(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Actually Getting Off My Ass and Working: All right. I'm horribly behind on a self-imposed deadline to have the last two chapters of Black Ribbon ready by Monday so that I can send the whole thing off to my agent.

(Although... technically, aren't I actually getting back on my ass, if working involves sitting in a chair?)

"If they're at all good," she said of Black Ribbon and the Fairwood Files chapters, "we will sell them." Really, she hasn't read any of my original fiction yet, unless she started perusing my Fiction Press portfolio (which I doubt), so she's basically signed me up on the basis of "Troy in Fifteen Minutes," because she is a brave, braaaaave woman.

My point is, I gots to finish this shit. I'm getting really, really nervous about it, though--not so much about what she thinks, because she's trained to spot rough diamonds; if it needs a lot more work, that won't necessarily bother her. I'm more anxious about... I don't know. I think I've fallen out of the story a bit, and I need to climb back in. This entails going back and reading it from page one, through the first three chapters, and... I can tell I've fallen out of it, because I'm afraid to read it again. I've got enough outside perspective now that I'm afraid of what I'm going to find. There were a lot of problems or nitpicks I glossed over and moved past because I was trying to crank the story out in a hurry, just to say that it was done, because that's not how I usually work, and I wanted to do things differently this time. And then I slipped and fell back into my usual pattern, which is to let things sit and ferment and not get finished. Grrr.



Random thoughts:

You know, those of us who love bad '80s music have no room to complain about anything, really, but you know your grammar obsession has gone too far when it really gets on your nerves that the chorus to "Hungry Eyes" is "I feel the magic between you and I," which is not only WRONG WRONG WRONG, but doesn't even rhyme with "eyes" anyway.

I have a lot of Galadriel icons now. I have some I haven't even put up yet. I don't know. People at JournalFen were telling me that they totally associate me with Evil Eye Galadriel, and I decided to get myself a new range of Galadriel expressions. Which is great on JournalFen, but here on LJ, it's seriously starting to eat into my icon space.



Fun stuff:

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<p><b>Actually Getting Off My Ass and Working:</b> All right. I'm horribly behind on a self-imposed deadline to have the last two chapters of Black Ribbon ready by Monday so that I can send the whole thing off to my agent.

(Although... technically, aren't I actually getting back <i>on</i> my ass, if working involves sitting in a chair?)

"If they're <i>at all</i> good," she said of Black Ribbon and the Fairwood Files chapters, "we <i>will</i> sell them." Really, she hasn't read any of my original fiction yet, unless she started perusing my Fiction Press portfolio (which I doubt), so she's basically signed me up on the basis of "Troy in Fifteen Minutes," because she is a brave, braaaaave woman.

My point is, I gots to finish this shit. I'm getting really, really nervous about it, though--not so much about what she thinks, because she's trained to spot rough diamonds; if it needs a lot more work, that won't necessarily bother her. I'm more anxious about... I don't know. I think I've fallen out of the story a bit, and I need to climb back in. This entails going back and reading it from page one, through the first three chapters, and... I can tell I've fallen out of it, because I'm afraid to read it again. I've got enough outside perspective now that I'm afraid of what I'm going to find. There were a lot of problems or nitpicks I glossed over and moved past because I was trying to crank the story out in a hurry, just to say that it was <i>done,</i> because that's not how I usually work, and I wanted to do things differently this time. And then I slipped and fell back into my usual pattern, which is to let things sit and ferment and not get finished. Grrr.



<b>Random thoughts:</b>

You know, those of us who love bad '80s music have no room to complain about anything, really, but you know your grammar obsession has gone too far when it really gets on your nerves that the chorus to "Hungry Eyes" is "I feel the magic <i>between you and I</i>," which is not only WRONG WRONG WRONG, but doesn't even rhyme with "eyes" anyway.

I have a lot of Galadriel icons now. I have some I haven't even put up yet. I don't know. People at JournalFen were telling me that they totally associate me with Evil Eye Galadriel, and I decided to get myself a new range of Galadriel expressions. Which is great on JournalFen, but here on LJ, it's seriously starting to eat into my icon space.



<b>Fun stuff:</b>

<a href="http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/stories/snow.html" title=""Snow, Glass, Apples"" target="_blank">Holy shit, Unca Neil, this is fucked up!</a>

<a href="http://www.inpassing.org/" target="_blank">I love this blog.</a> Other recommendations from the FT boards: <a href="http://www.whatsbetter.com/" target="_blank">What's Better?</a> (Top Ten: "Love, Sex, A Sense of Humor, Free Money, Making Out, The Best Thing You Can Imagine, Unlimited Wealth, Getting a Raise, Calvin & Hobbes, Romance") and <a href="http://www.tournamentofstuff.com/" target="_blank">Tournament of Stuff</a>, where owls are pitted against French onion soup and Sisyphus goes up against cat litter. I don't know.

Also: I am stuck on level two--the cherry level--of <a href="http://www.floweringnose.com" target="_blank">The Flowering Nose</a>. Dammit.<p>

Comments

[luna-k.livejournal.com]

In my head, you look *exactly* like EvilEye!Galadriel. Like, one and the same. I see a pic of Galadriel and start thinking m15 quotes instantanously.

I used to use this Rogue icon so much that people thought the same thing about me, though. :D

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, in both cases, there are *much* worse people to be associated with. :)

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

You know, those of us who love bad '80s music have no room to complain about anything, really, but you know your grammar obsession has gone too far when it really gets on your nerves that the chorus to "Hungry Eyes" is "I feel the magic between you and I," which is not only WRONG WRONG WRONG, but doesn't even rhyme with "eyes" anyway.

And this, in a nutshell, is why I can't stop reading your LJ.

And have no fear -- if the diamonds need polishing, it's what you do (writing is rewriting, yes?). When the hammer's down, you'll find a way.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hee. Hey, if you love bad '80s music AND good grammar, then this is the place to be.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

I still associate you with purple chick. And the sly looking original Galadriel icon.

But then I'm an OG CLEO FANBOY, MOFOS!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Which purple chick? Daily Digest purple chick, or default icon Marguerite Sauvage sketch purple chick?

(Note to self: cool it on the purple chicks.)

[la-sonnambula.livejournal.com]

I still think of you as Frances Farmer, or Jessica Lange.

Best of luck with Black Ribbon

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hee. I'm just impressed that you knew who was in the icon. I still get tons of people asking me how "I" got my skin purple in that picture. ("No, really--makeup?")

Writing woes, etc.

[canonball13.livejournal.com]

Cleolinda, you're lucky that you will soon be published (and do well, if your parodies are any indication)...I've been writing books (pre teen novels) since I was 9, have about 6 or 7 solid ones, and have only finished two. And I haven't even looked for an agent. Every summer I swear I'm going to work on my stories, finish them, do something with them...then I teach summer school, read new HP books, and spend the last month prepping for the next school year. I hope to spend a little time on them in August, but we'll see. And next year I start year-round school, so that will make it even more difficult. But I really like my books, and will see them through, even if it's 5 years from now and I have to update certain info to make things relevant.

Or then again, there is the horror

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

of that allegedly so sensitive poet and lyricist, Jim Morrison (gag, gag, gag)!!! Consider

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of that allegedly so sensitive poet and lyricist, Jim Morrison (gag, gag, gag)!!! Consider <a href-"http://www.doors4ever.com/alben/lyrics_touch_me.htm">Touch Me</a>, for instance. I alway hear Tom Jones singing it, for some reason, especially the verse I particularly abominate,
"i'm gonna love you
till the stars fall from the sky for you and i".
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I really like Patricia Kenneally, but the way she mourns over Morrison's third-rate stuff, you'd think he was Taliesen himself. She's ruined more than one of her lovely Keltiad series with her obsession with him, but I digress...

[pride4u2.livejournal.com]

I'm stuck there, too! I can't find any rocks to give to the bridgekeeper dude.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Take the pickaxe and go dig in the quarry--hit "x" to dig. That's where the rocks are. My problem is that I've found all the stuff and picked all the flowers and killed all the ladybugs and I *still* don't know what to do. (Birthday cake?)

[theatre-angel.livejournal.com]

When you're famous, I'll feel all special and stuff, because I'll have known you when you were merely a blogger on the Internet. :-D

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Holy shit, Unca Neil, this is fucked up!

You should hear Bebe Neuwirth read it (http://www.scifi.com/set/playhouse/snowglassapples/). I can't read it now without hearing her voice telling the tale, it's that good.

And sit that butt down and write! *points to chair*

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

I believe in you and in your talent. you can write and you have the skill to get the stories finished. Be lieve in yourself too and you will get it done.

[tropes.livejournal.com]

I think I read that Neil Gaiman story in an anthology a long time ago. Fucking creepy. :/

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

It may have been in one of the Windling/Datlow anthologies--the ones with names like "Black Thorn, Red Rose," or whatever. I keep meaning to pick some of those up on the cheap.

[syrenssong.livejournal.com]

You know, those of us who love bad '80s music have no room to complain about anything, really, but you know your grammar obsession has gone too far when it really gets on your nerves that the chorus to "Hungry Eyes" is "I feel the magic between you and I," which is not only WRONG WRONG WRONG, but doesn't even rhyme with "eyes" anyway.

::laugh:: I have to admit that I have a soft spot for bad 80's music. But your comment reminded me of something a member of the cast of True West that I was an assistant director of pointed out.

Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody has the wonkiest/crappiest lyrics.

Dontcha wanna dance
Say you wanna dance
Dontcha wanna dance
Dontcha wanna dance
Say you wanna dance
Dontcha wanna dance
Dontcha wanna dance
Say you wanna dance (uh huh)
With somebody who loves me

It makes no sense.

[mechamummy.livejournal.com]

I figured it out. You just put the donut on the thing and go to the donut level. I have no idea what the hell the carrot that you need the cake to get to is for.

[helloscoobie.livejournal.com]

Why don't you try a mood theme? The lj user Proverb has some awesome ones.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I would, but... I'm really attached to my hamsters.

[elbiesee.livejournal.com]

Write, m'lady... write like the wind!
(Forgive me... seen The Three Amigos once too many.)

I like that blog, too. Lots of instances of the human mind, God forgive us.

And I was frickin' raised in the '80s, so bring on the bad grammar! (To be fair, today's music isn't much better.)

[duncanatrix.livejournal.com]

Oh my GAWD. That Snow White story is gonna give me nightmares, I swear to God.

About Black Ribbon...I tried a couple times to pull up your site by clicking the icon on your LJ, but with no success. Por que?

I think that musicians believe themselves exempt from the laws of grammar and sense. I cringe at some things, being the English nerd that I am.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Crap... the front page is still messed up from when I was experimenting with the new cleolinda.com domain. Try going here: http://www.geocities.com/cleolindajones/contents.html

Lucky lucky!

[shirade.livejournal.com]

That's so amazing. You will get published, don't worry. It all revolves around that tooth dream. Just remember, that which is lost often contains something much greater within its dead self!

[prncssaurora.livejournal.com]

Hello, ma'am... I've joined your m15m community (at least, I'm pretty sure I did it right) and will be friending your journal momentarily. I'd just like to say that I think you're utterly hilarious, and I especially loved your Prisoner of Azkaban and Day After Tomorrow M15M's. And I really hope you get all your books out soon!

[/suckup]

Anywho, I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times before, but will you ever do any LOTR M15Ms? It'd be long, yes, but ever so funny.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

The publisher wants LOTR to be in the book in some form. Whatever doesn't make it into the book will probably get posted in the community. :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I re-read Black Ribbon the other night and loved it all over again. The only problem was the fact that I desperately wanted it to go on. Er... not that I'm trying to pressure you or anything. :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Aww! See, all I see are its flaws--the first chapter is stagy and kind of stiff, the ball goes on for way too long, and there's too much nattering about Chinese herbs (that's the scene I'm editing now). I've done a couple of word tweaks, maybe some simplifying of sentences here and there, but--I'm at that stage where you're conscious of what's wrong, but not how to fix it.

Just a thought.

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

You might get more done if you spent less time on LJ (entries and comments, though I'm quite fond of them myself), and more on actually writing without any distractions ;)

[thoughtcr1me.livejournal.com]

Brave you, going agent on us all! Best of luck--make sure to keep us posted, that's freaking incredible!

(omg!can!I!use!one!more!exclamation!point!)

Seriously, that's fantastic.

[princessebee.livejournal.com]

*sigh* So jealous of your luck!!!!

But congratulations, it is very cool news!

[wand-r-lust.livejournal.com]

maybe you'd be better off working at a more natural pace? i dunno, it just seems to me like when it comes to creative writing, if you try to rush it along before it's fully formed often doesn't do the story justice. i dont' know if you have to have it in by a certain time, but since you said "self imposed" deadlines, i assume you can take your time if you want to. but once the book's finished and published, you can't go back and edit it. so you might as well take your time and give it a chance to fulfill its potential. does that make sense? anyway, that's just my opinion.

[queentab.livejournal.com]

Please, please, please poke fun at King Arthur soon on M15M. I saw it last night and it is a movie made to be made fun of.

question....

[mudrat.livejournal.com]

>You know, those of us who love bad '80s music have no room to complain about anything, really, but you know your grammar obsession has gone too far when it really gets on your nerves that the chorus to "Hungry Eyes" is "I feel the magic between you and I," which is not only WRONG WRONG WRONG, but doesn't even rhyme with "eyes" anyway.<

much as i (half-heartedly) resent you right now, 'cause i now have that bloody song stuck in my head, i do have a question:

grammatically speaking, what's wrong with that line? i ask in all seriousness, because it seems to be taught differently depending which side of the ocean you're on.

here in Australia (and i believe in England as well - somebody please correct me if i'm wrong), in a line such as the one above, the phrase 'between you and i' is grammatically correct... but i have some friends in the U.S. who have mentioned that it should be 'between you and me' - which i was always taught is wrong. so now i'm curious...

Re: question....

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

"Between you and me" was how I was always taught, although different countries' rules--Australia, England, and/or Canada--often differ from American English, so you may be right.

What I was taught was that, if you could replace "I/me" with an object like him/her/us/them, you should use "me." That is, you could say, "Between the two of them" or "Between us." If you could replace "I/me" with a pronoun like he/she/we/they, you should use "I." Which means you end up with:

"Jane and I went to the circus." "We went to the circus."

"The girl went to the circus with Jane and me." "The girl went to the circus with us."