Scene Break
March 2, 2024
THUNDER MARROTT
First, I want to acknowledge the loss of my beloved cat, Thunder on Valentine's Day. He'd had a heart murmur for several years. Thunder would have turned 18 on May 1. When he quit eating and drinking, I knew the end was near. He started falling over when he tried to walk. My other cat, Esse, had done the same thing last April. I took Thunder to the vet, and she said he was in heart failure. He crossed over in my arms.
By the way, my pets' middle names are their shelter names if they have one. In Thunder's case, his previous owner had named him Marrott, for the apartment building where she lived and found him.
WHAT'S NEW IN POETRY
My chapbook, Questions I Didn't Know I'd Asked, is finally out in the world! My publisher released it on February 29, Leap Day, 2024. Some of my friends and family have purchased copies. Here is the link to my publisher's site. You can buy the book from him in Australia or from Amazon. He includes a link to Amazon on this page. https://lachlanjmcdougall.wordpress.com/
Right now, that is a 'sticky' post featuring my book. I don't know how long it will be. Lachlan has other irons in the fire so if you are reading this later and don't see my book there, simply scroll down and you will find Questions I Didn't Know I'd Asked.
I sent all my poems to the National Federation of State Poetry Societies Contest. I had 4 poems for Category 1, which had to be submitted separately along with a fee of $20. For Categories 2-50, I had to compile a list of the poems I was sending and pay my fee of $10. OK if you are keeping up that was 2 submissions on submittable. Next came sending the actual poems themselves for those Categories, 2-50. I didn't write for all of them, so I had 42 poems. You would think I could enter them all as one document. No, that's too easy. This contest is for ALL the state societies. I had to send my 42 poems separately to the states sponsoring the individual contest category. Once I figured that out, I think it took me 2 hours from start to finish.
It cost me $30, it was a lot of work, but the prizes are wonderful. Wish me luck!
PROGRESS ON THE NOVEL
I finished UNDER THE BUBBLE and sent it to 6 beta readers, 4 of whom have given me their reports. Overall, the reports are good. One reader is a friend who doesn't normally read science fantasy, so she had a tough time with my book, but I took her comments seriously. The other 3 have given me positive results and feedback. There are a couple of areas I need to work on because they agree on those areas. Other than that, the comments have been personal, minor, and fixable. There is one reader I have not heard from at all and I'm a little concerned. I should email her. Another said she'd get back to me this weekend. I've already started edits based on the comments from the other 4.
The friend who doesn't read in this genre brought up a valid question which I won't go into here. When the others tell me their opinions, I ask them that question. That is one of the primary areas I need to work on. So, I guess what that means is maybe it's important to have a beta reader who doesn't usually read what you write. They see things through a different lens.
WHAT I'M READING
Between the poetry contest, my novel, the poetry anthology I'm co-editing, and my duties with the Poetry Society of Indiana, I haven't had much time to read.
I'm supposed to be reading a book of short stories and joining in a group discussion on zoom. The book is called Exploring New Suns 2, edited by Nisi Shawl with speculative fiction composed by authors of color. The ones I read last week were really good but I'm too busy to read and keep up with the class discussion. Honestly, the day I got this book in the mail, I was surprised. I'd forgotten I'd even signed up for the classes!
What I've read so far has been good and I have added it to my stack of books by my bed. There is one more zoom in a week. I'll try to read for that get-together and then finish the other stories on my own. Since this is 2, there is also Exploring New Suns 1.
PUBLICATIONS SINCE LAST SCENE BREAK
1. QUESTIONS I DIDN'T KNOW I'D ASKED https://lachlanjmcdougall.wordpress.com/
2. Subliminal Surgery, 3 poems on March 1 https://subliminal.surgery/
WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR
Rejections aren't always bad. Yeah, that's right. I have 2 examples.
1. I sent a short story to a journal but got a rejection. In the rejection, the editor said he liked the story, but it doesn't necessarily fit 'right now.' Then he said if I haven't placed it elsewhere in 6 months to resubmit. When I get a cool note like that in my rejection, I mark it in red lettering, so I'll see it when skimming my spreadsheet.
2. I need to be careful describing this one because I don't want the guy to be swamped. I'd had several poems of a particular form rejected and didn't know why. I thought I was doing the form justice. When I got a rejection from one place the editor said he liked my story a lot and asked if I wanted his help. Of course, I jumped at the chance. After a few back-and-forth emails, he rewrote the poem. I asked him if I could 'steal' it and he said yes. Not only that, but the poem will fit the theme for the next issue, and I can submit it.
Most of my rejections are the usual 'we get a million wonderful submissions and it's so hard to choose…blah, blah, blah.' I wonder how many times they want to say, 'I hate the way you write, don't send your stuff again!'
The above 2 super nice rejections are truly diamonds in the rough. Like finding a Petoskey stone in clean blue water and seeing clearly all the tiny mineral deposits inside.
STAR TREK
I rewatched seasons 1 & 2 of Picard but I didn't rewatch season 3. It seems like I just saw that; it hasn't been that long ago. However, I'd forgotten how good season 1 was. I think that was my favorite of all 3 seasons. But I also like the ending of season 2. I try to keep up with Virtual Trek Con on YouTube. I'm looking forward to new seasons of all iterations of Trek, especially Discovery season 5, even though it will be the last.
One thing is certain. I used to think Enterprise was my favorite Star Trek series. Now I've changed my mind. Deep Space 9 is far and above the best in my opinion. 'Far Beyond the Stars,' season 6, episode 13, is undoubtedly the best Star Trek episode ever aired.
TODAY'S PHOTO
Instead of drawing a card, I posted a photo of Thunder Marrott and Esse Diamond curled on my couch in Yin Yang position. My friend Liz put their dates on the photo for me. I'd had Esse since she was 3 months old, and she crossed at age 17 ½. I got Thunder when he was 5. He crossed over 3 months before turning 18.
I won't have anymore cats. The litter box is too much for my back.
Thank you for reading.