Journal
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December 31, 2010
After several false starts, a story idea that I could follow finally arrived. Later than I would have liked, but a few days before deadline. It was a matter of getting started with an historic event and following the character's voice. Many revisions over the next few days. Pressed the send button at 11:58pm according to the latest time zone on the planet.
writing: last story of the year
December 26, 2010
The holidays consisted of a few days of family time with sister, parents and nephews. Set aside today for a quiet afternoon of writing. Reading both clears and warms my mind, it often puts me in a meditative mood. A dozen times I faded into short sleeps over a few hours, and it became clear that I needed to finish the overdue library book just to cross it off my list. Now it's very late, I'm not tired and want to write, but I need to sleep again. Because there's day job tomorrow and I regret not taking tomorrow off. The 31st is coming too fast. Worried that I won't get this story completed by deadline. Resetting my tasks, the 3LBE annual will have to wait until next week. Also, ignoring the voices telling me that I'm failing at everything.
watching: Shutter Island, Winter's Bone
December 22, 2010
A new story of mine “Perched” is featured in the 10th anniversary issue of The Pedestal Magazine. I've been sending stories to this venue for a few years now, so I'm quite excited that they like this piece. They also invited me to include an audio recording.
watching: Breaking Bad (season 3)
December 18, 2010
For every print annual of Three-lobed Burning Eye, I dupe myself into thinking it will take less time. But editing and proofing the stories always takes more sessions than originally planned. The layout for this one will take longer as well, with five issues' worth of stories.
editing: 3LBE
December 15, 2010
Currently working on audio recording of a reading for an upcoming story. Tried to prepare myself mentally beforehand for how long it's been since hearing my own (professionally) recorded voice, perhaps since the long ago band days. How fortunate that this tale is short, a flash fiction piece. This isn't a story that I've read aloud to an audience, and even still it reads differently as a recording. Am suspecting that I might use audio recording in the occasional future as part of the (text) editing process.
learning: new software
December 10, 2010
Excited for two story acceptances this week. Awaiting contracts and details, but will share news as soon as I can.
reading: Leviathan Wept and Other Stories (Daniel Abraham)
December 8, 2010
Researching 1920s, just barely begun. No story idea yet.
watching: Breaking Bad, Fringe
December 1, 2010
Cover art is complete and the order page for Three-lobed Burning Eye - Annual vol. V is up. Order yours by December 25.
art: cover
December 20, 2010
Working on technical tasks in the background, editing and layout for the next 3LBE Annual, and formatting the PDF of issue 20, which work from similar InDesign files. Now understand how to create various e-book formats, but am trying to find the best purchase/download option for the 3LBE site.
watching: Monsters
November 15, 2010
It was a grand weekend at OryCon 32. Steampunk is positively thriving, in fiction, fashion and discussion. Finally met several writers and editors in the flesh that had previously only been tiny avatar Twitter pics or an electronic signature. Too many books that I need to catch up on like Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate trilogy. Great panel talks about using all your senses in writing, women role models in SF, slushpiles, and magical realism. My late night reading of “The Circus Wagon” proved not to be the latest time slot, as it was followed by some gloppy and alluring zombie erotica by Rigor Amortis contributors. Found out via texting that writer Edward Morris' reason for not attending was some lung surgery, so wishing him a speedy recovery.
conventioning: yes
November 8, 2010
Late late nights pulling together the magazine. It's finally posted, with six great short stories. I'm mostly happy with the cover art. PDF and e-book versions will take more time, and then I have to jump immediately into layout for the print Annual vol. V. A few story ideas of my own are crying neglect, but deadlines are approaching fast and they will make it happen.
sleeping: not
November 1, 2010
Costume party on Saturday. The dame went as a strung out pixie hooked on her own dust. I didn't mind partaking of the glowing absinthe in her other hand. Distributed candy to the kids on Sunday then began a new weekly ritual of watching The Walking Dead with friends, an impressive adaptation of the comic.
costuming: '70s vampire
October 29, 2010
Just found out that I've been given a reading slot for OryCon32, which I already had a ticket to attend. The programming starts on Friday Nov. 12, and I'll be reading that night at 9pm in the Lincoln Room. Must decide what fiction to fit in 30 min.
illustrating: 3LBE #20 cover
October 28, 2010
Been working lately on the next Three-lobed Burning Eye. I'm excited about the stories for this issue. Balancing the final table of contents is a fine science, with the order of stories and comparing to previous and future issues. And no matter how much I plan or think I'm ahead of schedule, the excitement and stress of switching gears to visual creative mode for cover art always feels late. The new issue won't be completely finished by Halloween, especially with plans for PDF and e-book versions, but a few days late I can live with.
editing: 3LBE #20
October 25, 2010
The guys over at a3o Studios (who helped me make Effulgence into a short film), are participating in a 48-hour film challenge. They asked me over on Friday night to contribute some script ideas, shortly after they'd been given the required motifs and themes. I contributed the basic story and structure, and a few scene descriptions. They filmed all day Saturday, and just showed me the rough cut. It looks gorgeous with the new camera, and they had time to stage some beautiful moody lighting and set design. It's mostly as I concepted. Now they have time before the Monday deadline for a few transitions and special effects.
submitting: stories
October 17, 2010
In stolen hours over random recent weekends, I've been tearing out plants and pruning branches in the backyard. Because I want a fire pit. And a growlery. And have for a few years. And it's going to happen.
pruning: the apple tree again
October 13, 2010
Some more changes over at 3LBE magazine. Pay raised to 1¢/word ($35 max), tripling the rate. The next issue will include PDF and e-book editions, which will be for-sale editions. Since the magazine has never included advertising, this approach is intended to bring in revenue and eventually raise the rates again. Writers like to get paid. This will also make the magazine more available. There is also a new Twitter feed for the zine at @3lobedmag. The next issue is still in development, but hoping to announce more soon. And we're still and always reading submissions.
reading: Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Bull Spec, Crossed Genres, more (ed. various)
October 11, 2010
Spent one day at Wordstock festival this weekend. A good panel on Why Short Fiction? included Aimee Bender. Later heard her read from her latest book. The panel with editor, publisher and agent didn't include anything I didn't already know. Many interesting small press vendors, and the question of "what's happening next with publishing?" seemed to come up in many panels, Q&As and discussions. The emphasis on short story writers was a welcome focus, though there seems to be a resistance at this fest to speculative fiction — or at least to naming any of its genres.
watching: Mad Men, Glee, Fringe (various)
October 8, 2010
I hadn't thought of this, but a fellow author said that the reasoning for no print edition of The Circus Wagon comes not from our publisher but from the distributor. Some of their markets won't take an e-book of less than 10,000 words. Which makes me wonder if the electronic publishing world will shape itself like the digital music world did a few years ago. Will publishers and booksellers sell more short fiction, will readers buy novellas, novelettes and short stories like they buy song singles instead of whole albums? Regardless of all my musing, my 7,200-word e-book story is available at Damnation Books, Kindle and Fictionwise.
reading: Lovecraft Unbound (ed. Ellen Datlow)
October 6, 2010
The HPL Film Festival is always a fun and entertaining weekend, but this year's fest was stellar experience for me. The entire event played as a beautiful dark dream, and I'm still waking. So, a few highlights, and more later when the joy shock subsides. During the literary programs (CthulhuCon), I moderated and shared a panel on writing horror fiction with Edward Morris, Wilum Hopfrog Pugmire, Cody Goodfellow and legendary William F. Nolan — whose works you should seek out immediately. As part of the author reading series, I shared an excerpt from The Circus Wagon. I was elated and humbled to meet guest of honor Caitlin R. Kiernan and Ellen Datlow, who guided some excellent panels on cosmic horror and editing horror. It was nerve-twisting and enjoyable to watch our short film Effulgence (based on my award-winning screenplay of last year showed) screen before live audiences. Many excellent short films this time around, like Derailed, crowd favorite AM 1200. and this was one of the most disturbing films I've seen in a long while. Great conversations, a few eldritch cocktail drinks, future projects forming… so much going on… too much— hell-wind— titan-blur—!
reading: The Daily Lurker (HPLFF newsletter)
September 28, 2010
Oh, the time is so nigh…
it's coming: and you can't stop it
September 18, 2010
My use of the brief news bite format of Twitter feels lately like an unhealthy dependency and seems to be killing the practice of writing in this journal. I could blame the day job, but that is a shirker's tactic. Dream journal is suffering too.
updating: too little lately
September 15, 2010
Making plans for 3LBE magazine. It seems like only yesterday when I started the side project in 1999, when online magazines were much less encouraged by the professional writing or publishing communities, but I've stuck with it. I've wanted nothing less than to collect and share good storytelling, and the simplicity of that presentation has worked well. But I've wanted for too long to pay the writers more and reach a wider audience. So look for some news and changes over there.
plotting & scheming: can't tell you
September 9, 2010
The H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon schedule is almost complete. So many talented and esteemed guests this year. Many of the panels that I proposed have survived, and remain stacked with people of the aforementioned awesomeness. I'll be reading fiction and moderating a panel. Grab your tickets for this Oct. 1-3 event. There's nothing else like it from the Pacific NW to the Outer Darkness for those who crave horror.
watching: Breaking Bad
September 8, 2010
A beautiful solitary session at the archery range today. One of my arrows will need a new fletching as I managed to pierce it with another arrow. I'm sure that I couldn't do that with a horde of Nottingham's men bearing down on me in the forest.
shooting: arrows
September 6, 2010
Set aside many hours for writing today and accomplished not a word. Some toxic mixture of distraction, insecurity and melancholy. The work week begins tomorrow, don't know if I'm ready.
writing: nil
September 2, 2010
Read last night as part of an event sponsored by Oregon Literary Review. Probably the third or fourth time I've read the story "Among the Stacks" and each time my voice renders it differently, sometimes more tragic, sometimes more humorous. Since it was book release day for The Circus Wagon, I also read an excerpt from that. One passage echoes a memory of a real life event, and choked me up in a surprising manner. I'll share more of that story at an upcoming reading.
reading: The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy (ed. Ellen Datlow)
August 30, 2010
The book trailer for The Circus Wagon is now posted on my YouTube channel here. The story will be released on Wednesday, September 1 at 12:01am by Damnation Books, along with several other titles. As a short story, it will be available only in digital formats, including .pdf, .epub, Kindle, and more.
sleeping: finally, barely
August 29, 2010
Just got word that my flash fiction piece "Autumn Harvest" appears in the current issue 12 of Jersey Devil Press, now online and in PDF format.
Taking time away from the computer to cook salmon on a plank, brussel sprouts with gorgonzola, and wild rice. Dinner with the dame. Then back to it.
getting: it done
August 28, 2010
Less than five hours sleep that last few nights. Awaiting reply from several librarians and archivists. May not get the footage and materials I need to make this trailer. Trying alternate storyboards. The dog wants to go out and I do too.
researching: photos and apps
August 25, 2010
Trying a few different open source movie editors, but the transitions and features are lacking. May end up returning to my old nemesis Flash to produce something simple in a painstaking manner with keyframes. Would rather be writing.
wrestling: software
August 24, 2010
I'm helping with some organization of literary events at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. The proposed panel topics are all darkly geekish and brilliant, though time slots are limited. Wait until you see the final guest list, it's a conference you won't want to miss.
wrestling: details
August 18, 2010
Trying to carve out some time to read 3LBE submissions, with another issue due in October. But the historic image research has taken more hours than I'd planned. Have discovered many collections that I'd like to visit, and will consider doing so if this search depth inspires a longer work. I've encountered many helpful librarians and archivists. Still somewhat flummoxed by the difference in permissions fees between non-profit use (which I'm used to at my day job), and commercial use. Especially that the definition of "commercial" seems not to distinguish between a large publisher and a writer with no promotional budget.
researching: historic photos
August 15, 2010
Two upcoming appearances added to the events. I'll be reading my story "Among the Stacks" plus another flash fiction or two at the Blackbird Wine Shop, as part of the Oregon Literary Review series. And I'll be reading the newly released (by then) "The Circus Wagon" at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, Oct. 1-3, and possibly sit on some panels. While the guest list isn't yet public, the sneak peek left me with frenzied were-butterflies in the stomach.
reading: Occultation (Laird Barron)
August 13, 2010
Good news: my story "Autumn Harvest" will appear in issue #12 of Jersey Devil Press, toward the end of September.
watching: Mad Men, True Blood
August 12, 2010
I'm determined to assemble a book trailer. I thought that my research into the history of circuses was concluded over a year ago when I finished the story, but my storyboard for the trailer creates some very specific visual needs, and illustration wouldn't be quite right. Public domain images seem to be lacking, so the delving deepens.
researching: historic photos
August 8, 2010
Finishing up final edits on "The Circus Wagon." Even through dozens of reads and changes to a story, the true flow of an idea or a sentence can elude me. My editor is graciously patient. Also brewing schemes in the back of my mind for a book trailer. Much to do before September 1.
It will be published as an e-book, to be released in every conceivable format. Falling shy of 7,500 words, is classified as a short story, not a novelette.
editing: "The Circus Wagon"
August 3, 2010
Before our foray into trivia night co-hosting Alex Speaks and I hosted a series of outdoor summer movies. In 2007 we showed classic sci-fi movies, and 2008 consisted of a five-decade journey through crime cinema, from M to Wallace and Gromit in The Wrong Trousers. We took last year off. This summer's theme is just Good Movies, Outside!, damn it.
reading: American Fantastic Tales (ed. Peter Straub)
July 30, 2010
It was a busy and enjoyable anniversary today, full of windsurfing, beer and pizza, macaroons, scotch, dog park, seafood, and hookah.
doing: much
July 29, 2010
This has been a year of almosts for my short fiction. With one magazine announcing indefinite hiatus after accepting a story, more than a dozen personal rejection notes apologizing that my piece was strong but couldn't fit in the current issue, and several second- and third-round readings. The latest incident left me impatient and contemplating the self-publishing route for some of these stories. Especially since, as a designer of 15+ years, I know that I can make a pretty book.
I have always believed in the traditional system of editors and publishing as selectors of quality (and an established distribution system), and have adhered to my own rule against self-publishing for my fiction. (True, I wrote and published two poetry chapbooks and a comic book under my own small press in the mid-'90s, and included a few sample stories on this website, but I have never included myself in my 3LBE magazine even under a pseudonym.) These recent "almosts" seemed to be saying to me that my stories were publishable, but that my timing was off. If I wanted to have a collection to promote, or at least to hand out at conferences, why not assemble it myself? With digital publishing becoming accessible to virtually everyone, why would my endeavor be any different?
But I've talked myself out of it. Again. I'm editing these stories and sending them back out into the world. The editors will determine whether you get to read them.
editing: my stories, and others
July 23, 2010
Off (and offline) for a few days to Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado, where my mom's side of the family will gather for the first reunion since 1988. Besides catching up with everyone, I'm interested to see this place again where I vaguely recall staying at age 4.
getting: on a plane
July 15, 2010
New footage for Effulgence looks great with the director's fancy camera. Re-shooting a brief but key scene, especially re-recording the dialogue gives a character more range, and is an improvement story-wise.
reading: Dark Faith (ed. Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon)
July 14, 2010
I didn't intend to write a second story for an upcoming themed anthology. Locked myself in a closet with a pad and a pen.
writing: a short story
July 4, 2010
I was excited to receive a peek at the cover artwork for my upcoming story "The Circus Wagon" which Damnation Books will publish in September. Can't share yet, but I am pleased.
reading: Leviathan (Scott Westerfeld)
June 28, 2010
Though the short film Effulgence premiered last October and screened at and Australian horror festival in April, there were a few scenes that were not ideal for the director and myself. For instance, once scene of dialogue was out of focus from camera B, and the outside lighting was distracting when shot on three very different days. So before submitting the film to another festival or two, we'll be re-shooting a few scenes, and adding in some new foley work.
filming: a bit more Effulgence
June 22, 2010
I'm here to report that the last month was abducted by a tribe of small creatures who live under my backyard. It was taken at 2:34pm out the back window, through a tunnel hidden behind the apple tree, deep, to the room specially prepared with an altar of hard-packed soil decorated with stolen coins that date back over 100 years. The ceremonial dagger was uncovered. And after the creatures with no eyes had eaten their fill, they slept. And I woke. Until next time.
catching: up
May 22, 2010
Three-lobed Burning Eye #19 is now online, featuring stories by Georgina Bruce, Jessica Reisman, Adam Browne, J M McDermott, Cheryl W. Ruggiero, and Ferrett Steinmetz.
publishing: 3LBE #19
May 19, 2010
Cover art is mostly done. Some detailing left to do. Switching gears to editing mode. And then coding mode, later perhaps. When late becomes early.
editing & coding
May 15, 2010
Congratulations to the 2010 Nebula Award winners. You can find Kij's Johnson's short story "Spar" online. Makes me want to write immediately… if I could… catch my breath.
reading: Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer (Van Jensen, Dustin Higgins)
May 14, 2010
The phone is ringing off the hook… with invitations to grill outs and pub meetups. Nothing I would like better than to escape the desk for an hour or two and meet up with friends. But the artist persona in me (Rew X) is working on cover art for the next 3LBE magazine. Six pairs of twin concept sketches, and none are quite the shot that I want. It will be a (another) late night.
doing: art (or trying to)
May 10, 2010
Superheroes would be nice to have around right now. Ones with unlimited strength and freezing breath, able to control the weather. Or just control sea life. I bet they could figure out a way to plug an undersea oil spill.
reading: Story of Your Life (Ted Chiang)
April 5, 2010
Last two days held so much good food, family and friends that I'm exhausted. Among these activities were two sedars. Now it's time for rest. Many projects to catch up on this week.
watching: Taken
March 28, 2010
Sometimes Sundays are eleven times worse than Mondays. They can really get me down when I realize what's around the corner. Perhaps if I rename the days then I won't see them coming. Managed to read some excellent short stories today by John Cheever and Shirley Jackson. Also hung out with my nephews.
staring: into empty space
March 27, 2010
As you can see, journaling has not been a daily activity for me lately. The obligation to make an entry was so unbearable that I considered sabotaging my own website. There are rarely any good excuses, but sometimes there are explanations for failure. I can report that life is both happy and full, that rejection letters still sting and bring some self-doubt or at least some pause, that I'm still a night owl though it brings exhaustion more quickly than before, and that I still have a difficult time saying no to people. So a few design projects have occupied my evenings and weekends. Most of these for freelance work to help pay the bills, though one is a creative project that you might hear more about later. Of course there have been house projects too, like radically trimming a decades-old and way-too-tall apple tree in the backyard using everything but my teeth.
In the land of more specifics, I'm caught up reading 3LBE submissions (within one week), still looking for that sixth story to complete the next issue. And one of my flash fiction pieces will be published in an upcoming summer issue of Necrotic Tissue magazine. More to come.
doing: life
February 6, 2010
Fighting a frog in my throat. Or perhaps it's a princess. You never know what will crawl in there when sleeping with an open mouth.
reading: Magic for Beginners (Kelly Link)
February 4, 2010
There's been a great deal of recent blogging and discussion about the disagreement between Amazon.com and Macmillan publishers. Of course I believe that writers should be paid as much as possible, and can make a living at it (and hope to myself one day). And with the standard cut of sales being 8–12% per sale, I believe that a huge retailer should set low prices (as much as I like buying a book on sale) and dictating prices to the publisher. I wholeheartedly disagree with Amazon removing all of Macmillan's titles, a childish way to behave. While the publishing industry may be perceived as a big slow-moving machine, I believe that it's the traditions of that industry and all of the very necessary roles included therein — editors, book designers, publishers, agents — who make books into quality products. All of these people must be paid a percentage, and I think the publishers know better what price to charge. What surprises me in all of this discussion is how some customers still argue that e-books should be free.
More good thoughts on this topic from Jay Lake, John Scalzi, Anna Tambour, Charles Stross, and Tobias Buckell.
reading: Blood Meridian (Cormac McCarthy)
January 26, 2010
At last night's reading, I read a short story about the end of the world. It seemed wholly appropriate in the quiet setting of a patisserie coffee shop. It's been two years since I read that piece aloud, and it gave me a few ideas about revisions.
reading: my stories (at Lili Patisserie)
January 24, 2010
That has to be a personal record — a same-day rejection slip. And I'd sent the story back out immediately after receiving a rejection. So, same story rejected twice in one day. The one-two hook. I must dodge and weave. I must bend like a reed in the wind.
reading: rejection slips (ouch)
January 23, 2010
Reliving the younger years of marathon birthdays, this year will include: beer tasting, BBQ, bowling, bottle shop, and late night cart food — all in successive two-hour blocks. Ready, go!
having: birthday (avec friends)
January 22, 2010
If you sent me a message between Nov. 11 and today, please do so again. My sincere apologies. It seems that I neglected something on the backend during the split of various owlsoup.com websites. You likely receiving a confirmation, but sadly, it was a lie. Yes, my site lied to you. It sent your message to nowhere.
watching: Dollhouse (season 2)
January 18, 2010
Great fun skiing and hanging with friends in central Oregon. Warm weather and eventually some new snow. My knees are not what they once were.
skiing: Mt. Bachelor
January 14, 2010
Had a longer story picked out, but since there were three readers, I didn't want to hog the time. Plus, the story I had in mind seemed too heavy for that audience.
reading: my stories (St. John's Booksellers)
January 12, 2010
I read a new story last night. Not sure if I like it yet. Wish I had another new piece. Already feel constrained by these flash fiction pieces, think I'll read a real short story tomorrow night.
reading: my stories (at Powell's)
January 9, 2010
Three readings this month. I'm jittery nervous excited about reading at Powell's Books.
reading: American Fantastic Tales vol 1 (ed. Peter Straub)
January 6, 2010
My parents' insistence finally wore me down, and I screened our short film for them, and my bro-in-law. He concurred that her low diet of horror movies would keep her from being able to see this one as well. Like all good parents, they commended me on the accomplishment of the story's craft and completing a project. Though I couldn't tell if they liked it.
watching: Effulgence (dir. Jeremy Peterson)
