Tag: shanty

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Day 88: Some Drive Time Thoughts on Solex Panels

Since I had previously announced today would be a planned outage so that I could haul the girls to Houston for Thanksgiving week I suppose I can write anything I want and it will be better than taking a pass. I cant say I am excited that in addition to finishing potty training on the first two that I still have two more behind them.

I did try to resolve some of my hang-ups with the Shanty thread that’s developing. Mostly tried to work out a few details regarding solex panels and what they exactly do. I didn’t get as much done as I normally do on a drive of this length since no one saw fit to sleep. I’ll list them below and see if I can expand textually.

Solex panels dissolve into each other when arranged in a grid. This feature highlights the animate nature of the panels and aids in characterizing the magiciness of something that would otherwise seem to be technological. I suppose the visual gag would lend itself well to film. But there might be something in there that could be exploited for the plot. Maybe a virus or an evil spell blocks panels from rejoining or being separated?

Solex panels are used to not only collect solar energy, but also magic energy from the sun(?). This energy can be used for whatever (poorly defined) but so far it came to mind that maybe this would be a resource from being able to communicate with the tech it powers. So you have a solar powered toaster the toasts the bread with the electrical energy converted, but uses the magic energy to determine things like when the toast should be made, how toasty, and other personalized toast needs. So far this thinking is lame, but maybe it pans out in other ways. Maybe the magic just goes into a pool resource that the user can access?

Ah ha. Solex panels are only able to collect minute amounts of magic and then only the crudest quality. Thus this is more of a rainwater in a barrel or recycled paper sort of thing. A way for the common person to do some little magics?

Solex sounds like solace not rhymes with Rolex. Inspired by random pronunciation quirk.

In addition to the three above rock solid worldbuilding bits, I also decided that the balloons on Johnka’s sledge would be on really long cables. I think this will give the sledge greater stability since the pendulum is longer–have to look up. And might allow it to more easily navigate through narrow passages since the cables would be much thinner than the balloons.

Then those driving range nets for villages to curb overhead flits, hangers, and sticks came to mind.

Word count: 471

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Day 77: Tacons are Agoraphobic

They protest it’s not like the gentle swaying of a ship more an incessant vibration than a rocking.  I’ve never been to sea, so I politely nod.   Then they complain about the noises.  I nod again.  Ah’Taconschientee possesses a quiver and a clamor of course–I just don’t understand their objection.

I am one of the few Tacons to deboard and only one of three to travel to their capitol city of Dambor.  The month long trip was painfully quiet.  I thought I’d go mad from the vastness of the desert and the emptiness of the silence.  They thought I had gone mad when I asked to be moved to what they called a closet nearest the noisy wheelhouse.

Not much their to go on, but I guess this guy’s agoraphobic.  Probalby ought to read up on that before I get too far into his character.

Word count: 145

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Day 75: One of Shanty’s Ends

Thickening the plot remains elusive to me.  After I practice writing I must learn to practice thickening.  Even a runny plot would be better than what I regularly mix up.

If you take the time to read any of what I have written–here or elsewhere–you would likely discover that I dabble in images.  The very brief element of a scene is something I feel I am good at generating.  In addition to setting the scene, I like to think I am able to allude to a direction, to a conflict.  Regardless of your appreciation of my abilities to do that, I have that impression.  The thing is, I don’t have a plot or even a plan.  I just have a finite moment or two.  What I need is a next.

I’ve heard more than a few authors like to determine the beginning and end and then work out the middles.  I have tried that once and still not gotten the middle worked out.  Mathematician’s would argue once is not statistically valid–possibly it’s worth another shot.

What I have in my head while I am writing is this thing with Shanty.  I’ve ended up with three scenes pointed squarely at a single destination.  I think it’s clear that destination isn’t the end of the story, just the site of the initial physical conflict.  I like these scenes and I am enjoying the characters thus far.  I don’t want to let them down.  I don’t want to let them down by composing crap nor by not composing anything at all.  Each of the three began as a simple but concrete point of view effort to describe Shanty.  There was no intention.  Maybe I could just try the same technique on the ending…

Tritti held nothing more dead Johnka’s belt knife.  She held no doubt that she would next kill the Killer.

Gane’s enormous hres finally paid off with the location of his sister.  Behind this door.

You tug at your shackles.  You pray that when they chronicle your journey that they leave this next embarrassing part out then fear for your immediate death overwhelms you.

The young witch resolves from the darkness with only that knife as a weapon.  She imbues it and throws.  No matter how you move or jerk or turn away it will find you heart.  Gane opens the door, sees the knife, and shields you in time.

“Brother!”

Let’s see if we can put that to some use.

I should probably look into what comprises a good paragraph before I spend too much time composing any.  It’s doubtful I’ll discover anything I don’t already know about well written paragraphs, but I imagine the effort will beneficially remind me what I already know.  Not doing so perpetuates bad habits.

Word count: 453