I was going to post something about writing today - I really was, it was going to be deep and inspiring - but then I looked at the morning paper.  For the first time in a long time, the headline made he ridiculously happy.  And the best thing to do with happiness is to pass it around.  So here you go:

Read the story - and watch the videos!!! - of the local rescue of this baby sea otter.  And remember: most human beings are kind.  Many of them are very kind, and generous.  Our empathy and generosity is such that it touches other humans, and even other animals.  There's hope for us yet.

      I'll post something deep and moving about writing this weekend.  It's a four day weekend, so yeeeaaay!

P.S. - Today (Aug 30th) is National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

      I went to see "Suicide Squad" about a week ago.  Up until the moment the ticket was in my hot little hand, I was uncertain whether or not I would watch the movie in the theater--or at all, really.  Let's face it: DC hasn't had a great run.  I went to see "Batman vs Superman" in a theater pub hoping that a few shots would render it palata.  They didn't.  And I'm a person who is easily entertained.
      Of all the DC movies PCB*, "Suicide Squad" was by far the best.  But saying that is like comparing and contrasting brands of kitty litter, or containers for holding your compost: you never actually get excited about any of them, you're just happy you found something that does the job and doesn't give off an abominable stink.  Still, I enjoyed the film.  I find my opinion evolving as I reflect on it as time goes by,  circling around three main points.

1) I am utterly content with Jared Leto's portrayal of the Joker.  I thought his performance was solid, appropriate for the film, and unique from the other versions in movies since 1980.  There's no resurrecting the Joker as played by Heath Ledger, and honestly it would be a bad idea to try.  I give full props for vision and follow-through.

Slick, shiny, and severely insane.  I am suitably disturbed.

2) I'm still making up my mind about their portrayal of all the villain protagonists as some variety of contemporary street thugs.  The contemporary part makes sense, but does it smack of ethnic stereotyping?

3) Much to my surprise, I'm also still mulling over how the relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn was portrayed--something about it really stuck with me.  As far as comic book romances go, these two are pretty famous duo, and the subject of intense discussion.  I don't read the comics, but I know enough to understand I only know the tip of the iceberg.  There're probably multiple doctoral theses written on the subject.

And while one would think that they would be the textbook archetype for a dysfunctional relationship, there are a frightening large number of people who would beg the contrary.  I fear for my generation.

      The movie had several fails in my opinion.  Some editing choices were jarring, some dialogue was pretty weak, and a few characters flat-out unbelievable, even for a comic book villain.  But the biggest problem remains Batman.
      Dear DC Head Honchos: whoever decided you needed a Batman reboot so soon after "Dark Knight Rises" should be fired.  Every chef knows you don't follow your most superb gourmet entrée with a freaking Hostess Twinkie.  People need time to digest, refresh the palate, and grow an appetite for something different.  Duh.
      So after watching "Suicide Squad" my husband and I met up with some friends to address this problem.  After an evening of cocktails and junk food, we reached an important decision:
      Playing a good Batman comes down to three important things: being suave as Bruce Wayne, being brooding as Batman**, and having a chin that looks good in the bat suit.  Seriously.  I can't over-state the importance of the chin.

Christian Bale had it all: everyone wanted to date Bruce Wayne, everyone bought into Batman's dark neuroses, and for the love of Arkham, just LOOK AT THAT CHIN!!!

One would think that Ben Affleck has the chin to pull it off, but he doesn't.  Something about the cowl makes his jaw look chubby.  It drives me nuts.

Suave: check, as proven in Star Wars VII.  Brooding: check, as demonstrated in "Ex Machina."  And chin...my gods, people, just LOOK AT THAT CHIN!!!!

      But alas, I doubt anybody's going to replace Ben Affleck any time soon.  And I doubt that DC is going to stop this line of movies any time soon.  BUT...I learned my lesson with Star Wars Episodes One, Two, and Three: I will no longer be suckered into paying money at a theater for a movie I know is going to suck, just for the sake of a beloved franchise.  So unless "Wonder Woman" gets really great reviews, I've got better junk to fill this head.

*Post-Christian Bale

**Ooo, I should apply my Broodometer to Batman!!!

      Just in case you've been wondering where I'm at in the grand scheme of writing things, I've actually been doing a lot.  My new daily routine allows for at least a solid hour of writing every morning, while I enjoy my breakfast.  The situation is ideal for me: wake up, make tasty food, eat part while checking email and reading my daily webcomics, and then finish up my tea while working on stories.  I honestly love my mornings.  How many people can say that?

My idea of heaven is to spend a week at a gourmet bed & breakfast with a view of the ocean, and be able to spend my days writing and walking, well-fed in body and soul

      As for WHAT I'm writing...well...that's a different matter.
      Once upon a time, I wrote a gas lamp fantasy manuscript about two demons trying to be human, two women trying to be themselves, a curse, and a conspiracy to bring hell on earth.  I *loved* writing this story.  And it was ridiculously long.  Like, 150k words long.  No way any editor in their right mind would accept a manuscript like that from an unproven author.
      So I did the intelligent thing and divided it into two books.  Now I had two manuscripts, each of the perfect length, and honestly I thought they were both pretty good.  I got some good feedback from beta readers, trimmed some parts, lengthened others, and firmed up the dialogue a bit.  And last year I submitted queries to several different agents.
      I got a few nibbles, but no bites--which isn't a big surprise.  Had logic prevailed, I would have shelved the manuscript for the time being and gone on to work on other projects (how many have I got in the works now? Seven?  Eight?).  But I have this problem: I think this story is the best work I have ever done.  I think the plot, the characters, the world, the language, all of it is seriously solid.  I read other published novels that are in the same genre and I think, "But my story is BETTER than this one!  How'd this get published, and not mine!?"*
      I'm biased, of course.  Not only because it's my work, but because I know it so well I can't be objective anymore.  It's too familiar, so I can't tell where there are holes in the plot, or if important scenes are understated or over-dramatic.  Of course I strive to be thoughtful and intelligent in my approach, but that's not a perfect guide.  In fact, there are times I suspect I'm downright wrong.  Such as my latest idea.
      "Clearly," I thought, "the problem is that the story needs to be a TRILOGY!!!"
      Just writing this makes me want to smack myself on the forehead.

If you ever catch my trying to make this into 4 books, please, please stop me.

      So yeah.  I've spent the last couple months dividing my two novels into three, re-arranging some of the scenes, adding back in some deleted material, and adding new bits to try and create compelling individual story arcs.  Believe me, I am in no way entirely convinced this is a smart move.  But there was no way to know until I'd done it, and once I started, I'm committed.
      I just finished the first draft of book one.  Now I get to tackle book two.  That's going to involve a lot of scene re-arranging.  *sigh*  My plan is to finish a first draft of the trilogy, and then ignore it for a few months while I work on something else.  Then hopefully come back to it with semi-fresh eyes.  And maybe shell out the bucks for a professional editor, because at this point, all my dear, dear friends who volunteer as beta-readers have already gone through at least one version of this thing.
     This is why I write first thing in the morning: creativity flows best before I actually let myself think.


*Not to misconstrue my ego, it should be noted that this is not my reaction to most novels.  Most novels I read with mingled joy, envy, and despair, thinking: "This is so freaking awesome!  I wish I could write like this!  But I don't think I'll ever be able to write like this!  Therefore I will go eat more chocolate, and read the next chapter, instead of doing the dishes!"

      Have I mentioned how much I love living in a place as rich in nature and culturally diverse as the Seattle area?  Today on my morning hike I met an Iranian man on the trail with his Korean girlfriend, and they were accompanied by his pet goat.  It was awesome.
      This summer I've stuck with my goal of hiking every weekend.  Sometimes I go alone, sometimes with friends, but it's always wonderful--and frankly my stamina rocks right now.  So far I've hit the following trails:

Poo Poo Point via the Chirico Trail (it's close to the city & you don't need a parking permit, so you don't have an excuse--go do it!)

This is the view from Poo Poo Point when the mountain is "out."  It was not "out" when I did the hike, but the view was still pretty awesome.

Icicle Ridge, which is conveniently located right next to the awesome town of Leavenworth, and thus easy access to superb beer and brats.

Do hike, congratulate yourself with food.  This is what makes life great.

Margaret's Way, which is part of a network of other trails I will probably explore more thoroughly in the fall.

Snowshoe Falls, via Denny Creek (get to the trailhead before 8am if you want to park).

There are two waterfalls up the trail from Denny Creek, and the views require some dangerous dangling.  This is not my photo.  I was too busy not tripping.  But I loved the hike regardless.

Cave Hole Trail...and several other trails connected to it, because I just kept going for about 2 hours before I turned around.

Kachess Ridge, which was soul-stirringly lovely, but seriously buggy!

The trail got rocky in parts, but it was totally worth it.

Trout Creek...sort of.  A series of rain and wind storms last winter knocked over so many trees, the gravel road to the trailhead was no good for driving.  So we just parked at the turn-off and hike up the road.  Then we reached the actual trail, and it was so cluttered with fallen trees we only made it a half mile before it became impassable.  Maybe I'll try again next year, after it's had some maintenance.

      I estimate I've hiked a total of roughly 35 miles, and gone up total of 15,205 feet.  And back down.  Obviously.
      And I still haven't found my entrance to Faerieland.  Obviously.  But I'm not done yet!