Got tons done during my 2-day retreat in Banff with my SAW writing group. I had some old material to revise — quite a bit — and then I got a new scene done as well, which I wasn’t expecting. There were 9 of us sharing a 10-person loft condo in the mountains with a hot-tub. Various people volunteered to make breakfasts and lunches, and we went out to local restaurants for dinner. People wrote from after breakfast well into the evening hours, although after that we did play “Mexican Train” one evening. It was dead quiet, with only the sounds of keys tapping (we didn’t even look up when the maid came in to change the towels). Randy outlined a novella and wrote 13,000 words — our biggest word count for the weekend. We read aloud Sunday evening and the quality of the work read aloud was awesome — makes me feel very lucky to be a part of this group!
Exhilarating to draft
Sometimes first draft writing can be scary and depressing and confusing. But today I am writing stuff I have thought about, taken notes on and planned for weeks. What a ride!
I’m a grandma!
Callum Alexander Forest Osborne was born very early this morning: 12:45 AM. He was 8 lbs, 6 oz and 22 inches long – very healthy. He and his mom are still in the hospital, as her blood pressure is a little high and they want to see it stabilize before they send her home – perhaps tomorrow morning.
Not much writing done this weekend (okay, none so far . . .)
Hit the Two-Thirds Mark!
. . . on my current novel. Everything is set up and in place for the climax. Today I begin that final piece. Can’t wait!
Aurora Eligibility
And at a later date I’ll talk about my story “Back” (Analog, June, 2008) which is eligible, but right now I’d like to promote Randy McCharles for Best Fan Organizational. If Randy doesn’t win the Aurora for that, something is really wrong. That World Fantasy conference was classy from first to last. Not a glitch in the entire thing, and there were millions of examples of little touches that just made it that titch more elegant. The book bags will keep everyone reading for a couple of years. The hors d’ouevres served with the art gala, the location right on the Stephen Street Mall with all its shops and restaurants, the hosts and gifts for the guests — I could go on and on. Thanks, Randy, for a world-class convention. You can find out more about the Prix Aurora Awards at the