Blog
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A Fist Full of Spaghetti
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Everyone Sets Goals
Like many writers, I read Stephen King’s nonfiction book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. When I first learned that he wrote 3,000 words a day, everyday it seemed like a lot. Now, many years after reading his advice, it the ideal seems either daunting or totally doable, depending on the day. I work…
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I Love My Work-In-Progress
What is happening in Cathy’s Town?Last night, at a ridiculously late hour, I read through my work-in-progress, which began as a largely seat-of-the-pants narrative. After about 6,000 words and some research on Nevada, Smith & Wesson revolvers (.44 caliber Russians…thanks for the idea, Elmore Leonard), and the Aleut people and Alaska) , I wrote a…
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Beginnings
Last week I began to write a western and loved every inspired second of the process. There was a mixture of seat-of-the-pants writing and pre-planning stuff (beats, or at least that is what Platt, Truant, and Wright call it), and some research (on-the-fly as I went stuff). The project feels both ambitious and natural.So what…
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Pre-planning and Story Drafting
Not a lot of time to share thoughts today. Raw Recruit, book one of the Legendary Austin Kirk is underway. I wrote about 6,500 words shortly after devising the concept and premise. That has all been filed for future reference and included as world building material and back story, but probably won’t be used. I…
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Neverland Rules
The Forgotten Prince by Josh HayesThis version of the Neverland stories combines all the things I love in fiction; scifi action with great characters and a bunch of surprises. I like the way Josh Hayes shows the cast of the original story in interesting new ways. Bella is my favorite, but Wendy and Pan have…
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Once Upon a Time in the West (On Netflix)
Last night I found Once Upon a Time in the West (C’era una volta il West) on Netflix. The opening scene shows the difference between modern action thrillers and even most of the new westerns. There is so much build up to the initial gun battle, which is short. Lots of setting and character visuals.…
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World Building
THE BEST PART of starting a new project is running around with a new character having adventures like something out of an action movie. World building just happens this way. By day two of the project, I am waking up with ideas and scrambling to get them all down. There are many ways to do…
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The Legendary Austin Kirk
AUSTIN KIRK is the protagonist of a new science fiction novel by S. E. Payne. As young heroes go, Austin has everything stacked against him. His parents signed up for a hardship tour in space to pay for family medical expenses and left him in charge despite his lack of formal education and physical disabilities.…
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Customer Lines Not Related to Black Friday
I want this guitar (and many others)! The best thing about this picture is that my daughter took it while we were hanging out after her bass lesson. Yesterday I met a friend of mine at Barnes and Noble for some writing sprints. I live closer to the last major bookstore in town. This gives…
