I didn’t mean to take a break, but it was necessary. I needed, and still need, some time to finally settle in to my apartment and into a routine. I still have a lot of decluttering, rearranging and selling of possessions ahead, and a business plan to work out. I don’t know how often I’ll be posting from now on, but I’m hoping to resume a schedule of at least a few posts a week soon. I’ll post the reviews from Mythopoeic Award Challenge participants for the last two months sometime after the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Anyway, I thought I’d just pop in, wave hello and let you all know that I’m still alive before getting back to work! See you again next week!

So I’m reading all of these in hopes of getting some more world-building done. I’ve sort of stalled on revisions of A King’s Wedding, but I think that’s more in response to some personal-life stress than to the story itself. I did see a scene that I think needs cutting; I’m deliberating whether it’s better to send it to my critique group as-is and see if they agree with me, or to go ahead and snip-snip-snip. The scene places undue emphasis on an object that isn’t going to be important at all to the plot, so I guess it should go. *le sigh*

Because of aforementioned personal issues, I’m having some trouble getting back into writing. I am, basically, putting it off. In an attempt to preserve my sanity, I need to focus on other things. I’ll continue world-building, but I don’t know if I’ll dive into a manuscript in earnest for a little while. We’ll see. Things usually change more quickly than we can imagine.

For now, I’m putting my focus back on reading. That might even give my life some semblance of stability and routine. Wouldn’t that be a change?

You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.
- C.S.Lewis

I’ve just started the type-in on my Searoyal short-story, A King’s Wedding. My manuscript looks like it was mangled by swashbuckling mice. I’m hoping the type-in goes quickly, but even in the first paragraph I’ve already found something else I want to change. I don’t think this is the best story-opener in history, but when I get the revisions I’ve written on the manuscript typed in, I’ll be able to see more clearly what needs to change.

I keep reminding myself: This story is the best I can do right now, and that’s all that matters. I’ll learn more as I get critiques and write more stories.

domynoe and I have started our own Livejournal Community for fantasy author Patricia A. McKillip (Ombria in Shadow, Harrowing the Dragon, etc.) If you’re a fan, or just want to learn more about McKillip and her enchanting work, and you have an account at Livejournal, please join us!

The writing is going fairly well, though I need to write a couple of crits this weekend. I’m working on building plans and town maps, with the help of my spiffy new set of mathematical tools. I’ve also got some books coming via InterLibrary Loan that should greatly assist me in my efforts.

I’ve finished basic profiles and brainstorming for my entire ensemble, so tomorrow I begin work on the setting profiles. I’m hoping those will go as well as the profiles today, though I imagine designing an abbey ruin and a city ward will take some time. Other locations are houses and rooms so those should just need quick sketches and descriptions.

If I can finish that this week, and go over my outline one last time, fleshing out subthemes, I’ll be set to start the first draft next week!

Fortunately, The Agony Column is here to satisfy curiosity somewhat with a podcast featuring McKillip reading chapter one of The Bell at Sealey Head. She’s a genius! If you’ve never read McKillip before and have no idea what her writing is like, this is your chance to sample a chapter of her dreamy, magical prose. It’s a bit harder to catch everything, but her reading is charming. Give it a listen.

The Bell at Sealey Head is due out in September 2008.

VoodooPad is pretty fun and easy to use. To create a new page you just select some text, click the “link” button, and start typing away when the new page is generated. Couldn’t be simpler. So far I’ve done really super-basic pages on the geography of the city-state of Searoyal and a couple of characters and important organizations. I’ll have to take some time to compile what I’ve got in my notes already and add it in.

Speaking of compilation, I’ve got a huge plastic tub full of old writing and other papers and notebooks that need sorting, and in many cases, junking. I’m trying to put behind me old stuff that I know is going nowhere, and organize the current stuff so I can work more effectively. I’ve got notes on Searoyal in every corner of this apartment, exploding from bookcases, letter pockets and my purse, just to mention a few places, and I could really do with adding some method to this madness. I have a cunning plan to set that all in motion . . .