Matthew Alan Thyer's Blog, page 37

Rest In Peace

This morning I woke up to discover the a significant portion of my book shelf had beentransformed into a collection of grave markers. It’s been reported that last night Sir Terry Pratchett died at the too young age of 66.

More here, I may need to close the shutters for a while.

False Expectations: Guest Post

Okay, it’s done. It’s out there.

Last summer I met and got to know Jim Hines first at DetCon1 and later at GeekFanExpo. I had read his Goblin series previously when a friend turned me onto it (thanks Darren) and really enjoyed this underdog-fantasy. So, after the books and after spending some time in his company, I knew Jim had a way with words. But what I didn’t know was how much this guy cares.

Jim and I after Story Time at DetCon1

What I mean by that is that, if you’re sitting across a bar ro...

Year Three

LinkedIn and a friend and former MSFT colleague just reminded me that today is a bit of a holiday for me. Three years now I’ve been a stay at home Dad, another job I’m probably not qualified for. Aral and I have spent the morning listening to music and cleaning the house. The dog is content to sit under the table and watch us. We’re waiting to hear back on an offer we’ve made on a house.

Edits Are Off

This blog post is me celebrating the completion of guest blog post/anthology contribution which I just sent off to the editor. I’m still going to beat around the bush for a while because I haven’t been given permission to announce my inclusion on the project, but I will say that I’ve been super excited to be part of the effort and to be working with such a great editor.

I’ve decided that it’s important for me to somehow mark these little milestones. First, because when I get to the end of a pr...

Your Life Will Never be the Same

This is just a friendly reminder that nothing stays the same. Nothing. Every day we reach milestones, sometimes these are markers of significancealong the timelines of life, perhaps even they represent the culmination of lots of labor and love. Doesn’t matter. Tomorrow all that will change. Count on it.

I’m not a scientist, but there is a good chance I’m probably right. The only fate any of us can be sure ofis change. So if I’m right (which I probably am) then what can you do? If you’re workin...

Can’t Pass a Turing Test

So Tess and I are trying to buy a new house, I may have mentioned this before. Internet access — specifically high speed access — is a big requirement for us. Between the two of us we’d have a very hard time getting any work done without it. Thus, for anything that gets put into the “serious” list we usually search out local high-speed internet providers in the area and confirm a) that they offer service at the address and b) that they can accommodate our bandwidth and throughput requirements...

Distraction

I spend a lot of time writing in coffee shops. Over the last couple of years most of the words I’ve committed have been written while seated in these sorts of places. Today is no different. I dropped A-bear off at preschool, and stopped off at my favorite local bean house.

The goal this morning was to write a short description of the various settings I want to include in the piece I’m outlining. I need eight to twelve when it’s all said and done. The novel involves a networked simulation and s...

Time Warp

This guy is headed to college next year

Thankfully, I only have to go through that once. I just organized about six or seven years of photos and I’m left wondering where it all went. Crazy! You think you’re marking time, slowly. You think that, and then you look backwards and see light trails as the years whizz on by.

Open Call for UltraHikers/Fastpackers

Hello, I’m putting together a series of articles concerning the nascent sports of Fastpacking and UltraHiking and I need additional voices from within. As spring asserts itself I imagine that many of you are breaking out your packs and restarting your training regimens, race entrances fees are being paid and vacation time is being scheduled.

What I’m looking for are people who are involved in self-supported endurance racing and events. I’m interested to know what drives you, and why you pursue...

Slog for the Pay Off

I may have just discovered my least favorite part of writing professionally. Without a question it is outlining, specifically following the snowflake method. After getting neck deep into a number of stories, mostly novel length tails, where I get to climax and wonder “what the hell am I doing?” I’ve opted to take a new-to-me, and possibly more constructive approach to this tale. Following the rules, as it were.

I’ve completed the early steps to planning using the method. Right now I’m going sc...