I'm still thinking about what I am going to do. The cool weather with the cloudy skies has me thinking Fall and that time of year always puts me in a writing mood.
I did some writing today. I did a little work on a story I had started a while ago, back when I was trying to write a funny science fiction story. Although, I never found a strong market for funny sci-fi, I do think it would work in just sci-fi.
Of course, I haven't found a lot of markets for just humorous short stories, which sucks because it's the direction I always felt pulled in.
Anyway, the short story is about a guy who can't figure out where six weeks of his life went and the only person he has to help him figure it out is his not too intelligent best friend. They compile a list of possible explanations of what could have happened and try to rule out the possibilities one by one.
I don't have strong feelings about this story. I don't love it but I don't hate it. It just feels good to be writing again. I think it's a good place to start off.
Lets see if I can keep up the pace this time.
Showing posts with label sci-fi/fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sci-fi/fantasy. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, April 11, 2008
Fake out phone calls and hopefully no fake candles
There are a few science fiction and fantasy stories that I have had laying around for awhile. My only problem is that there aren't a lot of magazines that publish this kind of fiction. At least not as many compared to those that publish literary, mainstream and contemporary.
So eventually I happened upon the Writer's of the Future contest. Yes, the same one started by the creator of Scientology.
They look for unpublished science fiction and fantasy writer's. This isn't the first time I had sent a story for their contest. In previous times they have sent an e-mail "we got your entry" and another "thanks but no thanks". Needless to say I was floored when I got home and found a message from them on my machine.
Don't get too excited that's what I did to. No, there weren't any problems with my entry. The lady that entered my entry noticed my address and realized she had grown up right near where I live. She wanted me to call back and tell her all about Lansing.
I knew she had nothing to do with who wins the contest, but it can never hurt to be nice or to "know someone" so I called. Sadly, there wasn't much different about Lansing except we have a minor league baseball team, the Lansing Lugnuts. And they no longer make sense since all of our GM plants are now gone, which was also a highlight. Anyone who has lived here before last year can tell you how weird it looks now that the GM plants are no longer standing.
Anyway, she didn't think I would call and she was super nice. She told me this was the best contest to get a start at and to keep writing. She also said she would root for me to win.
It was pleasant but I still can't help feeling it was a little bit of a bad joke like birthday candles that relight themselves after you blow them out. Maybe that's not the best analogy because the phone call was not meant to be a joke. I only used that comparison because it made a good lead in to the next thing I was going to say.
Tomorrow is another birthday for me. I get a three day weekend. I have lots of stuff to do but it's my birthday so if I don't get it done, it's the one time I can't be mad at myself.
So eventually I happened upon the Writer's of the Future contest. Yes, the same one started by the creator of Scientology.
They look for unpublished science fiction and fantasy writer's. This isn't the first time I had sent a story for their contest. In previous times they have sent an e-mail "we got your entry" and another "thanks but no thanks". Needless to say I was floored when I got home and found a message from them on my machine.
Don't get too excited that's what I did to. No, there weren't any problems with my entry. The lady that entered my entry noticed my address and realized she had grown up right near where I live. She wanted me to call back and tell her all about Lansing.
I knew she had nothing to do with who wins the contest, but it can never hurt to be nice or to "know someone" so I called. Sadly, there wasn't much different about Lansing except we have a minor league baseball team, the Lansing Lugnuts. And they no longer make sense since all of our GM plants are now gone, which was also a highlight. Anyone who has lived here before last year can tell you how weird it looks now that the GM plants are no longer standing.
Anyway, she didn't think I would call and she was super nice. She told me this was the best contest to get a start at and to keep writing. She also said she would root for me to win.
It was pleasant but I still can't help feeling it was a little bit of a bad joke like birthday candles that relight themselves after you blow them out. Maybe that's not the best analogy because the phone call was not meant to be a joke. I only used that comparison because it made a good lead in to the next thing I was going to say.
Tomorrow is another birthday for me. I get a three day weekend. I have lots of stuff to do but it's my birthday so if I don't get it done, it's the one time I can't be mad at myself.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Not much
My teleportation story has been edited and it is in the mail. There's no going back now.
Work has once again been slow this week. I wrote down some notes on new story ideas but mostly I tried to catch up on my comic book reading.
I must say that the writing tips of the day featured in my side bar, well, they're pretty lame. I'd take it out but I'm too lazy. Who knows maybe they'll get better. I do think it would be quite hard to come up with a new and unique writing tip everyday so I shouldn't complain too much.
Anyway, I thought I had more to fill up this post but I guess not.
Just watched: Dancing with the Stars
Just saw: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Finally read: Ultimate Spider-man #101-105 the clone saga
Work has once again been slow this week. I wrote down some notes on new story ideas but mostly I tried to catch up on my comic book reading.
I must say that the writing tips of the day featured in my side bar, well, they're pretty lame. I'd take it out but I'm too lazy. Who knows maybe they'll get better. I do think it would be quite hard to come up with a new and unique writing tip everyday so I shouldn't complain too much.
Anyway, I thought I had more to fill up this post but I guess not.
Just watched: Dancing with the Stars
Just saw: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Finally read: Ultimate Spider-man #101-105 the clone saga
Friday, March 23, 2007
Editing and libraries.
Okay I edited my teleportation story. Hopefully it's sci-fi enough and well written. That would probably help. I'll reread it tomorrow to double check for typos after I haven't been staring at it for a few hours.
What's my next project? Well I still need to finish my part of Behind the Naugahyde chapters 10, 11, 12. I would like to finish it this weekend but no promises.
After that I'm going to start a fictional story that centers around HIV/AIDS infected characters. I already know a bit about this subject but there is always more to know. I've been working on really professional sounding interview questions because I have a few people I want to interview for research purposes. I also went to the library for some books.
Here's a little fact for you. I know I've written at some point that there are three branches of the Capital Area District Library that I frequent. The main branch downtown because it has the biggest selection, the south side which is a few blocks away from my house but it's in the poorer side of town and it's usually filled with unattended children, and there's the one near my work in the wealthy town which is usually very quiet but has snotty librarians.
Anyway, I went to the south side branch yesterday and it had 18 books on the topic of HIV/AIDS. Today I went to the wealthy town library, which is about the same size as the south side library, and they had 4 books on the subject of HIV/AIDS. And that's what they carry not what they have available.
On a completely different topic, all this search for non-fiction makes me long for card catalogs. The little drawers in the library filled with index cards that listed every book in the library alphabetically under title, author and subject. I loved flipping through those when I was younger. I felt like I was an investigator looking for that one book that held the answer. Now that it's on the computer I'm just typing. I do that all the time. I'm doing it right now. Big wow.
What's my next project? Well I still need to finish my part of Behind the Naugahyde chapters 10, 11, 12. I would like to finish it this weekend but no promises.
After that I'm going to start a fictional story that centers around HIV/AIDS infected characters. I already know a bit about this subject but there is always more to know. I've been working on really professional sounding interview questions because I have a few people I want to interview for research purposes. I also went to the library for some books.
Here's a little fact for you. I know I've written at some point that there are three branches of the Capital Area District Library that I frequent. The main branch downtown because it has the biggest selection, the south side which is a few blocks away from my house but it's in the poorer side of town and it's usually filled with unattended children, and there's the one near my work in the wealthy town which is usually very quiet but has snotty librarians.
Anyway, I went to the south side branch yesterday and it had 18 books on the topic of HIV/AIDS. Today I went to the wealthy town library, which is about the same size as the south side library, and they had 4 books on the subject of HIV/AIDS. And that's what they carry not what they have available.
On a completely different topic, all this search for non-fiction makes me long for card catalogs. The little drawers in the library filled with index cards that listed every book in the library alphabetically under title, author and subject. I loved flipping through those when I was younger. I felt like I was an investigator looking for that one book that held the answer. Now that it's on the computer I'm just typing. I do that all the time. I'm doing it right now. Big wow.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
So little time
Okay, although I've kind of sorta started it, I'm not sure I can get my science fiction story finished and edited by the deadline. So I was thinking that I could switch my sci-fi/western comic into short story form but I'm not even sure I would get that done in time. My other option is sending in an already completed story and the only one I have that would qualify, I'm not sure actually qualifies. The whole story revolves around the idea of teleportation but it takes place in current time and has no other science fiction element. Is that enough sci-fi for an all science fiction contest? I'm not sure. I guess I could attempt to finish one of the other options and if it gets to close to crunch time I can try the teleporting story.
I feel like ever since I started my new job I've had so little time to write, which disappoints me. Whether I ever get paid for it or not, writing is something I think I'll do for the rest of my life. On the other hand, selling shoes for the rest of my life, I hope not.
I feel like ever since I started my new job I've had so little time to write, which disappoints me. Whether I ever get paid for it or not, writing is something I think I'll do for the rest of my life. On the other hand, selling shoes for the rest of my life, I hope not.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sci-fi stories and work drama.
I haven't gotten much done this week. I did my obligatory submissions on Sunday but not much else. I guess I thought I would take a small break since I just got done writing a novel. Ideas for my next project are in the works. My plan is to write a sci-fi/fantasy story. I know I'm a genre hopper but I don't want to get stuck in a rut and to be honest I'm not entirely sure what genre I would want to write exclusively. I read everything and I want to write everything.
I had been reading sci-fi short stories trying to get inspired for an idea but I wasn't having a lot of luck. Then I started thinking about the awesome Jenni, fellow author of Behind the Naugahyde. It was her strong belief in animal rights that got me thinking about this idea. I'll give more details when I figure them out but for now I must keep everyone in suspense.
Aside from vague descriptions of sci-fi stories I don't really have much else to say about writing for now.
I am excited that next Monday I will start a new job but really it's still my old job. I'm moving to a different location where I will have no one to talk to and little work to do so I will have plenty of time for writing and reading.
The drama leading up to the new position has been so ridiculous that the sequel to Behind the Naugahyde has pretty much written itself.
Lets hope next week involves less madness and more writing.
I had been reading sci-fi short stories trying to get inspired for an idea but I wasn't having a lot of luck. Then I started thinking about the awesome Jenni, fellow author of Behind the Naugahyde. It was her strong belief in animal rights that got me thinking about this idea. I'll give more details when I figure them out but for now I must keep everyone in suspense.
Aside from vague descriptions of sci-fi stories I don't really have much else to say about writing for now.
I am excited that next Monday I will start a new job but really it's still my old job. I'm moving to a different location where I will have no one to talk to and little work to do so I will have plenty of time for writing and reading.
The drama leading up to the new position has been so ridiculous that the sequel to Behind the Naugahyde has pretty much written itself.
Lets hope next week involves less madness and more writing.
Friday, February 16, 2007
It's done, finally
It's been 3 months and 15 days. A little over schedule, well a lot over schedule depending on which goal we consider. My Nanowrimo goal, Nanofimo or just to finish in three months. Anyway it matters no more because after 98497 words, I am finished with my still untitled novel! Yay!
I really have no idea what to do with it. For now I will let it sit and then I'll go back. Hopefully I won't realize that it is all crap but that's most likely what it is.
Now I think I'm going to write a sci-fi/fantasy short story for a little change of pace. Then I hope to make some edits to my comic book script and figure out something to do with it.
And hopefully I will talk to Jenni soon and we can start planning the next chapters of Behind the Naugahyde.
Just watched: The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock
Just saw: Hannibal Rising
Just read: Dark Tower-The Gunslinger Born #1
I really have no idea what to do with it. For now I will let it sit and then I'll go back. Hopefully I won't realize that it is all crap but that's most likely what it is.
Now I think I'm going to write a sci-fi/fantasy short story for a little change of pace. Then I hope to make some edits to my comic book script and figure out something to do with it.
And hopefully I will talk to Jenni soon and we can start planning the next chapters of Behind the Naugahyde.
Just watched: The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock
Just saw: Hannibal Rising
Just read: Dark Tower-The Gunslinger Born #1
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
My trip to the libraries
Yet another post, goodness. I actually don't have much to say about writing today it's all more about reading.
I went to the library today, well two different branches of the Capital Area District Library. Originally I was searching for a few sci-fi/fantasy books because I'm thinking of writing a science fiction/fantasy story to enter into a contest. I haven't read much sci-fi fantasy although I've watched a lot of it. And I did write an eight page script for a sci-fi/western comic once. Although nothing ever happened with that. Anyway, I thought I should read a bit but I couldn't find any of the books I had in mind and I'm really horrible at just picking a book by looking at it so I ended up with nothing in that department.
I did however think to ask if they had a copy of Hannibal Rising. There are 37 copies in the CADL libraries and only two were available one of which was at the second branch I visited but was the first I asked if they had it. The other was at the first branch I visited but hadn't thought to look and/or ask for it. What are the odds? I think there are like maybe ten branches, give or take a few. Anyway, I've read all the other books by Thomas Harris except for his first book that isn't connected to the others. I liked them all but was a little bit disappointed in the way Hannibal ended. I won't go into details in case someone hasn't read it but it did not end like the movie.
I actually bought the first three for a dollar at a used book store that was going out of business. This was long after I had actually read them but I thought I might want to read them again one day so I picked them up. I couldn't afford to buy the hardcover of Hannibal Rising and wasn't sure I wanted to so I checked it out. Maybe I'll buy it one day if I like it.
And I can't even believe it already has a movie coming out.
I also checked out the trade paperbacks at the library but there wasn't anything that I didn't already have that I would be interested in reading. I have bookshelves of TPBs and I haven't even made a dent in reading them. At least now I have something to feed my comic book need while I'm insufficiently funded to buy new comic books right now. I'll just have very little idea of what's going on currently. It'll be annoying but I'll be okay. I think.
Just watched: Heroes
I went to the library today, well two different branches of the Capital Area District Library. Originally I was searching for a few sci-fi/fantasy books because I'm thinking of writing a science fiction/fantasy story to enter into a contest. I haven't read much sci-fi fantasy although I've watched a lot of it. And I did write an eight page script for a sci-fi/western comic once. Although nothing ever happened with that. Anyway, I thought I should read a bit but I couldn't find any of the books I had in mind and I'm really horrible at just picking a book by looking at it so I ended up with nothing in that department.
I did however think to ask if they had a copy of Hannibal Rising. There are 37 copies in the CADL libraries and only two were available one of which was at the second branch I visited but was the first I asked if they had it. The other was at the first branch I visited but hadn't thought to look and/or ask for it. What are the odds? I think there are like maybe ten branches, give or take a few. Anyway, I've read all the other books by Thomas Harris except for his first book that isn't connected to the others. I liked them all but was a little bit disappointed in the way Hannibal ended. I won't go into details in case someone hasn't read it but it did not end like the movie.
I actually bought the first three for a dollar at a used book store that was going out of business. This was long after I had actually read them but I thought I might want to read them again one day so I picked them up. I couldn't afford to buy the hardcover of Hannibal Rising and wasn't sure I wanted to so I checked it out. Maybe I'll buy it one day if I like it.
And I can't even believe it already has a movie coming out.
I also checked out the trade paperbacks at the library but there wasn't anything that I didn't already have that I would be interested in reading. I have bookshelves of TPBs and I haven't even made a dent in reading them. At least now I have something to feed my comic book need while I'm insufficiently funded to buy new comic books right now. I'll just have very little idea of what's going on currently. It'll be annoying but I'll be okay. I think.
Just watched: Heroes
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