with now and again a major drop from lines above making a wonderfully ripple.
It’s one of those change of season mornings when the garden is both autumn evergreens and winter frost.
I had a really good day yesterday. I’ve been outlining the ending in increasing detail and yesterday laid down thousands of words in real writing.
Hubba, hubba! Sounds like the change in seasons is putting the snap back into the writing process.
That sounds so beautiful. Good to hear you’re zinging along with writing too.
I’m still getting my new iMac set up: downloads, installs, copying data from a Windows drive, etc. Very few questions so far saved for my training session Tuesday, but I will want some training on the stuff “under the hood,” software- and OS-wise.
I should know sometime today or over the weekend if I’ll have any audio issues to overcome. But I can bring in the equipment and test-drive, woo-boo. (Apple has training, individual or group tutorial sessions, for any and all their hardware and software, small cost per year, and one can schedule and bring in questions so it’s self-guided besides any canned coursework. Well, well worth it.)
I will be looking at their “iBooks Author” program too. It’s an application to produce ebooks including multimedia such as video or interactive elements. I don’t yet know how much of that one can include on one’s own with other software tools, but I will take advantage of the training, for sure.
I haven’t used my Mac for ebook work yet, but I did upgrade to the version that will export epub files. Mostly I do my work with Linux and a bunch of command line tools. The real expert, as far as I know, is Liz Castro, whose blog is Pigs, Gourds, and Wikis: http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/ She’s written a book on epub, and several additions about using iBooks, as well as all the blog posts. Of course, Ibooks isn’t really epub 2 or 3, so purists mostly ignore it – especially if they can’t afford an iPad to look at the books ๐ ๐
Liz Castro is great. I’ll likely be doing any ebook production into standard EPUB 2 and 3, with conversion to MOBI or KF8. I’m curious how iBooks and Kindle customizations will affect how EPUB 3 evolves. — And a book by Mark Garrish on EPUB3 has been delayed until the end of February, sigh.
Please explain why you use only one-word titles. I am curious to know if it has any significance in your writing m.o. Thanks Stephen
I do it on Foreigner books so people can id them as FOreigner. Sometimes I’ve done them on others, like Rimrunners (your cue is, it’s plural, ergo not a Foriegner book.) Then there’s Fortress in the Eye of Time….
Isn’t it the best when the creativity all comes together and flows? That’s when I feel like Legolas riding the shield down the steps at Isenguard!
I know just what you meant, but … wasn’t it Helm’s Deep?
The backyard sounds gorgeous. Wish I could see that red bridge. Worth all the trouble it was, huh?
BCS, welcome to the Mac side of the Force.
No snow here! it’s s’posed to be 70ยฐ here today, though it is still only 50ยฐ now. I just got the last of my Christmas ornaments listed at my Etsy shop (http://piedras.etsy.com) and I am about to go on a marathon 4.5 mile walk, using my trusty big-wheeled stroller for stability. Only 10 weeks ago, I thought walking 100 feet was a triumph. Off to the bank, Braum’s for eggnog, and my “backyard farmers” for my CSA share of veggies for the week. Their greenhouse has started producing, I’m going to get a TOMATO!
OOPS!! You’re right…..my wits are wandering!
Tomatoes? In December? YUM!
I saw that you have a story “Dancing on the Edge of the Dark” in the upcoming Poul Anderson homage/anthology “Multiverse: Exploring Poul Andersonโs Worlds” (Subterranean Press). Looking forward to reading it and the other works in the book.
Can you tell us a little about it, and will your story be available on Closed Circle ??
That story may be after it’s had its run as a new book. I get a lot of requests but usually don’t have time to do projects. But Poul and Karen Anderson — how could I say no. Karen’s had a joint replacement, and I think she was out at a con about a week after; Poul and I joked about ‘We’ve got to stop meeting like this…’ in the 80’s—it seemed wherever we went, there we both were. Happy memories. And I love Flandry. My story is about the next-gen, the —ahem!— natural consequence of our hero’s many exploits…in this case Flandry’s daughter. I tried to do it in the spirit of Poul’s work.
http://subterraneanpress.com/index.php/store/product_detail/multiverse_exploring_poul_andersons_worlds
It is not so much that Ms. Cherryh uses one word titles, but a hundred years from now someone will do a Masters Thesis as to why some are “er” and some are “or” words.
Lol—you have no idea how desperate I get trying to title a new Foreigner book. I really don’t want to break the chain—but if ever you find a good one, besides the obvious gag titles, f’ gosh sake let me know!
Aren’t you glad you asked, now? ๐ ๐ ๐
Foreigner title unlikely: Janitor. But then you never know, Mr. Miyagi was a handyman.
On -er and -or: It could be simpler. French has -eur, except when it’s a woman, in which case, the noun may or may not switch to -euse or -rice/-rix.
Hah, can you imagine some future linguist trying to puzzle out -or and -er, deciding it’s vowel harmony?
Okay, now I’m reduced to babbling. ๐
Terminator? — No, that’s another show.
Eliminator? — ZZ Top album.
Exterminator? — Retired cyborg, what Arnold becomes after hanging up his loincloth. :wide-eyed:
Excavator — Indiana Jones gets in serious trouble with the aiji-dowager when he digs up the garden at Malguri….
Heheheh.
Procrastinator?
Wherein a plot against Bren is discovered but perversely Banichi cannot be persuaded to take it seriously, having judged that the plotters will fall out all on their own. ๐
I resemble that! ๐
Banichi, the ever efficient.
Astronomer: a short story set at the Saigiadi Observatory, when the fundamentalists come calling. Bad idea to tick off the scientists.
I’d read that!
Calculator, the sequel short story involving an attempt by the Counters to discredit the Astronomers. It is punctuated by a Big Bang from the Chemistry Department, which resolves the matter precipitously. Or anyway, it must take at least a mole or two….
Heheh, if we’re not careful, we’ll stumble over a plot thread unknowingly.
Instigator, wherein a bunch of crazed fans dream up fictitious titles to inspire a certain author.
Suspender, wherein the harried author exacts her revenge upon the fans with a book-spanning cliffhanger. Cliffhanger, now there’s a title.
Obfuscator, wherein the author further teases the fans with a series of unlikely and confusing developments.
Catapulter, wherein the author resolves the lot by flinging the fans into orbit.
๐
Demander-In which Tabini wants his Paidhi back
Defier-In which Bren just says no
Deflator-In which Tatiseigi’s feelings get bruised
Designator-In which Bren signals his intentions
Dodger-In which Ilisidi rides Babsidi downhill (fast) under fire
Detractor-In which members of the Tashrid defame Bren
Designer-In which Jago schemes for a permanent position
Monitor-In which Algini becomes a not-so-silent Guildmaster
Mentor-In which Algini trains Tano as his new apprentice
Moderator-In which Bren intercedes between Tabini and Damiri
Mender-In which Bren takes up tailoring (a stich in time saves nine, etc.)
Maximizer-In which Bren introduces Terran bunnies to the atevi
Hardener-In which Bren tries not to get stuck in cement overshoes
Hastener-In which Cenedi takes Cajeiri under his protection
Harmonizer-In which Bren learns to sing for his supper
Hyphenator-In which the dictionary sees major revisions
Progenitor – where we get a look into the past from someone in the present
With Protector and Peacemaker the next two – it has to end in or
How about Manipulator – someone doing something from behind the scenes, more than usual anyway – that title would suit Ilisidi to a tea
I think Progenitor would be a great title, should Our Host ever elect to take a look at Ilisidi’s early career.
That sounds like a go-er!
Meanderer, in which Bren deceides to take a walk.
Alienator, in which Bren and Jago have a falling out.
Rebuilder, in which Bren finally gets to oversee the repairs at Najida.
Annoyer, in which Bren’s fans get a bit carried away.
I have to disagree with BCG though, “Exterminator” would HAVE to include at least one rolling pepper pot waving a plunger.
Oh right! Eggs-stir-min-eight.
Good call, Weeble.
Extender — in which the publisher renews the contract, and the cook adds more to the pot.
Potter — in which a group of young wizards take up ceramics.
CJ, would you care for some aspirin, or aspirin-analog? All these horrible puns must be making your head ache by this time ๐
Horrible? She’s getting our best efforts!
[psssst!]
Huh?
[whispers]
Never mind!
๐
Sorry, nothing to add. I am too busy laughing and groaning at the silliness above.
Sooner – in which CJ and Jane leave Spokane in desperation and head back to Oklahoma. Not bloody likely, too many EF-3s, 4s, and 5s there.
Later – Bren tells everyone “goodbye” for a while so he can catch up on his sleep.
After – Bren gets further behind in his sleep.
Keeper – Bren decides to stay with Jago.