Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

by Richard Perkins

Short post today from the San Jose Airport en route home for Turkey Day.
It seems that I’ve done it again. Remember that perfect job opportunity that I was just a few days away from landing? Due to the continuing fiscal woes (and in the renewable energy industry the stunning collapse of oil prices) hiring has [...]

The final ten

by Richard Perkins

At midnight tonight, I will officially enter the final ten days of National Novel Writing Month. It’s been a slog, let me tell you. And it only goes uphill from here. But the support network and constan encouragement from the NaNoWriMo organizers have been phenomenal. I’ve been pretty successful at writing a little bit every [...]

Renegade Scene 2

by Richard Perkins

283 SC, fifteen days earlier, Mystic Springs in the Fertile Plains
The stars glowered sullenly overhead. Theirs was the only light cast in the long, conspiratorial hours between moonset and sunrise. Mikel avoided even their faint glimmer as he waited in the shadows outside a run down hostel in a run down quarter of the otherwise [...]

Renegade Scene 1

by Richard Perkins

283 SC, The northern migration three days east of Stoneburners Gathering, in the Great Desert
Mikel’s breath whistled between his clenched teeth, as he tried not to choke on swirling sand and road grit. He crouched between the wheels of his wagon, listening to the receding hiss of angry sand lizards fleeing the scene. Cautiously, he [...]

New Series for NaNoWriMo

by Richard Perkins

Well, you waited patiently (or impatiently). And it’s finally here. I’ve finally chosen a title for my NaNoWriMo novel, The Renegade’s Door. Sounds dramatic and adventurous, no?
I’ve also started the new series in the Writer’s Lair.The first post is a short synopsis to catch your interest and set the scene. I’ll be posting other excerpts [...]

Renegade Synopsis

by Richard Perkins

It’s been nearly thirty ‘turns since the Great Desert conflict stopped the unfettered expansion of the Fertile Plains. The power hungry Merchant Guild, in almost open defiance of Council rule, has pushed new trade routes through the desert to the major Gatherings and on to remote Guardian Village. But unvanquished enemies sleep uneasily. Ever afraid [...]

Be careful what you wish for

by Richard Perkins

Today I write about the cost of counting chickens before they hatch. About one week ago I wrote about a third round interview with a solar PV company that I thought had gone particularly well. When I got an email from the hiring manager saying he wanted to make me an offer, I thought surely [...]

So far so good

by Richard Perkins

I’ve now reached the end of my third official day of NaNoWriMo. My new novel is churning along nicely at a little over 10,500 words. Not bad for three day’s work.
I’ve been tracking both my cumulaitve word count totals and the amount of time I’ve spent actually writing, purely for interest. I’m finding that with [...]

And they’re off!

by Richard Perkins

Well today has been my first official day of National Novel Writing Month. Though I’ve been working on character descriptions, settings, and an outline for a few weeks, this is the first day I’ve been able to write actual prose that counts toward my word total.
The fun began at the stroke of midnight. About 40 [...]