As a writer (hack, if you will), I know suspension of disbelief is vital if I'm going to take the reader on any kind of a journey. When I wear my "reader" costume, I've been known to put a book/story/what-have-you down when the writer violated that sacred trust.
Okay, so here are the problems my brain cooks up at two in the morning (insomnia, anyone?):
1. Why don't zombies eat each other? They obviously don't care that much about sanitation (just look at them) and are pretty indiscriminate about what they put in their mouths. I'm sure somebody has cooked up the "virus doesn't taste good" or "don't eat their own kind" argument, but that's just lame. In the real world, the whole zombie problem would probably be over in a few hours after the outbreak, just after they devour each other. The National Guard can wait around and pick off remainders.
2. Vampires. The whole "handsome, super strong, nearly invincible" thing. These are the living dead, folks. Only a few notches above aforementioned zombies on the food chain. How/why they became the fodder for paranormal romance (shudders) instead of the thinly-veiled metaphor for venereal disease they once were, I will never know. Look, at a minimum, their breath has to reek. And super-strength? Have you tried to subsist on a diet of blood? I couldn't even play a decent game of tennis when I...er, never mind.
I could go on, but I think I may have revealed a little too much about how my brain works at two AM. I love zombies...I don't want them to eat each other because it's much more fun when they try to eat us. Vampires? Meh. I prefer the nasty, monstrous type. Good old Vlad the Impaler type. You can take Fabio the Bloodsucker and launch his sorry butt into space with all the other debris.
Update: Catherine J. Gardner is our guessing-game victor! Huzzah!
More tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
A Guessing Game
Here's an item of interest and a little guessing game:
Anybody want to take a guess...be the first to guess correctly, and you'll win something cool. (well, I think it's cool)
Here's a hint: this is part of a larger whole.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Se7en Lies
"Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don’t tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the things they just make up. If you are tagged with this Meme, lie to me. Then tag 7 other folks (one for each deadly sin) and hope they can lie."
Jamie Eyberg tagged me for this one. I really suck at tag...anyway:
Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?
Air. Not as easy as one might think, as air involved the whole "sun" thing, and plants. Can't forget plants, so chlorophyll was pretty key as well...not to mention the millions of years to build the atmosphere.
Envy: What do your coworkers wish they had which is yours?
My ability to change the fabric of reality with words.
Gluttony: What did you eat last night?
Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie. The feathers really tipped the scale toward true gluttony. That and all the butter in the crust.
Lust: What really lights your fire?
Kerosene. Of course, you have to pour it over a beautiful woman, but mostly it's the kerosene.
Anger: What is the last thing that really pissed you off?
This question. What's up with this question? RAWR!
Greed: Name something you keep from others.
My nose hairs. But...they don't really want them anyway, do they?
Sloth: What's the laziest thing you've ever done?
Tagged the Seven Dwarfs for this meme.
(heh) I tag Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy. Take that, Walt Disney!
Jamie Eyberg tagged me for this one. I really suck at tag...anyway:
Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?
Air. Not as easy as one might think, as air involved the whole "sun" thing, and plants. Can't forget plants, so chlorophyll was pretty key as well...not to mention the millions of years to build the atmosphere.
Envy: What do your coworkers wish they had which is yours?
My ability to change the fabric of reality with words.
Gluttony: What did you eat last night?
Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie. The feathers really tipped the scale toward true gluttony. That and all the butter in the crust.
Lust: What really lights your fire?
Kerosene. Of course, you have to pour it over a beautiful woman, but mostly it's the kerosene.
Anger: What is the last thing that really pissed you off?
This question. What's up with this question? RAWR!
Greed: Name something you keep from others.
My nose hairs. But...they don't really want them anyway, do they?
Sloth: What's the laziest thing you've ever done?
Tagged the Seven Dwarfs for this meme.
(heh) I tag Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy. Take that, Walt Disney!
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Find
Jerry and I are dumpster diving when we find it.
He thinks it’s perfect, a genuine find. A tall armoire, deep maple finish.
“A beaut,” Jerry says. “Stop.”
I pull the truck over—we’re off the main streets here, out behind an older lot of row houses. The sun has started to set, and twilight is pouring on the shadows.
“C’mon,” I say. “Let’s get that fucking thing in the truck.”
There’s no breeze in the alley. No breeze and no god-damned light.
“Just a minute,” Jerry says. His arms are wrapped around the thing in some kind of bear-hug as he tries to walk it over to the truck.
I hop out of the cab. “Pansy.”
“No.” Jerry releases his grip. “Too heavy.”
We look at each other for a second. One of those quick moments of “hell-no”. We know we shouldn’t open the thing, but I yank the door toward me anyway.
It wasn’t that the body was in there—I almost expected something worse in that alley, behind those decaying houses. What got me was how fresh it was, how the blood dripped off the fingers when her arm tumbled out of the open door.
(a work of fiction, of course)
I plan on doing some sort of flash fiction bit on Fridays--at least during the summer. I'll reprint some things, do a little podcast or two, possibly ask for some guest writers. (wink-wink, nudge-nudge)
Call it Flash Fiction Fridays or Flash Fridays or F3 or even Friday Flash. Whatever works.
He thinks it’s perfect, a genuine find. A tall armoire, deep maple finish.
“A beaut,” Jerry says. “Stop.”
I pull the truck over—we’re off the main streets here, out behind an older lot of row houses. The sun has started to set, and twilight is pouring on the shadows.
“C’mon,” I say. “Let’s get that fucking thing in the truck.”
There’s no breeze in the alley. No breeze and no god-damned light.
“Just a minute,” Jerry says. His arms are wrapped around the thing in some kind of bear-hug as he tries to walk it over to the truck.
I hop out of the cab. “Pansy.”
“No.” Jerry releases his grip. “Too heavy.”
We look at each other for a second. One of those quick moments of “hell-no”. We know we shouldn’t open the thing, but I yank the door toward me anyway.
It wasn’t that the body was in there—I almost expected something worse in that alley, behind those decaying houses. What got me was how fresh it was, how the blood dripped off the fingers when her arm tumbled out of the open door.
(a work of fiction, of course)
I plan on doing some sort of flash fiction bit on Fridays--at least during the summer. I'll reprint some things, do a little podcast or two, possibly ask for some guest writers. (wink-wink, nudge-nudge)
Call it Flash Fiction Fridays or Flash Fridays or F3 or even Friday Flash. Whatever works.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
"Spider and I" Teaser (The Devil's Food)
One of the editors for The Devil's Food saw the little trailer for "The Ox-Cart Man" and quipped that I should do one for "Spider and I".
Taking any opportunity to avoid actual writing, I did:
They're running a great deal right now: pre-order the book and receive free shipping and two free e-books. Can't beat that, right? Oh...and Natalie Sin is having a little contest of her own regarding The Devil's Food. People-eating fun for everyone!
Taking any opportunity to avoid actual writing, I did:
They're running a great deal right now: pre-order the book and receive free shipping and two free e-books. Can't beat that, right? Oh...and Natalie Sin is having a little contest of her own regarding The Devil's Food. People-eating fun for everyone!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A capella Zoo Online
I mentioned a while back that A cappella Zoo was going online with stories. Well, you can now read "A Sort of Honeymoon" from issue #2 for free. The story lands just over 1,000 words, so it'll be quick and painless. I promise.
It's not a horror story. Not even dark.
In fact, I write an awful lot of not-so-dark fantasyesque shorts. Maybe the ol' blog needs another face lift?
It's not a horror story. Not even dark.
In fact, I write an awful lot of not-so-dark fantasyesque shorts. Maybe the ol' blog needs another face lift?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Round 'em Up! (In the Digital Corral)
Free e-books for the Amazon Kindle "sell" like hotcakes, don't they? (as of this writing, 3 of the top ten Kindle books and 7 of the top twenty were "free" downloads) Too bad writers and publishers are shooting themselves in the proverbial foot by making content free/cheap for the device.
What am I talking about?
Read this recent article by Daniel Lyons (from the June 15, 2009 Newsweek). (the comments are fantastic, too)
Here is my fear: publishers/writers/other "content creators" list books/etc. for free/cheap with the intention of driving up readership (building the ol' fanbase)...but inadvertently giving consumers more incentive to buy a Kindle (look at all this free stuff I can download!). The Kindle becomes the iPod of the e-book revolution (yeah, I know, what revolution?) If a writer wants his/her content to be read, Amazon sets the price; "content creators" lose. Publishers...they lose, too.
I'm not into playing Chicken Little; I'm just trying to read the digital writing on the bathroom wall.
Maybe I should have stayed in DeVry...learned to write some code...developed into a "gatekeeper".
Here's the truth: Personally, I don't care who is taking the money; "creators"--save those blessed few who conquer the world--have always received peanuts for their work. Creators have always "lost" at this game. But here's a little something to turn your mental gears--the scops that sang about Beowulf? While we don't know their names, we are still telling their stories.
To me, that means more than a fistful of dollars.
What am I talking about?
Read this recent article by Daniel Lyons (from the June 15, 2009 Newsweek). (the comments are fantastic, too)
Here is my fear: publishers/writers/other "content creators" list books/etc. for free/cheap with the intention of driving up readership (building the ol' fanbase)...but inadvertently giving consumers more incentive to buy a Kindle (look at all this free stuff I can download!). The Kindle becomes the iPod of the e-book revolution (yeah, I know, what revolution?) If a writer wants his/her content to be read, Amazon sets the price; "content creators" lose. Publishers...they lose, too.
I'm not into playing Chicken Little; I'm just trying to read the digital writing on the bathroom wall.
Maybe I should have stayed in DeVry...learned to write some code...developed into a "gatekeeper".
Here's the truth: Personally, I don't care who is taking the money; "creators"--save those blessed few who conquer the world--have always received peanuts for their work. Creators have always "lost" at this game. But here's a little something to turn your mental gears--the scops that sang about Beowulf? While we don't know their names, we are still telling their stories.
To me, that means more than a fistful of dollars.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Fearless Salamander Hunters
Before we went to the Smoky Mountains, the boys did some "research" (namely, having their 'rents read books to them about the national park). They were stoked: the Smokies are supposedly the "salamander capital of the world".
All I heard from Max for two weeks leading up to the trip was that salamanders were shy. Heck yeah, they're shy. Most are tiny-wee critters who have to be near moisture at all times. To top that off, they're nocturnal. I'm not (not anymore...back in college, maybe).
We did find some on our hikes, picking up rocks at the edge of streams and reconnoitering all around damp areas. Our best find was at Grotto Falls, of course it was an uphill hike to get there...granted, only 1.4 miles one way, but Max is only three. Guess who carried him? C'mon, guess.
Anywho, the fearless salamander hunters (aka Owen and Max) found some of the slimy little guys.
Not all that scary, being that the biggest was about three inches long. Now these critters from Japan...terrifying (in the right context, of course...like 400 of them showing up in your swimming pool).
We saw some other oddities, too, such as the mating ritual of the ultra-rare synchronous fireflies. These strange wee beasties (the males flash almost in unison) only exist in two places on the planet: in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and in Malaysia. Who knew?
Now that we're home, I'm ready to put some words on digital paper.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Where the %$()$!! Have I Been?
Um...lost in the Smoky Mountains without internet connection, that's where. Due to the magic of "scheduled posts" it seemed like I was there, babbling on as usual...but I wasn't.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful responses to my recent posts...I'm sooo very behind in blog reading, but will make the rounds soon. Now, I need to stretch my aching muscles after a 10+ hour car ride.
Until then: think salamanders. You know what I mean. If not, you will. You will.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful responses to my recent posts...I'm sooo very behind in blog reading, but will make the rounds soon. Now, I need to stretch my aching muscles after a 10+ hour car ride.
Until then: think salamanders. You know what I mean. If not, you will. You will.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
When Writing was About Money
I've admitted it before: I used to think writing would make me rich.
True story. I was dumb. I'm a little smarter now. (just a little)
My first stumbling block? I had no idea how many people were trying to write/sell fiction. Finding an agent/publisher for fiction is enormously competitive at the same time fewer people are reading fiction.
I know...what the (insert explicative)? How does something like this happen?
Sorry. Off track. This is about writing and money, not the ins and outs of the non-reading public.
I stumbled across this bit of information from Tobias Buckell's blog. The entry is a little old, but relevant. Go check it out. Then come back, please. I have more to ramble about.
Add the grim numbers from that survey to a tidbit Brian Keene (yes, that Brian Keene) let slip in a Cemetery Dance interview re: mid-list authors having to spend their advance to promote a book, and I wonder what the hell is the point.
Well...it sure isn't money.
For the best author's, I imagine (and I could be wrong), royalties work as some grand pyramid scheme. The more you have in print (if people are buying) the more you will make (once the advances are met).
When I was dumb (or dumber than I am now), I thought writing was going to be about the money.
It isn't. I don't think I want it to be. Just like the proverbial cellist we all learned about in general psychology (the little girl who loved to play until her parents started paying her), I think writing strictly for money would kill the passion.
Wait--I know it would.
Positive feedback from readers, however, is something a writer has to earn by making the best of the words at his/her disposal. That is the challenge and the heart of my passion (i.e., translate my jumbled thoughts into something moving and complete and real, even if I made it up).
I really would rather be read well than paid well. Yes, the two intersect...and it would be nice to find that intersection.
Oh, and in light of all the self-publishing rip-off BS last week (the whole IndieReader shindig), if I ever self-publish, I'm setting the price cheap or free 'cause it ain't about the money at that point folks: it's about the exposure. Nobody's getting rich around here.
For now, I have miles to go before I sleep...
True story. I was dumb. I'm a little smarter now. (just a little)
My first stumbling block? I had no idea how many people were trying to write/sell fiction. Finding an agent/publisher for fiction is enormously competitive at the same time fewer people are reading fiction.
I know...what the (insert explicative)? How does something like this happen?
Sorry. Off track. This is about writing and money, not the ins and outs of the non-reading public.
I stumbled across this bit of information from Tobias Buckell's blog. The entry is a little old, but relevant. Go check it out. Then come back, please. I have more to ramble about.
Add the grim numbers from that survey to a tidbit Brian Keene (yes, that Brian Keene) let slip in a Cemetery Dance interview re: mid-list authors having to spend their advance to promote a book, and I wonder what the hell is the point.
Well...it sure isn't money.
For the best author's, I imagine (and I could be wrong), royalties work as some grand pyramid scheme. The more you have in print (if people are buying) the more you will make (once the advances are met).
When I was dumb (or dumber than I am now), I thought writing was going to be about the money.
It isn't. I don't think I want it to be. Just like the proverbial cellist we all learned about in general psychology (the little girl who loved to play until her parents started paying her), I think writing strictly for money would kill the passion.
Wait--I know it would.
Positive feedback from readers, however, is something a writer has to earn by making the best of the words at his/her disposal. That is the challenge and the heart of my passion (i.e., translate my jumbled thoughts into something moving and complete and real, even if I made it up).
I really would rather be read well than paid well. Yes, the two intersect...and it would be nice to find that intersection.
Oh, and in light of all the self-publishing rip-off BS last week (the whole IndieReader shindig), if I ever self-publish, I'm setting the price cheap or free 'cause it ain't about the money at that point folks: it's about the exposure. Nobody's getting rich around here.
For now, I have miles to go before I sleep...
Monday, June 15, 2009
Cool, Niche Market Done Right
I'm still thinking about this IndieReader.com fiasco. You just can't force cool.
One nice niche market is The Horror Mall. They know their product and sell limited editions not available anywhere else. Their affiliate structure allows everyone to play and lets the customers decide what is good, not some cabal of secret gatekeepers.
Check them out (I'm sure most of you have).
I love the movie, Hype!, and I think it is appropriate to point out the pitfalls of manufacturing cool. (The movie is fantastic--a documentary about the rise of grunge in Seattle during the early '90s. We all know how that turned out.) If you haven't heard of/seen the movie Hype! I leave you with this:
One nice niche market is The Horror Mall. They know their product and sell limited editions not available anywhere else. Their affiliate structure allows everyone to play and lets the customers decide what is good, not some cabal of secret gatekeepers.
Check them out (I'm sure most of you have).
I love the movie, Hype!, and I think it is appropriate to point out the pitfalls of manufacturing cool. (The movie is fantastic--a documentary about the rise of grunge in Seattle during the early '90s. We all know how that turned out.) If you haven't heard of/seen the movie Hype! I leave you with this:
Sunday, June 14, 2009
This One Made Me Laugh...
...from the word-play of the title, to the interjections en Español. Read Kurt Newton's "Hector's Last Stand" at Fifty-Two Stitches today. This was one of the first pieces we accepted, and it still leaves me in (oh, pardon the pun) stitches.
Speaking of stitches...should we keep the title, Fifty-Two Stitches, for the anthology? Something different?
Speaking of stitches...should we keep the title, Fifty-Two Stitches, for the anthology? Something different?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"God's Creatures" - Podcast
Summer means more time to play with my tech toys, so I've dusted off an entry for last year's MicroHorror flash fiction contest and recorded it as an audio podcast.
Give a listen to "God's Creatures", a story inspired by the root cellar at my grandparents' home when I was a child. Read the text if you choose.
Give a listen to "God's Creatures", a story inspired by the root cellar at my grandparents' home when I was a child. Read the text if you choose.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The House Eaters, Continued
Chapter two of The House Eaters is up for your reading pleasure. At this rate, the whole book will be available sometime in 2012. Barring the end of the world, of course.
I also woke to an acceptance from Polluto for a weird little tale about face removal. "Molting Season" will appear in the Identiy Theft and Octopus Kid issue.
Cheers.
I also woke to an acceptance from Polluto for a weird little tale about face removal. "Molting Season" will appear in the Identiy Theft and Octopus Kid issue.
Cheers.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The New Gatekeepers? IndieReader.com
This story from GalleyCat gave me pause. Go ahead...read it. (Right click on the link and open in a new tab so I don't lose you, of course ;))
So basically, I self-publish and hope these folks (IndieReader.com) agree to let me pay them a yearly fee to list my self-published book on their site (plus they take a % of sales). The supposed benefit, I guess, is that their site would have more traffic than another website, giving said self-published book visibility. Because face it: a website without traffic is just digital doo-doo. I haven't even heard of IndieReader (not that I'm any kind of gatekeeper or 'net expert) but they launch um, like now.
I don't think so.
First of all, "gatekeepers-jeepers creepers". The fee is what they are after, plain and simple. The base cost is $149 (regardless of book #s), plus a $25 submission fee for each book after the first. I don't pay to submit, unless it's a contest. This gatekeeper crap is ridiculous. Maybe, just maybe the "gatekeeper" mentality is what has hindered traditional publishing? In the world of infinite variety (thank you, InterwebTM), artists find their fans, making the quality of work the gatekeeper, not some third-party profit monger.
...and wait. Doesn't Amazon have more traffic than just about any other book-related site out there? (For better or worse--I know some peeps have issues with Amazon) Um, you can self-pub with them for next to nothing (how about a $3 proof?). Sure, you haven't been "gate-keepered", but well...you didn't shell out 150 bucks, either.
Shite like this makes me oh-so-mad. This is akin to those charlatans (masquerading as agents or publishers) that charge all sorts of fees to look at a manuscript. I'm not the first to take a shot at the cost of being an IndieReader author (look around your friendly neighborhood internet). Not that taking a % is a problem, but up-front fees certainly are. I think the business model is all kinds of jacked up.
But guess what? I bet they have truckloads of hopefuls sending in their books.
(shakes fist at ceiling)
(oh...and for the record: self-publishing wasn't invented with the 21st century)
Edited to add: This post (or non-post, as the post has been removed but the comments haven't) sums up a lot of my feelings. ;)
More goodness from Publisher's Weekly: It seems IndieReader.com is partnered with Blurb.com (a Lulu knock-off). The plot sickens me.
So basically, I self-publish and hope these folks (IndieReader.com) agree to let me pay them a yearly fee to list my self-published book on their site (plus they take a % of sales). The supposed benefit, I guess, is that their site would have more traffic than another website, giving said self-published book visibility. Because face it: a website without traffic is just digital doo-doo. I haven't even heard of IndieReader (not that I'm any kind of gatekeeper or 'net expert) but they launch um, like now.
I don't think so.
First of all, "gatekeepers-jeepers creepers". The fee is what they are after, plain and simple. The base cost is $149 (regardless of book #s), plus a $25 submission fee for each book after the first. I don't pay to submit, unless it's a contest. This gatekeeper crap is ridiculous. Maybe, just maybe the "gatekeeper" mentality is what has hindered traditional publishing? In the world of infinite variety (thank you, InterwebTM), artists find their fans, making the quality of work the gatekeeper, not some third-party profit monger.
...and wait. Doesn't Amazon have more traffic than just about any other book-related site out there? (For better or worse--I know some peeps have issues with Amazon) Um, you can self-pub with them for next to nothing (how about a $3 proof?). Sure, you haven't been "gate-keepered", but well...you didn't shell out 150 bucks, either.
Shite like this makes me oh-so-mad. This is akin to those charlatans (masquerading as agents or publishers) that charge all sorts of fees to look at a manuscript. I'm not the first to take a shot at the cost of being an IndieReader author (look around your friendly neighborhood internet). Not that taking a % is a problem, but up-front fees certainly are. I think the business model is all kinds of jacked up.
But guess what? I bet they have truckloads of hopefuls sending in their books.
(shakes fist at ceiling)
(oh...and for the record: self-publishing wasn't invented with the 21st century)
Edited to add: This post (or non-post, as the post has been removed but the comments haven't) sums up a lot of my feelings. ;)
More goodness from Publisher's Weekly: It seems IndieReader.com is partnered with Blurb.com (a Lulu knock-off). The plot sickens me.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I Couldn't Help Myself...
Catherine J. Gardner mentioned making a trailer for a piece of flash fiction...so I took my favorite short-short ("The Ox-Cart Man", a 700 worder from Northern Haunts) and made this "trailer":
Friday, June 5, 2009
Howdy, Ranch Hands
I just polished and submitted the longest short work I've penned to date: "Ranching the Sleore" (a "novelette" of about 8,400 words). Let's just say it involves various bodily violations.
It is probably the foulest story I've written.
I felt physically uncomfortable putting some of those words on paper.
There are only a handful of markets for such a thing.
What the f$#&! was I thinking?
(but "novelette" is a cute word, huh?)
It is probably the foulest story I've written.
I felt physically uncomfortable putting some of those words on paper.
There are only a handful of markets for such a thing.
What the f$#&! was I thinking?
(but "novelette" is a cute word, huh?)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Whatever Happened to My Bad Attitude
...about flash fiction? (remember this post?)
Not that I'm any good at writing it (I definitely don't do the prose-poem thing some writers make look so beautiful), but I seem to scribble much more of it these days. All in all, I've had eighteen flash pieces (ranging from hint fiction length to 1K) accepted and/or published. Fourteen other published/accepted shorts are just over 1K. Let's not even mention Fifty-Two Stitches (which I've sort of taken the lead on since its launch).
I'll have a flash story in a new market that officially launches around the first of July. More details coming. Shout out to my beta readers for picking the winner.
What happened to me? Recently, flash fiction seems like my favorite form. I'll admit--I'm not a flash fiction purist, but really...
Have I become a pod person?
Not that I'm any good at writing it (I definitely don't do the prose-poem thing some writers make look so beautiful), but I seem to scribble much more of it these days. All in all, I've had eighteen flash pieces (ranging from hint fiction length to 1K) accepted and/or published. Fourteen other published/accepted shorts are just over 1K. Let's not even mention Fifty-Two Stitches (which I've sort of taken the lead on since its launch).
I'll have a flash story in a new market that officially launches around the first of July. More details coming. Shout out to my beta readers for picking the winner.
What happened to me? Recently, flash fiction seems like my favorite form. I'll admit--I'm not a flash fiction purist, but really...
Have I become a pod person?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
This is What Happens in Summer
Man, take away my structure...and wham...I don't blog for days, I forget to shave...and what's my name?
I'm on point this week with the boys (my wife has an extended contract, and works through Friday). Happy to say I am writing, but fighting my instant lack of structure at the same time.
It happens every summer, and it is a good problem to have.
The best part of time off of the ol' job is more time spent with Thing 1 and Thing 2. Owen is learning to read. Man, how he lit up this morning when he realized (and showed me) that he can read Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss. I'll have him devouring Lovecraft and Poe in no time.
The best part of time off of the ol' job is more time spent with Thing 1 and Thing 2. Owen is learning to read. Man, how he lit up this morning when he realized (and showed me) that he can read Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss. I'll have him devouring Lovecraft and Poe in no time.
Speaking of Poe, I have a couple of nonfiction projects rattling around in my head. Both are hybrids of my day job and my love of dark fiction. The first, a collection of Poe stories with teacherly resources, annotations, and other goodies. Sure, teacher's guides and annotated editions exist, but most are too pricey (publishers must think teachers/schools are made of money...wait...they are made with tax money) or just plain lame. Teenagers sniff out lame faster than...well, something really fast.
The second, and this one is a stretch, is a book about teaching horror as a way to reach adolescent non-readers. Most books I can find on the subject approach horror as one would in a graduate level literature class. I'm thinking about a course for at-risk readers with high interest material (good quality stuff, too--not just schlock and gore). Even my most reluctant students perk up at the mention of Poe. You should see the reaction when we read "In the Vault" by H.P. Lovecraft (Cthulhu might be a little over some heads).
So...am I already missing school, or do these ideas have any merit?
Monday, June 1, 2009
And I Just Shot May Out of a Cannon
...along with Kanye West. Check out what Jeremy D. Brooks has to say on the subject. Personally, I think Kanye is an ass and I hope nobody buys his steaming pile of dog shite book. (sorry...wasn't going to go there)
So I lived in the land of short stories and flash fiction for the month. Five short stories (ranging from just above flash length to 3K), four flash fictions (two are for a "secret" project), and nada on anything longer. It felt like I'd found an old friend again, writing all those shorts.
But it's the house I want to talk about--er, summer. (sorry, I was quoting "House Taken Over" by Julio Cortázar...one of my favorite stories of all time)
I want to start laying the pieces for a horror novel for an adult audience. At this point, it feels like climbing freakin' Everest without those nice Sherpas to help. The ideas are swilling around, but I probably need to mash some together to make the plot novel-worthy. I want to outline the darn thing by the end of June (and write at least two shorts), then set to writing during the long, hot trek that is July in these parts.
That's my goal.
In the meantime, if I were to choose cover art for a collection of my short fiction, I would go "David Sedaris" (um, his latest book featured a piece by Van Gogh), and use this:
Head of a Drowned Man by Théodore Géricault
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