Shrink Wrap
My earliest memories of being able to buy my own gaming material was in fourth grade, back when Toys-R-Us still carried the TSR lines. I would save up for weeks to buy modules, and then savor opening the shrink wapped plastic. The sound and smell of crinkly plastic came to signify everything I loved about fantasy worlds --- that brief moment after opening, when the contents of the package (unread) were still perfect in my mind.
Today is my birthday. I picked up mail from the small mountain town post office and found a package from Goodman Games. A check and author copies of Legacy.
And damn if it wasn't shrink wrapped.
Deadline: July 8
Every birthday I make plans to send all my friends presents thanking them for all that they've given me over the years. Every year it gets a little too busy and I miss my deadline/run out of materials/can't find enough clay skulls.
I've managed to miss it again, so please forgive a public thank you. You people are the best.
Maybe next year ...
7.08.2005
7.07.2005
SK Etttera
I'm flogging a dead horse at this point, but let me point out one last time how incredible it is to see Jim Holloway spending finite hours of his life illustrating something I wrote.
I mean, this is the guy that illustrated Rose Estes' Mountain of Mirrors!
There. I've finally burned off any lingering illusions of professional dignity. >:)
Perhaps best of all, this module was as a lark, written as a gift for my dear friend Alex. I didn't have a gaming group at the time, and was living vicariously through his group. (How's that for passivity? Listening to stories about other people pretending to do stuff.) It was written for fun, with no hope of ever being sold.
I'd love to sign off with the moral "Do what you love and eventually it will work out," but that’s more than a little intellectually irresponsible. The truth is I got lucky; many folks (with much more talent than I’ll ever have) suffer their entire lives without being recognized.
But have no fear, gentle reader! Grimbones won’t let you down. Even if I can’t fall back on our culture’s happy-go-lucky cliché, I can promise this much:
If we try, we'll probably fail.
If we don’t try, we will certainly fail.
Me, I’ll try my luck. Choose Death. >:)
I'm flogging a dead horse at this point, but let me point out one last time how incredible it is to see Jim Holloway spending finite hours of his life illustrating something I wrote.
I mean, this is the guy that illustrated Rose Estes' Mountain of Mirrors!
There. I've finally burned off any lingering illusions of professional dignity. >:)
Perhaps best of all, this module was as a lark, written as a gift for my dear friend Alex. I didn't have a gaming group at the time, and was living vicariously through his group. (How's that for passivity? Listening to stories about other people pretending to do stuff.) It was written for fun, with no hope of ever being sold.
I'd love to sign off with the moral "Do what you love and eventually it will work out," but that’s more than a little intellectually irresponsible. The truth is I got lucky; many folks (with much more talent than I’ll ever have) suffer their entire lives without being recognized.
But have no fear, gentle reader! Grimbones won’t let you down. Even if I can’t fall back on our culture’s happy-go-lucky cliché, I can promise this much:
If we try, we'll probably fail.
If we don’t try, we will certainly fail.
Me, I’ll try my luck. Choose Death. >:)
7.06.2005
Art from the Legacy of the Savage Kings!
The name "Jim Holloway" may not mean much to most of the world, but those of us that played WAY too much AD&D (or Paranoia, or Oriental Adventures...) all know his name. It is an honor to have a Holloway illustration gracing a module I wrote.
*boggle* This is the best gig a geek could have.
I understand if you don't get it --- if it looks old and cludgey to you. That's cool. You just had to be there.
But for those of you who have been around, you know that Old School never felt so good. I am not worthy.
The name "Jim Holloway" may not mean much to most of the world, but those of us that played WAY too much AD&D (or Paranoia, or Oriental Adventures...) all know his name. It is an honor to have a Holloway illustration gracing a module I wrote.
*boggle* This is the best gig a geek could have.
I understand if you don't get it --- if it looks old and cludgey to you. That's cool. You just had to be there.
But for those of you who have been around, you know that Old School never felt so good. I am not worthy.
7.03.2005
Fan Love
Kameron's Maiden of Pain is the focus of this month's book club over at Worlds of D&D. I haven't had a chance to keep up on all of the topics, but a quick scan turned up a few criticisms noting that the novel wasn’t dark enough. Fans want dark fantasy, the posters reasoned, so why won’t authors and editors answer the market demand?
I can understand the complaint, but for better or worse, our Realms novels are all PG-13. Unless you are a parent, you might forget just how young 13 is. (And unless you are 13, you have probably forgotten just how savvy 13-year olds can be, but that is a topic for another post.)
Assaulting the novel because it isn’t dark fantasy is like complaining that it doesn’t have enough Jedi or Ewoks. That’s not the book Kam was hired to write.
I understand that this sort of criticism comes with the territory. When you accept that royalty check you are also accepting a role as a public figure. And I know dozens of writers that would sell pounds of flesh for the chance to write a book and be faulted on-line. Still, it’s hard to see it happen to a friend.
On the Road Again
H is back on the East Coast helping out her family, so I'm on the road for a long weekend of writing and skating. This lifestyle has become something of an addiction: no phone, no obligations, just friends to see, worlds to write and concrete to fall down on. I can't tell you where I'm sleeping, but with a pickup truck and a tent, I'm not too worried about it.
If any of you ever catch me complaining about my life, slap me.*
*As I'm typing this, I'm wondering if that last sentence came off a little too “My life is so cool that you must hate yours.” Just in case my meaning might be misconstrued, let me clarify by simply noting that I’m thankful for all I’ve been given. I’m no more talented or brilliant than the next writer (and my spelling is worse than most). If my finite career is a tribute to anything, it’s a testament to dogged, single-minded persistence. So go forth and write.
I love my life and I hope yours is just as fantastic.
From the "My Life Is Cool ...
Just found out who will be painting the cover to "Into the Wilds." There are handful of TSR artists I idolized as a child. Having one illustrate a work of mine is just plain silly.
....and Yours is Too, Damnit" file
Erik got the green light on this second Realms novel! Cheers!
Now if there rest of us would just hear if we've been bumped. Erin? Collins? Jaliegh? <--- Never mind, good money says she got one. >:)
Why I Think You’re a Rock Star
Our culture makes it really easy to be passive. This isn’t entirely bad --- for instance, it makes it possible for chumps like to me sell to writing --- but it can’t be denied that given the choice between sitting down a watching a movie, or sitting down and writing a screen play, most of us are going to choose to be passive.
Again, this isn’t all bad. It’s not like I’ve recorded any songs for my ipod recently. But it does highlight why you are a rock star: in a culture where passivity is encouraged, the mere act of creation is worthy of praise.
You had the choice and decided to take the difficult route. You’ve chose to risk failure and ridicule. You chose to create.*
The result may not have been a work of genius, but it is yours. And if you keep writing (composing, painting, coding, whatever) eventually you will get good. It’s part of our contract --- despite the universes’ insatiable drive for entropy, humans get better at the things they practice. We build things up.
So despite the universe, our culture, and that Xbox in the living room, you stepped up to the plate and made something happen. That’s pretty impressive.
Now, if you’ll forgive me, I’ve been stalling for too long. Time to write.
*Endnote that I found amusing. I’ve been talking about constructive criticism and the power of creation. Now imagine the sort of complaints God gets (he/she/it, depending on your belief system, or lack thereof). That guy must be so fed up. ;)
Kameron's Maiden of Pain is the focus of this month's book club over at Worlds of D&D. I haven't had a chance to keep up on all of the topics, but a quick scan turned up a few criticisms noting that the novel wasn’t dark enough. Fans want dark fantasy, the posters reasoned, so why won’t authors and editors answer the market demand?
I can understand the complaint, but for better or worse, our Realms novels are all PG-13. Unless you are a parent, you might forget just how young 13 is. (And unless you are 13, you have probably forgotten just how savvy 13-year olds can be, but that is a topic for another post.)
Assaulting the novel because it isn’t dark fantasy is like complaining that it doesn’t have enough Jedi or Ewoks. That’s not the book Kam was hired to write.
I understand that this sort of criticism comes with the territory. When you accept that royalty check you are also accepting a role as a public figure. And I know dozens of writers that would sell pounds of flesh for the chance to write a book and be faulted on-line. Still, it’s hard to see it happen to a friend.
On the Road Again
H is back on the East Coast helping out her family, so I'm on the road for a long weekend of writing and skating. This lifestyle has become something of an addiction: no phone, no obligations, just friends to see, worlds to write and concrete to fall down on. I can't tell you where I'm sleeping, but with a pickup truck and a tent, I'm not too worried about it.
If any of you ever catch me complaining about my life, slap me.*
*As I'm typing this, I'm wondering if that last sentence came off a little too “My life is so cool that you must hate yours.” Just in case my meaning might be misconstrued, let me clarify by simply noting that I’m thankful for all I’ve been given. I’m no more talented or brilliant than the next writer (and my spelling is worse than most). If my finite career is a tribute to anything, it’s a testament to dogged, single-minded persistence. So go forth and write.
I love my life and I hope yours is just as fantastic.
From the "My Life Is Cool ...
Just found out who will be painting the cover to "Into the Wilds." There are handful of TSR artists I idolized as a child. Having one illustrate a work of mine is just plain silly.
....and Yours is Too, Damnit" file
Erik got the green light on this second Realms novel! Cheers!
Now if there rest of us would just hear if we've been bumped. Erin? Collins? Jaliegh? <--- Never mind, good money says she got one. >:)
Why I Think You’re a Rock Star
Our culture makes it really easy to be passive. This isn’t entirely bad --- for instance, it makes it possible for chumps like to me sell to writing --- but it can’t be denied that given the choice between sitting down a watching a movie, or sitting down and writing a screen play, most of us are going to choose to be passive.
Again, this isn’t all bad. It’s not like I’ve recorded any songs for my ipod recently. But it does highlight why you are a rock star: in a culture where passivity is encouraged, the mere act of creation is worthy of praise.
You had the choice and decided to take the difficult route. You’ve chose to risk failure and ridicule. You chose to create.*
The result may not have been a work of genius, but it is yours. And if you keep writing (composing, painting, coding, whatever) eventually you will get good. It’s part of our contract --- despite the universes’ insatiable drive for entropy, humans get better at the things they practice. We build things up.
So despite the universe, our culture, and that Xbox in the living room, you stepped up to the plate and made something happen. That’s pretty impressive.
Now, if you’ll forgive me, I’ve been stalling for too long. Time to write.
*Endnote that I found amusing. I’ve been talking about constructive criticism and the power of creation. Now imagine the sort of complaints God gets (he/she/it, depending on your belief system, or lack thereof). That guy must be so fed up. ;)
6.26.2005
6.22.2005
Into the Wilds
Finally turned in the manuscript for "Into the Wilds." At 31.5k, it came out just over the goal of 30,000 words. It’s not a terrible infraction, but it stings a little since the usual modules are 24,000 words. I asked for the extension when I took the job and still went over count. Frustrating.
Fortunately, the publisher has been good about finding room for me. Certainly not a habit I want to cultivate, though.
And, again, a deep heartfelt thanks to the McCoy family for all their help. It's only a matter of time before they'll too busy selling their own stories to playtest mine, so I appreciate them taking time out on my behalf.
Embarrassment of Riches
I’ve always done my best to never turn down a writing contract. That changed yesterday.
The contract was for 20-25k words of d20 source book fluff. I would have loved to take the job but I just couldn’t promise that I’d have it done in time. Between the d20 World project and the potential for a Vampire novel, I just didn’t have the time.
Like a lot of you, I’m in that nebulous gray zone between full-time freelance writer and starving unknown author. I work days, write nights, and my schedule can only accommodate so much freelance work. You find yourself trapped in this very narrow space where you can’t make the jump to full-time freelance because your part-time gigs aren’t bringing in enough money, BUT you can’t take more gigs, because you are only writing part-time.
And … I don’t even have kids yet! (Applauds Kam, Elaine and Marce.)
As frustrating as the situation may be, it also has its benefits:
First and most important: Discipline. In between work, cooking, and sleeping you MAKE yourself write. During college I wrote when I felt moved. Nowadays I don’t have time to wait for my muse to show up, so I write before work, after dinner, on the bus, and whenever else I have a spare fifteen minutes.
The best part is, your muse learn to start showing up, latte in hand, for even those brief flashes. That little fairy is trainable.
Secondly, you learn Clarity. My writing used to meander like a drunken boxer. And, for better or worse, it still does. But I’m getting better. Promise.
Thirdly, Discernment. This one is a bit tricky. Some publishers pay better than others, and when you’re trying to decide between taking a 5k project for a reputable publisher or a 40k project for a publisher that has trouble paying its writers on time, chances are you’ll go with the smaller, but reliable, project.
That last one is tough for us wee-folk. After all, we need to be hungry --- and thankful --- for every single publishing house that is willing to give us some space on the marquee. At the same time, you need to know what you’re worth, and expect nothing less.
Sorta like being in love.
A Big Deathy Shout-Out...
To Mike and Chris. After years of hard work, the Frontier Fantasy Project will finally be published. For those of you who don't spend your free tiime hanging out on the Wizards boards, I can tell you that Mike began the Frontier project right about the same time as the Maiden of Pain contest. (You still might be able to find early drafts of the work on the Wiz boards.)
Their sucess is a joy to witness, since I've been lurking around the project since its inception. From humble beginnings, to a d20 triumph, and they've earned every bit.
Congrats, Mike and Chris!
Finally turned in the manuscript for "Into the Wilds." At 31.5k, it came out just over the goal of 30,000 words. It’s not a terrible infraction, but it stings a little since the usual modules are 24,000 words. I asked for the extension when I took the job and still went over count. Frustrating.
Fortunately, the publisher has been good about finding room for me. Certainly not a habit I want to cultivate, though.
And, again, a deep heartfelt thanks to the McCoy family for all their help. It's only a matter of time before they'll too busy selling their own stories to playtest mine, so I appreciate them taking time out on my behalf.
Embarrassment of Riches
I’ve always done my best to never turn down a writing contract. That changed yesterday.
The contract was for 20-25k words of d20 source book fluff. I would have loved to take the job but I just couldn’t promise that I’d have it done in time. Between the d20 World project and the potential for a Vampire novel, I just didn’t have the time.
Like a lot of you, I’m in that nebulous gray zone between full-time freelance writer and starving unknown author. I work days, write nights, and my schedule can only accommodate so much freelance work. You find yourself trapped in this very narrow space where you can’t make the jump to full-time freelance because your part-time gigs aren’t bringing in enough money, BUT you can’t take more gigs, because you are only writing part-time.
And … I don’t even have kids yet! (Applauds Kam, Elaine and Marce.)
As frustrating as the situation may be, it also has its benefits:
First and most important: Discipline. In between work, cooking, and sleeping you MAKE yourself write. During college I wrote when I felt moved. Nowadays I don’t have time to wait for my muse to show up, so I write before work, after dinner, on the bus, and whenever else I have a spare fifteen minutes.
The best part is, your muse learn to start showing up, latte in hand, for even those brief flashes. That little fairy is trainable.
Secondly, you learn Clarity. My writing used to meander like a drunken boxer. And, for better or worse, it still does. But I’m getting better. Promise.
Thirdly, Discernment. This one is a bit tricky. Some publishers pay better than others, and when you’re trying to decide between taking a 5k project for a reputable publisher or a 40k project for a publisher that has trouble paying its writers on time, chances are you’ll go with the smaller, but reliable, project.
That last one is tough for us wee-folk. After all, we need to be hungry --- and thankful --- for every single publishing house that is willing to give us some space on the marquee. At the same time, you need to know what you’re worth, and expect nothing less.
Sorta like being in love.
A Big Deathy Shout-Out...
To Mike and Chris. After years of hard work, the Frontier Fantasy Project will finally be published. For those of you who don't spend your free tiime hanging out on the Wizards boards, I can tell you that Mike began the Frontier project right about the same time as the Maiden of Pain contest. (You still might be able to find early drafts of the work on the Wiz boards.)
Their sucess is a joy to witness, since I've been lurking around the project since its inception. From humble beginnings, to a d20 triumph, and they've earned every bit.
Congrats, Mike and Chris!
6.21.2005
You're 5 pounds lighter in print.
Goodman games just sent me the proof maps for "Iron Crypt of the Heretics," their Gen Con special. And --- thanks to some incredibly talented cartographers --- they look great.
Funny thing is this: you, me, and every other shy kid on the block have been drawing these same maps since we were in elementary school. It is amazing the difference the art makes.
Wheel keeps on turnin'
Tonight I'm teaching my roomate's son how to roll up a d20 character.
Do you remember that day? I do.
Goodman games just sent me the proof maps for "Iron Crypt of the Heretics," their Gen Con special. And --- thanks to some incredibly talented cartographers --- they look great.
Funny thing is this: you, me, and every other shy kid on the block have been drawing these same maps since we were in elementary school. It is amazing the difference the art makes.
Wheel keeps on turnin'
Tonight I'm teaching my roomate's son how to roll up a d20 character.
Do you remember that day? I do.
6.20.2005
6.19.2005
Dragons by Firelight
H and I just got back from an 8 day camping trip. A sprint through the American Southwest (the setting for my WoD proposal), followed up by a wine tasting evening hosted by Spackle and Chernobyl Spice. Great way to spend out anniversary.
There is great free camping near Santa Fe and Taos. I was able to spend most of my evenings reading source material for the d20 World by the campfire, highlighting passages as I went. I started mapping out the world and trying to make all the pieces fit. Now I’m going back through the material, collecting the notes by chapter, and working up maps of the world.
Happy Fathers Day, Dads!
Me, I'm pretty damn lucky. After the obligatory teenage clashes, my relationship with my father has only gotten better with each passing year.
But for those of you with especially challenging relationships with your fathers, or for those of you whose fathers have passed, I wish you the best in sorting out those feelings.
H and I just got back from an 8 day camping trip. A sprint through the American Southwest (the setting for my WoD proposal), followed up by a wine tasting evening hosted by Spackle and Chernobyl Spice. Great way to spend out anniversary.
There is great free camping near Santa Fe and Taos. I was able to spend most of my evenings reading source material for the d20 World by the campfire, highlighting passages as I went. I started mapping out the world and trying to make all the pieces fit. Now I’m going back through the material, collecting the notes by chapter, and working up maps of the world.
Happy Fathers Day, Dads!
Me, I'm pretty damn lucky. After the obligatory teenage clashes, my relationship with my father has only gotten better with each passing year.
But for those of you with especially challenging relationships with your fathers, or for those of you whose fathers have passed, I wish you the best in sorting out those feelings.
6.11.2005
To Forge a World
Or Thank Goodness for the Office Copier
Tonight I’m staring at – literally – several hundred pages of source material for my largest d20 project to date. The stacks are the sum of twenty-odd authors, each having their own vision of heroic fantasy. My job is to give it form, a structure and a cohesion, that will allow d20 players to traipse from one to the next.
J.L., who has also had experience working with d20 publishers, asked if I’m the sole author responsible for all 150,000 words. Thankfully the answer is “no,” but I will be the sole fool responsible for bringing the works together. The raw material, the ore of the imagination, is all before me – now I’m the lucky punk who gets to forge the parts into a believable whole.
This project has very little to do with actual writing. It is more of a GMing exercise – perhaps the GMing exercise, making the discordant and divergent appear to be part of a greater plan. That’s the GM’s cardinal lie: “No really, I planned this all from the start.”
And in a sense, it isn’t a lie … in every game I run, I do plan on fudging, faking, cheating and improvising from the start. Mike Wallace calls it “jazz” GMing, but I don’t want to give jazz a bad name. ;)
Tonight it begins: the reading, highlighting, dog-earing, and more reading. That, and the search for the mother of all expanding folders.
Good stuff. If I could meet the Harley of 20 years ago and tell him that he’d get to do this project, he’d never believe me. Of course, he’d secretly hope for the chance, anyway. He’s a shy sort of kid. :)
Anyhow, I haven’t had much chance to check in on my friends lately. I hope you are all doing well. Kam’s book is out, and should be shattering sales records. Eric’s book is up for pre-sale and should be doing the same. Ian sold a story, and Chrissy too. All in all, it is a good time to be a young writer.
Back to the pile. Write well tonight and let me know how your projects are coming along.
Or Thank Goodness for the Office Copier
Tonight I’m staring at – literally – several hundred pages of source material for my largest d20 project to date. The stacks are the sum of twenty-odd authors, each having their own vision of heroic fantasy. My job is to give it form, a structure and a cohesion, that will allow d20 players to traipse from one to the next.
J.L., who has also had experience working with d20 publishers, asked if I’m the sole author responsible for all 150,000 words. Thankfully the answer is “no,” but I will be the sole fool responsible for bringing the works together. The raw material, the ore of the imagination, is all before me – now I’m the lucky punk who gets to forge the parts into a believable whole.
This project has very little to do with actual writing. It is more of a GMing exercise – perhaps the GMing exercise, making the discordant and divergent appear to be part of a greater plan. That’s the GM’s cardinal lie: “No really, I planned this all from the start.”
And in a sense, it isn’t a lie … in every game I run, I do plan on fudging, faking, cheating and improvising from the start. Mike Wallace calls it “jazz” GMing, but I don’t want to give jazz a bad name. ;)
Tonight it begins: the reading, highlighting, dog-earing, and more reading. That, and the search for the mother of all expanding folders.
Good stuff. If I could meet the Harley of 20 years ago and tell him that he’d get to do this project, he’d never believe me. Of course, he’d secretly hope for the chance, anyway. He’s a shy sort of kid. :)
Anyhow, I haven’t had much chance to check in on my friends lately. I hope you are all doing well. Kam’s book is out, and should be shattering sales records. Eric’s book is up for pre-sale and should be doing the same. Ian sold a story, and Chrissy too. All in all, it is a good time to be a young writer.
Back to the pile. Write well tonight and let me know how your projects are coming along.
6.04.2005
Kameron Franklin Book Signing
From Pens and Swords:
"Saturday, June 18, 2005, 7pm
Book Signing
@ Vancouver Borders (164th & Mill Plain)
I will be signing copies of Maiden of Pain and Realms of the Dragons II. The store will have copies of both books on hand for purchase."
You should all be there! I'll get a map quest image (and clean up this post with some links) when I have the time tonight ...
From Pens and Swords:
"Saturday, June 18, 2005, 7pm
Book Signing
@ Vancouver Borders (164th & Mill Plain)
I will be signing copies of Maiden of Pain and Realms of the Dragons II. The store will have copies of both books on hand for purchase."
You should all be there! I'll get a map quest image (and clean up this post with some links) when I have the time tonight ...
Life Is Too Short
My last few commissioned works have all been gaming modules. A few months ago I promised myself that I was going to take some time off from d20 work and devote myself to writing straight fiction – no source books, no module work. Straight fiction for fiction’s sake.
Last night I received an email calling for a 100+thousand word d20 product --- essentially a book length gaming project.
So much for abstinence.
Contracts aren’t signed yet, so nothing is set in stone. But the chance to work on something of this magnitude is a powerful lure. It will mean putting down the fiction pen for another 7 months or so … but when I find myself worrying about it, I just think back to another example of game designers-turn-authors: Hickman and Weiss.
The truth is, I’m lucky just to have the opportunity to write d20 adventures. This was never anything I thought that I would get the chance to do, and I certainly never thought I might get paid for it. (And all it took was one rogue submission. If any gamers are reading this, I heartily encourage you to query your favorite publisher --- it’s easy, fun, and there are few things better than getting paid to write games.)
In a moment that gets quoted far more than it deserves, I once said to a friend, “Life is too short to not be a hypocrite.”
This wasn’t meant to inspire a moral free-for-all. What I meant was that clinging to a principle simply for the sake of it being a principle is silly. If the situation changes, and your judgment doesn’t hold true, maybe it is time to change your judgment.
A week ago I was determined to limit myself to writing fiction. Now it looks like I’ll be writing gaming material for a bit longer.
Lousy hypocrite. :)
My last few commissioned works have all been gaming modules. A few months ago I promised myself that I was going to take some time off from d20 work and devote myself to writing straight fiction – no source books, no module work. Straight fiction for fiction’s sake.
Last night I received an email calling for a 100+thousand word d20 product --- essentially a book length gaming project.
So much for abstinence.
Contracts aren’t signed yet, so nothing is set in stone. But the chance to work on something of this magnitude is a powerful lure. It will mean putting down the fiction pen for another 7 months or so … but when I find myself worrying about it, I just think back to another example of game designers-turn-authors: Hickman and Weiss.
The truth is, I’m lucky just to have the opportunity to write d20 adventures. This was never anything I thought that I would get the chance to do, and I certainly never thought I might get paid for it. (And all it took was one rogue submission. If any gamers are reading this, I heartily encourage you to query your favorite publisher --- it’s easy, fun, and there are few things better than getting paid to write games.)
In a moment that gets quoted far more than it deserves, I once said to a friend, “Life is too short to not be a hypocrite.”
This wasn’t meant to inspire a moral free-for-all. What I meant was that clinging to a principle simply for the sake of it being a principle is silly. If the situation changes, and your judgment doesn’t hold true, maybe it is time to change your judgment.
A week ago I was determined to limit myself to writing fiction. Now it looks like I’ll be writing gaming material for a bit longer.
Lousy hypocrite. :)
5.25.2005
Fear the Google
Hey RotDIIs ("Rotdewies"?) ....
We're all listed on O-Love's Realms site. I've admired Olaf's work for a while, so its kinda fun to be a minor part of it. :)
Hey RotDIIs ("Rotdewies"?) ....
We're all listed on O-Love's Realms site. I've admired Olaf's work for a while, so its kinda fun to be a minor part of it. :)
5.23.2005
There's Always Tomorrow
Up late, working on the first 4k for the WoD novel contest.
There are times when you can't sleep because you accomplished nothing in the course of the day.
Then the are times when you can't sleep because whatever you are working on is just plain fun. This is one of those times.
As a teen I worked as an actor in the Colorado Ren Fest. Our faire ran for 7 weekends --- 14 short days --- and I remember recognizing that they were finite, and that I had to try to make them last.
That's how I feel tonight. I know it's finite, I know it won't always be this good, but right now it is great. I know you can all identify with this feeling, and the recognition that it is fleeting. What a shame we have to wake up the next morning and go on with life.
Here is to all of you. May you one day be able wake up and start doing what you love where you left it off the night before.
Hmm. With syntax like that, it might be time for bed. :)
Bow to the Knights
A big Deathy Shout Out to the Knights of the Patio for their patented speed playtesting. They managed a one night (?!) turnaround of my longest module to date, and they managed to proof it twice.
So thank you, Chris, Chrissy, and Company. I remain in your debt.
Up late, working on the first 4k for the WoD novel contest.
There are times when you can't sleep because you accomplished nothing in the course of the day.
Then the are times when you can't sleep because whatever you are working on is just plain fun. This is one of those times.
As a teen I worked as an actor in the Colorado Ren Fest. Our faire ran for 7 weekends --- 14 short days --- and I remember recognizing that they were finite, and that I had to try to make them last.
That's how I feel tonight. I know it's finite, I know it won't always be this good, but right now it is great. I know you can all identify with this feeling, and the recognition that it is fleeting. What a shame we have to wake up the next morning and go on with life.
Here is to all of you. May you one day be able wake up and start doing what you love where you left it off the night before.
Hmm. With syntax like that, it might be time for bed. :)
Bow to the Knights
A big Deathy Shout Out to the Knights of the Patio for their patented speed playtesting. They managed a one night (?!) turnaround of my longest module to date, and they managed to proof it twice.
So thank you, Chris, Chrissy, and Company. I remain in your debt.
5.20.2005
Present: Tense
The rumors proved true, and it turns out that there is not another Harley Stroh struggling to make a career writing shared world fiction. Due to some clerical error, I made the Round 1 cut in the World of Darkness fiction contest. Chapter 1 is due June 30th.
As per the suggestions laid out in the WWECD? Guide to Success in Shared World Publishing, I’ve been reading all the World of Darkness material I can get my grubby hands on. Presently I’m reading A Hunger Like Fire, by Greg Stolze, the first novel in the new WoD line. This is the flagship book, against which all others will be measured and judged.
A guess what?
It was written in present tense.
Like a lot of other fledgling writers, I’ve always harbored a guilty affection for ol’ PT. I’m sure you're familiar with all the arguments for and against its use. I won’t list them here, but if you have any thoughts of your own, I welcome them.
In my own experience as a reader, the question is largely moot. By the time you get to page 50, your brain has adapted, and the prose no longer seems any more “immediate” nor “awkward,”* which raises another question: if the reader’s brain is going to adapt anyway, why bother using it?
But, thankfully, better minds than mine will sort this out. I’ve been given the freedom, for better or for worse, to write a novel (or, at least the first chapter of a novel) in present tense.
Fun.
*Immediate and awkward. Sounds like my sort of gig. ;)
The rumors proved true, and it turns out that there is not another Harley Stroh struggling to make a career writing shared world fiction. Due to some clerical error, I made the Round 1 cut in the World of Darkness fiction contest. Chapter 1 is due June 30th.
As per the suggestions laid out in the WWECD? Guide to Success in Shared World Publishing, I’ve been reading all the World of Darkness material I can get my grubby hands on. Presently I’m reading A Hunger Like Fire, by Greg Stolze, the first novel in the new WoD line. This is the flagship book, against which all others will be measured and judged.
A guess what?
It was written in present tense.
Like a lot of other fledgling writers, I’ve always harbored a guilty affection for ol’ PT. I’m sure you're familiar with all the arguments for and against its use. I won’t list them here, but if you have any thoughts of your own, I welcome them.
In my own experience as a reader, the question is largely moot. By the time you get to page 50, your brain has adapted, and the prose no longer seems any more “immediate” nor “awkward,”* which raises another question: if the reader’s brain is going to adapt anyway, why bother using it?
But, thankfully, better minds than mine will sort this out. I’ve been given the freedom, for better or for worse, to write a novel (or, at least the first chapter of a novel) in present tense.
Fun.
*Immediate and awkward. Sounds like my sort of gig. ;)
5.16.2005
I don't deserve ...
You guys (and gals). For a bunch of people --- most of whom I've never "met" --- you guys are amazing. Thank you so much for your friendship, it means the world to me.
Vampire: The Time to Sit Down and Crank Out a Chapter. Pronto!
Heh. For the record, it is a little silly to click on to your own blog, read everybody else's posts, and find out about open calls, but there you have it.
I'm on the road, headed home for good, and you guys bring me the news. It doesn't get much more fun than that. Thank you very much. :)
Deadline for Chap 1: June 30th (?). Slow kid better sit down and hustle. Fortunately, a wise woman in Rhode Island once counseled me to recycle old work ... A few years ago I wrote the best 1/2 page of my life, but had nowhere to put it. (The rest of the aborted "book" quickly melted down.) Now it has home!
Hope you all are doing well. 5 hours and 3 mountain passes and I'm home!
You guys (and gals). For a bunch of people --- most of whom I've never "met" --- you guys are amazing. Thank you so much for your friendship, it means the world to me.
Vampire: The Time to Sit Down and Crank Out a Chapter. Pronto!
Heh. For the record, it is a little silly to click on to your own blog, read everybody else's posts, and find out about open calls, but there you have it.
I'm on the road, headed home for good, and you guys bring me the news. It doesn't get much more fun than that. Thank you very much. :)
Deadline for Chap 1: June 30th (?). Slow kid better sit down and hustle. Fortunately, a wise woman in Rhode Island once counseled me to recycle old work ... A few years ago I wrote the best 1/2 page of my life, but had nowhere to put it. (The rest of the aborted "book" quickly melted down.) Now it has home!
Hope you all are doing well. 5 hours and 3 mountain passes and I'm home!
5.09.2005
"I'd hammer in the morning, all over this land."
I'm off for one last week of construction. Twelve hour days so I'll likely be absent until next weekend, when I'll be back to stay.
Hopefully, on the drive up, I'll be able to buy that book everyone has been talking about. ;)
Till, then, keep on submitting!
I'm off for one last week of construction. Twelve hour days so I'll likely be absent until next weekend, when I'll be back to stay.
Hopefully, on the drive up, I'll be able to buy that book everyone has been talking about. ;)
Till, then, keep on submitting!
5.08.2005
Four Hours to Midnight
Up against a word count tonight (again). It’s amazing how quickly 30k can vanish when you’re working on gaming material. I hope to have the module finished by midnight --- much later and my output drops, and my writing goes from merely bad to really bad.
Once again the Knights of the Patio have stepped up to the challenge and agreed to be test patients. Hopefully this module goes over better than the last one.
Off to work for me! I hope you are all doing well. Some Big Deathy celebrities have been dropping by … track down Erik’s blog at
http://www.livejournal.com/users/eriksdb/
...and check out his cover. Fun stuff, and encouraging to all of us standing on the side lines!
Up against a word count tonight (again). It’s amazing how quickly 30k can vanish when you’re working on gaming material. I hope to have the module finished by midnight --- much later and my output drops, and my writing goes from merely bad to really bad.
Once again the Knights of the Patio have stepped up to the challenge and agreed to be test patients. Hopefully this module goes over better than the last one.
Off to work for me! I hope you are all doing well. Some Big Deathy celebrities have been dropping by … track down Erik’s blog at
http://www.livejournal.com/users/eriksdb/
...and check out his cover. Fun stuff, and encouraging to all of us standing on the side lines!
5.02.2005
Whoops
A friend once told me, "Be careful what you write because publishing is forever." For better or worse, WoTC agreed to publish the webstory written by the authors featured in Realms of the Dragons II ...
...which means a big Deathy prize to whoever can pick out my hundred words, give or take. We'll let you know when the story shows up on the Wizards website.
A friend once told me, "Be careful what you write because publishing is forever." For better or worse, WoTC agreed to publish the webstory written by the authors featured in Realms of the Dragons II ...
...which means a big Deathy prize to whoever can pick out my hundred words, give or take. We'll let you know when the story shows up on the Wizards website.
The Road Home, Pt. II
I tried to get at this last night, but missed. Take two:
Back when Wizards hosted discussion forums for novels, Elaine offered sage advice to the hordes of hopefuls: submit and move on. She argued that waiting on a publisher was wasting time, time that could be better spent writing.
Great advice, though difficult to accept. At the time I thought it was directed at those of us that didn’t make the cut, but in the year since “The Road Home” was accepted, I’ve come to realize that her wisdom applies equally to writers on either sides of the equation.
To the point:
Situation: Didn’t make the big sale.
Result: Keep on writing and submitting.
Situation: Made the big sale.
Result: Keep on writing and submitting.
This isn’t just another optimistic pitch. The result really is the same. The only difference is how you choose to feel and behave in the interim.
None of the RotDII authors are made men (or women). We’re all still punching keys, still using those same 26 letters, still trying to tell (and sell) a good story, and ---more often than not--- still failing.
That’s liberating for me. Like a Zen fable, it’s full circle back to zero, obscurity and the good ol’ slush pile. The slush pile is a place I’m comfortable with. I can sharpen a shank from a toothbrush as well as the next.
Submit and keep on writing. Good advice then, great advice now.
I tried to get at this last night, but missed. Take two:
Back when Wizards hosted discussion forums for novels, Elaine offered sage advice to the hordes of hopefuls: submit and move on. She argued that waiting on a publisher was wasting time, time that could be better spent writing.
Great advice, though difficult to accept. At the time I thought it was directed at those of us that didn’t make the cut, but in the year since “The Road Home” was accepted, I’ve come to realize that her wisdom applies equally to writers on either sides of the equation.
To the point:
Situation: Didn’t make the big sale.
Result: Keep on writing and submitting.
Situation: Made the big sale.
Result: Keep on writing and submitting.
This isn’t just another optimistic pitch. The result really is the same. The only difference is how you choose to feel and behave in the interim.
None of the RotDII authors are made men (or women). We’re all still punching keys, still using those same 26 letters, still trying to tell (and sell) a good story, and ---more often than not--- still failing.
That’s liberating for me. Like a Zen fable, it’s full circle back to zero, obscurity and the good ol’ slush pile. The slush pile is a place I’m comfortable with. I can sharpen a shank from a toothbrush as well as the next.
Submit and keep on writing. Good advice then, great advice now.
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