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Forbidden Saturn
May. 28th, 2002 01:59 pm
Hey there...
It's been a little while since I've updated this thing...just one more of those things I've been neglecting to do for a while. Why? I just haven't felt like doing much of anything up until recently.
I'm not depressed, though, don't worry; this isn't going to be one of those bitchy woe-is-me posts that I seem to have a penchant for. Granted, I've got a lot on my mind, but it's not dragging me down to the point I can't get to sleep at night.
First things first; I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this already at some point, but Attempt No. 4 is a success! So, "The Memphis Stream of Consciousness" will (hopefully) be included in the MFM Conbook. Hurrah! I submitted it to a very good and respected friend (Hey, Lazarus!) and he had some healthy criticism about it; I'll most likely edit it, just to familiarize myself with trying to change something once it's completed.
I have this odd, odd belief about writing. I've been writing poetry for a while now, and I've only edited maybe...2, or 3 poems that I've done. This is, out of possibly 60 or 70 pieces I've written in the past 5 years. I think that...well, it's all about capturing that moment of inspiration, you know? When I write a poem, it's because I'm gripped with the need to say something RIGHT NOW; it's not a philosophical musing about this or that, it's the best I can do at making a written photograph.
For some reason, I'm taking that same attitude into writing short stories. I don't like the idea of editing my writing, even though in a lot of instances they've needed it *badly*. Part of it is a perfectionistic streak. I want my writing to come out nice and neat, witty and amazing the very first time I write it. That's just not how it's going to work, though. I'm beginning to realize that the artistic process, written, drawn, painted or otherwise, is really, really very messy. Part of your job as an artist is to shape mental diarrhea into something beautiful...something with form. It's taken a while to come around into the sculpting end of it, but I'm beginning to see what's interesting about it.
Musical remixes are fascinating things. It's pretty neat to see the same words given new contexts and meaning, different moods and all just through the use of different beats, melodies and/or instruments. Maybe I have to see my writing as...well, the remix of a song that wasn't very good. ;)
All in all, things are good. The job is going really well, though I'm not getting enough hours; still, I have to be patient...technically, I'm still in my training phase, so 30 hours at $7/hr is still pretty good.
I'm beginning to feel the money pinch going into con season already. I'm trying to plan for AnthroCon and a little extended trip to visit local friends and family when I'm down there, as well as MFM and MFF. I'd also like to take a trip to Austin to visit a few friends, and maybe, just maybe, visit Further Confusion next January. That's a lot of traveling for six months of the year. ;)
We're also planning to move, probably starting this weekend. I've been living at what's come to be known as NARFA Central for about two years now, and I've gotten used to having to ghetto-ize everything just so it'll work. I don't know; I think I'll miss the duct-taped ceilings and parallelogram-shaped walls more than anything. We're moving into this apartment complex that's, truth be told, a pretty sweet deal. Primarily electric, washer/dryer, dishwasher and garbage disposal included, private garage and a few other ammenities for only a little more than what we're paying here. Sounds great, right?
Well, we'll be sacrificing a bit of our privacy; we'll have to put up with neighbours who are much closer than we're used to, and well, Joey, Ryngs and I will be sharing closer quarters. I think if it were any two other people, it wouldn't work. Yeah, we argue, but we've reached this nice balanced, equalized vibe that we manage well with. I'm not sure how much adjusting we'll have to do in the apartment, but I'm certainly willing to give it a go if it means I won't freeze my ass off in the winter. ;)
Somehow I got sucked into leading a Predator and Prey Game at Howl, Growl and Purr. As usual, I'm not getting too much help, but I didn't expect any in the first place, so that's good. Delphinios has been recruited to get me fabric and stuff for markers, and I trust him. I have to ask a few other people to get me other things to make the game run smoothly, but for the most part I *think* I've got it under control. I have a list of animals, and I'm trying to put the information cards together now. Once that's done, I have to get all the Food, Life and Water Tags done.
I also volunteered to lead the Spirituality Track at AnthroCon this year. I'm pretty nervous; AC has never been my favourite con (don't lynch me!), and I'm really worried that I'm spending way too much money to have not very much fun at all. I have no idea what I'm doing as far as gathering people for panels and stuff, but I'm confident things will work out. The adrenaline rush I'm getting from taking the risk is more than my hesitancy and fear at the moment, and hopefully, that'll carry through to the convention.
Of course, they haven't even gotten back to me yet on whether or not they still *need* a Spirituality Track leader. I just like finding things to worry about, I guess. :)
Besides trying desperately to save money and worrying about the next few months, life is remarkably good. I feel the need to be very productive right now, so I'm finally getting up off my lazy bones to do some of the things I've signed myself up for. I have a Mutants Down Under game to run tonight (finally!), Attempt No. 5 to start (finally!), more Predator/Prey stuff to do, and I have to try to get back in the groove of writing for a Choose Your Own Adventure story.
Here's to hoping I don't burn out. :)
It's been a little while since I've updated this thing...just one more of those things I've been neglecting to do for a while. Why? I just haven't felt like doing much of anything up until recently.
I'm not depressed, though, don't worry; this isn't going to be one of those bitchy woe-is-me posts that I seem to have a penchant for. Granted, I've got a lot on my mind, but it's not dragging me down to the point I can't get to sleep at night.
First things first; I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this already at some point, but Attempt No. 4 is a success! So, "The Memphis Stream of Consciousness" will (hopefully) be included in the MFM Conbook. Hurrah! I submitted it to a very good and respected friend (Hey, Lazarus!) and he had some healthy criticism about it; I'll most likely edit it, just to familiarize myself with trying to change something once it's completed.
I have this odd, odd belief about writing. I've been writing poetry for a while now, and I've only edited maybe...2, or 3 poems that I've done. This is, out of possibly 60 or 70 pieces I've written in the past 5 years. I think that...well, it's all about capturing that moment of inspiration, you know? When I write a poem, it's because I'm gripped with the need to say something RIGHT NOW; it's not a philosophical musing about this or that, it's the best I can do at making a written photograph.
For some reason, I'm taking that same attitude into writing short stories. I don't like the idea of editing my writing, even though in a lot of instances they've needed it *badly*. Part of it is a perfectionistic streak. I want my writing to come out nice and neat, witty and amazing the very first time I write it. That's just not how it's going to work, though. I'm beginning to realize that the artistic process, written, drawn, painted or otherwise, is really, really very messy. Part of your job as an artist is to shape mental diarrhea into something beautiful...something with form. It's taken a while to come around into the sculpting end of it, but I'm beginning to see what's interesting about it.
Musical remixes are fascinating things. It's pretty neat to see the same words given new contexts and meaning, different moods and all just through the use of different beats, melodies and/or instruments. Maybe I have to see my writing as...well, the remix of a song that wasn't very good. ;)
All in all, things are good. The job is going really well, though I'm not getting enough hours; still, I have to be patient...technically, I'm still in my training phase, so 30 hours at $7/hr is still pretty good.
I'm beginning to feel the money pinch going into con season already. I'm trying to plan for AnthroCon and a little extended trip to visit local friends and family when I'm down there, as well as MFM and MFF. I'd also like to take a trip to Austin to visit a few friends, and maybe, just maybe, visit Further Confusion next January. That's a lot of traveling for six months of the year. ;)
We're also planning to move, probably starting this weekend. I've been living at what's come to be known as NARFA Central for about two years now, and I've gotten used to having to ghetto-ize everything just so it'll work. I don't know; I think I'll miss the duct-taped ceilings and parallelogram-shaped walls more than anything. We're moving into this apartment complex that's, truth be told, a pretty sweet deal. Primarily electric, washer/dryer, dishwasher and garbage disposal included, private garage and a few other ammenities for only a little more than what we're paying here. Sounds great, right?
Well, we'll be sacrificing a bit of our privacy; we'll have to put up with neighbours who are much closer than we're used to, and well, Joey, Ryngs and I will be sharing closer quarters. I think if it were any two other people, it wouldn't work. Yeah, we argue, but we've reached this nice balanced, equalized vibe that we manage well with. I'm not sure how much adjusting we'll have to do in the apartment, but I'm certainly willing to give it a go if it means I won't freeze my ass off in the winter. ;)
Somehow I got sucked into leading a Predator and Prey Game at Howl, Growl and Purr. As usual, I'm not getting too much help, but I didn't expect any in the first place, so that's good. Delphinios has been recruited to get me fabric and stuff for markers, and I trust him. I have to ask a few other people to get me other things to make the game run smoothly, but for the most part I *think* I've got it under control. I have a list of animals, and I'm trying to put the information cards together now. Once that's done, I have to get all the Food, Life and Water Tags done.
I also volunteered to lead the Spirituality Track at AnthroCon this year. I'm pretty nervous; AC has never been my favourite con (don't lynch me!), and I'm really worried that I'm spending way too much money to have not very much fun at all. I have no idea what I'm doing as far as gathering people for panels and stuff, but I'm confident things will work out. The adrenaline rush I'm getting from taking the risk is more than my hesitancy and fear at the moment, and hopefully, that'll carry through to the convention.
Of course, they haven't even gotten back to me yet on whether or not they still *need* a Spirituality Track leader. I just like finding things to worry about, I guess. :)
Besides trying desperately to save money and worrying about the next few months, life is remarkably good. I feel the need to be very productive right now, so I'm finally getting up off my lazy bones to do some of the things I've signed myself up for. I have a Mutants Down Under game to run tonight (finally!), Attempt No. 5 to start (finally!), more Predator/Prey stuff to do, and I have to try to get back in the groove of writing for a Choose Your Own Adventure story.
Here's to hoping I don't burn out. :)
