Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: geeky
  • Music: Glee, "Red Solo Cup."

Quiet milestones.

Parasite is the first book I've written largely in secret. Not because I was ashamed of it, but because first it wasn't sold, so I couldn't say anything about it. Then it was sold but unannounced, so I couldn't say anything about it. Then, when it was finally announced, I was so far into the writing process that I couldn't force myself into the normal flow of word counts and benchmarks and all the other things I use for motivation.

Pro tip: I work better with word counts and benchmarks. I know this now.

Friday I wound up staying home from my day job, thanks to an inability to breathe that was only resolved when I had another of my amazing fire hose nosebleeds, or, as I like to call them, "blood vacations." (It's not high blood pressure, it's a weakness in one of the blood vessels that runs through my sinuses. My doctor and I have discussed it. So please, no medical advice.) And once I mopped up the blood and got some clean clothes on, I got to work, and quietly, without any real fanfare, passed 500 draft one pages.

It's not a perfect book, by any means; for one thing, it's missing about 8,000 words still, and for another, it hasn't had any editorial, which means that all the Mira Grant "tics"—repetition, over-explanation, Joss-y dialog—are in full display, with no mitigation. But I can see the shape of what will be a good book, once we finish kicking the crap out of it, and that's very reassuring to me.

It will be awesome.
Tags: being productive, good things, medical fu, parasite, writing
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gement

June 11 2012, 22:21:41 UTC 5 years ago Edited:  June 11 2012, 22:22:14 UTC

"blood vacations" -- Someone else!

My partner is constantly getting nosebleeds, shaving nicks, little cuts, spots where he scratched his skin open. It used to really upset me because I wasn't used to it.

Him: "The blood's been working hard. It deserves a vacation."
Me: "BLOOD DOES NOT GET A VACATION"

"The blood does not get a vacation" has become the well-worn mild shorthand for "Please be careful with your skin because I like you in one piece." Now occasionally some of the blood retires to Aruba instead.

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 00:22:31 UTC 5 years ago

Your partner officially rules.

dewline

5 years ago

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gement

5 years ago

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dewline

5 years ago

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yellowblackhaze

June 11 2012, 22:53:12 UTC 5 years ago

Pleased that you're enjoying the writing process.

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 00:22:46 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, no. I'm hating it. But it must be done.

vincentursus

June 11 2012, 23:20:31 UTC 5 years ago

It will be awesome.

Well, you are the one writing it. That comes with the territory.

Keep breathing, it's good for you.

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 00:22:55 UTC 5 years ago

I'll try!

mac_arthur_park

June 11 2012, 23:46:55 UTC 5 years ago

I love reading about your writing processes and can't wait for the new book. :)

My gf is getting ready to start 'Discount Armageddon' and I am looking forward to hearing her reactions.

Or, as certain splinter groups would say, "Huzzah!"

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 00:23:07 UTC 5 years ago

CHEESE! AND! CAKE!

mac_arthur_park

5 years ago

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ladymurmur

June 12 2012, 00:54:52 UTC 5 years ago

For some utterly random reason, you kicking the crap out of a book on parasites reminded me of the classic cry of the college cafeteria: Eww! This is awful! Here - try some! :-)

Congrats on the book!

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:31:42 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks!

B.e. Sanderson

June 12 2012, 01:28:26 UTC 5 years ago

Never heard of inspiration coming from a case of hose nose, but hey, whatever works for you. Can't wait to see what blood loss is doing to your brain with this story. ;o)

Seriously, though. You said no advice and that it was nothing but... :hugs: No serious illnesses please. Rob Thurman's car accident was about all I could take from a favorite author.

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:32:07 UTC 5 years ago

I have no serious illnesses, nor am I planning to roll a car.

rhoda_rants

June 12 2012, 02:00:48 UTC 5 years ago

But I can see the shape of what will be a good book, once we finish kicking the crap out of it, and that's very reassuring to me.

I'm just going to focus on this part and SQUEE. (Hee, more Mira! Yes? Or am I reading that wrong?)

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:32:27 UTC 5 years ago

It's more Mira. We announced it a little while ago.

drakemonger

June 12 2012, 02:15:39 UTC 5 years ago

Does Mira have significantly different pre-edit tics than Seanan?

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:32:48 UTC 5 years ago

About 50% the same, 50% different.

tsgeisel

June 12 2012, 02:41:31 UTC 5 years ago

Yay book! Boo blood vacations.

So, have you tried a sinus transplant? Surely the technology has to be there to do this already. I mean, how much harder can it be than a heart or a kidney? :-)

P.S. I just searched - apparently not something done right now, but you might enjoy the results of a google search on the topic...

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:33:06 UTC 5 years ago

I don't want my face cut open that way!

drcpunk

June 12 2012, 05:53:24 UTC 5 years ago

I know what you mean about patterns. I see them in my gming. Yep, another campaign where everything ties in to the most convoluted family tree I could come up with, ultimately linking half of the PCs together.

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:33:18 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

alitalf

June 12 2012, 13:51:01 UTC 5 years ago

What you have done in effect is to take the lemon that life gave you and make lemonade with it. Respect!

To misquote someone (Rick Cook?): "...if life gives you hemlocks, do not make hemlockade. It is vitally important to distinguish between lemons and hemlocks."

I'm looking forward to the time (as soon as 2014 maybe?) when I'll be able to buy a copy Parasite. Not wanting to make you over confident, but I have enjoyed everything of yours I have read. Sometimes "Wow!", sometimes just "Good", but never "Meh". On the theory that you will get better with practice (as Blackout suggests) bring on the next story!

seanan_mcguire

June 12 2012, 14:33:36 UTC 5 years ago

Mmmmmmmmmmmm, hemlockade.

angharadd

June 12 2012, 18:14:24 UTC 5 years ago

Congratulations! I'm really looking forward to this book; until then, there's Newsflesh to be re-read.

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2012, 20:14:31 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

elialshadowpine

June 13 2012, 02:55:19 UTC 5 years ago Edited:  June 13 2012, 02:55:55 UTC

Eee! Can't wait for the next book. I just finished the first trilogy (I heard about the books around when Deadline came out, bought them, and then heard about the cliffhanger so decided to wait until 3 was out) and LOVED it and can't wait to see more in the setting. :D I've read a lot of zombie apocalypse stories and I think your setting is one of the best thought out that I have ever run across. It's brilliant.

(edit because augh enter key)

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2012, 20:14:42 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you!

thedragonweaver

June 13 2012, 03:34:31 UTC 5 years ago

That's an odd form of inspiration, but whatever works. I sometimes get the most done around the house when I'm so insanely tired that I have to keep moving lest I turn into Evil Half-Dead Mom.

I am ever so pleased that you are so prolific. It's always nice when a favorite author decides to gift her readers with more than one book a year.

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2012, 20:15:15 UTC 5 years ago

I think I'd go nuts if I tried to cut back to one book a year.

thedragonweaver

5 years ago

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meggins

June 13 2012, 04:20:20 UTC 5 years ago

...that all the Mira Grant "tics"

Do I interpret this to mean that Mira Grant has different tics than Seanan McGuire? That the pen name isn't just a marketing decision. That it's not just a different type of book but perhaps a different approach as well?

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2012, 20:15:41 UTC 5 years ago

No, just that Mira Grant books are written in a different style, because they deal with different subject matter.

thedragonweaver

5 years ago

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mythos_amante

June 13 2012, 20:34:51 UTC 5 years ago

I am REALLY looking forward to it!!

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2012, 20:17:00 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

zombiefruit

June 17 2012, 19:26:23 UTC 5 years ago

I'm looking for my dancing-zombie gif I used in a comment on your journal somewhere, and I was just thinking - someone with a penchant for spontaneous nosebleeds would be such a nightmare in the zombiepocalypse...

zombiefruit

June 17 2012, 19:26:40 UTC 5 years ago

And nasal test kits would REALLY suck...

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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zombiefruit

5 years ago

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