Special Edition GiShwhEs Report: If I had one extra second....

The greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of knowledge. Knowledge opens up pathways for thought, communication, growth and freedom. Through my life I have gained knowledge, of pain, of joy, of friendship, of love in all it's forms. GiShwhEs taught me about the love and kindness of crazy people that come together to make the world a brighter place. Team Mishap is a true family of people that have (mostly) never met but would jump out and do anything for each other. It's truly incredible what you can do when you just know you have the choice to do it. That is what it's all about, knowing your options, that you could receive new information at any point that could open up an entire world for you. A bright, endless, no longer impossible future full of potential, full of dreams, full of choices. What greater gift can there be than knowledge?

If I knew I had one extra second of life on this Earth, I would use it to release the knowledge I have gained throughout this life. Through my contact with other people, places, situations, textbooks, and conversations I have learned so much that I wish I could impart to so many. I would use my amazing teammates as transmission points for this sharing, because it could not ever be in more capable hands to be spread to the world than in the hands of my fellow Gishers. May the world become ripe and shining with knowledge.

I can't write about writing today

So much death in the world. Needless. Horrific.
Nice
Dallas
Baghdad
Orlando
Eker
Mt Hebron
Masisi Territory
Mandera County
Dhaka
Yusufiyah
Bandarban
Jhenaidah
Caracas
Dera Murad Jamali
Damascus
Jalalabad
Baidoa
Khalediya
Tikrit
Hawija
Benghazi
al-Aseri
Khartsyzk
Abudwak
Jeddah
Qatif
Medina
Monguno
Beni Territory
Surakarta
Al-Hasakah
Salahuddin
Um Al-Housh
Mogadishu
Songkhla
Bannang Sata
Galcad
Aden
Neve Daniel
Hakkari
Sar-e-Pul
Yala
Sholakia
Taipei
Azim
Balad
Reyhanli
Aleppo
Rafah
Damboa
Palmyra
Unnamed Territory in Afghanistan
Cevizilk
Tekoa
Raqqa
Kandahar
Paktia
Abuja
Rann
Dinangourou
Mopti
Sinai Peninsula
al-Rashidiya
Jizan Region
Kangarwa
Sirte
Baqubah
Diyala Bridge
Panaca
Kapenguria
al-Daur
Manilop

All these cities around the world. In July 2016 alone. And hey. We aren't even half-way through the month. 1,053 confirmed deaths and injuries.

How many did you know about?
How many does it take before we realize the poison that has been unleashed on the world in the form of the fanatic mind?
How much blood do we need to raze upon the earth before we can see reason?

I was going to write out every attack from 2016, but just getting through the list for this month was enough to make me physically ill.



Narrative! Action! Plot! Holes!

Ah the great debate, or well, not debate that is the cinematic universes of DC and Marvel. Right now Marvel is the unequivocal ruler. We do not deny it. In fact, DC has basically been the court jester, without a truly excellent film since the original Batman.  Now, don't get me wrong, I have my guilty pleasures in the DC universe (Batman Forever) but really, the DC offerings simply don't stack up. And I can't help but question why?
Why, when DC comics have much more compelling and complex story lines over all?
Why, when DC comics boasts the two most popular superheroes ever?
Why, why, why is the DC cinematic universe falling under the likes of Antman? (Antman was awesome)
And why is this movie centric topic showing up on my writing blog? Well, it's because I've figured it out.

On the big screen, Marvel offers more than superhero fights, action, costumes, and tropes. They offer story. In fact, the narrative they tell is so complete that it serves to mask plot holes, bad pacing, and any other mistake that the movies might make (Ironman 2. Seriously). And up until now, DC has done nothing to step into that realm of cinematic story telling. The closest we got was The Dark Knight and quite frankly, I'm not convinced that it wasn't completely the amazing work of Heath Ledger as the Joker. We'll never know though. Until now. Now, we have the possibility to have the DC movies we deserve. With a superb cast (Aquaman is FINALLY coming into the spotlight,FINALLY) including the best Batman to ever grace the screen (much as it pains me to say it, because Ben A is just not a favorite) and a Wonder Woman well worth lusting after, not to mention a brand new look for Superman ( Henry Cavil is delicious and I can't tell you how much I love that they didn't try to make him look like Reeves) and Jesse Eisneburg (enough said) there really is simply no reason for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to have done so poorly and been reviewed so negatively. Or so I thought. Until I watched the theatrical version. In which they cut out at least three scenes that made the narative actually flow. And for what? To save time? Marvel MCU doesn't worry about that, and for good reason. They have the narative part down. BvS easily matched Civil War in cinematic action, scope, and plot. But what DC has done, consitently, is focused more on the plot than the story. And that is the downfall of the DC Cinematic Universe. That lack of character development, cutting out those scenes that define the humanity of the heroes, the ones that give us the ever present Why? answers, that let us see past the masks and the weapons and the flash. DC has constently, in every movie offering, cut them out. Marvel has embraced them. Moving the characters forward with a followable and relatable narative.

This same mistake plagues the writing of so many authors trying to make it today. So, here is my advise. Plot does not trump narative. You must have both. They must both be equally compelling, and they must both be present.

You hear me DC?

Story Boarding

So I'm trying something new. I'm outlining and story boarding my novels. For the first time. I have so many projects going on that I don't think there is any other way to keep it all straight.

Here's the breakdown of my current projects

TEGG editing.
The Unveiled- solo project
The Body Horror Book- collaborative project
Untitled Collaborative novel
The Children- short story for a contest
The Auction- short story for a contest
The Laird's Ken- TEGG Novel for The Great Galactic Game
World Building for the Great Galactic Game

and I'm sure I'm forgetting a thing or two. The point is, it's a lot. And I'm loving every minute
So, to keep it all straight, I'm story boarding my projects.
Which means:
Outlining
Scene creating
An ACTUAL cardboard trifold that I can pin scenes too and move then around.

It's really strange. But, fun. I think it's going to work.

Updates!

You guys! I'm doing cool stuff! Seriously, cool stuff. Here's an update. If you've followed me for awhile then you know I got accepted as a creative to The Ed Greenwood Group. (yes, THAT Ed Greenwood) what I failed to come and tell you guys is that not only am I a creative author, BUT I am also a Lore Guardian (squee!) what does that mean? That means that Ed has entrusted me to helm one of his shared world settings. This is an INCREDIBLE Honor and I am thrilled beyond words to be doing this. It's crazy and amazing and you guys are going to be able to follow along with my setting pretty soon. For now I'll tell you a little bit about it:

The Great Galactic Game is a space opera rife with danger, hilarity and opulence. You'll meet a vast array of characters and encounter all the wonders of space that we can create for you. And as soon as I can release more information I will.
I can give you this sneak peak at our logo!

Designed by the incomparable Dan Barrett who is my partner in this endeavor as the Art Director for our setting. Working with Dan is a blast and I am excited to be a part of this crazy Onder Librum thing. Keep up by clicking the link and sign up for an account, be sure to check out the currently released setting Hellmaw!


I'm also writing a chapter for this incredible anthology:
The Body Horror Book: An Analytical Look at Horror and Politics
Writing for this non-fiction book is beyond fun. It's also for a good cause. Proceeds from this book are going to support Epilepsy Action Australia. Take a look at the kickstarter for more information!

Lists

This week, I thought I would do something a little different and kind of fun. One of my favorite things to know about the authors I read, is what do they read? What books are their favorites? Have I read any of them?

So. I created a list challenge of my favorites. Some are single books, some are series. How many of my favorites have you read?

Leave a comment with your answer!

http://www.listchallenges.com/ce-robertsons-reading-challenge

The Trilogy Curse

Ok. Let's be frank. Let's just say it. YA TRILOGIES ARE HORRIBLE.

I feel better now.

The Hunger Games: Compelling. Interesting. FINALLY a heroine that's more interested in actual world issues than her super hot (all the girls love Gale) "bestie". She wasn't even aware of the boy from the class up that was in love with her. So refreshing. She was in mortal danger, all the time, and it was believable. The ending was satisfying, and yeah, just like you, I wanted to know what was coming next.
Catching Fire: Well hello there Bridge book. So glad to have read you. With your new array of colorful characters for me to love and watch die. And ooohhh, a twisty surprise! Wait. Nope, I called that. Oh but what about this reveal! Nope. Called that too. Ok. I get it. We had to walk the road to get to the destination in book three.
Mockingjay: Katniss has mental breakdowns now? Understandable. Oh, so that's all she is now. Really? Seriously? Hold on. Did you just set Gale up to fail spectacularly? Yeah. You did. Peta, our sweet artist is trying to kill everyone? UUUUGGGHHHH. Stop it. Why is this battle so boring? WHY ARE YOU KILLING FINNICK. Oh, I know. Shock value. Because your book is boring. Your ending is predictable and also completely against the character of Katniss. WTF author. What the actual fuck. Were you tired of writing this story? Was this even your idea? Who do you think you are to completely change EVERYTHING about your lead character?

---I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.--- And can we all just agree that Divergent should have switched endings with Hunger Games? Please. I mean, really, can we all just accept that. Because it's true.
And it's not just The Hunger Games and Divergent that fall into this travesty of the trilogy issue. the Chemical Garden trilogy. The Maze Runner. The Immortal Instruments. The  Selection.  Really, the list goes on and on. (and why is this so much more common with female protags?)

So what gives? Why are we continually being subjected to this? Hello? Publishing industry, I know you're concerned about sales, but can we please stop churning out endless disappointments? If you must insist on trilogy based contracts, how about trilogies that don't have the same crappy ending that everyone knows is coming? Please? If you do that I'll buy extra copies for my friends.

This trend concerns me as an author, because I care about the quality and integrity of my stories, my characters and my craft. And you know what? I bet all the authors whose work I have just insulted care about theirs too. When a story ends, it should be able to end. When a character doesn't give a rats ass about the men fighting for her attention she shouldn't be forced into a marriage with one just because the audience wants to see that happen. Now, I'm not yet on the receiving end of a YA series contract. But I do have a series contract, and I consider myself lucky that I have so much control over what is going to happen in my books. But I know that no everyone has that. And for some reason, the crap that these contract restrictions are forcing out, they just fly off the shelves. Because we, the readers hope against experience that this one will different. We even occasionally get one that is :The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo for example.

And with so many amazing series out there showing how it can be done, why are we restricting our YA books this way? Harry Potter was 7 volumes and easily could have extended. Wheel of Time is 14. Chronicles of Narnia is 7. The Lord of the Rings is 3 plus two prequels and countless extended volumes. The Giver Quartet. The Circle of Magic series is currently 11 books long. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is 5. Eragon is a quartet. Percy Jackon-9. So it's obviously not that readers of YA can't be held at attention. It's not that they don't recognize quality work when they see it. It's not that they can't be immearsed in deeper and more complex story lines. So what is it? What gives? Why have we created this black hole to suck all the potential out of a great story? Who wants to wait a year to be disappointed? I don't. And I'm tired of it. Step it up publishers. Loosen the reigns a bit. Give a sequel option in your contracts, so that you can continually give if the story goes for it. Something. Anything, Just please. Stop forcing your needless, arbitrary trilogy worship on the readers.