Planning mode

mood: Good
music: Hoobastank--Same Direction
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So I've been thinking about this year's NaNoWriMo project, trying to plan without overthinking it. The next installment in the story of Luta Paixon and the crew of the Tane Ikai, I know that much. The resurgence of a problem from Nearspace's history, and new personal problems, of course. I'm really looking forward to working with those characters again. I just have to be careful not to get too locked into things before November 1st arrives.

Also working on a new short story, tentatively called "Shades." Sort of a creepy contemporary fantasy, I think. Still working it out, slow progress so far, but I like it.

What I can't seem to work up much energy for is final editing and submission of the so-close-to-finished stories sitting in folders on my desk. They're like the files that used to sit on my desk at work, saying "don't touch me!" But I'm going to have to get tough with them soon. Maybe this weekend.

Just finished reading William Gibson's Pattern Recognition. I really enjoyed it all the way through, and then the ending fell kind of flat. Disappointing, because I found it gripping and interesting and unique, and then--blah. The explanations for everything just weren't satisfying. Ah well, on to the next one. So many books, so little time.

One thing I learned today: Reading probably isn't declining as much as the worry-mongers would have us believe. Check out this essay by Paul Collins.

Simulacrum 6

mood: great
music: none
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The issue of Simulacrum with my story inside arrived today. Looks pretty good. I love reprints!

I visited my web page to update it with this story information and read my NaNoWriMo counter--only 53 days! To decide on an idea and plan it out. Yikes! Better get with it.

One thing I learned today: Some folks seem to think that science fiction is on the way out. I hope not, since I'm still trying to find my way in.

Summer Downtime is Over

mood: Great
music: Break Away by Kelly Clarkson
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Okay, the summer break is about over and I guess it's time to get back to work. Well, I've done that already, actually, sending out a few subs over the past week and getting caught up on some other things. Started a new story tonight, which I'm hoping to finish in time to take it to the writing workshop in November.

Yes, November! But of course I'll still be doing NaNoWriMo. Haven't decided on an idea yet, although a few things are rolling around in my brain.

Checked the Elysian Fiction website today and there's actually some movement. The editor is trying once again to clear his backlog, so I should hear something soon on that one. The new issue of Simulacrum with the reprint of "Signs & Portents" should be out any day now. It would be nice to hear back on a few other things (positively, of course!) before the end of the year.

And the blog. I'll have to get back into the swing of blogging now that my self-appointed vacation is over. I think I'll skip making New Year's Resolutions from now on; I seem to make more in September than January!

One thing I learned today:

75 Percentage of American young adults who don't know the population of the United States.

53 Percentage of Canadian young adults who don't know the population of the United States.
(from http://www.independent.co.uk/)