I am the king of procrastinators. If there was a kingdom of procrastinators I'd rule under the name of Procrastinatus the Great, First of his name, sovereign of slackers, Overlord of the realms of I'll-do-it-after-another-episode-of-Firefly-wait-scratch-that-another-re-run-oh-it's-that-late-already.
But I had a change of heart, or rather attitude.
So, three things happened.
First J.N. Khoury got picked up by a major publisher. And she's my age mind you. There's no jealousy involved here - quite the opposite. I am uber happy for her. I just realized that I lack her drive.
Second:
I got rejected by Beneath Ceaseless Skies BUT! Scott H. Andrews read the story until the end. The only issue he had was the ending. I like to think that I was rather close this time around.
Third:
The other day I noticed that some of my chapter printouts have mysteriously vanished. I thought nothing of it - I am a pro-slob. Things get lost all the time. Heck, finding them is part of the fun. Today I found some canned beef (SCORE!) in my drawer next to my passport(don't ask).
I ran out of cigarettes so I left The Pit (the pet name of my apartment) to bum some fags from my next door neighbor who happens to be a good friend of mine. So, I come enter his room and there is his girlfriend and another girl...
No. Let me rephrase this.
A Venus. A total babe. The kind of girl a stubbly, bespectacled "SUDO MAKE ME A SANDWICH" t-shirt wearing nerd can only dream of (have I mentioned that I also wear a d20 on a lanyard around my neck?).
Red hair, sweetest laugh and beautiful white teeth.
And she was reading my chapters.
That's right. My bastard of a friend swiped them during one of his visits. Adding insult to injury my friend says: "That's my friend, the writer guy."
...writer guy? WRITER GUY? Not even author or writer. Writer guy. The mental image most people conjure at this point is a bum. The fact that I was unshaven didn't help. Is there a more damning way to introduce me to a great looking girl?
"Oh, he is also our Dungeon Master."
Apparently there is. Go ahead man, tell her that I also play magic the gathering and own 3 Nendroids. At least pound that nail properly into my coffin, bro.
Don't get me wrong - I LOVE writing. But it's RARELY a good icebreaker, unless you're Voltaire. At this point my mental Muse, jealous as she is, whispered "Hahaha, you're f****d!"
Well, what happened is that she looked at me with sparkling eyes and said "You wrote this?"
Me: "Um, yeah. Uhhhhh, but this is a first draft. It's supposed to suck!!"
She: "This is really interesting! I want to know what happens next! And you even write in English! That's so cool, I LOVE English!"
We had a nice conversation. I tried my best to be charming. Whenever she talked to my friends girlfriend I sneaked a glance at her. I am pretty sure I blushed a couple of times. She on the other hand was smart, charming and funny.
So what are the results of this, seemingly orchestrated, encounter.
I became a workhorse. Today I managed to title the entire season of an upcoming anime which netted me a nice payment (so I can eat and stuff). I wrote 3 chapters. I studied for my midterms. I did a crit. Read a bit. Wrote some notes. I even worked out.
This has been going on for some time. A nasty break-up was partly the reason why depression hit me like it did. I still have my moments, but I munch on some zolofts and keep writing. Keep working and studying.
I mean... Someone wanted to read my stuff. Wow.
And we text occasionally. We'll go and have a drink after midterms.
I... I love this. I just love writing. And I definitely want to become published now. More than ever.
Sorry for the long rant!
Back to work!
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
Caliphate of Procrastistan, Emperor of Procrastilandia, Hedgemon of Procrastica had to win it by default of no one else wanting it, and they all at least got it together enough to put it on someone who didn't get around to saying no thank you in time.
Posted by redux (Member # 9277) on :
Foste - you *think* you might have a crush? Understatement of the year
extrinsic - your quip would be one interesting first sentence to a very strange book.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
I would fight you for the kingship of procrastinators but I just don't the gumption for it. maybe the next time a procrastinators surge hits me, or the time after.
While a pretty girl would ignite my muse/fuse, I think I would spend more time with her rather than shut the door to be by myself and write.
Hmm. No, wait. That's exactly what I (illogically and regretfully) did. Put down the pen and pick up the phone, Foste.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
quote:Originally posted by redux: extrinsic - your quip would be one interesting first sentence to a very strange book.
Thank you, redux. Coming eventually to a bookstore nearby, Killing Time: The Best Was Saved Until Last, to be published by Check's-in-the-Mail Yesterday.
Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :
You. Lucky. Bastard.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
In a certain way...ewwwwwww! Other than that, hang in there and go for it.
Posted by Heresy (Member # 1629) on :
Oh dear god, Extrinsic, you just made my morning. *gives a standing ovation*
Posted by enigmaticuser (Member # 9398) on :
If your writing is anything like your posts Foste, I imagine its quite entertaining.
I've had a similar situation. Except I'm married, and rather the powderkeg type motivation where I want to impress her so she'll not think I'm a slob. It's more of a diesely motivation where I want to make a few bucks on the side so she doesn't think she's married to a loser.
Either way, a good woman is a great motivation. I suppose it works for girls with guys too. I think Stephen King said something like this.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
quote:Originally posted by Heresy: Oh dear god, Extrinsic, you just made my morning. *gives a standing ovation*
Thanks, Heresy. -- a curtsey curtain call -- I didn't intend to borrow Foste's thunder.
Posted by Natej11 (Member # 8547) on :
If it makes you feel better I was thinking of tweaks to my burn/scry deck when I opened this thread, Foste. Your post was fun to read.
I'm embarrassed to admit I have no idea what Nendroids are, and I haven't read any of the books (which is incredible since I read everything). I'm more into MTG for the strategy, and I don't even own many of the super good rares.
I am a bit satisfied in knowing that my decks absolutely curb stomp my brother's and brother-in-law's. Both have been playing for years and one has dozens of mythic rares to play with.
Sorry, I just nerded out.
Posted by RoxanneCrouse (Member # 9172) on :
If your characters are anything like your post above, you should have no problem getting published. I agree, your first sentence would make an awesome hook for the beginning of a very interesting novel.
Posted by Foste (Member # 8892) on :
Thanks everyone! But I just heard from a friend that she's taken.
Rats.
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
Ah. NOW you have the classical author's true inspiration: the angst of unrequited love!
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"-- Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping something louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is and this mystery explore-- Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-- 'Tis the wind and nothing more. --(do I even need to tell you?)
I expect some great writing from you now, Foste!
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :
It's also worth pursuing a friendship, Foste. There are some topics that male friends simply are not good for. And there's always a chance of things changing... Posted by Foste (Member # 8892) on :
...Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Thanks, Doctor! I won't let you down! Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
I was on fire last night and tonight. and some the night before.
Couldn't get on the forum so I wrote. Started and finished a 3,200 word fantasy and last night and tonight worked on my latest Bookend Challenge story. I'm using most of the lines from the challenge to do a set of stories.
That was all after I got home from work with fixing dinner, doing e-mails and such.
Posted by Merlion-Emrys (Member # 7912) on :
I thought "The Raven" was about the impending death of Poe's wife?
Posted by rcmann (Member # 9757) on :
I thought Raven was about Poe being a coke addict and having a bad night?
Posted by Merlion-Emrys (Member # 7912) on :
Hmm that's a new one. I know he had a drinking problem (and was diabetic I believe, not a good mix) but I've never heard cocaine...
Posted by babooher (Member # 8617) on :
I was under the impression that Poe consumed every substance short of plutonium.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Interesting, isn't it, how, regardless of what "The Raven" may have meant to Poe, it means different things to his readers?
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
According to Wikipedia, the cocaine alkaloid wasn't isolated till 1855...since Poe died in 1849 it seems unlikely that "The Raven" is about him being a coke addict and having a bad night. (Of course he could'a chewed coca leaves...)
*****
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Because Poe wrote on both!
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
I thought about saying poe freaks but freaks here has a good and bad meaning depending on your age and personal history. I would mean in it the good way.
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