Elizabeth Moon's Blog, page 129

Lost arts

These arts are not completely lost, but they're lost to most of us.

I was watching one of the PBS programs on Crafts last weekend--it included segments on basket-making and pottery, two fundamental crafts that allowed people to carry materials from place to place (solids mostly, for baskets, and solids or liquids, for pottery)  and to organize their possessions more easily.  (Leather or woven sacks are another method, but weren't covered in this program.) 

What struck me was the person-to-person

Writer's Block: Teen Time Machine

I would never choose to be a teenager again, never, no time, not under any circumstances.   There is not money enough in the world to get me to relive the years from 13 to 20.

Bigots in the Woodpile

Following on the shooting of a doctor who sometimes performed abortions, and the shooting of a security guard at the Holocaust Memorial in D.C.,  no one could be unaware of the existence of angry white guys with a driving belief that it's someone else's fault. 

I was driving home from choir practice Wednesday night, listening to the classical station as usual, when the amount of lightning in the sky ahead of me sent me hunting around the dial for a weather report.  I didn't find a weather report

Nose to the Grindstone: the second book goes on...

2243 words so far today, a bit over 7000 for the week.   Apparently the extra sleep yesterday worked.

Interesting stuff happening.   What happens when someone who's only ever used a rapier or a longsword is suddenly stuck in the midst of a fight with only a short sword and infantry shield?

I still have no title for this one, but titles often come to me late. 

The book would like to lead me into interesting byways.  I would like to finish it.   In this story universe, the only way to finish it may

Storm #1 passed safely

The first big storm went over us with high winds, a little bit of tiny hail, and an inch of rain.  Lots of lightning and thunder for a couple of hours.

There are more storms lined up to train our way in another hour or so.   I can see the lightning from them now--we went out to get the horses back into the barn & south lot.  

It was a good day to oversleep my nap and miss driving to Austin for fencing practice...

The Writing Life: progress and surprises

Yesterday and today's work on the new new book (the one in first draft, not the one in production) produced surprises for the writer, briefly discussed on the Paksworld blog.

Yesterday felt like a very pedestrian, chop-your-way-through-the-wordage day (being interrupted by a power outage and some other stuff) but today I can see what it was preparing for...the surprise.  

The surprise sets up a number of story-branches...the question being, which one is "live?"  In this story universe, it could b

Progress Report

 2500 words today, and right at 600 pages.  More about the recent stuff on the Paksworld blog for those interested.   A minor plot-bomb hit a little after noon, when I was sitting there thinking "I need another 300 words to make 1500 for the day."   Since yesterday, first day really back-on-book, was a 1000 word day, I was going to go easy on myself and try for 1500 today.  

No wonder my hands are sore, as I've also posted here and elsewhere.  Now for non-writing chores for a few hours.

Work, work, work

A brief (necessarily) note on a writer's day/week/month. 

The writing chores on hand, or just dealt with, include:  1) the current book-in-progress, which would really like at least 3-4 hours a day of my time, six days a week, 2) reading the background material for a novella that's semi-contracted, 3) editing cover copy for an omnibus edition of two older books, 4) writing additional background/promotional material for UK editor, 5) answering reader email, 6) posting to writer-related blogs (LJ

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Day--June 23

rolanni  came up with a brilliant idea--a special day to honor Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers.--and the right day, June 23...but you'll have to read it on her blog to find out why that's such a great day for us.   From the comments to her post, it looks like some librarians and bookstore people are climbing onboard quickly--hurray!

So, if you're a librarian, consider doing a display at your library branch to celebrate SF/F writers...and if you work in a bookstore, or own one, consider making

Belmont

So the other Birdstone son won the Belmont.   My favorite Bird got impatient down the backstretch and was fighting some, so Calvin gave him rein probably two furlongs before he should've (but if you fight them back, they can be more interested in fighting than running) and moved too soon.

Tell you what, if Birdstone's stud fee doesn't go up...I'll be surprised.