"This bulkhead's built of fallen brethren bones."

[greygirlbeast]

A wonderful hard rain yesterday, wonderful even though I had to go Out into it. Much of the snow has been melted and washed away.

Comments would be good today. I know it's Saturday, but it feels like Sunday, and Sundays suck.

Well, the medical appointment yesterday wasn't nearly as bad as expected. I have a new doctor, and it's an infinitely better match than the last. So, no more Evil Nasty Clinic filled with rude homophobic assholes who get freaked out by pentagrams. Also, new doctor has an aquarium built into the waiting room wall, which scores all sorts of points with me.

After we got home yesterday, Spooky saw a raven perched on the house across the street. They don't usually range this far south, but this winter they're turning up in Rhode Island. Normally, we only get crows and fish crows. Sadly, I didn't see it. We're both getting somewhat serious about birding, and I take that as a sign of our advancing years. Then again, bird watching ain't nothing but dinosaur watching misspelled.

I got a copy of kaz_mahoney's (Karen Mahoney) first novel, The Iron Witch, in the mail. Thank you, Kaz! And congratulations.

Late in the day, we proofed "By Turns" for To Worlds and In Between, so some work was done.

I loaded a lot of Dead Can Dance onto the iPod yesterday.

I've made an interesting decision as regards The Drowning Girl: A Memoir. It occurred to me, yesterday, that I read novels about heterosexual characters, and the word heterosexual, or even straight, never appears, unless it's used to set the characters apart from queers. So. I'm removing every instance of the word lesbian from The Drowning Girl: A Memoir. Sure, there's lesbian relationships, lesbo sex, a hot tranny dyke, a sapphic siren/wolf girl, and so forth. But nowhere in the book will I actually use the word lesbian. Because I wouldn't use het, probably not even once, were Imp straight. And I figure, not only is it the right thing to do, but it will somehow annoy the bigots even more.

---

How frakkin' good is Rift? So damn good that Spooky and I are currently trading her laptop back and forth so that we can both play, that's how good. So far, no disappointments. Quite exactly the opposite. Telara grows more amazing the more I see. Right now, I'm in love with the creature design. Yesterday, Selwyn, my Kelari mage, made Level 12. Her minion is a human skeleton named Jude. Spooky's Kelari cleric, Miisya, made Level 10. She'll catch up today. Oh, and players cooperate, and come to the rescue of others, and stuff like that. Who'd have thought it? Yes, there are a few jerks. But infinitely (well, not literally) less than in WoW, and they're easy to ignore, especially if, like me, you keep general chat off.

In WoW, I'm still grinding away in Outland, trying to get Loremaster with Shaharrazad before I exit stage left. But it's starting to look as if that may never happen. Loremaster, I mean. There are just too many broken, forgotten quests out there. And I'll need every one of them to make the title. On the upside, WoW is a hell of a lot more fun playing in regions where there are absolutely no other players. By the way, third worst WoW quest ever is to be found in Shadowmoon Valley: "I was a lot of things..."

---

Vince is currently working on the illustration for Sirenia Digest #63, and it'll go out to subscribers ASAP. What? You're not a subscriber??? Fix that now! The platypus compels you with his venomous spurs.

Comments

[amandakcampbell.livejournal.com]

I'm removing every instance of the word lesbian from The Drowning Girl: A Memoir.

I think this is a marvelous idea, for all the reasons you stated. Of course, some people will probably doubt that the character/s in The Drowning Girl: A Memoir are lesbians specifically because they were not explicitly told. I recall some readers of Poppy Z. Brite's Liquor insisting that Ricky and G-man were straight, even though the text explicitly said that they loved each other, lived together, and sucked each other's cocks. But I don't think either character ever said, "By the way, I'm a homosexual," so I guess it was ambiguous.

Glad to hear the doctor's appointment went as well as it did. Speaking of aquariums, I feel like I saw you post this aquarium video before, but my memory is swiss cheese as of late. Anyway, it's one of my favorites:the Kuroshio Sea, second largest aquarium tank in the world. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I think this is a marvelous idea, for all the reasons you stated. Of course, some people will probably doubt that the character/s in The Drowning Girl: A Memoir are lesbians specifically because they were not explicitly told. I recall some readers of Poppy Z. Brite's Liquor insisting that Ricky and G-man were straight, even though the text explicitly said that they loved each other, lived together, and sucked each other's cocks. But I don't think either character ever said, "By the way, I'm a homosexual," so I guess it was ambiguous.

You may be right, but it's not my problem.

Glad to hear the doctor's appointment went as well as it did. Speaking of aquariums, I feel like I saw you post this aquarium video before

No, I've not. Thank you!

[amandakcampbell.livejournal.com]

"You may be right, but it's not my problem."

Agreed!


"No, I've not. Thank you!"

You're welcome! I would love to see that aquarium in person; I could probably spend hours just watching.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I would love to see that aquarium in person; I could probably spend hours just watching.

Indeed. Alas, I fear I'll never be able to visit Japan.

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

Bird watching ain't nothing but dinosaur watching misspelled. Very nice.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

It occurred to me, yesterday, that I read novels about heterosexual characters, and the word heterosexual, or even straight, never appears, unless it's used to set the characters apart from queers.

I had a similar realization when I read, of all things, the Twin Peaks tie-in book The Autobiography of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes. Younger Dale Cooper, already in the habit of tape-recording his thoughts as well as being observant, often makes it a point to mention if someone involved in an event he's witnessed is white. Reminded me that a lot of white authors wouldn't bother noting that; cultural assumption reasons. Something I'd likely been assuming most of my reading life, being a white man (also a straight man -- though not always an obvious one -- and a cis man). I like to think I pay better attention now. And I try to assume less, just in general.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

And I try to assume less, just in general.

This is a trickier matter. Race, I mean. Readers need to form a mental image of a character's appearance, and so need, somehow to be told the character's race. But, if we are told someone is black, we should also be told someone else is white. But maybe that's what you were saying.

It will be perfectly obvious (except maybe to morons) that Imp is a lesbian.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

But, if we are told someone is black, we should also be told someone else is white. But maybe that's what you were saying.

Yes.

This is a trickier matter. Race, I mean.

Yeah, I didn't want to make it sound equivalent. It relates to context, but from two different directions: context we probably should get but don't always (my example), context we don't need (your example; also cf. any "As you know, Bob..." speech that's ever been badly written).

Looking forward to seeing how you make this book work.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Also:

The platypus compels you with his venomous spurs.

What other accoutrements will the platypus turn out to have? Sting-hairs? Wings? Extendable eyes? And if he gets old, will he ever need cybernetic implants?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

What other accoutrements will the platypus turn out to have? Sting-hairs? Wings? Extendable eyes? And if he gets old, will he ever need cybernetic implants?

For now, the venomous spurs suit him well.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

But he can always upgrade.

(Maybe you can distract him by claiming he needs a duckbill polish. Get him online on another computer and watch him get lost in Google and bother you less.)

P.S. I wrote the above, then I thought of the term "platypus manscaping." This is my mind. It's been pulling shit like this for 37 years.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

manscaping

????????

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Someone apparently thought "men making sure they're groomed and presentable" needed a term. A scary, scary term. I'll say no more about that.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Someone apparently thought "men making sure they're groomed and presentable" needed a term. A scary, scary term. I'll say no more about that.

And "grooming" was insufficient?

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Someone was trying too hard to be clever. It wasn't me. (I try too hard to be clever other ways! See my entire Twitter feed!)

I could say more, but discretion being the better part of valor and all that, I won't. We need your head un-exploded.

[tracy tibbits (from livejournal.com)]

You should see the ravens we have up here in alaska. We're talking enormous black birds the size of small dogs. They're pretty impressive and everywhere.

Would you mind elaborating on the questgiver in Shadowmoon? "I was a lot of things..." sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it.

I think its a good idea taking out the word "lesbian" from your book. I mean, it makes sense. The more you break down the "us and them" mentality, the more difficult it is to relate to eachother. The world need needs less Us and Them and more We. If that makes any sense.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

You should see the ravens we have up here in alaska. We're talking enormous black birds the size of small dogs. They're pretty impressive and everywhere.

I have a book on ravens, and many of the photos were taken in Alaska. There's a great one of a raven harassing a bald eagle.

Would you mind elaborating on the questgiver in Shadowmoon? "I was a lot of things..." sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it.

Here. (http://www.wowhead.com/quest=10514/i-was-a-lot-of-things)

Oops!

[tracy tibbits (from livejournal.com)]

Ack! I can't edit these. So lets try that last bit again:

The more you break down the "us and them" mentality, the EASIER it is to relate to eachother.

That started out as something different. Proofreading for the win. -_-

[timesygn.livejournal.com]

It occurred to me, yesterday, that I read novels about heterosexual characters, and the word heterosexual, or even straight, never appears, unless it's used to set the characters apart from queers. So. I'm removing every instance of the word lesbian from The Drowning Girl: A Memoir.

Love it.

[rai-ryu.livejournal.com]

The reasons why I want to read The Drowning Girl: A Memoir grow every day. I kind of find it obstructive to have a character's sexuality pointed out so bluntly.

I realize now that one of my favourite books, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan does this. There is a gay character but the author kind of assumes people will figure that out since he's checking out other guys, rather than stating it outright. Yet still people don't catch on...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I kind of find it obstructive to have a character's sexuality pointed out so bluntly.

And yet we all do it.

[sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com]

Yep, TDL is very good.

And continued kudos to you Aunt Beast for choosing not to label your characters within the story. Readers don't need to have everything laid out for them in black and white [so to speak]; the sexuality [or vegetarianism] of a character is implicit in their actions or lack thereof and it's pandering to also state, "x is gay, btw".

[lachendwolf.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I'm so incredibly pleased you're not going to use the word lesbian in Imp's story. Pointing that sort of thing out closes a door in some people's readingbrains, I think... I remember distinctly when I first realized that two characters in a novel I was reading were actually HAVING SEX AND THEY WERE BOTH WOMEN and it was so, so delightful, like having a secret that wasn't a secret. Like the author had deliberately said "Fuck the folks who don't get it... this is for us and those who know us." I promised myself then and there that I'd never use a descriptor like that in my writing. (It was the Color Purple, btw, in case anyone else was curious.)

Also, thrills and bounces for finding a good doctor. They're rare regardless, and you deserve someone who pays good and decent attention.

I think you might have sold me on Rift. I'm not a fan of WoW but the way you describe Rift sounds so thoroughly appealing I might have to check it out.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm so incredibly pleased you're not going to use the word lesbian in Imp's story.

I'm sort of surprised this pleases people so much. I feared otherwise.

I think you might have sold me on Rift.

Very good.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

It occurred to me, yesterday, that I read novels about heterosexual characters, and the word heterosexual, or even straight, never appears, unless it's used to set the characters apart from queers. So. I'm removing every instance of the word lesbian from The Drowning Girl: A Memoir.

I love this. I wish that more writers would do something similar (and write about relationships that aren't solely hetero or monogamous too).

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I love this. I wish that more writers would do something similar (and write about relationships that aren't solely hetero or monogamous too).

Write about non-monogamous relationships without dwelling on the absence of monogamy. Yeah.

[kendare-blake.livejournal.com]

Good call on taking the word "lesbian" out of the novel. I'm curious to see how this will affect the reading of it, and the way the audience responds. I left the word "god" out of one of mine.

Yay for new doctors and The Iron Witch. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds great.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm curious to see how this will affect the reading of it, and the way the audience responds.

I curious to see how lesbian readers will react.

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Do you have any idea what percentage of your readership are queer (women and men)? Hoping that doesn't sound like a marketing question. I'm going to just back up everybody else who's commented tonight and say that leaving out the "l" word's a good idea.

The line about bird-watching being dinosaur-watching misspelled made me smile. It was quite heartening too, as I've got birding tendencies (which doesn't sound right, but hey); so thanks on both counts.

I'm glad the new doctor's not an arsehole. Every surgery should have an aquarium; I know they've always calmed me, anyway.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Do you have any idea what percentage of your readership are queer

I have no idea whatsoever. I've never been considered a "gay writer," though there's a large genre of queer lit. I've never attracted much attention from queer lit reviewers or awards committees.

The line about bird-watching being dinosaur-watching misspelled made me smile.

Good!

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, asking that question's just made me uncomfortably aware of labels, so I'll just say carry on messing with the bigots' heads.

Hope you see those ravens soon. I've not seen one in years. Or rooks, and there used to be quite a rookery out the back of my folks' house.

[kaz-mahoney.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad the book arrived safely. (I say that as though it had been on some kind of Great Adventure. Heh.)

Also, this:

but it will somehow annoy the bigots even more.

I sure hope so!

On another, sort of similar, note, there's a feminist cyberpunk novel that's just been reissued by Tor that I'm interested in picking up. I was reading the Amazon reviews (what a mistake that was) and am now thoroughly pissed off by one in particular. Short version, the sexual relations of the (lesbian) characters were "a slap in the face." Um... really?

I'm straight (okay, I've been the "Q" in LGBTQ when I was younger), but I'm pretty much straight. And yet these things make me so angry. Also, disappointed. I don't know why I even get disappointed anymore.

I will now cease ranting on your LJ. Sorry!

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

"a slap in the face." Um... really?

Um....

I'm very glad the book arrived safely. (I say that as though it had been on some kind of Great Adventure. Heh.)

Thank you! I like the cover, btw.

[kaz-mahoney.livejournal.com]

I am very happy with the cover. Relieved that my first book has a good one!

[laudre.livejournal.com]

Last night, I was sitting in a coffee shop near campus, waiting to collect my spouse after she got done with her work on the current theatre production for the night, and, a couple of tables over, a couple of young women were having a date, even if they probably wouldn't have admitted it. I wasn't specifically eavesdropping, but I couldn't help overhearing their conversation and finding it interesting.

At one point, they were talking about how much frustration and difficulty they've had with labels and jargon in the queer community (from both within and without), and how, especially early on, when they were still trying to figure the whole thing out, they felt compelled to behave in certain ways, conforming to "butch," or "stud," or "femme," or whatever. They both stated that they just call themselves "queer," and leave it at that. One of them went on to say that she'd tried to explain this to her father:

"Dad, I don't like to call myself a lesbian. Just call me queer."
"You like women, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then you're a lesbian."

... So I'm interested to see what you do there, and more importantly, how others react to it :).

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Well...me, I'm perfectly comfortable with lesbian. I am a lesbian. And I'm a little wary of people who eschew labels...but...I'm old. A different generation with different hurdles, in many ways.

This really all began as me being pissed at some woman who "reviewed" The Red Tree on Amazon and whined that Sarah spent to much time talking about being a lesbian.

So, Imp won't. She'll just behave accordingly.

[kathryn-aka-kat.livejournal.com]

I like Dead Can Dance, but I found it late (only a few years ago) and never saw them live, and it took me a long while to get used to his voice, a long while to be able to map those lounge-singer tones into the images the music was otherwise conveying.

[blackestdarkness]

I'm removing every instance of the word lesbian...

I love this.

[poesillchild.livejournal.com]

"Spooky saw a raven perched on the house across the street."

I've lived/ worked in Winston-Salem, NC for 12 years. For 9 of those, there has been a pair of ravens that nest on the roofs of the old tobacco buildings. Wednesday, we found their nest among some exterior pipes that emerge below the roof of one of the buildings.

Glad that Dr. appointment went well.

[sovay]

Sure, there's lesbian relationships, lesbo sex, a hot tranny dyke, a sapphic siren/wolf girl, and so forth. But nowhere in the book will I actually use the word lesbian. Because I wouldn't use het, probably not even once, were Imp straight.

I like this very much.

The platypus compels you with his venomous spurs.

And that's also a T-shirt I would wear.

[homewardangel.livejournal.com]

I know I'm late to the party but my comment is this - I just got home and my new dog ate the end (just the end) of Low Red Moon. (don't worry I'm speed ordering a new copy as it is presently my crack).

[fornikate.livejournal.com]

hell yeah.