Is Anybody Listening?

I know you are out there.  I can hear you breathing.  More precisely, I can see the hits to this blog every day.  I know when specific posts are viewed.  Sometimes I can tell which other sites you use to link to my blog.  It is obvious that fifty hits in a single day from computers in Germany are most likely bots trawling the internet, but you aren't one of those.  Are you?

The reason I say all of this is because you are very important to what I do.  A writer creates a world and shapes it with words.  Words that readers either enjoy or despise.  Your feedback is what helps a writer refine their craft.

An artist knows people appreciate their work when studios put on shows and people come to appreciate the display.  Carpenters get validation when the furnishings they construct stay together and are treated well by their owners.  Fashion designers know their works are enjoyed when their models receive rounds of applause at fashion shows.  A writer's best source of feedback is comments and reviews.

If you read a blog post you enjoy, take a few seconds to leave a comment.  If you didn't enjoy it, take a few seconds to say why.  After you read a book, leave a review with the retailer you purchased the book from, even if it's only a star rating.  This gets back to the author and gives them more information than just a sales report.  

Did readers fall in love with the characters?  Was the story exciting or just drawn out?  Was the universe in which the story takes place believable?  With so much of the story in the author's mind, they don't always have the same impression as a reader would.  Only a reader can say what they did and didn't like about a book or story.  Since authors don't tend to be telepathic, you, as a reader, must let them know.

Just as an artist can alter their color palette to evoke different feelings, a writer can use different words or develop their characters more to get the same result.  The only way they know if the story is a beloved one is through your feedback.

I am asking you, the wonderful reader, to start the new year with a mission.  When you read a blog post, leave a comment.  After you finish a book, rate it.  Let the author and the rest of the world what you thought about the author's efforts.  Feel free to start with a comment on this post right here.

News Update

The theatrical release of the newest Star Wars movie is upon us all, whether we like it or not.  With the movie being featured in many news broadcasts and being mentioned on many networks, why not mention other science fiction franchises as well.  For today's post, I bring you an average news broadcast complete with anchors, sports, and traffic.  Just like you would see on any day from your local station, almost.

Thank you for tuning into IGIN, your Intergalactic Information Network. This is Colickner Smith with your headlines for this cycle. Tonight I am assisted by the lovely and tentacled Chrissy Frageelei. We have Then'teknor Beckham with sports and Major Captain Major reporting on the traffic throughout the interstellar routes.

Our first headline comes from the United Federation of Planets. It appears a temporary alliance between the Federation and two of their neighboring empires has become an extended cease fire and a longing peace. The final details of the treaty will be negotiated at an assembly on the Babylon 5 station in orbit around Epsilon III in the Epsilon Eridani system. All of us here at IGIN wish these three interstellar organizations the best of luck with their future endeavors.

Now we go to Then'teknor for a story from the world of sports. What do you have for us Then'teknor?

Thank you Colickner. This planetary cycle I have a story of controversy from the directors of the Kessel Run Racing League. The pilot of a light freighter is claiming to have made the Kessel Run in only twelve parsecs. The KRRL is looking into these claims and the possibility of the folding of space while traveling in hyperspace. Investigators are trying to determine whether or not the pilot managed to manipulate conditions and complete a run shorter than is allowed by League rules and regulations.

A final report of the investigation is expected later this cycle. We will have that report and the scores from the finals of the latest Blitzball tournament in a later broadcast. Back to you Colickner and Chrissy.

Thank you Then'teknor. I'm sure many of our viewers are looking forward to those Blitzball scores, especially all the Aurochs fans out there. In a little bit we will hear from our interstellar traffic and navigation expert Major Captain Major. Following that will be a special report from Chrissy Frageelei. First, a quick report on the loss of one of our fellow broadcasters.

It appears much of the signals from the broadcaster known only as Mr. Universe have all but ceased. His systems are still relaying signals, but there are no more of his original shows being broadcast. Many fans have stated their disappointment at the loss of any more future demonstrations of his skills in realistic humanoid robot construction and programming. The signal was interrupted briefly after a large battle between a number of Alliance battleships and a fleet of Reaver craft. The exact involvement of a single Firefly-class cargo ship is unknown at this point.

Now we come to our traffic and navigation update from Major Captain Major.

The completion of a hyperspatial expressway through sector ZZ-ZZZ-Alpha. The construction contractor states that a planet in the path of the expressway has been more difficult to remove than initially estimated. Further bureaucratic red tape has been blamed for delays in the new expressway.

On another note, an update to standard navigation systems is being made. A large debris field now orbits where the planet Alderaan was once located. Navigators are discouraged from using a large moon-like object that has been spotted in the system as a reference point for their flight plans. A full release of updated star charts is expected momentarily.

Thank you Major. Finally we look to Chrissy Frageelei for a public interest story.

Thank you Colickner, and thank you to all you viewers tuning in this planetary cycle. My story touches on something that many peoples consider just an urban legend and myth to be dismissed.

Almost every intelligent species, race, and civilization discovered has one item in common. An encounter with something described as only a rectangular blue box. Encounters range from ancient references to modern sightings and recordings. Descriptions of the occupants of the blue box always include bipedal humanoids, but the details vary widely. The supposed leader of the crew of the box has been described as both young and old. Different witnesses have given widely different estimates of his age throughout history. His lack of a consistent appearance is one of the reasons many consider him a figment of the imagination despite the reliability of those making claims of encounters.

Adding to the story is the recent addition of another mysterious structure. While sightings are still limited, some speculate that this new building with the word “DINER” above the entrance may become nearly as popular a legend as the blue box. Anyone seeing either object is encouraged to contact your local law enforcement department. The producers of this show and IGIN executives also request witnesses also contact them on a frequency of 867/5309 with their story.

Thank you Chrissy. We will all be a look out for these legendary figures. That concludes our broadcast at this time. On behalf of Chrissy Frageelei, sportsman Then'teknor Beckham, and navigation expert Major Captain Major, this is Colickner Smith wishing all of you peace and long life.

Did you recognize all of the franchises mentioned?  Are there more you would like to see included in a future news broadcast?

All Done

November 30th has come and gone.  My verified word count for the National Novel Writing Month challenge is 50,079 words written in 30 days.  On my fourth try, I am a WINNER!  I am excited, exhausted, relieved, and satisfied.  Now the more serious work begins.  I have to finish the story and seal up some plot holes.  There is tons of editing that needs to be done.  A title needs to be settled on.  A cover image needs to be chosen or made.  Writing the story is only the beginning and the easiest part of getting a novel out to the public.

My brain cells continue to recover as I take a slower, more careful look at the words I have written.  Today's post is one of the epilogues from the end of the book.  If you wish to read the book once it is completed, this shouldn't be too much of a spoiler.  In the meantime, enjoy.

News is being broadcast all over the station. A hidden corinthum processing plant had been located on the planet below. The discovery was due to an issue arising with some odd residue being discovered in a secondary power system for the station. An operation by Sector Security's elite enforcement officers led them to the storage room full of slag. From there it was easy to track down the processing center on the planet and its supply of raw corinthum and other minerals.

Timothy “Timmy” Van Hausen sits in his office when the news comes across his terminal. Without even thinking about it, he compiles a few files together. The files are attached to a message that also includes the names of a number of the people on the orbital station. Names of people that Timmy has worked with in unofficial ways for some time. Timmy's contacts on other stations in other systems also go into the message. The captains he had recruited to collect and transport slaves and their ships were also mentioned. Finally Timmy signs the message with his personal identification code to show the contents are from him and not part of any official procedure or communique. The message is sent to the station's commander, the Sector Security Deputy Director in charge of this region, Timmy's own direct supervisor, and a number of other administrators and officials.

Once the message is sent, Timmy shuts his terminal down and stands up. Despite the fact it's less than halfway through his work day, he walks out of his office with the feeling he won't be back. A short lift ride brings him to the commons. There he sits down at an empty table and waits for someone. He isn't sure who and how long before they arrive, but he will sit here and wait as long as it takes.

This novel is a sequel to my first NaNoWriMo attempt and published novel, Dangerous Stars.  Pick up a copy and get to know the characters while I finish up their second adventure.  Go.  Read.  Enjoy.