Musings of a Hopeful Author

One of the things I've always enjoyed the most in writing stories, but also agonized over the most, is naming my characters. I think names are powerful, they project energy, perceptions, and any number of other things. At least they do to me. That's why I don't take naming my characters lightly. It's also why I've spent the last couple of weeks going through notebook after notebook trying to find where I might have jotted down some names I've already agonized over so I wouldn't have to do it again.  Unfortunately, I did not find any names in those notes. I did, however, reorganize several notebooks and rekindled my imagination regarding several different stories I've started dreaming up over the years. Alas, they shall have to wait. Our focus is now space, or at least it will be until I get feedback on my revised Angel story chapters. When I get that feedback, my focus will shift to the Angel story for a time to finish out that story before returning onc

 I can't help escape the irony that I just picked up again on a story I've been thinking about for years a month or so after reading Dune. The irony is instead of feeling inspired and in awe of what many have said is the greatness of Dune, I just hope mine is more interesting. Felt like Dune was a lot like the famous film Lawrence of Arabia... too much sand not enough plot/character interaction. And for the record, how inconvenient was the time jump in Dune? Like they couldn't have sped up a few days in the beginning of the book where they plan to go to the Arakis FOREVER, but they jump over crucial years of Paul becoming a crucial member of the tribe, etc. And then just picking up where everyone just already knows his status but you. not cool. I guess maybe at that point Herbert was just trying to get the story moving along at last.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Dune for what it did for the genre in terms of world building, etc., but as far as it being a well writt