Friday, September 11, 2009

Montauk, NY

Friday, September 11, 2009
Waning Moon
Pluto DIRECT
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Rainy and cold

A sad day for everyone, but especially for those who lost people in the 9/11 attacks eight years ago. I encountered a woman in the post office yesterday who was having a hard time — she lost two daughters that day. Everyone in the facility did what they could to comfort her, but this time of year will always be tough for her.

On the news yesterday, they were blabbing that no one pays attention to 9/11 anymore and it no longer holds meaning. Of course, every single individual they interviewed was a tourist, not someone who lived here or lost someone. Those who did have chosen their own ways to mourn, out of the spotlight.

And, to me, the most important and moving moments of the day are the reading of the names.

I think I’ve mentioned a few times how worried I’ve been about some of the bridges and overpasses in the area, to the extent that I avoid some of them and I’ve called in my concerns a few times. Well, a lot of construction workers have been around, with those green-and-white Recovery Act stickers. On my errands the other day, I walked under the I-95 overpass, which had worried me and where debris had fallen several times. They’ve been working there, and one of the guys pointed out the new plates fastening the sections back together and the new supports. Very cool. I actually drove over it a few hours later, and it feels much better. Now THAT’s the way I want my tax dollars to work! Not bailing out corporate executives, but putting people back to work on projects that actually keep people safe and make a difference.

A video clip both highly entertaining and somewhat ironic was broadcast last night. I thought it was sadly hilarious. Some of these anti-education, anti-health care wing nuts were waving around signs calling people “Morans.” I’m assuming they meat “morONs”; they can’t even be bothered to spell their message correctly. You wanna see a moron? Look in the mirror, sign-waver! I sure as heck know a lot of wonderful people in the clan of MorAN and I’d be PROUD to be lumped in with them!

I had to pull clips of my work off a site that’s going dark today — just what I needed right before I leave, especially since it won’t print the articles cleanly without superimposing text on other text (I could then scan the clips back in and create PDFs in my clip file) or print/save as PDFs or even copy and paste. No luck with any of them. While I appreciate that means no one could co-opt the work, it makes it a damned sight harder to have usable clips, and I’d rather not lose three years’ worth of clips. I asked a few people and put the word out on Twitter. We came up with a few possible solutions. I tried them all, so I should have the clips saved several ways! Whew.

Also found some interesting possible prospects. I hate to pitch right before I leave, but I’ll be upfront about my schedule. If it knocks me out, then that’s the way it is; if they like my work enough and we can work around each other’s schedules, I think it would be fun.

I’m happy with my decision to skip Nano this year. I think it’s great and I encourage people to participate, and do it more than one year, because one can learn so much each year. But this year, I’m juggling deadlines and publishers and I’m getting my toe into the foreign rights waters and the websites are undergoing a massive overhaul and all the rest, so for me, this year, it would be the wrong choice. I may do it sometime again in the future. I’ll be cheerleading all my friends and colleagues from the sidelines. No challenges, no Nano, just focusing on clearing up unfinished projects, getting the backlog out, and landing better and higher-paying gigs.

I plateau’d there for awhile, and it’s time for the next leap.

I’m reconfiguring what I want to do and what I need to do in order to pay the bills, and getting them more in tandem with each other. And because I want to take some interesting creative risks next year, I have to figure out how the months around the months in which I take those risks will pay for everything. And still be open to new opportunities.

The plus side of the economic problems is that it proved I was right to remain the Anti-Niche. Except for February, which was a scary month, I managed to make steady gains in clients and income every month by being able to do a wide variety of writing. I miss the Broadway money, but I don’t miss the work in the way I thought I would. I miss some of the individuals, but not the politics of backstage. Income will be frighteningly low for September because I’m not here for a good bit of it, and more will go out then comes in. However, the content of the time away will pay off, both literally and figuratively for years to come. The trade-off’s worth it.

My mom went to the doctor yesterday, and she’s having thyroid problems. Then, she cut her leg this morning, which is a little worrisome. I’m going to cook all weekend and prepare meals she can heat up while I”m gone (because I know she won’t eat properly if I don’t). She’s looking after the cats, so they have their second-favorite human on the planet with them, catering to their every whim.

I did three loads of laundry yesterday and I’m going to do some ironing today and maybe even pack. I have to find the jeans i want to wear on the plane, and pick up a few things at the drug store, but, other than that, I think we’re okay.

It’s in the 40’s here today, and rainy. The cats are much perkier in the cooker weather. I certainly slept better. Autumn is my favorite season.

I’ve got most of my holiday cards sorted out and worked on the Christmas list, so I can tackle that when I get back and get things done ahead of time.

I have my eye on yet another sofa. I’ve got to stop buying sofas or I’m going to need a 16 room house just for the sofas. As comfortable as that red microsuede is when it’s unfolded into a bed, it’s far too small and low for an adult human to actually sit on. It’s the most expensive cat bed I’ve ever bought.

I’m at a stopping point with AMENDS. I tried to push through, but without sorting out what I’ve got and plotting the middle, it’s merely getting muddled. I’ll read it over before I leave and let it percolate while I’m gone.

Errands, pitching, ironing, packing today.

Devon

Violet on the most expensive cat bed I’ve ever bought.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and warm

Not a great writing day yesterday. I had a bad headache, and I was trying to hustle work to make up for the lost gigs. Never fun, especially when you’re not in the mood for it.

Thanks, Avid Writer, for your kind words of encouragement. Sometimes people who don’t do what we do and don’t get it just work my last nerve.

PJ, you can prep as much for Nano as you want, as long as you don’t start writing the actual book until November 1. Outlines, character studies, scene work, snippets of dialogue, whatever you want. I usually have a pretty good idea of my characters and then do a scene-by-scene outline before I start. Last year, during the Muse Online Conference, I developed two novels in two different world-building workshops, and one pulled more strongly than the other, so that’s the one I went with for Nano, and boy, it just flew. I had to stop myself from writing every day because I could have easily spent 12-14 hours just on the book. It was a great feeling, but there were other things that had to be dealt with throughout the month, so I had to make myself stop at specific points each day, and sometimes it was from sheer physical exhaustion.

I enjoyed the photo shoot. I took one set of pictures at the local nature center and some additional photos at the beach and town park. Of course, the photo I took on the spur of the moment will most likely be the cover for “The Possession of Nattie Filmore” – provided I can figure out how to layer text over the photo, since I don’t have Photoshop. Does anyone know if I can make the photo the “background” of the page and then add the text over it? Techno-phobes like me want to know!

I worked on the ebook, which I really need to finish and get up this weekend, before the conference starts.

I pitched for a job, but they went with someone else. At least they had the courtesy to let me know!

I put together the email for my N3s, which goes out as soon as I post this.

I’m getting together with Costume Imp this afternoon, for a quick few hours of fun before he heads back out on tour. That will be fun. Always good to scatter in some playtime with the serious worktime.

I had a good morning’s session on The Big Project. I was afraid I’d lose my rhythm with it, but I haven’t.

Thought a lot about ANGEL HUNT, and am doing my research for the western.

You won’t believe this: Elsa figured out how to work the pedal trashcan. I got one with a foot pedal because she likes to hunt through the garbage for things like pork bones and bring them into the bed. So, for the past few years, she’s been stymied. Last night, I heard rummaging in the kitchen. She had both of her back feet on the pedal, the top was up, and she leaned over the can . . .rummaging for pork bones, since we had pork chops last night. I had to weigh down the lid with a heavy cooking pot!

Back to the page for a couple more hours before I leave for the city.

Devon

The Big Project – 12,880 words out of est. 75,000

12 / 75 (16.0%)

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Don’t forget: Live chat tonight, 9 PM EST on the FireDrakes Weyr site. Enter the site and click on “Conference room.”

I had no idea that my post “Life Experience Enhances Writing” was up at Mystic-Lit, but it is. So hop on over and check it out.

Hey, Colby, the wordcounter I use is Zokutu Word meter. It crashes pretty often, but I can’t get anything from Writertopia to work for me, I’m too technologically impaired.

I worked on ANGEL HUNT. I did a lovely, fast-paced chunk of it and then realized I had it in the wrong chapter. I had to move it to a different chapter and put something else into the chapter in which I worked. Argh. Oh, well, better to figure it out now than when it’s at the galley stage, right? But boy, did it flow, and I hated to leave it when I wrote myself out. The final chapters are spinning in my head, both simpler and more complex than I originally envisioned. It’s a much more layered novel than it was as a serial. I’m passionate and excited about it.

I didn’t get any work done on the western, although one of the research books I’d requested via BookMooch arrived: THE FRONTIER WORLD OF DOC HOLLIDAY, which I can’t wait to read.

I did, however, write two short stories. I wanted to write more – I need to write six – but I ran out of steam after two.

I had a good morning’s work on The Big Project today. I have to remember that it’s a big project, and I can unspool some elements a little bit more slowly than, say, in the western.

I’ve definitely got one N3 for the Nano process, and someone else has approached me. This second person sounds like a good match, too, but I have some concerns, so we’re going to talk more in depth. So even if I don’t do a traditional Nano, I’ll do some mentoring. I have to say, I’ve met some really cool people this year in the area to which I plan to relocate, just by happenstance, which to me, means the Universe is taking a hand in it all. Now I just have to figure out what those opportunities are that are being offered, and take action. Because the Universe doesn’t like it when you slap away an opportunity offered, especially if it was what you asked for, or if you just sit there and dither instead of grabbing it and seeing where it leads.

Back to the page. I love these unstructured days. The writing truly is like working and strengthening muscles – the more I write, the easier it becomes to write more. Think about that when you claim you want to write but “don’t have time” or are “too tired” and then wonder why it’s so hard to get back in the groove. If you keep writing in spurts, or just when you “feel like it”, you can’t sustain a career and you’ll always be someone who write on the side rather than a full time writer. So you have to make a conscious choice if you want this to be your passionate vocation or your hobby. And, trust me, there’s nothing wrong with loving your job, especially if you’re a writer.

Devon

Angel Hunt – 107,787 words out of est. 125,000

108 / 125 (86.2%)

The Big Project – 8,964 words out of est. 75,000

8 / 75 (10.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Monday, October 6, 2008

Monday, October 6, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cool

Okay, so if you haven’t hopped over to NEW MYTHS and read “The Merry’s Dalliance”, go do it, okay? I’m very fond of this piece. In fact, there will be more with these characters, and they’ll get their own website soon.

I’m posting the GDRs for 2009 later today. If you haven’t participated in the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions before, give it a read. Even if you don’t use them, they might get you thinking.

Worked a lot on The Big Project yesterday. It’s going well, in spite of having to stop to fact check every now and again. Tasha’s a lot funnier than I expected, and tougher, but it works for the piece.

And Josiah, in the Western, just keeps surprising me, in the best possible way. He’s going to reveal his agenda when HE’S ready, not when I need it for the writing. He might have to get shot or something to shake him up. Not fatally, just to remind him who’s the creator over here!

Seriously, though, I am going to have to toss chapter two yet again and restructure it to get where I need.

A lot of this week will be spent prepping for the Muse Conference, which starts next Sunday. Since I’m teaching AND signed up for too many workshops . .well, you know how it goes.

I’m doing a live chat on Wednesday at 7 PM over on FireDrakes Weyr. I hope you’ll stop by so I’m not talking to myself, or the wallpaper.

I hung out on Nano forums, very dangerous, playing catch up with former buddies. One of last year’s N3s is actually mentoring this year and said she had a good mentor last year – I was pleased that some of that tough love was useful last year. I think I’ll mentor a handful, even if I don’t do the traditional Nano. I’ll definitely write 50K or more during the month, so . . .

Lara tagged me, so here it goes:

If you have pets, do you see them merely as animals or part of the family?
I am owned by three cats, currently, and they are definitely family. Personally, I think they should get out there and start earning some cash to help with the cat food/litter/vet expenses, but hey, they were worshipped in Ancient Egypt and never let me forget it.

As soon as I get my house, I’ll have more cats and a few dogs. If I have enough land and a barn, I want to add in some rescued horses and maybe a few alpaca.

Yeah, I’d have to learn how to shear and spin, but it would be worth it!

And I spend so much time shoveling metaphorical manure that the real thing isn’t a problem!

If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?
Earn enough money to buy enough land, buildings, and hire a staff for an animal refuge. Of course, I’d prefer to support that refuge with my writing!

What is the one thing most hated by you?
Acts of deliberate cruelty.

What would you do with a billion dollars?
Pay off debts, invest WISELY, and set up the above-mentioned animal refuge. Maybe combine it with an artists’ retreat.

What helps pull you out of a bad mood?
Sex, friends, or chocolate.

Choose one letter out of your name and come up with a word to describe yourself:
V – volatile. In every sense of the word.

What’s your bedtime routine?
Depends on who’s waiting in the bed!

What kind of books do you buy?
A wide range, everything from science to research to historical to all genres of fiction. I read almost anything. A lot of my book-buying is dictated by whatever project I’m writing.

Where do you want to be in ten years?
Living in my dream house on the Cape, with a second home in Montreal (or maybe Iceland), traveling as much as I want, and continuing to live the writing life, but with less financial stress.

What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Sweet, generous, loving, smart, kind, compassionate, and very, very funny.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Move cats off various body parts on which they’ve climbed.

What’s your favorite food?
I have to pick one? Then it’s chocolate.

Formal wear or Casual Wear?
You mean I have to get dressed? Seriously, I love wearing yoga clothes to write, but my life requires a wide array of clothing, and I’ve learned to enjoy all the different wardrobe requirements. While I hate shopping for clothes, I love wearing clothes that make me feel great. And I’ve culled everything from my closet that doesn’t.

Trust me, when you attend the Tony Awards, you want to look delicious.

Sports: Football or baseball?
Can’t stand either one. I’m an ice hockey and horse racing fan. And sailing. And archery. And fencing. And skiing. And . . .whatever sport they’ll pay me to cover!

What do you consider your guilty pleasure?
You mean something I’m willing to post on the internet? Because there are a few you’ll never know unless you know me really well in person! Actually, come to think of it, I don’t feel guilty about anything that gives me pleasure.

People I’d like to tag:
How about Lori and PJ?

Back to the page.

Devon

Western Novella – 8,168 words out of est. 30,000

8 / 30 (26.7%)

The Big Project – 5,195 words out of est. 75,000

5 / 75 (6.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free