Ramblings on Writing Postponed to Tomorrow

Hello everybody,

I know this is not going to come off as very professional (especially since this is the first Ramblings on Writing planned), but unfortunately this week's post is going to be postponed until tomorrow. This isn't for lack of writing - I wrote a 4,000 word post on Daily Word-Count Goals - but rather because the blog-posting program I was using decided to lie to me.

This lie was that, when I hit "Publish" in the corner, it published an empty blog post. And didn't save my hour of work.

Needless to say, that app is now deeply buried in the Trash, never to see the light of day again. As I am currently more in the mood to put my foot through my monitor rather than rewrite what I just wrote, I will just rewrite it tomorrow.

To make it up to you, I'll also post a book review as well. Again, expect to see it tomorrow. As for me, I'm going to go drink a Mountain Dew.

BOOK REVIEW - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

By James Dashner (Official Webpage)

Buy the book here: The Maze Runner

Review

The Maze Runner the latest new series by veteran YA/Middle Grade Fantasy author James Dashner. Dashner has already shown great competence in writing with The Jimmy Fincher Saga as well as the excellent 13th Reality series. However, he has said that The Maze Runner was the book he always wanted to write, and it shows. Dashner has crafted a book that is an excellent read for any fans of "dystoipan" YA, though his chosen release time has lead to unfortunate comparisons between it and the also fantastic The Hunger Games series.

The Maze Runner stars Thomas, who wakes up in an elevator with no memories of his past or present. After the elevator arrives at its destination, Thomas is thrust into a world set in the center of a maze, run by children who also have no idea what is going on. They've managed to maintain a sort of self-sufficient society, though food and supplies are delivered weekly. Every night, the doors to their "safe house" close, and the maze they are living in the center of changes. They have been doing this for months, and none of them have managed to figure a way out.

Of course, it wouldn't be much of a book if Thomas just sat around. Right off the bat he wants to be a Maze Runner, the elite job assigned only to those of the most stalwart bravery and determination (as well as steady legs). As the story progresses and the riddle of the maze becomes clear, the reader accompanies Thomas through quite a few startling reveals, leaving on a cliffhanger that's setting up Dashner's next book, The Scorch Trials. Overall, the book was a very fast read, lasting around 4-5 hours. I read the book straight through, only taking a break because I had to drive to work, where I continued reading it there.

It is clear Dashner did his very best to make this book appropriate for any young adult aged 12+. Rather than use actual swear words, Dashner has the boys in the Glade (the name of their "safe house") concoct their own swear words and slang, meaning he can get away with a lot more "cussing" while keeping the book safe (though you might want to be careful your kids don't go around saying "shucking" in public). The book also, while containing lots of tense scenes and even the deaths of children, takes a similar approach as The Hunger Games does, by keeping most of the violence offscreen or simply implied.

As a whole, I enjoyed my time reading The Maze Runner, though I'm afraid that when one compares it to The Hunger Games, they might find the former a bit lacking. While Dashner has done a terrific job breathing life and detail to the Gladers, the society they establish isn't nearly as deep or fleshed out as a book such as Lord of the Flies (which Dashner cites as inspiration for the novel). Also, while the pacing is generally good, there are parts where I felt Dashner dwelt more on emphasizing how odd and unique the character's dialogue was rather than give us information to advance the plot.

Perhaps the biggest issue I had with the novel (again, I still loved it and will read the sequel, but nit-picking is a near-requirement in this job) was the fact I left the book wishing it had gone deeper. Perhaps, in The Scorch Trials will elaborate more on it, but there were so many questions Dashner left unanswered, so many the ending of the novel didn't seem like a bonafide conclusion, but more like a transition to the next book. Because of that, I was left wanting more, but since The Scorch Trials isn't out yet, I had to settle on "unfulfilled."

Still, The Maze Runner is a superb example of dystopian YA, and those who enjoy the genre (or are simply waiting for Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games, to come out in August) should certainly give it a shot. Plus, Dashner has hinted the movie rights are being thrown around in Hollywood, so we might be seeing a film of the book within the next few years.

A Brief History of Myself as a Writer

I decided that for those who are new to the blog, it might be beneficial to know more about me as a writer, including my past projects, current projects, and future projects. Keep in mind this is meant simply as a basic introduction as of the day of posting, and may not be updated as time progresses.

My name is Nathan Major. I am currently twenty-four years old, and finishing my last semester at Brigham Young University in Utah. I'm married to a wonderful woman named Rebecca. I was born and raised in central California, in the town of Paso Robles. It was there I first began writing, both in school and under the guidance of my mother. I remember, for fun, she'd assign both me and my brother "30 Minute Writes," where she'd give us a title only, and then we'd have 30 minutes to expound on that writing prompt in the form of a short story. It didn't take long for me to have reoccurring characters and themes, regardless of how odd the titles were. After finishing and some editing, the best of these short children's stories we compiled into a short book, which we bound. I still have it on my shelf, and often consider it my first "complete" novel.

My passion for writing continued, though I never really embraced it until 2006. It was then that I first read the novel Eragon by Christopher Paolini. After reading it, I thought to myself, "Hey, I have a lot of ideas for a novel, and I know how to write! I bet I could write something as good as this and get published!" Perhaps not the best way to get started, it certainly worked.

For the next three years, I worked on my first novel, Lacrymosa, based on ideas and concepts my friend and I (a writing buddy from years ago) had thought up. It was slow going; I even took almost an entire year off (2008) and didn't write anything in it. Luckily, my work ethic has improved since then. I finished it in April of 2009. At around 150,000 words, it was my first full-length novel.

Lacrymosa was intended to be the first in a trilogy, revolving around a war between a winged, magical race called the Ala, and a mechanical, steampunk race called the Orion. The Orion had long been Ala slaves, but this changes when a girl named Lilly, an Orion raised by the Ala, essentially defects and joins the Orion's resistance. While certainly a first novel and riddled with the issues that entail that (one of the members of my writing group even described a particular scene as "High School Musical: Ala"), it was still a first, finished work, which was a huge leap for me. I could finish a novel, and so I would continue to do so.

Determined write more, I began my second novel, Harbinger, on April 1, 2009. It was then I discovered that a good technique to help me write was forcing a daily word-quota. For this experiment, I resolved to write a minimum of 500 words on weekdays, 1,000 on weekends, all while working a full-time job. I finished on June 30, meaning I wrote a full length novel in under three months (by one day!). It ran at around 100,000 words total.

Harbinger was my first attempt at complete discovery writing, as well as a generous mash-up of genre blending. Described as "Vampire Wild West Cowboy Angels," it takes the standard Western setting and fuses it with copious amounts of Fantasy elements. While certainly not the best book ever written, it proved I could meet a word-count, and finish a second novel. It also helped me realizes my style of writing: discovery writing, with a touch of planning when necessary.

Where Gods and Mortals Dance is my most recent work, after taking July - December of 2009 off. Starting as the school semester did in January, it was my attempt to write something polished enough to be publishable. It also was an experiment to take me away from two key things I'd had issues escaping in my previous books: guns and magic. Focusing less on fighting and more on religious and political intrigue, as well as character development, WGMD also wanted to reaffirm the belief that I could write a novel quickly, and with a deadline. After the semester in the beginning of April, I committed to writing a minimum of 5,000 words a day until it was completed, no matter what. A month later, on May 4, Where Gods and Mortals Dance was completed. Clocking it at a whopping 188,000 words, written in just over 100 days, it is my longest work yet, and easily my best.

The last of the royal family, Ailene’s world is one of mystery and danger. Eight wandering gods roam the city-kingdoms of Octavia, a visit from the gods bestowing blessings or curses based on their purpose. Six years ago, the Condemning god came to Ailene’s city of Dire, casting the provence into a mess of assassinations, poverty, and heresy. Her family dead and kingdom overthrown by the man she once loved, Ailene seeks help from those who she’d least expect: a brilliant blind crew-leader and former street urchin named Dratan, and the Useless god, the only god without a purpose. As Ailene and her new allies seek to reclaim the throne, they begin to uncover a centuries-old plot that will shake Ailene’s faith, her loyalties, and the very foundation upon which Octavia is founded.

Currently, I am writing another experiment. Tentatively titled Paradise Seekers, it is a YA novel set in the first-person perspective, both of which I've never done before. Meant to be both a distopia and a philosophical novel, the book focuses on the boy Sam, who awakens to find himself without any memories of his past, save the same dream he has every night. He is welcomed into this new world by a group of similarly-aged teenagers, who call themselves Paradise Seekers. Living in a veritable utopia in the walled town of Haven, Sam's life seems to be perfect. He even becomes close friends with a new Paradise Seeker, Julia. However, as the dream becomes darker and truths about where they actually are come to light, Sam realizes his choices may influence more than he knows.

Following Paradise Seekers, I am currently planning my fourth and fifth adult fantasy novels, part of a series called Effulgent Corruption. I won't give too much away now, besides they are a two-book set, focusing on a world where the gods have died and left quite a mess in their wake.

That is about all there is to know about me. I will probably post more about my style of writing, as well as particular points of writing that stick out to me during the weekly Ramblings on Writing.

BOOK REVIEW - I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

By Dan Wells (Official Webpage)
Buy the book here: I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver)


Review

I actually considered this book for review mostly because of my familiarity with the Writing Excuses podcast, which is hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and Howard Taylor. Seeing as I love the podcast, as well as Brandon's books and Howard's web-comic, I felt I owed it to Dan to read his first novel. Not to mention the fact I took a class that had all three of them, at some point during the semester, lecturing to the class.

I Am Not a Serial Killer is a novel that Dan himself admits doesn't really fall into a particular subcategory with regard to audience. In some countries, it was marketed as a Young Adult novel, while in others it was presented as a straight Adult novel. After a reading, I would recommend the book for ages 15+. The book contains a considerable amount of violence and gore, often presented from an apathetic or uncaring standpoint, as well as adult content and disturbing scenes.

I Am Not a Serial Killer stars John Wayne Cleaver, a fifteen year old sociopath obsessed with serial killers. His morbid obsession is further accented by the fact that the family business involves copious amounts of time around dead bodies: they work in a mortuary. It is here where John gets his first view of a serial killer's victim: a man murdered and gutted behind a local laundromat. John, who has a therapist and his own personal "rules" to keep his believed homicidal tendencies in check, finds he can't keep away from this serial killer. His perception is less idolizing and more of general interest which, after a time, changes to disgust and hatred. An interesting note is John is never really scared of the serial killer, who is revealed about halfway through the book. Rather, he simply analyzes the killer's every action, and goes to great lengths to stop him. The climax of the book, which I will not spoil, escalates as John unleashes the "monster" inside of him, the suppressed serial killer tendencies, held behind bars by his rules he's followed. It's an interesting ending, where John changes quite dramatically to a misguided teenager to a dangerous, potential killer.

Reviewers love to compare this novel to the TV series Dexter, which I have not seen, so my review is written without prior knowledge of the show. As a general read, I found the novel started off quick, pushed me forward through the story very fast until it's satisfying, and quite creepy, ending. This is a good testament to Dan's skill as an author; I couldn't put the book down until I'd finish it. It was a reasonably short, but sweet read; I took about 4 hours to finish it, but others may take longer.

It is important to note that there is a strong supernatural or fantasy theme in the book, especially pertaining to the serial killer. Those who follow Dan closer might not be surprised by this, but as someone expecting a straight serial killer book, the elements rattled me somewhat. The only time I put the book down to get a drink was when the supernatural elements were revealed. However, as the book continued and the mystery behind the "demon," as John calls the serial killer/monster is fleshed out, the book had its meat hooks back into me. I felt it worked for the story, despite the initial conflict, though more information about the monster would be appreciated. From what I've read, Dan goes into more depth in the sequel, Mr. Monster (I Am Not a Serial Killer is the first book in an intended trilogy), which is out in the UK but not here yet in the US. I plan on reading this book as soon as it crossed the ocean to the Land of Opportunity.

Dan's prose must be complimented. Something Sanderson wrote in his blurb on the back was how masterful he felt the prose was, and I'd be inclined to agree. Dan's pacing is near immaculate, his word choices very good. I was never lost in the story at any time, a testament to Dan's stellar writing. The only issue I found was the voice of the narrator: for a fifteen-year-old, he certainly didn't sound much like one; he seemed older, much older. While John explains to the reader he is extremely apathetic, which allows him to think about and describe dramatic and gory scenes without batting much of an eyelid, it is still difficult to believe that a teenager would think in the ways John does. He seemed more like someone in their early twenties. Again, this could be attributed to his incredible maturity and near-genius intelligence, but it would have been nice to have a few "I'm fifteen!" bones thrown at me.

Overall, I Am Not a Serial Killer is a fantastic debut novel, one of the strongest I've read. It certainly lives up to it's name: the novel is gory, gruesome, and genuinely thrilling and disturbing throughout. For fans of horror and fantasy, it is certainly a book to investigate. Those of less stronger stomachs, however, need not apply.

Welcome to the blog!

Welcome to my, Nathan Major's, blog. I am an aspiring writer of fantasy and young adult fiction, and I will be using this blog to talk about both my writing projects, as well as give tips and ideas that I have learned during the writing process.

Here's how the updates will work:

Every Thursday - Ramblings about Writing - I will post my random musing about a topic, and it will often have to do with writing. Be it theme, viewpoint, worldbuilding, whatever. I will do my best to pull from my vast (work in progress) knowledge to bring you ideas, insights, and lots of subjective stuff from my brain about a topic. Note that these might increase to bi-weekly if I feel so inclined. I also might repeat myself if I feel a certain topic needs further mentioning, or if my writings the previous week have influenced me. I hope this will help new writers get inspired to write and maybe give good tips on what to do next.

Every Sunday - I will provide an update on my current writing situation, including insights and concerns regarding books I am currently writing. I will do my best to keep it spoiler free.

Whenever I feel like it - Random blurbs, book reviews, general complaints; it's all here. I'll try and keep it mostly writing related, though movie reviews might slip in now and again.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment or email me directly! Share this blog with your friends!

And to all you aspiring writers out there: never give up! Write like your life depends on it! You can become a published author someday, all it really takes it the determination to keep on writing.