Thursday, October 17, 2013
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Stop-Watch Gang members's schedules for Can-Con
Stop-Watch Gang members Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, and Mike Rimar will be attending Can-Con this weekend.
Suzanne's schedule:
Saturday, October 5th
11:00 to 11:55 AM The Writing Life Suzanne Church(m), S.M. Carriere, Kate Heartfield, Caroline Frechette, Karen Dudley - Room #2
12:00 to 12:55 PM The Business of Writing Suzanne Church(m), Jean-Louis Trudel, Karen Dudley, Chadwick Ginther - Room #2
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
6:00 to 6:55 PM Horror Elements of Future Technologies Matt Moore, Geoff Gander, Sean Moreland(m), Suzanne Church - Room #2
8:00 to 8:55 PM You're Qualified for SFWA: Should You Join? Matthew Johnson(m), Derek Künsken, Suzanne Church, Andrew Barton - Room #2
Sunday, October 6th
11:00 AM to 2:00? PM Aurora Banquet and Awards - Reading Room
Mike's schedule:
Friday, October 4th
9:00 to 9:55 PM Humour in Science Fiction Ira Nayman(m), Matthew Johnson, Mike Rimar - Room #3
Saturday, October 5th
1:00 to 1:55 PM YA Fiction Neil Godbout, Mike Rimar(m), Jean-Louis Trudel, Lory Kaufman - Room #3
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
5:00 to 5:55 PM Critiquing Groups Alice Black, Nicole Lavigne, John Park, Mary Pletsch, Mike Rimar(m) - Room #2
6:00 to 6:55 PM Researching for Fantasy Stories Matthew Johnson(m), Karen Dudley, Mike Rimar - Room #3
Sunday, October 6th
1:00 to 1:55 PM Making Predictions: Looking Into the Future as a Science Fiction Writer Jean-Louis Trudel(m), Mike Rimar, John Park, Andrew Barton - Room #3
Costi's schedule:
Saturday, October 5th
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
Suzanne's schedule:
Saturday, October 5th
11:00 to 11:55 AM The Writing Life Suzanne Church(m), S.M. Carriere, Kate Heartfield, Caroline Frechette, Karen Dudley - Room #2
12:00 to 12:55 PM The Business of Writing Suzanne Church(m), Jean-Louis Trudel, Karen Dudley, Chadwick Ginther - Room #2
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
6:00 to 6:55 PM Horror Elements of Future Technologies Matt Moore, Geoff Gander, Sean Moreland(m), Suzanne Church - Room #2
8:00 to 8:55 PM You're Qualified for SFWA: Should You Join? Matthew Johnson(m), Derek Künsken, Suzanne Church, Andrew Barton - Room #2
Sunday, October 6th
11:00 AM to 2:00? PM Aurora Banquet and Awards - Reading Room
Mike's schedule:
Friday, October 4th
9:00 to 9:55 PM Humour in Science Fiction Ira Nayman(m), Matthew Johnson, Mike Rimar - Room #3
Saturday, October 5th
1:00 to 1:55 PM YA Fiction Neil Godbout, Mike Rimar(m), Jean-Louis Trudel, Lory Kaufman - Room #3
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
5:00 to 5:55 PM Critiquing Groups Alice Black, Nicole Lavigne, John Park, Mary Pletsch, Mike Rimar(m) - Room #2
6:00 to 6:55 PM Researching for Fantasy Stories Matthew Johnson(m), Karen Dudley, Mike Rimar - Room #3
Sunday, October 6th
1:00 to 1:55 PM Making Predictions: Looking Into the Future as a Science Fiction Writer Jean-Louis Trudel(m), Mike Rimar, John Park, Andrew Barton - Room #3
Costi's schedule:
Saturday, October 5th
2:00 to 2:55 PM Stop-Watch Gang Reading Suzanne Church, Costi Gurgu, Mike Rimar - Reading Room -- come for the candy, stay for the stories!
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Story Sale!
I sold my story, 'The Devil's Due,' to what is rapidly becoming my favorite horror ezine, Black Treacle.
This is one is especially sweet because this is the 24 hour story I
wrote during my week at the Writers of the Future in San Diego. It
should be out sometime in mid-August.
Monday, July 22, 2013
SWG Writing Retreat 2013 Recap, or Writing Retreat 2: The Quickening
This past weekend was the Stop-Watch Gang's second annual writing retreat, again hosted at the SWG secret southwestern Ontario lair (aka, Suzanne's house in Kitchener). And we are especially grateful to Suzanne and her boyfriend Michael for their hospitality considering that when we arrived there had been no power for 18 hours! They did herculean duty moving frozen and perishable food all over town to friends and relatives with power so that nothing spoiled and the SWG could eat well as we wrote.
Three cheers for Suzanne!
As with last year, Costi Gurgu was the undisputed winner of the 16 hour write-a-thon, with a grand total of 11,068 words of new fiction (and we hate him all the more because he's writing in his second language!)
Full tallies of people's new word counts are:
And now, a graphic!
Also, fun fact discovered this weekend: did you know that the 80s SF classic The Last Starfighter was actually an American remake of a German movie whose title translates as The Last Spaceman? In that movie, aliens contact the winner of a pinball game to see when he wants to start intergalactic war. True story.
Or we made it up.
One of the two.
- Stephen
Three cheers for Suzanne!
As with last year, Costi Gurgu was the undisputed winner of the 16 hour write-a-thon, with a grand total of 11,068 words of new fiction (and we hate him all the more because he's writing in his second language!)
Full tallies of people's new word counts are:
- Costi: 11,068 words
- Tony: 9548 words
- Ian: 8095 words
- Mike: 7257 words
- Suzanne: 6048 words (and mind you she lost most of Saturday afternoon once the power came back on trying to gather all that farmed-out food!)
- Stefan (oh yeah, somehow during the ride over the fellas decided that my 'real' name was Stefan and thus was I known for the whole weekend...): 3104 words
- Richard: 1950 words
And now, a graphic!
Also, fun fact discovered this weekend: did you know that the 80s SF classic The Last Starfighter was actually an American remake of a German movie whose title translates as The Last Spaceman? In that movie, aliens contact the winner of a pinball game to see when he wants to start intergalactic war. True story.
Or we made it up.
One of the two.
- Stephen
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Writing Retreat Weekend 2013 Edition
This coming weekend, the Stop-Watch Gang will be partaking in their annual writing retreat. From roughly noon Saturday to noon on Sunday, various members will write like fiends.
As is tradition, we provide a few challenge prompts to inspire SWG members and those of you playing along with the home game.
For 2013, inspiration is drawn from the letter "S".
Using the five senses...
Taste – saffron, scallops, spinach
Touch – suede, syrup, steel
Smell – stew, sewage, scotch
Sight – snow, sign, syringe
Sound – sand, saxophone, siren
Using Words...
A quote by Socrates: "The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be."
A quote by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences."
A quote by William Shakespeare: "Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know"
Using visual prompts, follow the links below...
"Vice Admiral Sir George Anson's Victory off Cape Finisterre" by Samuel Scott
"The Girl" by Emily Shanks
"Pine Pavillion Near a Spring" by Shitao
Using auditory prompts, follow the links below...
The song "Shake Me Down" by Cage the Elephant
The song "Spaceship" by Puddle of Mudd
The song "Scumbag Blues" by Them Crooked Vultures
The song "Something to Remind You" by Staind
The song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Alt. Version)" by Marilyn Manson
The song "Sofi Needs a Ladder" by Deadmou5
Feel free to post your word counts in the comments section below.
As is tradition, we provide a few challenge prompts to inspire SWG members and those of you playing along with the home game.
For 2013, inspiration is drawn from the letter "S".
Using the five senses...
Taste – saffron, scallops, spinach
Touch – suede, syrup, steel
Smell – stew, sewage, scotch
Sight – snow, sign, syringe
Sound – sand, saxophone, siren
Using Words...
A quote by Socrates: "The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be."
A quote by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences."
A quote by William Shakespeare: "Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know"
Using visual prompts, follow the links below...
"Vice Admiral Sir George Anson's Victory off Cape Finisterre" by Samuel Scott
"The Girl" by Emily Shanks
"Pine Pavillion Near a Spring" by Shitao
Using auditory prompts, follow the links below...
The song "Shake Me Down" by Cage the Elephant
The song "Spaceship" by Puddle of Mudd
The song "Scumbag Blues" by Them Crooked Vultures
The song "Something to Remind You" by Staind
The song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Alt. Version)" by Marilyn Manson
The song "Sofi Needs a Ladder" by Deadmou5
Feel free to post your word counts in the comments section below.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Gang News
We had a lively meeting on Sunday, April 28th.
Too bad Stephen Kotowich couldn't attend, as he usually keep track of critquotes.
The Big News:
Two of our members made the final ballot for the Aurora Awards.
Costi Gurgu is nominated in the Best Artist category
for the cover art for Inner Diverse, (Starfire World Syndicate).
Suzanne Church is nominated in the Best Short Fiction – English category for
"Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop" in Clarkesworld, Issue #68, May 2012.
The voting opens May 6th and closes at 11:59:59 PM PST on September 13, 2013.
Cast your vote for the Aurora Awards.
The ballot is available online at: Prix Aurora Award Ballot
Too bad Stephen Kotowich couldn't attend, as he usually keep track of critquotes.
The Big News:
Two of our members made the final ballot for the Aurora Awards.
Costi Gurgu is nominated in the Best Artist category
for the cover art for Inner Diverse, (Starfire World Syndicate).
Suzanne Church is nominated in the Best Short Fiction – English category for
"Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop" in Clarkesworld, Issue #68, May 2012.
The voting opens May 6th and closes at 11:59:59 PM PST on September 13, 2013.
Cast your vote for the Aurora Awards.
The ballot is available online at: Prix Aurora Award Ballot
Friday, April 12, 2013
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Night Shift at the Tim Hornets is Live!
You can read my zombie story, "Night Shift at the Tim Hornets," for free in Black Treacle Magazine.
Monday, April 01, 2013
Awards season is nearly done!
Here are some of the stories published by Stop-Watch Gang members in 2012 that are eligible for the World Fantasy and the Aurora Award.
Short story category:
Carson, Brad. "Mr. Go Away", Danse Macabre: Close Encounters with the Reaper, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, October 2012.
Click here to listen to Stop-Watch Gang member Richard Baldwin reading "Mr. Go Away"
Church, Suzanne. "Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop", Clarkesworld Magazine, May 2012.
Click here for information on reading a review copy of "Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop"
Church, Suzanne. "Death Over Easy", Danse Macabre: Close Encounters with the Reaper, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, October 2012.
Click here for information on reading a review copy of "Death Over Easy"
Pi, Tony. "Remains of the Witch", Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show #26, January 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Pi, Tony. "The Miscible Imp," When the Villain Comes Home, Dragon Moon Press, July 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Pi, Tony. "Susumu Must Fold," Daily Science Fiction, October 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Illustration category:
Click here to see the cover of Inner Diverse
Gurgu, Costi. Cover art for Nina Munteanu‘s Inner Diverse, (Starfire World Syndicate) December 2012.
Check out Costi's 2012 illustrations at his website.
Here are some of the stories published by Stop-Watch Gang members in 2012 that are eligible for the World Fantasy and the Aurora Award.
Short story category:
Carson, Brad. "Mr. Go Away", Danse Macabre: Close Encounters with the Reaper, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, October 2012.
Click here to listen to Stop-Watch Gang member Richard Baldwin reading "Mr. Go Away"
Church, Suzanne. "Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop", Clarkesworld Magazine, May 2012.
Click here for information on reading a review copy of "Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop"
Church, Suzanne. "Death Over Easy", Danse Macabre: Close Encounters with the Reaper, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, October 2012.
Click here for information on reading a review copy of "Death Over Easy"
Pi, Tony. "Remains of the Witch", Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show #26, January 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Pi, Tony. "The Miscible Imp," When the Villain Comes Home, Dragon Moon Press, July 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Pi, Tony. "Susumu Must Fold," Daily Science Fiction, October 2012.
Learn more about Tony on his blog.
Illustration category:
Click here to see the cover of Inner Diverse
Gurgu, Costi. Cover art for Nina Munteanu‘s Inner Diverse, (Starfire World Syndicate) December 2012.
Check out Costi's 2012 illustrations at his website.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Friday, March 01, 2013
Story Sold!
Sold my story, "The Return of Hobard the Vanquisher," to When the Hero Comes Home 2, eds Garbielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood; Dragon Moon Press.
A Bunny Hug for Karl is out!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Overheard at the Stop-Watch Gang Meeting: 17 February 2013
What is the terminal velocity of a pixie, anyway?
----
1: Instead of 'urine-haired' maybe 'piss-haired' would be a better description.
2: Yes, 'piss-haired' is much more evocative
----
A: It's unclear why he wouldn't take the treasure. Or as much as a pixie could take.
B: How much could a pixie carry?
A: What's the airspeed velocity of an unladen pixie?
C: Is it an African or European pixie?
----
Maybe pixies have really enormous gonads and that drives everything they do.
----
With his urine...wench? Hair urine? Urine-haired...whatever.
----
Reader: I was a bit confused then.
Author: I'm a bit confused, too--I don't even remember that happening
----
In my mind I pictured Danny DeVito with wings
----
X: He should break in looking for a size-change spell!
Y: Yeah, that's cool!
Z: It is cool--but I said that already. How come it wasn't cool when I said it?
A: It's the emphasis--it's how you sell it.
----
You need to upgrade to Ward 2.0
----
She: I don't think anybody with a penis, or any man--let's put it that way--would slam the door of a $250,000 car
Him: He just slammed his $250,000 penis
----
I thought it was a good interlude, I didn't have any problems telling who people were, so...poo poo on you.
----
One: This other thing--this 'B' thing
Several: The Brisingamen
One: Brisingamen?
Two: Gesundheit
Three: The Bazinga?
----
I notice you have a love affair with the exclamation mark. You and she need to take a break. Spend some time with your wife away from the exclamation mark.
----
P: 'Sticky.' 'Dribble.' 'Trickle.' You use them over and over. New words. Find new words.
Q: But save those ones for the title of your collection.
----
- SWG
----
1: Instead of 'urine-haired' maybe 'piss-haired' would be a better description.
2: Yes, 'piss-haired' is much more evocative
----
A: It's unclear why he wouldn't take the treasure. Or as much as a pixie could take.
B: How much could a pixie carry?
A: What's the airspeed velocity of an unladen pixie?
C: Is it an African or European pixie?
----
Maybe pixies have really enormous gonads and that drives everything they do.
----
With his urine...wench? Hair urine? Urine-haired...whatever.
----
Reader: I was a bit confused then.
Author: I'm a bit confused, too--I don't even remember that happening
----
In my mind I pictured Danny DeVito with wings
----
X: He should break in looking for a size-change spell!
Y: Yeah, that's cool!
Z: It is cool--but I said that already. How come it wasn't cool when I said it?
A: It's the emphasis--it's how you sell it.
----
You need to upgrade to Ward 2.0
----
She: I don't think anybody with a penis, or any man--let's put it that way--would slam the door of a $250,000 car
Him: He just slammed his $250,000 penis
----
I thought it was a good interlude, I didn't have any problems telling who people were, so...poo poo on you.
----
One: This other thing--this 'B' thing
Several: The Brisingamen
One: Brisingamen?
Two: Gesundheit
Three: The Bazinga?
----
I notice you have a love affair with the exclamation mark. You and she need to take a break. Spend some time with your wife away from the exclamation mark.
----
P: 'Sticky.' 'Dribble.' 'Trickle.' You use them over and over. New words. Find new words.
Q: But save those ones for the title of your collection.
----
- SWG
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Writing Resolutions for 2013
Over at my personal blog, I posted my writing resolutions for 2013.
This year, I will be choosing different writing-related topics to blog about. Watch this space for news as it comes in.
Also, I'm in the process of setting up a page on my my website that will summarize the writing tips I posted here during 2012. Once the page is live, I will post a link.
This year, I will be choosing different writing-related topics to blog about. Watch this space for news as it comes in.
Also, I'm in the process of setting up a page on my my website that will summarize the writing tips I posted here during 2012. Once the page is live, I will post a link.
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