Writing and Snacks - To sum up: Feh!

To sum up: Feh!

Feb. 21st, 2008 at 9:41 AM

Shaq debuted with the Suns last night against the Lakers. I thought he looked good. He was moving well, hustling, diving on the floor for loose balls, and if he's not the dominant monster in the middle any more, he's still a monster. The Suns seemed out of sync with him in the offense, but they've only had a few practices together, and it'll take a while for them to get used to each other.

But, man, it's weird not rooting against Shaq. I used to hate Shaq. Now I'm laughing at all his press conference quips. Oh, that Shaq, he's a pistol!

Sports are so weird.

***

I am angry. I am angry at my writing for not being better. I think it owes me.

Stupid writing. This synopsis is starting to get worse with each new draft.

Maybe if I change the font...

Oh, god, the coffee's not working. The coffee's not working!!

Dead flower edition, because I'm feeling emo:

Comments

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krylyr wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 06:13 pm (UTC)

I remember how utterly pissed off I was when I first heard Shaq was coming out to LA. Then he started playing, and I thought, he's an idiot, but (as you said), a monster. Then all the drama with Kobe happened and I was so heartbroken to see him leave. I missed his stupid jokes and incomprehensible interviews.

Sports are definitely weird. Moreso now than ever.

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czakbar wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 06:37 pm (UTC)

Welcome to the post-first book sale club. I don't know how it is for others, but I totally know the feelings you're describing about your writing. Something changed for me after selling my first book, and then even more after it came out. It can mess with you a little, I think. Keep your chin up though. You write amazingly well.

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(Anonymous) wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:04 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Chris. :-) I go through this stage a lot, but it's helpful to know there are new permutations to it that others have gone through.

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e_underwood wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 06:46 pm (UTC)

Hey! :-)

YOU ROCK! and so does your writing. What you're doing now is going to make everything so much better. It's like the warm up for the big game. You got the whole team on your side. The heck with Shaq~! We're rooting for YOU!

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gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:04 pm (UTC)

Aw! Thanks!

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hagdirt wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 06:59 pm (UTC)

We actually watched a little of the game. All I remember is the one guy walking off with a GIGANTIC lump on his noggin. It looked like he was growing a spare head. Very impressive. Remind me to avoid playing basketball/

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(Anonymous) wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:02 pm (UTC)

Ah, yeah, Raja Bell got his rung. That's what happens when Kobe pushes you into the path of Shaq's elbow. But Raja's a tough SOB. His clotheslining of Kobe in the playoffs a couple of years ago is still one of my favorite all-time plays.

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dustchick wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:26 pm (UTC)

Totally agree about Raja. That's how I knew he'd really gotten clocked last night, because he looked dazed instead of pissed when he was down on the court.

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wheatland_press wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:37 pm (UTC)

The Love Shaq

I agree with you about the Suns last night. But after watching that game it occurs to me to wonder what's in the water in the training facility there. I mean...Shaq looked bouncy. Grant Hill is playing like a youngster.

Actually, I heard something about the training staff for the Suns a while ago but had no reason to pay attention to it and now I'm seriously curious. Any idea?

You sure you guys don't want Larry Hughes? He's a pistol, too.

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gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:43 pm (UTC)

Re: The Love Shaq

Yeah, I remember there was an article at cnnsi.com or espn.com about Amare's recovery from the knee surgeries, and how the medical and training staff concentrated not just on rehabbing the knee, but on building up every other muscle in his body to prevent injury from overcompensating. The article said the Suns staff is considered by some to be the very best in professional sports.

We've lost some good players to injury over the years: Danny Manning, Tom Gugliata ... so maybe Jerry Coangelo put his foot down and figured out how to get the best.

And, uh, thanks for offering Larry Hughes, but he's shooting blanks.

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wheatland_press wrote:

Feb. 21st, 2008 07:49 pm (UTC)

Re: The Love Shaq

Huh, that's interesting. I'll go read up on it.

Larry just needs someone to love him. That's all.

And speaking of...I loved it when Shaq said he was like the old guy in the Kung Fu movies that they bring in to help the kids take that last step. The Big Cactus. Heh.

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jeffsoesbe wrote:

Feb. 22nd, 2008 12:48 am (UTC)

When you attended VP (back in the good old days, you old timer you), did you get "The Synopsis Talk"?

Here's what my notes say for our "Synopsis Talk", which was part of the Collegium on general subjects:

"The synopsis is like looking at Google Maps; it's an aerial view of the work.

It shows that you have a plan, that you can complete the work, and that you can do something. It also shows the book won't take a wild twist.

It contains the full experience of reading the book.

Think about it as telling the story of the book/movie to a friend, with snippets, dialogue, scene summaries, etc. It's a friend who you don't think will see it, so go ahead and spoil things."

They also gave out Robert Charles Wilson's synopsis for "Spin". I could get it to you if you want to read it...

- yeff

DISCLAIMER: I write short stories. I don't know poo about novel synopses. But the instructors at VP, they know novel synopses.

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gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 22nd, 2008 12:59 am (UTC)

Notes! Thanks for posting them. That's useful stuff to have.

I don't remember the talk, but PNH was kind enough to send me the SPIN synopsis.

I actually think it's different from publisher to publisher, editor to editor (or the agency/agent parallel), book to book. Some governance board should decide on a clear set of rules and then enforce them.

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jeffsoesbe wrote:

Feb. 22nd, 2008 02:32 am (UTC)

Yknow, I think it might have been PNH who gave us (VPXI) the synopsis talk as well.

In another post you had a link to Jay's "synopsis" thoughts, with the "2 sentence" one and the "3 paragraph" one and the "5 page" one. Lots of differences. And different from place to place, eh? Another reason why I write short stories. Simpler requirements!

- yeff

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gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 22nd, 2008 02:40 am (UTC)

Another thing Patrick's said is that it's not a school assignment. So maybe best not to get too hung up on the rules, because they're not really rules.

I think the best thing to do is figure out who you're submitting to and do some research. If the particular agent or editor hasn't said anything online about synopses, then maybe someone else at their agency or publishing house has. And if not, then maybe a writer represented by the agency or who's been published by the house.

But, yeah, short story submission is so much simpler.

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