A. Lee Martinez's Blog, page 73
March 1, 2010
A Critical Comment
So recently, the following comment was posted on the site. It's rare for anyone to post a negative comment on this site. Not because I don't have my detractors, but because I'm just not important enough that many people feel like logging on to offer any criticism of that sort. So I guess I'm moving up in the world, gang!
So much praise, so you will probably not be too heartbroken if I offer some criticism?
I read "
In the company of ogres
", and sort of liked it. But it was something about...
February 22, 2010
Ask a Smart Guy: The Novelology Marathon
Hello, hello. What's this? Two blog posts in one week? Well, why the heck not?
It's time for our infrequent and irregular Ask A Smart Guy segment. Let's start with this comment someone recently posted on the site.
I have been an aspiring writer for five++ years, and still cannot find a method that works for me. Every time I start a story a new story idea pops into my head. The new story idea will nag me to death, until I give the idea some attention. I have thousands of introductions to...
February 21, 2010
Just Another Random Blog Post
Haven't posted anything in a long while. Been busy. Also, just seems like I'm repeating myself. In fact, saying it feels like I'm repeating myself feels like I'm just repeating myself.
Still, I am alive, and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still drawing oxygen. And while I'm at it, I might as well throw in a few offhand comments.
I'm sorta famous. That still blows my mind. Sure, I'm not Jim Varney famous, but I do have a Wikipedia page (woefully out of date, but still there...
February 12, 2010
Martinez on Martinez
The A stands for Awesome. Let's just be clear on that.
Hi. Been a while. Still working on finishing my current manuscript, but I can't stay away. It's not fair to you, my adoring public. You guys are my bread and butter, so I'm setting aside the manuscript for a second and posting something because I know how much you look forward to me enriching your lives with my wit, humor, and dinobot references. Although in this post, I will endeavor to keep dinobot references to a minimum because "...
February 2, 2010
Still Alive
Haven't posted anything in a while. Been busy as heck trying to finish this damn novel. Writing can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. Even when you know what you want to write, just the time to write it is a killer. When I'm ahead of schedule, a book juste seems to appear out of nowhere. When I'm behind, every page just seems to take forever. And it's not like I'm blocked or anything on this damn thing. It's just putting aside the time and keeping at it.
Still, I'm behind, and I...
January 24, 2010
The Invisible Novelologist
Saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs again. What a fantastic film. I planned on buying the DVD, but put it off because I knew I'd probably be seeing it again at the bargain cinema. But after seeing it, I almost stopped and picked it up. This is just such a wonderful movie. Bizarre, goofy, funny, and heartwarming. Highly recommended.
Onto the subject at hand…
Recently, I found myself in a short debate on the nature of villainy. What makes an interesting villain? What doesn't? Is a...
January 19, 2010
Famous Mummy Fighters and The Women Who Love Them
Haven't been around in a while, gang. Sorry about that. But been busy on my latest manuscript and life and all that jazz. I'm engaged, just in case anyone out there who might care doesn't know about it. Getting married by the end of the year. I'd say good-bye to my wild, swingin' bachelor days, but I never actually had any of those. But you're not here to read about my personal life, are you? If so, I can only estimate your level of boredom to be at yellow alert. Go buy a Nintendo DS ...
January 12, 2010
Read This Post or Face the Wrath of Dinobots
Can it be? Is it true? Is such a thing possible?
Yes, my friends, it is indeed. A. LEE MARTINEZ APPRECIATION DAY!! is upon us once again, and while I'm sure all of you are up on the traditional festivities (play a board game, watch a monster movie, push A. Lee Martinez novels on friends / family / loved ones / strangers / enemies), not everyone knows that, by The Supreme Directive of The Mighty Robot King, you are required to read any blog post I write on this day.
Believe me, I don't like i...
January 11, 2010
A Teeny Tiny Free Sample of Divine Misfortune.
Funny thing. At this point, I've written so much that I often forget things I've written. I'm not talking about stories, but little bits and pieces here and there. I was reading through DIVINE MISFORTUNE (due out in March, I believe) and came across this little section that I completely forgot. Made me laugh, too. Kind of weird to be taken by surprise by your own writing, but it happens.
So here's your first (tiny) little taste of DIVINE MISFORTUNE. Hope you enjoy it.
"I'll...
January 7, 2010
Realism VS Surrealism
Realism is highly overrated. In particular, I hate realism applied to fantasy. Mostly because it seems to miss the point of fantasy in the first place.
I recently started a Twitter mini-debate with a friend of mine.* Watching a preview for the new Kick-Ass movie, I remarked how the movie straddles a clumsy line between superheroes and realism. This has always been a tricky prospect. Some elements of fantasy are closer to reality than others, and superheroes are about as far from reality ...
