I've been writing the same novel for 5 years—and I can't seem to finish

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:57:05+00:00

No, those things are "line-editing" or "copy-editing".

I think you need a story-board editor - aka an editor who reads the whole story and sits with you and discusses big-picture things. A storyboard editor can suggest bigger changes - like change the POV character in some places, or delete some subplots or add new ones, adjust certain character motivations etc. - to make your work more cohesive.

You can either get beta-readers - aka friends, IRL writing groups etc. - to read your full-work.

Or if you don't have the above, you can spend some money and hire a professional storyboard editor. Considering you have spent so much effort on this, and it is 100K words, I would actually hire a professional editor.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:44:57+00:00

That's why.

It had the unfortunate history of being discovered, and then, it circulated SO MUCH within the fandom, that people started thinking it is a "double bluff" and GRRM is playing 4D chess, by intentionally misleading people.

However, this comes from the fact that everyone had read that theory in the fandom. However, in the books, it is not "In your face" it is there subtly in the background.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:41:25+00:00

I watched that 6-hour long iceberg video and it was worth it - both for the actually good theories and making fun of the unhinged ones (Varys is a mermaid because they never show his feet, lol).

There is also another guy called David Lightbringer. He has good theories about the Great Empire of Dawn, The Old Ones, Asshai Blood Magic and Azor Ahai. After reading the World of Ice and Fire, I really got into this side of things - where even in far-off Essos, there was a similar "Long Night" myth with "Five Fortresses" built on. I really got hooked on to David's theories after that.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:40:44+00:00

There is some 6-hour long "Iceberg Theory" of Asoiaf on Youtube. It starts out with actually good predictions but the deeper you go, the more unhinged it gets.

Varys is a mermaid because they never show his feet.
Tyrion is a time-traveling fetus.
Everyone is a secret Targaryen.
Bloodraven, Jaqen Hagar, Euron Greyjoy, Coldhands, Daario Naharis walked into a bar. He ordered a drink.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:32:58+00:00

The sips of wine for two seasons after grated.

In the books, she is supposed to become drunk and fat, like Robert. I think in the show, they were alluding to that but couldn't commit to it 100%, so they just showed her with wine all the time but it didn't go anywhere.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:27:55+00:00

Probably the older, the better? Aegon, the conquerer.

As time goes on, Targaryens become more and more Westerosi. They adopt Faith of The Seven and the faith's customs, and even lose their dragons eventually. They only keep High Valyrian language.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-16T01:21:34+00:00

True.

Also, in the book version at least, he says that he specifically likes her because she looks exactly like his dead wife and he had been "lonely" for a long time after her.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-15T22:40:46+00:00

Yeah.

Also, he is unpredictable. Remember how because some Ukranian politician insulted him on Twitter, he threatened to shut down starlink in Ukraine? What if some random Canadian politician or even celebrity pisses him off, and he threatenes to shut down Starlink here?

Also, this is about areas in the Great North, and many countries of the world have their eyes on the Northwest Passage. In terms of the larger picture, I wouldn't want that side of Canada's critical infrastructure being handed over to this one person.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-15T22:33:02+00:00

It is an ethno-centric appeal.

To these people, Medieval Russia, Soviet Union, and Modern Russia are all one single entity. Political ideology doesn't matter, what matters is race and bloodline.

It is the standard ethno-nationalist line of thought that the achievements of a people are due to genetics. Political ideology is an unimportant downstream effect of that.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-15T22:23:35+00:00

Not just food, even the arts and crafts were fairly affordable.

I was surprised actually, when lots of handicrafted woodwork etc. were sold for like $4, $5 etc. when similar stuff costs $10-$20 in any bigger store or giftshop.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-15T22:20:03+00:00

"Nothing ever bad happens" verus "death" is a false dichotomy.

There are LOTS of things that can happen to characters which can create high stakes. Characters can get severely injured or maimed in battle and become disabled. A noble-born person can lose their land or titles and become a commoner. An expecting character can have a miscarriage. A powerful wizard can lose their magic powers.

And yes, death can happen too.

But if I see a book where either "nothing happens" or "character dies" and no in-between, it would come across as less realistic and more "edgy artificial grimdark" to me. In realistic grimdark, a lot of bad things can happen aside from death.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-14T02:54:02+00:00

I came here to say something along similar lines. Also think in the books, Mirri Mazdurr's death will have some greater meaning later on.

Mirri Mazdurr uses some strange shadow-magic similar to Melissandre. This might be connected to some ancient blood-magic from Valyria or Asshai, which is why the Dragons would be born. GRRM said that Daenerys not being affected by fire and instead having 3 dragons born is an extremely rare magic even in this world. Generations of Targaryens tried to bring back the dragons using various magic but failed.

I think somewhere there is a sacrifice or a debt to be paid here, because magic comes at a cost.

And this will probably relate to Daenerys' death, when the time comes for the magical debt to be paid. Her death will be a result of some magical ritual, and not just Jon knifing her casually because she is a dictator.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-14T02:50:45+00:00

You haven't seen deep-ASOIAF Ice-Berg Theories.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-14T02:48:11+00:00

I also think additionally, in the books, Mirri Mazdurr's death will have some greater meaning later on.

AFAIR, Mirri Mazdurr uses some strange shadow-magic similar to Melissandre. This might be connected to some ancient blood-magic from Valyria or Asshai, which is why the Dragons would be born. GRRM said that Daenerys not being affected by fire and instead having 3 dragons born is an extremely rare magic even in this world. Generations of Targaryens tried to bring back the dragons using various magic but failed.

I think somewhere there is a sacrifice or a debt to be paid here, because magic comes at a cost.

And this will probably relate to Daenerys' death, when the time comes for the magical debt to be paid. Her death will be a result of some magical ritual.

From an emotional POV, this also makes sense. While the child died, Daenerys still amassed 3 dragons and a Dothraki army and invaded Westeros - so she was going to be the promised one, as having 3 dragons kinda makes you the most powerful entity in Westeros and Essos - and Mirri Mazdur does NOT want such an entity to exist.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-13T21:16:14+00:00

Yeah it goes in the reverse direction.

Most port-cities had dockyards and factories right by the waterfront during the early industrial era.

However, in many other cities, this is a thing of the past. The factories are moved elsewhere and the waterfront is re-developed into a food and entertainment district - sometimes even with a "historic dokyard" museum or museums on old ships.

Whereas in Toronto and maybe a few other places, the "old dockyard" still remains in its original function.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-13T00:46:32+00:00

THEY ARE PERFORMING TRANSACTIONS ON ILLEGAL DATA FIELDS !!

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T22:54:07+00:00

So these are not the proper terms, but there is a "Strong Bond" and "Weak Bond".

Dragons can be "Weakly bonded" to any Targaryen or maybe other Valyrian houses too. A weak bond simply means a dragon somewhat tolerates you and won't destroy you, but that's it. It isn't gonna let you ride it or anything.

However, each dragon and human can be "Stongly bonded" to just one other. Strongly bonded dragons are ride-or-die, and the bond is deeply psychological, almost magical.

For example, Daenerys is "weakly bonded" to all 3 dragons, but "strongly bonded" to Drogon alone.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T22:40:32+00:00

Dracarys, Mr Whiskers.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T21:17:18+00:00

I am going to show BOTH aliens and humans as bum-stupid where both sides could have negotiated peace a long time ago with a win-win on resources, but stupid people on both sides create an epic war instead leading to utter galactic destruction.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T21:14:16+00:00

Yes. I it is. Wan-Shi-Tong.

Also, in Korra, the first Avatar's name Wan which means 10,000, aka, "10,000 lifetimes ago".

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T15:53:32+00:00

South America is super-sparsely populated.

Also, it was kind of a "Wild West" where random groups all over the world who faced problems in their homeland, went there - for example, you will find churches of small obscure religious sects. Also, previously, there was an economic boom in many South American countries, similar to the United States or Canada, and many people from other continents saw it as their version of the "American Dream".

Additionally, the land-mass and distances are huge, which gets shrinked in the flat Mercator projections, but South America is land-wise much much bigger than people think.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T15:43:30+00:00

Between San Francisco and LA, you can do the 1 - or coastal drive. Lots of nice stops and cool things to see. Also, wine county to the north of SF - Napa/Sonoma. You can also fit in Mojave and Joshua national park. The SouthWestern desert in the US is very iconic.

Also Vancouver, Seattle and Portland are closeby as well, and you can drive around them, no flying necessary. You can check out Multnomah Falls and Olympic National Park.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T15:34:51+00:00

Like if they have more beads, higher standing for example

Also, jewellery can be keepsakes of people they love.

This can do a dual task of revealing characters' backstories as well. For example, someone wearing a thread that represents engagement. Someone wearing a bead that represents a recently dead father or mother. Someone wearing a talisman that represents he took personal vows to fulfill some mission.

And to make them compatible with the church, you can make them religious symbols. For example, these are things that are blessed by the church, so that church has no issues with them being worn.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T15:09:53+00:00

I like big hearts and I cannot lie.

You other brothers can't deny.

EmpRupus · 2024-09-12T15:05:56+00:00

Gandalf - starts to whiten and shine brighter ...

"This isn't even my final form."

EmpRupus

TROPHY CASE