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Episode 7 : Winter is Coming (Season 1 Finale)

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For those who have been here since the start, our journey of series 1 is coming to close. The Hall of information is going on holiday next week so I thought this would be appropriate to end the pilot series of this blog.

But has the Hall been commissioned for a second series?

My answer to that is yes yes oh yay! The following I have received has been enough for me to put efforts into continuing this campaign with publication of my book firmly in sight. There will come a transition phase during the second series where my blog post’s will become more frequent. I quite like the idea of Thursdays, the weekend is in sight and people are in much better moods. But my initial thoughts would be to release content on a Monday also!

Game of Thrones Review 

By way of making this blog popular, I review popular things (that’s probably the most valuable lessons I can give to someone thinking of doing a blog. Reference popular stuff, it makes it more appealing)

So for my birthday I was given series 1 and 2 of the popular George R R Martin television adaptation Game of Thrones. Having been a citizen of the internet since this show’s arrival I was no stranger to it’s perception. In fact I was led to believe that the whole cast would be killed off on an episodic basis. That’s the exaggeration of the trolls for ya. But I was impressed to say that wasn’t the truth.

We are thrown into a world of castles, kingdoms, trial by combat and successors to an iron throne. There isn’t nearly enough words for me to describe this rich and immersive world of characters that is somewhat brief in my opinion (I will say tits, tits everywhere). I understand the book is immensely complex and translation to TV requires attention spans to be kept on their toes. To me the series seemed rather slow from the get go although there were plenty of moments that shocked and intrigued me. There just wasn’t enough for me to sink my teeth into. I love TV shows, the time spent with characters and their stories developing over episodes is something I very much appreciate.

Although I haven’t a bad word to say about Game of Thrones, the first series felt more like a chore than an enjoyment to me. I have been told, that the series following and beyond is well worth the investment of time.  But surely the first series should also have such moments.

There are some great characters among the brilliant cast and I am somewhat looking forward to see where the story goes in series 2. The sets, costume and action are of a superb level of quality and if this was my book being adapted then I would be beyond proud.

Overall I liked series 1 and I give it 8 Joffrey’s out of 10

Introductions Part 7 (Ok this is wearing thin now)

By the end of May 2013 I felt as if I was ready to send my manuscript out to potential agents and publishers. Having given the book a half-hearted edit. I drew together a list of 50+ contacts and fired off the emails.

In this time I had began to draft book 2!

I received very little response from anyone regarding my book, and the responses I did receive were blanket emails.

What was I doing wrong? After some research I changed my cover letter, put together a synopsis and tried again. By September of that year I had finished drafting Book 2 and decided to take a closer look at book 1.  I had received contact from a literary agent and editor who showed some level of interest but it didn’t feel right to me.

The winter of 2013 consisted of me restructuring Clark Thorn and the Warrior Project, I added 10,000 words and split the 12 chapters. The four hour sessions were back and I worked immensely hard to bring my book up to an immaculate standard.

The new edit was complete and again I would approach publishers and agents.

Again to no avail.

I went through the motions in terms of disappointment, anger and all the other negative stuff, wondering why nobody was interested. My perception of the literary industry was becoming apparent. A closed door society where everyone behind that door will fob off and cop out any way possible. Why not, they are doing this for a living they have to be that way.

(Introductions part 10) Remember a few episodes back, well here it is again. I sent off my manuscript for an appraisal and that’s where I am today!

July of 2014 I decided that I would pursue the route of self-publishing

What am I doing right now

Having recently received my manuscript assessment I went to work in implementing changes and put it in line with the issues pointed out. It took me less than 10 days (of mostly 4 hour’s an evening) to finish and now I am currently taking a break.

Decision Time

I would most like to leave the close of this series on some level of cliff hanger and that is what I will do, when I return for series two I will have an answer on whether or not Clark Thorn will be self-published.

Thank you all for reading Lee’s Hall of information, please share, follow, sign up and tell the world! Series Two will begin on Thursday the 25th of September!

Episode 4

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It’s the fourth episode and I still have stuff to write about!

Introductions Part 10

Whoa I hear you say. What happened to the introductions between? Well I’m doing that clever thing like in TV or film when they flash forward into the future for a brief time. (I’m not actually sure if there will be 10 instalments of introductions but it sounds like a round figure to jump ahead to)

So in March of this year, I had reached frustration city in terms of sending my manuscript out to various agents and publishers seemingly to no avail. At this point I just wanted to know if or where I was going wrong, and if my book has what it takes to stand shoulder to shoulder with others.

After some googling I came across the oxford editors. They were offering a service that appraises a manuscript and involves a report at the end. Finally I have received most of that report (I wont go into the amount of chasing I had to do for it and quite honestly I wouldn’t do it again).

My whole angle was to actually have someone honestly look at my manuscript without it just being cast off into the many slush piles. It involved a fee and hopefully that would entice someone to be obligated to actually have a read.

The initial part of the report came through and here are the highlights in the form of quotations:

“I think the idea of this book is ingenious and it has a great deal of potential. However, the first few pages of any book are so important and here I think that you put all the points, but it is rather flat the way you have presented it, so it is like reading an article and not the sort of start that pulls readers into a book”

As much as this starts off complimentary I agree with the points.

“Probably the most important moment of the entire book, in terms of hooking readers, agents and publishers is that first sentence.”

Again I agree and my opening sentence could in fact be better.

To interpret the rest of the report it is apparent that the opening chapter does need some work in order to really grasp the reader. Not work as in rip it up and start again but a series of minor changes and additions to get the opening looking great. That goes for the whole book, there are some instances where I am telling the reader something when I should be showing them.

This is what I have been waiting for since March and now I have been given some decent constructive advice. From here the plan can be instigated. Phase 1 of the Warrior Project Publishing plan has been activated.

  1. Receive manuscript assessment      (I am more proud of the fact that I discovered there is a button to allow crossing words out, technology these days. I’ve been waiting to use that since I started this blog)

Back to the main plotline

Introductions Part 4 (where were we)

After much thinking I decided to start from the very beginning of my story. On my brothers laptop I began writing a title called ‘Untitled Warrior Project’. At this point it that was it in terms of a title and over many autumn evenings I pecked away, putting together the foundations for what would be my ‘first’ book. I had previously attempted to write a Clark Thorn story (a few years back on the xp piece of sh**) so from that initial idea I built the basics.

I struggled throughout this time, adapting to the horrible process that I still don’t like and that is the initial draft. (I do it in hour sessions now (controlling my addiction) To me drafting just feels like whatever thoughts one has is literally sucked out onto page, and that is what one element of what writing is to me. Translation of thought from brain to page.

My run in drafting this ‘warrior project’ ended just as quickly as it started leaving me with writers block at chapter 3.

To be continued….

 

A video

This week a good friend of mine Matt Streuli released a video in tribute to his late mother Janet Ann Streuli. As much as his journey and story is a sad one it also pays homage to the legacy left behind and how it helps him to this day. I share the same hobby with him, that being amateur drama, something I have grown to love and almost need in life. For a few hours a week we get to be what we want to be, whether that is the dashing hero or dastardly villain and perhaps anything in between. It’s a release and stress reliever at times. For whatever is going on in our lives there is always a place where we can be us or someone else. Check out his video here

 

A final note about a prestigious valuable item of memorabilia or sale on ebay, check it out, you wont be disappointed. Click here

 

Episode 2

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That difficult second episode where most viewers return to give it another chance to see if it’s any good

It’s been a week and I am back quicker than you can binge watch orange is the new black on Netflix. If you were able to withstand my constant spamming about the pilot blog then bloody good for you, and thank you.

To be perfectly honest I had no idea what type of reception I would get and all I can say is YEAH! We got through to a number of people. (I say we because this isn’t just a solo effort from me but all of you) Thus I would like to extend the biggest of thank you’s and a hello to those who have taken the time to read what I have to offer (some of you even signed up to receive email updates). I’ve now got followers from many corners of the internet and I salute you all. Whether you saw the link via social media, recommended by a friend or even by me. All of you good people are starting to build the base for what will be something extraordinary.

(An additional thanks to those who have come from Booksie.com, the place where many of my writings started out)

Last week’s ‘feature length’ offering brushed over some of the topics I will be covering here so I will waste no time in continuing from where I left off.

Introductions Part 2

So a couple of years passed and the windows 98 computer was now literally in pieces. (I will note that my writing had been since printed off via a Lexmark z13, also now in pieces). They were smashed up for data protection…

That is the best way to dispose of any computer, smash it up and break the sledgehammer handle in the process (that actually happened). My efforts to pen Jack Thorn continued via a Tesco value notepad (very humble beginnings). Eventually I would go on to finish the first draft at the age of 15. I decided that I would rather not do school anymore and spend valuable GCSE (final exams) study time writing.

Looking back I don’t have a single regret of choosing to do that. As always, I used my ‘cross that bridge when I get to it attitude’. Leaving me in a history exam reading one particular question and saying ‘well fu**’.

Final grade D (not bad if you tell me but I can’t imagine what the person grading that exam thought)

(But if you are currently in school don’t do what I did, do as I say and that is stay in school, get as many qualifications as you can and stay as long as you can to ride it at least into your mid-twenties) (That’s my contribution to the youth of today)

School came and went leaving me behind in a sense as I didn’t fancy sixth form and their policy was stay on or leave. I left, but in all that time I spent looking for a job, I continued writing and converted Jack Thorn onto a windows xp slightly less piece of sh**.

To be continued….

IMG_1696

The humble beginnings of Jack Thorn

Market research (of sorts)

research

So as I edge closer to deciding that I will self-publish my first book, I asked my good Facebook followers about preferences between printed books and e-books.

post

And this is what some of my good followers responded with:

answers

So the response was kind of mixed,  my initial decision come September will be to self publish via kindle or other e-book platform and also a print on demand service which provides the reader with a book they can hold.

I’m 25 (as of Monday the 4th)

As I scratch around desperately in search of the years, I say out loud ‘Where have they gone?’. The last two paragraphs of introductions part 2 were nearly 10 damn years ago. I may be paranoid but I sometimes go deep into thought about time and how it’s slipping away. I mean 2030 is closer to than the mid 90’s (feeling old yet?) If you remember the emergence of the spice girls you certainly will.

What makes you feel old? (don’t say my age) Let me know via the comments.

Some Photoshop fun

So recently my good friend Matthew Streuli has decided to have some fun with Photoshop and my face. With the use of Facebook there have been a few more artists who have popped up trying to emulate and sometimes better Matthew’s work. Below is the best of what I can only call Lee Facing. The newest social media sensation. Do you dare to have a go? Post to my Facebook page and let’s see who can put my face on stuff. That is why it’s called FACEbook right?

lee face 1

The original picture (myself left and Matthew right)

Then it turned into this

Then it turned into this

And then chaos ensued

leeface collection

As you can see I have mad paintbrush skills, by hacking these pictures together it has made a collage of sorts.

That wraps up another week an episode of Lee’s Hall of information. Check back next week, same bat blog, same bat time (roughly)