Thursday, April 28, 2005

The End Cometh

The end of this nonsense is near. The car's been repaired, baby shower invitations are mailed, the condo has been sold, we moved in with the in-laws and my oral surgery is tomorrow (buh-bye wisdom teeth.)

I know it's a redundant evolutionary aspect to human physiology, but the only wisdom these teeth have imparted to me is that I should have done this years ago. Not that I'm complaining. My teeth are not impacted nor are they causing me any pain. It's the trouble they can cause that's resulted in their banishment.

On the upside, it's getting me a day off from work and letting me continue my current reading streak. This time it's S.L. Viehl's Stardoc series. Highly addictive science fiction. After these last two novels though, it's back to my own writing. Well, before then, I'll be starting something.

Sunday is May 1st. I like month changes. They're refreshing, at least as far as my writing goals are concerned. It's the point where I reevaluate my current projects and prioritize what's been neglected. In my case, it's been everything but whan can I do? I'm only one writer. In this instance, I'm choosing what will come to an end quickest. Completing a project is a triumph, even if it's just an edit. It's further proof that I can do this.

Yes indeed, endings are good.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Stressed

While I can keep my cool in a crisis or in the day-to-day stress at work, I must admit that I'm not invulnerable. Yes, you heard me. I can't do it all. A pending job change, a double move, auto repairs, a baby shower to plan for my sister, and the removal of my wisdom teeth. All within 5 weeks of each other.

So how do I handle it?

I abandon every single one of my writing projects and I read. Furiously.

In the past month, I've read novel after novel, losing myself in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy (and some romance, too.)

Today I finished reading Holly Lisle's Secret Texts trilogy. When I first began reading the first book, Diplomacy of Wolves, I was afraid it was going to be too political and too much spying. But Ms. Lisle surprised me, something not too many authors can do to me anymore. Needless to say I devoured the book in three days, then moved onto the next in the series, and the next.

The complexity of her characters amazes me. This is how I want my characters to read. Characters I met in the start of the first book have morphed, grown, Become. And even the ending of the third book surprised me.

Strangely too reading this particular series has helped me through some concerns I had over Forgotten Star. I won't bore you with the details, but rest assured Korin and Crystal's story will only become more complicated because of it. (Oh, where's an evil grin when I need it??)

Coincidentally, she's the author who founded the online writing community, Forward Motion, of which I'm a member. She's worked miracles for my writing. The philosophy of the community is that we learn then we share what we learn. I'm also trying to support my fellow members by reading their books, and let me tell you what a treat that's been.

As far as Holly is concerned, her website is here. Her other works I've read are the World Gates books, more of a modern type fantasy story, for those of you who aren't sure of venturing into dragons and princesses needing rescue. There are several other books I have yet to read, but my husband knows the size of my To Be Read pile of novels, so I truly can't buy anymore just yet. :-) But soon!