It's Thursday, which is the day after Wednesday. We signed a contract with a realtor last night, and the house will be on the listings today. Our whirlwind cleaning is over! Now the waiting begins. While it would be amazing if the house sold in short order, we aren't planning for that to be the case. It's a slow market right now.
I'm about to start a very hectic weekend. More on that when it's over :-)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Just need to make it to Wednesday
On Wednesday, we sign with a realtor to get our house on the market. Until then, it's a mad dash to get the place in order and ready to be shown. I've posted about how I have the world's best in-laws. There isn't enough room in my Blogger account to sing the praises of my own family, who have been down here every day working on the house while we try to keep things together with our newborn son.
Today Samantha Ling emailed, offering to help with some wise reading. My friend Char's also emailed asking if I've got anything she can read and critique. Come to think of it, I've got the world's best friends too. (And yes, I'm working to get this story done, Char, promise! Ling, I'd be more than happy to read your short story for the anthology, or whatever else you need!)
*sigh* On Thursday, it'll all be over. The house will be on the market. Just hoping it moves in good time so we can head to Britain. We're getting it listed early to give ourselves the best possible chance.
Today Samantha Ling emailed, offering to help with some wise reading. My friend Char's also emailed asking if I've got anything she can read and critique. Come to think of it, I've got the world's best friends too. (And yes, I'm working to get this story done, Char, promise! Ling, I'd be more than happy to read your short story for the anthology, or whatever else you need!)
*sigh* On Thursday, it'll all be over. The house will be on the market. Just hoping it moves in good time so we can head to Britain. We're getting it listed early to give ourselves the best possible chance.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Book to come out July 2010
According to my editor, my next LDS book is slated to come out in July 2010. That's subject to change, of course. As it is, that's about ideal for me. It isn't so far in the future that I feel like it'll never happen, and it gives me more than a year with that nice feeling that I've got something under contract. It's rather soothing on days when my writing isn't going as I want it to.
Meanwhile, I'm working on the Chinese themed story for that anthology. I have the idea and a rough outline and now I'm just redrafting and redrafting to get a good start. This is normal. I throw away many more words than I keep, and this one has to come in under 6,000 words, so I'll be keeping a smaller percentage than usual. My natural length is about 7,000 words.
The concept is a fun one, I think, and something that I hope no one else subbing will think of. Always a concern of mine when writing for a themed anthology.
Meanwhile, I'm working on the Chinese themed story for that anthology. I have the idea and a rough outline and now I'm just redrafting and redrafting to get a good start. This is normal. I throw away many more words than I keep, and this one has to come in under 6,000 words, so I'll be keeping a smaller percentage than usual. My natural length is about 7,000 words.
The concept is a fun one, I think, and something that I hope no one else subbing will think of. Always a concern of mine when writing for a themed anthology.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Song of Ice and Fire coming to television
I've known about this since the deal first started, but now it can be made public. HBO will begin shooting George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire this fall. They're going to devote an entire season to the first book, A Game of Thrones. Northern Ireland will provide the setting and scenery, and it should be spectacular.
Of course, what are the odds that I move to the UK before the first episode airs?
Books often get butchered when adapted for another medium, but this project sounds quite promising. Spreading the whole novel out over a season is a good call, for example. More details about all of this here.
Of course, what are the odds that I move to the UK before the first episode airs?
Books often get butchered when adapted for another medium, but this project sounds quite promising. Spreading the whole novel out over a season is a good call, for example. More details about all of this here.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Another LDS novel sold
I got the contract from Covenant Communications for my novel, working title Eventide. No idea yet what the projected release date is, but I know I need to clear my writing schedule to do edits, etc.
So for the next few months, my work is cut out for me. I need to write a Chinese themed story for the anthology, polish up my YA story for the Australian anthology, and edit my novel. Some writers complain about having to write to meet deadlines. I love it. I've spent enough time writing while no one particularly cared if I finished a piece or not, that I truly appreciate these periods when editors really do care.
So for the next few months, my work is cut out for me. I need to write a Chinese themed story for the anthology, polish up my YA story for the Australian anthology, and edit my novel. Some writers complain about having to write to meet deadlines. I love it. I've spent enough time writing while no one particularly cared if I finished a piece or not, that I truly appreciate these periods when editors really do care.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Chapter breaks
I didn't get as much work on the novel done as I wanted to today, but I'm not going to beat myself up over that. I resumed teaching early morning seminary this morning, which requires me to get up at 5am, so that'll take some readjusting to.
I'm to the point where I'm putting in the chapter breaks. Doing this last works best for me, though that isn't the case for everyone. I roughly break up the text into "chapters" as I write, but that's mainly to give myself some roadsigns as I page through and edit.
Some people prefer to structure their chapters at the outset. Daniel Abraham always requires that three things be accomplished every chapter. He calls that his "tick". Some consider the chapter its own little short story, and therefore require that each have a full plot structure. Many like to end chapters with cliffhangers, and I do this too, but this only works for me when I put the chapter breaks in last, because otherwise if I try to insert the cliffhangers and chapter breaks as I write, the cliffhangers are contrived and forced. It's much easier to just put a break in right in the middle of some action that I've already written. The trick to reading a book written in this style is to ignore the chapter breaks and stop reading when the conflict is resolved. That's what I do.
The manuscript will definitely be out this week, though. I'm aiming for Wednesday, and now that I've posted that on my blog, let's see if I can keep to it!
I'm to the point where I'm putting in the chapter breaks. Doing this last works best for me, though that isn't the case for everyone. I roughly break up the text into "chapters" as I write, but that's mainly to give myself some roadsigns as I page through and edit.
Some people prefer to structure their chapters at the outset. Daniel Abraham always requires that three things be accomplished every chapter. He calls that his "tick". Some consider the chapter its own little short story, and therefore require that each have a full plot structure. Many like to end chapters with cliffhangers, and I do this too, but this only works for me when I put the chapter breaks in last, because otherwise if I try to insert the cliffhangers and chapter breaks as I write, the cliffhangers are contrived and forced. It's much easier to just put a break in right in the middle of some action that I've already written. The trick to reading a book written in this style is to ignore the chapter breaks and stop reading when the conflict is resolved. That's what I do.
The manuscript will definitely be out this week, though. I'm aiming for Wednesday, and now that I've posted that on my blog, let's see if I can keep to it!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
How many of me?
This is a fun site, though I suspect it's inaccurate. I know one other person with my husband's name who should show up in the 1990 census, but the site claims there's only one person with said name. Oh well.
Chinese themed anthology
I've received an invitation to submit a story to a Chinese themed SF/fantasy anthology. The deadline's at the end of June, which means I need to work fast. While I like to write ethnic themed fantasy, I've never really delved into my Chinese roots. I've done a lot with southwestern culture, because that's what I grew up with.
Half my family is Chinese and the older generation is very traditional. People often ask me about them and about how our family reunions are (aside from an Asian meal at some point, during which we sometimes observe old customs for seating arrangements, they're usually just a vacation somewhere). I get that it's rather foreign to people and fascinating, so I really ought to delve a little. China is, obviously, a big place so even if this anthology gets a dozen Chinese-North American writers (at least one of the editors is from Canada), it's entirely possible that the cultural flavor of each could be quite different.
Anyway, I need to get to work on that story! I'm going to take a crack at the outline tonight.
Half my family is Chinese and the older generation is very traditional. People often ask me about them and about how our family reunions are (aside from an Asian meal at some point, during which we sometimes observe old customs for seating arrangements, they're usually just a vacation somewhere). I get that it's rather foreign to people and fascinating, so I really ought to delve a little. China is, obviously, a big place so even if this anthology gets a dozen Chinese-North American writers (at least one of the editors is from Canada), it's entirely possible that the cultural flavor of each could be quite different.
Anyway, I need to get to work on that story! I'm going to take a crack at the outline tonight.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Historic Art and Beloved Family Pet Lost
Not mine, mind you. I don't have a whole lot of historic art. I'm talking about Len Wein's unfortunate house fire. Unfortunate is perhaps the understatement of the year. Wein is, of course, the famed comic book author (creater of X-Men's Wolverine and Storm) and he had a lot of original comic art and rare comics. Many of these were lost in a house fire as reported by Harlan Ellison.
The good news is that Wein and his wife, attorney Christine Valada, are okay. Len and Chris and I are on a common listserv. I don't know them well, but have enjoyed interacting with them over the last half dozen years or so. This is truly tragic.
Saddest of all is the loss of their dog, which I gather ran back into the burning house. If I hear anything more regarding this, I will post it.
The good news is that Wein and his wife, attorney Christine Valada, are okay. Len and Chris and I are on a common listserv. I don't know them well, but have enjoyed interacting with them over the last half dozen years or so. This is truly tragic.
Saddest of all is the loss of their dog, which I gather ran back into the burning house. If I hear anything more regarding this, I will post it.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Williamson Lectureship 2009
This is the last Williamson Lectureship I'll make it to for a while, as we'll be halfway around the planet come this time next year. This year, I had some trouble finding the number to call to get tickets, so I emailed the coordinator, Patrice Caldwell. Imagine my surprise when I got an email back explaining that I'm an invited guest, so no tickets, and they're covering the cost of my hotel room too.
This year's guest of honor is Nalo Hopkinson. As I've said before, she was one of my Clarion West instructors. Last year Patrice was trying to get in touch with Nalo and her emails weren't getting through. I Facebook messaged Nalo and was able to get the two in touch - this isn't all that impressive, that I am a Facebook friend with Nalo. She's famous. She has a ton of Facebook friends. But in any case, I'm glad I was able to be of use to the Lectureship.
Other guests will include Steve Gould and Laura Mixon, Connie Willis, Steve Haffner, and (I hope!) Ian Tregillis. Gardner Dozois was also making noises about coming. Locals I look forward to seeing include the aforementioned Patrice, Gene Bundy (librarian in charge of the Williamson Library), and Betty Williamson - Jack's niece whom I actually knew through Girl Scouting before I got into SF. This may be the last time I get to see Connie before I leave the country! She's another of my former Clarion West instructors, and has always been wonderfully kind to me whenever we've crossed paths, taking time to have lunch with me and friends at cons and so on. The others I hope to see again at Bubonicon later on this year.
I'm going to be on a panel, it looks like, with Steve Gould and Ian Tregillis about SF in television and film. That should be a lot of fun. This Lectureship is one of the best kept secrets in science fiction. Nowhere do you get so much one on one contact with so many luminaries in the field. What's funny is that it is on the ENMU campus at the same time as the high school state speech and debate tournament, usually. I went to this tournament three times in high school and was already an avid SF fan. I had no clue that right there on campus, SFWA Grand Masters and Hugo winners were holding their own little event! I even did extemp prep in the library, in a spot the authors and guests walk past about a dozen times in the course of the Lectureship. I was so clueless...
This year's guest of honor is Nalo Hopkinson. As I've said before, she was one of my Clarion West instructors. Last year Patrice was trying to get in touch with Nalo and her emails weren't getting through. I Facebook messaged Nalo and was able to get the two in touch - this isn't all that impressive, that I am a Facebook friend with Nalo. She's famous. She has a ton of Facebook friends. But in any case, I'm glad I was able to be of use to the Lectureship.
Other guests will include Steve Gould and Laura Mixon, Connie Willis, Steve Haffner, and (I hope!) Ian Tregillis. Gardner Dozois was also making noises about coming. Locals I look forward to seeing include the aforementioned Patrice, Gene Bundy (librarian in charge of the Williamson Library), and Betty Williamson - Jack's niece whom I actually knew through Girl Scouting before I got into SF. This may be the last time I get to see Connie before I leave the country! She's another of my former Clarion West instructors, and has always been wonderfully kind to me whenever we've crossed paths, taking time to have lunch with me and friends at cons and so on. The others I hope to see again at Bubonicon later on this year.
I'm going to be on a panel, it looks like, with Steve Gould and Ian Tregillis about SF in television and film. That should be a lot of fun. This Lectureship is one of the best kept secrets in science fiction. Nowhere do you get so much one on one contact with so many luminaries in the field. What's funny is that it is on the ENMU campus at the same time as the high school state speech and debate tournament, usually. I went to this tournament three times in high school and was already an avid SF fan. I had no clue that right there on campus, SFWA Grand Masters and Hugo winners were holding their own little event! I even did extemp prep in the library, in a spot the authors and guests walk past about a dozen times in the course of the Lectureship. I was so clueless...
The Leading Edge
Okay, I lied. Actually, I just need to get my files back in order. I had another story out to The Leading Edge, that I just got the rejection for. The thing about this market, though, is they send back critiques with their rejections, and those are incredibly useful and helpful. This was also one of the nicest rejections I've ever gotten, and after eight years at this, that's saying something. I've had so many editors take the time to handwrite notes to me encouraging me to keep at my writing.
This letter was all handwritten - which has often been the case from Leading Edge - and very encouraging, almost apologetic for rejecting the story. So, needless to say, I'll be subbing to them again very soon. As soon as I get my submission to that agent together - this tail-end part of the novel editing process is killer. It just takes so much longer than it feels like it should. I need to go make sure the chapter breaks are right, and the chapter numbers, and then I need to prepare the submission package which requires doing a synopsis of the whole novel and then I need to get to the post office, etc. etc. I aim to have it out this week, but this'll be a hectic week, so realistically, it'll go out next week.
This letter was all handwritten - which has often been the case from Leading Edge - and very encouraging, almost apologetic for rejecting the story. So, needless to say, I'll be subbing to them again very soon. As soon as I get my submission to that agent together - this tail-end part of the novel editing process is killer. It just takes so much longer than it feels like it should. I need to go make sure the chapter breaks are right, and the chapter numbers, and then I need to prepare the submission package which requires doing a synopsis of the whole novel and then I need to get to the post office, etc. etc. I aim to have it out this week, but this'll be a hectic week, so realistically, it'll go out next week.
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