Tuesday Tumbling Terms~ Author

Tuesday's word for today is Author.

au·thor
noun
1. a person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.
2. the literary production or productions of a writer: to find a passage in an author.
3. the maker of anything; creator; originator: the author of a new tax plan.
4. Computers. the writer of a software program, especially a hypertext or multimedia application.
verb (used with object)
5. to write; be the author of: He authored a history of the Civil War.
6. to originate; create a design for: She authored a new system for teaching chemistry.

As you can see the the term doesn't only apply to writers, but crosses all areas of production and creation not just writing. It stems from an old French word meaning "to give authority to" do something. Innately, you have the right to publish, sell, dispose, or anything else with your creation.

Your may notice that I use the term "writer" instead of "author" when speaking of the process of creatiing books. This is why. While both terms are interchangeable among writer circles, it is not when viewed worldwide.

So when do you consider yourself an author? I heard the question batted about for years. Some say, you are an author when you first start writing a book for later publication. I tend to agree with this answer.

Why? Because, you are geared towards publishing your work when it is finished unlike a journal or diary that you write for personal consumption. Unlike may who keep their journals private, blogging makes it visible for all to see, therefore it's authoring.

Another contention is you become an author when you publish your book or novel. While both are correct in the literal sense, I don't agree as much with this one. To me, it means you are spinning your wheels doing nothing while writing and editing. Writing and editing is important. Without the above to you would have nothing to sell or publish.

While I may use the term "writing" or writer" in this blog, it's the distinction between the process and the end product. I will always be a writer with the hope to publish. Honestly, not all my writing is publishable even in today's world as an indie author. Sometimes the story just doesn't work.

For example my sequel to Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption titled Zombie Apocalypse: Travelers when I finished he rough draft I put in my hard drive to let it stew as I usually do. Upon rereading it, I realized the tie-in to the first book was weak so it was back to the drawing board. It would make a good, not excellent, stand alone book, but not a sequel to the original.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Friday Fun~Television

I have to admit I've been watching more of the idiot box of late. There have been several shows that have peaked my interest. I get tired of the remakes of classic 50's or 60's television shows and reality t.v like stupid housewives of (name a town). There are no housewives like that! The last halfway interesting series I was devoted to was "Lost." My DH even asked me, "What's a Honey Boo Boo?" I told him "Toddlers in Tiaras" about one kid. Most series today give a whole new connotation to idiot box.

Over the last year and a half or so,  I've become an avid followers of a couple of series.

I've been a fan since I wrote my first zombie book. Granted it's based on the graphic comics but it is different. I'm not a comic book fan and never have been except for the "Archies" way back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The Walking Dead series is human interest. The best and worst of humanity. Yes, there is gore, blood, and zombies, but it's the survivalist storyline that catches my interest. Which is kind of the way I write zombie fiction.

I actually went to NetFlix and watched the series from the first season. It was well worth my time. Am I the only one that finds mid-seaon cliff hangers and breaks irritating?

This was another show I started watching this year. The twists, turns, and spins of this show keeps me riveted. Being a political science minor in college, and having lived and worked in D.C. doesn't hurt. I had to watch the first episodes on Netflix to catch up on the story line. I had thought it started this year until I saw the season 2 beside the new episodes. It was one of those ten episode mini season shows last year.

And I thought writers had it bad with a three-month make-it-or-break-it in bookstores. Television has jumped on the mini profit/ratings bandwagon. This show is a perfect example.

Last Resort was another show I got sucked into. It's about a crew on a nuclear submarine whose crew gets stranded by political powers that be.

I was rooting for this one to continue, but ABC canceled it. The characters and synergy of the show kept me coming back week after week. It just goes to show you there is no accounting for taste against "Dancing with the Stars" and "Honey Boo Boo" soaking up air time.

The last series I've been following is "Arrow." The whole concept of a modern day "Gillian's Island" survivor meets "Batman" has me glued to CW. The use of flashbacks to correlate between back story on the island to present day action keeps me interested.

The fact that the main character is fulfilling his father's dying wish, and his mother is involved keeps the tension high.

So what have you been watching lately?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.