Authors in the Blogosphere

In case you're wondering what other authors are out here in cyberspaceland, here's a couple of lists.

http://www.authorsblogs.com/index.php

http://www.internetwritingjournal.com/authorblogs/

Have fun.

Stuck at Home

And wouldn't you know it? Right when I need to be at work.

We're working to deadline right now, so of course my daughter is running a fever and I can't find a babysitter. Argh. Still, she's asleep now, so I'm going to see what I can get done. I'm looking through articles to add to our website (www.managemyhome.com) THere's over 1700 of them, and it needs to be done by Friday. Oy veh.


Anyway, enough grousing (for the moment).

Draft Done!

At 1:30 AM this morning, because sleep is for amatuers.

In truth I'm mighty tired, but very happy with myself. Hats off to Briana, my editor, as well, for keeping the project on track. The next step is to take this week to re-read what I've written, make sure it all makes sense and isn't terrible, then put it all together in novel form once again.

After that, the real fun starts.

We have one more draft to do (I wouldn't mind two, but one is what we have time for) before I send it in to my publisher, Dragon Moon Press. After that, it's all about cover art and proofs and trying to coax a review or two out of other authors, if any will be willing.

And that's all the time I have to gloat/moan about it this morning. Nice to get some done. Miles to go before I sleep.

And Speaking of Writing...

Coleridge's archive is going to have a new home.

Did I mention I'm on chapter 29, now? And that I should be working on it right now?

This is called procrastinating!

Back to work.

The Website My Editor Wishes I'd Found...

...before she had to work on the manuscript.

http://www.grammar-monster.com/

Not that my grammar is terrible, but a little reminder never hurts.

Actually with me, I can mostly remember what to do, but I can never remember what anything is called.

Chapter 29 awaits!

(Yes, I got through 28. Took five days, but I found what I wanted. I just hope I won't think it sucks when I read it in the next draft).

Geek Link: Archeology

Very cool discovery in Quebec:

Archeologists discover remains of Jacques Cartier settlement

Not a lot to go on, yet, but very exciting. The oldest European settlement in the Americas north of Mexico.

And for a bit more in depth information on French colonization attempts:

Unsettling disasters: colonizing New France before 1600

Back to work.

(Literally this time. I got to work early and am blogging from my desk before the day begins, which is in two minutes.)

Stuck

Like a hampster in a honeypot. Flailing about in the goo and going nowhere.

I'm on chapter 28. After this, four left, then we're done the draft. It's a small scene but an important one, dealing with the relationship between the hero characters before the final facedown with the villain. it shouldn't be this hard. It's a page at most. Maybe two.

Do you think I can rewrite it?

Argh.

No, really: Argh.

This is day 4 since I got stuck and it's really annoying me.

Anyway, enough whining. I'm going to take another kick at this particular cat and see if I can get it going again.

(And what's with the cruelty to animals theme tonight?)

Back to work.

At Loose Ends

It's heading for midnight, and I should be in bed, but I just... don't... wanna... go.

My wife and child are spending the week at a cottage, which is very nice for them, though apparently everyone has caught a cold. They're still having fun, though.

I've been working and editing all week, and have found myself in the rather strange position of being all caught up. I got tonight's work done in about an hour, and found myself still completely at loose ends. I stayed at the computer for another two hours, had dinner, and here I am again.

And why, you might ask?

Well, it's my own damn fault, really. I bought new speakers for the computer today after work, and have spent most of the evening listening to all that music I put on the computer. It's good music (well, I like it) and it's really nice to hear it properly.

And for the record, I paid for all of it. Downloading is fun but speaking as an artist, infringement of copyright sucks. I know record companies charge to much, but artists still need to get paid. So pay for your downloads!

(all my music came from my CD collection, which reminds me, have to put my Tragically Hip collection on this machine)

Anyway, I should head to bed, but I'm awake and enjoying myself and really don't want to go.

Pity the alarm is going off in six hours.

On the bright side, I've started doing a bit of work on Cold Magics (the sequel to Small Magics) again. Finishing it (it's about half done) is the next major project, and I'm looking forward to writing (instead of editing) once again.

Good night everyone. This time, I am definitely going to bed, and not...

Back to Work.

A Lament for the Green Knight

Over the weekend The Green Knight decided it was time to shut down his blog.

I didn't find out until Monday and you'll find my comment near the bottom. It's succinct and not very erudite and sums up exactly how I feel about it.

The Green Knight was an intelligent, educated blogger who had a gift for clarity and bringing to light complex issues. His analysis of world events, of the behaviours of our leaders, and the forces that drive those events and behaviours was clear, concise and always enlightening. His sense of humour was wonderful, and his taste in art amazing.

Those of us who regularly visited his blog got a taste of it all, and are thankful for it.

Thanks, Green Knight, for sharing part of yourself with all of us. We'll miss you here in the Blogosphere, and hope you're having fun in the real world.

Back to work.

Fun with Words

Because if I didn't think words were fun, I would be an accountant.


http://www.etymonline.com/index.php

Wondered where your favourite words originated? Have a look.

Back to work.

I'm Ahead!

Or at least, I was until I opened the email tonight. But suffice it to say I'm caught up, which is a nice change. My editor and I are steaming along and we'll have a draft done for the end ofthe month. Yay! One down, one to go (because I only have time for one more).

It has been a rough few weeks. Sleep has been at a premium and my wife is getting mighty tired of staring at the back of my head while I'm writing and ignoring everyone else. Then my baby brought home a cold from daycare and guess who she gave it to?

Great to have a kid who loves to share.

Still, I'm caught up, and may actually get some rest in the next couple of days. The addition of the laptop has helped greatly. Being able to go away and work for a few hours last weekend made life much easier. Got two chapters done on Sunday, and have been working steady ever since.

Two geek links:

Article 1: Charles V had Gout

And they figured it out from his severed finger. Anyone know why his finger was severed? Anyway, cool science stuff.

Article 2: Interesting Trenches in India

The possibility of it having to do with ancient astronmy, while still completely speculation at this point, is kind of a cool idea. As the geologist in the article points out, however, it's too early to draw conclusions.


I'm still not ready to blog about Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. There's a lot of bad happening down there, and not a lot of ways any good can come of it. When people start lobbing explosives, bad things happen.

The Green Knight has a good article on it. He, like me, is still not sure what to say.

Hope for peace, for everyone's sake. Healing from this will take generations.

Back to work.