Elizabeth Guizzetti's Blog, page 27
November 18, 2012
Pet Peeves: Writing Stupid Scientists
I am going to get this out of the way first, If you want to read a science fiction book, filled with scientists who explore planets on a survey team who act like *gasp* scientists…and FYI they NEVER put their face in a new species, take off their helmets in questionable atmosphere, or any other such nonsense… then check out Other Systems which is available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble and Kobo. Yes I just plugged my own book in the silliest way possible.
Last night, I watched When World’s Collide, 1951. It is an extremely good movie. The scientists are smart. Non-scientists get angry due to the fact that they speak in theories as they work to create a rocket before Zyra and Earth collide. It is fantastic to see them work out the problem. The characters are smart. They are determined and they are survivors.
However, the reason I have been thinking about it is because of the Martlet. I didn’t realize that I would be writing another book about the scientific process, because it is about a group of people making hypothesis and testing those hypothesis with a variety of experiments, in this case, assassins who want to live forever so they play with necromancy on the side. The main plot involves the team losing their liquidator, Eohan. Then Roark and Mira go to the underworld before he resurrects in order to claim his soul.
While that is still the plot of the novel, if I am honest, I found the plot line lacking. Something was missing. When I reread it, I realized the draft wasn’t a book I wanted to read…so I set it aside and considered what might be missing. That was when I realized, it played out like a movie I would enjoy. The story was good, I enjoyed the characters, but it lacked the depth that I enjoy reading…I believe my readers want that too.
The battle is for knowledge and a friend’s soul. The problem was the lack of science. I admit it is psuedo-biology mixing with what we would consider alchemy and witchcraft. This group was supposed to be the best, they are supposed to be smart. So I am going back and filling in the gaps now. Mira is running all over the Realms in order to gather what she and Roark will need to make a trip into the Underworld. Kian and Roark are running experiments with life and death. They are all stealing bodies. (Thank you, Knifeman by Wendy Moore for giving me detailed explanations on how that actually worked!) They screw up. I am a bit worried about the pacing because like Other Systems, I ended up adding a few early chapters for context in order to answer the “why” questions.
Why is Eohan important to these people?
More importantly, why do they just assume this trip to the Underworld will work? No, the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is not required reading in the Assassin’s Guild.
Anyway, I realized that I hate writing stupid scientists. I also hate reading stupid scientists and seeing them in movies.
So if there is going to be scientists, I make them smart!
November 16, 2012
Update on Faminelands 3: Mareton’s Curse
The Goodnews:
Faminelands #3 Mareton’s Curse is complete. It actually has been reviewed twice and more importantly it is in beta reading as we speak.
The Badnews:
The Kickstarter campaign failed.
However please don’t worry, the release date has not changed. I will be doing a micro-run of 25 copies. We will also print 50 CD’s. These will be available for purchase after March 1.
November 11, 2012
Costuming your characters in comics and novels
Ever wondered how artists and authors decide how to costume their characters? Here is how I do it.
#1: what is the character’s job/economic status?
In Faminelands, Lark and Orin are mercenaries so they need armor that is lightweight. They are not rich so they will never be in gleaming plate-mail.
As the point of armor is to protect the body from injury, so I am a true believer of armor on both men and women warriors. I think the idea of a metal bikini is stupid. When I see the metal bikini on women warriors, I get pissed. I will probably never draw a character in skimpy armor.
That being said, Lark is also growing, so her armor more than anyone else’s will change. I tried to make it look piece-meal.
I also don’t think you should always show your characters in armor. Both for comfort and to protect their privacy, they probably would not wear armor to the market.
#2 Purpose of outfit.
Now Lark is a young girl. In the books she has four basic costumes: all appropriate at different times. Plus many of the articles of clothing are mix and match. Orin also has four basic costumes.
She has breeches, boots, green cloak and a white tunic. If she is in armor, we see a light weight leather kidney belt, leather upper chest protection and leather skirt, covered in belting. If she is in town: she also has a heavier pale green tunic. She also has a blue dress, she wears to sing in.
Orin has pants, boots, nearly black/green cloak and a white tunic. He wears a full boiled leather curiass covered by belting. As he is stronger, he also wears metal over his calms and metal bracers on his forearms. For town, he has two tunics, a heavy green one and a sleeveless blue. The blue is his nicest garment. He only wears his for evenings.
In the Daoine, they have a few more options depending whether they are in the great house or staying with their father who is a bowyer. Even still, I try to make it clear, she doesn’t have an unending supply of clothing. They are not supposed to be rich.
#3 Choose a color family and stick with it in order to differentiate as well as group your characters.
Lark’s cloak is a very specific color of green. It was the first color that I decided upon. Not only is it the same green as Lady Aster’s main gown, but we see it mimicked on every person from House T’Ralom (including Orin’s everyday pants.) His cloak is almost black, yet almost gives the appearance of green.
Lark and Orin’s colors are almost always mimic eachother. His darker and more masculine, hers lighter and feminine. Part of it is to reiterate that he is older, yet it also enhances his masculinity.
4) Accessories/armaments
As I said, Lark and Orin are warriors. So no matter what they are wearing they are also minimally armed with small blades. More often then not, you see them armed with more even if they are not in battle.
If on the road, you also see backpacks and bedrolls.
Anyway so that is how I do it, how do other people decide what their characters will wear?
November 8, 2012
Update on the Martlet
Sketch of Lady Mira
I think I might be freaking Dennis out– I am reading The Knife Man for research for the Martlet. If I have learned one thing throughout this process, it is how much medical science has discovered in the past two centuries. It’s actually amazing.
This is the 4th book about killing or stealing bodies that I have read this year. The crazy thing is, I didn’t have to do nearly this much research for Other Systems. Not even close. Apparently I can imagine what it might be like to be a scientist on a space mission, but imagining I am a surgeon of the assassins guild who plays with necromancy is really hard. For anyone following the project: it’s Kian’s chapters that I am having problems with–maybe I need to watch more CSI or something.
Mira, Eohan and Roark’s chapters have been complete for awhile. I also am still working on a endearment for Roark to whisper to Kian on occasion. The problem is that Kian more than any other character has had a whole bunch of bad things happen to him. There is quite a bit of names that simply won’t work. Also I wanted it to be special between them, something that neither Mira or Eohan would pick up.
And PS I do not really need suggestions. I am just letting people know where I am.
November 7, 2012
What do you do when you are stuck?
Here are some of the things that I do when I am stuck on a project.
Feel free to add your own suggestions too.
Take Our Poll
November 5, 2012
November 3, 2012
Teamwork: The Making of Faminelands
Has anyone ever wondered what it is like to collaborate on a book or comic?
I am very lucky to work on the ZB projects with my best friend, Maria Masterson. Five years ago, when I began having the idea for this elf comic….what would become Faminelands. Maria was on maternity leave and I asked her if she wanted to do some editing. She became so much more than just doing editing. How did we make it work? Contracts.
We keep updated contracts and always speak of what might be in the future in order to no have hard feelings later.
We both agree that while I am the megalomanic with the ideas and determination to get the books done, she has the gift to hone my ideas, but you might be asking yourself what does that look like in the project itself.
First off, I write the main script.
Maria looks at it and does some developmental editing at that point.
Then I begin to draw. We discuss any part that I am having problems with during the storyboarding/penciling stage. Generally Maria has an idea that will add tension to the book. I ink, color, do a first round of lettering.
Honestly, I try not to show Maria too much unfinished artwork, because she does not see it complete while in process.
She can’t look at my pencils and see artwork as anything other than unfinished. So she doesn’t know what she likes or doesn’t like. Only when it is complete, if she sees problems with the artwork, I redraw, reink and recolor a page.
Maria and I go back and forth discussing each line of dialogue. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we get frustrated, but we always come to a decision.
So that’s how our team works.
Any one else out there collaborate on projects? How do you get the work done?
If you like what you see consider donating to the Print Faminelands: Mareton’s Curse Kickstarter Campaign which is running between October 10 – November 9th. There are lots of exciting rewards.
Check it out!
