Tuesday, January 30, 2007
When did I become German?
Why am I ending my sentences with verbs? I don't know why this is? Now, I must go.
This is the way the (story) ends... with a Bang!
On Sunday I figured out the ending. It's in my head, paper is for wimps! Bwa-ha-ha.
The basic story arc is, main character is defending, keeps losing, things go from bad to worse, cycle repeats, character is captured, character gets his revenge. I wasn't going to say how, but I should. I've been struggling with what the story is (they come in pieces). The main character's motivation is to defend his planet (it's a Space Pirates story). The pirates come for the gems the colony has been digging up (Nanite Quality Diamonds the size of boulders, just lying around, come prospect on our planet!). So how can the character win? Suicide car-bomb. That'll be the twist. Ha!
Trust me, it'll make sense in the story.
The basic story arc is, main character is defending, keeps losing, things go from bad to worse, cycle repeats, character is captured, character gets his revenge. I wasn't going to say how, but I should. I've been struggling with what the story is (they come in pieces). The main character's motivation is to defend his planet (it's a Space Pirates story). The pirates come for the gems the colony has been digging up (Nanite Quality Diamonds the size of boulders, just lying around, come prospect on our planet!). So how can the character win? Suicide car-bomb. That'll be the twist. Ha!
Trust me, it'll make sense in the story.
Work, work, work
Yesterday was a 12 hour day at work. Sunday was an early morning woodworking class, and then errands afterward. So, for a Sunday, it was a long day. I'm back to dragging my butt.
Blessed St. Caffeine, send us your balm and heal our contemptuous souls.
Blessed St. Caffeine, send us your balm and heal our contemptuous souls.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Procrastination
Attempting to get the rough draft of the Pirate Story out, and I'm procrastinating. Word count is around 2700. I'm at the point I don't like, where I have to destroy and kill, and not in a "stand up and fight" kind of way, but in a "you have no chance of escape" way. So, here I am, avoiding it.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Recharged
BTW, after attending Confusion, and the writers group on Sunday, the ideas are flowing. I have to rewrite "Changelings" (and change the title, I seem to be bad with titles). I want to get the Pirate Story out first. The muse, though, has other plans it appears. I'm getting lines for "War Stories" and "Changelings." Ah, well.
Friday Night Confusion
Confusion certainly lived up to its name. First was working through Detroit following I-75. Then there was the program. Just keep in mind when you may go to a Con that the people running it are volunteering their time. I'm very understanding about these things being a graphic designer myself. If my job was easy they could get any monkey to do it.
When I was checking into the hotel (which had free parking, yea!) I noticed John Scalzi hanging around. I almost went up to introduce myself right then, but I was tired and wanted to wash my face and brush my teeth. So, I dropped my stuff off in the room, refreshed, and went down to see what was happening. John had moved. I picked up my registration and then started walking down the hallways.
A slight digression here, people are cons are very friendly. Be prepared to have casual conversations at any time with almost anybody. On the way to my room I talked with a young girl who was doing gopher work. Where I live people wave to each other. You may not know who it is, but we wave. If you don't wave back we know you're a stranger. Just a hint.
I'm walking down the main hallway to check out the space, get the layout of the place. Then I figure I'll hit the con-suite and maybe grab a bite to eat and go to the interview with Elizabeth Moon, who was Guest of Honor (and a very neat person to boot).
John Scalzi was holding court in the hallway. I stopped outside the circle and waited for an opening to say hi. After a minute John changed the conversation to his blog and pointed to me as one of his commentors. I introduced myself to everybody in the circle which included all these cool people, like Karl Schroeder and Jeff Beeler (there were a whole bunch of others in there as well, I'm just really bad with names, I'm sorry, you were all fun to be with). Whoops, thought I was dipping my toes in the pool testing the waters and I find myself over my head in the deep-end.
I start doggy-paddling, looking for an exit. I didn't want to impose and become one of those pesky people that never go away. But I never found one. I kept talking and listening, and making jokes, being part of jokes, etc. Tobias Buckell showed up with his wife. Then Jim Hines and Catherine Schafer come in and introduce themselves to me. To me. Pop my head with a pin 'cause it's going to explode.
I'm still looking to make a graceful exit, not to over stay. And then we all go to the bar and have a drink and some food. Excellent conversation, fabulous people and I can't frickin' believe I'm still there.
And just when I don't think it can get any better, David Kletcha comes by with his son and I finally get to meet him. Okay, and are you ready for it, Jim Frenkel, senior editor with Tor (that makes two I've met in person, collect them all!), sits down to munch and chat. Oh, Holy Night, the stars are brightly... And what a talker. He was funny, he was personable. Jim made you feel like he was talking just to you when he's telling the whole table the story. Very cool talent, that.
That’s where I was all Friday night until about 1:30am when it was just Tobias, David, and me. I only left because I was dead tired. I hit the pillows and was gone (except for turning over, ever since I broke my leg, I always wake up for that) until late morning.
When I was checking into the hotel (which had free parking, yea!) I noticed John Scalzi hanging around. I almost went up to introduce myself right then, but I was tired and wanted to wash my face and brush my teeth. So, I dropped my stuff off in the room, refreshed, and went down to see what was happening. John had moved. I picked up my registration and then started walking down the hallways.
A slight digression here, people are cons are very friendly. Be prepared to have casual conversations at any time with almost anybody. On the way to my room I talked with a young girl who was doing gopher work. Where I live people wave to each other. You may not know who it is, but we wave. If you don't wave back we know you're a stranger. Just a hint.
I'm walking down the main hallway to check out the space, get the layout of the place. Then I figure I'll hit the con-suite and maybe grab a bite to eat and go to the interview with Elizabeth Moon, who was Guest of Honor (and a very neat person to boot).
John Scalzi was holding court in the hallway. I stopped outside the circle and waited for an opening to say hi. After a minute John changed the conversation to his blog and pointed to me as one of his commentors. I introduced myself to everybody in the circle which included all these cool people, like Karl Schroeder and Jeff Beeler (there were a whole bunch of others in there as well, I'm just really bad with names, I'm sorry, you were all fun to be with). Whoops, thought I was dipping my toes in the pool testing the waters and I find myself over my head in the deep-end.
I start doggy-paddling, looking for an exit. I didn't want to impose and become one of those pesky people that never go away. But I never found one. I kept talking and listening, and making jokes, being part of jokes, etc. Tobias Buckell showed up with his wife. Then Jim Hines and Catherine Schafer come in and introduce themselves to me. To me. Pop my head with a pin 'cause it's going to explode.
I'm still looking to make a graceful exit, not to over stay. And then we all go to the bar and have a drink and some food. Excellent conversation, fabulous people and I can't frickin' believe I'm still there.
And just when I don't think it can get any better, David Kletcha comes by with his son and I finally get to meet him. Okay, and are you ready for it, Jim Frenkel, senior editor with Tor (that makes two I've met in person, collect them all!), sits down to munch and chat. Oh, Holy Night, the stars are brightly... And what a talker. He was funny, he was personable. Jim made you feel like he was talking just to you when he's telling the whole table the story. Very cool talent, that.
That’s where I was all Friday night until about 1:30am when it was just Tobias, David, and me. I only left because I was dead tired. I hit the pillows and was gone (except for turning over, ever since I broke my leg, I always wake up for that) until late morning.
Monday, January 22, 2007
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I was hoping to post about the con, but I'm so tired I really need to concentrate at work to do the simplest tasks. Sorry. I hope to write up something tonight.
On a side note, I was hoping to get "Changelings" edited and out, having had it critiqued on Sunday (lots of good comments). But the group meets again on Feb 11, so I need to get through the Pirate Story first.
On a side note, I was hoping to get "Changelings" edited and out, having had it critiqued on Sunday (lots of good comments). But the group meets again on Feb 11, so I need to get through the Pirate Story first.
Weird Tales
Since one of my stories is currently in the slush pile (oh, I hope and pray it's beyond that, but I'm being realistic) it's somewhat concerning to hear that the editors you've met in person have moved to different slots. A full run down is here at oldcharliebrown's Journal. I hope this was amicable to all concerned. But since they're searching for a new editor, I have a feeling that submission times are going to drag for a bit as everybody gets used to their new roles.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Here we are, now entertain us
(typos corrected 1-22-07, sorry about that, was very tired) So here I am at Confusion. So far things are going well. Spent last night sitting in with a group of writers and editors discussing almost everything that came to mind. This is the best part about Cons for me, knowing that the people you respect as writers are also nice people in person. And they're knowledgable about many things, including writing and publishing. So I played fly-on-the-wall, sometimes throwing something into the conversation, and just soaking up the atmosphere.
I learned of another old book I need to read that fits with an idea about FTL travel I wanted to use. This is what talking with people who are well read in the genre helps with. Plus it's always fun to hear about their lives and how they get to where they're at. And cracking jokes about Canadians and the US. That just never gets old.
So I vary between fan and nubile writer. That works very well because you'll find most writers of SF/F are also fans. The programming is light, except for late afternoon where they have four things I want to attend, all in the same hour (and I ended up going to none of them). I also bought two t-shirts, one Cthulhu (Cephelopod) and one Tao/Pirate. I'll post the link to the store's website later. Lots of books I could buy. This is where remembering the BOXES of guilt stack I have comes in handy.
I'm rambling so I'll stop now. Only had about 5 hours of sleep, I need to work on that. I have a new story to critique for the writing group on Sunday, I need to find time for that. Driving time was a little over four hours, so I need to leave early tomorrow.
Getting hungry, need to hunt down some food.
I learned of another old book I need to read that fits with an idea about FTL travel I wanted to use. This is what talking with people who are well read in the genre helps with. Plus it's always fun to hear about their lives and how they get to where they're at. And cracking jokes about Canadians and the US. That just never gets old.
So I vary between fan and nubile writer. That works very well because you'll find most writers of SF/F are also fans. The programming is light, except for late afternoon where they have four things I want to attend, all in the same hour (and I ended up going to none of them). I also bought two t-shirts, one Cthulhu (Cephelopod) and one Tao/Pirate. I'll post the link to the store's website later. Lots of books I could buy. This is where remembering the BOXES of guilt stack I have comes in handy.
I'm rambling so I'll stop now. Only had about 5 hours of sleep, I need to work on that. I have a new story to critique for the writing group on Sunday, I need to find time for that. Driving time was a little over four hours, so I need to leave early tomorrow.
Getting hungry, need to hunt down some food.
Friday, January 19, 2007
What it means to be a writer question #56, Speed.
Lately there's been lots of writing talk on the various blogs. This weekend's angst filled blathering is writing speed.
John Scalzi's (see ya at Confusion, John) Whatever is a good place to start. Tobias (you too, I owe you a drink) has also picked up on it.
Next weeks blathering, I predict, will be about using "said" only or with the occasional adverb in dialog attribution.
John Scalzi's (see ya at Confusion, John) Whatever is a good place to start. Tobias (you too, I owe you a drink) has also picked up on it.
Next weeks blathering, I predict, will be about using "said" only or with the occasional adverb in dialog attribution.
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