I’ve been a bit quite lately, mostly because I’ve been working vigorously on my stories for the CSFF Writer’s Workshop coming up in just under a month. Don’t worry, though. I plan to blog the experience thoroughly.
Viable Paradise
After due consideration, I have decided to not apply to Viable Paradise. I still think VP would be a great workshop and I plan to apply next year but I think that I’ll be better of spending the time writing and getting stories into circulation. With a years worth of rejections under my belt I think I’ll get more out of VP.
Work In Progress
The current WIP is nearly completion. It will be the third story used for the CSFF Writer’s Workshop. I should have had my three stories finished before I applied but I didn’t.
Conventions
Wiscon was this past weekend but I did not go. I’m a little leery about a convention billed as feminist. Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m not one of those old codgers that think a woman’s place is in the kitchen. I don’t think talent is limited by gender, race, class or creed. Then again, it looks like Dave sure had some fun. The only convention dedicated to fiction I’ve attended was WindyCon several years ago and that only for a day. The upcoming Heinlein Centennial will be my first overnight stay at a convention. If Penguicon is any comparison, it should be an entertaining time.
I’m in southern California this week for work. I flew in to San Diego on Sunday and met up with some friends from AbsoluteWrite. We spent the day hiking in the mountains east of the city. Exhausting but fun. That evening, after dining on Tapas, I made the drive up to Orange County, where I’ll be until Wednesday.
I’m working from the corporate office, a pair of rented offices in a business park near the Irvine Spectrum. I’m training someone, showing them how the business works and how they’ll be able to help me manage the workload. Delegation, as I am discovering, is a wonderful thing.
We went to the Yardhouse for an absolutely yummy lunch (Mac and Cheese!). When we returned to the office, I found an e-mail from James Gunn waiting for me. I have officially been accepted into the CSSF Writer’s Workshop! I am extremely excited about the opportunity.
I’ll be flying home on Wednesday and sleeping until Friday (or so I wish). These trips to the home office are always productive but tiring.
I finished the final revisions I had for “Recycled Dreams” on Tuesday. It feels particularly good because this is the first story I’ve taken as far as I feel I can. There are always bits that I can tweak but the story I want to tell is all there, for better or worse. I’ve sent it off to James Gunn for his workshop. He is being awarded the title of Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master this weekend at the Nebula Awards in New York City so I don’t expect any word this week.
I’ve managed to write every day this month except today. Work was particularly hairy today. I didn’t finish until a few minutes ago. I have been working through the details of a new story, which I’ll begin writing tomorrow. I also need to write a cover letter and send my application off to Viable Paradise. That should happen this week as well.
I’ve always worked better when I set goals for myself. I do that for the “day” job and writing should be no different. There’s more to it than just saying, “Self, do this by Friday or else!” I need to make sure that my working habits are healthy. Random internet research says that it takes roughly three weeks to form a new habit. I have begun setting aside consistent time to write every day. One hour at lunch, ignoring telephone, email, and instant message. That doesn’t mean I’m limiting myself to an hour/day. I’m just ensuring that I write for at least that long. This was day two and the progress is wonderful. I’m half-way through revising “Recycled Dreams”.
Workshops:
I’ve decided to apply to two other workshops this year. James Gunn’s SF Workshop is a two-week workshop held in Lawrence, KS, June 25th through July 5th. Immediately following the workshop is the Campbell Conference and Heinlein Centennial. I was talking to Dena about going to that anyways. Heinlein is my favorite author.
The second is Viable Paradise, a one-week workshop held September 30th through October 5th on Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve spoken with two of the Semi-Os who have been to VP and both of them highly recommend it.
There is a catch with the workshops. In order to get the most out of them and not waste the instructors time, the stories I submit should not be in circulation anywhere else. So until they have been rejected or through the workshops, I won’t be sending them out elsewhere. I think the benefit of going through the workshops far outweighs sitting in a slush pile somewhere. I want them to be the best I can do before I send them into the wild.
Goals for May:
I received the email from Clarion a few minutes ago. A large number of applications and limited number of seats to fill but alas my butt will not be one of them. The writing continues and I will try again next year.
Best of luck to the class of 2007.
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