I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I'm getting out of the grove...

of posting blog items. And writing. Must. Change. That. Now.

"First rule of Write Club is that all writers must write." - Tobias Buckell

So, I got a little piece of the novel. Just one of those small detail things. When the characters are at the Lake of Fire and our protag transfers all his "Grace Points" to the love interest, he finally gets a good wireless connections (5-bar strong). Before the best he could get was a 1-bar signal, and he had to sit at a special angle on the chair by the window to get that. I'm not going to explain any of those details any more than that at the moment (except that, no, it's not a gaming thing).

But then I realize, even with my scribbled notes I use "protag" or "main character," "side kick," "love interest," etc. For what I've typed already the main character is "Steve Lunachick" which I kind of like (I know a Lunachich pronounced as I spelled it). But it just isn't working for me. It hasn't "stuck" to the character like glue. It's more like a post-it with the name on it stuck to the character's back like a "Kick-me" sign. I think the main character is a "Steve" (this is the first time I've used my own name, before you start judging me, this maybe why I'm having a problem with the name). But now I'm thinking it should be "Steve Goodling" or "Steve Goodman" (both are musicians, though) or "Steve Goodlie." I'm liking that last one. But is it too overt, too morality play type of name? I don't know. What do you think?

5 comments:

Clay Eals said...

Good to see your post with the glancing reference to Steve Goodman. He often doesn't get his due. Thought you might be interested in an eight-year project of mine that has come to fruition -- an 800-page biography of Goodman published in May, "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." Please check my Internet site below for more info. Just trying to spread the word. Feel free to do the same!

Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958

(206) 935-7515
(206) 484-8008
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com

Steve Buchheit said...

Hey Clay, I'm glad somebody did a book about him. I was really sad to hear he had passed. I still have many of his songs on my iPod and play them occasionally (which I think is the best tribute a musician can get). Thanks for stopping by.

Camille Alexa said...

Steve,
I don't think I could allow a character to have my name. Maybe this guy is telling you the same thing? Why don't you nick-name him something else for awhile, see if that sticks? Maybe Steven is this guy's middle name, but he doesn't like it all that well?

Just some thoughts.

Anonymous said...

I love that quote from Toby, it's posted at my desk at work. Where I never write, at least my stories. I do write tests, but that's my job.

I've been on a short story sprint lately, so yea, I've been in the Write Club. My goal is to produce two short stories every month. So far I'm doing fine. I've always got at least two stories out on the rejection circuit. I need to make a cue like you have on your blog, that's nifty.

Steve Buchheit said...

camille, I know. Which is why I'm (as the writer) resisting. But I think that's his first name. I'm sure I'll get the "but he's you" comments when it gets published (I almost typed "if", so I'm getting better).

Hi Ken, yeah, when I sit down to my computer, I repeat that phrase to myself. I use that cue as my own personal whipping. There is my output for everybody to see. Gotta move my but on those three stories sitting there waiting for me to send them out. And then I have to finish all those waiting in the In Progress.

First rule of Write Club, eveyrbody must write.

Write (crack!) Write (crack!) Edit (Crack!) Submit (CRACK!).

Although, I wouldn't submit crack. That's an entirely different thing. :)