A Brief Pause While I Knock Out A Short Story / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-June-2023

I was deep in the middle of doing a final pass-through of my current work-in-progress, a Middle Grade novel titled Pop Flies And Grounders, when I got an email from Writers of the Future.  It was an end of the quarter reminder to get my short story submission in if I wanted to enter this quarter's contest.

Writers of the Future is a quarterly science fiction/fantasy contest, and it is one I have entered many times before.  At first, I almost deleted the email, but then realized that I could just pause my editing and knock out a new short story.

So knock one out I did.

For more information on the Writers of the Future contest, click on this link: Writer Contest | Writers & Illustrators of the Future (writersofthefuture.com)

Pop Flies And Grounders Is Completed / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-June-2023

As of June 17th, I wrote the last words to my Middle Grade novel Pop Flies And Grounders.

The idea for this book started out when my daughter and I tossing a softball in the backyard years ago, and she didn't want me to throw the easy ones.  She wanted me to throw pop flies and grounders.  The name stuck . . . and so did the ensuing story idea.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be doing a final read-through, and then hitting the publish button.  I'll share more next week.

Stay tuned . . .

Stealing Ideas / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-June-2023

If there ever an original idea that can be stolen?

And how original can your idea be?

Recently, an acquaintance suggested to their employer to have a bake sale to help raise funds for some new equipment.  Nothing more was said by the employer, and then when the employer actually did have a bake sale, this acquaintance had the nerve to say, "They stole my idea!"

As if NOBODY else has ever heard of having a bake sale.  It was an idea.  A suggestion.  Seriously, get over it.

That being said, the employer could've said, "Hey, thanks for the idea!" to at least give the employee some recognition.  They didn't.

Ideas are a dime a dozen.  They're everywhere.

I recently attended two online writing workshops.  One was on cold cases and the other was on modern murder cases.  At the end of the three-week workshops, I had to write a short story with a specific given scenario.  I completed them on time (I got great feedback on them too, by the way).  Now, I have no way of knowing this, but there were probably dozens of people taking both courses and I'll bet that each story, despite having a specific scenario, were all completely different.

Come up with ideas.  Share them.  Give them away.  Then come up with more ideas.

In fact, one assignment on the cold case workshop was to come up with ten different ideas for cold cases.  That was quite a feat, and I had a blast doing it.  The first ideas were easy, but as I got down the list they were more difficult to come up with.  But I still did it.

So go have a bake sale!  Don't worry, it wasn't my idea!

On a side note, I'm nearing the end of my current work-in-progress.  I surpassed the 90,000 word mark.  Hoping to finish it up in the next few weeks.

Watch Your Mouth / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-June-2023

Beware of what you say to others.

I recently came upon someone's rant about being so busy with their business that they didn't know if they'd have time to get everything done in time as well as spend quality time with their family.  My first thought when I saw this was, "Well, that can easily be fixed.  No one does business with you.  There.  Done."

I looked at the comments--no, I didn't comment and never would--and so many people gave this person feedback like "It's so great that you're business is going so well."  Even the person's spouse gave them moral support.

I also had someone tell me something similar in person.  My mind raced with similar thoughts of "Well, it must be nice to have such a thriving business."  But again I said nothing.

If you truly need to rant about something, find one person (in confidence) that you can lean on.  And do it in private.  Maybe you're looking for a solution?  Or maybe you're just looking to rant?  God could even be that One to lean on and ask for a solution or guidance.

Again, watch what you say.  You never know who may be listening/reading your rant.

Dreams Are Great (But Ground It In Reality) / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-June-2023

You start a business.  You sell your first product.  Maybe you get a customer to sign a contract for your services/product.

Wow!  You are flying high!  You dream of vacations, houses, cars, all kinds of stuff!

Dreams are great.  I'm a dreamer.  But I am also a realist.  Having the responsibility of a family and current bills/debts, I cannot bank on my writing income to sustain me alone.

Maybe you just got your real estate license and sold your first house for a nice commission.  At what point to you throw all the chips on the table and go full bore?

These are questions you need to have with yourself (and loved ones), but honestly you'll probably just ignore me and do what you want.

My writing is what I love to do, and at this point is a side hustle.  There's nothing wrong with side hustles.  You need some sort of guaranteed income until the side hustle overcomes the day job.

And here's another piece of advice, to take or leave: do not proclaim every single victory from the mountaintop.  Keep them to yourselves, with the exception of your most loved one.  Celebrate the victories with that one, because chances are, they are also sacrificing something so you can do your dreams.

And, hopefully, one day that dream will become a reality.  But until then, keep your head down and keep working.

Lastly, have fun!