My Books
Friday, 31 July 2015
Thursday, 30 July 2015
I Want To Belive: Expanding Reality
Since I write and read urban fantasy, I spend a lot of time thinking about the different ways people would react when learning about an expanded world.
There are already a lot of believers out there: 42% of Americans and 52% of UK residents believe in ghosts, 57% of Americans believe in psychic phenomena and about 50% of Americans believe in some kind of conspiracy theory, including theories about secret societies and hidden populations.
I think we all have our own area where we keep an "open mind" even if we openly scoff at what we consider to be others' "out there" beliefs. Strictly from the numbers, at least half of the US population believes there is more out there than science currently explains. I believe that means the population as a whole would be quite ready to accept something new and beyond their current experience, provided there was some kind of proof. 70% of people polled believed in the Discovery Channel's fake Megalodon documentary, despite having been taught the massive prehistoric shark was long extinct.
However, I think each person would have a different reaction to the proof. Some would automatically deny it, looking for evidence of special effects or fakery. Some would do their own investigation to learn the truth, keeping an open mind. Some would accept the basics but refuse to go any further, lest they be branded as crazy by their peers. And some would accept it wholeheartedly.
It's not easy to believe in something which is publicly mocked and derided, even if a person has personal evidence to support it. It's easier to keep their personal experience quiet but that leaves the person feeling isolated and alone. It's a one-way door, once a person steps through, they can't ever go back to the comfort of mutual ignorance, yet they cannot drag other people after them.
Some people are like Mulder in X-files, they want to believe and will ignore evidence to the contrary. Some people struggle to fit what they've seen into the worldview they've always had, telling themselves they've hallucinated, misunderstood or been tricked. And some find themselves convinced despite all their efforts to avoid it.
But we can't avoid new truths forever. Eventually the evidence mounts beyond the ability to deny, taking us further than we could have ever imagined.
There are already a lot of believers out there: 42% of Americans and 52% of UK residents believe in ghosts, 57% of Americans believe in psychic phenomena and about 50% of Americans believe in some kind of conspiracy theory, including theories about secret societies and hidden populations.
I think we all have our own area where we keep an "open mind" even if we openly scoff at what we consider to be others' "out there" beliefs. Strictly from the numbers, at least half of the US population believes there is more out there than science currently explains. I believe that means the population as a whole would be quite ready to accept something new and beyond their current experience, provided there was some kind of proof. 70% of people polled believed in the Discovery Channel's fake Megalodon documentary, despite having been taught the massive prehistoric shark was long extinct.
However, I think each person would have a different reaction to the proof. Some would automatically deny it, looking for evidence of special effects or fakery. Some would do their own investigation to learn the truth, keeping an open mind. Some would accept the basics but refuse to go any further, lest they be branded as crazy by their peers. And some would accept it wholeheartedly.
It's not easy to believe in something which is publicly mocked and derided, even if a person has personal evidence to support it. It's easier to keep their personal experience quiet but that leaves the person feeling isolated and alone. It's a one-way door, once a person steps through, they can't ever go back to the comfort of mutual ignorance, yet they cannot drag other people after them.
Some people are like Mulder in X-files, they want to believe and will ignore evidence to the contrary. Some people struggle to fit what they've seen into the worldview they've always had, telling themselves they've hallucinated, misunderstood or been tricked. And some find themselves convinced despite all their efforts to avoid it.
But we can't avoid new truths forever. Eventually the evidence mounts beyond the ability to deny, taking us further than we could have ever imagined.
Monday, 27 July 2015
Weekly Update: July 19 to 25: First Draft Done!
Weekly word count: 6100
I reached the end of the story for Metamorphosis! I started it over a year ago and I finally reached the end. I've said the first draft is done, although that's not quite technically true. I still have a lot of revising to do, including some chapters which will have to be completely rewritten. But the beginning, middle and end of the story are solid and now can be matched up to one another.
I've decided to stick with Red Adept for editing. They've done a great job for me so far and while I'll do more investigation into Red Pen, I want to move forward and keep things consistent. I've learned there's a lot of variation between different editors when it comes to grammatical conventions. English is a constantly evolving language with multiple sets of rules even within dialects, so there are lots of "right" ways to do things.
It's also time to contact Streetlight Graphics again to do the next cover. Somehow getting my cover always makes the act of publishing feel real.
I reached the end of the story for Metamorphosis! I started it over a year ago and I finally reached the end. I've said the first draft is done, although that's not quite technically true. I still have a lot of revising to do, including some chapters which will have to be completely rewritten. But the beginning, middle and end of the story are solid and now can be matched up to one another.
I've decided to stick with Red Adept for editing. They've done a great job for me so far and while I'll do more investigation into Red Pen, I want to move forward and keep things consistent. I've learned there's a lot of variation between different editors when it comes to grammatical conventions. English is a constantly evolving language with multiple sets of rules even within dialects, so there are lots of "right" ways to do things.
It's also time to contact Streetlight Graphics again to do the next cover. Somehow getting my cover always makes the act of publishing feel real.
Friday, 24 July 2015
Thursday, 23 July 2015
The Definition of Nobility and the Power of Love
I grew up on stories of knights and heroes, which means I grew up believing that nobility was a desirable quality. I still believe that aspiring to a code of ethical and moral nobility is a good thing. But I'll admit that the armour has become a little tarnished as I've gotten older as I noticed a great many characters used "nobility" as an excuse to push people away.
Classic example: the superhero who doesn't want those around him or her to be hurt. So they contrive to push them away by any means necessary: wiping their memories, pretending to be a jerk, faking their deaths or sometimes going back in time to rewrite the past (you'd be surprised how often that's actually an option).
Perhaps it's the romantic side of me, but that just stinks of lack of commitment. I understand and sympathize with the "I'll never forgive myself if <insert name here> gets hurt" impulse. I can even understand the need to keep certain heroes on the tragic side (Batman is never as much fun when he's happy).
Wanting to avoid making someone a target is laudable, but it's not a good enough reason not to try for a relationship. Especially since it almost always seems to backfire, because the key issue (the hero/heroine caring about that person) is already a factor. The bad guys always figure out that a hero is unusually quick to respond to a particular character being in danger.
Being collateral damage in a superpowered feud is tragic, true. But to me, it's far more tragic that two people in love will live out their lives never having the opportunity to express it to one another. To a romance writer, it darn near verges on heresy. Call me naïve if you will, but I believe love makes people stronger. It makes them want to live up to the best side of themselves, the side their lover sees. It gives them a reason to fight when everything else has been taken away. And it makes everything else in their life a little easier to bear.
In the end, withdrawing to protect someone is a short-sighted strategy. Which is why I chose an older character to challenge it. Someone with a hearty helping of cynicism, willing to call a copout what it is. Someone who knows that the number of tomorrows are limited and joy is too precious a gift to return because it might someday break.
Classic example: the superhero who doesn't want those around him or her to be hurt. So they contrive to push them away by any means necessary: wiping their memories, pretending to be a jerk, faking their deaths or sometimes going back in time to rewrite the past (you'd be surprised how often that's actually an option).
Perhaps it's the romantic side of me, but that just stinks of lack of commitment. I understand and sympathize with the "I'll never forgive myself if <insert name here> gets hurt" impulse. I can even understand the need to keep certain heroes on the tragic side (Batman is never as much fun when he's happy).
Wanting to avoid making someone a target is laudable, but it's not a good enough reason not to try for a relationship. Especially since it almost always seems to backfire, because the key issue (the hero/heroine caring about that person) is already a factor. The bad guys always figure out that a hero is unusually quick to respond to a particular character being in danger.
Being collateral damage in a superpowered feud is tragic, true. But to me, it's far more tragic that two people in love will live out their lives never having the opportunity to express it to one another. To a romance writer, it darn near verges on heresy. Call me naïve if you will, but I believe love makes people stronger. It makes them want to live up to the best side of themselves, the side their lover sees. It gives them a reason to fight when everything else has been taken away. And it makes everything else in their life a little easier to bear.
In the end, withdrawing to protect someone is a short-sighted strategy. Which is why I chose an older character to challenge it. Someone with a hearty helping of cynicism, willing to call a copout what it is. Someone who knows that the number of tomorrows are limited and joy is too precious a gift to return because it might someday break.
Monday, 20 July 2015
Weekly Update: July 12 to 18
Weekly word count: 3400
I've started the final confrontation scene for Metamorphosis, which means I am close to finishing the story, if not the draft. I did take a bit of a break this week to begin going over the final polish for Whispers In the Dark. (My brain was starting to rebel by pretending to be slow and stupid, so I tricked it by focusing on something different.)
I'm also starting to put down more detail for the plot and characters for the sequel to Metamorphosis. I heard an interesting factoid a few weeks ago, that the term "apocalypse" means "secrets uncovered" in Greek. This makes me really tempted to use it as my title for the third book, but I'm worried it has too many modern zombie-related associations. As hard as it is to believe, it's time to start nailing down details like the title and characters.
I'm also looking into a new editing group: The Red Pen Coach. Although I was very happy with what Red Adept Editing gave me and can't thank them enough for their work and teachings, I've heard a number of independent authors praising Red Pen so I'd like to check them out.
I've started the final confrontation scene for Metamorphosis, which means I am close to finishing the story, if not the draft. I did take a bit of a break this week to begin going over the final polish for Whispers In the Dark. (My brain was starting to rebel by pretending to be slow and stupid, so I tricked it by focusing on something different.)
I'm also starting to put down more detail for the plot and characters for the sequel to Metamorphosis. I heard an interesting factoid a few weeks ago, that the term "apocalypse" means "secrets uncovered" in Greek. This makes me really tempted to use it as my title for the third book, but I'm worried it has too many modern zombie-related associations. As hard as it is to believe, it's time to start nailing down details like the title and characters.
I'm also looking into a new editing group: The Red Pen Coach. Although I was very happy with what Red Adept Editing gave me and can't thank them enough for their work and teachings, I've heard a number of independent authors praising Red Pen so I'd like to check them out.
Friday, 17 July 2015
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