I'm hoping that this helps me to submit more, because it will be easier to pick out the short stories from flash. And when I have some moments to write, I can pick up something in the "false starts" folder, and maybe get more works finished and ready to submit.
I didn't completely get rid of the "exercises" folder ... I have one piece from a writing exercise that I don't plan to develop further.
So, how are your writing folders organized?
- I'm feeling:
optimistic
Today at the Words Alive on-the-spot poetry contest, I won second prize!
The poem will be posted on their web site. There was a cash prize.
- I'm feeling:
creative
I just read about a Novella contest, and now I'm wondering if that is the direction to go. Reducing it to 20K words or less might help me distill the essence and keep only the bits worth saving.
Perhaps, once more, I shall be writing Mysterious Paris.
- I'm feeling:
hopeful
Curious? Check out my Liberty Hall Writers blog posts about my experiences using Celtx.
Celtx is available for Mac OS X, Windows XP, and Linux.
- I'm feeling:
geeky
So far, I've read enough of the following categories to cast my vote:
* Best short story
* Best professional artist
* Best fan artists
* Campbell Awards/Best new writer
And I'm in the midst of working my way through the following categories:
* Best graphic novel
* Dramatic presentation, long form
I really should try to get through "Best related book," as I bought and looked at Spectrum 15. But, it's a weird category with things that aren't the same. It feels like I'm being asked to choose between a slice of German Chocolate Cake and an episode of True Blood.
I also plan to check out the Semiprozine entries to cast my vote, because I heard that category is at risk.
Are you reading and viewing Hugo nominees? If you're voting, in which categories are you voting?
- I'm feeling:
contemplative
You can read my blog posts at Liberty Hall Writers to find out my thoughts on using it to plan a novel.
- I'm feeling:
productive
I was really enjoying the Dresden Files graphic novel - until I ran into some blatant product placement that so far doesn't make much sense, and is distracting me from the story. WTF? The scene came totally by surprise - even if you eliminate the brand-name reference, which is what makes the product placement so weird.
- I'm feeling:
confused
Your result for Which fantasy writer are you?...
Tove Jansson (1914-2001)
33 High-Brow, -11 Violent, 21 Experimental and -1 Cynical!

Congratulations! You are High-Brow, Peaceful, Experimental and Romantic! These concepts are defined below.
Tove Jansson was a Finnish painter, sculptor and writer. She was part of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland and so wrote her books, including her most famous works, the Moomin books, in Swedish. The Moomin books (1945-70), though perhaps not considered fantasy by some, are nevertheless fine examples of world-building for children, centred around the inhabitants of the Moomin Valley, where a family of white trolls known as moomin trolls live, and always return to, though they occasionally leave for adventures in the outside world. Though many of the Moomin books are pure childrens' books, Jansson conducted the experiment of letting the series turn more adult as she went along, the last three books (one collection of short stories and two novels) being psychologically complex stories that are just as fit, or sometimes perhaps more fit, for adults. Still, Jansson's somewhat romantic vision of the Valley as a peaceful haven of family life in the midst of a sometimes frightening and dark world is retained through-out the books. Though she considered herself a painter rather than a writer, Tove Jansson will always be remembered as one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest writer of children's books of all times.
You are also a lot like Philip Pullman.
If you want some action, try Gene Wolfe.
If you'd like a challenge, try your exact opposite, David Eddings.
Your score
This is how to interpret your score: Your attitudes have been measured on four different scales, called 1) High-Brow vs. Low-Brow, 2) Violent vs. Peaceful, 3) Experimental vs. Traditional and 4) Cynical vs. Romantic. Imagine that when you were born, you were in a state of innocence, a tabula rasa who would have scored zero on each scale. Since then, a number of circumstances (including genetical, cultural and environmental factors) have pushed you towards either end of these scales. If you're at 45 or -45 you would be almost entirely cynical, low-brow or whatever. The closer to zero you are, the less extreme your attitude. However, you should always be more of either (eg more romantic than cynical). Please note that even though High-Brow, Violent, Experimental and Cynical have positive numbers (1 through 45) and their opposites negative numbers (-1 through -45), this doesn't mean that either quality is better. All attitudes have their positive and negative sides, as explained below.
High-Brow vs. Low-Brow
You received 33 points, making you more High-Brow than Low-Brow. Being high-browed in this context refers to being more fascinated with the sort of art that critics and scholars tend to favour, rather than the best-selling kind. At their best, high-brows are cultured, able to appreciate the finer nuances of literature and not content with simplifications. At their worst they are, well, snobs.
Violent vs. Peaceful
You received -11 points, making you more Peaceful than Violent. This scale is a measurement of a) if you are tolerant to violence in fiction and b) whether you see violence as a means that can be used to achieve a good end. If you aren't, and you don't, then you are peaceful as defined here. At their best, peaceful people are the ones who encourage dialogue and understanding as a means of solving conflicts. At their worst, they are standing passively by as they or third parties are hurt by less scrupulous individuals.
Experimental vs. Traditional
You received 21 points, making you more Experimental than Traditional. Your position on this scale indicates if you're more likely to seek out the new and unexpected or if you are more comfortable with the familiar, especially in regards to culture. Note that traditional as defined here does not equal conservative, in the political sense. At their best, experimental people are the ones who show humanity the way forward. At their worst, they provoke for the sake of provocation only.
Cynical vs. Romantic
You received -1 points, making you more Romantic than Cynical. Your position on this scale indicates if you are more likely to be wary, suspicious and skeptical to people around you and the world at large, or if you are more likely to believe in grand schemes, happy endings and the basic goodness of humankind. It is by far the most vaguely defined scale, which is why you'll find the sentence "you are also a lot like x" above. If you feel that your position on this scale is wrong, then you are probably more like author x. At their best, romantic people are optimistic, willing to work for a good cause and an inspiration to their peers. At their worst, they are easily fooled and too easily lead.
Take Which fantasy writer are you? at HelloQuizzy
BTW, I LOVED the Moomin' books, so this makes me happy.
- I'm feeling:
amused
- I'm feeling:
relaxed
They very nicely wrote back:
Michele-
Volume #8 of Girl Genius ran online from February 4, 2008 to November 19, 2008.
Here's a link directly to the first page of Volume #8:
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.p
The easiest way to navigate around is using the drop-down list of chapter headings at the bottom of the comic. We've got the volumes' beginning and ending pages marked throughout the list.
Thanks for reading!
Best regards,
-Althea
Assistant to the Professors
Studio Foglio
- I'm feeling:
cheerful
Yesterday I still hadn't finished the non-hugo-nominated book that I had been reading, so I checked out all the web sites of the nominated fan artists and entered rankings in my spreadsheet. Last night I finished the novel, so I'm now onto the stories.
Some of you probably started with the novels, but as I started my reading late, I'm not sure I can finish the novels in time for voting. Especially Anathem! Which is a BIG book. So, I've decided to start with shorter works, and then tackle the novels. I'm starting with the Campbell nominees. We have some awesome new writers!
Preparing to vote for the Hugos is keeping me busy - but in a good way! It's good to cut back on the internet and tv and spend more time reading.
- I'm feeling:
busy
Does this sound like something you'd like to use? Thanks to Mary Robinette Kowal (
I'm using the spreadsheet to track which materials I have (the vote packet is not complete, and I don't own everything), which I've read, and my ranking (to be prepared for voting). A second tab lists all materials not included in the package (with the exception of editors and artists). For the artists not included in the package, in the Comments column I added the URL of their artist sites. Including for the fan sites!
BTW, today I went out to purchase materials not in the package and found out that Girl Genius Volume 8 is not yet in print! It's still at the printer. I'm really confused, because I thought that the Hugo nominees were for works published in 2008 (or also including 2007 for Campbell nominees), but I haven't read the rules. Girl Genius is also available as a web comic.
*UPDATE* Girl Genius Volume 8 ran online from February 4, 2008 to November 19, 2008. Click here for the first page.
- I'm feeling:
geeky
Right now there's a flash fiction contest, a short story contest, and a poetry contest. To enter, you submit your work for the contest and you critique 4 pieces. You'll receive 3 critiques of your piece, and have a chance at winning the prize.
I entered a Flash that I first wrote at Liberty Hall in the contest.
Are any of you on that site? I'm mmarques at Review Fuse (as elsewhere). I'll have to see how it ends up for getting feedback, but I'm sure I'll continue for the sake of entering the contests.
The site also has writing exercises, blog posts, a forum, and so on.
- I'm feeling:
creative - I'm listening to:CP24
I thought I had moved it, along with all my other writing, onto my current computer. But I can't find it. Hopefully it's hiding on the ancient computer.
- I'm feeling:
curious
This is the story that I submitted to the Ad Astra "instant fiction" contest.
When you stare into blackness, do you see a hockey puck, which has filled your gaze until you no longer see the gleaming white ice? Mona had forgotten that there was more to this game than the promise of Joey's scholarship to Moon Base U. She was deaf to the cheers of friends and other parents. She missed every pass and save that didn't involve Joey.
Joey's stick found the puck as he lightninged between enemy players. Mona stood and shouted. She trembled at the rawness of her throat, the anticipation of release with his goal. When a brute shouldered Joey into the glass, he lost the puck. Joey skated after number 38, his stick raised high.
When the ref sent Joey to the penalty box, time slowed down. Joey wouldn't shoot the winning goal. He was stuck on Earth without any chance of advancement.
It was like the time she hit the pot hole on the 400 and broke the axle on her Toyota Electric. She had missed spring break at Algonquin, the call of the loon, and any chance of romance with Peter Tyler. If she hadn't hit that pot hole, she might be a star ship admiral's wife.
Mona swallowed the sob that threatened to bubble out of her throat. She clawed through her purse until her fingers curled around the phaser.
Her entire life focused into a single beam. She vaporized the ref. She tried to catch Joey's gaze before the blackness engulfed her and she collapsed.
The rules for this year's contest has us write as close to 250 words as possible. (Not just a max word count) Also, we had to include the following 3 items:
* a pot hole on the 400 (highway heading north from Toronto into cottage country)
* a loon
* a hockey puck
I had a lot of false starts! But I did turn in the story. Tomorrow, I'll find out the results.
Today's panels were great. But the best part was the steam punk fashion show. The show was great.... and lots of people attending were in costume. It was really popular, and it looks like they'll hold the fashion show again next year.
- I'm feeling:
creative
I should have flashed last weekend at Liberty Hall to get back in practice.
Any of you planning to join in the instant fiction fun?
- I'm feeling:
pleased
I'm currently revising. I might even submit later tonight... there's not much time before the contest ends, and I don't want something to come up and prevent me from entering.
- I'm feeling:
creative
- Location:Pleasanton, California
