Graduate Course: Update
After getting some advice from several people I have made a decision on what to do about taking that grad course: I’m going to do it. I appreciate everyone who was kind enough to offer me their opinions (all of it was done off-site, but so be it). I’m taking the course and we’ll see what happens! Other interesting things regarding school is that I am applying for a research grant that is given to undergraduate students here at UCSC. I’m going to do it on a science fiction subject, I just don’t know what yet (still working on the ideas). So, that’s that. Thanks! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
Question to Readers About Reviews
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I do book reviews and wondering if perhaps my reviews could use some fixing. I want to improve them because I get the sense that they’re not quite right. What do you think? Are there things you’d like me to do in my reviews that I don’t? Would you like to see less of something and more of something else? Any suggestions and constructive criticisms appreciated. Thanks in advance! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
Honorable Mention: Nobody Gives a Crap About Compsagnathus
My short story “Nobody Gives a Crap About Compsagnathus” is an honorable mention in the 3rd quarter of the Writers of the Future Contest. This is my second honorable mention and I’m totally ecstatic right now. I’ve already submitted a piece for the last quarter of the year. We’ll see how it turns out. I am excited! *dances* Anywho! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
Ask the Bloggers Series: Question #6 (I’m in it!)
Grasping For the Wind has put up yet another of the Ask the Bloggers questions, which, of course, I answered. You can find out more about it here. The question this time was: What kind of book cover attracts your attention? What attributes of the cover make you more or less likely to take it off the shelf? Does the spine of the book have any effect on your choices? Yeah, so what about you? (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
Steam Engines Sample: Your Thoughts?
Okay, so my girlfriend and I have been discussing the opening paragraph of a new story I’ve been working on. She’s been mostly displeased with it because she doesn’t know what the engines actually are, and I’ve said that I shouldn’t have to say what the engines are or what they necessarily do in that opening paragraph. My argument is that it’s not really important at that moment. But we disagree on this whole thing, so I’m bringing it to the readers. Below you’ll find the paragraph as it currently stands. It’s not polished, so it may need some mild tweaking in my mind.What do you think? Hate it or like it or neither? Comments? The air grew silent as the steam engines became still in the sky. Chains held them as their massive turbines seized up; I watched them settle, the metallic roar of suspension bridges being pushed to their limits and the screams of workers, dozens of them, suddenly struck with the realization that their skyward employment had breathed its last breath. And all around me the voices of the many, their eyes peering to where the chains dug into the floating islands, shocked into curiosity, like cats roaming their mythical histories, rose up like a collective burst of terror, piercing the now dormant sky with their cries and hushed whispers. Alright. That’s that.(Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
The Writing Groove: Getting It Back
Well, last night proved to be good for my mental health. I churned out 1203 words, some in The Spellweaver of Dern and some in a new short story that I just had to write because it was driving me nuts. The new story is being called “Steam Engines” at this point, because it lacks a true direction and lacks a fancy title. However, it involves disaster in a world where magic is provided by great steam engines suspended by chains attached to floating islands. Right now it’s focused on the family of the man who is in charge of maintaining the engines and what happens to he and his family when the engines stop and he can’t fix them. It’s a really interesting story right now. Don’t know where it will go, but we’ll see. In other news, now that I’m back into writing I can finish up a lot of my stories and then do that horrible thing called “Editing”. I hate editing in more ways than one. It’s terrible; I should just learn to write well enough to not need editing…ha! I think on the top of my list will be the two fantasy shorts I’m writing, one of which is finished, the other almost finished. I want to get them up to publishable quality and out the door. Then I’d like to finish this new one and “Soul For Sale.” There are only a few stories I think are only a few inches from publishable, and it is those stories that I want to focus on. And having said all this I think I have sufficiently wasted enough of your time! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)