Archive for April 2004

6th

Well, after that last update (see March 2004, if you haven't been here since before then), and after getting a really nice e-mail telling me it was okay to take time for myself (which I really needed to hear), my confidence level seems to have gone back to normal again, and I'm ready to post again. Prisoner of War, chapters 3 and 4, are now available for your reading pleasure.

I also have the next chapter of Lights of Life ready to send to BetaWolf, so hopefully, that'll be up in the next month or so, depending on what my beta-readers have to say.

Also, another site has requested to turn two of my stories into .pdb files for use with PDAs (Palm Pilots), and I've said yes. If you've been looking for The Debutante and the Delinquent or Xena: Warrior Slave in .pdb format, they're now available from the site below:

• Spontaneous Catharsis
  http://buffy.kimlys.com/pdafic/other/index.html

16th

Like I said in March, I'm going to try to update this page more often whether I have a new chapter to post or not, so that you guys know what I'm working on (or not working on, as the case may be). So, here goes.

Lights of Life - I finally sent Chapter 12 off to BetaWolf. I know I said I had it ready to go back on the 6th, but I decided I didn't like what I had, so I went back and messed with it. But it's ready now, so it's been sent. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some good feedback and fix it up enough to post here in the next month or so. (Please don't hold me to that, though. My muse likes to be obstinate.)

By the way, I have to approve everyone who joins my BetaWolf group, so if you were thinking about joining to get a sneak peek, it ain't gonna happen (and yes, I'm pretty sure I've had people do that in the past, which is why I changed it to 'by approval only'; I checked my logs and found that I had one person join several different times for only a minute each time, so I can only guess they were looking for an unposted update, which I found extremely uncool). So, I don't plan on allowing any new members until after I've posted the chapter to this site, and just in case the request is genuine, I will make sure to send an e-mail to that effect to anyone who requests to join the group, so you can be approved later.

So basically, that means anyone who wants to join will only be able to do so in the time between when I've posted something to the website and when I've sent a new chapter/story to BetaWolf. Hopefully, that isn't too annoying (not that people are beating down the door to beta-read for me :)).

Prisoner of War - I've been working on the timeline, as well as a few scenes that have been coming to me here and there. The timeline is just so I can keep things straight for myself and not have any continuity errors. Plus, it helps me plan future chapters better by reminding me what needs to happen when.

Blood Moon - I've written the first draft of the first chapter, as well as the beginning of the second chapter. I like what I have, so far, and I'm hoping the rest of the story is as easy to write (though I'm doubting it). I've also been doing a lot of research for this story. Since the beginning of it takes place in ancient Egypt, I've basically had to learn about the society, the technology, the politics, the living conditions, the economy, and just the basic day-to-day issues of living in that time period. It's really fascinating (great, now I sound like Spock). It really is, though.

The Trine - Since deciding to rewrite the story, I've gotten the first two chapters done. I've been enjoying the characters even more, too. They feel more real to me now, rather than some of them feeling a little removed. Of course, now I'm trying to figure out how to introduce one of them a lot sooner than I had in the previous version, but as Corene keeps telling me, "You'll get it; you always do." So, I'm trying not to stress about it.

Other Writing Stuff - I added a few lines to the Uruz Rune page on my Supernaturalism website (which isn't open to the public and probably won't be for a very long time; it's basically a collection of my non-fiction writings on subjects like religion, which ranges from Greek mythology to Christianity, as well as things like the Tarot, chakras, and auras, etc.).

Web Design Stuff - I know this has nothing to do with writing, but I came up with a cool new CSS trick for designing buttons without using images. I came up with it while I was working on Corene's poetry site, which needs to be updated to include a section for the current year (I also need to bring the code up to date; it's still using tables for layout instead of CSS, which isn't good). I've also been updating Corene's and my wedding website, which probably won't become public until after the ceremony has taken place in August (damn, that's only like 4 months away; it's coming up fast :)). Right now, it's just for my family, since they live up north and I'm in the south.

Work Stuff - I've realized I don't have a link to my web design site on this website, so I've added that to the Links page (I could really use some work right now; I'm willing to cut my prices significantly (read 50%) if it'll get me a paying project). Anyway, the URL is:

• Wolf Web Design
  http://www.kodiwolf.com/WWD/

If you know of anyone who's looking for a web designer, please send them to the above website. I'm not a web programmer, but I know HTML and CSS and can work with JavaScript and PHP fairly well (I can't create it, but I can work with it). I'm also good at working with a team.

Well, I think that's it. I hope I haven't totally bored you. Back to my stories.

...a little while later...

PS Corene's website has now been updated, so if you want to see the new CSS buttons that don't use graphics or JavaScript, check out her site: http://www.kodiwolf.com/RFP/