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Angry Humans And Helpful Animals
Oct. 3rd, 2011 09:26 pmI got word late last week that my (science fiction) poem "They Brought Me Your Memories" is going to be accepted by the (mostly mainstream) online poetry magazine Strong Verse. Woot! I'm hardly the first speculative poet to be accepted there, though; quite a lot of Cool Kids have beaten down my path there for me.
In other news, Arizona proceeds slowly--but the slower pace is not only expected but preferred for me right now, as I'm essentially teaching myself a new writing style: Concise And Non-Sprawling. More Edward Rutherfurd than James A. Michener, but a lot less John Jakes than usual.
I've also been re-amazed at how much research goes into what ends up being just a few pages. Not complaining, mind you, I just find it fascinating every time the realization hits me again.
PROGRESS REPORT FOR 10/1 AND 10/3/11
New Words: 1500 (850 / 650) on Chapter 1 ("Those Who Came First") Part 1 ("The Skystone Hunter") of Arizona. Nakuq has an angry holy woman yell at him for apparently doing the impossible, then a few moments later he makes a promise to a Dire Wolf that helped him and a new friend out of a tricky situation. Oh, and the land is getting too warm for everyone.
Total Words: 4700.
Book Year: 8951 / 8944 B.C.
Reasons For Stopping: Outside work / Getting ready for work.
Mammalian Assistance: None. I think the cats have gotten used to me being back to work on a novel yet.
Exercise: Saturday: Random walking around Rocky Mount, VA at their first annual Mountain Arts Festival; walked Tucker the Big Dog around our neighborhood; walked around 3/4s of campus with Laurie and the dogs. Today: Walked down to campus.
Stimulants: None / A dollop of DP.
Today's Opening Passages:
Saturday: Nakuq and Salu watched it disappear, unbelieving, until he realized that his hands were empty. He’d dropped the skystone back in the river! He fell to his knees and his hands scrambled for it, and Salu joined him when she realized what he was doing. Maybe the river swept it away…but no, the current here was so gentle the other stones at their feet were undisturbed. How could it have disappeared so easily?
Today (going back and adding something I forgot on Saturday): Nakuq cried out a protest as if she’d ordered him to leave his family forever, since that was very close to what she had in fact done. He stopped abruptly when he saw the Dire Wolf who fought the sabertooth, watching him and watching the men as if debating whether or not to intervene again. Don’t, Nakuq thought, but some of the other warriors saw her too and the unwounded ones gave chase with their spears. The wolf expected that, though, and fled at the first sign she was noticed. If she was injured more than lightly she didn’t betray that to her pursuers.
Darling Du Jour: Nothing springs out at me.
Submissions Sent Out In September: 5.
Total Submissions Out Right Now: 9.
Non-Research / Review Books In Progress: Michener; Follett.
In other news, Arizona proceeds slowly--but the slower pace is not only expected but preferred for me right now, as I'm essentially teaching myself a new writing style: Concise And Non-Sprawling. More Edward Rutherfurd than James A. Michener, but a lot less John Jakes than usual.
I've also been re-amazed at how much research goes into what ends up being just a few pages. Not complaining, mind you, I just find it fascinating every time the realization hits me again.
New Words: 1500 (850 / 650) on Chapter 1 ("Those Who Came First") Part 1 ("The Skystone Hunter") of Arizona. Nakuq has an angry holy woman yell at him for apparently doing the impossible, then a few moments later he makes a promise to a Dire Wolf that helped him and a new friend out of a tricky situation. Oh, and the land is getting too warm for everyone.
Total Words: 4700.
Book Year: 8951 / 8944 B.C.
Reasons For Stopping: Outside work / Getting ready for work.
Mammalian Assistance: None. I think the cats have gotten used to me being back to work on a novel yet.
Exercise: Saturday: Random walking around Rocky Mount, VA at their first annual Mountain Arts Festival; walked Tucker the Big Dog around our neighborhood; walked around 3/4s of campus with Laurie and the dogs. Today: Walked down to campus.
Stimulants: None / A dollop of DP.
Today's Opening Passages:
Saturday: Nakuq and Salu watched it disappear, unbelieving, until he realized that his hands were empty. He’d dropped the skystone back in the river! He fell to his knees and his hands scrambled for it, and Salu joined him when she realized what he was doing. Maybe the river swept it away…but no, the current here was so gentle the other stones at their feet were undisturbed. How could it have disappeared so easily?
Today (going back and adding something I forgot on Saturday): Nakuq cried out a protest as if she’d ordered him to leave his family forever, since that was very close to what she had in fact done. He stopped abruptly when he saw the Dire Wolf who fought the sabertooth, watching him and watching the men as if debating whether or not to intervene again. Don’t, Nakuq thought, but some of the other warriors saw her too and the unwounded ones gave chase with their spears. The wolf expected that, though, and fled at the first sign she was noticed. If she was injured more than lightly she didn’t betray that to her pursuers.
Darling Du Jour: Nothing springs out at me.
Submissions Sent Out In September: 5.
Total Submissions Out Right Now: 9.
Non-Research / Review Books In Progress: Michener; Follett.
