X-posted from Facebook:

Yippee, it's nearly RadCon time, where fans, science, fantasy, horror, music and writing meet alongside incredible authors! I'm heading to Pasco, Washington early Thursday to get settled in, meet and greet early arrival friends and keep up with the stuff I'm working on. Day 71 of 100 days of writing. Gonna have to pull out all the stops when I return home to ensure I'm on track by Day 100 (March 10th) when two projects need to be done before diving back into the Car Novel.

My RadCon panel schedule: Fri Feb 12 2:00 pm - Writing Non-human protagonists - O'Kelly, Katherine, Ann Wilkes, C. S. Cole, Christina York, Larry Niven (yes, Wilkes, York, O'Kelly and LARRY NIVEN). Breathe, remember to breathe...

Half-hour Reading - Fri Feb 12 3:30 pm - Reading from an upcoming published piece and a bit from a work in progress. Still remembering to breathe.

Fri Feb 12 6:00 pm - The Killer Asteroid - C. S. Cole, Gerald Nordley, Kehrli, Keffy, Larry Niven, Siefring, Kenneth. Me, on a panel about a Killer Asteroid, with uber-smart people. How the...Deep breaths, in, out, in, out, in...

Fri Feb 12 7:00 pm - Opening Ceremonies with Everyone - ALWAYS more fun than a marrel of bonkies!

Fri Feb 12 10:00 pm - Limerick Compition - Alma Alexander, Burk, Jeff, C. S. Cole, Kamilla Miller - Here's where I'll lose it completely. Limericks? Uh....Isn't that like that "There was a lady from Nantucket" kind of thing?

Sat Feb 13 1:00 pm - Cliches: Avoid Them Like the Plague - C. S. Cole, DiAnne Berry Howe, Andrea Jennifer Meaders, Jim Glass. Pick up where I left off remembering to breath the day before.

Sat Feb 13 2:00 pm - Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading - Harvest Room. Come have a listen to some of the best broads around read from their work.

Sat Feb 13 3:00 pm - Evil - Bruce Taylor, C. S. Cole, Irene Radford, Julie McGalliard, Kay Kenyon. OMG, Some of my favorite local authors. Squeee!

Plus celebrity bartending, wining and dining with John Dalmas to hear him sing, room parties and DANCING!

2009 Writing accomplishments:

84,641 words written in my own personal journal.
5 previously written short stories were rewritten and edited (to death in my opinion).
4 new fiction short stories were written, 2 actually finished.
1 quarter of a novel rewritten and edited.
1 NaNoWriMo 50K+ novel written.
181,090 words written total. Anything here or on Facebook were NOT included in total count.

13 story submissions sent out into the big, scary publishing world.
10 rejections received.
2 still pending.
1 short story sale made – due out October 2010.

11 books read.
3 conventions attended.
2 writer's group attendances regrettably put on hiatus.
1 writer's retreat attended.
1 writer's workshop run.

2009 Life accomplishments:

* Gave up drinking coffee 3 times. Returned to the caffeine dark side 3 times.
* Enjoyed the hell out of our little wine/liquor collection. Out of 80-some bottles, we're down to a dozen.
* Survived each of The Husband's survival of layoff numbers 17 through 23 and a reduction in salary.
* Cashed in my measly retirement account and paid off The Husband's car.
* Lost and gained 15 pounds.
* Was pulled over once and threatened with arrest once. (Separate incidents but no, really, I'm not a bad girl.)
* Took up running.
* Saw Fiddler on the Roof with Topol Farewell tour.
* Replaced or had fixed several major appliances and part of a roof.
* Repainted our living room from red to cappuccino.
* Celebrated 10 years in this location, 20 years in the Pacific Northwest and 20 years of marriage.

I survived OryCon 31, and perhaps more specifically, survived being coordinator for OryCon's Writer's Workshop. Everything turned out better than just well and I volunteered to do it again next year for OryCon 32 (November 12-14). Yet another THANK YOU to all the authors, editors, and writers who participated! I continue to be amazed at what I learn at these conventions and there's nothing on earth like the people who attend, from authors, editors, writers, gamers, and fans.

In short, I had a blast.

Within days of returning home, I learned that I'd made my first sale. One of my short stories will be in a 2010 issue of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. I've admired this magazine ever since first learning of it through my writer friends some three years ago. Never would I have believed I'd make it in. Gotta do something about that belief system, huh?

After holiday decorating, much reading and countless emails to catch up on, edits on The Car Novel plods along. Nothing new there, except the great feeling of rediscovering plot points I'd forgotten I'd written over a year ago. Hope with all the hope in the world I'll be able to sell this novel someday but if not, I'll enjoy rereading it often regardless.

Coordinating OryCon's Writer's Workshop requires lots of work. Of this, I had no idea about back in February. Since then, writers (Thank goodness for writers!) have signed up and sent in their delightful stories, authors and editors (Thank goodness for authors and editors!) have agreed to spend some time critiquing those stories, and I still have most of my hair left (Thank goodness for hair salons!).

I've only lost one pro author and am working hard to find a last minute replacement (no dice so far -- dang convention timing).

Over the past two months, I've put to bed no less than five books read cover to cover including a short story anthology that turned my confused, blocked thinking of structure and plot on it's ear. Combined with taking to heart all the notes I took while listening to a wonderful local author speak, twice, no three times I think now, I think I finally get it. Combine all that with my continued 'Ix-nay on the critiques-nay' and I think I just might survive to write, actually write something new, another day.

In the meantime, with OryCon 31 only ten days away, I'm done reading and working on final edits on The Car Novel. It feels great. If you see me at OryCon and I'm not meeting, greeting, directing, volunteering, taking notes, helping out, dancing, or hanging out at BarCon, I should be working on edits. And if I'm not, you're welcome to ask me why.

Learning how to separate Life Stuff from not letting Life Stuff get in the way of end goals. Harder than anything I've ever done in my life.

Today, after battling with our broken washer yet again (it's a goner for certain now), I discovered something that has put definite Squee! back into my step.

I did well in Ken Scholes' 200 word "The Tim Machine" contest. The contest was judged by three distinguished writers: maryrobinette, princessalethea, and jaylake.

I was just mentioning, reminding, Steve that Ken's latest book, CANTICLE" was getting ready to make it's debut and it was the one book purchase budgeted for this fall/winter. One guess as to what one of the contest prizes was.

OMG with Raspberry sauce on the side! An ARC copy of CANTICLE! THANK YOU, KEN! THANK YOU JUDGES!

Trust me, much dancing will occur throughout the rest of the week. MUCH dancing.

Please stop by Ken's LJ post here to read most of the other stories entered. All are incredible. All made me wish I were a better writer. To be included in this group is every bit as exciting as winning. Bravo to all!

Ken asked on his LiveJournal page if I might post my story. Here it is:

The Tim Machine
by C.S. Cole

Timmy sat on a bent bicycle overlooking Deadman's Curve. The night smelled like wet dirt, the deep desert after a soaking rain, Mama said. Like pussy, Trea added, not so much under his breath.

Trea was going through a phase, Mama said. Had Timmy's father been there, he'd have smacked him and Trea alike; Trea for saying pussy, Timmy for giggling because c'mon, everyone giggled at the word pussy.

Trea's phase came after the accident. Anyone who survived a 300 foot drop duct-taped to a bicycle is bound to come out the other end with an interesting tale to tell.

As time passed, Trea grew quirkier. He didn't sound like the little brother Timmy knew. The accident aged him somehow, made him into an old man rather than the six year old he was, wherever he now was. Mama said he hopped a train for Nebraska. Timmy wanted to go to Nebraska too.

Timmy watched a moth flicker in the dim light of the bike's LED headlight. With nervous hands, he pulled on the roll of gray tape. Below, the drop off gleamed against the blue-white glare of an approaching train and from where he sat, Timmy heard the whistle.

A big THANK YOU to all writers who sent in a manuscript for OryCon 31's Writer's Workshop.

In a few weeks, your manuscripts will be assigned to and sent to professional authors and other workshop participants to read and critique. Once that happens, I'll email each of you with additional information. As we get closer to November's OryCon, I'll send out reminders on when and where your workshop will be held.

Thanks again for supporting OryCon. I look forward to meeting each of you. If you've sent in a manuscript and you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

A few hours remain in the September 4th deadline for getting your short story or novel excerpt manuscript submitted for November's OryCon 31 Writers Workshop. We've still got room for yours but you'll have to hurry! To be included, send your work and/or inquiries to:

ww@orycon.org

Manuscript-formatted submissions of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel excerpts are limited to 7500 words. Each submission requires a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts require both a cover letter and a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions via email attachment are now required due to the late date. The fee is $10.00 per submission. Write to the above email address to find out where to send your fee. Writers must have an OryCon 31 membership to attend and participate in Writer's Workshop.

Please visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page for proper manuscript example, email submission address, and all other details at:

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

A BIG THANKS go out to everyone who has submitted work so far. We hope to see yours soon!

Just a day and a half remains to get your short story or novel excerpt manuscript in to be included in the OryCon Writers Workshop. There have been lots of inquiries and a good number of manuscripts sent. We've still got room for yours too! Last day for submissions is midnight, Friday, September 4th. Send yours to:

ww@orycon.org

Manuscript-formatted submissions of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel excerpts are limited to 7500 words. Each submission requires a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts require both a cover letter and a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions via email attachment are preferred. Submission fee is $10.00 per submission. Write to ww@orycon.org to find out where to send your submission fee. Writers must have an OryCon 31 membership to attend and participate in Writer's Workshop.

Please visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page for proper manuscript example, email submission address, and all other details at:

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

We hope to see yours soon and I hope to see you at this year's OryCon in November!

Just a week remains to get your short story or novel excerpt manuscript in to be included in the OryCon Writers Workshop. There have been lots of inquiries and a few manuscripts sent. We've still got room for yours too! Last day for submissions is Friday, September 4th. Send yours to:

ww@orycon.org

Manuscript-formatted submissions of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel excerpts are limited to 7500 words. Each submission requires a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts require both a cover letter and a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions via email attachment are preferred. Submission fee is $10.00 per submission. Writers must have an OryCon 31 membership to attend and participate in Writer's Workshop.

Please visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page for proper manuscript example, email submission address, and all other details at:

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

We hope to see yours soon!

We Need YOU for the OryCon Writers Workshop!

OryCon's Writers Workshops are small session workshops for either experienced or beginning writers based on manuscripts submitted now through September 4th, 2009. These workshops provide OryCon members the opportunity to have their manuscripts evaluated by selling writers and industry professionals who enjoy helping them grow as writers. Many of these professionals have taught at residency workshops, such as Clarion, or in creative writing programs.

There is a nominal entry fee that covers workshop expenses. The fee is $10.00 and will be payable through arrangements with the OryCon Writer's Workshop coordinator. Payment secures your slot.

All manuscripts must be submitted in advance, since there will be no on-the-spot reading for critiques. The manuscripts will then be circulated to both the participants and the professionals. Each workshop session will ideally consist of submissions from two participants. A workshop session lasting one hour will be a critique of both submissions, or critique with directed instruction, at the discretion of the professionals in each session.

Please prepare to attend your session, which will be assigned weeks in advance of the convention. Due to the critical nature of this workshop, it is not recommended for anyone under 18 or anyone who is sensitive to criticism.

1. Electron submissions for OryCon 31 is preferred. The email address is ww@orycon.org

2. Fiction manuscripts may be either short stories or novel excerpts. Stories must be science fiction, fantasy, horror, or have a fantastic element of some kind.

3. Submissions should be in English language.

4. Manuscript submissions may have up to 7,500 words; shorter lengths are encouraged. Manuscript format should conform to general professional submission standards (an example is viewable from the OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop web page). Novels excerpts must also include a synopsis covering the entire plotline. The synopsis word count will not exceed 500 words.

5. Your email can be your cover letter. Cover letters will not exceed 300 words and should include any previous sales and any workshops you may have attended. The cover email should also include your name, address, and phone number.

The deadline is now. Don't delay. No submissions can be accepted after Friday, September 4th to allow for reading and assignments.

Email ww@orycon.org for more information or visit the OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop web page at http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

Laptops and ice cold tea in the shady garden. The sounds of birds in the trees and kids splashing in the pool. The smells of neighbors' barbecuing, yet again. Ah, summer surrounds us.

But before we know it, autumn will have arrived in Portland, Oregon with its cool, foggy mornings and the faint scent of wood smoke and crisp apples in the air, and that means its OryCon time!

Portland's OryCon 31 (November 27-29, 2009 - Yes, that's Thanksgiving weekend) is looking for a few good writers for its Writers Workshop. Submissions are now open and run through Friday, September 4th. If you are attending OryCon 31, this is a great opportunity to receive friendly but frank critiques of your work by pros in small group settings.

Manuscript-formatted submissions of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel length excerpts are limited to 7500 words maximum and require a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts additionally require a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions are preferred.

Submission fees are $10.00 per submission. Writers must have an OryCon 31 membership to attend.

E-mail Carole Cole at ww@orycon.org for fee and hard copy mailing address, and please visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page at http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php for further details and instructions.

OryCon 31's official website: http://orycon.org/orycon31/

OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop opens for manuscript submissions this Saturday, August 1st, 2009. That's right around the corner!

Greetings from OryCon 31's Writer's Workshop. *waves hand*

The deadline to the Orycon 31 Writer's Workshop is fast approaching. There's still plenty of time to join us. Details for the submission process are up on the Orycon 31 website at:

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

If you have any questions about submitting your work, go ahead and shoot me an email.

If you aren't quite ready to submit to the workshop this year, there is another opportunity to have your work critiqued. The third annual Orycon ORCs (Open Read & Critiques) are planned for both Friday and Saturday afternoon of the convention. This is a different, more convention-friendly time from previous years. The Open Read and Critique sessions are a helpful place to have the opening of your story critiqued by your peers. ORC Details are up on the OryCon 31 website as well at:

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/orc.php

Got questions? I probably have answers. I look forward to hearing from you!

Good luck!

Carole Cole
OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop Coordinator

Twelve days until the OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop opens for short story and novel submissions. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, September 4th.

Manuscript-formatted submissions of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel excerpts are limited to 7500 words. Each submission requires a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts require both a cover letter and a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions via email attachment are preferred. Submission fee is $10.00 per submission. Writers must have an OryCon 31 membership to attend and participate in Writer's Workshop.

Please visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page at http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php for correct manuscript example, email submission address, and all other details.

If you have any additional questions not found on the website, ask away.

Portland's OryCon 31 Writer's Workshop (November 27-29, 2009) opens for manuscript submissions August 1st through September 4th. This is a great opportunity to receive friendly but frank critiques of your work by pros in small group settings.

Manuscript-formatted submissions of SciFi, Fantasy, or Horror short story or novel length excerpts are limited to 7500 words and require a cover letter of 300 words or less. Novel excerpts additionally require a synopsis of 500 words or less.

Electronic submissions are preferred.

Submission fees are $10.00 per submission and writers must have an OryCon membership to attend.

E-mail Carole Cole at ww@orycon.org for fee and hard copy mailing address. Visit OryCon's Writer's Workshop guidelines page for more information and details.

http://orycon.org/orycon31/writers/writers.php

YES! I knew there had to have been a reason for all those months of *cough* background processing on The Car Novel. Yesterday morning, I awoke with how to fix a plot point. Sure, it's a minor plot point now, but it'll come into play nicely about halfway through the book. So glad I didn't completely delete it from the ms. Now it makes sense (at least, to me it does).

Today's a heavy writing day, as all Tuesdays should be IMO, and this morning, I've already received my prompt. Have you ever had seemingly odd or magical things happen to you while working on a piece that you're certain are signs that the story wants to be written, no, must be written? Every time I pick back up working on The Car Novel, spechul car things happen to me.

I'll walk into a bookstore and over the speaker system, a nondescript song will end and some tune from the 50's will start up, common tunes that are blared over the parking lot sound systems of any car show on any weekend across this country. More often than not, it's The Diamonds' Little Darlin'." Love that song.

Or I'll be perusing the car magazine section of a grocery store (can't afford to buy any but have, upon occasion, read more than just a few cover-to-cover), and overhear grown biker-attired adults comment about the lack of auto-oriented fiction (actually happened - twice).

Or I'll run into someone I'd admired from years ago who remembers my car show days and the conversation turns into an invite to come show or judge or just hang out and talk cars. To look at me, not many would believe I'd want to do that, but I do, often.

This morning, a custom-painted truck I've seen for years at a many shows around the area drove down our street and back up again out of the development. We live in an unique enough area in our development to be able to watch the comings and goings in and out of the neighborhood. This truck didn't belong here, has never been here as far as I know, but there it was regardless, all shiny with flames and pinstripe (be still, my pounding heart!), slammed close to the ground, taunting me to keep writing and get The Car Novel done.

What kind of slacker idiot would I have to be to deny the car world that?

Vroom, Vroom!

I'm happy to say heavy editing/rewriting through to Chapter Seven on The Car Novel has taken place. Sadly and simultaneously, I seemed to have lost the ability to distinguish between past and present perfect tenses so yet another edit will need to occur before all is said and done. Can't have everything, I guess.

In addition, my husband's job has gone from Level 3: Worrisome to Level 4: Interesting with an orange OMG! exclamation point over the weekend. Personal Financial Threat Advisory is elevated. The screeching sound you may hear in the not-so-far-off distance is the sound of heavily applied brakes. Looks like we'll be staying close to home for the next year or so with the exception of attending OryCon this November. Beyond that is anyone's guess.

So close. I felt we were so close to squeaking through all this nearly unscathed.

Orange Glo and OxiClean Pitchman Billy Mays has died. Anyone keeping count?

But in other news, more edits and rewrites happening today on The Car Novel. I've got yet another reason to finish this novel and Billy Mays has nothing to do with it.

Wow. Ms. Fawcett and Mr. Jackson both in the same day. Freakish.

431 words so far plus edit, edit, edit. I'm still thinking about Chapter five and a half but I can't let that necessary writing stop the forward motion through the editing of Chapters 6-8. More car polishing will, no doubt, occur sometime tomorrow.

Tonight, Powell's Cedar Hills. Tomorrow evening, INK.

Early Saturday morning, My car and I will be at a particular weigh station along highway 26 toward Mt. Hood helping out with a big car club event. My advance apologies to the lovely nearby town will that will be overrun with feisty older gentlemen and their wives driving colorful Corvettes between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m. Don't blame me. I didn't set up this thing up.

Finally, because I needed a break, here's a shot of my work space today. Outside, the fountain is splashing, the birds are singing, the tomatoes growing at long last. If it gets any prettier out there, I'm gonna have to close the curtains.