Submitted! (Halloween story)

The scariest of days arrived--the day of submitting!

I've been working on a Halloween story for submission, and this week it finally got shaped up, and now it is shipped out!

This is the one where I was mulling over the whole schematic theme of temptation, and I spent a lot of time brainstorming how to work with the initial core idea to reshape it so that I could write about something slightly different. I think it came out very well.  Interestingly enough, the original idea, though a bit on the steamy side (that's good) would not have had the character depth (that's not so good) that the story ended up having.  In fact, as I've been working on this story, I was pleased to have several little things to put in the story that could mean sequels -- or at least a follow up novella-type thing where I could more fully explore some of the juicy stuff I just hint at.  I was already just about at the length limit for the submission, so for once, as is not usual with me, I was full up!

This story itself is really more just dashing adventure, with adrenaline-fueled kisses, and a common(ish) nightmare creature, which must always be amped-up into an even *scarier* creature.  So I did that, too.

*fingers crossed* that it reads well, otherwise, I'll be back to the editing draft!

last minute editing

Late night at regular work, but I'm home and making some last minute edits, as well as drafting up my submission letter.

In some ways, the letter is harder than the story!  You *know* that someone else is going to read that, and it is critical! Every time I draft a letter, I have a very distinct memory of being in grade school with a pencil and the old-style paper they used to have us use, and very carefully working off a letter template.  I learned all my letter writing skills in 3rd grade! 

My intention is to have everything done, give it a once over tomorrow, and submit. 

2nd rough draft done

I did a big edit late last night on my Halloween short story and I'm much happier with it now.  Hurray for editing!  It still needs some more spit and polish, but it can wait one more night, and then get its last scrub.

Victory with the rice cooker!

I found I had misplaced the directions for the rice cooker, but lo, the internet has many gifts to give, and one of them is instructions.  So, I learned the proper ratio of rice to water, and attempted to cook.

Success! (Just in case anyone was concerned for my safety.)  The rice came out perfectly. 

I may need to use this device more often.

I fear the rice cooker

So, I need to cook some rice.

And I was given a rice cooker as a present a while ago.

Usually I just cook rice in a pot on the stove -- with a very fine colander, you can cook it just like pasta, and you don't have to worry about matching up amounts of rice and water.

But I really do want to be able to use this fantastic rice cooker device.  It will mean I won't have to heat up the kitchen with a boiling pot of water, and should give me really delicious rice.

I can use other appliances just fine: crock pot, blender, toaster, immersion blender, food processor. But there is *something* about the rice cooker that is just very intimidating!

Wish me luck!

naps...so good

I had a plan.  I was going to go for a bike ride, hit the grocery store, and spend some time at the library, writing and finishing up my story.

Ha!

My couch called its siren song to me.  I said, I can take a 20 minute nap and then do those things.

But the couch is more like a quicksand swamp, and I slumbered in its embrace. But it was so, so good.   

I will just have to be extra productive tomorrow!

Sometimes you just have to allow yourself to enjoy the nap.

oh boy, edits!

It's going to be a busy weekend.  I've got edits to do on my charity story *and* I need to figure out how to write the gosh-darned ending to the Halloween story I've been sweating over.  I know how it is supposed to end, but the words to take through the maze of actions keep eluding me.  Like a not-so-funny game of catch-me-if-you-can.  I'm even considering writing the ending out in *long-hand*. I've heard that changing how you write can access areas of the brain differently. 

I've been a keyboard writer pretty much from almost the beginning (once I got a computer in my room and could type in private instead of in the shared space in the middle of the living room). It is odd to contemplate how words might feel coming out long-hand instead of the easy flow of typing.  Not to mention that I can actually touch-type, and don't have to hen-peck at the keys with two fingers. The connection there is almost instantaneous, seriously. Plus, there's also the very serious matter to decide upon: printing or cursive.  Printing will be legible later on, but cursive is faster.