Tues. Sept. 12, 2023: Taking It One Step at a Time
image courtesy of Lee Cassam via pixabay.comTuesday, September 12, 2023
Day Before Dark Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Dreary, warm, humid
Did you have a good weekend? Mine had a few unexpected twists and turns. Today is the day before the dark moon, my lowest energy day of the month, but there’s still a lot that needs to get done.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 119: Emlyn Gaines, Forger
Shelley enlists the infamous forger to catch a murderer.
I skipped my session at the Clark, although I struggled to get work done, due to the heat and humidity.
I did the episode graphics for this week’s episodes of Legerdemain. I did the episode videos for Legerdemain, Angel Hunt, and Deadly Dramatics. I did the catch-up video for episodes 109-120 of Legerdemain. I got all of it uploaded and scheduled on TikTok.
I did a big grocery shop and wine run. Hauling everything from the parking lot and up the stairs in the heat and humidity was not my idea of a good time. But it got done.
In the afternoon, I turned around two small client projects.
And then I gave myself some time off to read this month’s Agatha Christie book club selection, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. I know I read it ages ago, but I’d forgotten a lot of it, including the murderer!
We had bad storms come through in the afternoon and evening. There were all kinds of weather alerts for central MA for Saturday, so we decided to cancel the storage run. We’d have to drive through weather bad enough that people were being told to expect to “find shelter immediately” coming and going, and we just weren’t up for that. Not going puts more pressure on us later in the month, but traveling in bad weather in an old car during Mercury Retrograde (not to mention the other retrogrades) was a recipe for trouble.
We sat on the porch watching the storm for a bit.
Slept well, although I had dreams about Switzerland (which makes no sense).
Feeling tired and scattered on Saturday morning, but I wrote 9 pages of a Writer’s Rough Outline for a project. It’s about the first 3rd of the book. I know where I want to head with it, but I have to write my way into it for a few chapters, before I can outline the specifics of the middle and the last third. WHEN I can do that, I have no idea, but at least I won’t lose these ideas because they are now down on the page and printed out.
Went back to work to finish the Llewellyn pieces. Finished them. Which meant they could rest on Sunday, before the final polish pass.
Drafted two episodes of Legerdemain. I am determined to get ahead on that serial. Especially since I’m getting so many requests for spin-off and tie-in stories – something about that will go out in the newsletter, asking people which characters they want to see in additional stories (maybe not serials; it might just be tie-in stories or novellas).
I also did a new episode of THE VICIOUS CRITIC, which was fun, being back in that world. That was my reward for getting the other stuff done.
Cooked a nice dinner, and tried to relax in the evening. As guilty as I feel for not doing the Cape storage run today, it was also the right choice.
It was muggy and sticky, not good sleeping weather. I dreamed about a man whose best friend was a bear. No idea what that was about.
I polished and uploaded two more Process Muse posts, which gets me through the end of September.
I rewrote the pages for this week’s Nightwood session. I’m sharing the opening of the play inspired by the Munch painting.
I picked up my mom’s prescriptions and some Hershey’s kisses for my candy jar in residence, then stopped at Bear & Bee Bookshop to drop off some more flyers.
Came home and just needed rest. It wasn’t that hot, but the humidity was absolutely oppressive. I made myself a Blue Angel and read an acquaintance’s book. I had read the first book in the series, and was on the fence about it, not liking the protagonist much. It’s fine not to like a protagonist, but I also didn’t respect her or find her particularly engaging. I felt she was watered down and made messier in the wrong way to appease a particular conservative audience, which I didn’t like. What completely turned me off the book and the series was that the protagonist repeatedly used “witch” as a slur against other women. This writer KNOWS better. I know she knows better. On top of that, there were plot holes and lack of follow through on a few things, and it gave the impression of being written in haste, and diluted in the editing. I don’t know the writer well enough to discuss this, but I’m off reading any more books in the series. Which is a shame, because I liked the premise and the location, but I don’t like the actual books.
Again, another example of a traditional publisher using cozy mystery for performative inclusion while actually making a hard turn to the right.
Disappointed and angry.
Good thing we didn’t try the Cape storage run this weekend; there were problems with flooding and bridge closures. We would have been stuck somewhere along the way.
Seeing posts from people who traveled (unmasked) to a large convention, ran around (unmasked) with others (unmasked) and now act surprised that they’re all coming down with COVID. Gee, whyever could that be?
It wasn’t a good sleeping night. I had stress dreams about working a gala where everything went wrong. It was like everything that ever went wrong on any gala I ever worked over the years turned up in the dream. Charlotte pulled me out of it, thankfully, but it was not fun.
Felt bad when I woke up, and worried I was coming down with the plague, but then remembered it was 9/11 and I was literally sick with grief. Some years are easier than others; this was not one of them. I suspect it’s because I’ve been pondering how to handle it if/when it comes up in the Nina Bell series, because that is a pivotal point in the series.
Watched the 9/11 Table of Silence Project. It was, as always, powerful and beautiful, a mix of ritual performance, music, movement, sound. There were 150 dancers this year, along with musicians and singers. The use of space in Lincoln Center plaza is beautiful, and the precision amongst such a large group is also beautiful. Everyone there is totally committed.
At one point, a line for one of the poems I’m working on came to me, and I looked away to jot it down. When I looked back, the dancers all held offering plates. I was quite puzzled; there was no time for them to pass around plates. I looked more closely at the backs of the tunics, between the shoulder blades. I think a pocket might have been sewn in, and the plates stashed there. I will have to watch the reply for that moment, because, from a production standpoint, I am deeply curious.
I was moved and felt somewhat healed by the end of it. It helped me start my day in a better place.
I caught up on some email and administrative things, including submitting my MA Cultural Council report to the state. Keeping on top of the paperwork means I’m clear to apply when the next round of grants opens.
I dropped off/picked up some books at the library, grabbed a couple of things at the grocery store, and mailed a few things at the Post Office (catching up on local news).
By the time I got back, the humidity was oppressive again.
I filled out a rather complex application for an exciting residency that would happen next spring. Always worth a shot. I also submitted a play to a new works call.
Meanwhile, time was running out on the day, and there was writing that needed to get done, editing that needed to happen, and client projects.
But at least my mood improved!
Didn’t get a residency to which I applied for this winter, which is not a surprise (670 applications for 30 slots), but if I don’t try, I have no chance. I have to at least apply; the right one will land.
Wrote about a half an episode of Legerdemain. Did some noodling on some poetry. Allowed myself to grieve as I needed. People on social media were being asshats about 9/11 (nothing particularly new or different, quite a few people are asshats just to be asshats, which is why I curate my feeds as carefully as possible), but there was a lot of kindness and mutual support on Spoutible and CounterSocial.
So, Drew Barrymore is fucking over her writers by starting up her show again, huh? And she’s supposed to host the National Book Awards? I’ve now lost all respect for her and I hope the National Book Awards thinks twice and cancels her appearance. They won’t (too tied to corporate entities), but they should.
Loved the editing suggestions from FLASH FRONTIER, and sent my acceptance of them. Got the edits from BUT DOES IT HAVE POCKETS? And they’re terrific, too. Will let the editor know this morning, and that’s all taken care of, ahead of schedule so we don’t have to worry about anything getting stuck.
Did some work on the Llewellyn polish, and will finish those today. I hope I can get them out the door today; if not, I’ll get them out tomorrow.
The Clark will live stream some of the operas from the MET in NYC over the next few months, and my mom is very excited. I asked her which ones she wanted to see, and I will buy tickets a little closer to the dates (because we have to be careful with weather. But it’s only a 14-mile round trip, so we should be okay, unless the weather is really bad. There’s not much to worry about, flood-wise, on that set of roads.
I got my act together and walked up to Walkaway House for their Open Studios. The artists, as always, are doing fascinating work. I spent most of my time with Faye Pamintuan, who’s doing some really cool work. She also taught me how to use Gelli plates to print, and now I am obsessed. I was like a five-year-old fingerpainting for the first time.
Came home, cooked dinner, and then settled into the Zoom call with the Authors Guild, Cheryl Davis, Gregory Maguire, and Winnie Holzman about banning WICKED and book banning problems in general. It was a good conversation.
But by the end of the evening, this girl was tired!
Up early this morning and out the door to the laundromat. Got a few chapters of CAST IRON MURDER edited. After my residency, I should be able to do the next draft, and then, hopefully, it will be in shape to go out on submission early next year.
Today, I have to work on Legerdemain, polish the Llewellyn articles, finish the reading’s program to send for proofing, do at least one of the 3 small client projects that need attention. IF there’s time, maybe I can get a few more Angel Hunt episodes uploaded and scheduled. Or treat myself to writing another episode of THE VICIOUS CRITIC. But we’ll see.
We’ve been told to prepare for a nasty winter with lots of heavy, wet snow. Oh, joy. Yes, that was sarcasm.
Have a good one!
