David McMullen-Sullivan's Blog, page 7
March 30, 2019
An Amazon Free Weekend
To the Dark Room of Souls is free this weekend on Amazon. If you get a chance to read it, I would love to see people's feedback/reviews on what you think of the final book in the series.
March 26, 2019
(More) Worst Dialog Ever Written
I'm gonna take you to the bank Senator Trent, to the blood bank.
- Hard to Kill
- Hard to Kill
March 14, 2019
A Jane Austen Murder Mystery
I've been hard at work on my Jane Austenesque murder mystery, and as an homage to Jane, I've set the tale right in Steventon. Now, you might ask, why mix in a murder most foul, and that's because it's also got time travel and a gay love story. So - see, it makes perfect sense. I've also channeled the biting wit of Oscar Wilde for laughs.
It sounds like minestrone soup, but I promise you it works. The tough part has been researching the 18th century etiquette behind balls and dinner parties. Who knew it could get so elaborate, Maintaining the right narrative voice has been no easy task either. Just try it if you doubt me.
I'm on chapter 20. After getting it beta read and rewritten, I think I will send it to a few agents first. If it doesn't get picked up, I can always go the indie route again.
It sounds like minestrone soup, but I promise you it works. The tough part has been researching the 18th century etiquette behind balls and dinner parties. Who knew it could get so elaborate, Maintaining the right narrative voice has been no easy task either. Just try it if you doubt me.
I'm on chapter 20. After getting it beta read and rewritten, I think I will send it to a few agents first. If it doesn't get picked up, I can always go the indie route again.
March 8, 2019
Being Podcasted
It was a wonderful discovery to find out that Moorehead Manor had been podcasted during Halloween last year,
The guys made fun of a lot of things, and I found it all very funny. I was also delighted when they did the math and figured out what year the story takes place in.
You can listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4z1t...
Thanks Amazon Book Club! You made my day,
The guys made fun of a lot of things, and I found it all very funny. I was also delighted when they did the math and figured out what year the story takes place in.
You can listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4z1t...
Thanks Amazon Book Club! You made my day,
March 3, 2019
A School for Rainy Days
Netflix's The Umbrella Academy is subtle where it's clever. It took me 2-3 episodes to realize this. For example, in the opening credits, there is always an umbrella somewhere declaring the title of the series. It took me a while to figure out that that was going to be a thing. But the effect was better for its unspoken presence rather than something that was more "in your face".
If you haven't seen the show, one word advice: don't judge the series by its first episode. Episode one is all setup, and rather dull. I would have forgone watching any further ones, but the household agreement was to give it a few more tries. That decision worked out because the show doesn't start to shine until you get beyond the first one of the series.
Despite my praise, the show has its issues. The series is somewhat predictable. The kids, now grown, often refer to each other by their numbers, which is silly. They're a family, not Spectre. The dead brother is an unnecessary character (though I get he's acting like a foil. It's his only job on this series, and he's gonna do it!). Also, the arch villain - spoiler alert - is a corporate-type conglomerate. Unfortunate. It's hard to get into a nameless, faceless antagonist. But, the worst disconnect is that the world will be ending in a few days, and there's little concern. The impending doom generates less stress than a mid-term for most of the characters.
Although the show has areas where it's lacking, it also has some great points that are entertaining. The background music is good. The quirkiness is great, and the family's dysfunction is what you watch the show for - not their powers which is a minor element.
Overall, the show works, and my hope is that the series' evolution involves the family healing their wounds and moving towards reconciliation (and maybe giving us an enemy we can hate on a more visceral level). As it is, destroying the Commission, as they call themselves, sounds like it will require filing paperwork with the HR department.
If you haven't seen the show, one word advice: don't judge the series by its first episode. Episode one is all setup, and rather dull. I would have forgone watching any further ones, but the household agreement was to give it a few more tries. That decision worked out because the show doesn't start to shine until you get beyond the first one of the series.
Despite my praise, the show has its issues. The series is somewhat predictable. The kids, now grown, often refer to each other by their numbers, which is silly. They're a family, not Spectre. The dead brother is an unnecessary character (though I get he's acting like a foil. It's his only job on this series, and he's gonna do it!). Also, the arch villain - spoiler alert - is a corporate-type conglomerate. Unfortunate. It's hard to get into a nameless, faceless antagonist. But, the worst disconnect is that the world will be ending in a few days, and there's little concern. The impending doom generates less stress than a mid-term for most of the characters.
Although the show has areas where it's lacking, it also has some great points that are entertaining. The background music is good. The quirkiness is great, and the family's dysfunction is what you watch the show for - not their powers which is a minor element.
Overall, the show works, and my hope is that the series' evolution involves the family healing their wounds and moving towards reconciliation (and maybe giving us an enemy we can hate on a more visceral level). As it is, destroying the Commission, as they call themselves, sounds like it will require filing paperwork with the HR department.
February 24, 2019
Professional Communication: Phone Calls
1. When receiving a call, identify yourself, do this even when you are the caller
2. Express the reason for the call
3. “Is this a good time to talk?”
4. When giving your phone number, speak slowly, enunciate and give it twice!
5. Where appropriate, let the client know you’ll follow up with an email to reiterate the discussion, this gives both parties a record of the contact
6. Smile when you talk, it makes your voice sound more positive and soothing
7. Make phone calls from a quiet location
2. Express the reason for the call
3. “Is this a good time to talk?”
4. When giving your phone number, speak slowly, enunciate and give it twice!
5. Where appropriate, let the client know you’ll follow up with an email to reiterate the discussion, this gives both parties a record of the contact
6. Smile when you talk, it makes your voice sound more positive and soothing
7. Make phone calls from a quiet location
February 22, 2019
Professional Communication: Email
1. Direct the email to a specific person, especially in a group email
2. Use professional salutations. Do not use slang
3. Include a clear, direct subject line
4. Include a signature block - name, title, company, phone number
5. Organize your ideas, do not jump all around
6. Be CAUTIOUS with humor
7. Add email address last
8. Double-check that you’ve selected the correct recipient
9. Keep your fonts classic
10. Keep tabs on your tone, tone is misconstrued as there are no vocal clues
11. Nothing is confidential, so write accordingly
12. Avoid CAPS lock
2. Use professional salutations. Do not use slang
3. Include a clear, direct subject line
4. Include a signature block - name, title, company, phone number
5. Organize your ideas, do not jump all around
6. Be CAUTIOUS with humor
7. Add email address last
8. Double-check that you’ve selected the correct recipient
9. Keep your fonts classic
10. Keep tabs on your tone, tone is misconstrued as there are no vocal clues
11. Nothing is confidential, so write accordingly
12. Avoid CAPS lock
February 21, 2019
Professional Communication: Proofreading
Proofreading is an essential part of professional communications. Recently, I discussed this issue with a group of my colleagues. Here are some of the key points:
1. Take a break from the content (return with a fresh perspective)
2. Read your work aloud (this helps you find errors)
3. Look for patterns in your mistakes (you may have repeated the error)
4. Do not rely on your computer’s spell check
5. Slow down (if you read the text quickly, you're likely to miss some things)
6. Don’t let your sentences get too long (run-on sentences lack clarity)
7. Do not be afraid to use a dictionary
8. Double check your grammar (your/you’re, there/their/they’re and to/too/two)
9. Take notice of your use of apostrophes (its vs. it's)
1. Take a break from the content (return with a fresh perspective)
2. Read your work aloud (this helps you find errors)
3. Look for patterns in your mistakes (you may have repeated the error)
4. Do not rely on your computer’s spell check
5. Slow down (if you read the text quickly, you're likely to miss some things)
6. Don’t let your sentences get too long (run-on sentences lack clarity)
7. Do not be afraid to use a dictionary
8. Double check your grammar (your/you’re, there/their/they’re and to/too/two)
9. Take notice of your use of apostrophes (its vs. it's)
February 15, 2019
Quote on Writing
"Subtext is the 'Show, Don't Tell' of dialogue"
― Some Guy on YouTube
― Some Guy on YouTube
