Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


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Writing to the sound of the coffee-grinder

Coffee grinder Alexanderwerk Type 4155

My CPU fan is busted for good – and as a consequence my PC makes a noise like a coffee grinder.
The emergency replacement two weeks back was just a way to buy time.
While I wait for the delivery boy to deliver the new fan, I’m struggling through the final chapters of my second novel – thank goodness for Portable Apps.

And in the meantime, while I also keep the GreyWorld Project going, I’m also planning future activities.

There’s a new Aculeo & Amunet story in the works – and once again I’d love to place it in a magazine instead of self-publishing it. Continue reading →


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Routining

7182aI do collect books about writing – and I say I collect them meaning that I have a cartload of those, and I normally find something interesting and useful in each and every one of them.

On the other hand, my definition of book about writing is becoming quite flexible1, and I have already mentioned in the past that Hugard & BrauĂ©’s The Royal Road to Card Magic is not just one of the best stage and card magic books out there, but it’s also a damn good writing book, if you can read it with the right attitude.

Consider the following: Continue reading →


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Bach!

Yesterday was Johann Sebastian Bach‘s birthday – and it’s always good to have some good music on a Sunday morning – so here’s SincroniCity doing their wonderful take on J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto.

Enjoy!

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The Story of Whatsisname

Book-titleOK, so I lost the race but I’m on my way to finishing my second novel.
There’s a catch – apart from a few bits that still grate a little, and that I’ll have to discuss with my editor and beta readers… there’s the matter of the title.

Because so far, I’ve worked on files codenamed Matter/Energy, but let’s admit it – as a title for a science fiction novel, Matter/Energy sucks.
And is sounds like some kind of slash fiction for horny trekkies, which might attract the wrong readers.

So, I’ll have to invent a title.
The publishing gurus talk about compelling titles – but a cool title would be enough.
Because a cool title is something that really sells the novel. Continue reading →


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The loneliness of the long distance runner

runningJust a quick post to inform all interested parties that the race is over – my friend Claire got to her target of 45.000 words yesterday evening, two full days ahead of schedule, while I was still struggling with my last 10.000 words.

I’d like to extend my congratulations and best wishes.
At this point, I imagine she’s sitting easy by the finish line, waiting for me to limp there.

Back to work, now.
It’s not a race against others – it’s a race against myself.


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45.000 or bust!

… And so we decided to turn it into a race.

Yesterday my friend Claire, who is working on her novel, announced to the world at large1 that she plans to reach a word count of 45.000 by the end of the weekend.

Now, I’m writing too – yeah, I know I’ve told you about it to distraction – and I have a target of 45.000, too, to be reached… well, yesterday.

And so, I said, why not make it a game?running
Competition, especially friendly competition, can be motivational, right?
Claire accepted – after pointing out that she’s a little ahead of me already.

I’m currently clocking at about 33.000 words (unedited).
This means, easy – 3000 words a day, for four days.
Will I make it? Probably.
More, I haveto make it, or my editor and my publisher will flog me in public.
Will I make it before Claire? Ah, that’s the point of this whole racing thing, right?2

So, now lunch, then we start writing as fast (and good) as possible.
I’ll keep you posted.

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  1. well, ok, to Facebook ↩
  2. bets are open – feel free to choose your champion here in the comments. ↩