Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


by Leave a comment

The just-off-the-roller-coaster effect

treThere’s this folk tale, which is quite popular.
It tells of writing as a toilsome activity, built on pain and suffering.
Putting words on the page, we are told, is soul-draining and cruel.
And yet, ah, what can a poor artist do, when his muse, or daemon, or whatchamacallit, pushes them forward mercilessly?

And of course this is just so much rubbish, of the kind usually used by posers trying to get a free pass by playing the always popular part of the tormented artist.

On the other hand, there is a bad side to writing.
And I don’t mean the aching hands and the bad hours, the meager returns and the leery attitude of those that have “a serious job” like, for instance, gerbil farming. Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

WordPress posts on G+ – here’s how we did it!

google+OK, the usual disclaimer – one man’s computer-based catastrophe is another man’s idea of fun.
So maybe it was just Marina (alias Zeros83) and me, experiencing this frustrating problem with the Google+ thingie in WordPress.
Maybe this did never happen to you, or you solved it in a sec without even thinking about it. Please be patient with what we consider a little triumph, even if for you it’s just two losers congratulating themselves on their loser-dom.

Our problem: basically, the social sharing tool in WordPress did share our contents on G+ – but only privately, and for our eyes only.
And, sort of, you know… I normally have already read what I wrote on my blog.
Social sharing should be… social.

So we worked a little to see if we could find a way around this strange setting problem.

And this is how we did it. Continue reading →


by 5 Comments

Back on G+

… and so this friend of mine comes and tells me, man, you’re not on Google+, your ebook sales will never grow.

what-the-plus-01To which I reply that actually, well, yes, I am on Google+ but, I sort of forget about checking my home page.

To be fully honest – last winter I read What the Plus!, by Guy Kawasaki, and as it usually happens with Guy Kawasaki’s books, I was blown away.
Yes, ok, so it’s maybe a little bit over-enthusiastic about this G+ thingie, but what the hell, it’s still an excellent user’s guide, fun to read, well designed and planned, really a smash.
Then I went to G+ and found out the interface no longer was as described in the book.
The book was written in 2012.
Looks like they changed the thing as soon as the book was out.
Ouch.
That was a big let down – you know how it feels when you’re all revved up and ready to go and all of a sudden it turns out the party is not that funny after all?
Yep… that sort of let down. Continue reading →


by 1 Comment

Skeptic heroes

I’ve been spending the last two hours trying to find my way around the various reprints and repackagings of Michael Moorcock’s Elric series. I read the books out of order, part in English and part in Italian translation, back when I was in high school.

dawelric
Now, much as I enjoyed the stories back in the ’80s, and for all of their role in shaping the sword & sorcery genre, Elric is not my favorite Moorcock character or series (I prefer Gloriana, or The Dancers at the End of Times).

But I wanted to read through some of the stories because… ok, you know why.
Because I’m writing a series about a time-displaced heroine that’s deployed through history, by unseen masters, as a mystical troubleshooter.
And that’s the Eternal Champion, of course*.
So I wanted to take a look at the original. Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

In the service of the hero(ine)

Ah, decisions, decisions…

What is better?

a . a very powerful finale that provides a huge hook for other stories, but requires heavy reliance on deus ex machina, somewhat disempowering the main character?

Anak-krakatau

or

b . a smaller-scale finale without too many whistles and bells, but featuring an action-packed set piece (or two!), showcasing all the best qualities of the main character, providing ample opportunities for all-out heroics?

Image37

Yes, I know, I know…
Silly question.
I do prefer the second, too.
And this means rewriting about 3000 words of my story.
And yet, this is the debut of the character – if I can’t give her the best, even the great hooks and thingies will feel lame in the end.
As a writer, I’m fully in the service of my heroes, and heroines.
It is my responsibility to help them look their best.

So ok, time to do some heavy editing.
No, call it rewriting…

And yes, this is still a problem with the Atlantean sword of power we discussed yesterday.

If only could I find a way to eat the cake and have it…

ADDENDUM: found it!

Related articles


by 5 Comments

Magic is not the answer

OK, so I’m revising my new story, and I’m discussing some story writing essentials with my friends online.
It’s good having someone to compare notes with, to discuss the finer points of the writing art.
Like…

Q: How can I have a 90lbs woman kill a 75ft-high iron monster in a satisfactory, credible way?
A: Easy. You get her an Atlantean sword of power descending from the skies, sheathed in lightning. That’s the way you do it.

1373593340_z276414-1920x1080

And indeed, everything’s better with an Atlantean sword, only… Continue reading →