Dancing on Glass

All right, I’ve been away long enough from our humble blog. Let’s give you a nice wholesome update to get you caught up, and to show you what we’ve got happening ahead for the remainder of 2008.

Guest Bloggers
I have a lovely writer lined up, but I need a couple more. More details coming soon. If you’re interested, read on for details on guest blogging for Cesar Torres’ Urraca.

Carapace/NaNoWriMo
It’s hard for me to admit that I am finished with Carapace. I am literally down to writing the last few words, but it’s pretty evident that what I have done here is make a very large and complete sketch. But that is all. It’s not yet a book, much less a decent manuscript. Far from it. I have not gotten yet to the point where it will go on canvas (or re-write). I am taking it easy now, since I WON NANO, but now the reshaping and cutting and shifting and re-crafting begins. I’m most excited. I’ll be using Scrivener for moving things around and fucking around with chronology; that app is $40 well spent. I guess I should be celebrating with some champagne since the first draft is done, but I ain’t got any brut in my hand. Should I, kids?

Writing links

• Mur Lafferty breaks down Nano and gives some great tips on, well, writing.
• Diana Gabaldon did a really nice, 3-part interview over at Writer Unboxed. She gave detailed insights into her process, as well as the heavy research she does for her historical/fantasy/romance— oh screw it. Her books are kind of indescribable by genre alone. Read the interview and see what they’re about.
• Major drama in the major publishing houses this week. Layoffs, cutbacks, a lot of grim stuff. But this is NOT the time to panic. Publishing is simply changing, that’s all. The job losses are definitely serious and unfortunate, but the model’s changing faster than we imagined. Keep on writing, people. Just keep writing while the storm continues.

Twitter
Well, as you can see, I’m pretty active in the Tweet chamber. Occasionally I stray and tweet on important things like Wii friend codes and kettlebells. I ask you: Since I made a promise to keep the blog focused on writing, do you mind when the Twitter feed goes off the book rails? I’d like to know what you think.

Google Friend Connect
There’s a little box on the right of the site now where you can become a member of this site. You need a Google account to do this. It’s very social media, very beta. Try it out, and let me know if you like it. If it’s silly or pointless, let me know, too. We’ll test it for a few weeks yet.

New Writing Projects
Winter looks like it’s going to be an exercise in clever and efficient scheduling. I start grad school in January for information architecture, but the writing will continue. I have two short stories that I am currently drafting, and they will provide some nice supplemental writing time to the re-writes in Carapace. I will start a new novel in the new year 2009, but as has been the case with previous novel projects, I can’t exactly predict what it’s going to be. An idea simply germinates, and then I’m back to writing. So stay tuned.

Ephemera
I used a 24 kilogram kettlebell this week. I was sore, so sore, I burned all over. Awful stuff. This is the road to a bubble butt, is what I hear. Also, Kanye’s new album is bold, both reclusive and personal without removing his mask, and it sounds terrific. Claustrophobic with a slight touch of nihilism. And it has the beats. Good one, Kanye. I hope he is able to leave the town of Bitterfaced some day, though.

Its’ Friday, and as usual, music rules the place. Today we go out with a bang! Time to dance, motherfuckers! CARESS THE TALONS OF THE ELECTRO BEAST!