May news! Writing the ‘Dragon Metal’ way!

It’s May now! 

This month, I thought I’d share more about my writing “process,” because that is a thing that authors do now for content and engagement and etcetera. 

My process: I jot down high-level notes for where I want the story to go and what I want the main characters to deal with and such. So, for example, in Book 3, I knew I wanted Jestin to deal with the “face your past” part of PTSD recovery. In Book 2 he learned to “live in the now,” but he has taken that to the extreme, and is “living in the now” to the point that he is not facing his past. I also knew I wanted to feature the Ishraqi (Verum were Book 1, Sefirot were Book 2), leaning into cult themes, with a magical superweapon and my Dragon Metal twist on the Evil Green Ranger.

Once I have a general idea of the plot, themes, and character arcs and such, I start writing. Starting with Chapter 1, then 2, chapter after chapter, in order. Sometimes I skip ahead, but only if I have a certain scene stuck in my head that I have to get on paper. For Book 3, for example, I had the climax battle between Jestin and You-Know-Who in my head really early on, so I wrote that early in the process. Once I have finished a chapter, I do not go back to rewrite. No rewriting until the first draft is complete in its entirety.  

Anyway, the idea is: figure out what story I want to tell, in general, and then toss the characters onto the page and see what happens. I’ll adjust notes as I go, and keep track of chapters in an excel sheet. But I’ve come to grips with the fact that the first draft is always going to suck, so better to just get it over with…then step back and mold that into a story that makes sense (for the most part…hopefully…).

I usually have a good hour of writing in the morning before my day job, before ADHD kicks in and starts pulling my brain in a thousand different directions. 

Anyway, second anyway, that’s my “process.”

Oh! I also keep a notepad on my phone, so when I start getting bombarded with ideas randomly at night, when trying to fall asleep, I jot some of those down. About 90% of those ideas end up being useless, but the other 10%...are only semi-useless. 

Okay, no more about my super detailed and structured process that is super helpful for you to read about and not at all pointless rambling. 

I suppose I should drop some Dragon Metal News. Check out the "Art" section of the website, I added some stuff.

That's it for news (I hate writing these so much).

On to the part no one reads: Other Stuff - More Stuff!

What I’m reading: Berserk! I started reading the Berserk manga for the first time and am hooked. Dark fantasy! Big swords! Slap-you-in-the-face-obvious subtext! I’ve known about Berserk for years and years, and even though it looked interesting, I always assumed it was a straightforward, generic hack-and-slash fantasy. I was so wrong. Great worldbuilding and lore, deep characterization, emotions and drama and intensity. And pretty pictures and stuff. 

I also didn’t realize the series is still ongoing (I guess the original creator, Kentaro Miura, died in 2021, but someone else is finishing the story based on notes and such that Kentaro Miura left behind). I’m only on Volume 2 of the Deluxe Edition so I have quite a ways to go to catch up. They need to give this series the “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” treatment and make an anime series that follows the manga story without skipping or changing a bunch of stuff.

What I’m watching: Maul Series! Maul: Shadow Lord, Lord of Shadows, Darth Maul! Not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Ummm…the lightsaber blades are skinnier than Clone Wars but not as skinny as Rebels. I am not a fan of pencil-thin lightsaber blades, those ruined Rebels for me; I am just that picky when it comes to laser swords. 

Also watching…lots of anime! This is the standout for me so far this season: Daemons of the Shadow Realm. By the same people that made Fullmetal Alchemist, and it shows. This show had an insanely strong start. I didn’t get distracted by my phone at all during the first episode. 

A sad note: I am ending this entry on a depressing note. As many of you know, I have two cats: Max and Puck, both 16. Max was the basis for Growly McHissy-Face in Dragon Metal. 

I recently learned that Max has oral cancer, a tumor in his jaw and under his tongue. He is also dealing with kidney disease. He is still eating and drinking but struggling with both; still cuddles and lounges, still makes imaginary biscuits. So he is doing okay for now but this is probably going to be my last year with him.  

I will keep you posted. 

Anyway, sorry to end on that note. 

Go do May things.

End Blog.