Melissa H. Coleman's Blog, page 6

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INKLINGS PRESS

[image error]WHO IS INKLINGS PRESS 

We are a group of friends that share a love for many interests, be it comics, rpg’s, anime, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, alternative history, wargames, and literature. But above all, we are a group of like-minded friends that decided to create our own e-publisher in order to provide us with an outlet for our stories, novels, anthology and blog/ezine projects related to those interest. Working as a team we hope to create and share good quality work with our readers.

Our purpose is to provide a new offer when it comes to fantasy, science fiction, mystery  & alternative history tales.

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it”

― Gautama Buddha

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED

Everything started with a rejection letter. Yeah, we know, that is a writer’s cliche by now. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

[image error]This all started when three friends from different countries (who met at a Heroclix Tournament at Loughborough University back in 2006) were trying to become published writers and chatted back and forward bouncing ideas and reviewing our texts. Then in 2014, one of us sent a short horror story to a Lovecraft ezine and got rejected. After venting the sorrow and reviewing the story (and drinks in the case of two of the three amigos), the talk evolved into self-publishing and then into creating an e-publisher to help us share our worlds with you, our readers. So here we are, a group of friends, fans and aspiring writers trying to carve a niche for our stories with Inklings Press.

Why Inklings Press? Because that’s the name of a famous writers club from Oxford University which had as purpose to bounce ideas and reviewing their texts. You might know two of its more prominent members as the fellows that created The Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia.

They are our inspiration, we are our writing club, you are our traveling companions into our imaginary worlds. We hope that you enjoy the ride.

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We see us, The Inklings, as a group which aims to inspire, push, and support authors.

Inspire: to overcome the dreaded writer’s block, the blank page. To provide a sounding board for ideas and motivate us to keep writing.

Push: to offer critics, revisions and motivate us to keep working within deadlines, which are often the bane of any writer.

Support: during the writing, which is the toughest stage and celebrate their success post-publication, providing a friendly platform.

Nurture: because every writer needs sometimes help, guidance or even someone to talk with (and even fight a bit) and nurture those ideas seeds. And what better way to do so than with friends that have been or are at the same stage.

At the Inkling Press website, you will find links to our:

Anthologies with brief description of their content and links to their epub format at Amazon.
Books and personal projects. As well with a brief description
Blog: Altered Instinct (maintained mainly by Stephen as it was his personal blog before all of this started), which we hope will grow to be an ezine). Here we put our thoughts on diverse topics such as tv shows, movies, books, games, roleplaying & the process of writing.
Meet the Authors, the people that form Inklings Press

Click to view slideshow.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT STEAMPUNK 102

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LAST WEEK WE LEARNT

Steampunk literature is set in or around the Victorian age showcasing science fiction or fantasy technology.

Alternative history stories have always been popular in this genre. The purpose is to take established events and bend and twist them to suit. In effect altering history. Think of mixing the old with the new and modifying modern technology in sophisticated ways.

At this stage, Steampunk has largely come from the American and British culture, with tricklings from France and Japan.

THIS WEEK

Steampunk in Japan. Rising to host imaginative worlds of retro-futurism. Their unique perspectives and creative intelligence encompass a broad range of degrees of Steampunk. 

THE STEAMPUNK EVOLUTION.

Japan’s access to different fields of foreign literature, found for the reader, a lack of Japanese characters. They were seen as a remote island, waiting for the arrival of modern civilization. 

In 2013 the concept of Steampunk was only beginning to gain recognition in Japan, however, there had been quite a number of films prior that included the brass-Victorian aesthetic, one such film called Steamboy.

Steam-powered castles, archaic-tech guns, ingenious automatons and mechanical dragonflies – there’s nothing like anime when you’re craving a Steampunk fix. 

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This film is an Anime. What pray tell does that mean, you may ask? An anime is a style of animated Japanese film or television program. Listen up if you want extra AP credits!

AN anime is an abbreviated pronunciation of Animation in Japan. Shimokawa Oten 下川凹天, Jun’ichi Kouchi 幸内純一, and Seitaro Kitayama’s  北山清太郎 used their combined artistic talents to create the first anime cartoon in 1917.

Anime is usually, but not always, the animated version of popular Manga. Wait up! Manga!… please explain.

Manga means ‘Whimsical Pictures‘ in Japanese. Manga is a Japanese comic.

Trivia – In Japan, more paper is used to print Manga than toilet paper.

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This gentleman Mr. TEZUKA Osamu 手塚 治虫was the most famous manga artist in Japan. He began his Manga revolution in 1947 when he published New Treasure Island. You may remember the popular T.V. series Astro Boy.

Unfortunately, such a great talent’s life was taken too soon and Tezuka died of stomach cancer in 1989.

A new King rose Hayao Miyazaki 宮崎 駿. [image error]Renown film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, author, and manga artist. He attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of Anime feature films. Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky and The Secret World of Arriety to name but a few. When you have time adjust your goggles, grab yourself an Arbuckle (coffee), and pull up a stump, these films will surely keep you entertained. Steampunk fantasy is the most popular of the Japanese genre to gain attention.

 

JAPANESE STEAMPUNK FASHIONISTA SHINDIG

Steampunk style in Japan is distinctively cute with elements of Gothic. A shindig held every few months called Steam Garden brings S’punks from all over Japan. Steam Garden endeavours to use the 19th century as a backdrop into a fictional parallel world, featuring adventurers and outlandish technology; the story encourages participation. The next event is Hunters Fair. Here’s the link – I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating.

I hope this conservative look into the paradox we call Steampunk has helped you gain a better understanding of the concept, the sub-culture, films and more.

 

 

 

THE MAGIC OF BLACK ‘N’ WHITE

The beauty of seeing your every day in black ‘n’ white opens your eyes to let your imagination flow.

Click to view slideshow.

It seems black ‘n’ white images are making a comeback with posts on Facebook asking for seven posts in seven days. The allurement of this photographic format suits portraits, landscape, and architecture too name a few. And if you have an eye for lighting, you’re well on you’re way to shooting some great shots.

The creative process involves looking at the subtle tones, the moody air, and vibrancy or the strong high contrast boosting power of an image.

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My facebook page Life in a Snapshot showcases blogs and snaps I’ve shot while traveling around Australia. Feel free to have a tour.

 

Rudimentary Steampunk 101

From the gothic fantasy of Mary Shelley to the extraordinary voyages of Jules Verne, to the mechanical mastery of Leonardo da Vinci –  It’s plain to see Steampunk has some serious ancestry.

But still, quite a lot of people don’t understand what the genre of Steampunk is in the literary world. I’m here to explain the truth and by that, I don’t mean to sell you a dog.

DON’T SELL ME A DOG

This phrase meant “Don’t lie to me!” Apparently, people who sold dogs in the day were prone to passing mutts off as purebreds. Ha, not somthing we’d do today is it!

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STEAMPUNK

/ˈstiːmpʌŋk/

noun

WHAT IS IT?

Steampunk literature is set in or around the Victorian age showcasing science fiction or fantasy technology.

Alternative history stories have always been popular in this genre. The ‘What if?’ Its purpose is to take established events and bend and twist them to suit. In effect altering history. Think of mixing the old with the new and modifying modern technology in sophisticated ways.

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Sometimes this method is conveyed in a subtle way, other times its flamboyance is quite prevalent.

Airships, ray guns, mythological creatures, empires in space, heroines. And not to forget fashion!

HEROINE

Traditionally, science fiction revealed a masculine bias, appealing predominantly to the male readers, however, Steampunk with its emphasis on aesthetics lends a more positive representation of women. Attracting both male and female readers.  Steampunk heroine’s are some of the most industrious, ruthless and forward-thinking women, whose camaraderie with men equals them.

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They’re independence exhibits similar attitudes to their male counterparts – even within sexual relationships. Steampunk woman have choices and they can be anything they want to be.

GADGETS, AUTOMATONS

AND VEHICLES

George Méliès, a French film maker practiced magic and build automatons (mechanical robots).  He brought his magical view of the world to film. In 1902, A trip to the Moon, loosely based on Jules Verne and H.G Wells novel’s, depicted six adventurers on a trip to the moon who were attacked by ‘Moon Men’. They escaped in their rocket. This short film was so popular a sequel was produced in 1904, The Impossible Voyage. 

A super solar submarine, a train launched into space attached to balloons and an inconceivable automobile – epic Steampunk transportation.

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At this stage, Steampunk has largely come from the American and British culture, with tricklings from France and Japan.

NEXT WEEK

Steampunk in Japan. Rising to host imaginative worlds of retro-futurism. Their unique perspectives and creative intelligence encompass a broad range of degrees of Steampunk. The Steampunk Evolution.

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One Of The Greatest Mysteries Of Life

WHAT IS A WRITER?

Among other questions like, Is there a God? How do you know this is not a parallel universe? Are you dreaming right now? Is our mind capable of time travel? We find the conundrum of what is a writer? 

These questions provoke deep and soul-searching moments of examination, not just of yourself but also the world around you. 

Firstly let’s answer the question – What is a writer? Probably the most simplistic answer is – Someone who writes. But does that answer suffice? Is that enough to qualify the term – Writer?

Misrepresentation of the term writer is found in the analogy – A writer is someone whose work has been published. A writer is an Author. But can this be trusted as correct? No.

[image error]I know people who write yet have not published their writing and not so long ago in the Literary world the powers that be dismissed the written word of woman and people of colour. Does that not make them writers? 

So, what is the answer? What is a writer?

Let’s break it down. 

Writers are thinkers, philosophical yet sensible. They all have a responsiveness to the world. A common underlying thread in writers is the way they operate on a daily basis. A two-fold system of immersing themselves actively in their daily activities whilst simultaneously processing the experience into potential material to write.  

An example of this would be when something happens in your day that either upsets you, makes you laugh, a word or sentence in conversation whilst sipping coffee in a cafe, a meaningful experience, the idiosyncrasies of friends or family. All of these and more prove what a writer is. 

Writers dual process

Writers are not just people who write they are people who gauge, create and ‘write’ even when they are not near a computer, or don’t have a notepad handy. Writers ‘write’ in their minds before they sleep.

But is that all there is to it? I don’t believe so. That’s why this question is up there with the biggest mysteries of the world.

Let’s look at it from another angle. What is a writer not?

1. A writer wants their work to engage, entertain and communicate but if you can’t handle constructive criticism because of your ego or insecurities then don’t blame the reader. Writing demands re-writes, revision, and truthful analysis. Writers do not settle for good enough, it takes time and effort to polish their piece.

2. A writer will show not tell or yell. Make your reader believe what they are reading. 

3. You will never be a writer if you let others discourage you.

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IMPORTANT LESSON

If you decide to believe you are not a writer by listening to other writers, readers or even friends and family then – YOU WILL NEVER BE A WRITER. However, if you persist, strive and continue to learn this craft then you have the essential elements to become a writer.

Smile CLICHÉ!

Firstly, I should say the purpose of this article is not to steer you away from clichés but rather to help you recognise them, then twist them into a different evil mould.

There are many clichés and right off the top of my head, I can name at least five. The main character gets eaten; a scientist with the ego tries to play god by preparing an experiment that goes dastardly wrong, the characters ignore warnings, vampires and the like – rules set in stone – (and although it is hard to steer away from mainstream perception, it would likely create a great prose if you did), another cliché is the characters splitting up to supposedly increasing the chance of survival.

And don’t get me started on the weak and helpless heroine scanty dressed with big breasts and long blond hair.

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Turn the knife a little and you have to admit, most clichés can be the output of lazy writing. Some writers repeat what earlier writers have written, only to end up disappointed with the performance of the novel in the literary arena. This imminent death is a lack of imagination and, if not kept in check, and may lead to Coronary Writers Disease!

My point is, these plots, have been beaten to death and some writers may think it is becoming increasingly harder to develop your own original idea. But it’s not. And I’ll tell you why.

We, humans, are inherently evil! *loud wicked laugh escapes and twists hands in a circular motion* Have a look at the news headlines on any random day. There are endless reports of robberies, bullies, murderers, corporate fraud, and terrorists. Not entirely convinced we are predisposed to evil inclinations?

What about Funniest Home Videos? Who of you actually looks away when the young child on a bike runs over his little sister on purpose? Didn’t you want to do that when you were younger? You laughed as well, didn’t you? Questioning your stance yet?

Hands up who’d you rather be – a troll living under the bridge coming up with ingenious malevolent ways to stop people getting to the other side or a fairy flitting around the bulb of a lovely sun yellow flower? The latter, I’m sure you’d agree, would become boring quite quickly.

It comes down to this, do you yearn to take the opportunity to answer the dark whisper that lingers to the front of your mind every once in a while, the one that aches to know what full control and complete power over another human feels like? The answer should be ‘no’, however, there is an internal nature of evil in us and we can choose to embrace it or suppress it (For writing sake).

Let’s adapt clichés by wrenching them forward to the present and by defining our thoughts on the word evil. If we are so inherently wicked then it stands to reason that we write from our black hearts.

Sometimes it’s not easy but the monsters we create may well be looking back at us in the mirror on a daily basis.

By defining evil as it relates to ourselves, not as an enigma, writers are able to feel the struggle within their characters; imagine how it would feel. It may be painful at times, it may show a lack of moral solitude or ethics but when all is done, you may well have a best-seller on your hands.

There are three types of horror to help you move forward from the plot cliché.

The Gross

CLICHÉ – This is the slimy green ‘Ghostbuster-type’ stuff or the severed head on a stick.

Unnatural Horror

CLICHÉ – The huge spiders of Harry Potter or the dead rising to wreak havoc on society.

Terror

This is what puts the horror into horror. The psychological terror of messing with your mind, your life and society. The real-life, where our readers are not yet conditioned to this way of thinking.

 

Sigmund Freud said, “No one who, like me, conjures up the evilest of those half-tamed demons that inhabit the human breast, and seeks to wrestle with them, can expect to come through the struggle unscathed.”

The facts cannot be ignored any longer, you must put yourself into that character’s head, that terrifying hypothetical situation of dire consequences. The chilly truths of your minds darkest secrets provide a prose which eliminates the clichés or at the very least twists them with the sadistic scrutiny of a real-life human.

Be the monster!

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The genre of horror can potentially inject a potent concoction of originality, style, 3D characters and a plot that you can really get caught up in if you allow the darkness within you to rise.

I have an idea for a new novel. Opening chapter begins with a crazy mob carrying fiery torches and pitchforks, heading to the laboratory of a mad scientist who is experimenting with powers of creation. The leader of the mob, likely a religious man, is taken by a ‘monster’ which escapes.

A few years later a group of fit super-model teens run out of fuel and end up in the township, they decide to split up after the monster, half-human, and half-beast scares the bejesus out of them.

The gorgeous blond, Bimbo, is trapped in the old lab. It’s dark and when the monster enters the storeroom, she heads in to investigate why she heard a strange moaning noise come from inside.

Now, a lot of running and screaming happens as she tries to escape after the monster kills her friends.

With just Bimbo and Dumbo (her soon to be boyfriend after such a tragic situation brings them together) left, they confront the monster and kill him.

But wait! He’s not completely dead!

The monster rises and while Dumbo isn’t looking the monster kills him. Leaving Bimbo left to finish off the monster and get out of town alone. Blah Blah Blah…

What do you think? Not so imaginative, is it? Maybe less cliche’s would make it better.

Dear Senior Mel – A Letter to future me!

Have you written a letter to your future self before? I haven’t,  but I remember coming across a news item about people putting something meaningful into a time capsule then burying it, only to return and open it at a later date. It’s a pretty cool idea!

However, the idea of writing a letter to your future self, where you write a personal note, seal it, and then open it at a future date, is pretty cool too. There are no restrictions on how far you project your letter date. And you can write as many as you want, on a plethora of topics. Writing a letter to your future self can be an experience in self-worth, creativity or for fun. It doesn’t have to be serious; it can be imaginative, personal, or can offer insight on goals you hope to achieve within that time. The ideas are unlimited.

Some things to remember though

Your past does not reflect your future – So you’ve been screwed over, be it from boy/girlfriends, work colleagues or business – but this will not determine how your life will continue.
YOU did it – Whatever your circumstances are now, you made this happen. Dreams don’t work unless you do, so don’t wait for it. Take action.
Have fun – There will always be happiness.

 

12-10-2017

Dear Senior Me,

You’re probably reading this through some sort of sci-fi device able to convert ancient text to modern format. Haha

Hey you! Big time author chick. It’s time we caught up. Where are you right now? Look around. Are you sitting in your favourite writing place, in the outdoor area, or have you moved to another town like you wanted too. I bet your special writing place is just as beautiful if you have. A soft breeze teasing the leaves in the tall trees surrounded by blossoming flowers, an icy cold glass of lemon lime and bitters atop the table. You’re probably twiddling your thumbs daydreaming about the next plot to a novel.

Life has been one hell of a ride. It’s been crazy, fun, unexpected and so many lessons have been learned along the way. Remember that time when you and Brett were having the usual Friday night sess of Karaoke and you busted your ankle?  (I bet you’re still killin it at Karaoke though. Super Star!) Instead of going to the doctors you left it for eight weeks, hiked through the Blue Mountains, trekked all over Sydney and Biondi, then wondered why it was so damn sore. Lesson learned after your operation. You might look twenty, haha, but you’re getting older Mel. Look after yourself. Heed your body’s signs.

Just remember as you continue to age, the more awesome you become. Your life goal is to peak at 90!

Life is really good right now. I have challenges, frustrations, family, and love. All the elements that make up an action-packed life. I have lots of questions still about life (Remember to never stop asking questions) and goals I’m hoping to have reached by the time you read this. One goal, I hope that has come to fruition, is that my children have taken life by the horns and boxed its ears to achieve their dreams.

Everything in your life has lead to this moment and made you the individual you are today. Don’t change a thing. The pieces of the puzzle fit and if they aren’t there yet, they will fall into place in the perfect moment they are meant too.

No regrets. Keep learning. Mistakes are hiccups that teach you valuable lessons in all aspects of life. You were and are and have been and always will be yourself, and that’s what matters. Never stop creating.

Now is the time to plan an epic vacation, oh, and buy a new cosplay costume for the themed party you have planned next week end. No need to worry about money, not with that bursting bank account you’ve acquired.

Enjoy every second Senior Mel!

 

 

“Tunnel Rat” by John M. Ward

Author Bio: John Morris Ward is a professional architect and author. He also loves anything that has to do with water and the ocean, including sailing, scuba diving, fishing, and spearfishing. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

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Book Synopsis: When former US Army captain Eric Tucker decided to visit Old City in Jerusalem with his daughter and granddaughter, he thought it would be a chance to get some family time with his girls and enjoy his retirement. But when a terrorist organization threatens his family’s safety, Captain Tucker must reach into his past in order to survive. Can he do so without becoming the cold-blooded killer he once was?

Emir Farouk is falling on hard times, and the loyalty that once came so easily to him is dwindling. When an old man and a teenage girl from America appear in his sights, he believes it is a sign and orders his men to kidnap them. But things don’t go as planned…

What follows is an intense cat-and-mouse game between a powerful terrorist cell and one man who’s determined to protect his family, the woman he loves, and his ship. Captain Tucker can’t—and won’t—give in, even if it means returning to the man who led an elite unit of soldiers into claustrophobic tunnels after their enemies with nothing but flashlights, knives, and pistols: the infamous Tunnel Rats.

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Purchase Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Smashwords and Barnes&Noble.com

Find John on his: website, Twitter and Facebook Page.

Book tour   http://www.nurtureyourbooks.com/upcoming-nurture-book-tour-tunnel-rat-by-john-m-ward/

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Developing Well-rounded Characters

The best parts of my childhood were the unscheduled hours. The hours not spent at dance class or girl guides. The hours rich in doing what seemingly looked like nothing but was everything. Cloud watching or sitting by a creek, watching the wind in the trees or absently playing in the yard; This allowed my imagination to develop. These rich empty spaces of childhood, I credit to my rise as a storyteller. Imagination cannot be assumed. It must be encouraged, nurtured and valued.

BEFORE you begin writing your new story, it’s important to take a little time to create fresh new characters that are all your own. Sometimes using another authors ideas or established formula for a character such as a wizard or elven king will only brand you as uninventive or plain boring to any potential readers or publishers.

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The trick is to custom build your character’s to suit your unique story or world. Think of yourself as the Master of Creation – this is your concept and only your imagine-born characters can live within it.

CHARACTER ARC

Your character begins their journey as one type of person and gradually transforms into a different more competent character as a response to the changing developments within the plot.

A Character Arc is the transformation of the inner journey of a character over the course of your story.

ASK YOURSELF

 What does my protagonist need to accomplish?
What drives him or her? What is their motivation?
What is the sweet cheese at the end, in other words, what will they gain from achieving this objective?

Remember the journey makes the ending satisfying.

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Think outside the box, for example, every character has a past. What happened to your protagonist?

Create deeper layers to your character by taking control of the chaos, by advancing the plot to develop their personality. Does your character have flaws?

A flaw is an imperfection which is often concealed.

Impatience
Stubbornness
Arrogance
Inability to hear without seeing the other person’s lips move
A limp
Vanity

YOUR CHARACTER IS BORN

BY understanding your characters’ objectives, motivations, weaknesses, and strengths you can ascertain how they will respond to situations and react to other characters around them. Relationships are born!

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The process of building your character from the ground up, injecting personality, quirks, style, and culture takes time and it’s important to take notes relating to each character to use as a quick go-to reference.

Now get to creating!