An annoyingly discreet and oblique post

[desperance]

Umm. I ought not even to be posting this, because if I've learned anything in thirty years (man and boy at the word-face, wheeze, shuffle, arthritic cough), it is that disappointment is always the order of the day, and nothing carries any weight until offers are made and contracts are signed.

However.

Someone I love & admire has just expressed an unexpected degree of enthusiasm for something I've written. No offer or anything, you understand, at the moment it's just being shared around the office for other views; but, well, I just hadn't expected this, y'know? So I am foolishly excited despite my wiser nature, and not at all focused on my day's proper work.

Also, this was said:

"I wanted to cut a fair amount (just phrases, really: he says something once beautifully, then again more beautifully, then again even more beautifully, and after a bit of that you just want him to stop indulgences and get on with the story)"

and that just made me grin, because it is so familiar and (I am sure) so true; and before that, this was said:

"Well, I loved this, of course I did,"

and that just made me grin also, because that is so exactly my own turn of phrase, and I'm not sure if it was a deliberate parody or an unconscious taint of voice, but either way I'm grinning. Pattern recognition.

There is a promise made, that we will hear again next week. I don't, of course, believe this. But it's nice to have in my pocket all the same, to carry me through the weekend.

Comments

[julesjones]

[grin] Hope it works out.

And I am amused by the description of your writing style, for that is indeed you. It was entertaining looking at the reviews on Amazon for something of yours, and seeing the way they fell neatly into two camps -- praise for the beautiful descriptions and worldbuilding, or complaints about all that wordage wasted instead of getting on with the story...

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Yup. I really don't get that thing about fantasy being plot-driven and all about the action: plot is just what people do, books are necessarily all about the people, and the language. And people are a function of their settings, their societies, their worlds; and we have the richest and most flexible language out there, and it seems such a shame to use so little of it, not to stretch it, not to play...

And so on. You know. It's my thing.

[(Anonymous)]

If I recall correctly, one of the first things I actually said about one of your books was "Dear God, you could get drunk on the language." (And yes, it was praise.)

[julesjones]

[grumble] Didn't notice LJ had logged me out...

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Hic.

But what would be the hangover, next morning...?

"Ooh, I really wish I hadn't read all that Brenchley last night, today I can't even stomach my newspaper..."

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

I always read a (good) book twice in quick succession. First reading I devour it for the plot, second time I know what's going to happen so I can take my time and absorb the language. I can seldom do both at once.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

But that is splendid: enjoy. (I'm Kari, btw: we've met briefly a couple of times at conventions, usually in Green Room.)

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Hello!
I have seen you prominently commenting on friends posts, so have now friended you!
We were on the Torchwood panel together this Easter.

Cheers

Penny

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Hee. All the cool kids hang out on my LJ...

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Hi there: I will go friend you back,
kari

[melissa-writing.livejournal.com]

*FINGERS CROSSED* I hope it works out for you.

RE: "I am foolishly excited despite my wiser nature, and not at all focused on my day's proper work."
But that's such good fun, isn't it? If a thing doesn't sometimes thrill & sometimes devastate us, why bother doing it?

RE: "he says something once beautifully, then again more beautifully, then again even more beautifully"
*sigh* With a phrase like that, I'm afraid I'm off to order one of your books . . .

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

But that's such good fun, isn't it? If a thing doesn't sometimes thrill & sometimes devastate us, why bother doing it?

Oh, you're right, of course. My scalp is still all prickly with excitement, and yes, I love it. Like when I'm on a roll with the words, and I write a page or a paragraph or just a phrase and I know I couldn't have written it better. But I do still have this thing about needing to keep my own mundane self in neutral when I'm working, so that the hopes or glooms of my real life don't come between my writer-self and the page. Uh, does that make sense...?

With a phrase like that, I'm afraid I'm off to order one of your books . . .

Don't be afraid. Try "Bridge of Dreams" - I think you might like it.

[melissa-writing.livejournal.com]

I ordered DEAD OF LIGHT :) I was debating btw it & DISPOSSESSION, but it looks like there's a sequel to DoL so I went for it instead.

RE: "But I do still have this thing about needing to keep my own mundane self in neutral when I'm working, so that the hopes or glooms of my real life don't come between my writer-self and the page. Uh, does that make sense...?"

It does. I'm miserable abt keeping real self & text apart though. I sunk into fits of gloom during parts of the second novel, & of course, the inverse happens as well--bliss out here in the real world filters into text. I just keep a few texts in progress so if I have a mood out here I can mine it for story purposes. All things are potential for textual integration. . . and really, I'm such a moody bitch so I can't actually keep my self neutral, so I figure I'd better find a way to use it ;)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

I just keep a few texts in progress so if I have a mood out here I can mine it for story purposes.

Hee. A story for every (internal) occasion... "Oh no, I can't be in a temper today! I finished my bad-tempered story last night!" etc

Let me know what you think about Dead of Light - it's sort of a proto-urban fantasy, before the genre had really cohered. "A thriller? With magic? What were you thinking?" Nobody knew whether it was crime or horror or what - but then I got that a lot anyway.

[gauroth.livejournal.com]

*cheering* I'm keeping everything crossed - fingers, toes, the lot! - that there will be good news.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Thank you. More news as and when. I keep trying to cross the cats, but they won't lie still for it.

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Everything is crossed for you this end.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

That is all.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

All fingers crossed! Looking forward to the full scoop!

Go you!

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Oh, yum! And richly deserved.

Eagerly awaiting further occasion for celebration!

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Steady, now. There is no hint of commitment yet. I really shouldn't have posted. But I'm just tired of gloomily expecting the worst and, yup, receiving it; so this time I thought I'd try the power of positive thinking.

Um, turns out I'm not very good at positive thinking. I keep wanting to retract, to go back to expect-the-worst-and-then-you-can-never-be-disappointed. Even knowing that's not true, and I'll always be disappointed anyway...