Have you ever wanted to read a book about a mute kid with poison for spit? How about an army of monsters made out of sand? Or maybe a vegetarian girl with a hair obsession and a lifetime of combat training?
Well, you probably haven't really given it much thought. But if, upon considering it just now, you said yes, you'd probably like to know more--and even if you said no, well, maybe I can convince you anyway.
Elemental Sacrifices: The Gathering follows an ancient-magical-orb-turned-girl named Chloe. Along with her snotty sister, she sets off to escape monsters and angry villagers alike, to see a boy so thoroughly attractive that even I (a straight male) find him sexy, and, of course, to find the secrets of her own origins.
The journey is punctuated with vivid, stunning battles with various fiends, as well as with genuine, hilarious dialogue among the amazingly strong cast of characters that this deep world has to offer. Reading it is not just interesting or suspenseful, but truly fun.
Excited yet? I definitely am! I'm not sure where the author is in the production of it, but I'm sure she can do a lot more with a little support for her work--it goes a long way, to say the least.
Constantly spewing ridiculous amounts of information about my life and my work as a science fiction and fantasy writer. Keep up with my new novels, what I've been reading, and more!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Super Script
As a 3-time winner of NaNoWriMo (the act of writing a 50,000-word novel in just one month) I tend to enjoy a challenge, especially when it comes to writing. So it's no surprise that I am in the midst of Script Frenzy, an event in which you have one month to write 100 pages of, you guessed it, a script.
So which one is more difficult? Last year, the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo came out to 99 pages, so there's not too much difference there. You would think that if you wrote a lot of short lines in your script--maybe having a bunch of characters that interrupt each other--you could get away with making Script Frenzy a lot easier.
But the truth is, Script Frenzy is by far the more difficult task. Unless you already have experience with writing scripts (which I only have a tiny bit of), it can be disorienting and strange. I even split the requirement into two scripts with, naturally, a goal of at least 50 pages each. That should allow me all kinds of creative options, right? Yet I'm still over a day behind already!
The first script is a 10-part comic series based on a certain popular game. I know, doing things like this probably isn't the best move for a writer, but give me a break. Besides, I'll probably actually draw it this summer, and that'll just be fun for all!
The other one is an original anime series in 6 parts. When Eric is accused of killing his new, mysterious girlfriend Alyssa, the only place to run is an elevator to Hell. I've had the two characters of Eric and Alyssa in my head for quite a few years, and they've finally found a home in this story, currently titled "The Next Floor Down."
That won't stop me from bringing you guys some more information this April, like a promise I've had here for a long time but never delivered on. Stay tuned for a sneak preview of a new, unreleased novel I had the luck to read!
So which one is more difficult? Last year, the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo came out to 99 pages, so there's not too much difference there. You would think that if you wrote a lot of short lines in your script--maybe having a bunch of characters that interrupt each other--you could get away with making Script Frenzy a lot easier.
But the truth is, Script Frenzy is by far the more difficult task. Unless you already have experience with writing scripts (which I only have a tiny bit of), it can be disorienting and strange. I even split the requirement into two scripts with, naturally, a goal of at least 50 pages each. That should allow me all kinds of creative options, right? Yet I'm still over a day behind already!
The first script is a 10-part comic series based on a certain popular game. I know, doing things like this probably isn't the best move for a writer, but give me a break. Besides, I'll probably actually draw it this summer, and that'll just be fun for all!
The other one is an original anime series in 6 parts. When Eric is accused of killing his new, mysterious girlfriend Alyssa, the only place to run is an elevator to Hell. I've had the two characters of Eric and Alyssa in my head for quite a few years, and they've finally found a home in this story, currently titled "The Next Floor Down."
That won't stop me from bringing you guys some more information this April, like a promise I've had here for a long time but never delivered on. Stay tuned for a sneak preview of a new, unreleased novel I had the luck to read!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
An Extra Credit
One thing that looks great when you're trying to get a book published is that something you've written has been published before. Well, consider me competitive edged!
Something we're always encouraged to do in my Expressive Writing class is to enter contests. I wasn't even conscious that I'd entered this particular piece into this particular contest, but somehow an "essay" of mine was qualified to publish. (I say "essay" with quotes because that's what they call it, but I really don't like that word. It's my life story, not a court case!)
So there it is. It's only a few hundred words, but they're all mine, and they're in a real book. Next time I write a letter to an agent or a publisher, I can say, "I have publication credit with Creative Communications." It sounds fancy because it is.
Actually, I had this opportunity in a similar class several years ago, but for some very stupid reason I declined to act. My next plan of action is to look back and attempt to capture the charm of the old "essay". After all, it was about the development of my writing. What subject could be more important concerning me?
Something we're always encouraged to do in my Expressive Writing class is to enter contests. I wasn't even conscious that I'd entered this particular piece into this particular contest, but somehow an "essay" of mine was qualified to publish. (I say "essay" with quotes because that's what they call it, but I really don't like that word. It's my life story, not a court case!)
So there it is. It's only a few hundred words, but they're all mine, and they're in a real book. Next time I write a letter to an agent or a publisher, I can say, "I have publication credit with Creative Communications." It sounds fancy because it is.
Actually, I had this opportunity in a similar class several years ago, but for some very stupid reason I declined to act. My next plan of action is to look back and attempt to capture the charm of the old "essay". After all, it was about the development of my writing. What subject could be more important concerning me?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Overdrive
Well, I was supposed to return to writing related stuff probably a week or two ago, but now I'm actually going to do so. Seriously!
I have tomorrow off, and with the rest of my family off on vacation all weekend, I have freedom AND caffeine money. So even if writing takes a back seat to other stuff, I have many hours of productivity ahead!
That means it's time to consider asking about more Beta Reading work. After all, I'm almost done with the current one (a great manuscript that I'll probably review here soon) and, well, I could use something new to help keep me occupied throughout this long weekend here.
Okay, I'm sure you'd like to hear about my own writing. I've basically been waiting to find out about what Tiger Tales will do with The Third Face. I don't even know how long it'll be before information comes back, so until then, revising that again is basically out of the question. Nor am I prepared to look at the sequel that's clearly bound to follow that. Instead, I'm looking backwards, to the lives of Ian and his friends, who are legendary by the time of The Third Face.
Seth, Ian's best friend, has discovered the method to travel to another world. Ian and his crush Lynn are invited to join him on his trip to the primitive society, but Seth refuses to reveal how he knows about it. Ian will have to trust his friend despite his destructiveness, and reveal his horrible secret at the same time. Stay tuned for more about Redhand: Adventures With My Dead Best Friend!
I have tomorrow off, and with the rest of my family off on vacation all weekend, I have freedom AND caffeine money. So even if writing takes a back seat to other stuff, I have many hours of productivity ahead!
That means it's time to consider asking about more Beta Reading work. After all, I'm almost done with the current one (a great manuscript that I'll probably review here soon) and, well, I could use something new to help keep me occupied throughout this long weekend here.
Okay, I'm sure you'd like to hear about my own writing. I've basically been waiting to find out about what Tiger Tales will do with The Third Face. I don't even know how long it'll be before information comes back, so until then, revising that again is basically out of the question. Nor am I prepared to look at the sequel that's clearly bound to follow that. Instead, I'm looking backwards, to the lives of Ian and his friends, who are legendary by the time of The Third Face.
Seth, Ian's best friend, has discovered the method to travel to another world. Ian and his crush Lynn are invited to join him on his trip to the primitive society, but Seth refuses to reveal how he knows about it. Ian will have to trust his friend despite his destructiveness, and reveal his horrible secret at the same time. Stay tuned for more about Redhand: Adventures With My Dead Best Friend!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Finish!
And there was much rejoicing.
Yes, I've finally finished redrafting The Third Face. It's kind of hard to believe. I just sort of... wrote the last sentence and said to myself, "That's it, you're done."
After this blog entry, I'll probably be on break from anything even vaguely writing related for several days. That doesn't sound like a long time, but I still have people on my back for help with their manuscripts. Someone must be giving me a reputation, because there's a lot of them now. It's a good thing none of them mind waiting, though... Those are the kinds of people I like to work with.
I have a few books to read for other purposes. It's hard to believe I have the time to sit and read just for myself, but I do. Still, they coincide with a surprisingly long list of other things to get done. After this, though, all those things seem incredibly doable (especially since few have any kind of timeframe attached to them).
Rest--true rest--is a wonderful thing.
Yes, I've finally finished redrafting The Third Face. It's kind of hard to believe. I just sort of... wrote the last sentence and said to myself, "That's it, you're done."
After this blog entry, I'll probably be on break from anything even vaguely writing related for several days. That doesn't sound like a long time, but I still have people on my back for help with their manuscripts. Someone must be giving me a reputation, because there's a lot of them now. It's a good thing none of them mind waiting, though... Those are the kinds of people I like to work with.
I have a few books to read for other purposes. It's hard to believe I have the time to sit and read just for myself, but I do. Still, they coincide with a surprisingly long list of other things to get done. After this, though, all those things seem incredibly doable (especially since few have any kind of timeframe attached to them).
Rest--true rest--is a wonderful thing.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Going for the Juggler
I hadn't really mentioned this before, but there's a reason I've been revising so furiously. On February 25th, the Tiger Tales literary contest is closing. Everyone is waiting on one key factor: will they start accepting novels this year?
They haven't had any reason to yet, but with two or three other novels already being submitted, chances have never been so good. I've been complaining year after year that short stories just aren't my thing, but this time that might not keep me out of the running.
As you've probably guessed, I'm entering the contest with my novel, The Third Face, and have decided to bring it through one more revision before I get there. It's hard to estimate how much editing there really is to do; it was originally about 80 pages long, and it's grown to over 100 before I've made it halfway through. I can't tell you the exact statistics, though, as they keep changing.
The fact is that even though I take whatever chance I can get to covertly revise during school hours, I've still spent a good four hours of my evening each day since the 25th of January, and I'm still worried about whether I'll finish on time. There's definitely a lot to do.
Alongside that, I am still doing the same beta reading that I mentioned a couple entries back. I'll admit that it's not a huge amount of work in its own right, but my tendency not to give it priority has made it really slow. I'm surprised the author isn't getting really impatient with me--she has every right to be. Still, she's politely followed up about it, making me suddenly aware of my mistake.
I suppose it would help if I was able to say no when a close friend plopped a half-finished manuscript down in front of me. This isn't a really big deal, since I told him he isn't getting any feedback until he finishes it. But it does make yet another manuscript I have some hand in revising at this very moment.
Look how long this blog entry is running. And I haven't even gone outside my writing life here. For your sake, I won't go into everything else, but I will tell you that there's a ton more for me to worry about these days. It's a wonder I haven't died. I can't believe I was able to put aside some time today to write this blog entry. There are actually plenty more blog entries way overdue for me to write... when I have time.
They haven't had any reason to yet, but with two or three other novels already being submitted, chances have never been so good. I've been complaining year after year that short stories just aren't my thing, but this time that might not keep me out of the running.
As you've probably guessed, I'm entering the contest with my novel, The Third Face, and have decided to bring it through one more revision before I get there. It's hard to estimate how much editing there really is to do; it was originally about 80 pages long, and it's grown to over 100 before I've made it halfway through. I can't tell you the exact statistics, though, as they keep changing.
The fact is that even though I take whatever chance I can get to covertly revise during school hours, I've still spent a good four hours of my evening each day since the 25th of January, and I'm still worried about whether I'll finish on time. There's definitely a lot to do.
Alongside that, I am still doing the same beta reading that I mentioned a couple entries back. I'll admit that it's not a huge amount of work in its own right, but my tendency not to give it priority has made it really slow. I'm surprised the author isn't getting really impatient with me--she has every right to be. Still, she's politely followed up about it, making me suddenly aware of my mistake.
I suppose it would help if I was able to say no when a close friend plopped a half-finished manuscript down in front of me. This isn't a really big deal, since I told him he isn't getting any feedback until he finishes it. But it does make yet another manuscript I have some hand in revising at this very moment.
Look how long this blog entry is running. And I haven't even gone outside my writing life here. For your sake, I won't go into everything else, but I will tell you that there's a ton more for me to worry about these days. It's a wonder I haven't died. I can't believe I was able to put aside some time today to write this blog entry. There are actually plenty more blog entries way overdue for me to write... when I have time.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Third Face Excerpt - Panic Attack
Rasuke's blood hurt.
The pain spread in thin, piercing lines through his body. He fought to control his breathing as it threatened to outrace even his own gunshot heartbeat.
He’s a Demon.
Imagined claws pulled at his own face as if pulling it off would save him from the agony, the fear, the rage. The three confused into a boiling mass and escaped his body as a vision, hideous and fearsome, tearing at Leo's form.
The Demon didn't react, knowing nothing of the imagined foe attacking him. But he looked upon Rasuke with concern. “You okay?”
It stopped.
He felt perfectly normal all at once, but for the difficulty in his breath. When it, too, had faded, he finally blurted out, “I feel like shit.”
Leo nodded. “At least they taught you fun stuff. What's wrong?”
Rasuke shrugged and shook his head. “I just... panicked. Just now. For no reason.”
“Oh, Phoenix,” Leo sighed. “You really think it was for no reason? None at all?”
“I think it had something to do with... you being a Demon,” Rasuke admitted. “I don't even know what they are.”
“It's okay to hate us,” the larger boy said. “I'm not at all proud of what I am. We're despicable—detested for good reason. My race is responsible for so much pain. Including part of yours.”
Rasuke looked up into Leo's blue eyes just then, suddenly interested and alert. “What do you mean?”
“The story begins in Hell, as most Demon stories do. That's where we're born, or made, as the case may be. Everyone there is subjected to so many awful conditions... and most importantly, the rage of the other Demons. I used to spend my days there, rescuing those who seemed unaffected. And that's how I first met you.”
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