Moved to a New Home

Just a little bit farther...

In trying to get all my blogging projects under one roof and therefore keep them all in better shape, future posts will be made at Grayestone Lodge. Sorry for the extra click required.

Cheers and thanks for stopping by!
J.

Virtual Trip to the 1300's

The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book gave a phenomenally fresh view point into 14th century England. I bought it as a reference text for a YA novel I'm writing, but I ended up devouring it cover to cover for pleasure. While some segments of the period were glossed over a little too much, the fresh perspective and global overview it presented will help me get more out of every other research text I use from now on. Best of all, I found the perfect solution to a plot problem that had me stalled. Thank you, Ian Mortimer!



View all my reviews

Birthday Bass

Birthday Bass
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

As I shift from non-fiction back into poetry and historical fiction, I have realized that I've lost a bit of my rhythm. To get my rhythm back, I've decided to learn how to play the electric bass guitar. I'm hoping it'll help my words rock again. Hope with me?

Do the MS Polka with Me

I did it! Final tally: 67,000 words. Want to see?



Cheers and thanks for all the hugs,
J.S.

Excuse 152 for Not Writing

I was closing in on 55,000 words of my 65,000 word goal when all of a sudden...

...no power. I'd be more sad, but I loved the break:-)

Lego wiimote and nunchuck

What my son is doing while I write...

Book-writing Update

Writing a book in a condensed time frame plus running Folded Word has me too busy to blog these days. But for anyone interested, here's where my non-fiction work-for-hire stands:

Words written: 40,995
Words to be written to meet goal: 24,005
Days left until final deadline: 21
Expert questionnaires sent out: 12
Expert questionnaires received: 4
Quote of the month: (from a friend, over lunch) "Sometimes the money just isn't worth it."

Cheers,
J.S.

Cheap Diploma Substitute

Cheap Diploma Substitute
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 7:   After reading so many research texts extolling the joy of completing a graduate degree, I decided to dig out my diploma and stare at it for awhile--to remind myself that I really did it. Only, I can't find it. I've got my high school and college diplomas, but no grad school. All I could find were sealed packets of transcripts and this 3x5 card, which I guess was designed to be my temporary proof-of-degree? Not the same. You'd better bet that when I finally find my diploma, I'm going to post a picture of me holding it. Then it'll go into the safe.

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 0 (6 total)
• pages of research read: 62 (402 total)
• experts approached for interview: 0 (7 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 0 (5 total)
• Quote of the Day: (during search for M.S. diploma) *censored*
• Link of the Day: Post-positivism

Endeavor to Persevere

Endeavor to Persevere
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 6:   Neither rain nor hail nor even migraine could keep me from my appointed research today. I may have done my reading with an ice pack on my head, but I did my reading. Think I'll reward myself with a cozy British period drama from Netflix tonight.

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 0 (6 total)
• pages of research read: 118 (340 total)
• experts approached for interview: 1 (7 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 0 (5 total)
• Quote of the Day: "...remember the goal is to do the dissertation and graduate, so strive for adequately non-boring and forget burning interest..." from Evelyn Hunt Ogden's Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less
• Link of the Day: PhD Comics (Read multiple. I laughed 'till I cried.)

So Close Yet So Far

So Close Yet So Far
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 5:   So I had plans to plow through another research text today. Note the keyword "plans." But a boy with a case of "The Mondays" rewrote my to-do list. I did squeeze in a little reading. And I found out that I'm officially enrolled in a literary publishing course in June--which means 5 days kid-free (and nonsense-free) thanks to my in-laws. The news couldn't have come on a better day, because *DING!* I wanna get away.

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 0 (6 total)
• pages of research read: 25 (222 total)
• experts approached for interview: 0 (6 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 1 (5 total)
• Quote of the Day: (from my son's principal) "Um, we're having another problem at school this morning."
• Link of the Day: Wanna Get Away?

8 am vs. 5 pm

8 am vs. 5 pm
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 3:   If you look at the stats below, it doesn't look like I made much progress today. Little wonder. Look at the state of my desk this morning! (It's been that way for weeks, if I'm honest.) And after the chaos that was mommyhood today, I had to control what I could. So. Tomorrow morning, before the children wake up, I have a date with my books and my pencils and my notebook and...my CLEAN desk.

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 0 (6 total)
• pages of research read: 5 (197 total)
• experts approached for interview: 0 (6 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 2 (4 total)
• Quote of the Day: (from my mom) "I don't need to scan my photos if it means you have to waste time cleaning your desk."
• Link of the Day: Real Simple's 5 Rules for Working from Home

Intimidated No More

Intimidated No More
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 2:   If there was one thing I learned in graduate school, it was to read critically. Read critically and take loads of notes. Thanks to that skill, I managed to get over my intimidation and find a couple gaps in a competing text--gaps I intend to fill.

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 2 (6 total)
• pages of research read: 95 (192 total)
• experts approached for interview: 2 (6 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 1 (2 total)
• Quote of the Day: (from my 11 year old) "Are you done reading that book yet? I need you to help me start a blog."
• Link of the Day: Online Writing Lab

Cannot read my own writing.

Can't read my own writing.
Originally uploaded by sudphoto

Day 1: Dusted off & opened my 90's research binder & thesis--for recall. Recalled the people, as well. Found one grad-friend listed on IMDB!

Daily Data

• words written: 0 (0 total)
• pages of notes taken: 4 (4 total)
• pages of research read: 97 (97 total)
• experts approached for interview: 4 (4 total)
• experts agreeing to interview: 1 (1 total)
• Quote of the Day: (to my 11 year old while I sat reading) "I know it doesn't look like it, but I am working."
• Link of the Day: Walking with Beasts at IMDB

Welcome to the Wild Life

I am so jazzed to be featured on PAGE ONE of Ruthless Peoples Magazine's Wild Life issue (download by clicking on the picture). I LOVE RPM. Their fantastic taste notwithstanding, I love their crisp pdf layout and their "reader guidance" comments. Funny comments.  This issue is full of what I call "safe" pieces, but Tom Sykes' Bad Territory #2 is prefaced with:  Be advised that this is not light reading and will easily offend even robust individuals.  I know, some of you are now going to run right over there right now and check that one out...


For the rest of you that are still here, my One Yorkshireman's Perfection is my first ekphrastic poem. I wrote it last winter in response to my favorite photograph, Winter Light by Richard Kettlewell; jotting new words from it every morning for 30 days. I even interviewed the photographer for additional insights.  Richard kindly gave me permission to share a thumbnail of my poem's inspiration with you here.

A special thanks goes to Dominic Hamer and Stewart Baker of RPM. You guys ROCK on both sides of the Atlantic. I'd also like to thank Jessie Carty, whose insight helped me step back enough to let readers see.

Cheers,
J.S.
(J Sudborough)

Love from MSNBC

So I go out of town for a few days.  To my gram's cabin, nestled in an internet/mobile-phone free zone.  To breathe for a sec.  And look what happens!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I've been waiting for this to go live for ages.  Very fun.  I'm honored to share this clip with David Erlewine and Robert Swartwood.  Humbled actually.  You guys ROCK!  To Ben White at Nanoism I say thanks for publishing the story that I read on camera.  And to Mel Bosworth I send a cyber-hug for having my back while I was out of range.

Cheers,
J.S.

September Slipped By

September. What a month. My head is still spinning. To the point that I can only think in bullets:

• My poem "He Asks" came out in the print-only Rattlesnake Review.
  
• Surprise Valley Writers Conference asked me to be their submissions chair for next year's conference.  I also (somehow) ended up as their "new media" administrator.  So come visit me on their page on Facebook and their stream on Twitter.  Let's get this party started!
• Nanoism nominated my serial-tweet story Dakar 1989 for Best of the Net.  SO jazzed about that.  Caught me way off guard, since I was busy nominating everyone else for Folded Word.
• I also have some lovely editing projects that got underway in September.  They're going to be my secret for just a little longer...
• I started a Folded Word group on Fictionaut.  So pop on by and join the conversation.

Each of these items deserves a post of its own, but I'm afraid I have to dash.  My gram has been neglected far too long.  It's Friday Lunch Date time!

Cheers,

J.S.

Tilt at 50 to 1

After two weeks of sinusitis and migraine, I felt like my head was under water. So it's funny that my latest story, Tilt, just made it into today's 50 to 1 issue, appropriately dubbed Head Under Water. I am pleased to share this issue with Judith Kelly Quaempts, Jon Harahan, Elizabeth Wylder, and more.

I've been fascinated by the concept 50 to 1, ever since I read Mel Bosworth's first line & 50 word story there. Since that introduction, I've enjoyed reading the brilliance of Ben White, David Erlewine, Ethel Rohan, Craig Lamont, and and and... If you've never crawled around over there, definitely dive in. It's worth the squeeze into your swim suit.

Many thanks to Glen Binger for giving Tilt a home AND writing me the most detailed acceptance letter I've ever received. It's now printed and glued into my journal. Thanks also belong to the Show Me Your Lits krewe, as this is another gem from my playtime there. It's good to be breathing again!

Cheers,
J.S.

Safety Goggle: Tilt at 50 to 1

(think before you read)
my content = TV-PG
other content = TV-PG

Crush on CPR

If you're a writer and you haven't played Show Me Your Lits, get over there and DO IT! I don't play every week, but I make a point to flash at least twice a month.

It's a good thing, too. Now that the kids are back in school, I have a stack of stories to polish and submit. This morning I sent out three of them...and Crush has already found some love from Camroc Press Review!

Huge thanks to Barry Basden at CPR for his lightning speed and proofreading prowess. And big hugs for Errid, Terry, Liz, and the rest of the SMYL krewe. This story wouldn't exist without you!

Cheers,
J.S.

Safety Goggle: Crush at Camroc Press Review

(think before you read)
my content = TV-PG
other content = TV-PG & TV-14

No Longer a (Pushcart) Virgin

I just nominated works for the Pushcart Prize for the first time. My identity as an editor is finally sinking in AND I LOVE IT. Maybe too much.

Some of you may have already read my post on the Folded Word blog giving the official announcement of what, who, and why I nominated. But here's the rest of the story:

I am a perfectionist. Not with housecleaning, but definitely with words. It took me hours to write and print my cover letter and the nominated works, stressing over every little formatting nuance. I finally printed it, but the regular paper wrinkled slightly in my laser printer. So I brought out the big guns: crisp sheets of 25% cotton watermarked paper. Mmmm, felt good to sign the cover letter on that with my fine-tipped art marker. Nice.

Then came the part I HATE--addressing the envelope. My laser printer makes a hash out of envelopes. So I pulled out my manual typewriter, but it was leaving smudges. I figured clean handwriting would be better than smudged typewriting, held my breath, and then used my calligraphic training to address the envelope in precise strokes. Trust me, it'll take some intern's breath away. The personal touch from an indie press. Right?

Lastly, the postage. Of course, my postal scale was out of battery power and the battery drawer was out of 9 volts. So I took the packet in to the post office. The envelope was right on the borderline between rates, so the clerk put one stamp on it to see if the weight of the stamp would change the rate. It was a Bob Hope stamp--slapped on sideways by the rushing clerk. Ordinarily, that kind of imperfection would drive me nuts. Except somehow the sight of that quirky man perched at a quirky angle on a VERY serious letter made me giggle--even after the extra postage got slapped on in an even quirkier angle.

Maybe you had to be there.

All I'm saying is that I've always tried not to take myself too seriously with Folded Word. To have fun with everything I do there. And even with the gravity of losing my editorial Pushcart virginity, I laughed.

So here's to you, Nathalie & Mel. May your pen always flow and your words forever dance. I'm so glad your works were my first;-)

Cheers,
J.S.

Lights. Camera. Question!

Yesterday I gave my first national news interview on camera. The topic was fiction on Twitter, both stories I've written (see links at right for Nanoism & escarp) and other writers' stories I've edited/published on PicFic. My interview was part of a larger story--they've been talking to loads of people. I'll post details later if/when it will air. But the whole experience has been surreal.

Going in to it, I wondered whether or not I would freeze in front of the camera. I wondered whether or not the interviewer would constantly dig for dirt. I even wondered whether I would break into nervous, hysterical laughter and blow out someone's ears.

But I needn't have worried. Since the team in charge of the news story is based in DC, I drove into my local affiliate. Instead of being interviewed in a studio, I was tucked quietly into a conference room. Junior watched from the end of the table. Cameraman Mike took a shine to him, so showed him how to use his camera (see photo above) and gave him a tour of the newsroom.

After the 40 minute interview, I also had to re-read some of my stories while the camera rested on my shoulder to view my notebook and then repositioned to focus close-in on my face (SCARY). They also filmed me navigating to this blog, PicFic's Twitter stream, and PicFic's archive.

I hope it went well. I feel like it did. Of course I'm dying to know where and when the story will run, but I'm not super-anxious about whether any of my footage will make it in.

Most of all I'm JAZZED that fiction on Twitter is getting some national attention. It will be a real boost for all the contributors to PicFic (and Thaumatrope and Outshine and Nanoism and escarp and 7x20 and Tweet the Meat and...)

Cheers,
J.S.