Quote of the Day

“I want you to meet Jonathan Swift, the author of that evil political book, Guilliver’s Travels! And this other fellow is Charles Darwin, and this one is Schopenhauer, and this one is Einstein, and this one here at my elbow is Mr. Albert Schweitzer, a very kind philosopher indeed. Here we all are, Montag. Aristophanes and Mahatma Ghandi and Gautama Buddha and Confucius and Thomas Love Peacock and Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Lincoln, if you please. We are also Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”

-Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

 

Posted with Blogsy

Book to Movie

Shakespeare’s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin in Joss Whedon’s film, “Much Ado About Nothing”. Shot in just 12 days (and using the original text), the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love.

Writer, director, and producer Joss Whedon hits the big screen again with this inventive, modern-day version of one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved plays. Claudio (Fran Kranz) and Benedick (Alexis Denisof ) have just returned home to Messina after a successful campaign abroad. When earnest Claudio announces his adoration for the lovely Hero (Jillian Morgese), daughter of Messina’s governor Leonato (Clark Gregg), the acid-tongued Benedick teases him mercilessly. Benedick’s scorn for love is matched by that of his long-time nemesis and verbal sparring partner Beatrice (Amy Acker), Leonato’s niece. As the lovestruck Claudio and Hero make plans to marry, Benedick and Beatrice resume the “merry war” of insults they have long waged. Yet there are many who believe that for all their antagonism – or even because of it – this pair of incessantly sniping cynics is surely meant to be a couple. As matchmaking schemes are put into play and disguises are donned, loathing and love soon prove to be close cousins.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Kim Stanley Robinson Eco Thrillers

Kim Stanley Robinson: His 80’s ‘Three Californias’ trilogy: The Wild Shore/The Gold Coast/Pacific Edge shows, roughly speaking, humanity ignoring technology, then humanity overindulging in technology—both leading to disastrous results—and finally humanity finding a balance between using technology and living sustainably with the environment. Even as Pacific Edge reads as a Utopian novel, it is not without conflict and tragedy.

In his ‘Science in the Capital’ series—Forty Signs of Rain/Fifty Degrees Below/Sixty Days and Counting—he again explores the consequences of Global Warming, but here lets things go to the brink of disaster (and quite a bit over it: the Gulf Stream fails, for one) before a modicum of sanity sets in and, if not actually saving the day, keeps hold of what’s left of it.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Robopocalypse synopsis

In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites — at a moment known later as Zero Hour — humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.


 

Posted with Blogsy

NaNoWriMo tips

As you're trying to write 50,000 words this November as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), you might appreciate these tips...

I have found that you should...

Plan and plot. Ideally you started this before November 1. But, if not, sketch out, even in one-sentence form (I'm using index cards on my ipad), which scene you’re writing every day and what needs to happen in that scene. You could do this each Sunday for the coming week, so you know where you’re headed and don’t have to slow down to figure it out.

Write every day. When you can, keep going past 1,667 words. But when you just can’t write or just can’t write all 1,667 words, give yourself a break and know it’s okay. Just try to get caught up at the end of each week so you don’t feel behind as the new week begins.

Don’t edit. That’s what December’s for! Seriously, try not to even let yourself go back and read what you’ve written. Do whatever you need to suppress the internal editor—the one who insists you go back and take out all those examples of “just” “so” and “very.”

Save research for later. Want to write fast? Don’t let yourself get bogged down in research and fact-checking. Make yourself a [bracketed note] to check the facts later, but otherwise keep writing. For now, it doesn’t matter. Move on.

Peer pressure. Use social media networks to keep you honest and on task.

Word tricks. Always avoid contractions and hyphens, spell out words and acronyms. Those couple extra words could make the difference for you!

Nanowrimo

So I've got my first day done and it's was something like 1800 words. But I find today that my story is going in different directions that I had envisioned. Weird that. And I am needing to write between classes, which means I need to keep the story going in my head between writings. Not easy.

But I am happy with tons of encouragement I have gotten from my friends on Facebook.

Right now I am at nearly 800 words written today. All of them written away from my laptop, and on my iPad. Right now I'm in a cafe between classes and trying to get to a 1000 words. Then dinner and over to my girlfriend's house. And then finishing off my 1600.

I have just put down the cash for a place alone in malasana. That will, for this project, be a godsend. I am not getting much sleep or writing done at our piso right now. Living alone will help a lot.

That's enough of this for now, I need to get back to my story.

Cheers

Last Weekend

This is my last weekend before I starting writing my November novel. I'm hoping to get a one bedroom, so I can get quiet uninterrupted time to write after work. I love my flat mate but I need to be able to write, and sleep, without worrying about disturbances. And, for those who don't know, I am a light sleeper. We will see how that goes....

NaNoWriMo Checklist

Writing 50,000 words in a month is daunting to many writers.

Getting started

Register on the NaNoWriMo site.

Find a local region to join.

Add writing buddies. Find a local friend through the local region who can keep you accountable and motivate you (also helpful if you can do this for them as well).

Supplies

Notebooks – buy the surplus back to school stuff. Maybe find one that fits in your pocket or your purse.

Pencils – In those early outlines (if you’re an outliner) you’ll be erasing a lot. Buy stock in eraser companies as well.

Pens – FOr when you start your draft, because there is no deletion in NaNoWriMo.

Highlighters (optional) – I don’t use highlighters during NaNo. I do use them for edits, and I like those retractable ones. But we don’t edit during NaNoWriMo.

Smart Phone (optional) – Use your phone’s notes app to jot down plot changes, dialogue, or character ideas.

A writing space – Living room, bedroom, Starbucks, etc. This is where you’re going to write. Make sure it’s somewhere you’ll be able to sit for long periods of time. Comfort is priority here.

NaNoWriMo

I am currently compilling characters, plot elements, chapter titles, and story lines for Nov kickoff.

NaNo

I am building my characters for my November's novel writing. Right now, I am constructing my hero's backstory. Then I will move on to rest of the people who will be in my story. I have read that best to use all archetypes and have them already prepped for November 1st.