27 January 2006
Tuck 115 is now over the minimum length, and has entered proofing. While I don't consider it finished, I think it's well on its way.
Donations are what keep us alive, and I'd really like some more in the inbox. The kitty would like fresh litter, too...
22 January 2006
Tuck 114 is out. Would have been here sooner, but something occurred to me last weekend, and then I had a critical rewrite to do. Damnit.
Donations keep me and the SO alive; thanks to everyone who donated over the Holidaze.
Luckily, 115 is going alright, and I hope to have it up in three weeks. But no promises. Yet.
The Tuck-in-print concept has been revived again; if you have any thoughts, I'd like to hear them. It does not look, however, like it would be feasible to put them into standard-paperback format; cost would be about the same for other POD (Publish On Demand) books, that being around $20 each. Yikes!
My general preference for books is minimal margins, small print, reduced page count, and as much information as can be packed in. Do you disagree?
Have any of you bought anything direct from one of the POD publishers out there? Any review or comment upon of the quality of the POD work (as differentiated from the authorial or editorial work) would also be helpful. When I do this, I'd really like to have a $20 book that doesn't fall apart in two weeks...
08 January 2006
I seem to have picked up a virus since the End Of All The Crap, but despite that, work on #114 continues; I hope to put it out sooner than I thought, though I need to work on the next one as well. Keeping working on multiple episodes at one time allows me to adjust continuity issues and weave threads better.
Donations are of course always appreciated and helpful...
02 January 2006
Holidays are over! Yay!
I hope you all survived with not-too-much stress. I did... didn't do a damned thing for "the holidays" except hide and snicker at the rest of the world, and this usually-stressful season mostly passed without incident.
I may be sort-of-finished with the first draft of #114; writing continues. I haven't been as diligent as I want, but it would be hard to write several hours a day every day. I'm sort of working up to that. Still, it's more than "last year" for the most part.
24 December 2005
Tuck #113 released. #114 continues. Doors locked, guns loaded, sign "NO CHRISTMAS PAST THIS POINT. DANGER: USE OF DEADLY FORCE AUTHORIZED." mounted... I think I'm ready for the holidays.
Good luck, everyone. And remember; just because someone says you shouldn't have boundaries, or object to things, doesn't mean you actually shouldn't.
22 December 2005
Tuck #113 is STILL in proofing; I was adding bits last night before my brain melted. It's long. It may yet get longer.
I feel vaguely bad about putting this one out at a time when everyone is likely to be busy and unable to spend time on the computer un- interrupted. Not that bad, however; just a twinge of guilt.
Writing on #114 paused for a few days as I contemplated a major change, and then I hit upon what I think will be a better solution. And I have plenty of time to write today... as well as the rest of the week, because unlike YOU saps I have managed to burn the "Christmas meme" out for the most part, and now all I have to worry about is not going into certain stores. We're not celebrating SHIT, and I for one like it that way. The SO may be of mixed feelings, but she is so boggled by her own psyche at the moment I think that no-stress is the way to go.
Donations are not only keeping us going but are in part allowing me to unfuck our lives. Weird feelings...
Oh, and Happy Solstice!
16 December 2005
Tuck #113 is still in proofing; I'm not going to say I think I've finished, since I insinuated that last entry and then had to add about a hundred lines because I'd forgotten something. Duh.
Tuck #114 is half or more done; my usual minimum standard is a thousand lines (before header and footer and quote and so on), but the recent episodes have had a lot going on, and thus have been longer on average. Still, even by recent standards, it's half done, with notes and so on for more.
Donations are what keep me and the SO alive, and me writing instead of spazzing in terror at economic collapse. Thanks to all who have contributed in the last couple of weeks.
12 December 2005
Hope you liked the last one. The next one, #113, is in proofing, and I think I've got most of the major alterations made. Episode #114 is half done as of today; I'm going to write more on it tomorrow.
Due to a reader suggestion, I am trivially changing the main page to show new Tucknotes.
04 December 2005
Tuck 112 is out. You may not like it... but it needs to be there.
#113 is in proofing; work continues much too slowly on #114, but faster than September and October (couldn't be slower...).
Donations are still delicious. Thanks to those who allowed me to purchase some much-needed bits and pieces of computer stuff.
26 November 2005
Writing has been going 'okay', which is a tremendous improvement over the previous two or three months. It's quite hard to write in the house; probably because there are zillions of other things I could be doing. I seem to be susceptible to some sort of task-selection lockup. Would that I could reformat the brain and reinstall a better OS...
Donations have been delicious. Food is yummy. So is the $50 worth of hardware which has allowed me to get two computers up and running, which will lead to the firewall computer working, which... Plans and things.
14 November 2005
Due to mostly psychological problems, I have not been writing lately... until this week.
I believe I shall officially blame all this on hurricanes.
In any case, the proofers (those that have not died due to Tuck-starvation) are now working on 112, and I have just barely started work on 113.
I realize that if I have not been writing, I can hardly expect much in the way of donations, but I am hoping to change both of these. And the SO's income just about pays for house and the water bill, leaving other things like electric, phone, and food to my "income". Remember that without electric and phone, I can't do anything on the computer or Internet, and without food I get all cranky and have to spend all my time dumpster-diving around restaurants (and fighting the other web-site designers for the choice bits).
22 September 2005
I have an excuse from my therapist about not writing lately, so there.
However, I would REALLY RECOMMEND that anyone with either a home or a web hosting service in the southeast Texas or southwest Louisiana areas, should BACK UP your systems and website(s) immediately. Rita is expected to be BIGGER than Katrina, and I'd bet money that a lot of telecommunications lines in that area route through Houston.
Wish I could be in Houston to watch... this is gonna be AWESOME.
4 September 2005
#112 has been delayed; I spent close to a fortnight in a depressive ball. Naturally, no writing happened during this time. However, a lot got done before then. The plot progresses...
A belated Links check is now in progress; we are now done with A-L. I still take links to add, even if you sent them before and I didn't put them up. What do you think my links page could use?
Those of you not in America can now laugh at our rising gasoline prices; we deserve it. It's rather a shock to us... and I suspect that the reason for the 20% jump is not 'need' or 'anticipated shortfall' but 'plausible excuse'.
Donations have almost caught up with bills and goodies like hormones for me. Thank you all very much.
18 August 2005
Writing on #112 continues. I keep thinking 'slowly', but it's faster than it was at the beginning of the year. Let us hope it goes faster still.
15 August 2005
Tuck 112 is "half done" in first draft; as I did last time, I'm putting this one up early in the hopes of catching problems early.
In a completely unrelated item, apparently I've been adding links to the links page, without changing the "last changed" date. My bad. And, of course, if you have any links you think ought to be added, feel free to suggest them - an idea of what the link is, is quite helpful.
07 August 2005
Tuck #111 is up. I have a dental abscess, which is why it wasn't up yesterday; I was dopey enough from drugs and lack of sleep that I didn't think I could do a final proofreading.
Donations are helping a great deal.
31 July 2005
Tuck #111 is even more finished. I keep saying that, and I keep adding
stuff to it... we're on the third 'finished' version, after I added one
this morning two hours after putting the second 'finished' version
up.
Nnnng.
Still, it's really chock full of Stuff. I am now going to concentrate on #112... I think. I hope.
No, really, I will; it's exciting stuff.
Some have complained that it's taking a while; yeah, I noticed. There's a lot going on, and if I don't mention a person, I get bugged about it. ("Where's Amy?" "Where's Travis?" "Where's Lisa?" "Where's Paul Grant?" "Where's Bob?")
It's coming along, as fast as I can get it to go; has anyone noticed that the episodes are somewhat - like 20% - longer than normal? I'm not doing this to increase my word count.
Fingers crossed for this week, please; we are hoping to get several drugs for the SO from various governmental agencies, including something to replace the Zyprexa samples she's been using. Zyprexa Considered Harmful (go look it up) and it's not working well either. Seroquel has been recommended.
28 July 2005
Tuck #111 is 'finished' and one proofer has loved it. I think another week of proofing. And so on to #112...
There's a discussion going on about McAllen's team name and school colors over on the Tuckerspawn forum; if you have a (several) suggestion(s) for the team's name and/or colors, let me know.
And hey, I'm working harder; don't you think that should be rewarded?
23 July 2005
Tuck #111 comes along, though I had an immensely shitty week - as one item, someone stole a chair off my front porch.
Anyway, things go. Two weeks until the big set of appointments to hit the various social services in hopes of finding cheap drugs for the SO... cross your fingers for us.
I also added a couple to the Ellen's Select list... and I'm willing to add more, if I think they're worthy.
17 July 2005
Tuck #110 released. Tuck #111 continues... but it's actually GOING. So be happy.
14 July 2005
The person with Hotmail wrote back - in a NORMAL letter - and said something like "Thanks for explaining it to a non-technical person." I think that's my good deed for the week. =)
Tuck continues, and - depending on how the proofing goes - #110 might go up this weekend. Certainly by the end of the month, unless I end up in jail or something. #111 needs more work; gee, and I have nothing to do for most of the day...
12 July 2005
Why do I hate Hotmail? Because I get things like this.
<html><div style='background-color:'>
> <DIV class=RTE>Hi Ellen;</DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE> </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE>Saw on your website that your So is having some health issues. I just wanted to add my thoughts and prayers for her speedy recovery.</DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE> </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE>Just a quick note though - your last reply just came through as code, so I was unfortunately unable to read it.</DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE> </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE>Yes, I am one of those technologically challenged who is using a PC with XP pro, and Internet Explorer. </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE> </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE>Take care;</DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE> </DIV>
> <DIV class=RTE>[NAME DELETED]</DIV>
</div><br clear=all><hr>Share a single photo or an entire slide show right inside your e-mail with <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMBENCA/2743??PS=47575" target="_top">MSN Premium: </a> Join now and get the first two months FREE*</html>
this has been 'slightly' modified so that it appears EXACTLY as it does
within my email program.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the person is complaining that
they couldn't read my last reply. That's because in my last reply, I
set it so that the < that is used to set off HTML code, was
replaced with something that'll show up in an HTML reader like the
original shows up in my text reader.
They're complaining that they can't read my email. "Yeah, I KNOW what you mean!" is my unsympathetic thought.
Like all people, I make assumptions about a person based on the
information I have. My assumption about people who send me mail like
this is normally one of two things:
I tried something different today, though; I tried assuming that this person is merely completely clueless about what things like Hotmail actually do, behind their back; and I did some looking to find an explanation I could send this person. I found two links:
These are good. I learned a few things I didn't know. I imagine that the person who sent me the above email could learn a LOT, including how to prevent their Hotmail account from sending me crap like I got.
If they look. If they don't look, or don't change... I'll go back to previous assumptions.
Due to new medications, the SO's blood pressure is now 150/90 or thereabouts. This cost $90 in medication, and there's another one she's supposed to be on. We also have to pay to see this doctor. The money to do this comes from donations. Do I seem to be pushing this? I am. My own depression is hard enough to deal with, without having to ask myself "Do I buy pharmaceuticals for the SO's high blood pressure, OR pay the phone bill, OR buy food this week?"
In between Decision Making Time, I am writing (and proofing/editing) Tuck. #111 progresses; #110 (next) is requiring some additions. I am going to spend today writing as much as I can...
10 July 2005
Tuck writing and editing continues. So does writing on the next episode (#111). It's been hard, though; last week we had five medical or psychological appointments for the SO, and a nasty surprise about her blood pressure (220/130 is Very Bad). I am reluctant to take the laptop into an unknown situation, since I am vulnerable if it's unpacked, and if it's packed it does me no good at all; so no writing gets done.
3 July 2005
Donations are keeping me and the SO alive.
In other more important-to-you news, Tuck #110 is in proofing. Also, I think I have altered the guestbook stuff enough that I can actually turn it back on. We'll see how that goes. If I start getting spammed again, it's going off until I find a better solution.
19 April 2005
Guestbook turned off temporarily; see the What'Snew file for more info.
3 April 2005
Tuck 109 is up. America has Daylight Savings Time shift.
Donations are still helpful.
I have nothing else to say. Life sickens me today.
1 April 2005
I am tempted not to say anything, because of the special nature of the holiday... but check the site Sunday, which is NOT April Fool's Day.
18 March 2005
Rachel Greenham has released the prologue to another of her superlative fanfictions. You may enjoy reading it; you may wish to re-read Tuck Squared before you do, however, as... it's not quite regular Tuck.
She's working on more; so am I, but she's working harder.
And, for the two or three of you that worry, about whether the impending rewrite of Tucky Seasons by me will somehow 'break' Rachel's work... it won't. I'm being conspiratorial... er, I mean collaborative. Either way, Not Breaking Things is one of my goals.
Work continues on my end. Thanks greatly for the donations this month.
14 March 2005
109 is in proofing, and will probably be up in a week. I'm also working on Tucky Seasons again, as a break from regular storyline that actually involves getting some writing done; the first draft of #6 is up for proofers as well.
Donations are still accepted and still very needed.
07 February 2005
http://www.medschoolchat.com/medical_book_0385121229.html
This is a link to William McNeill's Plagues And Peoples which IMO should be required reading for junior high school students, before the little fuckers get loose and start spreading disease themselves... but it's the site that really attracted my attention. Go check it out.
If you wish, you can now amuse yourself by wondering what relevance a book on epidemics and plagues has to Tuck in my mind...
06 February 2005
Tuck 108 is up. Backup hardware is up. Software is not. Working...
Update: made one backup, think it's readable. Yay! Linux RULEZ d00d!
01 February 2005
Looks like the next Tuck will be coming out soon. Depression has been heavy lately, and other things as well. No progress on job; psych inability to look. It's rare that I don't want to die, just so I can stop struggling, at least once in a given day lately. Whatever.
Tuck is going better than it was for some of last year. I spent yesterday goofing off, but the day before was pretty good, and I've been working more on it than I have at some points last year. I'm sure this isn't any consolation, yet... but I'm trying.
I think I've mostly caught up to the last hardware crash I had... though right now I'm running without backups, which makes me nervous. It should make you nervous as well. Have you backed up your own system lately?
Time to stop babbling and start writing for the day, I guess.
08 January 2005
Tuck writing continues. So does file shuffling, which is why the present note.
I've found a few (and recently gotten a few more) Tuck fan-fictions, which I have now emplaced in the usual spot. If you have written one of them, and wish to have emails forwarded to you, let me know. Due to spamming, I shall not put in a "mailto" link for anyone; too dangerous.
Tuck #108 will be out as soon as I run it through a few more proofers. However, the proofers are not doing well... and are possibly going to be purged again if they don't come up with something in the next week or so. STRONG HINT
Depression continues, sometimes with brighter spots.
23 December 2004
Internet is now (you may have guessed) back up, with a certain amount of cash outlay (oh ghu, like I need MORE bills?). And, the links check, which was interrupted in the middle, is now finished. Thanks to all who participated; their names are in the usual place of honor on the links page itself.
The proofers are not distinguishing themselves with valour at the present time. Tuck writing continues sporadically, however, beyond the proofing. Attempting to write more; sometimes succeeding.
16 December 2004
Well, this is 'writing blind' as it were, since Internet has been cut off. Hopefully I'll have some kind of access tomorrow, and be able to post these up.
Tuck 108 is now in proofing, having finished the first draft. #109 is started, and I think I have some idea of what will happen there as well. There's a lot of threads, as you have seen in the last few episodes; it's somewhat hard to keep them all together.
The Links check will most likely be finished the day after this goes up. Thanks to all who participated, and extra thanks to those who have suggested links to add. I need to add some more myself...
12 December 2004
Tuck cometh along, but very slowly; a combination of depression and anxiety is making it hard to do anything productive. Some of that is worry about money. A donation would help.
Also, I missed the Links check back in June, and this one's late; but if anyone wants to bother, or add one or two, or six dozen, this is the time to do so. If you want to check, please do an entire section at a time; it's easier on my little overloaded brain this way.
13 November 2004
Some people think that Tuck and his family are overly-knowledgable about medical stuff.
From The New England Journal Of Medicine:
A 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) featured a now-familiar statistic: 44,000 to 98,000 people die in hospitals each year because of preventable medical errors, making hospital-based errors alone the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, ahead of breast cancer, AIDS, and motor vehicle accidents.
Ignorance equals death.
07 November 2004
Tuck #106 and #107 out. Hurrah!
A donation would be greatly appreciated...
And, work continues, both on Seasons and on the next Tuck... which is why you should donate, so I can pay bills and buy food and things. No electricity or phone, no Internet, no writing. Neh?
01 November 2004
All Saints Day, in which we hope that the Portals of the night before are firmly closed for another year.
Tuck proceeds; the episode of the weekend is stretching more and more; there's a lot of people involved in this series, have you noticed? And a lot of them have something to do with Homecoming. Which, I'll remind you, is this weekend.
If things go as I'm planning right now, there will be a DOUBLE release in about a week. One episode just could not handle everything and everyone that showed up... so I'll put out two at one time.
Vis-a-vis Seasons, part 6 is being written slowly (always too slowly), and utilizing as much of the commentary from the discussion board as I can keep in my little brain. Not helped by the fact that some people have widely diverging opinions, which forces me to rely on my own judgement but leaves a feeling that I'm not pleasing anyone.
Ah well... this is one of the reasons I take the title of 'Bitch'; I am therefore excused from having to 'be nice' and accommodate everyone's wishes at once. *makes crazy noises*
Later:
Two episodes now in proofing. Heh. And don't forget to vote.
24 October 2004
Seasons #5 is finally out. Hope you like it.
No, I hope it's good. I'll worry about whether people like it when the
story is done. Which it isn't yet, not by a long shot.
Tuck #106 is still not finished, though I am on the fourth cycle of revision. I need to do more of that this morning. It's easier to write than it was, but I still couldn't do any writing yesterday (tired, then emotionally shaken for a while). It also may end up mitosing into two episodes, again... but I don't think you'll mind this time. =)
Still taking donations, too. They're keeping us (me, SO, cat) alive and online.
Seasons #6 is also proceeding along, with more being added as I think to do so. There's some tricky bits in there... You may start to see why in #5. This isn't at all the same as the previous first draft version... this one's better, and thus more emotionally distressing.
18 October 2004
Tuck #106 is mostly-finished, and in proofing. I have a few more things to add, but there's enough that the CE's can start hacking on it with editorial axes...
Writing has been easiER the last couple of weeks, but not easy. It's too simple to just not-write... and then there's the plot complications. Which you can't see yet, not all of 'em. *smirk*
However, we do have a (belated) fanfiction, starting waaaaaay back in the depths of time, which I have finally remembered to post. Say yay! Now go read it.
I'd like to avoid having my guestbook become a playing field for political 'debate', so please restrain yourself. My political thoughts are: We need a None-Of-The-Above candidate in all elections; if NOTA wins, all other candidates are disqualified for that election and someone new needs to be chosen.
01 October 2004
More problems have cropped up in Seasons, and the proofers that I thought were alive, have all disappeared again - thus the extra delay on Seasons #5. Maybe you could put some encouragement for them in the guestbook or something? (hit them with sticks, shoot their televisions...) Those that have not responded, have been culled. Those that think they shouldn't have been culled, can try emailing me...
Work on Tuck #106 progresses slower than I'd like. Still having 'fun' with paralyzing bouts of depression and anxiety; they make it hard to write. But it is moving.
26 September 2004
Work on Tucky Seasons proceeds, with an amazing number of changes in the latest revision. I'd like to mention (smugly) that 'curtsey' is listed as a completely equivalent spelling in my dictionary. And the dictionary.com meanings for 'pouf' are entirely different, and what I wanted, compared to 'poof'. Nyah nyah!
Now to go work on #106 until my eyes start bleeding again...
Your donations are keeping me afloat financially; the cat thanks you for her Kitty Krunchies.
18 September 2004
Tuck #105 is published.
Now, some of you aren't going to be satisfied with the lack of some resolutions in it... and neither am I. But there's too much going on to get it into one reasonably-sized episode; in fact, I have a decent 'starter culture' for 106 from outgrowth of 105.
On the other hand, the existance of a starter culture for 106 ought to give you an idea that it may not take so long as the last one. And, I hope it won't.
Seasons part five is in proofing, and part six is coming along as well.
Economics are dire at this point. I would really appreciate a donation at this point, as right now I have about zero money remaining. Remember, I'm cheaper than income tax, and I give you more tangible results... *grin*
*grin goes away* Other than that, my life sucks about as much as usual for this year (which is a lot) though I'm not as depressed as I was a fortnight or so ago. While some of you were anticipating the episode earlier today, I just could not sit down and do it; other things are worrying me as well.
12 September 2004
Life still sucks. However, Tuck #105 is in proofing, if the proofer/CE members will actually wake up and check the appropriate drops.
26 August 2004
Life, such as it is, sucks.
I'd ask for your patience or forgiveness, but I don't have any, so it's
stupid to expect any from you. Suffice it to say, today's one of the
better days, and I've gotten some things done.
Tuck #105 is first-drafted and in proofing.
Tucky Seasons #5 is also in proofing, though I think it requires another
few passes.
There are three new Tuck fan-fictions up, one an
alternative September , and one an
alternative episode #105.
And the third I dug up out of the dusty bits, and it is presented
here, finally.
There are also three new SickTime endings,
18,
19, and
20.
You should also go and read The John Edwards Epiphenomenon, The New World Order, And Ronald McDonald which is an amazing work by an enigmatic source going by MarcoPolo. Let's hope this isn't the last thing up here by him. Hint: positive comments in the guestbook and email work quite well as motivators.
There are a few more things in the box waiting to be put up, which I may get to today, if the sort of shit that fell on me last Friday doesn't happen again.
25 June 2004
Must be depressed or something. Or, hopefully more correctly, I must HAVE BEEN depressed, and thus unable to write much of anything; because I am slowly starting to write again. Not enough, of course; if I wrote an episode a day, that wouldn't be enough for you greedy folk...
*grin*
Still, a little is a fantastic improvement on what I was doing before. *sigh*
So, the fourth episode of the revised, final edition of Tucky Seasons, is now available for your perusal.
So is some new fan art by Pacchi - go look at it, and marvel. There's some more in the works as well.
I finally posted two new Mono-Mania endings. And I still take submissions, and I hope to process them a leeeetle faster than I have been. Like, before the authors forget they've written something.
There's still a discussion board over at Tuckerspawn, and there's lots of posts there. I read them occasionally. And laugh a lot...
You can also donate and add to my fast-dwindling funds (still no job).
I'm also working a bit on other tasks, like at least one more Mono-Mania ending, and some reviews of other pieces. Basically, I should lock myself in a small box with the laptop and a wall plug, and stay there for a few days.
Keep sending that good karma and positive energy and whatnot this way; I need it, and I think it's starting to help.
16 May 2004
Well, patience is finally rewarded. And you can call off your assassins; the ones you can afford have been a waste of your money, and since I got fired - again - I now have much more time to work on writing. When I'm not digging through dumpsters to find nifty things to eat.
As soon as the hoopla dies down over this episode, though, I also have two more SickTime/Mono-mania endings, including one I bet the original author has forgotten... and there's Seasons to work on as well.
More of this, more of that...
12 April 2004
Well, my life has once again fallen into chaos and despair. I hate that.
On the positive side, I have a new SickTime ending from Emily, so go read it.
Work on Tuck, both sides, proceeds slowly but onward.
And, doesn't anyone have any comment on the picture of Charlene I put up? Sheesh.
3 April 2004
Happy Tucker's Birthyday!
Now that we have that out of the way...
Another TWO episodes of Tucky Seasons are up. Also, a picture which I am saying is Charlene. This is of an actual person, that I found on a website somewhere, and while it is a real person (I think), it really isn't the character in the story. Story fictional. Not real. I have some shots of other characters, all of which I think are 'my' characters, and they'll be showing up when the characters themselves do.
20 March 2004
Bitch bitch bitch, when's she gonna do something, bitch bitch
bitch...
So, okay, I did
something.
Probably what you wanted, but... hey, this next section of regular Tuck is hard to write. I know what will happen; but to actually write it, I have to be there for long periods of time, and I am - shamefully - out of practice at feeling this bad and writing it down. Lately, when I've felt this bad, I've gone and cried, and not on the keyboard either.
But at least I've got something fresh...
By the way, I am also taking suggestions for things I can stick into Ellen's Select if you happen to know any decent fiction. But DON'T SEND ME A STORY; send me a LINK where I can get it myself.
Any bets on how many people will be stupid enough to send me a
story after that warning?
I suspect no more than half a dozen in the first month; I've made a
concerted effort to remove those obnoxious 'readers' that seem to skip
over the important parts that start with DO NOT.
Oh, and feel a gnawing sense of guilt until you make a donation. No, a bigger one. I mean, when was the last time your children did something you liked as much as you do Tuck, huh? So who deserves a new summer wardrobe more, them or me?
5 March 2004
In order to keep your brains from shriveling completely, I've added Ellen's Select to the website, to keep me from having to repeat the answer to "So is there anything you like to read other than Tuck?" or "Are there any OTHER good stories out there?"
Go read all of these; it'll help cut down the shaking.
25 February 2004
Ha ha, very funny.
It has taken me rather a long time to remove the applewood stake from my chest and dig my way out of the rather lame grave (WITH NO INTERNET) that I've been stuck in. I am also in an extraordinarily bad mood.
However, I know that cremation WORKS, so we won't be having that particular problem from that particular 'fan' ever again.
Folks, as a general tip, if you can't decide which myths and legends to believe about disposing of those Dark Forces you're trying to off, use 'em all. And Buffy The Vampire Slayer is not a reliable source.
Now, not actually being in a dyspeptic state of digestion (since I found a couple of rather inattentive co-eds, who will apparently not be graduating) like I was when I wrote the last note, I can assure you with beaming countenance, Tuck Will Go On. Please ignore the bits of flesh in my teeth; I haven't had time to brush.
However, I'm still having... mmm... call 'em hunger pangs; so email will not be going out this evening. Gimme a day or two.
16 January 2004
"Well, this grenade ought to stir things up a bit."
15 December 2003
Busy week. 'Some little fucker' decided that I was being annoying, so he had my ISP whacked. So, not only was I off 'Net, I had to spend a week tracking the shit down. Still got sand in my panties, I think. I was very glad to hear the news, Sunday morning... he got found 'somehow' by the authorities. Heh. Bet it's a while before he gets access to a phone or computer again...
But email is partially down - I can get it in, but I can't send replies out at the moment. Time, perhaps, to reformat my algorithms for doing things, and go to something better, like mh.
Anyway, work progresseth on the new episode, and there are things beyond it which also need writing, and I can work on those as well. Wheee.
Links check is done, and muchos nachos to those who participated.
Mmmmm, muchos chile rellenos y queso....
I think I need to go home and eat something. Several somethings.
7 December 2003
In the early morning hours of December 7th...
Anyway, I got #103 in first draft editing/proofing today. More letters might help... and more money wouldn't hurt either.
The email change has been a WONDERFUL success - it's a great feeling to hit the mail server after six hours and find NOTHING waiting, rather than a couple of dozen lumps of foetid shit.
Meanwhile, this file is getting kind of long... should I truncate it?
And, it's about time for the semi-annual links check once again... except I missed the summer one. Stil, that means there's plenty there to check... This is also a good time to ADD links that you think ought to be included. Which I won't know about unless you mention them to me.
1 December 2003
I wasn't sure I'd get this one out 'this weekend', but I guess I did.
Controversial episode amongst the proofers...
Which, someone pointed out tonight, do a hell of a lot more than 'just' proofreading. They also do continuity checking, realism checking, and a host of other things. The someone suggested they should be called "Contributing Editors", and I have to agree.
So, a Great Thanks to the Contributing Editors of Tuck, who are still protected under my cloaks of anonymity for their own safety...
Also thanks to those who donated in the last few weeks; it's nice to have some financial cushion, especially this time of year. So much more dignified than robbing the Salvation Army bellringers.
I'm a little blasted, so I'll stop here, and toddle off to FTP all this up, and then you'll have something to do on a dreary Monday morning...
27 November 2003
Ahh, American Thanksgiving...
What I am thankful for, is that my ISP and a couple friends have helped out, to change my email address so's to dodge the spam that has been deluging my account.
Go find the email page, re-read the email rules, and the new address is at the bottom.
If you think it's ugly, I'll take suggestions, but I can no longer have a link-to-email, nor have the address available in text. The spammers have ruined that.
I suppose there are other things I am thankful for, but at this particular moment, that's what I'm thinking of; how blind slithering commercialism and the desire to make a quick buck by fucking anyone they can find, has ruined and despoiled something that used to be far more fun and good and open and relaxed.
23 November 2003
Eh, sorry, I thought I'd said something more recently than that.
Well, due to donations, I had a nice carouse last weekend; that was fun. The scabs fell off today, too, and I have all the feeling back in my feet, so I'm just about fully recovered.
And, Tuck progresseth. Which it has been, silently and unbeknownst to you poor fans, sitting out there gazing woefully at the "0.8" that sat there on the writings page until now.
Do not despair; it's been at '1' for a while, and has been going through the necessary and inevitable proofing cycles, a vital and oft-neglected part of the Internet writing/publishing process.
Sorry, I'm feeling loquacious or something tonight. *shrugs*
Anyway, one in proof, one coming along nicely, first couple parts of Seasons ReWritten in proofing - that's the 'final' version of Tucky Seasons, BTW - and in general we're all gonna have a good holiday season.
Or the beatings will resume.
1 November 2003
Another All Saint's Day and still alive, which means I did not get my soul sucked out of my body by the forces of darkness the night before, nor was I murdered by a vengeful soul from beyond the veil. Which I am glad for. 'Course, the sun hasn't come up yet...
I feel vaguely ashamed... I seem to have been very productive this last week, and I didn't WANT to tie any of it to the donations thing, but there may be some correlation. I feel annoyed at myself if there is.
Or is it just Post hoc ergo propter hoc ?
On the other hand, I wrote at least 1/4 of #102 so far tonight, and I may go further... and the Seasons rewrite is progressing when I don't feel like working on #102. And this happened after I talked with our therapist, a lot about the donations thing and about writing and self-esteem and things like that.
I dunno.
On another matter, I've only had one opinion on whether I should
publically thank donors; that's not enough for me to decide. If you
have an opinion, let me know.
In addition to all those lovely discussions going on all over the
place that are giving me plenty of ideas and hints - keep THAT up!
However, I did get this from one correspondent:
On the other hand, I think you could offer something for donations, but not exclusive episodes of Tuck or drawings. As someone who attended a Catholic school you should be be aware of the importance of relics. Couldn't you send a lock of your hair or a toenail clipping in exchange for large donations?I am... stunned.
Addendum:
You know what I find really annoying? I've read a few dozen articles
and warnings about carpal tunnel and repetitititive motion injuries from
using computers... and the only time I have problems is when I try and
do things like a normal person. If I sit with my legs crossed, pull the
laptop or monitor up to the edge of the desk, and put the keyboard (my
lovely IBM 1391401 monster) on my lap, I never have eyestrain, I have no
wrist problems, my ulnar (elbow) nerve never gets pinched, my fingers
don't go numb (happens within 60 seconds with the SO's nice wrist rest)
... Everything works out perfectly if I sit on the floor, back to a
wall, and put the laptop in a chair. (Except my butt starts to hurt
after a while - the solution to that is simply a large pillow)
But try doing that in 99.99% of workplaces, and they'll pull you into a manager's office for a 'talk' about 'proper workplace etiquette' or something like that.
26 October 2003
See? Good things come to those who wait. Tuck #101 is out.
Did you see the part about donations yet?
25 October 2003
Believe it or not, some people actually have written me saying that they wanted to give me money. Go figure.
Well, now there's a way.
Through the rapacious conniving of PayPal, a tiny burst of mental
effort from me, and a great deal of work from the somewhat-faithful and
ever-hungry minions, I can now accept donations without having to deal
with the icky necessity of having to launder checks, money orders, and
credit cards through the local drug dealers.
Isn't that nice?
Instead, I can now launder it through D & E Personal Services.
I can assure you, that every dollar you send (minus the chunk that PayPal takes for itself) will be spent on improving my life in minor but telling ways. Since I am making around $11,500 after taxes - no that is NOT a misprint; it's well under twelve thousand dollars a year - I could rreeaallllyy use some extra cash.
What donating WON'T get ANYONE is some sort of special consideration. There is NO amount of money that will make someone a proofer, editor, co-sysop of the site, or anything else. It's a GIFT, and if you don't understand what that means, go look it up.
So, those of you that are poor as churchmice don't have to worry that other, richer readers will somehow get something that you can't. Well, they will, but not from me.
I am debating whether or not to make a list of financial contributors (you'd pick your handle or nickname). Should I or shouldn't I?
Tuck #101 may come out this weekend, depending on how some more proofing
goes. #*&@ it's hard this time... and none of the kids are helping me
write this one; I think they're all pissed at me for letting Tucker get
caught.
I'm also working on the first draft of #102. Yay!
The email change is in the works. Not yet, but soon...
Tucky Seasons Rewrite is also coming along, for those of you that like that one. I could, I suppose, put the four or so redone chapters in the proofing pile, and see what the folk do with them...
Visualize Rich Fans Sending Ellen Lots Of Money So She'll Be Happy And Write A Lot.
20 October 2003
Well, maybe in a week. And, maybe not. This one is also darned hard to write right. (Heh) But I am, we are, working on it. Let's hope...
You are hoping, right?
13 October 2003
If you saw that a new Tucknote was up on the 11th, and then couldn't find it, I shall lay the blame on Eris and hubris. Who seem like they should be twins...
Suffice it to say that I had a reason to make a panicked backup Friday night, then felt relieved, then had the computer crash before I saved that Tucknote (but after I saved everything else). No, I won't explain further.
Anyway, most of what I said was:
Episode #101 is going to be as hard to get right as #100, and thus will
take at least as long to get out, minus computer crashes, illnesses, and
catastrophes on this end. The less of those I have, the faster it'll
come out...
Some of the proofers are working hard on this; I thank all of them who
have commented so far. We're just having significant difficulties, and
not surprisingly Tucker wants NOTHING to do with this, so he's not
helping the writing along like he does sometimes.
Little selfish brat.
But, we'll get it eventually...
6 October 2003
Well, #101 is first-draft-done, and now in the proofing cycles... which ought to keep my blood pressure up for the next couple weeks.
Also, I am being blackmailed. Rachel has intimated that she will refuse to work on a sequel to her excellent Tuck Squared until I get the long-anticipated Yeah Right Tucky Seasons rewrite and finalization done.
Darn her to heck anyway.
But it is helping, since if I get tired/sick/upset/bored with one, I can go work on the other one. I'm still not writing 'enough', but I wrote more than I have usually/lately the last couple days. Which is GOOD.
And, thanks to the half-dozen of you that wrote to tell me that the Jargon-file link had changed - now _I_ have changed my pages to match. After several months.
So. Good news in the works, eh?
Keep visualizing Ellen Happily Writings, and keep them letters comin'!
26 September 2003
Be happy.
It would have been out last week, but a dental abscess almost the size of my little finger (along my left-side mandible) had me rather, well, demoralized and lethargic. Not to mention crazed with pain at times.
Working on some other things around here as well. I am just about COMPLETELY FUCKING FED UP with spammers, and I'm probably going to change my email address before the next episode comes out. I'm getting around a hundred spams a day now, 300k or more, and that's getting tiresome to deal with. I don't like spending the time necessary to download the damned things either; I have better things to do with my CPU cycles.
Anyone who is blind, needs assistance programs like JAWS to read, uses a text-only browser, or otherwise isn't going to be able to handle a human-only-readable image file containing the new email address, better tell me now. When I make the switchover, everything to the old address is going to be bouncing, completely unread.
And, by the way, if you've ever even looked at someone's spam, you are encouraging the fuckers to keep doing it. Get rid of Outlook and Outlook Express and get something that doesn't automatically spread its legs for any HTML or program included in the email, mmmmkay?
6 September 2003
Well, this one's going to be late too, but not because anyone's been slacking off. Except possibly me, on the got-it-right-the-first-time writing part. Yep, the proofer/editors and I are engaged in a titanic battle of wills...
No, seriously, they keep coming up with major objections that make sense.
So, if _I_ get it right soon, it'll be up next weekend. Cross yer fingers, and keep Visualizing Ellen Writing!
And STOP visualizing Ellen eating fast food, okay? I've been having cravings...
16 August 2003
Got it this time! Thanks to the few proofers who either made bail or
escaped... big help, folks. The rest of you proofers should be ashamed,
and you're likely to be disbarred if this keeps up.
It's bad enough when I sit around on my keister not doing
anything, but when y'all do it too...
Anyway, like I think I said, the next one is in proofing since last week, and that's coming along better too. Now just to work on the one after that... and faster than I have been...
The reformatting is sort of done, sort of. Kind of. Vaguely. At a plateau, anyway.
10 August 2003
Yeah, well, oops.
On the other hand, I've gotten episode #100 finished and in first draft.
On the gripping hand, I wish someone would find the money to bail most of my proofers out of jail, which is where I guess they've been hiding lately. That's part, though hardly all, of the reason that #99 has been delayed so long, lack of proofing.
You know who you are; I just hope you know who your bail bondsmen are.
And, the reformatting continues...
2 August 2003
I have been busy reformatting things. I have reformatted my hard drive (several times), I am reformatting my purse and other LBE/kit, I am reformatting my entire house. A friend and I were talking tonight, and we independently had decided that if we could find installation sets for Humans, we'd be reformatting ourselves, too. I still need to reformat my finances and my car - though maybe just a good defrag would work on the car...
Next episode, that being #99, will be up next week.
14 July 2003
Got some more done this weekend; proofing continues on #99, writing on the next ones. Slowed, but not stopped.
5 July 2003
Well, finally made the episode come out the way I wanted it. I think. In actuality, this one was almost finished, I thought, when I realized something 'should' happen, and so I had to go back and rewrite some of it. Which, given that Real Life is hanging on me like a pack of Jehovah's Witness pit bulls lately, wasn't last week.
Well excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me!
Which some of you might actually remember hearing. The older ones, anyway.
I could tell you about my RL woes, but then some dumbass out there would send me some sort of idiotic mundane's brainless pseudo-empathy spasm and then I'd be all frustrated because I can't afford to go travelling right now and kill the fucker. Make sense?
Sure it does. You know it does.
And, I was thinking, I've got an awful lot of fanfiction that, to my eternal shame and darn-nation, I haven't worked on enough. So I think I'll do some of that this week, and do some polishing on the existing draft for #99, and not worry too much.
IwillnotworryIwillnotworryIwillnotworryIwillnotworryIwillnotworryIwillnotworry
If I repeat it enough times...
Anyway, keep visualizing Ellen happily writing and editing.
22 June 2003
I made ONE little mistake on the writings page, and two people have asked me in FAR less than 24 hours where the 'new' episode is?
There isn't one - yet - because I changed the wrong date. I shoulda aimed for the 'latest Tucknotes' date not the 'last release' date. Whups, my bad.
On the other hand, in my offended state, I think that both of you should have checked the S'new page to confirm a release, if you couldn't find one instantly.
Anyway.
I did finally get an episode finished - 'BOUT FUCKING TIME - and got that up for the proofers, and I'm working on the one after that. I think the way to do this is to reverse my usual order and do writing FIRST, and THEN reply to email.
21 June 2003
Since at least two of you have mentioned it, that means there's probably close to two hundred of you that have wondered. So here it is:
Somatic mosaicism: when all cells in a person do not have
essentially the same genetic makeup. This can result from a mutation in
one cell during the early stages of embryogenesis, or even from fusion
of two fertilized eggs to produce one person (i.e., a chimera -- *
ponder that!, fortunately, it's rare.)
Chimerism may also result from blood exchange between
fraternal twins, and the person has two people's bone marrow. Future
blood bankers: these patients will probably have two different blood
types.
Somatic mosaicism probably underlies many (if not most)
birthmarks (for example Lancet 345: 596, 1995). People living
comfortably with a "forme fruste" of some dreadful classic lethal
disease may be mosaics (forexample, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 46: 591, 1990).
It's also the basis of tumorgenesis[...]
From somewhere on the
PathGuy website, in his lecture
notes I think.
I took last week offa Tuck, working on [CLASSIFIED] instead, but I think I'm back on track. Sorry 'bout that.
1 June 2003
I actually put the Tuck episode up yesterday, but you didn't see it, because... it was invisible. Yeah. *nods a lot*
Anyway it's there^H^H^H^H^Hvisible now, so go have fun with it. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll have another one in first-draft proofing.
Also, Pacchi came up with a somewhat smaller version of hir latest, so check that out too.
25 May 2003
No Tuck this weekend, as you might have figured out by now; but it's coming next weekend.
And, I seem to have gotten out another first-draft, which is good. I also seem to be in a groove again, at least for the moment, so I think I'll write some more tonight.
That's good, right?
Also, the wonderfully talented Pacchi has come up with another piece of art, and I do mean 'piece of art' rather than drawing or pencil or whatever. Go look, if you haven't.
11 May 2003
A day late, and many dollars short...
I said I'd get up some fan-fictions, but I haven't done that. They need proofing, and I need to work on that, but I also need to work on writing more Tuck. The just-released episode needed a fair amount of proofing, including several logical/continuity errors that no one caught but me, on the last read-through.
On the good side, I do have another episode sitting in proofing, and 'plenty' of time to write another episode, and I have a good idea of what needs to happen in that one, and the ones subsequent. "A hundred lines a day..."
28 April 2003
Finally, some vindication for MY Tuck story.
>I now understand one thing, it was nice and then scary to have >all the extras stripped away (parties and field days) and get to >the meat of the stories. Getting to the meat that fast [meant] >getting to the END fast. I really dont want that.!!
See? There's a REASON I made you go through so many episodes where 'nothing' happened.
Also, during writing, I encountered the damnable question, What's the difference between a shrimp and a prawn?
Naturally, I got more than one answer. Here's some distilled wisdom on the topic, links one, two, and three.
Or to summarize: unless you're a marine biologist (or taking a marine biology class), there really isn't a difference that is consistent.
In direct Tuck news, I have Now+2 about half finished, and Now+1 is shaping up nicely. Although, you'd better generate some enthusiasm for MY series, or I'll hold back release until you do...
Rachel: see? I wasn't worried, because I knew I had 'em hooked. =)
26 April 2003
Haha, silly me; I thought releasing a Tuck episode on the same day as a fan fiction might make the fan fiction sort of disappear beneath notice. Judging by the approximate doubling of the size of my guestbook in the last week, none of which is directed at me, I'd have to conclude that isn't the case.
That's fine; I saved mine until this weekend anyway.
19 April 2003
First, the 'new Tuck' is a fanfiction, but not JUST a fanfiction; it's the longest one by far that I've received yet, it's fantastic, and I have a great desire to see more. So will you, after you read it.
So, put your comments in the guestbook for Rachel, or use your little brains and send her an email, thanking her for the tremendous amount of effort she put into this and worshipping her imagination and creativity.
If you don't, I'll know, and I won't be pleased with you. YES YOU!
Vision upgraded, I now have an extra week to twiddle Tuck episodes, which is good, because this Now+1 episode can use a little more twiddling, and while I think I've got it, I need to integrate it into the next one, and re-work that one as well, and then have the proofers go over it with their bloody keyboards and mice to make sure I haven't screwed it up again. But the Next One is essentially done, and the one after that is probably more than done, which leftovers will provide a crystallization seed for Now+3...
14 April 2003
No writing this time to announce, but I did get out all the mail, make major proofing revisions on the Now+1 episode, and survive an attack of Volcanic Colon, about which I will not speak directly. But it did enervate me quite a bit, and I spent quite a while dazedly reading and wishing I could sleep.
Next, vision upgrade. And more email, more revision/proofing, and more Tuck.
Sometime in here I gotta get the concessions stand going...
7 April 2003
Two episodes in proofing. Two in, what, less than a month? I feel rather pleased with myself.
And this one is... interesting. *evil grin*
6 April 2003
Despite this being the shortest night of the year - due to US Daylight Saving Time, the clocks theoretically advanced from 01:59 directly to 03:00, do not pass Go do not collect sixty minutes - I seem to have written a large amount of a new episode of Tuck. More than half, anyway. With luck, and fortune, and most importantly me getting off my mental ass again Real Soon, I could have this finished within the week.
Which means I'd be that much more confident about putting out #95 Real Soon too.
Which can't be anything but good, right?
Proofers to your stations! Full speed ahead!
3 April 2003
A new Tuck episode is finally out, and I've still got another one in reserve. More writing to come; I can feel it.
And, today is Tuck's Birthyday! Celebrate! Preferably in some subversive and non-conformist way, that scares the mundanes... he'd like it that way.
30 March 2003
Seems so easy now, I wonder why I stopped...
New first-draft Tuck now in proofing. New episode coming out on Tuck's Birthyday. Eat some cake and do something subversive to celebrate.
I still don't feel like doing the character listing yet, but the night is young...
23 March 2002
Well, it's not actually new art - since I've had some of it for months and months - but most of you haven't seen it, and some of them I don't think have been seen at all. So, I finally got around to putting them up.
No new writing as of yet, but you might've noticed that a week or two hiatus in email has now been cleared; you might also notice that I finally put up the fan art like I was supposed to long ago. This is Good; this is Positive Motion.
Next, I have some fan-fictions... and then it's either a new episode of Tuck, or the character listing, or - just barely possible within the physical laws of this universe - both. Don't hold your breath for both, though.
And keep visualizing Ellen Writing New Tuck. It's helping; I keep having these weird dreams...
Later:
I changed my mind about doing the fan fiction editing I'm supposed to
do. Instead, I went and wrote about 40% of a new Tuck episode, which is
the first time I've written anything new in like months.
Anyone mind?
4 March 2003
Well, work has become a major problem; I am trying to get around it, but
if this keeps up you can expect MAJOR delays in Tuck compared to the
last year or so - I just do not have the time lately at work, and I am
no longer used to writing at home.
On the other hand, I have been coming closer and closer to quitting,
which would give me plenty of time to write until I got evicted.
As for a character listing...
The idea, I always thought, was bad - mainly because I've seen them in the fronts of other books, and they give a lot away, usually. You may have noticed that Tuck is full of surprising revelations about characters, yes? I would really hate for those surprises to be given away wholesale by a character listing. That is why I have rejected all such ideas before now; fear that they would give too much away, like Cliff Notes.
And I'd really REALLY hate it if someone was distributing one 'behind my
back' as it were. I mean, really intensely hate it.
You know who you are...
But on the other hand, what Ol' Mo came up with, which is a fairly sparse listing that (importantly) doesn't give anything away, is actually a decent idea.
So, if I get a listing (or several listings) that allow me to strip out the detail I don't want people to 'cheat' on - it's been a fucking effort to write it; people should make the fucking effort to read it if they want to know what's going on - then I'd be happy to put that up as a publically accessible thing.
21 February 2003
Looks like I remembered to put a new Tuck up today. Be Happy.
Now, visualize Ellen Writing New Episodes.
...
Also, there are a few more fan-fictions and SickTime endings on the way, if everyone else will stop imitating me and actually keep writing and revising like they are supposed to. One of them is really long and really excellent; the rest are somewhat less than 300k of text *grin* but nonetheless I look forward to putting them up as well.
19 February 2003
NO the Tuck series is NOT ending anytime soon (unless I die in a completely unexpected fashion).
NO fan-fiction is NOT impeding my writing.
NO neither are emails.
NO neither is Real Life (TM).
I just have not been in the mood lately. I had a semi-decent string of about two years or so, and I think I needed some time off. So, I've been taking it. I've been reading instead of writing, and doing the occasional bit of research into Tuck and other topics. Tuck is still on my mind - the little bugger seems to have written himself into ROM somehow; I'll never get rid of him - and I have some idea of what I'm doing next, and where everything is going in the next few weeks/months of Tuck. If anything, I have a hurdle occupying a couple of hours at most, and it's not very high, I just have not been that interested in getting over it.
This is slowly changing. I'm starting to miss writing, rather than dread it, and I am also running out of books I want to re-read. *grin*
I am also re-reading the entire thing, start to finish, which takes a while. Not that long for me, but there's these other books too...
And I'm putting up a new episode this coming weekend. So there.
22 January 2003
2 new fan fictions up, and I like them both. Also, there are two SickTime endings in the editing/revision pipeline, and I am still (always) accepting more for that story...
18 January 2003
Nope, not this weekend. But, I'm working on it.
I feel a little weird - I actually had to write out a timeline about what is going to happen in the next six weeks so that I could keep it all straight in my head. It's been a long time, like maybe never, I've had such a complicated set of situations to juggle around.
Also, there are several fanfictions on the way. If you haven't sent me a revised copy in the last week, and you wrote one and it's not up yet, send it again ASAP - formatted with hard carriage returns at 75 columns, or Save As MS-DOS Text With Line Breaks for you wusers out there. I don't quite remember who you are, but I can find out.
2 January 2003
Starting off the new year (in some calendars) right this time, by finishing the episode of Tuck that I was working on, as well as a few other things.
Let's hope this year is a lot better writing-wise than the last one, which really wasn't a good productive year...
28 December 2002
Have a present from Ellen...
And remember, Ellen likes fan mail. Ellen is also close to done with another first draft.
18 December 2002
The links check is done - thanks to everyone who helped!
As for Tuck, I was so happy at getting the links done tonight that I am now up to about half a chapter of new first draft. Isn't that nice?
Now if the power won't go out any more...
11 December 2002
Eris was not kind. I have, however, persevered... slowly.
On the good side of the ledger, I'd forgotten I'd written about 25% of the Field Day episode already, so I'm that much further ahead than I thought.
On another note, it's about time for the semi-annual Review Ellen's Links Section. If you want to help, pick a section, check all the links in that section, and tell me the broken ones. I don't need to know the ones that work - wastes my time, slows me down even further, which I don't think we need at this point do we class?
15 November 2002
Well, Tuck is coming along in what I see as dribbles, but it's coming along. Haha, the old writer's dictum of "Sit down and WRITE, you dumbass! SOMEthing!" [wildly paraphrased] seems to work wonders. You'd think I'd know that one by now...
And, for this quarter's Audience Participation, someone needs to name the cat... it's quite young, maybe nine weeks old, male, and a long-haired orange tabby. Despite appearances, it sustained no permanent damage from its abuse - the vet checked it out pretty well, and let it come home, so we know it's okay.
Come up with the best name, and a reason for the name ("It's cool" or "I just like it" is fine) and a handle to attribute the name to if you win, and you'll be Mentioned In Dispatches.
If you have a better 'color' or description, or can point me to a good high-quality picture of a good-looking cat on the Web, I'd even change the official appearance of the cat. No Persians, crossed-eyed Siamese, or 'weird' or unusual breeds like Russian Blues or Manxes - I want it to look like a cat, not a cat-that-someone-slammed-its-head-into-a-wall-face-first or a cat-with-its-tail-missing. You know, a real cat, Felis Domesticus.
9 November 2002
Well, I got this one out... but the 'replacement' first draft of Now+3 is nowhere near finished. I think I'm either avoiding something, or I need some old Asian dude to beat me with a stick for a while. Can't tell from here.
Maybe I can get a little done tonight, now that I'm thinking about it...
30 October 2002
On track and moving forward... looks like PERHAPS the next episode will be out in a fortnight, rather than a fortnight-and-a-half. Go look it up.
And, let's all be careful the next few days... for those of you that don't know the original reason for this upcoming holiday, it's not to spend money, have parties, and eat candy. It's to confuse the ghosts and spirits that come through from Beyond, on one of the nights when the wall grows thin.
26 October 2002
I didn't realize it had been quite that long, but here's another episode...
Must write more, must write more...
23 October 2002
Tuck is delayed again from the usual fortnightly release, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I dunno. Life is hard, and sometimes the hardest thing for me is to just sit down and DO. I've been doing other things at night lately, though those of you that are sending email know that I am keeping up with that, pretty much.
Looks like another episode will go out around the end of this week, though. So you can stop holding your breath...
10 October 2002
Why, someone has already asked, has Tuck been removed from
Sapphire's site?
Here's why.
27 September 2002
Some days go better than others, of course... at least I finally got this one out. And I don't want to hear any complaints from English majors or theater types about what I took liberties with.
Everything else needs those damned rewrites... *sigh* I'd really feel awesome if I could get more of it on the first try, but I can't. At least I'm sparing YOU.
21 September 2002
What's a good day's worth of writing for me? A quarter of an entire episode.
This looks like it may just be one of the better days. *grins* You know the writing's going well when I keep forgetting to take the cough syrup which is within easy reach. Until I start dry-coughing, of course.
Next episode will be out when it completes proofing, which should be any day now, I hope.
18 September 2002
Well, I haven't added much lately; that's because I haven't written much lately. RL and illness, plus a general malaise, have kept me down, so to speak. But I got some done tonight.
6 September 2002
Looks like the unofficial Tuck fan site and discussion area is at http://tuckerspawn.ateros.com
Throw in your two cents...
I am assured by the owner/operator that the registration information is collected only by the locally-run software, and not mailed off to some corporation for collection and spam purposes. If this turns out to be a false assurance, well... I like vengeance. Anyway, it's not too bad, and I'm checking there a lot. I like reading about Tuck as much as you do.
And, oh yeah, Tuck #87 is now up. And another episode is finished enough to go into proofing, thus maintaining three in the pipeline. Not as good as the six or eight, but better than I've been doing for a while... and I don't feel quite done yet tonight.
As for paper-printing... I'm still looking into it. It looks like initial cost is going to be in the $500-1000 range (probably closer to the low end) for the first X episodes in paperback, for which X is not defined yet. I'm gonna have to do market surveys amongst you to see what you'd prefer, 'more cheaper' or 'fewer bigger more-expensive'. Letters of inquiry are going out, slowly...
3 September 2002
I gotta sit my ass down one of these days and just WRITE - maybe some
tonight, but I'm missing those six-hour blitz sessions I used to have.
Damnit.
Anyway, with the addition of some minor corrections and a few additions
in story arc, I think I have most of September plotted out.
But, that's not why I'm writing this tonight...
There has been a Big To-Do (who knew, what you'd do, you otaku you!)
lately about me (or someone) publishing Tuck in a paper format.
Don't think I wasn't paying attention.
And, here's what's going on in my head:
Later: half done with Now+4 ...
23 August 2002
Episode 86 is released, I have three more in proofing and one first
draft about a third done. Something plotwise has been causing a lot of
thought, which takes away from writing Tuck, since I can only torture
the poor brat while I'm thinking about him. Hopefully, I have it
somewhat figured out at this point, and the proofers won't projectile
vomit on it.
I'd tell you more, but that would spoil the surprise. Surprises.