Oooooh, yes I do.
I finally got the cash into my account and bought my domain. Now all I have to do is con/beg my web-savvy buddy to help me start coding it and get it up there.
When it is up and running I'll be posting my novel The Carpenter's Apprentice up for people to read for free.
It's a Fantasy Adventure story for kids and it's something I'm proud of.
Hopefully others will find it entertaining an excting, and will stick with it as each chapter comes up to read.
So far there are 12 completed chapters, and they will be going up on a bi-weekly schedule.
Anyway, link will crop up at the side when the content is ready.
On another note, the final page of The Courier is up on Emma's site. That's the whole Prologue as I am now starting to call it. Work will begin on the full length follow up in about a month for me, and I'm hoping to get the first script to Emma by the end of March.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Money Money Money!
So, I should finally be getting paid for working! I mean, I've only been at the company for about 8 months!
S'cool though, I wasn't meant to get paid, until 4 weeks ago, I can't beleive how long it's taken to get the money sorted, and it's nothing to do with the company either, just stupid government agencies. That's not paranoia, the JobCentre have it in for me!
And I got my InCap today, so with the 6 weeks wages, which I now realise won't be £420 'cos it's got to be taxed (boo!) but I should still have enough to take a chunk off of my overdraft and finally buy my website!
Woo-Hoo!
Once I get my techie mate round to give me a hand I should be able to start posting up my novel in installments.
If there are any artists who read this, I going to be asking for some character illustrations, for no money, to brighten up the website.
Anyhoo, I'm a happy chappy!
S'cool though, I wasn't meant to get paid, until 4 weeks ago, I can't beleive how long it's taken to get the money sorted, and it's nothing to do with the company either, just stupid government agencies. That's not paranoia, the JobCentre have it in for me!
And I got my InCap today, so with the 6 weeks wages, which I now realise won't be £420 'cos it's got to be taxed (boo!) but I should still have enough to take a chunk off of my overdraft and finally buy my website!
Woo-Hoo!
Once I get my techie mate round to give me a hand I should be able to start posting up my novel in installments.
If there are any artists who read this, I going to be asking for some character illustrations, for no money, to brighten up the website.
Anyhoo, I'm a happy chappy!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Valentine Shopping in Tesco.
So, as a single guy, I won't make any kind of typical "Oh why am I alone, on this the most overhyped and romantic day of the year?"
Instead, I want to think a while on a topic that I'm considering exploiting next year.
And that is, singles in Tesco on Valentine's day.
Now, I live a good 15 minute car drive from the nearest decent pub, and a 20 minute walk from the nearest poor pub.
It's only 5 minutes drive to Tesco, and so me and my mate across the road have made it the highlight of our week on occasion, because there is nothing else to do.
I popped in tonight to grab the cheapest bottle of red wine I could find, so I could get drunk watching the Arsenal/Liverpool match (which so far is poor) and get down to plotting that graphic novel.
While having an aimless wander I began to think. I have heard it said that supermarkets are a good place to meet women, fill a basket with either stuff that makes you look cultured, or stuff that makes you look a bit lonely, and try to strike up conversations with women who also have similar stuff in their baskets.
And it struck me, women, wandering around Tesco at 7.45 on Valentines Day are either single, or about to dump the guy that left them to wander about a supermarket that night.
I saw a few, and had I had more than £3 to my name, I may have tried to get one to go for a "we're both sad enough to be here tonight" dinner. I say may, but I would probably chicken out, it's what I do.
Now, my thought is, are the women there likely to be more or less receptive? I'm thining more, but then again, being approached by a strange bearded man probably isn't what they want. In my experience it's not what any women want.
But for those who don't look like a relation of Chewbacca or as if the only light you've seen all year is the glow of your computer monitor, then it may be worth a go.
Let me know how it pans out for you, yeah?
Instead, I want to think a while on a topic that I'm considering exploiting next year.
And that is, singles in Tesco on Valentine's day.
Now, I live a good 15 minute car drive from the nearest decent pub, and a 20 minute walk from the nearest poor pub.
It's only 5 minutes drive to Tesco, and so me and my mate across the road have made it the highlight of our week on occasion, because there is nothing else to do.
I popped in tonight to grab the cheapest bottle of red wine I could find, so I could get drunk watching the Arsenal/Liverpool match (which so far is poor) and get down to plotting that graphic novel.
While having an aimless wander I began to think. I have heard it said that supermarkets are a good place to meet women, fill a basket with either stuff that makes you look cultured, or stuff that makes you look a bit lonely, and try to strike up conversations with women who also have similar stuff in their baskets.
And it struck me, women, wandering around Tesco at 7.45 on Valentines Day are either single, or about to dump the guy that left them to wander about a supermarket that night.
I saw a few, and had I had more than £3 to my name, I may have tried to get one to go for a "we're both sad enough to be here tonight" dinner. I say may, but I would probably chicken out, it's what I do.
Now, my thought is, are the women there likely to be more or less receptive? I'm thining more, but then again, being approached by a strange bearded man probably isn't what they want. In my experience it's not what any women want.
But for those who don't look like a relation of Chewbacca or as if the only light you've seen all year is the glow of your computer monitor, then it may be worth a go.
Let me know how it pans out for you, yeah?
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Printed Copies!
I have a few copies of the Courier in my hands!
After some thoroughly scary quotes for getting 50 done, I am printing them at home. This has the bonus of not needing a minimum amount and being able to print off as many as I need.
Got to do 10 or so tomorrow for Emma.
But it is so cool to hold in my hand something that I wrote and see it in it's graphic form.
All those none of you reading this blog, if you want to see it, check out the link on the left.
Unless you want to offer me some work writing a comic for you, then ask and I'll post you a copy. I'll even sign it if ya like!
After some thoroughly scary quotes for getting 50 done, I am printing them at home. This has the bonus of not needing a minimum amount and being able to print off as many as I need.
Got to do 10 or so tomorrow for Emma.
But it is so cool to hold in my hand something that I wrote and see it in it's graphic form.
All those none of you reading this blog, if you want to see it, check out the link on the left.
Unless you want to offer me some work writing a comic for you, then ask and I'll post you a copy. I'll even sign it if ya like!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
I'm a Classic!
Yup, that's right. I was told today that I am a classic.
OK, so it was followed by the words "...case of someone suffering from CFS." But if we ignore that...
No?
Sod the lotta ya. So, the story is, I went to see the people at the CFS clinic today. A specialist who deals with people who suffer the same condition as me every day. It turns out I'm not anxious or depressed, well I could have told them that, and I did.
There are apparently three things that help everyone with CFS, first is a strictly controlled exercise regimine, which I am now on a waiting list (hooray Britain!) to get in on. Second is pacing, basically realising that if I do lots today, tomorrow I wioll be screwed. The third is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, but they only seem to use that on people who are anxious or depressed (they don't mention anything about people with psycopathic tendancies, ho-hum).
On the comic side, I have started to sketch out a rough idea for what I want to do in the Courier Graphic Novel/Long comic. Only problem is that I keep thinking in far too grand terms - "There should be an earthquake." "No, there should be the invasion of an enemy nation state's army." "NO! There should be an earthquake set by an enemy nation so their army can invade." All this, I should mention, in the middle of an Infernal Affairs-type story. And if you haven't seen that film, do yourself a favour, go get it now!
But I am drafting in some characters from an unwritten story, because they will slot nicely into the world. I have a protagonist, an antagonist, a selection of minor characters, backstories, motivations. All I need now is an actual plot for the main story.
It's going to come, I'm sure of it.
OK, so it was followed by the words "...case of someone suffering from CFS." But if we ignore that...
No?
Sod the lotta ya. So, the story is, I went to see the people at the CFS clinic today. A specialist who deals with people who suffer the same condition as me every day. It turns out I'm not anxious or depressed, well I could have told them that, and I did.
There are apparently three things that help everyone with CFS, first is a strictly controlled exercise regimine, which I am now on a waiting list (hooray Britain!) to get in on. Second is pacing, basically realising that if I do lots today, tomorrow I wioll be screwed. The third is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, but they only seem to use that on people who are anxious or depressed (they don't mention anything about people with psycopathic tendancies, ho-hum).
On the comic side, I have started to sketch out a rough idea for what I want to do in the Courier Graphic Novel/Long comic. Only problem is that I keep thinking in far too grand terms - "There should be an earthquake." "No, there should be the invasion of an enemy nation state's army." "NO! There should be an earthquake set by an enemy nation so their army can invade." All this, I should mention, in the middle of an Infernal Affairs-type story. And if you haven't seen that film, do yourself a favour, go get it now!
But I am drafting in some characters from an unwritten story, because they will slot nicely into the world. I have a protagonist, an antagonist, a selection of minor characters, backstories, motivations. All I need now is an actual plot for the main story.
It's going to come, I'm sure of it.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Back Once Again, but no Renegade Master.
So yeah, I've been away to sunny Reading.
Jon's birthday was good, and it's always nice to see the guys and mock them for playing waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much World of Warcraft.
I have some copies of The Courier in my hand, most are photocopies in greyscale and don't look as good as the spangly colour ones.
All I have to do now is find somewhere to get some full colour ones printed up at a not extortionate amount.
Also, I'm not done with Quinn, there is much more of his story to tell, and Emma is on board for the long haul. So it may be that I will get a graphic novel out there, even if it is self published.
Doesn't bother me, though, of course, I'd rather get paid to do it, but getting it out there will be a tremendous result and allow me to fulfill a long standing ambition - to write something that ends up in the British Museum. I think I've wanted to do that since I heard it stores every book ever published, when I was about 5, so over 20 years a standing ambition.
That's more commitment than anything else in my life ever!
Jon's birthday was good, and it's always nice to see the guys and mock them for playing waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much World of Warcraft.
I have some copies of The Courier in my hand, most are photocopies in greyscale and don't look as good as the spangly colour ones.
All I have to do now is find somewhere to get some full colour ones printed up at a not extortionate amount.
Also, I'm not done with Quinn, there is much more of his story to tell, and Emma is on board for the long haul. So it may be that I will get a graphic novel out there, even if it is self published.
Doesn't bother me, though, of course, I'd rather get paid to do it, but getting it out there will be a tremendous result and allow me to fulfill a long standing ambition - to write something that ends up in the British Museum. I think I've wanted to do that since I heard it stores every book ever published, when I was about 5, so over 20 years a standing ambition.
That's more commitment than anything else in my life ever!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Ballsy Move.
At the Brighton Comic Expo last November, Tony Lee said I should just email Joe Quesada at Marvel and ask for work.
"Yeah right." I thought.
But I've just done it. All this latest forward motion has got me some (over)confidence. I can't really believe I just did that.
On the other hand, if I don't ask him, he'll never get the chance to say yes.
The worst that can happen is he says no. At least I hope that's the worst that can happen.
Sudden visions of big guys in suits with baseball bats turning up at my door.
"Mr Quesada don't like to be bothered."
*gulp*
Surely not, he always seems so nice on those DVD extras.
"Yeah right." I thought.
But I've just done it. All this latest forward motion has got me some (over)confidence. I can't really believe I just did that.
On the other hand, if I don't ask him, he'll never get the chance to say yes.
The worst that can happen is he says no. At least I hope that's the worst that can happen.
Sudden visions of big guys in suits with baseball bats turning up at my door.
"Mr Quesada don't like to be bothered."
*gulp*
Surely not, he always seems so nice on those DVD extras.
Party time, let's go to work.
Several things to cover here.
First, I now have in my grubby little mitts a test run of "The Courier", as in a printed and bound version. I am now past the point of objectivity on this comic, having spent so much time re-reading it. But it still has lines that I love in it.
Hopefully I'll have a couple done up for this weekend, more on that in a mo.
Emma has put up the cover and page 1 on her site. No idea how long between updates she will do, there are only 7 pages of comic and it took her a couple of months to draw, so I would guess she is going to tease it out some.
Second, I am off to Reading this weekend for Jon's birthday. That's Jon "Dammit accept one of my pitches", editor at Abaddon. So I get to drunkenly barrage him with ideas this weekend.
Apparently there will be a nice bloke who wrote for the latest series of Doctor Who there also. I met him a Brighton Comic Expo, so hopefully when I slip him a copy of the Courier and try to blag some sort of work off him, he won't be too surprised.
I hope.
Thirdly, I am writing this while waiting to see how MarioKart for the DS is doing on ebay. At the moment its 2 minutes away and I'm preparing to bid.
Hang on a minute.
Wait for it...
So exciting.
While we wait - watch Life on Mars. It's the best new thing on British TV at the moment.
Also, watch My Name is Earl, the funniest new sitcom since Scrubs - honest!
Here we go...
30 seconds to go.
I win!
OK, you can all go now. Nothing to see here.
First, I now have in my grubby little mitts a test run of "The Courier", as in a printed and bound version. I am now past the point of objectivity on this comic, having spent so much time re-reading it. But it still has lines that I love in it.
Hopefully I'll have a couple done up for this weekend, more on that in a mo.
Emma has put up the cover and page 1 on her site. No idea how long between updates she will do, there are only 7 pages of comic and it took her a couple of months to draw, so I would guess she is going to tease it out some.
Second, I am off to Reading this weekend for Jon's birthday. That's Jon "Dammit accept one of my pitches", editor at Abaddon. So I get to drunkenly barrage him with ideas this weekend.
Apparently there will be a nice bloke who wrote for the latest series of Doctor Who there also. I met him a Brighton Comic Expo, so hopefully when I slip him a copy of the Courier and try to blag some sort of work off him, he won't be too surprised.
I hope.
Thirdly, I am writing this while waiting to see how MarioKart for the DS is doing on ebay. At the moment its 2 minutes away and I'm preparing to bid.
Hang on a minute.
Wait for it...
So exciting.
While we wait - watch Life on Mars. It's the best new thing on British TV at the moment.
Also, watch My Name is Earl, the funniest new sitcom since Scrubs - honest!
Here we go...
30 seconds to go.
I win!
OK, you can all go now. Nothing to see here.
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