NPCA

[Caravan Ray]

The industry term is "urban fantasy." Is very hot right now and if you turn out something exceptional you might consider not putting it on the web for free-- might be able to sell it instead. It's not a genre I have much experience with so I can't really point you to the best agents or whatnot, but, as a hint, if Janinie has a steamy relationship with a vampire it is like a license to print money.

At any rate, get the thing wrote before you worry too much about that, because nobody wants to hear about your incomplete novel anyway. It's a decision you can put off.

I'll have a steamy relationship with Janinie if you want. I am very sensual. I can be as sensual as a dunny door in a strong wind. I'm not a vampire, but I'm almost a New Zealander. They both wear a lot of black and have very pale skin. Well, the pakehas do any way.

[HeuristicsInc]

This might be a good time to set up some 'dream collaborations' with that participation list!
-bill

[Ross]

I'm interested, as well.

[Niveous]

Hey everyone,

I have a quick question for those into science fiction and the like. Do you prefer fantastical creatures that are completely new or do you prefer stories that include creatures with existing mythos?

Example: The Star Wars and Star Trek universes create their own species while something like Buffy often takes from existing myths and modifies.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Interesting question, Niv. I like both. I will say that when I see new creatures that have no mythology bases, I generally have to get past the laugh factor. IE, the bar scene in Star Wars. I like that scene for the ahh factor, but the unbelievable factor makes it laughable. One bar with that many different species.......and they all just so happen to like getting intoxicated.
But then again, I like dragons, but at one point, dragons were a new creature. I bet that back in the day when King douche bag was telling his son about the evil dragon, his son was all, haha, give me a break fa tha, a giant freaking lizard as big as a castle that "breaths" freaking fire? Don't you think we'd see one of these dragons stomping about the countryside at one time or anotha? And I'm sure they have to poop, yet I've never seen i a giant poop as big as a horse. Dad, you're old. cha!

....annnnd scene.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Yeah, I like either as long as they're well developed. Mix'em up!

[bz£]

Try not to use fantasy stereotypes as a crutch. It's ok to have elves and dwarves and orcs and stuff, but don't make your story Tolkien with a different name on the cover. (Hint: calling them Aelfs and Little People and Orks is not enough of a departure.)

Some connections with existing tropes are good. People read fantasy expecting that stuff, and they wouldn't bother if they didn't like it. Just, you know, be creative, be surprising.

You may even be able to use expectations-- the main character grew up in realityland, right? Or some fictional version of Earth that is close enough. She probably has some inaccurate ideas in her head about what elves are going to be like, and there is potential for a lot of interesting conflict when she finally meets them.

[Ross]

I fear I'm betraying my bias when I ask:

Do you mean Sci fi ? or Fantasy?

[Niveous]

I'm one of those people who feels that the line is way too blurred to differentiate between the two. I know there are others who would madly disagree (how dare you place my elves near his aliens!) but I can't really figure out the difference.

[bz£]

The genres are pretty well defined; it is individual works that sometimes don't fit neatly into one category. If you have a story about elves in space, you can call it "an epic novel which blends elements of fantasy, science fiction and the gripping drama of John Grisham," but you'll get laughed at, so just call it "elves in space" instead. People will know what you mean, and that's really the point.

Well, except for the few people that can't get past thinking about Pigs in Space.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

I fear I'm betraying my bias when I ask:

Do you mean Sci fi ? or Science Fiction?

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist.

[Niveous]

Just wanted to give an update:

It's September, so I'm kicking the work on this into overdrive. I never did send the draft to HInc and Bzl. The reason is that I was doing revisions. I've been very meticulous about things after the first time the story didn't go right. This has included asking all of you questions about creatures and taking a deeper look at my characters.

Something that I had a problem with in the original version of the story is the male characters. The main character is a woman named Janine and though mentally fractured at the beginning, she will grow into a strong character. But I want to have a strong male character as well on the "good" side. I'm struggled with that previously, now I hopefully will find the balance.

So I'm going to probably send out those drafts tomorrow.

I also need to start really thinking about how I'm going to present this on the web. I need to figure out some web design or find someone who can.

As for the music part, I still have lyrics ready and waiting but I wanna make sure I have their counterpart fiction pieces ready before I jump into the music part. In other words, I don't wanna get other people working on things without me having my shit together.

[Caravan Ray]

I fear I'm betraying my bias when I ask:

Do you mean Sci fi ? or Fantasy?

I fear I'm betraying my bias when I ask:

Do you mean Sci fi ? or Science Fiction?

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist.

NERD ALERT!!!!!!!!

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Guilty as charged.
And what I really wanted to say was Sci Fi or Speculative Fiction, but I thought that would out me for sure.

[Niveous]

News:

So I finally sent to HInc and Bzl a copy of the first three chapters. (I must say, can people drop all the umblats and funky symbols. It was driving me nuts until I realized that it's "bz£")

I'm currently writing Chapter 5 and I'm happy to get to do some action scene stuff. And this weekend will be all about looking at the songs of the project so far. I think that the whole story needs a theme song, so I'm working on a new song called "The Day I Lost the War".

I've also begun looking at Creative Commons stuff. This is all new to me, so I'm still wondering which license works best, if at all.

[bz£]

It causes me problems too, every time I try to log in on a computer that doesn't remember my password. I usually fail about four times before I remember that I need to go figure out how to type that pound symbol. Anyway I shall get back to you with some comments this weekend.

[Niveous]

Update on NPCA:

I had to take some time off from the project in late September to work on another writing project (since the other project has seniority). Then I looked at the writing I was doing. The new draft of September is better than the old one that I gave to bzl by leaps and bounds. But I also realized that doing Septemberian, a novel that I have been working on drafts for for the better part of a year for this project may be ill-advised. It was basically me trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Septemberian is my novel, it's not meant to be a concept album.

So I'm writing a straight up concept album for this project. It's a sci-fi story about kidnappings and an epidemic. It's my li'l Nanowrimo.

[Heather. Redmon.]

Hi Niv,

I know I wasn't around in August to chime in, but, being the concept album type of girl that I am, I'd like to participate if you're still in need of help. If not, that's cool, I'm a late comer. But, if you feel like keeping the Hell Yeahs in mind while writing lyrics, that would be neat!

Thanks,

Heather

[Niveous]

You know I'm a huge Hell Yeahs fan. I would adore a chance to write a song for you guys.

[Niveous]

I think I have finally found my groove on this project. I have begun writing lyrics, all weaving together a story. I think I'm going to work this in much the same way that I do when I write the Zinkline albums. So soon I'll be posting up what I've got.

So far titles include "Contagious", "Duenna Inc." and "NYC (Bodysnatchers)"

[Billy's Little Trip]

I like contagious already.

[Niveous]

It's been an interesting ride writing this. Okay, I'm ready to post up some lyrics.

I've got 7 songs written so far: "Contagious", "Duenna Inc.", "New York City (Bodysnatchers)", "A Simple Operation", "Near Death Experience", "12 O'Clock Blackout" and "High Speed Chase".

I don't feel like the lyrics are perfect yet. They need some polishing. And here's how I think they'll get the polish:

I'm going to post up the lyrics tonight. If there is a song that strikes your fancy, post that you would like to work on it. Then we will talk and polish up the lyrics so they get a good song feel.

Thanks again for all those who have had an interest in the project. You guys rock.