Beexbook

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:58

Grim... wrote:

If I said "we should write some short sci-fi stories and publish them on lulu.com" would anyone care, or would I end up with one story?

Well then, here's a thread.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49252

I'd have a go. I suspect I wouldn't actually come out with anything at the end of it, though.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:02

Some more about Lulu - basically they take your book, and publish it on demand (ie. they print one copy when someone orders one). They can also stick an ISBN number on it and sell it on Amazon, and turn it into an eBook.

In my head, however, this isn't ever going to make us any money. It's just for funzies. If, somehow, it does make monies, I promise to share it among everyone that helps.

Note that you could help by proofreading or helping set out the book in the first place or just by dropping in and saying "HOLY SHIT I'D LOVE TO READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY INTERNET NERDS!".

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:03

Any other considerations Grim...? Length, Genre

, etc.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:05

Nope. I just said sci-fi because the story I have in my head is sci-fi, and I remember reading a couple of awesome stories on the forum, one about probability and the beings that control it, one about everything stopping but humans, and one (yeah, I know) about time travel and not choosing to go back in yearly increments.

Length-wise, dunno. "Short".

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

As I said in Bn'B, I'd definitely give it a go as I've been wanting to do some writing for a while and could do with a goal to aim towards. Whether or not I'd get anything finished is another matter, but I'd definitely give it a go.

As Zardoz was saying, what else do we need to do? What sort of genre do you want the stories to be? Do they need to link together in some way of have some kind of recurring theme or anything?

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:08

Zio wrote:

Do they need to link together in some way of have some kind of recurring theme or anything?

Nah, don't think so. Do you think?
I know nothing about this sort of thing, so the people that do should probably decide this stuff.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Just to check, as I'm sure it's not a problem, but presumably you don't hand over copyright to your stuff to lulu.com when you publish via them, right? Only I'd like to still legally own anything I did produce for this project, should I actually defy all convention and actually produce anything at all.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:16

It does look that way, yes.
However, for telling me I was "doing it wrong" Gaywood is now in charge of publishing. I'm sure his wealth of experience will serve us all well when the book doesn't get written

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Stealing my jokes and volunteering me. You scamp.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:19

Not so much 'stealing' as 'coming up with the same one'.

Let's see if we write the same story, too.

The Rev Owen · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:21

Grim... wrote:

one about everything stopping but humans

That's mine! I would be quite happy to see it in the Beexbook.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:24

First story whoo!

Who has ideas about putting the collection of books together for proof-reading, etc. Here on the forum? On a Googledoc?

Trousers · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 3073

I'll have a go at knocking something up for this - how many words is a short story on average?

End of an Era · **Joined:** 25th Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 1041

2000-10000 usually...

Not a bad idea, this. Instead of a book, though, could I suggest a magazine format? That way you won't need that many entries to get something published and if there is more interest (aka more contributions) you could do another issue.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 14:09

Count me in for any graphics/illos, obv.

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3308

I'm not much of a writer, but I'm a reasonable proof reader, very happy to look through and correct typos, make other suggestions.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Grim... wrote:

and one (yeah, I know) about time travel and not choosing to go back in yearly increments.

Thats mine. Would be happy to have it in (and tart it up).

We should dig out that thread. It was ace.

Reminded me that I need to finish my Unix AI geek story. As the ending rocks. (In my head)

kim · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 14:24

I'm very good at formatting for various electronic readers. I could do a dump of all formats (azw, mobi, prc, epub etc)

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:03

I'm wary of vanity-publishing, as it makes me feel like I've taken the easy way out after failing at becoming a writer properly.

So, I might pass. Or, possibly, this idea will let me try to develop a slightly thicker skin and send out some of my many short stories to real publishers, as I stopped after a mere three rejections last time, which is pretty lame for an aspiring writer!

Anyway, would there be quality control / editing in this BeexBook?

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:05

Curiosity wrote:

Anyway, would there be quality control / editing in this BeexBook?

Well volunteered!

kalmar · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:09

I might be up for editorzing if needed.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:24

Grim... wrote:

Curiosity wrote:

Anyway, would there be quality control / editing in this BeexBook?

Well volunteered!

I'm a very harsh critic (and probably also came across as a bit wanky in my last post).

Possibly not best for me to do it if we ever want it to see the light of day...

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:25

Well unvolunteered!

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 15:26

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Fucksake. I appear to have spent the entirity of this afternoon doing research for my story idea rather than, y' know, the work my employer pays me to do.

The Rev Owen · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 16:10

Zio wrote:

Fucksake. I appear to have spent the entirity of this afternoon doing research for my story idea rather than, y' know, the work my employer pays me to do.

You've not been watching the World Cup on iPlayer like everyone else in offices around the country?

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

The Rev Owen wrote:

Zio wrote:

Fucksake. I appear to have spent the entirity of this afternoon doing research for my story idea rather than, y' know, the work my employer pays me to do.

You've not been watching the World Cup on iPlayer like everyone else in offices around the country?

No. But you've just given me a much more socially-acceptable excuse for when my employers notice my lack of any work.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

I published the TATP magazine through Lulu so I am very aware of the formatting problems and printing errors you may get. I will help you for great justice.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 21:24

Is 'Doomed to failure' going to be the title of our stories, or just a ray of optimism for the project?

I've never tried sci-fi before, but it's just fiction...IN SPACE, so will be a fun challenge.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:21

You have my .doc, sir.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 16:47

And my axe!

Sorry.

My mind has been fluttering off places while working, so I might throw something at this. I’m working properly on a short story at the moment but that is being held in reserve, instead I think I’ll write something straight onto BETEO and post it up if people become hooked. Quick brain splurge:

Quote:

She was tall and regal, rake-thin and stooped. She was my auntie; stubble flame red hair and the flickering neon eyes of a whaler. Her voice was plumy and jovial and scratched as she greeted me in the hotel lobby. A valet stood at her elbow, head bowed respectfully. The squeaking of leather filled the room as bodies shifted upon sofas, allowing discreet yet excited eyes to register her. In the corner a thin young man took a photo and marked her on a notepad, ran out of the lobby grinning.

“I’m a day late. I do apologise, Henry. The lane simply clotted with traffic.”

I walked over to her, offered her my hand. It seemed the respectful thing to do. After all, I’d never seen before in my life. Only heard her voice once before, on the docking wave as her Whale came in to rest. I owned myself a little intimidated. After all, she was one of them.

That'll get it anchored in my mind for later embiggenings.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:09

End of an Era wrote:

2000-10000 usually...

Generally, you're looking at 500 words per page, so 10,000 words is 20 type set pages.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:30

I am wary, as I always am about any new project, about getting stuck in the details.

May I suggest that we write our stories first, aiming for somewhere between 2,000 and 10,000 words, and then we can go over the specifics?

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:34

http://www.fishpublishing.com/writing-short-stories.php

Quite useful for a 'test yourself', maybe.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:20

Quote:

I’d begun going to The Spiral Arm on an intermittent basis, mostly to relieve the tension of the working day, or to be in the company of some other humans on those rare days off. It’s a dirty place, make no mistake. I would not hasten to guess the last time the floors had been scrubbed. The sills and surfaces having shielded themselves from the glare of the lights through a layer of grime so thick that glasses shied from leaving indentations for fear of what lay beneath.

This afternoon, it was not really too much different to any other. The place was quiet by its weekday, mid-afternoon standards. The jukebox was playing the patriotic songs that the Landlord was fond of. He’d increase or decrease the volume depending on the song. Always louder for the victories; Quieter, or muted, for the memorial dirges. The video displays dotted around the place silently showed highlights and replays of sporting events gone by, statistics flashing up in vivid colors at the bottom of the screen, conveying information of the utmost importance to few present.

The old man at the bar, I had come to learn his name to be Smith, was seemingly ever present. His knurled, arthritic fingers clasping the glass of whisky to hold it steady, as he added just the tiniest splash of water from a decanter, using the other hand. The water in the decanter rippling as his hand shook. I rarely saw him pay for a drink, but I’d seen the totals being added to a ledger. Presumably, he was to pay at the end of each week. More likely, at his own convenience. Overhearing the conversations of other people, he had either seen very active service in the Patriotic Wars or had been a tremendously talented musician, until the arthritis caught up with him. Either, or even both, had certainly had a detrimental effect on him.

The main doors slid open, and two men walked in. Their dirty working boots, oil stained coveralls, naturally tied off at the waist to reveal grubby khaki vests marked them out as loaders. Spending all day moving freight from the belly of one starship to the warehouse was gruelling work, almost on the verge of cruelty. They were excitedly chattering to one another, the taller loader more animated than his companion.

“48 loads!” he exclaimed. “48 loads. A new record! They’ll find it exceedingly tough to beat that, the fuckers”

The expression that crossed his companions face was one of both pride and embarrassment at the same time.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

We should also ask people from the photos thread to use some of their work to illustrate the book with.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:25

They might struggle to get photos for mine, as it involves spaceships and shit going 'bang'

Derek The Halls · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 3742

I'd like to submit something that is a possible slight revision of this:

http://www.erantsplendens.com/?p=143

I like Micro-Stories.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:26

Mr Russell wrote:

We should also ask people from the photos thread to use some of their work to illustrate the book with.

Don't be daft, we'll just make a reasonable search to find out who took the photo, and when that fails, declare it an orphan work and whack it in.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:27

Mr Russell wrote:

We should also ask Zardoz to illustrate the book for cash. Big cash.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

MaliA wrote:

http://www.fishpublishing.com/writing-short-stories.php

Quite useful for a 'test yourself', maybe.

Is the first test: Don't write in comic sans?

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

Zardoz. Illustrate my site a decent logo. For no cash.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:29

MrsA's kindly volunteered to draw upon her experience as a publisher to cover most of the stuff that that entails. She's got muchos professional experience, so in good hands.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:37

Mr Russell wrote:

Zardoz. Illustrate my site a decent logo. For no cash.

No cash version for you.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

That's almost as good as the version a mate made for me when it was still DVD Bargain Hunter:

Attachment:

barginhumper.jpg

throughsilver · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6197

Dear god. Has that dude killed anyone yet?

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

throughsilver wrote:

Dear god. Has that dude killed anyone yet?

Just people made entirely of eyes.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

Why does it say "C U S" on his sleeve?

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12349

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

Why does it say "C U S" on his sleeve?

It's a lower case 'russ'.

Either that or we finally found a photo of CUS we can use for public consumption.

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