Linda Zajac

The finale

A science writer is an air traffic controller, of sorts.  Stories appear on the radar from all directions.  As the cargo lands, it's processed and evaluated quickly.  Is it worthy of sending out?  Can I get a scientist on board?  Which direction is best?  Outbound flights are strategically packed with good science so they arrive in the best possible manner.  At the radar screen, it's hard to gauge the reaction on the other end.  All science writers want more than a safe landing.  They want their cargo placed in the loving arms of an enthusiastic recipient.

Tinkerbell must surely be on her way

I still feel like an apprentice, slow at matching stories to markets and settling on a direction.  My airport is a sorry sight.  This week, I'm aiming to study the radar screen and make some quick decisions.  If all goes well, I'll get three flights on the runway.  I have made great progress in writing first drafts quicker, which I'll blog about next week. 

At the end of the evening, the smell of gunpowder hung in the air as smoke billowed up from the trees.

I had a dream an editor snapped at me, "Quit babying me!"  I suppose that comes from my latest line of thinking that they are a touchy bunch. (grins) 

In an effort to go head to head with fiction, I wound up with first and sixth honorable mention in a Children's Literature contest.  I swapped chapters of a manuscript and was hoping for a first place win for both chapters 1 and 2 (chapter 2 which used to be Chapter 1, won in 2010).  It was not meant to be.  The judges commented "well-researched" and "thorough bibliography."  Yep, that's what on want on my headstone, she wrote a great bibliography.  Not! 

A dandelion puff, high in the sky

It was a mighty delighty nighty watching fireworks.  I've never been successful taking fireworks photographs (perhaps I should have done some research on what settings work best).  This Canon SX260HS has a "fireworks" setting which works fantastic!