Giving Back

I made a gift of a hardcopy of The Fourth Law to my girls’ primary school library.  After reading it, the Librarian asked me to come in and give a short (~20 minute) talk to the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders about creative writing and self-publishing.  Why not?

Attached is a pdf of the PowerPoint I was using.  It’s fairly sparse, but I use the slides more as a mnemonic device to keep me on track while talking.

The 6th Graders were fun:  not only did they ask many questions, there was the “that’s cool!” moment when they realized that Daughter #2, their classmate, is the T4L’s protagonist.  As I told them:  write what you know.

SFdSS Writing PP 2015

The Fourth Law… coming soon

My  most esteemed colleague has completed the final cover art for my novel.  Good enough for the critical eye of my wife, good enough for me!

There may be one last minor textual revision… the Gods of Copybook Headings tend to hide where you least expect them.  However, I’m pleased enough with this version.  Has anyone every really read the first Harry Potter book?  Will I be called a racist if I pointed out that it was awful?  Grand ideas, but awful writing.  I feel that about my own work; it reads like the Gospel of Mark:  bare bones, no description, aching for more.  That’s what happens when you’re weaned on Visual Novels with a great artist to show your images.  I shall try to older next time.

Next time?  Of course I’m writing another!  What’s the point of a cliff-hanger if you don’t jump off of it!  Callie and her little son, Gary, with his most peculiar friend.  Lily, android Fausta, and Orloff setting out across country (yes; the horse’s name is Clyde) to find her.  The secret society of lightning; the open society of machine civilization… where’s the world going? won’t somebody tell me? are we all one?

Somewhere, back on Lily’s Path, in her tee shirt covered by blue jean overalls, Henge thinks… “I’ll help them…big sisters; big brother!”  Who will play this wild card?  Missiles fall in Memphis; a reactor fail?

I’ve no idea.

Belated Merry Xmas! Here’s Your Present!

A new book!

Thanks for everyone’s help and support.  What an amazing two months!

NaNoWriMo Threshold

50,122 words.  Validated.

The Fourth Law; also known as ‘Reynold’s Law;’  “A robot must do its best to learn to love human beings.”

Did I ever even post a link to this?  This world is now so tenuous to me, I don’t recall much, anymore.  Oh, here.

I’m not finished, actually.  Ai is back from being feted in Austin; we’d the Big Reveal about her family, but Lily was just happy to get a physical form of her friend back, even if it’s only for seven more days.

Then, of course, is the cliff-hanger ending that will force me to write the sequel.  Even my wife – who’s been reading as I write – knew that was coming.

As is, it’s a steaming pile of poo:  it needs massive editing.  I’d three editors for the story in our flagship visual novel, and two years later I’m still finding obscure errors.  Anyone wanna edit a currently 99 but soon to be 105 page story?

This also serves as validation for what I’ve told writers who’ve attended our “How to Make a Visual Novel” panels at Ohio animecons:  set irrational deadlines!  If you don’t, you will get nothing done!  Nothing!

Tired now; wife and kids at in-laws.  Gonna grab some cold turkey leftovers and watch anime in the basement.  Oh, that reminds me:  my novel’s ‘cover’ is a screengrab (at 2:35) from this video.  This was one of my triggers for this story.  Not the only one, certainly, but music tickles my soul to write.

NaNoWriMo 3

47.5k words…one and a half days to go.  Trying to get it done today.  Will need a week of editing, but done story is almost done.

NaNoWriMo 2

Happy Veterans Day!  Or, Remembrance Day!

Just over a third of the month gone…and just under a fifth of my story written:  made of fail.  This past weekend was consumed by locusts, but I’ve been able to eke out a bit here and there between day-job, wife, kids…the whole catastrophe.  I still like where the story is headed…if I really think I know where the story is headed.  I’ve surprised myself before.

Below the fold is a snippet from Lily’s day-job as Assistant Director at St. Edwards Home for Children.  Of course, Ai shows up to rattle some cages.

“Reflexions and Direxions”

Looking at all the great art below, it occurred to me that, unless you’ve played the demos or bought a graphic novel, any visitor to this site has no idea who all these characters all.  I’ve been living with them in my head for anywhere from two years to two months, so I thought it best for some “meet and greets.”

The introductions of existing characters will be under “Reflexions,” as it is a look back at established personalities.  For those projects in development (Nyaapoleon, Hot Rod, etc.) I’ll show you what “Direxions” I think I’m going with them.

Also, for those interested in a “look under the hood” of RenPy coding in a visual novel, I’ll include excerpts of that when highlighting those from OTChi Kocchi.  If you’re not interested in the code, then just skip from bold to bold to follow the dialog.  Cheerio!

~Clayton Barnett

Writer’s Corner – Introduction

As always, my esteemed colleague has done yeoman’s work in getting this WordPress site up and running.  I, honestly, wasn’t quite sure where I’d fit in:  everyone likes to look at pictures…does anyone want to read story excerpts?  Chat about what little RenPy coding I can manage?  Such doubts assailed me.

Then, yesterday evening, assisted by the bourbon in my coffee, Mr. Deonne (he changes given names as often as I change my car’s oil) and I had a chat via email that has given me a better grounding for where I may go with this site.

Having said all that to say this:  I look forward to greater interaction with our readers!  Now, off for more coffee…and bourbon.

~Clayton Barnett