Gillian Polack's Blog, page 163
August 6, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-08-07T12:45:00
The bibliographies are marching on forever, right now. I finish one and two more take their place. It would be a war of attrition if only I could render order to each list a bit faster. As it is, I won't win even a battle until they stop appearing, mysteriously, needing to be done.
It's a bit of a mystery, too. I only have small bibliographies to deal with for months on end and suddenly I have a serried rank of serious ones, each in a different format.
It's like all of those forms, not that long ago. A couple appear out of nowhere and suddenly there's a jostling throng, all with due dates and all demanding attention.
It's a bit of a mystery, too. I only have small bibliographies to deal with for months on end and suddenly I have a serried rank of serious ones, each in a different format.
It's like all of those forms, not that long ago. A couple appear out of nowhere and suddenly there's a jostling throng, all with due dates and all demanding attention.
Ms Cellophane Competition results
And the winner is... here: http://momentumbooks.com.au/blog/author-solicits-for-naked-photos-to-promote-book-nsfw/
Remember, it's NSFW!! Also, it's proof that my books are readable anywhere and that clothes are not necessary to the experience. Also, that Danny Oz rocks.
The complete story behind the photo is here: http://dalekboy.livejournal.com/396058.html
Remember, it's NSFW!! Also, it's proof that my books are readable anywhere and that clothes are not necessary to the experience. Also, that Danny Oz rocks.
The complete story behind the photo is here: http://dalekboy.livejournal.com/396058.html
gillpolack @ 2012-08-06T21:48:00
My computer is finally behaving. For the moment. I've even done some work. And the migraine is getting neither better nor worse. It changes my perceptions of reality and means I can only do an hour's work at a time, but otherwise it's nothing special. The perceptual changes (the loss of my time sense, the loss of any sense of urgency to tasks, changes in the light and air) make me feel as I've moved sideways into a related universe that's not quite my own. I've decided to treat it all as a learning experience.
Mostly, big things are happening around me and I am watching, with enthusiasm (Curiosity, Readercon sorting their issues) or with trepidation (not going into these, for they are not mine to go into). This is such a crowded August in so many ways.
I don't much to say, therefore, but I'm thinking a lot, in my odd sideways time/space. The biggest thing I'm thinking is that people who notice others and take the needs of others into the way they work are worth their weight in platinum and diamonds and all things precious.
Mostly, big things are happening around me and I am watching, with enthusiasm (Curiosity, Readercon sorting their issues) or with trepidation (not going into these, for they are not mine to go into). This is such a crowded August in so many ways.
I don't much to say, therefore, but I'm thinking a lot, in my odd sideways time/space. The biggest thing I'm thinking is that people who notice others and take the needs of others into the way they work are worth their weight in platinum and diamonds and all things precious.
August 5, 2012
Competition winner
My computer isn't the only one developing problems. Momentum will publish the winning picture tomorrow, for wildly technical reasons. I'll let you know now, though, that it is of Danny Oz, naked, reading Ms Cellophane. Also very tasteful (how could it be otherwise?).
I'll give you a link the moment there is a link to give!
I'll give you a link the moment there is a link to give!
gillpolack @ 2012-08-06T13:36:00
Fortunately other peoples' computers are more reliable than mine. BiblioBuffet has put up my new column, which is an interview with three rather lovely writers, and all about fairytales.
gillpolack @ 2012-08-06T13:32:00
Today is proving to be an "I hate computers" day. Every five minutes, something new goes wrong. it doesn't want to find the file I was working with before I had to do a forced reboot. Now it's found it, it's sluggish, but functional. It's taken me until now, however, to achieve two hours work. I feel like a lesser person. we all have internal images of what we can do in a day and mine has been shaken. This whole week, mine has been shaken. Fortunately, I'm not in the mad panic of a deadline zone and there is heaps of time t get all these things done. But still.
I have given the matter great thought, and I shall see if my hands are up to the expresso pot, for it seems to me that my life would be significantly improved if I had a giant pot of good coffee to work my way through.
Anyhow, my Wednesday gadding has just been cancelled, so that will give me back my lost time.
I just lost more time for I finally realised that I could look up my brother's miniseries up while I was waiting for things to work. Mum keeps telling me "He has done a miniseries. The ABC will show it soon." He forgets to tell me details and she forgets the details and last night I was trying to explain this to Claire and I realised the sum of my ignorance was vast. Now I know more: http://if.com.au/2012/06/22/inprod/Subtopia/TKMLBNPOHB.html
I have given the matter great thought, and I shall see if my hands are up to the expresso pot, for it seems to me that my life would be significantly improved if I had a giant pot of good coffee to work my way through.
Anyhow, my Wednesday gadding has just been cancelled, so that will give me back my lost time.
I just lost more time for I finally realised that I could look up my brother's miniseries up while I was waiting for things to work. Mum keeps telling me "He has done a miniseries. The ABC will show it soon." He forgets to tell me details and she forgets the details and last night I was trying to explain this to Claire and I realised the sum of my ignorance was vast. Now I know more: http://if.com.au/2012/06/22/inprod/Subtopia/TKMLBNPOHB.html
gillpolack @ 2012-08-05T22:44:00
I am finished gallivanting.
This evening's gad was a writerly dinner at Abel's Kopi Tiam. Kaaron Warren did the organising, for Claire Corbett is in town and needed to be seen. we had an entirely fine time. The food was amazing. And now I am home and in the world of dissertation again. I won't work late, though. Tonight has left such a delightful flavour that I don't want to dilute it too much.
It turns out that I can't bring the jelly etc to CSFG until September, for the person who yearned after the reconstruction of the scene in the novel won't be there until then. This means I have 2 packets of jelly and 2 dozen chocolate frogs sitting on the Mirror in my loungeroom and I'm not at all sure what to do with them until then. If the mirror wasn't involved, I'd hide them in the pantry, but I don't think the mirror will fit in my cupboard. Decisions, decisions...
I wonder if I ask the mirror politely if it will simply eat the articles in question. I could then store everything in the corner, vertically, until I need them, at which time it would kindly regurgitate them for me. No, I didn't think so either.
This evening's gad was a writerly dinner at Abel's Kopi Tiam. Kaaron Warren did the organising, for Claire Corbett is in town and needed to be seen. we had an entirely fine time. The food was amazing. And now I am home and in the world of dissertation again. I won't work late, though. Tonight has left such a delightful flavour that I don't want to dilute it too much.
It turns out that I can't bring the jelly etc to CSFG until September, for the person who yearned after the reconstruction of the scene in the novel won't be there until then. This means I have 2 packets of jelly and 2 dozen chocolate frogs sitting on the Mirror in my loungeroom and I'm not at all sure what to do with them until then. If the mirror wasn't involved, I'd hide them in the pantry, but I don't think the mirror will fit in my cupboard. Decisions, decisions...
I wonder if I ask the mirror politely if it will simply eat the articles in question. I could then store everything in the corner, vertically, until I need them, at which time it would kindly regurgitate them for me. No, I didn't think so either.
August 4, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-08-05T16:58:00
Afternoon tea was gorgeous. N makes a lovely scone and M decided that she had not seen me nearly enough recently and spent an awful lot of time cuddled up in my lap. Since she's grown a lot recently, there were feet and arms sticking out everywhere and the effect was a bit like Alice-grown-giant.
As a bonus, I have 90 minutes to get some work done before more gadding about. Claire Corbett is in town, so Kaaron Warren has co-ordinated dinner.
As a bonus, I have 90 minutes to get some work done before more gadding about. Claire Corbett is in town, so Kaaron Warren has co-ordinated dinner.
gillpolack @ 2012-08-05T13:26:00
I've done my two hours and am probably a better person for it. Now I'm making miniature cupcakes. This is because I can. I have already found a happy home for them. If anyone else wants miniature cupcakes, I might have to go shopping for I have a half cup flour, 1 egg and no sugar left.
I guess I ought to be fully clothed if I am to gad? Pity. There is a freedom in bare legs.
I guess I ought to be fully clothed if I am to gad? Pity. There is a freedom in bare legs.
gillpolack @ 2012-08-05T11:24:00
Today I have half a brain, which is a significant improvement on yesterday's eighth. I've only two more hours work, though, before I do the social butterfly thing, so I quite possibly might have to use said brain. I didn't for the BiblioBuffet article that will come out tomorrow. Nicki suggested cosmetic changes only, and added a few Moomin books to the booklist for further reading. How could I object to more Moomin?
I didn't do my bibliography yesterday or Friday, so I shall focus on that, I think, for the next two hours. I can't make up time on something nitpicky like that, but I can make sure I meet my deadline. The big thing is that today my eyes are dealing with the printed page. This is a wonderful thing and I intend to take advantage of it. I only have nineteen pages of books at this moment (it will grow when all the references are complete, I suspect) and I intend to tick each page off as it's checked and complete and I intend to tick of pages at a nice, regular rate. So, my intentions are pure and my time starts...now.
I didn't do my bibliography yesterday or Friday, so I shall focus on that, I think, for the next two hours. I can't make up time on something nitpicky like that, but I can make sure I meet my deadline. The big thing is that today my eyes are dealing with the printed page. This is a wonderful thing and I intend to take advantage of it. I only have nineteen pages of books at this moment (it will grow when all the references are complete, I suspect) and I intend to tick each page off as it's checked and complete and I intend to tick of pages at a nice, regular rate. So, my intentions are pure and my time starts...now.
