Don't you just love it when an idea comes together? I've been pondering over the two main characters in my new novel BlueGreen (having temporarily left Echo of the Invisible World by the wayside), thinking about the opening chapter, trying to come up with a bang-up beginning. The novel will be about two of my recurring characters, Blue and Dane, and their desire to awaken their siblings of Earth and Air (which I haven't named yet).

For some reason, as I was riding the bus to class Tuesday night, I got to thinking about the self-immolation of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in downtown Saigon as a protest against the Vietnam War. (Cheery, huh?) And I thought what a powerful image that is, and how I might be able to integrate that into my opening. Several links in my brain clicked into place, and I remembered that Dane is a fire elemental. But he's immune to his own flames, so someone else would need to be torched. I thought of a Serbian character I was hoping to write a story about, and decided he'd be my victim. Blue meets him in a Brooklyn cafe, they talk, then fwoomph! Exciting beginning. The reasons, the why of it all, also began to percolate, and I think I have something interesting here. I know I'm going to have to do a metric ton of research on the elements and their relation to the Tarot, the Zodiac, and the humours, but I really think I've got something here. And who knows, with all this research, I may have enough material left over for my doctoral dissertation later.

So after class today, I went home, tore the plastic off my second moleskine, drove over to Barnes & Noble, ordered some turkey sun-dried tomato wrap thing, and wrote for forty-five minutes. Ahhh. I'm going for a more detached postmodern tone, with quick, punchy writing. Let's hope I can sustain it for the length of the novel. If I'm able to get the chapter done in a couple of weeks, I'll turn it in to my fiction workshop.

***

I was so frazzled yesterday after getting home from class that I called in to work and said I'd be staying home. After the craziness of the wedding weekend and the non-stoppishness of the following two days, I was completely wiped, and would have been useless at my job. Since we barely have any work right now, I figured it would be okay.

But instead of resting, I got to a lot of things I'd been putting off because I'd been so tired after getting home from work each night. The night before, I'd finished up my review of Little Gods and submitted it to my editor (it'll go up this Sunday), so that was out of the way. I did some more job searching online, but came up with nada. So I started filling out the six-page application for Quail Ridge, and will turn it in tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, I met with my advisor and picked out my classes for the Spring: Japanese Fiction and Social Modernity, Narrative Analysis, and 18th Century English Literature. All my classes next semester will be on Tuesday and Thursday, which means a potential for four-day weekends every week, though I'm sure I'll be working or studying those days. I also found out that there's a possibility I might not get a teaching assistantship next year, when all along I've been told I'd be eligible for it. Apparently, TAs are used to entice incoming grad students, and aren't used as much for students already in the program. There are departmental assistants and program assistants, but it all depends on the needs and the means, which really pisses me off. I've been basing my future on being able to get a TA next year, and this throws yet another kink into my plans. People should mean what they say, and stick to it, dammit.

So I spent much of the afternoon looking online at scholarships and fellowships I could apply for next year, but didn't find a lot. I'll go into the financial aid office to see if they can help me out. I did apply for a scholarship being offered by Monster.com, which required a 500-word essay; mine turned out to be 499 words (cut down from 831), but when I tried to send it, I kept getting an error message that it was larger than 500 words. I was not a happy camper yesterday. I'll try again tonight.

***

Had a great talk with my lady last night; she was feeling better and I was hyper for some reason, so the conversation was very animated on both sides. We've both been going through a lot of stuff lately, so it was nice to have a happy bouncy talk. I also thanked her for the box of birthday presents that arrived yesterday; she sent an easel for displaying the chapbook at WFC, a little fuzzy sheep (since I told her I'd been having trouble sleeping lately), and a copy of Gormenghast with the most kick-ass cover I've ever seen for that book. Also in the box was a cool purplish iridescent tie from her parents, which looks very stylish and is something I probably would have never bought for myself. She also said the box of chapbooks was sent four days after the birthday goodies, so that puts the arrival at Monday, which would be great timing. It would give me enough time to look over them, sign them, and get them all ready for the con. I can't wait. So I'm really hoping they come by then. Holy crap, in one week, I'll be on a train for D.C. Yay!

We talked for a while longer about various things, then made kissy noises on the phone, said I love you for five minutes, and hung up. I was really happy after that call. It still made me miss her a lot, but I was in a better mood than after most of our calls, when I'm usually depressed. Man, I love that woman.

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Now Reading:
Northern Gothic by Nick Mamatas

Stories Out to Publishers:
4

Books Read This Year:
45

Zines/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
35