This is the something

Oh yeah. Thanks Danni!

Yeah, King released in big chunks, though. Wait, that sounds gross. You know what I mean. It was more like ye olde magazine serial, a couple thousand words a shot.

Also he abandoned it because enough people weren't paying for it. It had some pretty bad delivery mechanics, I remember.

I figure you can buy an e-book for fourteen bucks, and this isn't edited so it should be cheaper. Of course, it's cooler. I mean, one page a day: that's not just a story, it's a lifestyle. But if we get to the point where I decide this thing is worth paying for, it'll be $6.95 for the lot. No periodic payments.

P.S.:
> The title intrigues me. It had better not be a metaphor.

Not a metaphor. Well. Not JUST a metaphor. I reserve the right to retrospectively imbue it with deeper meaning, if I happen to stumble across any of that.

The Japanese story-by-text-message is probably closer to what I'm aiming at: bite-sized pieces, not chapters. I did think about text messaging, but the format seems extraordinarily limiting... some Machine Man pages will be short, maybe just a few sentences, but I want to be able to throw in a 400-word scene too. I expect to average around 100 words. A solid hundred-word scene is very satisfying.

> will those lucky dogs among us who subscribed
> early get to keep it free?

Yes, if by "it" you mean, "all the parts I post before I decide to whack a price tag on it." The rest, not so much.

> Will the 6.95 be in Australian dollars, or
> American (Please say Australian, because then
> my price is a measly 4.47)?

American, baby.

> let me commend you and/or your web team

Hahaha! "Web team." This is all me. I'm just that geeky. And thanks!

> I don't know if it will pan out, but I'm up for
> it as long as it's free, and I if it starts off
> good I could probably be convinced to pay.

That sounds perfect. I hope lots of people are just like you.

> So, Max, I'm telling you write now: you better
> not fuck us. If you give up one day, then at
> least have the courtesy to kill the main
> character first.

Deal.

@Hobbie:
> Considering how much you love to procrastinate over an edit

I don't procrastinate over edits; I just do a lot of them. But yes, being unable to rewrite this story is surely a good thing for me. I'm not sure if it's a good thing for YOU. But for me: oh yeah.

@Yenzo:
> Is it just a coincidence that you were researching
> comic book characters for The Exceptionals and
> that Machine Man is also the name of a Marvel
> character?

Yes. Well, it's not coincidence in that I like comic books, and "Machine Man" sounds a lot like a comic book superhero. But I didn't know of Marvel's character until I started this. Then I thought about changing it. But if I'd never heard of him, how serious an overlap can it be?

> If I got you right, The Exceptionals isn't gonna see the light of day, right?

Wrong! But it's still under wraps. In my basement. With body parts everywhere.

@nate:
> if I come see you in Austin, TX on 30 March will
> you sign my laptop so I can say I have a signed
> copy of “Machine Man"?

Sadly, only if you go back in time to 2007. I think you're looking at old tour dates there.

@Sophie:
> My hopes were raised for something gender neutral and with lots of female characters.

Because of the War on He! No, I have no plans for a story with a female protagonist at the moment. I don't think you solve sexism by prodding male authors into writing female heroes. I think it works better if female authors write female heroes, and men read their stories. (Currently, male-led stories tend to be read/watched by everyone, and women-led stories mainly by women.)

As extraordinarily brilliant, talented, and handsome as I am, it's pretty hard to convince you that I'm a woman. It doesn't help anyone if I compromise a story in an attempt to do that. There's no shortage of terrific female leads in (adult) fiction.

I don't think male authors shouldn't write female leads; I just think it's harder to pull off. Particularly so in first person POV--JG was third, so I never had to show you her thoughts.

You're right, of course, that the sexes are more similar than different, and writers should be able to wear a variety of personas convincingly. But the further I reach from my own experience, the more chance I'll screw it up. You know how cops can't watch cop shows, and doctors can't stand medical shows, because all the details are wrong? That's what I fear.