Zen Master: Blog

I just submitted the 3rd and last part of my short story "PCSS7". It's not a typical story. It is formatted as a letter from a charitable foundation's director to a prospective donor, explaining what the next fundraiser is about. Clearly, it's touched some nerves as I've gotten both '10' scores and '1' scores.

I've received email telling me how awesome it was. I've also gotten email from one reader who took the time to explain why he gave me a '1'. It's not really a story. There's no plot, there's no characters, and it's boring.

I have to admit that he's right, he's right, and that depends upon the reader's interests. If you have an imagination, you can provide your own character. Think of it as one of those reader-participation books where "If you go down the stairs, turn to page 36. If you continue through the door, go to page 31". No, those things have no 'plot', either. You're supposed to provide the character.

(And I'm really hoping that it will spark someone into writing a story of their own, using the contest as the background. Whoever wants to do that has my permission and best wishes.)

-ZM

For all three of my readers, I've been out of town for most of the last couple of years. I've done a lot of writing, but it all needs going over with several fine-toothed combs. I've started posting my 3-part short story "PCSS7".
I'm almost done with "Ending This Mess", the quasi-novel that describes the fight for Earth in Thinking Horndog's "Swarm Cycle" shared science fiction universe. Of course, I've been saying THAT for over a year, right? Still, I think I'm down to one or two nits so it should be going up soon.
I'm probably a third of the way through "Squadron Command", the sorta-sequel to "The First Command". I'm slowly slogging through some of my other unfinished works. I think that "Learning to Please", another B&D short story, will be next after ETM. Dunno what's after that, probably "Lessons" or "The Burglars."
-ZM

Awright, SOL is a wonderful place, I'm very happy here, but nothing is perfect, right? I've finally started posting my 3-chapter short story "PCSS7" and of course SOL's posting wizard helpfully corrects my capitalization to "Pcss7". It did the same thing with my "BOGO" when I posted it, making it "Bogo" until I put a space between each letter. "B O G O" works, but it looks pretty stupid. Okay, for any other author reading this, once you've posted your story you can go into your list of stories and edit the title. That function apparently accepts whatever you type withOUT any helpful corrections, so BOGO and PCSS7 now have the correct titles. Good.
Of course, I'm still a bit steamed that the 'description' or 'teaser' for PCSS7 doesn't accept the start-a-new-line-here character that SOL's documentation says to use,
. Haven't figured that one out yet so the teaser still looks kinda stupid. I've asked Da Management for advice.
-ZM

I like to read. However, there are more things to read than I have time for. I have to choose what to invest my time in. Lapi, whoever he or she is, looks like an enjoyable author. He, she, or it has done some good stuff. However, people who read Lapi's work will immediately notice a desperate need for a proofreader. Unfortunately, Lapi doesn't have email set up on SOL. We can't send feedback. Lapi, do you read this? Your latest work has some issues in the teaser or description. If _that_ shows poor writing, who goes on to read the actual story?

...for immediate posting. The story is not done, but the 'reference work on how stuff in the Swarm Cycle works' part is done. The second half, "Squadron Command", will be more of a novel and less of an reference book. It's gonna be a while, though. I'm still at the notes-gathering stage.
-ZM