Um, yes, well, I should be doing domestic chores, but, like any good work avoider, I'm screwing around on the Internet. I found I Write Like from Tanya Huff's LJ account.
You copy a few paragraphs into the analyser and it pops out a famous writer. Of course I have better things to do, but what the hell. One of the books I'm taking to Melbourne with me, Knight Stalker came up with this:
I don't know whether that's good or bad. Great story idea but dubious execution?
The second book, Demonesque, in a different genre:
All I can say is: "WTF???"
They're the new ones. The ones already out there? Okay, let's see:
Huntress
Umm...
The sequel, Huntress: Sacrifice, came up with this:
I don't know whether that means the first few paragraphs are funny - they're not supposed to be - or it's got some weird juxtapositions about them that I should examine more closely. The third in the series came up with Dan Brown again.
And the Seasons series came up with Chuck Palanuik, Stephen King, Annie Rice and James Joyce. I should say that on Scribd, the second book (written like Stephen King) is the most popular, so maybe the analyser is onto something.
Apparently, the analyser "checks which famous writer you write like by analyzing your word choice and writing style and comparing them with those of the famous writers."
It's makes me feel rather schizophrenic, that I don't have a writing style I can call my own... precious.We wants it, we wants it... Still, it's one of those things you can procrastinate with for hours.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hugo and I go...
If I'd been thinking right, I'd have gone to the Hugo Awards site to find out how the nominations were decided. I'm guessing I'm a little over-tired from all the reading I've done in the past week, including all the works of the John W. Campbell Award nominees.
But I've voted now. All done. Buh-bye. Off hugo. My votes are in cyberspace...
I swear, the next time I decide to go to World Con, I'm doing it early, to give myself the space to read and see everything. (Yes, I take my voting seriously, as anyone should.)
Now, I can get back to what I was doing more than a week ago - and finish a review, read a book or two on my ever-increasing TBR pile, get my own stuff ready for September.
The waiting, however...
But I've voted now. All done. Buh-bye. Off hugo. My votes are in cyberspace...
I swear, the next time I decide to go to World Con, I'm doing it early, to give myself the space to read and see everything. (Yes, I take my voting seriously, as anyone should.)
Now, I can get back to what I was doing more than a week ago - and finish a review, read a book or two on my ever-increasing TBR pile, get my own stuff ready for September.
The waiting, however...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
How goes Hugo?
I've been consuming the Hugo Nominees: the short stories, novellas, novelettes, novels and the John W. Campbell nominees: From the Ice Age to a billion years into the future; aliens and Victorian-era sleuths; stories of luck and tales of fate; gods and demons; genetic manipulation and hidden personalities; paranormal and supernatural; complex quantum time-spatial theories and inevitable linear events. Oh, and 'wow' to 'wtf?'.
I would like to know how they were nominated, what the process is. I also have to come up with a method to make my decisions. Do I go with what I like, or with how clever a story is; whether I'm intrigued with the story or admire the uniqueness? Do I vote for how easy a story is to read, or my understanding of the science and how it knits into the work? How about whether the words evoke an emotional response or whether I find myself thinking about the story for a while? Then there's the style, the grammar and intent of the work. Do I consider all of the above?
Voting ends on Saturday and I'm up to the big prize: the novels. Only a couple more to go. My decisions on the other categories is still pending while I work out how to make the final vote.
And now, back to the novels.
I would like to know how they were nominated, what the process is. I also have to come up with a method to make my decisions. Do I go with what I like, or with how clever a story is; whether I'm intrigued with the story or admire the uniqueness? Do I vote for how easy a story is to read, or my understanding of the science and how it knits into the work? How about whether the words evoke an emotional response or whether I find myself thinking about the story for a while? Then there's the style, the grammar and intent of the work. Do I consider all of the above?
Voting ends on Saturday and I'm up to the big prize: the novels. Only a couple more to go. My decisions on the other categories is still pending while I work out how to make the final vote.
And now, back to the novels.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Upping the ante
I foresee, in my future, the creation of an online presence greater than I anticipate.
Yeah. Went to an e-business seminar today for the museum; the director was there, too. Next thing I know there are stars in my boss's eyes at all the shiney things I could do to promote the museum on social media networks. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Wikipedia, Blogger... oh, the horrible list went on. Meta-searches, keywords, HTML coding, F structure (as in how people view pages, not, you know, me cursing - a temptation I resisted).
Tomorrow, I head to the University of Wollongong to hear the marketing plans of the students and discuss the aforementioned seminar with the president of the board during the hour and a half road trip. Did I mention the president and the director don't actually get along? Harumph - yes, it's a word. Harumph. There'll be a meeting next week on how to proceed in this new and sparkly universe. I'm of a mind to dump all manner of techno-speak, statistics, profiling, mapping and networking protocols on them... sigh, I need more staff. Oh, wait, I need staff so I can ask for more.
Meanwhile, Canine the Destroyer has buried a nicely sucked chew bone in the unfolded laundry... Am I being punished for spending most of the day away?
I'm also trying to find time to write a review for Lynn Viehl's Dreamveil, but so far, no luck. Bring on the weekend so I can do my stuff!
Yeah. Went to an e-business seminar today for the museum; the director was there, too. Next thing I know there are stars in my boss's eyes at all the shiney things I could do to promote the museum on social media networks. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Wikipedia, Blogger... oh, the horrible list went on. Meta-searches, keywords, HTML coding, F structure (as in how people view pages, not, you know, me cursing - a temptation I resisted).
Tomorrow, I head to the University of Wollongong to hear the marketing plans of the students and discuss the aforementioned seminar with the president of the board during the hour and a half road trip. Did I mention the president and the director don't actually get along? Harumph - yes, it's a word. Harumph. There'll be a meeting next week on how to proceed in this new and sparkly universe. I'm of a mind to dump all manner of techno-speak, statistics, profiling, mapping and networking protocols on them... sigh, I need more staff. Oh, wait, I need staff so I can ask for more.
Meanwhile, Canine the Destroyer has buried a nicely sucked chew bone in the unfolded laundry... Am I being punished for spending most of the day away?
I'm also trying to find time to write a review for Lynn Viehl's Dreamveil, but so far, no luck. Bring on the weekend so I can do my stuff!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Catch up
Canine the Destroyer is acting more like a cat than a puppy, climbing on - or sliding under - as much furniture as he can. I might give him a spray, but five minutes later, he's at it again. His new target are socks. And now he's curled up on a blanket having a snooze.
So. This round of edits are done and I'll get to more next week, but I have a longing to read someone else's work and to catch up on some DVDs and that's what I've been doing - when not watching for the next bit of mayhem from the hound.
I'm deep into Lynn Viehl's Dreamveil and I can feel a suspicion sneaking up on me. But then, I'm always suspicious of Lynn because she hides her clues in plain sight and it's only at the end of the book that you slap your forehead and say 'Of course, it was there all the time and I missed it! Damn that woman!'
I can imagine Lynn mwahaha-ing all the way to the publisher...
And I'd best read some more while the puppy is napping.
So. This round of edits are done and I'll get to more next week, but I have a longing to read someone else's work and to catch up on some DVDs and that's what I've been doing - when not watching for the next bit of mayhem from the hound.
I'm deep into Lynn Viehl's Dreamveil and I can feel a suspicion sneaking up on me. But then, I'm always suspicious of Lynn because she hides her clues in plain sight and it's only at the end of the book that you slap your forehead and say 'Of course, it was there all the time and I missed it! Damn that woman!'
I can imagine Lynn mwahaha-ing all the way to the publisher...
And I'd best read some more while the puppy is napping.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Canine the Barbarian
Canine the Barbarian, the beast formerly known as Destructo-dog, formerly known as Dobby, formerly known as Scout, is coming along nicely with the help of a behaviour modification device; aka, the squirt bottle.
Currently, he's chowing down on a... stick, although cushions are his favourite toy, coz he can hump them at the same time as teaching them not to mess with him; obviously, the lack of two dangly bits hasn't stopped him.
So far, the garden has escaped his attention. Mostly. He's very good at turning over the Winter soil in the veggie patch and taking out those pesky weeds. He replants them on the lawn, after a manic victory lap around the garden, of course. He has no fear of the pitchfork; indeed, he sees it as an interloper to his game. And the three pronged fork is just his size for chewing - if he can get it out of my hand.
No rabbit dares enter his domain and the Blue-Tongue Lizards are safely hibernating in the garage. He also gets great exercise chasing the birds. And the neighbours? Well, why wouldn't they like to be woken at 7 am on a Sunday by his yapping at the early morning joggers? He's just reminding them that the day's awasting if they have a lie-in. Really, he's doing them a favour.
So now, I'll just go and clean up the shredded newspaper and plastic he's taken out of the recycle bin to chew and play with. (How can one puppy manage to put such small pieces in unlikely places? Like... under the couch?) At least he's not widdling everywhere...
Currently, he's chowing down on a... stick, although cushions are his favourite toy, coz he can hump them at the same time as teaching them not to mess with him; obviously, the lack of two dangly bits hasn't stopped him.
So far, the garden has escaped his attention. Mostly. He's very good at turning over the Winter soil in the veggie patch and taking out those pesky weeds. He replants them on the lawn, after a manic victory lap around the garden, of course. He has no fear of the pitchfork; indeed, he sees it as an interloper to his game. And the three pronged fork is just his size for chewing - if he can get it out of my hand.
No rabbit dares enter his domain and the Blue-Tongue Lizards are safely hibernating in the garage. He also gets great exercise chasing the birds. And the neighbours? Well, why wouldn't they like to be woken at 7 am on a Sunday by his yapping at the early morning joggers? He's just reminding them that the day's awasting if they have a lie-in. Really, he's doing them a favour.
So now, I'll just go and clean up the shredded newspaper and plastic he's taken out of the recycle bin to chew and play with. (How can one puppy manage to put such small pieces in unlikely places? Like... under the couch?) At least he's not widdling everywhere...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Introducing...
Destructo-pup!
Or as he is known to his family, Dobby formerly known as Scout. He's five months old, a maniac and I'm puppy-sitting for another week.
Yes, it's been a bit breezy here, but I hesitate to make the connection to a certain Disney elephant.
Alright, he hasn't actually destroyed anything, just had a really, really good try. But I'm sure the newspaper, tissues and old yard broom would protest that statement. Also on his hit list are my slippers, runners, work boots, cushions, his sleeping mat, and any cord he can find.
At the moment, he's trying to dig through the driveway - something interesting must be buried down there. He's also tried to dig through the couch cushions and discovered... dust bunnies - I think they're his favourite. Every time I turn around!
When he's awake, he's finding new and interesting things to chew - currently, a small, old log he found somewhere; but when he crashes, he's down for the count.
I'd forgotten puppies have two speeds: full on and complete stop.
As a reward for my patience, he's digging over the compost heap in the veggie patch.
Good puppy!
Or as he is known to his family, Dobby formerly known as Scout. He's five months old, a maniac and I'm puppy-sitting for another week.
Yes, it's been a bit breezy here, but I hesitate to make the connection to a certain Disney elephant.
Alright, he hasn't actually destroyed anything, just had a really, really good try. But I'm sure the newspaper, tissues and old yard broom would protest that statement. Also on his hit list are my slippers, runners, work boots, cushions, his sleeping mat, and any cord he can find.
At the moment, he's trying to dig through the driveway - something interesting must be buried down there. He's also tried to dig through the couch cushions and discovered... dust bunnies - I think they're his favourite. Every time I turn around!
When he's awake, he's finding new and interesting things to chew - currently, a small, old log he found somewhere; but when he crashes, he's down for the count.
I'd forgotten puppies have two speeds: full on and complete stop.
As a reward for my patience, he's digging over the compost heap in the veggie patch.
Good puppy!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Techno-panic
We live in such a modern age. *shakes head* I do actually recall the days before facebook, myspace and twitter; before the shining days of mobile phones, i-pods and mp3 players - I still have (somewhere) my first Sony Walkman. I even learned to type on a gasp manual typewriter.
I've had an e-mail account for ten or more years, so you can imagine my panic when I couldn't access the account. Through some weird, cosmic time-gap, I managed to get in and check the mail, then signed out - as you do - and now, nothing. It asks me to register the ID name since it's available!! Nooooo!!!
I've requested assistance in this matter and I'm hoping it isn't a virus (I have anti-virus software, updated constantly and security firewalls), but I know it ain't my fingers mis-typing. Something evil has happened and I'm trusting the Yahoo! staff to get to the bottom of it.
Given it's my main account - not author account - it's a major pain in the rear end. I am shuddering at the thought of creating a new account and address book.
I've had an e-mail account for ten or more years, so you can imagine my panic when I couldn't access the account. Through some weird, cosmic time-gap, I managed to get in and check the mail, then signed out - as you do - and now, nothing. It asks me to register the ID name since it's available!! Nooooo!!!
I've requested assistance in this matter and I'm hoping it isn't a virus (I have anti-virus software, updated constantly and security firewalls), but I know it ain't my fingers mis-typing. Something evil has happened and I'm trusting the Yahoo! staff to get to the bottom of it.
Given it's my main account - not author account - it's a major pain in the rear end. I am shuddering at the thought of creating a new account and address book.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Bastille Day
Ah, Bastille Day. The commemoration of the breaking into the Bastille Saint-Antoine fortress prison to free the prisoners. Considered the beginning of the French Revolution.
Enjoy your day.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Bubbling away
Beavering away at edits; see? See the counter? I'm getting that sneaky feeling of running out of time - nerves, I think. WorldCon is when it all happens and I must be ready.
There's lots going on in Real Life, too, for the next fortnight. I think the Universe is throwing things at me to test my commitment. I'd like to say failure is not an option, but it's always an option - it's a matter of how we deal with it.
So. Books simmering away nicely, a short story sauteing in the frying pan and a nicely marinated batch of stress roasting in the oven.
Back to work before a meeting I have this morning, then it's cake baking for my M.'s birthday - a nice meringue layer cake with chocolate ganache, Chantilly cream and dark cherries. Mmmm... chocolate....
There's lots going on in Real Life, too, for the next fortnight. I think the Universe is throwing things at me to test my commitment. I'd like to say failure is not an option, but it's always an option - it's a matter of how we deal with it.
So. Books simmering away nicely, a short story sauteing in the frying pan and a nicely marinated batch of stress roasting in the oven.
Back to work before a meeting I have this morning, then it's cake baking for my M.'s birthday - a nice meringue layer cake with chocolate ganache, Chantilly cream and dark cherries. Mmmm... chocolate....
Thursday, July 08, 2010
What's Up?
Busy, busy, bizzeee!
I've paid for my trip to the World Science Fiction Convention, otherwise known as Aussiecon 4. WOOT! Happy Dance!
Then there's the piece written - but not yet edited - to submit to Ticonderoga Press's upcoming anthology, More Scary Kisses.
I have also found these interesting items:
First, Holly Lisle is creating an on-line publishing house called Rebel Tales. This post details the reasoning behind the move. I admire her ambition to take on the big guys and will try to support the project.
Second, Writers Digest has a useful article on 5 Stages of Querying by Anne Gallagher, an aspiring romance writer. It doesn't matter what genre you write in, these tips will help.
Third, also via Writers Digest, 10 Things Writers Should Never Do by WD blogger, Kate Monahan. Again, full of useful information, but importantly, to never give up on yourself.
Fourth, guiding the little university blossoms around my museum... okay, it's not mine, but it was great to expand on my truncated speech and show them the historic artefacts.
And fifth, the usual editing and grumbling about the aforementioned editing. Which I should get back to...
I've paid for my trip to the World Science Fiction Convention, otherwise known as Aussiecon 4. WOOT! Happy Dance!
Then there's the piece written - but not yet edited - to submit to Ticonderoga Press's upcoming anthology, More Scary Kisses.
I have also found these interesting items:
First, Holly Lisle is creating an on-line publishing house called Rebel Tales. This post details the reasoning behind the move. I admire her ambition to take on the big guys and will try to support the project.
Second, Writers Digest has a useful article on 5 Stages of Querying by Anne Gallagher, an aspiring romance writer. It doesn't matter what genre you write in, these tips will help.
Third, also via Writers Digest, 10 Things Writers Should Never Do by WD blogger, Kate Monahan. Again, full of useful information, but importantly, to never give up on yourself.
Fourth, guiding the little university blossoms around my museum... okay, it's not mine, but it was great to expand on my truncated speech and show them the historic artefacts.
And fifth, the usual editing and grumbling about the aforementioned editing. Which I should get back to...
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Moving on...
Moving on from my breakfast... ah, thingy. I found an article on Salon.com, When anyone can be a published author by Laura Miller, via Tanya Huff's Live Journal page.
The article raises some interesting points about the publishing industry and the current ease of self-publishing on the 'net. Will the expected explosion of standard-book-industry's rejected books onto the internet mean readers will have to wade through worse tripe than usual for the gems, as current editors do today?
Personally, I've tried to edit some... 'underdone' books myself; fortunately, the kernal of plot made the work worth the extra effort. I've seen some pure blech, too.
Indeed, I've posted work I'm not entirely happy with (although I'd never presume to say 'this book is perfect' for any of my work; only that I've posted the best it can be at that particular juncture in time work). I need to learn not to make deadlines unreasonable.
Having said that, I need to get back to the duology I'm editing to take down with me to Melbourne along with Demonesque. I'm hoping they'll see continuity in work ethic even as the books are two separate genres. Is three books enough? Probably. But I'll take synopsis of the others as well.
The article raises some interesting points about the publishing industry and the current ease of self-publishing on the 'net. Will the expected explosion of standard-book-industry's rejected books onto the internet mean readers will have to wade through worse tripe than usual for the gems, as current editors do today?
Personally, I've tried to edit some... 'underdone' books myself; fortunately, the kernal of plot made the work worth the extra effort. I've seen some pure blech, too.
Indeed, I've posted work I'm not entirely happy with (although I'd never presume to say 'this book is perfect' for any of my work; only that I've posted the best it can be at that particular juncture in time work). I need to learn not to make deadlines unreasonable.
Having said that, I need to get back to the duology I'm editing to take down with me to Melbourne along with Demonesque. I'm hoping they'll see continuity in work ethic even as the books are two separate genres. Is three books enough? Probably. But I'll take synopsis of the others as well.
If it's worth doing...
...it's worth doing well. sigh.
I have visitors this weekend and decided to make egg and bacon muffins. Eggs worked fine, muffins, ditto. I cook bacon for about ten minutes in a low oven - comes out delish (especially when marinated in maple syrup, but that's too exotic for the boys - 11 and 10).
In retrieving the bacon, I managed to tip the tray a little too far and... yes, hot bacon fat down my palm, little and ring fingers. Didn't hurt, initially, just a quiet curse word or three at the greasy fat on the floor - and I did save the bacon (hah!).
Now, a few hours later, it feels like a giant papercut. No blisters, but nicely red after a dowsing in cold water. A good stinging and throb.
You never really know how much you put your hands in water until you've collected a burn.
Yeah, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. I think I'll tattoo 'eeedeeyot' on my forehead and go pout.
I have visitors this weekend and decided to make egg and bacon muffins. Eggs worked fine, muffins, ditto. I cook bacon for about ten minutes in a low oven - comes out delish (especially when marinated in maple syrup, but that's too exotic for the boys - 11 and 10).
In retrieving the bacon, I managed to tip the tray a little too far and... yes, hot bacon fat down my palm, little and ring fingers. Didn't hurt, initially, just a quiet curse word or three at the greasy fat on the floor - and I did save the bacon (hah!).
Now, a few hours later, it feels like a giant papercut. No blisters, but nicely red after a dowsing in cold water. A good stinging and throb.
You never really know how much you put your hands in water until you've collected a burn.
Yeah, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. I think I'll tattoo 'eeedeeyot' on my forehead and go pout.
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