austspecfic

Well I've been working on a report for eight months so that's two months longer than normal and I've been stressed and tired. I still have the RSI though it is on the improve. I've been studying English Grammar, which has been so much fun. Assignment work today and then I finish the course tomorrow. This means I should have some mental space for writing for a few months. I have a number of ideas for shorts as well as some novels to polish and write.

I've been doing a series on interviews on my writing blog. The latest is with Joanne Anderton
http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/beta-reading-interview-number-8-joanne-anderton/

I find this series quite interesting, particularly the varying degree in which some published writers use beta readers in the writing process.

I spent the weekend in Sydney hanging with Trudi C and others and then at the Aurealis Awards. They were great. Well done Sydney and Specfaction. Congratulations to all the winners and those shortlisted.

Now I have to get to work in my cold house and think of innovative ways to get the heating fixed or replaced. Not going to happen anytime soon, I think.

I miss livejournal but I can't hack all the hackers! I'm posting mostly on my wordpress blog
http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com or on Twitter/Facebook.

Anyway I'm still here, still slogging it out.

We've said goodbye to Paul Haines. So very sad to see him pass. He leaves us with powerful stories and a brave soul who fought against the odds. My thoughts are with is family who have to live on without him.

This week James had some surgery and I'm taking care of him (as much as he'll let me). We have to go back to the hospital today to take the bandages off. I had a medical appointment myself this morning but it turns out I got it wrong and it is tomorrow. I'm seeing about my acute reflux issue. Yew! I so don't want to have a procedure. I know it's common place but still...you know.

I have RSI so I'm not on the computer much at all and I'm using dictation software mostly. It is not great. I have hope that it will get better and I'll return to normal.

On the house front, the place is chaos. I've had Erana here since Christmas. She's in Sydney now but her stuff is here. Taamati is coming to live with me, after he was made redundant so we are going to have to hire storage so we can get the house in order. The lawnmower is at the repair shop and there's a jungle out there. The toilet in my ensuite is running on so I have to call a plumber. Work has been the worst it has ever been, ever. Though it is getting better now, I think. The sad thing is that with the RSI I can't apply for other jobs and I can't even be a check out chick! A sad state of affairs. Don't get me wrong. I love my job. It's so interesting and it pays well. It was just tough this last project, tougher than normal.

Anyway I have to get some edits done on this short story for Damnation and Dames. And here's link to my writing related post.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/when-youre-not-writing/

Been a while since I've been here. Life is pretty hectic, particularly the day job.

Mum is alive but is failing slowly. She's lost around 15 kilos and the hair off the back of her head. She doesn't sit up but thinks she can walk. Her memories are shattered but she is still there. So when I visit we hang in the moment and she's happy.

I'm shifting to full time work for a few months because I have to get things done and work don't want to give me leave in January. January is writers retreat in NZ so I must have the leave.

Ruby Heart was rejected. Australian market is a bit too small to support the sub-genre of steampunk. Mine is also a meld so a bit different again. There are other markets out there and I had a nice chat with the editor and got some feedback. But darn!

I have another interesting editing interview up on

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/laurie-goulding-on-editing/


Catch you soon. I have heaps of private whinging to do and this is my favourite place to do it.

I don't know what it is about this year but there's been a lot happening. Mostly within the family I think. Mum's fall. James playing up a tad and other issues. It makes getting through the day tough some time. It makes doing uni assignments and writing even tougher. Hormone fluctuations are also playing a part along with other physical ailments. The knee is growing dodgy and the back I have to be careful with and the neck, oh lord, I'm lucky it is still holding up my head. On the other hand, I say to myself there are heaps of people worse off than me. Still there are days or even parts of days I feel overwhelmed and a little depressed. The kinds of time when you want to curl up in bed for days and do nothing and talk to no one. However, being me I can't stand this and so I fight.

Yesterday, I saw that I had received an HD for my essay, which was a report on my editing project. Well I can't feel bad about that. It is interesting because I had so many mother issues that day I was to hand it in, I thought I wouldn't get to submit it and that the quality suffered. However, I didn't hand it in late and the quality was okay.

At present, I am putting the final touches on the novel edit I'm doing. (not my novel!) It is really big! Well big for the uni project. I have another one I'm doing, which is smaller. I hope to get on to that one this weekend.

I did manage to get some writing in last weekend, mostly a story outline and the first 1000 words of a short story for a submission. I did that and I'll find out in due course what happens there.Probably nothing, but it was a good experience to step out of my comfort zone.

Last night, I did manage to put up a blog post about Games Day Oz..It has lots of photos. I believe my attendance at Games Day has earning me the monika of Uber Geek, because my attendance there made me late for Conflux 7.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/gamesdayoz/

I may do more editor interviews but that depends on certain people sending me their answers. I am going to start thinking about authors who use beta readers. First I have to think up the questions.

Yah me. I live in NSW but work in the ACT, which has another public holiday today. I have been busy editing for my uni assignment and putting together a pitch/proposal to write a short story in a type of genre I've not attempted before. I whinged and moaned and experience fear and feelings of inferiority. However, i did it and I've sent it and I'm glad I did, regardless of the outcome.

I have put up another interview. This time with the indomitable Alisa Krasnostein.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/alisa-krasnostein-on-editing/

Enjoy!

It's time to me to develop a style guide and key in edits. I may get to veg sometime today.

I went to two conventions on the weekend. Games Day in Sydney, which is the Games Workshop trade show, you know Warhammer and Warhammer 40K. It was great. It was exhausting. Matthew signed lots. I helped out on the table. It kept me busy. I'll be doing a blog post with some photos later on the other blog.

Then we made Conflux 7 on Sunday. I was exhausted. I did and said things that were a bit strange. (stranger than normal okay). Nicole and I launched Conflux 9, the natcon and we'll be putting out links to the updated webpage soon. For those of you who weren't there.

International Guest of Honour, Nalo Hopkinson, International Editor Guest of Honour, Marc Gascoigne, Australian Fan Guest of Honour, Rose Mitchell, Australian Guest of Honour, Karen Miller and Special Guest, Kaaron Warren.

What a line up!

Now I have also put up another editor interview. This time with Cat Sparks. Enjoy!
http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/cat-sparks-on-editing/

Another great interview in the editing series, this time with Jack Dann.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/jack-dann-on-editing/

I have an essay due this week. It was all going swimmingly in my head until I was taken out by headache and a migraine. That's two days and I'm still recovering from bad back.

Today Mum is having an X-ray and we are using an ambulance to transport her. I have to accompany her. I don't mind that but it could take all day.

The back that went out is getting it together. Matthew has been absolutely wonderful in rubbing my back every night (and my knee, which is also playing up). It is almost better. Just have those left over niggles. One of my daughters has offered to help me clean the house over the weekend. Now that the wardrobes are finally built we can put some of the mess away.

This week it is time to write an essay and also work on my major editing assignment.

I have posted another interview. This time a small press perspective on editing from Keith Stevenson.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/keith-stevenson-on-editing/

This is all very helpful for my uni work and also personally because I find the topci quite fascinating.

Time to chuff off to work. It is Friday. Come to me weekend. I need you.

Well, the other day Matthew asks me how my neck was and I said fine. Today I couldn't go to work with a sore back. I have no idea what set me off but it is quite painful. I am sitting at the PC in an effort to vary my posture from lying down or staggering around a house full of chaos.

Anyways, the big achievement for the day is putting up this interview with Jim Frenkel.

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/jim-frenkel-on-editing/

It's another interview in the series. I think the topic is quite fascinating.

Hi there

I am continuing my series of blog post interviews with editors. Lee Harris was kind enough to fit me in to his busy schedule. His interview is here

http://donnamareehanson.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/lee-harris-on-editing/

If you are interested in editing, please check it out. I am finding the views quite intriguing. That is probably because I know the content of the next couple of interviews too.