While up very late last night/this morning (see the Scooter diary for details) I read Stephen King's On Writing. Yeah, I know. It's a library book, okay? And his books are total mind-candy, so they do make good reading when you're only half awake. I only skimmed the bits that were actually advice about writing, but the personal stories he gives as background are fun to read.

I do have to mention one thing, though... there's a section where he shows how he edits himself by giving a sample of a few pages, then showing the revisions. Naturally, when I read the first draft, I picked out the things I'd change. Number one on my list was the fact that he used "smart" and "small" (and frequently both, as in "the small, smart hotel") repeatedly.

That wasn't changed in the revisions. On the one hand, I do agree with his point that you shouldn't be looking up words in a thesaurus while you write. But if you can't think another adjective that means "small" or "smart," maybe it's time to rethink that position.

For the record: I like King's short stories. His novels are passable, up until the part where he never knows how to end them.

Didn't realize how long it had been since I updated this. I'm up to volume 6 of Preacher, and got Johanna hooked on it as well. I've been rereading bits & pieces of whatever I'm in the mood for -- and goofing off online more than usual -- so there's not much to report. I picked up a collection of Landsdale stories at the library but haven't started it yet. It's called Writers of the Purple Rage. Here's a blurb about one of the stories: "Elvis Presley and a black John F. Kennedy, whose brain resides in a battery-powered fruit jar at the White house, battle an Egyptian mummy who feeds on souls and writes hieroglyphics on bathroom stalls."

But I'm not reading that, because tonight I'm proofreading two manuals for work. Bleah.

Today I read two more volumes of Preacher. I think comics count, so screw off if you don't. Anyway, I read Proud Americans and Dixie Fried. In the course of which, I confirmed that Garth Ennis likes Stephen Hunter's novels. I'm a little upset about that. But I like some crappy things, too.

Anyway, the comics are a riot, of course. Equal opportunity offense for all. With a cameo by Bill Hicks, because it's just that cool. I'm going to wait till I've finished the series before I get into extensive comments about it. Oh, I also got another book by Lansdale at the comic store. I'm not entirely sure why they carry his paperbacks at the comic store, but maybe they just think he's nifty. I'm okay with that. The point is, expect a report on it soon.

Finished The King of Elfland's Daughter earlier this week. It's a gentle book (I can't think of a better word), and that's not a bad thing. It's the kind of book I wish someone had read to me when I was little. A story for kids, but told with an adult voice. As I vaguely recall, kids love books that don't talk down to them.

And Monday night I once again stayed up too late because of Joe R. Lansdale. This time it was Bad Chili. I love Brett. Why do I love Brett? Here's something she says on her first date with Hap (the narrator):

"I got on one of those bras hikes your titties up. They aren't as form-fitting as the goddamn box says they are. I feel like I got a truck jack under each one of 'em."

She's great. So I'm scared to read the next book, because Hap & Leonard's love interests tend to meet with disaster.

As you may have noticed, I frequently read several books at a time. (In fact there's a couple of books I claim that I'm still reading, although they've been sitting by my bed for months and realistically I'll never pick them up again.) Sometimes this leads to oversights...

So today I was driving home, and thinking about what a good time I had with some friends in St. Louis over New Year's. And then I was thinking about the book I'd brought along, Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter. And then I thought, gee, how did that end, again? And gradually I realized that I didn't know, because I hadn't actually finished it. It just got lost in the shuffle. Oops. There's only another 60 pages or so left, so I'll finish it quickly. Just thought I'd mention that so you'll know that when I say I just finished a book, that doesn't mean I read the whole thing since I finished the last one.

Like, some day I'll finish the Parade's End tetralogy. Which I did my thesis on ten years ago. Heh. Don't ask.

Finished The Two-Bear Mambo early this morning. It's a library book, so it jumped to the top of the must-read list. Still, I've really gotta learn when it's time to put a bookmark in and go to sleep. Landsale's got some great dialogue, and reminds me of Gregory McDonald a bit. Only, y'know, Texan. The book was violent and depressing and darn creepy in places. So I liked it a lot; I'll be reading more about Hap & Leonard.