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

Monday, August 13, 2007

Reading is Good

I didn't get much writing done this weekend, but I got a lot of reading done. Right now I'm in the middle of The Dark, New Ghost Stories edited by Ellen Datlow. Some of the stories are good. Most are too long, and I'll admit that so far I've skipped three stories. Not many of them really grip me though. I don't know whay that is. I've always liked Ghost Stories told at camp. In fact, I always wondered if sleep-over camps, by some zoning requirement, must always have been located just down the road from the State Asylum.

Growing up in Southern New Jersey I was certainly surrounded by ghost stories, including those about the New Jersey Devil (which I have notes on a couple of stories including that horse-faced beastie). I also really like the Ghost Hunters show. So my reaction to these stories is puzzling me. Ah, well, not everything can be good.

So yesterday I started the other library book I requested, Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross. I'm only a few pages in and I'm having fun. Plus I had a strange occurance, I made notes for a story I have in pieces parts that also involves Cthulu. It's strange because when I do get inspired by something I'm reading that inspiration doesn't have anything to do with the subject that I am reading (yeah, it's weird).

Anyway, there it is. This weekend's writers group looks like a bust for me. Our "Fall Festival" (the old timers call it that) is happening. I've been tagged (again) to set up the speakers for the parade at 2pm on Sunday. Nobody knows how long the parade will be because we have same day registration. My guess is that I won't be out and have the speakers back to the hall until 3:30-4:00, so that would mean that I wouldn't get to the group until 5:00. Margle. I wanted to get feedback on several stories. Well, I guess it'll give me some more weeks to rewrite.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

The "inpired by" works the same way for me. I guess how the story is going to go and, when it doesn't, I decide my way was better and try that. Not being a great writer (or just one with ADD) I never finish them, but damn my plots are good. =D

Camille Alexa said...

Margle.

Steve Buchheit said...

Kanrei, you just need to start. It's amazing once I get into the groove time flies away.

Camille, yes, margle. It's my own, my precious. :) You're welcome to use it, however.

Unknown said...

I tried that way with my "Charlie" story. I was digging it until I found I needed a direction for it. Once I committed I hated where it was going. I should revisit it and see what I can do.

Steve Buchheit said...

Kanrei, don't force it. I don't finish every story I start. There are plenty I've finished and then put in a drawer. I don't even talk about them here. The ones I discuss are the ones I think have a good chance of me finishing and wanting to send out.

If you don't like the story, that's okay. When you don't like working on the story, that's when you need to ask yourself if your time wouldn't be better spent on a new or different story (sometimes it's a yes, sometimes a no). And just because a story is difficult to write doesn't mean it's a bad story.