Author: Joe Vasicek

Joe Vasicek is the author of more than twenty science fiction books, including the Star Wanderers and Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus. He claims Utah as his home.

Polishing is harder than it looks

It is.  This is the final revision of Genesis Earth before I submit this novel everywhere, and it’s tough.  I’m changing a lot more than I thought I would, and it’s going a lot slower than any other process so far. Plus, on my way to Murray for my mission reunion, the service light for… Continue reading Polishing is harder than it looks

September recap

So, September’s over now.  Where in the heck did all that time go?  In some ways, I can still remember the summer…but in other ways, it’s never been further away. So, what did I do this past month?  Plenty.  I got a good start on school (14 credits this semester), I quit the writing advisor… Continue reading September recap

WOTF update

The first round of 3rd quarter honorable mentions for the Writers of the Future contest are in.  I’m not in them. I also haven’t received a rejection yet. <crosses fingers>

Final polish

I mapped out all the major assignments for my capstone class for the next month on my calendar.  Turns out I’ve got a lot more work than I thought I did.  Because of that, I decided to start work on Genesis Earth 4.0 today. This is the final polish before World Fantasy convention.  Of all… Continue reading Final polish

School is kicking my trash

It’s true.  This is what my wordcount spreadsheet currently looks like: Note that the seven day totals are dropping consistently.  If I want to finish this novel before World Fantasy, I’m going to have to keep that number above 7,800…not including the work on Genesis Earth 4.0. Something tells me that’s going to be very… Continue reading School is kicking my trash

I look forward to having a 9 to 5 job

I really do. School is difficult, because you can never really separate yourself from your work at the end of the day.  You’ve always got homework to do for the next day, or some project to prepare, some reading to do.  There’s never a defined time where it “ends.” This semester so far has been… Continue reading I look forward to having a 9 to 5 job

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, an ancient race of sentient aliens known as the Amarantin went extinct just as their civilization experienced a golden age.  No one knows why, but archeologist Dan Sylveste is determined to find out.  Unlike the other colonists on the remote planet of Resurgam, he believes that the answer may… Continue reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Climax (thank you Ennio Morricone)

Just passed the major climax in the middle of Bringing Stella Home.  In a moment that I hope is as poignant to the reader as it was to me, I…well, let’s just say I’m glad I’m not my main character. I hit the climax doing a 1,765 word sprint, with this song playing on repeat:… Continue reading Climax (thank you Ennio Morricone)

Battle scenes are HARD

I’m in the middle of revising a major battle scene right now.  This is supposed to be one of the more important climaxes of the book, adding a lot more tension and emotion as the novel approaches the main climax. Let me just say, writing a good battle scene is tough.  The first version of… Continue reading Battle scenes are HARD