eBook First Draft Finished

writerswin.com

On Monday. That wasn't so bad. In 100 hours over the course of 15 days I wrote 41,862 words. Not all of them stellar, but genuine English words nevertheless. My labors resulted in 170 pages averaging 2,790 words a day with an hourly average of 418. Vital metrics in planning future works.

This week  has passed assembling more research and interviewing people with nautical experience as the shank of my novella takes place aboard a small boat. Researching as much as I can in advance maximizes my interview time and allows me to ask more salient questions.

Next week will see the second draft commenced, followed by Beta reads. While I'm waiting for feedback, it'll be time to finalize cover art, read all 19 pages of the Kindle Direct Publishing contract, and line up reviewers as well as hone my marketing plan.

I am stoked to self-publish. 

Tom Ruegger and 7D Roll Along

New looks for old dwarves. (Animation Magazine)

Over at Cartoonatics, Tom Ruegger displays voice cast and crew photos from the upcoming Disney Junior animated TV series 7D. A fresh take on the old Seven Dwarves of Snow White fame, the show's crew could easily be mistaken for an Animaniacs reunion. Dare I say, they have baloney in their mine.

i09 Presents Scifi Fiction Worldbuilding Don'ts

coolvibe.com

Before you write a great scene with a flying car, Charlie Jane Ander has a few suggestions on how not to craft a futuristic and/or fantasy realm. Hat tip to author Roger Eschbacher who has cobbled together a few worlds of his own.

Radio's Art Bell Back on Sirius in September

Let lovers of remote viewing, alien invasion, creepy federal science projects, and satanic false flag operations celebrate the return of the Master. LA radio in the 90s rocked. Early in the evening there were hours of improvisational gold with Phil Hendrie. However if you were up late or driving home from a party, you could feast upon the sublime genius of Art Bell. In the era of the X-Files, Bell talked all things spooky, paranormal, futuristic, and techie. Callers were divided into two camps: those west of the Rockies and those east of those majestic peaks. Guests ranged from defrocked priests discussing devils in the Vatican to individuals claiming to be from beyond our solar system. Bell's secret was to never openly call anyone a nut.

Say a guest claimed he belonged to a top secret government agency that was able to raise the dead and learn secrets lost to time. Bell would encourage the man with phrases such as, "If what you say is true, that's astounding." That's a line finer than the one crossed by Wallenda over the Grand Canyon. But Art Bell walked it with confidence and style.

I'm glad he's back. Radio just upped its game. And I can't wait to discover what's hot and what's not in the paranormal community.

Update: If you have ten minutes, listen to Art Bell's interview with the antichrist. Art carries this guy. He really keeps the call alive.

h/t: JJPerks

37 Days to Publication #1

This man is a worry eater whom I've hired to devour my doubts.

Since Monday of this week I have written:

A. 17, 073 words.

B. 83 pages.

C. In 50 hours.

This still puts me only about halfway home on Draft 1 of my horror novella. I ran all those marathons back in the day and now the discipline stands me in good stead.

But first drafts are the worst for me and I fear if I do not push, push, push then I'll never finish. My office is a graveyard of books that never made it past draft one. I enjoy rewrites but this is the Dark Night of the Writing Soul.
(Image: thejoyfulorganizer.com)

Paul Rugg's Moving Experience

Paul's view from the train to Los Angeles.

 At his blog, Paul Rugg describes seaside living, bear baiting, and other nuggets of note.

H.P. Lovecraft Mythos eBook Impresses Goodreaders

  When it comes to Lovecraft, nothing says madness like the Megapack. Filled with old school H.P. classics such as "The Dunwich Horror" plus homages like my own "Dagon and Jill," this collection of mythos tales is enough to knock your world spinning into another dimension. (Assuming you'd like that.) See what the Goodreads folk write about this Lovecraftian bonanza.

51 Days to Publication #1 and Heroboy

Time evaporates like water on the devil's head. I write, research, sleep, write, eat Cheetos and watch old movies. Will I publish three books on Amazon in 2013? Below are my thoughts on success. h/t: UnManuel

Old School Sci Fi Cinema Lives!

Go trucking with The Colossal Beast.

If it's a strange movie, involves monsters, motorcycles, chicks running wild; was released by American International Pictures or all of the above it's probably on Psychotronic 16. Stop by for a dose of unheady cinema, LSD educational films, and trailers from the days of yore.

Mythos Safety Matters

www.wallpapername.com

Vital that pedestrians heed clearly posted signs. An unseen mythos menace can often engulf the unwary citizen out for a summer evening stroll.

Heinlein's Five Rules for Writing

Science fiction ace Robert Heinlein composed these aids to crafting the written word  back in 1947:

1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you start.
3. You must refrain from rewriting except to editorial order.
4. You must put it on the market.
5. You must keep it on the market until sold.”

Then he added: “The above five rules really have more to do with how to write fiction than anything said above them. But they are amazingly hard to follow — which is why there are so few professional writers and so many aspirants, and which is why I am not afraid to give away the racket!” More on the subject here.