Laptop anxieties

My laptop has spontaneously turned itself off a couple times in the last few days. The first time, I thought I’d accidentally hit the little hibernation switch which activates when the lid is closed, but the second time I wasn’t anywhere near it. And even if I had toggled the switch, it ought to have put itself into hibernation, not turned itself off. Fortunately, I didn’t lose any data–I hit SAVE like someone with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Word’s automatic recovery snagged the files I had open both times–but my anxiety levels are spiking.

   


Writing Stuff

Got the interview questions from Aberrant Dreams. For the most part, they’re the normal fun/fluff/quirky silliness I’d expect, but there’s a couple notable exceptions. There’s one question asking my opinions on Kafka and de Maupassant with regard to their modern marketability, and one asking me to deconstruct several works with regard to the psychological impact of their literary technique. Erm. When I read those, I suddenly felt like I was back in grad. school during test time, or maybe filling out grad. applications–you know the kind where they want you to answer a couple essay questions to evaluate your knowledge and writing ability. I’m not sure if I should try to compose a treatise of “Eugie’s Literary Theories”–which I can’t imagine anyone would want to read–or blither about what I think of Kafka, the works in question, et al, or if I should just try to come up with something funny. *blink* It’s certainly an interesting set of questions.

If folks want to see what I come up with, the interview should come out in their January issue.

Received:
– Final approval from the editor on “Princess Bufo marinus, I Call Her Amy.” Woohoo!
– My contrib. copies of Fantasy Magazine #1. (Still awaiting payment, though.)
– An email from Story Station two months after I queried them, letting me know they’re still considering my submission. Going on a total of six months that they’ve held that story. Their GLs say they aim for a one month turnaround and to query after two. Grumf.

New Words:
– 200 or so on the requested editorial changes on “Princess Bufo marinus, I Call Her Amy.”
– 700 on “Rue and Ruin.” I’m beginning to get anxious about the sprawling word count on this one. I’ve still got at least two scenes to go before the end, and less than 1.5K to do them in. Miss Muse is apparently feeling verbose, the contrary floozy!

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
10,659 / 12,000
(88.8%)

Club 100 For Writers
      50

500/day
      101

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10 Responses to Laptop anxieties

  1. tstauffer says:

    Your battery on the laptop might need replacing. Also check and see if maybe it is loose. I’ll ask my hubby what he thinks it could be. He’s smart about those things.

    • Eugie Foster says:

      I don’t think it could be the battery, because both times it happened, I was working on AC power. Actually, I usually work plugged in, because the battery on my laptop is so pathetic. The thing can’t even last two hours on a full charge.

  2. Hope you fix your laptop soon.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Kafka? I’ve, uh, heard of him.

    Anyhow, have a great Thanksgiving.

    Pat Kirby

  4. dream_wind says:

    When I read those, I suddenly felt like I was back in grad. school during test time

    It’s stuff like this that is the reason I never studied literature at uni. I’m stickin’ to history.

    Rawkin’ word count! Go Girl!

  5. cyber_pagan says:

    I’ve had the same problem with the wifes laptop and its the CPU fan. On a laptop it turns on when the CPU hits a certain temp and only runs until its cooled off. I assume this is to save battery. Well if the fan doesn’t turn on for some reason the CPU will overheat and the system will power itself off. There is generally no error message or anything for this. Just listen for the fan to start while your using it, and if you never hear it then thats the problem.

    • Eugie Foster says:

      I think you’re on to something there. The CPU fan does turn on, fairly regularly, although the times that my laptop powers itself off, the fan wasn’t going. But I may be overworking the poor thing, and it’s therefore overheating. Hmm. I wonder if those platform/lapdesk thingies that are supposed to help move heat away work . . .

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