Whee! Today is a lovely day to hike up the hill to the movie theater to see Prince Caspian, and I am way too excited about that. I might even get wild and crazy and go from the theater to the A&W nearby and get a root-beer float to enjoy on the hike home.

A few little updates:
I am now a published photographer. If you get the Del Rey Internet Newsletter, a photo I took at the Nebula Awards is featured, and I even got photo credit for it. The other photo from the awards in the newsletter was taken with my camera, though I didn't take it. Unfortunately, my books weren't mentioned in the newsletter, and the photo credit doesn't mention me being an author, so I don't know that having my name in there will do much good other than to my ego.

For e-book fans, I checked into why an eReader version of the new book doesn't seem to be showing up, and apparently it's supposed to be available, but for whatever reason it didn't show up in the Random House system and therefore didn't get distributed. My editor is seeing to it that it gets out there. We decided to blame the computer, but then since we're both big Battlestar Galactica fans, we worried that the computer won't be happy about that when it becomes sentient, and it might rise up and attack us for making it the scapegoat. Though I guess we're safe as long as the computer can't hold a gun and hasn't developed a way to appear totally human.

Now, to clarify and expand upon an earlier post (inspired by some comments). When I referred to "torturing" characters or otherwise being mean to them, I don't necessarily mean that literally. We're not engaging in character S&M here. What I do mean is making things as difficult as possible for characters -- giving them serious obstacles to their goals, pitting them against a villain who may be stronger than they are, giving them goals that may be more than they can handle and making them absolutely give their all in pursuit of their goals. When things are difficult like that, it proves that the task was difficult and that the hero is truly worthy in being able to achieve it. The hero learns and grows through the torture, and realizes because of it exactly what he's made of. He overcomes and triumphs.

It seems to be easier to tolerate this kind of character torture in genre fiction -- romance, sf/f, mystery, adventure -- for a couple of reasons. For one, it is in pursuit of a goal or aim, usually one greater than the character. The character sacrifices for the greater good, with the goal of saving the world, bringing the wicked to justice, stopping evil, and so forth. For another, the character usually chooses the path that leads to this suffering. He could avoid all the problems by turning his back and walking away. He's not a victim, and he's not passive. In more so-called "literary" fiction, there's often a great deal of suffering, but just because life sucks, and often the characters are passive. Bad things happen to them not because they're putting themselves in the way of terrible danger for the greater good, but because life just sucks and is unfair. Maybe that's part of my trouble in reading those Lemony Snicket books -- those kids are going through all the woes not because they've taken on a mission or have any particular goal other than surviving. They do pull themselves together and come up with plans for overcoming and surviving, but otherwise they're passive in that things happen to them just because of who they are, not because of what they choose to do.

And now I need to head to the movies. Maybe I'll report back with a review.

Spider bite update. The bite is nowhere near as feverish as it has been. It's still huge and red, and it's bruising from the center outward, but it's not as swollen, either. It's kind of sore, though, probably from the bruise.

My gran just dropped by to worry. According to one of the nurses at the nursing center where my great-g'ma lives, staph infections can pop up in other places on your body. So, this spot on the front of my leg might be from an infection, rather than just a reaction to the bite. Whatever it is, either the antibiotics will kill it or it'll go away.

I... didn't tell gran that I still plan on going to Scarby tomorrow. She'll just worry herself sick. Yeesh. I don't think I'll be able to go in garb tomorrow, though; one of the antibiotics makes me more sensitive to sunlight, and god knows I don't want a hideous sunburn. I'll have to dig around in my closet and see if I have something that can pass as garb and still cover me up.

Aaaand, I got my stimulus check. Woot! I will not blow this whole thing on a DSLR camera, no matter how much I want one. ;)

Firefly is on SciFi, and damn, I always forget how much I adore this show when I go for a while without watching it. Zoe really is an amazing character, as it Kaylee. And I absolutely love how when Mal said, "The ship was hit by Reavers," I got goosebumps. Joss really outdid himself with the Reavers; they are so incredibly creepy.

Also? The ladies on this show? Are all smokin' hot.

Um... in other news, I'm dying to see Iron Man again. And I've been reading a lot of Tony/Pepper fanfic. [facepalm] Y halo thar, new fandom.

And now I'm going to finish reading this incredibly hot Mulder/Scully fic and then boot up the Sims. I'm decorating Tony Stark's mansion at the moment, and I still need to move Pepper into her loft.

...What?

As I announced earlier, I'm planning on writing a novel as a kind of public performance piece during the next school year.  I realized yesterday that I should be able to get more out of the project (and not make it nearly as self serving) if I can involve the students.  So, we are starting a "Write a Book in a Year Club."  Students who are interested in completing a book-length project in the course of the next school year will meet regularly to report their progress, give and receive support, share their experiences, and learn helpful tips.

The club is in the formational stages right now, but tentatively each member will set their goal for the year (complete a novel, collection of stories, collection of poetry, collection of non-fiction essay, or some other book-length project), and then meet during lunch periodically.  I'll also set up a wikki page for students to chat and to share info.

I suspect, if it goes, that it will be a small club, but it will be fun.

Sure feels weird to hold your novel in your hands! 

Yesterday, I got my first real, printed copy of Night Child in the mail.  It was so...book-like!  I didn't know what to think or feel, since I'd been waiting for this moment for fifteen years (ever since I started thinking that I might actually write novels).  It was such a weird experience.  I smiled, I frowned, I whooped, I jumped around, I felt pensive, then anxious, etc.

What were your reactions when you got the first copy of your very first novel?  Did the reality match up with the fantasy?  Did you immediately feel anxious about Book 2?  What weird little things did you do to celebrate?  I went to Central Park and took lots of pictures to distract myself from the looming deadline for Book 2.  Then I drank lots of wine.  

- Jes Battis

Well, I've now pawned the EEEPC, and have gas for the week and have avoided an overdraft again. Luckily for me and my Clearwire I practice functional internet redundancy... I'm down to the only computer I own with no liquid capital value, unless you suck the gold out of the microchips or however it goes. In any case, I'm not moving yet because I'm still short the rent for the new place for the rest of the month, and they were not going to just give me the key and a couple of days to move in as I waited for the stimulus check to arrive. Which it was supposed to have yesterday.

So I'm sitting on my thumbs waiting for the stimulus check to arrive. Figuratively sitting on my thumbs, not literally, I'm not that good a typist, but still. The only progress I can make on this front is changing my online accounts to the new place.

...

How much does blood go for on the open market? Human. Like, half-gallon?

Just found out our pal, author Louise Marley ,is on LJ as lmarley! For people looking for discussions of fiction & how to write it: she's got a lot of good stuff to say, here.

'nuff said. Funny how my internet connection dumps me when I need it most. Apparently now it's back on track, but holy socks, I launched the download this morning before leaving for work and Firefox extimated the download time for a 350 (more or less) MB file as SIX HOURS. Now it's about an hour which is my average speed.

STILL. I could have seen the episode already.

Anyway, since we are on the subject of pictures, here are some interesting links I collected this morning at work... yes, it was VERY quiet for once.


Every person in New York - this artist has the goal to draw a sketch of every person in New York. Talk about mission impossible! But neat anyway.
Martin Wittfooth - eerie, fascinating paintings.
MUTO- OMG WATCH THIS. It's animated graffiti art. Needs to be seen in order to understand the awesome.
Pen drawing, by Charles Maginnis - an illustrated treatise on pen and ink, downloadable at Project Gutenberg. I remember having a couple of these pics in my drawing textbooks.
Drawn! - ok, probably most of you know this already, anyway it's worth pimping. It's been the source for many of the links you find here. WARNING: once you start browsing it, you might never stop.
Tony Stark: your go to guy! - a blog started in 2006, hosting Iron Man fanarts and generally spreading the love for good art and our favorite canned billionaire.
Today's inspiration - links and illustrations focusing on the 40's and 50's, especially advertising works.
Welcome friend or foe - a collective of illustrators/designers
Everyday people - you might know this one as well... looked familiar to me. Satyrical strip on, well, everyday situations, from a female point of view.
Plastic bag animals - OMG I'm totally in love with this concept. I just lack a subway in order to do that myself.
Indiana Jones cartoon trading cards - 'nuff said. Awesomeness at the nth degree.
Lines and colors - another resource blog on visual arts, pretty much like Drawn! and just as time-eating.

Oh, and I've seen Juno yesterday, and it was exactly as I expected - cute, but not brilliant. While it was nice not to see people making too much of a fuss around Juno's pregnancy... it also seemed a bit unrealistic and too fairy tale-like to me. Great soundtrack btw - and nice touch having Juno fixated on 70's music. I was just like that at her age - thinking that music from before I was born was the best. Perhaps it is, in a way - but maybe it's just because when you are so young you can't have your own nostalgia and end up borrowing someone else's... Nowadays, I am missing the 90's because I actually *lived* them and of course there are so many memories tied to that music, regardless of its inherent quality.

I've spent the last few days adventuring in the world. It's been a different pacing, and as Bruce Holland Rogers would say, I've been filling up the well. By the time I get back to some butt-in-chair time, I bet I'll have some solid inspiration.

Good thing, too, since I've got nothing on the hot-plot-idea-spot yet for the June 30 deadline of WotF.

Anyone got an inspirational plot idea-let they'd like to prime me with?

Cross-posted from The Midnight Hour

It's Friday again. Which means another post about writing. (Yes, I know I missed last week. Trust me, I was juggling other chainsaws.) Right now I'm at the end of an all-night editing session, so bear with me if I ramble a bit, but I had this all in my head before I tried (and failed) to go to sleep last night. So hopefully it will come out coherent.

Are there any new writers in the audience? Young writers, or those who are just starting out? Come a little closer and sit down in front, you guys. This one's for you.

Welcome to writing. It's a hard job. I think it's one of the best jobs in the world. But it is so easy to be blown off-course.

There are a lot of reasons why you'll tell yourself you can't write. There's the I Don't Have Time reason. There's the I'm Not Good Enough Yet reason. There's the Everyone Will Laugh At Me And I'll Only Be Rejected Anyway reason. There's the Words Never Come Out Like I Want Them To reason. And millions, billions more.

There is one thing I want to tell you about, something absolutely critical to a writer.

It's the ability to give the whole bloody world the finger. You know which one I'm talking about. That finger.

Look, this is not an easy job. But it can be done. You just won't get anywhere if you let any of those naysaying voices, whether they're in your head or coming from someone else's mouth, stop you. Lean in, guys. I want to tell you something important.

It is a thousand times better to write something crappy than not to write at all.

I am deadly serious. The worst bit of talentless dreck full of "that"s and passive verbs is better than shooting yourself in the foot before the race is even started. It doesn't matter WHAT you write. It matters only THAT you write.

I've had a couple teachers tell me they have their students read my writing posts. (I'm honored, by the way.) Hello, kids. It's good to have you along. Here's the one thing I want to tell you: Don't you ever, EVER let anyone stop you from writing. Go ahead and feel afraid--it's okay to be scared. (The power to transform the world is incredibly frightening, isn't it?) Let that fear drive you to say the things that need to be said. Let it be fuel. Keep writing. Just keep your fingers on the keyboard, keep the pencil on the paper. It will all turn out fine, I promise. I swear.

Just keep writing.

Look, a work doesn't have to be perfect. If a perfect novel was ever written the universe would probably implode from the antimatter or something. We are imperfect beings in an imperfect world. Just get the writing done. Get the work out on the table, and then you can cut it up and edit it and prettify it. First, as a very wise writer once told me, you write the goddamn novel. Then you worry about everything else.

A lot of new writers think they have to edit and polish as the damn thing is coming out of their heads. As you get better at writing a lot of editing will go on in-process. But often, new writers will fall into the trap of second-guessing every word, and they get frustrated. Nothing comes out right. The words just won't do what they want.

And they quit.

You don't have to get that frustrated. Focus on getting the work out first. There's plenty of time for revisions. Believe me, you'll revise the damn thing so much you'll be sick of it. Have fun and don't sweat while you're actually writing it, at least.

And then there's that other reason to quit: other people. Or other people's voices in your head, saying You can't do that! You can't SAY that! This is horrible! Who do you think you are, anyway? Everyone's going to laugh at you!

I call that little voice the Internal Censor. And it's hard not to be so self-critical that it seems safer to just let the blank page lie there. It's hard to push those voices aside. It's achingly hard to believe that you have a story that needs to be told when the world seems designed to tell you you're insignificant. And young writers have the hardest time of all, sometimes, because they haven't developed that sense of proportion yet--the one that tells them, however faintly, that the self-critical voices are full of horsepuckey.

Hey, don't get me wrong. The sense of proportion doesn't get louder when you get older. Sometimes you just learn to listen to it, that's all.

If you can, if it will help, give those nasty voices the old finger. Tell them to eff off. You have a right to write. You further have the right to write whatever the hell you please. So it's not Shakespeare or Chekhov or the famous Great American Novel. So what? Every word you put down, every day you're at the keyboard or holding the pencil, is better than a day of being too afraid to do it.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you don't have the right to write. If you love writing, if it burns in your soul like a rocket, even if you just enjoy it and feel compelled to do it, you have a right to write. Don't stop because that naysaying little voice in your head tells you it's not good enough. Don't stop because Aunt Martha would be so embarrassed if she knew you were writing THIS! Don't, at bottom, write for anyone else.

Hey. Psst. Lean in just a little closer, because I'm going to whisper. This is Sooper-Sekrit.

Write to please yourself. Write what you want to read. Write what makes you feel good. Write what makes you tingly. Write in any genre you damn well please. Write cross-genre. Write about whatever you want to.

Yes, yes, you do have to worry about grammar and structure and story and characterization and making your work readable. That's why this is an art, that's why this is work. But at the heart of this work is joy. If you write what you love, what pleases you, your work will have a ring to it. It's like fine crystal. It sings. Even if it's sloppy. Craft can be learned. With enough patience and persistence you can learn when to dangle your participles and cleft your gerunds. You can learn the rules, and they will help you.

But the joy, it's a gift. Don't throw it back in the Universe's face by writing something you hate or writing what you think you should, or what someone will Approve Of. Write whatever makes you happy. Put that pen to the paper, put that pedal to the medal, lay down some tire-rubber and streak for the horizon. Race to beat the Devil. Do it because it feels good and it's what you want to do.

Those voices always come back. I don't think I've ever met a single writer who didn't have them in his or her head. Get practiced at telling them to sod off. Learn to distinguish those voices from honest critique or emotional blackmail. Critique you can accept gracefully, blackmail and drama-queening you can walk away from.

But the self-critical voices? You can just give them the finger. Yes, that finger. Tell them to #%$& off.

If nothing else, it's tremendously satisfying. And in this line of work, we take our satisfaction where we find it. All right? You dig?

Now. Go write what you love. Don't let anyone stop you. Laugh in the face of that fear, even if your heart is cold and your knees are knocking. Go set fire to the words you were given to write, the words only you can say.

Go out there and give 'em hell.

Good morning, livejournal. Do you want to know a secret?

I have never seen the Indiana Jones movies. Not a one of them. I have just never sat through them. I think I fell asleep once or twice too. So my project for the weekend is to watch all three Indiana Jones movies (and finish the second knee sock that I'm knitting out of silk -- silk! How indulgent!). What do y'all think of them? Are you excited for movie #4? I have a soft spot in my heart for Shia Leboeuf, so I'm kind of looking forward to it.


In other news that is a little more exciting for y'all, I have donated a 100 page manuscript evaluation to reannon's Relay For Life to support the American Cancer Society. The details are over here. There's some other stuff to bribe you into donating to this cause as well. :)

I blame myself without reserve for my weakness. It was merely weakness. One half-hour with Art was always more to me than a cycle with you. Nothing really at any period of my life was ever of the smallest importance to me compared with Art. But in the case of an artist, weakness is nothing less than a crime, when it is a weakness that paralyses the imagination.

And in robyn_ma's category of 'the greatest fuck-you letter ever written':

When you could not find me to be with, the companions whom you chose as substitutes were not flattering.

Man, that's beyond devastating. Because it's so true.

Okay, here goes. Initial thoughts. Messy and probably incomplete, but damn.

( 'Arctic' is not only the setting, I think. Arctic is coldness, frozen and fatal. And if you believe Dante, the lowest level of hell, reserved for those who betray loved ones, is ice, not fire. )

Dudes, if you haven't been reading the commentses, you're missing out on more than half the fun (I'll keep adding to this -- feel free to suggest more links/pullquotes in the comments to this post!):

Oh my God angevin2 MADE ICONS. (The Carlisle one nearly fucking.killed.me.)

I SUMMARIZE. PITHILY. (no rly!)

rydra_wong, tekalynn, movingfinger, rikibeth oursin, panjianlien: Wait, 1640s London didn't have sewers

Not so much with the potatoes, either

Links about the Magickal Injuns Quileute Reservation!

TWILIGHT TOURS AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

sovay found me an amazing Jewish vampire short story, "Blood Libel," by Leigh Ann Hussey. It's beautiful.

Nothing to do with vampires, but CLIVE OWEN SMILES
WITH TEETH

• 15:06 @telesilla hehe! I have a friend getting married this June after 18 years w/ her partner :D #
• 15:07 @bibliotech BIG CHEERS! I know how that can be tough. #
• 20:32 @Sab FOUR DOLLARS AND FIFTY-NINE CENTS? #
• 22:30 @bibliotech I got asked too. WTF? #
• 22:31 @sockkpuppett I temporarily disabled mine. If I want, I'm gonna reenable it. Am annoyed. I watch others' post anything they want. :( #

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Via greycoupon:

(Credible) Rumor has it that after S4 is finished, BSG will shoot three TV movies back-to-back.

The guy with this info has been right quite often in the past, though we don't have any more details yet. If this is true, then I'm ... not 100% enthusiastic. As Indi just said to me, "I want the show's ending to be a period or an exclamation point, NOT an ellipsis!"

Season 4, Ep 13 - airs May 29th - U.S. Promo

Rules:
1. Mirror if you want to, but link and credit to txvoodoo
2. Do not hotlink to the vids!
3. Enjoy!

US promo:

• AVI format inside a zip file - 10 megs
• Watch it on DailyMotion

( Or Watch It here )

NOTE: If you have problems playing the avi format, download and install VLC player.

In any case, you should have VLC Player installed - it often will play clips nothing else will.

( Finale Part 1 as it happens )

In summary: Icon.