Tues. Nov. 15, 2022: Incoming Snow

image courtesy of Tomasz Proszek via pixabay.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars Retrograde

Sunny and cold. Snowstorm on the way.

Time for our regular Tuesday catch-up.

It was a steady weekend.

Friday, I got my words done on THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH, and then did a run to the pharmacy, the grocery store, the post office (mailed stuff, even though it was closed), and the liquor store.

A new contact on Mastodon, who is also over on Ravelry, shared a pattern with me that might work for that very thin alpaca yarn. I’m also working up one of my own designs, and will see which makes the most sense. Or maybe try to combine them, if I can pull it off. By accident, I cam across another yarn on sale that I want, and I have to remind myself that I have an ENTIRE TRUNK (a vintage trunk from the late 1800s) full of yarn that needs to be worked up, plus several bins of yarn still in storage. I do not need more yarn.

Yeah, like that’s gonna stop me.

Rested in the afternoon, because I am weary on multiple levels. Part of it is grieving for Twitter. Its destruction is a financial blow to my work. But there’s also the community element. I’m building different experiences on other platforms, but the platforms are different and the experiences will be different. And I’m enjoying some of the platforms, and getting ready to remove myself from others in a few weeks, when I reassess where my time and energy is best placed, on both professional and personal levels. Which isn’t a bad thing, but those of us who were hooked into top level Twitter usage, for business and personal reasons, need time and space to grieve. The fact that Yegads Muskrat is destroying it intentionally for his own ego makes it even worse.

My writing is very much a part of who I am, and how I make sense of the world. Any platform that gets squiffy about me talking about my work is the wrong place for me.

But I also read for pleasure. A brain candy book, instead of what I “should” have read, but I needed the break.

The rains at the outer edges of Tropical Storm Nicole came in the evening. It’s such a different experience here in the mountains than it was at the coast. Still, the leaks on the porch were bad, and we had to empty buckets and bowls a couple of times, and also get up overnight and do it. I wish they’d hurry up and fix the porch roof.

It was bucketing down in the morning, which meant our plans to head to Great Barrington were scuttled. Next time I head down that way, I want to visit Karen Allen’s Fiber Arts store and see what’s there. It sounds like an amazing store.

1827 words on THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH, and they were a struggle.

Read a book that’s getting a lot of buzz and everyone thinks is wonderful. I was not impressed, and annoyed that I wasted several hours with these characters.

Finished taking notes on my friend’s manuscript. He’s been traveling, so I’ll type them up and see when he’s ready for them. Started reading another friend’s book that came out recently.

Finished switching out fabric from Samhain into November, including the kitchen table. Finally took down the pumpkin lights. Getting that all washed and put away. Soon it will be time to put out the Solstice fabric.

Baked potatoes for dinner, with bacon and Moosewood’s cheese sauce. Been a long time since I had a layered baked potato.

The Dems held the Senate at 50. Let’s get in Warnock in the runoff and make it 51.

Weird dreams on Saturday into Sunday, closer to the stress dreams from before the move and when we first moved here than the better dreams I’ve had lately.

Baked biscuits.

2078 words on THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH, including an insert in the previous chapter. The first few hundred words were difficult, and then it started flowing again. I managed to beat the little voice saying, “You’re ahead. You can take time off.” I’ll take time off when I hit 50K. I’m a little over 31K now, breaking 30K two days before I needed to, for my own schedule.

Did some stuff around the house. We finally got the bulbs planted (which I will go into in more detail on Thursday’s garden post). I was annoyed that Scheeper’s shorted me a half a dozen bulbs. The bulb packets I bought were supposed to have 12 each in them, and had only 10. Which meant, over the three packages, I was shorted a half a dozen bulbs.

Definitely going back to Color Blends next year.

Started reading the next book for review, and also read for pleasure. Just felt tired all the time. There were plenty of things I “should” have worked on, but I needed rest more. Why is it so difficult for us to allow ourselves to rest, so that we can do better work after? Not just better work, but better life?

Tessa woke me up at 3:30 on Monday morning, because it was windy, and the porch door banged. I got it fastened, and then she tried to convince me to feed her. Nope. She and Charlotte bothered me until I finally got up a little after 6.

I had resistance to sitting down to write, but once I did, I got Chapter 15 drafted of THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH at 2073 words. I’m a little over 33K, and broke 30K early. 17K left to go for Nano; I suspect the draft will run 70-80K. 82 is the sweet spot for this, once it’s edited.

If you didn’t see the Mid-month check in over on the GDR site yesterday, you can hop on over ad check it out here. Did the social media rounds. Kind of skipped Cohost; pretty sure I’m going to ditch that account without waiting until January. It’s more geared to a gaming and fanfic demographic than what I do.

Had 11 books to drop off at the library, and a bunch of local history to pick up, which I will make notes on and use in TREES, and can also use some of the information for CAST IRON MURDER. Picked up a few things at the grocery store. Only one person wasn’t masked while I was out and about, which made me feel better about things.

It started cold, and then warmed up enough to open the porch and bring the tomatoes back out. I have a feeling I’ll be hauling plants back and forth a lot on sunny days.

Turned around two scripts in the afternoon, got some reading for pleasure in. Had a great soup class online with Jeremy Rock Smith. It’s always such fun to participate in his classes. Lots of laughter, while building skills.

Dreamscape was good last night, and I might have the basis for a new novel or novella. I have to make some notes on what I remember, and, when I have a little more breathing room, see if it’s viable.

Slept in until 6:30 this morning, but felt rested when I got up, which has been rare lately. Did the next chapter of THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH. It came in at 2226, and now I’ve broken 35K. Character development, b-line stories, red herrings. Typical middle stuff.

Once I do a quick social media round, I have to head for the store and get a tarp. We need to get the rest of the plants and furniture in from the back balcony today, since tonight we’re supposed to get our first snowstorm, and it could be up to 5 inches. I planned to go to the laundromat tomorrow, but I’ll put it off.

I have two more scripts to turn around this afternoon, and that’s it for this pay period. I’m happy with what I hit. I also have to write a book review later this afternoon and submit it, so I can be assigned the next one.

Tomorrow, since I’ll be home all day in the snow, I hope to do some catching up on Legerdemain. The last few episodes of the year are in decent shape, and can go up soon, but I need to finish the rest of the second arc.

I’ve been working on a media kit for it, too.

Speaking of which, the next episode of Legerdemain goes live today. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a good one, friends, and stay warm!

Fri. Nov. 4, 2022: Prepping For a Pretty Weekend

(image courtesy of David Mark via pixabay.com)

Friday, November 4, 2022

Waxing Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars Retrograde

Cloudy and mild

Yesterday felt kind of all over the place. No one came to look at the weird ceiling stain, but it stopped growing and doesn’t look wet. Fingers crossed.

Meditation was good, although I had a hard time settling.

I got some work done, did the social media rounds, especially to promote the next episode of Legerdemain. Someone on Twitter mentioned how they’re grieving the loss of Twitter, which is definitely something I feel. It’s the best platform for crossing paths with people from all walks of life and varying interests. The other platforms are too narrow.

I took myself off WT. Social. I’m trying to delete the account, but at least it’s deactivated. The misogynistic comments were appalling, and the dudes boasting about how they “rewrite” posts that were “badly written” infuriating. First of all, they don’t have the right to “rewrite” someone else’s work. Second, those doing the rewrites weren’t all that, and certainly didn’t make anything better. Even though I had my posts set to where they couldn’t be rewritten, it made me mad. That was the reason for at least some of the misogyny directed toward me. All, I might add, by bros who don’t do this for a living, like I do.

Nope. Gone.

The Cohost approval came through, so I’ll poke around there. Tribel is getting easier to navigate. Because it’s all about the metrics, that may be a good platform to promote my work. Counter Social ran into some issues, but fixed them fast, and I still really like them best for deep conversation. Lilith St. Crow mentioned Pillowfort, which I’d never heard of. I took a look, but I think it’s geared to much younger dynamic.

My work has to be out across as many platforms as possible so people can find it.

I had to run some errands: library, liquor store, pick up a tension rod for the fleece panel I’m making for the back door.

Staples sent me a coupon for $20 off that I had to use by today. I went to order more 3-hole punch paper. Not only did it refuse the coupon, it added a carrier fee of $12.95. I tried to change it to store pickup, but, as usual, it’s not available in Pittsfield, and I’d have to drive to ANOTHER STATE. No. I shouldn’t have to pay a “carrier fee” because the nearest store NEVER has ANYTHING I need. That’s not my fault. And Staples calling us rural? That’s why they add the carrier fee, because we’re listed as “rural.” We’re a fucking CITY, not some little town with one stoplight.

I pitched a fit on Twitter. I actually got a customer service person who fixed it, instead of like last time, when I contacted CS directly and they just said there was “nothing they could do.” This rep applied the coupon and took off the fee.

So I’m getting another case of paper. Which is good, because I’m down to my last three reams.

Turned around two scripts. Was too tired to do much reading after dinner.

Rituals were strong, but also exhausting.

Up just before 5 this morning, and at the desk by six. Wrote the fourth chapter of THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH, which came in at 2223 words, and the first time it felt really good. Doug, Rita’s youngest son, is a lot of fun, and a bit of a troublemaker. I’ve set the foundation to make him a suspect in the murder, which, when he confronts the murder victim in the next chapter, will be strengthened.

I was worried I couldn’t make Nano work anymore. Usually, I’m quick out of the gate and don’t stumble until the second week. This time, I stumbled early on, so we’ll see how it progresses.

Today, I have to concentrate on work: more Legerdemain, script coverage, hopefully more reading/comments on my friend’s manuscript. I also have to catch up on Substack reads. I’m behind reading/commenting on others’ work. The weekend is supposed to be beautiful. After the big grocery shop tomorrow, we’re going on a jaunt up into Vermont and upstate New York. On Sunday, we might go to the quilt shop to get the border and backing for the library quilt. The fabric is so gorgeous. It will make a lovely quilt.

I may talk about the details of that, reviving The Tactile Muse. Between the quilts I plan this winter, and the crocheting/yarn projects, it may be enough to get Tactile Muse up and running again, and use that website on Ravelry, instead of my others. I don’t want to get too fractured, but I also don’t want to pile everything into gigantically long posts here.

And let’s face it, I do a lot of stuff. Even when I’m battened down for the winter.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side.

Tues. Nov. 1, 2022: Pens Up for National Novel Writing Month

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Waxing Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars Retrograde

Day of the Dead

Cloudy and cool

Happy First Day of National Novel Writing Month! Whether you’re doing Traditional Nano (starting a new project today with the goal of 50K) or working on an ongoing project, I wish you joy in the process. You’ll learn a lot.

If you need help or support, give a shout over on the Nano site, and I’ll send you an invite to The Enchanted Wordsmiths group. Or download the free 30 TIPS FOR 30 DAYS booklet to help you navigate it.

The weekend was good. I did my errands on Friday, turned around two scripts, and was relieved to be done for the weekend.

I tried to order some fleece to create a curtain for the back door. Since the outer door is stuck open (and, even if it closed, the neighbors would keep leaving it open), we need something more than the draft block at the bottom. So I’m making a curtain out of fleece. The fleece we liked was from Joann’s, but when I tried to order it, it kept refusing to put the order in, telling me I was a bot (because I entered the site through Rakuten, to get the cash back). That’s Joann’s way of playing both sides against the middle – pretend they’re partnering with Rakuten, not allow the sale to go through, the customer goes through it without Rakuten and doesn’t get the cash back.

Nope.

I informed both Rakuten and Joann’s of the issue. And realized I had perfectly usable fleece I could measure, cut, and use. Rakuten and Joann responded politely, but not actually DOING any damn thing about it, and I informed them that I had sourced what I needed elsewhere. But Rakuten is going to have to deal with it, even if Joann thinks they’ve mastered a screw-the-customer workaround.

Bit the bullet and signed up for Tribel. Don’t like it so far. Too much about numbers and algorithms. I’m going to see if it boosts the numbers for any of my sales over the next few weeks; if not, I may delete the account. I signed up as a beta for BlueSky. We’ll see how that works. As much as I’d hate to lose the community I’ve built on Twitter, Yegads Muskrat is scum, and is going to do everything he can to destroy it, out of his own ego. I don’t want to be on a site filled with rightwing bots and trolls. I don’t know if I’ll delete the account, but I need to spend less time there (which is a good thing, anyway). I do have ads dropping through December, and I don’t want to lose those, so we’ll see. Multiple exit strategies are always a good idea.

Signed up for Ravelry, too, finally. I need to find some patterns for knitting and crocheting. I’m over there as MythKnots, with a different logo and everything. I’m trying to keep a little bit of separation there.

The neighborhood kids were being loud and rambunctious, so I went downstairs and made up, on the spot, a local horror story that scared the stuffing out of them. I forgot how annoying packs of boys heading into their teens can be.

Friday night, I read Deanna Raybourn’s newest, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, in one sitting. The book resonated with me on multiple levels.

Saturday was my mother’s 98^th birthday. We had a quiet day, full of cheesecake and playing with the cats. I mean, I did the usual practical things, too, changing over the beds, housework, etc. Cleaned everything on my altar, too, and spiffed it up in preparation for the week’s rituals. If you’re curious about my rituals for Tending the Dead, which started last night, and run through most of the week, you can read about them here.

Tried catching up on NEW YORKER issues (I’ve got quite a stack now), and read CAST IN COURTLIGHT by Michelle Sagara. I like this series. We should all have someone in our lives who loves us as much as Severn loves Kaylin.

Noodled with ideas for LEGERDEMAIN and for THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH.

Did a 20-minute meditation Saturday night before bedtime, and slept through the night.

Up early on Sunday. I wrote three episodes of LEGERDEMAIN, a little over 3K. And updated the Style Sheet and Series bible.

Yup, arc  two will NOT be done by Episode 60.

Mars went retrograde. It is already kicking my ass. It will be a long stretch until it goes direct in January.

In the afternoon, I read part of my friend’s book and made some notes on it, and will continue reading/commenting on it this week.

I also read Sarah Addison Allen’s newest, OTHER BIRDS, which was beautiful and sad. I’m a big fan of her work.

The meditation app on my phone is wonky. I thought, on Saturday night, that the 20 minutes seemed longer than usual. When I set it again, on Sunday, I was again getting achy and creaky. I can usually sit for 20 minutes without a problem. At first I thought it was because I hadn’t been sitting regularly that long. But as I started the meditation, the clock in the college clocktower chimed the hour. When I got creaky, I broke down and looked at the phone. It said I had 11 more minutes to go – but it was already 22 minutes past the hour. So I WASN’T just being decrepit, it was past 20 minutes. Urgh.

Slept well until 3:30, although I had a weird dream about Nic Cage at a party in Southport, CT with an injured back, and then Keith Olberman and I went into NYC to do something or other. Yeah, none of it made sense to me, either.

Monday was Samhain, a big holiday on my personal calendar, so I took most of it off. I did slog through emails (over 1000 had accumulated, and I got it down to under 300, which I will have to whack away at this week). I checked in with the Enchanted Wordsmiths group for tomorrow, and with Women Write Change, and invited the women from the marketing challenge over to WWC. The local Nano ML posted on the Nano site, thank goodness, about upcoming in-person sessions. Most of them are at Barnes & Noble in Pittsfield, but since I’m not doing anything indoors in-person right now, I won’t attend. But at least it’s posted on the Nano site, and not sending me to other sites.

I started a new book for my personal journal, too – the fifth journal book this year. I can’t believe I filled four other books already.

Wrote two episodes of LEGERDEMAIN and adapted two chapters of ANGEL HUNT into serial episodes (8 episodes). Wrote up and submitted a book review.

My mother got called for jury duty in Pittsfield. At 98, that’s ridiculous. So I will have to deal with that today. I signed up for my yoga studio’s 30 Days of Gratitude program and got a 5-class card. That is the one in-person thing I want to risk this winter; going to yoga semi-regularly. I also renewed AAA membership, even though their customer service sucks.

We had more kids trick or treating this year than we had last year, but still only about 20. One woman, whose toddler was in a dinosaur costume, wished me “Happy Easter” so that’s how her night was going. It was pretty funny.

Did my ritual work. Instead of doing one Very Long Ritual late at night, I broke it up into several smaller ones during the day and then at night. That way, I had energy for all the work. This whole week is filled with intense rituals. If you’re interested, as I said earlier, you can read about Tending the Dead over on the Cerridwen Iris Shea site.

Charlotte was impossible all night, and kept waking me up every few hours.

I got up just before six, and hit the computer as soon as the coffee was made and the cats fed, instead of what’s become my usual morning routine of writing by hand first.

I sat down and wrote the first chapter of THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH, which came in at 2552 words, which is where I usually like to be, early in the process. I wish I was happier with the actual words. But they exist, which means they can be fixed. I was slower than usual, because I had to keep stopping to look up details that couldn’t have placeholders, because I needed them to move forward. Writing a period piece for Nano was not my best choice. But here we are.

The region had a virtual write-in via Zoom from 6-8 AM, but no Zoom link, and I didn’t feel like digging around for it. The notice wasn’t sent out until last night. They’re doing a lot on Discord, too, but I don’t like Discord. It crashes my computer. Oh well, that’s that for the region, then.

This book is going to need A LOT of revision. But then, anything I write during Nano does.

Tomorrow morning’s session will be cattywampus because I have to go do laundry, and I can’t take my computer and write in the car. Not doing Nano longhand. I’ll either get up very early and do some before I go, or start everything late, and the whole day gets pushed back.

But that’s what’s good about a flexible schedule.

I do love my characters, though.

Today, I have to take care of a bunch of admin, work on LEGERDEMAIN, and then, this afternoon, script coverage. I may take a walk down to the post office late morning to give myself a break and mail the rent and some cards.

I have to get out of my world of 1957 and back into the world of LEGERDEMAIN.  Episode 29 releases today, and I hope you enjoy it.

The problem with getting up extra early to do the Nano quota is there’s a part of my psyche who feels I’m done for the day, when in reality, I just have to double my output of words for November to stay afloat.

Have a good one!