Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Random Teaser: Something Scary Is Coming Your Way


 

You've been warned. Merry Christmas ... *Muahhaha!*

(Not exactly the kind of post you expected for Halloween, eh? But seriously, stay safe out there. That can't be stressed enough)

So what's this deal? To what, exactly, are we giving back to? I'd tell you, but my co-hosts would hang me from the yardarm if I spilled the beans - but I can say who's helping me run this "holiday" mischief ...

Mark (Koopa) Koopmans

Morgan (1up Mushroom) Shamy

Stephen (Fire Flower) Tremp

(No - these are not clues to what the [secret] is about ... I've just been playing a lot of Mario lately ... don't judge ... the kids love it)

Expect us to upload the lowdown on November 19th.

And don't expect me to talk. They'll take my lips if I do ...

Sweet dreams ... 

I'm David, and I'm humbled to be co-hosting this "special" event!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: Hostile Weather


Mark and Alice can't stand each other, and they should have heeded the evacuation warning sooner. The storm hit harder and faster than anticipated. Their street is now a river. The wind has blown trees over. If they are to survive this, they'll have to hunker down and wait it out in their abandoned apartment complex - and rely on each other ...

(Note - I drafted this last week before any indication of Hurricane Sandy heading toward the East Coast - odd coincidence, no? My thoughts and well wishes are with you, my friends, along the EC)

Hostile Weather - a meteorologic event where the characters' goal is delayed or made more difficult to accomplish because of dangerous weather, forcing them to either evacuate the area or find a safe place close by to stand their ground. This trope serves as a good backdrop for several stories (including scary ones) and the plot may even be centered around it. Hostile Weather is often foreshadowed by the subtrope A Storm Is Coming and is made creepier with The Lightning Reveal.


Weather can be scary, what with all the noise it makes, and what's a good Halloween story without a storm? This trope stretches well beyond the October holiday, however, but weather has it's place, be it contemporary fiction or epic fantasy.

Tomorrow: Rain over Helm's Deep with a chance of Uruk-Hai!

Fowl weather can make for a good heist, but one word of advice: I wouldn't use a seadoo inside a flooded high school, if I were you ...

 1: Dodge a Seadoo. 2: Grab a Pepsi - good plan!

Truth be told, this is an all-too-real trope because of it's historical and real life implications. It was Hostile Weather that halted Napoleon's momentum during his campaign to Russia, in case you didn't know.

Looks like the General's keeping his hand warm ...

Be it rain, snow, or hail (and when I say hail, it sounds too much like h-e-double hockey sticks), severe or even Hostile Weather, natural or man/creature-made, can lead your story into a memorable one with plenty of obstacles and challenges, humorous, romantic, or dramatic. See what role weather can play in your next or current project, as it's a great way to mess with your characters or, in some instances, bring them closer together. It's only fitting, since we still tend to huddle close to each other as the encroaching storm approaches.

Ever used weather in your story? Was it mild, hostile, or something in between? Would your characters embrace it or flee the scene?

I'm David, and it could be worse - it could be raining ...


Monday, October 29, 2012

Post: In Memoriam, Spammage, and a Sorta Update


At the start of this week new week, I have grave news.

A dear friend of mine has left us over the weekend, a most terrible accident. I'm still trying to keep it together, but since most of you never had the chance to meet my friend, this is my way to keep our memory alive. This one goes out to you, my dear friend ...

Our friendship began at Wal-Mart, a place kind of boring.
At a time when my brain was storming new stories.

I trusted your drive, confiding each and every plot.
When memory failed, you were there, backing me up.

We worked on three stories together, over four years.
A book for my wife, a high epic, and YA with fears.

I swear I was with you, more than I slept.
Then came the tragedy - you fell, you slipped.

I heard the crash and I looked down.
I saw you there, shattered on the ground.

I gathered you up and tried not to cry.
Why did I let you go, why oh why?

I'd cry even more if I wasn't so needy,
Having transferred our work to another PC.

So long and farewell, to a fellow busy bee.
Rest in pieces, my ever faithful, USB ...


*sniff* Sorry ... gotta get a tissue ...

*     *     *

Okay, joking aside, I did lose my USB over the weekend, seconds, and I mean seconds, after I transferred everything onto my PC. Huge sigh of relief since it really did contain four years of work. Now it's all in a new USB and my notebook, so let this be a gentle reminder to be sure to backup your stuff often. You never know when crap happens.

I think that "Mr. Butterfingers" gag last week jinxed me ...

Anyway, I've been bombarded by spam lately, in the comments and my email, so I've taken some measures by doing an experiment this week, so I apologize in advance for screening comments with word verification. It's only for a week. That might be long enough to make the bots go away? It better. I like to eat Spam, not read it.

*     *     *

Feel free to visit these awesome bloggers who've joined us since last week! Here's your honorary Shout-Out, you two!

and

*     *     *

Update: This is one of those grr weeks. That's what happens when I don't have a chance to squeeze a single new word in, just editing CP feedback, but I can't say this coming week will be any better (kind of hard to concentrate when people come to your door for candy every couple minutes). What's the hang up? Winterizing, mostly, but I really can't complain. Knowing what's going on along the East Coast right now is concerning. Thankfully they've had plenty of warning to store up and evacuate. To my friends along the EC, I wish you well.

How was your weekend, guys? What item have you accidentally destroyed and mourned over? What's your favorite Spam flavor?

I'm David, and Theresa Paolo has an agent! Go congratulate her!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Dunbar's Number + Social Networking

 
Anyone ever heard of Dunbar's Number?

If not, you can learn more about it by clicking this blue thing - but to sum it up, it's a theory that was presented by Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist (took many a course in that for my psych degree). So what's the theory? It's the average maximum limit of people that one person can maintain stable social relationships with, which averages to about 150 people. Some can maintain more. Others can't.

Some of you might be thinking, wait ... I have WAY more friends than that following my blog/facebook/twitter/etc. Yep. Me too, but it's not the number of friends/followers that's in question here - it's the maintaining of a relationship, more than an acquaintance. At the time this theory was presented, social media wasn't on the scene like it is now, so Mr. Dunbar was mostly talking about real-life interaction.

Does this number apply to social media, then? One guy didn't think so, but he ended up proving the theory was right. Is this to say that you or I don't care about our friends/followers? Of course not. It just means that our ability to keep an active friendship/relationship going is difficult and, depending on our follower count, impossible.

Why am I bringing this up? To be honest, I think social theories are interesting and I wanted to share this one, but mostly, thanks to an extremely busy week, I wasn't able to make my usual rounds to all my favorite blogs. Not because I didn't want to, but that's how it goes sometimes. So while I sit here, scrambling for something wise and advice-worthy to say, I was reminded of that theory and told myself, you know, it's okay. You're doing your best. You're not trying to alienate anyone. Blog when you can. Comment when you can.

And this is where I get into the meat of this post. Often I see (and I know I've done this before) writers take a leave of absence, apologize for not posting/commenting, or otherwise feel they have abandoned their base (and I'll tell you now, if you're thinking this, your heart's in the right place compared to those who only appreciate their base for buying their books). While it's normal to feel this way, rest assured, we understand. Don't be afraid. Don't feel guilty. We have lives to run and carbon footprints to make.We might forget each other for a while and then reacquaint like long lost buds. And if we think someone we admire isn't paying attention to us (and think it would be best to unfollow them), give them a nudge. In this business, we're best when connected. The more relationships we strive to maintain, the better.

There are always opportunities to reconnect with each other, like this amazing new blogfest happening next month, hosted by the master of social media/social relationship maintaining Alex J. Cavanaugh and our fellow writerly ninjas Andrew Leon and Matthew MacNish ...


There's going to be a lot of bloggerly love happening that day ...

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. Keep in mind that maintaining 150 relationships is an average and humans have proven time and again that capacity can always be expanded, but the moral of the story is to be the best person you can be, do your best, and never put anyone down for any reason. Karma's watch'n!

What do you think of this number of ol' Dunbar's? Does it apply to you? Can you disprove it? Or not? Want to join the blogfest?

I'm David, and remember, someone always has it worse than us ...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I Read This: Nightingale by David Farland


Bron Jones was abandoned as a newborn. Thrown into foster care, he is rejected by one family after another, until he meets Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognizes him for what he really is -- what her people call a "nightingale."

But Bron isn't ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know.
 

Bron's secrets may be the most dangerous of all ... 

(From Goodreads)
*     *     *

Welcome, bloggers and book tourers! I'm especially pleased to be a part of David Farland's virtual tour of Nightingale, his debut YA novel. And you know what? It doesn't read like a debut novel - it reads as if Farland has written for the YA market (in a closet) for years and has never told anyone about it. Secret's out, guys. This is a great novel and, if I may, probably my favorite so far this year. Here's why:

Characters - from the get go, I cared about the characters, even the ones we're not supposed to like. I really got into Bron's character and sympathized with his problems. Might I add his voice is completely appropriate for his age - not overdone, not underhanded. Glimpses of multiple POVs were given, too, all without saturating the main character or anyone else. Different and refreshing, all at once.

Prose - how can you not read a Farland book and not get drawn into his seamless, excellent combination of words (I'm gushing, I know)? But seriously, what looked like a thick book didn't feel like enough by the time it was over. I admit, it began with one of those prologues that don't necessarily need to be there, but it's still worth reading.

Pacing - an absolute must for me, and I was never bored. At the same time, while there is great action and spectacle to be had, it wasn't always in-your-face or rushed. I enjoyed absorbing the environment, the setting, the way the characters think, and the balance that was displayed here was nothing short of genius.

I'd say more, but I would end up spoiling it - no spoilers!

There's a reason why Nightingale has already won a slew of awards - it's just that good. I'll have to reread this one to catch the things I may have missed (had to speed read, but on a voluntary basis), and I look forward to diving back into the world of Nightingales and the future that this series has to offer. Find yourself a copy here!

 I'm (also) David, and this is an "Enhanced" novel trailer ...


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Awesome Sauce: It's Round 3 Time, Mr. Iron Man



This is looking like a great step up from the 2nd one, so here's hoping this will be the best Iron Man yet. And with Ben Kingsley as the villain (and his appearance as Mazer Rackham in Ender's Game later that same year), the man's been busy. 2013 will be epic!

*UPDATE - THIS JUST IN - my awesome CP Elissa Sussman just landed a sweet book deal for her novel Stray. And guys, having read her work, this is going to be huge. What do you get when you cross dystopia and fairytale? Elissa wrote the answer. Congratulations, my friend! Bella and Katniss are about to have some competition!

Are you excited for IM3? What other films are you looking forward to most next year? Does your popcorn cost more than your ticket?

I'm David, and remember to drink your fluids.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: Eaten Alive

 
They warned Jason. They told him to stay out of the woods at night. Others had already died out there. He should have listened, for he is now trapped among a pack of hungry wolves. And when they're that hungry, they won't wait until Jason's dead before they savor him ...

Eaten Alive - one of many possible fates for a character, be they protagonist or antagonist, but is often employed as an act of karma for any given flaw in a character's ... character. Since humans are a part of the food chain (higher now than before), this remains as one of our primal fears, that is, being consumed by something while we are still conscious. This trope goes as far back as The Odyssey (and further) to Little Red Riding Hood and beyond. It's a pretty deep trope, eh?

For obvious reasons, this is a popular trope in the horror genre, usually among creature films (like our ol' pal Jaws up there). Sure, the thought of being eaten is gross, but when you're still alive? It's grody, and it's the premise of every zombie story. Ever.

 Should've used the Buddy System, Amy ...

You never know when your actions may get you thrown to the dogs, something Cato should've considered when taking Peeta hostage.

Mutant dog chow in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

What can be worse than being eaten alive? Savored alive, as in, slowly consumed, be it a desert creature on Tatooine or a gelatinous mass.

Don't let it touch your hand, Homeless Dude!

There are cases, however, where the monster doesn't like the way someone tastes and spits them out. Or we know in advance that a character will be eaten alive because he is condemned to be so by someone else. Whichever flavor you prefer, the notion that someone is about to be dinner is a cringe-worthy addition to stories where such a fate would be appropriate. Pass me the pepper, would'ya?

Was someone eaten alive in your story? What delicious examples can you share with us? Do you think we taste like chicken?

I'm David, and *looks to the side* clever girl ...!


Monday, October 22, 2012

Post: Super Sweet Award, New Members, and Update!

   
Props go to Tammy Theriault for tagging me with the Super Sweet Award last week (not sure why anyone would bestow this honor on me - must be all the virtual crullers I give away ...?), and I'll take it!

Now, I'll have to answer a few questions about food, so if you're counting calories or haven't eaten yet this morning, you may want to skip to the next part of this post (I'm already starting to get hungry). Thanks again, Tammy, and these are my delicious answers:

1: Cookies or Cake? - What? No pie? Such an under appreciated dessert, I tell you. To be honest, I have to be in the mood for either, but I doubt I'd turn down either of them if they were handed to me.

2: Chocolate or Vanilla? - (This one's easy) ... Strawberry! :30


3: What is your favorite sweet treat? - If you haven't already figured that out, it's Lick'a Cricket, but crullers are easier to find.

4: When do you crave sweet things most? - When I'm hungry, or shopping, or hungry while shopping. They say when we crave sweet things, we should eat fruit, but honestly, where's the fun in that?

5: If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be?
- I'm stumped ... I'm really not all that sweet, more like 65% dark/bitter, and all the cool ones (sugar daddy, sweet pea, lemonhead) are already taken. So, how about we roll with Mr. Butterfingers? :35

Or ... maybe not ...

Now, to keep the sweetness alive, I'm passing this award on to the last three peeps who left comments. Those scrumptious peeps are:

Suzi
Susan Oloier
Nicole R. Singer

Thanks again, Tammy - let's keep this sweetness alive, yeah?

*     *     *

This week's Shout-Out goes the these seven new members! Go on ahead and give their blogs a visit and make a few new friends:

and

Thank you for joining The Cosmic Laire - enjoy your virtual cruller!

*     *     *

Update: I had a good editing bout last week and cut a few unneeded things, so it looks like my 20K WiP is down to 18K again. Give me a week and I'll return the word count to 20K, and then some. And believe it or not, I have nothing The Walking Dead related to say because we decided to skip a week so we can watch it on demand whenever (preferably after the kids are asleep - I'm not that evil).

This is gearing up to be another busy week here in the Laire with a very special book review. Click back later for the awesomeness!

What have you guys been up to? How did your weekend go? What's your favorite sweet thing to eat, and can I have some?

I'm David, and I was only kidding ... chocolate is my favorite!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Aspiring Advice: The "Waking Up" Conundrum


Have you ever heard of the "Lap Slap?"

Maybe there's another name for it, but this one sounds right (hey - quit laughing ...). It's basically something I do if something happens in a book I'm reading that makes me go "seriously?" resulting in the book falling to my lap, so fast, that it causes a slapping sound. And, as I dove deep into new releases this year, I'm astounded by how many times I've done this with half of the first pages I've read.

Most of them started with something along these lines:

I wake up ...
My eyes open ...
A violent jolt shook Jacob from his sleep ...

A Lap Slap in the first sentence is never a good thing, but really, why am I making such a big deal out of this? I'll take you back in time to my first writer's conference. I didn't know then that starting your story with a dream is taboo (a prologue dream, for that matter). My character woke up at the end of it. Naturally, the character has just woken up in the first chapter. There, at the critique session, the "experts" (who I really appreciate and admire, don't get me wrong) informed me of the "three deadly beginnings:" a dream, waking up, and being naked. I heard this repeated throughout the conference and conferences since, by established and aspiring authors alike.

And yet, so many new books this year, I've noticed, start with characters waking up! Isn't this a mixed message? Isn't this like telling people to not produce apples, only to sell apples later?

Is there anything wrong with starting a story this way? Since I don't believe in hardfast rules in writing (anymore), no. It's a fairly natural way to begin a story. We begin each day by waking up. Each day is a new story. This kind of opening has, however, been overdone, so it really takes a creative approach to make this kind of beginning a fresh one. This week, my CP presented the first chapter of her new work. You guessed it, the character wakes up, but the way she wrote it was funny and true to life, so I let it slide. Then you have a bestselling author who, after much anticipation, releases that book I've been waiting for - and the first line is a character waking up ...

...

Lap Slap.

"How can *author name here* start a story this way?" I ask.

Guess what answer I heard? "Well ... she's *author name here*!"

So, if you're a bestseller, taboos don't apply? Good to know ...

It's almost as if there's an industry secret, a fiendish ploy to keep writers out of the loop, or prevent them from getting published!

I'm kidding, of course ... so laugh with me!


(And ... that's enough of that ...)

These are things I've heard, btw. I don't believe for a second that industry peeps laugh about authors behind closed doors ... ever ...

I stand by the mixed message, though. I was a reader before I wrote. I read a few books that started with characters waking up. Many learn by example. I figured this was the norm. I wrote my first beginning, doing what established writers have done. I was told this was cliché.

I asked them to throw me a frigg'in bone, and they did. Such great advice. My writing hasn't been the same since, in a good way.

So what's this advice, DPK? Should we or should we not begin our stories with our characters waking up?

I say, if we can avoid it, if we can begin our stories without having our characters wake up, do it, but I'm not going to tell you, "don't start your story like that!" If our take on it is fresh, it will work, but take into consideration that there are better ways to start a story.

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. If we decide to start our stories with one of the three deadly beginnings (or The Triad of Death - I heard a novel did all of these at once, deliberately, but I can't find the title of it ...), keep in mind, many, many stories have already started this way. Doing whatever we can to stand out and give a great first impression is what matters in the end.

What's your say on this topic? Do you or do you not have a problem with stories beginning with characters waking up? Why is that?

I'm David, and *hits the snooze* just five more minutes ...

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Healthy Writer's Club: Closest Thing To Zero-G


I love water.

It's warm. It's cold. It's liquid. You can freeze it, boil it, or turn it into a gas. Is it any water that water is the element associated with change and power? It's really incredible stuff. It can save your life if you fall 100 feet, given that even a teaspoon of the stuff can kill you. And when it comes to fitness and staying healthy, it's about the only option that some people have. That's been my story. After two leg surgeries and other complications, staying fit on land is a chore. Thank the workout gods that we have water as a substitute!

This was my second home in High School - three hours a day, swimming laps until 5 PM. Doing that every day for four years straight had a huge hand in conditioning and toning my bod. I was also the only one in the team who could swim the whole 50 yards underwater without taking a breath. Those were the good days when I had free access to a pool and all the time in the world. Now? Not so much.

Public pools are scarce in Utah (more so during the winter months). Regular membership to use them ranges in the hundreds of dollars. They are sooooo in demand that it's difficult to get a decent workout. After almost two years of no lap time (shortly after joining this club), I thought I'd give it a try ... and I arrived just in time for the local swim team to take the lanes out. Thankfully, I met a guy who told me the best times to come, which will give me more for my buck.

What else is amazing about water? Unless I can one day afford an "edge of space" flight, water is the closest thing to zero gravity I'll ever experience. With the right amount of air, I can float, suspended, under the deep end. It's a liberating sensation, free from the stresses of gravity. Water is a huge part of us. We are mostly made of water, after all. This is why swimming is my preferred workout method.

What is your preferred workout? Why do you like it? How important is water to you?

I'm David, and don't be THAT guy at the pool ...


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

I Read This: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan


 

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper. His best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids”, as Leo puts it. What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea — except that everything seems very wrong ...
 

(From Goodreads)

 

Guys. Wow! Now, I liked Rick's work before with the Percy Jackson series, but this, hands down, tops it. I was given a copy of this for my birthday last year (see, my TBR list is humongous), and now that I read it, I can't wait to get my hands on the other two. Here's why:

Humor - it is rampid and plentiful. Even though the story begins with a character waking up (isn't there some kind of taboo about this?), I was cracking up so hard that I didn't care. Yet in the humor, there's always this great balance of laughs and seriousness - you're laughing one minute and your jaw hangs open the next. Nicely played, Rick.

Pacing - solid throughout, never a dull moment, and it has a wealth of characters with their own unique voices. It's fun getting into a new adventure with different characters in the Percy Jackson world, even if some aspects of the story are repeats of previous works (a coin turns into a sword this time instead of a pen).

Race Against Time - huge fan of this storytelling trope, as they have a goal to reach before the solstice. If gives the characters a deadline which forces them to focus and deal with the problem. This device was used well here, at times overwhelming the characters, which is great to read as it gives them higher stakes to deal with.

All in all, this is a great read, and another great example of a MG novel that doesn't adhere to the "rules" (there's boyfriend/girlfriend stuff in there). It's also in third person, a change from the Percy Jackson series. I think Rick does a better job in that perspective. If you have any doubt, read for yourself. You can find a copy here.

Are you a Riordan fan? Have you read this book? Do you want to? If you read it, what did you like about it/favorite parts of it?

I'm David, and death in battle is honorable (that's comforting ...)


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: I'm Going As Myself!


Frankenstein is a scary dude. People freak when he leaves the house. One night a year, however, he can go for a night on the town. No one seems to care. Some might compliment how awesome his costume is, but they better not light any pumpkins around him, though. Fire bad!

I'm Going As Myself! - a holiday trope that would allow an otherwise unsightly character to go out into the public and be accepted - even admired - by those who would otherwise flee in terror. Typically used but not limited to a Halloween gag, this trope often appears during parties, masquerades, or contests. In some cases, it pays to be ugly.

There are all kinds of variations for this trope, notably taking one's deformity and making it "look fake" so that no one will notice what they really look like during a cheesy dress-up party. Such a maneuver was used in this novel --->, when Laurel's natural wings are made to look unnatural. A similar tactic was used in the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, but since the ghost sheet covered all of his body, the little alien doesn't quite qualify for Going As Himself.

Better luck next time, little buddy ...

*looks down and kicks a rock*

On the other hand, someone might have a secret identity, but goes to the party as himself, or herself, until they give themselves away ...

"You must be Batman ..."     "Kitty want some candy?"

They might not be at a party at all. They could be out any day of the year, but who said you can't wear a costume any day of the year?

 "Nice costume, Stinky!"

This trope is mostly expected if the story happens to have Halloween thrown into the mix, but there are creative ways to have undesirable characters come out and be accepted for who they are, even if only for a moment. Just be careful - or else they'll put a spell on you!



Have any of your stories warranted the use of I'm Going As Myself? What other stories or movies have you seen this trope used before?

I'm David, and this year, I'm going as this guy!

Now to find the clothing to match - and some rum ...

Monday, October 15, 2012

Post: TWD Season 3 Premier, Members, and Skydive!

  
(Before I begin, I want to thank you all for your kind comments and warm wishes over the weekend. It was a wonderful, reflective week and you guys helped make that possible. The party's over. It's time to work. Thank you for your continuous, encouraging support!)

Some of you know I have a soft spot for zombies, and frankly, I've been having withdrawals. Last night finally cured my curiosity about Grimes and Crew and the looming prison shown in the background in the last shot of The Walking Dead Season 2. New characters, new dangers, and more zombies ... what more could a guy ask for?

The team in action!

The stakes are high this season. Lori is about to have her baby, Andrea is sick, Rick is something of a control freak now, and their only medical expert has lost a leg. Wow! The hits just keep coming. The one thing I didn't expect during their takeover of an overrun prison was zombies in riot gear. Kind of hard to take down armored undead wearing face shields. I squirmed like a worm. Yeah. This show is pretty much brilliant on all fronts. I'm fueled with new ideas, too.

Looking forward to watching this new season unfold!

*     *     *

Four new members have joined us since last week, so please, take a moment to visit their blogs and be amazed by their words:

 and

 Thanks for joining The Cosmic Laire! Now buckle up - enjoy the ride!

*     *     * 

Update: I'm glad to say the Undead WiP is officially 1/3 done (just needed a little zombie action to get the creative juices flowing)! As my usual routine, I'll spend the next week reviewing what I have so far before I move on, to be sure my bases are covered before I drive the story into its second act. I'm pretty happy with the way it's going so far, so I don't expect this quick edit will take much time. I hope not. I have a Halloween costume to put together. Can you guess what?

As always, there's an awesome week coming your way from this blog. Click back for new tropes, reviews, and pertinent sound advice. 

So my cosmic friends, how was your weekend? How's the weather?

I'm David, and who wants to go (record-setting) skydiving?

Felix Baumgartner, October 14, 2012

Friday, October 12, 2012

Aspiring Advice: When Goals and Promises Collide


The winner of my birthday giveaway is Andrew Leon! I was born at 1:32 PM - Andrew's guess was closest at 1:00 PM. Congratulations, sir! Please email me here with the email address you'd like me to send your prize to. Thank you everyone for your participation and warm birthday wishes! I now have the courage to face another 30 years. :)

And do I really come off as a morning person? Interesting ...

You guys are probably tired of me talking about birthdays (there's just so many of them in October, it's leafy!), so I hope you don't mind me mentioning it once more. You see, I made a promise five years ago - an important promise. Unless I land a deal or an agent by the time I'm 30, I'll put writing aside and get a real job (following in the footsteps of similar promises made by Dean Koontz and James Dasher, my writing heroes). I've encountered many who have done this after a few years of giving it their all, so I figured, hey, I can do this! I'll write that post that every author wants to write in no time!

Well ... this is the post that I never wanted to write ...

30 is here. My family is growing. My paycheck isn't. It's time to follow through with that promise. Now before I go on, please note that I'm not complaining. All I'm saying is not every dream or goal is going to happen, no matter how much you sing that Disney Cinderella song. That's the truth, and it doesn't do anyone any good to raise a stink when things don't go as planned or go the way we want them to.

Isn't that exactly what you're doing?

Yes. No. Maybe so ...

This doesn't mean my writing pursuits are going to stop. It means I won't be able to dedicate the time I would like, and if plan B goes into fruition, I might move close to the east coast (that's where the jobs are if I pass a certain certification process). Like Mr. Darling of Peter Pan, a few dreams will be filed away in the tight spaces of my desk drawers. I made a promise. What would I be if I didn't keep them?

But you know what? That's okay. I don't need to follow in the footsteps of or be the next Dean Koontz or James Dashner - I want to be the next David Powers King! This journey is my own. Not every path is the same. Some are rockier than others. And when you've come this close, it's amazing the support that springs from the woodwork. As my wife said last night, I am so close that I would be an idiot for giving up now (that's not how she said it exactly, but I may have heard it that way). Since I have to study for a year for this test anyway, she told me to give this writing dream another year.

That was her birthday present to me.

Best. Birthday. Present. Ever!

I take it back - this is the post I've always wanted to write.

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. It's important to make goals and promises, but we have to be ready for promises that collide with our goals. The point is being flexible. The world is not going to end if the goal can't be reached the way we want them to. It just needs to be changed. It's the only constant thing in this world.

Ever have promises collide with your goals? Will you ever give up writing or stick to it? What are your current long-term goals?

I'm David, and Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!


Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Big 30: It's Your Birthday, DPK ... Or Is It?


The myth is true.

30 years ago today, I entered this world. Three decades. Wow. There was a moment in life when I wondered if this day would ever come. Now that it has, I'm all like, "WHY!? Why did it have to come!"

Life - all the details are in the fine print, right? But you know what? I like it. There can be no question or doubt anymore. I'm an adult now (contrary to popular belief), which means I'm at that fun age where I'm old enough for lots of young people (I'm allowed to say that now, right?) to "respect their elder," while being young enough to enjoy things that I know I can't do 30 years from now, like tennis and bungie-jumping (not that I've done these activities before ...).

Before I enjoy this day, I want to say thank you for the early birthday wishes ... but more importantly, it's not just my birthday - it's yours!

Today, I'm giving away a $30 gift card from Amazon (you didn't think I was going to offer you guys a present, eh?). All you have to do is answer a question. One lucky lucky-guesser-person will empty my wallet, take home the goods, and buy themselves ... who knows?

Here's the Question: At what time was I born? 

Leave your answer in the comments. I'll check back at midnight (MST), see who's the closest, and announce the winner tomorrow with a very special-ish Aspiring Advice post. See you guys then!

I'm David, and no eggs were harmed in the making of this cake ...

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

inkPageant: 1st Birthday Bash With A Kindle Fire!

 

A year ago, Darren Hansen had the ingenious idea of building a blogging aggregator to give writers another opportunity to share and connect with editors, agents, and other writers with their blog posts. We've since received thousands of posts that has enriched our database with more topics than anyone can think of in one sitting. As a way of saying "Thank You" for an amazing first year, the inkPageant team is giving away a Kindle Fire this month. We're not joking. For full details, check out this link.


We look forward to a new year of unabashed awesomeness. Thank you for your ongoing contributions. 

I'm David, and I think I know what I want for my birthday ...

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: The Giant Spider


Because Halloween is around the corner, the next few tropes will explore the creepy, the scary, and the downright spooky. Enjoy!

*     *     *

Jill raises her torch before she steps into the cave. It's hard to see, but she must find the sacred stone-thing to save her father. There's just one problem - her feet gets stuck to the floor. She's trapped in an enormous web. The thing that made it is close ... and hungry ...

*Warning: This is a spider post - continue at your own creepiness*

The Giant Spider - a creature trope that is, in fact, a giant spider. Size is relative, however, depending on the size of the protagonist. A popular choice among early and modern B-movie fair, but also frequently prevalent in works of fiction, fantasy in particular. Because spiders are among the strongest of human fears, it's not surprising that The Giant Spider continues to make an occasional appearance. Something has to be said about creep factor.

Why are these spiders giagantic? Any number of reasons can apply: a science experiment gone wrong, it's lived for a super long time, and when I said size is relative, I meant it. Most characters are bigger than spiders, after all ... but what if your character happens to be a mouse? Case in point.

Look out, Mrs. Brisby!

Not all Giant Spiders are evil. They might be wise and someone's pet. They can't, however, be responsible for their hungry offspring.

 That moment when you mourn what tried to eat you.

And who can forget Shelob from Lord of the Rings, the famous Giant Spider that (arguably) started it all. I'd be a goner, for sure.

N-n-nice g-g-giant s-s-spider! ...

I've yet to use this trope myself, although I have one planned for a prequel to Dragon's Heart. It's certainly not a trope you want to treat lightly or throw it in for scare value, but like any storytelling device, when done right, it can enhance the story and give it a timeless effect. Or, as is the case here, make people really squeamish.

Ever used The Giant Spider? Would you ever dream of using it? Are you afraid of spiders? What are you going as for Halloween?

I'm David, and "Heeeeellllllp mmmmeeeeeee!"

This movie still gives me nightmares ...

Monday, October 8, 2012

Post: Apology, The Next Big Thing, And Members!


Hey, guys! So I have a confession to make. I made a serious blunder. I told you Friday that Ellie was hosting a guest post. While this is true, the post won't show until December 5th (not October 5th - silly goose). So I apologize for leading everyone on and making you check back over the weekend. Seriously, I'm red in the face as I'm typing these words. I'll be sure to pay better attention to my emails in the future. You guys forgive me, right? *cricket, cricket* Right?

*     *     *

The awesome Ilima Todd tagged me with The Next Big Thing, an interview meme that explores our current WiPs. I did one of these not too long ago, but now this is a great excuse to tell you guys a little about this zombie novel I'm working on. Here we go!
1-What is the title of your book?
The Undead Road

2-Where did the idea come from for the book?
Pretty much everything Zombie I’ve ever read/played/watched while growing up (imagine Walking Dead, Resident Evil, and Zombieland with kids). The main character is a caricature of my 14-year-old self, so I’m using a lot of alternative personal experiences in this one. 
3-What genre does your book fall under?
Upper MG science fiction/zombie
4-Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
I’m not far enough along to know who I'd pick yet ...

5-What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
To find and save their parents from a Zombified Kansas City, Jeremy and his little sister must rely on an infected girl who might turn on them at any moment.
6-Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I have no agent at this point yet, so I have no idea – someone from a small press has expressed interest, however. I may start there.
7-How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
I’m still drafting it – about a month in with 16,000 words down.
But here’s the first bit of it:
When Dad handed me his .45 for the first time, I didn’t know I’d use it ten minutes later.

Her name was Cassidy Mill. With big brown eyes, long brown hair and freckle-free skin, she was the most popular girl in Sands West Middle School. Throwing all the guys into a jealous frenzy wasn’t hard for her, the way she clung to new boyfriends like fashion accessories. I was never one of them. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think to ask her out once or twice, but we never talked. She never even looked at me. When she finally did, Cassidy ran for me—but not in that way. 

Red eyes, torn hair, rotted skin ... not my idea of a hot date. 

8-What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?


Hunger Games readers might like it. I’m sure fans of zombie-related material will be all over it, but the trick is I’m trying to appeal to non-fans of zombie stuff as well. It’s working among my CPs, so far.
9-Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I just wanted to do something fun and different that I could draft up quickly. Hopefully it will be finished before the new year.

10-What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
If the story works out the way I’m planning it, this will be unlike any zombie story out there. It might even transcend the genre as The Walking Dead did. The key difference is kids against a zombie-infested world without adult help. That, and they're using the side effects of the infection (through someone) to help them. Who will survive? Who will be zombiefied? You’ll have to wait and find out.

I pass this on to the last five people who commented on my blog (if you've done this, you don't have to do it again). And they are:

Ellie Garratt
Leigh Covington
Susan Gourley/Kelley
Newly Agented Robin!
The Golden Eagle 

*     *     *

Joining the Insecure Writer's Support Group has generated a lot of support (and I mean A LOT - holy cow). I really appreciated your encouragement and kind words in response to my first IWSG post. It was an unprecidented welcome. Because you're all awesome, this is your huge THANK YOU for joining the blog. Welcome to the Laire!

Karen Walker
Robyn Alana Engel
 Mama J
Farawayeyes
Linda King
Rachel Searles
Laura Brown
Shauna Kelley
Rena
Andy
Anne
and
Elaine Vickers

Thank you again for following and I appreciate your support. Just so you know, we hand out free virtual crullers here. Please, take one.

Also, if you would kindly go congratulate my awesome blogger bud Jessie Humphries for landing her dream agent, that would be stellar!

*     *     *

Update: Like most goals I set, I wasn't able to tack much onto Undead this week. Been busy with online/blogging business and gearing up for a new critique group. Now that I have a group again, the motivation factor for drafting new material should kick in any time now. Any time ... now. We're also a week away from the new season of The Walking Dead. That should get me fired up, too. So, yeah. New material this week, and possibly a few other surprises!

Be sure to click back for another week of unsaturated awesomeness. I'm also turning 30 this week. I guess that's a plus, right?

I'm David, and this is how Spider-Man should have ended ...

Friday, October 5, 2012

Aspiring Advice: ... Hey! Where Did My Post Go?


I think someone warped my advice column and put it on Ellie Garratt's blog today (you know, the awesome writer gal from the UK with a space helmet?). I'm sharing my thoughts on what makes great science fiction. Not good. Great. So if you're feeling adventurous, zip to her place and see what my answer is. You can get there through here, here, and here.

Thanks for having me over, Ellie!

*Update* Whoops! This post won't actually appear until December 5th. There was a huge miscommunication (on my part). I apologize for making you guys check back throughout the weekend. The lesson for this week? Double check your emails so you have the right date and won't do something embarrassing. My bad, guys. My bad.

I'm David, and we're landing for the weekend - have a good one!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The Healthy Writer's Club: The Office Workout!


Sup, guys!

So I joined Shallee's new, exclusive, and incredibly easy to join club as a means to help writers remember that maintaining our physical health is super important. This couldn't have come at a better time. I've been shaking my head while on the scale, as of late, so kudos to Shallee for being inspired enough to know what some of us need to do. So this is a weekly thing, for Fridays, but I'm not posting on Fridays. Or every week. I'm a rebel like that.

But I will post if I've found something helpful that's worth sharing.

The kicker with me is that I'm a 10/4 guy. You know, ten hours a day, four days a week. Up by Six, bed by ten (for that all-important eight hours of sleep). Coupled with young children and other responibilites (such as writing and movie watching), it's tough finding ways to have a consistant workout (swimming is my first choice - great for cardio, easy on the knees). So what's an out-of-shape guy to do?

I found this amazing article from The Art of Manliness (these guys speak my language): The Desk Jockey Workout: 8 Ways to Stay in Shape at the Office. I've applied and changed a few things, but I'm amazed how well this is working. Even brought in a set of ten-pound weights. So there you have it. A little workout throughout the day boosts energy far better than those red drinks with a bull on the can.

If you work in an office, it might be worth your while to give these tips a shot. I did and I'm glad for it. I hope the scale agrees.

So, clubbies - what have you been doing to stay healthy? Any new tips this week? What's your preferred method of exercise?

I'm David, and you don't want to see me run ... trust me ...


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Am I Good Enough?


 

It's been a long time coming, but I've wanted to be a part of Alex's monthly support group for a while. Not to vent or rant, per say, but to admit, in spite of the enthusiasm and positivity I love to surround myself with and perpetuate, I shouldn't be afraid to let my insecurities out once in a while. This is a great excuse to let the chips fall.

Is my writing really good enough?

This is likely a most unoriginal question, but that's what I've asked myself in the last month. After shopping a novel for over a year, the longest attempt I've made yet, I've finally grasped the meaning of subjectivity. Rejections are part of the business and a "no thanks" letter doesn't phase me anymore - it's the on-going ones that do.

I once asked an agent if having a coauthor makes a difference in trying to rep a book verses one author. The answer: "It doesn't matter. It's all about the writing." I assume she means good writing. I totally get that and agree with that. Thing is, I've had a wonderful chance to share this novel with lots of people, more than any of my previous attempts, mostly from strangers who read home-printed copies from my family and close friends. Some have emailed me. One reader said her only complaint was that she couldn't "go to Walmart and buy the next one." Reader support has been breathtaking. I thank each and every one of you. This is why I want to write.

When it comes to publishing this book ... that's another matter. I've yet to spark this mysterious enthusiasm that my readers have with those who are in a position to champion it, make it better than I know how and take it to the next level. Some have been helpful in their rejections. Most have been silent. The problem is, I know my writing is good enough, at least on par with debut novels in the last year. Is my writing good enough? One can't help but ask this question.

What about self publishing? - believe me, it's sounding better and better each day, but that will be our endgame. I know this story is great. There is no doubting that, and my coauthor and I feel this story deserves a chance with the best people as possible. Self publishing could happen if we run out of doors to knock on.

I already know the answer. Yes. It is good enough. It might be better than I think it is. The ongoing support I receive is proof of that, and I'm not going to tarnish that support by whining and complaining. I own these rejections. I have more stories than I could tell in a lifetime and I know one of them will ignite that spark, so I will keep at it.

Thanks for enduring my spiel - it feels good letting that out.

I'm David, and I should've joined this group sooner!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: The Spit Take

  
Mark enjoys an evening with his girlfriend, eating burgers and fries at their favorite diner. They share a laugh. Mark bites into his double- meat and cheese. Just then, Lisa's mood goes somber before she announces, "I'm pregnant." Mark's reaction isn't a glamorous one ...

The Spit Take - a surprise reaction to shocking news or another cause while in the process of chewing food or drinking a beverage, which usually results in the character spewing the contents from their mouth.

This is not to be confused with The Double Take which, to my surprise, is a different trope altogether. For the most part, we see The Spit Take as a comical gag, portrayed as projectile spitting (which is somewhat of a cliché), but there are a few ways to implement this without being silly or overtly cartoony.

A character might be eating something really gross, but by the time their taste buds tell them otherwise, it might already be too late.

Better check the date on that milk, John ...

A character may also be distracted, enough that they forget they have something in their mouth when they try to flash a smile.

Smooth, Harry ...

People can do a Spit Take for any number of reasons, maybe from bursting out laughing or because a little juice went down the wrong tube, but the trick is using it in a fresh way so the audience doesn't see it coming. Those are the more effective takes. And if you've ever had milk (or some other beverage) go up your nose, that counts.

Have you used The Spit Take in your writing? What memorable spitting moments do you recall? Anyone up for a snowcone?

I'm David, and curse your tiny paper hat!


Monday, October 1, 2012

Non-Post: It's October - Awesome! Taking The Day Off


Hello, Cosmic Fellows!

Here's the deal. I had such a fantastic weekend with my parents (celebrating my dad's 70th birthday) that I never had the chance to put a real post together. So this isn't a real post. It's a non-post. No updates. No new follower links. No amusing anecdotes - but don't you worry! This place will be back to its awesome self tomorrow.

Until then, check out this awesome ARC giveaway. Laters!

I'm David, and these are the coolest people I know!

Happy Birthday, Dad!