G.R. Paskoff's Blog
September 5, 2022
EDEN M51 Book Trailer
Exciting news, maybe, if you don't mind me taking a step back in my writing before I step forward. I've been working on a book trailer for the last few months. It's always been something that's been in my head but I never thought it would be possible for me to actually pull off. Sure, you're thinking: a book trailer? No one really cares about book trailers. They're just a waste of money. Yeah, I agree. It probably won't generate any sales but I didn't break the bank doing it. And it was fun to do. I have many creative sides but this was the first time I ventured into video production. With a script that I wrote and a talented voice actor and comedian, Charlie Hopkinson, I was able to bring my vision for the trailer to life. It turned out a little long (three and a half minutes!) which is nearly twice as long as any book trailer should be but I think it is very captivating and entertaining and I hope that those who watch it think so, too. You can find it on my website or here on GoodReads.
November 8, 2021
SPSFC Quarterfinals
I hardly ever employ this feature on GoodReads (I think I've only posted about once every two years). I mean really, what is the point if you don't have something momentous to say?
Well, that moment has come. This summer I entered "Eden M51" in the first ever annual Self Published Science Fiction Contest (SPSFC) organized by Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan (which was itself inspired by Mark Lawrence's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off). Ten judging teams were established. Over 300 authors submitted their best work.
As of yesterday, "Eden M51" is officially a Quarterfinalist in the contest! Semi-finalists won't be announced until late January, finalists in late June, but for now I am riding the buzz.
Well, that moment has come. This summer I entered "Eden M51" in the first ever annual Self Published Science Fiction Contest (SPSFC) organized by Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan (which was itself inspired by Mark Lawrence's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off). Ten judging teams were established. Over 300 authors submitted their best work.
As of yesterday, "Eden M51" is officially a Quarterfinalist in the contest! Semi-finalists won't be announced until late January, finalists in late June, but for now I am riding the buzz.
May 10, 2019
Free Short Story "Laster"
Although I haven't been very busy lately on social media, that is not to say I haven't been busy. I have been re-energized to work on the sequel to my past novel, "Eden M51." In the last couple of months I have finished several chapters, adding more than 20,000 words to the current manuscript. I still have a long way to go before it is finished, but it's a start - well, a new start.
In the meantime, I recently self-published an unrelated short story called "Laster." I wrote it about three years ago but never published it. My intent was always to make it free but it needed a cover. At long last it has one and so the story is now in the public domain. The book-jacket synopsis of it is:
"Leroy was never the best student at school but he was never the worst either. School was always about not standing out, not drawing attention to yourself. Especially since his father lost his job and became a migrant worker. But when his father gets relocated to the mines on Mars, Leroy discovers that nothing on Earth prepared him for a world where just the air alone can kill you.
And being different from the other kids at school? Well, let’s just say Leroy doesn’t want that. Leroy doesn’t want that at all."
You can find it at various e-book retailers, but below is the link on Amazon:
Hope people enjoy it.
In the meantime, I recently self-published an unrelated short story called "Laster." I wrote it about three years ago but never published it. My intent was always to make it free but it needed a cover. At long last it has one and so the story is now in the public domain. The book-jacket synopsis of it is:
"Leroy was never the best student at school but he was never the worst either. School was always about not standing out, not drawing attention to yourself. Especially since his father lost his job and became a migrant worker. But when his father gets relocated to the mines on Mars, Leroy discovers that nothing on Earth prepared him for a world where just the air alone can kill you.
And being different from the other kids at school? Well, let’s just say Leroy doesn’t want that. Leroy doesn’t want that at all."
You can find it at various e-book retailers, but below is the link on Amazon:
Hope people enjoy it.
August 1, 2017
Why not? A scriptwriting contest
How many different ways can you beat a dead horse? A bunch, apparently.
Last summer I came across someone's blog talking about legitimate scriptwriting contests. How they have successfully jumpstarted people along their writing careers. Well, from the beginning, I intended that Eden M51 would make a great movie. I just thought someone else would come to the same logical conclusion and it would be spread across several Hollywood producers' desks by now.
*sigh* Well, like they say, if you want something done you have to do it yourself. And it has been a magnificent and challenging task. I have learned a tremendous amount about proper script formatting and have a good deal more respect when I am getting set to watch a movie and see the phrase, "Based on the novel by...."
All told, it has taken me one year to complete. In my first pass, I converted the entire book into script format and it turned out to be 450 pages. An action/sci-fi script (especially from an unknown, untested author) should be no more than 120 pages. That meant that almost 75% of the script had to be axed. At first there were obvious things I could delete, but it very quickly became not only difficult but painful. Whole scenes had to be cut. Entire characters had to be written out of the story. All the while still retaining the core message from the original.
Well. I think I did it. Time, and this contest, will tell if I succeeded.
Now where was I in those other stories I was writing before I got side-tracked...?
Last summer I came across someone's blog talking about legitimate scriptwriting contests. How they have successfully jumpstarted people along their writing careers. Well, from the beginning, I intended that Eden M51 would make a great movie. I just thought someone else would come to the same logical conclusion and it would be spread across several Hollywood producers' desks by now.
*sigh* Well, like they say, if you want something done you have to do it yourself. And it has been a magnificent and challenging task. I have learned a tremendous amount about proper script formatting and have a good deal more respect when I am getting set to watch a movie and see the phrase, "Based on the novel by...."
All told, it has taken me one year to complete. In my first pass, I converted the entire book into script format and it turned out to be 450 pages. An action/sci-fi script (especially from an unknown, untested author) should be no more than 120 pages. That meant that almost 75% of the script had to be axed. At first there were obvious things I could delete, but it very quickly became not only difficult but painful. Whole scenes had to be cut. Entire characters had to be written out of the story. All the while still retaining the core message from the original.
Well. I think I did it. Time, and this contest, will tell if I succeeded.
Now where was I in those other stories I was writing before I got side-tracked...?
February 5, 2016
Why not? One more writing contest
Well, I'm at it again. A friend of mine told me about a Space Opera contest over on Inkshares and after debating it for two days I decided to go forth and try. I know I should instead be focusing on getting the next book out there. So why do it? Well, I think for the emotional lift. I was having trouble adhering to my own writing schedule. I was getting bogged down in my day job and was losing focus on characters and plotlines. I'm hoping the excitement of entering a contest will give me the inspiration I've been lacking.
