Judith Tarr's Blog, page 3
December 31, 2014
Year of Suck and Glory
I don't usually do year-end posts, but this year needs to be buried deep with a stake in its heart and rock salt over the--er, memorialized. Because parts of it were actively awful, but enough were good that I'm optimistic about the year ahead. And the parts that were bad maybe gave me either skills or intestinal fortitude to cope with bad stuff in the new year.
Both the bad and the good were tied up in this being a year of casting off the old and facing, often forcibly, the new. Nearly everything I tried that had been successful before fell short, sometimes a little, sometimes a whole lot. Mainstays of the old order just weren't there any more, or if they were, they just barely came through at all. Keeping the farm was at times a very difficult proposition.
Still is actually, but part of the problem was that I spent the first half of the year in a state of paralysis. Not knowing what to do or where to turn. Brain empty. Nothing coming to fill it.
Except one thing. After years of blockage, the writing genuinely came back. It was and is slow. It wasn't the easy gallop it had been before. The novel I worked on (and worked on and worked on) was much later than I had expected it to be, but it was also about half again as long, and then needed some fairly major revisions, which explains a good part of that. It's much better for those revisions, oh boy is it better. I have hopes for it. Which may fall short, but one has to gamble that they won't.
And that was the lesson of this difficult Change Year. That no matter what I might try to do or be, what I apparently am supposed to be is Writer Person. Writing new work, not just getting old work back into (e)print. That's what, however slow or interrupted, has not fallen short. It's what I keep being pushed toward, no matter what I do.
Of course, one has to find a way to make a living at it, because horses gotta eat, and one of the things that shed itself was the boarding business that paid most of their monthly hay bill. It needed to go; it was causing friction in the herd, and finally Pooka took a (literal) stand that injured his back. He's fine now, but point was taken. Herd wants to be its own self without outsiders.
So there was stress. And more sloughing off of the old. And more shiny! new! that isn't a sure thing yet and who knows if it will be. But if it's writing new stuff, I have a feeling it will be a surer path than anything else.
And that's where it sits on this last, windy, blustery, storm-coming-in day of 2014, that awful year with bright shiny bits in it. I've taken a brain break during the holidays, after a lovely Camp Lipizzan over the Solstice and a lovely family time over Christmas. Still in it actually, but turning the oversized starship of said brain out of resting mode and into writing mode. Because writing seems to be where it needs to be.
I don't do New Year's resolutions. I do do an ongoing conception of where things need to go, and that's toward fulfilling the Solstice Kickstarter by writing two (possibly three) short novels, and delving into the Sekrit Projekt, and contemplating a number of other TBA's having to do with writing new stuff. Along with more backlist because that's a nonspectacular but steady contributor to the bottom line, and some editing because likewise. And, beyond that, riding more and training more and giving myself permission to enjoy the horses rather than just struggle to keep them fed. Some of them are in the late twilight of their years; I want to enjoy the time they have. Some are heading into early twilight, so likewise. And the young ones are more than ready to step up and be the go-to riding and Camp horses.
People say, Well, you have too many, why not sell them. Because half of them are aged out of the market, a couple quite severely, and the other half are the future for me and for Camp Lipizzan. They're core staff. Can't do it without them. In a lot of ways, it's all about them, and most of what I do is for them. And I'm good with that. I need to let them give me joy--so maybe I have a resolution after all. Even if I don't Do resolutions.
So that's the year ahead, which one hopes will be a great improvement over the one just past. At least I go into it with a sense of where the path lies, and how I can make it work. That feels good.
I get to write! Yay! And ride! Yay! Yes! I can do this!
Both the bad and the good were tied up in this being a year of casting off the old and facing, often forcibly, the new. Nearly everything I tried that had been successful before fell short, sometimes a little, sometimes a whole lot. Mainstays of the old order just weren't there any more, or if they were, they just barely came through at all. Keeping the farm was at times a very difficult proposition.
Still is actually, but part of the problem was that I spent the first half of the year in a state of paralysis. Not knowing what to do or where to turn. Brain empty. Nothing coming to fill it.
Except one thing. After years of blockage, the writing genuinely came back. It was and is slow. It wasn't the easy gallop it had been before. The novel I worked on (and worked on and worked on) was much later than I had expected it to be, but it was also about half again as long, and then needed some fairly major revisions, which explains a good part of that. It's much better for those revisions, oh boy is it better. I have hopes for it. Which may fall short, but one has to gamble that they won't.
And that was the lesson of this difficult Change Year. That no matter what I might try to do or be, what I apparently am supposed to be is Writer Person. Writing new work, not just getting old work back into (e)print. That's what, however slow or interrupted, has not fallen short. It's what I keep being pushed toward, no matter what I do.
Of course, one has to find a way to make a living at it, because horses gotta eat, and one of the things that shed itself was the boarding business that paid most of their monthly hay bill. It needed to go; it was causing friction in the herd, and finally Pooka took a (literal) stand that injured his back. He's fine now, but point was taken. Herd wants to be its own self without outsiders.
So there was stress. And more sloughing off of the old. And more shiny! new! that isn't a sure thing yet and who knows if it will be. But if it's writing new stuff, I have a feeling it will be a surer path than anything else.
And that's where it sits on this last, windy, blustery, storm-coming-in day of 2014, that awful year with bright shiny bits in it. I've taken a brain break during the holidays, after a lovely Camp Lipizzan over the Solstice and a lovely family time over Christmas. Still in it actually, but turning the oversized starship of said brain out of resting mode and into writing mode. Because writing seems to be where it needs to be.
I don't do New Year's resolutions. I do do an ongoing conception of where things need to go, and that's toward fulfilling the Solstice Kickstarter by writing two (possibly three) short novels, and delving into the Sekrit Projekt, and contemplating a number of other TBA's having to do with writing new stuff. Along with more backlist because that's a nonspectacular but steady contributor to the bottom line, and some editing because likewise. And, beyond that, riding more and training more and giving myself permission to enjoy the horses rather than just struggle to keep them fed. Some of them are in the late twilight of their years; I want to enjoy the time they have. Some are heading into early twilight, so likewise. And the young ones are more than ready to step up and be the go-to riding and Camp horses.
People say, Well, you have too many, why not sell them. Because half of them are aged out of the market, a couple quite severely, and the other half are the future for me and for Camp Lipizzan. They're core staff. Can't do it without them. In a lot of ways, it's all about them, and most of what I do is for them. And I'm good with that. I need to let them give me joy--so maybe I have a resolution after all. Even if I don't Do resolutions.
So that's the year ahead, which one hopes will be a great improvement over the one just past. At least I go into it with a sense of where the path lies, and how I can make it work. That feels good.
I get to write! Yay! And ride! Yay! Yes! I can do this!
December 17, 2014
Such Winter as We Have, We Do Enjoy It
The icon was made a while ago, but that's Pooka today, snugged up in his blankie and no little bit affronted because it's COLD. And intermittently WET. And there is MUD. The rest are in rain sheets because of said mud, and because when I saw how the forecast had changed, I ran out at midnight with a flashlight and a helpful dog and threw sheets on the crew.
Good thing, too. Temp dropped into the horse-hell zone (40F and raining) in the small hours of the morning. Would have been a miserable night for them without their raincoats.
We are in the frantic zone ourself, prepping for Camp Lipizzan this weekend plus arrival of family plus Solstice festivities plus buckets of work. And of course, because I Am Insane (and the hay fund is empty), I'm winding up a Kickstarter campaign this weekend. It ends at 9 p.m. MST on Sunday, which is Solstice night. Because reasons. We have one short novel funded and are closing in on the second. My goal (and quite a few backers' dream) is three novellas or a nice-sized novel. Horses, desert, magic. Tucson. Bonus dragon. (That's why we want the third part, people!)
I am actually working on it, trying to get a sample into coherent enough form to post before the campaign ends. There have been Obstacles. Had to get grain Monday, nearby feed store was out, went on to the big city and decided to do some Camp stocking-up on the way home. And lo, there was a Christmas tree lot at Home Despot, so I snagged a nice Douglas fir on sale (oh, the lovely fragrance!). Made it home late, fed hungry horses, went splat.
Only to discover in the morning that my wallet was missing. While juggling tree and purse, I had dropped the essential equipment. Thank goodness for my sister and a frantic text message begging her to call for me (because I have no access to phone relay at the moment because the FCC is being an ass and there is only one system left, which will not give me access until I jump through assorted hoops for which there is no time this week)(we will not discuss here the saga of how healthcare.gov shut me out, but thanks to twitter and a wonderful navigator from NC, I was able, via epic saga, to renew my coverage), and sure enough, the cashier had retrieved the goods.
It only took me an hour of waiting for Home Despot to extricate the thing from its safe. Person delegated to retrieve it apparently went on her lunch break and left me to wait. Luckily one of the customer-service reps finally took pity on me and did the honors.
I had a lesson in the afternoon. Was exhausted, but decided to tough it out. I'm glad I did. Ephiny was lovely, we discovered that she will sync her breathing with mine and that is Most useful on spooky days, and I got rid of quite a bit of tension. Though I sleepwalked through the chores afterward.
And that was just the past two days. I'm lolling about now with a stack of mss. to work on and the last of the cleaning glaring me in the face. And two dogs and assorted cats sending off powerful sleep rays, while the rain closes in again after a brief, actually sunny break. I have one more day to do what prep I'm going to do, then we hit the flat gallop and careen into the new year.
Good thing, too. Temp dropped into the horse-hell zone (40F and raining) in the small hours of the morning. Would have been a miserable night for them without their raincoats.
We are in the frantic zone ourself, prepping for Camp Lipizzan this weekend plus arrival of family plus Solstice festivities plus buckets of work. And of course, because I Am Insane (and the hay fund is empty), I'm winding up a Kickstarter campaign this weekend. It ends at 9 p.m. MST on Sunday, which is Solstice night. Because reasons. We have one short novel funded and are closing in on the second. My goal (and quite a few backers' dream) is three novellas or a nice-sized novel. Horses, desert, magic. Tucson. Bonus dragon. (That's why we want the third part, people!)
I am actually working on it, trying to get a sample into coherent enough form to post before the campaign ends. There have been Obstacles. Had to get grain Monday, nearby feed store was out, went on to the big city and decided to do some Camp stocking-up on the way home. And lo, there was a Christmas tree lot at Home Despot, so I snagged a nice Douglas fir on sale (oh, the lovely fragrance!). Made it home late, fed hungry horses, went splat.
Only to discover in the morning that my wallet was missing. While juggling tree and purse, I had dropped the essential equipment. Thank goodness for my sister and a frantic text message begging her to call for me (because I have no access to phone relay at the moment because the FCC is being an ass and there is only one system left, which will not give me access until I jump through assorted hoops for which there is no time this week)(we will not discuss here the saga of how healthcare.gov shut me out, but thanks to twitter and a wonderful navigator from NC, I was able, via epic saga, to renew my coverage), and sure enough, the cashier had retrieved the goods.
It only took me an hour of waiting for Home Despot to extricate the thing from its safe. Person delegated to retrieve it apparently went on her lunch break and left me to wait. Luckily one of the customer-service reps finally took pity on me and did the honors.
I had a lesson in the afternoon. Was exhausted, but decided to tough it out. I'm glad I did. Ephiny was lovely, we discovered that she will sync her breathing with mine and that is Most useful on spooky days, and I got rid of quite a bit of tension. Though I sleepwalked through the chores afterward.
And that was just the past two days. I'm lolling about now with a stack of mss. to work on and the last of the cleaning glaring me in the face. And two dogs and assorted cats sending off powerful sleep rays, while the rain closes in again after a brief, actually sunny break. I have one more day to do what prep I'm going to do, then we hit the flat gallop and careen into the new year.
December 3, 2014
Wednesday Is Book Post Day
I've been wanting to do this one for a while. It's another milestone in a year full of them (both good and bad--this one, needless to say, is goooood): after years of being unable to read as well as write fiction, both logjams finally broke. I can write again! I can read again!
First, because it's Allll About MEEEEE, and also because it keeps the horses fed, here's what's going on on the writing front:
I have a Kickstarter, as many of you probably know. It's contemporary fantasy, it has horses and magic, and it's set in Tucson. It's about two-thirds of the way toward funding, and I would love to see it go to the three-novella level at least. That's triple the bang for whatever buck a backer contributes.
There's also a new book in print--it came out as an ebook after its own Kickstarter two years ago, and now it's a book you can hold in your hand. Just in time for Giftmas. It's called Living in Threes, it's YA with Egypt and history and science fiction and time travel, and it's up at Barnes&Noble and Amazon, and you should be able to order it from your favorite bookstore as well.
There's a selection of my other ebook titles up at Book View Cafe, mostly historicals and historical fantasy, including a collection of horse stories (including one that's all new), Nine White Horses. BVC is pure indie, and I get a 95% share of the proceeds, so that's a great way to support the (relatively) local small business. There are a whole bunch of different authors, genres, and styles in the co-op, and they're all worth checking out.
Aaaaannnd, with that, I'll segue to What I've Been Reading Lately.
If you don't know
marthawells
' work, you're in for a serious treat. She's been writing unusual, dense and chewy but highly readable and beautifully worldbuilt speculative fiction for quite some time now, but I just finally got to her stories of the Raksura, beginning with
The Cloud Roads
. It bends genre (and sometimes gender) with grand glee. Is it fantasy? Is it science fiction? Does it walk on the ground or does it shapeshift and fly? There's nothing else quite like it out there, and the characters are wonderful. I'm just sorry I've burned through all three novels and the collection of shorter works--but a second collection is forthcoming, so I get to go back to the Three Worlds at least one more time. (Floating islands. Flying ships. Hundreds of totally different and totally distinctive races of sentients. And Raksura! Shapeshifting flying magical people with dominant females and serious attitude!)
I'm heading into her series for younger readers next, with the first one, Emilie and the Hollow World , waiting right now for me to finish the day's work and curl up with it.
Also on the radar, and the highly-recommended list: Ann Leckie's two (so far) space operas, the first of which, Ancillary Justice , has swept every award in the genre--and it's that rare book which actually, for me, lives up to its hype. I've read the second volume and eagerly await the third. (There'd better be a third.) This is space opera to end all space operas, and genderbending that can warp your brain in the very best way. "She was male, that was easy, but the others..."
And in a completely different vein, dark but lovely, is Jaime Lee Moyer's paranormal mystery series. It starts with Delia's Shadow , which I read last year. I read A Barricade in Hell just a few weeks ago. Strong characters, gripping action, and a lovely historical setting: San Francisco in the World War I era. It's a little like Downton Abbey, with murders. And ghosts. Jaime is
stillnotbored
on lj, and we're all in luck: she just today posted the cover for the third in the series.
Different yet again, and back to science fiction, this time YA and dystopia, is Sherwood Smith and Rachel Manija Brown's Stranger . This book had a rocky route to publication. Its multiple viewpoints, its genderbending, and its gay characters ruffled a few editorial and agential feathers. A good bit of this book and its two sequels (the first of which is coming out realsoonnow) was written at Camp Lipizzan, so I'm quite proud of it. I also love it as a reader--the characters are great, the world is complex and weirdly dangerous (those crystal trees, ye gods), and each volume ups the ante on the last one. This is another lj family party: Sherwood is sartorias , and Rachel is
rachelmanija
.
The last thing I'll burble about is a reread from a long time ago--Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince trilogy. I'm doing this in public over at Tor.com, where rereads are a way of life. We've wrapped up volume I and have started volume II. I started this to raise awareness that women write epic fantasy and have been for a long time, and also to revisit an old favorite. It has dragons. And sexy princes. And villains who chew the scenery with verve and elan. What's not to love?
In the future-delights department, I've backed a Kickstarter that ends tomorrow, so there's still a little time to get in on the action. My dear friend and kickass writer C.E. Murphy, aka
mizkit
, is writing a novel about Rosie the Redeemer--formerly the Riveter. Set in 1945. The boys are coming from World War II, and bringing the monsters with them. I really want to read this one.
And finally, I'm a Patreon backer for a writer I've come to know recently on twitter. She's a lovely person and her writing is really, really good. Her name is Joyce Chng, she lives in Singapore (we usually meet as I'm getting up in the morning and she's heading to bed), and she's currently putting up installments of Dragon Physician for patrons. Well worth taking a look, and checking out her other work as well.
There's more in the TBR pile. Lots more. I'm like Cookie Monster in the Keebler factory. Want to eat ALL THE THINGS.
First, because it's Allll About MEEEEE, and also because it keeps the horses fed, here's what's going on on the writing front:
I have a Kickstarter, as many of you probably know. It's contemporary fantasy, it has horses and magic, and it's set in Tucson. It's about two-thirds of the way toward funding, and I would love to see it go to the three-novella level at least. That's triple the bang for whatever buck a backer contributes.
There's also a new book in print--it came out as an ebook after its own Kickstarter two years ago, and now it's a book you can hold in your hand. Just in time for Giftmas. It's called Living in Threes, it's YA with Egypt and history and science fiction and time travel, and it's up at Barnes&Noble and Amazon, and you should be able to order it from your favorite bookstore as well.
There's a selection of my other ebook titles up at Book View Cafe, mostly historicals and historical fantasy, including a collection of horse stories (including one that's all new), Nine White Horses. BVC is pure indie, and I get a 95% share of the proceeds, so that's a great way to support the (relatively) local small business. There are a whole bunch of different authors, genres, and styles in the co-op, and they're all worth checking out.
Aaaaannnd, with that, I'll segue to What I've Been Reading Lately.
If you don't know
marthawells
' work, you're in for a serious treat. She's been writing unusual, dense and chewy but highly readable and beautifully worldbuilt speculative fiction for quite some time now, but I just finally got to her stories of the Raksura, beginning with
The Cloud Roads
. It bends genre (and sometimes gender) with grand glee. Is it fantasy? Is it science fiction? Does it walk on the ground or does it shapeshift and fly? There's nothing else quite like it out there, and the characters are wonderful. I'm just sorry I've burned through all three novels and the collection of shorter works--but a second collection is forthcoming, so I get to go back to the Three Worlds at least one more time. (Floating islands. Flying ships. Hundreds of totally different and totally distinctive races of sentients. And Raksura! Shapeshifting flying magical people with dominant females and serious attitude!)I'm heading into her series for younger readers next, with the first one, Emilie and the Hollow World , waiting right now for me to finish the day's work and curl up with it.
Also on the radar, and the highly-recommended list: Ann Leckie's two (so far) space operas, the first of which, Ancillary Justice , has swept every award in the genre--and it's that rare book which actually, for me, lives up to its hype. I've read the second volume and eagerly await the third. (There'd better be a third.) This is space opera to end all space operas, and genderbending that can warp your brain in the very best way. "She was male, that was easy, but the others..."
And in a completely different vein, dark but lovely, is Jaime Lee Moyer's paranormal mystery series. It starts with Delia's Shadow , which I read last year. I read A Barricade in Hell just a few weeks ago. Strong characters, gripping action, and a lovely historical setting: San Francisco in the World War I era. It's a little like Downton Abbey, with murders. And ghosts. Jaime is
stillnotbored
on lj, and we're all in luck: she just today posted the cover for the third in the series.Different yet again, and back to science fiction, this time YA and dystopia, is Sherwood Smith and Rachel Manija Brown's Stranger . This book had a rocky route to publication. Its multiple viewpoints, its genderbending, and its gay characters ruffled a few editorial and agential feathers. A good bit of this book and its two sequels (the first of which is coming out realsoonnow) was written at Camp Lipizzan, so I'm quite proud of it. I also love it as a reader--the characters are great, the world is complex and weirdly dangerous (those crystal trees, ye gods), and each volume ups the ante on the last one. This is another lj family party: Sherwood is sartorias , and Rachel is
rachelmanija
.The last thing I'll burble about is a reread from a long time ago--Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince trilogy. I'm doing this in public over at Tor.com, where rereads are a way of life. We've wrapped up volume I and have started volume II. I started this to raise awareness that women write epic fantasy and have been for a long time, and also to revisit an old favorite. It has dragons. And sexy princes. And villains who chew the scenery with verve and elan. What's not to love?
In the future-delights department, I've backed a Kickstarter that ends tomorrow, so there's still a little time to get in on the action. My dear friend and kickass writer C.E. Murphy, aka
mizkit
, is writing a novel about Rosie the Redeemer--formerly the Riveter. Set in 1945. The boys are coming from World War II, and bringing the monsters with them. I really want to read this one.And finally, I'm a Patreon backer for a writer I've come to know recently on twitter. She's a lovely person and her writing is really, really good. Her name is Joyce Chng, she lives in Singapore (we usually meet as I'm getting up in the morning and she's heading to bed), and she's currently putting up installments of Dragon Physician for patrons. Well worth taking a look, and checking out her other work as well.
There's more in the TBR pile. Lots more. I'm like Cookie Monster in the Keebler factory. Want to eat ALL THE THINGS.
November 28, 2014
And what have you been up to? they ask
And I answer: Lots!
The big preoccupation for the past week and through Solstice is This Year's Kickstarter, aka "Horses of the Moon," which starts as a novella but will add bits as/if the funding grows, all the way up to a full novel. It's set in Tucson and features, of course, horses. And magic. And the Women of the Woo, who are starting to talk in my head. I will have at least a chunk written by the time the campaign ends. Just hoping (and barely breathing) that it funds, so I can write the whole thing.
I do a Horseblog over at Book View Cafe every other week, for those who miss the horse neep here. This week I talked about living in a fantasy novel. Horses and desert. Very much a part of every day, and pretty much all of my preoccupation that isn't writing.
I'm also ebaying a bunch of things, to help with the feed bill. I'm listed as dhflipizzans. Got some convention gear there, as well as assorted other items. More will go up as we get into Giftmas season.
Aaaaannd, we finally did a print edition of Living in Threes (or if you'd rather not deal with Amazon, here's Barnes&Noble) for them as likes to hold the book in their hand. We got the interior art in, with generally excellent effect. I really like the way it turned out--thanks to Leah Cutter, who does amazing book and cover design.
Thanksgiving was hectic thanks to the Anti-Magic Turkey Roasting Pan, which takes twice as long no matter what you do, but the bird did finally get cooked and transported to my mom's along with a moderately full roster of fixings. There was pie. And I made it home in time to feed the horses. I am Mighty.
This weekend I'm hoping for a nice quiet time with writing and horses. So far I've been racing around madly and dealing with thisthattheother, but there are still two days left in the weekend. Right?
The big preoccupation for the past week and through Solstice is This Year's Kickstarter, aka "Horses of the Moon," which starts as a novella but will add bits as/if the funding grows, all the way up to a full novel. It's set in Tucson and features, of course, horses. And magic. And the Women of the Woo, who are starting to talk in my head. I will have at least a chunk written by the time the campaign ends. Just hoping (and barely breathing) that it funds, so I can write the whole thing.
I do a Horseblog over at Book View Cafe every other week, for those who miss the horse neep here. This week I talked about living in a fantasy novel. Horses and desert. Very much a part of every day, and pretty much all of my preoccupation that isn't writing.
I'm also ebaying a bunch of things, to help with the feed bill. I'm listed as dhflipizzans. Got some convention gear there, as well as assorted other items. More will go up as we get into Giftmas season.
Aaaaannd, we finally did a print edition of Living in Threes (or if you'd rather not deal with Amazon, here's Barnes&Noble) for them as likes to hold the book in their hand. We got the interior art in, with generally excellent effect. I really like the way it turned out--thanks to Leah Cutter, who does amazing book and cover design.
Thanksgiving was hectic thanks to the Anti-Magic Turkey Roasting Pan, which takes twice as long no matter what you do, but the bird did finally get cooked and transported to my mom's along with a moderately full roster of fixings. There was pie. And I made it home in time to feed the horses. I am Mighty.
This weekend I'm hoping for a nice quiet time with writing and horses. So far I've been racing around madly and dealing with thisthattheother, but there are still two days left in the weekend. Right?
November 11, 2014
November NaNo Sale and Writing Classes
Whole bunch of things make a post.
We Are Having a Sale
Because it's nearly mid-NaNo and I'm almost through my own major novel-revision push and my last novel is about to appear in print, I feel like going saleing. There are openings in the editing calendar. My usual rate is US$60 per hour, and I take on projects of all sizes and lengths. Between now and November 28th, I'm offering a five-hour package for $275.
Five hours is long enough to look over your NaNo novel and advise on plot, characters, style, whatever you may need. It's a start on a full line or copyedit. I can do some research for you, advise on your equestrian details, review your synopsis or your submission package, even give you a mini-class in writing one. Endless possibilities. I'm a full-service mentoring and editing machine. :)
Not in NaNo? No problem. The sale is open to everyone. Just mention this post when you get in touch. My email is capriole at that gmail thing.
I'm open to new clients for more general editing and mentoring, too. Email with details and needs. Sale price can be applied to the first five hours of a longer project or mentoring arrangement.
Classes and Online Writing Instruction
In October I experimented with an online class. I posted a lecture once a week, assigned writing exercises, and conversed with students about the results. The class was small but enthusiastic, and we had a great time. We all learned a lot--yes, I learn when I teach, too.
The size of the class did force me to assess whether I should continue to offer a scheduled session, and conclude that it might not be the best way to approach the idea.
What I'd like to do, by way of experiment, is offer unscheduled sessions. Three or four class "days" with lecture posts and assignments as with the scheduled class, but at the student's request and on the student's schedule. If two or more people--writing partners, writers' group members, and so on--would like to take the class together, I'd offer a group rate.
This is a more structured concept than the usual mentoring arrangement. We focus on specific elements of craft--plot, characterization, dialogue, setting, or worldbuilding, for example--and work on exercises designed to develop craft in specific ways. If you have a project you'd like to bring to the class, we'll make that the center of the discussion. Or we might address more general questions and techniques. I'll tailor the lecture posts to your individual needs.
One class I'm dying to try: "How Big Is My Idea?" Working with the student on writing a new or less familiar length or form: short-story writer who wants to try novel, or novelist who is interested in learning how to write short.
Introductory rate: $275 for a four-unit class, $225 for three units. Email for group pricing. Available right now: Plotting 101 (four units). Available in December: How Big Is My Idea? (four units). (Embrace Your Process (three units), Make Your Dialogue Work For You (three units), Worldbuilding 101 (four units), Student's Choice (you tell me what you need, three or four units).
I do bank hours, so if you expect to take the class after the New Year, as long as you book and pay during the sale, I'll keep a slot open for you.
And Finally, Camp Lipizzan
While we're here...
Camp Lipizzan, aka Horse Camp for Writers, is booking sessions for 2015. We have openings in February and March. Other months or times by arrangement--email and we'll talk. Writers' retreat with Lipizzans--and we're trying new angles on White Horse Herd Yoga, which Campers will help test and refine. Sunset Solstice Retreat, anyone? (That's a thing. December 19th. Email if interested.)
We Are Having a Sale
Because it's nearly mid-NaNo and I'm almost through my own major novel-revision push and my last novel is about to appear in print, I feel like going saleing. There are openings in the editing calendar. My usual rate is US$60 per hour, and I take on projects of all sizes and lengths. Between now and November 28th, I'm offering a five-hour package for $275.
Five hours is long enough to look over your NaNo novel and advise on plot, characters, style, whatever you may need. It's a start on a full line or copyedit. I can do some research for you, advise on your equestrian details, review your synopsis or your submission package, even give you a mini-class in writing one. Endless possibilities. I'm a full-service mentoring and editing machine. :)
Not in NaNo? No problem. The sale is open to everyone. Just mention this post when you get in touch. My email is capriole at that gmail thing.
I'm open to new clients for more general editing and mentoring, too. Email with details and needs. Sale price can be applied to the first five hours of a longer project or mentoring arrangement.
Classes and Online Writing Instruction
In October I experimented with an online class. I posted a lecture once a week, assigned writing exercises, and conversed with students about the results. The class was small but enthusiastic, and we had a great time. We all learned a lot--yes, I learn when I teach, too.
The size of the class did force me to assess whether I should continue to offer a scheduled session, and conclude that it might not be the best way to approach the idea.
What I'd like to do, by way of experiment, is offer unscheduled sessions. Three or four class "days" with lecture posts and assignments as with the scheduled class, but at the student's request and on the student's schedule. If two or more people--writing partners, writers' group members, and so on--would like to take the class together, I'd offer a group rate.
This is a more structured concept than the usual mentoring arrangement. We focus on specific elements of craft--plot, characterization, dialogue, setting, or worldbuilding, for example--and work on exercises designed to develop craft in specific ways. If you have a project you'd like to bring to the class, we'll make that the center of the discussion. Or we might address more general questions and techniques. I'll tailor the lecture posts to your individual needs.
One class I'm dying to try: "How Big Is My Idea?" Working with the student on writing a new or less familiar length or form: short-story writer who wants to try novel, or novelist who is interested in learning how to write short.
Introductory rate: $275 for a four-unit class, $225 for three units. Email for group pricing. Available right now: Plotting 101 (four units). Available in December: How Big Is My Idea? (four units). (Embrace Your Process (three units), Make Your Dialogue Work For You (three units), Worldbuilding 101 (four units), Student's Choice (you tell me what you need, three or four units).
I do bank hours, so if you expect to take the class after the New Year, as long as you book and pay during the sale, I'll keep a slot open for you.
And Finally, Camp Lipizzan
While we're here...
Camp Lipizzan, aka Horse Camp for Writers, is booking sessions for 2015. We have openings in February and March. Other months or times by arrangement--email and we'll talk. Writers' retreat with Lipizzans--and we're trying new angles on White Horse Herd Yoga, which Campers will help test and refine. Sunset Solstice Retreat, anyone? (That's a thing. December 19th. Email if interested.)
November 5, 2014
New Kid on the Brag Shelf
Lookit what just joined the brag shelf! I love ebooks and read lots of them, but there's just something about an actual book that I can hold in my hand.
(yep, that Breyer is the dead spittin' image of da Pook--and he's called "Pluto," too)
It's officially going on sale through Book View Cafe on the 18th. Is up at Createspace now, should trickle down to Amazon and other distributors in a few days.
Because I love my readers, I'd like to celebrate by offering signed copies that will be shipped in time for Giftmas. Cost is $20 per book and includes shipping. Here's how to get one:
Email me at capriole at that gmail thang and tell me how many. That's also my Paypal address, so if you'd like to skip a step, just do it through Paypal.
In the US and want to send me a check? We can do that. Email for my address.
Not in the US? We have a workaround for that. Add US$15 ($17 for Oz and NZ) and I will drop-ship the book to you and mail you a signed bookplate. This saves you in the region of US $35 on shipping (...oof. yeah).
Happy PrintBookDay (two-weeks-early) To Me!
(yep, that Breyer is the dead spittin' image of da Pook--and he's called "Pluto," too)
It's officially going on sale through Book View Cafe on the 18th. Is up at Createspace now, should trickle down to Amazon and other distributors in a few days.
Because I love my readers, I'd like to celebrate by offering signed copies that will be shipped in time for Giftmas. Cost is $20 per book and includes shipping. Here's how to get one:
Email me at capriole at that gmail thang and tell me how many. That's also my Paypal address, so if you'd like to skip a step, just do it through Paypal.
In the US and want to send me a check? We can do that. Email for my address.
Not in the US? We have a workaround for that. Add US$15 ($17 for Oz and NZ) and I will drop-ship the book to you and mail you a signed bookplate. This saves you in the region of US $35 on shipping (...oof. yeah).
Happy PrintBookDay (two-weeks-early) To Me!
October 21, 2014
Um, Yeah. Been a While.
That moment when you realize you haven't had a proper, butt-busting (you AND the horse) dressage lesson since April, and you've been cruising along (bendy bendy bendy collect lengthen collect lengthen) and you're working on your this and your that and it's all good even if your brain hurts, and lesson ends and you go to dismount and Ow.
Riding greenbeans has many rewards, but there's nothing quite like a butt-buster with the more trained horse. Who was off work himself for a while with basically testosterone poisoning, so we'll both be taking it slow tomorrow.
October 7, 2014
Lesson Coma
Lesson Coma. No Airs. We were very good about staying on the ground and doing our homework and working in hand and finding our corners under saddle. Also, unreeling the miles of snaky dragony neck and finding the poll at the other end. She does like to curl up in the middle. Often while crossing her legs fore and aft. With me on her.
Gumby horse. Never even hints at falling down, which is good. She has nice natural balance.
Lightbulb moment for me: Not getting frustrated when we ground to a halt. We're finally seeing that as a pause to ask and answer questions, instead of Oh Noes We've Fallen Out Of Orbit Now We'll Crash AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Every new horse I ride, I learn something new. This one is teaching me I can too ride all the things I used to think I couldn't stand (stopping when confused and then growing roots, blowing up when even slightly off balance, demanding even more than the usual precision in calibration and positioning of aids).
Also, she has absolutely adorable ears.
October 3, 2014
October Not So Lonesome
We are abruptly (and compared to some years slightly early) in our desert fall. The air is crystal clear, the sky is cloudless, the nights and mornings are crisp and lovely. Suddenly I need the comforter to sleep--first time since April--and I have to wear a jacket for the bedtime barn check. I even dug out socks to wear while watching Spartacus on the teevee yesterday evening, because it was just a little too chilly for bare feet.
Pooka is not quite ready for his placebo blankie, but that time will come very soon. He's a little crankier in the mornings, and a little spicier in the afternoons. Those are still warm shading to hot, but the heat is brief and sinks fast with the sun. I've had to turn my one working cooler off around 5, which a month ago was the peak of the day's heat; now it's cold in the house. The other cooler needs repair (Hillary took it with him: the moment he died, I smelled burning electrical circuits), but that can wait until spring. Time to get the furnace started; we'll be needing it in a week or two or at most three.
I talked about Transitions in this week's Horseblog over at Book View Cafe. It even got a response from another member. Fall has always been a major transitional time for me, because it used to be somewhat closely connected to the start of school, and because I've always hated summer and been glad to see the end of it, and that in turn is because something about my brain makes it wake up with the days get shorter and the light gets clearer and the air gets noticeably cooler.
This year has been an unusually stuck-in-molasses year. For months I couldn't move in any productive directions, couldn't think, couldn't plan or see a way ahead. Things got very scary, are still scary, but the difference is that suddenly I can think of ways to get through. Or at least ways to try.
I knew part of it was fighting through the years of crippling writer's block, finally getting out of the panic attack every time I opened the fiction file, but then struggling to get through the novel I had (effectively) under contract. Finishing that felt like the passing of a huge obstacle.
So, though it was painful, did the departure of the outside horse boarders. One left with grace, going home to loving owners. The other sneaked out while I was away in Colorado working on a wonderful new Sekrit Projekt. I came home to an empty stall and a note on the table, and the remnants of the unholy mess I had already been aware of: part of the sneakage included attempting to sneak the vet in (my vet, if you please) to get the horse's shots done, and leaving the main gate open and letting the entire herd out all night long. I'm still picking up bits of scattered debris.
That was not a pleasant homecoming. Not to mention the fact that sneaky one had been my farmsitter, so that option had gone bye-bye.
But even through the whatthefrakery and the breaking of trust, I could feel the relief. My space was my own again. My horses were much calmer. It was good. It was the removal of another obstacle.
Then the weather broke and I did my much delayed taxes--that's as late as I'll ever do them, ye gods, but ye gods^2, the year I've had. And I felt as if a really big door had opened and I could think again. As if maybe there's some hope of getting through this and it's no longer an impasse. Just a really tough time and a serious dry patch.
I have a book to revise. And decisions to make as to where to go from there. It needs a sequel. There's also totally unrelated Sekrit Projekt. And story ideas. And other novel ideas. Focus, I must focus. Which I can do. Because it's October. October is when my brain wakes up from its summer sleep.
Pooka is not quite ready for his placebo blankie, but that time will come very soon. He's a little crankier in the mornings, and a little spicier in the afternoons. Those are still warm shading to hot, but the heat is brief and sinks fast with the sun. I've had to turn my one working cooler off around 5, which a month ago was the peak of the day's heat; now it's cold in the house. The other cooler needs repair (Hillary took it with him: the moment he died, I smelled burning electrical circuits), but that can wait until spring. Time to get the furnace started; we'll be needing it in a week or two or at most three.
I talked about Transitions in this week's Horseblog over at Book View Cafe. It even got a response from another member. Fall has always been a major transitional time for me, because it used to be somewhat closely connected to the start of school, and because I've always hated summer and been glad to see the end of it, and that in turn is because something about my brain makes it wake up with the days get shorter and the light gets clearer and the air gets noticeably cooler.
This year has been an unusually stuck-in-molasses year. For months I couldn't move in any productive directions, couldn't think, couldn't plan or see a way ahead. Things got very scary, are still scary, but the difference is that suddenly I can think of ways to get through. Or at least ways to try.
I knew part of it was fighting through the years of crippling writer's block, finally getting out of the panic attack every time I opened the fiction file, but then struggling to get through the novel I had (effectively) under contract. Finishing that felt like the passing of a huge obstacle.
So, though it was painful, did the departure of the outside horse boarders. One left with grace, going home to loving owners. The other sneaked out while I was away in Colorado working on a wonderful new Sekrit Projekt. I came home to an empty stall and a note on the table, and the remnants of the unholy mess I had already been aware of: part of the sneakage included attempting to sneak the vet in (my vet, if you please) to get the horse's shots done, and leaving the main gate open and letting the entire herd out all night long. I'm still picking up bits of scattered debris.
That was not a pleasant homecoming. Not to mention the fact that sneaky one had been my farmsitter, so that option had gone bye-bye.
But even through the whatthefrakery and the breaking of trust, I could feel the relief. My space was my own again. My horses were much calmer. It was good. It was the removal of another obstacle.
Then the weather broke and I did my much delayed taxes--that's as late as I'll ever do them, ye gods, but ye gods^2, the year I've had. And I felt as if a really big door had opened and I could think again. As if maybe there's some hope of getting through this and it's no longer an impasse. Just a really tough time and a serious dry patch.
I have a book to revise. And decisions to make as to where to go from there. It needs a sequel. There's also totally unrelated Sekrit Projekt. And story ideas. And other novel ideas. Focus, I must focus. Which I can do. Because it's October. October is when my brain wakes up from its summer sleep.
September 27, 2014
Summer's End
Our endless summer is finally coming to an end. Mornings are just a little bit crisper--and begin noticeably later. It's full dark by 7 p.m. (we don't "save" daylight here). The last of the monsoon is rolling in, but will be gone in a day or two. It was a long and productive one this year. The weathergods were good to us.
I had found the jeans in the depths of the closet before I went to Colorado--that forecast of snow inspired me--but this morning I realized I might start to need them for the night feedings here. It was allllmost jacket weather last night.
We could still have hot weather for another few weeks. But more and more, our nights and mornings will be cool, slowly shading to chilly, even when our afternoons are bright and hot. I'd better make sure I know where Pooka's placebo blanket is. He'll be wanting it in a week or two or three.
Horses are growing their winter coats. They look like slightly tarnished silver now. Except Pooka, who is always porcelain, regardless of the season.
