I have been remiss in keeping up to date here. My main excuse is the switch to the Dvorak keyboard layout. I got out of the habit of messaging, emailing, and posting when I couldn’t freakin’ type!

Regardless of the slowness (which I have to admit is improving,) the Iditarod story is plodding along. I think I’m going to toss the outline out the window, however. Writing SF or mainstream or some other genre with an outline is well worth the minor level of constriction involved. But, writing lesbian romance is another matter entirely. I think I need to be open to a more organic approach, as I did in the beginning. A rough outline, yes, but not an extensively detailed one. I’ve realized the rough and tumble emotions are lacking when I follow an outline; not good for romance.

Which is not to say I’ll avoid an outline altogether. I simply won’t have every little step of the way planned ad nauseum.

I spent the day working on chapter five, and editing Tiopa Ki Lakota yet again. This was MY line by line edit, so I can safely consign the final proof to the publisher. I know, I know. I keep saying that this is the last round of edits, and another pops up. It’s all wishful thinking on my part. Sooner or later, I’ll receive my copies in the mail, and THEN I can breathe a sigh of relief that the project is complete. Why do I keep forgetting that?

And here’s a character sketch I found on one of those many days when I piddled about my documents file because typing was a horrid chore

He walks with the exaggerated swagger of a 1960’s street punk from Harlem, a sort of half limp, one shoulder dropped, one arm dragging slower than the other. The type of gait considered cool among African American men of my youth. He’s wiry, bone thin, and very pissed off. His mouth is in constant motion as he bitches at no one walking beside him, stopping occasionally to throw his hands down to his sides to stress his utter indignation. It’s odd how easy it is to watch him, yet discretely turn away as he turns in my direction. He’s across the street and I’m in a coffee shop. Even the distance of twenty-five feet isn’t safe enough from his madness. Will he vent his fury on whoever catches his eye, whoever sees him as a human being? Will he see me watching from my safe haven, and come over in his slouching Cool brand of walk to fill me in? I’d rather not risk it. My eyes drift down the street, as if I’m not seeing him at all. But you have to wonder . . . maybe if people truly saw him, he wouldn’t be venting his anger to an invisible companion.

Since finding the file, I’ve been meaning to add more. Just saw a man today that was interesting, as a matter of fact. Maybe I’ll type it up tomorrow.

First, Need is posted. Don’t read it at work! I won’t be responsible for the results!

Second, I’m cruising my friends list, and found this wonderful gem from chuckdarwin. It’s hilarious!

Spent the last three days working on a short entitled, Need. It’s a companion piece to Want. I’ll post it later tonight.

I had planned to go to Coffee People to write. Unfortunately, my Palm is half out of juice, and I still have errands to run. So, I'll do a Stop N Go to pick up caffeine before I continue on. Bummer.

Just heard from a friend that Castle Walls in number one at Libertas, the online lesbian book distributor in the U.K.! Way cool! I can’t imagine what’s going to happen when Tiopa Ki Lakota comes out.

Been working and writing. I’m now on the fourth chapter of the Iditarod story. I also started a companion piece to my short story, Want. It’s entitled Need, and is from a young Margaurethe’s point of view the day after her thorough ravishing by Elisibet.

The Dvorak switch is plugging along. Takes me twice as long to get things typed, but I’ve already noticed a lessening of pain in my left hand. I’d probably feel it in both, but I use my right hand more, and it’s been really busy at work.

No writing yet today. Been doing chores around the apartment instead. Today's my wife's long day at school, so I don't expect to see her before five.

The cats are at loose ends. Their kitty furniture was taken down last night, and out the door. A friend is recovering them. So poor cats have no where to stage their daily Olympics. The friend sez it'll be back tonight, but we're betting it'll be another day or two. Until then, the cats have to race around the floor and tear up the couch.

More backstory on my intrepid photo journalist – recovering alcoholic, experience as a war correspondent (no wonder she drinks!) Now I have a reason why she hates cold . . . she was wounded in Kosovo. Shattered a rib, and punctured a lung. That'd be painful in cold weather for sure.

I'm off to run errands and write, not necessarily in that order. My wife's network connection went down last night because the phone line broke. Of course, we didn't have another phone line here. Have to pick one up.

Hmmm . . . Velvet Hammer in calling my name.

Grand total for yesterday: 1905 words.

Grand total for today: 960 words.

Add those to the 3693 for the three days prior, and you get an author who no longer suffers from literature constipation.

Chapter one of the Iditarod novel will be in the can by tomorrow morning, and I hope to have a good start on chapter two before heading to work.

Saw Dreamkeeper this weekend. I really enjoyed it. (But then, I'm a heartblood wannabe according to a friend of mine.) Three hours long, it follows an angry young man who's taking his grandfather to the All Nation Powwow to tell stories. Along the way, Grandfather keeps the kid entertained with his stories, teaching him in the Lakota fashion as they go. Each tale unfolds in flashback format, and all of them are great. I highly recommend renting this one if you're interested in American Indians.

As expected, now that I'm not forcing myself to work on the Sanguire, I busted out 1k worth of outline in an hour. (Of course, the Velvet Hammer at Coffee People didn't hurt!)

I'm now going to practice my Dvorak by typing the outline into Notetaker, and expanding it a bit.

Also went through Tiopa Ki Lakota this morning. From here it goes to technical editing. Almost finished!

. . . but it's time to post (regardless of the painfully slow Dvorak edumacation.)

Despite an extensively researched world, regardless of the existence of a fluid and complete outline, I am at an empasse as far as the Sanguire series is concerned. This does not mean the story stays where it lays! I still have a goal for this manuscript; it will be submitted to a major publisher by the end of the year. I am totally jammed up, however – I've been living with this thing for a year, and haven't written anything in weeks. I need the break if I'm going to finish!

Hopefully, I will work things out well enough to start again this summer. If not by then, certainly by early fall.