OK – not hitting the ground running like my other posts. I’ve got a bit of a headache and I have also gone on a bit of a trivia bender, I’m afraid. I saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Saturday and I finally got around to reading the trivia heading under its IMDB page. Yes, I am a trivia addict – especially movie trivia. When I tell myself that I don’t have a problem and I can quit whenever I want… I don’t believe myself and think I should get help. I then go to another movie and tell myself that quitting is for suckers. Other than that, the world is fine.

The novel continues along in uncharted territory. When I write something in my head, I tend to work on certain scenes and when I start slapping words on the page as it were, most of what I do is really write connecting scenes to the big scenes in my head. Sometimes, they’re just honest connecting scenes: the characters walk down a trail, discussing something that’s happening and revealing a little bit about themselves or the situation. Sometimes the connecting scenes become big scenes on their own and we learn a lot more about the characters than anticipated or even develop the plot in a slightly different direction than anticipated. Like the current scene I am hammering out on the laptop (after I am done here, of course). I think this is what’s called ‘discovery writing’. Once again – my lack of any formal education shines through.

There is quite a bit going on elsewhere. The Tour de France continues on and I am staying updated on the Internet when I get the chance. Lance Armstrong is getting his yearly lawsuit from the governing body of bicycling. Honestly – let the guy go. He’s underdone drug tests galore and cancer for pity’s sake. He won the Tour seven
times. Get over it. It’s funny that doping allegations came up also when Eddie Merckx was about to claim the 5 Tour title and break a Frenchman’s record.

All right – aspirin break.

Yeah, this day is turning out to be a bit slower starting than the last few days, but I will carry on in order to at least maintain the momentum I’ve got. I’m up and somewhat dressed, so I should try to make the most of it. If I don’t, then I’ve made the dogs next door bark at me for nothing. If anything, I should do this for the dogs… until I can train them not to bark at me when I sit down in the study.

One more ‘writer’ thing: I don’t know if I am the only one who does this, but when I am working on a character, I try to find on song that would work as a ‘theme song’. It doesn’t have to be instrumental, but if someone were to hear it, they would get a better understanding for that particular character. For Anya’s theme, I will have to thank the History Channel for the one time they showed something historical. For all their promotions for the movie The Hatfields and the McCoys, they used a song from a band called ‘The Silent Comedy’. The song is called “Bartholomew” and I wish I could embed it in this posting. The best I can do if put the lyrics here and tell you to look them up on YouTube.

Oh my God

Please help me

Knee deep in the river

Tryin’ to get clean.

He says “Wash your hands

Get out the stains

But you best believe

Boy there’s hell to pay.”

Yeah you best believe

Boy there’s hell to pay sayin’

Oh, my God

Please help me

Waist deep in the river

Can you hear my plea?

He says “Son, you come

Like a beggar in the streets

You might make it boy

But by the skin of your teeth”

You might make it boy

But by the skin of your teeth sayin’

I rambled with the worst of them,

Fell in love with the harlequin

Saw the darkest hearts of men

And I saw myself starin’ back again

And I saw myself starin’ back again

Oh my God

Please help me

Neck deep in the river

Screamin’ for relief.

He says “It’s mine to give

But it’s yours to choose

You gonna sink or swim

You gonna learn the truth”

No matter what you do you gonna learn the truth sayin’

Ate the bread that once was stone

Fell from a cliff never broke a bone

Bowed down to get the kings over thrown

Now I’m all alone

And the fire’s grown

Now I’m all alone

And the fire’s grown

Sing sweet charity

Take what’s left of me

A new beginning or is this the end

Sing sweet seraphim

Take me back again

Or watch me make the messes of men

Well, that’s it for now. I should actually try to get some work done.

Have a good day, y’all.

Sincerely,

Seething with Apathy

As much as I like the idea of getting more work done on the novel, there is a downside for this particular lifestyle. If I want to watch TV, I have to sacrifice an hour (or however long) of sleep. The only reason I watched anything last night was my DVR has a particular bug in it – sometimes it doesn’t shut off recording, so an hour long TV show will take up 11 hours of space (!!!). Thankfully, I’ve been a lot better about recording and watching stuff (it’s called Saturday), but my favorite sports event is coming in a couple of weeks and I want to have enough room to record most of it. If I am still at my job when the Winter Olympics come around, I think I might just take those two weeks off and watch the coverage from sun up to sun down.

Anyways, the novel continues on at a pace that I find pleasantly startling and I am already thinking sequel. Hopefully, I will be able to tell which character will be the better received of the pair. I know which one I like, since I’ve played her in a few games (see, Sharon – games can be useful). Anyways, I also like the direction of the novel is taking now. It is fun when the characters take me in a direction I didn’t anticipate and I get to play chronicler. If everything goes along as it is going now, I should have the novel finished in a couple of months and edited within an inch of its life quickly thereafter. Once it’s off to be edited, I am going to work on another project: I/O
Error and get that finished up. I’m hoping to get to a pace where I finish a work every three months.

Speaking of whooshing deadlines: Every 14^th blog, I do a Shout-Out – letting all my blog readers know about someone, something or some website that has been entertaining or helpful to me – and to answer your next question, I picked 14 out of a hat, just like how I make all my important decisions, thank you. Today, I am giving a second Shout-Out for Lisa Townsend, who is not only a good friend of mine, but is also a brilliant writer and has agreed to edit a novel of mine. I am extremely thankful for this, given that I am rather private about this particular work (being written under a pen name and all) and I want it to be the best it can be – first finished novel and all that. As I mentioned earlier, she is a published author and a fine one at that. I look forward to working with and reading her works in the future. So – go look her up and get one of her books. Well worth the price of admission.

Well – now that I am warmed up, time to put in the work.

I hope y’all have a good day.

Sincerely,

Seething With Apathy

By all accounts, there are going to be some people not able to log into the Internet today because of malware that they were notified about several months ago. Personally, I am crossing my fingers in hopes that work has been struck by it. Of course, by virtue of my schedule any computer issues that plague the company will be taken care of before I come in… except the one that seems to keep me from effectively doing my job. I’m afraid I might have to get upset and write a tersely worded e-mail. Continuing to speak of work – I am done with overtime. I know that I say this every time I take it, but seriously, I am finished with the notion of spending more time there than I absolutely have to on a daily basis. While, yes this will be a larger than average paycheck, and I am funneling a majority of it to hire an artist to do the cover work for the novel (Thank you, Lisa!), but I am also going to get some stuff that I’ve been looking forward to get into my hot little hands for a while. One of them is pre-ordering Halo 4. Great thing about this game is the release day is the week after my birthday… and I got the release day and the day before off as well. A nice week and half away from work, and I get to spend a majority of it shooting at virtual enemies and cuddling with a bottle of absinthe (any suggestions?).

Now, off to the notes about the novel thus far. A word of advice to any beginning writers out there (much like me) – listen to the characters. I’ve had to revise the backstory of one of the main characters (Anya for the one person here who’s read a little bit of it) and it’s a little better for it. I’m a little over half way there and I am hoping to get this done by the beginning of fall so I can get started on another book (a sci-fi/horror story I’ve set aside for the time being). My goal to become a self-sustaining writer and my main tactic is going to be based on an old Stalin quote: “Quantity has a quality of its own.” Yeah – I’m going to make it so that you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a book of mine on Kindle, Smashwords and any other e-books providers. Don’t get me wrong, I am going to put forth my best efforts in all of my work (well, my writing work – my day job will be typified by the phrase ‘bare minimum’) because I have heard all the gripes about e-books and I am going to put forth every effort to avoid them.

Oh – my current e-book 4 Bits and a Dollar got its first 5 star review! Completely unsolicited! I am hoping that this will get some more sales and finally get a royalty check. When I get that wonderful check, I am going to buy lunch for myself. You will get to see that lunch here on this blog. Well, the warm up is over – time to get working.

Sincerely

Seething Apathy

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope everyone stays safe during this holiday season. I’m fairly certain in your neck of the woods, the temperature has hit the triple digit mark (if not, I envy you) and rain is something you do with dollar bills. Please be careful with the fireworks, have a well-cooked hamburger for me and have fun. I still have to go into work, but I am anticipating a slow day like most holidays. However, the holiday pay will more than make up for the boredom I am going to have to suffer through.

Well, I promised you a review of the movie “Prometheus” (now that I finally remember it). OK – if you thought about seeing it because it was touted as a prequel to “Alien”, then you will be in for a bit of a disappointment. As a direct prequel, it doesn’t really work and to me. The creature was a bigger horror when we didn’t know what the Xenomorph was. No doubt, Erich von Daniken is going to ride this new wave of popularity for a while with his “Chariot of the Gods” getting a modest tip of the hat from the movie. Now, if you go in with the idea that this is the pitch of a re-boot for the franchise, then this movie is good. The performances from the actors were what I would expect – with David Fassenbender being the best exception. His David has been the creepiest android in the franchise – which will no doubt serve as an oft-repeated cautionary tale. Overall, if you absolutely have to see this movie, I would wait until it is released at Red-Box to see it. So far, out of the summer films I have seen, “The Avengers” is the best by far. “The Dark Night Rises” is the next on my list. I might catch “The Amazing Spider-Man” over a weekend matinee, but I think it’s a little soon for a “re-boot”.

And that’s another thing that slightly rankles me: the idea of a re-boot. Movies aren’t computers. You don’t have to turn them off for thirty seconds to make them better (however in the case for some movies, thirty seconds isn’t long enough. ‘Spawn’ – I’m looking at you.). Why not call it what it is: the cash-grab. Yes, some movies are better after they’ve been re-done (Christopher Nolan’s Batman series comes to mind), but some of them don’t really hit the mark like they should. Spider-Man is an example of what’s wrong with it. I loved the first two Sam Raimi films (I’ll tell you what I would have done with the third in a later posting) and I am a Marvel fan ’til I die. I don’t think that a reboot is warranted as far as ‘we need to do something to re-charge the franchise!’ It was fine enough as it was. However, having said that – I can see why it would be needed if their intention was to get all the Marvel movies together in one universe as it were, like they are doing with ‘The Avengers’. That makes sense, since the original movies were done through Sony and can’t be ‘linked’ as it were. I can appreciate that, but ‘re-boot’? Really?

Well, I need to get back to the novel, so again – Happy Fourth of July, be careful and have fun.

Sincerely,

Seething With Apathy

To let everyone (or all two of you) know, as I had said earlier, I am going to use this blog as a warm up before breaking down and actually writing something for profit and/or fun. I still intend on doing that, but I am going to say that Thursday and Friday are not going to have entries. Before you start rioting, let me explain. After that, smash windows and steal stuff to your heart’s content – but I will have a list of items that I wouldn’t mind finding outside my front doorstep.

Thursday and Friday, I volunteered to work overtime in the vat for the morning shift before going back to the funk in the vicing evening. I did this because I needed the extra money to hire an editor (who got a shout out earlier) and put some money towards a cover artist (because as I have found out going through the convention last week – art really matters). Here’s the thing – another friend of mine volunteered to be my editor for free (she got a shout out as well, but she’s gonna get another one next time), so now I have more money to throw at an artist. So – thank you, marvelous masked editor. You have no idea what you’re getting into.

Now Thursday and Friday I am going to be fried on 4 and 5 hours of sleep. Saturday is going to be a day of slight rest and seeing the Avengers in 3D. I’ve been putting it off for a while, and frankly, the current 3D experience hasn’t been very good to me. I saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D when someone was demonstrating a 3D TV to me. It looked 3D-like – thankfully, it wasn’t the red-blue 3D effect, but the polarized lenses 3D. Everything had depth, but it still looked flat. It looked like I was watching a very detailed and very fluidly moving diorama: here was Alice and a few inches away here are some roots and a foot away here is a branch. Not the best experience, but at least I could watch it without having to lift up the glasses to stave off a headache. While, yes – this is an excuse to see The Avengers again – I want to see if 3D is better in the theaters. I also saw Prometheus, and that is going to be the subject of my next entry now that I’ve had a couple of weeks to think about it.

Also – the Olympics are coming and the Tour de France is here… but with my new schedule, I had to make a choice as to what I am recording. While I like NBCSports coverage of the Tour… but every live telecast in the morning is 4 hours long. With my old work schedule, I could come home and watch the recording not worry about losing anything. Now? Not so much. I’m not going to have access to a TV anytime soon and I have limited space on my DVR (and plenty of series I need to finish watching: ‘Castle’, ‘Fringe’ and ‘The Mentalist’ among them). Watching it in the morning is out because I need to write. So, as far as sacrifices go, this one is small since I can follow it on the Internet at work.

Well, that’s all for now. Thanks to my new found editor for offering her services. Hopefully, editing my work won’t be too much of a mind-shattering experience.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

Good morning everyone. With my new schedule change, I am trying something different. I am going to write in the morning before I have to leave for work. If everything works out, you should see a lot more activity on this blog, as it is becoming my morning warm-up.

Above: The Breakfast of us creative types.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to go to the Fantasy and Horror Convention here in my home town. If you ever get the chance to see Colin Ferguson on a convention panel, drop any commitments you have for that day and buy a ticket. He is hilarious. I also got to see Sid Haig – a man that I would love to have a beer with and have him tell me tales from his 50+ years in the business. I also got to see the Fifth Doctor (Patrick Traughton) and Gareth David-Lloyd – both very charming and funny. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any pictures of them because my battery was running low. I also got to see another actor. You may have seen him in something:

Above: Mojito, anyone?

I got to sit in on “The Walking Dead”. It’s a pity if the rumors are true about T-Dog – I liked IronE and Jeffery DeMunn and wish they had more screen time:

Above: If you’re genre savvy – get a good look. That’s all I’m saying…

Above: He finally read the comics after his character’s death… he’s currently looking for a new agent.

I also got to walk the merchandising floor:

Above: Zombmassage: No ‘happy ending’… nope, not at all

Above: Ketchup makes everything tastes better.

Above: Scouting for possible production companies for the screenplay “Night of Life”. Hey – gotta start somewhere.

Walking into the book section of the convention (shocked me that there was a book section, honestly) gave me hope that I can eventually sell my own books… when they’re finished of course. The authors I talked with were kind, willing to talk to someone who asked some hopefully intelligent questions (no one rolled their eyes, so that was a good sign). With that in mind – I have a goal. By this time in 2013, I will have enough material and cash to go to a convention and sell my stuff under my own imprint. At the very least, it will get me more visibility in other markets. Just a reminder – I do have a book out there: Four Bits and a Dollar for the Kindle and the Nook. Only a $1.50 – a steal at any price, so run out and get your copy now before supplies run out!

Well, I had a jam-packed weekend and I am kinda looking forward to this new shift – except for Thursday and Friday when I’m going to work 13 hours, but I want the overtime to pay for the cover art and editing for the first finished book. Which one is that going to be? I really don’t know. My track record for sticking to a single project is… a little sparse.

Well, farewell Dear Reader. I am warmed up enough to set myself to work.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

When I was little, I would go the library with my mom – unlike kids my age, I didn’t run off to the age appropriate area.  I ran towards the paranormal section – ghosts (loved the pictures!), UFOs, and cryptozoology – and the books that were written for adults.  Yes, I was a precocious reader growing up.  I rarely left the library with less than 3 books and two of them were always paranormal books.  I also picked up some physics, chemistry and psychology books because I wanted to be a parapsychologist.  Of course, when I was also little, I knew that I had to do something that would bring in money and this was long before the current wave of ‘ghost investigators’ shows popped up.  If I knew then what I knew now (isn’t that the story of my life?), I would have tried harder, got into Duke University’s parapsychological program and then got my own show.  Oh, well – better luck next time.  Is till try to catch Coast to Coast AM when they have stuff that I find interesting, but frankly; after Art Bell stepped away from the show it went downhill.  At least he comes back during my birthday week with GIS for some EVP… which never fails to both interest and terrify me.

I am taking a break from writing the script for the contest this month just to get some ideas together for other projects.  I have to get this script finished, then either try to finish up “I/O Error” or “Spooksayer” and get them to my editor soon.  I also learned something that might make me re-work either or both novels structurally here.  I recommend it and the site highly.  I know I passed the due date for both novels, and I feel kinda oily about it. So, I look at the layout of the plan and say ‘hi’ to becoming a TV widow.  Lea might be upset about me saying ‘hi’ to neglecting the TV with the US baseball season here.  Which reminds me, I need to get some tickets for our local baseball team.  They have a remarkable stadium that I’ll have to take pictures of and post them here.

I have also managed to survive the week of work, one down and twenty-eight more to go.  I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.  Oh, speaking of crying – unless I want to walk to and from work, I need to get the oil changed in my car.  It is an unhealthy tint.  I wonder about the nova event in the Variety newspaper at times.  Which leads me to this question: how many versions of “Snow White” are we going to have to endure this year… and other than the spectre of ‘public domain’ – why are there so many?  My personal theory is that the ultimate symbolism of Snow White – that which is dead (or seems dead) is brought by to life by the magic of the Perfect One.  Give what’s been going on, I can certainly see the power of that myth.  However, it is ultimately a myth.  Let’s face it, kids.  No one is going to save you.  You’re going to have to save yourself.

Easter is tomorrow, so to all my friends I say Happy Easter, Happy Ostara and Happy Passover.

Sleep well.

Sincerely,

Seething With Apathy

… and try to type a blog with a tummy full of spaghetti.  When it comes to spaghetti, I’m like this perverse chipmunk.  I feel the need to eat more than I should just to make up for lost time.  Good think I didn’t have garlic bread, or I think I would have popped loud enough for the people in Lexington to hear it.

Well, work continues to be pain – the only thing that will lessen the sting is that I am going to have the weekend soon – a chance to get caught up on a couple of things I have put on the back burner for far too long.  Might even get back into finishing that Script Frenzy thing.  It’s different writing a script than writing prose.  In writing prose, I have to not only worry about conveying the scene and what happens as far as pushing forward the plot, but also choosing the right words to convey the emotional subtext.  With scripts, I just really have to get a handle of the words being spoken and describe what’s going on enough for the director to figure out what’s going on.  For me, it’s a different beast because I have to keep the flourish to a minimum.  It’s interesting, since I have to work on dialogue and that’s not (to me at least) my strong suite.

I got to drink some more absinthe yesterday – I really like the Gold 68 and when that’s gone, I think I might try some of the red absinthe – but those without the strong anise flavor.  I don’t mind licorice, but it’s not really the best thing in my drinks.  I tend to like my adult beverages on the sweeter side.  Absinthe (in my house) doesn’t get mixed with water and sugar, but with 7-Up which works well with the Gold 68 since it has a stronger citrus flavor to it.  Of course, absinthe is a sneaky drink.  You can drink a few cups and think nothing of it… then the next thing you know, you’re looking for your pants while telling your cat the rent’s due.

There’s that spider again.  He knows he owes me rent.  He’s avoiding direct eye-to-eye,eye,eye,eye,eye,eye,eye,eye contact.  I’m going to give him a week, then he hits the road.

OK – guilty pleasure time… there are a series of albums put out by Vitamin – they take metal bands and adapt their music for either violins or piano.  The song I am listening to now “The Trooper” and on the string quartet, it gets frantic and messy and I like it.  yeah – I’m also one of the few people who can claim the whole Apocalyptalica catalogue.  Sure, I like covers and instrumentals – it’s a different way of looking at things.  Give them a shot – Vitamin records.  I recommend Iron Maiden and Korn on the strings.  They have a nice and unhinged sound to them.

Well, I should get to bed, since I have to get up early for work, again… but I will be able to at least get some other work done when I get home.  Just lock myself in my study and write to my little heart’s content.

Good night to one and all.

Sincerely,

Seething With Apathy