Friday evening I watch The Bourne Ultimatum which I quite liked. However...Joan Allen, who in the past has been a marvelous actor, seems to have gotten a face lift since the last movie and has lost all movement in her face. What a shame.

Then I watched the rest of the first season of Dexter. Liked it a lot...if anyone talks about plot points in the comments please use a spoiler warning so that the uninitiated who intend to someday watch the show can do so in blissful ignorance.

Saturday I went with Rick Bowes to a matinee of a Paul Taylor dance concert. Lovely, charming, and light as a feather. Some amazing dancing (and yes, I've seen the terrific Chinese acrobats with the ballerinas dancing Swan Lake--and yes, they're great) with women leaping into the arms of their partners from a few feet away. Breathtaking.

Today I spent seven hours (count em) from noon to 7pm at Robert's apartment, with (at different times): Ellie Lang, Jack Womack, Gordon Van Gelder, and Rob Killheffer. Rob and Gordon took a car full of garbage bags filled with donations (mostly clothing) to Housing Works. We bagged up about ten bags of garbage (probably more), some of which we were able to take downstairs, most of which we left in the apt fo the next round of helpers to remove. Now that we have one room cleaned up a bit, Rob and Gordon, and I started organizing the audio tapes, dvds, cds, books, and video tapes, and record albums into piles. It finally looks like we've made progress. I was able to reach over to turn on the water in the kitchen sink today--not easily--and it's fine. Jack worked in the back/first room, the one I worked in the first time I was there. He found another mattress on the floor, filled with stuff. Now we can walk on the mattress to get to the rest of the room. Jack filled several bags full clothing (I think) that are to be disposed of. I took home some great blues and jazz cds and promptly tried to get rid of some of mine that I haven't listened to in ages. We all found stuff to take but are veryaware that this could be dangerous. Hell, going to Robert's to clean out the place has made an impression on all of us. Interestingly, since this has been going on, I've been hearing of more and more instances of people who suffer from this syndrome of being unable to throw anything away. Houses filled up to the attic, which cannot be opened easily because it's filled with papers and other things.
Anyway, enough. I've still got to finish my 2007 summary before I leave for Orlando Wednesday....aighhh.

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


Really? Maybe on the little screen it won't affect you like that. It's worth seeing.

Thanks--I'll be going to the post office today --but my house and cat sitter also picks up my mail so nothing should go astray!

From: (Anonymous)


Ah. Looks academic.

(That's not a criticism, just an observation. I've heard that attending conventions is a good way for aspiring-but-as-yet-unpublished writers to learn from successful writers and editors. [Is that true, anyway?] But I'm guessing there wouldn't be a lot of that sort of conversation there, but more literary analysis of what's already out there?)

-Joe Iriarte

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


It definitely is and this one isn't for non-published writers. There are lots of other ones that would be good for what you want. I don't know where you live, but a middle-sized one might be good. Worldcon's too big for a beginner and one that really tiny won't attract enough writers/editors to make it worth your while.

From: (Anonymous)


I actually live right near Orlando. Celebration, to be specific.

I know I've seen mentions of Cons in the backs of the various magazines. I guess I should keep a closer eye on that. It's good to know that it's not just smoke, that it actually is a decent idea.

-Joe Iriarte

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


Ah. That's why you were interested in ICFA. There are some small local cons in the south--not sure if there's still one in Florida though. I know there used to be one.

From: [identity profile] joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)

Follow-Up Question


I have a related question, if you've got time to give some free advice. ;-)

My wife and I disagree about what we should do, and we could use a knowledgeable third party to set us straight.

We found a writer's conference near us that we're thinking of going to. There is going to be an agent there, Lucienne Diver of the Spectrum Literary Agency, and, in addition to co-offering a presentation on writing queries, she will meet with individual writers for $20 a pop. (Assuming the slots aren't all gone; I just found out about this today.) My wife and I are both unpublished writers working on novel projects. Neither of our current projects is completed--I've got about 47,000 words as of now and my wife has about 40,000 words. As an unpublished writer, I know I should not query agents or publishers until I have completed writing the story. But I don't know how rare the opportunity to meet an agent from a New York agency will be, and whether it's wise to pass this up. My wife feels like we would be wasting her time and our money if we sign up to talk to her. I feel like at the very least we could get some advice, and it can't really do any harm--and that we shouldn't pass this opportunity up because it might be a rare one.

So which one of us is right?

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com

Re: Follow-Up Question


It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to her. However, is she speaking at the conference? If so, just go to the talks/panel and ask questions there and you can save you $40.

From: [identity profile] joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)

Re: Follow-Up Question


She is speaking at the conference.

So what I think I'm hearing you say, between the lines, is that we should learn what we can from the talk, but it's still too soon for networking--is that right? (I'm guessing there's no point in chatting agents up about possible short story sales, right?)

Okay. Thanks for the quick reply. :o) We'll save our money.

(Is paying to meet an agent common, or is that unusual? I don't imagine she's getting rich at $20 a pop, so is that just a way to winnow the crowd?)

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com

Re: Follow-Up Question


Just that if she's already talking at the convention and you don't have anything finished, there's really no point in paying for a one on one. Usually someone will take questions after the talk and perhaps you can go up to introduce yourselves afterwards.

That I don't know. Not when they're home but perhaps at conferences.

From: [identity profile] joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)

Re: Follow-Up Question


I don't know if LJ lets you know when someone posts to an old entry, but I just wanted to pop back in and thank you for helping me avoid making a dork out of myself. :)
.

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