trembling_aspen

You think I would have learned last summer how hard it is to write in the summer with the kids home and our routines ruined. But I didn’t because I planned to finish my first draft by August. I’m still working on it but I may not make that goal. I’ll have to put it down by then, where ever I’m at, and work on game writing.

Progress is progress, so I’m not going to fret on it. I’ll finish it in the fall and start working on the second draft.

Delilah

I’m booking it on my novel with a plan to finish the first and second draft before my Colorado trip early August. I really want to make this goal and it has leveraged me past the procrastination demons. I’m very close to the mid-point of the first draft.

Holly Lisle said that candy bar scenes are the ones you’re itching to write. They’re the fun ones. Next, she said you want to make all of your scenes candy bar scenes. That’s my goal for the second draft. I want something fun in every scene. I’m really excited about my novel, loving it and I can’t wait to finish!

Delilah

Wow. I really, really enjoyed the last episode of Dollhouse. Not only was the main story riveting, but they finally solved the “eww” factor that has been a major problem for me (non-consensual, non-aware, prostitution… too much like pedophilia for my taste). Apparently, the only people recruited into the Dollhouse (to become dolls) are people who have done something criminal. That makes a big difference in my mind. It still sucks to be a “doll” but maybe it’s deserved.

I read many unhappy posts about Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse, most saying that the fun part will be when the dolls break free, but that won’t happen for many, many seasons because then the show will be over. Ha! It’s happening today, and I’m stoked for this next episode. The show may have had a slow start (I’m talking icebergs here), but man, now it’s popping like gangbusters! I’m so happy I kept watching after that first boring, icky episode. So, so happy.

Delilah

I watched several seasons of Buffy and liked it. I occasionally watched Angel when channel flipping and liked it. There aren’t many shows I watch at regularly scheduled times. These days, I usually Netflix stuff I’d like to see. A friend of mine lent me Firefly, and I loved it. Now I own it. Same’s true for Dr. Horrible. I’ve watched it so much that even my kids know the songs.

Needless to say, I’ve been waiting with baited breath for Dollhouse going on a year now. Surely Joss would pull it off and I’d have a third love of his creation.

I won’t call February 13 ‘Black Friday,’ but I wasn’t thrilled with Dollhouse Episode 1. Nope. I felt like it tried to do too much and was missing the flair, the voice, the texture that makes Joss’s stuff stand out by a mile.

The second episode was much better. It was the first time I had true feeling for Echo and her protector. The problem is, I hate just about everyone else on the show. Actually, that isn’t the problem.

The more I chew on the premise for the show, pre-programming people to do whatever the client pays for without any kind of real consent for, well for *any* of the gigs… Anytime (which may be every show for all I know) Echo kisses someone, every time she has sex, I feel like the true-inner her is being raped. I’m left with this hollow pit in my stomach and I feel vaguely sick.

Though I’m not going to love this show, I want to like it. It might do well like Buffy and Angel. It is fascinating watching Echo find hidden bits of herself. Still, the sick feeling. I don’t think there’s anything that can change enough for me to get over it. It’s funny I can accept (and even like) the mind-wipe, but have a hard time swallowing the physical rape. I may not stick with Dollhouse.

Delilah

I’m recharging my camera batteries now, so soon I will be able to upload my random filming of silliness from ConDFW this last weekend. I have interesting bits from Michelle Muenzler, William Ledbetter, Gloria Oliver, Rosemary Clement-Moore, K. Hutson Price, Amy Sisson, and others unknown. Are you worried yet? Heh heh heh.

Okay, so I don’t want people to hate me? Plus it takes 100 years to upload something to youtube, so… you are probably safe. If I was smart I would’ve had my batteries fully charged and I would have captured other goodness from Selina Rosen and Melanie Fletcher.

Of course I still have FenCon’s Whedon Panel with Shanna Swendson, Rosemary (again), Rachel Caine, Rie Sheridan and I think one other person. It was a great panel but I’m pretty sure my friends on the panel don’t want it posted. And therefore I’ve decided not to post anything without consent, unless they become super famous and then… Who knows? Ah, the price of fame! (I’ll have some, please!) ;-)

Cons have become friend-fests. I spend more and more time hanging out and less time at panels. This year I went to some cool readings though, something I need to do more of in the future. I made new friends this con, which always surprises me and is always amazing. One of them (cough, Gwen) said she was going to find me online and I hope she does because I have no idea what her last name is?! Other new people didn’t say they’d find me, but I hope they do (or I do). Cons are rejuvenating, fulfilling a need to Be With My People.

Friday, I couldn’t get myself to leave the bar and try the one party. I fluttered home at midnight like a true pumpkin so I’d get enough sleep to not be tired Saturday night. And it was lucky I did because Saturday night lasted until 4am, which doesn’t happen every con but sometimes you just have to roll with the magic. Saturday night was party mayhem, or maybe Party Pandemonium.

After five splendid hours with the sheep of nod, I was back Sunday which is actually rather sad. It’s the day of goodbyes. I didn’t have enough time for everyone though. I wanted a little more time for the new friends and I’m afraid my parting may have felt abrupt. If I had been them, I probably would feel rejected. It wasn’t you! I had to get my daughter to a birthday party by 3 (and she was late). Ah well. There’s always the next con. More time to Be With My People. :-) And until then, I hope all is well. I’ll miss you.

Cons are like coming home.

Delilah

PS Shawn, I love the hair.

I’ve not been in a blogging mood lately (though still twittering), but I had some fun stuff to share. :-)

Hilarious Live-Twittered Query Responses by agent Colleen Lindsay

Query Haiku Contest, winners get a regular query critted!

Query stats from agent Nathan Bransford (some funny)

Delilah

I really want to enter this Zombie Caption Contest at Tor.com, but I don't know what to say!!! I'll keep thinking about it.

On the Fantastical Creature Reality Show front, Paige the Zombie and Jewel the Cyclops are in danger of being voted off the island. I think there'll be enough votes tomorrow for one of them to go.

Also this last week, Lisa the Rogue died! It was really sad to write. :-(

Delilah

I’m loving the Fantastical Creature Reality Show at www.delilahrehm.com. The most votes on one poll was about 80 but I don’t think I have that many readers. I probably have 5 readers. :-/ I’m hoping this number will build before the end of the show. The whole point is marketing, but I’m not sure it’s going to be effective. I’m learning a lot in the process though, like how to dump out 2,000+ words on a regular basis and how to do it anyway when I don’t much feel like it. When I transition to working on Vampire Planet I think I’m going to have an easier time defeating the mental demons that plague writers.

By the way, this week Lorimer the Sorcerer and Amber the Unicorn-Girl are in danger. One of them is going home. Vote now! (Or as soon as Steven fixes the website which was apparently down all night.)

I’ve started a twitter experiment. When two contestants are on the block, I twitter-search for their creature type and follow random people who’ve used that word. So far, I’ve gotten about 50% follows back. If they check out the top few twitter posts, they’ll hear about the show. I have no idea if this will work, but I’m interested to see what happens.

Speaking of the allusive marketing tactics for writers, because of my experiment, I ran into this blog: www.brendanhalpin.com. I like how he dispels some tactics while showing what’s worked for him in the past. Looks like I need to improve my internet social networking skills.

Delilah

Around 12 PM Central Time, I'm interviewing the werewolf who got voted off the island last week. Help me out and please send me some questions for him! :-)

Delilah

Twitter is sucking me in!!! It's like quicksand to an explorer, honey to a bee, a rubixcube to a nerd, a shiny flashing picture-box to Mr. Burns.

Is there no hope in this world?

Delilah

Episode 2 is an interview with me. (Yes, I interviewed myself just for fun! I’m silly that way!)

Episode 3 is the Immunity Challenge where two players are selected to go on the altar. One of them will be voted off the island by tomorrow. I’ll really nervous because I really like both of the players!!! The choice is out of my hands.

I’m not mentioning who’s on the block in case anyone wants to read it (no spoilers), but you can find out if you scroll to the bottom of the episode.

There aren’t many votes yet, so anyone voting may had a lot of say in what happens! So far, it isn’t going the way I expected. I’m surprised about who’s losing.

Delilah

Episode 1 is up for the Fantastical Creature Reality Show! It’s longer than I planned and I hope to make shorter episodes in the future. I’m very happy with it. Halfway through is a commercial, the video for Depths of Peril. Check it out if you’ve never seen it.

I’m off to work on tomorrow’s show! I still have no idea what’s going to happen next. ;-)

Delilah

So far (and with two days left) the females are wiping the mat with the males. They have twice as many votes! I don't know if this is my fault for not talking about the Fantastical Creature Reality Show enough this week or if people really like the female contestants better than the pathetic males! ;-)

Voting is good. Help the males not look like complete morons and vote in the right sidebar at www.delilahrehm.com.

If you want your favorite to make it on the show, tell everyone you know to vote! I won't stop you. ;-)

The show starts MONDAY. Don't miss the first episode. It's going to be crazy and fun. I have *no* idea what's going to happen!

Delilah

I last left you wondering how I was going to make it through last week with so many distractions, including having my old, blind dog finally put to sleep. Nothing kills the mojo like the death of a pet.

Anyway, the day afterward I was sulking about not meeting my writing goals (you know, instead of writing?) that week, and I realized I’ve way overextended myself. Partially because I planned to keep ignoring my weight problem (because then it will go away on its own, right?) but after checking the scale I realized I can’t afford to ignore it. In fact, I need to do something major and make sure it sticks all the way until the end.

I made a new plan and it was like a boulder was lifted from my shoulders. I’m going to delay the goal of writing the first draft of Vampire Planet until after the Fantastical Creature Reality Show is done. I might write on it now but without the pressure. This has me a month behind schedule, but I think I can still meet all of my 2009 goals.

The Fantastical Creature Reality Show is revving up! The female contestants have been decided and this week’s voting will determine the male contestants. Go to www.delilahrehm.com to vote in the right sidebar. Next week, the episodes will start running. I’m excited to see what happens!

When I finish the first and second draft of Vampire Planet between April and July, I’ve decided to make it easier by minimizing distractions. I’m going to cancel all of my regular activities, move my desk into the kitchen (rather than the open dining room which is full of kid noise after 3 PM), and go into semi-seclusion where I can focus on writing. I’m really excited about this idea!

Delilah

Pact Day One Goal: write 2000 words,
2000 words total on first draft
Completed: wrote 0 words,
have 52,521 words total on first draft

The kids were home today and it took forever to post the poll for voting on the FCRS. I want to go to my writing group in a few hours but need to do a crit first. Just let the kids out of their rooms again and they’re already bugging me! Trying to work with them home is hellish. I need my own office with a functional door!

Delilah

Voting has begun for the Fantastical Creature Reality Show! Go here:
http://www.soldak.com/Blogs/Delilah/Vote-For-Your-Favorite-Females.html

or the same page (with clicky link) and vote for you favorite fantastical female creatures! Only 7 will make the show. :-D

I was caught up with my plotting and interviews and then I went to a funeral! The rest of this week will be crazy-busy and I hope to get back up to speed on my writing goals. January is rocketing toward us, with a fiery pact burning desire in my determination. 2009 will be awesome. This is one ride I won’t miss.

Delilah

I have not been getting the plotting done I’ve planned on doing. I put it off and put it off and then something comes up last minute. Bah! I need to get focused this week and catch up! I only need two-three one hour sessions. Shouldn’t be so hard to work into my day!

Fantastical Creatures is up and running. Not much participation so far but the best stuff won’t start until January. Until then I have the opportunity to get used to posting every weekday. I don’t like it, but I suspect it’s like other routines where the beginning transition is the difficult part and then it feels normal.

Delilah

I’ve announced the Fantastical Creature Reality Show and committed myself to a huge four month project. Eek!

I’m going to send out a press release to… places unknown at this time. Maybe some fantasy fiction websites, maybe some reality show websites. But first I have to write it! Can anyone point me to what a press release for fiction should look like?

Thanks,
Delilah