Day #28 - The Third Person Preface Work (Again)

Yes, once again I decided to work on my novel. And to be fair, I almost finished the whole Preface. Still, I might as well show you what I'm working on this time, so here's the opening extract from the very start of the novel. This time it's more than a paragraph, it's an actually scene. Woo! Exciting stuff! I haven't looked over it too much yet, so consider it a draft, but here you go!

------

Preface

Think of the darkest thing you’ve ever seen. The inside of a wardrobe, playing hide-and-seek with your friends or family (or favourite imaginary being), perhaps. Or at home when the power runs out. Or in an alley in the middle of town that you probably shouldn’t be in and are probably about to stumble through because you can’t see the ground beneath you (a common occurrence, to be sure).

Now multiply that darkness by ten (if you can) and you might roughly have an idea of how dark it is in Externia. Externia, a land of immeasurable darkness, where one can’t tell the sky from the ground from the mountains from the sea from the stones at your feet to the hands you hold in front of your face; has only one main source of light. This comes not from any star, like Earth’s Sun, or any light bulb, like Ernie’s lamp, but from a single glowing palace known as Internia. The stones that line the walls of this great building produce a soft, gentle glow which illuminates the only distinguishable landscape in all Externia. The light around Internia paints the nearby sky a deep purple, the ground a solid grey and the mountains in the distance a pale but indisputable brown. There are, of course, other minor sources of light in Externia, but we shall delve into those later.

Throughout the land, there are only minuet signs of life. There are no fish, birds, reptiles, bugs, plants or mammals. But there is air, artificial as if pumped from a vent, and there is a temperature, a constant 24 °C (about 75°F), but it also feels processed, like the kind of heat you may find pumping through a car on a cold winter’s day. And in this false atmosphere, enough distance from Internia that it can be seen clearly, but far away enough that one would be hard to see from Internia itself, two dim red lights rise over the border of a mountain. These dim red lights are the naturally glowing eyes of Drell, self-appointed leader of the Zeems (though there wasn’t much resistance from the idea).

Shortly behind him were seven more pairs of these red glowing eyes, each belonging pair belonging to another Zeem. Drell had halted at the sight of Internia while the followers halted at the sight of Drell halting. Under the pale glow of Internia, you could just make out the body of Drell. (Or, at least what you would assume is his body, as you surely have seen nothing on Earth like it.) With a consistency more in common with liquid than solid, Drell’s body was entirely jet black and gave the impression that it was always in motion, despite being held firmly in the same shape, one that resembles the outline of a human being. His dim glowing red eyes were the only feature on what we can assume is his face. His body was oddly misshapen, at least in comparison to the other Zeems. His left arm was significantly longer than his right, with finger that just touched the ground. Made of the same substance as the rest of his body, he left it limp. His right arm was more regularly-proportioned in regards to his body. The same was true for his legs, only in reverse, for it was his right leg that was longer than his left. Not so long that he had to hop, but long enough that his walk resembled that of a pirate with a shorter peg-leg. His head was also larger than all the other Zeems, which is probably due to his heightened intelligence in comparison.

The remaining Zeems were, in contrast, far less misshapen (though they did share the same liquid-like density as Drell). Their heads all varied in size, but most were not as large as Drell’s. Their arms and legs were generally of the same proportion to their bodies, though some Zeems were taller than others. Drell stood as third tallest of the eight on that particular mountain. Only one other Zeem at that point could see Internia, over Drell, thanks to his height. Drell motioned with his longer hand for the group to come closer, swinging it in the direction of Internia. The Zeems climbed to the same area as Drell and caught, most of them for the first time ever, a glimpse at the splendour of the glorious glowing palace. Some shielded their dim red eyes from the glow, others (who had probably seen Internia before) did not. There was a buzz of excitement running through the Zeems now, at least all but Drell, who remained calm. From his person, a low, deep voice quietly emerged.

“Do you all remember the plan?” he asked. He had no mouth to move, yet the words were clearly emitted from his person. In reply to his question, the other Zeems sounded back in either a quiet ‘yes’ or various speeds of nodding. “Good,” was Drell’s soft reply, and without speaking another word, began his descent from the mountain in the direction of Internia. The others followed dutifully.

-- -- -- -- --

So yeah, that ALSO explains absolutely nothing about the novel! But hey, silly names for silly things! Hopefully you enjoyed reading it so far :D

Day #27 - Snow Patrol Review

A review of... Snow Patrol. Basically. Got edited down at the points where I start repeating myself, but since I don't have that edited version, I'll just put this up in the meantime then upload the better one if I ever get it! But yes, this was for The Gown and will be published on Monday I THINK. I'll be in that issue anyway with the Positive Valentine's thing.

----

----

----

Snow Patrol returned to Belfast last week to play three headline shows in support of new album, Fallen Empire. And with the rest of the tour spanning across the globe, there’s plenty to admire about the band. They found a strong formula for writing accessible pop-rock songs, cracked into the charts and have consistently held their place for the last eight years, doing astoundingly well in America too. All the more impressive when you realise they come from Bangor, Northern Ireland. It’s no wonder the press here think the world of them, granting them the second-stage headline spot at the Belfast EMA’s, as well as a spot in Belfast’s 2012 advertising campaign, showing off Custom House Square. They’ve become a fine export, a great tie between Northern Ireland and the mainstream music masses.

But, becoming an export of the music industry is a dangerous move. Snow Patrol have had only one thing to worry about, and it’s clear they’re thinking it themselves: they’re afraid of turning stale. With the introduction of trance-like-euro-beats to their usual slow, drudging songs, Snow Patrol predicted a “mixed reaction” from fans as they ushered in what has been described as the “next phase” for the band. Critically, however, the consensus for Fallen Empires is that while there was an attempt to shift the formula¸ ultimately the album treads the same lines from previous albums. And it must be noted that this album’s singles, while still selling admirably, are underperforming in comparison to singles from Eyes Open and A Hundred Million Suns, the bands more recent hit albums. The predictions of a mixed reaction from their audience over their startling change in direction illustrates exactly how the band perceives their fans; as delicate children who can’t embrace the slightest change.

Snow Patrol, like so many bands before them, are a victim of their own success. Having reached stardom with little debate or contest, the band has managed to maintain their popularity with little need for change. But now, as the masses slowly lose interest, the band are attempting to adapt to the beat-driven pop scene of today to survive, all-the-while aiming to please their current fanbase by ensuring they maintain their long-established sound, resulting in the underwhelming clash found on Fallen Empires. The affect of their own success has removed any natural evolution in their music, the pressures of popular opinion and the fear of disappointing their fans stripping them of any right to variation or originality. They’ve become an easy bet, a reliable export in the music industry. And in pop music, no band can remain entirely the same and expect to last. Eventually, the tide changes and those unwilling to dare are left behind.

To surpass upcoming musicians and enjoy success well into this century, Snow Patrol need to pull a U2, a Pearl Jam, a Prince. A change, a new image; for better or for worse. At worst, they’ll lose their established fanbase for the sake of making an album that liberates them from the monotonous game of commercial album making, eventually winning everyone back a few years down the line with a ‘return-to-form’ album. At best, their new sound will surpass their former and show how deep and talented these musicians really can be. Either way, it warrants an attempt. In the immortal words of Neil Young/Kurt Cobain: “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.” And in music, nothing rings more true. Snow Patrol have done a lot of good in a short time for Northern Ireland and the music scene here; with a little more time, who knows what else they could be capable of.

Day #26 - Living Colour

More lyrics, I'm sure you'll be glad to know!

So today, I became mildly obsessed with some famous last words from people who have died in the past. If you look them up, you get the quote before you get the person and, depending on the quote, the circumstances surrounding the death that led them to say that. They're like little stories, you learn so much, but I wouldn't recommend for those afraid to get a little morbid.

Anyway, through this, I learned of the news reporter Christine Chubbuck. Probably more obvious and bigger news to others, but I had never heard. Anyway, 30 years old and a news presenter from Florida, she shot herself in the head during a live broadcast. Now, I found all that out after reading her last words, which were:

"In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color, you are going to see another first -- attempted suicide."

How fucking terrifying is that? She had asked to do a piece on suicide two weeks before, and basically planned out the entire thing (script, gun and all) for that show. Messed up, huge at the time (1974) and part inspiration the film Network, which I have never seen but apparently is pretty funny and really, really good (If critics are to be believed).

So, being the story that impacted me the most today, I wrote a short song on that during work (where I read it).

---

Dented metal
Not a symbol of resistance
Just acceptance
Here, behind this ear
You'll find what you drove me to
Or was it me who drove me
I was driven, that's all I know
Into the ditch before the lens
So please
Let's continue with the living colour

---
Hum
---

Here's to confusion
Here's to organisation
I'll be taking a break, if you don't mind
After my main part
Continue with the living colour
We'll be back after these messages

---
Hum
---

---

---

(Yeah, that was it)

And I'm aware that it's a cliché to write about real-life suicide stories. And I'm aware that people have written songs about these before, though I did decide not to listen to them. Had an impact, wanted my own spin, there it is, thank you for reading it, now we shall leave it be! :D

Day #25 - Positive Valentine's Day Article

Did you know I write for Queen's Student Newspaper 'The Gown'?

I do the entertainment section mostly, but occasionally I'll be asked to do a few more general ones. Like this time, when I was requested to write the 'Positives for Valentine's' article for next weeks publishing.

And since there are no real positives, I... took the piss. But they're still publishing it, so hurray for humour! :D

So here it is. If you want some of my older reviews, by all means check out their website at Google -> The Gown -> First link. (I'm that lazy).

---

Positive Valentine’s Day Outlook

Valentine’s Day is the kind of phrase you use to gather scorn from those around you. And for good reason, it’s a day of stress, expectation, indecision and for many (shallow) couples, a day of reckoning. But, there are always exceptions.

For example, if you are a teenage boy or girl, this could be that day you’ve been waiting for to finally ask out that special someone, thanks to teenager’s best friend, peer pressure. From there you can go through two positive experiences: The experience of acceptance and a sweet date, or the experience of searing, embarrassing rejection, which could be considered a positive for your character building.

If you are a single university student, there are likely to be great offers at your favourite bar, so you can get drunk and meet equally desperate university students for some exciting one-night standing.

If you are in a strong relationship, you can use Valentine’s Day to guilt your other half into buying you something nice or taking you somewhere nice. Of course, only at your own pressure, for those who want must give.

If you are a devout Christian, you can find comfort in the oft-dropped ‘St.’ of ‘St. Valentine’s Day’ and feel free to ignore any commercialism involved with the day so as to feel better morally.

If you are a devout Geoffrey Chaucer follower, you can find comfort knowing it was this English wordsmith who brought the association of love to Valentine’s. If you are not, you now know who to blame.

And, if you are employed at a cinema, card shop/factory, jewellery store, music store, fine-dining restaurant or hotel; you can find comfort in the vast fortune you are about to receive.

So, really, how could you be upset?

---

Hopefully whoever's writing the 'negatives' will be making it in point-for-point form. That would make mine look so much better.

Day #24 - No One Ever Leaves Here

Ok, let's be straight about this first. I'm not writing songs about a secret wish to escape Ireland. I happen to like living here. The perfect middle ground, it makes holiday's worth it because everywhere is different from Ireland and only in good ways.

Still, the music scene here is claustrophobic like nothing else, and it is beyond unlikely that a band ever makes it here. So... I attempted to write a song about that I guess. I suppose you could look at it anyway you want though, I try to do that with song-writing. You know, unless I have something specific to tell you. Then I wouldn't.

So here's the quite obviously titled 'No One Ever Leaves Here'. Genius.

(Oh, I should note. Up until this point I don't think I've included many notes I make to help actual songwriting on this blog. Stuff like 'A solo would be good here', 'guitar', 'harmonies'; that kind of shit. I've been taking them out or haven't been writing them as often. This time I had a tune in my head, so I kept those in.)

---

It's probably nothing but I'll take what I can
Money and hobbies never quite add up
But maybe I can do it, maybe I can do it
And if I can't do it, who can?----

'cause no one ever leaves no one ever leaves here
No one ever gets past the decline, oh no no
No one ever breaks no one ever breaks from here
No one gets a break, and I won't get mine
No one ever leaves, no one ever leaves from here
No one ever gets a chance to resign oh no no
No one ever flees, no one ever breaks from here
But if I try my hardest maybe I can get mine

And it's nice here, I know that and that's fine
But if you don't have delusions, you might as well say goodbye

It's probably nothing but here I am
I'm not likely to get paid for second hand
But maybe I can do it, or maybe he can do it
And if neither of us do it, who can?----

And maybe it's because we're just in a bad location
And maybe it's just that no one here has a vocation
And maybe it's just because none of us can play
And maybe then that'd be ok
But since I know we can play then it's not---

Oh no one ever leaves no one ever leaves here
No one ever gets past the decline, oh no no
No one ever breaks no one ever breaks from here
No one gets a break, and I won't get mine
No one ever leaves, no one ever leaves from here
No one ever gets a chance to resign oh no no
No one ever flees, no one ever breaks from here
But if I try my hardest maybe I can get mine

And it's nice here, I know that and that's fine
But if you don't have delusions, you might as well say goodbye

Guitar--
Guitar--
Guitar--
Guitar--

And maybe it's because we're just in a bad location
And maybe it's just that no one here has a vocation
And maybe it's just because none of us can play
And maybe then that'd be ok
But since I know we can play then it's not---

[Instruments out, clapping and minor drums]
Oh no one ever leaves no one ever leaves here
No one ever gets past the decline, oh no no
No one ever breaks no one ever breaks from here
No one gets a break, [all out bar lead] and I won't get mine
[all back in]
No one ever leaves, no one ever leaves from here
No one ever gets a chance to resign oh no no
No one ever flees, no one ever breaks from here
But if I try my hardest maybe I can get mine
Oh no one ever leaves no one ever leaves here
No one ever gets past the decline, oh no no
No one ever breaks no one ever breaks from here
No one gets a break, and I won't get mine
No one ever leaves, no one ever leaves from here
No one ever gets a chance to resign oh no no
No one ever flees, no one ever breaks from here
But if I try my hardest maybe I can get mine

And it's nice here, I know that and that's fine
Yeah it's nice here, I know and that's fine
And I'm glad to be wherever I am, and I'm happy to sing whenever I can
And I'm glad, glad, glad, glad, glad----
Goodbye.

Day #23 - Clarity (Is Purple)

You know. There's something about the colour purple I'm quite fond of.

Still, that has little to do with what this song is about, as far as I remember. It just ties nicely in with the theme. But hasn't ever writer wanted to include the colour purple in their writing at some point? I mean... it has no real rhyme! THE CHALLENGE.

So yeah, here's the pretentiously titled 'Clarity (Is Purple)'

--

When the winds passed
As they do
A change occurred to you
You lost sight of the thread
Lost sight of the line
And all that was asked was
Could you hold it next time?
You agreed, the way,
A young man would do
But the change still held itself through and through and the
Bottles were clean,
The caps met the clasp
And down went the venom of the terrible asp

Oh Clarity is purple
Clarity is grey
Clarity is sold from the racks on display
Yeah Clarity is perfect
Clear, unrefined
Clarity's a number that wraps round the mind
Oh Clarity is gritty
and useless this time

When the winds passed
As they do
Another change happened to you
You got strong like a weasel
As big as a slug
Your thoughts turned to ashes while you battled with dust
You were calm then,
Gave it its time
Held back the circle that your lips always find
And with hours you got better
With minutes, divine
But by Wednesday you dropped all your stands with the line

Oh Clarity is purple
Clarity is grey
Clarity is sold from the racks on display
Yeah Clarity is perfect
Clear, unrefined
Clarity's a number that wraps round the mind
Oh Clarity is gritty
and useless this time

-------------------

Also on this day I tried to make a Summer Music Playlist. Since I haven't finished or refined it though, I'll leave that for the moment.

Day #22 - Who Cares?

Hopefully at this point, you're getting that I write songs without thinking too hard about how they should sound or what they actually say, as a song. So here's a pop song, and I hope you'll forgive me!

Called 'Who Cares?'

--

Who cares if I can't do what I want

Who cares if I can't do what I want

If I could I would write a rock song

But I can't so here's a pop song

Who cares if I can't do what I want

Who cares if I can't do what I want

If I could I would write a novel

But I can't so here's an article

Maybe if I had the time

But I probably never will

Maybe if I had the skill

But I don't, and yet I'm fine

I'm fine

Who cares if I can't do what I want

Who cares if I can't do what I want

If I could I would get married on Wednesday

But I can't so I'll get married on Thursday

Who cares if I can't do what I want

Who cares if I can't do what I want

If I could I would act on broadway

But I can't so I'll watch shows down my way

Maybe if I had the time

But I probably never will

Maybe if I had the skill

But I don't, and yet I'm fine

I'm fine

I'm fine

I'm fine

I'm fine

I'm fine

I'm finnneeeeeeeeee

Ah who cares?

Day #21 - Your Step

Prepare for a lot of one-day under-thought lyrics! I wrote these all on the day, just to make sure I had something done for the day for the project. I've been working and running all over the place this week, as well as being distracted by Skyrim STILL. But I always make time to do something creative, even if they aren't very good. I tend to write a lot of songs, then narrow down what I like from a few and work them into one, marginally better song! So... prepare for a lot of those in the updates ahead!

This one's called 'Your Step'.

--

Not like last time, be sure

Because if you don't have the will

Then how am I to leave?

I won't just step out, come back

I will stumble on my own two feet

For the first time

And here I need you guiding me

But there I need you trying me

Or the stone unturned will never truly move

So here I need you guiding me

But there I need you trying me

And when it all comes down, I'll drag myself to your step

-

Not like last time, be sure

But think of how you would have been

'cause now I am you.

And I never truly wanted to go

But when I do, it's one step

For yours to be yours first

And here I need you guiding me

But there I need you trying me

Or the stone unturned will never truly move

So here I need you guiding me

But there I need you trying me

And when it all comes down, I'll drag myself to your step

Day #20 - The White Whale

Another picture on that same program, a very blurry extract picture from Moby Dick. Only the whale is black. And it doesn't look anything like that scene really ;D Still... pretty?

Day #19 - SAIL NOW ON

Forced to listen to radio programs the entire day, you start to blur the term 'sale now on'. So... basically I decided to blur it until it sounded like a pirate's shout. Here's a picture I made about it ;D

PUNS YAY!

Used an online program Maria showed me to make this =)

Day #18 - Practice with Shane

Hey all!

Basically, since I talked Shane into doing his own private version of the 365 Project, I am morally obligated to work with him from time to time on things. So we're working on covers, for now, of Just Like Heaven by the Cure and Here Comes Your Man/Isla De Enchanta by Pixies. He plays acoustic guitar, I play uke, and he does main vocals while I do backing.

It's a good laugh, and it's mostly for confidence building on both our parts. So... I don't actually have anything to show for it. But this isn't all about show and tell! It's about me doing creative things, and that was it for today. I creatively improvised along to Just Like Heaven on a Ukulele. I'm pretty sure that counts...

Day #17 - More 'The Third Person' Work

Of course I have nothing to show for it, but I  DID work on The Third Person today. Last night I mentally fixed a few plot holes that were bugging me about the story, and decided to change the narrative tone to the one I'd recently been using. So I've gone back and started reworking the preface to the novel. Then I'll feel better about moving on :D

Unfortunately I've got nothing to show you really.

...

So here's an artist interpretation of the character Jacob by Maria =D

Day #16 - Poorly Drawn Evolution #2 (Clank)

To follow up my awesome Sonic the Hedgehog timeline from the previous post, here is the manufacturing process of another beloved videogame character, i.e. Clank of Ratchet & Clank!

Merciless.

Heroic.

A statement like none other before it.

Day #15 - Poorly Drawn Evolution #1 (Sonic)

Now here's something to cheer you up!
MY DRAWING SKILLZ!

So, I had an idea, and in traditional Brady artist fashion, tried to follow it up without the notion of how to use my hands in the way to make it look decent. I decided to stick with the poor drawing thing and kinda liked it in a sad way. So here it is, the first in a series godhelpye, featuring beloved child-teen-manchild gaming hero Sonic the Hedgehog.

Quality incarnate. Smoothed down in Adobe Flash, by-the-by.

Day #14 - Passing Away

So, as I mentioned, more poetry. Again, written a few months ago, and perhaps not as dark as the last one but also not that much lighter! Remember, I already know how embarrassing poetry is, and again I think I tried to write a song, failed, and so cleaned it up to look like poetry. But hey! ...diversity! (?)

----


I found a silver lining in a sharpened silver sythe
Having spent the day excited over newly founded flight
Visited my loved ones at the tender age of nine
The sun drew me higher with the clearest ray of light

I passed away,
                     a ghost, the truest form of death
Striken by the laughter of the darkened figure's breath
With one swipe the blade took me from my dream
I awoke on the floor with a pillow-muffled scream

Now awake
Down the stairs
Grandest mother
Held my head
Explain in all
Just once again
That here in death
You are not afraid


----------

On second thought, no. Not that much lighter AT ALL. HAPPIER STUFF SOON I SWEAR! D:

Day #13 - Everybody Loves An Accident

Ok! So I'm a bit behind on this whole thing due to a run-in with SKYRIM.
Which totally encompasses one's life with running back and forth over snowy mountains doing bitch-work for the next-biggest Scandanavian stereotype! And I fucking love it.

SO TO MAKE UP FOR THAT here is some embarrassing poetry I wrote a few months ago that accidentally happened when trying to write a song. As usual, this is just something I did without thinking and definitely doesn't sound like any particular thoughts that I have myself, so put your phones down and stop trying to call the shrink!

------------


Changing nothing amounts to something now
Taking pride in the brilliance of beauty
What wonderous virtue you possess, princess
Not that I can complain, with this head
If I reinvent the wheel I'll be fooled
Into thinking I intended to do some good
If it happens it'll be an accident
Everybody loves an accident
The working life, who would be so uncool
To destroy their chances at being king or queen
Who cares, we'll just dance and dance and take
Whatever comes our way, back to our beds
If I reinvent the wheel I'll be fooled...


Nothing left
Change the channel
Nothing left to watch
On the TV
To read
On the paper
To live
on the TV
To fake
Down on paper
Time to settle down I think it's time
Have five children, two wives, one bitch
Cram them into our perfect little suburban dream
It's not pretty, but pretty was last year
If I reinvent the wheel it'll be an accident
Everybody loves an accident
Let's hope it never happens.

--------

Like it? No? Don't blame you.
More light hearted stuff... after the next post, which is also pretty bleak poetry! :D
HURRAY!

Day #12 - Subliminal Revision

Final Winter exam tomorrow, so here's just another apology piece! :D

If it works, you'll forgive me.

Day #11 - Hell on Earth/Capitalise The Music

Was in work today, so I created a couple of Artsy things for those of you artsy people.

First up, some pixel work! :D

I try to keep things different, as much as possible, so here's a fun reinterpretation of when the devil (in all his 8-bit glory) conquers your Minesweeper.

Fun, eh? BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!

Today on Cool FM, some woman was ranting about her new found career with the help of Ms. Dynamit-e-e. Was pretty uninteresting, until she started talking about how she makes music to capitilise on whatever's selling at the moment. I just... I just can't honestly believe people do this. I mean, I'm not straight up there with 'Music is art, maaaannnn', but Music is is an art form. And to hear someone literally go out of her way to match the music market is almost sickining.

So... I made some gaudy typography again.

Basically, the font itself is supposed to stand out by being so... pathetic. A weak attempt to work with the rest, using some techniques it's gathering from the colourful, vibrant things around it. But, like this woman's career, it will just never be as good as those who try, those who think of music as music and make it because music needs and deserves to be made.

So, you all get a two-fer! Hope you like them, but it's not like it's my area anyway, so if not, that's cool too ;D

Day #10 - Working on Chapter 1 of 'The Third Person'

So... I've been working on a novel for over a year now, and I only have one chapter done. Not even well. So the main reason I decided to do the 366 Project was to force myself to write the rest, finish what I've started!

Of course, writing a novel takes a lot of time, and it doesn't make sense to upload all you have done everytime you work. You go back, you re-read everything and change what you no longer like! So whenever I work on The Third Person or anything else for my 366 of this nature, I'll likely only upload an extract I like or think can be enjoyed on its own.

So today, I worked on the first chapter of The Third Person. (Actually the second chapter, but the original chapter was a 'Preface', and so doesn't really count as yet.) Eventually I'll upload an edited version of the preface too, but for now I'll just share with you the opening two paragraphs of Chapter 1. Not that these paragraphs themselves are complete either, but they have the least semblance of plot and so least likely to confuse the reader! Hopefully you'll enjoy what little I can offer today anyway!

----------------------
----------------------

Chapter 1

Explosion. On any other day, the word Explosion alone would cheer Jacob up. It is a fantastic word, after all. One of the few that perfectly describes an action, a sound, a general temperature and has just the right amount of x’s to not only be enjoyable to spell, but to say and read. Ex-plo-shee-on.

But, unfortunately for Jacob, as he passed the word on that warm spring evening, lit high above him in a high-octane red on the billboard for a popular soft drink and following the word Taste (Another excellent word, but tame in respects to Explosion), he couldn’t even muster up the energy required to let it affect him in any way.

There are only so many such days in the average life of a teenage boy, thankfully; for Jacob Winters, this was one of them. The cause of such a terrifying mood that even the word Explosion could not bring joy to an adolescent’s heart can only be from one of three things:

...

-----------------------

-----------------------

Yup. That's all you're getting.

If you enjoyed that, make sure you keep reminding me to finish ;D

Also if people want to start paying me so I can quit my job and uni degree and live off writing for the rest of my life, I would greatly appreciate that!

Failing such a request, just let me know what you think of the writing style or even just this introduction! And eventually I'll give yous a general premise to the actual plot, which... may be helpful. 'cause then you'd know what you were getting into to.

...it is a fantasy novel, if that helps.

...starring teenagers.

...and might end up being a bit meta. Who knows.

(Did I sell it, Sales Manager Jeff? Nailed it? Positive? Awesome.)