ABC's new "V" remake trailer.

A remake. Hmm. I really liked the classic but it seemed to get lost in itself. Maybe this reboot will have some improvements?

Nemoy on SNL!

Quantum Who

More editing

I'm further along on Book Two. I've cut two more scenes and tightened the POV. It's a start.

The goal is to turn Book Two into a complete story. Instead of breaking it into two books, I want to tell one story with it.

I went through the tender, heart breaking scenes today. I really feel for Annabelle right now.

Reginald came into the town, framed them for murder, revealed their existence to the town and that means the destruction of their quiet lives and the death of a major character.

Anyway, lots of success today. Hope for more.

How Do You Know When To Quit?

I just read this article by Toni McGee Causey called "How Do You Know When To Quit?"
It's very powerful.

http://www.murderati.com/blog/2009/4/19/how-do-you-know-when-to-quit.html?lastPage=true#comment3762629

Here is an excerpt...

We dream the dream, and we want it to be easy. We live in a society where pop stars get millions to show up and act badly and behave worse, and while we mock that, we’d all secretly like the trip to success to be just that simple: show up. But it’s not that simple. It’s not always easy. It’s hard work, it’s perseverance, it’s making sure you’ve got the goods when the opportunity comes along.

That last part? Yeah, that’s the hard part. It bears repeating: it’s making sure you’ve got the goods when the opportunity comes along. That means hard work, when it comes to writing. Telling a compelling story for an entire novel isn’t like making Ritz crackers and cheese and calling it a four-course meal. There’s a bit more to it than just sitting in front of the computer and spilling out a story. For some people, it may come naturally. For the rest of us, it’s a constant process of learning, improving, getting feedback, listening to it, learning from it, discarding what doesn’t work, and then trying again.

I wrote yesterday!

Life is very busy for me, both at work and home. Each morning when I walk the dogs, I recommit myself to spending a piece of each day writing something.
"Writer's write."
I heard that expression somewhere before. Sure, we edit and world build, but we also write. Sometimes all three are linked. Yesterday I actually wrote/edited some of Book Two' Chapter Two!

Kinda proud of myself.

"It's not right for me"

Just read Janet Reid's 5 things about rejections...

http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2004/08/yes-rejection-isnt-fun-but.html

Good advice. Especially...

5. You just have to get over the idea that "it's not right for me" is some sort of comment on the value or quality of your work. It's not. It's only a comment about whether it resonates with me AND whether I can sell it. I pass on really good stuff all the time.

Hmmm. Maybe it isn't my idea.

Wonders of wonders

I actually wrote a chapter of a new book. It was great, honestly writing something new instead of editing. Sure, I wrote that short story for the contest a while back, but this was something different.

Now to get in the habit of writing more.

Sara getting hearing aid

Yup, my daughter is getting one. I don't know if I should be sad that she needs one, or grateful that she's taking it with a strong upbeat personality.

Naw. My real feelings are right here on the surface. I'm just grateful she'll FINALLY be able to hear in that ear!

Getting beeeetter...

I can do this! I forgot! I DID learn a lot in '08. Query is shaping up. Need to take bathroom break and do dishes but then I'll clean it up and repost at AW.

Lex Luthor asks for a handout

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm from Jon Hamm

Just tired

Sorry for the depressed entry yesterday. Maybe a lot of my problem is that I'm tired from a busier - than - usual work load.

I need to get back on the saddle. Don't get me wrong, my fears and frustrations are still here. It's just that writing is in my blood and I couldn't stop if I tried.

OK. 1st off, I need to apply the points from Absolute Write I can't argue. The query never got the "un-stiffen treatment" my novel got. I need to reinvent it again. Clean it up and send it out. This includes clarifying the dangers, motivations and deepening Ann's voice in the query.

2nd, I need to schedule time each night for some writing activity.

That's all for now. Gotta get to work.

Quit?

I'm so tired. People talk about my word count being too big. They tell me I'm Middle Grade. They tell me a lot. I try and try but they still tell me things.

And who are they? Most aren't published. They quote rules and say everyone is an exception but I'd be stupid to buck the system. I choke on advice.

And published authors? Do they follow me? They add me on Twitter or follow me on Absolute Write, but never think to help me. They live the dream but I'm not worth it.

Everyone says "Don't quit" but why? I'm sick of it.

My fire has finally gone out. I never have the time required to work on the craft and when I do it's the same road blocks. Maybe I'll never learn. Maybe I'm a fool.

What the hell was I thinking?

Annabelle's no good. I'm no good.

All I wanted was to share her. Maybe lift kids up or allow them a moment's distraction.

I've lost.

42

GAH!

Ah well. It was a nice birthday. We had balloons, a great cake, a wonderful dinner and some relaxation with the fam. They even cleaned the house for me. Very nice of them! Days like this makes me feel special.

Love you guys!

Thoughts on work after the contract

"Prepare Yourself for Success" by Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent.

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/03/prepare-yourself-for-success.html


Whew! When I read this I got depressed. I know my family would support me, but so much work will come! Am I ready? No. Will I be? No clue.

I've got to get ready.

Last night I took a long walk, pondering the fearful future that a writing contract would mean while at the same time pondering all my resent rejections and the possibility that maybe no one wants Annabelle. Well after all that swimming in my head I was ready to throw in the towel.

But I took a deep look inside me. I thought of what it would mean to not be published. What if it never happened? What if I did quit?

I realized that I can't stop the stories. If I never planned on getting them out there, if I never had a reason to perfect the craft, I'd still gravitate towards the Parodyverse or other sites where I could write.

Why?

Because many, many stories run through my head. Everything and anything sets them up and they create on their own. Maybe I'm codependent but I have this wild need (ever sense I discovered writing for others) to share my stories.

So if I quit this foolish dream where I only half get what would really happen if I became a published author, if I quit this, I'd still write stories. Only after all is said and done, I'd think on the few requests I got back in '06 and wonder. What if?

I'm not going to quit. I'm considerably pessimistic about the whole thing, but I wont quit.

Truth is, Rachelle Gardner is correct. If a miracle happens and I do get a contract, there will be deadlines just to name one problem. Deadlines while striving to keep my full time job and still know my family.
What I can do now is help my future self by getting an extra jump on those deadlines and perfecting the craft.

Book two of Annabelle needs heavy editing.
My "store" project needs to be written.
My "fantasy" project needs to be written.
Book 3 of Annabelle needs to be both edited and written.

I've got a long way to go so and only evenings and weekends to do it. I need to make a schedule. Pick certain days and weeks to work on writing, editing and submitting.

More later as I try this.

Eath-23 was uncharted!

Watch out regular readers, I'm going to geek out for a moment...


Just watched Batman Brave and the Bold. He teems up with Red Hood from an unnamed Earth (who we know is the Joker of that world) to fight the Injustice Syndicate.

At the beginning of the episode Red Hood sends out a calling card to Earth-23. After the commercial, we're back in the regular Brave and the Bold universe where we finally see the Bat cave get to see several tributes to the Batman concepts. Bats finds Red Hood's marker.

So now it's official! The Brave and the Bold cartoon takes place on Earth-23. Being a grade- A nerd, I had to check the running list to see if Earth-23 had been charted under the current 52 Earths...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DC_Multiverse_worlds

If you scroll down to "The 52" (that's the current Multiverse for DC Comics) you'll see that Earth-22 is home to the Kingdom Come world and Earth-26 is Captain Carrot's Earth. 23-25 is uncharted!

So this is the first ever cartoon to comic official crossover. I mean I realize they never went to the other worlds, but they get a number. I personally think that's cool.

Now I'm not sure what Earth this toon version of the Crime Syndicate are from, but it could be Earth-24. That still leaves room for others.

In the last scene of the preview you see Brave and the Bold Bats fighting another Batman. Sure, it's probably Owlman in disguise, but look closely at the colors. The blue is darker, there is more shadow and the gray is a tiny bit darker. It looks just like Batman from the Batman Animated series. They wouldn't dare. Would they? I would go crazy excited if they did.

I should say this episode was great. From the bad heroes vs good villains to the tributes to Adam West Bats and Micheal Keaton Bats. They even through in a tribute to Marvel Zombies (a concept I never liked). Earth 161 was the zombie world but the real Marvel Universe is Earth 616. Get it? OK, you had to be there.

It'll be great to see Joker next week as he'll be the first Bat villain we've had (except Kite Man).


... ok, geeking moment done.

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

Harry Potter 6 Set Visit

Marvel Legends RIP

Looking at Hasbro's display pics for both the NY Comic Con and the Toy Fair, seems Hasbro has decided to go in different directions.

It sucks that we never got a better Scarlet Witch or Ultron. It sucks that there are several figures we'll never get (so many from Klaw to Captain Marvel II). It sucks we'll never see so many Build-a-figures we'd want, like a quinjet or Eternity or Grandmaster.

But with the economy as bad as it is, and so much goodness from the DC side of the fence, I probably couldn't afford any more anyway.

I've settled myself to getting Tigra and Nova. I hope they still plan on selling them at retail. Online will sky rocket if Wal-Mart doesn't get Tigra's assortment.

Ah well. We got way more than we ever dreamed we ever would. Thank you Toy Biz and Hasbro. Shame it died, but it was a fun ride.

Twitter Updates ------->

I hope you silent watchers are watching my Twitter Updates over there on the right side. I may not keep this blog as updated as I should, or cover all the things that go on in my life here, but I do there. I update Twitter at least 3 times a day.
Why so much? Because it's fast and easy. Two things I like in a quick journal entry.