Rewriting. Short handing the first person's story in the frame. It's not vital but talks to what they're doing. It was one of two substories that I actually started the story, before I found out it was a Cthulhu tale. I had killed the other story. Now it's this one's turn.
But I keep adding it back in. Must... resist... overkill... not... needed...
Okay, if I type F-16 or HARM Missile one more time in the story, I'm going to have to have words with myself.
Three hundred words in and I've already cut 500+ words. Surgery with a chain saw. (Yes, it needed to be done, I have 1,300+ words still to be excised). Word count 6309.
edit It's now 11:34. I'm 2290 words in and we're at 6113 total words. So another 190 or so words and I got to put in a Warner Bros Cartoon allusion.
My favorite line so far? "Damn Qaeda, always throwing monkeys into the wrench-works." Hey, a Cthulhu story with humor.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Story Bone
"We're going to need a whole bunch of Holy Water," he said breathlessly. "Got something in a two-liter size?"
The priest paused for a moment, "Come on back to the baptismal font, we've got it on tap."
"Oh, a kegger."
The priest paused for a moment, "Come on back to the baptismal font, we've got it on tap."
"Oh, a kegger."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Energy Craziness
John McCain wants to approve reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel as a part of his lying and pandering about a fake energy policy.
Okay, everybody know what you get when you reprocess? Without going into all the isotopic relationships and boring the heck out of you (here's a wiki if you're really interested), you get fissile material as a by product. Than means weapons grade Uranium or Plutonium (depending on the reprocessing technique you use).
Yeah, 'cause we need more of that in the world.
Okay, everybody know what you get when you reprocess? Without going into all the isotopic relationships and boring the heck out of you (here's a wiki if you're really interested), you get fissile material as a by product. Than means weapons grade Uranium or Plutonium (depending on the reprocessing technique you use).
Yeah, 'cause we need more of that in the world.
Suddenly, it's Wednesday
Not only do I ask where the Summer has gone, now it seems to be weeks flying by without so much as a howdy do. Of course it doesn't help that my schedule has been Run, Run Rudolph for a while. There were places to be (Confluence, hey Sam, Josh, Jim and Carey and everybody else I ran into there), time wasted waiting (not enough to do something, but just enough to have me start playing my own hold music in my head).
There's the rewrite. (Must get to it).
Throw in a redo of the brochure project. The client likes it all, but wants to change things. At least that means we hit a ground-rule double for the first major visual representation of their business.
Add to that the various Village work that needs done this week (including some extra heaviness that I just got an email about, ::hangs head in weariness::), a "co-ed wedding shower" (read: we're gonna drink) for my nephew and his soon to be. Been cleaning up in a major way as we have somebody coming out to clean the vents. Which is good, because they need cleaned, and the things I'm going through have been sitting there for awhile (when you have to dust something off before throwing it away, it's been sitting too long).
There's the rewrite. (Must get to it).
Throw in a redo of the brochure project. The client likes it all, but wants to change things. At least that means we hit a ground-rule double for the first major visual representation of their business.
Add to that the various Village work that needs done this week (including some extra heaviness that I just got an email about, ::hangs head in weariness::), a "co-ed wedding shower" (read: we're gonna drink) for my nephew and his soon to be. Been cleaning up in a major way as we have somebody coming out to clean the vents. Which is good, because they need cleaned, and the things I'm going through have been sitting there for awhile (when you have to dust something off before throwing it away, it's been sitting too long).
Work work work, and questions
I have a rewrite I need to get through the eldritch pipes this week. I'm going to restructure the whole front of the story (it starts off slow). The parts of the story will remain, it's just I'll short hand some of the beginning. It was a frame up, and I spent way to much wordcount on a sub-story that doesn't advance the plot. Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, kill your darlings. Then I've been debating some other parts of the story, how I describe some things. When I get to the meat of the issue, when things start getting all squamous and 'sploady, there are other parts that need to be cut and two scenes that need combining. The story suffers from too much "they went here, did this, then other there and did that" kind of exposition. I can cut most of that out. One character that had remained nameless now is named. There a bit more interaction and touching of puppets that needs to go on. And the end of the main story can be cut a little shorter (it spoke more to a continuation of thoughts than to the story itself). I like the way the frame ends, though, probably keep most of that. Oh, and did I mention is needs to go on an gibbous diet and lose 1500 words? And that it's a military story, and I've learned a little more about some of the new terminology.
Hey, and while I'm thinking of that, I know some of you have been in recently and have served in Iraq, so I have some questions. I've debated keeping in some pejoratives given the Helix kerfluffle. The characters (all military who served in the sand box) in the story refer to the Iraqis as "Hajjis" and AQI as "Towel-heads." Am I way off base here with the usage, and was it "accepted" to use those terms between each other? I know in general I shouldn't use them (and in a omniscient narrative, I wouldn't, these are all in "dialog" or "first person"), but I was going for verisimilitude. What are your thoughts?
Hey, and while I'm thinking of that, I know some of you have been in recently and have served in Iraq, so I have some questions. I've debated keeping in some pejoratives given the Helix kerfluffle. The characters (all military who served in the sand box) in the story refer to the Iraqis as "Hajjis" and AQI as "Towel-heads." Am I way off base here with the usage, and was it "accepted" to use those terms between each other? I know in general I shouldn't use them (and in a omniscient narrative, I wouldn't, these are all in "dialog" or "first person"), but I was going for verisimilitude. What are your thoughts?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Free Books!
All around great ham and frequent commenter Ken McConnell is running a contest to win a copy of Barren Worlds. All you have to do it comment on his blog that you want one. How simple is that? Go and enter.
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Audacity of Hope
At Confluence this past weekend (which had really great programing, BTW) there was a panel on Utopias. While the panel was supposed to be nominally about utopian fiction, James Morrow as moderator took the panel in a different direction. He asked the panelists (his wife Kathryn Morrow, Kathryn Cramer, Joe Haldeman, Charles Oberndorf) what they had done, or are doing, to bring about utopias in their own lives. Well, five great stories later and the panel is almost out of time. At the end, I got the last question, what was greeted with a reaction I didn't quite expect.
I asked that since in most fiction (excluding libertarian fantasies which tend to exclude small details, like reality, to get their systems to work) and in real life, most utopias fail or become dictatorial, or in literature are used as farce, why do we still dream of these?
Apostasy is my strong suit. Have you noticed?
Anyway, I was responded to first with the same look that people give to the person that farts in Church during the epistle. Then began an attempt to assure me that, basically while they didn't use these words, hope springs eternal and shouldn't we "progress"?
I'm highly dubious of the later as it tends toward personal preference and elitism, and has unpleasant political ramifications (as when it's is carried out to the nth degree). Ie. Your progress may not be my progress.
No problem with hope. I have the same feeling when I start flipping TV channels. Heck, I'm a speculative fiction author who thinks he'll be able to do this as a retirement income. If that's not a symptom that I have hope, it must be brain damage.
But really, I know of no utopia in real life that has survived. Some communities have lingered, but they're dependent on tourist trade (Chautauqua, Lillydale) coming in for seminars and events. The Amish who left the old country for their utopia in American have long been compromised (even some Old Order). I think this is why the Free Tibet Movement has such strong support here in the US (full disclosure, I am a proponent of getting China out of Tibet, or Province 13 as they call it), it's the belief in Shangri La; or for our US westerward expansion, the belief in Beaulah or Goshen; or the technological Biosphere; the personal belief that if we flip this switch just one more time the lights, or whatever wasn't working, will work this time. Did you know that at the advent of electric generation there was a plan of a supercity built at Niagra where the majority of North America would live in electronic bliss? They called it Metropolis; not making this up. It was also to be a utopia.
So, given the reality (and literary custom) of utopian epic fail, why do we still believe in Utopia? What drives us to make things better? Where does this belief in "progress of the human condition" come from? Haven't we learned that vox populi is vox deu? (Utopian dreams tend not to be populist ones, although those playing the populist card tend to make their dreams sound like utopian ones, "the shining city on a hill" for example.) And vox populi likes "American Idol" and "Survivor" not opera and Shakespeare.
(Also, full disclose, I ended up a councilman because I attempted to help make my community better by avoiding a Potterization, ala "It's a Wonderful Life," from happening to my village. That'll learn me.)
I asked that since in most fiction (excluding libertarian fantasies which tend to exclude small details, like reality, to get their systems to work) and in real life, most utopias fail or become dictatorial, or in literature are used as farce, why do we still dream of these?
Apostasy is my strong suit. Have you noticed?
Anyway, I was responded to first with the same look that people give to the person that farts in Church during the epistle. Then began an attempt to assure me that, basically while they didn't use these words, hope springs eternal and shouldn't we "progress"?
I'm highly dubious of the later as it tends toward personal preference and elitism, and has unpleasant political ramifications (as when it's is carried out to the nth degree). Ie. Your progress may not be my progress.
No problem with hope. I have the same feeling when I start flipping TV channels. Heck, I'm a speculative fiction author who thinks he'll be able to do this as a retirement income. If that's not a symptom that I have hope, it must be brain damage.
But really, I know of no utopia in real life that has survived. Some communities have lingered, but they're dependent on tourist trade (Chautauqua, Lillydale) coming in for seminars and events. The Amish who left the old country for their utopia in American have long been compromised (even some Old Order). I think this is why the Free Tibet Movement has such strong support here in the US (full disclosure, I am a proponent of getting China out of Tibet, or Province 13 as they call it), it's the belief in Shangri La; or for our US westerward expansion, the belief in Beaulah or Goshen; or the technological Biosphere; the personal belief that if we flip this switch just one more time the lights, or whatever wasn't working, will work this time. Did you know that at the advent of electric generation there was a plan of a supercity built at Niagra where the majority of North America would live in electronic bliss? They called it Metropolis; not making this up. It was also to be a utopia.
So, given the reality (and literary custom) of utopian epic fail, why do we still believe in Utopia? What drives us to make things better? Where does this belief in "progress of the human condition" come from? Haven't we learned that vox populi is vox deu? (Utopian dreams tend not to be populist ones, although those playing the populist card tend to make their dreams sound like utopian ones, "the shining city on a hill" for example.) And vox populi likes "American Idol" and "Survivor" not opera and Shakespeare.
(Also, full disclose, I ended up a councilman because I attempted to help make my community better by avoiding a Potterization, ala "It's a Wonderful Life," from happening to my village. That'll learn me.)
Picas and points and agates, oh my!
My day job has some unique legacy issues. Back in the olden days, when there was a good chance of chopping of fingers, going blind or mad from the tools we used, before the advent of these cool things called computers and desktop publishing, my profession had our own forms of measurement. You might be familiar with some of these, Picas, points and agates. It's just like the metric system, only worse.
Things changed when computers came in. Picas (and by extension Points and Agates) actually changed size to make it 6 picas in an inch (and 12 points to a pica means 72 points in an inch). The old standard roughly translated to 72.4 points in an inch.
Now some places, newspapers mostly, use even more esoteric measurement systems based on columns (think the width of a column of text). When you buy advertising in newspapers you still buy it by column inches. So if you have a 2 column by 3 inches ad, do you know what a column is? Well, no. Each newspaper's columns are different sizes (depending on paper size, column tabulature, gutter, margins, etc). And a 2 column ad is not twice a 1 column ad because you have to account for the gutter (between columns). Sound like fun so far.
Now, when computersreplaced people automated the workforce, most markets and designers made the switch to decimal inches (some still use fractions, but fractions are just division). Not newspapers. WTF is up with them?
Hello, lets get with the 90s, guys. Really, designing in picas is out. It died in 1988 with the advent of laser printing. Stop beating the dead horse already.
Things changed when computers came in. Picas (and by extension Points and Agates) actually changed size to make it 6 picas in an inch (and 12 points to a pica means 72 points in an inch). The old standard roughly translated to 72.4 points in an inch.
Now some places, newspapers mostly, use even more esoteric measurement systems based on columns (think the width of a column of text). When you buy advertising in newspapers you still buy it by column inches. So if you have a 2 column by 3 inches ad, do you know what a column is? Well, no. Each newspaper's columns are different sizes (depending on paper size, column tabulature, gutter, margins, etc). And a 2 column ad is not twice a 1 column ad because you have to account for the gutter (between columns). Sound like fun so far.
Now, when computers
Hello, lets get with the 90s, guys. Really, designing in picas is out. It died in 1988 with the advent of laser printing. Stop beating the dead horse already.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
MARGLE!
Okay, some joker has spoiled one of the main jokes of my book. Now, granted, I've done it a little differently, but I'll have to change some things.
I present to you (via Jay Lake) a Best of Criagslist entry Your Pets Will Not Be Flagged For Removal By Jesus During the Rapture.
Although, if I can criticize, this person isn't really very serious. Do they have a nationwide network, or are they only looking at Kansas City (their ad doesn't say). Also, $50 is a pittance for animal care which may last many years. Yes, they may be serious, but they either haven't thought this through very much (as I did), or they're ripping people off. Just think how much you spend of animal feed in a year. Now add in medical care, and time for socialization (walking, playing, etc). Plus, it appears they haven't quite thought of the actual legalistic aspects of this. Just saying. Pets are considered property. I'd go through the whole list of things needed, but I won't here in case they are vanity checking through Google. I've thought about a lot of this stuff. If they do find my blog through googling, dudes, you need to find yourselves a good probate lawyer if you're really serious about this. They'll help you with much of the business side of this. You're going to need bank accounts and escrow mechanisms. Pay pal ain't cutting it (except to fleece the masses).
Margle. I need to finish this book before somebody takes the other jokes.
I present to you (via Jay Lake) a Best of Criagslist entry Your Pets Will Not Be Flagged For Removal By Jesus During the Rapture.
Although, if I can criticize, this person isn't really very serious. Do they have a nationwide network, or are they only looking at Kansas City (their ad doesn't say). Also, $50 is a pittance for animal care which may last many years. Yes, they may be serious, but they either haven't thought this through very much (as I did), or they're ripping people off. Just think how much you spend of animal feed in a year. Now add in medical care, and time for socialization (walking, playing, etc). Plus, it appears they haven't quite thought of the actual legalistic aspects of this. Just saying. Pets are considered property. I'd go through the whole list of things needed, but I won't here in case they are vanity checking through Google. I've thought about a lot of this stuff. If they do find my blog through googling, dudes, you need to find yourselves a good probate lawyer if you're really serious about this. They'll help you with much of the business side of this. You're going to need bank accounts and escrow mechanisms. Pay pal ain't cutting it (except to fleece the masses).
Margle. I need to finish this book before somebody takes the other jokes.
Behaving Weirdly
Well, much of the programing for today is over (or at least the programing I wanted to see). There were several overlaps, going into panels late, missing some all together while I attempted to juggle schedules and priorities. I've also been a dick, which is what this post is about. Today, I'm feeling very pricky. It's like I'm grumpy, and I see myself being pricky, and I should stop it, I know how to change it, but I don't follow through. It feels too hard to change the course of action.
I'm now at the point where I should be feeling the effects of the drugs. It's been about four weeks. So I may be a bit over cautious and judgmental of my behavior. I'm not sure if this is better or if this is a part of my over all crankiness lately.
In one of the panel rooms, if the door is closed it quickly becomes a sauna. And people keep closing the damn door because other people continue to talk really loud in the hallways (which is strange, because most people here I've seen before at this con). Just a note, very poor con behavior to talk loudly in the hallways where panels are being held. And I've found myself being very upset at the people who close the door and those talking loudly. I've also been a little over sensitive to loud or piercing noises.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so I'm also feeling the drag of that. The combination of stuffy rooms, the need to be more outgoing than normal, it's really wearing me down quickly this time. I hope I'm not putting a weird vibe back out into the world with it. This is a place I want to be, and I'm having problems engaging. I'm surrounded by people who work in the publishing business, I should be going great guns, but I'm dragging and not being the general newbie pain in the rear I normally am. Not good.
Anyway, time to find caffeine and food to hold off the hunger pains before the possibility of having dinner with friends (we're playing it by ear, they're off to book stores doing signings). So, a regular eating schedule may not be in the future.
I'm now at the point where I should be feeling the effects of the drugs. It's been about four weeks. So I may be a bit over cautious and judgmental of my behavior. I'm not sure if this is better or if this is a part of my over all crankiness lately.
In one of the panel rooms, if the door is closed it quickly becomes a sauna. And people keep closing the damn door because other people continue to talk really loud in the hallways (which is strange, because most people here I've seen before at this con). Just a note, very poor con behavior to talk loudly in the hallways where panels are being held. And I've found myself being very upset at the people who close the door and those talking loudly. I've also been a little over sensitive to loud or piercing noises.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so I'm also feeling the drag of that. The combination of stuffy rooms, the need to be more outgoing than normal, it's really wearing me down quickly this time. I hope I'm not putting a weird vibe back out into the world with it. This is a place I want to be, and I'm having problems engaging. I'm surrounded by people who work in the publishing business, I should be going great guns, but I'm dragging and not being the general newbie pain in the rear I normally am. Not good.
Anyway, time to find caffeine and food to hold off the hunger pains before the possibility of having dinner with friends (we're playing it by ear, they're off to book stores doing signings). So, a regular eating schedule may not be in the future.
Story Bone
All around fabulous location manager Nathan sends us this story bone. Which, as he says:
Full disclosure: this is from a joke Larry Brown told on Letterman tonight.
You know the day you're going to die...just not the year.
There was a whole anthology called Machine of Death whose basic theme was "what if there was a machine that could tell you how your were going to die." But was very cryptic about it.
Full disclosure: this is from a joke Larry Brown told on Letterman tonight.
You know the day you're going to die...just not the year.
There was a whole anthology called Machine of Death whose basic theme was "what if there was a machine that could tell you how your were going to die." But was very cryptic about it.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Teh Intertubies Is Quiet
Was checking the blog roll earlier and in between things. The internet is quiet. Much to quiet.
Did the zombie apocalypse come and I missed it?
Well, time to go drop off the laptop and head to the parties. Or, well, party. I think there's only one.
Did the zombie apocalypse come and I missed it?
Well, time to go drop off the laptop and head to the parties. Or, well, party. I think there's only one.
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