C is for Clothing

Day 3 and still going strong. Check out A to Z challenge participants for more blogs.

Today, I'm going to talk about clothes for both fiction and fitness but I'm going to start with the fiction side this time. A little while ago, I wrote a newsletter for a writing web site where I talked about fantasy and clothing. While it may not always be needed in detail, there are times for story, world and character where a mention of clothes can make a big difference.

Fiction

What do your characters wear? Is it really that important? It can, at times, be an overwritten details. Too much about the clothes will come off as unnecessary and probably bore the reader who doesn’t care about such information. But when building worlds or even doing some of the writing it helps to have a general idea of the fashion in your fantasy story. I don’t do the minor details well, let along think to put much about what the characters are actually wearing at times, but it’s something I’m going to work on as I have a few novels where for a couple scenes that information is important. Instead, let’s look at how a published story used fashion.

In book 2 of the Wheel of Time series, The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, there is a part near the beginning where it talks about the clothes Rand has been given to wear. It’s a long fantasy series, so at times certain aspects are explained, but this part in particular stands out not just because it manages to show aspects of the world, internal conflict in the point of view character and creates conflict with others as well. It's just clothes but that little change in how Rand had to dress made a change and the discomfort is something that was able to show through its use.

Clothing can be quite important in the right scene. There are many things that fashion can show in a story, whether it’s for an individual character or to show the entire culture of a community. Granted, we don’t want every detail described, nor do we need to know the clothing every single place and character involved. It’s one factor where you have to decide what is best for the story each time.

Fitness

Clothing is also important for fitness. I've also found that the type of athletic gear will vary on personal taste along with the different types of activities. I have found that the same shorts/capris do not work well for both jogging and lifting. If the shorts material is the less flexible material, they can be okay for jogging but I have found they are not the best for squatting because they get too tight around the thighs.

Many wear leggings, at least females though there are guys who wear them too or tight like items but some wear shorts over them. I am not at the level of comfort in body shape yet to wear tight pants and tight shirt that shows all the curves. Plus, it seems kind of like it would get hot. I am looking forward to lifting more in shorts now that it's getting warmer. 

On the other hand, if something is too loose, I have found that is not good for jogging. It's a pain to have to pull up your pants or shorts every couple of minutes. Not easy finding the right middle ground and on a low budget at that. And that's just the bottom half. One has to also consider shirts, what covers the stomach and keeps it covered, what doesn't show cleavage, and the list goes on and on.

Also, I need more pockets! There are far too many shorts, capris and pants that lack pockets, from my experience. Sure, my little ipod holders have a spot for a key (even though they are both getting worn out from all the use already) but my car key is way too big. I end up linking my locker key or put my car key in my sports bra when out at the park because not enough of my fitness clothing has pockets. I don't have one of those weird flip fanny belt things either, though I will look at them maybe in the future as an option but overall, I like pockets (work pants need pockets too by the way).

So, summary. Clothing is important in fitness. :-)

When do you mention clothes in fiction? What type of clothes do you like to wear for fitness activities?

B is for Bacon

Mmm mm bacon. Need I say more?...  Okay, maybe I should,1st first, this delicious post is part of the A to Z blog challenge. Check out the other fun blogs listed over at wwwa-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html

Fitness (nutrition)

Bacon has many facets of deliciousness. Whether it is in crazy decadence or even the pleasant morning protein boost, there is often room for bacon. Cupcakes, chocolate sundaes, vegetables, steak... there are so many things that have been made even more delicious by the addition of bacon. Even bacon wrapped bacon sounds wonderful, lol. As a food item, it is very well used in many areas and finds its place on the plate for good reason. It can even be useful at times for those focused on health.

I have only purchased and cooked bacon in my apartment once, and by that I m r an that I got to have bacon for about a week and a half as I cook for just me. It was wonderful and delicious. Aside from those with cultural or religious reasons to avoid bacon, there are few who need to avoid it. Many can't eat it every day either, but it makes for a nice bit of food some days.

On average, with slice let and thickness varying, three slices of bacon can add up to around 9 grams of protein for just over 125 calories. Not a bad little addition to some meals or dishes. I am not a big food in the morning type of person since I stay up late and don't get up early, but having bacon was a nice little treat on those mornings. Plus, the apartment smells really good after bacon has been cooked. Reminds me a little of my great-grandma, who would save the grease/drippings and cook other things in it later. Mmmmmm

Fiction

While there isn't always a need for food specifications in fiction, there are times when having a "bacon" can be beneficial for world, cultural development and/or character. Maybe they have been traveling and come across a farmer who shares a morning meal with them in exchange for something. Or a local festival could include a type of food that is both overly appreciated or deemed sacrilegious to consume depending on which segment of the population the character is part of in a town scene. Or the character could just be hungry and the smell of it cooking Dr was them in or bring two slightly opposing characters together. There are many possible options out there to be discovered and savored.

It doesn't have to be actual bacon either. Is there a type of food that some populations worship while others dont? Dragon meat could both be a dietary supplement and a restriction depending on the point of view. It is all a matter of how you write it.

Do you like bacon? Is there bacon in your fiction world or do they have something else that is equivalent?

A is for Abs

First off... Welcome!

It is here, the April A to Z blog challenge. Quick run down: Don't forget to check out the many awesome bloggers taking part in the challenge (challenge sign-up list) where each will be posting almost every day in April with topics that follow the letter of the day. This blog will be posting on topics that are found both in fitness and in fiction, so there will be two sections per post to make sure both areas are covered.

For day A with fiction and fitness, I went for a slightly obvious one: Abs

Fitness

Ah, the ever prominent goal of visible ab muscles. Well, okay I've never had that goal but at least every other day there are posts on myfitnesspal where people  ask how to get abs (in which case they mean how to get something like a  6-pack because we all have abs even if many are covered by fluff). That and they ask about thighs, glutes, etc. The popular answer for the ab question is one that tries at a little humor.

How to get abs? Fork put downs and plate push aways. Translation - eat less, also known as lose body fat. There is a little more to it as one can work the muscles in order to gain strength and make their appearance better if reaching that low body fat percentage required for their display. However, it is partly also on genetics and some may never reach the point of visible abs.

The days of the crunches are over though, or well, they try to be over. Some still hold onto them dearly, though even less do sit-ups from what I've noticed, though there are quite a few variances on the crunch that people do so it's still around. However, it's not seen as the way to the abs. The answer to the  previous question is rarely do hundreds of crunches. Okay, many still do crunches. In stage 2 of New Rules of Lifting for Women (which I'll be doing the first couple of weeks this month) includes 3 different forms of crunches, but it's not promising 6-pack from them in particular.

I'm not really gearing towards the visible ab goal myself yet. But I also said I didn't see the appeal of doing pull-ups or chin-ups as many have that as a fitness goal and now one of my accessories is the assisted chin-up (though I just pull till the top  of my head reaches the handles on it cause that's as far as the weights go and I can't pull my own weight yet, not even close). So, you never know.

Fiction

Abs can be found in fiction too (and sometimes they feel like a fantasy on their own, lol). Whether it's in picture form, description or added in to  spice up a moment, there is a chance abs may be mentioned because in many stories, the idea of a better character has an appeal. Okay, sometimes seeing the fluffy guy as the hero works too, there are many stories and body types will vary. Still, at times the physique of the character is important and that can include abs.

Covers are a place one might find visible abs in certain genres, like romance or urban fantasy, though their popularity varies. See the guy without a shirt showing muscle definition often though it may be a little less for the women. Visible stomach is common and in fantasy art, clothing is minimal at times but I haven't seen a lot of that 6-pack definition, though I don't go looking for it either.

Erotica, I can imagine, has its fair share of abs on cover and within the descriptions, but I haven't read much published to know the amounts. Either way, there are abs to be found and desired in fiction.

Fitness question: Do you have a goal focused on abs or do any work specific to training them?

Fiction question: Do your characters have visible abs?

June Camp NaNo

It's almost June and I'm going to take part in the summer Camp NaNoWriMo event. A few of my friends were already signed up and despite everything I have going on, I figured why not join.

I'm going to use the challenge to work on my Angel/Demon paranormal romance novel. Maybe with this challenge I'll be able to get a first draft done since it's one of the novels I want to finish a first draft of for 2012. I haven't done outlining or anything but that's okay. I can't wait to get writing.

I haven't been writing much as of late. I've been working on reviews of other people's writing and trying to get things together for some of the activities I run over on writing.com. I have written a couple of poems but not much on the story front. But June will be my month to turn it around.


Are you taking part in one of the camp nano months?
What are you writing for June?

MNW versus MNE

For the past two years March has been for March Novel Writing Challenge (MNW). In 2010, I took part in the challenge and wrote 65k on Standing Ground. It was the first time I'd made 50k in 15 days. However, in 2011 I only wrote 15k on a YA novel.

On the other hand, this year I joined an editing challenge. At first I thought the editing was to be done in February but then I figured out it was a prep challenge and the editing would be in March. There is even a web site to sign on to for novel editing month in March.

Now I am torn. Do I want to edit in March or do I want to write?


MNW isn't really an official event. My friend had a forum for it on Writing.Com for the 2010 one and in 2011 I had my NaNoWriMo plus group along with this blog for those that wanted to take part. But no official web site or anything like that.  So, if I was to do it this year then I would have to do it in my group or on a blog again since I don't know who all wants to take part in it this year.

MNE has an official site. nanoedmo site There are forums and already people signed up, ready to go. The challenge I'm doing this month is planning to edit for this even though some have started editing already.

MNW is nice compared to NaNoWriMo because the goals are different. While someone can write 50k if they really want to, they don't have to do that much. There is no set goal minimum or max. The writer chooses their individual goals and can work on novels that they have already started. Last year I started a new novel but the year before I had 15k done of the novel before March.

MNE does have a goal to reach as well. For the editing challenge the goal is to achieve 50 hours of verified editing. The verification is done on the site and in their rules they explain what they qualify as editing.

Tough decision.


What about you?
Are you taking part in Editing Month?
Or are you more of a writing in March type?
Should I do both?