This post covers many updates: reading at Convergence, an update on the physical, and an update on the writing. I intend to get back to a little folklore this week. The troll story is about to take a turn into a little Mexican folklore, and I’ve promised for a while to write that up. I also need to give you guys some summaries of the Mahabharata.
Since this got long, I’ll spare you and put in a cut. If you’re interested, you know where to go. If you’re not, well, this is much more skim-able.
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FYI, in around two weeks, I’ll be reading with some Broads at the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading. It’ll be 3:30 in the Literary Lounge at Convergence in Minneapolis. July 4th. Patriotic Reading! Smart money might be on reading from Sister Night, Sister Moon, since it’s available, but you know, Catherine Lundhoff has heard that twice. Nah, I’ll take the promo materials, and I’ll probably read something from the new troll story. Or Hulk Hercules.
What do you think? I’m leaning toward trolls, but you know, the hydra scene where Tony uses science is awfully tempting.
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I thought that after my post on physicality, an update might be in order. This weekend, I bought myself some serious running shoes and clothes. It helps. Running is still hard, but it doesn’t hurt my feet or legs as much to run. The healthy food emphasis helps too. While I was no angel, I have upped my fruits and veggies and cut back on sweets. I lift two days a week, and carry weights one day a week. And I have an ab routine.
The end result? If you actually work up a sweat, lift weights, and make an attempt to eat healthily (ie moderate exercise and fitness), you lose weight moderately. I don’t know when that will plateau. I actually expect to gain weight as I gain muscle mass. Groovy.
Next up: Shimmy. Like many fannish sorts, I have done Middle Eastern Dance. I stuck with it for four years, and then it stopped being convenient for me to get to lessons. There is a great show on the fitness channel called Shimmy, and I love it. It’s like a good studio work out. I can’t think of any better exercise for your core than Middle Eastern dance, and if I can add that to my ab weight and ab exercise routine, I expect some very good results.
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Troll count:
14 / 54 words. 26% done!
One of the things I learned from the first book I sent out is that action is sort of the name of the game. In this book, I have a wave form. We start at a peak, we introduce characters and background, we peak again, we regroup, we peak, etc, etc.
I know after this version I’ll have to sweep through the first part one more time for polishing. This time is mostly about cohesion and hitting the peaks, and adding in all the things that I learned during the discovery draft.
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Can I think of anything else? Yeah, just one more thing. There’s been a lot of meta about how happy and unhappy, or how grateful and how angsty a writer can/should be. A lot of it comes down to the old arguments about jealousy, envy, false modesty, and all those other emotions that got you through high school.
While I weigh in heavily on the focus of the positive, optimistic side, I almost find this much meta about justifying a positive attitude a little, I dunno, weird. Developing a positive attitude in the first place is why I go to counseling. Why do I have to think about my motivations constantly? And what’s wrong with focusing on the positive in your professional journal about writing?
So, in the words of the immortal Popeye, “I yam what I yam.” Sometimes I am down, like the rest of you, but you know, you aren’t going to see that here. I have a whole ‘nother journal for that, and it isn’t public.
I want editors and agents to read this journal and note my “professional” comportment, and to me, that does mean keeping my angst behind the curtain.
This may seem dishonest, but you know, there are facets of myself you are never going to see in this, my disingenuous journal. This journal is about putting a professional face forward to support my submissions. It is also about my writing, because I know that I am more likely to write if I hold myself accountable by posting here.
This, my web presence, is merely one facet. It is, for most of us. The folks who really know me get to see all the facets of the gem.
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Fitter. Closer to the end. Hot. Iowa hot.
Catherine
Oh, I totally think you should read part of the troll story. 🙂 And yeah… I’m working on my muscle strength. I’ve been doing push-ups (erm, the girlie kind, but eh. At least I’m working on them!) for the last few weeks and I’m finally at the point where I can see and feel real progress. It’s so great to feel all the sweat and hard work pay off, and now I’m thinking about trying a more rigorous work-out. And shimmy sounds like SO much fun!! I was a ballerina for years and miss dance so terribly much. This fall, if I can swing it, I’m going to take a class again just for my sanity.
Love what you’ve said about professionalism and public presence. I’ve been keeping a notebook just for my angst and whining about writing – no one else needs to read that, but venting helps me stay on track. Some things just need to remain private.
I could see you being a ballerina. You have the right shape. I too used to be in ballet, and I thought about returning to that kind of work out for a bit too. It’s intense! But Shimmy won this round.
I hope you enjoy your dance class this fall.
I agree about the angst needing to stay private. We all have it. Attempting the whole publishing thing can be stressful. The notebook is a great idea.
Catherine