Tues. Nov. 7, 2023: The Siren Song of Words
image courtesy of 2211438 via pixabay.comTuesday, November 7, 2023
Waning Moon
Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cool
We’re down to four retrogrades! We’re getting there. Some of the pressure is easing up.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 135: Jed Smythe Confronts Sebastian Tiago
Jed faces the man who kidnapped him and took over his identity, with a surprising twist.
Friday, I drafted a new episode of Legerdemain, and a new episode of LIGHTHOUSE LADY. I only managed about a page and a half of the radio play, but it’s a page and a half more than I had before. I’ll take it.
I did a curbside pickup of a few things, then swung by the library for a drop-off/pick up, and swung by the post office to mail a couple of bills.
The afternoon was mostly caught up in script coverage.
Saturday, I wrote, edited, polished a Process Muse, but gave myself the rest of the day off from writing. I did, however, do all the graphics and episode videos for the three serials, and get those up. I did home and hearth stuff, everything from the usual Saturday chores like changing the beds to the more unusual, like putting away all the Samhain decorations, finishing switching out the curtains to winter curtains, etc. I put up Christmas lights early in the kitchen because we missed having lights up.
We went to City Hall to participate in early voting. Everyone there was so nice, and it was an easy process. I will, however, apply for a mail-in ballot for the Presidential elections next year. Then it was a quick trip up Main Street to the library to drop off/pick up books.
I read in the afternoon, a book that came highly recommended that I enjoyed, but it pushed the suspension of disbelief a little too far sometimes. A book I ordered arrived in the mail. I have a lot of this author’s books, although most are in storage. I don’t have this one, so I looked forward to it. I found a lot in that book that I had been handed, years ago, as part of a project, typewritten – but without attribution. Which makes me wonder about the people who handed it off to me, and whether it was done in good faith or not.
I had a weird opening scene for an urban fantasy romance drop into my head, so I let that simmer.
I put the clocks back before I went to bed – including the coffeemaker.
I love “falling back.” I love that extra hour. It energizes me for a week or so, whereas “springing forward” disorients me for weeks.
Dreamed about a toxic individual who is no longer in my life and no longer welcome. I want to cut that subconscious tie as well as the conscious one.
Up early on Sunday morning, savoring it. Did a big grocery shop early in the morning, replenishing staples for the month, and getting in what I want/need to try some new recipes this week. I couldn’t find everything I wanted/needed, so I made a mental note to stop at a different store on the way back from the Clark.
Wrote up some notes for the weird urban fantasy romance and it wasn’t working. Too many holes in it. Wondering if writing the first sequence will clarify it, or if the whole thing is a lost cause. It’s a shame if it is, because I really like the two characters.
Our last issue of the YANKEE magazine subscription arrived. We’re not renewing. I’m tired of it promoting the fantasy that the only people in New England are wealthy white people. New England is more diverse than that (even though there are pockets who pretend otherwise), and promoting this fantasy I find uncomfortable and exclusive in a way where I don’t want to put my money there. I mean, I grew up on YANKEE magazine, but it hasn’t evolved with the reality of life in this region. And I don’t like too many of the fantasy elements it promotes.
Headed out the door to the Clark. There was an author talk by author Christine Coulson, who was a writer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 25 years, and is now a novelist. One of the things she did was write the labels in the museum, and that inspired her newest book, ONE WOMAN SHOW. Her process was fascinating, and how she used the form to create something new even more so.
I bought a copy of the book for myself, and a copy as a Yule gift for a friend, and Christine inscribed both. The book is meant to be read in one sitting; I’m looking forward to it.
The computer system was down at the event; I felt so badly for the young staff member trying to make it work, when there was a long line of people getting impatient. I did have the chance to chat with the museum director while it got sorted out; he’s such an interesting person, and it’s always nice to have a minute to talk to him.
The reflecting pool has been drained for the winter. I don’t know why that surprised me; it’s not as though I expected them to ice skate or something all winter.
Stopped at Stop & Shop to pick up a few things I hadn’t been able to get at Big Y.
Gave myself the rest of the day off, again, other than writing a book review that was due. This again, reinforces that not doing Nano this year was the right choice. I’d have been frantic about falling behind, taking time off so early in the process. But I’m a little tired of the 3-5 emails from Nano every day.
I read a book in a series where I enjoy the writing and most of the character work, but the protagonist makes the SAME major mistake in every book that nearly costs her her life, and by this point in the game, she should have learned. I’m still going to read the last book in the series, but I’m getting a little frustrated with her.
Made a fish stew in the Dutch oven for dinner. It turned out well. A new recipe that I will keep. “They” always talk about the importance of a series of go-to recipes. Usually they mean 7-10. I have about 60 at this point. At least it keeps mealtimes fresh and interesting.
Slept well, but with weird dreams of a story I need to make notes on. Not sure if it will add up to anything – the urban fantasy romance I had ideas for plays well in my head, but is not going well in the notes. Maybe this will be better. It was a dream about dreamwalkers. And no, I will NOT open it within a dream. I loathe that overused trope, and it’s so rarely used well.
Up at a normal time Monday. Did some writing in longhand. Did some reading. Had a slow start. But was at the desk before 9. Later than usual, but still fine.
Typed up some notes for ideas, but not sure they will go anywhere. But at least I have the notes. One is kind of a silly, funny mix between mystery, romance, and a few paranormal elements, but I don’t know.
Got out a grant proposal that was more complicated than I expected, and I was more personal in the materials than I expected. But, nothing ventured, and all that.
Signed up for a series of Assets 4 Artists workshops over the next month or so.
Backed up some things from a flash drive onto my external drive, but it seems to have messed up with flash drive’s position in the main computer.
Turned around four short coverages and three score sheets.
Edited three chapters of CAST IRON MURDER (nearly 7K). A lot of tightening, choosing better words, etc. I’ve cut nearly a page, total, just with tightening sentences and structure. Makes it a better book. I’m hoping this will be the submission-ready draft, and that I can start querying it in January.
Made roast chicken for dinner, which was yummy, along with mashed potatoes and spinach. Roasting a chicken also means making chicken stock, so I have that for the slow-cooker cassoulet I’m trying later this week.
Got my next book for review. Got a quick turnaround script that I have to start this morning (I usually do coverage in the afternoon). But it’s a big coverage for a nice chunk of change, so I’m adjusting my schedule. The final curated Goddess Provisions box arrived. Five years of monthly boxes was a good run. I enjoyed them.
Yesterday’s Word Counts:
New Material: 2034
Edited Material: 6895
Slept well, up early this morning. Wrote a little over 1400 words, the first chapter, of the weird little cross genre piece. I’ve set it amongst some fictional villages of my beloved Northumbria. We’ll see where it goes, if it goes anywhere. It felt very Nano-ey to do it, although it was under the necessary word count. But it’s as though my body and brain are so used to generating new material in November (rather than working on in-process material) that it happens almost spontaneously.
I have to draft a Legerdemain episode this morning, before I start the script coverage. I don’t want to fall behind on that again. Once I’ve done the coverage, and two smaller ones, I hope to get back to CAST IRON MURDER. I also have a flash fiction I need to play with this week, because if it’s going out, it needs to go out this weekend. As does the poem, which needs to go out the door this weekend, too.
In other words, I better get back to the page!
