Category: General

DNS is cool. Seriously cool. I spent an hour today in occupational rehabilitation doing the tutorial of the software, and it looks like it will help, not just on the novel, but also with writing the curriculum and getting things around for work.

Jayne, my rehab coach, has already put in an order to get the software on my machine stat. Soon I’ll have people wondering who I’m talking to in my little office. Alas, no more music during work time. 😛

I’ll be back later today with some kind of word count. Hope your stories are flowing, and your elbows are whole.

Catherine

ETA: It’s on the work computer. I’ll get it set up by Weds for sure.

Things are taking a decidedly supernatural turn in HH:PW.

Word Count:

29,238 / 55,000 (53.2%)

Yesterday’s trivia one more day: Why did Hercules have to undertake the 10 (12) labors? What did he do that caused him to need to do penance?

Herculean Wisdom:

“And what you show me after all those years is yet again that you cannot be trusted to treat a woman with respect, when she is easily, worthily your equal.”

Leo put his hood down. “You wouldn’t want me to yield to you without a match, would you?”

“That is not our way. Will you steal from me again?”

“I swear that that was for Eurystheus, and it was never my idea.”

“A man is no better than the ideas he carries out, regardless of who he carries them out for,” said Polly.

Remember, a man is no better than his actions.

Some information about the arm. There still remain some inconveniences, but we’ll take them.

1. No pin. No surgery. Everything is staying nicely in place.
2. No cast.
3. The splint stays on for 2 weeks. Then I just have to stay in a sling and work on more mobility and rotation.
4. New x-rays next Friday to see how we’re doing.
5. Cleared to type by doctor, but must make sure that arm is good and stable when I do it.
6. Irony! Only back two fingers really reach key board due to cast. 🙂 So will still look into recognition software. Meanwhile, we are making a slow return to the first draft of Hulk Hercules. If I type 1130 words per day for the rest of September, I can still make my goal.

Herc-o-meter:

28,065 / 55,000 (51.0%)

Trivia: Can you tell me why Hercules had to undertake his labors in the first place? What was the tragedy in his life that led to his penance? (Hint: It wasn’t breaking his arm…)

Tomorrow no Tamago. Doctor time. Be sure we’ll ask about typing. And yes, Sonya, I will follow doctor’s orders, regardless of good news or bad.

Monday I’ll visit work force development for a demo of Dragon Naturally Speaking and some left handed typing training. It’s handy that Kirkwood has a rehabilitation department for folks who have acquired handicaps. Yup, me for a bit. So, if you have to back your lawnmower off a drop, you should fly away from the mower, not have it land on you, and work at a place with occupational rehab.

See you with more info weekendish. Thanks for all of you who helped with info about Dragon and your experiences.

Catherine

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.