Case File Updates

The site has been "updated." I took out the goofy CGI stuff that ran the front page and its linked stories. Instead, it's plain old HTML, lacking even style sheets or document-specified fonts/colors. I guess it's kind of ugly, but that's not what matters, anyway.

More importantly, I added "Equinox" to the list. I was holding off until I sent it to a publisher, but I decided I'll just keep it. If you haven't already read it, take a look!

I also removed Armored Core. This is due in part to the old conversion issue I had that caused all em-dashes to become ellipses. Mainly, though, I am fixing it up so that all the formatting remains intact, including italics, "smart quotes," and what have you. Because the damn thing is so long, I'll have to comb through it before I can put it back up. The stories I already have here should suffice.

Finally, I'll be adding some of my older stories from high school. These are not very good, but it's still some nice history.

L = r x p

A spin-off, it is. Literally. From Equinox's home system were hurled a number of uninhabited planets that the original rulers of Equinox quickly forgot (well, they also died, of course). One of these planets has happened into a small, poor solar system that is home to a colony of miners.

I'm 8900 words in, and less than half-way through Part I. It's a funny thing: every story I write overshadows the last. I thought it was perhaps because it took me so long to write a story (usually one short per year), but even with my extremely quick turnaround from writing "Equinox," the familiar jump in skill and spirit is still present; it's not a time-based thing, after all. The only limit is how quickly I can write a story.

For now, I'm enjoying this one too much to rush it. I know this attention to quality and detail will pay off for the reader.

Dub, Edits, and Whiskey-Coke

Chab is a musician from Switzerland. His album, Dub, Edits and Whisky-Coke, is a recurring favorite of mine. Most of the tracks harbor some hidden bitterness or sadness that is so cold it's beautiful to hear. Next time you're feeling just a little bit alone, listen to "Sunrise." You'll shiver and look around yourself. If you want to know what I listened to as I was writing "Subject B," have a listen.

I've begun a new story that will be part of a trilogy. The focus this time is not only a superb plot, but more character development than my writing of the past two years has attempted. It's a spin-off of Equinox, but beyond happy coincidence on the part of the characters, nothing is shared between Equinox and this trilogy. I have a very positive feeling about this project; it's the beginning of a steep ascent.

Speaking of Equinox, those of you who haven't read it and would like to: let me know. I'm not going to put it on this site unless it is rejected from the magazine to which I'm sending it. I do not want to get into legal trouble for providing a free online version of something that another party would own. In any case, I can certainly send it to individuals, so e-mail me if you want it.

I received Oblivion With Bells a few days ago. It is an album of singular beauty. There are parts that grate on me a little, but the more I listen, the more I like everything. This record is a masterpiece. Every time I start listening to it, I say to myself, "this is the last time." But once it's over, I put it on again. Underworld is to music what I want to be to writing: an entity of pure artistic freedom. I'm glad that they now have complete control over their music (the Oblivion cover proudly displays that the music inside is (c) Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, trading as Underworld. Can you imagine what that's like?

I think it's also about time to do another batch of Sketch Wars. Perhaps if readers tune in tonight, they will see a new sketch.

Let's Go Red Sox

Public Dispersion of Equinox Begins

To Be Me

New sketch

Underworld Live Backstage

Phonestrap 6/Autotrader 4 by Underworld is amazing.

Softskines

My Moleskine dream comes true

Can't Type No More

Do the things I do

Check out the latest Sketch War.

In other news, I have begun typing "Equinox." This step should be complete soon.

Also, "Spikee" is one of Underworld's greatest early works. Spin it some day.

The Sun Rises on Equinox

I received "Spikee/Dogman Go Woof." Still have to listen to it (that comes tomorrow).

Oh, yes, and "Equinox" is finally done! I wrote over 2,000 words today for an exhilerating to a thrilling story. Next comes typing and revision!

Destin Heureux

I've finally tipped away from the stalled middle ground I achieved in "Equinox," with nearly one thousand more words written since the weekend began. It took a lot of bourbon, to be sure. There's a lot I'm not satisfied with (especially the really limited nature of show-n-tell that goes on), but I think this story, more than any other I've written, will have a truly rough draft. I've always found it a good method to cringe at not sweating the details, but continuing anyway. When I start editing, I will take care of the problems.

Lisa and I came up with a new game to play: Sketch Wars. We both need to practice our abilities far more often that we often do, so I decided that every day, we would challenge each other with some kind of short work, a sketch. I'll tell her to draw something I think of, and she'll tell me to write in the manner of her choice. The first challenge is tonight. I'll post results and observations here if they prove to be fun and interesting.

Core Dump

It just came to my attention that the Armored Core text on my site has an embarrassing error. You see, when I typed the story, I used a Mac. The software inserted UTF16 characters, and so I ended up getting really stupid stuff like "smart quotes," ellipses (instead of "..."), and weird em-dashes. Well, when I decided to put these stories on the site, I wrote a conversion script to strip all those 16-bit characters from the text and replace them with something more reasonable. Somewhere along the way, I made it convert all the funky em-dashes into "..." and now the story seems really vague. Converting back to em-dashes isn't going to work, since I already had instances of "..." that will get caught up in the conversion process. Oops.

In other news, I finally found someone who wanted the UW/NYC tickets! That's a huge weight off my shoulders. I didn't want to be stuck with two unused tickets for the rest of my life. Talk about regret! In an e-mail to the "winner" of the tickets, I revealed this about how I think when I buy things:

[...] When I buy things, I consider the money 100% "lost." Well, I guess a better term would be "100% non-refundable." Thus, I tend to try to get as much enjoyment out of that thing as possible, but if for some reason I lose it or can't use it, I don't feel that I have to recoup my losses. It's probably a bad philosophy for business, but it lets me stay calm when things don't work out as I expected. And it probably encourages me to make more careful purchases.

With that out of the way, it's time to get psyched for UW/Boston. Maybe I'll even see the guys wandering around the city! It's funny, because I drafted a letter to Underworld about a year ago, but I never sent it, mostly because it was really short, didn't express what I felt, and asked too much about Mother Earth/The Hump. I think I'll rewrite that letter. But I'll still keep my eyes open for Karl and Rick in Boston.

Notebook 3 has a few more ideas in it. Most of them are related to my classes, but as usual, there are a few thoughts of unknown origin. When I get back from class today, I'll write a little more "Equinox." Now that I've spent so much time fiddling around with it and winding it up, it will be fun to let the story loose, to see where it will go. I think the conclusion of "Equinox" will also be the conclusion of my beloved writing notebook, a Moleskine Volant, my last surviving specimen of the Volant series. I really miss those things; while the largest Cahiers are actually of excellent quality, the smaller two sizes, especially the pocket ones, seem as though they were thrown together. The paper is also less receptive to my ink. What's odd is that almost a year ago, I sent an e-mail asking where to find any left-over Volants. Here's the exchange (my message is quoted):

from: Info Modo & Modo

to: Jon Irons

date: Oct 13, 2006 10:43 AM

subject: R: Moleskine Volant

Dear Jon,

you are not the first nor the last to lament the loss of the Volant, but don't despair, we're working on something. For now I can just give you the contact of our US distributor who might still have some remnants (we don't, sorry)

Kikkerland Design Inc.:

LKellner@Kikkerland.com

Tel. 001-212-678-2250

www.kikkerland.com

I remain at your disposal if you have other questions.

Best regards

Silvia Contestabile

Commercial Department

MODO&MODO

V.le Porta Vercellina 10

20123 Milano

www.modoemodo.com

-----Messaggio originale-----

Dear Modo e Modo,

I began using your Moleskine notebooks a few years ago, starting with a set of three small Volants and a set of three large Volants. I enjoy just about all of your notebooks, but I feel that the new Cahier line is lacking a solidarity that I felt from the Volant.

I understand that the Volant was discontinued, and I won't waste our time begging that you bring it back (but, please do!); I would simply like to know if you have any stock left that I can purchase, or know of any distributors still selling them. I live in the United States of America, if that helps.

Thank you for reviving the wonderful Moleskines. I use them every day.

--

Jon Irons

Since then, I've never seen any announcements for a new volant-style book. However, Modo e Modo came out with a soft-cover planner that made me hopeful that we would soon see a Neovolant. That still remains to be seen.

Equinox's Equinox

I'm about half-way through my latest story, "Equinox." It's undoubtedly the best I've written so far. If you want to spoil a lot of the surprise, check this out. It leads to what is a subset of my notebooks (the password, in case you need to know, is gochoo. Enjoy the suspense!