Author: Derik Lopes

Five Years

There is something that I realized that I haven’t thought of before. Five years ago, I started writing my first idea for a book series. I can’t even begin the number of rough drafts that I scrapped because I thought it didn’t make sense. There was a moment when I thought I had crafted the work into a finished product. Only to start from scratch because I felt that something didn’t sit right with the plot or the characters. And if I didn’t take the time, I’d put myself in a hiatus for such a long time. It was a relentless struggle that I had to repeat.

But that wasn’t until earlier this year, when I finally published my first work. Book One of Before Ember, The Withered.

Granted, this is classified as a novella due to the length. But I always found quality much more important than quantity. And this will serve as a starting point for what I have in store for the rest of the series. As of now, I’m currently working on Book Two and I haven’t stopped myself. Believe me when I say that it will be longer than the first.

I’ve heard that some authors take ten years to perfect their writing. On one hand, it definitely motivates me to keep things going with my writing. On the other hand, it gives me some clarity knowing that I’m not the only one who tends to struggle. And I believe that no matter how long it takes, you’re able to get your ideas out there. Much the same to those who want to follow along on the adventures people can make!

If you’re interested in reading my novella, please consider purchasing a copy and leaving a review on Amazon! Your support means a lot to me! And I cannot thank you enough!

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Writing for Fun #1

Daily writing prompt
List your top 5 favorite fruits.
View all responses

There is no question about what my top 5 favorite fruits are.

#1 – Grapes

This is something I indulge in the most. If I’m to be specific, I prefer to have white/green seedless grapes. Not that there is anything wrong with the red/purple grapes. It’s just that the flavor of the green grapes is delectable. And they make for a nice, healthy snack aside from chips.

#2 – Pineapples

At a young age, I hated the idea of pineapples, and yet I don’t recall ever having tried one before. Especially when it comes to the whole pineapple on pizza fiasco. Luckily, I had a change of heart and decided to try one as an adult. If I could go back and tell young me that he would eventually like pineapples, he probably wouldn’t believe me. But I’m glad I finally did!

#3 – Bananas

A classic fruit. Have it for breakfast almost every morning. If I were to choose between an apple, an orange, or a banana… I would always go with the banana. And I believe that eating a banana is nutritious and beneficial for heart health, which is very important to me.

#4 – Blueberries

Mix them into a smoothie, put them in yogurt, eat them in a small little bowl. Whatever you may choose, they always taste great. Much like the banana, it also can help the heart. Not only that, but it also helps with your brain health as well. The brain is just as important as the heart.

#5 – Dragon Fruit

This last one is complex and probably doesn’t get as much attention as the other fruits. But every now and then, I’d get and eat a dragon fruit because of how different the taste is. And that is something I can appreciate. Maybe it is just me, but that is how I perceive it when I think of dragon fruits.

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One Hour

Back when I was young, I didn’t care to exercise or even spend time outside. I wanted to spend countless hours watching television and playing video games. Into adulthood… I still do those things, but I spend a solid amount of time outdoors doing whatever comes to mind.

The more days I’ve spent sheltered, my mind has become mushy to the point where I am unable to think up the words when I am writing. It has especially affected the process in trying to write my first book in the Before Ember series. Almost two to three years to be specific. And I hated every minute of myself.

A way to describe it was the feeling you get when you sink right down into a giant pool of water with no way of getting back up to the surface. To not be in that situation, you’d need a little nudge in order to help yourself. Because no one is going to do all the work for you.

I’ve learned from my mother that at least over an hour should be spent outside. It was an interesting and rather low number. Though once I came around and took her word for it, my stance has changed for the better.

Whether it’d be exercise, going for a walk, visiting your favorite places or meeting up with friends, an hour is all it takes to balance both body and mind. I for one was astounded when I noticed the drastic change it showed.

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100 Books

I am a slow reader. Though I consider that to be beneficial.

While it is fine to read at a faster pace, the one thing I came to learn when it comes to reading is the engagement with the material. Each and every word you comprehend proves how complacent you can be in understanding what is happening in the story. And I also believe that the books you read can determine what you engage with the most.

I’ve come to learn that after setting a goal for myself. And that is simply to read 100 books on my own term. I consider this as an experiment or an item to be marked off of a bucket list. Granted, there are people who have read more than that and that is perfectly fine. But to set a specific number, it is like setting up a tool that will provide the best results. A specific author, the writing style, the length, and the genre. Those are what it comes down to when figuring out which reading material you engage with the most.

So far, I’m almost half-way through my goal. Having read about 47 books on my own term, I can say that what I’ve read so far speaks to the style that I am searching for. To be fair, they are all fiction. But for the genres, I seemed to have mostly engaged with books that have fantasy or horror elements. From what I have read, I came to the conclusion that both of those genres are deep-rooted with clear imagery whilst leaving room for mysterious elements to be left unanswered. And I believe that is what I engage with the most. It certainly inspired me in my writing style for my book.

Whether you want to read slow or fast, setting a specific number of books to read can be a fun little experiment to see what material you decide to dip your toes into. And as you mark which book you read after the next one, you can see a growth or an evolution on how different the reading material changes as you keep going.

I can’t wait until I reach 100! It may take some time, but I am capable of reaching a number that big!

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From Start to Finish

At this moment, I am working on the next title for the Before Ember series. And it made me think about the difficulty in writing a whole book on my own again.

It was quite a challenge writing the first book, The Withered. About six years I’d say had been spent figuring out how to lay out the story. Many times, I have changed the plot, the characters, the setting, the themes, everything that you can think of! Not to mention, I have also struggled with health issues that prevented me from going back. There were times when I couldn’t even remember where I last left off. And because of that, I’ve had to start from scratch a couple of times. But after some sessions and the loving support from my family, I eventually prevailed and managed to finish what I had started.

If you’re interested, check out my book on Amazon!

One key factor that allowed me to see this through to the end was the idea of a story never getting its conclusion. And unfortunately, there are many different stories that might not be finished. One example I can think of is Hunter X Hunter. Another is an underrated cartoon called Infinity Train (if anyone knows that show, you rock). Both of them are great, but they are both struggling for different reasons. For Hunter X Hunter, it is on a hiatus due to the author’s (Yoshihiro Togashi) health issues. And as for Infinity Train, it got cancelled due to the darker elements and mature storylines that children would not be able to relate to. Either way, it is incredibly disheartening that these series might not be able to continue and finish.

So, for me, I don’t want that to happen to me down the line. Whether it’s because I am suffering health issues again or financial problems, I’d want to see these stories I have held in my mind come to fruition. Because they are begging to be written out!

A good form of practice that I have used to keep up with the writing process is reaching a word count. Many authors have practiced this method. For some, they would write 1000 words a day. Others have gone over and done 5000 words a day. For me, I stick to the 1000 words.

Another suggestion would be to get some exercise. After all, a healthy body will lead to a healthy mind. It has certainly helped clear my head. A simple walk through the park would also help to. An hour spent outside would be more than beneficial.

Any method is important if you want to craft and write out your story from start to finish. At the end of it all, you can give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done! And I am very thankful to those who have supported me throughout the process! It means a lot!

I cannot wait to get the ball rolling for this next book of mine!

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The Beauty of Worldbuilding

So, I’ve only recently published my first book this month! And it made me reflect on everything that got me to that point. Not just in terms of the storyline.

Now, like many others, I found myself as someone who can be creative if you really put your mind to it. More often than not, it had a lasting effect on me since I was a young child. I mean, has there ever been a time during your childhood where your imagination runs wild? To the point where you can almost visually experience it through your own eyes? That was me. And that is where we can integrate that through worldbuilding.

First, you imagine the characters, almost the same as having an imaginary friend. Next, you pretend that you’re in this world with them or you imagine the world for them. And finally, you make up a story. As you grow, you then start to put that kind of mindset to practice through worldbuilding.

Once you do, you can start laying out the details like a blueprint. For me, I had the inspiration to finally draw some maps for my fantasy world. At the beginning, it didn’t stick. That and I wasn’t the best when it came to drawing.

Compared to how it was as a kid, worldbuilding does take a lot when it comes to setting things in motion. As a kid, you don’t think much about the details. Maybe you only thought about a forest or cave. Now, you start to rethink about the landmasses, landmarks, the cities, the towns, everything.

And there are many different factors that can bolster the worldbuilding. Inspirations such as architecture, culture, and social interactions also play a vital role. It can be as detailed as you want it to be. And it can also be as simple as serving yourself an apple for breakfast.

It can be tiresome because you might sometimes think that it is not good enough. Everyone might think that you are not very innovative with your ideas. That is called being in a thinking trap. I have ended up in those thinking traps, more than once, every time I throw an idea in the trash. But as soon as you finish what you’ve started, your confidence and self-expression can stand out.

And the best part? You can put in as many stories as you want.

With that being said, it is imperative that if we want to be creative and share, we have to allow ourselves to let the creative juices flow. Even if you weren’t imaginative at an early age, it is always possible to accomplish something when you put your heart and mind into it.

And that has to be where the beauty of it originates. Many times, people have approached life in a more tactical and logical way. And that is fine. For those who’ve held onto that creative side of themselves, they can break free and let loose their own style.

And at the end of it, the kid you once were would be very happy and proud of what you were able to do as an adult!

I can proudly say that I have crafted a fantasy world and I’m very excited to share some more stories in the future!

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Graphic Novels, Literature or Not?

So far, I’ve read 40 books on my own! And now I’ve started to wonder, are graphic novels considered literature?

I believe they are because they can carry various themes. And at the end of the day, you’re still reading it page by page.

An example I can give is TMNT: The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman.

This was one of the first graphic novels I’ve read, and the story is unreal!

The themes in this alone we’re enough to hold my attention!

Anything that has been written for the purpose of storytelling should be considered as literature. There is some clear inspiration behind it. A lot of heart can be put into it. And something as significant as graphic novels can help encourage others to craft their own works.

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Storytelling Habits

To kick things off, storytelling habits is something everyone is prone to. Whether or not they intend to tell it or not, everyone has their own walks of life. For me, I have some stories to tell, and I hope that they can help in some way. Before Ember is just the beginning.

In short, I’ve thought of the idea for the series all because of the countless times I’ve spent in front of the fireplace. Seeing the fire burn the wood until eventually it dies out, you’d always see small traces of ember linger. That is where I thought of the title for the series. In terms of the story itself, it varies across more than one inspiration. And I can’t say too much as it would give it away. But let’s just say that it centers around the important needs that everyone needs to live. And there are five to count.

The habits that I’ve had in storytelling included imagining characters and their traits. Visualizing the world that they live in and the people they interact with. Pretty much on par to reality except not reflective of it. I’ve even tried to draw sketches of the world as a kid.

This idea I’ve had has been locked away in my mind for almost six to seven years. And it will certainly be exciting to bring it to life and to share! In the end, my storytelling habits is all about the fun I’ve had.

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