Stefan's Place

Publications!

2011-10-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

Since I've been somewhat remiss with my blogging duties, here are some updates:

The Dragon Bone Curse is up at Mirror Dance.

Also Volume 2 Issue 4 of The Fringe features my flash piece Alice's Asylum.

Check 'em out, folks.

Versatile Blogging and Life

2011-10-26T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hey, ya'll. It's been a while since I posted anything, but rest assured that I am alive and kicking and that I'll return to posting regular updates on my writing endeavors (c'mon, I know there's at least FOUR of you reading this blog... Right? ... Right?).

Things have been chaotic. I haven't been feeling all that well lately. While far from being sorted out the matters that threw my life into chaos still buzz around and wait for a chance to bite me in the rear. But that's cool. I learned to deal with it. So without further ado...

My bud Redux from Hatrack decided to award me the Versatile Blogger Award, which, when you think about it, is kinda cool. It stands to testify that my blog doesn't completely suck (huzzah!).

(Drum roll, please..)

Now I have to post seven things about myself, because that's how they roll in Versatile Blogger land. There's a lot of weird and funny stuff to know about me... So, I handpicked them for you. Yeah, I am that nice.

Here goes:

1. I am fluent in four languages.
2. I play Go and Shogi.
3. I recently bought a Kindle and named it Selene.
4. I am an encyclopedia of trivia nobody gives a damn about.
5. I made a kitten poop in my friend's lap (true story).
6. I have more books in my house than shelves to house them.
7. I love Iron Maiden.

That would be it, I guess. Of course there's a lot of news, publications and general weirdness that I am going to post about soon.

Now it's time to take a shower and write a new story.

DARK GOTHIC RESURRECTED SUMMER ISSUE 2011

2011-07-12T02:13:00.000-07:00

The summer issue of DRG Magazine, which features my short story "The Dollmaster" is now available!
Nab your copy (either print or PDF) here.

I am off to read my free contributor's copy.

My Rockstar Moment

2011-07-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the movies with a couple of friends. We were going to watch X-MEN: FIRST CLASS.

I love going to the movies. DVDs are great, but nothing replaces a dark room and popcorny goodness. So I get seated and start prematurely munching the aforementioned popcorny goodness. The lights are still on, mind you.
A few moments later a guy walks up to me and tells me he knows me from my blog picture.

Of course that prompted a mental "what the fuck".

People usually don't get recognized because of their blog. Some do. Like Scalzi. But I am not Scalzi. Scalzi is Scalzi. I am scruffy dude who likes pasta.

So we shake hands and he tells me that someone posted a link to my story "Flawed" on Facebook. He liked the story and told me I was a fine writer. That was beyond flattering. Please bear in mind that writers aren't into the writing gig because of fame (not that one guy recognizing you is "fame", but it's a pleasant surprise nonetheless). I love what I do and comments such as these make me feel warm and fuzzy.

It was a great experience. I certainly write to write more cool stories that people will enjoy!

Research, research... and then some more research

2011-06-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

The research bug bit me.

I have a nice story stewing up in my cerebrum, but certain esthetic and cultural things in the story require tons of research.

Things which I have already looked up on Wikipedia or have already Googled:

1. Chinese naming conventions
2. Chinese male-female relationships
3. Chinese grandparents
4. Beijing
5. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
6. Gymnast exercises
7. Gymnast tools/props
8. Chinese parents
9. Transport in Beijing
10. The Robot Localization Problem

...and that's just for a short story. It may sound like a pain, but I love learning and I love research. Often one research topic leads to another and another and... Well, domino effect, anyone?

Research is imperative. If this story becomes published, people who are very knowledgeable about a subject mentioned within the narrative may read it. If I screw up they are going to remember. I don't want to be branded as the guy who didn't do his homework.

I am on my way to the library, folks. Have a nice day...

Eric James Stone Serializes UNFORGETTABLE

2011-06-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hello there, Ladies and Gents!

Kick back in your favorite recliner (armchairs or couches are fine too,) and let me tell you something awesome.

I am going to venture as far as to speculate that you like books. I will also brazenly assume that you like books of the SF/F variety. If that is so, you'd probably like to know that Nebula and Writers of the Future winner Eric James Stone is serializing his novel UNFORGETTABLE on his website. For free. Because that's how he rolls. You can also buy the complete novel on his site, if you don't want to wait.

If your reading appetite has been whetted check out the teaser:

Out of sight, out of mind. Due to a fluke of quantum mechanics, no one can remember Nat Morgan for more than a minute after he’s gone. It’s a useful ability for his career as a CIA agent, even if he has to keep reminding his boss that he exists. But Nat leads a lonely life, unable to connect with anyone for a lasting relationship, until he gets handcuffed to Yelena Semyonova, a thief working for the Russian mob. Nat and Yelena must work together to stop a ruthless billionaire from finishing a quantum supercomputer that will literally control the fate of the world.

I was hooked after the first chapter. So if you like some free reading from a top-notch author no less, check it out here.

Story Sale: "The Dragon Bone Curse" to Mirror Dance

2011-05-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

Writer and editor Megan Arkenberg just informed me that my fantasy story "The Dragon Bone Curse" will be featured in the Autumn issue of Mirror Dance.

I am delighted, since it is a fine e-zine.

Yay!

Story Sale: "Thinking One Move Ahead" to Golden Visions

2011-05-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

My Science Fiction Go story "Thinking One Move Ahead" will be featured in the fall print issue of Golden Visions!

I am pretty excited since this story is about Go, my chief delight next to writing.

Time to open that bottle of champagne. Or that bottle of Cola. Flat Cola. Half empty bottle.

Yeah, I am broke.

Closet Writers

2011-05-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief, it t takes a lot of guts to be a writer. No fairy godparents, no magic wand - guts.

Today I was hanging out with two friends after college. I know them both for three years now, and we hang out during recess or after classes, having a beer.

One of them needed to return a book to the University library so we waited in front. I was carrying a short story manuscript. I tend to edit my stories during the... less interesting courses. Be as it may, it seems that carrying a manuscript promted her to open up.

"You know," she said, "I also write, but I don't dare to show it to anyone."

That came as somewhat of a surprise. I didn't expect that. It's not that I pidgeonholed her in any way. I was rather pleasantly surprised.

So we part ways and me and my other friend start heading home. Another revelation. She writes as well. Screenplays, novels - the whole nine yards.

And why didn't I know? She feels not ready to show it to anyone.

Boy, do I know the feeling. When I am writing something, while the words flow from the mind onto the page, it seems brilliant. Later as I start editing I become more nitpicky. More anxious. That's the way it goes with every story.

I believe it's the best story ever and that it sucks. Simultaneously. Yeah, pretty Golum.

Now, their fear, I think, stems from this erroneous belief that "making things up" isn't what adults do. Society tries to hammer it into our heads: grow up. While we all eventually must assume responsibility to grow into respectable adults, we are rarely encouraged to channell our creative abilities. I am pretty sure that they love what they do and nobody wants to see their hobby being ridiculed by others.

But I'll open that can of worms another time.

Sure, my friends don't feel ready to show their work to me, but I won't pressure them. I am just happy to know that there are people in my environment with whom I can share the thing I love.

A Somewhat Atypical Monday Morning

2011-05-23T00:25:00.000-07:00

*slurps tea while checking email

Oh, golly, gee an editor's e-mail! Probably a rejection.

*click

[paraphrased]

Darn good story! We could manage to squeeze this into the next issue! Mind changing the ending a bit?

*spurts tea

WHERE IS THE DRAFT, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE?!

Oh, it's in the writing folder.

I'll keep you posted.

Short Story Pick: "Malfunction" by Jennifer Campbell-Hicks (Raygun Revival #4)

2011-05-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Lieutenant Everett Monson thought that it was going to be just another boring day, but when a sentient android interrupts ship repairs he's in for a nasty surprise.

The android claims it's the father of interstellar flight.

Let's get down to brass tacks, folks.
This is science fiction how I like it: thought provoking, concise and punchy. The time travel and futuristic society gig has been done to death, but it's the fresh take on the subject that makes or breaks a story that uses those tropes, and Campbell-Hicks does not disappoint with "Malfunction".

So, to summarize:

Androids, space-flight, androids, time travel.

Read it.

Fired Up

2011-05-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

The proverbial muse just tongue-kissed me because today has been the great day of mental unclogging.

In the end I decided to start over with a new story and it just so happened that a lot of my ideas (which accumulated earlier) came together like puzzle pieces (if you'll excuse the contrite phrase).
It feels great, and to be quite honest, those things never cease to amaze me. I spent my weekend agonizing and rewriting the same passages over and over again, and as soon I decided to relax everything comes together.

This is going to be a bittersweet story about loss, friendship and... well, bones. Yeah I am being deliberately vague.

Anyway, time to write!

Banging my Head on my Keyboard

2011-05-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

Little update:

My story Flawed is now up at An Electric Tragedy. I find myself in excellent company. Go and check out their first issue.

Sometimes it's hard. Really hard. Today I woke up had a nice breakfast and set down to unleash some literary awesomeness. The only thing I unleashed was a copious amount of deleting, saving, editing and teeth grinding. I have the story in my head. It's just that at times it becomes difficult to put it down on paper.

Oh, there's times when the muse is in my lap and feeding me plums. The words seem to roll out and before I even notice it I have 1000 or 2000 words written. Then, there's days like today when you stare at the blinking cursor and think ungentlemanly thoughts about your predicament.

But let's not get sidetracked here people. The muse is just a convenient excuse to buckle down, close your word processor and watch Firefly (come to think of it I have the Firefly DVD somewhere around here... No, no, NO!). It's important to have a writing habit. You can always edit later. Sooner or later the block will vanish. It's important to detect the problem and root it out.

For example I decided to spend some extra time writing today. I might have fallen into the trap of uber-motivation. Pressure can fuel your writing, but it can also hinder it.

That being said, I got to return to my newest Sword and Sorcery tale.

Have a nice 1st of May, folks.

Story Sale: "Flawed" to An Electric Tragedy

2011-04-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

Just got word from the editor of An Electric Tragedy that my SF story "Flawed" will be featured in their first issue.
Needless to say I am pretty excited.

Special thanks to James Lecky whose blog post directed me to the magazine!

Game Of Thrones: My thoughts on the first episode

2011-04-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Before I get to do my review let me tell you that I am a "A Song of Ice and Fire" fanboy. So there will be spoilers.

Anyway, a common complaint many of my friends had with the show is that it isn't faithful to the show in some aspects... To which I have to say:

-It's a TV adaption
-I beg to differ

The biggest challenge adapting a book is to nail down the mood and the character. Seeing the first scene I was instantly hooked. Yeah some things aren't EXACTLY like in the books, but there are special scenes which simply convey some relationships and character traits with great brevity. Mind you, we are talking about a 600-700 pages of book material being crammed into ten episodes. There's also no introspection so the makers have to do a lot of showing (the look Caitlin gave John somewhere at the beginning sent shivers down my spine).

That being said, I did miss some of Vyseris's wrath. The Dothraki feast was rough and visceral, but a tad cheesy. But compared to the performances of the cast (especially Peter Dinklage) those cheesy bits don't bother me as much. Cercei seems to be the tragic heroine, not the haughty, self important Queen. Well, it's only the first episode, so it's early to judge.

In the end we had a lot of great scenery. Lots of groundwork covered. Loved the music.

I am positively hooked, ladies and gents, and as far as I can tell the show has received quite some acclaim.

Of course the show also garnered the attention of some detractors. Yeah, people had sex in the medieval ages. Imagine that.

Looking forward to the next episode.

Story Sale: "Alice's Asylum" to The Fringe Magazine

2011-04-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

My flash fiction story "Alice's Asylum" has been accepted by The Fringe Magazine.

Check it out here.

Short Story Pick: "Love, Resurrected" by Cat Rambo (Beneath Ceaseless Skies #65)

2011-04-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I am ashamed to say that I only knew Cat Rambo as one of the Fantasy Magazine editors. The name stuck, and I decided to check out her story in issue #65 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

I was delighted.

Love, Resurrected is a bleak story of love and the essence of humanity.

General Aife Crofadottir is a weary old commander coerced into the service of the sorcerer Balthus who is bizarrely infatuated with her. When the mysterious Falcon compromises Balthus's authority Aife has to step in to defend her Lord's realm.

The setting is dark and shiver-inducing, making this a fine Dark Fantasy story. The creatures in Balthus's coterie give a nice twist to the mythology of the Chimera and serve to populate the barren and warped lands of the story.

Aife is quite the interesting character, clinging to Balthus's strange love, never quite sure what his intentions are. It is one of the rare things that makes her feel human.

This story is well written, suspenseful and filled with a dark melancholy that will follow you for days. As for the ending... I was satisfied with it, although it was unconventional, but in a good way.

Check it out. Seriously.

Boon Companions

2011-04-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Writing can be a lonely gig. The entire act of writing is in fact, quite solitary-you sit in your room with your writing device of choice and put words on the paper. And sometimes, you just don't. Then you snarl at your cat. And it snarls back. But sometimes it just gives you a look that seems to say "Seriously, dude?"

No wonder that writing (and painting) is THE creative endeavor that is shrouded in myths and creepy half-truths.

Of course, I do it because I enjoy it, but it would be rough without friends, who are willing to lend an ear from time to time. Forum advice and commiseration are a part of everyday life for the aspiring writer, but sitting down with your friends over a cup of coffee and talking about writing (and other stuff) has its own unique charm.

Today I was hanging out at my favorite coffee place. It's stylish without being stuck up. My kind of place. Their prices are affordable too-and yes, that is an important factor.

So I was talking with my friend. We played a couple of Go matches, discussed some TV shows and talked about writing. He's a poet. I check out some of his poems. We discuss the historical accurateness of the "The Tudors". Standard stuff.

Another friend joins us later. We exchange comics and DVDs. I critique her newest fiction vignettes. We had a blast.

Moments like these recharge one's emotional batteries, which are crucial for writers (and their sanity. Well... for most of the part).

So here's to everyone out there, the Hatrackers, the MSNers, the IRLers, my blog followers, my friends and family....

Thank you. You rock.

Pulp it Up!

2011-03-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

You may view this post as a love confession of sorts. And no, I don't feel neither flustered nor embarrassed about it, it's a love that's been nurtured and embraced for a long time.

I love the pulps. A part of me regrets never holding an issue of Weird Tales or Black Mask in my hands; only to feel the pulpy, low-cost paper, to smell the odor of a well read rag.

It is also no secret that two great pulp champions Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft are two of my favorite writers in the horror and SF/F. Some of the practices of the old pulp writers are being lampooned today (ah yes, the famous said-bookisms), but one cannot deny the love that was put into writing those stories (or the rapping on your door, made by some enraged landlord, no doubt, but that's another story entirely).

The fictioneers of the golden age of pulp have had a loyal audience. The fact that those handy little volumes sold up to a million copies per issue just proves how much the U.S. of the 20's and 30's loved its "lurid" subject matter (and during the Great Depression you had better something that would give you a healthy dose of escapism from time to time).

The 20th and 21st century repackaged the pulp.
A proper example would be Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece Pulp Fiction. The best way to describe the movie would be... Let's say you picked up an issue of Black Mask in movie format. Add some of Tarantino's quirky dialogue, non-linear narration and you got yourself a masterpiece (in fact if you didn't watch it, do so. Now. Yes, you.)

I don't consider the word "pulp" derogatory. It's a word that has a rich and significant history.

Rejection

2011-03-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

Since my last post was about a story sale, I think it would be only fair to make one about rejection.
So let's get the most obvious part out of they way here:

Rejection stings.

Even if it is a encouraging one, when all is said and done, you'll feel like a kid who dropped his ice cone and watched that yummy vanilla gelato turn to a yellowish splotch on the ground. But facing rejection is a good thing. I know countless writers who never turn their stories in. That's understandable. Some people just write for themselves, or for recreation. And that's fine. Others though, find comfort in the fact that they could submit if they wanted to.

The grubby truth is, that rejection is a part of everyday life for a writer. Collecting rejection slips has always been somewhat of a sport and that in itself is great. If you are a good sport you will tuck that rejection away and fire that story off to another market.

Believe me, a good rejection is going to make you sit down and think some things through. Learning to cope with rejection will not only improve your writing, but also it will make you grow as a person, if you can draw a valuable lesson from your mistakes.

Story Sale: "The Dollmaster" to DARK GOTHIC RESURRECTED

2011-03-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

You know that dreadful, yet exciting feeling when you open your inbox and see an editor's email waiting to be read, perky like a rat in liverwurst?

This time around the excitement didn't turn sour. My story "The Dollmaster" will appear in the July issue of Dark Gothic Resurrected!

I am pretty excited. I'd like to thank everyone who helped me with critiques and suggestions! Without the Hatrack River crowd this never would never happened!

I am in your debt!

A Reply, in Limerick form

2011-02-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

There was a writer named Joe,
Who went with the flow,
Replied to the post of Grin,
Much to the detractors chagrin,
And to him I humbly bow.

In his reply, Abercrombie picks up the glove and responds to Grin's initial post. Reasonable and witty. Great post Joe.

Where the Fantasy Genre is heading

2011-02-15T18:19:00.000-08:00

So, I was delving through the vast depths of the internet when suddenly I stumbled upon an article linked by Pat's Fantasy Hotlist.

The article, written by Leo Grin, is a literal bashing of modern fantasy, using some rather unflattering vocabulary to describe today's fantasy staple.

Now, I consider myself a fairly reasonable guy, and therefore, I will refrain from a frothy fanboyish defense, because as a keyboard warrior there is only so much one can do, and in the end likes and dislikes are a tricky thing.

That being said, Grin's article did make me roll my eyes a few times.

First of all, neither Tolkien nor Howard have been forgotten; if you do your homework and look up some of the current fantasy writers you'll realize that many of them have been influenced by them. They set the bar pretty high and while I admire both of them I have to say that a genre that constantly repeats tropes is bound to stagnate, even turn into a parody of itself.

I am sorry, if you can't stomach words like "fuck" or "shit", then read Feist or Eddings. Both are fantastic authors and they don't use profanity in their works.

As for the violence... Well the middle ages were a rough time to live in (as most epic fantasy settings are based on medieval Europe), so I can understand the grittiness of it. I am against pointless violence, but to say that the death of, let's say, The Weakest in Abercrombie's second book of THE FIRST LAW was pointless or not properly mourned is hogwash.

Of course, Grin is conveniently omitting the other side of the story to support his argument. What about Patrick Rothfuss? Or Brandon Sanderson? Anyone who read THE NAME OF THE WIND or any of the MISTBORN books can tell you that they are packed with heroism, aren't as gritty, and have gripping characters.

Bottom line: the fantasy genre is changing. And that's a good thing. Spice keeps the broth from being bland and as a changing and expanding genre fantasy is bound to gain more followers. It may lose some, but no one said that you are obliged to like anything new that comes out: find your niche and stick with it, if you have to.

Neil Gaiman on Piracy

2011-02-12T04:59:00.000-08:00

Neil Gaiman voices some interesting thoughts on copyright and piracy, which resonate with my own. Downloading does not mean that folks aren't buying. I know. Shock and awe.

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown

2011-02-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

So, it's been maybe two weeks since I watched the free documentary Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown.

Needless to say: it's great. I am an avid Lovecraft fan myself and approached this movie critically, but it sucked me in as soon as it started. I mean a documentary about Lovecraft featuring big names such as Neil Gaiman, Guillermo Del Toro, Caitlin Kiernan and the leading Lovecraft authority S.T. Joshi? Sign me up.

The documentary touches upon Lovecraft's life as an individual and why he became the man as we know him today. And by that I don't mean a penny-dreadful writer who inspired and influenced the entire horror genre, but the relentless bigot who lived a sheltered life. I, for my part always found Lovecraft to be a man of contradictions; particularly because of his relationship with Sonia Greene (who, in the end, did a lot to mellow his attitude).

Although he mentions him being "a product of his time", the movie maker also takes the matter further, exploring the nature of his mother, an aspect I have always found sorely underestimated when discussing Lovecraft's life.

Those who appreciate Lovecraft will appreciate this documentary; it is a comprehensive study about his life and work, analyzing his style and best works. The only part I found to be lacking was the proper elaboration about his correspondence with Robert E. Howard, but that again, is a topic deserving of its own documentary.

The overall tone is also terrific, featuring low-key music and some astonishing artwork.

Check it out. I know you want to. And if you liked the documentary here is the link to an interview with the director, Frank Woodward, hosted by Suvudu.

Conan the Shakespeareian

2011-01-31T01:36:00.000-08:00

Today I bought The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and a Conan anthology.

The bookstore clerk gave me a rather wry smile.

The Picture of Dorian Fail: On the Silver Screen

2011-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

So, I just watched The Picture of Dorian Gray (2009).

I love Oscar Wilde's novel and could only shake my head contemptuously if I were pressed to compare it to Oliver Parker's misbegotten realization.

Although it shows a lot of promise in the beginning the film sadly degenerates into some inbred soft porn-b horror movie cross-genre flick. And as if it was not enough that we're constantly reminded just how often Dorian gets laid, the dismal mess is peppered by an uneven performance on the part of Ben Barnes, who simply can't decide if he is a whiny, spoiled brat or a brooding, self-indulgent noble. While I realize that his image has been somewhat twisted to make him appeal to a wider audience (basically martyrizing him at times) the constant mood swings don't seem realistic nor well acted. For each scene that is well-acted there is an immediate, whiny, melodramatic follow-up.

The only actor who seems to deliver, and does so with ease, is Colin Firth, of Pride and Prejudice fame. He's got the walk and talk of Henry Wotton. Well-spoken and witty-perfect.

The plot changes wouldn't have bothered me as much if they hadn't dragged the whole thing into eternity. In fact, the movie itself seems rather confused about its own genre; we've got the spooky picture which leans to the old Hammer films, the Victorian Hugh Hefner party and in the next scene you see genteel folks strangling each other (which seems to be the favored modus operandi of the movie's characters).

For all his good intentions, the director seemed to have tried making a movie that will do well in the box office, focusing at the same time on far too many aspects of conflict. It doesn't add up; it weakens the movie.

The theme of the original novel is also diluted; Dorian's love for Wotton's daughter triggers a catharsis; in the end we see him as the romantic hero who has learned his lesson, not the self-tortured individual that by prolonging his life lost youth itself. The aesthetics of art and the meaning of art seems to have been as a theme altogether.

Of course, I realize that there are different interpretations to both the novel and the movie, and my review is subjective. But I really tried to like this movie. Too bad that it didn't work for me.

As always, I am open to discussion.

Short Story Pick: "Salt of the Earth" by Mary Robinette Kowal (Redstone Science Fiction #4)

2011-01-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

Mary Robinette Kowal's one of the great, new authors out there. In fact she's so successful that I feel uncomfortable referring to her as a new author. In 2008 she won the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and has continued to churn out wonderful stories.

Salt of the Earth
is a prime example of her prowess as an author. This is SF how I like it; believable characters, an interesting setting, a plot-related focus on science without pretentious over-explaining.

On a planet where salt has become a valuable and rare resource, Melia, a mother of two, struggles to endure her ex-husbands meddlesome behavior. All she wants is to live in peace with her daughter Dora and her autistic son Nikolas. When it becomes her ex-husband's turn to take care of the kids something unexpected happens, that will change her life forever.

Short, suspenseful and adorned with a great setting, this story combines some of the best traits of the SF short story. A delightful read, with a dark ending.

SPOILER ALERT:

The only nit I have to pick with this story is that although the mother's grief is quite realistic, the anger over losing a child doesn't come through to me.

Goals and Desires

2011-01-14T04:44:00.000-08:00

One thing writers get hammered into their heads, virtually all the time, is that an interesting characters needs to want something.

As with any rule, people tend to interpret this one differently. A fellow writer friend of mine complained to me that he had received many critiques in the past which noted that his main character lacked a goal. Having read some of his drafts I
remembered that many of his characters were marked with wanderlust and a need to do something good for others.

I gave it some thought and decided that these "goals" or "wants" can be divided into two levels:

Goals (Personal level)
Desire (Less personal level)

Goals permeate the whole work. They should be something which ushers the character into action (love, revenge, thirst for knowledge, survival etc). Desires can be momentary need, a stumbling stone that prevents the character from reaching his goal (hunger and thirst for example).

As such, wanderlust can be viewed as something the character develops in order to pursue his or her goal.

Just my 2¢.

Weird Writing

2011-01-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

When it comes to my working environment I am downright conservative: desk, laptop, headphones (coupled with a selected soundtrack) and a bottle of Cola or Sprite if I can afford it (read: haul my butt to the gas station at 1 AM).

That was the only way I could write, period, end, take it to the bank. Until today.

Today, I went through commuting hell-the present day equivalent of crossing the goddamn river Styx. Long story short: the bus was too small, it was stuffy and a lot of folks had to stand through the whole ride. Did I mention that most of them were sweaty? Because they were.

To be fair, who can blame them? They, after all, weren't responsible for the deplorable state of disrepair the bus was in (I am looking at YOU Teslic Prevoz) so everyone was a bit on edge.

I was lucky enough to get a sitting place so I kept myself busy sending out a few sms messages. The day before I had a really cool idea for a scene that might evolve into a short story. It was about a witch being tortured by an overly serious mage and an overly affable torturer. The dialogue had a nice Tarantino slant to it and I could load the first two pages with hooks.

So I set down to write it. On my phone (it's a Sony Ericsson C510). It was great. I was able to dive into it as if I was sitting at my laptop at home. I just plunged into the story and wrote 3-4 pages, give or take.

I should really try to train myself to utilize more "hostile" writing environments. I wrote one story on a typewriter and saluted to the likes of Heinlein and Asimov.
What about the days when they wrote longhand? Or the folks who still do? Tolstoy's wife churned out 7 handwritten drafts for him.

I am grateful for this experience. After all, writing time is precious... We, as writers, have to do our best to make it count.

On Modern Myth

2010-12-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I experienced something truly incredible and unique.

In front of my eyes, I saw a modern myth in the making. It was almost enough to make me choke on my cola, mind you. In fact, it's a bit less transcendental and a lot more geeky than it sounds, but, for me, it is a phenomenon worth of note.

So, I was sitting in a cafe with some of my friends. They are good friends and I've been neglecting them for some time because of my studies. Feeling rather guilty I decided to go out with them for a night on the town. As we chattered away about this and that, somehow the discussion had been steered into the realms of World of Warcraft.

I silently sipped my coke. I am not much of an MMO player. My internet connection is iffy at best and frankly, I don't think I could dedicate myself to such a game. Suddenly, my friends started talking about another friend of mine. Let's call him Bob. They started talking about Bob's exploits and accomplishments in WOW in a way people refer to some deity. Mind you, it was not the bland type of PWNAGE talk you usually hear. There was genuine wonder in their voices. Everyone chipped in a tale of Bob's heroics and most of them had their own versions. Whether it was his ability to spot critical game glitches or his incredible memory when it came to remembering game facts or strategies; everyone agreed that Bob is the child of Chuck Norris and Red Sonya, born out of wedlock (at least when WOW was concerned).

Apparently the man was able to slay elite players with nothing more than a rusty sword and some tattered rags on himself. His secret? A clever array of talents coupled with insane planning.

I perked up. I was not interested in WOW, but rather in the way the whole conversation went down. Imagine such a scene happening... Gee... In the Middle Ages? A group of friends gather in the local alehouse and exchange tales of an invincible hero. They compete, they argue. Who's got the story right? Who's going to tell it in the most engaging way? It was the most ancient way of telling a story, heck, of forging a myth. It reminded me the first chapter of Patrick Rothfuss's "The Name of the Wind" (which would make me the smith's prentice. Goddamnit).

Soon I found myself swallowing these stories. I laugh at how clever Bob could be at times. However I don't know WHAT to believe. But I don't really care, in the end. I had fun socializing and I realized that myths will never die.

People need the Hero. People need myths. They may appear in a video game. During work. At the grocery shop. Anywhere. Myths manifest in every layer of our society.

I enjoyed the evening. We shared something special that night.

You are encouraged to relate your own experiences. ;)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T02:43:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again.

No, the IRS is not knocking on my door (and I hope they will never have a reason to). It's Christmas! I hope all of you have a jolly time with your loved ones and get a bunch of cool gifts.

And to got with the mood, here's a link to "A Christmas Carrol" by Charles Dickens.

Enjoy!

2011 New Year Resolutions

2010-12-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

I've never been one to prattle about New Year's resolutions.

Don't get me wrong; most people who go through with this deserve my full respect. My problem lies in the simple fact that I know too many smokers who didn't quit, too many friends who have botched diets, too many... you name it. So it's easy to become a bit jaded about all these resolutions, but I decided that I'll set out to break that jinx for good.

Here's my list of New Year's resolutions (insert obligatory fanfare here):

1. Write 25 new short stories in 2011

25 is a solid goal, meaning I have to average somewhat of 2 short stories per month. It's a manageable goal if I stay diligent (and NaNoWriMo has shown me that I can.)

For the sake of comparison, here's my list of achievements in 2010:

2 Novelettes
6 Short Stories
2 Flash Fiction stories
1 Novel

Which altogether makes some 98000 words for this year. Put together that would be a goodish length for your average novel but if we run those numbers through the calculator that means that I wrote 268 words per day (give or take). I know I can do more. A lot more. Which brings me to my next point...

2. 1000 words a day

As outlined in Stephen King's "On Writing" I'll write 1000 words a day with one day. Given that the year has 52 weeks that means I get 52 days of rest (this may change though because if I happened to become ill or anything of the sort).
On thing that NaNo teaches you is that YOU CAN DO IT, so I am fairly confident that I can live up to this.

3. Have more submissions out

That will go hand in hand with my "25 stories" resolution. Currently, I am having 3 stories out, but that's not nearly enough. Having 10 stories out for consideration would be a nice start for 2011.

4. Do more critiques

I maybe did a little bit more than 10 critiques this year. Having my stories critiqued, I consider it a point of honor to return the favor (after all, we writers must help each other out).

5. More short story picks and book reviews for the blog

As it is, I have 2 short story picks and no book review posted. Granted, this blog is still in its fledgling state, but I'd definitely like to have more posted.

6. Buff up my science knowledge

In the first half of 2010 I've been somewhat remiss with my non-fictional reading (history and hard sciences mostly). A writer needs to be somewhat of a polymath so there's no time to be slacking around.

7. Organize the files on my desktop computer

I keep my new Acer tidy but the desktop PC... Ugh.

8. Get some credentials

That's a definite must, for every new writer. I have to place my work in the English speaking market, no matter what. I'd often toyed with the idea to start out with small presses but I discarded that thought almost immediately. I'll start with the pro-paying ones and work my way through Duotrope.

9. Learn a new word every day

There're folks like Ernest Hemingway or Clarke Ashton Smith who read entire dictionaries. Me? I am going to take it a little bit easier and aim for a new word every day. Vocabulary increase, ahoy!

As you can see, all these resolutions are more or less connected to writing. I've a different list for other things, but that may be the topic of another blog posts.

You are encouraged to post or link your own resolution links.

Word of the Day!

2010-12-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

Words are pretty important for us writers (try to go somewhere in that novel without them, eh?) and so is increasing our vocabulary.

I rigged up a little gadget I found on the internet that displays the word of the day from Wordsmith.org.

Enjoy.

Short Story Pick: "Even a Rabbit Will Bite" by Rachel Caine (Dark and Stormy Knights)

2010-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Hooks are important in novels, but in my opinion, even more so in short stories. Rachel Caine excels at this part:

I got a letter from the Pope in the morning mail. Handwritten.

Only later we find out that the main character is an ancient retired dragon hunter, and a fairly grumpy one at that. The voice is very strong; thought a nagging, old lady of seventy was bad? Add a few scores of years to that.

Basically, the story is about how Lisel has to train and educate her successor, but there's more to that. The story teaches a valuable moral: never underestimate someone (although the title is a bit of a giveaway).

The plot twist isn't that surprising, but Caine makes up for that with interesting, fleshed-out characters whom you care about. It is also a nice blend between urban fantasy and the occasional snippet of fictional historical facts.
I definitely recommend it.

You can find this story in the Dark and Stormy Knights anthology by P.N. Elrod(pun alert).

Book Reviews upcoming!

2010-12-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

I added two new tabs. One will let you read my book reviews, the other my short story picks. Since I am a fairly voracious reader except some nifty reviews soon.

Enjoy.

Gallumphing update

2010-12-12T03:33:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago my old, beloved Siemens Amilo laptop decided to just give me s bunch of colorful hodge-podge on its screen. Now, don't get me wrong, I am all pro-colorful hodge-podge, but when it essentially screws up my laptop I tend to have an issue with it. Luckily my hard disc survived and I am typing this blog post on my new Acer. It's a really sexy model. I like the sound the keyboard is making as I type. Rawr.

Ahem.

So, after two weeks of hiatus here's an update:

I won NaNoWrimo

You wouldn't believe it, but I finished the novel just the day before my old laptop kicked the bucket. "A Different Darkness" is somewhat longer than 50k words and is a horror tale that'll have to languish in my drawer for now. It's bad. Seriously, you won't believe all the dirty tricks I had to pull to meet NaNo's beastly deadline. I almost resorted to Edgar Wallace's plot wheel. Almost. In the end, it was a fun, nerv-wrecking ride. Although I didn't write the best novel in the world, I learned a lot about pacing, deadlines, managing my time and "winging it". I even got a nifty diploma and virtual applause for all my efforts.

And now that I got my new laptop... time to do some writing.

Rippin' Zombie yarn: Highschool of the Dead

2010-11-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

Woohoo that title pun is almost half-suave.

As both an avid anime and horror fan I thought I'd give "High school of the Dead" a shot, and lo and behold, I was pleasantly surprised. Now, the zombie story has been done to death (another almost-amusing pun, seems like I am on a roll) starting from Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" all the way to things like "Cell" by Stephen King.

Lately however, many authors want to add that special twist to the concept, which results in a novel like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". Nowadays people try to portray zombies in ironic, satiric or just humorously; anything to evade the cliche of shambling undead who want to snack on your brain.

"High school of the Dead" takes the old trope and tries to distill its best qualities into each episode, and excels with ease. I for once, am delighted to see a proven formula in a well-executed manner. It's do or die, we or them, lead-pipe-to-the-zombie's-head or bye-bye-flesh.

The characters are interesting enough and there's a lot of tension between them. I am at episode four, and I think I'll devour the rest tonight as well.

In conclusion, I'll cite Pat Rothfuss:

Now to a certain extent whether you like fast or slow zombies is simply a matter of personal taste.
It’s like sex. Fast sex is different from slow sex. But they both have their good points. A quickie is fun. It’s a romp. It’s exciting. Slow sex is different. It’s an experience. It’s an adventure. It’s an African safari which necessitates the use of a special type of hat.
But while they both have their selling points, the fact remains that slow sex has a lot more style. More room for finesse. More opportunities to wear exciting hats.
The same thing is true with zombie movies. Everybody who isn’t all a total tightass enjoys a good zombie movie now and then, fast or slow. But ultimately, a slow zombie movie has a lot more style. More finesse. The purpose of a zombie movie is to scare you, and ultimately, slow zombies are more frightening.

Yep, I like my zombies slow too, Pat. As to how I like my sex... Well that's a topic for another blog.

Here's the opening for those who are interested:

Writing Excuses: Micro Podcast 2

2010-11-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

Another 15 intense minutes distilled into awesome advice by my favorite podcasters, and this time they are taking it to the hood (I can't believe I said that) tackling five issues in one episode.

The topics of this podcast are:

How do you do bad things to your heroes and not feel bad about it?
How far into writing a novel should you begin letting others read it and provide feedback?
Do the bad things you do to your characters always have to suit the story?
How do you design frightening creatures?
How far into the outlining process do you actually start writing?

Check out MicroPodcasting 2 at Writing Excuses!

Quick NaNoWriMo update...

2010-11-14T12:00:00.001-08:00

Managed around 4000 words today. Past 30k.

Feeling tired.

Short Story Pick: "The Bone House" by James Lecky (BCS Issue #20)

2010-11-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

"The Bone House" is a short story by one of my favorite authors, James Lecky.

Quick rundown:

Mikulas, a cursed boy, lives with his father in the forest, while a terrible war is being fought. His father a, a former sorcerer of some renown seeks to live in peace with his son until one day an uncalled visitor is washed to the bank of the river that is never silent, never still. Mikulas has a rather special hobby: He carves figurines out of bone.

A cold shudder crept down my neck after I had finished this story. It's strength lies in strong characterization, coupled with a drab and desolate setting that makes you care about the main character.

Lecky's prose sings without being too ornate, and "The Bone House" is no exception. Well chosen words, vivid metaphors, strong dialogue.

If you enjoy a dark Sword and Sorcery yarn, then this story is definitely worth a read. It is a delicious little morsel that will melt on your tongue. Tasty like chocolate but a whole lot healthier!

Realms of Fantasy comeback

2010-11-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

Realms of Fantasy, one of the most reputable venues for fantasy fiction, once again escaped the jaws of oblivion. Apparently, Damnation Books purchased the magazine from publisher Warren Lapine, who claimed that the magazine, considering the current economic climate, was beyond reviving.

For the writerly folks that means that the current December 2010 issue will be in print, instead of online only. The next issue after that is due February 2011, starting with the new publisher.

Some concerned is being voiced in the community about the future pay scale of the magazine, since Predators and Editors lists Damnation Books as "Not recommended".

I'd say we wait and see. Realms of Fantasy has been a market that cared about quality work and proper compensation and I think that they will keep up the good work. It gladdens my heart to know that they are not gone.

via [locusmag, rofmag]

New Writing Excuses episode is up!

2010-11-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

The lovely author trio discusses the creative process with John Brown!

You can find the podcast here.

That novel of yours...

2010-11-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

This video is one of my many motivations to complete this year's NaNoWriMo

Brian should totally try finishing that novel during NaNo.

New Header

2010-11-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

Oh God I despised the default header. It always sat at the top of the blog. Mocking me. Stabbing my eyes.

Well, I am lucky that my life-long friend Aleksandar Panic stood up, banged his fist at the table and said "Stefan's Place deserves a decent banner!" (well it was a tad less heroic. Okay I asked him to do it.).

By the way Aleksandar Panic is a web designer and programmer who dabbles in Ruby, Delphi and a ton of other languages which he uses to churn out awesomeness.

You can find his random musings at his blog.

Hit about 9 000 words in my NaNoWriMo adventure. My eyes hurt, my back aches and I am sipping lukewarm cola from a can.

Feels great.

The first round!

2010-10-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

...and the winner is yours truly who managed to best the first round of NaNoWriMo (do I dare to say with ease? Oh yes I do!)

Great feeling. Just great. According to NaNoWriMo's word counter I am at 1669 words and the collective wordcount for 2010 is 807, 942 at this very moment! That's the size of a hefty trilogy.

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

Edit: For those who've been wondering why I started writing on the 31 of October...

I live in Europe so it was already November in Europe when I had published the post.

NaNoWriMo is coming!

2010-10-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

...or two days left before I get calluses on my fingertips.

I am really excited, since I missed out last year. I am trying to make some preparations so I compiled a little list which should make NaNoWriMo a little bit easier for me:

1. Try to write in the morning.
2. Don't procrastinate.
3. Go to the dentist at Monday (eek!)
4. Drink a lot of water (which is going to translate into pee a lot).
5. Stretch after every hour spent writing.
6. Keep the outline close at hand.
7. Pull the plug from the TV (I haven's turned it on in months, but just to be sure...).
8. No Internet before 1667 words are on the page (now this one's going to be tough).
9. Eat healthy.

Yep. That should do it. NaNo veterans and alike are encouraged to post advice.

Reinventing the Fairytale

2010-10-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

We just got a really awesome assignment.

Our foreign lector, in her endless wisdom, told us to take a classic fairytale and reinvent it. I love the idea. It forces you to think creatively, and with so many fairy tales to choose from, and being able to change ANY aspect of it I feel like Dr. Frankenstein with a brand new typewriter. I just need my own personal Igor.

So, everything goes:
Little Red Riding Hood as a wolf-slaying assassin, The Ugly Duckling joining the Mighty Ducks going for the hockey championship or The Beauty and the Beast in a Pretty Woman rendition (all of these sound deliciously bizzare... and a little frightening).

As for me, I'll go with Alice in Wonderland meets mental asylum. I'll post the paper here once it gets graded.

Actually the whole assignment reminds me of Jim C. Hines's THE STEPSISTER SCHEME

Feel free to post your own ideas, folks.

Neil Gaiman on books, fairytales and libraries

2010-10-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

I love Neil Gaiman.

The man has a way with words and his stories are simply a different experience. It also seems that he excels in every format (be it comic books, novels or TV shows) and he seemingly excels with ease.

Here's an interview he gave in April. Listen to that and try not to fall in love with his accent.

Be it writer or fan, Gaiman's insight will leave you with a warm feeling of wonder in your chest. Just like his stories.

NaNoWriM-OW!

2010-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

I know I started this with a horrible pun, but at least I got your attention now.

So, this year I am trying out for the neck-breaking writing adventure, also known as NanoWriMo. Novelists all around the world gather, each of them trying to write a novel in the month of December. This is a herculean feat which is likely to leave you mind-wrecked. The minimum word count one has to achieve is 50.000, meaning that you have to get 1667 words down EVERY DAY. I manage 1000 on a daily basis, more often than not it turns out to be 1200 or 1300. Basically, I have to perform beyond my current limitations for a whole month.

Hoo boy.

The thing I like about Nano is that it teaches you discipline. Videogames? Maybe later. Tv? Forget about it. Food and drink? Only if you're about to pass out, baby.

I am really curious as to how I'll perform in this wild chase.
Next time I'll be telling you about my NaNo novel (the one I am planning, at least).

So ready your coffee jugs, get those writing talismans out and let's do some NaNoWriMo.

I wonder if I'll be so enthusiastic by mid-December...

Once upon a time... My first foray into writing

2010-10-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today, I gave it a long, hard thought what my first real blog post should be about.

I do have a lot of ideas: I am planning to do book reviews, reviews about my favorite writers, a close-up on all the various markets and of course musings about the craft and art of writing. But for now, I think I should start at the very beginning. How I came to be a writer.

I started my first short story in my freshman high school year. I read a lot of Poe at the time and was infatuated with the dark, the bizarre and the supernatural (a trait I've preserved to this day). Being of course a long time fan of The Lord of the Rings, I wanted to write a story about a magician, but not a white-robed wizard like Gandalf. I wanted to create a dark, grisly character, a magician with a Poe-twist to himself. I'd make him a necromancer, but not just any kind of necromancer - a hungry fiend which steals infants from it's cribs for his dark rituals, a cursed man who must follow the dark whisper in his ear (yeah I know how cliched it sounds).

I was so delighted by the idea that I finished it in one day. It was about 2000 words long and scrawled in an edgy hand (that's right. I wrote it in longhand). The story ended with the Necromancer being hunted down by an angry mob equipped with the daily necessities of every self-respecting mob: torches and pitchforks. Think Frankenstein, only cheesier.

As it often happens, this first brainchild wasn't really good, but since it was my FIRST I was proud. Damn proud. You don't tell a proud father that his kid looks ugly (unless you don't value your front teeth), to him it's the wonder of creation : it deserves a TV-show, a temple, its own blog.

I decided to show it to my English teacher. She read through it and didn't like it one bit.
Now let's get this clear. She is a great teacher and I owe her a lot. Heck, she is at the top level of my people-who-influenced-my-life pantheon. Her judgment created a nasty Molotov cocktail of emotions in my chest. Anger. Frustration. Indignation. But the feeling which dominated over all of them was shame.

I felt ashamed of what I had done, and that feeling made me stop writing until I was in 3rd grade.

In retrospect, it was foolish of me to behave like that. Perhaps I shouldn't have shown her the story. Perhaps I shouldn't have expected her to like it. Most definitely though, I shouldn't have been ashamed.

Stephen King wrote about a similar experience he went through, in his high school days. I understand him.

When my teacher showed signs of disappointment I instantly forgot the rush of creativity, the magic of creation. The magic of writing. Luckily, I have managed to re-kindle that love.

But that's a story for another time.

Welcome!

2010-10-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog!

As you can see, I am still tinkering with it. Once I am finished grab a seat, and listen (or read) to me ranting about writing, fiction and life. Why don't you check out my favorite magazines in the meanwhile? I am sure they'll be worth your while.

I'll be here, waiting for you.