Well, I'm trying to think of a way to jazz up my journal entries lately, but I'm afraid it's mostly more of the same -- writing and reading and steady job-searching. I know that's not too fun to read.

But I've been making progress on all fronts. I finished reading Tim Pratt's excellent novel, The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, featuring mad gods, gunslingers, doorways to other worlds, a damaged yet tough heroine, surreal paintings, and Comanches riding giant fleas (to name a few of the cool things whipping around in this book). I'm glad I got to see an "advance" version. I made some notes and sent 'em back to Tim, and I look forward to the published version. Which I'll read and enjoy all over again.

I'm grateful for Tim for letting me read also because reading his novel got me really pumped up about working on and FINISHING my Wannoshay novel. Which I really feel like I can do in the next week, if not the next couple of days. There's something magical about a novel -- because you're inside that world for a year or two, going back there (as I've said before) becomes easier and easier, as you know the characters and setting better, and you as an author want to get back and figure out how things end up for everyone (I mean, I pretty much KNOW this, but a lot changes during the writing of it, which is the magical part).

I've also been working on my New Year's resolutions. I've been watching my food intake, thanks to Elizabeth's help, and working out almost every day. I've also been reading more short fiction, with my goal of reading every month's issue of the top magazines, starting with those cover-dated January 2003.

So I did just that yesterday morning, and it cost me some writing time, but it was worth it. I read and really enjoy M. Shayne Bell's "Anomalous Structures of my Dreams." Great story, almost heart-wrenching at times (the narrator has AIDS and is in the hospital for pneumonia, and he's all alone, no visitors), and with a kick-ass ending that makes the story rise above your typical SF story about tech gone awry. And I've never really liked much of Bell's stories (always thought they were a bit jokey). I do like how most of his stuff takes place in and around Salt Lake City -- setting is really important to me.

Overall, it was a very good start to my year of story-reading. I also have the Feb '03 Realms of Fantasy to read, and the latest Cemetery Dance (which has MORE non-fiction than fiction these days, which is LAME). I wanted to read more yesterday but had other work to do. Today I'll try and finish the F&SF and read some online stories as well. I've gotten much better at reading on-screen, which saves me the hassle and waste of printing online stories. So much good fiction, so little time...

Another side-task that distracted me from work on the novel (I, um, wrote like 100 words yesterday!) was putting together three novel submissions! Yep, it's getting to be that time again. I'm starting first with publishers, not messing with an agent until I get a book deal, which is advice I've gotten from experience writers (otherwise you'll end up firing that first agent once you get big, because they can't take the best care of you). We'll see how it works. I sent the horror novel to Dark Vesper and a new publisher called Hot Java Publications, and sent the entire MS of The Last of the Hand to Baen Books. Two of the three submissions was by email, which was a nice touch (I have to lug the third sub to the PO today, but fortunately it's only 2 chapters and a synopsis and a cover letter...). So it looks like I'm doing pretty well with my writerly goals thus far in '03.

And finally, along with finishing the SF novel, adding the middle 1/3 to the paranormal romance, and getting a job this month, I'm also planning on getting THREE collaborations done in January and early February. I'm working on a train hijacking story with Tim Pratt, an SF story about vampires and blood disease with Samantha Ling, and a cool story about Indian trackers in Eastern Europe with Derek. Very cool.

As I've said before, I have cool friends. Later!

Now Playing:
"Riot Act", Pearl Jam

Now Reading:
F&SF, Gothic.Net, Sci Fiction, & Strange Horizons from January 2002

Stories out to Publishers:
19