It occurs to me that people who read me here may be interested to know that I have several fan fiction writing gigs that I'll be teaching via The Loft Literary Center coming up:
First, for TEENS:
On Monday, October 13 from 6:00-7:30 pm I'll be the Loft's "First Pages" instructor for "Writing Fan Fiction" a program for teens at the Savage Library. The library is located at 13090 Alabama Ave South, Savage, MN.
The program description reads: Do you long to carry on the amazing story lines of your favorite novels, and live with your most treasured characters beyond the final page of the final chapter? That's what fan fiction is for! Learn how to carry on your favorite story lines--and invent your own--in this engaging class on extending the lives of your favorite characters.
On Thursday, October 16 as part of the Teen Writing Converence at the Loft, I'll be teaching a 75-minute workshop called "Capturing Kudos: Pro Tips for Improving Your Fan Fiction
The program description reads: Some people might tell you that writing fan fic is 'easier' because so much has already been established in terms of characterization and world-building. The people who say that, however, probably haven't actually tried it. The truth is, fan fiction requires all the same skills as writing anything, plus the author has to be constantly aware of canon and how it reflects on what they're writing (even AU), as well as readers who might scream OOC! This workshop will give you pro tips on how to improve your writing in general and in specific to fan fic's quirks from the perspective of someone who is not only a professionally published author, but also a prolific fan writer as well. As part of this workshop, we will practice beta reading for each other with an eye on setting, themes, conflict, and sensory details.
Second, for ADULTS:
My friend Rachel Gold and I will be co-teaching: "Using Fan Fiction to Improve Your Writing" on Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. from January 21 to February 25, 2015--which will be part of the Loft's winter course catalogue. Technically, we're waiting for Rachel to confirm, but I wanted to get this info out there so that people can plan ahead. The Loft classes can be pretty pricey, but keep in mind there are always a few, limited number of scholarships available.
I haven;t yet heard from the Loft about whether or not my solo proposal for an in-class winter Science Fiction/Fantasy class is going to go, but I'm excited to be co-teaching with Rachel, if nothing else. Should be a blast. I'll post our course description once everything is 100% confirmed. In fact, you may be hearing about this class a lot, since I really want it to be successful. First of all, I think there's a huge market for it and it would be wonderful for the Loft to recognize that and offer more classes like it. Second, it would just be nifty to have a legit way to get paid to talk about fan fic! :-)
Friday, August 22, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Textbook Feelings
Every time I pick up a book about drawing, I end up learning more about myself than I do art.
Lowe’s book should have been perfect for me, but after reading through it several times and trying some of the examples, I ended up instead with a visceral emotional response which can be summed up in two words: I suck.
The forward and introduction to Lowe’s book suggest this is the very last feeling that I should’ve come away with. Lowe is very much of the belief (as am I) that art, like any skill, can be learned by anyone regardless of innate talent given enough time and energy.
I’m not sure what it is about this book that left me with that feeling. As I’ve said, this is a textbook aimed at teaching basics. Yet I left it feeling like there was no way I could ever master any of it (despite being far from a novice artist,) and it was all too overwhelming.
I wonder if it wasn’t because all the art shown was so good? This is one of those art textbooks where I’m already green with envy just looking at the instruction images that are supposed to be teaching me to see basic shapes in every day items, and instead of seeing the circles and squares, I’m thinking: damn, look at that cool apple! How come I can’t draw an apple like that??
There are a few playful images in the textbook, but even those examples showcase tremendous skill in background drawing. There were no examples that made me feel: oh, hey, I can do that.
There were no suggestions for work-arounds. Like, for instance, in my own comic book art, I have been known to cheat. I’ll take original photographs and use them as background images:
The other thing that was missing from this book that’s been tremendously helpful for me, as someone who has considered coming into graphic novel writing from the other side is, a script. There’s a very specific kind of writing format that comic book WRITERS use that I’ve been privileged to see thanks to a friend of mine who works for Marvel and DC. What looking at those taught me was how important it is for the writer of comic books (if they’re not the artist) to think visually as well and consider how much text/dialogue can reasonably fit in a panel.
So, while I think this is probably an awesome textbook to go with a class, I’m not entirely sure how well it works for me. There are two huge chapters at the end of this book that are specific to digital programs that I’m not using. I would have preferred that space be used to talk more about the business of comic book writing.
Your mileage may vary.
As I said, my strong emotional reaction to what is essentially a textbook surprised me.
P.S. If you're curious about my initial response, I catalogued it here: http://lydamorehouse.dreamwidth.org/348468.html
I ordered Foundations in Comic Book Art: Fundamental Tools and Techniques for Sequential Artists by John Paul Lowe from Blogging for Books this month because I’m a frustrated artist.
As the title suggests, this is a book aimed at teaching fundamentals to beginners. It is a book chock full of exercises focused on improving basic skills, from learning to draw straight lines to understanding the specialized needs of visual storytelling. The example art throughout is magnificent, and for every lesson there’s a written and visual example. The tone of the book is fairly serious. It is clearly intended for someone like myself, who is desperately looking a way to ‘level up,’ and gain the extra skill sets needed to become a comic book artist/graphic novelist.
Lowe’s book should have been perfect for me, but after reading through it several times and trying some of the examples, I ended up instead with a visceral emotional response which can be summed up in two words: I suck.
The forward and introduction to Lowe’s book suggest this is the very last feeling that I should’ve come away with. Lowe is very much of the belief (as am I) that art, like any skill, can be learned by anyone regardless of innate talent given enough time and energy.
I’m not sure what it is about this book that left me with that feeling. As I’ve said, this is a textbook aimed at teaching basics. Yet I left it feeling like there was no way I could ever master any of it (despite being far from a novice artist,) and it was all too overwhelming.
I wonder if it wasn’t because all the art shown was so good? This is one of those art textbooks where I’m already green with envy just looking at the instruction images that are supposed to be teaching me to see basic shapes in every day items, and instead of seeing the circles and squares, I’m thinking: damn, look at that cool apple! How come I can’t draw an apple like that??
There are a few playful images in the textbook, but even those examples showcase tremendous skill in background drawing. There were no examples that made me feel: oh, hey, I can do that.
There were no suggestions for work-arounds. Like, for instance, in my own comic book art, I have been known to cheat. I’ll take original photographs and use them as background images:
The other thing that was missing from this book that’s been tremendously helpful for me, as someone who has considered coming into graphic novel writing from the other side is, a script. There’s a very specific kind of writing format that comic book WRITERS use that I’ve been privileged to see thanks to a friend of mine who works for Marvel and DC. What looking at those taught me was how important it is for the writer of comic books (if they’re not the artist) to think visually as well and consider how much text/dialogue can reasonably fit in a panel.
So, while I think this is probably an awesome textbook to go with a class, I’m not entirely sure how well it works for me. There are two huge chapters at the end of this book that are specific to digital programs that I’m not using. I would have preferred that space be used to talk more about the business of comic book writing.
Your mileage may vary.
As I said, my strong emotional reaction to what is essentially a textbook surprised me.
P.S. If you're curious about my initial response, I catalogued it here: http://lydamorehouse.dreamwidth.org/348468.html
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Manga Wednesday
Mason and I giggled our way through our podcast this morning: 21: Zombies Lose Their Sh*t. Go listen if you're at all interested in hearing us mutter vaguely incoherently about Bleach, One Piece, and Toriko (with smatterings of squee for Bleach List Girl, and discussions of Fairy Tale, Gekken Shoujo Nozaki-kun [the anime], and Hourou Musuko.)
In other news, our car broke down this morning. It sucked, but there were some good things about it: it wasn't far from home (just up the block), it was early enough that Shawn could easily catch the bus, and it might be something fairly simple like my alternator. The tow truck guy was nice and he was able to take it away and leave us at home. It might be a hassle to go pick it up, but at least we get to wait for news about repair costs in the comfort of our own home. Sucks, but, honestly? I can't complain too much.
In other news, our car broke down this morning. It sucked, but there were some good things about it: it wasn't far from home (just up the block), it was early enough that Shawn could easily catch the bus, and it might be something fairly simple like my alternator. The tow truck guy was nice and he was able to take it away and leave us at home. It might be a hassle to go pick it up, but at least we get to wait for news about repair costs in the comfort of our own home. Sucks, but, honestly? I can't complain too much.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Back from Vacation!
After a short hiatus while my family was on vacation to Washington, DC, I'm back to posting my work-in-progress over at Wattpad. You can read "Part 20: Shatterer of Worlds" here: http://www.wattpad.com/66446311-unjust-cause-part-20-shatterer-of-worlds
My description for this one is: "In which Alex discovers just how much she sucks as a fugitive from the law."
Also, you may see a spike in activity over here. My alter ego's LJ has finally exceeded its free photo storage limit, and since I have a TON of vacation pictures I'd like to share, I may post them here along with a travelogue of our adventures and mis-adventures. I'm still not quite sure if that's the best solution since it's so difficult to tell who uses my LJ and for what. I mean, for the most part, people have been saying Live Journal is dead for years. Yet, I know plenty of people who seem to still follow my alter ego there.
Honestly, there's been a lot of talk on one of my e-mail writers' groups about how blogs are kind of dead, too. Most people are finding out news about their favorite authors through social media like Twitter and Facebook. So... who knows what the smartest thing to do is.
My description for this one is: "In which Alex discovers just how much she sucks as a fugitive from the law."
Also, you may see a spike in activity over here. My alter ego's LJ has finally exceeded its free photo storage limit, and since I have a TON of vacation pictures I'd like to share, I may post them here along with a travelogue of our adventures and mis-adventures. I'm still not quite sure if that's the best solution since it's so difficult to tell who uses my LJ and for what. I mean, for the most part, people have been saying Live Journal is dead for years. Yet, I know plenty of people who seem to still follow my alter ego there.
Honestly, there's been a lot of talk on one of my e-mail writers' groups about how blogs are kind of dead, too. Most people are finding out news about their favorite authors through social media like Twitter and Facebook. So... who knows what the smartest thing to do is.
Saturday, August 09, 2014
Latest chapters of SnK and Ao No Exorcist Reviewed...
Because our podcast will be on hiatus next week, I wrote up my thoughts on the latest chapters of Shingeki no Kyjoin (aka Attack on Titan) #60 and Ao no Exorcist (aka Blue Exorcist) #59 on our MangaKast site: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/08/09/review-newest-snk-and-ao-no-exorcist/
Friday, August 08, 2014
Will Write for Donation...
In support of the anthology Accessing the Future, my alter ego is offering to write your name into a brand-new AngeLINK story. That bonus is at the $250 level, but, if you buy this, I would also take prompts. Is there something in the books you always wish I'd write? A favorite character you wish I would revisit? Just let me know if you buy this and I'll do my best to fulfill your wishes, PLUS add your name to the story.
You can also donate at a lower level and get e-copies of all my novels, plus a bonus short story "The Case of the Missing Devil Child" which appeared in the first issue of Simulacum back in 2003.
Interested?
You can also donate at a lower level and get e-copies of all my novels, plus a bonus short story "The Case of the Missing Devil Child" which appeared in the first issue of Simulacum back in 2003.
Interested?
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Updates and Such...
First, since it's Wedsneday, you should check out Mason and I doing our manga thing:http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/20-manga-and-gender-and-more/
In this one we actually almost touch on something deep... well, to some extent, given that I'm talking about all this without a lot of coffee and very off the cuff. I've been on a not-so-very-serious quest to uncover more information about intersexed and transgendered representations in manga after the appearance of Giselle in Bleach. I found an interesting manga at the library called Wandering Son (which is alternately translated as Transient Son) about boy who wants to dress as/be a girl and After School Nightmare about an intersexed character who is forced to chose a gender identity as part of 'graduation' from a very weird (and dreamscape) high school (I did not, for reasons, read much of that one.) At any rate, I can't say that I've anything terribly insightful to say in the podcast, but I may end up doing a manga review of Wandering Son once I read a bit more of it, because... well, it rather combines all my interests: manga and GLBT issues.
The other fun thing that's happened in my life is that I got tapped to write a story for GISHWHES, which I'd never heard of before, but which is, apparently, a world-wide scavenger hunt organized by the actor Misha Collins (of Supernatural and, in my universe, Tumblr ships.) The request was not hard. The requirement was "a previously published science fiction author" writes a story LESS THAN 140 words involving Misha Collins (see above), the Queen of England, and the mascot of this year's scavenger hunt: an eliopus (a half-elephant/half-octopus.) I felt kind of honored to be asked because, well, truthfully, sometimes I don't feel very much like an author of the sort that gets asked to do these kinds of things (when I asked about this on my super-secret pro e-mail list I found out that people of the caliber like Charlie Stross and Garth Nix were getting inundated with requests.) So, you know, that made me feel like one of big league, which I almost never do.
And anyway, once I read the funny little job interview for "El Eliopus" on Craig's List (linked above) the story sort of wrote itself. Plus, the scavenger hunt itself is kind of amusing and cool-sounding if you read about it, so I was happy to help. It took me ten minutes, if that. So, you know, and easy job that made me feel part of something.
Otherwise, I've been working like mad on a project that will be launching in September. I'll have more news about that soon, but Garnet Lacey fans may have something to look forward to....
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
Tuesday Treats (with a bonus question)
I almost wanted to call this one "Dumpster
Divining" because that's such a wonderful idea, but Nana Spider has
already shuffled off with her plastic bag companions. Thus, Alex is left
wondering just what she is and decides to talk to the one person who would
know.... her father, only, he's forgotten his cell at home, so who should pick
up, but Alex's stepmonster....
So, go check that out, if you're so inclined. Once again, it's a bit short. I was going to go on, but then the final line was just TOO GOOD, so I left it there.
The title of this blog hints at a bonus question, so here it is: I'm doing a thing I can't entirely talk about yet (yeah, it's one of those annoying 'seekrit' project type things,) but as part of it I'm going to be resurrecting one of the characters from my novels. I'm wondering how excited people would be to see Daniel Parrish again or has everyone mostly forgotten the Garnet Lacey novels?
Yeah... I think I'll just leave that hanging there too..... *wicked laughter*
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Unjust Tuesdays
Nana Spider speaks in riddles and rhymes, but Alex finally learns something about her true nature: http://www.wattpad.com/62506189-unjust-cause-part-18-said-the-spider-to-the-dragon
That's right... the new installment is up on Wattpad for your enjoyment.
It's a little short this time, and I have to apologize. My morning was eaten up by my son's 5th grade "celebration" (read: faux graduation). He's left behind Elementary School and is now officially a middle grader... it was kind of a big thing, so I couldn't miss it. But, that meant I got going far, far later than normal.
That's right... the new installment is up on Wattpad for your enjoyment.
It's a little short this time, and I have to apologize. My morning was eaten up by my son's 5th grade "celebration" (read: faux graduation). He's left behind Elementary School and is now officially a middle grader... it was kind of a big thing, so I couldn't miss it. But, that meant I got going far, far later than normal.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Comics & The Digital Age
Marvel is giving away some digital comic books for free this week. There are three titles (Deadpool, Iron Man, and Wolverine) and, for each, you get two issues at no cost (if you follow the links I've provided to the series, be sure to scroll down to the listing of the individual books and you'll see the first two offered for free). For me, this is a win-win situation because: free. I have a hard time not enjoying the heck out of anything I don't have to pay for--this was a serious detriment when I used to review movies for a small, local newspaper.
So far I've read Deadpool: Gauntlet Infinite #1 & #2 and Iron Man: The Fatal Frontier Infinite #1 and, guess, what? I enjoyed the heck out of them.
First of all, I haven't had a lot of previous experience with digital comics and I had no idea the extent to which the Marvel Comic Reader app-thingie made the experience far more like watching an animated short than reading a comic book. Panels appear and disappear in a way that give you a sense of movement. This is particularly impressive in the scene in Deadpool: Gauntlet Infinite #1where Deadpool is slashing through some bus exhaust, trying to hit what he thinks is a vampire who has turned invisible (the vampire actually hopped on top of the bus.) Also, the way that the opening "credits" were done in Deadpool was a very obvious James Bond movie nod.
Really well done (plus, I like Reilly Brown's art tremendously.)
So, if you've never read a digital comic book before, I might simply recommend any one of these as a 'just try the experience' kind of recommendation. Because, it really is quite nifty.
As for the stories... one thing I LOVE about comic books is that they tap into my willingness to suspend all disbelief and roll with Soviets on the moon and vampires in London. You know, sometimes as a writer, I get really caught up listening to that internal editor who is always so busy telling me that my ideas are ridiculous and silly. Then, I pick up a published issue of a Marvel comic and I think, "Yeah, no, I'm good."
That's not to say that I thought the stories were stupid. No, just the opposite. The writing entertained a very secret part of me that wants to go back to the Moon, even if it's to fight a disgruntled Soviet machine who feels we stole the moon from them, or that would like to raid Egyptian tombs for living mummy brides for Dracula. I mean, yes! So much yes! These are the stories that, if I think about them too hard I will find problems with, but my inner thirteen year old is like, "Go!" and that ignite and rekindle my sense of wonder.
So far I've read Deadpool: Gauntlet Infinite #1 & #2 and Iron Man: The Fatal Frontier Infinite #1 and, guess, what? I enjoyed the heck out of them.
First of all, I haven't had a lot of previous experience with digital comics and I had no idea the extent to which the Marvel Comic Reader app-thingie made the experience far more like watching an animated short than reading a comic book. Panels appear and disappear in a way that give you a sense of movement. This is particularly impressive in the scene in Deadpool: Gauntlet Infinite #1where Deadpool is slashing through some bus exhaust, trying to hit what he thinks is a vampire who has turned invisible (the vampire actually hopped on top of the bus.) Also, the way that the opening "credits" were done in Deadpool was a very obvious James Bond movie nod.
Really well done (plus, I like Reilly Brown's art tremendously.)
So, if you've never read a digital comic book before, I might simply recommend any one of these as a 'just try the experience' kind of recommendation. Because, it really is quite nifty.
As for the stories... one thing I LOVE about comic books is that they tap into my willingness to suspend all disbelief and roll with Soviets on the moon and vampires in London. You know, sometimes as a writer, I get really caught up listening to that internal editor who is always so busy telling me that my ideas are ridiculous and silly. Then, I pick up a published issue of a Marvel comic and I think, "Yeah, no, I'm good."
That's not to say that I thought the stories were stupid. No, just the opposite. The writing entertained a very secret part of me that wants to go back to the Moon, even if it's to fight a disgruntled Soviet machine who feels we stole the moon from them, or that would like to raid Egyptian tombs for living mummy brides for Dracula. I mean, yes! So much yes! These are the stories that, if I think about them too hard I will find problems with, but my inner thirteen year old is like, "Go!" and that ignite and rekindle my sense of wonder.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
MangaKast 18 (With Bonus Fan Art)
I drew Renji last night because I felt like it. If you're ever curious about my crappy fan /art you can feel free to browse my deviantART account (which is under my secret fan name): http://junko222.deviantart.com.
Here's the link to the MangaKast, if you're interested: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/you-are-my-sunshine-eighteen/
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Newest Installment
The newest installment is up on Wattpad. In this exciting episode, tool-welding magpies stage a jail break! Part 17: The Cleverness of Birds
I wrote this latest bit while watching the birds in the feeder just outside my sunroom window. If there's a lot of repetition of the word "fluttering" it because those noisy little so-and-sos were doing just that. We have a lot of trees around our house, so there's a been a plethora a squawking babies demanding beak-feeding at the feeder as well.
I wrote this latest bit while watching the birds in the feeder just outside my sunroom window. If there's a lot of repetition of the word "fluttering" it because those noisy little so-and-sos were doing just that. We have a lot of trees around our house, so there's a been a plethora a squawking babies demanding beak-feeding at the feeder as well.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Manga Madness
Mason and I actually recorded our MangaKast #17 early because a number of the weeklies came out early. There is much silliness, accidental poetry, squee, and spoilers for Bleach, Toriko, and Ao no Exorcist/Blue Exorcist.
https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/seventeen-came-early/
https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/seventeen-came-early/
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Tuesday with Tate!
Yep, it's that time again. There's another short adventure for you to enjoy up on Wattpad:
There's a lot of magic happening in this bit, as Alex finds herself arrested for assault and tossed into a holding cell that seems to have been built to hold a very specific thing....
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Hella History
So, I think I posted here that I got an e-mail inviting me to try out "Blogging for Books," which, when I went to check it out, appears to be a Random House thing where you get free books if you post a review about them somewhere. Free books is never a bad deal and they had a graphic novel check-box, so I thought, okay, what the heck, and had them send me "The Harlem Hellfighters" Max Brooks/Caanan White.
So, here are my thoughts:
The Harlem Hellfighters follows an all-black regiment in WWI and showcases the racism they dealt with and their astounding bravery in spite of it. This is typically the kind of tale that I never get tired of, the against-all-odds heroes who go above and beyond duty—all while being spit on (and worse) by their fellow soldiers. This story gets an extra boost because the regiment is real and many of the characters that appear in the pages come straight out of history.
The author, Max Brooks, is best known for his World War Z comic book, which, admittedly, I haven’t read yet. And, while I enjoyed The Harlem Hellfighters, I’m not sure that this book would make me seek out his other work. I feel that maybe because Brooks was trying to hit all the history, he missed out on a stronger narrative opportunity or two. The Harlem Hellfighters would make a great addition to a junior high/high school library because it’s really more a ‘fun’ way to read about history than a graphic novel for comic book fans, you know? I didn’t leave this graphic novel thinking, “Wow, this was a great story! I loved Edge’s character!” so much as, “Wow, I learned a lot.”
Which surprised me, because there are some amazingly moving scenes and we, for the most part, follow a single character. I can’t quite put my finger on why I was never able to sink my teeth into this. It might be the skipping through history; it might also be the art.
Like a lot of graphic novel/comic book fans, I need to have both working for me to get the ultimate experience. I can enjoy a book where the art is better than the story, and visa versa, but it’s a far better ride for me when both are hitting the same notes. I wonder if I’d have felt differently if it were an affordable option to print all the pages in color. Regardless, at this point it comes down to preference and stylistic bents… and, thus, to each their own. My experience with the Caanan White's art might be completely different than yours.
So, I guess, ultimately, I’d give The Harlem Hellfighters a recommendation to anyone interested in World War 1 history, African American experiences, or the history of racism in America (and Europe.) For comic book/graphic novel fans, it could be hit and miss. I would still say check it out if this sounds like your kind of thing. (I should note, the cover price is $16.95, not too steep for a graphic novel, many Marvel collections for instance are much higher, though you do often get full-color pages in those.)
So, here are my thoughts:
The Harlem Hellfighters follows an all-black regiment in WWI and showcases the racism they dealt with and their astounding bravery in spite of it. This is typically the kind of tale that I never get tired of, the against-all-odds heroes who go above and beyond duty—all while being spit on (and worse) by their fellow soldiers. This story gets an extra boost because the regiment is real and many of the characters that appear in the pages come straight out of history.
The author, Max Brooks, is best known for his World War Z comic book, which, admittedly, I haven’t read yet. And, while I enjoyed The Harlem Hellfighters, I’m not sure that this book would make me seek out his other work. I feel that maybe because Brooks was trying to hit all the history, he missed out on a stronger narrative opportunity or two. The Harlem Hellfighters would make a great addition to a junior high/high school library because it’s really more a ‘fun’ way to read about history than a graphic novel for comic book fans, you know? I didn’t leave this graphic novel thinking, “Wow, this was a great story! I loved Edge’s character!” so much as, “Wow, I learned a lot.”
Which surprised me, because there are some amazingly moving scenes and we, for the most part, follow a single character. I can’t quite put my finger on why I was never able to sink my teeth into this. It might be the skipping through history; it might also be the art.
Like a lot of graphic novel/comic book fans, I need to have both working for me to get the ultimate experience. I can enjoy a book where the art is better than the story, and visa versa, but it’s a far better ride for me when both are hitting the same notes. I wonder if I’d have felt differently if it were an affordable option to print all the pages in color. Regardless, at this point it comes down to preference and stylistic bents… and, thus, to each their own. My experience with the Caanan White's art might be completely different than yours.
So, I guess, ultimately, I’d give The Harlem Hellfighters a recommendation to anyone interested in World War 1 history, African American experiences, or the history of racism in America (and Europe.) For comic book/graphic novel fans, it could be hit and miss. I would still say check it out if this sounds like your kind of thing. (I should note, the cover price is $16.95, not too steep for a graphic novel, many Marvel collections for instance are much higher, though you do often get full-color pages in those.)
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Tuesday with Tate
Yep, so here it is, Tuesday... and yes, a new installment is ready for you at WattPad, which I cleverly named, "Part 15: A Damn Dam" (wait for it, it makes sense. I promise), in which the two demons continue to interrogate Alex:
http://www.wattpad.com/58616453-unjust-cause-part-15-a-damn-dam
Sorry I didn't continue my convention report. I got caught up in some post-con drama (all of which has been not only resolved, but well exceeded my expectations.) I may write about all of it at some point, but suffice to say that there was some panel confusion and Programming is awesome. My take away being, however, that there are some regional conventions that could learn a lot about conflict resolution from the folks at CONvergence.
I will, however, post more about it (including more cool costumes) this week. I do, however, considering that today is more UnJust Cause, show you something AWESOME. A friend of mine cosplayed Alex!
Amazing, right? She even has (thought you can't see it because my camera decided to act up), blue extensions in her hair--because Alex's blue dye-job is growing out, if you remember that detail from the book. The snake tattoo and the coroner shirt, of course, make it.
http://www.wattpad.com/58616453-unjust-cause-part-15-a-damn-dam
Sorry I didn't continue my convention report. I got caught up in some post-con drama (all of which has been not only resolved, but well exceeded my expectations.) I may write about all of it at some point, but suffice to say that there was some panel confusion and Programming is awesome. My take away being, however, that there are some regional conventions that could learn a lot about conflict resolution from the folks at CONvergence.
I will, however, post more about it (including more cool costumes) this week. I do, however, considering that today is more UnJust Cause, show you something AWESOME. A friend of mine cosplayed Alex!
Amazing, right? She even has (thought you can't see it because my camera decided to act up), blue extensions in her hair--because Alex's blue dye-job is growing out, if you remember that detail from the book. The snake tattoo and the coroner shirt, of course, make it.
Saturday, July 05, 2014
There's an App for That: #CVG2014
Seriously, these CONvergence people are good. I really rather adore waking up to have my schedule magically in my in-box. Here's today's:
3:30pm-4:30pm
Plaza 2
Anime Series: Year in Review
A yearly showcase of the past year's best anime series, presented by a group of anime fans who've watched and enjoyed them. Those looking to enter the anime fandom as well as those who've been otaku for years are welcome to attend. Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Jessi Silver, Boris Smelov, Jo Thrace, Heather Deakman
5:00pm-6:00pm
Atrium 2
SF Writing Groups: The 2014 Scene
This annual (since 1986) get together of the Minnesota Imaginative Fiction Writers' Alliance helps science fiction/fantasy writing groups link with writers who are looking for a critique group. Panelists: Eric M. Heideman (mod), Lyda Morehouse, Tyler Tork
10:00pm-11:00pm
Atrium 6
Loki Can Rule Me Any Day
Loki is very popular, even though he wasn't the main character (or even necessarily a "good guy"). An exploration of side characters who have become fan favorites. Wolverine, Agent Coulson, Jayne, Connie Mk II - What makes us like them so much? Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Kamuran Paradis, Damarra Atkins, Todd Murray, Anne Lyle
11:30pm-12:30am
Plaza 2
Which Supers Should Hook Up?
If Thor and Storm got together, they would have cute little thunderbabies. Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Kenneth Konkol, Lathan Murrell, Samma Johnson (mod), Christopher Jones
So, a busy day, but all starting afternoon, which will be a nice thing.
Yesterday, I brought Mason along. He last minute decided to cosplay kid-Luffy, from One Piece. We spent much of the morning in search of the Straw Hat crew. Instead, we found a lot of really great cross/cosplay Marvel characters:
These ladies were really good (also traveling with a Thor and Tony Stark, though I only saw them later at the Marvel panel.) I was particularly enamored of Nicole Fury, as she had the perfect Wolverine claw mark scars visible under her eyepatch.
Lady Deadpool! Every con needs a Deadpool, why not a Lady Deadpool?
Fourth of July is Steve Rogers's birthday, so I wished this Stephanie Rogers a happy one and complimented her amazing 1940s style hair. (She defied my picture skills, though. Blurry here a little, but much worse when I tried to get her to pose with the two Peggys that were also at the Marvel panel.)
Another Cap (though, tbf, she might have been dressing as one of the traveling dance troupe.) Probably my favorite thing about a lot of the Captain American cosplayers is that they can embrace the 1940s aesthetic and be beautifully buxom and curvy.
There might have been a secret organization that was placing people in key positions at con, but I won't say who they were (*whispers*Hail, Hydra!*whispers*)
And, Old School Gambit, who isn't cross playing*, but come on! Look at this! It's perfect:
*today, according to
naomikritzer this guy often cross plays "Slave Girl Leia." Rumor has it he's coming as "Slave Boy Leo" today, so I'll be sure to try to catch a shot of him, if I can, because that sounds phenomenal.
Mason and I spent much of con wandering around looking at all the cool costumers and wandering around the dealer's room. He bought a new Munchkin pack (zombies this time) and I found a cell phone charm of Renji/Hihio Zabimaru chibi, and I can never, ever resist chibi Zabimaru. Sadly, my cell phone does not have the technology to accommodate a charm. Seriously. It's not a smart phone, so I have no case to which I can hook such things. But, it was cheap and will fit my keyring just the same.
The Marvel Roundup panel was phenomenal. I had great fellow panelists and despite my voice, I managed to squee and maybe even make a few points of interest here and there. With any luck, you'll be able to judge for yourself. One of the panelists, Shaun Duke, is (among other things) a podcaster and he recorded us for his Hugo Award-nominated Skiffy and Fanty Show. If our panel gets posted there, I'll send along a direct link. It was probably the most high energy panel I've had so far, so I would think it would make a fantastic podcast.
Then there was more wandering, and Mason finally caught up with some of his crew:
Here's Mason with Zoro (green-hair) and Nami (orange-hair):
And in a time paradox, an older Luffy!
My final panel was "Cyberpunk 101," which went fairly well. Admittedly, my energy was starting to flag. Probably the most interesting part of the panel for me was the fact that one of my fellow panelists was a light side hacker. He was an honest-to-goodness Mouse, a phone freak from the 1980s. (And yes, he let us touch his hem.) I could have listened to his stories for the full hour.
Instead, we talked about a lot of different aspects of cyberpunk and, once again, the audience had some really amazing, mind-blowing questions and thoughts about the future of cyberpunk. Because the question kept coming up, "If we're living in a world already predicted, where we're saturated with technology, how do you write beyond that point? Or, maybe more importantly, is it necessary to?"
And I don't know. People often ask me if I'll ever return to the AngeLINK universe and I'm hesitant. I love the characters, but the world is getting harder and harder to reach back for because it's become a kind of AU where Facebook and Tumblr and Google glasses never happened.
The point was also made that one of the things cyberpunk spoke to was the fears of the day, "What if we become so dependent on our technology that we're no longer human?" That's not really the thing we worry about these days. We worry about the environment. We *do* still worry about corporations taking over, but a lot of what we feared has already come to pass. I mean, corporations as people? Pretty sure that was warned about in any number of early cyberpunk novels.
Also, as our resident hacker pointed out, it's actually a bit harder to by-pass The Man. Technology has outpaced some simple phone hacks. It's harder to break-in and it's much, MUCH harder to escape without leaving a trace.
Our fiction has also become a lot darker. No one believes any more that taking out one corporation/Power That Be will solve all the problems... without causing others. The revolution is murky and complicated and deeply underfunded...
It was a good panel, but in comparison to the squee fest of the Marvel Roundup it felt far lower key. But maybe that was because it was "meatier."
3:30pm-4:30pm
Plaza 2
Anime Series: Year in Review
A yearly showcase of the past year's best anime series, presented by a group of anime fans who've watched and enjoyed them. Those looking to enter the anime fandom as well as those who've been otaku for years are welcome to attend. Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Jessi Silver, Boris Smelov, Jo Thrace, Heather Deakman
5:00pm-6:00pm
Atrium 2
SF Writing Groups: The 2014 Scene
This annual (since 1986) get together of the Minnesota Imaginative Fiction Writers' Alliance helps science fiction/fantasy writing groups link with writers who are looking for a critique group. Panelists: Eric M. Heideman (mod), Lyda Morehouse, Tyler Tork
10:00pm-11:00pm
Atrium 6
Loki Can Rule Me Any Day
Loki is very popular, even though he wasn't the main character (or even necessarily a "good guy"). An exploration of side characters who have become fan favorites. Wolverine, Agent Coulson, Jayne, Connie Mk II - What makes us like them so much? Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Kamuran Paradis, Damarra Atkins, Todd Murray, Anne Lyle
11:30pm-12:30am
Plaza 2
Which Supers Should Hook Up?
If Thor and Storm got together, they would have cute little thunderbabies. Panelists: Lyda Morehouse, Kenneth Konkol, Lathan Murrell, Samma Johnson (mod), Christopher Jones
So, a busy day, but all starting afternoon, which will be a nice thing.
Yesterday, I brought Mason along. He last minute decided to cosplay kid-Luffy, from One Piece. We spent much of the morning in search of the Straw Hat crew. Instead, we found a lot of really great cross/cosplay Marvel characters:
These ladies were really good (also traveling with a Thor and Tony Stark, though I only saw them later at the Marvel panel.) I was particularly enamored of Nicole Fury, as she had the perfect Wolverine claw mark scars visible under her eyepatch.
Lady Deadpool! Every con needs a Deadpool, why not a Lady Deadpool?
Fourth of July is Steve Rogers's birthday, so I wished this Stephanie Rogers a happy one and complimented her amazing 1940s style hair. (She defied my picture skills, though. Blurry here a little, but much worse when I tried to get her to pose with the two Peggys that were also at the Marvel panel.)
Another Cap (though, tbf, she might have been dressing as one of the traveling dance troupe.) Probably my favorite thing about a lot of the Captain American cosplayers is that they can embrace the 1940s aesthetic and be beautifully buxom and curvy.
There might have been a secret organization that was placing people in key positions at con, but I won't say who they were (*whispers*Hail, Hydra!*whispers*)
And, Old School Gambit, who isn't cross playing*, but come on! Look at this! It's perfect:
*today, according to
naomikritzer this guy often cross plays "Slave Girl Leia." Rumor has it he's coming as "Slave Boy Leo" today, so I'll be sure to try to catch a shot of him, if I can, because that sounds phenomenal.Mason and I spent much of con wandering around looking at all the cool costumers and wandering around the dealer's room. He bought a new Munchkin pack (zombies this time) and I found a cell phone charm of Renji/Hihio Zabimaru chibi, and I can never, ever resist chibi Zabimaru. Sadly, my cell phone does not have the technology to accommodate a charm. Seriously. It's not a smart phone, so I have no case to which I can hook such things. But, it was cheap and will fit my keyring just the same.
The Marvel Roundup panel was phenomenal. I had great fellow panelists and despite my voice, I managed to squee and maybe even make a few points of interest here and there. With any luck, you'll be able to judge for yourself. One of the panelists, Shaun Duke, is (among other things) a podcaster and he recorded us for his Hugo Award-nominated Skiffy and Fanty Show. If our panel gets posted there, I'll send along a direct link. It was probably the most high energy panel I've had so far, so I would think it would make a fantastic podcast.
Then there was more wandering, and Mason finally caught up with some of his crew:
Here's Mason with Zoro (green-hair) and Nami (orange-hair):
And in a time paradox, an older Luffy!
My final panel was "Cyberpunk 101," which went fairly well. Admittedly, my energy was starting to flag. Probably the most interesting part of the panel for me was the fact that one of my fellow panelists was a light side hacker. He was an honest-to-goodness Mouse, a phone freak from the 1980s. (And yes, he let us touch his hem.) I could have listened to his stories for the full hour.
Instead, we talked about a lot of different aspects of cyberpunk and, once again, the audience had some really amazing, mind-blowing questions and thoughts about the future of cyberpunk. Because the question kept coming up, "If we're living in a world already predicted, where we're saturated with technology, how do you write beyond that point? Or, maybe more importantly, is it necessary to?"
And I don't know. People often ask me if I'll ever return to the AngeLINK universe and I'm hesitant. I love the characters, but the world is getting harder and harder to reach back for because it's become a kind of AU where Facebook and Tumblr and Google glasses never happened.
The point was also made that one of the things cyberpunk spoke to was the fears of the day, "What if we become so dependent on our technology that we're no longer human?" That's not really the thing we worry about these days. We worry about the environment. We *do* still worry about corporations taking over, but a lot of what we feared has already come to pass. I mean, corporations as people? Pretty sure that was warned about in any number of early cyberpunk novels.
Also, as our resident hacker pointed out, it's actually a bit harder to by-pass The Man. Technology has outpaced some simple phone hacks. It's harder to break-in and it's much, MUCH harder to escape without leaving a trace.
Our fiction has also become a lot darker. No one believes any more that taking out one corporation/Power That Be will solve all the problems... without causing others. The revolution is murky and complicated and deeply underfunded...
It was a good panel, but in comparison to the squee fest of the Marvel Roundup it felt far lower key. But maybe that was because it was "meatier."
Thursday, July 03, 2014
CONvergence Begins....
Last night was CONvergence's 'opening night.' Traditionally, there's a Guests of Honor/Former Guests of Honor mixer held on Wednesday night to kick everything off. Eleanor Arnason (GoH 2001) and I (GoH 2012) went together.
I managed to loose my voice yesterday afternoon, so I squeaked a lot, and pretty much everyone who heard me gave me advice about how to conserve it/help it. (All of which I intend to take.)
The party itself was surprisingly fun.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the CONvergence people are always awesome and know how to throw a good party. It's more that as a visiting artist/writing professional in a room of one's colleagues, sometimes the atmosphere can be kind of... well, daunting. You look around the room and you think, "Wow, all these writers/artists/media stars..." and your next thought is often, "What am I doing here? Compared to them, I'm nobody."
Like actors, writers are often seen as 'only as good as their current project' (at least among ourselves.) This, I've found is far less true out in the Real World. If you've written and published once, for most people, you're always a professional writer. The latter makes far more sense than the former. A book, once published, is always there for people to see. Regardless, a fellow author is likely to ask, "What are you working on now?" And, when the answer is, "Oh, um... nothing official," it can make for a very awkward night.
For whatever reason, last night, I didn't feel any of that. I saw a room full of people, many of them friends I hadn't seen in a while, and then I found the corner of anime fans and we squeed about the fact that the newest season of Free! started.
Seemed like an auspicious start. Fingers crossed that the rest of the con goes as well.
If you're attending con this year, here's a lovely pointer to my CONvergence schedule:
http://schedule.convergence-con.org/lyda.morehouse#.U7VFsl5hPwJ
You can also get from there to the main programming schedule. CONvergence is amazing because they also have this whole 'app' thing figured out. You can download any number of amazing things to keep track of your con and follow along with live tweets and everything. (Didn't I say? These CONvergence people are GOOD.)
I managed to loose my voice yesterday afternoon, so I squeaked a lot, and pretty much everyone who heard me gave me advice about how to conserve it/help it. (All of which I intend to take.)
The party itself was surprisingly fun.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the CONvergence people are always awesome and know how to throw a good party. It's more that as a visiting artist/writing professional in a room of one's colleagues, sometimes the atmosphere can be kind of... well, daunting. You look around the room and you think, "Wow, all these writers/artists/media stars..." and your next thought is often, "What am I doing here? Compared to them, I'm nobody."
Like actors, writers are often seen as 'only as good as their current project' (at least among ourselves.) This, I've found is far less true out in the Real World. If you've written and published once, for most people, you're always a professional writer. The latter makes far more sense than the former. A book, once published, is always there for people to see. Regardless, a fellow author is likely to ask, "What are you working on now?" And, when the answer is, "Oh, um... nothing official," it can make for a very awkward night.
For whatever reason, last night, I didn't feel any of that. I saw a room full of people, many of them friends I hadn't seen in a while, and then I found the corner of anime fans and we squeed about the fact that the newest season of Free! started.
Seemed like an auspicious start. Fingers crossed that the rest of the con goes as well.
If you're attending con this year, here's a lovely pointer to my CONvergence schedule:
http://schedule.convergence-con.org/lyda.morehouse#.U7VFsl5hPwJ
You can also get from there to the main programming schedule. CONvergence is amazing because they also have this whole 'app' thing figured out. You can download any number of amazing things to keep track of your con and follow along with live tweets and everything. (Didn't I say? These CONvergence people are GOOD.)
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Wordpress Wednesday
Hah! I knew I'd figure out an alliteration! Speaking of silly language tricks, Mason and I have named our 15th MangaKast "15 - Ichi Go" because the hero of Bleach, Ichigo, is constantly seen wearing the number 15. It took me years of reading (and finally learning a bit of Japanese) to realize that it's a giant pun on his name because Ichi is the word for "one" and Go is "five" together his name makes 15.
http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/15-ichi-go/
So, of course I put up a picture of Renji who has nothing at all to do with the number 15. But, I really couldn't resist the fact that he's talking about chickens. Chickens is a funny thing at our house. One time, as we were snuggling before bed, Mason asked: "What do you want to talk about?" I said, "Chickens!" just to be a weirdo.
So now, every night before bed, we discuss something about chickens.
http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/15-ichi-go/
So, of course I put up a picture of Renji who has nothing at all to do with the number 15. But, I really couldn't resist the fact that he's talking about chickens. Chickens is a funny thing at our house. One time, as we were snuggling before bed, Mason asked: "What do you want to talk about?" I said, "Chickens!" just to be a weirdo.
So now, every night before bed, we discuss something about chickens.
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
Tate Tuesday
Huh, I should have started posting this on a Wednesday so it could be "WattPad Wednesday" or something more alliterative. But, regardless, the newest section is up:
http://www.wattpad.com/57418191-unjust-cause-part-14-unnatural-unleashed
In "Unnatural Unleashed," Alex has to face the consequences unleashing her magic on Jack and his magpie familiar, Sarah Jane...
As usual, when you go to the site (or return here afterward), I would love any commentary you have, even if it's critical. I noted on the Wyrdsmiths' blog that the pacing for a serial-type novel is very different than writing a traditional novel. I took WattPad at their word when I signed up and have been tailoring these installments in very short, digestible chunks aimed at people who are using their smart/iPhones to read bits of things while commuting to work or wherever. I might be making these sections too short for other readers.
I will admit, as I have before, that I'm using this weekly deadline to make word count on a project that I've been struggling with. So, admittedly, much of what appears on-line is actually very first draft-y, very by the seat of my pants, oh-crap-is-it-Sunday-already??--which is also why I would love suggestions for improvement. The work posted there is being collected and massaged into an eventual e-book, so anything people have to say will actually help me write a better book (even if I can't go back and change what's on-line.)
http://www.wattpad.com/57418191-unjust-cause-part-14-unnatural-unleashed
In "Unnatural Unleashed," Alex has to face the consequences unleashing her magic on Jack and his magpie familiar, Sarah Jane...
As usual, when you go to the site (or return here afterward), I would love any commentary you have, even if it's critical. I noted on the Wyrdsmiths' blog that the pacing for a serial-type novel is very different than writing a traditional novel. I took WattPad at their word when I signed up and have been tailoring these installments in very short, digestible chunks aimed at people who are using their smart/iPhones to read bits of things while commuting to work or wherever. I might be making these sections too short for other readers.
I will admit, as I have before, that I'm using this weekly deadline to make word count on a project that I've been struggling with. So, admittedly, much of what appears on-line is actually very first draft-y, very by the seat of my pants, oh-crap-is-it-Sunday-already??--which is also why I would love suggestions for improvement. The work posted there is being collected and massaged into an eventual e-book, so anything people have to say will actually help me write a better book (even if I can't go back and change what's on-line.)
Monday, June 30, 2014
Road Trip
Last night, I read this article: How to Solve an 88-Year-Old Literary Mystery by Susan Cheever. It talks about the limits of research, about how you can talk about a thing, read about it, interview people who know things or might even have been there... and still miss some critical detail.
It's a fascinating article in its own right, but it made me think about the fact that one of the things Wyrdsmiths told me to do for the novel I'm working on is take a road trip to Pierre, South Dakota.
I've spent a lot of time on Google Earth, walking around that town, but there's probably something I'm missing, some quality, that would stand out more if I went.
We joked about making it a group exercise. If that happened, I might go.
Friday, June 27, 2014
The Guilty Pleasure of Implement Porn....
Shawn has been looking for a journal to replace the one she keeps Mason's memories in. That sounds very science fictional doesn't it? But, in reality, it's just a kind of a baby book that's kept growing over the years. Shawn writes down little tidbits she'd like to remember or thinks should be noted for the future/future reference. The one she just filled upstarted in 2004.
Today, after her haircut, we decided to see what we could find to replace it. We went to the kinds of stores that specialized in fancy pens and papers and...
...of course, it was *me* who walked out with twenty dollars worth of STUFF.
Admit it (because you know it's true), paper and pens are like porn for writers. I will confess that have this particular love affair with quad lined notebooks. I filched my very first one from Shawn, back in our college days, when she would have to special order lab notebooks that were quad lined. Now you can find those pretty regularly at Target, and I usually buy myself a couple of the really cheap ones during the back to school sales.
At Wet Paint today, I found something I might be even more in love with "dotted" notebook paper.
Today, after her haircut, we decided to see what we could find to replace it. We went to the kinds of stores that specialized in fancy pens and papers and...
...of course, it was *me* who walked out with twenty dollars worth of STUFF.
Admit it (because you know it's true), paper and pens are like porn for writers. I will confess that have this particular love affair with quad lined notebooks. I filched my very first one from Shawn, back in our college days, when she would have to special order lab notebooks that were quad lined. Now you can find those pretty regularly at Target, and I usually buy myself a couple of the really cheap ones during the back to school sales.
At Wet Paint today, I found something I might be even more in love with "dotted" notebook paper.
Look how pretty!
The guy at the art store might have thought I was a little odd for petting it, but they DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Paper is very special to me.
I mean, maybe I *am* a bit weird, but I still love the feel of pen on paper. I find notebook writing still very useful. I've been known to carry a notebook around not only to take Captain America style notes, but also to have on hand should I be inspired somewhere where my computer isn't easily accessible--like, say, when I show up a little early at Mason's school for pick-up or whatever. Plus, even though it ends up messy and crossed out, I enjoy the constriction of having to write long-hand sometimes. I almost always edit when I transcribe to screen, but the act of having to push on and not worry about perfect phrasing can really help me get the gist of a scene out on paper.
Also I used to occasionally sketch out pictures of my characters and I found that a lot easier when I had quad or blank pages. Now... now I can haz dots!
Plus, I had to buy a pen. I had two in my hand, but Shawn made me put one back. I did get out with two notebooks though... hee hee.
I'm not sure non-artists understand this weird implement thing. I suppose it's like anything aesthetic, like a nice briefcase for work or a good pair of sexy shoes. Paper and pens are a bit cheaper, too... or at least can be. There are some people who are willing to pay a LOT for a really nice pen (luckily I'm a cheap date when it comes to pens.)
Thursday, June 26, 2014
New in Ebook!
The penultimate novel in my AngeLINK series, Apocalypse Array, is out as an e-book from Wizard's Tower Press today. Believe it or not, this cyberpunk book was never previously released in e-book format. Now you can go get it.
It also has, as you can see, shiny new art from Bruce Jensen.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
New Podcast
Mason and I had a blast doing out 14th MangaKast: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/fourteen-for-the-team/
Go check it out if you want to hear me babbling about manga without coffee--well, technically, I HAD a couple of cups, but... I felt like I was in a sitcom or something because, not finding any of the good stuff on the shelf, I simply ran water through the old filter. Yeah, that was just about as gross as you might imagine it would be.
Anyway, what I find fascinating about the podcast is that, unlike my WattPad project, I really could care less if no one listens. The process of making it with Mason is just so MUCH fun. So, you know, check it out... or not. I will keep doing this because I love it.
I only wish I felt that way about other things I do...
I wish I could figure that out.
At any rate, here's another screen shot from this week's Bleach (by Tite Kubo.)
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
New Installment and Thoughts
My newest installment of UnJust Cause, my serialized work-in-progress is up:
I thought that maybe here on the thirteenth episode, I should take a moment and discuss my feelings/experiences working this way.
There are, for me, some distinct advantages to having a strict 'publishing' deadline. Having set myself a weekly goal of getting something up, some forward momentum made, is probably the only way I would have written as much as I have to-date. Considering the extent to which writing original fiction has been difficult for me in these last few years, this stands out as a HUGE benefit.
The disadvantage is that writing like this is also very seat-of-my-pants. If I go down a road, I'm committed to it. Revision is only going to be possible once the story is completed and ready to become an e-book. I'm already feeling places where I wish I could go back and restructure things a bit.
The way I've decided to deal with that is that I've handed out some of this to Wyrdsmiths with the idea that I can be concurrently working on a more polished draft for the e-book. Of course, the first-draft-y-ness of this serialization may ultimately turn off some readers. I'd been hoping, of course, for the kind of community that AO3 (archive of our own) gives a writer, where there might be a strong back-and-forth during the process, between the writer and the community of readers. I'm not getting anyone brave enough to point out my faults yet, and that really kind of bums me out.
This is, btw, one of the main reasons I don't come out on AO3 as a 'professional' writer. I have a feeling all the criticism would stop dead under the silly idea that 'well, she must know what she's doing,' which is of course not only nonsense, but which actually discourages me. I like the back and forth. I like knowing people are into a story enough to get mad about some turn of events or a moment that seems out of character or whatever.
*sigh*
Well, all the same, at least I'm writing. This is much more than I can say that I'd be doing without WattPad. So the experiment continues to be "profitable." We'll see if I'm able to grow an audience as I'd like to, and whether or not it will translate into e-book sales once everything is done and dusted.
Alex hasn't used her magic since she accidentally blinded Devon (the half-werewolf/half-vampire). Now, feeling cornered, she instinctively lashes out... at a friend.
http://www.wattpad.com/56251842-unjust-cause-part-13-a-dangerous-rush-of-power
I thought that maybe here on the thirteenth episode, I should take a moment and discuss my feelings/experiences working this way.
There are, for me, some distinct advantages to having a strict 'publishing' deadline. Having set myself a weekly goal of getting something up, some forward momentum made, is probably the only way I would have written as much as I have to-date. Considering the extent to which writing original fiction has been difficult for me in these last few years, this stands out as a HUGE benefit.
The disadvantage is that writing like this is also very seat-of-my-pants. If I go down a road, I'm committed to it. Revision is only going to be possible once the story is completed and ready to become an e-book. I'm already feeling places where I wish I could go back and restructure things a bit.
The way I've decided to deal with that is that I've handed out some of this to Wyrdsmiths with the idea that I can be concurrently working on a more polished draft for the e-book. Of course, the first-draft-y-ness of this serialization may ultimately turn off some readers. I'd been hoping, of course, for the kind of community that AO3 (archive of our own) gives a writer, where there might be a strong back-and-forth during the process, between the writer and the community of readers. I'm not getting anyone brave enough to point out my faults yet, and that really kind of bums me out.
This is, btw, one of the main reasons I don't come out on AO3 as a 'professional' writer. I have a feeling all the criticism would stop dead under the silly idea that 'well, she must know what she's doing,' which is of course not only nonsense, but which actually discourages me. I like the back and forth. I like knowing people are into a story enough to get mad about some turn of events or a moment that seems out of character or whatever.
*sigh*
Well, all the same, at least I'm writing. This is much more than I can say that I'd be doing without WattPad. So the experiment continues to be "profitable." We'll see if I'm able to grow an audience as I'd like to, and whether or not it will translate into e-book sales once everything is done and dusted.
Monday, June 23, 2014
What I'm Reading....
I probably haven't mentioned this here yet, but I've taken an extremely part-time job at the Ramsey County Libraries as a "sub," (which they, quite charmingly call "itinerant page" a job title that makes me feel like it ought to come with tights, a tunic, and a lute.) It pays well, but I work very random hours. So one of the biggest benefits for me is exposure to all the books, etc.
On Saturday I worked at Maplewood (one of my favorites partly due to their astounding manga collection). While I was there, I noticed a two volume manga set marked as "new." It was called No.6.
Yesterday, while cooking our annual fleischkuekle batches, I read both volumes and started in on the remaining chapters at MangaPanda.
So, I ended up writing a review of it this morning: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/review-no-6/
And... I just got a call from my sub coordinator, and it looks like I'll be working there again tonight! Yay! More manga!
On Saturday I worked at Maplewood (one of my favorites partly due to their astounding manga collection). While I was there, I noticed a two volume manga set marked as "new." It was called No.6.
Yesterday, while cooking our annual fleischkuekle batches, I read both volumes and started in on the remaining chapters at MangaPanda.
So, I ended up writing a review of it this morning: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/review-no-6/
And... I just got a call from my sub coordinator, and it looks like I'll be working there again tonight! Yay! More manga!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Poetry Market
I'm not much of a poet, but maybe some of you are. If you have some speculative poetry you've been wondering if there's a paying market for, there is: http://www.liminalitypoetry.com/?page_id=6
During national poetry month, I did, by chance, write a haiku. I have no idea if it's quite what this market is looking for, since it's not terribly speculative, but I thought what the hey! and sent it.
Wish me luck. And luck to anyone else who might submit!
During national poetry month, I did, by chance, write a haiku. I have no idea if it's quite what this market is looking for, since it's not terribly speculative, but I thought what the hey! and sent it.
Wish me luck. And luck to anyone else who might submit!
Friday, June 20, 2014
Will Review for Books
Today I got the strangest e-mail on my hotmail account from these folks: http://www.bloggingforbooks.org
They seemed to be under the mistaken impression that I was a blogger of note. Maybe, it's just that not a lot of people blog at all anymore and so the pool of names to pick from is very, very tiiiiiiiny. Because, let's be straight with one another, I haven't blogged here with any regularly since the Late Jurassic. So, it can't be THIS site that got them interested, especially since it's very obviously connected to my gmail address (I don't actually think you can use blogspot without gmail.) The Wyrdsmiths blog, likewise, is gmail connected and fairly static, so.. that kind of leaves LJ (Live Journal) which would make ZERO sense.
My Facebook and Klout accounts attach to my dusty hotmail address, as do my super-static web pages. But again... WTF? Really?
I still think you'd have to be high or desperate (or both!) to count me as any kind of influential book recommender.
Regardless of how they got to me and whether I'm really what they want, we're talking about FREE BOOKS. They're willing to send me review copies if I'll post honest reviews on their site (and presumably link the review to all my social media places.) So, what the hey... I signed up. I've requested my first book-- a graphic novel by the same guy who did World War Z called "Harlem Hellcats" (I think.) It's a historical graphic novel about a WWII black regiment and their struggles on and off the battlefield. I actually read something about this somewhere else (a Random House tweet, maybe?) and thought it sounded interesting.
So you might be hearing more about the things I'm reading here and elsewhere.
They seemed to be under the mistaken impression that I was a blogger of note. Maybe, it's just that not a lot of people blog at all anymore and so the pool of names to pick from is very, very tiiiiiiiny. Because, let's be straight with one another, I haven't blogged here with any regularly since the Late Jurassic. So, it can't be THIS site that got them interested, especially since it's very obviously connected to my gmail address (I don't actually think you can use blogspot without gmail.) The Wyrdsmiths blog, likewise, is gmail connected and fairly static, so.. that kind of leaves LJ (Live Journal) which would make ZERO sense.
My Facebook and Klout accounts attach to my dusty hotmail address, as do my super-static web pages. But again... WTF? Really?
I still think you'd have to be high or desperate (or both!) to count me as any kind of influential book recommender.
Regardless of how they got to me and whether I'm really what they want, we're talking about FREE BOOKS. They're willing to send me review copies if I'll post honest reviews on their site (and presumably link the review to all my social media places.) So, what the hey... I signed up. I've requested my first book-- a graphic novel by the same guy who did World War Z called "Harlem Hellcats" (I think.) It's a historical graphic novel about a WWII black regiment and their struggles on and off the battlefield. I actually read something about this somewhere else (a Random House tweet, maybe?) and thought it sounded interesting.
So you might be hearing more about the things I'm reading here and elsewhere.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
The Dragon of Awkward
I feel somewhat bad for the nameless Loft photographer who attempted to come into my classroom today to take pictures. When the door opened, I looked at him and my lectured screeched to a halt. I stared at him for what felt like a long time (though it was probably only a matter of seconds), trying to figure out what was happening and who would just barge into to a class in-progress--and then I saw the high-powered camera he had in his hands and everything clicked into place.
Being who I am, I pretty much narrated my entire thought process, "Oh, and who are you... a photographer? Are you here to take pictures of the class?"
Even as I was talking, another part of my brain was thinking, "No, just no. Not these kids."
I should stop for a moment and explain. Last year when I taught a class of the same name, I had a rowdy room full of self-confident, smart-a$$, BRILLIANT kids. Seeing a camera, they would have jumped up to pose dramatically or come up with an on-the-spot reenactment of a battle of wits involving pens and origami hats or something even sillier and outlandish. I never had to worry when I asked, "Who would like to share?" that I was going to get crickets. They were those geeks--the ones not unlike myself, really rather relish the theatre of it all and who would, if provoked, recite all of Monty Python's skits while on the city bus.
This year, I have a slightly smaller group of utterly BRILLIANT, deeply shy, perfectly NERDY kids. I had a couple of students desperate to share their work but so unable to read in front of a group that they had me read their entries for them. Only now, four days in, have they, with my coaxing, very, very, vvvveeerryyyy slowly begun to trust me and each other enough to flail around and squee a bit when things are going well in class. (Today, in fact, one of them was bold enough to say to *me*, "Hey, now, settle down!" because I was waxing nerd-ly about science and bouncing on the balls of my feet.) But my geeky side has proven that I am one of them, but I suspect they see me as a squirrelly, eccentric auntie who is just a little too loud in public.
So, when this photographer came in my mama-bear side came roaring out. I looked at him in the middle of my stream of consciousness chatter and said, "Oh, no, that's going to be awkward."
He looked at me.
He looked at my class (half of whom were giving him the stare of doom, the other half of whom were trying to find something to hide behind). He put his camera down. Very slowly as if hoping not to anger us, he backed out of the room and said, "Yeah, a little too awkward."
It was like we'd defeated a dragon together.
Being who I am, I pretty much narrated my entire thought process, "Oh, and who are you... a photographer? Are you here to take pictures of the class?"
Even as I was talking, another part of my brain was thinking, "No, just no. Not these kids."
I should stop for a moment and explain. Last year when I taught a class of the same name, I had a rowdy room full of self-confident, smart-a$$, BRILLIANT kids. Seeing a camera, they would have jumped up to pose dramatically or come up with an on-the-spot reenactment of a battle of wits involving pens and origami hats or something even sillier and outlandish. I never had to worry when I asked, "Who would like to share?" that I was going to get crickets. They were those geeks--the ones not unlike myself, really rather relish the theatre of it all and who would, if provoked, recite all of Monty Python's skits while on the city bus.
This year, I have a slightly smaller group of utterly BRILLIANT, deeply shy, perfectly NERDY kids. I had a couple of students desperate to share their work but so unable to read in front of a group that they had me read their entries for them. Only now, four days in, have they, with my coaxing, very, very, vvvveeerryyyy slowly begun to trust me and each other enough to flail around and squee a bit when things are going well in class. (Today, in fact, one of them was bold enough to say to *me*, "Hey, now, settle down!" because I was waxing nerd-ly about science and bouncing on the balls of my feet.) But my geeky side has proven that I am one of them, but I suspect they see me as a squirrelly, eccentric auntie who is just a little too loud in public.
So, when this photographer came in my mama-bear side came roaring out. I looked at him in the middle of my stream of consciousness chatter and said, "Oh, no, that's going to be awkward."
He looked at me.
He looked at my class (half of whom were giving him the stare of doom, the other half of whom were trying to find something to hide behind). He put his camera down. Very slowly as if hoping not to anger us, he backed out of the room and said, "Yeah, a little too awkward."
It was like we'd defeated a dragon together.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Double-Feature MangaKast
Because I'm sure you've all been waiting on the edges of your seats for our return to MangaKast. Well, the wait is over, my friends. Here it is:
http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/lucky-thirteen/
http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/lucky-thirteen/
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
New Update
Just a quickie post to let you know that there is a new bit of UNJUST CAUSE up on Wattpad. Check it out: http://www.wattpad.com/55131739-unjust-cause-part-12-the-innocence-of-dragons
Monday, June 16, 2014
Well, that was... flail.
Today was the first day of my "More than Just the Zombie Apocalypse" week-long class at the Loft as part of their Summer Youth Writing Program. It was... yeah, it could have gone better.
Several factors were working against me, however. First of all, I could *not* find a copy of my syllabus anywhere. It took me forever to remember that I had a copy stored on Google Drive. I got that transferred to a usb drive and then had to make a dash to Kinko's/FedEx in order to print it out and make enough copies. The only thing working in my favor was that I guesstimated that I'd have 10 students and I was exactly right. (Last head count was seven and I always plan for a few extra.)
So, I already started out a bit frazzled and feeling like I was running behind. The frustration was added to by the fact that there was a woman at Kinko's who insisted she was still on the copy machine when all she was doing was collating her things on the table nearby. Finally, she gave into my frantic hovering and muttering about how I had class in less than a half hour and NO SYLLABUS if I couldn't get to the copy machine.
My copies done, I busted out and hit the highway only to discover... no parking spaces. I ended up parking in a very weird "services" parking lot for an apartment building and, as I left, I thought, "No, this isn't right. I'm going to get towed." So, when I found the Loft education coordinator I asked her about it and she graciously allowed me to park in the Loft Staff spot, but that meant I had to rush back out, move my car, and get to my third floor class all within about ten minutes.
So, I came to class feeling flustered and out of sorts, and then... it occurred to me:
I'D FORGOTTEN TO EAT.
Not, just "oh, crap, no time for lunch," but a full-blown, "oh, sh*t, I forgot breakfast as well as lunch." So I was literally running on empty the entire class. It's probably a miracle that I didn't faint dead away an hour into my hour and a half class. But, that's extroversion for you. I got the energy I needed from being in front of people and being expected to perform.
And there was a lot of dancing monkey and flailing, let me tell you.
A lot of flail.
All I can hope is that the students will be forgiving and all show up tomorrow. I tell myself they've paid and probably have nowhere else better to be. Also, the first class is usually just introduction at any rate, and I did manage that (though they must be all thinking instructor = moron.) I also introduced the ideas of the wiggly definitions of science fiction and fantasy and how we'd probably end up covering both since: wiggly-wobbily define-y whine-y thing.
Oy.
Several factors were working against me, however. First of all, I could *not* find a copy of my syllabus anywhere. It took me forever to remember that I had a copy stored on Google Drive. I got that transferred to a usb drive and then had to make a dash to Kinko's/FedEx in order to print it out and make enough copies. The only thing working in my favor was that I guesstimated that I'd have 10 students and I was exactly right. (Last head count was seven and I always plan for a few extra.)
So, I already started out a bit frazzled and feeling like I was running behind. The frustration was added to by the fact that there was a woman at Kinko's who insisted she was still on the copy machine when all she was doing was collating her things on the table nearby. Finally, she gave into my frantic hovering and muttering about how I had class in less than a half hour and NO SYLLABUS if I couldn't get to the copy machine.
My copies done, I busted out and hit the highway only to discover... no parking spaces. I ended up parking in a very weird "services" parking lot for an apartment building and, as I left, I thought, "No, this isn't right. I'm going to get towed." So, when I found the Loft education coordinator I asked her about it and she graciously allowed me to park in the Loft Staff spot, but that meant I had to rush back out, move my car, and get to my third floor class all within about ten minutes.
So, I came to class feeling flustered and out of sorts, and then... it occurred to me:
I'D FORGOTTEN TO EAT.
Not, just "oh, crap, no time for lunch," but a full-blown, "oh, sh*t, I forgot breakfast as well as lunch." So I was literally running on empty the entire class. It's probably a miracle that I didn't faint dead away an hour into my hour and a half class. But, that's extroversion for you. I got the energy I needed from being in front of people and being expected to perform.
And there was a lot of dancing monkey and flailing, let me tell you.
A lot of flail.
All I can hope is that the students will be forgiving and all show up tomorrow. I tell myself they've paid and probably have nowhere else better to be. Also, the first class is usually just introduction at any rate, and I did manage that (though they must be all thinking instructor = moron.) I also introduced the ideas of the wiggly definitions of science fiction and fantasy and how we'd probably end up covering both since: wiggly-wobbily define-y whine-y thing.
Oy.
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