The 10,000 Post thread V3

[Duke87 1,070]

(2851)

 

What I notice most is that the two pieces of your signature image don't perfectly line up.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

2852

 

It might be in your best interest to write 2 novels.  First time authors who's work is expected to make the NYT Best Seller List typically see as much as $35k US in return profit. The only problem is you are expected to take on the lion share of promoting your work yourself and that means paying for it yourself. Ever walk into a bookstore and see that table right up front with "Featured Authors"? They payed a lot of money to have their work on that table. Now if you write a second novel and it's also a success you have clout, so to speak, and that goes a long way. It is only a small percentage of best selling authors who make enough income to write full-time. But writing a novel isn't about making heaps of cash. It's about telling your story! So by all means, don't allow me to discourage you.

 

I began a novel myself a few months ago. It's a jumbled mess at the moment. But man oh man I love to tell stories. I typically write up my stories as screenplays but that doesn't allow a writer to really flex their literary muscles too much.

 

I never really imagined I'd be successful enough to write full time.  I have a job right now that gives me enough freedom that I am able to write thousands of words every day, so really, this is something that I'm doing for free.  I'd rather write and re-read my own stuff than watch what's on TV or play video games.  I've really gotten into it, but I'm really just looking at it as a hobby right now.  If I ever get published, then I'll start calling myself a writer, but I really wanna have a way to back it up before I take on the title.  So far as writing books, I'm aiming to get the second book polished up by the end of March (it's gotten more complex as I've been editing it) and the third in the series will be written this fall for National Novel Writing Month 2014.  I'm pretty excited about the direction the story's taken.

 

My avatar has been this since... 2008?  2009?  Anyways, a LONG time.  I like it, and see no reason to change, unless I find an awesome black suit Spidey done by Mark Bagely or John Romita Jr. or something.

[Mr Saturn64 742]

2853

I think my avatar and username are sticking around unless I find a better Mr Saturn to display. As for my sig, it needs work. I like both quotes, so my thinking is I will have a City Jorunal themed sig once my CJ comes out. (Sorry, my computer is hardly working)

[Duke87 1,070]

(2854)

 

I can't imagine writing a novel. It seems like it must be extremely tedious.

 

Of course, I can easily imagine spending years drawing elaborate maps of fictional worlds and writing what are essentially fictional encyclopedia articles about things depicted in them, so to each their own I suppose.

[timmie 988]

2855

My sister's team won the interschool debating contest today! I'm so proud

[Muck308 55]

2856

 

Glad to hear it, timmie!

 

My avatar is made of Legos. I mean actual Legos. You can reach out, grab them, disassemble them and make whatever you like. Try it!

[Duke87 1,070]

(2857)

 

Speaking of Legos, T-minus 6 days until The Lego Movie comes out!

[Larks2242 251]

2858.

 

Like anyone can be excited for that

[Mr Saturn64 742]

2859

 

Name one thing more awesome than Morgan Freeman as a Lego wizard.

[Duke87 1,070]

(2860)

 

Dude, they're making a movie that takes place in a Lego world with Lego people. It can be about literally anything, you can't go wrong with this!

[Ceafus 88 1,923]

2861

 

Legos

[astronelson 339]

2862.

 

The correct plural of "LEGO" is "LEGO bricks", not "LEGO" or "LEGOs".

 

I can't imagine writing a novel. It seems like it must be extremely tedious.

 

Of course, I can easily imagine spending years drawing elaborate maps of fictional worlds and writing what are essentially fictional encyclopedia articles about things depicted in them, so to each their own I suppose.

 

Sounds like Tolkien.

[Duke87 1,070]

(2863)

 

I've heard that although I've never read any of Tolkien's work. In fact, that's kind of why I've never read any of Tolkien's work. Too much encyclopedia-ing in the book that tells stories makes it annoying to slog through. The encyclopedia stuff ought to be supplemental material.

 

Of course, if you're going to go there, you need to go all out. You have no idea how much it bothered me that C.S. Lewis' map of the world around Narnia was incomplete and not particularly detailed. And I really wish there were a complete list of Narnian monarchs from the beginning to the end of time out there.

[Larks2242 251]

2864.

 

People still read books?

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

2865.

 

I read books

Today I finished A Street Cat Named Bob, it's awesome.

[astronelson 339]

2866.

 

People still read books?

 

There are people who don't?

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

2867

 

Heck, I even wrote a couple!  Along with a trio of ongoing stories!  I loved writing when I was younger, then I got into college and thought I lost my imagination.  Then I started writing again just before moving back to Japan this time and I haven't been able to stop.  I don't know what I'd do in my free time if I wasn't writing.  Being creative is so... energizing.  It will leave a nice legacy to leave to my kids and their kids and so on and so forth.  I want to get a Kindle or something to I can start reading some more again.  Finding books here is difficult, and while my Japanese is good enough to read and understand stuff, it's still more like doing homework than it is just enjoying a book.

[Duke87 1,070]

(2868)

 

People still read books?

 

There are people who don't?

 

Yes, and I'm more or less one of them. In the 4 years since I've finished college I have read a grand total of... I think 4 books. I'm in the middle of a fifth but I started it nine months ago and am not even halfway through it.

 

I read A LOT when I was in high school, but my desire to do so has gradually dwindled since then. These days I pretty much only read books if I have to to kill time. That book I'm in the middle of was started because I had to sit through two five hour plane rides. Since returning from that trip it has been touched maybe once.

 

Now that's not to say I never read. I read a lot of news articles and stuff. But 1) I find those to be a lot more interesting and mentally enriching than reading fictional stories, and 2) Honestly I'd rather read 50 4-page articles about 50 different subjects than one 200-page book about one subject.

[Muck308 55]

2869

 

The last book I read was Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. It was excellent. A young boy from Brooklyn starts writing letters to the the third baseman for the NY Giants and after initially becoming quite annoyed with the young scamp, the ball player befriends him and hilarity ensues. The entire book is written through various forms of correspondence and visual aids. I enjoyed it. I started reading Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman but haven't finished it.

[timmie 988]

2870

 

I'm in the exact same situation as Duke (though I am still at university). I read a lot, but it's mostly magazines, online articles and newspapers. And of course lots of academic articles and books. But almost no fiction. I started a book in the summer vacation, but it's 1000 pages and I didn't get past page 250 (it was good, though).

[Larks2242 251]

2871.

Well cause in school you had to read them.

[Duke87 1,070]

(2872)

Welp, the Broncos ain't looking too hot.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

2873

 

As a Vikings fan, the Broncos have won two Super Bowls, Peyton Manning's won a Super Bowl, and I don't like Pete Carroll because I think he was kind of a cheater back at USC and he left to dodge punishment by the NCAA.  So, whatever.  I'm totally bitter about the Super Bowl, I guess.  Ambivalently bitter.  Apathetically bitter.

[Ceafus 88 1,923]

2874

 

Man that was a busy weekend, but watching the Seahawks slaughter them made it better.

[SeanNBiloxi 10]

2875

 

Job Opening - Center, Denver Broncos. Must not have any problems with a mans hand at your nether region.

[NielsC007 499]

2876

 

No superbowl in the Netherlands. I don't watch any Sports related things.

[Ceafus 88 1,923]

2877

 

Nominating Trixies.

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

2878.

 

Me too

[Duke87 1,070]

(2879)

Oh joy, more snow.

[Muck308 55]

2880

 

This is really the only thread I frequent anymore so I won't be doing any noms this year. I just don't know what I'm talking about anymore.

 

Football is over? Then baseball must be right around the corner!