A Joke Worth Sharing

SEVEN BAR JOKES
INVOLVING GRAMMAR
AND PUNCTUATION.

BY ERIC K. AULD

1. A comma splice walks into a bar, it has a drink and then leaves.

2. A dangling modifier walks into a bar. After finishing a drink, the bartender asks it to leave.

3. A question mark walks into a bar?

4. Two quotation marks “walk into” a bar.

5. A gerund and an infinitive walk into a bar, drinking to drink.

6. The bar was walked into by the passive voice.

7. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.

WorldCon: Renovation

I've been here since Tuesday but like so many find it hard to find any time to write/blog/anything but attend panels, eat and enjoy the company.

It is brilliant company, for the record.

I have enjoyed panels with such esteemed people as Connie Willis, Brandon Sanderson, Jim Kelly, Pat Rothfuss, Matt Rotundo, Glen Cook, Ken Schols, Carrie Vaughn and oh-so-many more. Name dropapalooza. Not that I spoke to many of these, mind you, but I tried to absorb the wisdom.

The panels are fabulous, the parties are happening, and I am very happy.

UnCONventional now listed in Goodreads

This whole things because more and more surreal. You can now see "UnCONventional" listed on goodreads, with my name in the bio and everything. Crazy, right?? These sort of things I never thought of when I dreamt about seeing my name in print.

I'm grateful to the editors, Kate Kaynak and Trish Wooldridge, for keeping us in the loop on all of the exciting developments!

First Sale EVER!

I've blitzed the internet about this, but I wanted to put up a quick post here as well - I sold my first story, ever!, today and I am utterly overwhelmed by how good it feels.

Photo via Trish's blog

"The Sirens" will appear in Spencer Hill Press' "UnCONventional" anthology, due out January 2012. Not only did I sell a story, I will actually get to see my name in print. To hold a book with my story in it. Does life get better than this?

Westercon 64 Rundown

I can't believe this is my third con this year! It feels like FOGCon and Potlatch happened so long ago. And in some ways, they are all blurring together.

Westercon was held in the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. May I say, major props to the location. It was spacious and there are plenty of dining choices nearby.

As for the con itself, it was small. Much smaller than expected, clearly. The rooms felt crowded in by all the chairs, 95% of them empty. I was glad for the chance to spend some time with my dad, and to see Erin Hoffman on a number of panels. I made a few new friends, but not so many as I did at FOGCon or Potlatch, and certainly not even close to the friendships I formed at NASFIC.

I do plan to go to the next Westercon in Seattle next year, because the GOH will be Robin Hobb. But right now, I'm pretty lukewarm about this con. Still super excited for Renovation though!!

In a rut? 29 Ways to fix that!

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Speed Bump Comic of the Day

Ah yes, I know this feeling well...

Review: The Goddess Test

Hey look! A photo!

Aimée Carter's debut novel, The Goddess Test, is a fun, well written modernization of the Hades/Persephone myth. This story kept me guessing until the very last page! A very enjoyable, speedy read. Oh, and did I mention that I am buds with the author? Total cool factor.

Congratulations to Aimée on her debut, and all her hard work!

If you want a chance to have a character named after you in the third book of this series, head on over to her blog!

The Periodic Table of Storytelling

via deviantart & neaotrama

Seriously, how glorious? This must have taken ages. My personal favorite is Foo. Yours?

Genre for Japan

Want to support the relief efforts in Japan?

Want to score a signed copy of ANANSI BOYS? Or a critique by Suzanne McLeod? What about a custom manga sketch?

Seriously, this shit is cool, as is the cause. Check it out! Auctions wrap up Sunday.