Welcome to the middle of the novel

A bit more than halfway through the 2nd book, The Bloody Empress.  Enjoying it immensely.  I limited my previous sci fi presentation at the NWW to elements of sci fi like time travel mechanics.  The new presentation this week will involve creating timelines and maps.  A person from the World Herald might be there too reporting on the NWW over the next few weeks.  I’m now reading the “Game” novels, just finished the “Of Thrones” variety, about to begin the “Hunger” flavor now.  And of course I’ll continue to write of Corsis’s Game in mine.  Carry on, I say.  Carry on.

Think of Something Icky

I’m in the midst of re-writing a scene depicting a horrific chasm in the ground filled with grey, undulating cavities and filled with what will end up being either monstrous worm things, monstrous spider things, or a whole mess of monstrous bugs of all varieties.  In fact, having just written that sentence, it’s gotta be the latter.  If you’re creating anything, don’t be afraid to go with the icky things if the content demands it.  The line between truth and gratuity is fine indeed, but one that storytellers must tread.  Well, at least this storyteller must tread it.

Blog Schmog

I’ll be leading a discussion in the Nebraska Writers Workshop on Speculative Fiction world building in a few weeks.  Maps and timelines shall be made.  I anticipate there to be a great fluidity in the creation.  Made by committee yes, but still a fun exercise in revealing a hidden world that our world has yet to see.  Either way, I’m sure I’ll get marker ink on my fingers from the dry erase board.

Iz-up-diz-ate

Hey, all.  Still working on the new revision of The Bloody Empress.  And continuing to throw queries out for Repenter.  Hope all is well in your corner of the space of cyber.

New Stories Simmering

Howdy, all.

 

I’m still in the midst of finishing up The Bloody Empress.  I’m also knocking around the idea of writing a story involving a Jimmy Olsen/ Rick Jones type of character who realizes that he’s lived through decades of the same events as part of repeated continuity reboots.  More as that develops.

 

In the meantime, hope everyone is staying warm and happy this holiday season.

 

-Jim

Needs more Scotch and Barbeque Sauce

Sometimes new ingredients make a great recipe better.  I tried a bit of Scotch and barbeque sauce in my usual chili recipe.  It provided everyone at our gathering a sampler of it.  The consensus was that we need to throw it in as an option with the original recipe next time.  So I shall.

 

Adding something new works for revisions as well.  I’m adding a twist in a revised scene where the main characters all get on the same page regarding the true enemy, Corsis.  In fact, what am I doing talking about it here?  Time to get a-writin’.

 

-Jim

Purple Versus Orange

Fox Literary gave me a rejection, but with a positive vibe of continue submitting to other agencies.  So I shall.  Next up is Curtis Brown Ltd. So I’m a movin’ right on.

 

My wife and I saw an inventive block of short plays at a local play house, the Shelterbelt, entitled Shelter Skelter.  I enjoyed many of them, especially one called, “Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say Murder”.  Never again will I implicitly trust someone wearing purple while wearing orange.  Strangulation will inevitably ensue.  The colors are mortal enemies, don’tcha know?

 

Jim