AD ASTRA PER ASPERA

Yup, we’ve all seen it right? A bad reboot, paid for fiction in a particular world being worse than fan fiction. Or in this particular case a video game which takes a loved backstory and makes a laughable story from it.

-cringes just thinking about it-

But while it was a completely disappointing story, it showed me something: how to take a existing story, add to it lovingly, and make another story out of it. In other words it showed me how not to do so, so I can do it better. Knowing what not to touch is key, though... I have a feeling that it depends on the person what is “sacred”.

Either way, a few days after more or less completing the game, I spent just under 24 hours writing 12k words. No I did not sleep that night, why do you ask? One of my friends called me a true artist because I did. I’m not sure if that is a good marker, but I’ll take the compliment. 

Honestly? I’m just glad to have the words down. That’s what happens when I don’t write for months. I’m not even sure I’m out of words yet. Such a life of a storyteller.

Or maybe it is the shallow stuff that I don't need. I need the real relationships, ones that go deeper. Thankfully, I do have a few. though, not writing related. Any takers out there?

Lately I've been concentrating on video games. Been playing both Zelda and Animal Crossing. I've enjoyed both. It is allowing those emotional energies to recharge after so much use. 

I think it is working. I am starting to feel like writing again. On another new story. I can never seem to finish one. One of these days...



Till next time, have a lovely week!

“Anyway, that’s just how I feel about it. What do you think?”

If there is any line that sums up Daniel, that is probably it. He deeply thinks and feels any opinion he holds, but also wants others feedback.

While there are always dangers to categorizing personalities, I find it helpful both personally, and in my writing. I’d like to talk about one, the one I know best: ENFP, or Champion.

In other words: how to be friends with someone like me.

How do you be friends with an empath? Someone who deeply feels, cares, and navigates their world primarily by feel?

Well…carefully. I’ll fully admit being friends with me is no picnic. Gentle handling is required. I do everything I can to negate some of that, but I am a “special snowflake”. So, I’ll take more work. 

So listen, don’t be quick to judge, and realize I may not be able to “explain” how I got to a conclusion. And remember that while I might be an emotional basket case one day, the next will probably be better, and just be kind and understanding till then.

It’s ok to ask me questions. In fact please do. And if I say something judgmental, or comes across that way, remember I am probably not doing so, it is either me venting, or, me making a general statement, and ultimately wanting feedback, not an end all statement. I want discussion, believe it or not. But thoughtful, and constructive discussion, one who’s goal is understanding both sides, not taking sides.

We all are emotional. We are born with them. But how we navigate those emotions, is very different, and varies from person to person. For someone like me, emotions both help me understand the world around me, and overwhelm. And unless you know and understand that, it can baffle.

“They don’t know what to do with me, and I don’t know what to do with myself.”

On the other side, I don’t know what to do with them. How does one relate to another who doesn’t seem to feel, or think deeply about emotions? What do you do when you sense something, that they themselves don’t sense?

If you let an empath into your life, you’ll find that they’ll often know things before you do. If they are wise, they won’t say a word. If not, you’ll probably get an earful. Either way, they will probably just care, and not judging you in any way. They will care about you in ways that others don’t, because that is just the way they are. They deeply care, and would put their life on the line for you, at great risk to themselves. If you hurt them, they probably won't tell you, unless they are particularly trusting of you. Again, they probably won't judge, and in fact may blame themselves for what happened. 

Bottom line: while there are risks, there are rewards too. You’ll learn about yourself. You’ll get another view of the world. And you’ll have a friend who will care for life.

Obviously, this is all my own perceptions. No one is completely alike another. So, take all that with a grain of salt. But, it is my own true thoughts and feelings.

I am fragile, and I can break. But I am also strong and not easily broken.

While I was cleaning my kitchen today a thought struck me. Because I primarily process my surroundings through how it feels, I tend to tell more than show in my writing. For example, when describing a mug of tea (one of my favorite things) I would write how it feels in my hands, how the steam is soothing, and how it calms me. Instead of giving a visual description of the mug, or its location in the world or how the character interacts with it.

Because of how I see my world, telling can sometimes feel more immersive to me. How does the character see their world? Let me see and feel it through their eyes. Maybe I’m an odd duck or just a huge newb at writing. I don’t know. I think I write fairly deep third person, focusing on one character at a time. It feels natural. Maybe it’s because of how I personally think? 

There is so much I don’t know. I don’t even know for sure what POV I use. I probably could pick up a book and learn what it is, but I’m more of a “learn by doing” person. Hacking my way through learning a skill. I’ve always done this. Probably there are quicker ways to learn, but I always seem to learn more this way than without. I feel like I’d stuff my brain full of “how” and then while writing I’d be thinking about all that instead of writing. I have a “sense” of what it’s supposed to be, and I aim for that. 

Question of the day:

What was the best advice you’ve ever gotten, writing or otherwise? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Yup, I got my handle from Doctor Who. No matter what the Fifth Doctor went through he didn't give up. Even when he lost one of his companions. My favorite Doctor Who story isn't in the visual canon, it is in one of the books. Fear of the Dark by Trevor Baxendale. In that story, he gets put into a situation that makes him face his fears. He faces the worst of humanity and manages to get through it.

One of my fears is being open and vulnerable. Loving others isn't an easy thing to do. Especially if you’ve been hurt. Chances are all of us have been hurt in some way by another. It is how life is, in all its brokenness. The question is, will we love anyway? Or will we hide? 

No man is an island, or so they say. I’ll be honest here. After the worst emotional pain to date, I ran. Hid in a preverbal corner. Chose to hide behind a mask. 

I encouraged others, loved them as best I could. But when pressed to share my own heart, I gave bits and pieces, just enough to get by. Looking back, I realized that while I could help some, but without sharing my own heart, I couldn't really help. Not as much as I could have if I had been willing to share some of my own pain. 

Then a couple years ago, something happened. I wouldn't have guessed that something as simple as a tv show would change my perspective. But that is exactly what happened. That is what my storyteller used to get my attention. 

It took emersion into a story, to help my heart heal from the pain it had suffered. I still have a long way to go, but I’m finally coming out of my shell. Willing to take a risk and connect with the world around me. So here I am. I started this journey a year ago, and now knowing a bit more than I did a year ago, I want to shape this space into something a little bit different. 

You’ll still hear about stories. Stories are my language. I’m going to speak it. You’ll get references to the stories I love as well. 

But I’d also love this place to be where discussion can happen, where the invitation is extended that if you wish you can talk my ear off about what you love, you can. Even if I don't quite get it, I’m still going to care about the one saying it. I’m still going to want to hear it. Please keep it general, and civil. But other than that you are good to go.

So going forward, I want to shape this place to be more of a meeting place than just a journal. You’ll find that too, of course. Bear with me though, because this is going to be a work in progress. I’m just starting to find my feet. But if you’d like to join me on this journey, I would welcome it. 

Regardless, if you don't hear it anywhere else today, know you are loved. Yup, you. Loved more than you can imagine. I hope that above all, in whatever I write here, you hear that.