Oh yeah, time for the next draft recursion photo...


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At last, time and weather allowed me to take my writing rig outdoors! The yard is hitting its peak of lush, extravagant beauty. I sat and marvelled amid the drifting fragrance of wisteria and white lilacs.

Whether I work indoors or outdoors, however, the question remains the same: where is it exactly that I think I'm going to sit?

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I read a lot more books this year than in 2010... a definite inverse corollary to writing less and seeking more escapism and/or inspiration.

Bold = recommended
* = best

( 8 Aubrey-Maturin books )

I am further astonished at how few books I read this year (I read ca. 4x as many in 2009!). One big reason is that I spent a lot more hours productively writing, thus less time seeking distraction/ inspiration/ entertainment, and also less time seeking reassurance from others' stories. Still, reading is an absolutely vital source of fuel for my ( Read more... )

Man, there is just nothing better than when my characters suddenly start doing something entirely on their own, something I did not intend and knew nothing about, yet which totally makes sense (at least to them). It makes up for all those months when I instead feel like I'm trying to teach these people to dance a pavane at gunpoint, in Swahili. ( Read more... )

Oh baby. Love that book on book action. (Yes, it's safe for work.)

http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/hot_library_smut/

The funny thing about writing is, I spend all this time accumulating words, and being proud of myself for that; then I spend all this time cutting words, and being proud of myself for that. It really doesn't strike me as sane behavior ( Read more... )

We're going to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Conference! 'We' because hrothgar1 fabulously offered to come along for hand-holding/butt-kicking and general expediting purposes. Bought the plane ticket and hotel res (could have saved money seeking crash space or a cheaper hotel, but this will simplify the logistics, give M somewhere to hang ( Read more... )

Ye gods, I'm even listed on the conference website now.
http://rmfw.org/contest.aspx - click on the "finalists" tab (speculative fiction category)

Freaky.

Off to go find some earplugs because my brain is melting out my ears...

So three months ago, I entered the first 20 pages and synopsis of my fantasy novel Gyrfalcon in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' contest... So yesterday evening, a half hour after I got back from my wonderful camping trip, I get a phonecall telling me I'm a finalist! One of six in the Speculative Fiction category. The best part is, all ( Read more... )