Nanowrimo!!!

For those of you who do not know, Nanowrimo stands for Nation Novel Writing Month. It takes place in the month of November, from 12:01AM on November 1st, allllll the way to 11:59PM on November 30th!

The goal?

Write a 50,000 word novel within those thirty days.

I'm sure your faces are like this

:O

or this

>:O

or this

:?O

Yes that man has a pimple next to his nose. Look closely. It's called a question mark.

I've always wanted to do something like this, I have. My excuse was always, "I'm so busy!"

Well, I'm ALWAYS busy. So I figured it was time to shut up, and start writing.

So over the course of the month, I'll be writing a lot. Not just Nano, but school stuff, and hopefully blog stuff as I keep you updated on what I'm doing and how I'm doing.

I'll be working on a project called Underfoot.

Wish me luck!

More on my life to come!

Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Hello Internet.

Hope you're doing well, and enjoying the nice weather. Oh wait, that's right. You're stuck inside.

Sorry.

Things go well on this end. I'm back home after a very fun, very long semester. It feels nice to be back home, good seeing my folks, and I've even had a little time to myself before Bren gets home on Sunday.

Internship with Tor Books fell through it seems. I've tried contacting them over and over but there hasn't been any response. Ah well, what can you do?

That's why I had my back up plan!

Which is going to be Brookstone as always, and then Camp Scuffy again. Not thrilled but what are you going to do? The more I think about it, the less unhappy about I am. It's just that with Summer camp as many awesome things there are about it, there are unawesome things. But usually the good outweighs the bad. Usually. Here's hoping for a good summer there.

Writing is picking up steam again, like a train chugging on the tracks. Took a break with finals and all but I'm stepping back up to plate and back on track. Yes, I know there are two conflicting metaphors. I know what I'm doing.

Anywho, I think that is what I shall go do more of. See, it's funny for me. I can tell what nights are going to be good writing nights. Good nights, I can feel my fingertips warm up and just see them flying across the keyboard like that is what they were meant to do you know? Bad nights, well, my fingers are slow and lethargic and it takes forever to even IM it seems.

Here's hoping for a good writing night. Gnight!

And The Curtains Come Down

It's been a crazy three weeks world.

And I'm sorry I haven't kept you in the loop. My past three weeks have been this:

Rehearsals. Plays. Shows. Laughter. Sketchys. Death. Romance. Slight dejection. Writing. Acting. Sleeping. Reading. Brothers. Family. Relay For Life. Cowboy Hats. Bro-Chill Time.

So there ya go.

My show was last weekend, had most of my family come down, even some folks from Massachusetts which was really nice. The show went great. My actors were on, the director made some really great choices, and the drum added an epic sense of power that was definitely a great choice.

A little sad it's over. But, life goes on, and if you're paying attention to the present, you'll just end up in the past.

So the writing goes on. I've been writing every day this week and of the week, and so far, doing well. Also, been hitting the gym as well, every day, half an hour, just to get myself warmed up to it again. Let's do this thing.

And yeah . . . tomorrow is Relay For Life, all day event, fighting cancer cause cancer sucks, and we need to kick its ass. True Story.

More on my life as it occurs, my friends. Good night and day and night.

Heart Beat

Hello my frolicking denizens of the internet, and how are we doing?

I know it's been a while, but I've learned to stop feeling bad about it all, I'm a busy and as they say, important man. Because being busy must mean you're important, as important people are very busy. Ah good old circular logic, I missed you!

Things are quiet on the home front, a lot less, I suppose the word is, unstressed, from last time. I've come to grips with most things, lost hold on others, and still whirling around some other things, but all in all, that's what life is usually, so I feel rather normal.

Writing is going well, working on a couple of new projects, and just submitted a show proposal to a company downtown, for their annual playwriting contest. Here's hoping, right? I'm doing a final final draft of Fallen, which goes up in less then a month, and working on a new one act play for my playwriting class, which I'll tell you, is titled, "Schrodinger's Coffin." (Copyright).

You'll see . . .

Work goes well, and steady. Classes are all really awesome, and residential life work is good for the most part. I am gaining better reflexes, as Mikela feels the need to turn the office into a war zone from time to time. I know not many people will throw rubber ducks at me in this life, but for the moment, I am skilled in dodging them. Fear me.

I'm still applying to be an RA next semester and I'm excited for it. Will it be busy and hectic with my schedule the way it is? Oh fuck yea! But will it be worth it? I sure hope so!

And I suppose that's it-- wait, it's what day?

Hmmmm, well I suppose I'll touch on this briefly . . .

It's right now 18 minutes into Valentine's Day. My thoughts you may be wondering?

Well, this is my third Valentine's day that I have been single. Does it suck? Yes. Is it heart-crushingly depressing? Eh, not really. Do I regret not having a special someone to buy roses and a pony for? No.

Because it'll happen when it happens. I don't see February 14th come up on the calender, and run out to the Girlfriend Store, just so I can be not lonely. Besides, the Girlfriend Store is expensive . . . And also because, I'm NOT lonely.

WHAT?! On this the day of loving a special someone, just ONE someone, and you don't have ANYONE to spend money on at all and you DON'T CARE?!

Uh, yea . . . because Valentine's Day is not just the, "buy stuff for your girlfriend only," day. It's the, "show everyone you love how much you care day, and if you happen to have a girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, lover, it's preferable you show them the most appreciation," kind of day.

So naysayers of the world, they who live by the label hallmark and brand the price of eternal love at $2.99, I will say this: Valentine's Day is to show the love for all, not just one, and especially not on who can spend the most. In fact, how bout a challenge? Take the time this year, to show your Valentine how much you care for them, WITHOUT money. Try that out.

So a Happy Valentine's Day to my parents, my brothers, Bema, Papa, my sister Jesse and to all my friends at home, school and abroad. And to Matt Leonard, cause you can't spell bromance, without bro!

Please enjoy this exclusive interview with Cupid by my friend Mike Russell.

Happy V-Day folks.

Watch FRP - Mike Russell - Valentines Day in Comedy | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

What rhymes with Mess?

STRESS IS THE ANSWER!

Hey.

I've been a tad stressed.

Over improv-reslife-should-I-be-an-RA-classes-monologues-writing-plays-for-school-women-publishers-not-wanting-my-stories-blaaaaaaaaaaaargh . . .

K, I'm done with that, but now I clarify.

I'm debating on whether to be an RA next year or not. I want to be, I think I'd be good at it, and I want to definitely try it out before I leave college. And I DO think I'd be good at it. Yeah, maybe I need to work on being more assertive, and organized, but I think if I am really on top of shit, I can do this. The time commitment for next year works out the same either way as an RA or SA. So let's try it. Maybe =p

And yeah, I got a rejection letter from a publisher today, not going to tell you which. Yes, I know it happens and I got to stick with it and one day I'm going to look back and laugh. But right now?

IT SUCKS.

But it's okay. It sucked for about 7 minutes, but right now it's okay. I just have to try harder, and better at what I do and what I love to do.

And that's all for now I suppose.

Weekend's going to be exciting though, Brendan is coming on up. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME! We're going to hang out and he's going to hit on girls and we're going to be awesome!

Update ya then my web goblins!

Ever Notice How The End Of The Road Looks A Lot Like The Beginning?

Because here we seem to be again. New semester, new classes, new schedules, new frustrations, and hopefully new friends. It all seems new and exciting and wondrous, partially because it and partially because it is not.

We've reached a nice cyclical point in our lives, so endings look like beginnings. I dread the point in my life when beginnings look a lot like endings.

But all is well, to be honest. I finished the latest draft of Fallen. This looks to be about the final draft actually. I can't imagine too much revision, aside from getting the page count down. As it stands, acts one and two are about the same length, but i think i need to still cut down act two. A well, I'll find out Thursday at the last reading.

Classes are good, and it is indeed nice to be back. Wednesdays are going to be brutal, but I can handle it. I'm taking a philosophy class which I'm warming up to, and exploration seems good; any guy who makes liberal use of star wars music, futurama and simpsons in the first class slideshow is a-ok in my book.

I am again a Pac Rat this semester. Playwriting with James which is great, audition techniques with Yvonne who is amazing and Acting 2 with Eileen who is a blast.

Take all of that, toss in a play I'm writing, Sketchys Characters, Residential Life, Theatre Council and trying to achieve plenty of sleep and it's going to be a good semester.

It's good to be back.

Adios Winter Break

Well ladies and gents, it's time again to pack the suitcase and head back to school. Shove all the clothes I own and like into two bags, about a pound of medicinal pills and whatnot, and a good fifty or more books.

Because yes, I have two boxes of books. One is a book box, one is a comic book box, both contain random dvds and the like.

It's getting kind of ridiculous. Ah well . . . such is the life I lead.

But it's been a great break. It has been surprisingly productive, especially since it's me we're talking about here. But it has been. Let's see . . .

-Edited 3 stories and they are currently on their way to publishers :: fingers crossed ::

-Started the third draft of Fallen, first act is done, second on the way

-Started a few new short stories

-Editing a couple of more stories

-Thoughts on new projects and novels

-Creating/editing new magic systems

-And very proud of this, I wrote a new One Act Play called Heroics which I'm pretty happy with, just need to edit it up, and par it down!

-Also, wrote a poem

And that's just writing productivity! I got a couple days of work in, finished Super Mario Bros. Wii (amazing!) and Batman: Arkham Asylum (Awesome!), saw tons of friends, had adventures, some fudged up dreams, had some good bro-chill time, and just had a great time with my family.

God, it's weird all this back and forth. Just reminds me of the huge change I felt when I first started the process. And if you know me, you know I hate change. I deal with it, but for example, I've ordered the same thing at Panera for the past three years, and I can't even change my wallet. (Don't tell my Mom, she'll be pissed).

But it's something I've gotten used to. Strange as it is, it's still nice to be heading back to school. The break is just long enough to enjoy home, and I did, I enjoyed it to its fullest. But now it's time to head back. Back to classes, reslife, theatre, my sketchys, TC, and the general insanity of my life.

I can't wait!

I AM THE NIGHT!

Because I just finished Batman: Arkham Asylum today! Yes, I know how late to the party I am . . . the cupcakes are all gone . . . But yeah, great, intense, amazing game. Go pick it up.

Plastic explosive punch for the win.

Longer blog coming soon Internet, just wanted to let you know I am alive. And --

-Started Fallen Final Draft, it's coming together

-Two stories fully edited and going to be sent out.

-Started new short story, and new magic systems are on the way in me noggin

-Please go sign up for the Worldbuilders Fundraiser on

http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/blog/2009/12/worldbuilders-2009.html.

Books and helping people unite!

K

Me Tired.

Night, night.

Night. I.

I am the night.

Fear me . . .

Okay I'm going to bed.

Parties Can Be Mandatory?

Can they?

Yes, that's what I've learned. I have a mandatory party to go to tonight. Ha, I don't mind, I went to the last one, but not everyone did so I understand the mandatoryness of it all. I just imagined this scenario . . .

"You having a good time? Enjoying the food?"

"Yeah, I uh . . . I actually don't eat food too oft--"

"YOU MUST PARTY AND EAT AND BE MERRY OR YOU ARE FIRED!"

At that point it slowly devolves into an epic fantastical battle between the forces of good and evil but hey, what in my mind doesn't?

Also, I learned, even if there is a plastic bag separating the individuals items, if you keep a piece of bread on top of a dryer sheet, that bread WILL absorb that oh so DELICIOUS flavor of dryer sheet. Guess who had a nice delicious laundry-peanut butter- and jelly sandwich just now?

THIS GUY.

Finals are all done. Fall 2009 Semester is all done. We just need to close up the quad tomorrow and then I'm home for a good five weeks, home to work, go to the gym, sleep, see friends and write my brains out. Because it's time to get my life in shape.

This semester I've learned a lot, I think I have. I've learned how to balance running an improv group, and a theatre group, and write a two act play, while working for residential life and taking five classes and still managing to sleep and see friends. I've learned that the beauty of playwriting comes at the beginning and I suppose the end, because right now it sucks to be in the middle.

I learned sometimes you got to man up and do what you have to do; also that there are certain girls you deal with crazy for, and certain girls ya don't. I learned cyberpunk is a lot more then matrix, and eugene ionesco is a crazy ass playwright. I learned it's fun to be a helicopter, how to make the perfect burger, and when Ralph Dibny is a resurrected zombie with a mace and his best friend by him, he can be a real dick.

Toy Story still holds up after all these years, Reel Big Fish is even better in real life then I suspected, and Rand will be okay in the end. I've learned how to fall on my back, my side, and my face, and that a hook-up only works when you feel something more then physical, (doesn't make it less awesome though). Aquaman is still lame as an old man, Sketchys should never be given a chance to party in a place the school can be held responsible, but we're still gonna do it =]

And that as hectic and jumbled and crazy as this semester was, it was still extremely enjoyable.

Hell yeah.

No Business Like Show Business, Like No Business I Know!

I know, I did it again Internet, I took some time off for my real life and forgot to update you. I apologize, but I will not be sorry for living my life! Ha, anywho, been real busy with life and especially theatre has seemed to consume the brunt of my days, these past few weeks being a haze of monologue learning, and scenes being rehearsed and being written and oh, it's been a lot. Let's see if I can go through and tell you what's been going on.

But first let me say I am feeling a lot better then before; had a bit of a nasty cold/flu/bronchitis thing the past week but am about 97.5% better then I was. So, almost there.

But the thing to say is, Fallen had its first reading this past Wednesday, with the cast, the director, and whoever else wanted to come, sitting down to read the first draft. God, it was nerve-wracking. It was insanely exciting and cool, don't get me wrong. But man, after they finish reading it, you go through the notes you have, and then ask them questions, and they tell you things they noticed, or things you need to work on, or things that could be better, or you could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and so on and so forth, until you feel like an idiot or your head is about to explode.

Which, don't get me wrong, is what the process is all about; writing is not a beast you slay once and then the tale is over, only rarely is that truth. The first draft is a mad flurry of brush strokes onto a canvas, furiously finding the color and shapes needed to help make your baby. Editing however, especially with a deadline, is finding that you're floating on the ocean with a boat riddled with holes; it is the rapid filling of those holes, with whatever works and whatever can help keep the boat afloat. If it doesn't work, it's going to sink and you have to hurry to fill it with something that will. 

But don't let this description fool you. It is a hurried, frenetic amazing experience and I look forward to seeing what I can do to make this boat not only stay afloat, but stay golden.

Also, I had auditions and callbacks for the Spring shows here at UAlbany. I got a callback for one of the shows, 10 for 2010, a show of ten scenes from ten great plays in UAlbany Theatre's 100 year history. I did not get one for the Crucible, which I am disappointed about, but what are you going to do? I mean, I was upset, of course, but hell, I may just not be the guy they were looking for. I guess since I had worked with Chad, the director, last year, I may have been given a shot or something, but you know what, it's okay. He's a great guy and we worked well together but that doesn't mean he owes me something. He's got to do what he has to do to make this the best show possible for him, and if I'm not right for a part, it's nothing against me, it's just out of my control. And I'm okay with that.

Because it's show business and that's the way things roll . . .

But here's hoping I get cast for 10 for 2010 and you'll know if I am soon!

Also, expect a couple of book reviews up here soon, I know I've been slacking haha.

Putting the Pen Down

In other good news, I've put down the metaphorical pen.

Fallen, the play I have been working on since June, is now done.

At least the first draft haha. 

But it is completed and done and finished and done and finished and completed and I very happy. I am happy with the words and the ending and the characters and a myriad of other things my tired brain can't think of.

It will, of course, in the end need tinkering and retooling and revising and editing and other english major terms.

But for now, it is done, and that makes me happy.

Now I turn south to Editing, a city of revising miscreants, who always take back what they've said and carry around erasers, to edit things that may or may not be words, but can indeed be changed.

Hope people have read my review from before and for those interested, I will hopefully be writing up my review of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time novel, The Gathering Storm, next week.

Until then gang!