Living to a Wizarding Old Age...

After a month of dilly-dallying, I’ve finally managed to finish chapter 10 of my novel. And in it I touch on a topic I’ve always found fascinating: the old (and when I mean old, I mean old) age of people past.

The first time I was exposed to these life spans of vampiric proportion, was when reading the Bible (a children’s version, with awesome pictures), then have found that fact sprout or be wielded before me from time to time since. My question is then this: can we live to be as old as Methuselah?

So of course, I put on my cap, took out my pipe and magnifying glass, and googled it up. It’s amazing the theories that abound on the topic. Some of them are also very mathematically inclined (no, I have not verified it, I will leave that to other, more number-oriented people to do).

Some of the interpretations out there, though, seem to be strangely related (and I’m sure they are in some nth, overarching theory), which I feel is interesting to mention here:

Earth used to be different before “the Flood” (whatever that flood may be, or whenever it may have happened). It used to have a stronger magnetic field and/or some kind of water vapor veil all around (mention is made that the Bible states that before the Flood, it never rained—not being a Bible scholar, having lots of other things to do, and being inherently lazy, I haven’t verified this fact) that protected the earth from “evil rays” or whatnot (a side question: do you think a stronger magnetic field around the earth would help this water vapor sheet around the world from being created and maintained?).

Then what? Well, it would mean that earth was then much more of a paradise than it is now: lush vegetation (fossils tell of an era when the earth was sub-tropical all around), more oxygen (proof found in the bubbles of ancient trees—tree wrecks?) which thereby allows for healthier lives and maybe even longer lives (green food = healthy food + oxygen, when the atmospheric pressure’s increased, helps us heal faster.

And as for the electromagnetic field, well, I’ve already touched on it, but I also found this one passage that discussed how some experiments were made on fruit flies whereby they were kept in a chamber with double (or more?) the electromagnetic influence we’re currently being subjected to on earth, and found that their life spans were increased from 1 week to 60 days, and that they doubled their size.

Of course, this all requires more research (on my part for double-checking these facts, on scientists’ part if this is real), but what if it were all true? Then what we’d need to do is find a way to recreate those conditions, and maybe then we’d be able to recreate paradise!

--Yours, ever open-minded.

PS: I know I don't mention wizards, but aren't they supposed to live reaaaaaaaaaally long lives too?

Was that a sign . . . or not?

I’m diverging a bit from the “art and form of writing” posts I’ve been putting up lately. The theme of this post is actually something I explore in my movie and something I do wonder at quite a bit in real life and I thought I’d get your opinion on it, if you’re so willing.

But before I go any further, I suppose I should first define what I mean by “sign.” And in this instance, I mean it as an “omen,” an event that foretells the future.

I suppose this “sign” question begs to have an even greater question asked: if signs foretell what’s to come in the future, does that mean our future’s already set? But that is a question I’m afraid will always remain in debate. So let’s assume, for a moment at least, that it doesn’t matter whether our future is entirely pre-determined or whether we determine it ourselves through our actions.

My question then (to you and to the rest of the universe) is this: do signs exist? And if so, how much value should we attach to them? Or is it all just coincidence?

I remember reading, back in the days when I was way more into anything esoteric, a book about runes. The author was mentioning how, when you keep your mind open, if you have questions, nature will give you the answers you need. And he went on to explain how one day when driving, he saw the rune Algiz painted on a wall, telling him to go forward with his plan as he would be protected against negative outcomes. And he did. And was happy.

But what about you? Have you ever decided to go on with a project of your own only after having received such a sign yourself telling you to go forward? Have you ever regretted making such a decision based on that sign? Or have they always proved to be correct and lead you on the right path?

Or do you believe these signs are but illusions stemming from wishful thinking: you truly want to take an action and will take anything you see as an approbation?

--An ever-inquiring mind.

Read, read, read...

...write, write, write.

This is the one most important advice I've ever received, and the one which every writer gives.

I'd been off from writing for over 2 months due to some studying I had to do (still have to, but I've rearranged my priorities), but the urge to continue working on my book proved too strong and, about a week ago, I took up my novel again. I stared at my chapter summaries: the one I had to work on was a brand spankin' new one, and I had no idea how to start.

None. Whatsoever.

But I didn't panic. No, what I did instead was go to my (wannabe) extensive library, picked up one of the many books I have yet to read, and started reading. Two chapters in, I knew how to start my own chapter, and I was off.

I've been working on my book pretty diligently since then, and whenever I feel myself getting mentally bogged down, I pick up the book, and continue reading.

Of course, I do believe that the style of book you read has an effect on you on the way it inspires you. For instance, I'm currently reading Joe Abercrombie's The First Law Trilogy, which is witty and bloody, has strong voices and creates a very (make that extremely believable) fantastical world (though it does leave one with the need to hiss and suck his/her own teeth/gums). This, in turn, has led me to find a new way to express one of my villains, for which I'm grateful (though I have to make sure I don't let my main character, 14-year old Olivia start thinking and acting like a torturer).

What about you, what book(s) inspire you?