Sudoko/Heroes

[erastes]

I can't do sudoku.  I don't know why, and it kind of annoys me.  I'm good at those cross grid logic puzzles and I can do a lot of puzzles in general, including skeletons and when I get into the groove I can crack the Times Cryptic

OMG HIRO???????????? WTF?

 but I think that sudoku must use a particular part of the brain that I'm not used to using. There was a daily quiz sudoku TV programme on here a while back and I tried to follow it, but they'd be yelling "ONE!" before I'd even processed that the grid was on the screen.  It does annoy me - I don't like NOT to be able to do something.  I don't do anything really well, but I can do a LOT of stuff well enough for a pass grade. To not be able to do something at ALL drives me nuts. 

Editing's been tough today. I've reached a dark place in the book. I haven't read this section for a couple of years and to dive back into it has been traumatic today.  Still have nothing but praise for my editor. PD Publishing didn't like my Witchfinder - they said that they didn't like that he was a religous sadist.  I didn't defend him - he's a Witchfinder - what were they expecting - but Running Press seem to get him completely. They don't question his actions in any way. But what I like about the editor is that she pushes me constantly - "What is this character thinking now?" "Why hasn't he thought of [person] since [place]?" "Don't leave it here, give us more."  I'd heard of "rewrites" but until now had no conception of what they consisted of. Until now, editing rewrites were grammar, punctuation and a few comments on the text - this is showing me that the editor has read this meticulously, knows my characters inside out, and wants to see them expanded as much as I'm able.

This is a lovely post about literature and alcohol. Thanks to Mick Dementiuk for the link. I really must try all of these...

Comments

[aunty_marion]

It took me a while to 'get' Su Doku, too, but I did enter the Times National Championship last year! These days I mostly do at least their mild and difficult ones in pen, but often have to resort to pencil and little numbers in the corner for the Fiendish ones. Super Fiendish ones often get abandoned half way, and at least once a week (it seems) I end up cannibalising the Killer grid to re-work either a Fiendish or Super Fiendish. I can't do the Killer ones at all, really! Though some friends once gave me a book of them, starting with easy ones, and I think I've managed to do ...er, maybe two of those? *g*

But Su Doku is partly logic, and partly pattern-matching, which is something I'm generally fairly good at. Once you get the hang of it, they get easier - the harder ones just take more steps before you can spot the 'hole' where only one number can possibly fit.

I used to be able to do the Times Cryptic Crossword, back when I had the time to devote to it. But I'm well out of the habit now, alas. I still try the Jumbo ones, though, usually.

Yay! for the editing! It does really sound as though your editor is extremely good.

*surfacing from editing for a moment, like Moly*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed with your Su Doku talent. I should probably MAKE myself learn it -but I turn into Donald Duck having a mad fit after about five minutes.

[cleo]

It's funny, but I can't o crosswords or other sorts of word puzzles like that. But sudoku, fifteen...pattern/number games comes as easily as writing. I wish it had been that way with parts of music theory. Lol.

Oh, and thanks for the great link!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It must just be something in the brain that makes it easy, or not.

Good link wasn't it? A drinking writer's dream!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

My partner did sudoku for awhile, then got bored. Math brain. I stare at them and go "why?"

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - I think that's part of it, the "why?" factor. With crosswords I'm usually learning something, facts or the way words are played with - puns and the like - but numbers? What's the point of it?

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

For people who love numbers, that is the point. I don't know whether to say "lucky sods" or "poor devils," but mostly I say "thank you for doing my taxes, would you like a new number-puzzle book?" ;-)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - you have a gem there, and not just for the maths stuff!

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Editing sometimes does get tough, from what I remember, but look at it this way: at least you have a publisher who wants to publish your work. There are a lot of us who don't have that - so you should be very proud of yourself for writing great books and for getting them into print. :-)

I hope that doesn't sound chiding...you know what I mean. :)

You rock. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I know. I shouldn't grumble.

*grumbles*

:)

[megleigh.livejournal.com]

Your editor sounds like a gem!

I don't understand Sudoku either.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

She is, I'm lucky. But... argh! *swamped*

[feed-your-muse.livejournal.com]

With me, if it's maths it's a mystery. I'm convinced that when I (finally) passed my maths exam aeons ago it was only because the exam board totted everything up for all three occasions I took the damn thing and said 'give her a C for God's sake, before she tries again!'

Commiserations on the editing, but it does sound as if she really gets what you're doing, so that's great.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Hah! sounds exactly like me!

[penelopefriday.livejournal.com]

I, on the other hand, am absolutely dreadful when it comes to crosswords, especially cryptic ones, but am reasonably good at sudoku.

Your way round makes more sense for a writer than mine.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It must be something in the brain, works in some not in others. It just annoys me!!

:)