I invested in a very essential item for living in Texas: a smoker. The one I got is a water smoker; it has a five foot tower to hang meat over a bowl of water that keeps things moist and catches the fat.There is a firebox on the side that produces heat but mostly smoke. This handy gadget allows me to produce delicious BBQ of all kinds, by burning wood instead of charcol or gas. (Does this make it green?) BBQ in Texas is different from almost everywhere else. The meat is rubbed down with a mixture of dry spices instead of goopy sauces. (You can always add your own afterwards.)
On Dialogue…
As I prepare for the Writer’s League of Texas‘ annual Agents and Editors Conference I have been going over the novel I am going to shop there. After doing more critiques and attending a convention recently, it came to me that I write dialouge the same way I speak. For most people that may not be a problem. For me it is. I tend to use lots of objectifiers and modifiers; my use of adverbs and adjectives is not quite peerless but it gets up there. I do a lot of public speaking due to the fact that I teach a lot. (See? That last sentance can be trimmed considerably or even cut without losing any impact!) This means I have to keep the audiences’ attention. Sometimes it’s easier to throw out the patter so my mouth can catch up to what my mind wants it to say.
I am NOT David Weber (although I could probably play him on TV)…
ConDFW 2009 was great!
Had a great weekend in Dallas attending the ConDFW 2009. It was an excellent conference; there were tons of panels on a wide variety of subjects. They ranged from Space Warfare 101 (with David Weber) to Comedy Trends in Science Fiction (with the Four Redheads of the Appocolypse). Of special interest was the panel called “Whodunit?”, about adding the mystery element in your writing. Bill Crider and Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files) did a masterful job with lots of advice.
Going to ConDFW 2009!
I finished teaching my classes early this month, so I have my weekends free. That let’s me go to the ConDFW 2009 in Dallas this weeked. This is a literary Con that focuses on the writing of my chosen genre’ (Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror). There wil be lots of panels and great panelists that will give me an opportunity to learn how to be a better writer. I urge anybody that wants to write to attend these kinds of conventions. They focus on how to be a better writer and not so much on dressing up like your favorite character. Don’t ge me wrong, there is some of that going on, but these kinds of conventions have lots of learning opportunites in them!
One of my stories got accepted for publication!!!
I just found out that one of my stories, “The Hole That Max Found” has been accepted for publication by a new magazine, M-BRANE SF. It will be in issue #5, coming out on June 15, 2009! It’s a story that mixes heavy drinking, country music and Quantum Physics. What’s not to like? 🙂 And many thanks to Kelly McGuire for giving me his permission to use him in my story.
What a Year!
Ok, so it’s been a while. I spent over a year sick with various physical ailments, mostly heart related. I swear, when I die I’m going to speak to the manufacturer about the warranty I was issued at birth.
Things always change…
OK, I sent the package out to an agent, and got a fairly quick respone: Sorry, not interested. That’s OK, I didn’t expect to get anything on the first try. But it did give me time to rethink the story. I’ve decided to combine the two parts into one book again. I’m almost finished the draft and am starting to go through and edit the story. I know there are continuity issues and some of my math work really stinks, but what the heck. That’s what this is all about. To keep writing until it’s publishable.
I want to thank Aburt and the Critters Organization for being my online critique group. They’ve been very helpful with this novel and my short stories.
I especially want to thank Wendy Wheeler and The Slug Tribe in Austin Texas. They are a writing group that meets twice a month for review and critque of stories. I discovered I needed to talk to pewople inn person about my writing, and find out how they thought and wrote. It is a marvelous group of individuals that are serious about their writing. Just sitting in and reading other people’s works and listening to the critiques has already made me a better writer. Here’s my public service announcement:
DON’T WRITE IN A VACUUM!!! FIND A GROUP AND JOIN! YOU’LL NEVER REGRET THAT DECISION!!!
Okay, I’ve gotten that off my chest. On a more personal note, we may have found our new house, albeit 8 months before we are ready for it! It’s in Georgetown, about 20 miles north of Austin. The price is reasonable, the lot is nicely landscaped, there is a pool and a hot tub, and there are enough rooms for my wife and I to each have an office. I gotta tell you, the Greater Austin Area lifestyle is execptional. One word of caution: Don’t come down here and try to make it like where you used to live! There is already too much diluting of the local culture. Please enjoy Austin and the surrounding towns for what they are. if you really love Encino, and want what they have there, STAY THERE! If you want to experience a much nicer lifestyle, then COME ON DOWN!!!
The food is one of the best things! There is a little place called “Georgetown BBQ” that has absolutely the best brisket I have ever eaten in my life. Tender, juicy and oh, so tasty! Tell them you want it with a “little flavor”. That means there is a little bit of fat on it. And the chicken is great too! My wife and daugther adore the homemade Peach and Cherry Cobbler.
Alright, I’m full now. I’ll let you be for now.
D. D. Tannenbaum
Onward and Outward…
OK, I made it to Texas. We’ve been here about six weeks and are pretty much enjoying it. Adjusting to a two bedroom apartment instead of a three bedroom house is a bit difficult. Note to parents of teenagers: Don’t let your kids bring their skateboards and bikes into the apartment pool. It really messes the water up. And to parents of little children: TEACH THEM NOT TO PEE IN THE APARTMENT POOL OR ON THE PLANTINGS AROUND THE APARTMENT POOL! And to the adults: NO SEX IN THE APARTMENT POOL! KEEP YOUR BODILY FLUIDS TO YOURSELF! This has been my public service announcement.
Now, the story has gotten so out of hand, I am splitting it up into two books. I am doing the final edits on the first one now and will be sending a query to an agent in the next day or so. One thing I’ve noticed is when the Muse strikes, you have no choice but to write. If it ain’t there, what comes out is pretty much crap. My Muse comes upon me when I can let go of everything that bothers me. That clears me out and good stuff comes. I’m also growing short stories; a couple of them are ready for critiquing. But this beast that is coming out os taking me places I never thought it could.
Now, Texas is a great place. I never knew they had a Texas Pledge of Alligiance. They say it in schools right after the National Pledge of Alligiance. For an aspiring author, Texas it has it all. The cost of living is a lot cheaper than New England. There is great food, great music and cheap beer! The people are friendly and open. We’ve made a lot of new friends here; I may even have found someone to collaborate with on a few stories.
I hope the agent I’ve chosen likes the story. I’m open for all kinds of constructive criticism. If anybody needs a place to have their stories critiqued, I highly recommand http://www.critters.org/. They are a fabulous bunch of people!
I’m gonna go bury my head in some meditation tapes for the night…
D. D. Tannenbaum
Sitting and thnking…
Well, I’m sitting in a hotel room in South Austin. Texas is great, but Austin has changed! All the reasons we want to live here are still here, but the “cowboy” element has turned yuppieish. Oh well, the Hole in the Wall still has great beer! I have decided to send an inquiry to an agent… let’s see what happens.
I haven’t written much for a few weeks, but the urge is building. Maybe I’ll try John Barnes concept of a thousand words a day. My writing is sporadic but intense. Let’s see if some kind of consistancy is good for me. There never was much of it in my early life. I think maybe it’s time for a change.
My other stories are bubbling up, also. I think it’s time to start fleshing them out…
D. D. Tannenbaum