Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Be Inspired: The Q&A Meme Of Your Current WiP

   
Guess what? I've been tagged by Suzanne Furness with the Be Inspired Meme. What does this mean? I get to answer a few questions about my current project and pass this on to five others. Problem is I'm at a bit of a crossroad with two projects, so I'll flip a coin between Woven and The Undead Road. Here goes ... Woven wins!



What is the name of your book? - Woven

Where did the idea for your book come from?
- I would love to say it was all my idea, but I can't. My good friend told me a concept for a story he had for ten years, after reading a manuscript of mine. The premise was simple and I fell in love with the concept immediately. I was like, "why have you not written this yet? It's the most original thing I've heard in half my life!" So we teamed up and added tons more to the concept. This story required two artists to write it.

In what genre would you classify your book?
- Short version: YA Fantasy. Long version: YA High Fantasy with paranormal elements.

If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition who would you choose?
- We recently scanned over a few actors for character models to help our character description. They might be a little too old for the roles now, but I always imagined Lucas Till and AnnaSophia Robb as the lead guy and girl. Given a few years, I can totally see Elle Fanning in the role, too. And who wouldn't love to see Christopher Lloyd as a wizard? Seriously, he is who we want. Still deciding on who would fill in the other characters best.

Give us a one sentence synopsis of your book?
- Nels must rely on a princess to help him find a magic needle that can sew him back to life.

Is your book already published?
- It should be, but not yet.

How long did it take you to write your book?
- Three years. That seems like a lot, but collaborations do take more time. We also planned out a trilogy in case the first book (which we wrote as a standalone) is received well. We both moved at one time and I sustained a head injury. I literally had to learn how to write again.

What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or readers of which books would enjoy yours?
- Our alpha and beta readers have compared our book to the fantasy works of Shannon Hale, and Gennifer , the author of the upcoming Crewel (which also has a sewing magic system) endorsed our take on the similar concepts we shared. If you happen to like the nail-biting pace and grit that's found in James Dashner's books, it has that appeal.

Which authors inspired you to write this book?
- Again, Shannon Hale, but mostly my coauthor, Michael R. Jensen.

Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book?
- What's made this book special for me are the subtleties and the attention it took to feel real. Magic plays a small role in the overall story. There are no mythical or magical creatures. It's a ghost story set in an alternate medieval Scandinavia. Most important of all, it's a story about character, of overcoming fears and filling your potential. It's a story about unity and purpose, how everyone is connected, or woven - as it were - and the effect we all share in our reality.

That's the scoop! Hopefully we'll find a home for this soon so you can check out this story. Until then, it's time to pass this to five others. From those who commented in my last post, I randomly select:

Michael Offutt
Caroyln V
Tracy Bermeo
Susan Gourley/Kelley
Angela Brown

That's all for now, friends. Have an amazing day!

I'm David, and I don't know what Spirulina is, but I drank it!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: The "Loves Me Not"

  
It's a quiet day in the field and Suzy can't decide which of the two boys she should go to the dance with. What's a girl to do? Luckily for her, there's a daisy within reach. Destiny is only a few plucks away ...

The "Loves Me Not" - a decision-making or wishful-thinking trope (often perpetuated by a girl or woman) by plucking the petals off of a flower. This can apply to guys as well, and the object could be anything with removable parts. The remaining petal is meant to dictate what the character will do next or offer validation to their affectionous thoughts, often with humorous implications if the end result is not a favorable one.

Skip to :16

Guys are not immune to this kind of leisurely activity, even if they are supposed to protect the Triforce from the clutches of evil minions.

"She loves me, not ... stupid flower ..."

And who said you have to do this on land? Take it to space or deep under the sea - under dah sea ... almost broke into song there ...

Not even sea plants are safe.

As with other decision-making tropes, sky's the limit for possibilities. Flowers: resolving love problems since the early Cretaceous period.

Where have you seen this trope in action? Ever done it yourself?

I'm David, and this post is over. This post isn't over. This post is ...

Monday, August 27, 2012

In Memoriam: The Passing Of A Cosmic Legend


As you may have heard, Neil Armstrong, the astronaut who first set foot on a landmass other than our planet, has passed away at 82.

Credit: NASA 

He and the Apoll 11 team were an inspiration for many, including me. For years as a young kid, I imagined being an astronaut until medical reasons dictated that being a pilot was forever out of reach (another reason why I turned to writing). I never stopped dreaming, however.

In honor of this modern pioneer, I salute you, Mr. Armstrong. You might of had a small step, but it launched a giant leap for mankind.


World, let's resolve our squabblings to make the next leap possible.

I'm David, and may we never stop dreaming - you're next, Mars!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Write Or Die (A Radical New Therapy)


This is less an advisory post than sharing a motivational moment, or demotivational, however you want to see it (you've been warned).

But first, how about a little anecdote to get us going? (If there's one thing this blog needs more of, it's movie clips with Bill Murray in it!)


Pretty much how we feel after reading our first drafts, right?


Some of you may have heard of an app called Write or Die, which I was introduced to at our last inkPageant gathering. My revision was lagging a bit, so I investigated. This program is pure, downloadable, insanity. Seriously. It's like inviting a troll into your computer with a cattle prod. The point of this self-imposed virtual slap? It keeps you writing throughout a certain window of time. If you get distracted or procrastinate, the app starts messing with you. And punishes you. Relentlessly. It will even delete your lines if you allow it. Yeouch!

There's just one problem: you can turn it off. If one can discipline themselves to keep it on, and stay on track, there's really no point to having the app. That is, of course, if one needs it to get into the writing habit. Then I was thinking (uh oh), should I buy this?

This question posed a free alternative: What if I died tomorrow?

We don't like to think about, but it's a reality we all must face:


There's a point to all of this, so don't freak out.

Each day, I get old, a little closer to drawing the curtain on this thing I know as life. If this isn't the case for you, we should talk (we'll patent it and make millions, okay? - but no vampire bites. That won't fly).

While I intend to live a full life, writing as much as I can, I realized I ought to live each day to the fullest, writing or not. Set a manageable goal in the morning and say to myself, "I'm going to do this or I'm going to die." (There's a clover in my wallet - so jinx free, right?)

With that mindset, I found myself unstoppable this last week. Food? Sleep? What's all that about? It was a tremendous, if not radical motivational stunt that kicked my writing back into gear. If not to get published, to finish something, to leave for someone to find in the future (If you've ever read Cloud Atlas, you'll know what I mean).

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter.

Everyone works at their own level of motivation, apps or no apps, vacations or jelly beans, which doesn't always work or may need altering at any time. This is what's worked for me lately. So wherever we are in our projects, the end is near *cough* ... of our book, of course. We can do it. When it's done, we can be like this guy:



What's your motivation to keep your writing on track? Any less drastic approaches that works for you? Ever try a fried Twinkie?

I'm David, and you're going to ... be awesome today!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I Played This: Alan Wake

 

So I found this game on sale (knuckle bump to you, folks at Steam), one that promised to be a psychological mindscrew in an awesome way, but the developers added a detail that makes me appreciate the story just a wee bit more: the main character happens to be a writer.

Yes, please.

You play Alan Wake, an international best seller who is suffering a creative breakdown, so he goes on vacation to the remote town of Bright Falls (looks like Twin Peaks). Alan and his wife rent a cabin, and then, like a Stephen King novel, things get weird, and people made of shadow and darkness attack you with axes. And this is rated Teen!

Who is not freaked out by this environment?

His wife kidnapped, Alan has to brave the darkness to find her, with his agent sidekick and a town of weirdy locals for help. To defeat the evil around you, you have to fight with light. And a few flare guns!

What makes this game unique is, along the way, Alan finds pages to a manuscript that he doesn't remember writing, which would be awesome if what happened on print didn't come to life. Not only do you play a cool game, you'll read well-written literature as you go.

Don't let me spoil it for you. You're invited to check out this awesome game for yourself. That is, if you're brave enough (maniacal laugh).

I'm David, and I just found another collectable thermos!


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: The Shapeshifter


You're walking in a forest and spot a wee rabbit. Cute thing, so happy and harmless. You take a breath and turn your back, only to see a shadow stretch in front of you. You spin around. The rabbit is gone. In its place is a dragon, or a demon ... hard to tell, being in its belly.

The Shapeshifter - A character or creature that can change their appearance or transform into other creatures or objects, often at will.

This trope is not to be confused with The Transformation, which is a single changing event (think Hulk or Beauty and the Beast). Proper use of The Shapeshifter can add fun and terrifying elements to a story and can be used in many "forms" (hehe). There are stories (< like this) that revolve around this premise.

Villains often make good use of this trope by copying someone (to which they then usually dispose of them) so they can enter a place with a disguise that no one will question.

Watch out, dude! (Warning: graphic example)

They can even use themselves to make their own weapons, but not all Shifters have to be bad. Some could just be ... misunderstood.

(Good clean fun example here).

Often times it's the good guys who makes the best Shapeshifters, but when it comes down to telling stories, there are fewer tropes than this that will keep you on your toes (or keep you guessing).

Ever implemented The Shapeshifter in your writing? What are your favorite examples of this trope? Why does sand get everywhere?
 
I'm David, and this was bloody brilliant!


Monday, August 20, 2012

WriteOnCon 2012 Recap: Back 2 Basics


Is it Monday?

*Looks at calendar with a picture of lava creeping across a highway*

Yep. It's Monday. A whole week's gone by without so much as a bleep, but I hope you're ready for some awesome information. What happened at WriteOnCon 2012? I said this year was going to be epic, but wow. I mean, WOW! This last week blew me away more than I thought it would. Made lots of new friends, critiqued queries until my eyes fell out, and received the best feedback on my submission. Ever. I was even lucky enough to have a secret ninja agent visit my query. Sadly, no requests this year, but I'm  motivated for our next run.

Someone also brought virtual juice and bagels for a forum event.

Writers. What a generous lot we are, right?

This year's theme? Back 2 Basics! And to save you the trouble of sifting through the sea of nearly 5,000 attendees for a few days, This is what I took home from this year's WriteOnCon:

- Leah Hultenschmidt gives us The Inside Scoop on querying here.

- Clauire Legrand explains The Differences Between YA and MG here.

- Jessica Martinez talks Sexual Tension Through Dialog here.

- Frank Cole stresses Building Characters Into Real People here.

- Lara Perkins knows When Your MS is Ready to Query here.

- Leigh Bardugo helps Choose The Right Critique Partners here.

And lastly ...

- Jennifer A. Nielsen asks What Is "Voice?" here.

All in all, a most excellent week. I tried my best to keep up with as many friends and new friends as I could, so I apologize if I missed you. Did I ever get a chance to look at your query or submission? If not, comment here and I'll log back on and check it out.

The saddest part is I have to wait another year to do this again.

*sad face*

The best part? Having a whole other year to write new stuff!

What do you think? Did you enjoy the CONference? Thinking of going next year? Do you think I talk about crullers too much?

I'm David, and Grammar Check is the spawn of all evil (mostly)!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Guest Post: I'm Talking About Names At Jeff's Place!

 
Hey, guys! I'm popping in for a sec to tell you about Jeff Hargett. He's a great writer, an awesome blogger, and he's hosting my Aspiring Advice post today. Head over to his place where I'm talking about names and the psychological impact they have on characters. This blog will be up and running for more awesomeness on Monday. Have a great weekend!

And if you want to know what went down at WriteOnCon this year, come back Monday to read all about it. It'll be an epic review of epicness!

I'm David, and thanks for having me over, Jeff - you the man!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Making The Most Of WriteOnCon



Guess what, fellows? It's time to get your Con on - WriteOnCon!

What is WriteOnCon? Just one of the coolest online events for writers ever, having all the networking and conveniences of a live writer's conference without having to pay for admission, parking, hotel rooms, or those fancy lunches with undercooked vegetables.

FYI, I like them that way.

This is my second year. The first propelled my networking capacity in astronomical ways. I even hooked up with a critique partner who has an agent now. Talk about awesome! I also posted our first query for Woven, which I know has helped us catch a few eyes and appreciated requests. I'll be the first one to say ... "This year will be epic!"

If you are going in for the first time, it might be daunting. There's so many links, tabs and forums that it's easy to get lost. And unless you plan on sticking with your computer 24/7 for the next week, it might be rather difficult to get the most out of this online conference.

I can fix that!

I know you can, Sam, so let's do this!

Everything you need to know about the conference is here, but the great thing about this conference are the forums. No matter what market or genre you write, you can submit queries, synopses, the first 250 words or first 5 pages for attendees to read and provide feedback. For each work you submit, you are asked to critique at least five others. If you critique more, the more help you'll receive.

Here's a few ways to make the most out of critiquing:

Be courteous and helpful - All submissions are a work in progress. The last thing you want is to give a bad first impression. Don't act like a know-it-all, whether you've been writing for one year or fifty. It also isn't enough to say "this isn't working" or "this is confusing." Tell the author why and offer suggestions (without rewriting their work).

Consider people's feedback - Those who decided to visit your thread and comment are your friends. They want to help, even if you may not agree with their suggestions - but you might later. Apply them to your submission. See how it looks. Thank everyone who comments. Be sure to visit and critique them back. Karma is also your friend.

Make friends/Be yourself - If you're in this only to showcase your work and get everyone to pay attention to you, it will show (unless you're some kind of evil genius?). This is an opportunity to find friends and allies. I owe WriteOnCon for my current critique partners who I never would have found otherwise. And most of all, have fun!

What not to miss on Tuesday and Wednesday:

Live chats - Seriously. Be there. This is a great way know what goes on inside the industry and maybe have your questions answered.

Posts and workshops -Lots of agents, editors and authors will hold workshops and share their experiences with us. Take notes.

Everything! - Who am I kidding? It's all great. And since this is an online conference, you can leave for a few hours, come back, and catch up on what you missed. It's all saved on the Interweb!

The most important thing of all?

Have fun! - This can't be stressed enough. Sure there are contests and agents might poke at your threads and make requests, but let that happen when it happens. Until then, no expectations. Show your best, revise when needed, and keep being awesome.

Because you are.

*     *     *

I have a query for Woven up this year and the first 250 words of my MG Zombie novel, which I've finally decided to call The Undead Road. Please check it out and tear them apart. They need lots of help.

I'm also going hiatus this next week to "make the most" of this conference. You can find my profile here. See you there!

What's the best thing about this conference? You're going, right? If you're not going, what are your plans next week?

I'm David, and I'm NOT a little teapot ... or short ... but stout!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

InkPageant: August Giveaway Details

 

It's a new month at inkPageant, and with it, a new giveaway! We're pleased to announce that literary agent Peter Knapp has offered a query critique for three lucky writers. Here's the scoop on Peter ...


Peter Knapp began working for the Park Literary Group in July 2011, where he has had a chance to work with many of the agency's bestselling authors in all stages of the publication process. Prior, he was a story editor at Floren Shieh Productions for two years, where he consulted on book-to-film adaptations for Los Angeles-based film companies, including CBS Films. He is an avid reader of young adult and middle grade fiction, frequently trading book recommendations with his nine-year-old sister. Having graduated from NYU with a BA in Art History, Peter maintains a healthy interest in the visual arts, particularly with animation and kinetic art. He currently lives in Brooklyn.

Every post submitted is an entry, and we're not in this for just writing advice. We love to see interviews, guest posts, movie/ television/book reviews and opinions and news on publishing.

Click here for details and here to sign up!

I'm David, your friendly neighborhood inkPageant moderator.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: "Let's Split Up!"


There are multiple tasks that need to be done and not enough time to accomplish them, unless you have an assortment of friends and a plan to rendezvous long before the place blows sky high. I hope?

You can guess where this trope stems from ...

"Let's Split Up!" - When a group separates, by choice or not, which often results in dividing the narrative, usually to accomplish a task or to create "separation anxiety" for them and for the audience.

This trope can be used in a variety of ways. The most common is used to cover more ground when characters search for something.

Another method is to divide the group when an enemy is after them, forcing the baddie to chase one or the other, just to throw them off or (if more than one baddie) weaken their numbers for an ambush.

Maybe some members in the group can't settle their differences and think it's best to part ways before they bash each other's heads in.

Sometimes, out of their control, the group is forced to split up, either because a tunnel collapses or a bridge gives, or the continents divide!

Ah, man ...!

One of the most effective examples comes from The Lord of the Rings, the original fellowship parting in three ways by the end of the first book. It allowed readers to see more of Middle Earth as the narrative jumped between the three divides of the main group.

"Let's Split Up!" is a fun trope and often works when characters don't want to be separated or if the split otherwise makes sense.

"A mad slasher's after us ... let's split up!" ... I think not.

Have your characters always stayed together, or did they split up? What are your favorite "Let's Split Up!" moments you've seen?

I'm David, and we can do more damage this way!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Welcome to the New Cosmic Laire!


Howdy! I am by all means not a graphic designer, but thanks to a couple stock photos and the incredible talents of Lisa Campbell, this blog is finally at a place where I've always imagined it - a haven for science fiction and fantasy in this little corner of cyberspace.

Many functions are the same. Just looks different. Have a look and tell us what you think. Can you read this? How's the background?

And what better way to celebrate than by welcoming new members! You guys came at a great time. Please visit these brave newcomers!

and

*     *     * 

Update: Besides the new look, last week was a writing streak! 10K words read and edited through, leaving Woven with another 20K to go. Entering falling action and climax territory, so yeah. Should wrap this up in a couple weeks or less. And a good thing, too. I'm simply itching to get started on this zombie novel. Pardon my scratching.

How was your weekend? Get any writing done? Find any new blogs that are super cool?

I'm David, and the Mars Curiosity Rover landed successfully!


Friday, August 3, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Posting Safe Pictures


It's old news by now I'm sure, but if you haven't heard of Roni Loren's experience about being sued for posting a picture on her blog, do so here. It's a real eye-opener.

The article and the comments made me do a lot of soul searching and archive browsing, because Roni did what I've been doing for almost a couple years: Google pictures that matched my topic and add them to my posts for visual aid. Never once did image theft enter into my mind. Talk about feeling like a criminal ...

Busted!

I've since browsed through and removed pictures and am in the process of linking screencaps to promotes free advertising. I like promoting all things sci-fi and fantasy, after all.  The same may be said for book covers. Who doesn't want their book cover on as many blogs as possible (please correct me if I'm wrong)?

What happened to Roni is unfortunate, even if the photographer had every right to do what was done, but the question I asked was how come I haven't heard of this sooner? Turns out that Roni is not alone. Several celebrity blogs got in trouble. Even an autistic guy was sued. Now that it's happened to a best seller, it's viral.

Which goes to show that things don't happen unless someone gets hurt or someone is made an example.

The basic gist? Using pictures that do not belong to you is ... risky. It's probably wisest to cease and desist.

Here's my problem - I'm an extremely visual person. Even my writing has been described as "very visual," and I love to have pictures on my blog to illustrate my points. And being a Sci Fi and Fantasy writer? That doesn't make the task easy. I'm not a photographer. I'm not an illustrator, and it's not like I can take my own pictures of dwarfs or starships anytime soon ...

That's when I realized something. Am I picture dependent? How much time am I spending looking for that perfect picture when I could be writing? Since Roni's post, I've written five posts in the same time it takes to write one. Talk about a time suck! This, if nothing else, has brought me new-found insight.

Still - pictures on the blog are nice to have.

So what's a writer to do? Here's a few ideas:

A) Use Public Domain Photos - These are stock photos that are free to use and there are a few websites that offer them, granted you need to source the photo and often link it back to where you got it. Any photos taken by the (US) government is in the public domain, too.

Here's a few worth looking at:

- Public Domain
- BurningWell
- Wikimedia Commons
- National Digital Library
- NASA

In light of all this, Kristen Lamb started a Flickr group where fellow bloggers can summit their own pics and use each other's photos without fear of reprisal.

Check out WANA Commons here.

B) Take Your Own Pictures - No one can get after you for that. It is your safest bet. Granted, you need a camera, and my Casio Exilim isn't going to cut it. Good camera's aren't cheap. They are, however, cheaper than a lawsuit, so I'd say the investment is worth it.

Time to go camera shopping!

There's cool stuff everywhere. Family and friends may be willing to pose for you, too. It doesn't hurt to ask.  Imagine what you can do with poseable action figures?

 
 You did NOT just go there ...

C) Be A Writer - If your blog is a writing one, chances are folks have clicked in to read your writing. Sure, pictures and videos are nice, but if they take the place of your writing, how professional does that look?

How's that for a meal for thought?

*     *     *

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. I thought for the longest time that my blog was Über- Cool, but was I letting pictures steal the impact of my words? Maybe. So you should expect some big changes from me, including an almost-complete blog-lift. If any of this has relevance to you, it might be worth your while to look back and see what you've posted.

Were you ever concerned about this kind of thing before now? Where do you go to find risk-free photos?

I'm David, and DON'T download this song ...

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Random Sauce: All Thanks To Garry


I'm a Valve fan, the game group responsible for game- changing titles like Half-Life, Counter Strike, and Portal.

The graphics are so good, they still hold up today, even after 15 years. And if that wasn't enough, the good folks at Valve came out with a little something called Garry's Mod, a virtual playground that lets you do anything, and I mean anything you want with everything Valve, and more. Hilarious picture stills and outrageous videos have since come into being, from the funny to the sometimes obscene. This is what I'm taking about:



Yes. I posed these myself.

If you wish to venture into this randomness adventure known as Garry's Mod, be warned. It may drain your life away, or traumatize your kids. Whichever comes first.

I'm David, and I'm enjoying a treat ...

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I Read This: The Hunger Games


In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games ...

*     *     *
 
Yes. I finally whittled my TBR list down to what might be the hottest thing since Harry Potter. And I liked it!

There was action, a neat and scary futuristic setting and intense moments that came as a complete surprise. And having never heard about or seen the movie, I was surprised by the ending. I thought the whole trilogy was this game. This first book, however, has great standalone appeal and characters that I route for.

Having said that, and that I liked it, is it wrong that I don't quite get the hype for this novel? Meaning to say I'm not regretting reading this sooner or not seeing the film in theaters. The first line didn't exactly win me (it bugs me when us writers are told never to start with characters waking up, and poof, there it is!), but the cat, the way the narrative described it, drew me in.

Thanks, cat. You're a book saver. 

And I got hungry every time I read "Peeta."

While I still find The Giver to be my favorite Dystopian novel, The Hunger Games is certainly a good one and it's right up there with other recent Dystopians like Possession and Matched. Now to Catch me some Fire!

Have you read The Hunger Games? Did you like it? Was the movie awesome? Did you like the ending?

I'm David, and why am I so hungry?