Progress Report 7

It might even be located here…

Well folks, I can report that I have now outlined four chapters (seven thousand, five hundred + words). I’m really getting into the flow of the story – thank goodness. I still don’t know how long it will be – short story, novella or novel. As I said in a previous ‘Progress’ post, it all depends on how it pans out. I will say that it definitely has a certain scifi element to it. But mainly it is a physical adventure story about searching for a people and a place. That’s about it this time round, other than the fact that with this book, I’m relying heavily on the vocal interaction between the two principle characters.

I’ve got the beginnings of Chapter Five swilling around in my mind. I must get it down and sorted. More later.

PS – I’m toying with the idea of making this book less of a target for the trolls by only publishing it as a paperback. We’ll see. I may just decide to say “to hell with them” and just publish it as my seventh eBook as well as a paperback…

😀

The Roche Hotel: The REAL Story Behind the Stories

More from Mysti 🙂

Author Mysti Parker

THEY say a lot of things, don’t they? Like don’t wear white after Labor Day or don’t fry bacon with your shirt off (that’s probably good advice, come to think of it). Most of what THEY say goes right in one ear and out the other. But, in terms of writing, when THEY say “write what you know”, it makes a lot of sense. So, that’s where The Roche Hotel got its start—from my own experience working in a hotel way back in the ‘90s.

Many of these first 10 episodes are based on some very real incidents that happened during my days as a front desk clerk in a little mid-priced hotel. Sure, a lot of stuff’s made up purely from my crazy imagination, but there were 5:00 AM donuts—delicious being fresh from the bakery. Henry the Donut Guy—not real, but I wouldn’t have argued one bit if he…

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How to Wash a Cat

If It Looks Too Good To Be True …

The state of the ruling political party here in the UK.

writerlywitterings

So, this weekend we’ve lost another minister in the government. A man who is no doubt presently working hard today to keep his marriage together.

What happened? Well, a man of moderate age, Brooks Newmark (crazy name, crazy damn fool) was sent texts and messages. These purported to come from Sophie, a young woman who was a keen supporter of his party and worked for it in PR. She and he had various conversations before they went private, sending texts. She sent some of herself, he reciprocated. He asked for candid shots, she complied, and he sent her one too. I think we can guess what it might have included. Below the belt, anyway.

Except, of course, the girl wasn’t a party activist: it was a male reporter.

Today we also hear that a twitter user has been jailed for 18 weeks because he retweeted and circulated messages asking for…

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It’s Official: Trolls are Sociopaths

Nicholas on Trolls.

Nicholas C. Rossis

Have you been on the receiving end of a troll attack or a flame war? You can take comfort in the thought that you’re not alone – and that trolls are, officially, sadists.

My friend Jack Eason alerted me to a link between trolls and sadism, discovered by Personality and Individual Differences. The journal published a study that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are really messed up.

Specifically, Canadian researchers conducted two internet studies with over 1,200 people. They gave personality tests to each subject, along with a survey about their internet commenting behavior. They were looking for evidence that linked trolling with the Dark Tetrad of personality: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadistic personality.

These are technical terms; google them for the formal definitions: it’s worth your time, for the aha! Moment of recognizing an ex-boss, boyfriend or girlfriend.

Anyway, the researchers found that Dark…

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Marketing – None on None

Jo on all aspects of marketing.

Jo Robinson

When you were growing up, did you often wake up and think, “Wow! That’s it – I want to be a telemarketer? And then—! When I’m REALLY good at that I can move on up and sell insurance door to door! Yeah baby!!!” Yes – I know there are too many exclamation marks you grammar guru guy you!!! No. You probably wanted to be a fireman or astronaut, or the next president. The problem is that life is a slippery old thing, and things happen, crappy people happen, and sometimes you find yourself upside down in a pit of some horrible thing, and you have no choice but to take whatever means you can to earn your monthly crusts.

Nobody likes telemarketers. Nobody likes in your face buggers trying to force you to insure yourself against clocking out entirely. Nobody likes in your face buggers in general. Having been in…

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19 Things Freelance Writers Are Tired Of Hearing

Just found this. At one time or another, we’ve all been asked totally inane questions.

Community Post: 19 Things Freelance Writers Are Tired Of Hearing.