Thursday, May 16, 2013

From Zero Draft to 1st Draft Begins

     I started work on the 1st Draft of the Mystery From Bunker Hill collection this week. The 1st Draft is different from the Zero Draft because- This Time It's Personal.
     Though I actually started things out on Saturday getting a notebook ready for 1st Draft work as Mar and Queen went to see The Great Gatsby and I sat in B-A-M and picked out some extremely marked down graphic novels to donate to the library.
     The things I do to get a notebook ready to write in are proof of how bad of OCD I have.
     That and checking the doors and windows several times to make sure they are locked.
     And how I have to check the stove several times before leaving to make sure everything is turned off.
     ..... STOP PICKING ON ME!
     From Zero Draft to 1st Draft would start on Monday and the first thing I did on Monday was select a TV show I wanted to have playing in the background while writing. See, writers are always focused on the finish line. That show picked was Smallville. I'm getting the DVDs from the library. Love your local library because librarians are hot and books feel good rubbed against your skin.
     When the show was on originally I only watched the first and second season and some episodes towards the end of the series when they were introducing a different DC comics hero just about every episode. Though it has weak points in classic TV writing cut out style I always loved the main cast and the casting in general on Smallville. Though Lana's boyfriend, that character is pretty weak and they even threw in family problems and it didn't help.
Not counting a boring bad guy that first episode still holds up as one of the best of the series. Remind me some other time to tell you how when I first saw the promo image from this series I thought they had actually crucified Clark and carved an S into his chest. I thought that was going to be awesome but when I found out that wasn't the case it colored my view of the show from then on.
The music in Smallville, all the feels, it gives. The soundtrack to many of a teenage cutter.
Wait, this blog entry isn't meant to piss people off so forget the cutter stuff.
Wait, wait, was that a young Janis Ian I spy with my eye on Smallville? Then you have the Amy Adams episode of Smallville of which I know a lot of people call The Fat Eater Girl episode. I know some asshole people. Who wasn't on this show? Even Iceman was on Smallville. If Rogue shows up I'm done. Smallville, the Law & Order of young actors of its time.
BREAKING NEWS: I have been informed that is actually the actors twin brother. I apologize to my friends and family for the mistake.
When these episodes of Smallville end I expect there to be a promo saying "Music from this weeks episode of Smallville is from..." Remember when shows did that? Do they still do that? I don't have cable.
Watching the season one final episode of Smallville was glorious. Can not get more heavy handed than a storm brewing outside in Kansas. I love it. It's so soap opera and just makes me smiles so wide. *flailing Kermit arms* and a To Be Continued!
Until I can get season two of Smallville from the library my temporary while writing show will be All Creatures Great And Small. One of my all time favorite shows.
     What was I talking about before I started picking things from my Twitter to ramble on about Smallville with?
     Yes, writing, the 1st Draft.
     After picking out my background static I then got a quick starting a new draft ulcer attack and between bent over attacks of pain I started work. The very first thing I did with this 1st draft was when I cut 7,982 words of stuff from the zero draft; which I'll come back to in 2015 if still around. Me and the world.
That first day of work was also made grande by talking to cool people about working with them on promo things. Talking to artists, actors, other writers, and editors. It's a good way to spend a day.
On Tuesday I cut 12,422 more words of stories from collection. Add that to the 7k cut on Monday; which will come back up in 2015 also.
On Wednesday while writing a character found a path I didn't think I was leading him down. That is a good feeling.
On Thursday, today, I'm writing this blog entry and will try to get more work done on the 1st Draft if the computer doesn't overheat too much.

If you want to get caught up on all things Tin Universe before things start up again in 2014 visit the Tin Universe site for all things Tin... a little lame but how would you have ended that sentence... ok, you wouldn't have called this a sentence....GO AWAY! so much being mean today.


I'll leave you with this picture. I'm thinking maybe this should be my next authors photos.
Though I'm probably going to have my friend Tankgirl take a new photo. Speaking of who, check out her photography here and vote for her photo here. Also if you see something you like buy something from her store on her main page there.



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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

ZERO DRAFT DONE!!! Soon the real madness starts.

     Last night I finished the zero draft of the 2014/2015 stories. At the end it sat still at 387 pages, 177,984 words, consisting of 4 scripts for an video short mini series, 1 book trailer script, 11 short stories{for monthly release leading up to collection}, 4 scripts for an audio short mini series, Mystery From Bunker Hill {Contents- 3 novellas and 9 short stories}, 1 novella for release after collection{2015}, and 5 more short stories for monthly release{2015}
     I wrote all of this together for several reasons which include it being part of a shared universe so I really wanted it to feel as such{the share universe being The Tin Universe} I wanted to write it all at once also because in 2015 it all will be released in one as Tin Universe: Volume Two. Tin Universe: Volume One will be released at this end of 2013 collecting everything Tin Universe related I've released so far.
    These four months of writing has seen a lot happen to me as a writer and a person. I've learned a lot, beat myself up a lot, and now I'm finished with this total mess of a draft, which is the fun in allowing yourself a zero draft, and I can't wait to start on the 1st draft and see where it takes me.

     I am going to take a short rest of two weeks to re-energize, go to sleep and get up at normal hours, and play some Madden with my Richmond Bulldawgs team. I'll be starting over from the team I had before when I first got Madden 11 and then decided on the writing path I've undertaken.

     After those two weeks I'll be back into the deep end of my mind where there are no lifesavers or lifeguards even during the best of times. I'm going to try a draft per month until the end of the year and then I'll be talking to my short list of people about hiring them to edit all the 2014/2015 writing.

*if you want to check out all the things I'm released click on the image below.





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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Away Writing Not Blogging Much Right Now

     just dropping in for a quick update. I hate that I haven't been blogging much of late but with laptop overheating issues and the fact that I'm busy writing I haven't found the right moments for blogging. I'm not only behind in blogging but answering emails and the like. And more important than all of that I'm behind in books I want to read and that's like starving to a writer.


     I'll be finished with the Zero Draft of my next book at of the month, this month being April for anyone calender distant people as I sometimes find myself being.
     The draft currently sits at 344 pages and 160,069 words. As I always have to mention that's not one story. I don't think I could write one story that big.
     My next book will be a collection containing 3 Novellas and 9 short stories. But the page count and word count is also so high for a Zero Draft because I'm at the same time writing 11 vignettes which will be released one a month for free in 2014 leading up to the release of the collection. Also working on a novella and several more vignettes that will come out for free after the collection is released keeping the ball rolling up to the next book release.
     I'm writing all of this at once to keep all the universe stuff straight since all of these stories take place within my Tin Universe line of stories.


     So that's me right now, and this...




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Thursday, March 7, 2013

A Cat Needs Help

     My friend Stephanie, if you have been following my online writing for a long time you would know her as the nickname I gave her a lot time ago of Ghost. She made an impact on my life when I was going through some really rough shit. We worked together and more important we laughed a whole fucking lot together. We don't talk as much these days besides here and there online because that's just how life works a lot of the time with friends but she will always be a part of my life because the memories will always be there. Right now Stephanie is going through some tough shit because her cat Spooky has cancer and needs treatment. If you have the money please donate but even if you can't please share the link. Spooky The Cat's Cancer Treatment

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Monday, March 4, 2013

Read An eBook Week 2013

     This week is Smashwords Read An Ebook Week. A ton of really good books at low prices, many as low as free and that's as low as you can go. For this event I marked down my first two books to free. The very first Tin Universe story Stereo 2.0 and Tin Universe #6: The Past Forward. Both are really good jumping on points for that universe of stories.
     Besides those two books there are also a lot more free and marked down materials in my Smashwords store. There's poetry collections, vignette collections, short stories, vignettes, scripts, and a tons of other stuff.
     While I have you here I'll also mention my Tin Universe Cafepress store and the merch store for the rest of my stuff.

     While I'm here how about a little progress update on the Zero Draft of my 3rd book, coming December 2014. I'm currently sitting at 115,687 words. Working the middle of the second Novella for the collection and setting up good things for Novella three and four. Having a lot of fun and my brain is exploding with ideas I'm so excited to explore.


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Saturday, March 2, 2013

After Hitting 100,000 Words Progress Update On Zero Draft 3rd Book



     At the end of February I hit not only my monthly goal for February but that just so happen to also be the 100,000 word mark on the Zero Draft of my 3rd book. This collection of stories is the most crazy batshit stuff I've ever written. That crazy batshit will probably drive me slowly insane when I move on from Zero Draft territory but right now its the most fun and joy I've ever gotten from writing.
     Did I mention- Coming December 2014 to a internet near you.
     This is a good point in the Zero Draft as I'm  hitting the end of the first half of the second novella, and when I first started it I thought this is total shit, but by the third chapter something clicked and its pushing itself out of the primordial ooze and kicking some balls.
     I don't think I'm mentioned here before the layout of the collection, mainly because that would be a really boring thing to put in a bog entry, so here goes:
CONTENTS:
Novella
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Novella
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Novella
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Novella
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
     I think you can get the feel of it from that but add to it as I'm writing the Zero Draft I am in turn also writing 11 Vignettes which will be going out free on a monthly basis in 2014 leading up to the book release.
     Also working on the idea of doing 4 video story vologs and 4 audio story podcasts. Writing the scripts for those two things now as part of the Zero Draft work but I will see if I can find actors for those projects or if the Vignettes will be enough.
     I have a year plus to get all of this ready. The ride so far has been crazy creative soul pushing and I know it will grow to be hellish brain killing.
     I look forward to all of it.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

After Hitting 70,000 Words Progress Update On Zero Draft 3rd Book


     Work on the Zero Draft of my next book is still going full steam ahead but then again that's one of the joys of a Zero Draft. It's sort of like finally puking after being sick for days.... Sort of like taking a big shit or piss after having to wait a lot time... ok, those aren't apt, it's more like someone just telling you and you finally believing and seeing its about the writing and just do it.
     Though without the Nike tie in line at the end.
     I thought I would update on the progress of the Zero Draft because the other night I hit 70,000 words and it was a good point to think on because it also marked finishing this draft of the first part of the collection: 1 Novella, 3 Vignettes, and 3 short stories down.
     Have 3 more Novellas, 8 more Vignettes, and 9 more short stories to go by the end of May which is my personal deadline for finishing the Zero Draft of the collection.
     Then the rest of 2013 will be working on more drafts and hopefully it all will be ready for the first look from a editor at the beginning of 2014. 2014 will be revisions and promotion with the plan being the book should be ready for a December 2014 release.
     One of the promotional items I'm planning will be the 11 Vignette I'm writing now as well, one each will be released for free each month in 2014 leading up to the release of the full collection. I'm still thinking if I should include those free 11 Vignettes in the collection or not. If you have a opinion let me know.
    Well back to the writing, if you are out there doing your own art thing, hope its going like gangbusters,
    C.


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