The weather geeks are saying we'll reach 77F today, which makes it very, very hard for me to sit here and try again to write all damn day. I want to go to Piedmont Park. I want to sit beneath a tree and smell spring coming. I want to run my fingers through clover and dandelions and henbit. I want see a bumblebee.
I am very fond of bumblebees, as it turns out.
I wanted to quote a bit from Andisheh Nouraee's latest "Don't Panic" column (from Creative Loafing):
Are Americans really torturing people?
As sure as the handcuffs in my dresser drawer are fur-lined, Americans enjoy inflicting pain on others. In a January 2004 about the popularity of sadomasochism, Time estimated that the United States is home to 250 S&M organizations. What the article didn't mention was that two of those organizations are the CIA and the U.S, Department of Defense.
Of course, now I'm stuck with this image of Donald Rumsfeld in stiletto heels.
Ah, what do I care about silly human politics. I have this book to write. This book that wants to be written, and yet, simultaneously, it vexes me. I think it's the scope of the thing. I think it's mostly having to deal with the weight of Sadie and Deacon's past, with what happened to Chance, with the whole bothersome issue of Narcissa Snow. At the moment, it's Sadie who's giving me trouble. In 2010, the present day of Daughter of Hounds, she's still trying to come to terms with the things that happened to her way back in November 2002. Which means, because this is not simply a sequel but a more-or-les stand-alone novel, that I have to relay to the reader exactly what did happen to her, the same way that, in Murderr of Angels, I had to let the reader know about Keith Barry and the bad things that happened in the old house on Cullom Street. I do not have the luxury of J. K. Rowling. I cannot assume a zillion people read Threshold and Low Red Moon and are now clamouring for What Happens Next. In fact, I can assume that they aren't. So, I have to artfully include lots of backstory. And that's where I've gotten stuck. There's so much of it, and I have to weed out everything but the moments that were truly defining. I have to be economical. Anyway, I was at it for several hours yesterday and managed to write only 301 words; I dren you not. Chapter Two was completed back on January 23rd. Sheesh.
At least I'm sleeping better, these past two or three nights. I got an e-mail from Ramsey Campbell this morning, asking about my insomnia. It comes and goes. It's been a companion most of my life. I do not like to dream, that's part of it. I do not like to dream because I suspect that dreams are not what they are so often dismissed as, merely the subconscious letting off steam, but some greater facet of "reality." Oh, Caitlín, do not get started on that. You only have five minutes left.
Right. Five minutes. And I must mention the eBay auctions, because work still needs to be done on Spooky's car. Were I J. K. Rowling, this would not be an issue. I'd just license a bunch of inflatable Gryffindor kiddy pools or something of the like and impoverished Chinese factory workers would churn them out faster than you could say Hufflepuff. But, clearly, I am not J. K. Rowling. So, instead, I ask that you have a look at the auctions. Thank you. Spooky's car would thank you, too, if only it could.
I am very fond of bumblebees, as it turns out.
I wanted to quote a bit from Andisheh Nouraee's latest "Don't Panic" column (from Creative Loafing):
Are Americans really torturing people?
As sure as the handcuffs in my dresser drawer are fur-lined, Americans enjoy inflicting pain on others. In a January 2004 about the popularity of sadomasochism, Time estimated that the United States is home to 250 S&M organizations. What the article didn't mention was that two of those organizations are the CIA and the U.S, Department of Defense.
Of course, now I'm stuck with this image of Donald Rumsfeld in stiletto heels.
Ah, what do I care about silly human politics. I have this book to write. This book that wants to be written, and yet, simultaneously, it vexes me. I think it's the scope of the thing. I think it's mostly having to deal with the weight of Sadie and Deacon's past, with what happened to Chance, with the whole bothersome issue of Narcissa Snow. At the moment, it's Sadie who's giving me trouble. In 2010, the present day of Daughter of Hounds, she's still trying to come to terms with the things that happened to her way back in November 2002. Which means, because this is not simply a sequel but a more-or-les stand-alone novel, that I have to relay to the reader exactly what did happen to her, the same way that, in Murderr of Angels, I had to let the reader know about Keith Barry and the bad things that happened in the old house on Cullom Street. I do not have the luxury of J. K. Rowling. I cannot assume a zillion people read Threshold and Low Red Moon and are now clamouring for What Happens Next. In fact, I can assume that they aren't. So, I have to artfully include lots of backstory. And that's where I've gotten stuck. There's so much of it, and I have to weed out everything but the moments that were truly defining. I have to be economical. Anyway, I was at it for several hours yesterday and managed to write only 301 words; I dren you not. Chapter Two was completed back on January 23rd. Sheesh.
At least I'm sleeping better, these past two or three nights. I got an e-mail from Ramsey Campbell this morning, asking about my insomnia. It comes and goes. It's been a companion most of my life. I do not like to dream, that's part of it. I do not like to dream because I suspect that dreams are not what they are so often dismissed as, merely the subconscious letting off steam, but some greater facet of "reality." Oh, Caitlín, do not get started on that. You only have five minutes left.
Right. Five minutes. And I must mention the eBay auctions, because work still needs to be done on Spooky's car. Were I J. K. Rowling, this would not be an issue. I'd just license a bunch of inflatable Gryffindor kiddy pools or something of the like and impoverished Chinese factory workers would churn them out faster than you could say Hufflepuff. But, clearly, I am not J. K. Rowling. So, instead, I ask that you have a look at the auctions. Thank you. Spooky's car would thank you, too, if only it could.
- Current Mood:
still determined - Current Music:Annie Lennox, "Into the West"
Page Summary
Comments
- 25 Mar 2023, 12:08One consideration is that an author's photo current at the time the book was written makes an interesting accompaniment to a given edition.
- 17 Mar 2023, 02:21Jack Black's performance is so close to working in so many of his scenes that you can see why they brought him on, but ultimately nothing about his performance works. And I feel like there was…
- 13 Mar 2023, 22:16Tár should have taken away something, though that it didn't feels amusingly of a piece with its darkly comic denouement so I can't be too mad
- 24 Feb 2023, 22:14Hopefully, the weather is more fitting tomorrow.
- 21 Feb 2023, 22:39I saw this take on twitter about the Dahl thing that I more or less agree with. Sadly Dahl isn't just Dahl's work any more. Roald Dahl is a multimillion dollar brand cynically managed by an estate…
Comments
Patience? Yeah, yeah, how long does that take? *sigh*
There is a big difference between what members of a BDSM organization do to each other and what the CIA and DoD have done to prisoners in their care. I'd also argue that it's not that people enjoy inflicting pain but that they have found ways of justifying the use of torture in order to achieve a greater good.
The end justifies the means.
Bullshit.
Er...it was a joke. More to the point, it was a joke passed along by me, and without going into details, my own proclivities make my speaking ill of BDSM a distinct improbability.
However, I will say that I think there is certainly a degree of genuine sadism evident in our treatment of many prisoners during this war (and all other wars). Just because sadism and masochism can be positive things, doesn't mean that they always are. Exactly why someone behaves sadistically is another and complex issue.
I also would not argue that some of the acts carried out by members of our military and intelligence services was sadistic. It would not be hard for me to believe that they did feel a sense of pleasure at torturing people whom they perceived as enemies whom they could do anything they wished to. Though I personally believe that the prisoners were abused as a means of extracting information rather than retribution.
The bad thing about using terms like "sadism" and "masochism" to refer to That Thing Which We Do means risking confusing the great masses between positive consensual kink and the destructive, illegal acts of the truly unbalanced.
Regardless, we had a misunderstanding that was probably more my fault than anything else. Sorry.
For my part, the words work fine in both positive and negative instances. It's the same intrinsic thing, regardless of intent. But I am aware others feel differently. I simply refuse to be PC about BDSM.
Regardless, we had a misunderstanding that was probably more my fault than anything else. Sorry.
No problem. It happens.
Secondly, you just reminded me that I dreamt last night that J.K. Rowling died suddenly. I don't know how or why. I haven't even read the Potter books. But she was dead and the world was devastated that they would never get the real end to their story.
The same holds true for San Francisco.
Motivation: read one thing, liked it, read more
Number of JKRowling books on the shelf: 1
Motivation: swore I'd read the books before seeing the films. Now more interesting in films since Gary Oldman is involved, but still haven't cracked the book (too busy)
I realize that unfortunately doesn't pay for teeth, cars, etc.
I do not like to dream because I suspect that dreams are not what they are so often dismissed as, merely the subconscious letting off steam, but some greater facet of "reality."
On multiple occasions last year I dreamt something that I later walked right into. That's happened before, but not to the same degree. I'm not sure if it is similar to what you experience, but I can recognize some places where the other realities can overlap with this one, so I'm pretty sure that "dreamspace" doesn't just exist between my own ears. Or this could be the last stop before I crack, but that's OK too... at least it's an interesting trip.
Motivation: read one thing, liked it, read more
Number of JKRowling books on the shelf: 1
Now, if only I had about 50,000 of you...
Hardly. Every sentence I write is rewritten at least a half dozen times, right off. I revise as I write. If I dared not allow an "uncertain stroke," I never type a word.
It's an interesting suggestion, and I thank you for making it, but it's not the way I write. I disslike writing stuff that I know upfront won't be read.
If you could spare some time to talk about dreams, I don't think anyone would complain. They seem to have a significance you allude to often, and as a fellow chronic dreamer of fucked-up realities, I know I'd be interested. It's your journal, by all means. But I smell Story, and it makes me a boor.
~Jacob
*snork* But, really, I do adore Spring and Summer. I have an uneasy fondness for Autumn, but, ultimately, it's all about Coming Death and the dread ruins it for me. And I loathe the Winter, at least I do these days. So. It may not match the way people think I ought to be (oh, she never goes out in the sun etc.), but it's the truth. I was a field paleontologist far too long not to have this love of Nature.
If you could spare some time to talk about dreams, I don't think anyone would complain.
Usually, I consider them too private for a public journal. And usually, I just don't like writing them out (though some of it makes it's way into the books). I have, however, made numerous entries about specific dreams. Search the archives.
Yes, clearly. Maybe a little too clearly, eh?
Don't follow me? Well, let's look at it. Yesterday if someone woulda said, "That Caitlin R. Kiernan's really just a cute Rowling avatar," I'd have said it was hogwash, told 'em them they was crazy, told 'em they could wash their hogs with new soap, and sent them out on their ear. But now it's here, all neat and pretty, tied up with pink ribbons, and it gets me to thinking.
Not as much money? Check. No crazy vast merchandising empire? Check. Girlfriend with bad car? Check.
Yes, it all adds up. Only it doesn't add up because in this world there's no five ingredients what add up to a recipe, and my gut says there's just too much sugar and flour to make a cake here.
No, Missy. You're J.K. Rowling all right. You're too not J.K. Rowling to actually not be J.K. Rowling. So the jig is up.
Garda, you lost me.
Heh. I'm sorry, I was in a really weird mood last night . . .
how or why I came upon this journal, it become moot to the
point of wanting to express to you that I felt the urge to
grab your shoulders and give you a stern look over your
struggle with the backstory.
I'll explain why: I had never read one of your books until
finding this journal. I have since read 4 of your novels.
2 of them, I've read more than once, because I read them too
fast the first go.
And now I think the stern look was more just for encouragement.
I was going to say screw the backstory, readers have ways.
But it's not within my realm to give advice to an author.
I'm just a reader.
point of wanting to express to you that I felt the urge to
grab your shoulders and give you a stern look over your
struggle with the backstory.
I'll explain why: I had never read one of your books until
finding this journal. I have since read 4 of your novels.
2 of them, I've read more than once, because I read them too
fast the first go.
Well, I'm very pleased that you didn't any sort of backstory problems with the books that you've read, but that's probably mostly because I fret over it the way I do.
My apologies then.
But do you mean that others
have said they couldn't
follow in other stories? Or are
you just setting me straight across
the board?
Oh blargh: just keep doing
what you do best and we'll continue
to hound the edges eagerly waiting.
have said they couldn't
follow in other stories?
Actually, no. Rather the opposite, because, I think, I've gone to extremes to fill in lots of backstory, especially in MOA, so it woudn't be a problem for readers. However, it's something that my agent and editor warn me about frequently, something they worry about a lot. And whatever they worry about, I worry about. Also, I think I've seen a reluctance on the part of some readers to read MOA without first having read Silk, or, worse yet, until they're reread Silk, which could potential slow sales on MOA. It's silly stuff to have to worry about, but worry about it I must.