Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 289
April 3, 2010
On the road again: Spain, day 2
I'm going to be keeping these short both because this is Scott and my time and because it's probably going to be late when I can get to them.
We did the usual overnight flight thing, and as such passings go, it was swell. We spent multiple hours in the hotel lobby, however, waiting for our room, so by the time we reached it, we were both exhausted. We took a long nap, and after showers felt pretty good.
We explored this ocean-side area a bit on foot and ultimately settled for dinner on a rest...
We did the usual overnight flight thing, and as such passings go, it was swell. We spent multiple hours in the hotel lobby, however, waiting for our room, so by the time we reached it, we were both exhausted. We took a long nap, and after showers felt pretty good.
We explored this ocean-side area a bit on foot and ultimately settled for dinner on a rest...
April 2, 2010
On the road again: Spain, day 1
When I went to bed at 6:30 this morning, I still hadn't started packing. By the time I left the house, however, I was reasonably but not entirely confident that I had everything. I sincerely hope so, because aside from this layover in JFK, where the Admirals Club is spiffy and provides all the Diet Coke and carrot slices I might want, I will not be on the ground again until we touch down in Barcelona. I've never been to Spain before, so I'm quite looking forward to seeing it.
Bandwidth an...
Bandwidth an...
April 1, 2010
Remember that rule
I said I had, the one about not showing my work to anyone except Dave before the book or story is completely ready for publication? Well, I'm about to break it, and I thought it might be useful to explain why.
I've finished the first draft of the original, brand-new, never-before-seen solo Lobo story--the Lobo Christmas story--for Jump Gate Twist. I'm running it by Dave for a quick check before I do a final polish and send the entire book to Publisher Toni, who will be especially glad to hav...
I've finished the first draft of the original, brand-new, never-before-seen solo Lobo story--the Lobo Christmas story--for Jump Gate Twist. I'm running it by Dave for a quick check before I do a final polish and send the entire book to Publisher Toni, who will be especially glad to hav...
March 31, 2010
Why I show my work to Dave
Several folks have asked why I break my "nobody sees my work before I finish it" rule with Dave. The short answer is that he always makes my books, stories, and essays better. The longer answer is perhaps more interesting.
Dave's spent a lot of years building complex plots. I'm still relatively new to that art, so on that front alone, he has taught me a great deal. I always look forward to learning from him in this area.
What's even more useful is that he is good at seeing the story I'm try...
Dave's spent a lot of years building complex plots. I'm still relatively new to that art, so on that front alone, he has taught me a great deal. I always look forward to learning from him in this area.
What's even more useful is that he is good at seeing the story I'm try...
March 30, 2010
My review process
A while back, I wrote about finding a trusted reader and how to get useful feedback for your work. I promised to talk about my own review process, but I never got around to doing so. Until now.
Before I explain how I work, I have to give an important disclaimer: This is the way I work. I'm not advocating it for anyone else, and I'm not guaranteeing it'll work for you. It works for me.
When I start a book, other than telling the title I basically refuse to talk to anyone about it. If Publ...
Before I explain how I work, I have to give an important disclaimer: This is the way I work. I'm not advocating it for anyone else, and I'm not guaranteeing it'll work for you. It works for me.
When I start a book, other than telling the title I basically refuse to talk to anyone about it. If Publ...
March 29, 2010
Two blasts from the past
Last night, reflections on my mortality kept me from falling asleep for quite some time, even though I was exhausted.
Today, I've been churning with emotion all day. That's typical of me. When that happens, I frequently find myself absorbed in music. For no particular reason, these two songs bubbled into my brain.
The first one has nothing to do with anything except that I like it and have always found it energizing. If you already know it, then the odds are that you either love it or h...
Today, I've been churning with emotion all day. That's typical of me. When that happens, I frequently find myself absorbed in music. For no particular reason, these two songs bubbled into my brain.
The first one has nothing to do with anything except that I like it and have always found it energizing. If you already know it, then the odds are that you either love it or h...
March 28, 2010
UFC 111: How we fared
Overall, we did pretty darn well on tonight's fights, but we did have a few very wrong choices. Alas, Kyle and I disagreed on only one pick, and he won that one, so this card goes to him. Here are the details.
The undercard proved to be fraught with peril for us.
Ricardo Funch vs. Matt Riddle
We expected Riddle to grind out a wrestling victory. We didn't get to see this match, but from what I've read, we called it right--until the end. Riddle ended up winning by disqualification due to an ...
The undercard proved to be fraught with peril for us.
Ricardo Funch vs. Matt Riddle
We expected Riddle to grind out a wrestling victory. We didn't get to see this match, but from what I've read, we called it right--until the end. Riddle ended up winning by disqualification due to an ...
March 27, 2010
Our picks for tonight's UFC 111 Pay-Per-View event
Tonight, a group of us are gathering to watch UFC 111. Kyle and I will both be there, and as usual, we agree on most fights. Here's how we see the fights, starting, as usual, with the undercard.
Ricardo Funch vs. Matt Riddle
Mark: Funch is going to spend most of the fifteen minutes with Riddle on top of him as Riddle grinds out the classic wrestler's decision victory.
Kyle: Riddle should have the wrestling skills to dominate Soto from the top and take the win.
Tomasz Drwal vs. Rousimar...
Ricardo Funch vs. Matt Riddle
Mark: Funch is going to spend most of the fifteen minutes with Riddle on top of him as Riddle grinds out the classic wrestler's decision victory.
Kyle: Riddle should have the wrestling skills to dominate Soto from the top and take the win.
Tomasz Drwal vs. Rousimar...
March 26, 2010
When you read
this io9 article on the raunchiest science-fiction comedies, how do you react? Do you
(A) Quickly hit the back button and wonder what you were thinking for clicking on the link in the first place
(B) Despair at the state of filmed SF
(C) Hope desperately that Hot Tub Time Machine isn't anywhere near as bad as these notable bad-movie classics, because otherwise you're never going to talk your friends into seeing it
(D) Note with satisfaction that you've seen almost all of them
(E) Gasp in...
March 25, 2010
Alice
The weekend before last, I caught Tim Burton's Alice. A few folks have asked what I thought of the movie, so I figured I'd answer all of them here.
I should note up front that I am a big fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I entered the movie expecting and wanting to like it a great deal.
I emerged with very mixed feelings. Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I was glad I'd seen it. It was certainly visually stunning, as saturated with the strangeness of Burton's imagination as his best work. ...
I should note up front that I am a big fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I entered the movie expecting and wanting to like it a great deal.
I emerged with very mixed feelings. Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I was glad I'd seen it. It was certainly visually stunning, as saturated with the strangeness of Burton's imagination as his best work. ...
