I have an idea for the 25th anniversary story contest. The problem for me is that it will mean writing twenty or more characters. I don't like writing "spear carriers". I try to have some feeling of every person in the story even if it isn't obvious (Did anyone catch the leather biker's "craft" magazine in The Worst Day?). I'm afraid of having four people and a bunch of cutouts. That's the kind of story I have trouble finishing. How do any of you deal with making secondary characters real?
I have written a new years resolution story but it stubbornly refused to be TG. Every time I tried to lead it there it returned to the main plot. I'll probably post it anyway after a bit of proofreading and editing. Tomorrow, without the glow of the new years eve whisky, it may just go in the recycle bin.
For those like me who have been looking at a lot of best books lists in hope of finding something new, especially anyone looking at best fantasies. Most of them do get around to mentioning Tolkein eventually( He should be at the top) but I've seen no mention of what I think is the second best fantasy epic of the last century. Guy Kay Gavriel's Fionaver Tapestry. He draws together a vast range of folklore from across Europe in one masterful story. There is no trans content but has everything else you could want in a fantasy tale.
I just learned from a radio program that the national (USA) suicide hot line number is 988. They said that only 17% of Americans are even somewhat aware of this. I think that particularly with some members of this site it should be 100%. The menu at the start of your call will get you connected to a live counselor specializing in veterans, lgbtqi, or other areas. I hope you never need it but it can't hurt to know it.
I just finished reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks. I hadn't read anything else by the author and chose it almost at random from the available titles at the library. She does a remarkable job of combining the true history of the greatest race horse of the nineteenth century with her fictional tale of slavery and of racism then and now. While referencing physical abuse and family separations she brings home the truth of Frederick Douglas's explanation of the harm of slavery even under a "good" master.
In a post under Dorothy’s blog on struggling with anger I spoke of hate as the driver of the current
movement to undermine democracy. As I think about it, that isn’t really the case. The people I know
who talk of Christian values, of stopping the tide of illegals who are taking our good jobs
or just coming to take government benefits are good people. The ones who classify gay and
transgender people as deliberate evildoers are too. They donate to youth programs. They volunteer in their
I must be one real sicko. We got a wet heavy snowfall that just gummed up my snowblower without clearing anything. As a result I put in two sessions of heavy shoveling and have a lot to go. The sick part is that I found myself hearing the ballad of John Henry (too winded to sing if I could sing) with the words "die with my hammer in my hand" replaced with "die with my shovel in my hand". I figured I had better come in here and erase some things on this computer first!
The novel by Ursula K. LeGuin, of course. I saw it referred to recently and realized that I didn't remember anything but was sure I had read it. It turns out that I had read it more than once as my old paperback is quite battered. This story from over fifty years ago seems as if it could have been written with todays headlines in mind. My favorite of her Hainish universe books remains The Dispossessed, but anyone thinking about gender or the national political discourse on the meaning of patriotism will be intrigued by this book.
I live in a very conservative area but other than a nearby school district banning the Harry Potter books for witchcraft some years ago it has been quiet since the days when James Dobson's minions picketed the local bookstore in the eighties. I bought my only copy of "Hustler" just so I could walk out past them with it out of the bag. Now the local schoolboard has overruled the professionals to remove "Genderqueer" from the high school library bookshelves by a 4 to 3 vote. Only one of the four is currently up for re-election.
While I was walking my dog today another dog got under his owner's fence paralleling the sidewalk and attacked my dog. The owner has already paid the vet bill for fortunately non-life-threatening injuries though one bite could have been fatal if it went deeper. My problem is that this is the second time that I know of that this dog has gotten lose and attacked another dog. I feel like I should file a complaint to prevent more attacks but at the same time I hate to risk a dog being put down.
I wish I could write a story I felt was half as good as Lord Dunsany's SWORD OF WELLERAN. Does anyone else have a candidate for the perfect short story? I could use some reading suggestions.
I forwarded an obituary to my brother today as he no longer lives in our home town. His former brother-in-law had died and I thought he might want to send a card. He e-mailed me back that it wouldn't be welcomed. It seems that even in death his family refuses to recognize him. When police contacted people with his last name they got no response except from a another former in-law. I don't blame them for avoiding him in life. He was an addict, a thief and a child abuser. What is disturbing to me is that I know they once loved him.
I know that there are fans of classic Sci- fi here and I have just finished what I believe is the best robot book since Isaac Asimov. It's Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguru. Ishiguru is a brilliant writer and takes Klara to a level beyond what Asimov did in his robot novels.
There is an apparent shortage of men's underwear. I have been waiting for the back to school sales to pick up a few basics. One store recently had a twenty-five percent off sale on underwear for the family. I could not find any men's briefs in any size but extra large. Not to worry, I had to got to Wal-Mart this week and they usually have back to school sales. I couldn't find a single pair of plain men's briefs. Just across the aisle though was a big display of ten packs of women's panties. There's your excuse; just go with it.
I’m astounded by all of this talk of thousands of dead people voting. They clearly don’t know what it would take for that to happen. I know because I got a dead person to vote. One person!
Being very concerned about this election I decided to help the cause by raising the dead to vote. I chose a well know union organizer and democratic stalwart as my first voter. After much research I was confidant I had the right incantations learned. I just needed a pure black cockerel to sacrifice at midnight on the dark of the moon.
I have gotten old. My neighbors, the Methusela's, children had a work day in their yard today. They created a belt high pile of leaves that I walked past numerous times. Not ONCE did I have an urge to leap into it. It'll be a walker and the nursing home next.
Last night charter internet's free anti viral program f-secure loaded something called security extension on my computer. It needs to be activated. Do I want to do that and why? As far as I can understand the little they say about it it is an electronic nanny but there is little plain English information available .
I've done a lot of reading since the library was closed, both on line and e-books through their web site, but it just doesn't feel the same. I went through it before a couple years ago when my arthritis wouldn't let me handle a real book and I'm very glad to have the other options. It's just that I actually found myself looking at the trash in the grocery store paperback rack. I'm jonesing bad for a good book in my hand.
I tried clicking on it and got a result of only one book. The search results were for dopplerpress big closet fictionmania. Removing the fictionmania got a few more titles. Removing the big closet too got a long list of titles.
I was thinking about how Erin manages to keep this place civilized despite the same political divide that exists in the rest of the world. That's what we need in Washington to break the politcal gridlock. We need to start a new party, the keep it friendly party.
I’m so glad you are going to have a female running mate. As you know I have experience as a female vice presidential candidate. I could easily become a Democrat. I have never really understood the difference anyway.
I am qualified to be president if that becomes necessary as I am a very stable genius just like my good friend Donald.
I just finished a novel about a family with a transgender child that I don't recall seeing mentioned here. THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS by Laurie Frankel is well written and realistic. I enjoyed it and I think many of you would too.
They say to write about what you know. Just as important is not to write about what you are completely ignorant of. Do some research or look like a total idiot. This was triggered by a description of rabbit hunting in a story not on this site. The protagonist was hunting rabbits over bait from a blind with a shotgun. When a rabbit came in sight he carefully waited to take a clean shot when the rabbit was fully enguaged with the carrot. If this doesn't have you rolling on the floor laughing you have never been a hunter and know nothing of rabbits.
I've seen a lot of postings here about how much anyone can learn about us on the internet. What makes me question just how much research is really being done is things like getting fund raising letters from both the Republican and Demacratic parties in the last few days. Obviously one of them has it wrong unles I'm even more mixed up than I thought. And obviously neither one has access to my bank records. Or maybe they just didn't ask google.
My sister in law who bills herself as the world's greatest bargain hunter dropped off a bag of used shirts today. I have no idea where she got them but she said to pick out any that fit me and she would pick up the rest later. Besides men's shirts there were several skirts and women's tops. We all know were this would go, right? The truth is that the woman must have been some kind of Amazon or WNBA player but in our story they would be a perfect fit for the bearded old man who just had to try them on.
I see a lot of authors here talking about publishing their stories. They all seem to be talking about self publishing. Others have pointed out that there is not a lot of money to be made this way. Perhaps another way to go would be to get a manuscript as ready to publish as you can and submit it to an agent or ten. Acceptance is probably a long shot but you will never know if you don't try. If you fail the self publishing option remains; if you succeed you might find your book supported by a major publisher.
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