tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post1559448440023200956..comments2023-07-15T04:20:16.543-05:00Comments on Almost Diamonds: The Gravity of the SituationStephanie Zvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-47617400298198123912009-01-20T12:14:00.000-06:002009-01-20T12:14:00.000-06:00Thank you, Lou. That was exactly what I was going ...Thank you, Lou. That was exactly what I was going for.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-45993936364417037862009-01-19T07:22:00.000-06:002009-01-19T07:22:00.000-06:00Hi Steph.I finally got the moments of undistractio...Hi Steph.<BR/><BR/>I finally got the moments of undistraction I needed to just sit and read this story. It's very good.<BR/><BR/>I'm tickled with its "littleness". It's not so much a Sci-Fi or Space story as a good story that happens to take place in space.<BR/><BR/>It's interesting and meaningful to me on a level that has almost nothing to do with its setting. At its heart, it's a story about a person realizing they have conquered the wrong thing, and in the realization, conquering the right thing.<BR/><BR/>Bravo.Lou FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13975892485240863279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-71197399552939670762009-01-14T14:13:00.000-06:002009-01-14T14:13:00.000-06:00Scribbler, you probably won't be surprised to know...Scribbler, you probably won't be surprised to know that I have acrophobia too. Considering that, I certainly hope I got the details right! :)<BR/><BR/>Well, if I have to wait for stories, I have to wait. I'm encouraged, though, because absurdism really needs a grounding in the close observation of human behavior, which "your friendly bartender" has in spades.<BR/><BR/>No, it doesn't sound in the least pretentious to say that you've got a vision for your blog. That's the difference between a blog and public masturbation. Most of the blogs I like have a much stronger focus than, say, mine does. I just tend to be so thoroughly caught up in whatever's obsessing me at the moment that that approach wouldn't work for me as a blogger. That mine works for my readers is a continual amazement to me.<BR/><BR/>(And I love parentheses. I spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out how to cut them out of my writing.)Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-33917243454558579182009-01-14T13:42:00.000-06:002009-01-14T13:42:00.000-06:00Stephanie... I get your point that, yeah, it's all...Stephanie... I get your point that, yeah, it's all those words and language and plot twists and characterizations around the idea that make everything work... that all ideas have been done before, etc. (or so they say) and people who ask you to develop their idea just don't get that... but I really was taken by that image you painted of her pressed against the glass looking (down?) at planet earth and, given her phobia (which I share, by the way), I thought it was not only original but powerful as hell. And you did extremely well what someone who "don't write so good" couldn't do. From those childhood flashbacks, all the way through crisis to closing just worked. And it all served to give "the idea" validity. I'm certainly not a critic or a professional writer to be sure, but to me the concept was original, I liked it, and if previously done by someone else I'm sure it wasn't done the way you did it. That said, and if I were you, I'd be pissed if someone in the future ripped any of that off - idea OR story.<BR/><BR/>As for my stories, they are so different in tone and persona than "your friendly bartender" that I hesitate at this point to go and post them. (Besides the theft issue.) That's why I said "way down the road". They are comedy in the absurd, ala Steve Martin and early Woody Allen (not that I'm in any way comparing talent, just genre) and they wouldn't fit in just yet with what I'm still trying to develop on my blog. I hope that didn't sound bull-shitty or pretentious, but do you know what I mean? I'm still way too new at all this to start splitting in two. But if I ever do get the nerve, and the bartender stuff gets legs (as they say) and I decide to post one of my absurdities, you'll be one of the first to know.<BR/>Best,<BR/>Scribbler<BR/><BR/>PS: Have you noticed my love of parentheses? I've got to seek professional help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-58532387759987984072009-01-14T12:31:00.000-06:002009-01-14T12:31:00.000-06:00Scribbler, thank you, and why am I not remotely su...Scribbler, thank you, and why am I not remotely surprised that you have stories tucked away somewhere? Okay, know that everything from here on out is tainted by my desire to have you post some so I can read them. Of course, I've had said it anyway.<BR/><BR/>Every professional writer talks about someone who said to them, "Hey. I got this great idea but I don't write so good. How's about I tell you the idea, you write it, and we both make some money?" And this is the point in the story where everyone who has written something laughs, because the idea is such a tiny part of the story. Much more work is getting all the details and the language right. If someone riffs off my story and turns it into something better, more power to them.<BR/><BR/>Also, this idea isn't that original. Well, I'm only guessing, but I'm sure it's been used before as an extra barrier to add tension to the climax of some heroic adventure. I know who I could ask, though. Today's crop of SF short fiction editors have an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the genre that is only achievable by the true geek (geek = someone who goes to lengths for their vocation or avocation to which nobody else would go).<BR/><BR/>Combine this knowledge with the idea that SF is the genre of the original idea, and I'm not sure that's good news for the SF short story, but that's <A HREF="http://almostdiamonds.blogspot.com/2008/08/saving-science-fiction.html" REL="nofollow">another post</A>.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-85791983003168931582009-01-14T10:41:00.000-06:002009-01-14T10:41:00.000-06:00Hi, Stephanie, really enjoyed your story. Got conc...Hi, Stephanie, really enjoyed your story. Got concerned at first that the scientific terms might lose me but that definitely wasn't the case. They didn't overwhelm and the story itself did, in a good way. What a "far-out" concept... a fear of falling being dealt with as one is looking down at the whole freaking planet. Talk about dealing with fear by "looking at the big picture"! Very ingenious. Also liked the imagery in your writing in phrases like, "She could hear his grin". Great stuff. As someone said before me... post more of these.<BR/><BR/>Also... it was interesting to hear your take on someone stealing your story. I've been thinking of posting some of my short stories down the road, way down the road, but was afraid of that very same thing... someone stealing them. Still not sure if I'll do it but I liked what you had to say on the subject. In your case however, and with this story in particular, I guess the real danger lies not so much in someone stealing your story word for word and posting or publishing it, but in the theft of the unique concept of the story which is truly original.. your brilliant idea of dealing with acrophobia while orbiting the earth. Doubt it's been done. Then again, perhaps the good news is... if some heartless bastard did steal that concept and turned it into a movie or TV episode, your idea would probably still be in tact because those are the same kind of people who are of the creative ilk that would do what Greg said so wittily in his comment. Turn it into CSI meets Love Boat.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with whatever you do with this and others you may have in the hopper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-52087655548872293052009-01-14T09:10:00.000-06:002009-01-14T09:10:00.000-06:00Thanks, ScientistMother. I'll try not to disappoin...Thanks, ScientistMother. I'll try not to disappoint.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-43777426118431141022009-01-13T18:50:00.000-06:002009-01-13T18:50:00.000-06:00cool story. looking forward to more:)cool story. looking forward to more:)ScientistMotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540317551396323613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-79482333669179035972009-01-11T19:30:00.000-06:002009-01-11T19:30:00.000-06:00You're welcome and thanks and shame on you. :)You're welcome and thanks and shame on you. :)Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-91912810804852479812009-01-10T22:29:00.000-06:002009-01-10T22:29:00.000-06:00It flows really well. And totally distracted me f...It flows really well. And totally distracted me from what I'm supposed to be doing tonight. <BR/><BR/>So thanks.Glendon Mellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03582347493421110738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-54498305719618774222009-01-09T15:12:00.000-06:002009-01-09T15:12:00.000-06:00And had some good advice on it, too, as I recall. ...And had some good advice on it, too, as I recall. Thanks.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-54621464928577855272009-01-09T15:07:00.000-06:002009-01-09T15:07:00.000-06:00I've always liked this one.I've always liked this one.Kelly McCulloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399122960869198042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-61596711560582873872009-01-09T14:07:00.000-06:002009-01-09T14:07:00.000-06:00Thank you, Sci. I can't tell you how good that is ...Thank you, Sci. I can't tell you how good that is to hear. I love the "small" stories myself, and it's nice to know I'm not alone.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-76078043696894267202009-01-09T13:50:00.000-06:002009-01-09T13:50:00.000-06:00I really like it, Stephanie. So many times when I...I really like it, Stephanie. So many times when I read Sci-Fi, it's about the great people doing great things. One of the things I like about this is it's about a scientist doing her job, and the fears and issues of normal people. Good stuff!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-80775153019120918692009-01-09T13:49:00.000-06:002009-01-09T13:49:00.000-06:00Thank you, Greg.Silly.Thank you, Greg.<BR/><BR/>Silly.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-68146032534310098632009-01-09T13:24:00.000-06:002009-01-09T13:24:00.000-06:00Very nice. A couple of margaritas in the right co...Very nice. A couple of margaritas in the right company, it could be commercial. Maybe a TV series. But we have to make the man gay so the girl can have serial love interests or we'll lose the audience. And instead of a space station lets make it a cruise ship so it is easier to introduce new characters. So we'll have to get rid of the gravity thing to, maybe instead of an engineer she can be a CSI investigator working for a major cruise line. CSI Miami meets The Love Boat. Perfect.<BR/><BR/><BR/>... But seriously, I liked it a lot. Very nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-53648125199523997742009-01-09T12:35:00.000-06:002009-01-09T12:35:00.000-06:00Thanks, guys!JLK, I'm not particularly concerned. ...Thanks, guys!<BR/><BR/>JLK, I'm not particularly concerned. Nobody is going to steal this to make money. This kind of personal story just isn't where the short SF market is right now, and it hasn't been there for years. And anyone who wants to just post it as something they wrote will, frankly, be the kind of writer who trips "Oh, no you didn't" alarms all over the place. This may not apply for other genres, though.<BR/><BR/>Silver Fox, I would love to chat about what I intended with the story, but authors talking about intent ruins the fun for some people, so I'm not going to do it in the comments. People can always feel free to argue about it, though. :)<BR/><BR/>I do need to put a Creative Commons notice on the blog, since I don't actually want to reserve all the rights that I'm automatically granted. And as you say, not everyone knows what kind of protections are granted automatically. I'll get that up asap.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-9006927794221284412009-01-09T11:29:00.000-06:002009-01-09T11:29:00.000-06:00Oh, and the title works well, too!Oh, and the title works well, too!Silver Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03131032620978696727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-11765664162119850762009-01-09T11:28:00.000-06:002009-01-09T11:28:00.000-06:00Nice story, and I like the interweaving of concept...Nice story, and I like the interweaving of concepts with character interactions and inner fears.<BR/><BR/>And so, at the end she took the gravity and controlled it and being in control of it made her overcome her fear or problem with it - I think I got that right? [I do something similar on boats if I'm getting seasick feelings.]<BR/><BR/>Everything posted is under automatic copyright, but possibly it wouldn't hurt to make that explicit.Silver Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03131032620978696727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-14329494122590622182009-01-08T23:11:00.000-06:002009-01-08T23:11:00.000-06:00I dig the story, Stephanie. The idea of controllin...I dig the story, Stephanie. The idea of controlling gravity is definitely interesting. <BR/><BR/>But I do have a question. Are you at all concerned about people stealing your writing from the internet and claiming it as their own work?<BR/><BR/>I've always had a hang-up about posting my own stories and poems for that very reason.JLKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05396471022931966499noreply@blogger.com