Tues. Nov. 5, 2019: Nice Start to November

Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde

Busy weekend.

A friend arrived on Thursday afternoon. We had cocktails and snacks. Homemade chicken pot pie for dinner, with orange rye bread. Gingerbread for dessert.

The weather was pretty vile, so there were only 8 Trick or Treaters.

At least I had enough candy.

We watched TEA WITH THE DAMES, talked. I’d done my ritual in the morning. I did my Tending the Dead ritual once everyone was asleep.

Willa bonded with my friend immediately, which was good. Charlotte behaved better. Tessa came out a little bit.

I tried anti-anxiety medicine on all three cats. It did nothing for Willa. It confused Tessa. It made Charlotte less aggressive, but more nervous. I kept Charlotte on it for a few days, but she was miserable.

A Letter to the Editor I ghost-wrote for a client appeared in the local paper. I felt a bit smug, and she was very pleased.

The weather was bad all night into Friday, although it started clearing up Friday mid-morning.

I cooked a big breakfast. We stopped at the library.

Then we went to the Cahoon Museum. It was delightful, as always, although it was between exhibits. I was sad they took down my favorite oil painting. But Ralph and Martha’s work always delights me. One of the two new exhibits, by a weaver, was beautiful. I’m trying to decide if I’ll go the opening reception this next week. It’s the last exhibit of this year, before they close for the winter.

We came home, and I made bahn mi for lunch.

Then, we headed up to Sturgis Library, and then over to the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth. I hadn’t been there in several years. It was delightful, as always.

The guy at the front desk is someone I recognized from one of the local reading series where I’ve tested new work. He had no idea who I was. I’ve attended often enough that one would think he’d recognize me.

That’s what gets me here. It’s a small community, so “everyone knows everyone.” Yet, in professional contexts, they don’t retain information. They’ll remember gossip about the friend of a friend’s neighbor’s cousin like they know them and it’s first=hand information, but not remember someone with whom they interacted professionally.

Stopped at Parnassus Books on the way back, always a pleasure. Then, went to Tumbleweed Quilts so my friend could buy some novelty fabric for her sister.

It was nice enough to have a cocktail on the deck. I made a Venetian pasta out of THE BRUNETTI COOKBOOK. We watched the first, very dark episode of Season 4 of SHETLAND.

The cats behaved pretty well. Tessa needs to stay out more, so they all get used to being together. She holes up in my office all the time.

Saturday morning, up early. My friend was looking for something for her mom. We drove around all over Hyannis, three different stores, and finally found it at a yard sale down the street.

My friend left in late morning. I brought in the Halloween decorations, cleaned them off, packed them away. We packed all the Samhain decorations and put them away. We switched out the spider web curtains for the winter curtains and changed Halloween fabric coverings to Harvest fabric. Re-made the beds. I did laundry.

Charlotte and Willa discovered the basement, and had adventures.

They didn’t like empty boxes coming out, but once they were filled, the settled down. Tessa always avoids the chaos when decorations go up or come down. She hates it.

Finished reading MISS BUNCLE MARRIED by D.E. Stevenson, and started THE UNWRITTEN LIBRARY, which is quite wonderful and weird, but I’m worried it’s going to wind up being too religious for my taste.

Remembered to turn the clocks back.

Up early. Spent a good portion of the day working on edits. This draft is in good shape, and I’m happy with it. I have to smooth out a couple of things, and then I can get back to BALTHAZAAR TREASURE and DHARMA. I need to come up with an entire new outline for DHARMA, and I need to outline THE BARD’S LAMENT. I only have the most basic idea of where I want to go with it.

Yesterday morning, up early, trying to get back into the routine. Willa and Charlotte don’t really understand the concept yet of yoga and meditation time. They’re constantly up to something when I sit. It’s pretty funny.

Worked on my edits. Worked on THE BARD’S LAMENT. Worked more on it than I expected, but it’s flowing. Worked on site with my client. Bagged 30 gallons of leaves from the front yard.  Took a big stack of materials back to the library. Went to meditation. Worked on a book for review. Worked on a piece I’m doing for NMLC.

This morning, another writing session, another editing session, then off to my client. I’m debating whether to grocery shop today or tomorrow. Doing some more work on the piece for NMLC. I’m working with the Executive Director on it later this week.

Have to do some raking and yard work. I need to cut back a bunch of stuff, put the pots away from the deck (either cleaned and stacked, or, for the big plants, to the spot where they overwinter in the garage). I figure, if I do a little bit every day, eventually, it gets done.

I’m also doing some sorting and purging. Again, trying to do a little bit every day. Set the time for 15 minutes here and there, make a commitment to unpack a box or two. I want to get rid of a lot of stuff that’s not relevant to me anymore. I’ll keep most of the books, especially non-fiction, but release what I no longer want to define my life.

I’m redefining my life right now, which feels good, is scary, and most definitely necessary.

Meanwhile, I keep the writing steady. So it’s back to the page.

Sat. June 11, 2016: The Delightfully Clever Film PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES

Saturday, June 11, 2016
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Yesterday was busy – lots of processing/receiving/scheduling, et al.

Wrote on my lunch break, which was good, because it lessened the tension of the scenes that built up over the morning.

Home exhausted. Got a bit of writing done after dinner, but not much; had to do the baking for today’s program.

Watched PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES. I did not expect to like it at all, and I liked it A LOT. It was clever, it was funny, it was deeply rooted in the source material. I’d wanted to see it because Matt Smith and Lena Headey were in it, and I always like their work. But everyone was great – the details were so sharp and so fluid, and it was so well done! Lily James and Sam Riley were exceptional. Riley found a way to inhabit Darcy that was neither an imitation of Colin Firth’s interpretation nor a fight against it – he found his own way, he was rooted in what he was doing, and he WAS. The argument/fight scene between Lizzie and Darcy was both funny and brilliant—choreography, writing, execution. What a wonderful surprise!

Didn’t get much writing done this morning. I’m approaching a difficult sequence in INITIATE, where I’m based in some known mythology, but I’ve spun it out to fit the world I’ve built. It’s so bizarre to hold the whole series in my head, and create each scene knowing not only how it drives the specific volume, but the overall series arc.

I have a long day today – it wouldn’t be my Saturday “on”, but I’m covering, and there are two events, plus more books arrived after I’d done the processing yesterday.

Over the weekend, of course, I have to tackle mowing the meadow. But I’ll also be juggling the CHARISMA rewrites, the next sequence in the play set in 17th Century Italy, and this next sequence in INITIATE.

I’ve got an NMLC Board meeting Monday, and something scheduled for almost every night next week. Somehow, I have to hold back enough energy to stay on track with the writing.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Wed. April 13, 2016: Intense Writing

Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Intense few days. Very productive, but intense.

The two new Topic Workbooks, THE GRAVEYARD OF ABANDONED PROJECTS and ORGANIZE YOUR WRITING LIFE , are both available here and through the Premium Catalog (which means Kobo, Nook, etc.). I’m pleased that they turned out so well. I’ll be adding them in to the various necessary web pages this week.

I worked on Saturday, and was exhausted by the time I came home. I spent Saturday and most of Sunday working on contest entries. I can’t believe how many entries are well beyond 500 pages — I’m talking 750, 850, 1410! And, in all those cases, it’s Book 1 which is so long! Few of them are well-written enough to sustain that length. Most of them are overwritten, have pages of info dump, and the pace can’t maintain the marathon. The characters and the plot aren’t strong enough to compensate.

Monday morning, off to Buzzards Bay for the Board meeting, followed by the Capital Campaign meeting.

When I got back, I was ready to dig in to the writing. On a whim, I pulled out the second draft of HEART SNATCHER, which I’d put in stasis for awhile, because I was frustrated with it. I was surprised by how well it held up. I made notes — mostly having to do with cuts. It’s in good shape, and I think in another draft, it will be ready to go. I then started re-reading what I have of the second book in the trilogy, HEART BINDER — needs work, but there’s promise, especially since I outlined the entire trilogy and smoothed over logistical lapses early on. I want to find a way to add it into the current schedule, while not dropping the ball on either SONGBOUND SISTERS or “Just a Drop.”

Got some work done on Non-Fiction #2, which is chugging along nicely.

Tuesday morning, I rewrote about the first 100 pages of HEART BINDER, fixing a lot of the problems and making it continue smoothly from HEART SNATCHER.

In the afternoon, I finished up the contest entries and made sure the choices were the ones I believed in most strongly.

By the end of this week, I’ll get in the entries for the radio contest, and those will be done by the end of the month.

This morning, I revised the prologue and first three chapters on the next draft of HEART SNATCHER. It will be a long day at work, but I’m eager to get back home this evening and write some more. I’m going to spend the next three days on this trilogy, and then, once I’ve got that in the groove, add in SONGBOUND and “Drop” over the weekend.

Of course, because I have to be inside for the next three days, it’s gorgeous out. But the weather is supposed to hold all weekend and finally get warmer, so maybe we can start setting up the deck.

Devon

Mon. March 31, 2014: Inspiration and Directions

Monday, March 31, 2014
Waxing Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Rainy and cold

Can’t believe this is the last day of March. I’ll have a wrap up on the GDR site later today.

Busy weekend. Worked flat out on Friday, with students, on a client project, on stuff for the NMLC, on contest entries, on a proposal that’s in negotiation that would be both exciting and lucrative, met with a client and that gig will start in two weeks, and then headed to the Marine Life Center about mid-afternoon.

Worked in the office there for a few hours, set up, and we had a good rehearsal. A cold one — the heat’s not working in the building — but a good one. I am going to have to cut a beat out of the play, though — it belongs in a different play.

Exhausted by the time I got home, and feeling like I was coming down with something. Woke up on Saturday feeling AWFUL, although it was a beautiful day out. I think the stress of the week caught up with me and started manifesting physically.

Deeply, deeply disappointed and hurt that I didn’t hear back on a long-term gig who promised me an answer last Thursday. I’m assuming I didn’t get it. I’m sure six months or a year from now, it will make sense and I’ll understand the WHY of it, and why I wound up somewhere else I was supposed to be, but it’s still bitter right now.

Had to run one errand, and also took Tessa out in her enclosure for awhile, because the weather was mild enough. Then, I bundled up and spent the rest of the weekend resting, and working on contest entries. Some were really good; others didn’t quite make the mark. Some of them were so poorly constructed that one couldn’t even get to the story through all the mess.

Finished an interesting book for my reviews editor. Will write that up and send it off today.

Had a big aha! moment on a story idea I’ve been playing with for years. It’s been probably over ten years since I first came up with this character, but I couldn’t quite find the way in. Now, I’ve found it. I’ve done a solid 1K on the piece this morning — even though it’s not either of the pieces I SHOULD be working on. It’s a difficult, emotional opening, but it’s what this piece wants and needs. It’s starting down in Florida, but the bulk of the book –and the series — will take place in New Bedford. Guess I’ll be spending some quality time there when the weather gets better.

So much on my plate today, I better get to it!

Devon

Tues. March 11, 2014: La, La, La, Today’s My Birthday!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and mild

Today’s my birthday! Fuck Comcast, I’m gonna have fun!

Yesterday morning, I headed to the library. Of course, it was the day everyone needed to reach me and was getting back to me with information, etc. Which was great and very productive. I just had a limited time in which to get everything done.

A lot of it was for NMLC, and we managed to get it done, going back and forth quickly. The casting has begun for the play, the press releases are going out. I’m doing some more revisions, based on the scientific feedback Kathy gave me.

Worked with students. Worked on contest entries. I mean, I’m doing that every day — so many entrants, and I want to make sure each one gets a fair share of attention. It is painfully obvious who bothered to hire a professional editor, who went with cheap because it was cheap, and who couldn’t be bothered to work with an editor. Since part of the judging criteria has to do with grammar, punctuation, etc., that all feeds into the final score, and what makes it into the finalist category or not. As it should be.

Sent out the first script packets. Always scary. Have to finish revisions on several scripts in the next few weeks — while in rehearsal for the play. While working on BALTHAZAAR TREASURE and the Ferry Girl novel. Should be an interesting juggling act.

Home, took care of some stuff that was home-based. Waiting for a check that should have been here last week; very frustrating that it’s not. Shaking my head in disgust at the so-called “writer” who pursued me because he was so eager to work with me and impressed with my work, but disappeared the minute I gave him a quote for editing work. Typical. I don’t work for flattery. My work pays the bills.

On a further positive note, one of my plays is being taught at the local community college, and I will be a guest lecturer there at the end of April. I’m looking forward to it.

Read a book on wine as research for Adventures in Vineland that just made me roll my eyes. Every other paragraph was about the author’s ego. Every chapter had a photo focusing on the author, tilting her head at the camera (who told her to do that in EVERY SHOT?), with the emphasis on her rather than the wine. If I reviewed it for the blog, I’d be snarky, so I’ll just pass.

I have a lot I want to clear off my desk today, and then I want some playtime, too, because, hey, it’s my birthday and I’ve earned it!

Devon

Thurs. Jan. 16, 2014: The Exciting New Client Parade

Thursday, January 16, 2014
Full Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Still dark out

Yesterday didn’t feel very productive, although I worked all day, through a migraine. I pitched some jobs, worked with students, wrote, polished and submitted two articles, ran errands.

The very late payer finally paid — so that’s done, thank goodness. And those two articles to the other client wind up our contract, so as soon as I’m paid for them next month, we’re done. That will lift a lot of stress from my life.

Someone else wanted to book an editing slot, then quailed at the thought of actually having to submit the work on a designated date and put down a deposit, so, buh-bye. However, another client signed for a bigger project, and the deposit is in place, and I start on the project as part of today’s slate.

Another potential client wants a quick-turnaround project and had me look at the project to give a quote. I did, and if management signs off on it and puts down the deposit, that’s something else to add into today’s queue.

A third potential new client was very excited about my samples, and we’re going back into negotiation later today, for a standing 1-4 article/month contract at a decent pay rate.

After a wave of unreliable, slow-paying, no-paying, disappearing clients, this is a huge relief. Cleaning house of the lowest, slowest-paying tier of client is making room for much more.

I have to leave the house by 7 AM this morning for an NMLC Board meeting in Buzzards Bay, and then come back to see what other client communications came in and get started on today’s project slate.

Before I leave for the meeting, I need to get in my first 1K of fiction for the day, so I better get going!

Devon

Wed. Nov. 20, 2013: Change of Venue

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Busy day yesterday. 15 pages on a screenplay, worked on the critique project, pitched for some jobs. Gave some requested quotes.

Was out of the house before noon and to Sandwich to the storage unit. A group of us from the Writers Center sorted out 50 years’ worth of material that had stacked up. Some of it was tossed; some repacked; some will have to be sorted in detail over time and shredded (because of personal information). But we can definitely move everything to a smaller (and cheaper) unit.

On the down side, they auctioned off the contents of another unit. I don’t care about the “why” — seeing the ghoulish vultures descend upon the space made me SICK.

After we were done in the unit, I headed over the bridge to Buzzards Bay for a development committee meeting at NMLC. I couldn’t stay for the whole thing, but we worked on some ideas.

Had to dash home and step in as moderator for a live chat during a television show, featuring actors and fans. A friend of a friend was supposed to do it, and then had a medical emergency, so I stepped in. I’ve worked with moderators when I was the featured guest before, so I knew how to do it, but I’d never actually juggled the chainsaws before. It went well, was fun, and several of the actors and fans thanked me after the chat.

Today. I have to get a lot of work cleared off the desk to make up for being offsite yesterday, although it was nice to have a change of venue.

Talk about feeling silly — I took such good care of myself hauling the heavy materials, and then wrenched my foot later, at home, taking off my boot of all things!

Devon

PS Sign up for “Organize Your Writing Life” on Dec. 7, here. Three hours online, and a year’s worth of writing organization.

Wed. Oct. 9, 2013: Instincts Don’t Let Me Down

Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Waxing Moon
Cloudy and cold

Yes, it’s fall and the weather’s getting colder.

NMLC did not win the van in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good on Monday, although the vote was very close. Thanks to everyone for voting.

Yesterday, I got some writing done on the novella, then had to handle an important meeting. The details are confidential, but the other party told me the meeting was cancelled; since I hadn’t heard from the main party, I didn’t believe it, showed up — and avoided a big mess. Of course, the other party lied to me in order to look good and eliminate the competition. I knew in my gut I was being set up, and I fought back.

The person who scheduled the meeting was NOT amused, especially when I showed the letter telling me the meeting was cancelled.

Chalk one up for my side.

Got things sorted out, accepted a script coverage client, and worked on the script. I forgot how much I love the work, especially when the script is good, as it was in this case.

Sent out some pitches. Worked with students. Got a little over 3K total done on the novella. In the ideal world, I could get it done this weekend, polished, and out. Doesn’t give me the rest I want before editing, but this is something that sort of popped up unexpectedly, and I’d like to see it through and get it out the door.

Saw the pilot for THE WITCHES OF EAST END last night. Hated it. Thought it was awful. I don’t like the way it’s written, cast, developed, and really? Using the house from CHARMED? Or one that looks almost identical? I found the whole thing offensive.

Onward.

Devon

Thurs. Aug. 29, 2013: Fun Times Going into the Weekend

Thursday, August 29, 2013
Waning Moon
Cloudy and cool

Yesterday morning, my houseguest had a medical issue, so we spent the morning getting it taken care of and then filling perscriptions. That’s the good thing about being a freelancer — I can bend my schedule when things like that happen.

In the afternoon, I get some work done, especially the notes for the Mermaid Ball Meeting. Imp pruned back the forsythia bushes that turned the garage into a grotto. We headed out early, so Imp could meet Triton; and I had a meeting with the lighting/sound designer for the play I’m doing next winter.

We could only stay for an early part of the meeting, then had to head back to Hyannis, because I’d committed us to Green Drinks. The venue was great — an eco boutique and art gallery. I see holiday shopping at those local businesses in my future!

The friend who’s living in Amsterdam was there, so we had a fun reunion, and she knew some of the other people who attended, so it was a good time all around. Then, the three of us went to Craigville Mexican and Pizza, down by the beach, for a quick snack. I’ve driven past it ever since I moved here, but I’ve never eaten there. It’s good! And the staff is really great. So that was fun. And it was nice to get together and catch up in person.

Today, I have to make up for the work that didn’t get done yesterday, and do a grocery run. The weather looks a bit iffy.

Gas prices went up six cents in the past few days. Figures — although they’re using Syria as an excuse, it’s about the holiday weekend. The oil companies will do anything they can to gouge the public, while making tens of billions of dollars in profit every quarter. They should be cutting everyone a break instead, but that would be . . .humane, and we know that, no matter what kind of advertising these creatures buy to pretend they give a damn about community and people, it’s all about their own profit.

Devon

Thurs. Jan. 24, 2013: The Brain Outstrips the Fingers

Thursday, January 24, 2013
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Final two days for the Reduced Rate Editing Special. Details here. Sign up before the 25th — because if you email me on Sunday about it, I’m already back to my regular rates!

And don’t forget to sign up for “The Graveyard of Abandoned Projects” to breathe fresh life into old projects, or set them to rest in a way that does not siphon creative energy from new projects, and/or “Journal into Fiction”, where you learn how to transform journal entries into viable fiction. Information and registration here.

I’m over on The Writers Vineyard today, talking about “Other Art as Inspiration”, where I go into detail about the 3K I wrote on a short story yesterday, inspired by Edward Hopper’s painting, “New York Movie”. I wanted to push through last night and finish it, but I was written out and couldn’t even speak a coherent sentence, much less write one by evening. I hope to get some more work done on it this morning.

I think I’ve figured out how to fix the second act of the play, too. I was ending it at the wrong point. And I figured out how to drop some more clues to make it more fun for the audience.

Worked with students, went over material for the upcoming Topic Workbooks still to release. For a couple of them, I have to get permission for some quotes, or I’ll have to change the material used within — which is fine, either way. I just want to make sure everyone is properly credited, and all the permissions are in order.

I’ve got to focus this morning, because I have a meeting at the possible venue for the play over the bridge at noon, and then a development meeting at NMLC at 2. So I’ll be tied up most of the day. But it’ll be good for me to get out of the house for a bit!

Baked gingerbread for the meeting.

Have a great day, everyone!

Devon