A Few Random Links

Because I don't have much to say, here are some other folks saying stuff:

Up first, John Scalzi with a baseball - writing metaphor:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2014/01/20/a-season-in-the-show/


Next, Chuck Wendig on characters:

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2014/01/13/25-things-a-great-character-needs/


A bit of Aussie science to offset the writing:

http://csironewsblog.com/2014/01/06/accelerating-our-dragon-rd-program/

The marvelous follow-up by CSIRO:

http://csironewsblog.com/2014/01/10/here-be-3d-printed-dragons/


And some music. I learned a bit of ukulele on the Hawaiian cruise. This piece by Amanda Palmer reminded me how fun an instrument this is.

It has a brief intro about her before she sings.

For those who don't know, Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman are married. (Segue back to writing!)

Happy Monday. Back to editing my story now...

Richard Thompson, recorded live in Cambridge

You probably already know I love Richard Thompson's music.  Found a video with two songs ("Uninhabited Man" and "Johnny's Far Away"), recorded live in Cambridge in 2011.  His guitar work is so smooth, his fingers don't seem to move enough to produce all that sound!  There are even a few glimpses of the famous RT smile.

In other news, I'm poking at two short stories and reading books.  Our weather has been good, so I'm getting outside whenever I can. 

Updates as circumstances warrant. 

That Writing Gig

 Here is a Telegraph interview with Richard Thompson in which he was asked how he works on songs (among other things, including playing electric vs acoustic guitars): 

"I write out my songs long hand and notate the music rather than trust electronic devices, which I tend to lose. If it is written down somewhere, then I stand more chance of hanging on to it. If I am in a writing mode, and have a couple of spare weeks, I do office hours every day, especially in America where there is a quiet guest-room at the back of the house with no phone. I start really early in the morning, about 7am, and work until noon. If it's going great, then I keep going, if not then I do something else. There are always distractions and everything intrudes but you figure out how to write wherever you are and whatever you are doing. You know, I have written songs with a baby on my shoulder, screaming in my ear. You learn how to write on the train and on the car. I jot things down. But it's best when I can shut the door and plough through."

My favorite line:  "There are always distractions and everything intrudes but you figure out how to write wherever you are and whatever you are doing."

One of my early fiction instructors strongly emphasized getting away from the desk when we wrote.  Go out into the world.  Write in restaurants, on park benches, at the beach.  The objective was to teach yourself to write anywhere and not link the creative process to any one location.  I followed her advice.  I can't yet write anywhere, but there are many places away from the desk that work for me.  I frequently write on my breaks at work.  It's amazing how much can be done in ten minutes!  Every paragraph written or edited gets you closer to a finished work. 

Soundtrack for this post:  Richard Thompson, "If Love Whispers Your Name" (Dream Attic), "Salford Sunday" and "Stony Ground" (Electric)

Sick, but I Has New Music

I'm home from work today with a bad cold.  The damn thing ambushed me on Sunday, wrecked my day on Monday, so here I sit with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and the internets.  I may continue my final edit pass on Rising Tide v3.  More likely I'll take a nap.

I'm worn out from buying music online. 

I now have Richard Thompson's latest CD, Electric:

It was released TODAY!  I haven't heard all the tracks yet, but what I've listened to so far is classic awesome Thompson guitar.  And there are good lyrics in there, too.  This review  says the body count is lower that on most of his albums. 

In my iTunes investigation I also found Suzanne Vega released four CDs I didn't know about.  I downloaded those, too.  She re-recorded many of her songs in a more acoustic, intimate way that suits both her and her work and organized them by theme. 

I has me lots of new music.  Lots and Lots. 

NaNoWriMo Update, Day 10

It's 10pm and I have ZERO words for today toward NaNo.  It was a work day for me, but still.  That is pathetic.  My second zero day for the week.  I am currently at 13034. 

My accomplishment today was making ring tones for my new iPhone.  Oooh.  Ring Tones!!  If you call me, "People Got a Lot of Nerve" by Neko Case will let me know.  At least for now.  I have eight to choose from so far and I suspect I will rotate them fairly frequently. 

I will now start writing.   I only need about 3500 words by midnight to be on track ... looks like tomorrow and Monday will be major catch up days.

Railroad Bill

In honor of NaNoWriMo and writers everywhere, here's my second (annual?) posting of the wonderful spec fic author Steven Brust performing Andy Breckman's variation of the classic folk song "Railroad Bill."

Hormonal Rapsody

This one is probably more for my women readers ... ;-)

The group is The Four Bitchin' Babes.

A Love Song for Valentine's Day

Gordon Lightfoot has long been one of my favorite singer/songwriters.  I will always love this one for the memories it brings ... Pussywillows, Cat-Tails.  Sadly there doesn't seem to be a video of him singing it. 

May it spark pleasant memories for you, too.  Or inspire you to create some new ones.

<3 

Kat

I'm listening to ... Suzanne Vega AND Richard Thompson

Suzanne Vega's songs are often short stories.  Richard Thompson is one of the most accomplished guitarists evar.  Here he accompanies her.  (The third person on stage is Loudon Wainwright III.)

And here's Richard Thompson playing one of his most famous songs.  As he says, "a simple boy meets girl story, complicated somewhat by the presence of a motorcycle." (In case you haven't heard it before, it has a sad ending...)

I hope you enjoy their music as much as I do.

Sound Tracks for Writing

Not everyone listens to music while they write, and I don’t all the time, but some scenes and characters are easier to get on the page with the right sound track. 

For Shadows, my prehistoric novel, I listen to Alice Gomez and recordings of nature (songbirds, thunderstorms, the ocean, wolves). 

Celtic and traditional-type folk songs work best for my short story “Orchid”  -  Heather Dale, Enya, Fairport Convention. 

Serge likes jazz (Brubeck, Marsalis, Hancock) or rock (Santana, Richard Thompson, Zeevon, Men at Work, Susanne Vega). 

On the other hand, Dragons and Tide don’t seem to need soundtracks.

For me, knowing what kind of music my characters prefer gives added insight into their lives, whether music references appear on the page or not. 

Do you use music to help set a mood or connect with characters when you write?

What I'm Listening to ...