I spent far too much time on this game: Planarity. It’s addictive in its simplicity and elegance. I knew it was time to stop when I still saw the lines and vertices when I closed my eyes. Glah.
Hobkin’s nails tore a hole in my sheet, at which point I realized it was time he had a trim. He hates having his nails trimmed, the poor lil guy, but I’ve got a system. I hold him down and clip, and he huffs at me. I’m the only one that can seem to manage it. If fosteronfilm tries to assist, he gets snapped at. I managed to get all of Hobkin’s front toes, but nicked the quick on the last one. He winced and wriggled and glared at me accusingly, at which point I felt so guilty that I immediately stopped and gave him a cookie. Yeah, my pet skunk guilt tripped me.
Writing Stuff
Got an email from the editor of the Sages and Sword anthology. He’d offered to pay me for my story earlier, prior to publication, but the contract had stipulated “on publication.” I thought he’d forgotten our correspondence and I shrugged it off, but he had remembered and wanted to make sure he honored his offer. He suggested I cross out the relevant line in the contract and replace it before sending it back. Unfortunately, I’d already mailed back the contract. (So I asked him to do the crossing out before sending me my copy for my records.) I’m quite impressed by the professionalism and class that displayed on his part–to make sure I got paid when he said I would. Not to mention I can really use the money sooner. Alas, I wish payment on acceptance rather than publication was the industry standard instead of the exception.
My folktale is up at Critters, and so far, no love. Zero. Hunh.
103-day form reject from Absolute Magnitude. I had a feeling this one was coming. Actually, I’m expecting another one today or tomorrow as I heard they were having a slush party last weekend and I’ve got another submission with them. On the matter of slush parties, DNA, as far as I can tell, enlists friends and assorted acquaintances to sort through their submissions, regardless of editorial experience, plying them with food and drink. I guess the philosophy is that anything that really grips your average reader and makes it up to the editor is worth having a look at, or maybe they only invite knowledgable readers to their slush parties. I dunno. But it does strike me as haphazard and inconsistent.
200-day pass from Neo-Opsis after making it to their second round with invite to submit again.
New Words: 300
On the Korean folktale.
It’s up this week?! I thought it wouldn’t be up for a couple more weeks?
Err, I qualify as a “pro” so Andrew gives me an automatic bump up the Critters queue. So yup, I’m up this week.
Cool! I just thought you were going to run it past Matthew first…don’t pay any attention to me. 😉
So, I’m going to be the first one to critter it? 😀
Ah, yes. That explains mine coming yesterday as well. It does seem haphazard that way, doesn’t it? I knew an antho editor who did that, but her “party” were all pro writers plied with food and alcohol… 😎
Cutting Patti’s nails is a nightmare. She tries to tug her paw away at the exact second I begin to cut, which increases her odds of getting quicked exponentially. She also has this habit of gnawing on my knuckles. Apparently to show me her displeasure, and remind me that, even though she has no intention of doing so, she could hurt me if she wanted to.
Doc, as in all things, is a perfect angel.
My folktale is up at Critters, and so far, no love. Zero. Hunh.
Something tells me you won’t have to worry about that for long.
I was introduced to Planarity a few weeks ago, and promptly lost a night of sleep.
It’s evil. EVIL!
OT Question
I don’t have your phone number here with me at work, so I’ll try asking this way: Would you and Matthew like to play trivia with us at the Derby tonight?
Re: OT Question
Hi Sweetie. Thanks so much for the invite, but I think we’re going to pass this time. Matthew’s snowed under with Dragon*Con work, his brother is coming for a visit next week, and we’re eyeball deep into frantically-clean-the-house mode.
Re: OT Question
No problem. If you change your mind, though, you’ll be able to find us there at 7:30.
A reply in bullets!
-Curse you for showing a new game/drug! (spends another half-hour playing with points and lines)
-Thank you for bringing up Critters again, I finally bookmarked it, then sorted my bookmarks. Now, to write something for it… ^_^
Re: A reply in bullets!
Hee! *bows*
Hee. Mr. Hobkin has you well trained. “Cookie, please. Cookie, NOW!”
Pat Kirby
No kidding. He’s wily that little fuzzwit is. Has us wrapped around his little paw. But he’s so damn cute!
That’s unusual; usually your crits outnumber mine by a factor of 5 🙂 I got 5 critiques today, which is also out of the ordinary (for me) on the first day.
Well, I’ve sent a crit of your story today to rectify the situation.
Thank you! I’m looking forward to reading your comments. And I’ve just sent a crit of yours.
I read it last night, and I’ll do the crit sometime today, but things have been CRAZY! Blegh.
Critters
Your story there was one of the three I got in e-mail this week, so you’ll be getting at least one critique (for what it’s worth! 🙂 ) in the next few days!
Crit count
Hi Eugie,
I just sent a crit of “The Red String” off to the Critters megabrain, so you’ll probably have it very soon. It’s pretty positive, so keep your chin up. 🙂
Best,
Steve Parker,
Tokyo, Japan.
Gosh, I hate trimming animals’ nails. Whether this is a guinea pig or a dog…If they only knew how much I hate this, maybe (yes maybe) I can get them to cooperate.
I just sent in a crit.
And if you want addictive games, try Angband sometime. Downloadable from http://www.thangorodrim.net. Years of fun for everyone! And the monsters make such sweet noises when they die… Just watch out for the “breeds explosively” types. Being killed by Giant Lice is embarrassing.
Dreamwind the Critter