Good evening, Readers!

Yes, I’m incredibly late writing this. I forgot all about it last night when I usually schedule the morning’s blog posts... and I’m also feeling a little depressed and finding my usual routine difficult to maintain.

That is evident in my writing goals this week.

​For the first time since starting to track my writing, I didn’t make my daily goal on any of the days. Granted, it was just she each time, but that adds up.

In the end, of my weekly goal of 5 000 words, I wrote only 4 917.

I don’t have my usual photo. I can’t be arsed to take and upload it.

I bad week was bound to happen. I’m surprisingly okay with this. There might be two reasons for this. The first is that, as part of my depression, I can’t find the energy to feel much of anything. I’m blank, empty. There’s just nothing there. The other reason might be that I’ve made some progress with my perfectionism. I mean, I still made progress with the book, and that’s not nothing.

Writing is a marathon, not a sprint.

It takes time.

It’s okay not to hit goals sometimes.

That’s my mantra for this week.

I’m still writing and that’s what counts.

Right, I have to go and get tomorrow’s blog post written.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

It's Untamed Monday! Yay! For me anyway.

Right, episode eleven...

We open the episode with Meng Yao walking away, being interrupted by Nie Huaisang, who is told by Meng Yao that he has been banished. This results in a rare flash of bravery as Nie Huaisang confronts his brother demanding to know why. Nie Mingjue doesn't give any answers. He instead urges WWX and Jiang Chen to go home to Lotus Cove, and then mentions that he can offer LXC no more help than to wish him safety.

We go then to Lotus Cove, which is fucking stunning, by the way (but I think scenery-wise I still prefer the Cloud Recesses... It snows there). Jiang Chen and WWX are greeted by a happy populace, and it's clear that they are beloved by their people - and also don't hold themselves too high above the regular folk. There's a lovely brother bonding moment when WWX and Jiang Chen await their father, pondering what punishment they're going to get. There isn't one, incidentally. Instead, there is a pleasant family dinner.

Or it would have been pleasant. Jiang Chen's mother shows up, and hoy boy, she's in a mood, folks. Granted, she's angry because her husband has decided to give the Wen Clan what they want - her son, but as WWX is not an heir to the Jiang Clan, he can decide for himself. She's feeling pissed that this interloper into their family is being treated better than her son. But that doesn't excuse her snapping at Jiang Chen and pointing out that he's so much weaker than WWX, and chastising him for even associating with the mischief-maker. Poor Jiang Chen. He doesn't deserve that. But it also explains a lot of what is going to happen and why Jiang Chen is the way he is later on.

We then go to LWJ, who is on the road, walking as quickly as I've ever seen him move to get to Gusu and his brother. He narrowly avoids a trap and ends up face to face with Wen Chao and his bodyguard, who's name is Wen Zhuliu. Wen Chao attempts to send his dog after LWJ, but the young cultivator instead casts a charm that distracts them and then vanishes. Wen Zhuliu asks if they should chase him and Wen Chao tells him not. His brother, Wen Xu, is now at the Cloud Recesses, and LWJ would be arriving to basically ashes.

We cut to Gusu, and see fighting. So many poor disciples in white getting cut down. Did they not teach sword-fighting in the Cloud Recesses? Was it all memorizing the rules? LXC and Lan Qiren are meditating when sounds of battle reach them, and then Su She runs in to tell them of the attack. Lan Qiren spits blood. I think it has to do with the poison talisman that Wen Xu is wearing, but I'm not sure. The whole sudden spitting blood thing confuses me. But... there is a small argument where LXC tells Lan Qiren to take the books from the library and escape with them. Lan Qiren refuses, pointing out that as Clan Leader, LXC is duty bound to survive to ensure the clan survives, so he must take the books and escape. Lan Qiren will take the surviving disciples to the Cold Pond. They will be safe. No one without a headband would be able to get in.

We get another lovely family scene in Lotus Cove before we're back in Gusu, just outside the hidden entrance to the Cold Pond. Wen Xu shows up and clashes with Lan Qiren. Lan Qiren is still spitting blood, and so almost loses. Who should show up but LWJ, who saves his uncle with the killer strings technique on his qin.

They make their escape into the Cold Pond, but some poor disciples are stuck outside, including Su She, who ends up being a coward and spilling all the beans. Inside the cave, LWJ can hear everything happening outside - including the disciples being murdered. He decides to take the Yin Iron to Wen Xu, noting that their predecessor Lan Yi told him to act with a clear conscience. He couldn't sit by and let the disciples be killed.

So, out he goes. Of the group just outside of the Cold Pond, only Su She is saved. But, the Wen Clan does retreat from the Cloud Recesses, leaving the remaining disciples alive, taking LWJ and the Yin Iron with them. But not before breaking LWJ's leg.

We get another lovely scene at Lotus Cove to break up the tension and sadness. There's archery practice. They're aiming at kites. Jiang Chen misses the last one. Naturally WWX hits it.

We cut now to the throne room of the Nightless city, where a hapless peon is begging Wen Ruohan for mercy. Instead, Wen Ruohan wakes up his puppets, some of which are looking pretty gnarly, and they rip the poor bastard up. Wen Qing is there and witnesses the whole thing. Ruohan then threatens her brother with the same fate if she ever interferes with Wen Clan plans for domination again (she spared WWX and LWJ, remember). Wen Qing promises she will obey from now on.

Back at Lotus Cove, WWX and Jiang Chen wave goodbye to their homes. Perhaps for the last time... who knows?

Then we're at the Nightless City. WWX and Jiang Chen arrive to find the heirs of the major families there, except LWJ. Wen Chao show up and insults his new students, before saying, "You may as well bring him." And then...

It's LWJ.

There are some slow mo shots on WWX's face when he sees LWJ. He tries to get his crush's attention, but LWJ is, well, LWJ and ignores him.

Then, as a final insult, Wen Chao orders his students to turn in their swords; their swords. Their spiritual tools. The Lan Clan, strict as they were, never asked that of their students. Everyone gets tense.

And so ends the episode.

What I Liked

The sword fighting in this was, for what we saw, was still quite good - not as dorky as past episodes. So no complaints there.  Also, the storm clouds are finally starting to roll in. Our heroes are in the nest of their (current) enemy, essentially held hostage to force compliance from their parents. Their about to lose a major part of their cultivation abilities (their swords. I'm not sure how it works, exactly, but I've decided that they're kinda like wands in the Harry Potter universe), and the Wen Clan is threatening obliteration to anyone who stands in their way.

As for whatever progress WWX made in connecting with LWJ, that seems to have been pretty much reversed for now. That sucks. Though, granted, LWJ really isn't the type to go running into someone's arms.

What Could Have Been Better

I think writing anything here would be asking for too damned much. That said, I'm still fuzzy on why Lan Qiren randomly started spitting blood. I think it's the talisman that Wen Xu had on him during the attack, but I am not clear on it. Why was Lan Qiren the only one affected if it was thing that had an area of effect. Otherwise it was a directed attack at Lan Qiren, and I'm really not sure how that would work. That could have been clearer.

Other than that, I'm still really loving this series.

Good morning, Readers!

It’s probably just pandemic brain, but I’m feeling very unattached to everything right now. I’m going through the motions. I wake, pack the lunch I made the night before, go to work. I work, eat lunch, write, return to work. I return home, make lunch for the following day, feed the cat, and retire to bed to read or watch YouTube and cuddle the cat.

”?????????????????????????????????????

I apologize. That was the cat. He’s decided I’m not paying enough attention to him and so stepped on the keyboard. Update: he’s taken over my lap, leaving no room for my iPad. What an adorable jerk.

The iPad is now resting on the cat, the keyboard at an odd angle against my tummy. I apologize for the inevitable typos.

Right, where was I? Oh yes. I’m going through the motions.

I don’t like it. I feel hollow. This all seems pointless, you know?

Not the writing. The writing is not pointless. It’s one of the only times I’m so focussed on something that the hollowness fades and I’m alive. But even then, when my writing session is done, I question why I bother. It doesn’t support me (financially). It likely never will. So why bother? Why am I even trying? Still. Always trying. Never getting anywhere. A hamster in a wheel. Sisyphus pushing the rock only to fail and have to start again. And again. And again. Without point or purpose. I’m just pushing that rock to push the rock; a hopeless task.

They say insanity is trying the same thing over and over, expecting different results. What does that subscribe if not my writing journey?

Write, submit, get rejected.

Write, submit. get rejected.

And even I know that isn’t actually true. I have two books published with a small press - it may be three soon, I don’t know (they agreed to take on my backlist, starting with Sky Road Walker, but I’m not sure when that’s coming out, if ever). That might grow with these next few books, though I fully expect to be caught in the Write, Submit, Get Rejected cycle all over again.

So it’s not like I’ve gone nowhere at all.

And still, it feels like I’m going nowhere with anything. Not just writing, but my life.

I don’t have a place of my own. I will never be able to afford a house at the rate the housing prices are going... and at the rate I’m going. No relationship (and don’t want one, really, but somehow it still weighs on my sometimes). A job that is, well, a job.

Part of this is, of course, depression. It saps the colour from the world. It will pass, no doubt. It always does. But for now, I feel like I’m aimlessly floating, going nowhere, trying for no reason. Pointless.

It will pass.

Perhaps I might even have something exciting happen.

Maybe.

One day.

It doesn’t feel like that at the moment, though.

I don’t really have a neat conclusion to this post. Just... be patient with me while I try and climb out of this slump. I’ll be back to myself in no time.

​Ciao.

Good morning, Readers!

Writing has been chugging along fairly well. I’ve now passed the 90 000 word mark as of today, and I’m nowhere near done. I don’t think this one is made for being a novel, guys. I’m going to have to find a way to serialise this one, I think. It’s stupid long. I mean, I’ve only just introduced the big bad.

I don’t know if this is normal for this kind of story; it being so different from what I’ve written before. It’s more slice of life. Sort of. I don’t know what to make of it.

In any case, I’ve hit my goal for the week, surpassing it once more. I didn’t double it as I have in weeks past. I’m okay with this. I’ve traded a couple of evenings of writing with cuddling the cat. I cannot regret that. He’s the snuggliest, loveliest boy ever, and I adore cuddling with him.

Anyway, here’s what I ended with for the week:

Not bad at all.

Were this one of my usual books, I’d be approaching the climax right now, and getting ready for the big battle and conclusion. There really isn’t one of those for this book. I mean, there is a big battle. But it’s not the big battle. It’s one of many battles.

And to make matters worse, I have to go back and add in some stuff near the beginning, so it’s going to be even longer than I thought.

I’ll be very happy to be finished with this manuscript. Not because I’m sick of it, but because I have so many other projects waiting to be written. 

Did I tell you I’m going to be trying my hand at writing a stage play? Well, I am. It’s been stewing in the back of my head for the past five odd years, and it’s finally ready to come out of my brain and onto the paper. I’m not sure how I’m going to balance that with the next project, which is another novel.

Perhaps I’ll write the novel during the week and the stage play on the weekends?

I don’t know.

I’ve have too many ideas. This is a problem, people. It’s a good problem to have, admittedly, but still a problem. Lordy, give me the time and speed to get these ideas out of my head before I die of old age!

Right, I have to go. What have you achieved of late? Sound off in the comments. I’d love to hear.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

It's Monday, which means more untamed. We're at episode ten now, and well, things are getting dangerous quick!

​Let's get right to it, shall we?

Last episode ended with WWX surmising that all the dead people in the Chang Clan's house were turned into puppets before they died, and that's exactly where we begin this episode.

LWJ's YI fragment starts to go bananas, prompting him to turn around to spy Xue Yang, sitting on the roof of the house, observing them (Xue Yang, you remember, was a guest of Wen Ruohan, and was sent away from the Nightless City to wreak some havoc, which he seemed particularly excited about. Turns out, this is what made him so deliriously happy. The little buggar is quite the psychopath). He greets them with a very cheerful, "Hello!"

I want to note something here which I did pick up in the first viewing, and that it's Xue Yang starts off by observing his pinky finger, which is always gloved and always sticking up, as if he's forever delicately sipping tea. Note it. It will become important later on.

Anyway, this little psycho starts to move to get off the roof, presumably to fight the three young cultivators in the courtyard below, but no! An angel in white flies in from the dark to stop him.

Enter Xiao Xingchen, who I can confidently say is the single most beautiful man you will ever behold. There's just no way to describe it. He's very, very pretty. I mean, pretty much all the men in this series are that, so, perhaps it means nothing, but...

He's probably also, like, twelve.

Aaaanyway, turns out that Xiao Xingchen has been tracking Xue Yang for a while now, hot on his heels following the obliteration of several smaller clans. Xue Yang admits to it all, then says that he cannot be punished if he's not caught. And flies off over the other side of the roof.

WWX uses his new talisman, the one he annoyed LWJ with while they were walking, to catch a hold of Xue yang and drag him back over the roof. Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang fight. This sword fight was legitimately good. I mean, that's not really how swords work - gravity either, for that matter - but it was at least far less goofy than the sword fighting I've seen to date.

Xue Yang is bested, but then he uses some weird smoke charm and nearly ends up killing Xiao Xingchen.

Enter Song Lan.

He saves Xiao Xingchen at the last minute. Together the pair finally capture Xue Yang and tie him up inside the Chang House for questioning. It's there we find out that Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are a famous pair of cultivators, and best friends.

"Best friends" if you catch my drift.

The are a perfect mirror to LWJ and WWX - even down to one in white and one in black. They have turned their backs on the strict clan structure, and travel the world curing its ills unattached to any clan. I'm not sure if in the original story these two are occasional lovers, but something in me says they are.

An aside: this seems like the perfect arrangement to me. Each going their own way and doing their own thing, but still quote devoted to one another, and meeting occasionally to... uh... touch base? Strengthen their bond?

Perhaps it's the way Xiao Xingchen greets Song Lan when the saving happens - that strange, restrained and still very clearly extremely pleased.

I'm digressing, but I am willing to state for the record that I ship Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen.

While the very polite introductions are happening, LWJ's Yin Iron goes off again, making LWJ think that Xue Yang, who is currently in the Chang house hanging by his wrists, has it. Xue Yang claims he doesn't, and so WWX decides to do a full body search.

WWX doesn't find the Yin Iron fragment, so they decide to search the compound, including the bodies. No Yin Iron fragment is found. Meanwhile, WWX questions Xue Yang, who admits to doing the deed, but that he doesn't care about the Yin Iron. This was a personal thing. What the hell would Xue Yang find worthy of killing an entire clan? We find out, but not until later.

It's not a good reason, by the way. But what are you going to do? Psychopath is going to Psychopath.

Nie Huaisang shows up the Dimples McGee (Meng Yao), with news from both LXC and Nie Huaisang's older brother (who is the clan leader). LWJ is informed that his brother sent the clan leader a letter, and that the clan leader is requesting LWJ and WWX come to his house...? castle...? palace...?  Place, come to his place. And since Xue Yang has been captured, bring him along too for judgement.

Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are invited, but they decline. In that exchange, we find out that Xiao Xingchen is a disciple of Bao Shan the Wander - WWX's mother's master. Xiao Xingchen reveals to WWX that he cannot tell him about his mother, other than she was Bao Shan's favourite disciple. Xiao Xingchen himself has never met her, and he's unlikely to even meet Bao Shan again, as it's their tradition that disciples who have graduated and become successful in their own right never return to her.

Poor WWX.

Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen then take their leave.

We'll meet them again.

*sobs*

So, the adventurers, except Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan go to the territory of the Nie Clan, and are greeted by him. He's nicknamed Red Blade, by the by, and carries one hell of a sword. Look, in real life, no one would ever be able to lift that sword let alone wield it, but this is a fantasy so I'll let it pass. It's not as if it's as bad as Cloud's sword from Final Fantasy.

Anyway, Nie Mingjue (the clan leader) greets his visitors, and we learn that the Wen Clan has been making threats, sending around a letter demanding that each family send their heir disciples to the Nightless City for indoctrination. This is basically to mimic the lectures of the Lan Clan..

Nie Huaisang is, by the way, terrified of his older brother, and there is another really cute sibling moment between WWX and Jiang Cheng, who mention it and make fun of the poor lad behind his back.

Nie Mingjue tries to execute Xue Yang for his crimes, but a combination of WWX, who points out that he knows where a fragment of the Yin Iron is, and Meng Yao convince him he's better off alive right now, and so Nie Mingjue tells Meng Yao to being him to the dungeon and put more guards there. Meng Yao goes out to the yard to relay the orders to the captain of the guard, who disdains him (because, you know, he's a whore's son, like that should matter). Meng Yao manages to keep his grace and makes a dignified exit. I'd have slapped the fucker. Stupid captain of the guard.

Back inside the public room of the Nie Clan's house, WWX makes the connection between Xue Yang and Xue Chonghai (the clan leader from Yiling, who first corrupted and used the Yin Iron). HOW DID I NOT GET THIS MYSELF ON THE FIRST WATCH-THROUGH?! HOW DID I MISS THIS?!

WWX then suggests turning the Yin Iron fragment into a weapon to counteract Wen Ruohan, but Nie Mingjue reminds him that Xue Chonghai was unable to control the Yin Iron and was controlled by it. Also, Clan Leader Lan Yin could not handle a single Yin Iron fragment so... you know... maybe don't do that. He then informs LWJ that his brother has requested LWJ and his Yin Fragment return to the Cloud Recesses as soon as possible. Plans have changed.

We cut to later in the evening, to WWX, who has, no big surprise, alcohol... perhaps a bit too much. He comes across Meng Yao after yet another insult by the captain of the guard (who was very drunk himself). Meng Yao, it is noted, was not at the feast. He informs WWX that he had to check on Xue Yang, which, given the captain of the guard's complete lack of cooperation, seems completely reasonable.

Quite drunk, instead of going to bed, WWX climbs up onto LWJ's roof. When LWJ leaves his room, WWX tells him of his intention to sleep on his roof. And then he falls asleep on his roof.

For once, LWJ doesn't seems annoyed. He offers what is, in truth, a soft, fond farewell, and then leaves, presumably to answer his brother's summons.

The following morning, who shows up but Wen Chao. He demands Nie Mingjue hand over his Yin Fragment piece and meet the Wen Clan's demands. Not having it, Nie Mingjue fights. Wen Chao declines, leaving this fight up to his bodyguard. This fight is also much less dorky than the others I've seen in this show to date.

​It's a full on battle now. Somehow the Wen Clan gets inside the walls. Nie Mingjue is still fighting the bodyguard when someone cries out that Xue Yang has escaped. Going after him, Nie Mingjue rounds the corner to see Meng Yao murder the captain of the guard. The shock and the betrayal leave him open to attack. Confusingly, Meng Yao throws himself in front of the sword, and gets run through. Nie Mingjue catches the collapsing Meng Yao, leaving him open to attach again. This time, it's Wen Chao who strikes, and his palm is so powerful, it practically disables Nie Mingjue.

That's when WWX, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng catch up to the action. Wen Chao has essentially won this battle. Informs WWX that his adopted father has made it clear that he is to go to the indoctrination, and then he leaves. He didn't get the Yin Iron fragment, near as I can tell... but perhaps he did?

Nie Mingjue commands Nie Huaisang to bring Meng Yao to the throne room, and there Meng Yao plead his innocence - or, rather, how the captain deserved it. He claims that he had to do it, not because of the constant disrespect and insult, but because he saw the captain release Xue Yang. Nie Mingjue doesn't believe him, and calls him an liar outright.

However, because Meng Yao saved his life, well...

Mustering up his dignity, and his strength - I mean, he was just run through - Meng Yao stands and walks out of the throne room, banished.

​And so ends the episode.

What I Liked

HUGE improvement in the fight choreography this episode, but like all of this series, the emphasis is always on the characters and how they interact and deal with the world around them. I like that the Wen Clan was busy making moves while we focussed on our heroes and their friends. I like that things are looking quite dire for everyone all of a sudden... I mean, forced to go to the Nightless City for indoctrination? Oh dear. The growing tension threading the series is really well done. It's a brilliant slow burn. I'm really loving the way this series is constructed.

Also, LWJ's soft goodbye to a drunk WWX is the first real indication that he might be starting to like the impish orphan.

​What Could Have Been Better

With the improvement of the swordplay, there isn't too much I can gripe about this episode.  While fifty episodes might seem like a lot, it's really allowing the characters room to breathe and grow at a pace that doesn't feel weird or wrong or out of nowhere. We can safely say that LWJ is now fond of WWX, and that things are getting pretty tense between the Wen Clan and everyone else.

Okay, so now I have to go. Come back next Monday for episode eleven. Or don't. It's happening all the same.

Good morning, Readers!

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

I was recently quite ill, and while under basically house arrest, stuck in my room with neither the ability or the will to go anywhere else, I came across a trailer for the new Mortal Kombat movie that piqued my interest. At the end of the trailer, I literally scream-laughed. Needless to say, I'm going to see this movie for, and only for, Kano, who was so quintessentially Aussie it could not help but make me roar with delight.

Here's the trailer, for those who are curious:

Good morning, Readers!

I wish I had something fun and exciting to report, but my life is an endless cycle of work, write, sleep, repeat.

That’s it.

That’s all I have going on right now.

I’m sure there is news in the Twitterverse I could make a note of and speak on, but I find I don’t have the energy for that. I just don’t have the time or the mental energy to devote to all the stupidity I see there on a daily basis.  I just don’t.

I’m recovering my sense of smell and taste, ever so slowly. My smell is almost returned, my taste not so much. I got very excited a couple of nights ago when I could smell the rice cooking. I can also now taste bread (sort of), but most other things still have no taste. I discovered this in the night, when, as a treat, I spread some homemade peach jam given to me by my dear friends for Xmas on some bread and happily sat down. I forgot I couldn’t taste at all, so all I have to report is that the jam was sweet.

That’s all I got from it.

I’m sure it was delicious.

Not tasting sucks.

I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming of late of running away from everything and going to live in the forest somewhere. I can see it so clearly; me, with a cup of tea, sitting at the window, watching the snow fall. It looks and feels peaceful, and I’m sad that it will never be my reality. Not at this rate. I’ll be working until the day I die, still trying to realize my dream of being a full-time fiction writer.

I’m in a weird place at the moment; teetering on the edge of depression. Thank heavens for the diagnosis and therapy - I can recognize what’s happening and can do things that help ease the weight or make it pass quicker. It’s no longer the scary monster it once was. But it still sucks and hovering on the edge of it is also really sucky.

Anyway, I’m going to leave this non-post here for now. I’ve not really said anything substantial, so I’ll leave you with this:

Black lives matter.

Trans rights are human rights.

Women are people.

Wear your fucking masks.

Get vaccinated.

Ciao!