You and me Sunday driving

Flew back from Detroit and man my arms are tired. Actually my whole body is tired. I didn't sleep well at this con, and there weren't many breaks. And with all the meeting people and panels I'm suffering from being ON! for too long. Like a live wire going bzzzt bzzt bzzt.

Well, I got a later start from the Con that I thought. First rule of convention going for the writer, 1) If an editor asks you to have a meal/drink/jacuzzi with them, say, "Yes." I almost forgot that rule, but fortunately the voices in my head brought me back and I had a wonderful late lunch/early dinner with William Jones, Deb Jones, Rick Moore, and Jeff Kevin (I think, I'm terribly sucky with names, especially since he bought lunch, thanks again). Had a frickin' good time and enjoyed myself.

But having a late start I drove like a maniac to get back at a reasonable hour (10:15 in case you cared).

Fun seeing all my friends there, but way too tired to list you all right at the moment (because I know I'll forget someone and that would make the end of this month hellish). Met a bunch of new people that we seemed to get along. I actually have homework from the Con (Michelle West wants to know what typeface they set her one book in, so she can request it later, I think it was Stemple Garamond, or it could have been Humanist. I took notes and will look it up tomorrow with my font books). And I think I got roped into being a panelist at another con. What's the reward for good work? More work. :) Thanks, Anne Zanoni, for inviting me.

So, this isn't the roundup post, but I realized I hadn't posted as often as I thought and wanted to say I'm home, safe, and only slightly warped (but you all knew that, didn't you?).

My future is so bright, I gotta wear shades

We now interrupt this blog for this important message.

This afternoon at 3:55pm I was waylaid on my journey to a panel to discuss "Why didn't I think of that? Where authors get their ideas," and was thunderstruck. I was told I could now announce it publicly, I am (going to be) a published author.

And the villagers rejoice (pictures to follow).

OMG! OMG! OMG! For a year that I haven't produced many new words, this is sure my year for writing. Writetober is full of awesome.

Okay, some of you know this story, and some of it has leaked out here and there, but I didn't explain what I was talking about. Way back in July, William Jones invited me to submit to an anthology of near future Cthulhu stories (second very cool thing this year, after being invited as a panelist, but I didn't feel I could announce it here just then) (cool cover art here). You may remember me talking about rewriting War Stories back in August. That was related to this. William sent back good words to begin with, which had me doing the geek victory dance, but in private (I'm dancing on the inside). He told me today that I can announce that he's buying my story and he'll send me edits when he can.

Hurray! I'm so psyched I'm blogging during my friends' panel, which I should go back to paying attention.

For the past three months I've been thinking about how to write this post, and this is nothing like anything I had in mind. I had six different music quotes I was going to use as the title, and I can't think of a single one now (remembered one). I thought of how I wanted to introduce the text, which I can't remember. Sorry, I was going to be much funnier, looking toward the future, lay out the whole "it's the first step on my uber-plan to conquer the universe," plan, etc. But I'm flying high right now.

Come Saturday Morning

Well, my virgin panel is done. I preferred to think of all the people attending as my virgins (ha, ha, ha). So, in the panel before the one I was on I furiously reconstructed my notes I left at home (and more ideas). This was good because for my first panel I ended up being moderator. Yeah me! I was told I did a good job, but I only got to go through about 6 bullet points out of 24+.

Way too tired to be coherent. Was up till 4am working (yeah cheap design!) and being a spaz.

Well, people are arriving for the next panel so I need to stop being non-sociable. And it hit me last night that without planning it, I'm having another Writetober this month. More later.

Friday Arrives Without a Suitcase

Here at ConClave. Made it in one piece. Welcomed by Jody Harrow, who is a nice guy. Had dinner with Mer, Julie, and Mary Lou at the Big Boy next door. Realized I forgot notes for 8pm panel Mythology and Fantasy (the one I'll need notes for). Cramming.

Need to remember all those authors who have written in other mythologies than the traditional English/Northern European as well as the Hero's Journey steps. Will make point about how mythology gives us structure and form, also informs us how to tell a story.

Now I need to find that Scientific American article on the power of story, and why it works. One of the things I forgot and didn't make a bookmark for (me, what can I do with myself).

Hope your day is going better.

Sherman set the Wayback Machine to 1984

Holy frack. I'm listening to the VP debate. I don't even know where to begin except to say Sarah Palin certainly knows the poll questions and positive words. Unfortunately she also is a walking example of doublethink in action. So many contradictory points held at the same time (which happens when all you study are the positive poll words without understanding the trade offs). And she still thinks that being gay is a choice, even with having friends who are gay. Plus, wow, just so clueless about Afghanistan. And a minor point, she says "nuc-ular".

Over all she is doing better than I expected. But at least for me I can see the training and see on her face the replaying of her handlers' instructions (including looking directly at the camera).

More Bloggeroll Ketchup

Down to 215 unread messages. But then I'm going to ConClave tomorrow. It was a valiant attempt.

Matt Jarpe, who is a cool dude even if he did single-handledly cause the collapse of our modern economic system and the ensuing chaos beyond that, talks about his ideas for finishing a novel. Definitely worth the read.

Joshua Palmatier, also a cool dude, talks about books signings. Josh has the reported ability to sell books by simply being in a bookstore, a rare talent indeed. I say "reported ability" because while we've all heard tales, very few have claimed to actually see it happen. Oh, and his main points of advice work for much more than signings (something I hope to be able to do someday). "Go with no expectations. Be yourself. Have fun."

Also sprach the Slush God

One, having met John Joseph Adams in person, let me say he is one hoopy frood. Two, having submitted to both Fantasy & Science Fiction and some of the special issues of magazines he's edited, he's always treated me well. When he sent back my reply postcard for Daddy's Little Girl and marked it that he passed it up to Gordon, I think I was on a natural high for a week.

Now he's letting the cat out of the bag with his post Beyond the Guidelines, 25 Ways You Might Be Annoying Editors Without Even Knowing It. If you submit through the regular mail, you should read, also good tips for e-subs.

I still use reply cards, but I've been thinking of dropping them, for the very reason John says. Sometimes I have received the rejection letter before the reply card. Sometimes I never get the reply card at all. One of the reasons I like e-submissions (of which F&SF doesn't accept, yet) is when the editors couple them with automatic response emails, and in some markets, trackers. Takes a lot of the anxiousness out of the process, not to mention less cost and not waiting in the PO Line (average wait for me is about 15-20 minutes).

I feel happy, I think I go for a walk

I'm in that weird weight area between belt notches. Where I have had it for the past six months is too loose, and my pants fall down causing me to do a reverse Picard Maneuver every few minutes. Setting it down one notch is too tight and I feel like I'm wearing a 1" wide corset. But, good problem to have as I'm still losing weight. Although most of it has been from my ass, not my stomach.

Plus I've had my shirts long enough that they've shrunk a little, so the combination mid-drift and butt-crack just isn't appealing, you know. What to do. What to do. Fortunately I have some long t-shirts for this weekend. T-shirt and blue jeans are my writer's armor.

The big-d is still there, although it's not a constant. I can feel the edge when I go over. Sometimes when it's getting stressful I almost want it, big-d is the absence of feeling that can be easier than the gut-wrenching turmoil of other stresses. But I can fight it. Don't think I'm ready to go off the drugs just yet. Maybe in January when I see my doctor again.

The intestinal tract, though, is causing some problems. They're mostly side effects from the metformin. I certainly hope they abate for the weekend.

I haven't had pop here at work for two weeks. Some days I go without caffeine until
I get home and there have been days I've gone without that. In total for the past two months I think I've had 8 liters of pop in total (includes the 2 liters last weekend from Mom's). Go me. This weekend, though, promises to see me go off the plan.

Are You Ready to Rumble?!

Just reiterating my advice to Joe Biden. No matter what you do, how careful you are not to talk down to Palin, to be a "nice guy" you're going to come off this debate looking like the "bad guy." If you you try and give her the best option out of questions, you will appear condescending (and will be vilified for it). Seriously. So my advice is to embrace that and show exactly how unprepared she is for national office. Demonstrate what a light weight she is. All she has is attack. That pit bull mentality. It's easy to counter that.

Oh and this whole kerfluffle about Gwen Ifill? One, shows the ignorance of the right about real news people and professionalism (seems strange that much of the business class not having a clue about how to be professional, but as someone who worked in business consulting for five years, yeah, it's true). Two, is an attempt to place the bar so low for Palin that even if she tripped and slid across the floor as she tried to shake Biden's hand, she'd still cross over the expectations bar.

Also (via Jay Lake's Link Salad) a right wing blogger is shocked that her party is full of vicious hate mongers. As someone who has argued against the whole ploy of "liberals are the ones filled with hate" crap, I find this very funny, myself. But then I have a dark sense of humor.

Oh Great Internet Brain

So, any good sites that show connections between world mythologies and fantasy writing? Any good mythology resource sites you know about ? Do you know of an online repository for Katharine Brigg's Encyclopedia of Fairies?

Here's my preliminary list:
Endicott's Journal of Mythic Arts (the archive is still online, and excellent)
Surlalune Fairy Tales
God Checker
Encyclopedia Mythica
Bulfinches Mythology
Andrew Lang's Fairy Tale Books
Cabinet des Fees
Mythic Passage

Also, does anybody remember the Scandinavia Mythic Cycle that Tolkien based the mythology of Middle Earth on? All I can think of (and find quickly, my google-fu sometimes fails me) is Scaldlings? Never mind, I remembered, the Kalevala. How could I forget?

My Own Lake Wobegon

Catching up with my bloggeroll.

The friendly Mer has Duotrope tell here things we already new (that she's above average). Also, some nice statistical data for new writers (although I think Mer is well on her way to escape velocity out of Neopro status). If you don't go to her website (and why aren't you?) the statistic that many of you writers should know is 11%. That's her acceptance rate. Duotrope rates that as above average.

Camille Alexa shares some publishing an acceptance news. I'm just generally in admiration of her. Although she hasn't told us of her "sekrit projekt" yet, my guess is a novel in the works, she still does her editorial duties and gets the writing out.

All around hoopy frood Jim Hines celebrates his 40th short story sale. For someone who has three books published and two more in the pipeline (look for Stepsister's Scheme coming out soon), you wouldn't think a short story sale would be such a big thing. I have a feeling that celebrating a sale never gets old. BTW, I also received my cover flat of Stepsister Scheme and it's kickin'. I don't think Bette quite understood what made me so happy about it, but she liked the cover as well.

Raconteur extraordinary Nathan is out of work, but generally happy about it. More power to Nathan. Being out of work are those moments of sheer terror for me (although this last time, only 2 unplanned, I had offers within a month and was rehired shortly there after). It's the part of freelancing that drives me nuts. But then Nathan also have some things on the string for the future and he's obviously wickedly talented (need locations scouted and managed in NYC, you could do a lost worse than hiring him).

There's been good news all around with all my blogging friends, and that makes me happy. It's my own Lake Wobegon, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and they're all above average.

I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you

Well, since it hasn't been made a big deal of it, I'll point it out. It's Banned Books Week. Go out and read a good book, one that challenges some parts of society.

It's not something we hear about these days, but the push to ban books form libraries and books stores still continues apace. What seems most strange to me is that typically it's a challenge form the conservative side of the demographic, the same side that believes in market forces. If a book says something you don't agree with or find objectionable, don't buy it (which leads to another conversation about soft banning of books where libraries, bookstores, and distributors don't purchase books for distribution because of their content, without having a challenge being made). Don't want to read it at your library, don't check it out. Market forces, sometimes they work.

Which then leads to The Da Vinci Code. A book so wildly disapproved of and condemned that it sold something close to a gazillon copies world wide. Same with the Harry Potter and the (insert plot device here), and The Satanic Verses. All were railed against vociferously, death threats posed, boycotts formed, and spittle-flinging anti-book people getting screen time on national (and international) TV. All of which helped make these books the runaway successes they all were.

Looking over the list of most challenged books in 2007 (there a list on the website linked above), the most common reason cited for banning is still "homosexuality" and "sexually explicit." Good thing to know we've all were aware, listened and learned during the 70s and 80s and were able to get past our irrational fear of sex. Or not.

So, go out, find a good book, and read. Read in public if you're daring. Read one of these challenged books in public. And if someone challenges you tell them to get their damn dirty ape's stinking paws off your mind.