I'm finally caught up on all the reading I'd promised people I'd do for them, so now it's time to do some of my own writing. Whenever I have something due for someone else, even if it's friends (hell, especially if it's for friends!), I have a hard time focusing on my own projects until I get their work done for them. And I have a hard time turning people down when they ask for help. Which lends itself to Mike not being Very Productive.

But I'm caught up now and not accepting too many side projects for a while. I'm aiming to really get moving on my Blackbeard novel (I'm calling it that now instead of the mouthful that is "the paranormal romance novel" -- plus "the Blackbeard novel" sounds much, much cooler).

I'm still making the transition into that novel, tweaking the first three chapters a lot, and I'll probably continue that tomorrow morning, and hopefully start drafting new stuff soon. I looked over the outline again, and I must say, Elizabeth and I put together a winner! I like the action and the romance and conflict in this book. And Blackbeard, in case you haven't heard, is way cool.

I'm also trying to get my shit together so I can participate in my friend Tim's February Short-Story Dare. I plan on FINISHING ALL THE STORIES listed on my website that currently say "In progress" on the "Horror" "SF" and "Fantasy" pages. That'll give me 28 stories I can send out to unsuspecting editors! Included in there are three collabs with my fellow writers, and I'm quite excited about those stories. And I plan on churning out chapters on the Blackbeard novel as well.

Speaking of stories, I've been following the blog of Charlie Stross, who I met for a split-second at World Con last year (Gardner Dozois introduced us before going back to harass people -- in a very Gardner-Dozois way -- into subscribing to Asimov's). Reading Charlie's blog makes me want to read all of his stories set in the world of "Lobsters." But first I wanna read the Vernor Vinge essay on the Singularity, so I'm not completely overwhelmed by Stross' extrapolations. I may do that this weekend instead of reading the de Lint novel, which is really slow so far.

And finally, I got a job interview on Tuesday. Woo-hoo! Wish me luck. I feel good about it. Now I must go... Later!

Now Playing:
"20,000 Watts RSL", Midnight Oil

Now Reading:
lots of miscellaneous stuff

Stories out to Publishers:
20

Today's Words:
300

Novel Words '03:
20,400

Words for '03:
15,800

Today's Quote:
Mitch had noticed that much about Ella before he’d nodded off in the passenger seat. He couldn’t help himself -- last night he’d stayed up past two in the morning, overhauling Cassie’s engine and giving everything a thorough cleaning. The sun coming in from the passenger window was warm, and he figured he’d just rest his eyes for a minute or two.

Oh well, he thought, cringing inwardly. At least I impressed her with my charm when we first met, after spending the last month thinking she was a man.

Another Mitch Thompson success story. If Julie could only see me now, he thought.