Word count: 2188 | Since last entry: 2188 After far too many weeks of research, noodling, and outlining, none of which seemed to be going anywhere, I decided to adopt a new strategy: just start writing. I'm driving cross-country in the dark with no map, no destination, and no visibility beyond the reach of my headlights. It feels weird and I can see plenty of problems in what I've written so far...

So, the great John Scalzi links to a New York Times navel-gazer about the decline and fall of the bachelor pad . We both find this interesting in that, for a fraction of what the young studs in the article were paying for rent, we're paying in mortgages. For nicer places. And in my case, I'm not living out in Lower Slobovia. I've spoken of the need for nuclear energy if we're really going to...

Though I'd been warned, y'all are right. Phase two of this flu is icky, too. (the day after the first fever-free day). Pooped, head clogged, etc. On the other hand, I woke up before bovil and fixed myself some breakfast, put on slippers (I was already wearing sweats; it's November!) and picked up the paper. I'm very glad I agreed to follow everyone's (including the CDC) advice and *not*...

Lots of travel yesterday: because of my ride's schedule I was at the Atlanta airport at 6 AM for an 8:30 AM flight. Delta did their usual great job, except for the fact that I was offered 17 (I counted) peanuts as my "snack" on a 6+ hr flight. But I'd packed my lunch and more so it was all good. Sadly, my ride to the con from the SF airport (choose a flight near where I live! said she) had an emergency...

Steampunk meets the King County Library System = sqqueeeeee! Loads of author interviews, articles, giveaways, pictures and quite a bit more... Never let it be said that librarians ain't hip.  Spotted this at  steamcon and just confimed it on the KCLS info page: Move over wizards! Make room for steampunk! KCLS and Susan Olds, Art Historian, present a seminar on steampunk at the following...

http://dresdencodak.com/2009/05/11/42-essential-3rd-act-twists/ And people occasionally ask why I don't write any more. I may, however, make icons out of a couple of those.... [from jaylake ]

Happy Birthday to Ursula Le Guin! Lots of links, weird videos, author interviews and other good stuff! A big shout-out to anghara (And to everyone else!) who remembered (And told the rest of us!) that today is Ursula Le Guin's birthday! And read her rant about the lawsuit brought by the partner of a woman who was left to die alone in hospital - and the lawsuit was dismissed. She's right...

Spent the day touristing around Albuquerque, including the Petroglyph National Monument (fun scramble up into the rocks to see ancient carvings), Coronado State Monument (site of an ancient pueblo and some interesting old murals), the town of Corrales (which lacked a center), and lunch at the Range Cafe in Bernalillo. Dinner was at Rudy's BBQ, which was not so much a restaurant as a place that sells...

There's just a ton of stuff to discuss and link about today, so let's get right on it. First, from Making Light , Teresa Nielsen Hayden provides a lengthy deconstruction of the death of two people in a New Age sweat lodge . Not surprisingly, the guy leading the ceremony is a huckster, and so full of bullshit that it's coming out his ears in a steady stream. Unfortunately for the two dead people...

Now that it's just barely behind me and only the long and wonderful (I'm not kidding, I like this part) editorial process ahead--made all the more awesome since my new editor is 2muchexposition , an old friend, I've been thinking a lot about how this novel was a somewhat different experience for me, and, you know, what after-school special lessons I picked up. This sort of goes along with...