Story Bible- Stingray

Let's begin with Interceptor, one of the most ambitious stories I've ever tried to make.

It takes place in a city called New Amsterdam, a spin-off of New York where the Dutch and Irish built their own miniature world in America.

Two sisters, Sara and Katrine-three years apart, reside in the rich parts of society with the grace of bored princesses. To escape from their affluent world, Katrina turns to music while Sara turns to mayhem- using an illegal jetpack to raise hell upon the city. When she's caught, it's up to Katrina, lovingly called Katy by Sara, to clean up the mess she made or let the police handle it. Then again, there wouldn't be a story if she chose the latter.

As she takes the mantle of the Stingray, the suit's alternate name, she brings her own form of justice to New Amsterdam. As she learns what it means to have a purpose, Katrina dives head on into the crime world Sara helped to revive.
The city of New Amsterdam will have its own hero as Katrina becomes someone different than the shadow her sister made her out to be.

Staring into the Void- Story/ Poem Idea

This is the most personal story I can write at this point. In the Jewish world, there's an aspect of dating where there's a medium in between called a Shadchan, or matchmaker. You all know about this through songs from A Fiddler on the Roof or other things, but you may not know of headaches, heartbreaks, and frustrations that come from it.
This hopes to not only shed a light on those problems but also the happy ending that usually comes from these matches and dates. This collection of poems will be called "Staring into the Void" and will have a few specific scenarios:
-The pressure when you come of age
-seeing everyone else getting married before you
-signing up to dating websites
-getting matched for the first time, and the massive failures that follow
-meeting someone through a friend, only to realize that your friend doesn't know you at all
-meeting the girl and doubting if she's actually the one you're willing to sink your love into
-the difficult breakup and heartbreak
-the mismatched match and inevitable frustration at the matchmaker
-the matchmaker's dilemma
-asking the same question from before, except from her point of view as well (kind of like the first one as well)
-the milestone dates
-meeting the parents
-the time to ask the big question
-calling the parents
-the veil and the void, as your soul finds its other half

These are some of the ideas as of now, but I'm willing to expand it. I hope to start it soon, maybe on this blog. We'll see.

tw- Depression SUCKS

Dear Me of the Future,

I hope you get this depression thing in check- get the right meds, seek comfort from truly loved ones and keep getting help- because right now, depression SUCKS. Like really badly. Like this is probably the fastest thing I'll write about today. I got to get this off of my shoulders.

So every winter since 2014 I've dealt with a serious bout, or bouts, of depression. It hits me like a ton of bricks and it takes a long time to get out of it. It just sucks... or blows...whichever one is worse.

It starts with something mundane, like spraining an ankle while training for a marathon or breaking up with someone, that sends it spiraling out of control. The results? Nothing short of the mental equivalency of having the flu, but in your mind. No physical symptoms similar to sickness like a fever or coughing up phlegm. I mean sitting in bed all day, losing interest in eating or sleeping, not caring about anything that happens around you, no urge to do anything productive, the absolute assertion that not only is everything meaningless, but that it will NEVER get better. It's how I ended up discovering that college just isn't for me- and the fact that apparently these depressive episodes have occurred since I was in HIGH SCHOOL doesn't make me feel any better about myself. I know I'm droning on, with barely any editing going into this post, but I seriously don't care. Depression is something pushed down by people who think it's a sign of weakness; hah, like the same way animated movies are "just for kids". They try to understand, but their frustration at how I act makes the situation even worse.

There are times that I need sympathy from those closest to me, and I never get it. They keep telling me to "keep my head up" or to cheer up but it never stops until the season passes. I don't know how on Earth I can stop this condition and whether or not it will ever be fixed. So future me, I hope you make sure to get rid of this before I end up going insane. It would be a good case study for some of my characters, but it's not something I would want to experience first-hand, like an LSD trip.

So 2016 happened... Beginnings at the End

This is nuts. Specifically, buckeyes (get it? Because Buckeye is one of the Lost? If you didn't get it, I wouldn't blame ya...)

Lame joke aside, this should have been written ages ago. I know I'm shouting into an empty room, but I don't really care. This is important to me.

So if any of you knew, I posted my story on Inkitt (fantastic website by the way...) and WOW! What a support group... for a few months. They featured my story on their home page and I was flying high! It was AWESOME. I got over 75 views a WEEK! Now it's kind of plateauing at 400 views after 6 months of being on the site, so maybe it's time to move on. Not really sure where to migrate now, but definitely open to new ideas.

Also, I haven't touched PP &TL in MONTHS. Mostly my fault, but I've been too busy graduating college and trying to get a substantial job to finance this expensive hobby to write any more new content. Right now, it's about re-releasing STTR, but it's going to take awhile to get it out there, as I'm only up to Chapter 6. Yeah, I know- but the edit is EXTENSIVE, be it removing full paragraphs or figuring out the best way to word a sentence to use the least amount of words. Depression doesn't help either.

The "Review" of The Second Star got, like, NO viewers, so that's not happening. Maybe I posted it incorrectly.  Anyways, I'm just gonna write for me, so you could share this blog with others or not- it doesn't matter to me. I'm going to avoid looking at the viewership, as it was just my own personal ego-trip, a half-witted attempt to one-up John Green somehow. Now, I'm just gonna keep it personal, so yeah, anyone reading this will be seeing spoilers abound here on this blog. I don't even care if anyone finds out about some big thing about the book here.

SPOILERS from here on, if anyone cares.

Speaking of the book, Peter Pan and the Lost is stuck at this one really crucial point that I just can't get around. The story orbits around a Fairy Festival at this point, soon to be spoiled by a new batch of Roarers led by Captain Hook. This festival is kind of like the way generic JRPGs begin, with the inciting incident that introduces all of the main elements of the story. The main elements here are, essentially, a treasure map, Foxtail's extended tail, Maple and Talon watching from the distance, introducing all of the Indians by name (which could be incredibly racist if done wrong) and bringing all of the characters together. However, it starts well, with Lively's Dance and Rising Sun's extended tail to Foxtail, as well as other gifts to be given to other members of the tribe. It sets up our understanding of the characters involved; Buckeye's gift is to someone he has a crush on (Rising Sun), Lively's creativity and boundless energy, Foxtail's pain, Rising Sun's Generosity, Tiger Lily's Leadership and Bravery, Soaring Eagle's Pride (the good kind), Peter Pan's innocence and levity, Queen Mab(of the fairies)'s compassion and enjoyment.

Yet here is a problem. We reach Foxtail's pain. It's not good, because he's from a broken home, an abusive childhood and now is in paradise, a breather of sorts and a place to embrace his pain and make it better for himself. Yet it stops all of the good energy right in its tracks as he presents his gift to the rest of the group- his personal story...
Wait, maybe he can forget about it and just tell Lively later? Huh... that's not a bad idea...
.....................................................................................................................................
So I just fixed the problem and it actually WORKS!! Him forgetting to tell his story and telling the others that he forgot actually makes him a braver character. Yes, we're back on track!! This is gonna be fun. Of course, it will need a heavy edit, but now it's something.

Anyways, what we have learned from this part of the story is that dancing changes any sad mood into a happier one. Maybe that's nothing new, but it definitely feels new to me.

At this point, I have nothing else to report, but now I'm just proud that I found a continuation of the story and a place to think about other stories, even if anyone can see these. 

I don't honestly care anymore.

This blog is meant to be sloppy, as the greatest talent a person can have is to create something great, inspirational and amazing amidst the chaos.

That's what this blog is about- the rough drafts, the weird stories with disconnected plotlines and uncovered holes. The worlds under construction. The characters with half-planned arcs. The unfinished conflicts and villains.

That's what I plan on writing about in 2017. This is my resolution.

All of the stories I have planned, all 31 of them, will be written down as plotlines/ story bibles at some point on this blog. Screw it if people read this or not. I'm not going to chase anyone too much to read more about my stories. Anyone can write a blog like this, but mine will be different; I'm going to write unfinished stories and rough drafts for the world to either critique or change for themselves. Or I'll change them at some point in the future, which will be what happens anyway.

SO...

If you read this far, then congratulations! You're officially a friend of mine! If you comment, that's even better! If you don't, then whatever, we cool. Enjoy the rest of 2016 and

                                                     as always,

                                                                         see you in the sunlight!

From my world to yours,

Zach Neuman

Obligatory hiatus status update

I know, I know. It's been a while, so I'll keep it brief.

1) Peter Pan and the Lost is taking much longer than expected. I'm stuck at a somber point in the story that I just can't get around. The Summer 2017 deadline will have to be pushed ahead if it's going to be the final version, which it probably won't anyway. More likely it will be released in early 2018 if anyone is asking.

2) A new version of STTR is being edited and will be available as soon as possible. I will definitely let you all know when that happens. Until then, the older version is available for less than 1$ on amazon now.

3) Other projects have been continued as well. Pokemon: TPI has some new content on Wattpad, as well as Stingray: Flight. More to come on those as well, but STTR and PP&TL are a top priority, even though Pokemon has been getting significantly more views on Fanfiction.net. Will try to let you know as more content is made.

That's about it as of now, but you'll be hearing from me soon enough. Can't wait to share better news with you all soon.

Always there to see you in the Sunlight,

Zach Neuman

Sample part- Lively's Dance

Okay, so I just wrote a really fun segment for Lively. I'll give you some setup and you could read it.

So there's a fairy festival taking place where each person gives something to the festival, whether it be prepared or made up on the spot. For this segment, Lively is presenting her gift to the fairies:

“Lively,” Tiger Lily called out, “It’s your turn.”

       All eyes turned to her as she swiftly rose from her seat. She glided towards the center of the circle, her hands behind her back. Foxtail watched in awe as she leapt towards the center circle.

“I’d like to present to the Lovely Queen of the Fairies, a song and dance.”

She called to the wind to play the song they practiced. She saluted to the fairies as the trees started the symphony. The whole island heard flutes, horns, drums and fifes of other worlds. An orchestra of phenomenal sounds enveloped the universe. A song was heard in the ears of millions of children, and half of the world smiled at the same time.

       Then Lively began to dance. She positioned her feet at a graceful angle, her hands beside her slender body. Her pirouettes followed her high steps as she leapt above the fires. She circled the world with every spin and danced to the beat she felt inside. She cartwheeled, jumped, spun, jitterbugged, shimmied, swung her feet and waved her hands in intricate moves, as if making it all up.

       The rest of Neverland joined in. First, Foxtail, Buckeye and Morning Sun. Then Tinker Bell and Fireflyer, then Tiger Lily and Soaring Eagle, and the rest of the soldiers. Peter Pan flew above with his flute playing at full blast while Queen Mabs and the fairies flew in tight circles around the procession. The whole island danced as Lively’s song intensified above the world. An artist got inspired in Greenwich Village. A composer found a melody in the East End. A certain mermaid princess and her servants danced in moonlit lagoons before rushing to investigate the sounds. A boy and his crocodile suddenly felt curious to where the sounds came from and even danced along as they floated towards the sound.

       By the time the set ended, they each had danced when the other wasn’t looking. Faires got so excited they sprinkled their explosive dust over the flames, shooting up fireworks over the whole island, setting the sky ablaze with bright pinks and reds mixed with yellows and golds. The whole world felt happier, and the universe was grateful.

Sample Chapter 6- Peter Pan & The Lost

The grottos crawled underneath Neverland, bringing flowing water along with winding paths above the surface of the river. Electric eels illuminated the water’s surface as the two of them trekked along in silence. Foxtail and Lively were too curious to be scared of the darkness. They knew that the only things that scared them was their own imagination, so they only thought the happiest things possible. Each time one of them had a happy thought, the eels shined brighter, the water flowed calmer and they smiled at each other. Foxtail’s tail would whip around in excitement and Lively’s freckles would dance.

“HELLOOOOooooooooo.”

The calls echoed through until it bounced back to them.

“Helloooooo,” Foxtail called back, “Hoooowwww arrrrrrrrre yoooooooou?”

“FaaaaaaaanTASTIC!” Lively replied to hoots of laughter. The eels shined another way to go. Foxtail’s tail could whip a fly away from 15 feet. Lively’s freckles danced a konga line.

       Rivers of glowing light flowed throughout the cave, even glowing from the ceiling, to a bright opening on the other side. It opened to another side of Neverland, overlooking a coral reef surrounded by shady mangroves and birch shoots. Brightly coloured fish dotted the water as they looked out beyond blue waters, catching a glimpse of Maple dancing with her mermaids alongside the horizon of blue colour.

       As they skipped on the water’s ripples and crawled through the wave’s holes, they didn’t speak a word. Foxtail and Lively knew each other well enough not to need conversation between them all of the time. Besides, the Fairy Festival would be coming up soon, and they needed a gift to present to the fairy queen. Lively had already chosen a gift, but Foxtail needed an idea. As they reached the other side and found different ways to climb the same thicket, Foxtail still hadn’t thought of a good idea.

“Hey, Lively?”

“Yeah Foxtail?”

“What can I get them?”

“Get who?”

“The Fairy Queen and the Indians. I can’t think of anything to get for them.”

“Why not something scary?”

“But that would scare away the children.”

“That’s true…”

Lively plopped a finger onto her chin as her feet flew through the leaves.

“I would get them something gross.”

“You have the worst ideas.”

“At least I have a few. Unlike someone who doesn’t have any.”

She jolted a shoulder upwards as her eyes rolled to the trees.

“You asked me. I told you what I have in mind for you to get them…at least what I’m thinking of right now.”

“What in Neverland could you be thinking that is scary and gross?”

Lively hadn’t been looking where she glided until she fell flat into a mud puddle.

BLORP

Her eyes pierced through the mud dripping off her face.

“I guess that was it.”

She looked down at her favourite shirt covered in mud… and had an idea.

“Here, catch!”

She gripped a splatter of mud and threw it at him, smacking him straight in the face.

“Oh you clumsy clod! I’ll get you back for that!”

He rushed her into the mud pile, sending sloppy mud everywhere. By the time their ruckus ended, there wasn’t a single drop on the ground, and a dozen fairies laughing along with the two mud-soaked children in the distance.

They decided to cool off in one of the many lagoons floating above the island, swaying atop a massive flamingo indifferent to the two children climbing atop its massive legs. As they slithered into the warm waters, they didn’t notice someone watch them from above the flamingo’s head.

“’Allo, muddy freaks!”

They slunk backwards as they recognized the mermaid princess.

“Where are your mermaids, O great and talented one?” Lively didn’t know of sarcasm, only genuine emotions; that was fear. Foxtail admirably watched her bravery.

“Them? They’re too afraid to come up here. Besides, they’re napping not too far away. You seem not to scary, so I can trust you. Right?"

The two of them nodded as their mud slipped away, keeping the water clean. She slid down the flamingo’s neck and into the blue water, the three children fitting comfortably in the lagoon.

“Why is your name Maple?”

“Why is yours… Wait, I don’t know yours. What are they anyway?”

The two of them took glances, as if giving away a deep secret. Then they brought their faces back towards hers and Lively spoke first.

“I’m Lively and this is Foxtail. He’s got a tail and Peter tells me I’m ener-getic. He never explained what that word means. Maybe I should ask him.”

“He’s got a what?!” Maple’s eyes opened wide as not only did she hear that, but when Foxtail actually showed her his tail, she actually got to see one. Something definitely was odd about this place…

“So who’s Peter?”

Foxtail tried stopping her, but she said it anyway.

“He was the one who attacked you yesterday… well, by accident.”

“Yeah, he didn’t know who you were…”

“So why did he do it if he didn’t know me?”

They both shrugged their shoulders simultaneously. Maple raised an eyebrow in contemplation. Her arms stretched as far around the lagoon as possible, as if her personal lounge chair. A cloud lazily drifted between the flamingo’s legs.

“So, how did you get to this crazy island?”

“No idea,” Lively put a finger to her chin again.

“The last thing I remember was waking up here, with a big bandage on my head, like I had fallen into Neverland. Wait, I don’t remember falling… I have no idea how I got here. What about you?”

Foxtail’s eyes looked upwards in thought while Maple readied herself to answer the question. By the time she began to answer, they all felt the water cool down to uncomfortable levels so they all agreed to jump into the ocean below. The waters eagerly ran up to greet the three of them, as the mermaids rushed up to greet them.

“Before you greet me, meet Lively and Foxtail. They are my friends, and therefore yours as well. That is the rule of the waters. Capisce?”

Azure agreed on behalf of the rest of them and brought them all to the warm mainland, the sand warm to the touch and drying their bodies as they lay on the sand with the Mermaid princess. She weaved her tale with big words and hand waves, mesmerizing Azure, Lively, Silverfin, Sirena, Dolphin, Foxtail and Madeline with how she got to Neverland. As they walked together into the darkening brush and to the festival, Foxtail knew what gift to give to the Indians and Queen Mabs of the fairies.