cornerofmadness: (writing typos)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-06 12:44 am
Entry tags:

Write Every Day Day 6



What I like about this quote is that it's inclusive. Even if all we want to do is write fanfic and have no desire to write original fiction (which is absolutely a fine choice) that we can be proud of ourselves and know that our stories are out there touching someone

I am struggling to find motivation for anything. Sigh. I only got about 230 words on a story and 2 book reviews done.

Day 5 [personal profile] cmk418, [personal profile] badly_knitted, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] brithistorian, [personal profile] the_siobhan [personal profile] carenejeans


other days under here )
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-05 11:15 pm

Writerly Ways

I don't have much to say today. I'm burned out. Seriously. Hell I didn't even look at Whumptober until the 2nd and you know how much I like that. I have put off fridge repairs for nearly 6 weeks because I have no energy to get things cleaned up. I have an event this coming weekend for which I have neither the tickets nor the hotel. This is what depression does. Sigh.

But today DID have a bit of fun and I wanted to make that the focal point of my writerly ways. Networking and bookstores. This weekend a new bookstore opened up in my small town (by one of my former students) It's not that new. It was inside the antique store but that didn't last (sigh) and she's now up near the bank. There were so many women in this small space today you couldn't move. I was glad to see it. Look at the readers!! Whee. Yes I bought something (I was taking up space and it was a new horror I've been eyeballing of a harder to find letter for my alphabet challenge (well for 2026).

So I asked her would you be willing to host author signings and book releases? I know several local authors other than me (I think my next release is going to be 100% ebook. The publisher has not mentioned paper.) She lit up. Yes she is. I know not every author is comfortable with this. Some of us (a lot of us) are introverts but hopefully you can balance this with at least getting out there a little. Will you sell scads? Unlikely. Will you sell nothing? (possible. I've been there done that) Will it kick you in the heart (yes) But it's worth a try.

Like me, who was invited to be author in residence/judge at two local cons this year. Yes it fell apart before both cons (including the above mentioned one) but that does make your ego sing a little. If you do do the in person sales, let me suggest bookmarks (or at least a poster) with QR codes with ebook buy links or your webpage or your newsletter sign up. (or all of this)

Open Calls

Into the Deep, Dark Woods (downside to this one, they insist on copyright proof which could easily cost more than you're going to earn

It Came From the Trailer Park: Vol 6 Horror Comedy creature feature with the sub-theme of Prison Planet Earth the downside to this one is they want LONG short stories and if you don't get in you'll be like me with a drawer full of stories too long for nearly every other publisher

Stone’s Throw November 2025 Window Your story must have the setting of an office holiday party (relatively low pay)

Strange Pilgrims, Surreal, speculative, and fabulist stories; unhinged, lyric, and fragmented essays; voice-driven experimental narratives and slow-burn realism; cultural and literary criticism; hyper-intellectual riffs and children’s stories

Speculative fiction from a South Asian perspective that deals with folk tales. narrow perimeters but good pay


No Laughing Matter Fiction which embraces the horror/thriller genres with elements of bleak, black humour, wry observation, a touch of irony and satire, and hints of the absurd.

Walpurgis Witcheries Stories set in Central Europe, and Walpurgis must be integral to the plot with witchery afoot

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in October 2025

72 Specialized Publishers Open to Manuscript Submissions


From around the web

Amazon Advertising For Books With Geoff Affleck

Can Set Up and Backstory Actually Work in Chapter One?

Three Lessons From My First Podcast Tour


From Betty

Five Problems Caused by Tone Mishaps and How to Fix Them.

How Three Book Series Kept Readers Interested.

Three Options for Heroes Who Disobey Orders

10 Dialogue Tips to Consider before You Start Writing

Reviews Light the Way

The Pros and Cons of Writing for Anthologies

Craft a Raptor Hero Not Villain

Picturing Your Characters

What Kind of Writing Monster Is Lurking in Your Brain?

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Self-Medicating

Writing Through Fear: How to Turn Anxiety Into Creative Strength One for all of us right now

Self-Publishing Success: How to Format Your Book for Print and Ebook (Vellum, Atticus, Kindle Create & More)

How to Know the Ending of Your Story from the Beginning: Using Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

Single vs. Multiple Narrators: Pros and Cons for Novelists

Can Set Up and Backstory Actually Work in Chapter One?.

Your Brain Is a Story Machine
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-05 12:22 am
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Write Every Day Day 5



I wonder if this works for all filter words... How's it going? I soaked up a lot of local history today. I love using history in my writing. How about you? Day 4 brought about 1300 words, some on [community profile] fandomtrumpshate story and on my Hazbin Hotel story The Porn Star Murders (posted the chapter) If I've forgotten you on the list, poke me

Day 4 [personal profile] cmk418, [personal profile] badly_knitted, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] brithistorian, [personal profile] the_siobhan, [personal profile] china_shop [personal profile] carenejeans

other days under here )
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-04 11:02 pm
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Local History

I had planned to go to the cemetery walk for the first time ever in Gallipolis. I had done this once before in Logan OH years ago (like 17) and I enjoyed it. What they do is have reenactors at the gravesite giving out local history of the people buried there. It was a cool idea but I've never could go to the this newish one in Gallipolis (because I've had conflicts the last few years).

I also needed to go to Point Pleasant because the cryptid anthology I'm going to be in wanted promo photos and I thought my god I need to take mine with Mothman!

But I woke up too early so I was reading a book I got at the loveland frogman fest 2 years ago, the haunted cemeteries of Ohio (which I did use to go to Ironton to do some investigations) but somehow didn't read Jackson and Wellston...only to find out there were accusations of witchcraft in both towns. Well now I know I'll have to go to the historical society....

I hit Point Pleasant only to find it overrun. Wow. I don't normally go on a weekend. I knew they were doing a lot of paranormal tourism. It's literally saving the town but wow, even off the festival days there was a LINE to get your pic so I go into Grinders for coffee and writing and waiting it out. Not my favorite local coffee house, best you can say is an attempt was made.

I meet TH at the cemetery. It feels hotter than it is (I would have sworn it was 90 but it was only 80) the heat made me ill by the end (I was there 2 hours) and the stress drove my sugar to nearly 400. Fun times but it was really neat. I do love history and there was a lot of history I had NO idea about.

This was held at Pine Street historical cemetery in Gallipolis (which has a small confederate soldier burial because as I learned last year there was a Civil War Hospital in town). It's a small cemetery a couple acres, nice and flat. My friend L was one of the reenactors. Her person was Mrs. Curry who lost her 12 y.o. son and husband to the John Porter a plague ship in the 1870s from New Orleans. It left port in LA bringing with it mosquitos filled with flavivirus which causes Yellow Fever. Other ports wouldn't let them dock (Cincinnati noped straight out) but the ship broke down near Gallipolis (in the Ohio River) and townspeople basically looted it for blankets etc. And....nearly 70 people died of Yellow Fever.

Along with back of the cemetery they had a bunch of hand made tombstones to do more local history but from Mound Cemetery (which is further downtown, more the main cemetery BUT is up and down huge hills and is too big to walk easily) so they brought their stories to this cemetery. There was an entertainer who worked with the Ziegfeld Follies. There was Alber Ankeny Stewart a banker who ended up the 5th richest dude in OH who had a mansion in gallipolis, NYC and the French Rivera. He was big into circuses and tried to help bring a Bulga whale to Cincinnati It didn't go well And he ended up going on a little ocean voyage on the unsinkable Titantic It also didn't go well.

I should have taken a picture of the book about Franny Angel because the title I thought it was brought up nothing. Franny (like many other erased women) joined the Union army, undiscovered until she got shot in the leg (and nearly lost it, don't worry childbirth killed her later on) When they discovered her sex at the Civil War hospital, one nurse had an idea, take some pictures in your uniform and sell them to make money. It worked but it also was used to keep her from reenlisting.

I didn't realize Mayme and Jeannette Emerson were buried there, they were the African American sister podiatrists I put in my speech. The reenactor knew them when she was a kid (they died in 57 and 61 respectively) and she was telling me about how she couldn't get her hair done (they also had a beauty salon) by them because they only took care of white women in the day. (she like other African women had to go at night because the white women didn't want to share their space. Jesus) They recreated the sisters' sign limp in leap out (clever) and they advertised country wide and had people from all over, sort of like the Dr. Pimple Popper of their day.

Shockingly they were buried in the White cemetery (maybe because it was mid century, maybe because they were wealthy and important) and not in the Colored Pine Street cemetery across the street. I meandered over there and learned some more history, most notably Lloyd Gee, son of John Gee of the John Gee church, now the Black history center and former stop on the Underground Railroad. Lloyd died on the river trying to save lives in the course of his duties as a riverboat captain. I asked if he was included in the River Museum in Point Pleasant. They didn't know. I will go looking next time and if he's not, maybe these two local history centers need to talk.

So in spite of the heat making me sick, I had an enjoyable time.

and I'm feeling lazy this Science Saturday so here's a bunch from one place

James Webb Space Telescope reveals thick cosmic dust of Sagittarius B2, the most enormous star-forming cloud in the Milky Way — Space photo of the week

Scientists find best evidence yet that icy moon Enceladus is habitable

Chimps eat fruit full of alcohol, but no, they don't get drunk
cornerofmadness: (writing king1)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-04 12:39 am
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Write Every Day Day 4

Ugh I meant to do more with these other than the tally but I'm barely keeping up with that this week. How did we do? I got about 1900 on day 3, finished cleaning up and posting two [community profile] fandomgiftbasket stories and did more work on the [community profile] fandomtrumpshate story

If I forgot you, let me know and let me know what day you're checking in for

Day 3 [personal profile] cmk418 [personal profile] brithistorian[personal profile] sylvanwitch [personal profile] trobadora [personal profile] luzula [personal profile] justphoenix [personal profile] sanguinity [personal profile] china_shop [personal profile] callmesandyk [personal profile] carenejeans [personal profile] cornerofmadness [personal profile] goddess47 [personal profile] the_siobhan



other days under here )
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-03 08:57 pm

TGIF

Tell me some good news, I beg you. Or give me a cool song, or kittens or something. It's personally been a horrible week and today was a really sad topper.

I gave a make up exam to a student who turned it in to me with an 'I know I didn't do well. I missed so much.' and then broke down crying because she'll miss so much more because her cancer is back. I'm used to consoling patients but let me tell you, it's very different consoling an 80s year old with life threatening news than it is an 18 year old (The people at St Jude's, you have my undying gratitude and your strength amazes me). I felt so bad for her. I told her to ask for any help I can give (but I also think I'm going to double check on medical withdrawals and money back but honestly if she's going to be getting chemo and is going to be gone, that would be the best for her. No one needs to face what she's facing AND knowing you're going to fail too)

Also did I mention that I got my abdominal CT scan back? No signs of more cancer so good for me.

ANd changing gears, have the fannish 50 weekly recs.

Moth’s Web Hazbin Hotel

Dinner And A Weevil Torchwood

Love Walked In FAKE

Doesn't Matter Hazbin Hotel

The Winner Torchwood

Buying Time Doctor Who

The Price of Your Touch Hazbin Hotel

Multi-Fandom Fictober!

Shoulder to Cry On - Day 1 Forsaken

Fractions of Never Hazbin Hotel

Seeking Sanctuary 911

Stuck in this Godforsaken Town Hazbin Hotel

Minor Malfunction Torchwood

His Beautiful Bride Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Kinger: Dad of Girls (and Zoobles) The Amazing Digital Circus

Art for Passing Through Doctor Who


Wedding Day. Teen Wolf

Spoils of War Stargate Atlantis
cornerofmadness: (writing king 2)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-03 12:39 am
Entry tags:

Write Every Day Day 3

How is it going? Successes? Alibis? It's all good. I'm slowly getting on track. On day 2 I managed about 1455 words mostly on my [community profile] fandomtrumpshate story and a little editing one of my [community profile] fandomgiftbasket stories.

If I missed you, let me know.



Day Two [personal profile] luzula [personal profile] badly_knitted [personal profile] trobadora [personal profile] stonepicnicking_okapi [personal profile] china_shop [personal profile] carenejeans [personal profile] cornerofmadness [personal profile] sylvanwitch [personal profile] goddess47 [personal profile] the_siobhan [personal profile] cmk418 [personal profile] brithistorian [personal profile] sanguinity [personal profile] callmesandyk

other days under here )
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-02 11:13 pm
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took the day

to rest up from the rest of this hellscape of a week, just hit the coffee shop, the library and the bank and to write. I finished up a chapter of [community profile] fandomtrumpshate which is so overdue in my head it's not funny (it's not late but it feels late to me)

I didn't get to do the book thing yesterday so have it now plus all my reads in September!


What I Just Finished Reading:

Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie - a good reminder she was a woman of her time and that Italians were NOT liked well in the 20s and 30s The victim seems to have deserved to die because Dagos are shifty and untrustworthy....it's not in there much but it was there in the beginning and I set this aside for years and now it's back about mid way in...

Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World - imagine Gavin or Lindsey trying to get promoted at Wolfram and Hart and you more or less have it. It's interesting but it's hard to root for Colin since he's actively evil and petty. I thought the ending was...a tiny bit undeserved

Ghost Roast - a cute YA graphic novel think Ghostbusters in New Orleans with a young girl and dealing with the history (good and the very bad) of plantations and what should be done with them. And yes ghosts, cute ghosts





What I am Currently Reading:

The Gallery Assistant - a mystery set in the aftermath of 911 and I already hate the protagonist (figures, it's an arc and I feel obligated to finish those)

The Queen of Blood - a YA fantasy I've had on my shelf for too many years now. It's not bad so far but yes the first quarter is more dark academia, fit to survive school (eye roll)

Ash's Cabin - a YA graphic novel a queer coming of age


What I Plan to Read Next: I'm so behind on my challenges. something for that.


All of September's reads. You know the drill, if you like books and wanna talk about any of these let's talk


Third Shift Society, Vol. 2 paranormal graphic novel

What Moves the Dead gothic horror/Poe retelling


The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake Magic realism/romance


Nothing Special, Vol. 2: Concerning Wings fantasy YA graphic novel


The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor Gothic horror ya graphic novel


The Road to Strange: Travel Tales of the Paranormal and Beyond paranormal nonfiction


Monster Burger urban fantasy/horror comedy


What Cannot Be Said historical mystery


Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic medical nonfiction

Cards on the Table mystery


Wrong Side of the Grave urban fantasy/mystery


and a few community recs

[community profile] lands_of_magic Multifandom LandComm


[community profile] rarefemslashexchange Rare Femslash Exchange is a multi fandom fanart/fic exchange focusing on rare f/f ships.


And I'm pretty sure I have doll people on here [community profile] allkindsofdolls A community for all kinds of dolls
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-02 09:43 pm
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October's Bingo

EEEEEE [community profile] allbingo is having their fall festival prompt this month. this is probably my all time favorite of the bingos! I want to do a blackout of my card. I don't have time but oh do I want to!!

Kill the person in the group who suggests that you split up. That will eventually get you killed. virgin sacrifice Statistically you will turn an ankle and the creature will get you Anatomically Impossible Butcher Knife
Holy Water And the #1 rule for surviving a horror movie:DON'T HAVE SEX!!! Raisin Demons When approaching a room with a door that hasn't been opened in decades and the knob begins to slowly turn back and forth on its own back away! Do NOT ask loudly "Who's there?" Listen to the Nerd if You Want to Live
Nothing is ever over if it is still nighttime. If you are running for your life and are being chased by a monster/psychopath/axe murderer and you happen to be female take the high-heeled shoes OFF! FREE SPACE When you are trapped in a strange old house with your date NEVER say: "Let's try the basement!" or "Look! The stairs up to the attic!" When it appears that you have killed the monster never check to see if it's really dead.
If you're searching for something that caused a mysterious noise and find out that it's just the cat leave the room immediately if you value your life. Fell and Twisted her Ankle B Movie. As a general rule don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell. If you open a door and the room you see is not the room that should be there do not explore it. In fact even if you close the door and see the correct room after re-opening it vacate the house.
Listen closely to the sound track and pay attention to the audience since they are usually far more intelligent than you could ever hope to be. When the family pet runs away DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR IT -- pets are usually not killed and even if they are it's just a warm-up for the next human victim. Vampires Love Eclipses Never ever ever turn off the paved road onto a gravel or dirt road. Do not search the basement especially if the power has just gone out.
cornerofmadness: (writing atwood)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-02 01:04 am
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Write Every Day Day 2

I will put up the tally later in the day. Sorry. I didn't return from the hospital until nearly midnight and my arms are full of IV holes.

As for me an alibi sentence and a lot of planning on the long drive. How about you? How did you fare today

Day one [personal profile] badly_knitted [personal profile] trobadora[personal profile] china_shop [personal profile] carenejeans [personal profile] the_siobhan [personal profile] cmk418 [personal profile] ysilme [personal profile] goddess47 [personal profile] sanguinity
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-01 11:52 pm
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Driving in Mothman country in the dark

After calming down a bit from yesterday I realize I am probably partially at fault for yesterday. After 2 weeks post scan no one had contacted me (even to say see you in a year), I'm the one who made the follow up appointment not the doctor. He might not have had me come in period. (though someone should have called to say hey no need to visit, just repeat the ultrasound in a year)

Today was absolutely pissy at work. 6 weeks in and the online book stuff is STILL not fixed and is getting worse because students are getting locked out of the online stuff. This new way of doing it is going to be the end of us.

As a result I headed to Huntington an hour later than planned. That took the comic book store and Macy's off the list of stops. Bye Bye Books a Million. All I had time for was to buy stuff I don't need to spend my vouchers at Michael's (and one didn't work) and the homegoods for halloween (nothing I wanted was discounted enough to make it worth my time, got some food instead)

Nearly late to the abdominal CT scan. It's 7 o'clock and the hospital is spooky because it's nearly empty. I go up, am taken back and they have to put in my IV. It clots off instantly in my right arm and the vein explodes. This is common with me. I warned them. We get it into the left arm and it bleeds enough to get blood to test my kidney function (which was fine 3 weeks ago) I have to have contrast dye. It's kidney damaging potentially ESPECIALLY if I forget and take my metformin in the next 2 days (I pulled it out of my med pack)

But what no one told me was I had to drink barium. UGH it's like 32 oz of bullshit and you have to wait an HOUR before the testing could start O_O I say no one mentioned this to me. The tech rolled her eyes. They NEVER like to tell a patient back it. No, you don't understand I'm 85 miles from home. Do you know how late it's going to be? I would have reschedule this for earlier in the day. SIGH.

The actual scan took 10 minutes. So I was at my car at 830 which was great because I was starving. I wasn't allowed food for hours (contrast can make you vomit, not me mind you) I was thinking I'd get out so late I'd have to eat taco bell. But at this point Chili's is still open for more than another hour so I race there (people came in after me. Wow) And tried that three for 16. They messed up gave me bone in wings not boneless but it's late I wasn't sending it back (they're in the freezer for another dinner now) I ate the chicken tenders and the slabs of fried mozzarella smothered in honey-chipolte sauce.

I'm sitting there with dressings on both arms and a plastic hospital band still around my wrist. Sad looking p icture. I stop at Sheetz for coffee on the way home. Next to me in the parking lot is an audi convertible, top down while the driver is putting on make up in the light up mirror...it struck me odd.


It's so late so I'll do the book thing tomorrow. But the full Hazbin trailer dropped so here
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cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-10-01 12:15 am
Entry tags:

Write Every Day Day 1

Hi everyone. Welcome back. Right off the bat, let me say I will be SLOW on day one/two as I have to go some 80 miles for a doctor's appointment...at 7 pm in the evening so I'll be gone all day. and here's what we're all about lifted right from [personal profile] zwei_hexen

What is the Write Every Day challenge?
Write Every Day is just what its name says: We challenge each other to write, every single day. Our goal is to encourage one another and provide the accountability and/or motivation that some of us find very useful in keeping the words flowing. However, there's no obligation and no pressure, and if writing didn't happen for you on any given day, there won't be any judgement, just support and sympathy!

Who can participate?
Everyone is welcome! We’re an open-minded, nonjudgmental group of people who enjoy writing.
What do I have to do?
I’ll post each day with a little bit about our writing and a running tally of participants. All you need to do is drop by the comments on the most recent tally entry to let us know how you’re doing. Please know that you are never obligated to check in. Also, if you'd like to comment on someone else's comment but aren't checking in for yourself, that's perfectly fine too. We're really easygoing 'round here, and conversation is absolutely encouraged.
Is there a word limit or quota?
Nope. Write as little as an “alibi” sentence (just what it sounds like—a sentence you write to say you’ve written, an alibi for the day, as it were) or as much as you’d like. All word counts are welcome!
Is there any restriction on the kind of writing I can do?
Absolutely not! Fanfiction, original fiction, screenplays, blog posts, meta, academic writing, morning pages, reviews, editing, letter-writing, nonsense poems, bucket list: if it feels like writing to you, it counts!
Do I have to participate all the time?
No way! You can come and go at your pleasure.
New to WED? Got any questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact
cornerofmadness: by <lj user=jordannamorgan> (teaching fury)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-30 10:15 pm

Somewhere North of Furious

Every part of this day was aggravating or downright infuriating. I had to go 80 miles to the surgeon. I leave in plenty of time because I have a gift card for Trader Joes from JK so my plan is to go further north to Dublin to go to TJs and then drop down to the surgeon's appt at 4.

My usual trip to Chillicothe (the halfway point) which is usually 45 minute drive took nearly 1 1/2 hours thanks to construction. I make a pit stop at TJ Maxx there because a) I need to pee and it's hours before the doctor and I don't think Trader's has a public bathroom b) to see if Halloween was on sale yet (yes but nothing I wanted).

It then takes me an HOUR to get to Circleville 20 miles from Chillicothe and 20 miles from the 270 beltloop around Columbus (Dublin and Grove Port are both suburbs of Columbus). This should have taken less than half that. OMG the construction. Holy shit. It's now 3:00 there is NO way to get to Columbus and then all the way up to Dublin and back so I pop in to see the main town square. I found 2 metaphysical stores which cool.

And then the traffic was SO bad, it took 55 minutes to go the 15 miles to the office. I barely made it. And then everything went downhill


The surgeon comes in while his nurse is STILL taking my vitals (in fact she had to finish after he left) he says, 'I'll see you in a year for another ultrasound as these are small now' and he turns around to LEAVE. He has been in the room a total of 60 second and I lose it. Very politely but I lose it.

Excuse me but isn't one of them a TR 4 with a moderate to high risk of cancer?

Surgeon - yes but it's very small

Me - then what is compressing my air way?

Surgeon - it's only as big as a fingernail, nothing to worry about

Me - then what is compressing my airway/ Shouldn't you at least do a needle biopsy on the TR4 ones?

Surgeon -No. maybe you need to see a pulmonologist

Me - or a Gastroenterologist because it's causing swallowing issues and hey I can see the lump in my neck right here (points because I wore a v-neck for that very reason) so there is something there. It's visible by the naked eye. I do have GERD, could this be Barret's esophagus?

Surgeon (eyes light up) when was your last endoscopy

Me - ten years and 20 on the colonoscopy

Surgeon (turns to his nurse) set her up for both and he's out the door.

She tries and the only day I wouldn't have to take off I'd have to go into Columbus and no way would I ask a friend to do that. I say I'll call you and hey, why wasn't this a zoom telehealth meeting? I drove 160 miles round trip for him to say I'll see you in a week.

I leave so damn furious I'm surprised they didn't need to haul me out of there kicking and screaming.

My new plan is Fuck this man and his whole department (if that's all he was going to do he could have worked me three weeks ago when that mix up happened) I wouldn't let him touch me if he was the last surgeon in Ohio. I'll be calling my PCP. I have the name of the ENT who did the work on my coworker's fiance. This needs a second opinion. (surgeons are cutters. That's what they want to do so this might not need surgeon but his cavalier attitude has pissed me the fuck off) I know this guy needs a referral so I'll call my PCP, get that and ask her for a referral to gastro and/or pulmonologist. Anywhere but with this guy.

So I get back into traffic to go 8 miles to the casino (where I plan to eat). 45 minutes later I'm still not there. When I finally roll in, I realize I made an error. I forgot that at the renn fest there was no internet so I had used all my cash. I was down to my last 30 bucks.

No problem, that'll carry me to 5:00pm when Guy Fieri's Trattatoria opens....only it didn't. I guess it's not open on a Tuesday. I didn't see that on the web page (it was there, I missed it) So I leave with my last 2 bucks and head to chillicothe.

Only an hour later and I'm still only 8 miles from the casino because of construction. I finally get past Circleville and to chillicothe and someone nearly hits me on the offramp by passing me on the right (in a construction zone) running me off the ramp and back onto the highway (we all somehow didn't die). No problem I'll get off the next exit. It's closed. I had to go all the way to the historic downtown exit and thread my way up. My sugar has dropped and I decide I deserve a treat: Red Lobster.

What a mistake. I was creeped out. I was the ONLY person there at 6 pm except for a couple they sat me behind (two more groups showed up about 10 minutes later) 6 people in a restaurant with 3 wings...They've changed the menu. Only 2 things were under 30 dollars and most were above 40. I could have gotten a meal and appetizer at Guy's (and that place aint' cheap). The cheddar bay biscuits were burnt and the size of 50 cent pieces and the hush puppies the size of marbles. Yeah there's a reason this place is empty (It used to be good. I go there a few times a year).

I had to make a pitstop in Jackson for money because I have to go all the way to Huntington tomorrow and my bank isn't in Rio or Gallipolis.


And since today was so pissy let me continue in that vein with my Fannish 50. I'm back to 'fans, for fuck's sake, no one owes you a damn thing. You don't get to dictate to the creator who and what their characters are and what they look like, date etc. Case in Point

1. The Amazing Digital Circus - someone decided to draw Jax as Daisy a transgendered woman, no problem. trans head canon is nothing new. However this has somehow stirred fandom who wants it at canon and this Daisy has dissolved into a toxic mess to the point Gooseworx who created it had to step in

2. Knights of Guinevere - remember me wondering if Frankie was trans. I'm not alone (keep in mind the only thing that exists right now is the pilot and that'll be the case for a while). The pilot has had like 10 million views in 10 days and there's a huge fandom already. So Dana Terrance (the creator) said 'Frankie is a cis woman, she just has a lot of nicknames' (even I side eyed that because most often we don't get called Franklin and Francesa, Frankie yes but Franklin? okay then) Anyhow, some of the fans lost their damn minds about that leveling death threats at Dana and the voice actors because Frankie isn't trans (Dana came back to say she's fine with trans head canons but Frankie is cis)

3. Hazbin Hotel - This is Husk (my favorite character btw) Original design pre-series and from the series

There is now fan onslaughts about 'why aren't you portraying Husk as fat?' 'Stop drawing him thin!' 'We all agree Husk has to be shown as fat.'

Eyes the canon art. Side eyes fans. Look, if you want to give Husk a dad bod, go nuts. You want him fat in your head canon? Ain't no one stopping you. You deciding to harass authors, artists and the original creators? Just stop. Husk is thin (dude doesn't eat, just drinks) In the future, I'm going to have to put feederism as a DNW in my challenges as this is not my kink but there is such a push to fatten up Husk (and Angel and Willow over in The Owl House) I do not understand why big vocal chunks of fandom insist their way is the only way to the point of threatening the creators when they don't get their way.



But to end on a happy note I had a break through on a novel I've shelved for two reasons. 1 it was getting too political and angry for the story I wanted to tell 2. the one character of color whose culture I was pulling from a few Indigenous groups was really at odds as well for the job at hand. I was borrowing the Navajo death aversion (for example) but this is a character who is working with dead bodies, adopted siblings with a necromancer and might need to kill in her job. It made her look weak and othered. I didn't like it. I didn't want to change her skin color but I did want a different culture for her and her people.

But seeing the trees changing colors, watching a gathering herb video the other day, I thought, what if their culture believes in animism and pull a page from William Murdoch's book. She doesn't need to do the sign of the cross at a dead body of course but maybe she has a little prayer for the departed, that she believes plants and animals and river etc all have their own spirit as important as her own. I think that would work.
cornerofmadness: (Default)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-29 11:16 pm
Entry tags:

Taking a breath

I was incredibly overwhelmed especially with every online thing still fucking up and then I have three more responsibilities being heaped on me. But...I got the online stuff fixed. I got my story finished (thanks to [personal profile] evil_little_dog for a lightning fast beta read.


Tomorrow I need to see the surgeon. I'm vaguely worried.

I had such a terrible dreams over the last two days Let me tell you about them.

Dream One - I was at a either an all inclusive resort or on a cruise (it seemed to be both). It started with me leaning on a wall, looking out over the surf. It was time to get up to eat. Behind me where two of my flash drives and my inhaler (for reasons, god knows what). I couldn't grab them up so my parents left me there. My friends did too (I couldn't tell who it was).

And the anxiety began. It was all buffet but I couldn't find plates. I got distracted by two cousins of mine who kept talking to me even though it was obvious I wanted to go eat. By the way both of these women are dead (and have been for years) I manage to get away from them and head to the far wall because I see huge crabs and lobster symbols on the wall. But when I get there there is nothing left. It's all smoked fish. Ew.

Then I go into the next room and I see a huge deli case but in it was sausages and other meats but it was all horse meat. and the horse's head was in there, two of them. One was named Kevin with he/him after it (the horse had pronouns, thanks now I can eat them).

Since I didn't want to eat horse I go to the next room that nothing but desserts but before i can have dessert for dinner [personal profile] evil_little_dog and [personal profile] silvrethorn come racing in, in horse costumes and destroy the table in protest over the horse meat (like they couldn't have done that to the horse room!)

I run away and try to get a plate. I am going running from room to room but all the plates are dirty or broken. I even think to go to the gift shop to buy a damn plate but by the time I find a plate ALL the food places are closed up and I have no dinner. I break down crying in the middle of the dinning room (as if you can't get room service at these places) and that's when I wake up.

Dream two (this morning) I'm in a car with Mom and [personal profile] evil_little_dog and we see an open house on a house for sale. ELD insists we stop even though there's no one at this place and I don't like the location. We go in and it's a mid century split level (exactly what I don't want). The two owners give me the creeps. I don't like anything about this place but Mom and ELD do. They keep poking around upstairs but I tell the owners I'm going downstairs to see if it's haunted and you know, to see if there are sins and broken foundations down there.

I am going over and over in my head reasons to get the hell out. The creep factor in the basement is off the charts and then the lights go out. I panic. I'm running everywhere, slamming into walls because it's a maze. I'm screaming I'm downstairs and I need help to get out. I slowly realize no one is coming to help and the owners aren't letting any of us out. I manage to find a room with a window and I climb out. The owners know I've escaped so I race together people on the street (as if I can run) and I'm acting like a threatening maniac hoping they'll call the cops because they didn't believe me I was being kidnapped. I woke up just as the cops got there. Did Mom and ELD live? Who knows.

it's music monday and we're doing music that inspires you. For the next month or so, let's do one song that inspires us to draw or write. If you're not a creative, share one song that's making you happy right now. I offer this one from Three Days Grace. HOW many characters of mine would this fit? Connor telling off Angel. Angel Dust telling off Henroin and Arackniss. Edward Elric giving it to Hohenheim. ANd that's just a few
cornerofmadness: (writing atwood)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-28 09:59 pm

Writerly Ways

I was going to write about mining dreams but a) I'm having one of my exhausted days b) rewatched the Emma Fielding on Hallmark Mysteries and it suggested another theme: not making your characters look like morons. What prompted my interest in this well in rewatching episode one of this series, where Emma is an archaeologist and the potential love interest is in the FBI, art fraud division.

So someone turns up at Emma's dig buried under a few inches of dirt with wounds to the head and both Emma and FBI dude are like 'do you think this is murder?' on more than one occasion. Nah, I think he bashed in his own head and then burrowed six inches under the ground to die. How am I supposed to root for these people when they're saying nonsense like this?

I think one way to avoid this is to read it out loud. It's not just a good way to catch awkward sentences, it's also good to listen and ask, would anyone actually talk like this? If you have beta readers, hopefully they'll catch you saying something weird before it gets out there (and you'd hope some editor would catch it) but since I know that tv shows often are doing last minute rewrites, idiotic stuff slips in. How many times have you sat there and thought 'why didn't the actor just refuse to say this.'

Have you seen this in stories before? Did you continue on? (if I hadn't been listening to the tv as background noise, I might have simply moved on) How do you avoid having characters say stupid things?


OPEN CALLS


RDG Books Is Open To Fantasy Novels

Helen of Troy!



Ghoulish Tales #5 Fun horror that aims to celebrate all things spooky.

Inner Worlds Science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror prose with a strong emotional or psychological focus.

Drek Death and Doom – Thanksgiving Folk Horror Thanksgiving Folk Horror

Eye to the Telescope #59 Speculative Poetry dealing with: Immortality

Gilgamesh

Flash Frog: Now Seeking Submissions


84 Manuscript Publishers with Geographic Limitations


From Around the Web (and see YT suggestions at the end)

So, Your Fantasy World Is Based on D&D

Audio Interview: Unlocking TikTok—the Slideshow Strategy for Authors with Dale L. Roberts and Marvin Wey



From Betty

Five Methods for Building Tension That Don’t Work

Removing the Creeps From Romance yes please


A Complete Guide to Beta Reading

Why English Needs Singular They

Five Authentic Depictions of Chronic Illness in Popular Stories

Could Your Writing Friend Become a Coauthor?

How to Use Weather to Create Mood, Not Clichés

Writing 101: How to Find & Write Your Character’s Voice

3 Tricks For Easily Jumping Between Projects

How Your Personality Type Affects the Way You Edit and Improve Your Manuscript

Writing Sprints Explained: How Writers Can Write More Words in Less Time

Big vs. Small Character Arcs: Understanding the Degrees of Change in Storytelling

How First Drafts Are Like Cauliflower

I Subverted Heroism. Here’s Why.



This editor popped up on YT and I liked his presentation and his topics so here have a few






cornerofmadness: (Default)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-27 10:49 pm
Entry tags:

Huzzah!

It was a rough start to a good day. Once again the first DexCom I put on failed (this is the second time in 2 weeks) Lost my cute patch, pulled it off, once again a sensor wire lost in my arm (I sure hope these are NOT magnet reactive when I have my next MRI) SO much blood too when I pulled this off. The second one is fine but dammit that's 2 duds and that's like 600$ lost.


So last year the guy who started a small pop culture con at my university also started a tiny renn faire. Last year it rained but TH and I went. This year it was hot and sunny and I dressed, picked TH up at the university and we went up there. MUDDY because it rained for the last 5 days but it was fun.

They have a juggling show...and that's about the only entertainment other than a Punch and Judy puppet show run by my former work friend L. (but since she's been annoying me and TH we pretended we didn't see her and that'll fly since she was up with all the kid games and we didn't go there)

Other than that it's food trucks and vendors. The GyrOH place (which has a brick and mortar in Gallipolis and gives Rio staff/student 25% off) was my choice, that and the specialty lemonade stand (32 oz of Shark Attack lemonade (strawberry, raspberry and gummy sharks)).

There was A LOT of 3-D printed stuff (that were obviously printed off the same pattern because like 4 shops had the exact thing but the one with the gryphon...I should have bought it). There were jewelers, a couple of witch shops, there was the wheat wench (bread), fudge vendors (didn't do it) but I DID go for the local couple who do interesting jellies and do the Rio farmer's market (never when I've been there) including dandelion, red clover, goldenrod and a whole range of boozy jellies. I picked up the golden rod (out of curiosity) and garlic (which I know I can make glazes from)

Several of the same vendors from MothMan were there, including my former student who we want to teach Yoga for us.

I did find one I have NOT seen before P. House Games I do love games. I almost bought the dream game but I did get the cryptid hunter card game but more important, they were open to me talking to them down the road. I REALLY would love to try to come up with a physiology game for labs (there needs to be ones other than ones geared to the immune system) since gamification is big in teaching now. If nothing else they have artist contacts and know how to put out a board game. That seems useful.

I did pick up dandelion tea from my local tea dealer (she also works at the university) I am a dandelion fan (probably need to worry about the vitamin K) the tea will probably be gross tasting, or at least a li ttle bitter but I'm interested in the other health benefits of dandelion.

Picked up some Christmas gifts too and hey I finished a [community profile] fandomgiftbasket story that I really like. tried to do some art requests. watched canva tutorials on blending and layering. no help. Hell the things they told me to click on didn't even exist. So sorry art requests. Ain't happening.

Watched the first episode of Law & Order Toronto. It wasn't bad. Will watch more. Mom and I are stumbling our way thru the first season of Hudson & Rex. Well at least the dog is cut (otherwise this is not great)


It's science saturday

Groundbreaking' gene therapy is first treatment for Huntington's disease to slow the condition this is major. Huntington is a horrible disease. I had Huntington patients and honestly they still haunt me.


Recycled glass could help fend off coastal erosion

Tug or fetch? Some dogs sort toys by how they are used

What happens if pregnant women stop taking Tylenol? In other words do not listen to Trump and RFK but we knew that

Swapping old immune cells in the brain with fresh ones could treat disease fascinating
cornerofmadness: (Default)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-26 09:10 pm
Entry tags:

Fannish Friday

It was a boring work day. Pretty sure I made some students think 'you bitch' guess that's my accomplishment of the day.

So have some fannish reccommendations. Nothing new from me this week.


Cloud Watching Torchwood

Frustration Stargate SG-1

Uncertainty Torchwood

Harassment FAKE

Some Enchanted Evening Stargate SG-1

Meet Me In Purgatory Hawaii Five-0

Manipulation Tactics Torchwood

Walking Away. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Shanked Oz

Preparing for the Full Moon Teen Wolf

i know that you want me (fuck me lovely) Hazbin Hotel

The Care and Keeping of Oversized Lizards (and Other Unfortunate, Related Occurrences) Merlin
cornerofmadness: (Do not want)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-25 10:01 pm
Entry tags:

Highly incompetent

Now I've known this about student loans. When I first moved here I would go into panic attacks just seeing something from them in the mail. and you knew there was going to be zero help from customer service so upon seeing NEITHER of my loans had the income based repayment plan put on them automatically as I was assured would happen I called today after pulling up the email from August 14 at 2:03 in the afternoon.

If I wrote this up as fiction no one would believe it )

have some community recs how about some love for older fandoms

[community profile] highlander_chat Connect with Highlander friends to chat, discuss, squee, brainstorm, seek beta-reading, and more.

[community profile] fkficfest Forever Knight_ Fanfiction Games
cornerofmadness: (Default)
cornerofmadness ([personal profile] cornerofmadness) wrote2025-09-24 11:22 pm

I need to remember

that I have BIG classes this semester and if I put all the tests on one day, I'll be working for hours to grade it all in one night. That was my entire day.

That and finding out one of my EOBs was a denial for my DexCom monitors and I wrote and asked them WHY they denied a claim from the company they INSISTED I use. I hope that gets straightened out because that's 1000$ to me if they don't.

We needed rain bad. We're now on day 4 and flooding. fantastic. Lost my power third day in a row too. It was raining inside my building again. Also someone turned on the heat. Again. It was 77 when I showed up to work outside so WHY the heat is on....


I did manage to finish a [community profile] fandomgiftbasket story but I'm worried that it's toeing the DNW list (Jealousy is one request but so is no other pairings other than listed...)



What I Just Finished Reading:

Nothing Special vol 2 - a fantasy webtoon, it's cute

Jaws - I needed as J and one of my dentists handed me this to read. Someone's thesis on why there is so much malocclusion. Riveting (no, it's not)



What I am Currently Reading:

Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie - a good reminder she was a woman of her time and that Italians were NOT liked well in the 20s and 30s The victim seems to have deserved to die because Dagos are shifty and untrustworthy....it's not in there much but it was there in the beginning and I set this aside for years and now it's back about mid way in...

Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World - imagine Gavin or Lindsey trying to get promoted at Wolfram and Hart and you more or less have it. It's interesting but it's hard to root for Colin since he's actively evil and petty


What I Plan to Read Next: I'm so behind on my challenges. something for that.
angelskuuipo: (Misc- kitty fist bump by blossombunny)
angelskuuipo ([personal profile] angelskuuipo) wrote2025-09-24 12:55 am
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