Words Written: “College Reunion” 2700 over the course of several days
Writing Stats: Three stories submitted. Working on a critique for Christine.
Exercise: Yeah. Not so much, yet.

[Written on Tuesday] Hmmmm… I just realized I’ll have four days in Oregon at the end of the month that could be used as another mini-writing fest. (Ken will be working during the day, so I’ll have the run of the apartment.) The question is, what should I work on? Do another 20K on one of several novels? (If so, which one? Angelika, which may need a complete overhaul depending on what direction I want to go? Out of the Frying Pan, the next collab with Teresa—although I probably can’t write 20K w/o waiting for her input/chapters? Something new that I’d then try to do a big chunk on in August, because I don’t have a lot scheduled ‘til the end of the month when all our traveling starts?) Write a story a day? So many tasty options to chose from!

[An hour later…] Duh! The answer is Designed for Love! I got stuck and set it aside (stupid, stupid) and now I think I’ve got a handle on what I need to do (bring in the Bad Guy’s pov early and not make it a mystery to the reader who he is—it’ll bump up the suspense). If I can get another 20K done, I can send the proposal out in August and probably get close to finishing it (I’ll be a little more than halfway done at that point).

[And now we’re up to Thursday] The past few days have been miserable. Miserably hot. I am so not a summer person, so not a sun person. Give me dappled forests, cool mountain lakes, glowering grey skies over stormy seas. Don’t get me wrong, I know how damn lucky I am to live next to the ocean here, where it’s 20° cooler than inland. But it’s still been hot, and a major problem is that we live in a historic house that needs its windows redone. Many of them don’t stay open with being propped up, and some are downright unsafe to open. The house has been 10° hotter than outside. And this is what happens to me: My brain shuts down. I lie in the coolest room in the house (the media room, or the bedroom with the window open and a big honkin’ fan in said window) wearing the least amount of clothes, in a mindless stupor. If it weren’t for the Real World, I’d go nocturnal. But there are things like the Shire shed being assembled in our back yard this weekend, which really does need to be done during daylight hours, and chiropractic appointments and yoga classes, and the occasional work meeting. Bah.

I have gotten some writing done, finishing up a new story and getting the bulk of a critique done. Tomorrow, another story and another critique (on top of driving to Santa Barbara for my monthly meeting). Because today I did get to Barnes & Noble, and it was cool and pleasant, and I read snippets of books in between blocking out the annoying music with my iPod and writing and writing. I’ll probably stop there on my way home tomorrow for a few hours.

Last night I went out with the girls (and Brian, who’d come home from a work trip early) to see The Devil Wears Prada. I hadn’t read the book, although I’d hoped to ahead of time. It was a very, very fun movie, with several laugh-out-loud moments, although it was reasonably predictable. The point wasn’t surprises, but satire, and it worked very well on that level. Recommended if you’re in the mood for a fluffy, fun movie that involves both very pretty and very hideous fashion.

Today I went to Albra’s and started working on my faerie coronet. It’s going to be so prettysparklyshiny! and I’m having far too much fun with wire work. We eventually realized I need some small silver crimping beads, so we ordered them from Fire Mountain Gems (Albra needed some, too) and I’ll recommence work on Monday. Cutting it a little close, I know, given that I leave for Oregon on Thursday, but the work itself is going quickly.

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Currently Reading: The Cabin, Carla Neggers
Lately Listened To: The Book of Secrets, Loreena McKennitt; several Irish/Celtic compilations
Recently Watched: Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Without a Trace