Exposition vs Dialogue

So, instead of writing, I wasted my Sunday watching Jessica Jones on Netflix. No, actually it WASN'T a waste.

I spent the time introducing a friend to the character. Something I never did when the source material Alias was published. The on screen adaptation was a much better product than the comic. But I think the greatest benefit was what *I* learned from the Netflix series.

Unlike (too) many "crime procedurals", the series had a wonderful balance of expository dialogue and natural conversation. Of course, a  visual medium has an easier time *showing instead of telling*, but many creators seem to forget that. Comics, Graphic Novels, Movies and Television often stick us in an observation booth watching characters speak to *US* rather than each other. I don't need you to give me a step by step breakdown if it's not natural. Put in the effort to make the information conversational, exclude it or give me a nice editorial popup/addendum.

Of course, the problem of providing your reader information becomes magnified in the prose medium.What's the best way to describe settings, provide backstory or share informational tidbits? These are some of the questions I'll be asking myself, this weekend, as I do a second pass on many of my earlier scenes, trying to remove POV narration where possible and replace with natural dialogue.

NANOWRIMO

November has been branded National Novel Writing Month by a number of writers. The annual effort involves aiming for a minimum of 50,000 words put on paper for your novel.

Now, I was unaware of this until Nov 2nd, but truly believe the push/goal will serve as much needed motivation. So, I signed up. Turns out 50 hour work weeks don't become more seldom just because you need spare time. Still, I'm not planning to sacrifice quality for speed. I've found myself going over the first few pages of chapter one.

My philosophy is pretty simple: "there is writing, there is creative writing and there is good creative writing." My goal therefore is better quality than Brian Bendis' "hack-writing" in Uncanny X-men #600. Ideas are great. But it takes effort (as well as skill) to execute an idea. The less skill you have, the more effort it requires. "Hack writing" is exemplified by rushed low-quality work done to fulfill "quantity over quality".

Writing, the final act of putting words on paper, takes a lot of effort. There will be corrections, and expansions and edits. But, the most important precursor is the effort put into the creative ideas. Fleshing out characters, create plots, expanding plots, doing research, etc. etc.

So, I'll continue to ensure that my "creative ideas" don't suffer from "rushed low-quality writing".

So, I've extrapolated my idea into a full-fledged story concept. Of course, this novella will be a "prequel" of sorts, since most of my previous writing is set years after this.

I have named my protagonists, antagonist and story. This weekend will see a deep dive into the characters; adding depth with backstory, traits etc.

I do find myself emboldened with my naming strategy. Turns out Greg Rucka, (a writer I admire), used a similar tact with his recently published comic series. "Great minds..and all that jazz".

So, "House of Cards" is officially underway

THE QUIRITE OATH

To Runci To Cetushi

They say ‘tis a curse

To live this long

But for frail and weak

We right all wrong

To Runci To Midini

‘Pon Ebon wings of wrath

Judgment falls like lightning

Evil shall know fear

Be it borne by peasant or King

MARVEL MILLENNIUM PART II

Found the original  synopsis for the alternate universe I envisioned 15 years ago. Marvel actually published some similar ideas, years later.

Our timeline breaks from marvel continuity after Bishop and prof X return to Earth.
Senator Kelly has won the presidency. He's instituted the Mutant Registration act but it's a lot like a gun license.
Info received is supposed to be confidential. He's also instituted Mutant Affirmative Action, concentrating on mutants who are obviuosly (physically mutants). Prof. X has established a spinoff of his Xavier Institue. It's located in Jamaica, The (Foundation for Instruction and Registration of Mutants - F.I.R.M.)
Wolvie, Storm, Forge , and Bishop all head to JA to be in charge.

MARVEL MILLENNIUM PART I

I wrote this 15 years ago as part of a multi-writer fan fiction universe. This prologue was to springboard into an alternate reality dubbed "MARVEL MILLENNIUM". Then life (more precisely 5 years of college ) got in the way. It seems appropriate to anchor this here as I return to publishing my scribbles.

Disclaimer: Robert Kelly and Cable are copyright © Marvel Entertainment and are used without
permission for non-profit, fan-fiction entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.
This original story is copyright ©2001 by Robert Redway. 


THE DREAM'S END
{N.B. The following contains excerpts from X-Men #108 written by Chris Claremont}

Senator Robert Kelly, Presidential candidate, looked at the crowd standing before him. Their faces conveying hope in him and his campaign.
Hope that their faith in him was justified. 
Hope that he would provide the solution to the "MUTANT THREAT" they had so long feared.
Hope that by becoming President, Kelly would ensure their safety.
It was time he fulfilled that trust. 
"My fellow Americans, during this campaign I've talked a lot about fear."
He noticed a reporter furrow her brow.
"Fear of the unknown," he continued, "of the future, of our neighbours, of
ourselves."
"That fear -- and the unreasoning hatred that grows from it -- is our
enemy." He noticed the young lady's interest pique.
Then he noticed Nathan become fidgety. His most loyal bodyguard, a member of the mutant team the X-Men appeared to be in deep thought.
"Nathan?" he questioned.
"A crisis, Senator. I'm needed elsewhere," was Cable's reply.
Kelly had known Cable for a short time, but he knew anything Cable classified as a crisis was unequivocally dire.
"Go then, don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he replied telepathically.
"I'll be quick," Nathan said, as he hurried to the back of the podium.
The Senator took a deep breath and continued his speech.
"That's why I asked you college volunteers to sit down for this talk. You're the reason I'm here, why it's so important to take this stand. We hold this world in trust for our posterity, yet we see around us so many - too
many - instances of one generation passing on the torch of violence to its children." Images of the West Bank massacres flowed unbidden through his mind, then, he thought of Genosha.
"Those days - those ways - must end!"
" A great man once said, ' until the philosophies, which hold one race superior than another, are finally, and permanently, discredited, and abandoned, everywhere is war', let the war end now!" 
He surveyed the gathering for reactions.
" African, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, Jew, Catholic, Protestant, Heterosexual, Homosexual, Mutant, Non-mutant."
" So many classifications, so many ways to segregate. One thing remains the same." He paused.
" We are all human."
" My friends, differences will always occur, ranging from the philosophical to the physical. The mark of a truly superior species is overcoming those differences. Whether you dislike their views, or hate their shoes,
acceptance of your neighbours' rights to life is what makes us HUMAN."
" It is with that knowledge that I say to you."
Suddenly Cable rushed forward shouting, "Gun!"
" Race traitor, you lied to us!"
The young man's words pained Kelly more than the four bullets that sped from the gun into his body.
Would this be how he was remembered? Did his words fall on deaf ears? Was this child the face of the future? 

The boy.

"Don't hurt him! Please.He's just a kid! My fault, for not understanding.sooner" He gasped for air.
All these years spent hating mutants, blaming them for Sharon's death. To now be cradled in Nathan's arms.
Cable's eyes watered. "Stop trying to talk, conserve your strength!"
"Where are the medics? We need an ambulance here!"
"Don't give up Nathan. On your dream...or on..humanity." Kelly's consciousness began to fade.
"We're a young species. We make mistakes, but give us a chance to grow.we may.surprise you. yet."
The last thing Kelly heard as he slipped into the light were Cable's murmurs, "No, no, no."

"No!"

The doors opened suddenly, as four Secret Service agents raced in with guns unholstered.
" Mr. President? Are you alright sir?" questioned one of the agents.
The President of the United States, sweat streaming down his face, looked around bewildered.
When he regained his composure he replied, "Yes Bradley, I'm fine. Simply suffering the end of a dream, that's all."
And as the men returned to their posts, each questioning what just happened, President Robert Kelly returned to sleep.