Musing today about how the last nine years in this house has seen my creativity go entirely into writing and very little into fixing up the house and garden. Also talking a bit more about agents, the good and the bad. And this is the Timeular device I mention https://timeular.com/
I share gossip from WorldCon, including literary agent Danielle Smith (I mistakenly say Michelle) of Lupine Grove being accused of fraud. (More here https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2018/07/agent-danielle-smith-accused-of-fraud-lupine-grove-creative-closes/) I also mention Liz Gorinsky's new imprint Erehwon, signing next to Seanan McGuire, being fangirled by Kara Lockharte, and getting back to work. Blogpost I mention is here https://sffseven.blogspot.com/2018/08/being-proud-of-being-different.html
Coffee with Canadian SFF author Kelly Robson at WorldCon76 in San Jose, discussing women's work, writing novels vs writing short, and using your hands while you talk. Book Kelly mentions is Women's Work: the First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber.
The time went by fast today - partly battling a cholla-wielding pack rat. Talking about the Netflix movie Extinction, and giving up Netflix DVDs. My WorldCon schedule, and thoughts on THE ARROWS OF THE HEART and THE ORCHID THRONE.
Upcoming secret project reveal! (At least in part - but definitely some "you heard it first here" news. Updates on THE ARROWS OF THE HEART and good news on THE ORCHID THRONE from my editor. Otherwise some cat wrangling and musing on sensitivity, privilege and why "having respect for other people" is a good replacement for "political correctness."Sorry about the abrupt cut-off at the end there. I don't know what happened...
Today is the first day of school for some kids, so I'm thinking about summer's end, school and birthdays. Also talking about external and internal conflict in stories, using Lord of the Rings and Pride & Prejudice as examples. There's also some cat wrangling and the ongoing territorial war with the pack rat, including cholla burrs.
I'm back from spending time with the grandchildren at Water World in Denver. The break was good for me - cleared my head some - so I'm talking about how even when you're not writing, you're writing. Which is true, though that's different than kidding yourself that you're writing when you're not. A subtle but critical difference. So much of life is about repetition and building skill. I'm thinking about the cycle of life, too, and how we're all connected with the cycles of the world around us.
I loved how this dog got their own chair at the bar along Denver’s busy 16th Street pedestrian mall. Spotted while having drinks with the lovely and witty Limecello.
Getting back into my at-home routine, so I discuss writing habits, creativity, the RWA conference, Suzanne Brockman's Lifetime Achievement Award speech - and what being quietly civil really means.