The days grow larger, and the year keeps shrinking.

[greygirlbeast]

This morning, Elizabeth Bear (matociquala) said some good stuff about writing, and if you're interested in that sort of thing, you should have a look. Though I gather she and I have very different systems for getting it done, I think she's mostly bang on. My only quibble was with this line, in her summation, "You must revise what you write." And I say that because, generally, I don't revise what I write. Oh, I might come back fifteen years later and do some damn fool rewording, but, usually, what comes out as my "first draft" is what sees print (at least the first time it sees print), be it vignette, short story, novella, or novel. And since I'm a moderately successful published author, it is obviously not true that revision is a "must." In the end, this all comes back to what I've said again and again and again. There is no set of rules. There are people who will tell you there is, and there are people who make a living doing just that. But it's a lie. The only set of musts is what works for you. Unless, of course, what works for you isn't working, in which case, it might be that you simply weren't meant to be a writer, and all the formulae under the sun won't change that. Anyway...yes, a good post.

Because I made a somewhat idiotic miscalculation as to when I would be receiving my next check from Penguin, we're starting a new round of eBay auctions. Please, if you can, bid. I'm even going to do something I've not done since 2005 or so. Every winning bidder will receive one of my patented Monster Doodles. Okay, so they're not patented, but people seem to like them. Right now, we have copies of the "Mercury" chapbook, the trade edition of Frog Toes and Tentacles, and the Little Damned Book of Days chapbook up. But more is coming. Spooky's even going to be doing a couple of the black velvet/red silk "cozies" to accompany lettered editions of Frog Toes and Tentacles. These were, as they say, all the rage back in 2006. But she only made a handful, and they all sold. So, yes, please have a look at the current auctions. Because I'm lousy at finances. Thanks.

As for yesterday, it was all I could do not to head for the Cape (Cod), once I learned the extraction had been postponed pending the cessation of this damned cough. The weather was so warm (low sixties), and the sea was calling. Instead, I was good, and I sat here in my chair and worked. I did the line edits on "The Colliers' Venus (1893)." I spoke with my agent in NYC. I finally almost caught up on my email. I spoke with the artist who will be spotlighted in Sirenia Digest #37. I was productive, which just seems stupid, all things considered.

Today, we have winter-weather warnings, and will be seeing a mix of snow and rain tonight.

Last night, after Chinese leftovers (pork moo shu and beef fried rice), we played WoW, and played, and played...and played. And yet we managed, somehow, not to reach Lvl 42. We wound up out in Desolace, trying to help orcs start some sort of centaur civil war. Yes, we went all the way to Desolace, the wastelands on the western edge of Kalimdor, just to escape the Xmas idiocy that has infested WoW. In Silvermoon City, there are Xmas trees and blood elves in Santa suits. I shit you not. Undercity looks like the Xmas decorations section at Hot Topic threw up all over everything. So...I'll either be sticking to the wilderness until this insanity passes, or I'll lay off WoW until the new year. Sticking to the wilderness is no guarantee of safety, as I hear "grinches" are now roaming the Alterac Mountains. I will not do even a single of those stupid Xmas quests or accomplishments. I don't care if they would instantly catapult me to Lvl 80. And what amazes me, players love this silly shit. Go figure. Anyway, yeah...we finished up at the Dustwallow Marshes and traveled, on horseback, east across the Barrens and the Stonetalon Mountains to Desolace. Aptly named Desolace. I'm not exactly sure what the orcs want with the place, truth be told. Somehow, we were up until after four ayem (!!!!) trying to reach Lvl 42. Mostly, I think the pain in my mouth was keeping me awake, and playing WoW in pain was better than trying to sleep in pain. There are a couple of screencaps behind the cut.

Okay...so, here's another day. Well, the few hours remaining until sunset. Let's see what's next:





Suraa (foreground) and Shaharrazad (background), learning too late there are no 7-11s in Desolace.



Shah on her felsteed, watching the sun rise over the badlands and wishing she were back in a Santa-free Silvermoon City. She hates Xmas at least a thousand times more than me, and she doesn't even know what it is.

Comments

[stacyking.livejournal.com]

My WOW server (Medievah?) turned into a clusterfark last night thanks to the Xmas stuff: not only did the servers down with the overload, but both Alliance and Horde players were doing raids on various cities to kill the NPCs needed to collect/complete the Xmas quests. Griefing at it's finest! I may be joining you in the Hinterlands, if things don't settle down by the weekend.

I'm fascinated to learn that you don't revise your work, especially as I'm a compulsive rewriter. I remember reading an interview with Tom Robbins on his writing process years ago: he worked slowly, but each line was well thought-through that revision was unnecessary. It makes me wonder if there's a correlation between writing speed and the need for rewrites - it makes sense that you'd need to revise less if you spent more time polishing the work as you're writing the first draft.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

he worked slowly, but each line was well thought-through that revision was unnecessary. It makes me wonder if there's a correlation between writing speed and the need for rewrites - it makes sense that you'd need to revise less if you spent more time polishing the work as you're writing the first draft.

Yeah. Basically, I stay with a sentence, and with a paragraph, and so forth, until it is, in my eyes, perfect. As near to perfect as I can make it. And only then to I proceed to the next sentence. It's the only way I know to write, and yes, it makes me a slow writer. Though I have gotten a bit faster, as my style has become more economical. Back in 2001, I good day was 500 words. Now I do 1,00o a day, minimum, and probably average about 1,250 a day. My all time record is something like 2,800 in one day. Those sorts of days are very rare.

[stacyking.livejournal.com]

I suspect, given the amount of time I invest in revisions, that your approach is faster over the long haul.

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

And here I was, wanting to fill your life with a touch of holiday cheer. I found a perfect gift for you, one that I'm pretty sure you don't have but that you'd really, really want, and the Czarina-demanded cleanup of my office meant that I've lost your mailing address. Whimper.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

And here I was, wanting to fill your life with a touch of holiday cheer. I found a perfect gift for you, one that I'm pretty sure you don't have but that you'd really, really want, and the Czarina-demanded cleanup of my office meant that I've lost your mailing address. Whimper.

P.O. Box 603096
Providence, RI 02906

And we'll just pretend it has nothing to do with Xmas. Thank you.

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

But Yak-Shaving Day is still okay?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

But Yak-Shaving Day is still okay?

Fine, yes. Though, personally, I prefer Cephalopodmas.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

It will soon be over... even tho Santa hunting sounds like fun. Reindeer stew?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

It will soon be over... even tho Santa hunting sounds like fun. Reindeer stew?

No.

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

One of them (rescuing the reindeer Metzen) did catapult me to level 62 last night. :P

I can't wait for you to get to Un'Goro crater. You'll like the dinosaurs.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

One of them (rescuing the reindeer Metzen) did catapult me to level 62 last night. :P

Oh, you poor tool, you.

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

I'm firmly in the grip of Santamas. Our apartment is currently hosting a veritable battalion of snowmen (of the plush variety), and a pretty Santamas tree.

I need to take a screenshot of Irkalia, my Death Knight.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm firmly in the grip of Santamas. Our apartment is currently hosting a veritable battalion of snowmen (of the plush variety), and a pretty Santamas tree.

Oh, you poor...wait. I said that already.

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

Not so much a tool as a kid. I just refuse to grow up. :)

[mellawyrden.livejournal.com]

I like what Elizabeth Bear wrote. The things she disagrees with, I also disagree with.

Especially "you must only work on one project at a time"! Patently impossible.

I have a Xmas thingie to send you! Where to?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I have a Xmas thingie to send you! Where to?

P.O. Box 603096
Providence, RI 02906

Only, be sure it is either a Solstice or Cephalopodmas thingy...

[mellawyrden.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Solstice AND Cephalopodmas, in fact...

[sovay]

Undercity looks like the Xmas decorations section at Hot Topic threw up all over everything.

I can't decide whether the appropriate reaction is *snerk* or a spork to the eyes . . .

Today, we have winter-weather warnings, and will be seeing a mix of snow and rain tonight.

It's supposed to snow here, too.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I can't decide whether the appropriate reaction is *snerk* or a spork to the eyes . . .

Either way...

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

The 40's are notoriously slow going.

And the Xmas section of Hot Topic throwing up all over everything is a perfect description of Undercity.

Word of caution, I don't know if this is across servers, but Booty Bay is best avoided. Bored lvl 80's have been systematically killing all the NPC's there. That's what I've seen on Elune, anyway, haven't checked the other servers I'm on.

I'm encouraged to read that you don't do all the revising they tell you to do. When I first started writing I would work the same way, and I don't know if my frustration in later years has come because I either have been listening to advice I shouldn't have, or if, indeed, I'm not cut out for it at all. It's giving me something to think about.

[kongjie.livejournal.com]

Funny, I haven't played WoW in 3 years and Booty Bay was the place to avoid back then, too.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Funny, I haven't played WoW in 3 years and Booty Bay was the place to avoid back then, too.

I think the name says it all.

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

Some things are universal. Or universally bad. Like Barrens chat. I have to deactivate it if I'm ever in the area. Heh.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Like Barrens chat. I have to deactivate it if I'm ever in the area.

I've deactivated chat in all areas. I get only a little guild chat.

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

That's really the best. I think I've gotten lucky to have been in less populated servers where people didn't use to chat. With the new expansion, though, there's been some crowding. :P I only ever got into WoW because my best friend moved to France and was on all the time so it was cheaper than phoning long distance. In retrospect... LOL

[tinkbell.livejournal.com]

For all the time you might spend on livejournal, at least you're not the reviser type. (I am, and often edit mine. I sometimes re-write letters by hand three times before sending them.)

I'm wondering if you would like to do a reading somewhere in Providence in February or March. There are many possible variables, for location and audience, but I could talk to you more about that through Facebook sometime.

Cybele

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if you would like to do a reading somewhere in Providence in February or March. There are many possible variables, for location and audience, but I could talk to you more about that through Facebook sometime.

Sure. I can do a reading in Providence in February or March.

[tinkbell.livejournal.com]

Great. I'll write to you with some ideas in the next couple days.

[cillygirl.livejournal.com]

I remember desolace. I found a human mage there; he was running in, slaughtering the guards and the innocent Tauren questgivers, and running away. I killed him once, and he attacked the other side; I killed him twice, and he snuck back in again. After the third time I waited and waited for him and he didn't come back. He was six levels above me, as I recall.

Thank you for the talk about writing. It helps.

I think I'll look into persuading my other half that, as I've cancelled my EVE Online subs, we can afford Sirenia. Were I earning myself at the moment, it wouldn't be a problem...

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Happy Cephalopodmas: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/12/04/exclusive-preview-farscape-creator-rockne-obannon-brings-series-back-as-a-comic-book/

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Alas, I have my doubts.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

As do I. But I also have my insane hopes. I figure it's what John would have.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I figure it's what John would have.

True.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Oh, baloney. You revise what you write. You just do it as you go. I've seen you talk here about fiddling with sentences until they're perfectly perfect. *g*

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Oh, baloney. You revise what you write. You just do it as you go. I've seen you talk here about fiddling with sentences until they're perfectly perfect. *g*

On the one hand...well, okay, maybe.

On the other, however, this raises a prickly question as to what constitutes the initial act of composition vs. subsequent acts of revision.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

In the finest degree, I don't think they're separable. Especially not when revision sometimes means throwing out great swaths of text and rewriting it from scratch, and composition sometimes means fussing with a single paragraph for hours.