Unkillable Preview (subscribe to PatrickEMcLean.com)
The full thing novel available at http://www.PatrickEMcLean.com/unkillable
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The full thing novel available at http://www.PatrickEMcLean.com/unkillable
PatrickEMcLean.com feed right here:
It’s my first book in print. And I couldn’t be happier with it. It features the best of the Seanachai, and two new works. “Getting Shot” the story of me, well, getting shot when I lived in Los Angeles and “The Rhetoric of Audio” in which I try to sum up everything I’ve learned about writing for the medium.
Go buy one… for everyone you know.
I’m up early this morning. And, for the hell of it, I decided to record a video episode. Now that How to Succeed in Evil the Novel is done, I’m compiling an anthology of stories from The Seanachai. It’s going to be titled, “Stories I Told Myself” As a learning experience I’m going to self-publish the work, and make it available in as many ways and places as possible. Read the rest of this entry
Now available in the store. Buy one, buy five. It’s a nice way to support the podcast and have something to give to a friend or loved one (or hell, even enemy) when they say, “Seanofthedeadwhat? How do you say that?” or even , “Podcasting, why would I want to throw my iPod?”
So, I had two episodes post right next to each other. One on Thursday of last week. And then one on Friday. As it turns out, adjusting the timestamp of your post is a powerful thing. And with all great powers, you want to try not to dorf it up.
So, in the interest of making sure everybody gets all the Seanachai they can, I thought I would make an announcement. Shooting an Elephant is one of my favorite essays. And, truly, one of the inspirations for the Seanachai. But if you’ve missed the one before that, Floor Pirhana, you should give that a listen as well. I can say it is as good as Orwell, but it’s a fine, light diversion, that may make you snicker.
I’ve noticed an interesting trend in the comments. Slowly but surely, we’ve gathered some obviously young and fairly charming opposition to the “There’s no such thing as Santa” episode.
My favorite comes from Hannah.
hi ppl santa is real we havent got a chimney but santa has this special key so he can get into our and your house so haha
I think we should all chip in and get Hannah a chimney for Christmas. Check out the rest of the comments.
http://www.theseanachai.com/2006/01/02/theres-no-such-thing-as-santa/
So the first subscriber-only post is up. So if you think you should be able to see it and can’t, please email or comment and we’ll straighten it out as quickly as possible.
The post presents a bit of work in progress. It’s a draft of a screenplay from 1999 called 86 Nickels. It was the start of what originally became Death of a Dishwasher. From a movie standpoint, it’s not really very good. Screenwriting is a pretty intricate, structural art. And the more TV spots I’ve done, the more I realize how different (and constrained) visual storytelling is. Audio is wide open because you can use the tricks of visual storytelling, but still dip into all the cool stuff that prose can do that film, just can’t
Anyway, there are some great scenes and lines in the script and it’s well worth a peruse if you liked Death of a Dishwasher (here’s a link to that Parsec Award-winning series) or you are interested in process at all.
A tip of the hat goes to John August for developing the Scrippet plug-in that I used to display this page of the script. He’s an awesome screenwriter (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and his blog (www.johnaugust.com) is tremendous. He really goes out of his way to answer questions and help people understand his craft. In an industry known for the freaky and the mean, he’s a class act. So if you have screenwriting questions, check out his blog.
And check out this badass little formatting plug-in.
INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN
The dishwasher struggles with a child-proof cap. After a valiant fight he opens the bottle,
pours the entire thing in his mouth and chokes it down with a glass of water.
A long beat. He is at a loss for what to do next. This was not in the original suicide plan. He checks his pulse.
And then the phone rings.
DISHWASHER
Hello?
GEORGE
(through the phone)
Hey man, I’m glad I caught you. Cisco just called me from jail. So he can’t work. Can you make it to wash dishes?
The dishwasher struggles to get a hold on the moment.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
I know you’ve got plans, but I’m in a real bind here. I’ll give you time and a half? Can you help me out?
DISHWASHER
Uh, sure.
So this is an early draft of the screenplay that eventually became Death of a Dishwasher. Very clearly, I don’t know what I’m doing structuring a screenplay — but some of the scene’s really snap. And the lines are still funny. I skimmed it as I was building this post and I chuckled to myself in several places. This is good sign, because I’m pretty critical of my own work.
So, we’ve officially launched our membership system. This means a couple of things: first of all it means that, in return for donating to The Seanachai, not only do you get to help us keep the lights on and servers up, we’ll also be capable of giving you stuff in return –members-only content. Think of it like the gift you get for donating to NPR, but more often, and in the form of extra Podcast episodes.
Some things to know:
1) if you’ve donated, and you are registered on the site, you should have member status. We’ve migrated all the donations we’ve received to the new membership system. Members should see, in the right-hand-side of the header graphic, text that reads “Thanks for donating! Your membership expires on…”; if you’ve donated and don’t see this text, post a comment and we’ll figure out what went wrong.
2) Members hath their privileges. Now that we have the model and the technology all figured out, there will be member-only content and episodes; there will also be time-delayed content. That is to say, a multi-part series might only come out once a month, but if you are a member, you’ll get all the episodes much, much faster (probably all at once).
So a great big “Thank you!” to all our members current and future! If you’re not yet a member and would like to become one, first register on the site using the links at the top of the page; once you’re registered and logged in you should see a “Become a Member” button appear on the top-right of the header graphic. Click it to become a member!
Well, things are going well. At least I think things are going well. There are some donations. Episodes are going up on a regular basis. I don’t feel like I’ve hit any of the new ones out of the park, but I’m hitting some solid doubles.
What’s lacking, of course, is fiction. And I’ve got lots of that coming. I’ve been working on something with PG Holyfield (of Murder at Avedon Hill) and I’m really happy with it. It’s a multipart series that’s got everything really. Golf, Death, Honor, friendship, betrayal, the Mayan Apocalypse and a vengeful god disguised as a pickup truck. Scott Sigler’s even helping us out with one of the voices.
It’s called Flinchy and the Mexican Show Truck.
I’m also working on something called Unkillable. It’s a tale of revenge told from the perspective of a guy who is killed and turned into well, basically a Zombie. I’m really happy with it as well.
So, friends of the Seanachai, here’s the question — how do I roll these multipart series out? All at once, or do I alternate episodes between a little one-off or essay and an episodic piece?
What about making them available for purchase before they’ve all gone out on the feed? That is to say, if you listen and you just can’t wait until next week (or next month) you can buy the rest of the episodes right then and there.
Even though the Seanachai is parsed out in 5-7 minute increments, the entire podcast is more than 8 hours of finished audio. This tends to make it daunting for new listeners. So to enhance the accessibility, and more effectively suck people in, I’ve compiled a brief introduction. It includes some of my favorite episodes (and some explanation of why) but it’s by no means comprehensive.
You know, with all the visions and version of distopian, statist, cybepunk fantasies that I have dancing around in my head, I have to admit, I’m the first guy who’s a little reluctant to stand up and be counted.
But the simple fact of the matter is, sometimes it has to happen. And this is one of those times. It’s time for you fine people to make yourselves known and knowable. I promise I won’t spam you. And I promise it will make it worth your while.
And hey, it’s not like I’m asking you to get a barcode tattoo. Click the picture or this sentence to make yourself known.
So far October shows:
103 Subscribers
Podpress : 1914 downloads of the Relaunch Episode
9026 unique visitors
$193.42 in donations
October 2006 reported 16054 visitors, but I no scared. It’s a rebuilding year.
So I hashed through some of the issues around the Seanachai with a friend of mind, Brandon Uttley. He ejected himself from a company he founded because he wasn’t satisfied with where it was going. He a good guy and a good guy to talk with.
If you’re interested in getting involved, here’s 60 minutes of our musings. Give a listen and post your reactions and suggestions.
Brandon’s blog is http://www.webbusinessfreedom.com. And don’t let his self-deprecating manner fool you, his blog is awesome. Go have a look.
One of the best things about starting up the Seanachai again is that I get to really figure out what I want it to be like. That is to say, I get to make a plan. Which is pretty nice. Because in 2005 I just let myself get run over by this project ALL THE TIME.
It’s not that it wasn’t great, but if you have a little time to think about a subject, say, volleyball, you realize that there are better ways to play than with your face. But in on the day, in the moment, there’s no time for that kind of thought. You just do what you have to.
(I may have lost control of that analogy in mid-sentence.)
Anyway, I’m opening the question up. What would you like the Seanachai to be like? More is the obvious answer. But what else? And don’t be afraid to think wildly. Changes to the site are fine. But what would take the Seanachai to the next level?
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” — Goethe
Comment away. Be bold.
Hello; St. Michael here. In preparation for the relaunch of The Seanachai on October 15th we’re rearranging a few things here on the site and preparing a new site design. As a result, some things on the current site may behave strangly or cease to function until we get the new site launched (at the time of this writing the “Collections” page doesn’t work, for example).
So please bare with us and pardon our dust while we work; we promise that the new site is going to be awesome.
…for I will not desert you.
It’s a paraphrase from one of my favorite parts of Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman. And even though I haven’t been podcasting, I have not abandoned well, the faith, let us say.
The book proceeds. Such arrogance to attempt such a long work, but it goes well. I can’t say that knowing what I know right this minute that I would attempt it again, but I will finish the thing if’n it kills me. Surely, the next one will be easier.
But mostly, what’s been keeping me hopping is paying work. Too much of it in fact. I outsold my ability to do work. And I didn’t have the structure in place to make me more efficient. It is very much a transitional time for me professionally and creatively. And, as exciting as it is, it’s not too conducive to podcasting. What can I say? A couple of things really.
1) Sorry, a man’s gotta eat. And given the current economic climate, this squirrel is going to store as many nuts as possible whilst he can.
2) All this work now, means money hoarded (like nuts, man this analogy just won’t quit) for more writing later.
So, for everybody who’s hanging in there, thanks. For those who aren’t, well, you’re not reading this post now are you?
Here’s the Whitman. I’m knuckling tight.
I understand the large hearts of heroes,
The courage of present times and all times;
How the skipper saw the crowded and rudderless wreck of the steam-ship, and Death chasing it up and down the storm;
How he knuckled tight, and gave not back one inch, and was faithful of days and faithful of nights,
And chalk’d in large letters, on a board, Be of good cheer, we will not desert you:
How he follow’d with them, and tack’d with them—and would not give it up;
How he saved the drifting company at last:
How the lank loose-gown’d women look’d when boated from the side of their prepared graves;
How the silent old-faced infants, and the lifted sick, and the sharp-lipp’d unshaved men:
All this I swallow—it tastes good—I like it well—it becomes mine;
I am the man—I suffer’d—I was there.
So the old email box has been flooded in the last week. And everybody is asking the same question. What in the hell is going on?
The only thing I find lacking in your work to date is the lack of quantity. I enjoy Edwin, as well as the short stories of yours I came across in Voices: New Media Fiction. Do you currently have any ETA or status update for your loyal fans?
Yes I do. I’ve completed the first draft of the novel. And I’m about a third of the way through the rewrite. I’m good for about a chapter a day. And I’m on chapter 14 now. That’s about 26,000 words rewritten out of a target of 80ish. The beginning has gone a little slower than I would have liked because I’ve added a couple of charcters and an entire subplot.
I am also rather curious about how much progress you’ve made in the last three months.
Me too. Or curious as to how hard it got there for a little while. I’ve found that if I try and put the hurry up on it (like I sometimes do with my shorter work) it always, always comes out bad. But if you just plug away at it every day at the same time in a workmanlike fashion, it comes together faster than you expect. Mostly, I had to clear my head from all the garbage of previous incarnations to write this clearly and well.
I was highly entertained and can’t wait for any other items that may off shoot from this story.
You know, I could easily spend my time doing more audio episodes. And I have no end of ideas for off-shoots and spin offs. But I feel that would mean that this is as far as the story will go. No, it’s time for a more communicable form. So the time I can spare from my life (which there’s less and less of) is devoted to the novel.
So I have a question for all of you. I’m thinking about podcasting the novel as I work on this rewrite. I have some reservations about this, not from a media standpoint, but from an artistic standpoint. The episodes as they exist are more along the lines of notes. Thoughts on toward a character and a story. What I’m trying to do by writing the novel is have a full and complete, fully realized story. But there’s a difficulty with this
What if the story changes?
Sure that sounds stupid, but, believe me. It’s happened to me more than once as I’ve written this novel . It started off in the direction I wanted, then it changed dramatically. And for the better.
And I don’t know if my fear makes any sense. I’m just looking for some way to get this thing done and appeal you slavering (and much loved) fans. Thoughts anybody?
Edwin confronts El Justiador. Topper does violent and funny things. Really, this episode has something for everyone.