Hot, Steamy Randomocity

It's damned near 100 degrees here--probably around 110 or so with the heat index. Hence the title. In case you were wondering, or maybe expecting some porn. Sorry. Maybe one day. Though it's unlikely.

I think I'm close to have the story I blogged about earlier ready to send to this contest. I've reworked the area I was having some problems with and it reads much better now. Still, got to tweak a few things, sort of massage it all into place, caress it into a coherent whole, nibble away at a couple of plot points . . . damn, yeah, I need to  get laid. But, really, it is almost ready to send off, I think.

As I mentioned, it's hot here. Need to give Atari his bath but that will have to wait--someone was using the hose earlier, then someone else when I checked later, and now it's just too frakkin' hot to go outside. He'll get his bath in the morning. Which is fine with him.

Once I get this story submitted I'll be faced with a problem--what next? I have to be working on something. Some project, either a screenplay, story, or something musical. Or all of these. So, what's next?

I've been thinking about an idea that I've had for a long time. It's a swords-and-sorcery thing, and I think the central character could become one of those iconic characters, like Conan. The other story I sent to this contest is sort of a prelude to that--it introduces the character and sort of relates one of his defining moments. And sets up the situation that would be the heart of the story, should I decide to sit down to write it. It involes a lot of other things, too--politics, power, sex, religion--but it'll mostly be about this huge and bloody war for the survival of humanity.

The reason I'm thinking about it is because an ending occurred to me the other day for it. Which is almost (but not quite a guarantee) that I'll do it. The ending itself will require a little more thought--as it is, it's a little bit too . . . something. But I think I can handle that.

It'll be a long, complicated path to that ending, but maybe I can make it worthwhile. If I decide to write it. Part of that decision will be made for me--I want to see how the story gets received by the editor and the judges of this contest. If they dig it, it might be worth pursuing. If they don't . . . it still might be.

Speaking of Conan--I've been seeing trailers for the new Conan film, and it looks very promising. I may actually go see it. I dig the new Conan, Jason Mamoa--check out his work on Stargate Atlantis, if you're curious. Plus, the ladies really dig him, probably more than they dug Ah-nold. I was always a bit disappointed by the Conan films, mostly because I think they strayed too far from the spirit of the stories by Robert E. Howard. Yes, I've read them, all of them--there really aren't all that many--and they are awesome. I find most of Howard's other stuff to be pretty dull, but the Conan stories are vibrant, action-packed, and damned fun. I do urge you to check them out, if you haven't. I'm talking the original stories, here, by Robert E. Howard. I haven't read any of the pastiches so I can't comment on those.

So, I've given you plenty to read and watch, so run along now, watch the complete run of Stargate Atlantis, and read all of the original Conan stories. I'll be here when you come back to thank me.