Two Ways

There are two ways to take really good pictures.  If you get an excellent camera and really learn what it can do, you can take amazing pictures.

Or you can get a pretty good, simple to operate, durable camera and go to amazing places.  Keep your eye open for things that take your breath away... and take the shot.

My first parachute jump, the jumpmaster asked what was in the pouch on my shoulder strap.

"My camera.  I thought I'd take some shots on my way down."

He smirked.  "You're an idiot.  The second you jump out of that plane you'll forget it's even there."

One of my favorite pictures (predigital, I can't post it) is of my own boots at 3000 feet.

Same with a lot of things.  I'm plowing through a book right now that will be coming out in '12, doing the rewrites, making the editor happy and it is really, really apparent (especially on first drafts) that I'm not that good a writer.  But the book is about things that you really can't see at a distance.  About what goes on inside (and what is supposed to) when an officer makes a force decision.

Go to amazing places and keep your eyes open, or polish the skill.  Either creates some good stuff.

Doing both is best.  Working on it.

Productive Day

Finished another article today, third in a series of five (or possibly six).  Combined with the previous series, they'll actually make a good little book, a primer on social and asocial violence.  If it breaks 50k words, I'll think about traditional publishing.  Otherwise, e-books seem to be the way to go.

Also worked on a set of notes for Conflict Communications students.  That's a delicate balance.  A handbook would be neat, but people actually learn and remember better with hints than with passages.

Formatted two of the next three articles.

Still undone (but not tonight, I think.  I've earned a break).   ahem.  Still undone: seven weeks to get A Citizen's Guide to Police Use of Force into final shape.  Karen is my editor on this project and I like working with her... but the manuscript I originally sent to David was just to give him an idea and it is a really rough draft.  Done that twice now, sent and sold manuscripts before I even cleaned them up.  Still want to work on a manual for calming emotionally disturbed, drugged and mentally ill people.  Need to format Chiron 2008.

Kami did a great cover for 2008 and it cover my first seven months in Iraq.  There will be lots of new material, mostly things I couldn't right at the time and maybe a few chapters of the Nanowrimo novel I did in Baghdad.

It's Not all Crickets

The silence on INK has been deafening, like the sound of crickets you get when you ask for volunteers...

Things are moving apace in my little writing world.

Sold my third article to Concealed Carry Magazine.  It's been a series on different types of violent criminals.  Asked to do a regular column.

Three e-books out at Smashwords.  Two are compilations of the blog with some added material.  One is based on the course I did for Savvy Authors.  (Thanks, Mark, for the recommendation.)  Kami did the covers for all three and they look great.  A fourth e-book will be out before the end of the week, barring the unexpected.  It's a collection of drills and some people seem really eager to see it.

"Facing Violence" is scheduled for a May release and already available for pre-order.  There is a signing scheduled for 7 PM, May 25th at Powell's in Beaverton.  And in early September we should be filming a DVD version in Boston.

The collaboration with Lawrence Kane is pretty much done and we're looking at an Autumn 2012 release through YMAA.  YMAA also bought "A Citizen's Guide to Police Use of Force" for 2012 release and David wants to do a print version of the Drills Manual, but that won't be out until late 2012 at the earliest, probably 2013.

Conflict Communications has been blowing away audiences, but the book is going slower than I had hoped.  First draft is long done, but hammering out changes is hard.  Collaboration isn't for sissys.

Next project is a handbook on crisis communication for the Mentally Ill/Emotionally Disturbed.  Basically just putting in words what I did for most of my last  several years at MCIJ.  Doubt if it will come out to full book length.  If not, another e-book.

Busy is good.

Fighting Shifting Priorities.

It's probably no surprise to anyone in the know I've been fighting chaos and drama at home for nearly a year now. Lost my first reader, lost momentum time and again, nearly lost point and purpose. I've been asked to do a few things I didn't want to do and I hope to pick back up some I won't entirely let go.

Through it all, while I had cut back dedicated writing from last February 14th through December 28th (no significance in dates), and while I fully realize it's not the weekly chaos, the daily drama that derails me, it's how I react to it all. Coming up on a year since my family came close to losing much due to the dipping job market, I see that this is the new normal and as that I'm not the only one living under this roof, there will always be chaos and drama, every single day. But that doesn't mean I have to walk into that constant pit of despair.

I've been pecking at a project that should have been finished years ago. I wrote my first flash fiction that is marinating for a week before I look at it again and wait for a reputable site to open submissions again. I'm still struggling with the thought that others don't have my best interest at heart. I'm trying to smooth and calm life around me while sticking to my passion here and there. I hope those roles are reversed in frequency some time in the future.

And I want to thank everyone here at INK, past and present, who helped me shape my skills. Thanks for your words. Thanks for your patience.

Offer

Got a verbal offer on "Citizen's Guide to Police Use of Force" yesterday.

That makes one book out (Meditations on Violence) one e-book out (Violence: A Writer's Guide) and two books coming out- Facing Violence due in May from YMAA and Citizen's Guide with an unknown date.

Also have another e-book about ready...

Damn, I'm starting to feel like a writer.

Tonight's INK online meet up.

The first INK online meet up is tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. I hope to see a post from INK members or an email saying you're here with me. If not, well, I'm here working on my NaNoWriMo novel for the year. What are you working on? Something old? Something new? Something you or someone came up with at the last minute? Outline or not? Winging it? And how often has the NaNoWriMo.org site crashed for you? (I'm at six and counting.)

Anyone looking forward to OryCon next week? Or do you have a 'can take it or leave it' attitude? Looking forward to your next writer/author convention/event/out of town talk?

Finally, We're All Published.

Two hours before NaNoWriMo begins and I'm told Andromeda Spaceways #48 is out containing "Ash" my first published short story. How's that for writing motivation? Last of the INK group to become a published author, but better late than never, right? Thanks INKers for helping me grow as a writer. Today, I'm an author!

Accountability Cam is up and running at http://www.cscole.com/. I'll probably write for a couple of hours after midnight (less than an hour away now) and return around noon tomorrow after the daily workout. Finally preparations in order now. Go INK NaNo-ers!

E-Book

A few months ago, I taught an online class for the Savvy Authors chapter of the Romance Writers of America. The class, of course, was about violence. It was well-received and the students were a kick: intelligent, insightful and full of good questions.

So it seemed natural to expand the lessons into a manual.

It was too short, just barely, for a standard book. Plus I doubt I have the reputation to get a book on writing to a major publisher.

A third consideration is that considering the lag time between submission and publishing, even if I was very lucky it wouldn't be out to readers for two years.

So I asked Steve Perry about e-publishing, he told me about Smashwords and...

30 sales in less than 48 hours. It may actually have an ISBN soon.

It's a whole new world.

Suggestion: INK Non-meetings 1st Sunday of the month - 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Hi. My name is C.S. Cole and I'm a member of INK, the group of writers who have a hard time scheduling INK meetings. I miss our meetings but life has encroached heavily on every last one of us. Couldn't be helped. Nothing wrong with that.

I propose that we take the pressure off trying to schedule INK meetings in its old form and try something different. Once a month, at 7:30 on the very first Sunday of the month, I'll be online and I'll be here for a single hour. Anyone else who can make it to this non-meeting is welcome to do the same. No pressure or guilt if you can't come.

We can post something here on INK, or email each other with thoughts, links to ponder, and/or creative motivational words during this time. Whoever happens to show up can enjoy some writer camaraderie and a quick, on-the-spot prompt to get the juices flowing.

Proceeding toward a more dedicated method of meeting via Skipe or IM might be fun for the future. But in all honesty, I'm not looking for anything more yet, not because of lack of dedication or committment to writing but because I know, first-hand, how hard life can make things happen on a regular basis.

Long Time, No Write.

*BIG SIGH* Well, that only took long enough. I completely lost my INK login information and had to go a round about way to get back here...which worked fine because my email address was wrong from the original get-go.

I apologize for being so long out of the loop. I'm well aware of how life can interfere with the writing life if one is apt to let it. I just needed to wrap my head around how much more I needed writing than minute-by-minute dealings with the life I not-so-jokingly refer to as "The Daily Drama, The Weekly Crisis." That life is the norm now. I get it. What I'm working on is wedging my former writing self back into that life, come Hell or high water.  Been through near Hell. I'm told high water is a hoot and ain't so bad.

Thanks for not abandoning me, INK. Any thoughts on getting together soon? Any thoughts on NaNo?

Unrelated, sort of, I've got publishing news as of next week.

Honorable Mention for Writers of the Future

Yay!  I got an honorable mention for a story I sent to Writers of the Future.  

Keep sending those stories in to the contest, people!  You can't win if you don't play.

Okay, this is just sad....

No new posts since April? Tsk tsk. No meetings since...what, RadCon in February?

I know we're all busy. I've been busy writing--when I wasn't sick, which seems like all the damn time lately. But even so, since my last post--over the course of April and May--I finished the 98,000 word first draft of my starship repo man novel. I've played goalie for a few shorts that have come back to me in the mail, getting them back into play ASAP. And I've sent out one or two new stories.

And I know y'all have been busy too, but c'mon, fellow Kultists. We might as well all be laboring in solitude for all the group-type work we've done. Really, now, we ought to be doing just a wee bit better, don't you think?

I plan to spend the remainder of June doing a polish on my novel before letting my lovely and talented wife (and first reader) take a look at it. Assuming it passes her inspection, it'll go into the mail to five or six publishers. If it doesn't, I'll clean up the problems and then drop it in the mail. Either way, it'll be done and I'll start looking toward the next novel.

To quote Raoul Julia from some silly road race movie (as he ripped the rear-view mirror from the windshield of his race car and tossed it away, "What's behind me is not important!"

Goals

When I updated my INK goals today I blanched. Boy, setting the bar a little high, y'think? But I'm not going to change it. I can write at that pace. I'll even go so far to say that I can write at that pace easily. Why am I not? Because I'm spending too many of my evenings watching DVDs. Oh, I can curse The Tudors all I want. The blame must fall to me and my choices.

I am getting a new short story out almost every week, though. I think I can do two. That's what I'll aim for by next Monday.

Stayed tuned to see if Kami falls on her butt!

Aaaah

The best thing, no, the second best thing... maybe third. What the hell. One of the very cool things about having a wise, intelligent and extremely well-educated wife is that some of her knowledge occasionally get absorbed into my brain. Probably via friction.

Concluded the negotiations on the contract for "7". The hard copies should be in the mail very soon. The publisher is also interested in the possibility of a DVD. I have some very dark ideas for a DVD...

Anyway, the negotiation went extremely well. There was only one serious sticking point for me and David didn't consider it a problem at all. He offered a little better deal on one of the rights and even extended it to the contract for my last book. These are great people to work with.

Here's hoping that "7" makes YMAA (and me) an excellent profit.

EEEEEEEKKKKK!

[Hiding]

The scariest April Fool's post I've seen so far: Victoria knocks publishing horror out of the park.

Terrifying. Simply terrifying.

[Still hiding]

Goals & Meetings

So I completely bombed out on my March goals. I've kept my stories and novel submissions in circulation when they came back to me, but I haven't finished any short stories this month. In part, I was sick. But only in part. I've produced considerable wordage, but nothing that jelled into a story.

However, as Raoul Julia once said in a road race movie, "What's behind you is not important!"

Tomorrow is the first of April. I plan to start on not one but two--two!--novels. I don't guarantee to finish either one in April, but certainly by the end of May. Two novels so I can switch projects if I bog down on one. One science fiction (starship repo man!) and one urban fantasy.

But I'm gonna need some support along the way, I think. So...when are we meeting again?

Status

Things are moving apace.

Got a verbal offer on "7". The verbal offer triggered an agent hunt, and those queries just went out. I like my publisher, but as writing transitions from something on the side to a primary job, I feel obligated to start seeking more options and to negotiate smarter.

Two established authors have asked me to collaborate. I expect to have the first draft of both manuscripts done in four months. When nothing interrupts 5000-6000 words are going on the page between 0600 and 0930. Some of it is decent, too.

And, for some reason, two different chapters of the Romance Writers of America have asked me to put together on-line courses on violence, criminals and cop stuff. That's odd.

Teaching a seminar tomorrow and pitching the Conflict Communications course Wednesday.

Busy is good.

INK Visitor David Levine talks about Mars on Earth.

From INK friend and visitor David Levine on his recent Mars Mission on Earth:

"I had a great interview on KATU-TV this morning and it is already available online!

Mars Mission on Earth (KATU-TV, 2/26/10):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOXSzzCtbM
or http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/85507062.html

My previous TV appearance is stil available, if you haven't seen it:

Life on Mars... or at least a close facsimile (KGW-TV, 2/20/10):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcuOwpdkWCM
or http://www.kgw.com/thesquare/Life-on-Mars-or-at-least-a-close-facsimile-84735647.html

I think this may be the end of my 15 minutes of fame, for this round at least. I'll let you know if I get any more media attention.
--

David D. Levine | dlevine@spiritone.com | http://www.BentoPress.com/"

These are great interviews. David is an incredible author and speaker. I highly recommend checking out these videos.

Welcome Mark Jones and Next INK meetup!

Welcome Mark, our newest INK member! Mark is a very patient man, and talented author too with books and story sales left and right. INK is proud to have him onboard.

Next INK meeting is Friday, February 12th, 2010. Since all current members will be at RadCon (most of us in 'interesting' panels too, I believe, ahem), INK will meet when we're all free for a few hours. Maybe at the unofficial INK room Pajama Party!

January INK meeting 01/22/2010

Welcome to 2010. Our first meeting of the year will take place this Friday, January 22nd at the Mall 205 Elmer's Restaurant at 7 p.m.

9660 Southeast Stark Street
Portland, OR 97216-2404

Google map link

The restaurant closes at 10 p.m. and there is WiFi access.

Hope to see you there!

Meeting location wanted

INK is looking for a location for it's next meeting on Friday, January 22nd. Are there any great cafes or quiet coffee houses around that are open at least until 9 or 10 p.m.?

Go, Kami, GO!

Another great INK moment - Kami has her first, of what I'm certain will be many, SWFA-qualifying sale. Congrats Kami!!

Link: http://www.sfwa.org/2010/01/beneath-ceaseless-skies-is-sfwas-newest-qualifying-short-fiction-market/

48 Days

The manuscript went out to my publisher yesterday. Thanks to nano and encouragement from my lovely wife, it went from blank page to submitted in 48 days.

As usual, the most annoying and aggravating part was taking the pictures. Anything I do alone can be pretty efficient. Efficiency seems to drop and flakiness increase each time another person or a piece of equipment, especially a camera, gets involved.

Thanks largely to Rick P. the efficiency problem was shot, staked through the heart and buried, decapitated at a crossroads with silver coins in the grave and rosemary and garlic in the mouth.

Take that, inefficiency!

48 days. Not bad. Especially since it is very likely to sell. "Meditations on Violence" was the publisher's best seller for 2008 and they probably wanted something to follow it with.

Hmmm. This was just one big brag. Book off here; C.S. sale there... very good time to be an INKer.

First Sale.

Okay, yes, it's true. I've made my first sale. I've been in touch with my editor and you can look for my story 'Ash' in a fall 2010 issue of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine.

Thank you INK for being my first readers, critiquers, and pushers to keep sending it out, especially Kami whom I thought I heard once, over the phone, sharpening bamboo shoots in preparation for shoving under my nails if I didn't keep trying. Thank you, thank you.

Ah, the First Sale juice...it is sweet, like nectar of the gods.

Public Service Announcement

It's not my place to announce this, but since certain elements who shall not be named but whose initials are probably C.S. Cole is falling down on the job...

C.S. Cole sold a story to a well known and well respected Australian magazine. I thought that was an oxymoron, but I have been assured it is true and it is not necessary to hold said magazine upside down to read it.

This means that all active duty members of INK are professionally published. Statistically, this would imply that joining INK is a great way to get published. Hmmm. Plus the groupies.

Life is good.