... and this week, I have a cold. I have felt pretty oppressively miserable all day. Now I just have a stomachache.
I have reached and passed the halfway point with my macro editing pass for Journal of the Dead. One thing I have learned from doing this is that I can't rely on my mental sense of when events occurred in the storyline. I was very surprised to discover what had happened by or at the halfway mark. I'd introduced Atsihl - Rhiane's airheaded society friend - and Razentis - the foreign ambassador - had the first romance dream sequence, and initiated the deal-with-the-Devil (figuratively speaking) that drives the rest of the plot.
I'm beginning to be concerned how I can incorporate the notes I'm making into the edits. Right now, the only solution seems to be to read *all* of my correction notes before I mark up each scene. Tedious, but - hey, it may go faster as I inadvertently start memorizing the whole kit-and-kaboodle. Certainly the whole thing is so unwieldy that just finding what should go where is an undertaking.
Scylla and Charybdis continues to move slowly. I'm concerned it's too slow: I'm about 2500 words in, and the main tension has come from the initial mystery ... but seeing as it questions everything the main character knows about her world and introduces a character who is going to be her traveling companion through most of the book - I think I can justify it.
The short story covered this same period in about half the word count. I think I can account for most of the slower pace, though. I lengthened the dialogue with Gwydion somewhat and described both him and Anaea in more detail. As I looked back at the original story, I don't describe my MC at all, and for a novel-length work, that doesn't sit right with me as a writer. There are more descriptions of the surroundings, which honestly was just a bad omission in the original - but still brief. The backstory is slightly more expansive. Her conversation with Orithia is slightly longer, etc ... it adds up.
... plus, it's a novel, darnit. When I initially considered this idea, I estimated the 6700 word short story would be about the first 20,000 words of the novel. Now I'm thinking that's more likely to be the first 5000 words of the story will be the first 20,000 words of the novel. So I'm actually "ahead of schedule" - which is good, because I think there are more events that need to happen before the novel departs its home base, geographically speaking.
About Me
- Lindsey Duncan
- I'm a professional harp performer, chef / pastry chef, and speculative fiction writer from Cincinnati, Ohio. My contemporary fantasy novel Flow is available from Double Dragon Publishing, and my science fiction novel Scylla and Charybdis is now out from Grimbold Books. I've also sold a number of short stories and a few pieces of speculative poetry. I write predominantly fantasy, usually epic and/or humorous, with some soft science fiction. I play the traditional lever harp with a specialty in Celtic music - but I also perform modern and Renaissance tunes. And yes, you read that right - I have a diploma in Baking and Pastry and an Associates in Culinary Arts and am currently working in the catering field at Kate's Catering and Personal Chef Services (Dayton, KY). I am a CPC (Certified Pastry Culinarian) and CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine).
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Art of the Novella
I just finished "Best Short Novels of 2006" edited by Jonathan Strahan. (This is specifically within the speculative genre.) I enjoyed reading novellas - a form I don't encounter a lot - and had some interesting observations, some positive and some disturbing.
Disclaimer: next two paragraphs are specific to fantasy. The anthology was 50 - 50, so this applies about partway.
One thing that I was genuinely surprised (and somewhat disappointed) by was the fact that the majority of the stories were grounded in an Terran environment - contemporary earth, future earth, alternate earth, but still essentially a world playing by most of the rules of our own. To me, one of the hardest parts of short fiction is inscribing a fantasy world in a few brief pages, so I expected novellas to be a place where exotic worldbuilding could shine. The closest there was to a fully-realized secondary world setting was the Library embedded within Kelly Link's "Magic For Beginners." That said, however, many of these novellas took the time for leisurely tidbits of setting that didn't necessarily hinge upon the plot - and that was very enjoyable.
The other thing that made me squint a bit was the paucity of magic in the stories. Gone are sorcerers and systems of magic. Those stories that seemed to deal closest with supernatural tropes either presented them with technological explanations and trappings, hid them in an in-story television show, or clothed them within a child's voice. Maybe it's just an accident of the novellas printed in 2006, but you'd almost say these writers were allergic to it. This says nothing about the overall quality of the stories, of course, but I found it a weird trend.
What the novellas here seemed to do best was give a sense of history. The stories had room to expand and travel through several periods of the characters' lives. Some were less plots as biographies. It was interesting to have the chance to explore events outside a strict plot itinerary ... and still feel, as a reader, that you were going somewhere.
Of these, I would have to say my favorite is Connie Willis' Inside Job. It's an intelligent, crackling, hilarious story - and it does a good job of sprinkling the author's research into the tale without ever being obtrusive. This is also a story for anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at New Age money-making schemes.
I was disappointed by Harry Turtledove's Aubudon in Atlantis. It had a great premise - our historical Aubudon searching for vanishing wildlife to paint in an alternate reality where Atlantis was its own continent - but the story itself was very dry. I knew I should have been invested in the characters and their quest, and I just couldn't get there.
Disclaimer: next two paragraphs are specific to fantasy. The anthology was 50 - 50, so this applies about partway.
One thing that I was genuinely surprised (and somewhat disappointed) by was the fact that the majority of the stories were grounded in an Terran environment - contemporary earth, future earth, alternate earth, but still essentially a world playing by most of the rules of our own. To me, one of the hardest parts of short fiction is inscribing a fantasy world in a few brief pages, so I expected novellas to be a place where exotic worldbuilding could shine. The closest there was to a fully-realized secondary world setting was the Library embedded within Kelly Link's "Magic For Beginners." That said, however, many of these novellas took the time for leisurely tidbits of setting that didn't necessarily hinge upon the plot - and that was very enjoyable.
The other thing that made me squint a bit was the paucity of magic in the stories. Gone are sorcerers and systems of magic. Those stories that seemed to deal closest with supernatural tropes either presented them with technological explanations and trappings, hid them in an in-story television show, or clothed them within a child's voice. Maybe it's just an accident of the novellas printed in 2006, but you'd almost say these writers were allergic to it. This says nothing about the overall quality of the stories, of course, but I found it a weird trend.
What the novellas here seemed to do best was give a sense of history. The stories had room to expand and travel through several periods of the characters' lives. Some were less plots as biographies. It was interesting to have the chance to explore events outside a strict plot itinerary ... and still feel, as a reader, that you were going somewhere.
Of these, I would have to say my favorite is Connie Willis' Inside Job. It's an intelligent, crackling, hilarious story - and it does a good job of sprinkling the author's research into the tale without ever being obtrusive. This is also a story for anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at New Age money-making schemes.
I was disappointed by Harry Turtledove's Aubudon in Atlantis. It had a great premise - our historical Aubudon searching for vanishing wildlife to paint in an alternate reality where Atlantis was its own continent - but the story itself was very dry. I knew I should have been invested in the characters and their quest, and I just couldn't get there.
(Albion) Boot Camp Week Two
Still having fun with this - it's really good to have the random sparker each day. I (like to) think it keeps my writing muscles fresh.
I am about to switch books, but I've been so busy it's taken me awhile to finish the current read. It's about time; I was using "Gallows Thief" by Bernard Cornwell, and the picks are starting to wear thin.
The past two days, I experimented with excerpts set in worlds I've used before: the SF setting of my novel, and a much older fantasy setting I just rediscovered. This is a different take on it. I wouldn't push myself deliberately into that mold, but I like meshing old concepts into new thoughts.
I am about to switch books, but I've been so busy it's taken me awhile to finish the current read. It's about time; I was using "Gallows Thief" by Bernard Cornwell, and the picks are starting to wear thin.
The past two days, I experimented with excerpts set in worlds I've used before: the SF setting of my novel, and a much older fantasy setting I just rediscovered. This is a different take on it. I wouldn't push myself deliberately into that mold, but I like meshing old concepts into new thoughts.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Review!
I just noticed this - sort of wish I hadn't. Some positive things, but I did not need the negative right now.
"Hour by Hour" is fairly far down the list.
http://thefix-online.com/reviews/best-of-abyss-apex-1/
"Hour by Hour" is fairly far down the list.
http://thefix-online.com/reviews/best-of-abyss-apex-1/
Thursday Thoughts
The novel has begun!
The first couple pages are always really rough for me. I'm very conscious of needing to give enough flavor of the setting that a reader isn't confused, describe what I want people to "see" about my main character early enough that a reader hasn't formed another image in their heads, and all the while kicking off the plot without bogging down in info-dumps. Once I've gotten moving, it seems to flow much more naturally.
Right now, this is compounded by the fact that the beginning of the novel follows the events of my original short story very closely, so I keep being tempted to consult it. I've only used a couple small pieces verbatim, and even those are tiny enough that they've been clipped in and inserted other places.
This is what is currently serving as my first paragraph:
Waiting behind the airlock door, Anaea Carlisle tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she might see one of them on the other side – maybe as many as twelve, if they were alive. She clutched her medic’s kit in twitching hands and flicked an anxious glance to Valasca Braun, the harsh, angular woman who led the team. Why the chief doctor insisted on leading every salvage mission was a mystery.
Once I get through my informal mental list of things to get across as soon as possible, I can relax.
Still working on ... err, everything else. I am juggling way too many balls here.
The first couple pages are always really rough for me. I'm very conscious of needing to give enough flavor of the setting that a reader isn't confused, describe what I want people to "see" about my main character early enough that a reader hasn't formed another image in their heads, and all the while kicking off the plot without bogging down in info-dumps. Once I've gotten moving, it seems to flow much more naturally.
Right now, this is compounded by the fact that the beginning of the novel follows the events of my original short story very closely, so I keep being tempted to consult it. I've only used a couple small pieces verbatim, and even those are tiny enough that they've been clipped in and inserted other places.
This is what is currently serving as my first paragraph:
Waiting behind the airlock door, Anaea Carlisle tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she might see one of them on the other side – maybe as many as twelve, if they were alive. She clutched her medic’s kit in twitching hands and flicked an anxious glance to Valasca Braun, the harsh, angular woman who led the team. Why the chief doctor insisted on leading every salvage mission was a mystery.
Once I get through my informal mental list of things to get across as soon as possible, I can relax.
Still working on ... err, everything else. I am juggling way too many balls here.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
(Albion) Boot Camp Week One
So far, so good. I'm very satisfied with the challenge of melding a more nebulous and overarching concept - the Beast of Albion card - with a more specific and focused insertion - the random sentence - while giving a flavor of character, plot and setting ... all in about two hundred words. I may have to switch books before I finish my current read, but so far, Gallows Thief is holding up. I've found that I prefer to use the sentence as a lead-in rather than a lead-out, but as I expected, the ones where it's a lead-out run longer.
Not going to post examples as a general rule, but here's the one I did today just as an idea of how it turns out. The setting is the same world as Journal of the Dead:
CRANE: Sentry of the Inner World
In (Place), a funnel-shaped thoroughfare that narrowed as it ran from (Name) Street to (Name) Hill, the scaffold was being taken down.
Coran was irritated, not for the first time, that the only window in his quarters faced the scene of his of executions. The spirits of the deceased clamored inside his thoughts, their welcomes to the newcomer – some sarcastic, some sincere – pushing his equilibrium towards a strange mix of amicability and sourness. He closed his eyes, drawing in meditative breaths and focusing on his core, the part of his consciousness that had been born in this body … a thing which shrank every time his jailors forced him to pull the lever another time.
There had been a time he was consumed by guilt for the crime that had brought him here. Now, when every time he served as executioner, the victim’s mind jumped into his – he had paid enough. He had started to forget what he had done, and saw his crime only as one in the wave of others that haunted him.
Coran rubbed his temples. Carefully, he focused on the newest spirit, a sorcerer named Elhizath. Meimn, the magic of time and perception – two things he could have used, but the power had died with her.
*Why are you here?* she asked, voice cool as silk. When she had first leapt to him, she had screamed and flailed, an incoherent mass of thought. He was used to that.
Not going to post examples as a general rule, but here's the one I did today just as an idea of how it turns out. The setting is the same world as Journal of the Dead:
CRANE: Sentry of the Inner World
In (Place), a funnel-shaped thoroughfare that narrowed as it ran from (Name) Street to (Name) Hill, the scaffold was being taken down.
Coran was irritated, not for the first time, that the only window in his quarters faced the scene of his of executions. The spirits of the deceased clamored inside his thoughts, their welcomes to the newcomer – some sarcastic, some sincere – pushing his equilibrium towards a strange mix of amicability and sourness. He closed his eyes, drawing in meditative breaths and focusing on his core, the part of his consciousness that had been born in this body … a thing which shrank every time his jailors forced him to pull the lever another time.
There had been a time he was consumed by guilt for the crime that had brought him here. Now, when every time he served as executioner, the victim’s mind jumped into his – he had paid enough. He had started to forget what he had done, and saw his crime only as one in the wave of others that haunted him.
Coran rubbed his temples. Carefully, he focused on the newest spirit, a sorcerer named Elhizath. Meimn, the magic of time and perception – two things he could have used, but the power had died with her.
*Why are you here?* she asked, voice cool as silk. When she had first leapt to him, she had screamed and flailed, an incoherent mass of thought. He was used to that.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Thursday Thoughts
I am so ill/tired. I literally cannot stay upright. I don't want to knock off my sleep schedule is the only reason I'm awake.
I didn't realize until I started editing how late in the story Rhiane actually finds out what happened to her son. The point is, I believe, almost a third of the way through the manuscript (pg. 48 of 170 in editing copy). This is interesting because I've always considered the story as everything that happens in reaction to that discovery, though in a general sense the entire manuscript is about her trying to reunite with her son. There are certainly elements in the early portion that I want to emphasize more strongly later on.
My notes, they are going to be long.
I am finally ready to start writing on Scylla and Charybdis - again, if I weren't sick. I have a first couple paragraphs bouncing around in my brain. It starts almost identical to the short story, but my setting concepts have changed somewhat - and my writing style certainly has.
I didn't realize until I started editing how late in the story Rhiane actually finds out what happened to her son. The point is, I believe, almost a third of the way through the manuscript (pg. 48 of 170 in editing copy). This is interesting because I've always considered the story as everything that happens in reaction to that discovery, though in a general sense the entire manuscript is about her trying to reunite with her son. There are certainly elements in the early portion that I want to emphasize more strongly later on.
My notes, they are going to be long.
I am finally ready to start writing on Scylla and Charybdis - again, if I weren't sick. I have a first couple paragraphs bouncing around in my brain. It starts almost identical to the short story, but my setting concepts have changed somewhat - and my writing style certainly has.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
New Boot Camp
Decided to combine two random elements: one open for interpretation and more determinant of mood, theme, etc, the other more specific.
Ended up choosing:
1) A card from the Beasts of Albion deck. For those not familiar (which I imagine is most), these are not so much event-divination cards as self-divination cards. As the name suggests, each is an individual animal representing a specific attribute and a number of other qualities.
2) A random sentence from a book. I'll probably use the last one I finished for a bit, just for simplicity. Whether I keep this up or find another method depends on how fast I read. This has been "not very," of late.
Further restrictions set for myself: exercise needs to be around 200 words, at least that much and preferrably not much more. The meaning of the card needs to be used, but I can also use the signifying animal directly. The sentence can be assumed as the beginning or the end of the exercise, but isn't counted in the total. (And not the middle - that's so I can more easily substitute if I decide to write the whole story.)
Exercise also doesn't necessarily have to be at the beginning of the story, though I seem to be notoriously bad at writing random middles and ends. Wasn't always that way ...
Ended up choosing:
1) A card from the Beasts of Albion deck. For those not familiar (which I imagine is most), these are not so much event-divination cards as self-divination cards. As the name suggests, each is an individual animal representing a specific attribute and a number of other qualities.
2) A random sentence from a book. I'll probably use the last one I finished for a bit, just for simplicity. Whether I keep this up or find another method depends on how fast I read. This has been "not very," of late.
Further restrictions set for myself: exercise needs to be around 200 words, at least that much and preferrably not much more. The meaning of the card needs to be used, but I can also use the signifying animal directly. The sentence can be assumed as the beginning or the end of the exercise, but isn't counted in the total. (And not the middle - that's so I can more easily substitute if I decide to write the whole story.)
Exercise also doesn't necessarily have to be at the beginning of the story, though I seem to be notoriously bad at writing random middles and ends. Wasn't always that way ...
Boot Camp Week 4
Words: Vacuous, wanton, yielding, acclaim, bemoan, canine, victuals.
So it's official - this is my last week on this boot camp session. More about the new session later. I decided I had better start it today as Monday tends to be a busy day for me, and I am generally not going to want to post about it then.
This was helpful, I think, and I may even pilfer some of these descriptions for actual stories. But I really did reach the point where I ran out of steam.
Best descs of the week:
With shaggy dark brown hair and a wide, anxious smile, she had a distinctly canine appearance – made stronger by the broad, flared nose. Her complexion was chocolate, roughened by sun, her hands callused; harder to see that the flat palms and long fingers were sculpted for grace. Her body was big but smooth, muscles blended into the sturdy frame and complementing robust curves. Her eyes were as black as a dog’s, and just as intent, flicking with a bright gleam towards any motion.
The kitchen might have been massive, but the low ceiling and the persistent smoke made it feel like a bear’s den – or a dragon’s. Long wooden trestle tables loomed, mountains of industry and loaded down with vegetables for the chopping, dough for the rolling, and gleaming slabs of meat. The ovens roared at the far end, demanding their tribute. Fallen crumbs were kicked under the tables or swept aside by dingy skirts, victuals for the small horde of rodents who lay in wait there.
So it's official - this is my last week on this boot camp session. More about the new session later. I decided I had better start it today as Monday tends to be a busy day for me, and I am generally not going to want to post about it then.
This was helpful, I think, and I may even pilfer some of these descriptions for actual stories. But I really did reach the point where I ran out of steam.
Best descs of the week:
With shaggy dark brown hair and a wide, anxious smile, she had a distinctly canine appearance – made stronger by the broad, flared nose. Her complexion was chocolate, roughened by sun, her hands callused; harder to see that the flat palms and long fingers were sculpted for grace. Her body was big but smooth, muscles blended into the sturdy frame and complementing robust curves. Her eyes were as black as a dog’s, and just as intent, flicking with a bright gleam towards any motion.
The kitchen might have been massive, but the low ceiling and the persistent smoke made it feel like a bear’s den – or a dragon’s. Long wooden trestle tables loomed, mountains of industry and loaded down with vegetables for the chopping, dough for the rolling, and gleaming slabs of meat. The ovens roared at the far end, demanding their tribute. Fallen crumbs were kicked under the tables or swept aside by dingy skirts, victuals for the small horde of rodents who lay in wait there.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday Thoughts
It took longer than I thought, but I am done with my worldbuilding and character profiles for Scylla and Charybdis. I figure the profiles are meant to be played fast and loose, and I'm sure I will add characters I haven't jotted down, adapt the ones I have ... I wrote profiles primarily for a diversity check and consistency.
There is a good reason for this: I'm having to do it in reverse for Journal of the Dead. Notating eye color, hair color, physical quirks and making sure this isn't too much overlap. Also have notes to review personality and speech patterns.
I am now twenty-two pages into my one-hundred-seventy page document. I am trying to keep my focus on macro elements: noting what needs to be changed, but not making specific marks about how. That will be for my second pass. I'm into the "journal" portion now, and surprised how messy it is. Thank goodness for editing.
There is a good reason for this: I'm having to do it in reverse for Journal of the Dead. Notating eye color, hair color, physical quirks and making sure this isn't too much overlap. Also have notes to review personality and speech patterns.
I am now twenty-two pages into my one-hundred-seventy page document. I am trying to keep my focus on macro elements: noting what needs to be changed, but not making specific marks about how. That will be for my second pass. I'm into the "journal" portion now, and surprised how messy it is. Thank goodness for editing.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Judge
I mostly keep this to writing business, but I've recently had an exciting bit of harp news: I was invited to judge the Scottish Harp competition at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games - July 11 in Linville, NC. Definitely looking forward to it! I need to brush up on my dance music, as I don't get much opportunity to play it during gigs.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pieces of Taboo
There are two topics in romantic fiction that I prefer not to tackle - one because I have difficulty portraying it with sympathy, and the other because I don't think it's possible. I've been pondering, when next the opportunity comes up, trying to write a story using one or both in an attempt to put myself in a point of view I don't agree with. Seems like something a writer should try every now and again.
The first is cheating on an SO. To me, this is almost unforgiveable. It is not a tactic I'd normally use in a story. I have trouble understanding how people get there.
The second is being romantically in love with more than one person, equally, at the same time. (Wow, lots of clauses there? But I'm not sure how better to phrase it.) Personally, I am not sure this is something that can actually happen. On some level, I think there must be an inequality, and to force two people to put up with one's dithering ... yeah. Not getting there.
On both counts, I freely admit that this is just my opinion, and a biased one, at that. But - steps outside one's box, always worthwhile.
The first is cheating on an SO. To me, this is almost unforgiveable. It is not a tactic I'd normally use in a story. I have trouble understanding how people get there.
The second is being romantically in love with more than one person, equally, at the same time. (Wow, lots of clauses there? But I'm not sure how better to phrase it.) Personally, I am not sure this is something that can actually happen. On some level, I think there must be an inequality, and to force two people to put up with one's dithering ... yeah. Not getting there.
On both counts, I freely admit that this is just my opinion, and a biased one, at that. But - steps outside one's box, always worthwhile.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Boot Camp: Week 3
Words: Obscure, pandiculation, qualitative, rancor, sallow, talisman, unconscionable.
Some better words this week, though I am beginning to feel a bit repetitive. I decided that I'm reaching the functional limit of this exercise - so one more week, and then back to square one with another session.
Best descs for this week:
He gave the impression of a shadow – dark, thin and vague, his movements an anxious flit. He dressed to match, undyed leather and a grey wool shirt beneath. His hair was unkempt, toussled; falling unevenly with more length to the left side. His eyes, however, were his talisman: vivid, brilliant amber – not brown, but a deep liquid color mixed with gold. A single blink of those eyes, showcased with thick, silky lashes, could command immediate attention.
Thick wild grasses swarmed over the few hillocks that interrupted the vast expanse of plain; their waving heads vanished on the horizon. Trampled trails, stripped of some green but rarely bared down to earth, showed evidence of the passage of horses. They glowed muddy gold in the early light as dawn rippled across the horizon, a languid expansion of color like a sleeper’s pandiculation. The plains seemed to drop out of sight into the embrace of the sunrise, flowing over the edge of the world.
Some better words this week, though I am beginning to feel a bit repetitive. I decided that I'm reaching the functional limit of this exercise - so one more week, and then back to square one with another session.
Best descs for this week:
He gave the impression of a shadow – dark, thin and vague, his movements an anxious flit. He dressed to match, undyed leather and a grey wool shirt beneath. His hair was unkempt, toussled; falling unevenly with more length to the left side. His eyes, however, were his talisman: vivid, brilliant amber – not brown, but a deep liquid color mixed with gold. A single blink of those eyes, showcased with thick, silky lashes, could command immediate attention.
Thick wild grasses swarmed over the few hillocks that interrupted the vast expanse of plain; their waving heads vanished on the horizon. Trampled trails, stripped of some green but rarely bared down to earth, showed evidence of the passage of horses. They glowed muddy gold in the early light as dawn rippled across the horizon, a languid expansion of color like a sleeper’s pandiculation. The plains seemed to drop out of sight into the embrace of the sunrise, flowing over the edge of the world.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday Thoughts
My weekly free write happened before I could write this post, so let's discuss that briefly. The prompt was to write about a poet and an anniversary - not necessarily the poet's anniversary. Myself being perverse, I decided to write about a court poet, a seer and the anniversary of something that hadn't happened yet. All right, so I have a love affair with seers, whether the interpretation of prophecy is loose or very fatalistic.
Anyhow, in planning this, I decided to use an old world, and was stunned by the setting I stumbled across, a world of islands isolated by wild seas and sunken landbridges. How had I never used this before? It just "pops" with possibilities.
Still in the midst of pre-work for Scylla and Charybdis, but much closer to finishing. In working on character profiles, I've found myself reluctant and tetchy - so I'm not pushing it, just writing down enough so I can be consistent and keep the characters distinct.
Just started my macro pass of the Journal of the Dead manuscript. I am pleasantly surprised by the intensity of it and how casually the worldbuilding glides into the story. However, there are other pieces that gave me pause. In particular, the self-defense killing in the first chapter still doesn't escalate believably.
I am still rather worried about the fact that what would normally be the sample portion of the manuscript is entirely in third person, while the bulk is in first: the titular "journal," which the character starts writing in. Besides the POV difference itself, Rhiane's voice is rather different from the narration in the chapters. I don't want to be presenting agents with a "sample" that doesn't represent the whole ...
Anyhow, in planning this, I decided to use an old world, and was stunned by the setting I stumbled across, a world of islands isolated by wild seas and sunken landbridges. How had I never used this before? It just "pops" with possibilities.
Still in the midst of pre-work for Scylla and Charybdis, but much closer to finishing. In working on character profiles, I've found myself reluctant and tetchy - so I'm not pushing it, just writing down enough so I can be consistent and keep the characters distinct.
Just started my macro pass of the Journal of the Dead manuscript. I am pleasantly surprised by the intensity of it and how casually the worldbuilding glides into the story. However, there are other pieces that gave me pause. In particular, the self-defense killing in the first chapter still doesn't escalate believably.
I am still rather worried about the fact that what would normally be the sample portion of the manuscript is entirely in third person, while the bulk is in first: the titular "journal," which the character starts writing in. Besides the POV difference itself, Rhiane's voice is rather different from the narration in the chapters. I don't want to be presenting agents with a "sample" that doesn't represent the whole ...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Boot Camp Week 2
Words: Hapless, iconoclast, jettison, kinetic, laissez-faire, magnanimous, narcolepsy
I continue to be a little underwhelmed by the choices for word of the day. Some of these are also words I would never use, not because there's nothing wrong with them, but "laissez-faire" doesn't fit well in a secondary world fantasy, and narcolepsy is not something with which I concern myself. Ahem.
Again, the best descriptions - in general, not necessarily from the use of the word:
She had a look as if someone had dripped her from a cave ceiling: a pale white stalagmite, slender but bottom-heavy. Her flyaway russet hair was cut just below the nape of her neck, one hapless lock curling down the center of her brow. Her eyes were set just a little too wide and a little too large, giving their blue a waifish and vaguely alien look.
A narrow path – a dirt track at best, a blotch of mud at worst – trailed up the side of the mountain, weaving close to the sheer sides. Piles of scree clumped at every odd bend reminded the travel that the mountain was prepared to jettison its load of rocks at any moment. It was a dark stone, flecked with obsidian, dampened by a perpetual drizzle, and no trees relieved the ascent. The greatest splotch of color was from the pale grey moss which climbed the walls, crawling into fissures.
I seem to best at descriptions that are vaguely depressing and sort of falling apart at the seams. Hrm.
I continue to be a little underwhelmed by the choices for word of the day. Some of these are also words I would never use, not because there's nothing wrong with them, but "laissez-faire" doesn't fit well in a secondary world fantasy, and narcolepsy is not something with which I concern myself. Ahem.
Again, the best descriptions - in general, not necessarily from the use of the word:
She had a look as if someone had dripped her from a cave ceiling: a pale white stalagmite, slender but bottom-heavy. Her flyaway russet hair was cut just below the nape of her neck, one hapless lock curling down the center of her brow. Her eyes were set just a little too wide and a little too large, giving their blue a waifish and vaguely alien look.
A narrow path – a dirt track at best, a blotch of mud at worst – trailed up the side of the mountain, weaving close to the sheer sides. Piles of scree clumped at every odd bend reminded the travel that the mountain was prepared to jettison its load of rocks at any moment. It was a dark stone, flecked with obsidian, dampened by a perpetual drizzle, and no trees relieved the ascent. The greatest splotch of color was from the pale grey moss which climbed the walls, crawling into fissures.
I seem to best at descriptions that are vaguely depressing and sort of falling apart at the seams. Hrm.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mismatched Lyrics
We've all had that experience of hearing lyrics and getting them not quite right ... and what we're hearing either doesn't make sense or twists the entire song around. Two of mine:
Actual: "Til a man of low degree stood by her side ..." (Delta Dawn, Helen Reddy)
Heard: "Til a man of loaded grease stood by her side ..." (This is actually fairly similar. It just doesn't make sense.)
Actual: "A dollar says it's true: this town gets hold of you ..." (New York City Lights, Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Heard: "Our daughter says it's true: this town gets hold of you ..." (Right, okay then.)
Actual: "Til a man of low degree stood by her side ..." (Delta Dawn, Helen Reddy)
Heard: "Til a man of loaded grease stood by her side ..." (This is actually fairly similar. It just doesn't make sense.)
Actual: "A dollar says it's true: this town gets hold of you ..." (New York City Lights, Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Heard: "Our daughter says it's true: this town gets hold of you ..." (Right, okay then.)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday Thoughts
Today I am sick. I don't think it's a flu - could be food poisoning - but I have been wracked and nauseated and dizzy.
In any case, today was a day of administrivia. I picked up my editing copy (first go-through) for Journal of the Dead - which, regardless of how good a novel it is, is definitely my best title ever. My plan:
Read through the manuscript once to a) gather data - make sure I have hair color, eye color, vital stats, positioning of towns, etc, recorded and correct; and b) write a scene-by-scene list with the plot / char-development / subplot / other purpose each serves.
Review these to see if anything needs to be cut or majorly restructured
Read through the manuscript a second time to mark where I want changes.
Use the editing copy to rewrite the manuscript in a clean blank document.
Possibly! print the manuscript again to do one more hard-core editing pass. It depends on how I feel at this point.
Either way, a couple copy-edit passes on the computer copy and then I'll start working on synopses and a query letter.
Projected completion time? Erm ... May - June?
On a smaller note, sent a number of, "I haven't heard from you, did I miss a reply?" notes to markets. Everything is running slow as molasses.
Almost done with my notes for Scylla and Charybdis. Again, I had some surprises with numbers and results when I sat down and thought things through in detail - part of the reason I'm glad I did this.
Finally, added, "Children of the Revolution" by Kirsty MacColl to my soundtrack. I'm ninety percent the song is actually about the Vietnam War, but it very much fits the tone.
In any case, today was a day of administrivia. I picked up my editing copy (first go-through) for Journal of the Dead - which, regardless of how good a novel it is, is definitely my best title ever. My plan:
Read through the manuscript once to a) gather data - make sure I have hair color, eye color, vital stats, positioning of towns, etc, recorded and correct; and b) write a scene-by-scene list with the plot / char-development / subplot / other purpose each serves.
Review these to see if anything needs to be cut or majorly restructured
Read through the manuscript a second time to mark where I want changes.
Use the editing copy to rewrite the manuscript in a clean blank document.
Possibly! print the manuscript again to do one more hard-core editing pass. It depends on how I feel at this point.
Either way, a couple copy-edit passes on the computer copy and then I'll start working on synopses and a query letter.
Projected completion time? Erm ... May - June?
On a smaller note, sent a number of, "I haven't heard from you, did I miss a reply?" notes to markets. Everything is running slow as molasses.
Almost done with my notes for Scylla and Charybdis. Again, I had some surprises with numbers and results when I sat down and thought things through in detail - part of the reason I'm glad I did this.
Finally, added, "Children of the Revolution" by Kirsty MacColl to my soundtrack. I'm ninety percent the song is actually about the Vietnam War, but it very much fits the tone.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Boot Camp Week 1
Words: Zealous, Abstinent, Beleaguer, Candor, Daunt, Eclectic, Fastidious, Gargantuan
I was sort of disappointed that none of the words thus far are unfamiliar to me - ah well.
Been enjoying this boot camp session, though it isn't very intensive: I complete it quickly each day. The other thing that differs from previous exercises is context. In previous boot camps, setting, character and plot have been at least implied and often outlined. In this one, I've stayed fairly generic. I've avoided names and numbers. Most of these descriptions could be plugged into a number of stories, with the exception that references to modern elements aren't going to work in a medieval-style fantasy, and some of the place descs have a vaguely Victorian feel.
Here are the best of each - person and place - from this week. This is best description, not necessarily best use of word ...
(Daunt)
She was wiry, sparse, a collection of attenuated muscles strung taut over thin bone. One part warrior, one part scarecrow, daubed in the colors of decay: leaf-mold brown hair, turned-earth skin, pallid grey eyes. Most of the time, she kept her head down and her voice soft - but the grave-chill she could summon when roused would daunt even the fiercest of challengers.
(Gargantuan)
The ground cover grew more sparse deeper into the forest, shrubs and smaller trees fading away as their cunning neighbors sucked away the descending light. Those who had dwelt here were old enough to have a history surpassing that of nations. Gargantuan trunks swelled upwards like the roots of mountains, their peaks hidden in a fog of green. Leaf-fall crackled underfoot, the whisper of ancient voices. Pebbles kicked from emperors' feet lay as scattered gravel beneath.
I was sort of disappointed that none of the words thus far are unfamiliar to me - ah well.
Been enjoying this boot camp session, though it isn't very intensive: I complete it quickly each day. The other thing that differs from previous exercises is context. In previous boot camps, setting, character and plot have been at least implied and often outlined. In this one, I've stayed fairly generic. I've avoided names and numbers. Most of these descriptions could be plugged into a number of stories, with the exception that references to modern elements aren't going to work in a medieval-style fantasy, and some of the place descs have a vaguely Victorian feel.
Here are the best of each - person and place - from this week. This is best description, not necessarily best use of word ...
(Daunt)
She was wiry, sparse, a collection of attenuated muscles strung taut over thin bone. One part warrior, one part scarecrow, daubed in the colors of decay: leaf-mold brown hair, turned-earth skin, pallid grey eyes. Most of the time, she kept her head down and her voice soft - but the grave-chill she could summon when roused would daunt even the fiercest of challengers.
(Gargantuan)
The ground cover grew more sparse deeper into the forest, shrubs and smaller trees fading away as their cunning neighbors sucked away the descending light. Those who had dwelt here were old enough to have a history surpassing that of nations. Gargantuan trunks swelled upwards like the roots of mountains, their peaks hidden in a fog of green. Leaf-fall crackled underfoot, the whisper of ancient voices. Pebbles kicked from emperors' feet lay as scattered gravel beneath.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Soundtrack
For the sheer, odd fun of it, I decided to put together a loose soundtrack for my novel project. Now, my choice of words notwithstanding, there's no arc between songs - I just put them in an order that was varied and enjoyable to listen to. Each individual song was chosen for reasons ranging from the deep to the bratty. So I have:
1. Us Amazonians - Kirsty MacColl
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/us-amazonians-lyrics-kirsty-maccoll.html
Reason: I've been referring to my station residents as "Amazons" for a while now (and they all have names from that mythology) - but more than that, this is a bright, upbeat, affirming song.
2. Walk This World - Heather Nova
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/h/heather-nova/walk-this-world/
Reason: The invitation to exploration, the "broken" vibe the entire song gives off - it feels right with what I'm doing. This would fall into my male lead's POV, strictly speaking.
3. Suddenly - LeAnn Rimes
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leannrimes/suddenly.html
Reason: A song about abruptly (... suddenly ...) being out there in the unknown with everything that supported you left behind - yeah, going there, doing that.
4. Defying Gravity - Wicked soundtrack (Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth singing)
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/defying-gravity-lyrics-wicked.html
Reason: I already rhapsodized about this. Powerful song about not being held down, particularly by authority ... which is really what Anaea ends up doing. Also, gorgeous, powerful - and I could even cast her friend Orithia as 'Glinda' here, though their relationship never becomes adversarial. Definitely the, "I can't go where you're going" vibe fits.
5. Drops of Jupiter - Train
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/train/drops+of+jupiter_20140408.html
Reason: I confess I have very few songs by male artists in my collection. In looking for something specifically for Gwydion, this seemed appropriate - and seems much like the way he'd end up viewing Anaea.
6. There Is Nothing Like A Dame - South Pacific soundtrack
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/thereisnothinlikeadame.htm
Reason: Because I am a smart aleck. (And for the record, it's not "you know darn well." I'm amused that someone bowdlerized the lyrics.)
7. I Do - Lisa Loeb
Lyrics: http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/L/lisaloeblyrics/lisaloebidolyrics.htm
Reason: Another song on the subject of defiance and asking questions. This is supposed to be an anti-love song, but it works just as well directed at the leaders of the station.
8. Breathe - Midge Ure
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/m/midge-ure/breathe/
Reason: One of those endangered species, a male artist song. Again, though, I think it fits Gwydion very well. In particular, I'm fairly sure this is meant to be a religious metaphor, which fits in the context that I've made him at least slightly devout. (Is that an oxymoron?)
9. Turn This World Around - Amy Grant
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/amy+grant/turn+this+world+around_20007641.html
Reason: A "some day" hope to change a fractured and isolated world - check.
10. I Enjoy Being A Girl - Flower Drum Song soundtrack
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/flowerdrumsong/ienjoybeingagirl.htm
Reasons: Because I am also a twerp. (Sidebar: this is a song you could not release nowadays. Feminists would have screaming fits. But so much fun.)
11. The Safest Place - LeAnn Rimes
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leannrimes/thesafestplace.html
Reason: The sensation of real strength and support; the desire (again) to change the world ... I have not really decided whether I am going for the "sweeping plot" yet, but I see Anaea as an idealist.
12. It's Raining Men - Geri Halliwell
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/b/bridgetjonesdiarylyrics/itsrainingmenlyrics.html
Reason: Because, thirdly, I am a brat.
13. Free - Sarah Brightman
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sarahbrightman/free.html
Reason: To represent Anaea and Orithia - who were lovers a number of years before the story starts, but became good friends after breaking up. (According to the Harem liner notes, the line is "when the bars of freedom fall" not "when the birds are free to fall." Couldn't find a version printed right on the web.)
14. Poor Little Fool - Helen Reddy
Lyrics: Not available. Bah!
Reason: This one fits into the general theme of escape and breaking rules ... and I admit I just love it. If anyone does find these lyrics, I'd be grateful.
15. Always Tomorrow - Gloria Estefan
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/g/gloria-estefan/always/
Reason: This sense of isolation, of having lived in hibernation, is very much the point where I wanted to start Anaea from. But - as said - there's always tomorrow ...
16. In The Arms of The Milky Way - Laura Powers
Lyrics: Not available.
Reasons: Apart from being a "space song" this has just about nothing to do with my project or its themes, but it is bright, joyous and a satisfying finish.
1. Us Amazonians - Kirsty MacColl
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/us-amazonians-lyrics-kirsty-maccoll.html
Reason: I've been referring to my station residents as "Amazons" for a while now (and they all have names from that mythology) - but more than that, this is a bright, upbeat, affirming song.
2. Walk This World - Heather Nova
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/h/heather-nova/walk-this-world/
Reason: The invitation to exploration, the "broken" vibe the entire song gives off - it feels right with what I'm doing. This would fall into my male lead's POV, strictly speaking.
3. Suddenly - LeAnn Rimes
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leannrimes/suddenly.html
Reason: A song about abruptly (... suddenly ...) being out there in the unknown with everything that supported you left behind - yeah, going there, doing that.
4. Defying Gravity - Wicked soundtrack (Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth singing)
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/defying-gravity-lyrics-wicked.html
Reason: I already rhapsodized about this. Powerful song about not being held down, particularly by authority ... which is really what Anaea ends up doing. Also, gorgeous, powerful - and I could even cast her friend Orithia as 'Glinda' here, though their relationship never becomes adversarial. Definitely the, "I can't go where you're going" vibe fits.
5. Drops of Jupiter - Train
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/train/drops+of+jupiter_20140408.html
Reason: I confess I have very few songs by male artists in my collection. In looking for something specifically for Gwydion, this seemed appropriate - and seems much like the way he'd end up viewing Anaea.
6. There Is Nothing Like A Dame - South Pacific soundtrack
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/thereisnothinlikeadame.htm
Reason: Because I am a smart aleck. (And for the record, it's not "you know darn well." I'm amused that someone bowdlerized the lyrics.)
7. I Do - Lisa Loeb
Lyrics: http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/L/lisaloeblyrics/lisaloebidolyrics.htm
Reason: Another song on the subject of defiance and asking questions. This is supposed to be an anti-love song, but it works just as well directed at the leaders of the station.
8. Breathe - Midge Ure
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/m/midge-ure/breathe/
Reason: One of those endangered species, a male artist song. Again, though, I think it fits Gwydion very well. In particular, I'm fairly sure this is meant to be a religious metaphor, which fits in the context that I've made him at least slightly devout. (Is that an oxymoron?)
9. Turn This World Around - Amy Grant
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/amy+grant/turn+this+world+around_20007641.html
Reason: A "some day" hope to change a fractured and isolated world - check.
10. I Enjoy Being A Girl - Flower Drum Song soundtrack
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/flowerdrumsong/ienjoybeingagirl.htm
Reasons: Because I am also a twerp. (Sidebar: this is a song you could not release nowadays. Feminists would have screaming fits. But so much fun.)
11. The Safest Place - LeAnn Rimes
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leannrimes/thesafestplace.html
Reason: The sensation of real strength and support; the desire (again) to change the world ... I have not really decided whether I am going for the "sweeping plot" yet, but I see Anaea as an idealist.
12. It's Raining Men - Geri Halliwell
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/b/bridgetjonesdiarylyrics/itsrainingmenlyrics.html
Reason: Because, thirdly, I am a brat.
13. Free - Sarah Brightman
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sarahbrightman/free.html
Reason: To represent Anaea and Orithia - who were lovers a number of years before the story starts, but became good friends after breaking up. (According to the Harem liner notes, the line is "when the bars of freedom fall" not "when the birds are free to fall." Couldn't find a version printed right on the web.)
14. Poor Little Fool - Helen Reddy
Lyrics: Not available. Bah!
Reason: This one fits into the general theme of escape and breaking rules ... and I admit I just love it. If anyone does find these lyrics, I'd be grateful.
15. Always Tomorrow - Gloria Estefan
Lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/g/gloria-estefan/always/
Reason: This sense of isolation, of having lived in hibernation, is very much the point where I wanted to start Anaea from. But - as said - there's always tomorrow ...
16. In The Arms of The Milky Way - Laura Powers
Lyrics: Not available.
Reasons: Apart from being a "space song" this has just about nothing to do with my project or its themes, but it is bright, joyous and a satisfying finish.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Thursday Thoughts
Yep, I finally figured out what it should be called.
I just realized that today is the free-write day for a writers' group I'm part of ... so depending on circumstances, may be updates on that as well. Not today, however, as it's not for another five hours or so.
Further world-work: I discovered that my initial concepts of the matriarchs as a small elite fell apart when I tried to "do the numbers" as to how many of them would be required to have the kind of small-focus rule I wanted. Instead, I end up with a population around seven million - still small in a civilization of a few billion, but much larger in the scheme of things.
Also, reading my Buddhism research has made me focus the discipline to psions particularly. Which means I have a psion who isn't a practicioner ... investigating why he feels uncomfortable with it (as I've decided is a good way to go) suggests some interesting things about his character and the dynamic with my main character.
However, I'm also doing a heavy rewrite of an old story. Some years back, I did research for a humorous fantasy story around beauty pageants. However, this research also produced a tongue-in-cheek science fiction story about a galactic pageant - one of my earliest stories that I submitted. It met with some good reactions for editors, but ultimately didn't sell - and just as well, because I wasn't totally happy with it.
Now, the macro elements of the plot still seem solid to me; it's just a matter of changing some details. There are also some good lines I wanted to recapture, while cutting the clunkers (a considerable population thereof) and fixing the dialogue. Wow. I've always thought dialogue was my strong suit, but there are some terrible bits. On the other hand, what they actually say isn't bad: it's the logic behind it. It doesn't make a great deal of sense.
So what I'm doing is starting from scratch with a printed copy of the old story at my elbow. This gives me plenty of freedom to drop things, move them around - and use the gems verbatim. We'll see how it goes.
I just realized that today is the free-write day for a writers' group I'm part of ... so depending on circumstances, may be updates on that as well. Not today, however, as it's not for another five hours or so.
Further world-work: I discovered that my initial concepts of the matriarchs as a small elite fell apart when I tried to "do the numbers" as to how many of them would be required to have the kind of small-focus rule I wanted. Instead, I end up with a population around seven million - still small in a civilization of a few billion, but much larger in the scheme of things.
Also, reading my Buddhism research has made me focus the discipline to psions particularly. Which means I have a psion who isn't a practicioner ... investigating why he feels uncomfortable with it (as I've decided is a good way to go) suggests some interesting things about his character and the dynamic with my main character.
However, I'm also doing a heavy rewrite of an old story. Some years back, I did research for a humorous fantasy story around beauty pageants. However, this research also produced a tongue-in-cheek science fiction story about a galactic pageant - one of my earliest stories that I submitted. It met with some good reactions for editors, but ultimately didn't sell - and just as well, because I wasn't totally happy with it.
Now, the macro elements of the plot still seem solid to me; it's just a matter of changing some details. There are also some good lines I wanted to recapture, while cutting the clunkers (a considerable population thereof) and fixing the dialogue. Wow. I've always thought dialogue was my strong suit, but there are some terrible bits. On the other hand, what they actually say isn't bad: it's the logic behind it. It doesn't make a great deal of sense.
So what I'm doing is starting from scratch with a printed copy of the old story at my elbow. This gives me plenty of freedom to drop things, move them around - and use the gems verbatim. We'll see how it goes.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Boot Camp
As I do periodically, I've decided to take on another boot camp session: daily exercises on a specific and externally-imposed topic. (The general arc is something I design, obviously, but each individual exercise is "out of my hands.") Before, I went through "The 3am Epiphany" (Brian Kiteley); then I did a script-writing boot-camp using randomly-generated elements from a friend's "hat"; then I took on the exercises in "Creating Character Emotions" (Ann Hood).
This time, it's a description workshop. Every day, I'm going to look at the word of the day at dictionary.com and try to write two descriptions using that word: a character and a place. Because I need a stopping point or I'd be doing it forever / until I broke something, I'm going to arbitrarily say my birthday (March 1st).
Word today is zealous ...
This time, it's a description workshop. Every day, I'm going to look at the word of the day at dictionary.com and try to write two descriptions using that word: a character and a place. Because I need a stopping point or I'd be doing it forever / until I broke something, I'm going to arbitrarily say my birthday (March 1st).
Word today is zealous ...
Saturday, January 03, 2009
The Knights Who Say Ook!
I just found out from a British source (... all right, a fellow writer on a forum) that Terry Pratchett was knighted.
The skinny is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7805143.stm
This makes me giggle. Probably more than it should.
The skinny is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7805143.stm
This makes me giggle. Probably more than it should.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Thought Process Thursdays
As a New Year thing - and hopefully a steady commitment - I thought I'd try to post once a week about developments in whatever I'm working on that day, whether it be worldbuilding, editing or short excerpts.
Since it's Thursday - Thought Process Thursdays? Doesn't have much of a ring to it, but titles were never my thing.
Almost done with my planet and space station profiles for my science fiction project. Next comes the micro-level detail, starting with my "Amazon" civilization and working outwards.
I'm currently puzzled trying to rename my "Amazon" space station. It was initially Amygdara just because I liked the sound of it. Now I'm stumped. It may end up being Haven or Refuge just to go with something obvious ... but I am trying very hard to avoid the "random syllables thrown together because they sound cool" effect.
If I were being a complete twerp, I would just fuss around with "Amazonia" or similar until I got a good anagram.
So far, I've used three mythological references - Solomon, Annwyn and Elysium - some regular words - Independence, Centurion - a reference to physical geography - Twin Fires (in a binary star system) - and two homages - Perica (after the setting of an invented SF cult classic from the 2040s) and Eastwood. (... yes, as in Clint.) I have two more to name, counting the above.
All the star systems, with the exception of Tau Ceti, are designated by a 2 letter + numbers combo. I've had great fun coming up with the ways these would morph into names that roll better off the tongue. CX-118, for instance, tends to be dubbed "Sea of Ecstacy" by the ... sarcastic? Where this differs from just-random-syllables is I'm being very careful that everything has a natural and explicable origin.
Signing off for now.
Since it's Thursday - Thought Process Thursdays? Doesn't have much of a ring to it, but titles were never my thing.
Almost done with my planet and space station profiles for my science fiction project. Next comes the micro-level detail, starting with my "Amazon" civilization and working outwards.
I'm currently puzzled trying to rename my "Amazon" space station. It was initially Amygdara just because I liked the sound of it. Now I'm stumped. It may end up being Haven or Refuge just to go with something obvious ... but I am trying very hard to avoid the "random syllables thrown together because they sound cool" effect.
If I were being a complete twerp, I would just fuss around with "Amazonia" or similar until I got a good anagram.
So far, I've used three mythological references - Solomon, Annwyn and Elysium - some regular words - Independence, Centurion - a reference to physical geography - Twin Fires (in a binary star system) - and two homages - Perica (after the setting of an invented SF cult classic from the 2040s) and Eastwood. (... yes, as in Clint.) I have two more to name, counting the above.
All the star systems, with the exception of Tau Ceti, are designated by a 2 letter + numbers combo. I've had great fun coming up with the ways these would morph into names that roll better off the tongue. CX-118, for instance, tends to be dubbed "Sea of Ecstacy" by the ... sarcastic? Where this differs from just-random-syllables is I'm being very careful that everything has a natural and explicable origin.
Signing off for now.
If These Walls Could Speak
Now available for free reading over at Allegory! Check it out.
(First post of the year! Whoo.)
(First post of the year! Whoo.)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Buddhism
Some of you might remember that I had considered Buddhism as my other primary religion for my SF project, which got backburnered when my library never delivered the book. (At this point, I can only assume whoever had it checked out simply stole it.) Well, today I went to a Borders on closeout - forty percent off everything - and on a whim, went looking for the Dumbie's Guide. Sure enough, they had it, and at such a discount ... why not?
So research resumes, though worldwork does not cease.
So research resumes, though worldwork does not cease.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Good Ol' Days
In a surge of nostalgia, I've been writing up a plot summary for my old Starshine Weyr (a Pern fandom, where you roleplay original characters in that world) storylines. For some idea of the timeline, the first scenes were in 1997 and I think it started petering out in 2001.
There's a lot that's rough around the edges, soap opera quality and sometimes just embarrassing - but I was young. (I also realize that I spent way too much time roleplaying with myself and making other people watch, a tendency which I think I've (mostly) grown out of.) Still, that notwithstanding, the depth, complexity and yeah, insanity of events leaves me boggled.
In some ways, my plots are stronger while playing with others, helped by the kind of extended time and thought this entails. In others ... sometimes I worry I've put on filters that - while they've made my writing more mature - has also taken some of the zing out of it.
In general, I get really gnawy with the worry that I can't come up with things as developed when I'm doing it on my own. Is this true? Is it nonsense? I don't know ...
There's a lot that's rough around the edges, soap opera quality and sometimes just embarrassing - but I was young. (I also realize that I spent way too much time roleplaying with myself and making other people watch, a tendency which I think I've (mostly) grown out of.) Still, that notwithstanding, the depth, complexity and yeah, insanity of events leaves me boggled.
In some ways, my plots are stronger while playing with others, helped by the kind of extended time and thought this entails. In others ... sometimes I worry I've put on filters that - while they've made my writing more mature - has also taken some of the zing out of it.
In general, I get really gnawy with the worry that I can't come up with things as developed when I'm doing it on my own. Is this true? Is it nonsense? I don't know ...
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Past Imperfect
Rather than a blow-by-blow account of the stories, just a brief general commentary about the Past Imperfect anthology of time travel stories - a DAW anthology from Greenberg and Segriff.
Ironically, for a time travel anthology, most of these stories had a significant problem with pacing. An intriguing set-up and slow build fizzled out or was short-changed; or there was too much moderately dull information before the pay-off.
Two stories stood out as genuinely enjoyable. The first was from Jody Lynn Nye - Theory of Relativity. Close second was The Gift of a Dream from Dean Wesley Smith.
One of the stories was about a character looping back on himself, and reminded me of a story I wrote - Transient - where the non-POV main character lived each day out of sequence. Really should go back to that and see if I can make it flow through ...
Ironically, for a time travel anthology, most of these stories had a significant problem with pacing. An intriguing set-up and slow build fizzled out or was short-changed; or there was too much moderately dull information before the pay-off.
Two stories stood out as genuinely enjoyable. The first was from Jody Lynn Nye - Theory of Relativity. Close second was The Gift of a Dream from Dean Wesley Smith.
One of the stories was about a character looping back on himself, and reminded me of a story I wrote - Transient - where the non-POV main character lived each day out of sequence. Really should go back to that and see if I can make it flow through ...
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Character Blip
Ignoring the bits that are fairly specific to the "Wicked" story (... and that this is from the POV of the Wicked Witch of the West), and this is a pretty good character-song for Anaea, the MC from my Scylla-and-Charybdis storyline:
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/wicked-defying-gravity-lyrics.html
(To quote:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap ... )
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/wicked-defying-gravity-lyrics.html
(To quote:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap ... )
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Game Nostalgia
I am one of those people who plunks shameful amounts of time into computer games. I've been out of the game-buying circuit for 2-3 years due to the age of my computer, but I find that I tend to prefer older games. There's simply more content and frequently, they just seem better constructed. Also, the RPGs tend more towards turn-based, which is a heavy preference of mine. I do not care for real time. False turn-based where you can pause and queue up actions does not count, in my mind.
Despite that, Morrowind is still one of the best new games I've ever played. I ripped through the new Bard's Tale game, Knights of the Old Republic and even Neverwinter Nights in a disappointing amount of time. Contrast with Wizardry 8, which took me months - but that game, though more recent, is a past-blast to the previous seven Wizardries. What have I spent much of my recent time on? Might and Magic ... VI and VII. What do I still consider the best RPG I've ever played? An obscure little game called Betrayal in Antara. Though set in a different locale, its engine is sandwiched between Betrayal in Krondor (which was fun enough, but Antara's storyline takes cake and platter) and Return To Krondor - which was another game that sacrificed graphics for content.
Running close second is the more recent Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. I love games with side-quests that you can totally miss and discover the next time 'round. Also, again, I loved the plot.
Strategy games I've had more luck with because they tend to be more exclusively TB and content lends itself more to each game being different: Civ 4, Galactic Civilizations, etc. (The Movies is a dud.) However, I still have original Colonization (yes, the version that was released a year or two after Civilization NO NUMBERS!), I enjoy playing Zeus, and I recently had a hankering after Castles and ... probably the best older strategy game I can remember playing... Master of Magic. Honestly, pound for pound, MoM blew original-Civilization out of the water for me.
All this came up because someone I know online has been trying to convince me to pick up Fallout and Fallout 2. I have seen a few new games that I would be interested in (my computer can't handle them, so it's moot), but the truth is, I could happily keep myself busy on games released before 2000. Indefinitely.
Despite that, Morrowind is still one of the best new games I've ever played. I ripped through the new Bard's Tale game, Knights of the Old Republic and even Neverwinter Nights in a disappointing amount of time. Contrast with Wizardry 8, which took me months - but that game, though more recent, is a past-blast to the previous seven Wizardries. What have I spent much of my recent time on? Might and Magic ... VI and VII. What do I still consider the best RPG I've ever played? An obscure little game called Betrayal in Antara. Though set in a different locale, its engine is sandwiched between Betrayal in Krondor (which was fun enough, but Antara's storyline takes cake and platter) and Return To Krondor - which was another game that sacrificed graphics for content.
Running close second is the more recent Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. I love games with side-quests that you can totally miss and discover the next time 'round. Also, again, I loved the plot.
Strategy games I've had more luck with because they tend to be more exclusively TB and content lends itself more to each game being different: Civ 4, Galactic Civilizations, etc. (The Movies is a dud.) However, I still have original Colonization (yes, the version that was released a year or two after Civilization NO NUMBERS!), I enjoy playing Zeus, and I recently had a hankering after Castles and ... probably the best older strategy game I can remember playing... Master of Magic. Honestly, pound for pound, MoM blew original-Civilization out of the water for me.
All this came up because someone I know online has been trying to convince me to pick up Fallout and Fallout 2. I have seen a few new games that I would be interested in (my computer can't handle them, so it's moot), but the truth is, I could happily keep myself busy on games released before 2000. Indefinitely.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
World-Building
I just finished this book - I ended up skimming a lot of it because it dealt with the kind of exotic environments I know I won't be building. However, it was in parts very helpful, and in parts reminded me how much I know about basic climate effects, volcanism, greenhouse effect, etc from my coursework. I'm not as badly prepared as I think I am!
I am tentatively thinking Tau Ceti's satellite planet will be Solomon; I also want one named after the Welsh underworld, but undecided whether I'll leave it authentic or anglicize it. I am also toying with the idea of using either a double planet or an inhabitable moon. I believe I understand the basics well enough to work it.
But with no Buddhism book in hand, this actually means that - starting tomorrow - I'm going to start putting some of this worldbuilding into print. Fear me.
I am tentatively thinking Tau Ceti's satellite planet will be Solomon; I also want one named after the Welsh underworld, but undecided whether I'll leave it authentic or anglicize it. I am also toying with the idea of using either a double planet or an inhabitable moon. I believe I understand the basics well enough to work it.
But with no Buddhism book in hand, this actually means that - starting tomorrow - I'm going to start putting some of this worldbuilding into print. Fear me.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Judaism
I just tackled "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Understanding Judaism" because I'd been planning on using that background in my story ... not as a major thematic element, but as a component of the world. Having finished the book, I am confirmed in my desire, though I see I'm going to have to do some thinking about the Tau Ceti lunar cycle and how to work into a Jewish calendar without making it too convenient.
I realize I haven't talked much about my characters or the plot - this is largely because most of this was defined in the original "Scylla and Charybdis" short story. I am realizing now that my main male character (who catalyzes the POV character's discovery, plays tour guide, becomes a friend and eventually a romantic interest) is almost certainly going to be fairly devout ... which may involve some further research on my part.
The nice thing about moving a few hundred years in the future is I can deal with theory-versus-reality faith issues as having changed in the intervening centuries ... still nervous, though. May want to get someone with first-hand knowledge to read just those bits that directly relate.
I have one more book that hasn't come in yet - whoever has the Buddhism book is not giving it up - and unless it shows up before I finish my other worldbuilding book, this means I'll finally start working. Whoo.
I realize I haven't talked much about my characters or the plot - this is largely because most of this was defined in the original "Scylla and Charybdis" short story. I am realizing now that my main male character (who catalyzes the POV character's discovery, plays tour guide, becomes a friend and eventually a romantic interest) is almost certainly going to be fairly devout ... which may involve some further research on my part.
The nice thing about moving a few hundred years in the future is I can deal with theory-versus-reality faith issues as having changed in the intervening centuries ... still nervous, though. May want to get someone with first-hand knowledge to read just those bits that directly relate.
I have one more book that hasn't come in yet - whoever has the Buddhism book is not giving it up - and unless it shows up before I finish my other worldbuilding book, this means I'll finally start working. Whoo.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
If These Walls Could Speak ...
... they'd say I just made a short fiction sale! That's also the title of the story, basically a romance about a matchmaking house.
Yeah, it's a cute little story and I had a blast writing it.
Was just accepted by Allegory. I've reached their "hold round" a few times before, so great to finally make it through. Hurrah!
Yeah, it's a cute little story and I had a blast writing it.
Was just accepted by Allegory. I've reached their "hold round" a few times before, so great to finally make it through. Hurrah!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
You Just Don't Understand
Despite this book being the bestseller and the previous gender-speak book being - arguably - the knock-off, I am much less impressed with the content and the apparent scientific basis of the information here. I felt as if the book was a combination anecdotal case study and whine-fest with plausible deniability (it's linguistics!). Though I suppose it was educational on the front of showing me some assumptions I don't want to make.
Also, this is my themesong for this project, tongue happily and firmly in cheek: http://www.kirstymaccoll.com/music/lyrics/us_amazonians.htm
Also, this is my themesong for this project, tongue happily and firmly in cheek: http://www.kirstymaccoll.com/music/lyrics/us_amazonians.htm
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Writer's Guide To ...
... Creating a Science Fiction Universe -- George Ochoa and Jeffrey Osier
This is a fairly old book and shows it in places (I particularly liked the "newfangled" references to dialup modems), but in others it is absolutely essential. It covers similar ground to the other two SF-writer books I've read, but provided me with some key information that I can use to concretely build my planets. The nice thing is, outside of the first non-Terran colony, I am completely flexible with both year-and-day length, general temperature, magnitude of stars ... having read some cool things, I really want a K star.
This book finally tossed me into the uncharted waters of my basic problem: I wanted a year length close enough to Earth's that Tau Ceti years / days / months could be "galactic time" without having to explain to people that characters are only 2/3rds as old in years, or 6/5ths, or ... unfortunately, while Sol is a G2 star, Tau Ceti is a G8 star. Several orders of magnitude lower. This means that ... well ... even accounting for changes in orbit speed, if the year is about the same length that's going to be one cold planet, baby.
I finally managed to solve it by dividing the year in half. Tau Ceti now has two year-pairs in a standard year; this is kind of nice because I'm going for a duality effect in the whole setting. However, this means that it receives about twenty-five percent more insolation. I can increase the ozone layer, interpolate heavier layers of galactic debris, increase ocean levels (which moderates temperature) and decrease axial tilt to cool it off, making it hotter than earth but still within the liveable paradise parameters I was seeking.
The sad part? It is highly unlikely any of my characters will set foot on this planet. It's backdrop.
Now if anyone actually read this here post of mine, I'll be impressed.
Back to gender speak! Then ... Judaism.
You read that right.
This is a fairly old book and shows it in places (I particularly liked the "newfangled" references to dialup modems), but in others it is absolutely essential. It covers similar ground to the other two SF-writer books I've read, but provided me with some key information that I can use to concretely build my planets. The nice thing is, outside of the first non-Terran colony, I am completely flexible with both year-and-day length, general temperature, magnitude of stars ... having read some cool things, I really want a K star.
This book finally tossed me into the uncharted waters of my basic problem: I wanted a year length close enough to Earth's that Tau Ceti years / days / months could be "galactic time" without having to explain to people that characters are only 2/3rds as old in years, or 6/5ths, or ... unfortunately, while Sol is a G2 star, Tau Ceti is a G8 star. Several orders of magnitude lower. This means that ... well ... even accounting for changes in orbit speed, if the year is about the same length that's going to be one cold planet, baby.
I finally managed to solve it by dividing the year in half. Tau Ceti now has two year-pairs in a standard year; this is kind of nice because I'm going for a duality effect in the whole setting. However, this means that it receives about twenty-five percent more insolation. I can increase the ozone layer, interpolate heavier layers of galactic debris, increase ocean levels (which moderates temperature) and decrease axial tilt to cool it off, making it hotter than earth but still within the liveable paradise parameters I was seeking.
The sad part? It is highly unlikely any of my characters will set foot on this planet. It's backdrop.
Now if anyone actually read this here post of mine, I'll be impressed.
Back to gender speak! Then ... Judaism.
You read that right.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Archetypes
I just finished reading "45 Master Characters" -- the archetype book. I decided fairly early into reading that I wasn't going to be able to use this. I already know who Anaea (my MC) is with some certainty, and she didn't fit cleanly into any of the types the author posited ... at least, not in a way that takes the story where I want it to go. I'm not really willing to alter my underlying plot to follow a prescribed journey. That's not the point of the book, anyhow.
I found it interesting, but fairly basic, and I thought the types were rather limited. The most valuable part of the book is the discussion of the feminine journey and its contrast with the masculine journey. I was highly amused by the fact that the author's example of a gender-bend for the latter (ie, a female undertaking the masculine journey) is The Long Kiss Goodnight, a movie I've always had a soft spot for.
If anything, this got me thinking very strongly about another plot that's decided to kick around in my brain uninvited. I have a couple PCs who I think could work together in a novel. They both have storyline support structures that would combine well for a compelling tale ... and I realize it's very archetypal.
There are two obvious reasons I'm not writing this now. First of all, I want to do this project, I've been doing this research, darned if I'm going to be derailed, especially for something that ... second of all ... I fear may be rather cliche in setting. It's the combination of characters that would blast it to life, and I feel very strongly I know their core already, but ...
Well, for future reference. Who knows, maybe I'll end up doing this instead of the mystery. If I could think of a reasonable way to tackle this without taking time out from my other writing, I would. It's calling to me in a really strong way, and even knowing it's a "bad idea" for reasons mentioned above, it's hard to silence the voices.
But onwards! The Writer's Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe by George Ochoa and Jeffery Osier.
I really have to get to the end of my research jag soon. I want to have my worldbuilding work done before I have to return Borderlands of Science ... ahem.
I found it interesting, but fairly basic, and I thought the types were rather limited. The most valuable part of the book is the discussion of the feminine journey and its contrast with the masculine journey. I was highly amused by the fact that the author's example of a gender-bend for the latter (ie, a female undertaking the masculine journey) is The Long Kiss Goodnight, a movie I've always had a soft spot for.
If anything, this got me thinking very strongly about another plot that's decided to kick around in my brain uninvited. I have a couple PCs who I think could work together in a novel. They both have storyline support structures that would combine well for a compelling tale ... and I realize it's very archetypal.
There are two obvious reasons I'm not writing this now. First of all, I want to do this project, I've been doing this research, darned if I'm going to be derailed, especially for something that ... second of all ... I fear may be rather cliche in setting. It's the combination of characters that would blast it to life, and I feel very strongly I know their core already, but ...
Well, for future reference. Who knows, maybe I'll end up doing this instead of the mystery. If I could think of a reasonable way to tackle this without taking time out from my other writing, I would. It's calling to me in a really strong way, and even knowing it's a "bad idea" for reasons mentioned above, it's hard to silence the voices.
But onwards! The Writer's Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe by George Ochoa and Jeffery Osier.
I really have to get to the end of my research jag soon. I want to have my worldbuilding work done before I have to return Borderlands of Science ... ahem.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Genderspeak
Almost done with this book, and noticing an interesting feature: a lot of "gender dialogue" is more based in "dominance dialogue." Women are still traditionally in subordinate positions, and those who aren't are often viewed as "speaking like men." So it's food for thought what would happen if the natural trends in society were reversed. Would a hundred years be enough to change this perception?
I am beginning to worry that a hundred years isn't long enough for the societal changes I'm trying to create, but I have two points in mind. Firstly - look at everything that has happened since 1910 or so, including events that could have created other, sweeping changes, but didn't happen. Secondly - I need to have the disease strike be close enough that the ladies of my isolated space station still believe it might be a plausible threat. If I move any further out, I start to lose immediacy.
To help accelerate my divided society, I've had the disease unleashed unevenly. This fouls my balanced dynamic a bit, but it has a rational reason. What I'm hoping is to establish top-down change: the leading elements change very quickly, and that filters down through society within 20 - 30 years. Understand that you've got worlds in chaos and the necessity of survival and this kind of swift lockdown ... well, hopefully it will make sense.
Ow, my head.
I am beginning to worry that a hundred years isn't long enough for the societal changes I'm trying to create, but I have two points in mind. Firstly - look at everything that has happened since 1910 or so, including events that could have created other, sweeping changes, but didn't happen. Secondly - I need to have the disease strike be close enough that the ladies of my isolated space station still believe it might be a plausible threat. If I move any further out, I start to lose immediacy.
To help accelerate my divided society, I've had the disease unleashed unevenly. This fouls my balanced dynamic a bit, but it has a rational reason. What I'm hoping is to establish top-down change: the leading elements change very quickly, and that filters down through society within 20 - 30 years. Understand that you've got worlds in chaos and the necessity of survival and this kind of swift lockdown ... well, hopefully it will make sense.
Ow, my head.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Reading on ...
Finished reading through "Aliens and Alien Societies" though ... it has become a zero-sum game, as I put two more SF writer worldbuilding books on reserve. Would have reserved more, but the other resources I was looking for were not in my library. Really, it's about time some insane, ridiculous book I was looking for wasn't. ;-)
I have taken some notes; I have a clearer idea how I want the Derithe to work. To the point where, if this were somehow to get published and I were going to write a sequel, I'd want to crack the mystery of my little alien deus ex machinae ... (machinas?) I also got a good grasp that building earthlike planets for my people to inhabit is actually going to be easier than I thought.
Gee, that's a nice feeling.
I have taken some notes; I have a clearer idea how I want the Derithe to work. To the point where, if this were somehow to get published and I were going to write a sequel, I'd want to crack the mystery of my little alien deus ex machinae ... (machinas?) I also got a good grasp that building earthlike planets for my people to inhabit is actually going to be easier than I thought.
Gee, that's a nice feeling.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Nothing Lasts
Surprisingly, the only thing I had to cut from the last CD was the Selena song ...
I always seem to repeat a song when I do these CDs, which is reasonable enough - I don't have a good enough memory to keep track of over a hundred songs. It's never an absolute favorite song, though always one I like a lot; in this case, it's "The West Wind Circus."
This is my "Nothing Lasts" collection, songs of fleeting circumstances. Again, I'm fairly surprised by the variety here - a fair number of songs that are either new or I don't listen to often.
1. Don't Let This Moment End -- Gloria Estefan
2. What's Forever For -- Anne Murray
3. If You Go -- Sophie Ellis-Bextor
4. The West Wind Circus -- Helen Reddy
5. What Do Pretty Girls Do? -- Kirsty MacColl
6. Life Goes On -- Leann Rimes
7. Blue Black -- Heather Nova
8. Can't Go Back -- Sissel
9. Long Way Down -- Laura Powers
10. Things Happen -- Kirsty MacColl
11. You'll See - Madonna
12. One Night Only -- Dreamgirls Soundtrack
13. One of These Days -- Michelle Branch
14. X-Girlfriend -- Mariah Carey
15. Goodbye, My Friend -- Linda Ronstadt
16. Suddenly -- Leann Rimes
17. Fifteen Minutes -- Kirsty MacColl
18. The Last Words You Said -- Sarah Brightman
19. Fade Away -- Celine Dion
20. As Long As You're Mine -- Idina Menzel; Norbert Leo Butz (Wicked Soundtrack)
I always seem to repeat a song when I do these CDs, which is reasonable enough - I don't have a good enough memory to keep track of over a hundred songs. It's never an absolute favorite song, though always one I like a lot; in this case, it's "The West Wind Circus."
This is my "Nothing Lasts" collection, songs of fleeting circumstances. Again, I'm fairly surprised by the variety here - a fair number of songs that are either new or I don't listen to often.
1. Don't Let This Moment End -- Gloria Estefan
2. What's Forever For -- Anne Murray
3. If You Go -- Sophie Ellis-Bextor
4. The West Wind Circus -- Helen Reddy
5. What Do Pretty Girls Do? -- Kirsty MacColl
6. Life Goes On -- Leann Rimes
7. Blue Black -- Heather Nova
8. Can't Go Back -- Sissel
9. Long Way Down -- Laura Powers
10. Things Happen -- Kirsty MacColl
11. You'll See - Madonna
12. One Night Only -- Dreamgirls Soundtrack
13. One of These Days -- Michelle Branch
14. X-Girlfriend -- Mariah Carey
15. Goodbye, My Friend -- Linda Ronstadt
16. Suddenly -- Leann Rimes
17. Fifteen Minutes -- Kirsty MacColl
18. The Last Words You Said -- Sarah Brightman
19. Fade Away -- Celine Dion
20. As Long As You're Mine -- Idina Menzel; Norbert Leo Butz (Wicked Soundtrack)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Added to Reading List
While I don't really expect to be dealing with religious matters in my SF outing, I do expect it to be a backdrop. I've created a sort of loose deist religion for my space-amazons (... err ...) but decided for the main civs, I wanted to have the most prevalent religions be Judaism and Buddhism. I've come up with an explanation for the former's population surge; yet to ponder the latter. I've ordered a couple of basic books just to ground myself. It may be after reading them that I change my mind ...
Numerology
Exhibit A for the prosecution in the case: I am neurotic.
I've been following a new series of articles about varying flash fiction forms - ways of creating a story by imposing artifical structure on a piece.
Well, I ran out. So I came up with my own form.
I decided to use words per sentence. Alternating paragraphs of the following two patterns:
2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 22
1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11
This is all to do with numerology: these are the significant numbers in the system. 11 and 22 are reduced to 2 and 4, respectively, but they indicate a higher destiny, so they're always notated.
In my defense, I only decided I would have nine paragraphs (equivalent to the nine main numbers) when I was about halfway through and trying to figure out how I wanted to end it.
Furthermore, the name I chose for the main character is an imperfect anagram of eleven and adds up to twenty-two.
The story does involve numerology, but the musical side - the music of the spheres.
I had *fun* doing this.
... I think my brain is diseased.
I've been following a new series of articles about varying flash fiction forms - ways of creating a story by imposing artifical structure on a piece.
Well, I ran out. So I came up with my own form.
I decided to use words per sentence. Alternating paragraphs of the following two patterns:
2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 22
1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11
This is all to do with numerology: these are the significant numbers in the system. 11 and 22 are reduced to 2 and 4, respectively, but they indicate a higher destiny, so they're always notated.
In my defense, I only decided I would have nine paragraphs (equivalent to the nine main numbers) when I was about halfway through and trying to figure out how I wanted to end it.
Furthermore, the name I chose for the main character is an imperfect anagram of eleven and adds up to twenty-two.
The story does involve numerology, but the musical side - the music of the spheres.
I had *fun* doing this.
... I think my brain is diseased.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
No Good Deed
Another day, another themed CD collection. This one (like the first) is also directly inspired by a song title, the first one here: "No Good Deed" (goes unpunished). So here's to misbehaving ...
1. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel (Wicked soundtrack)
2. Rush - Cherie
3. You Can't Treat The Wrong Man Right - Linda Ronstadt
4. Treat Her Like A Lady - Celine Dion
5. Devil In A Fast Car - Sheena Easton
6. This Masquerade - Helen Reddy
7. Play The Field - Debbie Gibson
8. Damn - Leann Rimes
9. Steal Your Heart - Gloria Estefan
10. Worst Best Friend - Cupboard
11. Hotel Paper - Michelle Branch
12. A Boy Like That - Selena
13. Can't Stop Killing You - Kirsty MacColl
14. Cuts Both Ways - Gloria Estefan
15. When The Wrong One Loves You Right - Celine Dion
16. My Affair - Kirsty MacColl
17. Dear Life - Chantal Kreviazuk
18. Murder in Mairyland Park - Sarah Brightman
19. Love Me Like That - Michelle Branch
20. Lover's Knot - Anne Murray
21. Bad - Kirsty MacColl
I'm sure I cut a couple of these - not sure which yet, and I didn't save it when I made the decisions. (I think the Selena song was one of them.) But this was the original concept.
What does it say about me that this is the long list? Right then.
I also note that it's probably the most varied of them thus far, artist-wise.
1. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel (Wicked soundtrack)
2. Rush - Cherie
3. You Can't Treat The Wrong Man Right - Linda Ronstadt
4. Treat Her Like A Lady - Celine Dion
5. Devil In A Fast Car - Sheena Easton
6. This Masquerade - Helen Reddy
7. Play The Field - Debbie Gibson
8. Damn - Leann Rimes
9. Steal Your Heart - Gloria Estefan
10. Worst Best Friend - Cupboard
11. Hotel Paper - Michelle Branch
12. A Boy Like That - Selena
13. Can't Stop Killing You - Kirsty MacColl
14. Cuts Both Ways - Gloria Estefan
15. When The Wrong One Loves You Right - Celine Dion
16. My Affair - Kirsty MacColl
17. Dear Life - Chantal Kreviazuk
18. Murder in Mairyland Park - Sarah Brightman
19. Love Me Like That - Michelle Branch
20. Lover's Knot - Anne Murray
21. Bad - Kirsty MacColl
I'm sure I cut a couple of these - not sure which yet, and I didn't save it when I made the decisions. (I think the Selena song was one of them.) But this was the original concept.
What does it say about me that this is the long list? Right then.
I also note that it's probably the most varied of them thus far, artist-wise.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Put The Kettle On ...
I've been reading "Borderlands of Science" to get some basic grounding for my SF novel, and have come up with some basic ideas how I want the history to go. I've decided I'm using hyper-space corridors - that is, you can't go everywhere with them, but there are specific "lines" typically between gravity wells. I've figured out what techno-babble to use to refer to non-hyperspace travel ... and that I can use a slower-than-light vehicle to get around the interior of a solar system.
I'm primarily defining my technology by what it can't do, and running into some snags with things I just can't plausibly say are impossible. The big one is cloning. My history is inching up on a reason why it might be banned for moral reasons, but I need to ask a "techie" I know whether the form of quantum teleportation I'm pondering is even possible.
I've also figured out how psionics got into the culture and why they're fairly well accepted.
I haven't written much of this down yet because I want to finish my reading. Any of this might change if I encounter a scientific / social point in another book.
I'm primarily defining my technology by what it can't do, and running into some snags with things I just can't plausibly say are impossible. The big one is cloning. My history is inching up on a reason why it might be banned for moral reasons, but I need to ask a "techie" I know whether the form of quantum teleportation I'm pondering is even possible.
I've also figured out how psionics got into the culture and why they're fairly well accepted.
I haven't written much of this down yet because I want to finish my reading. Any of this might change if I encounter a scientific / social point in another book.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Anatomy of an Idea: Mirror, Mirror ...
I've tried to keep this one spoiler-free, but really, you should buy the issue of Speculative Mystery Iconoclast and read it first - just to be safe!
The idea for Mirror, Mirror ... came during a period when I wanted to write a pseudo-Victorian piece. I don't remember what sparked this, but I purchased the Writers' Digest "Everyday Life In ..." book on the topic. The result of this research ...
... was not Mirror, Mirror .... At least, not at first.
It was another story, entitled The Changeling Letter, which is still looking for publication. In working on this tale, I came up with a setting that would later be reused in M,M: the kingdom of Gloriann. (I also used Gloriann and its neighbor, Tarmaria, in a story set at the beginning of the queen's rein. It's also a mystery story; however, I retired it because I just couldn't find a way to cut down the complexity or the cast without compromising the story. Editors thought it was too much; they were right.)
In writing TCL, I had a weird out-of-body sensation. Lines came out of me where I had no ideas of their origin. It wasn't my style, but it flowed perfectly. This was to happen again as I wrote M,M.
In doing my research for TCL, I made notes on some things that interested me. Two that applied directly to the story was the idea that people used to cover mirrors while in mourning, for fear the soul would otherwise become trapped inside it; and the concept of the first interior decorators. I also was tickled to death by descriptions of period bathrooms, so one appears in M,M as well.
These concepts collided to form the concept of a murder mystery where the consequences of death were so much more than merely departing from this life. I knew I wanted to use the same setting, but I wanted a sort of psychic detective, so I had to set the story later than TCL, where magic is forbidden to women. Things have loosened up a little in M,M, but my main character still has to pretend to use devices to guise her own powers.
I chose the name Graeme because I saw it on a book cover (GURPS Faerie, actually) and thought it was fantastic. Much later, I learned that it's probably a Celtic variant of Graham, but that's all right - the awkward "outsider" moment my narrator has with another female character in the story makes the choice of a masculine name apropos.
The idea for Mirror, Mirror ... came during a period when I wanted to write a pseudo-Victorian piece. I don't remember what sparked this, but I purchased the Writers' Digest "Everyday Life In ..." book on the topic. The result of this research ...
... was not Mirror, Mirror .... At least, not at first.
It was another story, entitled The Changeling Letter, which is still looking for publication. In working on this tale, I came up with a setting that would later be reused in M,M: the kingdom of Gloriann. (I also used Gloriann and its neighbor, Tarmaria, in a story set at the beginning of the queen's rein. It's also a mystery story; however, I retired it because I just couldn't find a way to cut down the complexity or the cast without compromising the story. Editors thought it was too much; they were right.)
In writing TCL, I had a weird out-of-body sensation. Lines came out of me where I had no ideas of their origin. It wasn't my style, but it flowed perfectly. This was to happen again as I wrote M,M.
In doing my research for TCL, I made notes on some things that interested me. Two that applied directly to the story was the idea that people used to cover mirrors while in mourning, for fear the soul would otherwise become trapped inside it; and the concept of the first interior decorators. I also was tickled to death by descriptions of period bathrooms, so one appears in M,M as well.
These concepts collided to form the concept of a murder mystery where the consequences of death were so much more than merely departing from this life. I knew I wanted to use the same setting, but I wanted a sort of psychic detective, so I had to set the story later than TCL, where magic is forbidden to women. Things have loosened up a little in M,M, but my main character still has to pretend to use devices to guise her own powers.
I chose the name Graeme because I saw it on a book cover (GURPS Faerie, actually) and thought it was fantastic. Much later, I learned that it's probably a Celtic variant of Graham, but that's all right - the awkward "outsider" moment my narrator has with another female character in the story makes the choice of a masculine name apropos.
Mirror, Mirror ...
Speculative Mystery Iconoclast is now online at http://www.specmystery.com
Their first issue includes my story "Mirror, Mirror ..." - check it out!
More about it in a bit.
Their first issue includes my story "Mirror, Mirror ..." - check it out!
More about it in a bit.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Flying Higher
Another day, another collection of songs. I've listened through a little under half of these and been surprised by some of my choices. Theme here is Flying High: flight, flying, weightlessness, celestial, etc.
1. I'm Gonna Fly (Amy Grant)
2. How Can Heaven Love Me (Sarah Brightman)
3. Heaven's What I Feel (Gloria Estefan)
4. Weightless (Sissel)
5. Weight of the World (Chantal Kreviazuk)
6. Why (Sarah Brightman - both these songs are from her "Fly" album, too)
7. Innocence (Kirsty MacColl)
8. In The Arms of the Milky Way (Laura Powers)
9. Dust in the Wind (Sarah Brightman)
10. The West Wind Circus (Helen Reddy - possibly one of the best ballad songs in modern music)
11. Roots and Wings (Anne Murray)
12. I Ain't Going Down (Shania Twain)
13. If You're Gonna Fly Away (Faith Hill)
14. No Angel (Dido)
15. Drops of Jupiter (Train)
16. Sign of Life (Leann Rimes)
17. She's a Butterfly (Martina McBride)
18. Higher (Gloria Estefan)
This sort of appears to be my country mix - Murray, Twain, Hill, McBridge, and "Innocence" (the entirety of Kite, the album from which it comes, in fact - more flying references!) is very country in sound. Which is funny, 'cause I don't usually think of myself as a country listener ...
For those of you not familiar with Laura Powers, it's best described as very trope-ish neo-Celtic pagan goddess fluff-music, but some of the songs are really pretty.
Surprisingly enough, I cut Enya's Carribean Blue when I went to burn this one because I didn't have quite enough time - so it's not on the list, but it was in my original mix.
1. I'm Gonna Fly (Amy Grant)
2. How Can Heaven Love Me (Sarah Brightman)
3. Heaven's What I Feel (Gloria Estefan)
4. Weightless (Sissel)
5. Weight of the World (Chantal Kreviazuk)
6. Why (Sarah Brightman - both these songs are from her "Fly" album, too)
7. Innocence (Kirsty MacColl)
8. In The Arms of the Milky Way (Laura Powers)
9. Dust in the Wind (Sarah Brightman)
10. The West Wind Circus (Helen Reddy - possibly one of the best ballad songs in modern music)
11. Roots and Wings (Anne Murray)
12. I Ain't Going Down (Shania Twain)
13. If You're Gonna Fly Away (Faith Hill)
14. No Angel (Dido)
15. Drops of Jupiter (Train)
16. Sign of Life (Leann Rimes)
17. She's a Butterfly (Martina McBride)
18. Higher (Gloria Estefan)
This sort of appears to be my country mix - Murray, Twain, Hill, McBridge, and "Innocence" (the entirety of Kite, the album from which it comes, in fact - more flying references!) is very country in sound. Which is funny, 'cause I don't usually think of myself as a country listener ...
For those of you not familiar with Laura Powers, it's best described as very trope-ish neo-Celtic pagan goddess fluff-music, but some of the songs are really pretty.
Surprisingly enough, I cut Enya's Carribean Blue when I went to burn this one because I didn't have quite enough time - so it's not on the list, but it was in my original mix.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Queen of Pointless
I sit in Minneapolis now, my shoes almost worn through to the socks, my voice still completely gone (which makes the urge to sing "Popular" from Wicked rather awkward), waiting to shut down and board. When I arrived in Minny, I discovered that my gate was on the other end of the airport ... literally. Two thirds of the way there, assuming that there would be multiple currency exchanges, I asked at a help desk and was referred ... halfway BACK the way I had come. All this to get rid of twenty bucks CAD.
Had a decent dinner and a dessert from Caribou coffee: pumpkin cooler and a cookie. Guy at the counter asked if he could have my Kennedy silver dollar. I think I accidentally made him guilty when I said no, it was a keepsake from late grandfather's collection. (Like my two dollar bills, I carry it around because I like to have the reminder when I go digging.)
Gave the lady at the currency exchange all my Canadian pennies 'cause heck, what'm I going to do with five cents CAD?
Flight is due in at 11:59 EST. This means it'll be tomorrow by the time I get home. But wait!
... it's not tomorrow 'til you sleep, I've always said.
Must vote tomorrow.
I vote for more airline flights so we don't have four hr layovers.
Had a decent dinner and a dessert from Caribou coffee: pumpkin cooler and a cookie. Guy at the counter asked if he could have my Kennedy silver dollar. I think I accidentally made him guilty when I said no, it was a keepsake from late grandfather's collection. (Like my two dollar bills, I carry it around because I like to have the reminder when I go digging.)
Gave the lady at the currency exchange all my Canadian pennies 'cause heck, what'm I going to do with five cents CAD?
Flight is due in at 11:59 EST. This means it'll be tomorrow by the time I get home. But wait!
... it's not tomorrow 'til you sleep, I've always said.
Must vote tomorrow.
I vote for more airline flights so we don't have four hr layovers.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
WFC 2008: Day Four -- End of Days
Today, I had my last two sessions for the WFC. Hard to believe it's over already! I've got the rest of today in Calgary and I leave tomorrow - flight departs 1:55pm local.
Panel: Genre Hopping (Barbara Hambly, Jo Beverley, Karen Dudley (no show), Jean Marie Ward (moderator))
A really fun panel about writers who use different genres - more than crossing them in the same work, though that as well. I had not been aware of Beverley before and am eager to check out her cross-genre work. The prime wisdom I took away was this: Let the book be what it wants to be, categorize it later.
Beverley said she had the following conversation with a fan once: "I don't write dark books." "Have you looked at your body count?" So it's always hard for an author to look at themselves from the inside.
Reading: Patricia McKillip
As I've said before, McKillip is a sweet lady. I ended up on the shuttle with her when coming home from my first WFC, didn't realize who she was, and started rambling about worldbuilding. Then she introduced herself and I was sitting there thinking: "Shut up Lindsey just shut up!" I don't think she has the greatest reading voice or presence, but dang, I couldn't get up and do that for an hour. The piece she read from is a brand new novel, purchased but not finished, with a really deep sense of place. I definitely want to read it when it comes out.
Because I wanted to know if I needed to mail some books home rather than pack them in my luggage, I tried to find a scale. The concierge referred me ... to the fitness room. With the help of a kind gentleman who had been exercising when I came up, I ... weighed my packed bag. I'm not sure I trust it, because it came out in the mid-thirties, but he seemed to know how to work it and he said his weight was accurate, so ...
Doing the math, I see no conceivable way my bag is going to be more than seventy lbs. There's just no way. I looked at the weight of the Erikson book, which is the biggest of the hardcovers, and that's only 1.8 lbs. My clothes + the bag itself would need to weigh about fifty lbs to break 70. Also let's note that I can lift the bag in one hand, and while I am strong from harp-caravaning ... I am not THAT strong.
I am still nervous, though.
Panel: Genre Hopping (Barbara Hambly, Jo Beverley, Karen Dudley (no show), Jean Marie Ward (moderator))
A really fun panel about writers who use different genres - more than crossing them in the same work, though that as well. I had not been aware of Beverley before and am eager to check out her cross-genre work. The prime wisdom I took away was this: Let the book be what it wants to be, categorize it later.
Beverley said she had the following conversation with a fan once: "I don't write dark books." "Have you looked at your body count?" So it's always hard for an author to look at themselves from the inside.
Reading: Patricia McKillip
As I've said before, McKillip is a sweet lady. I ended up on the shuttle with her when coming home from my first WFC, didn't realize who she was, and started rambling about worldbuilding. Then she introduced herself and I was sitting there thinking: "Shut up Lindsey just shut up!" I don't think she has the greatest reading voice or presence, but dang, I couldn't get up and do that for an hour. The piece she read from is a brand new novel, purchased but not finished, with a really deep sense of place. I definitely want to read it when it comes out.
Because I wanted to know if I needed to mail some books home rather than pack them in my luggage, I tried to find a scale. The concierge referred me ... to the fitness room. With the help of a kind gentleman who had been exercising when I came up, I ... weighed my packed bag. I'm not sure I trust it, because it came out in the mid-thirties, but he seemed to know how to work it and he said his weight was accurate, so ...
Doing the math, I see no conceivable way my bag is going to be more than seventy lbs. There's just no way. I looked at the weight of the Erikson book, which is the biggest of the hardcovers, and that's only 1.8 lbs. My clothes + the bag itself would need to weigh about fifty lbs to break 70. Also let's note that I can lift the bag in one hand, and while I am strong from harp-caravaning ... I am not THAT strong.
I am still nervous, though.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
WFC 2008: Day Three -- The Reading
This deserves a post all to itself.
I arrived about twenty minutes early to the Broad Universe reading room and introduced myself. I confessed I was nervous and found the readers to be lovely ladies ... and then the other people streamed in. I think, including readers, there must have been thirty to forty people - which for me was a massive crowd. I'm used to speaking for a maximum of thirty seconds and then ducking behind a five foot tall instrument.
I was fourth in, which was fortunate - gave me less time to sweat. I couldn't tell you much about the readings of the people before me, though ... everything was a blur until I got up.
I was grateful that I had my reading well on the way to memorization; it meant I could keep my face into the mic. And I do know how to keep my face into a mic, at least, from performing. Only had to stop and swallow once. Got to make a joke about possibly having the plague that made everyone laugh.
I don't think I had one of the best readings; I don't think I had one of the worst. It had half-niggled at me before, but I don't think I chose the best section for a reading - the section has intriguing information, but it's not necessarily high action or high stakes. My reading voice was pretty strong, hoarseness notwithstanding, and I tried to emphasize key words. I think it worked, because someone complimented me on the voice afterward.
(Now if only I could not put my foot in my mouth by asking someone if their reading was the whole story and finding out that yes, it was. Whoops.)
I'll know more for next time, and I think I did very well for a newbie showing. ;-)
A lot of great sections shared 'round in various tones ... what a varied and talented group of ladies. Also wonderful that so many people (so it seemed) showed up to listen against two other panels, another reading, and certainly parties.
Funny thing - one of the other readers was excerpting a story from Speculative Mystery Iconoclast. *And* I got a button for the magazine. Hee!
Tomorrow I am going to test pack, though I'm not leaving 'til Monday.
Cause seriously, I'm not sure all these books are going to FIT.
I arrived about twenty minutes early to the Broad Universe reading room and introduced myself. I confessed I was nervous and found the readers to be lovely ladies ... and then the other people streamed in. I think, including readers, there must have been thirty to forty people - which for me was a massive crowd. I'm used to speaking for a maximum of thirty seconds and then ducking behind a five foot tall instrument.
I was fourth in, which was fortunate - gave me less time to sweat. I couldn't tell you much about the readings of the people before me, though ... everything was a blur until I got up.
I was grateful that I had my reading well on the way to memorization; it meant I could keep my face into the mic. And I do know how to keep my face into a mic, at least, from performing. Only had to stop and swallow once. Got to make a joke about possibly having the plague that made everyone laugh.
I don't think I had one of the best readings; I don't think I had one of the worst. It had half-niggled at me before, but I don't think I chose the best section for a reading - the section has intriguing information, but it's not necessarily high action or high stakes. My reading voice was pretty strong, hoarseness notwithstanding, and I tried to emphasize key words. I think it worked, because someone complimented me on the voice afterward.
(Now if only I could not put my foot in my mouth by asking someone if their reading was the whole story and finding out that yes, it was. Whoops.)
I'll know more for next time, and I think I did very well for a newbie showing. ;-)
A lot of great sections shared 'round in various tones ... what a varied and talented group of ladies. Also wonderful that so many people (so it seemed) showed up to listen against two other panels, another reading, and certainly parties.
Funny thing - one of the other readers was excerpting a story from Speculative Mystery Iconoclast. *And* I got a button for the magazine. Hee!
Tomorrow I am going to test pack, though I'm not leaving 'til Monday.
Cause seriously, I'm not sure all these books are going to FIT.
WFC: Day Three -- Now Waiting
Panel: David Morrell Interview (Stephen Jones, David Morrell)
I decided to attend this on a whim, just because Morrell's had some interesting things to say. And he did again, one of which I'm still thinking about: the idea that we (at least successful writers) focus on our dominant emotion. I wonder what mine is. It's probably depressing. (... maybe it IS depression.)
Panel: 2008 Awards Year Recommendations (David Hartwell, Charles N. Brown, Ellen Datlow, Jonathan Strahan, Alan Beatts (moderator))
I came out, not only with a Locus list of the best books in the genre, but with a number of other selections, and one thought that heartened me from Strahan: he thinks that the genre has been short on, and needs more of, "pure fantasy" short stories. (As opposed to urban / slipstream / magical realism, one assumes.)
But thinking about this scares me, too. I can feel my mental bar shifting. I don't want to just be published; will I feel like a failure if I don't make a best-first list out of the gate? Don't I already feel like one for still not having my name on the cover of a book? How idiotic is it that I feel like I should-ought-must slam into the top bar, or I might as well not try?
I decided to attend this on a whim, just because Morrell's had some interesting things to say. And he did again, one of which I'm still thinking about: the idea that we (at least successful writers) focus on our dominant emotion. I wonder what mine is. It's probably depressing. (... maybe it IS depression.)
Panel: 2008 Awards Year Recommendations (David Hartwell, Charles N. Brown, Ellen Datlow, Jonathan Strahan, Alan Beatts (moderator))
I came out, not only with a Locus list of the best books in the genre, but with a number of other selections, and one thought that heartened me from Strahan: he thinks that the genre has been short on, and needs more of, "pure fantasy" short stories. (As opposed to urban / slipstream / magical realism, one assumes.)
But thinking about this scares me, too. I can feel my mental bar shifting. I don't want to just be published; will I feel like a failure if I don't make a best-first list out of the gate? Don't I already feel like one for still not having my name on the cover of a book? How idiotic is it that I feel like I should-ought-must slam into the top bar, or I might as well not try?
WFC 2008: Day Three -- Food For ...
This morning, breakfast consisted of ... a single donut from hospitality. Lunch is ... a hot dog and a bag of chips. I'm ordering room service for dinner, though, so I can chill out (err ... freak out?) before my reading tonight.
Really, I'm a cheap date.
Panel: Fantasy 'Zines Online (Jennifer Dawson, Sean Wallace, Wendy S. Delmater, John Klima (moderator))
Some good insights into the process of these online zine editors. I hadn't realized that Flash Me (Dawson) was entirely funded from her own pocketbook. Clarkesworld has swapped to a new form-only system, and I was relieved to hear that I wasn't the only one who was scorched by Nick Matamas during his stint there ... well, I'd heard it before, but there's something great about an entire room of people laughing when Klima said, "Well, Nick's not the most ... diplomatic ..."
Delmater was a little late - and I was nervous about this, because it was my only guaranteed way of meeting her before the reading. Since I'm reading a story from her mag / antho, I wanted to let her know. I introduced myself afterwards ("Lindsey with an e" - I swear that's my name) and she kindly lent me a copy to show off.
Panel: Haunted Houses and Cultic Crypts - Use of Setting to Create Atmosphere (David Morrell, Barbara Hambly, Emily Gee (no show), Lawrence C. Connolly (moderator))
Morrell had this great story about abandoning buildings with all the furniture left in situ ... it's an interesting thought. This whole panel isn't usually in my vein - I don't try to creep readers out - but I found it worthwhile.
Panel: Defining The Next Paranormal Detective (A.B. Goelman, Gayleen Froese, Justin Gustainis, Jay Caselberg, Laura Anne Gilman, Devon Monk (moderator))
Myself, I'm wanting to get away from the paranormal detective - I'm more looking at putting the detective into fantasy than putting the fantasy into a detective - but I loved this panel. I definitely have to check out Goelman's story where his detective is essentially a Barbie doll ... but there's a lot of opportunity here, it seems, as the gap between magic and science seems to narrow and the average person is less and less able to explain how technology works.
I have a note in my book about doing an Asrai detective story in my Flow setting. Not sure I can - in that setting, fairies are by intrinsic nature amoral beings - but it's worth a look.
... one of the panelists fell off the stage as it was breaking up and broke his ankle. :-(
Panel: What A Good Anthology Does & Why It Matters (Kathryn Cramer, Gary A. Braunbeck, John Joseph Adams, Darrell Schweitzer (moderator))
Discussion from the point of view of an editor. I'm not sure this was helpful to me in any way, but it was interesting ... though very frustrating to hear they were almost universally against any kind of open call. I was amused by the publisher / editor wrangle between marketing, who wants to know before one word has been said to authors who will be in the book ...
Skipped the 2 o'clock slot to eat and take a breather. Still debating about the 3 o'clock slot. Definitely want to hit the Awards recommendations at 4 ...
Then it's back here at 5ish to eat, shower, do one last run-through, and hope like anything the mic's on 'cause my voice is GONE baby.
Really, I'm a cheap date.
Panel: Fantasy 'Zines Online (Jennifer Dawson, Sean Wallace, Wendy S. Delmater, John Klima (moderator))
Some good insights into the process of these online zine editors. I hadn't realized that Flash Me (Dawson) was entirely funded from her own pocketbook. Clarkesworld has swapped to a new form-only system, and I was relieved to hear that I wasn't the only one who was scorched by Nick Matamas during his stint there ... well, I'd heard it before, but there's something great about an entire room of people laughing when Klima said, "Well, Nick's not the most ... diplomatic ..."
Delmater was a little late - and I was nervous about this, because it was my only guaranteed way of meeting her before the reading. Since I'm reading a story from her mag / antho, I wanted to let her know. I introduced myself afterwards ("Lindsey with an e" - I swear that's my name) and she kindly lent me a copy to show off.
Panel: Haunted Houses and Cultic Crypts - Use of Setting to Create Atmosphere (David Morrell, Barbara Hambly, Emily Gee (no show), Lawrence C. Connolly (moderator))
Morrell had this great story about abandoning buildings with all the furniture left in situ ... it's an interesting thought. This whole panel isn't usually in my vein - I don't try to creep readers out - but I found it worthwhile.
Panel: Defining The Next Paranormal Detective (A.B. Goelman, Gayleen Froese, Justin Gustainis, Jay Caselberg, Laura Anne Gilman, Devon Monk (moderator))
Myself, I'm wanting to get away from the paranormal detective - I'm more looking at putting the detective into fantasy than putting the fantasy into a detective - but I loved this panel. I definitely have to check out Goelman's story where his detective is essentially a Barbie doll ... but there's a lot of opportunity here, it seems, as the gap between magic and science seems to narrow and the average person is less and less able to explain how technology works.
I have a note in my book about doing an Asrai detective story in my Flow setting. Not sure I can - in that setting, fairies are by intrinsic nature amoral beings - but it's worth a look.
... one of the panelists fell off the stage as it was breaking up and broke his ankle. :-(
Panel: What A Good Anthology Does & Why It Matters (Kathryn Cramer, Gary A. Braunbeck, John Joseph Adams, Darrell Schweitzer (moderator))
Discussion from the point of view of an editor. I'm not sure this was helpful to me in any way, but it was interesting ... though very frustrating to hear they were almost universally against any kind of open call. I was amused by the publisher / editor wrangle between marketing, who wants to know before one word has been said to authors who will be in the book ...
Skipped the 2 o'clock slot to eat and take a breather. Still debating about the 3 o'clock slot. Definitely want to hit the Awards recommendations at 4 ...
Then it's back here at 5ish to eat, shower, do one last run-through, and hope like anything the mic's on 'cause my voice is GONE baby.
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