tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31589087632098942932023-11-15T07:29:09.816-08:00Rise of a Thought MageAt the edge of a world embroiled in a spiritual cold war lies the island of Taben where the Sun still shines brightly to warm the land. A young man with unknowable potential, a fierce barbarian from the mainland, a pure hearted Sister of the Golden Lady, a determined military officer seeking asylum, and a orphan from the streets find their fates intertwined. A darkness comes for them. They must stand in the balance or all will be lost.Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-68752176584051412602012-03-24T16:48:00.001-07:002012-03-30T16:04:25.986-07:00What makes a hero?<div class="MsoNormal">I have been poking and prodding through my first draft feeling a little despondent. As the ideas of the early part of my story rushed into my mind they seemed so grandiose and yet, it seems, I will have to tear the prose limb from limb and grind it to a pulp before reshaping it to fulfill my current vision.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before I devote myself completely to the task I have found it necessary to dwell in a zen-like state on the history of my created world. What makes it tick? How does the story of Erik Kranden stem from the world around him? What forces have been at work in the many centuries of my world, shaping the people who live upon it?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Who are the heroes that the children of Angdu aspire to imitate? Lirien, a great warrior from the mountains of Iberna, cries the name of Feldor when he wades into battle with his foes. Who is Feldor? Is he a real man or a character of myth?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Why does Lirien honor the name of a man he has never personally known? </div>Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-84983201065524163512012-03-18T05:32:00.000-07:002012-03-18T05:32:05.207-07:00Completion of First DraftLast week I completed my first draft of Rise of a Thought Mage. It is 400 pages or 94,000 words. About the size of The Hobbit. It is hard to anticipate the final length as many new thoughts have run through my mind about the story-line's continued development. Reading the fist chapter was painful. In the lucid and dreamy state of mind I was in during its creation it seemed so well written. As I have progressed along this path and continued to resurrect my long nascent writing skills it has become more and more apparent that I still have far to go.<br />
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A little internet searching garnered me some quotes to keep me going. These are from www.howtoreviseyournovel.com and seem to resonate with the sentiments of almost every writer's discussion board and website I have come across. Apparently the first draft is not the apex of any novel's greatness. I will press on with my two-volume bound 'tome' to try to make it what I have envisioned it should be.<br />
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<dl><dd>"First drafts are for learning what your novel or story is about." - Bernard Malamud </dd></dl><br />
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<dd>"There is no great writing, only great rewriting." - Justice Brandeis </dd></dl><br />
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<dd>"Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it." - Michael Crichton </dd></dl>Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-25227327201166938392012-02-25T09:36:00.000-08:002012-02-25T09:36:19.897-08:00Writing a Novel... is exhausting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is emotionally costly to write well. Dancers, for example, know that they're going to have bloody feet. Pianists know that they'll have to practice until the pain in their fingers makes them cry. Writing a novel is not like writing a letter. Writing a novel is mentally exhausting, far harder than a nine-to-five job. When you write a novel, you live the lives of your characters</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This quote from www.peacecorpswriters.org 'Day 46' is so true! As I pounded out a critical turning point scene this morning I could feel the emotions of my characters flow through me. It is difficult to squeeze those emotions into prose and be satisfied with the result. More difficult than I could have ever imagined before I began writing this story.</span></div>Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-8461480168652210072012-02-14T18:33:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:33:48.702-08:00Progress continues...It has been some time since I last posted. The work continues on Rise of a Thought Mage and the groundwork is being laid for the sequel. Thanks to my fans/readers for your patience!Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-7540150452748839922011-11-11T04:52:00.001-08:002012-02-25T08:47:55.348-08:00Thank You Volunteer ReadersRise of a Thought Mage stands at 70,500 words as of this morning. It has been a delight to hear the feedback of my volunteer readers. Stay tuned!Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-66531454757885897332011-10-25T10:12:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:12:42.433-07:00The Fall of Shael<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Exerpt from the writings of Naothemas of Thesk, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Scribe of the Holy Order of Laraben, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Servant of The Lady.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">KP 237</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Hear now the account of Shael the Firstborn, most eminent of created beings of the Golden Lady, cast forever to desolation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know thee the historical account and reconcile thy heart with the Creator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make thee not the mistake of pride which fell the Usurper, once a mighty light in the heavens, to dwell forever in the place of eternal darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cast illumination upon thy path, live ye not in his shadows lest thy soul anguish forever apart from Her light.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Five mighty servants watched over all of creation, tending to their mysteries, keeping order over all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five mighty servants kneeled at Her feet in worship, an example to all lesser beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the five celestial brothers created before the stars took their forms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One grew proud; thinking himself better than the others, thinking the throne of creation should be his rightful destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stars fell from the heavens, thrown from their balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shael gathered power from the secret knowledge of the spirit realm to wrest dominion from his brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zephai stood strong and brave, the mightiest of the faithful, to save the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark secrets dwelt within Shael the usurper, secrets to add his brother’s powers to his own. The Lady cast her evil servant down forever to live in darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her tears of sadness flowed in remembrance of her lost servant, falling upon the world to create the two races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never again would She create an equal to Shael, so it is written in the Book of Illumination.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Shael stirs in his dark place, angry at his creator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always watching hungrily from the shadows he waits to regain his former glory and to blot out all light from creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The souls of men will feed his return.</div>Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-44134748745784616102011-10-18T06:54:00.000-07:002011-10-18T08:06:43.514-07:00Here are my first few paragraphs of 'Trouble in Taben' ...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The young man raised his arms toward the sky, fingers wiggling to shape and control the fabric of reality that only he could see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ringing sounds of steel against steel surrounded him as the dark god’s faithful soldiers stood their ground against the city guards and Ekkran soldiers besieging the building to stop the evil within from spreading across the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange shadowy spirit-creatures began to emerge through the tears in the air around them seeking to crush all who would defy their Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Erik sensed he had forced the objects far above them to obey his will he clenched his fists tightly together and pulled his hands hard toward the ground, smashing his fists into the cobblestones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The asteroids were forcefully pulled out of their orbit and drawn to his chosen target with unspeakable speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sky grew red, hot air rushed across the field of battle, across the entire city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiery stones fell from the heavens to engulf the building, smaller stones spattering around the target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ensuing explosions knocked nearly everyone to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bricks and wooden beams were thrown in all directions, slamming adjacent buildings and casting a cloud of billowing hot dust down every street for a mile in all directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young man fell in and out of consciousness.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Rubble was strewn throughout the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brave soldiers surrounded him, dead or dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cries could be heard from every direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erik was curled up on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devastation was nearly complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What have I done?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was unable to rise back to his feet due to the heavy tax the use of his talent had taken from his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above him he could see dark tendrils of shadow clawing at the sky in defiance of the Sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The insidious machine was unharmed; the Shade Cleric would now usher in the end of everything he knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only a few hours after midday yet it felt more like dusk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heard some shuffling sounds coming toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He strained to see what it was.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A bipedal shadowy creature, twice the size of a full grown man, lumbered toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It began to make a hissing sound as it leveled its gaze upon him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Stasev Vespelee Canemas.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was speaking to him in the language of shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was uncertain of the words but it was clear it meant him harm as it unfurled its hideous wings and crouched down, preparing for whatever the strangely powerful young man would throw at it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A single arrow sliced the air over Erik’s head and landed squarely into the left shoulder of the Nether spirit-monster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evil creature grabbed at the shaft as it hissed in anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slivers of light began to take shape at the site of the wound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small hole in the creature’s body began to grow as its shadowy essence was burned away by the arrow, blessed by a Sister of the Lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its arm fell away as it tried to rush Erik, determined not to die alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another arrow sliced the air, landing squarely into the creature’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fell backwards cursing the archer as its face and head disintegrated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be forever destroyed.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“Erik?” the archer called out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is that you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could see he was covered in ash and mud, barely recognizable.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“Brinda?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are alive…” Erik responded.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“We must go now Erik.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mission is failed, retreat our only option.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erik did not move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Take my hand,” she continued as she grasped his hand and pulled him to his feet and lifted his trembling body over her shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brinda navigated slowly past the suffering guards and the flaming piles of debris.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Erik’s eyes were closing from exhaustion when he heard the prayers of the Sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned his head as far as he could and tried to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mariette was calling out to the Lady for a blessing of healing over a city guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her flowing white robe was now a dirty gray with torn patches flapping in the cold breeze of winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dear Lady, please use me now in this hour of need,” the woman cried out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guard coughed and made some whimpering sounds as his torn flesh began to heal, stemming the flow of blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I fear the Lady will not be able to hear us much longer,” Mariette told the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gather the wounded.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man rolled onto his hands and knees, slowly rose, and staggered into the dark fog to aid as many of his fallen comrades as he could.</div>Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3158908763209894293.post-72445562165528013612011-10-16T04:03:00.001-07:002011-10-16T06:18:02.118-07:00Welcome to the blog!Welcome to my blog. I will be posting here periodically about my soon to be released e-book series 'Rise of a Thought Mage'. Stay tuned!Neal Dooleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10286114766472137501noreply@blogger.com2