Tom 7 Radar: Tomor Da

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Tomor Da (27 Sep 2004 at 01:03)

Happy birthday to me! I am now 25, a nice perfect square.

Today, my good health insurance expires (now I'm stuck with crummy student insurance) but my car insurance becomes cheaper.

In poker this evening, I almost quintupled my money. Thanks, poker gods!

I am still trying to figure out what my thesis will be about. This is probably the hardest part of graduate school so far.

About a month ago, I put out a proper Beta release of Escape, which I never mentioned here. Check it out! While people hunt for bugs and make levels, I have moved on to my next project, which is to get a head start on my nanowrimo for this year. This is that thing where you write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I did it last year with satisfying results, but I decided this year to change my strategy a bit. First, I am trying to ease the word pressure by writing ahead when I'm in the mood (it can be really painful to do 1700 words a day, especially after a long day of work...). Second, I am going to put a lot more illustrations in this book, perhaps aiming for 175 pages rather than 50,000 words. (It annoys me that illustrations don't normally count towards the goal, since they take significant time to do, and I think they make books more interesting!) I may not meet the stringent requirements of the project, but I'll have another "novel" by the end of November.

Word count: 3472

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Tadbot (pcp0010451887pcs.walngs01.pa.comcast.net) – 09.27.04 02:28:37

Sweet! I finished NoAbToB a couple weeks ago, it was excellonte. I was surprised at how coherent it was, since I was expecting some sort of stream-of-consciousness deal. Although I did notice a few typos and editing debris in the novel. Can't wait to read the new one.
Don't forget, a picture's worth 1000 (or 10,000, depending on with whom you check) words.

I'm tempted to do a nanowrimo, but I've already got too much on my plate -- maybe once Half-Life 2 comes out and I've translated the Codex Seraphinianus.

Is the Escape level Choochu Shuba based on the character from the novel, or vice versa?

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jcreed (pool-141-151-139-244.pitt.east.verizon.net) – 09.27.04 08:32:34

Happy fivesquare, tom!

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Tom 7 (h-67-101-136-180.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 09.27.04 10:16:58

Thanks Tad! I'm glad you liked it. The book came before all the Escape levels with names from it. I know about (and have fixed some of) the typos, and I will put out a new edition soon. If you happen to have your collection, I'd love to merge...

I thought doing the "a picture is worth a thousand words," thing, but I'm afraid that makes nanowrimo too easy (and too short). =(

Also thanks j!

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Max (ce-web2.wesleyan.edu) – 09.27.04 12:30:35

Man, I miss being able to play escape!

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Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 09.27.04 13:30:29

Max, let's fix it!

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Max (ce-web2.wesleyan.edu) – 09.28.04 09:51:53

Okay!!

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Hock (wireless101.cs.wisc.edu) – 09.28.04 11:50:00

Isn't working ahead of the deadline against everything you stand for, Tom‽

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Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 09.28.04 12:45:55

Almost, but keeping busy is a higher priority than procrastination.

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$cent;urtis (pandora.isinet.com) – 09.28.04 13:07:07

"First, I am trying to ease the word pressure by writing ahead when I'm in the mood (it can be really painful to do 1700 words a day, especially after a long day of work...)."

Tsk, tsk, Tom. The Rules clearly state that those who have busy days don't get special treatment (though, I don't blame you). I may just have to try this myself!

From the NaNoWriMo site:

"I have a lot to do in November. Can I start in October and end early?
No. One of the best things about NaNoWriMo is the way it spreads the agony of creation throughout a large community of co-sufferers. For the pain to be properly distributed (and thereby diminished), all participants must be working on the same deadline."

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¢urtis (pandora.isinet.com) – 09.28.04 13:10:08

Although I do notice this:

"Outlines and plot notes are very much encouraged, and can be started months ahead of the actual novel-writing adventure."

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Max (ce-web2.wesleyan.edu) – 09.28.04 15:26:48

Man, I'm sticking to AAD's.

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Tom 7 (h-67-101-139-136.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 09.28.04 15:31:12

Also, the site mission (I forgot where I saw this) talks about either "writing or finishing that novel" in November. Rest assured, I'm going to assume the same deadline as everyone else!

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catho (153-82.242.81.adsl.skynet.be) – 09.29.04 05:24:35

bon anniversaire cher monsieur vos dessins sont tout à fait à mon gout
un alter ego de l'autre coté de l'atlantique! merci!

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¢urtis (pandora.isinet.com) – 09.29.04 06:34:58

According to the fish (babelfish.altavista.com) this is what you said:

"happy birthday dear Sir your drawings are completely with my taste a alter ego of l'autre with dimensions of l atlantic! thank you"

;-)

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Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 09.29.04 08:41:51

Those are some pretty large dimensions!

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Kamilla (www.starguitar.dk) (d40ab617.rev.stofanet.dk) – 10.01.04 08:24:21

happy birthday :D
You dont know me, muwhaha.. It doesnt matter.
Happy Birthday

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Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 10.01.04 08:54:31

Tnanks. ;)

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tom (no number) (toronto-hse-ppp3724032.sympatico.ca) – 10.22.04 16:24:38

I thought the most interesting part of your last year's nanowrimo submission was the part at the very end, about the people made of the smallest divisible units, such that it would impossible to ever play the wrong note on a piano because one finger width = one key width.

But maybe I'm just a big geek. I look forward to this year's endeavour.

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