Creator's Block.

[The Count]

Hey guys... Sorry I haven't updated the story I've been working on... Just hard to continue that one when my main motivation's gone... Not the motivation for the story, it's just...

Well... Always liked creating my own characters, used to be able to draw. But since my sight declined, I kinda gave it up, though I can see what I want each character to look like perfectly in my mind in full colored detail.
The project I wanted to make was basically a master monster manor, like the Count's castle... Even have a list of creatures and monsters of myth and other animals to fill it up.
Problem is... Each time I get started with a few characters, my mind wanders and I get unhappy, wrecking whatever it is already done.

And now that I'm getting conflicting ideas on how the main structure should be shaped... Sometimes it just frustrates the heck out of me. Not sure what it is I'd hope to accomplish with this thread, just letting some of my thoughts be heard...

Oh well, have a good day.

 

[ReneeLouvier]

That's not good to hear Ed. Creators block can be super frustrating to have, I have had it myself sometimes. I know how you're feeling.

 

[The Count]

Thanks Sara... Had some time to think a bit more... Feeling a bit better regarding how I want the layout of the Counting Castle to look like, so I'm going to bring in the creatures and monsters I want to be there. The majority will seem to fit: guys like Drac, Quasi, the Reaper, Cerberus, Medusa, and some from classic or world myth. Others might not seem to fit: bookworm humanoid, woodpecker humanoid, jackpot machine humanoid... But the way I feel is that if that's the creature/character I want to bring in, then it'll be brought into the confines of my numbered abode. Besides, some of them can be spooked up a little to fit a bit better.

OK, so I'll be working now... Thanks and have a good day.

 

[The Count]

Well... Don't know who may be reading through this... But I'd like to ask for an opinion from the friends who know me best...
Developing the first group of ten monsters for the castle, the thing they share in common is a black and grayish skin tone or wardrobe color scheme. Got a bit of indecision regarding the 9-spot.
Given that the other main commonality is that these first ten are sort of like basic haunters, without which a creepy castle just wouldn't feel like home...

Me thinks that a cat would be purrfect for the 9-spot. However, since the Undertaker and Raven are already among the group of ten, I feel that bringing in the Black Cat would be pushing or loading the group a bit too much and should be left for later groupings if I get that far. So the other possibility is an alley cat, since the darkness of the alley she inhabits goes hand-in-hand with the overall scene of the Counting Castle.
Question though: Should it have grayish fur? Or would it still feel as if it fits in if it were to have a sort of soft sandy tan-colored fur?

Hope to hear from you guys soon and have a good day.

 

[ReneeLouvier]

I'd say grayish fur sounds great.

 

[The Count]

Thanks Sara... Gonna settle on a lighter tone though, trying to blend your and Kathy's suggestions.

 

[Katzi428]

Hi Ed...something just occured to me.
You know...there's a such type of cat called a dilute calico. It has gray and tan patches (plus some white) So if you want the cat to be like that, then it'd solve your purroblem!
Kathy

 

[The Count]

Thanks... Meowch apprrrrciated Kat.
Thing is... I'm feeling that Blah! again.

So I'll just lay things out to see if you follow, along with others who may be purrusing the thread.

Counting Castle: Series 1, titled it "Castle Spooks" to get the basic haunters first in the master manor.
1-spot's for the Master Monster, The Undertaker... Just feels fright to me, given Frank's low tone counting off the 1 for the Counting Organ's voices.
2-spot was given to The Doppelgänger.
3 was for the Mythic Monster representative, Cerberus since he has three heads.
The Raven flocks in at #4, as the Feathered Fiend for the group.
5 is The Haunted Mask, just a frightful flying face.
After that, The Demon at 6 cause of the devilish connection.
The Dark Cloud Stormer (basically a sort of human storm cloud) at 7 due to the shape of the lovely lightningbolt.
Then I have a spider humanoid as #8, the cat for #9, and a female pumpkin humanoid for 10.

Problem is... I keep getting unsatisfied even with what I've got so far as basic as it may seem. Maybe I'll just take some time to think about it all, maybe go in another direction...
If you've got feedback or suggestions for other candidates, feel free to post here or contact me... Will take your advice under consideration.
Thanks.

 

[The Count]

OK... Finished off the first ten Counting Castle Creatures and I'm feeling better. Might move on to more story during the weekend, and a few other errands on the agenda.

However, an opinion I seek to close off this first series. Made the addition waaaaaay back in my files for a tombstone to grace the front outer wall of the castle, with a number in high relief to be the sort of capper for each series. Then, I made it so the tombstone would be on a sort of slanted hill with little discs upon the slope for each creature to stand on. However, since I've come up with this nifty castle tower packaging idea, and the creatures already have their number on their bat badges and as a marble token to hand the Count, my question is...

Should I keep these serial tombstones? Or should I just forget 'em and move on to the next group of ten?
Hope to hear from those who know me best and may be reading through this thread.

 

[Fragglemuppet]

First, the block, happens to me all the time my friend. I'll get a terrific idea for something, and it will all just fit so good together in my head, and I can just picture the whole thing! Then I'll start doubting myself, and picking it apart one detail at a time. Eventually, even if the idea still works, it will not have the same brilliance as before, and I won't be so excited about it. This is most of the reason you have never seen fanfiction from me!
But enough about me. The second thing I wanted to say, is that I think you should keep your toombstone design IMHO. I think it is a great idea which no haunted castle should be without. That being said, you definately should not keep it if you feel that it is too much to handle. If it is giving you fits, scrap it; make your life simpler!