It just seems like something that has been done before, at least the bored muse part. Sorry.

No need to apologize! That's what I need to know!

I love #3, especially for the possibilities of a point of view book from each triplet -- that has so much awesome potential for coolness and crossover and different angles on the same event or events. And an intriguing world I know little about.

I like #1, too, because I enjoy seeing a person dumped into an unfamiliar way of existing in the world -- either the world has changed or they have (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century! Sleeper! Gods who lose their powers!).

#2 appeals the least to me, I think maybe just because the two characters both sound like they'd be cranky at first, which is kind of silly of me, but that's all I can come up with for why it appeals less than the other two.

***

I have to start writing. I'm so stressed about finances right now, that it's eating my brain. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, yay, but getting from here to there seems fraught right now. So, I am both anxious when thinking about it and anxious when trying to do anything else because I'm not thinking about it. Of course, what I really need to do on all fronts is take action.

Maybe combine the two, Jen? Journal about the anxieties or even the steps you could in between now and then?

That's a great idea, Amy. Maybe that's my best use of Nano right now. Huh. Seems so logical now that someone thought of it for me. Maybe I need to just borrow other people's brain power right now until my own starts functioning again. Thanks!

You can borrow my brain whenever you like, for what it's worth. (Which might not be much, just to warn you.)

I'm trying to plow through the proposal and clean up essays for my December 1 deadline. I need to add to/polish the essay on the sleezy motivational speaker and the rock bonding, as it's a good complement to first/introductory essay. But I keep falling back on Me and Chuck D, a piece on how Public Enemy got me through a science conference when i felt very small and stupid.

I think it's because I feel very small and stupid right now, instead of the usual righteous indignation. I don't have a lot of time. I need to focus.

Maybe #2 would be more interesting from the POV of the selkie?

Tom, I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure it would work, but it's worth thinking about it.

Allyson, do you want some feedback on the motivational speaker/rock essay? I'm happy to help.

It's really a wreck of random tangents. Overwrought. I need to dial it back. I can't get over the whole, "DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?" aspect of it. I found his whole schtick to be so disrespectful of my workplace, and I spend far too much time in the piece raking him over the coals in such a blunt force way when what I really need is a scalpel and a steady hand.

I sound more like a cult member defending Dear Leader than I really want or mean. It's sloppy. And it's because I'm losing the humor/irony of having this Tony Robbins-like The Secret hawking snake oil salesman being paid to inspire people working at a science institution. Instead I'm just disturbed.

If you want suggestions about what's worth keeping -- or just fresh eyes -- you know where I am.