Insomnia rears its ugly head. Feh. Or maybe I’m still reeling from actually approving of something George W. did: protecting the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. I’m delighted by this; it’s hands down the finest thing this administration has done. But the world’s turned all topsy-turvy. Me like George W.? Bush is Green? Zounds. It’s worse than trying to wrap my mind around string theory. But I’m cheering for the sea turtles and fishies, nevertheless.
Also watched a feature on American badgers on Animal Planet the other day. The title of the show was Badgers: Dishing the Dirt, so I was hoping that there would be Eurasian badgers as well as American, but it was only the American variety. Still, I absolutely adore badgers of any nationality. Yank badgers are so grumpy; I can’t help but be enchanted and awed by their ferocity. And they had footage of badgers with their winter coats! Normally American badgers look flatish, sort of like a skunk someone’s applied a rolling pin to. But in winter, they become round puffs. Adorable. There was much girlie squeeing.
And finally, herein a video of a bear on a trampoline. Seems a black bear popped up in a tree in a residential area in Missoula, MT. When they couldn’t get him down, they stuck a big trampoline beneath the tree and shot him with a tranq. Much funny bear fwing. Note: The bear’s okay. Although the video looks like he landed hard on his head, he’s fine, just really, really doped up. After his bounce-flop (and after he revived from the tranq), they released him back into the wild.
Writing Stuff
The Mobicon folks got back to me and, coolest of cool, they said “Yepper, yep.” So of course I did too. I’m going to Mobicon 2007, woo!
New Words:
– 1500 on a new freelance gig. Working hard. Making peanuts. Sigh.
I miss fiction writing. A lot. If I’m working this hard to earn match sticks, then I want to get more emotional gratification out of it. Lamentably, fiction earns fewer peanuts and is harder. Still, I think I need to consciously slot some time to indulge my muse before she gets in a huff, packs her bags, and goes off to stay with her mother.
Received:
– Acceptance from Skipping Stones for “How Rabbit Crossed the Sea.” I subbed to these folks because I love their editorial philosophy and the magazine’s mission: “Skipping Stones is a nonprofit children’s magazine that encourages cooperation, creativity and celebration of cultural and environmental richness.” Although I suspected from their guidelines that they didn’t pay. They don’t say whether they do or not, nor do they say what rights they want, but I figured since they accepted esubs, I’d ask if it became relevant.
It did, so I did.
No, they don’t pay (sigh). I much prefer it when markets are upfront about such things. And they’re asking for both (nonexclusive) print and electronic rights. I deliberated whether I wanted to give them the story. I mean, I’m all for writing as an art and for a cause, but I’m also a working writer, and I’m all for not starving too.
So I decided I’d be willing to part with print rights in the name of fostering diversity and multicultural education, but not electronic–as that would make it effectively available to the world instead of just Skipping Stones‘s subscribers, making it rather awkward to sell to a reprint market. Emailed the editor and waiting now to see if something can be worked out. Also suggested they explicitly state the “no money for contributors” thing in their GLs.
500/day
44
I had exactly the same reaction: why is it that I am approving of something George W. Bush did? There must be something wrong with the universe. The mind reels.
The New York Times ran an editorial today approving of Bush’s actions:
“An unfamiliar but highly appealing side of President Bush showed itself at the White House yesterday. It was Mr. Bush the compassionate conservationist, friend of green sea turtles, seabirds and Hawaiian monk seals, savior of coral reefs and spiny lobsters, creator of the largest ocean sanctuary on the planet.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/16/opinion/16fri2.html
re: skipping stones
maybe it’s the capitalist in me but i’m sorry, if they aren’t compensating you for your work, they shouldn’t be asking you to forfeit your printing rights.
Re: skipping stones
Normally I’m in total agreement. I don’t submit to “4theluv” markets because I think writers should get paid. But this story has gotten a fair share of rejections, and I like this magazine’s philosophy.
Everyone should love badgers. We are adorable and cuddly. Anyone who thinks otherwise will be eaten!
Hmm … George W. protecting the Hawaiian Islands, eh? There must be no oil there.
My thoughts as well. :p
Do you at least get a free contrib. copy of Skipping Stones?
Yep. “Several” according to the editor. Although again, vagueness seems to be the overriding theme of this magazine’s relationship with writers. He didn’t specify how many. Pfft.
Which is why I have a policy of: “If I don’t see $ signs in the guidelines, I don’t sub.”
Unless it’s a reprint I’m subbing and, like Better Fiction did, they ask nicely for it.
And am I the only person here not surprised that Bush has a conservationist side to him?
Side?
I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say he has a conservationist side, but I’d agree that as long as there is no political price he’d have to pay in conserving land then he’ll be happy to do so. So, being pro-environment by setting aside scenic areas with little or no politically-powerful economic opposition gets a thumbs up from the Bush administration. Being pro-environment by enacting or enforcing regulations opposed by economic interests (say raising fuel effeciency standards in autmobiles) gets a thumbs down.
Re: Side?
I agree with you on that one.
This Skipping Stones issue scares me, Eugie. What if the story becomes an all-time fave? Beware!
Do you know when Mobicon 2007 is at this point. Silly me, couldn’t find it on the website. I’d love to attend, although it’s during Bryan’s time at the Tennessee Ren Fest if it’s May. He’s usually the one of us that gets invited for programs. Sigh.
Bear
Did you see any of the other video clips on that site? Wow. What a fun little ride into human nature that is. 🙂
Eugie, your muse can come stay with me any time it wants to. 🙂
But in spite of that, I think you should work on fiction at least an hour a day. I’m setting aside time each day to work on my fiction, and I’m not as talented as you are. You mustn’t let that talent dry up and blow away! (Like our garden at the moment…oh, for some rain!)