Last year, a story of mine was published in City Slab. A couple of months later, CS was sadly no more. Now, one of my stories will appear in the very last issue ever of the already missed and wonderful Realms of Fantasy.
Editors, please take note. My writing may be good, but there's a chance it will be the kiss of death. I can only take heart that ChiZine and Baen's UNIVERSE are still going strong.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
While waiting for AAA....
I'm waiting for AAA to tow my car to the auto shop up the road. We're at the end of an ice storm, and my gas tank (damn ethanol's hygroscopic properties!) is frozen. I think I just need them to thaw it out. It's got a fresh two gallons already.
Anyway. Things are looking up on all fronts, thanks to something of a last-ditch resort: Vitamin D. I started taking 1000 IU the other day when I realised that I was only at about 800 IU daily intake, and my doctor gave me strict instructions to get more. From the first day, I've been more energetic and in less pain. Who'd'a thunk?
Yesterday was my birthday (HELLO! I AM 2^5 TODAY!), and in true birthday tradition, I took a nap, then stayed up until 5:00 in the freakin' morning. (Hence, why it's 11:00 and I've just now called AAA on the busiest tow-truck day of the year.) What did I stay up doing? Writing story notes for an idea that's been stuck in my craw for months. Not a short story, either; novel. Maybe series, if things go well. There's certainly enough material. I need to do some research, though. Anyone got any particularly good references regarding New York City and Connecticut in the 1880s? Information on what happened to the Patroon families and how they coped with the fallout from the Anti-Rent War would be appreciated, too.
Going to try and get some more work done before the truck gets here. I've only got, oh, an hour and 45 minutes. Barely enough time to bake a cake from scratch. :P Next time there's going to be an ice storm, someone remind me to fill up the car on the way home from work? "Tired" is not an excuse.
Anyway. Things are looking up on all fronts, thanks to something of a last-ditch resort: Vitamin D. I started taking 1000 IU the other day when I realised that I was only at about 800 IU daily intake, and my doctor gave me strict instructions to get more. From the first day, I've been more energetic and in less pain. Who'd'a thunk?
Yesterday was my birthday (HELLO! I AM 2^5 TODAY!), and in true birthday tradition, I took a nap, then stayed up until 5:00 in the freakin' morning. (Hence, why it's 11:00 and I've just now called AAA on the busiest tow-truck day of the year.) What did I stay up doing? Writing story notes for an idea that's been stuck in my craw for months. Not a short story, either; novel. Maybe series, if things go well. There's certainly enough material. I need to do some research, though. Anyone got any particularly good references regarding New York City and Connecticut in the 1880s? Information on what happened to the Patroon families and how they coped with the fallout from the Anti-Rent War would be appreciated, too.
Going to try and get some more work done before the truck gets here. I've only got, oh, an hour and 45 minutes. Barely enough time to bake a cake from scratch. :P Next time there's going to be an ice storm, someone remind me to fill up the car on the way home from work? "Tired" is not an excuse.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Writer's block, or, The downside of winter (and lupus)
I'm writing this mostly because I need to write something today. I'm dealing with... well, it's closer to writer's exhaustion than writer's block. I've got plenty of ideas, including some damned good ones, but I'm unable to sit down and execute them right now. It's due to a combination of factors, including day job overwork, either lupus or FMS flaring (signs point toward both or the latter), and seasonal depression. The seasonal depression is compounded by the knowledge that it's probably going to be a permanent thing; sunlight does bad, bad things to me, and I really need to avoid all common types of light more than I currently do. Vampires are only cool and creepy night dwellers until you learn first-hand what it really means to live in the dark. (Yes, this means I'll probably write a vampire novel one of these days. Don't worry; I do anger better than angst.)
I'm actually not feeling sorry for myself, believe it or not. I'm just frustrated and angry and in dire need of some overtly creative activity. As I've said, writing is out because I'm too tired to concentrate, and I really pour my energy into it. Sewing is out because I don't have all the tools I need. I'll probably sit down with some knitting in a few minutes. Or, because I think I can do it, I might write a brief synopsis for a holiday comedy I want to write. That, at least, would be something.
Right. Going to write that synopsis, and then I'm going to eat something other than a banana. It may be another banana, but it'll be food. I have to remind myself sometimes that writing is just one work after another. If I can write one word, I can write another. That helps a lot.
I'm actually not feeling sorry for myself, believe it or not. I'm just frustrated and angry and in dire need of some overtly creative activity. As I've said, writing is out because I'm too tired to concentrate, and I really pour my energy into it. Sewing is out because I don't have all the tools I need. I'll probably sit down with some knitting in a few minutes. Or, because I think I can do it, I might write a brief synopsis for a holiday comedy I want to write. That, at least, would be something.
Right. Going to write that synopsis, and then I'm going to eat something other than a banana. It may be another banana, but it'll be food. I have to remind myself sometimes that writing is just one work after another. If I can write one word, I can write another. That helps a lot.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Kickass.
(I'm home sick today--stupid lupus and/or FMS--so I'm posting things until I go lay down. Which is right now.)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Because someone asked today.
No, I did not write the sequel-thingy to Pride and Prejudice currently available on Amazon. That was another S. E. Ward.
That is all.
That is all.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
KHAAAAAAAN!!!
Dude, Ricardo Montalban is dead. That is NOT COOL. Star Trek II was a major part of my childhood, and it's carried on for a long, long time. (We won't even get into Freakazoid. "Laugh with meeeeeee!") The man was one hell of an actor and a major icon. I'm going to miss knowing he's in the world.
ETA: And Patrick McGoohan. Seriously, today was a shitty, shitty day to be a sci-fi icon.
ETA: And Patrick McGoohan. Seriously, today was a shitty, shitty day to be a sci-fi icon.
New blog ahoy!
As this blog was meant to be writing-related and has turned into a big lump of knitting and sewing, I've set up another blog, Seward's Folly, to take up that slack. Writing, editing, cats, bitching, and general collapsing into a ball of sobs and dough will remain here, never fear.
Some things to update on the writing front, btw. I just need resolution on one. The other is that I've submitted my final ever entry to the Writers of the Future Contest. Wish me luck!
Now, I find dinner!
Some things to update on the writing front, btw. I just need resolution on one. The other is that I've submitted my final ever entry to the Writers of the Future Contest. Wish me luck!
Now, I find dinner!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Strange New Experiences
Yesterday at work, I did something I'd never done before: almost single-handedly, I stretched a king-sized quilting frame. It took seven hours, but apparently, it never takes that long again. Really, it's just a puzzle based on how a quilt fits together (backing, batting, top), and one HELL of a lot of pinning. I think after a few more tries, I'll be able to do it in about an hour--less on a smaller quilt. No, it wasn't for a quilt. We keep one stretched to demo the long-arm quilting machine, and stretching plain fabric was trying enough. Maybe next time I'll be ready to try on a quilt top.
In other news, I've got some actual time off (apart from a vet appointment, a doc appointment, an emergency run to work to fix something I forgot about yesterday, and a work meeting at the crack of dawn on Wednesday). Hence, I'm going to finish editing a story (I hope), get a LOT of sleep, maybe play some computer games, and try one more time to cast on a new knitting project. I have a sneaking feeling I'm going to get at least one cortisone shot on Tuesday, which will probably floor my chances of doing anything productive, but until then, I'm goofing my butt off. Mmm, goofing off. These 40-hour-plus weeks? Not exactly conducive to creativity.
In other news, I've got some actual time off (apart from a vet appointment, a doc appointment, an emergency run to work to fix something I forgot about yesterday, and a work meeting at the crack of dawn on Wednesday). Hence, I'm going to finish editing a story (I hope), get a LOT of sleep, maybe play some computer games, and try one more time to cast on a new knitting project. I have a sneaking feeling I'm going to get at least one cortisone shot on Tuesday, which will probably floor my chances of doing anything productive, but until then, I'm goofing my butt off. Mmm, goofing off. These 40-hour-plus weeks? Not exactly conducive to creativity.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
New Year's reading rant
I know this is an old argument, but how come of the last ten books I read, only one major character was anything but white? That, btw, was Shadow from American Gods. Seriously, people, there are other colours, cultures, and socioeconomic situations out there. Not everyone is a lightly tanned noble running from his European duties.
Okay, that's the end of this New Year's rant. May your hangovers be merciful, and your inboxes free from spam!
ETA: If anyone's interested in a fantastic series that breaks the traditional mould, check out Elizabeth E. Wein's Arthurian/Aksumite books. A realistic Camelot, a major female character with real sense and power, and a wonderful YA protagonist in the later books, Telemakos. I highly, highly recommend the books to anyone between the ages of 10 (or a mature 8) and 1,000.
Okay, that's the end of this New Year's rant. May your hangovers be merciful, and your inboxes free from spam!
ETA: If anyone's interested in a fantastic series that breaks the traditional mould, check out Elizabeth E. Wein's Arthurian/Aksumite books. A realistic Camelot, a major female character with real sense and power, and a wonderful YA protagonist in the later books, Telemakos. I highly, highly recommend the books to anyone between the ages of 10 (or a mature 8) and 1,000.
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