I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Thursday, July 27, 2006

A Crater in the Sun

A quick update while plates are printing. I’m still working on my second submission to Field Guide to Surreal Botany. What they’re looking for seems vague to picking a topic is difficult. Ah well, they have the market, It’s their book, they get to do what they like.

Ninety percent done with the second red-line of “War Stories.” I should post some pictures of what I mean by red-line. I doubt I will get it done for my second deadline (tomorrow). I’m now shooting for August 15 for all three manuscripts to be in the mail to the markets.

Work has continued to drain time away from the links I love, as it always does. Fortunately my wife is very understanding and can handle a lot, so that works out well. Twelve-hour workdays have a way of catching up with you.

I’ve been getting another story. I’m not sure where it’s going or if it’s just a recreation of old things. “The Great Pan is dead,” is a line that keeps circulating through my head.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

“Cap’in, the engines canna stand the strain.” The Dylithium crystals need replaced and caffeine no longer gives the kick.

Was feeling a little better by the end of the week. Then the wife and I mad a major purchase, a storage barn. We’re up to the gills in stuff and I’m tired of scraping my back getting decorations out from under the stairwell. After all this overtime there’s some money in the bank. Might as well make our lives easier. He he he.

So, we spent Sunday clearing out a spot for it. Involved the removal of three mid-aged trees and a bunch of younger stuff. Lots of bending over with a chainsaw on one of the hottest days this summer, plus the amazing humidity we’ve been experiencing. So we were nearly dead by Sunday night. Then the past two days have been twelve-hours each at work. Tomorrow is a council meeting.

Also wrote an entry for an anthology. Just received the email rejection. There is time to try again. Two Cranes Press Surreal Botony. Which I will. I have copious notes and I’m not afraid to use them (yes, I’m recovering).

About two-thirds of the way through the second red-line edit of “War Stories.” I’m really slashing and burning this time. There are a few new lines and descriptions, I’m hacking some of the action, and changing some of it. While driving home I was thinking about a particular part of the story and came to the conclusion, “but I would do this in that circumstance, why doesn’t Bobby?” Have to solve those. My new timeline is to be done and have the story in the mail by July 28th.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Jupiter, Saturn, Oberon and Titania...

Wild turkeys, and I don’t mean the kind that come in a bottle, are roosting in the tree right outside my bedroom, right at this moment. I tried taking some photos, we’ll see how they turned out. It rained the deluge tonight, so the air is full of water, very humid.

Feeling better.

Waiting for an oil change I started the next red-line edit of “War Stories.” I can see clearly now. Hack and slash, but in a good way. Add more description where needed, omit needless words. One more into the grinder my good friend.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

You Bought a Guitar to Punish Your Ma

Syd Barrett is dead. And I am unexplainably sad. If you don’t know, you don’t know. He was the warning of success, and a Piper at the Gates of Dawn, a backseat driver of immense influence.

Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish you were here.

On a trip to Cirrus Minor, saw a crater in the sun, a thousand miles of moonlight later

Monday, July 10, 2006

Signs and Premonitions

Okay, I’m sitting here while the woman I share my life with is reading “War Stories.” No good laughs, lots of “hmms” and “oh’s” as in, “so, that’s what you mean.” Well, maybe it’s going to need another rewrite. That’s what readers are for, and it’s better that I get this feedback now, instead of rejection letters later.

Just for the record, no, I’m not upset. This is criticism, not execution. I’m trying to get better, not stay where I am. If you’re in a writing group and you can’t tell a person that they’ve comma-spliced or had a verb-subject disagreement, that’s a literary society.

Time to go get the news.

Sunday, July 9, 2006

The Seven-Thousand

Just finished the red-line edit and the polish. I’m at 7002 words. I think I’ll print it out and read it once again before I send it off. After that it’s edit time for “Changelings” and “Wild Hunt.” Then we’ll send them off too, “Changelings” to Weird Tales and “Wild Hunt” to Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Then it we’ll see how well that story structure idea for “Farewell Angelina” works.

This week is our main Council Meeting on Tuesday, oil change on Wednesday, and two design projects due. Hopefully we’ll have some good time to work.

Friday, July 7, 2006

Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do

Well, that blows this week. At least I have hard copy. Yeah, not much, but I’ll take it. This weekend should be light, although…

My niece is having a concert, we haven’t seen her do much so I want to support this effort. So there’s Saturday afternoon and night.

Have to mow the lawn (only 45 minutes), have been trying to move the rock/weed garden (a present from our developer) all summer. Had a few wheel-barrels full and the tire went. Finally got an inner-tube for the wheel-barrel tire (best idea evar). Now need energy to haul dirt.

Clean office. Must clean office before paper piles start negotiations for citizenship. Plus have to clean office to prep for built-in full wall bookcases. Yes, you may be jealous, but only if you’ve learned woodworking, paid a small fortune in tools, and are willing to put in the sweat equity. Dan, you’re paid in full with renovating your bathroom, be jealous all you want.

And then there is the red-line edit of three stories. Updating the blogs. The ever present website redo. And spending time sleeping. Why?

Thirteen-hour day yesterday, twelve-hour day today. Plus time spent talking with the mayor on the way home (fun though).

… So, I’m wrecked. I don’t normally like to leave work before the work is finished. It wasn’t finished today, but I was done. Stick a fork in me.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

HTBD - if only 15th Century map makers IM'ed.

Finished a front to back edit on “War Stories” last night after studiously trying to avoid it.

Ever hit the end of the internet? I did. Pretty surprising, was going well, interesting historical markers, and then bang I’m out in the middle of nowhere with dragons biting at my virtual heals. You’d think they’d have a sign or something. So after I got to the end of the internet, I couldn’t procrastinate any longer and then slogged through the story. “War Stories” has the feel of a dead fish right now. That’s good, it means I’m near the end with it. Word count? Currently 7083. I’ll print a hard copy and go through it with a red pen. That’ll learn the bugger.

Found another outpost on the internet. Guess it only ended in one direction. Still have the other directions to explore. More procrastination! Woohoo!

Clarion blogs (courtesy of Tobias). Oh, the jealousy. Paint me positively green. www.alexwilson.com. Six weeks for Clarion. When I was a student, I think I could have swung that (although not the cost). Now, I don’t think I could take six weeks out without a serious sponsorship of some type. Note to self, look for a Medici.

Goals this week including red lining “War Stories.” Go though “Changelings” and “Wild Hunt” one more time before sending them out. Meeting tonight for Streets Committee, have to do street lights for village. Must find time to rub cat the wrong way. (corrected spelling 07-06 8:20am)

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

I see fireworks…

Plugged through last night staying up past midnight. Finished the major editing on “War Stories.” I’ll make a few more passes through front to back. Right now the word count is 7180. I think I can get it down to 7100, but that maybe it, unless I cut out the front.

Now we need to see if “Changelings” and “Wild Hunt” also need a front to back edit. Once that’s done we’ll send them out.

Monday, July 3, 2006

ADD Redux

So one of the muse’s gifts this weekend was a new take on the structure of “Farwell Angelina,” which will solve some of the problems I’ve had with the story. Gotta love getting dictation on different stories at the same time. I’m not complaining, I take what I can get. I’ve always had problems with finishing projects, I think I now know why.

Editing “War Stories” Sunday Evening, I am now closer to 7200 words and only have 2 sections to go. Twisted the end a little harder. I think there’s at least one more turn of the screw I can make there.

Sunday, July 2, 2006

Zoom! Road Kill.

Well, there went that deadline. Didn’t make the deadline for Friday mail. Still editing “War Stories,” down to below 7300. Yesterday was at Mom’s, so nothing happened until today. I’m planning on putting it in the mail the week of July 10th. Don’t have time to get other things in the mail. Will need to do that this week.

I’m rethinking the “In submission” section. So until I have a clear thought about it, I’m not going to update. I like it as a personal whip to keep me submitting, but I’m not sure publishing my rejections is worth it. More thought it needed.