Less Than Random Thoughts From a Science Fiction Author and Generally Good Guy [ Fawkes ]

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Victory!


Okay okay, I finished the actual first draft of Time Diving (TD)!!! I had written a draft long-hand, but I altered it mightily as I typed it up. Now I have the initial draft in OpenOffice and can print it and start the editing process. Trust me, the editing is a long long epically long project, but I have passed another milestone. After I do the rough edit, I will probably make so big changes, unlike my last 3 books, which I edited the heck out of, but left them basically the same story. The word count is right at 80,000. I actually hoped to make it longer, but it came out grouped in the same range as Anon Time. The other 2 are 10-20,000 less, but they are in the same ball park. I guess when I tell a story, it takes about that many words. No War and Peace for me, I guess.
With any luck, I'll have a second draft in a month or so. Then I can narrate it to PB.com, which is cool and also an edit step leading-up to having my editor tear-into it, which is a prelude to paperback, baby! I will definitely be done this year, hopefully by fall. I am impressed how badly I ended it for the lead character, Matt. Be glad, my friend, you are not him ; )
So I will transfer back to Internal Medicine (Eternal Medicine, as we on the inside call it) in a few months. I am looking forward to it. I have come to find that I am a flea (another thing we call ourselves - we draw blood for lots and lots of tests - hence - fleas).
Well, my friend, have a great week, seriously, I mean it - great. Nothing else will be acceptable!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

A New WayTo Procrastinate



Got it! Just what every writer needs - a new way to block writing! Actually, it was fun. I drove from Sacramento to San Francisco, about 2 hours each way, to see Phillipa Ballentine read from her upcoming books. Pip, to her friends, is a pioneer Podiobooks.com contributor, and a brilliant one. Check her out, if you do not already know of her: http://www.pjballantine.com/
I also got to meet Starla Huchton and Chris Lester, other stars of PB.com, and saw Tee Morris run around as Pip's bitch/roadie. Very cool.
I would like to say seeing all of them inspired me to work, work, work. But, it didn't. I'm still wasting time on Farmville and procrastinating - but I feel more inspired as I do so.
Photos of PIp reading and Starla listening with Scott and minions included.
Stay warm........

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Working Real Hard


So I'm working hard on Time Diving, getting near the end of the official first draft. The lead character is falling apart, soon to fall further apart. I almost feel sorry for him, but, he's a wank, so how bad from him can one feel? Though I have a lot of work ahead to do the text and podcast, I am starting to think of my next book, so as to think it through, feel it out. For the first time in a long time, I don't have a book in my head which I must write. I know I'll come-up with something, but it's an odd feeling, to be uncertain. I mentioned before that I have a fantasy world outlined, so I may start that. I also want to take a stab at mainstream fiction with a medical novel, and I have a social-commentary novel about the corporate mind set. I am sort of leaning toward the corporate one, but I have to decide if I'd give it a scifi angle or not. Probably not, and I really love scifi-ish stuff, so I'm reluctant to leave the genre altogether. What could it hurt, right?
So, based on the hard work I'm doing writing, I had my wife take a picture of me chopping wood, to symbolize the actual effort I'm putting forth. What? You pictured me as, um, more mature (ie., old goat) perchance more corpulent (ie., six-pack only in my dreams if I'm lucky that dream)? Well, you were wrong! That's exactly how I look when I look in a mirror - with my eyes closed, of course. Sorry, I have to run, go do some sit-ups or something.......ciao

Monday, February 7, 2011

Sorry, I've Just Not Much To Say


Sorry, I've not posted much lately. Frankly, I've little to report, and nothing, you know, significant to say (hard to believe for a talker like me, eh what?). I am still basking in the glow of having TPN in paperback, and am just now sending out some review-query copies - fingers crossed, don't you know. I'm deep into Time Diving, the action is really taking off, but, as you might imagine, the final product is a way's off. So, I'm heading into monday [ no, I just refuse to capitalize the day's name - gurrrrrrr ). I have a final interview this week for my possible transfer from one department to another. If you've followed the blog long enough, you'll know I am forced to seek transfer because upper management in my current department has imposed a moral-hazard in how we are to practice, and I can't roll with that. Plus the person calling-the-shots now is a poopoo-head. Sorry, I know I should not use strong language on this blog, but, my blood's-up, can't you tell? In any case, I hate interviews and semi-dread one more, but hopefully it will be no biggy.
Well, I guess I did have something to say after all. And I feel better - thanks for listening.
Go out there and have simply incredible weeks, and remember always - I got your back.......