Mary Robinette Kowal on finding, accepting, and processing critiques and how to train your internal editor. Also gives a good example of why starting writers should try to ignore the internal editor as you are writing.
"The researchers… observed a broad network of regions in the brain working together as people produced their stories… (T)here were notable differences between the two groups of subjects (experienced and novice writers). The inner workings of the professionally trained writers… showed some similarities to people who are skilled at other complex actions, like music or sports." This is your brain on writing. (Grokked from Christine Purcell)
The Rockford Files title sequence deconstructed. Also noted for it's character building qualities. (Grokked from Dan)
A hue angle of 270 degrees, saturation of 50, and a lightness of 40. (Grokked from John Scalzi with a nod toward Ferrett Steinmetz)
The science of pigments and poison, with examples from paintings. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
How not to do it. A company that will send you a $10 roll of quarters every month for the low, low price of $14.99, monthly. You know, so you have quarters to do your laundry. Okay, I thought selling water in a bottle was hutzpah. (Grokked from Dan)
"Conceding the time has come to limit the proliferation of new movies that simply rehash old ones, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. have entered bilateral talks to reduce their considerable stockpiles of unproduced reboots, sources confirmed Wednesday." Oh, Onion, how I love you. (Grokked from Tor.com)
Well, fuck. "Another kid lies dying at the hands of SWAT teams looking for drugs via no-knock warrant." So glad we're "tough on crime." Look, I'm very pro-police. I had direct overview of our local force once upon a time. I know their job is tough, and I know what they face is a difficult job with little thanks for it. But, seriously folks, using these tactics for low-level people and without active intelligence is just stupid. While the street cops will take the heat for this, it's really a management issue. This is a failure of planning, failure of judicial overview, failure of intelligence gathering, and failure of execution. Unfortunately the wrong person has to pay for it.
So, if fracking was bad, shouldn't we have lots of reports about the health risks by now? Sure, unless your state health department has a system to ignore calls about it. Remember folks, the ads say, "Safe and proven technology" not proven safe technology. More about the hidden costs of your "cheap" energy. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
"The flurry of stock trades in major health care companies that followed has since caught the eye of federal law enforcement as well as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who has made investigating the matter one of his pet projects… In his search, Grassley… cast suspicion on the Obama administration as the source of the leak… But in a twist, the Wall Street Journal reported last week that federal regulators… have now focused their attention on a Republican health policy staffer in the House." Sucks when that happens, doesn't it.
"Open Carry Texas group calls off march in predominantly black neighborhood." While the news actually sounds like someone bought a clue, the march is officially being called off because of a scheduling conflict. Dear OCT, you know the KKK also marches through black neighborhoods and the Neo-Nazi's march through Jewish neighborhoods too. Just a little historical context there.
"Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) said he hasn't conceded to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) yet because 35,000 Democrats crossed over to vote in the runoff election for Cochran and claimed that it is illegal for voters to back one candidate in the primary but another in the general." Well, we will ignore that the obscure law he's referring to was found unconstitutional, but, hey, I's gots an idea! Seriously, okay, so if I'm "registered" as a certain party, I can't vote for the other party's candidate in the general election? By extension, all those who voted for McDaniel should probably not be able to vote for Cochran (or vice versa if he's successful, which he won't be). I'll take that. Please note reference to earlier link and the reading and interpretation of antiquated laws and opinions by a certain lunatic fringe of society. Well, here's a more high profile example of that.
"(O)ne Oklahoma congressional candidate took his accusation to a new level this week when he claimed his opponent was actually dead and being represented by a body double." Um, yea, Bob (reaches for the sedatives). (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
Quote du jour: "You're not important enough to have writer's block." - Paul O'Dwyer to Pete Hamill (editor's note, I may need to write that on tape and put it above my monitor)
Tweet of my heart: @haleshannon But I always loved the writing advice, "Put everything you have into this book. Save nothing for the next."
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