Category Archives: Writing

Present In Body

I woke up, organized my whole day while I lay in bed, got up, and now have absolutely no idea what I was planning to do.

Irritating. I was happy with the original plan, too. While I try to remember, I’m doing book work: the publisher sent me the back cover copy for my book to edit. I’m trying to figure out how to re-state the bulleted information without repeating the info that’s everywhere else.

Yesterday was the first writing jam in about six weeks, and although both Ceri and I were remarkably uninspired, we managed to get things done we wouldn’t otherwise have accomplished if we’d been alone. I transcribed eight hundred words of handwritten work to the computer. Ceri made some adjustments to the story that On Spec asked her to rewrite, and chaperoned two reluctant characters through the beginnings of a conversation that will eventually turn into something useful. Neither of us committed as much jamage as we’d hoped; but then, we’re out of practice. And t! was not present in body, although he called.

And yes, HRH walked in, damp and unimpressed, partway through.

The day was capped by a very productive CMS co-ordinators’ meeting. Blade makes a mean ice cream/Jello dessert which finished things off nicely. And I not only slept through the night, I slept well.

Now, if I could only remember what was on today’s agenda…

Argh!

Even worse than writing an 80K word manuscript is trying to write a sixty-word bio.

The really annoying thing? I woke up three days ago and had a perfect little bio in my brain, just like that. Did I write it down? No. I have bios galore already. I did not need yet another. So naturally, they asked me for a new one today, with a sixty-word limit.

I feel as if I’m banging my head against a brick wall. It never gets any easier.

Round One

So.

The manuscript has gone through the first in-house edit. It’s all coded, it’s shorter, small spelling errors have been caught, I’ve added necessary information. It’s tighter. I like it. They like it. Everyone’s happy so far.

And now, I wait for the second round of editing, after it’s gone through the independent reader. Don’t ask me when that will be; I don’t know.

Lughnassadh

Oh, hey; and blessed Lughnassadh. (I forgot to say “white rabbits” this morning, it being the first of the month, but I didn’t forget Lughnassadh!)

Go eat fresh, sweet corn on the cob. That’s how we celebrate. That, and baking fresh bread. Mmm… corn on the cob, dripping with butter and salt and pepper… warm bread …

No! No! Must finish editing manuscript!

Taking a Break

After the thunderstorms and torrential downpour yesterday, when I was afraid to turn on the computer, I’m tying up the revision of the second half of the manuscript today. I’m being good to myself. Usually I plough onwards, eyes glazed, saying, “I’ll just finish this chapter, I’ll just finish this chapter.” Today, I’m taking a break when I catch myself saying it. I seem to be in much better humour for it.

Last night HRH and I joined Elim, our tradition’s healing nexus, for a healing ritual, and damn, but it was good to play with experienced people. I love each and every one of my students, but it’s refreshing to do something without being an example or keeping an eye on others while we do it. I’d rather not have had to do the ritual at all, of course, but the clan was asked to do healing work for a young lad of six who has an inoperable brain tumour. I’ll gladly act as a channel for something like that.

The gussets didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I dyed another dress instead, which worked better than I was told it would. So there.

Get Thee Behind Me, Deadline

Done. In two days, the first half of my manuscript has been edited and sent back. Yes, it was an insane deadline. But it’s done. It occurs to me that sooner or later I’ll have to stop performing miracles, or I’m going to get myself in a tight spot some day. Right; from now on, the Scotty method of evaluating engine-repair jobs. (Although it occurs to me that delivering material before my estimated time of completion is how I got myself up to celebrity status. Hmm.)

And I have suddenly remembered the possibilities held within the addition of simple underarm gussets, which just might make this ritual dress a go instead of simply a learning experience. Of course, I have no more black thread on hand. I’ll pick some up tonight, because right now, all I want to do is rest after driving myself mad with edits for forty-eight hours.