namaste

I've considered myself pretty lucky to be at the job I currently have. It's challenging, and I have great editors who give me a lot of control over what I write. And of course they're in another state, which is always a bonus. Generally speaking, they like what I do, so they let me do it with minimal interference.

Mind you, the job I had for this one had editors who were micromanagers -- whose idea of how to edit a story began with scrolling down and rewriting it completely.

Now two sister publications -- both based in the same office where my "bureau" (which consists of me) is based -- are losing their reporters who cover essentially the same beat as I do. Now both of these papers are better known than mine which would mean a higher profile and higher pay. (More about that later.) It's also higher stress. And while I like folks at both locations, since I work next to them, I know that it would be a lot more intense. And, like I said, I've got it pretty good in the situation I'm in now.

So am I crazy not to be pursuing either of those positions? Is this a happy rut or the perfect job for me?

Oh, and in terms of pay. A lot more money. (These pubs have higher ad revenue.) As in five figures more. As in when I once compared my pay to one of their reporters with similar experience, he made $15,000 more annually than me. Of course the only job decision I ever made based on money, I ended up regretting, and it took me three years to get out of there.

So, I'm not really interested in pursuing the other jobs, but keep wondering if something is wrong with me that I'm not.

OK, so I've mentioned before the kid's book that I've been writing since last summer. It's essentially done, and I had a professional critique to help me fine tune some elements of it. One of the things brought up at that time was that I needed a more straightforward first chapter, since there was a section of flashback, which kids in the age range I'm aiming for -- 8 to 12 -- need a more linear approach to the story telling. (The original first chapter and more background on it are here if anyone's interested.)

But in reworking it, while I felt it was still good, I didn't feel it was as strong a hook, and I simply didn't like it as much as I had the original one. Now that I'm getting close to getting it sent out to publishers (who will hopefully be interested), I suddenly came up with another approach, which I like and think is stronger, but I'd love to hear some opinions -- since at this point, I've been through the story so much it's hard to think objectively about it.

So I've attached the first chapter, approached in two separate ways. (You'll see that the second half of the first chapter is essentially the same.) If you've got the time, I'd appreciate hearing what you think.

Thanks.

( Read more... )

Just thought I'd drop a note here for the writerly types out there (though apparently it's good for other presentations and such).

I just discovered that google docs now allows you to directly upload from your hard drive to docs.google.com rather than cutting/pasting. If you've ever lost work due to glitches -- as I have -- you know how nice it is to have an archived backup somewhere, especially when it's free and easy.

This has been a public service announcement.

OK, so I've been working on this children's book -- writing one, not reading one, I'll say just in case you were confused. I've mentioned it over on LJ, but figured I'd use the space here to vent a little bit for what it's worth.

Basically, if I haven't bored you about this previously, it's about a stray dog who finds a home, written mostly from the dog's POV. It's aimed at middle school readers, so 9-12 year olds.

I was happy enough with what I'd done to get a professional critique of it from a published author with books in that same age range. The result was very positive. Lots of good comments for what I've got, and a few points to strengthen the plot and fine tune the language for the readers' level. (Best part was hearing that with these tweaks, "it's publishable." That's not a guarantee, mind you, but just knowing I haven't been wasting the last nearly nine months of writing is wonderful.)

Thing is, it's so hard to refocus on the nitty gritty details at this point. I know the story, I know how it needs to read, but just sitting down and moving this part there and tweaking that part isn't nearly as much fun as the writing itself. Finding time to write when it was all fresh and new and plotty was easy. The reworking? Lots of distractions. I was pleased I had a four-hour train ride to Chicago today (I'm here for a conference) just because it gave me specific time away from WiFi or TV to just focus on what needed to be done.

Anyone out there have any ideas how to keep things fresh? Or just some encouragement? I've got another six chapters to plunge through on rewrite yet, then need to do a complete re-read before I take the next step, and I don't want to be bored with my own work.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really digging all the stuff Greg Yaitanes and company have been doing to reach out to fandom. I'm simply astounded at how clueless some of fandom is, and completely amazed and how he (and the rest) have been going with the flow regardless. For instance:

1) He's already told you he's not going to give out spoilers. Stop asking already.

2) Yes, he refers to "Huddy" or "Hilson" or whomever. He's stated that he (and apparently the show runners in general) use them as shorthand to denote a non-medical scene or arc between two characters. It does not denote an official ship.
2a) No, your ship is not the exception to the rule, no matter how much you may claim that it is.
2b) Yours neither
2c) You give up all rights to whine about the ship you imagined not coming true if you ignore any of the above.

3) No, the twitter members in your particular ship group are not OMG SO MUCH MORE MATURE THAN THOSE STINKY OTHER SHIPPERS. Really.

4) If you've already asked the same question four times and he hasn't answered? Stop bugging him.

5) If he's told you to ask yoteddy, then ask yoteddy.

6) If you're the sick bastard making racial comments to Omar Epps or calling an interracial relationship "creepy," STFU and GTFO

So here’s the deal: I’m doing a one-week writing class at Oxford next month, and wanted to have a recent piece of original fiction on hand before that starts, so I’ve been working on this. It’s about 5,200 words, about how one couple’s reaction to the financial meltdown all around them, and how they find their own way to cope. I’ve been debating a few titles -- Lie Down With Dogs is a current working title -- and if anyone has the inclination, I’d appreciate some feedback. Give it as critical of an eye as you’d like. I’ll be doing more revisions, and probably revising again and again.

Thanks.

Sample: “I thought you didn’t like dogs,” he said.

“I never said that.”

No, she hadn’t. But dogs shed, she’d said before, brushing off the golden retriever’s long hair from the sleeve of her dark wool coat after they left a friend’s house. Dogs need to be walked, she’d said. Someone would have to be home. They couldn’t just take off for weekends in the mountains or on the lake up north.

But there she sat, on the kitchen floor, next to two old plastic bowls -- one filled with dry dog food, the other with water. The dog sat on the floor by the cupboards, looking at her and at the room, and now at him. It wasn’t cowering, didn’t seem ready to attack. It seemed ... guarded. Unsure. Like a kid on the first day of school, trying to be good and obey the rules, but hoping his Mom comes soon to take him home.


( Read more... )

So I've been trying to write some original fiction, playing around with a couple of ideas. All I can say is it's harder to come up with completely original stuff than playing in someone else's sandbox. I figured I'd post this here, and if anyone has feedback, I'd appreciate it. (It'll eventually play with other ideas about dreams that don't come true.)

( Read more... )

Title: Whirlwind
Author: Namaste
Summary: As everything he believed was true is blown away, House struggles for something real to hold onto. Spoilers for “Both Sides Now.” About 2,000 words. PG.
Sample: “Never done this before, have you?” Kutner asked. “Lost your mind?” He’d moved in closer, out from the corner of the room as if he was getting more comfortable with the setting. “How does it feel?”
Author’s Note: Yeah, I gave in and joined the post-season fic brigade. Thanks to everyone who helped me fine tune this.

( Read more... )

Good news! Ken's been found! He managed to walk out with firefighters. Details still to come.

Title: Blythe's Story, Chapter 32 of 32
Author: Namaste
Summary: "So that was Greg," Phil said. "Not exactly what I was expecting."
"He never was," Blythe said.
PG, about 1,100 words.
Author’s Note: What began as a look at House's early life, based on information from the episode "Birthmarks," now winds up back at "Birthmarks." Spoilers for that episode, obviously. My thanks to everyone who stuck with this through a little more than 32,000 words. To start at the beginning go here: Chapter One. Chapters are linked.

( Read more... )