Aliens in the Barn

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Transformers 4...Transformers 4?!

I posted these thoughts on my dA page earlier and thought I'd go ahead and post them here too. It's been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog. I've been so busy with Archaeology that I haven't had much time to keep up with other things. But, this has to do with my writing, or motivation for it, so I thought it would be appropriate to post here too. =D

Okay, so this is my initial reaction upon hearing the rumor that  may be  more official than anything so far...It appears this is going to happen as soon as they can get Michael Bay to say 'yes' and he seems to have admitted that he's not saying 'no,' though he hasn't said 'yes' yet either.

Whatever...

Here is my initial opinion of this, whether it happens or not:

I love love LOVE Transformers. It's a fantastic concept full of amazing storylines, some not so amazing, but for the most part amazing. It has jumpstarted my imagination like nothing else has been able to.

For instance, I was intrigued by Star Wars. Who isn't? But, I mean, I was obsessed with Star Wars, truly obsessed. I have a Star Wars room in my house that is nothing but Star Wars. I have collected it; I have read just about every book and comic that has to do with it, saw every movie, gone to conventions dressed as a Jedi, made lightsabers...you get the idea. I was OBSESSED.

Then, somewhere along the way, something happened to it...The prequels were lacking. Things started getting introduced that didn't make sense. I started losing faith in it.

Then the live-action Transformers came along. Oh. My. Gawd...

I grew up with Transformers. I watched all the cartoons. It was cool. I wasn't into it as much as I was into Star Wars, but it was very cool. The toys are the all-time best toys that have ever been produced with any cartoon or movie. I always liked them and I wanted an Optimus Prime toy so bad. I kept asking for one for Christmas, but my nephew got him instead...something about me being a girl and that I can't have boy toys. So, I got to watch my brothers and nephews get the cool Star Wars and Transformers toys, but didn't get to have any for myself. For anyone who has seen my toy collections, you know I've made up for that lack.;)

At any rate, the Transformers were not as real to me as Star Wars was until the live-action movie came out in 2007. It blew my mind, it really did. There are two cinema experiences I've had in my life that have made an impact on me more than anything...Tron in 1982 and Transformers in 2007. Even Star Wars didn't top those experiences. Then something else happened... I was inspired to write fiction.

I'm a writer and have written and published many things pertaining to my work and travels, but I never thought I could realize a dream to publish fiction until I started writing Transformers fanfiction. It sounds silly, but it wasn't until I started writing "Night Fire" that I realized that I could actually do it. I can be an author...I am already a writer. Holy cow!

I am now currently working on a story for publication and guess what started that? Transformers! Never in a million years would this have happened if it weren't for Transformers. That first movie in 2007 started it all for me and I am so excited I can't stand it!

I wasn't sure what to think about the second movie, but once I stopped looking at it as a writer, I find I enjoy it more now. It's mindless entertainment and it's good for that. Plus, I just love to watch the CGI Transformers move and it's fascinating how real they've made them seem.

The third movie came as more of a shock. There is so much about it that I like, but I find I can't actually watch it. They made us want to see Mikaela and Sam succeed as a couple, yet because of something the actress said, they got rid of her and put another character in her place (which was barely even rewritten to explain and they simply kept the same stuff that was supposed to be for the Mikaela character and just changed the girlfriend's name). I was very surprised by how much that affected me. I didn't think I'd care, but all the 'together forever' stuff didn't actually make sense unless it was Mikaela since they showed everything she had gone through for Sam in the first and second movies. I was surprisingly disappointed in not having that wonderful closure with the Mikaela character.

Then there is the character of Ironhide, who has been my focus in my fanfiction and has inspired my own main character in my original work. I spend too much time thinking he didn't really need to die that I can't enjoy the movie. I think this is the reaction that my fanfiction readers expected I'd have, but I didn't put much stock to his death until much much later. Truly, I knew he was going to die. He dies in everything; it was inevitable. But, I guess I got too emotionally attached. I can admit that now. It's kinda weird to be so attached to a fictional character and affected so much by what happens to him.

Having said that, I can't possibly be as upset as Decepticon fans because, well, they killed ALL of those characters in the third movie. It simply seems so final and done that I feel it should be. It should be done. Over. No more.

Having said that, I'm not saying I don't want to see any more Transformers movies coming out. I adore Transformers Prime cartoon and I'd support anything new coming out with Transformers. That is what I feel they should do with the movies...Something new. A reboot. The Bay movies were what they were. The first one inspired me and allowed me to realize my dream as an author. I will not forget that. However, that story is over. It's time for a new one. They reboot the cartoons all the time, so why not the movies?

What I'm saying here is that even though I was as obsessed with Star Wars as I was, I wasn't inspired to realize my dream. The live-action Transformers movies did that for me very unexpectedly. But, like Star Wars went downhill and lost a hoard of fans, Transformers is in danger of doing the same thing. Star Wars is an icon and will probably never die no matter what they do. Transformers is an icon too, but the fanbase seems a little more fragile. It would be sad for them to kill the Transformers fanbase and I'm afraid that's what they might end up doing.

There is a lot of disappointment with the second and third Transformers movies...a fourth one could be the nail in the coffin. At this point, I feel a remake is needed.

Just to make this clear, it's not Michael Bay that I take issue with. He has proven he can do this well. He was the director for the first movie after all, which is undoubtedly one of my favorite movies of all time. The writer strike threw off the second movie, and you can even tell in the movie that there are several writers who didn't necessarily share their thoughts of where it was going. The third movie was written well, but they made so much about the storyline so final that it was over. It was supposed to be over, you could tell that. It should be over. So, if they want to do a remake and have Michael Bay direct it, then that'd be fine by me as long as it's a whole new storyline.

So, that's my initial reaction and my initial thoughts on hearing a rumor that might actually be real this time. I haven't paid any attention to all the other rumors up until now. However, Paramount knows when they have a cash cow, so it's most likely inevitable that another Transformers come out. I just hope they realize it can be redone and still have just as much of a following, if not more.

Do it right, take the time to make it good in every way, and it will forever be a part of our very culture.

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Question of What A Reader Can Handle

What is too much for the reader to handle?

This is my main question in writing, because I can write some tragic stuff. In romance, one rule remains steadfast...and that rule is that the characters have to live and be together in the end. However, anything can pretty much happen to them in between, and what happens to people or beings they know seems to be fair game. But, what would be considered too much? What can a reader handle reading about? What would be too tragic? What is too real? What hits home too much?

I do not want to turn a reader away by having something that is too hard to handle in my work, yet I also don't want to limit myself. So much good can come out of a tragic situation and that's what I love writing about the most.

A little over a year ago, when we lived in the same area, a friend of mine (who has a couple of published books, actually) helped me outline a book. There was an element in it that she said I should remove, stating that many readers wouldn't want to read what it entailed. I was so bummed by the prospect of having to remove it that I didn't continue with the story.

However, I had a situation with my main characters in another story that I sent to a friend in California. After reading it, she sent to me that she couldn't continue with her day. I was convinced that I should scrap that as well. Then, a couple days later, I received another email from her telling me that I shouldn't change anything at all. She thought I should keep the situation as it was. She said that it stirred so much emotion in her that she was speechless...and that that is what good writing is all about.

Yet, as I get closer to writing something for publication, I find that I'm at an impasse. I could go with a tamer situation that wouldn't 'traumatize' people, but I feel like that would be limiting myself from my strongest style of writing and plot.

Friday, June 24, 2011

The Perfect Movie Experience

There are very few movies coming out anymore that I would consider the 'perfect' movie. However, there is one out right now that left me speechless:

Super 8

If you have not seen this movie, then I recommend it above anything else that is currently out. Shoot, I recommend it above anything that has been out in a long long time. I do not even recall the last time I had a movie experience that has touched me so.

To anyone reading this blog and my dA page, I'm going to put my review from my dA page here as well. There wasn't much advertisement for 'Super 8' and the previews don't give much away at all, so the success of the movie may be dependent on word of mouth. The movie was so good that I'm going to do my part in getting the word out as best as possible:

I just watched Super 8 and...wow. I laughed... I cried... And the end of the movie took my breath away. I have not seen such an inspiring movie in a long long time. It was truly brilliant.

One of the perfect things about it is that I knew absolutely nothing. I had no expectations, knew nothing of the plot, and was only going because my digging partner at work said I need to go watch it stat. The previews did not give it away and I haven't seen anything on it at all. Because of that, it was the movie experience I crave to have with TF3.

I left the theater in wonderment of it. Everything about it was very well done: the plot, the music, the acting, all the little details that make a good movie great...everything. It was like all the writers, producers, and actors of the movie just clicked and ran with the brilliance that must be flowing through their veins! Before I was even out the door and to my truck, I called my family to tell them that they need to watch that movie. I wanted to clap and it was awesome when no one in the audience even moved from their seats until more than halfway through the credits! We were all so blown away!

If you haven't seen a movie this summer yet and if there is no other movie you care to see other than TF3, then add this one to your movie-going fun. And if you have seen all the summer movies that have been cranked out thus far, then I can say with certainty that this tops all of them by a long shot. TF3 is going to have to blow my socks off if it is going to beat the awesomeness of Super 8. I'm sure the explosions in TF3 will top it, but I don't think the plot could come close.

I give Super 8 five stars out of five! Bravo to everyone who had anything to do with the making of that movie!

(end of review)

For me, the movie to beat all movies this summer is Transformers 3: Dark of The Moon. I cannot wait until this movie! I even got tickets for an early special presentation at 9PM the night before the premiere and I'm insanely excited. However, 'Super 8' was one of those surprise movies that just came out of nowhere, making the movie experience one of the most memorable. 'Super 8' does not have any of the hype that Transformers 3 has, yet it certainly has the potential to be just as much of a blockbuster. The debate is still out on how good Transformers 3 is going to be, but there's no question that 'Super 8' is awesome beyond words.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Recent Move and Kindle Purchase

I've been away from this blog for awhile. We just completed our 7th move in 9 years. Yup, you heard that correctly.

It's hard to believe I've been married for nine years already, but even harder to wrap my head around the fact that we've moved seven times in that amount of time! People say that a relationship can survive if you can successfully move with your partner. Well, I'd say my relationship with my husband is rock solid;) As much as we were dreading this move, it went marvelously smoothly. I suppose now is the time I say that I move a lot because of my husband's job. I could probably say the same for my job, since I'm constantly on the road, but we usually only change locations for his job.

We love the house we are in now. We did not change assignments, so we're in the same place, but this house is so much nicer and better than the other house that if feels like a whole new place! We've already been here for nearly a year (in DC), but it is so different in this new house. The physical location of the new house is a little further to the east than the other house we were in, but we haven't really gone anywhere new at all. It's very weird for things to feel so different. It is a good different, though; a great different.

On other news, I just bought a Kindle yesterday *dance* So many people have these things and a friend of mine in California got one recently. Then my digging partner boasted of how awesome hers is and how she wants to share some steamy Sci-Fi Romance books with me after hearing me constantly talk of my writing while we dig. I've also done some research recently on Kindle Direct Publishing, so it was inevitable that I finally get one.

I've been navigating through all the menu stuff and finally figured out a few things on Amazon and bought my first book just before I started typing this blog entry; "Breeder" by Lyssa Hart.

I have no idea, but this feels like a self-published book. I nearly did not buy it after reading the first few pages of the sample, but I loved the description of the plot so much that I wanted to give it a better chance than that. By the end of the sample, I wanted it. I haven't had time to read it fully yet, but I really like the concept. It seems like others might like it too, but it would be good if Ms. Hart could go to those first pages and condense those run-on sentences down some and correct the spelling errors.

Once I'm done with the story, I'll give it a full review. The author only has three reviews and the book was published last July. I don't know if that should be telling me something, but I'm giving it a shot anyway:) As I've already said, she certainly has a great description going.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Good News and Great News

So, as a follow up of my last post before I continue on with this one, it appears that replying to people on a blog isn't a straight forward endeavour. That makes me sad that it isn't so easy. I'm used to deviantart.com where a reply goes to the inbox of the person you're replying to, or even fanfiction.net where notes go straight to your email. That does not happen here. It seems you have to go back to the blog entry you left a comment on to see if the person replied to you or not. Maybe people who blog don't want to have to start comment threads with people; I don't know.

Whatever the case, I have some good news. Remember my 'Don't Quit Your Day Job' post? Well, I finally have a job again! For the last three weeks, I've been gainfully employed. The first week was a survey to find the location of the Washington-Rochambeau camp near Ft. Belvoir in Virginia along their Revolutionary War Route. We did not find the camp while I was there, but I did find part of an iron pot from the same period that was pretty cool. Then, all of a sudden, I get a call from another company offering me a full time position with them.

Ever hear the term 'When it rains it pours?' That's about what happened. As soon as I got serious about my books and began to think Archaeology was over for me forever, I get calls from two different companies. The unfortunate thing about the company working on the Revolutionary War site was that they only hired me for that one week. The project was getting extended, but they couldn't guarantee more work for me once that project was over. So, when another company called and offered a full time position with no end to projects in sight, I took the opportunity (no way I was going to turn that down and no one blamed me one bit).

The first two weeks with that company was a survey for a water line at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. It was certainly nowhere near as exciting as the Revolutionary War project, but it was one of the best crews I've worked with in a long while. We had such a great time! Nine times out of ten, a project can be made or broken by the crew you're working with and I couldn't have been happier. Of course, I probably would have been happy with anyone considering my elation at having a job at all:)

Currently, on my third week with this company, I'm in Delaware on an investigation of sites for a road re-alignment. So far, I'm loving this crew as well. Considering my past experience, we haven't found much in way of artifacts so far, but we did find a projectile point (arrow head) today.

It was very interesting today because I told this crew about my writing. It was like we all just clicked and could tell each other the things we wouldn't usually tell anyone when you first meet them. It also appears I'm going to be with this crew for a long while, traveling with them from project to project, so I'm very excited about that. They are all easy to get along with and very open to people's eccentricities.

Remember when I said I get a lot of inspiration to write while on a dig? The great news is that the inspiration is flowing big time:)

Thursday, April 28, 2011

A Blogging Question

This may be a dumb question, but I'm new to blogging. How do you reply to people who post comments? It appears that you cannot reply in your email inbox, because that is just a 'no-reply' type thing just showing you you have a comment. So, I started trying to reply to comments with another comment, but that just posts as new comments and I don't know if the person I'm replying to ever sees them. Is there some easier way to reply to comments where the person I'm responding to actually gets the response?

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Question of Inadvertent Advertisement or Trademarks

As I looked this up, it seems that this is the question of many authors: What do you do about words that may be trademarked or words that may be accidentally advertising something?

I did not even realize this could be a problem. I sent the rough rough rough rough draft of chapter 2 of my book to a friend I talk with over MSN. She pointed out my use of specific vehicles within the text. For example: 'Ford Explorer' or 'Toyota 4Runner.'

At first, she said I should change these to SUV or truck or car, etc., but by the end of the chapter she realized it was important to the story to keep the specific makes and models. At that point, we were both stumped as to how to proceed.

I tried looking it up and found words like 'Kleenex' should be 'tissue' while writing and stuff like that, but I didn't find anything pertaining to something like a vehicle make and model. One site I ran across seemed to think it was okay to use a title like that, as long as it is kept true to form of the trademark. For example: 'Ford 4Runner' could never be used, because Ford doesn't make the 4Runner, Toyota does. So, according to that site, it would be okay to use 'Ford Explorer' as long as it's a Ford Explorer in the book and not something make believe that isn't a Ford Explorer while calling it a Ford Explorer.

After reading through all that, I realized I was on someone's blog. So, it wasn't a fact but an opinion that it was okay to use words/titles like that.

My own opinion on the matter would be that it should be okay, since it is kind of like free advertising. However, I also understand how someone could get upset if their trademark was used in a way they wouldn't want it to be represented. It's turning into a difficult question, one I don't have the answer for.

I also remember reading a bunch of stuff that Amanda Hocking uses and doesn't seem to worry...such as the words 'Jim Henson's Muppets' or specific movie titles within the text, etc.

I'm moving forward as if it's okay to use a specific vehicle type, but does anyone know more about what the rules are on this kind of thing?

Friday, March 25, 2011

Plot Dinosaurs

Some people have plot bunnies; I have plot dinosaurs. A friend of mine posted this drawing on dA and I laughed and laughed:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=plot+dinosaurs#/d3ajd1i

Of course, my plot dinosaurs are bigger than that. Hers are too, I'm sure, but that's very cute:)

The plot dinosaurs are rampaging like crazy this week. I thought I was going to deviate from my four book series with an idea that just wouldn't leave me alone. Then I realized I have a ton of research I need to do for that, so now I'm back to the series (which is mostly written and researched already since I'm culling from my fan fiction plot; doing a lot of world building for my own universe with that). Hmm, maybe it's not plot dinosaurs at all, but plot ADD.

My mind is definitely all over the place! Even with the series, it seems I've started on the second book rather than the first. I'm actually torn with which book ought to be first to begin with. I am a nonlinear story teller who likes to throw in all sorts of flashbacks and the like, but I think that might have gotten too complicated when I was writing fan fiction. I still like the nonlinear thing, but maybe not at such a grand scale. A few flashbacks here and there may be good, but not an entire story that is a flashback thrown into the main story.

It makes me think of the whole Star Wars thing. They had three stories and then the next three had to do with the past. I really liked that. That was nonlinear at its best. The question is, if George Lucas could do it all over again, would he choose to tell the story of Anakin first, or the story of Luke? Having the story of Luke first certainly gave us the biggest plot shocker of all time...the enemy leader he thought killed his father is his father. Whoah, that's heavy stuff, and excellent drama. That iconic moment would have been lost had the story of Anakin been told first, not to mention the sister shocker moment too.

Yet, there is so much about Obi-Wan and the Jedi that would have been nice to know before seeing Luke's story. If we had known all that beforehand, our hearts might have been more into the Jedi plight than they were. Well, not that our hearts weren't in it, but learning about just how it all went down with the Jedi certainly helped solidifiy the feeling. Learning all that strengthened the Luke story with the Jedi thing for me.

Of course, if the story of Anakin were first, we'd have lost the mystique surrounding the Jedi that was created during the story of Luke. So, all in all, the nonlinear aspect of Star Wars is part of what made it great.

What does this have to do with my story? Just thoughts, just thoughts...and a perfect example of how my mind is all over the place. LOL!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Question of A Character With Disabilities

The hero in my story has a disability...a big one. As I outlined this out and began fleshing it out more and more in my mind, I thought I hit a snag.

The question that nearly stopped me dead was the question of the hero having a disability. I started wondering if that was even something someone would want to read about. Could a disabled character be considered sexy? Would anyone see him as sexy? This became a big concern and I thought I was done with the idea before I even got to start writing it. I suppose, of course, that that's a good time to realize something may not work, which is before it gets going, but then several other things occurred to me...

First of all, I thought the character was sexy, so maybe someone else might think so too. That's a hard one to go by, though, since my opinion is probably biased;)

Second, I remembered Daredevil. Of course, this is a comic book character, but there's no denying that sexy bodysuit-clad Ben Affleck from the 2003 movie. And, of course, even though it's a comic character, it's a pretty romantic story if you think about it. The most intriguing thing about Daredevil, though...

He's blind.

I don't know about anyone else, but that somehow made him even more sexy.

Then there was the movie about the two blind lovers. I cannot remember the name of that movie to save my life, but it was definitely a romance and both characters had a disability.

Then I realized two main characters in my fan fiction have a disability. That actually worked out very well.

Thinking about fan fiction, a long time reader of mine just started a blog. She has a link to her website in her profile, so I clicked on it out of curiosity; it took me to her fanfiction.net page. I felt ashamed that she has been following me for so long and I haven't even looked at her works. As I read about her original character, I found myself slowing down as I focused on each word...Then I read it again.

Her main original character is blind. That very much grabbed my interest and gave me yet another incentive to continue with my new story. Then, just today, she wrote about an idea she has and her heroine has a disability.

Next, I found this: http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/2011/03/sci-fi-tech-meets-hot-sex.html. This is a blog entry from a blog focusing on the romance of sci fi. In this blog enty, this sentence stood out for me: "Erotic sci-fi romance has loads of potential to examine and question cultural attitudes toward beauty, ethnicity, and even physical disabilities."

Okay, so, now I'm convinced. There is definitely some intrigue with a character with a disability. It's not just me being biased. There is definitely something about this. There seems to be numerous stories, movies, ideas, even comics, out there exploring characters with disabilities.

And they can be sexy, indeed:)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Best Laid Plans

I was going along pretty good for my plan for my first book. It was going to be the start of a kind of series with at least four books planned out. It could turn into more, but I have a solid plan for four.

Then another idea hit me...Oh my goodness, I think I may have to go with this other idea first. I still want to do the four book series, but this new thing won't let me write out much on that other without demanding, "Me first!"

Methinks I better pay a little attention to this other idea before it drives me bonkers. These ideas are like children, demanding their own attention in turn:)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Joy of Things That Just Pop Into Your Head

Do you have a certain time when or where things just pop into your brain? I come up with so much stuff when I'm either in the shower or that time right after I wake up but haven't gotten out of bed yet.

It was that such time this morning (or was it yesterday morning by now?) when the coolest idea for what my aliens will be able to do came crashing through my thoughts and bringing me to full wakefulness with excitement. Unfortunately, I couldn't write it down right away because I had to go to a conference, but the idea stuck with me all day long.

I am very excited about this new idea. I can see it perfectly in my mind. I think the inspiration for this idea is a weird cross between Tron and Transformers (not the plot, but a specific tech). Now I'll just have to describe it on paper... That could end up being very technical. That makes me wonder how much tech I can/should include. I've had mixed reviews for my technical descriptions in my fan fiction. I've had people to tell me they love it and lament that they don't see more descriptions like that in published works. I've also had people tell me it was too dense, as in too thick and complicated.

That's both sides of the spectrum there, so I'll have to find a nice middle ground. However, I'm with the reviewers that wish they could see more tech in sci fi romance writing. I suppose that's why I like to write it into my stories so much. I love tech...and deep emotion. I feel that I do well in writing both, mixing the two even, but then I have to wonder what's too strange.

Who knows, though, maybe strange is good. It is certainly...different.

So, I need to go to bed and see what strange alien tech inspiration will strike me when I wake up in the morning *smile.*

Friday, March 11, 2011

Don't Quit Your Day Job

I haven't quit my day job; it's more like my day job has quit me. Used to, I could get a job on a survey or a dig over night. All I'd have to do was alert the local Archaeology firms of the presence of an archaeologist in the area and I was good as hired. Now, however, it's becoming nearly impossible for me to get on a dig.

I don't really know what's going on. I have 10 years of experience in Archaeology from the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Texas, California, Florida, and Mississippi. Maybe that's the problem; maybe at a certain point you're too old and experienced for anyone to want to bother with you (not that, at 33 years old, I'm even remotely that old). Maybe it has nothing to do with me at all and everything to do with economy, budget, and high competition for the fewer jobs that are out there. Despite all my experience, there must be enough job seekers in my field who are even more experienced than me.

Eh, enough of that. We just moved to DC anyway, so maybe something will pan out eventually. It could even be this area. I've never worked in this area before, so maybe there's something particular about it that I'm missing.

It's not like becoming an author is any easier. In fact, that may be harder. However, it feels right, like that's what I'm supposed to be doing right now anyway.

Perhaps the fate of the universe is at play. In 2008 I declared I wanted to be an author...for real. I've been writing my whole life, but it wasn't until that year that I became somewhat serious about being published and I haven't necessarily been serious serious until now. Maybe some greater force is pushing me out of Archaeology and into writing; I'm just slow in figuring it all out.

Perhaps some part of me is fighting my fate. I love Archaeology and I have a ton of great experiences and I constantly want to repeat all the good times. So, I keep fighting the side of me that says I'm a writer. I keep trying for that next job, that next dig, that next survey. It doesn't help that I'm my own worst enemy, always reminding myself I'm not truly a 'real' author anyway. I'm not even published; I haven't even tried.

As remaining an Archaeologist seems to be becoming harder and harder, certainly not by my own choice, the writer is finding more courage to emerge. It does make me sad, though, as my greatest inspirations have always come when I'm on a dig.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

First Post

Oh wow, this is my first blog ever! I write fairly regularly on my deviantArt journal and had been sort of using that as a blog for a few years now. But, I've finally made the leap into the real blogging world *yay for me.*

Why make this leap, you might ask? I wanted to do this because I want to talk about writing my book. I am not a published author by any stretch of the imagination...Wait, I take that back. If you consider Archaeology reports as publications, then I do have a few of those floating around out there. But, thanks to fanfiction, I do believe I can write fiction.

You see, I have been a fanfiction writer for a few years now, since 2007. That has been an up and down journey of galactic proportions, but with over 1,000 reviews in 60 chapters, the main and most important thing I got out of the experience is this:

I believe I can write a book.

I believe I can write something publishable. I want to write something publishable. Of course, that is what every aspiring writer wants. The question is:

Can I achieve this goal?

I honestly have no idea if I can. But, I have two positives on my side: I believe I can and I want to try. Perhaps if I believe in it enough and want it enough and try hard enough, I'll get there.

This may be a long journey, but the journey can sometimes be considered the destination:)