Matthew Fitzpatrick's Blog
March 3, 2014
The Road to Inspiration
Sorry I haven't posted anything in awhile. I got caught up doing other things, i.e., creating a book club, writing a mystery dinner, creating short films, traveling, life.
But I am back to focusing on my writing. My wife and I decided on a whim to travel out to Texas to eat good food and see what there was to see. I discovered that traveling to other places, especially when via road trip, can lead to intense inspiration.
During our travels, I developed a really cool short story I am titling Ghosts, I mapped out four books/seasons of children's series called Arlo & the Compendium, and planned my next anthology of short stories, Characters.
When you are struggling to find inspiration, take a break from your normal day to day life and go do something new.
But I am back to focusing on my writing. My wife and I decided on a whim to travel out to Texas to eat good food and see what there was to see. I discovered that traveling to other places, especially when via road trip, can lead to intense inspiration.
During our travels, I developed a really cool short story I am titling Ghosts, I mapped out four books/seasons of children's series called Arlo & the Compendium, and planned my next anthology of short stories, Characters.
When you are struggling to find inspiration, take a break from your normal day to day life and go do something new.
January 7, 2014
Building the Guild
Over the last 6 months, I have been collaborating with several other artists. We decided that we could accomplish way more working together than we could individually. So we have banded together and formed a guild of artists known as Dreaming God.
On the guild site, you will find upcoming projects that we are working on, as well as short films, stories, blogs, art, etc that we have already done.
Visit the site and give it a look see. And those of you who are starving for more actual writing from me, I will be posting a new poem for my next collection soon.
On the guild site, you will find upcoming projects that we are working on, as well as short films, stories, blogs, art, etc that we have already done.
Visit the site and give it a look see. And those of you who are starving for more actual writing from me, I will be posting a new poem for my next collection soon.
December 10, 2013
Let it Snow
It's all about atmosphere. When attempting to create something, your surroundings affect you. That's why I am currently listening to Sufjan Stevens and Relient K's christmas albums and decorating my apartment with nerdy snowflakes.
Doing a brief search of the interwebs, you are inundated with Star Wars snowflake templates which are incredible. A more intensive search provides some Doctor Who, Zelda, and even some Hayao Miyazaki designs, but beyond that there is dearth of nerdy designs. So I decided to create my own.
Alien
Finn & Jake
Aang
Fullmetal Alchemist - Mustang's symbol
Ariel
TMNT - LeonardoIf you want the templates, like my page on Facebook and leave a comment for which template and I'll message them to you.
Doing a brief search of the interwebs, you are inundated with Star Wars snowflake templates which are incredible. A more intensive search provides some Doctor Who, Zelda, and even some Hayao Miyazaki designs, but beyond that there is dearth of nerdy designs. So I decided to create my own.
Alien
Finn & Jake
Aang
Fullmetal Alchemist - Mustang's symbol
Ariel
TMNT - LeonardoIf you want the templates, like my page on Facebook and leave a comment for which template and I'll message them to you.
November 28, 2013
What I am thankful for
As an aspiring artist, I have found that I will be able to accomplish more within a community of artists than I can alone. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my community of artists, Aaron Morrison (director/screenplay/musician), Adam Ledzion (artist), Danny Ferreira (blogger), Matthew Wimberly (musician/writer), and Shailendra Shivecharan (author/web designer).
Looking forward to working on more projects with them in the future. Click on the links to view the projects we have done.
Candy and a Movie - Movie review blog (Danny Ferreira, featuring Matt Fitzpatrick)
Dark Prose - Short stories (Shailendra Shivecharan, featuring Matt Fitzpatrick & Matt Wimberly)
Dreaming God Productions - Short videos (Aaron Morrison, Adam Ledzion, Danny Ferreira, Matt Fitzpatrick, & Matt Wimberly)
Star Wars: Renaissance - Fan fiction project (Aaron Morrison, Adam Ledzion, Matt Fitzpatrick, Matt Wimberly, & Shailendra Shivecharan)
November 14, 2013
Star Wars Renaissance - A new project
I am involved in a Star Wars fan fiction project with several other authors and artists. Our stories take place a couple thousand years after the Luke Skywalker era. We are expanding on the aspects of the Force, and revolutionizing the roles of Sith and Jedi.
The first story we have posted The New Order: I am Death gives a brief glimpse of the new Sith and Jedi orders.
November 8, 2013
Just One Sentence
Engaging in the war of art today. I am trying to finish Part One of The Mirrors of Dormarth, so I can publish it before Christmas. But rewriting 60 pages is a daunting task. At this point forcing myself to sit in front of the computer to edit a single sentence is a win.
“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.” - Steven Pressfield
“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.” - Steven Pressfield
November 3, 2013
Published at last
Check out my two new ebooks on Amazon:
Monsters & Men - An anthology of dark poems including my Baba Yaga origin story
From the Hall of Dreams - A compilation of shorts based off my dreams
Monsters & Men - An anthology of dark poems including my Baba Yaga origin story
From the Hall of Dreams - A compilation of shorts based off my dreams
October 27, 2013
Sneak Peek - Monsters & Men
My poem, The Red Court, is being featured on Dark Prose. By the end of this week a collection of my poems title Monsters & Men will be available for the Kindle.
While you are on Dark Prose, I suggest reading You Get Used to It, and Annastella.
While you are on Dark Prose, I suggest reading You Get Used to It, and Annastella.
October 23, 2013
Going Public
This blog has been around for awhile now running under the pseudonym Pitt Crawly, but I have decided it is time to go public. This blog will serve as my announcement board for my current and future projects, and for readers to get a taste of some of my writings.
Currently, I have taken thirteen of my best dream stories, cleaned them up, and am compiling them into a single ebook. The ebook, The Hall of Dreams: Volume One, will be available on Amazon's Kindle store for $1 at the end of the month.
Also, I am working with a group of artists on a Star Wars fan fiction project. Our stories take place 1000 years after Return of the Jedi. It will be a fun new take on the Star Wars world. I have finished the first story, and we will be posting it to our Star Wars: Renaissance blog at the end of this month.
Currently, I have taken thirteen of my best dream stories, cleaned them up, and am compiling them into a single ebook. The ebook, The Hall of Dreams: Volume One, will be available on Amazon's Kindle store for $1 at the end of the month.
Also, I am working with a group of artists on a Star Wars fan fiction project. Our stories take place 1000 years after Return of the Jedi. It will be a fun new take on the Star Wars world. I have finished the first story, and we will be posting it to our Star Wars: Renaissance blog at the end of this month.
September 22, 2012
Mirrors of Dormarth: Path to Corruption
This is the prologue to a 3 part series that I will be selling at the Kindle store by the end of the year.
MIRRORS OF DORMARTHThe Path to Corruption
PrologueSix candles struggled against the darkness pressing the wooden table. The young sorcerer shifted in the surrounding shadows striving to conceal his anxiety from the cloaked figure standing at the other end of the table. But it seemed little could be hidden from the cloaked one’s hooded gaze. Annoyed with his apprehension, the sorcerer stilled his silent fidgeting. “Show me the object,” said the cloaked figure. The avarice in his voice stole what little warmth the flames had to offer. The dark one’s impertinent tone sent cold anger howling through the young sorcerer. The sorcerer froze for a moment until the icy winds raging inside of him subdued. He bent forward and slid a small gilded mirror onto the table. Upon withdrawing his hand back into the looming dark, the mirror vanished from view and reappeared on the other side of the table. A slight shiver slithered down the young sorcerer’s spine.Shadows stirred and flames fluttered as the dark one moved closer to examine the mirror. “My companion found it while campaigning in the Forgotten Lands,” spoke the sorcerer in a calm, practiced cadence. “He did not grasp the importance of the object and relinquished it into my care.” “Heh, campaigning, you mean scavenging,” spat the dark one. “What about you, young one? Do you understand the significance of this object?” Indignation tore through the sorcerer once again threatening to shatter his carefully constructed calm, but the sorcerer maintained composure as he recited ancient knowledge he recently discovered. “It is one of seven mirrors of Dormarth created by Goibhniu, god of blacksmiths, and the god of magic, Gwydion. Once all seven are acquisitioned, they will grant access to the realm of the dead.” “I see you are acquainted with the legend, but you are wrong. This mirror is not one of the actual seven. It is merely a replica,” whispered the dark one. Silence. The cracking of knuckles echoed in the dark. “Then it’s worthless,” spoke the sorcerer through clenched teeth. “One as young as you cannot possibly understand the meaning of worth,” snapped the dark one. “While it may not be one of the genuine mirrors of Dormarth, it still testifies to their existence. When Cailleach, the Veiled One, discovered that another entrance to her realm was created without her knowledge, she scattered the seven mirrors across the land and sent seven guardians to protect them. Then she created replicas and scattered them as well.” The sorcerer’s body froze while his mind pondered and catalogued the newly acquired information. Whispers for vengeance stirred within his head excitedly, yet careful not to disturb the surface of his face. “So we have some proof that the legend is true but are not any closer to finding the true mirrors.” “Why do you want to find the mirrors of Dormarth? What business do you have with the Veiled One?” The dark one shifted the conversation like the shadows that surrounded him. Fingernails cut into the flesh of his palms, but the words that the sorcerer spoke left his mouth unhindered by emotion. “The goddess of death exceeded her bounds. She left her realm and stole my family from me before their proper time. I wish to show her that there are consequences to even her actions.” The dark one snorted with amusement. “While my motives are not as limited as yours, I too have noticed the Veiled One’s extended reach. This poses a threat to our land, and that I cannot have. We have invested too much time rebuilding from the ashes of the Forgotten Time to risk having our civilization wiped out again just because a god was bored.” The dark one’s voice pressed against the sorcerer like cold stone. “I will send you assistance for this quest. But even with my help, you will not be able to face the guardians protecting the mirrors. You must involve the Wild Dog. Can you do this?” Fingers uncurled from fists to rest on the table’s edge as the sorcerer leaned closer to the dark one. “Yes, but how do we discover the location of the mirrors?” “It is rumored that the gods Goibhniu and Gwydion searched the land and found every replica. It is rumored that they then engraved maps on each replica, revealing the locations of the real mirrors.” The dark one whispered a string of unintelligible words and an image surfaced on the face of the mirror.The sorcerer leaned farther over the table to peer more closely at the mirror. His palms left little crimson stains on the wood, but that was of little importance to him.
MIRRORS OF DORMARTHThe Path to Corruption
PrologueSix candles struggled against the darkness pressing the wooden table. The young sorcerer shifted in the surrounding shadows striving to conceal his anxiety from the cloaked figure standing at the other end of the table. But it seemed little could be hidden from the cloaked one’s hooded gaze. Annoyed with his apprehension, the sorcerer stilled his silent fidgeting. “Show me the object,” said the cloaked figure. The avarice in his voice stole what little warmth the flames had to offer. The dark one’s impertinent tone sent cold anger howling through the young sorcerer. The sorcerer froze for a moment until the icy winds raging inside of him subdued. He bent forward and slid a small gilded mirror onto the table. Upon withdrawing his hand back into the looming dark, the mirror vanished from view and reappeared on the other side of the table. A slight shiver slithered down the young sorcerer’s spine.Shadows stirred and flames fluttered as the dark one moved closer to examine the mirror. “My companion found it while campaigning in the Forgotten Lands,” spoke the sorcerer in a calm, practiced cadence. “He did not grasp the importance of the object and relinquished it into my care.” “Heh, campaigning, you mean scavenging,” spat the dark one. “What about you, young one? Do you understand the significance of this object?” Indignation tore through the sorcerer once again threatening to shatter his carefully constructed calm, but the sorcerer maintained composure as he recited ancient knowledge he recently discovered. “It is one of seven mirrors of Dormarth created by Goibhniu, god of blacksmiths, and the god of magic, Gwydion. Once all seven are acquisitioned, they will grant access to the realm of the dead.” “I see you are acquainted with the legend, but you are wrong. This mirror is not one of the actual seven. It is merely a replica,” whispered the dark one. Silence. The cracking of knuckles echoed in the dark. “Then it’s worthless,” spoke the sorcerer through clenched teeth. “One as young as you cannot possibly understand the meaning of worth,” snapped the dark one. “While it may not be one of the genuine mirrors of Dormarth, it still testifies to their existence. When Cailleach, the Veiled One, discovered that another entrance to her realm was created without her knowledge, she scattered the seven mirrors across the land and sent seven guardians to protect them. Then she created replicas and scattered them as well.” The sorcerer’s body froze while his mind pondered and catalogued the newly acquired information. Whispers for vengeance stirred within his head excitedly, yet careful not to disturb the surface of his face. “So we have some proof that the legend is true but are not any closer to finding the true mirrors.” “Why do you want to find the mirrors of Dormarth? What business do you have with the Veiled One?” The dark one shifted the conversation like the shadows that surrounded him. Fingernails cut into the flesh of his palms, but the words that the sorcerer spoke left his mouth unhindered by emotion. “The goddess of death exceeded her bounds. She left her realm and stole my family from me before their proper time. I wish to show her that there are consequences to even her actions.” The dark one snorted with amusement. “While my motives are not as limited as yours, I too have noticed the Veiled One’s extended reach. This poses a threat to our land, and that I cannot have. We have invested too much time rebuilding from the ashes of the Forgotten Time to risk having our civilization wiped out again just because a god was bored.” The dark one’s voice pressed against the sorcerer like cold stone. “I will send you assistance for this quest. But even with my help, you will not be able to face the guardians protecting the mirrors. You must involve the Wild Dog. Can you do this?” Fingers uncurled from fists to rest on the table’s edge as the sorcerer leaned closer to the dark one. “Yes, but how do we discover the location of the mirrors?” “It is rumored that the gods Goibhniu and Gwydion searched the land and found every replica. It is rumored that they then engraved maps on each replica, revealing the locations of the real mirrors.” The dark one whispered a string of unintelligible words and an image surfaced on the face of the mirror.The sorcerer leaned farther over the table to peer more closely at the mirror. His palms left little crimson stains on the wood, but that was of little importance to him.
