A Few Minutes to Think

I’ve had a few minutes to think between final project grading and final exams, so I’ll share my thoughts:

I don’t believe in “manifesting”. God is not an ATM. But just in case I’m wrong, you’ve heard it here first: I want my niche to discover my writing. I want an engaged group of readers who can identify with the small magics of Barn Swallows’ Dance and the power of InterSpace.
On being 60: I have to accept that I’m now reminding my students of their grandmas rather than their mothers. It’s a shock to the system; I don’t feel that old. Moreover, I think it’s affecting my ability to write romance, because I’m not getting those looks anymore. You know, THOSE looks. (Not lustful, but playful. That’s just how I roll.) It’s not bothering me; it’s just weird, like I’ve lost a color in my vision (say magenta) and I barely remember having it.
If I didn’t have a third item in this list, you would feel vaguely dissatisfied. That’s because three is a magic number. It’s not universally magic, but in a list, we feel satisfied when there’s a third item. Two becomes magic because of its connection to ‘either … or’. And couples, of course.

That’s enough. It’s time for me to write for a while. But first, a cat:

Thanksgiving

I like the idea of a festival to celebrate giving thanks. I don’t like the mythology of Thanksgiving so much — the white savior narrative, the lack of acknowledgement of the genocide of the Native Americans after that.

I like stuffing and mashed potatoes. I‘m not so fond of turkey. Turkey wasn’t even part of the original Thanksgiving (venison and fish were). Turkey is very dry unless you deep-fry it.

I like the fact that Starbucks is open, and the youngsters running the place are a bit silly today. One keeps doing bird calls for reasons I don’t understand.

I like being off work!

I Don’t Know What I Want for Christmas

I think this is my official announcement that I am getting old — I don’t know what I want for Christmas.

Given that “to be thin” isn’t a possible Christmas gift, I don’t know what’s left. I don’t feel a need for anything in my life. I have upgraded all my electronics except my computer (mostly with my own “mad funds”). I’m not in the market for anything small (like fountain pens; I found the fountain pen I like and need no more). I don’t wear jewelry. The only thing I need is a new computer, and the household doesn’t have the money to buy that as a present. The only thing I want is a squishmallow.

This is strange. My husband doesn’t want anything for Christmas either. I guess we’re both getting old.

The NaNoWriMo Controversy

I’m slow on the uptake, living in my own world where I write, teach, grade, and look at pictures of cats. But today on Reddit, I saw something that shocked me out of complacency and made me start to take a look at NaNoWriMo.

Apparently, a moderator of the Young Writers Program at NaNo was steering some of the young writers toward a diaper fetish website. This is clearly grooming and thus abuse. This, however, might not reflect on the NaNo organization — except that they did nothing about it initially and, when they did, allowed the perpetrator to remain on the forums. NaNo needed to safeguard children and failed.

This brings me to the question: How will I respond to this? I feel I must boycott, but it’s difficult because I have been involved in NaNo for 9 years. I don’t know how to boycott an entity that is free and won’t even know I’m boycotting. But I am thinking of how to vote against brushing a serious problem under the rug.

In the Middle of Writing

Sorry I haven’t written! I am still caught up (and barely caught up) on NaNoWriMo, with 14,000 words left to write.

I finished editing Avatar of the Maker and, having nothing better to do, started a new novel in the Archetype series, Carrying Light.

Sage Bertinelli has been summoned by her Aunt Jeanne back to Barn Swallows’ Dance. When Sage arrives, she finds the collective, Tree-gifted and weary, debating how they will answer the twilight of the life they have known.

Forrest Gray, half-immortal, wants Sage to shelter in the safety of the collective. She, on the other hand, wants to go out into the changed world — and away from her turmoil. The two must look within and without to find the answers.

I didn’t think I would write another book so quickly after Avatar of the Maker, but NaNo calls.

Motivators

Sometimes motivators help us through dark creative doldrums.

I made some graphics for advertising Gaia’s Hands and Apocalypse, which I advertise on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook Pages. The graphics are based on the book covers and feature the impressive art of my niece Rachel.

I took the graphics and enlarged them to poster size and had them printed through Canva. They are now framed and ready to hang in my office over my desk.

The posters look professional and will save me through many moments of impostor syndrome.

Busy doing NaNo

I’m sorry I haven’t written lately. I have been busy doing NaNoWriMo, and it’s been a wild time. I’ve finished editing Avatar of the Maker, although I will revisit it later when it’s fresh. But I have 23,000 words left to write (or the editing equivalent) to win NaNo. So what am I going to do?

I’m going to lay out another novel in the Archetype universe, tentative title “Carrying Light“. This one takes place ten years after Avatar of the Maker, when the social and economic structures of the US are crumbling. The end of the novel In fact, the first battle in the collapse of the US and the beginning of Whose Hearts are Mountains. So think of it as the prequel to that.

Writing it will be interesting, because one of the main characters is Richard’s. He has a sequel to Gaia’s Hands called Gaia’s Future that needs some editing, and Sage Bertinelli is his main character.

I have a lot of work to do, but it’s fun work. Whee!

Two Days Till NaNo

Two days till NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I think I’m ready. Mostly ready. Not ready at all.

I’m not writing a new Christmas romance this year because I don’t really feel moved to. I don’t have a plot. I still love Christmas but don’t know what I can say about Christmas romances lately. Maybe I’m getting away from romance?

I’m in renegade mode this year, which means I’m working on something non-novel-writing. In my case, I will be editing the book I just finished, Avatar of the Maker. It needs a lot of help, even before the “put it in a drawer and let it sit for a while” stage. Baird is not developed enough and his disagreements with Leah aren’t developed enough and … trust me on this. I need to revise right now.

Sometimes I win NaNo (50k words or the equivalent), sometimes I don’t. But I always try.

A Shocking Discovery

You’re going to be disappointed after that title, I know. And maybe the only shocking thing about my discovery is that it hadn’t occurred to me before.

Titles make a difference in how many people visit my blog. It makes sense, but I didn’t believe it until I started looking at which posts people followed the most. A Missive from the Goddess of Gore got many more visits than did It’s Only Wednesday, and I’m Done! received more attention than Fall’s True Nature.

Where does this get me? I don’t know, because I think Fall’s True Nature is a fine, inquisitive title. I don’t like the bait and switch of the title I gave this post. But is there a way I can make more exciting titles? I’ll have to try.

Soggy Leaves

Now it feels like autumn. The trees are shaking off their leaves, and the drizzle makes them all soggy. It’s 73 out, the heater is on in my office and the dark skies outside make me feel even more wrapped in autumn.

The rainy days are almost the favorite part of my autumn. A loud October thunderstorm is my favorite. Maybe I’m a drama queen (I’m not anymore, but I miss drama) but there’s something about thunderstorms. They make for atmospheric scenes in books. I don’t know why I’ve not written a cathartic lovers’ argument in a thunderstorm. I need to remedy this.

November is in a week, and I am hearing rumors of snow in the forecast. Thanksgiving will be here before I know it. But I got my October rain.