Musings of L.E. Doggett

A short film on books

2012-02-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

Flying Books

Some of you may have seen this on Youtube or hatrack, but just in case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Adzywe9xeIU

A bit long but still worth watching if you are into books.

First chapter challenge

2012-02-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

I may have joined a new challenge on hatrack. I say may have because I’m having problems getting a chapter down to the right length. 3,000 words, ugh most of mine are over 5,000. And (Looking to the right and left and behind me to make sure no one is listening) I don't see why it has to be only 3,000. It's easy to figure out why it shouldn't be long and even why all should be about the same size but 3,000 words-- it's a novel, maybe 3,500 to 4,000 instead. But it's not my challenge so I go by the rules.

I tried to get New Mage- New Title Two Struggles-- down to 3,000 but no way. Not even close. So now I am working on the first chapter of my new novel Stone Within. Only have to cut 1,600 words or so. I think I can do that even if I have to cut it past the bone just for this challenge.

Still need to check the length of the First of Angel Kin though.

I must say that both New Mage and Stone With chapters needed cutting so this isn’t a waste of time it will improve both novels. Especially New Mage--Two Struggles. As I’ve said that one is done, I am trying to rewrite chapters two and three to get things ready for publication one way or another. Of all my UF novels I still think it’s my best over all. Now Chapter one is even better. I may not have much more to do it outside of commas and nitpicks of course.

Oh a PS I really need something better than Two Struggles but at least that describes the tale better.

A WotF winner

2012-02-25T18:29:00.001-08:00

One last note(I hope) about my Nemesis--

So here is another more clear explanation of why I use that term.

By the way I don’t use her name because I’m not comfortable using it since I sort of criticize her. I call her that for two reasons, the first is all my fault and most probably any readers here would look down on me more than her because of it but the second reason might be considered a small criticism.

Anyway, here is more why I feel that way about her.

As I said She is where I think I should be especially after that all too short period of time over five years ago. I’ve mentioned it before. Things were looking up with my writing, sold one story- another one was written well enough but was rejected for other reasons, another one came very close. I received a hand written note form John Jacob Adams while he worked for F&SF. Three of the stories I wrote during that time received HMs at WotF. Obviously my writing still needed work but agreeable obvious I was doing better... my writing was on the way up. But then, as I like to say, I forgot how to write. Can’t get past mediocre now. Well, I like to think I am somewhere between mediocre and good. But in either case I can’t break through to the next level. I came close with one story and another HM with lots of help but that's it.

My nemesis tore up my writing, she hardly ever had any good thing to say about it... She had something good to say about the writing of the vast majority of the other writers on the same forum on almost every crit. Made me feel like I wasn’t even mediocre.

Who knows maybe I’m not but I have had a couple of good things said about my writing and most markets will tell me I can send something else. On Hatrack I’ve been told more than once that editors do not say that unless they mean it. They aren’t saying it just to be nice.

But back to her. Yesterday it hit me that I should send a Congrats to her for winning WotF. I did, had to place it as a reply on her blog so I hope she reads it but it’s sent.

Her story is well written and well told. An ingenious(hopefully I got the right word there) idea and-- hmm, using that word again so soon, well thought out. There were a couple of places I personally didn’t like but that had to do with my tastes not her writing. It is worth reading. As they say in music and now more in writing-- this story shows she has the chops for good storytelling.

Stories out again

2012-02-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

I managed to get 14 stories out. Which includes my 101st one. I didn't expect to do that one yet but needed one under 500 words. It's 496, I can add a few words to make it over 500 when I need to.

Would have been more stories out but Strange Horizons is now on a restricted diet, only so many calories, hmm, that is stories per day. Saturday they reached their limit in one hour, today it was seven hours. I was going to try this morning but forgot. Hopefully tomorrow morning.

And Weird Tales is in a strange limbo.

And I found New Worlds once but couldn't find it again.

And four to six markets are closed to subs. One opens next month.

Some on hatrack have talked about rewriting an old story. I've thought about doing that with a few stories but I just have to get to it. Most of my original stories I like and I think would be good reads if I can get the writing down.

It would be a whole lot easier to rewrite a story than trying to fix the writing from way back then even though I have been doing that with a couple of stories over the years including my very first one.

Still an update

2012-02-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

Been going to bed a bit early still so not so much writing and criting. But I had a sudden thought about my new novel "Stone Within". Something that would change the plot a lot, shift the paradigm. At first I rejected it but kept thinking about it and planning it out. So Starting with chapter three I am introducing a ten year girl, not sure if I can think like a troubled, rejected, not sure who to trust young woman but I guess I'm going to give it a try.

Need to work on my next WotF story, need to send out some stories--got one back today, literally. They must have had a change of address. Need to go online and see if they are still in business and need to send one to F&SF this Saturday.

Want to write a letter to the editor but when I have the time, in the evening, too many other things to do. Maybe Saturday, Sunday or Monday since it's a holiday.

And I want to redo that story for Universe annex one more time. Thought the last was it but one or two people said something that may mean a change or two.

And I checked my nemesis received a First place in WotF. Wonder when she is going to come out with her first book. Wonder if I will be even close to where she is now or even close to where she was when I last new her online. Doesn't look like it if God doesn't step in. I'm still forgetting things, people are telling me basic things I should have gotten years ago, still mediocre Just can't break through that level.

Been sick no writing until today.

2012-02-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

I didn't do much work on my novels or stories. This cold or flu had me sleeping a lot. Or dozing since a cough had me waking up at different times. I did some good writing on Friday and maybe some on Saturday but it's Tuesday and I'm just getting back into it this afternoon.

Then pink eye filled my eyes with discharge so I had problems seeing things clearly. I did some things online but no real writing,

All that is clearing up so I feel better and can see clearly so I felt like writing on my New Mage novel. It should have been all the way finished months ago but I still have chapters two and three to finish rewriting and Ch1 to clear up.

But that might take longer then anticipated, I'm having problems with Ch2. I know what I want to say but not the order. I introduce a couple of my MCs friends and tell some of her background, that I hinted at in Ch1, but that was getting kinda long. So I decided to expand on a fight she had with werewolf a few years before which is how she got the scars on her arms and a later battle with a martial arts knife fighter who didn't like mages. I may just write as I go instead of moving masses of sentences around and I can delete those I don't need anymore.

Oh changing the title to "Two Struggles". It fits better, even though it's not what I want it's closer. I may use New mage On The Blog for another one later.

My goal for next week is to get back to my regular schedule. Not sure how many words I write each day, depends on the day of the week and how much I procrastinate but I need to do a whole lot less of that this next week or two.

NewMyths.Com

2012-02-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

One of the magazines that I submit to. I believe that's the one where one of my stories got to the last round of picks. If it made it through that one they would have bought the story.

Of course that's only happen once. But I keep trying, which reminds me I need to send them a story.

Despite that there are some good stories there. :)

A few things for one post

2012-02-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

A number of points here.

Started another novel "Night Mage". Not sure when I will be writing on it but I can say it’s started. Actually, I started it a few months ago but couldn't get past the first couple of sentences. Too many was-s and had-s which a No Nos. Today I saw a cover on a book at B&N which gave me an idea. Just changed my MC’s local from street level to high atop a skyscraper. It’s a UF story. And no even with that title he's not a vamp.

Adding a PS to my 100th story post. I have anywhere from six to eleven stories that need revising. Two have been sitting waiting for a few months. I remembered another story I need to finish. It’s probably 80 per cent done. So I will be way past 100 stories in a couple of months.

Discovered my nemesis is in Writer’s of the Future 27. I must have read her story even though I will have to go back and find the story to recall which one it was. I’ve talked about her before a couple of times but for those who are new or have forgotten I call her my nemesis for two reasons. One is that she doesn’t like my writing. She has critted a few of my stories and always tore the writing apart... no holding back, blood all over the place. I’ve read what she has said about other writers and it’s never half as bad as with mine. Second reason: When I used to spend time on the Universe Annex forum she was where I thought I should be. I’ve never really felt that way about any other writer. Well, kinda that way with one pro and a tiny bit that way now and then with other writers close to my level but no one else this bad. I stopped reading her Yahoos even as I still read others. Obviously she is a good writer and the story in 27 has to be great. But I knew that back then when I critted a couple of her stories. There wasn’t much I could say about it.

I sent Dean Wesley Smith an E-mail with a title for a story. He likes to write stories after coming up with the title and he doesn’t mind people sending in titles. He sent a thank you and a keep up the great work. Wonder what he meant. Yeah, I know I am over thinking that but that’s because I want to explain my first two thoughts. If he’s talking about my writing as it seems I wouldn’t say it’s great, and is he just being nice or polite since he wouldn’t know. But if he’s talking about sending in story titles :) or working on my writing he may have a point. At least I have that last down. I keep learning, keep trying to make it better. That doesn’t seem to be doing much but I keep writing and working on it.

Seemed like there was something else I wanted to say so there might be a PS some time soon.

Yet another on "One Salt Sea"

2012-02-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

I was going to say that Oops, it looks like two people who hate Daye might be ready to join forces. They may not realize it but as I said they both hate her.

But:

Oh, oh, big time. Daye just got a couple of prophecies, actually a few and at least one will be bad news. And another two almost seem to contradict each other except they might be talking about two different people.

I don't want to say too much here but one major character might be getting ready to get killed off, and Daye will have to sacrifice something but that last is to be expected in this type of story.

As usual most of what was said probably doesn't mean good things for Daye. Again that is to be expected. But in this case a couple might be good.

100th story sent out

2012-02-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, I just sent out my 100th story. 100 different stories written to try to get published.

That doesn't count around 30 I wrote for a certain contest I can't send anywhere else. But I've done better with those stories... one sold as a HM, one was written well enough to make it but was rejected because they had bought one already. And another was very close.

And it doesn't count a bunch that aren't for prime time and a few others for practice.

I sent this one to Lightspeed so I will be hearing back in no time and it can go out to Asimov's or Analog.

The 99th one is at Universe Annex hopefully being looked at but so far maybe not. Eventually that one may go to Beneath Ceaseless Skies after I change a car into a wagon.

More on writing

2012-02-01T22:14:00.000-08:00

I wanted to enter the Jim Baen Memorial contest but I didn't send in a story after all. I had one that would fit what they wanted but it needed more work than I thought so I didn't get it done in time.

Thought it was one of my better written stories too but...

I had another story that with a little bit of tweaking could fit into the time table they wanted but that one is going to WotF.

Spent some time on revising a new story, posted it on the Baen Bar over at Baen publishing. There's a forum were you can do that and get crits. I got a few shorter crits. And finally going over them. It's a short, short story, a bit over 1,000 words but now it will be even longer. I needed to clarify some stuff. Not to mention clean up a bunch of nitpicks. (Sigh)

Working on the one line stories I referenced in an earlier post. The second one is over two thousand words but the third might be around 1,000. The first one is a bit under 1,000. For the challenge they needed to be less than 1,500 but I don't have that restriction even though I'm trying to keep them under 2,000. I'm almost done with the third so I will start the forth Friday or Monday. I might end up with eight stories and I'll see about E-publishing them in one set but we shall see. I may try a couple of markets that like shorter stories.

Working on a new novel and redoing one other, I mentioned it already. I have an idea on how to get the money to have a novel or two professionally edited and to have a pro cover done. More on that in a later post.

More on Seanan McGuire's latest

2012-02-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

I want to add something to my kinda critique of "One Salt Sea".

McGuire includes little things that add to the story telling. Such as there is a fea who is half human and half octopi like the sea witch in "The Little Mermaid". McGuire has the MC describe how this person moves in a dry building. A short scene within a scene but still neat. I need to remember about those types of little things.

And one more update

2012-01-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am working on chapter two of New Mage. Making headway.

Working on revising those mini stories that aren't. :) One is up to 2,300 plus words. That one will be going out soon after I send it to be critted by a couple follow hatrackers. Mostly checking for nitpicks even though I probably will make some changes.

One story is still out, or is it two?

One story is at Baen's Universe Annex slush forum over at Baen's Bar. It's a way for them to check out new writers and help them make a story better, before they buy it. It's been critted and I can't believe what I let get by. I mean nitpicks. (Shakes Head) I just don't see them and it makes my frustrated. I should be able to find most of them.

There's another story I want to send out.

But there are four to six stories that are 500 minus words that are more general fiction and I'm not sure where to send them. Very simple tales that still might entertain... for a few seconds.

Seven of the 13 I sent out just before Christmas are still out. And I should be sending out another six but I can't remember to get them ready. Here by ready I mean formatted correctly and all that.

Me a Storyteller?

2012-01-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

I mentioned this in my last post and thought I would explain it. I've referenced this before one or three times and probably will another one or three times... at least. :)

But for those who are new, at least two of my followers and maybe- hopefully-- some readers, a few years ago Dean Wesley Smith called me and said among other things that I am a natural born storyteller. He said it more than once-maybe if I recall correctly more than twice. I had to learn something first but I should be soon selling. Well, even though I think he got part of that wrong-- of course that is supposing that I have learned at least some of what he said I needed to-- I still take what he said seriously. Especially that the story telling part has been supported by what a few others have stated about my writing. Not quite the same words but still along those lines.

So I call my self a natural born story teller.

Hmmm, maybe I should change my name to the trails and tribulations of a StoryTeller. :)

Oh a side issue, could some of you readers but not followers make a comment or three? It would be neat to know you are really out there, not to mention having some comments too. :)

Book I'm reading

2012-01-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

Started-- finally, I don't have to hold out anymore-- reading "One Salt Sea" by Seanan McGuire. Yippy.

Some how I've gotten a stack of books to read. Usually I've only two or three books inline to read but it's like ten and it has stayed that amount for four months at least. So I had to wait to get to this one even though it's one that has been calling me. In fact I did skip one book to read this one now.

And I got here earlier than usual I just started it today. I usually don't get to this until I'm at least half way through a book.

McGuire http://www.seananmcguire.com is one of my top favorite writers. I want to be a story teller-and I have been told I am a storyteller-- on her level. And this series is one of my favorites of all I am reading. Well, there's one small thing McGuire introduced last book that took the series down a quarter notch. But still it's up there.

If you like mysteries in an UF adventure setting with twists where you never know what will happen next, you will love this series. Sometimes not so happy endings for everyone too.

Well, again there is one thing I wasn't sure why McGuire introduced at the beginning that I'm not sure about the why of, she doesn't really do much with it so far. I know one reason why it is there but still as a helpless old romantic I wish it wasn't and as I said it is used very little. But I can overlook it.

And whoa looks like she has a new series coming out. A light hearted one by the title. Hope it doesn't take the place of Daye or even slow them down. But I will look it over.

Writer Vs Author

2012-01-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

Dean Wesley Smith has an interesting post on the difference in being a writer and in being an author. Besides the fact that one is a name that is. :)

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=6190#comments

Basically we need to keep on keeping on... in this case writing.

WotF update

2012-01-14T18:08:00.000-08:00

No on the story they are looking over however.

But on the one I am doing for their next quarter contest, otherwise known as Q2-'12 or with the '12 first.

I belong to two groups on Hatrack that will be checking it over, hopefully it won't need too much work I really don't want to go over too many more times... it's sad.

Maybe I shouldn't say it yet but I'm proud of this story, it might be one of my best with the writing and the story. But we shall see about the writing, I've thought that before. I've noticed a couple of little glitches, hopefully they are not really bad. WotF doesn't seem to mind one or two little writing or story telling mistakes. Commas are another matter but I feel like they better be better then usual for me but we shall about that too.

And Yes I think story telling is different from writing even though they are intertwined.

Partial writing euphony and an almost contradiction

2012-01-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

This comes from a discussion on Hatrack the Orson Scott Card's writing forum

I know Dean Wesley Smith and other pros talk about no rules to writing but at the same time we need to learn how to write. So I wrote this at hatrack:

"Even though I haven't thought it in these words I've wondered if that is what happened to me a few years ago. I lost my voice. To a certain degree I believe that did happen when I tried to force my writing into the shape I thought editors wanted but at the same time I have learned a few things since then so my voice may not be quite what it once was. I see the idea that there are no rules but that you have to learn as an almost contradiction but I might be beginning to understand it. "

I have stated that I have forgotten how to write but maybe I just forgot what my voice is.
I don't know if this is thee problem that I have a tendency to think I have, since that time a few years ago that I did better, but it is something to work on.

Slight update on books

2012-01-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Went to Barnes and Noble to see about a couple of calenders. nothing of course but while I was there I found the latest M.Y.T.H. book by Aspirn. Very light hearted hearted fantasy good stuff.

And I found a couple of others including a new UF and a new SF that sounded good. But I decided I needed to buy those with my Nook. I've said that before. Now if I could remember a pencil and paper to write down what I wanted on the Nook.

Guess I try online again but that usually takes a while there are so many books on the list. Even just SF and Fantasy. They don't list just he last one or two months and they list some that are just e-books.

Slight update on New Mage

2012-01-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Well, for those who are new. "New Mage On The Block" is a novel I started and finished last year. Mostly. I say that because I just added a couple of hundred words to it. Of the three Urban Fantasy novels I did, and a fourth I started, I think it's the best story. I think I will change the title because it's not quite what I wanted for that title but it's still a great story I think. A world inspired by Laura Anne Gillman but a character inspired by her, Seanan McGuire, Rounld and one or two others.

Update:
So far the novel is 73,860 words long. Longer than I thought it would be. I say that because I do need to redo chapter two and three. Plus revise the whole thing. so it's possible that I will add a thousand to five thousand more words. We shall see.

Part Three on New Year

2011-12-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

Some people have stated how many words they wrote

I'm not sure how many words I wrote. At least what is now a 53,000 word novel. And at least half a dozen stories.... make that twelve. One was over 10,000 words, three were less than 500, another less than 2,000, a couple around 1,000. Oh and a couple that came in around 25 words- for a contest. So make it at least 15 stories. Plus two chapters for one novel and three in another- it might be five in that one not sure when I started it. Plus a few other chapters and stories I think.

Not to mention a couple of letters to the editor. And gobs of posts here, on Google+, hatrack and a couple of other blogs. And an odd E-mail or ten. But that was all non fiction.

My Goals for the New Year

2011-12-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

After reading a post on a writer's forum I realized I hadn't set forth any goals for this next year. I made a couple last year but can't recall them exactly, one or two had to do with getting my novels ready to send out which I haven't done. But back to this year

So:

Besides the ones that are continuous such as; growing spiritually(this place http://vccfresno.org/welcome.html as well as reading the Bible-praying-worshipping will help with that) and in my relationship with my wife (learningp changing and growing spiritually will help with that), there are some other goals:

Get three novels ready to send out or E-publish.
Finish Angel Kin.
Write a bunch more stories-How many would depend on how long they are.
Send a story to WotF each quarter.
Send out more stories
Do another novel- have to decide on which one.

Not sure of any other non writing goals that wouldn't be included in the above paragraph.

Good wishes for New Year with some left over Christmas message

2011-12-30T09:39:00.001-08:00

This is a New Year wish but let me say a thing or two about Christmas first. I didn’t get to making this comment before Christmas... it will relate to the New year.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the Love of God. He sent Jesus to be born and to live as a man for us because we needed it. His love transforms us. Like the song says No matter who we are, what we have done, we are someone special in the arms of Jesus.

I believe the main reason Jesus went through living as a man, dying as a man, and raising from the dead, was so we can be right with God and go to heaven. We can’t be good enough we have to do it His Way. But there are good things that come along with His Forgiveness. Like His love and acceptance of us no matter what, that I referenced a moment ago. There’s also Peace that passes all understanding and Joy so great you can’t explain it.

Even if you one of the ones who really have it all together with very little if any emotional baggage and everything you do succeeds, you still need his forgiveness and some time or another you will need his Peace even if it’s only when you die.

For the rest of us His Love, acceptance, Mercy-Grace, is worth knowing Him now.

That is how this relates to the New Year. His love will be there throughout the New Year by His grace and mercy we can have good success we will still be someone special in His arms. Even if we blow it, His Mercy-Grace is new every morning. All Year Long.

So starting the New Year with a Relationship with Jesus whether we have a ton of emotional baggage, a few bags or none at all.

So have a Happy New Year with Good Success.

Slight update and a surprise

2011-12-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Revised one mini story well, actually a flash. What I mean by mini is less then 500 words. This one is 955.

I had forgotten I had one western almost written. I finished it, revised it a bit, spell checked it and sent it to Pedestal. I thought they took various genre and flash. I was right on both counts. But they change what the want every month or so. I just happened to hit them at the right time.

I had to check on my other western to see what my pen name is for that genre. Which I will reveal if the story gets picked up by any one or I e-publish it.

Probably should have spent more time on the revision- nitpicks. Probably left some in the way I go. But I hope the idea that I hit them at the right moment means something but we shall see.

I have another western but it's probably closer to 2,000 words if I recall correctly. I might send it to ZOETROPE next week. Their reading period opens on the first.

Oh, I am also slightly surprised that none of the online markets I sent a story to have sent a rejection yet. Some are pretty fast with one.

Yet More Music

2011-12-29T17:38:00.000-08:00

Got NewsBoys "God's Not Dead" album. Great, I like every song. Of course three or four are praise songs that have been around for a while but still they do them good... :)

A bit different from their last album but that's okay.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gods-not-dead/id471679867

And yet another goal

2011-12-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, finished rewriting the last two chapters for my Nano novel Breaking out.

Of course now I have to revise the whole blasted thing but for the second time it's officially done. I don't think I will add that other chapter I thought about doing. I might do something with the idea as I revise but we shall see. Or save it for the next book with this MC. Yeah I want at least one more.

It's now somewhere around 54,000 words. I imagine it will be under 60,000 by the time I'm done. So either try to sell it as a YA the traditional way or E-publish it.

Oh Cat Rambo had a special offer for Wrimbos: a special price for an editing .

Just sent off the last batch of feedback to someone on their NanoWriMo novel. I'll remind folks that this is the last week to do so if you want to take advantage of my editing offer for NaNoWriMo novels mentioned here: http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/2011/12/06/nanowrimo-what-now/

Too bad I probably won't have mine ready to send it to her in time. But I might be able to use her usual editing. I will need it for E-publishing.

Another book I'm reading

2011-12-28T20:06:00.000-08:00

Started "Gods & Monsters" by Lyn Benedict.

Third in a Dark UF series... are there any other types? I think some aren't quite as dark as others. This is a Darker one. A bit different. This is not one of my favorite series but still worth the reading. Lyn is a great story teller and I want to be like her in that respect.

Lyn has her MC get "irritated to the bones" too much. Seems like almost anything gets under her skin, of course she is an angry person-- partly because of her emotional baggage and partly because she is that type of person. And I'm not that crazy about what is going on with her little sister--in this book it takes up very little space so far, or that must magic workers don't like the MC.

But as I said it's worth a read- I'm reading it very quickly-- when not writing like crazy during this vacation I'm reading.

And I add that this series is one of the main reasons I came up with my angel kin novel. Haven't said much about that one but I'm writing it at work so it will take a while and might be shorter than 50,000 words... we shall see how much I come up with.

More by Dean on goals '12

2011-12-28T19:31:00.001-08:00

This just happens to coincide with me having goals for this week. Kinda fitting though.

This is part two of a three parter evidently

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=6111#comments

Two more goals reached

2011-12-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, fulfilled two more goals.

Revised and sent out the WotF story for Q1-'12

And I submitted 12 stories-which includes the WotF one-instead of ten. Thought I would do 13 but can't decided whether to send in one to Pseudopod Of course all they can say is no which they probably would do anyway. But that story would be tired up for a month or more.. a lot more if they are as bade as Escapepod used to be.

And that includes stories to two new markets for me. Wish I had one to send to Lightspeed but JJA is very hard to get by and the one SF I haven't sent to them is the one I sent to WotF. Not counting some that I wrote years ago that need work.

So two more goals to go.

First goal

2011-12-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yea, I finally finished New Mage. Not sure how many words but I think it's less than the usual amount but that's okay. Personally I think it's my best novel. I still need to redo chapters two and three and revise it all but I wrote the end today. :)

Funny thing is that the world was inspired by Laura Anne Gilman but I think the character was inspired more by C. E. Murphy and one or two other writers of UF. In both cases I so mean inspired, I made the world and character my own with their own way of doing things and their own hurts etc. I will count the words but I need to finish my next goal: getting my WotF story ready and sending it out.

As a certain writer I know would say, where's my Macho to celebrate? :)

public goals

2011-12-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, have a set of goals I am making public.

I have this week off so I want to: Finish the revision of my WotF story and send it in, finish the New Mage novel, finished the rewrite of the half of the last chapter of Breaking Out, do five revisions of my mini stories, send out ten stories-three vial snail mail.

I will have some errands to run, and maybe a movie with my wife-if there is anything we both want to watch-, but it's something doable. One week starting tomorrow- Monday the 26.

A link and Greetings

2011-12-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

To all my seven followers and those who read this now and then.

Merry Christmas.

Or Happy Hanukkah for those of that religion, even though it's half way or so done.

May all have a good success in '12.

And speaking of '12 here's a link to a post, by Dean Wesley Smith on setting goals for next year. Good stuff n various types of goals and what type we know we can do.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=6062#comments

Music News

2011-12-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

Been listening to a variety of Christmas music.

Just wanted to mention one group. The David Crowder Band. Their Carol of the Bells/Christmas Eve song is out of sight. It shows how good the band was. Wow, I wonder if he had a big band for that one.

Look it over at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oh-for-joy/id464497960
Hope this works its the first time I've tried to doing the iTunes store this way.

I say was because evidently they are breaking up if they haven't already.

More later.

Star Trek's Enterprise

2011-12-11T18:15:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/72f7ug3

check out the second picture that starts the video.

Rant, update and Thanks

2011-12-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

First the thanks:

Hey, I have seven followers now. Thanks Mary Ann. I've known a couple of Popes in my life. :)

I may know at least one reason I have been procrastinating so much with the ending of New Mage. I don’t know how the end battle goes. In my mind I have two scenes ready to. One my MC is shooting super hot plasma out of her hands to get through the bad guy’s shields. And second a Griffin drops through the house’s roof to help my MC. He eat some other supernatural creatures and/or distracts the bad guy enough for my MC to do something sneaky. I will probably have to bring that out to a cover patio since the house has four floors but I can do that. But I don’t know what else happens. My MC needs to use a plant she brought along but I have no idea how. Maybe I just need to write and see what comes out of my mind. That sometimes works out okay.

And I should have sent out some stories today. I started to print out two stories last night but couldn’t First the printer says it’s low on ink. I figure there probably is still enough for two shorter stories, I just need to keep an eye on the printing to make sure. But then a third of the way through I see that somehow the The End got placed on a page by itself and that other pages are misaligned. There are extra spaces between some sentences. I stop the printing and fix that. Start over. I somehow noticed that one page has a stain on it Ekkk, So Reprint that page but I discover that other pages have printing on them. So my story was printed over what was there already. UGH so no stories out today.

A different Christmas Story

2011-12-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

Or A reflection on PC Christmases
I will add that there could be grammar and comma problems even though I tried to fix those last year.

A Different Christmas story

Enjoy:

Bill activated his cabin’s door allowing Dora to come in. She had just interrupted him by asking though the door’s intercom if she could come in for a moment. He should have turned it off signifying that he didn’t want any company.

He rolled his chair back to his desk and started working on his computer again. She came in and the door closed. She started speaking about a certain project him, her and few others were working on together. It was an after hours project that the Freighter-liner company they worked for encouraged its employees to do. It would provide them with overtime and if it worked as it should it would be a good mark on their files.

He was listening with one ear however since he was trying to finish a private project. He suddenly raised his head knowing she had just said something different in a different tone of voice. He had not caught what she had said.

She repeated herself in a louder voice, “I said, What is that?”

He somewhat confused said, “It is a special computer game I am working on.”

She said, “Not that! I mean that in your corner?”

He turned to look at what she was pointing at. She was pointing an accusing finger at an object in the opposite corner from the entertaining-work desk. The object was four feet three inches tall and was two and a half feet wide at its widest. That widest part was about one fourth of the way up from the bottom. The wide part looked like a skirt and was made up of branches that came out from the center pole. All of the branches, from the skirt to the top were green, while the center pole was brown. Below the bottom of the skirt one could see the skinny pole that made up the center. The skirt narrowed as it went up until very near the top it was one and a half feet wide. From that point it sloped inward finally forming a thick needle three inches long. He had decorated it with two multicolored light cables and various round globe looking items as well as what looked like upside down Js painted alternately red and white.

He turned back to his work and off handily said, “That is my Christmas tree. I had Jorge in engineering, fix it up for me. Its not as nice looking as a real one, but its not that bad. You must have seen some before.”

She said, “Yes I have seen Christmas trees, but I never expected to see one here. If someone who is of another religion pr an atheist sees that they might be offended. This is a public place with people from diverse backgrounds.”

He turned to her and said, “Huh? What are talking about?”

She said, “This is a place of diversity. You know people from many diverse back grounds work here and are passengers on this ship. They could very well be offended that you are displaying items from for a religious observance from one religion.”

He blinked and looked confused and said, “Christmas is still the largest event on the earth and most colonies, and even a couple of space habitats celebrate it to some degree or another. People would know what holiday that tree represents.”

She said, "Yes, but some people will be offended so you should take it down. This is a public place as I said. If you don’t I will place a complaint. Then they will force you to take it down.”

He somewhat angrily replied, “Hey. This is not a public hallway. People have to be allowed though that door to come in here. Now if this was out in the passageway, that would be different. Even though this would still be about Christmas a harmless celebration that even many non-Christians celebrate. You can place a complaint if you want to, but they will most probably not be able to do any thing about even if they wanted to. Time after time, the courts have declared that these living cabins are not public ground. They are the same as a private house, or even an apartment. So that means that I can do most anything in here in the way of decorations and celebrations. If someone is that offended they do not have to come in here. They are the ones that should be put out not me. Besides if they are that offended they should go to a sensitivity training seminar so they can learn not to be offended by the expression of someone’s private beliefs”

She said, “That may be so, but you should still not offend someone of a minority religion. If you do not take that down I will boycott this cabin until you do.”

He again said, “Huh?”

She answered by saying, “I’ll leave and not enter this room as long as you have that thing up”

He looked at her for a while then suddenly turned and started typing again.

He said, “If that is what you feel, you must do what you feel like is right,”

After a moment he reached over and pressed the door button then continued, “The door is activated. You can leave and we can discuss our project though the door, or at your room. Christmas is a diverse celebration, it is made up of traditions from various cultures and people of many backgrounds celebrate it. Perhaps you should go a sensitivity training seminar. I can get you in one over the intergalactic net. And any stores that reject the term Merry Christmas is biting the hand that feeds them. More money is spent at Christmas time for Christmas presents and decorations then any other time of the year. People buy Christmas presents not Holiday presents.

“One last statement, only a small handful or people do not celebrate some form of Christmas, of those it’s only a small share that would be offended...more people are offended by you not doing it for that reason.”

She said something that sounded like hmmfff and started toward the door.

He said as she did, “Or we could go too your cabin and look at the rainbow symbols you have on display but don’t forget they are a Christian symbol also.”

She went out the door and he went back to work on the new computer game he was fine tuning.

He said to himself, “And that tree isn’t even a real one. Maybe I should have called it a Holiday tree but it isn’t, there’s no such thing as a holiday tree...with a shake of his head he continued that thought, boy what some people will choose to be offended over. ”

A quick post

2011-12-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

I get a Newsletter or three from Writer's Digest. A few years ago my wife gave me a subscription to the magazine. I read over each edition but didn't really find much to help me however their Newsletters are full of good stuff. I don't take the time to read every section but I keep an eye out for headlines that look interesting. I've saved links to articles and such to reread.

And second:

I now have six followers Good and thanks S.R.Dantzler .

Now if I could get a couple of comments. :)

General update

2011-12-04T18:12:00.000-08:00

Okay finish with NaNoWriMo as I referenced a couple of posts ago. So I am catching up with business I let go as I was working on the NaNo novel.

I crited two chapters for one guy is who is writing a novel. The Dread Naughts. An interesting and I think somewhat different tale. Whenever it comes out, if you like intrigue and action plus the MC always in danger, a race against the bad guy that could result in various deaths, you will like this story. So keep it mind. I'll be back with the writer's name.

I have to choose a story for a onthepremises.com contest. A smaller contest but still interesting. This time the premise is home.

I need to work on my final version of a story for WotF this quarter ending the thirty -first. I should do that first.

Finally worked some on my New Mage novel that should have been finished at least six months ago. I keep sidetracking it for some reason. Of the three novels I worked last year, that is my best... I think. I am eager to do more on and finally finish it, then I have to rewrite second and third chapters. Noticed I said rewrite not revise.

Need to send out stories, to IGMS, Fantasy and Science Fiction, if he is still taking stories to Lupine at Fantastic Stories. I know which one to send to him.

Him and F&SF and one other are the only paper stories I send out now. Everyone else takes it through the internet. Well, there might be one more I would snail mail out.

And the number five follower seems to have settled down. It has been on Five for the last three times I came here, even when I go back to the blog after adding a post. That's good.

"Unsympathetic Magic" By Laura Resnick

2011-12-03T22:10:00.000-08:00

Third in a lighthearted UF series.

Yet still a wild ride as one person quoted on the cover says. Very well done, great descriptions of events. With romance mixed in also. You can also learn something reading this book. I didn't know there were watchtowers in New York city. Built during a bygone era but evidently still somewhat kept up. Somewhat not totally.

And she discussed the religion of Vodou(Rats can't recall the exact spelling and the book isn't handy). For personal spiritual reasons I'm not sure if I really wanted that much in-depth teaching on it but still interesting and well done. The teaching fit into they story rather well.

Her first sentence is one of the longest I've seen in quite a while. Almost throws my theory that First sentences should be short, out the window... almost. Personally I think she pulled it off but one writer who can do it well doesn't destroy my idea. I don't think any do-s and don'ts of writing are ever one hundred percent. And of course the type of book may have something to do with it too.

And Laura has a way with titles in this series. I don't have time right now to list them all but I think they're great.

So buy the book and read it. Don't forget books make great Christmas presents OH speaking of that Don't Forget My Story in Strange New Worlds Ten. Another great present anytime. A link is one the side of my blog. :)

I used a link to B&N because I use them more, they give me discounts-some as much as thirty percent off.
The Book

Finished NaNoWriMo

2011-12-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

50,900 and some words.

The last chapter needs a whole lot of fixing, the writing is a mess and the ending was rushed but I can fix it later. Actually, probably the whole thing needs a lot of fixing but my "burst writing" as one NaNo writer of the weekly encouragement E-mail called it, got a good work out. :)

That final battle scene may look a bit like a couple of earlier ones too--I kinda cheated a little bit. And that last couple of paragraphs are full of Tell. But I can add a some show later.

Just not sure of when I will get to it. I want to redo it now but I still have that other novel to finish. And last year's NaNo Novel to get cleaned up so I can send it out or e-publish it. Still going back and forth on that. I think I will E-publish (with POD) this year's especially if it stays under 70,000 words which it might. Maybe under 65,000. I have two chapters to add and to revise some- maybe rewrite the last half of the last chapter- but that won't as a huge amount of words.

I want to add one or both of those chapters before my MC receives a hint and when he figures out where the bad guys are.

Merry Christmas to everyone

2011-11-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's after Thanksgiving. I can start wishing people a Merry Christmas. And It's Alright To Say Merry Christmas. Most people celebrate some form of Christmas in the US and many other countries so there's a very good chance I will say it to some one that celebrates Christmas. If they don't... may they have a good day on the 25th anyway. It's Christmas Day whether they celebrate it or not.

And time to start breaking out my Christmas music. Most are Mannheim Steamroller, but I have Third Day, and Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns. Need to get Mercy Me. Actually, I thought I had it but its not with the rest of me Christmas music if I do.

I may be putting up my yearly anti-PC Christmas story. It's a SF setting but it's what I would say.

Kinda of update

2011-11-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, got a rejection finally from Fantastic Stories. An anthology by Warren Lapine. I forget if I have mentioned sending in the story to him but I got the rejection today.

He- or more likely his secretary- spelled my first name wrong. And even though he has a check list like Dean Wesley Smith with the SNW contest the only thing marked was "not for us" It has seventeen boxes, the very last item on the list would have been a good thing to know if you're going to get a rejection. "Close, very close" but the second to the last would not be good to see check; "What were you thinking?"

I've have been working on only one short story this month and today since I have it off, I thought I might type out a couple of the stories that I hand wrote out but even though I gathered all my pieces of paper, I don't have time to do any. I'm too far behind on NaNo novel. Some of the stories are only a few hundred words long but still too far behind even for that.

But I need to print out three stories and mail them Saturday.

NaNo update

2011-11-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

Haven't been here a while because of Nano but thought I would give an update.

Over thirty thousand words now and I get tomorrow off and may have more time on Saturday to write then usual. Or we may put up more Christmas decorations.

It's flowing pretty good. I just finished chapter three, and almost done with Four.

I know what to do after four but not sure where to take it after three. Probably five would be back at the palace.

Yeah, I seem to be in the same trap as last year. Not sure if it really is a trap but I have Looong chapters even though one is only 5,700 words. And so far none over 10 thousand.

Another follower maybe

2011-11-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

I say it that way because the number keeps changing. It goes from four to five and back to four, I even checked his name but now it's back to four. I wonder if that is because he just become a follower a few minutes ago and therefore it will straighten out in a day.

If it's true Thanks I appreciate it.

Even though I've been here three times since this post and it's been a month or so since he joined that number is still jumping from four to five. Maybe Indeed two more followers. :)

Better yet five more.

NaNo update and...

2011-11-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've broken the 10,000 word level. Still behind.

Almost done with my story I was writing when Nov began. One problem I'm not sure how to end it. I might go with the MC starting a new business with what he was able to do, just leave him as is, keep going and have him learn another lesson, let people know what he did but not really start a business. There could be more.

Still need to spend time to send out stories, ralan.com has a new market, and there is a deadline next week at another. It's hard to remember when I have a moment.

Been playing too much lately... not good.

WotF update

2011-11-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing.

As in total rejection. They changed the E-mail and I think its colder sounding. Joni said that they are trying to speed things up so that we will feel like entering the next quarter sooner. Not working and most probably won't.

This one hit me a bit harder, probably partly because I was just starting to feel like they were taking longer and I might get another HM but of course not. It's my writing even with the help I received.

I know better than to feel that way but I can't help it when a market takes a while and especially when it looks like they are taking longer. Like Fantastic Stories Anthology by Warren Lapine. He is taking his time but it's probably because he is busy or waiting for enough manuscripts to come in to have a reading party.

I haven't said it for a while but I've forgotten how to write. One short surge a few years ago and nothing since. And obviously I'm not relearning whatever I forgot.

NaNo update already

2011-11-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

I started my novel. I don't know the exact word count but I believe it's over a thousand. 500 + to 800+ at work, some earlier tonight and later 180 some. Thought I could do more but my wife needed some help and ended up using the kitchen table to do her crafts at the same time I wanted to use my laptop. So I started Chapter two on my desk top.

So I started my first palace adventure in chapt two.

Wanted to put the number up on the Nano site but don't have time.

PS One More time

2011-10-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Oh yes. One other reason I have done more work lately is that I haven't played around for almost two weeks. Niice. Thanks be to God. That almost always takes up my writing time and gets me no where.

Gotten in some good writing on New Mage today. Now I'm moving toward the end.... finally. I'm going to have to rewrite chapters two and three though. I have said the first three chapters but I have already redone One. Revisions on it all of course but that's not the same.

I finished two of my small short westerns including that one I want to send to those three-four markets but I still have to revise them. Right now I won't do that sequel to the western I wrote a couple of years ago so I can do that one I mentioned last note. The one that is different for me.

One more time... Update

2011-10-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

Okay been working on my novel New Mage On The Block. An aside here but I need a new name for it. It's not what I envisioned for that title. Still a great story I believe... in fact out of the three novels I did last year I think it's the better storytelling and plot but that's my opinion.

So I barely worked on it in the last couple of months, partly because I was stuck. I finally wrote a scene I had in my mind for a year but part of it didn't come out quite right. My MC invaded the bad guys lair and he sees her but does something and leaves her. The something and the leaving wasn't coming out right. But I think I finally worked it out. Not quite one hundred percent of what I wanted for that scene but it's a whole lot closer than what I had written. I can live with it. So now I want to get going with it again. Let's see if I can keep it up.

But than again there's NaNo. All next month I need to work on another novel... a space opera this time.

Last year's NaNo novel is stuck. I need to go revise it and fix the chapters after number seven but haven't worked on it for months. And I need a beta reader for the rest. I may have one. Thought I had three but two haven't responded to chapt one. If I can get to sending him chapt two.

Storm Born is stuck too. I keep forgetting to revise and send out chapt two. My wife wants to take a week off to catch up on her crafts and I need a couple of days to catch up on my novels.

Started a different type of SF story-for me- for Quarter two-'12 of WotF. peaking of which they are sending out rejections for Q4-'11. It's been a week or so and nothing. Every time I see I have mail on the LDW web page my heart clenches but so far nothing. I need some good news in regard to my writing.

Been spending too much time on Google + Because hatrack has been down for three.. four? days, which is one reason I did as much as I did on New Mage.

Spaceport America

2011-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know this already but I thought it was worthy of pointing out.

Not quite what we write about but still something.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/spaceport-america-1318958229-slideshow/

Speaking of the Color Nook

2011-10-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

As you know I bought one a while back- I still like it a lot- and I finally bought a cover for it. And I got it for free. I got a gift card for B&N a few months ago from my bank. I had planned on using it and what cash I had to buy the Nook but I ended up not using it. They have a lot of nice covers, some quiet expensive some not so much. I got one of the not so much ones. But I figured it was a good writing cover.
Took me three trips to B&N to remember the card but I finally did today.

You can look at it here: http://tinyurl.com/mynookcover

And from my reading I still think my Nook as good as the Fire by Kindle except maybe the colors are brighter on the Fire.

And now Nook has out a writing app for kids. Nice.

Letter to the editor

2011-10-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/21/2584581/tea-party-is-democracy.html

There's one they didn't print I'll be posting on the blog soon with some more addition. It's down right hard to say what I want in only 200 words.

And here is an addition I will be adding to the online discussion if I get my password. Can't recall for sure which one it is.

Anyway:

Without responding on any of the comments here I would like to add a couple items I didn’t have room for in the letter.

There is one thing both TEA Partiers and Occupiers have in common, you may have heard it already. The bail outs given to the finance companies. I believe TEA Party are against them for two reasons at least. One is that it’s an example of big government sticking its nose into businesses. Second its an example of government overspending. Some partiers may believe some CEOs should be in prison for reacting wrongly to a bad situation.

Of course people are hurting, duh. We are in a major recession and the government is doing the opposite of what should be done. People were in pain during the Great depression and later in the Jimmy Carter economy. But that doesn’t mean we should throw a fit for more taxes and more free stuff or that someone going to jail will help.

I will add that those of the middle class that are joining the Occupiers, should work with the TEA party movement instead. They have better, proven ideas of how to actually get out of the Recession.

And I would add that while because there are so many Partiers in a wide variety of places, there are bound to be real bigots and other kooks there are very small in number and the regular people police them. However after one poll in one city and various comments by Occupiers in variety of places there are a whole lot more kooks-including other types of bigots in the Occupier movement.

One last comment by more family friendly I mean no women running around topless, far fewer obcenties and such.

steampunk and me

2011-10-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

An online friend had a guest blogger on her blog. A writer of steampunk who explained what steampunk involves. The link has the author's name not the name of the online friend.

http://tinyurl.com/Sarahsteampunk

Anyway, I have more understanding what makes up steampunk so I think I am ready to do a SP story. Of course I'm still working on those shortee westerns and maybe one longer western so I don't know when I will do it but I think the idea needs to gel some more anyway. I'm not quite sure what the story will be yet. Maybe something on the moon... yeah steam powered rockets. :) We shall see though.

I could try for a steam punk western that is possible, or combine my idea for an Alt western world with other modified cultures(Like India and Roman) but again we shall see.

Yet another mini update but different

2011-10-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

Decided to do a mini or a bit larger, westerns. Today at work I was thinking this over and decided to make a western e-book anthology. Maybe. I say for two reasons. One is that if I do all the stories I thought of it will take me at least six months. Who knows what will change by then. Second: I decided to do a non-violent story about a family on a farm. If it turns out to be half as good as I think it could be I will be sending it to three possibly four markets. Glimmer Train contest and Pedestal for two. So we shall see how it comes out.

And since I have three of what I call Specwest -- sci Fi Fantasy westerns-- I would put them in their own e-book. And so I will end up writing maybe three more of those. That could at least six months too.

So by the time I do them, if I don't get side tracked, we shall see about the e-books

Another mini update

2011-10-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Didn't have a story to work on at work so I started mini western. I wanted to do a couple so that is okay. But like most of the others it might be a bit long for a mini. The last two stories I did were 700 and 800 words long.

Not sure where the story I'm doing is going even though I have an idea or two but be kind a fun seeing. I may come up with an idea for a second. Maybe I'll see how I do and end up writing a bunch of shorter westerns. But we shall see.

I do have one western story and so maybe a few shortees will work well with it in a E-book. As I said we shall see.

NANoWriMo again

2011-10-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Think I've mentioned I am thinking of doing the novel in a month thing again.

But suddenly:

I have half a dozen ideas to choose from.
I mentioned the space opera but I recalled there's an epic fantasy that has been floating around in my head for almost as long. I know the beginning and I've thought about doing from the POV of a character who isn't the big hero... like Frodo was the main hero. My MC will be one of four to seven people on a journey to reach a location where they will be able to save the day. Each person will do something to save the day but there's usually one main guy/gal who has something very important to do. So my MC won't be him/her. But since he can talk to dragons he will still be important.
And I may have one of those four to seven get killed and/or be permanently injured.

There's also the Angel novel sort of, kinda of, maybe along the same lines of Thomas E. Sniegoski 's Remy books. I originally came up with the idea during Buffy but have slightly modified the idea since reading the Remy books. I have a great opening scene for it but I'm kinda of not sure if I should make him forget he's an angel or not. At first.
I got a new idea for a half angel character tonight who has to learn who and what he really is. Sounds like a YA book to me.
and There was one or two other ideas.

But I have three fourths of a month to decide.

Other ideas:
A space opera but deals with a militia type of force. Even though a certain planet is in a larger star nation it's on the outskirts so rarely sees any of the space navy. They have their own small space force.

Or a fantasy where the group goes on a epic journey like Lord of the Rings but set in contemporary times. Don't think I've seen a lot of those.

Or a SO with a newly minted captain of a small warship who has a family tradition to uphold even though he's not the best student, hence the small warship.

It would probably by good for me to do it this year. I seem to be in a writing slump. I do some at work but at home I tend to play around too much and end up with ten to twenty minutes for writing. Not enough time to finish a novel and revise a story for WotF. For some strange, unknown reason it's hard to get back into the habit of writing instead of playing. Actually, I think I know part of the reason.

Update on mini stories

2011-10-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

Thought I had finished the last one today at work, but I remembered there might be one more I haven't done. I say might be because I remember starting it on my computer but can't recall finishing it. I'm going to have to search for it. I might be remembering writing it out by hand.

There are also two to four of those stories still on paper I still need to type out. Since they are super short it won't take long. Then I'm going to have to revise them all. Of course the ones that are really minis won't need much revising. I may see if I can get a couple of people to crit them. Maybe a butch of them-- probably all of them are less than 6,000 words.

It's been fun and who knows I may not be done. Twice now I said I'm done but then remembered another story I had in mind to write. Some of these are a lot longer than I expected. One is a bit over 1,800 words, another a few over 1,700, a couple of others are over 600 but some are under two hundred. Not sure about the one I did today.

So far I have SF, fantasy and UF and two or three general fiction. I would like a couple of westerns and romances but that last could be hard to do even though I went over one romance idea today.

I may send the gen fic to ZZYZZA(whatever those letters are) and to Pedestal if they are not too short. If I haven't I will send two other general stories to those two markets too.

Hard to think up names at times

2011-10-02T21:51:00.001-07:00

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2011/10/02

Pretty much says it all. :)

Music

2011-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have a chance to see three music groups. One in Oct. One Nov. and one in Dec.

Third Day will be at our local fair in a week or so. It's a work day but I decided I am missing too many shows waiting for Friday and Saturday concerts. And I now really like Third Day.

Second does happen to fall on a Saturday night and it's only ten dollars. Newsboys, Kutless, and a couple of others I would love to see. I mean usually it's way more than ten to see one of those groups. And as I said it's on a Saturday night. Love the new Newsboys even though I wished I could have seen them with their last lead singer. His last record with them is something else. Love it... most it that is. And I wonder how the new guy does those songs and if he does.

Mannheim Streamroller in Dec. That one is a touch expensive especially with ten dollar fees added one but still a great concert. I saw them once and I want to again!! Surprised they are here this year since they were here last year but I missed last years. I have the money but it's on a weeknight and my wife doesn't like me out there that late. But I can park in the parking lot instead of the street.

Back to politics for a moment... a mistake

2011-09-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

Oops, there are nine republicans running not seven.

Johnson I keep forgetting about since I hardly ever hear about him. In fact I forgot what little I knew of him when he joined the band wagon. My bad as they say.

And Newt is forgettable I guess also, at least for some strange reason for me. Maybe because I think he has no chance. Evidently he has done good and not bad in the debates, which I haven't watched, but he still seems to be left out. Oh well.

Hey, new follower

2011-09-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks Redux, I appreciate you joining the small group.

My posts usually appear willy nilly. Sometimes I skip a week or three and sometimes I do three days in a row or up to four posts in one day. I have a bad habit of waiting 'till the last to do a post and I end up forgetting or running out of time.

Music

2011-09-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do with writing or politics but I wanted to discuss my love for certain groups also.

Third Day will be at the Big Fresno Fair this year, and one another night the Imperials. Third Day will be on a week night and I don't like to go out on week nights but I miss too many concerts waiting for the weekend. So I want to go.

Newsboys will be here in a weekend night along with three other groups. I would like to go,

And Mannhiem(?) Steamroller will be here again this year... on a week night. I didn't expect them so soon from last year. I want--I want--I want to go.

More updates

2011-09-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

Been working on my mini stories. Some are hand written and I need to type them out but those along with the ones I have typed and those I have written over the years might be around 20.

But there are two problems, one is that for a book- even a flipbook- I want at least 22 if not 30 mini stories. Second is that some of them I want to send in to some flash mags. By the time I send all I want to all the markets that take flash I might end up waiting another year or two. But once I get them organized- which is a third problem finding the time to do that- I will see how it works out and exactly how many I want to send it.

One of those stories is a bit long at 1,800 words, no longer a mini story.

I may go with NaNoWriMo again this year haven't quite decided. I have half a dozen book ideas even though right now it could a certain space opera idea I've had for a couple of years.

I may have two people to finish going over Bright Lights, from the Strange New Worlds Yahoo group. That surprised me. But that's good.

And one correction. This last person who was in my group and
made the comment about the writing. I forgot English is his second language, he
does a good job of writing in it usually, and so when he made the comment he
made, he was talking about my writing in English not my writing which is the way
I think it sounded.

Kinda update on something different

2011-09-20T20:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry to say kinda jealous of my wife, her crafts are starting to sell more than usual. Mine aren’t. Still could use some good news for my writing but still not getting any it’s my writing after all.

Novel group I was in has faded away, So I need someone new to check over my Bright Lights Novel. The last person who was in the group thought my writing had to many problems for him.

An early Christmas scene and new ideas

2011-09-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

A little early but I know what Santa Claus drives when he's giving the sleigh and/or reindeer a rest. An older small pickup. I wasn't able to see what make. But I wonder how much reindeer power it has.

I was stopped for a red light and turned to see if there was anything to see. There he was pudgy, about the right height, with a full, long, white beard. He wore a red baseball cap. And you probably can guess what color pick up.

What I don't know is if he lives around here or just traveling the countryside; checking on his list, slumming or just mellowing out.

But it gave me an idea for story and a certain character. Not a new one since I believe there's a movie with this character but mine would be different and maybe for the younger set. Oh, it's not anything to do with Death. A little early but I know what Santa Claus drives when he's giving the sleigh and/or reindeer a rest. An older small pickup. I wasn't able to see what make. But I wonder how much reindeer power it has.

What I don't know is if he lives around here or just traveling the countryside; checking on his list, slumming or just mellowing out.

But it gave me an idea for story and a certain character. Not a new one since I believe there's a movie with this character but mine would be different and maybe for the younger set.

Second idea: going along with some of the books about Death's daughter and other such tales. Not sure if this idea would be a story or novel. The problem is that it would more than likely be light hearted and I'm not sure if I can do a whole light hearted book. Oh, it's not about any of Death's children even though I had an idea about boy and girl twins.

A third idea: A guy walks out of his house and finds a Gargoyle on the edge of his roof. He thought he heard something the night before and felt the house groan. No idea who put it there but awhile later he eams it and finds scratch marks on it. They look kinda fresh but since its there he decides to clean the whole thing and fill in the small chunks that are missing, only thing is what do you use to fill in very hard stone.

A bit politicial vent

2011-09-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I won't go into too much detail which is why I say a bit. But it's somewhat frustrating. Of all the seven Republican candidates for the primary I have four in a group, All of whom I would love to vote for President. I have listed them in order of who I like most, which is where the frustration comes. More than likely two on the list, including my top person, will be gone by the time the primary is held in Calif. There could be three gone even though most probably not all four even though one is doing good right now. If a certain two others join in, that group will expand to six.

There are also two of the seven now running, on the bottom. I would have problems voting for the for President. That leaves one in the middle. Not in that group of four but not as bad as the other two either.

We shall see who is running when it reaches Calif. it might be better than I think but we shall see.

Writing update of sorts

2011-09-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

Working on mini-stories, of 500 words or less. One I did today takes place on a baseball field and starts with a guy running the bases nude. It has a lesson in it. Then there's a UF started a while back and just came up with an ending. And a space opera one I started and need to finish.

The baseball one is 502 but I should be able to cut a few words when I revise it.

AND:

I want to write a Noir(new meaning for that word I learned today) - hard boiled- UF that takes place in the thirties. Usually the hard boiled guy is a gumshoe but he or she doesn't have to be. I also want to write about a wizard in the wild west. Actually there already is one. Written about many years ago. I forget who write about him but he's a mountain man who rides a unicorn and does a bit of magic. He carries an odd assortment of stuff in his saddlebags including an very old earthen cup that can heal any injury if you drink from it.

Anyway, I might write a series that takes place throughout history, starting with the West, with the same family or same person. I already have a hero who has lived for a few hundred years. So it could be him in each time period. Depends if it's a book or a series of short stories. We shall see when I have time to do it.

9/11 venting and grief

2011-09-11T16:10:00.001-07:00

Too much has been in the various media about 9/11 even though we need some of it, probably most of what is said but here is a story I wrote one and half to two years after it happened. I updated it once and just now added a couple of sentences. I also spellchecked it and checked for some words I have a habit of getting wrong, however there are probably still grammar issues and other problems but I don't feel like going over it that well.

No one seems to be sure why bin laden hated the US but he let that hated corrupt other People who believe in Islam. Anything said about the US can be said for as lot of other countries- some have killed more Muslims than we would even if everything they said about us was true- even though he picked us for "the great satan".

THE REACTION

BY L. E. Doggett

A group of gaily dressed people were standing around talking. They were discussing the weather changes, if they could do anything about the weather changes, fiancees, the fighting some of the neighbors had been involved with, and other issues. Many were buying items other neighbors had made, while a few were huddled together in conferences dealing with conflicts between those who lived next each other. They were all neighbors, even though some lived a good distance from others that were present. Those present were of various sizes, and ages. Some were short, while others had been tall once, but were now stooped over with age. Some were very short while a couple were very tall, and unstopped. Each person, male and female, were dressed differently. Some wore bright colors, others dull colors. Some of the women wore floor length dresses, while others wore a tighter type of dress from shoulders to ankles, with a robe type wrap spiraling around the outside of the dress. Some men, and women were wearing pants, and shirts of various types. A few of these were bright colors, some were plain

solid colors. Some of the men were wearing various styles of head gear. From turbans, to fur hats, with a few skull caps mixed in.

One particular tall, skinny man was dressed in a fancy, bright, tri-colored suit with tails. He wore a narrow top hat with the same colors. This man while not as old as many present, still sprouted a white goatee on his chin. He was by no means the youngest, but he was the tallest person present. He was twice the height of some, and almost three times as tall as others. This still youngish looking man was neither stooped over, nor weak looking, even though he was gaining what some referred to as spare tire around his middle. This follow was a contradiction at times, for he had done things to harm some of those present, while at the same time he had done more to help. He had fed the children of many in this group, he had come to their aid when they were attacked, he had helped out when natural disasters had struck. He had also been involved in trying to make piece with some that were immediate neighbors. Those were just a few ways he had helped over the years. Now he seemed rather laid back, and to some lazy. Lately he had not always responded completely to personal attacks, but even though he had put on a bit of weight, he still stood as tall as always, and had not lost any muscle strength.

One mourning, soon after he awoke, dressed for work, and had gone out to meet with the others, one of the shorter ones, a skinny guy with long arms, and a full beard, snuck up to him. Suddenly, this newcomer kicked the fancy dressed man where it would hurt the most. Taken by surprise, the man looked shocked, a second later his eyes glazed over. He fell to his knees and a few minutes later he fell to the ground. A dust cloud formed from all the debris kicked up by his landing. He gathered himself into a

fetal position, and groaned. The kicker who was less than one third the man’s height, and who looked like a small monkey, looked at him. He smiled big, put his hands over his head as he danced

around in victory. Most of the others looked on in shock. Some smiled for they enjoyed the man’s pain, but others went over to do what they could to help. One was a portly gentleman, who was many years older. He was dressed almost as fancy in bright colors. On the back of his jacket was a design with stripes and crosses though it. Many years ago these two had fought, but now they were friends, and the chubby individual had had his problems with these short small men. As he did what he could this man hummed one of the injured man’s favorite songs.

Some of the man’s friends were hurt as the man fell, for he fell on their children as well as many of his own. As they were mourning, a couple of the other smaller men, and women joined in with the victory dance. As the dancing went on the tall man recovered, obviously far faster than expected by those who didn’t like him. He got up and looked down at the ruin created by his fall. He saw the bodies of rescue workers who had gone under him as he had been on his knees, to pull out those still trapped. Tears streamed down his face as he unashamedly cried for those who had died. For all who died but also for all the heroes who gave themselves to help others.

Suddenly two of the dancers stopped as they noticed the man, with a very angry expression on his face, start to move in their direction. The one who had kicked him didn’t noticed, however, so he kept going. He put his hands above his head in a boxer’s victory stance. The tall man walked up to him from behind, and for a moment just stood there. The short man happened to look down,

and saw the man’s rather large shadow. He next noticed that those who had joined him had stopped, and were staring at something behind him. He swallowed hard, and tried to run, and hide. He was

caught before he could take more than a few steps. The man grabbed his arms, and pulled him up. He kept lifting the man up, until he could look at him in the face. The small bearded one’s legs just dangled as he hung by his arms. As the short bearded man stared at the calm anger showing on the man’s face he swallowed again, and realized that he had made a big mistake in kicking him like that.

He wasn’t going to apologize though. He put a defiant look on his face, and announced that the tall man could not hold him like

that. The tall one let him go by just opening his hands. The bearded small man landed hard, got up immediately, and ran away. The tall man followed him to the edge of worked surface everyone was standing on. There was a slope on that edge of the man worked area. The slope was desert, and sand, but it soon turned to grass, and trees. The green area was an over grown section with trees, bushes, thorns and ugly dying flowers. As it went on the terrain turned into a jungle. One of the worst jungles, with poisoned plants, long sharp thorns, and more ugly flowers. The majority of the plants were dead, or stunted because of the bad soil, and bad water.

The tall man caught up with the shorter man before he could

hide in the sun whacked terrain.

The man turned around and said, “you can’t do anything to me, after all I didn’t kick you.”

The tall man didn’t respond he just kicked out with one foot, catching the shorter man in the stomach. The blow was hard enough to push the small man backwards. As he scooted backwards he went

"urf", and doubled over. The attacker clapped his hands over his foe’s ears. It was a hard double blow that sent the little creature reeling.

He couldn’t hear it with his ears still ringing from the blow but the big man said, “And don’t worry about your children, once they are no longer under your control we will help them to a better life.”

He then proceeded to pick up the little guy, and tossed him out into the desert ground. Some of the men, and women standing around watching exclaimed that it was unfair of the taller man to treat the smaller one like that, even if he was a small. The

towering individual responded by explaining that the little man would have just kicked him again, killing even more of the man’s children, if he was not stopped.

By then other small men had gone to the one who had been thrown, and were helping him. Some of these short skinny people had bona fide complaints that had turned them into hateful mean people while others had became such because of cultic religious teachings and others had been whipped into a frenzy by hateful individuals with certain political leanings. The larger man turned to ask for help in stopping all of the small men. In the middle of that discussion, the original little man mostly recovered, silently ran up, and punched his foe in the bottom. The tri- colored clothed man turned suddenly, and kneed the little, crazy, guy in the chin. The large foe tried to grab the shorter one again, but he managed to back out of reach.

The big guy turned back to his neighbors, and asked if anyone would help. This time a couple came to help, but others still wanted to discuss it. This started an on going brawl between the

short, breaded, small man, some of his friends, and the few larger individuals. At this point the fight included another small man who looked older and had just a mustache. He had tried to take control of his immediate neighbors but had been beaten off and was treating his own children very badly. He had been one to help the breaded small man and had vowed that he to would hurt the large man. Sometimes one, or two of the other small men would punch, or bite one of the group, but most of them stayed out of it. The portly man who had sung to the tall skinny guy while he was recovery, joined as did a couple other women and men, helping to defeat the small one with the mustache. Some did not understand why this group attacked the mustached person, a few got angry but the tall man continued to lead his friends in the attack. For it was done to defend his children from that enemy and to stop that little man from using his money to help other small people attack the children of the larger citizens.

The large fighter took a moment to stop and to mourn all those who had died in that first attack and to honor those who had died heroes, as his children finished cleaning up the mess. He next waded back into the battle. Kicking, chopping, punching, even at times dropping objects on the smalls to try to get them to stop kicking, and biting him. Some neighbors said if he would feed their children they would stop, but the bigger guy had been doing that already. At one point the tall slender one chopped the original small in the throat, spun around, and kicked another one that was in the process of jumping on his back. The second one went flying sideways, landing hard. He scrambled up, and while holding one of his arms he ran off to hide. Finally a couple of more neighbors, one of whom had been a sworn enemy of the tall guy

not that long ago, joined in. They were able to corner the original small man. One of the others, the one that had gone into hiding, snuck up, and bit the ankle of one of the new helpers. The tall man quickly grabbed him, pulled him away from his ally, and threw him far into the desert.

The breaded small saw he was trapped, and suddenly let out a loud scream, and with spittle spraying out of his mouth he leaped further than anyone thought he could. He landed on the bigger, colorful dressed man’s face, trying to claw him. The man expecting something like this, quickly grabbed him, held him at arms’ length, and punched him hard in the face. Next he swung the little blighter around twice in complete circle, much like a hammer thrower would, than let go of him. The insane guy flew far,

beyond one corner of the worked area. He finally landed hard on a

grassy field. He bounced hard three times, then tumbled down a grassy slope toward a cliff. He stopped before he fell off the cliff. He laid there for quite awhile before he picked himself up,

and crawled away. His face was bloody, and everyone could tell that even though he was still alive, he had been permanently crippled. During the melee two even smaller small faced individuals had been crippled as well, one worst than the other two. Another small one came up, and kicked the taller one.

The small one screamed his hate, saying the large man couldn’t do that to a neighbor.

The one dressed in the fancy clothes, pushed him over, picked him up, and asked if the new attacker would like to join his buddy. When he said that he already had, the tall skinny man swung him hard into the wilderness. He landed with a hard uff, with the wind knocked out of him. When he recovered he saw that his way

back to the group was blocked, so he ran off to live in the jungle.

After the melee everything quieted down again, the group of neighbors started discussing the weather, jobs and such again. The tall man with the multicolored clothing finished rebuilding what

had been destroyed in the original attack. Many of his children still mourned and honored those who had died during that attack, follow up attacks and those who had been killed during the battle with the simian men. Most of the small men stayed in the back ground, only biting someone now, and again. A few months later one of the neighbors, a larger heavy set man with a fur hat, who looked almost like a bear, hit one small in the head as the small guy was kicking his ankle. He had been one of those who had joined in just before the melee. It was a hard hit pushing the guy down

with much force. The taller man hit him again, and went on to punch out two others who had been giving a couple of neighbors trouble. They finally gave up.

After this there was a long period of quiet, and the tall man in the blues, reds, and white trim continued as he had been. He built a monument to all the heroes who had died, not only while helping those trapped in the original attack but also the warriors who died in the following battles. He went back to doing what he had been doing, mostly helping his neighbors as before as well as buying raw materials, selling things he had built, and buying what others had made.

Some years later the head monkey man was found hiding in another land. A team of black clad men snuck in, and ended his life. They buried him at sea. His follow monkey men didn't quit their hatred based on lies but they were hunted down even as they hurt other "men".

THE END

A bit of venting here

2011-09-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I will probably say it again.

I want some Star Trek type of SF movies. Most are horror tales not really SF. There was "Serenity" Based on the TV series Firefly and I might include Star Wars in that even though it's more space fantasy. But that's all.

They can make a good SF movie with top stars. There are good writers and directors out there.

On a second level how about some Urban Fantasy movies and TV. There was one movie even though I have no idea how it did, well one not including Harry Potter, even though technically UF, it seems to be a horse of a different color though.

There was one TV show which wasn't bad if you didn't compare it to the Books it was supposedly based on. There are some paranormal TV shows most of which are on cable and might be good but still not what I want.

Pardon something political but Government messed up

2011-09-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

You may or may not have heard by now what has been done to the Gibson guitar company by our government. There are thousands of links talking about it. But just in case

You can listen to an interview with the founder of Gibson here http://www.kmjnow.com/common/global_audio/174/34124.mp3

Or go to this site http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/chrisdaniel to find out more and about a one of a kind protest. Of course the way musicians are it may not be one of a kind for long.

Or google Gibson guitar "Chris Daniel"

WotF anthology # 27

2011-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Writer's Of The Future Number 27. Since I had to order it anyway I decided to download it to my Nook. Cheaper that way too. Started the first story not bad at all even though melancholy so far. And the illustration that goes with it shows melancholy also.

But the opening line of the first story blows my usual comment for Firsts out of the water. The thing is long and a bit on the complicated side. I need to see how the others begin but usually short stories open with short and to the point sentences. And that was a long author's blurb.

The descriptions of the stories make some of them sound very interesting. I think I will enjoy most of them.

I know, online that is, one to three writers who got in this one. So it will be interesting to see how they do. I forget if I helped crit any of these but we shall see.

Next WotF quarter

2011-09-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

Yep, still trying. Partly for the illustration: one reason-besides it being neat, for the prestige, the accomplishment of a goal, and what it would mean about my writing, I would love to win because it would be very cool to have an illustration with my story. That alone would make it worth entering.

For the next quarter I'm thinking of doing a SF story again. I have a couple of ideas plus a couple of new stories that I could use some help.

Since my muse seems to be stuck on Urban Fantasy these days I would love to do one of those but I'm not sure how WotF feel about it. The one or two I sent in didn't get very far but that could be because of my writing. There's a dark UF(that's almost redundant but not for how I usually write UF) I've written that I think is one of my better tales. I suspect they don't mind dark stories.

I know I have a better than average, unique UF story inside of me. The one's I've written seem to mostly pretty much normal for that genre.

Hmm, come to think of it, the one I sent in for this quarter could be considered UF even though not quite the usual fare for UF.

But I have time to think.

Update on two story ideas

2011-09-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

I believe I have mention these two ideas. Both inspired by a cover pic on a Dean Wesley Smith story. I've written one already, actually two different stories based on the same pic but the second one I'm having problems with. Dean's story is about a Vampire and you should read it. It came close to winning a nice award. But mine is about a werewolf. My problem is that I want to put in a twist but I've come up with one yet. I came up with three plots, all of which would make good stories, but they are just normal... if you get what I mean. One has a vamp who doesn't want to kill and she is a 'wolf who doesn't want to kill so they work something out. In another one, he helps 'wolves escape from a pack and it ends in a fight. So more thinking.

The pic can be found here http://tinyurl.com/3q8p9a2 it's part of smashwords.com so go and buy Dean's story.

The other story can be found here http://tinyurl.com/3wt8lz4 I know a different name but it's Dean. It's more a romance story so he used that name. Oops, I just realized I haven't finished the second story yet. It's on my laptop and its been too hot to take it to work. But I need to add a bit to the description of the scene.

Another WotF HM and ...

2011-09-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

Oaky, got another Honorable Mention for the quarter of '11 Writers of the Future contest.

With all the work and crits that went into it, I was hoping for a sliver HM but it's still my writing so only an HM.

But still working on those mini stories. I have two on paper and I started a Third. We will see how I publish them. I will try one to a flash market but I may try others.

And today I realized I have four stories about writing, if I can do one more I think I will do one of those five story sets with e-publishing. That seems to be a popular length for story sets.

Oh as a side issue I'm looking over more apps to see if I can put in book "Shelves" I see on a couple of other blogs. So far nothing.

A 56 word story and more

2011-08-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've mentioned that On The Premises mini contest with a story 25 to fifty words with no letter e. Interesting and frustrating exercise.

Anyway, I decided to post one of my rejects. I want to post some more of my stories any way. I said I would but I keep forgetting to work on that.

I might have gotten it under 50 but decided it there may not be enough story. If I could have entered twice I would have tried anyway.

The story. "No more Horns"

Tommy ran around outdoors without pants and shirt. Horns had grown through his hair. A pastor runs up and flings holy liquid on him.

Tommy’s said, “YIIiii!,” and sank to ground. His horns shrunk Fianlly Tommy in his right mind, stood up, ran for his pants. Told pastor thanks. Tommy ran back to his family, pastor to his church.

-----

I planned to post two more mini rejections but by the time I finished the other one I decided it was enough of a story, at 149 words, to send it to a flash market. I may add some more setting and human senses. 25 to fifty more words.

There's a third story I'm doing I thought would about the same but I think it will closer to 500 words.

My writing what there is of it

2011-08-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Worked on a story for a different Onthepremises.com contest, this one is 1,000 to 5,000 words based on myths and legends. Took a story I had already-- just finished it a month or so ago-- and added a touch more legends. I also added about fifty words which is good since it was 998 words long. Plus I improved one or two spots. Or so I hope, I have no idea if they really are improved.

I also finished that 50 words story I mentioned last note.

That's about all the writing, I've done. Oh yeah, a couple of openings on paper. I might be able to take my laptop tomorrow so I can work on that one story I referenced last time.

and there should be time tonight to do a bit of writing on "New Mage". It's been way too long since I've done any work on it and I'm feeling the strain. I want it done. I will have to redo the first three chapters, and revising and critiquing, so it will be awhile before it's fit for duty... so to speak. :) But I want it done.

New members- google+

2011-08-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

Lot of new members to hatrack lately. That's good.

I joined something called google+ seems to be pretty much a group site, like Yahoo groups except there can be video and you can post pics etc. on the post instead of a separate area. Seems to be more than just hatrack people on it though.

Tiny story and some thoughts on tiny stories

2011-08-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

Been working on a special story for the current mini contest at On The Premises. 25 to 50 words with the letter e. Egads. A side issue here, I’m more convinced than ever that these contests are writing lessons more than contests. Anyway, I made it harder on my self by misremembering it was 25 to 50 words. I finally had one with 25 words. But I made it a bit longer after I reread the rules. But as I looked it over I could hear a voice from the contest say it’s not a full story. So I slaved and slaved and now have a 49 word story with no letter e. Still don’t know if it’s a full story but it’s got to be close esp. with only 49 words. So I will send it in later tonight-- make that Sunday.

But as I saved the second original story. 83 words. It sounds more like a story. Thought I would add a few words and let it be a less than 100 word story. I might try for a couple more. Even thought about making the original 25 word story into a twitter story. If I was able to do that the thought crossed my mind to start a tweet story mag. One per week to anyone who subscribes. Maybe a dollar a week. But I don’t think so, even if I could do that many twit tales it would take too much time.

But maybe a few very short ones I could put in a flipbook if they ever come to the US as they are suppose to. There’s an earlier post about them but they are the size of a smartphone, except thicker, and flip upward instead of sideways. Maybe a flipbook with a bunch of less than 500 word stories. Most being less than 100.

Well maybe. :)

More update

2011-08-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

I mailed the letter to the editor but forgot to sign it. I realized that the next day. I'll try again Monday-this is Saturday- this time making sure I sign it.

Still want some good news concerning my writing.

Have done almost zip writing this week and last week. Did work on a tiny story but more on that in the next post. Been doing more crits than usual even though I missed one I should have done.

Been thinking about writing, Oh, I did start a new novel handwritten on paper but that was just so I could write. Actually I did two openings and a short story opening. Thought of one today that finally might be the strange one I've been wanting to write for a while. Once the weather cools enough for me to take my laptop I will write that one first.

Misc. Stuff Again

2011-08-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Not getting to write... too hot to take laptop to work and doing a bunch of critiques for others. I even missed one this weekend. Oops big time.

I kind a feel like I'm going through withdrawal feeling cranky.

Wrote a letter to local paper and will send it tomorrow.

Green Lantern

2011-07-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

Don't think I ever got around to saying anything about the movie here.

I liked it very much. Been waiting for it for ages, at least since the TV Hulk series. They changed one big thing... no one I've talked seems to know... and of course a few small things. Like how the alien, who crashed on earth and gave him the ring, died. But that wasn't so bad.

One person I talked to thought they should have spent more time with the end fight, they may have a slight point.

But here's a cartoon I think fits whatever you think of the movie.

http://www.gocomics.com/adamathome/2011/07/30/

Pardon my venting

2011-07-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

I've said this before here and most probably will say it again.

I need some good news about my writing. A sell or three would be best but I might settled for some longer personally notes which basically says I'm doing better and/or am close. But I guess that won't be coming either.

They did it again

2011-07-19T21:54:00.000-07:00

For some reason whenever Fantasy and Science Fiction takes more than a week and a couple days I start feeling like this might be it. Supposedly the longer they take the more chance of them at least taking a second look at your story. My mind knows that for me time doesn't mean anything. Six weeks two months its all the same as the usual one week.

Two weeks to the day and not even the your story couldn't hold my interest, Just the it didn't grab me line.

I know its bad but every time they're late I start feeling it. It's worse now because I've been feeling that it will happen again soon. No logical reason to feel that way- you might say a supernatural reason, my wife is praying maybe that is the reason but as I said no logical reason. My writing isn't getting better, it's either getting worse or staying on the same level.

I've said that before and I probably will say it again a few times. Nothing I do helps.

Starting a new novel--story

2011-07-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

I posted this to another blog in response to a comment the writer of the blog.

I thought it might be of interest to anyone reading this that is interested in how I write.

The subject manner is starting a novel and/or story.

I find that for me it depends. I just started a novel–mostly to get it out of my head even though I need a new one–and it’s been hard and easy. The easy part is that I know what I want for this scene and some of the backstory– the how and why he is in this situation and who he is.

But the hard part is trying to get around not using passive verbs and such. (Supposedly readers want active verbs so editors think they make a better story--personally I think it only works sometimes, other times it doesn't sound any different)

Sometimes I write an opening– usually for a story– and it takes me twenty tries to get what I see in my mind onto the paper. I just can’t twist words around to say what I want. That has nothing to do with passive or active verbs etc., it has to do with being able to say something right.

Other times though it flows easy no problems, no worries.

My inner critic can act up at times but so far I don’t see a pattern of when it decides to come out and play. When it does, sometimes I can ignore it but other times I spend too much time trying to placate it.

Rejections

2011-07-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Most editors say no in a nice way, some even try to make it sound like it's their fault that they rejected your story.

Then there are the editors who don't pull their punches.

"This is a 22-page story, and until page 10, it's just monotonous"

Of course Ideamancer was a little better, they said another story was sweet, but not enough character development for them.

Dreams

2011-07-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say that I had two dreams last night about a character I was reaing about The MC Marla Mason of T. A. Pratts series. Hmmm, can't find the title of the series but there's more info here http://marlamason.net

I think this is the first time I've had two dreams about the same character in one night. I've dreamed Honer Harrington, Dray Prescott, Harry Dresden, Star Trek and surprisingly Murder She Wrote but one at a time.

http://marlamason.net

Marla is a sorcerer and hidden leader-protector of a certain city. She takes on all comers-fighting dirty if need be- even though she usually leaves the citizens alone. The first dream was longer, which isn't unusual for my dreams, even though I can't recall the first part- which also isn't unusual- But she wanted to talk to this lady who had some magical powers and was being careful but during the conversation Marla turned into a Gorilla, as I recalled it had something to do with the conversation, she went off the the woman and somewhere turned into a something. A man sized wingless bird or??? But she kept talking as if she had always been that way. I figured she will soon realized what happened and turn herself back but I woke before it could happen.

The second dream I forget but it was kinda short.

Nook and an E-book to buy

2011-07-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

I believe I mentioned I bought a color Nook.

Here is more on it.

I bought a book from smashwords. Took longer than a desk computer because of the way they do the keyboard--you have to change it to numbers and capitals - but it worked. However I had to find the book. After a search I found it in downloads but after fiddling with it for a while I couldn't figure out how to move it to library but just before I put the Nook to sleep after giving up there it was on the My Shelf. Okay maybe it does it by itself but takes a moment or three. I know I did it once before but a special menu came up to shift the book to My Shelf. No menu this time but it's there now.

Oh and for this book it took like thirty second or less to download. The other two books I've done took a bit longer... I wondered if something went wrong but it's all there.

I'm still having problems getting the music to keep playing. It's suppose to go to the next song but so far hasn't. The song I click on plays fine and the controls work but so far it doesn't go to the next one. A Music video played fine also. Picture and sound were good quality.

BTW:

The book I bought is CONVERGENCE. by Karen T. Smith

Synopsis:

Anya is pissed when her family moves from earth to the Space Station Convergence. Everything is strange from the food (soy paste in all its colors and forms) to the frequently changing gravity conditions at her new high school. Anya soon uncovers a plot to take over the central computerís core processor. While this might not bother your typical geek, Anya is anything but your typical geek. She has discovered that the central computer is self-aware, and that computer is Anyaís first friend on the Convergence. Anya will do anything to protect her computer friend, Isis, even if it means breaking into Central Computing and telling her other new (human) friends about Isis. it

It can be found here

http://tinyurl.com/6ajpabw on Amazon

http://tinyurl.com/653evrr on B&N

smashwords.com has it too.

Sounds good. I think the first sentence is rather long but other than that it's good... so far :)

Three details

2011-07-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

Saw Green Lantern Today.

Wow, Niiice special effects.

Not too bad a story either. They changed a few things from the comics but I think kept the basics. At least on how he got chosen and about the guardians.

Except for one very important detail. They kinda of used it but not in the right way.

-------------

Finally received my certificate for getting a Honorable Mention in WotF a quarter ago. Niice. My wife wants to frame it but I don't know. She wants to know where the one I got around three years ago is but I have no idea. Well, actually I have a couple ideas but not sure.

-------

This was the last of my writing vacation. I go back to work on Monday. July11.
Didn't work on "Angel Kin" half as much as I thought I would even though I did finish chapter three with a great car chase. And have a couple of ideas for other chapters.

Worked on New Mage but didn't finish it like I planned. For someone reason I didn't feel like working on it the first week. But I may have worked that out now that it's kinda late. I am definitely on my way to the conclusion, very soon now -like after the scene I am working- NA will realize who the bad guy is and what he did to her but at the same time she will have learn to apologize and to reach deep down into her emotions for her friends. And somehow I have to get two of those friends to the bad guy's place. Either captives she has to rescue or get there to help but she doesn't need it.

I also as I mentioned before wrote a few stories. So I did get some writing in. I also spent time with my Nook, reading and figuring it out, and sent in a bunch of stories some of which I had to format correctly. I may send in two more tomorrow.

Even more stuff on my writing

2011-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Of course got my first rejection from those I sent out a day or two ago. Less than 24 hours. JJA is pretty quick but I've heard he likes writers who have some credits. (This note should have been posted before the one on JJA but some how wasn’t) If that is true I wonder if he reads the cover letters first. Those with not enough credits he just sends back. That wouldn't take him long.

Finished another story... that's six I think during this writing vacation. The one I just finished and another one used to be one story. A while back on the Baen Universe forum I posted a story for critiques. I was told there wasn't enough story so I added more story. Probably too much but the story sat for a while. After thinking on it off and on for a while I decided I wanted the original tale rather there was enough story or not but the new stuff wasn't bad. So I ripped the story apart and turned it into two separate stories. I ended up changing the original from Third Person to First and changing a couple of details and I think I added a couple of small things. Then I worked on the added story. I had to add a few details to it, finally added a knife fight to give my MC a final danger scene.

I have also started chapter eight in New Mage novel. I won't finish the novel by Monday when my vacation is over, been doing too many stories and other stuff I needed to do. But I think I have enough of an idea to do two, maybe three, more chapters. I just need to figure out a good way for my MC to get the address of someone who attacked her. Right, I have sneaking into a hospital and checking their records. But I don't know.

And I've done some significant writing in my Kin to Angels book. My MC in that one, was just involved with a car chase with competitors to the group of bad guys she is involved with. She doesn't know they are bad guys yet.

Not sure how much writing I will get done with my last two days of vacation, have an eye exam and Green Lantern to see.

But at least I finished two novels this last year and got eighty to ninety percent of a third one done. Plus quite a few stories.

John Joseph Adams

2011-07-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

John Joseph Adams. He's been an assistant editor and full editor for a number of magazines and anthologies. And he's been a... I don't know personal frustration... for years. No other editor has read more of my stuff. Even Dean Wesley Smith has read only thirty to thirty-five of my stories. JJA may have read sixty or more. I've mentioned this before but it's been awhile. Anyway, or has he read that many? As stated in an earlier post someone said he only buys from writers who have a few sells.

I did some research at Lightspeed and Fantasy Magazine. He edits both of those even though supposedly there is some editor change going on at Lightspeed even though I haven't found anything on the magazine website that states that. Which may not mean much but getting back to my topic. I checked about ten to fifteen stories at each mag. I found one writer that may have had only three published stories. All the rest had quite a few more. I have seen writer blurbs in other pro markets that state that this is the writer's first sell or they list one other published story. Seemed like I saw that when JJA worked for Fantasy and Science Fiction but can't be sure now. To be fair four or five issues is not a very large sample and a couple of those writers listed non pro markets as well as pro.

So maybe I was right in my somewhat snide comment about him reading the cover letters to check on the credits first. In which case how many stories of mine has he actually read? And should I keep trying with him? He did send my a personal note a few years ago which would have been right after my Honorable Mention sell to Strange New Worlds but I don't know if I listed it at that point.

Of course if he does read all stories the question reminds of how far has he gotten with my stories- just the opening, a few pages or the whole thing-- but that's a different discussion and the same one I can ask of any editor. If he does read my stories he most probably knows why I haven't gotten any other credits. After this amount of time that's not puzzlement.

I'll probably keep sending him stuff, who knows I may get Blessed again and at the very least he will write me another note. But it would be nice to know if does read them.

Interesting new book form

2011-07-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/43r9uhn

I don't believe it is a kindle killer but it might catch on. So we can choose, hardback, paperback, tradeback, now Flipback.

Actually for my books I would like a tradeback but if it sells big time a flipbacks would be okay with me.

Speaking of SF TV He He

2011-07-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2011/07/05/

Sent stories out

2011-07-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

Spent all afternoon sending 12 stories out. Three via snail mail and the rest via various online methods. Would have been one more but I had forgotten that a certain anthology wants only snail mail submissions.

I might wait until I send out the next one to F&SF.

There are a couple other flash markets I could have submitted to but I didn't feel like doing more right now.

Actually, it took me so long I'm surprised that JJA over at Fantasy Mag hasn't sent me a rejection already. Yep, he's that fast.

Speaking of fast IGMS sent me a rejection in only one month... wonder if they are getting faster or if it was my writing.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

Anyone reading this who isn't a citizen of the pardon me for a moment:

But this is a great country. Some have stated that they are sure that citizens of other countries believe their country is special too. And I'm sure that is true and with most countries it's true.

But there is something unique and even special about the USA. The way were founded, our constitution, our freedoms, the way we share, work together to help one another etc.. Even with the way our economy is doing right now we are still doing better than a lot of nations and from the past and the determination of many there is reason to believe we will get back to where we were.

True we haven't done everything right... Duh. Very few people would insist on hiding that but we have also done a whole lot of things right and we should stress those also. Sometimes we have done something bad because that is the way it was--it was done that way but we won through that idea, sometimes we do something that was for our well being- our interests but not necessarily for anyone else. Sometimes we sided with the lesser of two evils like when we allied with Russia during WWII But we are working on that too.

Over all though we have done more good than harm-both privately and through the government and helped tons of people. I mean TONS.

So HAPPY 4th of July and thanks be to God for our Freedoms

I may say more about that later but not now.

But if not a citizen may you have a good day working, writing or studying.

PS on inpiration

2011-07-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

went to Fantasy MAgazine to double check their word county for stories saw the pic at the top of page of the current issue of FM. It hit me... my muse got very interested and I have the basic idea for a story. Not sure when I will write it but hopefully at least start it next week. I still have the other story to do for that one Cover image at deanwesleysmith.com The romance story there that I left a link to earlier. I also need to do one with what looks like a naked very skinny woman sitting on a rock in a cold country. And I need to finish using the second half of a story-- while back I added to a story what I thoughy would give it more of a story--- decided it wasn't what I wanted so I finally ripped out the original but what remains could be a good story on it's own. Anyway I need to finish redoing that story.

In other words I'm getting to wordy here trying to say I may not be able to start this story next week.

The Fantasy Magazine pic is at http://tinyurl.com/3fmodqa

Procrastinating-needed work

2011-07-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Spent a bunch of time to day--in two sessions-- cleaning up my WIP file. Work In Progress, deleted ten to twenty files I don't need anymore, placed a few in certain folders. Rearranged a bunch too. Found three stories I had finished but never mailed out. One I knew about but thought I had sent it out once or twice. The other two I forgot about. So along with moving a couple of stories I need to revise I have something like six or seven stories finished. Three are ready to go, except for addressing them and all that. Three or four I have never revised and one or two has been critted and so needs another revision. One last one is four The Fourth quarter of WotF. I need to finish the first revision but then wait until our, on hatrack, groups formed to crit each other stories. Quarter three's deadline passed a day or so ago so we have time. The groups should be forming about now. One guy is doing all the work... he deserves a standing ovation for his work.

Anyway, cleaning out the WIP folder was needed work but at the same time it was procrastination.

Three stories almost ready

2011-06-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I will have three new stories ready to send out this weekend. Double check but it could be four.

Two are flash at 998 words each. That is one is mow. As I revise I've added a couple of words but I'll see if I can cut it back down. But it won't matter to Fantasy and Science Fiction or Strange Horizons. And another one I forget right now.

One is longer than I expected at 2,500 words but that one can go to Fantasy Magazine.

Hmm, need to do a SF tale. I have a couple half way or so done.

One of those stories I added to a while back but even though I was told I should add more of a story to it I decided to rip out what I had added and make it what it was. But I ended up turning it from third person to First and adding a touch to the story so we shall see how it does now. At least I think it's better but we shall see if anyone else things so. I still want to use what I ripped out and make another story with it. It will have the same setting as the new First person but different characters and plot.

And it looks like I am on my own with these stories. I hoped someone at hatrack would take a look at them but only got some suggestions on the opening

Getting tired

2011-06-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm getting rather tired of getting told that the same technique that pros use is forbidden for beginners to use. We're suppose to read to see how pros do it but half of the time they get away with stuff we can't. And it's not just one or two... it's like a dozen or more using the same technique.

Inspiration

2011-06-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

I originally posted this on another blog but thought it might interest someone who reads this one/ Thanks To Those Who Follow Mine.

Most of my ideas seem to come from pictures. Not all the time sometimes it’s; a line-song, other story-, an idea from a practice session-contest, a scene will just pop into my head or during a discussion about certain plots. The other day I got the beginning of an idea while reading what type of stories a certain market might want. One, a streampunk moon colony, just caught the attention of my muse. The part of me that comes up with ideas and stories etc.

Oh one idea...a yechy one but I still may do it.. came from a discussion where someone mention the type of people who have sex with dead bodies. I have practically the whole story... a horror tale... in my head. It's yechy enough so that I would use a different pen name on it.

Shaking my finger and saying "Bad Muse Bad."

Music

2011-06-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

A break from writing stuff here.

Finally got my credit card to work at iTunes. It had been so long since I bought anything they must have deleted my card. First time I tried to redo it they said the card was expired, same with the next one I tried. Oh,oh... turns out nothing wrong with the cards but it had me worried there. I might have put in the wrong month for the expiration date. Anyway it worked yesterday when I tried again... same card.

So today I wasted some time playing around...bad.. but I also procrastinated buying music. Got four of Rebo Rambo... love those horns-not to mention the songs. First time I checked on her music and they had it. Want to go back and get more at another date. Plus I got five or six of Degarmo and Key. They're my second favorite band that isn't together anymore. Great electric guitar in that group, good voices and songs too.

One died-Degarmo I think- so I will be able to see them this side of heaven. On a side issue I'm still praying that Petra will have a reunion tour here. I saw a quarter concert with them once. Should have went to their last tour even if it wasn't here... it was somewhat close.

So now I have some new music... a couple I never heard before and some I remember from years ago.