Not A Blog - Odds and Ends

You are viewing grrm's journal

Previous Entry | Next Entry

Odds and Ends

Mar. 23rd, 2010 at 3:10 PM

Still not 100%, but I'm up to at least 98%, as the last of the crud fades away.

However, my assistant Ty is now sick. He went home early today. A pity, since he has a lot to celebrate right now -- the sale of his first novel (well, half-novel, it was a collaboration. And no, not with me, don't get all wiggy out there).

Please STOP posting comments to the Health Care topic. I let that one run a good long while, more than four hundred messages and lots of impassionated debate, but I don't want it to drag on forever. Everything worth saying has been said.

(Though I wonder if anyone was convinced. Sometimes I question whether these discussions do the least bit of good. Everyone seems so entrenched in their positions, so unwilling to listen to the other side. Just once I'd love to read a comment that said, 'I used to think X, but you've convinced me.' Slim chance, I know).

Being under the weather for a couple weeks there has put me seriously behind on everything, I'm afraid. I'm now struggling to get back into it. In addition to the on-going work on DANCE, I am also trying to wrap up FORT FREAK, volume twenty-one in the Wild Cards series, and will soon need to gear up to write my season one script for HBO. I'm been over a decade since I last did a teleplay, I realized suddenly. I hope I still remember how.

Yes, the part of Catelyn on HBO's GAME OF THRONES has been recast. The new actress is Michelle Fairley, a talented and acclaimed veteran of the British and Irish stage and television. That's being discussed in several places on the web, most notably Westeros and Winter Is Coming, so take your comments, questions, and thoughts there, if you'd be so good.

There's more news, both bad and good, on several different fronts, none of which I am at liberty to talk about just now. Soon, maybe.

On Suvudu, Jaime is about to face a dragon. Hoo boy.

Mood: exhausted

Link

Comments

( 86 comments — Leave a comment )

Page 1 of 2
<<	[1] [2]	>>

idemandjustice wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:13 pm (UTC)

I think you should be able to go back in and freeze all the comments, so they're still there for people to read but no one can post any more.

I generally think it is really hard to convince people to change their minds about things. I'd say it's impossible, but then I have to recall that back when I was in high school I was a conservative, pro-life Catholic, and nowadays I'm very liberal, feminist, very pro-choice, and pagan. So, it must be occasionally possible to get people to change.

Link | Reply | Thread

grrm wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:22 pm (UTC)

Interesting suggestion about freezing comments. Not sure how to go about it, though. I see a freeze command at the bottom of each comment, next to screen/ unscreen, but no "master freeze" to close the whole topic. And I am not ABOUT to go through 400+ comments to freeze each one individually.

As a writer... and a reader before that... I have a great reverence for the power of words. History is full of great writers and speakers like Demosthenes, Cicero, Lincoln, etc. who could supposedly sway people with their eloquence. But I am not sure that is possible any longer in the age of television.

For one thing, our standards have degraded. I'd like to see more reasoned debates on current issues, of the sort that college debate teams might stage. Instead television gives us people shouting at one another in thrity-second sound bytes, and no reasoned arguments anywhere. Even the presidential debates have become a farce, with each side ready with armies of spinners ready to proclaim their candidate the winner, no matter what actually happened in the debate.

I don't think Lincoln or Cicero would do very well today.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

(no subject) -

sabzevarian - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:38 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

grrm - Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:00 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

hippoiathanatoi - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:39 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

shadows_in_mind - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:46 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

grrm - Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:00 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

brightone - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:42 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

blanx73 - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:46 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

cuddlycthulhu - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:52 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

xenophon39 - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:57 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

megmca - Mar. 24th, 2010 12:02 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

feebsicle - Mar. 24th, 2010 03:45 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

tikehau - Mar. 25th, 2010 07:00 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

egosumnoah - Mar. 24th, 2010 09:21 pm (UTC) - Expand

blanx73 wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:15 pm (UTC)

I used to think X, but you've convinced me.

Anything else I can get for you?

Last teleplay had to be for Beauty and the Beast, right? That's got to be an odd horse to get back upon.

Best wishes to Ty on his novel, and feeling better.

Link | Reply | Thread

grrm wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:25 pm (UTC)

Re: I used to think X, but you've convinced me.

No, after BEAUTY AND THE BEAST I did four television pilots, plus a back-up script for the one that was produced. Also rewrote the five other back-up scripts. And there were several feature films as well. The last script I wrote was an adaptation of my own novel, FEVRE DREAM, which Disney/ Touchstone made me write even though they had already decided to kill the project. A total waste of a couple of months there... though it did get me a dump truck full of money...

Edited at 2010-03-23 09:26 pm (UTC)

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

(no subject) -

bastun_ie - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:34 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

grrm - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:55 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

blanx73 - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:35 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

manydills - Mar. 24th, 2010 07:30 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

hippoiathanatoi - Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:36 pm (UTC) - Expand

cuddlycthulhu wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:24 pm (UTC)

Bah, Jaime, I'm pretty sure, doesn't worry about Dragons.

Link | Reply | Thread

thistle_chaser wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:42 pm (UTC)

Exactly! He won against a god, what's a little dragon?

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

(no subject) -

marblespire - Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:31 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

megmca - Mar. 24th, 2010 04:46 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

ed_fortune - Mar. 24th, 2010 07:47 am (UTC) - Expand

spitphyre wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:32 pm (UTC)

Once my opinions on abortion were changed by an internet debate with people I cared about. It wasn't right away but what they said stuck with me.

Link | Reply | Thread

lifftchi wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:32 pm (UTC)

Since the topic's come up one more time, I'd like to say I was very impressed with the last post. I especially liked: "Since this IS my Not A Blog last time I looked, I get the last words here. (You may have the last words on your own Live Journals and blogs, if you wish)." Nice distinction between categories of public space on the internet.

Also, I second the "freeze comments" suggestion. You can do it en masse by clicking the "edit" icon near the top of the entry (in the blue box, looks like a pencil), then going to the "allow comments" pulldown menu (below the entry text box, to the right) and selecting "locked".

Link | Reply | Thread

missysedai wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 11:34 pm (UTC)

Hah. Yes, people do often need to be reminded that just because you can read something, doesn't mean it's necessarily "public space" in the manner some people believe.

The policy in my LJ is "My LJ is Not About You. If this does not suit, don't let Port 80 hit you in the ass on the disconnect." Because sometimes, people really do need to be reminded to use their OWN spaces to pontificate/argue in.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

aliantulay wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:37 pm (UTC)

watsup with dance 1300 hundred pages is big enough to be a really big novel

Link | Reply | Thread

ruxi wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:42 pm (UTC)

...my token to Jaime, ride well, don't make Tyrion lose any money :'(

Link | Reply | Thread

terraprime wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:42 pm (UTC)

Glad to see that you're on the mend, but as with the nature of this sort of disease, it does spread around. Good luck to Ty.

As for internet debates... well, they do change people's minds, but not in a "tonight I'm a Rush Limbaugh fan and tomorrow I'll wave an Obama flag" speed. No doubt that in some cases, these debates serve only to harden pre-existing opinions. But in other cases, each round of debate wears away some of the resistance. I've changed my views on some things based on internet debates, so I know it happens. It just rarely happens in a speed or in a manner that gives satisfaction to the current debate opponents. :)

Link | Reply | Thread

materpenitentia wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:44 pm (UTC)

Well 'I used to think' that Cthulu would beat Jaime', but you've convinced me.'

That is bad news for me, I really like the lady who would have played Catelyn, I loved her command of diction in other movies and it was one of the things about the HBO program I was most looking forward to since Cat is my favorite character after Ed.

Link | Reply | Thread

rusty_halo wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:44 pm (UTC)

I think those discussions don't usually change the minds of the people who are arguing vehemently, but they do often have an impact on the lurkers who haven't made up their minds yet.

Link | Reply | Thread

gwinna487 wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 09:49 am (UTC)

As someone who often finds herself in the position of an undecided lurker, I can attest to the truth of this. :)

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

epiphanist1248 wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:51 pm (UTC)

Dragons are easy

Jaime defeated Cthulhu Itself, and fairly handily, if you'll pardon the pun. A mere dragon should be a piece of cake.

Link | Reply | Thread

infinite_hiatus wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 09:58 pm (UTC)

I used to believe in gun control, but several years of discussions online has swayed me. I'm not a gun nut by any means, but I decided that gun control was against my core liberal beliefs, which are to solve the root cause, not outlaw the symptoms.

Link | Reply | Thread

ministry_victim wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:17 pm (UTC)

I'd always thought Lena Headey would make a better Caitlyn than a Circe, but that doesn't diminish my excitement one iota.

Link | Reply | Thread

miss_creant wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 05:41 am (UTC)

I so agree.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

(Deleted comment)

grrm wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:42 pm (UTC)

You should be discussing this on Winter Is Coming or Westeros. Not here.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject) -

hippoiathanatoi - Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:57 pm (UTC) - Expand

scottgoblue314 wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:22 pm (UTC)

I used to think X...

Well Mr. Martin, I think I can throw you a bone. I really did used to be borderline "neo-con," but in the last year or two I've come back to center. My new philosophy is that as soon as people identify themselves along any sort of left/right, democrat/republican, they're already lost.

That said, I really did used to think that the Bill was a bad idea, but now I sincerely believe that it will ultimately do us good. I've watched my parents dance with the insurance companies enough to know what's what.

Link | Reply | Thread

tirananeal wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:27 pm (UTC)

Warner & Byrd

I recall some years ago when I was able to watch on TV something that just doesn't happen any longer: a debate between distinguished colleagues of opposing parties in the Senate. In an after-hours session, Byrd (D-WV) and Warner (R-VA) politely debated an issue. I honestly don't even remember what it was now, but it was just so refreshing to hear it. Now that c-span has put their archive up, perhaps it's time to watch it again.

Link | Reply | Thread

scottgoblue314 wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 02:19 am (UTC)

Re: Warner & Byrd

Wow, that really is something. Usually those sort of things devolve into either a shouting match and/or the two spitting out all sorts of lies with no one to question their validity. Nowadays, I'd settle for a Presidential "debate" moderated by someone with the slightest trace of a backbone. Enforce the time limits, and, even if you can't force them to, at least call out the candidates if they don't answer the question. As much as I'd have hated it a few years ago, I'd really like to see Jon Stewart host one. He may be a comedian by trade, but he's a force to be reckoned with in an interview.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

wrona wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 10:55 pm (UTC)

I don't think any of my opinions have ever been immediately, directly affected by arguments on the internet, but I think they're a valuable way to spread ideas. Even if you don't change anybody's mind in the heat of the moment, there's always a chance that something you say will stick, deep down, and eventually might be the seed that grows into a new realization.

Anyway, hope you're back to 100% soon. It would be a crying shame if HBO started the next round of casting, and you didn't have the energy to pull out Froggy the Gremlin.

Link | Reply | Thread

kerryfrandsen wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 11:02 pm (UTC)

Workload

Just a bit of confusion, it says on the not a blog March 2nd that David and Dan will writing the scripts but today it says that you are going to write the script for season one?
I'm just sorry that it seems as if asoiaf does not get quite as much attention as for example wild cards - the last one was published 2009 and then there was warriors and now the scripts.
I'm not trying to tell anyone their business, I'm just losing heart, will I feel the need to wait for The Winds of Winter...
I know, someone else bitching about the progress :-)

Link | Reply | Thread

grrm wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 06:07 am (UTC)

Re: Workload

It says I am going to write A script for season one, not THE script.

There will be ten episodes. One (the pilot) was already written by David and Dan. Nine episodes remain. I will write one, Jane Espenson will write one, Brian Cogman will write one, and David and Dan will write the other six.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

(no subject) -

darmys - Mar. 24th, 2010 12:15 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject) -

k26dp - Mar. 25th, 2010 06:04 pm (UTC) - Expand

missysedai wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 11:37 pm (UTC)

YAY TY! Also, boo that Ty is sick. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery, and cheers and confetti that he's sold his book!

And as for you, Dear Sir, please take care of yourself. I am glad you're on the mend!

Link | Reply | Thread

haeddre wrote:

Mar. 23rd, 2010 11:37 pm (UTC)

In my experience, those sorts of discussions/debates are not useful in changing people's minds -- at the moment people are having them. Everyone IS too entrenched in their own point of view. But the other points of view are out there and can't help getting their little digs into the back of our minds as we all go through life, and then one day someone turns around and their opinion has started to change just the tiniest little bit... Or maybe their opinion hasn't changed, but they start to do research in order to better defend that opinion, which at least makes them more educated on the topic, etc... So, while such debate is frustrating, I don't think it is actually pointless.

And I also wouldn't keep reading it all after a certain point. ;)

Link | Reply | Thread

shesnotallthere wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 12:25 am (UTC)

What I want to know is, where do people find the *energy* for all these heated discussions and spirited debates? Is there a well somewhere I don't know about? I mean, I'm doing good to make it all the way in the door from work before I collapse in a heap. If I tried to muster up some righteous indignation, I'd likely just land myself in coma.

Link | Reply | Thread

tfbretz wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 12:27 am (UTC)

I'm very pleased to hear about Fort Freak. I just finished Suicide Kings last night and enjoyed it so much I've decided to go back and re-read the entire series for the first time in mumblesomething years. It's great to know there's more in the pipeline.

Link | Reply | Thread

lostrealist_05 wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 12:36 am (UTC)

Just wondering.... I don't watch TV much, but I wouldn't want to miss this show. Can you post when it's going to air so I can be sure I'm home and glued to the TV? =D

Thanks in advance. =D

Link | Reply | Thread

lampster65 wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 08:29 pm (UTC)

Not until next year

Right now, they don't expect to air the pilot until next Spring, so about a year from now. As the day gets closer, I am sure the excitement will ratchet up and up. It won't be a surprise! And it won't come and go without a lot of attention, that's for darn sure!

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

caseyjp wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 01:53 am (UTC)

temeraire vs jaime

Love her stuff. Love your stuff....but Jaime ain't Tem. That dragon is absolutely one of my favorite 'characters' ever. Now if Peter Jackson would get that thing on the screen before I wither and grow the need for dependz...I'd be in happy land.

Besides, no matter how cool Jaime is...not gonna vote for an incestuous child murderer...er....attempted murderer over an activist dragon with a heart of gold. Not gonnnnna' happen. :-D

Link | Reply | Thread

kaylagrant wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 02:43 am (UTC)

Jaime is a knight. When has a knight ever failed to defeat a dragon?

Link | Reply | Thread

hippoiathanatoi wrote:

Mar. 24th, 2010 09:34 am (UTC)

The Field of Fire comes to mind... ;)

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

Page 1 of 2
<<	[1] [2]	>>

( 86 comments — Leave a comment )