I am having a remarkably hard time writing in the soap opera-y, dialog-driven, fast-paced style of ASKOF. Usually, I can separate things. Mardi Gras Mask was "Let's pretend to be an original series ghost writer!" Cold Lake Murders is "Let's pretend to write an actual novel!" 31 Things to Do in Sleepyside When You're Dead is "Let's pretend to be a comedy writer!" And ASKOF was always, "Let's pretend there are no rules and anything goes and there is no such thing as too over-the-top!" But now, in working on Rocket Man, I keep finding myself toning things down. Or putting in details that aren't necessary. With ASKOF, I took the attitude of, "You know who these characters are. You know where they live. You know their histories." So, I didn't ever bother with, "William Regan, the Wheeler's groom" explanations. For some reason, I keep going there now... ​🙄

So, ASKOF is heavily influenced by music. When I write it, I have something playing in the background for inspiration. A few nights ago, I had Youtube running and it landed on some version of the song A Million Dreams. I didn't know this song and I had to look it up to learn it was from The Greatest Showman. 

I did not look up A Million Dreams because I particularly liked it. I looked it up because it was nagging at me. Because it reminded me too much of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Tonight, it clicked into place for me. Linkin Park's Waiting for the End. Yeah, if you are familiar with both songs, you may think, "Huh?" But the, "All I want to do is trade this life for something new." of Waiting for the End and "Every night I lie in bed. The brightest colors fill my head." of A Million Dreams are *thisclose* to the same thing, melody-wise.

Funny how that works. 

So, I have a full time job now (with a long commute.) And I'm halfway through a Master's degree. But I miss this. I miss the writing and making the graphics and cheesy videos. This is my one hobby that I truly take joy in.

Digging around on the Wayback Machine. Found some funny stuff. Like these 20-year-old beauties:

And then I found a page for ASKOF's soundtrack:

We have definitely come a long way in 20 years. The best part is, everything looks much better/nicer now and takes half the time to get it online.

I laugh at these old images and websites now. It makes me wonder what I will think of my current efforts in a few years.