With Christmas right around the corner and the other winter holidays in full tilt, I thought I would write a little something more positive here than the normal doom and gloom of the undead. Yes, I celebrate Christmas, but to be fair to all that read this, Happy Holidays. I hope your days are bright and your family is loving.
One of the things that made me smile this year was the Layaway angels I read about in the news. These are people that have gone into store and found those people that are in the most need of help to pay off their purchases. They then pay the layaway off for them, allowing them to actually get their gifts. Most people have only spent about 100$, but I read of one person that spent nearly 10k doing this. That article made me smile and to think how great people can really be.
Of course, there is the flip side of that. On back Friday their was the woman that peppered sprayed a crowd of people just so she could get a deal. I was disgusted by this and it hurt me to know that some people truly do not know what it means to help others and to be their for them.
What I really want to point out though is the spirit of the season and the fact that no matter how tough things can get at times, there are those willing to help their fellow human out. This year has been very tough for me and my family. I am working a lot less and therefore we were not able to get much for the holiday for our children. I am not saying that w still would't have had a wonderful day, because we are lucky enough to have a wonderful family here, just that the kids would not get very many gifts.
My wife was on this website called cafemom.com that is a forum for mothers to talk about all of life's issues and to get support from one another. This is a wonderful place to get many ideas that we would not have thought of on our own. She was asking in one of the forums about simple homemade gifts that we could do for the kids. One of the other mothers on the site asked if it would be OK if she sent us a few things. My wife agreed and this other mother sent us a few gifts for the kids. Some clothes and a toy for each of them. It did bring tears to my eyes that there are strangers that are willing to help others out. We plan on recording our kids opening the gifts and sending the video to her in thanks, so that she can see what her generosity has done for them.
On a different note, I am also going to be trying to see if I can do more. I am trying to be more sustainable in my own ways. Basically growing some of my own food so that I do not have to buy it at the store. One day I hope to be able to help others with some fresh food. There is a great kickstarter program here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/488253196/freight-farms-grow-fresh-food-in-any-environment that could have some very large implications. One of these could be placed somewhere and the food used for local needs. If I was running one, I would ensure that at least a part of the food produced went to hungry people in the area.
No matter what your life is like, this is the time of year to put down old hatreds and to love one another. We can look past different beliefs and just work together to make a better future. One of my favorite lines ever is this, "It is not how you believe, just that you believe." And maybe, we can believe in a better future where we help one another and we all are better for it. Peace, hope and love.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Extreme Couponing
Normally I wouldn't write an article like this, but tough economic times have come and I thought it would be nice to share this with the rest of you. Most of you have most likely seen on TV the show about couponing and the crazy amount of money that these people save, but also the amount of time and work that goes into it as well. I am here to tell you that you can do this, without as much work.
The thing is that you do not have to do the same amount of work and still you can have savings, this is what I do. To start off, I will buy several papers each week. I have a newspaper for 1$ on Sunday, but even if you buy multiple ones for more, the coupons can save you money. You do not have to cut them all out at this point, just look through them and see what you have.
The next step would be to look at your supermarket flier for what is on sale. Here you can see if you have any coupons for the sale items. I usually only buy items that are on sale, and I stock up a bit. This is whether I have a coupon or not. It does save a lot of money.
It doesn't even have to be extreme. Using just one coupon can save the cost of the paper. Do more than one, and you are saving extra money. By shopping smartly and using a few coupons one can really save a bunch of money. With the current economic state we all could use to save some money. It is easy to do, you just need to try.
On one shopping trip I saved about 15 dollars, more if you counted the sales savings. It is not much, but that 15 dollars bought more food later in the month. Food I would not have had if not for those coupons. I only spent 4 dollars on papers. Add to that, I am still saving from other coupons. Trust me, it is worth it.
And for those of us that are always thinking of ways to be prepared for disasters, this method could allow one to build a stockpile of items that normally you would not have much of. Think on it, and before you shun couponing, think of the savings.
The thing is that you do not have to do the same amount of work and still you can have savings, this is what I do. To start off, I will buy several papers each week. I have a newspaper for 1$ on Sunday, but even if you buy multiple ones for more, the coupons can save you money. You do not have to cut them all out at this point, just look through them and see what you have.
The next step would be to look at your supermarket flier for what is on sale. Here you can see if you have any coupons for the sale items. I usually only buy items that are on sale, and I stock up a bit. This is whether I have a coupon or not. It does save a lot of money.
It doesn't even have to be extreme. Using just one coupon can save the cost of the paper. Do more than one, and you are saving extra money. By shopping smartly and using a few coupons one can really save a bunch of money. With the current economic state we all could use to save some money. It is easy to do, you just need to try.
On one shopping trip I saved about 15 dollars, more if you counted the sales savings. It is not much, but that 15 dollars bought more food later in the month. Food I would not have had if not for those coupons. I only spent 4 dollars on papers. Add to that, I am still saving from other coupons. Trust me, it is worth it.
And for those of us that are always thinking of ways to be prepared for disasters, this method could allow one to build a stockpile of items that normally you would not have much of. Think on it, and before you shun couponing, think of the savings.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Blindness is the key
I have recently read the latest paper by the Madore brothers. Again, I am shocked at how straightforward their findings are and how shocked I am that I did not think of it myself. If you would like to read it yourself, you can find the link to it here: necropology.com
I am going to go into some detail and my thoughts on their findings. Basically they found that it really is a lot easier to blind a zombie than it is to kill it outright. In this way, we now have the ability to control them in a fashion that would have been deemed unsafe in the past. Because of this, we now have another tool at our disposal to take care of a zombie menace or to manipulate the hordes of undead.
The first thing I would like to look at is the methods to blind. They state multiple methods, but I have to say my favorite would be the bird shot. It is quick and effective, and with the right weapon one could conceivably take out many targets to deem them less lethal than they were. The other method that I really like is using the paintball gun to blind them temporarily.
What I think I would do though, is blind an angry zombie, then fasten them to a point, maybe on a pedestal surrounded by a deep ditch. Other zombies would be attracted and fall into the ditch. This could be like a cockroach motel. They enter, but never leave.
It is hard for me to really explain how interesting this new tactic can be. Although this will not change how my zombies behave, I think that I could definitely see some of my characters using this method for some of their own purposes.
The only thing I had a question about in the paper though was that once a blind zombie became enraged, they would never calm down again. It makes some sense, but a part of me seems to think that eventually a zombie would calm down. I think I would have to think on it a bit more.
I am going to go into some detail and my thoughts on their findings. Basically they found that it really is a lot easier to blind a zombie than it is to kill it outright. In this way, we now have the ability to control them in a fashion that would have been deemed unsafe in the past. Because of this, we now have another tool at our disposal to take care of a zombie menace or to manipulate the hordes of undead.
The first thing I would like to look at is the methods to blind. They state multiple methods, but I have to say my favorite would be the bird shot. It is quick and effective, and with the right weapon one could conceivably take out many targets to deem them less lethal than they were. The other method that I really like is using the paintball gun to blind them temporarily.
What I think I would do though, is blind an angry zombie, then fasten them to a point, maybe on a pedestal surrounded by a deep ditch. Other zombies would be attracted and fall into the ditch. This could be like a cockroach motel. They enter, but never leave.
It is hard for me to really explain how interesting this new tactic can be. Although this will not change how my zombies behave, I think that I could definitely see some of my characters using this method for some of their own purposes.
The only thing I had a question about in the paper though was that once a blind zombie became enraged, they would never calm down again. It makes some sense, but a part of me seems to think that eventually a zombie would calm down. I think I would have to think on it a bit more.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Zombie boot Camp
This is not a post about zombie going through boot camp to run faster and overall eat people better, although that could be interesting, it is an Idea I had just the other day. I was reading some tweets and one link caught my eye, it was a Run for Your Life link. If you have not checked out this site, I would do so now here: http://runforyourlives.com/ . I read into it and instantly fell in love. Then, I went to youtube and found some videos from their 10/22/11 event. Even now I am excited just thinking about it. This looks to be so much fun, and with races next year I could try it myself.
The issue I have though is this, I am out of shape and it may just kill me to do this run. This is where the boot camp idea comes in. I think it would be great to have a place that could help people train for this type of thing. But just running would not be any fun, I would have to make it an experience people would want to come to and maybe even pay for it. So, here is my thought on how a three day trip could be.
Day one: The guests arrive at location. They find right away that this is not going to be a cake walk, as everyone is thrown into some type of PT right away. Obviously guests can opt out of that, but where is the fun in that? Once that is done, we must set up camp. We would actually have to set up tents and start fires. All of this would be survival type of training. Once camp is set up, we take a journey over to the shooting range and get right down to taking a few shots with some guns. Afterward would be dinner and rest. A Campfire would be available for all to sit around and chat it up.
Day two: Early wake up with another bout of PT. Once that is done, we start course training. This would be a simulation of obstacles that one would find on the 5k, and I would even have zombies available to help set the mood. I can assume that this would take most of the morning. Lunch would be followed by combat training. Basically, paintball. Teamwork with different scenarios would be done. One scenario in particular would have some of the people becoming zombies trying to infect others by touching them. Only a shot to the face mask would stop them. Whichever team was left would win it all. I can imagine these games would go on for hours. Dinner and relaxation would follow on this.
Day Three: Again morning PT. Afterward some more obstacle training (different, harder ones). Followed by some training in preparedness. he last day would be filled with camp being broken down and everyone heading back to main base. I am thinking relaxation and food for everyone before they go to leave.
Each day would have other odd training involved, whenever there is some downtime. This is similar to boot camp, but without the really mean drill instructors. It would be fun and engaging at all times. I could easily add in more events into the days, or at night. Such as movies on a screen or even night time games.
That was my thought. What do you think? Would you sign up for a Zombie Boot Camp?
The issue I have though is this, I am out of shape and it may just kill me to do this run. This is where the boot camp idea comes in. I think it would be great to have a place that could help people train for this type of thing. But just running would not be any fun, I would have to make it an experience people would want to come to and maybe even pay for it. So, here is my thought on how a three day trip could be.
Day one: The guests arrive at location. They find right away that this is not going to be a cake walk, as everyone is thrown into some type of PT right away. Obviously guests can opt out of that, but where is the fun in that? Once that is done, we must set up camp. We would actually have to set up tents and start fires. All of this would be survival type of training. Once camp is set up, we take a journey over to the shooting range and get right down to taking a few shots with some guns. Afterward would be dinner and rest. A Campfire would be available for all to sit around and chat it up.
Day two: Early wake up with another bout of PT. Once that is done, we start course training. This would be a simulation of obstacles that one would find on the 5k, and I would even have zombies available to help set the mood. I can assume that this would take most of the morning. Lunch would be followed by combat training. Basically, paintball. Teamwork with different scenarios would be done. One scenario in particular would have some of the people becoming zombies trying to infect others by touching them. Only a shot to the face mask would stop them. Whichever team was left would win it all. I can imagine these games would go on for hours. Dinner and relaxation would follow on this.
Day Three: Again morning PT. Afterward some more obstacle training (different, harder ones). Followed by some training in preparedness. he last day would be filled with camp being broken down and everyone heading back to main base. I am thinking relaxation and food for everyone before they go to leave.
Each day would have other odd training involved, whenever there is some downtime. This is similar to boot camp, but without the really mean drill instructors. It would be fun and engaging at all times. I could easily add in more events into the days, or at night. Such as movies on a screen or even night time games.
That was my thought. What do you think? Would you sign up for a Zombie Boot Camp?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
We give thanks
My nostrils filled with the wonderful smell of roasting turkey, my eyes though were caught by my mother's glare. I had arrived late to my mother's house and found that indeed I was the last person to get there. Luckily though I did not miss any of the meal and was able to finally sit down with the family.
My father spoke grace and we all went around the table to state what we are thankful for. As usual most of the answers had to do with loving family or a job, all that corny stuff. When it was finally my turn, all I could come up with was that I was thankful for the girl I had romped with the night prior. Not one person spoke after I finished, and I felt a little weird with everyone staring at me with their mouths open. Finally, my sister broke the silence with her thanks and we started dinner.
I ate so much food I thought that I was going to burst at the seems. I think I polished off one whole turkey all on my own, plus potatoes and stuffing. Of course i would not go unpunished for indulging that much, as I had the worst indigestion for an hour after the meal was over. During which time all I could do was sip some milk and pepto bismal. Once my body finally found the time to catch up on its digestion it went away, but I was assaulted with the usual sleepiness that comes from eating turkey.
It didn't take me five minutes before my eyes were drifting downward that I had passed out. It felt like I had slept for quite some time when I was awoken by the sound of the fire alarm. I immediately jumped out of the chair to look for the smoke and what was going on. My eyes began to water as I found the source of the smoke. I could feel the heat coming off the stove where it looked that a pan or cloth was on fire, the flames reaching higher until they licked the ceiling and were about to spread.
Instinct took over as I ran to the extinguisher and started to spray the flames until finally I had put the fire out. "Why didn't anyone else see this?" I asked of my family, but no one answered me. It was strange that no one would be there, but maybe they had left him. I opened the window to finally let in some fresh air and to vent the smoke from the room. It was cool on my face and cleared my vision. A sound from behind me caught my ears and I looked to see who it was.
What I did see though was not what I was expecting. There, not ten feet in front of me was the turkey we had all eaten for dinner. It was missing all of its meat and was just a skeleton being held together with little bits of fat. In one "hand" it held a large fork and the other had a carving knife. This knife scared the shit out of me, which looked both menacing and amusing in a turkey's hand. Blood dripped down it and onto the floor.
I made a move to the left, but it followed me. I moved to the right, but again it was with me. Seeing as how this bird was between me and the exit, i was not going to play this game anymore. I feinted to the left, drawing it that way then dodged to the right. I was lucky that it fell for it and I was around it before it was able to correct itself.
I ran for the door, hoping that I was going to get out of this place. Behind me I could hear the sound of the turkey running along as well. A quick glance back and I nearly crapped my pants. It was coming at me so fast that if I didn't concentrate I would never make it out alive. Unfortunately I was not looking and I found myself flying through the air as I tripped over something. It only took a quick look for me to recognize the body of my uncle.
I hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from my lungs. As I gasped for air the turkey leaped onto my chest. With a last ditch effort I put my arms up, trying to block and parry any attack that it may do. I felt pressure on my arms and it felt like I was going to die from the pain.
"Hey, wake up!" The voice was yelled into my face. I opened my eyes and saw my cousins gripping my arms tightly, trying to shake me awake. "You fell asleep, and you were screaming." It must have been a dream after all.
"Oh thank god." I said. "I am really so thankful for you, and really all of you. I just want to apologize for the way I have been acting." With that I hugged my cousins, truly thankful that things were not too bad. Everyone seemed glad that I had snapped out of it and was now being a part of the family. With all the holiday cheer though, nobody noticed the turkey reach over and grab the carving knife.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
My father spoke grace and we all went around the table to state what we are thankful for. As usual most of the answers had to do with loving family or a job, all that corny stuff. When it was finally my turn, all I could come up with was that I was thankful for the girl I had romped with the night prior. Not one person spoke after I finished, and I felt a little weird with everyone staring at me with their mouths open. Finally, my sister broke the silence with her thanks and we started dinner.
I ate so much food I thought that I was going to burst at the seems. I think I polished off one whole turkey all on my own, plus potatoes and stuffing. Of course i would not go unpunished for indulging that much, as I had the worst indigestion for an hour after the meal was over. During which time all I could do was sip some milk and pepto bismal. Once my body finally found the time to catch up on its digestion it went away, but I was assaulted with the usual sleepiness that comes from eating turkey.
It didn't take me five minutes before my eyes were drifting downward that I had passed out. It felt like I had slept for quite some time when I was awoken by the sound of the fire alarm. I immediately jumped out of the chair to look for the smoke and what was going on. My eyes began to water as I found the source of the smoke. I could feel the heat coming off the stove where it looked that a pan or cloth was on fire, the flames reaching higher until they licked the ceiling and were about to spread.
Instinct took over as I ran to the extinguisher and started to spray the flames until finally I had put the fire out. "Why didn't anyone else see this?" I asked of my family, but no one answered me. It was strange that no one would be there, but maybe they had left him. I opened the window to finally let in some fresh air and to vent the smoke from the room. It was cool on my face and cleared my vision. A sound from behind me caught my ears and I looked to see who it was.
What I did see though was not what I was expecting. There, not ten feet in front of me was the turkey we had all eaten for dinner. It was missing all of its meat and was just a skeleton being held together with little bits of fat. In one "hand" it held a large fork and the other had a carving knife. This knife scared the shit out of me, which looked both menacing and amusing in a turkey's hand. Blood dripped down it and onto the floor.
I made a move to the left, but it followed me. I moved to the right, but again it was with me. Seeing as how this bird was between me and the exit, i was not going to play this game anymore. I feinted to the left, drawing it that way then dodged to the right. I was lucky that it fell for it and I was around it before it was able to correct itself.
I ran for the door, hoping that I was going to get out of this place. Behind me I could hear the sound of the turkey running along as well. A quick glance back and I nearly crapped my pants. It was coming at me so fast that if I didn't concentrate I would never make it out alive. Unfortunately I was not looking and I found myself flying through the air as I tripped over something. It only took a quick look for me to recognize the body of my uncle.
I hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from my lungs. As I gasped for air the turkey leaped onto my chest. With a last ditch effort I put my arms up, trying to block and parry any attack that it may do. I felt pressure on my arms and it felt like I was going to die from the pain.
"Hey, wake up!" The voice was yelled into my face. I opened my eyes and saw my cousins gripping my arms tightly, trying to shake me awake. "You fell asleep, and you were screaming." It must have been a dream after all.
"Oh thank god." I said. "I am really so thankful for you, and really all of you. I just want to apologize for the way I have been acting." With that I hugged my cousins, truly thankful that things were not too bad. Everyone seemed glad that I had snapped out of it and was now being a part of the family. With all the holiday cheer though, nobody noticed the turkey reach over and grab the carving knife.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Daddy Zombie
Well, this is how much I love zombies, I would be one. Just thought you would enjoy it.
Creatures that Go bump
I am working on other short stories at this time, and I was thinking about the direction I wanted to take. Now mind you, I have written a number of stories that involve zombies, but I need to expand my horizon of tales. I love writing about zombies, but I cannot continue writing short stories about them. My novels will be great, I know it, but I just cannot think up anything else with zombies and shorts.
There are plenty of other things thought that I can write about. I thought about mind control or telekinetic abilities, but those sometimes feel over done. Maybe a doll possessed by a serial killer? No, that was done once already. Maybe I shall stick closer to my own thoughts and genre. I have always liked vampires and werewolves. Ghosts and goblins, maybe a troll or two.
OK, let me give it a whirl shall I?
The light flashed so bright Kyle lost all sight. The sensation of weightlessness overcame him for several seconds, each second lasting many times longer than a year felt. A rib cracked and the wind left his lungs in a whoosh as his body hit the ground finally. The smell of gasoline and burning flesh assaulted his nostrils while the heat of flames baked his skin and curled his hair. On instinct Kyle moved away from the heat, still attempting to see but his eyes grasped at nothing but white light.
Kyle's ears lost the ringing sound that had filled them, only to be greeted with the sound of screams of the wounded and dying. Still pulling away from the heat, Kyle's hands grip someone's leg. Horror breaks out across Kyle's face as he realizes that this leg is not attached to anyone. The taste of bile overcome all of his senses with his stomach up heaving everything that he had ever eaten.
The world turned fuzzy as Kyle' vision finally returned, and a scene of dread opened up.....
I think this is a good start to something, now I need to figure where it is going. Maybe next time I will continue with this thought process. Till then, stay safe.
There are plenty of other things thought that I can write about. I thought about mind control or telekinetic abilities, but those sometimes feel over done. Maybe a doll possessed by a serial killer? No, that was done once already. Maybe I shall stick closer to my own thoughts and genre. I have always liked vampires and werewolves. Ghosts and goblins, maybe a troll or two.
OK, let me give it a whirl shall I?
The light flashed so bright Kyle lost all sight. The sensation of weightlessness overcame him for several seconds, each second lasting many times longer than a year felt. A rib cracked and the wind left his lungs in a whoosh as his body hit the ground finally. The smell of gasoline and burning flesh assaulted his nostrils while the heat of flames baked his skin and curled his hair. On instinct Kyle moved away from the heat, still attempting to see but his eyes grasped at nothing but white light.
Kyle's ears lost the ringing sound that had filled them, only to be greeted with the sound of screams of the wounded and dying. Still pulling away from the heat, Kyle's hands grip someone's leg. Horror breaks out across Kyle's face as he realizes that this leg is not attached to anyone. The taste of bile overcome all of his senses with his stomach up heaving everything that he had ever eaten.
The world turned fuzzy as Kyle' vision finally returned, and a scene of dread opened up.....
I think this is a good start to something, now I need to figure where it is going. Maybe next time I will continue with this thought process. Till then, stay safe.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Why do Zombies eat people?
This is one of those questions that has been eating at me for some time (yes, that was intentional). Why is it that the walking dead, the undead, zombies, zed heads, or whatever it is you want to call them, why do they look for and eat us the regular people of the world? Well, and this is just my thoughts, I believe there are two different scenarios that we should look into. The first being the "Hollywood" reasoning. The second one would be more "Scientific" in nature.
Hollywood. We seem to see a lot of zombies running around movies these days and most of them are different than their counterparts in other or older movies. We have slow walkers, mindless wanderers, zombies that can run and those elusive thinking zombies. The one thing these all have in common though is they eat people. Hollywood must have heard this from somewhere, but where?
To find that answer I look at the history of zombies in movies. Night Of the Living Dead (1968) truly is the first indication of what we think of when it comes to a zombie, but it all did not start there. Romero was influenced by others, and brought those influences together. Prior to this time we had several different genres of creatures in our hands. On one hand was the vampire, the blood sucking creature of the night. Vampires were also able to turn others into vampires with a bite. On the other hand we had stories of the voodoo zombi. This was a mindless creature that either was brought from the dead or inflicted on a living person. Usually this person would be under control by someone else.
If you take these two main themes (and add in a few other stories and movie ideas from those before) you find yourself with a mindless wandering creature that feeds on human flesh and spreads the disease through their bites. If you really want some more info on this try here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(fictional) for they have a great history.
That is Hollywood and fiction, now let us delve into the world of science and real possibilities. Although this is not an exact science, I hope my ideas can possibly help direct the conversation on this to new ground. I also will be using the thoughts of Bob and Dave, the Madore brothers. You can find all their work here: http://necropology.com/ . I would highly suggest reading their papers before looking at my thoughts.
They mention in their papers a virus and bacterial pair that does some of the physical changes to the body. The thought I am having though is that viruses and bacteria are not that great of keeping their hosts alive. I know, they are zombies, but a large portion of the cells in the body must remain intact if it is to function at all. A cell reproduces by taking over a cell and destroying it. Usually, if the virus does not have a new cell to take over, it dies off. Bacteria can split and live a bit longer, so I think that they can continue their current role in this.
Now, we know that a virus would end up destroying it's host. There is one thing though that tries not to do that, a parasite. I think that this virus is acting more as a parasite than as anything else we would see. More than likely the virus enters the body and starts to reproduce like mad. Once the levels within the body reach a certain number though (about the time of reanimation) the virus slows or stops reproducing at those high levels. Within a body there are a lot of cells one can use, but it is no longer a renewable source. So now our virus starts to conserve cells to extend the period of time that it can remain active in the body. Add to this a long life in general and these viruses could last years within a host.
But, just like every other thing on this planet, it wants to ensure that the species continues onward. And this is where I think zombies eating people really comes in. I think the virus programs its victims to spread its seed for them. So, I become infected and am now loaded with this virus. Eventually I will die off and so will the virus, but until then I am now a moving transmitter to try and get this virus into as many other hosts as possible before I expire. The easiest way to transmit anything? by direct fluid contact. The human mouth has a ton of germs in it, and one bite can introduce those into another body. Replace those with the virus and Bam! you have a way to spread around.
Now, you may ask me one question: Why eat people? Why not just bite them? OK, that was two questions, but they have the same answer, human beings. Here is the thing, biting others is a no no to anyone not raised by wolves. But, as the stories have said, when it comes to survival of the body we will eat each other to survive. The virus just wires us into thinking that the only way we can survive is to eat other live people. This drive is now so strong that any other thought processes are now gone.
As a recap, we have a virus that acts as a parasite. In an attempt to spread itself to as many hosts as possible it creates the urge to feed in us so strong nothing else matters, creating a biting and eating mindless zombie.
I don't know about you, but that thought kind of scars me. I don't want to be some incubator for a virus. And now I find myself longing for a visit to the gun shop..... Well then, until next time everyone, stay safe.
Hollywood. We seem to see a lot of zombies running around movies these days and most of them are different than their counterparts in other or older movies. We have slow walkers, mindless wanderers, zombies that can run and those elusive thinking zombies. The one thing these all have in common though is they eat people. Hollywood must have heard this from somewhere, but where?
To find that answer I look at the history of zombies in movies. Night Of the Living Dead (1968) truly is the first indication of what we think of when it comes to a zombie, but it all did not start there. Romero was influenced by others, and brought those influences together. Prior to this time we had several different genres of creatures in our hands. On one hand was the vampire, the blood sucking creature of the night. Vampires were also able to turn others into vampires with a bite. On the other hand we had stories of the voodoo zombi. This was a mindless creature that either was brought from the dead or inflicted on a living person. Usually this person would be under control by someone else.
If you take these two main themes (and add in a few other stories and movie ideas from those before) you find yourself with a mindless wandering creature that feeds on human flesh and spreads the disease through their bites. If you really want some more info on this try here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(fictional) for they have a great history.
That is Hollywood and fiction, now let us delve into the world of science and real possibilities. Although this is not an exact science, I hope my ideas can possibly help direct the conversation on this to new ground. I also will be using the thoughts of Bob and Dave, the Madore brothers. You can find all their work here: http://necropology.com/ . I would highly suggest reading their papers before looking at my thoughts.
They mention in their papers a virus and bacterial pair that does some of the physical changes to the body. The thought I am having though is that viruses and bacteria are not that great of keeping their hosts alive. I know, they are zombies, but a large portion of the cells in the body must remain intact if it is to function at all. A cell reproduces by taking over a cell and destroying it. Usually, if the virus does not have a new cell to take over, it dies off. Bacteria can split and live a bit longer, so I think that they can continue their current role in this.
Now, we know that a virus would end up destroying it's host. There is one thing though that tries not to do that, a parasite. I think that this virus is acting more as a parasite than as anything else we would see. More than likely the virus enters the body and starts to reproduce like mad. Once the levels within the body reach a certain number though (about the time of reanimation) the virus slows or stops reproducing at those high levels. Within a body there are a lot of cells one can use, but it is no longer a renewable source. So now our virus starts to conserve cells to extend the period of time that it can remain active in the body. Add to this a long life in general and these viruses could last years within a host.
But, just like every other thing on this planet, it wants to ensure that the species continues onward. And this is where I think zombies eating people really comes in. I think the virus programs its victims to spread its seed for them. So, I become infected and am now loaded with this virus. Eventually I will die off and so will the virus, but until then I am now a moving transmitter to try and get this virus into as many other hosts as possible before I expire. The easiest way to transmit anything? by direct fluid contact. The human mouth has a ton of germs in it, and one bite can introduce those into another body. Replace those with the virus and Bam! you have a way to spread around.
Now, you may ask me one question: Why eat people? Why not just bite them? OK, that was two questions, but they have the same answer, human beings. Here is the thing, biting others is a no no to anyone not raised by wolves. But, as the stories have said, when it comes to survival of the body we will eat each other to survive. The virus just wires us into thinking that the only way we can survive is to eat other live people. This drive is now so strong that any other thought processes are now gone.
As a recap, we have a virus that acts as a parasite. In an attempt to spread itself to as many hosts as possible it creates the urge to feed in us so strong nothing else matters, creating a biting and eating mindless zombie.
I don't know about you, but that thought kind of scars me. I don't want to be some incubator for a virus. And now I find myself longing for a visit to the gun shop..... Well then, until next time everyone, stay safe.
Friday, November 18, 2011
How I make my characters real
While taking the time to get back into the habit of writing, I realized that it is not all about just getting all the words in my mind onto my screen. There are things that I have to do to create a fantastic story. I have to build a string foundation of characters and history, create walls of drama and a roof of conclusions. Only by doing all of these things can I finally say that I have written something that I would want others to read. Of course, there are a ton of different websites and guides on how to write. This is not on of them. You may find some insight here, but this is more of a glimpse into my world more than a teaching tool.
Of all the books I have ever read it was the characters I fell in love with way before I fell in love with their adventure. Of course you say, the characters are way more important than the story itself. Any story can be great with the right characters. Yes, I say, but do you know how I make great characters? No?. I role play.
Yes, I role play. Nothing dirty mind you, I role play the characters themselves. If you ever think about role play usually you think of geeky gamers making up these warriors or mages fighting in this fantasy world. Although there are large role play groups that do just that, I believe that all writers are role players themselves. We all make characters up, we put them in situations, then we use the characters to work through the situation. Not only do we give these characters adventures, we come up with these histories for them as well. From my point of view, all writers are role players.
To be a great role player, there are a few things that you must do before you use your character, create them. This is exactly what am doing and will write in upcoming blog posts. I come up with some basic information about the character such as age, sex, height, occupation. I also look into the character's personality a little bit. As I do this, a history for the character begins to form in my head. Once we have this basic stuff all hashed out, I interview the character.
Just like an interview on a news show, we go through and ask the hard questions. These can help to really open up the character, for us to understand how these people work and how they would react in different situations. These interviews are what I am going to be posting here on the blog.
There really is no wrong way to go about creating these characters and giving them a history, as long as you do do it. Our ultimate goal is to create a character the reader can fall in love with, hate and relate to all at once. This means we accept these characters for the good that they do and their flaws. Especially their flaws. They would not be interesting if they were perfect. It would be like Superman without the Kryptonite, no one could beat him. There would be no reason to even read the story then.
I think I have rambled enough here. This was a little glimpse into the workings of my mind, it is a little distracting at times, but I do get some pretty good ideas out of it in the long run. My next post will be an interview with Jo. If you have read any of my other posts you will recognize him from the Prologue of my WIP.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Long Time Gone
It has been over a month since the last time that I wrote a blog post. The reasons are plentiful and valid. To fill you in, if you did not know, My wife has been pregnant for some time and in the last month or so has been at the end. because of this, add work and other children to that as well, I have not had any time to write. It turns out though that the pregnancy was not to last and she gave birth to out little girl on November 3rd, 2011. he is healthy and amazing.
Most are probably wondering how it is that if I didn't have time to write before, how could I possibly have time to write now? The easy answer to that question is this, I am the only one awake in my household. Every one else is napping and I get a little bit of time to myself, so I felt it was a good time to write a bit.
I had so many projects on my plate previously that I was overwhelmed. I had several stories from others I was supposed to read and write about (sorry guys) and several stories I was writing as well. I even was going to get one published into an ezine, but that did not work out as I didn't have the time to edit the stories. That is all going to change now though as I concentrate on one thing at a time.
What I really am hoping to do is to take my short stories and put them together into one collection and put it on Amazon. This is not going to be something that will be done within a couple of weeks, or even months. I plan on this taking me a long time to complete. The reason being is my available time is very limited. I will most likely find time to revamp and edit the stories that I have already written and make them perfect. Once that is done, I will write a couple of new ones to ensure there are about 10 stories in this book.
I will also hopefully find time to continue to write here on my blog once a week for now, if not more. At least then we can all be updated.
Also, I would like to direct anyone interested to Dan King and his book that was released last month.
http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Missionary-Poverty-Fighter-BibleDude-net-ebook/dp/B005UDPQ2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321381796&sr=8-1
blog http://bibledude.net
twitter http://twitter.com/bibledude
facebook http://www.facebook.com/
email dan@bibledude.net
This man has touched many people's lives. Although we may not all be Christian's or religious, I am sure we can all take away some lessons from him. At least give it a shot as it is well written and could inspire any of us to do better.
Most are probably wondering how it is that if I didn't have time to write before, how could I possibly have time to write now? The easy answer to that question is this, I am the only one awake in my household. Every one else is napping and I get a little bit of time to myself, so I felt it was a good time to write a bit.
I had so many projects on my plate previously that I was overwhelmed. I had several stories from others I was supposed to read and write about (sorry guys) and several stories I was writing as well. I even was going to get one published into an ezine, but that did not work out as I didn't have the time to edit the stories. That is all going to change now though as I concentrate on one thing at a time.
What I really am hoping to do is to take my short stories and put them together into one collection and put it on Amazon. This is not going to be something that will be done within a couple of weeks, or even months. I plan on this taking me a long time to complete. The reason being is my available time is very limited. I will most likely find time to revamp and edit the stories that I have already written and make them perfect. Once that is done, I will write a couple of new ones to ensure there are about 10 stories in this book.
I will also hopefully find time to continue to write here on my blog once a week for now, if not more. At least then we can all be updated.
Also, I would like to direct anyone interested to Dan King and his book that was released last month.
http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Missionary-Poverty-Fighter-BibleDude-net-ebook/dp/B005UDPQ2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321381796&sr=8-1
blog http://bibledude.net
twitter http://twitter.com/bibledude
facebook http://www.facebook.com/
email dan@bibledude.net
This man has touched many people's lives. Although we may not all be Christian's or religious, I am sure we can all take away some lessons from him. At least give it a shot as it is well written and could inspire any of us to do better.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
A Twitter Pick
I have gotten one twitter pick from my followers. I am now currently working on writing a short story that encompasses their idea. I hope to have it finished over the next couple of nights and posted on here then. I will post the short story, then at the end I will post what it was that they sent me for an idea, so that you know what it was that I was working with.
I am a little shocked though that I have not had more responses to this. I really thought I would. That is fine though, I am not deterred to write at all. I will write this short, and then I will continue and write a few more. I am also going to go back to some of my older shorts that I have written and I will reedit them. I will fix them, proof read them, and make them better than they ever were before. One I have done this, I am going to combine all my short stories into one book. This collection I will put onto amazon.com . I hope this will help get more people involved in my writing.
I do want to thank the huge amount of support I have been seeing from my Twitter family. I am following over 200 people, and over 200 people are following me. Although I cannot be a part of every single conversation, I am trying to interact where I can.
I am excited though to get these short stories out there. I really want them to be perfect. Until then though, I will continue writing and editing. Wish me luck.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Twitter Followers Picks
Hello Twitter Followers!
I want to write your stories. Send me your ideas, it could be something as small as a sentence or a theory. it could be a scene you had thought of, but couldn't write. It can be anything that you want to dream up. Add to this, I want not just horror or zombies, but I will write anything. Just add a tag to your idea about what genre you want it to be. The only thing that I will not write is erotica. This is going to be posted to my blog oover the next couple of weeks.
Depending on the number of ideas I get I will choose at least 5 of them. I may do more. Each story I write will have the person who gave me the idea as a co-author and all their twitter info will be available. Of course, you can opt out of the mention if you want to.
In order to submit an idea, you can direct message me on twitter @Belgerith or you can email me at benoitt02@gmail.com , just put Twitter story in the subject line. Also make sure to include your information,, or a statement if you do not want me to include it.
I hope to write a lot of really cool stories, and they will all be inspired by you all.
I want to write your stories. Send me your ideas, it could be something as small as a sentence or a theory. it could be a scene you had thought of, but couldn't write. It can be anything that you want to dream up. Add to this, I want not just horror or zombies, but I will write anything. Just add a tag to your idea about what genre you want it to be. The only thing that I will not write is erotica. This is going to be posted to my blog oover the next couple of weeks.
Depending on the number of ideas I get I will choose at least 5 of them. I may do more. Each story I write will have the person who gave me the idea as a co-author and all their twitter info will be available. Of course, you can opt out of the mention if you want to.
In order to submit an idea, you can direct message me on twitter @Belgerith or you can email me at benoitt02@gmail.com , just put Twitter story in the subject line. Also make sure to include your information,, or a statement if you do not want me to include it.
I hope to write a lot of really cool stories, and they will all be inspired by you all.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
"Heart Land"
If you have not seen or heard of this movie, then you have been living in a hole. Just so you understand what this movie is about, think about Lord Of the Flies meets 28 Days Later with a sprinkle of Peter Pan. Ya, I bet you could imagine just how awesome this movie can be, and I bet they will not let you down.
Our friends over at necropology.com have actually read the script for this movie, and they loved it. You should find their remarks on it at their site. Add to this great review and many others are the fact that they have now created a kickstarter page. http://kck.st/plr2xv
If you just watched the entire video, then you may be just as excited as I am about their project. I will tell you now that I would go right over to kickstarter and invest 500$ if I had it to invest. If you have anything than this may be something worth while to invest in. I cannot wait for this movie.
Our friends over at necropology.com have actually read the script for this movie, and they loved it. You should find their remarks on it at their site. Add to this great review and many others are the fact that they have now created a kickstarter page. http://kck.st/plr2xv
If you just watched the entire video, then you may be just as excited as I am about their project. I will tell you now that I would go right over to kickstarter and invest 500$ if I had it to invest. If you have anything than this may be something worth while to invest in. I cannot wait for this movie.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Finding time to write
I love to write. It is the one thing I can always count on to relieve my stress. It is something that truly springs out of my head and I can finally get those thoughts on paper. It clears my mind of all those thoughts that drive others crazy. Again, I love to write.
The biggest problem I have with writing is finding the time to actually write. I have found that I write the most and the best during the day, usually in the morning before I really start the day. The problem with that though is that I am usually busy during that time. My wife and kids demand a lot of my time, and my wife hates it when I am home and I ignore them all.
The time I do get to write? The night time. After the kids are asleep and my wife is curled up in bed watching something on netflix. It is the only time I get to write. Some nights I have a great night and I write a lot and some great stuff. Unfortunately this is usually only about once a week, and most nights I find that I am too tired to even write.
Maybe I should drink some coffee, or maybe do some exercises in order to have more energy at night. What do you usually do to write at night? I am open to any suggestions that will help me to write more. I have too many good ideas to not write them out, so I guess I will have to try and suck it up to get this writing thing done.
The biggest problem I have with writing is finding the time to actually write. I have found that I write the most and the best during the day, usually in the morning before I really start the day. The problem with that though is that I am usually busy during that time. My wife and kids demand a lot of my time, and my wife hates it when I am home and I ignore them all.
The time I do get to write? The night time. After the kids are asleep and my wife is curled up in bed watching something on netflix. It is the only time I get to write. Some nights I have a great night and I write a lot and some great stuff. Unfortunately this is usually only about once a week, and most nights I find that I am too tired to even write.
Maybe I should drink some coffee, or maybe do some exercises in order to have more energy at night. What do you usually do to write at night? I am open to any suggestions that will help me to write more. I have too many good ideas to not write them out, so I guess I will have to try and suck it up to get this writing thing done.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Where were you on 9/11?
I was 18 years old and a senior in High school. I was in a public speaking class working on an exercise with a few classmates when our teacher came in and told us that a plane had hit one of the World Trade center Towers. The first thing I said was "It has happened before. A plane once hit the Empire State building during World War 2." We then went on with our day.
A few minutes later our teacher came back into the room and told us the second tower had been hit by a plane and that it was no accident. She then had our entire class go into the business room and watch the news. It was over the next 30 minutes or so that we watched as the towers fell and the reports of the other planes came in.
In a short time period the principal came in and told us to leave and not watch the news. The school clamped down on any information coming in, and I didnt really learn anything new until I got home. I must say, I was glued to the TV for days afterward, watching everything unfold.
That is where I was when it happened, and it will never leave my mind.
A few minutes later our teacher came back into the room and told us the second tower had been hit by a plane and that it was no accident. She then had our entire class go into the business room and watch the news. It was over the next 30 minutes or so that we watched as the towers fell and the reports of the other planes came in.
In a short time period the principal came in and told us to leave and not watch the news. The school clamped down on any information coming in, and I didnt really learn anything new until I got home. I must say, I was glued to the TV for days afterward, watching everything unfold.
That is where I was when it happened, and it will never leave my mind.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
They did it again
The brothers Madore have done it again. They have published their third paper concerning the physics of zombies, and I am in shock. Not because their imagination is awesome, or that they are so into the science. No, what I am so blown away from is the fact that what they write about is completely plausible. I am not saying probable, as this would be a very specifically engineered virus and bacteria we are talking about, but in the world of science, it could happen.
Of course I am now really freaked out about the fact that science may someday make it far enough to engineer this thing and it could become a reality. Like "The first men on the Moon", although not scientifically accurate, who would have thought that just 68 years after that book was written we really would have landed on the moon. There are so many things that were written about well before the actual technology and science were at a spot that would allow it to be done.
Another great example is Star Trek. we all know and love that show, but did you know that the inventor of the cell phone actually got the idea from their communicators on the show. Now that is something amazing. Science-fiction becomes just science. I can wait for the science to make zombies though. Knowing our luck it really would get out and spread around the world.
So, if you want to read this paper go to necropology.com or follow them @necropology I am telling you that you will not be disappointed.
Of course I am now really freaked out about the fact that science may someday make it far enough to engineer this thing and it could become a reality. Like "The first men on the Moon", although not scientifically accurate, who would have thought that just 68 years after that book was written we really would have landed on the moon. There are so many things that were written about well before the actual technology and science were at a spot that would allow it to be done.
Another great example is Star Trek. we all know and love that show, but did you know that the inventor of the cell phone actually got the idea from their communicators on the show. Now that is something amazing. Science-fiction becomes just science. I can wait for the science to make zombies though. Knowing our luck it really would get out and spread around the world.
So, if you want to read this paper go to necropology.com or follow them @necropology I am telling you that you will not be disappointed.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Interesting twist
As I was writing I found myself going back to the beginning of the story to write a prologue. It was nothing wrong, but it took an interesting twist. Apparently I cannot keep away from zombies themselves, as they have now found their way into my fantasy novel. This is kind of exciting though... I think it is anyway. I will update as we have more breakthroughs in my writing.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
What would you do?
I have posted a lot on here about my stories, but one thing that I haven't really talked about is something more real, and that is preparedness. Being ready for the unthinkable and surviving to tell the tale of it. So, I will ask a simple question here, what would you do? Two situations. First: you run into a zombie while you are on a deserted road. It is open, and there is just one of them. Second: you are in your home with family or close friends. Several of them are breaking through your front door, back door is clear. Do you fight, and take out the threat or run?
In the first situation, I would say run. And here is how it would play out for me, in story form.
The sky is clear this night, with the stars easily visible. There are so many in the sky one could easily get lost thinking how many there could be. The road is empty as I kick a rock out in front of me. With no cars or people around, I don't have to worry about hitting anyone or anything. There is a soft crack sound from the wooded area to my left, most likely it is a squirrel.
There is a terrible smell that causes my nostrils to burn and my throat to gag. I nearly throw up when I notice someone come from around a corner. I can immediately tell that the smell is coming from them. They are moving in a strange way, jerking a little bit and shuffling their feet. Arms upraised I hear a soft moan escape from their lips. I am terrified as they get closer. I run out into the empty road and move around it. Their arms are still raised, but they move slowly and turn to where I am. I realize that they are slow, and I am faster. Once I am around them, I start speed walking home. I quickly lose sight of them and when I get home I ensure that I have a weapon near my bed that night.
Now, if I were at home and protecting my family, you can bet there would be some rage against the zombies going on.
The banging at the door is getting louder. There are now three of them trying to get into my house and eat me. My wife and kids are crying behind me, fear apparent across their faces. I know that we could escape through the back door, but I do not know if there are more out there. Also, they could follow and what good would it do to flee. I grab a small baseball bat and several wooden spears fashioned from a broom and mop.
With the spears in hand and the bat in reach, I twist the knob quickly and open the door. I think there was a look of surprise on the faces of the zombies, but I did not give them long before I stabbed the first one through the eye with one of my spears. It sunk in deeply and down it went. My second spear found it's mark on my next target. With two bodies, the third was slowed down significantly which gave me the time to regain my bat and to swing with all my might. The bat was small, so it took multiple hits, but it was sturdy and hard and survived long enough to end the last zombie. Breathing deeply I stood over the bodies, blood on my hands and clothing dripped into a forming puddle.
A bright light shone into my eyes and the sounds of a police officer could be heard from the porch. I must look like a serial killer standing over the dead like that, but at least my family was safe.
So, how would you do it in these situations?
In the first situation, I would say run. And here is how it would play out for me, in story form.
The sky is clear this night, with the stars easily visible. There are so many in the sky one could easily get lost thinking how many there could be. The road is empty as I kick a rock out in front of me. With no cars or people around, I don't have to worry about hitting anyone or anything. There is a soft crack sound from the wooded area to my left, most likely it is a squirrel.
There is a terrible smell that causes my nostrils to burn and my throat to gag. I nearly throw up when I notice someone come from around a corner. I can immediately tell that the smell is coming from them. They are moving in a strange way, jerking a little bit and shuffling their feet. Arms upraised I hear a soft moan escape from their lips. I am terrified as they get closer. I run out into the empty road and move around it. Their arms are still raised, but they move slowly and turn to where I am. I realize that they are slow, and I am faster. Once I am around them, I start speed walking home. I quickly lose sight of them and when I get home I ensure that I have a weapon near my bed that night.
Now, if I were at home and protecting my family, you can bet there would be some rage against the zombies going on.
The banging at the door is getting louder. There are now three of them trying to get into my house and eat me. My wife and kids are crying behind me, fear apparent across their faces. I know that we could escape through the back door, but I do not know if there are more out there. Also, they could follow and what good would it do to flee. I grab a small baseball bat and several wooden spears fashioned from a broom and mop.
With the spears in hand and the bat in reach, I twist the knob quickly and open the door. I think there was a look of surprise on the faces of the zombies, but I did not give them long before I stabbed the first one through the eye with one of my spears. It sunk in deeply and down it went. My second spear found it's mark on my next target. With two bodies, the third was slowed down significantly which gave me the time to regain my bat and to swing with all my might. The bat was small, so it took multiple hits, but it was sturdy and hard and survived long enough to end the last zombie. Breathing deeply I stood over the bodies, blood on my hands and clothing dripped into a forming puddle.
A bright light shone into my eyes and the sounds of a police officer could be heard from the porch. I must look like a serial killer standing over the dead like that, but at least my family was safe.
So, how would you do it in these situations?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I shall continue
What is on everyone's mind right now? Why, it is the hurricane that is. Hurricane Irene is heading up the east coast and is reeking havoc everywhere it goes. Winds and rain are battering everyone that stands in it's path and there is no stopping it. So, what am I doing? I am sitting here writing and getting myself mentally ready to walk in the storm to the store.
That is right, I am crazy enough to walk in this dang storm. It is not that I particularly want to walk outside during a hurricane (but that 10 year old boy in me thinks it is cool) it is just that I have been sent on a mission by my pregnant wife. I need to fulfill this mission or I would have one very sad woman on my hands, and honestly, that is just no good.
So, I am psyching myself up for running to the store. I don't want to get wet either, but it is gonna happen. What I am really excited about though is this new story I am writing. I have written 4000 words over the last few days. This is a huge accomplishment for me, as I have a hard time finding the time to write. My hours at work are sometimes strange plus I have a family, so the conditions must be just right for me to be able to write.
Here is a little info on it: Marcus is a young man working hard to keep his family afloat. With the death of his father recently he has had to pick up the slack and fill a void left behind. Things never seem to go his way, but a chance find on a journey into the local village finds him starting an adventure that he never thought possible. He and his family find themselves in the middle of world events, and how those events play out is determined by their actions.
That is a rough idea, and even I am not really sure exactly where things are going to go. We shall see and I will let the story tell itself in my writing. I must go and prepare a bit more, until next time. Everyone, stay safe and warm.
That is right, I am crazy enough to walk in this dang storm. It is not that I particularly want to walk outside during a hurricane (but that 10 year old boy in me thinks it is cool) it is just that I have been sent on a mission by my pregnant wife. I need to fulfill this mission or I would have one very sad woman on my hands, and honestly, that is just no good.
So, I am psyching myself up for running to the store. I don't want to get wet either, but it is gonna happen. What I am really excited about though is this new story I am writing. I have written 4000 words over the last few days. This is a huge accomplishment for me, as I have a hard time finding the time to write. My hours at work are sometimes strange plus I have a family, so the conditions must be just right for me to be able to write.
Here is a little info on it: Marcus is a young man working hard to keep his family afloat. With the death of his father recently he has had to pick up the slack and fill a void left behind. Things never seem to go his way, but a chance find on a journey into the local village finds him starting an adventure that he never thought possible. He and his family find themselves in the middle of world events, and how those events play out is determined by their actions.
That is a rough idea, and even I am not really sure exactly where things are going to go. We shall see and I will let the story tell itself in my writing. I must go and prepare a bit more, until next time. Everyone, stay safe and warm.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
What a night
Last night I was writing like a mad man. Once I was all done for the night and too tired to even think I had knocked out an amazing 2000 words. That was crazy and exciting. I just sat down and began to write with the words flowing from me like no other. This is not a short story, it will be a much longer novel, and most likely one in a series. I will tell you that it will not be a typical horror story. It is more a fantasy/adventure type.
Never fear though because the way my mind works I will most likely still have a zombie or two involved in the story. In fact, they may be quite prevalent. Whatever the case may be I am excited about the direction the story i headed and how fast it is coming to me. I will keep everyone updated as to my progress on this and anything else I may start writing.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
What to write?
I find myself stuck in that conundrum quite often. What should I write? Should I work on another short story and get it out there for everyone to read? Should I work on my current novel project? Or should I maybe try something new that I have been thinking about? There is a lot that I love to read, and I am sure that I would love to write different stuff as well. But what to write?
Up to this point I have written a lot of horror type of stuff and one erotica.Everything I have published has been a short story. My head is full of grand dreams and stories that I should be noting, but I forget to sometimes. Even sitting here I have at least three different stories flash across my mind, and a part of me wants to live each of them out. I guess one day I may write them all, but what should I write first?
Short stories are great, as they can be thought up, written and edited in a short time frame. I can usually have one from start to finish in a few weeks. That is a short amount of time. A full length novel takes a lot more time to write, but the story is much more in depth and I am more committed to the characters. There are benefits and pitfalls to both.
Although, I am now thinking a little bit more on it and I have found that I really want to live a huge grand adventure. Something that is a journey and fun. It would lean in the fantasy direction, but with a little bit of scifi mixed in. Well, I guess writing it here has helped me make my mind up. I better head on out and start this, I have the feeling that it could be a long story.
Up to this point I have written a lot of horror type of stuff and one erotica.Everything I have published has been a short story. My head is full of grand dreams and stories that I should be noting, but I forget to sometimes. Even sitting here I have at least three different stories flash across my mind, and a part of me wants to live each of them out. I guess one day I may write them all, but what should I write first?
Short stories are great, as they can be thought up, written and edited in a short time frame. I can usually have one from start to finish in a few weeks. That is a short amount of time. A full length novel takes a lot more time to write, but the story is much more in depth and I am more committed to the characters. There are benefits and pitfalls to both.
Although, I am now thinking a little bit more on it and I have found that I really want to live a huge grand adventure. Something that is a journey and fun. It would lean in the fantasy direction, but with a little bit of scifi mixed in. Well, I guess writing it here has helped me make my mind up. I better head on out and start this, I have the feeling that it could be a long story.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
A desolate heart?
The land is desolate, as desolate as my heart. I sometimes wonder whether I feel this way because the land is empty, or if the land seems more empty because I feel this way. "Sigh, nothing is ever going to change." Glass crunches beneath my boots and I freeze my movements. Too much sound can lead to problems. I scan the area around me, looking for anything that could be a danger.
The city around me appears to be deserted. Burned out cars line the roads and windows are smashed in most buildings, many are themselves burned out hulks. The wind blows trash in spirals and whistles through and around the buildings. It is an eery sound, almost like a moan from a sad ghost.
Whatever is in this city though, most likely it is not friendly. Nothing is friendly anymore. To live and survive one must be hard as stone and tough as nails. Even the wind is mean in its coldness and emptiness. I tighten my jacket around myself and continue onward, because moving forward is the only thing left to do now.
I think this may just start my next story. I know it may need a little bit of work, but I think the thought is a good one.
The city around me appears to be deserted. Burned out cars line the roads and windows are smashed in most buildings, many are themselves burned out hulks. The wind blows trash in spirals and whistles through and around the buildings. It is an eery sound, almost like a moan from a sad ghost.
Whatever is in this city though, most likely it is not friendly. Nothing is friendly anymore. To live and survive one must be hard as stone and tough as nails. Even the wind is mean in its coldness and emptiness. I tighten my jacket around myself and continue onward, because moving forward is the only thing left to do now.
I think this may just start my next story. I know it may need a little bit of work, but I think the thought is a good one.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Necropology
{EAV_BLOG_VER:a6b4457a5c485506}
Like my title states, the study of the undead. I know that I am new to that type of thing but I must say that it really is a cool thing to study. The guys over at www.necropology.com have come up with some really breathtaking breakthroughs. And these are the things that I am trying to base my books on. I mean, what is better than writing something that is as accurate as possible?
Speaking of which, I know that sometimes writers have to take some liberties with facts, but honestly they take it way too far at times. I think of movies where the craziest things happen, with some crazy science to back it up. Heck, I remember watching one movie that basically said one could create a larger nuclear bomb just by adding some fuel next to the bomb itself. Geek detour: the reason that does not work is due to the fact that a nuclear device requires an uncontrollable fission reaction with a cascade of neutrons. This is caused by a precision explosion that compresses the material in the center and forces these particles towards the fuel. There is some other science involved, but that science does not support a bigger bang just because there is fuel nearby. That works with a regular bomb, not this kind.
Anyway, I find myself ranting a bit. Sorry about that. But I do think that I am not alone in this world when I read something that could possibly be real. I am not saying that a virus will turn people into zombies, but if that event did happen, I would think there would be certain rules that would need to be followed.
I personally cannot wait until they release there next paper. I don't know what it will be on exactly, but I do know that it will also be groundbreaking. I hope to use this new knowledge to create a better story and something a little scarier. In the meantime though I will try and work on a new story. I have two things in mind, and I am not sure which direction I should go in.
My first thought is something that I thought about, then changed my mind for the last short story I did. I was thinking some post-apocalyptic erotica. I am not alone in this thought either, as someone I follow in twitter @gingerkytten has also thought of writing one of these stories.
My other thought is something more of a thriller/mystery type of story. Of course, it would still contain a lot of blood and guts and most likely would fit into my world here. This would be a little different than I have written in the past, so I hope it would come out ok.
Whatever I choose to do, there is a good chance I would end up writing both stories in time anyway. Well, I think I will get down to it. They say the best way to write something is to write it.
Like my title states, the study of the undead. I know that I am new to that type of thing but I must say that it really is a cool thing to study. The guys over at www.necropology.com have come up with some really breathtaking breakthroughs. And these are the things that I am trying to base my books on. I mean, what is better than writing something that is as accurate as possible?
Speaking of which, I know that sometimes writers have to take some liberties with facts, but honestly they take it way too far at times. I think of movies where the craziest things happen, with some crazy science to back it up. Heck, I remember watching one movie that basically said one could create a larger nuclear bomb just by adding some fuel next to the bomb itself. Geek detour: the reason that does not work is due to the fact that a nuclear device requires an uncontrollable fission reaction with a cascade of neutrons. This is caused by a precision explosion that compresses the material in the center and forces these particles towards the fuel. There is some other science involved, but that science does not support a bigger bang just because there is fuel nearby. That works with a regular bomb, not this kind.
Anyway, I find myself ranting a bit. Sorry about that. But I do think that I am not alone in this world when I read something that could possibly be real. I am not saying that a virus will turn people into zombies, but if that event did happen, I would think there would be certain rules that would need to be followed.
I personally cannot wait until they release there next paper. I don't know what it will be on exactly, but I do know that it will also be groundbreaking. I hope to use this new knowledge to create a better story and something a little scarier. In the meantime though I will try and work on a new story. I have two things in mind, and I am not sure which direction I should go in.
My first thought is something that I thought about, then changed my mind for the last short story I did. I was thinking some post-apocalyptic erotica. I am not alone in this thought either, as someone I follow in twitter @gingerkytten has also thought of writing one of these stories.
My other thought is something more of a thriller/mystery type of story. Of course, it would still contain a lot of blood and guts and most likely would fit into my world here. This would be a little different than I have written in the past, so I hope it would come out ok.
Whatever I choose to do, there is a good chance I would end up writing both stories in time anyway. Well, I think I will get down to it. They say the best way to write something is to write it.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Empire Avenue
I first read about Empire Avenue in a news article on CNN.com a couple of days ago, and I thought that it was a neat idea. Here is this game that will actually track how effective you are at social networking and give you a score on it in the form of a stock price. You also get some cash to invest in others. With a refined site that is easy to jump into, I am shocked that I haven't read about it before now.
So, of course I go to try it out. I find it was in fact easy to learn the basics of the system. And now I am hooked. I am the type of person that loves games and I love to win. But more important than winning itself is the game. I love playing and seeing if I can get better at it over time to master it. Here is where it can get interesting for me and what I want to do in the future as well with my writing.
This game that I am now playing will track how well I am social networking. I can use that a a tool to determine whether I am being effective or not out here on the internet. I always felt that social networking was going to be how I got my writing out into the world and more people reading it. The better I am at the game, the better the odds are that my writing will be read and hopefully liked.
So I will give it a shot. Who knows, maybe this could be the start of something wonderful and fun at the same time. Oh, and if you are interested in checking it out, just head here: http://empireavenue.com/?t=hydp9pvk I hope you have fun and I hope to buy your shares up!
So, of course I go to try it out. I find it was in fact easy to learn the basics of the system. And now I am hooked. I am the type of person that loves games and I love to win. But more important than winning itself is the game. I love playing and seeing if I can get better at it over time to master it. Here is where it can get interesting for me and what I want to do in the future as well with my writing.
This game that I am now playing will track how well I am social networking. I can use that a a tool to determine whether I am being effective or not out here on the internet. I always felt that social networking was going to be how I got my writing out into the world and more people reading it. The better I am at the game, the better the odds are that my writing will be read and hopefully liked.
So I will give it a shot. Who knows, maybe this could be the start of something wonderful and fun at the same time. Oh, and if you are interested in checking it out, just head here: http://empireavenue.com/?t=hydp9pvk I hope you have fun and I hope to buy your shares up!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
My Writing
Hello Everyone,
I am writing this as I am finally going to start to get back into my writing phase of life. Things over the last month have been so hectic in my personal life that I was not able to get anything done at all, even when it comes to finishing my short stories.
Speaking of my short stories, I have been working on wrapping my latest one up, finally. If you remember correctly I did post it, but decided I had been tired and slightly delusional when I did it, and it really needed a proofread through. I then un posted it, and never revised it. Well, I have now begun revising it so that it is better and the story flows from beginning to end. I also tweaked it a bit, and will most likely be changing the name of it, as the current name does not really fit with what the story currently is.
I must say though that this story is being very much influenced by those funny little science guys at necropology.com I would definitely check out their work. I must add in though that their ideas are new and radical, but when I think about it I am actually shocked that no one had thought about this type of stuff before. It is revolutionary. I will make sure I start updating daily here so that anyone that is reading will know what is going on.
I am writing this as I am finally going to start to get back into my writing phase of life. Things over the last month have been so hectic in my personal life that I was not able to get anything done at all, even when it comes to finishing my short stories.
Speaking of my short stories, I have been working on wrapping my latest one up, finally. If you remember correctly I did post it, but decided I had been tired and slightly delusional when I did it, and it really needed a proofread through. I then un posted it, and never revised it. Well, I have now begun revising it so that it is better and the story flows from beginning to end. I also tweaked it a bit, and will most likely be changing the name of it, as the current name does not really fit with what the story currently is.
I must say though that this story is being very much influenced by those funny little science guys at necropology.com I would definitely check out their work. I must add in though that their ideas are new and radical, but when I think about it I am actually shocked that no one had thought about this type of stuff before. It is revolutionary. I will make sure I start updating daily here so that anyone that is reading will know what is going on.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Surviving a Disaster
Well, if you ever find yourself in a place that you never thought you would be, have no fear. With some preparations you could easily overcome anything and survive in style. http://zombiehunters.org/ , This place is the place to go.
There motto is if you can prepare and survive a zombie apocalypse, then you can survive any disaster that may come your way. In fact, the CDC now has a page dedicated to that and nearly copied them word for word. So, if you were curious on how to live on your own, then you can find it there. If you wanted to learn about radios or hams then you could do that there as well.
Overall, whatever it is you may want to know and learn about surviving any disaster, they can help. A wonderful group of people that look out for each other and help those in need. If there were anyone that I could pick to be on my side, it would be this group of people.
There motto is if you can prepare and survive a zombie apocalypse, then you can survive any disaster that may come your way. In fact, the CDC now has a page dedicated to that and nearly copied them word for word. So, if you were curious on how to live on your own, then you can find it there. If you wanted to learn about radios or hams then you could do that there as well.
Overall, whatever it is you may want to know and learn about surviving any disaster, they can help. A wonderful group of people that look out for each other and help those in need. If there were anyone that I could pick to be on my side, it would be this group of people.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Zombie blackhole
I wrote a short story not too long ago about this same thing, a zombie black hole. It was based off the work of two brothers. They published a paper about the way zombies work and function. Through their math they found that we as normal people have thought the wrong way about zombies for a long time. Apparently zombies are more cohesive than once thought. Read the paper "http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/57439058?access_key=key-3ezt9behp2qu1jg5u26" or you could follow them on twitter @necropology, or even just go to www.necropology.com These guys are great and have discovered a lot.
They are also working on a new paper that they say will blow us away. I am anticipating this paper more than a kid looks forward to Christmas. I want to see what else they have for us and to see if it will help my writing at all. When it is finally posted, I will link it here for all of you to see.
They are also working on a new paper that they say will blow us away. I am anticipating this paper more than a kid looks forward to Christmas. I want to see what else they have for us and to see if it will help my writing at all. When it is finally posted, I will link it here for all of you to see.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Writing tonight
I was writing my new short story tonight, and even though my eyes were heavy I didnt want to stop writing. I finally had to when something that I wrote made absolutely no sense at all. I guess when you are writing, it isnt good to do it tired.
Here is a little bit of the story that I have written so far, just for a taste.
Here is a little bit of the story that I have written so far, just for a taste.
"I wouldn’t date you if you were the last man on Earth." Have you ever heard that statement, or even said it to someone else? I have. I heard it all the time in High school and even in college. Who are the main culprits? Those girls that were too pretty for their own good and had too much money from their daddy are. I was always the dorky kind of person. A little bit overweight and a little bit socially inept and immediately all girls think you are never worthy of them. Didn't they realize that a good mate wasn't some jock with no brains, but someone with a good IQ and would actually have a career?
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Last Man
That is going to be the title of my next short story. I am hoping that I can write it this coming week and have it published by the weekend. It will be a little bit different, as it will bridge the gap of two different genres, erotica and horror. I hope that I can mesh these two together in a way that is both frightening and fun.
This story will also be based in the Z Age - in which the undead walk the Earth and rule the living. What we find is that there is this one guy who has survived with some others, and so he must find how he fits into this new world of theirs as the last man. This should create some exciting scenes and also some drama. A little bit of gore and horror thrown in and should be a good read at night alone, or a crowded bus. I will let you all know when I get it published.
This story will also be based in the Z Age - in which the undead walk the Earth and rule the living. What we find is that there is this one guy who has survived with some others, and so he must find how he fits into this new world of theirs as the last man. This should create some exciting scenes and also some drama. A little bit of gore and horror thrown in and should be a good read at night alone, or a crowded bus. I will let you all know when I get it published.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
My next story
KI have been thinking about what I wanted to write next. The Z Age is a point in history, the stories themselves fit into it. I was thinking about writing another short story that bridges two genres, I think Horror and erotica. Obviously horror due to the fact that it is based in this world with zombies, but I think erotica could be fun to write. I have written one short story I published at smashwords that was erotica. Although it was not my best work, it has garnered some attention. I think this time I could do better. I will update on here as I come up with ideas and let anyone that is reading when it will be out.
Monday, July 4, 2011
What a Novel Idea
The Z age is a world that I have created in my fiction writing. Think of it as the next evolution in man, or devolution that is. We went from the stone age, moved into the bronze age, iron age came next. From there it was a little fuzzy, but dark ages came and went and somehow we found ourselves in the modern age. We were very content and happy in this time, until something went wrong.
Just like typical fashion, we found a way to screw things up and we released a plague upon the world. Now we have entered the Z age, or Zombie era. Not sure how long this is gonna last, but I am writing the stories of survivors and victims as they traverse this new unforgiving land.
Some of these stories I may write here, others can be found at Smashwords. Hope you enjoy and take heed, as even the CDC says one must be prepared for the worst.....
Just like typical fashion, we found a way to screw things up and we released a plague upon the world. Now we have entered the Z age, or Zombie era. Not sure how long this is gonna last, but I am writing the stories of survivors and victims as they traverse this new unforgiving land.
Some of these stories I may write here, others can be found at Smashwords. Hope you enjoy and take heed, as even the CDC says one must be prepared for the worst.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)