Writerly Ways

Before I get into it, I wish one of the authors on my group had linked to the article (or was it a class, it wasn't clear) But not only are epithets on the outs. So are adjectives.The new rule, verbs and nouns only to keep sentences simple. Apparently we now have to dumb down writing to Run Dick Run levels to make it manageable for people with cognitive damage from facebook and twitter. I think I'll pass on that until the editors insist. I don't want to write like Hemmingway. His prose was dull and boring and I'm not sure how he ever ascended to where he did. Venting over.


What I wanted to talk about is sequels and series. Technically my Soldiers of the Sun is part of a series. I definitely want to do a sequel to Kept Tears Heck, the reviewers want me to do a sequel. I had so much fun with Triskelion and Nothing But Himself (both out soon) that I wanted to write more in those universes. Even as I work on Behind Blue Eues, I know it's a min. duology if not more.

I love series. I love come back to characters and settings again and again. Yes, sometimes series get stale and you lose interest but that usually takes a while. Could you imagine Harry Potter as only one book? How about your favorite mystery series? Would Harry Dresden be so beloved if it was only one book? Graphic Novels and manga would be totally different medias without a series.

And yet I'm seeing tihs a lot both on goodreads and elsewhere, a push back against a series. I didn't realize there was a sizable faction who hate them. Now I do dislike a series/trilogy that doesn't have at least some subplots wrapped up by the end of the book. The biggest complaint, I see, however is that there is too long to wait. A year is too long and a lot of that is still coming from people who actually write. I'm stunned. They should know how hard it is to ready a GOOD novel. But more over is a year really that hard to wait? Have we gotten that demanding and self-centered that it all has to be 'now!' It's interesting to me. I find it vaguely disappointing.

How do you feel about series? Do you write them? Do you plan on them or do they just happen somewhere in the middle of book one? It's a little of both for me.

Yearly Word Count-


Soldiers of the Sun - editing

everything else I'm supposed to be doing I'm not.

All around the mulberry bush

are mulberries. The tree never produced while I was growing up and when I visit in the summer I always assumed the birds got them but I went down and saw that they're actually on the ground. If I wasn't undergoing surgery I'd think up a way to put down a drop cloth.

I planted some things and that will be the only dirt therapy I'll get all year.

And as you all know, tomorrow is my surgery. This hospital, St Clair's in Pittsburgh is in the top 100 in the country. They have the most astringent pre-op orders I've ever seen. Two showers (night and morn) with antibacterial soup, clean sheets, and for some reason they felt the need to tell me not to put on dirty clothes.

My surgery will be after noon. I am a little nervous but not much. I'm not afraid of surgery. I've had so much of it. BUT I have a bad feeling about this surgery. I don't know why but I have had for weeks. I do poorly with general anesthesia. I have never come home once after having it. They didn't reserve me a room. So we'll see. It's so late in the day I'm not sure I can handle it. Last time I had my other shoulder done, it was in the morning and I didn't wake up til almost 7.

If I'm not up to getting onto facebook and telling people I'm okay (or not) I'll have mom do it and maybe evil_little_dog can let you know since we share a big portion of friends. But if it was like last time, I might be able to do a short post.

THis is the last time I will look at my shoulder and see smooth skin. Tomorrow it'll bear three scars. Tomorrow it'll match my left. My body is becoming a maze of scars. So if you can spare a thought for my surgery tomorrow. Thanks.

And apropos of nothing, my teavana gift was not as expected. I THOUGHT the price on the teas was per pound since they were all in the 20$ range. Nope, that's for 2 ounces. I think it's safe to say I would like not to get teavana again. Adagio tastes better and isn't anywhere near that expensive.