Myles Graham
Writer sharing his thoughts and his short stories!
Goals for 2019!
Hey everyone, Happy New Year! Congratulations on making it to 2019! It’s that time of year, where everyone is in the gym, eating vegetables and making resolutions. To my knowledge, most goals set at this time of the year usually tend to fail by February. This year though I am feeling pretty confident in myself so what the hey, lets set some goals and smash them!!
I have never really been one to set goals. Come to think of it that’s probably why I have never accomplished anything significant. My experience with goals is very and I mean VERY limited. Most of the time I write a list of goals I want to accomplish this month. Then I forget about the goals and go on with my life and at the end of the month realize I managed to complete maybe one goal and most likely that was an accident.
At this point, you are probably asking yourself “So, what’s so different this time Myles?!” Well, let me tell you. This time I am asking for help. Firstly I am asking my wife to enlist of a year of keeping me accountable. Maybe she could just tell me what to do. Act as a prison warden, whatever it takes! That might make life easier! Secondly, I am asking all of you for help! Every once in a while just ask me how my goals are going, make sure I keep posting here and most importantly that I am having fun. We could be partners you help me I help you!
So, Here are my Goals for 2019!
- Read at least 20 books! Last year I only read about 11. Let’s double that effort this year!! Follow my good reads! I have read 0 of 0 books for the 2019 Reading Challenge! What should I read next?
- Finish a First Draft! I have started many! and only one has made it past the first chapter. I seem to lose my passion for the story I created or it just never seems to be going the way I wanted it to and I lose hope. This year I just need to push past that and finish one. Then I can tweak away until its what I want it to be!
- Get into the habit of writing every day! Because I am always so focused on my stories I forget that I need to actually write in order to get better. And because I lose passion for my stories so quick I tend to not write very much! That’s going to change this year. If I have nothing to write about I am just going to write about certain events, People, places, even just describe random things. Anything to get words to paper.
- Make More blog posts than last year! Last year I averaged 1 post a month and that is just not enough! I am going to continue to post my random thoughts, maybe more book reviews with all the books I plan on reading and show you guys some of my writing!!
That is it. Those are my goals. Some are big and daunting others small. I think I am going to blow 2018 Myles out of the water and do all the things I keep putting off. I intend to make 2019 the best year of my life! What about you guys? Are you setting goals? if so what are they? Let me know in the comments! thanks for reading, Have a magical day! and year!
The Meaning of Life
The meaning of life is a topic many, if not most people have discussed. As time moves forward the meaning always changes. There is no Definitive answer to, “what is the meaning of life?” and that troubles a lot of people.
“The god that we created plans our destiny, Because life without meaning is our sworn, enemy!”-Beast in Black
People make up stories and will continue to make them so that there is meaning to their life. Now, what I am getting at is, what if life had no meaning? How does that make you feel? would your life change drastically? Would it change at all?
The beautiful thing about humans is our quest for answers and the beautiful thing about the universe is its abundance of secrets! its like we were made for each other! We dedicate countless lives unraveling its secrets. Some things have been studied for hundreds of years and still, there is no concrete answer.
Our drive for knowledge and better lives have made us who we are, but why does everything need a meaning? what if you chose the meaning of life? what if you created your destiny and it wasn’t created for you? What if the universe always existed and there was no beginning of time? what if every religions real message was that you were God?
Short Story: Lord Odius
My first short story. I am proud of finishing! Would love feedback! Thanks for reading!
https://mylesgrahamwrites.com/2018/05/18/short-story-lord-odius/
My favorite read of 2018
Welcome back, everyone! I hope you are all having a magical day! This year I have read the most books I have ever read in one year. Which by readers standards isn’t much. I have only read about eleven. for comparison, my wife has read over fifty. Yeah, yeah I am a slow reader. I think I could have read a lot more but too many books I read this year were just bad to me. So I am going to talk about the one that stood out the most!
My favorite read of 2018 is definitely an older one. shes about twenty years old. at that book is Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy. If you don’t already know, Tom Clancy writes military fiction. His books have spawned multiple video game franchises, and arguably one of the biggest shooter style videos games based on this book.
This is a big long book. and for me quite a daunting read. How daunting you ask? well, I have owned the book for about ten years and never read it. It’s 900 pages!! That’s huge to me. Some people love epic novels. But my sweet spot is in the 400-500 page range. probably due to the speed in which I read books too.
So, This year I finally got up the courage to read it. Honestly, It was how I expected it to be. You don’t become a famous author by writing trash. ( Well back then anyway.) But there were spots I didn’t expect. like the multiple times, I was bored. where some scenes just seemed to carry on, even without contributing to the overall story. I also Expected to have high tension throughout the book or excitement but that was just an unrealistic expectation.
The story felt a little predictable. You Knew how it would end. But it was fun and interesting to see how it got to the end. I enjoyed the villains they were very interesting and it really shows how people can believe so hard that they are doing the right thing that nothing else matters. How the cause itself almost seems bigger than humanity. In all honesty, I understood the villain and A lot of their views mirror mine. Just not to the crazy extent of theirs, obviously.
My final thought on Rainbow Six is, it’s great. Definitely will read again. It did prove to me that my ideal page range is 400-500. But rating it out of ten I would give it a seven and a half. The length definitely brought it down a peg for me.
That is my favorite read of 2018. I hope you enjoyed this review style blog. If you did make sure to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading and have a magical day!
Darksiders
I love great stories. I love Video games. And I love when both of those are mashed together. All of my life I have been a passionate gamer. I loved living different lives and saving the world. My favorite game growing up was Halo
Up until a couple of years ago I would have pegged Halo
As time went on I would continually see the game in the Xbox store and it would always pull me in. Eventually it went on sale and I had to buy it to kill the curiosity about the game. Boy, am I glad I did, it will definitely go down as one of my top five purchases. It checked all the boxes that made a great game for me. Interesting story, interesting world, Monsters, Cinematic and interesting characters.
So, why am I talking about a game that came out in 2010? Well mostly because it is a grossly underrated Game and I think more people should know about it. BUT there is also a third installment of the series coming which is really big news become fans of the game thought its chances of survival diminished with the collapsed of THQ. This news has me beyond excited! so much so in fact that I orders the most expensive version possible………. I told you I was a fan.
So, for those who haven’t had the pleasure of playing any of the Darksiders
The second game you play as Death who’s quest is to protect war at all costs. 3 games, 3 different horsemen. Each game has its own feel and helps progress the story. The horseman for Darksiders 3
Thanks for reading!! if your interested in the games or a book about the horseman Eons before the apocalypse follow these links! Any commission I make helps keep the site up and running!
HAPPY GAMING!!
Why I loved The Witcher 3 The video game but really disliked the books.
The Witcher has become a household name for avid gamers. It won the game of the year and gives you 100 hours of gameplay. The world is immense, The characters are funny and interesting. There are monsters to hunt, some of which happen to be human. There is lots to do and lots to explore. Making it a well rounded and balanced game.
To be honest I had never heard of The Witcher until the recent installment. and when I got to fist fight a bear I thought my love for the game was forged forever. I have thought time and time again about getting the older ones and playing through those but I could never really justify buying them on the tight budget I was on at the time. But I was gifted a box set which we thought was a trilogy.
After completing the third book I realized it was not a trilogy. I also realized that the story I was being told through the books was the exact same as The Witcher 3 the game just earlier on in their lives. The Main character is in search for a girl who is like a daughter to him and she has the power to save or destroy the world. There is a Love triangle. (Mostly cause the main character can’t keep his dick in his pants.)
So If the books are so close to the game that I love why do I dislike them so much? Well because they are -insert excessively aggressive curse word here- BORING! For three books all that happens is walking and talking. not even interesting conversations either. FOR THREE BOOKS!!! I mean there is some background to the witchers which is interesting but that’s it. there was probably all of five paragraphs of action combined in all three books.
Maybe the books that followed these three are better, I don’t know. All I know is I will not read them. I have lost all interest. I mean how can such an action based game be based on such boring books? Maybe it’s just me. If you have played the games and read the books leave your thoughts in the comments.
To add salt to the wound. The Author Andrzej Sapkowski is now demanding Cd projekt Red to give him millions more in money. He wants more money because it wanted an upfront cheque instead of royalties because he thought the games would flop. Maybe he thought they were going to make it just as boring as his books.
Anyway, that’s my thoughts on the witcher book series and game series. Hope you enjoyed ———–RANT OVER————
What Gives me Inspiration to write?
Every writer has something that inspires different pieces of work. Some have different routines or triggers that get them in the mood. That is because we are all unique and different. What inspires you to do what you do? I am sure you have some quirk that drives you!
My quirk is Music. Music can put me in a trance. When I listen to certain songs I get lost in daydreams. I am taken to different worlds. I become someone new and live out an entirely different life. Much like when we read. I have always daydreamed, but as I have gotten older they have grown fewer and farther apart.
Now as a writer, I scramble to jot down my daydreams! They could be pure gold. Who knows but I must hoard them! Just like regular dreams when I sleep I believe them to be incredibly useful and creative. If I could remember all of my dreams, be it day or night I would already be a billionaire. But, alas this is not the case.
So, what kind of music is it that gets me sword fighting a demonic angel? What music gets me into a weird love triangle between an ogre and a dwarf? Well, that genre of music would be Power metal! Most if not all power metal is based around fantasy worlds or mythology and as someone who wished to be a fantasy author obviously, it strikes a chord with me.
Now there are other genres that spark creativity in me. Good classical music puts me in a royal setting. Folk music puts me in a medieval village setting. When I write or think about my stories I like to really get into the mindset of the characters and feel like I am in there world. what better way to do that, than with music.
Losing yourself to your imagination is one of the greatest gifts we have. Being creative is who we are. ever since I started writing I have looked for different forms of inspiration. I have become very passionate about writing, but I have always been passionate about music. Now they seem to be blending perfectly together for me. What drives your creativity? Let me know in the comments!
BONUS!!! Here are some songs that inspire me!
Harry Potter who?
This may come as a shock to almost everyone. I think I am the only person that has never read the Harry Potter series. What makes it worse is I grew up with it, My generation loved it and obsessed with it. When the movies came out everyone lost their minds. I myself watched the first one. I don’t remember it at all but I just never was interested. Now don’t kill me over this but I’m the same way with star wars.
Now the reason for the mighty betrayal to readers and writers everywhere is not what you might think. My motivation to not read the books wasn’t because I didn’t like them, I didn’t finish watching the movies because I thought they were lame. The reason I never like Harry Potter is because I disliked and almost despised everything that was popular. I didn’t watch certain shows because that’s what everyone was watching. I didn’t ask for certain toys because everyone had them. I wanted to be different, By doing so I think I lost out on lots of fun and happy memories.
Even to this day, I find certain likes and dislikes of mine are based solely on popular demand. It’s weird, I am a traitor I know. I am sorry. I do plan on reading Harry Potter in this lifetime. It’s on my to be read list, so cut me some slack. Is there anyone else out there like me and go against the grain? Am I an Anomaly for not reading and watching Harry Potter? Will I become a mark on society for this heinous crime?
Let me know! I really hope I am not alone, But I plan on making it up to humanity and becoming a Potterhead!
Why do people choose to be negative instead of being positive?
Ever wondered why people lose their temper when something doesn’t go their way? Ever wonder why, things that don’t seem like a big deal to you tend to set others off? How can one mans favorite sports team losing ruin is whole week? Why do people rain make everyone grumpy? Why do people get offended over things that don’t personally affect them?
Simple, Because it’s easy. Some of those things may not seem easy but for most it is. It is easy to wake up, stub your toe and be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. It’s easy to see a gloomy day outside and feel like a dark cloud is hovering over you personally. It’s easy for someone to think negatively about situations that don’t go the way you want them too. For a lot of people it is a lot easier to point out peoples flaws then it is to praise their good attributes.
So, Why is everyone this way? Because, we like drama. Life without drama would be boring wouldn’t it? Imagine watching your favorite tv show or movie and there was no drama in it. Boooring. Drama and other negative things are good in our lives. They help us appreciate all the good things in life. Right? They are supposed to, but not many people focus enough of the good things and just think everything is negative.
People tend to stay in a negative state because sometimes it’s easier than learning why they do it. What I have learned in life through books and studying myself, is that our brains are a tool for us to use, yet somewhere along the line then brain took over. Your thought aren’t your thoughts. You stopped thinking logically and your brain had to take over. The brain wants to protect you at all costs. So, It sees everything as danger and wants you to avoid it.
So, take control back again. Learn to meditate. Be grateful for everything you have in life weather it be good or bad, either way its helping you somehow. Not everyone has the amount of money you have, or the luxuries. Some people don’t have running water or a roof over their head. some people in these situations can still see the positive in things and be happy. Happiness come from within, with taking back the power from your brain and being positive about everything! Maybe not everything, but more things to start with.
When you wake up in the morning be grateful to be alive, be grateful to have a roof over your head, be grateful for the food in your cupboards, be grateful for everything that keeps you alive that you always over look. your life will begin to change. your life could always be worse, so when things don’t go your way, smile and be grateful for the opportunity!
Choose positivity always! I am grateful for all of you, thanks for reading!
Short Story: Lord Odius
Hey everyone, this is the first short story I am posting or publishing anywhere. This story is based on an evil character from another short story that I am in the process of writing. This story wrote itself while I was writing the other one! Thanks for checking it out I hope you all enjoy!
Are people born evil? Perhaps being evil is learned in time. Nobody truly understands why people do what they do. Are you sure that you understand the reason behind every decision you’ve made? I doubt it. When people do things, drastic things, there is usually something pushing them, like killing your best friend because he slept with your wife. Emotion pushed you to do it. I think you deserve a chance to be heard and understood, as does everyone.
Samson Odious is the person that comes to mind when asked to describe evil. Lord Odious, The King of Darkness, Lord of the Underworld, The Hero Executioner, but no one knows his story. Sure, some people are born to do bad things, but to get those names, you are not born mad but driven crazy.
Samson was a loving husband and father, he was a businessman, a world champion fencer and most importantly, there was a time when people called him the hero of Aldmist. Before he was evil he was good. Not just good but great. He defeated armies of undead, assassinated the Undead King and saved our own king time and time again.
Until one grave day, when the Undead Prince sought out revenge, and to take the land of the living once and for all. He sent a letter carrier to King Zerroth;
Dear King, your land, and your throne will soon be mine.
I sent you this letter so you may sit and stew in fear for I
Prince of the Undead will make your people part of my army.
I look forward to using your skull as a goblet.
Then the dreaded day had come. The recently deceased and corpses that had been dead far longer than Aldmist had been around, began to rise from their graves. In a matter of minutes, the dead covered the land like a plague. The Aldmist army was pushed back into the Helmgar castle where they would have to make their stand against the undead swarm. As they bombarded the castle walls, catapulting our own dead brethren toward us. One man knew he needed to protect the King. Samson made for the throne room.
He entered the room to find the royal family cowering together behind the massive golden plated throne. This isn’t the first time Samson had to protect the King from attack, but it was certainly the first time he had seen his King cower. The King approached Samson with a piece of parchment held toward him as he shook. “If Aldmist survives and I do not, I will ask God for holy guidance for you, and you shall be named king”
Samson was a man who never showed emotion. People would call him the man with a stone face. Deep down he was honored that the King would choose him as a successor to the throne. “I assure you, my Lord, you and your family will make it out of here unscathed” He put a hand on the King’s shoulder to comfort him further.
The King cracked a brief smile and his shoulders relaxed, but just as quick as he relaxed he cowered back to his throne. The room began to fill with a thick black fog. It rolled through the throne rooms window, one spot seemed denser than the rest. The ball rolled right into the center of the room and all the fog started to disperse. A figure stood now where the ball had been. The figure was a man in all black armor, which looked to be made of bones. The only visible part of the being was his purple glowing eyes which pulsated under his helmet.
Everyone was astonished and stood in place, speechless and motionless. Even Samson the mighty warrior stood wide-eyed. The purple eyes locked onto the King now. “I am here for your head!” the man bellowed. “This world, along with your kingdom, now belong to the dead” Samson fumbled for his sword and as he did the man turned into the ball of fog once more and rushed toward him.
Samson’s vision went black and he struggled to find breathable air. He collapsed to the floor struggling to get out of the fog while all around him, screams filled the room. He crawled on his hands and knees through puddles of blood until he reached the edge of the fog. Where the man stood holding the King by his throat.
He grabbed his sword once more knowing he had little time to save the King. He threw the sword end over end with all his might. The man in the skeletal armor pivoted himself and the king around, and the sword drove itself into the King’s heart. Samson stood in disbelief at what had just occurred. The armored man released his grip on the king and let him fall to the floor. He now stood purple eyes blazing into Samson’s. Blood seeped from a hole in his armor where the sword had struck.
The man’s purple eyes fell to the wound on his chest, where the sword had pierced through the king. Just as he did, Samson charged tackling the man to the ground. He quickly pulled the knife from his boot and put it to the man’s neck. He pulled off the man’s helmet and revealed a face no mother could love. Bits of flesh falling off, an entire cheek missing, making the inside of his mouth completely visible. “Who are you?” He demanded. The man’s face now grinning and his mouth opened revealing more teeth. “I am the Undead Prince and you are Samson Odious”
The Prince’s grin growing even wider as Samson’s eyes widened in surprise. “I knew I would bathe in the King’s blood tonight, but it is an absolute delight knowing I will bathe in my father’s assassin’s blood as well” Samson pushed the point of his knife harder into his throat. “But I suppose maybe I should thank you, my father was growing rather tired of trying to take over the world and had gotten soft in his old age” “Now here I am to finish what he started” Samson’s eyes shrank to a squint. “You aren’t in the position to be taking anything over. Your time is up. You have killed too many!” He raised his dagger and slammed into the Undead Prince’s heart. The Prince erupted into a thick cloud of black smoke. Whispers that seemed to be arguing surrounded Samson. As the cloud dissipated, the Undead Prince’s voice remained “See you soon, Odious”
All around the kingdom undead soldiers began to smoke and become lifeless. Men fighting undead minions were now beating lifeless bodies. The Prince of the Undead was their lifeblood, and they perished along with him. The kingdom now hung in a thick black smoke, but not a single fire around. The smoke began turning to a deep purple as it dissipated.
Samson sat in the Throne room assessing the carnage the Undead Prince had brought to the royal family. Blood painted the walls and limbs peppered the floor. His eyes began to tear but he knew what needed to be done as he spotted the scroll the King had given him beforehand. He grabbed the scroll and approached the King’s corpse. “I will make sure Aldmist prospers in your name!” He took a knee and blessed the King.
Muttering and banging on the door ended his prayer. The muttering turned to yelling and the banging more wrathful. The door began to splinter and just as quickly erupt open revealing three Aldmist soldiers. They took in the gruesome scene that was now the throne room. They spotted Samson and quickly ran over with swords drawn. “Samson?” All of them seemed more on edge. “What have you done? How could you murder the family you swore to protect?” He quickly stumbled to his feet. “you don’t understand. There was a fog…” “The sword, the King had honored you with, is driven through his chest. We understand.” Samson’s heart dropped. “I tried to save them, I killed the Undead Prince.” All three men looked back and forth to one another and nodded. “Kill him”
The Soldiers readied their swords. All out of ideas Samson had one last hope. He threw the scroll at their feet, without emotion and dead eyes. “I am your King now.” Just as the last word left his mouth the men roared and charged him. He hopped over the King’s body and removed his sword from it. He knew he couldn’t take them all on, but at least he could fend them off as he made his way to the window the Undead Prince came from.
He parried blow after blow until they were able to knock the sword from his hand. Without further ado, he leaped out the window. Luckily for him, there was a moat below to slightly cushion his fall. He looked back up at the window to see the men peering down at him. As luck would have it they didn’t have bows. He slowly got himself to the water’s edge and pulled himself onto land. His ankle was twisted and arm dislocated from the fall. He hobbled into the forest just ahead to get out of sight and head for home.
It took him an hour to reach his village. The air seemed calm, almost as if no one was there. As he neared his house he heard galloping coming his way. He dove into some bushes in front of a neighboring house. The three soldiers from the Throne room rushed passed. Once they were out of sight he ran as fast as he could. Ignoring all the pain from his fall from the throne room. As he approached his house he noticed the door was open and all the lanterns were off. “Emeline?” he questioned as he slowly entered. “Genisis?” no answers. Emeline his wife could usually be found in the bedroom and reading at this time.
He entered, and there she was. Emeline hung on the wall above the bed. Held up by one sword pierced right through her chest. His. Her throat was slit and a piece of parchment dangled from her mouth. Blood soaked the bed. Despair filled him. His eyes grew darker. Almost becoming black. He took the note from her mouth;
The King is dead.
And so is the hero of Aldmist.
“Genisis…” His eyes welled up. He dashed to her room but to no avail, he scoured the house but couldn’t find her. He wiped the tears from his eyes and returned to his bedroom. He took Emiline off the wall and slumped her over his shoulder, lit a torch and threw it on the floor and left. He stood outside and watched his house become engulfed in flames. As he watched his eyes turned completely black. Almost as if burnt. “I will burn this world to the ground for you my loves” As he turned around to leave, a man stood before him with a toothy grin and purple eyes. “The undead don’t seem so bad now do they? I know where your daughter is, and I am willing to tell you for the right price.”
“I’ll do anything”
When the world is on fire everyone burns. Almost always, the people who try and stop the fire end up becoming it. Samson Odious is now the fire that wishes to scorch the world
The End
About me
Hi everyone! My name is Myles Graham. It the last couple years I have taken up writing as a hobby and really enjoy it! I am trying my hand at writing novels and short stories, some of which I will be posting on this site. I will also just write articles with my views and certain subjects. What I’m trying to say is I will be all over the place 😛 But hopefully you all enjoy what I put out and follow along on my journey. Wanna know more about me just ask!
