Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What do you mean there's no email?
So, I got home today with the darling child and the electricity was out. And stayed out for about an hour and a half at least. Let's see, no electricity means no water (the well has an electric pump) no laundry (aww) no washing dishes, no turning on the computer, no checking email, no answering email. For the DC, no TV, no wii. So we talked a bit, prepped for a school project he has due and then I read a book for the duration. Talk about roughing it.
You must have guessed by now that the electricity came back on. Would have been nice to read a little longer. I could have read hard pages or notebooked, but I didn't want to. I'm actually feeling kind of relaxed right now.
I had the MS with me at the gym this morning. Things are smoothing out a bit. But I'd like to get through it once in a short period of time without ripping things to shreds.
You must have guessed by now that the electricity came back on. Would have been nice to read a little longer. I could have read hard pages or notebooked, but I didn't want to. I'm actually feeling kind of relaxed right now.
I had the MS with me at the gym this morning. Things are smoothing out a bit. But I'd like to get through it once in a short period of time without ripping things to shreds.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, relaxing, ripping to shreds
posted by Carolyn @ 5/29/2007 07:12:00 PM Permalink
Monday, May 28, 2007
miscellanea
Yes, I'm working on Magellan's Witch. It's slow going. Sigh. But I'm making progress.
Yesterday I read Warrior Elite, the making of SEAL class 228 by Dick Couch. It was a really good read. Sometimes I had to remind myself that I wasn't reading fiction. Couch got permission to observe the class through to the end, and it was riveting. The attrition rate is incredible, and I got attached to some of the guys who, ultimately, didn't make it. I'm almost at a loss for words to express my admiration for what these men go through. Amazing.
I think my only negative reaction is to the apparently obligatory apologia for why there's no women in the SEALs. Honestly, men just don't get it. The essential answer was, no women because even the ones who could hack it, it would destroy the chemistry. I do think that's true, the chemistry, which demonstrably works, would be changed.
The issue isn't really gender. It's exclusion. So, why not train women separately? Why not take advantage of the things women do well and better than men? Upper body strength isn't everything. You don't need testosterone to be a good shot. And endurance is assuredly a desirable trait, no? I think more women would get through Hell week. And I think a woman's typical excellence at multi-tasking should be leveraged. Interesting thoughts anyway.
And now, I want to gush about the Nintendo Wii. My son has one and I finally broke down and played Wii sports with him. What a blast! I was working up a sweat, by the way. Then we discovered that it has a mini-card slot (the kind that fits in an MP3 player or digital camera.) I quick snapped some pics, stuck in the card, and voila. Pictures that he could alter and play with. The Wii is fun, fun, fun!
Ok, back to work.
Yesterday I read Warrior Elite, the making of SEAL class 228 by Dick Couch. It was a really good read. Sometimes I had to remind myself that I wasn't reading fiction. Couch got permission to observe the class through to the end, and it was riveting. The attrition rate is incredible, and I got attached to some of the guys who, ultimately, didn't make it. I'm almost at a loss for words to express my admiration for what these men go through. Amazing.
I think my only negative reaction is to the apparently obligatory apologia for why there's no women in the SEALs. Honestly, men just don't get it. The essential answer was, no women because even the ones who could hack it, it would destroy the chemistry. I do think that's true, the chemistry, which demonstrably works, would be changed.
The issue isn't really gender. It's exclusion. So, why not train women separately? Why not take advantage of the things women do well and better than men? Upper body strength isn't everything. You don't need testosterone to be a good shot. And endurance is assuredly a desirable trait, no? I think more women would get through Hell week. And I think a woman's typical excellence at multi-tasking should be leveraged. Interesting thoughts anyway.
And now, I want to gush about the Nintendo Wii. My son has one and I finally broke down and played Wii sports with him. What a blast! I was working up a sweat, by the way. Then we discovered that it has a mini-card slot (the kind that fits in an MP3 player or digital camera.) I quick snapped some pics, stuck in the card, and voila. Pictures that he could alter and play with. The Wii is fun, fun, fun!
Ok, back to work.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, Navy SEALs, reading, Wii
posted by Carolyn @ 5/28/2007 01:39:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The Saturday Evening Post
I got a lot of work done on Magellan's Witch today. I think I got the middle messiness fixed, plus I was looking at this one particular chapter that I realized was headed in a truly awkward direction what with my having materially changed the preceding chapters, plus added a whole new one a while back, and after trying for a bit to fix it as it was, had no success whatever until I told myself that, really, what they were doing made no sense. (Try and say that without taking a breath!) So I changed it around so that it did make sense and it was much, much better. As in, well, to be honest, now it makes sense. Nuff said, huh? Anyhoo, so now I think I can proceed with more paper read through and tomorrow start another fresh.
Meanwhile, I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight. Very entertaining. Just when I thought it was going to start dragging something funny and unexpected would happen. Good movie. Jonnny Depp was wonderful and so was Keith Richards.
To bed.
Meanwhile, I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight. Very entertaining. Just when I thought it was going to start dragging something funny and unexpected would happen. Good movie. Jonnny Depp was wonderful and so was Keith Richards.
To bed.
Labels: editing, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/26/2007 11:18:00 PM Permalink
Friday, May 25, 2007
Catching up
Mostly, I've been busy working on Magellan's Witch. Some parts are going well, others need work. I've moved some stuff around and now I've just discovered that a whole section is not in the order I thought I put in in, but I'm busy fixing this other chapter and now I'm irritated that I have to go fix that next when I thought things would be OK after that. me. frowning
Also, just as a side rant, I am really really REALLY sick of people making snotty comments about romance. I was reading an agent's blog the other day and in the comments, someone said, basically, how horrible a particular situation would be if people were gasp! horrors! reading a Harlequin romance instead of something else. Why? Just freaking why would that be so horrible? Oh, I'm just not going to get going on that. Reading is reading. And Francis Bacon himself noted famously that books are to be digested in different ways. If I'm at a point in my life where I want to have a guaranteed happy ending at the end of my book, why the heck is that a disaster that will, apparently, bring down Western Civilization as we know it? I believe the commenter managed to insult Comic books, too. me. rolling eyes and trying hard not to bust a gut.
Oh, just Sigh. I have to go back to fixing crap.
Also, just as a side rant, I am really really REALLY sick of people making snotty comments about romance. I was reading an agent's blog the other day and in the comments, someone said, basically, how horrible a particular situation would be if people were gasp! horrors! reading a Harlequin romance instead of something else. Why? Just freaking why would that be so horrible? Oh, I'm just not going to get going on that. Reading is reading. And Francis Bacon himself noted famously that books are to be digested in different ways. If I'm at a point in my life where I want to have a guaranteed happy ending at the end of my book, why the heck is that a disaster that will, apparently, bring down Western Civilization as we know it? I believe the commenter managed to insult Comic books, too. me. rolling eyes and trying hard not to bust a gut.
Oh, just Sigh. I have to go back to fixing crap.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, Rants, ripping to shreds, romance genre
posted by Carolyn @ 5/25/2007 09:13:00 PM Permalink
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
ThrillerFest!
Here's this from the ThrillerFest. Need I point out that Lee Child will be there? Lee Child! This sounds like a great opportunity to learn and mingle.
ThrillerFest is the most exciting event of the year for fiction's most popular genre. Over 150 of beloved and best selling authors will be in New York City to mix and mingle with fans during this unprecedented four-day celebration. Attending writers will include Clive Cussler, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, Heather Graham, Vince Flynn, Lisa Gardner, Lee Child, Gayle Lynds, Tess Gerritsen, David Morrell, Jim Fusilli, John Lescroart, M. Diane Vogt, M.J. Rose, Steve Berry, Doug Preston, Joe Finder, David Hewson, Jim Rollins, Michael Palmer, Christine Kling, D.P. Lyle, Christine Goff, Robert S. Levinson, Jon Land, Shirley Kennett and many more.
CraftFest, a day of intensive, interactive presentations the day before ThrillerFest opens, is for writers at every level. They'll learn from the best, a truly awesome group of thriller professionals assembled for one day to teach and inspire!
Registration for ThrillerFest is open to everyone, with three separately-priced events packages: CraftFest on Thursday, July 12; the ThrillerFest Conference from Thursday, July 12 - Sunday, July 15; and the Thriller Awards Banquet at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. Day passes are available.
ThrillerFest 2007. July 12 - July 15 2007
Grand Hyatt Hotel New York City
For more information: thrillerwriters.org and www.thrillerfest.com and this video.
Labels: Conferences
posted by Carolyn @ 5/23/2007 09:46:00 PM Permalink
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Sunday Rats
Well. Another Sunday gone. I slept late and -- I just remembered. I'm interrupting this blog to post an important message:
Ok. So. I slept late and then started working on Magellan's Witch and hit a part that needs some work. Rats rats rats rats. I have to go work on it now because I've been avoiding it all day.
Waah! Clyde Jasper, if you see this, the AOL email address you gave me is bouncing!! Please send me the right address! I wrote you and everything. Sniff.
Ok. So. I slept late and then started working on Magellan's Witch and hit a part that needs some work. Rats rats rats rats. I have to go work on it now because I've been avoiding it all day.
Labels: Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/20/2007 09:56:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Oh. no. Say it isn't so!
posted by Carolyn @ 5/19/2007 07:03:00 PM Permalink
Awesome new Romance Line
The thing I love about Dorchester is they do the absolute coolest books. They're not afraid to try new things. I thought the SHOMI series sounded totally awesome the moment I heard about it. My friend Liz Maverick is heading yet another genre-pushing line. This is a Publisher's Weekly starred review.
Wired
Liz Maverick. Dorchester/Shomi, $6.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-505-52724-0
If Maverick's fast-paced, genre-bounding novel is any indication, Dorchester's new imprint, Shomi—which aims to hook a younger generation of readers—should catch an audience quickly. Maverick grabs readers from page one, throwing together romance, science fiction and cyberpunk—a mash-up hinted at in the anime-style packaging— to tell the story of L. Roxanne Zaborovsky, a high-strung freelance computer programmer whose reclusive life gets tossed on its head when two men show up looking for her. Appearing mysteriously one night, the pair immediately set to fighting over Roxanne; before long, she realizes one is an old college acquaintance, Mason Merrick. Taking off with Mason, Roxanne learns that the men are each after a valuable bit of her work—a piece of code she hasn't even written yet. When even stranger things follow— like close friends showing up with entirely different lives—Roxanne discovers that her pursuers are playing with the threads of reality, trying to gain advantage over the other. Maverick's roller-coaster ride doesn't always stay grounded, but it's easy to get drawn into her world of twisting realities and shifting identities, especially with superb heroine Roxanne handling narration. This excellent piece of genre fiction shows much promise for both Maverick and the imprint she spearheads. (July)
Labels: Book Covers, Book Reviews, romance genre
posted by Carolyn @ 5/19/2007 10:16:00 AM Permalink
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Bad Contract Terms
From the Author's Guild:
Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have gone out of print. Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print or if its sales are low.
The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print. Simon & Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant of rights in perpetuity. Effectively, the publisher would co-own your copyright.
The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it’s available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
Other major trade publishers are not seeking a similar perpetual grant of rights.
We urge you to consider your options carefully:
1. Remember that if you sign a contract with Simon & Schuster that includes this clause, they’ll say you’re wed to them. Your book will live and die with this particular conglomerate.
2. Ask your agent to explore other options. Other publishers are not seeking an irrevocable grant of rights.
3. If you have a manuscript that may be auctioned, consider asking your agent to exclude Simon & Schuster imprints unless they agree before the auction to use industry standard terms.
4. Let us know if other major publishers follow suit. Any coordination among publishers on this matter has serious legal implications.
Feel free to forward and post this message in its entirety.
The Authors Guild (www.authorsguild.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization of published book authors.
posted by Carolyn @ 5/17/2007 09:13:00 PM Permalink
I done did it
My MA project is done. Signed off. Handed in. Now I wait three weeks or so and hopefully they tell me it's fine to file the final one for binding. I'm done with grad school. No more tuition. No more classes. No more papers to write. I had my last meeting with my prof today, too. It was a long haul and a lot of work but going to Grad School was one of the best things I could have done for my writing and my life in general.
In other news, Magellan's Witch seems to be going pretty well. I'm layering in elements, deleting the boring parts, and working my themes. I like this part much better than the straight writing. Except deleting the boring bits is humbling.
Today when I was interrupting various professors in order to get signatures, I was telling one of my committee members that I'd substantially revised the work since I gave it to her two weeks ago and that I'd deleted any of the boring parts. I spoke partly in jest, but in fact, that's a lot of what I did. The student in her office asked, also joking of course, how I did that. Well, we all know that Elmore Leonard just doesn't write those parts. Mere mortal writers do what I did. In your word processor:
My committee chair also mentioned that she had comments, but that since I'd given it to her two weeks ago I'd pretty much rewritten it. Yes. That's true. I simplified the stuff I'd made too complicated. I deleted boring bits, including scenes I really liked. That's how it has to be. No writer with a deadline can afford to wait two weeks for input when the book's not done yet. You write and keep writing.
I had a bunch of fascinating stuff I was saving up for when I had a breather, but I can't remember any of it right now. Tomorrow my son and I are going to take my sister to see Hot Fuzz.
In other news, Magellan's Witch seems to be going pretty well. I'm layering in elements, deleting the boring parts, and working my themes. I like this part much better than the straight writing. Except deleting the boring bits is humbling.
Today when I was interrupting various professors in order to get signatures, I was telling one of my committee members that I'd substantially revised the work since I gave it to her two weeks ago and that I'd deleted any of the boring parts. I spoke partly in jest, but in fact, that's a lot of what I did. The student in her office asked, also joking of course, how I did that. Well, we all know that Elmore Leonard just doesn't write those parts. Mere mortal writers do what I did. In your word processor:
- Highlight the boring bit.
- Hit Delete.
My committee chair also mentioned that she had comments, but that since I'd given it to her two weeks ago I'd pretty much rewritten it. Yes. That's true. I simplified the stuff I'd made too complicated. I deleted boring bits, including scenes I really liked. That's how it has to be. No writer with a deadline can afford to wait two weeks for input when the book's not done yet. You write and keep writing.
I had a bunch of fascinating stuff I was saving up for when I had a breather, but I can't remember any of it right now. Tomorrow my son and I are going to take my sister to see Hot Fuzz.
Labels: Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/17/2007 07:12:00 PM Permalink
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Close so very close!
I'm so close I can almost smell it! To being done with my MA in English, that is. Oddly enough, the scent reminds me of toner and hot paper. Yesterday, I did my Public reading for my final project. Some people from work came, which was really nice, I must say. I was reading to the students in my Prof's class. Yes, I was nervous at first, but then I had to pay attention to the pages and my reading. Luckily, since I read to my son just about every night, I am a pretty good read-out-louder. The room was very quiet while I read. Which I hope means they were interested in what they were hearing. No talking or shuffling or what have you. Well, whatever, I guess. I can drive myself crazy trying to guess what people were thinking.
Tomorrow I will get the last signatures and turn my copy into the graduate affairs office. Then I think I get to wait until they tell me I'm good to turn in the final expensive paper one. And then I'll be done at last. I'll have a Master's degree. . . in English. (you have to pretend like that was Buy Nye the Science Guy saying that, only dorkier but with better diction).
I didn't work today, at least not on paper or computer. But I had some fairly long moments of down time when I was thinking very hard about Magellan's Witch, particularly about the fellow who will be the hero in the second book.
And now, to be with a few minutes to spare for reading.
Tomorrow I will get the last signatures and turn my copy into the graduate affairs office. Then I think I get to wait until they tell me I'm good to turn in the final expensive paper one. And then I'll be done at last. I'll have a Master's degree. . . in English. (you have to pretend like that was Buy Nye the Science Guy saying that, only dorkier but with better diction).
I didn't work today, at least not on paper or computer. But I had some fairly long moments of down time when I was thinking very hard about Magellan's Witch, particularly about the fellow who will be the hero in the second book.
And now, to be with a few minutes to spare for reading.
Labels: Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/16/2007 09:27:00 PM Permalink
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
I'm Thinking!
Um, OK. Megan tagged me. (thanks. really.) I am so bad at this stuff. But this one's easy. None of these bloggers have ever heard of me. I guess if that's breaking the rules, too bad. Here's 5 blogs that pretty much always make me think:
Labels: meme
posted by Carolyn @ 5/15/2007 07:54:00 PM Permalink
Monday, May 14, 2007
Monday for sure
I should have known when I woke up exhausted and decided to skip the gym that I wasn't well. But I got my extra hour of sleep and went to work. 2 hours later I came come. The really good news is our Koi are parents. Four of them between 1.5 and 2 inches long. We know it's the Koi and not the goldfish because the babies look like the Koi: Orange, black and white. One of them is mostly orange. A while back they were doing a lot of breaching the water. I think they were "flirting." Sometimes I'd hear the splash from my room (the koi pond is right outside my sliding glass door) or I'd look just in time and see them pretending they were whales. Anyway, big excitement here today.
I got some work done today despite the foggy brain. I decided to work on my missing chapter. I picked a good spot and started and after a bit I went If this keeps up, Carolyn, this will be boring. So I stared out the window for a while and then got back to work and now my antagonist is with my heroine and there's some stuff going down. And I've got to go find out out that ends up...
I got some work done today despite the foggy brain. I decided to work on my missing chapter. I picked a good spot and started and after a bit I went If this keeps up, Carolyn, this will be boring. So I stared out the window for a while and then got back to work and now my antagonist is with my heroine and there's some stuff going down. And I've got to go find out out that ends up...
Labels: editing, Magellan's Witch, Pantsing
posted by Carolyn @ 5/14/2007 09:20:00 PM Permalink
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Insert Post Title Here
Today, my son and I went to see Hot Fuzz. I thought this was going to be a film along the lines of Naked Gun, you know, painfully sophomoric humor, but my son really wanted to see it, so, with heavy heart, I went.
I haven't laughed so much and so often at a movie in ages. First off, it's a British film. It riffs off American cop films, martial arts movies, Westerns and the traditional English mystery setting all in the context of the British countryside. I'm not sure I can do this movie justice. The main character plays it totally straight (he also co-wrote the screenplay.) Intelligent with moments of slapstick that aren't stupid. And then it descends into the absurd and is just side splittingly funny. Go see this movie. The IMDB entry is pretty far off the mark, in my opinion.
In other news, making progress with Magellan's Witch. I've deleted one plot element that was making things too complicated and isn't necessary now that I'm clearer on what's really driving the plot. I'm fixing stuff and then having to solve some major issues as I continue -- which basically involves me thinking that I'm stuck, then going off to do something else and have the solution occur to me.
This whole book has been that way. Brick wall with me thinking, geez, I'll never solve this one, then seeing the path continues this other way. Frustrating, but in a way, not. I deleted about 3000 words yesterday. I think I'm still missing a plot element, and I believe I know what that is, but I want to get through the rest of the read through (which I have started and restarted 3 times now) to be sure.
Anyway, off to read to my son.
Go see Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz is Hilarious!
I haven't laughed so much and so often at a movie in ages. First off, it's a British film. It riffs off American cop films, martial arts movies, Westerns and the traditional English mystery setting all in the context of the British countryside. I'm not sure I can do this movie justice. The main character plays it totally straight (he also co-wrote the screenplay.) Intelligent with moments of slapstick that aren't stupid. And then it descends into the absurd and is just side splittingly funny. Go see this movie. The IMDB entry is pretty far off the mark, in my opinion.
In other news, making progress with Magellan's Witch. I've deleted one plot element that was making things too complicated and isn't necessary now that I'm clearer on what's really driving the plot. I'm fixing stuff and then having to solve some major issues as I continue -- which basically involves me thinking that I'm stuck, then going off to do something else and have the solution occur to me.
This whole book has been that way. Brick wall with me thinking, geez, I'll never solve this one, then seeing the path continues this other way. Frustrating, but in a way, not. I deleted about 3000 words yesterday. I think I'm still missing a plot element, and I believe I know what that is, but I want to get through the rest of the read through (which I have started and restarted 3 times now) to be sure.
Anyway, off to read to my son.
Go see Hot Fuzz
Labels: editing, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/13/2007 07:55:00 PM Permalink
Friday, May 11, 2007
Random Observations
1. Lately when I check my spam trapper (Postini, via my webhost) there's either practically nothing (only three today) or a flood. Why?
2. I was being driven to Hertz this afternoon (after someone assumed I would be running a stale yellow light and was unprepared for me actually stopping -- he, one supposes, intended to run the red one) by a nice young woman who is an artist and is working 60-70 hours a week at her day job. Basically, she has the wrong day job since she does not love it. If you have a creative passion such as writing or art or what have you, and life does not provide you with a trust fund or some other circumstance that allows you not to have a day job, then it is my belief and observation that it's best for the day job to be one that doesn't suck up your real-life. I actually think that's true no matter what, but particularly for the artistic.
3. I like the color gray. I think that means I'm mentally unbalanced. I also like green, but I like gray best.
4. MySpace is a really neat place to meet people. Who'd have thought? I really didn't expect to have some really nice exchanges with people, but I have. I've found people who love to read (yay!) and want to talk about what they read and some fantastic music.
5. The middle of Magellan's Witch is boring. I have two chapters in the wrong POV and I'm hoping that fixing that will fix the boringness. There's exciting stuff going on, only it's boring. Because it's in the wrong Point of View.
6. Today, I observed that someone took it upon themselves to wash my sheepskin slippers for me, which was very nice, only they weren't dry when they were replaced in their usual spot. Damp wool is unpleasant for one's feet.
Anyway, now I need to stop procrastinating and actually get some work done.
2. I was being driven to Hertz this afternoon (after someone assumed I would be running a stale yellow light and was unprepared for me actually stopping -- he, one supposes, intended to run the red one) by a nice young woman who is an artist and is working 60-70 hours a week at her day job. Basically, she has the wrong day job since she does not love it. If you have a creative passion such as writing or art or what have you, and life does not provide you with a trust fund or some other circumstance that allows you not to have a day job, then it is my belief and observation that it's best for the day job to be one that doesn't suck up your real-life. I actually think that's true no matter what, but particularly for the artistic.
3. I like the color gray. I think that means I'm mentally unbalanced. I also like green, but I like gray best.
4. MySpace is a really neat place to meet people. Who'd have thought? I really didn't expect to have some really nice exchanges with people, but I have. I've found people who love to read (yay!) and want to talk about what they read and some fantastic music.
5. The middle of Magellan's Witch is boring. I have two chapters in the wrong POV and I'm hoping that fixing that will fix the boringness. There's exciting stuff going on, only it's boring. Because it's in the wrong Point of View.
6. Today, I observed that someone took it upon themselves to wash my sheepskin slippers for me, which was very nice, only they weren't dry when they were replaced in their usual spot. Damp wool is unpleasant for one's feet.
Anyway, now I need to stop procrastinating and actually get some work done.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, procrastination
posted by Carolyn @ 5/11/2007 08:35:00 PM Permalink
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Another Victory Against the Opposite of Interesting
I went through the first 6 (now 7) chapters of Magellan's Witch and made my edits and worked on switching things around with my heroine. This morning at the gym I wrote a big note at the top of some chapter or other that I needed to flip hero and heroine. No, I don't mean physically. In that chapter, my hero was convincing my heroine that he was not a regular human. And that wasn't working for me. It was boring and stupid. One of my strategies for dealing with this is to do the opposite. If they're fighting, have them make love. If they're disagreeing have them agree. If they're making love, put them in a car chase instead. Like that. So, I flipped the roles and had the heroine convincing the hero he wasn't a regular human.
It worked great. Suddenly, there's layers of stuff going on. They're both saying one thing and meaning quite another. Even though I cut quite a bit of the boring parts, I only ended up a few hundred words in the hole. I'll know soon if it really works.
Off to bed.
It worked great. Suddenly, there's layers of stuff going on. They're both saying one thing and meaning quite another. Even though I cut quite a bit of the boring parts, I only ended up a few hundred words in the hole. I'll know soon if it really works.
Off to bed.
Labels: editing, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/09/2007 09:58:00 PM Permalink
random crap
I now have my own 128-bit integer1. Here's the little beauty for you to admire:
What else? I cooked trout tonight. The neighbor caught it. Came out good.
Magellan's Witch is boring, I've decided. I need to re-work the opening few chapters. My heroine needs more backbone. I'm going to work on that tonight.
Here's some Columbine:
1. If you followed the geekish ho-ha over DVD encryption keys, this is very funny.
And here's a really pink rose:
And now I'm off to do some surgery.
37 3B BB 00 92 3F 96 32 92 8E C6 2D 99 85 60 32
What else? I cooked trout tonight. The neighbor caught it. Came out good.
Magellan's Witch is boring, I've decided. I need to re-work the opening few chapters. My heroine needs more backbone. I'm going to work on that tonight.
Here's some Columbine:
1. If you followed the geekish ho-ha over DVD encryption keys, this is very funny.
And here's a really pink rose:
And now I'm off to do some surgery.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, writing craft
posted by Carolyn @ 5/09/2007 06:58:00 PM Permalink
Monday, May 07, 2007
My Love Affair
Ok, I admit it. I am in love with my new printer, an HP LaserJet 3005dn. 1) It's blazing fast (yes, this is relative to my old printer, but it's still fast. 2) It prints lovely crisp text; 3) It can print duplex. 4) It doesn't have the fugly impossible to remove label that defaced my 4200 5) It's reasonably attractive 6) Holds a ream of paper 7) Does not have to be told to use the tray with paper in it when there's only one tray with paper in it. 8) If I had time to set it up, I could connect wirelessly.
Duplex, people. Who would have thought this mattered? But it's like when your boyfriend brings you flowers just because. I have a bazillion pages of lectures from this on-line writing course I took and I printed them off duplex. That's when I knew it was love. That and when I didn't have to sit there worrying that my Master's project would print off all smeary and dotted.
I fixed up the rest of the issues from my new chapter in Magellan's Witch and then reprinted the first 11 chapters (hardly took any time at all!) so I can start reading through again.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, Office Supplies
posted by Carolyn @ 5/07/2007 09:25:00 PM Permalink
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Hi Ho, Hi Ho....
Oh no. It's off to work I go. I'm not in the least bit tired because I spent the last week on my normal sleep routine which is up late morning and evening. So I'll be quick about this. Magellan's Witch went well today. I rewrote all of yesterday's new chapter because when I woke up this morning I had a much better idea for it. I'm getting in the fixes for this in the subsequent chapter right now. Almost done. Took a bunch of new garden photos today. Here's a couple of my favs:
Saw Spiderman 3. Somebody on that movie has never read a Romance novel. If they had, they would have fixed the broken boring romance. The actor who played Harry is a total hottie, so it was worth it for that. Three great trailers: Silversurfer, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and Transformers. Movies I really want to see. Off to bed.
Tomorrow's going to be no fun.
Saw Spiderman 3. Somebody on that movie has never read a Romance novel. If they had, they would have fixed the broken boring romance. The actor who played Harry is a total hottie, so it was worth it for that. Three great trailers: Silversurfer, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and Transformers. Movies I really want to see. Off to bed.
Tomorrow's going to be no fun.
Labels: Magellan's Witch, movies
posted by Carolyn @ 5/06/2007 11:04:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, May 05, 2007
feels like I'm back at work
Today I worked with my paper copy of Magellan's Witch. I had to do a lot of fixing of chapter 3 and 4. They were messy. I simplified things and that helped a lot. Then I reprinted chapts 1-4 and started over with the read-through. Things were improved. Some of the chapters after that are darn good. No fixing needed. But there's an issue I need to resolve which is that things happen too fast. I need to find a reason for my heroine to fully trust my hero and right now, it's just not there to my satisfaction. I see a couple of ways to solve it. Right now I'm mulling over the possibility that I'm missing a sub-plot. Oh. Brain Flash. Wow. And right here in the blog, too. I need to go notebook that. Must go.
Labels: Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/05/2007 10:00:00 PM Permalink
Friday, May 04, 2007
Good Day!
Today I went to my favorite place for breakfast and had my favorite breakfast, did the crossword, walked around and shopped, then got a massage (an hour and half of bliss). I picked up my son from school. He still loves me because I walked into the Game Store the other day to ask my usual question When do you think you'll get any wii's? (Usual Answer: we're not sure, come back tomorrow really early.) But this time they said, We have one. My son's birthday isn't for 6 weeks, but of course I got the wii for him. Early. Now I am the greatest Mom ever. I must say, the wii is pretty awesome. It was ridiculouly easy to set up. I think it took five minutes. And the motion sensing is wow. So, my son really loves me. (Awwww).
I messed around on MySpace for a bit, caught up on some emails for a bit, read for a bit. Now I'm doing this. The only thing is I can't find a book I'm eager to read. But, I did find out that Michael Chabon is going to be in Petaluma on May 19th! Since I bought his latest, I have a card to get me in and my books signed.
Maybe, I might take a look at paper copy for Magellan's Witch, but I might sort through my TBR for a book that really calls to me...
I messed around on MySpace for a bit, caught up on some emails for a bit, read for a bit. Now I'm doing this. The only thing is I can't find a book I'm eager to read. But, I did find out that Michael Chabon is going to be in Petaluma on May 19th! Since I bought his latest, I have a card to get me in and my books signed.
Maybe, I might take a look at paper copy for Magellan's Witch, but I might sort through my TBR for a book that really calls to me...
Labels: Magellan's Witch, reading, relaxing, writing
posted by Carolyn @ 5/04/2007 07:57:00 PM Permalink
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Ahhhhh
The MA project is in the hands of my committee. They get to read it and then after a bit, one hopes, sign off on it. So, tomorrow I have a free day. Massage - yes. All for me.
Labels: Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/03/2007 03:44:00 PM Permalink
More Customer Disservice
Oh. My. Gosh.
I need a new keyboard. Mine is starting to act up. OK, so I need to get a new one. I'm not ready, yet, to replace my current desktop. So I need a keyboard with a PS2 connection. I also need an ergonomic keyboard. This limits my options. Very frustrating. But I finally found the keyboard I need at Dell. Yay, I thought. I have a Preferred Account with them, this will be easy.
No. It wasn't.
No matter what I tried to do with the shopping cart, when I submitted the order, it told me PayPal was not available and to try another method. I tried online chat to see if someone could fix that up. Got tired of waiting and decided to call. Finding the phone number was not easy. It wasn't anywhere on the shopping cart page. But I found it and called. The gentleman insisted he needed to know my service tag number before I could buy a keyboard. I convinced him that was stupid. Then he had to have the Dell SKU number. That number was nowhere on the shopping cart page and giving him the model information wasn't sufficient. I had to click back a bazillion times to get the SKU for him (which one of us works for Dell?) Then he insisted he had to know what system I would be using this with. Why? All I want is a freaking keyboard. I could not get past this. Dell must have this information that is none of their business and irrelevant to them shipping me the keyboard I want. I have two systems, one of which I built myself more or less. But, at last, at last, we get the purchase onto my preferred account. And then I get put on hold 3 times before I get an order number. I told him about my experience with their website, but that is not his department so Dell will never know their website is broken because he won't tell them. Me? I'm just pissed off. It took me an HOUR to buy a keyboard. Here's a link to Dell in case they pay attention to blogger links. Dell, right now I hate you as a company. Mac Book Pro you're looking better all the time.
I need a new keyboard. Mine is starting to act up. OK, so I need to get a new one. I'm not ready, yet, to replace my current desktop. So I need a keyboard with a PS2 connection. I also need an ergonomic keyboard. This limits my options. Very frustrating. But I finally found the keyboard I need at Dell. Yay, I thought. I have a Preferred Account with them, this will be easy.
No. It wasn't.
No matter what I tried to do with the shopping cart, when I submitted the order, it told me PayPal was not available and to try another method. I tried online chat to see if someone could fix that up. Got tired of waiting and decided to call. Finding the phone number was not easy. It wasn't anywhere on the shopping cart page. But I found it and called. The gentleman insisted he needed to know my service tag number before I could buy a keyboard. I convinced him that was stupid. Then he had to have the Dell SKU number. That number was nowhere on the shopping cart page and giving him the model information wasn't sufficient. I had to click back a bazillion times to get the SKU for him (which one of us works for Dell?) Then he insisted he had to know what system I would be using this with. Why? All I want is a freaking keyboard. I could not get past this. Dell must have this information that is none of their business and irrelevant to them shipping me the keyboard I want. I have two systems, one of which I built myself more or less. But, at last, at last, we get the purchase onto my preferred account. And then I get put on hold 3 times before I get an order number. I told him about my experience with their website, but that is not his department so Dell will never know their website is broken because he won't tell them. Me? I'm just pissed off. It took me an HOUR to buy a keyboard. Here's a link to Dell in case they pay attention to blogger links. Dell, right now I hate you as a company. Mac Book Pro you're looking better all the time.
Labels: I hate Dell
posted by Carolyn @ 5/03/2007 09:59:00 AM Permalink
Tommorrow already?
So, today I slaved away on Magellan's Witch and for a while there I thought there was no way I'd get through and fix what needed fixing. Good golly. But I kept on fixing and deleting and adding and I'm up to 75K now. Then I had to make an e-copy for my MA version because the formatting has to be completely different and get that reformatted correctly and paginated etc. Tomorrow I have one more scene to look at because it feels like it's in the wrong place. And then I'll print this out, get a copy made and to my professors for review. Office hours converge at 3:00 pm.
Mostly I was feeling not so hot about things, but when I was in 2-page view mode on the MA, I started thinking, hey, this isn't so bad. I was feeling excited about reading it. I'm going to bed on that note.
Friday I'm getting a hand massage AND a back massage.
Mostly I was feeling not so hot about things, but when I was in 2-page view mode on the MA, I started thinking, hey, this isn't so bad. I was feeling excited about reading it. I'm going to bed on that note.
Friday I'm getting a hand massage AND a back massage.
Labels: Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/03/2007 01:08:00 AM Permalink
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Oh, the carnage, the carnage
I cut 9,400 words from Magellan's Witch today. The mess was bigger than I thought. But now it's not. Now it's more straightforward and the messy stuff is gone. Now, I think, I can do a read through (not paper) and get from page 1 to page-the-end without having to redo everything. That's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow. Or maybe I'll concentrate on the back end, because the replacement stuff is thin right now, and that has to be fixed. That's a bigger priority right now.
The update on the MA is that I can't officially file anything until after my public reading, which is May 15. So I have to live with this for another two weeks because now it's due May 18. I have one more form to file, too. I still have to get my committee members copies of it to read this week so they can sign on the dotted line. Which will have to be Thursday on account of office hours. Which gives me tomorrow and maybe a little of Thursday to finish fixing. Except in a way it doesn't really matter because I need to keep fixing for the real deadline anyway.
Anyway, off to bed before it's tomorrow.
The update on the MA is that I can't officially file anything until after my public reading, which is May 15. So I have to live with this for another two weeks because now it's due May 18. I have one more form to file, too. I still have to get my committee members copies of it to read this week so they can sign on the dotted line. Which will have to be Thursday on account of office hours. Which gives me tomorrow and maybe a little of Thursday to finish fixing. Except in a way it doesn't really matter because I need to keep fixing for the real deadline anyway.
Anyway, off to bed before it's tomorrow.
Labels: editing, Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/01/2007 11:40:00 PM Permalink
Well, I knew this would happen
Work on Magellan's Witch has been going like gangbusters. Yesterday I was at 83K and feeling pretty good about things. Probably it was the sugar rush from all the birthday cake. I knew I had a couple of problem chapters coming up but hey only 7 chapters between me and a solid draft. Whoa. Today I am massively fixing. I've deleted two chapters so far and broken up two others that were too long (so no net loss of chapters). At the moment I'm down to 79K, most of which I should make back,depending on the state of the other chapters. I'm working with chapter 20 right now -- the new chapter 20. I keep thinking that any day now I can print this darn thing off and do a read through and that keeps not happening. Sigh.
At least I'm in the middle of an interesting solution to one of my issues and to be honest, I'm not broken up over the chapters I sent off to the Recycling Folder for Wayward Writing. They were boring and belonged to the previous version anyhow. But still.
In an hour, I'm off to get signatures on the MA project and see about my actual due date. I'll report back later. I'm going to use my new printer for the first time and print off my sig pages.
Updated to add: My pages printed beautifully and oh so fast. I had to do it twice though because the first time I forgot they needed to be numbered with lower case roman numerals at the bottom. Sheesh.
At least I'm in the middle of an interesting solution to one of my issues and to be honest, I'm not broken up over the chapters I sent off to the Recycling Folder for Wayward Writing. They were boring and belonged to the previous version anyhow. But still.
In an hour, I'm off to get signatures on the MA project and see about my actual due date. I'll report back later. I'm going to use my new printer for the first time and print off my sig pages.
Updated to add: My pages printed beautifully and oh so fast. I had to do it twice though because the first time I forgot they needed to be numbered with lower case roman numerals at the bottom. Sheesh.
Labels: editing, Graduate School, Magellan's Witch
posted by Carolyn @ 5/01/2007 12:36:00 PM Permalink
