Disaster and disease and trips and computer screwups and eagles over the pond notwithstanding—we have covers, we have text, and soon we will have copyright and other details that go with it. I’ve been frustrated that I haven’t understood the new system—which has meant that the work of my books AND Jane’s has fallen on Jane— Well, we had a show-and-tell, and I now understand just enough of it to do the basics. So…look for something on the 24th, and, our faithful folk on our three sites, your patience will be rewarded. I feel so much better now that I can DO something, and take a bit of the load off Jane. She’s feeling so good she’s having a bit of off-topic fun with her site—and I’m feeling re-energized and happy with this new ability to tinker with text, and all’s right with the world. FenCon sent me back sick as a dog, but we had sooooooooooo much fun there and met such nice people—we’re really looking forward to our next foray into the southwest…
Anyway, two happy writers are making some real progress on just about everything, and life is good.
Here’s a nice quote by Hilary Mantel (author of Wolf Hall, etc.):
“Sometimes people ask, does writing make you happy? But I think that’s beside the point. It makes you agitated, and continually in a state where you’re off balance. You seldom feel serene or settled. You’re like the person in the fairy tale The Red Shoes: you’ve just got to dance and dance, you’re never in equilibrium. I don’t think writing makes you happy, not that you asked that question, I’m asking myself. I think it makes for a life that by its very nature has to be unstable, and if it ever became stable, you’d be finished.”
That’s oh so right. One of us twitching an eyebrow can have the other asking “Are you all right?” with the notion that if not, the whole day, possibly the whole month, is going to hell. And if yes, bluebirds fly chirpingly through the sunshine and flowers burst into bloom. We live balanced on a pinpoint, apt to skew to any side at all. From the phone disaster that ruined writing time yesterday to the successful conversion session in the evening, from the abyss of I-want-to-break-this-phone to life is good in two days. Writers are not easy people to live with. 😉
But seriously, we made such a great breakthrough—it’s going to work. I can do this. Yay!
Congratulations…..breakthroughs are delicious!
@ Green Wyvern, that is so true. It’s not that being a potter/sculptor make me happy precisely….I just can’t imagine doing anything else that would make me what I am. There are times when it seems nothing works; I am never going to have a creative thought again……might as well go be a greeter at Walmart. Then something, a half waking dream, a song, a few words ……and everything works. Eyes, brain, hands work as one and I feel like I own the universe.
It took me ages to realize that too much comfort makes me uncomfortable.
When you are making progress, regardless of whether things are going well or not, you feel purposeful. If creative things are coming together nicely, it’s all good; if there are problems to be overcome, they will be sorted, even if it takes a while. Movement, even if it’s not completely forward (2 steps forward, one step back, do the Hokey Pokey and a shimmy to the side) is preferable to being stalled.
This week, I had a breakthrough with what I’d been doing in graphics. It doesn’t get me up to the proficiency I used to have, but it sure made me feel better. Real, visible progress; a little better understanding of what/how to do things.
I have so very off balance for so long, I had been wondering what was wrong and would I ever get back in the groove. Well, things are still pretty topsy-turvy (more like a game of pick up sticks) but now I feel like things are starting to get into place.
Over the past month or two, I’ve been better at writing output. — I realized this past week, everything had been on hold for so long, I’d completely forgotten I had some things. — But now ideas have begun merging or settling into where they “belong” in various story ideas. Still not quite there yet, but oh, it sure feels good to make progress, to see something start making creative sense and know it isn’t (I’m not) simply spinning in an endless loop.
I’m actually looking forward to a couple of technical books due out at the end of this year or start of next. I’m hoping to make real progress towards graphics programs through the end of the year. — And once I’ve read the two upcoming books, I should have a handle on ebook formats and production. (Stil need to reread the tech book I’d finished, but I was surprised, it’ll fit right in with my existing skills.)
—–
Very much looking forward to the new offerings from Closed Circle, maybe in time for Christmas or before. (Or Halloween?)
I’ve been really enjoying the audiobooks. Besides CJ’s work, it was great fun to listen to Heinlein’s The Rolling Stones, a good dramatization there with a little of the 50’s radio drama feel, just enough.
Whatever it is that’s about to appear at Closed Circle ebooks, I’m due for something in my To Read leaning tower. It hasn’t fallen over *quite* yet!
It is *very* good when some new skill jells, starts making real sense in a doable fashion. Progress feels so much better than being stalled out or having too much interference messing with your creative energy.
Many congratulations, CJ, Jane, and Lynn.
Goodness I know how that feels. Though I’ve drawn and painted, I’m primarily a maker of 3D items, usually things that are useful, as well as hopefully attractive. No matter what day job paid the bills, once I’m home I’m always tinkering around with things. Once a person asked me why I was an artist/maker, and my answer was that couldn’t NOT be. I think I’d explode if you kept me from it. And the few times I DIDN’T constantly create/investigate/ponder, I was in a major crisis/ depression/ breakdown – VERY dark times.
So, I apologize to everyone for the State of Texas putting the whammy on CJ and look forward to what’s around the corner!
Lol—I don’t think it was Texas, dhawktx. I think it was the second bout with the smoke in Montana and Idaho.
Ah! Well then…Carry On!
(It’s USUALLY Texas’ fault! LOL!)
A most auspicious day for release. (Psst! Jane’s birthday present?)
Is there any chance of Cyteen coming out as an ebook? I’ve been wanting to read it on my Kindle for a long time now, and have read it every year or two for the past decade or so.
I’m going to give the contract a close critical read. I think I have the e-rights to that one.
I hope so. I think Cyteen was the first book of yours I read, and I still think it’s one of the best books I’ve read, period.
Um… without a lot of comment: YAY!
Been waiting with bated (baited? bayted? Baiti’s?) breath to see some of the “this is DONE!” come out, like Yvgenie, and that short from Foreigner. Congrats on progress!