OK, let’s see…
Thursday. Sunny and cold. Feeling much more the thing than yesterday, which — just let’s say that it was a day when you drink peppermint tea and honey because your stomach hurts and that turns out to be a bad idea.
Got in an early four hours with the WIP this morning, and have verified that I’ll be removing about 9,000 words. This is not a surprise; I kinda sorta knew I was going to hafta do it, unless I Thought of Something. Which I haven’t, so — into the Pull File they go, and maybe they’ll be useful later.
I have a doctor’s appointment at 2:30, and need to verify where I’m going. Also, I have emails that I need to answer, and! I need to tell Draft2Digital that, yes, I do want Pinbeam Books to be listed with Bookshop.
Still waiting on that one outstanding 1099-MISC.
I see that the judge overseeing the Anthropic Settlement has extended various deadlines for opting in, out, and sideways, which will likely put back the expected payout schedule, originally projected to begin in August. Granted, I never expected to see any money from this “settlement,” but the whole thing’s so infuriating that even reading the subject line kicks up the blood pressure.
And FedEx has just arrived to deliver a letter, so it looks like the range for hitting my house really is between 11:15 and noon. Which is actually useful information.
Trying to figure out if I want to try to see John Mellencamp’s off-Broadway fine-tuning of his play at Ogunquit in October. I expect if I want to do that, I’ll have to reserve a room at Ogunquit realsoonnow. Must lookout prices.
For now, I need to do my duty to the cats, and then heat up the soup I didn’t eat yesterday, ref stomachache, and — oh, yeah, find where the heck I’m supposed to be at 2:30.
How’s everybody doing today?
Well, thank you. As is my oldest cat, Slug — for whose arthritis the vet proposed a monthly painkiller injection of monoclonal antibodies that block the pain pathway. And it *works* — the first feline pain meds that ever have. So now, he can curl up again. And sleep. He’s 19, so that is what he does most.
I was wondering how the new e-reader/tablet is turning out, if it’s not too intrusive? I need to replace my ancient non-Kindle and am considering Boox.
The new Boox remains cute as a button. I haven’t had a lot of time to play with it. I do believe it’s too small to use to mark up manuscripts, which was my reason for buying it. Also, this is the first more-or-less dedicated ereader I’ve owned. No, I’m wrong. I had a Nook when they first hit the streets. For many years, however, I’ve used a 7/8 inch tablet with the various reading apps as my “ereader,” so the design of something that’s an ereader FIRST, and does some other things takes some brain-twisting.
That said, it hasn’t balked at anything I’ve asked it to do, from taking the upload of my manuscript, and allowing me to make notes in the file, to reading me an audiobook. The battery life is awesome, compared to my tablets, and have I said it’s cute? I’ll be keeping it, even though it doesn’t solve the problem I purchased it to solve.
Thank you, I appreciate the information, especially about the audiobook. I am debating whether to opt for the Go 10.3, but I’m not really one for making notes by hand, and the b/w Go 7 looks like the better choice.
I’m curious about that 9,000 words. Is it rude to ask for further information? Like: is this a response to your beta readers? Or is it a limitation imposed by the publisher? Or is it simply something that’s been nagging at you because it didn’t “fit” Or . . . other? Thanks for keeping us updated!
Ya probly gonna hate me for this, but that question about Ogunquit in October? Is exactly the kind of thing that, these days, I would almost reflexively toss to one of the AIs. So I asked Claude.ai, and here was its reply (which also included a map of the town with hotels marked):
”
Here are some great options for your friend’s overnight stay in Ogunquit for the Mellencamp show in October:
Top picks:
Norseman Resort – The only hotel directly on Ogunquit Beach, perfect if she wants beach access. She can walk to downtown in 5-10 minutes or catch the trolley. Rooms have been recently updated, and many have ocean views.
Abalonia Inn – Right in the heart of Main Street, so she can walk everywhere. Great value with comfortable rooms featuring porches. The staff is known for being helpful with local recommendations.
Anchorage By The Sea – Oceanfront property positioned right on the scenic Marginal Way coastal walk. Has an on-site restaurant and bar, which is convenient for a quick meal before or after the show.
For something more intimate:
The Inn on Shore Road – A charming bed & breakfast with a luxury boutique feel. Breakfast is included, and it’s just a short walk to town. Smaller property, so it books up quickly.
Old Village Inn – Has an excellent restaurant and bar on-site (highly rated for the food). The rooms are above the restaurant on Main Street. Just note that it can be noisy until closing around 10pm, so if she’s a light sleeper, the other options might be better.
October is a lovely time to visit Ogunquit – the fall colors should be beautiful, and it won’t be as crowded as summer. She should book soon though, as October weekends tend to fill up!
“
Well, I’m sorry you felt the need, but I hope the process made you happy. I kinda sorta know where’s to stay in Ogunquit. And I know that October is Prime Time on account of Leaves. What *I* need to know is what would be available on the day/days I may decide to go the the play, and since, I can’t buy tickets until March, I won’t know for awhile. Rephrasing: I need to mesh the moving parts.
9,000 words in the wrong direction. I believe I said that I had kinda felt that those scenes would have to go unless I Thought of Something, which I haven’t. I kind of clung to them because they got me started in more-or-less the right direction, at a time when I thought the whole story would include Big! Scene! The! First!, which it doesn’t, because things change when you’re writing, and apparently the boys in the basement wouldn’t talk about This Other Thing Over Here.