Friday, December 28, 2012

Mind Glow Interview

Open your hearts, open your minds.

Had a blast answering questions fielded by a guy who's a phenomenal writer. Mister Adika Butler is "the Editor-In-Chief and a founding member of WhereItzAt an online magazine and entertainment paper bursting with profiles and interviews with Black business owners, artists, politicians, activists, authors and entertainers" and he took the time to ask me a few questions about my new work and writing career. Here is the full online interview, which will also be followed by a print version some time next year.

It's a return to the writing field. A return to the pen and page.

A Return of the Djedhi. Have fun reading. More interviews and radio spots on the way.

(Interview link)

b write black.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The Human Exotic

Sounds like a Prince song, right? Ah, he'd probably go with Human Erotic. Oh, well, it'd be a badass song.

But what is the Human Exotic? It's something that I didn't discover when composing my book A Company of Moors (and even my latest piece, The Ghost of Gabriel's Horn), but it's something that I was able to define.

The Human Exotic is what I call the Western-Hollywood treatment of foreign cultures, or black/people of color. It's where every last person from a culture of black or brown people (from peasant to king) are completely absorbed into their culture. Like that's all there is to their personality. Now regardless of fact or fiction, in writing, again, it can come off as cliche or stoic.

What I realized when I started writing A Company of Moors, was that there was a way to present a variety of African cultures that are often billed as exotic, especially in the time period they're set in (for A Company of Moors, North Africa, 1640), as human. Each character, though are cliched at their foundation, they grow organically into their respective, strong and round personalities. (Yes, sometimes cliche isn't bad, it's just about how you expound on the cliche, or rather, trope). Was it the culture of the Moors? Was it an interior African kingdom? Was it an nomadic, African tribe? Yes. I dealt will all three. There were tropes and cliches, but to make sure the characters (or the entire cultures presented) weren't stale or flat, I didn't allow their culture to define their personality.

It's what separates The Godfather, Goodfellas, and the Sopranos as masterpieces than a lot of so-called Urban "Gangsta" novels that...truthfully...and with no offense...aren't...that well. Written.

Sorry.

Ever notice in real gangster stories or even Westerns, the characters that allow the cliches to define them end up dead? They walk around strutting their stuff as gangsters and outlaws, and they either end up arrested or dead. Michael Corleone and Tony Soprano don't walk around strutting their stuff as gangsters. And so, they're able to direct their operations intelligently and use the art of subtlety to maneuver through their clandestine world. Yes, Tony Soprano had an Alpha Male personality, but he was smart enough not to flash his criminal activity around.

I allowed the same rule to happen in A Company of Moors. A character flaunts the fact that he is a descendant of royalty, walking around arrogantly and demanding to be treated as such. Luckily he's one of the heroes of the story. He does understand that his lineage means nothing, truly. And he just uses it as a shield to hide deeper insecurities. But he allows it to consume him to dire consequences. But he learns his lesson.

In The Ghost of Gabriel's Horn, I delve into the African-American "Hoodoo"/"Voudon" culture--to some degree. What I mean by that is, even after doing an intense amount of research, I made my own rules for the story I was telling. And so, I didn't want to use (or even define) everything by what I had come across in my research. I used it as inspiration. I even used older aspects of the culture, and older names of Gods and Goddesses, to express the story. It made the work its own without being offensive to its greater African-American/African influences and the people that practice them. I made them human.

Not to sound arrogant, but the best writers do.

The Human Exotic is too often used in storytelling, in writing. It's an easy way out, and a quick path to flat and cliched characters. Strip the Human Exotic of its exotic, use the characters' cultures and their environment as decorative ornaments, and you have yourself the building blocks for round, interesting characters that interact with their environment in a believable manner.

b write black 

Just the 'B'

I cannot stress more the importance of an editor to fellow black authors. I've been reading sample chapters from works that have reached the market, and the narratives are embarrassingly bad. Tense changes. Wrong use of words. 'Telling' over 'showing', most often in the form of a judgmental narrator. Grammatical errors sprinkled over narrative. And these are final, in print published works, not drafts. More so, these are actual mistakes, not clever authors inserting a form of experimental commentary or writing.

Professional manuscripts are edited over a period of months, possibly a year--3 to 4 times. With 3 to 4 editors overlooking the final process. Though often times there are errors missed (trust me, I speak from frustrated experience as an author and editor), an effort made is an error saved. Most errors are caught, few remain. But in the end, the author should always be presented as someone that has a grasp on the English language. Being an author, and just 'writing' are two different things. I'm pretty sure that most 'authors' out there within the contemporary setting, are people who write as a 'hobby', looking for an 'outlet' for their feelings. This, coupled with a lot of Print-On-Demand, and the Internet, make for shoddy writing and products. And the reading level of the audience has to be just as juvenile and oblivious to grammar as the so-called authors.

My work, by some contemporary black authors has been called 'fancy' or 'bougiee', and I take these as full blown compliments. I'm sure that these statements are a reaction to the challenge my writing presents, and how it points out that most of the black authorship (with the so-called Urban Fiction, Scarface knock-offs, or sexually frustrated author erotica) is on a very low-scale level of output, creativity, and YOU ARE HERE

Look, I don't profess to be perfect, but I strive to put out as close to a perfect product as possible. I try and do my best to make even my rough drafts show a command of my writing skills, so that the editors in my company understand what I'm trying to say even when I flub it.

DON’T WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW

Challenge yourself to research and discover something new. There has been so much repetition in the Black literary community. Let's try something new. Explore, and go beyond and write more than what you know. Put a stop to the monotony and the mundane.

b write black

Saturday, December 22, 2012

That same story...

When are black writers gonna stop writing that same book? You know what I mean. The same two stories over and over and over and over and over again. Where's the diversity and creativity of expression? The true freedom of writing, without bounds. Imaginative. We're the people who created every myth, broke down all the sciences in ancient times that scientists today keep scratching their heads about. We created and lived every myth and religion.

Would a little imagination and creativity kill us?

Oh, wait. It did.

It did when we used Bible passages to speak in code, and some people sold us out as to what we were doing. It did when we disguised martial arts as dances. It got us killed when we sang road maps and messages disguised as spirituals. It got us killed in chains when it was found out that our ancient sciences and practices weren't really devil worship, but the original gateways to something higher, closer to our original selves.

Were we really ever mis-educated if the word educate is from a Latin word meaning 'To shape and mold'? Break the mold. Break the chains. Write our expanded stories.

Like everyday people. And I am everyday people, and I wanna take you higher...

Ain't that sly?

Thursday, September 27, 2012

THE GHOST OF GABRIEL'S HORN

It is with great pleasure that I announce the NEW NOVEL THE GHOST OF GABRIEL'S HORN IS AVAILABLE NOW!!!!


 Harlem jazz trumpeter Pete Peters was murdered in 1933, hours before the birth of his son. Twenty-four years later, his son, Horatio Peters believes he's only chasing his father’s genius rather than following in his father’s footsteps. A remarkable trumpet player in his own right, Horatio struggles with playing original pieces left behind by his father. The works play perfectly in his head, but terribly through his horn. Seeking his father’s music teachers, Horatio's journey will take him to Clarksdale, Mississippi. There he will meet the grand music instructors Jackson and Gaston Fable and all their wondrous tricks, rich history, and thumping music. Horatio's journey will collide with the stories of three generations of women from Water Bug Hollow, Louisiana, a seductive and wicked woman of fair beauty, and the proper keys to unlock the endearing story of another lifetime hidden in the mysterious notations of his father's music.




 It is with great pleasure that I announce the NEW NOVEL THE GHOST OF GABRIEL'S HORN IS AVAILABLE NOW!!!!

AMAZON.COM
BARNES AND NOBLE(.COM)

AND AVAILABLE TO ORDER AT ALL BOOKSTORES WORLD WIDE!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

stage, the last

It's been a bit of a back and forth with the printer getting everything aligned correctly with the cover. But today I got the good news that the proof has been generated and is being sent. We are in stage the last for The Ghost of Gabriel's Horn.

The proof should be in my hands by tomorrow or Friday with a heavy read between myself and a proofreader over the weekend and next week.

we're. almost. there.

again.

b write black

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Like a Cheshire cat

From ear to ear.

Copyright is done.

Manuscript at the printer.

Stay tuned.

Much, much, much, much, much more to come.

b write black

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Phase Two: Getting closer to closure

All edits from the first round applied, the second round begins. The first phase of the second round has just been finished. A complete read of the book to make sure the edits read properly and that the flow of the book hasn't been disturbed. This read is done by me, the author.

I've made some rewrites to the narrative and dialogue to make the edits that have been applied. Some plot points were reworked to give more pop to their unique narrative. I scoped the piece to make sure that there is very little expository writing, or if any is needed, the characters come off as being conversational and speaking toward one another rather than speaking to the reader and specifically giving the reader information. Dialogue has to exist, even expository dialogue, even if the reader didn't. The characters shouldn't care that they are being peeped in on. And hopefully, there should not be any dialogue where the character defines who they are. If so, make it minimal, and again, conversational.

That being said, I move closer to completing this project. Also, I'm sure I'm guilty of most of things I hate. But I do strive to not implement some cliches, or find a new way to express them if I see no other way around them.

Now it's back to the editors. I'll be printing out their copies next week and also giving them a copy. And hopefully their read goes as quick as mine. (and just as, if not more, thorough). Then we'll be at the last stage, which will is when we'll be holding a physical book. The Printer's Proof.

There will also be a copyright attached by that time, and I will be revealing the name and cover for this current project.

Can't wait.

b write black

Sunday, July 15, 2012

We last spoke

The first round of edits is complete, and all edits have been applied. But post-production for the project is far from over. This current project, like A Company of Moors, is made of three acts. This made editing a lot easier, and allowed editing to take place simultaneously with writing.

True editing began as I finished the second act. I was able to put the first two acts in the hands of editors while I typed away relentlessly on the third and final act. The process of editing is just as important as the writing process, if not more. It tightens the already "brilliant work" that you've been working and slaving over for the past year or so. Or they show that you should just be keeping a journal, or you need to see a therapist and writing isn't your thing. The red ink bleeding all over your words, page after page, can either be uplifting or ego shattering.

Whatever it is, go through the process. It's completely necessary, even if, in and of itself, it's not always perfect. Award-winning literary pieces have typos and questionable phrasing. But editing can allow you to steer people's eyes away from that as they get lost in what you've created.

The editing process concerning your work should consist of these parts.

First, read your work once you're finished with it. Tighten your work as best you can before submitting it to your editors. There are some things that as the writer only you can see, get the flow correct before giving it to someone else. Often, I start this reading when I'm finished with each act. Use spell check to catch typos (it won't catch 'em all, but put it to use). Push each act through to your editors when you're confident...that only other people's eyes need to tear it apart. But ego aside, the editors are your best friends.

Surround yourself with editors that care about the final presentation of your work as much as you do. They'll know that a single word taken out of a sentence can make the line tighter, even if it's a word you love and think makes the sentence pop. Guess what? It doesn't. Let it go.

Regardless, once you receive your manuscript back from the editors, you can take your frustrations out on them in a meeting to discuss all edits, queries, and suggestions. Once there's an agreement to all edits made and suggestions taken/or vetoed and queries answered, let the application of the edits begin.

And that's what I've been doing since we last spoke. It's been an intense editing and application of the edits, along with meetings about them. This has been going on since the final act was finished and edited.

On Friday night (July 13), early Saturday morning, the first round of edits was completed. All edits applied, now a second read will happen. An important read will be a story that runs parallel to the main story. I've already isolated the pages in a separate document, and I'll go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Also, editing will bring about slight restructures to subplots and plot points. Dialogue taken out or expanded to flesh out the plot/or a character. Exposition hacked down, characters made subtle instead of obvious (a big mistake for writers). Getting things closer to what you imagined before your started typing, closer to what your notes say...or even...something different, as the story becomes organic and grows on its own.

So now comes round two. What does the story look like now with the edits made? Has the continuity been effected? How does the narrative flow now?

With this project, isolating the parallel story (which hadn't suffered from much). There will be a closer look at that story. And we'll go through it all over again. My personal read, and then the editors' reads. Hopefully, we like what we see. We all agree. Some changes will still need to be made. Maybe things were better before. Maybe some things would be better changed. What the story needs isn't always how you want to write it.

The final step is submission and receiving the proof. Reading from the proof is good. It's psychological. The eye and mind has been trained to read a book that )for the most part) is clear of mistakes. So, mistakes should JUMP out if they're lurking.

This second round shouldn't take as long as the first, as it is already underway. Over the next couple days I'll be diving back into the story. Then the editors take some lashes at it.

The third round is the most fun. It begins with a product, something tangible. There's no more manuscript. There's an actual book now. Open it. Look at it. Marvel and take in the sight. Then go through it and grit your teeth when you and your editors catch the four remaining mistakes and you have to re-submit to the printers and pay for a new proof.

Then it's perfect. Released.

And the critics tear it apart for being drivel. It's all worth it.

b write black (soon, with a final product).

(no editing was done to this post)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Chapter 2, 3, 4, and So On

Celebrate with me, y'all!!!!! I finished last Saturday, May 12th, at 11:05am. I got up early. It was around 8 o'clock, and I dove into the final chapter. I meant to start the final chapter the previous day. My brother's birthday. But there was some cleaning up to do. I realized while I was handlin' otha people's newz that I loved the fact that I was down to the final chapter, but I had to go back and do some re-writes to the previous chapter. The final confrontation between the antagonist and the protagonists was tense, but it blew up into a cliche. So I scripted a proper scene and when I arrived home I re-wrote it. It didn't take long.

I only got about a line or two into the final chapter. I decided to rest on it for the night. There were a couple ways for the final chapter to play out that were in my head. All these possibilities of how the story could end, and I was looking for the most plausible. I didn't get much sleep that Friday night, and early Saturday morning I popped out of bed and started typing from the single sentence already written on the page. I had the ending, how it would logically play. One of the early outlines of the chapter, I was having trouble re-introducing a character back into the story. Not only did I have to re-introduce the character into the story, I had to catch them up on current events. But this was remedied with putting the character into the previous chapter and being part of the final confrontation with the antagonist. And this made much more sense, and it freed me up for more important bits that come in the final chapter.

So concludes another journey. It's been about a year since I started writing, but this story has been on the back burner for about ten years, more if you include other elements that were added to the story, including its title, which was supposed to be a line in a poem I wrote in college. Like I said in a blog entry called a New Hope, I had all the raw 'footage' as notes gathered together, but it all seemed so disjointed. I struggled to make it come together. All I really needed was for that first chapter, the introduction to the story, to be complete, focused, concrete. There was so much that needed to be presented in the first couple of pages of this project, and I needed it to come together smoothly. The flow in the narrative had to be tight, and the presentation near flawless until proper editing. After that, chapter 2, 3, 4, and so on were a breeze. There were some tedious moments, but everything fell into place a lot easier once the first chapter came together. Everything was ironed out. Even the tedious moments were not so tedious.

I've been going through the final act these last few days. Started Monday. Was hangin' out with my baby Saturday, her mom having come visit from Yonkers. I rushed to write before we had to go meet her mom, and I was kinda anxious the whole day while we were out and about in Manhattan to get back and look over the tale. I also had some changes I wanted to make. But, we hung out all day. It was cool. Her moms is mad cool. We went to a movie, had fun and pizza. Slept late on Sunday, and took the day to rest.

Yes, yes, yes. "Principal photography" has been completed. Post production is in full swing!


Almost finished getting the third act as tight as I can make it before sending it off to the editors. This broad sweep of editing and proofing will wrap up today. Once the third act is sent off, I'll start applying the edits from the first two acts. Should have a proof of the book by mid-June, and we'll have a good one or two reads through July.

August is the projected month for release.

"This...might work."

b write black

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Them What Choose

One last chapter to go. The latest chapter under the belt was a test in writing, but it's moments like this that can be exciting and frustrating as a writer when putting your ideas together. Most of what I wanted to show was presented in someway as to how it was outlined or scripted.

There were a total of three confrontations between the antagonist and the protagonists within this one chapter, and where that sounds like a lot, it really wasn't. A good deal of how I wanted it to flow was trimmed down. An entire character, and their use as a plot point, was eliminated entirely. It was going too long, and though the scene was kind of cool as it played out, I was able to put my ego aside and see that one: it wasn't working. It felt awkward because it dragged the story out, making it run a little long. The character, although spoken about as being a part of three ruffians, was suddenly introduce from just being talked about and the character felt forced onto the audience. It also built up a promise that this character would be connected to another character in a storyline that runs parallel to the main story. But I didn't want that to happen because I don't want every character having a tie-in to this subplot going on. If I did that, then, well, it would coincide with the second reason I scrapped this idea.

It was kinda cliche.

I'd like to believe that I could write something that seemed fresh and new, but in the context of the story, how it all played out, there was no getting around this character's demise as being cliche. So, the character was removed entirely. I had to go back and eliminate all dialogue concerning this character. His story would end 'off screen', and in a natural way where nothing feels missed from the story.

I also shortened the time between the first two confrontations, and made them one seamless event. But they don't feel as if they're running into one another. Again, I shortened the time between them, but the two events can now be viewed as one. The second a continuation from the first.

I've imagined the end of this chapter several different ways for the past 10-12 years that this story has been on the back burner. Some things changed and some things didn't. For starters, the obvious, the antagonist is a female rather than a male. That made the final confrontation interesting. Other elements were toned down. There were no real fisticuffs, as planned many years ago. It was as quiet as a confrontation could get. It kind of resonated with the lead villain's charm. As dirty as she got, she did it with style and class.

The final chapter of this book has also a rough sketch as to how it will play out. What was outlined for the chapters beginning was scrapped a little before I started writing this entry. It's about making things flow naturally, finding out what should be, and what the characters should be going through even if it goes against what you want them to go through. It has to appear natural and believable. Not necessarily realistic, just believable within the world you're writing and creating.

Hopefully, some time next week, this next project will be another notch in the belt. The third act can be scanned, tightened as best as I can, and then turned over to the editors and proofers to tear apart and hurt my feelings.

We're almost there again with another fine piece of sh---literature.

b write black

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

When It Hits

Otha people's newz has gotten in the way these past few days. Haven't been able to jump into the final chapters of this latest project. But, this morning, just before leavin' the apartment, dived into a paragraph or two. And today, I had to go in a li'l early to work on otha people's newz. But, after settling down, and the day calmed, inspiration fought back. And it hit hard. Couldn't stop it. Good thing the work flow was on pause at the time.

I started outlining the next chapter to the way it needs to flow. It plays like the opening night of a play. All the last minute scurrying and nerves hittin' everybody. People making sure everyone is in their proper places before the lights go out and the curtain goes up. A lot of the scene plays far differently than I had originally planned. It also doesn't seem as herky-jerky. Smoothed that out. It's seamless between the protagonists' three different confrontations with the antagonist the way it's outlined now. The antagonist has done so much damage, it's fitting as to how she reacts to the final confrontation. She know she done messed up.

Tomorrow will be a day of writing, writing, and more writing. There shouldn't be too much in the way (except video games...and I got a new one). But, that aside (and the game will probably be used for cool downs...because sneakin' about and breaking people's necks, or having shootouts is always a way to relax), a good deal of the chapter will be jumped on tomorrow.

Next Monday should be an open time to start tightening up the third act and get it to the editors. Another book about to be wrapped up. Here we go.

b write black!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

2

Fingers been hittin' the keys harder and harder and harder. Only two more chapters to go. This next chapter has three intense confrontations between the antagonist and the protagonists.

There's also been a rough edit of a second commercial created. The VO has to be done again, needs to be louder, deeper in tone.

I will be going through the 3rd act Tuesday, prepping it for print and release to the editors while I finish the final two chapters of the book. I started this work about a year ago, and it's been a fun journey. Far less exhausting than A Company of Moors. But, to be fair, A Company of Moors had 3 years of research and a mound of notes piled on it, while this project has been on the back burner for years (since about 2002). There was far more time to think about things (hammering out details even as I was writing Code-47 and A Company of Moors). The project has had its moments, but its been an easier ride than the last three projects.

Almost there.

b write black

Monday, April 23, 2012

Down 1

One of the last four chapters has been finished. It was short, but it was also a little more tricky than I imagined. It was just a conversation, but I had to make sure it didn't come off as expository. It doesn't. Don't worry about that. Also, as much as it answers some questions (in a subtle way) about what's going on in the book, at least from the antagonist's point of view, I also wanted to create an air of mystery and uncertainty for the protagonists of the tale.

The next chapter I'm going into will be the protagonists doing air punches, so to speak. They're gearing up for the final confrontation, and a story that runs parallel to the main story will be nearing its conclusion. The final sequence to this parallel story concludes with the final confrontation between the protagonists and the antagonist. I'll probably start picking at that chapter later tonight, with a hope to have it concluded by next Monday. Then there will be two down, and the final sequences will be underway to wrap up the project.

In other news, it looks as if things could have gone simpler in restructuring Ancient-Art-of-Facts into Twin Griffin Books when it comes to the printer and distributor. But all that is fixed now. And the turnover will be easy. I guess I was taking the scenic route. At least it's fixed. All things sailing smoothly.

Tonight I concentrate on what's left to say in this project, and I'll be writing, writing, writing after that. I can't wait to finish so I can jump into going through the last act with my eyes and tightening the flow before handing the last pages over to the editors/proofers.

The cool thing is that they're fiending for it. They 'bout to get a meal.

b write black

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Power Run

Last weekend was insane! The editing team tore through the 2nd act of the new project. Another 188 pgs down, plus a thorough review in a meeting for note taking and insuring continuity in the book and plot (after all, the plots flips from 1957, back to 1917, then rises up to 1937 then back to 1957 again).

There's been a lot of 'otha people's newz', and other outside 'errands', however I've been on the writing grind, working parallel to editing. Deep into the 3rd and final act. There are four chapters left for this project. One of those four chapters will be finished by day's end today. It's only a conversation between two characters. I should be going deep into the next chapter as well. The writing portion of this project should be finished at the beginning of May, with the application of the first round of edits by May's end.

After the first round of edits is finished, the book will be copyrighted. That will release any press embargo and I can start talking about what the heck I've been workin' on for the past year. Alongside that, with the first round of edits finished, the first printer's proof will be created. Rounds three and four for editing will take place over June and July, and mid-August will be the release date.

Until then we got a company commercial to create, some more paper work for the new company to wait on going through (printer's and distributors), and hopefully that I'll get some news come next week. Kinda gettin' frustrated. There's also two more commercials to be created for the current project, and they'll be pushed through the social media network stuff.

b write black

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Running Man

The marathon continues. It slowed down a bit yesterday, but not by much. I'm on the writing grind, fingers to the console. Last night, when the marathon resumed, I thought I had lost a set of notes crucial to the final parts of the story.

Apparently I swapped my notes for the first parts of the book with the second, and I hadn't realized that until now. I needed some info on a few minor characters I was introducing for the end. Weeks and weeks ago I separated the notes I had run through from the notes I still needed. But, somehow, I managed to put the pile of old notes between the pages of a notebook filled with notes. Don't know how that happened, or when. I'd been using the last set of notes for a while. I do remember straightening out my side of the couch (which is a mess of papers [notes]) a while back, probably when the swap happened. It's a good thing I don't throw notes away.

Well, I went to bed calm and figured I'd jump onto the search early this morning before jumpin' to otha people's newz. And there I found it! My pile of notes for the final parts of this project. I specifically needed one line on one piece of paper...then I realized introducing one of these minor characters was taking place a little too early, even if I'm at the end. So, his intro will wait for now, but it will still come in the chapter I'm workin' on now.

I've also did a quick page count in formatted form. To me, it could be shorter. I initially wanted this project to be a novella. But it fleshed because of the stories and lives became a part of it. So, I was expecting an increase in page count. I do wish it would be shorter. If it ended on the page count now I'd be happy, but I'm sure another 50 are due. I'm slowly coming to terms with that, but it's not an overkill like A Company of Moors (by any stretch of the imagination). I'm still comfortable with the estimated page count.

This weekend will see a rise in writing too. Editing is still happening parallel to writing, but everything will be in high gear come mid-April. I'm still looking at a mid-August release for this project, with a lot of reveals about what it is coming toward the end of April as it's finished, and especially as all the paperwork for Twin Griffin Books. First up, the closing of the Ancient-Art-of-Facts page and swapping it with Twin Griffin Books. Then a reveal of projects that will be released later this year.

It's not about to be on, it is on.

b write black

Monday, March 26, 2012

Mojo Moon

I have averaged over 10 hours overtime when dealing other people's news, especially between November to early January.

Even workin' on the weekends.

But nothin' compares to the writing marathon that was done over the past weekend. It was fun, fulfilling, but exhausting. I'm in the final pages of this project, and a lot of emotions and revelations have come to the surface. Most of the story has come full circle. The protagonist and antagonist have shaken hands, somewhat. Guantlets have been thrown down...somewhat. You'll understand all that when the project drops.

The marathon of writing started Friday after otha people's newz was taken care of, went into the night (about 2 in the morning). Resumed a couple hours after the sun came up on Saturday (8am), then after makin' me and my baby some breakfast, continued on and on and on and on and on until 3 in the morning. Back up a li'l before 9am, and typin' away 'til the sun set.

Fun as hell. Tiring, yes. But fun.

The tricky part of the writing I just completed is that it had to re-imagine the second act of the story. I had to write in a way where it doesn't seem repetitive. What helped a lot with that was characters' reactions to the revelations of the second act, its retelling.

I can't wait for this project to drop. From The Ronin Poetz to A Company of Moors, the writing has only matured, but given me the challenges to mature to tell a tight story. Hell, I can't even wait to reveal the title and the cover.



On another note, there's still some paperwork that needs to be handled with the new business. The paperwork has to do with the distribution. The forms have to be filled out, printed out, and then faxed. Within 48 hrs of the paperwork being received, Twin Griffin Books will be officially hooked up with distribution channels and printing.

b write black.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

New Troops to Command

With all paperwork squared away, Twin Griffin Books is now official! There are different variations of the logo (colors). This is just one variant. The books already published will be refitted with the new logo and website information, and ported over to the new company.

LONG LIVE TWIN GRIFFIN BOOKS!!!!!!!


b write black (with a web address)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Larger Key

An emotionally charged third act, especially the third chapter of it. It's entitled 'Narrative Circumference', as the story comes full circle. The protagonist puts the pieces of the puzzle together by contrasting lives that parallel one another. Drained me, and I haven't finished the chapter yet. Had to take a breath from it. There are areas difficult to write. Not emotionally, just trying to pick the right words to capture a rough life, not gloss it over even when their comes a faint glimmer in its darkness. It's not too gloom and doom, but I don't want to have it be washed away with a smile and a bright day and say, "And everything's better now! Yeah!"

But it does have a bit of mystery as the main protagonist has to compare lives and label each of the characters he's met appropriately. At the beginning of the third act, the protagonist comes in contact with the main antagonist, and he knows more of her than she knows of him. Well, at least he suspects, again, it's by the third chapter that the protagonist has to examine his 'notes' and put things together, but he's not really interested in the villain by this point. Another character he meets holds his interest and is a larger key in the picture he's putting together. But all the stories coincide.

In otha newz, act one was returned to me with all its notes in red ink. Not as bad as I thought. I traded it for the second act. It's not a grand epic like A Company of Moors, nor is this project a series of stories with starts, middles, and stops that can make for an emotional herky-jerky ride with new characters and their drama like 12 Stories High. So this short story, which is over two hundred pages and counting, is going quick.

Also, hopefully all paperwork will be squared away by next Wednesday when it comes to the 'new' business side of things, so the name and logo can be revealed sometime next week. A commercial is being put together. All trailers for books on social networking sites will be taken down by week's end, and have already been taken down from Ancient-Art-of-Facts' youtube channel. The website should be on display by April and a reveal of title and book cover for this project and a project due out in December will be presented.

That's where we at. Looking for mid-March as a finish time for the project. All edits applied and the first printed proof in April. A second read through, print up by May, third (and hopefully final) read through and an August release. Sprinkled in there will be a synopsis of the project and some teaser commercials.

Business as usual.

b write black.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Act One, 81 Pages

The first act, 81 pages in length, has been given to the editors. Their copies were received over the weekend, and while they toil away ripping apart the masterpiece, I'm writing the 3rd and final act, and I'm also going through the second act again, this time completed. Gonna be tightening the second act, ripping it apart myself...until its ultimate rip apart by the editors.

2012 is gonna be a big year for print with the new company.

b write black.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Hell Up In It

Okay.

So this new project has not seen a blow-by-blow commentary like A Company of Moors and the renovation project of 12 Stories High. But there has been a lot going on. The end of Ancient-Art-of-Facts, for starters, which comes with all of the re-working of the interior and covers for all books in print to fit the new company name and logo. One-by-one, all titles will be ported over to the new company over this coming year. Code-47 and A Company of Moors will have an interior read through just to make sure there are no typos not caught on their first run through.

Then, otha people's newz.

And lastly, I just want there to be a few surprises.

I will say this, for this upcoming novel: I just finished the second act. It was long and filled with a great amount of emotion. The second act arcs over 40 years and shows 3 generations of women, mostly the first two. As the final chapter ends with a letter from the 3rd woman to her mother, and it connects the second act with the direction of the third. Harlem.

The second introduces the villain. A female. Much like al-Rinak in A Company of Moors, there was a constant pacing and thinking when it came to her introduction. This one was better outlined, so I was a little more prepared. But it was still my 'Chapter 22', which is what I call the introduction of the main antagonist. Named after the chapter entrance of al-Rinak.

What I like about this villain, besides being female, is that she is charming. She will cut off your left while shaking your right hand. The accomplishes her mission and leaves a pile of bodies behind her, and no one suspects that she is the reason they are dead. She plays on people's fears, feigns sincerity for people to believe she cares, and she allows people to believe she's willing to help them, which usually results in utter chaos. However, like most villains, every step she takes toward accomplishing her goals, she creates a new scenario setting up her defeat.

So, we're on the final act. The first act will be printed out and given to the editors toward the end of the week. While that keeps the syntax sharks at bay, I will be reviewing the second act, which will be its second time rummaged through. But now that it's complete, there won't be an abrupt stop. It can get a  full treatment, especially the final pages of the second act. Then it's off to be butchered.

Come February, there will be an official unveiling of the new company. Mid-February. With that done and out the way, the first round of edits will be good and underway. Hopefully, by the beginning of April there will be a proof print to edit from.

One commercial has been created (has to be edited to fit the new company name...had another name, that changed). Two more commercials have been scripted.

stay tuned to it all

b write black

Thursday, January 5, 2012

As I Have Foreseen

I just registered the name for the new company and have also registered the website.

I've already created the web page. It will be up and running within the coming months, most likely when the latest project is finished and ready for its extensive editing. What's next on the agenda list is getting in contact with the distributors and printer to notify them of the business change.

The covers and interiors for all the books have been given new symbols and company logos. Code-47 and A Company of Moors will go through another interior edit of the actual story. Nothing big. Just one sweep. Slowly but surely all titles will be added to the new company and Ancient-Art-of-Facts will be phased out.

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING IN TOWN!

More news to come soon. New project. New company. New year.

b write black