Author: ransomnoble

Published Writer: young adult and science fiction

Using Your Words

That reminds me of some of those movies where a mother-figure attempts to teach the children about swearing so they use other ways to express themselves.

It means something different to me as a writer. The pursuit of words keeps me occupied for hours. Some of them are common. Others are overused (and I do my best to fix that when I find the little buggers). A few are oddities that I stretch to find the proper fit for the picture in my head.

I don’t think it matters if you write for adults or for children – the audience can still learn and grow with your words. The comment on some of the words I use in the critique. One man loved that I used the word ‘hied.’ Another didn’t understand my use of the word tattoo – not meaning the graphic art on skin, but the pulsating beat definition.

The meaning must be clear, but using unfamiliar words isn’t the most important thing to me. Why is it that most adult fiction books are written at an 8th grade level for vocabulary? It’s not like the majority of the audience hasn’t completed higher education…

Just another thing to ponder.

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Wanting…

Do you ever feel like you want something bad enough just to make it happen with the power of your will? I have a list of things I ought to be doing, but sometimes I just think it’d be nice to have the baby and not be quite so uncomfortable and forget about the rest of it.

I clean and I’m proofreading my manuscript. It doesn’t feel like a lot to do in the few days of this week so far, but it does add up to a lot of time. Running errands as well, of course. Can’t get by without that!

I suppose if I were to invent something, I’d make the housework do itself. We had a joke going on about that in college, where we had a robot that’d do dishes and laundry and take care of every need so we could do fun things with our lives. Our group of friends even had enough engineers to design it. It must have been a lot more fun to talk about than actually do, because we never got farther than detailing the specs.

But if i get ambitious one day, I’ll just will it into being. Wouldn’t it be nice?

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What did the Leprechaun bring you?

I got another look at my book. Fewer things to find, just as many things to check. I am definitely getting faster at reading this thing.

It takes so much longer to write than to read. To edit, to rewrite, to polish – these things have more time and effort than I can think about, but are worth it in the end to get a finished product.

Still, I can’t think of a nicer gift from the leprechaun than to do stuff for my book. It’s a good change from the baby stuff going on around here. She’s not even here yet but she seems to rule the roost. Can’t make plans without at least a nod to the schedule that she isn’t sharing.

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Geek Appeal

I found two articles this week, so bear with me.

First: Women choosing less math-intensive fields due to family demands. Finally, research that recognizes the gender gap and gives a reason for it. I’m not surprised by this; it was one of the reasons I never really wanted to go into management. (At my last position, I just didn’t want to work for either of the guys I worked with more than I didn’t want to be a manager – not that the choice was offered to me.)

I knew in the future I wanted kids, and I know my husband loves his work. To balance, that meant I would be the one keeping the kids out of living in daycare. I didn’t mind it so much, but I also wanted to see if I could make the writing thing work when it happened. Best outcome, but I suppose I’m just proving their research. Women who are capable of math-intensive fields choosing to nurture family instead of burning corporate midnight oil.

Second: Forensic Research to be aided by Microorganism Growth

Can’t wait to see this one pop up on TV. I’m sure it’ll take some time to filter into mainstream usage and then to Hollywood, but it just looks cool. They say microorganisms grow at the same rate regardless of environment in corpses, which is good news to determining time of death. Just one more thing in the bag of tricks for scientists for explaining how things happened.

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Proofreading

I read through my book another time. Did we catch them all? Time will tell.

Sometimes I just get the feeling there will be a glaring error that we don’t find until after it’s out. We’ve all put a lot of time and effort into it, but nobody’s perfect. It’s so much better than the first draft I put to paper, though sometimes it’s hard to remember back that far.

One day I’ll put together all the things I’ve learned writing novels and tell everyone what not to do.

I just hope people dig the story. I have the acknowledgment, dedication, discussion guide, copyright, and a story that wants to grab attention. The final cover is now available on the Art of Science page. I’m so excited! My proofread copy also has the ISBN numbers, so looks like I’m ready to finish up everything.

Wow. Where does the time go? It’s like it was just yesterday that I was amazed I finished a novel. Not really, but it does feel like this last little bit has just flown by.

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The Race is On!

So far, the book is winning. Received the author’s proof PDF today. So, I sat down to read a book I’ve read many times before, that I wrote.

I made it over halfway through so far. Marking up random things that haven’t translated. You’d think we’d have caught everything with as many eyes have gone over this manuscript by now. Most of it is simply formatting for the printer. Okay, all but one definitely are, but reading through another time to make certain that’s all there is.

I think I can get through this by Monday.

Perhaps the book will be done first? All I know is I’m in for a very interesting month.

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Almost there…

With only a couple days until I get my copy to review before publication, I’m sitting on pins and needles. I received the final copy of the cover. It’ll be up on the other page by the end of the weekend.

It seems to be moving so fast now. It’ll be done before I know it!

In other news, I’ll be finishing up my media kit so we’re ready to run with it when we make sure there are no flaws (read: as few as humanly possible).

I also want to have a book launching party. While it’d be easiest to do in Des Moines near where I live, I wonder about the best location. I think I might be able to do a reading at the library, but other than that I’m still thinking of ways to reach the people. The next question, of course, is when.

Then there could be an online aspect to a book launch. Could be a fun way to go. Again there is a timing issue.

After that, we shall see!

Posted on by ransomnoble 1

Universe

Something about building a universe always get me excited. There are worlds to explore, creatures to flesh out, and new things to learn.

I happen to be fairly attached to the creatures. So many things out there use humans, giving them reasonable explanations of why they are so far from home or just letting them explore on their own.

Humans are easy. We understand them so well. Then we change them slightly for this or that – we add magic or abilities or knowledge. Sometimes we approach the beast inside, and sometimes we humanize the creatures.

The question I’m considering lately:
How do you make someone sympathize what’s inherently unhuman to make a worthy protagonist without making them human?

I’m just sure there has to be a way.

Posted on by ransomnoble 2

Book Update!

While I do not have an exact date for the book just yet, I did hear from my publisher today. Sounds like it is coming out this month!

It’s going to be exciting. There are still so many things to be done and planned. It’s hard to believe.

Beginning to work on a list for more research. I think my life has so many lists now.

Everyone is amazed when I say I’m having twins because I’m so small, I bet. Then I clarify one is a book and one is a baby… and they might both debut this month. It really does feel like twins.

I bet only authors and parents understand that, and I bet they could say it better. However, I’m pretty sure one takes more time and determination before the debut, and the other one will require much more later.

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Do you ever notice?

So many previews, so little time.

The new Star Trek looks cool. It makes me remember so many times I’ve watched them since I was young. So often the aliens looked just – like – us. Not always, but most of the time in the original series. There are small cosmetic changes between us and them, but not enough.

The newer series did better, though most of them seemd based on the same lines. I find it interesting, but we are somewhat limited in film for what we can realistically show. “Realistically” is probably not the right word, since so many things that happen on the silver screen are no more realistic than balancing a Chevy on my little finger. Even those that are not mean to be science fiction get a little hazy, as you’ll notice once you sit next to a literal-minded engineer in a theater during an action feature. (If you haven’t done it, you haven’t lived! Or, lived to be annoyed…)

I still wonder sometimes about the books that do make it to be movies in the science fiction genre. Many of them don’t translate well; others lose too much in translation to the visual art. Do you wonder if you want your creations mangled by a creative mind when it took so much of your time to build the written world? I think and imagine and still don’t have a good answer. Perhaps if I’m ever lucky enough to get an offer like that I’ll figure it out.

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