What Was Before Dark? |SOE 2

What Was Before Dark? |SOE 2

Author: MJ Munoz April 19, 2023 Duration: 19:15
Full Show NotesWIPWhat is the status of my current projects: progress made, length of time on the backburner?ActiveGrobug Series – 5 Books PlannedManuscript Completed: Books 1 and 2Drafts Completed: 0Drafts to Start: Books 3-5Outlines Started: Book 3, sort of. I have one outline paragraph written for the book.Outlines to Start: Books 4 and 5.Next Action from 09-27-22 : make text descriptions and thumbnail sketched for all 32 pages.Actions Taken by 10-07-22: I made a copy of the text document and formatted it for the descriptions and sketchesNext Actions: make descriptions and sketches for Grobug Book 1.Follow-Up
  • Research Crowdfunding
  • Make Crowdfunding Proposal
  • Send to artist
  • Negotiate Rates and Terms
Back BurnerMTM – Breastfeeding Book for big brothers and sisters. (2 Weeks)MTM – Next actions to publish: make text descriptions and thumbnail sketched for all 32 pages (2 Weeks)Fantasy Dragon Book – Manuscript may need revision. On hold.Lessons LearnedWhat did I learn from the world of story this week?
  • I need to learn to be a funny writer. It seems like Inoue treats writing like a game in some ways. He plays with the structure of the show, the characters and the situations in such a way that it is entertaining, even when it isn’t serious or important. The fact is: this is fiction and while stories matter, the only ones that count are the ones that stick with you. I think all the fun I have had with Donbrothers will cause it to stick in my mind for a long time. [Donbros 31]
  • Is it artistic integrity to do something you want to do as the author even if the audience will think it is dumb? Maybe, it is definitely gutsy, and I do admire that. In other words, be bold and make choices you like, even if some of our audience will balk at them. [Fuuto PI 10]
  • Make sure your cast and setting match each other well. The author is in control and can right size the elements so they all flow well. You have to make choices and stick to them, even if it is hard. [Geats 05]
Fabula Ex MachinaPart brainstorm, part drafting out loud.Prompt: Make a Creation story for my Super Hero universe.Approach it with the question, what was before dark?Listen to the episode to hear the straining of the creative process.10-09-2022 – Before the Dark89 Words5 MinutesMentioned
  • The Bible
  • The “Bet” at the start of the Torah Scroll
  • Masculine and Feminine traits of the Divine
  • Physics
  • Conservation of Matter and Energy
  • Shotaro Ishinomori

Hosted by aspiring author MJ Munoz, Fortress Fiction is a quiet space built for anyone fascinated by the architecture of a good story. Here, the focus isn't just on what happens in books, films, or television, but on how those stories are built from the ground up-the careful craft of making a reader or viewer invest in something they know isn't real. Each episode feels like a shared notebook, where MJ studies narratives of transformation and heroism, breaking down what makes them resonate. You'll hear his personal reflections on the creative process, reviews that dig into the mechanics of storytelling across different media, and chronicles from his own writing endeavors. This podcast is for those who find equal magic in a perfectly turned phrase, a compelling character arc, or a well-framed scene. It’s an ongoing conversation about the alchemy of art, offering both analysis and a candid look at one writer’s journey to build something meaningful, sentence by sentence.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 156

Fortress Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:53
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/09/03/cxc5/#amreading #PeterPan #chapterbychapter #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
Discover the shocking literary lineage of Captain Hook! Is Peter Pan a cold-blooded killer or just playing pretend? Dive into Chapter 4 of J.M. Barrie's classic, where the lines between reality and imagination blur in wa…
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:32
Discover the shocking world of Neverland's fairies! From their tragic origins to Tinkerbell's forbidden love, Chapter 3 of "Peter Pan" is a rollercoaster of whimsy and controversy. Join MJ as he navigates the thin line b…
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:16
Dive into the scandalous world of the Darlings! Discover how parental pettiness and misplaced priorities lead to a child-snatching disaster. From talking dogs to communicative stars, J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" reveals a w…
Chapter by Chapter Peter Pan 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:02
Discover the hidden depths of J.M. Barrie's timeless classic! Join MJ as he explores the whimsical world of "Peter Pan," uncovering its blend of childlike wonder and adult wisdom. From magical memory to absurdist humor,…
Number the Stars - Fortress Fiction 13 |SOE 061 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:51
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/08/23/soe061/Number the Stars by Lowis Lowry#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #Historical #Holocaust #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
The Wind in the Willows - Fortress Fiction 12 |SOE 060 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:20
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/08/16/soe060/The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #Fantasy #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
Hatchet - Fortress Fiction 11 |SOE 059 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:49
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/08/09/soe059/Join MJ as he talks about Hatchet by Gary Paulson#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/soe/
Anne of Green Gables - Fortress Fiction 10 |SOE 058 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:08
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/08/01/soe058/Join MJ as he talks about Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #fantasy #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/catego…
Ronia, The Robber's Daughter - Fortress Fiction 9 |SOE 057 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:47
Show Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2024/07/26/soe057/Join MJ as he talks about Ronia, The Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren#amreading #middlegrade #bookreview #Book #fantasy #FOTRESSFICTIONSOE CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.…