Saturday, December 15, 2007

Of Chapters, Synopses and Taos Toolbox

I've spent this week wrestling with the dreaded synopsis while trying to finish another chapter, keep up with the Gauntleteers (Jasoni, Laura and Peter are legends in their own time. We will not discuss any other's achievements or non-achievements.) and live life. I was doing well too, managing to keep all the balls in the air even if sometimes my fists of steel faltered a little. Then, this morning, I made the mistake of looking at the date. I don't want to frighten anyone but Christmas is only nine days off. Excuse me while I go and hide my head under the pillow. Okay, I'm feeling better now. If only every time I lifted the pillow I didn't see the eye of the tiger and feel his breath on my neck. Perhaps if I don't move it will go away and I will wake to find it was all a dream.
Enough maudlin self flagellation. Taos Toolbox Writers' Workshop in the US is now open for applications. Among others (Walter Jon Williams and Stephen R. Donaldson to be precise) Kelly Link is a lecturer. Kelly was one of the tutors at Clarion South this year and I learned an enormous amount from her. I would so like to be there but unless the Lotto comes through...

1 comment:

Satima Flavell said...

Christmas? Just ignore it. I've become one of the Bah Humbug brigade of recent years, although I usually relent enough to mail off cards to a hanful of people and to indulge in mince pies. But I hate the fact that what was once a family celebration and a religious festival to boot has been taken over by commercial interests who have blackmailed and coerced society into doing it their way.

The Taos workshop would be fantastic, I think. That town used to have a rep as a place where the arts matter and alternatives are cherished, although I'd imagine it has now become like Byron Bay - slick and commercialised. Just like Christmas:-(