Worm, the pain and blade, turn and turn again...

[greygirlbeast]

I wish I could begin this entry by saying that yesterday I wrote X number of words on The Dinosaurs of Mars, X being a number greater than one thousand. That is exactly the way I would like to begin this entry. Unfortunately, yesterday was another day of dithering, and nothing was written. I blame the eight hours of sleep. For the first time in quite a while, my mind was clearer, and suddenly the whole epistolary narrative structure I'd created for the story seemed untenable and unconvincing. Never mind the problems it had solved, because it had, I saw, created so many others. So, there was frustration and anger and panic, and I spent the day reading reports on the Mars Direct Proposal (2003) from the Mars Project and reading from the great stacks of books that have sprouted all about my desk and trying to find a new solution. It's not like this has never happened before, having so much trouble getting into a story. It's just that usually, when it does happen, the story gets shelved and then forgotten about. And this time I will not do that. So, I have to find my way in.

I don't know that I have a lot to say here today. There's too much frustration and dread. I wish I could blame what happened yesterday on a deluge of email (there was such a deluge), but that would be a lie.

I refuse to do this story the wrong way, even if that path might be the most expedient. And at this point, with so much work and so many deadlines before me, there's a lot to be said for expediency.

We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we were traveling in the night of First Ages, of those Ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign—and no memories. The earth seemed unearthly. We are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there—there you could look at a thing monstrous and free...

(Joseph Conrad)

We did have a good walk at dusk. There were many cats, and swallows, and bats. Spooky found half a turquoise robin's egg. Coming out on Freedom Park at Moreland Avenue, we were greeted by the sight of a blimp over downtown Atlanta, which gave me a not-unpleasant moment of disorientation.

My thanks to Mike, who made me smile this morning by sending me this photo of Nar'eth, which he took at Dragon*Con in 2003. Seems a million years ago. The photo's behind the cut. I think it's actually one of the best I've ever seen of her:

Comments

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Were you on the tired side when that shot was taken? You kind of look like you're hanging.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Were you on the tired side when that shot was taken? You kind of look like you're hanging.

I believe it was right after four or five hours in the makeup chair on Sunday, and just before a signing. So I was probably a little tired, but not especially so. I think what you're seeing is the way I had to rest my arms in the steel-boned corset while seated, which I always thought added to Nar'eth's alien posture.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

I can see that. I also can see the "Nar-eth-Bot" quality stsisyphus mentioned.

Anyway, it's neat, what you do to be Nar'eth. (I'll never be a hipster; I still use the word "neat.") Thanks for posting the shot.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

So, there was frustration and anger and panic, and....and trying to find a new solution. It's not like this has never happened before, having so much trouble getting into a story. It's just that usually, when it does happen, the story gets shelved and then forgotten about. And this time I will not do that. So, I have to find my way in.

Rather like actual caving. Best of luck.

The photo's behind the cut. I think it's actually one of the best I've ever seen of her

I like the outdoor shot better, but mostly because it doesn't look like it was taken in contemporary America. It almost feels like a 1970s European city. Dunno. This pic, no offense, strikes me as slightly doll-like, as if we were looking at a Nar'eth-Bot. Fun to see, nonetheless.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I like the outdoor shot better, but mostly because it doesn't look like it was taken in contemporary America.

Spooky also prefers that one (it's her fave Nar'eth photo). I prefer this one. I think there's more personality here, even if the composition and setting aren't as neat. This is just a hall shot, after all.

If this posts twice, blame the goat

[ex-blue-verv849.livejournal.com]

I had that kind of day yesterday as well, figuring my project was lost as well. I did nothing on it. I haven't changed my mind about it today, I seem just as far off track as I was, so blessed be your machete or whatever else you might be using to clear away the bruch, and blessed be mine, too, because right now, things look awfully full of pricker bushes and brambles over here.

Re: If this posts twice, blame the goat

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

so blessed be your machete or whatever else you might be using to clear away the bruch,

I getting ready to pull out the flamethrower.

[setsuled.livejournal.com]

So, I have to find my way in.

Good luck. It was kind of weird--after reading one of your posts about Mars about a week ago, I turned on the Science Channel and it was showing a documentary about future possible colonisation and terraforming of Mars and it went over a lot of the same issues you've been discussing. I'm really starting to dig the romance of it.

this photo of Nar'eth

So that's how the sleeves work. Say, do you mind if I use pieces of the Nar'eth comic in my portfolio?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Say, do you mind if I use pieces of the Nar'eth comic in my portfolio?

Please do.

[setsuled.livejournal.com]

Thank you. By the way, I had some adventures with PayPal yesterday that involved me having to delete my old card in order to add my new one--it's a boring story, but it meant I automatically unsubscribed to Sirenia Digest so I had to subscribe again. If you end up charging me twice this month, it's fine. I have a little extra dough just now--you and Spooky have lattes on me.

[sovay]

I think it's actually one of the best I've ever seen of her

She looks like herself.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

She looks like herself.

That's what I thought.

[blubeagle.livejournal.com]

She's quite pretty.