No, not even figs. Raisins. Liaisons...

[desperance]

I've gone back to the SF piece I was working on, 'Rotten Row' - which I had the most curious revulsion from, about the time I realised that it was swelling from the intended short story into an entirely unexpected novella. I wouldn't have expected that to be a problem (actually, I think the problem is generic lack of confidence, due to recent loss of publisher, income etc), but it did leave the poor thing kinda stranded, ten thousand words in and no visible plot rising.

It is still more or less in the same position, but I'm trying to be relaxed about it. I read those ten thousand words yesterday, and I like most of them, much more than I expected. It's interesting, culturally and creatively; in part it's a conversation about art, only it struggles to portray an art form that doesn't exist through a medium that cannot describe it. That's the kind of challenge I enjoy, if only because it doesn't matter. The form is immaterial; the impulse to art is universal.

As witness me, going out into the snow this evening (for yes, meteorophiles, we have bitter weather; Barry was looking at my warm bath-water last night and almost thinking about a quick dip, truly he was) to attend a poetry reading. We had a visiting American (Jane Hirshfield), and I thought maybe not many people might turn out, so I prob'ly ought to be there. As it happens, we had a roomful, which was nice; and I gave out flyers for my play, being that I do occasionally remember to seize an opportunity. More often, I forget (eg went to Harrogate on Sunday with no books to sell to all those eager readers. D'oh!).

Now for another exceedingly hot bath, to tempt Barry and warm the frozen feelin' that's eatin' at my bones, and keep the chilly wind off my - well, you know...

Comments

Now for another exceedingly hot bath

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

You're just trying to wind up shewhomust, aren't you? She got up this morning at an early hour announcing that she was going to have a bath, only to return three minutes later to announce that the central heating, which had been repaired by British Gas on Monday morning, was back off again, along with the hot water.