I am currently working on a mystery story, in part for a contest I’ll be entering. It’s really hard and I can’t seem to hit the right note of intrigue while still letting the reader know what I’m doing enough that it’s not frustrating.
This girl does it in about 100 words.
Sigh.
An with Carlton’s Sign at Powell’s in Portland,
originally uploaded by kmariwalsh.
Me: An, what’s the name of Dr. Who’s space ship?
An: (without looking up) TARDIS.
Me: Thanks.
<3 spring break.
Every once in every teensy-weensy little while, I am NO FUN. Kind of mean. At my worst moments, extremely passive aggressive. I know it’s hard to take in. Amanda has a nice little anecdote about that in her blog today. Keep in mind that it all turns out well. And, Tracy, I’m sorry I spent part of my Paris time at EuroDisney.
One thing that can do that to me is traveling. Time zones, for example, are a problem. I can’t get them right. I was so surprised when my two hour connecting flight to Arizona took five hours, and once I get into a new one, I immediately forget that others ones exist. Also, I get nervous when I’m not sure I’ll make a flight/catch a bus/find the person I’m going to see
But this trip, minus the “surprise” five-hour flight, has been just lovely. I made it to Pam’s. An is now safely here. Eden and Caren are just a few hours away and will be here Friday. I saw Rose today, and Carlton and Mary are out there somewhere in the nearby world, too.
I’ve already worked out about ten writing problems since I got here, edited a story, and started a long overdue outline
I just needed a post for the next time I start complaining about stuff. Today, I’m pretty darn content.
I wasn’t going to post this because everyone who reads this site pretty much knows about it. However, there are a few people who haven’t and I want to be all suppourt-y (plus I know my Atlanta friends just love hearing about my awesome, smart, cool, fun Seattle friends.) So… Caren, Eden, and Shane are the proud parents of a new online lit mag of super-short fiction called “Brain Harvest.” Their first story went live yesterday, and they’ve already had upwards of 50,000 hits.
The best part is, they’ve also had hecklers, per the comments section on BoingBoing. Hey, guys! You’re making people angry! That means you’re doing something absolutely right. 
Me! (Except not.)
Honestly, the winner of the CW Late ‘08 story contest is Shane! He’s posted some of his stories here if anyone wants to see. I couldn’t be (much) happier because he really turned in an impressive performance this last week. There was a wee bit of poor sportsmanship at the end (language!) but nothing dire. Congratulations, Shane!
I thought people might enjoy seeing the names of the stories, a la Clarion graduation. So here they are:
Shane (8)
Light Through Water ~ Like Fucking Clockwork ~ Tools ~ Legs ~ Selling Buttery Crackers ~ Kira Disapproves ~ Taste on the Tongue of Snakes ~ Incarnations
Me (5)
Grandmother’s House ~ Providence Hill ~ Private School ~ Vigil ~ I, Livy Nelson
Pam (5)
Skinny Charlie’s Orbiting TeePee ~ The Flying Monkeys of Ripley Creek ~ One Armed Julio ~ Estelle Takes the Casino Run ~ The Thing on the Deck
Rajan (4)
Violent Night ~ Rendezvous at the Revenant ~ The Investigative Sorcery Constabulary ~ The Case of the Wounded Heart
Eden (4)
Switch ~ Untitled ~ When in Marrakech ~ Cafeteria Cardio
Tracy, Theresa, Pritpaul…
Thanks for the moral support!
One final CW note for the evening? My Dad just finished watching “Live Free or Die Hard” on TV.
I hope you all spent that leap second wisely!