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What's in a name? Frustration.
Apr. 18th, 2008 11:04 pmArgh!
I'm working on what I'm optimistically thinking of as "The second book of The Demonspawn Chronicles." In this book Our Hero, Malak, is known by another name depending on the situation. And I keep forgetting to change it!
I'm working on what I'm optimistically thinking of as "The second book of The Demonspawn Chronicles." In this book Our Hero, Malak, is known by another name depending on the situation. And I keep forgetting to change it!
Princesses, kitchen maids, etc.
Mar. 30th, 2008 07:37 pmWell, I thought I had a problem. I wrote several partial fairy tales for the Catscurious Contest, and ended up with a bunch of stories that were just too darned short. I thought "What am I going to do with all of these?"
et voila- There's going to be a Sword and Sorceress 23, and here I am with a bunch of nearly finished stories full of magic and maidens. Woohoo!
et voila- There's going to be a Sword and Sorceress 23, and here I am with a bunch of nearly finished stories full of magic and maidens. Woohoo!
I just got my contributor's copy of "The Best of The First Line, Editors' Picks 2002-2006," and the blurb before my story says
"...Melissa, one of the first writers we published, is a pro at retold (fairy) tales, and 'Jewels and Cinders' is one of my favorites."
Wow. I've actually been called a pro at something. By an editor. A long-time editor. And I do love retold fairy tales. Wow!
"...Melissa, one of the first writers we published, is a pro at retold (fairy) tales, and 'Jewels and Cinders' is one of my favorites."
Wow. I've actually been called a pro at something. By an editor. A long-time editor. And I do love retold fairy tales. Wow!
Music, magic and writing
Mar. 18th, 2008 08:09 pmThe soundtrack for "The Demon Sequel" is now as long as the one for the original "Demon Book," and it's reached that wonderful point where my mind associates the songs with the story and the two start sparking inspirations off each other until as soon as I turn on the soundtrack I sink into the world of the story and things start coming alive... I love this point! ;D
Danged Half-demon...
Mar. 15th, 2008 10:24 pmMalak was supposed to get one short story. That's it. Next thing I knew he'd wheedled a novel out of me.
Now the bloodthirsty little beast has driven me to commit 20 pages of potential sequel. Darn him...
Now the bloodthirsty little beast has driven me to commit 20 pages of potential sequel. Darn him...
Characters say the darndest things.
Feb. 9th, 2008 08:34 pmPet line for tonight:
“Excuse me,” I said. “I know my social skills are woefully underdeveloped from lack of practice, but I’m reasonably intelligent and doing my best to be polite, and you just aren’t making any sense.”
“Excuse me,” I said. “I know my social skills are woefully underdeveloped from lack of practice, but I’m reasonably intelligent and doing my best to be polite, and you just aren’t making any sense.”
MM's AnthologyBuilder Update
Feb. 5th, 2008 04:04 pmI've added so many stories to AB lately, I thought I'd make a list:
Below is a listing of all stories Melissa Mead has chosen to make available through AnthologyBuilder.
1. Elemental Choices
available
2. The Early Bird and the Wyrm
available
3. Computer Virus
available
4. Sage Decisions
available
5. Small Inspiration
available
6. Moving Fingers
available
7. Sacrifice
available
8. 101
available
9. The Mighty Quill
available
10. The Lineman
available
All looking for good homes. They're even housebroken! (Except for "101", that sick puppy.) Read 'em! Review 'em! Take 'em home!
Below is a listing of all stories Melissa Mead has chosen to make available through AnthologyBuilder.
1. Elemental Choices
available
2. The Early Bird and the Wyrm
available
3. Computer Virus
available
4. Sage Decisions
available
5. Small Inspiration
available
6. Moving Fingers
available
7. Sacrifice
available
8. 101
available
9. The Mighty Quill
available
10. The Lineman
available
All looking for good homes. They're even housebroken! (Except for "101", that sick puppy.) Read 'em! Review 'em! Take 'em home!
Rough draft at last!
Feb. 3rd, 2008 07:37 pmEver since I heard about the Catscurious Faerie Taile Contest I've been trying to write something for it. At first I thought I'd end up with several entries. After all, I love to rewrite fairy tales!
It turned out to be harder than it looked. 5,000+ words is not a natural length for me. The last stories I wrote in that range morphed into the "Demon Novel." So I had the makings of 3 2k-4k stories, but no contest entry.
Now, at last, I have a complete ~8,000 word rough draft! Who knows-if I'm lucky it might even be funny. ;)
It turned out to be harder than it looked. 5,000+ words is not a natural length for me. The last stories I wrote in that range morphed into the "Demon Novel." So I had the makings of 3 2k-4k stories, but no contest entry.
Now, at last, I have a complete ~8,000 word rough draft! Who knows-if I'm lucky it might even be funny. ;)
Names are fun!
Jan. 27th, 2008 04:02 pmMy current WIP has a mirror-spirit named Fred, who’s an adviser of sorts. I looked up the meaning of Fred, and got “Diminutive of Frederick or Alfred.” I looked up Alfred, and got:
Alfred
English: from Old English, composed of the elements ælf elf, supernatural being + ræd counsel.
Alfred
English: from Old English, composed of the elements ælf elf, supernatural being + ræd counsel.
Cool meme from Pbray
Jan. 24th, 2008 04:41 pmPick one of your novels, screenplays, graphic novels, or short stories. List 3-6 song titles (& the artist singing the song) that will give a reader a taste of the tone of said novel.
I love this, because nowadays my novels develop "soundtracks"
Between Worlds: "A Whole New World," from Aladdin, "Can't Stop Lovin' You, by Phil Collins, "God Help the Outcasts" from Hunchback of Notre Dame (the first track) "Son of Man" from Tarzan (That one works for all 3 of my books.)
And since this is fun, for the as-yet-unpublished books, which have soundtracks:
"The Demon Book"- "How Many Devils?" from Civil War, "Bad Reputation" from Shrek, "The Battle" from the Narnia LWW soundtrack, "What's Left of Me," by Nick Lachey, "An Angel Returned" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
(Wow, that really DOES capture the gist!)
"The Giant Book"- "Great Spirits" from Brother Bear (the Phil Collins bonus track), "Come Look at the Freaks" from Side Show, "Defying Gravity," from Wicked, "Livin' In Desperate Times" by Olivia Newton-John, "God Help The Outcasts" by Bette Midler (the reprise track), "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha
I love this, because nowadays my novels develop "soundtracks"
Between Worlds: "A Whole New World," from Aladdin, "Can't Stop Lovin' You, by Phil Collins, "God Help the Outcasts" from Hunchback of Notre Dame (the first track) "Son of Man" from Tarzan (That one works for all 3 of my books.)
And since this is fun, for the as-yet-unpublished books, which have soundtracks:
"The Demon Book"- "How Many Devils?" from Civil War, "Bad Reputation" from Shrek, "The Battle" from the Narnia LWW soundtrack, "What's Left of Me," by Nick Lachey, "An Angel Returned" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
(Wow, that really DOES capture the gist!)
"The Giant Book"- "Great Spirits" from Brother Bear (the Phil Collins bonus track), "Come Look at the Freaks" from Side Show, "Defying Gravity," from Wicked, "Livin' In Desperate Times" by Olivia Newton-John, "God Help The Outcasts" by Bette Midler (the reprise track), "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha
Writer Meme, snitched from Liz_DeJesus
Jan. 19th, 2008 12:39 pm1. Your genre(s)?
Fantasy, occasional DF and SF.
2. How many books have you completed?
Three.
3. How many books are you working on now?
Tweaking the last one while waiting for its destination to open up, but mostly working on a shorter project right now.
4. Are you a linear or chunk writer?
Linear until I get stuck. Then I go write the most vivid scene in my mind.
5. The POV you're most partial to?
Close third person.
6. The theme that keeps cropping up in your books?
Acceptance, bridging cultural gaps.
7. How many days a week do you write?
As many as I can come up with something.
8. What time of day do you get your best writing done?
Evening.
9. Who are your inspirations?
My husband and the Carpe Libris gang.
10. Who are your favorite authors to read?
Terry Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold....there's a LONG list!
Fantasy, occasional DF and SF.
2. How many books have you completed?
Three.
3. How many books are you working on now?
Tweaking the last one while waiting for its destination to open up, but mostly working on a shorter project right now.
4. Are you a linear or chunk writer?
Linear until I get stuck. Then I go write the most vivid scene in my mind.
5. The POV you're most partial to?
Close third person.
6. The theme that keeps cropping up in your books?
Acceptance, bridging cultural gaps.
7. How many days a week do you write?
As many as I can come up with something.
8. What time of day do you get your best writing done?
Evening.
9. Who are your inspirations?
My husband and the Carpe Libris gang.
10. Who are your favorite authors to read?
Terry Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold....there's a LONG list!
Anthology builder/shameless plugging
Jan. 17th, 2008 07:24 pmAnthology Builder is now offering premade themed anthologies-and I've just found out that two of them, "Clues, Haunts and Magical Solutions" and "The Other Fairy Tales" each have one of my stories in them!
Third time's the charm?
Jan. 7th, 2008 06:05 pmAnthology Builder has just accepted a third story from me: "Computer Virus." (Next milestone-to have someone actually BUY some of these! ;))
I've been waiting to get a book from them myself, but they've got a pretty impressive list of stories now. Maybe it's time.
I've been waiting to get a book from them myself, but they've got a pretty impressive list of stories now. Maybe it's time.
My book's back on Amazon! ;D
Dec. 22nd, 2007 04:57 pmBetween Worlds
Between Worlds by Melissa Mead (Kindle Edition - Nov 9, 2007) - Kindle Book
Buy: $4.79
Au
Between Worlds by Melissa Mead (Kindle Edition - Nov 9, 2007) - Kindle Book
Buy: $4.79
Au
Anthology builder/shameless plugging
Dec. 19th, 2007 05:34 pmHow’s this for a cool idea? A place where you can go online, browse through a collection of short stories, and pick a custom-made table of contents for a print book, made to order and mailed to you. Neat, huh?
Oh, and you know what’s really neat? Guess what one of the choices is:
I am pleased to inform you that Elemental Choices, by Melissa Mead has been accepted into the AnthologyBuilder database and is now available to customers.
(I DID warn you that this was a shameless plug. ;) But I honestly think it’s a fascinating idea, too.)
Oh, and you know what’s really neat? Guess what one of the choices is:
I am pleased to inform you that Elemental Choices, by Melissa Mead has been accepted into the AnthologyBuilder database and is now available to customers.
(I DID warn you that this was a shameless plug. ;) But I honestly think it’s a fascinating idea, too.)
Funny is hard!
Dec. 16th, 2007 03:46 pmI'm trying to write a funny story for a project. It sounds like a really fun project, just the sort of thing I like to write, and I've been very psyched about it. But I've discovered something. When I write funny, it's usually short. I've started 3 different stories, and I have yet to finish one. The minimum length for this project is about 4-5X longer than my typical funny story. It's proving quite the challenge to write sustained humor.
Today's reason why proofreading is a Good Thing: "I'm taking this basket of teats to my grandmother," said Red.
(Grandma must be bottle-fed.)
Today's reason why proofreading is a Good Thing: "I'm taking this basket of teats to my grandmother," said Red.
(Grandma must be bottle-fed.)
