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Less than 2 weeks left for Hugo voting

  • Jun. 20th, 2009 at 12:01 PM
blondebimbos
I've been busy reading, viewing, and listening to Hugo and Campbell nominees and tracking my rankings in a spreadsheet. But with less than 2 weeks left, it's clear that I won't be prepared for voting in all categories.

So far, I've read enough of the following categories to cast my vote:
* Best short story
* Best professional artist
* Best fan artists
* Campbell Awards/Best new writer

And I'm in the midst of working my way through the following categories:
* Best graphic novel
* Dramatic presentation, long form

I really should try to get through "Best related book," as I bought and looked at Spectrum 15. But, it's a weird category with things that aren't the same. It feels like I'm being asked to choose between a slice of German Chocolate Cake and an episode of True Blood.

I also plan to check out the Semiprozine entries to cast my vote, because I heard that category is at risk.

Are you reading and viewing Hugo nominees? If you're voting, in which categories are you voting?

Celtx

  • Jun. 13th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
blondebimbos
Any of my play-writing or screenplay-writing friends try out Celtx? It's an open source tool (on Windows, Mac, and Linux) that's intended for planning your movie or play.

You can read my blog posts at Liberty Hall Writers to find out my thoughts on using it to plan a novel.

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WTF? Product placement in a graphic novel

  • Jun. 10th, 2009 at 10:48 PM
blondebimbos
So, now that I've finished reading enough of the Campbell nominees record a ranking in my Hugo voting tracking spreadsheet, I've moved onto graphic novels. Partly because I have three in dead-tree form and want to take a break from reading on the computer.

I was really enjoying the Dresden Files graphic novel - until I ran into some blatant product placement that so far doesn't make much sense, and is distracting me from the story. WTF? The scene came totally by surprise - even if you eliminate the brand-name reference, which is what makes the product placement so weird.

Which fantasy writer are you?

  • Jun. 9th, 2009 at 10:39 PM
sheep


Your result for Which fantasy writer are you?...

Tove Jansson (1914-2001)

33 High-Brow, -11 Violent, 21 Experimental and -1 Cynical!

Congratulations! You are High-Brow, Peaceful, Experimental and Romantic! These concepts are defined below.


Tove Jansson was a Finnish painter, sculptor and writer. She was part of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland and so wrote her books, including her most famous works, the Moomin books, in Swedish. The Moomin books (1945-70), though perhaps not considered fantasy by some, are nevertheless fine examples of world-building for children, centred around the inhabitants of the Moomin Valley, where a family of white trolls known as moomin trolls live, and always return to, though they occasionally leave for adventures in the outside world. Though many of the Moomin books are pure childrens' books, Jansson conducted the experiment of letting the series turn more adult as she went along, the last three books (one collection of short stories and two novels) being psychologically complex stories that are just as fit, or sometimes perhaps more fit, for adults. Still, Jansson's somewhat romantic vision of the Valley as a peaceful haven of family life in the midst of a sometimes frightening and dark world is retained through-out the books. Though she considered herself a painter rather than a writer, Tove Jansson will always be remembered as one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest writer of children's books of all times.


You are also a lot like Philip Pullman.


If you want some action, try Gene Wolfe.


If you'd like a challenge, try your exact opposite, David Eddings.


Your score


This is how to interpret your score: Your attitudes have been measured on four different scales, called 1) High-Brow vs. Low-Brow, 2) Violent vs. Peaceful, 3) Experimental vs. Traditional and 4) Cynical vs. Romantic. Imagine that when you were born, you were in a state of innocence, a tabula rasa who would have scored zero on each scale. Since then, a number of circumstances (including genetical, cultural and environmental factors) have pushed you towards either end of these scales. If you're at 45 or -45 you would be almost entirely cynical, low-brow or whatever. The closer to zero you are, the less extreme your attitude. However, you should always be more of either (eg more romantic than cynical). Please note that even though High-Brow, Violent, Experimental and Cynical have positive numbers (1 through 45) and their opposites negative numbers (-1 through -45), this doesn't mean that either quality is better. All attitudes have their positive and negative sides, as explained below.


High-Brow vs. Low-Brow


You received 33 points, making you more High-Brow than Low-Brow. Being high-browed in this context refers to being more fascinated with the sort of art that critics and scholars tend to favour, rather than the best-selling kind. At their best, high-brows are cultured, able to appreciate the finer nuances of literature and not content with simplifications. At their worst they are, well, snobs.





Violent vs. Peaceful



You received -11 points, making you more Peaceful than Violent. This scale is a measurement of a) if you are tolerant to violence in fiction and b) whether you see violence as a means that can be used to achieve a good end. If you aren't, and you don't, then you are peaceful as defined here. At their best, peaceful people are the ones who encourage dialogue and understanding as a means of solving conflicts. At their worst, they are standing passively by as they or third parties are hurt by less scrupulous individuals.



Experimental vs. Traditional


You received 21 points, making you more Experimental than Traditional. Your position on this scale indicates if you're more likely to seek out the new and unexpected or if you are more comfortable with the familiar, especially in regards to culture. Note that traditional as defined here does not equal conservative, in the political sense. At their best, experimental people are the ones who show humanity the way forward. At their worst, they provoke for the sake of provocation only.


Cynical vs. Romantic



You received -1 points, making you more Romantic than Cynical. Your position on this scale indicates if you are more likely to be wary, suspicious and skeptical to people around you and the world at large, or if you are more likely to believe in grand schemes, happy endings and the basic goodness of humankind. It is by far the most vaguely defined scale, which is why you'll find the sentence "you are also a lot like x" above. If you feel that your position on this scale is wrong, then you are probably more like author x. At their best, romantic people are optimistic, willing to work for a good cause and an inspiration to their peers. At their worst, they are easily fooled and too easily lead.


Take Which fantasy writer are you?
at HelloQuizzy



BTW, I LOVED the Moomin' books, so this makes me happy.

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Reading the Hugo nominees

  • May. 31st, 2009 at 12:35 AM
blondebimbos
I finished all the short stories that the Campbell nominees included in the package. The stories were a lot of fun and really diverse. The remaining two nominees each provided a 500+ page novel. I'm almost hoping that I don't like the novels, because that would help me on my sprint through the Hugo nominees. But if I like the novels, I'm not sure how far I'll get through my Hugo nominee reading!

Hugo 2009 - info about Girl Genius Volume 8

  • May. 29th, 2009 at 7:42 AM
mysteriousparis
I wrote the folks at Girl Genius, asking which episodes of their web comic are included in volume 8 (nominated for a Hugo).

They very nicely wrote back:

Michele-

Volume #8 of Girl Genius ran online from February 4, 2008 to November 19, 2008.

Here's a link directly to the first page of Volume #8:
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080204

The easiest way to navigate around is using the drop-down list of chapter headings at the bottom of the comic. We've got the volumes' beginning and ending pages marked throughout the list.

Thanks for reading!

Best regards,
-Althea
Assistant to the Professors
Studio Foglio

Hugo 2009 voting preparation

  • May. 25th, 2009 at 10:46 PM
blondebimbos
Prior to creating my tracking spreadsheet, I saw three of the nominated movies (in the theatres in 2008!) and listened to all the short story nominees (courtesy of EscapePOD).

Yesterday I still hadn't finished the non-hugo-nominated book that I had been reading, so I checked out all the web sites of the nominated fan artists and entered rankings in my spreadsheet. Last night I finished the novel, so I'm now onto the stories.

Some of you probably started with the novels, but as I started my reading late, I'm not sure I can finish the novels in time for voting. Especially Anathem! Which is a BIG book. So, I've decided to start with shorter works, and then tackle the novels. I'm starting with the Campbell nominees. We have some awesome new writers!

Preparing to vote for the Hugos is keeping me busy - but in a good way! It's good to cut back on the internet and tv and spend more time reading.
blondebimbos
In my day job as a technical writer, I've grown used to tracking things in spreadsheets. So, what did I do after downloading my Hugo Vote Packet and checking out the contents? I created a tracking spreadsheet.


Does this sound like something you'd like to use? Thanks to Mary Robinette Kowal ([info]maryrobinette) for hosting the spreadsheet, you can get your own copy.

I'm using the spreadsheet to track which materials I have (the vote packet is not complete, and I don't own everything), which I've read, and my ranking (to be prepared for voting). A second tab lists all materials not included in the package (with the exception of editors and artists). For the artists not included in the package, in the Comments column I added the URL of their artist sites. Including for the fan sites!

BTW, today I went out to purchase materials not in the package and found out that Girl Genius Volume 8 is not yet in print! It's still at the printer. I'm really confused, because I thought that the Hugo nominees were for works published in 2008 (or also including 2007 for Campbell nominees), but I haven't read the rules. Girl Genius is also available as a web comic.

*UPDATE* Girl Genius Volume 8 ran online from February 4, 2008 to November 19, 2008. Click here for the first page.

new critique site - with writing contests

  • May. 10th, 2009 at 10:14 PM
mysteriousparis
Thanks to duotrope, I just found a new site for giving and receiving writing critiques. http://www.reviewfuse.com also has writing contests (with a $50 cash prize - and no entry fee).

Right now there's a flash fiction contest, a short story contest, and a poetry contest. To enter, you submit your work for the contest and you critique 4 pieces. You'll receive 3 critiques of your piece, and have a chance at winning the prize.

I entered a Flash that I first wrote at Liberty Hall in the contest.

Are any of you on that site? I'm mmarques at Review Fuse (as elsewhere). I'll have to see how it ends up for getting feedback, but I'm sure I'll continue for the sake of entering the contests.

The site also has writing exercises, blog posts, a forum, and so on.
mysteriousparis
I set aside a draft of an unfinished story long ago, but it's now time to revisit, as that story would work for this.

I thought I had moved it, along with all my other writing, onto my current computer. But I can't find it. Hopefully it's hiding on the ancient computer.

Gleaming White Ice

  • Apr. 7th, 2009 at 11:38 PM
blondebimbos
This is the story that I submitted to the Ad Astra "instant fiction" contest.

When you stare into blackness, do you see a hockey puck, which has filled your gaze until you no longer see the gleaming white ice? Mona had forgotten that there was more to this game than the promise of Joey's scholarship to Moon Base U. She was deaf to the cheers of friends and other parents. She missed every pass and save that didn't involve Joey.

Joey's stick found the puck as he lightninged between enemy players. Mona stood and shouted. She trembled at the rawness of her throat, the anticipation of release with his goal. When a brute shouldered Joey into the glass, he lost the puck. Joey skated after number 38, his stick raised high.

When the ref sent Joey to the penalty box, time slowed down. Joey wouldn't shoot the winning goal. He was stuck on Earth without any chance of advancement.

It was like the time she hit the pot hole on the 400 and broke the axle on her Toyota Electric. She had missed spring break at Algonquin, the call of the loon, and any chance of romance with Peter Tyler. If she hadn't hit that pot hole, she might be a star ship admiral's wife.

Mona swallowed the sob that threatened to bubble out of her throat. She clawed through her purse until her fingers curled around the phaser.

Her entire life focused into a single beam. She vaporized the ref. She tried to catch Joey's gaze before the blackness engulfed her and she collapsed.

Ad Astra

  • Mar. 28th, 2009 at 11:46 PM
blondebimbos
It turns out that the Instant Fiction contest gave me a little more time than an instant. So, last night, after getting home late, I stayed up until 3am writing the first draft of the 250-word story, and this morning I rewrote, polished, and printed, before heading off for another day at the con. It wasn't due until 7pm today - but I wanted to go to a bunch of panels and such.

The rules for this year's contest has us write as close to 250 words as possible. (Not just a max word count) Also, we had to include the following 3 items:
* a pot hole on the 400 (highway heading north from Toronto into cottage country)
* a loon
* a hockey puck

I had a lot of false starts! But I did turn in the story. Tomorrow, I'll find out the results.

Today's panels were great. But the best part was the steam punk fashion show. The show was great.... and lots of people attending were in costume. It was really popular, and it looks like they'll hold the fashion show again next year.

Ad Astra writing contest

  • Mar. 24th, 2009 at 10:37 PM
blondebimbos
I was just planning my schedule for Ad Astra, when I noticed that they are having another on-site writing contest. "Instant Fiction" - 10pm on Friday night, 250-word story.

I should have flashed last weekend at Liberty Hall to get back in practice.

Any of you planning to join in the instant fiction fun?

revisions

  • Dec. 17th, 2008 at 11:17 PM
unicorn
On the plane ride back from California, I managed to write the first draft of my short story for the Liberty Hall end-of-year contest.

I'm currently revising. I might even submit later tonight... there's not much time before the contest ends, and I don't want something to come up and prevent me from entering.

slow flash

  • Dec. 11th, 2008 at 11:43 PM
blondebimbos
I'm really looking foward to the end-of-year competition at liberty hall writers. The timing works out perfectly for me - it starts tomorrow, and ends a week later. I'll be able to download the theme... and then write my first draft on the plane ride home.

Halloween is approaching

  • Oct. 24th, 2008 at 12:06 AM
deathly
and I have a halloween icon! I almost forgot I had it.

Fiction not forgotten

  • Sep. 7th, 2008 at 5:07 PM
porcupine
I didn't mention earlier, but in August, when I entered the flash fiction challenge at Liberty Hall, I wrote a dark little story entitled "The Gift."

Today, I polished it up a bit, so that I can share it with my local writing group on Thursday. I just it's not too dark for this group.

a lovely surprise

  • Aug. 15th, 2008 at 11:07 PM
unicorn
I came home today and found that my husband had bought me Kingdom Beyond the Waves, the new Stephen Hunt book.

yay! I just recently finished Stephen Hunt's The Court of the Air, which was brilliant amazing fun. With steam punk intelligent robots. This new book is in the same universe, but seems to involve new characters.

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yay
I just found out that I won the drawing at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, and I'll be receiving a copy of Tobias Buckell's Sly Mongoose. I really enjoyed the first two books in this imaginative series, and can't wait to read this latest book.

First, however, I'll have to finish Stephen Hunt's The Court of the Air. It's a really thick book, but reads quickly. I still can't get over the steam robot AIs. :-)

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mysteriousparis
If you saw my previous post and wanted to join Liberty Hall, so that you could participate in Flash writing challenges, don't just visit the home page... visit the wiki page instructions about how to join:
http://wiki.libertyhallwriters.org/doku.php?id=howto:join_liberty_hall

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