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6/21/04
Ah, the joys of flying. The airline decided to cancel my flight for
tomorrow at 3:15 pm this afternoon (flight was to leave at 8:45 am). SIGH.
They put me on a flight 3 hours later. Heavy sigh. But the nice folks at Orbitz were able to get me on a better flight. Unfortunately, though, we cannot get assigned seats until we get to the airport. This is the part that upsets me. My mom and I may not get to sit together. The last time we went out to Seattle, this happened. Twice. I'm still angry that every time I try to plan in advance, I get screwed out of my seats. Just about every time this happens. It's a long damned flight and we were going to watch a movie on my notebook (y adapter for two headphones). And here I've been looking forward to this trip for months. Have to get up MUCH earlier than anticipated and have nothing but airport hassles to look forward to. Joy. Sorry to leave a bummer post as my last entry for a week or so. Hopefully I'll come back in a better mood and with some cool pictures. Seeya in July.
Now playing: Computer Fan 2004 by Gateway
Now reading:
still between books
6/19/04
I *finally* figured out the ending to the short story I revised, so I did
some more edits and wrote the new ending. Got the story ready to mail out on Monday. I'm also bouncing the beginnings of a new short story around in my brain.
There's an anthology or two for which I'm going to try and write suitable stories. I'm finding that my stories are becoming more mainstream these days. I'm constantly worried about where my short fiction will fit. And with good reason. I'm not so sure that anything I've written these past four years is overtly classifiable. I think part of it is because my sense of wonder has been dulled these past three years. As much as I hate to admit it, September 11th changed something in me. A bit of innocence and sense of wonder. For over a year, I couldn't finish a novel I'd started that August. So much of what I was trying to capture in that book was that childlike sense of wonder. It was a long time before I could go back to the book and find it in me to finish it. Slowly, I'm trying to find my way back to that sense of wonder, but for now, it's still a little tarnished and the cloth is stretched thin. Whatever I find won't be the same; it'll just be different. But it's still my voice and as long as it's from the heart, I'll write it. And worry about where it fits later. Wow, that was a lot longer than I thought it was gonna be. :)
I still have a few loose ends to tie up before my trip to Friday Harbor.
I'm so looking forward to an honest-to-goodness vacation. Besides, if I don't start using my vacation time at work, I'll start losing it (next month). I finally have a new assistant and this will be his first time watching the shop. Hope everything goes well. Honestly though, the moment I step out of the office on Monday, I will forget about its existence. And it's the first time in over a year that I've had that luxury. I've got my 512 SD chip stuffed full of music and dropped into my Rio, ready to roll. The Dell's packed full of articles and web stuff, ready to tackle a story or two. Got my Rocket Writer and my pad of paper in my carry-on. (if you like fountain pens, check out the Rocket Writer from www.levengers.com - this pen is inexpensive and it rocks!) Just need to pack a book and my notebook air adapter and I'm ready to travel.
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Voice of the Celtic Heart by Kate Crossan (purchased in Seattle 2002 :>)
Now reading: still between books
6/12/04
Didn't get any writing work done this week except a rewrite of a short
story. I'm still not quite happy with the ending, but I need to let it set for a bit then decide.
This week finds me working on a novel partial for a bombshell novel.
I'm going to use a character from one of my short stories as the main character and put her in a high stakes situation. Still working out the details and am no where near
ready to set words to the page. The plot needs to be very tight, so I need to get that right first. My goal is to write something edgy and fast-paced. Much of what I've written lately has been low key, quiet sorts of things. This might be a cool change of pace. I don't have any titles or anything concrete on the book yet. Just a vague idea that I need to explore and brainstorm. I'm also batting around a short story idea and hoping to start working on it this week. Depends on how well my novel plotting goes tonight and tomorrow.
My trip to the San Juan Islands is so close! Less than two weeks away -- can't wait!! I'm
so
ready for a vacation. And this trip will REALLY help me with the book's setting. It'll be set in Seattle and surrounding areas (gee, there's a big surprise). That's where the short story was set, so it makes sense to keep the location (since it's one of my favorites :>). I hope to get both projects started before I leave. That way, I have plenty to keep me busy on the plane. With my Rio and my Dell, I'm fully equipped to handle everything. :)
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Victorialand by Cocteau Twins
Now reading:
still between books
6/3/04
<scowl>And another good week in the writing world.
An agent rejection and the rejection of a partial. Gonna try a query for a different book on another agent and see what happens. At least the rejection of my partial had some helpful feedback on why they didn't like it. Even so, I feel like I'm trying to make a pot of stew and every time I serve it to someone, they tell me I've got too many diced tomatoes, not enough salt, too much salt, nobody puts cabbage in vegetable soup, everybody puts potatoes in vegetable soup, it's too thick, too much broth, needs pepper. And then all I have left is this bowl of cloudy mush. Is it soup? Is it stew? I don't have a freakin' clue anymore because it doesn't fit either of those categories. It's just some junk in a bowl. Next time, I'll order a sandwich. blehhhh!
Gotta go stir the slop and hope this one turns out to be soup. </scowl>
-- Lisa "Tired of Hearing No" Silverthorne
Now playing: Victorialand by Cocteau Twins
Now reading:
between books
5/26/04
I am absolutely amazed . . . Seville's tumors are benign! I can't
begin to express the overwhelming relief I feel. There really aren't any words . . . Thanks for the prayers and kind words for my little kitty . . . I'm just overwhelmed by this
outcome. And oh, so very thankful!! We're still waiting for the second pathology report, but the first pathologist felt that the tumors were from inflammation not cancer.
Thank you, God -- thank you.
I've gotta get my brain back into writing again.
Need to finish the edits on the November book and get busy on the next one. Can't improve my writing skills if I'm not writing, can I?
Now playing: Heart of the Circle by Brian Carter
Now reading: between books
5/16/04
It hasn't been a good week. I had to take Seville to the vet on
Saturday because she's been having trouble with what I thought was her teeth. The vet found two masses in her mouth -- one on each side by the molars. They scheduled her for surgery on
Tuesday morning to remove the masses.
My vet removed the masses, telling me they were both very deep, but they hadn't reached the bone. We won't get the results of the biopsy for ten days. I did some research on the web and it looks bad. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most likely diagnosis. My vet is being very guarded about her responses to my questions until the results come back. I'm trying to prepare myself for the results, but it's hard. Seville is one of the most precious gifts I've ever received. She came to me at a terrible time in my life and I'm hoping I get to keep her for many more years to come. She turned 14 on Monday (day before her surgery), so she's not a young cat anymore. I'm hoping against hope and the odds that the tumors are benign. Or that they got all the cancer. Yeah, I'm calling it cancer. I know in my head that's what it is, even though my heart refuses to even acknowledge that possibility.
I feel like my heart's being ripped out of my chest.
This little cat means everything to me and I'm not sure I can face saying goodbye to her. How do you say goodbye to your best friend? I feel like I've spent my whole life saying goodbyes to the people I love. The hellos are so short and the goodbyes seem like eternities. God, I'm so tired of goodbyes. I'm trying to hold onto some hope because the tumors hadn't reached the bone. Not what I'd expected for my fortieth birthday.
Now playing: Heart of the Circle by Brian Carter
Now reading: between books
5/9/04
Happy Birthday to Ron Collins -- hope you have a wonderful day, Ron!
5/5/04
Good news!
They were able to remove all the cancer, including the invasive tumor. Dad's doing well, so I'm very
relieved. I wish that were true for a friend of mine who was diagnosed with cancer a couple weeks ago (a very rare, genetic cancer). Things don't look good for him. And I lost an old, dear friend in February from AIDS. 2004 hasn't been the best of years and I can't help but wonder what it's all about. Why I'm still here and their time's up. A part of me knows it's just the way the cards fall, but as my 40th birthday fast approaches, I can't help but wonder why I'm still here. My friend was a week shy of his 39th birthday. He won't be here for his fortieth. But I will, so what am I going to make of it? Growing up, I never really expected to reach 40. Not sure why. I guess a part of me didn't want to live that long (had a tough time in those first 20 years). And it's all so different than I'd imagined. In so many ways, I'm still that fourteen-year-old girl who wonders what she'll be when she grows up. I still have all those dreams I left in a box in my dresser drawer as I waited for all the normal things in a girl's life to happen: a husband, kids, a dream job. I don't think I've got much of a shot at those first two anymore, but just maybe this writing thing will finally happen and I'll become a novelist. Yeah, I'm a little sad, I guess, knowing I'll probably never have that one grand love in my life or a child. And I'm feeling my mortality a little more than normal, but I'm also thankful. So many people I've known will never be 40. And maybe I'm a late bloomer? :) Who knows? But I'm still here, so there's still time for those possibilities . . .
Now playing: Everything by Alanis Morissette (from her new CD So-Called Chaos)
Now reading: between books
5/2/04
I HATE MY JOB!!!! This has been such an awful week at work.
Ever since I turned down that job offer, it's like the universe is punishing me by making this job the worst it could be. It's almost been a year since I've had an assistant. And with the recent onslaught of viruses and yet another shifting of responsibilities (onto me : <) . . . I'm at the edge of my ability to juggle everything. I haven't written any fiction since my last entry. I so feel like I made a bad decision. April has just been more than I can handle. I've just gotta survive one more week and then things should lighten up a bit (I hope).
Found out this afternoon that my dad has skin cancer. We don't know
what type yet (we'll find out tomorrow) or what kind of treatment will be needed. I'm praying it's basal cell in early stages and not squamous or worse -- melanoma. My mom has
pre-melanoma, but they caught hers in time. I've had several mole biopsies myself since December and they've all come back with concern. Waiting on results from one done on Friday.
Apparently, I'm high risk for melanoma. Oh joy. That's what I get for having fair skin and light eyes. I'm not even a sun worhipper, but I had 3 or 4 really bad burns as a child/teenager.
It's always something, isn't it?
Just one rejection to report, a few days from NFG.
I sent out an agent query last week and crossing my fingers for a positive there. Tonight, I did some work on the novel rewrite for Confetti Stars. Not any actual writing yet, just reformulating the plot and I think I've got it figured out now. My new working title is Exhaling Silence and the book is set in Indiana, a first for me. I'm excited about the rewrite and the new ideas.
Milo, my newest kitty, turned 2 years old yesterday!
Hard to believe. I remember him as a tiny kitten and me trying to capture him using a can of cat food as bait. It worked though. :)
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Dream Spiral by Hilary Stagg
Now reading:
between books
4/18/04
It's been a very stressful week.
I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now. Everything just feels jumbled and tangled, if that makes any sense. Among other things, my interview turned into a second interview and then a job offer. Unfortunately, I would lose some things I'm not willing to give up. I spent a long time looking at the pros and cons and while the atmosphere would be so much better than what I'm in now, the bottom line is my writing would suffer. At this stage in my career, that's not something I'm willing to risk. Also, a couple of friends were in the hospital this week, too. One's going to be fine and the other was diagnosed with bone cancer. Not ready for Monday, but it always comes whether I'm ready or not.
On a better note, I finished my rewrite of Isabel's Tears tonight.
There were lots of big things to fix about the ending and I think it works now. I feel very pleased with it. And I'm ready to start looking for an agent. My stomach turns over at the prospect, but at this stage, an agent could really help me. I'm learning about pitching and proposals and honing my high concepts. Just need to go to some conventions, get my nerve up, and try.
So what will I work on now? Gonna clean up and retitle the novel I
wrote in November. I have some cool ideas for it, too. Once that's done, I want to get the book out the door and start another one.
I'm finally going back to the islands this summer! God, I can't wait!
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Victorialand by Cocteau Twins
Now reading:
between books
4/8/04
Tokina
October 14, 1984 to April 8, 2004
My 19 1/2 year-old kitty went into acute renal failure yesterday and by this morning,
she was in a lot of pain.
We had to have her put to sleep. She's been sick with thyroid problems for well over a year, so over the past few months, I've gotten used to our sweet-faced Siamese girl sleeping a lot and not talking much. But still, the house feels a little empty tonight and very quiet. Tokina was the smallest of four seal point Siameses that were born in the closet of my previous house. She was a very dainty, sweet girl with intense blue eyes and a loving disposition. The only talker in the house. She'll be missed. Rest in peace, little girl. You're out of pain now and your brother, Tele's there to meet you. I haven't been able to cry about her all day, but writing this is doing the trick.
Tomorrow's not such a good day for a second interview. Oh, well, do the best I can.
In better news, I got a royalty check today for my story in 100 Wicked Little Witch
Stories. This book has been in print for about 9 years. Amazing stuff!
4/4/04
Had a horrible scare today! The computer finally has all its software loaded back
on again, firewall set up, plug-ins, drivers, etc.. So, I open my folder for my rewrite of Isabel's Tears, intending to find where I left off before the crashed drive rudely interrupted me.
I open the folder . . . and . . . it's empty. COMPLETELY empty. Oh.my.god. I open my first backup, thinking hopefully that maybe I just missed copying over the right folder. Yeah, that's it. I just missed, that's all. Opened the folder on backup #1. Empty. Just tumbleweeds and crickets.
Blood pressure using 95% resources, loading hyperventillation sequence . . . please wait.
As I mutter over and over, "oh my god, it's empty, it's empty..." I frantically reach
for my flash drive and plug it in. Backup #2. Oh, please be there, please be there . . . I open the folder and all my files are there. Thank you, God!
The bad news is that I lost all the edits I did on the book on Monday. Thank God I didn't get any writing done on Tuesday and Wednesday. (never thought I'd say that ;>) But I've finished reediting the chapters I did on Monday. Now, I'm back where I started again, ready for the last 11 chapters. These are the most difficult of the rewrite. Not really difficult. Just require more work. Gotta get moving again.
Have a good evening!
4/3/04
Happy April Fool's Day to me! My hard drive crashed and burned on April Fool's
Day evening.
gggggrrrrrr.....talk about royal pain in the butt. I've spent the last two days installing the new drive, slaving over what files I could touch off the old drive, reinstalling software, losing CD keys, and cursing. But I'm just about finished. I'm OCD about making backups of my stuff, so I didn't lose anything (except my damned Office XP CD Key). So, this was a good time to upgrade to Office 2003 (which I'd been meaning to do). Just before the drive's actuator arm froze for eternity, I was able to pull off a last backup. Even managed to pull off my saved games from Sacred (didn't want to start my Level 15 character over). So now, I'm running a new Seagate Barracuda 120 GB drive. I now have twice as much space as I had before. I have a parallel port card to reinstall and reconnect the ribbon cables to their proper drives (disconnected the Zip to slave the Deathstar...er...I mean Deskstar).
I guess this is the universe's way for getting back at me for pranking people that
day.
Ya win some, ya lose some, y'know. ;) I got an awesome deal on the drive though, so that's cool too. I've been wishing I had more drive space (be careful what you wish for).
Have I done any writing?
A little on the notebook, but until I got my desktop back in working order, my brain has just been elsewhere.
3/28/04
I'm up to chapter 20 on my rewrite of Isabel's Tears, so I'm about 2/3rds of the way
through. I've still got a lot to do. A lot of the rewriting I need to do will be happening in the last 11 chapters. Some of those rewrites I need to think through a bit and decide
how I'll handle some changes.
Especially the ending. I've got ideas on what needs to happen, but I won't know for sure until I get to those points in the story. It's all coming up fast. I'll have a lot more time for writing this week -- not so many appointments, etc..
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Wayfarer by John Doan
Now reading: You Can Write a Romance by Rita Clay Estrada and Rita Gallagher
3/20/04
Spent the past few days learning about the romance writer's perspective vs. the fantasy
writer's perspective.
It was something I hadn't really thought a lot about until the novel workshop. The focus is very different and will take some learning on my part. I've also spent the past few days studying pitches and synopses which we decided to rename to Sales Tool. I've taken apart my synopsis and I'm redrafting it along with writing a query letter for the book. Writing a synopsis requires a whole different skill set, one that I'm currently trying to master. As I work on these things, I'm revising Isabel's Tears and fixing some of the big stuff that needs to be fixed. It's not a lot really, at least I don't think so. The ending has to be rewritten and some things clarified. The biggest problem was the book's opening, but I've already cut something like 18 pages out of the opening. It's made a huge difference, but I've gotta add in some backstory, etc. and smooth out a few things.
I'm enjoying the ride though. I really love this book and it got some great
responses, so my confidence is propelling me forward.
In other news, a 213-day rejection from Realms of Fantasy.
I *really* thought I was going to sell this one, but it wasn't to be. This was my 26th submission to the magazine, so my frustration level is high on this one. It was rejected solely on a taste issue (too high fantasy for her) which I can't argue with and totally understand. Just frustrates me that I can't sell to this market. The story will go out again on Monday and I think it's a damn good story. I just wish I could get a break at one of the major magazine markets.
Sorry, didn't want to end this entry on a dark note.
On a happier note, I was at Lowe's today, looking at drawer pulls and found some exquisite little starfish (in a pale gold finish). I ordered a dozen and plan to replace the hardware on my armoire. They'll look so good against the pale alder wood. I paid off my 5-year car loan this month and I have a job interview on Thursday. Wish me luck. :)
Hoping to post some vacation pictures soon. I got some way cool shots of harbor
seals and sea lions. Definite Seal Medicine on this trip. I really need to look up seals and see what they signify. Every time I looked into the Pacific, I saw one. It was really wild.
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Wayfarer by John Doan
Now reading: You Can Write a Romance by Rita Clay Estrada and Rita Gallagher
3/17/04
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I got back from Oregon about 12:30 AM today, so I'm totally wiped from the time difference and all the traveling. And the fact that I missed my connection in Chicago (due to weather) and had to wait 2.5 hours for the next flight out. So, I got home several hours later than I'd planned. And right at this moment, I'm really missing the Pacific coast with its lighthouses and waves and wildlife. Returned home to snow and sky.
The good news is that the travel headaches were worth the trip. The Novel Selling
Workshop was the absolute best workshop I've ever attended!!!
It was an incredible experience!! Ironically, it's something I'm having trouble putting into words. I learned so very, very much about novel structure and the higher order skills that I honestly didn't even have names for the terms.
Heck, I learned so much about myself as a writer, too.
Especially about how I approached writing (scenes, structure, focus, etc.) as an SF/F writer vs. a romance writer. I think the best word for it is "instinct." As I practice what I've learned, I hope I'll be able to intellectualize it all. And what a talented group of writers I had to privilege to work with! I learned from each person's strengths and challenges. As writers we were equally matched and that made learning even easier. I wouldn't trade this workshop experience for anything in the world.
Now, I'm fixing a few major flaws in my manuscript and ramping up the romance.
I'm into chapter three now. This puppy's so close . . . it's gonna sell!
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Wayfarer by John Doan
Now reading: between books
3/5/04
Argh!!! So much reading to finish and I'm running out of time. I just
finished reading a 600+ page manuscript today.
Gotta write up my crit and read about 250 more pages. Then I need to finish reading the Zuckerman book and I'll be ready for the workshop. Needless to say, I haven't gotten back to any sort of wordage for Flashpoint. I do have some new ideas though. With my free time before the workshop, I plan to plop down more wordage. And to be even more of a pain, I have another idea for a short story that's really starting to poke at me. So, I may work on the short story first and then write more on Flashpoint. Just depends on my mood and how much I'll have left to read. I'm being a bad dog and writing this from work. :) I've also gotta get my stuff packed. I have a hideously early flight on Tuesday morning (7:30 am - gasp!) and I'm a good hour and fifteen from the airport. Anyone who knows me well will find it amusing that I have to *be* someplace by 6:30 am. I'm not a cranky person in the mornings, just very confused, but honestly, I'm not a morning person. This flight will be interesting.
Yesterday brought a 37-day rejection from Oceans of the Mind. It's been a long
stretch of silence at the mailbox. I'm hoping for a little change in luck at the mailbox soon.
I know I'm writing better than I was last year. Not sure if it's "good enough" yet, but I have hope that soon, everything will just click into place with a way cool aha moment! (a girl
can dream, can't she?)
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Fallen by Evanescence
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/23/04
Tonight, I put down about 500 words on a new novel called Flashpoint. It's going
to be a short one, about 80K max (I hope).
I spent a bit of time brainstorming more plot points and figuring out my characters before I started. For now, I'm concentrating on making a lot of trouble for the characters. With a few twists. And that's always fun. :)
I found out today that mid-March is part of Gray whales' northern migration (!).
I've never seen a gray whale and I'm so excited that I have a chance to see them very soon. Can't wait to go out in a boat to see them. Just a chance to see a great fluke glide through the water . . . gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. :) They're not orcas, but they're so special in different ways. I resonate very deeply with the ocean. It softens an ache that never quite goes away. And my hotel room has an ocean view and a gas fireplace. Add a bottle of oaky merlot, some candles, and Mr. Right and . . . well, ahem, it would be even better. :)
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Under Rug Swept by Alanis Morissette
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/22/04
It's been a looonnnngggg weekend . . .I finally got through reading 10 of 11 partials
(3 chapters + synopsis) for my upcoming Novel Workshop. Now, I have two complete manuscripts to read and one partial.
One of the manuscripts and a partial haven't yet arrived, but I'm relieved that I got all of the rest read and commented on. I've already learned a lot just in reading the other writers' work. Now, to hear the editor's take on them will be fascinating. There was some really good stuff in these partials. In fact, one of them I'm dying to read more about. I'll probably ask the author for an e-copy of the book to read. I still have a ton of work to do before the workshop. Gotta finish reading the Zuckerman book. I was supposed to read Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, but I read it when it first came out. I'll probably take it with me to Oregon and leaf through it again. And I also have to watch the first 6 episodes of the TV show 24. Haven't done that yet either. I may have to take those with me, too and watch a couple each day until the workshop.
I didn't get any writing done this weekend, so now, I'm itching to get involved in a
new story. I'll probably just play around with some ideas from recent science stories I thought were cool and the ever-running stream of novel ideas until something sparks.
Have a good evening!
Now playing: A Day Without Rain by Enya
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/16/04
Yesterday, I started work on a zeppelin story (better late than never). I'd been
researching ideas for a couple of weeks, but nothing quite came together until Saturday night.
I spent half the day on it and got about 2/3rds of the story completed. Today, during lunch (and slow moments at work) I finally finished it! Yay! It's 5550 words long and titled In the Shadow of Airships. After a visit to the chiropractor, I need to rush home, print it and run it over to the post office so it'll be postmarked today. Nothing like cutting it close. Sheesh!
It really felt good to finish something and to be involved in the story.
Even if it was last minute. No pain no gain, right? We'll see what happens. I'm pleased with the story though, so that much is an accomplishment
Have a good evening!
Now playing: nada
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/14/04
Happy Valentine's Day!
Not really a big day to me (no Mr. Right to share it with yet), but with my approaching milestone birthday, I felt a little radical today. Got my hair chopped off (shortest it's been since that accident in beauty school ;>)
and the top of my ear pierced. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as I'd expected (my ear, not my hair, silly ;>). Of course, I haven't slept on that ear yet (big fun tonight *grin*).
I just have to make sure I don't get infection in the cartilage. Probably not the best move to get my hair cut short (most guys prefer women with long hair).
Oh well, having my hair long never positively affected my single status anyway. Do it for myself, y'know.
- It was another tiring week at work. I'm so tired of doing two people's jobs (since Jun '03). Hopefully that will soon come to an end.
On the brighter side, I had my performance evaluation this week and my boss praised me for the huge amount of work and projects my team and I had completed despite the reduced personnel. He thanked me for being able to depend on me to get things done. That made me feel pretty good.
I was a total fan girl this week and bought an autographed picture of Viggo Mortensen
as Aragorn. Boy, is he *hot* as Aragorn! I really want to see Hildago now. (it's been awhile since I've gotten a Hugh Jackman fix -- so I'm glad there's Viggo :>)
I'm mulling around yet another novel idea in my brain.
This would be a short book (about 75K), so I could kick it out fairly fast. But then I have The Fantasy Novel on my brain, too (110K or more). I'm not sure which one I'd rather work on. I'll decide on something and start on it tomorrow. Tonight, I'm a merlot-drinkin' sloth. Okay, I had one glass. I can't drink hardly any alcohol these days because of my rosacea, but dang it, I refuse to stop drinking red wine.
The Novel workshop is less than a month away. I'm still half excited and half
dreading the experience. But I'm totally looking forward to going whale watching. I've never seen Gray whales or Humpbacks (or Minkes), so I'm excited about that. A new experience.
I REALLY need a change of scenery. I really think my same ol' same ol' POV is stagnant and affecting my writing. Need some new interactions, some new directions. Don't we all, eh?
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Fallen by Evanescence (yes, I'm still listening to it :>)
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/9/04
Well, my manuscript for the Novel workshop is cleaned up and ready to go. I'm
sweating bullets just thinking about mailing it. I have to print 3 copies of it, too. (that's a LOT of toner and paper)
Makes me queasy since no one's ever seen this manuscript except my mom. Wish this stuff got easier for me, but it's always tough. I've just gotta suck it up. I won't learn anything otherwise.
I outlined an idea for a new short story yesterday. As soon as I get some of my
workshop stuff done, I hope to start working on it.
My outlines aren't formal -- more of a letter to myself, telling the basics of the story. I was going to write it for an anthology, but I don't think I have enough time now. I think I'll just worry about writing it first, then think about where to send it. A good way to get myself in trouble (marketing a story before it's written).
I'm really enjoying the Zuckerman book. I'm fascinated by his discussions of the
various outlines for bestselling books and how they went through several iterations before "getting it right." I guess I've always thought of a blockbuster book as just sort of happening at the
hands of a successful writer. But seeing all the refinement that went into the outline really made me think.
A lot of times, I plow through with a draft and discover I got the story elements wrong. Then the prospect of a redraft becomes daunting. For my next novel, I plan to try refining my letter/story method. I'll tell the story in detail to myself then let it set for a bit, refine that story, let it set a day or two, then refine some more. I'd really like to see how this slight change might affect my first drafts.
I've also got redraft ideas for the novel I finished in November. That puppy
needs a ton of work. I didn't have a clear idea of the forces against my POV characters in that first draft.
But over the past couple of months, that part is starting to materialize a bit. Maybe I can make the book work after all?
Have a good evening!
Now playing: Fallen by Evanescence
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
2/1/04
Yeah, long silence, I know. No real reason, just not feeling very communicative
these days. This is a weird year for me.
Had to take my dad back to emergency again this week. He was coughing up blood,
but thankfully, it was due to bronchitis and coumadin (anticoagulant he has to take because he has a mechanical heart valve).
They gave him something to help with his cough, so he's feeling good now. In fact, he left today for a Caribbean cruise. :)
Lots of bits and pieces of stuff going on, but nothing tangible enough to talk about
here.
I wish I could say it was writing stuff, but it's that real life crap. I think some major changes are coming my way. I just hope I have a say in them. Trying to find my way through lots of twisted knots and unpleasantness (@ work) and find a way to save myself.
I've come to the conclusion that the novel I wanted to finish by today is just one of
those ideas I'm not ready to finish.
I lack the skill and the vision for this particular idea, so I'm going to put it away for now and work on other things. I'm okay with that. It's actually a relief because I kept brainstorming all these wonderful ideas, but when I sat down to start writing them, I just couldn't find the words. This will be one for later.
I finalized my travel arrangements for next month and got a good deal on a plane
ticket.
Made all my reservations, too, so I'm good to go. I'm also polishing up my manuscript for the novel workshop. Had to add a chapter though and finally got that finished tonight. I'm about a 1/3rd of the way through a final polish, but I should have that completed this week. Then I get to print all of this out and mail it to a dozen people. ARGH. Not looking forward to that part. Just hope people don't hate my book. This workshop is a big step for me. I only let a select few people I trust see my novels and I'm just handing this one out to people I don't know. I'm more than a little nervous about it. That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger. Gotta keep telling myself that. ;)
Now playing: Fallen by Evanescence
(oh.my.god -- I love this CD! -- hauntingly beautiful and full of angst and atmosphere,)
Now reading: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
1/05/04
It took me several days, a lot of frustration, and some head banging, but I *think*
I've got this plot down.
I'm going to start actual verbage tomorrow night and hope I can put this puppy to bed by the first week of February. My deadline for mailing is 2/12, so it's got to be done then or I submit something else to the March workshop I'm attending. With the Christmas money my dad gave me, I bought a nice Recife fountain pen from Levengers (one of my favorite catalogs/stores!!). It's green and sparkly and it's the smoothest writing pen I've ever used. I just love it! At lunch today, I feverishly wrote four pages of notes on this plot and this pen didn't miss a stroke. I'm impressed. I have a thing for fountain pens and like to collect them. I only have three though, so I don't have a big collection. But this new Recife is pure joy to write with! I actually enjoyed writing long hand for a change.
I'm really looking forward to my novel workshop in March. I'm going to fly out to
Oregon a couple of days early and head down to Newport Beach for a trip to the aquarium and whale watching! I made my hotel reservation today -- God, I can't wait!
The Pacific Ocean . . . it's been almost a year since I've seen it. I've got a flight picked out; just have to buy my ticket. I'm also going back to the San Juans in June to watch the orcas. I didn't get to see them last year, so I'm dying to get out there again. And I'm going back to Oregon in November for a second workshop. Three trips to the PNW in one year -- I'm in heaven.... :) The nice thing is that, come March, if I don't start using my vacation days, I'll start losing them. And on top of that, I have two personal days left to use, too.
Now playing: Reflections of Nature: Swimming with Dolphins
Now reading: Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
1/01/04
Happy New Year! With all the turmoil in the world, I don't know what this year
will bring, but I always hopeful for better things. I'm starting off the year by trying to complete another novel this month. This one's not quite a dare because I've already got 15-20K
on the book (mostly in the wrong direction, but it's all helpful). My mom always says that whatever you do on New Year's Day is what you'll do all year (she has a lot of these southern wives'
tales in her inventory :>), so getting back to the writing after the blur of December is a good thing. I had some revelations about one of my characters in the book, so that will be an
interesting twist to the story I'd imagined.
Mom and I celebrated her birthday yesterday by eating junk food and watching movies.
We had a good time. It was a quiet evening and I didn't really feel like doing much.
Had to take my dad to emergency on Tuesday and spent the evening there. He
collapsed at work (which he does FAR too much of), but needed "convincing" to go to ER.
It took my dad's friend and I a bit of talking, but we convinced him he needed to go. Always fearful that it's his heart, I wasn't sure what was happening, but I was pretty sure he had the flu. A few tests confirmed that he had the flu, but he had a secondary infection in his lungs, too. We were afraid he'd get pneumonia. He's doing okay today. Still not feeling well, but at least he's at home in bed (at last listening to the doctors). My mom and I will be taking some soup over to him. Gotta have that cabbage and black eye peas to be healthy, wealthy and wise (another southernism). I think there's some pork or corned beef or something in that list, too, but not for this chick!
- Mom and I celebrated her birthday yesterday by eating junk food and watching movies.
We had a good time. It was a quiet evening and after the previous night, I didn't really feel like doing much. I even slept in today (yay!), so I feel like my normal self again. Even on the weekends, I'm usually up by 8:30 am. (Even if I don't go to bed until 2:30 am) It's weird.
Oh, yeah, forgot that year end review. This year's was pathetic, but I still kept trying.
Rejections=41
Acceptances=1
Didn't manage any professional sales this year. Didn't manage much (if any)
forward movement. But after 11 years, I'm still here and I'm still trying. Persistence or sheer Taurean stubbornness -- I'm not sure. But dammit, one of these days, I'm gonna
figure out this writing thing and get it all together.
Now playing: My Private Nation by Train
Now reading: Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
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