Okay, another story rejected, and this one was disappointing because it was at a publisher I am determined to break into. So far they've turned down two stories from me.
On the bright side, I've already sent the story out to another editor. Woo hoo!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Explain this one to me
Hell. Am I a Republican or a Democrat? You tell me.
| Your Political Profile: |
| Overall: 45% Conservative, 55% Liberal |
| Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
| Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
| Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
| Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
I'm a dunce
I missed one of the questions below. Don't know which one, but I missed it.
| You Passed 8th Grade Science |
 Congratulations, you got 7/8 correct! |
Monday, August 28, 2006
The dragon is loose
Okay, I sent another short story out today. It's an old one, "A Dragon's Tale," I rewrote slightly. It's been sent to Gryphonwood. Hope they like it.
I have a dozen or so older short stories I'm reworking at the moment in hopes I can get them sold somewhere. I counted last night, and I've got about 60 old short stories in my files. I think the dozen I've chosen are still quite sellable, even though some of them go back ten years or more. The rest of the 60 are mostly junk, writing so bad I wouldn't sell it even if I could ... well, not unless there was a really big check involved.
I have a dozen or so older short stories I'm reworking at the moment in hopes I can get them sold somewhere. I counted last night, and I've got about 60 old short stories in my files. I think the dozen I've chosen are still quite sellable, even though some of them go back ten years or more. The rest of the 60 are mostly junk, writing so bad I wouldn't sell it even if I could ... well, not unless there was a really big check involved.
A word of thanks
I've got to give a big shout-out of thanks here to my friends Steve and Gere Goble. Recently they finished reading my first novel, "City of Rogues," and mailed it back to me with editing marks and comments. I can't say enough how much I appreciate this.
I'm already reading through their comments, and most of them I have to agree with. So, I'm going to be rewriting the last 2 or 3 chapters of "City of Rogues," then I'll have to do some minor rewriting in the sequel, currently titled "Road to Wrath," to match up with the changes in book one.
The biggest change will likely be the climax of the first book. Right now, the climax comes a few chapters too soon (a scene in a cemetery), leaving too much to happen before the book actually ends. I'm planning to keep the cemetery scene, and in a way it will still be the climax to the overall story, but there's one major confrontation that must happen. Kron and Belgad have to duke it out. I put it off in book one for plotting purposes (and I thought it was sort of cool that these two foes don't actually fight it out, kind of like Kirk and Khan), but it only makes sense for it to happen.
I'm already reading through their comments, and most of them I have to agree with. So, I'm going to be rewriting the last 2 or 3 chapters of "City of Rogues," then I'll have to do some minor rewriting in the sequel, currently titled "Road to Wrath," to match up with the changes in book one.
The biggest change will likely be the climax of the first book. Right now, the climax comes a few chapters too soon (a scene in a cemetery), leaving too much to happen before the book actually ends. I'm planning to keep the cemetery scene, and in a way it will still be the climax to the overall story, but there's one major confrontation that must happen. Kron and Belgad have to duke it out. I put it off in book one for plotting purposes (and I thought it was sort of cool that these two foes don't actually fight it out, kind of like Kirk and Khan), but it only makes sense for it to happen.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Books a million
My friend Clark Goble posted the below questions, with his answers, at his blog, as did his brother Steve at Steve's blog. To follow through, I thought I'd post the questions here with my answers.
1. One Book That Changed Your Life
The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck
Peck was a psychiatrist and a secular humanist when he first wrote this book more than 25 years ago, but he eventually became a Christian. I've read all of his non-fiction, and it's been interesting to see his opinions and theories grow over the years. His Christianity is pretty far left, but that can be overlooked if you are not of that spectrum. Peck has much good to say about how we can work with others to build what he calls a sense of "community." His second book, "People of the Lie," takes a look at evil. I don't agree with all Peck has to say, but he's opened my mind to a sense of peace I never though existed before ten years ago. Too bad I can't always keep that mindframe.
2. One Book You've Read More than Once
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Actually, "Fellowship of the Ring" is my favorite Tolkien book, but "The Hobbit" is such a light, easy read that I've probably read it more than any other book, at least a half dozen times.
3. One Book You’d Want On A Desert Island
The Holy Bible, New American Standard edition
This book has everything in it I could want: action, adventure, love, hate, heroes, villains, philosophy, religion, history and more. And maybe even some truth. I don't consider myself a Christian, but I do consider the Bible a fine piece of literature and of philosophy.
4. One Book That Made You Laugh
MYTH Adventures, by Robert Aspirin
This is the first book of many in the MYTH series, but I found this to be the funniest.
5. One Book That Made You Cry
DarkTower IV: Wizard and Glass, by Stephen King
This is the only book that has ever made me cry. King's Roland Deschain is the ultimate tragic hero in my opinion.
6. One Book You Wish You Had Written
The Stand, by Stephen King
One of my favorite King books. And I'd like the money that went along with it too.
7. One Book You Wish Had Never Been Written
None
I can't list one. I can't think of one single book, no matter how awful it was (in any fashion), that would make me wish it had not been written. The written word provides knowledge, for good or ill ... or simply for entertainment. What mankind does with such knowledge ... well, let it be on man's head. Okay, okay. The Book of Mormon comes close.
8. One Book You Are Currently Reading
Midnight Sun, by Karl Howard Wagner
This is a complete collection of Wagner's Kane short stories. I'm lovin' this stuff. It's all dark fantasy, almost more horror than fantasy in some places.
9. One Book You’ve Been Meaning To Read
The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe, by Valerie I. J. Flint
This is just one of 30 or so books I have stacked in my office that is waiting to be read. I picked this one because I like the title.
10. Tag 5 Others
None
I'll skip this one, thank you. Those who want to do this listing on their own blog, can. Those who don't want to ... okay, that's cool too.
1. One Book That Changed Your Life
The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck
Peck was a psychiatrist and a secular humanist when he first wrote this book more than 25 years ago, but he eventually became a Christian. I've read all of his non-fiction, and it's been interesting to see his opinions and theories grow over the years. His Christianity is pretty far left, but that can be overlooked if you are not of that spectrum. Peck has much good to say about how we can work with others to build what he calls a sense of "community." His second book, "People of the Lie," takes a look at evil. I don't agree with all Peck has to say, but he's opened my mind to a sense of peace I never though existed before ten years ago. Too bad I can't always keep that mindframe.
2. One Book You've Read More than Once
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Actually, "Fellowship of the Ring" is my favorite Tolkien book, but "The Hobbit" is such a light, easy read that I've probably read it more than any other book, at least a half dozen times.
3. One Book You’d Want On A Desert Island
The Holy Bible, New American Standard edition
This book has everything in it I could want: action, adventure, love, hate, heroes, villains, philosophy, religion, history and more. And maybe even some truth. I don't consider myself a Christian, but I do consider the Bible a fine piece of literature and of philosophy.
4. One Book That Made You Laugh
MYTH Adventures, by Robert Aspirin
This is the first book of many in the MYTH series, but I found this to be the funniest.
5. One Book That Made You Cry
DarkTower IV: Wizard and Glass, by Stephen King
This is the only book that has ever made me cry. King's Roland Deschain is the ultimate tragic hero in my opinion.
6. One Book You Wish You Had Written
The Stand, by Stephen King
One of my favorite King books. And I'd like the money that went along with it too.
7. One Book You Wish Had Never Been Written
None
I can't list one. I can't think of one single book, no matter how awful it was (in any fashion), that would make me wish it had not been written. The written word provides knowledge, for good or ill ... or simply for entertainment. What mankind does with such knowledge ... well, let it be on man's head. Okay, okay. The Book of Mormon comes close.
8. One Book You Are Currently Reading
Midnight Sun, by Karl Howard Wagner
This is a complete collection of Wagner's Kane short stories. I'm lovin' this stuff. It's all dark fantasy, almost more horror than fantasy in some places.
9. One Book You’ve Been Meaning To Read
The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe, by Valerie I. J. Flint
This is just one of 30 or so books I have stacked in my office that is waiting to be read. I picked this one because I like the title.
10. Tag 5 Others
None
I'll skip this one, thank you. Those who want to do this listing on their own blog, can. Those who don't want to ... okay, that's cool too.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Adventures in screenwriting
Someone over at the sfreader.com forum asked me a while back about my writer's block. So, I thought I'd put some of what I wrote to them, and talk a little about it here.
I suffered through about five years, roughly 1998 to 2003, without writing hardly anything, maybe a few short stories that I didn't really like. Part of it was simply bad time management on my part, but the big matter was I'd lost all belief in my ability to write well. I could crank out about 500 words, and then I'd become disgusted with everything I'd written. I felt there was no way I could ever be Hemingway, Tolkein or even Stepehn King.
This frustrated me to no end. I felt the urge to write, but everything I wrote looked like garbage.
Then one day about five years ago, I was rummaging through my pile of books that had not been read (I've always got a stack of 20 to 30 books that are waiting to be read). I came upon a Syd Field's book about the basics of screenwriting. I'd never had any real interest in screenwriting, and couldn't even remember why I'd bought the book, or if someone had given it to me as a present. Well, I was in a mood to read some non-fiction, and I hunkered down with Syd's book. Truth to tell, I didn't care much for it. It was pretty boring, but it broke down the basic elements of storytelling into logical sequences that I could understand. Syd's book was about 20 years old at the time, so I rushed out and pick up "The Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting." This was a fun book, and it followed much of Syd's advice.
Soon I was reading other books on screenwriting. I've probably read a dozen or so since, some good and some not so good. What I found was that screenwriting simplified writing to basics that gave me a new way of looking at writing, making writing a logistical puzzle for me instead of the open, freeform monster I had often considered it. I'm not saying I'm a great screenwriter, and I don't mean to oversimplify the talent it takes someone like William Goldman to write Butch and Sundance or Princess Bride. It was just that ... I'm not sure how to explain it exactly ... but screenwriting gave me boundaries and rules, where prose writing had always felt too freeform to me, too chaotic.
I went to work writing, and I pumped out two screenplays. One a simple horror and action sci-fi story based on a short story I'd written years ago, "Dark Side of Io." The second was a spaghetti western, "Day of the Gun." I placed both screenplays on triggerstreet.com for review, and I got some good feedback. Spielberg and Eastwood weren't knocking at my door, but I felt a confidence in my writing I hadn't felt in years.
Soon after that I began to tap away on my Mac keyboard. What I was writing was a fantasy novel. It originally was planned to be about 100,000 words. By the time I reached 50,000 words, I knew I was in trouble. At that point I was only about halfway through the first third of my story. I didn't want a 300,000 word novel, so I thought I'd have two novels. Then, when I finally finished a first draft of that first third of my story, at about 120,000 words, I realized I had three novels, the dreaded trilogy.
Since then I've finished a first draft of the second book and a second draft of the first book. Now I'm writing away at the third book, and finally I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The plot? I'll give a basic one of the first book here: "City of Rogues" is a story of revenge, criminal politics and a budding friendship of opposites. When ranger Kron Darkbow returns to his home city to seek vengeance for the murders of his parents, he finds himself embroiled in a war with criminal underworld chieftain Belgad the Liar. In the eruption of chaos, Kron inadvertently reveals a local healer mage, Randall Tendbones, as the son of an evil king. Randall, on the run from his murderous father, seeks Kron's aid in finally facing his father. Meanwhile, Belgad is hot on the vengeance trail after the two.
And that leaves out a whole slew of characters.
I suffered through about five years, roughly 1998 to 2003, without writing hardly anything, maybe a few short stories that I didn't really like. Part of it was simply bad time management on my part, but the big matter was I'd lost all belief in my ability to write well. I could crank out about 500 words, and then I'd become disgusted with everything I'd written. I felt there was no way I could ever be Hemingway, Tolkein or even Stepehn King.
This frustrated me to no end. I felt the urge to write, but everything I wrote looked like garbage.
Then one day about five years ago, I was rummaging through my pile of books that had not been read (I've always got a stack of 20 to 30 books that are waiting to be read). I came upon a Syd Field's book about the basics of screenwriting. I'd never had any real interest in screenwriting, and couldn't even remember why I'd bought the book, or if someone had given it to me as a present. Well, I was in a mood to read some non-fiction, and I hunkered down with Syd's book. Truth to tell, I didn't care much for it. It was pretty boring, but it broke down the basic elements of storytelling into logical sequences that I could understand. Syd's book was about 20 years old at the time, so I rushed out and pick up "The Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting." This was a fun book, and it followed much of Syd's advice.
Soon I was reading other books on screenwriting. I've probably read a dozen or so since, some good and some not so good. What I found was that screenwriting simplified writing to basics that gave me a new way of looking at writing, making writing a logistical puzzle for me instead of the open, freeform monster I had often considered it. I'm not saying I'm a great screenwriter, and I don't mean to oversimplify the talent it takes someone like William Goldman to write Butch and Sundance or Princess Bride. It was just that ... I'm not sure how to explain it exactly ... but screenwriting gave me boundaries and rules, where prose writing had always felt too freeform to me, too chaotic.
I went to work writing, and I pumped out two screenplays. One a simple horror and action sci-fi story based on a short story I'd written years ago, "Dark Side of Io." The second was a spaghetti western, "Day of the Gun." I placed both screenplays on triggerstreet.com for review, and I got some good feedback. Spielberg and Eastwood weren't knocking at my door, but I felt a confidence in my writing I hadn't felt in years.
Soon after that I began to tap away on my Mac keyboard. What I was writing was a fantasy novel. It originally was planned to be about 100,000 words. By the time I reached 50,000 words, I knew I was in trouble. At that point I was only about halfway through the first third of my story. I didn't want a 300,000 word novel, so I thought I'd have two novels. Then, when I finally finished a first draft of that first third of my story, at about 120,000 words, I realized I had three novels, the dreaded trilogy.
Since then I've finished a first draft of the second book and a second draft of the first book. Now I'm writing away at the third book, and finally I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The plot? I'll give a basic one of the first book here: "City of Rogues" is a story of revenge, criminal politics and a budding friendship of opposites. When ranger Kron Darkbow returns to his home city to seek vengeance for the murders of his parents, he finds himself embroiled in a war with criminal underworld chieftain Belgad the Liar. In the eruption of chaos, Kron inadvertently reveals a local healer mage, Randall Tendbones, as the son of an evil king. Randall, on the run from his murderous father, seeks Kron's aid in finally facing his father. Meanwhile, Belgad is hot on the vengeance trail after the two.
And that leaves out a whole slew of characters.
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