Break

Many of the 'Boxers have left already. I haven't cried yet but I can feel everything coming on so fast...

I will miss this place. Deeply.

More later when tears aren't threatening.

Simple

This is a hummingbird at Locked's feeder. There's four of them which frequently visit to snack on sugar water. This is one of the girls.

This workshop has been the most intellectually stimulating, challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. It easily rivals all of my previous academic pursuits.

Altitude

I had expected to have more time this weekend to organize my life, but that plan was pretty much shot by Saturday morning. I didn't end up going to the Pueblo (tummy issues) but many of the other 'Boxers obliged me with photos and stories.

I got some work done Saturday afternoon before the whole group met up to listen to Carrie Vaughn. She gave such a good counterpoint perspective to Nancy and Walter. She's only been in the business professionally for about 5 years, and she writes series. She had some great, motivating stuff to say about setting goals, and knowing the difference between a goal and a milestone.

Afterwards, we all trekked down the mountain to The Old Blinking Light, a New Mexican restaurant. I had a very good blue cheese salad, and all of the dishes looked tasty.

Sunday turned into something quite unexpected. I had planned to do most of my work and laze around (which I did, a little - managed to sleep til 10:30!) and spend the day in the Valley. That just wasn't to be. First I went down to Taos with Atlantean, chatted, came back up. Then I went to ice cream with Locked in the local town, came back up. Finally I went back into Taos for McD's with Buffalito, Dreamtime and Atlantean. It's a forty-five minute drive each way, and two thousand feet.

Needless to say, that really took a toll on my body. I crashed in my room for awhile, but the nausea passed. I ended up writing well into the evening, and then submitted the Prologue, as well as Chapters 1-2, of a new project (which only my family has seen previously). It's come a long way thusfar, so I'm excited for my second critique...

... which happens tomorrow. Gulp! Wish me luck!

Visual

This is an out-of-focus moth on the hand of Rocker. This might give you some idea that bugs, second only to the weather, are a force to be reckoned with here.


This is a lecture by Walter Jon Williams!

This is just before a critique. You can tell that this absolutely thrills Locked.

This is pre-critique, post-breakfast conversation. We have Hand, Shadows, Nancy Kress!, Cogitoad, Teeth and Ghost here.

New

This week has absolutely flown by. Mm cliches. My submission was critiqued on Wednesday, and it went well! I was a bit freaked about it, but I heard a lot of what I knew, and some things that I did not know. I'm looking forward to revising my thesis again once I'm back home.

Right now I'm working on a new piece (short story? novella?) of which I have 1,500 words. I need about 8,000 but hey, it's a start. I got most of the words out while hanging out with Locked, Atlantean and Hand. It's stunning to be writing, look up and ask how I should write an action scene, and get three valid, descriptive responses. The story is high fantasy, a step aside from my usual YA stuff. I love the idea. I'm not sure I'm executing on it well, but I'll know for sure next week when we critique it.

I seriously will take photos of the group this weekend. Seriously. Otherwise someone should bug me. Or comment about the lack of photos.

I've been into town every day this week except for today. I slept for two hours this afternoon, which was glorious. I have to say I think I do feel better because I've been going down 3,000 feet. Tomorrow we'll go into town for pizza, which I'm stoked for. It'll be nice to get off the mountain with everyone.

The writing of this blogpost was sidelined several times, so I'm sorry if it's disjointed. I'll plug Nancy's blog one more time because she fills in all the gaps that I'm missing here. And she's hilarious.

Hilarity

We had out first class and critique session today. Walter asked us not to divulge the critiques, since that's private. This makes total sense to me. On the other hand, so many funny things happened! You can read a fabulous synopsis written by our other host/organizer/guide Nancy Kress here. It is a sad truth, but too few SF stories have been written about toilets.

I once again ventured into the main town today with Buffalito and Anna. We had a list of things to feed at least 8 people, so we made several stops. It was good to get out, though, and see a real live city. Of course when we came back it was raining and dinner had just been served.

The better part of the evening was dedicated to critiquing work, reading over published stories, and working on the first exercise. All of these were challenging, so after I kicked back with Locked, Atlantean, Hand, Hat, Buffalito and Walter joined us at one point too. The conversation rolled brisquely from inappropriate jokes to what's working in our stories, and what isn't.

It is so profoundly inspiring to be around so many other people grappling with the same passion, the same love. I have learned so much in two days. I cannot imagine where I will be in another ten.

View

As promised, a photo of the valley. It's so beautiful, but the weather is something to be reckoned with. After this picture was taken, it started to hail.

Midday

I promise I will get photos up soon! I haven't taken any of the groups yet, and that's what I'm waiting for. This morning Buffalito and Anna arrived. They were kind enough to take me to the store (a good 35 minute drive) where I loaded up on more food and various other supplies.

When we came back we found Locked and Cogitoad waiting for us. We just helped them settled in, and I'm taking a quick breather before diving into the submissions I haven't yet read.

I'm in awe of the sound of an actual stream outside my door. And of the nearly inch-long ant which seems to be my room's guardian.

I do miss home. I miss my own bed. I miss the boyfriend and the Rabbit. But I'm excited to see what tomorrow has in store for us!

Prologue

I'm in New Mexico!! Yet another state I can cross off my list, making it 31 states that I have formally visited (i.e. spent a chunk of time in, outside of airports). I haven't spent a whole lot of time exploring the Southwest (Cali does not count) so this is a new experience for me.

A lot of Santa Fe was as described: art-inspiring. The landscape, which could be dull and still be a perfectly normal desert, is breathtaking. The Painter brought out warm tones - russet and copper and wheat, with a dash of pale green shrubbery - to make this place unique. And then, somehow, there are mountains, and evergreens, and streams. From the desert straight to the forest.

We are nestled in the most picturesque valley, complete with steep walls and a gushing creek you can hear even when the doors and windows are shut. I spent a good chunk of time taking photographs from my balcony before meeting the workshop organizers and a fellow 'Boxer, Atlantean. The four of us went to a very nice dinner down the hill, and I am now exhausted beyond reason.

Traveling will tucker you out.

Traveling to 10,000 feet will completely wipe your system.

Tomorrow everyone else arrives (and will be given nicknames on the spot). Until then, good night!

Packing

I can't believe this is all happening so fast! I mean I knew when I applied (just managed to duck the deadline) that it would be a quick turnaround. But it feels like way less than one month.

Today is dedicated to errands, packing, and reading the final submission. I'd also like to try to finish Steal Across the Sky, but on the other hand, I think it will make excellent plane flight reading material.

I've put out at least twice as much stuff as will fit in my suitcase. Phooey. I also keep trying to pack this small, fluffy thing, but he's as rebellious as ever. I'll try to get a photo of him inside of the case later, when I've recooped some of my energy.

In addition to packing, I feel like I'm putting out a lot of small fires. That being said, one of my favorite OC gals gave me an amazing gift last night. Brought tears to my eyes. It's good to know that when I decide to leave certain groups, games, etc. behind, there will always be a mark - however small - that I've left in my wake. Thank you, Nellie.

I should really scoot off to the store... said fluffy thing will be unenthused if he runs out of food while I'm gone. So demanding!

TINAG

Late last night I finished Walter Jon Williams' This Is Not a Game. It's the longest of the books I picked for the workshop, but it didn't feel like it. Probably because I couldn't put it down for more than a few hours.

The story centers on Dagmar, a woman who creates storylines for ARGs, which are like MMOs with a real world component. You might be asked to stop an alien invasion on Venus, but in order to do so, you'll have to drop off a package at LAX. Like actually, physically get your butt over that horrendous airport.

It's a very cool concept, and all the more enjoyable because I've been reading so much "foundational" scifi. WJW's work is very brisk, the characters are dynamic, and I loved the incorporation of social networking into this thriller. I'm highly recommending this book to any and all scifi nerds, especially gamers and those with an economics background.

I've still got 6 submissions left to read and critique, but I'm getting through them more and more quickly. I love it when the author asks questions. That really helps to direct my critiques. And I'm finally, fully excited to meet everyone at the workshop. The butterflies seem quiet, for now.

Critique

For the workshop, everyone must submit one piece of less than 10,000 words for the first week. In Courier New 12 pt. this is about fifty pages per person. Some of the submissions have been the first few chapters of a novel, and others have been short stories.

I have to admit that I am totally digging every single one thusfar.

Since these are unpublished, I don't want to write too much about them. But we have stories about wizards and dreams, conspiracies and the apocalypse. The ones I've read so far haven't been too scifi, or too fantasy, or too urban. They're all a nice muddling of genres, which I love. Had I, instead, read these in the Taos Toolbox Quarterly Vol 3.2, I would have been equally delighted. This is high quality work.

I'm not sure that my critiques are on the right track... I tend to write about what I love, instead of what can be improved. I hope this will be helpful to everyone else, and I can always revise my critiques once I'm at the workshop, and have a feel for what the others are saying.

It's a whole new challenge to critique a lot of work at this level. I'm up to it, and I'm enjoying it, but it's still intimidating. I've still got 8 submissions left to read, as well as finishing TINAG and Steal Across the Sky.

Dragon

Today I read Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn. I fell into the novel, and I'm happy to say that it was a jaunty read the entire way through. I had no trouble at all flipping through all three hundred pages, and for that I am very grateful.

I feel a cosmic connection to this book. First, I have long been fascinated by dragons. My father gave me books from the Pern series and the Pit Fighter Trilogy when I was very young. I haven't escaped their claws since.

Vaughn carefully, and artfully, brings dragons into the modern world. In fact, they've been active, but sequestered, since World War II. Her heroine is Kay (and anyone who knows me will understand exactly why my jaw dropped when I read the first page). She is a teenager, confused about the world of dating, but willing to part with reality to fly with dragons.

How I envy her.

I'm very much looking forward to meeting Carrie Vaughn, although I'm not sure how much we'll interact with her. I'm going to start on WJW's work this evening and hopefully put a good dent in it before bed!

Nova

Just finished one of our two required readings. Nova, by Samuel R. Delany, was first published in 1968. It is beautiful. The book follows a crew in search of a rare substance, which can be obtained in large quantities by flying through a star when it goes nova. The hero is flawed, the villains are twisted, and philosophy abounds.

I especially loved the inclusion of the Tarot throughout. Now I really wish I had learned more about it when I was younger and fascinated by the cards. Also, I'm very grateful that I took a course in astronomy in college. It definitely helped!

I'm looking forward to talking about how Delany builds his world(s). In case I hadn't totally sold the book to you, here's my favorite passage...


“I was born,” the Mouse said. “I must die. I am suffering. Help me. There, I just wrote your book for you.”

Katin looked at his big, weak fingers against the mail. After a while, he said, “Mouse, sometimes you make me want to cry.”

Variety

In case anyone ever wondered where the most beautiful spot on earth is... it's here, staring at the Sapphire Pool in Yellowstone National Park. This single vantage point has inspired me to write countless stories.

I want to go back. Yesterday.

Submission

And after all that huffing and puffing about something new to submit to the Toolbox, I ended up submitting the first chapter of my complete novel. Would I rather submit something from my new YA urban fantasy? Sure. Is it ready? Hell no.

Compromises, compromises.

It was very satisfying to re-read my thesis from start to finish again. I find that I like the ending more than the beginning. Maybe I'm just trying to shoot myself in the foot... in any case, I did the logical thing and submitted the first chapter. It's well under the maximum word count, but hopefully it will give the other 'Boxers (oh yes, I'm making up terms!) time to really critique the whole thing.

Even after several workshops and rounds with the insightful (and astoundingly patient) Jim Blaylock, I know this book still needs work.

The best part? I still want to work on it.

The worst? I also want to work on the new book. Also, my family seems to be really excited about it, but no surprise there since the scenery is all Big Sur.

My submission makes 8 total. I plan to read Nova, This Is Not a Game, Voices of Dragons, and Steal Across the Sky this week. Next week will be for submissions, so that they are fresh in my mind.

Homework, man. I thought I missed it.

Acceptance

It's every writer's dream to spend two weeks writing in the company of other writers, holed up in a remote location.

Or at least, it definitely is my dream.

This June I'll be spending two weeks at Taos Toolbox, a writer's workshop for advanced writers who need a little shove in the right direction. I might need a bit more than that...

When I first received my acceptance letter from Walter Jon Williams, I fluttered around the apartment, gooey-eyed and chattering too fast for my brain to keep up. Luckily my mind's the turtle in this race, and eventually it crossed the finish line.

Oh crap.

Two weeks.

In New Mexico.

With writers better than me.

What was I thinking???

The panic lasted much longer than the elation, I'm sorry to say, but here I am now, a week later, working on something new to use as my submission to the workshop. It's going to be messy, and I'm going to have to swallow my pride, but every day that brings Taos closer, I get a little bit more excited.