Devon Ellington's Blog, page 48
December 20, 2023
Wed. Dec. 20, 2023: A Good Writing Day
image courtesy of Pexels via pixabay.comWednesday, December 20, 2023
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and a little warmer
We have two serial episodes going live today.
The first is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 95: Randolph Neville is the Client
Lianna faces the challenge of reading a revered Craft elder.
The second is from DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 45: One Dead
Charlie and an FBI agent grill Nina about Jake and the dead maid. Then another murder blows Nina’s theories out of the water.
Drafted an episode of Legerdemain, which was fun, although I had to go back and look up a few details, to make sure I’m wrapping up the loose ends on this thread. I want to get ahead and stockpile some episodes on this serial, and then write steadily, so I don’t get into pockets where I’m scrambling, the way I did far too often this year.
I finished the material for the first Ink-Dipped Advice post of the year, and got that uploaded and scheduled.
Wrote the next chapter of the piece I’ve been playing with, Chapter Two. I had to rewrite some of what I wrote at the top of the chapter yesterday, because I realized a theme I hadn’t initially recognized was getting unbalanced. So I fixed that, and wrote just under 2K for it.
I worked on the script, but had to throw out the scene I worked on, because it bogged the script down rathe than driving it forward. I have to re-think this next section.
Did some quick coverage work. Went down a rabbit hole searching for something I know I wrote a few years ago and can’t find. Am also looking for a project binder I remember having here in this house, and put somewhere “safe.”
Did some Vella promotions and reads, starting one story in particular I really liked and will finish reading tomorrow or the next day, I hope. I’ll have to buy some more tokens soon. Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain. I’m hoping next week I can do some serious promotions in the Vella groups.
I’ve been working on a new title for the re-release of the short science fiction/western/horror novelette originally titled “Severance” (and it will get a new cover). Looking for my Cornelia True and Roman Gray notes, because I want to re-release the next two (that start with the quirky “Ramsey Chase” within a short time of each other. It’s time travel fantasy with romantic and mystery elements that is set against a political backdrop even more relevant than when I first conceived them. I remember writing extensive notes for the whole series of shorts – three in Cornelia’s time, three in Roman’s time, and three in a time that is new to both of them. All I’ve found is the material for “Ramsey” and the first three pages of “Miss Winston Apologizes” which is the second one. But I remember writing all of “Miss Winston” AND starting the third one. Cannot find them on any of my drives. I hope I didn’t put them in the dumpster during The Big Purge on Cape. I did find my notes for some pulp-style fantasy/noir/sci-fi. Wondering if some of those would work better, initially as serials, i.e., releasing each short as a multi-episode serial of its own, and letting it sit complete for a bit until I have enough to collect into a book. But I couldn’t even start to work on anything like that until well into next year.
We got some more holiday cards and I got an unexpected check, which is always nice. Not much, but enough to pay another bill. And then, another unexpected check arrived, which I will use to pay for opera tickets so my mom can see some of her favorite operas that will be live streamed from the Met to the Clark over the next few months. So it all works out.
I’m trying to put together my writing plan for next year, and am not sure how I’ll juggle it all. Project by project, I guess, without worrying so much.
I’ve been working a lot with intentions for next year, and how I want to manifest them. I’m a little tired of these motivational gurus and all there “you attract what you are” types. That’s over simplifying things. It’s PART of the equation. But another part is systems designed to keep the bulk of us in poverty. What are these motivational gurus doing to dismantle them? Nothing. Because the systems keep them paid. I’m going to do some posts built around that for the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions site next year.
I had a good creative day, and yet still fought the “you didn’t get enough done” syndrome. I’m trying to reframe the end of my workday positively, instead of constantly berating myself for not being hyper-productive. I wrote around 5K yesterday. That’s an excellent day’s work. And, I paced it so I didn’t feel burned out by the end.
Leftover meatloaf for dinner (yum) and reading on the couch in the evening, with all the Christmas lights on and Charlotte on my lap. I’m reading Colleen Cambridge’s MURDER BY INVITATION ONLY, which is fun.
Weird dreams all night. Not bad, just weird. Up early enough that Charlotte decided not to get out of bed (which means she missed her breakfast, so Willa did the thoughtful thing and ate both). Humped the laundry over to the laundromat. Got everything done and back to the house a little after 7.
Instead of editing anything, I took Zadie Smith’s newest novel, THE FRAUD, along to read. Wow, it’s good. It delves into literary layers of fiction and reality and pen names and self-delusion, while at the same time examining race and colonialism. A truly wonderful book.
On today’s agenda: another episode of Legerdemain, and whatever other writing I can get in this morning. Then, I have errands: post office, bank, library, grocery store to pick up a couple of things I need for tomorrow’s Solstice dinner. A quick score sheet and maybe some editing this afternoon, and off to tarot circle. I’m also designing an e-card and sending it to some people I dealt with this year, but don’t have an address to send a card by post.
Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Have a good one!
December 19, 2023
Tues. Dec. 19, 2023: It’s the Details
image courtesy of Ilo via pixabay.comTuesday, December 19, 2023
Waxing moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cold
I hope you had a good weekend.
My last few days have been all over the place.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 147: The Order’s Security Breached
The threat has entered the building.
Friday morning, I sat down and did the next few weeks’ worth of graphics for Legerdemain, plus this week’s episode videos for all three serials. Got things uploaded to TikTok. Made an additional graphic for next week, when Legerdemain hits its 150th episode.
Had all kinds of technical issues with creating the videos, and then uploading them.
Also took the time to support videos by friends and colleagues.
Had to do some admin on all the serials. There were tracking pages and unfiled episodes and the like. I didn’t want it to get chaotic, since I use the binders of information as I work and as I promote. So I made the time to get things straightened out.
I should have done a bunch of writing, but wasn’t in a drafting headspace. More of an organizational headspace.
I re-read the episodes written so far for LIGHTHOUSE LADY. They need a bit of work, but overall, they are strong. I definitely can’t just work on it one week per month in the New Year; I need the edited, polished piece ready to upload and schedule in late April or early May, since it will have to start going live in mid-June. I may be able to work on other serials while I’m drafting LIGHTHOUSE, but I need to work on it steadily in January and February, so I can revise and edit in March and April. I should write 6 episodes/week, and, if it stays within the boundaries I hope it will, I can finish the draft within that time.
WHILE writing at least 4 episodes per week of Legerdemain. AND finding time to work on THE VICIOUS CRITIC, REP, the plays, the radio plays, and the other stuff. AND enough freelance work to keep the bills paid, while upping the promotions for the serials. When I promote them steadily enough, there’s a return.
Time management and harnessing creative energy will be the watchwords for winter into spring.
Ran errands: post office, library, pharmacy, grocery store, liquor store, store to get ink for the printer. Exhausted by the time I got home.
I should have finished the project for Yule; instead, I spent the afternoon on the couch re-reading Rosamunde Pilcher’s WINTER SOLSTICE, which is one of my comfort reads of the season. I remembered the plot and some of the characters very differently. I still enjoyed the re-read (and stayed up way too late finishing it). But it makes me wonder which book I thought I remembered when I thought of WINTER SOLSTICE.
Had trouble getting to sleep, and didn’t sleep well.
Up early on Saturday, thanks to Tessa and Charlotte. Getting back to my early morning yoga practice is a big plus.
Re-read what I’ve written for THE VICIOUS CRITIC so far, and, again, I think it will work. It’s just a case of carving out the time to get it drafted.
Drafted an episode of Legerdemain. Printed it, then had to rekey the second half, because the computer only saved the first half. I hate Mercury Retrograde. So there went the writing time I put aside for something else.
Worked on the project I need to complete before Solstice. Between the shaping and the painting, it took all day, and not all the pieces were finished. But I think the experiments worked. In and around things, I got tidying up done, some more decorating done, and made turkey meatloaf.
Had weird dreams Saturday into Sunday. Working dreams, with both Christopher Walken (who was a big part of my early theatre life) and Robert Redford (whom I’ve never met).
Up early. Got the stollen started. In between rises, worked on the rest of the project for Solstice. Got the painting done. Got the stollen done. Which took all day, and was much more complicated than it sounds, especially with Mercury retrograde mucking up everything.
I want a year with NO Mercury Retrogrades. I know that’s not possible, but that’s what I want.
Made some notes on an idea, and have no idea if/when I can work on it.
At least, if I ever hit a finish point and wonder what to do next, I have plenty of options.
Instead of making three gigantic stollen loaves this year, I made three smaller ones, and then some other mini loaves, that latter in loaf pans. Those, sadly, were underbaked, but that’s why I experimented. To figure out how to do it properly.
Stollen takes all day (at least 8 hours). If you rush any of the steps, it has a diva fit and doesn’t work. I only make it once a year because it’s such a pain to make, and I miss it when we don’t have it. So, I’d rather trade a day to work on it than not have it.
I got annoyed with a bunch of posts on social media, but that’s on me for breaking my no social media on Sundays rule (which I always break to get the latest Instagram story from @specialagentbobcat and the Ridge Runner Gang, but I strayed from that and paid the price).
I swear, though, Willa has been taking lessons from her cousin Billy. First, she figured out how to open her catnip banana and empty it. Then, when I was on a Zoom meditation (Be Well Be Here’s last, before they close their doors), Willa pushed Charlotte out of the way and took over Zoom. Charlotte sulked for hours, because usually she is the Princess of Zoom.
THEN, Willa batted around a bright red apple ornament on the tree. She’s never done that to the tree, in all the years she’s been around a tree.
I’m telling you, she and Billy of the Ridge Runner Gang are texting. Or something.
Meditation was pretty good. I put a comment in the chat and the leader was so appreciative, and then told me how beautiful it was written, and that I should write. That’s when I realized that she’s forgotten I AM a writer. That’s what I do. After three years and numerous conversations about writing, she doesn’t remember I’m a writer. Which is a little exasperating, but that’s the way it goes. She runs a writer’s festival and I’d considered pitching to it, but now I hesitate. Mercury Retrograde, having a good laugh at mixed signal communications.
Well, it’s not like I’d send out any proposals until Mercury and Jupiter go direct anyway!
Read a bit after meditation. I’m reading a book that’s highly reviewed/recommended. I like it, but I don’t love it as much as the hype.
It started raining in the evening, and the storm worsened all night. It was still pouring in the morning.
I did not want to get up, but I did (late). I was late because Charlotte started using me as her bouncy house at 3 AM, and I refused to give in.
Drafted two episodes of Legerdemain, which were kind of fun. Trying to wrap up this arc so I can move on to the third big arc. This arc will need Sooooo much revision if it ever has a life beyond the serial. I’d like to get ahead on Legerdemain again, so I’m not scrambling.
Wrote my way into the piece on which I’d written up notes over the weekend. I wrote about 2500 words, the first chapter, and a little bit into the second. I think it’s viable, although it usually takes about four chapters in to be sure. I got an idea to adjust the second chapter a bit. The next draft has to go much, much deeper, but at least I’m figuring out the basic story here, based on the notes. It makes the most sense to go under the Cerridwen Iris Shea name, both stylistically, and to leverage that Llewellyn audience. When I can fit it into the schedule is something else, again.
2024 will be the year of schedule juggling, even more than usual, to stay in flow with projects and also meet deadlines.
The weather was just awful on Monday. The rain was so bad that schools closed early, because roads were flooding out. I was glad to be able to stay home.
I put the cords on the gifts for tarot circle, packed them in their little organza bags, and packed the sparkly gold sack from which people will pull them. It only took about an hour to finish up, and I’m glad it’s done.
Spent the rest of the afternoon reading on the sofa, being a cat mattress for Charlotte, alternating with enjoying downtime, feeling guilty for having downtime, and feeling like I should be doing something else. Enjoyment won out.
Leftovers for dinner, then more reading and enjoying the lights.
It was supposed to snow in the night and all day today, so I didn’t prepare the laundry, but, of course, it didn’t, and I could have, but I’ll go tomorrow.
Charlotte was impossible again this morning, so I stubbornly stayed in bed until after 7. Tessa Was Not Amused.
On today’s agenda: more Legerdemain, some small coverage work, maybe work on the new project, to see where it’s going, and figure out when I can sit and outline the whole thing, work on the script, and maybe some work on CAST IRON MURDER revisions.
I’m putting together materials for a slate of project proposals I’m going to send out early next year. That always takes more time than one hopes. I also need to get going, this week, on January’s posts for The Process Muse, Ink-Dipped Advice, and the GDR (goals, dreams and resolutions) site. I have them pretty much planned out, but I have to sit down and write them.
Plenty to do, and I’ll have to adjust it depending on how much script coverage comes in. There’s not a lot on this week’s slate, which worries me, but maybe it’s a case of having less this week, and more next week, since there are some deadlines coming up. We’ll see.
I’m prepping a bunch of new LOIs for freelance prospects as well. It’s pointless to send out any of these proposals or LOIs until after the holidays. But I can prep them, so it’s just a case of sending the emails.
All kinds of issues getting this to post properly. Grrr.
Hope you have a good week!
December 18, 2023
Mon. Dec. 18, 2023: Intent for the Week: Enjoy the Dark
image courtesy of y Henryk Niestrój via pixabay.comTech issues everywhere!
Anyway, with the Winter Solstice looming on Thursday, and a big storm here today into tomorrow, I intend to enjoy the dark.
Starting on Friday, we gain light each day.
What is your intent for the week?
December 15, 2023
Fri. Dec. 15, 2023: Time to Finish Some Projects
image courtesy of Sabrina Ripke via pixabay.comFriday, December 15, 2023
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
Partly sunny and raw
We made it to Friday! Yay! It’s a little warmer today, but kind of raw.
Today’s serial episode is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 94: Drogo’s Decision
Drogo must return home with the new information.
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 44: One Missing
There’s no sign of Jake, dead or alive.
Yesterday was busy, but felt scattered and frustrated. I edited and uploaded next week’s Legerdemain episodes. There was a release glitch with Tuesday’s episode, so I had to wait until it went through the approval queue, then fix the date, then send it through the queue again, but it looks like it’s sorted out.
While I waited for it to go through the queue, I wrote the following two episodes, polished, uploaded, and scheduled them. That gets me through the end of the year, plus the last episode of the year is also Episode 150, which kind of feels like a big deal. Okay, no “kind of” about it. 150 episodes is a big deal.
After lunch, I switched over to script coverage and turned around a handful of short coverages.
I did some admin work, and some puttering around. There were dozens of small irritations during the course of the day, as there tend to be during Mercury Retrograde, but really nothing that couldn’t be handled or let go of. There’s a point where certain things just aren’t worth the stress.
I went to the double yoga class. After six weeks of the lower back clinic (and working on exercises every day in between sessions), I’m seeing improvement. So that’s all good. There are two more weeks of that class, and of gentle yoga for the year, and then gentle yoga moves back to Tuesday nights in January, which works better for me.
Home made up a meal out of leftovers that turned out okay. Read for a bit.
Came up with some blurb/video ideas for THE LIGHTHOUSE LADY and CHRONOS & THE WITCH (ANGEL HUNT seasons 2 & 3) and noted them in Keep Notes on my phone, because I was too tired to get out of bed, but didn’t want to lose that thought.
Up early this morning and spent some extra time on my home yoga practice. I’ve slacked off in the mornings because I’ve been back in the studio, although I’ve done some of the lower back exercises at the end of the writing day, before dinner.
I want to get some writing done (time to work ahead on Legerdemain over the next few weeks). Then it’s errand time – post office, library, pharmacy, grocery store, picking up ink for the printer (because of course I’m out of ink again). I need to work on the project for Yule some more – I have six or seven more pieces to make, which will then need to be painted and finished, and I have to put the cords on all of them and pack them in their little gift bags before Solstice.
Tomorrow, I work on the stollen, which is an all-day event. Don’t worry; I’ll post photos! 
I hope to get some other writing and editing done this weekend, but we’ll see how it goes. I also want to at least start the next book for review.
I have to pin the cards to the board and put it up on the mantel. Cards are coming in, and it’s fun! I have some ornament boxes to put away, and tidying up to do, so that we can sit back and enjoy our decorations for the next couple of weeks.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side.
December 14, 2023
Thurs. Dec. 14, 2023: Time to Get Cozy
image courtesy of Jill Wellington via pixabay.comThursday, December 14, 2023
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cold
18F this morning. Brrrr.
You can read the latest on the garden over at Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain.
Episode 146: Chasing the Portal Jumper
Raggedy portals cause as much danger as the person who tore them.
Yesterday morning continued to be scattered. Fixed the delivery glitch on Process Muse. Did the computer update. Polished, uploaded, and scheduled this year’s remaining Process Muse and Ink-Dipped Advice posts. Next week, I want to get ahead on the January posts. It’s much less stressful if I stay a month or so ahead.
Felt scattered and unsettled, even though everything was fine. Just the way it works sometimes.
Got my next two book review assignments.
Turned around a bunch of score sheets and a manuscript coverage. Grabbed some short coverages in a format I dislike for today, but that’s all that was there, so too bad for me.
Made some notes on an idea I had. It’s marketable, but I’m not sure I’m the one to make it viable. Still, if I can balance the elements, it could be fun. No idea when I can actually work on it, though.
Headed off to tarot circle. Got feedback on the lemon and lime cookies, and know what I will try for the next batch.
Tarot circle was good, as it always is.
Home, dinner, reading Anne Truitt’s final journal YIELD. It’s more fractured than her previous journals, but she muses on being an aging artist, which is something I’ve been thinking a lot about (and wrote a grant proposal about).
An idea for a big project is percolating. It’s been in the works for years, but I think it might be ready for creation in the coming months. I see and feel the shape of it. I’ll work on the outline in the coming weeks, so I have an idea of the details, and know where I have to research.
On today’s agenda: meditation, Legerdemain, promotion, script coverage, maybe a little work on a couple of other projects.
Tomorrow will be a lot of errands in the late morning, after writing time, making the episode videos for next week, promotion, and then maybe the final bits of work on the big project that needs to be done by Solstice.
The weekend will be about working on that project, making stollen, and getting back to the CAST IRON MURDER edits. And, hopefully, some work on the screenplay. THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE draft will not be finished by the end of the year; I need to rethink the middle section, and I’m not sure what to do with it yet. It needs percolation time, to solve that issue, and then I should be able to clearly shoot forward through to the end. But I can’t see that happening in the next two weeks.
I do, however, need to finish the last few episodes of ANGEL HUNT and get that uploaded and scheduled, so I can move forward in the New Year with LIGHTHOUSE LADY unencumbered. I had an idea for that this morning.
Lots to do, limited time, better get going, right? Have a good one.
December 13, 2023
Wed. Dec. 13, 2023: Why Yes, Mercury is Retrograde
image courtesy of 2758992 via pixabay.comWednesday, December 13, 2023
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cold
Yes, my friends, Mercury has gone retrograde AGAIN. Until New Year’s Day.
The Process Muse glitched (of course it did), but it’s out now. We’re talking about Residencies, and you can read it here.
There are two serial episodes going live today.
The first is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 93: Gaston’s Anger
Gaston’s discomfort with the emotional and magical ramifications turns into anger.
The second is from DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 43: Nina Runs for Help
The only chance to save Jake is to leave him and get help.
Yesterday was a rather chaotic day.
I had trouble getting it together in the morning, although I got a lot of admin done. I also got out a pitch to an organization with whom I’d like to work. We’ll see.
I had to take my mom to her doctor’s appointment in the early afternoon, and that took most of the rest of the day, because they wanted to run tests, do bloodwork, etc. They’re changing some of her medication, which is good. How long have I said that was necessary? Since February?
Anyway, that’s all done, we got home late in the afternoon, and there was the day. Good thing a lot of coverage work hadn’t come in.
I didn’t get any work done on Legerdemain, though, which made me tense.
When we got back from the doctor, we found Charlotte in the midst of a panic attack. She’s not used to both of us being out of the house for a long time. It took a few hours to get her settled again, and she was Velcro kitty for the rest of the night. Tessa and Willa hadn’t even noticed we were gone.
I had to straighten out something with the library. Another Commonwealth Catalog book I returned last week was still on the record. Someone’s not checking them back in correctly. The librarian took it off my record, and we decided in the future I will take the books up to the individual responsible for CC, rather than returning it to the main desk. It takes two extra minutes and saves everybody pain.
Wrote and turned in my book review; asked for my next assignment.
My last holiday gift arrived, as did my Solstice gift. Anticipation until I can actually use them!
Read INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by Emma Törzs, which is excellent.
Noodled with a science fiction idea (talk about out of my wheelhouse) that I will play with, but can’t go on the schedule for a bit.
Did not do much for the new moon except plan what I should be doing during the new moon.
Should have gone to the laundromat, but did not. We’re fine. We have enough clean clothes until next week.
Started the day with a glitch on the Process Muse delivery and had to get that fixed; now I have to do a Windows update, which you know is going to mess things up, so I’m trying to put it off. But I should get it over with. Maybe this afternoon, after I’ve gotten some coverage work done.
Hopefully, I can get everything done and make it to Tarot Circle tonight.
Have a good one. Yeah, Mercury’s retrograde. Glad I got everything out the door.
December 12, 2023
Tues. Dec. 12, 2023: Back to the Page
image courtesy of svklimkin via pixabay.comTuesday, December 12, 2023
New Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cold
We’ve had such mucky weather, I almost forgot what the sun looks like.
I hope you had a good weekend!
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 145: The Knife-Wielding Portal Jumper
Someone’s cleaning up loose ends.
Friday morning, I had to sort out some issues with Microsoft. I kept getting popup messages saying my subscription expired, but I’m paid through until April 2024. I checked with them, and they agreed. So it better not go cattywampus during the retrograde – or at any other time.
There’s a post up over on Ink-Dipped Advice about my social media experiments. You can read it here.
I decided I have to put up a page on the Devon Ellington Work site for short stories. I have links to the series websites. I have a serials page, and a Delectable Digital Delights page for the shorts that are independently released. I have a page for the Topic Workbooks, and one for anthology appearances. But not for short stories.
Since I’m working in that format again, now and then, I need to put up the links. Or put up bits from my clip files. Or just list them.
That’ll take a bit of work, and will happen piecemeal over the next few months. I’ve had quite a few short stories published over the years, and probably many of the publications are no longer in existence. Plus, some are only in print. Pre-digital. Because I’m just that old.
Packed up some more cookie platters, and did the deliveries, making people happy. Did a library run (and yes, they got cookies). Did a small grocery shop.
When I came home, my mom wasn’t feeling well. She was so cold she was physically shaking and her teeth were chattering. Bundled her in bed with layers of blankets and featherbed and heating pad. Had her drink hot cocoa, lemon and echinacea tea, and later on, the nettle/oat straw tea my friend makes. She warmed up, but was very tired and slept most of the day.
I remembered that was one of my reactions to the vaccine, which makes me wonder if somehow she was exposed to virus lately, and the vaccine is doing its job. We both tested negative on the home tests (which means less than it should), but I’ll keep an eye on things.
It might be time to bring back some of the cleaning protocols on anything coming into the house, including mail. Who knows how many delivery people are working when they’re sick, or before they know they’ve been sick?
She has a doctor’s appointment today, so, hopefully, that will be some help. Since the doctor’s office called in the wrong prescription anyway last week.
I did some script coverage. I did this week’s episode videos for the serials. Since I hadn’t done any episode promotion all week, I did all of it bunched together, which is not the smartest idea, but at least it’s out there.
Made steelhead trout for dinner. My fishmonger suggested it to me, knowing how much I like trout. It’s different than regular trout. Larger, for one. It looks like salmon meat, that same orange color. When cooked, it tastes like a cross between trout and swordfish. Very strange. It’s got the buttery aftertaste of trout, but the texture and bite of swordfish. I couldn’t figure out if I liked it. I didn’t dislike it, but I’m not sure.
Started reading a highly recommended book that I enjoyed, but some of the stylistic choices grew tiresome via repetition.
Slept well, up early on Saturday, with my head swirling with ideas for writing.
Worked on this year’s holiday story. It was supposed to be a flash fiction, but it’s a little longer than that.
Put together some more holiday cookie platters and delivered them. People were happy, which is the point. Couldn’t find decorating sugar, so I bought sanding sugar instead.
Did some more decorating. Cleaned up the sewing room. Set up some of the Santas in there. We have Santas everywhere this year. Started setting up the partial village in my office. Brought down the rest of the ornaments from the last shelf, and got those sorted out.
Went to bed too early on Saturday, so slept badly and fretted too much.
Baked banana chocolate chip muffins (we had some bananas that were getting sad). They turned out well. Did an experimental batch of lemon butter cookies and lime butter cookies. They both have the sand cookie texture. I tripled the lemon in the recipe, and doubled the lime, and it’s still not enough. I’m trying not to use extracts, but the real juices, as the recipe calls for, but it’s too subtle.
It was weird doing only ONE batch of any cookie.
Read in the afternoon. Enjoyed the tree.
Up early on Monday. Did several rounds of revisions on the holiday story for the newsletter, and got the newsletter done and out. The story ended up being just over 1700 words. It’s cute and kind of old-fashioned, but fun.
It was important for me to get the newsletter out before Mercury retrograde, although it took much more time than expected, even though I’d written most of the newsletter over the course of the quarter.
Signed up for 10 Days of “Mending Meditations” about creativity, meditation, and mending clothes.
The Doubt Demons attacked, and I had that bout of wondering what the hell I think I’m doing, and does any of what I create really matter?
I did the wide and the Insta versions of the Lockesley Hall videos. You can watch them on social media, or on the Delectable Digital Delights page (it’s the second one down). For some reason, on the website, one of the apostrophes flipped. It’s fine in the video and in the social media posts, but is backwards on the Delights page and the “news” page. Deleting and re-uploading doesn’t solve the problem. Sigh.
It’s not as cute as the “Just Jump In and Fly” video because the story’s not as cute.
Wrote two episodes of Legerdemain. It was fun to get back into that world, and this section contains both humor and action. I’m resolving some plot arcs, moving to complete this big arc’s reach (quite a few episodes more than I expected it would take). I’m figuring it needs another 10-20 episodes to complete this, and then we’ll start the third big arc sometime early next year.
I’m having doubts as to whether focusing on one serial per week will work. For instance, I hope that THE LIGHTHOUSE LADY (Angel Hunt Season 2) will be about 30 episodes. If I only work on it one week per month, it will take 3 months to finish the draft, whereas if I work on it steadily in tandem with Legerdemain, it should take about six weeks of concentrated writing. Since I need it to be ready in April or May. . .
I’ll be playing with schedules quite a bit in the first quarter of 2024, I think.
Did some revision on the sample script. Made a bunch of cuts, and decided to move half a scene to later in the piece. I’m at the halfway point now; time to ratchet up the romance and the mystery.
I keep having to catch myself and strip back scenes and subplots. I remind myself, “If this was a series, I’d explore this thread” but it’s a stand-alone film script, so I have to keep it lean and focused on the two primary characters. The supporting characters are fun and developed, but I can’t go too far into their stories without it losing steam.
Finished reading the book for review. Will write that up today, send it off, and request the next assignment. Only some quick, low-paid coverage work is in; I hope some bigger ones come in for the rest of the week.
Gave two of the three neighbors their cookies yesterday. I have one more to catch, and then I am fully done, although I may put together a plate for a woman in my yoga class who mentioned her love of cookies.
I’ve almost emptied the big bins I initially kept the cookies in once they cooled, for ease of packing, and have repacked them into smaller tins.
I decided I’m done with an online acquaintance. We’ve interacted for a couple of years now, mostly me listening to their various crises and deepening hypochondria. I admire a lot of the work this individual has done in the past, and they talk a lot about equity and justice work. However, when yesterday, they attacked me for doing the necessary business aspects of my writing career “when there’s so much suffering going on in the world” I was done. No matter what’s going on in the world, I still have to pay rent, bills, and keep food on the table. That means attending to the business side of my career as well as the artistic.
This individual has no problem with multi-million dollar corporate ad campaigns, but has issues with individual artists doing the necessary legwork and marketing work to keep a roof over their heads. No. Especially since they keep talking about how they’ll write a book “someday” but that day never comes around. This individual has never liked or shared any post about my work (and now I know why). They’re very much about non-reciprocal interaction. We’re all (and I mean “all”) supposed to provide emotional, social media, and financial support for this person while they do nothing for those giving the support. This is also someone who passive aggressively (and sometimes aggressively) bullies others online for not responding to a situation the way they want others to respond. Bullying is bullying. There’s no such thing as righteous bullying. I started thinking, why am I interacting with this individual, when every contact makes me stressed and miserable? I keep cutting them slack, and they keep pushing boundaries. So I’m done. No screaming, no confrontation. Just gently disengaging on various platforms over the next few days. I wish them a long and happy life, far away from me.
I live maybe 10-15% of my life online. That means 85-90% of what I do, be it activism or personal relationships or anything else, I never discuss publicly. On a relationship level, it’s nobody’s business, except to those with whom I choose to share. On a work/activism level, it’s because I believe that true dedication to that type of work isn’t about calling attention to the fact that you’re doing the work, but putting your head down and doing the work. I don’t need to be an “influencer.” I just want the work done. No one has to know about it. And no one has the right to assume I’m not doing the work because I’m not throwing it in everybody’s faces.
I’ve often said that I believe true philanthropy is anonymous. Those who buy naming rights for themselves are doing it for ego, not because they believe in the work. Fine for them, but gives me necessary information, and I know who to avoid.
On today’s agenda: work on Legerdemain, work on a couple of articles, do the marketing rounds for “Just Jump in and Fly” and “The Ghost of Lockesley Hall” (I might alternate days for them). My mom has a doctor’s appointment in the early afternoon. I will turn around the short coverages either before we go, or when we get back.
Christmas cards are starting to arrive. I have a bunch to pin on the board, and then I’ll put it up above the fireplace and add to it as more arrive.
New moon today, and buckle up, Mercury goes retrograde tomorrow, until New Year’s Day.
Off we go, back to the page.
December 11, 2023
Mon. Dec. 11, 2023: Intent for the Week — Embrace Slowing Down
image courtesy of Shanon via pixabay.comToday is the Dark Moon.
Tomorros is the New Moon.
Wednesday, Mercury goes retrograde until New Year’s Day.
The cards and packages are mailed, the cookies delivered, the house decorated.
Instead of having to worry about the rush, then the delays of the retrograde, my intent is to enjoy things slowing down.
There will be challenges in the coming weeks. But I want to embrace the season, and do so with as much peace and rest as possible.
What’s your intent for the week?
December 8, 2023
Fri. Dec. 8, 2023: An Afternoon on the Couch
image courtesy of Agata via pixabay.comFriday, December 8, 2023
Waning Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy and cold
We had a little snow yesterday evening, and overnight; again, just enough to dust.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 92: Kegan’s Advice on Lianna’s Love Life
Kegan has advice, whether Lianna wants it or not.
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from Deadly Dramatics:
Episode 42: Nina Has a Plan
Jake reverts to typical behavior when Nina agrees with him – with dire consequences.
Meditation was good. Charlotte was thrilled there was Zoom.
Packed up some of the cookie platters, and did the deliveries to that side of town. Everyone was surprised and pleased (which is the point).
Got home and gave myself the afternoon off. I had no pressing deadlines, and I was tired, so I rested. I tried to take a nap, but that didn’t work. I puttered around a bit, did some decorating, read, and was a cat mattress. A new Bluesky contact uses the phrase “cat mattress” and I think it’s hilarious.
Received a package from a friend that looks delicious! Tracked the packages I sent on Monday. Some more arrived; others are still in transit. That’s why they went out early!
Had to pay shipping and enter some information I already sent for an oracle deck I backed on Kickstarter months ago. It irritates me when I have to fill out a form that was already filled out the first time, especially for additional costs higher than originally estimated. Had I known how expensive the shipping would be, I wouldn’t have backed it. It’s nearly 1/3 of the deck’s cost on top of the deck, and the deck isn’t cheap. Plus, the updates have been erratic. This one may have been a mistake to back. I had hoped to get it before the holidays, but that’s now in doubt. Good thing I hadn’t ordered it as a gift!
Quite the contrast to the other deck I backed, CITY OF DREAMS ORACLE, which pairs with the MIDNIGHT CITY TAROT (both built around NYC locations). Both of those decks are amazing, the artist was wonderful and forthcoming and reliable, the shipping reasonable, and the quality topnotch. Same with FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT (although that wasn’t a backed deck, I just bought it once it was out) – great quality, clear communication, reasonable shipping, and even bought the deck as a gift for a friend. Same with MYSTIC MONDAYS, which was recommended by an online friend, and the whole interaction was a great experience. If you click the links on these various decks, you’ll see how different they are from each other, how strong the visions, how high the quality.
So we’ll see, once this one arrives, if it was worth this hassle and cost. I doubt I will back another deck any time soon, unless I’ve already dealt with the creator, or the individual comes highly recommended. Live and learn. They can’t all be good experiences.
I love working with different decks, and using different decks for different things. I don’t have quite as many as my friend, author Jamieson Wolf, who regularly posts his work with different decks on Facebook (and has a sale, once a year, of the decks he’s decided not to keep). But I like working with different interpretations and exploring the possibilities. And some decks just connect better than others, and different decks connect with different people.
Speaking of working with decks, I did some work yesterday with the Rackham Tarot, which was a gift from a friend last year, and is great for dream work. Since I’ve had a lot of weird dreams lately, I figured it was time to do some analysis. That was a big help. Because the dream interpretation sites online are, shall we say, less than helpful.
Then, I did some “getting acquainted” work with the Tarot of the Great Outdoors, a deck I won a couple of months back. The major arcana is set in National parks, which is pretty cool. This deck has a very practical bent to it – even the cards that are more challenging in other decks have a sense of practical, common sense steps to take to overcome those challenges, which works well. I’m enjoying getting to know it.
I had a good exchange with an editor with whom I’ve worked before, about a flash fiction they decided not to use. This editor is very supportive of my work; although it wasn’t what they were looking for this time around for the publication, they encouraged me to expand the piece; they feel it’s better suited to longer than their word-limit. I’ll block off some time early in the new year to work on it again.
As I lounged on the couch, I got another idea for a piece, that nearly fell into my brain fully, so I made some notes – on my phone! In Keep Notes! Aren’t my techy friends proud? I’ll get to it when I get to it.
I was writing in my head a different piece that needs to go out fairly soon. Because it is quite short, writing a few drafts in my head makes it more efficient once I put it on the page. I can’t do that with long pieces but it works for short pieces.
Headed off to yoga, for another double class. I’d made a crockpot meal, so I didn’t have to worry about cooking when I got home. I was already hurting from all the baking. While the classes helped, my bad hip started really bothering me later in the evening. There’s a knot in muscles under other muscles, and it’s hard to get it. My acupuncturist used to know exactly where to put the needle to make it release, but I haven’t found an acupuncturist here yet. I wound up taking valerian root and knocking myself out.
Slept for 9 hours and woke up feeling much better (valerian acts as a muscle relaxer. Don’t drive or operate ANY kind of machinery if you take it).
Today, I have more cookie deliveries and some errands to run. It looks like it will snow again any minute. By Sunday, it’s supposed to be in the sixties. By Monday, another storm. Wacky!
I hope to finish cookie deliveries this weekend, AND finish the decorating. I have a book to read for review. Script coverage I didn’t do yesterday, I’ll do this afternoon (I’m still well within deadline). Legerdemain will get some attention over the coming weekend and next week, along with some other pieces. Plus, I have to do next week’s episode videos. I’ve been terrible about promoting anything this week, so I have to make up for it, and do the video for “The Ghost of Lockesley Hall” so that can start making rounds.
I pushed off the stollen baking to next weekend. I might finish a project I need to have done before Solstice, though. We’ll see.
I sat with January’s calendar for a bit to mark out the test run of focusing on one serial per week, so I can deep dive, instead of switching between them every day. That will be the January Experiment, but in order for that to work, I need to get ahead on Legerdemain this month, since that is ongoing. I have to make sure I’m uploaded/scheduled into early February for that BEFORE I start switching off weeks.
Have a good one, and I’ll catch you on the other side.
Brace yourself. Mercury goes retrograde on the 13th, and stays there until New Year’s Day.
December 7, 2023
Thurs. Dec. 7, 2023: Cooking Baking Marathon Part II
image courtesy of Valeria via pixabay.comThursday, December 7, 2023
Waning Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy and cold
It snowed a little overnight, and is 21F. By Sunday, it’s supposed to be 61F. Crazy weather.
You can read the latest on the garden here.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 144: The Meet
Pravin hands over Emlyn’s work.
I had such a good time writing this episode. It mixes comedy and action/thriller elements, and sets off an action-packed few episodes.
Yesterday was a baking marathon. I baked steadily for about six hours, resulting in 9 dozen oatmeal currant lace cookies, 12 dozen molasses spice cookies, and 12 dozen chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies. The latter are a new addition, and boy, are they good! They may have to stay in permanent rotation.
It was snowing, so I skipped tarot circle, not wanting to drive back in the dark in bad weather. Hate not having decent night vision anymore.
Did 3 small coverages.
Two of the packages sent on Monday were delivered (one in Maine, the other in upstate NY). The rest should start hitting today or tomorrow. As I suspected, they’re not all arriving as quickly as predicted, but that’s why they were sent early.
Made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner – been awhile since I did that.
Was too tired to do anything after except stretch out on the sofa with Charlotte sitting on me. A friend asked for the chocolate peppermint crinkle recipe, and I couldn’t face getting off the couch, booting up the computer and scanner and sending it, so I will do so this morning.
Didn’t do any of the promo rounds for anything yesterday, so I’ll have to make up for it today.
I was in bed ridiculously early last night, regretting that I hadn’t invested in chef’s clogs. Charlotte started bothering me at 2 AM, so we battled until I got up at 6:30, because Tessa complained I was late. I am sore from yesterday.
On today’s agenda: meditation, designing/printing the cookie cheat sheets, delivering the platters to one side of town and the neighbors, some writing, some promotion, some script coverage, and then a double yoga session. Yeah, it’ll be a crockpot meal tonight!
I decided not to make the stollen this weekend, but wait until next weekend. I think I’m “baked out” at this point.
Have a good one, my friends!
