9/14/04: Blue funk

[davidlevine]

Word count: 94045 | Since last entry: 367 | This month: 2995

No prose written in the last few days, but I did write 367 words of detailed outline in Chapter H tonight. Over the weekend I did many productive things, including buying a new watch (temporary replacement for the one whose strap broke, with new strap on order), a new Swiss Army knife (replacement for the one I lost at Security on the way to the Worldcon, grr), and light fixtures and cabinet knobs for the new kitchen (though we need to take one of the light fixtures back and get a different one), and test-drove a new car. We'll be taking delivery of that on Thursday (I love working with an auto broker).

Getting all that done was satisfying, but also in the last couple of days I received two rejections -- 202 days from Ideomancer and 186 days from Brutarian -- and saw portents and signs that a Blue-Form-of-Death is on its way from Realms of Fantasy after 224 days. For some reason, perhaps because they took so long and then arrived so close on the heels of my Hugo and Campbell losses, these rejections hit me really hard and I spent the entirety of Monday afternoon and evening in a blue funk. Definitely not in a writing frame of mind. So I cheered myself up by setting up a LiveJournal for the lovely and charming kateyule. She's going to be blogging about the kitchen remodel.

Have you ever stayed at one of those "suites" hotels where you have two rooms and your own little fridge and microwave? It's nice to be able to have breakfast and lunch in the room, but it's kind of crowded, and it's awkward to do any real cooking without proper utensils and stuff, so you eat most of your dinners out. Having your kitchen done feels a lot like that. It's like we're on vacation -- or maybe traveling on business is more like it -- right here in our own home town.

Comments

[deedop.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the blue funk. It seems to be going around these days.

Now to procrastinate some more and scurry over to see the kitchen remodel piccies!

BTW, I've got something that's been at Brutarian since January. I suppose by now I should assume it's been long lost in the shuffle...

[davidlevine]

As you may know, Brutarian recently went through a spasm in which it was declared dead and then sat up and said "no, I'm not!" I believe that the slush pile was lost in the fracas, so I would definitely assume your sub was lost in the shuffle.

I resubmitted my sub and was rewarded(?) with an immediate polite rejection, so if you are still interested in being published in Brutarian I suggest you re-sub.

See http://www.rumormill.org/index.htm?z=81422&mz=446643 for more details.

[deedop.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the pointer to the RM topic. I'll see if I can get my brain in gear to resub next week. (Been out of writer mode for too long now... sub? sub, what is sub?)

[crazysoph.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the head-crud you're going through - I sometimes find those periods easier to deal with if I consider them the equivalent of a physical head-cold. (Although in your case, you have good justifications for the feelings, while mine seem to come out of "nowhere".) Treat yourself gently and with kindness. Apart from anything else, you're making a real go at something I hope I can do someday, and I hope the inevitable and irritating disappointments don't take too great a toll...

I'm so pleased you made a journal for kateyule, I friended her and just left a comment! :)

Crazy(much good luck on the kitchen remodel)Soph

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry your post-WorldCon has been such a drop in energy and mood. I send virtual chocolate chip cookies in your specific direction.

I'm guessing that with the house remodel and the necessary hotel stay, you won't be joining us for Foolscap this weekend. You'll be missed...unless you *are* coming, in which case I say "Whoopie!"

In the meanwhile, I shall befriend Ms. Yule here and bid her welcome....

[davidlevine]

Thanks for the virtual chocolate chip cookies. I feel better already!

[davidlevine]

And, alas, we're going to have to miss Foolscap. Sorry!

Blue funk

[maryread.livejournal.com]

So I'm not the only one! Sorry you got so many whaps in a row. That's no fun at all. We will think pleasant thoughts, and tomorrow perhaps can again achieve lift-off.