Patrick Todoroff's Blog, page 40
September 13, 2012
September 11, 2012
Juggling Glass Plates.
Been trying to keep a number of plates spinning in the air, which is why the blog has been quiet lately. One reason is my other work Glass Graphics Studio has been quite steady. I mean it doesn’t take much to keep me busy, but this has been the most consistent, productive glass year I’ve had since I left my retail location five (six?) years ago.
Thank God. It’s a good problem to have.
The Crossover Alliance
Joined an online community of indie Christian writers who are committed to realistic, faith-centered, speculative fiction. The goal is not only to raise the genre’s profile, but encourage authors and their readership to tap the rich potential of this field.
Founded by prolific author David Alderman, you can get more info here:The Crossover Alliance
August 27, 2012
Heh…
Not having a TV, this is the first I’ve seen it.
Swim at your own Risk
MORE THOUGHTS ON IMMERSIVE FICTION
This post is prompted by an interesting conversation with one of the beta readers for “One Bad Apple”. To sum it up: she’s not a fan of immersion-style storytelling, and consequently, she didn’t like it. I mean ‘huge question marks in the margins, circles, arrows, post-it notes, WTF’ didn’t get it.
She maintains my extreme approach reduces an already limited spec-fiction audience. Allowing that “OBA” is the first part of a larger, serialized story wherein the pieces get placed on the board, she claims it’s simply not accessible. I have an acute case of Starving-Artist Syndrome because a majority of readers demand a single cast of characters, with a logical linear plot.
I recognize her different perspective on fiction, (lots of things, actually) which is why I value her opinion. I need objective criticism to improve. I confess though that I rebelled at her critique.
I had an editor once who constantly referenced movies while critiquing my book. He justified this by saying more people had seen a bad movie than read a good book. (A film isn’t a novel. Different post/different day. I didn’t retain his services.)
But I’m following his bad example here and saying films like Crash, Traffic, Babel, The Air I Breathe, the oddity that was The Fountain, the upcoming Cloud Atlas all presume the audience approach the story with both a body of knowledge as well as the willingness to hold seemingly disparate threads in abeyance. They trust it will all come together by the conclusion.
The genre books that challenge me, force me to think, Neuromancer, Finch, Gormenghast, even Joe Abercrombie’s stuff and Rothfuss’ first two Kingkiller Chronicles (dude, hurry up with the third, please) all plunge the reader into the middle of a fully-formed world. True, elements must be recognizable, but there’s an alien thrill to them that forces me to sit up, turn on my brain and pay attention. Like exploring King Solomon’s Mines, the experience is part obstacle course, part treasure hunt, part quest.
Moment of candor: I’m making this ‘author-thing’ up as I go along. I’m coming into writing late in life. (I’m 48. A grandfather) I got no MFA in Creative Fiction, just a couple writing classes at a Community College/Online, and a shelf full of “How to Write” books. The Clar1ty Wars is an arc on the learning curve. It allows me to experiment, perfect my voice, and exorcise things that have haunted my mind for years. There you have it.
I’m approaching my potential audience as experienced, the story as a mosaic. Or an impressionist painting. Viewed individually, the pieces seem disparate and odd, but (hopefully) combine to create a larger whole. Now my Imaginary Reader is capable of connecting the dots, but add inexperience with my preference for the immersion-style, and I’ve got a recipe for potential disaster.
All I can offer is the hope I left enough Floaties bobbing in the pool before I shoved folks in the deep end.
If you enjoyed it – Thank you. If not, cough it up and please accept my apologies.
August 13, 2012
OBA Review at GoodReads.
Woke up this morning to the first review of One Bad Apple at GOODREADS 3.5 stars? I’m fine with that. This is the kind of straight up review every writer should want. Basic info, pros, cons, likes, dislikes. IMO, an honest review is worth ten shills any day. Thank you, Mr. Dutcher. (now if you’d cross-post to Amazon…)
Here it is:
3.5 stars. It’s a good start to a hard, classic cyberpunk universe, and it scratches a lot of my itches. However this is the introduction to a series, and the multiple viewpoints might clash with the novella length for some people.
A girl named Seeb gets involved with fencing a batch of the drug Clar1ty, which is one of the most popular drugs around. However the deal goes sour fast, as she wakes up alone and disoriented, with her virtual wallet stolen. Something is up with Clar1ty, and Seeb might be the key to something. If she can survive long enough to find out what, that is.
I enjoyed Pat’s prior novel, Running Black. Pat writes cyberpunk in the old style, and this book is no different. It’s good, hard-edged science fiction with plenty of grit and grime, and hip deep with gangs, exotic designer drugs, and squalid slums. I think he really gets the classic cyberpunk ethos and for fans of it it will be tasty brain candy. Pat to me feels like Bruce Sterling at times because of his multi-ethnic focus although he places his world farther in the future.
He writes well, too. Part of what makes cyberpunk fun is the patois-the sharp, slangy future dialogue that is unique to that subgenre, and he doesn’t disappoint.
There was a single issue, however. He uses multiple viewpoints a bit too much for the length of the book. None of them are out of place, and each sheds light on the culture of the world and the plot. However, Seeb’s story to me felt like the main focus of the book, and the other viewpoints made the novella a little disjointed. One viewpoint was written first person, which was unusual since the rest of the book is in third. There’s also some viewpoint switching mid chapter. It’s a minor issue because this book is the start of a series and I think he’s setting up characters who will play a future part, but the novella’s length makes it feel disorienting.
Other than that, it’s well-written genre fiction. I’m looking forwards to seeing how the series progresses. It’s definitely worth checking out.
August 8, 2012
Article on finding your ‘real’ voice.
From the shortlist of my favorite authors. Worth reading.
Steven Pressfield’s Writing Wednesdays Article
Oh and buy his books too. Gates of Fire, War of Art, or his latest The Profession. See the full list here: SP on Amazon
August 5, 2012
OBA Free for Kindle
Until the 8th.
Call it a gift, call it crazy, call it marketing ploy, call it desperation. It’s there if you want it, gratis. Enjoy.
Thank you.
August 4, 2012
Pfizer-Teva Marketing Dept.
Sent me this. Along with a high-caliber Cease and Desist Notice delivered by a black-ops wetworks team.
