Gerber Knives can teach Sun Tzu a new stratagem: The ox does not run from one mosquito, but will flee from a swarm.
A couple of weeks ago, I was informed by Amazon that an item I’d purchased was being recalled by the manufacturer. The item was a parang—essentially a heavy machete that I use to lop off branches in the back garden—made by Gerber Knives. The long blade of the parang, it seems, has a tendency to snap off at the hilt, creating a “risk of injury.”
Hehe…no kidding. Continue Reading »
Posted in Culture | Tagged fedex, gerber knives, gerber recall, parang recall, quality assurance, recalls | Leave a Comment »
Dang. I was hoping to report on my second proof copy of FC:I, but it hasn’t arrived yet. So, to keep up with my “write every weekday” goal, we’ll go somewhere else entirely.
Yoghurt.
Didn’t see that coming, didya?
Posted in Food, Recipes | Tagged greek yoghurt, homemade greek yoghurt, recipes, yoghurt | Leave a Comment »
I know I’m not alone. I am pretty sure most writers suffer from it. It presents itself with many symptoms, but the cause is the same. At some point, we lose confidence. Without warning, we are sure that we can’t write, that everything we write is crap, and everything we’ve ever written is crap.
For me, this condition crops up at regular, predictable intervals. I’ll be writing along, and suddenly it all seems so much dross. The outline sounds stupid, juvenile, uninteresting. The story is just so much blathering. I hate what I’ve written, I’m sure everyone will hate what I’ve written, and I can see no point in continuing.
I’ve hit it. I’ve hit the 30k wall. Continue Reading »
Posted in Writing | Tagged blogging, creative writing, Fallen Cloud Saga, novel writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips | 1 Comment »
We are informed by our experience. A lot of my experience comes from cinema. I am informed by cinema.
Many readers have told me they can “see” the scenes I write, that my style is “cinematic.” I take this as a compliment, as it is something for which I strive. I want the reader to see it in their mind. I won’t provide each hair or feather or leaf in a scene—that would be awful—but I want my words to paint just enough of the picture that the reader has all she needs to move forward and fill in the details she wants.
But I am definitely informed by cinema. Case in point: a scene I just came across during my re-edit of The Spirit of Thunder. I remember writing the scene, I remember storyboarding it out in my head. I remember knowing exactly what inspired me to construct the sequence as I did. Continue Reading »
Posted in Culture, Fallen Cloud Saga, Movies, Writing | Tagged creative writing, editing, Fallen Cloud Saga, novel writing, orson welles citizen kane, welles citizen kane, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips | Leave a Comment »
We have proof!
Yesterday, Brown delivered the proof for FC:I, and once again I was reminded of just how important a hardcopy proof is. For you out there who are thinking about self-publishing a hardcopy book, always get a physical proof copy of the book.
So, how was it?
Posted in Fallen Cloud Saga, Writing | Tagged amazon, Beneath a Wounded Sky, CreateSpace, creative writing, Fallen Cloud Saga, FC:V, novel writing, proof copy, publishing, self-publishing, Writing, writing tips | 5 Comments »
First, 60 followers…wow! Thanks to each and every one. It still boggles me that you find my ramblings and musings of sufficient interest, but hey, Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.
Now, to the subject at hand. There’s a book I want you to read. It is without a doubt the funniest, wryest, most engaging book about running you’ll even encounter. Don’t let the topic put you off.
Yes, it’s a “marathoner’s memoir,” but that truly over-simplifies this insightful book. I don’t run anymore (bad knees) and I have never run a marathon nor did I ever attempt to run a marathon. I did not read this book because I wanted to be “inspired” to run a marathon. I read this book because (as the Acknowledgments will tell you) I know the author, but I want you to read it because it is simply a really good, funny, often laugh-out-loud read.
Todd Baker started out as an overweight asthmatic, and ended up running a marathon and carrying the Olympic torch during its path through Washington State. Along the way, he learned a lot—about running, about people, about himself—and with sharp wit, a gimlet eye, and self-deprecating humor, he has put this journey down for us to enjoy.
If you like Bill Bryson’s work, you’ll love this. It’s available in hardcopy and in Kindle format, and I recommend it highly.
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Posted in Seattle, Writing | Tagged amazon, Bill Bryson, e-book, exercise, humor, Kindle, marathoning, memoir, running, ten year run, todd baker | 4 Comments »
There’s a peculiar sound you can hear in my house, whenever the TV is on. It’s a little sound…something like…”muh.” You’d hear it more often during news broadcasts and unscripted shows than at other times. It wouldn’t take you long to realize that it comes from me.
I have an affliction. It’s called speakproperlydammititis. The symptoms include facial tics, guttural mumbling, involuntary moues, and the small Tourette-like exclamations of “muh.”
Posted in Culture, Writing | Tagged education, grammar, Writing | Leave a Comment »
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani 