Category Archives: LJ

A good beginning to the week

By | |
12 Comments

I keep gushing about it, but I can’t help it. I absolutely lubs my job. The people here continue to rock my socks. Yesterday, one of the attorneys gave me a pile of Christmas prezzies. I came in to find a stack of wrapped packages and a card on my desk. I’m absolutely over-the-moon touched by the gesture.

My old day job had a select-a-gift setup where employees got a catalog wherein we could choose something for our holiday gift. While nice and appreciated, it was also sterile and sucked the charm and joy out of the gift tradition, replacing it with corporate efficiency.

   


Writing Stuff

The critiques are coming in for “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest etc.” And they’re mixed. While most critters enjoyed it, some folks found it confusing and would like more world explanation, one critter thought I was a tad too ham-fisted with my explaining parts, and then there were also the critters who totally got it: story, theme, and message. Urk. Rewrite pondering.

Received:
– The editor of OSC’s IGMS liked my rewrite and wants to publish “Beauty’s Folly.” Woot! It’s not slated for the January issue but the one after that, #5, due out in April/May of next year. But that’s all good ’cause he said he (probably) wants to use it as the cover story!
– Payment for my December Writing for Young Readers column, and also an unexpected surprise, a holiday bonus from the editor in the form of an Amazon gift certificate. *squee!*
– Also, an 89-day pass from the Holy Horrors anthology and a 123-day “we were holding this but . . . ” from Heliotrope.

Editing:
– Couple editing passes on “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest etc.”

Winter bad, writing good

By | |
15 Comments

Winter bad. Southbound MARTA train taken out of service, stranding me at Lindburgh station, bad. Eastbound MARTA train running late and stranding me at Five Points station, bad.

Unhappy, frozen commuter Eugie.

   


Writing Stuff

“Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest etc.” is now up at Critters.org. I was pleased to see four crits in my inbox this morning. At its longer length, I didn’t expect this baby to get much lovin’.

Published:
– My December Writing for Young Readers column, “Writing Talking Animal Tales,” is now up! There was much badness with email. My first two attempts to send the editor my column vanished into the Internet ether with nary a peep–no bounce message, no nothing. My email server appears to be butting heads with cox.net. Most distressing, and VERY frustrating. But at least I was finally able to get the file to her.

Received:
– Contrib. copy and payment for Aegri Somnia. It’s puuuurty.

New Words:
– 800 on “By Oak, Bramble, and Metro.” Adderall was indeed the prod my muse needed yesterday. Although this story is going in a different direction than I’d anticipated. I somehow managed to bring the Iraq war into a story about a fairy metro train. My subconscious appears to be O.D.ing on news broadcasts.

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
3,676 / 4,500
(81.7%)

Playing hopscotch with my meds

By | |
10 Comments

Took an impromptu Adderall holiday yesterday. It’s not been working as well of late, and I think it might be contributing to the perpetual state of dehydrated I’ve been feeling. While I felt a wee bit more hydrated–probably aided by the arrival of both the Coca Cola fairy and the bottled water fairy–I got just shy of absolutely nothing done. I also had two (BIG) cups of coffee and two Diet Cokes, which failed to perk me up but did make me queasy.

However, I did sleep better last night than I have in a while. How irritating. My meds don’t work well enough to give me the boost I need to function like a human being, but do work well enough to throw off my sleep cycle. Lovely.

So, yah, back on the Adderall bandwagon today, although I’m shifting the time when I take it to see if that’ll help.

At least yesterday wasn’t an utter loss. fosteronfilm and I watched Love Actually last night by the fairy lights of our Christmas trees. That movie is fast becoming a favorite, new holiday tradition for us.

   


Writing Stuff

New Words/Editing:
– 200, at best, on “By Oak, Bramble, and Metro.”

Agh! This story just does not want to be written! I stared at it for vasty gobs of hours yesterday and could only manage a couple paragraphs. Hoping that returning to the prescription-strength uppers will get the muse hopping once more.

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
2,862 / 4,500
(63.6%)

Cold cold cold cold cold

By | |
26 Comments

Yesterday, on my way to work, as I was walking out of the Twin Towers–the building catercorner to the Capitol and where the MARTA station is–I was hit by a frigid wind that knocked my breath away and clamped my lungs shut. Of late, my fingers turn blue every time I go outside (and sometimes even when I’m inside)–my Raynaud’s syndrome coming out of its southern climate-induced dormancy–and my skin feels so dry I think it should crackle when I smile.

I remember all of these sensations in icky, vivid clarity. It’s what winters are like in the Midwest: freezing, arid, and painful. It’s not how winters are supposed to be in the South! Wah!

At least it’s not snowing. But this weather makes me utterly miserable.

On the non-griping-about-weather front, dire_epiphany swung by on Sunday and taught me the rudiments of Adobe’s InDesign. So much better than MS Publisher. I’ll be using it to lay out the Daily Dragon from here on. And now I have the urge to engage in gratuitous desktop publishing.

   


Writing Stuff

I’m way distressed at email right now. In addition to getting undeliverable error messages when I try to send to aol.com accounts, it seems some of my emails to other, non-aol accounts aren’t getting through, and I’m not getting any sort of bounce message.

The editor of Writing-World sent me a query about the status of my Writing For Young Readers December column, the one I emailed to her over a week ago. I emailed her my column again and asked for a receipt confirmation (from a couple accounts) and haven’t heard back. Ack!

While the bounce messages are annoying, at least they told me when something I sent didn’t make it. This no error thing is freaking me out, wondering what emails I’ve sent that might’ve gotten lost in transit, and what ones I’m not receiving that the sender hasn’t realized didn’t make it to me. So much of the nuts and bolts of my writing career dealings are dependent upon reliable electronic communications. This is so not good. Also, WTF?

Received:
87-day audio reprint sale+contract of “Oranges, Lemons, and Thou Beside Me” to the fine folks of Pseudopod. Not sure when this podcast will go live, but the editors indicated that it might be soon–as in the next couple weeks. Happy dancing and wooting galore!

New Words/Editing:
– Maybe 200 on “By Oak, Bramble, and Metro” and an editing pass to clean up some flotsam. I’m gear-spinny on this one, trying to figure out where I want to take it. I thought I knew, but upon reflection, I think my original idea was too big for the story, when what I really want is to encapsulate a single concept. Pondering.

Published:
– Aegri Somnia is now out! Just in time for the holidays. Makes a great gift for all the dark fantasy/horror fans on your shopping list:

Contents:
“YY” by Jennifer Pelland
“The League of Last Girls” by Christopher Rowe
“All Praise to the Dreamer” by Nancy Fulda
“Nothing of Me” by Eugie Foster
“Heal Thyself” by Scott Nicholson
“On the Shoulders of Giants” by Bryn Sparks
“Dream Takers” by Rhonda Eudaly
“Letters From Weirdside” by Lavie Tidhar
“Wishbones” by Cherie Priest
“All Becomes as Wormwood” by Angeline Hawkes
“Well of the Waters” by Mari Adkins
“Mens Rea” by Steven Savile

Hobkin: sleep aid and writing muse

By | |
30 Comments

My cunning plan to go easy on the caffeine yesterday worked, and lo, sleep was had. I conked out right after dinner and didn’t so much as stir when fosteronfilm flashy-thinged me with the camera. Hobkin helped. Napping skunks exude a sleepy aura that drags anyone with them into slumber mode who’s directly in contact with them, and Hobkin flopped upon me with much determination:

But this morning, I’m back to suckling at the java teat. Mmm, coffee.

   


Writing Stuff

Not much was accomplished yesterday on the writing front due to the diminished levels of caffeine in my bloodstream, but my resting subconscious did engage with the muse. I woke this morning with the realization that I need to add a scene to the last segment of “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” in order to properly “sell” the finale. Plan to get cracking on that once the caffeine molecules start with the happy bonding at my adenosine receptors.

New Words:
– A mere 300 or so on “By Oak, Bramble, and Metro,” the MARTA-inspired story I’m writing for squirrel_monkey‘s urban fantasy anthology. Thankfully, I have until the end of December to get it to her, not, as I feared, the beginning.

Received/Published:
– Got my contrib. copies of the Feb. 2007 issue of Realms of Fantasy:


I’m in awesome company! Check out the fiction ToC:

“Three Wishes” by Bruce Holland Rogers
“Looking After Family” by Carrie Vaughn
“Spare Change” by Chuck Rothman
“Syren” by Graham Edwards
“The Devil and Mrs. Comstock’s Snickerdoodles” by Eugie Foster
“Number of the Bus” by Jay Lake
“Circus Circus” by Eric M. Witchey
“In the Thicket, With Wolves” by Josh Rountree

Lori Koefoed illustrated my story:

I’m tickled. The kitty depicted was actually inspired by Hobkin, and while the resemblance is faint–different species and all–my skunk muse frequently lounges in that exact posture.

Too much caffeine

By | |
6 Comments

So. Insomnia last night. A lot. I suspect this is the universe’s way of telling me I’m overdoing it on the uppers. Apparently 20mg of Adderall, 2 (large) cups of coffee, and a can of Diet Coke is not a good way to ensure a night of restful slumber. So today, no coffee. And going to try to keep it down to one can of Diet Coke.

Bring on the headaches and twitches!

   


Writing Stuff

Mega congrats to my fellow DC2Ker, canadiansuzanne, for breaking into Cicada! She sold them her story, “Storm Child.” I’m so happy for her!

oldcharliebrown posted the cover of the Japanese Dreams anthology on his blog. And I see it’s already available for pre-order from Amazon.com. Shiny!


“The first volume in a series of anthologies offering short stories drawn from the storehouse of world mythology, Japanese Dreams takes the reader to the islands of fire and smoke—where shape-shifters, demons, and lovers all populate a landscape blossoming with story. Contributions by such authors as Richard Parks, Catherynne Valente, Jeannette Westwood, Eugie Foster, Ekaterina Sedia, Erzebet YellowBoy, Yoon Ha Lee, Jenn Reese, Sarah Prineas, Jim C. Hines, and Steve Berman all offer us a glimpse of a silken sleeve or the red fur of the fox as she slips between the rushes, daring us to follow.”

Editing:
– Negative 200 (or so) words on “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” in several editing passes. And it’s a first draft! Uploaded it to Critters.org. It should go up next week.

Things I’ve learned on the MARTA

By | |
6 Comments

Things I’ve learned on the MARTA:

– Someone will kill any cockroach which dares to show so much as an antennae in a passenger car. I’m pretty untroubled by cockroaches. I don’t want them in my house, but they don’t freak me out, and I try to adhere to a live and let live philosophy in general. So when I saw a cockroach scuttling by the other day on my commute, I just scooted over to the empty seat next to me–’cause tolerance notwithstanding, I didn’t want it invading my personal space–and turned back to my VAIO. But, as it cleared my row and continued along its way, I heard behind me, “Cockroach!!” followed by an unmistakable *crunch*. Now how is smushed cockroach on the train wall an improvement, I ask you?

– It is a cosmic truth that the more work I need to do, the greater the likelihood that the person who sits next to me on the train will strike up a conversation and keep talking to me, no matter how laconic or terse my response.

– The MARTA is timed to promote hurrying. If I scamper–bolting for the platform and briskly striding up the escalator rather than lazily letting it carry me along–there will be a minimal (or no) wait until my train arrives. If I lollygag or get trapped behind folks progressing in a more leisurely fashion, I will arrive at the platform just in time to see my train pulling away. @#%^!!

   


Writing Stuff

Publishers Weekly gave Best New Fantasy a starred review and included me among the writers to give a kudos to:

“. . . Wallace also showcases newcomers with stories that indicate abundant promise: Yoon Ha Lee’s mystical fable, “Eating Hearts”; M. Rickert’s homage to Stephen King, “A Very Little Madness Goes a Long Way”; and Eugie Foster’s haunting “Returning My Sister’s Face,” a retelling of a Japanese Edo tale. . .”

I’m a newcomer with abundant promise! *Squee!*

New Words/Editing:
– Negative 800 words on “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” in a rewrite/editing pass after feedback from fosteronfilm. I did a complete overhaul on the ending, which pulls the theme of the story together in a more meaningful manner. I think. And the hubby gave me good suggestions on pulling out big ole chunks of unnecessary exposition. Going to give it a few more passes before declaring it a first draft and ready for the rigors of critique.

Post-Thanksgiving summary

By | |
10 Comments

Hope everyone had a fabu Thanksgiving!

yukinooruoni swung by on Thursday with spicy mashed sweet potatoes (yum!) and ice cream, and I made a veggie pot pie. Feasting was had, and vacuous entertainment was enjoyed a la The Incredibles and The Emperor’s New Groove, with a couple episodes of The Gummi Bears to start things off. Yep, Thanksgiving was all about the Disney.

fosteronfilm and I ventured forth on Black Friday to The Mall, and although the parking situation was conducive to trepidation and alarm, the shopping thoroughfares within weren’t that crowded. I guess those rows upon rows of SUVs and minivans only transported single passengers to the Mecca-o-buying-stuff? And we even made some progress on our shopping list.

   


Writing Stuff

Did much Tangent work, a smattering of outstanding The Town Drunk undertakings, and a dollop of writing. A productive weekend, all-in-all. Not as productive as I’d hoped, but they never are.

New Words/Editing:
– 1000 words on my December Writing for Young Readers column: “Writing Talking Animal Tales.” I wanted something I could rattle off fairly quickly, and anthropomorphic critters hold a special spot in my writer’s heart. I just like ’em. Several editing passes, and it’s sent off. I really need to plan out the next three months’ column installments so I don’t gak myself during the legislative session.
– A bridging paragraph on “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” and I’m at zero draft. Yay! It clocked in at 8900 words, solidly novelette-length, but at least I kept it under 9K. Going to run it by fosteronfilm to first reader and then probably toss it up on critters.org.

Happy Thanksgiving!

By | |
6 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keeping this blog gives me an opportunity to see my life as captured snapshots–where I am and what I’m doing from year-to-year. Again, my life’s changed a lot since last Thanksgiving, when I was day-jobless and scrambling to pay the bills on the meager and unreliable income of a freelance writer, which was a huge change from Thanksgiving 2004, where I was languishing at a soul-sucking job that I hated.

This year, my “Things I Am Thankful For” list remains unchanged–something in itself to be thankful for–save for one new, fabu addition:

1. My husband, Matthew. He is my best friend, the love of my life, and my soul mate. He can make me laugh, a gift I cherish more and more in this scary world, and he holds me when I cry. His sense of whimsy delights me, and his intellect thrills me. He completes me in every way. He is my shelter, my harbor, and my sanctuary.
2. Hobkin, for all the love and trust the little fuzzwit warms my life with every day. And the cuteness. Mustn’t forget the cuteness.
3. Family. Something I have not been able to be thankful for for a very large chunk of my existence–so long I’d almost forgotten how comforting it is to be able to have people who love me as a daughter and sister. I’m thankful for the reminder and the reality.
4. My friends: near, far, offline and on.
5. That my health, as crappy as it is, isn’t worse, as it could so easily be. I can dance, hear the music which is my husband’s laughter, see the adorable fuzzy beastie frisking at my feet, and hold them both close. Not everyone is that fortunate. And I am thankful that I can afford the medicines that keep me (mostly) well.
6. That I have the ability to compose creations of prose that I believe in and that others believe in (and that they want to pay me for). While my storytelling and literary skills are far below many people’s whose work I admire, I am improving year by year.
7. My beautiful home where I may run around in panda slippers and nothing else, and it’s all good.
8. That I am not hungry or cold.
9. That I believe in and love myself, a state hard won.
10. That I have the freedom to chase my bliss, even if I don’t exercise that freedom all the time.
and
11. That I have become one of the lucky few who loves their make-a -living gig. My new day job is everything I could ask for and never thought I’d have. I work with amazing people, folks who I can be myself around and not be ostracized or misunderstood (and who share my punctuation- and grammar-related idiosyncrasies), doing something I enjoy and that’s worthwhile, in a place that makes me smile because it’s just that beautiful.

4AM insomnia, wheee.

By | |
1 Comment

Woke up this morning at 4AM, jolted awake by a cold panic from all the work outstanding on my plate. Insomnia from deadline anxiety, blah. But I did get some to-do items crossed off my list during the couple hours before my alarm went off. Hoping to get lots done over the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend, but for some reason, I never get as much accomplished during holidays as I plan to.

Go figure.

Also, my extra early morning is catching up with me now. Zombie Eugie need more coffee.

   


Writing Stuff

Flinging Tangent review material out to reviewers as fast as I can. Must remember next year that November is a mad-crazy month and try to plan accordingly. Gah!

New Words/Editing:
– Several editing passes on the rewrite for lynnejamneck‘s anthology, and I declare it done. Sent off and awaiting editorial feedback.
– 500 words on “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast.” Climax scene done except for one or two bridging paragraphs. I’m so close to zero draft I can taste it.

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
8,822 / 9,000
(98.0%)