cornerofmadness

I tried my best. I would have been better off going to Point Pleasant/Gallipolis but it's January cold out there. (it was 25F when I left at 11). I like the cold mind you but the tibia they pounded those spikes into aches when the weather changes. And if I'm honest I've been doing the local shops for the last month. So today I did go to the donut shop after the insanely packed coffee house. I went back to that new store(s) that opened two weeks ago. the book store isn't for me (the biggest selection is Christian) and the tiny clothing store is not my style (we have another clothing store next door but nothing plus sized)

However I went back to that possible uranium glass platter to see if it was still 45$. Then I realized I think that's a dollar sign ontop of the 1. Is this 15$? It was and I bought it. I am not sad about that. Even if it isn't uranium glass, it's still pretty. I love antique glass.

I was going to come home and do lots of things. I did not. I did, however, start editing the novel. I mean I've been part of my by email critique group for years (still looking for new members, if interested PM me) and I've been BAD at using those critiques. It's time to start doing better in that regard. I'd like to finish that tomorrow.

I did buy my galaxy con ticket at 20% off. Yay for last minute purchases.

I'm never getting used to how much computers spy on us. Ever since I started watching Svengoolie this year I've noticed that I don't have to type in a title before Google/Bing offers it up. Tonight he didn't say what year the Crawling Eye was from so I started to look it up. I got as far as The Cr and it filled in the rest. you can't tell me my computer isn't listening in.

I guess it's time to sit down and look at fandomtrees after tonight because I'll have finished my 'nano' I'll bbl with Nov's final word count.


Another Day late thefridayfive

1. If the world were to suddenly end right now, what do you wish you would have done? So many things I'm sure but at the top of the list I wish I would have traveled more and done more to get my stories out into the world

2. How many times do you hit the snooze button before getting out of bed? None. I've never used the snooze button ever.

3. What cartoon do you enjoy watching from the present (or the past)? I am all about cartoons. In the past there was Scooby Doo, Bugs Bunny, Gatchaman, Speedracer then into Robotech and all the anime that came after it like Fullmetal Alchemist but my current animated shows are The Owl House, Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss and Blue Exorcist

4. If you could go to any time and/or place in history, where/when would it be? There are far too many to choose from. Maybe something minor like a speakeasy in the 1920s or to the coliseum in Rome

5. If your life were a movie, what would it be rated and why? R for all the swears and the occasional violence

Final November word count

52496 / 50000 words. 105% done!

Tidbit This is from a new short about wedding horrors so I'm curious about what you think

Jewel toned light played over Libertino’s pale face. Would her husband to be pass out before they exchanged vows? Chiara could only imagine how that would cause a commotion. What could be so scary about marriage to a man who made his living like Libertino did? As a man who’d taken the oath of omertà, what horror did marriage hold? Chiara might have been amused if she weren’t nervous herself. The sisterhood had been reluctant to accept her choice of husbands and all the violence of Libertino’s world

and I had no nice fire. So I walk out the door (without the clothes I wanted to donate to the veterans) and get hopeful. There's no rain but it's grey. I'm about 20 miles out of town when a blinding ice storm hits. It is so bad even 18 wheelers are doing 45 mph.

That keeps up for about ten miles before it goes to snow, not nearly as bad but the road is slushy but the closer to Chillicothe I get the less that is and then you have some fools trying to go 70 mph (which is the road speed and it's like dudes, if the truckers aren't going for it, you shouldn't either. Have I mentioned I need 4 new tires because mine are getting baldish.

The nerve block is a procedure that has to be done under flouroscope (basically an x-ray) so you go in, they scrub down your back and you have to lay on your belly face in a hole (like a massage table). They have to get the anaesthetic between your vertebrae with the needle to numb up the nerves (guided by the x-ray and contrast dye) Imagine if you will the size of the needle needed to penetrate skin, fat AND Muscle to get between the bones. Now do this four times per side. Whee.

Off I went to the mall (since I was there) because I wanted to test to see if it worked. The left side feels like someone punched me in the kidneys, however I can bend and squat without pain so this seems to be very hopeful.

I also hit the Mexican restaurant and the coffee shop which was hosting a Billy Graham prayer help con (thankfully in a locked off room) which I only mention because in walks this guy who made me double take. he looked like the villain from Poltergeist 2 if you put about 120 more pounds on him. No lie he even had the damn hat!!

Other than that today was dedicated to writing. I will bbl with maybe a tidbit and a word count. I've made it to the pentultimate chapter of the novel. yay.

38527 / 50000 words. 77% done!

Tidbit : Al watched him walk out before letting out a huge breath. “I never thought I’d be so grateful Robbie is a creep.”

“We always thought he stalked girls. Now we know for sure.” Grace wrinkled her nose. “It feels wrong to benefit from it but we can’t ignore it.”

“No we can’t,” Dan said, spatulating up a slice of pizza onto his plate. “We need a plan. It’s just as well only two of you are going but even then you’ll need to keep out of sight. If whoever is at this house, if we’re right, they will know all of our faces by now.”

“If she’s good, she might even be able to recognize magical signatures,” Howell added, snaring a piece of pizza with his bare fingers.

Let's talk about series and the formula. I think this might be a bit more noticeable in mystery series than other genres. I'm not saying it's a bad thing either but I also wonder if maybe breaking away from the formula a little might help. I'm going to look at two series I read. First is C.S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr series, one of my favorite historical mystery series (I think there's 19 now). Lifting this from my review of last year's book (that I just read last week) we have a very noticeable formula

1. Hero will help and also help Harris shine a light on social justice issues
2. Sebastian will dress up as a poor man and get into a fight and/or get his family threatened
3. Hero's father will be lurking in the shadows and be in the way/or involved somehow but ultimately helps Sebastian somehow
4. Hendon will be disapproving of his son but also ultimately helpful
5. Sebastian's gossipy old aunt will have some clue
6. Ditto Kat Sebastian's ex-lover and actual daughter of Hendon
7. Lovejoy will be there to enable Sebastian (including dealing with any self defense killings) but ultimately not be that helpful in solving the case.


And J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas In Death series (which I think I just saw reached 60 books. Between Robb and Nora Roberts pen names, I have to wonder is she a machine, amazing or are some of these ghost written). Actually I'm leaning toward the latter since some are great and some are almost 1 star material.

Now I have not read all 60 books but I've read more than a dozen. Robb's formula is much more noticeable than Harris' and more annoying (mostly because a lot of it does not move the plot along)
1. Eve will be abusive to her underlings
2. Eve will be very abusive to Roarke's man servant
3. Will hear about her coffee (a rarity) ad nauseum
4. She will have a ptsd nightmare
5. She'll have no idea what normal women do
6. Eve will have kid-phobia
7. Eve will find some reason to bring Roarke into the case
8. Eve and Roarke will fight over nonsense that most people wouldn't
9. they'll have boring make up sex
10 Eve will have to run things past her friends, the journalist, the psychologist and the pop star.


So if we look at the two formulas I think that Harris' bothers me less as almost all of it moves the plot. Robb's does not.

Do you use a formula? How do you use it? Does it make things flow more easily for you (I assume that they would especially when you're expected to turn out a book a year at a min.) I actually haven't written enough series to say that I have a formula. If I do, I certainly hope it moves the plot.

On a random note before the links, I finished a short story today so I'm happy. I'll put up a tidbit (need to get it beta read)


OPEN CALLS


Sometimes Hilarious Horror

Latin American Shared Stories A story that, at its core it is likely to concern, celebrate or give agency to Latin American characters and issues

Rabid Otter Horror Is Open To Novels And Novellas

Springtime Fair Stories that center around a craft, recipe, or ritual AND each author will provide a set of instructions to make/enact the craft, recipe, or ritual that was featured in their story

Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue 6 Theme: Jonathan Harker (this was the one I was short listed with for Lucy's other suitors and invited to write for other options but not sure I have a Jonathan story in me)

Glen Must Die! This one sounds fun

Eleven Wonderful Canadian Literary Journals

The Imagist: Now Seeking Submissions

40 Terrific International Literary Journals


From Around the Web

Extended Metaphor: Meaning, Structure, Examples, How To Use

My Easiest Tool for KDP Keywords and Categories

Don’t Demonize Print on Demand

Why I Stopped Tracking My Daily Word Count

Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules For Writing A Short Story

Comparing Matte vs. Glossy Book Cover Finish

How to Choose Amazon KDP Keywords for Books


From Betty

Five Common Reasons the Hero Is Too Powerful this is why I'm often not fond of god-like characters and one of the reasons I drifted away from the Dresden Files

Eight Ways to Add Deadlines to Your Story

Starting Your Scenes with a Bang!

How to Write Irresistible Character Relationships, Part Two

Make Your YA Story Feel Real

On Politics (Not Really) And Other Life-Plots

How to End a Scene

Best Communities for Marketing Your Writing

Why Every Writer Should Try Their Hand at a Horror Story

Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Covets Someone Else’s Life

“Okay, but Why Do They Want It?” — 3 Questions All Novelists Should Ask About Their Protagonist’s Goal

LitRPG Goes Mainstream

Pros and Cons for Writers Sharing a First Draft

Genre Expectations: Writing All the Punks

When Writing in Deep POV Should I Use First or Third Person?



Nano tidbit - (i.e. my short story bit as I'm doing whatever I want here)



Being at the front desk, he knew who checked in with a party, who came with a significant other and who came alone. The latter he committed to memory and could visit with later. The downside to the big hotel versus his old gwesty was it wasn’t a quick nip down to the corner pub. He’d have preferred to have a few of those up his sleeve so he could meet them away from where he worked. It was just better that way.

So tired when I tried to signal a left turn onto my road, I put down the window instead. When I rolled into the parking lot, I couldn't figure out why the car wouldn't shut off. I was pushing the fan knob instead of the off button. Probably a good thing I was getting out of the car.

I had to make up the 2 hour bone test today and twice tomorrow. I had students in my office ALL day, but at least it was a) last year's student checking up to be sure I'm okay and honestly upset I'm going through this b) a h.s. junior who wants to go to med school and can I help him. I did and now friday I have to tell him I made a mistake. (I had forgotten you can't take gen chem and physics at the same time because of scheduling).

When I got home I had two get well packages from evil_little_dog and silvrethorn pretty healing stones, candles,teas and some books. I am very happy.

I need to stop doomscrolling on ALL social media. I found out my local library was forced to cancel Krampus and issue an apology for having a Krampus night planned by closed fuckwits who don't even know it IS from Christian tradition. I'm getting very tired of the religious right refusing to allow ANYTHING that isn't in their narrow purvey and I have been mad for hours. this isn't good for me.


What I Just Finished Reading:

Making it So - Patrick Stewart. Loved it, even when he was honest about some of his own bad behavior


Greywaren - the last of the Raven series and even if it wasn't it killed my desire to read more

Blue Exorcist #22 loved it

Wild Girls - Tiya Miles a nonfiction look at intersectional feminism and how nature shaped these women

What I am Currently Reading:

The Reformatory by tanarive due, Stephen King loved this. I find it SLOW. (and ugly because this shit happened.)

Ghostbuster manga - god freaking awful

What I Plan to Read Next: The Widows

Snippet - Under the street lamp, it fluttered, caught in a branch. Blue material covered in roses, it was an attractive scarf. Someone would be sorry they lost it. She hadn’t expected him to chase after it, especially after the breeze snatched it from the branch. It fluttered closer to him. Robert reached for it. the blue scarf spun on the wind and suddenly twisted around his neck. He let out a gargled cry as he was jerked off his feet.

50620 / 50000 words. 101% done!

It was a smooth easy drive if you ignore my parents had to drive me here, turn around and go straight home. That was their choice in part. Mom wanted to come alone again and stay until monday. I think I mentioned tomorrow ANY of my friends here could have met them in Marietta to pick me up. Today no one could make it. And it's supposed to rain/snow over most of the midwest/east coast tomorrow so we couldn't do it. Fun times

Luckily we talked Dad into going to Bob Evans (My treat) so they could rest there because he (and his brother) are insane about things being military/prison spartan and neat and my place is the opposite. So luckily it was drop me off and he only had time to bash me and the housekeeping because mom had to pee again. Thanks Mom.

They made it back home with minimal drama (it is an 8 hour round trip so that's another reason I didn't want them to do it) and only because they decided they wanted to go back thru Washington and 18 vs 7 and steubenville like I always do (trying to avoid the construction there they found worse construction)

I went ahead and threw the towels/bedding in the wash and that might have been a mistake. Mom you're not wrong, it only feels healed on the inside but there is more to go. I didn't pick up over 10 pounds but moving stuff around was enough to tell me yeah things do still hurt.

Rocket finally returned at 930 tonight (I got in at 130) he isn't impressed with me. Up for tomorrow is me driving for the first time.

If anyone wants to write me something for the holidays my fandomtrees post is right here.

It occurs to me that I have no idea if I'll ever get to see the new Doctor Who at all. sigh

I realized late last night I had entirely forgotten a wip I started posting for whumptober...for a MONTH. OMG

I'm not sure I like this snippet but it was the 80s and we did worry about things like Grace is worrying about in it. See what you thinkg

Snippet “that is wise,” Robert agreed. “Though, studying is a quiet occupation so it should matter not we are all following different paths.”

“Unless you’re in a mutual study group,” Al said quickly then frowned. “But since we’re obviously not that, I don’t see how we’ll stop you.”

Grace assumed her ‘without making a scene’ went without saying but apparently Robert needed to hear it because he clapped his hands together and replied, “Companionable silence it is and I can walk you ladies home afterward.”

“We’ll see,” Grace said wondering how best to escape that fate. She’d sneak away to go to the bathroom and call Dan or Howell to show up so they wouldn’t have to lead this guy back or create an enormous scene in the library.

45275 / 50000 words. 91% done!

Mom's like can you make the thanksgiving soup tomorrow. I wanted to make it today but she's making ahead a stupid amount of food so I said yes. Now I have to do that early on. Oh well. Also this is why I don't like coming home for Thanksgiving too much food for too little people. (not to mention I'm done at work in 2 weeks)

I'm struggling toward my nano deadline and getting finished with the novel. I need to drag this over the finish line. I need a couple more big monsters to get us there. I'm looking for really weird stuff from European folklore at the moment. Suggestions gladly entertained.

I think I have 90% of my final stuff set up for class and I just learned I don't go back until Jan 16 for next semester. I don't mind going back late which we did this year too but it did really run me ragged in May trying to get ready to go to my work conference. It's in St. Louis this coming year where I've not been before (but researched all this year for a story for a friend)


What I Just Finished Reading:
Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley it's a decent cozy mystery that the publisher sent to me. I think it'll be out soon

Noragami Stray God #22. Somehow I set this and Blue Exorcist aside for over a year and I don't know why. This was a heart breaking episode, seriously

What I am Currently Reading:


Making it So - Patrick Stewart. I'm loving this

Greywaren - the last of the Raven series. last time I said I was bored. Maybe disappointed was a better word for it. 150 pages in and the main character has been asleep (magically) all this time.

Blue Exorcist #22 (because why did I stop either of these manga?)


What I Plan to Read Next: The Reformatory, The Widows

Snippet “It is no trouble.”

“Seriously I’m fine,” Al said more sternly.

“Dude, when a lady says it’s no trouble, take her at her word,” Howell put in, looking ready to jump up and help if needed, as if it would be. “Besides, if she’s going to biology lab she probably has scalpels secreted around her body. She can take care of herself.”

Al withdrew a blue plastic dissecting kit from her bag. “Scalpel right here.” She flashed a grin as she dug out some money. She put it on the table. “For the coffee. Thanks, Robert.”

25701 / 25000 words. 103% done!

it was a fine drive if you ignore the occasionally pot hole that made my innards remind me they've been sliced up. Didn't sleep well before that neither did mom so we're both tired. The neighbors are watching Rocket. He's probably heartbroken. He loved mom.

I slapped something together for fandomtrees which needs another going over before I post it since it's mostly a rehashing of old requests with some new stuff. Might want to slip in some ST stuff. I'm not sure yet. I do love this challenge but I always end up writing too much.

speaking of fanfic here's the rest of the catch up ( there's still a lot of it )


Snippet: Hunter had sneaked some real apple blood to sit down with. It had been a rough day that he thoughtfully topped off with the last of Caleb’s journals. Not my smartest idea. Reading his joy over a baby he’d never see broke me. And that was what he’d tell anyone if he got caught with the adult beverage. He wasn’t even really sure he liked it but maybe it would make his chest unknot.

19959 / 25000 words. 80% done!

Cabell hospital is a small one and chosen for two reasons, my usual ob/gyn knows the surgeon there and it’s SO much easier to get to than the James up in Columbus. I didn’t have much of a wait to get taken back to the prep room for surgery. My nurse there was fascinated with my steampunk TARDIS and we started talking the exhibit in Dayton for steampunk. He is a big WWII history buff (complete with a semi-famous military grandfather)

Then came other nurses to do BP/blood sugar while he went to get mom to come sit with me. And then my surgery was delayed nearly 2 hours….I’m like you’ve drained 2 bags of normal saline into me. I’m gonna have to pee before we get there. Mom got to meet Dr. Bou Zhgeib and the anesthesiologist who was a humorless older man. The nurse anesthetist was much nicer and she came with a student NA and I told them my ‘hey I vomit a lot post operatively’ so you might want to give me scopolamine patch spiel. (also that I’m impossible to wake up in a timely manner)

While they were getting my patch, another person popped in. She wanted any left over tissue from my surgery to be put in Marshall’s tissue bank for cancer research. Yes by all means let’s do that. By the time I signed off, the Nas were back with my patch and versed to make me nice and loose (their words). I’m like if you’re going to say good luck mom, now’s the time because versed does me in.

True to my word, I remember being wheeled down the hall and that’s it. I never even got to see the robotic operating room. Pouts. I woke up 4 hours later vaguely but took another to come to full consciousness and was able to eat my decidedly un diabetic meal. From there we went up to the new mom/women related surgery wing to their very last room and a tiny one it was. I didn’t care because I was alone, yay! Had a tv with BBC America and Ovation so I could watch star trek and British mysteries.

Mom came with me for about an hour going ‘you never woke up again’ You KNOW this mom. Why didn’t you just leave me and go to the hotel, get something to eat. They’d have called you when I was conscious again.

The nurse helped me the first time to the bathroom because there wasn’t an IV tree in the room. After that they pulled the iv but left the heplock in just in case. I was in and out of bed all night by myself. The bad knee is killing me probably from being up dangling in the stirrups. How you’re supposed to rest I don’t know. Every two hours in they come, I want you temperature, blood pressure time (started at 154/78 and ended at my more usual 115/50), pain pills for you, sweetie, hi it’s 430 AM and I want your blood (whatever for?) Had breakfast and lunch there because things were taking forever to discharge me.

Turns out I have crackles in my lung bases (yeah I can hear them myself) that the gen. practitioner didn’t like but turns out I did vomit from the drugs while I was under, with my luck I’ll get aspirate pneumonia. But eventually they kicked me to the curb and I’m home now. The pain isn’t too bad. It’s there of course.

The shocker to me is the three port sites he sliced into me for the robot arm. They just dermabonded them, basically superglued me back together. No dressings, no stiches, no nothing. He’s not wrong, there’s almost no bleeding at all. It’s strange. I was went home with a list of Do Not Dos, like swimming/sitting in a bath tub, no douches, no tampons, no sex and I’m wondering WHO would have sex immediately after but knows someone probably tried it and that’s why we have a rule…

I won’t know if it spread for a couple weeks now but as I think I said while high last night, that there wasn’t anything visually bad at least. I want to know if there are any pictures. I want to see them. And as a final touch they gave me a binder like this was hernia surgery.

Rocket thinks Mom is the best thing ever and barely looks at me. The furry little traitor


What I Just Finished Reading:

Nightmare before Christmas - Trying to figure out if I would have known what was going on if I hadn't seen the movie.

What I am Currently Reading:


Making it So - Patrick Stewart. He writes as good as he acts

Greywaren - the last of the Raven series. So far so bored.

What I Plan to Read Next: The Reformatory, The Widows


Snippet - “You have been such a thorn in my side.” Terra sat in a giant blossom, looking bored as if he wasn’t worth her time. One of her vines caught his staff, pulling it away. “But you’re also worthless, Golden Guard. We already have Darius and Eberwolf since they tripped the trap on the other side of the warehouse. We finish off Raine then there isn’t much to worry about is there?”

Hunter smirked. “You hurt my friends. You hurt the only people in the world I care about. You want to see worthless?” His hands glowed and he whipped them up, launching the energy.

18621 / 50000 words. 37% done!

Wal-Mart didn't have everything I needed, had to go to Kroger, ate into my time. My library didn't take off yesterday for Veteran's day but today so no donation. I don't want to judge or be ablelist but if you are going to argue with the pharm tech and eat up 25 minutes in the drive thru maybe go into the CVS. Me and the person behind me pulled around her and she was still arguing when I left the inside.

Nothing is cleaned. Most stuff is not even really put away. It took me forever to grade all the bone tests (this class did better) but they had best pull it together for the class exam because I went from only 3 not passing to about a dozen.

I know, bitch bitch bitch. However, some of it was justified like when I was putting away some spices and the old plastic dowels broke and launched the very large very full vanilla bottle out of the pantry and it struck me in the nose. Thought I broke it (It's just bruised) Like I needed that

AND not taking my diabetic meds (a couple are forbidden pre-op) has fucked with my sugar. It was 400 today. If it's that high monday morning my surgery will get canceled. I have to be VERY VERY careful about what I eat tomorrow.

So in light of how much time I had tied up in prepping things that still aren't ready, no fandom stuff tonight either which is a shame as I had some things I wanted to talk about, like wondering with Sarah Levy is barely in this season of Surreal Estate (wondering if she had another obligation)

Things I miss, talking to other authors and getting the juices flowing. I've said many times before that really helps me. Talking to ELD last night kicked my last fandom trumps hate story into high gear. I miss being able to do this more. Sigh. Of course there is also the possibility that its boring for people who aren't me.

Things I'm thankful for:

1. Being cleared for surgery
2. My coworkers stepping in to help me out.
3. For Ohio stepping up for women's rights this week
4. For People everywhere in this country realizing school book bans and the poorly named Mothers of Liberty are BAD

5. For getting both my outstanding original fiction projects back to their respective editors

Things I'm not thankful for
1. Forgetting to refill my jardiance diabetic meds (but it didn't matter as they are now forbidden before surgery, glad no one told me that until today when it's almost too late to stop them)

2. not having a moment of time to clean this house and knowing mom will have something to say about it.

3. Coming home to find a bare sheet of white paper in my mail box that had a staple in it...and that's it. NO envelope. No postage. No idea WTF was stapled to it. Guess what it is? Did you guess I got called for jury duty during my recovery time? Also HOW did this even get to me??? So now I have to ask the surgeon for a doctor's note and somehow call the courthouse (also no phone # on the sheet of paper) to tell them sorry I can't do this. (at least they waited to a time period I told them I'd be available normally...)

4. Not getting my HIllbilly Hotdog today. I pull in. 6 cop cars were there (no lights, cops sitting around talking) and the closed sign's base was up but no sign. Also no other cars. And honest I wasn't sure what was going on with all those cop cars but I decided I didn't need any part of it.

If you wear your Mothman Festival T-shirt with your Mothman earrings in WV, you will be noticed (and apparently greeted enthusiastically) Also if you wear your Mothman Festival T-shirt with your Mothman earrings and buy a Mothman comic book at your comic book store, you are ridiculously meta

Snippet - “I’m not saying I’m a monster but I am a creation of a narcissistic madman’s egotistical need to be right. I know I’m not an illusion but what exactly did the galdor stone power up to make me? I know how long it takes to grow something like me but am I truly alive.”

Willow reached out and took his hand. “Don’t call yourself a thing, Hunter. You are alive. You bleed. You breathe. You were nearly drained to unconsciousness by the Day of Unity spell which wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t alive. You died in my arms. You were so still until Flapjack brought you back. I felt you jar back to life. So never doubt you’re alive. If I can’t call myself half a witch, you can’t say you aren’t alive.”

12577 / 50000 words. 25% done!