Monthly Archives: January 2014

Writing Wednesday – Be Not Afraid

30 Thursday Jan 2014

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I’ve decided to start a add another element to this blog.  Writing Wednesday’s.

I’m not an expert on writing.  Some will say it takes a certain amount of hours or words written, but I’m not sure about that.  I believe that someone can become a great writer.  Maybe even me, someday.  But writing is such a subjective, living thing, that I’m not sure any one person could be an expert.  That someone could say with certain that a story will never be good, or write something they know, without a doubt, will be an instant hit.  Audiences change.  People change.  Desires change.

While I may never be an expert, what I am, is a writer.  I write.  So, I’ve come to think I know a thing or two about the process.  Or, at least, about my process.  I’m going to try to discuss something about the actual act of, or my experience with, writing every Wednesday.   Continue reading →

Flash Fiction Friday – Heaven High

25 Saturday Jan 2014

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Last Week’s FFF – Sink or Sail
Also, check out this special post introducing you to Skyland the world of my new serial novel project.

zombiesapien

Books held tight to her chest, Lydia walked down the halls of her new school. It was her first day, and she was still a bit fuzzy on the details. It looked like a normal school. A bit cleaner then her last one, but otherwise, just the same. Lockers lined the walls and groups of teens congregated around them. She received a variety of looks as she made her way from class to class. Some were curious glances. Others, she felt were an instant hatred.

How could anyone dislike her so quickly? She wondered. Continue reading →

Bus blogging – back the other way

23 Thursday Jan 2014

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I’m off to my new job. The place is in a great location, yet is somehow struggling. Seems like I can only get hired at those kind if restaurants. I came so close to getting a job that would’ve let me pay off my all my debt in about three years. But alas, after a great interview with the GM, an ok second interview with the AGM, and a week and a half of them leading me on, I never heard back. Had my hopes so high on that one. My new job should at least still bring me in double what my old one did, I hope, just enough to actually pay my bills. It’s a start.      Continue reading →

Welcome to the Skyland

22 Wednesday Jan 2014

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So I seeded the sky with story bubbles, and a cloud burst with words this morning.  I woke up, and while I was lying in bed, a scene unfolded in my brain.  Word for word.  I figured I should probably get up and write it down before it evaporated.  Below is an intro to my newest story.  It’s going to be a serialized fiction, and the first part is The Skyland.  If you like, then let me know.  If you hate it, then let me know.  Any feedback is appreciated.  And remember, this is just a quick first draft to introduce the concept.  Not sure that this scene will make the book as is.  Plus, I’m still working on characters, story arcs, and the outline.  I hope you enjoy!

zombiesapien

My brother and I snuck up to the roof of our building to watch the storm. It wasn’t the tallest by far. Next door towered nearly twice as high. But it didn’t matter. Every structure had just about the same view. After all, we lived on an island in the sky. Affectionately referred to by a mash up of the two words, and called the Skyland.   Continue reading →

OTHERWORLDERS IS DONE!

21 Tuesday Jan 2014

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Sorry to yell, I’m just excited.  It’s been a long time.  I started the first draft of the book, mid Nov. 2012.  I finished the first draft in Jan 2013.  I put it to bed for a while.  Then, I did a second draft.  That took a couple months.  Second draft done May or June last year.  I thought that was it.  But, I got some feedback from agents, and after much debate, decided on a third draft.  I had no idea it would be such major surgery.  Started on the third draft in, I think August.  But took long breaks during the process.  And now the third draft is Done!!!  Finally!  It’s ready to be sent to my Beta readers.  After that, perhaps a quick polish.  Hopefully, there’s no egregious errors, but if so, they shall be tweeked.  Then, it’s query time.  First draft, first step.  But now, I’m ready to move on to the next part of the process.  Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Continue reading →

What’s in a name?

19 Sunday Jan 2014

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A lot, actually.  Not to say that anyone wouldn’t still be the person or thing that they are were they called something different.  People would probably still like Lilly’s, even if they were called turd blossoms, but no one would understand why they were called that.   Continue reading →

Seeds

18 Saturday Jan 2014

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As I settled down to sleep last night, or really, early this morning by the clock, I laid in the dark, my brain churning gooey story slurry, trying to make something pliable out of it.   Which yielded me seeds.  I planted them in my brain, and then, this morning, a tiny sapling had sprouted.  And a story tree needs sun to grow, so I had to let it out.  I started a mind map, and started to bounce ideas off of my guy.

My idea tree is still growing, but I can already see the fruit.  What kind of juicy deliciousness did I get?  A serial scifi one.  Just the type I was trying for.  But I have to let it ripen.

So now, I have the beginnings of a universe.  I have a hint of some themes.  I even have the fetal development of a couple characters.  Soon my word babies will grow, and become fully functioning beings.

I don’t want to give too much away, and I’m sure a lot of things may change in the process.  But I’m so excited that I had to share something.  Get ready for: Skylands, Wind Chasers, the Void, and an AI who may or may not be trying to save or kill us all.

Words of Wisdom – On Self-Publishing from the Pros

18 Saturday Jan 2014

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I’ve been reading a lot recently.  Two stories that I have absolutely fallen in love with are the Wool series, and The Atopia Chronicles.   I can’t recommend these books enough.  Turns out that these two writers have much more in common than I ever knew.  From what I can tell, they were both released as serial short stories, they both are self-published, and both writers, Hugh Howey and Matthew Mather (respectively) have been very successful, selling rights to movies based on their works (Mather’s was for his other book CyberStorm).   Continue reading →

Flash Fiction Friday – Sink or Sail

18 Saturday Jan 2014

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Last Week’s FFF – Alien Bones

*****

sink or sail

Barbara snuck into her daughter’s bedroom. With a party favor in her mouth, she blew hard, creating a high-pitched wail.

Haley jumped nearly halfway out of bed. She breathed rapidly and looked around in a daze. When she spied her mother next to the bed, her body eased, and she relaxed back into her pillow, grunting sleepily.   Continue reading →

Flash Fiction Friday – Alien Bones

11 Saturday Jan 2014

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Last weeks FFF – Zombiesapien

*****

zombiesapien

The haze in the atmosphere was dissipating, revealing the alien, purple sky. This planet’s axis was tilted ever so slightly more Earth’s, causing the light waves to refract at an angle just different enough to create the taffy hue. The red and dusty terrain contrasted sharply against the sky, with a layer of dirt still kicked up all across the horizon.

Xander’s team worked through the storm. They did their best to protect their dig, and managed to not lose much ground. He watched them as they worked furiously to redo the mornings excavation, and at last, make new progress. He longed to be down in the ditches with them, but he knew it could never be.   Continue reading →