I’m not doing it.
I never do it. Some people actually seem offended when I say that, but NaNoWriMo doesn’t make sense for me. The daily wordcount isn’t that high and it’s what I ought to be doing anyway, right? Every month, not just November.
This isn’t a condemnation of the event itself. If you want to register and write along with other people, I think that’s great. Have fun and remember that you should keep going once December arrives.
But for me, no.
I just returned from NW Bookfest where, on a panel, author Mark Teppo referred to urban fantasy authors who make up their own monsters as “special snowflakes.”
Well guess what? I am special, because I think UF has to open itself beyond the same stock supernatural characters if it’s going to survive long term.
I’m also a snowflake, in that I melt when you touch me with your tongue.
I hope that’s clear.
I’m going. At least, as soon as I pack up my computer, refill my coffee and drop off these two library books down the street, I’ll be starting the long bus trip over there.
If anyone reading this plans to be there, I intend to attend the UF panel at noon. Come look for me in the audience. I promise to be the most socially-awkward author you’ll ever meet.
Went to the U-District early this morning (as my son reckons things, at least) to attend the live broadcast of local NPR-affiliate show “Weekday.” The first hour was an interview with actor and storyteller Stephen Tobolowski, of The Tobolowski Files. He talked a little about playing a pedophile principal on GLEE, being naked on CALIFORNICATION, and about his play “Two Idiots in Hollywood.” Great show.
The music was provided by “Awesome”. I suspect we’ll have one of their CDs on order by the time I return home, although their music wasn’t really to my tastes. Fun, but not for me.
After the show, my wife and son went home and I visited pals at their theater. They run Wing-It Productions, and if you’re in the Seattle area, you should go to one or two of their shows. They’re great.
Neither of my buddies could duck out for impromptu lunch, so I swung by Half-Price Books and picked up a bunch of old computer games I shouldn’t have bought, then ate lunch, then… Jesus, is it really so late?
I pretty much blew off the whole day, and I have NW Bookfest to attend tomorrow.
Crap. I’m supposed to be a writer, aren’t I? Writing things? Double crap.
Well, maybe I can accomplish something right now…
1) I’m taking the family to see Steven Tobolowski live on our local NPR affiliate this morning. Exciting! My son loves his show (my son loves oral storytelling) and we can’t wait to see how it goes. And I don’t think I have to say that I’m also a big fan of Steve Scher, the interviewer.
2) I get a lot of people asking me about the status of the Twenty Palaces books, so I’m going to say: Please stop. I’m waiting to hear something official from my editor at Del Rey, but I’m not going to announce anything until I get the final word from them.
Believe me, when I finally hear, the first person I share the news with will be my wife. The second person will be the whole rest of the world. But it’s a stressful time right now, so please don’t keep prodding me. When I know, you’ll know, believe me.
3) After years of hearing about other writers receiving anthology invitations, I’ve started getting some of my own. The only one I’m sure I’m allowed to talk about is a book related to Evil Hat’s Don’t Rest Your Head rpg, which is being edited by Chuck Wendig. And I have a nasty little story idea in mind…
4) I sent a revised copy of A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark to my agent. New book! Hopefully soon.
5) I’ve been planning a large politics post for quite a while, and hearing that the U.S. government just killed a U.S. citizen without due process is prodding me to get around to it. Watch (or avoid) this space.
I’ve been pushing to finish A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark and clocking some serious family time.
Plus, my brain has been incredibly boring lately.
Quick updates here:
While I was away I submitted a revision of a short story to a shared-world anthology (details to come) that was received quite well.
I received my final check for my current contract with Del Rey, which my stupid bank is going to hold until next week even though they’ve promised they wouldn’t have to do that any more and I have enough in my fucking account to cover it. (Good to have new money, though).
I made good progress on the revisions for A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark, having solved the notes my agent gave me. I hope I’ve solved them, anyway.
Finally, I dealt with a hundred minor annoyances that I couldn’t tweet about. Hmph.
So.
Starting Saturday I went on an internet fast. I didn’t check Twitter, read my friend’s list on LiveJournal (which is where I follow blogs, webcomics, whatever) or post to my own blog.
I did check email once a day in case something important came in. Nothing did, with the exception of some none-urgent short fiction stuff.
What did I learn from it?
Well, first let me admit that I broke my fast a couple of times. Cheating! Continue reading
I have a lot to (not) catch up on, and some thoughts to post later when I’m out of the apartment.
In the meantime, Circle of Enemies is finally available at Barnes & Noble stores.
This is just a placeholder to remind people that I’m going to be on an internet fast starting today, Sept 10th and ending the Saturday following. When I come back, I’m going to mark everything read and hopefully have some insight into how I use the web and how it affects my life.
I’ll be checking email once a day.
In the meantime, if you’ve read and enjoyed my novels, you can read e-versions of several of my short stories and novellas. (Kindle | The Nook)
See you on the other side.