Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 29)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
To make up for my lack of writing yesterday, my brain helped me finish NaNoWriMo today. I still have a bit of writing left to the short, so I'm hoping that I finish it up tomorrow to get the final word count. If I can't, I still succeeded in writing a novel even while classes with many projects were ongoing, so I feel quite accomplished.

Current Word Count: 50,339

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 28)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |
Update
Today, I grandly lost my momentum, and spent the better part of a day trying to force my way through it. That didn't really work out so well. Anything I wrote today was dull and pretty uninteresting to write and read. Despite the fact that the next scene is the big action scene, which makes it more frustrating. As it is, I don't know that I'll be able to finish the NaNo word count with today's non-update, unfortunately.

Current Word Count: 45,887

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 27)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
This was a big update today. We've met Tenshi, an informant mentioned several times in the other shorts, and he started her on the track of catching our killer. In an ideal world, I'd be writing this story as a full-fledged mystery, but I don't currently have enough experience with that kind of story to do anything more than a short story with it. As it is, I think it's coming along well.

Current Word Count: 45,887

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 26)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I finished up the scene with Morgana and her friends at the grill today. The short's coming along nicely, I think, and I might even be able to NaNoWriMo with only 4 stories.

Current Word Count: 43,813

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 25)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
The scene was pretty full of content today. I think it came out well, though it could be one of the clunkier bits to edit when I go through the revision process. Only time will tell, but for a first draft and with the perspective of having just finished writing it, I'm happy with it.

Current Word Count: 42,548

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 24)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I had a lot of fun writing this scene, in the original story and the re-write both. Not really much more to add today; it's been a pretty uneventful day.

Current Word Count: 40,777

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 23)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I went a bit into the story of Morgana's time with the APD today. I find I'm struggling with show vs. tell, and how much exposition to give, with this story more than the other shorts thus far. Tomorrow, I'm getting into the short's main premise.

Current Word Count: 39,220

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 22)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I jumped right into the fourth short, Under a Bad Star, today. This one deals a bit more with Morgana's past in Arkham City, and explores some of the supernatural workings of the city.

Current Word Count: 37,540

Short Fiction- Dark Angel pt. 4

Author's note:
Because this story is 42 pages long, for the purposes of not breaking browsers, I'm segmenting the story out.
|  pt. 1  |  pt. 2  |  pt. 3  |  pt. 4  |

I jumped back, just narrowly dodging the dagger that would’ve opened my jugular like a zipper.

As it was, he still managed to nick my neck, and the biting scent of my blood, and its wild Faerie magic, hit the air hard.

His eyes turned to solid red slits, dark enough to nearly be black.

As though putting on a show, he brought the blade up and dragged his tongue across the fresh spot of red.

His eyes widened when the taste slammed into his senses, and I fought the urge to scrub myself with a knife to get the feeling off.

“O negative, and full to the brim with… something,” he mused. “You’re not a woman to take lightly.”

The feeling of revulsion at having my blood drunken and analyzed is something I could never put into words.

Somehow, though, my curiosity got me.

“Seein’ future in blood a vamp trick, now, too?”

“Nothing as impressive as that,” he scoffed. “Did you know that your blood has so much magic in it that it’s like drinking lightning? It’s quite an experience.”

“I’ll take yer word fer it. Sadly, I don’t have all night to shoot the breeze, so let’s get this over with, yeah?” I asked while putting my knife between us.

“Planning a late night with Mr. Maxwell?” he asked with a smirk.

I really wanted to punch that expression off his face.

“Nah, I’m just bored with vampires. Much more interested in the woman behind the curtain. The suspense is just killing me.”

He became a blur as he dragged the machete out of the vampire and threw it at me.

I brought my knife up into the side of his weapon and sent it spinning into the floor.

The whole exchange lasted five seconds, but by the end of it, I had my knife in front of my throat, desperately holding off his own dagger by a twitch.

“Don’t worry, that won’t be what will kill you tonight, Miss P.I.,” he hissed.

Short Fiction- Dark Angel pt. 3

Author's note:
Because this story is 42 pages long, for the purposes of not breaking browsers, I'm segmenting the story out.
|  pt. 1  |  pt. 2  |  pt. 3  |  pt. 4  |

I cut the engine as soon as we came to a full rest, and slipped silently outside.

He followed a confused moment later, his eyes locked on the massive, wooden bridge on the other side of the rocks.

It wasn’t nearly as long as it was wide, connecting the small cliff face that was the end of Arkham City’s border and the cliff that housed Dunwich, over a few meters of raging Miskatonic River.

I could make out a number of shacks on the other side of the support, and beyond that was a den of caustic psychic energy.

While the whole town had an uncomfortable feel to it, even from the other side of the bridge, the toxic energy I was feeling was something else.

I suddenly felt that I was looking even less forward to the encounter than before.

With a huff, I shoved the feeling down and focused on the other reason I’d pulled off.

“They have a spotter. They might already know we’re here, but I’ve probably got better range. Screaming wood would’ve thrown that away,” I whispered.

Nodding, he slid several extra magazines into his pockets before closing his own door.

“We go in quietly, and try to get as little attention as possible until we’re on her. Got it?”

“Not my first infiltration,” he retorted with a smirk. “It doesn’t usually go smoothly. How do we get inside, without being seen from a mile away?”

Pressing against the rocks, I let my senses expand just a bit more.

The mystery watcher’s aura was like calm water, seeming utterly placid.

The idea of someone feeling me coming and still being that calm was a terrifying prospect.

I drew the air in even more, drawing in every nuance of his energy.

“He’ll see us on the bridge. And the bridge is the only way across, unless you’re an aquakinetic?” I added hopefully.

“’fraid not,” he sighed. “You seem to be pretty good with ice. Can you work something?”

Risking a glance around the corner, I managed to physically spot the man.

“If he’s a magician of any talent, he’ll see us comin’ the second I do. Not that I actually could, goin’ back to tha’ whole issue with the horror beneath the water.”

Sighing, I slipped back beneath the rock and let my mind go to work.

Soon, I felt myself swaying as a hum left my throat, but I ignored it and steadfastly kept my eyes closed as I concentrated more.

The world faded around me, leaving vague impressions of my surroundings.

The watcher’s and Collin’s auras both worked through me as my defenses dimmed, and I began sifting, as unobtrusively as possible, through the watcher’s soul.

Short Fiction- Dark Angel pt. 2

Author's note:
Because this story is 42 pages long, for the purposes of not breaking browsers, I'm segmenting the story out.
|  pt. 1  |  pt. 2  |  pt. 3  |  pt. 4  |

I pulled up in front of the Black Zodiac, right when scheduled the next night.

The building itself was pretty impressive, having once been a skating rink before it was closed down.

In the time that Collin owned it, he’d decided that painting the whole exterior jet black was the way to go.

The club’s name was written in silver, runic symbols above the door, and the whole structure exuded a distinct magical hum.

A duffle bag in one hand and a small cage in the other, I made my way across the lot.

The sudden screeching from inside the cage only made me jump a little, though the reaction was a testament to how tense I’d gotten on the drive over.

Collin was sitting at a table near the door, waiting for me, when I got inside.

“What’s that for?” he asked with a nod at the cage.

I pulled the latch from the door, and a beautiful, large black raven shot out into the air.

She circled around a few times before landing on my shoulder and rubbing against my cheek, the strange magic the bird had tingling against me.

“This little lady’s Nyx.”

“A familiar? I’d’ve expected a black cat, if I’m honest. Haven’t ever seen a normal bird that big,” he added after really taking her in.

“Cats don’t like me, much.  This girl, though, is perfectly fine with bein’ around me. Saved me on a job a few years back, and since her owner wasn’t really alive anymore when it was over, she switched.”

Smiling, I pet the raven and felt sparks where our auras met.

Short Fiction- Dark Angel pt. 1

Author's note:
Because this story is 42 pages long, for the purposes of not breaking browsers, I'm segmenting the story out.
|  pt. 1  |  pt. 2  |  pt. 3  |  pt. 4  |

Dark Angel

-Morgana Lugus Investigations-

When I was walking into my office in the morning, I already felt like there was something big on the way.

From the moment I’d woken up, I’d been filled from head to toe with a disturbing amount of tension, as though my body were already gearing up for a fight.

Playing hide and seek with monsters from a young age had taught me to listen to those instincts.

My usually repressed brogue, I was sure, would be in full force from the stress.

So when there came a knock on my door, I was resigned already.

“Morgana, someone’s here to see you,” a soft, wispy voice announced from the other side.

“Bring’m in,” I sighed.

The door slipped open, and my stomach gave a little flip as he stepped through.

The man was only about one or two inches taller than my somewhat miniscule height, and just like me, heavy black leather had a way of making up for the difference.

He, too, looked ready for a fight, seeming like walking stress from the second he passed the threshold.

No words passed as he sat in the chair across from me, his shaggy, rust-red hair seeming to absorb the florescent light around us and glow like a crown of fire around his skull.

His eyes flickered between grey and red, which didn’t instill me with confidence.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 21)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |  Translation  |
Update
I finished the short story today in a blast of writing. It was a lot of fun. So fun, in fact, that I actually plan to move right into the fourth short, Under a Bad Star, later today.

Current Word Count: 35,813

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 20)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |  Translation  |
Update
A really short update today, since I wasn't getting my mind in the place it needed to focus, and because I have tons of course work to do. Hopefully I'll be finishing this short up over the weekend and will be starting on the fourth story shortly after that.

Current Word Count: 32,746

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 19)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I got into the action today, and found it quite enjoyable. Still, it was a bit of a short update, as I'm also currently spending my time scripting commercials for the clubs at my college, partly to practice and have my writing in my portfolio, and partly in the hopes I can get them produced and have some more videos to show in the portfolio, as well.

Current Word Count: 31,978

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 18)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |  Translation  |
Update
I got a bit more into the action today. The next scene is the conclusion of the story, which may get done tomorrow, or in the next few days. Either way, it's the kind of scene I most look forward to writing.

Current Word Count: 30,384

Fall 2014- Copywriting- Out-of-Class 5

Topics: |  Out-Of-Class 5  |  Process  |  Result  |

Out-Of-Class Assignment 5- Video Spot
Our last out-of-class assignment for my Copywriting course was scripting for a video spot production. We had to write for an 18-24 male and female demo, and otherwise, we had no restrictions. Whoever was deemed to have the best script would work with a team of students picked by the instructor and produce it.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 17)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |  Translation  |
Update
I got a lot more work done today. Mostly, it was more between-action stuff, and my mind got a bit hazy while working on it, so it'll be interesting going through once November's over and seeing how much editing I need to do on this story.

Current Word Count: 28,645

Fall 2014- Creative Art Direction- Project 3

Topics: |  Project 3  |  Concept  |  Booklet  |  Folder  |  CD  |  Result  |

Project 3- Typographic CD
Our 3rd Creative Art Direction project was creating a purely typographical interpretation of a song of our choice, and designing that interpretation into a CD cover, 4-page folding booklet, and folder for the CD. No photography or illustration were allowed, making it a much more difficult thing to concept for, but also a pure-profit project.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 16)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |
Update
Was feeling a bit under the weather today, and had a hard time concentrating. Hopefully I'll make up the difference tomorrow.

Current Word Count: 26,104

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 15)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I did work with my weakest point in writing, the scenes between action scenes. I had a lot of fun with the dialogue, as I always do, but I never know how long to make these kinds of scenes last. I also changed quite a bit here from the original story, and reworked a lot of Morgana's personal history.

Current Word Count: 26,104

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 14)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, it was a slightly shorter update, but that's made up for by having more action than yesterday's.

Current Word Count: 24,191

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 13)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I started the scene of Morgana casting a spell to protect the Black Zodiac. I'm a bit rusty on some of my mythology and paganism, at least compared to when I wrote the original short, so it took a bit to get into the mood of the thing.

Current Word Count: 22,792

Fall 2014- Copywriting- In-Class 3

Topics: |  In-Class 3  |  Process  |  Result  |

In-Class Assignment 3- 
For the last in-class assignment in my Copywriting course of the Fall 2014 semester, we were to write a PSA. Specifically, a 30 second PSA for the St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 12)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |   Translation Notes  |
Update
Today, I finished up the scene where Morgana and her client, Maxwell, first meet, and realize they might be facing something really unpleasant. I also introduced Morgana's friend and assistant, the Japanese snow woman Jessica Tanaka.

Current Word Count: 21,122

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 11)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
It was a relatively short update, today. This third short, Dark Angel, is the story of Morgana Lugus defending a supernatural neutral zone, working with the bar's owner, lest Arkham erupt into bloodshed and chaos.

Current Word Count: 19,447

Short Fiction- Blood and Shadow

Blood and Shadows

-Morgana Lugus Investigations-

A series of three slow, timid knocks rang through my office to signal the start of my next case.

With a sigh, I slipped the book I’d been immersed in into my desk and straightened out.

An unusual tension ran through me as I sat fully in my chair, though I quickly forced it away.

“Come in,” I called.

As the door opened, a pale ghost of a woman was slowly revealed.

Her entire body was a bundle of tension and fear while she slipped inside, and her eyes were constantly on the move.

Her standing stock-still just inside my office gave me time to really inspect her.

Without the pallor, she probably had lightly tanned skin.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 10)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I finished the second short, Shadows and Blood. Once I got started on it, it just kept going, and then the story was over. Once again, I like the end result of this even more than the original story. I'm especially enjoying giving Morgana Lugus a bit more character than I had in the past. I'll be uploading the whole short, shortly, and then I'll get started on the next short, either tomorrow or Wednesday. I might once again take a day off between shorts, but I'm not sure at present.

Current Word Count: 17,638

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 9)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I got my writing done early in the day, because I'm going to be getting caught up in doing my freelance job as a copyeditor, as well as handling coursework in all 4 of my classes to try to get ahead a bit. I went back and forth on this update a bit, but decided that if I finished off the short today, which would be feasible with only a 3-4 thousand more words to go for it, instead of staying with the daily doses of short writing, I'd likely fall into a bad writing habit I have where I write a ton of content in one go, and then get so burned out by it I don't write for weeks or months afterwards. On the plus side of short updates, I can practice my skills at building tension for readers.

Current Word Count: 14,088

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 8)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
I got roughly half of the second short written today, between binge-watching all the Marvel movies I've missed over the past several years. It's been a pretty fun day. The second short, Blood and Shadow, is a more straight-forward story dealing with Morgana Lugus fighting a powerful demon for a kidnapped child's return. It's more action-packed, and generally shorter, than Fata Morgana was.

Current Word Count: 12,473

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 7)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |
Update
As stated yesterday, I took Friday off from writing, mostly to decompress from finishing up the first project in my Building a Brand project. You can find a full breakdown of that project, from start to finish, here.

I'll be getting started on the second short story later today (as of posting this around 2AM on Saturday, where I am).

Current Word Count: 9,040

Fall 2014- Building a Brand- Project 1

Topics: |  Project 1  |  Concept  |  Logo  |  Stationary  |  Signage  |  Collateral  |  Result  |

Project 1- Bar/ Restaurant /Hotel
For my first Building a Brand project, we were assigned a fictitious business, which we had to create a brand for from the name up. The business serves as a bar, restaurant, and student housing. It's meant to be located across the street from our campus, and would want to focus on commuters. As it's in a more rural area of PA, one of the major points our instructor focused on was that it's meant to be modern-contemporary design, and not hokey, as this area tends to enjoy.

Short Fiction- Fata Morgana

Fata Morgana

-A Morgana Lugus Investigation-

By: Eric Thomas

A series of three solid knocks sounded on my office door, pulling me from what had been an unusually peaceful sleep.

I muttered a curse before sitting up straight, trying to at least look like a professional.

“Morgana, you’ve got clients in,” a cheery voice called from the other side of the barrier.

“Send ‘em in,” I called before hurriedly dragging my hair back from the nest my desk had made it.

I’d managed to get it decently under control when the door slid open and a couple walked in.

They looked incredibly unhappy as they stiffly walked into my office, and their misery washed over me in waves to further cement the visual clue.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 6)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Finished the first short today. I'll probably be taking tomorrow off from writing before I get started on the second short. I think this reads much better than the first draft version I'd previously uploaded. I'm having a blast getting back into writing this character.

Current Word Count: 9,040

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 5)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |  Translation Notes  |
Update
Despite struggling with the script for my copywriting class's last out of class assignment, I managed to get quite a decent chunk of writing on the short done today, at least as far as doing it during a busy semester goes.

Current Word Count: 7,914

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 4)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I had to cut some of my allotted writing time short, due to having a thoroughly exhausting day, getting out to vote before my polling place closed, and having work to do for all four of my classes. In light of that, writing was fantastic for relaxing, but I couldn't do it for the full time I've allotted myself for each day in November.

For what I got written, though, I started the scene where Morgana finally meets Johan and his inner monster. The real bulk of the fight, I'm hoping, will be written tomorrow, and that will be the end to the first short of the novel.

Current Word Count: 5,758

Fall 2014- Online Advertising- Project 1

Topics: |  Project 1  |  Concept  |  Logo  |  Bottle  |  Theme  |  Campaign  |  Landing Site  |  Result  |

Project 1- NERVE Energy Drink
For the first project in my Online Advertising course, we were assigned an energy drink called NERVE. We were meant to design the whole online ad campaign, and overall brand personality, of this fictitious product.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 3)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
For today, I got to the bulk of the Fata Morgana story, where Morgana's dealing with Johan Levi, and the unexpected guest in his head, in the depths of Arkham Sanitarium. Remember, people, this is using the Lovecraft mythos, not DC comics.

Current Word Count: 4,652

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 2)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day  |  Translation Notes  |

Update
For today's writing, I decided to expand on a scene that, in the original short, was just glossed over in a few sentences.

Current Word Count: 3,026

Making of "Cirque du Massacre"

Topics:  |  Concept  |  Lineart  |  Color  |  Texture  |  Shading  |  Effects  |  Finalization  |

Concept
For the beginning of the illustration, I wanted to upload my audio to Youtube for my Copywriting radio spot. I couldn't simply upload the audio, though, and given what I do, it would be really lazy to upload it with someone else's art. So I decided to use it as an excuse to make a new illustration. I knew, going in, that I wanted a custom horror host design, and to put him in front of a creepy carnival tent, going with the cirque theme.

Fall 2014- Copywriting- Out-of-Class 4

Topics: |  Out-Of-Class 4  |  Process  |    Production  |  Result  |

Out-Of-Class Assignment 4- Radio Ad + Producing It
Our fourth out-of-class assignment for Copywriting was the first one we would produce.  The purpose of the assignment was to give the student the opportunity to use the knowledge gained in class, by developing, writing and producing a radio commercial that would be recorded and broadcast. We could select any product or services, or make one up, and use it for the spot.


Process
I was brainstorming a lot for this project. First, I had to decide if I wanted to go with a product or a service, and even when I decided a service would be better, as I'd already done products so far, I had to narrow down what kind of service. It took me a surprisingly long time to come up with anything.

It so happened that I was at a Cirque du Soleil show when the idea hit me. Being that Samhain's my favorite holiday of the year, and that the month of October's the only one I really allow myself to enjoy horrors, I decided I wanted to go with a horror attraction. Using the Cirque as a jumping point, I came up with the Cirque du Massacre.

Adventures in NaNoWriMo 2014 (Day 1)

Topics: |   Update   |  Current Word Count  |  Scene of the Day   |
Update
Today, I started NaNoWriMo by breaking down the stories involved in the novel. I have 7 stories planned for the novel, of which 3 will be editing and re-writing from start to finish the 3 Morgana Lugus shorts I've already written. To start, I'm going with the titular story Fata Morgana, where Morgana is sent to look for a rich kid gone missing in the underworld of Arkham.

Current Word Count: 1,560