Gillian Polack's Blog, page 46
December 14, 2014
Questions
I know it's not quite Chanukah yet, but my first Chanukah gift to everyone is an open question time from now until the end of Chanukah. I know a bunch of people are working on novels with background I might be able to help with (or give hints towards useful resources) so I'm starting a little early so that those who take time off for this season can finish up before they go on holiday.
Usual guidelines apply:
I'm as happy answer questions about my life or my own writing as to help you with your work or satisfy your curiosity, but if there's a question that I don't want to answer I will apologise and not answer (has anyone actually asked such a question?). If it's something that requires hours of work at my end then it's not suitable for this thread. If you ask such a question, then I reserve the right to point you to places you can look for those answers (ie I'm not spending more than 5 minutes on any question). Joke-questions are entirely permitted, and questions by people who don't know me are entirely welcome. Do not ask how long a piece of string is or what size my feet are, for I have already answered those questions in early open question times.
For those who don't know me, you might want to check out my new website before launching into questions (it was embarrassing for someone, once, who didn't know I was a writer and historian, and I don't want anyone else to be in that position): http://www.gillianpolack.com
If you're encountering this post on my new website or at Goodreads, then you need to go to my LJ blog to actually ask the questions, for I'd rather keep it all together (pun entirely intended).
The question thread will close at midday on 24 December.
Usual guidelines apply:
I'm as happy answer questions about my life or my own writing as to help you with your work or satisfy your curiosity, but if there's a question that I don't want to answer I will apologise and not answer (has anyone actually asked such a question?). If it's something that requires hours of work at my end then it's not suitable for this thread. If you ask such a question, then I reserve the right to point you to places you can look for those answers (ie I'm not spending more than 5 minutes on any question). Joke-questions are entirely permitted, and questions by people who don't know me are entirely welcome. Do not ask how long a piece of string is or what size my feet are, for I have already answered those questions in early open question times.
For those who don't know me, you might want to check out my new website before launching into questions (it was embarrassing for someone, once, who didn't know I was a writer and historian, and I don't want anyone else to be in that position): http://www.gillianpolack.com
If you're encountering this post on my new website or at Goodreads, then you need to go to my LJ blog to actually ask the questions, for I'd rather keep it all together (pun entirely intended).
The question thread will close at midday on 24 December.
December 13, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-14T11:24:00
This morning has been spent clearing things and sorting things and getting things under control. One big thing that is now under control is the reading of primary sources for my next novel. I now have only around 500 to read, which is a year's work, which is about how much time I want to spend on primary sources.
The wonderful thing about having a lot of sources is that one can assess them and work out which ones are most relevant and one can skim read the ones that only needed skim reading. In fact, I suspect that this is the wonderful thing about the historical training: I have enough background to assess which sources will do me what kind of good and when and thus work terrifyingly efficiently (and get to play with more books!). As I progress in my understanding of how my characters think and believe, I'll be able to diminish the primary sources significantly more. This is why 500 books is a year's worth (I could read them in a year, but only if I didn't have much other work to do): they probably add up to 200 full volumes of reading.
Now they're all sorted by the major topics in which I still lack enough understanding. Plus there's a whole file of dictionaries and the like, so that I can sort nuances and language.
This isn't everything, but it's very good progress.
For my next trick, I have an hour of solid writing on contemporary SF before lunch.
After lunch and into the evening (probably taking up the whole evening) is the Middle Ages again. Again and always, it feels like.
This is my work right now. Deal with what must be dealt with elsewhere, and then spend the rest of the time in the Middle Ages. One day, the Beast will end, and until then there are two of us who return to it and return to it and return to it.
The wonderful thing about having a lot of sources is that one can assess them and work out which ones are most relevant and one can skim read the ones that only needed skim reading. In fact, I suspect that this is the wonderful thing about the historical training: I have enough background to assess which sources will do me what kind of good and when and thus work terrifyingly efficiently (and get to play with more books!). As I progress in my understanding of how my characters think and believe, I'll be able to diminish the primary sources significantly more. This is why 500 books is a year's worth (I could read them in a year, but only if I didn't have much other work to do): they probably add up to 200 full volumes of reading.
Now they're all sorted by the major topics in which I still lack enough understanding. Plus there's a whole file of dictionaries and the like, so that I can sort nuances and language.
This isn't everything, but it's very good progress.
For my next trick, I have an hour of solid writing on contemporary SF before lunch.
After lunch and into the evening (probably taking up the whole evening) is the Middle Ages again. Again and always, it feels like.
This is my work right now. Deal with what must be dealt with elsewhere, and then spend the rest of the time in the Middle Ages. One day, the Beast will end, and until then there are two of us who return to it and return to it and return to it.
December 12, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-13T12:12:00
Last market day for the year, and I bought loganberries (it's a long time since I've seen them at all, much less at reasonable price) and many, many fine dark cherries. I also got leafy greens (Chinese broccoli this time, for I shall be stir-frying during the week), most of the vegetables for chicken soup, some mushrooms and some zucchini (I plan to freeze some vegie dishes, because I've noticed that I will eat better when working if I'm defrosting rather than cooking from scratch) and a decent amount of salad vegies. I also have a vast number of free-range eggs for potential latke-making. (The potatoes and the chicken and anything else I need will happen this afternoon and Wednesday - it's all carefully planned.)
Now I have time to think about work, before the next shopping trip. That will make 2/3 of my replenishment of the pantry completed. After 3/3 I will be fine until after New Year. This means I'll be able to hunker down and work madly, for I will have fewer distractions, since most of my friends will be away and I'll have done the shopping (although Monday week is top-up time if I forget anything).
All this shopping is nothing to do with bad health. It's everything to do with Canberra being a bad place for a non-driver to do big shopping and with the Christmas period being a pain in the proverbial. It also means I have food to feed friends if they visit, which isn't always the case.
My Boxing Day plans for this year have been realised: I've borrowed the extended versions of Lord of the Rings. Anyone wanting to join me for them is entirely welcome! The viewing is in honour of my late father, and so will be accompanied by puns where possible (not where appropriate - puns are seldom appropriate).
Now I have time to think about work, before the next shopping trip. That will make 2/3 of my replenishment of the pantry completed. After 3/3 I will be fine until after New Year. This means I'll be able to hunker down and work madly, for I will have fewer distractions, since most of my friends will be away and I'll have done the shopping (although Monday week is top-up time if I forget anything).
All this shopping is nothing to do with bad health. It's everything to do with Canberra being a bad place for a non-driver to do big shopping and with the Christmas period being a pain in the proverbial. It also means I have food to feed friends if they visit, which isn't always the case.
My Boxing Day plans for this year have been realised: I've borrowed the extended versions of Lord of the Rings. Anyone wanting to join me for them is entirely welcome! The viewing is in honour of my late father, and so will be accompanied by puns where possible (not where appropriate - puns are seldom appropriate).
gillpolack @ 2014-12-12T23:38:00
I'm catching up on things again, one step at a time. This means I'm falling behind on reading friends' posts. I'm much more sorted for the impossible season than I normally am, though. This year some friends have helped (are helping, will help). It hasn't taken much from each of them but it has made an enormous difference at this end. I get my big shop next Wednesday for instance - and it's just a friend with a car and we shop together and chat and I'm sorted for everything for Chanukah and most things until market visits start again. This means that the lack of buses between my place to the shops doesn't stop me buying the heavy things that need buying. And I get to see a friend I want to see. Five different friends and I get a social life and things are under control, both at once.
If I can do two lots of shopping tomorrow, edit much variegated material on Saturday night, and write 2,500 words by Sunday lunchtime I'll be almost caught up on myself just for this weekend, too. The 2,500 words are the tricky bit. I keep putting them off for various reasons.
I've only got 8 Aurealis books to read, all up, I think. This means I can leave them until after my Chanukah party, since I can finish them over the Christmas period. This means, in its turn, that I can spend the whole of my working time next week furiously meeting deadlines.
And it's only four days until Chanukah!
Which reminds me, does anyone want the eight days of Chanukah presents thing this year? I can't do much posting of presents (for this year I'm not as financial as last) but I can offer e-presents, and add yet more footnotes to my story of the festival. Although I rather like the version from last year, so I might have to think about something else to change or add. Suggestions entirely welcome. First, though, let me know if you need presents!
If I can do two lots of shopping tomorrow, edit much variegated material on Saturday night, and write 2,500 words by Sunday lunchtime I'll be almost caught up on myself just for this weekend, too. The 2,500 words are the tricky bit. I keep putting them off for various reasons.
I've only got 8 Aurealis books to read, all up, I think. This means I can leave them until after my Chanukah party, since I can finish them over the Christmas period. This means, in its turn, that I can spend the whole of my working time next week furiously meeting deadlines.
And it's only four days until Chanukah!
Which reminds me, does anyone want the eight days of Chanukah presents thing this year? I can't do much posting of presents (for this year I'm not as financial as last) but I can offer e-presents, and add yet more footnotes to my story of the festival. Although I rather like the version from last year, so I might have to think about something else to change or add. Suggestions entirely welcome. First, though, let me know if you need presents!
December 9, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-10T09:03:00
Today is Wednesday. The second last week of term (already). My class has quite a few things that they must do, including a study of collective nouns and a modicum of wordgames. And then we're finished all but the final excursion and I am finished earning money until February. This always happens just before Christmas and I suspect it's one of the reasons I'm such a grouch.
This year, I'm getting to at least three of the parties to which I have been invited. One is an end-of year party, one workplace fest I'm skipping, because the organiser told me that Christmas is secular and that any views I have to the contrary don't reflect the way things are. This is a sure signal (from experience) of a party where I'm going to be asked what presents I expect to receive or where I'm going for holiday. It's on during the middle of my work day and I'm not in a holiday time, so I have the perfect excuse not to attend.
Last Saturday, however, I went to another staff Christmas party and, although it had crackers and turkey and all, it was fine. More than fine, it was delightful. This is the same workplace that produces my Wednesday students and though it was clearly Christmassy, everyone was quite aware of those who celebrate and why some don't and we talked Derrida and bad karaoke rather than swapping seasonal boasts. The most common conversation topic of all was kangaroos, for there were many of them clustered outside, hunkered down because of the rain and there was a sorryness to their state. When the rain lifted and there was happiness inside and out, the roos became very bouncy and we were treated to much "I can look more like a coin representation than you can." The kangaroos were a success and the karaoke a failure - and it was a wonderful party.
Despite this year being even more intrusively Christmassy than last, I am much more equable about it. Anyone who asks me "What are you doing for Christmas? Have you put the tree up yet?" will get a polite "I'm Jewish. What are you doing for Chanukah" for they just about overlap and more equanimity doesn't mean I'm not very tired of people telling me that Christmas is secular and that I should have no qualms about celebrating just for myself. Equanimity is me asking them about Chanukah and not saying "Nice manifestation of cultural privilege there. Are you consistent in its application?"
And thus December progresses. Not that much different to usual. About the time everyone tells me about all their presents, I will have a cupboard full of groceries and a freezer full of food and will be hunkered down for the summer. It's very precise this year because of the late Chanukah and it makes it much easier to see what happened last year and the year before and why I turned annoying.
This year, I'm getting to at least three of the parties to which I have been invited. One is an end-of year party, one workplace fest I'm skipping, because the organiser told me that Christmas is secular and that any views I have to the contrary don't reflect the way things are. This is a sure signal (from experience) of a party where I'm going to be asked what presents I expect to receive or where I'm going for holiday. It's on during the middle of my work day and I'm not in a holiday time, so I have the perfect excuse not to attend.
Last Saturday, however, I went to another staff Christmas party and, although it had crackers and turkey and all, it was fine. More than fine, it was delightful. This is the same workplace that produces my Wednesday students and though it was clearly Christmassy, everyone was quite aware of those who celebrate and why some don't and we talked Derrida and bad karaoke rather than swapping seasonal boasts. The most common conversation topic of all was kangaroos, for there were many of them clustered outside, hunkered down because of the rain and there was a sorryness to their state. When the rain lifted and there was happiness inside and out, the roos became very bouncy and we were treated to much "I can look more like a coin representation than you can." The kangaroos were a success and the karaoke a failure - and it was a wonderful party.
Despite this year being even more intrusively Christmassy than last, I am much more equable about it. Anyone who asks me "What are you doing for Christmas? Have you put the tree up yet?" will get a polite "I'm Jewish. What are you doing for Chanukah" for they just about overlap and more equanimity doesn't mean I'm not very tired of people telling me that Christmas is secular and that I should have no qualms about celebrating just for myself. Equanimity is me asking them about Chanukah and not saying "Nice manifestation of cultural privilege there. Are you consistent in its application?"
And thus December progresses. Not that much different to usual. About the time everyone tells me about all their presents, I will have a cupboard full of groceries and a freezer full of food and will be hunkered down for the summer. It's very precise this year because of the late Chanukah and it makes it much easier to see what happened last year and the year before and why I turned annoying.
December 7, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-08T18:27:00
I've given much thought to your comments (both public and private) to my contemplating whether I should play with seventeenth century recipes or not. What I shall do, I think, is post several recipes once a month. If we all choose a recipe (different ones!) from those, and we all report back, we can have a lot of fun, I think. We're only committing to cook one recipe a month for as long as my research on this novel lasts, and my only commitment is to find several recipes a month (probably a different source each month) and cook one of them. I think that's achievable!
gillpolack @ 2014-12-08T13:22:00
I'm trying to work out if a book hasn't been talked about (one that really ought to be talked about, for I strongly suspect it changes the way we read post apocalyptic SF) or if I've simply missed the conversation. I've seen discussions and reviews in Australia but if there have been serious ones outside, I've missed them. Can anyone help me? The novel is Alexis Wright's The Swan Book.
I've been writing about it this week and in the writing, I've come to the realisation that this is one of those novels that could change the way we see SF. Only if we recognise it as SF, of course. It has been recognised as SF (just) within Australia. I can't see the reception outside this country, though, and I'm curious.
One of the reasons I'm curious is because it's such a very literary work and so beautifully polemical. Wright is Australia's Margaret Atwood or Doris Lessing. I want to know how The Swan Book reads to someone who doesn't know the politics and the history and has to access these through the novel itself. I want to know how the extraordinary language and the unpicking of the fairytale and European realities operate as a way into story.
What I really want right now (because I'm hungry for it) is a volume where SF scholars talk about this book, but it's too early and I'll have to wait. In the meantime, if the scholarly end of the SF community has written about it and anyone can point me in that direction, I'll be most grateful.
I've been writing about it this week and in the writing, I've come to the realisation that this is one of those novels that could change the way we see SF. Only if we recognise it as SF, of course. It has been recognised as SF (just) within Australia. I can't see the reception outside this country, though, and I'm curious.
One of the reasons I'm curious is because it's such a very literary work and so beautifully polemical. Wright is Australia's Margaret Atwood or Doris Lessing. I want to know how The Swan Book reads to someone who doesn't know the politics and the history and has to access these through the novel itself. I want to know how the extraordinary language and the unpicking of the fairytale and European realities operate as a way into story.
What I really want right now (because I'm hungry for it) is a volume where SF scholars talk about this book, but it's too early and I'll have to wait. In the meantime, if the scholarly end of the SF community has written about it and anyone can point me in that direction, I'll be most grateful.
gillpolack @ 2014-12-07T19:27:00
Today was a different market at a different time and so I came home with different things. Dinner is an easy (ie someone else made it) beef rendang because it was only $5 a container and I am not one to pass up beef rendang. In fact, it's the time of year I start thinking about buying much cheap beef and making up packets to freeze. Except I just filled my freezer for Chanukah, so that cooking stint isn't going to happen until New Year now. But I have beef rendang for dinner.
I bought lotus root to make tempura (because it's also the time of year for tempura, and dinner yesterday was tempura'd zucchini flower and baby zucchini) and many cherries and mangoes, a small pawpaw and some blackberries. Also asparagus, leafy greens and broccolini. I only need to go shopping for milk before next Saturday.
I have frozen bagels (for they were $5 for ten) and jalapeno peppers ($1 a tray) and bought broken rice to make SE Asian rice porridge. I also bought some dried fruit for the silly season. And 2 large steaks for less than $5. And enough goat's meat for two meals, for $1.
Right market, right time and all kinds of things happen. Most of them will happen as I take things out of my freezer, but I have all the fresh food for the week, plus my freezer is fuller, plus my cupboard is less worryingly bare... and I'm within budget.
That's the end of my time out, though. I have four solid tasks to complete before sleep.
I bought lotus root to make tempura (because it's also the time of year for tempura, and dinner yesterday was tempura'd zucchini flower and baby zucchini) and many cherries and mangoes, a small pawpaw and some blackberries. Also asparagus, leafy greens and broccolini. I only need to go shopping for milk before next Saturday.
I have frozen bagels (for they were $5 for ten) and jalapeno peppers ($1 a tray) and bought broken rice to make SE Asian rice porridge. I also bought some dried fruit for the silly season. And 2 large steaks for less than $5. And enough goat's meat for two meals, for $1.
Right market, right time and all kinds of things happen. Most of them will happen as I take things out of my freezer, but I have all the fresh food for the week, plus my freezer is fuller, plus my cupboard is less worryingly bare... and I'm within budget.
That's the end of my time out, though. I have four solid tasks to complete before sleep.
December 6, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-07T10:46:00
I'm very tempted to cook as part of my research for the seventeenth century novel. It's going to take me at least six months (possibly a year) to finish the book side of the research. If life intervenes, it may take longer, for I have 1000 books on my to-read list for this one (800+ primary sources, not including the ones I've already read). There was such a burgeoning in the printing industry by 1682 that this was inevitable. I'm glorying in the richness but, until the Aurealis reading is done and my current big project is out of the way, I'm limiting myself to a few books a week.
But there are cookbooks... There are not many printed cookbooks, but this was the heyday of the handwritten household collection and quite a few of them are available on the web. My thinking is that I can start with printed ones and then weasel into a few private households via the handwritten ones.
I really shouldn't. I really should step back and say "Behave. Do not cook all these dishes." For the seventeenth century had one of the unhealthiest cuisines that England ever had. Tasty, but all meat and fat and starch and nutmeg.
I'm undecided. If anyone were interested in sharing a cooking experience for a year where, between us, we tested and commented on recipes, maybe that would be a fun way of doing it. Or I could cook just a few things as I felt like it, since I know the cuisine basics already - what I'd be doing is establishing palates and repertoires for my characters. I could write a cookbook to go along with this novel, if I wanted. Or I could be sensible and focus.
Choices, choices.
I'm open to suggestions. I may or may not take the suggestions seriously, depending.
But there are cookbooks... There are not many printed cookbooks, but this was the heyday of the handwritten household collection and quite a few of them are available on the web. My thinking is that I can start with printed ones and then weasel into a few private households via the handwritten ones.
I really shouldn't. I really should step back and say "Behave. Do not cook all these dishes." For the seventeenth century had one of the unhealthiest cuisines that England ever had. Tasty, but all meat and fat and starch and nutmeg.
I'm undecided. If anyone were interested in sharing a cooking experience for a year where, between us, we tested and commented on recipes, maybe that would be a fun way of doing it. Or I could cook just a few things as I felt like it, since I know the cuisine basics already - what I'd be doing is establishing palates and repertoires for my characters. I could write a cookbook to go along with this novel, if I wanted. Or I could be sensible and focus.
Choices, choices.
I'm open to suggestions. I may or may not take the suggestions seriously, depending.
December 5, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-12-06T09:58:00
I was going to Sydney this weekend for the Freecon, but I thought that maybe it would be wise not to, given I have a big work function tonight. I seldom have work functions and haven't had one this posh for years, so I'm looking forward to it. I just have to get rid of this migraine. It isn't the same as the thunderstorm ones (although they're still lurking - the weather is passing but not yet gone) - it's because someone nice decided that another morning of drilling outside my bedroom was just the ticket. I got seven hours sleep, but I had interesting dreams.
I have eight hours work to do before I get to gad, and I will be doing it with the help of this migraine. Not the first time this week, but this particular set of aches was avoidable, so it's an annoyed migraine. And so you get a detailed statement of my annoyance, when you could've had the next episode in the writers' block posts. Maybe later.
What I need for me (thinking of the needs of writers) is to sum up useful things I've accomplished these last four days despite the interesting conditions.
What have I done:
.read six Aurealis books (only a few to go!)
.much Beast-planning.
. some thinking about bibliography and Medieval sources for modern readers and writers
. Wednesday's teaching
.had many thoughts on how we receive narratives of the seventeenth century and the role a fixed interpretation of reality plays in interpreting those narratives
.a bunch of dealing with income issues
.some conversations with readers of my books (there are readers out there who enjoy my writing - whenever I have a bad week, I simply remind myself of this - the mystery is why they tell me rather than other readers)
.stray messages
.a change of shower curtain (my mother decided I needed one)
. much sorting of files/paper.
And that's all. Not a big week, but not bad considering the state of the Gillian. My report then is "Not bad, but could do better."
I need to do better, because my tasks this coming week include everything I didn't get done last week. I don't get an end-of-year break, but people I work with do, so I have deadlines. Some years this is unfair, but this year meeting those deadlines means I get time for my fiction and I really, really need devoted time for the next novel. Every day I don't do work on it is not a good day, at this point, for it's at the stage where it needs the work and where I want to do it. Part of my happiness quotient.
My work for the next three hours (in case you were wondering) is military matters in the Middle Ages. My back-up (if my eyes need a break from the computer, which is not unlikely, given the migraine) is checking something out on bad language in the Middle Ages.
I have eight hours work to do before I get to gad, and I will be doing it with the help of this migraine. Not the first time this week, but this particular set of aches was avoidable, so it's an annoyed migraine. And so you get a detailed statement of my annoyance, when you could've had the next episode in the writers' block posts. Maybe later.
What I need for me (thinking of the needs of writers) is to sum up useful things I've accomplished these last four days despite the interesting conditions.
What have I done:
.read six Aurealis books (only a few to go!)
.much Beast-planning.
. some thinking about bibliography and Medieval sources for modern readers and writers
. Wednesday's teaching
.had many thoughts on how we receive narratives of the seventeenth century and the role a fixed interpretation of reality plays in interpreting those narratives
.a bunch of dealing with income issues
.some conversations with readers of my books (there are readers out there who enjoy my writing - whenever I have a bad week, I simply remind myself of this - the mystery is why they tell me rather than other readers)
.stray messages
.a change of shower curtain (my mother decided I needed one)
. much sorting of files/paper.
And that's all. Not a big week, but not bad considering the state of the Gillian. My report then is "Not bad, but could do better."
I need to do better, because my tasks this coming week include everything I didn't get done last week. I don't get an end-of-year break, but people I work with do, so I have deadlines. Some years this is unfair, but this year meeting those deadlines means I get time for my fiction and I really, really need devoted time for the next novel. Every day I don't do work on it is not a good day, at this point, for it's at the stage where it needs the work and where I want to do it. Part of my happiness quotient.
My work for the next three hours (in case you were wondering) is military matters in the Middle Ages. My back-up (if my eyes need a break from the computer, which is not unlikely, given the migraine) is checking something out on bad language in the Middle Ages.
