Another genre star extinguished

A couple of articles on the recently deceased science fiction author, Philip Jose Farmer. He died at 91, wrote over 75 novels, and won 3 Hugo awards. 

http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x1749108393/Philip-Jose-Farmer-dead-at-91

http://io9.com/5160340/rip-philip-jos-farmer

Speaking of Kindles

Now that I've dug my head out of the sand, it seems everyone is talking about the Kindle lately, whether the original or version 2.0. 

Here are a couple of links highlighting the Kindle: 

Agent Joshua Bilmes relates his story of his Kindle's death due to cold weather

Here's Wired.com's review of the Kindle 2.0

...and my friend Teegan talks about her insatiable desire for the Kindle2, which is likely making her husband jealous at this very moment.

Here's my take on e-readers in general:

- It's going to be a generational thing. (not sure how many generations involved though) I'm sure I will always be part of the generation that loves the solid, textural experience of flipping through the pages, but eventually the memory of that enjoyment will fade as our children grow up and e-readers are as common as cell phones. 

Of course, people who learn to love and subsist on e-books will eventually be laughed at as old-school by the generations that can have books directly beamed into their brains.

- They're good for traveling. I mean, wouldn't you rather take a single, slim pad rather than stuff a few bulky books in your suitcase or carry on? It'd save a lot on hassle and provide plenty to do during layovers and cab rides.

And yes, any ebook is likely to be less expensive than the book you can purchase in the airport. And food? Don't get me started about airport food.

- Lastly, I'll be more convinced to get one when they are developed to have some writing capability included. I.e., I want my Kindle/e-reader to double as my typewriter, so I can write on the go, email updated documents back to my home computer and generally replace my currently buggy PDA. 

So, if someone wants to send me a Kindle 2.0 out of the kindness of their heart, I won't say no. Otherwise, unless I win the lottery or rob a bank, I probably won't be indulging in the newest tech toy. But here's for hoping. 

I see that smile.

The Kindle 2.0

Deep question of the day:

So...the Kindle 2.0...whaddya think?

I know. A bit behind the news curve, but I've been watching these e-readers for years now, and I wonder if this one might actually become affordable enough to try out. Plus the newer features:

Thinner. Longer battery life. More memory and processing speed. Improved display and interface.

If you have one already, do speak up.

I see that smile.

Shimmer's new look

Shimmer magazine, which published my short story, Even Songbirds are Kept in Cages, has revamped its website into quite the sleek beastie. Take a look.

Also, stay in touch with them (eg. subscribe, add to favorites, whatever) because their 10th issue is going to be offered for free in PDF format. It's got some awesome stories in it, to say the least. 

***

In other news, the first draft of my latest manuscript is done. Clocked in at 90k word count, and is now in the process of going back through and correcting any gaps or obvious errors, adding some character thoughts and emotions, which I tend to underestimate the importance of, and generally streamlining the thing as a whole. Once that's done, it will get shoved in a drawer for a couple of weeks before revisions start. Then a few chapters will get posted on OWW for feedback. 

Pitch line: A cook struggles against the manipulations of a prophet who wants to set him up as a false messiah. 

Working title: King of Cooks...(alternative...The Cook Who Wouldn't Be King)

Already have a working idea for my next project and will be sketching out plotlines over the next month. Always enjoyable when the ideas and words flow.

I see that smile.

I guess...

I shouldn't have read this article, hoping for encouragement.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/18/news/economy/lousy_job/index.htm?postversion=2009021910

When you start talking about "shoveling through resumes" and low-paying jobs receiving anywhere from 200 to 3,000 applicants...umm...yeah.

I see that smile.

Not your average query contest

Colleen Lindsay, literary agent and blogger over at The Swivet, has started up a new query contest. But this isn't your usual 3-paragraph "Dear Madame" query. No. It's  got to be in haiku form. That's right. Did you know there are strict rules on how to write a haiku? Three lines, five syllables in the first, seven in the second, and five again in the last. Any straying from those guidelines and your entry doesn't count. There also doesn't seem to be a limit as to how many times you can enter, but I wouldn't abuse that too much.

Here's my first try, based on my almost-first-drafted WIP:

"Prophet versus Cook

Who stays in kitchen and gives

Rude gesture to Fate."

So start working on those tiny, cute queries and get them posted on her blog comments by midnight this Friday. Then check back to see which entries make it into the top ten. The winner receives a critique of their real query.

Have fun!

I see that smile.

A blog about fat

Here's a nice pick-me-up blog. I find that, since I am currently at home at most hours, and a desk-body at that with my writing and gaming tendencies, one of my worst enemies is my tendency to snack a lot.

To combat those urges, I discovered this fascinating (and disgusting) blog that uses strong visuals to tell people This is Why You're Fat. Brutal, but honest. The sad thing is, at my lowest, some of these pictures actually look appetizing. How can you say no to a deep fried s'more on a stick?

So, should the urge ever overtake you, just click on the link and let the blog parade its images of compacted and fried grease before your eyes. Just don't do it when already nauseous.

I see that smile.

The Corpus Clock

A bit under the weather with some 24-hour bug, so my thoughts are playing hide and seek with me today. So let me point you to this fascinating video that shows off a new clock that will be on my Christmas wish-list this  year.

http://www.wired.com/culture/design/magazine/17-02/st_chronophage

I see that smile.

Perils of writing on the go

The one hiccup on this little weekend vacation we took was the writing. I know, I know. It's supposed to be a vacation, right? No work, all play. But I at least try to write while in the process of getting from here to there and back again. My normal method, since my handwriting is atrocious, is to bring along a PDA/wireless keyboard setup I've had for a few years now. Portable, small, and with some limited wireless internet access, it works well to take either on car rides, planes, or down to the nearest bookstore or coffee shop for some writing time away from home. Then, when I get back, I sync up the documents I worked on to save my progress.

So I brought it along for the time in the airports and got in almost four solid hours of writing in-between takeoffs, landings and terminal switching. Fleshed out several scenes nicely and polished off almost 3k words. It's nice to see how the words flow when you are focused entirely on them.

Only problem is, the battery runs out after a while. I bring a second, fully charged battery just for this occasion. And it was just as we were landing in Oregon that the low-power warning light came on, and I decided to switch them out. 

Imagine my disbelief and frustration when, in the process of switching batteries, the PDA decides to wipe itself. And I mean back to factory settings too. No files backups, no chance of recovering anything. Four hours of writing snatched away. I almost became that screaming toddler on the plane everyone hates to sit by. 

Well, there was nothing I could do but pout. Even the software that I used to write one had been deleted, as it didn't originally come with the device. My only recourse, and tiny relief, came from the fact that when I write a scene or chapter, once I'm done with it, the general course of events and dialogue stick in my head pretty well. So when we got home a couple days later, I spent a few hours reconstructing what had turned into cyber-vapor. The descriptions and all aren't identical, but I don't feel like I've missed anything important from what was originally there.

However, my next consideration comes in figuring out a better way to write while traveling--without resorting to longhand. It might be time to buy a new device, as this one's failings have irked me one too many times. But what's your method? Do you take a bunch of pens and notebooks? Your laptop? Sticky notes? Keep it all in your brain until you get home? Do tell.

I see that smile.

We're back!

To give a glimpse of what the weekend was like:

And to sum up-- Oregon is fun! And beautiful! And should you ever go to Portland and need food recommendations, let me list three restaurants that make for some fine dining, which we got to experience through some great friends:

ClarkLewis

Saucebox

23Hoyt

Good times and good memories. I hope your weekend has been just as enjoyable.

I see that smile.

Outtatown

I know blogs have been sporadic here as of late. No excuse, really. You'd think with all this free time on my hands I'd have plenty of opportunity to wax eloquent here, but I'm a rather distractable person. Anyways, this weekend I have a slight excuse, as the wife and I will be out of town, visiting a college friend and trying to regain a little sanity. 

Also trying to dedicate some time to getting this rough draft of my WIP finally done. 3 or 4 main scenes left, and it's complete, so time to buckle down. Probably clocking in around 80-85k. Nothing epic, but it's been a fun one.

I see that smile. 

Artwork Post

Linkage today comes from artist Goro Fujita, who does an amazing job of mixing mundane and fantastic elements that make you do a double-take. Lots of little details to hunt down in many of his works. Here a favorite, and then make sure to check out his gallery for more.



I see that smile.