Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 5

Korean Drama (K-Drama) Trends (Part One)

I’ve been out of this blogging thing for a while now. It’s always in the back of my mind, but I’m afraid I haven’t been able to muster the motivation to do anything about it. Honestly, I’m not even sure I want to keep this blog focused on books, like I’ve done in the past.

When I think about it, why should it be all about books anyway? After all, it is ramblings of an amateur writer. So why not ramble? Here goes.

About a month or two ago, I had this great idea. I’d start watching Korean television in order to improve my Korean. And thus my journey began.

Why Korean?

Well, it all started with my military service. Part of my training included over a year of Korean training. I admit, I never got great at it. I think I scored something like a 1+ Listening/2 Reading/1 Speaking on the Korean proficiency test, which is pretty poor. And since that was going on two decades ago (please don’t do the math), I’ve lost even that little bit of knowledge.

Here’s the thing. I happen to live in an area which has quite a decent Korean population. I eavesdrop. Something I naturally do as a writer, looking for tidbits to write about. ha ha I caught snippets and can gathered what the topic of a conversation was about, but had no real idea what exactly was being said.

I decided to look for a bit of Korean TV and came across K-Drama. It’s quite addictive, and once in awhile I find a great song.

Curious about my progress with Korean? Well, I see some improvements. My vocabulary is improving along with my understanding (at least when it comes to listening). I went from catching a few words here and there to understanding maybe 30-40% of a conversation, depending on the complexity.

K-Drama Trends

I’ve never been to Korea, so I’m not savvy to all the cultural nuances. However, I found a few interesting trends when it comes to K-Drama. Today, I’ll be sharing a few with you.

Wrists are meant for grabbing

At least if the wrist belongs to a woman. Apparently, it’s perfectly okay to grab a woman by the wrist and drag her where ever you want to take her and whenever. If she screams that she doesn’t want to go, no one worries or listens to her. Bystanders won’t come to her rescue. If anything, they’ll smile, most likely reminiscing about their own Neanderthal moments.

I don’t know how prominent the wrist grabbing is in Korea, but I found a reason for it. Apparently, the wrist is more of a neutral zone as opposed to the hand. Even so, the wrist grabbing looks a bit painful to me, and not something I’d tolerate. Which brings me to the next item.

Skinship is Awkward

If you’re wondering what skinship is, that relates to intimacy–holding hands, hugging, kissing. From what I’ve discovered, public displays of affection (PDA) is frowned upon in Korea. As I mentioned above, hands are not neutral. When it happens in a Korean drama, it’s a big deal… a statement is being made… like staking a claim.

Along with that, hugging in a Korean drama is one of the most awkward things. Men hug from the front. All of a sudden, they’ll wrap their arms around a woman and lock them in place. If he has to swing her around to face him, he’ll do it. But once they’re in an embrace, he’s like a boa constrictor. Women, on the other hand, are a bit better. But they’re only allowed to hug men from behind. Like a seductress, she’ll slip her hands around his waist, while he stands there unresponsive with his arms hanging limply at his side.

Finally, we come to kissing. There is the kisser (the one doing the kissing) and the kissee (the one receiving the kiss). 95% of the time, the man is the kisser. And like the hug, the kiss comes all of a sudden… as if to make a point, usually during an argument. The kiss could be really sexy, but it’s not. He yanks her into a kiss–lips pressed together. Her eyes are wide open and her lips are unresponsive. The perfect kiss must not include tongues or anything wild. The couple must simply press their lips together and hold for… well, hold until the commercial break, while allowing ample time for the camera to catch the lip press from every angle.

Two degrees of separation

Ever hear of 6 degrees of separation? Well, in K-Drama, there are 2 degrees of separation. If you don’t know someone, your friend does. Everyone knows Everyone in Korean dramas. Weird thing about it… no one realizes it. So if you’re looking for your long lost brother and he’s staying at your boyfriend’s place, you’ll never know it. Why? Because you’ve put every important detail you could think of in an envelope, along with your one and only picture, and handed it over to your boyfriend’s best friend, who happens to be a detective. And you’ve done this all without letting your boyfriend garnish even a single peak. And since you never visit your boyfriend’s place, you never get a glimpse of his roommate (AKA, your brother). Doh!

Koreans are super fast healers

Apparently, Koreans have superior healing abilities. If they’re in an accident or get their face pounded, it only takes a day or two to heal a busted lip, bruises or cuts. Even more awesome, ripping out an IV leaves absolutely no evidence the IV was there in the first place. No blood, no bruising, and no marks. Wicked regeneration!

The only exception to their powerful healing ability is when it comes to a brain injury or illness. So, if someone gets brain cancer or brain surgery, they don’t heal… ever. Instead, they get to wear an off-white knit cap throughout the rest of the series.

Talking in a whiny voice is cool

Apparently, women are allowed to talk in a whiny voice. Instead of coming across as annoying and childish, it’s an endearing quality loved by all men.

Oh… and men can stop being men when talking to their mothers and grandmothers, because grandmas and mamas always give in when their little boy reverts to a childish voice.

——-

So that’s it for now. Maybe next time around I’ll share some of my favorite Korean Dramas.

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends

It seems I’ve come to an end of my editing for now. Looking over my story, it seems I have a gap. Or rather, I’ve come to that gap I’ve talked about. I’ve only partially closed the bridge. Now, I need to find the motivation to finish. I guess the first thing I need to do is reread what I have thus far. It’s been so long since I’ve touched this piece, I’m afraid I’m not exactly sure what parts of the story are where.

I really am overdue for a release. I was looking at my publications and noticed my last one was all the way back in May 2012! Wow!

New goal! Finish editing Chasing Shadows before NaNoWriMo 2013!

Good luck me!

Who Art Thou Thursday: Bella Roccaforte

It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity interview another author. Today, I have Bella Roccaforte. Let’s see what she’s up to!

Reena Jacobs:  Tell us about your upcoming release.

Bella Roccaforte: INK: Fine Lines is the story of Shay Baynes. She’s awkward, emotional and sometimes very irrational. She’s finally found her independence from the two boys that have fought over her since puberty hit! Things seem to be going really well for her, she’s got her first real comic publishing deal and the series is about to be a huge hit. But then her neighbors are murdered, and the crime scene and Shay’s comic are identical!

There’s mystery, danger, ghosts and ghouls and all kinds of scary things that go bump whenever they please.

RJ: I’m intrigued. Which of your characters do you relate to most?

BR: I’d have to say Shay, I remember being barely 20 and thinking I had everything under control, when in fact I just didn’t.

RJ: Ha ha. Yes. Definitely the joys of being a young adult. Rumor has it, you’re releasing this series very quickly. Six books! Wow! Are the other books already written? And when and what is your next release?

BR: Every book in the series will end with a cliffhanger. I don’t want to leave readers hanging too long so they will be released between 2 and 3 months apart. I’m most of the way through INK: Book 2 and as soon as it goes to the editor I will start Book 3!

Book 2 is expected to be released in early October, then Book 3 in early January. I figure the holiday season may slow me down so I want to set a realistic expectation.

RJ: How about a teaser?

BR: Hmmm, I think it’s best to say that nothing is what it seems so don’t jump to conclusions too fast when reading.

During the comic book signing in Tampa, pay very very close attention. You will meet most of these characters again! Also, you’ll be screaming at Shay to read the damn note!

RJ: Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day.

BR: Oh yes, I actually started writing it like 20 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest son. It’s a sci-fi story about finding an off-world utopia. We’ll see if I ever sit down to write it again. I’ll of course be starting from scratch.

RJ: Totally random, but you’re a travelled gal. What’s the most fascinating place you’ve visited?

BR: My teenage son’s closet – just kidding but man there’s a lot of crap in there. I’d have to say it would be the Galapagos Islands. We had permission from the government to be there, but we could only stay for six days. I could have stayed forever!

RJ: That sounds cool! First thing which came to my mind were the tortoises. Tell us about a trip from hell.

BR: There have been a couple, but I’ll leave out the business trips and the near death experiences and cut right to the hardest one to deal with. When my father died I lived in Colorado and he lived in Florida so I had to fly from Denver to Orlando. We took off from Denver in a blizzard and then I missed my connection in Atlanta because it was raining and the plane couldn’t land. That was just the beginning of the transportation nightmares. I nearly missed my Dad’s funeral. When I finally got to Orlando the rental car company had canceled my reservation because I was a day late and even though I called, they had no record of it. So I had to find someone to drive over and pick me up. I also lost the deposit on my rental car.

One of my dearest friends wasn’t at the funeral and it really hurt my feelings (Okay, it was the real-life Aiden). When I called and left the message with his mom that was I coming she didn’t tell him, because right after I called she had fallen off the roof of the house taking down the Christmas lights and ended up in the hospital in traction. (Of course I didn’t know that until I was a total b-word to him.)

He finally showed his sorry face the day I was leaving and we got into a huge argument on the way to the airport that ended in a very uncouth series of screaming F-U’s at Orlando International Airport.

I finally arrive in Atlanta to get my connecting flight to Denver to find out there is an ice storm and I’d be stuck for about three days so they flew me back to Orlando where the only rental cars available would have cost WAY more money than I had. The ONLY person who would answer the phone while I was stranded in Orlando was real-life Aiden. Who then came and got me and drove me to my mom’s house in silence. He remained completely silent even when he had to stop on SR 520 to shoot a wild boar. TRUE STORY. I can’t make this stuff up.

You’ll be happy to know that my luggage arrived safely in Denver 3 days before me. For some reason it was safe for my bags to go all the way to Denver but not me.

RJ: Sounds absolutely dreadful. Sounds like something straight out of a movie. As a fellow author, I can’t help but think it belongs in one of your books.  Thank you for sharing with us, Bella.

If readers want to learn more about you and/or your work, where can they find you?

BR: It has been my pleasure, even reliving the worst trip ever story. *Sigh* Thanks for having me as a guest!

Connect with Bella Roccaforte

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest || Amazon Author Page || Ink Goodreads Page || Bella Roccaforte on Goodreads

Bella’s motto has always been that you can choose to watch life pass you by or your can be the one spinning the world. You have to get out and live, life won’t come to you!

Bella has always seen things in the world with a different view and has been an avid story-teller. She is enjoying putting her crazy musings into print for others to enjoy.

To her one of the most exciting parts of writing is getting a chance to interact with readers. It is truly her hope that readers will reach out and tell her what the like and even don’t like about her stories. She’s looking forward to a relationship with the readers to better write stories they will love.

Happy Release Day! INK: Fine Lines Available August 8th

Available at Amazon US || Amazon UK || Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (22)

Welcome to installment #22 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.

Chapter 10
Scene 3

Kecil wanted to meet Mujur’s eyes with pride, but she couldn’t. His gaze trailing over the blemish on her neck did not go unnoticed, no doubt dampening his arousal. What more did she expect? She was the runt… the least valuable in her clan. Unworthy of nothing more than Gemuk’s abuse.

She padded after Mujur, knowing it was best to stamp out any lingering desires. She could offer him nothing… not even the ability to heal when he protected her.

Without going into heat, she had no hope of even attracting him… keeping him by her side through the pasangan bond. Not that she needed a mate. Her lack of ability to bear offspring meant she required no protector. She turned her attention to what was truly important—finding her mother’s killer and ending his life.

First, she had to contend with Mujur’s objectives. He had made it clear. Nothing would interfere with his mission to destroy the penanggalan. The only logical choice was to dedicate herself to facilitating his goal. Stepping in line with him, she matched his pace, several steps to his one.

Mujur glanced her way and gave her hand a light squeeze.

True, he might not find her sexually appealing, but it was nice to have a semblance of friendship for the first time in her life. This was the way clan was meant to be… the way life was before her mother’s death, before Gemuk had completely taken over the village.

“Why were they after you?” she asked.

Mujur slowed, and his brow furrowed. Then as if she’d said nothing, he resumed his quick pace.

“Why did they chase you?” When he didn’t answer, she gave his hand a tug. “They were chasing you—Gemuk and Kusut.”

Mujur’s shoulders tightened ever so slightly. “You know who they are?”

“They’re from my clan.”

He was quiet for so long, Kecil was sure he wouldn’t answer, but then he said, “They think I took something from them.”

“Did you?”

Mujur stopped and gave a cryptic stare. “If I could return what they lost, I would.”

“I don’t understand.”

To think Mujur might have taken something from Gemuk or Kusut to warrant a chase seemed inconceivable. Anything worth keeping needed to be eaten before spoilage.

Kecil had heard stories about humans who hoarded anything they set their eyes upon… even land. It made little sense. How did one claim earth when creatures burrowed beneath, crawled upon the surface as they wished?

Silence between Kecil and Mujur grew until at last he said, “I’ve told you what I will. I cannot make amends with them.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his knuckles into his forehead. A low pain-filled groan sounded deep in his throat. When he dropped his arms and looked at her again, his eyes were haunted. “I’ll give you the choice right here, right now. You can return to your people, and I won’t pursue. I only want you safe. You still have time to catch them.”

Kecil’s heart stuttered at the offer. Even if Mujur released her, she wouldn’t return to Gemuk and face retaliation. “I don’t want to go back.”

“Are you sure?”

She thought of her father, of the years he’d wasted on her. “There is nothing for me there.”

A look of pity fell over Mujur’s face.

Her fingers twitched to cover her birthmark as the layers of insecurities she’d tried all her life to hide peeled away like plantain skin. She stood before Mujur, exposed.

“You don’t have to go,” he said in a soft voice. “For as long as you will allow, I will protect you.”

Kecil’s throat closed in on itself until she was sure she’d suffocate. Mujur shined with compassion, had treated her with care, while her every encounter with Gemuk was harsh.

Her heart ached with each beat as pieces flaked away and crumbled to Mujur’s feet. Please don’t lie to me. Don’t hurt me. With all her spirit, she wanted to believe Mujur, wanted to believe in his goodness, believe Gemuk’s pursuit was unjustified.

Kecil took a deep breath to ease the pressure constricting her throat. “I’ll stay with you.”

Mujur’s shoulders relaxed, and he extended a hand to Kecil. When she took it, the corners of his lips lifted slightly—the first real smile, so different from the earlier ones full of cynicism. It made him… beautiful, embraced her in warmth and took away her fears.

“We need to keep moving,” he said.

“Okay.” Her voice was not her own… soft, wispy, like a butterfly on the wind.

Kecil walked side by side with Mujur and let herself be filled with the sense of belonging. Every step she took became lighter until her spirit soared amongst the birds in the trees.

Writing a Story: Create a Character

Writing a Story: Create a Character

In a previous post, I discussed formulating ideas for stories. Today, we talk about character creation. Some individuals come up with their characters in the spur of the moment and simply start writing. That’s fine and dandy. Whatever works when it comes to writing a story, I say go for it. I’m not here to impede anyone’s creative process. HOWEVER, some folks might benefit from a few tools and ideas.

Character Writer 3.1

My favorite tool of all time when it comes to character creation is Character Writer 3.1. Rather than go into details, I’ll point you to my review. If you’re looking to get a really in depth look at your character(s) before you start putting your words to paper, I highly recommend this program. By the time you finish all the prompts, you’ll have a deep understanding of your character’s psyche.

Roleplaying Books

It’s time to get your geek on. If you’re story idea is high fantasy or paranormal, roleplaying books can help you define your characters ability. I offer two suggestions for those who don’t know where to start. First up, Dungeon & Dragons, also known as D&D. I’m sorry folks. I can’t continue without sharing this video first.

D&D books are great because they have just about every power imaginable. Not only that, but D&D roleplaying books are full of rules, which might even help you develop boundaries for your story.

For those with a paranormal book in mind, I suggest White Wolf books. Mages, Vampires, Werewolves, oh my! White Wolf has a collection of books, each tailored toward a particular supernatural creature. Check it out. And oh… and don’t forget the dice.

Naming Your Character

I’m a strong believer in the power of names. I was meticulous about choosing names for my children… and lovely children they are. I don’t take quite as much care when it comes to my character names, but I do put some effort into them.

Baby Name Websites

One of the great things about many baby name websites is that many reveal the origin of a name. If your character has a particularly strong personality trait, using a search term based upon the trait may be helpful. Also, if your character comes from some place other than America the Melting Pot, a baby name website can help you choose an appropriate name based upon a region.

Name Generator Tools

I have to admit, I’m not particularly fond of name generator tools. However, if you just need a name and don’t really care what they name should be, this might be the answer. Some name generators are more elaborate than others and will allow you to define search terms such as names based upon geographic regions or even fantasy names like elven.

Generic Placeholders

Sometimes a name just won’t come, and that’s okay. Use a generic placeholder until a suitable one comes to mind. I tend to use all caps because it’s easier for me to pick them out in a story… less likely to miss occurrences. One special tip I have for placeholders is to be consistent. The big reason for consistency is the ability to find and replace quickly. For example, using a the placeholder BADASSWEREWOLF can be substituted for Derek in one big swoop.

Character Appearance
Mind’s Eye

I store my characters’ appearances in my noggin. However, I’ll be honest… my characters are pretty faceless. Most of them are lucky to have bodies. Once I log the generic characteristics, I’m good to go. Characters, scenes, etc. are all pictured in my Mind’s Eye. That works for me, but others might need more. So, I present a few resources to breathe a little more life into your characters.

Stockphotos

Stockphotos are a great place to start. Browsing through stockphotos can be rather time consuming but also a lot of fun. Once you choose the stockphoto of your character, you might even be able to use it in your cover art. I love killing two birds with one stone.

Sims

I’ve had my fair share of Sims addiction. One feature the Sims is the character creation process. In fact, one can’t play the game without creating characters to control. Perhaps that’s why I love the Sims so much… control. It’s rather similar to controlling characters in a book. The Sims version you use will determine detailed you can make your character.

Daz 3D

You Probably know by now, I’m a lover of Daz 3D. I CANNOT get enough of it. Of all of the options (other than the Mind’s Eye), Daz 3D offers the most flexibility and the greatest ability to fine-tune. My review goes a bit deeper into Daz 3D. And by the way… it’s free.

SO! Characters can evolve throughout the storyline, so don’t feel like you’re confined to your original concept. I typically use a few of the tools above to get me started. However, I allow myself the freedom to change things at any time.

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (21)

Welcome to installment #21 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.

Chapter 10
Scene 2

Adrenaline racing through Mujur’s blood kept him on high alert even after the danger passed. He worried about the pressure he put on Kecil’s tiny frame, but it couldn’t be helped. To move too soon would attract his hunters.

As time stretched without signs of the males returning, Mujur’s senses realigned. No longer in tune to the crunch of leaves underfoot, his attention turned to the soft body beneath his, the scent of Kecil’s hair, her shallow breathing. The olive skin of her neck teased him with its closeness.

He stifled a desire-filled groan, but could do nothing about his lengthening shaft. Only the thin loin cloth provided a barrier between him and Kecil’s feminine flesh.

She squirmed, doing nothing to take his mind off things he wanted to do to her.

He’d promised her protection, but he wanted to have her, slide into her wetness and experience the sensation of each slow thrust. He couldn’t seem to align his body with his mind which knew danger could return at any moment.

“Mujur.” His name came as a soft whisper on Kecil’s lips. A flush traveled from her hair line, flooded the nape of her neck, and continued down her back.

He eased off her, but not before he grazed his tongue against her shoulder, taking in the slight saltiness of her skin and a uniqueness which was hers alone.

Kecil rolled to her side, and the pulse in her neck fluttered, tempting him to kiss it. She swallowed. “I think…” her tongue moistened her lips.”I think they’re gone.“

Mujur opened his senses and tested the environment. Immediately, the tug which constantly pulled him toward the penanggalan strengthened.

He rose, leaving the distraction named Kecil where she lay. Kill the cat. Destroy the penanggalan.  Escort Kecil south. Those were his missions.

Kecil lowered her gaze, and her hand trailed along the birthmark on her neck. Even in her demureness she attracted him. If only he were free to sample her. If only they had met at another time in life. If his hunt for the penanggalan was over and Kecil was safely in Nenek’s or Berani’s village. But that wasn’t the case.

He held out a hand. “We move.”

Her eyes jerked to his before she gave a stiff nod. Kecil placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (20)

Welcome to installment #20 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.

Chapter 10
Scene 1

Kecil woke to quick and heavy footsteps pounding her way. Her keen hearing identified more than one set. She debated running, but didn’t want to give away her location by snapping twigs in her haste. Instead, she ducked low, using a massive tree root for cover.

Bristle fur brushed against her arm, and she flinched, ready to run but paused at the soft squeak.

Teman. With the unknown approaching, she needed her friend safe. She pulled his head close and patted the tree trunk. “Hide.”

The binturong brushed his face against hers then plodded to the tree. His claws scratched the surface of the bark as he scaled at a leisured pace. Hurry, Teman.

A flash of skin darted between the greenery, and Kecil pressed herself as flat as possible to the ground, not daring to look. If she could see them, they could see her.

Closer. Closer. They headed straight for her. She froze. Held her breath. If she could have stop her pounding heart, she’d have done so. Great Spirit. Let them pass me by.

One bounded over the tree root and landed beside her in a skidding roll. She rose to run, but a hand grabbed her by the waist and forced her down. She took a breath to scream, and a palm clamped over her mouth. A masculine body drenched with sweat covered hers, pinning her to the ground. She kicked her feet, brutalizing her toes, but smothered as she was, her struggles had little effect.

Her captor leaned close to her ear. “Sh, sh, sh. Say nothing.”

Mujur? She quieted, and he relaxed his hold but didn’t release her.

It didn’t take long for those chasing to catch up. Heavy panting filled the air as the running slowed to a walk.

Amazing that Mujur, as winded as he surely was, managed to keep his breathing silent. Even now, his heart ricocheted against her back like the beating wings of a hummingbird.

“He’s got to be here.” A voice she recognized—Kusut.

“Find him!” Gemuk.

One set of feet took off, but the heavy breathing of Gemuk remained.

Kecil squeezed her eyes tight to keep from fleeing. If she even glimpsed an opportunity to escape, she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from running.

The breathing slowed, but nothing indicated Gemuk had left. No doubt he was doing what she was doing… what any wehr-tiger would do… listening.

She couldn’t stop trembling. Surely he’d hear the vibrations against the leaves. He’d find her. He’d return her offense in kind and slash her face. Then he’d kill her.

Footsteps retreated and faded in the distance. Kecil didn’t move, too afraid Gemuk would come back.

What seemed like hours passed. Eventually nature returned to normal. Birds sang; animals called… and Mujur grew hard against her leg.

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (19)

Welcome to installment #19 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.

Wow! It’s been almost a year since I’ve done a Chasing Shadows post. I’m looking at my novel and see I have a few more scenes I can share. Then I’ll have to concentrating on finishing a chapter to bridge a gap in my story line. Honestly, I have so much going on right now, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to work on it. For now… let’s see what’s happening next in Chasing Shadows.

Chapter 9
Scene 1

Mujur knew it was a dream, but that didn’t stop him from playing out the fragmented scenes over and over. The human, a jinjang, took command, ordering his demons about the cavern.

Comely women draped in sheer cloth flitted about in a whirlwind of colors, their dresses flowing around them in a graceful dance. Their beauty did not deceive Mujur. Beneath their wrappings, death dwelt. As they passed, they reeked of vinegar which did little to mask the decay permeating from their skin.

Penanggalan. The mere presence of the demons left a foul taste in Mujur’s mouth. Unnatural creatures who traded their souls for beauty, immortality, and power. Forever hungry to fill the void left by the exchange, the penanggalan sucked the life force out of their victims. Each night, they detached from their bodies. Heads with entrails dripping poison, they traveled in search of prey—Mujur’s people—and had a particular taste for women and children.

“The long thin one,” the necromancer said.

A jenglot sidled up to the human, clutching a razor sharp dagger the length of a forearm.

The demon master stared down at the bulbous-headed jenglot, his lips curling in disdain. The creature’s multi-jointed fingers, which resembled spider legs and extended past the handle in an awkward hold, trembled. Without making physical contact with the pale grey creature, the jinjang plucked the knife out of its hand and turned to Mujur.

The fuzziness of the dream obscured the features of the human, but a strong since of familiarity plagued Mujur, and he struggled to bring a clear memory to the surface.

The necromancer sliced the knife down Mujur’s chest. The cut was shallow but burned with the intensity of a thousand jelly fish stings. Mujur pulled against the cords strapping him down until the muscles in his chest felt like they’d burst from bulging.

The jinjang captured the trail of blood in a vial and set it on the stone table. “We’ll save that for later.”

The long spindly hands of a jenglot eagerly closed around the glass and lifted it to his lips.

“No.” The harsh voice of the demon master made the jenglot flinch and nearly drop its prize. “Drink it, and your blood will be next to spill.”

The jenglot went into a series of chirrups unrecognizable to Mujur. The squeaky sounds ended in a sharp screech which jolted Mujur out of his fitful rest. The long screech came again, and he bolted upright.

The cat.

Kecil curled on her side, filling the space Mujur had vacated. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be able to rest with the cat whining in the background. Nor did he want to sleep with the jinjang lurking in his dreams. What he did want was a cat snack.

Mujur wiped the flecks of betel paste from his shoulder and rolled off the bed of leaves. He’d worry about replacing the poultice later. For now he had a more pressing engagement.

The binturong lifted his whiskered head before settling back on Kecil’s calf. Knowing Teman watched over the wehr-tigress put Mujur’s mind at ease. The binturong provided little protection but no doubt would wake the female at the first sign of trouble.

Taking on his tiger form, Mujur padded away. The cat continued to call like a queen in heat, making the tracking easy. He came upon the pest atop a fallen log. It released a shriek, licked a paw then swiped its nose.

Mujur took a few steps closer, and the cat paused and locked eyes with him. A purr vibrated the air as it took to grooming again.

It wants to be eaten. Mujur crept closer.

Hackles raised, the cat stretched and gave a shrill wail which traveled down the length of Mujur’s spine. The snarl which pulled Mujur’s lips back couldn’t be helped as he approached within pouncing distance.

“Do you see that?” The voice snapped Mujur out of the hunt. Well off in the distance a flaxen haired man pointed in his direction.

The flat-headed cat gave one last screech before bounding away. As much as Mujur wanted to give chase, not knowing who the strangers were gave him pause.

“Is that him?” A second voice joined the first.

Mujur instantly recognized that one. A voice he would never forget.

Cane him.

His chest burned with the memory. Frozen in time, it took him awhile to realize it wasn’t the caning but his attempt to rip the rash from his shoulder earlier which caused his discomfort. Meanwhile, the two edged closer.

“Don’t let him get away!”

Mujur took off. He couldn’t go through another beating. Death was preferable. He sprinted until his cat form was beyond fatigued then shifted, forcing his lungs to supply oxygen to his exhausted muscles. His heart hammered against his ribcage, and his legs cramped from the exertion, but he continued. He ran with a singular purpose—to outdistance the demons from his past.

 

Writing a Story: Novel Ideas

Writing a Story: Novel Ideas

The world is full of original ideas waiting to be claimed. Even if the idea isn’t original, tweaking can be done to make an idea unique enough to appear original. So where does one start? Where does one go to get an storybook idea?

Keep your eyes open

Become a people watcher. Everyday people living their daily lives can be the start of a brand new story. This is where creativity comes into play. Ask yourself questions.

Where are these strangers going?
What are they doing?
Why are they at the particular place at that specific time?
What are they thinking?

Pay attention to details. Over seven billion people live in our world and not a one of them absolutely perfect. Use it to your advantage. For example, imperfect traits can if a fantasy or science fiction feel.

Why does that individual have overly pointy ears?
Does that man’s forehead protrude just a wee too much?
Are her eyes abnormally large to the point of looking alien?

Don’t be afraid to disguise real life. The world is rich in events. There’s a story waiting to written everywhere, because true life is amazing. Change the setting and names and fictionalize it. Look for ideas in:

The media.
Rumors spreading through the neighborhood.
Your personal experiences.

Ideas are EVERYWHERE. The world is your sociology experiment. It’s up to you to rip the ideas from it.

Listen to EVERYTHING

Eavesdropping. On the surface it seems rude, but really, it’s the right thing to do. If people didn’t want you to know about their lives, they wouldn’t talk loud enough for you to hear. A few tips on eavesdropping.

For subtle eavesdroppers:

Don’t look but be sure to keep one ear facing the talkers so you can hear as much as possible.
Keep yourself busy with another activity while listening.
If possible, take notes.


For bold eavesdroppers (my preference):

Don’t be afraid to look directly at the talkers so lipreading can be added to your listening abilities.
Ask questions and become a part of the conversation.

Stories in music. Many songs tell a story. Often times the songwriter has an entirely different story in mind than what it invokes in the listener. And that creates a wonderful opportunity to reinterpret a story from a song and make it yours. Some thoughts to keep in mind.

How does the music make you feel?
Where does the music take you in terms of setting?
How can you expand a story which is originally a few hundred words in a lyric into a full blown story?
Most importantly: Don’t plagiarize. A song can provide an idea, but the story must be uniquely yours.

Dream a Little Dream

Dreams are fascinating and often a lot more interesting than mundane life. That’s why keeping a dream journal can be a valuable tool when it comes to generating ideas for your story. We’ll skip the bullet points this time around. The biggest advice is to record as much detail as possible and as soon as possible. Dreams are so fleeting, don’t take the chance the thoughts will be lost throughout the day.

Here’s the bottom line with story ideas. Don’t neglect life around you. Stories can come from ordinary mundane things. With a little creativity, you can turn the mundane into something extraordinary.

 

Writing a Story: Formulating an Idea

The world is full of original ideas waiting to be claimed. Even if the idea isn’t original, tweaking can be done to make an idea unique enough to appear original. So where does one start? Where does one go to get an storybook idea?

Keep your eyes open

Become a people watcher. Everyday people living their daily lives can be the start of a brand new story. This is where creativity comes into play. Ask yourself questions.

Where are these strangers going?
What are they doing?
Why are they at the particular place at that specific time?
What are they thinking?

Pay attention to details. Over seven billion people live in our world and not a one of them absolutely perfect. Use it to your advantage. For example, imperfect traits can if a fantasy or science fiction feel.

Why does that individual have overly pointy ears?
Does that man’s forehead protrude just a wee too much?
Are her eyes abnormally large to the point of looking alien?

Don’t be afraid to disguise real life. The world is rich in events. There’s a story waiting to written everywhere, because true life is amazing. Change the setting and names and fictionalize it. Look for ideas in:

The media.
Rumors spreading through the neighborhood.
Your personal experiences.

Ideas are EVERYWHERE. The world is your sociology experiment. It’s up to you to rip the ideas from it.

Listen to EVERYTHING

Eavesdropping. On the surface it seems rude, but really, it’s the right thing to do. If people didn’t want you to know about their lives, they wouldn’t talk loud enough for you to hear. A few tips on eavesdropping.

For subtle eavesdroppers:

Don’t look but be sure to keep one ear facing the talkers so you can hear as much as possible.
Keep yourself busy with another activity while listening.
If possible, take notes.


For bold eavesdroppers (my preference):

Don’t be afraid to look directly at the talkers so lipreading can be added to your listening abilities.
Ask questions and become a part of the conversation.

Stories in music. Many songs tell a story. Often times the songwriter has an entirely different story in mind than what it invokes in the listener. And that creates a wonderful opportunity to reinterpret a story from a song and make it yours. Some thoughts to keep in mind.

How does the music make you feel?
Where does the music take you in terms of setting?
How can you expand a story which is originally a few hundred words in a lyric into a full blown story?
Most importantly: Don’t plagiarize. A song can provide an idea, but the story must be uniquely yours.

The bottom line is don’t neglect life around you. Stories can come from ordinary mundane things. With a little creativity, you can turn the mundane into something extraordinary.