writing stuff

[cornerofmadness]

Probably would help if I did some but anyhow mom and dad are planning a trip out west to SD. Dad was google earthing Hot Springs where I lived. that was 15 years ago. Naturally nothing I remember is there.

So that brings me to Machiavelli Moon. I wrote it in 96, the year after I left SD. It's set in Hot Springs (very little), Rapid City (wee bit) and Deadwood (the majority). One agent had no idea why no one was using cell phones and lap tops (since well there was no reception out there for one back in the day). I pointed out it was 1995. I was advised to update it. I started to then realized, I have no idea what it looks like now. Same agent said it didn't matter, it's fiction. Now I know bad advice when I see it but I was like, it would probably work if I update it.

You know, I'm really not sure it does. I honestly feel I'd have to do a lot of google earthing and/or go back there because I could NOT put out something with the place names etc all screwed up. If I leave it in 1995, some of the scenes would work better since we're waiting on fedex instead of someone emailing pictures. The instantaneous aspects of today's life might wreck havoc with the plot or not.I mightbe too close to see clearly.

Thoughts? suggestions?

Have a meme I got from dancing_in_time

Your result for The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test...

8 - the Asserter

Thanks for taking the test !

you chose AY - your Enneagram type is EIGHT (aka "The Challenger").

"I must be strong"

Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• Stand up for yourself... and me.

• Be confident, strong, and direct.

• Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.

• Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.

• Give me space to be alone.

• Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.

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• When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a EIGHT

• being independent and self-reliant

• being able to take charge and meet challenges head on

• being courageous, straightforward, and honest

• getting all the enjoyment I can out of life

• supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me

• upholding just causes

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• overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to

• being restless and impatient with others' incompetence

• sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it

• never forgetting injuries or injustices

• putting too much pressure on myself

• getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

EIGHTs as Children Often

• are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit

• are sometimes loners

• seize control so they won't be controlled

• figure out others' weaknesses

• attack verbally or physically when provoked

• take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

EIGHTs as Parents

• are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted

• are sometimes overprotective

• can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele, The Enneagram Made Easy. Discover the 9 Types of People.

Harper: San Francisco, 1994, 161 pages

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_____________________

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Comments

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

I think I said before, back when this issue of cell phones, etc. first came up, that making your setting cutting-edge up-to-the-minute for the reader of the moment just makes it aggravatingly dated for the reader of two years from now--and I don't know about you, but I would want people picking up my novel two years from now, and ten years from now, and twenty. Have people stopped reading Raymond Chandler because his characters drop dimes into pay phones? Or Sherlock Holmes because the most technologically advanced implement he had at his disposal was a phonograph? I say, if you make it clear that the story is set in 1995, it shouldn't matter whether your characters have iPods and Droids or not. And that goes double if delivery times for FedEx figure into your plot. You may have to take a few more pains to establish the setting, because some of your readers will be too young to remember things like dial-up and landlines, but I don't see the technology of 1995 being a hindrance to a good story. Heck, some of your characters remember when the telegraph was the sexy new technology--no more waiting for sailing ships to round the Horn with your mail, woo-hoo! That agent, whoever he/she was, gave you a major bum steer. Ignore him/her and keep on with the story the way it is. That's my vote.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i could have almos predicted your response.

Granted now i have to go BACK to the first ten chapters and set them back. I thought maybe the agent missed it but no it actually said several times this was 1995....

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

And the agent was reading as closely as those idiots who read the girl as deaf in book one and blind in book two.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah apparently

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Let's see: I spent two winters of my childhood in the Miami area. Back then, Cubans in Florida tended to be politically left of center. There are probably other differences.

I lived in NYC for about ten years. Among other changes: what was then the farthest-left daily paper is now farthest right.

I'd be interested in knowing that agent's name, so I can avoid them....

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes this is exactly what i mean.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

For me, I say leave it set where you have it, and find someone who isn't so fixated on time. It's historical, now. (Like mine; I really can't move Ring of Fire because people KNOW when Johnny Cash died.)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes exactly. I was not sure why 1995 was such a problem but I think i'm going to fix the things I changed and just leaveit as is

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Maybe because it's modern but not up-to-date? Who knows! It just seemed odd -- until you get it published, you can't just keep updating it to "make it current," after all.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that was my other argument when i discussed this with him. Though when the proclaimation that it didn't matter if I were accurate about deadwood because it was fiction came down I stopped listening (that would be okay if I were using fictional places in Deadwood but I was using both them and real)

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I'm insane about keeping things accurate, myself; and yet I know that anyone who has never been there wouldn't know (while people who live there would be insane from any mistakes)... I try to pepper the "real" with the fact that my universe IS a different one; after all, the bar that used to stand in Burbank where the Nightmare is in my universe closed years ago (and I don't think the building's even there anymore).

My San Antonio is even worse, since I've never actually been there and in my universe, the O'Connor family owned most of the area for over a century...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

believe me I understand. I do pretty much the same. Maddie owns an 1800's hotel that doesn't technically exist in Deadwood

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

Why not make it a period piece, and leave it as is? Cell phones can really screw with a lot of plotlines, since they remove a lot of obstacles that existed in the days the landline.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that's prettymuch what i've wanted to do all along but when I ran into the resistance with the agents I thought okay they ought to know what they're doing.

However in the amazon contest the reviewers had no issues with it so i started rethinking it again (which is about what killed me on the revisions, i came to a halt)

[presocratic.livejournal.com]

Uhhhh... hi. You could say I've been (as an almost ridiculous fan of your FullMetal Alchemist OT4 stuff) following your journal for quite a while now. I'm sorry I've never commented because you really are quite awesome, but I don't update, etc. much on LJ anymore due to my incredible laziness.

I just *had* to comment here because, well, I live in Wall right now and go to Rapid, Deadwood, etc. pretty often. If you *are* interested in setting your novel in the present, I'd be happy to do some fact checking for you - or perhaps just provide you with some photos.

Also, although people who haven't properly experienced SD (as well have, hehe) might not know this, there are still quite a few cell phone companies that don't carry service here (Alltel and Sprint, to name two). So, really? The idea of a lack of cell phone coverage here? Not so crazy.

So... nice to meet you? :)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

well thank you very much. I really appreciate the offer.

I'm laughing pretty hard right now. My parents are planning a trip out there and I said 'it's probably still there so you have to go to Wall Drugs.

You know that doesn't surprise me about the cell phone service.it's pretty spotty where I live too.

and nice to meet you too. your offer is much appreciated. I need to sit down with the novel and really make a decision

[presocratic.livejournal.com]

Well, if they do decide to stop in Wall, tell them to stop in for a treat at the local DQ. I'm the manager there. ;)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahaha will do. thanks again