Things Happening Now: Shoot the WISB and Man of Steel
After a brief Twitter discussion with Paul Weimer, I’ve decided to move the Shoot the WISB segments over to The Skiffy and Fanty Show. There are a few reasons for this, but the fact that this blog is, well, a blog is the most obvious of those reasons. In any case, if you want to hear the latest episode, you can do so here. Paul and I are joined by David Annandale and Michael Underwood to discuss Man of Steel! Thanks for listening!
Poll: Would you watch or tune in to a live-writing event?
One of the interesting things I did with my friend Adam last year was a collaboration in which we more or less wrote a story live. While that story didn’t pan out (still have it and think it’s a wicked piece of work that we should one day finish — Andy Remic would love it), it made me think about how I might use Google Docs to let people sneak a peak at my writing process. Google lets you share a document with anyone, and it shows updates more or less as they are happening. Since I’m working on WISB-related stuff, I thought some of you might like to see me at work (and to see the rough drafts as they come into being). I could select a time (maybe a daily time or something) and give the link out on my blog. Even if you couldn’t make it to the live event, you could still check in on the progress. Would any of you be interested in this? Let me know by clicking on the little poll.
Coming Soon: “Lendergross and Eaves”
Collecting all the votes I received on my blog and on Young Writers Online, it seems folks want to see “Lendergross and Eaves” first (following closely by “Suckled at the Edge of Flesh”). Cool beans. That gives me some direction and focus. And so, for your gentle reminder, here’s the description (once more) of the upcoming WISB Short Story, “Lendergross and Eaves”: Set in the same city as the previous story, and in roughly the same era. The Anurians of Bifur live out their toad-like lives in the slums, eking out an existence while the city finds new ways to exploit them. Except for Terk. He’s cornered the Eaves market, pushing illicit drugs as high as the elite circles. That is until someone important is murdered with Terk’s calling card all over him. Except Terk doesn’t kill people. Maims? Sure. But never kills. Which means someone is trying to set him up to ruin him. Unless he can figure out who’s behind it all and clear his name. Well, mostly clear his name, that is… I shall finish it soon!
WISB Shorts: Which do you want first?
I’m starting up the WISB Project again. This year, I am going to finish it. Through and through. That means four new short stories set in Traea, and a full novel podcast, with an ebook release. And to make up for life’s complexities, I will give anyone who donated $5 or more a copy of the ebook for The World in the Satin Bag (and the deal applies to anyone else who decides to donate in the future). I won’t be pushing for donations this time, around, though. Donate if you want. All I really want is to hear from people. If you like a story, or a chapter, leave a comment. But for now, I need some direction. I have four short stories in the works for the project, ranging from pre-WISB eras to distant futures (though still very much in the realm of fantasy). Based on the following descriptions, which would you want to read first? You can leave extended answers in the comments, if you are so inclined. Here goes: “Suckled at the Edge of Flesh” A prequel to The World in the Satin Bag. Fagan Tarceron rides the seas to map the unknown stretches beyond the shores of Elithae and the Black Gap. But when the many ships under his lord’s command discover a massive continent covered in abandoned cities, Fagan knows they should turn around before it’s too late. What could empty entire cities without leaving a trace? The real question: Is it worth finding out? The Girl Who Flew on a Whale Set several hundred years after the events that take place in The World in the Satin Bag. In the long-forgotten city of Arlin, the Dreamer imagines riding the seas and the skies, having grand adventures with brigands and pirates and all manner of strange creatures. Most of all, she dreams of the flying whales who have become the great myths and legends of the sailors and seafolk at the edge of the long-forgotten city of Arlin. But the Dreamer is a young lady. She’s destined for courts and finishing schools and all manner of obscure tortures her mother can dream up. And when the Royal Archbombasin of Cagerock convinces the Dreamer’s mother to send her to his special school for special children, where it is rumored that he feasts upon young flesh, the Dreamer can take no more, fleeing into the city to discover the adventures she’s always dreamed of… (Probably more like a middle-grade novel, to be honest.) “Murder in Hodgepodge Alley” Set in a pre-industrial city several hundred years or so after the events of The Girl Who Flew on a Whale. Harper is one of the many who occupy the winding alley of monstrous houses and board-bridges called Magpie City. One of the Prolet. The lesser folk. Life isn’t terribly hard there. They have food. They have water. And they can build up and up and up almost without limitation. But the city of Bifur does have its limits, with strict security forces to keep those limits enforced. When Harper finds the body of a member of a royal house, he knows that things will not go well for Hodgepodge Alley or the residents of Magpie City. Not well at all… “Lendergross and Eaves” Set in the same city as the previous story, and in roughly the same era. The Anurians of Bifur live out their toad-like lives in the slums, eking out an existence while the city finds new ways to exploit them. Except for Terk. He’s cornered the Eaves market, pushing illicit drugs as high as the elite circles. That is until someone important is murdered with Terk’s calling card all over him. Except Terk doesn’t kill people. Maims? Sure. But never kills. Which means someone is trying to set him up to ruin him. Unless he can figure out who’s behind it all and clear his name. Well, mostly clear his name, that is… Have at it, folks!
The Video You’ve All Been (Not) Waiting For (a.k.a. That WISB Thing)
You all remember how I promised to make a video of me doing embarrassing crap? No? Oh. That’s depressing. Wait, you were just messing with me? That’s nice of you… In any case, that video is now made, with a lot of additional nonsense. Why? Because I was later than late on making it, and then a series of technological problems prevented me from doing it. But a promise is a promise, and now it’s here for your amusement. For the record, you will find the following in the video: The Electric Slide (performed poorly, of course) Peanut Butter Jelly Time (somewhat quietly displayed due to me being a nice person) The Truffle Shuffle (performed a little too well for my comfort…) You will also find me doing silly crap and one particularly amusing geek reference. If you know the reference, leave a comment! So here you go: Feel free to share it. You know you want to! Update: Some folks have said they are having issues using the above video. Below you should find a YouTube version for your amusement. Thanks! No YouTube version after all. The copyright bastards swarmed in and deleted all the audio simply because I used part of a song, despite giving it proper attribution. So…I deleted the video and will never upload anything there again. To those that had issues using the Blogger video above: sorry. I tried to provide an alternative, but the pricks at the music companies have apparently neutered YouTube. Post a song with music in it and they’ll cut the audio out. Meh. It’s crap like this that contributes to piracy.
WISB Podcast: Triple My Embarrassment By Picking a Third Dance
I’ve already apologized for putting off a lot of things I promised. One of those things was the dance(s) I said I’d do if I reached my funding goal (over a month ago). Since I met that goal, I’m required to provide a video of me performing Peanut Butter Jelly Time and the Truffle Shuffle. But then my laptop died, taking with it my webcam and my only method for making those videos… That barrier has now been solved. I went ahead and bought one from the store. It’s a pretty good one, too (for the money). Which leads me to the point of this post: In order to “pay you all back” for making you wait so extraordinarily long for an embarrassing video, I’ve decided to let you all select a third dance for me to do on camera. It can be anything, so long as I can reasonably do it (or look funny trying) and it’s not vulgar (sorry, I’m not taking my pants off or anything like that). What would you have me do?