Mark Del Franco's Blog, page 5

Done!

Laura 2, entitled FACE OFF, is delivered! Per my usual, I anguished until 2 in the morning. Hitting the send button on book delivery is always anxiety-producing. I've spent the last hour or so doing one last sweep through the manuscript for what I think are my writing tics (no, I'm not going to share them!) and then stopped. I have a saying that other writers nod about it when I share it: You're never finished, but at some point, you're done. It can apply to a lot of things.

Based on anecdotal...

Over and To

I'm on deadline today. Need to do final revision for Laura 2, due tomorrow. It Will Happen.

As I'm reviewing, I noticed a grammatical construction that I use that has given me pause for years since a friend (hi Beck!) pointed it out. I grew up in CT, predominantly associated with Italian-American families (noting for possible reason). In conversation, I say "I went over my aunt's house to visit." My friend chuckled when I used the construction, pointing out that she says "I went to my aunt's h...

Thanks and All...

Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who has helped and supported me this year--and that includes every single one of you who has read one of my books. Whether you bought them, borrowed them or stole them, I think it's pretty damned cool that I have had the opportunity to write stuff people have wanted to read. Not many people get that opportunity, so, yes, thank you.

Enjoy your meal. Take naps. Go for a walk on crunchy leaves. And read.

Funny and Odd

Funny first. I'm way behind the curve on this one, but it made me laugh. (warning: youtube music vid)



Since I'm giving up on Flashforward, Stargate:Universe and not watching V until next year, I might have to watch Glee.

Odd: A Charlotte Gainsbourg with Beck vid:



I like the song. Lots of people screaming "stealing ideas" about this one. They're wrong. Ideas are free. Should they have credited sources? I don't think it was necessary since the whole point was to use recognizable internet images. I...

Unmeeting of Minds

J is not feeling well.

J: I think I have a fever.
Me: Do you need more cowbell?
J: What???
Me: *sigh*

Ponderings...

--Does anyone writing for movies and tv actually know any Catholic priests? Two different current series--V and Stargate:Universe--have had Catholic priest scenes. I was raised in the faith (beyond lapsed tho). Went to Catholic high school. Not once, not ever, in all my years have I heard a priest refer to someone as "my son." And it occurred to me, this is not unusual in tv and movies and that it is just bad, cliched writing, the equivalent of having a Brit exclaim "blimey!" For the record, ...

V ya later, and Flash Boredward

I've decided not to watch V until next year after discovering they're only airing four episodes to start. I'm not a huge fan of jerking fans around, which I think this. I can be patient to wait a week. But four weeks, then nothing for months? Not to my taste. Don't get me wrong--I like a good cliffhanger like anyone else. But I think those are for the end of the season, not four weeks in. That's just yanking my chain.

Which brings me to other show I had hopes for: Flash Forward. Gods, I am bor...

Grrr, I Say

I'm revising Laura 2, breezing along, patting myself on the back at all the progress I'm making, when It happened. It, being another reminder of why a) I hate Word and b) I hate that I have to use it. (Please, I know, I know, but when you write in publishing, you have no idea how much easier it is to capitulate and use Word).

I'm working in Track Changes mode because without it, unlike hard copy, you can't change things, rethink them later and still have what you changed. I hate Track Changes....

Laura, Laura, Laura

I've been doing some additional writing on the draft of Laura 2. I get to this chapter and think "oh, I should put in some stuff about X here to make things clearer." I write, write, write. Then proceed to read further...and discovered I already put all that stuff in about X two pages later. Arg. At least I was consistent. I really want to tie up this draft SOON.

Did I mention here I'm on Facebook? Here's the link to me....

I avoided doing it for a long time, but I'm kinda liking it. Although f...

Natterings....

I have a new version of the UNPERFECT SOULS cover, but for some reason, LJ is forcing the upload to be 148px wide, which is not much bigger than the previous version. When I try to make it larger on the upload box, the resolution goes to hell. I've tried in .jpg, .eps and png and STILL it blurs. Any advice?

I watched the premiere of V last night. I was a fan of the campy early 80s series---and it was deliciously campy. The new version is slicker and better looking and more serious. I thought t...