February 1, 2006
Work time, right?
Honestly, it's a wonder I can even fit in there some days.
So, this is the first day of February. I'm late with this post. I think I'm starting to see a pattern here.
Tonight I spent a good amount of time in the bathtub writing up sf class notes. I need to get at least that class wrapped up. I don't think I'll have time to do all the work for the mystery class before it's done, but I have copied off all the material, and I intend to get it all done as soon as possible. Both classes have been interesting. I'm looking forward to writing the books based on them, but that's going to be a ways down the road.
Today I started editing Farstep Station to return to the publisher. Not much to do with it, I'm happy to say. I'm already 65 pages in, and it's only about 175 pages total. I might have it done tomorrow if I really work at it. That would be a wonderful thing to have off the list.
After that comes Muse, which has a nibble and I need to get it done and out.
There's going to be a lot of editing this year!
February 2, 2006
The Windows
I love the blues in that picture, and how you can see so little of anything else in the room -- a hint of something outlined on a shelf on the upper left, and the shape of things on the desk on the lower right window.
Busy day. Didn't get much done, but I did go to the local writer's group meeting at Barnes and Noble. This was my second time. it was fun. I'm really impressed with the writing ability in that group, and the shear diversity of what they work on. I might try to take something to read at the next one. They meet the first and third Thursdays of the month.
Beyond that... not a whole lot done. I suffered with a really bad headache for a good part of the day, but it finally eased up late, allowing me to go to the meeting. I'm still working on the sf class stuff. I'm going to try to get it done tonight and then some stuff for the other class the last few days that it's going. (Though there is another week, I think, to finish up, so I'm not too worried.)
The Romance Class starts on Monday. I'm really looking forward to that one because I know even less about writing romance than I know about writing mystery novels. It should be interesting.
But right now I need to get some of my work done for the night. I'm obviously running behind -- but I had a good day!
February 3, 2006
Rainy Reflections
Ah. I had this open for a couple hours and forgot to write and post something. It's kind of been that sort of night. I basically got the SF class stuff done, though I'm not happy with the outline. I know there's something missing. It's too static, I think. I have come up with another idea that might get it moving, and I'm noting that on the outline. I'll look back at it all in a couple months when I get everything else out of the way.
I still have the mystery class to finish. I think I can get it done by the actual end of the class, but we'll see.
I have the material for the Romance class. Now that's going to be an adventure for me!
I've been fighting one of those weather-related headaches for a few days again. It's not been too bad today, but I kept falling asleep. Not a big help when you're trying to get some stuff done!
We might get some snow on Sunday. That would at least brighten things up a bit, but I'm betting that it's going to go around us again. I'd like a little white, and maybe get a chance to take a few nice pictures. I so badly want to get a Memory Stick for the poor camera and really take it out for a run! Ah, but I'll get there. It's been fun anyway. And I've already told Russ I want to go to the zoo for my birthday (about a month away). With luck, we'll have a better financial situation by then.
In the meantime, I'm going back to work!
February 4, 2006
Box Cats
Like most cats, my guys love boxes. If I stack them around, they're happy little guys. This is Lady Jane Pudge'ums, Wind, Kwi, and Cricket at the top.
I'm working on Farstep Station. If I didn't have an ongoing headache, it would be done and sent back by now. But I'm working my way through it. Far over the halfway part, and though I know there are a couple difficult spots coming up, I have faith that I'll have it done soon.
The sixth book of the Dark Staff series is out! For anyone who has read the series up to now, the title should give you a hint of what's going on: Freedom and Fame. There are only two more to go in the series, and we're heading into the final confrontation now. There are a couple big changes in this book. I really enjoyed writing it! I'll be happy to have the last two done as well. I think I'll put them on the 'final rewrite' list for this year and have it all done. Sounds like fun!
Okay, back to getting Farstep Station done. It's a fun book, too. One of the best little pieces I've written, I think. Just need to get the last of it cleaned up and off it goes. Oddly, it usually goes for pages and pages without any notes, and then there will be a change that includes adding or deleting something -- and my brain freezes. I hate that.
I better get back to it, though, or I won't have it done this weekend after all!
February 5, 2006
Willow
I finished the edits to Farstep Station! Yay! I had to do a major rewrite toward the end, but I think I handled it all right, and I'm going to print it off and send it back. And be done with it! Yay!
I also did Lesson 6 in the mystery class, which only leaves me two more. I've read most of the material for class 7 and I think I can get it done tonight, and then read the material for 8 and get it tomorrow. That's as long as there are no huge assignments in these last two classes! I'm afraid to look ahead and find out.
We had no snow today, alas. I knew that was going to happen. I would really like to have a little snow to make things pretty. I'd like to take my camera out and do a few pictures. I haven't taken any for the last couple days, just because I've been so busy, or so tired. It's not been a really active weekend, but I've managed to get a few things done anyway.
I am tired again tonight, though. I hope this whole round of 'must sleep now' passes soon!
For the moment, though, I'm going to get some more work done!
February 6, 2006
In the Flowers
No snow. They keep saying we'll get some snow, but I'm beginning to think that they're purposely lying to drive me crazy. That seems reasonable, doesn't it?
I am just finishing up some work on the mystery class. I need to download the material for the Romance Class and start looking at it as well. I don't want to start by falling behind!
The mystery story is finally almost falling into place. I've discovered that I just couldn't do the work in some of the ways that were taught in the class. I'm not surprised -- I've been writing a long time and I suspect I might be set in my ways on some things. On the other hand, I did learn a great deal more about mystery writing than I had ever known before, and it has given me a nice new look at some of my previous work, like Muse. This book will never be a regular mystery, but I have found a few things that I think will help me rewrite it. (And that will start either tonight or tomorrow!)
I am trying to get some stuff put together for Vision, too. Amazing how fast THAT's coming up again. Aaaiiieee! I'll never get to where it doesn't sneak up on me. Six years at this. You'd think I'd have a better handle on it!
Of course I say that every two months and it does me no good.
February 7, 2006
Driving through the mountains, 1999
That was a truly lovely trip, back in June, 1999. It was the longest vacation we ever took (about a week). Maybe some day we'll have a chance to go back.
Tonight I'm working on Muse. So far, I'm really happy with what I've gotten. I'm 18 pages into the rewrite and still need to do editing, but I think it's going to be pretty clean. I should have it done in no time. Yay!
I have not started the romance class. I've looked over the first assignment, but I admit that I'm a little lost, probably because they expect people who are taking the class to have a better grasp of the genre than I do. I'll see what I can do a little later tonight.
Beyond that... nothing. Copied a whole mess of disks to the computer tonight and even sorted a few of them. Is it really a week into the month already? Ack. In a month it will be my birthday again. I can't believe how fast this last year went, especially when some of it seemed to just drag on forever.
You know how you can tell when a story is going well? When you keep getting pulled back to it without even thinking about it. Yeah, I think this one will be done soon and off it goes to a special little place, in hopes of an acceptance.
I think I'll go make some macaroni and cheese. And then back to work!
February 8, 2006
Strays
Miserable. Ill -- flu. I've spent most of the last fifteen hours in bed, and I'm going back there now.
February 9, 2006
A bit of snow today....
Not much to really cover stuff. And I was too ill to enjoy most of it.
I'm still ill. I'm just posting this now so I don't forget. Not that I have anything to say.
Gah. Hope to be better tomorrow.
February 10, 2006
Rocky Mountains, 1999
I'm feeling better tonight, though not great. I have been working though.
Wind is ill, poor baby. He may end up at the vet tomorrow.
I'm about 200 pages into Muse, with less than 200 more pages to go. it looks good. I'm happy with the story. Just wish I felt better to enjoy it.
And that's about it for me. My plan is to get all of Muse done this weekend and off in submission. I think I can do it if I just don't get sick again.
I sure hope Wind gets better soon though, too. Sigh.
February 11, 2006
Snowy Squirrel
Russ and I watched The Year of Living Dangerously tonight. We hadn't seen it in a few years, and it was just as powerful as the first time we watched it. Interesting movie. Maybe too intense for someone who was fighting away a headache, but an interesting story to watch. Not one of Mel Gibson's best rolls, but the movie overpowered the individuals, and Linda Hunt as Billy Quan... wow.
I sent in Farstep Station today. That's done now. Muse is well over half way, despite all the slow downs while I was sick. I might still get it this weekend and send it off on Monday -- which would be a wonderful relief.
I do have to get the 2YN stuff done tonight, though, and that's going to be my next step for the day. Once I get that done I'm free to get back to work on other things again!
February 12, 2006
I am going to get Muse done today. That is my only goal, and I will not fail. I know this because I'm pretty nearly done already. (grin)
I think I still like the story. We'll see how I feel later, after it gets turned down for publication. (Not that I'm pessimistic or anything!)
It's cold today and supposed to be warm tomorrow and snow again on Wednesday. Ah, late winter, early spring... you never know what to expect around here.
But now I'm going back to work!
February 13, 2006
The Path
Yesterday I finished up Muse and sent it off. Today I'm having trouble concentrating on most things, but I did do some work with photography. I entered two new challenges for the first time, one of them black and white. I used to love print black and white.
I entered a version of the picture above, but not quite this one. I like the slightly yellow tinge to this one, though. Gives it a feel of age without going to the full sepia look.
I'm still trying to decide what will be my next novel rewrite/edit. I'm doing so well on them that I don't want to break from it, though I will probably fit a short story in here soon since it will help with my 2 submissions a month record.
Other stuff? Nah, nothing at the moment. I need to go answer email and check on the site and then do the work for my Romance Class. But other than that... not much really to talk about.
It got up to about 50f today. We're still looking at snow again on Wednesday.
February 14, 2006
Bald Eagle
Russ had to run up to a place just north of town today in South Dakota. I rode along, my camera ready because there is often a bald eagle right along the Interstate in the trees. No such luck. We drove up and back -- and then just as we were crossing the bridge into South Sioux, there flew the eagle right in front of us. It's not a great picture, but it was pretty funny.
It's also a good reason never to leave the house without the camera. Not that I do so, of course.
I don't know when I'll get this posted. The connection has been wonky today.
I made cookies tonight and Russ and I shared a few and talked before he went to bed. Now I'm back to work. I need to choose the next novel to go out and get to work on it. I think I might be able to get another one done before my birthday. That would be fun!
I'm on Class 3 of the Romance stuff. I admit that I'm not cut out to be a romance writer. But I'm sticking to it just to learn some stuff. It's interesting, but I just don't have the temperament for Romance. I kind of suspected that going into it, but I've found it more so as I work on the material. I find myself balking at some of the simple things that should be done.
On the other hand, I do think I've come up with a good story idea -- just not a romance one. More adventure -- probably mainstream now that I think about it. Now there's an odd thought. I never thought I would be writing mainstream, either.
Okay, it's now nearly 2 am and I still can't upload this!
February 15, 2006
Playing with Bryce
Another day of up and down service. I haven't been able to get to the sight at all, though some email has gotten through.
It looks as though Vita's Vengeance is going to be my next novel. It's a long one and in need of a lot of work, so I don't think I'll have it done by the 8th -- but it is one of my old favorites, so I don't mind. I've done about ten pages on it so far, and I think it's going to be a good one when I'm done.
We might have snow tonight. We have a winter storm warning, but nothing has really hit so far. I'd love to take the camera out and get some good snow shots, but I fear that we're going to either get too much or too little.
Maybe I'll get this uploaded yet tonight. I doubt it, though!
Back to work on the novel. At least I'm getting some work done!
February 16, 2006
Snow
It looks as though I'm going to be able to upload tonight. Yay! You'll find the previous two days under this entry.
We had snow last night, finally. Not as much as had been predicted, but still not bad. It's cold though, and we're getting wind chill warnings for tonight.
I'm working on Vita's Vengeance. It's going very well I'm through chapter one and into the second, which is giving me a little more trouble, but I still like the way it's going. It's a long book, though. It's going to take me quite a while to get through this one. Good thing it's one of my favorite stories!
Oh, I suppose I better come up with a short story to edit and get out since I can't see that I'll get this one done in time.
Damn! The connection just went down again! These people are driving me nuts!
Okay, about an hour later and looks like it's up again. I'm going to give it a try!
February 17, 2006
Ruins at Chaco
Let's see. What can I say about today?
Cold comes to mind. It never warmed up and it's dropped back to -4 now. The cats are not happy. I'm not very happy.
I've done a lot of web site and photo work tonight. Some of it even needed done. And there's more than needs done as well, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I'll do it tomorrow, I think. Tonight I'm going to go crawl into a nice warm bath and do some note taking/writing on projects.
Vita's Vengeance is going very well. I don't know how long it will take me to get through it, but for the moment, I'm happy with the progress.
But you know... I think my brain in frozen tonight. I'm going to stop now....
February 18, 2006
Flower pots in snow
A bit late tonight. Watched a movie with Russ and that was fun.
I can't say that I got a lot else done today, though. I'm in one of those 'on hold' modes for no good reason. Getting a little done here and there, but not enough to make it count for anything.
The animals are driving me nuts tonight. I wish they would all go take nice naps somewhere and give me a chance to think I need to sort out all the little things I need to get done here before it gets any farther away from me. I did get the county stuff done today, at least! And some work on a piece of cover art I need done.
Actually, I just got a second thing done off my list. Good. If I can just get a couple things a day, I might get caught up.
Tomorrow is contracts out for Vision day.
Well, at least I have a clue for tomorrow....
February 19, 2006
Mesa Verde
I've done a little better today -- a couple things done off my list and just the articles/contracts to get done yet tonight. This despite some odd distractions. I'm also nearly done with a scene for the Romance Class, which is also good. I need to work some more on that material, but I'm so busy with everything else right now that it keeps falling by the side.
And I can't seem to stay focused on anything for very long, either. Drives me nuts lately. But I'll eventually get things done.
Let's see.... I still need to get one more thing ready to go out this month. I keep losing track of time, and the end of the month is coming far too quickly. Hold on... have I put anything at all out this month? Ack.... I think I'm in trouble....
I better go do some short story hunting!
February 20, 2006
Chaco Canyon
I still have everything I had to do left from yesterday and some more besides. I'm not sure how that happened, because I swear I was working on stuff today. Apparently not. Apparently I dreamed I was working.
My office is a pit. I think the cats must throw parties in here when I'm not around.
This is my good news for the day, though.
February 21, 2006
Holding on....
As some of you may have noticed, I am about to have a new book out. This one is electronic only at the moment and available from Holly Lisle's new endeavor, OneMoreWord Publishing. I'm looking forward to this. I think people will be pleased with the story.
I am getting work done. What I am not getting is this posted. I started it hours ago and forgot it. LOL. I guess I'll just post now and be done with it because until the novel goes up, there's not much else to say. (grin)
February 22, 2006
We have achieved book!
There we are! The book is now up for sale at Holly's site. I'm excited about this one! It's not my usual sf or fantasy, and I think people are going to like the characters and the story. I'd love to see some nice sales on this one.
Okay, yes... I'd like to see some nice sales on any number of my books, but this one I think has a possibility of reaching the most people. Expect me to push it at ever chance.
Other work is going fine. I still haven't decided what I'm going to send out for submission this month, though. Kind of running out of time there, Sparky. Better get moving!
Have I mentioned that I'm going stir crazy? The big excitement lately has been to go to the grocery store. I did clean my office today... and somehow knocked the Internet off the computers. Still not quite sure what I did there, but Russ got it back up and running. At least my office looks a little better.
Oh, and yes, I did do the cover to Muse. Rather happy with it, too!
February 23, 2006
Unhappy Pip....
Someone was plainly not happy about finding a book and papers on his 'blanket.' It made a great shot, though. I made up for it. I took the awful book and papers away and even got him a clean towel to sleep on. He's been much happier since then.
I'm getting things done. Just not well or on time. I need to do the next step in the Romance class. I've read all the work, but I haven't sat down and written up the work. I might do that yet tonight.
I think what I will do tonight is get a few more disks copied over to the hard drive. I can do that and write on the class. In fact, it gives me something to do while I'm considering how to answer the questions.
I just have to figure out where I put the disks when I cleaned up yesterday. LOL. That's the problem with cleaning this room. I have this fear that they're in those notebooks under where Kwi is sleeping.
I think I'll just go wander around the house for a while....
February 24, 2006
Deer at De Soto
Russ took me on a nice little ride this afternoon. We went to De Soto National Wildlife Refuge. I only took about a dozen shots -- camera without card yet! -- but a couple of them turned out very nicely, all things considered. I still don't quite have the feel for the camera yet.
Today's trip was a 'we probably will be worse off by your birthday, so we better go now' sort of thing. Russ finally had a bit of a job nibble today (while we were gone, of course!) but it's only for part time work, and that in Omaha. We'll see how it goes -- but at least it's the possibility of work!
I made something of a two book deal with Holly in the last couple days. This is for some nonfiction work related to Vision. I think it will be a good deal, and better yet -- it takes care of my two submissions for this month.
I'm still moving forward with the Romance Class. I'm up to class six out of eight. Oddly enough, I'm drawn to write this story right now... but I think it will not be romance enough with the way it's going in my head. It's hard to say. I might yet surprise myself.
And that's it. Good day, possibility of work for Russ, and books that I need to edit and get put together.
So... off I go to do something else, probably!
February 25, 2006
Someone's Dream
Today was not a great day, unfortunately. And I'm tired of having not great days.
It does make it hard for me to write anything fun here tonight, though, so I'm just going to skip most of it and point out that I'm having fun with the photography, at least. This was a bad shot that I redid with filters and colors, and I kind of like the end result!
And now... off to do the 2YN stuff!
February 26, 2006
River View
I am in only a slightly better mood tonight, so I won't stay here long and moan about everything. It's not all that bad tonight, after all. And there is a little hope for something falling together right tomorrow. I doubt it will happen, but I'm not going to let that get to me.
I've done a good amount of Vision today, so it's not like it's been a bad day. I have a ton more to do, of course, but I can get to it. I still have a couple days and not a whole lot else to do.
Forward Motion and my site are getting bandwidth notices, so I'm staying clear for the moment. I don't think it will be a real problem, but you know... it's been that kind of few months, and I don't see any reason to take a chance.
February 27, 2006
My replica Anasazi Bowl
The only thing I can say good for tonight is that a nice long bath finally relaxed me enough that I came up with at least two of the things I need to write about in the next 24 hours. I have FINALLY achieved the idea for the workshop for Vision. Yes, way way way late.
Stress does odd things to me. It doesn't stop me from writing. If anything I write more -- in fiction. I've already topped 200k for the year, though, admittedly, it is almost entirely in rewrites of older material.
What it does stop me from writing is nonfiction, which is -- of course -- the very thing that I need to get done. I am down to the last few hours before Vision is due out, and it's just the fact that I'm stubborn and pride myself on actually getting things done even in the worst of times that made me finally come up with something.
And it's not a half bad little idea, either. I can write it in probably less than 1000 words and then I only have my editor's note and About this Issue to do. Maybe a couple others, but I won't know it until I get to them. It's always that way with me.
So, time to get to work on it. I won't be posting until Wednesday. We're up against that bandwidth problem again!
February 28, 2006
Sleepy Pip
I am putting the last touches on Vision, so I'm busy. I wonder what excuse I'll have not to write much here tomorrow? I couldn't actually resort to the truth -- my life is boring and even I am tired of reading about it. (grin)
We've reached the end of February. In a few minutes it will turn to March here. I don't have any hope for the month. And none for April either, now that I think about it, so it's no good thinking ahead and hoping for the best.
I'll just go work on Vision now....