Steven Savage's Blog, page 53

Steve’s Update 10/7/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

I’ve decided to keep these updates going because it DOES help and it DOES keep me honest.

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:  I will be through chapter 11 (of 15) today, so it’s getting there.  The big haul is this week is to get done by next Tuesday or Wednesday.  I think I can manage this, but it’s going to be a challenge (I might not be done to Thursday). Way...

What’s Next For Cons 2: The House Con

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In my last post on the future of cons, looking at “micro-con” replacements for small cons when areas can’t support them, Serdar mentioned a house party he’d hosted, as well as the way some bands had done basement numbers.  This let me flesh out an idea.

The House Con.

Imagine that, for a day, someone with a reasonably sized house makes it a mini-convention.  It’s open visitation (to invited gu...

What’s Next For Cons

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

When I spoke at Kraken Con last week, it was a bittersweet experience because the convention is shutting down for the time being.  Cons come and go, but this smaller con had a special place in my heart for its positive attitude, precise organization, and fan focus.

The Bay Area has seen many cons change lately, from cancellation to hiatus to restructuring.  It’s not surprising – we’ve got seve...

Steve’s Update 9/30/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Wow, September is over, and it was sort of August: The Sequel.  Another crazy month – and now I refuse to accept any more crazy into my life.  Done, topped off, did that.  Let’s see if we can add some sanity.

On the subject, I’m debating cancelling these updates.  One, sometimes they don’t change – but on the other hand, they also help me stay focused.  So I’m wondering if they have value.

So...

A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: Inspirations For The Twelve Great Cities

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Let’s get to know more about the setting of my upcoming novel, A Bridge To The Quiet Planet.  I’d like to peek behind the curtain and talk about my inspirations for the Twelve Great Cities of Telvaren.

The idea for Twelve Great Cities sprung right into my head when I was messing around with ideas.  Inspired by some lovely visuals in anime (if you ever want amazing cityscapes, many SF/Fantasy a...

Steve’s Update 9/23/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Hello!  Feeling mostly better, if a bit behind, but definitely back on track.

That illness finally stopped kicking my butt.  I figured out that many people at work were sick, so it wasn’t that I wasn’t getting better, but my body kept fighting off new invaders.  So I worked from home a bit and it helped.

This is important – if you can work from home stay home if sick AND if everyone else is.

S...

Editing: The Fiction/Nonfiction Difference

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

As everyone who even remotely checks my blogs knows, I’m editing A Bridge To The Quiet Planet, my techno-fantasy novel and return to fiction.  I’m learning a lot from the editing process and my editor (who I am glad to refer to anyone).

One of the things I’ve realized is how radically different editing fiction and nonfiction are.

This probably surprises few people, but it had never really cros...

Steve’s Update: 9/16/2018

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Hello gang, here’s my latest update!  I got sick this week, so it was pretty awful.

Honestly, it’s like the crap of August got a spinoff series.

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:  Still just about at the halfway point of edits, but I’m plowing through the previous chapters using Grammarly as mentioned.  That tool is amazing and it’s given me another editing pass...

Steve’s Update 9/9/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Hello gang, here’s my latest update!

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:  I’m at the halfway point of my general edits, did my grammar edit on Chapter 1 and posted it for my  beta readers!  What I’m doing is using Grammarly for the final grammar edits before posting – it’s pricey, but worth it (some people I know use the cheaper program Hemingway). Way With Worlds...

Just Who Is Writing This?

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

So I continue to edit A Bridge To The Quiet Planet, where internet using gods, ancient orders of monster hunters, and trains on spirit-possessed tracks collide.  After the collision they exchange insurance information and complain behind each other’s back.

I found the editing felt  strange, odd.  There were parts I hated or even dreaded – which is entirely unfair to my incredible editor.  Than...