tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38304083083783482692024-02-19T10:02:48.580-05:00B Throwsnaill's doggerelWhat is on my mind...today. This is the blog of B Throwsnaill, author of the fantasy adventure series The Maker's Fire, which includes Hemlock and the Wizard Tower (Book One), Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy (Book Two), and Hemlock and the Dread Sorceress (Book Three).B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-77371789959169440112018-01-30T20:50:00.002-05:002018-01-30T21:29:34.251-05:00Hemlock and the Maker's Fire Released!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIWQAMdrxtgceL_68hyphenhyphenYMaa3FhTnXoZsWijlwkYqYakF2vlgr7Ci8YkZ7FmWSiCloBUm-NksaT50LF5-_k1vKVIvqyNkVQInRUFCzk41witfTaI2XGCb_6PLzPilkaQcySYNuWnynKw/s1600/HemlockIVB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIWQAMdrxtgceL_68hyphenhyphenYMaa3FhTnXoZsWijlwkYqYakF2vlgr7Ci8YkZ7FmWSiCloBUm-NksaT50LF5-_k1vKVIvqyNkVQInRUFCzk41witfTaI2XGCb_6PLzPilkaQcySYNuWnynKw/s320/HemlockIVB.jpg" width="218" /></a>Finally! After almost five years, the fourth book of The Maker's Fire series is complete! It is currently live on Smashwords and pending on Amazon. I will announce when it hits Amazon and the other major channels (via Smashwords).<br />
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Here is the Smashwords link: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/786076" target="_blank">Book IV on Smashwords</a> .<br />
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UPDATE: Amazon link is live: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079GC5CZD" target="_blank">Book IV on Amazon</a> .<br />
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If anyone would like a free review copy just email me.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-42369548448265982722017-11-25T10:52:00.000-05:002017-11-25T10:55:11.196-05:00The First One Thousand Words<div>
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I have some good news to report! The final edit of Hemlock and the Maker's Fire (aka Hemlock IV) is complete and the only work remaining to publish is to integrate the edits and complete the final formatting. It is very close!</div>
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In the meantime, I want to send an overdue shoutout to artist <a href="https://elenadudina.com/" target="_blank">Elena Dudina</a> who has done wonderful cover art for my Maker's Fire series. I remember many years ago I had published an early edition of Hemlock and the Wizard Tower using a stock photo for a cover. At the time I asked several folks about the cover and they said it was serviceable. But I knew I needed to take things up a notch. I hired Elena and she did not disappoint! After I released the new cover, I received several comments about how impactful the new image was and how it changed the way they felt about the book. Don't underestimate the power of the cover image--I don't care what that old saying says! Thank you, Elena, for bringing my world to life with these four images!</div>
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B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-92180770133371190322017-08-17T12:29:00.000-04:002017-08-17T12:29:20.109-04:00The Battle of the Final Edit IIHello, intrepid reader! I write this post in a haze of disappointment because my plans to continue my work on the fourth Hemlock book have been thwarted at every turn. It seems that circumstances are conspiring to deny me the combination of uninterrupted time, mental alacrity and motivation that I need to continue my work . The potentially good news is I think this upcoming weekend may finally present such an opportunity. But I don't want to over promise given my recent, poor track record.<br />
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It's really a shame to have the story basically completed but stalled in "post production". For various reasons, using a 3rd party to do the final edit is not an option I want to use this time around. My latest thought is to edit chapter by chapter and then post each successive chapter on this website as they get completed. If you would like me to take that approach then leave me a message in the comments.<br />
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As I've said in prior posts, I'm really pleased with Hemlock Book Four and I've gotten good feedback from beta readers. I am very anxious to share the final installment with you!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-16234570459837423702017-06-10T18:36:00.003-04:002017-06-10T18:36:45.787-04:00The Battle of the Final EditI have had some delays in preparing the draft of Hemlock IV for the editor. Now, for various reasons, I've decided to attempt to edit the manuscript myself. I am under no illusions that I am a great editor. On the other hand, I've never really attempted the process, either. I am going to do some research on how to best approach it. As with other things I've successfully integrated into my life, I'm going to have to figure out a way to make this editing process a part of my day to day routine.<br />
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I am also going to take some time off from my primary occupation to devote to this edit. I will try to get it done as quickly as I can within the constraints of whatever the necessary process ends up being.<br />
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I apologize for any delays this may introduce. Believe me, I am very anxious to complete this project and get this book released!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-61100662676542454862017-04-02T17:03:00.001-04:002017-04-02T17:03:06.266-04:00Hemlock and the Maker's Fire: Cover and Status<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIWQAMdrxtgceL_68hyphenhyphenYMaa3FhTnXoZsWijlwkYqYakF2vlgr7Ci8YkZ7FmWSiCloBUm-NksaT50LF5-_k1vKVIvqyNkVQInRUFCzk41witfTaI2XGCb_6PLzPilkaQcySYNuWnynKw/s1600/HemlockIVB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIWQAMdrxtgceL_68hyphenhyphenYMaa3FhTnXoZsWijlwkYqYakF2vlgr7Ci8YkZ7FmWSiCloBUm-NksaT50LF5-_k1vKVIvqyNkVQInRUFCzk41witfTaI2XGCb_6PLzPilkaQcySYNuWnynKw/s320/HemlockIVB.jpg" width="218" /></a>Here is the cover art for the forthcoming Hemlock and the Maker's Fire (The Maker's Fire - Book Four). It was created by the wonderfully talented artist <a href="http://http//elenadudina.com/">Elena Dudina</a> . She has done the prior three covers in the series, and I think she really outdid herself on this one!<br />
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I recently got some very comprehensive feedback on the manuscript from my beta reader, and now I have some rework to do before it's ready for the editor. I will try to make this work go as quickly as possible.<br />
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I'm also wrestling with the ending a bit. I love the current ending I've written, but there's one aspect of it that I now worry is inconsistent with one of the core themes of the series. I need to figure out a way to fine tune the ending. I'm hoping it won't need a total rework and that a refinement will suffice.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and hopefully I will be able to report some good progress in my next blog post!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-69108006672099051562017-03-03T20:04:00.002-05:002017-03-03T20:04:22.025-05:00Hemlock Book Four UpdateHi! This is a very, very quick update on the status of Hemlock and the Maker's Fire - Book Four in the series. The book is nearly through the beta reading phase and close to being sent out for the final edit. I also have the final cover art, which I will post very soon! Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-26961073178182294492017-01-19T20:36:00.001-05:002017-01-21T00:57:56.254-05:00New Year's Resolution: Achieved<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SaQujUnOGXxhQofLc2lMYZDTd3_wfwsAZDb5QBIQv4-m24d6MYHstcDBnZPtmBd3qqQgUvJEKZkcyf18V3e4lY0Jno1gY_ln-8S5nJ5D8O-ABceJxbbhxxS8yO5jPMtoZV5F5YVtNw/s1600/HemlockCloseUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SaQujUnOGXxhQofLc2lMYZDTd3_wfwsAZDb5QBIQv4-m24d6MYHstcDBnZPtmBd3qqQgUvJEKZkcyf18V3e4lY0Jno1gY_ln-8S5nJ5D8O-ABceJxbbhxxS8yO5jPMtoZV5F5YVtNw/s1600/HemlockCloseUp.jpg" /></a><br />
<i>[Author's note: the first draft of this blog post was written on on January 1st, 2017]</i><br />
<i><br /></i>As I start writing this post, the default title for it seems self-evident. I've been struggling to come up with ideas to blog about for the past several months. But the obvious thing to do on this date is to post about making a New Year's resolution to complete the manuscript for Hemlock and the Maker's Fire (book four and final volume of the Maker's Fire series)!<br />
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Well, I'm pleased to report that this won't be necessary, because I have already completed it! I finished the manuscript during the break between Christmas and New Year's. I have sent it off for beta reading, and I've decided this would be an auspicious occasion to break my recent silence and post an update with this (hopefully exciting) news!<br />
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I am pleased with how the story turned out. I was worried that the planning that was necessary to bring the story to a satisfying ending might constrain the free-form writing process I like to employ. But this didn't turn out to be the case. In fact, there were some surprises near the very end--even for me. As schizophrenic as this sounds, I wrote some revelatory passages, and just sat back and said to myself: "Really?" But then I thought about what had sort of just ended up being written (in as close to a spontaneous fashion as possible) and I started to nod my head affirmatively. Not only did the surprising idea mesh with the plot and backstory--it felt right.<br />
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This book also marks the point where I discovered that writer's block is a real thing and I can be vulnerable to it. Despite my best attempts to keep a positive spin on things in my most recent blog posts, I simply wasn't writing, and I now feel I was in real danger of torpedoing the manuscript by letting it sit unfinished for too long.<br />
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Before this point I hadn't grappled with being blocked. Maybe it had something to do with trying to come up with an ending to a series that lived up to what had come before in prior volumes and my own expectations. It's also a fact that things were happening in my personal life that presented a real distraction: both temporally and emotionally. But, the thing is, I don't think I should have stopped writing altogether like I did. If I ever hit a similar situation again, I think it would be much better to carve out small blocks of time just to write something--anything. I think writing just enough to keep the creative embers glowing is important. Fortunately, I was able to pick this project up and complete it fairly easily once I did finally make the time. But I won't take that for granted ever again. I liken it to losing my balance around the edge of a cliff. Maybe I wasn't in danger of actually falling, but if the same thing had happened a few feet closer to the edge, then who knows?<br />
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The Maker's Fire series of novels were written over a ten year period. I guess, when I really think about it, every period of my life over those ten years is probably reflected in the story. But that reflection is more on the micro level. The macro level story was conceived early in the process. although the details did evolve. The initial one hundred pages or so of Book One were totally off the cuff, but after that some "vectors" informing and predicting the overall plot arc did begin to form. Some of them didn't even make sense to me at the time. For instance, the implications of Hemlock's early visions of the Black Dragon stirring were not fully planned out when first written. But I soon "discovered" what they meant as I imagined each unfolding layer of the story. This is part of the mysticism of writing that I like to believe in. I wrote about those draconian visions because I knew Hemlock's use of her powers was having some effect in the larger universe; and, later, my imagination filled in what that was and how it fit into the story. It was like an off the cuff riff in a musical jam session that later got (seamlessly?) woven into the tapestry of the story. I really enjoy that aspect of writing.<br />
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Now it's on to editing and cover imagery and all the other fun stuff that comes with publishing. Stay tuned and thanks for reading!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-11927542537654462272016-08-04T21:09:00.000-04:002017-04-02T17:08:05.518-04:00Writing Status Report<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo used unmodified. Created by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/throughkikslens/"> ThroughKiksLens </a>. licensed under <br />
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I am pleased to report good progress on my writing. The manuscript for Hemlock IV now stands at 91k words. It is getting close to being done, and that is very exciting. I did write a lot on vacation, as I had planned. Unfortunately, I've only had limited success in preserving the writing momentum I'd established now that I've returned to normal life.<br />
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If you asked me whether I'm happy with the manuscript so far--I'd say yes. It's surprising because I've learned to expect the unexpected, but it's turned out much as I expected it would. The exception is the ending which has changed somewhat radically from what I'd envisioned earlier. <br />
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What have my latest inspirations been? One inspiration has certainly been the Final Fantasy video game series--specifically Final Fantasy XIII, which I recently finished. The imagery of that game is just amazing. It's inspired me to take some of my written scenes "to the next level" in terms of visual description.<br />
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This is a bit of a tangent, but that's one thing that has always disappointed me just a bit about Tolkien's writing. He never describes his magic in vivid detail--or maybe it's better to say that the magic in his world isn't very visual. I guess that's alright (and I would never presume to criticize a master writer!). But as a reader, I do like "special effects" in magic. So I have made sure to have some good special effects in some of the climactic confrontations in Hemlock IV.<br />
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I am also pleased with how the character arcs are developing. That's one thing that's been nearly effortless in writing this series. The characters have just fallen into place. I'd like to think that's due to some sort of serendipity, but since that assumes that I've actually done well writing the arcs, I will leave that to the reader to decide.<br />
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I'm feeling strangely cold and impartial as I preside over the final fates of certain characters. Not everything is roses and Shangri-La at the end of the story. Some characters fare worse than others, and I feel strangely detached about it. I have grown attached to these characters. Like Paul Atreides, I've asked myself "Where are my feelings"? I'm hoping it's some natural function of remaining neutral as the story evolves organically. Maybe, after a few years, I'll regret certain things about what I've written for these characters. What I can say is none of the main characters have ignoble fates. That's worth something, right?<br />
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I am anxious to complete the final chapters and move to the next phase which is beta reads. I will do my best to keep things moving because I know the wait has been too long!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-37424076089053713152016-06-18T15:35:00.000-04:002016-06-18T15:35:20.175-04:00A Yogi at the Intersection of Myth and Reality?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-0YIEepuCCaR5w4N7V6M0SRXnY1hJY8SzDYL_Jk67VWv4_ykC-iPqglR0Ex_vF9BJZ9Eg4avPMY1LZED0-nyJ1-kC53Z4NNRrBFless_4oPRAGq9TdVq7Js2RCG7I8WmJYCbhsaaiw/s1600/yogananda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-0YIEepuCCaR5w4N7V6M0SRXnY1hJY8SzDYL_Jk67VWv4_ykC-iPqglR0Ex_vF9BJZ9Eg4avPMY1LZED0-nyJ1-kC53Z4NNRrBFless_4oPRAGq9TdVq7Js2RCG7I8WmJYCbhsaaiw/s1600/yogananda.jpg" /></a>I recently finished reading a book called "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda. This is a very interesting book. The writing is beautiful--at least in my estimation. Many seem to feel the prose is overwrought, but I think it conveys a sense of peace and spirituality. The subject of the book is the author's life, the life of his guru and that of his guru's guru. All of these yogis demonstrate miraculous powers with astonishing frequency. The tale is presented as non-fiction, but a pragmatic mind can't help but wonder about all those miracles. <br /><br />The book was first published in 1946 and deals with the relationship between western and eastern spirituality and also the author's mission to bridge the cultural divide between India and the West. In doing so, he comes across as an unabashed cheerleader for India--but one can't fault the author for patriotic ardor. Given that the author founded a spiritual organization that persists to this day, I have a level of skepticism about the book given the potential for self-aggrandizement for financial gain (like Dianetics). Still, I am intrigued by many of the spiritual ideas presented in the book. I think of these spiritual ideas as assertions whereas the book treats them as "scientifically" vetted truths (proven via the practice of Kriya Yoga which the author equates to a science). For instance, the author presents the idea that the Earth plane of existence is bordered by a higher "astral" realm and an even higher realm beyond that. I could write a full blog post on that topic, but that idea resonates with my theories and spiritual experience. <br /><br />An example of the way the author tries to tie eastern and western religion together is by claiming there are subtle references to reincarnation in the bible (e.g.: John the baptist is the reincarnation of Elijah, etc.). What the author doesn't explain is how the metaphor of suffering as purification that the story of Jesus (and Christianity in general) seems to be infused with relates to eastern religion. I don't get the sense that eastern religions see suffering as the best path to enlightenment, so I'm curious how the author would have explained that difference. I can imagine the author responding that being apart from God is terrible suffering--but I am making a distinction between that and physical suffering like what Jesus endured. The stories of these three yogis aren't laden with an excess of suffering. Despite the almost mythical level of miracles presented and what I perceive as the lack of a complete analysis of the relationship between eastern and western religion, the book proved to be entertaining to read, inspirational and also thought provoking. And that's about as much as I hope for in a book.<br /><br />I have a vacation coming up later this month and I am looking forward to completing Hemlock book four on that trip. I'm often bored to tears on the beach; so, instead, I envision myself perched on a nice ocean front balcony typing away. That sounds like a serene setting in which to bring the Hemlock series to a close, and I am looking forward to it! If you are in the Americas, I hope your summer has gotten off to a good start. I look forward to sharing the results of my vacation writing with you very soon!<br /><br /><br />B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-30326329659950684262016-04-07T19:46:00.000-04:002016-04-07T19:46:51.059-04:00Impermanent Marker<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg0xQGXOrZLuLnRI1zJV1Kvo-FvXtzljJkTuraQ5Zn-aWUNAMbn8RXn_XDldy6FUAwVvpvRyUnoHHh55MJPJQRuMV_3-xiS5Yc87bZI20RPgaONIpoCUgRklRKqKduUZ8kBb2_Vr0Iw/s1600/SandCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg0xQGXOrZLuLnRI1zJV1Kvo-FvXtzljJkTuraQ5Zn-aWUNAMbn8RXn_XDldy6FUAwVvpvRyUnoHHh55MJPJQRuMV_3-xiS5Yc87bZI20RPgaONIpoCUgRklRKqKduUZ8kBb2_Vr0Iw/s320/SandCastle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo used unmodified. Created by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/slgc/"> slgckgc </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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A lot of things are changing in my life right now. My first reaction when reflecting on change is to begin to judge the changes: are they positives? Negatives? I want to try to quantify them and then aggregate their net effect into some overall statistic. Am I better or worse, and in what magnitude? I suppose this is the computer scientist in me.<br />
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No matter whether we perceive changes to be positive or negative, I think there's value in taking a step back and realizing that changes just are. They exist free of any context. Any emotional response we may feel toward them is separate from the changes themselves. It helps me to ground myself when I think like this. It's always important to remain sensitive to life and also to the opportunity to influence events. But certain events--especially those we can't directly influence--exist outside of us. We are just observers and are left to contemplate their impact on us.<br />
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I often tell kids that I've found it to be a useful technique to visualize emotions as clouds that pass through our bodies. Emotions can build on themselves and strengthen if we begin to question them or become attached to them. I do spend energy trying to figure out why I feel the way I do. But I try to do it with a detached mindfulness. When I was younger I remember getting worried when I was experiencing negative emotions. It's like I expected not to have them and felt slighted by the universe because I was feeling them. I would get more and more upset as I experienced the original emotion plus the amplified effects based on feeling like I didn't deserve my fate. Now, I think I know better. In the words of an immortal (and temperate) philosopher: excrement happens!<br />
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A friend told me a story today that relates to the concept of impermanence. The Persian king Xerxes stood atop a hill as his massive army passed below him. His aides were startled when they noticed that Xerxes was weeping. Incredulous at the sight of their king in tears as he witnessed the spectacle of the passing troops, they asked him why he cried. He replied: "In a hundred years they will all be dead." Maybe our emotions are like that passing army. No matter how grandiose they may seem, they will fade into nothingness soon enough--provided we can just let go of them. The challenge is for Xerxes to stay on the hill and not descend into the torrent.<br />
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The astute reader may have noticed that the preceding paragraphs have amounted to little more than an elaborate distraction from an update on my writing progress over the past several weeks. The good news is I have made some progress--albeit less than I had hoped for. I did succeed in writing one sequence featuring dialogue with a divine presence that I found particularly challenging. Getting into the voice of this character was something I just had to wait to come to me. I couldn't will myself to write that dialogue--I just had to channel it. The bad news is I'm not done the story yet! I had planned to be done the first draft by now. So I am a little frustrated by my lack of progress.<br />
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I really am entering the final lap of this novel, but these life changes have me in the proverbial pits. I promise you that I will get moving again very soon! I miss the writing and I need to complete it before I lose too much of the story's context that's sitting in my mind. My mind tends to wander, so I have to be mindful of striking while the iron is hot.<br />
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I briefly thought about doing another interim book release rather than waiting to release the completed final volume. I typically get anxious like this when I reach a potential stopping point in a manuscript. But I know this isn't the right answer this time. I have to forge ahead and reach the finish line of this multi-year journey--I have to complete this series of novels. And then, flush with victory, I can consider what comes...next. I hope you will be there to complete this journey with me, dear reader.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-15872687158984312042016-01-11T21:15:00.000-05:002016-01-11T21:31:28.331-05:00Full Throttle and then into the pits<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsQ7f4rNQYtJ5DR5bvqShk1Ns8uZYZzHYsU3t3eGW0A1kBDgzK0SKTJ4TFavgWaV4u4slKZVD-d4K7FhGk7k08x4na0rzqCFwrlU0BFtWSgKomLmUymceRSjZnz8cLw8Jwaca23V2Hg/s1600/Stardust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsQ7f4rNQYtJ5DR5bvqShk1Ns8uZYZzHYsU3t3eGW0A1kBDgzK0SKTJ4TFavgWaV4u4slKZVD-d4K7FhGk7k08x4na0rzqCFwrlU0BFtWSgKomLmUymceRSjZnz8cLw8Jwaca23V2Hg/s200/Stardust.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo used unmodified. Created by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/_lovenothing/"> Zoe </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a new year and I've been remiss when it comes to blog updates. What have I been up to? I've been doing some writing, of course. I started working on a blog post some time ago to report on progress made during the extended writing session I did in December. Somehow, I seem to have misplaced that post. I can assure you that the lost post was a legendary piece of prose, and we should all lament its passing. But we must carry on somehow, despite the sorrow...<br /><br />
Let me put the melodrama aside and tell you what I actually did. I wrote a lot of words and I managed to get through most of a very, very challenging part of the manuscript. The manuscript is close to 90k words now and I think the end is in sight, although there are still a couple of potentially daunting sequences remaining. The end of this series is taxing me as a writer and a thinker, and I believe those are both good things. It would have been a disservice to readers and to me (on a personal level) to play it safe on this finale. The entire series is thematically predicated on the concept of bold risks and danger. It only seems fitting that the end of the series should retain a high level of ambition.<br /><br />
I will confess to taking another writing break since the holidays began last month. But it's getting to be about time for me to come out of this hiatus and get this book completed. I think I am going to need a some dedicated writing days to pull this off--and those are typically in short supply. But I will do my best to make that happen as soon as possible. I am ready to cross this finish line and move into post production!<br /><br />
I wish you a very happy New Year, and I hope you will be reading Hemlock and the Maker's Fire well before the end of it!<br /><br />
This post is dedicated to the memory of David Bowie. He's one of those artists that made a significant impression on me despite the fact I never considered myself a true fan of his. It's a sad reality that sometimes the significance of a person is most easily appreciated in retrospect.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-45707350970333814882015-10-29T17:05:00.000-04:002015-10-29T17:05:30.023-04:00Wet Robots<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2FTmsO6q3kj1w0En6qioTXGg7nv4poJKeXSbAR1Wb1dizbzo5q7Z5C1AClLhQu0oSocs17n8XP22Vn9OFD1k-gYwzqI1hq1MnxY4oCQyDXojxfXmS8xdFwffFZHkVniRRSUe5lYFGg/s1600/DigitalDude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2FTmsO6q3kj1w0En6qioTXGg7nv4poJKeXSbAR1Wb1dizbzo5q7Z5C1AClLhQu0oSocs17n8XP22Vn9OFD1k-gYwzqI1hq1MnxY4oCQyDXojxfXmS8xdFwffFZHkVniRRSUe5lYFGg/s1600/DigitalDude.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoosay/"> Surian Soosay </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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I recently had a stimulating discussion with an old friend about the nature of reality. We were discussing an assertion by science and philosophy (specifically a man named Dan Dennett) that free will is an illusion and our actions are all the product of a fully deterministic physical brain. Dennet, to his credit, makes the point that even if free will is an illusion, it's still important to live life like free will is real. In other words, even if we are "wet robots", it's not practical to live our lives like there's no consequences to our actions.<br />
There are some scientific findings that support the notion that our decisions form in our brain in a measurable way before we are conscious of them. I wrote the below in response to watching a video by Dennett posted to a social network by my friend.<br />
"My takeaway from this one is that it makes sense from a philosophical and scientific point of view but has little practical value to impart to day to day living. The analogy {Dennet makes} to fiat vs "real" currency seems like an appropriate one. I will admit to struggling with the philosophical implications of this video for about 24 hours after I watched it. But, ultimately, I think there's still room in this model for some consciousness apart from the physical body. For instance, maybe there's an infinite number of physical bodies on multiple planes and our free will phases us between alternate timelines? I appreciate the machine-like nature of the mind--and, lately, I've enjoyed trying to "life hack" myself. But, ultimately, I don't view science <br />
as the sole informant of my point of view. Science is
good at reductionist measurement, but I do think you can lose the forest
for the trees. And even if we view ourselves as "wet machines", the
very contemplation of that fact could negatively impact our
"programming". So take this down! (Just kidding) I think we differ on
this point about the existence of the external "soul". Maybe Decker is a
replicant after all--but you'll never convince him while he's hooked up
the Matrix. Turtles all the way down!"<br />
<br />
My friend subsequently pointed out that Dennett's argument is actually supporting living as if free will is real. I am still thinking about my response. My first thought is how would I even attempt to live like a robot pretending to be a "real boy"? I've never been a great actor. I don't envy those who subscribe to this lack of free will principle, even if they don't go off the deep end of nihilism. Wouldn't this belief create an undercurrent of despair in daily life? No thanks. My friend does make one interesting point, though. He says the truth should trump any comfortable illusions. I do agree with that statement. So I think I have some thinking to do in order to reconcile my argument with these two potentially conflicting concepts (free will and the acknowledgement of the possible philosophical implications of the science). Of course, a multiverse model of reality pretty much allows for anything--and there is "spooky" physics to support at least the possibility of that.<br />
<br />
On the writing front, I am excited to announce I've scheduled a writing retreat for November. My goal is to complete the first draft of Hemlock book four. I am extremely excited about this and will probably post more frequently than I have been during that period. The Hemlock books seem to have a life of their own! I have virtually ceased all marketing for a few years with the exception of this humble blog, yet sales continue to trickle in and downloads continue unabated. I can speculate on one big reason for the continued momentum: the venerable <a href="http://indiebookblogger.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Indie Book Blog</a> . Scott Poe is the operator of this nice indie review site, and has generously been running a banner for the Hemlock books for *years* at this point. Please visit his site and give him some love! Thanks, Scott!<br />
<br />
B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-73388922133556191412015-08-30T14:36:00.000-04:002015-08-30T14:36:39.114-04:00Writing in Slo-Mo<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_n8yiaP8CZ03OIgPo2q4SRPlOSNmnFsS6lOocdSlXGPa2_dQ3jozDc7Gdi1efkBUUnDDVu2sXplPm3zWVIcQt7MKodYxhHN86JE6OaucXDmrjqxxr0tJnakG8UbiLIL250RjAW1wEQ/s1600/SloMo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_n8yiaP8CZ03OIgPo2q4SRPlOSNmnFsS6lOocdSlXGPa2_dQ3jozDc7Gdi1efkBUUnDDVu2sXplPm3zWVIcQt7MKodYxhHN86JE6OaucXDmrjqxxr0tJnakG8UbiLIL250RjAW1wEQ/s1600/SloMo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johngordy/"> John Gordy </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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I feel like I've been writing in slow motion lately. I'm very motivated to write, I just don't have a lot of time or energy to write. Still, I am steadily making progress toward reaching the end of Hemlock Book Four. I'm right at the doorstep of popping a major "bubble" for the reader which will reveal a lot about the underpinnings of the story. It's pretty exciting stuff!<br />
<br />
Another surprising thing has happened this week. An idea for another book that's been percolating in my right brain for a while suddenly started generating left brain ideas for me this week. I hastily took notes. I think I've uncovered the fully formed skeleton of my next novel! It's something completely different from Hemlock, although the theme isn't that far removed from it. Notably, it would be in the urban fantasy genre rather than epic/high fantasy. But take that for a grain of salt because it's not a genre following story at all, if that makes sense. In other words, it was conceived in a complete absence of any genre consciousness, and it's only in retrospect that I might clumsily assign the urban fantasy "label" to it.<br />
<br />
I've continued to be fascinated by virtual worlds and higher "planes" of thought and existence in these past months. I'm currently reading "The Peripheral" by William Gibson. It's phenomenal! I've enjoyed everything Gibson<span id="goog_1863452644"></span><span id="goog_1863452645"></span> has written, but this story in particular has really grabbed me. I always feel lost in his books for the first hundred pages, at least. In some of his books, I've never really felt synced with the story at all (although I have still enjoyed them from a distance--kind of like watching a beautiful, nude figure through frosted glass). But I am fully engaged with the story in "The Peripheral". I'm close to the ending. I've resisted Googling some things about the book until I finish it. I'm very curious about the scientific basis for some of the plot devices he uses in the book.<br />
<br />
That's it for now. I will try to double down on completing the Hemlock series as soon as possible. I really will be an exciting milestone to reach. I'm already contemplating physical books, which will also be an exciting step.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-10822220638080160302015-07-07T19:26:00.001-04:002015-07-07T19:26:43.126-04:00Tapping the Brakes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNLAuB_ExoYnoRAEKRgQ83OZhGTVqKm5iwRIicPhgM6qCxVDKmvK-Z3GC45GJ4DuHu1jbc3er-lch7PTitutPhCOsUE_kSq8UwGiutMzK6ZOOsdoBvn_Hc2prDI2eRHYex07VZe3V5A/s1600/4249614985_530c2288b9_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNLAuB_ExoYnoRAEKRgQ83OZhGTVqKm5iwRIicPhgM6qCxVDKmvK-Z3GC45GJ4DuHu1jbc3er-lch7PTitutPhCOsUE_kSq8UwGiutMzK6ZOOsdoBvn_Hc2prDI2eRHYex07VZe3V5A/s320/4249614985_530c2288b9_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/twodolla/"> Wendy Berry </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As some of you who read this blog may know, I typically write as part of a semi-daily routine. I've reached a point in the Hemlock IV manuscript where I'm writing a climactic battle sequence. At the same time, my non-writing life has been very hectic. During the last writing session I had, the details of the battle were bursting out of my brain like a fire hose gone out of control! I didn't want to stop writing, but I knew I was taking on a sort of manic demeanor that wouldn't bode well for my overall well being. The net result is I've been feeling very stressed writing this battle sequence and I actually had to take a break for a few days! It may sound silly, but I feel it's had a noticeably positive impact on my stress level. But I will certainly get back to writing this exciting sequence as soon as possible, because I miss it!<br />
<br />
This manic writing phenomenon also happened to me while writing Hemlock II. It seems I can get obsessive about writing sometimes. So, while I've had to put the brakes on just a bit, the good news is the end of the story is coming into sight. I think that's good news, anyway. Bittersweet also, perhaps, but good for the production of this novel.<br />
<br />
On a personal note, I'm reading a very interesting book about the relationship between Art and Religion called The Re-Enchantment of the World: Art vs. Religion . It's made several points so far that have resonated with me and require additional contemplation. One is that my personal fascination with mythology and fiction could be related to a disenchantment with the dogma of religion. Another is that people relate strongly to stories because a fundamental way we all view our lives is as narratives. The book goes on to state that we all want to "be somebody" and have a heroic narrative. And because we think in terms of narratives it's easy for us to identify with narratives written as stories. My initial reaction is I think these ideas make a lot of sense, but I haven't had time to fully digest them, yet.<br />
<br />
Will this book influence the final chapters of Hemlock Book IV? I would say yes. At the very least they may help to guide my hand on the rudder of the story. I have to think about Hemlock's narrative, and also the narratives of all the other characters in the novel. I will have to ask myself whether these narratives are all coherent and brought to a satisfying and logical conclusion. Will there be other influences from this book? I can't say yet. I haven't even completed it yet.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading my update! I hope you are doing well.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-90098644493103941132015-05-20T00:13:00.001-04:002015-05-20T00:14:23.678-04:00Short Post - Book Four Manuscript Update<br />
I've reached a pivotal point in writing Hemlock Book Four! All of the plot lines have come together for a climactic confrontation! It feels surreal to reach this point in the narrative after all of these years. It's both gratifying and a little disquieting because I realize there will be a sort of void in my creative life once this series is complete. Certainly, other projects will emerge to fill that void--and that's very exciting. But, at the same time, this story has seeped into my veins. It's become my periodic escape into another world, and there's a lot of lore and thought that's gone into that world. It will be strange to contemplate starting anew.<br />
<br />
But, lest this post become too maudlin, I should realize that I still have a lot of writing to do before Book Four is completed. I can't afford to get ahead of myself!<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I haven't posted a "proper" blog post lately. I've been very busy, and I've been so excited to write the Hemlock story that I've given the blog short shrift. I'll try to be better about that in the future! I hope you enjoy the upcoming summer months if you are in the United States! If not, then please enjoy whatever season you will be in for the next several months!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-1985198162710947312015-03-28T18:08:00.000-04:002015-03-28T18:08:07.657-04:00Change of Perspective<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgL4AgNY_Of2s4Sp-xe8qCqlQi6nnrHewG-Ekvbvbpcuj-nf-Z9kpsJj65S9RG0zsNx32X3aPdYHKb_CpOLgp5Ihiat4ikFDnduXRGQCY0dqmocjTNIDw9qGsayG_yie_yzRJ_wIbQA/s1600/Ripples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgL4AgNY_Of2s4Sp-xe8qCqlQi6nnrHewG-Ekvbvbpcuj-nf-Z9kpsJj65S9RG0zsNx32X3aPdYHKb_CpOLgp5Ihiat4ikFDnduXRGQCY0dqmocjTNIDw9qGsayG_yie_yzRJ_wIbQA/s1600/Ripples.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shannonkringen/"> Shannon Kringen </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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Writers earn their chops by successfully writing from multiple perspectives. Characters in a story have to be portrayed differently and they should have unique points of view that come through in the writing. Good characterization will demonstrate the unique characteristics of these personas. This will reflect the societal norms of the societies they were raised in. Writing a character raised in an eighteenth century Native American village has to be much different than writing a London debutante.<br />
<br />
My hypothesis, then, is writers should be better equipped to deal with differences in beliefs and attitudes between one culture and another than non-writers are. But then I wonder how easy it is for a writer to capture these differences unless they travel or do research about life on foreign soil. Along these lines, I wonder about my own cultural "voice"--both as a writer and a human being. Cultural values change and morph over time. Is it socially and morally imperative to be receptive to these changes as one advances through life? Or is it better to anchor yourself to certain core values?<br />
<br />
I think the ideal is to engage in a process of continuous re-evaluation of one's cultural values. This evaluation would ideally take place in several dimensions: philosophical, moral, social, financial, etc. But the reality is it's difficult to find the time for all of this introspection. Invariably, we fall back on pre-existing values. And this can lead to situations that challenge or contravene these pre-existing values in a disruptive way (when they have "calcified" and become brittle due to age and lack of re-evaluation).<br />
<br />
When these moments come, how do we react? If you subscribe to the concept of the plurality of self, you might begin a process of forming a new persona that identifies with the values suggested by new emergent realities. In this case, the older selves don't cease to exist, but may have to be gradually deemphasized or merged with newer points of view. And it may take a while to fully reconcile these points of view.<br />
<br />
I think it's good for a writer to go through these evolutions for the same reason that actors sometimes get better with age. As you realize that your own self isn't static, I think you gain perspective that you can leverage when writing your characters and giving them unique backgrounds and perspectives.<br />
<br />
So maybe a writer should book an overseas trip once a year to stay fresh or do something unusual like joining a UFO hunting group. Maybe one should experiment with religion or explore a new subculture. If you become adept at creating new personas, then perhaps it lessens the pain of having to retire obsolete ones. I will have to ask some enlightened, older friends about this.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-14349035201689638972015-02-03T18:39:00.000-05:002015-02-03T18:40:17.941-05:00Headwinds and Tailwinds<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVjPPACilp_M-nchK0UO2b3EYAPtBaWqUyzLr9zZAwp34rD1p0oLGf9WAzpucI1lIA2PU_i4fbF0gTW9tpy-A50AuD-0PaL3OO-v4orA4aNBVSFkWlI8OyFwk5yGwyH9OQxchaYQSgA/s1600/Sailing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVjPPACilp_M-nchK0UO2b3EYAPtBaWqUyzLr9zZAwp34rD1p0oLGf9WAzpucI1lIA2PU_i4fbF0gTW9tpy-A50AuD-0PaL3OO-v4orA4aNBVSFkWlI8OyFwk5yGwyH9OQxchaYQSgA/s320/Sailing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fevisyu/"> Fevi in Pictures </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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I've had a couple of really good writing sessions over the past couple of weeks. Before these sessions, I hadn't felt like I'd had a good session in quite some time. I'd noticed the feeling, but hadn't really reacted to it much. I just kept writing. I don't know if this was some flavor of writer's block, but I suspect it displayed many of the symptoms of it. The thing is, though, I never thought to myself that I had writer's block while I was experiencing whatever I was experiencing. I just knew I was writing with reduced efficiency and inspiration. When it comes time to edit, I'll have to take a careful look at the things I wrote during this period. My hope is they will prove to be of the same quality as I produced during the earlier parts of writing the manuscript. I am still excited by what I've written--I just wasn't as excited while I was writing it.
<br />
<br />
Maybe what I was experiencing was due to a lack of improvisation in the writing relative to the earlier books in the series. As much as I value spontaneity and allowing a manuscript to morph, the reality is some constraints are inevitable when writing a fourth book. So, many of the plot points and character developments had already been conceived prior to the writing. There's a certain "buzz" I get when I conceive an idea. It's a creative high. When I'm writing from the seat of my pants, that high is ever-present. But when I'm writing previously fleshed out ideas, the high has faded and what's left is a workman-like joy at realizing the concepts with good, tight prose. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with that.
<br />
<br />
The ebbs and flows of mood and inspiration seem to be mercurial. Looking back, I can't put a finger on exactly why I had this down period in my writing and then pulled out of it. The cause could have been the lack of writing improvisation, or maybe it was a side effect of something else going on in my life at the time. In fact, I can't be sure it won't come back. When I was younger I used to become very discouraged by losing inspiration during a project. I'd often bounce from new project to new project without finishing anything. It was very frustrating. At some point I realized that it's nearly always better to finish a project than to abandon it--even if the project is no longer viable or inspiring.
<br />
<br />
Ultimately, projects are units of work, and work is often something we do because we feel compelled to do it. It's true that work can also be fun. Work is fun when the tailwinds of creativity and inspiration are driving us forward. But it isn't always fun. Sometimes we are becalmed and unmotivated. Sometimes we even have to work in the face of adversity, which is like headwinds holding us back and retarding our progress.
<br />
<br />
There's probably been a lot written about how to create writing tailwinds. Maybe I should read some of it. But, for now, my stubborn approach seems to be keeping me moving.
<br />
<br />
The Hemlock Book Four manuscript stands at about 50,000 words. I am now getting into the meat of the final part of the story. I don't mean that I'm at the end of the manuscript but rather that I'm writing scenes I had always imagined as being part of the end of the overall story arc. They are epic almost by definition since they will prove to be pivotal to the outcome of the tetralogy. Hopefully they will be as exciting to read as they are to write! How can I say exciting to write given my topic in this post? Writing is always exciting--it's just the degree of excitement that varies sometimes. Writing=good!
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I wish you all a happy and healthy 2015! Thanks for reading.B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-21756574588195719652014-12-13T14:26:00.003-05:002014-12-14T11:18:06.978-05:00Adding Flair<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmf99rzpctgIotTCaVrlQZd3vO9y__Flke40RquZGUI4BW8WZ2LfhtspQlz4EdOWXxsjNx6cOklDgm_ljEy1feV7-FJ076H78dwA0IcCIPwL5e1k47Li_wV8N0YrYgW8C1P1aVO2qFQ/s1600/2995952258_ab5fca73fb_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmf99rzpctgIotTCaVrlQZd3vO9y__Flke40RquZGUI4BW8WZ2LfhtspQlz4EdOWXxsjNx6cOklDgm_ljEy1feV7-FJ076H78dwA0IcCIPwL5e1k47Li_wV8N0YrYgW8C1P1aVO2qFQ/s1600/2995952258_ab5fca73fb_m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/evanrude/"> evanrudemi </a>. licensed without change under <br />
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I've been slowly writing my way through the fourth Hemlock novel, and approaching it in a methodical fashion. I think there's a point when an author completes the outline of a plot for a novel and the exercise of writing the manuscript can become monotonous. There's an acute risk of this happening if the writer doesn't allow for the plot and characters to morph and evolve around the planned outline and events. This is why I always try to allow for these changes to emerge while I'm writing. Sometimes this causes delays, but I think these detours are very important to the overall motivation of the author and the success of the writing process.<br /><br />Another aspect of embracing this variability is making sure what gets written has the necessary detail and individuality in terms of setting and characterization. Every scene needs to stand alone in the sense that it should be interesting, advance the plot and/or advance the character development. It's easy to settle for executing a scene competently, but I always shoot for trying to write the scene with a certain "flair".<br /><br />The word flair makes me think of the period in the history of chain restaurants where the wait staff was encouraged to wear innumerable buttons and other personal items. This practice was later satirized in popular comedy. There is such a thing as too much flair. An example of this might be something like having dragons being ridden by dwarves in purple power armor. Interesting? Maybe... OK, probably... But "spirited" to the point where it could negatively impact the atmosphere that's been established in your fantasy setting? Yes, I'd say that would be a risk--unless your setting is a humorous, flamboyant fantasy/sci-fi hybrid.<br /><br />Part of the work that goes into achieving this flair is trying to come up with a vivid visualization of a scene and then boiling the description down to an optimal level of detail that fires the imagination but doesn't become excessive and bog down the flow of the writing. This is an area I've been trying to improve in my writing.<br /><br />Here's an update on my work in progress! The manuscript for Hemlock Book Four stands at around 45,000 words. I am in the midst of writing an exciting quest/action sequence and the overall narrative is approaching what appears to be a climactic encounter. Note the word "appears" in the preceding sentence. I still envision this novel being at least 100,000 words before all is said and done. The thought has crossed my mind that I could go the way of popular movie franchises and release the novel in two parts. I always despair that my slow writing might cause people to forget about me between releases! But I'm still reluctant to split this novel into parts because this tale does not divide cleanly. I think the reader would be left unsatisfied. But I always welcome your feedback!<br /><br />Thanks for reading!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-78771743274619834052014-10-21T18:24:00.000-04:002014-10-21T18:24:07.283-04:00Belief Systems and Fantasy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7uKShN-27676x3AcTR9k7z5NZPnNLabCsiabYG__2Uxgx0PTU3_hkr-kbNFs3LKd29SsArGHznKA3Ejo3eznQNlzzCZzCHXy9hUyxVttiHFhj3PpOnCh3QsXt76g9PecIsHeBvralA/s1600/SerenityWater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7uKShN-27676x3AcTR9k7z5NZPnNLabCsiabYG__2Uxgx0PTU3_hkr-kbNFs3LKd29SsArGHznKA3Ejo3eznQNlzzCZzCHXy9hUyxVttiHFhj3PpOnCh3QsXt76g9PecIsHeBvralA/s1600/SerenityWater.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/seeminglee/"> See-ming Lee </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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I recently had a conversation with a friend about the origins of belief systems. We talked about how early humans created deities based on what they observed in the physical world around them. They saw the power of the sun to deliver light and warmth and worshiped it as a God. They developed a familiarity with the land they lived on and soon worshiped it as the manifestation of an Earth God. In both cases they developed belief systems that gave them comfort and helped them to emotionally cope with the world around them.<br />
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Our modern world has many similar belief systems such as religion, law, ethics, and morality. I've been thinking about why fantasy still seems relevant to me as adult with access to all of these other belief systems. And I am starting to think pop culture has become the dominant new belief system--one that is "broadcast" on a daily basis to billions of people around the world. Our novels, shows and movies embody the more formal underlying belief systems of law and morality. Some overtly demonstrate these values, some challenge them, while others allude to them. <br />
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Fantasy stories that are widely appreciated usually involve heroic quests undertaken by brave individuals who often make sacrifices in support of their ideals. Other stories present deeply flawed protagonists--but they always have some virtuous characteristics. A good story that we enjoy informs our lives. Even if it seems like an escapist activity, immersing ourselves in a good story usually reinforces the dignity and importance of our own daily struggles.<br />
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Fantasy is perhaps the greatest form of storytelling because it has the widest latitude. A fantasy can paint any scenario--completely unfettered by the boundaries of our reality. Fantasies create their own reality--but the good ones do so in a way that echoes and reflects back on our own. Without this aspect, a fantasy story becomes a silly account of the escapades of sword wielding primitives. But with it a fantasy story can speak to the noblest and most sacred aspects of our existence. <br />
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The word count on the Hemlock book four manuscript stands at around 40k. I am hoping to accelerate my pace of writing, but I'm not sure my other responsibilities will allow it. Hemlock is about to embark on a quest at this point in the story--and that's a fun part to write for me. The political and interpersonal parts of the story are more challenging because you have to weave together many different threads. Quests are often more constrained--the one I'm about to write certainly is. That allows the author to just let the story flow. And that is usually a great feeling! Thanks for reading and I hope you are enjoying the fall (or whatever season it may be in your part of the world)! B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-36588270268709077532014-09-14T01:11:00.000-04:002014-09-14T09:40:07.544-04:00Fantasy 101 Anthology!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI2jMrI1ciRUzn09MUOW2EYTtB_KBwY_BEmWlu3zLT7YSqaBApd7WCtjVmmTn7nWuAOTzQnyNgi5jYQE05UaeM64n1Z3eSGlvO0A2dfPaIUecdvWuOBLXL5T1rY65qlFfIlJJYREv3g/s1600/Fantasy101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI2jMrI1ciRUzn09MUOW2EYTtB_KBwY_BEmWlu3zLT7YSqaBApd7WCtjVmmTn7nWuAOTzQnyNgi5jYQE05UaeM64n1Z3eSGlvO0A2dfPaIUecdvWuOBLXL5T1rY65qlFfIlJJYREv3g/s1600/Fantasy101.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I am thrilled to announce that I will be part of the forthcoming Fantasy 101 Anthology! This anthology brings the lead-in novels of four fantastic indie series together in one box set! Think of it as an on ramp into four cool series. And the best part is you get four full length novels for only 99 cents! The anthology goes on sale tomorrow and is going to be promoted on iTunes via Smashwords. If you are reading this you may already own Hemlock and the Wizard Tower--my entry into the anthology. Even if you do, consider that you'd still be getting three novels for 99 cents. I think it's a pretty strong value proposition. The other authors are Jeffrey Poole (Lost City - Tales of Lentari Vol #1), Lindsay Buroker (Encrypted - Encrypted Series #1), and Steve Thomas (Klondaeg the Monster Hunter - Klondaeg #1). It is a noteworthy group and I am humbled to be a part of this with them!<br />
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Here is the iTunes link: <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fantasy-101/id915895127?mt=11" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Link</a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-6179153750865879812014-09-07T10:30:00.000-04:002014-09-07T10:30:30.687-04:00Reality Engine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VUG0glzY0Br8Zf4D9rHhL4euM8qPXhrBGcx4UiNyL0q178S38BnNtvwXzajgQBjB2ZNRIWAbyORWzlVI6GdskaUzn3qccmo9rR7DyZSP9W2loMrtqzgOIXOFmNjg24GMXmtE_qNepA/s1600/Simulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VUG0glzY0Br8Zf4D9rHhL4euM8qPXhrBGcx4UiNyL0q178S38BnNtvwXzajgQBjB2ZNRIWAbyORWzlVI6GdskaUzn3qccmo9rR7DyZSP9W2loMrtqzgOIXOFmNjg24GMXmtE_qNepA/s320/Simulation.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/inl/"> Idaho National Laboratory </a>. licensed under <br />
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><span style="color: #0099bd;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span></a></td></tr>
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I've been thinking about the nature of consciousness, lately, and reading some philosophy on the subject. I was initially drawn back into this line of thinking by an interesting argument about whether we are living in a computer simulation. This argument presupposes that you accept that the human brain and consciousness itself will eventually be modeled by the advanced computers of the future. I don't accept that line of thinking myself (more on that below), but if you do accept it you can make a very interesting argument that you are living in a computer simulation of reality rather than a "real" physical reality.<br />
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The argument goes something like this. Assuming future humans design future computers that are powerful enough to model the functions of the human brain, chances are, given the nature of computing power becoming constantly more powerful and affordable, there will be numerous simulations of reality being run. So, simply based on probability, if there are X number of simulated realities and only one physical reality then as X increases the odds of you living in a "real" physical reality diminish rapidly.<br />
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The notion that consciousness is an emergent behavior of the physical matter of our bodies and not a separate phenomenon seems to be the vogue idea amongst scientists and philosophers these days. At least, that seems to be the prevalent viewpoint I'm reading and hearing expressed on the internet. While I find the arguments for this to be interesting, I don't subscribe to them. I certainly listen to them, though, because the people making them are often very, very intelligent.<br />
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But I believe in the concept of dualism, which advances the theory that there is a soul and consciousness is (at least partially)separate from physical reality. Now, I consider myself to be a proponent of empirical reality versus faith based takes on reality, so you may wonder how I can accept this notion of dualism.<br />
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If you accept that consciousness can be modeled by a computer then aren't you accepting that free will is essentially an illusion and we are all deterministic machines? Doesn't that crush the notions of morality and liberty and lead one down the path to nihilism? Beyond the philosophical arguments, life just feels too significant to me for me to believe it's just a mechanical procession of sensations and predictable reactions. Perhaps that's just my survival instinct or ego talking, but I believe that life is critically important and part of a path of spiritual evolution for all beings.<br />
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One thing that has fascinated me about this theory of living in a computer simulation, however, is how this could be true if we accept the theory of dualism. In my mind, these two theories don't have to be mutually exclusive. Any computer simulation has data about data. This is called meta-data, and it's not observable from within the simulation itself--it exists outside the simulation but governs behaviors inside the simulation. I think this is how theories of additional dimensions outside of human perception might integrate with the computer simulation theory.<br />
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And what is a computer other than a computational engine? Why wouldn't a deity use a computational engine to create a subordinate reality like ours? After all, something has to enforce the physical laws of our universe. The mathematics of the world are perfect. It's not incompatible with the notion of the divine to consider that we could be living in a reality of divine origin created using a divine computer.
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These are big ideas and have been the subject of many books and papers. If you are interested in these topics, please read up on them and forgive me any shortcomings that may exist in my explanations of them.<br />
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The word count on Hemlock book four stands at about 36,000 words. At risk of being redundant, I must comment that I am having a blast writing this book! Writing a series finale means that you are writing scenes with very significant events occurring. And that is always fun!
B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-49432092982574871942014-07-29T19:40:00.000-04:002014-07-29T20:14:12.912-04:00Strange Evolutions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLMESvsnYh2ABIy8cJLafRm6JgvfxSrbyv5_qNwECR6mlfo1r1YFyGb1YHDpkrA1UDZ2ax7Jxs7rZWHO_YzHuST1EqHbQ1gQaGhELdpEA84U_PzfBztImT9oyB_zhoGrujv9K5FgQ4w/s1600/FancyBlogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLMESvsnYh2ABIy8cJLafRm6JgvfxSrbyv5_qNwECR6mlfo1r1YFyGb1YHDpkrA1UDZ2ax7Jxs7rZWHO_YzHuST1EqHbQ1gQaGhELdpEA84U_PzfBztImT9oyB_zhoGrujv9K5FgQ4w/s1600/FancyBlogger.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/"> Mike Licht </a>. licensed under <br />
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Life is full of strange evolutions. At one point in your life you might find yourself shaking your fist at authority and later in life you may become an authority yourself. As a man, you could spend your youth trying to decode the enigma that is woman, and later become the father of a daughter. In our youth, we might shake our heads in disgust at the seemingly anachronistic habits of the elderly, but as we get older perhaps we start to develop those habits ourselves.<br />
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Maybe hypocrisy is built into life as a means for the universe to keep our egos in check. It seems like many strong stances I've taken over the years have devolved and turned on their head as I've gotten older. Some examples of changing points of view in my life have been liberalism vs. conservatism, appetite for country music, opinion on the desirability of red-heads, level of passion for gummy bears... The list goes on and on.<br />
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But some old behaviors die hard. I've always loved video games. For the first thirty five years of my life, every time I went to the shopping mall I invariably veered toward the video game shop. To quote some vernacular from a past life: "it had to be done." But a lot has changed in the gaming space over the years. Now, I play predominantly PC games and I buy my games from the Steam online store. I still feel the pull to go into the mall game store, but when I do I mostly just mill about, deflect an inquiry from a youthful employee and then leave slightly dissatisfied. Maybe I should buy a gaming console so I can experience the sensation of a physical gaming purchase again. I miss that.<br />
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What is the fashionable ratio of anachronism vs. youthful behavior for a middle-aged person? I've been asking myself this question, lately.<br />
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I went to a party recently where a middle aged man got stumbling drunk. It was quite humorous in one sense, but it bothered me, too. On the humorous side, it reminded me of the primal joy of having a party produce a memorable event. So many parties with mature hosts end up being rather mundane. It's a shame that my definition of a memorable event is often someone making a fool out of themselves. I'm sure there are other classes of memorable events--although I can't think of any at the moment. Hmmm... Anyway, it was entertaining to watch this person make a fool out of themselves--and do it with exuberant moxy. Think of the charms of the Animal House movie and you'll get the idea.<br />
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The dark side of this behavior was the following. First, this man's pre-teen boy was at the party and had to witness this behavior. Second, such behavior suggests either the lack of a personal code of conduct or a breaking of that code. One thing I don't know is what the surrounding context of this event was. This man was a stranger to me. Maybe he'd just survived a plane crash and was embracing the devil may care attitude of an unlikely survivor. Or maybe his code of conduct includes getting heavily intoxicated and falling into muddy streams and thrashing about. How you'd react to that being a part of his code is a bit of a litmus test for the type of person you are, I suppose.<br />
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So, what is the appropriate line between anachronism and exuberance for someone in middle age? I guess it's a decision every person has to make for themselves.<br />
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Progress on Hemlock book four has slowed a bit over the past weeks<br />
due to some competing priorities, but I will be getting back in gear this week. Word count stands at about 31,000. I'm still experiencing a buzz from getting to write scenes I envisioned over five years ago. It's an amazing blessing that I've gotten this far and that I am going to finish this quadrilogy. Thanks for reading and I hope you are having a wonderful summer!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-31762067224013577892014-06-16T10:53:00.000-04:002014-06-16T10:53:54.585-04:00Superflying Doubt!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eRtIo4LcJ5I7cCHy4DnKuqh2VGazLIxU-77_JaO6VCsxCVx8_7uIpDg0L0BtWsMd02YKFzQn2BVq-zLhnQqw0fxSJ1dcZEnTH-0ncLUcWBwmQYBgz5OxYfsaqBR-Ggt84Fx98a2pNg/s1600/Pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eRtIo4LcJ5I7cCHy4DnKuqh2VGazLIxU-77_JaO6VCsxCVx8_7uIpDg0L0BtWsMd02YKFzQn2BVq-zLhnQqw0fxSJ1dcZEnTH-0ncLUcWBwmQYBgz5OxYfsaqBR-Ggt84Fx98a2pNg/s1600/Pen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/anonymouscollective/"> Anonymous Collective </a>. licensed under <br />
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I've decided to break from my normal writing routine and try something different. I usually blog in the evenings after work, but, lately, I've found that my fatigue level is too high in the evenings to do much of anything that requires concentration. So, I'm taking a writing session away from working on the new Hemlock novel to write this.<br />
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It's important to at least nominally stay in touch with readers and interested parties via this blog. I have to admit that my inclination lately has been to crawl into a hole and just write. While that's potentially a good approach from a productivity standpoint, nobody is going to notice my books if I just write in solitude. I have to get at least some exposure. And this blog is one of the main vehicles I use for that. Not updating for too long is probably a very bad thing.<br />
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So, here I am, in my usual lunch spot--untethered from the numbing fatigue of the evenings. Now, I reflect on some of the recent happenings in my life...<br />
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I got stranded in Charlotte, NC recently and had to spend the night in the airport. That was an interesting experience. I was surprised and amused by the readiness people displayed to fall asleep in public amongst their fellow travelers. Initially, it was just a few brazen souls asleep against the wall of
the terminal concourse. But, as the hours wore on and fatigue took
hold, folks began to congregate in odd, slumbering clusters. It had a
primal quality to it--almost like there was a feeling of security in
sleeping amongst the anonymous, adhoc airport tribe.<br />
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Eventually, I succumbed to Mr. Sandman myself. I laid under a row of airport seats--which are cunningly crafted to prevent stretching out by all but those who are slender to the point of deformity. Strangely, this partial cover made me feel a bit more secure falling asleep amongst total strangers. And maybe that wasn't just a feeling. Imagine, for a moment, that the airport terminal was assaulted by a horde of arena wrestlers descending on zip lines and then releasing at a height of twenty feet to superfly the hapless, sleeping travelers below them. In that scenario, I--one of the smart ones--might have avoided being superflied because half of my torso was under a steel chair. Or perhaps my wrestler would have been injured and my triumph of ingenuity would have inspired an angry counterattack by the suddenly awakened airport denizens! Huzzah for planning!<br />
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Other than the airport incident, not too much has been happening. I've had a few feelings of complete inadequacy as a fantasy author while watching Game of Thrones on HBO. But, then, I came to the realization that Martin uses a technique that I employ--character simulation. That realization felt like an unlikely validation of my approach to writing. So, rather than rebooting my writing, I think I just need to stick with it and continue to improve. Yes, you did read that correctly. I did--for a fleeting instant of terrible self-doubt--consider not finishing the Hemlock series. What a bullshit thought that was! Not finishing a creative project is always the worst possible outcome--no matter what rationalizations you use to sugar coat it. Sometimes it gets discouraging because I'm not getting the auto-magic exposure and sales I was enjoying for a few years. But I figure it this way. There will always be time for marketing--especially once I have a full series under my belt. And then when I move on to my next project I'll have a back catalog. How cool will that be? Very cool. So, yes, I'm human... I have doubts sometimes. But, fortunately, I talked myself out of any rash action. Ultimately, I love writing and I love the Hemlock series. That's really all that matters. And maybe having a writing routine is a little like sleeping under that row of airport seats. It provides an important bit of cover when doubt tries to superfly you!<br />
<br />B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-70851541690870153012014-03-22T14:00:00.000-04:002014-03-22T23:03:38.795-04:00Change Reaction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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I've blogged about this before, but sometimes I get a terrible feeling of restlessness. My greatest desire in these moments of anxiety is to change something. Part of me yearns for a sense of adventure that seems lacking in my life. But adventures are usually risky, and I am in a risk averse period of my life right now. But this feeling or force in me keeps searching for an outlet. Will I give in to the urge and make a frivolous purchase or take an unwise action for the sake of making a change? <br />
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There's a buzz that goes along with novelty. There is a line from Frank Herbert's Dune that describes the importance of change. "Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." The trouble is I'm not sure if I'm asleep or awake! I used to enjoy the risks of startup tech companies, but it seems like life is fraught with peril in today's economy--especially as a middle aged worker. I'm also not big on risking my life in dangerous sports. I'm a father and I have a responsibility to stay alive. So thrill seeking is out.<br />
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They say organisms have a natural tendency to grow and expand. But unchecked growth and expansion can kill an organism. Organisms can exceed their environment's ability to sustain them or encounter unexpected predators. Is the most difficult thing in modern life to try and control the impulse to always expand? Or perhaps the trick is to focus the expansion and growth inward and away from the material world?<br />
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I am someone that prides myself on being somewhat wise, but I am constantly surprised by how misguided I am. The anecdote about wisdom leading to humility must be true. We are all like spinning tops bumping around on a table. We lurch back and forth between life's events. The choices are bewildering and our spins carry a lot of inertia. Plus we're all scared to fall over--but we all do in the end.<br />
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This world is so chaotic that I think a person needs to be their own psychologist in order to stay on an even keel. I suspect the people that seem to be the most together in this life are the people with the greatest level of self-awareness. Maybe that's the real meaning of Herbert's quote. The awakening he refers to could be awakening into self-awareness. Our daily routines tend to dull our self-awareness. If I can't make large scale changes to my life then maybe I can make a lot of small ones. I do notice that I'm usually refreshed by doing something different. Perhaps that's the key. Making changes in small, manageable ways and staying refreshed and renewed in the process.<br />
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The current word count on the Hemlock Book IV manuscript is about 18,000. I'm feeling good about the story and staying productive within my writing routine. I'm getting to some exciting scenes that I'm dying to talk about but can't. I'm also having additional ideas about existing scenes and that's always rewarding. These are the ideas that take a solid scene and make it noteworthy.<br />
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I'm still planning to continue my posts on gaming as a metaphor for life. I decided to just write this blog post by the seat of my pants instead of doing something more regimented. But I will continue that series very soon. I hope you are having a wonderful beginning to spring!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830408308378348269.post-11054881529901424812014-02-12T23:56:00.000-05:002014-02-12T23:59:59.445-05:00Losing Control and Gaining Sanity<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22oct1979/"> kurokayo </a>. licensed under <br />
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We lost power last week and I had an interesting experience roughing it. When we first lost power, I spent several hours setting up the small generator we have and running extension cords into the house. I had a devil of a time starting that generator. I eventually had to get some ether to turn it over, but I didn't figure that out until I had tried a couple hundred pulls and injured my shoulder in the process. But I got it going, and then I had a space heater running in one room. That one room was tolerably warm, but the rest of the house was very cold. There's nothing quite like sleeping in a cold house to put things in perspective. And getting out of your warm bed and going out into the cold, snowy night to check on a stalled generator at 4am puts an awful lot of things into perspective!<br />
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I know a lot of people hated losing power, but I found the experience to be oddly cathartic. It was a break from the normal routine and it imposed some physical hardship that re-focused the daily pleasures we take for granted. When the power came back after about thirty hours, I felt renewed and refreshed. Every part of my normal (warm!) routine was now a joy. Alas, this feeling of bliss only lasted about a week. But, on the bright side, we may lose power again tomorrow. I look forward to the incoming "Nor'easter" storm with a mixture of dread and anticipation. I don't really want to lose power, but my soul might need to.<br />
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Maybe this positive take away from losing power is telling me I need to plan some camping trips or other outings to get away from modern civilization and its myriad of tempting and mind-numbing conveniences. I'm still parsing the whole experience (and there may be more data to collect tomorrow), but this is my early conclusion.<br />
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I've been reading some varied books lately. I've read books about alien abductions, men in black and government conspiracies. I've also read a book about the American campaign in western Europe in World War II, and now I'm reading a medical drama set in east Africa. It's a diverse set of topics. The modus operandi here is people give me books as gifts and I read them when I need a break from my usual genres. I am enjoying the variety. And it's nice to read something unusual and outside my normal comfort zone from time to time.<br />
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Work on Hemlock book four is proceeding at my usual slow but steady pace. This novel will hopefully be the Magnum opus of my writing life. Actually, it may end up being the Magnum opus of my life. It's hard to see past this book and this series. I have a couple of book ideas waiting in the wings, but the Hemlock books are different. In addition to being pure adventure stories, they represent nothing less than a distillation of the sum of my total life experience up to this point. And by that I mean there is a spectrum of ideas from the various epochs of my own evolution as a person "baked" into these tales. I think the first novel has parallels to a figurative representation of my teens and twenties. That book was like a creative explosion of writing energy built up over decades of dormancy. The sequel was still frantic in parts, but it was more measured and thoughtfully constructed--maybe like my thirties? The third book is too soon out of the gate for me to put a finger on where it will fit. I think it's the first book where I had to start weaving the story toward a conclusion as opposed to introducing new elements. Is that a parallel to middle age? This fourth book is bringing it all home, and it's building toward pivotal scenes I imagined many years ago and will finally be able to write. The melody from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) comes to mind. This is probably hubris but it's no coincidence. I'm swinging for the fences on this one!<br />
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The next installment of my "Gaming as a Metaphor for Life" series should be posted soon! Thanks for reading!B Throwsnaillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431977217146195279noreply@blogger.com0