Draw Every Day 3/13/12: Jak & Jyl Art

This is art for a novella I started last year called "Jak & Jyl: After the Fall" that followed the adventures of two teenagers after the fall of human civilization. The plot sort of got taken over by my Peanuts parody, so I don't know if I'll continue with JAJ or not.  Still, I had to draw something, so this is what came out of my pen.

My 2nd post for Mandommag.com is up: Is Obama Running for the Republican Nomination? http://goo.gl/9hyoH

My 2nd post for Mandommag.com is up: Is Obama Running for the Republican Nomination? http://goo.gl/9hyoH, a photo by thepetecom on Flickr.

Mind you, this is a site for adult men. Just so you know. That link once again: goo.gl/9hyoH

Hey! A post I wrote for http://mandommag.com is live! Go Read it! http://goo.gl/sXjce

Hey! A post I wrote for http://mandommag.com is live! Go Read it! http://goo.gl/sXjce, a photo by thepetecom on Flickr.

That link again: goo.gl/sXjce or just head over to mandommag.com

Check out what ebooks are on my iThingy (shameless plug alert!)

Check out what ebooks are on my iThingy (shameless plug alert!), a photo by thepetecom on Flickr.

Yep, it's my book! Go pick up a copy for yourself by hitting up the link above or just head over to http://press.thepete.com where you can get the ebook version for Kindle for just $3 or the paperback version for $13. Do it now and support your favorite "thepete" just in time for the holidays!! Thanks!

On Tumblr, Animated Gifs, Fandom and Creating

Going to have to unfollow a bunch of people who insist on posting animated gif after animated gif.  Tumblr makes it waaaay too easy to post mindlessly, without considering what you're doing.  It makes it even easier to repost things other people have posted mindlessly without considering what they were about to do.  I try to follow people who post interesting, thought-provoking things, but so often, folks are just lazy or too busy to post their own thoughts.  I don't mind the occasional reblog, but when your stream is nothing but someone else's photomontages or graphics with sayings on them (I CAN HAS 2 MUCH TIME ON HANDZ) or the bane of my existence...animated gifs, I feel like you're missing the point of having a blog.

A blog is for self-expression.  It's one thing to find someone else's content, repost it and add commentary.  That's cool. That's a discussion.  But to repost someone else's shit and just add "This."  ARG. WHY AM I FOLLOWING YOU???

And those animated gifs!!!  What is this? 1997?  WE HAVE VIDEO NOW.

And what's with all the shameless (shameful?) gushing over scifi shows? I hate animated gifs from scifi shows more than any other kind of animated gif.

Why is it that people are so excited by a show or a movie that they grab some frames of it and make an animated gif rather than using that show or movie as inspiration for their own damn content!?!

Back, before the Internets, fandom would write their own fanfics--short for Fan-written Fiction (aka, fiction written with characters and settings by someone else--who usually got a paycheck while you don't).  They'd even print them out (or have them printed out at a real printing service!) and try to sell them at scifi conventions.

The whole thing just seemed so sad to me.  I mean, come on, man, take yourself seriously! Don't just be a fan, take that inspiration you are feeling and DO something with it!  Create something OF YOUR OWN.  OR: have some balls and submit your own story/script for XYZ franchise directly to the company that makes your show/movie.  Why do you expect people to take time to read your stuff if you consider yourself only a fan?

This is one reason I don't go to conventions any more and really don't like hanging out with my fellow fans most of the time.  Fans who are just fans and have nothing else going on are kinda boring.  I don't want to be a fan.  I want to be a colleague.

It's easy to write a fanfic, it's easier to make a half-dozen stupid animated gifs of David Tennant looking goofy and it's even easier to just reblog someone else's content.  But why not challenge yourself and create something on your own? Of your own invention?  Or just examine your own feelings and then express them in a blog post?

Life is short. Create something now.

"The second some jerkoff hits a computer key, he thinks he’s a journalist..."

The second some jerkoff hits a computer key, he thinks he’s a journalist. These clowns put out stuff every day to damage people.

Roger Ailes, Fox News Channel president, on bloggers. (via newsweek)(via newsweek)

HA!  Come on, Roger! Everyone knows journalists don't need TRAINING.  Just look at all those idiots on Fox Ne--OHHHH...

AHEM...

< puts hands in pockets and wanders off, whistling >

The New Yorker Magazine asks: "Is it worth half a million pounds to save Roald Dahl’s famed writing hut?"

newyorker:

Is it worth half a million pounds to save Roald Dahl’s famed writing hut?http://nyr.kr/oAiVgQ

YES!

It sure would be nice if we could save this thing and show respect to one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century. Roald Dahl wrote all sorts of stuff from the classic kids book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the Bond movie, You Only Live Twice.  Seriously, we need to start respecting the artists who have helped shape our culture.

Wise: Day 1, Chapter 4 by ThePete (my new novella)

OK, well, it's looking like the title of this novella will be changing soon since "Day 1" is proving to have fewer pages than I expected. I blame Twitter! :)

ANYway, here are the pages from last night! Yep, Chapter 4, complete with un-proofread typos, I'm sure:

PDF

Flash embed (if you can't see it below, just click the headline of this post):

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

AS ALWAYS: I would love to hear any feedback you have ASSUMING IT IS NOT about typos, spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. These are all first drafts I'm posting, so no fair holding that against me. ;) Anything else is fair game, but if you're rude or unhelpful, I may ignore you. But if you read any of it, you should know I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!! Seriously, I do. Honest.

Wise: Day 1, Chapter 3 by ThePete (my new novella)

OK, so I set up a new page on TheWikiPeteia which you can get to easily here: http://sn.im/wiseday1 That's also a link you should hit up if you have no idea what I'm talking about. :)

So, here's a link to Chapter 3 of my novella-in-progress Wise: Day 1

http://sn.im/wised1c3

Here is an embed of the same PDF so you can read it right here on thepete.com:

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

If you can't see the embed, just click on the headline of this post.

Please feel free to leave comments! Just don't bother being critical with any spelling or grammar mistakes--THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT and I have not even proofread it. I'm just getting the story out, warts and all. Giving me feedback about those kinds of errors won't help me. Telling me what you think works with story, character, and other, similar, elements will be of great help. So will nagging me if you don't see new pages up within the next 24 hours, so please feel free to bug me. Thanks!

Weird day and night. Felt better once I accepted today as a productivity failwhale.

So, I didn't get a chance to post yesterday's pages or write new ones, but I wrote so many yesterday, I lived off of credit for a day, so shoot me. I'll post all seven tomorrow--I SWEAR. :) There was something wrong with me today where every time I tried to do something productive I got pissy and moany. Finally, when I realized the day was irrevocably shot, my mood changed, I brightened up and everything was right again. Seems I just needed a day off.

Went to a show tonight. It was called The Trouble with Doug and it was a musical take on Kafka's Metamorphosis. It was a lot of fun. I'll write more about it tomorrow.

Then, after that, on the way home, I saw someone I went to college with. Couldn't remember her name, only worked with her on one project together for maybe a quarter of a semester, it's been almost 2 decades, I'm a blond and have a beard now, so the odds of her remembering me would be pretty slim. So, I said nothing (to the disappointment of Siskita) but, to me, the magic of New York City is made up of moments like that--where, out of thousands of people you see, you randomly bump into someone you haven't seen in almost twenty years and when you did see them last it was in an entirely different city.

The cool thing was that she got off the train one stop south of me so it's entirely possible I'll see her again. If I do, I've told Siskita that I will talk to her. Now if I can just remember the woman's name...

Wise: Day 1 Update: new pages later today...

OK, so, I know I was supposed to have another chapter by midnight, but I got a little carried away and did seven pages instead of the usual two. I'm now just way too wiped out to upload anything now, but I will do it when I wake up. I really wish there was a way to easily provide PDFs on the fly--as soon as I save them, they're available. Ah well...

See you soon with 7 more pages. It gets exciting! We get answers! Who is Wise? Where/when is he from? Clues abound!

Wise: Day 1, Chapter 2 by ThePete (my new novella)

Here is Chapter 2 of my new novella entitled Wise: Day 1. I know, it's a bit later than I said it would be, earlier on Monday, but it's kinda close to midnight still.

Anyway, so if you haven't read what this is all about, check out this post, which contains chapter 1 of Wise: Day 1. Already read it? Then here's chapter 2:

Downloadable PDF of Wise: Day 1, Chapter 2

Scribd.com embed from Drop.io if you want to read it right here:

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

As always, PLEASE REMEMBER: this is a FIRST DRAFT! No fair citing typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors! But please feel free to tell me what you think of everything else. Most of all, THANKS FOR READING!!! :)

Wise Day 1, Chapter 1 by ThePete (my new novella)

OK, remember my Battlestar Galactica series finale scripts? Well, I'm trying out some prose this time 'round! Here are the first 2 pages of a novella I'll be writing daily (starting yesterday). I aim to update every night at midnight.

What's it about?

It's called Wise: Day 1 and it's about a guy from the future who is trying to catch up with an alien who has trapped his body in a... well, it's better if you just read it--not that this first chapter explains it. But have a read and feel free to let me know what you think. Just don't be upset if I don't agree with you or don't reply immediately or at all. I'm really swamped and barely have time to write, let alone thank/interact with everyone for/about their thoughts. Just know that I do appreciate any constructive criticism. Comments about typos and grammar mistakes are useless to me as I am not editing this or even proofing this as I go. It's first draft all the way through. If typos bug you, DON'T READ IT.

OK, enough of this! Here goes the PDF embed and feel free to download the 60KB PDF for yourself here.

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Chapter 2 will happen tonight with any luck :)

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 2 COMPLETE)

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 2 COMPLETE), originally uploaded by thepetecom.

IT IS DONE!

Two weeks ago, I began to worry that I wouldn't like how my favorite show currently on TV would end, so I made sure to avoid that by writing my own damn two-part finale.

Note the start and finish dates listed up there in that cover image. I started this 55 page script on the 17th of March. It's now the 20th. Now read it and tell me it reads like something written over three days. OR tell me it DOES read that way and I'll tell you to find me someone who can write something as good as that is in the same amount of time.

OK, /grandstanding.

Now, for the good stuff!

Here is the 57-page script for part 1 in PDF format (163k):

snurl.com/bsgthebigendpt1

Here is the COMPLETE (just finished) 55 page first draft of part 2 (including the teaser and five acts) in PDF format (155k):

snurl.com/bsgthebigendp2

As promised, I had acts 4 and 5 of part 2 done by Friday morning (right now!), well ahead of the airing of the actual final episode of Battlestar Galactica, tonight on the SciFi Channel.

BOILER PLATE STUFF:

Battlestar Galactica is (c) Universal Studios. HOWEVER, the specific story, settings, structure and even a couple characters are (c) ThePete (ME). That said, if UniStu wants the scripts, they're welcome to them--I just ask for some pitch meetings in return (don't know why they'd want them since the series is over, but what the hey).

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL SERIES FINALE OF THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA REMAKE. It's just the finale I'd like to see (as of this writing I haven't seen either of the finale episodes). As the final few episodes aired (and before the 2-part finale began), I found myself kind of disappointed with the convoluted plot and taxing expectations of the series. I found myself wondering about the odds I'd actually like the finale. Then I decided to jam out my own finale. It picks up right where the real finale begins, two episodes before the end of the series.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Both of these scripts are first drafts. They contain mistakes of both a grammatical and technical nature because when you're jamming out a script, the best way to do it is Bushido--samurai-style--straight through, stopping for as little as possible. So, newsflash, I'm not Mozart. I want to hear what you think, but don't expect a polished script.

And thank you so much for reading! We writers get immense energy and focus knowing that our work is being read (even if it isn't being liked). So, thanks so much for downloading and reading. I do hope you enjoy it. Whether it'll be better than Ron Moore's version or not will be interesting to see, but not my main concern. I just want the series to end the way I want it to end. I still think Ron Moore is one of the best TV writers who ever lived.

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 2 Up to Act 3)

If you are curious why I am writing my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script read below. If you just want to read my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script, check out the PDF links below.

Here is the 57-page script for part 1:

snurl.com/bsgthebigendpt1

Here is up to page 37 of the script for part 2 (including the teaser and Acts 1-3):

snurl.com/bsgthebigendpt2t123

I hope to have acts 4 and 5 done by Friday morning, well ahead of the airing of the actual final episode of Battlestar Galactica.

BOILER PLATE STUFF:

Battlestar Galactica is (c) Universal Studios. HOWEVER, the specific story, settings, structure and even a couple characters are (c) ThePete (ME). That said, if UniStu wants the scripts, they're welcome to them--I just ask for some pitch meetings in return (don't know why they'd want them since the series is over, but what the hey).

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL SERIES FINALE OF THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA REMAKE. It's just the finale I'd like to see (as of this writing I haven't seen either of the finale episodes). As the final few episodes aired (before the actual 2-part finale began), I found myself kind of disappointed with the convoluted plot and taxing expectations of the series. I found myself wondering about the odds I'd actually like the finale. Then I decided to jam out my own finale. It picks up right where the real finale begins, two episodes before the end of the series.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Both of these scripts are first drafts. They contain mistakes of both a grammatical and technical nature because when you're jamming out a script, the best way to do it is Bushido--samurai-style--straight through, stopping for as little as possible. So, newsflash, I'm not Mozart. I want to hear what you think, but don't expect a polished script.

And thank you so much for reading! We writers get immense energy and focus knowing that our work is being read (even if it isn't being liked). So, thanks so much for downloading and reading. I do hope you enjoy it. Whether it'll be better than Ron Moore's version or not will be interesting to see, but not my main concern. I just want the series to end the way I want it to end. I still think Ron Moore is one of the best TV writers who ever lived.

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 2 Teaser + Act 1)

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 2 Teaser + Act 1), originally uploaded by thepetecom.

If you are curious why I am writing my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script read below. If you just want to read my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script, check out the PDF links below.

Here is the 57-page script for part 1:

snurl.com/bsgthebigendpt1

Here is the first 15 pages (Teaser + Act 1) of part 2:

snurl.com/bsgthebigendpt2t1

I hope to have acts 2 and 3 done by Thursday morning and then acts 4 and 5 done by Friday morning, in time for the actual final episode of Battlestar Galactica to air.

Battlestar Galactica is (c) Universal Studios. HOWEVER, the specific story, settings, structure and even a couple characters are (c) ThePete (ME). That said, if UniStu wants the scripts, they're welcome to them--I just ask for some pitch meetings in return (don't know why they'd want them since the series is over, but what the hey).

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL SERIES FINALE OF THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA REMAKE. It's just the finale I'd like to see (as of this writing I haven't seen either of the finale episodes). As the final episodes aired, I found myself kind of disappointed with the convoluted plot and taxing expectations of the series. I found myself wondering about the odds I'd actually like the finale. Then I decided to jam out my own finale. It picks up right where the real finale begins, two episodes before the end of the series.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Both of these scripts are first drafts. They contain mistakes of both a grammatical and technical nature because when you're jamming out a script, the best way to do it is Bushido--samurai-style--straight through, stopping for as little as possible. So, newsflash, I'm not Mozart. I want to hear what you think, but don't expect a polished script.

And thank you so much for reading! We writers get immense energy and focus knowing that our work is being read (even if it isn't being liked). So, thanks so much for downloading and reading. I do hope you enjoy it. Whether it'll be better than Ron Moore's version or not will be interesting to see, but not my main concern. I just want the series to end the way I want it to end. I still think Ron Moore is one of the best TV writers who ever lived.

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Part 1 Complete!)

UPDATE: Sorry, Drop.io is behaving very strangely. Their direct PDF link didn't work so I've replaced it with a snip URL link, which should hopefully work better. OK, on with the original text for this post:

WHEW. Done with Act 5 and it's only ten pages too long!! Not bad for a first draft, I should think!

To my credit, I wrote 21 pages today then cut three out but still ended up with a 57 page script. Not bad for a week's work.

Don’t know what the heck I’m talking about? You should probably read my blog post that explains why I am writing my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script.

In the meantime, here it is! My complete part 1 of a 2 part series finale of Battlestar Galactica written by me:

Direct link to pdf

I'm no longer going to use the Scribd embed from Drop.io since they're flaky. The last time I used one it only displayed the first 7 pages of the PDF and the previous embeds just vanished after a few days. Not sure what's up with that, but I'm definitely going to complain to Drop.io. I am a paying customer after all.

AS USUAL, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is (C) Universal Studios! The script itself is (C) ThePete! But UniStu can have it if I can come into pitch. Fairnuff, methinks.

NOTES FOR THIS SCRIPT: Not much to say except I'm pretty happy with it so far. I keep wracking my brains for any characters or plotlines I may have missed that need to be tied up, but I think I've managed to include them all or will include them in part 2.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a first draft script--I have not reread the entire thing and have not proofread it! THERE ARE MISTAKES, just chill. I'm not Mozart. However, I think if the story is good, who cares about the FX, right?

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Act 4)

Yep, it's the middle of the night, here in NYC, what ELSE could I be posting, HM?

It's another updated version of part 1 of my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script!

This edition has up to the end of Act 4. I've made no changes to the previous acts, so you can skip directly to the beginning of Act 4 if you've been keeping up with me as I've been writing. THANK YOU for doing so, if you have! It's a big help to know that people are reading my stuff as I go (it's how I read it!).

New to my site or don't know what the heck I'm talking about? You should probably read my blog post that explains why I am writing my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script.

Without further babbling from me, here's the link to the Drop.io-housed PDF:

http://drop.io/thepetecom/asset/bsg-the-big-end-20090315-pdf#

And here is the requisite Scribd window if you just want to read it right here:

Battlestar Galactica is (c) Universal Studios, etc, etc. But the script is MINE, but I'll trade UniStu for it in exchange for some pitch meetings. :P

Not much to say about this one. It did run a bit long again and there's a scene I didn't write (basically left out the B plot--whoops! But really it's sort of in there), but generally everything went fine and I even surprised myself and veered away from my outline a bit.

That's always the big worry for some writers (like me)--we're afraid if we do an outline before we start writing it'll dominate and limit what we write. For me, in this instance, that's not happened. So, YAY!

One more act to write and then it's on to part 2 of my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script!

I've got just about six days to get this thing done! Wish me luck and feel free to hurl encouraging words at me! They really help!

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Act 3)

As I said in my lifestream a few minutes ago: Wow. Heavy Act 3. Didn't expect that to effect me the way it did. Ran a little long, too.

Curious what the heck I'm talking about? I've just finished writing Act 3 (of 5) of part 1 of my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale. Click here to read my original post that explains all about the why's and wherefore's behind me writing my own Battlestar Galactica series finale.

FOR THE RECORD: I am avoiding both parts of the real 2-part BSG series finale until I am done with mine. No sense being influenced by the writing of the guys that got us this messy-ass plot in the first place, right?

ALSO: The goal is to have part 1 and part 2 done by Friday, March 20, when the real part 2 of the actual Battlestar Galactica series finale airs. Yep, so I have 2 more acts to write in part 1, then a teaser and five more acts after that to finish in about seven days. Good thing I write fast. Do I write good--er--well? Why not judge for yourself?

Here is the teaser and Acts 1-3 of "The Big End" part 1:

PDF on Drop.io:

http://drop.io/thepetecom/asset/bsg-the-big-end-20090314-pdf

And here is the Scribd window with the PDF in it:

Battlestar Galactica, the characters, settings and so on, are all (c) Universal Studios, blah-blah-blah. HOWEVER, this is my script. UniStu can HAVE it if they want it, but in exchange, I get to come in and pitch some stuff. That's a fair deal, I think.

I don't have any other notes aside from that I did get one bit of feedback from Shindo of http://shindotv.com asking about Cavil and Co. It was a great point and while I still haven't addressed it in Act 3, I will in Act 4. I almost did it in this act, but it was just too long anyway. Oh and thanks for the shoutout in your recent iPod Shuffle-slam post, Shin! We seem to agree on a few things, don't we?

My Own Battlestar Galactica Series Finale Script (Act 2)

All right, so I just finished up Act 2 of my very own Battlestar Galactica series finale script--well, part 1 of the finale, anyway (my finale, like the real one will actually be two episodes long). I'm very happy with my second act and I'm shocked it went as smoothly and as quickly as it did. Maybe outlines really ARE a good thing?

Anyway, so here it is in two forms for easy reading:

1) The below link will send you to a Drop.io page with a direct link to a PDF of the entire script so far (sorry, it's just easier to include the previous work with the new):

http://drop.io/thepetecom/asset/bsg-the-big-end-20090313a-pdf

2) You can read it below in a Scribd window:

Battlestar Galactica is (c) Universal Studios. As I said last night, the story elements in this script are (c) ME, but if Universal Studios wants the thing, they can have it. Just give me credit and let me come in and pitch some series ideas I have. ;)

No big notes here. I wish I could include more of the extracurricular characters but I want to tie the major plots up and I don't want to shortchange them by getting distracted.

Don't know what the heck I'm talking about or want to read the original teaser and Act 1 (I've rewritten both) from my very own BSG finale script? Go to my original post on it.