I’m getting cranky, and it’s showing. After the break that wasn’t, and running at registration pace, I’m beginning to cringe at everyone who stops by, and every ring of my phone. I told a student who came in to argue with me about whether her daughter should take our placement test or not that I didn’t have time to argue about it, and that she had to take the test. It was amazing how that stopped further contestation. Must have been the cranky look around my eyes.
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It’s hard going, trying to read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Not only is it hardcore SF, which I don’t digest well, but Heinlein decides that subjects are optional in many of his sentences. Yes, I get that he’s trying to emulate Russian. It’s also making my mind stutter and stop. I haven’t returned to the book in three days. That’s a bad sign.
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We get to the heart of the post. I sat down last night and successfully sketched out the entire Widow story line in The Winter the Troll Danced with Old Nick. I wrote the following on Twitter:
*knuckle crack* All right, let’s eat some children!
Tiffany Trent weighed in with:
I wish I was writing this novel!
Ironically, when Tiffany was writing her novel throughout this year, I thought the same thing. What she was detailing sort of sounded cool, and I thought that was a ride I wanted to be on as a writer.
Sometimes, I get to read about something someone is working on, or I get to read something someone is writing. I find myself thinking that yes, I would love to be writing that project. It seems like such a fun idea to me. Also, I can hardly wait to ready that project, because it sounds like a great concept.
This is not the same thing as reading a good published book. That’s a very different kind of satisfying experience. When you’re reading someone’s work in progress, and you think it sounds like a grand time, saying something like “I wish I were writing that” means you’d love to tag along on the creative journey. Maybe you’d like to be in the book.
Too often when we create, we become mired in people telling us what’s wrong with our piece. Of course, we need that. What we don’t get as much feedback on is the potential of the work. Sometimes I read something. Even though it’s raw, I try to let the reader know it excites me, that I see awesome potential, that the realization can be something special.
So, when Tiffany said that to me, I appreciated it. Viable Paradise was also in part about that message. There is potential, even if there is a lot of work to be done.
Wishing you many moments of seeing potential,
Catherine
TMIAHM is one of my two all time favorite books. Yes, it can be hard going. Do not feel obliged to finish it. I give you permission to skip it. [waves hand majestically]
Now, I have to tell you that I read Oliver Toddle yesterday – linked by Steve B, I believe. I can honestly say I rarely read a short story twice- but I did that one, with pleasure, and I’ll recommend to several of my friends. Well done, Catherine. Very well done.
I read some while Bryon was getting his teeth cleaned. It’s getting better. We’ll see how it goes.
Thank you for the compliment on Oliver Toddle. I am really happy with how that one turned out.
Catherine
Every once in awhile I’m reading a book, and the author comes up with something so clever I want to cry because I didn’t do it.