It's going to be a long day. I'd better keep this short.

Yesterday I picked up the last of my paycheques at the Chambers and bought a copy of the latest Wired magazine. When I got home I walked to the post office and mailed the Amazon return along with the RSVP to Connolley's wedding. I took a bath and read for a couple of hours. I started writing based on an exercise that demanded I wrote out of a past work experience, and I ended up with a nifty little story intro that I think I might have the chance of finishing. I'm at a little over 1,100 words. The prose was coming at me pretty quick and I was smiling as I was writing it. It's been a long time since I've experienced that, trying to capture a flow of ideas before they get away. I feel really good about it.

Last night while leafing through Wired I finalized the decision to invent an alias for myself. It's an idea I've been kicking around for a few years now. I've had all kinds of aliases since I started using the Internet, but this will be for my identity as a writer and artist apart from the rest of my life in which an association with that identity might harm me (for instance, at work). More on that later.

Andrea and I are renting a car and heading to Trolley's wedding today. Better get ready.

I just talked to my mother and she's scheduled a doctor's appointment for me on August 18th, so I'll actually be performing the move on the 19th if all goes according to plan. She thinks I have a pinched sciatic nerve. Every piece of advice I've received has been akin to this: rest it, exercise it, ice it, heat it, take painkillers.

The net connection I was pirating now has a password affixed to it, so that leaves one piddly little connection that barely works when it does work. Yet another reason why I want this move over and done with. I get the feeling that I'm going to need a vacation after all this vacation time. I already have no idea what day of the week it is, what I'm supposed to be doing, where I'm supposed to be going.

Check that: I'm going to see The Dark Knight tonight. That I'm sure of.

Yesterday was productive. I read for over two hours and finished Galveston, a book about storm chasers who have suffered tragedy in their lives and find each other in a podunk coastal town about to be wiped out by a force five hurricane. I'm going to move onto Joe's book next. I wrote for an hour and produced 1500 words. I'm finding it tiring but I have to keep at it. Yesterday I mapped out the floor plan of the first house I remember living in. It was harder than I thought because it became a process of stringing together memories out of geography. Then I wrote about memories I have of being in the rooms.

I cracked open Reason and started writing a new song. It sounds pretty good so far, and I feel as though I'm further into this one than my first attempt. I'd like to get the backbone written out and apply some bass and maybe some guitar and vocals over it when the time comes, but I really think it's going to have to wait until after the move.

I'm trying not to let the move interfere with my creativity. I'm tired of making excuses for not having any output. Yesterday was one day. I wrote 1500 words, finished a book and starting writing a song. Now it's today. Now I have to do something else.

Yesterday I walked to the grocery store and watched Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey while I ate dinner.

David,

You are a very accomplished writer, and these linked stories, especially the first one, are dazzling. They are sensitive, often lyrical (but never overly), and together they begin to paint a portrait of a wonderful, magnetic woman. Sometimes I think you forget your place, especially in the third installment here (because the boy, albeit an old soul, speaks a language unsuited to him). But you have a great book going here. We'll talk. Bravo.

Joe Kertes

I had pieces of my novel given the once over yesterday and received some healthy feedback. Most importantly, perhaps, I received suggestions for a lot of reading material. In addition to picking up titles by various authors involved with the workshops, I placed an order at Amazon for a bunch of books that should arrive next week.

I made revisions last night to the entire thing and I think it sounds a lot better. I'm meeting with Joe today for a half hour. Yesterday I asked for advice about writing consistently, and he said to just do it, to carve out time during the day for writing, reading and living. I realized that I really have no excuse not to do this. Once I work into a routine, I'll get to the point where it feels natural, kind of like writing in this blog. Joe also mentioned that after awhile, your characters will begin to take on a life of their own, and it's as if they start talking to you and making demands on the kind of people they are and the decisions they'd make. It all sounds great.

I went on my own for lunch to do some editing because I knew I'd be working on revisions in the evening. Olive Senior, Bruce Jay Friedman and Paul Quarrington gave talks in the afternoon, the latter two about writing for television and film. I asked Paul about his thoughts on Bill C-10. I doubt there was a person sitting in the room who supported it, but it was nice to hear it reaffirmed that it's bullshit (removing tax credits for films that are deemed "inoffensive" by the Heritage Minister).

I'd really like to make the rounds for autographs, but I'm intimidated as all hell to do so, especially when I think about approaching guys like Bausch, who seems like a grizzly bear you don't want to provoke. It's actually just kind of nice to hang out with these people and view them in their natural social environment. Too many animal comparisons. Alistair MacLeod, the man, is giving a reading today. These next couple of days should be quick.

I feel a bit bad because Matt has been working an insane amount this week, and now it looks like he'll be working through the weekend. We won't get to spend much time together. More than anything I hate to see the guy wear himself out.