Okay, I finally did it! I made a Fic List with everything in my journal. It's organized by Pairing, Title, or Other. If it's part of a community, that will be next to the Pairing or Title. Let me know if a link isn't working or if it links to a wrong fic.

Enjoy!

( Fic List )

I should probably apologize for everything I'm about to say after this and I even will apologize, slightly, to those who enjoyed Eragon because I'm about to trash the defense I see most often for that carbon copy of Star Wars: The similarities between Mr. Paolini and Mr. Lucas' works are not simply a matter of the "Hero's Journey". Before, any of you comment to say that I've never read "The Hero of a Thousand Faces", I have. Though, not for this reason. I wanted to learn all that I could about the hero's journey because I happened to be writing a novel with it at the time. There is nothing wrong with this trope and there's a reason why it's so beloved. It encompasses everything we want in a character: someone who is young and naive who becomes the savior of a group of people we learn to care about.

Here are three different versions of the "Hero's Journey": Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars. There are others, but these are probably the most recognizable. They each have the boy, the mentor, the mentor's death, the journey itself (whether that's a literal journey like in Lord of the Rings or more metaphorical like in Harry Potter), and the young man saving the day. They have trials, evil, and things to conquer. They are also three very separate stories. That's why you don't hear that Star Wars was coping Lord of the Rings as often and why Harry Potter is considered a success on its own. They all do have an "uncle", but it's different for each character, including Harry's less nice version. Uncle Owen knows that Luke is his father's son and tries to protect him from that destiny. Bilbo ends up leaving the ring to Frodo, but there's no knowledge really of just how important the younger hobbit will become. Uncle Vernon also knows about Harry's wizarding heritage, but unlike Uncle Owen, he doesn't want Harry to know because he hates magic, not to protect him. The mentors are also different. Obi-Wan is wise, but realizes that in the past he messed up with Luke's father. He's not above sending the young man to Yoda. Yoda, in his own way, is far more of a being than he lets on. Yes, he dies, but he doesn't seem to terrestrial to begin with. It's almost as if he's a manifestation of the force even when he's alive. (And I'm only talking about original series Yoda, not prequels Yoda) Luke looks up to them, but in terms of the other two series, he really doesn't know them that long. They have a more strict mentor/student relationship. Harry, on the other hand, gets Dumbledore who he grows close to in six books, almost seeing the older wizard as a grandfather type figure. There is still mentoring involved, but it's not as one on one as it was with Luke and his two mentors. Frodo, by contrast, had Gandalf who was a wizard, though not in the same way Dumbledore was a wizard. They had a friendship that wasn't a familial as Harry's but not as distant as Luke's.

Their quests, while similar, also managed to be different. Harry has to kill the wizard who is essentially Hitler and who killed his parents: revenge. Luke needs to kill the emperor, yes, but his story focuses on Darth Vader, dear old dad. He eventually goes from trying to save the galaxy by killing his dad to trying to save his dad: redemption. Frodo doesn't have a connection of Sauron at all other than through the ring. He's just trying to do the right thing because no one else can: duty. They go about their quests in different ways too: Luke joins the rebels, Harry spends most of his time at school learning, and Frodo gets to travel through horrible, horrible wastelands to destroy a ring. When they succeed, it's in different ways: Frodo barely manages. In fact, if Gollum hadn't bit off his finger and fell in, Frodo might not have succeeded at all. Luke convinces his father to help him and it's Darth Vader who throws the emperor off the edge. Harry had the good sense to know that death was inevitable, love is important, and having a really cool wand help out certainly helps matters so that Voldemort gets hit by his own spell.

Finally, the three mentors bow out in different ways. Dumbledore actually takes forever to bow out if you look at things. It took him six books while both of the other two died in the first book (or movie). Technically, he comes back a bit, but not as often as Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan dies in the first movie, helping Luke and the others to escape. He does, however, come back often as a spirit to help Luke at first and waves good-bye at the end. Gandalf did the same as Obi-Wan, but he comes back as Gandalf the White and stays away from Frodo. The little hobbit really did think his old friend was dead for the majority of the story.

So, if someone uses the excuse "it's the Hero's Journey", I'm hoping I've proved that that isn't an excuse to copy a set of movies and vaguely change characters. It means that you use the basics and create your own characters, world, and plot. It doesn't mean that you put it in the past, throw in a dragon, and call it good. And maybe things have changed in the past couple of books, I don't know. Quite frankly, I couldn't read much of the first and the movie disgusts me. I watched part of it and stopped. Then I watched all of it and groaned. And I tried to watch it again before doing this only to realize that I don't mind ranting, but I'm not watching a movie I hate. Again. If you liked the book or movie, please, come up with a new excuse.

I wonder what writing too much depression fic can do to a person. I'm still pretty cheerful, but that's my normal mode. Yet, for the past few days, I've been only working on depressing scenes and stories. I'm wondering if it's going to have an impact on my psyche here soon.

On the other hand, I want to finish Apocalypse!Fic this year. I think it's sad when I've written a one-shot for it and I haven't even finished it. Ah well.

Partially, this was Akume's fault for her hug meme. As I enjoy hugs, I wanted to do something for it. The other part of blame goes to my own warped mind.

Enjoy!

( Stars )

With holidays, planning a dinner, being a game master for my Candyland RP, and horrible writer's block, I haven't been around much let alone finishing my 12 Days. I will finish it. Hopefully before the tenth. Things should be slowing down again in the next couple of weeks so I'll be more around then. I love you all and I hope you all have/had a Happy New Year. Now, I'm going to go back to sleep until I have to start cooking for my dinner tonight. Apparently, Mojitos and wine don't agree with me.

Happy New Years, Everyone!

Mack snickered and clapped at his surrogate sister’s story. “That was nice, Kendrix,” he told her. He waited a second to make sure no one else was going to go before he spoke. “I’ve got my second story. Bridge told me this one…”

( Seven Swans A-Swimming )

Six Geese A-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtledoves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Prologue

Minor Kai/Leo and Kendrix/Damon. Very minor.

There was a lot of cheering and grinning as well as promises to congratulate the quartet. As a minute, Kendrix sat up straighter. “I believe I should probably take a turn,” she said. “Mine takes place the year after everything happened at Mirinoi…”

( Six Geese a-laying )

Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtledoves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Prologue

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Well, I have a special surprise for everyone. I thought to myself "Since it's Christmas, I'll watch Alpha's Magical Christmas. It has magic and Christmas in the title. It should be fun!" Enjoy!

( Review of Alpha's Magical Christmas )

So, I wanted this to be more like the movie review. More of a review and less of just my reaction. Unfortunately, you have to have a movie to talk about first. So, I'm afraid you're just getting my reaction. I hope you enjoyed. Merry Christmas.

Okay! So, here's the fifth of the twelve days. Sorry it took so long. As I said before, it's connected with the fourth.

Zack was laughing as she finished. "That's Tommy," he said cheerfully and Kim nodded. "You said you had another?"

Kim nodded. "Yep. It's connected though. It's what happened after the kids got there...

( Five Golden Rings )

Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtledoves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Prologue

So, I was bored and decided to watch the Power Rangers movie the other day as I was working on projects for Christmas. As I have about three and a half hours before I have to leave for California, I'm going to write you a review for it and then go back to packing/writing the 12 days of Christmas. I've been busy and sick, so I don't really feel bad for not getting a fic out every day. I'll finish off all 12 days soon enough and being at my parents' house will probably result in me getting it done quicker. That said, this review is awfully long. There's your warning.

( Power Rangers Movie )

Seriously though, I'll get the next fics up soon.