michaeljasper.net
"Another Wrecked Web Site"
Dec. 31, 2001
2002 -- waxing...
Now Playing:
"Yield," Pearl Jam; "Reveal," REM
Today's Quote:
For close to ten seconds I felt my will being tested. I saw the Indians again, trying to surrender as the guns of the militia blazed. My own courage quailed as the sound buffeted my ears, and I knew I was not the courageous soldier I thought I was.
From later today:
Did it -- finished a draft of the story! I'm emailing it off and going to fix myself a fancy drink! Yeeha! 131,000 words written this year! Happy New Year to everyone!!!
From earlier today:
I'm over halfway done with "The Disillusionist." I'm not sure if I'll get it done today or not. I've got all my scenes sketched out and the history of the narrator pretty much all put together, now I just need to write the ending and do some major tweaking. I really like the different tricks I've put into the story, like the failed Indian rope trick and the too-obvious "Disappearing Doubloon" Feat. Fun stuff. I just need maybe 2-3 hours to make it all complete. I think I can do it, as soon as I run my errands for tonight's New Years Eve get-together (stop by the PO to return my Gandalf doll, pick up 4-5 kinds of liquor for our empty liquor cabinet, stop by Char-Grill for 2 bags of crushed ice for drinks!). I'll really be celebrating tonight if I can get it all done!
So I'm doing all my other misc. tasks so I have no choice but to work on it this afternoon. I've updated my author listing one final time (you may need to hit Refresh to see the changes if you've visited earlier), I'm getting this journal in order, and I even have my annual Year in Review page up, summarizing all my writing accomplishments in one convenient location. It's cool looking at that and comparing it to the previous year. Progress is always good (even if I did have to work like crazy to match -- and hopefuly beat -- last year's word output!).
And you know what? If I can do it, you can do it to (if you're a writer, that is). Actually, it applies to attempting to do anything that you truly love -- you've got to work hard at it to get better and better results. And if you aren't giving it your all, while still enjoying it at the same time, why ARE you doing it? Being creative's hard enough -- don't make it too much like work! ;)
Have a great, great New Year's celebration, kiss someone you love (or someone you like, or someone you think is cute, at least), celebrate all the happiness in life, and be wild but responsible at the same time. Happy New Year!
Dec. 30, 2001
2001 -- waning...
Now Playing:
"Murder," Johnny Cash
Today's Quote:
Nobody knew where he had come from, though there were rumors that during a lightning storm he pulled himself from Lake Michigan like a drowned corpse, too dead to realize he was no longer alive, seeking revenge on the living.
Hello. Started work on my next story, due tomorrow if I can find some time to work on it some more. I'm almost halfway there. It's a fun tale, with what I hope is a good surprise ending (I'm bad at endings, so we shall see). I want to send it off to an anthology whose deadline is tomorrow at midnight, so we'll see. If I don't get it done, I'll have to send it elsewhere.
It's getting a bit late, and I've once again gotten distracted from my story. I've put in close to 1,500 words today, taking me to within 500 words of matching last year's output! It's gonna go down to the wire on this one, folks! Hold on to your hats.
You know, I really don't know why I do these things to myself. Sometimes all my forced deadlines just seem a bit silly. But on the other hand, if I hadn't had some sort of deadline in place over my xmas break, I KNOW I wouldn't haven't gotten jack done. So, there you go. It works for me. Usually.
I'm starting to wind down -- Elizabeth and I ran around some more today, then performed a whirlwind cleaning job on our poor little house, which has been ignored and uncleaned for a long, long time. We put away all xmas stuff, organized the closets, straightened everything, and I swept and vacuumed, then walked the dog. Exciting, eh?
We're having friends over for New Year's tomorrow night, and wanted to get the place looking presentable. It should be fun -- we're watching the Tar Heels in the Peach Bowl, then either watching some DVDs or whatever party show's on TV while we peel and eat shrimp and other fun munchies and sip adult beverages until 2002 hits us.
In other news, I now have an author listing at Publishers Marketplace. I'm trying it out on a trial basis, hoping that some eager agent will be trolling Publishers Marketplace at the start of the year, and will see my smiling face and bio and just have to contact me about my books and proposals! What the heck. Should be interesting to see what happens. My listing at Author's Den sure hasn't done much for me, but then again, that one's free... This other one at PM is free for a week, then if I don't cancel it, it's $15 a month. Not bad, if it works.
Dec. 29, 2001
Never as quick as I'd like to think...
Now Playing:
"New Favorite," Alison Krauss & Union Station
Now Reading:
Beluthathatchie, Andy Duncan
Today's Quote:
As a warmup, he took the mayor's watch and smashed it with a hammer, not even covering it with a handkerchief. Pieces flew into the third row, and he never tried to undo his damage. He simply handed what was left over of the watch, springs and bits of metal and glass falling to the warped wooden floor, and looked at the audience as if to say, "What were you expecting? Magic?"
After running a bunch of errands this morning, then finally settling behind the computer around lunchtime, I finally, finally got a draft done of "A Ghetto Celebration." It never ceases to amaze me how long it takes to get a story done right. I think this one is close, as close as I can get it without sending it to someone for a look-see. Instead of waiting, though, I went ahead and sent it to an editor. Fools rush in and all that...
So I ended up spending a good chunk of my afternoon on that, tweaking and making everything fit nicely together. Actually, that's probably the most fun part of writing for me -- playing around with the text, discovering themes buried here and there, then tying everything together.
Stephen King, in his book on writing, claimed that that's what a first draft does -- it simply "uncovers" the story that's buried there on the blank screen. Sort of like digging up the fossilized remains of a dinosaur, one small inch at a time. A claw here, a tooth there, until all of a sudden it comes together. And hopefully it hasn't rotted too much or been damaged in the uncovering process... Have I stretched that metaphor to death or what?
I'm thinking more about the process of writing lately because I'll be teaching an intermediate writing class in about 2 weeks, if we have enough people sign up (it's at Wake Technical Community College, in Raleigh, NC). I'm a little nervous, just because I haven't taught or did any sort of public speaking for so long, but it'll be good for me. I can also decide if teaching is something I'd like to do full-time again. We shall see.
I'm looking forward to discussing all the different things I've learned over the years from all the excellent teachers I've had, from John Kessel to Angela Davis-Gardner to Tim Powers to AJ Budrys to Jim Kelly to Maureen McHugh to Greg Frost to Judy Tarr to Elizabeth Hand, to many others who've helped me over the years, including my writing buddies.
Teaching this class will be my way of "paying it forward" -- I can repay all my past teachers by striving to be as good for my students as they were for me. That's what I like so much about the SF/F/H community -- there's a strong sense of paying back and helping others. As opposed to some of the so-called "literary" types I've encountered, who seem to be more concerned with cutting the legs out from other writers instead of being supportive and constructive. That tends to bring out the worst in me, especially when things get competitive. I can be very competitive when I want to be.
I think teaching will be fun, especially critiquing. I miss doing that. Too bad I don't have a writing group 'round here anymore. That was pretty fun while it lasted. Later.
Dec. 28, 2001
One down, one to go... and the New Year draws closer...
Now Playing:
"Charlotte, NC," Pearl Jam; "America: A Tribute to Heroes," Various
Now Reading:
Living Together in Mythic Times, Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt
Today's Quote:
Dressed in a red suit fringed with mangy gray fur, Grex bounded up to him. His red hat fell onto his eyes as he shouted Toggle's name and launched into a hoarse rendition of the first Yule song Toggle had taught him. Toggle had to reach for a chair to keep from falling over.
Okay, I think I'm about done with this crazy story! I never would've guessed it would take me so long, but there you go -- you gots to put in the time to earns your dime. Or something like that.
In any case, it just needs one more run-through, then I plan on sending it out tomorrow or Monday. The story's title is "A Ghetto Celebration," and you can click the link there to read an excerpt. I feel pretty good about it. I like the ending, even if it doesn't really have the kind of twist some stories have. It just ends on a nice note, which is good enough for me.
I'm still compiling my data from the past year, and I must say, so far, I've had a pretty good year, despite my slump from mid-November until mid-December. I'm gonna try and make up for that by polishing off the Ghetto story and finishing "The Disillusionist" before year's end. I can do it. I'm getting my chops back, at long last.
Whew. For a while there I was starting to think I was becoming normal, and no longer interested in writing and all the madness that entails. Like sending out story after story, writing cover letters, emailing other writers, talking shop, reading, reading, reading, and other nifty tasks. But I can safely say, with relief, that I am still a Writer, and probably always will be, and I'll never be normal. Good thing, too. How boring would THAT be?
It's been a nice day of puttering on the computer. I updated some pages on my web site, got some exercise at the Y (where I read over the first 20 or so pages of the Ghetto Dwellers novel and was pretty happy with what I've got), and listened to my new CDs. Right now I'm listening to the tribute album for the people from the 9/11 disaster, and it's really good (now that I've programmed out the crappy stuff from Enrique and Mariah and yes, even Stevie W).
I also got an awesome chapbook from Tim Pratt and Heather Shaw, one of the coolest xmas presents I've ever gotten. Tim and Heather beat me to the punch with their story, which I cannot wait to read! Thanks so much, you two! Very, very cool. Like the candles my mom and sister-in-law painted for us for xmas, these kind of gifts are the best, because you can't get these things in ANY store. Maybe next year I'll get off my butt and get a story out in the mail BEFORE the holidays are over!?!
Have a great weekend, everyone! Later.
Dec. 27, 2001
A little of dis, a little of dat
Now Playing:
"New Favorite," Alison Kraus
Now Reading:
Beluthathatchie, Andy Duncan
Today's Quote:
Stabs of lightning and the howling of wild dogs had accompanied a vicious battle in a barren field. Standing over ten feet high, a creature made of equal parts shadow and swirling mud was fighting a thin, shirtless man waving a glowing sword. Rain and clods of black earth spun around both combatants in miniature cyclones of mud. Lightning flashed again, and then thunder rippled across the night sky.
Well, xmas has come and gone, just like that. Whew. It was a nice one, spending time with the fams, watching the kiddoes rip open their gifts and stuffing our faces with munchies and sucking down the eggnog and brewskis. Lovely.
I got some clothes, always needed, some CDs (including the amazing Alison Kraus and Union Station), some old books full of stories (very cool -- one of them says on the back "If you find this book, please slap its face and send it back!"), boxers, the "O Brother Where Art Thou" DVD, a tool chest (for Lizzie really, but we'll both use it), and a, um, Gandalf doll. I gave Elizabeth some grief for this one. She ordered me a 12" Gandalf from Amazon.com instead of the 6" Gandalf I had on my Wish List. An honest mistake, but still: one's a doll, and one's an "action figure." You tell me which one a grown man is gonna want to have... Oh well. We got lots of laughs out of that one. When we opened our tool chest, I was like "Cool, now I have a place to put all my dolls!" Nothing like laughing at yourself, right? A great xmas all around.
And today, after some farting around, I finally got back into the swing of my various writing projects. I blame it on getting back into a workout schedule, all thanks to Lizzie, as usual. I'd been skipping out of our morning workouts at the Y, sleeping in and being lazy, which carried over into my writing.
So I went to a weight class that kicked my butt, and when I got home I had all this ENERGY. Quite nice. I did some tweaking to the horror novel (see quote at left) and then mapped out some novel ideas for next year, including the SF novel The Wannoshay Cycle and the fantasy/SF novel The Ghetto Dwellers. I think those last 2 books will be my major projects for 2001. Yep, it's that time of year again, as I gear up for the coming year and take a look back at the year that was. Look for those entries soon, probably after this weekend.
I also have my two short stories to finish up before the year is out. The first was the Secret story I was trying to write, which was an xmas/holiday story set in the world of Subaridon from the Ghetto novel. I had plans of sending that out to family and friends as an xmas gift, and printing out fancy versions of it as gifts, but, well, it never happened. For one thing, it was too long, and a bit dark. And the ending needed work. But I do want to finish it tomorrow, so if you're interested in seeing it, email me. It should be done soon. And I also have the Disillusionist story to send out to an anthology whose deadline is... Monday! Yikes.
Tomorrow -- I plan on getting a lot done tomorrow. Right-o. Later...
Dec. 23, 2001
Closer and closer...
Now Playing:
Pearl Jam, of course
Now Reading:
Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg, Cemetery Dance #36
Today's Quote:
They sang louder when the wild dogs began to howl, drowning them out. They even forgot about the King's Guard and the warm buildings inside the locked City. Inside Andros' Bar was the only place anyone wanted to be that night.
Finished a draft of the story I've been working on for the past few days, and it's almost at 6,000 words and needs some more work. Not a ton of work, but lots and lots of tweaking, which I'm not sure I'll have time to do. We'll see. It depends if I can get some time tonight, then put it together tomorrow...
It's been a fairly quiet few days, as Elizabeth had to work yesterday and today (and I had to go into work Friday). For some reason, I don't feel all that Christmas-y. Maybe it's the weather -- the temps have been in the 60s and 70s lately, though it's gotten a bit colder lately, and we've had to go back to scraping the cars in the morning the last few days. Maybe some snow would be nice. As long as we don't get dumped on like we did 2 years ago. Oh hell, even that would be nice!
I don't think it's really hit me that I'm on vacation yet, I've been a bit caught up in my eleventh-hour writing projects, trying to get that last project or two wrapped up before the year ends.
I've been totalling up my wordage for the past year, and I've written almost as much this year as last year. I'm short about 3,000 words. I'd love to beat last year's numbers (129,000 words, if you're wondering). Is that ridiculous or what? I know it's not quantity I'm after, but man, it would be cool to have written over 130k worth of words this year.
Not much else new to report. Just reading over what I've written, and reading some more short stories. I'll let you know what I've read that's been good -- the Terry Pratchett story in Legends was clever, but not groundshaking. Talk to you later. Have a great holidays, by the way, in case I don't check in for a day or three!
Dec. 22, 2001
Almost there...
Now Playing:
"Just Say Noel," various
Now Reading:
Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg
Today's Quote:
A ringlet of eyes turned to Toggle, and then looked Grex up and down. Three of the creature's six tentacles waved in their direction, and then it picked up a shot glass of water and poured it over its own oblong head. Fertig the Squibble was in a mood.
Wow. I put almost 3,500 words into my story for today. Very cool! It's so nice having time to just putter away at this, adding chunks of prose here and there, fleshing out the tale. It's much better than I'd hoped, and I should be able to finish it up tomorrow, I hope!
I'm having fun with this one because it takes place in the same setting as Ghetto Dwellers, as I've said before, I know. I finally took some time yesterday to look over the 23,000 words I wrote for that novel in November (before I petered out, that is!), and I really liked what I had. Some of it needs to be tweaked, and I think I have some more ideas for the whole structure of the novel, but for the most part I'm excited about it again, and hope to get cracking on the novel again next month or so. It's funny how a little time away can help the situation a whole heckuva lot.
So I'm about done drafting for the day, about 12 pages later. I think I'll do some reading, more short stories in the fantasy anthology Legends. I thought the first story, by Stephen King, was a bit weak and mostly forgettable. I'm worried his "Dark Tower" books are going to collapse in on themselves from his overdone, overwritten prose. I still like the tightness of his earlier stuff much better than his longer, newer stuff. Someone edit him, please! Right now I'm reading the Terry Pratchett story, which is okay so far, but a bit too jokey (I'm not a huge fan of humorour SF and F).
Oh, and at some point I have to watch the DVD of "Dune" that was redone by the SciFi Channel. Yep, we got a DVD player! It was my xmas present, but instead of wrapping it and waiting, we set that bad boy up and got to watching! Of course, we realized we needed a new TV, so Elizabeth and I trekked out to Best Buy to buy a 27" flatscreen on the 18 month same-as-cash plan. We are so damn crazy! But hey, we're doing our part to keep the economy afloat, you know??!! At least, that's what we keep telling ourselves.
And let me tell you, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" kicks butt on DVD and a big screen! I've been doing karate kicks and punches all morning. Later.
Dec. 20, 2001
Still in awe... and now multi-tasking...
Now Playing:
"London Underground," John Digweed
Today's Quote:
With his final word, the man in the dark blue suit pulled himself in half.
I'd heard of this before, from the survivors in the dozen towns to the east, but it still did not stop my jaw from opening like a drawbridge. I could feel the coarse hairs of my beard on my neck, tickling my adam's apple. I closed my mouth when the man let go of his upper torso and laid it back to rest on his waist, straightening his vest to hide the separation. And so the illusion was made complete again.
From later today:
So all of a sudden I'm working on TWO short stories. As usual, I go from one extreme to the other. But I think I've done all the prep work on the horror/fantasy story, "The Disillusionist" to hold me until the weekend (tho I'm dying to keep working on it, as I've found the secret ingredient that will make the story lots of fun -- think past historical figures...).
And next it's on to the other story, due really really soon... I have about 1,000 words done on each story. I'm doing more outlining than usual, and both are pretty close to being outlined from start to finish. I think the end to my second story will really kick butt. I just need to do some reading to get caught up on that world, then I'll be set...
We're off to go look at some TVs and maybe catch a late afternoon show (which movie, I'm not sure...yeah right!). Later!
From earlier today:
Yeah, we saw "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" last night. Oh boy. For a slightly more coherent version of my thoughts on it, see my review. Here in my journal, I'm gonna gush for a while.
It was outstanding! Just thinking about it makes me want to go back and relive it. It lived up to my already high expectations and then went way, way beyond them. Beautiful! I'm so glad I reread the novel before seeing it, and the only real qualm I have is that I can't see the next two films, right NOW! Holy cow. I could find very, very little fault with this movie, and if you know me, I have pretty tough standards for movies. I just don't like movies that cheat or take the easy way out. No problems here!
Every scene was a mini-adventure, as they didn't just tell the story to advance the plot, but they used the magic of cinema to really convey the emotions and dazzle the viewer. Take the final battle, with Boromir and the big-ass orc with the bow and arrow -- need I say more? They could've just taken the easy way out and had Boromir shot down in a hail of arrows, but instead they expanded on the book and made it a hellish, almost nightmarish scene as Boromir is overcome. Then Aragorn comes in and, well, kicks orc butt. Wow.
As I said in the book, except for one or two changes, I felt that the places where the movie diverged from the book were all purely logical, and in many ways improved upon the book. And boy, did I love getting to see Saruman and Gandalf go at each other like only wizards could (when Gandalf is spinning on his head, you KNOW he's in deep, deep trouble with his former friend).
Man, I think we're gonna have to go see it again today... Later.