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Baseline.md

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+Book Outline:
+
+Working Title: *The Difference Between an Idiot and a Moron*
+
+Step I -- the 'Big Idea':
+
+'Adir's spectacularly mediocre lifestyle is unsuprisingly jeopardised
+when he's drafted into *nature's dumbest animal --* the military'
+
+Step II -- Plot Outline:
+
+I. The Big Idea
+
+*\"Adir proudly leads a nice, coushined life: he's chosen his future
+profession, he hangs out at his friend's house every now and then, and
+he kinda likes serving coffee to nice strangers. Obviously ready for an
+outstanding grown-up life, he's drafted into the military like everyone
+else his age, perfectly prepared to complete his civil duty and achieve
+the 'Meaningful Service'."*
+
+II\. Structure:
+
+I. The Naivete
+
+\"Yes, I'm just going to tell them I'll do whatever. I like hard work.
+It's going to be so cool!"
+
+II\. First Contact with The Beast
+
+\"No, I never jaywalked. Should I have said I had to get a good role?"
+
+III\. I'm Not Scared; I'm Amused!
+
+\"Hey, look! The're giving us guns! It's so cold! Cool! I don't need
+that much sleep!"
+
+IV\. Big Things Are Coming
+
+\"Yes, I'm learning computers. It's very difficult, because we'll be the
+center of the universe."
+
+**V. \...Big Things** ***Are*** **Coming, Right?**
+
+\"This is just a temporary stopgap. It doesn't stay *this* boring.
+Right?"
+
+VI\. Of Course I Have A Say! I'm Just Being Civil.
+
+\"Now that we smoothed things out and compromised, that big role is
+coming!"
+
+**VII. I'm Starting To Think It's Best We Seperate. \['Bleakest
+Moment'\]**
+
+\"I'm just going to Uni real quick. You guys don't mind, right?"
+
+VIII\. Nature's Dumbest Animal
+
+\"You have got to be kidding me."
+
+IX\. How Is This Still Going On?
+
+\"I have no shame, nothing to prove, and will never get up from this
+beanbag"
+
+X. Your Maw Stinks But So Does Mine
+
+\"So long, and thanks for -- um, nevermind"
+
+Summarized:
+
+Act I-IV -- The Naivete
+
+Act V-VII -- The Helplesness
+
+Act VII-X -- Belly of the Beast
+
+III\. Characters:
+
+-   The Protagonist:
+
+    What does the character want/need? Why?
+
+    Just like everyone twice his age, Adir just wants things to line up
+    nicely, and to be left in relative peace in his comfort zone.
+
+    What/Who is preventing that?
+
+    The country's sacred tax that all citizens go through three years of
+    stupid, and it's enforcers insistince that you see how awesome it
+    is, too.
+
+    What personal flaws does this reveal? How does it hinder?
+
+    Appearently, Adir's gentle mediocre soul is of an idealist mule, and
+    Adir is a smug, selfish idiot.
+
+    What will be done to accomplish the goals?
+
+    Every loop hole, mental shortcut, and all stages of depression will
+    desperately attempt to seize control of the situation.
+
+    What qualities emerge?
+
+    The smug, selfish idiot idealist mule becomes an extremely smug,
+    passively selfish, sobered up idiot idealist.
+
+IV\. Plot:
+
+Adir is quite the standard, mild and boring teenager/young adult -- he's
+just finished highschool, awaiting his drafting into the military, just
+like everyone else. He's lined up a suprisingly good role in the
+military because he eagerly told the Human Resources Commander Who Is
+Not An Officer he likes assembling computers to play video games on, and
+because he went to those prep things. He won't have as much time to play
+it now, but it's okay, because afterwards he's scheduled himself to go
+forth, earn lots of money, fund his Biotech degree and go about saving
+the world.
+
+Here comes the Sacred Cow, and that *'Meaningful Service'* everyone's on
+about. What could go wrong?
+
+V. Setting:
+
+The story takes place in a series of ridicolous army bases -- the Spring
+Buds Rookie Base, the Defense Force Cyber Academy of Computing
+Proffessions, the Hutspace Base Cluster, The Borough, and finally, Job
+Field Airbase. While fundamentally different, each is a manifestation of
+a trait of the army -- the pointlesness, the false hopes, the neglect,
+the arrogance, and a mix of all.
+
+VI\. Main Characters:
+
+Adir -- a soft, unwisened but optimist teen who seeks to lead a
+meaningful life, and do so fairly comfortably. He sees himself as an
+iron wall -- whatever he decides comes to be -- but that doesn't mean
+he's looking for confrontation. Or does it.
+
+Gilad Ben David -- while they share a core, Gilad is Adir's military
+opposite -- he's wisened up and pragmatic, held fairly high -- but not
+too high -- by his commanders, and always willing to just keep his head
+down until everyone just shuts up -- his greatest wish. He is just as
+bitter, and though he'll never admit it -- just as passionate.
+
+Yoav -- upbeat, brilliant, sensetive, fiercy loyal and ill-lucked, Yoav
+is constantly trampled by the military's worst, who take advantage of
+his non-confronting nature. He's almost helpless -- but he always sticks
+up for his friends despite his own real troubles and self doubts.
+
+Max - severely depressed and hit worst by the army's blaring
+insensitivity, max has a soul like no other -- rife with wit, cynicism,
+unbeliveable resillience and lots of great memes. He is the greatest
+passive-agressor known to man.
+
+Ana - A periphery girl in all her heart, Ana has grown up in the
+military and can't see what all the bad fuss is about. She is incredibly
+fair, reasonable and welcoming, which throws absolutely everyone off
+guard -- to her confused dismay. Life absolutely refuses to give her a
+break.
+
+Gilad Henessee -- A recently promoted officer who believes in
+discipline, values of service and properly shined shoes, which naturally
+makes him Adir's archnemessis and generally dislikeable to all. Gilad
+has taken a sacred vow to educate Adir to the greatness of the military,
+while Adir has taken a sacred vow to make Gilad at least as miserable as
+he is at all times.s
+
+Ronen -- a salt of the earth, blindly positive and very highly
+self-esteemed NCO in command of Adir's Job Field Squad. Ron sees himself
+as the penultimate educator, and his soldiers as gooselings to take
+under his wings. Ron is absolutely fantastic and very kind, so long as
+you lead your life and service exactly as he graciously envisions them
+for you.
+
+Johnny -- if the army's a game, then Johnny is the MVP -- and he's
+stayed here so long because he knows how to put out fires. Just keep it
+down, and he'll cut you a deal -- so long as you remember he sets the
+price. His ultimate goal is to retire early to a fat pension -- help,
+and you're a friend. Hinder, and you'll find out who *really* is the
+commander.
+
+Current Outline
+
+The book will constantly go back and forth between the three acts --
+Naivete, Helplesness, and the Belly of The Beast. Within each part, the
+plot will be somewhat linear -- but events will reference each other
+across acts.
+
+Opener \[4\]-- Adir wakes up particularly grumpy after a Job Field
+Saturday, desperate for peace, when a drill -- the absolutely worst day
+-- starts.
+
+Link: Character Contrast
+
+Chapter I \[An Elephant Tranquiliser To Remenber\]-- Undrafted Adir is
+working the afternoon at the coffeeshop and chatting with his coworker.
+They reminecse about this peaceful time against his upcoming drafting.
+He folds it up at the end of the day feeling satisfied with a day's
+work, and excited for the future.
+
+Chapter I \[Go Home, Kid\] -- Adir goes through the transition from a
+CFDS to a rookie in a turbulent day -- his very first contact with the
+beast.
+
+Link: ~~Needle bruise in Adir's shoulder~~
+
+Chapter II \[The New Cyber\] -- Adir writes his first stupid poem in
+service -- one of many -- about the new Cyber coursemates which everyone
+seems to hate. He is struggling to keep his initial optimism, and the
+course's intensity wears him down despite support from his coursemates.
+
+Link:
+
+Chapter III \[The Grand Computing Conference Room\] -- In the midst of a
+surprise drill, Adir rallies up his squadmates and then his
+platoonmates, where they try to escape the amok of the commanders. These
+encounters bring to light Adir's troubled relationship with his
+commanders.
+
+Link:
+
+Chapter IV \[Machine Is Perfect\] -- Adir is at the gunrange, at a day
+which encompasses the quintessential rookie experience. He starts coming
+into grips with the incident, from which begins his slow sinking.
+
+Link: Miserable Dinner
+
+Chapter V \[Cat Fall Break Ceiling Again\] -- Adir is eating a late
+miserable supper with a few of his coursemates, reminescing about the
+gunrange, how stupid it's been and how it's all about to get better. He
+is reminescing about this from the Pit, writing a stupid poem.
+
+Link: From Pit to Post-Exile
+
+Chapter VI \[Tears of the CSU\] -- Adir returns from a long exile into
+his first day at Job Field airbase. Wounded and solitary, he establishes
+a relationship of trust with his squadmates and his commanders -- only
+one of which will last.
+
+Link: New Beginnings -- first and last stop.
+
+Chapter VII \[Touchscreen Showers\] - Day old rookies at the Spring Buds
+Rookie Base are awaiting their promised transfer out to INBA City, where
+they'll enjoy touch screen showers and waffles. The days go by until
+they realise that bus isn't coming.
+
+Link: Wretched Bus.
+
+Chapter VIII \[Line 6\] -- Adir goes through the ordeal of getting to
+the wretched Hutspace base complex, only to arrive and realise no one
+noticed his absence. He stays the weekend in comfort at the 'office',
+only for everything to sink in when he makes his way home, bleeding
+randomly.

Basics.md

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+Steps to write a book:
+
+I.  Distill the 'Big Idea' -- a single sentence. ('Elevator Pitch').
+
+II. Create a one page outline of the plot:
+
+IV\. Grow the plot, and decide its' general type
+(Adventure/Change/Mistake/Lure/Race\...)
+
+I.  Decide on a schedule. \[300 words a day\]
+
+II. Set deadlines. Treat them as ultimate. \[Opener by Monday\]
+
+III. Set time for 'Diffused Mode'.
+
+IV. Write an 'Opener'.
+    (Dramatic/Philosophical/Suprising/Poetic/Humouros) \[famous
+    openers\]
+
+V.  Write, then critique -- whatever the chunk size. Not both.
+
+VI. Brave the 'Marathon of the Middle'.
+
+VII. Resounding ending. Slowly.
+
+Important principles:
+
+-   Think 'Reader First' at all times. When in doubt, you're the reader.
+
+-   Find your 'Voice'. (What's the coolest thing that ever happened to
+    you? Who did you tell it to, and how?)
+
+-   Constantly throw in conflict, and tension.
+
+-   Be a fierce editor.

Cutting_room_floor.md

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+Chapter II -- The New Cyber Kids
+
+'So, I'm standing there like an utter idiot, and all of a sudden the
+syringe flies across the room and into my shoulder!' Adir was telling
+several of his new coursemates, all huddled excitedly.
+
+'Into your *shoulder?*' Karin asked with silent awe. She always spoke
+silently.
+
+'Still have a nasty mark,' he answered, 'Look'. He lowered the thick
+green uniform to reveal a blackened old bruise. 'This is where it went
+in', he gestured just below the neck.
+
+'And I though I had it bad', said Dennis. 'I still think I had it bad.
+Bastards wouldn't let me out for a smoke. We sat there for hours'.
+
+'Well, you got in front of me in line. You have the bigger Personal
+Number.'
+
+'That's Time Length!' Sharon excitedly pitched in. 'Nothing's more
+important!'
+
+Adir found the whole concept of 'Time Length' *incredibly* stupid.
+
+'Alright, line up', Shani said from the now open classroom door, just
+enough for them to hear. Adir has yet to decide his stance on the whole
+constant shouting business, now that's it's over with.
+
+They lined up in front of the classroom, all fourty two of them.
+
+'One minute to attention', Shani said coldly. 'Look nice for the Course
+Commander'.
+
+'ONE MINUTE TO ATTENTION!' bellowed Roi. Well, maybe not entirely over
+with.
+
+After much more than a minute, the CC showed up.
+
+'Alright, alright', he chuckled. 'Come on, get inside'.
+
+It was 11AM and Adir was fiercly struggling to stay awake. The CC was
+vigoursly instructing them on Operating System Internals, and Adir
+realised that for the first time in all these months he is in real
+jepoardy of dozing off. He stood up -- joining most of his coursemates
+at this point.
+
+Much to his surprise, Re'em nudged his shoulder. He had fallen asleep.
+
+Adir suddenly felt a wave of despair. What else is he supposed to do?
+
+'Could I go?' he suddenly blurted out to the CC.
+
+The CC stopped mid-sentence, and everyone turned their fragile attention
+to him. The officer was so surprised he did not even seem about to scold
+him.
+
+'Go?' he asked, frowning with puzzlement.
+
+'Yea'.
+
+Silence fell, and eventually Adir realised the CC was expecting him to
+say something else.
+
+'Pee, I mean'.
+
+Yotam did not expect this from Adir, who had never piped up before.
+
+'Be a bit more professional next time, please', he said, and gestured at
+the door. Adir fuddled out with elation.
+
+'The key,' Yotam added.
+
+'Here man', mumbled Bar and tossed the keys at him. They hit his face
+and fell to his hands.
+
+The heavy metal door closed behind him. He stood at the small, empty
+space outside, overlooking the muddy nothing with the few benches in
+between. Everyone was still studying.
+
+He took a deep, exhausted breath. He felt the warm sun on his uniform.
+He stretched lazily, feeling some strength returning.
+
+Adir rounded the small classroom towards the restrooms, very slowly,
+humming to himself.
+
+He inserted the key in the door -- to his surprise, it was unlocked.
+
+A tall, red headed coursee opened the door. Behind him was another
+squat, dark haired soldier.
+
+'What?' he demanded.
+
+Adir saw his stripithings. Black and white. These must be the new Cyber
+coursees.
+
+Asocial as he was, even Adir picked up on the long lasting rivalry
+between the Computer Systems Infastructure Managers and the Cyber
+Security Defense Specialists. He could not understand why -- they do
+pretty much the same thing -- but this was a fact of this place,
+inherited one course cycle at a time. He did not buy into it, though. He
+would treat this person with utmost respect.
+
+'Pee', he answered diplomatically.
+
+The Cyberer sighed.
+
+'Don't make a mess', he reprimanded. 'We clean this up later'.
+
+'Everyone cleans this up later', he said. The Cyberer looked at him as
+one might a deranged, fuming chimpanzee.
+
+He 'ugh'd and left.
+
+By the time he got back around the classroom, everyone was outside. How
+long has it been?
+
+Naturally, he went to his desk for his three minutes of intense sleep.
+
+When he sat down in front of the computer, however, he did something
+else -- and was not quite sure why.
+
+'I don't understand why you would act like this', Commander Dan told
+him. 'You've been a good soldier so far. Where is this coming from?'
+
+Adir was vaguely aware of the situation. They were sitting around one of
+the tables outside, after Dan pulled him out from class. He suddenly
+felt cold.
+
+Adir did not answer, because he genuinly did not know what this is
+about. Why can't he hold on to thoughts lately?
+
+Dan did that thing where he sits and stares until Adir blurts something
+out to break the silence. Every single soldier ever trained for command
+used this tactic liberally, certain all the enlisted would break under
+their steely gaze.
+
+It never worked on Adir, and he quite liked seeing confusion creeping up
+their faces.
+
+Dan was a bit proud for that, though. 'You skipped out on the CC's
+lesson,' he continued, 'And now you write this nonsense on the course
+forum. You're one of the better soldiers here. Why?'
+
+Adir's poem burst out from the nothing, and he was supremely proud of
+it. It read thus:
+
+The New Cyberers / Pooshellu
+
+The Man Bar hands me the key,
+
+Methinks to meself, make water I shall
+
+And just when the hand reaches out for the trousers
+
+Into the room enter the new Cyberees.
+
+The first's eyes fall to my stripthings
+
+Purple is great, yet he did not see it thus
+
+His nose rising just shy of his brows
+
+'What, do you have a bathroom key too?' he asks
+
+The restrooms are for all coursees, says I
+
+Yet Cybereeno remains unimpressed
+
+*Do me a favor, he begs with a look of plea*
+
+Don't thrash the bathroom
+
+Wer'e cleaning them later.
+
+'I thought it was funny', he stated.
+
+'And you came here to laugh?', Dan inquired.
+
+He stared Adir down again. Adir mulled the question over.
+
+'I know things are difficult', Dan finally gave out, 'But get a grip.
+You've been given a great privelege. Act like it'. He left.
+
+The others were just pouring out, and as soon as Dan was out of sight
+many they flocked to Adir.