Anticipated Projects

Projects! They're what make my creative world spin 'round. I have started a great many projects, finished very few, but that's what adds the elements of anticipation and progress to my life. There are a few projects that have been swimming around in my mind for years, but have never actually been started. I hope that by listing them, and perhaps by hearing your encouragement for specific ones through your comments, some can emerge from the darkness of nonbeing and be started!

Anticipated Projects

1. Radio Drama - I have been interested in old-fashioned radio dramas since I discovered Relic Radio over a year ago, but my interest in making some sort of a radio drama has stemmed from my early, early youth. When my brother and I were in fourth and second grades respectively, we were fascinated by our own voices in the Windows Sound Recorder, and recorded simple voice acting sequences, stories, and impersonations. Sometimes we'd use it to illustrate an echo effect we figured out how to make. Other times we used sound effects from Age of Empires and WarCraft 2 to add further color. I still have several of our favorite ones saved on my computer, but am currently not at liberty to share them (i.e. I'm much too embarrassed to).

In sixth grade, I obtained a mini-tape recorder, and often took it to school with me to record the antics of me and my friends. We acted out sketches and even pretended to host our own radio station, called Boom 205. Since I've been listening to old-fashioned mystery classics and sci-fi stories I've admired to job of the actors to illustrate a story with their voices so that it appears visually in my mind. I have always wanted to use my wealth of sound effects, music and voice impression skills to make my own Radio Drama... but ideas for storylines are scarce. I really should just try to adapt an existing story, which seems to be my cop-out forté. Or, perhaps this project will begin with the help of someone else. I recently got a high-quality microphone, so a lack of inspiration is literally the only thing standing in my way now!
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2. Silent Film - In perhaps a similar yet completely opposite sense of #1, I've always admired silent films because of the actors' abilities to tell a story without sound effects. Facial expressions and body language were key in the age of silent films. Again, my same lame excuse of writer's block comes into play when considering a silent film, but someday I truly hope to be able to doctor a black and white video into a silent film of my own composition.
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3. Short Film - Everyone wants to make their own short film, myself included. I have a couple of mediocre film editing programs as well as a decent camera and tripod, so when I come up with an idea and group of actors this will definitely be something I want to do. In Late Highschool Era, my friends and I wrote some notes to make a basic movie trailer, but no filming, screenwriting, or even planning beyond saying "This would be cool" was ever done.

4. Never-Ending Comic Finale - If you've read the "Never-Ending Comic" or "N.E.C." (a page featured here on Pretzel Lectern), you're probably familiar with the juvenile yet creative and enduring charm of my fifth-grade comic strip. But I have always regretted its disappointing last chapter and abrupt stop. Mostly during the time I spent digitally scanning the pages to this blog, I thought about possible endings and chapters to round out the ancient comic, to give it some much-needed closure. Drawing the characters would probably be just as easy as it was 15 years ago, and with the maturity and understanding of plot that has come with time, I'm sure I could come up with a brilliant end to a mediocre and cheesy series. I'm sure that this project will eventually come to light.

5. Novella - I think this one's just a given for any creative person, but I figured I would elaborate a little more on what I would prefer to write about: Probably fantasy. And not cliché fantasy, such as most of the stuff you'll see in your typical fantasy section in the library. With the only exception of the Discworld series (written by my favorite writer of all time, Terry Pratchett), which is a rare case of fantasy satire, I'm tired of the countless stories about infinite-power swords, councils of wizards, dark lords, and reluctant peasant heroes. Stories like that not only bore me, they discourage me. Granted, there is a timeless plot outline that involves a reluctant beginning, awakening powers, defeating "the other" and being reborn, but this is put so often in fantasy, which is a completely moldable genre, that it becomes vastly overused. No, if I ever actually sit down and write a fantasy novel, it will try to flip the Tolkienized fantasy genre on its head, much like Brandon Sanderson's books have (His trilogy Mistborn happens to be my favorite three books). Actually taking a class from Branderson himself has really inspired me, so we'll see if I can actually get one written sometime.

• EDIT: Alfred Shortstaff and the Cavern of Time published!

6. Text Adventure - When I was a kid, I found a game entitled "Zork" on my uncle's computer. When I opened it, I was fascinated to find a story that I could interact with. I would type "jump" and the computer would say "Congratulations. Now you can move on to the third grade." I would type "go east" and a new description of surroundings would appear. It was like my favorite Choose Your Own Adventure books, except with seemingly infinite possibilities! I have since found a couple of text adventure game makers online and taken a C++ class, so I hope someday to make my own Text Adventure game to share.

7. Adventure Game - One of the earliest games I've ever played was Kings Quest VI. I loved watching my uncles play it, and when I got the game myself it was one of the most brilliantly told stories and complex puzzle games I ever played. I loved being able to point and click "SEE" on anything and get an explanation, or get humorous texts when trying to "TALK" to inanimate objects. I also submit that Kings Quest VI is the best of the Kings Quests, partly because of its amazing voice acting and multiple endings. In high school I found a program called AGS ("Adventure Game Studio") which allows one to make their own point-and-click adventure. My brother and I were able to make some crude games with no real storyline, but it was still incredible to have designed my own Kings Quest lookalike, complete with different icons for SEE, TALK, TOUCH and WALK. I still want to be able to do this some day, but this is one project that is very low on my patience list.

8. Menu - I'm a food fanatic, and if I had been born in a restaurant family I probably would've gone on to make my own family business. Currently, I have ideas for a fun little restaurant, and I'm compiling ideas for a menu. If I ever round out the menu, I plan to make dishes, take pictures of them, and completely Photoshop an entire menu. This, like most of my projects, would just be for the fun of it, and I probably won't ever make an actual restaurant.

9. Audiobook Reading - When I got into audiobooks a couple of years ago, I thought it would be one of the funnest jobs ever to be one of the voice actors behind that. I've never had an interest in actual acting, but a voice actor, even to read a book, would be a lot of fun. Using different voices for each character is one thing I like to do, and was very impressed with in audiobook performances such as the Harry Potter series read by Jim Dale and the Discworld books performed by Steven Briggs. I myself may in the future read one of the stories from my forum RPG, Argaenothruzil. If not that, then perhaps a book in the public domain. My only concern is hard drive space for the recording as well as the quality possible with my resources.

• EDIT: A Christmas Carol audiobook created!

10. Podcast - I've been into podcasts for some time, among my favorites being The Sporkful, Stuff You Should Know, RadioLab, and Elder Lore. I think it would be fun, should I come up with a good and expansive enough topic to talk about, to publish one of my own onto iTunes. I think it's an interesting art to have a form of media that is purely audio-based. It allows for a lot of liberties in flawless editing, as well as the fun aspect of having some sort of theme jingle or opening and a way to close. Judging by certain podcasts I've heard, and just the psychology of dialog, this is a project I would definitely have to do with someone else. Possibly my brother.

11. YouTube Channel - I'm really impressed with some of the YouTube personalities out there—PeanutButterGamer, JonTron, Spacehamster. They make something like showcasing old video games or playing online together not only interesting, but downright entertaining. Many people neglect playing video games themselves just to watch these guys play together! Anyway, I've always wanted to have a following of YouTube subscribers that would encourage me to post often. I know from experience on this blog that it's difficult to stay motivated when it doesn't seem like anyone cares. If I did make my own channel, it would either showcase my friends and me playing games (which would be entertaining indeed, and give me a chance to practice video editing), or it would be an informative channel for my WordLore page.

• EDIT: Warcraft III Easter eggs series kicked off!

12. Dungeons & Dragons Adventure - D&D has been my life for the past few years, and now that I feel like I finally have some experience under my belt, I really want to create and publish a full-length adventure on DMsGuild. I've got a lot of ideas for what I think would make the most fun setting and storyline for an adventure, most of them revolving around Zelda-style mechanics and storytelling elements. And with Inkarnate, Dungeondraft, and FlowScape (and hopefully, soon, HeroForge 2.0), I'll have all the elements I need for the creative process!

A Mowing Veteran Retires

This year I retired from a nonconsecutive five- or six- (I still can't really narrow it down) -year seasonal summer mowing job, and I consider it the end of a large aspect of my life. Besides my two-year Brazil trip, every summer I can remember since becoming a teen was spent around lawnmowers. The pleasantly warm sun, the smell of motor oil and the fresh, dry Idaho air are things that I'm definitely going to miss, and I think my entire experience is something that deserves a nostalgic flashback.

I began working for an Idaho business my grandfather started when I was in junior high school. At first I mostly just did odd jobs—inventory, sweeping, vacuuming, and my least favorite, washing fixed lawnmowers with a pressure washer. I remember walking two blocks after school to the shop, donning a stained blue jumpsuit, and heading out back to the Hotsy washer and the endless row of dirty lawnmowers. I would jack up the mower decks, and the washing would begin. Washing lawnmowers definitely is not a cakewalk. It's more like a poopwalk. The green gunk that comes splurching and plapping off of the crusted mower blades has the tendency to accumulate around the washing area. Once it has sat in the sun for a few days, it has externally gone through the stages that an average cowpie would—Chewed up grass mixed with water and digested with soft, slow heat and whatever enzymes care to stop by. But it was a job, and it helped me learn the value of work. It also helped me look forward to the next "level" of work at the shop: mowing!

I can remember my first summer mowing only vaguely. The common mower-operating mistakes I see others do today were a problem for me. The awesomeness of a zero-turn radius 72" Toro Z Master 6000 dazzled me after using a push-mower during my pre-teen chore phase. But once I got used to it, the Z became like a second body for me. I could tell whether I could fit into certain spaces, turn and maneuver with effortlessness, and sit comfortably for hours on ball fields. And after the work was done, there was a satisfying work of art to admire every week.

There's something special about waking up early on a summer morning, and spending the sunny hours sitting on a humming Z. The sound of the engine was soon replaced by thoughts of life, nature and time; the smells of dew, freshly cut grass, and motor oil mixed to form a medley only the summertime could produce; and my eyes were presented with all the color green they could eat. I would often take a pocketful of BottleCaps to suck on, since I discovered they're the only candy that didn't coat my tongue. The mower was also the ideal environment to snack on BBQ-style Spitz sunflower seeds, and spit the shells anywhere I pleased. I also found out that, after I got tired of listening to music on my iPod, the mower was the perfect place to listen to audiobooks. I would go through a book every two days; the Harry Potter series took me two weeks. I listened to books by Dan Brown, Terry Pratchett, Suzanne Collins and Orson Scott Card. I would look forward to going to work just for the time to think and read, and get paid for it! When my sources of audiobooks were exhausted, I turned to podcasts—old radio dramas of the 40's and 50's, science and history shows, and hilarious radio trivia broadcasts. I would distract myself from my physical exhaustion with mental stimulation. Mowing was a treat.

Eventually, the season would end, and I would be ready for another year of school. But always, after the snow came, I would find myself longing for the color green; the hot, dry sun; and the smell of motor oil again. Despite being retired, it still feels like I'll be returning to mowing again next summer. It hasn't dawned on my mind that the yearly routine has finally ended. Whatever internships or jobs I find myself in in the summers to come, I'll always have a part in my soul that feels like something is missing—Like a season-long holiday that is no longer celebrated. Whether I get the same satisfaction from mowing my own lawn years from now or not, I will always be grateful for the hours I spent thinking about the mystery of time, the comfort of nature, and the beauty of life.

Abelhawk's Story sample

I have finally decided to defeat my year-and-a-half long Writer's Block phase with a new goal: Writing 300 or more words per day, 5 days a week! So hopefully at least some unfinished material will start showing itself on the blog soon. For now, here's something I wrote in high school—the actual story I had planned for my made-up character Abelhawk himself. It's based in the world of Argaenothruzil, which, now I come to think of it, I should probably be explained here on the blog for easy access. Anyway, there's so little written on this story so far none of that should bother you.

Abelhawk's Story

by Austin Ballard

I want to make more webcomics.

I decided to give all of you the benefit of seeing something like this a day or so before I post it on Facebook. n_n

Poem in Amoledhese

Hey, I promise I have some cool stuff planned to post on the blog soon. Just looking for time to put it all together now that school started up again. In the meantime, I translated a stanza of one of my poems into Amoledhese! It's a lame excuse for a post, I know, but Amoledhese hasn't been seen in awhile, so I thought I'd bring it back for a bit.

Ezh-yerr Arr Yildh Iyzh 
  
Mu bleonsh ib zhyonzhu woalc ansh e
yolo yardhenth enn ko semm.
Yo zhalosh azh arr ko semnazhec
ansh arr ko dhinzhlavzheinj kou yolo enn..
//E nopol dhiysh yildh iyzh redho gej.// E jaesh..
Ansh thapo a do’oved thlenn..

As always, go here to look up pronunciation (If you know IPA) and translation.

A nine-month project finished, an eighteen-year project begun!

Well, Pretzelheads---just kidding. Can you freaking imagine if I jumped on that bandwagon??--- I haven't posted anything this month out of sheer lack of free time. My wife just gave birth to the adorable daughter you see above, and we love being parents. She came on July 10th at about 6:00 in the morning, as the rising sun seemed to symbolize the dawn of a brand new life. Seeing her face appear out of nowhere after nine months was the most miraculous event I have ever experienced. I couldn't believe that such a perfectly beautiful little creature had somehow been constructed inside my wife's body. The moment of her birth was as if God Himself was unveiling a glorious painting and saying "Here it is! What do you think?"

The human body itself is a miracle. I have been listening quite frequently to WNYC's RadioLab lately, and though I agree with the scientific findings of evolution, genetics, biology and psychology, I also know that there is a God who organized it all. There are those who don't believe in Deity who would claim that, in an infinite universe with finite possibilities, anything is impossible within an infinite space of time. Logically, that may make sense, but it does not taint my firm belief that God is the true Architect of the universe, and the Father of our spiritual selves.

The feelings I experienced as my daughter was born confirmed this even further. As terrestrial life was created from nothing more than love, I thought of my own birth, an eternity ago for my finite brain to comprehend, and yet a small moment's time in history.

I am very grateful for my daughter, and try to savor every day with her on the earth. I can't imagine mistreating her even in the hardest of times. If Providence permits, may she remain on this earth healthy and happy, with friends and talents developing, and someday pass on her own seed to generations unborn.

Spotlight: Final Quest

Usually after working on a project for a certain space of time, I get bored and discouraged at the amount that I have to work on, and I put the project on hold. Usually the hiatus for that particular project can last for months. However, about a month ago I got into working on my role-playing game, Final Quest, and I'm happy to say it's been weeks and weeks of nonstop work! Though the plot is still very hard for me to rough out, I just have kept pressing on and not worrying too much about the bugs.

The story of Final Quest begins in a way slightly similar (in mechanics anyway) to some Metroid games. You begin with an immensely powerful character with all of the abilities you will have someday, only to lose him after a single quest. I did this because I think it's fun to have a taste of amazing abilities that you will come upon again later, to give you incentive to raise your level as high as possible.

Specifically, the story is of Roland, a warrior and prince of the kingdom of Graycrown, who is being trained in the arts of war and questing. He was sent on a quest with Victus, the most powerful paladin in the realm, to capture King Aglis' brother, Duke. As all Jedis and paladins should know, the worst thing to do is lose your temper. But after a long journey of questing and fighting countless enemies pretty much solo, Victus lets his emotions get the better of him and kills Duke. The king is furious, and banishes Victus to the dungeons. He blames himself for putting Roland on such a mission, and sends Roland back to Rayoph, the master of the Adventurer's Guild.

The Adventurer's Guild is one of my favorite areas that I thought up, another being the Grand Laboratory (where health potions are produced for all video games). In the Adventurer's Guild, people can come with complaints about things needing done or monsters needing killed, and for a small fee, the Guild will log the quest so that other people seeking money, glory, and experience can accept the quest.
In this case, you fulfill a boring rat-killing quest first, but are quickly led on to a more difficult quest that becomes increasingly sinister... Or at least, that's what I'm hoping for. It is extremely difficult to come up with a substantial plot at all, not to mention crazy twists. I don't know how authors do it.

Final Quest is available for playtesting, and frankly I would love some help with suggestions for the plot, or any game aspect. Anyone interested can download it here. No programs or specifications on your computer necessary.
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On another note, all 52 episodes of The Never-Ending Comic are now available to read. Just click the link to the right!