Article on RV Llyr in Conservation Minnesota by Chuck Dayton

SUWARROW

This is not Byrdcliffe, by the way (no kidding). This is the Canal boat I dream of sailing down the Erie Canal with Tim and the girls in order to finish ICE. It is going well so far! First third is in rough draft form (Thank you Birdcliffe Residency) and I’m working on the second third now, though may not finish before my residency ends. But I am averaging 7.8 pages a day, not a record, but close to my personal best. (After editing that changes significantly of course). The last third will have my protagonist boating down the Erie to the Hudson (as the world thaws), and finally around the coast to a much changed, near future Boston (the setting for JELLYFISH DREAMING, which will also be revised again as soon as possible).

Writing is good. Though I am always intrigued by how — as I take species out of my future world — I also lose language. How can Sandburg’s fog come, for instance, “on little cat feet” if cats haven’t existed for decades?

Update June 1: Two pages edited, plus 15 new, which I edited late last night. NOW we’re cooking with gas!

July 11: up to 200+ pages. But why am I counting? That can’t be a good sign, can it? Maybe working moms need to know they are producing something substantial for their art.

Finished the full rough draft July 25th! 300 pages. Sent off to my dear Copy Editor, Mike, and then started editing on my own. Mike says don’t send it out until he’s done with it, and he’s right, I’ve already found a boatload of changes to make. But it is hard not to trumpet it out to the world! I’mmmmm DONE! (Even if I’m not).

And now, to edit.

Been accepted to a Writing Residency in May.

Looking forward to figuring out what I want to revise or write there (Do I revise JELLYFISH or work on ICE?)

Gotta make the most of the time….Woodstock Byrdcliff Guild

ARTS SAKE

We did our reading, and it was good!

Had a wonderful time at the Massachusetts Cultural Council State House breakfast!

Lovely venue, interesting people. I brought Pippin along and our Representative, Stephen Kulik, gave us a tour and told her about the Sacred Cod, which has pointed toward the Democrats since Tip O’Neil came in.

Received a lovely citation for being one of the many artists and writers honored by the MCC.  Thank you Dan Blask and the rest of the MCC folks. And thanks for the upcoming reading in April.

I came away liking being from Massachusetts quite a lot.

WOMEN ON WRITING (Interview)

How did I miss this?

Because some days one needs that feeling of completing something, I sent a Flash Fiction story, GLARE,  to Women-on-Writing this last summer of 2012, where it made runner up. They also published an interview (which I think I like better than the story).

I think the interview is supposed to be in The Muffin (?! wild surmise), but is now showing up in Before It’s News: http://beforeitsnews.com/books/2013/01/summer-12-flash-fiction-contest-runner-up-d-k-mccutchen-2452356.html

Massachusetts Cultural Council is hosting readings all over the state by Fellowship recipients and finalists (I’m at Forbes Library, Noho, April 24th, 7pm), and a breakfast at the Statehouse in March. I’m loving the colorful poster! (Tim did the original cover design for this printing of Whale Road).

 http://artsake.massculturalcouncil.org/blog/artsake/index.php/2013/03/01/readings-by-mcc-awarded-writers-poets/

JELLYFISH, that always-in-progress first novel, finally got some Kudos from the MCC ! Whew! She made second round in the ABNA (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards) earlier this spring on the strength of a pitch, but the MCC is far more tangible (and literary – the ABNA has been called the American Idol of fiction contests).  So my balancing act between Lit and Trade seems to be swinging towards lit for Jellyfish at least. Will that influence the next revision? Only my time managers know for sure, and they’re eight and thirteen. Slave drivers, I tell ya.

Is quite happy making though.