Robert B. Parker died January 18, 2010. Well-known for his Spenser series of novels. He was genre, sure. Mystery, primarily. Also a few westerns.
I mention him on the blog because his style in those novels influenced much of the style of KAT AND MOUSE.
I tip my hat to you, sir.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Not Alone
Fellow writer Jason Tudor (also a fellow AWer) had a post today that recalled a similar situation I encountered a few years ago. In his reply to my comment, Jason noted that sometimes it can feel like you're the only one in that situation.
I hear ya, bro.
KAT AND MOUSE: GUNS FOR HIRE had a brief incarnation as a webcomic but eventually stopped for two reasons. First, my artwork was not up to par when compared with other webcomics out there (and this was my estimation). Second, I'm not a quick artist so putting out pages on a specific schedule often found me scrambling to make it work.
After four months of hemming and hawing, I pulled the plug on the project.
It's hard to do something like that. Especially after you've put in the time and effort on a project. Feels like it was all a waste of time.
At the time, I felt I was the only one in that situation. That all other webcomickers never ran into that type of thing and all their webcomics worked out and didn't crash and burn after a few installments.
But I've come to know it isn't always the case. There are other creatives out there who go through this, too. Writers will scrap projects if they're not working out and start a fresh one. Sometimes, elements from the scrapped work will find its way into either the new work or a future work.
It's all grist for the mill.
The other thing that came out of that was a realization of where my strengths lie. It wasn't in comicking, no matter how much I liked to draw and sketch. Passable work, sure. But
not at the level I wanted it to be.
But I could craft a decent story that people enjoyed.
So that's what I did.
Result? KAT AND MOUSE as a serial.
To those writers who feel like they're toiling in isolation, I say this: Yes, our work is often done alone. By ourselves. And nobody sees our struggles. But remember that your fellow writers are also in the same boat. Sometimes, looking up to see what your compatriots are doing can make you see that you're not really alone.
Because you're not.
I hear ya, bro.
KAT AND MOUSE: GUNS FOR HIRE had a brief incarnation as a webcomic but eventually stopped for two reasons. First, my artwork was not up to par when compared with other webcomics out there (and this was my estimation). Second, I'm not a quick artist so putting out pages on a specific schedule often found me scrambling to make it work.
After four months of hemming and hawing, I pulled the plug on the project.
It's hard to do something like that. Especially after you've put in the time and effort on a project. Feels like it was all a waste of time.
At the time, I felt I was the only one in that situation. That all other webcomickers never ran into that type of thing and all their webcomics worked out and didn't crash and burn after a few installments.
But I've come to know it isn't always the case. There are other creatives out there who go through this, too. Writers will scrap projects if they're not working out and start a fresh one. Sometimes, elements from the scrapped work will find its way into either the new work or a future work.
It's all grist for the mill.
The other thing that came out of that was a realization of where my strengths lie. It wasn't in comicking, no matter how much I liked to draw and sketch. Passable work, sure. But
not at the level I wanted it to be.
But I could craft a decent story that people enjoyed.
So that's what I did.
Result? KAT AND MOUSE as a serial.
To those writers who feel like they're toiling in isolation, I say this: Yes, our work is often done alone. By ourselves. And nobody sees our struggles. But remember that your fellow writers are also in the same boat. Sometimes, looking up to see what your compatriots are doing can make you see that you're not really alone.
Because you're not.
Having a Reason
Ran across this blog post the other day and the following bit struck a note with me:
The kind of writer I want to be? The kind of stories I want to tell?
I want to be a writer who tells exciting, swashbuckling, thrilling SF/Fantasy stories that people enjoy.
A writer who tells stories that entertain.
If you read one of my stories and say "Wow. That was fun!" then I will have accomplished that.
I've been re-evaluating what I do and why, and it's really made me more aware of my process and what my personal goals are for the stories I write. Not just the story goals, but the things I wasn't from a story and what I hope to achieve for the reader. The kind of writer I want to be and the stories I want to tell. It's been interesting so far, and I'm curious to see how this develops.It remined me of an earlier post I wrote on a similar theme.
The kind of writer I want to be? The kind of stories I want to tell?
I want to be a writer who tells exciting, swashbuckling, thrilling SF/Fantasy stories that people enjoy.
A writer who tells stories that entertain.
If you read one of my stories and say "Wow. That was fun!" then I will have accomplished that.
In Which They Are Back
Yup.
I'm bringing them back.
Geek Movie Quotes.
Every Thursday.
That means tomorrow.
I'm bringing them back.
Geek Movie Quotes.
Every Thursday.
That means tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
RIP: Kage Baker
Kage Baker passed away this past weekend. SF Signal links to remembrances and appreciations.
I first heard of Kage when the Company stories began showing up in my issues of Asimov's, and then again when the novels popped up on bookshelves.
Truth be told, I've not read any of the stories or novels.
I simply know of them.
One day, a few years back, while looking at a copy of one Company novel, I noticed the author photo and thought "Wow, she looks familiar. I've seen her before."
And I had.
Back in 1993, as a matter of fact.
At Blackpoint Forest, in the Northern California town of Novato, on a Saturday morning, I sat on hay bales with about a dozen other "actors" and listened to Kage and her sister Kathleen teach us how to speak Elizabethan english for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.
That's how I know and remember Kage, telling us to beware of the "eels."
Since the novels and stories appeared, I've seen her become a force in the SF community.
I'm sorry I never got the chance to say hello when she made local appearances here in the Bay Area. And I'm sorry I heard about her illness late and was unable to send my well-wishes when the call went out.
I've heard lots of good things about the Company stories. Time to go find them.
Good-bye, Kage. May you be delivered from "eels."
I first heard of Kage when the Company stories began showing up in my issues of Asimov's, and then again when the novels popped up on bookshelves.
Truth be told, I've not read any of the stories or novels.
I simply know of them.
One day, a few years back, while looking at a copy of one Company novel, I noticed the author photo and thought "Wow, she looks familiar. I've seen her before."
And I had.
Back in 1993, as a matter of fact.
At Blackpoint Forest, in the Northern California town of Novato, on a Saturday morning, I sat on hay bales with about a dozen other "actors" and listened to Kage and her sister Kathleen teach us how to speak Elizabethan english for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.
That's how I know and remember Kage, telling us to beware of the "eels."
Since the novels and stories appeared, I've seen her become a force in the SF community.
I'm sorry I never got the chance to say hello when she made local appearances here in the Bay Area. And I'm sorry I heard about her illness late and was unable to send my well-wishes when the call went out.
I've heard lots of good things about the Company stories. Time to go find them.
Good-bye, Kage. May you be delivered from "eels."
Currently Reading
I had originally planned on reading the next Dresden book on my TBR Pile, Proven Guilty, followed by the second Harper Blaine novel by Kat Richardson, Poltergiest.
But...I didn't.
Instead, I turned to 13th Legion by Gav Thorpe, a novel set in the world of Warhammer 40K.
What a kick! Kage and the Last Chancers are a great bunch. Very much The Dirty Dozen in space. I've got the sequel, Kill Team, and I think I'm going to read that next.
And I've got my eye on the Gotrek and Felix collections. Those also look like a lot of fun.
Aaand...I've also been planning on picking up The Bloody Crown of Conan and The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane.
Aaaaand...Kelly Meding's Three Days to Dead, and the second Black Lagoon graphic novel.
So Dresden and Harper drop down a few slots on the TBR Pile. For the moment.
I'll get there soon enough.
But...I didn't.
Instead, I turned to 13th Legion by Gav Thorpe, a novel set in the world of Warhammer 40K.
What a kick! Kage and the Last Chancers are a great bunch. Very much The Dirty Dozen in space. I've got the sequel, Kill Team, and I think I'm going to read that next.And I've got my eye on the Gotrek and Felix collections. Those also look like a lot of fun.
Aaand...I've also been planning on picking up The Bloody Crown of Conan and The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane.
Aaaaand...Kelly Meding's Three Days to Dead, and the second Black Lagoon graphic novel.
So Dresden and Harper drop down a few slots on the TBR Pile. For the moment.
I'll get there soon enough.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Vote for KAT AND MOUSE
KAT AND MOUSE: GUNS FOR HIRE is up for the Rose and Bay Award for web fiction. Thanks to those of you who nominated the serial.
Now it's time to cast a vote for our daring duo. Rules are posted here. Cast your vote either in the comments of the post or via the poll on LiveJournal (you'll need to be logged into LJ for that).
Voting runs until the end of February.
Now it's time to cast a vote for our daring duo. Rules are posted here. Cast your vote either in the comments of the post or via the poll on LiveJournal (you'll need to be logged into LJ for that).
Voting runs until the end of February.
[SONGS IN THE KEY OF GEEK] Another Song Gets Mentioned
I tweeted the song "Urban Fantasy" to Stacia Kane a few weeks ago since it mentions her name in the lyrics. It made the rounds on Twitter.
Mark Henry, over at the League of Reluctant Adults, mentioned the song in a post.
Doug Knipe, the SciFiGuy, picked it up for one of his UF Roundups.
That was fun.
Mark Henry, over at the League of Reluctant Adults, mentioned the song in a post.
Doug Knipe, the SciFiGuy, picked it up for one of his UF Roundups.
That was fun.
[VOICE ACTING] Recent Releases
A few more new shows to announce since the last show update:
- HELP! I TRIPPED ON MY CLOAK AND DAGGER: Episode 1
- THE KINGERY: Episode 3x04
- SEMINAR: Episode 30
- ROBOTZ OF THE COMPANY: "Insurrection on the Botnik, Part One and Part Two"
- ROBOTZ OF THE COMPANY: "Return of the Botnik"
In Which We Are Go For Relaunch
My main site, AbnerSenires.com, relaunches today.
More a facelift than a relaunch, I suppose. Did a little bit of prettifying, that's all.
If you're there and you find something that isn't working right, let me know. I'm still tweaking a few things.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Monday...
More a facelift than a relaunch, I suppose. Did a little bit of prettifying, that's all.
If you're there and you find something that isn't working right, let me know. I'm still tweaking a few things.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Monday...
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