Fantasy Writers!

Dearest Alex,

I am six illustrations away from finishing AIMH.  I can't believe it.  However, the past week has not gone well concerning drawing.

I have not been feeling well for a while.  I can't seem to scrape enough energy in the morning to get up, and by mid afternoon I'm desperate for a nap.  Also, this past Thursday was my first ever Fantasy Writer's group meeting.  I have not seen my novel for over a year, and I did not want to give my fellow group members something dreadful, so I spent two days editing, using notes given me by my friends.

I don't know if I've mentioned this in the past, but my fantasy novel is supposed to be a story, within a story, within a story.  However, I do agree with my friends' comments that such structure takes a while for the reader to get into the meat of the novel, so with a heavy heart I chopped 2 introductory chapters.  Instead of showing the concept of a story within a story and giving a prologue on the creation of my mythical land (Ardan), I dive into the story assuming that the reader is familiar with the land.  I have added a bit of a hymn at the very beginning explaining that Mistress Nature created Ardan to save all magical creatures, and I do give a blurb about the creation of Warriors of Virtue, but from then on, the story begins with the monumental even that is necessary to start an epic along in Western literature.  If you do not believe me, just read whatever is out there on story structure, sometimes called "The Hero's Journey".  Be aware, that once you do read this, it will be very difficult for a movie or book to surprise you.

I have also submitted my query letter, that curse of all writers, to my group for inspection.  And one of my new friends, pointed out that my query is too long.  I honestly think it is far easier to write an entire novel, than to write a query letter.  Query letters are illogical!  How can one distill 600 pages into one page and make it sound interesting?  No wonder J. K. Rowling faced rejections.  Her plot is nothing new, it's the characters and style of her writing that make Harry Potter interesting.

Oh, well.  Hopefully, I'll create something that will prompt a tired, jaded editor to read a bit of my novel.

Well, that's it for now.

I'm starving!

So, before I expire from lack of food, I'll say "au revoir"!

M

Working Away...

Dearest Alex,

It has been a crazy few weeks. I don't even remember all the things I've done. All I remember is rush, rush, rush... Even now I do not have time to write. Deadlines are approaching, and sadly my blogging suffers.

I do remember struggling like crazy with the ballet drawing. The woman's angled head... I don't know why it looks awful, but it does, so I'm leaving that one drawing for now.

I'm progressing nicely regarding AIMH. I have to get back to painting.

I'll be happy when that project is finally over, so I could create something more realistic and paint some canvases. I'm tired of cartoons. Who knew that I would ever get tired of cartoons? That is another reason why if I was still in animation I would like to work on features. You finish a movie and move on to a different style. Though I would not mind working on an amazing TV series like Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I do miss animating. Maybe when this craze passes, I'll classically animate a simple birthday greeting for my friends.

My computer marketing is suffering. I have not updated my website in so long, nor have I posted anything new. I know I have to keep up on that front, but I'm enjoying working at the moment and I figure I'll update my site once this book is done.

I've written the Art: Help! article for May (Element of Design: Point), but it needs serious editing and my brain is too tired in the evening. Besides, I need to find or create some art to illustrate my points. Hopefully, I'll post soon.

I discovered this nice sketching app (I think it's called Autodesk Sketchbook, or something), and though I find it difficult to sketch with my finger, I'm slowly getting use to it. I need more time to explore the app, but I think I may get the pro version if I improve.

I've also decided to teach myself piano. Will let you know how that progresses. I did play a few bars of the Ode to Joy (Beethoven's 9th symphony) yesterday as part of my first lesson. However, I do have to cut my nails. They are short already, but I think to play a piano they have to be non existent.

Gotta run.

Write to you later!

M

Checking In!

Dearest Alex,

Not much to write this week.  I've been struggling since Monday.  Feeling tired and exhausted all the time.  Must be the weather.

I'm working on the next illustration.  If I manage to finish AIMH by the end of May, I'll treat myself to a musical.  I need to come up with a goal, because the closer I get to the finish the more I want to procrastinate.

My theory on that is that I'm afraid of failing, so I do not want to get this book done.  Silly, I know, but emotions were never logical.  After all, I've taken a huge risk, taking so much time off to get this book done.  Failure is not an option.

Honestly, I don't believe my book will fail.  However, there are days, when everything appears gray.  I seem to be shifting between days of optimism and pessimism.  Am feeling very out of balance.  Hopefully, when the weather gets a bit better, I can get back to yoga and center myself more.

Adira and I are determined to organize a fantasy writing group, so maybe I will finally rework my novel, to the stage where I feel it will be ready for publication.

I want to create a novel, where every life is a story, so there are stories within stories (kind of like the marbles in Men in Black). My friend, said that this way I have way too much exposition before the story even starts.  I do see his point, looking short term, but considering books yet to come, I have no idea how I could present this idea without having exposition.  Introducing storytelling characters later on is a possibility, but it will not be as seamless...

ARGH!

I'm off to have some dinner and watch Big Bang Theory.  Let the problems simmer in my mind.  Hopefully, I'll come up with a solution.

Love,

M

Help me!

Dearest Alex,

I need to draw to ballet dancers, and I found some compositions that I like.  They are rough, but I cannot choose which one I should do.  I'd like to do them both, but if I do not have the time, which one do I draw first?

This is Tatijana and Evgenije Onjegin

("Onegin" ballet--don't know why it's written like that in English.)

This is from "Italian Straw Hat".

So, any ideas?  Which one should I draw?

On another note, I've finished another two-page spread for AIMH.  Here you can take a look at my Eastern Cougar.  I don't know if they have blue eyes, or yellow eyes--because I found pictures with both colours.  However, I thought yellow looked more dangerous, so for this, the most realistic of images in my book, I decided to go with yellow.

Eastern Cougar

So, what do you think?

Would appreciate any comments.

My choir is performing tonight at Kearner Hall (I think that's how you spell it), so I must go and get ready.  I'm not singing, since I lost my voice when I was sick and have forgotten how to breathe properly, but my dad is singing.  It will be nice to be in the audience for a change.  When I use to sing, all I could hear are tenors and sopranos.  Now, hopefully, I'll get the full impact of the entire choir. :-)

Later!

M 

More Art!!!

Dearest Alex,

I've finally finished that massive piece of artwork; the three piece painting.  For the past several days, I've been putting it together and fixing wrinkles and such things, because as you know, my page unstuck itself halfway through my work.  However, I did manage to salvage it, and after all the editing it looks fine :-)  I'm happy, if you can't tell :-)

:-D...

I will not be including the whole illustration, because that would give my book's ending away, but here is a little piece for you to enjoy!

Hope you like it!

The original size is 32'' x 13'' approximately.  This bit belongs middle, bottom, right.

Love,

M

Progress!

Dearest Alex,

It's been a while since I wrote last, and so much has happened that I'm not sure where to begin.

I suppose I should begin with CANSCAIP's Illustration Night. Barbara Reid and Michael Martchenko were the guest illustrators and it was a fun night. I'm sure I would have been more excited if I grew up in Canada and therefore would have grown up with their books. However, the talk was amusing and I've never seen anything like Reid's work before. I never would have thought that one could paint with plasticine.

I did meet two lovely ladies, and have enjoyed talking with them. Stephanie B. is an aspiring author and illustrator. Her illustrations are very cheerful and absolutely perfect for children's books. You can check out her blog here: http://sbmedia.ca/blog/.

Ishtar M. is a writer and she critiques those awfully difficult query letters. You can find her blog here: www.ishtamercurio.blogspot.ca.

Today, it's been a week since that night. The weekend went by quickly. We had guests for Good Friday (though I'm not very religious I do like Easter and I am Orthodox), Saturday was cleaning day, Easter on Sunday, and Monday I finally managed to get my April "Art: Help!" article done. This article introduces visual language and elements and principles of design. If you are serious about studying art and/or have personal thoughts on the subject, please visit the blog.

Yesterday, I finally finished those three paintings for AIMH. Now, I need to fit them together and figure out the placement of the text. However, I think I want to ink the next pages for painting first.

I feel very tired and my mind is muddy. I think it has something to do with all the medicine I'm swallowing daily. Apparently, my body is not as cleansed as it should be, so my naturopath suggested a more powerful regime. It leaves me feeling as weak as a vegetable, and I barely have the strength to leave my bed in the morning--I who have always been a morning person.

My skin is ruined, covered in acne and pocked-marked sores. I can't leave the house without a thick layer of makeup. I'm sick of wearing makeup, so I hide indoors, like some modern Phantom of the Opera. However, I do believe I will brave the outside today, as soon as I have a short nap.

20 min. should do it.

Later,

M

IT WORKED!!!

Dearest Alex,

It worked!!!

My crazy, heavy-book pressing idea worked. The paint did not transfer to the blank paper, and the page has flattened considerably. It is still not perfectly flat, but I did manage to tape it down again, and I believe I can work with what I have now.

So, on to painting!

With all the guests and responsibilities that have occupied my time at the beginning of this month, I still have not managed to finish my new article, but hopefully I can get to it today, and post it sometime this week on my "Art: Help!" blog.

Did not sleep well last night, so I'm feeling tired. I really have to get to bed between 10 and 11...

Love always,

Mili