Friday, November 19, 2010

Movie Awards, Fantastic Friday Writers, and Stardate NaNo Updates.

First a quick reminder that the Movie Awards voting is tomorrow, November 20! I’ve been nominated for Best Sci-Fi Blog and the Gold Movie Blog awards. Go to The Movie 411 to cast your vote. There’s several categories and some of my blogging buddies are also nominated. (So feel free to vote for them instead!)

Today is another edition of Fantastic Friday Writers! I invite your to check out my Fantastic Friday Writers partners - Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J. D. Brown, and Deirdra Eden Coppel - for their take on this subject.

What inspires my science fiction/fantasy mind to write?

Because it’s a world beyond our own! I write for the same reason I watch movies and read books – to escape. I want to go somewhere beyond the confines of our current life on earth, though. I want to see other worlds; experience life through new races; witness different situations and technology. Yes, many of the struggles are similar to our own, but I identify with them more because they occur in a setting other than here. My curiosity drives me to envision and create a unique world, one unseen by others. I want to boldly go where no man has gone before! (You just knew that was coming, didn’t you?) I am inspired by what I see in other books and in movies of my genre. It’s exciting and new. I want to continue that journey of discovery!

If you are a science fiction or fantasy writer, why? What inspires you?

And now for the Stardate NaNo updates!

Stardate #nanowrimo 12.6 Trouble in transport. Ferengi Ambass. arrived inside out. And he exploded. Cleanup in Transporter Rm1! 19165 words

Stardate #nanowrimo 14.9 I faced the Kobayashi Maru and won, baby! 24,123 words!

Stardate #nanowrimo 15.9 Lt. Barclay has gone missing and no one cares. 25,107 words!

Stardate #nanowrimo 16.9 Hot green aliens are dancing all over the bridge - and I can't stand up. Word count 26,637

Stardate #nanowrimo 17.9 Data told me my skin is as smooth as an android's butt. I'm afraid to be alone with him now... 28,446 words

Stardate #nanowrimo 18.9 Connected the dots on Jadzia Dax's body. Funny, I expected more than a space pony... 30272 words

Look for a Harry Potter review this weekend. And don’t forget to vote at The Movie 411 on Saturday!

50 comments:

Gail said...

It is amazing so many words!

I just try a short now and then and people seemed to be shocked by my darkness...I guess I shall never be an author but shall always dabble in writing.

May your success soar!

Jeff Beesler said...

Alex, you totally hit on the point of writing. I also write to escape, though with me I take it to the next level of wanting to entertain, and possibly educate, others as well. It sends my heart into a whirlwind of joy to hear someone say they really liked what I wrote.

Rock on, Alex!

Liz P said...

Keep up that great progress!

I'm the same way in writing (and reading) fantasy. Creating and exploring a new world that no one has ever seen before is a big part of the fun of writing it. Plus, there are far less boundaries then writing in the real world. Your imagination is the limit.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Loved the post Alex though as a straight writer I don't get very far, but with tenacity may make it one day.

Enjoy your week-end.Yvonne,

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Gail, sounds like you could specialize in Drabbles! Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere posts one every day.

Thanks, Jeffery! Until recently, I just wrote for me, but now I have to take entertaining others into consideration as well.

Liz, you nailed it - no boundaries!

That you write a new poem every day is amazing, Yvonne!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Escape through writing (and reading) is the greatest. I love my imagination and love to live in it. Is that so wrong? :)

Golden Eagle said...

I love the escape, too; I think the setting definitely plays a part in a story.

Sangu Mandanna said...

Ooooh hope you love the HP movie as much as I did!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hot green aliens indeed! And I like to escape, too.

DEZMOND said...

I'm thinking of throwing a performance together with Lady Gaga at Dempsey's gala movie awards. I reckon I won't get any of the awards so I'll at least steal the show with putting up one.

Matthew MacNish said...

Heading over to vote for ya!

Charles Gramlich said...

I think, for me, life is about imagination, and it isn't a lot of fun if I'm not exercising my imagination, in what I watch, what I read, what I write, how I live.

Carol Kilgore said...

You are moving along on those words. Impressive. Have a great writing weekend.

Chris Phillips said...

Good luck with the award!

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Hi, Alex. I've always wondered in the logic of those stardates. I still haven't figured them out. Oh well.

I agree with you on escapism!

;)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Teresa, not at all!

Rock on, Dezz! But if you don't win, it'll be a crime.

Elizabeth, is the updates or the Stardate part that confuses?

Laura Eno said...

That's exactly why I write sci/fi and fantasy - the escape, the wonder of what's out there.
Another fantastic week of NaNo tweets!
Good luck with the voting tomorrow and I'll be sure to head over there.

Arlee Bird said...

What I like about scifi is the what if factor, the spectulation, and the dreams of possiblilities that can be achieved as a result of imagination. When I've written science fiction I've mostly tended to stay in the now, near-future, or even the past.
Good job staying on track with NaNo.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Liza said...

Looking forward to your HP review...we'll be going a week from today...can't wait to go, but have to get through T-Day first.

Jessica Bell said...

Off to check out the voting page! :o)

Jessica Bell said...

Er, why doesn't the Movie 411 link work?

RaShelle Workman said...

Alex - Nice going on your NaNo. I'd be scared to be alone with Data, too. LOL Keep it up.

Summer Ross said...

Alex`

You are doing beautifully in NaNo- I love the updates. They are clever and funny.
My favorite is the connecting dots one LOL

Have a great weekend!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry Jessica! I guess they took down the contest page. It links directly to their site now.

RaShelle, I'm avoiding Data at all costs now!

Glad you enjooy the updates, Summer!

J. D. Brown said...

Alex, you are not a man of few words! You just choose to write a few words about a lot of topics. :D

Congrats on the nominations!

I read to escape, but I don't think that's why I write. If the question was "Why am I writer" I'd probably have to break down and mumble something about the fact that I'm a crazy artist. LOL.

Jessica Bell said...

Cool. On my way. PS: I briefly mention you in my vlog today ;o)

Anonymous said...

Hey Alex, the copy of CassaStar I ordered at our local library just arrived. So its there for anyone to check out. There are a few more libraries I'm asking to carry a copy too.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Congratulations on the nomination!
I'll go tomorrow to vote.

With everything else going one, how have you had time to write so many words in the NaNo comp?

Monti
NotesAlongTheWay

Copyboy said...

Are those the same green hotties Kirk hooked up with? I'm off to check out your writer peeps.

Martin Kozicki said...

Experiencing (or creating) the unknown out of nothing is a textbook definition for imagination. Going beyond our own planetary confines to a totally alien world is one of the great joys we scifi fans have.

Speaking of, have you seen the new Green Lantern trailer? Are you as excited as I am? If you are bouncing off walls and reciting the GL oath to random passerby, the answer is "yes!"

N. R. Williams said...

Your twitter updates are so funny. I write because I've always lived in fairyland. I had trouble with the vote thing. Not from your end but from theirs. I'll try again later.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Unknown said...

Escape is a great reason to write sci-fi. It's the reason I write mysteries and YA and love stories. Sometimes real life is just not the same.
CD

Shannon Messenger said...

*off to cast a vote* Thanks for the reminder!

And huge congrats on the NaNo progress. That's amazingly impressive!

Talli Roland said...

Well done on the NaNo!

I'm mostly inspired by the way people change, and the things that change them. Gosh, that sounds dorky, doesn't it!

Ella said...

I love the reasons why your write, I totally agree, it is an escape. The poem I wrote this week, pretty much sums that up! I will vote for you; Congrats on the Nod!

I love that skin is smooth as android's butt; Congrats on beating
Kobayashi Maru~ Hot green aliens; Intriguing~ YOU are definitely traveling beyond the boundaries of norm~ I love beyond the norm; it is under rated, lol~

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks JD! And that works as well.

Jessica, really? Must watch when I return from Harry Potter.

Stephen, thanks - I appreciate that!

Monti, I've managed because I pulled back a bit on blogging.

Copyboy, they are indeed!

Martin, that trailer is amazing. Stoked about that movie!

Nancy, it opens tomorrow, so try then!

Shannon, I'm holding my own at the moment!

Talli, you could never sound dorky.

Thanks, Ella! Wish my updates counted for NaNo

Mason Canyon said...

Your NaNo writing is going great. Congratulations on the nomination. I'm off to vote.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

grats on your NaNo progress. It's hardwork, well worth it.

Anastasia V. Pergakis said...

Alex, you may be a man of few words, but you say it so wonderfully! You don't need the extra words! I'm just a longwinded type of person, and I repeat myself many times over the course of a conversation.

Great job with the NaNo progress and congrats on the awards!

Old Kitty said...

I love that you like to travel to different worlds and to escape into somewhere where no man has gone before!!! Yay for you!!

And good luck with your nano - over 30,000 words - brilliant!!!

Off I go to vote! Take care
x

Anonymous said...

I like to travel OUT also!

Sounds like you're doing great on NaNo.

I'm very anxious for pay day (December 3rd) so I can buy your book!
Ann

baygirl32 said...

looking forward to the Harry Potter review... can't wait to see it

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks Mason and Lynda!

Anastasia, thanks. Wish my boss believed in fewer words - work meetings would be so much shorter.

Thanks, Kitty! I can always count on you for a smile.

Ann, thanks - I really appreciate that!

Hart Johnson said...

Congrats on the nominations, Alex! And on the NaNo, just keep swimming!

JournoMich said...

Way to go on NaNo! No wonder you're still so busy this month. And Fantastic Friday is great--fantastic!

Michele

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Look at you, kicking some NaNo bootie! Way to go! Keep it up, Alex!

Ella said...

I have something for you ;-D

Glynis Peters said...

Just dropping by to say hello. NaNo-NaNo ;0

dolorah said...

Yeah, when I read sci-fi/fantasy, it is to escape, and to dream of tomorrow. Someday - not necessarily in my lifetime - some of the scenarios and worlds that writers dream up will come true.

I'm a firm believer that it takes a writers creativity to inspire a scientists innovation. We dream it, they make it happen. Works well that way.

......dhole

The Words Crafter said...

Lt. Barclay got caught in a time warp and got stuck in Earth's past. He took up acting and got a stint on the A-Team show.

My husband would like to connect the dots on Dax's body, too. He loved your pick of Kate on your sidebar, btw. He is now an official/unofficial fan. He doesn't blog....

Were the green alien women playing with your ears? I thought there was a law somewhere....?

Great with the nano writing!