"And all of the houses they built in the seventies finally fall."

[greygirlbeast]

Cold out there. Cold and sunny. I think spring's decided to skip this year.

Here I sit, with my sour stomach and shakey hands and ringing ears, and the day ahead of me. And there's really not a lot to say about yesterday.

I spent the entire day looking for a story for Sirenia Digest #64, and I think I found something called "Random Thoughts Before a Fatal Crash." Today I have to begin making a story from the idea, stone and mortar and what have you.

It could be an awfully prophetic title. I didn't see that yesterday.

I think I might have drawn the cover for the Crimson Alphabet chapbook yesterday.

---

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. In 1998, I wrote about the fire in The Dreaming #28, "Dreams the Burning Dream." This afternoon, Spooky and I will be ringing a bell at 4:45 p.m. EST, the exact time the first alarm bells were sounded a century ago. I'm a little disheartened that there's no official observance being held in Rhode Island, despite its history of textile mills, etc.

But it's not as if the dead hear bells the living ring. It's not as if the dead hear anything at all.

---

Huge thanks to Geoffrey who seems to have secured permission for me to quote Radiohead's "There, There (The Bony King of Nowhere)" in The Drowning Girl: A Memoir. I'm still waiting to hear from R.E.M.'s management.*

---

Some unexpectedly good rp in SL last night. I really don't do SL anymore. And, for that matter, I think SL all but destroyed any desire I ever had to rp anywhere. You can only be fucked over so many times before you simply cease to care. Anyway, thank you Blair, because last night was awesome.

---

Thanks to all the people who donated to the the Kickstarter project yesterday. We have 12 hours to go, and the project is 207% funded. I'm amazed. I was worried we wouldn't meet our goal, much less meet it more than twice over.

Gonna go write now.

* Actually, I just did.

Comments

[sovay]

Huge thanks to Geoffrey who seems to have secured permission for me to quote Radiohead's "There, There (The Bony King of Nowhere)" in The Drowning Girl: A Memoir.

Great. That song was indispensable.

I spent the entire day looking for a story for Sirenia Digest #64, and I think I found something called "Random Thoughts Before a Fatal Crash."

"We are accidents waiting, waiting to happen . . ."

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

indispensable

That was my take on it (and the look in Aunt Beast's eyes when she talked about how much she wanted to use it). The new issue of Writer's Digest has four lines from a Disney song (Cruella de Vil) in a one page short story and I bet they didn't even think twice or consider asking before they did it. (For multiple reasons.)

The gap between what's legitimate fair use and publishing houses' fear of lawyers is getting more restrictive all the time...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

The gap between what's legitimate fair use and publishing houses' fear of lawyers is getting more restrictive all the time...

This is all about lawyers finding ways to justify their salaries, and the pressure they exert on spineless editors.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

I guess from my copyright training that if it takes less than 7 seconds to read out loud, it would be safe to reprint sans permission. However, that said, I'd walk the safer route and get permission. Course if Disney was the entity to ask permission, I'd find something else.

Good show for your assistance to get Radiohead to agree.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

As far as Penguin is concerned, "fair use" is nonexistent, especially where songs and poems are concerned. Copyright law isn't relevant.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

"We are accidents waiting, waiting to happen . . ."

It's only a matter of when and where.

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

I hope my accident spawns something beautiful.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I hope my accident spawns something beautiful.

Wait...your accident?

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

Some unexpectedly good rp in SL last night. I really don't do SL anymore. And, for that matter, I think SL all but destroyed any desire I ever had to rp anywhere. You can only be fucked over so many times before you simply cease to care.

This and this. I was heavily into text roleplay (MUSH and MUD) before SL. Now, I don't give a damn, but I still yearn for it sometimes: the good old days when there were good, sane writers and it wasn't all about what hair you wore to the rp. :-/

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

This and this. I was heavily into text roleplay (MUSH and MUD) before SL.

Though I tried, I could never get into text-based rp. I need a visual interface.

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

Really? I came to SL much later, and for me it was always the other way around. After having a basically limitless playground to rp in, SL felt constraining and the visual aspect seemed (for me) to interfere with my fantasy. The group couldn't suddenly run into a snowstorm, or a monster couldn't attack from nowhere, because all that has to be set up and prepared for first. Those kind of things. It was like we had to start playing by physical rules, and that was a bummer.

Although I am totally with you on chatroom rp, tigging, and journal rp. Those things drive me buggy. Give me a MUSH game any day over those.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

tigging

Tigging?

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

Roleplay via email.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Roleplay via email.

Ah. Okay. Then "tigging" ≠ roleplay.

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

I agree. It's more like... well, something. But I don't consider it real roleplay, despite its popularity in some circles. I tried it once and that was quite enough.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

That is an incredible title. Have a good weekend. I hope you feel much better.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

That is an incredible title.

Now, I just have to find the story.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

That you will, I have no doubt. I just hope it isn't covered up in shadows. I'd love it to be easier to find for you.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

just hope it isn't covered up in shadows.

i think it's my task to bury it in shadows.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

a more noble task to be sure

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I've always been more comfortable in the dark.

[nykolus.livejournal.com]

sorry to be the one to bring this up, but... http://www.austindailyherald.com/2011/03/25/austin-author-on-to-the-big-time/

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Mostly, I'm wondering why you did. What does it matter to me if some hack in Texas "cashes in" on that crap? It's certainly not relevant to my situation (though it does prove various comments I've made).

[nykolus.livejournal.com]

because, quite frankly, you were the first person i thought of when i read it. the absolute and utter... frustration, given the comments made. please understand there is/was absolutely no malice intended.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

because, quite frankly, you were the first person i thought of when i read it. the absolute and utter... frustration, given the comments made.

I don't need further examples of what I know to be facts. Though it can't help but discourage. But, yeah, no malice taken.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not gonna hate on someone milking the cash cow, 'cause god knows that we'd all like to laugh all the way to the bank.

Not like I'm doing anything to milk that cow either, so whatever.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not gonna hate on someone milking the cash cow, 'cause god knows that we'd all like to laugh all the way to the bank.

Oh, please. Don't say "hate on." That's so awful. Anyway, I'm not sure what you're referencing. The sad Texas hack? I think she genuinely believes she's a writer. I don't think she's milking. far too deluded.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

Eh, I don't have enough vitriol today to pour it out on someone else's dubious accomplishments. Part of that might be because she looks like any number of my acquaintances whom I know to be nice, dorky people.

I think she genuinely believes she's a writer.

At 2 million dollars, I reckon she can afford to be deluded into thinking she's anyone she freaking wants to be. Don't get me wrong, it blows that you're working the salt mines without that kind of heavenly remuneration.

Hell I don't know where I'm going with this. Mostly, I just don't feel the need to tear someone down today.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Mostly, I just don't feel the need to tear someone down today.

That mood rarely leaves me, especially when the someone is so deserving.

It works this way. Her huge advance leaves less for everyone else, and some of us aren't hacks.

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

wow, that's the best they could do with the photo shoot? (subject at hand aside)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

wow, that's the best they could do with the photo shoot? (subject at hand aside)

What photoshoot? People keep losing me today.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on nabbing permissions, and getting uberfunded for GGP! Title sounds good, too.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on nabbing permissions

They are not yet quite nabbed. The process is endless.

[olivia nishkian (from livejournal.com)]

You're welcome! Might do it again tonight, if the flood in my driveway doesn't clear up.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Might do it again tonight, if the flood in my driveway doesn't clear up.

I'm available. Just let me know.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

Off topic, I'm finally winding my way through back issues of Sirenia that I've had piling up. Just finished "The Yellow Alphabet" and wanted to mention I fucking loved the 'R is for Radula' segment. There's some great, tingling mood whiplash there - or maybe just a distillation of the intended mood. Anyway, it's rolling around in my head a lot today.

[drflup.livejournal.com]

"But it's not as if the dead hear bells the living ring. It's not as if the dead hear anything at all."

<- May I quote that and attribute it to you? That's quite beautiful.

Dreaming 28

[fwcleve.livejournal.com]

Ah, Cait. Dreams the Burning Dream. That’s the piece that made me a fan. I saw you shortly thereafter at a reading in L.A., and got you to sign it.

At that reading, you read the beginning of chapter five from Silk (Robin), which mentions her masturbatory adventures – an inspired choice, I thought. You didn’t even blink, but I remember thinking that you were undoubtedly thinking, “Note to self: pick another chapter, next time.”

I just read Dreams the Burning Dream again. It’s still as haunting and sad as it was when I first read it, perhaps even more so today, because of today’s significance.

So, I thank you, again, for that wonderful Dreaming story – one of the few items in comics to ever get me misty-eyed.

--cleve

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

'But it's not as if the dead hear bells the living ring. It's not as if the dead hear anything at all.'

This could be the chorus of a Pogues song. Or Tom Waits. Whichever, sung drunkenly and gruffly over a sad accordion.

[nokomis1339.livejournal.com]

The kickstarter page says there is one hour to go, but I am certain it's a bit less than that. Congratulations to you and Spooky, I cannot wait to see the finished product.

~L~