I’ve once again managed to completely derail myself from writing that novel I keep threatening to make progress on. Because I’m awesome like that.
Okay, it’s actually pretty fail of me. I wrote the first chapter and then two weeks later, after beating my head against the next chapter, realized it might be the first chapter of the wrong book. There’s too much history in this fantasy world for me to start at the beginning of the culmination of events, though I am sure that would make for a lot of intricate subplots and some fast pacing. So there you go, poor saps who volunteered to be First Readers. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.
Except it wasn’t wasted for me because your feedback helped me to realize how much I was missing.
In order to keep that from happening again (she says with hope), I will wait until I have made significantly more progress into the events where everything should start before accosting you with anything further.
But that’s on hold while I lovingly craft my entry to the Blizzard writing contest.
I’ve diverged quite wildly from my typical sort of entry, which is usually some tale of heartache and woe that all turns out well and happy for the concerned parties in the end. Having checked to make sure the format is acceptable (it is, someone got an honorable mention using a similar format), I started work on… well – let me just show you some. I’m having a ton of fun writing it. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Journal of a Renegade Herbalist
This being a faithful account, written in my Own Hand, of my Quest to go forth and pick the Herbs and Flowers of Azeroth and Outland without spending two copper on needless instruction.
Though I have indeed traveled far and wide in this world and done many things of Note, including the slaying of countless foes of the Alliance, I have never been troubled before to add any other duties upon myself. Times being somewhat more Peaceful now, I have decided that I might reasonably gather herbs as I continue to travel this realm, looking for any odd jobs that might need doing by a Brave Adventurer such as myself.
Many people claim that the instruction of a master herbalist is needed before one might set out to begin gathering them oneself. I was, however, recently at the Library in Stormwind, awaiting an audience with the King, regarding some little assistance I had rendered the crown, and chanced upon a small volume written by some priest or other that told the names of herbs and other plant matter prized by those who have uses for such things. This volume also contained elegant depictions done in a fair hand of what leaf and root and stem looked like.
It being a small volume and having such excellent Illustrations, I took it along with me, for it was then that I realized I might turn this venture into something which might earn me much gold without any outlay on my own part being required.
Being now in Elwynn Forest, I have spent the day riding or walking about, with my Eye cast towards the ground. So far I have gathered several bagfuls of what appears to be Silverleaf, Peacebloom and some type of root. I shall have to make a stop in the small town of Goldshire tomorrow to sell what I might.
Day Two
Have spent the last night in poor rest, sneezing and itching. Believe I have come down with a cold of some sort. Will delay trip to Goldshire until I am recovered as I am no Fit Company for anyone with my eyes and nose streaming as they are.
Day Three
Still ill. Itching grows worse by the minute, it seems. Was fortunate enough to catch a few rabbits for my supper.
Day Six
I am at last recovered from my “illness.” Thank the Light this forest is so widely strewn about with various people. A female gnome with her pink hair arranged in a tall tower on her head stumbled across my camp and became immediately concerned for my welfare. I was too addled with exhaustion and the unrelenting itching to pay much heed to her actions and do not now recall much of what she said in her breathless, squeaky voice.
She did inform me that a great quantity of what I had thought to be Silverleaf was actually something called Broadleaf and is Notorious for conjuring up the symptoms of itching and sneezing that I have been enduring.
Of my Efforts, most of it has now been discarded. I shall take the little that remains into Goldshire and will sell it. I must lay in some food supplies and will, once re-provisioned, take the road south and west to Westfall. I am Assured that neither Broadleaf nor Silverleaf are found in that Region.
I accidentally overscrolled on this page and the first part of the story I read was Day Three. I was instantly reminded of the keeper’s diary from Resident Evil.
http://residentevil.wikia.com/Keeper's_Diary
theanorak recently posted..Productivity
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I am entering it, a story I’ve been rolling around in my head for some time. a little hint, a Mage Bounty Hunter.
Rivs recently posted..Eff That!
Do they just round up sheep and then turn them in, insisting it’s the polymorphed person with the price on their head?
Because I think that would be hilarious and if you’re not already going that route, I’m gonna.
I wrote a WoW story that runs to 50k words or so last year; shame this contest requires a maximum of only 7500 words, or I would have entered it!
I was pretty disappointed with the latest Blizz story they published about Tyrande Whisperwind on the WoW website. Is it just me or did that really suck?
I’m glad this contest has such a low word cap! I don’t have time to write anything so big – and it is forcing me to be a bit more creative than normal.
And I guess I don’t keep up with the WoW website. To be perfectly honest, I’ve been largely underwhelmed with all of their official published stuff. Especially if it is by Richard Knaak. He makes me stabby.