He glances up and grabs a pigeon, crops the shot, and squirts it at his weblog to show he's arrived.
Because I'm a hopeless workaholic, I brought my TSG notebooks with me on what was supposed to be my New York getaway to try and solve story-compression issues relating to the final chapter. Just so I can slide right into drawing the thing upon my return to the studio.
It is warm in New York but it ain't anywhere near as hot as Houston. 25C this evening, the white noise of rain outside intercut by the slightly higher pitched tip-tapping on fire-escape metal. Good writing weather. Sometimes all you need is a little change of scenery.
Passage at the very top is from Charles Stross' ACCELERANDO btw.
Just arrived from ThingsbyDan.
Couldn't not order the minute I saw it. Dying to give it a test run, but will have to wait till after my return from New York.
MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE by Kim Stanley Robinson
It is for the most part a problem-solving novel, and I like that. Robinson is able to make the uphill battle involved in all the bureaucracy and policy-making and head-butting that would ostensibly constitute the seemingly impossible task of reversing climate change read like a rollicking adventure without ever once diverging from keeping it grounded in realism.
Full review at Ganzeer.Reviews (apologies for long hiatus, you can chalk it up to 2023 being my divorce year).
Moorcock's advice on how to write a novel in 3 days is well known at this point, but it is very specific to the kind of adventure/fantasy yarns I have zero interest in. So what follows is my attempt to take the bits of advice that could ostensibly apply to writing a more “serious novel”, adjusting it some and collating it with other writing tips I gathered over the years.
How to Write a Novel in One Month:
1) Everything must be mapped out and prepared before you begin: the entire outline, all the research, writing space and tools, meal prep (yes, stock fridge and freezer), daily routine, everything.
2) Model basic plot on another basic plot you admire (not the story, just the plot—see Alan Moore's take on story idea vs. plot).
3) Turn off phone, internet, lock everyone out of the house, and speak to no one. You are writing.
4) Divide total of 60,000 words into 3 acts: 20,000 words each. Divide each act into 8 chapters: each 2,500 words max. Write one chapter a day.
5) Establish all main characters & themes in first act (between chapters 1-8).
6) Give each character a “funny hat” (iconic look, name, characteristic).
7) Include major event/reveal every 1000 words or so.
8) Each chapter must: (a) Be written with the same enthusiasm as the first, and (b) Propel story forward.
9) Include actual not-so-common knowledge in the book and make it central to the story.
10) Ending must be surprising yet inevitable (i.e. set it up bit by itsy bitsy bit in each chapter)
Given that I have yet to write a novel myself, it goes without saying this particular 10-step guide hasn't been put to the test and as such is unproven. Hopefully, that will change in the next couple years.
Documentary Area — Free documentaries.
MuscleWiki — Click on a muscle, check the equipment you have, and a demonstration of an exercise for that particular muscle pops up.
“Influence is the thing that helps you get on the launchpad, holds you in place, but at a certain point when you've taken off, it falls away.”
— Salman Rushdie
