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November 28, 2008
Watching "The West Wing"
Hubby and I have started watching "The West Wing" again from the beginning. (We own the first few seasons on DVD.) It's one of our favorite shows and certainly stands up to repeated viewings. (I've watched my favorite episode, "Two Cathedrals" many, many times. I even blogged about it.)
I enjoy the show, but I've noticed an odd side effect: watching "The West Wing" makes me feel like I need to do better. Seriously, not only does the extremely high quality of Aaron Sorkin's writing remind me what a total hack I am in comparison. But watching President Bartlett and his staff go about their days makes me feel like a stupid slacker who really ought to get off my lazy butt and do something important with my life.
The show inspires me to step up my game and do something worthwhile.
As President Bartlett says in one episode: "Break's over."
Posted by Selena at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
"How Volumes Inc. Became A Religious Bookshop" by Kolacki
"How Volumes Inc. Became A Religious Bookshop"
by Douglas Kolacki
Welcome to Volumes Inc., site of the Miracle Of The Disappearing Customers And The Converting Books.
Posted by Selena at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2008
Finally, 50,000!
Well, I got a late start (less than 2000 words before Nov 13th) but I finally made it across the finish line yesterday. YEAH!
Here is my winner's badge:
Pretty cool, huh?
Posted by Selena at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2008
"The Second Fire" by TW Williams
As a special treat, here is some fiction on a Monday.
"The Second Fire"
by TW Williams
Elelle, the First Caller of the MasVerde, is faced with a dilemma—submit to the invading Dragonlords at the cost of her people's freedom or confront them and risk her people's lives. Through fire and tragedy, the path she chooses puts her fate in the hands of a mysterious man who wears the face of an enemy. Their trust in each other is tested as they seek to survive.
Posted by Selena at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
Today's Dr. Wicked NaNo Stats
I used Dr. Wicked's Write or Die for my morning NaNo session and here are the results:
 | 1417 |
 | |
31  | |
 | |
| lab.drwicked.com | |
Gotta go do some MindFlights stuff now.
Posted by Selena at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2008
NaNo & Dr. Wicked's Write or Die
I found this cool site via a thread on the NaNo website:
Dr. Wicked's Write or Die Web Application
It allows you to set a writing goal (by words and minutes) and then it gives you consequences if you stop writing for more than a few seconds. Consequences range from flashing red borders to annoying music to having your text start to delete itself. (That last one is part of the Kamikaze Mode. Pretty hardcore, huh?)
Here is the demo from YouTube.
I tested it out and got this:
| 101 |
| |
| 6 | |
| |
| lab.drwicked.com | |
Very cool.
Now, I'm off to work some more on my NaNo project. I got a very late start but I'm finally catching up. Right now, I'm at just over 45,000 words. Only 5,000 to go but most of that will have to wait until tomorrow because I am exhausted and my fingers feel like they are going to fall off.
You can track my progress via this handy widget.
Posted by Selena at 08:59 PM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2008
"The Tiger in the Common Ground" by Aaron A. Polson
Here is some new fiction for your weekend reading. Enjoy!
"The Tiger in the Common Ground"
by Aaron A. Polson
When twelve-year-old Andy's drawings take on a life of their own, his father learns there might be some magic in the woods behind their house.
Posted by Selena at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2008
"Over the Edge" by Stephanie Green
Here is some new poetry to start your week...
"Over the Edge"
by Stephanie Green
White jewels glisten in the closing gloom
Posted by Selena at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2008
Mordred's Lullaby
I found this video at Mir's blog. It is very well done. I haven't seen the movie the clips are from, but I'm intrigued enough that I might seek it out.
What really gets me is the song: "Mordred's Lullaby" (sung by Heather Dale). It's so haunting—sad, dark, but strangely beautiful. (It's also Celtic Rock. Who knew I would like Celtic Rock?!)
I have to admit though that it was a bit inappropriate for me to be humming this song as I walked into church this morning. Seriously, check out this sample lyric. Not really a church-going sentiment.
"Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep,
and carry you down into sleep."
Still. The song stays with me.
Posted by Selena at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2008
"Knight of Sorrows: Frozen Shadows" by J. Moeller
Next up is a new installment of the Knight of Sorrows saga. Enjoy!
"Knight of Sorrows: Frozen Shadows"
by Jonathan Moeller
Rosalyn is the Knight of Sorrows, defender against dark magic, but treachery surrounds her. She must act quickly to save everyone she loves from a betrayer's ambush.
Posted by Selena at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2008
Failing NaNo
Between being sick and my mother's visit and various family dramas, I am failing miserably at NaNo this year.
The month is almost half over and my word count is a paltry 1816.
That puts me about TWENTY THOUSAND words behind where I should be right now!
It's enough to make a girl want to give up.
Posted by Selena at 07:12 PM | Comments (0)
"The Rival" at ATG
My story "The Rival" is now available at All Things Girl. Please stop by and give it a read. Thanks.
Posted by Selena at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2008
MindFlights Print Edition #3 is Now Available
The print edition for MindFlights' third quarter is now available for sale through Lulu.com. It contains select works from our online issues from July through August, including all six of the winning poems from our recent contest.
Just $7.50 (+ shipping)
This issue includes:
"Window Blind" by Wade Ogletree
"Exile, Self-selected" by Daniel Ausema
"The Bone Setter" by Suzette Saxton
"Discovered" by R. J. Walker Miller
"Coca Leaf and Hydrocarbons" by Michael A. Heald
"Refuge" by PS Cottier
"CLS" by Lawrence Barker
"The Changeling" by Robert Borski
"Grubs" by S. A. Miller
"Patmos" by John Kuhn
"The Vegetarian Dragon: A Tale of Spiggle" by Elyn W. Marsh
"Mistress of the Black Between" by Gail Sosinsky Wickman
"Vermilion Rain" by Robert Borski
Cover: “Golden Hippocampus” by Michelle J.A. McIntyre
Enjoy!
Posted by Selena at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2008
Surprise Accept and Publication
I just found out that I had a story published back in October. Funny thing is—I didn't even know it had been accepted. Last I heard from the market, the submission had been received and was being considered for their October issue.
Huh. The accept email must have gotten lost in the ether, as emails sometimes do. I don't mind. I'm just glad the story got accepted and published.
You can check out the story over at bending spoons.
Here's the direct link to the story:
Accomplishment Oriented
It's about a society that only values people (and provides for them) if they make "important contributions" in terms of work-related accomplishments. So, really it's not too far away from where we are now.
Posted by Selena at 07:57 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2008
"The Book Signing" by Valerie L. Smith
Next up is a speculative story in a modern setting. You won't want to miss this one!
"The Book Signing"
by Valerie L. Smith
What if your thoughts and actions were recorded in living color and surround sound in a leather-bound book—or books, plural, if you’re prone to walking on the wild side?
Posted by Selena at 07:10 AM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2008
Too Sick to NaNo
I’ve been sick for the last few days with a bad cold. Which means it’s day three of NaNo already and I have logged a grand total of 106 words. So sad.
That puts me about 5,000 words behind where I should be right now.
I guess I better quit blogging about it and get to work on closing the gap.
Posted by Selena at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
"tanka - stars invisible" by Joshua Gage
Welcome to New Poetry Monday. Here is the special of the day...
"tanka - stars invisible"
by Joshua Gage
...past the Kessler Syndrome...
Posted by Selena at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2008
"The Inn at World's End" by E.J. Mickels II
To kick off our November issue, here is a new cover by one of our favorite artists. Enjoy!
"The Inn at World's End - Have we got a view for you!"
by E.J. Mickels II
When visiting World's End, stop in and spend the night. See a moon rise and a sun rise like you have never seen before.
Posted by Selena at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)