tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18153503103944953472024-03-06T00:48:52.986-05:00Brian BashamBlog of Author Brian Basham. He writes thrillers in various genres. His debut novel is YA SciFi titled Virtual Wars:Initialization. His novelette titled The Cursed Armor is in the adult fantasy/horror genre.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.comBlogger427125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-35867882793672850962017-10-09T02:55:00.001-04:002017-10-09T03:21:27.781-04:00Monsters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are monsters all around us, stalking and creeping. They look to possess what we have, or they may see us as food. Look at all the tasty people walking around. They wait for an opportunity, any opening they can use to strike.<br />
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The list of monsters below are all the ones that The Ghost encounters within the upcoming novella The Cursed Armor.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
List of Monsters</h3>
<ul>
<li><b>Vampires</b>: Pale bloodsuckers who don't like the light, wooden stakes or garlic. They have the ability to manipulate a human's perceptions. They also have superhuman strength and speed, but rely on a human's blood to survive.</li>
<li><b>Werewolves</b>: People who turn into furry wolves sometimes. Their bite can infect others with the same affliction. They also have superhuman strength and speed when transformed.</li>
<li><b>Poltergeist</b>: An evil spiritual entity that can manipulate temperature, wind, and sometimes solid objects. Insubstantial by nature it is impossible to fight them by conventional means. They are typically anchored to a specific place or thing, but sometimes they can anchor themselves to a person.</li>
<li><b>Giants</b>: Large humanoids that are as diverse as any group of humans. They are slow and somewhat clumsy compared to humans. With their size comes a wealth of power and toughness that is hard to match.</li>
<li><b>Demons</b>: Red skinned devils that are part human and part animal in physical appearance. They have cloven hooves that they walk on and hands with opposable thumbs similar to a human. Their faces can vary from those of various animals, and can have multiple sets of arms. Some have supernatural powers that allow them to possess humans.</li>
<li><b>Centaurs</b>: Centaurs have the upper body of a human with the lower body of a horse. They may also have horns. With the speed of a thoroughbred horse and near-human intelligence, Centaurs can be dangerous opponents.</li>
<li><b>Fire Drakes</b>: Drakes are small flying lizards that breathe different elements. Fire Drakes can spray fire upon their enemies. Drakes look like dragons, but on a much smaller scale.</li>
<li><b>Geryon</b>: Geryon in Greek mythology and other texts has many differing descriptions. In The Cursed Armor I have adopted more of the description used in Dante's Inferno. The beast has the body of a wyvern, the tail of a scorpion, and paws of a lion.</li>
<li><b>Wind Elementals</b>: A sentient swirling water spout is the best description of these creatures. Imagine a tornado with a mind of its own.</li>
<li><b>Minos</b>: A creature with the torso and upper body of a human, but lower body of a snake. He is a judge in limbo who sends souls to their designated place in hell.</li>
</ul>
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The Cursed Armor is now available for pre-order on Amazon with the release date of 10/24!<br />
<br />
The Cursed Armor on Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YP73L3" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YP73L3</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 47,487 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-90091262867488009982017-09-24T14:46:00.000-04:002017-10-09T22:46:11.431-04:00Cover Reveal: The Cursed Armor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Details</h3>
<i>Synopsis</i>: A young thief, nicknamed The Ghost, has stolen an ancient piece of
armor. Each piece in the set grants her a new superhuman ability, but it
also gives her an unending lust for blood. Will she be able to resist
her thirst for power? Or will she be consumed by The Cursed Armor and
propelled into her own personal hell?<br />
<br />
<i>Title</i>: The Cursed Armor<br />
<i>Genre</i>: Fantasy/Horror<br />
<i>Audience</i>: Adult<br />
<i>Release Date</i>: October 24, 2017<br />
<i>Length</i>: Novella length - 135 pages in print / A little over 23,000 words<br />
<br />
<br />
The Cursed Armor is now available for pre-order on Amazon here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YP73L3" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YP73L3</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 47,199 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-6417352665220821722017-09-19T00:04:00.002-04:002017-09-25T00:59:01.806-04:00Possession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How do you think being possessed would feel? This is a topic of many horror or thriller films/books/TV shows. I recently watched Paranormal Survivor on Netflix and some of the stories there are harrowing. This is also a theme of the novella The Cursed Armor that I will be publishing soon. These kind of slow burn psychological thrillers are some of my favorite kind to write. They don't always involve possession, but let's pretend the dog ate the other stories.<br />
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Imagine a world where you are slowly being affected by another presence or being. They may or may not be communicating with you. They might not even speak the same language as you. It starts with a tickle or an object moving on its own. Something showing up later several feet from where you left it. A cabinet left open that you don't remember opening. Do you ignore the strange things going on?<br />
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This is something I didn't understand with the people who were in the show Paranormal Survivor. Many of them were warned or given signs of what was going on before it escalated. Some of them were harassed for months and months before it got to the point where they could no longer take it anymore. Why would these people choose to live with this torment? Spirits that taunt and attack you. Spirits that whisper things into your ears. How can you choose to ignore it?<br />
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Imagine blacking out then finding yourself in a different setting, moving from one room to another without thinking about it. Maybe you have done things you can't remember within that period of time you were blacked out. Imagine watching yourself take actions that you don't will your body to do. It is like you are a passenger within your own body while someone or thing is at the controls.<br />
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These are just a few of the things I think about when trying to write a character that is going through these types of experiences. What could cause them to allow such a thing to happen? Do they have a choice in the matter? How can they fight back?<br />
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If you have had any strange or paranormal experiences then I would love to hear about them. Please share them with me! Don't make me send Casper to haunt you!
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
The Cursed Armor<br />
Just received cover art!!! Will be making announcements next week.<br />
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 47,508 word
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-28602840882225158962017-09-10T03:12:00.000-04:002017-09-25T00:59:01.801-04:00Traversing Hell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What would it be like to walk across Hell? The actual burning inferno of a place that many have had nightmares about. The Bible gives us a depiction of Hell as a lake of fire that provides a place of constant torment. There are many other literary depictions of Hell, but none more famous than the portion of The Divine Comedy known as Dante's Inferno.<br>
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Dante's Inferno give us the most comprehensive view of Hell that has shaped how people have viewed it for centuries. The story follows Dante as he is guided through Hell by the Roman poet Virgil. It describes 9 circles of Hell in detail. Each circle is made for a specific type of sin with its own special punishment.<br>
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What kind of creatures would you find in Hell? There are many creatures that you might expect like demons, witches, warlocks, and so on. In Dante's version he includes many of the mythical creatures you might see in fantasy novels like centaurs, the minotaur, cyclops, griffins, and others. Being in Hell these encounters could be terrifying. The creatures involved cannot have good intentions toward anyone they encounter.<br>
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These are the kinds of questions I ask to help build a story. The story of The Cursed Armor (formerly known as Season 1 of The Ghost) began with the question of "How could my character escape Hell?" I decided to lean on the most detailed version of Hell as inspiration for the version that would be used in the story. I had to rewind that a bit as I realized this journey through Hell was part of the middle and the ending, but the beginning had to be how the main character got in this predicament in the first place.<br>
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In the coming weeks I will delve further into the other aspects of the story that I found interesting. The creatures, the culture and rules of the Thieves Guild, the structure of Hell, and so on.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
Virtual Wars: Running<br>
First Draft: 46,107 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-72840956411730544042017-09-03T23:39:00.001-04:002017-09-04T01:21:53.135-04:00Lost in the Shuffle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Art can be beautiful, amazing, terrifying, emotional, and a great many other things. What is most important is that art speaks to you, that it provokes an emotion or makes you think. So often we discount the whole because part of it is problematic. When you think about life in general we know that things are not always fair and just. By condemning it all and ignoring the rest we deny ourselves the parts that are enjoyable.<br />
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We all live within a shade of grey. No one is perfect no matter how much we may try. Expecting perfection in anything is a fool's pursuit. If you do this then you will constantly be disappointed in everything.<br />
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I'm not saying that we shouldn't point out things that are problematic and talk about why these things are harmful. I'm saying that we should also celebrate the things that are fantastic within the same scope and offer ways to improve. We can simultaneously talk about the things we love and hate about every piece of art we come into contact with.<br />
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The inspiration for this post is the film Birth of the Dragon. There is so much within this film to hate and love at the same time. The main message that I got out of this movie is fantastic and hypocritical at the same time. The fictional interpretations are laughably inaccurate and potentially offensive. The fight scenes are well choreographed and some of the best I have seen in a film so far this year.<br />
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One of the messages from the film that I enjoyed were that even a stubborn and ignorant person can be taught a lesson that may change the direction of their life. It is a long and difficult road to teach that lesson, but it can be done. There is a lot of hope that can be taken from that message especially in these times where many seem to celebrate ignorance.<br />
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The other message is that we should all think about how our lives touch and impact the life of everyone else. Every action we take should be moving toward making the world a better place for everyone. This message calls to me. I hope that I have a positive and inspirational impact on those around me. The makers of the film however did not take this lesson to heart. The fictional glue that they used to compose this story should have been more thoroughly thought out. If they had then they wouldn't have tried to whitewash the story by making the main character a white man enamored with an indentured Chinese woman. It doesn't make sense within the scope of the film to make him the main character in the first place. He ends up sharing equal time with the characters of Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man yet he is only used as a vehicle to push the story of the two real main characters. <br />
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The message is still valid and resonates deeply for me, but I also recognize the hypocrisy of the film itself that preaches one thing while doing something else. I will keep the message with me while rejecting the method that is used to project it.<br />
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This also leads me to the film Detroit which many user reviews blasted as being leftist political hype without seeing the film. To all of you who avoided the film, you missed out on a great film. For the most part the film is historically accurate based on first hand accounts of people who were there. If you think it is just fiction then I would invite you to use google to look up which parts are fictionalized.<br />
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I also encourage you all to experience art fully even if it is problematic for you. Embrace the parts you enjoy and reject the parts that are harmful. Seriously talk about what is problematic and why it is harmful while also celebrating anything positive you can pull from it as well. The more we can talk about things that are harmful and problematic the more awareness we can spread to others who don't see or understand it. Art, like the rest of us, lives in a grey area.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 45,601 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-40018267581818517712017-08-21T01:39:00.001-04:002017-08-21T01:39:27.895-04:00Fantasy Football Strategy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just completed my first fantasy football draft and wanted to talk about it a bit. I haven't done nearly as much research as I usually do because there are so many good resources available now. In previous years I would obsessively watch every preseason game and scour all the information and final stats that I could find. Last year was the first year that I hadn't won a fantasy football league in decades, but it was also the first time in decades where I had only played in one league. I had the first pick in that draft, and against all of the advice available I picked David Johnson. This year picking him first overall doesn't seem as crazy. So let's talk about some basics of fantasy football draft strategy. I think these tips are helpful especially if you don't have one of the first two picks.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Want List</h3>
Fist thing I do is to make a want list of players that I feel have a lot of upside in the upcoming season. I also make a list of players I do not want. The upside players are ones that I feel could have a breakout year or could outperform projections. These are mostly late round fliers that could turn into next year's solid mid-round picks. The do not want list are players that I feel will underachieve based on the projections made. These are players I avoid unless the value becomes too good to pass up. I will also avoid players if I feel like they could miss more than 4 games. For these players I come up with a backup plan in case I end up drafting them anyway. These are the types of picks that can make or break your season. The experts aren't always right. Their projections give you a baseline to work with of what players might accomplish in the upcoming season.<br />
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Seeing the preseason roles of players helps to determine how much of an impact these players may have in the upcoming season. The first half of the 3rd preseason game is the most important one to watch for every team. This is usually the dress rehearsal for the first week of the season. I also pay attention to the depth charts for teams. Sometimes the experts will rank a backup higher than a starter for another team, or you may not know who will win the position battle by the time the draft begins. I don't like picking backups unless I want to handcuff a player that I already have as insurance.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Points System </h3>
This is perhaps the most important thing to look at before the draft begins. This can affect your whole draft strategy. If the league uses standard PPR or standard scoring then you can use the standard draft strategy. In the draft that I just completed the scoring system was skewed toward Quarterbacks and Receivers. This changes your whole draft strategy. Dual threat Running Backs are always going to be the most valuable, but with this scoring system 3rd down or passing down backs could have just as much value as rushing down backs. The system for this league gives half a point per completion and 1 point for every 20 yards passing. This makes Quarterbacks insanely high point players.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Determine Value</h3>
By value I mean the relative value one position has over the other players at that position. This will help determine how important it is to pick certain players based on their average draft position. This is why the first 2 picks this year have such a large advantage coming into this season. Bell and Johnson, the top 2 running backs, are projected to get about 100 more fantasy points than the number 3 running back in standard PPR. By contrast the top WR is projected to get around 15-20 more points in standard PPR, and then there are 8 more WRs that are projected to be within 15 points of each other. The top 3 QBs are within 10 points of each other, and 20 points ahead of the next 9 who are within about 20 points of each other. In the league I just drafted for the QB evaluations were different. The 3rd ranked QB was projected to get the most points in this system, and the top 3 QBs were projected to be 50 points ahead of the next one. That made me decide to pick a QB much earlier than I would have done otherwise<b>. </b>This is the most important factor in deciding your early draft strategy when everyone is picking players that they know. <br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mock Drafts</h3>
<br />
Mock drafts are your friend when it comes to putting together a draft strategy. It lets you know which players are being reached for, and which players are falling down the draft boards. If there are players you absolutely have to draft then you can figure out where you can draft them to get the best value. This year in mock drafts I am seeing Christian Mccaffrey trending way up draft boards. Right now you would have to use a 2nd or 3rd round pick to get him. I think he is going to be a solid football player, but I'm not ready to say he is worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick. I ended up picking up Frank Gore because he dropped to the 10th round which is great value for a consistent 1,000 yard rusher even if father time may finally catch up to him this year. I was also in desperate need of a RB at that point because I was ultra stacked at WR and QB which are the two most valuable positions in this league.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
My Draft </h3>
Please keep in mind that this league is heavily weighted toward pass catchers and even more heavily weighted toward Quarterbacks. We also had 7 bench spots in a 12 team league. The starter spots for this league are QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, Flex, TE, D/ST, and K.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>QB </b>- Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford</li>
<li><b>RB </b>- Dalvin Cook, Frank Gore, Chris Thompson, Shane Vereen, and Jerick Mckinnon</li>
<li><b>WR </b>- Jordy Nelson, Demaryius Thomas, Pierre Garcon, Kenny Britt, Torrey Smith, and Marquise Goodwin</li>
<li><b>TE</b> - Greg Olsen</li>
<li><b>D/ST</b> - Cardinals</li>
<li><b>K</b> - Chris Boswell</li>
</ul>
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
The Ghost Novella<br />
Waiting on Cover Art<br />
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 45,136 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-7318565097867180012017-08-13T23:44:00.001-04:002017-08-13T23:44:21.454-04:00Book Review: Dead Things by Stephen Blackmoore<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15784263-dead-things" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dead Things (Eric Carter #1)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366306674m/15784263.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15784263-dead-things">Dead Things</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4449940.Stephen_Blackmoore">Stephen Blackmoore</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2091846870">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Eric Carter has been exiled from his hometown by a local gangster. He has since become a badass necromancer of some renown. Unfortunately his sister has passed away and it looks like murder, and it may be of the supernatural kind. Now he has to use all of his skills to find out what happened, and get revenge.<br />
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I found this as an audio book in a gas station while on a long road trip. The tale was a fun adventure through the world of the supernatural. The characters are all rich with their own wants, needs, and histories. The story itself is a bit predictable, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. This is more of a character driven novel and the characters are vibrant and interesting. <br />
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In the end Dead Things is an entertaining journey through a new paranormal world. I would recommend this to fans of the Supernatural TV show or those who enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
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The Ghost Novella<br />
Waiting on Cover Art<br />
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Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 45,136 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-49211942608970207802017-08-01T23:43:00.002-04:002017-08-01T23:43:37.438-04:00Book Review: Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31287693-dragon-teeth" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dragon Teeth" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481163021m/31287693.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31287693-dragon-teeth">Dragon Teeth</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5194.Michael_Crichton">Michael Crichton</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2064830132">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
As part of a bet William Johnson joins an expedition to the west to chase after the bones of dinosaurs. Professor Marsh is a world renowned paleontologist who is leading the expedition. He demands military discipline from his students while on the road. He is also supremely paranoid and thinks everyone he comes across is potentially a spy for his greatest rival, Professor Cope. <br />
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William is abandoned in the middle of the journey. Professor Cope finds the young man and entices him to join his expedition in spite of the lies and deceptions Marsh had filled his head with previously. They continue into the old wild west where they encounter hostile American Indians, outlaws, Wyatt Earp, and other impediments to the journey.<br />
<br />
Dragon Teeth is a very well written adventure into the old Wild West. This novel captures the fast pace and intriguing story elements that are hallmarks of Michael Crichton novels. This time he tackles more of a western theme which was not my cup of tea. The subject matter didn't grab me as strongly as his previous technology based thrillers. If you are interested in Paleontology or the Wild West then the novel will be more interesting. Dragon Teeth will be more satisfying for fans of Crichton than Pirate Lattitudes was. The back and forth rivalry between Cope and Marsh were my favorite parts of the novel. Crichton was my favorite author and his writing has been fantastic. I would recommend this novel to anyone who finds the description interesting.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
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The Ghost Novella<br />
Ebook Formatting: Done!<br />
Waiting on Cover Art<br />
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Virtual Wars: Running<br />
First Draft: 44,208 words
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-5143151309506548202017-07-16T19:20:00.002-04:002017-07-16T19:20:58.119-04:00The White Room InterviewHey everyone! I was interviewed by the great Emma Hardcastle on The White Room. It's currently on Youtube! Check it out!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-66853163616509182942017-07-16T14:14:00.001-04:002017-07-16T14:14:32.857-04:00Legos & Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I got a promotion at work which has also involved working a lot of overtime. A lot of the plans I had for the blog are getting pushed to the side because of this. The good news is that I am going to update this blog more often, but I won't be making the switch to being a video blog as I had been planning. <br />
<br />
With my free time I have to balance my writing and entertainment. I tend to binge watch TV shows while working on writing and editing my work. So this week I want to talk about a few shows I have been watching and also talk about the awesome that is also known as LEGOS. Also I want to announce that final edits for The Ghost are done! I'm pushing it out to beta readers now, formatting for publication, and waiting for cover art to come back.<br />
<br />
So recently I watched the new season of Orange Is the New Black and GLOW which are put together by the same producers. Both were well done. The story of GLOW has always been an interesting one to me and this first season goes over how it got started and the struggles that almost killed the project before it ever began. OITNB was just as fantastic as the show has always been. The characters are what make the show and they always find a way to give you insight on minor and major characters alike. The development of each one in this show is fantastic and I always tear through each season. They just released 4 episodes of Castlevania animated series which takes an anime style animation mixed with actual English speaking voice actors. The result is something that fans of anime and the video games should enjoy. I was left wanting more, but I think that was the point. Next on my plate is Shooter which is a TV show based on a movie by the same name. Also Gypsy is also catching my eye, so it might be next if only so I can see Naomi Watts.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
LEGOS </h3>
Now we're into the good stuff! If you follow me on Instagram then you know that I occasionally put together large sets of LEGOS and document my progress there. I like the simple building process and many of the sets are undeniably cool. Tie ins with Star Wars, Batman, and many other franchises also ramp up the cool factor.<br />
<br />
I usually just follow the instructions within the box to build these sets, but I have built a few practical things with these magical building blocks. The one I use the most is a cellphone stand that I use nearly every day. Nearly anything you can get at OfficeMax that is a plastic placeholder can be built using LEGOS. The only drawback is that sometimes you need more weight to hold things. There are 2 ways to do this, build a wider base, or add weights to the super light blocks.<br />
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When buying LEGOS I usually follow a simple formula for figuring out if a set is worth the price on the box. Most sets will average out to $1 for every 10 pieces. That means a 500 piece set should come out to around $50 for an average deal. I will overpay for some sets that I must have like the Millennium Falcon. The two newest sets I got were a steal with over 1000 pieces each and a price of around $50. Anytime I can get some cool Batman LEGOS for half off I am going to get them! If you are interested in seeing my progress on the most recent LEGO sets follow me on instagram. The link is at the top of the blog!
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
The Ghost Novella<br />
5th Edit Run: Finished!<br />
POD Formatting: Finished!<br />
Ebook Formatting: 10% doneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-14312027683315717292017-07-08T15:57:00.000-04:002017-07-08T16:00:04.460-04:00Book Review: Ubik by Philip K Dick<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22590.Ubik" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ubik" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327995569m/22590.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22590.Ubik">Ubik</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4764.Philip_K_Dick">Philip K. Dick</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2053517992">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Do you ever feel the need to read reviews before purchasing a book? Alleviate your worries with the fantastic Ubik! Just rub the pages on your skin or consume them orally. Satisfaction is almost guaranteed if used as directed. Side effects include pinching yourself, questioning reality, and confusion on whether you are dead or alive. Please use in moderation as Ubik is a strong remedy for what ails you and can be highly addictive!<br />
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This is my first venture into the land of Phillip K Dick other than the movies that have been made based off his works. The story follows Joe Chip who is everyone's favorite screw up. He can't afford the nickel cost to open the front door to his apartment. He works for Runciter and Associates as what amounts to a talent scout for anti-powers. The company he works for helps to protect corporate interests against those who have powers. Psychics, mind readers, etc. all have their powers negated by these anti-ability people who work for Runciter. Things change when Joe is brought a young woman named Pat Conley to test. Her talent is unique in that she can change the past which forcefully changes the visions that pre-cogs have. At the same time there seems to be an incoming showdown between the psychics and Runciter's company.<br />
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Ubik is one of the best written hallucinations I have read. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, but it wasn't a book I loved. The world it takes place in is an interesting futurescape that has a Libertarian influence that I had not considered before. There are many aspects of the novel that make you think about the world which I very much enjoyed. The only reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are because of the characters and the twists in the story. The characters for the most part are flat and without any humor. Everything seems to be strictly confusion and business. I did enjoy the twists, but also saw each one coming from a hundred pages away. Perhaps I am nitpicking and this novel deserves 5 stars, but I'm reviewing from my experience of the book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mind-bending reads or SciFi in general.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
The Ghost Novella<br />
5th Edit Run: Page 45 of 47<br />
Also commissioned cover art! Will have release date soon!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-27259046139363339952017-06-10T15:44:00.000-04:002017-06-10T15:45:21.904-04:00SWITCH!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been too long since I last updated here! I have some things in the works of course, but they just aren't ready yet. I do want to get back in the habit of updating this blog more regularly. The current plan is to switch over to more of a video blog format that I can update often. If I can share my desktop I can give more tutorials for building graphics as well.<br />
<br />
Today I want to geek out on one of my favorite things, video games! Specifically, the Nintendo Switch, this game system has been nothing short of amazing since I have had it. I know there aren't a lot of games out for it in stores yet, but that is a bit deceptive. There are more games available for it online than what is currently in stores. Many of those games are Neo Geo ports of ancient games. There are some indie games available that are well worth the price of admission as well. So, let's talk about the games!<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</h3>
Let's face it, if you get a Nintendo:Switch this is a game you must have. I'm not the biggest fan of RPGs that put you in an open world to roam around without any kind of objective. Fortunately you do have a vague initial quest that sets you in the direction you need to go. The game has a lot of side quests. Most of which will reveal hidden shrines. Zelda like its many previous iterations is amazing.<br />
<br />
There are a couple of things that are annoying to no end with this game. The first is cooking. You can't get around it. You have to hunt and cook. Hunting is not a big deal as you come across plenty of animals during your travels that become drumsticks or steaks without much trouble. The problem arises when you have 32849237923 things to cook and you can only cook them 5 at a time. It's annoying, repetitive, and also very necessary. Travelling by horse is also extremely annoying, at least initially. It seems like every 5 steps the horse gets spooked by something and you have to calm it. While you are calming it the horse pulls you off in a direction you don't want to go. It's a constant struggle. I gave up. To travel in certain areas you can't take the horse with you. It seems like it is more trouble than it is worth.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe</h3>
This is also a must have game for anyone with a Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart is Mario Kart. It is the pinnacle of kart race gaming as it has been for many years. The biggest addition to Mario Kart 8 is online play. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent on this game playing online. It adds another dimension to the game. If you have the WiiU version then it might not be as big of a deal as the Deluxe version only adds a few extras, but if the last version you played was on the Wii or prior to that then this game is enough to consider buying the Switch on its own.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Other Available Games</h3>
While MarioKart and Zelda are the only must have games on the system there are a few other games to consider out of what is available. Fans of JRPGs and puzzle games will find the Switch worth picking up right now. Disgaea 5 Complete is a JRPG in the same vein of other tactics games like Final Fantasy Tactics (which needs a sequel). I am Setsuna is a JRPG made by Squaresoft in the vein of their older RPGs and is supposed to be similar to Chrono Trigger in gameplay. Isaac: Afterbirth is a dungeon crawler RPG that has multiple endings for maximum replay value. The makers of World of Goo have 2 other games and World of Goo available on the Switch. Puyo puyo/Tetris is another puzzle game that is another battle/tetris style game with a twist. Outside of a few indie games, old Neo Geo game ports, and the new/old Street Fighter 2 rehash there isn't much else available right now.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Testfire!</h3>
One of the things that has been interesting for early adopters of the Switch has been the global testfires they have had for Splatoon 2 and ARMS. These early demos of the online version of these games has been a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed Splatoon 2 and cannot wait for that game to come out. Fans of fighting games should love ARMS which I thought was fun, but I am not a big fan of fighting games. I was surprised at the amount of strategy needed to play the arm bending fighter. The team up boss battles were my favorite. Hopefully Nintendo will continue to make these free online limited time demos available going forward for upcoming games. It's one of the ways they can mitigate the issue of having a massive lack of available games.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Conclusion
</h3>
If you enjoy JRPGs and puzzle games or simply cannot live without the latest Zelda/Mario Kart then you should snag the Nintendo Switch right now. Otherwise you might want to wait until there are more games available. I'm hoping that by the end of the year there will be more games available especially from 3rd party developers. As it is now the cabinet is bare. I know there will be Splatoon 2, ARMS, and a new Mario game by the end of the year. For now I'm spending a lot of time playing MarioKart online.
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:42,136<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
5th Edit Run: Page 35 of 47Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-74893610930352903862017-05-11T22:52:00.002-04:002017-05-11T22:52:29.639-04:00Review of Armada by Ernest Cline<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16278318-armada" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Armada" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1377284428m/16278318.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16278318-armada">Armada</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31712.Ernest_Cline">Ernest Cline</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1457594772">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Armada follows Zachary Lightman who is your average teenaged nerd who has an unusual love for older video games. If you read Ready Player One then this sounds familiar right? This time Cline's main character is a prodigy at a game called Armada which is a star fighter simulator and his father is gone in a freak accident. He works at a dead end job at a video game store that is hemorrhaging money due to his boss not caring about his clientele. It turns out he's being recruited for something bigger and the fate of the world rests on his shoulders.<br />
<br />
This second novel by Ernest Cline suffers from some of the same problems as Ready Player One, but they are magnified in this novel. All of the characters are, for the most part, too agreeable. The dialogue is filled with statements that show perfect empathy and consideration for how everyone else feels. In situations where there should be conflict, all of the characters do their best to avoid it. All of the characters essentially acting the same can be annoying. Armada fails to detract from this weakness where Ready Player One was able to minimize it.<br />
<br />
Armada is also quite a bit more predictable than it's predecessor. While it provides a unique story and ups the ante quite a bit, the novel falls a few notches short of Ready Player One. The main difference in the stories is that one focuses on what is happening and the quest for something that seems impossible and the other focuses on the relationships of its characters. Cline does better when he pushes the characters through the story rather than crafting the story around the edges of the characters.<br />
<br />
Armada is still an enjoyable read in the same vein of Ready Player One. Both are thick with video game and pop culture references that will give you a heavy dose of nostalgia for the 80's if you remember that era. I was solidly stuck between rating this 3 or 4. I rounded it up since I couldn't give it a 3.5 star rating.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/19682729-brian-basham">View all my reviews</a>
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:42,136<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
5th Edit Run: Page 18 of 47<br />
The Witch (Working title)<br />
Outline: 100% Complete!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-20322159914010454072017-04-23T11:52:00.002-04:002017-04-23T11:53:25.560-04:00Feeling Lucky?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vacation is always a wonderful time to recharge the batteries. This past week I went to beautiful Cherokee, NC to play in a few ring events in the World Series of Poker Circuit. Texas Hold 'Em poker is a fantastic and varied game that has a large array of possible outcomes. If you enjoy poker I would highly recommend any of the WSOP Circuit events as the way it is run, the dealers that travel with the circuit, the blind structure, etc. are all excellent for higher level poker players.<br />
<br />
Poker, like life, is about taking chances. Sometimes they work out, and others they end in a loss. More often than not fortune favors the bold. Taking those chances and aggressively pursuing opportunities is a strong trait that will often times win a pot without having to show your cards. In poker pushing your chips in gives you added value as the aggressor because it puts pressure on the other player to fold even if they have the better hand. Of course, the opponent doesn't always fold.<br />
<br />
Patience is one of the most important skills to have when playing poker. In contrast with poker on TV, the vast majority of hands received will result in the hands being folded around to the aggressor before or just after the flop. For TV they routinely edit out those hands. Twitch and other live streaming options will give you a much more accurate feel for how the game is actually played on that level. It is like going through the submission process as an author. Rejections happen. Stay patient and keep grinding.<br />
<br />
Also while on vacation I got an email for a new review that was posted for Initialization which I thought captured the essence of the novel. I now feel somewhat confident that I hit on exactly what I was going for in this first novel of the series. I recommend checking out her other reviews as well. This is currently my favorite book review website.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://havingfaithbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/initialization-by-brian-basham-4-stars.html" target="_blank">http://havingfaithbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/initialization-by-brian-basham-4-stars.html</a><br />
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:42,136<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
5th Edit Run: Page 10 of 47Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-41430096522199323812017-03-13T02:46:00.000-04:002017-03-13T12:43:25.902-04:00First Impressions: Nintendo Switch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Nintendo Switch is now available for purchase if you can find one (more on this later). I just got my hands on the new offering from Nintendo this past Thursday. With a few days of experience I have a few first impressions that I want to share. To be honest I haven't been this excited over a console in a long time. The Wii came close to capturing my imagination, but I wasn't an early adopter. I usually wait until the console drops in price a few times before picking it up. I'm currently waiting for the PS4 to do this while I try to catch up on PS3 games.<br />
<br />
The Switch is different. This is what I think Nintendo envisioned for the WiiU, but for some reason had to take a baby step to get here. This is a marriage of console, mobile, and tablet gaming. I see this console as being everything gaming in one package. It's capable of appealing to all gamers like the Wii did for a short time, but the Switch is more. Let me get into it. Just as a disclaimer, I have only played Breath of the Wild so far. Any references to gameplay elements will be referring to that game.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Joy-Cons</h3>
The Joy-Cons are what they call the controllers for the Switch. The first thing I noticed was how light these things are. Compared to the Wii controllers these are tiny and they have a lot more buttons. Each controller has 9 buttons and a control stick giving you a total of 18 buttons to play with. You have 2 trigger buttons on the top, 4 standard buttons above or below the control stick, 1 home button or screenshot button, pushing down the control stick is another button, and a + or - button which are functionally like start/select. There are 3 ways you can use them, attached to the console while using it as a tablet, attached to the grip that comes included, or connected to included attachments with lanyard-like toggles similar to the Wii controllers. The grip I will likely never use, but if you are planning to I just read an article saying there is a bug with it that makes it almost unplayable in that mode. My preferred method is to use the free hand approach similar to the Wii. If you have kids, I can see these small attachments being the first pieces destroyed or lost even though when using them properly they are attached to the controllers and your wrist.
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<br />
Now let's talk about actually using the Joy-Cons. There is no curved backing to make these things fit in your hand. It is like holding a light smartphone in each hand that is half the width while trying to manipulate them both at the same time. I've fumbled them more than once. I am used to my Galaxy Note Edge phablet which feels huge in comparison. If they weren't attached to my wrist I would have dropped them at least a dozen times while playing. I have not had any issues with lag or responsiveness thus far. The motion controls on these are super responsive. While playing I have had to make sure I'm not tilting them because it causes my aim to drift. I don't plan to use the grip because of multiple instances where I needed to flip the controller upside-down for tilt controls which would be awkward using the grip. The controller's battery life thus far has been impressive. I charged them once, and the battery has not gone below half way. I have yet to switch them out for my 2nd set of controllers that I have attached to the console to charge.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Console Itself</h3>
I haven't tried out the mobile capabilities of it yet, but so far no complaints about the console itself as a device. Connecting the Joy-Cons to it gives a solid and satisfying click sound. The Joy-Cons charge while docked into the console without any further connection. The console is just as thick as the Joy-Cons, probably by design. The screen is smaller than I was expecting with it being slightly larger than my smartphone. It has all of the standard connections you would expect for a device like this. The kickstand on the back looks a bit flimsy, but I haven't tried it out yet. The slot for expandable memory is right behind the kickstand which is a bit of a weird spot for it, but as long as it works I don't see it as being a problem.
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<br />
Some of the slots have a rubber-like cover to them that has to be peeled back to reveal the slot. The slot for inserting games is one of them. These could easily end up being ripped off or loosen over time with repeated use. I usually take good care of my electronics, so I'm hoping it won't be an issue. The screen on the Switch looks clear with bright colors, but it isn't scratch resistant. This is the main reason why I haven't tried many of the mobile functions yet (more on that below).<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Other Stuff</h3>
The most frustrating part of this console so far is how everything feels like it was rushed to market. The quality of the actual console and the Joy-Cons is undeniable, but everything else feels like it was thrown together last minute. The docking station for example has no heft to it at all. It feels like cheap light plastic that could fall over at the slightest nudging. When setting it up the HDMI cable was nudging the docking station. This caused the docking station to float in the air at an angle when attached. The console would have weighed it down, but removing the console from the docking station can be problematic. I also didn't notice a wired network slot, only USB slots.<br />
<br />
The general lack of launch games and accessories is concerning as well. Every store has 50 copies of Just Dance and Breath of the Wild, but none have any consoles (Seriously, who would buy a Switch right now and NOT get Breath of the Wild??) or accessories other than extra Joy-Cons. I can't say anything about the touchscreen or any of the console's mobile capabilities because I have to wait for an online retailer to ship a screen protector. Many accessories are things you figure out you need later. If it isn't at the local retailer then that means a longer wait.<br />
<br />
The most concerning part of it all is the lack of games. Breath of the Wild will keep most of us busy for the time being, but other than that it is pretty slim pickings. I plan to get I am Setsuna once I finish Breath of the Wild and I also have Bomberman which should keep me busy until Mario Kart comes out, but then there is a long gap until the holiday rush comes. I might actually have to get back to writing!<br />
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:42,026<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 35 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-49390590730741340792017-03-05T22:10:00.000-05:002017-03-05T22:10:29.720-05:00Adjusting Sails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is always a time that comes where changes must be made. A change of course to get back on the right path toward the stated goal. This is one of those times for me. I also have a bunch of announcements and a contest, because it has been way too long since I last wrote my last blog post.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Recognize </h3>
The first step in having a problem is admitting you have a problem! Recognizing the problem can be harder than it seems. So many of them are unanticipated until they pop up and beg for attention like a dog wanting to be petted. Do you ignore the puppy? or do you pet the puppy? YOU PET THE PUPPY WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?<br />
<br />
Many of the issues I have been dealing with are self-inflicted. Like my poor dietary choices that have led to my weight problems. It is something I struggle with every day. I know how to reverse the trend. I have done this before. Others are writerly things that I am not sure how to handle. What do I do with Night Reads? I don't wish to abandon the project. It is a way to help fellow indie authors, but I want to liven the experience up a bit. I plan to start filming for that very soon, and it will most certainly be a whole new experience.<br />
<br />
I also haven't been writing as much lately because I am helping to clean up 40 years worth of accumulated stuff that my mother hoarded. It has been hard to watch what feels like the erasure of my mother from the house that I grew up in. I have found a few things that I can keep to remember her by including a nice writing desk. I will use the crap out of that desk.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Course Correction</h3>
So now I am getting back into writing after a short break. The first draft of my second novel is nearing completion, but I still have the last bits of conclusion that lead into the third installment. So far this second novel feels like an adrenaline rush that I can't wait to finish and push it out to you all. Writing again after taking a short break can be difficult. My daily word count isn't that impressive to begin with, but I do try. Sometimes I get that 1,000 words daily that I set as my goal when I sit to write, but there are many more days where I get half that. I need to do better with ramping up my productivity by eliminating distractions so I can focus on the task at hand.<br />
<br />
I mentioned Night Reads which is getting an overhaul. It will be much less about performing readings and more about putting the focus on the book featured. I will also have episodes where there is no featured book and I talk about writing news, the book I'm reading, plot devices, or how sentient dust bunnies could organize to take over the world. Hey, it could happen!<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Announcements</h3>
I do have some happytime announcements for today. So let the sponge ball pit dance party begin<b>!</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Initialization is now available for Nook and Kobo </b>- So yea, this is a thing. You can get it at the links below!<br />
Nook: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940157386917">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940157386917</a>
<br />
Kobo: <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/initialization-1">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/initialization-1</a></li>
<li><b>Contest! </b>- To celebrate the release of Initialization in ePub (Nook/Kobo) format, to random winner(s) of the contest I am going to give away a copy in their choice of Mobi (Kindle) or ePub (Nook/Kobo) ebook formats! Entering is super easy. Log into twitter, use #VWars, and write a tweet about Virtual Wars, virtual reality, dystopian societies, apocalypses, wearable tech, or the future of cellphones. All of those subjects relate to this world I created, and I would love to talk about them! You can also enter via Facebook at my author page here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorbrianbasham/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/authorbrianbasham/</a> <br />Contest ends 3/31/17.</li>
</ul>
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:42,026<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 27 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-45173592986853088202017-02-11T17:03:00.000-05:002017-02-11T17:03:31.317-05:00All The Feels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Depression is never fun and whenever it hits even the most mundane of tasks can be difficult. I always try to put a happy face on things and live in a bubble where all the shiny rainbow unicorns dance all day. In reality I feel alone all the time. Even when surrounded by people I feel intensely on my own. I want to slink away to some space where I can fall to pieces out of the view of others.<br />
<br />
I try to break out of this by making friends and hanging out with people who share similar interests, but everything remains at arm's length. I do OK in this zone. The zone of friendship/acquaintance where I don't have to share how I feel. When I share more and get truly emotional, people don't know how to handle that. It's like I'm not allowed. The feelings come anyway and they are intense.<br />
<br />
This is why I stay busy. I don't drink and I don't have anyone to talk it out with. What happens when it hits so hard that I can't move? Sometimes it feels like if I move then the world will end. Sometimes I take on too much to drown out all of the thoughts and feelings of being alone. That can be too much and swallows me. The darkness of it all weighing on my back. The push and pull of deadlines, work, and lack of sleep.<br />
<br />
I put more tasks in my todo box to stay busy which prevents me from reaching out to people which isolates me more which makes me more depressed which causes me to take on more tasks. It is an evil circle of shit that I don't know how to break out of. So I sit here writing this, thinking about how to break down this wall. The anxiety I feel when trying to make a phone call is enough to make me scream.<br />
<br />
I don't have any answers. I have written before that happiness is a choice, and it is... up to a point. I try to celebrate my accomplishments as much as I can, but when depression hits those all feel fake. Like I made them up to get people to like me. So I move on. I do the one thing I can do. It's like the scene in Kill Bill when Uma Thurman comes out of the coma and can't move. "Wiggle your big toe." I start there and build myself up until I can do all the things I want to. Maybe that is the answer. Imagine "wiggle your big toe" becoming the mantra for depressed people everywhere. I should be a motivational speaker *falls over*
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:40,228<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 23 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-39868211583388910452017-01-29T17:43:00.002-05:002017-01-29T17:44:06.419-05:00The Big Four Oh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was born on January 30, 1977 in Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. The journey from then until now has been a long hard one. I am writing this on the edge of this barrier and I don't feel 40 years old, but when I think of it and see younger people I do feel 40 years old.<br />
<br />
I feel like I found my calling later in life than I should. When I was young I always thought I had plenty of time to figure things out. I went with the flow and didn't bother worrying about the mark I would leave on the world. I always figured that I would be OK. I never spent the time to truly figure out what that would be. I had the potential to be anything I wanted, but didn't put in the work.<br />
<br />
It wasn't that I was lazy. With every great idea came many others. Each one seeming like they were the most important thing in the world. I worked hard at every project I took on and I took on more than I could
accomplish on my own. I worked on 4 or 5 major projects at a time by
myself. At some point you realize that you need the help of others, but
other people will flake out on you unless they are just as invested as
you are or you pay them to be.<br />
<br />
I would prioritize new and exciting projects and eventually abandon older projects I had spent so many hours on. Staying focused on one thing until it was completed was one of the biggest challenges I faced. I wanted to do EVERYTHING. The overriding passion I had for creating things is what drove me, but it took me a while to realize that none of it mattered unless I finished what I started.<br />
<br />
That was when I decided I wanted to be a musician. This is something I worked on for a long time. I wrote lyrics in a notebook and created beats to go with them. I made enough songs to put together a mix tape or album. I learned that music, no matter how much I loved it, was not my passion. I was not a talented musician. I could do the music portion by the numbers using math to come up with a sequence that sounded good, but it wasn't organic. I didn't have the passion to learn to play an instrument. The part I loved was writing the lyrics. This is how I came back to writing. That was what I loved going back as far as I can remember.<br />
<br />
When I was young I struggled with words. Socially awkward to the point of being afraid to speak to nearly anyone. I still have problems today. This is what fuels my passion for writing though. Math and science were always easy for me. Words are a challenge. They are the road less traveled for me.<br />
<br />
I still get ideas, but I am focused on one thing and it is large enough to encompass everything else I do. I have no time for other grand ideas that I would like to pursue. Every book is a grand idea that demands my full focus. Every sentence demands another to follow it. Working with others who have been successful in other areas taught me that consistency and quality are big factors in building a support structure.<br />
<br />
In trying to build things and asking for support I have been accused of being false, of lying, and of using people for my own personal gain. This really grates on me because it is hard enough for me to ask for help and then when I do people respond to me in this manner as if I have not been supportive of them for years prior to asking for the one thing. Today I didn't ask for anything and I got this response. I told this person that if they wanted to read my novel that it is available for free through my birthday. I didn't ask them to read it, I didn't ask for money, and I didn't ask for a review that I really need at this point. These are the people I cut out of my life. Life is too short for it to be a one way street where you give and the other person takes.<br />
<br />
So I sit here contemplating their words. Am I a fake? A fraud? Am I wrong for trying to be open and honest? Would people trust me more if I lied all the time? or cursed more? Should I never strive to take anything for myself? Am I exploiting people? No, I emphatically reject this entire line of thinking. The actual response going through my head right now starts with "F" has 3 more letters and ends with "THAT", all caps. I can only be myself and I am constantly trying to improve on that. These people are actively impeding that progress.<br />
<br />
Going after what you want in life is what everyone should be working toward. If you don't try then you will never get there. A true friend will want to help you without being asked, and if they can help they will in most cases. If you are a true friend then you will reciprocate in the same manner. True friends exploit each other as a matter of course. It's a symbiosis. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. We both benefit. So here I am writing on the day before my 40th birthday about this and mourning the loss of a few "friends". Tomorrow will be filled with the happy, sunshine, Godzilla stomping, confetti cannon, rainbow, unicorn, and cotton candy ride of amaze. Wanna come?<br />
<br />
On to better news. My novel is available for free in ebook format at Amazon through my birthday 1/30. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Initialization-Virtual-Wars-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01M3V6PTA/" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Initialization-Virtual-Wars-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01M3V6PTA/</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
CONTEST OMGSH</h3>
I'm also giving away more books that I didn't write! Details are on my author facebook and twitter accounts.<br />
<ul>
<li>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/NinjaTheory22/status/825440318719918081">https://twitter.com/NinjaTheory22/status/825440318719918081</a></li>
<li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorbrianbasham" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/authorbrianbasham</a> </li>
</ul>
<ul> </ul>
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</h3>
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count:40,058<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 18 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-43314234742818320722017-01-15T00:27:00.001-05:002017-01-15T00:45:28.699-05:00Freedom of Thought<center>
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If you have been following me on Twitter for a while then you know that I can't resist making posts about politics, about cute puppies and kittens, or about various fictional apocalypses. I wanted to write today about something that I think is very important for fiction writers and authors to have. That is what I call the freedom of thought.<br />
<br />
In spite of what you see me post, I talk with people who supported and some who still support Trump. I think it is important to keep the lines of communication open for any thoughts or ideas whether I agree or disagree with them. I will try to remain civil in the vast majority of cases, but I can tell you that I have been cursed out hundreds of times for putting forward an idea that someone else doesn't like. Ideas and stories are like Pokemon to me, I gotta catch 'em all.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Walk A Mile</h3>
They say I can't truly know someone until I have walked a mile in their shoes, but what do they say about that person's underwear? I'm uh... asking for a friend. I can't write without having some understanding of the characters in my story. I have to know every argument they are going to use and why. If I am going to write a character that would fall within a certain category then I have to take the time to try to understand them. If my character is like Trump or would have voted for Trump then I have to speak with conservatives to understand how they think. The same is true for writing people of different cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, toenail colors, stances on Godzilla, etc..<br />
<br />
The best way to get that understanding is to live like they do. Think about what they do on a day to day basis. Who do they speak with every day? What motivates them? Experiences will influence how someone thinks and reacts. Going through those same experiences, even if only in my mind, can help me to at least partially understand someone. With that understanding I still could get it wrong, but the fear of getting it wrong won't keep me from trying.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Justified</h3>
One thing I have noticed is that no one sees themselves as the villain. Even Darth Vader had justification for turning to the dark side. It wasn't only because he was evil. Emperor Palpatine wasn't evil for evil's sake either. He was a politician that wanted the power to fix things that needed fixing without others in the Senate squabbling over it. My biggest pet peeve in fiction is a character that does evil things because evil. How do they sleep at night if they can't justify their actions?<br />
<br />
Nearly everyone justifies what they do before they do it if there is any question of morality involved with the action. Everyone makes mistakes, but at the time of making the mistake they have a reason for it. While plotting out things, before I write an outline, I go through every major decision my characters have to make. I have to justify my narrative and make sure the characters fit within the story I want to tell. I think about how each character that is affected by these decisions will react. More often than not each decision creates a chain reaction of events. Each decision has to be justified within that character's framework. A character on drugs might justify their actions saying that a unicorn promised them a rainbow if they did the thing. I'm going to do the thing anyway, but if someone would give me a rainbow I would be all the flails.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Freedom </h3>
Doing your research and collecting these ideas gives you the freedom to confidently write the story you want to tell. It makes your characters feel more realistic and gives them a depth they wouldn't have had otherwise. It helps you avoid tropes that are harmful. No one writes perfect characters. All our characters are flawed messes of people. That is what makes them interesting. Just like our characters we are flawed. We mess up, but we can always try to do better next time. That is why it is important to listen to others. You never know when someone may be a bag of spiders waiting to be unleashed upon you. Don't make the bag of spiders angry OK?
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count: 32,479<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 11 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-6326620399126614852016-12-30T15:50:00.000-05:002016-12-30T15:55:56.923-05:00Reading Habits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you all had a very Happy Holidays and that the new year doesn't contain as many horrors as the last. This last blog post of the year I want to focus on something that I love. Reading books.<br />
<br />
First I do have a couple of announcements:<br />
<ol>
<li>Night Reads will be resuming with Season 2 that will comprise 7 episodes. If you are an author or know of one looking to promote a piece of fiction, submissions are open. There are currently 5 slots available! More information can be found here: <a href="http://brianbasham.blogspot.com/p/night-reads.html" target="_blank">http://brianbasham.blogspot.com/p/night-reads.html</a></li>
<li>I will be hosting a Twitter chat about writing and pop culture on Wednesday 1/4/17 at 8 PM EST (5 PM PST). Join us at the hashtag #SiWriChat at that time. This week's theme will be Star Wars. I will host this chat every other Wednesday and will post a schedule of the upcoming events soon.</li>
</ol>
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<br />
Now time for some serious shenanigans. Reading has been one of my favorite things to do for a very long time. My mother took me to libraries when I was young where I poured through whatever looked interesting. I remember loving every Choose Your Own Adventure book I could get my hands on and flipping back and forth to go through every choice. I remember reading Sherlock Holmes before I was old enough to really get into such stories. I remember thinking how the author took one tiny detail that was glossed over or wasn't fully revealed and made that the crux of the detective's argument when solving the murder. This angered me more than displayed the brilliance of Holmes. I wanted to morph into Godzilla and terrorize the setting in the story. I spent a lot of time going back and rereading one story and becoming more frustrated rather than getting lost in the suspense of it all. I remember reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlotte's Web. The Cask of Amontillado was one of my favorite stories we read in class. I remember Robert Frost visiting my Elementary School and how much his breath stank when he got close enough for me to smell it. Tip to authors who visit schools: Brush your teeth and stay away from the coffee while you are there!<br />
<br />
Then I became lost in the shuffle of school, sports, and video games. I used to love video games and spent too much time playing them. I decided that I wanted to make video games when I was too young to make such decisions. It took me a long time to realize that what I really loved was the stories behind the video games. I began to write my own fiction during this time after a teacher exposed me to the wonders of a chain story, and I have an unnatural love for chain stories to this day. I would lose interest and come back to these stories here and there, but never finish them.<br />
<br />
When college came around a friend of mine let me borrow Jurassic Park and I discovered my love for the written word all over again. I fell in love with Crichton's fast pace techno-thrillers then spread out to other genres. I discovered Clancy, Robert Jordan, and (of course) Stephen King. These wonderful authors created worlds that I tore through as fast as I could. Sometimes I would stay up until 3, 4, 5 AM, or later because I could not force myself to put down the book. I had an English teacher who always gave us a creative option for our papers which I always went with. I wrote about the character Forrest Gump becoming a professional wrestler and I wrote about a surgeon who wore an afro with a chinstrap. Both silly tales in the mold of Ace Ventura. I took a creative writing class that challenged me in ways I had never thought about before. It taught me to consider each word carefully before setting it on fire.<br />
<br />
Many years after college I finally realized that I loved to write. Why shouldn't I try to write my own novels? I looked into publishing and then self-publishing through Amazon. I had stories that I wrote on the side for myself, but most of them were never finished or far too short to be considered a novel. I posted things on Wattpad and worked on my novel.<br />
<br />
I read books from some of my indie writing heroes Lindsay Buroker and Hugh Howey. Each word giving inspiration and satisfying a need. Today I typically read at least 3 fiction books, 1 audio book (listen instead of read?), and 1 instructional book. One book is for lunch breaks at work, one is for the bathroom (I am old shut up), an audio book for trips more than 10 minutes, and an e-book for nighttime reading before sleep (don't need the lights on for this!)<br />
<br />
Lately books I could not put down have been hiding from me. I miss the techno-thrillers of Crichton, the Harry Potter series, the first two books of The Hunger Games and Divergent series, Angels and Demons, and other books that sucked me into their worlds. Then I ran into one that I felt I must share. I posted a link to my review of the novel here on the blog. A review of a book is one of the best gifts you can give to an author (ranks up there with coffee and chocolate), so please review the books you read.<br />
<br />
In 2016 I did not finish many novels. I think I only have 6 or 7 that I finished for the year. I want to at least double that for 2017, but I need help. If you have any novels that you recommend or could not put down then please share them here or message me on social media with them. I am always looking for books that grab you with Hellraiser type hooks and won't let go until the book is satisfied with your page turning. Give me all of those... and puppies.
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count: 25,185<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 4 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-65560755727497376882016-12-25T18:14:00.001-05:002016-12-25T18:14:54.750-05:00Review of Ready Player One<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ready Player One" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406383612m/9969571.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one">Ready Player One</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31712.Ernest_Cline">Ernest Cline</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1847558179">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/19682729-brian-basham">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-30807244910339439402016-12-12T00:20:00.001-05:002016-12-12T00:21:06.412-05:00Measuring Stick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed in what we are doing. As an author we all want to be best selling authors on the NYT, USA Today, or on Amazon. Just being on the list can give you a nice boost on sales that you didn't have before. Not everyone is going to make that list in spite of writing something great. This is why I want to talk about the measuring stick. This is the standard that you use to measure your success. You can use it to measure other things, but Godzilla may look at you funny then set you on fire.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Set Your Goals</h3>
You can't be the underpants gnomes from South Park and expect to be successful without a plan. Of course you have the larger goals that you want to reach like being on the best seller list, making enough money off your writing to support yourself, or own all the Twinkies in the world. How do you make that happen though? You need smaller manageable goals that you KNOW you can accomplish. Small steps you can take that will lead up to the larger goals.<br />
<br />
These are the smaller goals that I work the living crap out of. If you don't squeeze all the innards out of these then there is a chance of infection. Trust me, you don't want your dreams to become infected. Unrealistic goals can poison your whole outlook on what you are doing. It can push your spirits down and force you to quit. You know how the saying goes. Quitters never win, and winners go to Disney Land. Well? Do you wanna go to Disney Land with me?<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Manage Expectations</h3>
I did a little digging and found that there are very few debut novels that make the NYT bestseller list in any given year. The Girl On The Train is the only one I can think of in recent times that made #1 although there may be another one this past year. Now that self publishing is somewhat mainstream there are thousands of books published every year. Think about that. The chance of being a NYT bestseller on your debut novel is better than winning the lottery, but worse than your chance of being chased by a murderous clown or shot by a toddler.<br />
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Don't use someone else's stick to measure your level of success! The quickest way to hit the quit button is by trying to measure your level of success against the Stephen Kings, Tom Clancys, or Chuck Tingles of the world. You are not them and you never will be. It's comparing apples to oranges with the expectation of them both tasting like chocolate. Don't do that, it's like slapping yourself across the face repeatedly and saying you should stop but you keep going anyway. That's never fun and should only be done on Tuesdays. Everyone knows that!<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Success</h3>
I have reached several of the goals set from the beginning. Here is a short list of the goals I have accomplished thus far. I finished my first novel, formatted it myself, sold my first book, someone has read and enjoyed it, and the latest goal I accomplished yesterday was to sell enough books to make the money back for the stock copies purchased. The only goals set that haven't been reached yet are for getting reviews and selling enough stock copies to require another order. I expect to reach every goal set and have been surprised at the amount of support thus far (all of the <3 for that! :) That is my measuring stick for success for the debut novel. No you can't use it. Why would you want to? You don't know where it's been, or where I have been, or where those snuggling Care Bears have been... Wait, where have YOU been? *runs away screaming something about Nutella*<br />
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count: 18,049<br />
<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 4 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-6825539869608814812016-12-05T00:47:00.005-05:002016-12-05T00:47:54.182-05:00When the Muse Calls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been almost 2 weeks now since I released my first novel and I must say that this isn't how I imagined things starting out. Not that things have been bad. Everything has been positive so far. What I am talking about is all of the unexpected things that have been happening lately. The biggest one is the call of the muse. Before we get into that I want to talk about a couple of the other things. The ones that go bump in the night.<br />
<br />
I have gotten many requests from people asking me to provide a link to purchase an autographed copy of my novel online. Boom! It is done. I now have a link for that in the right sidebar. Now whoever kidnapped the fluffy bunny, please let it go!<br />
<br />
I also decided to try participating in NaNoWriMo last month which I did not win. I have much respect for those of you who did. For me it was simply a case of trying to take on too many things at once. If you are thinking about doing it then I suggest you clear your calendar. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get 50,000 words written in one month. I did learn a lot in the process. You have to go in with a plan and budget your time and word count to ensure that you finish. Setting word count goals for each day is important. If you can't write as much one day then you have to figure out how you can make up that time. It's so easy to get behind bit by bit. You know what else is easy? Getting stomped by Godzilla.
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Muse</h3>
The muse is whatever it is that inspires you to make your awesome. It is your sunset. It is your lover. It is your plastic bag floating in the wind. Anything and everything that speaks to you. The muse for me more often than anything is a dream. I have more story ideas based off dreams than anything else. When you read my works it really was all a dream, but I did not read "Word Up" magazine.<br />
<br />
I do get ideas based off of other people's stories, but most of those feel fake or second rate. It feels cheapened because I am taking someone's idea and molding it into my vision of what it should be. That story has already been told. Those ideas don't excite me, only chains and whips do that. <br />
<br />
Lately I have been getting called by the muse to work on the sequel to my novel. What I have found is that when the muse calls it is not always friendly. While I should be working on promotional stuff and building on what I have started the muse has been laughing at me. The call the muse is putting out is like a violent grabbing and twisting of the ear. It wants me to type the words that give life to my dreams and it will not let go. This is fine although the timing of it has not been helpful. The muse waits for no one and you must listen when it calls. You never know when or if it will call again.<br />
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Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current word count: 18,049<br />
<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Page 2 of 47
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-11535657588035482372016-11-21T00:07:00.000-05:002016-11-21T00:08:04.744-05:00Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I get started today, I want to push FREE STUFF onto you. OK not really free stuff, it's a raffle and also a copter and you maybe get a prize. The rafflecopter giveaway of an ebook copy of Virtual Wars: Initialization ends 11/22! Godzilla told me he will stomp on those of you who resist! At least that's what I think that roar meant.<br />
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Princess Leia once said that Obi-Wan Kenobi was our only hope. I like to think there is a little Kenobi in us all singing Uptown Funk. No matter what you do or what your dreams are there is hope that you can reach them. It takes determination and hard work. <br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
You CAN</h3>
Tell this to yourself this over and over again. There are going to be many people who say that you can't. Don't be one of them! If I had a nickel for every time someone told me I couldn't write a novel then I would have a vault filled with nickels to swim in like Scrooge McDuck! Friends and family alike have told me that I can't do the things that I have done. Use it to fuel the fire. Build the fire bigger and hotter until it is large enough for astronauts to see it from space, then sing "Smooooke on the water, FIRE IN THE SKY!"<br />
<br />
Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the size of the project I am faced with I ask myself, "What is stopping you from succeeding?"<!-- Begin MailChimp Signup Form --> All too often the only answer is myself. Don't be the obstacle standing in your way. You CAN do this! Pull up your socks and...<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Get to Work!</h3>
Work harder than anyone has ever worked before. Hard work gets rewarded and the more hard work you put in the better you get at it. If you continue to grind at it and put that time in then it is only a matter of time until you succeed. The only way to fail is to give up and quit.<br />
<br />
People will tell you that it isn't that simple. It IS that simple. Period. End of story. Work hard, be awesome, share your awesome, and let people celebrate you with a My Little Pony dance party. Sticking with it and working hard to get what you want is the most difficult part of it all.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Hope</h3>
Be the light, the beacon of hope for others.
Share that light with anyone who will listen. This is the way to fight the darkness of doubt that tries to cloud everything. It helps breed confidence and belief in yourself. Others will follow suit. Doubt has its place and makes us strive to improve or lets us know when we need to work harder to squash it back down. There is always doubt, but at the same time there is always hope. Share the hope. <link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/classic-10_7.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815350310394495347.post-54819709484296281322016-11-17T23:42:00.000-05:002016-11-17T23:42:29.700-05:00The Mad Dash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to the everything is fine portion of our program. Usually when someone says that it means the exact opposite. I feel like I am so far behind on the everything that I don't mind the fires burning all around me. This is the mad dash and we all go through this. The usual suspects that cause this are taking on too much, looming deadlines, and self-imposed pressure to be great. Today I am going to talk about all of these then end the post with a small treat. I wish I could send coffee and chocolate, but whenever I try to shove them through the tubes of the interwebs they get stuck. I'm hoping you will like the treat anyway.</div>
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Taking on too much!</h3>
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This is something I tend to do over and over again. I have so many ideas that I think are the new Velcro that I want to do all of them at the same time. I need to remind myself that I do not have a time machine nor to I have 8 arms. Unfortunately cybernetics has not advanced far enough to give me extra arms. I am not a character in GURPS although sometimes I wish I could be a disembodied brain with psionic powers. Don't ask.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Taking on too many projects leads to not having time for any of them which leads to not finishing any of them which leads to staring at a wall while shoveling air from an empty ice cream container into my mouth... Don't judge! It's not like you've never done it before!</div>
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Looming Deadlines</h3>
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These are the ghosts that haunt my dreams as of late.<b> </b>I have a novel coming out soon which means I have 18 bazillion things to do that are driving me crazy. OK I know that's a short trip, but I like to think I can cross the line to sanity's side every once in a while. The voices told me it was OK. </div>
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<br /></div>
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What doesn't help is that I decided to take on this monster called NaNoWriMo which I have never done before. It forces you to write until your fingers bleed then you must write more because the bone isn't poking out yet. At the end of the month I am also on vacation where I will spend most of it in a mad dash to complete 50K words for this National Novel Writing Month. The contest is over half way over and I am not near half way to the word count goal.</div>
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Self-Imposed Pressure</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the biggest butthole of them all. Like Godzilla stomping on an ant kind of pressure. I am such a perfectionist that every little thing must be just right for me to be satisfied sometimes. It's hard for me to let go yet I know that nothing is ever truly perfect no matter how much I want it to be. Now that my novel is coming out I have to pretend it wasn't written by me because I know it is not perfect while promoting that it exists and was written by me. </div>
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Then there is the pressure of how it performs. I put up a good front with all the smiles and joking around, but inside I'm screaming. I do hope that people read it, enjoy it, and tell their friends. There is a small voice of doubt that is persistent in my head saying that it doesn't matter how hard I worked. I try to squish that voice, but the jerkface is like a cockroach swimming around in my head.</div>
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mad Dash</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here I am typing away on ye old blog as part of the mad dash to get things done. Like giving away a free copy of the e-book version of my novel! Cue the rafflecopter! I TOLD YOU THERE WAS A TREAT weeeeeee</div>
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing Progress Updates</h3>
<br />
Virtual Wars: Running (Writing First Draft)<br />
Current Wordcount: 13223<br />
<br />
The Ghost Season 1<br />
Editing: Haven't started yet! Hey, I got it printed and ready for the red pen at least!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05891429231002436151noreply@blogger.com0