Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
A Quick Friday Update
Folks, I’m starting to feel a little better. After nearly two weeks’ worth of general crappiness, the slight bit of additional energy I’ve had over the past twenty-four to forty-eight hours has been warmly welcomed.
That said, life didn’t stop while I was ill. I rescheduled some internship hours, but did work most of them (the one shift I couldn’t reschedule immediately will be made up before my internship ends in a few weeks). I finished another big editing project. And I started putting together a collection of my and Michael’s shorter fiction (novellas on down) for possible publication.
So I wasn’t idle by any means, even if sometimes it felt that way.
That said, no fiction writing got done and very little of a non-fiction nature also got done (as evidenced by this blog, where I haven’t posted since last Saturday due to illness). But more posts should be on the way soon, including one I just have to write about a current scandal at Notre Dame — and no, I’m not talking about Manti Te’o and his fake girlfriend.
Anyway, I’m still alive and I’ll continue to do my best to remain so. (How’s that for a plan? And I’m only being slightly sarcastic, too!)
You do your best to do the same.
A Quick Saturday Update
Despite my best efforts, whatever it is that I’ve been sick with for the past several weeks has grown worse over the past few days rather than better.
This has necessitated that I rest, drink much water, take over-the-counter medication and then rest some more.
The only good thing about being ill is that I’ve finished a number of books, including Janet Edwards’ EARTH GIRL, Beth Revis’ ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, Gennifer Albin’s CREWEL and Victoria Alexander’s A VISIT FROM SIR NICHOLAS and THE PERFECT MISTRESS (the last a delightful story set in 19th century England about a ghost, her great-granddaughter and the need to embrace life). All of these were thought-provoking books, but the reason I’m going to review Edwards’ EARTH GIRL over at Shiny Book Review is that it’s an extremely rare example of what could be a utopia as no one hungers, thirsts, or lacks for medical care while everyone is educated to the limit of his or her ability. But there are still problems, mostly dealing with the Handicapped (those who cannot portal to other worlds and must stay on Earth), which gave Edwards the ability to show conflict even in a mostly utopic setting.
Edited to add: review of EARTH GIRL is up at SBR.
Still doing my best to write, edit and regain my health. But this flu — or whatever it is that has me laid low — is really not any fun whatsoever.
Quick Weekend Update
As the new year approaches, I’ve been rushing to get some projects taken care of that have been “hanging fire” for a long time. One of those was an intensive editorial project for a nearly six-hundred page epic fantasy novel, which has now been completed.
However, I still have the final ELFY editing changes to go over as I delayed work on that due to the amount of work required for the other project.
This is one reason why reviews have been few and far between (by my standards, at least).
Otherwise, I’ve had a nagging cough and cold that doesn’t seem to want to go away but also doesn’t seem to be getting any worse. It’s added to the intensity of some headaches, but otherwise hasn’t done a whole lot other than slow me down.
All of this is a long-winded way of saying that aside from editing (both for the in-progress internship and the large editorial project just completed), I haven’t done a whole lot of writing this week, on my blog or off.
One would hope that once the new year commences that I’ll be able to write a few more blogs on the various and sundry subjects I’ve previously discussed — or maybe even some new ones. (Hey. It could happen.)
Other than that, I hope to be able to at least review one book tomorrow night, a romance, over at Shiny Book Review. (That, and the internship hours, and maybe some work on the ELFY changes, are my plan for Saturday. Obviously, I lead an exciting life.)
Enjoy your weekend, everyone.
Illness and Exhaustion . . .
. . . have kept me from my blog.
Yes, that’s the truth. I’ve been extremely tired due to the flu/sinus infection combo that I’ve been fighting, and that’s the main reason why I haven’t written a blog for several days.
The secondary reason is that a long-delayed edit has finally been completed for one of my private customers. (I have two others in train for a different entity.) I’ll be reading it over momentarily to catch anything else noteworthy, then will put this particular edit to bed.
Tomorrow, somehow, I plan to write a book review over at Shiny Book Review (SBR). I have read several books, but the one I am reasonably sure I’m going to review (unless my mind wholly fails me) is Dave Freer’s STEAM MOLE, a YA action-adventure SF story set in an alternate universe with just a hint of romance to spice up the mix.
Next week, my reviews will include Marie Lu’s LEGEND, at least one of K.E. Kimbriel’s three novels, and possibly the GALACTIC CREATURES anthology as well, all providing that my health continues to improve a mite and that I’m able to have enough strength to order my thoughts in a coherent manner. (Sometimes, writing a book review — writing anything — is a lot tougher than it looks.) Other books that should be reviewed by the end of the year are Red Tash’s TROLL OR DERBY (another long-delayed review), Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s DRAGON SHIP (I call this the “anti-romance”) and Paul Dillon’s THE MAGIC IN THE RECEIVER — another book that would’ve been reviewed by now if not for my illness gumming up the works.
Plus, there are a few Christmas romances by Sabrina Jeffries and Victoria Alexander that I plan to write a “2-for-1 special” for on the Saturday before the big day, Sherry Thomas’s TEMPTING THE BRIDE (which will be factored in somehow in the next few weeks) and last but not least is Sean Williams’s exhaustively researched and extremely dystopian THE CROOKED LETTER, another long-delayed review.
And I might squeeze another piece of nonfiction in there, too, just to keep everyone on their toes.
Anyway, that’s all for now . . . I need to get back to my editing, or at least make the attempt. (Whichever.)
Ill Here . . . but Getting Better
Folks, the last week has been quite interesting — at least in the Chinese curse sense of, “May you live in interesting times” — which is why I haven’t blogged in several days.
To be blunt, I’ve been quite ill with the flu and a sinus infection and a number of other things that got kicked up because of that. No new writing has gotten done, and my edits are behind (now three edits are in progress, the two longer-term ones plus a short-term job). And I had to take three days away from my editorial internship, too, which of course doesn’t help anything.
Some days, the minuses definitely seem like more than the pluses, but I have to keep getting up and get whatever done that I possibly can. And if the best I can do is rest? Well, then, I guess I’ll rest with the best of ’em.
At least, as much as I can.
There are some positives to report in the past week, though not a whole lot. I edited a few more chapters of AN ELFY ABROAD (the direct sequel to ELFY). I was able to do my three-hour shift for my internship tonight. I attended the most recent Racine Concert Band rehearsal (for our December 13, 2012 concert at Park High School), and while I didn’t play really well, I also didn’t perform horribly. And I’ve sketched out a few possible scenes for another of my works-in-progress (WIPs for short), while reading at least fifteen books in the past week. (If I had a Kindle or something akin to it, I’d probably have read even more.)
The other things that I’ve noted in the past week or two that I haven’t blogged about:
The Milwaukee Brewers have parted with pitchers Kameron Loe and José Veras, who weren’t the worst relievers on the roster by a mile. I’m waiting to see if the Brewers re-sign either of these pitchers at lower salaries.
Politics is in a holding pattern; everyone’s wondering if the United States Congress will ever learn the meaning of the word “compromise” (much less the words “fiscal restraint”), while the term “fiscal cliff” has dominated the headlines along with the stalwart refusal of Congress to do any work whatsoever.
Wisconsin politics is also in a holding pattern. State Senator Jessica King (D-Oshkosh) has conceded to Republican Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac, and is now an outgoing Senator after losing by only 590 votes. The Republicans regained control of the state Senate; currently, with one seat vacant, the state Senate stands at 17-15.
And there’s no news regarding the “John Doe” probe of Gov. Scott Walker (R) and his aides, except the fact that the probe is continuing. (This wouldn’t even be news except that Walker himself believed that the probe was in its final days.)
Anyway, as I start to feel better, I should be able to do more writing, on this blog and for Shiny Book Review and of course for my works-in-progress. The hope now is to get a book review done for tomorrow night for John Amen and Daniel Y. Harris’s poetry extravaganza THE NEW ARCANA, and another review on Saturday (possibly one of the three-book set by K.E. Kimbriel, as all of them are good, enjoyable novels; if I wait, though, it’s only to do a “two-for-one SBR special”).
So my intentions are to get better, keep writing and editing, and keep posting updates as I have ’em.
Business as usual, no matter how long it takes. (Right?)
Quick Friday Update
Folks, I’m writing, editing, and keeping myself so busy that I’ve barely had time to come up for air.
Now, what’s causing me to become this obsessed? Parts 46 and 47 of AN ELFY ABROAD, the direct sequel to ELFY, that’s what. I was stalled out for a long time in this manuscript — months and months, easily — and while I worked on other projects, writing-wise, I didn’t feel satisfied. But because I think I’ve figured out a way to get through these chapters that makes sense and, more to the point, amuses me (in a humorous fantasy, if it doesn’t amuse the writer, it definitely won’t amuse the reader), I’m feeling a whole lot better, writing-wise.
Editing-wise, I have two very interesting projects right now, one a “big, fat fantasy” and the other a coming-of-age story. So when I’m not writing or reading, I’m editing . . . and I hope to squeeze in a review or two over at Shiny Book Review, as well.
So that’s about it for my update; while I have plenty to say about politics, sports, current events, and more, while I’m working so hard on the writing and editing, it all tends to go by the boards unless it rivets my attention. And even though I’m annoyed mightily by much of what I’m hearing on television from the Republican candidates here in Wisconsin (and across the nation; can’t stand that Todd Akin, and I’m not a big fan of either Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney, either), nothing “new” has happened that really bothers me to the point that I must blog about it, or else.
And if it doesn’t rivet me during a time where I feel intense creativity on my own projects, I’d much rather focus my energy on what I can do, personally, rather than my anger over how various pundits are saying this or that, or the candidates themselves have said this or that.
Because really, when you’re only a few weeks from a major election, it’s all over but the posturing. And I’m tired of all the talk. So let’s get to the voting, and then decide.
* * * * * *
One further note: I will have a “guest blog” post by writer Stephanie Osborn coming up on Sunday. She’s going to discuss her “Displaced Detective” series, which I have enjoyed very much so far (book four is forthcoming from Twilight Times Books), and the research that’s gone into that series. So please remember to come back on Sunday.
A Friday Update
Folks, it’s Friday, and I know I haven’t been a great correspondent this week. There are reasons for this — most of them have to do with working on my next novel (the sequel to Elfy, which is called An Elfy Abroad — I’ve talked about EA before), not to mention finishing up not one but two edits.
All that said, I should have a book review for y’all tomorrow for Shiny Book Review’s “Romance Saturday” mini-promotion (that is, I review a romance on Saturdays, oft-times, and at least a few people have grown to expect it — a plus). So look for my review of Suzanne Enoch’s A Lady’s Guide to Improper Behavior tomorrow at SBR.
Other than that, I’ve been reading a number of very interesting books by Sean Williams — I have four of them, starting with The Crooked Letter, which should be reviewed soon — along with E.C. Myers’ very interesting sequel to last year’s Fair Coin, Quantum Coin, a book on contemporary economics by Michael Casey called The Unfair Trade, and if all else fails, I can re-read A Man Rides Through by Stephen R. Donaldson for the umpteenth time (as it’s one of my favorite “comfort books”).
As for a health update, I’m still getting over the sinus infection. But I felt better today and was able to do more, which was good.
Listening to the Milwaukee Brewers by radio at the moment; the Brewers are losing, 2-0, to the St. Louis Cardinals and are in the third inning. (There was a lengthy rain delay; the game didn’t start until after 9:00 p.m.) But even when the Brewers aren’t winning, I enjoy listening to Bob Uecker and his counterpart, Joe Block . . . Uecker’s a legend, and Block seems to enjoy being around him (as did Cory Provus before Block, last year), which makes for a good listening experience all the way around.
The Brewers are making a nice run at the moment and are now only three games below .500 with a record of 67-70. My hope is that the Brewers will be able to make it to .500 and stay there; if so, that will help to redeem a season that has been full of ups and downs.
There’s not much else going on, but as always, when something happens, I’ll be sure to let you know.
Now, back to the Brewers game . . . maybe they’ll score a run tonight, who knows?
Barb Caffrey's Blog 