Better days in Covid

I have been dealing with the highs and lows of stress and anxiety in the house through a variety of means, some better than others.

My healthier coping mechanisms include consistent stretching and push-up and sit-ups, as well as walks, and a regular viewing of films of interest and reading of promising comic books.

Then there is my consistent-yet-moderate imbibing of lagers and amber ales. Add to that a consumption of the Green—and not the kind that Alan Moore referred to in Swamp Thing, but the legalized-in-Canada variety. My forays into sex-positive porn include HarpertheFox, AmberCutie, DirtyPrincessPH, kinkysolveig Kendra Kennedy, being fun and sexy models of wonderful and different body types and sizes. They all share a sort of energy exchange and rapport with the viewer, their co-porn stars, and in their exhibitionism and attitude. As I get older, I find that amateur or amateurish porn is the most rewarding, without the slick sheen of pro porn, the obsession with shaving what is otherwise irresistible body hair, and the augmentation of otherwise perfectly wonderful natural breasts (Kennedy may have had work done but alas, I am a contradiction).

Still, it seems that despite my best efforts to overindulge, I find continued success, which seems to surprise no one but me.

After I complained bitterly about my recent egregious short-fiction rejections in a post (that I have since pulled), there have been significant developments. Chief among them is my publisher having a quick video-chat with me on Canada Day to deliver good news. Turns out that his short-fiction collection, which I am currently proofreading, earned a starred, advance review in Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus is an influential publication in the writing business. My publisher wanted to thank me for helping with his writing and was emphatic that I get working on his edits to my short-story collection, Fear Itself, due out this fall.

In addition, the day previous, I managed, despite feeling desultory about my day’s results, to accomplish a number of things. I rescheduled an upcoming appointment with my psychologist. Cancelled a weird extra vaccination booking that I was texted about (I suspect that someone put down my cell number by mistake, as I already have a second vaccination booked, and a week sooner). 

Spent an hour on Track-Changes revisions to my second horror novel. I am going through a scene-by-scene clean-up of the manuscript, putting any remaining notes, etc. in a chart, and smoothing out all the rough spots and accepting all consequences to my revisions throughout the story.

Also, spent some time considering the edits to my short story in my short-fiction collection about a phantasm in London, England, listening to my editor and publisher’s input. So, much to ponder! More or less, the ghostly figure in the story needs to pay some sort of price for returning and talking with the protagonist. I agree with that, and I agree that the ghostly figure is a little too perfect, which is no surprise, since they are modelled on my mentor from high school. What the story needs is a little pizzazz, and I trust it to reveal the answer to me in whatever way it wishes.

As well, I also spent some time proofing my publisher’s collection, the very one that Kirkus Reviews calls “a satisfyingly weird and icky read with serious literary chops.” I had already edited various drafts of the included novelette, which he was quite grateful for. At the time of this posting, this review is not public knowledge and will only become so next week.

Also in around that time I got word that a friend got their second vaccination dose and that they are relieved, which is ironic, since often after I have thought about them, I also feel overwhelmingly relieved, too.

So, that was some Wednesday.