Every place that I have been

leaves its message on my skin

I like giving gifts. It's a thing. Makes me feel like a better person than I really am, you know what I mean?

This year, though, I'm a cheapskate*, 'cause of brokedom. My relatives are getting compilation CDs and a bar of chocolate each. I'm almost looking forward to seeing the expression on my (wealthy, or at least much more so than me) aunt's face (she's never really liked me, and I return the sentiment, but hell, family, whatcanyado?) when she discovers what she's been given.

---

I've been pondering one of the short stories I wrote a while ago. It's broken, of course, but it's been getting nice rejections - along the lines of "Pretty language, pretty setting, I might even buy it if it had anything resembling a plot. Why doesn't it?" - and I think I may have worked out a fix.

See, as it stands, I've three characters, the witch (my MC), the (sort-of fallen) angel, and a monster. I spent a thousand-some words establishing the setting, and the next thousand-some words consist of the witch letting the monster eat the angel - for no real explained reason, I realise.

I think, if I introduce another angel - possibly not a fallen one - and then have him/her make the witch choose between sacrificing herself and letting the first angel die, I may have the actual emotional stakes that I need to make this story work better.

(Short stories, I think - not that I know jack about it - need to have a hell of a lot more emotional impact than any longer work, because they only have a few thousand words to do their job. I think I may be starting to figure out the need for the fraught element, and how to make it work. Starting.)

If it works, it'll be a better story. If it doesn't, I'm not losing anything.

---

The weather here has gone from mild and damp to freezing and foggy. The fog is eerie, particularly in the early morning, when it's still thick and heavy. The two willow trees in our (tiny) back garden loom motionless out of the greyness, spindly branches looking like some alien thing hovering in midair, unattached to the ground.

It's really very cool. :)

---

Tomorrow's the shortest day of the year. Anyone have plans for the longest night? :)


*Five compilation discs a-singing, four chocolate bars a-melting, three tall jars, two wine bottles, and a scarf for grandmamaaaa - Yeah, those aren't the proper words, are they?

Every place that I have been

leaves its message on my skin

I like giving gifts. It's a thing. Makes me feel like a better person than I really am, you know what I mean?

This year, though, I'm a cheapskate*, 'cause of brokedom. My relatives are getting compilation CDs and a bar of chocolate each. I'm almost looking forward to seeing the expression on my (wealthy, or at least much more so than me) aunt's face (she's never really liked me, and I return the sentiment, but hell, family, whatcanyado?) when she discovers what she's been given.

---

I've been pondering one of the short stories I wrote a while ago. It's broken, of course, but it's been getting nice rejections - along the lines of "Pretty language, pretty setting, I might even buy it if it had anything resembling a plot. Why doesn't it?" - and I think I may have worked out a fix.

See, as it stands, I've three characters, the witch (my MC), the (sort-of fallen) angel, and a monster. I spent a thousand-some words establishing the setting, and the next thousand-some words consist of the witch letting the monster eat the angel - for no real explained reason, I realise.

I think, if I introduce another angel - possibly not a fallen one - and then have him/her make the witch choose between sacrificing herself and letting the first angel die, I may have the actual emotional stakes that I need to make this story work better.

(Short stories, I think - not that I know jack about it - need to have a hell of a lot more emotional impact than any longer work, because they only have a few thousand words to do their job. I think I may be starting to figure out the need for the fraught element, and how to make it work. Starting.)

If it works, it'll be a better story. If it doesn't, I'm not losing anything.

---

The weather here has gone from mild and damp to freezing and foggy. The fog is eerie, particularly in the early morning, when it's still thick and heavy. The two willow trees in our (tiny) back garden loom motionless out of the greyness, spindly branches looking like some alien thing hovering in midair, unattached to the ground.

It's really very cool. :)

---

Tomorrow's the shortest day of the year. Anyone have plans for the longest night? :)


*Five compilation discs a-singing, four chocolate bars a-melting, three tall jars, two wine bottles, and a scarf for grandmamaaaa - Yeah, those aren't the proper words, are they?