The Expensive Universal Instrument – part 3 is here! Sorry it took a few days folks, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Our fanboy finally gets to unpack the new toy and play with it…or can he? Weirdness ensues in part 3!
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All posts for the month February, 2011
Wow. What a day. I took the day off and managed to put a few words down. It’s been a good day so far. All in all it’s been a great week for writing. It’s time to kick back and enjoy myself a bit.
I’ve got a new installment of The Expensive Universal Instrument going up later tonight and I’m almost finished the response to this week’s Prompt and Response!
Watch for that story sometime tomorrow! It’ll be great!
To my writer friends out there: How has your week been?
This is the first script I had ever written. It was performed in January 2007 at the 3rd annual Capricornucopia Event in Montreal (my first time attending). It was (I think) well received and the actors who performed really made the night for me. It was a rush.
Capricornucopia is great fun and I’m honored to have been part of it every year since then. As I recover the scripts I have written, I will be putting them up on the site, to keep it all in one place.
The scripts are goofy as hell and we do try to outdo each other in going for the cheap laugh.
Here’s the first script. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
It’s been a rough week so far at The Basement Office (actually it’s a rough week outside The Basement Office). I thought I’d focus on the good parts of yesterday in my writing.
Welcome Forward Motion members! You guys gave me such a warm welcome over there, I’m very happy to see you visit!
I’ve been reading, listening and viewing all sorts of media related to writing. I’ve joined some forums (of which Forward Motion is the only one that really interests me so far), I’ve talked to people.
All this roaming online has given me a lot to think about. Figuring out what I want from my writing and from this site has been at the top of my list.
Let me show you what I’ve come up with so far.
I’m trying out a new feature idea this week. I’m hoping it will shake out some of the cobwebs in my head and get some words on the page.
Every week on Monday morning, on top of any posts or Expensive Universal Instrument story installments I decide to do, I’m going to post a random writing prompt and commit to putting up 1000 words (at least) by Sunday, in response to that prompt.
Sometime last year (in July, I haven’t posted much so it should not be hard to find), I posted about my favorite iPhone apps for writers and one that stood out was the Story Seed Generator by D. Brad Talton Jr. I’ve used it a few times and I’ve enjoyed the prompts quite a bit. I may try out a few other generators in the future, but most of the prompts you see will be from there.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:
Prompt and Response #1 – the prompt!
The Main Character is: “A simple inventor who has an unnatural fear of the dark”
The Setting Is: “In a strange cathedral within a different dimension, where last technology has outpaced electronics”
The Story is about: “Capturing and taming a dragon”
Okay….that’s not going to be easy, but it should be fun!
I have until Sunday, February 20th to put up 1000 words of a story based on that prompt. If there are any writers in the audience who want to try something on their own, go for it! Feel free to post the results in the comment section, I’d love to see it.
In an effort to keep my resolution to write more in 2011 an to keep this site updated, I’ve begun to listen to a few podcasts related to writing during my work commute.
I’ve perused a few and two really stand out as podcasts that keep me interested and motivated.
My favorite by far is Writing Excuses. Their tag line “15 minutes long because you’re in a hurry and we’re not that smart.” caught my attention right away and the size of the podcast lends itself well to tackling one subject per episode. Brandon, Dan and Howard are engaging and entertaining. They are accomplished authors who still project an approachable image. The information is clear, concise and backed by personal experiences. I listen to about 2-3 episodes each day right now during my drive to and from work and I’m very glad that there is a large number of episodes built up in iTunes (I’ve gone and downloaded them from the start. I’m currently listening to season 4 while the site lists season 5, episode 23 as current).
The sometimes frantic pace of Writing Excuses is just right to get you all worked up and eager to put word to a page. The writing prompts at the end of each episode seal the deal for me. I wish I could find a listing of all their writing prompts so I could pick and choose when I sit down to write something.
A very close second is Mur Laferty’s I Should Be Writing podcast. Ms Laferty podcasts from her personal day to day experience of writing. I find her voice soothing and her chosen subjects each week engaging. I get a lot of decent information there. The length of each episode is longer than Writing Excuses, but the format is split between what’s going on in Ms Laferty’s writing life and projects and an interview (sometimes) and various aspects of writing. The pacing is slower than Writing Excuses, but this isn’t a bad thing.
This podcast is one I just plain like. It inspires me like Writing Excuses in general (in a different, less frenetic way). The podcast is polished and comfortable. It’s extremely easy to listen to.
My only (very selfish) quibble is that currently, Ms Laferty’s writing success takes away some of the charm that the earlier podcasts had for me. The early podcasts, had a beginner quality, a feeling that “oh…she’s just a little bit further than I am in writing.”, which inspired me a lot. I would easily get the feeling that if I worked just a little harder and was just a bit more serious, I could be as the same place! That carrot that was very real to me and compelling, which I find is not quite as much there in the later podcasts. I did say it was a very selfish thing because I am so happy she is enjoying success in the field and I draw a lot of good inspiration from that.
Dear readers, if you enjoy the podcasting medium and you’re looking for something to feed your interest in writing, you can’t go wrong with these podcasts. Join the discussion and post your own suggestions! I’d be happy to hear from you.
The Expensive Universal Instrument – part 2 – The arrival
Wherein The Expensive Universal Instrument finally arrives at our super fan’s home.
Note: This serial is basically my excuse to write at 750words.com, so what you are reading is very much a first draft with very little editing. I like it that way, but that doesn’t mean I won’t come back and polish it up later. Feel free to comment, critique and advise. I just might listen!
The Basement Office 