writer :: geek :: human being - Latest Comments

Re: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Adam Israel — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:34:34 -0000

Since Clarion, I think I've finished almost all of the stories I've started to write. Most of my inventory now are stories that are fully drafted, but poorly executed. I know what needs to happen, I may even know how to fix them, but I need to trust myself enough to sit down and do it.

I think procrastinating is doing other than you should be doing at that moment. For me, I need to revise, so drafting a new story would be my way of procrastinating. Or cleaning my office (which I just finished doing).

Re: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Mishell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:45:20 -0000

Interestingly, Clarion taught me to write MORE shitty first drafts, because I had to actually, y'know, finish them. I'd say that was the most valuable skill I ever learned. Revising an unfinished story isn't revising; it's procrastinating. :-)

Re: Fail. Fail Harder. Fail Better.

Amanda C. Davis — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:07:18 -0000

I've been thinking about structure a lot over the past year or so. It's one of those things that turn invisible if done right--like boiling corn starch. Anyway, just dropping a comment to say I feel your pain, and congratulations for making it as far as you did!

Re: #NaNoWriMo day 15: I can see for miles and miles

Adam Israel — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:57:53 -0000

That's the kind of problem I wish I had. I'm more of a putter-inner than a taker-outer. So I'll end up fairly close to 50k of dense, fast pace story and outline. When I start the second draft, it'll balloon to 100-120k with more or less the same story but with less Jason Statham in Crank on every page. Action is good but so is suspense and right now it feels like a race for the finish line.

Re: #NaNoWriMo day 15: I can see for miles and miles

Dennis L. — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:45:17 -0000

Adam, I'm having the reverse problem, but probably the better problem to have: I'm at the halfway point for NaNoWriMo, but I haven't gotten out of Act 1 yet. I'm guessing this well end up being a 100K novel - unless I go back and find that my early writing is all fluff and needs to go. We'll see!

Re: NaNoWriMo 2011: Day 1

Samantha Mason — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:09:56 -0000

Hey. I'm with you. I was also planning on taking about a year to rewrite. Add that to the fact that I think my novel will need to be longer than 50,000 words...so who knows how long it will take me to even finish. But I am aiming at the end of December after those initial 50,000 are done. I too, am planning to blog each day. Just for the memories of the whole process. Good luck!

Re: NaNoWriMo 2011

John Dewey Nakamura Remy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:19:54 -0000

Go, Adam, go!

Re: A funny little thing called Kismet

Andrew Penn Romine — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:35:23 -0000

Adam,
She's adorable.

I hope your Kismet brings as much joy to your lives as our Kismet did.
Our Kis was all white w/ blue eyes. Very pretty but (unlike your kitty) scared of most things and anyone who came to visit Carol. That is, until I came along. He took an instant liking to me and we were best buds up until his last day.

Re: Off with the Sloth

Anne — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:16:44 -0000

Go you, Adam! This is a brilliant plan. And a very belated happy birthday too!

Be careful outside with this heat and all, that's all I ask.

Anne*---

Re: Off with the Sloth

Erika Holt — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:30:13 -0000

Great job! Go go go!

Re: Off with the Sloth

Glenn Brown — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:02:26 -0000

Keep at it man, struggling with conquering my demons in regards to health over the past few months. It is lifetime learning process.

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Mathew Jackson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:44:51 -0000

Long time listener, first time caller.

evarlast is just about perfect on this - learn to use a safety razor and just don't worry about the rest. I used to be obsessed with straight razors and I still have a couple, but it was just too much hassle in the mornings when I had to be somewhere. So now it's a general straight razor handle and Merkur Platinums. I still tend to use Barbasol as a shaving cream simply because it works for my face and doesn't irritate me. After-shave is always Ogallalla Bay Rum Sandalwood, which is phenomenal (witch hazel, bay rum and sandalwood scent) and cools down the skin nicely.

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Tatsuya Murase — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:13:43 -0000

I just use a mach3 (non-disposable) and pay the Gillette racket* via Costco. At some point, I'll probably be forced into safety razors or the Fusion. Although, it'd probably be the Fusion, as I'm too clumsy (and usually not awake enough) to handle sharp stuff near my face. A straight razor would definitely put me in the hospital.
I do recommend a nice shaving brush if you go the non-electric route. And whatever else your skin tells you it needs, give it.
For shaving cream, I'm using Trader Joe's brand stuff. In the past, I liked Caswell-Massey, but their store is too far away for me to pick up things from there all the time. I had an alum block I picked from the Art of Shaving, which is helpful if you manage to cut yourself. Clearly, there are cheaper alternatives to Art of Shaving...
I had an electric in the past (Braun) that never got as close as I get today with the Mach3 and so it made me go over areas over and over again which was irritating to the skin.

* That whole "give away the handle, sell expensive blades" model attributed to Gillette didn't in fact follow what we think of (e.g. toner and printers). Gillette was, at the time, selling a more expensive razor handle than competing brands, on top of the cost of the razor cartridges.
** Edited to add alum block

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Adam Israel — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:24:47 -0000

The Gilette Fusion, that's the one I've been using. It's almost cheaper to buy a new one w/a couple replacement heads then to buy a pack of refills and that seems like such a waste. I could use a trimmer, just to tidy up the sideburns, though. The chances of me actually being able to grow anything resembling an adult beard, though, are about as likely as me sprouting wings and flying.

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Adam Israel — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:22:15 -0000

Very interesting. I seem to remember playing with a safety razor when I was younger but I never seriously considered using one before. Thanks, Jay!

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Casey Seda — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:25:12 -0000

I voted disposable even though my mind sticks to those "cheap" single use jobs. I've used Mach3 most of the time since I started shaving. Been dragging my feet on getting an oldschool safety razor because I have no experience with them, but now I think I'm going to look into it again.

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Graham Rinehart — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:40:16 -0000

As evarlast said: safety razor. Much less waste (no cans of shaving creme, for instance, and little steel blades instead of plastic handle-and-all-units). Very old school.

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

evarlast — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:03:01 -0000

classic wet shave with a safety razor, like this: http://artofmanliness.com/2008...

Re: Guys, how do you shave?

Anthony Martinez — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:38:14 -0000

I tend to use a Fusion or whatever the hell the 5 blade Gilette is. I've got a beard trimmer that I use when I'm rocking the facial hair, but during the summer that's just not feasible. Too damn hot inside the motorcycle helmet. The blades last a decently long time if I use a good cream to soften my titanium bristled hair before attempting to shave.

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Bella — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:34:33 -0000

May your new found freedom (in both cases) bring you much happiness. From a fellow life-long road-tripper who 'gets it'.
Take care.

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Adam Israel — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:14:52 -0000

Of course!

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Matthew Smith — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:54:33 -0000

Sorry to stray off topic here, but I'm struck by the fact that by some incredible coincidence, my silhouette looks exactly like Christie's. Some distant ancestor (probably a yeast) must have passed down the same shadow gene to each of us.

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Matthew Smith — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:50:23 -0000

Good all around and better things ahead!

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Wendy Wagner — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:45:44 -0000

This fills me with joy. Freedom in so many ways! *hug*

Re: Take two milestones and call me next week, son.

Soko — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:21:55 -0000

If you're ever in the area, look me up dude. Wine and good times will be had.