Kendare Blake's Blog, page 14
October 29, 2010
Earl explained it to me: we plan ahead, that way we don't do anything right now.
Oh, Valentine (from Tremors), how I relate to you. Unfortunately, not all of us can pole vault through the desert using homemade cannon-fuse bombs to eradicate gigantic underground monsters. Some of us have to write.
But when I am "planning ahead" there are numerous other things I can be found doing:
-Watching The Best of the Joy of Painting. Because it is amazing how Bob Ross can turn a black spot into a three-dimensional rock by poking a brush at it. And how he just drops in happy trees that live right back there. And how he makes instant water by dragging paint specks down. I think Bob Ross might have been a demon.
-Watching my cat steal a spare rib off of my plate and drag it off like a lion retreating into the brush with a freshly killed zebra. Naughty cat.
-Watching the effing PRESIDENT sit across the desk from Jon Stewart. Obama can talk his way back into my head in the span of five minutes. But basically, politics these days makes me want to hold my breath and stomp my feet and pitch a hissy fit the likes of which the world has never seen.
-Playing Final Fantasy XIII, which I really enjoy despite mixed reviews and an admittedly hair-brained storyline.
Honestly, these are all things that I do, not to avoid writing, or even to procrastinate, but to balance it out. Forcing the issue is never a good idea, as I discovered this past week when I tried to cram 10,000 words into the space of a week. What am I, an idiot? It was bad, and ended up being re-written about eight times. I was all about deadlines and sweating the what-ifs and worrying about expectations and the performance of the first book that isn't even out yet. And that doesn't work. So I said Fuck it. I write what I want when I feel like it. And almost as soon as I did, it became fun again. And good to boot.
And the whine of the day: now that the Yankees are dead and ground into the dirt where they belong, I will no longer care about baseball until the Twins and Rays go back to training camp this spring. So can Fringe just come back now, please?
But when I am "planning ahead" there are numerous other things I can be found doing:
-Watching The Best of the Joy of Painting. Because it is amazing how Bob Ross can turn a black spot into a three-dimensional rock by poking a brush at it. And how he just drops in happy trees that live right back there. And how he makes instant water by dragging paint specks down. I think Bob Ross might have been a demon.
-Watching my cat steal a spare rib off of my plate and drag it off like a lion retreating into the brush with a freshly killed zebra. Naughty cat.
-Watching the effing PRESIDENT sit across the desk from Jon Stewart. Obama can talk his way back into my head in the span of five minutes. But basically, politics these days makes me want to hold my breath and stomp my feet and pitch a hissy fit the likes of which the world has never seen.
-Playing Final Fantasy XIII, which I really enjoy despite mixed reviews and an admittedly hair-brained storyline.
Honestly, these are all things that I do, not to avoid writing, or even to procrastinate, but to balance it out. Forcing the issue is never a good idea, as I discovered this past week when I tried to cram 10,000 words into the space of a week. What am I, an idiot? It was bad, and ended up being re-written about eight times. I was all about deadlines and sweating the what-ifs and worrying about expectations and the performance of the first book that isn't even out yet. And that doesn't work. So I said Fuck it. I write what I want when I feel like it. And almost as soon as I did, it became fun again. And good to boot.
And the whine of the day: now that the Yankees are dead and ground into the dirt where they belong, I will no longer care about baseball until the Twins and Rays go back to training camp this spring. So can Fringe just come back now, please?
October 12, 2010
A Good Plan Requires A Thoughtful Discourse
The quote, or something like it, is from Ian McKellen and Aaron Eckhart's Neverwas. If you haven't seen it, do. It's a lovely little film, sort of like Bridge to Terabithia for adults. Why am I using the quote? The reason is twofold. You see, I am one day away from starting The Girl From Hell, and I need to believe in magic. Neverwas is one of those movies that makes you do that. Secondly, a good plan does require a thoughtful discourse. And ever since I started this business of writing without a plan, that bothers me.
Anyway, I don't outline. Used to. Quit. I could have started this sequel anytime since finishing ANNA. Didn't. It wasn't ready. So I wrote Secret Project S. Love it. Yay. And sure enough, a few weeks after that wrapped, Cas (ANNA's narrator) started tapping on my shoulder. I'd be hanging around my new boring day job and he'd say, "Hey...hey...maybe this happens." And I'd shrug. Maybe. And go on about my boring business. Then he'd come back. "Hey...hey...maybe we start out in a car....or maybe a train...or..." At which point I'd tell him to get lost, I'm busy. But I wasn't. Not really. And I wasn't that annoyed either. Because once the characters start tapping my shoulder, I know they're getting ready to start. Sooner or later, the "maybe" disappears. A few days ago, Cas finally told me where he was. And away we go.
Where to? Don't know. We'll find out when we get there. I've got a self-imposed deadline in mind as the end of January.
October 1, 2010
Do...Re....Egon! (Sequel time! What makes a killer sequel?)
Damn, Egon was a dork. But on a sidenote, I think I went to college with Harold Ramis' daughter. On another sidenote, what is it with the Ghostbusters movies making Bill Murray seem like a sex machine? Get on the scene! With the Bill Murray Sex Machine! No, no, no. Is Bill Murray strangely attractive? Charismatic, yes. I'll even give you charming. And then I draw the line. The very firm line. If anyone wants to weigh in on this, I'd be interested.
The reason the quote today is from Ghostbusters II, is because Ghostbusters II is a sequel. And this post is about sequels. Why? Because it is October. And October is the month when I am going to begin writing the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. And though I love to procrastinate, (like Ellen Degeneres says, "Don't wait. Procrastinate now.") I must not. Because when people hesitate regarding Anna, Anna haunt's people's nightmares. Fun little agent and editor story there. I'll tell you sometime. It hasn't happened to me, yet, and I don't intend to let it. But in the spirit of Ellen Degeneres, let's think a little bit about what makes a great sequel.
1. A sequel must be bigger, badder, better! It must make Hollywood types MUAHAHA and squeeze their lowballs until they shatter. But what does this mean?
A. Everything that was great about the first one, has to be carried over into the sequel. So if it had a great voice, great dynamics between this or that character, and tense conversations in dark rooms, the sequel should have that too. Only they should be greater! Tenser! Dynamic..ier.
B. The stakes must go up. Danger must become DANGER and passion must become Passion...with angst? Or PASSION...with doubt? Everything the hero fought to save or keep the first time around is once again in jeopardy. Only this time, maybe they really will lose it.
C. Go darker. The first book led readers into the world by the hand. Showed them what an interesting place it was, and tugged them away from any uncomfortable nastiness. Now it's time to shove them, pull the rug out from under their feet, and leave them in the dark screaming, "Why, god?!! WHY?!!" But be careful. This is a love it hate it thing. When Harry Potter went all dark, I was interested. And yet part of me also felt that the magic was gone, and Harry and I shouldn't see each other anymore.
D. Descriptions must be amped up. More elaborate and detailed. Backstory should be well-woven, and more revealed.
2. Character love.
A. Popular characters could make cameos. They do this more often in movies than books. But whatever. I think it works.
B. New characters. To love or hate. Or both. Not that these characters should just randomly replace the first characters. Like in the Karate Kid, where every time Daniel gets a girlfriend, she magically disappears in the first five minutes of the next movie. "How was the prom?" Mr. Miyagi asks. "Fine," Daniel-san says. "Until Allie told me she was in love with a football player from UCLA." And then in part three: "When is Kumiko coming?" Mrs. Laruso asks. "Oh, she's not," Daniel-san says. "She got a scholarship to a dance school in Tokyo."
What the hell was wrong with that kid? Why would no one love him?!
C. Old characters should evolve. But not change completely! More of the same, but better, as they say. After the first book, characters should be your friends. By the end of the second, they should be your fricken BFFs, and you will stand by them until the end of the series because damn it! Bella Swan deserves to be happy! (I am so kidding.)
So, there you go. Most of these "rules" are tongue-in-cheek of course. But there is a lot to consider in a sequel. And while everybody loves series these days, beautiful, cash cows that they are, sometimes, a story just doesn't suit it. Case in point: The sequels to Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. Did she write Mists while under a trance? Or were the rest of them written by goats? Seriously. Not that I don't own all of them.
Next time: To cliff-hang or not to cliff-hang?
The reason the quote today is from Ghostbusters II, is because Ghostbusters II is a sequel. And this post is about sequels. Why? Because it is October. And October is the month when I am going to begin writing the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. And though I love to procrastinate, (like Ellen Degeneres says, "Don't wait. Procrastinate now.") I must not. Because when people hesitate regarding Anna, Anna haunt's people's nightmares. Fun little agent and editor story there. I'll tell you sometime. It hasn't happened to me, yet, and I don't intend to let it. But in the spirit of Ellen Degeneres, let's think a little bit about what makes a great sequel.
1. A sequel must be bigger, badder, better! It must make Hollywood types MUAHAHA and squeeze their lowballs until they shatter. But what does this mean?
A. Everything that was great about the first one, has to be carried over into the sequel. So if it had a great voice, great dynamics between this or that character, and tense conversations in dark rooms, the sequel should have that too. Only they should be greater! Tenser! Dynamic..ier.
B. The stakes must go up. Danger must become DANGER and passion must become Passion...with angst? Or PASSION...with doubt? Everything the hero fought to save or keep the first time around is once again in jeopardy. Only this time, maybe they really will lose it.
C. Go darker. The first book led readers into the world by the hand. Showed them what an interesting place it was, and tugged them away from any uncomfortable nastiness. Now it's time to shove them, pull the rug out from under their feet, and leave them in the dark screaming, "Why, god?!! WHY?!!" But be careful. This is a love it hate it thing. When Harry Potter went all dark, I was interested. And yet part of me also felt that the magic was gone, and Harry and I shouldn't see each other anymore.
D. Descriptions must be amped up. More elaborate and detailed. Backstory should be well-woven, and more revealed.
2. Character love.
A. Popular characters could make cameos. They do this more often in movies than books. But whatever. I think it works.
B. New characters. To love or hate. Or both. Not that these characters should just randomly replace the first characters. Like in the Karate Kid, where every time Daniel gets a girlfriend, she magically disappears in the first five minutes of the next movie. "How was the prom?" Mr. Miyagi asks. "Fine," Daniel-san says. "Until Allie told me she was in love with a football player from UCLA." And then in part three: "When is Kumiko coming?" Mrs. Laruso asks. "Oh, she's not," Daniel-san says. "She got a scholarship to a dance school in Tokyo."
What the hell was wrong with that kid? Why would no one love him?!
C. Old characters should evolve. But not change completely! More of the same, but better, as they say. After the first book, characters should be your friends. By the end of the second, they should be your fricken BFFs, and you will stand by them until the end of the series because damn it! Bella Swan deserves to be happy! (I am so kidding.)
So, there you go. Most of these "rules" are tongue-in-cheek of course. But there is a lot to consider in a sequel. And while everybody loves series these days, beautiful, cash cows that they are, sometimes, a story just doesn't suit it. Case in point: The sequels to Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. Did she write Mists while under a trance? Or were the rest of them written by goats? Seriously. Not that I don't own all of them.
Next time: To cliff-hang or not to cliff-hang?
September 29, 2010
Book Trailer for ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
Damn you, embedding issues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT4nDABj5XM
I'll get it properly embedded later. Peace out.
September 23, 2010
You Better Check Yourself. Before You Wreck Yourself. (FRINGE IS BACK!)
Okay, so the quote is from an upcoming movie, which I normally don't do. But eff it. Because it is Zach Galifianakis, whose last name is awesome, according to his grandfather, because it starts with a Gal, and ends with a kiss. I've had a fondness for this wacko since Out Cold. I'm glad his weirdness has gone mainstream. Now if only Bret and Jemaine would bring the Conchords back.
This post isn't about Zach Galifianakis. And it's barely about books. (There'll be some bookie stuff at the botto...
September 20, 2010
There is no such thing as censorship. Go live in a bubble. A darkly tinted one.
So all the buzz is the buzz about some dude's editorial, decrying certain books in certain school curriculums as naughty, nasty things that must be removed from children's eyes. Lest they be blinded! Or corrupted and turned into whores, by this vagrant, pornographic art. These books are Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, which I recently saw on shelves but didn't care to pick up, mostly because the movie with Kristen Stewart was playing on Lifetime and I didn't want to watch that either, and one ...
September 17, 2010
Self-censorship, a Rally for Moderates? and a great review from That Bookish Girl
So it occurs to me that I'm going to have to promote some books. Over the past few months, I've met quite a few folks who do precisely the same thing (or will have to shortly) online. And it brings up a lot of annoying thoughts. Self-censorship being one of them. Amidst all the pleasantries, and the email handshaking, and the profuse thank you's to generous and kind compliments and suggestions, there is a lurking sensation that whispers, "Who's reading this? What can I say and not say? Fuck, ...
September 11, 2010
WriteOnCon 2011 Debut Fundraising Giveaways!!!
So if you haven't heard of Write On Con, it's an online writer's conference. And it's pretty sweet. They had great video recordings of speakers, and live chats, and prizes, and what not. It had the feel of a live con, and all of the content is available online. So go check it out. Now, they're doing giveaways to promote the next Write On Con, and if you like to read, or go to cons, you should go there on Tuesday the 14th and enter to win some bitchin prizes.
These prizes include pre-ordered YA...
August 26, 2010
There's Life in the Old Lady Yet! (Stuffed Dog Review of 'Horns'. New Kundera!)
This is of course, what Lestat says when he's dancing with Claudia's mother's corpse, in Interview with the Vampire. And really, what else would you say when dancing with a mom-corpse? Interview was the only movie that succeeded in making Tom Cruise devilishly attractive, and many other films have tried. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Days of Thunder.) There's talk that Cruise is trying to get The Tale of the Body Thief made. Eh. I'd watch it.
Book Review announcement from the Stuffed Dog: The long...
August 17, 2010
Puppy J Reviews "The Red Tree" by Caitlin R Kiernan
Since this will be coming down from the website shortly, I thought I'd move it here for archiving purposes. Puppy J. assures me that he's almost done with his review of Joe Hill's "Horns", and so that will appear on the "Read, Dammit, Read!" page of site.
And now, Puppy's a-hole, stuffed dog review of The Red Tree:
Hey-o! It is I, P to the izzo, U to the up yours! Yeah. Puppy J. Murray is my name, and as I’m sure you’re all aware, I am a stuffed dog. My hobbies include snowmobiling with...
