Ten Random Things
Another bulleted list, since I can’t seem to get any gumption together this morning. Oh, there’s plenty of gumption swilling around the house, I just can’t seem to do more than wade knee-deep through it, moaning helplessly.
* I think I spoke too soon when I said finishing the latest Jill book wasn’t that hard on me. The Valentine books were rough, but Jill comes from a bloodier, more raw place. And I am not so sure I can continue doing them if the toll is going to be this high. But then, I say that every time before I go on with business, find out I’m okay, and then run blindly in where angels fear to tread again. I can’t stop doing Jill books. The next one, I think, belongs to Gilberto and Melendez, and there’s the Argoth storyline to bring forward…see what I mean?
* It seemed dark when I woke up this morning. Then I realized, no, it’s not dark. It’s just that the blinds were down all the way. And it was a half-hour earlier than I usually start rolling around in bed and wishing I could get back to sleep. And it was gray and raining. Autumn has settled in with a vengeance, and I love it when it’s like this–misty and cool and smelling of harvest. This is before the leaves start falling and it starts smelling of natural decay. Once the leaves fall my hands start to hurt, remembering old blisters and beatings. Ugh.
* The workout was hard this morning. I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Next week the intensity ups again–instead of fiddling with running times on the treadmill I’m cutting out the Wednesday rest. That means I’ll be climbing on the treadmill to walk on Wednesdays. No running, yet. And I might shovelglove on Wednesdays too.
* Have I mentioned how much I love shovelgloving? My favorite picture of She-Hulk was her swinging a sledgehammer around. I feel like She-Hulk when I finish shovelgloving. I love how she’s a smart-as-hell lawyer AND can arm-wrestle anyone, anytime, anywhere. She’s fast becoming one of my heroes. (I SO WANT a SH icon. With some text like “HULK SMASH SMART!” on it.)
* I’m thinking of a field trip to get more bloodstone. Either that or a trip to the beach. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the Pacific, and I’m beginning to get antsy. I need to touch the ocean every once in a while. And not every ocean will do–I have a longstanding love affair with the Pacific. Partly because it is anything but, well, pacific. I understand a lot of people love the North Atlantic. But for me, it’s the Pacific. I love that goddamn ocean.
* Ellen Foster is a book made of awesome. I read it again in one gulp not too long ago, when I was having a bad night. But I love this book. There’s a few passages in it that give me the chills, and I’m struck by something new each time. This time it was “eyes that will knock all the ugly right out of you and leave you with too much air to breathe.” I want eyes like that.
* Today I am going to wear a soft, soft sweater and start poking at Weasel Boy again. It will be desultory poking, but that’s better than nothing. And I have all weekend to whip myself into it.
* Plot is not subordinate to character. Character is not subordinate to plot. They are different engines with different fuels and different rules, but both must be working in tandem to drive the story. Plot without character is dull and lifeless. Character without plot is useless wind. The risk of bullshitting your readers rises exponentially when you try to denigrate one at the expense of the other. And that is death. Besides, half the fun of being a writer is juggling all the chainsaws–plot, character, setting, narrative drive–and building something awesome.
* I made cherry-pecan loaf yesterday. Which was awesome and is very tasty. I made challah too, which is going to be French toast later on today. Challah makes awesome, awesome French toast, especially if you use a dab of vanilla in the egg and then put it under the broiler on low. Mmmmmmh. Some days I wish I ran a food blog. But then I think of adding one more project and I just about keel over ded.
* I need to get out at night and take pictures again. I’m really missing that.
So, there you have it. Ten totally random things. Now I’m flitting off to poke at the Weasel Boy revisions. There needs to be more worldbuilding frontloaded and the villains need to be, well, scarier. I find them very scary but I’m aware most people won’t. And really in 70K there’s not a lot of room for scary when you’re also doing ten other things. I must ruthlessly kill every word in that MS that isn’t pulling at least four times its weight.
Over and out…
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October 16th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Mmm, Cherry Pecan. I caved to my other halfs need for Christmassyness at the weekend and did honey and cinamon muffins. Yum.