Writing News, July 2001

michaeljasper.net

"Another Wrecked Web Site"

July 11, 2001

Adding more here and there...

Today's Quote:

Binding and permanent, this vow was Timoth's third and final attempt to repay me for saving his life all those years ago. He knew I wouldn't dare deny this vow, as it was made just before he left this world, though I realize now that he was truly driven to insanity by my refusals. I should have taken half of his land and been done with it.

Instead, I was given his daughter, Teresa.

What I'm Reading:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

What I'm Listening To:

"Song From an American Movie, part 2" - Everclear

"Reveal" - REM

I stayed up too late trying to finish American Gods, but I still have a ways to go. It's getting interested, but I can't say that I'm loving it -- I don't know enough about all the various gods that are referenced in the story to truly appreciate it. Though I was quite pleased to have read my friend Tim's novel chapters this weekend, so I could recognize the cameo by the elephant-headed god Ganesha. I have a feeling a lot of the various characters introduced in the first two sections are all going to come back in the final book. And that'd be a good thing.

I'm still plugging away at the Beasts story, and I've finally gotten to the point where my story starts to parallel the myth -- the innocent girl going to live with a ghastly creature in a castle, all because of her father's deeds. Now I need to figure out what kind of character she is going to be. Probably hot-headed and stubborn like her father. Should be interesting. I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, just 'cause I was a little tired, but I should have a draft done by this weekend. I hope.

I'm already thinking about what to read on our week off in Ocracoke. I don't know how much time we'll have for that, as we'll probably want to do some wandering around and maybe try sea-kayaking and stuff like that, but I was thinking of reading some of the new Year's Best anthologies for 2000. I always enjoy reading the essays by the editors at the beginning, sometimes moreso than some of the stories. I have so many books and magazines I need to read as well -- maybe I shouldn't buy any more anthologies before then, right? Oh well. I can't help myself. I tell myself I'm just supporting the editors and keeping the genre books going.

Not much else going on. Pretty boring entry today, I know. I'll try to improve that. I'm having beers with my buddy Chris today, so that'll be fun. He has a new story/novella/novel working, and he's bringing me a chunk of it to read. Plus I have new stories from Tim and Trey, as well as those Nebula-nominated novellas to read... Very cool -- I always enjoy reading stuff by people I know. But I'd better get to steppin'.

Oh yeah, I got a brief mention in Monday's News & Observer in their business section. Here's the short blip in case they've already made the link inactive:

"Michael Jasper is a technical writer at Siebel Systems, formerly OpenSite, in Research Triangle Park. His day job is writing the how-to manuals for online auction software "that no one ever reads." His real passion is fiction writing. See a sample -- including science-fiction short stories that have been published in various magazines -- at his Web site, http://www.michaeljasper.net."

I wouldn't have even known about it if a co-worker hadn't mentioned it to me out of the blue! I stopped getting the daily paper a month or so ago, and we just get it on Sunday to save paper (I check the news online and download a copy of it onto my Palm during the week). Yes, I'm a geek. Later.
mjj

July 10, 2001

Creating a new world...

Today's Quote:

You can probably guess what happened next. We played cards – mad sixes, five-hand draw, witch’s cat, queens, and dead jacks, all the old, forgotten games – for most of the night, and I could not stop winning Timoth’s money.

When I realized what he was doing, I folded up my hand, drank the last of my wine, and gathered up only the coins I had brought from the pile of gold in front of me.

What I'm Reading:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

What I'm Listening To:

"Whatever" - Aimee Mann

"Reveal" - REM

Howdy. I'm running a little behind today, doing this journal at the Day Job instead of at home. Why? It's a good reason -- I was too busy writing, from a quarter after five to six thirty. And I probably could've kept writing!

I'm working on one of my new stories, "The Beasts." This was the one that I had to totally start over from scratch again, and now I'm digging it. It's also one of the few stories I've written that uses a framing device -- the main story is told in flashback, framed by a scene at the beginning in the present and a scene at the end, also in the present. It's a fun experiment.

I'm also using a lot of sort of "distant" storytelling in the main story; instead of scene after scene, it's more of a retrospective. Picture two worn and grizzled old soldier types sitting around their camp, with one of the soldiers/outriders telling the other his life's history.

I did about 1300 words this morning. Very nice! I'm really hoping to get through it by this weekend so I can revise it and maybe even send it out.

I'm also looking forward to finishing the first draft so I know what's gonna happen. I have a rough idea, in outline form, but I find myself really getting into the character named Beast and dreaming up situations for him, showing the reader how he became who he is in the present.

The quote on the left is from Beast's tale (anyone for a good game of dead jacks?), and I've updated my excerpt page for the story. The excerpt covers the opening right up to the end of the first frame sequence. Enjoy!

It's been fun, creating a new world for this story. I'm about 9 pages into it, and have just gotten to the whole beauty and the beast part -- well, the beast part, as the Beast character tells about his disfigurement, which led up to all sorts of crazy stuff, including the introduction of the Beauty character, who is just a newborn at the time...

Sorry, I'm going on too much on this one. It's been nice, after struggling the past few months on stories and novel chapters (not to mention some rejections that stung a bit), to have a story really grab me like this. I'm looking forward to getting up at 5 a.m. tomorrow to write some more on it. Later.
mjj

July 8, 2001

Rain and words, an island and a ferry...

Today's Quote:

Abi and Queenie were gone. They were video nasties now. Sully turned off the camera.

What I'm Reading:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

What I'm Listening To:

"Star" - Belly

"Reinhold Messner" - Ben Folds Five

"Satellite Rides" - Old 97's

Update from later today:

Just finished printing out the "Video Nasties" story. Done! At least with the first draft -- it's 5500 words, and needs some tweaking, but overall it's pretty solid. A fun story. We'll see what Jeff thinks of it -- I was working off his original idea.

Later...

From earlier today:

I'm this close (imagine my thumb and first finger held about two centimeters apart) to finishing "Video Nasties." Just need to add a couple more paragraphs here and there.

I got distracted, though, in a quite pleasant way, by Elizabeth, who came up with the perfect destination for our August vacation -- Ocracoke Island!

Elizabeth and I went there about 5 years ago, when we were spending the week at the beach with her family, and the island is basically its own world. You can only get to it by ferry (or private plane!), and the entire island can't be much bigger than a couple miles in diameter. The atmosphere is really, really laid-back and pretty open -- I remember thinking it was like Key West (tho I've never been there). It sounds like that kind of place. I could see us going there to live someday...

Here's a great, interactive map you can use to check out what's all there. We'll be staying at Edwards of Ocracoke, which may not look like anything super-special, but it's super-cheap, which is perfect for us.

So Elizabeth and I are pretty excited by this. We're going in early August, from the 4th to the 11th, before Lizzie's fall classes begin. This will give me excellent motivation to get all my work done at the Day Job so I don't have to worry about it while we're away. It also gives us both something to look forward to, since we couldn't make the annual beach trip this year. And it will be wonderful to have a week off with Elizabeth, something we haven't had since our honeymoon!

And I may even leave my laptop at home... We'll see. Don't want to talk crazy just yet! I know I'll be bringing some books to read, though I really want to just hang out, maybe try sea kayaking and stuff like that. I'm pumped about this. I'm definitely ready for a real vacation!

So I should have all my stories fixed up by that time as well, and what I'll probably do is print out everything I have on my fantasy novel and bring that along for writing. Plan plan plan -- seems like that's all I do! I need to go finish my dang story. Talk to you later!
mjj

July 6, 2001

Hello weekend...

Today's Quote:

The bruised and swollen fingers of Sully's right hand were throbbing, but he didn't care. Abi had squeezed Sully's hand in his crushing grip that morning, a warning disguised as a deal-closer. Sully hoped his fingers weren't broken.

What I'm Reading:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

What I'm Listening To:

Old 97s, Del Amitri

A quick update -- I'm at work with a deadline looming, but I really wanted to work up a draft of "Video Nasties" to send to Jeff before tomorrow. I was kinda hoping to be done with it so I can either take it easy tomorrow or work on the "Beasts" story. I've got a tiny scene to write, then I need to start revising it.

Not bad -- a 4300-word story in les than two weeks. I think it's pretty good.

Now... Back to work. See ya.

From earlier today:

Man, I think I could get used to these short work weeks. Though going back to work yesterday (Thursday) after having a lovely day off on Wednesday was quite the challenge. I don't think I got a whole lot of work at the Day Job done.

About the only fun stuff I did yesterday was work out (I'm still sore!), reading over my two in-progress stories, and read more American Gods last night.

This morning I added some more to the video story. I think all I have to do now is write the last scene, and the first draft is done. I was hoping to have this done last weekend, but I should definitely be able to finish it by Sunday, or maybe even on my lunch break today.

I'm really thinking I need a sabbatical from the Day Job! Like 3 months off to catch up with all the various projects I want to get done, instead of constantly nickel-and-diming it with my writing time. It's pretty frustrating.

But that ain't gonna happen, so I need to be patient. Though if I get a grant/fellowship from the NC Arts Council... That could be worth $8,000, and I'd definitely take a little time off, maybe in September, once our new software release at work is off and running. How sweet would that be? Very, let me tell ya.

But with the state of the NC economy, I don't know if that will happen -- they're in the hole big time with the budget, don't ask me how that happened.

I submitted two stories for that grant, by the way (I also applied in '98 -- they do it every 2 years -- with "Fences" and the first chapter of The Prodigal Sons, and didn't win). I sent 'em "Waiting for Joey" and "Crossing the Camp." I thought they were a good cross-section of my writing at the time. Too bad "Crossing" hadn't been published at the time. In any case, if I don't get the fellowship (and my chances are slim, as there are lots of writers in this state!), there's always 2002.

Gotta run. Talk to you later.

News

mjj

	michaeljasper.net *"Another Wrecked Web Site"*
July 11, 2001 Adding more here and there... *Today's Quote:* Binding and permanent, this vow was Timoth's third and final attempt to repay me for saving his life all those years ago. He knew I wouldn't dare deny this vow, as it was made just before he left this world, though I realize now that he was truly driven to insanity by my refusals. I should have taken half of his land and been done with it. Instead, I was given his daughter, Teresa. *What I'm Reading:* American Gods - Neil Gaiman *What I'm Listening To:* "Song From an American Movie, part 2" - Everclear "Reveal" - REM	I stayed up too late trying to finish American Gods, but I still have a ways to go. It's getting interested, but I can't say that I'm loving it -- I don't know enough about all the various gods that are referenced in the story to truly appreciate it. Though I was quite pleased to have read my friend Tim's novel chapters this weekend, so I could recognize the cameo by the elephant-headed god Ganesha. I have a feeling a lot of the various characters introduced in the first two sections are all going to come back in the final book. And that'd be a good thing. I'm still plugging away at the Beasts story, and I've finally gotten to the point where my story starts to parallel the myth -- the innocent girl going to live with a ghastly creature in a castle, all because of her father's deeds. Now I need to figure out what kind of character she is going to be. Probably hot-headed and stubborn like her father. Should be interesting. I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, just 'cause I was a little tired, but I should have a draft done by this weekend. I hope. I'm already thinking about what to read on our week off in Ocracoke. I don't know how much time we'll have for that, as we'll probably want to do some wandering around and maybe try sea-kayaking and stuff like that, but I was thinking of reading some of the new Year's Best anthologies for 2000. I always enjoy reading the essays by the editors at the beginning, sometimes moreso than some of the stories. I have so many books and magazines I need to read as well -- maybe I shouldn't buy any more anthologies before then, right? Oh well. I can't help myself. I tell myself I'm just supporting the editors and keeping the genre books going. Not much else going on. Pretty boring entry today, I know. I'll try to improve that. I'm having beers with my buddy Chris today, so that'll be fun. He has a new story/novella/novel working, and he's bringing me a chunk of it to read. Plus I have new stories from Tim and Trey, as well as those Nebula-nominated novellas to read... Very cool -- I always enjoy reading stuff by people I know. But I'd better get to steppin'. Oh yeah, I got a brief mention in Monday's News & Observer in their business section. Here's the short blip in case they've already made the link inactive: "Michael Jasper is a technical writer at Siebel Systems, formerly OpenSite, in Research Triangle Park. His day job is writing the how-to manuals for online auction software "that no one ever reads." His real passion is fiction writing. See a sample -- including science-fiction short stories that have been published in various magazines -- at his Web site, http://www.michaeljasper.net." I wouldn't have even known about it if a co-worker hadn't mentioned it to me out of the blue! I stopped getting the daily paper a month or so ago, and we just get it on Sunday to save paper (I check the news online and download a copy of it onto my Palm during the week). Yes, I'm a geek. Later. mjj
July 10, 2001 Creating a new world... *Today's Quote:* You can probably guess what happened next. We played cards – mad sixes, five-hand draw, witch’s cat, queens, and dead jacks, all the old, forgotten games – for most of the night, and I could not stop winning Timoth’s money. When I realized what he was doing, I folded up my hand, drank the last of my wine, and gathered up only the coins I had brought from the pile of gold in front of me. *What I'm Reading:* American Gods - Neil Gaiman *What I'm Listening To:* "Whatever" - Aimee Mann "Reveal" - REM	Howdy. I'm running a little behind today, doing this journal at the Day Job instead of at home. Why? It's a good reason -- I was too busy writing, from a quarter after five to six thirty. And I probably could've kept writing! I'm working on one of my new stories, "The Beasts." This was the one that I had to totally start over from scratch again, and now I'm digging it. It's also one of the few stories I've written that uses a framing device -- the main story is told in flashback, framed by a scene at the beginning in the present and a scene at the end, also in the present. It's a fun experiment. I'm also using a lot of sort of "distant" storytelling in the main story; instead of scene after scene, it's more of a retrospective. Picture two worn and grizzled old soldier types sitting around their camp, with one of the soldiers/outriders telling the other his life's history. I did about 1300 words this morning. Very nice! I'm really hoping to get through it by this weekend so I can revise it and maybe even send it out. I'm also looking forward to finishing the first draft so I know what's gonna happen. I have a rough idea, in outline form, but I find myself really getting into the character named Beast and dreaming up situations for him, showing the reader how he became who he is in the present. The quote on the left is from Beast's tale (anyone for a good game of dead jacks?), and I've updated my excerpt page for the story. The excerpt covers the opening right up to the end of the first frame sequence. Enjoy! It's been fun, creating a new world for this story. I'm about 9 pages into it, and have just gotten to the whole beauty and the beast part -- well, the beast part, as the Beast character tells about his disfigurement, which led up to all sorts of crazy stuff, including the introduction of the Beauty character, who is just a newborn at the time... Sorry, I'm going on too much on this one. It's been nice, after struggling the past few months on stories and novel chapters (not to mention some rejections that stung a bit), to have a story really grab me like this. I'm looking forward to getting up at 5 a.m. tomorrow to write some more on it. Later. mjj
July 8, 2001 Rain and words, an island and a ferry... *Today's Quote:* Abi and Queenie were gone. They were video nasties now. Sully turned off the camera. *What I'm Reading:* American Gods - Neil Gaiman *What I'm Listening To:* "Star" - Belly "Reinhold Messner" - Ben Folds Five "Satellite Rides" - Old 97's	Update from later today: Just finished printing out the "Video Nasties" story. Done! At least with the first draft -- it's 5500 words, and needs some tweaking, but overall it's pretty solid. A fun story. We'll see what Jeff thinks of it -- I was working off his original idea. Later... From earlier today: I'm this close (imagine my thumb and first finger held about two centimeters apart) to finishing "Video Nasties." Just need to add a couple more paragraphs here and there. I got distracted, though, in a quite pleasant way, by Elizabeth, who came up with the perfect destination for our August vacation -- Ocracoke Island! Elizabeth and I went there about 5 years ago, when we were spending the week at the beach with her family, and the island is basically its own world. You can only get to it by ferry (or private plane!), and the entire island can't be much bigger than a couple miles in diameter. The atmosphere is really, really laid-back and pretty open -- I remember thinking it was like Key West (tho I've never been there). It sounds like that kind of place. I could see us going there to live someday... Here's a great, interactive map you can use to check out what's all there. We'll be staying at Edwards of Ocracoke, which may not look like anything super-special, but it's super-cheap, which is perfect for us. So Elizabeth and I are pretty excited by this. We're going in early August, from the 4th to the 11th, before Lizzie's fall classes begin. This will give me excellent motivation to get all my work done at the Day Job so I don't have to worry about it while we're away. It also gives us both something to look forward to, since we couldn't make the annual beach trip this year. And it will be wonderful to have a week off with Elizabeth, something we haven't had since our honeymoon! And I may even leave my laptop at home... We'll see. Don't want to talk crazy just yet! I know I'll be bringing some books to read, though I really want to just hang out, maybe try sea kayaking and stuff like that. I'm pumped about this. I'm definitely ready for a real vacation! So I should have all my stories fixed up by that time as well, and what I'll probably do is print out everything I have on my fantasy novel and bring that along for writing. Plan plan plan -- seems like that's all I do! I need to go finish my dang story. Talk to you later! mjj
July 6, 2001 Hello weekend... *Today's Quote:* The bruised and swollen fingers of Sully's right hand were throbbing, but he didn't care. Abi had squeezed Sully's hand in his crushing grip that morning, a warning disguised as a deal-closer. Sully hoped his fingers weren't broken. *What I'm Reading:* American Gods - Neil Gaiman *What I'm Listening To:* Old 97s, Del Amitri	A quick update -- I'm at work with a deadline looming, but I really wanted to work up a draft of "Video Nasties" to send to Jeff before tomorrow. I was kinda hoping to be done with it so I can either take it easy tomorrow or work on the "Beasts" story. I've got a tiny scene to write, then I need to start revising it. Not bad -- a 4300-word story in les than two weeks. I think it's pretty good. Now... Back to work. See ya. From earlier today: Man, I think I could get used to these short work weeks. Though going back to work yesterday (Thursday) after having a lovely day off on Wednesday was quite the challenge. I don't think I got a whole lot of work at the Day Job done. About the only fun stuff I did yesterday was work out (I'm still sore!), reading over my two in-progress stories, and read more American Gods last night. This morning I added some more to the video story. I think all I have to do now is write the last scene, and the first draft is done. I was hoping to have this done last weekend, but I should definitely be able to finish it by Sunday, or maybe even on my lunch break today. I'm really thinking I need a sabbatical from the Day Job! Like 3 months off to catch up with all the various projects I want to get done, instead of constantly nickel-and-diming it with my writing time. It's pretty frustrating. But that ain't gonna happen, so I need to be patient. Though if I get a grant/fellowship from the NC Arts Council... That could be worth $8,000, and I'd definitely take a little time off, maybe in September, once our new software release at work is off and running. How sweet would that be? Very, let me tell ya. But with the state of the NC economy, I don't know if that will happen -- they're in the hole big time with the budget, don't ask me how that happened. I submitted two stories for that grant, by the way (I also applied in '98 -- they do it every 2 years -- with "Fences" and the first chapter of The Prodigal Sons, and didn't win). I sent 'em "Waiting for Joey" and "Crossing the Camp." I thought they were a good cross-section of my writing at the time. Too bad "Crossing" hadn't been published at the time. In any case, if I don't get the fellowship (and my chances are slim, as there are lots of writers in this state!), there's always 2002. Gotta run. Talk to you later.
News	mjj