Alex C. Vick's Blog, page 593

It's beginning to look a lot like...

This weekend I didn't get very much writing done because I was a little distracted by it finally being December 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

This weekend I didn't get very much writing done because I was a little distracted by it finally being December 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

This weekend I didn't get very much writing done because I was a little distracted by it finally being December 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

This weekend I didn't get very much writing done because I was a little distracted by it finally being December 

Six Disciplines: Manipulation

In other words, how to change the world around you! There are six disciplines taught at the Seminary of Magic on Androva: Combat, Remedies, History, Living Magic, Physical and Manipulation. Today's post is about Manipulation.

Whenever magic is used to create, or to change, or even to destroy, chances are the magician will be using a Manipulation Spell. It's a discipline of contrasts: from the simplest of spells to the most complicated, from the gentlest to the most powerful. First years at the Seminary of Magic start out moving basic objects across the table. Those simple Movement Spells can progress far enough to build and furnish an underground portal room by the time they graduate.

Underage magicians spend as much time studying Manipulation as they do on all the other five disciplines put together. Along the way they encounter Illusion and Illumination Spells, they learn how to change emotions and memories, they open and close portals, they create fire and ice, they master the art of protecting, hiding, tearing down, rebuilding, and changing anything and everything--colours, textures, flavours, sizes, and shapes. The limits of magic are being tested all the time, especially since Research Spells were reintroduced at the beginning of the third book in the series. It's going to take a while for Androva to get back to the sophisticated magic of Galen's time, but they've made a good start.

These are my favourite Manipulation Spells:
1. Portals2. The Communication Spell (unique to Jax, Shannon, Galen, and Claudia)3. Signature Symbols4. Illumination Spells. Imagine being able to create a smoke-free firework display in whatever patterns/colours you felt like, or a rainbow, or even something as ordinary as a bedside light that just happened to look like a different animal every night5. Augmentation/Reduction/Cleaning Spells (just so that all my clothes would fit perfectly, every day, and I would never have to do any housework 

Writing Prompts

I’m writing the final book in my first series right now, which means there are all kinds of ideas turning up inside my head. Not just about the current book (that’s normal – I always figure out the story as I go along) but also about what to write next. The possibilities are endless, and although I’m really looking forward to it, I’m also more than a little nervous. I thought it was a good time for a blog post about writing prompts and ideas

Character Collages

To help me get back into the zone of writing about Jax, Shannon, Darius, and Penny, I decided to create a collage of pictures for each character. My aim was to capture a little bit about who they are and what's important to them.


















Jax
Magic is a major part of how he sees himself and the rest of the world(s)His Sygnus is a seven-pointed starHe's a bit of a rebelHe lives in a house much more suited to his father's taste and personality than his ownHis trip down the winding staircase to the Mabre House portal room when he visited our world in daylight was the beginning of the Legacy of Androva seriesHis magical connection with Shannon will be threatened in book seven















Shannon
Becoming a magician gave her confidence she never thought herself capable ofShe is the most powerful underage magician for several generationsThe living magic in the woodland next to her house saved her lifeShe only had to take Portal Remedies for the first five times she travelled through a portal. She adjusted very fastShe is a bookworm through and throughPurple is her favourite colour














Darius
His friends are everything to himHis Sygnus is an arch with jagged lines through the centre of itHe is the voice of reason in his friendship with Jax, though he was unable to talk Jax out of that first fateful trip to our worldHe is usually careful to follow the Code--the rules imposed by the Androvan CouncilHe invented the spells that enabled mobile phones to be used on AndrovaHis father works as a custodian in the Repository of Records















Penny
Her force field is not the strongest, but she is the most creative underage magician of the fourShe is famous for her Illusion Spells, including a very life-like horse she once created with a combination of water and magical energyShe hated school until she started attending the Seminary of MagicIt took her ages before she was brave enough to open a portal on her ownShe loves dragonsShe has a love/hate relationship with her curly hairThese were so much fun to make

Promotion starts today!

From today and for the next five days, up to and including Sunday 12th November, the Legacy of Androva series will be at a special price on Amazon! Breaking Magic will be FREE and the rest of the books will be priced at $0.99/£0.99 on Amazon US and UK.

You can find Breaking Magic here:

Amazon UK Breaking Magic

Amazon US Breaking Magic

And the series here:

Amazon UK The Legacy of Androva

Amazon US The Legacy of Androva

Writing through writer's block

As I begin to make some progress with the seventh (and final) book in the Legacy of Androva series, I got to thinking about how I could improve my writing process. There are still times when I hit a mental block in terms of how to take the story forward, even though I know my characters and the worlds they inhabit very well. And next year I'll be starting something brand new, so I won't even have that familiarity to fall back on. Now seems like a good time to come up with a strategy.

I already know that I can't outline, so plotting my way out of writer's block is not an option. The stories I invent whenever I try to figure things out in advance are--how can I put this?--not the best. And sometimes, not knowing what's coming next is a good motivator for me. I keep writing because I want to know what happens.

So, after due consideration, here is my Top Ten of ways to beat the block. (As always, I feel I should make it clear these are based on my own experiences and I am not an expert!).

Spooky Quilling - Friends

Happy Hallowe'en!