Category: On Writing

Scrivener, OneDrive, and Terrible Lies

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This is a for-writers post. If you use Scrivener, have iOS devices, and wonder how to get more work done on the road, read on. Since I’m back in the office regularly, I need a solution to writing during lunch breaks. I tried lugging my laptop in, but when your employer issues you a device, that’s two laptops you’re dragging around. I am not, despite my weights-training regime, The Hulk. I figured I’d just use my Kindle Fire; it’s an Android tablet, and tablets are basically computers, right? If by “basically computers” we mean “basically useless,” then we’re about right. Microsoft Word on mobile devices doesn’t support RTF (seriously, Microsoft?). Scrivener’s folder sync feature only does RTF (…and TXT, but daddy needs his italics), so we’re kinda fucked there. There’s about 300 RTF editors on Android, all of which hard Read More …

Honest Work (and an excerpt)

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I’m moonlighting with a great team at one of NZ’s premier government departments. They’re good people, doing excellent work, and made me feel right at home (despite my transitory nature and hobo stubble). I’ve kept the writing up a couple days this week too. Can I keep up the target of 5,000 words/day on the days I’m not at a Real Job™? I’m there three days a week, leaving two for lying writing. It turns out, yes. Yesterday, I minted over 5,600 words, and Today’s allotment was just under 4,900. I’d like to try writing during the Real Work™ days too, but things are too busy right now. Let’s see if that’s achievable once things settle down some. Since you’re here, how about a small excerpt? Here’s Chad and Saveria, at a megaplex in San Francisco. No idea if this Read More …

Rewriting The Fall of Reason

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I sometimes re-write chunks of work, because it sucks. Most of the time I do this once the first draft is finished, but on starting the finale in the Tyche’s Fallen trilogy (Tyche’s Crusade), I figured it was not what it needed to be. Because I like self-flagellation, I present you with both takes on The Fall of Reason. Neither of these are edited. This is horrible, horrible first-draft stuff (so bad, I threw one version out). But no writing is wasted! You get to join in the suffering with me. The Hard Fail Version “Ash is a nice shade of gray.” Nate pressed his face to the air car’s window, staring down at the streets of San Francisco as they scudded by. The city was still on life support. While buildings no longer burned, shipping new ash into the Read More …

Reversing Awkward 😕 to Groovy 😎

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This is one of my world-famous emails, originally sent Sunday, 24 February, 2019. You can get on the list here. It’s New Release Time Remember that time at bandcamp when I asked you* to not buy my books? This is not one of those emails. This week: The Empire’s Rogues, with a launch special; A couple book reviews you may have missed; and Some interviews. * ICYMI: here. The Empire’s Rogues They’re out! Well, some of them, anyway. This is my foray into writing YA fiction, which naturally I know everything about having been a YA in my earlier laps around Sol. The first three stories are live, and … I’m actually nervous. It took a while to build the thin veneer of confidence I show around space opera and cyberpunk. How will the masses take my young Nate & Read More …

Bookshine and Readbows Reviews The Empire’s Rogues

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If you want to check out what they thought, hit the magic linky: [The Empire’s Rogues @ Bookshine and Readbows] “Parry effortlessly blends futuristic tech with more traditional pirates and thieves in a way that is both new and familiar, and (in Nate’s stories) can bring a smile. Grace’s path is a more emotional one, as she struggles to maintain a professional detachment against her clear longing for personal contact and companionship; balancing her assassin skills against her empath gift.” You can check out The Empire’s Rogues Volume 1, or start on the first story, Ganymede Steel.

Sci-Fi “Research”

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I’m spending a little time looking for a new megastructure to deploy, and I found this handy post: [Cold, Laser-Coupled Particle Beams] It’s given me some insight into a new weapon – check out the laser weapon web. Imagine a network of lasers, where each can carve through 15mm of aluminum per second at a distance of 1,000 klicks. Join, say, 3,000 of these together, with construct/AI intelligence controlling the targeting, and you’ve got yourself a weapon that will leave an impression. In the Ezeroc Wars universe, power is a solved problem due to the prevalence of high-efficiency fusion reactors, as well as some pretty epic battery tech that makes your iPhone’s cell look prehistoric. Couple this web with Endless Drives and ship to any location you fancy, primed and ready to fire. Crystal minds don’t suffer from humanity’s space Read More …

Another Sample: Tyche’s Lost

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I’m pushing 45,000 words on Tyche’s Lost. It’s shaping up! To see how we’re getting along, I thought I’d introduce you to Forrest Blake. He’s a … survivor on Viukde Gamma, raised in a cultish society. It should come as no surprise the Ezeroc are behind it, which makes it a rough ride for our heroes, Chad and Saveria. Usual caveats. First draft. No grammar checking. Confusion reigns! I hope you dig it anyway. Inside the Altar, Forrest found undergrowth making its home. The space was blessedly free of vermin, but that was expected of a holy site. Gods wouldn’t allow their temple to be desecrated. He didn’t know which way to go. The air felt cool, the night following on his heels. Ahead, Gravedigger awaited. She was planning to kill his gods. He wound through the starship, finding a Read More …

Where I Talk About the Reader Survey: 2018 Edition

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Like I did last year, I did a reader survey for 2018, and because I lack originality, I’m sharing the responses again. It’s worth rehashing the same warning label: Self-reported results are troublesome, my sample size is small, and my unconscious bias flavors my results more than most people spice a good curry. Despite all that, let’s see what the people want, shall we? Feeding the Beast First on deck is what people want me to write next. Heavily implied within this is what people might pay for, and daddy needs to make rent. Lo! The responses are below, with a surprising twist: It’s not surprising people want more Ezeroc Wars. This is my most popular series by far, despite Night’s Champion getting more reviews (I dunno, are supernatural suspense fans more likely to leave a review?). The surprises come Read More …