the ramble dump
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Aftermath
TA Chapter 5 now ends how I originally intended it to. I ended up leaving it at a bit of a stupid point because I was running out of time, but wanted to get it online anyway. 'I've come this far...' sort of thing.
Yesterday was a good day. A very good day. Probably the most productive day I've had since FMIT was conceived. I was writing from 11AM to 7PM with only a few short breaks! And then we went out for a meal, something which I didn't find out about until about four o'clock, so the time I had left was unexpectedly shortened. Then, when we got back, I got straight to work again before getting on the computer to type up and package everything. And, even though Chapter 5 was cut short, I managed to get everything besides the blog post done before midnight (I had to make a placeholder for that).
I was considering a Day 4 on Thursday night, just to extend my deadline. I'd only done about a page of Chapter 3 when I gave up on it and played some Halo 2. Which, may I add, did wonders, and by the time I went to bed I was feeling confident I could get it all done. I HAD THE STAMINA!!
So... today I keep feeling like I should be doing something, and have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to. There are still some minor loose ends to sort out, but they can be done at a nice, leisurely pace; and yeah, I have homework, but who ever does homework these days?
And now: a short hiatus. Not for too long, because, as Melia pointed out, the site is in a constant state of launch, but just enough to let off some steam. I'm really tired. And I might do some other stuff before I go back to writing. I have lots of ideas for drawings, and the sketchbook is looking pretty miserable.
Anyway, as all the different characters reach precarious points in their various adventures, I hope that you're interested enough to want to check back every now and then, to see what happens next.
My desk is covered with piles of paper. I'll probably need to sort that out at some point. Things keep sliding off.
Yesterday was a good day. A very good day. Probably the most productive day I've had since FMIT was conceived. I was writing from 11AM to 7PM with only a few short breaks! And then we went out for a meal, something which I didn't find out about until about four o'clock, so the time I had left was unexpectedly shortened. Then, when we got back, I got straight to work again before getting on the computer to type up and package everything. And, even though Chapter 5 was cut short, I managed to get everything besides the blog post done before midnight (I had to make a placeholder for that).
I was considering a Day 4 on Thursday night, just to extend my deadline. I'd only done about a page of Chapter 3 when I gave up on it and played some Halo 2. Which, may I add, did wonders, and by the time I went to bed I was feeling confident I could get it all done. I HAD THE STAMINA!!
So... today I keep feeling like I should be doing something, and have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to. There are still some minor loose ends to sort out, but they can be done at a nice, leisurely pace; and yeah, I have homework, but who ever does homework these days?
And now: a short hiatus. Not for too long, because, as Melia pointed out, the site is in a constant state of launch, but just enough to let off some steam. I'm really tired. And I might do some other stuff before I go back to writing. I have lots of ideas for drawings, and the sketchbook is looking pretty miserable.
Anyway, as all the different characters reach precarious points in their various adventures, I hope that you're interested enough to want to check back every now and then, to see what happens next.
My desk is covered with piles of paper. I'll probably need to sort that out at some point. Things keep sliding off.
Labels: halo, the aberration, the launch
Friday, February 24, 2006
The Launch: Day 3
Three years ago I started posting stories online for all the world to see. The protagonist of that first story, the Halo parody, was Master Beef.
Master Beef now resides in The Aberration, the story that has always been and will always be the flagship of Fat Man In Tweed. It's been through so many different drafts and ideas while I've tried to figure out what I want it to be. There's been Beatles tribute concerts, daytime TV shows, surreal court cases, Bible kissing, art gallery thefts, giant sandcastles, mutant old ladies and a massive mob of enraged biddies invading a huge football match.
But I think I've finally decided on something I'm happy with. And it's not really any less insane.
Today, as the third and final part of the initial launch, I bring you chapters three, four and five of The Aberration. Chapter 3, which I wrote only this week, has completely lost the aforementioned court case as Mike's story becomes more relevant to everyone else's. Chapter 4 is more or less the same as it has been since I finished it last year, with a few minor tweaks here and there, and remains my favourite chapter so far. Chapter 5, most of which I wrote today, finally departs from the terrace-lined streets the story has been lingering at for so long for the wonders that I've had planned for a good while.
And now you've been well and truly acquainted with the fat men in tweed, a concept that I've had in my brain for years and used repeatedly, and that has now ended up as the name of this website.
Also, something extra.
Fat Man In Tweed. I gave myself deadlines, and I got it all done, if only just. My last-minute habits have threatened to destroy me this past week, but still... I did it.
[lengthy sob]
I did it.
Thank you, and good night.
Master Beef now resides in The Aberration, the story that has always been and will always be the flagship of Fat Man In Tweed. It's been through so many different drafts and ideas while I've tried to figure out what I want it to be. There's been Beatles tribute concerts, daytime TV shows, surreal court cases, Bible kissing, art gallery thefts, giant sandcastles, mutant old ladies and a massive mob of enraged biddies invading a huge football match.
But I think I've finally decided on something I'm happy with. And it's not really any less insane.
Today, as the third and final part of the initial launch, I bring you chapters three, four and five of The Aberration. Chapter 3, which I wrote only this week, has completely lost the aforementioned court case as Mike's story becomes more relevant to everyone else's. Chapter 4 is more or less the same as it has been since I finished it last year, with a few minor tweaks here and there, and remains my favourite chapter so far. Chapter 5, most of which I wrote today, finally departs from the terrace-lined streets the story has been lingering at for so long for the wonders that I've had planned for a good while.
And now you've been well and truly acquainted with the fat men in tweed, a concept that I've had in my brain for years and used repeatedly, and that has now ended up as the name of this website.
Also, something extra.
Fat Man In Tweed. I gave myself deadlines, and I got it all done, if only just. My last-minute habits have threatened to destroy me this past week, but still... I did it.
[lengthy sob]
I did it.
Thank you, and good night.
Labels: halo, the aberration, the launch
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The Launch: Day 2
Once every six months or so, something amazing happens. A new Starcustard chapter is published.
Yep, there are now five chapters for your eating, and the fifth is completely new. There's a lot of new stuff in this chapter. A lot of stage-setting, so new locations and new characters.
There's also a little something extra in, strangely enough, the Starcustard Extras section.
Starcustard is...a bit weird. It's a tongue-in-cheek Universe with skateboarding slugs and talking fish and random nouns prefixed with 'space' (spacesheep, spacelounge, etc), but at times it can be incredibly dark and brutal. I won't spoil it for those who haven't yet read it, but there are quite a few rather unpleasant things that happen. And somehow, this fairytale-in-the-future idea we had over a year and a half ago has become something where even decisions on minor things have a massive impact on everything else, and even the more comical characters have depth.
Well, or so we hope.
Also this update: the Sketchbook is up, although there's nothing new in it, and so is the second chapter of The Aberration. The TV show and subsequent geriatric brawl are gone, and the narrative eye now focuses on smaller things. The plot plays out in pretty much the same way as it did in the old version, but there's still a lot that has changed.
And now I have to get back to work. Day 3 promises the best update yet, but only if I can get it done on time.
Yep, there are now five chapters for your eating, and the fifth is completely new. There's a lot of new stuff in this chapter. A lot of stage-setting, so new locations and new characters.
There's also a little something extra in, strangely enough, the Starcustard Extras section.
Starcustard is...a bit weird. It's a tongue-in-cheek Universe with skateboarding slugs and talking fish and random nouns prefixed with 'space' (spacesheep, spacelounge, etc), but at times it can be incredibly dark and brutal. I won't spoil it for those who haven't yet read it, but there are quite a few rather unpleasant things that happen. And somehow, this fairytale-in-the-future idea we had over a year and a half ago has become something where even decisions on minor things have a massive impact on everything else, and even the more comical characters have depth.
Well, or so we hope.
Also this update: the Sketchbook is up, although there's nothing new in it, and so is the second chapter of The Aberration. The TV show and subsequent geriatric brawl are gone, and the narrative eye now focuses on smaller things. The plot plays out in pretty much the same way as it did in the old version, but there's still a lot that has changed.
And now I have to get back to work. Day 3 promises the best update yet, but only if I can get it done on time.
Labels: the aberration, the launch
Monday, February 20, 2006
Interlude
plaid says:
did you ever get my letter, chris?
plaid says:
or is it lost forever?
Chris says:
i never got it
Chris says:
maybe it takes forever
plaid says:
not usually.
plaid says:
four or five days.
Chris says:
four or five forevers
Chris says:
that would make a good song title
plaid says:
maybe i'll have to go buy real 80 cent stamps
plaid says:
write a song then eh?
Chris says:
Four
Five
Four
Five
Forever!
Chris says:
how's that?
plaid says:
passable
Chris says:
yay
did you ever get my letter, chris?
plaid says:
or is it lost forever?
Chris says:
i never got it
Chris says:
maybe it takes forever
plaid says:
not usually.
plaid says:
four or five days.
Chris says:
four or five forevers
Chris says:
that would make a good song title
plaid says:
maybe i'll have to go buy real 80 cent stamps
plaid says:
write a song then eh?
Chris says:
Four
Five
Four
Five
Forever!
Chris says:
how's that?
plaid says:
passable
Chris says:
yay
Labels: alien conversations, the launch
The Launch: Day 1
Finally, it's here!
Wow!
Yay!
Huzzah!
Today is the first of the three launchdates, and I bringeth you three sparkly new City of Anarchy chapters.
Chapters One and Two of City of Anarchy have undergone a lot of change. Descriptions have been fleshed out, the structure has been smoothed out, and rubbish characters have been thrown out and replaced with better characters. These newly revised chapters generally do a much better job of setting the stage for the story than the original ones did. There's a lot of old stuff I've kept in, but nothing has gone without being updated, and there are some additions that really help add to the tone, making the creepy bits creepier, the dark bits darker, and the insane bits all the more insane.
Chapter Three is completely new. It wasn't until I'd finished writing it that I realised it has very little dialogue, especially compared to the first two chapters. It's an action chapter, and I'm pleased with the way this one turned out more than any of the others. It really gets the pace going, and there's a nice dose of suspense in there too. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Although there's been a fair amount of problems and difficulties writing these, in the end I've managed to overcome or get around most of them, and they've generally turned out as well as I'd hoped. If you've read the old versions of the first two chapters, I strongly recommend reading the newer versions before you move onto Chapter 3, because they are quite a bit different.
There's also the first chapter of The Aberration, which is pretty much the same as the version I put online back in September, but because of major changes being made in the subsequent chapters, there have been a few things changed, and you might want to read it again so you don't feel completely lost when you read the next chapter.
There's also a little something under About, and be sure to check out the other sections, too. Except Sketchbook, which won't be online until Wednesday.
The biggest of hugest thanks to Melia, who made FMIT's MEGA-ROCKIN' design. I love it, which is why our wedding is still on in Octember.
Until Wednesday...peace out!
Wow!
Yay!
Huzzah!
Today is the first of the three launchdates, and I bringeth you three sparkly new City of Anarchy chapters.
Chapters One and Two of City of Anarchy have undergone a lot of change. Descriptions have been fleshed out, the structure has been smoothed out, and rubbish characters have been thrown out and replaced with better characters. These newly revised chapters generally do a much better job of setting the stage for the story than the original ones did. There's a lot of old stuff I've kept in, but nothing has gone without being updated, and there are some additions that really help add to the tone, making the creepy bits creepier, the dark bits darker, and the insane bits all the more insane.
Chapter Three is completely new. It wasn't until I'd finished writing it that I realised it has very little dialogue, especially compared to the first two chapters. It's an action chapter, and I'm pleased with the way this one turned out more than any of the others. It really gets the pace going, and there's a nice dose of suspense in there too. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Although there's been a fair amount of problems and difficulties writing these, in the end I've managed to overcome or get around most of them, and they've generally turned out as well as I'd hoped. If you've read the old versions of the first two chapters, I strongly recommend reading the newer versions before you move onto Chapter 3, because they are quite a bit different.
There's also the first chapter of The Aberration, which is pretty much the same as the version I put online back in September, but because of major changes being made in the subsequent chapters, there have been a few things changed, and you might want to read it again so you don't feel completely lost when you read the next chapter.
There's also a little something under About, and be sure to check out the other sections, too. Except Sketchbook, which won't be online until Wednesday.
The biggest of hugest thanks to Melia, who made FMIT's MEGA-ROCKIN' design. I love it, which is why our wedding is still on in Octember.
Until Wednesday...peace out!
Labels: city of anarchy, floaty wise things, the aberration, the launch
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Upon the Edge of A Knife
Monday, February 06, 2006
Dot Com Ba-Dom-Bom
Apart from some typing up of stuff, work on City of Anarchy has been completed. And only a week and a day late, too. I've been working on it since the start of the year, so I'll be glad to move on to the next thing, even if I'm now running really short on time.
The next thing being: The Aberration. Master Beef enters his fourth year of existence this month. Woot.
Fatmanintweed.com is now mine. I don't really want to say much about anything at this point, but you can expect things to start happening there very soon.
The next thing being: The Aberration. Master Beef enters his fourth year of existence this month. Woot.
Fatmanintweed.com is now mine. I don't really want to say much about anything at this point, but you can expect things to start happening there very soon.
Labels: city of anarchy, the aberration, webtechnical
