I’m scrapping and restarting Crime and Violins. As I’ve been writing the serial, I have learned a few things, one of which is that the serial works best when presented in whole chapters—not one scene at a time. How fast I can do this is questionable, because I do want it to be good—and better than what I’ve been turning out so far. When spread to the wider web, the conversation ratio is very low between #1 and further segments, which tells me I’ve got some things to clear up.

In Go, they say you must fail your first thousand games as quickly as possible. I need to get moving on the serial, but I feel I can only really do so by restarting.

Oh, and also a note—I have a feeling that for new writers, it’s better than slam them over the head with show over tell until they just accept it.

And another ‘nother note—probably the biggest challenge in writing is to communicate what you meant. Words are more vulnerable and fragile than just about any other medium when it comes to just sheer raw communication.

Update: I got off EntreCard, so this isn’t an issue anymore.

It’s not that I don’t like you all. I just want fiction- and writing- and serial-related ads. May be a tough sell, but I already have Spontaneous Derivation for all your general ad needs.

Now, if y’all could actually read the site description on EntreCard I’d be real happy, as opposed to rejecting 16 ads a day.

Tags: entrecard

Tags: cat overlords, lolcat, sleep, writing

Photography: Chris Gin

This will be the first time in a very long time that I’ve had a blog I can (probably) post fiction thoughts in. (And reviews of fiction thingies.)

Ever since I turned over Spontaneous Derivation to writing and blogging, I’ve not really had a space for fiction, and the entries I do write over there are odd and don’t really fit in with the blog theme anymore. They also distract me, which is not a good thing.

Eventually I’ll move those articles to here, but until then, here are links to articles I’ve written, on Sd and elsewhere, that are about writing fiction in particular.

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Photo: John Althouse Coken

I’ve been in the doldrums of late.

Then I ran into a quote from a guy whose storytelling prowess I respect, Ryan Pequin:

… I realized that actually creating art and having some semblance of a work ethic tends to cause more people to notice you, as opposed to generally doing absolutely nothing at all and then sitting back waiting for people to beat a path to your door.

If you haven’t gazed upon the beauty that is his short story, The Walk, go do so.

In the meantime, I know some of you are writers, and some of you may even be working on long form writing of the novelular sort. In which case, you should read Nick Mamatas’ How to End a Story. And also scan through his blog looking for Clarkesworld slush pile gems, since he’s one of the editors—and the only editor I know that does critiques on submissions (although perhaps not for much longer).

(I also like Clarkesworld: It Was An Abused Little Girl All Along! which talks about twist endings and why so many of them are so… trite.)

If you want a very thorough critique from him on your long-form work, you should visit Uncle Nick’s Crazy-Ass Critique Service.

Yes, writing away.

Photography: Foxtongue

Three twisted pieces of metal gleamed on the rich mahogany of the dining room table, the largest about three inches in length and maybe an inch wide, pinched in the middle. The smallest was no longer and no thicker than Arcady’s index finger. He delicately picked up the pieces, turning them over in nervous fingers, as three members of the bomb squad stood around the table. On the other side of the table, Kincaide sat with her arms crossed, waiting.

Zene, for his part, wondered who he could ask for a good stiff drink. The air was tense, and the atmosphere was not helped by Kincaide’s thousand-degree glare at Arcady.

“Unusually thin for an impromptu bomb case,” said Arcady in a stage whisper. Zene snorted.

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Tags: arcady, malady kincaide, zene

Photography: MCS_flickr

Arcady and Inspector Kincaide stared each other down, like two stray tomcats individually deciding yet not deciding whether now was the time to claw the enemy’s eyes out.

Zene wondered what the equivalent of a bucket of water would be.

“It’d help us both if you’d lay all your cards on the table,” said Kincaide, sitting forward over her mug of coffee. “I’m offering you an information exchange. I know the concept of sharing is foreign to an Arcady, but you seem… more reasonable.”

“Is it not rather early to call, Inspector?” replied Arcady, leaning back and steepling his fingers. “We’ve barely started, and I find it difficult to believe that even you lack enough clues to be going on at this point.”

Kincaide growled. “God help you, Arcady, you’re more annoying than your father.”

“I hardly believe that. My father is the veritable spokesperson for Difficult Bastard.”

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Tags: arcady, malady kincaide, zene

I’m working on the next installment of The Well-Tempered Clavier, but in the meantime I thought I would share the little stories I thought up for John Scalzi’s Zoe’s Tale advanced reading copy contest, as a sort of sorry-that-I-missed-this-Sunday apology. The idea was to “explain the events of August 19, 1994″.

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Tags: flash fiction

Photography: comiquero

For Outpost Mâvarin’s Weekend Assignment #215: Everyone’s a Critic.

WARNING - SPOILERS

Although if you’ve waited this long, you probably no longer care about spoilers. We hope.

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Tags: episode III, revenge of the sith, review, star wars

Photography: mandj98

Arcady looked back at the gate and scowled at the approaching figure. “My damn father,” he muttered, snapping his cellphone shut, “can’t seem to keep a promise. Which makes him perfect for running for office this year.”

Hestia reached the gate, out of breath, and stretched up towards a control panel behind the gate wall. The gates opened inwards smoothly.

“It’s about time,” said Arcady, “where’s—”

“There was a bomb,” said Hestia shortly, pushing hair out of her eyes.

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Tags: arcady, hestia, malady kincaide, zene