writingdad's Blog

Re: 100th Episode Blow Out!

I've got something written, Doc.  Planning to record it tonight after everyone's asleep.

Re: Library of Science Fiction/Fantasy

What, Doc hasn't got enough to do? <g>  I think the word is, aside from DW and DR, he's going to focus on novels to begin with.  Anthologies will come at some future point in the timestream.

Standingguy, if it's up over the 20k mark for word count, I'll happily look at it for Distant Realms when the time comes.  Genre and sub-genre lines can be blurry sometimes, especially when we're talking about supernatural causes.  Magical Realism?  Urban/Modern Fantasy?  Supernatural Horror?  I'll leave it up to you.

Adam, if the story arc feels like it can work for something longer without being padded, then absolutely I'd like to see it.  But don't let me tell you what to write.  Write it because it feels like what you want to write.  Low Fantasy sounds a bit diminutive, though.  I've always thought of Howard as one of the fathers of Sword and Sorcery.

Re: A new good Librarian

Congratulations!  Don't forget to puree the brains first.  He'll enjoy them more.

Re: Episode #97 of "Library of the Living Dead" - A Kinder, Gentler Zombie ... NOW AVAILABLE

I'm so behind.  It's in the player, at least, but I just finished 96 a couple of days ago.

Re: It's Not All Bad News!

My son is starting to crawl... ...maybe this one should have gone into "what grinds my gears"!  He gravitates toward everything he shouldn't be grabbing, and wants to stick everything in his mouth.

-robertessig

Crawling?  No good can come of this.  Crawling leads to walking, running, and probably climbing a lot sooner than you're ready for.  Everything needs to be six feet off the floor now.

Re: The Cat Killed The Fiddle And Ran Away With The Loon - Do You Know What Word Is Next?

Jackie Chan

Re: Death comes. . .

I got the cover today.  I am so excited I am bursting at the seams.  The publisher told me the book would be out about two weeks now!  I can't believe it.  I am going to be published- my first NOVEL.   I am heavily considering writing some short fiction to help promote it.  Does that work?  I mean getting stories published online and anthos.  Does it help?

-adam

I think a lot of up and coming authors have had some success with give away short fiction in the same universe as about-to-be-published novels.  If you do enough of it before and after, you could even parlay that into a collection, maybe.

Re: BIG NEWS!!!--Rhiannon Frater is signing with Foundry: Literary + Media Agency

Congratulations, Rhia!  That's fantastic news.  Continued success.

Re: Discussion about Zombology III

I'm priveleged to be among those included in this one.  Can't wait to see what it looks like.

Re: Distant Worlds, the blog!

New post on the Distant Worlds blog!  (Yes, I know it's about bloody time.)  Part 3 of The Editor's Journey, talking about how to respond to submissions and queries.  I could have gone on a lot longer about this, but I think I've done an okay summary of my point of view here.

http://dwdr.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/the-editor’s-journey-part-3-responding-to-submissions-and-queries/

Progress update probably tomorrow.

Re: What're YOU reading at the moment?

Killer Klowns was so much fun.  Can't get my wife to get over her fear of clowns long enough to watch it, but I should be able to share it with my son in a couple of years.  Well, maybe.

Currently reading for Distant Worlds, and not quite where I want to be, but it's hard to focus at the appropriate level in brief snatches at work.

Re: Horror movie alphabet (why the hell not!)

Love at First Bite

Re: The Cat Killed The Fiddle And Ran Away With The Loon - Do You Know What Word Is Next?

Left overs

Re: A free Xmas card for Friends of the Library

Strange looks from a couple of my coworkers.  They should know better by now.  <g>

Re: "Through the Eyes of the Undead"--OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

Good to see you finished writing it, WD.

-robertessig

Fixed a couple of small structural issues and I hope to start the "make it pretty" draft tonight.  With a little luck, I'll be ready for the "read it aloud to catch any remaining stupid mistakes/grammar issues" by the time I switch back to nights this weekend, which will also allow catching up to the present on other commitments.  It's nice having a normal sleep cycle, but I get so much more done when I'm working nights and everyone else is asleep.

Thanks, Scareyworms.  It did!  He's in the recovery room right now.  I'll probably get to see him in an hour or so.  I had a lot of fun writing the story; it was weirdly cathartic to have it to work on as I spent the night stressing.  (Which, given what happens in it, is a tad disturbing, but whatever works ...)

-shufflinghips

Hope everything is well, shufflinghips, and that recovery is rapid and complete.

Re: Is it neccesary for a story to have a protagonist?

Some semantic quibbling:
While I agree with the general opinion that a story doesn't need a "hero" or even a likeable protagonist, a coherent story needs to have some kind of protagonist.  Even if that person is extremely disagreeable or downright evil, the story needs to be about someone (or something).
In other words, "protagonist" does not necessarily mean "good guy."  A story about a bad person doing bad things still has a protagonist -- just an evil one.
As for the rejections, well, sometimes slush readers resort to a canned list of easy ways to get stories off their desks.  The more you depart from what they expect, the easier it is for a cranky slush reader to find a reason to set you aside.  So when you break the rules (and they all need breaking at one time or another), make sure you do it really well!

-michaelclea

Agreed.  I think typically the word protagonist has a positive association ("pro"), but really what it means is the main character or primary POV of the story.  If the story necessitates that person be an evil SOB, then that's what works.

I don't know who first said it, but story acceptance = right story + right editor + right time.  Take one of those away and you get a rejection.  Believe in the story and you'll find a home for it.  Of course, I've got several which have had enough rejections to test my belief.

But either way, a story has to center around someone, has to be about a person, whether admirable or detestable.  Otherwise it isn't really a story, its an essay.

-lordastral

Couldn't have said it better.

Re: Yes, another newbie.

Welcome, sir.  Pull up a decomposing corpse and have a seat, relax, and enjoy.

Re: Why this grown man is scared of zombies...

Welcome aboard sir.  It is a friendly place, and I hope you enjoy your stay here.

Re: 100th Episode Blow Out!

I've only got like five responses to this via e-mail, MP3 or Zombie Hotline. I'm bummed.
Please Good Librarians I need you to call in or send in stuff for the 100th.
Episode #97 just went live. That means you only have two weeks to get your comments in.
Send MP3s and e-mails to lotld@yahoo.com   title the e-mail "100".
Or call into the Zombie Hotline at   1-206-350-1535

-dr-pus

As the universe is my witness, I swear I will have something for you, Doc.  Maybe a couple of somethings, but at least one.

Re: A free Xmas card for Friends of the Library

Love it!

Just set this as my desktop background on one of the computers at work.  Hope that's okay.

Re: "The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse" -- Now open for submissions!!

Just a thought about "Adapting Your Church Practices to Account for the Rise of the Undead".  There will be comments made about this. Be sure of that. We Christians though are pretty thick skinned about humor aimed at the Church. But I'd like you to think of one thing, what if you were aiming it at Muslims? They "religious" too. And just imagine the backlash from that.
All I'm sayin' is be careful.
Doc

-dr-pus

I appreciate the warning, Doc.  I think the tone of the essay is respectful (attempting an honest reaction from a not-too-literal minded religious individual post-uprising), but it is possible I'm too close to it.  Raised in a Christian tradition and with a family that mostly identifies themselves that way still, it's that familiarity that let me write this short essay.  I couldn't attempt something of the same length in any other religious tradition without a tonne of research.

Which might not be a bad thing, anyway.

Re: Tragedy

Damn.  I just read this.  My heart breaks for your loss.
 
Strength, edurance, and memory.

Re: Distant Worlds, the blog!

Now I'm blushing.  And feeling guilty that I haven't put any real new content on it in a week.  Don't give up, though.  By my count, there's still 54 days before D-day.  Starting from scratch and focusing on nothing else, it's still possible.  Of course, with family, puppies, unfinished novels, and the solstice-based holiday of your preference, things might get a little tight.
 
There's a fantasy novella anthology intended to follow, too, and submissions won't open for that until Distant Worlds closes.  Plenty of time.

Re: "The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse" -- Now open for submissions!!

Oh, and I consider Mercury to be a sign of Divine humour as well, though that shines a light on my geekiness for all to see.  But really, a metal that's liquid at room temperature?  Obviously a gag element.

Re: "The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse" -- Now open for submissions!!

I never go out of my way to offend people, but always try to be true to the idea or story I'm trying to communicate.  In this case, I didn't plan it to be offensive, but taking half a step back, I can see how part of what I wrote could easily be taken that way.  Hopefully Crusis likes it.  If not, I'm still glad to have written it.