Matthew Isaac Sobin liked a chapter from The Animal in Man

Chapter 1

The sunlight erupted from the day-star Yinna, striking down from behind a passing cloud, and the fox-man pulled his dark hood further down his muzzle. Maxan had been leaning against this wall for nearly an hour, watching the activity in the square, waiting for his mark to show himself among the crowds that gathered. He scanned the endless lines of potentially afflicted Leorans shuffling their feet toward their daily food ration. He reached in his pocket for the apple . . .

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    Matthew Isaac Sobin followed The Unread Writer
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    A science fiction writer fall into a world he just created. It sure isn’t heaven but it could be hell.
    Matthew Isaac Sobin liked an update for The Animal in Man

    (How embarrassing. Sorry for the double-update. The link actually WORKS in this one.)


    For the past several nights, I've been putting together my game plan. It's a sick form of procrastination from which my writer friends know I suffer: Instead of just sitting down and writing the actual story, I'll write pages and pages of outlines, timelines, character backstories, and all kinds of 'preparative' work. (Wow, that's actually a word.)


    You see, so much of "The Animal in Man" has changed since I first started writing it. ...before I can pick up where I left off, I thought it would be a good idea to get my notes straight.


    But to hell with that.


    For the past several nights, I've skipped the damn preparative work and just re-wrote chapter one. I only meant to tweak a sentence here or there, but I ended up tossing out and rebuilding probably 90% of the words from the ground up. No lie. The shape of the chapter is the same, you'll see, but everything changed.


    And I think it's better. My god do I think it's better! I worked really hard on this first chapter. It would be an honor if you would spend a little time reading it. (Inkshares says 33 minutes...?) Please enjoy.


    CLICK HERE to go straight to Chapter One of "The Animal in Man".


    And I swear my next update will be further along in time... next time. But just so you know, I will be working tirelessly every night, armed with a Jameson and Ginger Ale in one hand, a keyboard in the other. (...That makes little sense. Must be the Jameson.) Cheers!

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      Matthew Isaac Sobin liked an update for Ghosts of War

      So earlier today I was asked by Cara Weston (if you haven't checked out her book, you should...--->;;;;;;;;;;;;; She Is The End ) if I had some idea of who would play the characters in Ghosts of War if it was turned into a movie or TV show. The answer is yes...yes I do.

      So here we are, the main characters of Ghosts of War (and a few supporting ones) if it were to become a watchable thing (like...maybe a 10 episode Netflix series...yeah...that sounds nice.)


      A few fun facts: 

      • Jeffrey Dean Morgan was originally Cole way back in the beginning, until I decided he needed to be younger. 
      • I may or may not have written Whil T'Qar specifically for Wil Wheaton... 
      • I only 'cast' Gregor, Tobias and Kira in the last 6 months, and now I can't see anyone else being them. 
      • Actually that's a lie, I recast Gregor, he was originally Anton Yelchin, but then JJ's Star Trek's happened and it felt a bit on the nose.
      • The Oren casting will be obscure for most everyone, but guys, trust me...lol.
      • You might have noticed that Whil, Martiss and Sharma are all new. I haven't yet formally introduced them but rest assured they have key parts to play in this book and the next two as well.


      Until next time...

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        Matthew Isaac Sobin liked an update for Disintegration

        Hello, everyone.

        I know it's been ages since my last update. I haven't had much to say, so I've been reluctant to mince words just to send something out.

        I've been working almost every day on the manuscript and I have been giddy with excitement over how it is coalescing into exactly the story I want to tell. To all of you that have supported Disintegration so far, thank you again. That support has been the catalyst for my inspiration. However, with regard to my goals on Inkshares, I have further yet to go.

        I spoke with Jeremy about the impending end of my campaign and how, when it arrived, I would qualify for Quill ... but Disintegration will need more than a "light edit"; it needs the works. The manuscript is epic and--while it can definitely be pared down--the more eyes on it, the better; the more rounds of editing, the better; the more professional the packaging, the better.

        So, if you look at my book page, you'll notice that the Quill option has been removed. I didn't know that was going to be the result of my talks with Jeremy ... and seeing the safety net be taken away was a little frightening ... but it's just an exclamation point on that a fully funded campaign is the only way for Disintegration to truly be successful.

        Additionally, we've opted to go with a paperback, which decreases the price ... which, I hope, makes Disintegration more enticing to anyone who has yet to purchase it.

        On that note, more orders are crucial. If you have already supported me, and if that support indicates that you really believe in my book, please help me generate more sales. Share it with your sci-fi loving friends who aren't yet aware of it. Go tell it on the mountain.

        The eBook option is now only ten bucks. The paperback is $20. I'm only halfway to fully funded, so your help is critical. If you can get just one person to buy a copy -- if all of my followers do the same -- we'll be knocking on the door of that fully funded campaign tomorrow.

        Please help me to fully realize Disintegration's potential.

        Thanks,
        Steve
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          Matthew Isaac Sobin liked an update for The Talkers are Talking

          Hello everyone!! Just wanted to let you know that for 10 bucks a month (or two lattes) you can help indie authors get their book published (and you get a copy of each book too!) With encouragement from some of the wonderful people at Inkshares and the backbone of the entire community, John Robin, I've decided to launch a syndicate that will search out and support stories with a strong female leads. If you can't contribute, please spread the word! I'm thinking of it as a great way to read more every month in a unique Book Club sort of way. 

          Much love xx

          Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Characters Syndicate


           

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            Matthew Isaac Sobin liked an update for Transilience

            Good morning, everyone!

            I have had a few things tumbling around in my mind of late and thought I'd share them with the rest of you. Hooray for you!!

            Before I dive into it though, I would like to say Thank You to Vincent Lim and Stephen Hough for ordering Transilience. And offer you a virtual handshake. I really do appreciate the support. 

            Of late, I've been thinking about a movie version of Transilience. I mean, doesn't every author? Don't we all dream about our debut novel getting picked up by a major studio for the big screen, or even a the small screen? Ink a 7 figure deal and have someone like Spielberg direct an adaptation of a thing which represents days, weeks and years of our life? Or an amazing mini-series with high production values, an excellent cast and a director with the vision to bring to life a world we've created?

            If you said No, I'd be hard-pressed to believe you.

            Tangent...

            I use Scrivener to write. If you are unfamiliar with it, I highly recommend checking it out. If you are familiar with it, then you already know how good it is as a writing tool.

            One of the templates within the program is for writing a script. It's pretty cool. Here's an excerpt from the sample. I like how it threw in my initials as one of the actors.

            FADE IN: 

            INT. A MESSY LIVING ROOM - DAY 

            KB sits at his laptop, pondering upon the nature of screenplay format. The INTERNET helps him. 

            KB 
            How does this work then? 

            INTERNET 
            We have an imaginary conversation about script format. It's not very sophisticated or imaginative, but you have a hangover. 

            KB (embarrassed) 
            That's true. So is it easy to create a standard Hollywood- formatted screenplay in Scrivener, then?

            I suppose I mentioned this because knowing I have a tool to help create a script for Transilience only fuels the desire to do so.

            Here endeth the tangent...

            Immediately my thoughts are directed to how I would adapt Transilience into a movie script. At this point, I have a pretty rough idea of what changes I would make to create the next sic-fi blockbuster. There are a couple of instances where I'm not clear on how to connect one scene to the next, but overall I feel confident on the direction the story should take.

            The unfortunate, and unintended, consequences of this mental exercise are that I find myself wondering why there has to be a variation between the novel and the script. Naturally, film adaptations of books are always different and usually lacking when compared to the source material. I get that. I accept it. Still, I cannot easily dismiss the feeling that some of the film elements should be in the novel. I know they represent dramatic shortcuts to hit the major plot points in a limited span of time. But it is an internal debate not easily won by either side.

            Since there is room for comments on these updates, let me throw the question (it might be more than one question) out to those of you who have a novel in some phase of production, or funding. What changes to your novel would you make in order to turn it into a script? Would you stay faithful to the material? Or can you recognize aspects of it, which cannot easily be translated into film?

            One last thing. 

            The process of becoming a published author is not easy. It's pretty damn hard. Many of you know this. The process of trying to become a published author is one that lends itself to moments of doubt, blows to one's confidence, stress and anxiety. Rejection is a given and we open ourselves to criticism. Staying upbeat and positive can be a very hard thing, indeed.

            My latest blog post on Skid Rogue Haven explores a method I use when my spirits are low. I beatbox. Yep. Beatbox. You can read my thoughts on it here.

            That's it. 
            No.
            That's not true. 
            Not true at all. 
            I can't close out this update without plugging Transilience. 

            Asking strangers to be generous with their money is a difficult thing to do. And yet, here I am. I hope the sample chapters, and these updates, are enough to persuade you to support Transilience. Twenty-five amazing people have already placed an order. But I need a lot more if this thing will see the light of day.

            So order your copy of Transilience today. And be sure to tell your friends, your parents, coworkers, the foursome on the bowling lane next to you about this amazing novel. 

            Until next time!
            Kev
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              Matthew Isaac Sobin followed The Kairos Prophecy: New Beginnings
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              Matthew Isaac Sobin liked a chapter from Blood Dawn

              The moment Fort Lasthall finally appeared at the far end of the dirt road, Jak halted with his barrow full of books.

              For all his childhood, Jak had drifted from village to village. He’d slept beneath trees or in haylofts or sheltered ditches. He’d been a helper to a bootblack, a fetcher, and a costermonger, and all that before he was ten winters. He’d stayed in so many places, but he’d never thought them as home. His books were his only possessions, and with them he’d wandered.<. .>

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              People who have recommended the chapter, Chapter 1 -- An End to Wandering

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