See what happens when I take a break from journalling for a couple days? All this cool stuff gets backlogged. Sheesh.

I spent the weekend getting caught up on my reading, thought I did have some distraction as I was doing research on agents. Glad I got that out of the way. Time-consuming stuff, let me tell ya. Too bad fiction can't just sell itself...

So I read bits and pieces from a bunch of places, including the openings to paranormal romances by Nora Roberts and Kris Rusch. The Nora Roberts book especially got me motivated to get back to work on the Blackbeard novel. Tonight I plan on doing more work on that, at last.

I also started reading Meet Me in the Moon Room, by the incomparable Ray Vukcevich. I love reading fiction that I would never in a million years be able to write, and this is exactly what Mr. V writes. I mean, can you picture me writing a story entitled "By the Time We Get to Uranus"??? (um, say the title out loud...) Hilarious writing, wacked-out concepts, but above all, REAL characters that you care about and who aren't dull. I plan on reading a couple stories a day, and since there are 33 in his collection, I'll be set for two weeks or so...

I'm also diving back into the Hand novel, whose first chapter still resonates with me. That's the kind of fiction I want to write -- stuff that's dense, rich, and memorable. I'm still trying. Something very worth reaching for.

I got some great feedback on the Wannoshay novel from my bud Jason, who managed to really pinpoint all the issues the ending has. They're all things I can fix, as soon as I take the time to do so. Maybe I'll get to that later this month. Hey, by the way -- who said it was okay to start the month of March already??

The plan is to finish up the Blackbeard novel THIS MONTH and then start thinking about a completely new novel. And it looks like I'm not the only one contemplating new works. I really want to go off in new directions. I need a challenge. Something totally new. Something that... I have no idea what it will be. And that's exciting.

Speaking of writing challenges, the collab with Greg van Eekhout is underway! Right now the tentative title is "California King," and I think it's going to be quite good. I just hope I can keep up with Mr. vE's warped sense of humor and reality. I think ol' Greg could give ol' Ray Vukcevich a run for his surreal money, writing-wise.

Some links to check out --
Strange Horizons' Readers Choice Awards -- vote for your favorite stories, articles, poems, art, and more!
"Winged" -- while you're there at Strange Horizons, check out Jenn Reese's cool story about WWW: women with wings!
S1ngularity -- and then click over to the "pre-launch" site of the new magazine which will run my story, "Gunning for the Buddha," on March 15th (I especially like the mass interview with genre writers)

And finally, progress on the one-shot antho/'zine I've been thinking about is inching forward. I've gotten a good idea of the costs, and I think it will all balance out -- I'm not looking to make a profit at all, just to break even, and share 10-12 excellent stories about... Oops! Now that would be telling, wouldn't it? If you wanna know more, shoot me an email -- what I'm planning on doing is letting folks know about the antho through the "secret link" on my website, which you can get by emailing me. In April and May I'll open the antho up to general submissions. Maybe later this week I'll share the antho's title. See all the benefits you get from reading my rambling journal entries??? Later!

Now Reading:
Meet Me in the Moon Room, Ray Vukcevich
Waking the Moon, Elizabeth Hand

Stories out to Publishers:
20

Sturday's Words:
500

Words for '03:
33,000

Today's Quote:
He lowers his knife at last, and uses an old rag to sop up the blood and ink dripping from the last white-and-pink section of his right arm. Looking away and blinking his tired blue eyes at the big green communal lawn stretching out in front of him, broken only by red brick buildings, the King sighs.

He’s going to have to learn how to do this with his right hand soon, we can see that from here. Very soon. Because the King. Never. Rests.