(no subject)

Characterisation is something I have on my mind, thanks to Ian McHugh. He keeps mentioning it in my vicinity.

Because it's on my mind, and because teaching started today, naturally I taught my class a couple of tricks for creating instant character recognition for readers using dialogue. The explanation unmelted their brains (which had been frostbound to that moment, which was odd, because today is rather mild) but it didn't get much dialogue written. We've been doing so much description recently, and telling stories of doors and gateways, and poetry that dialogue just didn't want to emerge.

I already know what I'll be teaching next week.

Baggage reviews

Elizabeth's kindly done a round up of the early reviews for Baggage: http://www.eneitpress.com/blog.php?journal=1

And I have a completed first draft of Aaargh! going up to its first committee (I think it only needs two sets of approvals from here on in).

The natural consequence of all this is that tomorrow is cookbook day. Truly. There is complete logic in there. I might try to catch up on some other stuff as well, though. I need to reduce my "Have to read and possibly write about before AussieCon" pile of books from 34 to a more manageable number. What I probably need is a group of friends willing to shame me publicly by asking "Just how many books have you not looked at yet?". The threat of public shaming should help diminish the pile significatly.

Actually, what I shall do is note the number finished, here. I can finish one tonight, being already halfway through it. ne down (almost); only 33 to go.