Four solid days of nothing to do but write–it will be fantastic! I’ll finish my novel edits for Edge Press today, so my plate is clear. Then: revise Chapter 10 and write Chapter 11 of “Magiers,” which is where my excitement is really boiling right now. BUT I also got an excellent rejection from IMGS that I want to follow up and I had a super critique on Tuesday for a new short story that I want to follow up on…and then there is another novel to revise for a May submission…Four days might be a little short.
OMG – I was nominated for an award!
“Orange” was nominated (by someone) and passed the first judging to become one of the “Notable Online Stories of 2010”! I just checked the website for The storySouth Million Writers Award Notable Stories of 2010, and I am in the company of writers like John Scalzi, Adam-Troy Castro, Tobias Buckell, Catheryne M. Valente and Bruce Sterling! And online magazines like Fantasy, Lightspeed, Tor.com, Suberranean, etc. Also, there are cash prizes–though only for the top 3, so probably I won’t be there, but still!!
Frontenac House Book Launch
What a great evening! Frontenac House puts on a classy book launch party. I was able to go hear my good friend, Bob Stallworthy read some of his poetry, which I love (and he reads it so well), but I also heard Richard Harrison for the first time, and he was awesome, too. I even bought his book–it’s been a while since I read poetry, but after last night, I am inspired to learn from my poet colleagues again.
School Visit Today
The kids at Montgomery Junior High School were really cool. Spirited, as junior high students are, but polite and well-behaved, and excited to learn more about character and dialogue. And the teachers were super-friendly! They and their library technician (who cooked up some fantastic chicken) and their student book club gave me lunch! Altogether, a great morning!
Ever wake up at 4:30 AM to write?
Sometimes I do, and today was one of those days. Got up again–about 5 times–between 4:30 and 5:30 and I think I’m over the little place where I was stuck. So excited!