Samantha King |
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Sam King's Halloween Art
Eight days more until the night of All Hallows Eve. In the spirit(s) of things, I'm sharing artist Samantha King's seasonal offering from her blog.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Another Novel Update
crowdflower,com |
Work, travel, and other sound excuses have thrown off my schedule. But I'm back at the book this week. I've been attempting to weave the story and may be making things harder. For instance, each chapter is beginning with a flash forward that is filled in later. I might be better off writing everything front to back, then figuring out in subsequent drafts where to drop things in.
This was originally a novella meant to be quickly brushed up then uploaded for sale on Amazon. But the story developed its own wants and needs and will be novel-length whether I approve or not. Alas, the tale is set aboard a small boat afloat on a sea alive with monsters. In many ways, the story is like a play where all the characters are on stage constantly. They only exit when I off someone.
Right now, I want to off them all and type "The End."
That said, onward.
Monday, October 07, 2013
'Boats' Tells How Animated Features are Made
A funny look at animation executives planning the next movie blockbuster.
justindec
Cartoon Brew via Josh Gerbrandt on Facebook
justindec
Cartoon Brew via Josh Gerbrandt on Facebook
Friday, October 04, 2013
Goodreads Short Story Labeled 'Mature and Explicit'
Are you really? Then dare to click the button below. |
My short story "Death Honk," now up at Goodreads, carries the above warning. However Wattpad allows the same material with a PG13 rating. And the Journal of Microliterature just assumes you can handle it.
Note: I've included the word 'splatterpunk' in the metadata of this microfiction. (Less than a thousand words.) The Oxford Dictionary defines splatterpunk as: "a literary genre characterized by the explicit description of horrific, violent, and often pornographic scenes."
And while there are no pornographic scenes in "Death Honk," there is explicit description of certain actions one might find 'horrific' and, most certainly, 'violent.' I, in no way, disagree with the Goodreads warning. I merely point out how the same tale may be labeled, or not, on different sites.
Mostly, I've never had a story preceded by big red warning labels and it's kind of exciting.
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
So long, Tom Clancy
NY Daily News |
"You learn to write the same way you learn to play golf... You do it, and keep doing it until you get it right. A lot of people think something mystical happens to you, that maybe the muse kisses you on the ear. But writing isn’t divinely inspired – it’s hard work.”
Clancy thought of himself "as a storyteller, not a writer." He said, “I think about the characters I’ve created and then I sit down and start typing and see what they will do."
Considering my recent angst, I appreciate the wisdom of a seasoned scribe who will be missed.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Another eBook Novel Writing Update
Writing hasn't gone very well lately. (Image: ESPN) |
Since January, I've been a writing machine. Three novels, a novella, and two short stories are in various drafts. But without some form of completion, I feel like a guy who always trains but never competes. So there's been a change of plan.
Once I finish the second draft, I will pause. In that pause, I will publish an essay on jury duty that I serialized here two years ago and have subsequently rewritten. It's polished and ready to roll. I was going to marry it to another essay based on my adventures in Southeast Asia searching for an old battlefield. But I'm in dire psychological need of having work up For Sale soon. Then it's back to battling the novel.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Stygian Accepts Horror Novels,
Any cover with my name and a hot spider babe is just fine. |
According to their blog, R. Scott McCoy and company will be in the market for horror novellas and novels beginning in November. Scott edited the horror magazine Necrotic Tissue and selected my short story, "Dagon and Jill," as Editor's Pick in Issue #13 as well as including it in his Best of Necrotic Tissue Anthology. While we're on the subject, Scott also gave me space for a big gabby interview in Issue #14. Glad to have him back in play.
Scott paid his writers and paid on time. He's a pro and a guy you can work with. So if you're sitting on a long form horror piece, clean up your copy and keep an eye on the Stygian Publications blog for more details.
UPDATE: Submissions accepted beginning November 1. Details at Stygian Publications.
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