In the midst of "Real Life" drama, I've still managed to accomplish a few things. I'm going to list them because it's easier that way.  It's late, so I'm a bit lazy but if I don't update while I'm thinking about it I will forget about it for another month or two. So...

I complete a story for Magpie Games, "A Deed Without a Name" to be published in the anthology "By No Means Vulgar".

I submitted my applications for Clarion and Clarion West

I completed and submitted a story to the anthology "Death to the Brothers Grimm".

I submitted "Threadbare" to Mad House Magazine and have agreed to rewrite it to better fit their needs.

I'm working on a novel, "Carry Me Home", which Twisted Library Press has expressed an interest in.

And, on top of everything else, I was able to see Puscifer Sunday night. <3 <3 <3

All in all, I feel that I've been fairly productive. 

I'm ready for more.

I hate drama.  I try to keep it confined to fiction.  But I can't.  Apparently, having people in your life is tantamount to signing yourself up to  a spam worthy mailing list of drama.  And as much as I wish this weren't so, a writer isn't an island.  Contrary to the idea of the isolated writer who locks himself away in a serene location to write the "Great Masterpiece", we depend on people.  Their patterns of behavior, and how they stray from them.  Their emotional strengths and weaknesses.  The way they overcome, or succumb. Without people, we wouldn't be able to create a connection with words, because those words are carefully crafted to connect with someone.  And when that someone picks up a book, or reads a story, they feel that something that words alone couldn't evoke.  Words are tools, and emotions are the medium and the stories, are the result.

Observation or Immersion? 

I'd prefer the first, but pure observation results in feelings of separation and distance in reality and fiction. 

I haven't worked very much on my rewrite because I'm...well, I'm a procrastinator of the worst sort.  But, since I have my laptop back I have no more excuses!  My husband even bought me a memory stick, wireless mouse, and earbuds.  So, tonight!  Tonight, I get 6000 words, minimum, before I even THINK about watching cartoons!

On a more frivolous note, I get to go to Horrorhound Indy (a horror convention) next month. :D  I have weekend passes and a zombie tshirt!

On another somewhat frivolous note, I got books for Valentine's Day!  I got a great book on the American Civil War, and a $50 gift card for bn.com, most of which I spent last night. :D  My books should be arriving within 2-6 days.

Only time for a quick update; I got a rewrite request from LoLD's "The South Will Rise Undead" anthology, for "Their Graves Were Dug".  I just need to make it loooonger.  It's at 700 words right now, I need to get it between 4k-9k.  Think I'm going to aim for 6k-8k and see how it reads.

:D

More soon!

I've realized that I tend to go months without posting anything, that's because sometimes (at the risk of sounding insane) the prominent personality isn't conducive to the "professionalism" I've tried to maintain here. Seriously. I curse "like a sailor". (Often in front of children.) I enjoy bawdy jokes and bad puns. My mind is "in the gutter" most days, and therefore, even when I've got a lot in my head, it's not "fit to print". (I also enjoy cliches; they make me laugh.)

This year, one of my goals it to update more. Which means having SOMETHING to report, fairly regularly. You know: submissions, new stories, and hopefully sales. Perhaps this goal will help with another goal, battling procrastination. (I'm also working on my grammar, so bear with me.)

So, my big "non-writing" goal for this year is to get out more. Socialize. :( Bleh. I'm not looking forward to it. I don't DO people very well. Mostly because I'm lazy. I admit it. I hate running around after someone trying to get them to be my "friend". I prefer to let people come to me...but apparently I come across as "distant" and "unapproachable".  Maybe I'll try smiling. I suppose my normal face is quite dour.  I've been considering ways to meet people who live here and have found a couple of possibilities. 

There is a writing center nearby which offers classes on different topics (not grammar), which might be promising on a few different levels.  It's conceited of me, I know, but I'm thinking that I don't want to take the classes if the instructors aren't, at least, as good as I am.   That's not to say that I think I know everything and couldn't benefit from some additional guidance and instruction, but I don't want to go to a class and find that it's basically high school creative writing for people who "want to be" writers, but who don't actually take writing seriously. 

I've found a bar that features a "Punk Night" once a week. ( I love punk music.)  So it might be cool to go one night, see what it's like.  Unfortunately, the video clips they shared on their website were terrible and not what I consider to be punk (Dead Kennedys).    Well, maybe the music is better live, but regardless, after a few drinks I'm sure the unintelligible "singing" will sound melodic. :) 

Maybe I'll spend a day in a coffee shop and make eye contact with every person who walks in.  See how many people talk to me, and how many I creep out. 

Anyway, I've sort of wandered off point...but that's all right because I have chocolate covered coffee beans.

I've finally moved! That's why I have posted for awhile. I've been uber busy packing, cleaning, and moving. :) My new apartment is wonderful, and I love being in a city again. I'll probably go on more about that later.

I haven't done much writing, but I have a couple of stories out right now; I aim to rewrite some others this month as a warm up for Nanowrimo. (My username is crysaleflar, and I'd love more buddies!)

I haven't done a lot of writing, but I spent a couple of weeks drawing, and I'll leave you with a couple of sketches. I'm very proud of myself...look at that improvement!

I plan to submit something to this issue and wondered if anyone else intends to. :)

http://www.rofmag.com/2010/01/04/announcing-august-2011-women-of-fantasy-themed-issue/

I'm writing again! Statistical updates soon!

I haven't been doing any actual writing lately, and I feel badly about that, but I have a lot going on right now. (I don't feel terrible though because I am often thinking about my writing, and I say that career writing is 80% thinking, 10% writing, 10% marketing, and 50% luck.) I'm actually preparing to move, again, and hope that after we are settled in our new home I'll be able to create a better working environment. In the meantime, I've been practicing drawing and thought I'd post some of my recent sketches of some characters.

(Oh, and I should be hearing back from "Shock Totem" soon regarding "Graves", it's been 61 days today, and their max response time is 60 days.)


This one isn't very good, but I do like his head.





This is the first full male sketch I've done...I'm pleased with it.




This is the previous one's companion.



This is my best action sketch, so far.



And this one is my favorite.