I thought you ate her or something. Well. . .the Island is a big one.

-Is making 'OH, OH, OH' sounds right now, you just can't hear it.- It's all clearer to me now. I always find it incredible that some people can do two things so incredibly--for instance, coding AND writing. To me, they seem so very different, using entirely different parts of the brain. I could be wrong, as I do not do any coding myself, but in any case, the patience required is beyond my capabilities. I attempted to learn HTML and know very basic things and can usually figure out simple codes/commands but WOAH. The level of skill, memorization, and patience just amazes. Putting an entire site together and maintaining it is mind-blowing. I respect anyone that can do that FULL TIME AND write all of the interesting and wonderful stories/plots/etc. like we have in I.I. It is a true pleasure to be a part of the community and to get to take part in the fun.

Thanks for replying and clearing up some things for me

By the way, Zpat, I gave her a key to your dwelling. She said something about showing up with a moving van to claim a bed or two in return for all the back alimony you owe ...

Flatter me enough, I'll bite.

I'll probably write a blog post about this one day, but here's the short version: I don't write novels because I can do more with a text adventure game than I can with a novel.

In a novel, I can't suddenly take away something (say, a logo graphic) that the reader has been looking at for dozens (in some cases hundreds; in a few cases thousands) of hours, in order to make the experience of a given plot point more unsettling.

In a novel, I can't have the words tell one side of the story, and the packaging tell a completely contradictory side (you'll understand when you see the next Watcher plot point, coming soon!). In a novel, the people reading it aren't all playing with each other to extend the story beyond the page.

And, importantly, unless you self-publish, then writing a novel earns you really, really shit pay. Seriously, far less than minimum wage. The publishing industry has been completely fucked for decades now, and thankfully all the major publishers will either change dramatically or die off within the next three or four years. And I'll say good riddance to 'em.

(yeah... three years ago I thought "You know what, I give newspapers another ten years, tops, and CD's another eight." And I thought that was kind of radical. It turned out to be a very conservative estimate. If you think the world seems to turn faster because you're getting old, you're wrong - it really is getting faster all the time)

That said, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a half-baked novel sitting on my hard drive, getting some extra icing every couple of weeks.

We're not saying you have to be a novelist Dan. After all you make far more money off of us than you would off of book royalties, and we're much happier that way. (Or at least I am. I'd rather not have you get only 3% or so of what I payed for a book and the rest go to publishers and such.)

---

A magpie's work is never done.

I'm totally willing to edit that bad boy if you ever feel an urge to publish on a whim, regardless of your feelings about the publishing industry (and I have no doubt you're correct), just saying.



This is true. Goodness no! You don't have to be a novelist. You don't even have to be a novelist to write novels--Look at the U.S., we publish novels by just about anyone these days. In any case, it is good to know there are sites like this that are labors of love by honestly talented people (and no, I'm not purposefully brown-nosing--it is coincidental). You likely do make more money on this site than you would writing books, but regardless, I believe it is still great that you get your words out there. The fact that I can read your words a few bajillion miles away in another country is pretty awesome, and I'm not complaining that it's free. I'm just saying it surprised me that it was/is free. I'm certainly ecstatic about it.

No, as far as I can tell you don't get a second chance.


And I would kindly remind you sir, that a sense of self preservation isn't boring.
I can't wait for you all to turn into mindless zombies so Swede can go "Evil Dead" on you.

Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaains!

Sorry, I just came back from New Pittsburgh.

Swede is off to get his chainsaw attached and loads his boomstick.
Things are happening faster than I anticipated.

So I've just got back from the doctor's, with a bottle of eye drops for my right eye which developed a nasty infection a couple of days after I wrote that quest. It hurts when the corners of my eyes wrinkle up, so I'm trying not to smile.

You wanna fuckin' talk about life imitating art...

So long as it doesn't start glowing orange. If it does...well, I've heard masks are in. Everyone will be wearing them in the future!

---

Judging by the chaos, I've been here already.

Hello. Should I befriend you?

---

I'm so, so lonely so

You look like you really need a friend desperately, sir.

How odd, my nose is bleeding again... But then again, I have a blood clotting issue. So surely it is just that, right?

The Gentleman is coming by
Looking in windows,
Knocking on doors...

The Drive followed me home? Or was it the Stranger who showed up at the dorm?

Nah, it's Blic-news. They want you to see their blog, and they're willing to slap you in the face with their front page.

---

I make the many models of a mutant individual. To make them I use vegetables, animals, and minerals. From robot bugs to zombie bears to many singing barnacles.

Oh no! I thought I told them to stop trolling! My yard is already full of fliers and people!

Has anyone linked to this yet? Marble Hornets

---

Goat Collector

I wish why you believe this is me, yes?

---

I'm so, so lonely so

Beeps, you bastard*. I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks, and I'm only up to Entry #20!

*And I mean bastard in the most loving way, of course.

---

Thank you.