A Look Into My Planned Novel Series: Presenting ACTRESS SQUARE! · 4:18am Jan 10th, 2017
Luttant pour toujours, la Première Nebula! You up to the challenge?
For those of you who've been following me for a while, you might know that I intend to go into IRL fiction writing. If you don't, it's probably because I only now realized that I haven't talked about my other projects much. They've been put on the backseat a little with If You Give a Little Love, but outlining and such is still very much in progress. (The actual novel writing will not start until that fic series ends, since Love is my first priority.) But nevertheless, they're something I'm very passionate about, and as I'm entering intensive character design and redesign, I figured I'd share a bit of the process with you for those interested.
Actress Square, the proposed series I'm working on, is something that has been years in the making. At first, it was meant to be an online series for children, but as I wrote through it and explored the characters, I decided to try to get it published as a more mature series with both dark topics and lighter moments. As a result, basically none of the original text is salvageable after world building changes, and this is why I will have to work from scratch.
The basic plot is that of a magical girl anime mixed with an old-time science fiction feel. In the country of Olympia, where the world's greatest athletes and their relatives/ancestors live, President Hassow Tsukimura (one of four in this country's messed up political system) moonlights as a mad scientist. Years ago, he developed a technology that created super powered beings known as Actresses out of humans, and ever since, young girls from all around the area have gone missing for only days or even hours at a time. President Tsukimura creates clones of the girls he kidnaps, making it seem as though the child has not disappeared (like non-Chrysalis-type changeling stories).
Some of these Actresses manage to escape into a safe spot known as Actress Square, and the public is to some extent aware of them. However, they're more like the local mythological figure, where no one knows just where they came from. In the meantime, not even the Square is safe, as mysterious hostile Actresses known as Firebrands antagonize the other residents and create a culture of fear. These particular Actresses are magic-stealers, so no one is truly safe with gangs of devastatingly powerful magical beings around.
In the midst of all this, the young human girl Omega Clow is just about to start her career as an athlete. Years ago, she happened across a particularly powerful Actress named Espoir, and the encounter sparked a fascination with these beings. Just when her career starts and she seems to be at her lowest point--trapped in an abusive relationship with another player--a fellow rookie comes to her claiming to be Espoir. As she learns that the Actress now conceals her true form under the guise of a human named Valka Sparks, she's pulled into the mysteries of the Actress world and ever closer to Valka. But can she handle it when the Actress world pulls her in too deep?
Finally, here are short versions of the Actress profiles (human name and transformed name):
Valka (Espoir): Shares "main girl" role with Omega. Serious, at times sarcastic, troubled due to a history of abuse but is a reasonable teacher/role model figure. Will do anything to take President Tsukimura down. Immensely strategic and experienced in battle. Turned into an Actress at age 3. Her theme colors are blue and gold, and her Actress costume is Greco-Roman themed. Light magic user.
Omega (Bijou): An extremely inexperienced Actress still learning the ropes. Somewhat timid and scares easily, but determined to become a hero like in the magical girl stories she's read. Also a great artist and sister to Olympia's highest-ranking senator. Turned into an Actress in her 20s, older than most. Her theme color is rainbow, and her costume is Renaissance themed. Lightning magic user.
Io (Chevalier): Valka's younger (adoptive) sister, who's been through about as much as she has. Somewhat of a loner since she was kept away from other Actresses, and is very intentionally mysterious about her past. Very opinionated and abrasive at times, and has trust issues, but is a kind person very deep down. Loves crime novels and film noir. Turned into an Actress at age 2. Her theme color is purple, and her Actress costume is knight/armor themed. Laser/energy magic user.
Profiles for the other girls (Stelle, Koto, Chise, Xing, Kaine, and Alarice) will be coming soon for the sake of time. Who's your favorite so far?
@Qullamore I realize that this is a novel. But, I can't help to think that there's so much potential for it to be used in other media. Think about it. With a premise like this, it could work really well in the realm of animation. You already have an established fantasy setting and characters that audiences could get invested in.
Your idea is an interesting one. It makes me think about my own idea for an original work. You have a creative mind who is going to go far in the world.
Please know that you have my everlasting support and I encourage you to make the most of your idea, while you have it.
4413195
Thanks a bunch! It was based on magical girl anime, so it's bound to have the "animation" vibe to it.
I'm working on civilian forms mainly now, and will post them to my dA. My username's the same on there.
4413313 Interesting. The more people that I find on this site, the more that I find out that they're on deviantArt, as well. Wait, do you mean to tell me that the illustrations seen on your blogs about your story were done by you?
I thought they were done by someone else.
If I may, which came first for you, drawing or writing?
4424170
Writing is my major strength. Drawing is more of something I picked up from manga. My anatomy and proportioning aren't as good as they could be, but I got some copic markers this Christmas, so they at least look a little professional.
I mainly draw for the design purpose of it, to make sure I describe the costumes just right. Sometimes, I do sketch just for fun, though. (I drew Stelle wearing a modified version of a costume from the Love Live video game just because, to name one example.)
Believe me, if I commissioned someone to draw these characters, they'd probably look way better.
4424348 I had no idea that you're an anime and manga fan. Might I ask what was your first exposure to it (manga-wise, I mean)?
Also, how did the name " Quillamore" come to be?
4424905
I started reading it because my best friend did, actually. The first series I finished were Tokyo Mew Mew and one called Ultra Maniac.
(Considering that people call Madoka a "dark counterpart" to Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura, people will likely call Actress Square TMM's dark counterpart if it gets popular enough. But the idea of engineered super soldiers is far from exclusive to that manga.)
Quillamore was actually a fairly quickly created username. I knew I wanted "quill" in it, but the one I came up with first, Quill Blossom, was already taken. I originally intended to use Cadance as my main fic-writing character, so the "amore" came from her full royal name. I'm glad Quill Blossom was taken, though; it doesn't sound as distinctive as Quillamore to me.
(And if you care at all about the fanart I did on a whim, Stelle was wearing the Cyber idol set.)
4424980 Hmm. I had heard of Tokyo Mew Mew, before. However, my first exposure to it was done through the 4Kids dub of the anime, where it was called "Mew Mew Power" (before then, it was going to be called "Hollywood Mew Mew"). I've never read the original manga (as is the case with Dragon Ball, in which I was also exposed to that through the anime). How is the TMM manga, by the way?
So, are you looking to turn Actress Square into a manga, itself? Or an animated series (be it Western and / or Eastern -Based, i,e. American / French-made or made in Japan? Or are you looking to turn into live-action fare a la Super Sentai / Power Rangers / Marvel Cinematic Universe / DC Extended Universe (Once your novel gets some traction, of course)?
What other name would you have chosen outside of Quillamore or Quill Blossom, if I may ask?
You know, for what you had to work with, I actually liked what you did here. What did you use? Colored Pencils? Pens? Paint?
Also, do Idol Costumes come with butterfly wings or are those optional?
Oh and one more thing, If I may offer some advice (assuming that you want to hear / see it):
Don't make the mistake of alienating potential customers / fans by comparing real-life people that you don't like to the fictional villains in your works nor should you tell people that they are not welcome if they don't share in your political views or insert real-world politics without giving both sides a chance to state their views and letting the viewers decide for themselves who's right and who's wrong. I wouldn't want you to become like J.K. Rowling who decided to liken Voldemort to well, my country's current President.
4426899
The TMM manga is pretty good. And to answer another question, the wings aspect is there because my first-ever magical girl show, Winx Club, made me fall in love with them. The actual idol costume was mainly a joke (since Stelle's colors are a flashy green and black and I thought it would look good with this dress.). Her actual design is far different.
I use copic markers mainly, just got some for Christmas. Colored pencils before that.
If it took off with the novel series, I would want it to be an animated series.
And I don't really do the whole celebrity comparison thing. President Tsukimura might seem like one, but he was made long before today's political climate and corrupt leaders have been around forever. The closest I get is the occasional historical figure (for instance: Valka sometimes gives me Charles de Gaulle vibes and I can see her becoming president years after leading a rebellion like he did with the French Resistance).
My MLP villain is from the Orange family, but that's less about the "Trump is orange" joke and more about me really, really not liking the fruit and being petty about that.4426918 What or was it that inspired you to write fiction (fanmade or original)?
Since you like Winx Club, did you know that there were 2 English dubs for the series?
I have to say that for what it's worth, though it may be a joke costume, I like it... kind of. The butterfly wings (while out of place, does make this outfit stand out. Though I'm now curious to see what her final design is like.
For something that was made with copic markers, you did a decent job. Is Bijou meant to be Stelle's actress alter-ego, though?
Seeing as how you'd want your novels to be animated, what audience would you be shooting for? Will it be strictly for kids? Aimed more toward adults? Or would you go the Avatar: The Last Airbender / MLP: Friendship is Magic route and make it an all-ages affair?
For the record, I have nothing against adding in actual celebrities in fiction, The reason for why I made my original statement had to do with the fact that companies like Marvel and DC Comics have allowed their writers to insert their own political beliefs without giving their readers a chance to hear from the other side and then make their own decision which character made the right decision and which character was in the wrong.
Oh and just for giggles, what kind of fruit or vegetables do you like?
4427896
I haven't drawn Stelle's Actress form yet. Bijou is Omega's Actress form, and Omega doesn't have a civilian drawing yet. (While Stelle changing from blonde to brunette would be possible in a lot of Magical Girl stories, I don't really do the hair color change thing with Actresses.)
Bijou is actually the only Actress form I have fully designed so far. The others will come later, but I want to get their civilian forms drawn out first. Since Valka, Omega, and Alarice are all athletes, their game uniforms are the next thing on my agenda.
And I did know about the dubbing thing. I watched the show for a long time, had a blog about it, but lost interest after a while. Nick came in and did new seasons, they weren't that good, but most of it is me being annoyed at my fave dying.
I like strawberries.
4427903 Are there any other changes to the characters, involved? Such as a change from their child and / or teenage years to more adult versions of themselves or is it a purely cosmetic change only having to deal with their clothes? Are their game uniforms going to be their heroine / fighting uniforms, as well?
Also, what became of that blog, is it still around?
Which character from Winx Club was your favorite and why? What was it about your favorite character's death that annoyed you so much?
Before I forget, what was your reaction to MLP: FiM when your first saw it? How did you get into writing FiM-based fanfiction as well as the FiM fandom, itself?
4427903 Oh. Just so you know, you have my support in all that you do. Did you have all of this planned out, beforehand?
4476306
I've had it planned out for a while. Sorry I haven't responded much.
4428128
There was originally going to be a teen-to-adult Actress, but that got scrapped. Now she's an adult.
The blog's still up, but it hasn't been active in a few years. My favorite character was Nabu, this wizard who'd help them out...he died just after getting engaged to one of the girls and it was all very sad.
At first, I didn't think I'd make it in MLP fic writing, but I entered a contest at a con and won! That's how I got my courage up, at least.
4476364 That's okay. I didn't want to bombard you with questions and I also wanted to show you respect by giving you space.
4476368 Do you happen to have a link to that particular blog? Also, do you remember what was the fic that you wrote and helped you win that contest and do you happen to have it?
I'd certainly like to read it.
4476445
It's called Rainbow Dust Winx. It should still show up on Google.
And the winning fic is on FiMFiction, actually. It's called Immoral Immortality (and I always get that name confused).
4476450 Immoral Immortality definitely sounds like a fun read. That and the other stories you've written sound equally intriguing. I'd read it but let's just say that it and every other story you've made have put on the back-burner as I've yet to have time to read it.
I'll make time, sure. But as I've said, I'm working on some stories of my own (both related to MLP: FiM and my original works). Still considering you're an author yourself, you're one of many on this site that I'll look to for feedback, guidance and help as this will mark the first time that I've ever written fanfiction.
Hope that all made sense to you.