Entries Tagged 'Weekends' ↓

We’re continuing the monthly tradition by soliciting the myths you want to see written. It’s a lot like how on Mythbusters they solicit fan requests on the site, only on Mythbusters they solicit urban legends that the fans want to watch the team debunk while blowing things up and possibly being injured in the process, while here you come up with questions or aspects of day to day life you’d like to have explained in wholly unscientific and fantastic ways. Also, I have all my hair and don’t own a beret.

Now, understand — if your myth doesn’t get told within the span of the month, that doesn’t mean we throw the myth away. I’m still going back through all the myth calls to see what one to cover next in our little journeys through the lands of legend. But it’s still fun to see new and exciting myths being solicited. So get in on the fun!

Please. It’s lonely here without you.

It is September, the most hellacious of months for those of us who work at secondary schools. This is why there was no Theftworld this weekend. I worked late every night last week, worked Saturday and worked Sunday, and it just takes too much to do.

What this means for this coming week I’m not entirely sure. It’s 9:30 on Sunday evening and I don’t have a myth in the can, and tomorrow’s going to be intensely… um… intense. So Leather might also be a problem.

So, myth wise we’re going to have a special guest thing. As for Leather… hrm. Maybe she should move to Thursday this week. Chime in with your thoughts.

(As for Theftworld? That’s just a wash for this week. I can’t do 3,500-4,000 words and hope to get another one for Friday/Saturday.)

Anyway. Thanks as always.

It’s another month, and that means it’s time to put in your requests for myths for the Mythology of the Modern World series. Tomorrow’s myth might be late, by the by, by which I mean “it’s Labor Day. I can have some time off too, you know.” But it should show up before the day is through. I hope, anyway.

(Followed by Leather. Man, when did this much writing become part of the weekly deal?)

You’ll notice that almost all the myths start off from these suggestions that are made. And you’ll also notice that they tend to answer questions of one kind or other, though the form may be unexpected at best. And sometimes they get combined oddly.

Regardless, put in your requests starting…. now!

I am in Ottawa this weekend, which doesn’t stop you from sounding off! And here’s the action topic!

We’re now in a situation where there are several multipart stories that are running here over Banter Lattes, no whip, with a shot of sugar free hazelnut. This includes some of the most popular stuff on the site. However, some folks are beginning to notice… well, some difficulty in reading them sequentially, because the blog navigation is designed to go to the next post instead of the next entry in that specific story.

Now, right now someone can use the category archives to follow along, at least on some of the stories, but that may not be ideal. So. How would folks want to navigate on stories like “Interviewing Leather” or The Old Ways, given their druthers? Webcomics style “first, next, last” link buttons? A serial-specific link page to the chapters? Some kind of pie-based medium?

Let me know, and keep looking up, Stargazers and Star Hustlers. Jack Horkheimer demands it.

Mrph. Not really awake in any sense of the word, but it’s already the afternoon so I should be awake.

So, we’re back on inspiration, this week. Specifically, ambiance. When you’re doing those things you do because you like to do things (write, paint, draw, Sudoku, whatever floats your boat and stimulates your mind), what kind of environment do you like to do it in? Do you like quiet? Do you like chaos and noise? If so, what variety — a cafe with music? A lunchroom? A gang war?

Do you have snacks or beverages? Do you use headphones and blot out the world? If so, what’s playing on them?

For me, while I can often write just about anywhere, I’d say my best case scenario involves a cafe environment. Music optional, but I’m picky about noise — Quiet and unobtrusive is fine, or so loud that it all becomes white noise is okay. The middle range between the two extremes drives me freaking batty.

Generally, coffee or tea or a latte is indicated. It’s always hard to admit drug addiction, but caffeine very much fuels the creative process for me. Give me a good caffeine high and you’ll get me totally in the zone.

So how about you? Sound off!

Hey all! Sorry there was no weekend open mike last week. Nor yesterday, as I was working a 13 hour day on my day off.

I know. You all feel just terrible for me, right?

Well, I’m still working my way through the last open call for myth suggestions, but I enjoyed getting them so much — and there’s been enough attention since then — that at least for now I think I’ll make that a monthly feature!

So! Though I’m not discounting the myths in the other open thread by any stretch, if you’ve thought of a new one or just want to chime in, go for it! Talk about what myths you’d like to see — myths in the form of something relatively concrete are best: “why is the sky over Los Angeles yellow/grey” works better than “why is there pollution,” for example, because we can be lots more definite about a specific, and people seem to like the definite stories.

That also fits the classic myth structure better. Things like “why is their lightning” is answered very simply. “Thor is throwing his hammer while Zeus tries to outdo him with a lightning bolt.” On the other hand, “why did Crete get hit by an Earthquake” gives us tons of stuff about Daedulus and Icarus flying near the sun while queens have sex with bulls and Theseus forgets to change the sails on his boat and women get abandoned and so on and so forth. Lots of crunchy detail there!

Let me know! And let me know what you think of the myths in general so far! And, you know, sound off!

Still sick, still achy, still in Canada, and still keeping on keeping on. I hope you’re all well and doing better than I am healthwise. (As for non-health? Hey, I’m with my fiancée. I’m golden.

It’s the weekend, and that means it’s open mike day. And I thought today might be fun to discuss influences. If you look at Mythology of the Modern World, you see Neil Gaiman bumping up against Thomas Bulfinch, with a good sized dollop of the Bros. Grimm as filtered through Nobilis and Hitherby Dragons. All of which also owes a moderate amount to Douglas Adams, at least in style. Looking at Justice Wing stuff, there’s a goodly amount of the old Superguy stuff in there, but with big chunks of Tom Wolf and Hunter S. Thompson, alongside some of the potboiler style stuff. And Theftworld is Robert Heinlein and Mike Resnick having a confab with J. Michael Straczynski with DS9 era Ronald Moore offering commentary and drinks.

Which isn’t to say any of this is up to any of their quality. But I’m talking influence.

So what about all of you? What influences do you have in your creative work, your day to day life — whatever, really? Sound off! With sound!

I’m traveling right now, and am in fact with Wednesday. Which brings me to this week’s sounding off! What’s the favorite place you’ve traveled to? Was it a lake? A casino? A bar twelve feet from your squalid apartment?

SPEAK!

It’s Week Two of our Open Mike Weekends! Today, our topic is mythology. Obviously, our Myths of the Modern World series has kicked off and even seems to be popular, which is cool. And as we’ve established, the myths generally explain the answers to ‘why’ something is. Often small things, as the big questions are somewhat broad and often are answered by ‘Randy Milholland’ or ‘Sam, the guy from the television show Quincy.’

Hey, blame the Arrogant Worms.

Anyway. In the comments, feel free to chime in with the myths you would like to have explained! No promises, of course, but we’re always willing to try! Trying is fun!

We’re still in beta, so there aren’t that many people reading this yet. Here’s where I’d give you a topic and you’d sound off, for those playing along at home. And because I suck, it’s going out on Sunday. So if you’re reading this on Monday, feel free to sound off anyway.

So this will be an open thread. Go ahead and sound off — say hello! Subscribe to the comments thread if you like. Say something cheerful!

One note — you will need to register to comment. And the first time you comment your comment will need moderation-approval. After that, you’re open unless you act like a jerk. So, you know. Don’t!

Thanks!