The family member's incapacitation is looking to be a long-term affair, but things are beginning to settle down to a slightly less disruptive level, and I hope to put in some more words into the stories I'm working on.
Still, I've managed to push all three Battlecorps stories to the 6,000 word mark, and push African Firestorm outline a few hundred words closer to the finish line. With the first OUTCAST Ops novel, Game of Drones, out and doing well, that mean I have to work harder at getting it finished and bounced back to Rick for his workover.
For those who still think the TPBs are the only way to go, I suggest you take a look at this: http://authorearnings.com/the-tenured-vs-debut-author-report/ It's a sobering look at the current state of the industry and how it's changing.
For those who missed it, there's a confrontation between Amazon and Hachette, resulting in both sides digging in and no books from Hachette being sold on Amazon. Here, JA Konrath takes apart the arguments that both Scott Turow and James Patterson make in support of Hachette. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2014/05/turow-patterson-plateful-of-fail-with.html Warning, Mr. Konrath doesn't pull his punches and I'm fairly sure he'd wearing steel-toed boots.
All I can say is before signing anything from a publisher or agent, THINK. Then think about it some more. You may be better off publishing it yourself.....
And again, Game of Drones is out and here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/O-U-T-C-S-T-Ops-Game-Drones-ebook/dp/B00KH11U4M/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1400686346&sr=1-2&keywords=game+of+drones
Later!
Craig
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Monday, May 26, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Updating Again and a Few More Writing Blogs to Visit
Sorry, I missed Thursday, but Catalyst, with the Valiant RPG core book, just keeps give me new stuff to work on (and that is a GOOD thing!). Been doing heavy research on container ships, as I mentioned in my last post, and I need to go back and do some minor rewriting on African Firetorm. (basically, which helicopter crashes where.) On the Battletech front, all three stories are still going strong. So, I'm still writing, and I'm still blogging on this and my other blog twice a week each.
Looking over the major writing blogs I regularly visit, I see Dean Wesley Smith has blogged another post on Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, located at: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=12659. If you have not read this series, do so. There's plenty of stuff to learn from someone who knows the publishing industries like few people do.
Here's a few more websites with a writing viewpoint:
Michael A. Stackpole http://www.stormwolf.com/ has become active again after no real blog posts for several months. He's written for Battletech, Star Wars, and has several novel series of his own.
J.A. Konrath http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ is a writer who has raced down the Independent publish path and shown the way for may newbies. He also doesn't pull any punches about this new world of publishing,
Jennifer Brozek http://www.jenniferbrozek.com/blog/ has written for Battlecorps and has her fingers in several pies. Between her and Dean above, you can get a good idea of what goes into a writer's day.
Daily Writing Tips http://www.dailywritingtips.com/ Not a Author's blog per say, but a great place to go get times on grammar and word usage.
That's all for now, back to work!
Craig
Looking over the major writing blogs I regularly visit, I see Dean Wesley Smith has blogged another post on Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, located at: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=12659. If you have not read this series, do so. There's plenty of stuff to learn from someone who knows the publishing industries like few people do.
Here's a few more websites with a writing viewpoint:
Michael A. Stackpole http://www.stormwolf.com/ has become active again after no real blog posts for several months. He's written for Battletech, Star Wars, and has several novel series of his own.
J.A. Konrath http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ is a writer who has raced down the Independent publish path and shown the way for may newbies. He also doesn't pull any punches about this new world of publishing,
Jennifer Brozek http://www.jenniferbrozek.com/blog/ has written for Battlecorps and has her fingers in several pies. Between her and Dean above, you can get a good idea of what goes into a writer's day.
Daily Writing Tips http://www.dailywritingtips.com/ Not a Author's blog per say, but a great place to go get times on grammar and word usage.
That's all for now, back to work!
Craig
Monday, March 17, 2014
The CGL project has been announced and the Rest of Merlin's Legacy, Chapter 4
Well, the project I'm working on for Catalyst Game Labs has been announced:
http://www.catalystgamelabs.com/2014/03/17/valiant-catalyst-partner-for-comic-book-based-tabletop-games/
So, I need to find out as much as I can about the one title I'm responsible for. The problem is I have only the current series to draw from (the previous series can't be considered, as there are major differences between the two series, even though they're about the same characters.) The current series is short, and the latest I can't draw from for several reasons. The fun of being a writer....
Anyhow, the least I can do is leave you something to read, so here's the rest of Chapter 4 of Merlin's Legacy:
Donella’s car was a six-year old Honda that still looked in good shape. As she drove me out to the graveyard, she told me a little bit about herself. Both her parents were dead, and her Aunt Abby, her father’s older sister, had taken the young girl into his care and taken a desk job to give her niece some stability. Once Donella had graduated from high school, Abby retired from the FBI and moved to Pilgrim’s Cove. Instead of going to college, Donella had chosen to come with Abby,”to help settle her in.” That had been three years ago.
“What happened?” I asked. “Why did you stay?”
“Aunt Abby’s the only family I have left,” she replied.
“How did you end up at Camelot?”
“The owner of the house we were renting wanted to sell it. Aunt Abby made an offer, buit the owner didn’t want to sell it at that price. Then Carlton Brackett bought the house and gave us thirty days to get out.”
“Damien’s Dad?”
Donella nodded. “Aunt Abby was mad and went down to the bank to give Carlton a piece of her mind. She ran into Lucian, told him the story and he offered her one of the houses on the estate. We’ve been there two years. But enough about me. What about you?”
I gave her the same Cliff Notes of my life I’d given the Sheriff the night before, and added a few details I’d left out. My parents were retired, my older sister worked for the Department of Defense, while my younger brother was a sophomore at the U of MD. She listened to me talk about the few times I met Lucian. “He was the last of four children,” I said. “Grandpa, Great-Aunt Evelyn, Great-Uncle David, and Great-Uncle Lucian. Between them, they had twelve children and twenty-two grandchildren. Now, they’re all gone.” I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. “All we have left now are memories. And I have so few of Uncle Lucian.”
I felt a hand on mine, I opened my eyes and looked at Donella, who gave me a soft smile before looked back at the road. “I miss him too,” she said.
Three minutes later, we reached the cemetery and drove through the gates. Dorsey was near the gate. Donella slowed the car and rolled down the window. The older man smiled when he saw who it was. “Afternoon, Miss Donella,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
Donella motioned to me. “Just here to drop Roger off to get his car.”
“Ah,” Dorsey said, tipping his cap and leaning down to see me. “And how are you sir?”
“I’m fine,” I replied. “I gave more than I received.”
“Aye, that you did,” he said. He looked at Donella. I was driving up after I called the cops, and I got to the top there,” he motioned to the top of the hill, “When bam! All four toughs go flying like twigs in a high wind. Then they got into the van and drove off.”
“Did you see anything else?” I asked. “Something you didn’t tell the sheriff?”
Dorsey took off his hat and scratched his head. “Funny you ask that sir,” he said. “I could have swore there was a fifth person there. I didn’t see their face, on account they were facing away from me, but the were wearing a long black cloak.” He inhaled slowly. “But it could have been a freak shadow, because by the time I got close, it had vanished.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said.
“We’ll be out of here in a few minutes,” Donella said. “I’ll see you later, Dorsey.”
“You too, Miss Donella.”
Donella rolled up the window and drove away. As she made the turn to head up the hill, Donella asked, “What was that about?”
“What?” I replied.
“Asking Dorsey if he’s seen anything he didn’t tell the sheriff.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s had to explain,” I said. “And I don’t want to say anything until I have more evidence to convince me what I thought happened, did.”
“You’re not sure what happened?”
“I’m sure what happened, but it doesn’t make any rational sense. Until I can make sense out of it, I’m not saying anything.”
Donella shrugged. “All right, but if the sheriff finds out you didn’t tell him everything, he’s going to be mad.”
“If I told him what happened without proof, he’d be even madder, and I would be branded as a crank.”
Donella rolled to a stop behind my car. “All right,” she said. “We’re here.”
“Could you come with me for a moment?” I asked, unbuckling my seatbelt.
Donella narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I want to try something.”
She sighed and put her car into park. “All right,” she said. “Let’s get this over with.”
We walked toward Lucian’s tomb. I noticed the burnt rubber on the road from the van’s sudden stop and start. I looked around, but saw no traces of the fight, beyond some torn-up grass.
“I haven’t been here since Lucian’s funeral,” Donella said.
“I didn’t get the letter notifying me of Lucian’s death until last week, several days after the funeral,” I said. “Charlie Windicott said he had a break in and his files were messed up which delayed the letter by several days.”
“I see.”
We reached the tomb. It looked untouched. I went up and placed my hand on one of the stones that had been used to fill in the doorway. I felt the power under my fingertips. “Could you come here for a second?”
Donella walked over. “What?”
“Could you put you hand on the stone?”
Sighing in resignation, she put her hand on the stone and gave me a “Why are we doing this?” look. After a few seconds, her expression changed to puzzlement and she pulled her hand away from the stone. She put her hand on the stone again. “I feel something,” she said.
I nodded and took my hand off the stone. “Like a generator?”
“Yes.” she frowned. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”
I glanced at my watch. “We’d better get going.”
The removed her hand from the stone. “Yes,” she said, looking at the tomb. "Come on, you can follow me.”
http://www.catalystgamelabs.com/2014/03/17/valiant-catalyst-partner-for-comic-book-based-tabletop-games/
So, I need to find out as much as I can about the one title I'm responsible for. The problem is I have only the current series to draw from (the previous series can't be considered, as there are major differences between the two series, even though they're about the same characters.) The current series is short, and the latest I can't draw from for several reasons. The fun of being a writer....
Anyhow, the least I can do is leave you something to read, so here's the rest of Chapter 4 of Merlin's Legacy:
***
Donella’s car was a six-year old Honda that still looked in good shape. As she drove me out to the graveyard, she told me a little bit about herself. Both her parents were dead, and her Aunt Abby, her father’s older sister, had taken the young girl into his care and taken a desk job to give her niece some stability. Once Donella had graduated from high school, Abby retired from the FBI and moved to Pilgrim’s Cove. Instead of going to college, Donella had chosen to come with Abby,”to help settle her in.” That had been three years ago.
“What happened?” I asked. “Why did you stay?”
“Aunt Abby’s the only family I have left,” she replied.
“How did you end up at Camelot?”
“The owner of the house we were renting wanted to sell it. Aunt Abby made an offer, buit the owner didn’t want to sell it at that price. Then Carlton Brackett bought the house and gave us thirty days to get out.”
“Damien’s Dad?”
Donella nodded. “Aunt Abby was mad and went down to the bank to give Carlton a piece of her mind. She ran into Lucian, told him the story and he offered her one of the houses on the estate. We’ve been there two years. But enough about me. What about you?”
I gave her the same Cliff Notes of my life I’d given the Sheriff the night before, and added a few details I’d left out. My parents were retired, my older sister worked for the Department of Defense, while my younger brother was a sophomore at the U of MD. She listened to me talk about the few times I met Lucian. “He was the last of four children,” I said. “Grandpa, Great-Aunt Evelyn, Great-Uncle David, and Great-Uncle Lucian. Between them, they had twelve children and twenty-two grandchildren. Now, they’re all gone.” I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. “All we have left now are memories. And I have so few of Uncle Lucian.”
I felt a hand on mine, I opened my eyes and looked at Donella, who gave me a soft smile before looked back at the road. “I miss him too,” she said.
Three minutes later, we reached the cemetery and drove through the gates. Dorsey was near the gate. Donella slowed the car and rolled down the window. The older man smiled when he saw who it was. “Afternoon, Miss Donella,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
Donella motioned to me. “Just here to drop Roger off to get his car.”
“Ah,” Dorsey said, tipping his cap and leaning down to see me. “And how are you sir?”
“I’m fine,” I replied. “I gave more than I received.”
“Aye, that you did,” he said. He looked at Donella. I was driving up after I called the cops, and I got to the top there,” he motioned to the top of the hill, “When bam! All four toughs go flying like twigs in a high wind. Then they got into the van and drove off.”
“Did you see anything else?” I asked. “Something you didn’t tell the sheriff?”
Dorsey took off his hat and scratched his head. “Funny you ask that sir,” he said. “I could have swore there was a fifth person there. I didn’t see their face, on account they were facing away from me, but the were wearing a long black cloak.” He inhaled slowly. “But it could have been a freak shadow, because by the time I got close, it had vanished.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said.
“We’ll be out of here in a few minutes,” Donella said. “I’ll see you later, Dorsey.”
“You too, Miss Donella.”
Donella rolled up the window and drove away. As she made the turn to head up the hill, Donella asked, “What was that about?”
“What?” I replied.
“Asking Dorsey if he’s seen anything he didn’t tell the sheriff.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s had to explain,” I said. “And I don’t want to say anything until I have more evidence to convince me what I thought happened, did.”
“You’re not sure what happened?”
“I’m sure what happened, but it doesn’t make any rational sense. Until I can make sense out of it, I’m not saying anything.”
Donella shrugged. “All right, but if the sheriff finds out you didn’t tell him everything, he’s going to be mad.”
“If I told him what happened without proof, he’d be even madder, and I would be branded as a crank.”
Donella rolled to a stop behind my car. “All right,” she said. “We’re here.”
“Could you come with me for a moment?” I asked, unbuckling my seatbelt.
Donella narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I want to try something.”
She sighed and put her car into park. “All right,” she said. “Let’s get this over with.”
We walked toward Lucian’s tomb. I noticed the burnt rubber on the road from the van’s sudden stop and start. I looked around, but saw no traces of the fight, beyond some torn-up grass.
“I haven’t been here since Lucian’s funeral,” Donella said.
“I didn’t get the letter notifying me of Lucian’s death until last week, several days after the funeral,” I said. “Charlie Windicott said he had a break in and his files were messed up which delayed the letter by several days.”
“I see.”
We reached the tomb. It looked untouched. I went up and placed my hand on one of the stones that had been used to fill in the doorway. I felt the power under my fingertips. “Could you come here for a second?”
Donella walked over. “What?”
“Could you put you hand on the stone?”
Sighing in resignation, she put her hand on the stone and gave me a “Why are we doing this?” look. After a few seconds, her expression changed to puzzlement and she pulled her hand away from the stone. She put her hand on the stone again. “I feel something,” she said.
I nodded and took my hand off the stone. “Like a generator?”
“Yes.” she frowned. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”
I glanced at my watch. “We’d better get going.”
The removed her hand from the stone. “Yes,” she said, looking at the tomb. "Come on, you can follow me.”
***
That's all for now -- Let's see what I can get done by Thursday!
Craig
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Useful websites for writers (January).
As I said in my last two posts, I'm a packrat. But I do have a few places I visit on a regular basis, to check out what other people are saying. I will be sharing these sites on a regular basis (I hope!).
I am more drawn toward self publishing, as today's technology is making it easier for anyone with a story to publish it. Most of the websites I find and follow are self-publishing (Or independent authors is a term that is gaining ground among the people involved.)
I recommend the following four websites for the business end of writing right off the bat. I find these people's advice worth considering, and mostly are reachable, usually through the blog's comments section. They are (in no particular order):
Kristine Kathryn Rusch (http://kriswrites.com/) – Author/editor/publisher. She knows the business like few others and every Thursday, her blog, “The Business Rusch,” covers topics in the publishing business that are extensive and well written. I recommend her posts on publishing contracts, agents (and why you must think very carefully about employing one) and the ways the pushing business is handling the sudden changes (Hint: not very well) as must reads. She looks mostly at the business end of writing, and how today’s author can take advantage of it.
Dean Wesley Smith (http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/) – Kristine’s husband and an author in his own right. I recommend both the “Think like a Publisher” and “Killing the Scared Cows of Publishing” series. As a bonus, he's blogging every day about his daily activities and about the amount of writing he’s doing, as an exercise to prove you don’t have to write eight hours a day to make progress.
Joel Friedlander (http://www.thebookdesigner.com/) — Writing is only half the job. Joel’s website helps with the other half — most on promotion, formatting and book covers. Every month, he has a self-publishing book cover competition where author send in the cover of their book, and Joel comments on the best and worse of the entries. and every weekend, he has a list of links to blog posts his readers find interesting, and a mega list at the end of each month. Highly educational.
Joana Penn (http://www.thecreativepenn.com/) In addition to her highly informative blog, Joanna has a regular podcast, in which her and a guest will discuss some aspect of the writing life and profession. I have a couple of dozen of her podcasts on my computer (She has over a hundred and fifty of them!) and listen to them when I can.
There are other sites, and I will post a few more at a later time. I am learning things at an incredible rate, and it's hard to keep up with them all. But I will try....
Craig
I am more drawn toward self publishing, as today's technology is making it easier for anyone with a story to publish it. Most of the websites I find and follow are self-publishing (Or independent authors is a term that is gaining ground among the people involved.)
I recommend the following four websites for the business end of writing right off the bat. I find these people's advice worth considering, and mostly are reachable, usually through the blog's comments section. They are (in no particular order):
Kristine Kathryn Rusch (http://kriswrites.com/) – Author/editor/publisher. She knows the business like few others and every Thursday, her blog, “The Business Rusch,” covers topics in the publishing business that are extensive and well written. I recommend her posts on publishing contracts, agents (and why you must think very carefully about employing one) and the ways the pushing business is handling the sudden changes (Hint: not very well) as must reads. She looks mostly at the business end of writing, and how today’s author can take advantage of it.
Dean Wesley Smith (http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/) – Kristine’s husband and an author in his own right. I recommend both the “Think like a Publisher” and “Killing the Scared Cows of Publishing” series. As a bonus, he's blogging every day about his daily activities and about the amount of writing he’s doing, as an exercise to prove you don’t have to write eight hours a day to make progress.
Joel Friedlander (http://www.thebookdesigner.com/) — Writing is only half the job. Joel’s website helps with the other half — most on promotion, formatting and book covers. Every month, he has a self-publishing book cover competition where author send in the cover of their book, and Joel comments on the best and worse of the entries. and every weekend, he has a list of links to blog posts his readers find interesting, and a mega list at the end of each month. Highly educational.
Joana Penn (http://www.thecreativepenn.com/) In addition to her highly informative blog, Joanna has a regular podcast, in which her and a guest will discuss some aspect of the writing life and profession. I have a couple of dozen of her podcasts on my computer (She has over a hundred and fifty of them!) and listen to them when I can.
There are other sites, and I will post a few more at a later time. I am learning things at an incredible rate, and it's hard to keep up with them all. But I will try....
Craig
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