This is what I look like when I’m working.

 

See my new laptop with keys but an incompatible writing program, so I can’t get my old stuff onto the new computer?

 

Carry on.

Old Friends

I went home for the holidays, and saw old friends.  Old friends seem to be a theme right now, because they’re popping up everywhere that I go. “Oh, hello, I knew you…once.  How wonderful to see you again!”

It is a pleasure, truly.  I realize that my children will not have the same opportunities for Old Friends that I had.  Growing up in the same town with the same people year in and year out…well, it’s a gift that my kids won’t have.  We have a tendency to bounce, because life is short, and we can be happy (almost) anywhere, and moving means freedom.  But an Old Friend asked me if I was still writing, and how that was going, and she asked an interesting question.

“Why do you write, exactly?”

That is a fair question, although I’m not really certain if there’s a clear-cut answer.  I could have responded, “Why do you breathe?” or “What compels you to drink water?”  It’s like children, when they stretch out their legs and run when there’s enough space.  It’s like walking into a room and throwing your coat down instead of holding it.  Writing is just necessary.  I couldn’t stop if I wanted to, not really.  Sure, there were years of long pauses where something was off, and I realized it but couldn’t quite place the source of the problem.  Half written stories and bad poems scrawled on the back of envelopes.  When I’m not writing, I’m not fully myself.  You only get half of me, and it’s a plodding, unhappy half.  This is, in a sense, what I chose to tell her.

“I don’t know,” I said.  “I suppose I write to make myself happy.”

Good enough, yes?

Pieces out: 35

Goal: RSG and 40

And…what?

An acceptance!  Three cheers for editors who are willing to work through the holidays!  “Peanut Butter Toast” has been accepted for publication in A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs.  Wow, that’s quite a mouthful.  My son has Williams Syndrome, and this is a–dare I say it?–rather snarky retelling of when he nearly set our house on fire while trying to make toast.  I’m quite pleased, and happy because his syndrome is rare and a little bizarre, and one day he can pull down a book and (hopefully) say “Mama, read to me about when I nearly burned the house down.” 

Once upon a time….

All right!  I’m out.  For real.

Eeeiiiyyyyeeee!!!!

I mean, Happy Holidays!  I just tripped over my son, kicked over a present and landed in a pile of wrapping paper and ribbon.  Thankfully the scissors weren’t there, or I’d 1) have boy hair or 2) be dead.  I’m washing, wrapping, packing, and we’ll be out the door in four hours.  Hopefully.  We’re hitting my hometown for Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  I wave to you from my wrapping carnage.  Choose joy!

Curse you, fate!

I really don’t believe in fate.  I believe in making your own choices, but it seems as though the universe constantly lines itself up to undermine me.  Like…being so sick that I couldn’t get out of bed.  Like the computer crashing.  All is well (temporarily) and I emailed myself everything that I’ve ever written.  The lazy man’s backup, I say. 

I am infinitely sad today, but know that I’ll knock myself to pieces trying to make things right.

Some good news: my copy of Neverlands and  Otherwheres is in the mail, and I’m looking forward to having it in my hot little hand.  They’ll have a page up soon so that you can ooh and ahh at it as well, if you so desire.  I’ll link you then.

Pieces out: 34

Goal: RunStarGirl

The Same Beast?

Yes!  RunStarGirl is all written, and there was much celebration.  Now it’s editing, which isn’t so bad once I get started on it…but that’s the hard part.  My goal is to have it all finished by tomorrow night.  That sounds quick, and it is, but I edit as I write and then I polish it a bit later.  Some people edit and edit until the story is a different beast than what they started out with.  That works, and more power to them, but that isn’t my way.  My end product tends to be fairly close to what I started out with, and…Black is a moocher and I like it like that.

Uh, sorry.  Bursting into spontaneous song.  Couldn’t help it.

So I found the press that I want to send it to.  Actually my friend Dawn found them and sent me a link about six months ago for no particular reason, and they have always been in the back of my head.  I was on their site to research a bit, and found that *gasp!* they were having a chat with the editor and some of the author’s in exactly one hour, and everybody was invited!  First, I panicked.  Then I called my friend and we bolstered each other up.  Then I hit the chat.  I didn’t say, “Hey, I’m hoping to submit here!” or anything geeky like that.  I just wanted to see what was what.

And they were nice, and quirky, and just seemed to have a very, very friendly relationship with each other.  That’s important to me.  Of course I’m interested in the nuts and bolts of the thing, but if it’s going to be an unsavory environment, then I’m just not going to waste my time.  So I’m happy, and will be submitting this particular novel in a month.  Rock on!

Also!  I’m in a new writing group, which I’m really looking forward to.  They have a band, Atlas Takes Aim, so check them out on atlastakesaim.com and also on itunes.  Music and writing, yeah?  Support the talented!

Also also!  There’s a writing competition going on tonight at 8:00 EST, and quite a few of us are taking part.  The idea is to start from a prompt, write for an hour, and then post your piece for critique.  I’m not posting my piece at the end because once it’s posted on the ‘net, it’s considered published.  A lot of people change their pieces enough that this isn’t an issue for them, but I don’t fall into that camp.  So wish me luck!  I’m excited.  Who said writing was a solitary profession?

Pieces out:  huh?

Goal: RunStarGirl out next month!

It Snows! I Rally! All Is Well With The World!

Well.  Well well well.  It snowed in Las Vegas, and I went Christmas shopping with my good friend, and this evening is set aside for baking holiday goodies.  But before that, I am finishing the writing portion of RunStarGirl. 

You heard me.

Once I decided that I needed to add a little more meat to the story, my brain exploded, I psyched myself out and all was lost.  No! I was done writing!  Don’t make me go back and add depth!  Don’t do it! 

So I didn’t.  And I was unhappy, and feeling that familiar “Well, not everybody gets to do what they want.  Being a Real Published Writer is pie-in-the-sky,” and let’s face it, I’ve never been particularly lucky.

Well, screw that!  I was galvanized by a brief  “shut up and write” email, and my ever loyal friends asking about this story and others, and one demanding that I finish my demon story because she wants to read more, and there just…isn’t any.  (I’m about halfway through that one.  Perhaps it is next on my list?)

Focus isn’t my strong point.  I’m a bit flightier than most, and I really have to make an effort to strap myself to the seat and pay attention.  (Sorry about the writing get-together on Saturday, you guys.  I bet you were ready to send me off to play in traffic.)   But I can do it, sometimes.  It just takes help.  So thanks.

In other news, Fifty-Two Stitches is starting up in January (a flash horror every week for a year!  Awesome) and I am kicking us off on January 4th with a piece called “I’m Keeping It Light”.  Come swing by then!

All right.  It is dark and snowy.  I am going to work on my writing, and remember that this is part of who I am.   Mmmm, yes.

Enthusiasm Ebbs and Flows

I haven’t updated lately because there isn’t much to say.  I received three rejections this week, and what fun is that to report on?  In fact, I was a little bummed, but then my friend said that he’d received three rejections, too, and two of them were from the same place as mine.  I don’t know why that cheered me up, but it did.  I suppose it’s because I know that he has talent, and if we’re tossed out from the same joint, that puts me in good company.  Or something.

I have been digging in my heels and refusing to work on RunStarGirl.  I’ve been writing long emails.  I’ve been watching Judge Judy.  (I’m ashamed!  But it’s true, I admit it.  I even hate court shows, I hate them, I hate them, but suddenly anything seems good when I’m avoiding editing.)  I even spent a good 15 minutes watching dancing hermit crabs on youtube yesterday, and I realize it has to stop.  Do I want to get RunStarGirl out?  Yes.  Do I want to procrastinate away my dreams?  No.  So why am I totally screwing around?  Uh…

Tomorrow my goal is a minimum of 2000 words, and a little more editing.  It really isn’t very much, but it will require some discipline.  Also, I’m sick. 

*sigh*  Now that doesn’t sound very fun at all, does it?

 

Pieces out: around…35?

Goal: zzzzzzzzz

The Boy Who Hangs The Stars

So!  The first thing I have to say is that I feel good about my reading on Sunday.  No Bambi in the headlights moments, no stumbling over my words.  I also joined a voice group because A) wouldn’t doing voice-overs just be so much fun?! and B) it will help me with my reading.  My diction has become so sloppy now that I’m not doing theatre or singing anymore, and I need to get it back up to par.  So I’m pleased.

Also!  I received an email from Susurrus Press, and the Neverlands and Otherwheres anthology should (hopefully) be out by Christmas.  My favorite story is in there, and I am so very thrilled to hold a hard copy in my hands and read it to my kids.  “The Boy Who Hangs The Stars” means a lot to me for many reasons.  It’s the story that I thought I could never write.  Do you know what my mental block was?  Fairytales.  I grew up on them, I breathed them, but I couldn’t seem to write them.  After some urging, I tried this and not only did I enjoy it, but it definitely became a part of my current writing voice.  I wish that you could all read it, because it’s so important to me, but know that it makes me happy, and I think it is a story of beauty that I hope is one more good thing in the world.

 

 

Pieces out: 39

Goal: 40

A Personal Apocalypse

Yay, it’s snowing!  I find this to be an utterly charming little effect that WordPress added.  Snow reminds me of growing up, and it isn’t Christmas without it, and of course Vegas doesn’t get much snow.  So this makes me happy.

We did The Great Santa Run today, and it was a success for us.  The kids were happy and so were we.  Then I had my NaNoWriMo Thank Goodness It’s Over party, and that was awesome.  I bought some supplies to create my business cards for tomorrow (why have others do it when I can do it myself?) and now we’re going out to yet another party.  But first I wanted to say that “A Personal Apocalypse” found a home at “Arkham Tales”.  This is my zombie story that I originally wrote for Permuted Press’ “The World Is Dead” anthology.  It didn’t pass muster, but I had an extremely kind and encouraging personal reply from Kim  Paffenroth, which delighted me.  I have never written a zombie story before, and most likely will never write one again.   So, Jeff, when this comes out, I’ll link you to it.  Don’t say I never did anything for you. 

Pieces out: 40

Goal: Achieved