Caravan Girl: Organizing for eBook Writers

 My prose organizational musings on Rachael Rippon's blog.

Caravan Girl: Guest Post: Organizing for Writers: Perhaps, like me, organization does not come naturally. And perhaps, like me, you need a kick in the pants on occasion. Even better, perhap...

Tom Ruegger Explains 7D Writing Process

The Big Board at 7D.

Step behind the scenes of an animated TV series over at Cartoonatics.  Learn the subtle interactions that go into crafting a new series for Disney. Complete with illustrations including jazz hands! For example, did you know that attracting good animation writers proceeds thusly:

"Step One To create stories for "The 7D," assemble a team of top-notch animation writers.  Since your budget is limited, offer these writers relatively low salaries but throw in attractive perqs like free bowls of breakfast cereal and unlimited elevator rides to and from the workplace lobby."

More at Cartoonatics.  
 (Image: people.clarkson.edu)

Splatterpunk Microfiction 'Death Honk' Descends on Wattpad

www.fordesigner.com

A neo-noir microfiction morsel. Enjoy a gritty splatterpunk tale of desperation, moral confusion and clown-bear clashes out in the California desert—and all under a 1,000 words.

Death Honk - Page 1 - Wattpad

Angeles Crest 100 Race Report

Ultra marathoner and fellow TNT coach Kiley Akers set out once again to run 100 miles in the San Gabriel Mountains while raising money to fight blood cancers. Check out his heroic exploits.

www.foothillflyers.org

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.

Publishing Update

www.authormedia.com

Insomnia pays! Couldn't sleep early this morning so instead of gnashing my teeth—which hurts—I got up and started writing. Dashed out almost two thousand words on eBook number one before heading to the gym.

So here's the update. I have rough outlines on three full-length novels. But I realize now I might only get one up on Amazon Kindle Direct by my deadline. I want three. So I'm parking all three books and devoting my efforts to expanding and publishing a long short story, Bane Fish. (First fiction work I ever sold.) That'll be book one.

The second book will be a collection of unpublished long and short stories that fall into the category of dark urban fantasy.

The third book will consist of my jury duty tale plus an expanded version of my 2002 trip to Vietnam in search of a battlefield.

Most of the material is already present in some form. (I always find it easier to rewrite than to write.) So I'm moving, typing, slugging down the joe.

This is going to happen! Will they make any money? Can't say, but they will be published!

The IndieTribe

The IndieTribe

Charlie Bray's website seems stuffed with interesting news, promotions and tips for the self-published scribe. Writer blogs are promoted and there's a log line competition where winners receive free book publicity. Learn about gratis downloads and much more.

My Story in a Lovecraft Rich eBook

Just a reminder to Lovecraft lovers and others that for under a buck you can read old school and new school H.P. all in one handy eBook. My very own "Dagon and Jill" warps up a horror bonanza of mythos-centered tales. (And if you were pleased with your purchase, do comment on Amazon. And if you single out "Dagon and Jill" for special praise, I shall blush like a youth.)

Now on Wattpad: Cat Next Door

sheslosingit.net

A young man, unrequited love, and large cats. What would you do to impress the girl of your youthful dreams? Wattpad holds the answers. 

HPL Art

THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!! 

Source: Uploaded by user via Amanda on Pinterest

Book Review: The Forgotten Man

The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Crais wore me down a bit this time with the constant switch between first/third person. If nothing else, it shows the author at work and intrudes on the pace. The story of private investigator Elivs Cole searching for the killer of a man claiming to be his estranged father was interesting enough. It's a quick exciting read save for the moments when forlorn cop Starkey tries to work up her nerve to bed Cole. Then the tale felt like star-crossed YA romance. That said, Crais adds enough cop stuff to make me believe it's real and mixes his action and clues well enough to keep the pages turning. Worth a peek.  



View all my reviews

Honk if You're the Government

So Long, Jack Vance

herocomplex.latimes.com

As a teen I once read an Ace Pocketbook my dad left lying around entitled Eyes of the Overworld. This fantasy tale was set on a future Earth beneath a weak red sun threatening to wink out momentarily. Life is precarious in this dangerous time when science and magic have crossbred. "Overworld" chronicles the doings of a crafty rogue named Cugel who burns every bridge he crosses and often falls prey to his overly clever schemes.

I rushed through the book, then read it again, the writing so compelling, the language so rich and unique, that I immediately became a fan of Jack Vance.

www.worldswithoutend.com

Vance was born the same year as my father and died Sunday at age 96. For over sixty years he wrote science fiction, fantasy and mysteries. He  won Hugo awards for The Dragon Masters and The Last Castle back in the day—both favorites. But my top Vance tales  remained those such as "Overworld," set in a time called The Dying Earth.

As authors go, Vance was quite a character. A blue collar guy who lived in Oakland, California, he believed the sci fi author's role should be muted in terms of publicity so as not to impose his personality between the reader and the world the author had created. He claimed to be in it for the money and never read science fiction.

fabledlands.blogspot.com -

 Looking back on my own stories, I often find a turn-of-phrase, an ironic description, a subtle underselling of scene or character that are stamped into my writing genes thanks to many decades of reading Jack Vance.

So journey well, Jack. You were a guy who just wanted to turn a buck telling tales.

I should be so fortunate.

Kurt, T.J. and Other Departed Warriors

umass74.blogspot.com

This Memorial Day I again think of Kurt and T.J.

Imagine you knew a man from Cleveland, Ohio.

This man had one sibling, an older sister.

During Vietnam, he volunteered for dangerous assignments, operating far behind enemy lines.

After the war, he battled drugs and alcohol.

Eventually, he sobered up and went to work for a vending machine company.

For many years, he traveled in a van around Los Angeles fixing coffee and soda machines.

Now imagine you knew two men with the exact same history.  (But different vending machine companies.)

I was honored to have been friends with a pair of guys whose backgrounds meshed in such odd intimate ways. Once I introduced them at a party, figuring they'd have lots in common, but after a few polite minutes they separated.

They'd experienced stranger things.

Kurt served in Marine recon. Based out of Khe Sanh, he operated in Laos along the Ho Chi Minh Trail on operations so secret that the Americans who died there were never officially acknowledged. Kurt had extended his service to go to Vietnam. He was wounded twice, decorated, and returned home only to be attacked in a bus depot by a man angry over the war. (The man didn't fare well against Kurt who beat him into a fine mist.)

T.J. originally fought with the 12th Infantry near Dak To. He loathed the eerie randomness of combat—here one second gone the next and decided his odds would be better in the  LRRPs (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). Instead of waiting to be hit, TJ  crept around North Vietnamese base camps in the Central Highlands making the enemy nervous. He returned to serve out his last few months at Fort Knox, conducting tours of the U.S. Gold Reserve. One night while watching a TV show he started shaking and broke into tears.

Years would pass before he learned about PTSD.

In 2002 I made a business trip to Vietnam. I brought Kurt back a little Buddha and some red clay from Khe Sanh. TJ collected Buddhas so I picked him out a honey in Saigon: a big, fat happy Buddha, smiling like he'd just won the Power Ball,  holding up the Pearl of Knowledge. 
 
In the end, Vietnam finally claimed them both. Health and psychological problems shortened their lives. But they did the best they could with a bad hand and I value the times we had together.

This weekend I remember them and all who gave their lives in service to the country.

(Based on a post from 2009.)

Thanks David Linden for the "Death Honk" Nod

www.tumblr.com

Years pass and I gradually remember my manners. My short story about the nature of job interviews as told through a struggle between clowns and bears has been experiencing a small revival since publication in 2010.

1000words1000days.

At the time, I failed to credit scientist and author David Linden for recommending "Death Honk" to his blog readers. I remedy that now. Thanks, David. Be on the lookout for a companion piece involving rednecks and plague-infested monkeys. 

Number 2 on Google But Why?

Briefly this morning I held the number 2 rank on Google for Wattpads, a position I neither sought nor refused. Curious ranking for a man with generally microscopic page views. What would cause this?

UPDATE: Customization was mentioned as a possible reason. But to what end? I wanted Wattpad, not any mention I ever made about Wattpad.  Ah, but it's gone now. Were it not for the screen shot I would doubt my sanity in this matter.

Review: Chasing Darkness

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Work Backwards From Your Deadline

movemoretoday.c

This and other useful tips on wringing the most from your writing time are available courtesy of the Publication Coach.

Thanks to Stefan Blitz and Forces of Geek

Did you ever read any? All of them contained words.

In my hustle, with generous doses of 'bustle' thrown in, I have forgotten to thank Stefan Blitz, Editor-in-Chief at Forces of Geek. From November of 2011 to March of this year he was kind enough to post my "Reviews of Films I Have Never Seen." And while the reviews started small and gradually became unseen in their own right, I nevertheless had good, sound fun writing them. Because of my astounding schedule, I have cut back on everything including sleep and time spent on the Russian-Girls-Want-You website. Thanks for the platform, Stefan, and may your page views swell to an appropriate fullness.  

Elmore Leonard's Rules of Writing

Image: Listmaker

Tips from a guy who has written a couple of novels including a book on writing.

1.  Never open a book with weather.
2.  Avoid prologues.
3.  Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.
4.  Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely.
5.  Know that if you're me, anything you write will be made into a movie. Anything. Seriously, anything.  (I added this one.)

And, of course, his famous advice:
"If it sounds like writing, I re-write it."

My Writing Schedule

Image: www.Clipartof.com

Since it now consumes the bulk of my day, here's a peek into my authorial life:

1. Get up around 4:45 and write down my goals for 2013, including publishing 3 ebooks on Amazon.com by Dec. 1.

2. Write for an hour before breakfast.

3. Write four to five more hours.

4. Go to the gym.

5. Write another hour.

6. Spend an hour researching the ebook biz.

7. Eat dinner.

8. Watch an hour of reality show crime TV.

9. Go to bed by 9:30.

That's five days a week, with only two hours of writing and one hour of researching on Saturday. On Sunday I clean off my desk, pay the bills, and write out the next week's schedule. I will have three finished ebooks—probably two novellas and a novel—written by Thanksgiving. No one is making me do this. No one is paying me to do this. But there has never been a better time to be an author. Ebooks have changed the publishing landscape. I'm climbing on board before head implants replace the Kindle.

I Live and Do Things!

Yes, it's true. So many new things. Too many to discuss right now, but soon. If it weren't for those new things, other things would creep up and take their place so I'm grateful. Are home fries the little potato cubes?

Happy Easter!

I assume no one shows up here anymore and that this blog is more arid than the Mojave. In any case, I have set a task for myself of writing and publishing three ebooks by Dec. 1. My days consists of getting up around 5:00 AM, writing until around noon, off to the gym, then write until about six. Occasionally, paying work interrupts such as this week when I have marketing copy to produce. In addition, animation still lingers as I'm preparing to pitch a number of ideas to Amazon.com's new animation division. Who knows what Amazon will do next? Possibly surgery or cattle insemination. Nevertheless, a Happy Easter to all! (Image: waterfordlibrary.net)

Giant of the Unknown

In honor of this week's of review of Jack the Giant Slayer,  I offer you another big man movie from days of yore. A giant of a film

h/t: cinecapripictures

Good Day to Die Hard Review Up at F.O.G.

When there are terrorists to be harvested, it's time for John McClain. Bruce Willis is back in this latest incarnation of the Die Hard series as "Reviews of Films I Have Never Seen" dishes behind-the-scenes dirt obtained at no-risk from a source in craft services. Read more here. Image: thefilmgeekguy@blogspot.com

Tough New York cop John McClain (Bruce Willis) shoots the beard off Lenin.

I Am An Absentee Bloglord

For a reason, mind you. This year, 2013, I have set myself a task. Three ebooks written and published by Dec. 31, 2013. This task yields to paying work in either TV animation or marketing but is never dropped. So far, I've managed to stay on schedule, weaving my daily hours around paying gigs. To date, I've discovered that six hours of heads-down writing is about all I can muster. Afterwards, my mind is as clouded and thick as the skull of an animation industry junior executive.

I have taken one class on ebook publishing and am slated to take another in March. An assembly line process seems to work best. I complete a draft, then move on to the next book. There are two short stories mixed in for change-of-pace and to allow me to savor smaller accomplishments.

In any case, wish me well on this hefty endeavour.

Warm Bodies Review Up at F.O.G.

Can the living and dead bridge their differences and find true love? I don't know but I speculate as if I did know over at the revamped Forces of Geek. Visit "Reviews of Films I Have Never Seen" and peruse my take on Warm Bodies. Enjoy the new larger font! Image: the daily grindhouse

John Malkovich ponders what to do when his daughter dates the dead?

The Last Stand Review Up at F.O.G.

Like a fine wine, Arnold Schwarzenegger is best uncorked at the proper temperature: in his case, molten hot. As a sheriff with a past and deputies you wouldn't trust with guns made from candy, (except for the chick who is weapon savvy and quite deadly—an angle rarely seen) the old Terminator battles a narco-crook and his cartel cronies. However this time there's something unusual and awkward. Visit Forces of Geek and read this week's "Reviews of Films I Have Never Seen" to fully mal educate yourself about this movie. Image: schoolrack.com

A man, a sheriff, a killing dynamo, Arnold is on screen and scowling again.

Animaniacs Airs on Hub

To air is human. It's been reported on, shouted, written about, pondered, celebrated, but allow me to join in announcing the arrival of Animaniacs to the Hub cable channel beginning this Mon. January 7. For how long? YOU will determine that. View wisely and often and may your slacks be rich in baloney.  

h/t: HUBTVNETWORK

Texas Chainsaw 3D Review Up at F.O.G.

Not what you think. The filmmakers went for something different. Cutting? In a way. But not any way you might expect or want. Unravel these riddles over at Forces of Geek as Reviews of Films I Have Never Seen greets 2013 with a peek at the remake of a 70's drive-in classic. Image: Screen Crush

Lose your clothes and lose your life. But will this old slasher film staple be continued?

Happy January 2!

Happy birthday to Issac and his wolf man sideburns.

 Everyone celebrates January 1st. I choose to counter punch. On this day in 1920 sci-fi great Issac Asimov was born. In addition, 1904 saw the birth of Truus Klapwijk, Dutch diver, freestyle swimmer, and champion tulip eater. There's more on this day. So much more. I'm overcome. Image: All That I Love