One of the greatest bedeviling and possibly soul crushing experiences a new writer faces is, who to let see that precious oh so precious story and all its gleaming words that you have struggled to hone until they shined the brightest. I am talking about early readers to some extent but also editors. Luckily Sarah Hoyt, even on her sick bed, has taken time to write about this subject.
Here is one snippet to ponder: The longer I live and write the more two truths become evident: 1- David
Weber is right. It’s all about the voice. A confident, strong,
enthusiastic voice will hide a multitude of sins. 2- Pratchett is
right. The secret to success is to be yourself as hard as you can.
Go READ it. Has plenty of good stuff that is giving me a lot to think on.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Dreams, That Well Spring
Dreams can be many things. Sometimes delightful. Other times terrifying. And even on occasion inspiring and a bit off the wall. Such as last night's dream.
It started off as if I was watching some black and white movie on TCM. Some obscure melodrama that seemed set in Australia. With magnetic lodestones, shady dealer in such lodestones, and a complicated love triangle or was it a parallelogram? But at the end the lovers are reconciled to their true partners and a gate opens to reveal this vast cavern. A cavern with cobwebs and giant gears. As the credits roll and I seem to be thinking of the concept of a clockwork god, that seems to be the title of the movie - Clockwork.
Next it seems I am attending some panel. And the person running the panel is the author of Clockwork. When I show I have the comic issues, am given a little charm by the author. Then the panel is over and I am putting the comics away in my backpack while my iPhone is playing Konya wa Hurricane.
The dream ends with me in a comic shop. Showing the Clockwork issues and telling the story to those in the shop. Where upon I find the author has signed the cover of the first issue. Comics are from 1981 I say and that I found them at a used bookstore. Next looking at the other issues, one still seems shrinkwrapped with bold black numbers showing how limited the print run was.
Finally get to the last of the three issues. Or was it four issues? Its not like the other comics. Open it to reveal scenes from feudal Japan. But the style is not American comic or any manga, but more like the art from a book. There is one page listing who created the book. And I find autographs of Yoshitaka Amano and Helen McCarthy in silver marker there. Then I look up to talk directly to the guy in the shop I have been talking to. And its Stan Lee.
Weird.
It started off as if I was watching some black and white movie on TCM. Some obscure melodrama that seemed set in Australia. With magnetic lodestones, shady dealer in such lodestones, and a complicated love triangle or was it a parallelogram? But at the end the lovers are reconciled to their true partners and a gate opens to reveal this vast cavern. A cavern with cobwebs and giant gears. As the credits roll and I seem to be thinking of the concept of a clockwork god, that seems to be the title of the movie - Clockwork.
Next it seems I am attending some panel. And the person running the panel is the author of Clockwork. When I show I have the comic issues, am given a little charm by the author. Then the panel is over and I am putting the comics away in my backpack while my iPhone is playing Konya wa Hurricane.
The dream ends with me in a comic shop. Showing the Clockwork issues and telling the story to those in the shop. Where upon I find the author has signed the cover of the first issue. Comics are from 1981 I say and that I found them at a used bookstore. Next looking at the other issues, one still seems shrinkwrapped with bold black numbers showing how limited the print run was.
Finally get to the last of the three issues. Or was it four issues? Its not like the other comics. Open it to reveal scenes from feudal Japan. But the style is not American comic or any manga, but more like the art from a book. There is one page listing who created the book. And I find autographs of Yoshitaka Amano and Helen McCarthy in silver marker there. Then I look up to talk directly to the guy in the shop I have been talking to. And its Stan Lee.
Weird.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)