November 28, 2012

Explosion In Here - My Poor Brain

Today in my screenwriting class, I learned that it's okay to steal character and conflict ideas (basically) as long as you make it your own! Change the name and whatever else to make it your own.

Because YOU WANT TO OWN IT! Right?



And...what was I going to say...?

I forgot what I was going to say. Why? Because I'm tired. I don't have any me time, because I've been trying to keep up with homework, which is 90% of the time sorting and processing through my thousands of sub-plot ideas. They just never end! My head feels likes it's about to explode. I want them all! But then where's the main story exactly? It's going in, it could go in all sort of exciting directions with one main purpose...(to find the Ultimate Treasure).




Yes, I'm working on writing my first book in the Remmington Pirates Series and its movie script! I know! It's so exciting! There's so much pressure! Because I have a deadline! Which is the 14th of December to have all of my story's sub-plots sorted and picked out and good to go! Granted this is just for a class, BUT I do eventually want to get it published and then made into a movie (I being the screenwriter), so I NEED to know exactly what's happening! Yeah?



Oh! I remembered  what I wanted to say earlier, but I will post that later! (as in I will do it now and schedule the post's appearance to be later...) (The post will be called, "Character Development.")

November 22, 2012

The Romance and Friendship of The Remmington Pirates: Book 1


Throughout the story Alexandra (Alex) meets rich Earl Basil, Jane becomes enemies with Tom, a pirate on Skullblade’s ship. Also Martha (Marty) likes Joshua (Josh), the son of a duke, and secretly Gavin. Josh and Tom like Martha. Gavin, a young pirate captain, and Derrick, a young British Navy Lieutenant, like Jane. Jane likes Jacob and Gavin. Alex doesn't like Gavin. Alex likes Basil and maybe Jacob, a pirate on her uncle’s ship. Basil and Jacob like Alex.




New enemies.


Lots of male conflict!

Gavin, Jacob and Tom are all enemies of each other, who end up allies.






Male Competition.

Forced allies.



 Newfound trusted and old found trusted friendships.

November 17, 2012

What Are They Saying Exactly

This time, I’m talking about scenes where I know how the character is reacting and even possibly where they’re at and what they’re doing, but I’m not sure what they’re saying yet, because I need to take time and finish the scene. But for me, before I can finish the scene I need to figure out more of what’s happening the story, so that the scene fits in with the story, otherwise what’s the point of the scene?



An incomplete scene, where I know who said it, but I'm not certain of her exact words yet but I know how her manner is...:
Having tea with some important peers or simply standing about the room in a little private party...
During the conversation Jane saw SOMEONE (meaning I need to put someone important's name here) outside (could be in the backyard or on the street or something, I don't know yet) DOING SOMETHING (I don't know what this person is doing yet, so I'm making sure I know that I need to figure that).
      "Will you excuse me?" Jane walked out the open doors to the balcony and looked below yelling SOMETHING DEMANDINGLY OR ANGRILY AT THAT SOMEONE.
      HE SAID SOMETHING BACK.
     "Yes, I know," she snapped back with some more attitude than appropriate.
      From behind her the girls were giving her shock, questioning looks and glances amongst each other.
SOME MORE DIALOGUE/CONVERSATION BETWEEN CHARACTERS (so eventually Jane will say)
     "Believe me, it will be positively believable." She paused a second. "I do believe."


Another unfinished scene (I'm not sure if it's Jane or Marty...):
The evil captain wanted information from the three pirates (one being Alexandra disguised as a boy, so no one knows she's a girl, the second is an unnamed pirate and the third is either Jane or Martha also in disguise as boys). They are tied up either by their hands and feet and their bodies to a post or just their hands and feet or just their hands behind their backs (I don't know yet, but I will eventually!) They are unwilling to tell...
     Furious the captain yanked out his cutlass and cut out the heart of the middle aged, unnamed pirate next to Alex. She cringed in disgust and discomfort, as the poor man howled in pain. She turned her head away, as did Jane/Marty.
      EVIL then brought the dripping heart just inches from Alex's face. "I will do the same to you, if 'n ye don't tell me _____." He chucked the heart overboard.
     Alex hardened her face with a look of defiance, but said nothing as he threatened her with his eyes.
     "No?" He suddenly aimed his cutlass at Jane/Marty.
     "Wait!" Alex yelled, stopping him from touching her sister/cousin.


An unfinished scene (I'm not sure if it's Jacob or Tom):
    Alexandra leaned on the railing with Tom/Jacob. They looked out over the sun setting on the vast blue horizon.
     LOT'S OF OR A LITTLE BIT OF DIALOGUE
     "_____," said Tom/Jacob turning toward her.
      "_____." Alex turned to face him. He looked in her eyes and it took her breath away. What was she doing? She can't fall in love with a pirate. She had to think of her family.
     Looking at his face, she could sense that he wanted to kiss her. She felt turmoil rise up in her like a giant wave threatening to do something dangerous or exciting. Or maybe it was threatening to warn her of what the damage of falling in love with him would be.
    He leaned his face toward hers ______.

An unfinished scene:
     "So, according to Miss Alex, if you tell me where the ____ island is, you'd have to kill me," said Tom.
    "Yeah," said Gavin.
    "So don't tell me. Let's be honest. You couldn't kill me if you wanted too."
    "Yeah?"
    "Yeah!"
    "Try me."
    "Already did. Back in the arena and you banged yourself right into the crowd."
     "That was just a game."
     "Ah! A game right. I won that game, though did I not?" Tom smirked.
     "One more minute-"
     "One more minute, and you'd both be dead," said Alexandra. "Niether of you won, and your plan was a half-basted disaster. Had it not been for the stampede, we would be pushing up daisies."


An unfinished scene:
   Martha looked down then met his eyes. "Jacob..." She wished she did not need his help, but he was her only hope. "When we get to the Eye's Cave ____..."
    He raised a brow. "You're at that tale again? Come on, Marty! You know how many have already died trying to get to that place?"
    "I know, but it's my destiny."
     "Destiny? Marty-"
    "Jacob, please! If we don't get to the treasure before EVIL, then the treasure will destroy us all." (I don't know if that's true or not...yet)


An unfinished scene (I'm not sure which girl yet...I want more of the story to unfold before me first...):
Late at night, Julie/Marty/Alex/Jane was walking when suddenly someone landed behind her and no sooner had his arm around her neck threatening with a creepy, sinister whisper next to her ear. "If you scream I will cut out you tongue." He presented a dager with his free hand.
     Julie/Alex/Marty/Jane's heart beat rapidly and her breathing came in rapidly, as she subtly began to shake in fear.
     "And if you try anything else, expect something worse."
      Gulping she asked, "What do you want with me?" She closed her eyes, as she heard him breathe in heavily then exhale noisily.
      "_______," said he.
     She felt every hair on her body rise, as she heard a smile creep with his spine-chilling whisper. She begged, "Please. Please, don't take me with you." She felt her eyes begin to water then streak her rosy cheeks.
    "No?" He fingered her loose hair. "That's now what you really want."
     "Wha-what d-do you mean?" She stuttered tearfully.
     "Don't try to soften me with your tears, princess."
      "____, HER NAME, ____!" They heard a male/female voice calling. "_____! Where are you?"
     "Go through the bushes," he ordered losing his grip on her neck for her wrist, while still holding a blade near her.
     Right before he pushed her through the bushes to their right, she yanked off her necklace and dropped it on the pathway then stumbled behind.




NOTE that all of these scenes do not have a specific spot in the entire series, so I don't even know when they happen yet. I mean I have an idea, but I'm still deciding!

November 16, 2012

Who Said That?

Sometimes I randomly hear characters talking in my head. At first I'm not sure which character said that. OR I just get some idea for a random conversation and then I have to figure which characters should say that. Who does it sound like would say that?
And if I'm crunched for time I might just leave it blank or put in capitalized letters HE or SHE or EVIL said so that I know to finish figuring out the character and the situation...


For instance - I will give you some examples of characters talking in my head...

A line (where I don't know who said it yet):
     "These people will say anything!" said HE about the English court.

A bit o' conversation (I've given myself three options for each person's line):
    "Have you been shot?" asked Marty/Jane/Alex.
    "Not lately," said Gavin/Tom/Jacob.

A line:
    "May God have mercy on Jane's soul," said HE (who said that??? I'm imagining an English lord of the sort)

A bit o' conversation:
    "I need to speak to Captian Lou," said Marty/Jane/Alex.
     "To see the captain, we will have to cross the island," said HE (a pirate).
     "Well, who told me to be brought to this side of the island?"

A line:
    "How can one woman do so much damage?" asked HE.

A bit o' conversation between two male characters:
    "Pirates! Muslime pirates!"
    "This is what I call a timely interruption! Though what'll come of it - the devil himself only knows."

A bit o' conversation between a male and one of the main female characters:
     "Grab the linstock!" ordered HE.
     "The what?" She gave him a confused look.
     "The forked staff holding the lighted material used to fire a cannon."

A bit o' conversation:
   "Don't eat that!" He pulled her hand away from her mouth. "It's baneful."
     She froze then quickly tossed THE FORK/SPOON on the ground. "Good heavens! Who would poison my food?"

A bit o' conversation:
    "Look, the lady can manage arms."
     "She can wield weapons?"
    "That's what I said!"
    "Which ones?"

A bit o' conversation:
    "Your smothering host will die."
    "What?"
    "Your amy. Will die."

A bit o' conversation:
     "Such a partnership requires sober thought. My poor head has been dancing with run this whole week past," said Gavin/Tom.
     Jane/Alex/Marty rolled her eyes.

A line:
   "All this time I've been packing ice around my heart. How do I make it melt?" asked Alex/Marty.

A bit o' conversation:
     HE growled and made one powerful slice with his sword that cut the table clean through. He turned and pointed his blade at Tom.
    Tom grinned innocently. "How are you?"
    "You fool! Did you really think I wouldn't know?" HE growled.

A line said to Marty or Jane or Alex:
   "Bring one's arse to anchor," said HE. "It means sit down."



 

NOTE that all of these lines and conversations do not have a specific spot in the entire series, so I don't even know when they happen yet. I mean I have an idea, but I'm still deciding!

November 15, 2012

Inspiration From My Life

Every now and then someone will say something or something will happen or a memory of something specific comes back to me and I can't help but think of how to use it in my books, because when I hear or remember those things from around my life it starts to form itself into my books' life, taking on a different setting that's appropriate to the eighteenth century.

A random old street in Venice, Italy.


Here's a piece that will go in one of the books following book 1:
      "So what are we looking for?" asked Alexandra.
      "A cat," answered HE. (I don't know who said it yet).
      "I beg your pardon, but did you say, 'cat'?" asked Martha.
       "You will find this male cat in Venice," said HE.
      "Venice?" asked Jane with disbelief.
     "Yes, he is basically brown," said HE.
     "Does he have a name?" asked Marty - Martha's nickname.
     "No-" started HE.
     "What part of Venice exactly?" Jane inquired.
      He opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off.
      "And could you be more specific as to what kind of brown he is?" asked Alex - Alexandra's nickname.
       He sighed. "No, I will not. Now, do you want the rest of your instructions?"
     The girls exchanged glances of surprise, and Marty answered, "Sorry. Please go on." She smiled ruefully.
     "He will be drinking milk from a female cat with her kittens." The gave him an odd look, as he contintued, "The male cat will then go to his owner. So you must follow the cat from a distance. If he knows he's being followed he will not take you to Fabio."
      "Fabio?" SHE questioned. (I don't know which of the girls said this yet...)


You are probably thinking how odd - a male cat drinking milk from a female cat with her kittens. How ridiculous! And unreal!

Actually, it really happened. I grew up on a farm with cats, dogs, horses, cows, and pigs. We had one  adult cat named "Tigger," you know like from Winnie the Pooh.
I had gone out to the barn one day (I was probably around 10 or younger or older), and I saw him in the midst of baby kittens drinking milk from a female cat - the mother cat. It was the strangest sight I'd ever seen. I don't remember if my sister or mum saw it with me or not, but there you have it! That memory had come back to me about a year ago, screaming to go in my book somehow.


No this is not actually Tigger, but it's almost what he looked like. Our Tigger died of old age several years ago, but we've got pictures of him somewhere at home...


Here's another piece that will go somewhere in the series:
      "Alex! Will you get me some bullets?" yelled Jane.
      "Where are the bullets?" asked Alex.
     "I have no idea," said Jane.
     "NAME, where did you put the bullets when you cleaned the room?" asked Alex. (I don't know who she's talking to yet.)
      "In the ______," said HE. (I don't know where he put them yet either.)
       "Why are they in there, you psycho person," said Alex retrieving them. "We need them up front."


Okay, so originally this was a conversation between me, my sister and my brother, I don't remember what was being asked for, but it was something that did not exist in the 18th century and he had put them in some closet I think. Haha, I don't remember, but you get the idea!?!?!

So it's a work a progress, being adapted to the 18th century! ;)

November 11, 2012

When Did I Start Writing the Pirate Saga?

I started writing "The Remmington Pirates Saga" in autumn-winter of 2009. I KNOW it's been forming and transforming for YEARS! I'm almost embarrassed, but what can I say? I'm learning about being a writer and experimenting and discovering what I like.

And the saga was orginally going to be one book and one main character (well two actually with the hero and heroine) and then a month later it became a trilogy with three main characters (or six rather, because of the heroes and heroines).

But as the story started taking on a bigger and more interesting shape, I realized that three books was not enough. I have so many ideas and plots and plot twists. It get soo complicated and exciting! AAH!

Because I personally don't like to read giant fat books, over 500 or 600 pages. Who can hold that for hours?
Ok, that's not my reason for not liking giant fat books, my reason is: IT'S INTIMIDATING!

So my books will PROBABLY be between 300 and 500 pages. (My max and minimum.) ;)

November 10, 2012

What is My Genre?

Every writer has a genre, right?

I don't know. Wait! Yes, I do. And yes, every writer has a genre.



C.S. Lewis - fantasy, action adventure
J.R.R. Tolkien - fantasy, action adventure
Stephanie Meyer - fantasy, romance
Rick Riordan - fantasy, action adventure (romance? nah...)
Linda Lee Chaikin - historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, amish, drama
J.K. Rowling - fantasy (action adventure?)
Cathy Marie Hake - historical fiction, romance
Gilbert Morris - historical fiction, romance
Christopher Paulini - fantasy, action adventure
Ian Fleming - spy fiction, action adventure

You get the idea. I like action, adventure, fantasy, romance, fiction and historical.



Originally, my "Remmington Pirates Series" was going to strictly be a historical action, romance type of thing, but over the years - because I wanted to add more adventure to it, like Indiana Jones - I decided to touch on fantasy, but still be as close to historically accurate as possible.

And now I'm thinkin', why hold back? I still want to be close to historically accurate, but history is really people's re-creation of what they think it was like back then, granted if we're lucky, we've got evidence from journals and books and artifacts and what-not to help us "re-create" history. (This statement was based off of what my UK "Early Modern England" professor told us in our lecture/class at the beginning of the autumn semester of 2012.)



So I'm writing a fable or an allegory.
Fable means: "a story about supernatural, mythological, or legendary characters and events."
Fable (also) means: "a false or improbable account of something."
Fable synonyms: story, allegory, tale, legend, myth, parable

Allegory means: "a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual or moral meaning."
Allegory (also) means: "the symbolic expression of a deeper meaning through a story or scene action out by human, animal, or mythical characters."
Allegory (also) means: "allegories considered as a literary or artistic genre."
Allegory (also) means: "a symbolic representation of something."
Allegory synonyms: parable, fable, metaphor, symbol, story, tale



Now I wanted to know, what movies are allegories?
I googled and got a variety...(some of them happen to also be books made into movies):
Batman: The Dark Knight
X-Men
X2: X-Men United
Fight Club
Wizard of Oz
Spiderman
Iron Man 2
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and 2
The Matrix
District 9
The Tree of Life
The Planet of Apes
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Ghostbusters 2
Chronicles of Narnia movies
Captain America
Kill Bill: Vol 1
The Lord of the Rings
Air Force One
X-Men: First Class
Eragon
Elektra
Tron movies
Puss in Boots
Heartless
Safe House
Columbiana
John Carter
The Secret of NIMH
The Wedding Date
Man on a Ledge
Superman
Dracula
Frankenstein Monster
Jaws
Godzilla
Werewolf
Alien 3
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Gladiator
The Lion King
King Kong
THe Ninth Configuration
The Proposition
Total Recall
The Secret Gardan
The Hunger Games
The Christmas Carol
The Sixth Sense
Home Alone
Meet the Parents
The Number 23

(I have NOT seen all of these, only some...)

But honestly, I think every story has meaning behind it. Why else write it?



SO. My genre is action, adventure, fantasy, historical with romance of course. ;)

November 8, 2012

Wanted by Hannah Lorenz 0001

Ooo! I figured out how to post the actual video on my blog!?!?!!

When I went to Crossroads College in Rochester, Minnesota (from about Autumn 2009 to Spring to 2011) I took music theory classes and loved it! So I took Composition class and loved it! Out of that class I composed two pieces for piano.

My inspirations were music from Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Anastasia (animated).




Anyways, my friend from that college, actually performed them for me, since I'm not fluent in putting the art of reading music and playing it on the piano at the same time. So about 80% of the music I composed I first created on the piano, because that's how I create music: playing a part of it first then expand on it on music sheets.

I personally get mesmorized playing the same thing over and over again, even if it's just a few measures. Something about that is relaxing. Call me strange, but it's true!

I hope you enjoy the first piece (though it was actually the second one I composed).

Oh! Before I forget, it is probably going to sound crazy but, I have composed these songs with the mind that they be like a soundtrack for the "Remmington Pirates Saga" books or I dare dream the movies the books be made into??? Though, I have no idea just where and when they'd be played, because the books are not yet finished. ;)

November 6, 2012

Life or Death to Me

Did I get your attention? 
Good! Because it is not life or death to me.         
  Buuut...yea just read. It explains everything!

          In the summer of 2012, we discovered that I was gluten intolerant, sugar intolerant and allergic or on the verge of being allergic to a whole list of things that could go on for miles.
Ok, no, not really. But the list of foods that I could be allergic to iss really long. And the list of foods I am allergic to has foods that I never ate anyways, so no big deal there. But foods that I could be allergic to...now that is just not fair. Bananas, blueberries, corn...Corn is in like EVERYTHING! Corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, corn, corn, corn.
Anyways family and some friends, we know that what helps me is to eat a protein heavy diet, because according to test results, my body struggles with absorbing the protein it needs and if I eat something sweet without some sort of protein I'm instantly going through body discomfort. I get gasey, bloated, and diahhrea – one of those things eventually come out of something I shouldn’t have eaten. Ugh! It sucks immensely!
Why do I have to struggle with this? Why me? Why can’t I have a rash if I eat one of those things so I know instantly what not to eat? Or...or be sick some other way that’s not life-long???
Why must my body be so out of balance? Why? Why? Why?
For the first three to four months I was totally fine with it, I mean yea I struggled and asked those questions, but I tried not to meditate on them, because this is what it is. No sense getting depressed about it, I mean seriously, I was glad someone was telling me to eat a protein rich diet, because that’s what I wanted to do anyways, because that’s one way you can lose weight. I mean celebrities do it for their action movies and they look great!
Well, I gained weight, but then I lost that weight to be back to where I started – still “overweight.” I struggled to like eating a protein heavy diet, because suddenly I just wanted all the things I couldn’t have and I’d try to find alternatives to the things I couldn’t have by finding it in forms that I could have. I’d find different ways to satisfy my sweet tooth or starchy crave.
That protein diet became hard.
One day, and I was actually in Germany at a friend’s house when I came across this verse in one of my daily emailed devotionals.
It’s Psalm 73, verse 26. It says, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
It sticks out to me because I struggle to find joy in my own body that is so out of whack – so out of balance. God, what’s the point?
It’s not your average body. I can't eat freely whatever I want without an upset stomach.
I want healing soo badly! I want to have a balanced hormonal body so I can have a stupid period like a normal girl, for heaven’s sakes! Is that so bad???
As I journaled about it, I realized I do have an addiction.
It is sugar and sweet stuff. And for the past couple years before I had been really wanting to fast and get closer to God and seek Him for answers on my life, but I never felt like it could work out, because of this or that. And I couldn’t figure out what would I fast from, because I basically already fast from a load of food, rarely watch tv, music helps me stay upbeat, and the internet is required for school work. So what am I supposed to fast from?
Sugar. Every time, that seems to be my only option, but every time I’d find excuses. On top of that people always, ALWAYS give me pity about how sorry they feel for me for not being able to eat treats and other “good” food. I mean before we discovered my body’s problem, people always questioned “why go on that sort of diet?”
“It’s not normal?”
They would look at me like I had a problem, like an eating disorder or something.
NO! People that’s not it!
Ugh! I would get so frustrated with them. How do I make them understand that I need to do this, not just to lose weight and what not, but for spiritual and mental and physical well-being?
And then I had a doctor tell me that I need to do this diet – almost the same one I tried to do, but people convinced me that it was not the “healthy” thing to do. So THEN I got...let me re-phrase that, I ALWAYS got that pity about how bad they feel I’m not allowed to such “yummy” food.
And alot of times I felt like I was under peer pressure to try things or eat things that they’d offer me or get for themselves and suggest I get some too, because I would voice my thoughts on how “Oh, I would like that.” Or “I should try that, because...” Or “Oh, I will just drink lots and lots of water to wash it out.” Blah, blah, blah, blah!
Oh! Yea, right! How well is that workin’ out for ya? Huh?
It’s that whole mind thing. You decide what you want to think and what you want to feel. I have to train myself to think and look at this whole thing differently. I have to think of not eating sugar and “taste-bud happy” foods, as a joyful thing. I have to see it as a blessing not to eat it and take merriment in not eating it. I no longer want to feel guilty for refusing something sweet tasting. I’m going to feel victorious and rise above that. I’m going to feel happy and joyful and smile about not eating that. I will not frown and “Oh, take pity on me.” I will smile and politely refuse the sugar with joy. Even on the holidays and special occasions and stuff, because this is a special occasion to me – to give up sugar for who knows how long, but it’s something I have to do and I want to do.
So that day I came across Psalm 73:26, I decided, no more excuses. I’m sticking to my fasting from sugar for at least one month, but first I will start with seeing one week, so I’m not so overwhelmed. But like I said, who knows how long I will do this. I will take it one step at a time or one day at a time, because that’s all we can do.
Now, this will not be easy at times. The promise is we will go through struggles and weakness in wanting to give into the temptation and fill my head with famous excuses to give in to the temptation and feel pity and sorry for myself. Blah, blah, blah.
But Psalm 73:26 gives me hope that though my flesh is failing me, I know that when I die I will be some place better...in the arms of my Father with a perfect body. The earth life is not the end of joy for me and I hope it is not the end of joy for you.

November 5, 2012

Dream BIG

The Barlow Girl band have been an inspiration for me since I was a new teenager (about a decade ago). They are a band of three sisters.

I just realized that I took up playing guitar about the time they started touring around the U.S. and now they are retiring, because God told them to.

They are sad, but they know that God is trustworthy and will lead them to a happy ending no matter where He leads them next - which they have no clue, so they are in a time of waiting and apparently having fun. They've fullfilled their purpose as musicians in ministry or maybe a better way to say that is, they've fullfilled their ministry in music.

My band, "Black Light" and I were like, "What!? They can't do that! That's crazy talk!" But then we realize that God is good and that His plans are great. Our dreams are His dreams. He wants our dreams to come true.




At any rate Barlow Girl said on their live video interview of farewell to, "Dream big! Don't limit your dreams, because God has everything. They sky's the limit." He can make anything happen if you trust Him with it. He is the God of the universe, don't let fear win.

Dream BIG! Never give up on them!
"Cause those who are broken are becoming the chosen!" (from Barlow Girl's song "Hope Will Lead Us On").

Barlow Girl's final song, "Hope Will Lead Us On"
(I hope this link works, because in Germany it does not, but this IS the original that the Barlow girls put up themselves.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w53tTRDD5W0

(If not, you Deutche people can try this link...it worked for me in Germany...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3QtklPTkdo

The three girls on the left is "Barlow Girl" and the three girls on the right is "Black Light." (I'm on the far right, my best friend, Amanda is next to me and she is next to my sister, Katie. (This picture was taken winter of 2011 at my last concert of their's that I got to go too).