I believe the zombies stole it when I wasn't looking and played a few rounds of soccer. Gave me time to do some thinking. I've been writing for Write Anything for about three years now. Great group of writers. Don't regret a day of it. However, I feel burnt out on advice. Completely hollow. Even the zombies are starting to avoid me just as we were becoming best pals (that is until they need a play thing). I've been thinking about leaving the line up. Let someone with a little more perky to take over the Thursday column. I think it need something I can't give, at least not now.
I've also been contemplating moving my author website to here. Haven't had many publications with it listed in my bio. I don't predict it to be a huge problem. I mean it's not like I have Romero status or anything. I rarely log in to Webs to tweak it and I'm here pretty much everyday. May be easier to maintain. The zombies are bugging me for their ball. Going to take this time to really give it some thought.
Happy Memorial Day!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Whirling By
Since I missed WIP Wednesday, here are my updates. I finished the revisions on "Sealed With Anguish" and didn't need 28 Days Later... to do it. Woot! I believe the story is better. Wasn't too sure about the ending. Had to read it a few hundred times before letting go. Submitted the story to Shroud. So, fingers crossed. "The Boy in the Book" is next on my hit list. Already received feedback on it and ready to dive on in. Have the time since the Gremlins have gone dormant....for now.I also received my review copy of The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb. Still have another book to review before I can get to this one, but looks like it should be an interesting read. I think I'm going to put Twilight aside for now, but will finish it whenever.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Yeah I'm Reading Twilight
God help me I started reading Twilight during the power outage. I can see why some people say it's poorly written. I'm like 100 in to this 500-page book (I would hate to know how long the 1st draft was). It tends to drag on and on. A good story but damn. I don't like to be talked at. I kept flashing on that one Family Guy episode where it cuts away briefly to Peter narrating his life. He pisses off Lois and she knocks him out for a couple of hours. I'm contemplating on whether or not to finish it. Even more so on reading New Moon.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
WIP Wednesday - The Gremlins Did It
Usually this would be the day I report how productive I've been all week. Of course I wrote three new stories; banked up a nice little word count. Read and wrote two book reviews. Spent some quality time with my short stories and a red pen. Even did a little Irish jig to celebrate all my hard work.
Very, very, very little of it is actually true. I blame it on the gremlins. Our house is infested with them...
Very, very, very little of it is actually true. I blame it on the gremlins. Our house is infested with them...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Zombie Awareness Month
We interrupt this stream of zilch, nada nothingness for this announcement. May is Zombie Awareness Month. Did you know that? If not, you do now. According to the Zombie Research Society, "...Spring naturally brings with it a sense of renewal and hopefulness, May is the perfect month to emphasize continued vigilance in the face of the coming zombie pandemic." So, ladies and gentlemen, proudly wear your gray ribbons proudly and support our walking dead brethren.
If that's not enough of an enticement, ZRS is having daily giveaways on their blog; shirts, training packs, games, books have been given away so far. Drop by for future prizes.
You now may return to the screaming, panicky running and hiding if you so choose to.
If that's not enough of an enticement, ZRS is having daily giveaways on their blog; shirts, training packs, games, books have been given away so far. Drop by for future prizes.
You now may return to the screaming, panicky running and hiding if you so choose to.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
WIP Wednesday - Not Panicked
I know the previous post may have come off a little panicky. I'm here to say there's nothing wrong with being weird. I guess it helps to have it in the genes. I would probably be writing romances if my childhood was all normal and what not. The pressure is on to finish editing "Sealed With Anguish". Doesn't help that every word in the 2nd or perhaps the 3rd draft is being replaced. I anticipated a change here or there and will finish with an almost entirely new story. But that's how it works right?
Finished one book review last week and was contacted for another. I want to get these finished in a timely manner but I need the week off. I'm seeing periods, commas and misspelled words in my sleep and for once it's not because of my sloppy work.
Finished one book review last week and was contacted for another. I want to get these finished in a timely manner but I need the week off. I'm seeing periods, commas and misspelled words in my sleep and for once it's not because of my sloppy work.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
28 Days Later...
G4 has been rerunning 28 Days Later... off and on for the last couple of weeks. I swear I don't get the urge to edit unless that movie is on. I don't know why. Other horror movies have popped up on TV here and there. I watched Bug from beginning to end (first time ever). Had the story sitting right in front me along with a red pen and didn't pick it up once. 28 Days Later appears with zombies and killer chimps and I can't put it down. I'm getting weirder by the day and I'm not sure it's a good thing. I want to embrace the weird but it's coming off a little diva. Before you know it I'll be aiming my cell phone for a little target practice. I don't see anyone appreciating that.
Oh, BTW, Stephen King is set to appear on the third episode of Sons of Anarchy, airing sometime in September. I haven't seen anything further than episode previews of that show; it seems pretty intense. I wonder what character SK will be playing. I kind of liked it better when he was doing the Where's Waldo thing in the movie adaptations of his books/stories.
Oh, BTW, Stephen King is set to appear on the third episode of Sons of Anarchy, airing sometime in September. I haven't seen anything further than episode previews of that show; it seems pretty intense. I wonder what character SK will be playing. I kind of liked it better when he was doing the Where's Waldo thing in the movie adaptations of his books/stories.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
WIP Wednesday - Chopping Away
Haven't been writing. But have dove right in to editing "Sealed With Anguish". As I re-read it for the trillionth time, I started to see where the "whimsical" comment came from. It sort of does read like something out of the Wizard of Oz which wasn't my intentions.
The vampire merchant with a heart-of-gold (or lack there of) has been turned to someone a bit more resentful. Ghosts are in the White House, ruling the world. Cannibals are on the verge of being on dinner plates themselves. The merchant's wife was given a none speaking part. The rest will be fairly the same. A little excerpt for you fine people:
Before:
As the two men discussed the usual neighborhood gossip, Sonja disappeared in to the storeroom. “I did hear about the new member of our community,” Declan confirmed. “Just because he chooses not to attend our annual block party doesn’t mean he hates us. Maybe he has a good reason. I mean, is it really our place to force newcomers to participate in our activities if they don’t want to?”
“My, my Declan. You are getting soft in your old age. I do not agree with having THOSE kinds of people in our neighborhood but as long as we are allowing them to be here, they could at least be hospitable.”
“Those kinds of people? They’re not the most sanitized bunch but werewolves are hardly troublemakers,” he said.
“You must be joking. Howling all hours of the night, shedding their fur everywhere and that is not even the worst of it,” Mr. Nos said. “Our neighborhood would be better off without THOSE people.”
“Oh, I’m certain there’s a lot of exaggeration in all of that talk, Mr. Nos. People will speculate, don’t you agree?”
“Speculate about what?” Mrs. Adaire asked, placing the item on the counter.
After:
Declan rolled his eyes, washing away his suggestion. "I heard about the new members of our community," he said, changing the subject. "I don't know why everyone is so worked up about it. Just because they choose not to attend our annual block party doesn't mean they hate us. Maybe they have a good reason."
"My, my Declan. You are getting soft in your old age. Having THOSE kinds of people in our neighborhood brings down property values but as long as we are allowing them to live here, they could at lease show their appreciation."
"THOSE kinds of people? I agree they're not the most sanitary bunch but werewolves are hardly troublemakers," he said, kicking himself for even bringing up the subject.
"Is that mockery I hear? They howl throughout the twilight, their fur coats every surface and lets not forget their destructive nature," Mr. Nos said, anger singed each word. "Our neighborhood would be better off without THOSE ghastly things."
Declan admired his talent for spewing his disgust. One taste increased one's chances of being infected. Yet Declan continued to encourage the manic. On good days, he found himself humored by talks of flaking paint and loud children. However, not much made him smile anymore. "I can't believe you to be so gullible to buy in to all the rumors. We don't know anything about them to pass such judgment."
Better? Worse? Approximately the same?
The vampire merchant with a heart-of-gold (or lack there of) has been turned to someone a bit more resentful. Ghosts are in the White House, ruling the world. Cannibals are on the verge of being on dinner plates themselves. The merchant's wife was given a none speaking part. The rest will be fairly the same. A little excerpt for you fine people:
Before:
As the two men discussed the usual neighborhood gossip, Sonja disappeared in to the storeroom. “I did hear about the new member of our community,” Declan confirmed. “Just because he chooses not to attend our annual block party doesn’t mean he hates us. Maybe he has a good reason. I mean, is it really our place to force newcomers to participate in our activities if they don’t want to?”
“My, my Declan. You are getting soft in your old age. I do not agree with having THOSE kinds of people in our neighborhood but as long as we are allowing them to be here, they could at least be hospitable.”
“Those kinds of people? They’re not the most sanitized bunch but werewolves are hardly troublemakers,” he said.
“You must be joking. Howling all hours of the night, shedding their fur everywhere and that is not even the worst of it,” Mr. Nos said. “Our neighborhood would be better off without THOSE people.”
“Oh, I’m certain there’s a lot of exaggeration in all of that talk, Mr. Nos. People will speculate, don’t you agree?”
“Speculate about what?” Mrs. Adaire asked, placing the item on the counter.
After:
Declan rolled his eyes, washing away his suggestion. "I heard about the new members of our community," he said, changing the subject. "I don't know why everyone is so worked up about it. Just because they choose not to attend our annual block party doesn't mean they hate us. Maybe they have a good reason."
"My, my Declan. You are getting soft in your old age. Having THOSE kinds of people in our neighborhood brings down property values but as long as we are allowing them to live here, they could at lease show their appreciation."
"THOSE kinds of people? I agree they're not the most sanitary bunch but werewolves are hardly troublemakers," he said, kicking himself for even bringing up the subject.
"Is that mockery I hear? They howl throughout the twilight, their fur coats every surface and lets not forget their destructive nature," Mr. Nos said, anger singed each word. "Our neighborhood would be better off without THOSE ghastly things."
Declan admired his talent for spewing his disgust. One taste increased one's chances of being infected. Yet Declan continued to encourage the manic. On good days, he found himself humored by talks of flaking paint and loud children. However, not much made him smile anymore. "I can't believe you to be so gullible to buy in to all the rumors. We don't know anything about them to pass such judgment."
Better? Worse? Approximately the same?