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Arm is indeed broken. Tomorrow we’re off to the bone doc to talk pins and casts. Guess we’ll really see if I can write a novel with an arm tied behind my back. Jury is still out for software. The college moves slowly. I seem to be able to use my right hand, sling off, propped on a table, but I will consult with surgeon about whether it is safe and prudent to do so. Another friend suggested hiring staff. Hmmm…

Meanwhile, here are a couple of links for you.

First, Julie Rose posts a soundtrack for Susan Higginbotham.

Next, David Bridger hosts an interview with Suzanne McCleod about critiquing.

The new drugs are better for pain. My arm still hurts, but I care less. 😛 Sleepy, though.

Catherine

We’ve been here in this journal before. I’ve been asked for a rewrite of The Substance of Shadows by an agent. This time, though, it feels very differernt.

First of all, this agent was complimentary about the story. He read the partial throgh completely, not wanting to stop. He complimented the prologue, and the way the alternate povs shift seamlessly. He likes that the book has more plot than just boys fighting demons. You know how agents often say they didn’t love it enough? That’s not the sense I get here.

The agent sent 4 pages of notes, essentially an edit letter, filled with excellent suggestions. He wants more of the “rich interior life” of the characters. Mark, he wants more Milo! Thought you’d be pleased. Milo is a contrast to ivory tower Stephan and Errol. Lots of good suggestions about characters, family, everything. I’m very jazzed to do this rewrite.

What’s the difference between this rewrite and the last? This agent gets my book and my style. He’s encouraging me to put back in a lot of the things that I took out for the other rewrite. The previous agent wanted simplification and action. This agent wants layers and richness. Small wonder. One of his favorite books is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

So, very excited here. Hulk Hercules continues to come first, because it has a deadline, but this now comes after. My short story plans are postponed indefinitely. I want to make Substance as Dickensian as I can.

Meanwhile, I’m off to my GP today to talk seriously about elbows. The help desk has sent me information about a voice activated software that may already exist on my windows machine. In spite of bone pain, optimism rules the day.

Catherine

There won’t be an installment of Blood is Thicker Than Water for a bit, given my right arm blues. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out Catrina’s new art work there. Click this link!

Next, I’ll be seeing my usual doc tomorrow. Many of my friends suggested why wait? Dr. Banks is inclined to agree, I guess.

Finally, what can you tell me about voice recognition software? I not only have Hercules that needs writing, but also curriculum that really shouldn’t wait, so I’d best take steps. Information for both macs and pcs welcome, because I’ll be using both kinds of computers for both kinds of projects.

Catherine

I probably have broken my elbow. X-rays can’t tell for sure, so I have to get with my regular doctor in 7-10 days and shoot some film again.

This may well be every writer,s nightmare–disabled while racing toward a deadline. Sonya’s already in the know. My plan is to persevere as much as I can. The codeine might be more troublesome than hunting and pecking though. I have a ten day release from work, but I’ll try to get there as much as I can. They do kind of need me there.

If my theory becomes that medical trial gets me writing career gains, well I’m due for the next step. If my elbow is broken, and they put me in a cast for six weeks, I expect a multi-book deal.

Poor Bryon. He gets to do everything.

It goes without saying I’ll be reading more than commenting.

Catherine

Dusty, dirty, absolutely fun Renaissance festival yesterday in Kenosha, WI. Bryon had stellar day. He was on stage with The Swordsmen and picked up their video, bought his amazing uber toffee from Pemberton’s, and enjoyed himself. We met up with our friend Paul and shared the entire trip with Mark and Michelle. Pretty good stuff.

Experiment suggested by Dr. Qiao failed miserably. I cannot cut back to one prilosec clone every three days. Nope. Paying that price now. My heartburn yells, “From the abyss, I stab at thee!” We’ll be okay in a couple of days, really.

I’m writing this one over the course of the evening, and I’ve been working on the draft until I had to go out and do my lawn mower thing. I have made a dreadful mistake. I just drove our riding lawn mower backwards off our driveway. Yes, off the steep side that spills over onto the gravel driveway of the neighbors.

Safety features of the lawn bug include that the mower automatically shuts off when you are no longer on the seat. I had the good fortune to fall away from the vehicle, so none of it landed on me. We have yet to test it to see if it works again, but that test will be for another day.

Bryon wanted to go get it checked out at emergency immediately, but I suggested we wait to see if anything is actually wrong with it. Well, obviously I can still type, but putting away a load of laundry is a bitch, and twisting and crouching certain ways also isn’t working for me. So, yes, after he’s done with the lawn, and cleaned up a bit, we’ll make that trip to the emergency room. I’ll keep you posted.

So NOT what I needed. It’s expensive, and I do not need a problem with my hands and arms when a book deadline looms. Sonya, you’ll be the first to know if there’s an issue that affects my deadline. I’m optimistic that I haven’t broken anything, but if you want to say a little prayer for my right hand and typing skills, please do.

***

HH:PW? Here’s where I made it to tonight, seemingly on schedule.

26,816 / 55,000 (48.8%)

You’ll pardon me if I don’t do trivia and the rest. The mood isn’t quite right here in limited mobility land.

Shoot, shoot, and shoot.

Catherine

Today I finished rolling up my sleeves on Hulk Hercules. I divvied up the original draft into scenes on Scrivener, and then I color coded my entire outline. I made spaces on Scrivener for the scenes that I have yet to write. I cropped all the research notes out of the draft, and put them in the reference section.

What I learned: I learned that I have approximately half of the draft written, and I have about half to go. That means I’ve backed down on my word count for the rough draft, and I’m okay with that. I can now officially see the entire forest.

Where I go next: I have 32 days, until September 30th, to finish that first draft, something that is achievable if I write 984 words a day starting tomorrow. No problemo. I have a fantasy of finishing the first draft BEFORE September 30th, but if I do, that’s gravy.

The new Herc-o-meter looks like this:

24,870 / 55,000 (45.2%)

Later, taters.

Tonight I pruned more than I added, so I lost about 300 words. My writing ability tonight seemed to be taking a vacation, so I organized. I whacked the draft up and put various scenes in order in Scrivener.

Tomorrow we’ll see if the writing comes back, and if not, we’ll continue to shuffle things around.

Expect the return of the Herc-o-meter then.

Catherine

So, I’ve done some more writing and chopping.

Word Count:

36,634 / 75,000 (48.0%)

The answer to the last Herculean trivia was the Nemean Lion. That’s where Hercules picks up his attractive poncho. Here’s an easier question. What did Hercules steal from Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons?

Herculean Wisdom:
“Polly, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Yeah?” said Polly.
“Well, there’s this girl I’ve been thinking about asking out. Do you think I’d stand a chance?”
“I don’t know, Leo. Is she prissy?”
“What? No! I’d never date a prissy girl!”
“Good. Because you’re a little rough around the edges.”
“I could clean up okay.”
Polly put her hands on her hips. “Yeah. Sure.”

Soap is an important ingredient for dating.

The latest installment of Blood is Thicker than Water at Las Habladoras.

An interview with Jeff Sypeck at Writers and their Soundtracks.

David Bridger’s How to Get Your Novel published blog features The Hunting of the Agent by Caitlin Kittredge.

Back to keeping my head low and writing.

So…this morning I’m off for my annual trip to the gastroenterologist (wherein we discuss how January’s surgery has changed the reflux landscape), so I’m killing a wee bit of time before I commute over there. I’ve done the email, alerted the ELA honor guard to delay the students until later, read your entries on my friends lists, and still have a wee bit of time to kill.

I’m enjoying reading about all those stories you guys have out there, getting published. Short stories, novels, those found by agents. Congratulations! It seems that the world is abuzz with happy news. Me too. I’m working on a novel that I’m getting paid to write, that could become a series, and that has a couple of film companies waiting in the wings for it.

Like so many writers, I have a hard time focusing on the positive. I feel a bit fraudulent at the moment, mostly because I’m not sending out queries. Hulk Hercules is priority one right now. I wish I had time to crank out short stories for all the markets I’ve heard about recently. I’m particularly hot to write Mark Twain’s Daughter for the Interfictions 2 anthology now that I’m reading it, and really enjoying it.

And then there’s the whole novel thing. As long as Substance was making the rounds, I felt cool, I’m working toward getting an agent. I tell myself that I am doing the same thing by writing Hulk Hercules, as I can actually tell an agent I’ve written a book, and even, if the film deal comes through, use the book to help get an agent. I also tell myself that the jury is still out on Substance. Chances are slim it will get an agent, but it ain’t over until it’s over.

So, in addition to wanting to work on Hulk and write those short stories, I also want to be working on my Abigail Rath Versus series, which I think will be fun, and other novels I have ideas for. I don’t want to slight anything, but yeah, I want to be working on it all. I feel I should be trying to get a new agent with a new project, and trying to get into a writing work shop with short stories, and trying to publish short stories…

Okay. You guys know me. I’m really pretty patient. But we all have to have these cathartic moments, just to reveal that deep down inside, all authors are the same insecure people. 🙂 I’m curious how you guys manage your hopes, your dreams, and your desires with your real life, your impatience with your patience. I’m going to go back and look at my writer’s life list, and bide my time. I’m going to wait for the storm to break. I’m going to take it one step at a time, and I’m going to put my head down, and write Sonya and Cats Curious a killer book.

It would be nice if something new would happen, if the storm would break. I feel, especially after my family went ‘splodey this weekend, I deserve something nice. Then I remember that my life is pretty good, and I already have breaks other authors want.

We always want the next thing, and I guess we should just learn to appreciate the step we’re at when we’re there.

Catherine