NEARLY DEAD

The Nearly Dead: The series Books & Art | About Me Nearly Dead Nearly Dead (Art) Writing Advice

[nearlydeadseries]

After yesterday's Writers Space Saloon on World Mapping, I tried it out for my world of Thade! (Still in the works). It was a ton of fun planting places based on where scenes occurred in my book! I'll try my hand at the city next

[nearlydeadseries]

NEW! Animated Art: “The Omni seeking solace at Sondere” - Color pencil (3.4.2020)

[nearlydeadseries]

Old sketch I found of the Omni and his flaming helm (from Dec 2017?) that I really liked. Now proudly taped onto my Novel development planner to see everyday :)

[nearlydeadseries]

Odyssey Writing Workshop: While I was disappointed to be wait-listed for this amazing workshop (who wouldn’t be, especially if it means missing out on meeting George R. R. Martin this year!), I’m very grateful to have landed a spot on it.

Ms. Cavelos opened up my eyes to some writing blind-spots I had no idea I had and gave me some of the best input towards improving my writing. I’ll apply next year with a stronger entry & hopefully make it into the acceptances :)

[nearlydeadseries]

The most updated version of APEIROS.

[nearlydeadseries]

Great news!

Last year, I entered a short story contest at Writer’s Digest and I placed second! This is will be my first published work! (I’m ecstatic, especially since I would have been really happy to just be in the honorable mentions).

\[^-^]/ <3

[nearlydeadseries]

1/15/2017: Update

As it’s been a while since my last update (I blame a creator block and studying for different law exams), I present my current WORK-IN-PROGRESS: “APEIROS”.

-Mediums: Acryllic paint (mostly), a little mental darkness, and a fistful of galaxy. The figure at the forefront is the Omni, or the greatest grim reaper in the world in my novel Nearly Dead. As an ever present being, he’s cursed with an eternity of guarding the dead world from the living. “Man is not meant to know what eternity feels like. If you had to live thousands years like the Omni and see everyone you loved die, who could blame you for going insane?”

[nearlydeadseries]

Update: 09/08/2016

Hello everyone! I’m back (for the time being) =D  There’s some time in between MPJE state law exams, so I decided to do another update as well as put up some of my favorite writing tips that keep me going what I’m doing:

First, my novel update:

Nearly Dead | Status: Second Draft Revision (25% / 100%)

My current favorite writing tips!

Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. - Kurt Vonnegut

If possible have something going on while you have your characters delivering exposition or philosophising. This helps retain dramatic tension. - Michael Moorcock

Remember: when people tell you somethings wrong or doesnt work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. - Neil Gaiman

Don't sit down in the middle of the woods. If you're lost in the plot or blocked, retrace your steps to where you went wrong. Then take the other road. And/or change the person. Change the tense. Change the opening page. - Margaret Atwood

You can find more here!:

Reference --  https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/tips-masters/kurt-vonnegut-8-basics-of-creative-writing?page=2

[nearlydeadseries]

Since it’s been a long hiatus, here’s another sketch. This one is kinda old though -- (imgur name was blocked out) ;)

[nearlydeadseries]

FRONT: Trying another helmet - potential for the Omni or Undying.  BACK: Wicked bark-corrupted individual from outside the city :)

[nearlydeadseries]

7.27.16 - update

One more law exam to go! (it’s on 8/8, ugh! wish me luck!)  After this academic overhaul, I’m happy to say I’ll finally be able to devote time to writing and artwork. So! While I -was- busy boring myself with my studies as usual, I did manage to take some time out to sketch out new character costumes. Enjoy! :)

[nearlydeadseries]

Update: 06/25/2016

Hello everyone,

Sorry again for the hiatus. My heart hurts from staying away from writing for so long but again, I’m forced to prioritize. My next licensing exams are scheduled up until mid-August of this year. However, I’d like to bring some exciting news! The second draft for my novel Nearly Dead is ~95% complete and I’m looking for Beta readers! [So what is a Beta Reader?] A super AMAZING person who would like to read chapters (or even a chapter) of my draft and provide input on which characters they like, what chapters work, what should be tossed, etc. etc. to help make my book the best it can possibly be! \(^-^)/!! Love you all. Until the end of August, Ajay

[nearlydeadseries]

04/09/16

Hi everyone! Just an update to let everyone know I’m on a hiatus until May 16th!

Pharmacy exit exams are in full swing, so I need to prioritize them or else I won’t be able to graduate :(

Wish me luck and stay tuned for more pictures and articles. Sorry for the absence!

Happy writing, Ajay

[nearlydeadseries]

Writing Advice (Monday)

I've found another great piece of advice: "If you feel it, they will feel it." This pertained to an acting seminar, but holds true for writing too. If you don't feel the imminent danger or pain of the character you're writing about, neither will the reader. Describing "she was sad" versus "her heart shattered, scattering pieces into places she knew she could never reach again" are two different things. So let the emotions carry you and transfer those scenes onto paper- the after effect will be beautiful. Less monitoring, more soul-bearing. Happy writing! Ajay :)

[nearlydeadseries]

Got bored and gender bended the Omni character :o). The new helm is a blackout helmet.

[nearlydeadseries]

The original version of the helm I had for the leading “Omni” character.

[nearlydeadseries]

Writing Advice (Saturday)

Hello Readers <(^-^)/ Sorry for the hiatus. I just took one of the three parts of my pharmacy licensing test and it took a lot out of me and more. But here is a Writing Advice Wednesday/Pep-talk. It may be more life advice than it is writing advice but I feel it’s applicable for both:

// Today I want to talk about productivity and making the most out of your time.

I feel like everyone has the potential for greatness.

I feel that— truly— deep down and so I feel disappointed when I’m given an excuse by friends and good acquaintances that lets them get away with not reaching their peak. They get to shy away from the threat of failing when they say the excuse, but at the same time this bars them from ascending above the comfort level they know.

It clips their wings before they’re anywhere close to the sun.

So what’s the excuse that drives me mad?: “It’s going to be a lot of work (to write a book/finish the project). So I won’t do it.” Or the variant, “Sounds like that’s going to take a –long— time. I don’t think it’s worth it”.

In short, it’s the fear of the w-word: Work. It drives me mad.

The speaker usually huffs and sits back, crossing their arms, completely dismissing the idea of bringing the project to completion and not realizing the ludicrousness of the statement he/she just said. So the flame on their candle of awesome potential is extinguished in that second that it took to decide to doubt themselves and give up.

Newsflash! Everything takes work. /end sarcasm.

Everything worth sharing with the world takes work.

You can sketch an image in 5 seconds and it would be easy. You might even be very happy with it because it took very little effort and came out okay. But would I want to look at a whole exhibit of your 5-second sketches? Sorry, but no.

This is pretty much how the rest of the world will react too.

Ever heard of “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”? Every person I meet is talented in some way or another, and they would all benefit from working hard. Hard work will never hurt you. It should not be something feared. Even if your project doesn’t succeed the way you expected, it is still something you can keep in your portfolio and may come in handy in the future. So if there’s anything stopping you from banging out a good short story, novel, or other creative project, I’d say shut up that inner voice that says you have no time, and just do it. Don’t wait for a better time when you’ll be a “better writer” (there will always be someone else out there who can write better than you).

Don’t wait and let your greatness pass you by.

And trust me, you have the time. If you have the time to check your Instagram/facebook for likes, or to play a game of candy crush, or to watch an episode off Netflix, you have time to write or work on your passion.

Happy writing, Ajay