Oh, it's that time of year again. Depending on where you live, it may be growing colder and it's getting ever-closer to the holiday season.
And you know what that means?
We sit and talk about goals.
No, wait! Come back! I promise, I'll keep this short. Pinky swear, even.
I'm doing something a little different this year. Not only am I looking at what I want to accomplish in the next year, but I'm setting up accomplishments I want to achieve over the next 26 months. So, that means, between now and the end of 2017.
Number one: I hope to God I live that long. I honestly have no control over it, so let's go over what I can control.
My writing. I brainstormed a list of all the stories I want to publish within the next 26 months. It's a long list, but certainly not impossible. It's only impossible if I do nothing.
And that's not going to happen.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Writing Your Own Autobiography / Happenings In The Outhoues 16-Oct-2015
Earlier this year, I had some medical issues which drastically affected my life. Especially my writing. I won't expound on them here--and ironically this week I have been down at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN getting myself checked out further--but when I look at my life, I always think about someone's biography.
At what chapter would I be in now?
I like to feel that I am in a brief chapter, near the beginning of the book, titled BRIEF MEDICAL HIATUS. I am still producing words, although not as much as I'd like. I did take the advice of publishing shorter works, so I have five short stories (please click on this link for a full list) and another five I need to polish up.
I am also working on the third novel in the Central Division Series, and have plans in the works for the fourth and fifth in the series.
As far as your own autobiography, no matter how old you are, treat your life as if where you are is near the beginning. You have a whole lot to accomplish.
Think Colonel Sanders. Assuming he "retired" at age 65, he started the KFC franchise not long after and lived until he was 90. What did he do before retiring? Doesn't matter. It's what happened after that made a difference and created a multi-billion dollar empire.
Where are you at? Treat your life as if it's just starting.
Go forth and conquer. The world needs you. Start it today. Not tomorrow. On your mark, get set . . . GO!
At what chapter would I be in now?
I like to feel that I am in a brief chapter, near the beginning of the book, titled BRIEF MEDICAL HIATUS. I am still producing words, although not as much as I'd like. I did take the advice of publishing shorter works, so I have five short stories (please click on this link for a full list) and another five I need to polish up.
I am also working on the third novel in the Central Division Series, and have plans in the works for the fourth and fifth in the series.
As far as your own autobiography, no matter how old you are, treat your life as if where you are is near the beginning. You have a whole lot to accomplish.
Think Colonel Sanders. Assuming he "retired" at age 65, he started the KFC franchise not long after and lived until he was 90. What did he do before retiring? Doesn't matter. It's what happened after that made a difference and created a multi-billion dollar empire.
Where are you at? Treat your life as if it's just starting.
Go forth and conquer. The world needs you. Start it today. Not tomorrow. On your mark, get set . . . GO!
Friday, October 9, 2015
One Busy Beaver / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Oct-2015
I have been one busy beaver these past few weeks. For those have taken a gander at my Amazon Author Page, you may have noticed a few new additions.
As of this blog post, I have four out of five new additions. Short stories.
About a month ago, Simon Whistler of the Rocking Self-Publishing Podcast had an interview with Damian Silvers. They spoke a lot about writing shorter stories. Here is a link to listen to the entire episode. I highly recommend it.
These short stories are part of the If Walls Could Talk short story collection. If you don't want to shell out the $2.99 for the collection, each one is for sale individually. However, I will be having some of the really short ones up for free on my blog and website in the near future. For now, click on this link for a list of all the short stories I have out so far.
I have written roughly 20,000 words on the third novel in the Central Division Series. I will not share the title as of yet, but I am very excited for it. I'm shooting for a possible December release date, so stay turned.
As of this blog post, I have four out of five new additions. Short stories.
About a month ago, Simon Whistler of the Rocking Self-Publishing Podcast had an interview with Damian Silvers. They spoke a lot about writing shorter stories. Here is a link to listen to the entire episode. I highly recommend it.
These short stories are part of the If Walls Could Talk short story collection. If you don't want to shell out the $2.99 for the collection, each one is for sale individually. However, I will be having some of the really short ones up for free on my blog and website in the near future. For now, click on this link for a list of all the short stories I have out so far.
I have written roughly 20,000 words on the third novel in the Central Division Series. I will not share the title as of yet, but I am very excited for it. I'm shooting for a possible December release date, so stay turned.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Like tumblers on a lock (when a new story comes together) / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Sept-2015
The tumblers fell in place yesterday morning. And I mean, perfectly in place.
I've been working on the first draft of the third novel in the Central Division Series, and at first I didn't feel the original plot was enough to hold through the entire novel. I added a second major plot to fill it out. My thought was to add a more realistic feel to big city investigators, juggling multiple cases (even high profile ones) at once.
As Arnold Schwarzenegger has said on multiple occasions in his movies: "Big mistake."
(insert smiley face emoticon or appropriate meme here)
As each of the major plots for the third story grew, I quickly realized I had two novels in my hands. Not just one.
I thought a lot about the major thriller novels, movies, and TV series, and how they were set up. I realized that to pack so much in would be . . . well, a mistake. It would confuse the readers, something I don't want to do.
So, what was once one novel is now two.
I'm about 8,000 words into the third novel, which will have to be dissected now that I have to take the second story line out. No worries. I'm very excited for the change.
In the meantime, both of the novels in the Central Division Series are available at all major ebook outlets. Here is a link to my website, which has retail links to places from Amazon to Google Play.
And interesting sidenote: here is a recent Washington Post article about the small-town where I currently live. Very well-written, and an eye-opener for many.
I've been working on the first draft of the third novel in the Central Division Series, and at first I didn't feel the original plot was enough to hold through the entire novel. I added a second major plot to fill it out. My thought was to add a more realistic feel to big city investigators, juggling multiple cases (even high profile ones) at once.
As Arnold Schwarzenegger has said on multiple occasions in his movies: "Big mistake."
(insert smiley face emoticon or appropriate meme here)
As each of the major plots for the third story grew, I quickly realized I had two novels in my hands. Not just one.
I thought a lot about the major thriller novels, movies, and TV series, and how they were set up. I realized that to pack so much in would be . . . well, a mistake. It would confuse the readers, something I don't want to do.
So, what was once one novel is now two.
I'm about 8,000 words into the third novel, which will have to be dissected now that I have to take the second story line out. No worries. I'm very excited for the change.
In the meantime, both of the novels in the Central Division Series are available at all major ebook outlets. Here is a link to my website, which has retail links to places from Amazon to Google Play.
And interesting sidenote: here is a recent Washington Post article about the small-town where I currently live. Very well-written, and an eye-opener for many.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Back in the saddle / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-Jul-2015
Didn't think you'd ever hear from me again, did you?
A lot has happened in the past few months, one of which is the failure of my trusty laptop--I'm writing this on another computer, by the way. I've researched and found the laptop I want. Now it's just to get off my butt and buy it.
A few months ago, I also published Straight Razor. It's currently $2.99, exclusive with Amazon for the near-future, and it's also free for those in the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program.
This week was also our writers group meeting. There was only one member present, aside from myself, and it was a wonderful meeting. This young writer is very talented and is nearing the end of her first fantasy novel. We discussed how her writing has changed from the very beginning, and how not to get in the habit of endless editing when you can either hit PUBLISH or send it off to a publisher.
I promise to start writing more. Well, I have been writing, but it's longhand in a notebook. It's interesting to do so, because it forces one to think more.
Okay, what am I writing? The third novel in the Central Division Series. I have a few chapters written so far, and it's going very well.
Once again, if you wish to pick up an ebook copy of Straight Razor, I'd be grateful if you did. Sales have been decent, and I'm contemplating whether or not to keep the Amazon exclusivity when it runs out the end of August.
A lot has happened in the past few months, one of which is the failure of my trusty laptop--I'm writing this on another computer, by the way. I've researched and found the laptop I want. Now it's just to get off my butt and buy it.
A few months ago, I also published Straight Razor. It's currently $2.99, exclusive with Amazon for the near-future, and it's also free for those in the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program.
This week was also our writers group meeting. There was only one member present, aside from myself, and it was a wonderful meeting. This young writer is very talented and is nearing the end of her first fantasy novel. We discussed how her writing has changed from the very beginning, and how not to get in the habit of endless editing when you can either hit PUBLISH or send it off to a publisher.
I promise to start writing more. Well, I have been writing, but it's longhand in a notebook. It's interesting to do so, because it forces one to think more.
Okay, what am I writing? The third novel in the Central Division Series. I have a few chapters written so far, and it's going very well.
Once again, if you wish to pick up an ebook copy of Straight Razor, I'd be grateful if you did. Sales have been decent, and I'm contemplating whether or not to keep the Amazon exclusivity when it runs out the end of August.
Friday, March 20, 2015
I'm still here / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Mar-2015
Yes I am.
I'm still here.
Still writing.
It may be slow going, but editing Straight Razor is still moving along. My temporary publication date has been pushed out another month--for now I'm keeping the date to myself, but as soon as I get closer I'll share it.
For now, I've adjusted my schedule to work more on writing in the morning. I typically get up at six, and I joked with my wife the other night that I should get up at four. I was a little serious, but I may adjust it to . . . oh, five thirty or so.
For now, I'm still healing and each day I'm getting better.
I'm still here.
Still writing.
It may be slow going, but editing Straight Razor is still moving along. My temporary publication date has been pushed out another month--for now I'm keeping the date to myself, but as soon as I get closer I'll share it.
For now, I've adjusted my schedule to work more on writing in the morning. I typically get up at six, and I joked with my wife the other night that I should get up at four. I was a little serious, but I may adjust it to . . . oh, five thirty or so.
For now, I'm still healing and each day I'm getting better.
Friday, March 6, 2015
When life feels like an episode of House
Everyone loves the TV series House.
Well, my life feels like it could be completely scripted from that show.
My writing has been on a stalemate. For the past week, I've been battling . . . hiccups. Yes, you heard right. Hiccups.
And not just a mild tickle either. Hiccups that feel like I am choking to death. In the end, my doctors have said it was more than likely from an allergic reaction to a medication I had been taking for my ITP (low platelets).
Needless to say, I am no longer taking that medicine.
But yet the battle rages on, gradually getting less and less in frequency of hiccups.
I'm sure not too far along the horizon I'll look back on this experience and . . . oh, hell, I'll look back and say how much it sucked.
Because it does.
Don't worry, I'll still keep working. Reviews of Guest of Honor keep coming in, and several are either 4 and 5 stars. Many are flattering. Thanks to those who have.
Well, my life feels like it could be completely scripted from that show.
My writing has been on a stalemate. For the past week, I've been battling . . . hiccups. Yes, you heard right. Hiccups.
And not just a mild tickle either. Hiccups that feel like I am choking to death. In the end, my doctors have said it was more than likely from an allergic reaction to a medication I had been taking for my ITP (low platelets).
Needless to say, I am no longer taking that medicine.
But yet the battle rages on, gradually getting less and less in frequency of hiccups.
I'm sure not too far along the horizon I'll look back on this experience and . . . oh, hell, I'll look back and say how much it sucked.
Because it does.
Don't worry, I'll still keep working. Reviews of Guest of Honor keep coming in, and several are either 4 and 5 stars. Many are flattering. Thanks to those who have.
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