Z. M. Wilmot

I’ve been a bad writer. I was freed of my university obligations on Tuesday May 3rd, was busy Wednesday with other things, and then Thursday was spent packing. I moved out of my dorm back home Friday afternoon, and then that evening was at a KANSAS concert in a very impressive Casino. The concert itself was spectacular, and I enjoyed myself a lot. On Saturday I went to the beach and stayed the night in a house, and unfortunately was dragged into doing things that were not writing. I got back home today, and as it was Mother’s Day, was spending time with my mother instead of writing. As such, very little writing has been achieved, but some progress has been made! Now that I am on summer break, I should have a lot more time to devote to writing – I have failed to finish the first draft by the end of this week, but shouldn’t have any problems doing it this week. I hope.

As I was packing and performing other tasks, I have been watching Torchwood - I’m now on Season 2, about halfway through it. The first episode was rubbish, but it got better. I hate most of the cast, but love Captain Jack; I watch it for him. Otherwise, I’m not a huge fan.

The last big piece of news is that in small increments (during classes, between them, during breaks in being social), I have been developing my own roleplaying system! I recently located the Steve Jackson Games Discworld roleplaying book, and have been reading it. Unfortunately, the mechanics are based on GURPS (Generic Universal Role Playing System), which I abhor. So, I threw that system out the window and developed my own specifically for Discworld, with stats for Morphic Fields and Magic and other such fun things. I just finished the first draft with a list of classes and spells. In a week or two I hope to test the rules out on a group of unsuspecting roleplayers! The ruleset I drafted is like a mix between WFRP (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) and Paranoia. It should be fun!

Sorry for the lack of writing updates, but life has been really, really, hectic. I am currently writing Chapter 44 of what I hope will 45 Chapters, a Prologue, and an Epilogue. I’ve been two chapters away from finishing for a long time, but the tail end of the book (which all takes place within two or three days of each other) is growing longer and longer and using up more and more chapters. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the final push through by the end of May, but don’t count on it.

Why? University work is hitting me in the face. Papers, research projects, entire books to read in a matter of days – I barely have any time to myself anymore. On top of that, I have developed a very bad case of insomnia, so am exhausted all the time and can’t concentrate on writing even when I do have free time; instead I’ve been watching Babylon 5. Season 4 is also fantastic.

But I do have some writing to show you! The Libel of Blood is currently at 374 pages. And recently, Psy just returned again, for the last time:

*-*-*

“We have no news from other worlds, but I’d imagine that Earth is faring better than most.” A faint smile touched Majias’ lips. “Another interesting thing I might point out to you. There is a ship leaving from a hangar located in this very building – two floors down those stairs over there and one room to the left – to go back up the battle above, to ensure that we continue to hold our own up there. It leaves in ten minutes. It was down here for restocking and changing the shifts of the crew. It contains twenty-seven strike craft on it, each one loaked with ship-destroyers. Four apiece. A ship like that in the hands of one blessed by the spirits of Xiallanen…”

I looked up at him sharply, for the first time truly paying attention. Go on…

“…with a cause that is truly just and righteous, and with a certain individualistc streak, could perhaps make better use of those weapons than one less creative or less driven than a normal pilot. And you do have extensive experience with stowing away. It hurts us to see you suffer like this.” The timbre of Majias’ voice had changed. “I also have noticed a strange new mind entering the fray nearby – a powerful, slow-moving, revolting mind, bent on the domination and rewiring of lesser beings. It is very close, just behind the main bulk of the Horrere fleet. A few ship destroyers in the right place could end the problem once and for all.”

I stared into Majias’ eyes, and say that Majias did not stare back out at me. “We do care. I feel for you. We love you. I feel how it hurts. You can do what needs be done, for your most interesting race, and for those you may have lost. Goodbye now for good, Jakken Jalhalla Servidos.”

I knew then what I had to do. Why had I been chosen to be the receptacle of the attentions of the pilot spirits of the Xiallanen Passage? Did I not have a great fate in store? Could it not be possible that it was my destiny to destroy the Genesis Engine? And I had just been handed me the opportunity to avenge Derekk’s death and save humanity from certain destruction. Hopefully.

Majias started suddenly, and looked worriedly at himself. “Jak… what did I just tell you to do?” I stood up slowly, and smiled lukewarmly down at him.

“Exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you.”

*-*-*

So there you have it! Let’s see if I can get anything else done before the semester ends…

In essence, a little bit of everything. I am sure you’ve noticed that my posts here have been few and far between; hopefully this post will explain what to expect from me in the near future.

First off, I haven’t had any significant time to write, and in order to work on longer pieces – such as TLOB – I need to devote at least an hour to it so that I can actually churn out good material. I just, as of late, haven’t had that time, for several reasons: a few weeks ago I had shingles, which made it impossible to concentrate on anything, and since I (mostly) recovered from that I  have then been swamped with work; next week alone I have 750 pages of reading and two papers, coming right after having to write three papers and do 200 pages of reading this week and my “vacation” the week before consisting of me writing a research paper. And then after all this goodness, final project and exam preparations begin. Oh joy.

So, until the end of the semester in early May, my writing will be limited – but hopefully will start coming again! I was originally aiming to finish the rough draft of TLOB by April, and then in April (during Script Frenzy’s time), was going to try to finish Dark Aeons – but I’ve given up on that. I’m still going to see if I can finish TLOB before the semester ends.

However, last night before I went to sleep I sat down and wrote another poem! It’s strange… it’s the titular poem of the planned collection Dark Aeons. For your wincing pleasure, here’s the first third(ish) of it:

*-*-*

In the beginning there was darkness
In the middle there was light
And at the end of endings there was eternal night

In the beginning there was darkness
Of utter midnight black
From the nothingness it came
To fill the void of light

It seeped into creation
And tainted life’s faint glow
A reminder of the nothingness
Come forth at the start of time

It hid in shadows and the night
Ever lurking, ever there
It watched from caverns and oceans deep
Ever watching; ever waiting

It darkened stars’ fiery birth
And led them into their own oblivion
Where they found their creation with open maws
Ever hungry, ever greedy

It told of destruction and ultimate end
But waited silently in the space between
Letting the song of stars flow through it
Adding their screams to the light

*-*-*

In addition to that, over spring “vacation” I had the chance to run two Call of Cthulhu scenarios and participate in three Corporation ones. Corporation, as Paranoia’s serious twin, is fun, but also has some leeway for humor. Which makes it rather different from Call of Cthulhu. The first scenario I ran, The Gate of Time, featuring the Hounds of Tindalos (read the story featuring them here - badly transcribed) went very well, and I had two players actually scared. The second one I ran, The Forest of Blood (which I will be basing a short story in Dark Aeons on) did not go so well; players were unfocused, joking, and missed a lot of vital clues, forcing me to improvise even more than usual, and I did not manage it well. After that experience, I decided that it is very important to have a table (not couches like we were using) around which to sit with minimal food and drink distractions. Also having serious roleplayers helps.

In terms of television shows I finished (before I was swamped, while still struck down with shingles), the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya I found very thought-provoking; it was well done and has an original concept (and fun music). However, the eight episodes in season one that are a time loop and repeat almost exactly for eight episodes just made me want to cry. I confess, I skimmed those. But I finished eventually, and in the end, want more! I can’t wait for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya to come out in English.

I also finished Season 1 of Babylon 5, and liked that a lot too – Londo Mollari and Ambassador G’Kar came out as my favorite characters; their antagonistic dualities just made the show for me. I’m going to miss Jeffrey Sinclair (and Michael O’Hare) in Season 2; lets see how Sheridan fares. I have also just begun watching (no making fun of me) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and I have found it to be wonderful. Go watch it now.

In terms of tarot, I’ve only had time to do three readings of late, but I hope to begin doing it more regularly again! I did one earlier today, and should have time for another tomorrow – I’m going to try a Yin-Yang spread using myself and the rest of the world as opposing sides and see what happens.

Also, starting tomorrow, I will be beginning the TAROT CHALLENGE. This will consist of a lot of posts, hopefully one every two or three days, going through each and every card of the tarot and putting down all of my thoughts on it. The order will be as follows:

WANDS:

1-10

Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess

CUPS:

1-10

Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess

SWORDS:

1-10

Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess

DISKS:

1-10

Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess

MAJOR ARCANA:

0-XXI

Hopefully this will help my understanding of court cards a lot, which I’ve always had trouble with. But for now – let’s see if I can get any TLOB done!