Something Fun / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-June-2024

Last Saturday, I had quite a few hours to just sit and write, and as I have hit a few roadblocks with my current two works-in-progress, I decided to start something new.

Something fun, in other words.

I grabbed a title out of the air, wrote the first fun line I could think of, and close to 1,800 words later I got the start of a cool story.  As of this post, it is still not done, but I'm having fun writing it.

Twelve Stories And Counting / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-June-2024

I currently have twelve completed short stories that I have finished, waiting in the wings to be sent off.

One was just submitted to the Writers of the Future contest (it's a quarterly contest and the deadline is the end of this month) and three others now are out into the universe, making their way for possible consideration for publication.

Now, I am in the process of figuring out the best places to send all of the others.  This activity eats up a lot of time, but it is time well-spent because I'm educating myself on the short story market.

Not Getting Your Hopes Up / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-June-2024

There are lessons to be learned with most everything that doesn't go right--and lessons even when it does.

This past weekend, my wife and I and three young girls went to the Twin Cities, leaving earlier than the chickens Saturday morning and coming back Sunday.  The reason for the quick trip was that her youngest child told us about a meet and greet by two paranormal YouTubers, who were also promoting their clothing line at a store in the Mall of America.

My wife and I knew the girls shouldn't get their hopes up about meeting them.  Even though we were arriving at the MOA hours ahead of time, the chances of her and her two friends getting a place in line were slim.

It turns out they never had a chance to meet them because there were close to 4,000 people already in line and the store cut off the number as they found the end to it.

I try to maintain a positive attitude and a positive outlook on life in general, so we made the best of the time we were down there and went to a water park instead.  Got a little burned, but it was relaxing.

What's the lesson?  You don't always get what you want and it's a good thing to not get your hopes up.

Every Word Counts / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-June-2024

Every little bit helps.

Ever hear of that saying?

I have, and it rings true as I look at the new story I'm working on.  I have a few stories I'm working on, and when I find myself stuck, I reflect on what I've written.  Sometimes I write just a few words or sentences.  Then, I may hit a spot and away I go, off to the races!

Moving forward, in other words.  Even writing a few words brings you that much closer to finishing.

Switching Gears / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-May-2024

With all that's been going on these past few months, with cleaning out our basement and preparing for my youngest daughter's graduation, I found myself stuck on my latest short story.

So I switched gears.  An idea popped into my head one day, and I sat down to start writing it.  I have no idea where I'm going with it, no idea the genre, but I'm slowly working on it.

Keeping this one short today.  Hope to have more next week.

Proud Dad Moment Number Three #prouddad / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-May-2024

Today is yet another #prouddad moment.  My youngest daughter (not including a stepdaughter that is finishing up 7th grade) is graduating from high school today.  Mykayla has certainly grown into an exceptional young lady these past number of years.  A few weeks ago, she took home several awards and scholarships (much like her older sister Mariah), and by the end of the summer will be heading off to North Dakota State University with, so far, an undeclared major.

She has a very creative, determined mind, and is very talented when it comes to creative activities.  This past year for speech competition, she not only wrote on speech from scratch, for rewrote it in its entirety twice, and tweaked it here and there for the next few weeks thereafter.  She has blossomed in her theatrical skills too, and was a valued member of the drama team.

Her career interests are vast, and with an undeclared major the field is wide open for what she can accomplish.  Her other interests are also as vast as myself, from superheroes and Star Wars to Doctor Who and board games.  She is one of the kindest and appreciative young people I know, and is always quick to say "Thank you!"

Mykayla has been a type 1 diabetic since she was three, and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the subject.  Not only has she helped her older sister navigate this new world of diabetes since September 2023, she has given advice to her older brother who was a little younger when he got diabetes.

Her life will be interesting to watch as she will soon find her place in this world.

Cleaning House / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-May-2024

For the past month and a half, my wife and I have been cleaning out the basement.  Getting rid of old stuff that should've been thrown out long ago and organizing the rest for a more comfortable living space.

One of these areas is an office room.  I used to do the majority of my writing in that room, until circumstances with my late wife made it so I had to do it upstairs.

I have still been writing.  Right now, I'm in the beginning of a new tale, one that I have had the bones of in the back of my mind.  I'm at a point where I don't know where to go, but that's okay.  I'll brainstorm my way of out it, like I do all my other stories that I have gotten stuck in.