Lovely and Random

February 2, 2001

I did my writing early tonight. It went pretty well-- this story's going to be good. On the drive up to work this morning, I figured out how it resolves. I think it'll be called "Fable From A Cage." The protagonist becomes pretty vile as the story progresses, but he has an engaging voice, and he fascinates me, even if I don’t exactly like him.

I've had a nice, uneventful day. I read two stories tonight. Sturgeon's "To Here and the Easel," which for some reason I didn't read back when I first read Sturgeon is Alive and Well. Maybe I started it and skipped it because it begins with some weird stylistic stuff (which later proves to be an integral part of the story-- Sturgeon's so brilliant!). Anyway, I love it. Not my favorite Sturgeon story-- that's "Slow Sculpture" or maybe "...and my fear is great..."-- but very good.

The other story I read is by a friend of mine-- I won't say who, because I don’t have permission, and I know enough writers that the answer isn't obvious-- but damn, that was a fine story. It's as yet unpublished (I think), but it's wonderful. It has me all inspired about my own writing, which is just about the best thing a story can ever do for me.

I can't believe it's already February, y'all. One-twelfth of the year behind us.

What's up with that word "twelfth"? Why isn't it "twelth"? Or "twelvth"?

I went to the coffee shop tonight, and the newest barista tried to do the "he's a regular, I should be procognizant about his order" thing. I went to the counter and she said "Beer!" I said "Um, no thanks, coffee." And she got this bewildered look on her face and said "Don’t you usually drink beer?"

Well, no. I think I've only ever ordered coffee from her. But I appreciated the attempt, so I said "Sometimes I drink beer." This was not, in fact, a lie. And it seemed to make her happier.

I should be doing some fun stuff this weekend, so my next entries will be more interesting than that was.

Now I go to make brownies! And some kind of realish dinner, since I've only eaten a bagel today, and that at 9 a.m.

Total Word Count: 4,540

Today's Word Count: 2,182

The Daring Darlings:

Jim C. Hines

Hilary Moon Murphy

Nicole Montgomery

Melanie Miller Fletcher

Karina Summer Smith

Anne Hutchins