Link Side Salad

Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-1c0H1-zbc

AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka on Racism and Obama: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJTHdH50

Increase in writing agent queries from minors: http://arcaedia.livejournal.com/179981.html

Voter Guides for the Lansing area: http://lansing.mi.lwvnet.org/Voter_Guides.html

Weekly Word Count

Today brings great news!

Over the weekend, a piece of flash fiction (under 500 words) was accepted and published on a web-based zine! The zine is called ConUtopiaN, and is directed at Michigan fandom convention goers. This is my only piece under 400 words (which is what they’re looking for), so I decided to send it on its way, and give it a shot. You can find the piece, called “Victim”, on the front page, here:

http://michiganfandom.org

I brought it down from my DeviantArt page (username: dcrampton) when I decided to submit it. I’ve also brought Two Vampires down from my Short Fiction page (now called Early Drafts) so that I can double-check it one more time, and then send it off to its next submission destination. Writing in longer pieces is no excuse to not submit my shorter ones. Of course, finding a paying market that will accept a 6500 word piece is challenging. It won’t stop me, though. :)

So, keep your fingers crossed, and if there are any magazines, zines, or other paying markets that you know of, feel free to send them my way.

Closing a tab:

A thoughtful, reflective post on Sept. 11, 2001.

Published again! Also, Book 2 of Steven is up.

One of David’s flash fiction pieces – Victim – has been published over at the ConUtopiaN zine! It’s a very short piece, as that zine’s top word count allowance is 400 words. Give it a read, and let them know what you think. Also, the entirety of Steven – Book 2 has been put in the Early Drafts page. The drama has increased, the tension has risen, and the resolution is ready to crash into being. Give it a read, if you’re so inclined.

Do the needful.

My lunch was absolutely delicious today. Peppered turkey sandwich on white bread with green olive white cheddar cheese. A cucumber, sliced, with dill veggie dip. A sugar cookie shaped like a grinning pumpkin from the apple orchard. Couldn’t have been yummier.

I had a bit of a moment today when I sat down to write. The results are over on the Google Group (here) in the Glass Crown discussion. It made me giggle a little.

Three more chapters of Steven have been uploaded to my short fiction page. Steven meets someone that remembers him, while his creations open up the book they rescued from Mount Hope Cemetary.

And now, a love poem:

Weekly Word Count

Have you ever written, and then ended up with less words than when you started?

I used to be so good at math.

I took last week and this week’s writing (Yay for writing on break!) and typed them into the Chapter 6 file. I’m back on the horse, so to speak, when it comes to The Glass Crown. I have reminders set for me – this story is not about the Guardians, damnit – and guidelines that the characters have set for me, and an outline that will constantly need to be revised as I write each chapter. The outline, which has existed since the NaNoWriMo in which I started the sequel, is still dead on for where I want to take the story.

Speaking of NaNoWriMo (segue powers, activate!), I’m debating trying it again this year. I have a new novel to start, but it would put another month-long pause on The Glass Crown. Should I do it?

The Glass Crown

Weekly Word Count

Quick and dirty:

– Three more chapters of Steven went up last week. I’m intending on putting three more up this week.

http://steven.davidmcrampton.com/
http://www.davidmcrampton.com/fiction.php

– I’ve been challenged/asked to enter the genre of Paranormal Romance. Something new, something fresh, something good.

– The Remembrance could be improved with a re-write. Haven’t finished Glass Crown. Steven may have to be re-written from the ground up. Need to -finish- something. /whine

– I’ve unpacked some of my writing journals. I need to find more and unpack them. Soon. :)

Weekly Word Count

I shake my fist at the sky regarding anything involving me and artists. Truly, we were not meant to be.

The web comic meeting for this week is getting rescheduled, and I never got the pages for Steven. Nor has the artist received them back, however it seems he’s not been getting -any- mail in over a month. So, here I am, once again, thinking about turning it into something else besides a comic. So far, a novel has been suggested. I’m open to any suggestions that pop up in your brainmeats, as well. :) Never fear, I will still post the serial fiction bits that I’ve finished. Speaking of which, the next chapter should be up shortly after this hits your mailbox or your Friends List or both.

I’m reading up on The Glass Crown, to bring that world back into focus for me. It’s going to take quite a bit for me not to jump into editing mode; I’m already wanting to fix everything. I have to be okay with this being the first draft, and just write. Write write write. And then, write.

Barnes & Noble has classified The Remembrance as Young Adult, though Borders insists that it’s Mystery/Thriller/Horror/Espionage. I knew that the book straddled genres, but that’s getting a wee bit ridiculous. I’m planning on finishing out The Glass Crown in the same very-little-swearing no-sex style that The Remembrance has. Both Steven and Adam’s Name will have some more adult themes in them. I doubt anyone will be adding /Romance to any of the genre listings, though.

I wonder if an Apprentice to the Eldest showing up in the prologue of The Glass Crown is cheaty, because there was no mention of him in the prologue of The Remembrance. I’m definitely going to have to think about his purpose in the prologue, and if another position in the city might be more appropriate than just tacking him on to someone who had the knowledge that he will need to start out with. /vague

Oh, if you’d like to be an Alpha/Beta reader for The Glass Crown, and you aren’t already, feel free to contact me. I’ve still got room for a few more.