Pure Evil - New Toys, New Year

[Evil Avatar]

Thanks in part to reader Busted_Astromech, I have a new 19" monitor arriving later today to use both with my main PC and with the Xbox 360's VGA cable. I have been looking to upgrade my older 19" normal monitor for one with better colors and a flat screen (flat screen, not flat panel) and the release of the Xbox 360 was a good excuse to spend the money.

On the Xbox 360 I've mostly been concentrating on playing Call of Duty 2 and Halo 2. I like CoD 2 so much that I haven't even tried titles like GUN, Kameo and Project Gotham Racing 3. I'm finally starting my days off (after an out-of-town vacation last week), so I should have some time this week to try a few new titles.

It is nearing 2006, what is your New Years Resolution? In the past I have said, "This year I'm writing a novel.", but I think this year I'm really doing it. I'm going to make copies of all my documents (moving them from the laptop to my main PC to take advantage of my MS Natural Keyboard) and then I need to pick a project for next semester's Novel Writing Class. I have a couple of decent ideas, I just need to make sure I pick one I'm interested enough in to follow through for 300 pages.

[fitbabits]

CoD2 is awesome! As is Kameo. If you have Kameo and haven't spent some quality time with it, I suggest you do so!

As for New Year's resolutions... I'll get back to you on that! Good luck with the novel.

[Evil Avatar]

CoD2 is awesome! As is Kameo. If you have Kameo and haven't spent some quality time with it, I suggest you do so!

As for New Year's resolutions... I'll get back to you on that! Good luck with the novel.

Thanks. I usually write mostly my western horror stuff, but I might try something different this semester. My old writing teacher, Betty Hufford, is teaching the novel writing class this semester for the first time in like three years and I really like the way she teaches the class.

I can work on my writing on my own, but with two little ones at home, I really need an excuse to get out of the house one night a week so I try to take the Novel Writing class at the local community college when it is offered.

So far, I haven't been ambitious enough to take any classes taught by our in-house writing expert, Jetherik. :)

I also think I'm going to attend the World Horror Convention in May. I really want to meet Brian Keene and hang out with John Skipp and Weston Ochse.

[fitbabits]

Why western horror, if you don't mind me asking?

So I went for a shower and it hit me - my New Year's resolution. Better time management! I always seem to be running late or trying to squeeze too much stuff in to too little time - always. You'd think I would have learned my lesson by now being 37-years-old and all, but that particluar lesson seems to be just a little outwith my grasp.

I wrote a short story one time. Then I installed a demo with StarForce protection which killed my PC - and also my story. Silly me for not backing up to removable media, I suppose.

[Evil Avatar]

Why western horror, if you don't mind me asking?

I love western movies, but I've never been really fond of the western novel genre, and I love horror movies and novels. It just seemed like something that would be fun to work on and then I went and created four characters that I really like and I've been kind of stuck on them for a while now.

I think until I finish at least one novel with these characters, I'm going to have trouble writing something else.

I came up with short outlines for about six novels/stories with these characters and I think they are pretty good ideas. Now I just have to write them.

[Subbacultcha]

In 2006 I'll finally read Les Miserables beyond the first chapter. Yes I will (trying to convince self)...

[Rirath]

My 19" LCD came with a ugly bright GREEN stuck pixel right in the middle.
Finally I took a micron archival ink pen to it and dotted it black. So much better in games now. :)

As for 2006, it'll be a lot like 2004-2005 continued. Continue studying Japanese, finish some stuff, save, etc. Resolutions are pointless as far as I'm concerned, false hype on things that one couldn't get done, and probably aren't going to.

[bapenguin]

I love those ergo keyboards...I can type so much faster on them.

New Years Resolution? Maybe finally start programming a game again....I have a few ideas.....Geometry Wars has given me new inspiration to make an arcade style game.

[Grave]

New years revolution:

Write at least 1 of 4 novels

A fictional retelling of my Everquest character
A fictional retelling of my Shadowbane character
A ficitional story involving my WoW character
(everything out of universe of course!)

or a non-fiction book about my experiences being a guild leader of large guilds for the past 6 years!

also secure a job :P

[fitbabits]

I love western movies, but I've never been really fond of the western novel genre, and I love horror movies and novels. It just seemed like something that would be fun to work on and then I went and created four characters that I really like and I've been kind of stuck on them for a while now.

I think until I finish at least one novel with these characters, I'm going to have trouble writing something else.

I came up with short outlines for about six novels/stories with these characters and I think they are pretty good ideas. Now I just have to write them.
Sounds reasonable! I love old-style westerns and I'm a fan of horrors as well, but I've never thought about combining both. Don't worry, I won't nick your idea. :)

I've got several fictional characters in my head that are just crying out for some development, but I never seem to have the time these days. Plus, I'm still bitter about losing my last story.

Maybe I can add writing a story as a post script to my New Year's resolution...

[Conner Dain]

I wish you the very best of luck with the novel. The process that worked for me was to outline the arc of my story into major events. Then to outline the events into chapters. That way you have specific guidelines to work from and towards. It's a lot easier than just staring at a blank sheet of paper (or word processor page.). It's also a good idea to set a minimum page-per-day level. Five pages a day worked for me.

[Kelegacy]

I just self-published a book of 20 of my best short stories written over the past 5 years. I only did it so I could give my mother a heartfelt Christmas present, one that is full of my best writing (though most is immature by today's standards...the evolution of my skill is apparent through the pages).

Problem is, I still have some of these stories out to publishers and print mags, so if they buy the rights I'll have to not make the book available to the public, something I probably am not going to do anyway.

Anyway, enough of my jabber. Good luck Evil, from one writer to another!

[MaiXu]

It is nearing 2006, what is your New Years Resolution? In the past I have said, "This year I'm writing a novel.", but I think this year I'm really doing it. I'm going to make copies of all my documents (moving them from the laptop to my main PC to take advantage of my MS Natural Keyboard) and then I need to pick a project for next semester's Novel Writing Class. I have a couple of decent ideas, I just need to make sure I pick one I'm interested enough in to follow through for 300 pages.

Add me to the "writing my novel" group. I am also taking a novel-writing class in the spring semester, so I need to write *something*.

And if all goes well ... I may get around to writing my movie script. While I have a few ideas, there is one game-related adaptation I have in mind. Let's just say it deals with a certain female space-faring bounty hunter ...

[Heretic Machine]

This year I will get familiar with a programming language.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I'm finally moving out of Nebraska next week for the first time in my entire life. I'm going to Minneapolis. My New Years Resolution is just to make the most of that enormous change and start living a life I actually enjoy every day. :)

[Kelegacy]

My New Years Resolution is just to make the most of that enormous change and start living a life I actually enjoy every day. :)
I made the same resolution a few years ago and now I give handjobs down by the waterfront in a rusty parked car wedged in between two Dumpsters.

[fushi]

This year I will get familiar with a programming language.
I'm doing this and the novel-writing together by teaching myself the ONScripter engine and it's respective language (http://nscripter.insani.org/) and making my first visual novel. I'm not sure how that will turn out, though.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I made the same resolution a few years ago and now I give handjobs down by the waterfront in a rusty parked car wedged in between two Dumpsters.

Hell, that'd be a major improvement for me!!

Sure would beat giving blowjobs to lepers.