Blah Blah Blah

Yeah, I've been bad the past two days and haven't written anything. I haven't been feeling well, and have been trying to figure out my life, with debatable success.But tomorrow, I'm putting aside the greater portion of the day to write. Boxing in the morning, my friend's birthday party at night. In between: writing mania.Nothing else to say. Leaving for vacation in 5 (now 4) days. Beginning to dread the flight. Planes are scary dammit.- LV

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Words Words Words

Received two books I have to review today (although I'm not getting paid for either).Trying to write, but this chapter is hard, because I don't know why Thanatos decided to become human (temporarily), and he isn't telling me. Smug feathered bastard. But he's become a much more complicated character than I originally imagined; arrogant and proud and insecure and loyal and duplicitous and jealous and loving, a coward with a stubborn streak, an opportunist with a conscience. He may be my favorite character. Neil comes in at second, because he's funny and insane and misunderstood, and always says the wrong things.I've come to love all the characters. In the beginning, I didn't. I didn't know them. But 144 pages in, I have a pretty good bead on them all: Thanatos, trying to balance what is right with getting ahead; Neil, doing the right thing in the worst way possible; Violet, scared and disbelieving, but refusing to give up; David, completely over his head and always playing catch-up; and even Death, with all his arrogance and cruelty, for being an hysterical, insufferable blowhard. And there are still a few characters we have to meet. This was a good post; now I want to go back and write them, and find out what happens next.- LV

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Writing Factoids

Longest Chapter: 28 pagesShortest Chapter: 9 pagesTotal Pages So Far: 136Total Words So Far: 29,967Chapters Written: 9Chapters Left To Write: 23 (unless I combine/drop any more chapters, which I might).So. One character is hiding in an alternate plane, one is depressed and guilty, one is disappointed and about to torture someone, one is convinced she's on drugs, one is worried, and one is stalking the main character. There are hints of insurrection, disturbing dream patterns, miscommunication, sibling rivalry, and violence. Lovely.I wrote 22 pages today, per usual of debatable quality. I have this nightmare I'm going to finish this thing, then realize I have a several-hundred page pile of crap. Then the tears will start. Oh well. The next chapter features a god having a temper tantrum, another god pretending to be human, a girl pretending everything is fine, a guy pretending he has nothing to hide, and another guy pretending he has the slightest clue as to what the hell is going on. Also features drinking, and incorrectly referenced quotes! It's an important chapter. I'm scared and don't want to write it...Sleep now. Huzzah for sleep!- LV

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The Internet Is Full Of Wonders

Fear It is, Good bits, bad movies TV, comics, sex, apartments, relationships, New York in her voice. IN a journalist/author and feel like grabbing my little I can discuss my handwritten notes before I do that works. at some quick notes sick, travel plans andLV Posted by ElleVee.I got this from http://cmdrtaco.net/poemgen.cgi. It generates websites into poetry. This is the one from mine. I think it's kind of amazing.Working on chapter 9, which is much darker than I originally planned. Th story is a lot less fluffy, and a lot more about the nature of sanity. But not in a pretentious way, because I'm not that smart. Also finished HEART-SHAPED BOX, and started CORALINE.- LV

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A Week And A Day Until I Leave

This is a mini-post:* Stomach hurts from junk food. Keep burping and feeling gross.* Going to write now.- LV

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Technology Blues

My phone just sent sixty text messages with the same text to my friend, for no reason I can see. And it's late, and the original message wasn't meant for her, so she was confused. I apologized profusely, as sixty - literally sixty - repeating text messages at an ungodly hour is never appreciated.I am now viewing my phone with a large dose of fear. It may be possessed. And not in the good way. In other news, the Oscars made me fairly happy this year. My stomach hurts, and I'm going to sleep. If you get any strange texts, it's my phone, and Satan has my phone number.- LV

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Huh

Why can I only seem to write anything of quality at 1:30 in the morning? I want to sleep. Stupid inspiration, only coming when it wants instead of when I want.FOOD NETWORK Note: Why didn't anyone tell me that waffles and chicken was a food option? It's the most brilliant thing I've heard all day.Saw CHARLIE BARTLETT today. It was OK. That's my review. Good bits, bad bits, I wouldn't see it again. ROBERT DOWNEY, JR was in a different, more disturbing movie than everyone else.Sleep now. Need to gym it in the morning, or the Earth will get eaten by... dunno. The Sun? Yeah, that works.- LV

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My Brain Hates Me

So I was watching ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE [SO disappointing, incidentally. CATE BLANCHETT is always great, but CLIVE OWEN just brooded, and the dialogue was ridiculous. I vote the movie get remade, and be entirely about SAMANTHA MORTON's character], and I got an idea for a story. A really, really good idea. Then I got another [bad movies inspire me; go figure]. But the bed was comfortable, so I didn't get up. I was distracted by something in the movie, and one idea went wherever ideas go when I don't write them down.In a panic, I ran to my notebook and wrote down the other idea. But the first one was better. And I can't make it come back. I didn't get much writing done. I was toying with an idea, and it didn't really work with the rest of the story, and the little I did write was just crap. So I stopped, and will write again tomorrow. I may devote the whole weekend to going to the gym and writing. Of course every time I say that, real life drags me out into the world by the hair. We'll see.PAULA DEEN just stuck her entire finger in a strange man's mouth. I'm going to smoke a cigarette and go to sleep before she does anything else disturbing. Elle has had enough TV...- LV

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Good Omens (Not The Book, Although I Wish My Life Were Like That)

Just some quick notes before I buckle down to the continuing writing goodness (Disclaimer: Book I'm writing may not actually be good).* Snowed today. Like, a lot. Then it got all slushy, and I think it's going to snow again. I like snowy days. Until they turn to slush and soak the pants of those of us too short to have normal-length pants. Then not so much.* I THINK (think being the operative word here) that my travel plans are finally set. Or will be by the end of the evening. And I got to scream "silverwings and pubes" at my mother today. It's much funnier taken out of context.* Nobody is mad at me. I know, because I asked. * Job interview went well; if this writing thing falls through, I can always answer phones for the next fifty years. I have powers.* I resisted the urge to rush into my favorite independent bookstore, give them my credit card, and start lugging piles of books into my apartment, laughing maniacally. It was a strong urge.* Had lunch with my lovely friend Jay. Lunch itself was not so lovely, since they forgot to put spinach in my spinach omelet, making it really just... eggs.* THEA GILMORE is playing on my LAST.FM. And now to making the words appear.- LV

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Milestone

Ladies, Gentlemen, and Readers Of The Internet...I have reached 100 pages in my book. 22,113 words. That's a lot, especially for me.I also am pretty sure this book sucks. Objectively speaking, this is not a good book. My main character passes out, wakes up, yells, studies. That's it. And I may have added too much personal drama. And I want everyone to think two characters are going to get together, but they don't. I need someone to read it, but I'm embarrassed. I can discuss my book in detail here, but nobody can read it until I'm done. Are talky books a problem? I may go back and reread the damn thing at some point, before writing anymore. But I'm happy with the pages, if nothing else. I have done something with myself while unemployed! Sort of...I have another book review set up. I would tell you all where it is, but that would reveal my secret identity. Which I might reveal anyway. When I finish the book. I'm not cutting my hair until it's done, people. Like, 'send out to publishers' done. I'd say my hair won't get cut until it's published, but then I might end up as one of those crazy ladies with hair past their butt, and that look would not be good for me.We should celebrate. Someone should celebrate. What should I do to celebrate? AND over 1700 individual people have read this blog. That's pretty cool, too. So, good post everyone. Hurrah all around. On to chapter seven.- LV

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Real Life Is Irritating

So, I finally put aside a whole day just to write [ignoring my sinus headache, which has reached Biblical proportions], and instead I have spent a huge chunk of the day on the phone with my mother, and online searching for cheap flights and cheap hotels.I'm not complaining [much]. It's just extremely stressful to have to make travel plans without conferring with my traveling companion [she's already in Europe, 7 hours ahead and her phone isn't working]. Plus my mom keeps screaming at me for being indecisive, which is a valid critique of my personality, but not helping the situation.So I'm going to just book the flights, and if there's any issue on her part, we can change them. Right? Right. That is how I've decided to look at it. Writing chapter five on the computer, because I got inspired and didn't feel like grabbing my notebook and looking for a pen. Poor Thanatos just got his ass kicked by Death. He may be my favorite character, because he's unabashedly an opportunist and a weasel. It's good to be comfortable with yourself.Also have a short story idea I've been mulling over for a few weeks. I have a bunch of lines, and I know how it ends [roughly], but I haven't written anything down yet. It involves an old typewriter, New York in the winter, and other worlds. It's creepy and psychological and supernatural, or it will be once I've written it.TROUBLESOME TRANSITIONS [AKA, in my mind, MURDERS & MONSTERS] is very talky. I haven't decided if this is a problem yet. But so far the scenes all involve people standing around talking, or researching and talking. So I added a bit of violence to chapter 5. I'm on page 70, making this the longest story I have ever written [not counting some truly awful screenplays I wrote in high school that were thinly veiled ripoffs of Quentin Tarantino films]. My sinus headache is worse. And I just chugged a whole coffee before I realized that 'nonfat' implies 'milk,' because I am stressed out and not very bright sometimes.Does anyone else thing that K.D. LANG and CLAY AIKEN look like the same person? FOOD NETWORK is a bad choice of entertainment when you're very hungry, and have no food to look forward to besides cold cans of soup and overpriced crappy coffee.OK, off to book tickets, make plans, and hopefully get some damn writing done.Happy Birthday ALAN RICKMAN!- LV

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Bleargh

My book-writing has stalled. At least for the moment. I've been trying to work up the motivation all day, but the internet is easily distracting. Also I have a sinus headache, and want a nap.Strange E-Mails from Kay, who's already in Europe. I get nervous too easily. The smallest things make me twitchy and panic-stricken. Also, immense amounts of caffeine don't hep.I've been downloading music ever since I got home. Last.FM is the most addictive thing I've found online in weeks.Remember when commercials just showed you a product, and told you why you should buy it? It's very unsettling to watch a commercial and have no idea what it's selling until the very end: Two skimpily-clad women fight giant worms in the desert while a funny guy tells jokes about his mother - buy Coke!Goodburger makes a damn fine burger. Eat there.- LV

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A Proper Post

I use a lot of British slang/phrases/spelling in my writing. Is that weird? I think it's weird. Anyway. I am going to Europe for a week or so in March, and I am really excited. I'll be in Rome and Paris, which I've never been to before, with one of my closest friends, Kay. The earlier freak-out post alluded to her inviting me, then thinking she had to uninvite me, the realizing she was wrong and I was once again invited. Let me tell you, it was fucking hell on my nerves.But I am really, really looking forward to it. I feel like I've been in a slump, and generally unpleasant to be around as I figure out what the hell to do with my little life. My friends have all been so supportive, and I have not always been a real pleasure to be around.This trip will be good. I will get out of my head, see the world, and have some 'life experiences' as my mother calls them with no trace of irony in her voice.IN BRUGES was a fantastic film. Did I already say that? Well, it's worth reiterating. Great fucking film. COLIN FARRELL is at his best since TIGERLAND. Writing-wise, I'm transcribing all my handwritten notes onto the computer, because I don't yet have an unpaid intern who will do that for me. It's probably good, because as I type I add a lot more to the story. We're at 52 pages and the fourth chapter. I like short chapters. They make me happy. Although they're all going to get a shitload longer once I do the second draft.I haven't had sushi in weeks. Good sushi in months. Maybe this whole year. That's so depressing.- LV

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So Much For A Coherent Post

I have a headache so bad I feel like I'm going blind.I'm going to bed now.

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I May Be An Insane Neurotic...

But sometimes life is really worthwhile and great. Sometimes it sucks and everything is awful and you can't believe it can hurt so badly, but other times life is really just good. Nothing big or dramatic - just having a nice time with people you really like, looking forward to traveling, and enjoying the moment.I had a bad few hours in my head, that were cancelled out by a good weekend.That's why I'm being quasi-philosophical. Will post something coherent tomorrow.Oh, and HEART-SHAPED BOX by JOE HILL is a good fucking read. It's definitely inspiring my own writing.- LV

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Disappointment Really Hurts Amazingly Badly

So I was really, really happy and excited for almost fifteen minutes. For fifteen minutes, it looked like I was going to have an adventure, I was going to do something I've been dying to do for years. For fifteen amazing, shining minutes, I was truly and simply happy.It's been 17 minutes now, and I didn't know that disappointment could weigh so heavily on your chest, making it hard to breathe. 17 minutes, and I had no idea that you could miss something so badly that was just an idea to begin with.18 minutes. It still hurts. - LVEdit: And now I am once again cautiously happy. Of course, now I'm so paranoid about the Return Of Crushing Disappointment that my happiness is contained in a small, uncomfortable cage, and will not be let out until everything is set in stone.- LV

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Crisis!

SHIT. I fucked up. And I don't know how to fix it.Here's the problem. Anyone who offers me a solution will get a special thanks if this fucker ever gets published.OK, in Chapter one dude dies, Death comes to get him, they leave for the Underworld.In Chapter two, it is the next afternoon. And lots of character stuff happens that needs to happen.Chapter three (which, as we all know, used to be chapter 2) occurs immediately after chapter one. as in, at the most a few minutes later. but how can chapter two be so much later? HUH?! I could always include a line about time working differently (which it does, but I originally planned for time to move more SLOWLY in the Underworld. So what the fuck do I do? I really like the organization of chapters 1, 2, and 3, but the timeline doesn't work. And I'm completely and utterly stuck. Maybe I should put day headers on the tops of the chapters (IE, Chapter One - Tuesday. Chapter Two - Wednesday. Chapter Three - Tuesday, etc. But that seems stupid and gimicky and I don't like it. I could leave it as is, but I'm worried people would be confused, or think that Death and this poor dead dude have been wandering around for over 12 hours. And I REFUSE to ditch chapter 3. I LIKE chapter 3. So please, please, please. If you have any suggestions on how to fix this, I would be eternally grateful, and your best friend, and saw awfully nice stuff about you for a long time. Like forever.Off to ponder the problem.- LV

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Finished Chapter Two

Which is now Chapter Three, and am working on the replaced Chapter Two. So the structure has thrown me a little bit. In fact, that first sentence doesn't make much sense.So Chapter One is done, and I refuse to look at it for a while, or I'll panic and start editing. And never stop.Chapter Three is done, but it needs a lot of tweaking. I need a better description of the Underworld, because right now it sounds like someone's grody basement. Which is not what I'm going for. Also I need to add details about the Door, because it's kind of important, and supposed to be scary and beautiful. I'll be adding a lot of details, and some dialogue. Chapter Two is coming along, albeit fitfully. It's hard to write about regular people after having spent some time among gods. Poor Violet. Homework, class, job, AND people dying around her. Very stressful. And it's going to get a lot worse for her before it gets any better. If it ever gets better. It's snowing like crazy here. I love it. I curl up in my apartment like a bear in her cave (only I have books and DVDs and writing to do). Cold weather like this puts me in the mood for horror movies. So, I've watched MISERY, and am currently enjoying the hot guys of RED DRAGON. Next is DAWN OF THE DEAD (the remake), which I have memorized.In a few minutes I'm going to venture out for sushi. I'm very pleased with how the writing is going. Even if the whole exercise fails, and it sucks so bad it makes the reader go blind, it's good practice for writing longer pieces. But to be honest, I'm just having fun writing it.

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Finished Chapter One

Now I'm afraid to to start Chapter Two. Because I'm really, really tired, and a bit loopy, and because I like Chapter One so much I'm afraid to ruin it by writing Chapter Two. Also I don't know how to start it.I feel cruddy, physically. I hate getting blood drawn. Boo.Chapter One is nine pages. Although it's weird devoting so much time to a character who disappears in the second chapter. So it goes.On second thought, nine pages is not very long. So never mind. I just stared vacantly at the computer screen for like a whole minute.I think I'm going to watch a movie or something and clear my head.Hope your Monday was good.- LV

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Stupid Phone. Stupid People.

I've been writing for a while, and the phone keeps ringing and distracting me. But now it's dead, so I should have some peace. For a little while.Got blood drawn after my job interview (which went pretty well, but not great; I kind of think I made a faux pas by admitting I fucked up my schedule last December at the old B&N. Damn me and my honesty.) More specifically, got blood drawn in a lab in the back of a Duane Reade. Also had to carry my own urine through Duane Reade, which was an unusual experience. And that's all. I feel totally wiped out (they drew a SHITLOAD of blood), so I decided to rewrite the first chapter in a new, pretty composition book purchased solely for that purpose. I'm not done, and the new draft is already 11 pages. So huzzah for my new composition book.I also tentatively titled the book, TROUBLESOME TRANSITIONS. I don't like it, but I felt the need to call it SOMETHING besides 'Death and Serial Killer Story.' It's based on a quote by ISAAC ASIMOV: 'Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.'Although in my story, none of that is true. Life is stressful. Death is exhausting, and the transition is the easiest part of the whole deal. But I love that quote. And my book needed a temporary title. So that's that.I'm volunteering on Wednesday and Thursday for my friend's theater company, so I need to get a lot of writing done today and tomorrow. Because I want to keep this book going. Also, I decided not to cut my hair until it's done BEFORE I read that NEIL GAIMAN said the same thing when writing AMERICAN GODS. The difference is that I'm a girl so it's not a big deal, I can save my money to get it cut at a nice place, and I wanted to grow my hair out anyway. But I SWEAR I got the idea before I knew he did it. We should just be best friends because of coincidences like these. I'm kidding, FYI.Now all of you: scurry off and I'll get back to writing. Deal? Deal.- LV

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Anxiety Is Eating My Brain

I wrote the first chapter of my book. It's only two pages. Does that make it a prologue? I might connect it to the second chapter. I like really short chapters. I have no idea why. I wrote it in my notebook first, longhand. I call it a skeleton of the story. The outline is done, as is preliminary research on all the gods I reference. I really wanted to use demons, but I kind of liked the idea of there being a sort of business setup in the gods universe. So we're going with that.I may have added too many characters. I was also really excited to discover my mental picture of one of the characters perfectly corresponded with the historical description. It was an encouraging coincidence. One character is named after two authors I like. That might change. I also think the ending might be too abrupt, or at least the Big Finale. But a lot happens, and there's a lot of drama and humor and intrigue and all that good shit. At least there will be when I write it. One problem is that I don't have a bead on my main character. I don't know her yet. I like her, but I don't really get her. And I feel like she really isn't proactive in her own story, which I dislike quite a bit. But maybe she doesn't have to be, you know? My story isn't about getting what you want, or happy endings. It's about dealing with what you get, and how you remain who you are despite what may happen to you. That nobody can take away who you are. Which is a bit deep for what seems to be a fairly funny book, but I'm hoping it will hold out.I don't want to say what it's about yet. Suffice it to say, the main character is named Violet, Death is a major character, and quite a few people die. That's all you're gonna get for now. Unless you ask really nicely, add me on Technorati (click the link on the side), or otherwise make me feel special. I know you're all DESPERATE to find out what's cooking in my twisted little mind.I have to go to the doctor. I haven't been in a while, and I think I might actually have something wrong with me. Maybe something serious. And now I've freaked myself out, and am too nervous to sleep. Because I'm stupid.But that's all for now. Must sleep, and not worry, because I have my interview tomorrow (yay?). But I'll probably worry a lot, and not get any sleep, and be cranky and shitty all day.The book is getting written. That is a Good Thing. - LV

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Money Is Best Spent On Books

Which is why I never have any money. But that may change, as I have a job interview tomorrow at Barnes & Noble (a different one from the last one, obviously.) It's tedious, mind-numbing soul-crushing idiot work, but it will give me money, and benefits, and it will keep me busy and surrounded by books, and I DO get a meager discount. It should tide me over until I get my dreamed-of job as an editorial assistant (my REAL dream job, as a writer, is still just a dream. Haven't heard back on my short story submission (I keep promising to send it to people, then chickening out because I worry it isn't that good, and rejection by strangers is much easier to deal with than by those I love and respect.) And I know that I said I would post some writing. And I will. I just don't know WHAT to post. I could post an article, a paper for school, a short story, a poem, or an excerpt from a longer piece. It's really hard to decide. I also don't want to be told I'm a bad writer on my own blog, because that would be kind of tragic on a massive scale. But I promise, as soon as I figure out what to post, it shall be posted. Some time this week. Honest.My outline for my novel, which is having a hard time deciding how funny vs. morbid it wants to be, is getting pretty damn long (six pages at this count, on the computer, and estimated nearly thirty chapters, although I need to add some stuff to it or other bits won't make sense). I've decided to write the actual story in notebooks, because it's hard for me to write creatively on the laptop (I spend way too much time editing typos). I just worry my story is WAY too much like other authors, although I've never heard of an idea like this. I'm not even sure how good it is. The idea, I mean. I haven't written the story yet, so who knows if that will be good. But I already feel very fond of the characters, which I consider a good start. Especially David, who gets the short stick and poor Thanatos, who may be the nicest evil demon out there. Anyone know any good books/websites on old gods and magic? This story has gotten way more fantastical since its original conception (I originally envisioned it as a dark, sad short story. Now it's a full-length book with a heavy dose of humor and the ridiculous).Incidentally, can a book that involves serial killers, Death himself, and the demise of a major character still be funny? And can it still say something (about life, and the afterlife, and finding a meaning in your world) while making you laugh? I'm just worried I won't do the story justice, that I'll chicken out on the darker stuff and make it ridiculous, or become ponderous and Deep when I should be poking fun at what I'm talking about.It's an issue. I'll figure it out.Anyway. Going to a reading of a friend's play tonight with people. Went to the gym earlier and took out my frustrations on a punching bag. It's been a fairly nice day.- LV

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Milestone

1601 people have seen this blog. Yet my Technorati listing has dropped like, 2 million spots. Weirdness.I am dying from insomnia, and a bad stomach ache.Have been very sad the past few days. February is shaping up to be as bad as January.- LV

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House Moment

The superbowl madness is finally over, and my new HOUSE episode is on. I am watching it as I type, and enjoying it immensely. I still miss the old team, and want the new girl to go away forever because she makes me angry, but as I always say, as long as House is popping pills, pissing people off, and being brilliant (yay alliteration!), then I am a happy Elle.Incidentally, they showed a promo spot for the next HOUSE on Tuesday, which was the most amazing commercial I've seen in years. It was funny and wonderful, and I loved it, so I'm posting it here for your viewing pleasure. I know, I can be so wonderful sometimes.That's all. If I ever meet HUGH LAURIE, I will either laugh hysterically in a panic, be dead silent and worshipful, or faint dead away. It would be awesome.- LVPS The strike NEEDS to end, because I NEED more HOUSE. So if the writers could get what they want, that would make me very happy. Thank you all.PPSS WHY THE FUCK WON'T MY LINK WORK?! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL! I'll try it again.PPPSSS Never mind. YouTube issues. All is well. Enjoy.

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Lazy Sunday

Finished (I think) editing my story, which I am extremely pleased with. I'm going to let it sit for a day, then do one more pass. Then I'll send it out to be mocked and maligned by the publishing world.

I spent a long time just writing down any story idea that popped into my head. Most of it is science fiction/fantasy style, which shouldn't surprise me as much as it does. As we all know, I have a deep love for both genres (note DOCTOR WHO, ANGEL, HARRY POTTER, and the works of ALAN MOORE, WARREN ELLIS, NEIL GAIMAN, GARTH ENNIS, and dozens of others), but I never thought much of writing it myself. It always seemed (still seems) ridiculously hard to create a fantasy world. So my experiments in the genre are still firmly rooted in 'reality,' so as to scare me a little less.

I think MICHAEL CHABON has the right idea. He writes in any genre he wants. He doesn't just write humor, or romance, or historical fiction - he writes about whatever the hell he wants. I don't want to confine myself. I want to write horror, and comedy, and memoir-stuff, and chick-lit, and fantasy, and non-fiction. So that's what I'm going to do.

I also wrote an outline for a novel, which I don't think I've ever done before. Usually I would just throw myself into it, which is probably why after 10 or 20 pages, I would have no idea what the hell was going on. The outline itself went in a totally different direction than I originally intended, because I am convinced that if I include ANY real romance in this story, it will end up in the 'fantasy romance' section, and I will never be consoled. So no real romance - just lots of pretend romance and misunderstandings, which is more realistic anyway. It's sort of a TERRY PRATCHETT/CHRISTOPHER MOORE-style idea, but I'm hoping it will be good. Obviously - that's why I'm writing it.

I still want to expand my thesis and get it published. 63 pages, which seemed horribly long when I was writing it, is not nearly long enough for a whole book. But I'm reluctant to add more unless I have interest from a publisher/editor/agent/person with money. Can I just submit my thesis, with the promise of more pretty pages, or do I have to write the whole damn thing before I can start shopping it around? See, I need an agent to answer these questions. Or someone out there could. Answer it. Now.

I either have the flu, or a sinus infection. It's irrelevant, because either way I feel like shit. I want my head to stop pounding, and my nose to stop running. Medicine is failing me. I might splurge and get actual food, in an attempt to boost my immune system. Is pizza good for your immune system?

I applied at the bookstore nearby, which is actually hiring (!), and have an interview on Wednesday as a concession bitch at a movie theater. I might bail - 7.50/hr is actually worse than what I was getting paid at my last job. And that's BEFORE taxes, people.

Been reading FRAGILE THINGS by NEIL GAIMAN, which I bought when I applied at the bookstore, as well as rereading SHERLOCK HOLMES and AMY HEMPEL. I'm studying the structure of short stories, seeing what works and what doesn't. 

That's all, really. Quiet day. Sick Day. Going to read, and write, and watch the Food Network, which is my guilty pleasure channel. The weather is lovely; if my head clears a little, I may take a constitutional around the block.

- LV

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Neil Gaiman Quotes

"I wanted to put a reference to masturbation in one of the scripts for 'Sandman'. It was immediately cut by the editor. He told me, 'There's no masturbation in the DC Universe.' To which my reaction was, 'Well that expalins a lot about the DC Universe.'""Fuck, I won a Hugo!"“I've been making a list of the things they don't teach you at school. They don't teach you how to love somebody. They don't teach you how to be famous. They don't teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don't teach you how to walk away from someone you don't love any longer. They don't teach you how to know what's going on in someone else's mind. They don't teach you what to say to someone who's dying. They don't teach you anything worth knowing.”"The world is always ending, for someone.""This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof. ""The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before.""You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it.""Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters.""It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor. ""Is the chemical aftertaste the reason why people eat hot dogs, or is it some kind of bonus? ""Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes and forgotten. ""We are always living in the final days. What have you got? A hundred years or much, much less until the end of your world.""As far as I'm concerned, the entire reason for becoming a writer is not having to get up in the morning. "

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Things I Learned Today

Why the hell didn't anyone tell me the Post Office doesn't sell envelopes? And isn't that bizarre? Why don't they sell them? That's like... A car dealership not selling spare parts, or a video store (remember those archaic things?) not selling... um... DVDs. Bad example. But it's weird, and I don't approve. And I have no envelopes. Although I'm sure Kinko's would sell them. 

The publishing industry should just let me Email them everything. I demand it.

Found a dead roach by my bed this morning. Lovely thing to wake up to.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather. My friend wants me to go out to a party with her tonight, but I kind of just want to lie here, write, and watch TV until I stop feeling crappy. I'm not sick, but I'm getting there. I can feel the tiny germs banding together, mobilizing and preparing to attack. 

Cold cans of soup - not the diet for a strong, healthy body. 

MST3K should be restarted. I should restart it. The world needs it.

Have a good Saturday. I'm going to work on some stories. 

- LV

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All Hail Elle! Bow And Exalt At Her Virtual Feet

I just wrote a fucking good story. Not great, brilliant, or anything like that. But good. It's fucking good, and I am very happy. Just editing it now. 

Tomorrow I need to go to the Post Office and get envelopes, so I can send out submissions.

But I'm very pleased with my story, and wanted to share that.

No, you can't read it! It still needs to be perfected. And edited. But it's there. It exists. And it didn't until I wrote it.

That is a very heady feeling.

- LV

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It Was A Dark And Stormy Day...

I love cold, rainy days. I think they're very peaceful. They make me feel contemplative and serene.

Of course, I'd feel a lot better if my stomach wasn't hurting me so much. It feels like there's a tiny, angry man in my stomach with a pitchfork. Maybe eating cold cans of soup and little else isn't the wisest way to live. But it is cheap. And cheap beats out smart right now.

I submitted a poem to an online magazine the other day. It got rejected. I'm not surprised - it wasn't one of my better poems. But I liked it, and I'm a little disappointed. Poems don't make much money anyway. But still, being published is being published, right? And being rejected is being rejected.

I want a literary agent. Except I can't finish a single story, so I have nothing to offer anyone. It's aggravating - my story ideas are too dense for short stories, but I run out of ideas halfway through, so I end up with like thirty pages. Maybe they could be long short stories. I need a writing group, or a writing teacher, even though I am of the mentality that you can't learn to be a good writer.

But I digress. I have some E-Mails to write that might result in jobs, and then I'm working on the zombie story. Here are some of the projects I'm working on. Comments, suggestions, and open mockery are welcome.

* Zombie story, post-apocalyptic.

* Chick-lit, about writers and father/daughter relationships.

* High school presidential election with a sinister twist (short story).

* Author bargains with the devil.

* Death as a super-hero.

* Crime story I've been writing on and off since I was like, 13. 

None of its very good, but I'm still having trouble thinking up good ideas. Inspiration is standing a block away, mocking me and dancing just out of reach, promising glory and then throwing scraps in my direction.

Maudlin enough for you?

I want NEIL GAIMAN's career. He's had it for a long time - it's time to share, damn it. Incidentally, his blog is great. Very entertaining. I hope that reading the work of those I admire will inspire me. Or something.

So. I have a hot cup of coffee, bad daytime TV playing quietly in the background, and it's time to get to work. Hope everyone has a good day.

- LV

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