Third time's the death

This disturbs me. Does it disturb you? We've all heard the stories about patients getting the wrong foot amputated, and that's bad enough. But the wrong side of the brain?

Hospital Makes 3rd Brain Surgery Mistake

If I ever need brain surgery, I really want to have a doctor who, during the surgery prep, doesn't have to brush up on his Left/Right discernment.

And what galls me is that this apparently only got noticed when it happened for the third time and resulted in a patient's death. There are some things in life you might not deserve a second chance in...and I think screwing up brain surgery is one of them.

This is bigger than rocket science. Also, I think they need to raise the health alert level from "extremely concerned" to "holy crap, we're freaking out!" Only then will I be reassured.


I see that smile.

Marriage proposal a la Neil Gaiman

Of course, one goes to a famous fantasy author to work a little bit of magic in someone's life. Neil Gaiman helped a young man propose to his beau (who was also a rabid fan of the author) at a book signing.

Read about it here, with photos: http://diveabout.multiply.com/journal/item/13/The_Proposal_co_Neil_Gaiman

See the whole thing on video as well.



The question is, how many requests is he going to get now for similar romantic surprises?


I see that smile.

Amazon's Kindle

The newest e-reader has arrived to paw and snort in the market arena: Amazon's Kindle.

My take? Cool gadget, but I'm still too poor to buy one. And I probably wouldn't use it much anyways.

Wouldn't use it?

Nope. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be one of those generational dinosaurs who, in fifty years, when people are reading novels through the glowing screens tattooed onto their eyeballs, I'll still be curling up and flipping through yellowed pages, getting paper cuts and dealing with the archaic library system.

Not that there's anything wrong with ebooks and e-readers. In fact, I will likely get one at some point. My opinion is that eventually all these individual devices, from cell phones, iPods, USB drives, e-readers, and so on are going to be consolidated into one central piece of equipment that we carry on our hip and run off the electrical discharge of our heart. This kind of unified operating system is already happening with a lot of devices, and I think, what with paper-printed circuitry and the advancing flat screen technology, it's only a matter of time before we get something capable of being compact, yet with an expandable display that can imitate the printed page.

Until then, the e-reader will be more like a toy for me. Something to geek out over. Maybe take it on vacations so I can read a shelf's worth of books while keeping my suitcase under 200 lbs. They'll have their uses. But replacing books entirely? Nuh-uh. Not for me at least.

Oh, and is the name "Kindle" a play on words? Are they suggesting that since we have this new device, books will soon only be worth using for fire starters?

Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind...


I see that smile.

Thanksgiving under the microscope

Wondering what you just ran through your digestive system last week? Wired magazine put a traditional meal under a microscope so you can see how...umm...delicious it all looks up close.

Turkey looks like a stun double for the Blob...

And who knew that brown/grey goop that you slather over the turkey and potatoes could be so colorful.

Only one question remains: How do we get a slice of a turducken onto the slide?


I see that smile.

He said, she said

People do a lot of things when they talk. That is to say, the act of talking can fit innumerable scenarios when you're writing dialogue, and some people indicate this by tacking on colorful dialogue cues in their writing.

Characters can...

Remonstrate.
Boast.
Expound.
Scream/shout.
Explain.
Bargain.

And so on...

This article talks about how there seem to be two extremes in this literary vice...those who use "said" for all of their dialogue, and those who tag character voices with so many descriptive verbs that the dialogue feels like a sparring match with all the ducking, bobbing, weaving and jabbing of the voices.

My opinion (in most circumstances) is that the story context, with all the action and emotion shown in the writing, can give the reader an accurate feel for how the character is talking at that moment. Words can portray tension and energy as much as the most carefully crafted fight scene, and so the dialogue tag of "said" is all-purpose, often invisible to the reader, and so less intrusive into the story. There are times where I do say, "he shouted," instead of sticking in a bunch of exclamation points, or "she whispered," but again, these shifts of tone can be linked to what's happening in the scene. I could say, "She leaned in, voice lowering as embarrassment pinked her cheeks."

Where do you fall on this, or do you see it as a non-issue? Is it just a matter of preference?


I see that smile.

Weird News Weekend

To begin, scientists have created a new solar-powered toothbrush that might eliminate all the need for the frothy, minty goodness of toothpaste. In related news, it might melt your teeth if you use it while standing directly in sunlight.
(Okay, so I made that part up, but still...)

A business is ruined when two drunk drivers apparently simultaneously lost control of their cars and slammed into the studio at the same time. In a further coincidence, they both tried to flee the scene of the crime, but were tracked down by deputies and are being held for investigation.

And if you haven't heard by now, here is a warning for your Christmas shopping: a Chinese-manufactured toy, when eaten by small children, has chemical elements that break down into a date-rape drug, sending children to the hospital, as well as into comas.


I see that smile.

Query Tracker

I'll admit, there's nothing like a holiday weekend to conspire against the blog. I'm going to keep things short today for the sake of my admitted laziness. Any complaints may be submitted to the comments box.

However, I do enjoy providing something useful, so here's the day's link: Query Tracker.net

Query Tracker is not only a literary agent search engine, but it also uses submitted query statistics to track where your queries are, how long it's taking to receive replies from various agents, and how you might write a better query for next time. They've also got quite a collection of articles on the writing craft and business. Membership is free, and gives you all the core tools and access points. However, there is a premium membership which gives you access to a few more options in the agent search, some advanced statistics, and otherwise ad-free and enhanced browsing experience. Plus it supports the site, which is pretty neat in itself.

So if you're on the query warpath, this could be a helpful tool in the process.


I see that smile.

Top Ten Reasons Your NaNoWriMo Novel Sucks

I didn't take part in NaNoWriMo this year, mainly because I was focused on story revisions, but I know several people who did and have at least been mildly successful. As this month enters its final week, here's a chance to take a step back and see your developing WriMo novel in a fresh perspective.

101 Reasons to Stop Writing presents a list of Top Ten Reasons Your NaNoWriMo Novel Sucks.

• You hadn’t even thought about writing fiction until October 30.
• You finish each writing session by typing "I’m going to bed now, see you later."
• You read over yesterday’s output and discover you’ve typed, verbatim, an argument with your spouse about how the time spent writing is impacting your personal hygiene.
• You left the datestamps in when you cut and pasted all your blog entries.
• You left the datestamps in when you cut and pasted the entire NaNo forum thread about padding.
• It’s a powerful, moving story exploring the inner turmoil of a copyrighted character.
• It’s a powerful, moving story exploring the inner turmoil of two or more copyrighted characters who secretly love each other very much, and often.
• You’ve only managed an average of 500 words per day so far, and 100 of them are about how hard it is to write 1,667 words a day.
• Every 1,667th word is "CHAPTER".
• The 49,999th and 50,000th words are "THE END", even though the 49,998th word is "and".

I see that smile.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The post for today consists entirely of the visual marvel that is the Turducken. Gaze upon it, either in admiration or disgust, depending on your tastes.

I see that...oh, don't smile with that much food in your mouth. Please. Trust me. I see it.

Writing the McNovel

A term that I hadn't run across before: the McNovel. It makes a horrible sort of sense once you hear it though. Hopefully it also makes you worry and wonder whether your current story falls into McNovelitis. Lynn Viehl, of Paperback Writer blogosity, reveals Ten warning signs that you're writing a McNovel.

Heed them well. Here are her first three:

1. Amazing McTechnoThing: Your novel features a fantastic gadget, method of transportation or scientifical process which, if it actually existed, would make you the coolest, wealthiest, most admired, and most sexually active person on earth for inventing it (like Bill Gates with a harem of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.)

2. Brother McVampires: Your vampire fiction novel features a manly, aggressive, somewhat homoerotic group of male vampires controlled by a female deity who passes off torture and mind games as wisdom and guidance; your protagonist will defy the female deity at least once during the story. Bonus Mcpoints: you claim the novel is entirely your invention and has nothing to do with that other Brother McVampire series which you of course simply haven't had time to read yet.

3. Dark and Stormy McNight: Your novel opens with a description of the weather, night, day, the sky or the aftermath of the weather which, while very prettily written and engaging all five of the human senses, has zero to do with the story.

----

Have any others you could add? I could bring up the Side McKick: The protagonist's most constant companion has no viable skills other than providing a laugh track to the story, getting into trouble so the hero can show off by rescuing them, and otherwise getting drunk, slapped by women and accidentally spilling vital details of the hero's rescue plan to nefarious persons, of whom they are far too trusting.

Also the Self McHelp: The central piece of advice in this life-changing diatribe is either a pile of warm, pink, fuzzy philosophies that have no substance at all other than making people realize why they need to build a shrine to themselves in the bedroom closet (shrine available from the author's website for $499-some assembly required), or the book sets up such ridiculously impossible standards that the reader ends up hiding in that same closet while flogging themselves out of self-hatred. Either way, the author gets the royalties.


I see that smile.

Clarity of Night contest winners

The winners were announced yesterday. I was lucky enough to end up with an honorable mention, which is pretty cool. I've enjoyed entering this contest twice now, and it is fun to see how a single image can conjure up so many unique stories.

http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2007/11/winners-announcement-restless-dawn.html

Here's my entry, titled "No Margin":

The plastic filter muffles the elder’s heavy breathing. His pale eyes are thumbprint smudges behind the glass panes of his mask.

“I remember when sunsets meant romance, not retribution,” he says, vocal cords creaking from acid-clawed scars.

I am disoriented by how organic everything is beyond the threshold. Mold instead of plastic. Dirt instead of steel. Bones instead of fiber optic cables.

“The trees grew green,” the elder says. “Not black. You could have sex without spending two weeks in a decontamination center afterwards. Swimming in a lake didn’t sizzle your fat like bacon.”

He shoves me outside, far enough so it’s useless to try and fight my way back in.

“Birds sang. They didn’t scream.” He gives me a last, baleful glare from within the airlock. “I ache for the world, but not for you.”

The door irises shut, hissing as it seals. It will not open for me again.

I press a hand to my stomach, noticeably swollen beneath the orange webbing of my biohazard suit—new life within me, waking to a dead world.

Unplanned. Unacceptable. Unforgiven.

I watch the sky burn, and wonder how far I can chase the sunset before the oxygen tank runs out.

###

Congratulations to all the placers, as well as the other honorables, and the Reader's Choice winner.


I see that smile.

Agents and editors- myth versus reality

Writer Beware Blogs! presented this realistic insight into Hollywood's portrayal of agents and editors in the publishing biz and showed why the silver screen stereotypes might set writers up to be more gullible to publishing and representation scams.

We've all seen the films where an author is majorly catered to and pampered by their publisher, and their manuscript is treated like a holy relic. They go to packed-out signings, are recognized by everyone on the street, and live like celebrities.

Writer Beware Blogs! gives the example in the recent movie, The Martian Child.

The writer, "David Gordon," has a close personal relationship with his literary agent. The agent comes over to his house frequently, they play golf together, they go out to dinner every few weeks, etc. And, of course, this high-powered agent lives in the same town where David the writer lives. The agent continually begs David the writer to let him read a bit of what he's working on, giving the impression that if David handed him manuscript, he'd plop down on the curb without moving another step and read it then and there.

Why can this kind of presentation of a relationship between agents and writers be a bad thing? Because it sets the writer up with false expectations that can be preyed upon by scam artists. If a writer is expecting to be praised on every aspect of their story, then, after roughing it through a bunch of soul-crushing rejections, if they receive a praise-riddled letter offering representation (for a fee, of course) then they may not think twice about signing up with this agent, despite the agent's history of bad business practices and other dubious affairs. It's affirming for the writer and keeps a flow of profits feeding into the crummy agency.

However, I do recall in the movie, 1408, that we get a glimpse of one of the few realistic peeks into a writer's life, where John Cusack's character holds a book signing, and only three or four people show up. Maybe if someone did a documentary of a writer, or a reality television show that exposed the not-so-glamorous sides of the craft (like printing and signing dozens of SASE's, or staring at a blank page with our fingers poised, waiting for inspiration) people might have more reasonable expectations and not fall into this kind of trap so easily.

By the way, if anyone out there has questions about various author/publishing scams, I'm more than willing to do a few posts about that topic, because it is one of the big writing issues that I can get really steamed about. The more educated one is about scam-artists and other cons, the earlier you'll spot the warning signs and the less likely you'll find yourself to be out thousands of dollars and a marred writing career.


I see that smile.

And now for something completely different- Shadow puppets!

Since the blog kind of took a dark turn these past two posts, what with zombies and a report on death, let's bring out some smiles with this charming video, showing a man's shadow puppet performance to Louis Armstrong's rendition of "What a Wonderful World."



Quite the talent there, eh?


I see that smile.

What does death feel like?

Since yesterday's topic dealt with the walking dead, I thought this a fitting post to draw attention to a special report on Death. Hey, lots of characters die all the time (just read G.R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series for some of the most ruthless killing-off of core characters you've ever seen), and it's not like you as the author have actually gone through any kind of death/resurrection experience in order to fully understand what it must be like (though, if anyone has some near-death experiences, I'd love to hear).

Not only did New Scientist magazine produce this article on How does it feel to die?, but they put together an entire special report on all aspects of death, including:

How to become an instant expert on death.

Cheating death.

And even info on people's less-than-successful attempts to find out what's waiting for us in the afterlife. (Note to self, don't hire a psychic to try and contact me from beyond the grave.)

There are all sorts of issues surrounding death, from our questionable ability to actually determine whether or not someone is truly dead to our being the only beings on the planet that is self-aware of our impending demise. We also are having to deal with how technology is extending life artificially, and so we might have to make that tough choice on either prolonging physical existence, or letting the body expire naturally. Tough thoughts and choices that many people are being faced with.

Maybe this comes across as morbid, but death is a big deal that we all have to experience sooner or later. As I said yesterday, you can never be too prepared for the walking dead to come stalking after your brains, so why not brush up on all the issues surrounding death, and thus make it a significant topic for your characters? Death can be feared or accepted. What would a character be like who is indifferent to death, or studies it with simple curiosity? What would prompt that kind of perspective and how would it fit into whatever world you are creating?


I see that smile.

A survivor's guide to zombies

Zombies are such a classic part of the speculative fiction genres that they transcend the genre cliches and have become a storytelling element akin to FTL engines (faster-than-light), laser pistols, wizards and elves. People have some morbid fascination with them, and so writers find plenty of opportunities to remake these staggering monstrosities into their own images, whether through radioactive spills, alien weaponry, necromancy, or some disease. Make up a reason, and you can have zombies. They can be fast, slow, munchy, even occasionally intelligent, depending on what stories you dig them out of.

I've also been running across various zombie literature a lot lately, for whatever reason. I just read through The Serpent and the Rainbow, a nonfiction account written by ethnobotanist Wade Davis, who heavily researched the whole zombie phenomenon in Haiti, and the various drugs and cultural influences surrounding it.

And, of course, most people have run across World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. I haven't read it yet, but it's definitely on the list.

So maybe you want to put zombies into a novel. Are they the bad guys? Mindless enemies for the hero to kill? Or could they be the heroes somehow? Has anyone written a book with zombie protagonists? Could be interesting...

Here is a collection of guides and overviews on the whole science of zombies, including:

A Survival Guide, for when the night of the living dead comes to your doorstep. This provides such helpful tactics as, "Do not try to negotiate," and inspirational quotes like, "Use your head. And cut off theirs." Sage words.

Next we have an article debating whether the U.S. Government attempted/succeeded in creating a sort of mindless drone solider, based on the MK-ULTRA research program. Is this legit? They aren't telling, but the list of methods they supposedly used might work as fodder for your own zombie-spawning backstory.

And I found this a fascinating rundown of zombie mythos, cultural origins and more survival tactics, in "How Zombies Work."

Avoid common mistakes like:

• Sheltering in a vehicle to which you do not have the key
• Leaving blades, cudgels or other basic weapons out for zombies to find
• Teaching zombies how to use firearms
• Giving your only weapon to anyone who is hysterical
• Retreating to a basement or cellar without taking supplies with you
• Getting into an elevator in a building infested with zombies
• Letting personal feelings and arguments get in the way of survival

There you go then. Pretty much everything you need to survive, aside from getting your own shotgun and shells. Some holy water and a crucifix might not be bad to keep on hand, but that might only work if the zombies you run across have a supernatural origin, rather than some science experiment gone awry.

You can never be too prepared.

I see that smile.

More free books online

After reading Blindsight, I've noticed several other authors who have novels available for free online.

Here's Postsingular, by Rudy Rucker

http://www.rudyrucker.com/postsingular/#postsingulardownload

And towards the end of November, Solaris Books is going to start releasing Chris Roberson's book, Three Unbroken, two chapters per week. Again, online and for free.
(Apparently the book itself won't come out until 2009)

http://www.solarisbooks.com/press-releases/press-release-unbroken.asp

So if your book-buying budget has been a little tight lately, there are plenty of opportunities to keep up on some (hopefully) good stories, and maybe we can keep our eye on this giveaway trend and see if it keeps catching on, and how it affects these people's writing careers.


I see that smile.

The Tulpa

For your viewing pleasure--"The Tulpa" is a video about a reporter who interviews a young Tibetan Monk who claims that he has the ability to manifest physical objects from the depths of his mind.


http://theindiefilmscene.com/films/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=0

I can't get this video to embed in the blog, so you'll have to follow the link to watch it. It's an indie production. Not any huge quality or special effects, but a fascinating, mind-bending little story that I came across during story research. It requires Quicktime, and will take a minute to load.

Tell me what you think. I found it a bittersweet story that didn't so much speak to the untapped power of the mind, but of loneliness and the desire for companionship that we all know.

I see that smile.

Monsters, monsters, everywhere...

If you're ever at a lack for inspiration in a story, this link might help you find some nasty beasts to throw your characters up against. Or maybe even you'll find some creature to make a character alongside your protagonist.

Monsterpedia- http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

"The ultimate online encyclopedia of monsters in myth, magick and legend."

Monsters are grouped according to type, such as shapeshifters, fairies or otherwise. You can also browse the selections by the various mythologies these monsters spring from, or by the element the monsters might be found within. And I've already learned something in this little browse-through. Did you know there is a folk legend in the Balkans where people believe in vampiric pumpkins and watermelon? Not sure how you'd make fruit a villain in a story, but now you have the perfect excuse to.

Interestingly enough, there is a section on "Human monsters" that lists a few of the not-so-pretty members of the human race. Who knew we'd show up there?


I see that smile.

Author Behavior Guide

I know relatively few of us have hit the bestseller list recently, gone on whirlwind book signing tours and have to deal with masses of raving fans....but just in case you find yourself with a book coming to the shelves at some time, you might want to check out this guide:

Author Behavior Guide

Some really good points here that can help you plan ahead for any sort of event and present both the book and yourself in the most professional and relational way possible.

Even once a book has been printed and has amazing cover art, the author's job is not done. Even if your publisher ponies up for a tour, radio interviews and whatever other publicity efforts, you've still got to make your own efforts to keep word about the book circling, finding new readers and presenting the title to new audiences.

What worries me is that some people might actually have trouble with the first point in the Public Speaking section. But the fact that it's been included means there've been times when authors simply didn't show up for their own events.

And, holy geez, we got new computers at work and the new screens are so big I'm afraid I'm going to get sucked through them into another dimension. (I know. Entirely unrelated to anything previous in the post, but it had to be said.)


I see that smile.

Weird News Weekend

Today's round of Weird News features a bunch of criminals and an invisible friend (who is for sale).

First, there's mention of a new book, The Stupidest Crimes of our Times, and the article mentions several of the book's highlights. I think my favorite is this one--

What's worse than a gun that doesn't work? A gun that only works sometimes. When his revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in California, wanna-be robber James Elliot peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again.

This time, tragically, it worked.

Then here's Stealing Candy from Babies.

In Alaska, eight children testified before a grand jury against two women (18 and 20 years old) who were indicted on armed robbery and attempted robbery charges, after holding numerous children at gunpoint and demanding their Halloween candy.

Poor kids.

And finally, in case you've been a little lonely lately, there's an Invisible friend for sale (pet included). On Ebay, of course. I'm not sure if bids are still going, but the friend's name is Carlitos, and apparently is the quiet type who never makes a sound. Let me know if any of you happen to purchase this guy. It'd be fun to meet him.


I see that smile.

Martial arts or Myth

I've been practicing martial arts for a little over five years now, and so I've run across all those various ideas people get about martial arts masters, usually from cartoons, graphic novels and movies chock full of special effects. You've got people who can run through tree tops, flip in the air a dozen times and otherwise dance around the laws of physics, laughing their Buddha bellies off. Is any of that kind of stuff real?

We've already seen a video that debunks the idea that a sword could deflect bullets. Now let's take a look at the whole pressure point/Dim mak system. Dim mak is the official name for the martial arts system that can incapacitate or kill someone by striking acupuncture locations on the body. It is supposed to be one of the more "deadly" styles out there, considering it interrupts one's flow of chi, and can be used to kill with a single poke of the finger. I've read a lot of fantasy stories where you have an assassin character who can do this, or something similar. Heck, even Star Trek had Spock, who could pinch a fellow into oblivion, should they need a handy escape.

I have no doubt that there are various nerves and such that can cause pain and other negative symptoms when struck precisely. What I do have a little trouble with is this whole insta-death concept. The below video is an investigation into some of the more famous pressure point martial artists. Watch it for yourself and see what you think.



I don't mean to ridicule, but these people falling over almost make it look like a healing session from one of those televangelists. So...is the martial artist channeling the Holy Spirit, or are televangelists people with really specialized control over their chi?

The obvious appeal of this type of fighting style is being able to dispatch an opponent with a touch. It has a spooky, mystical draw that works perfectly for mysterious, death-dealing characters in stories. However this mystical side gets shattered for me when the guy starts coming up with explanations for why it doesn't work when he's getting tested in a more scientific manner. Curling your toes? Really? And, hey, I've got half moons on my fingernails right now. Hmm...time to start chasing people down on the sidewalk to test this out.


I see that smile.

The long tail

Every industry has its own language, and publishing is no exception. One such term that gets slung around, especially in sales and marketing meetings, is "the long tail."

The basic concept of the long tail is a book that sells steadily, if slowly, over a longer period of time. The book provides the company a profit, but not in one big, bestseller burst as soon as it hits the shelves. Instead, perhaps over a few years, even a few decades, the publisher has constant income from the title continuing to sell. It's a title they tend to nurture as the sales level out and the funds let them take more risks on new books.

Sometimes it's because the book appeals to a renewable audience, such as teenagers, parents, or has a spiritual teaching that draws people to it. A lot of these books are known as "classics," and they get the occasional cover art update, the holiday special sales or an updated/revised/expanded edition, to remind the public that it's still there, waiting for them to pick up.

Being an author with books that sell in this way isn't necessarily a bad thing. These sales patterns won't kick you onto the bestseller list, it's true, but it can mean you have a loyal (if small) reading audience that is always ready to pick up your next release and pass the word around to others.

In other news...

For the Clarity of Night contest, my entry got posted as #8, so if anyone is interested in peeking at it, follow this link. 15 entries so far, and plenty more to come by next Wednesday, I'm sure.


I see that smile.

New "Clarity of Night" contest

If you missed the last contest that Jason Evans held at his blog, then don't skip over this one. Aside from his constant posting of beautiful photographs, poetry and short fiction, Evans has these contests based on pictures he takes. It's everyone else's job to take that picture and write a short-short story (250 words max) and submit it by next Wednesday. Here's the official link:

http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2007/11/restless-dawn-short-fiction-contest.html

Here's the picture we're working off this time:


Lovely, no? Well, my story so far is already giving it a downward turn, but I guess that's just the way my mind works. I'll post my entry whenever it gets put up, and point out any other ones that catch my eye. There are prizes, so all your hard work might well be rewarded.

Looks like there are five entries already. Check 'em out.

http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/

Discussion of the publishing concept of the "long tail" will come tomorrow, as requested from yesterday's comments, as I wanted to get this announcement out so folks would have enough time to work on their stories. (Open to publishing questions anytime, by the way)


I see that smile.

Nanowrimo's little cousin

Instead of doing a novel this month, as I'm in the process of revising my latest manuscript, I am instead signed up to blog every day of this month. I realize that isn't too out of the ordinary for me in my blogging record so far, but at least having a post count gives me a concrete goal and motivates me to find posts perhaps a little more intriguing or through-provoking.

I am curious...is there anything people out there have wanted to ask as you troll through the blog? I do work at a publishing company and so I have some perspective on what goes on between the cubicles and advance reading copies. I certainly don't have all the answers, considering I've only got a few short stories floating around so far, though I keep edging closer to the book, I hope.

Anyways, if there's any questions you've had, I can try my best to give an inside look at the whole publishing process. Plus it will keep the content interesting as this month moves on.

Let me know. And anyone else doing this month-long blogging scheme?


I see that smile.

The illusion of survival

We love it when bad things happen (to other people). We are entertained by nasty, awful, horrible fates that often involve lots of screaming and or mental breakdowns (again, so long as it's happening to someone else). That is...we enjoy reading about them, Or watching movies about such evil events, because we have that sympathetic relationships to the characters that lets us feel like survivors when it's all over. We immerse ourselves in the story, and hopefully, if it's presented well enough, feel the characters' hopes, fears, loves, anguish and joy as the move along, even if we know half of the cast are going to die off by the third chapter.

If a small crew of people are victorious in fighting off a zombie swarm, we feel like we were there pumping shotgun shells right along with them. We are survivors.

If a plague sweeps the nation into post-apocalyptic hell, and groups are left to eke out a living on scavenged food stock until they can somehow recover a semblance of life from before the fall, we are right there with them, proving ourselves as true warriors-at-heart, able to live off the land and defend ourselves from whatever predators rise against us. Survivors.

As readers, we get to be the survivors every time. If the hero beats the bad guy, we take vicarious triumph in the end. As minor characters drop like flies, we move on, assured in our survival until the last page.

Even if every single character dies in some horror bloodfest, we as readers are able to take a step back at the end and say, Whew, I'm glad I survived that and learned my lesson. We survive the end of the book. We are detached enough to move on, but we take with us a shadow of the accomplishments the characters experienced as if we earned it ourselves. I suppose that's part of the allure of reading in the first place. The illusion of danger, and thus the illusion of survival.

I wonder...I suppose we should keep it in the realm of possibility, so consider a huge war that decimates society, or a disease, or some other catastrophe that alters the day-to-day fabric of our lives...would we survive? Would we have the skills and know-how to keep going after the carpet of society gets yanked out from under our feet? How do we compare to those stoic figures marching between the pages, resourceful, strong-as-steel souls who never back down until the job is done? Are we as similar to them as we like to think?

Would we be main characters, or one of the backdrop faces that other survivors would see? Would we be a lesson for them to learn by and avoid whatever mistakes we might make?

I wonder...


I see that smile.

Sweat the small stuff

During revision mode, I find it helps me keep focused on weeding out the bad elements of my writing if I review various articles or notes I've taken on how to revise and improve the prose. This way, the thoughts are current, and I'm more likely to spot when I've used cliches, or added a bunch of weasel words to the prose, or just need to cut down a long paragraph into one or two sentences (if not altogether). I also enjoy discovering how other authors attack their work and the techniques they use to snip away all the fat and gristle.

For instance, Sherwood Smith (author of an impressive collection of science fiction and fantasy tales) lists various things she looks for when revising in this article: Sweating the small stuff

Her section on cliche verbs was a good reminder for me. In the search for original word images, or ways for characters to express their emotions through action, I often stick weird verbs into otherwise familiar sentences. For instance: His sad smile cracked his joyful expression in half.

Or, Fear skittered across the fine lines of his face.

Things like that. Not terrible to have, and sometimes they can make an emotion more striking, but too many of those phrases can make the reading awkward or confusing. It can come down to a lot of subtleties and fine-tuning. Line-by-line revision isn't fun, and often I ask myself whether it really matters if I leave a bunch of "that"s, "was"s, or "like"s strewn through the story? Can't I let a conversation dump some info so the reader understands what's going on better? In the end, these tiny issues can really strengthen or weaken a manuscript, I believe, and keeping your eyes keen for them will always benefit your writing.

The devil is in the details. Go exorcise him.


I see that smile.

What we did yesterday

First lesson on turning a non-purse-dog into a purse dog: Find something they fit inside, and make sure it has shoulder straps. (For those who don't know, dogs aren't allowed on NYC subways unless they're in some sort of kennel, purse, or other tote. Obviously, a 40-lb Shar Pei/Lab mix isn't the usual breed one expects to see being carried around, but we made it work so she could join us on the day's hike. China did pretty well for her first train ride, and lots of people came up to pet her.


That's the wife in the blue hat, and the rest of our hiking group, heading off into a brisk morning. The dog is further up, but blends in with the leaves.

An old mine we visited along the way.

And a view from inside the mine, looking out. Everyone stood around marveling at the sound of their own echoes. The dog is once more barely visible at the bottom of the picture. Whew. Nice little trek outside the city which left everyone with wobbly legs and grumbling stomachs, despite a lunch break and many granola bars. Beautiful day, with the trees displaying all their glorious Fall colors, which they are famous for. Of course, after all her running around the woods, we pulled 30 ticks (yes, literally that many, we counted) off the dog.

I know. This post isn't about writing in any way, but hey, we all need a little fresh air from time to time, right?



I see that smile.

What is it with writers and health issues lately?

Okay, maybe it's me, but this last year seems to have hit a lot of well-known writers in the health department, if not ending their illustrious careers outright, such as with Robert Jordan.

Now Terry Pratchett, one of my top favorite authors of all time (yes, of all time. If you haven't read his Discworld books, you can't comprehend the hilarity of this man) apparently had a stroke recently. Thing is, he didn't even realize he'd had one. His typing dexterity was affected, but little else, and only after having an MRI scan did the doctors figure out what his problem was.


Yeesh. First off, it's scary that these mini-strokes can hit without one even realizing it. Second, can we keep the body count down for the rest of the year, please? I'm depressed even by the thought of looking back and making a list of everyone we've lost.

Anyways, I heartily recommend checking out any of Pratchett's work. His most recent title, Making Money, just came out, and while I haven't had the chance to pick it up yet, it'll get to my bookshelf eventually.



Stay alive, Mr. Pratchett.


I see that smile.

Up in the sky...

It's a bird...it's a plane...nope. It's a mechanical bug that's spying on you.

Dragonfly or Insect Spy?

They claim working models of dragonfly robot fliers aren't fully developed yet, as the various technical challenges haven't been overcome in design and functionality. But then again, if you give into your paranoid side (and every writer has one) then you know this is exactly the kind of line they would feed the public to deny culpability. We know better, right?

Hang on...something just buzzed by my head...

Okay, back. As I was saying, aside from the obvious government use of these little beasties, what else could we use them for (besides fodder for stories)? Tracking agents on their morning coffee routes? Dropping in on editorial meetings at various big-name publishers?

Wait...there it is again. Aha! I see it, hovering in the corner. It's a good thing I've got my anti-spybug flyswatter handy. 'Scuse me for a second..

…

…

All right. Status report. Well, it seems that not only are they operational, but now come equipped with miniature laser weaponry. My computer desk is now under siege, the printer is in flames, and my cat is laughing at me from across the room...oh wait, the cat just took the thing down and is munching on the wings. Good kitty.

There we have it. The best defense against these insectoid spybots is for every household to own a cat.

You'll have to pardon me again, I just saw something scuttle under the couch. Probably one of their cyborg cockroaches. It's going to be a long day.


They see your smile.

Cars of the future

Not that I have a car at the moment, nor do I take good care of them when I do need one, but this was a fun-looking, semi-science fiction article that highlights potential car models and makes that might become a reality in the future.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/autos/0710/gallery.la_auto_show_robotic_cars/index.html

Being in NYC at the moment, I might be more interested in what the subways and taxis of the future might look like, but these cars are still pretty nifty.

This Mercedes looks like a cross between the Silver Surfer and a Monopoly game piece:

This one looked like an option for a Mars lander:

And I decided this one was my favorite, since it looked like something the aliens will make first contact in:

So, how much of a loan do you think will be required to put a down payment on any of these? First-born children? Immortal souls? I think at least one of these needs to be tripped out James Bond style, with various hidden weaponry, submersible modes and cloaking devices.

Or maybe they'd come with cheap gas mileage. Yeah. That'd be a miracle.

I see that smile.