My Writing Life: February’s Epic Fail

Last month I mentioned my goal of a 500,000 word output in a single year. I think a report card like this every month will keep me honest and accountable. February was a short month, and I was starting a new project. How did I do? Let’s go to the stats:

Projects completed: 0

Projects I was trying to complete: 1

Words typed: 24,963

Target number: 38,356

Shortfall: 13,393

So, basically, February sucked. I’m not making excuses, or anything like that, because I did write something every day. It may have been just a paragraph, but I kept writing every day, despite a couple of catastrophic setbacks in my personal life that all but took me out of the game for about ten days. I’m better now, but the damage is done.

LegendaryGorilla Man Charles Gemora.

I’ve modified my March schedule to allow me time to finish off this project I started in February. It’s called Replacement Gorilla, and it’s a mystery novel I’ve been carrying around in me for ten or more years, now. It’s been made worse by two previous attempts to start it, both ending in failures. The first time out, I had the tone all wrong, and the second time around, I had the voice all wrong.

The good news is this: third time is a charm. I’ve got the tone and the voice just right, and I’m well past my last attempt. Plot is plotted, story is storied, and now all I really need to do is get it out of my head. It’s been tough at times, but my energy high and I’m ready to have this out in the world so people can see it.

I might, if anyone is interested, put some samples up for folks to read. Just a taste, really. A sliver. Throw me a comment or a PM if you want a sneak peek or two.

ConDFW: A Report of Sorts

Part of what got me back on track again was my now-annual pilgrimage to ConDFW. I like this convention, a lot. It’s a great way to shake off winter and gear up for the spring and summer shows. They do good programming and I know a lot of the Dallas SF scene, both fans and pros. But there was something about this year that was a little different, and very cool.

I’m getting a reputation for being a good moderator on panels. It’s not that hard to do, really; you need the confidence and command of the topic to be able to pose interesting questions, and the force of personality to dictate what shape the conversation will take. Acting ability helps, as well as public speaking. Oh, and you have to resist the urge to take over the panel and plug your own stuff, ad nauseum. Okay, come to think of it, maybe there’s more to panel discussions that a lot of people think.

Regardless, I’m good on panels. This year, I had some big crowds, and I also sold several copies of my new book, Empty Hearts, to people I did not know. This was very gratifying. It tells me I’m either: reaching an audience at these shows, or I’m finally putting some stuff out that people want to read. Or maybe both.

I do have a small sect of folks who attend all of my readings. If they are at the show, they are at my reading. Nice people, all. I give good readings. But this was the first time that my reading partner and fellow author, Patricia Burroughs, yielded some of her reading time to hear me read more stuff. She also bought a copy of Empty Hearts, prior to the reading. It was extremely flattering.

This ConDFW was about connections, more than any other. I ended up talking to fellow authors and establishing (and in a couple of cases, re-establishing) connections. To put it another way, I’m finally starting to feel like I belong there. It’s taken some time, and I’m not always the best about putting myself out there, but going to ConDFW and FenCon and making the effort to participate was one of the best decisions I ever made.

The 100^th Post

I’d hoped for something more monumental than a state of the union address. Oh, well. What can you do? I’ll get back to posting more Writing About Wonderbook soon. I’m halfway through the book right now. The short answer is this: it's great. If you are on the fence about it, get off the fence and go get a copy.

My 2012 ConDFW Panel Schedule

Hey Folks,

Here it is! For those of you in the MetroPlex area who want to know when Finn is coming into town, here's your answer. I'll be at the show until the wheels fall off. I have no other plans. Y'all should come by if you can. It's going to be a hoot and a holler. Especially the Friday night panel. We had a blast last year. And if you've never seen Troll 2...well, it's the new Plan Nine From Outer Space. That's all I'm saying.

FRIDAY

Signings:

6 pm – Gabrielle Faust, Mark Finn, A. Lee Martinez

Panel Room 1 - Warwick

9pm - Talking During the Movies -- Tommy vs. Trolls

Panelists: Mark Finn, Michael Ashleigh Finn, Anthony Brownrigg, Ren Hobt and anyone else willing to have fun!

In the hallowed halls of bad moviedom, there has arisen a conundrum. What is the best worst movie ever made? Tonight we screen two world-class contenders for the title. Congoers, prepare for glory!

The Room (2003) -- Tommy Wiseau's gift to the world, "The Room" is a movie that dares you to watch it. This modern masterpiece of crap defies easy description. Suffice to say, that while you may leave "The Room", "The Room" will never leave you.

Troll 2 (1991) -- We know what movie you really want to see this year. We know you're all chomping at the bit for The Hobbit. But wait! I sense fear, trepidation even. Will they do the source material justice? Will the Hobbit be as good as the trilogy? Are we in for massive disappointment? Fear not, my friends. For whatever the Hobbit maybe, it will be better than Troll 2. Perhaps the worst fantasy movie ever made, what more can you say about a movie called 'Troll 2' that has no trolls in it?

SATURDAY

Panel Room 2 - Manchester

11am - The Dangers of Self-Publishing

Panelists: P.N. Elrod (M), Lillian Stewart Carl, Bill Fawcett, Mark Finn, Melanie Fletcher

There are more and more dangers out there for the unwary prospective writer. From vanity book publishing to groups that disappear with your story rights, there needs to be a guide on what to look for when you want to sell yourself for fun and profit. Our panelists seek to do just that.

Panel Room 3 – Canterbury

4pm – Soaring Ships and Swashbuckling Sentients: Trends in Space Opera

Panelists: Ethan Nahte, Lee Martindale, William Ledbetter (M), Mark Finn

Once upon a time Science Fiction was just that – fiction that had a science flair to it. However, then the flair of super heroes came, with serialized adventures in pulp and cinema. And with the coming of John Carter of Mars to the big screen in all his SFX glory, the genre of Space Opera is poised to make a big comeback. Our panelists talk about where this is going, and what to look forward to in the future.

Panel Room 1 – Warwick

6pm – Raurgh! Zombies ate my brain! (And How YOU can avoid this fate!)

Panelists: Cherie Priest, Scott Padget, Chris Donahue (M), Mark Finn, John Manning

One of the first causes of the apocalypse that comes to mind (outside of high cholesterol) is the inevitable

zombie outbreak. Whether by a rogue comet, magic, or science gone wrong, zombies are entrenched in modern society’s mind. The question still remains, however – how do you survive the zombie outbreak? Is it necessary to own a number of weapons? Our resident survivologists spread the news. Programming Note: Survival is not guaranteed by attending this panel.

SUNDAY

Readings:

11 am – Julie Barrett, Paul Black, Mark Finn

Panel Room 3 – Canterbury

1pm – Don't Quit Your Day Job!

Panelists: Julie Barrett, Melanie Fletcher (M), Mark Finn, Rhonda Eudaly

A popular panel from last year, we bring the perennial topic back: what does one do to survive while waiting for

your big break? Our panelists share horror stories of what they had to do to survive, and offer advice on what

you can do as well.