writerly ways

I find twitter rather pointless but if you use it as a tool, it can be helpful. I've stuffed mine with a few celebrities just because everyone is doing it, a few actual friends so not to be rude and the rest are all publishing houses, writing bloggers, agents and authors. One of the ones I was quick to follow was Donald Maass, a prominient agent and author of a multitude of how-to articles/books for writers.

Lately he's been putting up 'break through' prompts, to help stimulate authors to a) write darn it and b) to explore their MC's more thoroughly.

here are two from the last few days that I really liked

#26 Whom is your MC afraid to let down? What is the sacred trust between them? What would cause your MC to break it? Break it.

#27 What secret is your MC keeping? Who is keeping one *from* your MC? Spill the truth at the worst possible time.

I can see me using both of these in the space pirate story which is where most of my efforts are being concentrated right now. I really do think this needs to be my last short story for a while, barring the one for help_japan because I need to get these novels done, both Splinters of Silver & Cold Iron and Until the Ice Breaks can easily be finished soon. Riding with Strangers is marketable, I'm pretty sure of that but it's only half done. I keep saying this is the year to finish something for like the last 4 years and I have failed.

I need to stop being so okay with that. Something will be sent to agents. Something will be read for Amazon's break thru novel next year. Something has to happen even if i have to say no more online time (this is my biggest distraction believe it or not, NOT fanfic or anything else.)

I will start with the progress bars next week I think. I'd do it today but the migraine is eating through my skull.

And if you missed it yesterday, i'm taking requests to be put on/removed from the original fiction filter provided it's working. I tried to post the first major scene in my pirate story last night but the custom filter dropdown wasn't working

Yearly Ofic count -

18369 / 125000 words. 15% done!

weight off week 13

are you kidding me? In 13 weeks all I've managed to do was lose 4 pounds and gain back 2? Gah, such a loser. I'm right where I was last time too.

I did start up a little Yoga just to get moving and there's a walking group starting up at work. I might check it out. If it's not a bunch of super trim kids that will burn thru the course I'll join if i can (work is great at planning things when we're teaching as opposed to after work...) BUt it all is very hard trying to baby this shoulder.

Let's cook something yummy and healthy. This is from diabetic recipes.com

( Baked Tofu with Peanut Sauce )

how do i accomplish so little on the weekend

well partly it's because my sugar is bouncing like a ball and I have no idea why. Today was a pure protein day. Sigh. whatever body. I give.

I didn't write nearly enough. I can't share until they fix whatever the issue is with the filters. I have a few other things, besides fiction, I wanted to filter (more so outsiders don't get hold of it) I did lodge a complaint about it. For all I know it's other damage from that virus. People who send viruses will all be in hell one day if there's a god.

Soul worries me. I discovered a long rolling 'cord' from midline to ankle on one side. It feels like a varicose vein in a human. I have no idea what it might be in a cat. It doesn't seem to cause him pain. He's only now just letting me pet his belly and insides of his legs so I've never noticed it before.


I finally got around to watching that Body of Proof with Dana Delany or whatever it is ( spoilers )

evil_little_dog asked me to do a blow by blow of making bacon popcorn. Okay I took 2 pictures and you can imagine the rest. Bacon popcorn, you say. Yes you were all fascinated by this culinary abomination so find it here

Honestly, I should have read the bag more closely. It REALLY needs shaken post-popping or else all the flavoring sticks to the bag. It's not quite as horrible as you're imagining. It's sort of like this smoky flavor to it but if you asked me without telling me what it was I'm not sure i'd say bacon.

( Day 165, Bacon Popcorn )

all the cool kids are doing it

the pierley/redford disassociative affect diagnostic

what an odd little test.

my result: Thoughtful to the extreme, you are often obsessed with perfection and the rules governing your own personal interests. Your world is black and white. You love to work within a logical system, such as language, computer programming, or mathematics. Manipulating a system that can be completely understood is a distinct pleasure to you, because of your confidence in the underlying veracity of your belief system. Because of your appreciation for logic and order, those who speak or think in a sloppy manner are apt to generate more than their share of wrath. Although very amiable, you are not drawn to friendships out of a sense of personal need. You are just as happy by yourself with a good book or puzzle. Because you are so involved with thought, you will on occasion have difficulty dealing with the day-to-day problems of a normal life. Taking out the trash, doing the dishes, these are often left until the last possible moment, if at all.

Hmmm there is a lot of truth in this especially the last two lines.