Miniktty Mews

So this was a random thought I had a week or so ago on my hour long drive to work and I thought I'd throw it out there to see what people thought. In the SF and F industry, there has recently been much discussion about the "decline" in SF being written and published, and that Fantasy has been taking over. Now, I'm NOT going to talk about the "different" between SF and F here, that's not the point of the discussion or the thought. Rather, I had a thought about WHY there seems to be this shift between the two.

I wonder if the shift has to do with society. Specifically, with how the society feels about where we are as a group. "Back then", when SF seemed a little more prevalent (I'm not sure when this "back then" would be, which is why I'm not being more specific here), I get the impression that perhaps we weren't as happy with ourselves and our society. I wasn't around then, or if I was, I was more concerned about my tree fort I'd built in the woods, called the Igloo. But from what I've heard about life then, there were . . . issues. Society itself was in turmoil. We didn't know where everything was headed, where WE were headed, and we looked to the future. Thus we produced more SF themed stories and novels. Our current lives weren't as good or as settled as we would have liked, so we looked forward to a time when things MIGHT be better, where the world might be more simple. MADE more simply by technology. So we were in a bad place and wanted to imagine a better place, but not just ANY better place (fantasy can always produce "better" places as easily as SF). A better place where we could imagine we may be headed. You can't do that with fantasy. SF gives you the hope, or leaves you with the hope, that the world and society may end up in that imaginary place. Perhaps this is why we were so interested in space and NASA and getting to the moon, and now most people could care less what NASA is doing. (Not the fandom of course; I read practically everything that NASA does . . . when it shows up in the news.)

Now, the world did become a "better" place, and by this I mean some of those issues that produced our disillusionment with the world were resolved or were settled in some way. At this point, we didn't need that elusive hope of a better future, because we were more or less content with the world we already had. So we weren't looking forward so much any more. Because of this, the effort to produce SF declined, and we saw an upsurge in the fantasy market instead. Why? Because if you're content with the world you have, you start looking at other worlds. And you aren't looking FORWARD any more for that world, you're content to look at the past (medieval-style worlds) or just something different. There's no need to look forward because everything around you is mostly OK.

Before anyone starts jumping on me about saying the world at the moment is OK and that's why we have a prevalence of fantasy, I'm not saying the current world is perfect by any means. But when we compare our situation now to some of the situations in the past . . . well, we're better off than we've been before. And besides, this is just a thought. It's certainly not a scientific study.

So what do you guys think? Do we produce more SF when we aren't happy with our current situation and want or NEED to see a better future for ourselves? Do we write more fantasy when we're generally settled or our problems don't seem as overwhelming and hopeless? Or am I just totally off my rocker?

( Read more... )

I've had some bad customer service experiences.  But I must say, I have never been more incredibly *frustrated* in my entire life.  

I just spent almost a half hour on the phone with Circuit City's tech line because of my laptop.  Among my pet peeves is being 1) hung up on, and 2) being ignored.  When I tell you what's wrong with my computer, and you ignore the BIG thing, to focus on the one thing that doesn't require you guys doing anything, yes, I'm going to be pissed off.  And let me tell you. I may not be all that terribly computer saavy, but even I can tell you that my laptop fucking CHUGGING like a small steam engine and overheating isn't because I need a damn *system* recovery, you asshat.  It's because there's something wrong with the hard ware. Likely the fan.  I cannot remember the last time I wanted to just throw my phone across the room.  Or punch someone.  Good customer service should not instill the Rage of the Heavens into someone.  Which would imply that good customer service this was not.

Now I'm going to go try to sleep, since I have a Dr's appointment at 10 am...and I just *know* my dr. is going to ask about stress...awesome.

  

Oh my goodness.. I didn't think sending out a postcard to everyone on the list (plus 8 for postcrossing.com.. for a total of 73!) would take THAT long. Sheesh! I'm exhausted, but I hope everyone enjoys the cards. :D

I have a cold. Nothing crazy, Just a cold that won't go away. I've had it for about a week. At first I drank a ton of tea, and that just kept it in check, it didn't get better or go away. So then I added in some over the counter stuff to help out. It got worse, possibly because my insomnia got worse at the same time. Went to the doctor on Friday, got prescription stuff. He also mentioned that the Nyquil I was taking... causes some bad side effects when mixed with the ADD meds. The result hyperactivity, which was probably a contributor to the insomnia.

Yeah so Acetometaphine is bad for me and I wasn't aware of that. It's not like manufacturers put that in everything...

So I was just looking at one of the other over the counter drugs I have been taking since Friday. They make versions without the added punch. In theory that is what I was taking. But this is my household where things all go back in boxes... even if they are the wrong boxes. You get the idea. I'd try to sleep it off but I don't think thats going to work. Sigh.

Two jobs done for BusinessWeek in the past few months ended up being killed and replaced by a photo. This is due to the fact (according to the art directors) that the stories keep changing till the last moment, and by then the illustration becomes less relevant.

The first drawing was done for an article about how MGM (the casino chain) is quietly trying to battle the indian casinos who are slowly eating into their profits. From what I understand the whole gambling industry has suffered a lot from the recent recession, so maybe the casinos are becoming more desperate in their measures?




Next drawing was done very recently for an article about what is called the 'gray tsunami' - the wave of baby boomers who are now due to retire. It's seems as though the wave is much smaller then expected, as the feeble economy and growing healthcare prices are forcing the boomers too keep working even beyond 60.

I first did this drawing and sent it off to the AD:



His comment was that the wave was not clear and prominent enough, I rushed to make the changes in time and toned down the background into a yellowish haze.



This solved the problem and got the final approval.
Then the next day got the news that the illustration was killed due to final changes on the article. Oh well, no time to cry on spilled ink.

Sponsor me for AIDS Walk. It's tomorrow morning - so it's your last chance!! Or, er, the last chance for people with AIDS. Or something. :)

I would like to thank slfcllednowhere, ms_hecubus and artaddict for the welcome postcards.

I didn't realise when I joined how hard it was going to be to find postcards. I thought it would be really simple. Where does everyone else go to get them? I did finally locate a pack (by accident) while shopping today. I'm planning to mail on Monday/Tuesday.

I think I have yet to attend a commencement ceremony at BU that I can hear the guest speaker.

All the speakers are fine...which is sort of a tragedy, because the speeches are often pretty much the same year to year. I can also usually hear the student speaker.

But the guest speaker. Nada. Zilch. Its like listening to Charlie Brown's mother speak.

I have no idea if its just the platform party that can't hear it, or if the whole audience, but gah! it makes for a pretty dull dip in the middle of the ceremony!

Title- Patterns
Naruto
implied Sasuke/Naruto/Sasuke

On Tuesday, I went out to dinner with ultimabaka, and in the midst of your usual conversation, he passed on a bit of sad news that he'd gotten by way of a girl he knew when we were in high school. Mr. Lugo, Lugo 先生 to me forever and always, had had a heart attack and was in hospice care. It didn't really hit me then - I was upset, and wanted to know if there was anything I could do, but it still didn't really sink in. On Wednesday, an e-mail from Minh found it's way to me conveying the same information. I wrote to the original sender and asked to be kept informed. And today, Lugo-sensei died.
( Mr. Lugo )
In the course of writing this, I wanted to show you all a picture Lugo sensei instead of my half-remembered description of him, a man I haven't seen since spring of 2000. With that in mind, I pulled down my year book to see if he was in there. He isn't. Instead, there's this. So instead of Mr. Lugo's portrait, I've got a doodled little demon, and simply the message, Claireさん　がんばって　EJ ルゴ. Just like him! To that I say, ルゴ先生！本当にどうもありがとございました。私はいつでも忘れません。忘れられません。

After I posted this, I sat down the year book determined that he had to be in there SOMEWHERE. I was right. Mr. Lugo, hiding in the picture of his homeroom.

I wrote 3980 words today and finished off the current chapter, plus a paragraph or two to remind myself where I want to pick up again tomorrow on the new chapter. So I probably wrote over 4000 words total today. That's a good day for me, even when I don't have classes going on.

But as I said, I finished off the chapter. It was a fun (and quick) chapter to write because there wasn't much emotional angsting by any characters. It was mostly plot-involved, in the "disaster-epic" style, so I got to throw main character into immenent danger, have others rushing to save them, kill lots of people, and have one character discover that he CAN do something he thought he could do with his power . . . but that it was alot harder and exhausting than he thought.

I'll make him do it again shortly. Because I am evil. *grin*

And that was only the beginning of the shit hitting the fan at the end of this book. I get to make things EVEN WORSE in the next chapter! Ha ha ha ha! What fun, what fun! *rubs hands together vigorously in anticipation* I realize now exactly how much set-up I put into the previous parts of this novel without even realizing it. For example, the "natural" disaster that became the heart of chapter 20 was introduced way back in chapter 7 or something. I thought it was just cool then. Had no idea it would be USEFUL. All of these weird little elements are pulling together in unexpected ways as well. It's always interesting when that happens. I've had to make a few notes about things to emphasize more in the rewrites though, so nothing comes as a "surprise" to the reader. And, in my attempts to shorten the novel, I've made notes of scenes I need to ADD as well. *sigh*

Oh, and comixboy? That scene in chapter 11 or 12? Where Colin goes down the cliff in the "elevator"? . . . I'm thinking that's going to have to be cut, even though it's a COOL scene. I think that whole chapter is being cut. Can't say for sure until I get there in the rewrites, but . . .

I seriously need to do a section on my webpage for "deleted scenes" of previous books. There's a few good ones for The Skewed Throne. Not so much for the other two, but definitely for Skewed. And I'm certain I'll have some for Well of Sorrows.

Anyway, enough writing-high ramblings for now. I'm off to the gym to torture people who willingly came to my cycling class, and then its games! And alcohol! And games! for the evening. Some chips and dip, too.

La-la-la-la-la-LA! La-la-la-la-la-LA!

*egads I'm nuts*

162,500 / 100,000 (162.5%)

Well of Sorrows

If you're in the new york area you should definitely give a visit to Kinokuniya, the famous Japanese bookstore that just re-opened in a new location on Bryant park. Three stories of art books, comics, weired Japanese accessories and also: a stationary section with amazing brush pens and other imported goods. So, till I get the time to actually go to japan this will have to do.

Rather amusing no?

I hope this goes viral.

No, I didn't do it myself.

Nothing like a doctor visit to make you feel fat. *sigh* Nuff said on THAT topic.

Today, I spent half the day writing and managed to get 1700 words written. My official first day after the end of the semester. (Yesterday was spent at the book signing and Meet & Greet, which went well. A special thanks to libwitch for sending down her posse. They didn't all intend to buy books, but I charmed them into forking over the cash. *grin*) Not bad for the first day, although tomorrow I need to DO MORE if I'm going to get the novel done before I head off to the AP Calculus grading session in Kansas City. I'll push to see if I can get twice that tomorrow. This shit it hitting the fan, so typically I can keep up some high word counts.

But the real reason for this post is to let everyone know my Balticon schedule. So here it is!

Friday 7 pm : The Outlaw Panel - Let pirates, highwaymen, and bandits assemble! Why do we like them and turn them into heroes by rewriting their history?

Friday 8 pm : Opening Ceremonies (assuming pbray and I can get there on time)

Saturday 1 pm : Writing the economics of magic

Saturday 3 pm : Reading

Saturday 5 pm : Autograph table - Hotel Bar Lobby

Saturday 9 pm : How Not to Make the Book of Your Trilogy a Letdown for Readers.
Create a plot that continues the story.

Sunday 10 am : Playing in Someone Else's Sandbox: What can you expect if you write
stories for a tie-in/shared world created by another writer? Tell us how this
works for an interested writer!

Sunday Noon : Getting Published: Learn about how to handle query letters, fiction and
non fiction book proposals!

So who all is going? Who will I see there? Which of these panels do you find interesting?

finally. proper internet. and my desktop has been moved and set up. feels almost like home.
writing soon. starting to get settled in. not living out of bags and boxes as much. i tell ya, moving while working the shifts i have been working is a particularly demented sort of hell.

here. have some music. its like real content.

the German language version of Punk Rock Song is badass. listen to it.
Good Lives is just pretty. oddly pretty.
and i really do so love Faithless. its like my super sekrit musical affair.

"Punk Rock Song (German)" -Bad Religion

"Good Lives" -Eve 6

"No Roots" -Faithless

*Umph- the startled exhalation escaping the mouth as one lands far deeper into the chair cushions than expected

A little while ago the distributor for Bohdate.com, an excellent company named Topatoco, took over most of the running of the Bohda Te shop. what this meant was i don't deal with your orders anymore, and everything is based in their underground volcano in the US of As. end result is, your order gets dealt with quicker and you get better deals, along with better paying options and the chance to peruse more of Topatoco's fine apparel.

Now, when you go to Bohdate.com and click 'shop', you'll be transported to the new hub of Bohda Te tshirts. And i'm pleased to say we're now selling not only the SKULL ROCK DEATH ARMY gold badges (which are, say scientists, 'the actual tits')

but also the Tshirts from the first printings i did (i had some left here, and shipped them over). this means you can now pick up the Team Slut and Zombie Dookie tees


along with the other three original designs, with a free badge and stickers thrown in! fucking cheese dips!

But hurry, these original print tshirts and the badges are very limited stock, since this is the last of them in existance!

jx.

ps. tonight i head off to the DFC launch party in central london. i have heard it is a big event. i'll be honest i'm a little tentative, i'm not so good on big social things, but i'll give it a go as its a buzz to be asked. any reports on the BBC news of a drunk artist with no trousers accosting respected children's authors, ignore...
pps. thanks all for your support on Whubble! the purple pudge got over 500 hits in the first 24 hours, which is nice. not sure why some browsers aren't showing it in full, will try and get it sorted by next week's!
ppps. life = pretty good. thanks ^_^

this is more for my records, but i'll take any input from others. i'm disecting the first chapter of novels or in process novels, trying to pinpoint the basic requirements to make it a lasting impression to the reader/editor/agent. i think jpsorrow might have covered this already, but i can't find it in his journal . . . yet. EDIT: found it . . . sort of. what i found was all his writing tips, which does cover a few things noted below: he is a well of knowledge that must be yoinked and spread like seedlings around the internets

first chapter: the writer wants to get create a presence of the main character including but not limited to: voice, characteristics, and definition of who the MC is. there should also be an 'info dump', if you will, that lets the reader have a good footing in the world without swallowing them whole.

basic questions the writer may want to ask themselves during revision or while writing:

have i introduced the main character properly? will the reader have a view of the world from their prespective and have i given enough life into them to make the reader want to continue on?

have i given hints as to the world at large? is there a war and if so, what kind is it, how long has it been going on, what are the consequences to the people? where is the main character located? what is there humble abode like?

have i presented supporting characters properly? are they relatable characters or just faces in the crowd that are easily washed away?

have i shown the way of life, given a glimpse of what the others in the world are or do?

more to come as i research and think this over more. i like ideas mulling about in my head. makes the silence more bearable.