Writing, Short and Long

The Asylum (on-line writing group I'm in) met this evening.  We didn't cover anything important; it was a chat kind of meeting.  November is coming up fast.  For us that means National Novel Writing Month.  I considered not participating this year, but my buddies won't hear of it.  So I'll be a rebel and work on short stories, because ... 

For eight weeks, starting in September, I'll be taking Mary Robinette Kowal's Writing on the Fast Track short story workshop.  I'm excited and a bit scared.  We already have our first assignment!  When the workshop's over I plan on practicing what I learn.  It would be foolish to turn around and write a novel instead.

I will be busy.  Don't know if blog posts will happen very often.  But I'll be thinking about ya'  ;-)

Link Gumbo

Hi.  Sorry I've been absent recently.  My life suddenly got busy.  It's poised to get busier still - I'm taking Mary Robinette Kowal's short story writing workshop in September and October. *squeeeee*

So.  Links instead of content. 

A man grabs a beaver and wins the Darwin Award:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/29/beaver-kills-man-belarus#ixzz2UhrZqodo

Have you read Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman?  If not - go read it.  It's wonderful.  I'll wait :-)
Now you can appreciate what Emily Asher-Perrin wrote over at Tor:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/05/a-comprehensive-reference-guide-to-good-omens
and
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/05/a-comprehensive-theological-reference-guide-to-good-omens
(or perhaps reading the reference guides will entice you to read the book.)

A long essay on women as warriors, from a historical perspective:
http://worldweaverpress.com/2013/05/28/female-warriors-in-fantasy/

Some charts and stuff comparing traditional publishing and epublishing:
http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2013/05/27/survivorship-bias-why-90-of-the-advice-about-writing-is-bullshit-right-now/

Faerie information.  Because reasons.
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/05/know-your-faeries-friendly-fierce-or-fatal

Science happening:
http://deepseanews.com/2013/05/why-should-men-have-all-the-fun-the-seafaring-ladies-of-physical-oceanography/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

There.  Links I've been hording for months. 

Content will resume at some point...

Painting Clouds

On my way to lunch today: 

The sky reminds me of my friend Carol Keene's paintings.  She's been painting trees lately, but scroll to some of her previous work.  There are glorious clouds!

Work's been busy, I've been tired, I'm up for critique in a week and a half ... and perhaps I'm spending too much time on Twitter.  How are you doing?