Unotchit

Jun 292006
 

What is it you may ask? ( pronounced “You-No-Touch-It”) is a device designed for authors to sign books long distance. Yep, you read correctly, the book gets signed long distance.

The idea is that the author can reach remote areas that he/she may not usually be able to reach this way.

According to their website, here is what will be able to do (after they finish adding some bells and whistles to it that is):

  • Enable a reader in a bookstore to make a dedication request, in the course of a conversation with the writer via two-way screen (you can see them, they can see you).
  • Allow the writer – from a distance (in another city, in another country, in the writer’s home, in the publisher’s office) to write the dedication on a tablet.
  • Allow both writer and reader to view the dedication for spelling errors, etc.
  • Write the dedication on an actual book, with a real pen using real ink.

I’m not really sure what to make of this just yet. I like the idea of getting to see my favorite author in person (or celeb in general if something like this should branch out to that too), but what if I couldn’t get to a signing? Would this be a happy substitute? I’m not so sure. I guess I’d have to see it in action to decide…

What about you? Would seeing them on screen and getting your signature like this be a happy alternative to you?

The Bath: A Freewrite

Jun 272006
 

is a wonderful technique for getting the creativity flowing. Here’s an example of one I did a while back:

Abby Daniel tossed her keys on the couch as she entered her apartment. She shook out her hair, cursing the inconvenience of the recent downpour. Of course it would be her luck to get caught outside in it. Typical. She pried her overcoat from her arms and let it slide to the floor, as she thought about her day.

She and Mark had argued. It was her fault and she knew it. She had freaked out on him. It all just seemed too soon. Spending a weekend away together? Just the two of them? She paused as she kicked her shoes off and smiled, recounting the moments preceding the fight. She blushed. Well, perhaps it wouldn’t be all bad. Maybe it wasn’t too soon. Maybe she was actually falling in love with him. Maybe.

Abby dismissed the thought as quickly as it came, focusing instead on how cold she felt. A hot shower…no a bath would be a nice end to the day. She slithered out of her wet clothes, leaving them rumpled in the hallway where she stood. She grabbed a bottle of wine and a glass from the kitchen, and headed for the bathroom, where she drew a bath and allowed herself to disappear beneath the steam.

She emptied her glass of its wine and set it on the floor, then laid against the back of the tub. She let the water come up over her ears as she thought about calling Mark and apologizing. He would understand. He’d has his share of freak outs too. Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint tapping in the distance. Clanking pipes.

She liked listening to them. It was a muffled tap here and there, unrhythmic in its beat. Old houses were famous for them. Tap. Clink. Tap. She closed her eyes and focused on the music in the pipes. Tap. Tap. Plink. CLANG.

She jolted upright and water splashed over the sides of the tub. That wasn’t normal. TAP. The sound grew louder. She sighed. Lovely. CLINK. There goes my relaxing evening. A pipe must be busted. Great…

Abby flicked the drain stopper with her toe. No matter. She felt warm enough. She noticed then that the water didn’t empty from the tub. Wonderful. It’s clogged now. Running her thumb over the drain, she felt the normal tug that should make the water flow, only it wasn’t moving. It remained still. CLANG.

Silence.

What the? Does that mean the pipe burst? She sighed. Can this day get any worse?

A current shifted the water around Abby’s calves. She startled at the movement, but felt relieved for it too. Perhaps the clog unstuck itself. Ouch! She grabbed her toe. It felt like…like something bit her. But that can’t be right…can it? Blood entered into the current as it swirled around her legs. The stream of murky water raced around calves, circling up her thighs, then squeezed.

Abby screamed.

——————————————–

This free-write I wrote after being inspired from my own bath. I heard similar sounds, only nothing came out of my drain. :P If I decided to do anything with this, it would need some work. But sometimes free-writes can be fun.

What has come out of your own freewriting? Do you find freewriting to be a helpful tool? Feel free to post ideas and thoughts about it here.

Hearst Kicks up the Dirt in Deadwood

Jun 262006
 

Deadwood: HearstThis season of has had the dust stirred up right from the get go. Hearst is in camp and everyone is twitchy because of it. All I can say is that it’s about time Hearst is here. All last season he was talked about and there was tension there, then in the end of the season he finally shows up. Now, well now, we get to see what happens with him here.

In the first episode, “Tell Your God to Ready for Blood,” we see how Bullock loses his cool because Hearst found out about his affair with Alama. Al doesn’t make much of an appearance until halfway into the episode, but as comes naturally with Al, it’s always with a bang. He calls Hearst’s play and calls the candidate speeches off for the night. I think my favorite moment was when Hearst tried to get Al drunk. Hah. Right… Anyway, Al’s meeting with Hearst lets us fully see there is war on the horizon. Hearst v. Camp. Who will win?

In the second episode, “I Am Not The Man You Take Me For,” we see Hearst make so-called amends to the Al for the insult decreed by the previous staged murder. Al declares the speeches to be back on, which on a side note were highly amusing to witness. Al takes a meeting with Hearst to watch them, and let’s just say it doesn’t go all that well, ending with Al losing his finger. Hearst really grates on my skin. Sheesh.

In last night’s episode, “True Colors,” we see just that — true colors. Bullock puts Hearst on notice when he discovers first that one of the Cornish died on Hearst’s claim and secondly when he discovers what happened at the Gem. However, the meeting doesn’t favor his side and ends with Hearst declaring notice on him. Then Alma learns that Hearst is really a jackass when he refuses to take her offer and threatens her. And Tolliver’s bluff of having a letter from Wolcott is called out, placing him at the mercy of Hearst, who promptly puts him in the role of his “dog.”

Yes, Hearst being in camp has stirred the dust up quite a bit. And there’s so much more going on in Deadwood on top of that. I can’t wait to see where it all goes from here!

Finding Inspiration

Jun 262006
 

Amy Brown's Fire FairyOften times when I am looking for inspiration, I look to things that are lying around me: greeting cards, magazines, pictures, what’s going on outside. I just let my eyes wash over them until something pops and a story is created.

For example, the idea of for came from a free write I did after seeing Fire Fairy. I have a card with the image on it and I set it in front of me and just let my mind wander. Then I started to write about fairy and things took off from there.

Sometimes I even use creative writing prompts to guide and help my inspiration. has these that are fun to do. This was one I wrote up for an assignment about how you would roast a character:

The Ultimate Roast

Dr. Hannibal Lecter will be remembered by most for his delicious way of penetrating one’s mind with keen observations and dark understanding.  All will fondly recall his devouring expertise in fine arts, while we few will appreciate his more distinguished, unconventional tastes.  We were honored to participate in his final dining experience and will think of him often as our bellies continue to digest such an ambrosial delight, our friend, Dr. Lecter.

————————————————————-

Where do you find inspiration? What inspires you?

That Which We Call Writer’s Block

Jun 232006
 

Otherwise known as that annoying sludge the clouds a writer’s mind. Most every writer gets it at one time or another and it always seems to arrive out of the blue. It’s that unwelcome guest, who arrives unannounced and doesn’t want to leave. You try to shake it off and focus on the page before you, but nothing comes out. Nothing at all. Bah! Yes, the annoying sludge has seeped in deep!

There are endless ways of trying to combat writer’s block and over the years. I’ve tried many of them and am always looking for new ideas. I’ll list a few of the ones I’ve used before here:

  • Step away from the story and focus on something else that doesn’t involve writing.
  • Go for a walk and let your mind clear.
  • Paint, draw, do something else creative that doesn’t involve writing.
  • Try writing something else, even simple creative exercises.
  • Play a favorite CD.
  • Exercise.
  • Keep writing despite the writer’s block and see if you can just work it through.
  • Do the dishes, laundry, or whatever menial chore that needs to get done anyway.
  • Clean away any clutter in your work area.
  • Try writing in a different room, even outside.

Sometimes I try combinations of the above. Other times I just keep taking care of everything else I need to get done and magically the block disappears.

What do you do? Do you have methods that have worked for you? Ones that haven’t? Feel free to share.

X-Files: Keeping the Addiction Alive

Jun 212006
 

X-Files Pilot EpisodeI have been a fan of X-Files since when I saw the , Friday, September 10, 1993. Yes, I admit that knowing that date makes me a geek. So there! :P

It’s funny because I wasn’t all that interested in it at the time, but my college roommate was bouncing off the walls at the idea of it. So we watched. After I saw it, naturally I had to have more. And that’s how it went for about the first seven seasons. The last two I spent much of my time throwing things at the TV in disgust, but that happens when a show goes sour. I mean really, killing of the Lone Gunmen was just wrong. Wrong I say! But let’s not focus on that now though, instead reminisce on the wonders that made the rest of the show so damn good.

What better way to look back over what the show was then to read juicy nuggets about each episode and character, eh? Well, maybe popping an episode on DVD in would be better or even catching one on FX, but online goodies are nice too.

The X-Files Wiki is just the site for that. It’s been up for about a year now and it’s still growing and that’s fun to see. It’s a great place to read up on the background history of each episode as well as which ones your favorite characters were in.

Plus, and it’s a big plus, there’s info up there about and too. YAY!

Sadly, there are many holes still on the site, but my hope is to start helping to rectify that situation very soon. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, all you X-Files junkies out there (fans of Millennium and Lone Gunmen too), and I know you are out there, get over there and help update it. Those of us that are addicts need more complete information, please.

Speaking of which, there is a wiki site that needs some help getting gobs and gobs of more content too. It’s in a sad state right now. One that’s about as sorry as Spike was in with his Buffy mannequin doll. :P

Confessions of One Frog (a haiku)

Jun 202006
 

Flies! They taste worse than
the slimy muck found under
my old lily pad.

Happy Find for a Writer On the Go

Jun 172006
 

Alphasmart NeoI was over on yesterday and I saw this post about the .

I had no idea such things existed and yes, I guess that means I should pay attention to the techno gizmos more. :P But this was a happy find and I promptly ordered mine today. It’s much more affordable than a laptop, yet still allows me to keep writing when I’m putzing around in the City or anywhere else for that matter. I went with the Neo since it’s not wireless and really, do I need more distractions from writing?

Anyway, check out about the types they offer and maybe you’ll find that it’ll help you out too.

:)

But They Make My Feet Look “_____”

Jun 162006
 

Insert “tiny,” “pretty,” or maybe even that “they make my legs look slim.” I hear variations of this phrase often from women who throw comfort to the wayside, opting instead for that oh so perfect shoe. That delicate slipper of a shoe. One that also happens to moonlight as a vice grip I might add.

The City is chock full of them. Those that wear the non-commuter friendly footwear, yet try to flow with the commuter foot traffic. Some wear beaded slip-ons or shoes with heels so high they should really be called stilts. These kinds of shoe wearers should probably stick to cabs.

Instead they lose their shoes on the escalator stairs, on stairs in general, or even in subway grates. Sometimes they even fall off right on the sidewalk or in the street. Go figure. Sure, the shoe may be pretty and yes it does give off a nice sparkle as it topples down the stairs, I give you that. But when shoes run away, which they may actually be doing from the stench of the stairs (but that’s another matter entirely), they stop traffic and cause people to fall into each other. Bleh. Personal space, please.

Perhaps shoes that stayed on the wearer’s feet would make the commuter rush run a little smoother.

Next we have those that wear these kinds of shoes and can’t seem to walk right in them. Mules may cause feet to slide. Or maybe the height of the heels causes the wearer to wobble a bit, so you take things slowly, stopping mid-stair to steady yourself. Then. Up. One. Step. At. A. Time. Stop. Again. Up. Again. You see how this goes. Amusing if you weren’t trapped behind them.

Yikes.

It all just makes commuting a circus. Summer tends to bring that out most, I think. The beaded mules are out there. And there are swarms of people in flimsy flip flops or sandals. Wow. And perfectly pedicured toes too. It’s a wonder that they walk, nearly barefoot, through such grimy streets and have no care in the world about what decrepit, vile stuff is gracing over their very skin. Do they not smell the urine that the summer weather no longer masks? Guess not. I pity their pedicurist. Here’s hoping their clients are all good tippers!

Mucous Affliction

Jun 152006
 

In the short time I’ve been commuting to the City for work, I’ve started to notice an affliction that has taken hold of many and worse yet, it seems to be growing. The dastardly affliction I speak of is nose picking. *groan* I know, I know. It’s just awful.

There are many types of nose pickers, each and every one of them unique. It ranges from the casual pedestrian who casually taps at his/her nose. A little tap here, a little brush of the hand there. Then tap tap again and whoops, the tips of the fingers are now inside the nostrils. Others just jam their fingers inside, making one wonder if their fingers still exist at all. And yes, I’ve seen many a driver pass by with digits disappearing, probably right into his/her brain.

I have to wonder, first, why are people so gross? And secondly, do they really think we can’t see them?

I’m beginning to think that those that are afflicted have a mucous alien form living inside his/her head. The alien gets hungry and well, naturally it eats through your nose. So these people are not really picking their noses, they are merely feeding the hungry beasts inside. Hmm. Yes, yes, I do believe that’s what it is. Sounds like a logical conclusion to me.