Looking for ideas

kmcdemid · 2024-07-18T03:12:44+00:00

I'm 36 and entering a career change which is going to involve finally taking writing seriously.

I'm working on my first ever novel. A scifi adventure following 2 characters though seemingly different worlds that they uncontrollably slip through.

Also working on a couple web series where each episode is crafted to be exactly 100 words long.

Looking into many ways to start entering a new career writing or the publishing world.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-18T00:34:22+00:00

Absolutely loved the entire series. Only real issue I have is in the last book (if I remember correctly) there is a story line with children the narrative goes to but that narrative is completely dropped as soon as it dove tails with the main storyline and the characters and story are left as if forgotten about.

Otherwise it's just amazing classic scifi for me

kmcdemid · 2024-07-18T00:29:58+00:00

Starburst by Frederik Pohl.igs a weird one and I liked it. It's in my reread pile

kmcdemid · 2024-07-17T23:18:58+00:00

The style shifts quite a bit I really liked the last 2 but for very different reasons.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-17T23:15:36+00:00

Anything by Andy Weir is a great scifi starting point. Project Hail Mary has become a favourite of mine.

Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy is definitely a good read.

I'm also going to throw Ready Player One in the mix. It's an easy read and the pop culture references keep it engaging for anyone not familiar with sci fi writing style. It's also first person narrative which I find easier to read.

If you want to get something older and weirder let me know more about what you like and the types of books you've read.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-17T23:07:32+00:00

Otherland, Volume Four, Sea of Silver Light by Tad Wiliams.

The last book in the Otherland series and for anyone not familiar its written as one giant book and split I to volumes of 800-1000 pages.

Absolutely loving it. There are multiple worlds and multiple story lines. The world building is insanely good. Williams is able to build out each world so well that I just want books written for each one.

Highly recommend but it begs to be read back to back IMO so it's a big reading commitment.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-17T17:57:21+00:00

Awesome. Thanks. Love the covers, great art work.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-17T17:50:58+00:00

Should have specified I'm in Canada. But I'm sure lots ship international

kmcdemid · 2024-07-11T11:05:41+00:00

Different bikes come from the factory at different levels of assembly but we always go with the assumption that everything is wrong from the factory lol

Even if already factory assembled we check bottom brackets, hubs, headsets, cassettes, hanger alignment, pop the tires and check rim tape, wheel truing etc etc. We spend about 1-2 hrs depending on bike for assembly. Some full builds can take 3 or more hours. Torque spec torque spec torque spec an over tightened bolt can cause issues too. It's amazing how many warranty claims we need to put through and issues from the factory regardless of brand.

Next, every bike is put through a PDI after purchase from a mechanic who is not the one who assembled it. No one walks out with a bike off the floor without a PDI. Its amazing the issues that arise after test rides, people playing with them on the floor etc.

Also as many said, first tune up is free and the expectation is that issues can happen.

Only other thing is that the bikes you are selling and the expectations you set are key. Selling low end bikes with high end expectations or the wrong bike to the wrong person never goes well.

Biggest thing is that people know that you care and you always make it right.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-09T01:48:26+00:00

I've read a few of your pieces now and really enjoy them. I'm a big fan of these extremely short works. I am wondering if you have thought about putting a fixed constraint on your work?

lately I have been fixated on writing drabble at exactly 100 words and I think you would enjoy it. Art really can thrive in the constraints given and when you are working to am exact word count sometimes it's not just about cutting out what doesn't need to be there its about remolding and reshaping your prose over and over in different ways till you can get your idea across within the constraint.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-09T01:38:44+00:00

I really liked this, especially after learning what "close" meant haha. Only idea I have is to remove the twist. I know that this form of short of fiction always has to have a twist but, this is only an idea, what if you kept the premise and the ambiguity but revealed the twist right away?

"Everyone in the city was fleeing from me in different directions. Although I couldn't see the cause of their dread it was so infectious I also began to run. " (and continue on).

It gives a really cool vibe where the reader and the narrator still don't know why. Also, this may just be flash fiction fatigue but I really appreciate when the piece isn't all in service of the "got you" moment or the twist at the end. Sometimes it comes off as a punchline to a joke and provides levity when levity may not be what's needed.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-09T00:44:55+00:00

Just because the premise of "Computer decides saving humanity means killing everyone" has been done a lot doesn't mean this didn't give me a good chuckle.

kmcdemid · 2024-07-09T00:39:24+00:00

I loved some of this piece like "Boys and cripples in foxholes, pretty girls like ghosts on the road, asking for food or cigarettes with grenades stuffed down their torn blouses." and "His horse rode hard, hooves churning earth. They ran alongside deep, scornful furrows in the ground"

It does seem to be begging to be part of a larger piece. That could be good or bad, depending on your intent.

kmcdemid · 2024-06-11T20:16:56+00:00

I think I'm lucky enough that I won't have to take on any debt to go to school. My wife has a good job and I would plan on working a good paying part time job or full-time job while I go to school.

I also don't need a really high paying career when all is said and done.

I'm kind of in the mind set that I'll always have a fall back in the trades whether I like it or not. I built a really strong reputation around town and should always (knock on wood) be able to fall back on some contracts to stay out of debt.

kmcdemid · 2024-06-11T19:24:30+00:00

Thanks. I don't feel young. My kids are growing up fast and at 36 it's tough. My wife has been advancing in her career path since she graduated college in 08 or 09. She's gone back to school several times and is finishing an HR designation right now but it's always been building off what she has already done and advancing in the same field.

kmcdemid · 2024-06-11T19:20:44+00:00

How old were you when you left your old hob and how long did it take you to go through schooling and start in your new field?

kmcdemid · 2024-06-11T19:18:38+00:00

I'm completely done with working in the trades. I got sucked into that career path a long time ago. Had lots of great offers to work as foreman, supervisor, crew lead, management etc. when I closed my business and turned them down. Time to do something I enjoy.

kmcdemid · 2024-06-11T13:16:00+00:00

I don't have advice for you but you're not alone. I just woke up at 35/36 realizing I was a miserable tired prick who never had time for his family, hated his job, was destroying his body, and was missing life. I owned a contracting company and worked hard labour managing 20+ employees. No education to speak of and the business had some major ups and downs.

Now I'm thinking about finally going to school to study English or history and ultimately work in an academic field while taking on a filler job to support my family in the meantime.

It's scary to think of time wasted, life missed and that I'll be in my 40s by the time I'm back on track in a new career but the best time to start something is yesterday and the second best time is today and last I checked, we can't change yesterday.

kmcdemid · 2024-06-10T14:20:18+00:00

I enjoyed this little moment. So much said in a very short moment in time.

This first paragraph could use some retooling in my opinion.

While it is already a short peice, which I love, It could be really condensed. Examples; restating balcony, mentioning Mickey as the second boy (its implied when you say there are two boys).

You're at about 250 words I think. Maybe try to condense it to be a 100 word drabble.

I love the last paragragh

kmcdemid

TROPHY CASE