Ransom Noble's Blog, page 34

Two Weeks

What's up with the past two weeks as a hiatus from blogging? I have no idea. I've been busy, but I wouldn't think so busy I would forget to blog for an extended period of time.

Oh well. There is always another chance to get back up and start over. I started reading No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty. It's about writing a (short) 50,000 word novel in one month. NaNoWriMo has become quite an event in November, and I'd like to participate again this year, though the baby might get in the way. Then a

Prairie Lights!

has accepted to let me make an author appearance on September 26th.

I'm especially excited about this becaues it's not a football Saturday – those are sacred events that I don't think I could pull my friends away from, and the traffic would be awful anyway.

Maybe there will be football in the next book. That's always a fun activity to watch or play. Until I get to writing that, though, I'll be working toward advertising this event!

Bookstore

I made another attempt to get an appearance at Prairie Lights in Iowa City. I'm making progress, but the lady isn't very enthusiastic about it.

Mom talked about one that was 'very successful' that had a party attached to it. An open house wouldn't be too difficult, if only I knew where to have one and what to do.

I'm curious, so I'm posing the question to my readers: What do you look for in an author appearance? What would bring you in, make you stay, and – more important in the store's eyes – buy

Emotional Impact

Do you ever go back and read your own stories and still feel the same impact as the first time you wrote it?

Is it a thing about the writer to move yourself to laughter or tears? Is that when you know you've hit your audience?

I sent a particular story to a friend – I told her I cried while I wrote it. She said she cried while reading it and I called us both hormonal. (Sorry, friend!) But if that same passage keeps moving me to tears, and others as well, perhaps it isn't just the hormones.

Now how

Geek Appeal

Northwestern University is using nanodiamonds to deliver insulin to fight infection and heal wounds. Perhaps they're not just a girl's best friend anymore? Just kidding, nanodiamonds would never be visible or good for resale. Read about it here.

It's actually very interesting to have new ways to beat infection. Nanodiamonds are something I haven't heard of. I might have to do some research to figure out what else they could be used for!

Gone with the Wind

Oh, you have to love the classics. Some friends and I watched this movie yesterday (somehow, amid screaming children, one of which was mine). We watched the whole thing, including the intermission, credits, entrance and exit music. They just don't make them like they used to.

We saw the huge sets and commented about how many actors they had to employ as extras for some of those scenes. How different when we can add them in by computer.

Still thinking about it – can't wait until we see Scarlett.

Miscellaneous

I play video games sometimes. They're silly brainy games – Brain Age (1 and 2) and Big Brain Academy. One of them asked me to contemplate fictional objects. "Imagine a cat. Imagine a ladder. Now imagine a cat ladder. Was it furry?"

I guess it's good for the brain to think about stuff like that. Imagine things that don't exist (at least, not yet).

So is it good for the brain to create speculative fiction worlds? It seems like we'd have an advantage with all that.

Software

Another one? Yes, there must be about fifteen million different software adds to write novels. Check out Super Note Card.

While this might help me learn to use actual note cards, I find it's difficult to replace the feel of paper note cards. I don't use them often, or very well, but I want to. Does that count?

I use my computer to do most of my notes, but I'm still learning to organize my thoughts better for my projects. I think I'll write a book about how not to write a novel – but only because I

How to Write

The title of this book made me think. I'll be reviewing it when I finish.

Do you think about the process you go through to write? It doesn't usually seem simple. Every different type of writing has a different process – or does it?

Not that I'm often trying different types. Mostly I stick to fiction. Short stories and novels are similar enough. It's just interesting to think of them all lumped together – fiction, nonfiction, essays, short stories, articles.

Technology and Art

We watched Dilbert the series – the episode with the Blue Duck.

I love the stereotypes when shown in a humorous way. Engineers are not supposed to know about art. The appreciation of art is supposed to be beyond them.

Dogbert has the idea better than anyone. Tell people what they want and then sell it to them.

Do you ever wonder if it's that easy with art? My character, Janie, from The Art of Science might be disappointed if it's true.