Amy Laurens's Blog, page 108

Decisions and Creativity

Read this article tonight – this one, here. It’s thesis is that you have a limited capacity for decision-making in any given period of time, and once you use them up, that’s it. Creative work involves a LOT of decision making, so if your daily life involves making a lot of hard or intense decisions, it’s unlikely you’re going to have any left over by the time you come to doing your creative work. So, the article says, what can you turn into a routine to avoid making unnecessary decisions?

Boy...

Characterisation 101

Just about the best example of characterisation I’ve seen in two sentences.

My dearest Albert put on my stockings for me. I went in and saw him shave; a great delight for me.

Queen Victoria, Feb 13 1840.

This, Is A Warning

Mostly about backing up your stuff, because my USB died DED this week, and despite the fact that I spent long and frustrated hou– mi– er, periods of time installing portable dropbox on it, it failed to sync to the net on Sunday last week, and I’ve lost an entire chapter of The Novel. It is enough to make me cry, because it was a GOOD chapter, full of angst and conflict and sistah dramah. Seriously. I WEEP.

But also, because let’s face it, a reminder to BACK UP YOUR WORK FOR THE LOVE OF ELEPHAN...

Also…

Also, because it is stuck in my head after showing it to my satire and comedy class today. You’re welcome.

Link-a-Bet Soup ;)

Wow, it’s been forever since I did a link-a-bet. I think maybe not since the blog lived on Blogger! o.O But anyway, tonight: a selection of Things I Have Found.

First of all, I am tremendously excited. My writing – I hesitate to say idol, because in my social context that’s a no-no, but you know what I mean :P The writer I admire most in the entire world and who I want to BE when I grow up answered an oddly stupid question from me on her Tumblr. Behold, Maggie Stiefvater on whether or not a wr...

Finally, some photos of Laos!

Right what it says on the can: photos of my adventures in Laos :) Sadly, a lack of photos of me cartwheeling off elephants into the Mekong, as we haven’t been able to retrieve those pics yet. Rest assured, I shall share if I can :D But for now, other pics! Constrained, of course, by the fact that I was travelling with minors and am not going to publicly post pictures of them ;)

Our brief glimpse of Bangkok (we overnighted when we first arrived).

Still life with bicycle, Laos-style.

One of Luang...

I HAVE A BOOK CONTRACT!

There. Is that blunt enough? :D

Read the details here, in my last post, the one with the curiously ineffective title :P :D

Insert Exciting Title Here!

So, either because I’ve never had to do this before, or because my brain is absent (I’m home sick), or for any other semi-plausible reason you care to pick, I really have no idea how to do this.

So I’ll just do it, shall I?

I have a book contract.

There. Announced.

…No?

I have a BOOK CONTRACT!!!!!! OHMYGOSH A BOOK! CONTRACT!!!!!!!!!

Better? O:) :D

I’m not actually as hyper about it as the multiple exclamation marks suggest. Mostly because I’m still peering suspiciously around the room, waiting for s...

Alivity, and GMO Foods

Why yes, yes I am still alive. Maybe. Probably. *checks for rotting limbs that may indicate zombieism* Nope, all clear. I am definitely, absolutely, 100% alive. Later in the week, I might even post pictures of my trip to Laos with school. See be have Plans to be Organised.

Randomly, I found this article today, and thought it provided a perspective on GMO foods that is often overlooked. So. Go read it, and discover why GM oranges may be a Thing Near You in the future.

Tales from the SFRB Released!

Whee! The anthology, Tales from the SFR Brigade, is on early release! You can pick a copy up FOR FREE from Smashwords in pretty much all existing formats :)

Please note that the anthology is NOT rated PG: there is sex and swearing, though neither on-scene in my story ;)

Experience love and adventure among the stars in ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade,’ a free digital anthology of eight Science Fiction Romance stories.

• A space captain discovers the cyborg she loves just might be her greatest enemy.

•...