[My Guest Post] Alien Character vs Characterization

Hi everyone,

I resumed my guest post for Apex Book Company this month with a post about the difference between characters and characterization. I end with a writing prompt that fleshes out this concept. The prompt was to write a classified ad from one alien to another.

Here’s a quote from the article:

To me, developing a character is part of my world-building process. From descriptions to occupation to personality quirks, the characters I design are part of a “world” I use to tell a story. The setting and the characters are tools that can function independently of any plot.

Characterization, on the other hand, is the glue that ties a character back to the plot. Maybe a birth defect isn’t just a character flaw, the hero finds out the villain maimed him as a child. Maybe an aura of confidence isn’t just an attribute, but the result of great upbringing by the character’s mother. — SOURCE: Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Alien to Another at Apexbookcompany.com

If you’re curious, pop on over and give Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Alien to Another a read. Then, why not challenge yourself and see if you can’t characterize an alien?

May 12, 2011
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A Fun Contest for Zombie Stories

The Zombie Feed Volume 1Hi everyone,

Just wanted to drop by and mention there’s a really fun contest going on right now at The Zombie Feed. To win one of two rare proof copies of The Zombie Feed, Volume 1 delivered straight to your door, all you have to do is comment on The Zombie Feed Bad-Ass Contest.

To enter, just tell Jason about which one of us (e.g. the contributors) you’d want to be in a zombie apocalypse with and why.

Contest just went up today, so be sure to get your entry in as soon as you can.

Happy Zombipocalypse!

May 11, 2011
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Pollen-Filled News from the Writer’s Front

Like the tissues surrounding my wastebasket (for I can never quite toss them in), today’s post is going to be a bit random. An amalgamation of allergies and the flu has hit my sinuses with aplomb. Ergo, drugs. No, the good kind. Sinus drugs. My head may feel clearer but the words aren’t necessarily conjoining in their proper order (or definition) by any stretch of the imagination. Not to mention — I’ve had very little caffeine the past few days and this has put me into withdrawal mode as well.

All whining aside, the reason why I’m telling you this is because the sniffles have caused me to forget about the thirty-day mark of not being on Facebook, Twitter or IM. Which, you know, is funny because it was on my mind but I’d almost forgotten about it.

I’m writing a focused article about my experience for another website, so you’ll be able to read a more coherent angle on that there. At the moment, it reads like “And then this happened… AND THEN…” so I’m going to wait until my head clears before I revise. Probably laugh my arse off in the process. Eesh. The short of it is, the responses from other authors have been far more interesting than what I’ve been going through on my own. The reactions squarely fall into two camps.

Here’s a couple of cool things that happened last week:

  • New Story Accepted! – Not sure if you remember when I talked about a story I submitted called “Tailfeather.” Set in a dystopian future based on our own reality, this story is about a woman who went through months of surgeries to become a bird. More to come on that.
  • It’s Time for Estrogen Time – My best friend moved to Atlanta a month or two ago and I’ve been dying for some sushi therapy ever since. Well, it seems I’ve reached a new nirvana — once again I return to making jewelry. I’ve been meeting a ton of people and have been working on a few designs.
  • Figured out a Better Revision Technique – Taking a page from some of the different software designs that are out there like Liquid StoryBinder and StoryBook, I started summarizing scenes during the revision process in a different color. I’m hoping to apply this technique again in the near future to a longer work, but so far so good.
  • I did not write a fan letter to Jeff VanderMeer – I’m currently reading The Third Bear, published by Tachyon Publications. The difference between the stories is pretty profound because the voices are all different. To read a talented author write multiple genres (or various shades thereof) in the same collection is extraordinarily humbling. Why is not writing a fan letter a good thing? Apparently, you’ve never read my fan letters…
  • Got a Wicked Omi Idea – To help get me in an alchemist’s mindset, I’m creating a grimoire. For the cover, I picked up an Omi. Check out some finished versions. Because one of the surfaces is flat, I can attach it to the front of the book and I already have an idea of what I want to do. Better yet — picked it up during Free Comic Book Day! Whoo-Hoo!

Well, that’s about all I have for today. I’m still writing so I hope you’re still reading! 🙂

May 9, 2011
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[Recommended] Dystopian Sci Fi Movie “Sleep Dealer”

One of the best things about Netflix, is its collection of foreign films. Last night we watched Sleep Dealer, a film set in a dystopian future – in Mexico. Produced in 2008, this film has garnered several awards, and I can see why. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, the use of color to show mood and the technology gives the story a noir feel. The story isn’t action-based, but has a satirical bent, a commentary without necessarily acting as an in-your-face commentary.

Part of the reason why I enjoyed this film for two reasons: one, I have an interest in futurism and two, I have a deep appreciation for other cultures and how they view genre. I talked a little bit about my love for futurism in an earlier post entitled Writing the Future, the Slow Creep of Ages, so if you’re interested in can read up on that. In terms of other cultures and genres? Well, I wrote a short story back in December for an anthology I’m waiting to hear back on. When I watched Sleep Dealer, I was reminded of my story’s tone and its military theme.

If you get the chance, check out the Sleep Dealer Trailer (English). I couldn’t find any legal copies to share with you here, so don’t be afraid to visit their site.

May 5, 2011
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[My Guest Post] An Author’s Marketing Mistake

First week of May? Must be time to tell you about this month’s guest post at the How To Write Shop. Today I take a look at a common mantra I hear time and time again from authors and artists. Many people I’ve talked to never want to promote or even mention their previously published work. In this post, entitled “Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake,” I dive into their objections with my responses.

Here’s a quote from the article:

By promoting your existing titles, you add depth to your marketing efforts because you’re adding new products to the mix. Don’t be afraid to talk about your previously published work in a way that’s new to those readers, either. After all, if you complain or talk down about what you’ve already done, then that will reflect in your sales and the way your readers/fellow authors treat you. If you’re that unhappy with your backlist, then what will that say about how you’ll treat your current releases a year from now? — SOURCE: Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake at the How To Write Shop

If you’re an author or an artist, I hope you drop by my article and add your thoughts. In a comment, Lori Devoti already pointed out another reason why authors don’t promote their backlist, and why that may need to change.

May 4, 2011
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