Been an hazy week. Last Thursday I got the wisdom tooth cut/drilled out and I was out of it on, I think, Valium. Thought I could work Friday, but I was wiped out. I took the Hydrocodone through the weekend and was essentially useless. Completely foggy. I tried not taking it Sunday, but the pain was still a little much, unfortunately. I finally just decided not to take any more Monday & by Tuesday evening I was clear-headed, but sore. I’d like to see a picture of how they had me clamped open. The oddest thing was when my normal aches and pains came back. They were much more notable than they had been before the “lost weekend”.

I’ve had full days this week. Getting my classes & activities set for next school year took time Mon.-Weds., but it worked out how how I’d hoped. Vigilance is necessary, even with a well-run bureaucracy. Also trying to spend the last of a grant and arranging for a Summer Institute on teaching AP Economics in late July on another one. There are an amazing number of jobs to do on summer ‘vacation’.

Added a little more to my latest story. Act I is over. The writing plan is a bust. I have about 1600 words to date. I need to write at least 500/day until the 1st draft is finished. We’ll see.

Got a personal, encouraging rejection on “Ancient Bridge” from Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. It needs to be cleaned up by the 30th and sent to Blackgate.

I finally heard back from Flash Fiction Online. As I’d feared, I got lost in the shuffle they’d long ago rejected “Service” and neglected to tell me. Time to review my Flash Fiction options.

Got a screw in a tire, got it repaired this morning. Chores & errands. It is clear that to have a full-time job and be a writer takes organization and persistence. To that end I’ve started keeping a file folder in which I keep a everything I need to to that day on 3×5. I’ve gotten more personal & professional business done, but not any writing, yet.

Did you know that every story didn’t have to be The Baroque Cycle or The Book of the New Sun? I tend to forget that, and I think it’s my biggest hurdle to consistently writing.
So I did throw together ideas that I pulled, somewhat randomly, from disparate sources about plot, science, power & war, and literary criticism. I’m projecting it all through the Southern Science Fiction filter. I’ve pushed through some computer training, a professional org. meeting, and a wisdom tooth issue this week. I finally breached my own resistance and wrote 600 words last night and another 200 so far this afternoon. It’s okay if every story is not a Nebula nominee. I just need to write.

Brevity rejected my foul-mouthed, very short essay about an experience with a drill sergeant, “Expert”. It was a very nice e-mail.

Back to my new story.

Update: Monday midnight, I reached 1000 words. Got tired and started editing. Calling it a night.