Novel in November

I stated I was do NaNoWriMo , it's almost the end of Nov and I have around 47,000 words of the 50,000 we are suppose to do. The novel won't be finished when I reach 50 however. Of course since 50,000 is way too short for publishing except for perhaps the new epublishing, I will have to go back and add a bunch anyway. But the novel has to have a real ending to count, I believe, so I will finish it.

I did this a few years ago and ended up with around 54 thousand then went back and added 20 thousand some words. Still a bit on the story side. And if I ever finish going back over it yet again I will probably be adding a few thousand, with adding show and and more descriptions. It might be up there this time.

Freelancer guide

For anyone who wants to be a pro in the writing business.

This is Dean Wesley Smith's blog but he describes it and has all the relevant links.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=2443#comments

I, at least, usually don't think of it as freelancing but I guess it is.

New post

Hey I got one follower.  Thank you, I appreciate that.


So I've been behind on my posts mostly because I be doing NaNoWRIMo which is why this post is going to be a long one, if I don't get interrupted.
For those who don't know about it more Nano at
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano

But its 50,000 words novel in 30 days--the month of November.

And Dean at deanweslysmith.com has had some interesting posts but it's heating up for him, which is really too bad. He hasn't said things that are half as bad as his detractors think they are.  But you step on people's toes and they react sometimes in not nice ways. My Pastor, Bill Chaney, well all the pastors I have had, have learned this but in their cases many of those people whose toes they step on would rather be "healed" then get angry. Sounds like not so much in Dean's case. That is really too bad as I have stated at the top. Anyway, he took down some posts that were good because of way too much hate E-mails. I hope that trend does not continue-both trends.

And I went to my local Barnes and Noble today, I have plenty of books to read but couldn't resist the 25% off coupon though. Found a new Garrett book. Hurrah. Should have that series by Glen Cook, on my favorite list. Found a Kris Longknife, by Mike Shepherd book too. Not so much on my top favorite list but a good read never the less. I do recommend it if you like space opera.

Rats, looks like No Casting Crowns or Mercy Me in the Valley this year. CC has only one concert in Calif, for the first nine months of '11. UGH.

There was more but I forget some stuff so there will be another post soon, as I recall what else I planned to say.

Oh,  looks like the story I planned to send to WotF is dead so I have to send another, probably "Sun Mining" Or "Fate At The Sun Mine" hmmm, maybe that last would be a better title. Anyway, some people think I need to redo some of it so it doesn't sound like hard SF...I don't know. I might try it anyway. It is a good, solid SF idea.

Louis

Oh yes as of right now I have appox. 28,000 words on NaNo.

When they say send in a story

Learned something new and maybe a bit encouraging. According to an assistant editor for IGMS when they say send in another story it's not just another line on a form letter-like "good luck with the story",  they mean it. They saw something in your story.


Nice to know.

Two at once, not good

Okay two different readers on different sites, who critiqued the same story for me both seem to have forgotten that not all SF has to be hard. One thought that unless I use exactly what scientists say today, I should call it space fantasy. Another one thought the opening would make readers think the story was hard SF.

Ugh...while it's possible the person who commented on the opening was right the other two must not have read that many SF stories. SF writers have been making up events, happenings, objects in space for decades...at least decades. Sometimes they have used the latest science to try to justify it--or used tech babble- while others didn't even do that.  

More on McGuire's book

As much as I like her writing I have two complaints.

One is: how about a list of who is who?  I forgot, until, she reminded us readers who Danny was. And I pretty much know Conner and Dayes' daughter, the cats and Spike (You will have to read the books to find out who these are) but who are Mitch and Stacy?  I might remember tomorrow, as I said it's late, but right now I have no idea. And all of the other kids at this after sundown party--are there really that many well adjusted half feys?

Speaking of that it seems like suddenly Daye has a lot more friends. Danny is one example. Seems like they barely knew each other.

The second compliant is that now I may have to start another novel. I'm working on three all are UF, different universes though, Two I want done by Christmas and one I'm just kind playing with at work so I can write and to get the idea out of my head. While thinking back on how I think she started her last novel, with Daye going out on the town with two female friends, an idea for an opening popped into my mind.  Now I'm going to have to do it some time. Of course it could be an idea for a Short story but it feels too large for that . It may end up being the introduction of a flashback. How she got into that situation, but I haven't decided for sure.

But it is fun working out those ideas--deciding which way what character is to go etc..

A good book

If you like good writing check out "An Artificial Night" by Seanan McGuire. Its her third October Daye novel. And I need to double check on her web site but I think its her third book period.

It's a darker Urban Fantasy series about a female PI who is half fey. She sees both sides of the Fey world -there doesn't seem much of an in-between-which is why its dark.

I have already read more than I wanted to and I just started.

John Joseph Adams

The other day I was thinking about JJA and it hit me to wonder if he now remembers my name and what he thinks of my writing? He's seen more of my stuff than even Dean Wesley Smith. So has he noticed any improvements? Wishes I would learn to write? Impressed with my determination? Two other editors have made comments my determination.

Of course this speculation doesn't help my writing at all, and most probably I will never know even though there is a chance. But this blog is for my thoughts about my writing-and a few other thing- and I spent a few minutes wondering.

So back to practice and learning.

New books

Not mine of course but when I went to Barnes and Noble last Sunday, Aug 5, I found two surprises. One was by Seanan McGuire the next one in her Daye series. Grabbed it as soon as I saw it. I must have forgotten it was supposed to be out now.  Have to wait for Butcher's next paperback and Murphy's next Walker 'till next March.

I also found a new Drake Leery book. Yea, I'm half way through it which means I'm reading it too fast. Grabbed it also

Politics

Copy of Editor letter I sent to my local paper. It looks like they're not going to print it even though they have two more days before I totally give up.

A few words about why some of us are against the Mosque at Ground zero. It’s has nothing to do with hindering religious freedom. The imum is still free to be an Imum dissipate the negative statements he made about the US on national TV and during speeches. They can still build the mosque elsewhere. Nowhere in the constitution does it say a place of worship has to be built the first place chosen by those who want it built. Throughout the country churches have been told not there, I know of a church in Fresno that didn’t build in a certain neighborhood because those who lived there didn’t want a church nearby.

I have problems believing that the Imam really is a bridge builder. Even with the great opposition he, for some strange unknown reason, still demands it be built there. A place many consider to be part of ground zero. A part of one plane damaged the building now there. But even if only debris hit it that still would be close enough to be ground zero. I say build the new mosque as far away it takes for the extreme Muslims not to consider it a victory. 

Star Trek media

Last Sunday at Barnes and Noble I noticed two different ST images.

One was whether gross the other worth a smile, almost a giggle.

Actually the first one was intended to be humorous I think also.


It was a cover of a book entitled "Night Of The Living Trekkies". It showed a zombie dressed in a TOS costume--blue shirt.  He carried a bloody arm with a hand in the Vulcan salute.

The other pic was on a calendar titled "Humorous Faces", I think. It showed a dog with a long muzzle and tall narrow ears that stuck straight up. He was dressed in a blue TOS shirt and had what looked like short black hair combed just right between the ears.