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| Monday, July 20th, 2009 |
arcaedia
|
6:00p |
letters from the query wars (delayed from 7/17)
# of queries read last week: 159 # of partials/manuscripts requested: 1 genre of partials/manuscripts requested: YA Dedication: This one goes out to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) dawnmaria (based on last week's comment). Acknowledgments: In my pursuit of reviewing queries and reading sample pages included therewith, I am thankful to all those who take the time to research guidelines and follow same. Without you, assessing and finding projects would be so much more difficult. Thank you to every one who understands that my time is finite. Your professionalism and dedication to your craft are a credit to you. Dear Authors: It is regrettable that there are those who, whether through ignorance, arrogance or some other misstep, make things more challenging for both agents and other authors by not following guidelines. And, in some cases, clearly not even being aware that such guidelines exist. It may be even more of a cause for dismay that the queries that fall into this category are fodder for entries on agent blogs and that discussion of them seems to sometimes cause misunderstandings or even just some kind of "query exhaustion" for either agents or writers. On more than one agent blog and from more than one commenter, it's been mentioned that those who follow guidelines and do research are frustrated with being lumped in with those who do not. I admit, it is sometimes challenging when looking at the folder full of queries as a whole (usually these days numbering in the hundreds at a time). It can feel daunting. It can feel overwhelming to consider spending hours combing through them. Hours that are so often stolen outside of the office. Even when one hopes to find a jewel in the haystack, it can still feel like a pretty big pile of hay. And sometimes, as evidenced by the query wars posts and those on other agent blogs, there can be those who just aren't ready, who try to take advantage, who react in damaging and destructive ways, those who don't think the "rules" apply to them. They make it that much harder for everyone else. And it can be a stumbling block to an agent's resources, taking time away from others who may be more prepared to pursue publication. However, taken individually, the queries that are professionally crafted; that indicate research and personalization; that demonstrate the writer's dedication to seeking publication -- these really stand out. I cannot speak to other agents and how they approach queries, but I certainly do not lump those in with the others. In fact, they are the queries that encourage me to keep taking submissions and to keep reviewing each letter, synopsis and those first five pages. I know from experience that there may be a jewel to find. Be ye not dismayed. Your efforts are worth it. |
immlass
|
11:25a |
ACL schedule
I'm spending time this morning looking at the ACL schedule, which is finally out. Friday looks like it will be a long day, involving parking over by School of Seven Bells and staying there until the evening, moving over for the Beastie Boys (ETA: only not because the Beastie Boys have had to cancel due to illness). Saturday has two really tough choices: Citizen Cope vs Flogging Molly, and Devotchka vs the Decemberists. Citizen Cope and Decemberists look like they're on the same stage pair, which may be a deciding factor. Neither of the headliners that night do much for me, so that will probably be a late start and an early night. Sunday looks pretty meh except for the B-52s and Passion Pit, the latter of whom didn't sound that fantastic at the NPR live concert I listened to a while back. I don't know if I like Pearl Jam well enough to hang loose through several hours for them. The next order of business is going to be finding some good and not too expensive camping chairs, because we definitely need those to do ACL this year. I foresee a trip to some camping store in my future once I figure out who has this kind of stuff. Current Mood:  excitedCurrent Music: silence is golden |
matociquala
|
12:20p |
i've seen the lights go down on broadway.
Like so many, I have my Worldcon schedule. And now, so do you. Interview. Elizabeth Bear and David Anthony Durham: First Novels
When: Thu 16:30 Location: P-513B Session ID: 773 Duration: 0:30 hrs:min All Participants: David Anthony Durham, Elizabeth Bear Description: Elizabeth Bear and David Anthony Durham interview each other about how they work and how they got their first book(s) published. This should be fun. David is up for the Campbell this year. I can't wait to see who winds up in the tiara.
First Contact: What will the Neighbors Think?When: Thu 19:00 Location: P-516E Session ID: 835 Duration: 1:00 hrs:min All Participants: Brad Templeton, Chandra Rooney, Elizabeth Bear, James Strauss, James Stanley Daugherty Moderator: Brad Templeton Description: We’ll examine perceptions and preconceptions. What would aliens think about our planet, our society, and our lives? Imagine you’ve come to Earth, or Canada, for the first time; what do you see? What do you experience? Notes: Also can discuss prejudice, "not in my backyard", and other scenarios... I get to dust off my anthropologist cap....
Elizabeth Bear SigningWhen: Fri 14:00 Location: P-Autographs Session ID: 1245 All Participants: Elizabeth Bear Duration: 1:00 hrs:min The Campbell Awards (Not a Hugo, Honest!)When: Fri 17:00 Location: P-511A Session ID: 560 Duration: 1:30 hrs:min All Participants: Elizabeth Bear, Jay Lake, Mary Robinette Kowal, Wen Spencer Moderator: Jay Lake Description: Jay Lake and other previous winners explain why you should read and vote. Not a Hugo, but you get the pin!Writing Workshop HWhen: Sat 13:00 Location: D-Royer Session ID: 687 Duration: 2:00 hrs:min All Participants: Elizabeth Bear, Josepha Sherman Description: Critique session for previously submitted manuscripts Playlists, Side One
When: Sat 17:00 Location: P-511A Session ID: 105 All Participants: Ann VanderMeer, Edd Vick, Elizabeth Bear, Stephen H. Segal Moderator: Meeeeeeeeeeeeee. Duration: 1:30 hrs:min Description: Panelists introduce samples of their 10 favourite science-fiction/fantasy songs from outside the filk world, from Charlie Poole to the Flaming Lips. Yes, I am taking suggestions.Author Reading
When: Sun 10:00 Location: P-522A Session ID: 215 All Participants: Elizabeth Bear, Odellia Firebird, Debra Doyle Duration: 1:00 hrs:min Yes. I am also taking requests.
Okay, so I have some copies of the ARC for By the Mountain Bound here, which I need to give away. First one goes to the person who suggests the best SFF-related song (mainstream music, not filk, please). By "best," I mean the one that makes me go "OH AWESOME I FORGOT THAT EXISTED." Nominations close at midnight tomorrow; all decisions of the judges (me) are final. Honorable Mention prizes may be awarded at my discretion. Go!I have a list of my own I want to talk about, but it never hurts to go looking for reminders.
Miles to Isengard: 336.4 Current Mood:  lazy |
txanne
|
11:15a |
|
shekkara
|
10:33a |
How to dispose of old medicines -- DON'T FLUSH!
A year or two back I tried to find out how to dispose of old prescription drugs. I didn't want to put them down the toilet. I've read enough articles about water testing to know how contaminated our water has become with discarded drugs. Need tylenol? Just drink some spring water. So when I called pharmacies asking about disposing drugs, I was less than happy to hear the pharmacy techs say "just flush it down the toilet". I am now happy to find these resources for disposing of drugs: You can find a list of Wasthenaw County pharmacies that will take back your old (non-scheduled) medications for free: http://www.dontflushdrugs.comOr, if that's not an option, here are instructions for preparing medications for going into the trash: http://www.med.umich.edu/insideview/volume4/issue5/articles/tcooo_wrap_and_trash.html |
nuadha_prime
|
4:51a |
Yay Kucinich!
As I have already said many times in the past, Kucinich is the one Democrat who seems to match many of my beliefs. Not suprisingly, he is also the only politician I know of who grew up poor and understands what it means to not have money in the US. So, as I have been despairing of the completely crappy direction that this health care reform is going, I was happy to see that Kucinich slipped in a way that states can still pass a single-payer system like in the UK and other countries.[EDIT- A more complete version of Kucinich's quote: "There are many models of health care reform from which to choose around the world – the vast majority of which perform far better than ours. The one that has been the most tested here and abroad is single-payer," explained Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio Democrat who proposed the amendment. "Under a single-payer system everyone in the U.S. would get a card that would allow access to any doctor at virtually any hospital. Doctors and hospitals would continue to be privately run, but the insurance payments would be in the public hands. By getting rid of the for-profit insurance companies, we can save $400 billion per year and provide coverage for all medically necessary services for everyone in the U.S."] |
nuadha_prime
|
1:15a |
Ann Arbor Red
After a long period of inactivity in politics, I have been getting more and more involved again lately. This brought me to manning the booth for the Socialist Party USA this weekend at Ann Arbor's Art Fair. Those of you who have known me for some time, already knew I was Red. However, I have been silent on-line regarding political matters for a long time. So, for those of you who are new, I have been a member of the Socialist Party USA since 2000. During the 2000 election, I realized that neither Baby Bush or Gore represented my beliefs. Believing that the point of voting is to tell politicians what you want, I knew I needed to find someone else. I used one of those "Find your candidate" polls and it pointed me to the Socialist Party USA. Boy, was it right. I read over the SPUSA's platform and it fit my beliefs and values extremely well. As I become more active, I am thinking that I will be wanting to post my political rants again. I am debating between posting them here or posting in a blogger blog. So, I throw it out here: Do you want to read my Red Rants or would you rather me just stick to the comics, movies and games? |
| Sunday, July 19th, 2009 |
immlass
|
11:12p |
|
matociquala
|
10:39p |
Writing truism ( cristalia's fault that I'm thinking of this now): grownups fighting for grownup reasons in a restrained grownup fashion is ten times sadder and scarier than characters being unreasonable emo drama kids at each other, because real reasons to disagree don't magically go away. Current Mood:  melancholyCurrent Music: Weekend Edition Sunday |
fairmer
|
9:39p |
I've been a-traveling.
Last weekend, my brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and husband and I threw a party for my in-laws:  It was their 40th wedding anniversary party. We hired a tent, and held it on the lawn of the cottage. Then we passed a week in relative quiet and peace:  We played a lot of shuffleboard, and petted the diabetic cat (who made the journey to the cottage for the first time in her life), and fought for seating with the dog (my brother-in-law's dog), and watched my five-year-old nephew bowl 300 on the Wii, and other random stuff. Then I packed up and headed north to my aunt's little piece of heaven:  And spent some time with my mom and two aunts. Then we headed over to my uncle's farm, where I petted his cat and looked at his chickens:  And I learned that men well into their seventies can act fourteen: That's tinfoil, a certain brand of toilet cleaner (The Works) and a plastic water bottle, for the record. And then we went to reunion, which is an annual thing, and I believe this was the 39th? for this particular branch of the family. The other branch has been having annual reunions since the 1950s. Which is why I only go about once every 3-5 years.  That is pretty much how I remember reunions. Someone sometime climbs onto a piece of construction equipment or an old firetruck or something lying around. Mom had to pop into work to prep for her class tomorrow, so we left around 3. I followed her to Midland to see an old family friend who is moving to Texas in a few months, and had a chat, and then drove home, where the cats attacked me, and I stopped taking pictures. But one more for the road:  Goatsbeard and Hydrangea |
fromtheboonies
|
9:49p |
Me and My Big Mouth
I was just commenting to Tim yesterday about hey, isn't it great that we live in such an innocuous part of the country, and that if the shit ever hit the fan globally, there are so many remote places to flee to, but who would really bother to target Western New York anyway? Well. It turns out we're sitting on half of the world's radium supply. And apparently it may be leaking into the ground water. Super! Open mouth. Insert radioactive foot. Current Mood:  tired |
matociquala
|
9:03p |
|
ace_cub_reportr
|
7:13p |
Off like a prom dress!
I'm informed that I'm not to report to work tomorrow, as apparently three weeks of leave have suddenly become mandatory. So I've fed the fish and checked my tires and I'm going to Alaska. With a friend. By indirect routes. And when we get there we're turning around and coming home again. Don't wait up, but maybe I'll post from the road if something really interesting happens. Current Mood:  more relaxed already.Current Music: Willie Nelson - On The Road Again |
djinnthespazz
|
3:18p |
Remember when Google used to bring up the stuff you were looking for? Instead of bazillions of search engine pages listing stuff that you *might* be looking for? And for a bonus, a bunch of stuff that is only related by the thesaurus but which you maybe actually meant you were looking for? What a waste of my time, wading through page after page of NOT WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR. I mean, how hard is it to turn up a decent hit for 'large microwave oven'? It's not like my GooogleFu is having a bad day, you know? It's not ME. It's GOOGLE. Losers. How sad. ( Google, are you even listening? ) |
txanne
|
3:01p |
Mark All Read.
I'm trying to catch up on the skip=575 aspect of things, but I'm scrolling pretty fast. If I need to know something, leave me a link. |
mr_josephus
|
8:04a |
Downtime
Yesterday, I had the first day where I didn't have to do anything or go anywhere for quite a while. So what do I do when I don't have to do anything? I did laundry. I made a batch of falafel from scratch. Which turned out pretty well, considering I had to substitute several ingredients... mostly spices of various sorts. Which does mean I'm going to make a serious foray to the market today to replenish supplies. I played with the cat. I watched the rest of Fringe on the DVR. I also watched several episodes of The Venture Bros. on DVD. I made some progress in the computer game Sacred. I recharged the physical & spiritual batteries. **************************************** ************ In other news, my parents inform me that former classmates from waaaaay back when are planning some sort of reunion for Negley Elementary School. The school district eliminated the Negley branch (where I had kindergarten-5th grade) in the late 1970's. The building has since become some sort of mini-mall. I have no details yet about this reunion, but I'm sort of curious to see who might come if they actually make this happen. Heck, I may have to make a trip down there if this thing is actually going to be carried out. Current Mood:  relaxed |
| Saturday, July 18th, 2009 |
matociquala
|
9:10p |
you'd better wipe that dust from the tip of your tongue
I'm not sure what amazes me more, the fact that apparently the dog found a tomato my roomie must have dropped out of the grocery bag and was playing catch with it (Alcatraz style) or the fact that in the process, he managed to do it no harm except for inflicting a single toothmark. He has a very soft mouth. Between this and the ball-fetching, I might confuse him with a retriever. Current Mood:  amusedCurrent Music: Weekend Edition Saturday |
concertinette
|
7:07p |
movie week
I have done nothing but watch movies, it seems like. Monday: UP made me cry. What a sweet movie! It wasn't what I thought it would be, and plotwise, it was far from perfect, but man, I think Ellie was awesome. It's not like I was in denial, but holy cow am I a boring old adult now - the thing that really got to me was the montage of Karl and Ellie getting married, and being married, and planning tings, and fixing the house, and general "married people" kind of things. It was so super sweet. And yeah, talking dogs. Whatever. Tuesday/Wednesday: it was my birthday, so there were no movies, only fantastic food and good music. Thursday: Dirk was out of town, hence I plopped my butt on the couch and watched girly streaming Netflix. Rather insipid Christina Ricci (Penelope) and then a movie-length sitcom (Goldfish Memory) set in Dublin, lots of young couples getting together and falling apart. Good thing Dirk wasn't around, it was very much not his style. I think multiple nights like that would be not my style either, but one was a nice scene. Yesterday: Dinner and DVD - Dead Again, Ken and Emma in their prime. Haven't seen it since college, but I still like it lots. Today, we went to go see the new Harry Potter movie. I was thinking I woulodn't like it much, but I was pleasantly suprised. I know they must've cut a ton of story from the book, but what they kept held together okay. The thing I was really impressed with was the kids' characterization and starting to grow up and be truly caring and decent people to each other - especially Harry and Hermione - which was a welcome change after all that whining and angst of the last few movies. Also an almost total absence of the Ministry of Magic. I can't recall if they were much more prominent in the book, but I can say I didn't miss them in the movie. Anyway. Enough film. Time to clean the house and cook dinner, tend the yard, fix a few things, and deal with life being life. |
ace_cub_reportr
|
6:17p |
The world has never known a day quite like today.
Walter Cronkite died yesterday. He was the anchor of the CBS evening news from 1962 to 1981, but his influence extended far beyond those nineteen years. The very term anchor was coined in 1952 to describe his role in covering the Democratic and Republican conventions. His authority as a newsreader has never been equalled in the western world, and some credit questions raised in his trusted voice as being instrumental in bringing about a change in American attitudes towards the Vietnam War. I had just turned fifteen when he made this broadcast. It infuriated me. Intemperate words may have been spoken regarding Mr. Cronkite's patriotism, journalistic fitness, and the presumed marital status of his parents. I was very young. In a month or a year or so, I may be able to write something that reveals obliquely the impact he had on the course of my life. Something that demonstrates without explaining, something that allows the reader to fill in the blanks. Today, all I can say is that I changed my mind sometime later, under circumstances complicated by personal experience, and so Walter Cronkite is probably the reason I became a reporter. It seems odd to be writing about his death now, when I've just started dabbling in public writing (albeit for this very small audience) again. Mr. Cronkite has been ill for some time, his faculties reportedly failing, and 92 is a fine ripe old age for anyone. The good, thank God, don't always die young. NASA gave him a moon rock. That's a mark of a life well lived. # Today, in Britain, the world's oldest man died. Henry Allingham was 113 years old and fought in the war that was raging in Europe the year Cronkite was born. Allingham was the last remaining veteran of the original Royal Air Force, and the second-to-last remaining veteran of the Great War in England. He was born during the reign of Queen Victoria. According to AP reports, he attributed his longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women." # So much has changed since March 30th, 1979. Three Mile Island is no longer the world's worst nuclear disaster, for one thing. The calm voice telling us about it is stilled. And I have gotten older. Some of you reading this were probably not even born when it happened. It's history, for you. But for me, it's an event I covered, and it doesn't seem possible that it was thirty years, three months, and nineteen days ago. So indulge me for a moment, and think about what it was like when The China Syndrome was in the theatres, the wind could shift at any moment, and we didn't know yet how the story would end. Someday, we will all be history. What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times ... and you were there.
--Walter Cronkite Current Mood: quiet |
immlass
|
11:58a |
Wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff
We finally watched Blink today. After seeing it, I'm glad that Moffat is taking over as showrunner from RTD. That was one of the best episodes of New Who I've seen so far. I'm also glad I waited to watch it during the day. Despite cycling through and alternating properly with Bond movies and Sarah Jane Adventures, we've managed to get two discs of Torchwood S1 at the same time. Part of the problem is that we have a rule about watching Torchwood while we eat after the Wales Chainsaw Massacre episode. Since we watch episodes while we eat, Dr. Who and Sarah Jane Adventures get watched more regularly. The other possibility is that I may not like Torchwood very much for all that I like some of the characters. It's kind of like all the things I don't like about New Who wrapped up in a little ball of soap opera sometimes. While I may end up watching more seasons of it, I can tell it's never going to have the reservoir of good feelings Who can tap even during a crap episode like the finale of S2. In good news, for those who didn't see it on my tumblr or my facebook feed, Tom Baker is returning to Dr. Who, if only by audio. I hope Moffat can lure him back to video, which would cement my love for him. Current Mood:  tiredCurrent Music: Torchwood on DVD |
matociquala
|
10:14a |
rock and roll is dead i probably shoulda stayed in school
Little blossoms and little green tomatoes are growing on the Cherokee Purple, the Black Klim, the Green Zebra, and the Amish Paste tomato plants, and the Reisentraube has bunches of promising flowers. The peas are over and the broccoli went to flower while I was away (alack!) but the carrots and squash are just coming into their own, and the cucumbers are tiny and cute. Also, I just brewed my first cup of tea with the black peppermint and lemon balm, and the parsley and dill went into last night's bouillabaisse.
I have about four corn plants--that's all that made it. Better luck next year, but I will hand-pollinate them and see if I get anything.
Mmm. Bouillabaisse.
I need to put in more peas, and the second crop of carrots (I have multicolor carrots!), and the mesclun. Wheee!
Also, the pear trees are just covered. I hope the birds leave me a few. Current Mood:  exhaustedCurrent Music: car talk |
| Friday, July 17th, 2009 |
skzbrust
|
10:49p |
Words Feed problem
Apparently, my last several posts from my blog, Words Words Words, have not been appearing here--getting some sort of weird transport error. Until we get this figured out, the RSS feed is still working at least. |
matociquala
|
11:47p |
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trollcatz
|
6:28p |
|
fairmer
|
4:26p |
Reading, or something like it
For serious, does rereading your own work 63 times count at all? No, of course not. I've read a whopping 2 books since May 10th. Well, maybe there was a third, but I have no idea what it is. 18) Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias 19) Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst 20) The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas And of course, half of a dozen other books, but haven't managed to finish any of them. My brain has just been too consumed with writing to read. Getting through Into the Wild felt like a slog, and I don't think it had anything to do with the book itself--it was entirely due to my brain. Into the Wild felt extremely young to me--even younger than The Magic Thief, which is pointedly aimed middle grade. Actually, The Magic Thief impressed me quite a bit by being emotionally satisfying, which is not usually the case with middle grade books and me. I read most of it in a big gulp today. I'm ready to reclaim my brain, I am, but all I can think about is the next book. |
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