Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Something not very humorous happened and, to make a long story short, I'm on a leave of absence. Indefinitely.
See you later? I hope.
See you later? I hope.
Monday, October 20, 2003
WORDS: 8,000
MOOD: happy!
I did it! I made 8,000 words in one day! YCBS is now 44,000 words long. Just about 30,000 more and I'll be finished. Maybe, come to think of it, only 26,000. Heck, that's not even two more weeks! I'm so excited. So, let's see. I did... 17,000 words in the past three days. This is not bad at all.
In other news, I may drop off the face of the earth for awhile. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Just switching schools, maybe, and I don't know what the new policy on computer and internet time is. We'll see.
MOOD: happy!
I did it! I made 8,000 words in one day! YCBS is now 44,000 words long. Just about 30,000 more and I'll be finished. Maybe, come to think of it, only 26,000. Heck, that's not even two more weeks! I'm so excited. So, let's see. I did... 17,000 words in the past three days. This is not bad at all.
In other news, I may drop off the face of the earth for awhile. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Just switching schools, maybe, and I don't know what the new policy on computer and internet time is. We'll see.
WORDS: 7,000
MOOD: uh...
I've just met my highest word count in a day ever, and I could by all rights keep going. I mean, why not? For one thing, it's insane. I'm insane. So what the heck! I'm going to keep going.
MOOD: uh...
I've just met my highest word count in a day ever, and I could by all rights keep going. I mean, why not? For one thing, it's insane. I'm insane. So what the heck! I'm going to keep going.
WORDS: 6,000
MOOD: happy
Well, I made it to 6,000 words; 42,000 in two weeks. That gives me a neat little 3,000 daily average. Woohoo.
Aside from that, I'm trying to read Eragon and Men at Arms simultaneously. I don't think much of Eragon so far (maybe I'm jealous--no, on second thought, it's a Tolkien knockoff. What's there to be jealous of?), but Men at Arms is pretty funny. Very funny, in fact. So that's good.
In any case, I also had a breakthrough about my magic system. It works like quantum physics, see... not going to explain any more than that. It's a secret!
Don't tell anyone.
Not that I really told you anything worth telling anyone...
MOOD: happy
Well, I made it to 6,000 words; 42,000 in two weeks. That gives me a neat little 3,000 daily average. Woohoo.
Aside from that, I'm trying to read Eragon and Men at Arms simultaneously. I don't think much of Eragon so far (maybe I'm jealous--no, on second thought, it's a Tolkien knockoff. What's there to be jealous of?), but Men at Arms is pretty funny. Very funny, in fact. So that's good.
In any case, I also had a breakthrough about my magic system. It works like quantum physics, see... not going to explain any more than that. It's a secret!
Don't tell anyone.
Not that I really told you anything worth telling anyone...
WORDS: 4,000
MOOD: happy, but waiting for the bubble to burst
Let's see. I've done 13,000 words in the past three days. That is not bad, and I'm up to 40,000 words for two weeks flat. And it's not even 5:00 PM! I could easily do 2,000 more today, bringing my average wpd up to 3,000. YCBS, by the way, stands at 40k as we speak.
But enough boring talk about wordcounts. The important thing is, I'm having fun, doing what I love, and doing it well. At least, as far as I can tell I'm doing it well.
My reading, on the other hand, is not going very well at all. I finished The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett--and didn't like it at all! Utterly cardboard characters, incomprehensible plot that moved too fast even for me, and not enough humor. Well, I'm willing to cut him some slack since it was his first try, but still... oh, well. I'm reading Men at Arms now. We'll see how that goes.
Maybe I'm too picky? I didn't care about cardboard characters before I started writing seriously.
Writing can really spoil your reading.
Oh, well. At least the writing is going well!
MOOD: happy, but waiting for the bubble to burst
Let's see. I've done 13,000 words in the past three days. That is not bad, and I'm up to 40,000 words for two weeks flat. And it's not even 5:00 PM! I could easily do 2,000 more today, bringing my average wpd up to 3,000. YCBS, by the way, stands at 40k as we speak.
But enough boring talk about wordcounts. The important thing is, I'm having fun, doing what I love, and doing it well. At least, as far as I can tell I'm doing it well.
My reading, on the other hand, is not going very well at all. I finished The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett--and didn't like it at all! Utterly cardboard characters, incomprehensible plot that moved too fast even for me, and not enough humor. Well, I'm willing to cut him some slack since it was his first try, but still... oh, well. I'm reading Men at Arms now. We'll see how that goes.
Maybe I'm too picky? I didn't care about cardboard characters before I started writing seriously.
Writing can really spoil your reading.
Oh, well. At least the writing is going well!
Sunday, October 19, 2003
WORDS: 5,000
MOOD: ecstatically euphoric
Because I've hit my groove again. I know, it's a little late in the novel for hitting my groove, but I've done it. 5,000 words in a day--and I want to do more. I love this plot outline thing, I know what's going to happen and I still have some room for improvising. Good fun. And introducing an evil minion named Tim the Unspeakably Evil, Jr. didn't hurt, either.
36,000 words on YCBS. I'm going to try to get to 40k by tomorrow--40k in two weeks flat. Let's hope I make it.
MOOD: ecstatically euphoric
Because I've hit my groove again. I know, it's a little late in the novel for hitting my groove, but I've done it. 5,000 words in a day--and I want to do more. I love this plot outline thing, I know what's going to happen and I still have some room for improvising. Good fun. And introducing an evil minion named Tim the Unspeakably Evil, Jr. didn't hurt, either.
36,000 words on YCBS. I'm going to try to get to 40k by tomorrow--40k in two weeks flat. Let's hope I make it.
Saturday, October 18, 2003
WORDS: 4,000
MOOD: ecstatic
Enough said! I made it! And they were good words, too. So... was it good for you, too? ;)
MOOD: ecstatic
Enough said! I made it! And they were good words, too. So... was it good for you, too? ;)
WORDS: 3,000
MOOD: happy
Got my words for the day (and I may push for 1k more, I'm really in a rut--I mean, on a roll), and I'm enjoying Terry Pratchett. Good fun all around.
MOOD: happy
Got my words for the day (and I may push for 1k more, I'm really in a rut--I mean, on a roll), and I'm enjoying Terry Pratchett. Good fun all around.
WORDS: 2,000
MOOD: happy!
I have finally found the right writing attitude. What is that, you ask? Simple: stand behind everything you put down on the page. Don't be embarrassed by it. If you are, delete it. And when you're really behind all the words you write, you'll find they come out a lot better.
29k on YCBS. Going to try for 1k more today.
MOOD: happy!
I have finally found the right writing attitude. What is that, you ask? Simple: stand behind everything you put down on the page. Don't be embarrassed by it. If you are, delete it. And when you're really behind all the words you write, you'll find they come out a lot better.
29k on YCBS. Going to try for 1k more today.
WORDS: 1,000 (so far)
MOOD: mellow
Well, according to the Gender Genie (which is anyway supposedly wrong at least half the time) I'm a male. Hm. Nope, definitely not male. Well, I WAS trying to write from a male POV--so that's something! If you want to try the Gender Genie, go here:
http://www.bookblog.net/gender/genie.html
And would someone please tell me WHY I created something called a Stealth Coverage Field Projector when I can't even remember what it's called half the time? Oh, well. I think it sounds funny, so I'll keep it.
On the reading front, I've got The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett. I've heard good things about it, so let's see how this goes.
On the writing front, wow, I'm clipping along pretty fast. Off to write some more--I'll let you know how I'm dong. Goal for the day: 3k. Must get 2k more.
Off to write!
MOOD: mellow
Well, according to the Gender Genie (which is anyway supposedly wrong at least half the time) I'm a male. Hm. Nope, definitely not male. Well, I WAS trying to write from a male POV--so that's something! If you want to try the Gender Genie, go here:
http://www.bookblog.net/gender/genie.html
And would someone please tell me WHY I created something called a Stealth Coverage Field Projector when I can't even remember what it's called half the time? Oh, well. I think it sounds funny, so I'll keep it.
On the reading front, I've got The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett. I've heard good things about it, so let's see how this goes.
On the writing front, wow, I'm clipping along pretty fast. Off to write some more--I'll let you know how I'm dong. Goal for the day: 3k. Must get 2k more.
Off to write!
Friday, October 17, 2003
WORDS: 3,000
MOOD: ebullient
Yes! I did it! I got 3k for the day, my best all week. That brings YCBS up to 27k. And I still have quite a ways to go. Based on my calculations, this will be a 75k novel. So I'm more than a third of the way done! Woohoo.
MOOD: ebullient
Yes! I did it! I got 3k for the day, my best all week. That brings YCBS up to 27k. And I still have quite a ways to go. Based on my calculations, this will be a 75k novel. So I'm more than a third of the way done! Woohoo.
WORDS: 2,000
MOOD: happy
Woohoo! I have gotten over my block, my characters are advancing, and all is well with the world. I may even push for 1k more tonight. If I get it, I'll let you know.
MOOD: happy
Woohoo! I have gotten over my block, my characters are advancing, and all is well with the world. I may even push for 1k more tonight. If I get it, I'll let you know.
WORDS: 1,000
MOOD: tired, still
I slept almost all day today, and I'm still a little groggy. I wonder what this is about. Not enough iron?
Anyway, I'm currently printing out YCBS (all 110 pages of it) and starting... revisions. I know, I know, I should just write the first draft already, right? But I want to make this good. And I am writing each day. 1k is my minimum right now, though it's usually 2k, because I've been having a rough week. I think I'll try for another thousand words today, though, since it's Friday and there are still about eight hours of writing time left today.
Rewriting. I still haven't found a good method of rewriting, though Hollylisle.com has some great tips. I just can't follow them. So far, my method is to pick through every sentence with a fine-toothed comb and mercilessly cut all extraneous words, bad bits of exposition, etc. And also take out plot holes, clean up continuity problems, etc. Unfortunately, in practice this method works about as well as a flyswatter against the SWAT team. That is to say, not well.
Oh, well. At least I know how to outline now!
Right.
MOOD: tired, still
I slept almost all day today, and I'm still a little groggy. I wonder what this is about. Not enough iron?
Anyway, I'm currently printing out YCBS (all 110 pages of it) and starting... revisions. I know, I know, I should just write the first draft already, right? But I want to make this good. And I am writing each day. 1k is my minimum right now, though it's usually 2k, because I've been having a rough week. I think I'll try for another thousand words today, though, since it's Friday and there are still about eight hours of writing time left today.
Rewriting. I still haven't found a good method of rewriting, though Hollylisle.com has some great tips. I just can't follow them. So far, my method is to pick through every sentence with a fine-toothed comb and mercilessly cut all extraneous words, bad bits of exposition, etc. And also take out plot holes, clean up continuity problems, etc. Unfortunately, in practice this method works about as well as a flyswatter against the SWAT team. That is to say, not well.
Oh, well. At least I know how to outline now!
Right.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
| INTP - "Architect". Greatest precision in thought and language. Can readily discern contradictions and inconsistencies. The world exists primarily to be understood. 3.3% of total population. |
That's me, all right.
WORDS: 2,000 (but half of that was on my new scene-by-scene plot outline)
MOOD: happier
Well, I'm doing better! I now know, for the first time ever, EXACTLY how this is going to work, beginning to end, inside and out. And what's more, the subplots all hook into the main plot somehow, which I really like. For the first time in my life, I've finished an entire scene-by-scene outline of a novel.
And the novel? The one I've been calling YCBS? Well, its real title is You Can't Be Serious In Universe Thirteen. 24k on that so far. I've been lagging a bit lately, but I think I'll get better soon. Especially since the part with the faked death involving catsup is coming.
Anyway, here's an excerpt. Francine, the heroine, has just kissed Simon, the hero. They're the stars of a reality movie in a fantasy universe. Marty is the assistant director and John, the talent scout who works with him. You can fill in the rest. Excerpt:
“Did you see that, John!” Marty was all but jumping up and down, and Marty was not the jumping-up-and-down type.
“Yeah, I saw it,” John said. He peered over the shoulders of the robot techs at Simon, who was making his wobbly way up to the dragon’s cave. “You’ve got your romance, Marty.” But you didn’t expect Simon to be the star of this movie, did you? He said it to himself, silently, because disagreeing with Marty out loud was about as smart as smacking a large and angry tiger in the face. With a ballpeen hammer.
“I’ve got my romance,” Marty said. He sounded supremely self-satisfied. “And what’s more, that Fran is one smart girl. She set that up, see? So Simon would go into the dragon’s ‘dangerous’ lair instead of her.” Marty chuckled.
John felt the bottom fall out of his stomach. “How could she do that to him?” he asked, swallowing hard. He got control of himself slowly and gave Marty the reply the other man wanted. “I mean, it seems a little cruel and conniving to me.”
Marty was still grinning, John noticed. “So what?” he said. “The cameras love her.”
The cameras, slightly sentient beings from one of the stranger universes (Universe One Hundred Nine), did in fact seem to love Francine, and made audible purring noises whenever she appeared onscreen.
“True,” John admitted. “But that’s not everything. I mean, isn’t integrity important?”
Marty stared at John for a long, long moment.
“John,” he said finally, “we’re in the entertainment industry.”
MOOD: happier
Well, I'm doing better! I now know, for the first time ever, EXACTLY how this is going to work, beginning to end, inside and out. And what's more, the subplots all hook into the main plot somehow, which I really like. For the first time in my life, I've finished an entire scene-by-scene outline of a novel.
And the novel? The one I've been calling YCBS? Well, its real title is You Can't Be Serious In Universe Thirteen. 24k on that so far. I've been lagging a bit lately, but I think I'll get better soon. Especially since the part with the faked death involving catsup is coming.
Anyway, here's an excerpt. Francine, the heroine, has just kissed Simon, the hero. They're the stars of a reality movie in a fantasy universe. Marty is the assistant director and John, the talent scout who works with him. You can fill in the rest. Excerpt:
“Did you see that, John!” Marty was all but jumping up and down, and Marty was not the jumping-up-and-down type.
“Yeah, I saw it,” John said. He peered over the shoulders of the robot techs at Simon, who was making his wobbly way up to the dragon’s cave. “You’ve got your romance, Marty.” But you didn’t expect Simon to be the star of this movie, did you? He said it to himself, silently, because disagreeing with Marty out loud was about as smart as smacking a large and angry tiger in the face. With a ballpeen hammer.
“I’ve got my romance,” Marty said. He sounded supremely self-satisfied. “And what’s more, that Fran is one smart girl. She set that up, see? So Simon would go into the dragon’s ‘dangerous’ lair instead of her.” Marty chuckled.
John felt the bottom fall out of his stomach. “How could she do that to him?” he asked, swallowing hard. He got control of himself slowly and gave Marty the reply the other man wanted. “I mean, it seems a little cruel and conniving to me.”
Marty was still grinning, John noticed. “So what?” he said. “The cameras love her.”
The cameras, slightly sentient beings from one of the stranger universes (Universe One Hundred Nine), did in fact seem to love Francine, and made audible purring noises whenever she appeared onscreen.
“True,” John admitted. “But that’s not everything. I mean, isn’t integrity important?”
Marty stared at John for a long, long moment.
“John,” he said finally, “we’re in the entertainment industry.”
WORDS: 0 (but I plan to remedy that now that I have my computer back)
MOOD: sad
Well, it's a long story, but I couldn't use my computer all day. In the meantime, I finished reading Trickster's Choice (which was as bad at the end as the beginning) and picked up a few new books by S.L. Viehl--unfortunately, the bookstore didn't have them all. Must go to a bigger bookstore tomorrow. Her blog, by the way, is really great, and you can check it out here:
http://starlines.blogspot.com/
At least, you can check it out here until I manage to put it up in my permanent links. This is very hard for me to do, because I have all the computer skills of a rutabaga. Probably less.
Anyway, I should really be writing. I tried out Inspiration software to help me organize--wonder of wonders, it's easy to use AND helpful!
http://inspiration.com/
And while I'm in a linking mood (not that I can actually link, mind you, I just type out the web adresses), here's the link the Shakespeare's Kitchen, my mom's book, but, despite being written by my mom ;) , a great book with some wonderful recipes.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375509178/qid=1066343328/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-3260053-6291854?v=glance&s=books
Snippet from YCBS coming soon!
MOOD: sad
Well, it's a long story, but I couldn't use my computer all day. In the meantime, I finished reading Trickster's Choice (which was as bad at the end as the beginning) and picked up a few new books by S.L. Viehl--unfortunately, the bookstore didn't have them all. Must go to a bigger bookstore tomorrow. Her blog, by the way, is really great, and you can check it out here:
http://starlines.blogspot.com/
At least, you can check it out here until I manage to put it up in my permanent links. This is very hard for me to do, because I have all the computer skills of a rutabaga. Probably less.
Anyway, I should really be writing. I tried out Inspiration software to help me organize--wonder of wonders, it's easy to use AND helpful!
http://inspiration.com/
And while I'm in a linking mood (not that I can actually link, mind you, I just type out the web adresses), here's the link the Shakespeare's Kitchen, my mom's book, but, despite being written by my mom ;) , a great book with some wonderful recipes.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375509178/qid=1066343328/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-3260053-6291854?v=glance&s=books
Snippet from YCBS coming soon!
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
WORDS: 1,000 (yes! I can write again! Guess I just needed one day off)
MOOD: tired, tired, tired
Yes, I am tired. And I still have homework to do... that aside, I just felt I had to share something with you, my faithful (you are faithful, right? I'm not about to find you in bed with other bloggers, or, dear Lord, pharmaceutical companies, of which our president has been accused, am I?) readers. It's a poem (I know, I said I hate poetry. Well, I do) I wrote awhile ago while thinking about the idiots, I mean people, who think life is automatically fair. Here it is. It's strangely not an angry poem:
Of Choice and Change
Fairness is the friend
of cowards, liars and trucklers;
It once was my friend too and still--
I cling to the half-forgot childhood notion
That the world is balanced on an even axis.
But ah, I failed to see--
the complexity of life and love and world
A subtle unbalance will, with time,
make itself felt and heard.
Sometimes the world tilts;
oh so dizzily, or is that just
the headiness that comes
with fatigue, but the fatigue of love
or sorrow?
Uneven is life and unaccountable
It is for mortals to bear the dual burdens or blessings
of choice and change--
Only death is unchanging, eternal
and only entropy plays fair.
Let's have a moment of silence for the death of my former, poetic self. I think I was OK at poetry. Too bad I hate it so much. Was it Mark Twain who said "Reports of my demise were premature"? Yes, I think so. Must look that quote up. I think reports of my poetry's demise may be premature, since I am taking Creative Writing next year and poetry is (shudder) required.
Anyway, on the writing front, I knocked off 1k and would have done more, had not the vile homework begun calling me. I think I've got a better handle on all I'm trying to convey with this novel. It's great. I love it. Of course, that's what I always say... up to 23,000 words now. Let's see if I can hold out. Since I have the thing plotted out, I think I can.
As a random side note, I'm up to page 210 of Trickster's Choice. If you're wondering why I keep torturing myself like this, well, I just have to. I can't bring myself to believe that the idol of my childhood would write something... bad. But this is bad.
It's like a writing manual on what NOT to be. For example, don't write inconsistent, shallow characters. I tend to do this; now I see how annoying it is. Must remember to keep characterization deep and consistent for YCBS; it seems to be working so far. Cross your fingers for me. Right, now keep them that way for a few days. Excuse me, I have sadistic tendencies. Also masochistic tendences, apparently, since I'm torturing myself reading this book. Anyway, back to the manual on how not to write. Also, don't write paragraph-long descriptions of random characters' builds and facial features, yet forget to put in any sensory detail or description of action or magic or anything fun.
And (this is just for Tamora Pierce; no other writer writes SO MUCH about birds) please. Spare me the birds. I mean, animals in The Immortals were OK; that was sort of the point. Birds in Protector of the Small seemed completely unnecessary, but I let it slide. But what the hell is this? What is the point? It seems like a completely token gesture calculated to give the MC a love interest. The love interest, by the way, is completely transparent and nonsensical. The whole book is made up of Deus Ex Machina and plot devices.
Really, I may seem like I'm just making fun of it, but I'm genuinely disappointed and saddened. Which is stupid. I mean, it's just a book. Well, books mean a lot to me, I guess. Here, I think I'll make a list of some of the good books I like. Maybe that will help.
The Physician by Noah Gordon (Quite possibly my favorite book of all time)
Time and Again by Jack Finney (Stunning. Brilliant. I love it)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Just as stunning, heartwarming and incredible in scope)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (My kind of dystopia!)
Anything by Dave Barry, of course! (I mean, the guy is hilarious)
Rogues to Riches by J. Robert King (I know, it's a kids' book. I can't help it. This is THE book that inspired me to write humorous fantasy. I've read it at least 50 times. I've memorized huge chunks of it)
If you guys haven't read any of these books, read them now! They're terrific. Of course, that's just my personal taste.
Off to bed for me now. No, on second thought, I think I'll do some writing. Maybe post a snippet tomorrow, even. We'll see how it goes. I'll tell you more about my secret project, YCBS, too. I think you'll like it. Especially the tourist trolls and the New Yorker ghouls.
MOOD: tired, tired, tired
Yes, I am tired. And I still have homework to do... that aside, I just felt I had to share something with you, my faithful (you are faithful, right? I'm not about to find you in bed with other bloggers, or, dear Lord, pharmaceutical companies, of which our president has been accused, am I?) readers. It's a poem (I know, I said I hate poetry. Well, I do) I wrote awhile ago while thinking about the idiots, I mean people, who think life is automatically fair. Here it is. It's strangely not an angry poem:
Of Choice and Change
Fairness is the friend
of cowards, liars and trucklers;
It once was my friend too and still--
I cling to the half-forgot childhood notion
That the world is balanced on an even axis.
But ah, I failed to see--
the complexity of life and love and world
A subtle unbalance will, with time,
make itself felt and heard.
Sometimes the world tilts;
oh so dizzily, or is that just
the headiness that comes
with fatigue, but the fatigue of love
or sorrow?
Uneven is life and unaccountable
It is for mortals to bear the dual burdens or blessings
of choice and change--
Only death is unchanging, eternal
and only entropy plays fair.
Let's have a moment of silence for the death of my former, poetic self. I think I was OK at poetry. Too bad I hate it so much. Was it Mark Twain who said "Reports of my demise were premature"? Yes, I think so. Must look that quote up. I think reports of my poetry's demise may be premature, since I am taking Creative Writing next year and poetry is (shudder) required.
Anyway, on the writing front, I knocked off 1k and would have done more, had not the vile homework begun calling me. I think I've got a better handle on all I'm trying to convey with this novel. It's great. I love it. Of course, that's what I always say... up to 23,000 words now. Let's see if I can hold out. Since I have the thing plotted out, I think I can.
As a random side note, I'm up to page 210 of Trickster's Choice. If you're wondering why I keep torturing myself like this, well, I just have to. I can't bring myself to believe that the idol of my childhood would write something... bad. But this is bad.
It's like a writing manual on what NOT to be. For example, don't write inconsistent, shallow characters. I tend to do this; now I see how annoying it is. Must remember to keep characterization deep and consistent for YCBS; it seems to be working so far. Cross your fingers for me. Right, now keep them that way for a few days. Excuse me, I have sadistic tendencies. Also masochistic tendences, apparently, since I'm torturing myself reading this book. Anyway, back to the manual on how not to write. Also, don't write paragraph-long descriptions of random characters' builds and facial features, yet forget to put in any sensory detail or description of action or magic or anything fun.
And (this is just for Tamora Pierce; no other writer writes SO MUCH about birds) please. Spare me the birds. I mean, animals in The Immortals were OK; that was sort of the point. Birds in Protector of the Small seemed completely unnecessary, but I let it slide. But what the hell is this? What is the point? It seems like a completely token gesture calculated to give the MC a love interest. The love interest, by the way, is completely transparent and nonsensical. The whole book is made up of Deus Ex Machina and plot devices.
Really, I may seem like I'm just making fun of it, but I'm genuinely disappointed and saddened. Which is stupid. I mean, it's just a book. Well, books mean a lot to me, I guess. Here, I think I'll make a list of some of the good books I like. Maybe that will help.
The Physician by Noah Gordon (Quite possibly my favorite book of all time)
Time and Again by Jack Finney (Stunning. Brilliant. I love it)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Just as stunning, heartwarming and incredible in scope)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (My kind of dystopia!)
Anything by Dave Barry, of course! (I mean, the guy is hilarious)
Rogues to Riches by J. Robert King (I know, it's a kids' book. I can't help it. This is THE book that inspired me to write humorous fantasy. I've read it at least 50 times. I've memorized huge chunks of it)
If you guys haven't read any of these books, read them now! They're terrific. Of course, that's just my personal taste.
Off to bed for me now. No, on second thought, I think I'll do some writing. Maybe post a snippet tomorrow, even. We'll see how it goes. I'll tell you more about my secret project, YCBS, too. I think you'll like it. Especially the tourist trolls and the New Yorker ghouls.
