Born on the 3rd of July – Page 2

Chapter XXXVIII

Today, Chapter XXXVIII of my life began.

After having survived past the midpoint of a year that’s really been more bad than good so far, I got to spend some time with some good friends, and had a chance to take a good look at some stuff on the horizon that makes me smile…

I’m starting a new dayjob on July 15th. I’m working for the same uni health center, and I’ll still be pushing paper. But, as I joked to a friend today, I’ll be pushing higher-level paper at a higher pay rate!
I just submitted my first piece of fiction for 2011 today. Given that (a) life has made it very hard to get into fiction-writing lately and (b) most of my writing time has been spent preparing for my presentation at this year’s Rod Serling Conference, I think it’s quite the accomplishment. It’s like a dam just broke. Which is good, ‘cos I got a lot more fiction planned for this year.
In just 11 days–Readercon, where I’ll get to renew some friendships and revitalize my writing mojo like I did last year.

Y’know, things may just turn out all right.

Chapter XXXVII

Today, Chapter XXXVII of my life begins.

“I’m 37. I’m not old.”
-Dennis, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

I’m starting this chapter off right with a two-and-a-half week vacation from my dayjob, a trip next week to Readercon, a camping trip with friends the following weekend, and after that, my next NSO gig at the next home derby bout.

For the past couple years, I’ve tried to obtain writing-related birthday gifts. This year, though, I dusted off my Audible account, and treated myself to Role Models by John Waters. I quoted it a lot recently, having read snippets from it and heard various podcast interviews and readings.

I’m listening to the first few chapters now, and thinking about my own role models. I’ll blog about them some other time. But this book is making me give some thought to who’s influenced, not just my art, but my life as an artist. In Waters, I think I’ve found a new one. Just look out the quotes I’ve used recently as well as the links below. If you’ve been paying any attention to how I feel about writing and how I pursue it, I’m sure you’ll understand why.

Waters’ “10 Best Pieces of Advice for Functional Freaks”
From NPR’s Fresh Air, “John Waters: A Bad Influence Picks His ‘Role Models'”
On KQED’s The Writer’s Block, Waters reads the chapters “Cult Leader” and “The Kindness of Strangers.”
Waters on The Colbert Report

Chapter XXXVI

Kinda like last year, I got some of the best presents a writer can get.

My favorite, I have to say, was the one I got for myself–the newest productivity tool. It’s not tech. I finally got the Moleskine Planner cover I wanted from Renaissance Art, which is the most stylish hPDA case you could ever ask for!

Other presents included…

1
Two vintage Doctor Who novelisations: Earthshock by Ian Marter, published by Target and Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks by Terrance Dicks, published by Pinnacle. The Pinnacle books were the ones with the cool introduction by Harlan Ellison.

2
Birthday love from family and friends via phone, email, snail-mail, messages in bottles, etc.

3
And as another present to myself, the opportunity to help the cause of highlighting the work of writers of color. Like me 🙂

Not a bad start, I daresay.

Chapter XXXV

The best birthday presents a writer can get, and I got them both today: a new 600-page leather journal from the wife and a contract for the story I mentioned a little while back.

And it’s not even 9:00 AM yet.

I’m waiting on some non-writerly news as well, though it could impact my writing. You’ll know when I (and my wife, and several of my friends) know.

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Edited to add: Sent the contract back and I gots the money!