The Way of the Warrior...or Writer

It's no secret to those that have been involved in the process already that when I set out to create the world of Evelyn, Project 1 in it's current form was not something that I was actively considering as a story. The initial story that I had conceived had very little magic and was more political in nature. As I created the characters and the world that they were effecting I learned fairly quickly that while my prose was good, and the story may have decent ground to work with, there was no clear message that I was conveying in my writing. In essence, though I was telling a story and putting the reader in the minds of these characters, we were only living lives with them. Though that may be enough for a story, it wasn't enough for me.

With my writing, I wanted the reader to put down the book being as equally changed as my characters were once the story was over. I wanted my characters to help others better understand themselves, deal with grief, put down old hatreds, or reconnect with the love of their life. It was at this stage that a scene came to me. One that poured out of me in a matter of hours.

The inspiration

I was fresh off of a watch of the movie "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, and Hiroyuki Sanada. Though not historically accurate in any way, there are a lot of things that one can learn regarding how characters can grapple with a past, learn from others, and transform into something better.

It was here that I created a soldier in a magical world. Originally, this character was going to be an older and more grizzled veteran, however, I decided that this would not be sufficient given the expanse of the world in which this character would inhabit. I wanted to live with this character for a while and to take him from one part of his life to a place that no one thought would be possible with this character or perhaps even in this genre.

So, this character would be on the precipice of his life. Mid to late twenties, looking to execute on a plan with his childhood sweetheart that he had been sacrificing for. I needed him to be younger so that I could make his rage and inner hatred both justifiable and warranted while giving him enough room to not only transform but to continue to grow and have more things to experience in the world that I've created.

The message

I mentioned earlier that I was looking for more than a story. I was looking for a message to convey to my readers. So, did I find it? I think I have, and them some.

I found myself wondering, what message would I be able to convey to people that could make a difference in someone's life? As a reader, I love picking up a newspaper and consuming my news at my pace and the stories that matter to me. In order to ensure I get the most up to date news, I also feel take in news via video and podcasts. But, know matter where I get my news, one thing is for sure, we can do better.

I started building this world during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. LIke everyone else in the world, I saw some of the worst sides of humanity during those years. I saw violence, greed, hatred, and division. Under stress, I saw some of the ugliest things about the human condition, however, I also saw some of the best parts of humanity. People reaching out to help others, people feeding others, voices being heard, and a world that found ways to unite and connect.

As the pandemic started to wind down, I like everyone else began to go back to our regularly scheduled programming. There was no more neighbors singing together from their balconies, no more care packages, and no more covid briefings. Not months later though, January 6th happened in the US capitol, Russia invaded Ukraine, and politics reared its ugly head once again. Arguments on both sides, economics, and partisan lines grew thicker. Its as though we as a society did not remember what had just happened that united us as a species for a brief moment in time. This disappointed me. We can be better. Thus, my message was born.

The Warrior Code

Anyone who knows me can confirm that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bushido, the Samurai Warrior Code. As I watched and rewatched The Last Samurai I began to understand the underlying things that the film was trying to tell us. About the importance of having principles, redemption, and how a warrior's greatest purpose in life is to find peace.

It was from here that I discovered Damien. A young man with a past that feeds is rage and need for vengeance. From these feelings, a story came to me about transforming from hatred and redeeming oneself. Damien's journey is one where is world is completely upended from what is normal to revealing what his destiny truly is which forces him to realign his expectations of his world, his friends, himself, and his love.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As I reread the third draft of my novel, I realize that there are a few plot holes that I have to resolve. However, the next big decisions will be determining if my story is good enough and then deciding whether I should traditionally publish or self-publish. If you want to see what my thoughts on that decision click here to read my post about traditional vs. self-publishing.