Good News, Bad News
Posted on September 13, 2004 Posted by John Scalzi 10 Comments
So, the good news is that I wrote 12,500 words this weekend in Rough Guide to Science Fiction Film. That’s 15% of the book’s contractual length.
The bad news is that the chapter I wrote all those words for is supposed to be 6,000 words long. Whoops. Gotta reel myself in.
On the other hand, I’m very happy with the chapter. It needs some trimback, clearly, but it’s packed with information, and having tossed off one chapter, the rest don’t seem particularly imposing. This is more of the whole “once you get started, that hard part’s over” thing.
I also want to note how cool it is to be able to use myself as a primary resource for research. The particular chapter I’m working on is on the actual science in science fiction film (there’s not much), and so I’m using the Rough Guide to the Universe to double-check some of the things I’m writing. Whee!
Also, as a completely unrelated side, I really like the look of Movable Type 3.11, in terms of how it looks from the inside. The text-editing window, for one thing, is substantially larger — I no longer feel like I’m writing in a cramped little space any more. I can breathe! Also, of course, lots more control over comments, which should trim back the comment spam. At the moment I’m considering whether to initiate some sort of authentication for posters — MT 3.11 works with Movable Type’s “Typekey,” which allows people to leave messages at any MT blog with a single password — and perhaps later I’ll do something with that. For the moment, though, I’ll leave comments wide open and see if MT can let me control spam effectively without having to resort to making y’all sign in.
Sleepy, sleepy. Must go rest.
Huh, huh…he said “tossed off.”
God, I’m so juvenile. At some point I’ll have to grow up, right?
Naaahh!
God, I’m so juvenile. At some point I’ll have to grow up, right?
Naaahh!
Please don’t make me have to remember another bloody password. Actually I woudln’t do it. I am all password full. There is no more space for passwords in my overloaded brain. I guess I’d get a lot more work done if I couldn’t post here no more . . .
But I’d be sad, Scalzi!
Please don’t make me have to remember another bloody password. Actually I woudln’t do it. I am all password full. There is no more space for passwords in my overloaded brain. I guess I’d get a lot more work done if I couldn’t post here no more . . .
But I’d be sad, Scalzi!
Oh dear, you shouldn’t have to lose Justine over this. Tell you what, Scalzi: I’ll quit posting those hundreds of pornspam comments on your website, okay? There. I am willing to sacrifice all that Artistic Expression for the sake of friendship. You’re welcome.
Oh dear, you shouldn’t have to lose Justine over this. Tell you what, Scalzi: I’ll quit posting those hundreds of pornspam comments on your website, okay? There. I am willing to sacrifice all that Artistic Expression for the sake of friendship. You’re welcome.
I knew it was you, Karen! You’re so naughty.
For now: No passwords, etc., and they don’t seem likely in the future. If I do go over to the dark side, I’ll give you all ample warning.
I knew it was you, Karen! You’re so naughty.
For now: No passwords, etc., and they don’t seem likely in the future. If I do go over to the dark side, I’ll give you all ample warning.
That’ll be no problem. I’m already signed up for Typekey to post at Roger Simon’s site. Shoot, after that batch of #$%@#$ spam on my site (and I get, what, 20 hits a week, all from spiders!), and I’m ready to drink the koolaid, too.