Empowerment

Rawr. Rawr indeed.

Hubby's computer, after a mysterious spontaneous reboot, would no longer connect to the internet. So I rallied my contingent of geek friends, both long-distance and local, and we set about figuring out what was wrong with it. "Try setting it to a static IP" they said. No, that didn't work. "Maybe you need to re-install the network stack." Wtf does that mean? "Probably you need a whole new motherboard." Aw crap, that's gonna hurt.

And then....through an odd quirk of fate... I remember that I happened to have a brand new, unopened network card, just...laying around! I mean, it's been just laying around for like two years!

So I popped that puppy into the computer (with a bit of phone coaching from the intrepid Auggy), and lo and behold, hubby's comp is functional again!

I rock so much.

And I officially know just enough about the inside of a computer to be dangerous. I can also pull and reinstall a power supply, if need be. Like I told Auggy, I don't want to be a computer geek. I just want to not feel helpless.

In writing news... One of the agents-with-full e-mailed to ask what else I'm working on. So, after some scrambling, I whipped out pitches for both projects 3 and 4, and sent those winging into the aether. I deem this a good sign.

I also finished chapter 18 today, and split it into two on my outline. Chapter 20 (which was formerly chapter 19) may also be split, depending on how it looks when I get there. I think I'm looking at 22 chapters, max. I'm so close to done!

Goal Achieved

Well, at least this week's, anyway. I crossed the 50K mark on project 3, despite a delay yesterday due to sick kiddo. Chapter 17 turned out way shorter than I would prefer, but it finally came down to the fact that I couldn't really add more to it to beef it up, so I moved on. I'm about 1100 words into chapter 18, and it's just barely started, so it is promising to make up for what the previous chapter lacked.

I'm also contemplating splitting chapter 18 in two (from what I have outlined) and bumping everything that comes after down one chapter. Considering that I still have an un-outlined gap between chapter 19 and the last two chapters (figure, this is a 1-2 chapter hole), it might help smooth over some of what I'm missing.

I've also been pondering why I seem to have problems with certain books (most recently Scar Night and Iron Angel come to mind). There's nothing wrong with them, but I have difficulty wrapping my brain around some of the setting. I really have to work at picturing what he's describing (not through any lack on his part, the defect is mine) because it's just SO different. And I realized the other day that it's because I am too hung up on applying THIS world's physics/idea of normality.

This may also apply to Project 3. It has occured to me that I may be working too hard to have a "real" explanation for some of the fantastic things I'm describing. A scientific reality behind the superstition and religion that my invented people believe in. Maybe, just maybe, I could just LET them be fantastic. Who's to say that it's not how my invented world works?

I guess, to quote Fox Mulder, I want to believe.

The query works

I think I can say, without a doubt, that my query is successful. In adding this morning's partial request to the tally, I have over a 1/3 positive response rate. That's pretty darned good!

I sent project 2 out to a brand new beta who was gracious enough to volunteer. Not only that, but she read it in record time and sent me back notes!! Just have to find time to go through them all carefully.

I expected to have problems with chapter 17 of Project 3 today, but a passing comment by Theo broke the whole thing wide open. I'm no where near done with it, of course, but I have an excellent start and momentum to carry into tomorrow. I keep realizing that I'm nearing the end of the first draft on this one, quite rapidly. Stealth Book for the win?

All in all, I'm willing to concede that (writing-wise) the past week or so hasn't been bad at all.

To weep, or not to weep

I might come up with an answer for this one tomorrow.

Got a rejection on a partial that I had had such high hopes for. The sad thing is, I can't even really wail and gnash my teeth, because the agent went to such great pains to give me details on what she found wrong (she read the first 8 chapters). She also told me what she liked, and what she'd want to see in a revision. (hence inviting me to send said revision if I ever do it)

As far as rejections go, this is a STELLAR one. People would kill for this kind of rejection. (or, as it's called, a revise & resubmit)

Right now, I'm just highly disappointed. Tomorrow, or maybe the next day, I'll come to appreciate what an excellent opportunity this is/was. Maybe by next week, I'll even be able to wrap my head around the critique enough to figure out how to fix what she wants fixed.

Right now, I'm going to do a bit of self-pity and mope.

I feel a nap coming on

Short post for Friday, 'cause...well, the subject says it all.

For two days in a row, I got 1200 words down on Project 3. This resulted in a finished chapter 15, and a HUGE chunk done on chapter 16. It'll be interesting to see if I can get to 50K by next Friday, but hey, anything is possible.

Came home to a full manuscript request (the first 3 chapters went in the initial query) from a source I wasn't expecting. I mean, I DID query them, so I was expecting SOMEthing, but I didn't know they'd ask for it. You know what I meant. Sheesh.

Hoping to see Mel this weekend, as we christen Gita's new house. Other than that, I intend to be lazy.

Also, as an example of how my brain works (or doesn't work, as the case may be)... In the space of about twenty minutes last night, I managed to come up with an idea for a world/magic system/character class based solely off half of a word glimpsed on a sign in the background of a television commercial. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Tastes Like Chicken!

Last night, there was a mishap involving frying chicken, extremly hot oil, and an unfortunate splash. Now, I have a rather interesting burn pattern on the inside of my right wrist/forearm. Honestly, I think it looks a bit like the Hawaiian islands. Luckily, it didn't actually blister, and I had Dr. Gita within driving distance to do the patch job.

Let this be a lesson to you, kiddies, fried food isn't good for you.

This wouldn't be such a pain (y'know, aside from the actual PAIN) except the burn is right where the wrist-rest on my mousepad hits, and it makes working on the computer a bit....tricky.

In good news, I think...THINK...I have the Quarterly Project from Hell done. My boss gave my bandaged wrist a rather odd look this morning, pretty sure she thinks I tried to off myself over it.

Hopefully, I can get back into the writing swing. Goal is 50K words by the end of NEXT week. (no, not this week, are you smoking crack?)

ZzzzzZZZZzzzzz

SO, let me explain to you what the world looks like on two hours of sleep. It looks weeeeeird.

I don't know why I couldn't sleep last night, but somewhere between 10pm and 2am, I managed to do quite a bit of thinking on Project 3. That thinking lead to writing about 800 words today, and hopefully will continue to...do something. Cut me some slack, I haven't slept.

So, around 2-ish, I fell asleep. Only to be awakened by hubby coming to bed around 4-ish. Now, hubby snores. BADLY. But by the time I had decided that no court in the world would convict me of smothering him with a pillow, it was already 5 and my alarm was going to go off in half an hour, so oh well, another opportunity wasted.

And you say, but why did you not call in to work and just sleep? And I say this is an excellent question. I don't have a good answer for it, but it's a GREAT question. All I know is, every time I thought "Hey, I should call in", my feet just kept moving forward, taking me through my normal morning routine. And really, that's what I've done all day.

I feel a little wonky, and since Gita is officially a near-neighbor and touring her house is on the agenda tonight, I don't see a nap in my future. However, this should make sure that I sleep HARD tonight. No more insomnia, it isn't fun.

Hubby is currently giving me "that" look. (yes, women do not have a monopoly on the look) His look says "Stop typing and go take a nap, you dork." I may. Poor Gita may have to wait for tomorrow for the grand tour.

It's all about perspective

After some events in the real life today, I have to say that perspective matters. I mean sure, I'm not a world famous published author (yet). Maybe hubby's jobs aren't that great, maybe we could always use just a bit more money. Maybe the entire cast of Deliverance DOES live across the street from me.

But in the big picture, we're pretty damn lucky. I mean, we HAVE jobs. We HAVE a house. And no one has told me my writing sucks yet. (Seriously, if anyone was going to, it should have been Chie)

Gita arrives here next Monday to close on her own very special house, and then I shall have yet another beta-reader within flogging distance. Chie will be visiting for a good chunk of a week in early August, and I'm really looking forward to that too.

Now, if I can just get back in the writing groove. Honestly, haven't touched project 3 since before the 4th, and I'm starting to feel very guilty about that. But if the words just aren't there, they just aren't there. I think I'll let myself go for this weekend, but then next Monday, I'm writing something even if it's a dirty limerick.

How many things rhyme with Nantucket?

Spork to the EYES!

Yes my lovelies, it's that time again. (No, not THAT time. I'm not so hurting for blog chatter that I'll talk about THAT time) It's time for the Quarterly Project From Hell.

I could ramble on and on about the idiocy and redundancy that goes into this monumental effort, but really, it's nothing I haven't complained about before. Suffice it to say that there will be very little writing done this week as I wrestle with this thing.

And the sad thing is, I actually like the Real Job(tm) except for once a quarter, when I punctually threaten to jump out the window and/or spork my eyes out. My bosses are used to it at this point, it doesn't even phase them anymore.

I'm a wuss

I admit it. My characters bullied me into altering my plot to accomodate their need to be highly suspicious of one another. It'll be a small alteration (same events, just a different motivation behind them) but still, it's going to make chapter 15 into something very different than it would have been otherwise.

And just for random interest, I give you a couple examples of what NOT to do when submitting to either agents or editors. Moonrat has this to say on the subject, and Jennifer Jackson mentions this little quandry.

Seriously, in what business ANYwhere are these behaviors acceptable? What are people teaching their kids these days??? (because thoughtless, tactless adults have to come from somewhere, they don't just spring into life fully grown)

Bad Characters! No donut!

They just won't LISTEN to me! No matter what I say, they have minds of their own, and it's putting a serious crimp in my plotting.

I'm gonna go over here and sulk a bit.

Honestly, not a lot going on at the moment. Coming up on the big holiday weekend which won't be so big since hubby has to work. Really, I'm just as content to stay home and make sure the drunk neighbors don't burn down our house.

Don't get me wrong, I love what the 4th stands for and everything... But severe inebriation + things that explode = fail in my book. I hate this holiday.