The Devils Are All Here

The Juggling Act

And so it came to pass that a new draft was created, and it was good. The creator sat back and breathed out his relief at having completed this draft knowing that the next project was already waiting for him the next day. But for the time being, all was right with his world.

Hi, I’m Jason. This is my little corner of the Internet. Welcome.

Organ of Record: The Envoy and other works

For those keeping track, this is – well, I don’t know what number the draft is but it’s the best one of THE ENVOY so far. I think it’s very satisfying and it’ll go out to trusted readers this week. Last time I mentioned that the middle was terribly mushy and I’ve fixed that with more action, more subplots, and better definition of character motivations. It now ticks the boxes it should have in the last draft.

Art by Arie Monroe.

I wrote the Zero Draft of this book very quickly, and in between various obligations, basing it on a previous work of mine and deciding halfway through what the novella really wanted to be. I’ve spent months and several drafts solving the problems that decision caused. It’s a fairly common thing in my own work and I’m figuring out how to solve those problems before I begin the actual writing. (I’m pretty sure this won’t help me with titling which was a struggle on this one.)

Most everyone calls it plotting, so that’s what it is. What I’m doing with my next novella (which is the second in the series starting with Envoy, more on that later) is doing a lot more pre-writing, even coming up with what might be considered a treatment. My intention is to go over the treatment with my Trust and look for plot issues before I start writing. 

Since Envoy was an adaptation and I was writing by the seat of my pants from halfway on, I didn’t have the opportunity to fix plot or character motivations. Live and learn, yeah?

Now I’m moving into revisions on WAR IN VAIN and will likely take a look again at some short stories I started late last year. I also got hit with an intriguing idea for another project that will have to germinate for some time before I’m comfortable actually giving it some close attention. Then there’s a potential project that will have to be readied for the end of the month and then pitched. 

There are times when I wish I was a full-time writer because I’d be a lot further along in developing each of these things. Sigh.

Seal of Approval

Do we ever talk enough about the things we like? I try to, really try. I’ve managed to eliminate the negativity from my social media feeds because honestly there’s enough of that already. So, here, I’m sharing a couple of things I liked. If you didn’t like them, that’s okay. I enjoyed them and that’s what matters to me. As always, your mileage may vary.

STAR TREK: PICARD SEASON 3 was a fun ride with lots of nostalgia. It was great to see everything that happened, everyone that came together, and the threat was legit galaxy-shaking. The shining performance was Amanda Plummer as Vadek, though. She was deliciously evil, supremely confident, and the end of her arc was appropriately spectacular. I will say that as much crap as has been loaded on the previous two seasons, you don’t get this one without those. The reunions were tearful and beautiful and I’m glad I was there for them.

There are so many HBO miniseries that it’s a crapshoot which one is my most favorite but right up there is FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON which contains one of my most favorite hours of television in Episode Ten: Galileo Was Right (right up there with the very weird but strangely beautiful Episode 8 of TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN).

The crew of Apollo 15 learning how to tell the story of a place through its geology is exactly the kind of thing that trips my trigger hard. When you hear the joy of the astronauts’ voices as they survey Hadley-Appenine, it’s a feel-good moment to top them all. It’s pure science and hearing them being able to speak that language clearly and with such effect – man, it doesn’t get any better than that. 

While the so-called Genesis Rock at the end of the episode proved not to be part of the Moon’s primordial crust, it’s still about 4 billion years old and is a significant find but the Apollo 15 crew. None of that diminishes the power of the episode, which you may be able to find streaming for free somewhere if you’re of a mind to.

Lastly, I’m a bit over halfway through Alice McDermott’s book, WHAT ABOUT THE BABY? which is not your typical writing advice book, or at least it’s speaking to me very clearly on a number of issues. In particular, the chapter on E.M. Forster’s classic A PASSAGE TO INDIA and the lesson on ‘only connect’. If you’re not a writer, it won’t mean much to you unless you’re a close reader of literature. The lesson is something like Chekhov’s exhortation to use a gun in Act III that you introduced in Act I but with Forster’s use of ‘the Malabar Caves’. This book, along with my return to reading Michael Moorcock (The Whispering Swarm came last week!) has my creative juices flowing. You may have seen something about that on my Instagram.

Anyway, these are things that are working for me. (Also the just-completed season of THE MANDALORIAN was a hoot as well as Tom King’s and Phil Hester’s GOTHAM CITY: YEAR ONE but there’s been plenty written about how great that one is and all you’ve read about it true.) I encourage you to yap on about the things that you’re liking to whomever’ll listen. 

At Capacity

I meant to keep this one short but hey, whatever. I’m taking more time for myself and spending more time in reflection and relaxation. I hope this will help me avoid a repeat of the depression from the first part of the year. Spring may help, too, though the allergies that come with it are tedious, and exercise. It helps me to get out and walk more and with some speed. My heart pumps a little harder and my brain works a little more efficiently. Taking the time to take a walk allows me to work out some story problems. Maybe it’ll work for you.

Thanks for reading here, friends. If you like my books, please rate them or review them (however briefly) and I’ll see you when I see you.

Bonus thing I liked: