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laviviA couple things - writing update, and a book review. Not really SOS, but it must be reviewed all the same.
In the past ten days...well, I wrote some more of that second Hellsing one-shot, coming very close to the end, though I am still heavily dissatisfied with it. Then I started - and finished - a third Hellsing one-shot. It's the written perspective of the scene in which Integra meets Alucard. I used a written transcript of it from the anime, that a very awesome friend made for me, so the dialogue and action is extremely canon - except in a couple places where I deliberately disregard it. But that cannot be helped.
This third scene - hereafter known as "The dungeon scene" until I find a more official name for it - was written, like the others, in longhand, and will be typed up shortly - but I estimate it to be at least five thousand words.
I am extremely, extremely pleased with it.
The beginning, it is true, is iffy, but I believe I can clear it up, because it grows to be very, very good. It ended up going a little farther than I originally planned, but I think it's okay, and I definitely do like the ending.
After writing it, I realized all the more that the second one - simply known, right now, as "Walter vs. Integra," although it is not at all about them set against each other - they merely have a conversation, directly after The funeral scene - I realized that this second one will definitely have to be re-written heavily. I think I can still salvage something of it, though. We will see.
Meanwhile, I have gotten back the beta-ing on The funeral scene, and expect to make all the corrections very soon. However, as there are many of them, I want to send it again to her for a second round, if she doesn't mind.
Now, the book review:
Profiles in Courage: It was not chosen by me to read for pleasure, I'll say that. But, considering how it is about politics, it was not very bad at all for me - not even that hard to read. The majority of it is a study on different United States senator, from John Quincy Adams to Robert Taft, who displayed astounding courage in their office. Some parts were quite interesting, even - nearly all were persuasive. I was reminded how Massachusetts is one of the most amusing states - it was started by Puritans and later condemned by them, then actually passed a law declaring it would be a criminal act if someone followed a federal law (the Fugitive Slave Act) - and now all the present gay issues.
A few quotes, now:
"Necessity compels me to speak true rather than pleasing things.... I should indeed like to please you; but I prefer to save you, whatever be your attitude toward me."
My favorite profile was the one of Thomas Hart Benton. He enchanted me from the beginning by his apparent idiosyncrasy of saying "sir" every few words. Such as:
[When asked if he had known Andrew Jackson] "Yes, sir, I knew him, sir; General Jackson was a very great man, sir. I shot him, sir. Afterward he was of great use to me, sir, in my battle with the United States Bank."
And this, as well:
(The leathery quality of his skin was in part the result of a daily brushing with a horsehair brush "because, sir, the Roman gladiators did it, sir." When asked if the brush was truly rough, he would roar: "Why, sir, if I were to touch you with that brush, sir, you would cry murder, sir!")
And lastly:
"When Benton heard of Foote's threat that he intended to write a small book in which l'affaire Benton would play a leading role, Benton replied: "Tell Foote that I shall write a very large book in which he will not figure at all!" (And he did.)
In the past ten days...well, I wrote some more of that second Hellsing one-shot, coming very close to the end, though I am still heavily dissatisfied with it. Then I started - and finished - a third Hellsing one-shot. It's the written perspective of the scene in which Integra meets Alucard. I used a written transcript of it from the anime, that a very awesome friend made for me, so the dialogue and action is extremely canon - except in a couple places where I deliberately disregard it. But that cannot be helped.
This third scene - hereafter known as "The dungeon scene" until I find a more official name for it - was written, like the others, in longhand, and will be typed up shortly - but I estimate it to be at least five thousand words.
I am extremely, extremely pleased with it.
The beginning, it is true, is iffy, but I believe I can clear it up, because it grows to be very, very good. It ended up going a little farther than I originally planned, but I think it's okay, and I definitely do like the ending.
After writing it, I realized all the more that the second one - simply known, right now, as "Walter vs. Integra," although it is not at all about them set against each other - they merely have a conversation, directly after The funeral scene - I realized that this second one will definitely have to be re-written heavily. I think I can still salvage something of it, though. We will see.
Meanwhile, I have gotten back the beta-ing on The funeral scene, and expect to make all the corrections very soon. However, as there are many of them, I want to send it again to her for a second round, if she doesn't mind.
Now, the book review:
Profiles in Courage: It was not chosen by me to read for pleasure, I'll say that. But, considering how it is about politics, it was not very bad at all for me - not even that hard to read. The majority of it is a study on different United States senator, from John Quincy Adams to Robert Taft, who displayed astounding courage in their office. Some parts were quite interesting, even - nearly all were persuasive. I was reminded how Massachusetts is one of the most amusing states - it was started by Puritans and later condemned by them, then actually passed a law declaring it would be a criminal act if someone followed a federal law (the Fugitive Slave Act) - and now all the present gay issues.
A few quotes, now:
"Necessity compels me to speak true rather than pleasing things.... I should indeed like to please you; but I prefer to save you, whatever be your attitude toward me."
My favorite profile was the one of Thomas Hart Benton. He enchanted me from the beginning by his apparent idiosyncrasy of saying "sir" every few words. Such as:
[When asked if he had known Andrew Jackson] "Yes, sir, I knew him, sir; General Jackson was a very great man, sir. I shot him, sir. Afterward he was of great use to me, sir, in my battle with the United States Bank."
And this, as well:
(The leathery quality of his skin was in part the result of a daily brushing with a horsehair brush "because, sir, the Roman gladiators did it, sir." When asked if the brush was truly rough, he would roar: "Why, sir, if I were to touch you with that brush, sir, you would cry murder, sir!")
And lastly:
"When Benton heard of Foote's threat that he intended to write a small book in which l'affaire Benton would play a leading role, Benton replied: "Tell Foote that I shall write a very large book in which he will not figure at all!" (And he did.)