught on to, the Lost Realm is not a linear story. It does not have a single, or even a small number of characters that you can follow from one tale to the next. Rather, it is, as I said, the story of a kingdom. Of a people.
I think there is a lot to like about the Lost Realm. But of course I would say that, I'm the author! Each story is complete, in and of itself, telling of a short instance in the life of its own, central character. Some tales are humorous. Some are filled with melancholy and woe. Others hold hope and love and happiness. Whatever you find from in the Lost Realm, I hope it brings you a new understanding of the human condition. Or, at the least, a moment's enjoyment.
The first story is up, titled "Ruined Realm", and can be found on my Lost Realm page. Keep checking back; I'll be posting a new story every Tuesday.