Have Started Part 2 of FW

And so far, it is coming out pretty dark.  I had known, in my originally planned arc, that this part of the novel would be the darkest...our heroes at their direst position, but....well...to say that it has gone a bit mariana's trench is an understatement...

But the uprise will be all the more dramatic as a result....there is a part of me that wants to defy normal convention and either do a gradual rise or simply maybe consider having them all die...after all, if every story ended happily, there would be no suspense...still, I'm trying to do something more identifiable by folks...

Which fortunately still allows me to kill some or all of them...

My  I guess I am evil about my characters after all....

Forever Editing

So I've done the first edit pass on the first half of Forever west. I've sent it to Mom and Skip and a friend of mine. I'm going to be restarting the podcast in March but recording it in Feb all at once so I don't have to care about the numbers of subscribers.

For the all none of you who follow this blog on a regular basis if you see this in the next week or two, email or message me and I'll send you the first half as well. Feedback is always welcome.

I admit, there is still a LOT of work to do but I like how this is shaping up so far. :D

A Poll to the the audience: Leauge of Christmas Darkness

I am looking to write 12 poems about the League of Christmas Darkness. Your input would be appreciated.

There are 8 open slots. Four have already been filled by:

*The Elf Shelf Defenestrator (name to be fixed)

*The Matches made from the Wood o...f the World Tree used by the Little Match Girl

*Ooala the Zombie, who had the flesh from his back forged into a drum used by the Little Drummer Boy and was reanimated the Night Of.

*Krampus (it would be like having the Legion of Doom without Luthor)

Potential Candidates include

1) The ghost donkey that took the holy couple to the nativity, imbued with bitter vengeance after it was glueified by Herod in retaliation.

2) The magician who's hat was stole by Frosty.

3) The Mangler who is responsible for Tiny Tim's Leg

4) Mr Industry, the corporate villain in half the christmas movies ever made who wants to militarize or sell Christmas

5) Mr Potter - Nemesis of George Bailey

6) The Evil Hobo - Nemesis of Children on the Polar Express

7) Bully the Reindeer - The one who led the other reindeer to cull the weak from the heard (he also ran over Grandma)

8) The Snow Queen - (probably an amalgam of the Snow Queen and the White Witch)

9) Hans (or rather someone like him) from Die Hard

10) The Star itself (a sentient star of Death, inspired by "The Star" by Arthur C. Clarke)

11) A cracked and insane Charlie Brown (or rather someone like him) after the Christmas Special

12) Lord Voldemorte (or rather someone like him) (since there were christmas elements in most of the books)

13) The Rat King from the Nut Cracker

14) Darth Vader (or rather someone like him) (A Star Wars Christmas Special)

15) Most any Doctor Who Villain (or rather someone like them)

Any proprietary villain will of course have the serial numbers filed off before Poetized.

Your input and/or help is appreciated.

Dance of the Fausti

The factory had not seen use for some time, dust coating every corner and crevice, but it was sufficient for the student's needs. By theft, by cunning and by apparatus arcane he had the means, the method and the opportunity for the answers. Wise he was, in knowing what he did not know, and understanding the limits of his intellect in the frame of years in which he sought to live, instead kenning the insights of those who had gone before. But after an exhaustive search the conclusion came alas to but one name that could answer his forbidden questions.

The science of the thing lay in the split beam of light capturing the kirilian aura, but magic claimed dust from the headstone of the dead. To the unlearned it was gibberish but the student did not care. Answers he would have.

Imagine then his surprise, when after the full moon's lightning gave birth to the infernal fires and rays and shadows on the wall, the student found he had not on Faustus, but two.

The first looked upon him, a face of aged torture but clean, bathed in the silver of heaven's graces, a luminous specter of joy. The second flush with vitality, nearly identical in features, but hot with hellfire and anger.

"Who are you?" the Student Asked.

"I am Faustus. Thou knewest this to summon me. Risk not magic’s temptation." The voice spoke of rapture but the eyes darted hither and yon, afeared.

"I too am Faustus. I suffer in the pits of hell. Risk not Hell's wrath." The voice was gravel and bulbous oil poured over an open wound.

The Student, then, was not to be denied. "I would know of things to come. Tell me of thy condition."

"Rapture," said the first, joyously but with a vacuous chasm in his words unspoken, yet detectable to the trained ear, "All day we praise Him. We sing and praise Him. It is so Good to praise Him. I am saved."

"Hell," said the second, "Half of each day is torturous such that the mortal mind cannot conceive, consuming my own flesh, the basest of degradations imaginable. The second half is not that much different than earth, to give us a perpetual connection to our mortality, that the punishment might be more severe."

The Student considered this. These were not the answers he expected. "What do you regret?"

"Oh if only I had repented sooner," said the first, "Every moment of impurity is one more in which I am weighed down by my imperfections, unable to be one with Him. Praise Him. Joy in Him." The eyes darted hither and yon, afeared of discovery.

"My torment is endless," said the second, "Nothing could be worth this. Be assured, my time on Earth was joyous, but the pain is unimaginable. You cannot believe it."

The student then asked, "What then, do you council I should do?" He liked neither of these paths. Neither of these answers suited his needs.

The first looked at the student but then instead looked at his mirror image, "Wait...you get to live life...half the time?"

"Oh yes, but it makes the fir-"

The first would have none of it. "Can you imagine then the torment of doing nothing but singing Praises to Him all day long? Threat of hellfire for the slightest infraction. Did you think our obedience for His amusement ended upon death? Obedience must be eternal. Vigilance must be eternal."

The second paused, "I had not considered this. Perhaps hell is more of a heaven than I thought."

The first nodded, "Had I but known the torment of unyielding unending church sermons and hymns and floating clouds, I would have sought damnation long ago." He looked then at the student, "Seek ye the way of power. Seek knowledge. Seek passion. For tis better that thou live in one mayfly spark than an amber's prison of torments unending."

The second chorused, "The book, open the book of knowledge past, find it then in the church yard of the 4th ward of Hamburg's meat district. Seek there, and all things shall be revealed to thee. Look for the red stone."

The student cheered. At last something he could use, "I shall! I shall! I shall!"

The second then flickered away, coming from heaven, returning to hell. The first, his eyes a spark anew with life, determined to repeat Lucifer's first serendipitous mistake. The student's will renewed, he then sought out the tome, and in days to come brought many things to the world...but not a one of them regretted.

Billy's First Bolt Gun

Billy's First Bolt Gun - A Book for Very Brave and Special Children

By Uncle Tom

First Page

Billy was a good boy who loved his mother and father very much. And they loved him.

[Image of a happy and loving family.]

Second Page

But sometimes Billy did bad things.

[Image of Billy grinning wickedly as he sneaks into the refridgerator and is reaching for some chocolate cake.]

Third Page

Billy's mother and father were very patient with him.

[Image of Billy getting his face washed with water and a cloth.]

Fourth Page

But perhaps that was a bad idea....

[Image of Billy sitting on top of the roof with googles, a radio flyer wagon and a roman candle...]

Fifth Page

Some things are very bad ideas...

[Image of Billy in the air with a wicked grin and falling wagon with a scared bird getting out of the way of the lit candle...]

Sixth Page

One day Billy's mother left her credit card where Billy could get it...

[An open purse with Billy looking at it, eyes wide behind the couch]

Seventh Page

Billy discovered the INTERNET!

[Computer screen with images of various dangerous things like tigers with lasers on their heads, lead finger paint, a whoopee cushion and a copy of Atlas shrugged.]

Eigth Page

Billy thought he ordered a tank of helium to make balloons!

[Image of Bolt Guns R US with an air tank.]

Ninth Page

Billy could hardly wait!

[Image of Billy waiting by the mailbox looking very sad.]

Tenth Page

Then one day, it came!

[Image of a box and Billy tearing into it.]

Eleventh Page

Billy read the instructions very carefully.

[Billy reading instructions. There are 100 dictionary's there, with a copy of Atlas Shrugged in the mix.]

Twelth Page

This would not make balloons.

[Billy is frowning at the Bolt Gun.]

Thirthteen Page

But it made neat holes in walls!

[Billy grinning next to a wall with lots of holes in it.]

Fourteenth Page

Billy found the bully at school.

[A large mutant looking kid looks at Billy.]

Fifteenth Page

Billy followed the instructions to the letter.

[Billy places bolt gun behind the Bully's neck.]

Sixthteen Page

KAAAAAAAAAAAAASNICK!

Seventeen Page

Uh oh.

[Kids all look horrified on the play ground, covered by blood and guts. At least one eye ball is dangling off someone's glasses]

Eighteen Page

Good thing Billy knew how to wipe his finger prints.

[Billy wiping the finger prints.]

Ninteenth Page

Good night Timmy. Good night Molly. Good night Sarah.

[Children staring at the ceiling in bed in various rooms on the page.]

Twentith Page

Sleep well. And Keep your mouth shut.

[Image of the bed in the dark with a shape at the window.]

Twenty First Page

Billy is the new Bully. And he doesn't like blabber mouths.

[Image of Billy grinning demonically with the Bolt Gun behind him.]

The End.

The Warrior and the Monk

(As Performed at Naked City)

The Monk from the East met the Warrior from the West at the Bar halfway between worlds. Salutatious conversation shifted respectfully to lives lived and loves lost and battles fought and questions answered until it serpentined onto the subject of their beverages.

“It is unfortunate,” the Warrior said with a semi sardonic grin, “that intoxication is nigh impossi...ble now that my body is tuned to perfection. I could drink this bar and barely feel anything. Tastes good though.”

The Monk nodded, his sagely features fine chiseled by the sands of the wastes about them. “I too find intoxication difficult, though it is because my inner light is focused in perfect harmony to the world around me. Intoxication must come from other sources.”

The Monk and the Warrior’s eyes locked then, each sure that they had inadvertently trapped their opponent in a battle neither of them had known that they were fighting until that moment.

The Warrior smiled, eyes twinkling as he took out a most curious statue, an ideal man and a voluptuous woman back to back, eyes a glitter with faceted rubies that stared in both directions. “This is the Mantle of Karathus Ra. I’ll wager it Monk.”

The silence between them slithered awkwardly, unwilling to be caught in the hands of time, though it ended soon enough. “I take your wager.” The monk’s eyes sparkled like the stones in the statue.

The Warrior laughed, “Excellent.” He placed his hand on one side of the Mantle. The Monk, intuitively sensing the nature of the game, took the other. Instantly, their experience took on new nuances as what had hither to now been conversation now becoming perfect understanding and a linkage.

The Monk felt every wound that the warrior had felt, injuries that would break a lesser man. He felt the rush of death upon a foe and the adrenaline of mortality before battle. He stood on a mountain with a million things that had been and never would be, fighting for their very lives. But then it hit, for the Monk knew Righteous Anger, the absolute certainty of the purity of one’s cause, divine backing from the very heavens eliminating unnecessary thought, victory for the helpless and the needful, a glowing fire that none could truly understand unless they experienced it. Unrelenting, brighter than the sun itself setting the soul aflame in unbasked unabashed unrepentant glory. The Monk had almost never felt anything so pure.

Almost.

The Warrior was impressed with the discipline of the Monk’s life. The patient study over years of disciplines both profane, sacred and esoteric. He knew the wonders of mountains of impossible height and wandering across the echoes of time itself absorbing the abeyances and absolutions of a hundred different peoples. Impressive indeed, but the Warrior’s unshakable certainty was pure until the Monk laid down his final wager. The Monk’s infinite mind included an empathy of such vastness that the Warrior felt each kill he had made through the eyes of the slain. In most instances, despite nuanced adjudication the Warrior was still in the right; for his had been a valiant path, but in a few steps of the journey innocents had been destroyed. The purity of the Monk’s poison was in the shattering of the absolute surety in the Warrior’s cause. Shades of Gray forced themselves into the Warrior’s perceptions most unwillingly.

Righteous Wrath could not hold even the slightest flickering candle to Perfect Love.

And then the joining broke. Defeated, the Warrior slid the statue to the Monk.

The Monk held up his hand and said, “I have no need. I do this every day of my life.”

Chagrined the Warrior nodded and put the statue in his satchel.

The Monk tapped him on the shoulder warmly and smiled, “Come. Let us Wander. For you have taught me something important.”

The Warrior arched a meaty mighty eyebrow and shifted uncomfortably.

“Sometimes, there is still a need for the righteous to Kick the Ass of the wicked. “ The Monk leaned on his staff and began to shuffle towards the door.

The Warrior grinned and held it open, “I think I know just the place.”

Mr Hamburger

It was accepted by the Smoke and Mirrors Podcast. :D Mr. Hamburger

Ideas

So I have a rather clear picture on the 5th novel, but I want a working title and to begin filling in details. I'll potentially try exploring some of that here.

I'm also debating the Tossing Grenade's at Windmill's podcast reading either the second, third or current novel as I write.

Regardless, so the basic premise of the 5th novel is a man who has seen the future in 1807, who doesn't like it and wants to change it, but ends up making something similar to steam punk. I've thought of some rather grand changes but there is still a lot of research I need to do. Particularly about the changes that will occur in the west.

I've also finally worked out some plot kinks that I had with Kitten re: the Tenth Muse which I hope to begin actually writing in Wed.

Also, I am having difficulty getting myself to transcribe the Unfood script to Celtrix. Its free but unfamiliar and I do have my habits while writing. Lately that involves being around people as much as possible.

Finally, I've decided that the next script I'm writing is called "Mr. Hamburger" based on a short story idea I had, though I will potentially write the short story first.

Wow, that sounds boring somehow, despite my interest in those projects.

So..I'm enjoying the writing for the first time in a while, even if I don't sound hyperbolic about it.

Waiting For The Monsters To Die

On the Smoke and Mirrors Podcast.

Part 1

Part 2

This story was written as an after thought to wonder what aliens might think of some of the less empathetic members of our society. Our hero, being a hero, took sympathy with those that I might not necessarily take myself. It was accepted by Dennis Miller of the Smoke and Mirrors podcast and lead to a collaborative effort between him and myself on another story.

Progress with I, Fenris

Finally. I have made some progress on I, Fenris. It is not as grand in scope, scale or skill as I, Odysseus but then again nothing I do may top that. But I have passed the half way mark and the final frames and themes are coming together. It will be done soon but this one must be refined more than most to work properly. Progress is still good. Very good.

Off Again And On Again

Making slow progress on I, Fenris though I had to start over. Its rather slow. Did some good writing for minor scriptlets for the pushpush class. However, on the whole, writing wise it has been a pretty slow month. Goal wise, I'm fine as long as I finish the Unfood script by the end of the year, which I plan to start tomorrow.

Writing Plan

Given the choice between doing it fast or doing it right, I now choose to do it right. Which means throwing out everything I've done on I, Fenris and starting over from scratch. And it means hand writing it, just like I did I, Odysseus.

Another Plan, Another Dollar

So, I'd say what's the point of writing another plan except, that's honestly kind of the whole point of this blog.

I think the counsel I received about doing too much was a good thing but doing too little won't do either...so I'm going to focus on one project at a time, but try to work very hard on it while I'm working on it.

Long term, that's not a healthy writing career, but whatever I do now has to shine. *I* have to be proud of it even if or when no one else cares about it, to get my rhythm back if nothing else.

Oh...and no more writing workshops. It was an opportunity to network, but didn't work. I got valuable feedback, but I also got way too much emotional tsunami as well. At this point, I need to be responsible for both creating, promoting and perfecting my craft, because no one else is going to do it for me.

I might have some help along the way, and I certainly have had some help along the way, but they can't do the writing for me.

Writing Plan

So I have been told that one should write to a particular reader....in this case, I think it should be the person who has still been following this blog...I speak, of course, to you MetaBlogStats.....whatever the hell you are. Unless, of course, one's ideal reader is one's self, but somehow that seems...masturbatory or something...

So where was I? So, the writing....I am nearly 40, so I figure that the amount of time its going to take me to not write Vogon Poetry/Michael Bay level soul melting (not in a good way) prose is probably 2-3 years. I mean, when you have to second guess yourself every paragraph as to whether or not you suck, I really think you shouldn't be sending things to editors...

But time waits for no man, so I'm going to be focusing on poetry which is according to others between average and somewhat actually good, which makes the improving into "making me money and renown so I can conqueror the world" level talent more likely. So I'm going to be working on I, Fenris for Jan....

I'm also going to begin working on the script for Unfood, whilst still reading books and working on the Writer Jail product. So far I have type 3000 out of 5000 non sucky prose.

We'll see as things go from there :)

Writer Jail

So the same mechanism that I've been using to progress my production of crap, is also usable to measure my skill improvement. Specifically, one of the tangible suggestions from the Crushing was typing out the words from decent non sucktacular stories. So instead of producing more gallons of crap, I can just type 1000 words a day from stories that aren't. Right now I'm using the Hugo package. In the interest of being kind to myself, I'm giving myself a reboot.

1000.

I need to do 1000 more today.

There is a small chance out of jail early, I'm rewriting Unfood a third time trying to use merely the things they pointed out, though I'm writing it from scratch. It looks pretty good, but then again so did the second version (also written from scratch.) I may not be able to detect crap.

Oh and if this seems negative, its because I like to be able to record the truth and thanks to the lovely stat counter, I know that no one but a blog counting bot actually pays attention to this, so I don't have to conveniently leave some things out like I do on my family blog. :)

Truth for posterity that won't give a shit and all that. :)

Go to Jail. Do Not Pass Go.

So, word count doesn't matter much if you're producing reams and reams of crap. Better 10 words that actually matter than 10000 that don't.

I'd noticed the phenomena before, but thought it was what I was largely writing ABOUT not the way I was writing or thought I just needed to spell check or grammar check more (I still do) but the reason I wear through readers like you might wear down teeth is because I suck. :) Yes. I said it, I'm an awful writer, especially given how long I've been doing this.

Bradbury said that it took a million words before you became a professional, and here I am at probably what...700000 and I bore people to tears?

Well I'm not giving it up but its back to basics first, writing in a way people find more comprehensible.

I'll keep this up but it will likely be boring for a while, grammar and such. I am going to rewrite Unfood because the idea is too good to let linger, but it will likely be more 'Oops, they rejected it.'

Might start putting rejection letters here though, that might be amusing to look back at if I ever do write something non-abominable...:)

The Sunday Slot

So originally I was thinking that they had given me the Sunday morning slot in the writer's track because I had asked for a slot open because of the movie that Jay and I submitted. Then I thought it might be a 'save the best for last' type of thing. Now I think it is so that they can politely say, "You suck" or at least, "Your story sucks" without awkwardly having to run into me for the rest of the con....

We'll see, but in retrospect it makes sense.

Ah well. If such is the case do I keep writing? Yeah sure, but whatever feeble delusions I have of trying to sell it go out the window...

In the Black, finally

Juice: 268
Blogs: 7083
Telesmirk: 1002 (2602)
Catgirl: 2982 (6000)
Unfood Script: 317
Diamonds: 1000
Dark Metal Descriptions: 500
Dark Metal Scene: 1000
(Parenthesis represents new total including this week)

Total: 14152 (44583)
(Parenthesis represent words this week and words total written)

Word Surplus: 2583

Too much of this was from blogs. Blogs are nice, but blogs are (probably) not going to further my career as a writer. Still Catgirl is looking solid. Nobody might buy it given the subject matter (I mean...a Catgirl in Boots...really?) but it sfun. Telesmirk is...getting there. Its about half way. Juice looks @$#@#$ amazing.

Unfood script looks solid but I'm on the first wave and it might be too long. Short film ideally needs to be 10 minutes to be competitive, and its a good plot, but we'll see.

Writing Progress

Catgirl: 1201 (3018)
Telesmirk: 1535 (1600)
Santa Vampire: 839 (4702)
Blogs: 4299

Total: 7874 (22557)

Word Debt: 2500

This is an approximation because I think I counted the eagle as phoenix blog twice but to be sure I'm averaging the average post length out. Good writing amount and glad I'm doing the blogs but not enough progress on the stories. Also starting a script tomorrow. Both stories are coming a long well but tomorrow I'm starting two new stories and the Unfood script.

Status

Catgirl: 1307
Telepathic: 596
Santa Vampire: 651
Blogs: 202
Scene: 1000
Desc: 500

Total: 4246

Previous: 18331

Word Debt: 4423 (Including today)

Pretty hefty word debt. Slow week. Means I need to pick up the pace for the next four days. Catgirl is coming moderately well. Santa is nearly done. Telepathic Smirk is...eh. Its better than the thought robbery piece but its missing...something. Not much blog work either, and I need to do an entry for the game before the next game tonight. Starting script work this week for the short and brainstorming for the long.

Writing Status

Santa: 2992
Telesmirk: 512
Memrobbery: 412
Catgirl in Boots: 510
Direspace: 567
Blogs: 3055
Scene: 1000
Desc: 500

Total Since Last Post: 9548

Previous: 8783

Word Debt=669

I can make that up later today. The Santa Vampire Story is coming along well. I have started three more sci fi stories from the idea list. Once I finish those, I'm starting a short script and then the feature script. They are coming out well though Cat Girl in Boots and the Chesire Smirk are coming along better than the memory theft story but all three are better than the turdlet that direspace ended up being. I quite while I was ahead and shot that story in the head. I think sometimes just ending a story is a good idea. I might come back to it at some point. The blogs go well. Though I am behind in my personal blog but I'm not counting that on my writing quota.

Writing For This Week

Tracking Words:

Scene Run on Dark Metal: 1000 words (Zone of Terror)

Blogs: (Counted: Eagle as Phoenix, I Have an Opinion of Almost Anything, Let Me Tell You About My Character) 2293

Short Stories: Great Zamboninapping 4112 (Completed - First Draft)

Vampire Santa: 363

Any Price: 1012

Total Word Count To Date: 8783

Word Debt: 220

Not bad really. 1000 words a day. A bit unorthodox to include running a written rpg scene and blogs, but the rpg scene forces me to use characters, setting, actions, plot and such which means it is just as good as any writing exercise, and the blogs, while not fiction, are definitely 'finished product' and take as much motivation to write, so I think they count towards writing in general. And since short stories or prose fiction was at least half the count...I think....good so far. We'll see how we do to the end of the year.

Things are Going Well

I just finished Chapter 5 of the Graphic Novel. I've written 2 stories so far, and will write two more this week. That puts me at roughly 12000 words so far this year, which is well behind the goal I have for 75000, but we'll see if I can catch up.

I'm considering starting my next short story in the literary genre, but I haven't exactly figured it out yet. But I recall that the beginning of "The Gunslinger" started with "The Gunslinger Chased Against the Man In Black Across the Desert" or something like that.

So far all I have is this.

"The more cynical part of me says it isn't going to be enough. And there has never been a prison built for me from which I did not escape. And there is no prison more dire than one's own mind."

That speaks more towards something Inception like which is hardly 'literary'....but Metamorphosis is considered such so maybe I'll do something surreal.....

Progress

Well the first of five short stories I mean to finish this year is done. I've also finished Chapter 4 of the graphic novel. I'll be unemployed in a week and a half which will give me more time to write. I'm researching two scripts at the moment and have another good idea for a novel....this will be ACTUAL steampunk...though of a particular subgenre to the point that its probably barely just, but I like it better that way. First story in first draft is 4000 words, but since I'm going to give it an Effects pass it will probably grow by another 500 or so.

Block gone...for now

Getting the fifth novel off my chest is like taking off a ton of bricks. I finally feel creative drive for the first time in MONTHS. I guess some things can't be forced. I'm about 350 words into a new short story. Not the pace I'd prefer but I'm not going to push TOO hard now that I can finally start writing non drek again.

Week 2

0 Written. 2250 words in the whole.

Not a great start to the new year. I have decided to do a different start to N5, but what I don't know.

Ken has sent me his half of the last chapter for N4.

Slow month

But I needed it. Starting prep work on Novel 5 and Chapter 4 out of 6 for the graphic novel. I'm keeping details on these to myself for a while so look for entries on this blog to be more sporadic (ie like once a month or so) for a while.

Update

Look for a lot more updates in the future. I've decided that writing is indeed a part of what I want my life to be.

So the initial pass at Novel 4 on my half is done. Need to do the first edit pass on Ken's half of Chapter 51.

I've written Page 13 out of 16 on Chapter 3 of the Seventh Seal script, hoping to do 3 more chapters today.

I'm going to be starting another feature length script in the near future. I have no idea how I'll sell it, but my 'writing plan' will come tomorrow, probably on the main blog and referenced on this one.

The 'special short story project' depends in large part on a phone call in the next day or two....we'll see what happens.

Progress

Chapter 49 of Novel 4 done. 6 more to go before I have written 4 full novels! (Well.....1/2 of the 4th novel with someone else but still....)

The Short Story is done. Two more in that arc.

WAY behind on Seventh Seal. I hope to do 5 pages tonight.

Rewrites on Season 3 of the Sentinel Chronicles went well.

Writing Progress

Chapter 48 of Novel 4 is finally done, and Ken has finished his work on Chapter 47. It has been slow going on this one...much slower than one might think for each of us only writing 50,000 words each but nevertheless it is finally being completed. 55 Chapters total, then revisions. I will be quite pleased when it is done.

Lia's poem for the podcast, "The House at the Falls" is also done. Its quite good I think. And it continues the podcast, since I admit there were times where I wasn't entirely sure I'd keep doing it. Hard to do when you're not sure anyone listens.

The Graphic novel is about half way through Chapter 3. I'm doing two more pages tonight.

My primary project at the moment is a short story for a friend. Not sure if it is publishable since it is essentially a riff on one of their works, but, quite frankly I intend for it to be a master piece when finished. If I can do it right but it is exceptionally difficult in nature to do.

Good progress for the most part

One of the two epic poems "House at the Top of the Falls" is done, along with Season 3 of the Sentinel Chronicles. Didn't get as much writing done this weekend done as I'd hoped but on the other hand I'm much more in a long term writing mode, which I haven't been for a while. I'll be writing chapter 48 of Novel 4 and starting 5 stories today, including a rewrite of "Mr. Popularity" since I was never thrilled with how that came out.

First and foremost though I need to do another 3-4 pages of Chapter 3 of "Seventh Seal."

Not feeling very motivated. At ALL.

But I'm managing to crank out a bit. I'm on page 3 of Chapter 3 of the Graphic Novel with Liz.

Here is one page to give you an idea of what she's doing. It's rather impressive to me. I have her permission to post this page, though bear in mind she owns 90% of it.

Ken is working on Chapter 47, so we're moving on Novel 4 finally.

I'm about 30% done on TSC Season 3, "The Fall of Humanity."

But I don't think I have the energy to write something purely on my own. The podcast has been shot due to computer problems which will hopefully be solved tonight. I finally have started on Dave's and Lia's poems. Lia's is, "The Waylaid Waterfall" and Dave's is "The Trunkated Obelisk." Hopefully they'll like them and I'll have them up for the July podcast.

Report

I'll be resuming Novel 4 later next week. Novel 5 is delayed until next year since the Divorce pretty much allows (and justifies) a reset of all goals. Right now, the Ritual takes priority of previously established goals.

Chapter 2 of 6 of Seventh Seal is done. I might see if I can post a page here (for my two readers) but I'll have to get Liz's permission since she owns 90% of it (which is fair since drawing/painting/wording it is 90% of the work.)

I am starting a new poem....even if...I don't entirely know what it is yet. Its for Lia, who was in one of my films recently....and its a neat (very neat) primer...but lightning hasn't struck yet...but I'm sure it will in a day or two.

Report

Mr. Popularity is stalled given personal difficulties. I have 22 out of 96 pages on 7th Seal Done. Don't need a script for Rossam's since I found a Creative Common's one. Novel 4 will pick up again in July when Ken can work on it.

Progress

500 words towards Mr. Popularity.

4 more pages towards Seventh Seal.

Desire to write latently coming back....I suspect I'll be up to full speed some time in June.

Writing

Haven't gotten much done, but I feel much better. More progress should be made.

Talked with Ken about N4CH47. He's working on it. We're too close to give up now.

1/8th of the way through conversion of "Tossing Grenades at Windmills" to an audio play. Est completion day, April 30th. May will be all about "Rossom's Universal Robots."

I have started two new poems. "Mr. H's Angel." and "Tempus Fugit Inc."

I have also started a short story, untitled but I think that I will call, "Mr. Popularity." Hoped for completion is May 1.

Except for some stuff for the May Podcast

I haven't written a damn thing.

I'll try to write more this weekend.

Status Update

Chapter 47 of Novel 4 written.

Unfood finished.

I've got 3 poems promised to write for the podcast with an unlikely but possible fourth.

I've also got the Season 3 translation of Jay's 'thought flow' into coherent script format for Sentinel Chronicles any day now.

Busy is better than not busy.

Decision

I've decided to keep writing. And I'm keeping most of my projects. The events of the last week have been a window to change things, and in some cases I have made those kind of choices, but I've been a writer for a long time and I'm going to BE a writer for a long time. If anything, it is a challenge to continue moving forward with things. I will finish Unfood by the end of the month and mean to finish Chapter 47 in Novel 4 tonight. I'm still on track to restart (from scratch) Novel 5 at the start of July and finish it in 6 months.

Unfood moves on

I'm at 2700 words now. I have a clear story structure in mind. I hope to finish it by the end of the month.

Novel 4 is on hold since Ken has been sick.

So what new thing have I written since 3 days ago?

Nothing. Not one thing but I got tired of always writing this at the end of the week. Plus I thought I'd mention a bit about future plans. So this year, writing wise I still plan on doing two novels. Novel 4 is progressing well and I aim to be done with it one way or another (at least as far as the principal writing phase) by the end of April. After that it will be a long hard shlog of editing. I plan to start Novel 5 from scratch again in July and finish it in December. Then I'm probably taking 2011 off almost entirely writing wise.

Tangentially, I will also be doing poems for the podcast and short stories for the Virtual writing group. I'm considering joining a second writing group to refine the stories even further after that...we'll see. The main one I'm working on at the moment is Unfood, which, when done I hope to turn into a short script for the film I'll work on this year.

This week

Chapter 46 out of 55 is written for Novel 4.

The first half of "Unfood" is written and reviewed by the Virtual Writing Group. Part 2 is due by the end of the month, and I will begin banging it out tomorrow.

2 out of 3 "Season 2.5" Sentinel scripts are done thus far. I hope to begin the second tomorrow.

Progress

Chapter 45 out of 55 written. Dividing remaining chapters in Novel 4 and sending the proposal to Ken tonight. The end is in sight.

First half of "Unfood" written and sent to Julie and Rita in the Virtual writing group. I've also received their stories for review and I like what I see so far.

I have written the scripts "Math" and "Why We Fight" for 2.5 for Jay W. in the Sentinel Chronicles which were then modified by the other writers in the project.

Writing

Writing:

Scripts for season 2.5 of the Sentinel Chronicles for J. Weilen.

Short story for the monthly virtual writing group I have with Rita and Julie.

Charter for Project Hammerfel (due tomorrow)

Novel 4 w. Ken. Finished Chapter 44 (out of 55) tonight.

When I finish that I'll do Novel 5, but start it over from scratch using the original 4 month time window.

Obviously

I have not been reporting as much. I have come to a conclusion. I am an extrovert, not an introvert, which can be a real problem for a writer. I can write things that people WANT me to write, even if it is only one person. I'm a very 'energy efficient' extrovert.

The novel I'm writing with Ken, #4, now has a revamped outline and I'm going to be writing Chapter 41 (my half) this weekend. It will have 55 chapters in all and will be a pretty kick ass book if I don't say so myself.

Keeping goals is important....but honestly? Book 6 and 7 very well might be non fiction. We'll see.

My solution to the potentially stillborn Novel #5 might be to join a writer's group. I'll post as to how things go as time progresses.

Reposted, because its true.

Also, I have completed Chapter 40 of Novel 4 and Chapter 6 of novel 5.

Grenademan Vs. The Zombies - Chapter 6

Includes author note at the end.

(Removed the podcast link because I shut it down on 11/15/09)

Grenademan Vs. The Zombies - Chapter 5

Behold Chapter 5 of Grenademan Vs. The Zombies in which the Circle Expands its numbers by holding a horror convention and inviting others to join to help them fight against the impending apocalypse.

Also I’ve completed Chapter 39 in Novel 4 and Chapter 5 in Novel 5.

(Removed the podcast link because I shut it down on 11/15/09)

Grenademan Vs. The Zombies - Chapter 4

(Removed the podcast link because I shut it down on 11/15/09)

I have also completed Chapter 4 of Novel 5.

Grenademan Vs. The Zombies - Chapter 3

Grenademan VS. The Zombies - Chapter 3.
(Removed the podcast link because I shut it down on 11/15/09)

I have also finished Chapter 3 of Novel 5 and Chapter 38 with Ken in Novel 4.