Yearly Archives: 2015

Lord Dunsany Re-Read: Time and the Gods, Part 5

Bill Ward and I are continuing our Lord Dunsany re-read with the next two stories published in the original Time and the Gods (not the omnibus). You can find a free copy of the book here and join in the discussion. Our rating system is pretty simple. One star is a standout, and two stars is truly notable. Most of Lord Dunsany’s fantasy work is already fairly remarkable, so even a “no star” story on this scale may be worth a look. This week we read “The Men of Yarnith” and “For the Honour of the Gods.”

Robert E. Howard’s Birthday

Link Day

Today I offer a bevy of interesting links.

First, you may recall when I gushed about Star Trek Continues. Now’s your chance to jump in and lend a hand because the talented cast and crew need your help making new episodes (and possibly an engine room and planetary set if stretch goals are hit!) Stop by and check out their Kirkstarter, and if you haven’t already, watch their episodes. If you’re a fan of the original series you’ll be amazed.

With The Beatles

What strangely lovely weather we’ve been experiencing here. If I were better rested I’d be able to enjoy it even more. Hopefully I can soon get these sleep issues straightened. As it stands, I’ve little energy for normally daily activities, let alone anything extra.

Lord Dunsany Re-Read: Time and the Gods Part 4

Bill Ward and I are continuing our Lord Dunsany re-read with the next two stories published in the original Time and the Gods (not the omnibus). You can find a free copy of the book here and join in the discussion. Our rating system is pretty simple. One star is a standout, and two stars is truly notable. Most of Lord Dunsany’s fantasy work is already fairly remarkable, so even a “no star” story on this scale may be worth a look.

It’s Been a Bad Night’s Sleep

Re-Learning Mistakes

So far I think I’m doing a great job with my New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve let one of my habits slip, which is to review my Writing Mistakes every day before I write. And you know the mistake I’ve found myself making over and over on this new one? NOT knowing what my characters want before I start writing the scene. Even if it says what they’re going to do in the outline, I have to be the director and tell those people what they want!

Prep time does not begin and end with the outline, Howard!

On the other hand, I finally have a good openings sentence to the book, so that’s pretty nice. A lot of times I don’t have the opening sentence until much later in my outline.

So, what do I have to do that involves writing this year?

Returning Next Week

Due to a variety of events, most recently a busted water heater, things have been a little hectic around here. As a consequence, our re-read of Lord Dunsany is on hiatus. Hope your own week went well, and hope to see you back next week.

2015 Resolutions

I haven’t been a New Year’s Resolution kind of guy for years. I suppose I had talked myself into thinking it was cheesy or unnecessary or something of the kind.

But I’ve been fighting the blues off and on for a number of months now for reasons detailed earlier, so this year I came up with a pretty simple phrase to help me remember my resolutions, one that I can repeat to myself in the mornings as I wake. (I try to remember, when I rise, to be grateful for all I have, but sometimes that’s difficult when the alarm shrieks me into consciousness to make sure the children are up and moving.)

Lord Dunsany Re-Read: Time and the Gods Part 3