Mbuwn, Relic by Douglas L. Preston and Lincoln Child

Today on Fantastic Friday Writers, we're writing about creatures. Yes, I love aliens. I also love giant, man-eating reptiles, Gamera, and large evil fish. Instead of any of those, I'm going to write about the Mbuwn from Relic, by Douglas L. Preston and Lincoln Child. This book has so much going for it. If you haven't read it, you should. It was creepy with archeology and history thrown into the mix. The creature, mbuwn, really scared me.

Named "Mbwun" (translation: "He Who Walks On All Fours"). Description, at best, is a "scaly primate." Characterized by an unusual smell and glowing red eyes. The DNA of this creature includes gecko genes. Is described as being "as fast as a greyhound with the intelligence of a human."

I'll leave the rest of the revelation about the creature to the book, because it will spoil the story if I go too far. I enjoyed the sequel as well. Definitely some fun reading.

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.



Upcoming blogfest: Worst Movies Ever, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Listing the ten worst movies you've ever seen. For more information and to sign up click on Alex's name.

What creatures have you run across which have impressed you? Any favorite creatures?

What about robots? I have a fun little robot game paying homage to our mechanical friends on my website. ODE TO THE ROBOT. If you'd like to stop by.

BUY ME, BUY ME, BUY ME!

There's a marketing tactic that doesn't work all that well, continuously bombarding folks with a hard sell approach of what you're hawking. Folks get it from everywhere all day long, so it's not so difficult for them to tune you out. And they will.

Investing time and interacting with people works better, in other words selling you instead of your wares. And, there is a world beyond the internet. Get business cards printed with your web address and / or blog and / or email. I got a set without phone and address with my website, blog and email that I can hand out to whoever. I hand them out up at the observatory and around town. My husband passes them out, too.

I've only just begun promoting a product, so am no expert, other than just be visible as a reminder to folks that you're there. Lots of generous authors on the nets will volunteer to help you out. Be generous back. People like to help other generous people.

Most importantly, produce a great product. Reviews help, and the ones I've received from people who don't know me at all have been really rewarding. And those from people who do know me, too. They've said the nicest things. :D

It's about connecting with your fan base, a true connection. Those are the meat and potatoes of what you're doing. It takes time and effort, it's neither instant nor easy, like pushing a boulder up hill.

Thanks to all of you out there who have made the boulder a little lighter. You rock! I truly appreciate it.

How about you, any words of wisdom on promotion or marketing? Audience building?

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.

Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered.

The above tech message is one I've been getting everyday lately. Siigh. Yes, brand new computer. I know enough to understand it's pointing at a software issue. Sometimes I really hate technology, it plagues me like space debris orbiting the Earth. Nonetheless, it's something that is always present, a part of life. Whether that tech is a rock driving a stake into the earth, or hands converting plant fibers into rope, or dark wizards conjuring up an army of golems, or a curious society launching a spaceship, technology is part of our lives and the world.

This week, Friday Fantastic Writers are buzzing about technology. Both science fiction and fantasy use technology. In fantasy it might be crystals and spells and cauldrons, but it's still technology.

In both, there is something that works outside the norm, whether Hogwarts or Stargates, some bit hovers outside our present understanding and technological advancement to drive the story in some way. So, how does the writer deal with this?

I consider technology one of the cores to world-building. Technology should mesh with the culture and status of the society. It should make sense with who they are. A true peace-loving people should not have developed weapons of mass destruction without a solid, logical reason.

As to tech making sense, I go beg the husband unit for help. He loves gadgets and that sort of thing, knows how to build them and fix them. I imagine what I want, he designs it. Usually.

Technology is something that needs as much care and attention by the writer as the main character, the mc's arc and plot. If you don't make a plausible argument or world for what you create, you could very well lose your audience.

In reality, technology often drives me crazy. In writing, I find inventing it to be another creative outlet. Do you ever invent tech for your stories?

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.

Dealing With the R

Festing friends, you'll find my Poetry Schmoetry post HERE.

R=Rejection. This week's Fantastic Friday Writers topic. Yay. Yay? Yes, yay for you for submitting.

You're not alone. Every writer gets what I call rejection-love. Rejection is part of the journey and nothing to be ashamed of. I consider it a badge of honor. Stephen King got so many he almost gave up. The key word is "almost". He didn't give up.

Many other published writers I've spoken to, some award-winning, told me they wrote any where from 4-9 novels before getting a yes.

Hold your head up and be proud. You finished writing something. You had the guts to submit it. You've got the courage to submit again. That's nothing to hang your head about. You're in the game. You're where thousands dream to be. If you're serious about being a writer, it's something we have to get used to.

Whether it's outright rejection or a bad review, somewhere along the line we're going to run into someone who doesn't care for what we do. Don't let it stop you. Keep writing. Find the passion inside and keep going.

There are levels of rejection. Did you know that? You can gage how you're progressing by what kind you get. There's the no reply, the form letter [dear writer], there's the using your name, there's actually commenting on something in your story, there's revise and resubmit, asking you to submit something else,  actual feedback, etc ... Any time they add something besides 'no', you're doing OK. It means you somehow stood out.

I learned about levels of rejection from Diane Hammond. She lives in my town. Her author journey is inspiring. I've met many other well-known authors in Oregon. Most of them talk about how many rejections they dealt with. So, yeah, you're far from alone.

I caught a brief segment of American Idol where Jennifer Lopez and Stephen Tyler talked about how many no's they heard before getting yes. It's part of our business, the business of being a writer. Part of the business of being in the arts: writer, musician, singer, actor, model, artist, photographer, film maker, etc ...

You can't ever let no stop you. Here's what I do: 1) review all the golden moments - my first fan, praise from published writers in my town [there are a lot around here -- Oregon grows writers like sage and fir trees -- my first fan just won a prestigious writing award]; 2) look at it as a rite of passage and part of the road to authordom, wear it proudly; and 3) figure out how to do better.

Number three is where critique partners come in, craft books, workshops, etc ... We must strike a balance between believing in ourselves and keeping an open mind. Sometimes we do know best. Sometimes we don't. We have to figure out which is which.

Practice better writing. I do this with short stories, and it's through submitting short stories I've been able to gage how I'm doing. Last year I got critique from Brenda C. Cooper through Orycon, [Oregon's sci-fi convention] who said I was writing at a professional level and it was only a matter of time. She was nominated for Hugo or Nebula this year. So, yay.

The hardest ones are when you're in the running then get the no. Siiigh. Recently, I got my 'revise & resubmit' released back to me as the publication folded. Siiigh. Feels like I can't catch a break sometimes. But I keep going. Stopping is not an option. Writing is breathing. I must do it and I will. No matter the outcome.

Keep in mind, not everyone is going to love you. What one person loves, another hates. Keep in mind your audience and write what you love. Keep at it. Don't take no for an answer and eventually we'll all be meeting at conventions and book signings and say "I knew you when ..."

The key is: Never give up, never surrender. My favorite motto from Galaxy Quest.

How do you deal with rejection?

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.

E=MC Squared

The science in science fiction is the Fantastic Friday Writers topic for today.

There's soft science -- society, culture, psychology, etc ... Which counts. Then there's the hard stuff -- astrophysics, physics, engineering, technology, chemistry, biology, mathematics, etc ...

How far does an author in the genre have to go? It depends on the subgenre of science fiction. Hard Sci-Fi is a subgenre and usually goes into depth about science. It's most popular in the UK and is usually written by Phds, engineers and the like.

Science sometimes inspires whole stories for me. Ie, The Tumbas, to be published in the Wandering Weeds anthology. I read an article on synthetic biology that sparked my imagination.

In a lot of my stories, however, as much as I know doesn't make it onto the page -- if you ever get to read my first novel, you'd have no idea how much time I put into researching a plausible solar system killing scenario that fit the time constraints I needed [thank goodness I found the observatory -- thanks fellow astronomizers]. It depends on the story. If science is central to the plot at some point, more of it will show up. However, I don't see the point of dumping it in just to show I did my homework if it doesn't fit.

Sci-fi fans usually like some sort of nod to science and tech somewhere in the manuscript. It doesn't need to be dwelled on if that's not your thing or the focus of the story, but a sci-fi writer does need to keep in mind his / her audience. Like every other genre. If you screw up the plausibility, you will lose your core audience. If you don't know or don't understand something, find someone to talk to about it who does know.

Books and other types of research are all well and good, but nothing beats speaking to an expert in the field.

When I was researching some ancient history, I randomly emailed a professer at a university. He was so helpful and put me in touch with a better expert. So, don't be afraid to reach out. Most professors and other experts love talking about their pet subject and will happily answer your questions.

Why? So, I can speak to my audience. I think it's a key ingredient in any work. Along with my pile of fiction, I read astrophysics books and other nonfiction on topics relating to my stories. For instance, I've done substantial research on DNA and anthropology, stealth technology, nanotubes and other strange molecular sciences, propulsion -- proposed and existing -- and more subjects than I remember.

Stephanie Meyer, whether you love or hate Twilight, wrote to her audience. Wrote to it like she's a 15 year old girl. That's how we find a market and success as writers. Know your audience and write for them and to them without apology.

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.



Love science or hate it, how do you cater to your audience in your writing?

The Art of Critique

Acquiring critique partners is a valuable method of learning to write better. Not only do I learn from what my crit partners have to say about my work, but I learn just as much, maybe more, from critiquing their work.

Crit partners sometimes take time to nurture into what you need. One, the writer has to learn how to communicate what he / she wants in feedback and, two, the critiquer has to learn how to effectively convey their feedback to the writer.

I think the first rule of critique is respect. The work you're reading, someone poured their time and soul into the piece. Adhere to what the writer asks for. Point out what the writer does well and gets right as well as where they could use improvement. Remember, it's only your opinion. The writer is free to choose whether to take the advice or not.

Honesty is a crucial ingredient, too. It can be tough to hear, but is essential for the writer's growth. It's better to hear it from your crit partners than in a review. Feedback should be given from a good place and attitude -- I want to help you succeed.

Trust is another key ingredient. Critiquing should stay within the group. If you must bellyache to someone, that's what spouses, significant others and pets exist for. No matter how annoyed you may be with a partner at first, when you calm down, you'll probably find something constructive you can use in what was said. I find that is pretty much always the case. Sure, there are people out there that want to rip you to shreds for the pleasure of it. This is the type of crit partner you need to step away from. There should be support and encouragement with the feedback.

Generally attacking a work without specificity is wrong. It just frustrates the writer as he / she tries to figure out what you're talking about. There's so much to keep track of, that sort of comment is throwing more leaves onto the trees in the forest the writer can't see through and does nothing for him / her. For example, generally telling a partner he or she is often vague is not very helpful. You need to point out where and suggest how to fix it. Vague critique is not constructive and may make your partners want to kick your ass. :-O Sending in scribblings you wrote on your lunch bag with a sharpie will also make them want to kick your ass. It comes down to the first rule, be respectful.

I have two critique groups. One I meet with locally face-to-face who write in different genres. And, another online who write in my genre. Taking the feedback online is easier than face-to-face. It's easier to be honest in email. However, hearing everyone else's feedback of all work is also a useful tool. And holding interest of those not interested in your genre is a good test. Plus, face-to-face we've learned to communicate with each other more effectively over time. And we've learned not to hold back. Some meetings I feel bruised afterward, but it's all good. They make me better.

It is all suggestion. As the critiquer, keep that in mind. And, your partner is depending on you to help him / her improve. Only in critique does a writer truly want honesty. If you don't want honesty, you're not ready for critique.

I consider critique one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal in learning to hone my craft. And, bonus, I get to read awesome stories by awesome writers. It takes a village to write a novel.

All my love and thanks to Dennis, Julie, Cleo, Mike, Lynda, Misha and Tony. Gary, miss ya. I'm better and stronger because of all of you. Thanks a million times over.

So what are your feelings on what makes 'successful' critique?

See what other Fantastic Friday Wrtiers have to say: Alex J. Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, Deirdre Eden Coppel and Jeffrey Beesler.

PS -- as if having a coffee crisis wasn't bad enough, now there's an internet crisis. Bet you've heard me screaming this week. Don't know what the deal is. Replaced the modem and it went out again. Then TV channels went out. Cable guy is coming today. I hope he fixes it or I might have to kick somebody. Yes, I have discovered a worse hell than coffee tragedies ... internet tragedies. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Juggling New Ideas without Dropping the Current WIP

How to keep up with the flow of ideas, without abandoning current project is the Fantastic Friday Writers topic.

I have yet to master this. With a strict time table, I have been able to work on multiple projects for short spurts of time. But as a novel begins to consume my creative energies [which they always end up doing], whatever else I was doing usually gets chucked to the side. I have a pile of partially written projects waiting on my return. When I realize I won't be back for awhile, I go back in and quickly jot down my remaining thoughts on the project to keep my place and jog my memory.

I keep an idea journal as well. Anything I think could be the kernel of a story idea, or become part of a story, gets written in there.

I have an idea of typing out rough sketches and outlines, but haven't done that yet. I do that when revising my novels - write out brief outlines and sketches. I have yet to do it with new story ideas, but will schedule in some time each week or every other week to do that. Now that I thought of it.

PS, I had high hopes of fixing my commenting troubles yesterday only to have them dashed. I see Blogger has had time to create new doohickeys of which we have no idea what they do, but can't fix their problems -- like folks being unable to comment on some blogs or slow loading of the widgets. I've about given up all hope on ever being able to comment normally again.

At any rate, it's a hard thing to juggle. What do you do? I'm interested in hearing what you all have to say and what my fellow Fantastic Friday Writers have to say. Give them a visit.

Query: What's Your Sign?

No, not a post on astrology. I know as much about it as writing a crackerjack query letter. Not a whole lot. Query letters is the Fantastic Friday Writers topic.

I've studied query letters. I'm working on one now. I do know it's about character, character, character -- telling the plot from the main character's perspective. It's supposed to pop and sizzle, sell your product and show a little voice. It has to do a whole dang lot in three little paragraphs. And, I do know to write it in third person present tense.

So, an author has to boil a novel down to the basics and keep it simple. Emphasizing what's most interesting and unique about the plot while couching it in the safety net of stories which have sold well in the genre. And again, from your main character's point of view. What's their story? That's what will sell your novel and hook readers.

The point is to lure the fish so they read your chapters or whatever you submitted, not to tell the entire story. But you also don't want to leave the agent hanging. So, no teasing. We must tell the agent how the story turns out in the end so he / she can see we know how to properly construct a novel.

The synopses goes a bit more into depth about the plot. Not much. Some agents request a one pager these days. If not specified, the norm is two pages these days. The synopses' purpose is to tell the main story. Again, no teasing. Spill the beans. Don't hold the best stuff back. The query letter is about marketing, marketing, marketing.

Cross multiple genres? Pick the main genre. Which subgenre sells best in your genre for your market? Yeah, know who you're writing for and selling to. It makes a difference. Subgenres change in popularity in different countries. For instance, space opera and steampunk are popular in the US. In the UK, hard sci-fi is more popular. In Australia, epic fantasy sells better.


I know more about writing query letters for short stories. Simple:

Dear Editor:

For your consideration is "Title", a xxx word genre story.

A paragraph on any writing credits. Stick to professional credits. They don't care about those that aren't professional credits. You can put all that extraneous info on your website and direct them to it for more detail.

Say thanks for their time. Sign off and use your legal name not your pen name. Be professional. If electronic submission, put your legal name then your address, phone, email, web site, etc ... under your legal name. Your pen name goes under the title on the short story. They get that the legal name and byline aren't always the same. You don't have to point it out.

Attach the short story in the requested format. Some ask for bios and the like. Keep a bio short and simple. It's something us authors should work on and keep in stock and updated. Don't drone on and on.

Give the publisher / editor what they ask for. Overall, it's a much simpler process than a query for a novel.

A few publications want a query without the short story. Then you're writing a pitch. It's much easier to pare down a short story to a few sentences than a novel. In my opinion.

Will let you know when I ace the novel query letter. Will let ya know.

Want to share what you've learned? We'd all love to hear about it.

Read what other Fantastic Friday Writers have to say on query letters:

Support Systems Taste of Home

Fantastic Friday Writers Features: Support Systems

Finding other writers to commiserate with in this business is a must. Who else understands the rejections and triumphs better. Who else understands how hard we work for peanuts or less. I'm a member of my local writing association, and through that I have my local critique group. We all root each other on and encourage each other. Through the Central Oregon Writers Guild, I've met so many people who have given me words and stories of encouragement. I'm not just a member, I got involved. I'm their blog director, sit on the board of directors and help out where needed. I believe: if you give, you get back. http://centraloregonwriters.blogspot.com/

I also usually attend 2nd Sundays at my local library, which is a group of local poets who sponsor a published writer. The first 40 minutes or so is all about the featured speaker. After that, there's an open mic. I've used it to improve my reading skills in front of an audience. I got my first fans through this program and not because they know me -- because they heard my work and loved it. Makes me all giddy that folks do love what I write. Applause now and then isn't over rated either.

I also have an online critique group of science fiction and fantasy writers, who have been a tremendous help. I'm grateful I bumped into them.

Then I have this policy -- never say anything negative about another writer, editor, agent or other person of note in this industry. Never. So, thanks to my husband for listening to me whine when I feel the need, and buoying me back up when I'm feeling more on the discouraged side.

And I'm thankful to my first real fan -- another writer who's actually published. You made my year, David. He fell in love with Plantgirl when I read it. And I'm thankful to the other writers I've bumped into along this journey who tell me to keep at it and keep going, and those who've told me I have talent. And thanks to the editors and agents who took the time to send me personal rejection with feedback. Appreciated. And the editors who wrote words of encouragement. So, yes, rejection can sting, but it can also be supportive. So, go for it and submit.

And thanks to Galaxy Quest for my favorite motto: Never give up, never surrender.

See what the other Fantastic Friday Writers have to say on this topic:

Recently I went to the mailbox and found this in it.

I'm on page 151. So that's the third time Taste of Home has published me. Cool. Not as cool as The Tumbas being accepted into the Wandering Weeds anthology. Can find out more about The Tumbas HERE

So, yeah, tooting my own horn for T. How convenient T is involved in both publications.

Got something to toot about? What kind of support systems do you have?

Hosted by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/ 

Genre Huygens

The genre I usually write in is speculative fiction.
Specifically, it is defined as encompassing the more hightly imaginative fiction genres -- science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalpytic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternative history.

Although I tend to write space opera, I mix in other subgenres of sci-fi with those and have written fantasy, superhero, cyberpunk, dystopian, post-apocolyptic, supernatural and steampunk. Space opera is - think Star Trek, Babylon5, Farscape, Stargate, Star Wars, Firefly, Battle Star Galactica ... It's big, its dramatic. Some use more science than others. It's a subgenre in flux and does not mean what it once did.

I am drawn to exploring other worlds and space. It seems most of my adult life I had to keep my creativity and imagination in check. In science fiction and fantasy, I don't have to. That's it's appeal to me and why it called to me over all the other genres. At least, for now.

When I moved to NYC after college, I read a lot of sci-fi. I was reading Galapagos by Vonnegut and I went down to the newstand in my building and there was Kurt himself buying cigarettes. How surreal.

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Huygens http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/
 
Huygens was a probe attached to Cassini which seperated from Cassini to land on Titan in December 2005. Titan has a very thick atmosphere - hazy like Venus. Huygens took the first photos of the surface of Titan ever seen. It descended down on a parachute to land on the Saturn moon in a sort of mud.
 
 

 

The probe was named after Christian Huygens 1629-1695. He discovered Titan, which is why ESA [European Space Agency} named the probe after him.
 
Huygens achieved note for his argument that light consists of waves now known as the Huygens-Fresnel principle, which became instrumental in the understanding of wave-particle duality. He generally receives credit for his discovery of the centrifugal force, the laws for collision of bodies, for his role in the development of modern calculus and his original observations on sound perception. Huygens is seen as the first theoretical physicist as he was the first to use formulae in physics
 
 


What drew you to your genre? Do you have a favorite scientist?
 

Hosted by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

qo' vIvan

Fantastic Friday Writers - Language

The above is Klingon for 'hello world'.

How language is used is important no matter what you write. It comes more into play for sci-fi and fantasy writers.

We build worlds and cultures, with that comes language and words and expressions. Readers of the genre expect unique words and concepts. It helps immerse them in our world. Incorporating unique language without bogging the beginning of a novel or story down and maintaining clarity is quite a trick. A real juggling act.

So how does a writer handle it?

Use a word or object in context is one way. 'She pulled the jaju from her holster.' From the action and context, the reader can make an accurate guess as to what a jaju is.

Some objects and concepts are going to need more explanation. In chapter one, these need to be kept as brief as possible. And the depth should be fit in later chapters without an information dump. Study the masters - the most recent Hugo and Nebula winners and nominees is a great place for study.

And keep a list / glossary of your unique terms and concepts, so you can keep them straight. I'll usually list them in multiple places -- by the name I use and by what it is. Ie, weapons, ships, places, etc ... In alphabetical order. I love doing this as part of my world building. The key is to be very organized in mantaining the list so you can find those words in chapter 26 you haven't used since chapter 3 and be consistant.

When writing in a foreign or alien language, the meaning should be so obvious it hits you over the head. Otherwise you need to provide a translation of some kind. I used some alien language in one of my stories. The characters are establishing contact with the aliens, so they are guessing what is said through context and action. Just like the reader. Or just provide a straight-up translation. The foreign words are to be followed by the English equivalent. The accpeted format is: She pulled the jaju, gun, from her holster.

A lexicon reflects the culture and world built into the fiction. I consider it a fun part of world building -- what is centrally important to these people - what do their thoughts and language center around.

Look at our own planet and how different cultures use language. It colors each people and culture, which I think is fascinating.

In your own household, folks have different lexicons. Husband has one different than mine. We grew up in different regions of the country and have different professions. It colors our thoughts and things we say. So, too, in a fictional world -- whether sci-fi or ordinary. Your character's language colors his/her perspective, actions and thoughts.

An exercise I learned at a workshop last fall was to create a lexicon for each major character. A lumberjack has a different lexicon than a ballerina. Their views on the world will be different.

The only thing different in sci-fi and fantasy is that we may create professions and perspectives very foreign to the reader. We need to ground it and pick and choose what we decide to flavor.

Yeah, it's tricky deciding how much flavor. That's where crit partners and beta readers come in handy. Yet remember who your audience is and write for them. Readers of some genres are willing to work harder [and find it fun] than others. For more information, visit the blogs below. And here's an article I found on the topic: ARTICLE

Have you used foreign or alien language in your books/stories? How?

Visit the other Fantastic Friday Writers