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Love Stories, Computers, and Beds
Jul. 14th, 2010 10:11 pmI am listening to a woman at the next table in Second Cup describe her whirlwind romance/fling with a beautiful man to her friends. She is speaking in French, and her audience is francophone. However, she keeps slipping into English to describe things he said or did - trying to capture the essence of him in his own language.
It's really quite lovely and sweet.
(She just finished, "Donc, c'etait beau. Je ne regrette rien de ces trois jours. That's my little love story.")
I went to a writer's meet up connected to the Polymancer publishing group I recently came across. A nice mix of people, who all seemed sweet enough. There was the almost obligatory socially-awkward guy with a Modern Fantasy Lord of the Rings novel with a 9,000 word prologue that was incomprehensible.
Oddly, while he bristled at all the criticism he got, he completely accepted my suggestion that if he must introduce a new world, start with something we can actually relate to. (i.e. - The Lord of the Rings starts with a birthday party. The Left Hand of Darkness starts with watching a parade and it's too damn hot in the sun.) You can mention all the differences as things progress, but you've got some way for people to feel familiar.
"At the end of this chapter," (he hadn't read us the whole chapter) "he gets a phone call from an someone telling him his war buddy is dead. Then he goes to the funeral. I could start it there!"
It was actually an amazing reaction, where he had been arguing for why every word of backstory needed to be there up until then, he accepted my suggestion without hesitation.
As for myself, I read an edited version of the Clock story I wrote a few years ago. It went over well, and once again I was told I need to continue that story. Perhaps I shall.
Tomorrow I get the Internet at my place, which will make my life vastly easier and will also mean all you Americans can call my Skype number and not have to pay cross-border charges to talk to me.
The job interview is Friday and I am feeling positive but trying not to jinx it. I got a lead on some freelance work as well, which is only a good thing. In non-paying news, it seems I am now in TWO plays - one at the end of August and the other at the end of October. Those of you looking for an excuse to visit now have more options. (The first sees me playing a woman's casual-sex buddy who becomes uncomfortable with her new relationship with another woman. The second finds me as a bi-polar State senator's aide working with the rescue efforts post 9/11. Up to you which interests you more.)
I definitely think the desktop is also approaching it's end. I would like to just do a replacement job on things to upgrade it if I can. It needs a video card and probably RAM so I can handle the picture load for my photography. I suspect this entails a new case instead of the slim tower.
I may have a line on a free mattress, which would be delightful. I am anxious to use my new wrought-iron bed. I also need to tackle the computer desk problem, and get massive amounts of shelves. (I will probably need a drill.) Something capable of transporting the bookshelves I have coming would also help.
Finally, does anyone have a carpet steam-cleaning professional to recommend?
I really should get one of my more interior design minded friends to come and take a look on how to tackle this space and where I might scatter things on the walls and tell me if the idea of somehow hanging colour since I can't paint is madness or not.
It's really quite lovely and sweet.
(She just finished, "Donc, c'etait beau. Je ne regrette rien de ces trois jours. That's my little love story.")
I went to a writer's meet up connected to the Polymancer publishing group I recently came across. A nice mix of people, who all seemed sweet enough. There was the almost obligatory socially-awkward guy with a Modern Fantasy Lord of the Rings novel with a 9,000 word prologue that was incomprehensible.
Oddly, while he bristled at all the criticism he got, he completely accepted my suggestion that if he must introduce a new world, start with something we can actually relate to. (i.e. - The Lord of the Rings starts with a birthday party. The Left Hand of Darkness starts with watching a parade and it's too damn hot in the sun.) You can mention all the differences as things progress, but you've got some way for people to feel familiar.
"At the end of this chapter," (he hadn't read us the whole chapter) "he gets a phone call from an someone telling him his war buddy is dead. Then he goes to the funeral. I could start it there!"
It was actually an amazing reaction, where he had been arguing for why every word of backstory needed to be there up until then, he accepted my suggestion without hesitation.
As for myself, I read an edited version of the Clock story I wrote a few years ago. It went over well, and once again I was told I need to continue that story. Perhaps I shall.
Tomorrow I get the Internet at my place, which will make my life vastly easier and will also mean all you Americans can call my Skype number and not have to pay cross-border charges to talk to me.
The job interview is Friday and I am feeling positive but trying not to jinx it. I got a lead on some freelance work as well, which is only a good thing. In non-paying news, it seems I am now in TWO plays - one at the end of August and the other at the end of October. Those of you looking for an excuse to visit now have more options. (The first sees me playing a woman's casual-sex buddy who becomes uncomfortable with her new relationship with another woman. The second finds me as a bi-polar State senator's aide working with the rescue efforts post 9/11. Up to you which interests you more.)
I definitely think the desktop is also approaching it's end. I would like to just do a replacement job on things to upgrade it if I can. It needs a video card and probably RAM so I can handle the picture load for my photography. I suspect this entails a new case instead of the slim tower.
I may have a line on a free mattress, which would be delightful. I am anxious to use my new wrought-iron bed. I also need to tackle the computer desk problem, and get massive amounts of shelves. (I will probably need a drill.) Something capable of transporting the bookshelves I have coming would also help.
Finally, does anyone have a carpet steam-cleaning professional to recommend?
I really should get one of my more interior design minded friends to come and take a look on how to tackle this space and where I might scatter things on the walls and tell me if the idea of somehow hanging colour since I can't paint is madness or not.
