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Research is fun - well, kind of. I've started the research for my environmental piece. I've found an awesome blog that is run by a guy who lists the latest scare tactics and then shows what the science actually says (there was a piece from March about the claim that our oceans are turning to acid). *rolls eyes*

I've also decided that my Virtues of the Goddess series is not going on my blog afterall. I am going to submit them for publication in Witches&Pagans. I ws going to submit them to SageWoman, but W&P seems to be a larger/more professional operation - and they are the same company, so I don't feel bad choosing them over SageWoman.

( In where I do the rambling ... )

A friend of mine made the resolution that 2012 would be the year of reconnecting. Of being less robot and more human. To her that meant seeing her friends and loved ones in person more often. It meant talking on the phone rather than texting. More real human interaction; less social media.

This idea really spoke to me. I can remember using phrases like IRL or meat-life, like there was another kind. As if your online presence can be an additional life outside of the day to day slog. A few years back I pulled the plug on my cyber-life.

I have noticed that with the rise of social media, the computer is not only threatening to pull me back in, but everyone else as well. Now, I'm not going to give up my Facebook (having just moved away from all my friends and most of my family, I think I would be lynched for going that far), but I think I do want to make an effort at reconnecting on a human level.

For me, I think that will mean letters. Next week, I plan to go out and pick up some stationary. Then, I am going to write out our 'Thank you' notes for L'il R's Xmas presents, as well as some letters to loved ones who I already miss. There's something about writing longhand that I need. I don't really know how to describe it, but it's the reason that I still keep a paper journal. It's the reason that I am keeping a notebook of letters that I will one day give to my daughter. It's the reason I feel closest to my mom is when I read her letters and recipes; even after ten long years, I can feel her near me when I see her handwriting.

I was also contemplating making masks to help me reconnect with the Sabbats. I had come across my old element mask design sketches (I think I had only done water), while I was packing. I have a couple ideas floating around for Imbolc. Dunno if I could get it done in time what with the move and all of my crafting materials being in storage for the month. Maybe I'll do the sketches for the Sabbat masks and start putting the Element masks together.

I have a DeviantArt account, phaetalon, if anyone is interested in seeing photos in progress and finished. I may post the sketches too, if I can remember to either photograph them or if I can figure a way to get access to a scanner.

X-posted

I'm going to be entering a local short story contest this year, and I wanted to read some good examples of the genre to help me get over my 'how the hell can you fit a whole story into 3,000 words?' dilemma. I've been to my local book store (and big box book story), and I can't seem to find any short story magazines.

So, I naturally turn to my F-List - where do you find your favourite short fiction? Do you have any favourite authors?

Ideas and help = <3

--Phae

I spent a good hour this morning trying to explain Paganism to a Christian today (found the post through random tag surfing). Haven’t done that in a while. I think I got a bit rambly. I’m not sure if I know how to cut it down to the short and sweet points anymore.

It got me to thinking about articles that need writing, and things that might be publishable to print magazines. A good and thorough look at Pagan spirituality in contrast to mainstream beliefs would probably find a home in one of our local lifestyle magazines.

A good long rant about how Eclectism isn’t a sin would probably be good for online publication. That one could be a bit of a powder keg, so it might take a while to get the words properly polished.

I have a couple of old article ideas that are still waiting for me to actually write them out. With Tara and Stonehenge being in the news so much lately, I should probably get my ‘Sacred Sites’ article together. Also, I’d like to write out my ‘Glamour’ article.

I think that when I first came up with the idea for ‘Galmour’ it was going to just be a rant about what Western society does to a woman’s self image, and it probably still will be, but I do have a bit of a passion for style and colour and to a lesser degree, make-up. What I need to decide is how to break it into two articles that don’t contradict each other.

I’m not really sure if my style of writing is something that would work on Rending the Veil. Most of what I write are opinion pieces. I would probably be a great columnist

Well, I guess we will see what the day brings.

–Phae

X-posted to Pagan Perspectives

I have a couple of ideas for NaNo this year.  I could, if I didn't want to start a new story, finish up Hair of the Dog.  I also thought that I would take a bash at filling out the Leona story.  Not sure where that story could go, but I kind of like that for a NaNo story.  I think the combination of the pressure and the open ended story can make for some wicked creativity spurts.  I could also take a bash at writing my Ghost Hunting story. 

What I am still having trouble with is finding an idea for a short story to enter in to the CBC contest.  I would like to try and get a collection of shorts together so that I can start submitting stuff to local magazines.  I am hoping that the fall season gives me some inspiration.  Maybe this weird, drifting feeling will be good for something this year ;)

--Phae