Author Archives: Eugie Foster

The cold temperatures and my flat keyboard at work have my wingstubs in an uproar. I hurt, so I took today off from work.

Writing Stuff:
It’s official. I’m the new Managing Editor of Tangent, effective immediately. Congrats and commiserations to me! A new and improved site is in the works. At the very least, a functioning skeleton should be up ASAP.

Started my rewrite on the SF story that went through Critters. Hoping to have it out to market tomorrow.

Also sent the huli jing story up to the Critters queue. It should go up next week.

Words: -300 via several editing passes.

Club 100 for Writers
46

500/day
14

Matthew lobotomized Mr. Computer last night. There was swearing, terror, drama, and many reboots. I hid behind my laptop, comforting it and trying to shield its little CPU from trauma by covering its speaker ports. This morning, when I woke up, everything seemed peaceful. The router is sulking and refuses to listen to impassioned pleading, some programs need reloading, and my email settings have to be restored, but all in all the surgery appears to have been a success. Huzzah.

In other technology related mishaps, I succeed in frying my ergo keyboard at work. Oopsie. Tea and electricity are not friends. So, defying the eleventh commandment (“Eugie shalt not tinker with hardware”) I took the thing apart. I figure, it’s already broken, right? I popped out all the keys (is there some sort of law that states if little pieces of plastic can fall in unreachable places, they will? I ended up on my hands and knees beneath my desk about a dozen time), and was astonished at how blicky things were. Crumbs, dust, unspeakable filth. I did a half-hearted job of cleaning that, and then tried to pry the plastic thingy under that off. But it defied my efforts. I’m not sure if it’s glued in or just simply very well set. The thing is, I’m sure the part I need to get at is underneath it. There’s a thin, plastic protective sheet-thing underneath it–which I suspect is there to keep moisture out, hah!–beneath which is the circuitry stuff. I need to be able to get at the circuitry in order to clean it . . . err, maybe with isopropyl alcohol? Or would that fry it more? Hmm. This is probably why there is an eleventh commandment.

My well intentioned efforts have left a pile of keys and a rather grungy looking base on my desk. Left it there for the cleaning lady to puzzle over. Think it might be time to requisition a new ergo keyboard . . . probably what I ought to have done immediately instead of trying to fix the thing. Or, err, called tech support.

And my wingstubs hurt more from having to type on a flat keyboard. Ugh.

Writing Stuff:
Novel novel novel. Decided that I shall need to scrap the opening chapter as I’ve come up with a better way to introduce the characters and the interpersonal conflict immediately. Novel!

Words: 500 words

Club 100 for Writers
45

500/day
13

Cold cold cold cold cold. And I forgot to set my alarm last night. What woke me was the morning sunlight, beaming through the window, a sight I don’t see at this time of year until I’m on the road. Urk.

I should be happy I managed to wake up at all. I took a clonazepam last night because both my wingstubs and my back were hurting me. Slept great, but it left me woozy and light-headed this morning, not to mention disinclined to wake up. And my wingstubs still ache.

Writing Stuff:
Saw that zarabee posted on the RM that the contents of issue #17 and #18 of ASIM are being swapped around to accommodate editorial Life Events. So “The Life and Times of Penguin” which was slated to debut in February, will instead premiere in April. Glad to know. Thanks for the update, zarabee!

Story (by Robert McKee) got me contemplating ye olde novel again. I hammered out an outline in five acts with scenes and everything. I figure I need a solid foundation of structure if I’m going to finish it this time around. Have the first chapter written, although I’m dissatisfied with my setting. I’m confident I can make it richer and more interesting than what I have currently. I’m also trying to avoid committing the heinous crime of a prologue. I wrote the damn thing because I needed to have a good feel of the backstory, but I’d much rather figure out a way to incorporate the information into the storyline than use it. *ponder ponder ponder*

Words: 1500 – Mostly planning and otherwise gearing up for The Novel™. Brainstorming, outlining, world building, character construction, and a bit of futzing with prose.

Club 100 for Writers
44

500/day
12

After the unscheduled downage of LJ, I decided the prudent thing would be to back up my entries, considering I’ve been writing in this blog for years now (I can’t believe it’s been that long!) So I downloaded LJArchive, which is a nifty shareware application. It even saves everyone’s comments and stuff. And it comes with some amusing plug-ins. Very nice.

On the backing up front, Mr. Computer has gotten pokey in the last few weeks, and we think some Adware got through his firewall and virus checker. Ergo, Matthew is going to reload Mr. Computer, an undertaking I personally find terrifying. I spent several hours going through my data, deleting redundant ones and backing up the rest to CD-ROM. Actually, I’ve got my writing files backed up to no less than five places, so I think I’m set for anything shy of a huge magnetic storm. Matthew’s taking his turn to clean up his stuff, and then he’s going to give Mr. Computer a lobotomy.

I can’t look.

Writing Stuff:
For those not aware, Tangent, the ‘zine I write reviews for, is losing its current Editor-in-Chief. Chris Markwyn is stepping down and has been looking for a replacement. Since my duties for the Daily Dragon are largely seasonal in nature, I thought this might be a good opportunity to stretch my editor muscles. So, after some waffling and much dithering, I volunteered to take over. I do believe I’ve gone mad.

Chris and I are still emailing to discuss the particulars. If it sounds like more than I can handle or has other heretofore issues that I don’t want to contend with, I may still bow out. Or if someone more qualified and more experienced than I offers to helm her instead, I will undoubtedly bow out (or get booted out) of consideration. So it’s not finalized yet. But if all goes as it looks likely it will, I’ll be Tangent‘s new Editor-in-Chief.

Glurk.

Words: -400 words on the huli jing story in two passes. Chop chop.

Matthew had few comments to make on it. As I suspected, it’s just not his sort of thing. My hubby isn’t a big fairy tale guy. It’s unfortunate as that seems to be where my passion lies. Or at least what I seem to be capable of selling. Going to poke it a few more times and then send it up to Critters . . . although it probably won’t go live for another couple weeks as I’ve still got the SF story in the queue this week. Erm. Well, as long as it goes up in time for me to do a rewrite before mroctorber‘s deadline . . .

I’m also engrossed in Story by Robert McKee (thanks again teflaime). It’s intended for screenwriters, but everything McKee says is equally applicable to prose writers. So far, it’s covered basics like setting, hook, and the nature of the protagonist which haven’t really been all that edifying, but it’s beginning to go into story structure and pacing. I’m actually taking notes. I feel like a student. Whee. Almost makes me want to undertake an MFA. Almost.

Club 100 for Writers
43

500/day
11

Wow. LiveJournal totally fubared itself, didn’t it? Hoping it’s all better now.

Writing Stuff:
I did something I’ve never done before. I’m not sure if I should call it a new milestone, or sheer stupidity and/or arrogance.

I declined a sale.

I submitted a story to a market last year, and since that time, this market’s pay scale dropped significantly (about a quarter of what I expected initially which was already what I consider the minimum of what I will submit fiction to) and the editor, in her email to me accepting the story, apologized for it citing low sales and went on to say how she might not print the next issue in any case because of a dearth of good submissions. After some waffling–it goes utterly against instinct to refuse money for a story–I decided that I believed this story was worth more than what she was offering me. Plus, I’m not really keen on the idea of jumping aboard a sinking ship–low sales, uncertain future of the publication and all.

So, yeah. I can walk away from a sale.

Words: -500 on various rewriting between the huli jing and the SF story in the Critters queue. Chop chop chop. One of my regulars did indeed nail me with all the typos I left in it, and then found several that I missed. I’m well and duly mortified. But aside from my sloppiness, I’m getting a good reaction so far.

Time to get Matthew to first reader my fox story.

Club 100 for Writers
41

500/day
9

My shiny 2005 skunk calendar informs me that today is “St. Knut’s Day.” A quick Google search informed me that “King Knut . . . declared that Christmas should be celebrated for twenty days, officially ending the season on January 13th . . . After this day, trees are taken down to mark the official close of the season.”

I think that means we’re supposed to take down our Christmas decorations now. That seems unlikely.

Writing Stuff:
My SF story is up at Critters. I meant to give it another once over before it went live, but I’ve been so wrapped up in working on my huli jing story that I forgot. Went in and looked at it, and immediately found a few typos. Dagnabit!

120-days to a rewrite request from the Razor-edged Arcanum anthology. Not as good as an acceptance, but better than a kick in the teeth. The editor was extremely complementary and encouraging. His main concern was that my story was “too tangled” for average readers to grok. This was a more experimental work for me, stylistically and structurally, so I sympathize with his comments. But that meant I had to go in and do some carving. Actually, less carving and more shoring up. Ended up adding around another three-hundred words after several passes, and un-experimentalizing some of the structure. Sent it back to the editor. *crosses fingers*

Words: 300 on the rewrite. 600 on the huli jing story and it’s done! Well, it’s at zero draft. Going to do another pass (or three) on it, and then have Matthew first-reader it.

Club 100 for Writers
40

500/day
8

This morning, driving into work, it was foggy outside. I love the fog. It makes the world soft and mysterious, magical. It’s like there’s a secret just beyond the mist and if I didn’t have to go to work, I could go looking for it and discover something wonderful.

Of course, I had to go to work . . .

Writing Stuff:
198-days to a you-weren’t-a-winner-but-please-play-again from Neo-opsis after a query.

Words: 1000. Chug-a-chug-a. Into the climax with part of the denouement written. The story is clear in my mind. Less than 1K to go. Perhaps I can finish it tomorrow?

Club 100 for Writers
39

500/day
7

Debbie, Hobkin’s godmother, has regaled us with stories of how every time he goes there for skunk camp, her power goes out. At first, Matthew and I attributed this to coincidence. We did, after all, have a hurricane pass through the area during Dragon*Con, and other such weather patterns have likewise been timed to coincide with various skunk camp dates. But now I’m beginning to suspect that Hobkin is a Magical Electric Skunk. The electrical system in our house is . . . whimsical upon occasion, a state of affairs that began only after we acquired a baby skunk. (The fact that we hadn’t lived for very long in the house before that point is, of course, irrelevant.)

The light in the master bathroom switches off at random times–typically when I set Hobkin down so I can use the facilities–and the light in our entertainment center is likewise arbitrary with its illuminative cause-and-effect. Some mornings I come out into the living room and the lights are on even though Matthew swears he turned them off. And other times no matter how you punch the switch (it’s touch activated), the lights won’t go on. Then there’s the fluorescent overhead in the kitchen. When one flips the toggle from the off position to the on, the light usually flickers to life, but not always (and it has nothing to do with the bulb).

Upon further consideration, it all makes sense. The light in the bathroom goes out when I’ve had the audacity to be away from my prescribed, skunk-cuddling spot on the couch. The skunky wrath I have incited can be observed in how he digs at the door outside in protest. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the gimpy, cheap-ass switch, or the fact that Hobkin’s not allowed into our master suite or that usually when I leave him to use the bathroom, he wakes up.

The kitchen light is an obvious target because the kitchen is where we make food, and food is a rather important life-event according to Hobkin’s world view. And the entertainment center is synonymous with freedom and companionship. When it’s on, we’re there, he’s free to roam around, and the world is good. When we turn things in it off, it usually means we’re leaving the house for a while and he has to be locked away in his area. (Naturally, the peculiar lighting behavior can’t possibly have anything to do with the hyper-sensitive switch which can be triggered by the rumbling of passing semis.) As far as skunk camp goes, he’s probably feeling rather mischievous or inclined to show off, being in a new place and all. Ergo, he engages in small pranks.

Magical Electric Skunk. Yup.

Writing Stuff:
Words: 800. Just about at the climax. Stopped mid-paragraph as I was going into the end, blasted between the eyes by the realization that I needed an additional, key scene in order to explain the protag’s central motivation. So I backtracked to the middle and then ground my gears uselessly for a while. In order to jostle some ideas loose, I started doing some research on Buddhism. Voila! Enlightenment struck and the new scene essentially wrote itself.

Maybe a couple more days and I’ll be able to type “the end” on it. Currently it’s at a little over 5.5K. Doesn’t look like keeping it at or under 7.5K is going to be an issue. Whew. It will require a lot of clean-up before it’s ready for Matthew to first-reader, though.

Club 100 for Writers
38

500/day
6

The first 2005 Dragon*Con directors meeting was yesterday. Sounds like there will be many logistical changes to streamline the organization process, which is all good. It also sounds like we will need to clone dire_epiphany. I’m thinking three clones might be enough–nah, better make it four to be safe. Wonder if that expense counts as a “reimbursement” or a “requisition”? Hmm.

One outcome of these changes is that I shall need a burly, load-bearing staffer or two (glances hopefully at arkamrefugee, glenn5, and lord_darkseid) to help me lug the office supplies from the registration area to the DD office, pre-convention (btw, I got some banter from Registration at the meeting, pagmatic. I think you’re definitively going to need to do another Registration cartoon.) At least the hotel will provide us with a wheeled conveyance, so that shouldn’t be too onerous. Also going to split the graveyard shifts between my staff and the Signage staff, which will make things less red-eyed for all concerned.

Reminder to self: Email a note out to solicit early staff commitments and determine whether I have any gaps that need filling.

Got a chance to chat with the director of the YA Literature Track, and I’ll be doing panels again for her. I’ll actually be able to bring an issue of Cricket with a story of mine in it this year to show off! I assume I’ll also be doing Writers Track panels again too. Will send in my guest application nice and early this year. Really.

The convention fed us. Free meal, rah! I snagged bell peppers for Hobkin from the buffet to try to mollify the little beastie, but he was pretty unhappy at being abandoned for so long. There were suggestions that we bring him to the convention, but that immediately evoked chaotic images of fiery destruction and doom. So, no.

Also had a chance to touch base and gab with both fingerman and ghostgrrl whereupon I was reminded that Fantasm is only two months away. Gleep. Having a hard time wrapping my mind around the progression of time.

Writing Stuff:
Words: 500. Minimal progress, but still progress. Connected up some of the free-floating scenes in the huli jing story and did some clean-up. Changed my mind a couple times about minor details. Oddly enough, this far into it, I still don’t have a good feel for how long this is going to end up being. I’m either close to wrapping it up, or I’ve still got a couple thousand words left. My control on this one’s looser than usual. Oh well, everything can be fixed in editing . . . *lather, rinse, repeat*

Club 100 for Writers
37

500/day
5