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Thanks to The Ferrett, I’ve received a most insightful critique. Thanks!

The critique leads me in a circle, back to something I have realized about my work before. There’s an idea that writers should put their work away, and then return to it to make it better, substantially changing the piece. Time gives writers like this new insight. Some writers discover that they have to write a zero draft, and most of that draft is unusable, as the book becomes something else entirely in the rewriting. That’s me when I’m writing my best work.

Continue reading “Artifice”

I might end up being all by myself this evening. Bryon’s school went two hours late, so we scooped ourselves out, and off he went. I made him pack clothes and a blanket. He called and said the ride was pretty bad.

Now the wind’s kicked in. The black top leading into our little town drifts and closes off, and I think by the time school lets Bryon go, the road may be impassable. It’s all good–he has some good friends he can stay with in town, and I’m here to do another round of scooping and take care of the cats. I wonder if he will use common sense and follow the recommendations to not travel. Sometimes the Stump men can get stubborn, and it’s not always the best trait.

***

Four interesting links from the Interrealms.

Jim Hines on character death.

Seanan McGuire on character death.

Health care reform and his cancer from Jay Lake

Dealing Well with Disappointment from Ilona Andrews

Another post to follow shortly.

Catherine

Elizabeth Bear ruminates on the shape, form, and feel of authoring.

***

Other discussions have been highlighted, but I like Catherine Lundoff’s considered response.

Nature, determined yet again to keep us home, is about to blast us with snow and wind.

It is true I was going to take tomorrow off anyway. It is unfortunate that now it looks like scooping will eat a good chunk of that precious writing day.

We really are going to Florida when we retire. Severe winter three has pretty much decided us. So, even though it’s ten years away, any information about life in Orlando as a citizen is welcome.

Or, when the inevitable money tsunami comes in from Substance of Shadows (you know, my as yet unagented, unpublished book?), we’re gone.

Wishfully and Whimsically,
Catherine

That’s chapter five, more or less. I don’t get to write tomorrow, because I have both day and evening commitments. That said, I have planned to take Thursday off. Here’s what I plan:

Revise and complete three rough scenes.
Sketch out chapter six.
Continue work on either Manuel or David’s story lines.

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Tiffany Trent is thinking about an online conference for MG/YA authors. For more information, this is the place to go!

Off to teach the first night class of the semester. As much as I like teaching, sometimes I dread it when we crank back up.

Catherine

This time, Lisa Morton makes a sale to Strange Horizons. Watch for her poem “How to Bake a Cake from Scratch.”

Woo and hoo.

Catherine

Interesting links from yesterday.

Since we spend a lot of time complaining about the lack of events like this, note Realms of Fantasy’s women only issue for August, 2011.

John Scalzi plugs Viable Paradise, and many of my peeps weigh in.

Jon Gibbs on excuses that keep you from writing.

Jim Hines presents a picture of writer income.

Catherine

I used my free hour tonight to write on the troll book. I revised two scenes. As Elizabeth Bear might say, I am full of virtue.

What that doesn’t mean is much of any substance here. I’m hoping for better come tomorrow, as in Norwegian dancing photos. Being virtuous, however, means I need to lay some new pipe on some scenes first.

Um…tossed Empress Dark back out there today. Working a little on revising Mark Twain’s Daughter before I send it back. I’d like that one to see the light of day. Expecting news on Point River shortly.

Okay. A couple more things, then some relaxing.

Catherine

A little writing today, but mostly putting together the chapter 5 puzzle.

This book is very much explore, write, organize, revise. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I hope this means when I get to the end, that we will have something fairly whole.

And believe me, I’ve been writing a lot of crap. Oh yeah. But the book doesn’t seem to want me to get a whole draft down first. The analogy I had been using was beach combing. Now I think it’s making a card house. I can’t get the rest of the cards to stay on top without a good foundation.

Meanwhile, no shame in my Weird Tales rejection. I think I’m going to ask a few more eyes to take a look at Mark Twain’s Daughter before sending it back out again. If any of you are interested, let me know. I’ve got one great reader lined up, but more are good. Bonus? It’s a short.

Catherine

Bryon took this photo. I’m struck by it every time I look at it, and I thought I would share.