Everyone's talking about it. The decade is nearing its end. The 2010's will soon be the 2020's.
It may be difficult to fathom, but look back on the past ten years. Where were you then, comparing yourself to now?
Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Now, look ahead ten years. Whoa!
Dream big and write down some lofty goals. It doesn't matter how crazy they sound. Write them down anyway.
Finished? Probably not, but pick one. Now, think of what needs to happen in order to achieve that big dream.
Now put it into action.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019
Another short one today / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Dec-2019
My apologies on the short post today.
As far as writing is concerned, I'm nearing completion of the prologue to my latest thriller. I'm excited to jump into it with both feet, yet at the same time it's been difficult with the deteriorating condition that my wife is in.
My wife is the strongest, most bravest person that I know. I think she would even give General Patton a run for his money (grin!). Tuesday, she was no near to death that I called all of her family and mine to the hospital to prepare for the inevitable. As of Thursday, she's still at the hospital, but out of ICU and hanging in there.
As far as writing is concerned, I'm nearing completion of the prologue to my latest thriller. I'm excited to jump into it with both feet, yet at the same time it's been difficult with the deteriorating condition that my wife is in.
My wife is the strongest, most bravest person that I know. I think she would even give General Patton a run for his money (grin!). Tuesday, she was no near to death that I called all of her family and mine to the hospital to prepare for the inevitable. As of Thursday, she's still at the hospital, but out of ICU and hanging in there.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Back in the saddle again / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Dec-2019
With all that's going on in my life, it's a wonder that I even have the energy to start a new book.
But that is life. Life goes on. It has changed dramatically since May, and what may come of it I don't know. One thing I do know is that I can't just sit and worry about something I have no control over. The only thing I can do is work on something I love.
And I love writing.
I am currently writing the first words to a new thriller--the 5th novel in the Central Division Series. In the weeks to come, I'll pass along some year's end wisdom and future planning. For now, I'm keeping this short.
But that is life. Life goes on. It has changed dramatically since May, and what may come of it I don't know. One thing I do know is that I can't just sit and worry about something I have no control over. The only thing I can do is work on something I love.
And I love writing.
I am currently writing the first words to a new thriller--the 5th novel in the Central Division Series. In the weeks to come, I'll pass along some year's end wisdom and future planning. For now, I'm keeping this short.
Friday, December 6, 2019
My Heart Was Not In It / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Nov-2019
I came to the realization earlier this week that my heart is just not into my current work-in-progress. It's weird too, because it's a story I came up with long ago while playing catch with one of my daughters.
Not to worry, I'm not abandoning it completely. With everything going on with my wife, it's been difficult to focus on something new since I've never written a YA story before. I might revisit it next year.
So, I started work on the next book in the Central Division thriller series. That seems to be where my heart is right now as far as writing is concerned.
Not to worry, I'm not abandoning it completely. With everything going on with my wife, it's been difficult to focus on something new since I've never written a YA story before. I might revisit it next year.
So, I started work on the next book in the Central Division thriller series. That seems to be where my heart is right now as far as writing is concerned.
Friday, November 29, 2019
25 years ago, two amazing events occurred / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Nov-2019
Twenty-five years ago, the movie Interview With The Vampire came out in the theaters. It is the only--and I mean ONLY--movie I have ever seen more than once in the theater. Not including the re-releases of any Star Wars movie, of course. But even those, I have only seen once in the theater. At home, I have watched them a lot more.
There are a few Netflix series/movies I have watched more than once, however, but that doesn't count either.
The release of Interview With The Vampire isn't what came to mind with the two events--oh, by the way, I watched the movie four times in the theater! Yes, four! It was released on November 11, 1994. The only reason this date comes to mind is because I went to this movie to celebrate the completion of my first novel. It was a 1,000-page behemoth of horror fiction. I have met so many people in my life who have wanted to write a novel and never do it. Well, at that point, I did it.
The second (and better!) amazing event occurred just after Thanksgiving at Bemidji State University.
There was this cute brunette I had noticed for quite some time and she worked as a dispatcher for the campus security. Campus security was also housed right across from the stairs leading up to the cafeteria. On the day in question, Mike, a friend of mine, said he was going to ask her out. Feeling defeated, I made my way into the cafeteria. Minutes later, he sat down.
"How did it go?" I asked.
"She shot me down."
Okay. Maybe she had a boyfriend. Maybe . . . well, I thought of a million reasons why I shouldn't ask her out--the number one reason was that I was a first-rate chicken shit (sorry for the profanity, but I was deathly scared to talk to women, even though I had friends who were girls; I know, go figure, right?)
After eating, I made my way down and saw a guy I knew from Tae Kwon Do who happened to be working at the security office along with the cute brunette. So, taking a deep breath, I walked in and talked with him.
Then, I said hello to the brunette. I must've stood there and talked with her for over an hour. Her name was Melissa, although most called her Missi. We gradually became friends over the course of the next few months. By August 1995, we decided to take it to the next level and start dating. Almost two years after that . . . we were married.
And have been happily married for over 22 years since then.
There are a few Netflix series/movies I have watched more than once, however, but that doesn't count either.
The release of Interview With The Vampire isn't what came to mind with the two events--oh, by the way, I watched the movie four times in the theater! Yes, four! It was released on November 11, 1994. The only reason this date comes to mind is because I went to this movie to celebrate the completion of my first novel. It was a 1,000-page behemoth of horror fiction. I have met so many people in my life who have wanted to write a novel and never do it. Well, at that point, I did it.
The second (and better!) amazing event occurred just after Thanksgiving at Bemidji State University.
There was this cute brunette I had noticed for quite some time and she worked as a dispatcher for the campus security. Campus security was also housed right across from the stairs leading up to the cafeteria. On the day in question, Mike, a friend of mine, said he was going to ask her out. Feeling defeated, I made my way into the cafeteria. Minutes later, he sat down.
"How did it go?" I asked.
"She shot me down."
Okay. Maybe she had a boyfriend. Maybe . . . well, I thought of a million reasons why I shouldn't ask her out--the number one reason was that I was a first-rate chicken shit (sorry for the profanity, but I was deathly scared to talk to women, even though I had friends who were girls; I know, go figure, right?)
After eating, I made my way down and saw a guy I knew from Tae Kwon Do who happened to be working at the security office along with the cute brunette. So, taking a deep breath, I walked in and talked with him.
Then, I said hello to the brunette. I must've stood there and talked with her for over an hour. Her name was Melissa, although most called her Missi. We gradually became friends over the course of the next few months. By August 1995, we decided to take it to the next level and start dating. Almost two years after that . . . we were married.
And have been happily married for over 22 years since then.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Keep your time sacred / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Nov-2019
When it comes to creating your art, you'll need to keep your time sacred. If you don't, you'll never finish.
And finishing, so you can share with the world, is the point of creation.
Do you eat meals? Even though the time may vary, you do eat. Treat the time you set aside for eating the same way you would toward your art. Whether you're a morning or evening person, find a time that works best. Experiment with it too.
Also, these may change over time. In college, I used to do my best work at night. Many nights, I'd write until two or three in the morning. About ten or so years ago, I found mornings worked best. I'd wake up around five or five thirty and write. That time was sacred.
Even nowadays, with my life turned upside-down, I set aside times to write. Am I perfect about it? Heck no! But I plunge ahead anyway.
Whatever you do, create an appointment for the things that are important. Like eating or reading or praying. Even sleeping.
You can do it. The world is depending on you.
And finishing, so you can share with the world, is the point of creation.
Do you eat meals? Even though the time may vary, you do eat. Treat the time you set aside for eating the same way you would toward your art. Whether you're a morning or evening person, find a time that works best. Experiment with it too.
Also, these may change over time. In college, I used to do my best work at night. Many nights, I'd write until two or three in the morning. About ten or so years ago, I found mornings worked best. I'd wake up around five or five thirty and write. That time was sacred.
Even nowadays, with my life turned upside-down, I set aside times to write. Am I perfect about it? Heck no! But I plunge ahead anyway.
Whatever you do, create an appointment for the things that are important. Like eating or reading or praying. Even sleeping.
You can do it. The world is depending on you.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Epitome of Greatness / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Nov-2019
Close to a month ago, I listened to Lewis Howes interview Simon Sinek for his School of Greatness podcast. One of Lewis's final question was, what is your definition of greatness? My first and obvious answer would be Jesus. Seriously, you can't get better than that.
Then, another image came to mind. Pictured below is my grandfather Ray Johnson who passed away in late August 2019. There was so much I learned about him, his work history, and his personal life that I didn't know prior to attending his funeral and reading his obituary.
The other day, my sixteen-year-old daughter came to me and said, "I'm going to give you the greatest compliment that you have ever heard. The way people talked about how grand-grandpa Ray treated his wife, great grandma Adlyne. Well, that's the way you treat Mom." Her compliment certainly brought a few tears to my eyes.
My grandma Adlyne (whom I would also categorize in the greatness file) passed away in January 2005 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. My grandpa always called grandma his "forever loving doll" and treated her like an angel. They loved each other so much. And, without knowing it, those same values I have carried into my marriage with my wife, Melissa.
For those who have been following this blog for a while, you know my wife battled leukemia in 2011 and since May of this year has been battling other medical complications, from a failing liver to anemia and a whole host of other ailments. She has just finished a 2-week hospital stay (her 7th such stay since May) and is residing in a nursing home for rehab. She is struggling to regain her strength so she can return home, and we all know it is all in God's Hands.
Who do you think of when you think about greatness?
Then, another image came to mind. Pictured below is my grandfather Ray Johnson who passed away in late August 2019. There was so much I learned about him, his work history, and his personal life that I didn't know prior to attending his funeral and reading his obituary.
The other day, my sixteen-year-old daughter came to me and said, "I'm going to give you the greatest compliment that you have ever heard. The way people talked about how grand-grandpa Ray treated his wife, great grandma Adlyne. Well, that's the way you treat Mom." Her compliment certainly brought a few tears to my eyes.
My grandma Adlyne (whom I would also categorize in the greatness file) passed away in January 2005 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. My grandpa always called grandma his "forever loving doll" and treated her like an angel. They loved each other so much. And, without knowing it, those same values I have carried into my marriage with my wife, Melissa.
For those who have been following this blog for a while, you know my wife battled leukemia in 2011 and since May of this year has been battling other medical complications, from a failing liver to anemia and a whole host of other ailments. She has just finished a 2-week hospital stay (her 7th such stay since May) and is residing in a nursing home for rehab. She is struggling to regain her strength so she can return home, and we all know it is all in God's Hands.
Who do you think of when you think about greatness?
Friday, November 8, 2019
Reading for the sake of building numbers is dangerous / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Nov-2019
I'm currently reading a book as a part of my daily private victory at work, and although I'm about three-quarters of the way through it, I already know I'm going to re-read it once I'm done. There is just way too much information to absorb at once.
Then, I recalled a YouTube ad where someone had stacked up 52 books and said that great leaders are readers (they are, I'm not disputing that) and that in order to be great you needed a read a book a week.
I thought of how dangerous this was. Not life-threatening dangerous, like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute or trying to catch a bullet your teeth or walking a highwire when I haven't put in thousands of hours of practice. But dangerous when it comes to simply recalling information or putting it to good use.
In the past three months, I've been diligent on my daily private victory (see the link above for the YouTube video for more info) and putting in 30 minutes of nonfiction reading five days a week. So far I've read a book every 1-2 weeks, and some I've even read more than once in a week just because I needed to absorb more information than during the first read--these books were quick reads to begin with, in order for me to read them so fast, as I am normally a slow reader.
It's good to read (nonfiction as well as fiction) but don't sacrifice your time by reading just to check off a task. Take your time. Absorb the information. See how it applies to your life, if necessary. The same goes with Scripture reading. There are courses where one is tasked with reading the entire Bible in a single year. It can be done, but how much are you able to learn by doing so. In many cases, I've read a verse or two in the Bible and spent the week re-reading it and reflecting on it. Reading for me is a marathon, not a sprint. There are far too many lessons in the Bible to quickly brush over them.
Then, I recalled a YouTube ad where someone had stacked up 52 books and said that great leaders are readers (they are, I'm not disputing that) and that in order to be great you needed a read a book a week.
I thought of how dangerous this was. Not life-threatening dangerous, like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute or trying to catch a bullet your teeth or walking a highwire when I haven't put in thousands of hours of practice. But dangerous when it comes to simply recalling information or putting it to good use.
In the past three months, I've been diligent on my daily private victory (see the link above for the YouTube video for more info) and putting in 30 minutes of nonfiction reading five days a week. So far I've read a book every 1-2 weeks, and some I've even read more than once in a week just because I needed to absorb more information than during the first read--these books were quick reads to begin with, in order for me to read them so fast, as I am normally a slow reader.
It's good to read (nonfiction as well as fiction) but don't sacrifice your time by reading just to check off a task. Take your time. Absorb the information. See how it applies to your life, if necessary. The same goes with Scripture reading. There are courses where one is tasked with reading the entire Bible in a single year. It can be done, but how much are you able to learn by doing so. In many cases, I've read a verse or two in the Bible and spent the week re-reading it and reflecting on it. Reading for me is a marathon, not a sprint. There are far too many lessons in the Bible to quickly brush over them.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Focus on your strengths / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Nov-2019
What are you naturally strong at?
If you are more inclined toward mechanical skills and loathe books, tasks or occupations that involve writing may not be what you're meant to do. If you aren't driven toward woodworking, building a deck onto your house may not be right up your alley. If the extent of your drawing skills are stick figures, being an artist is more than likely not in your future.
I'm keeping this short today as I work through some financial/medical issues with my wife's health. For my current work-in-progress, I am around the 9,000 word point.
Going back to strengths, I will revisit it soon as I feel it's an important topic. I've touched on it before, but there is so much more to discuss.
Stay tuned . . .
If you are more inclined toward mechanical skills and loathe books, tasks or occupations that involve writing may not be what you're meant to do. If you aren't driven toward woodworking, building a deck onto your house may not be right up your alley. If the extent of your drawing skills are stick figures, being an artist is more than likely not in your future.
I'm keeping this short today as I work through some financial/medical issues with my wife's health. For my current work-in-progress, I am around the 9,000 word point.
Going back to strengths, I will revisit it soon as I feel it's an important topic. I've touched on it before, but there is so much more to discuss.
Stay tuned . . .
Friday, October 25, 2019
Progress On WIP / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Oct-2019
I've been making tremendous progress on my current work-in-progress. I am currently over 8,000 words and climbing higher each day.
This project is challenging myself on a few fronts. First, I've never written a YA book before. I've read many, but not taken up the mantle to actually write one. Not that it's very different as far as the actual writing is concerned, but the focus has to be more in line with the intended audience--I do have two daughters in high school who have heard bits of the story and are intrigued by it, although with homework and after-school activities their time to read it is limited.
Second is more personal: my wife. She is still being cared for at a nursing home, for rehab, and her progress is . . . well, not sugar-coating it here, it's poor. There are many irons in the fire, many doctors (including the Mayo Clinic) are monitoring and testing a variety of elements in her blood. I just need to trust in the Higher Power, putting it all in His Hands.
But I take the time for myself (it may sound selfish to do so, but in reality it's not) and some of that time includes doing what I love: writing.
This project is challenging myself on a few fronts. First, I've never written a YA book before. I've read many, but not taken up the mantle to actually write one. Not that it's very different as far as the actual writing is concerned, but the focus has to be more in line with the intended audience--I do have two daughters in high school who have heard bits of the story and are intrigued by it, although with homework and after-school activities their time to read it is limited.
Second is more personal: my wife. She is still being cared for at a nursing home, for rehab, and her progress is . . . well, not sugar-coating it here, it's poor. There are many irons in the fire, many doctors (including the Mayo Clinic) are monitoring and testing a variety of elements in her blood. I just need to trust in the Higher Power, putting it all in His Hands.
But I take the time for myself (it may sound selfish to do so, but in reality it's not) and some of that time includes doing what I love: writing.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Three Things / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Oct-2019
I was recently listening to Lewis Howes's podcast, The School of Greatness, and during an interview with Simon Sinek, he asked if, at the very end of your life, all of your possessions and creative works disappeared and you were given a blank sheet of paper to write down three things (pieces of advice, if you will), what would they be?
This brought to mind a post I wrote in December last year, titled "Have Fun." Go ahead and read it. I'll wait . . .
Funny how life turns out, given the current situation with my wife.
Here would be my three things:
This brought to mind a post I wrote in December last year, titled "Have Fun." Go ahead and read it. I'll wait . . .
Funny how life turns out, given the current situation with my wife.
Here would be my three things:
Be Kind
Be Faithful
Be Happy
What would your three things be?
Friday, October 11, 2019
Trimming Da Fat / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Oct-2019
In December 2016, I went on a podcast fast. I had done this a few times over the years, as I had found myself with too many podcasts to listen to in any given week.
Last week, instead of going on a full podcast fast, I decided to trim back on a few. I listen to podcasts at a little more than normal speed--around 1.5 speed. I do this to listen to more. But I have soon discovered that while I have a number of favorites, some I had trouble listening to. So I asked myself, "Am I gaining anything to listening to them? What if I took them out of my feed and quit listening to them?"
What a relief!
I had already done this with three other podcasts--all with the same hosts--as they changed the format from MP3 to M4A files. I could still listen to them on my MP3 player, but it was a pain. It didn't have the same quality. So, I decided to ditch them.
My ideal podcast length is between 10-40 minutes long, although I would rather them be short. The ones I got rid of last week were typically over an hour in length. Not only did I get rid of two, a third one also found itself on the chopping block.
I love learning new things and deep diving into topics that interest me. But there are times when I need to start doing, putting things into action by writing new words.
Hence, trimming da fat from the podcast feed.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Planning for the rest of 2019 / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Oct-2019
It is now the first week of October 2019. The start of the 4th quarter. What is on the docket for the remainder of the year?
Looking back on the last quarter--and my list of the next five--I managed to cross off one thing and start on another. Knowing how the summer has been for our family, I'm changing the focus to fit the circumstances.
Sure, I could write this grand list and pray for the best, knowing that I may only accomplish one thing, but I'd be kidding myself. I need to be a bit realistic.
With the YA book I'm currently writing (I am around 6,000 words!), I also plan on exploring a print version as well. My first one. At the same time, I have identified another book (along with a workbook) that I may put into print as well.
Keeping it simple. Cheers!
Looking back on the last quarter--and my list of the next five--I managed to cross off one thing and start on another. Knowing how the summer has been for our family, I'm changing the focus to fit the circumstances.
Sure, I could write this grand list and pray for the best, knowing that I may only accomplish one thing, but I'd be kidding myself. I need to be a bit realistic.
With the YA book I'm currently writing (I am around 6,000 words!), I also plan on exploring a print version as well. My first one. At the same time, I have identified another book (along with a workbook) that I may put into print as well.
Keeping it simple. Cheers!
Friday, September 27, 2019
Treasure The Memories / Happenings In the Outhouse 27-Sept-2019
For anyone who knows me (or even spends a little time with me) will usually hear this phrase more than once: "Years ago . . ."
The Netflix show Stranger Things, set in the early to mid-1980's, brings back a lot of memories unique to that era. From Dungeons and Dragons and the iconic music of that age to Ghostbusters and the Neverending Story, I love that period of time. In season 3, the "pool" scenes were classic from my days of practically living at the local pool with my friends. I can smell the chlorine, even to this day.
Thinking back on those days also reminds me of the iconic memories with family. So many Christmases were spent at my grandparents' home, with relatives gathered from near and far, playing their Intellivision video game console, opening gifts, and eating hordes of hors d'oeuvres from cookies and crackers to lefse and grandma's famous (to us, anyway) "green punch."
June 2002 changed a lot of that. A flood cascaded throughout much of the town, and my grandparents' basement was forever changed. The entertainment room where many Christmases were shared was destroyed and had to be filled in with cement. After that, the basement wasn't the same. But the family was resilient and pulled together, moving future festivities to the upstairs living room. Even this past Thanksgiving, my son and I helped to move (for the last time, I am sad to say) from the basement (from the very room, now filled with cement, where those Christmases were shared) to the upstairs.
After my grandfather's passing on August 23rd, their old house has been sold. I have been asked a few times if I would like to see it again, as the new owners are currently remodeling it. For me, that answer is simple: no. The home will provide new memories for the next generation of families to grace its floors, its hallways, its rooms, and I pray they cherish those as much (if not more, although that would be a stretch) as I have.
To quote Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the movie Silence of the Lambs, "Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of a view."
Memories from years past are etched through the pages of my stories. Sometimes even the slightest detail can be found.
During my childhood, many weekends were also spent at my grandparents' cabin on Minnesota Hill. It has been close to 20 years since I've been there--I won't bore you with the details on why this occurred--and if I was ever asked to see the old cabin again, despite any remodeling that may have taken place, my answer would also be the same.
Nope. Nada. Thanks but no thanks.
I cherish the memories of years past, but I don't dwell there. Instead, I cherish the memories of times to come.
The Netflix show Stranger Things, set in the early to mid-1980's, brings back a lot of memories unique to that era. From Dungeons and Dragons and the iconic music of that age to Ghostbusters and the Neverending Story, I love that period of time. In season 3, the "pool" scenes were classic from my days of practically living at the local pool with my friends. I can smell the chlorine, even to this day.
Thinking back on those days also reminds me of the iconic memories with family. So many Christmases were spent at my grandparents' home, with relatives gathered from near and far, playing their Intellivision video game console, opening gifts, and eating hordes of hors d'oeuvres from cookies and crackers to lefse and grandma's famous (to us, anyway) "green punch."
June 2002 changed a lot of that. A flood cascaded throughout much of the town, and my grandparents' basement was forever changed. The entertainment room where many Christmases were shared was destroyed and had to be filled in with cement. After that, the basement wasn't the same. But the family was resilient and pulled together, moving future festivities to the upstairs living room. Even this past Thanksgiving, my son and I helped to move (for the last time, I am sad to say) from the basement (from the very room, now filled with cement, where those Christmases were shared) to the upstairs.
After my grandfather's passing on August 23rd, their old house has been sold. I have been asked a few times if I would like to see it again, as the new owners are currently remodeling it. For me, that answer is simple: no. The home will provide new memories for the next generation of families to grace its floors, its hallways, its rooms, and I pray they cherish those as much (if not more, although that would be a stretch) as I have.
To quote Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the movie Silence of the Lambs, "Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of a view."
Memories from years past are etched through the pages of my stories. Sometimes even the slightest detail can be found.
During my childhood, many weekends were also spent at my grandparents' cabin on Minnesota Hill. It has been close to 20 years since I've been there--I won't bore you with the details on why this occurred--and if I was ever asked to see the old cabin again, despite any remodeling that may have taken place, my answer would also be the same.
Nope. Nada. Thanks but no thanks.
I cherish the memories of years past, but I don't dwell there. Instead, I cherish the memories of times to come.
Friday, September 20, 2019
What's in store for Q4? / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Sept-2019
As I am winding down on the end of the Q3 2019, I am looking ahead to the final three months of the year.
Under normal conditions, I would have a book I'm writing then publishing along with planning a series or two along with a few other improvements toward building up my writing empire. This would be my "Next five".
Given the recent developments with my wife's health, two deaths in the family (one being my grandfather, whom I will dedicate an entire blog post about in the near future, and another being an uncle on my wife's side), a vehicle that I need to sell, and other home improvement projects, I am still charging forth with my next five things for Q4. But they will look a little different than they have in the past.
I am scaling back my writing goals to writing/publishing my first YA book and maybe one other item. The others will be geared toward other aspects of my life.
What they are, I still do not know. I will write more about them soon.
Under normal conditions, I would have a book I'm writing then publishing along with planning a series or two along with a few other improvements toward building up my writing empire. This would be my "Next five".
Given the recent developments with my wife's health, two deaths in the family (one being my grandfather, whom I will dedicate an entire blog post about in the near future, and another being an uncle on my wife's side), a vehicle that I need to sell, and other home improvement projects, I am still charging forth with my next five things for Q4. But they will look a little different than they have in the past.
I am scaling back my writing goals to writing/publishing my first YA book and maybe one other item. The others will be geared toward other aspects of my life.
What they are, I still do not know. I will write more about them soon.
Friday, September 13, 2019
How much is too much? / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Sept-2019
My kids and I went to see the new movie It Chapter Two last weekend. Afterward, my youngest daughter thought it was good, even though she was scared. But one thing she said made me stop and think: "Dad, it had the right amount of jump scares."
What a profound and interesting statement.
It was true. I've been to movies and watched TV shows where there is an overindulgent of an element of storytelling. Jump scares are fine, but overdoing it is another. When it comes to telling a good story, you can't always have your feet on the accelerator. You need to stop every once and a while, just for a breather.
Even though good thrillers are typically fast-paced, they do slow down at just the right times. But don't take my word for it. As my basic writing advice is:
1) read a lot
2) write a lot
3) publish/submit for publication a lot
If you spend enough time reading and analyzing stories, you'll know how it works naturally.
What a profound and interesting statement.
It was true. I've been to movies and watched TV shows where there is an overindulgent of an element of storytelling. Jump scares are fine, but overdoing it is another. When it comes to telling a good story, you can't always have your feet on the accelerator. You need to stop every once and a while, just for a breather.
Even though good thrillers are typically fast-paced, they do slow down at just the right times. But don't take my word for it. As my basic writing advice is:
1) read a lot
2) write a lot
3) publish/submit for publication a lot
If you spend enough time reading and analyzing stories, you'll know how it works naturally.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Managing your time, even as you manage yourself / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Sept-2019
It's vitally important to manage your time. And managing your time shouldn't take a back seat to managing yourself--meaning, your health or the health of others.
If you find yourself in a stressful situation, look at what needs to be done and what you should do, and use the "kiss" method: keep it simple stupid.
Delegate where you can.
Sometimes it's okay to sit back and watch a movie or TV show, or even read a book--for us writers, reading may be better, but there is power in watching a movie/show.
Right now, I'm dealing with the health of my wife. I won't delve into much detail here, but needless to say it's stressful. But I have the absolute best relatives and friends who have been helping out where they can. A few Sundays ago, after my wife was taken into the hospital (for the third time this summer!), my son and I went to church. Upon our return, we found friends who were in the process of mowing our lawn. They probably would've finished if we stayed after church for coffee and bars, and then I would've been wondering what happened to our nicely-manicured lawn.
I am in the process of writing my first YA book, and I am a little over 2,000 words into it. It's going well, even though it's going slow. And the reason it's slow is because I've had other things to deal with. As of this writing, we're in the process of getting my wife into a skilled nursing home (yes, a nursing home at the young age of 47, mind you!) for the short term.
Again, I must repeat that it is vitally important to manage your time deliberately. What is important to you? Write it down. Then, schedule them, even if it's only for a few minutes.
If you find yourself in a stressful situation, look at what needs to be done and what you should do, and use the "kiss" method: keep it simple stupid.
Delegate where you can.
Sometimes it's okay to sit back and watch a movie or TV show, or even read a book--for us writers, reading may be better, but there is power in watching a movie/show.
Right now, I'm dealing with the health of my wife. I won't delve into much detail here, but needless to say it's stressful. But I have the absolute best relatives and friends who have been helping out where they can. A few Sundays ago, after my wife was taken into the hospital (for the third time this summer!), my son and I went to church. Upon our return, we found friends who were in the process of mowing our lawn. They probably would've finished if we stayed after church for coffee and bars, and then I would've been wondering what happened to our nicely-manicured lawn.
I am in the process of writing my first YA book, and I am a little over 2,000 words into it. It's going well, even though it's going slow. And the reason it's slow is because I've had other things to deal with. As of this writing, we're in the process of getting my wife into a skilled nursing home (yes, a nursing home at the young age of 47, mind you!) for the short term.
Again, I must repeat that it is vitally important to manage your time deliberately. What is important to you? Write it down. Then, schedule them, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Friday, August 30, 2019
One heck of a week / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-Aug-2019
Not only has this been a crazy summer, this past week has been the icing on the cake.
Last Friday, I received news that my 96-year young grandfather passed away. It wasn't truly unexpected, but at the same time the news was difficult. Here is a link to one of my favorite: The Legacy of Hats.
On top of that are the health issues with my wife. Saturday night, she took a turn for the worst and we took her into the ER. Her liver is failing and the doctors are working diligently on a solution. She was in the ICU for three days and is now in a regular hospital room.
I will share more news as it comes.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Don't fear the blank canvas / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-Aug-2019
I love all stages of the writing process, from the idea stage to the moment I publish. Including what many call the messy middle.
Right now, I'm in the first few pages of a new YA book. I've never written YA before--more specifically, anything geared directly at the YA (young adult) market--and so far I am loving the challenge.
The first draft of any story is like a painter standing in front of a blank canvas. And for a writer, the opening pages are an even more blank canvas than the further along in the book you go. By the time you near the end, the canvas is pretty much done.
This story isn't part of any series and all of the characters are new.
For some, the opening pages are frightening and have a difficult time moving forward. I strongly urge you to plow through it. You can always go back and delete something if it doesn't fit.
Right now, I'm in the first few pages of a new YA book. I've never written YA before--more specifically, anything geared directly at the YA (young adult) market--and so far I am loving the challenge.
The first draft of any story is like a painter standing in front of a blank canvas. And for a writer, the opening pages are an even more blank canvas than the further along in the book you go. By the time you near the end, the canvas is pretty much done.
This story isn't part of any series and all of the characters are new.
For some, the opening pages are frightening and have a difficult time moving forward. I strongly urge you to plow through it. You can always go back and delete something if it doesn't fit.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Dahlia - new story / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-Aug-2019
What if Elizabeth Short, AKA The Black Dahlia, was the first victim of a fledging serial killer and something stopped him before he could go on?
That is exactly the question I sought out to answer in my newest story, aptly named Dahlia.
Here is the blurb:
"Douglas Sweet is a name that brings chills to many. His name is synonymous to the likes of Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy.
But Sweet also bore a title, unbeknownst to Dylan Boseman until that fateful day.
Grandfather."
Here is a link to purchase the ebook at your favorite e-retailer: Dahlia.
That is exactly the question I sought out to answer in my newest story, aptly named Dahlia.
Here is the blurb:
"Douglas Sweet is a name that brings chills to many. His name is synonymous to the likes of Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy.
But Sweet also bore a title, unbeknownst to Dylan Boseman until that fateful day.
Grandfather."
Here is a link to purchase the ebook at your favorite e-retailer: Dahlia.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Exciting news for fans of J. D. Salinger
I will not sugarcoat this. I love J. D. Salinger's writings. Up until now, none of his books have been in digital form--okay, I believe others have done it but it's not officially his, so I have not purchased those.
Well, as of today, those of us who love books in digital form, the wait is finally over.
Salinger is one of those writers who can transport you right into his story without you even knowing. He is a true master of words. Especially dialogue.
Now, although most know Salinger through Catcher in the Rye, it's his other works that I love even more.
Here is a link to Amazon that goes directly to his author site for the official stories:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APYJ8Y?_encoding=UTF8&node=618073011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader
I post this link because to actually search for J. D. Salinger comes up a lot of various books about Salinger and/or analysis books about his books.
A huge thanks to the Salinger family (he passed away on January 27, 2010) for updating his library to the digital form.
Well, as of today, those of us who love books in digital form, the wait is finally over.
Salinger is one of those writers who can transport you right into his story without you even knowing. He is a true master of words. Especially dialogue.
Now, although most know Salinger through Catcher in the Rye, it's his other works that I love even more.
Here is a link to Amazon that goes directly to his author site for the official stories:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APYJ8Y?_encoding=UTF8&node=618073011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader
I post this link because to actually search for J. D. Salinger comes up a lot of various books about Salinger and/or analysis books about his books.
A huge thanks to the Salinger family (he passed away on January 27, 2010) for updating his library to the digital form.
Friday, August 9, 2019
New published story by next week / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Aug-2019
Another short one today.
By next week, I will share a link to a new published story. It's around 10,000 words, and it turned out better than I expected. I'm not sure why I struggled with the last section--probably had something to do with my wife being in the hospital and my focus being on her, like it should!--but I banged out the remainder of it in 2 days.
Speaking of my wife, she was discharged Monday this week. She will be having home health come in a few times a week to do PT/OT. She has a walker to maneuver her way through the house--or, basically, from the couch to the bathroom and back.
By next week, I will share a link to a new published story. It's around 10,000 words, and it turned out better than I expected. I'm not sure why I struggled with the last section--probably had something to do with my wife being in the hospital and my focus being on her, like it should!--but I banged out the remainder of it in 2 days.
Speaking of my wife, she was discharged Monday this week. She will be having home health come in a few times a week to do PT/OT. She has a walker to maneuver her way through the house--or, basically, from the couch to the bathroom and back.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Next projects / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Aug-2019
I'm keeping this one short today.
I am in the final stages of my current work-in-progress. Want a little teaser? Think Back To The Future and the murder of Elizabeth Short (AKA The Black Dahlia). Intrigued?
It is a novelette titled . . . oh, not quite yet. Getting a little ahead of myself. I'll share once it's published.
Afterward, I will be trying my hand at a YA book, in the vein of the movie The Sandlot, inspired by my oldest daughter when we used to play catch.
I am in the final stages of my current work-in-progress. Want a little teaser? Think Back To The Future and the murder of Elizabeth Short (AKA The Black Dahlia). Intrigued?
It is a novelette titled . . . oh, not quite yet. Getting a little ahead of myself. I'll share once it's published.
Afterward, I will be trying my hand at a YA book, in the vein of the movie The Sandlot, inspired by my oldest daughter when we used to play catch.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Busy work vs. your art / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-July-2019
Many have probably heard the story of Jesus, from the book of Luke, visiting the house of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in Bethany. During the visit, Mary sits at Jesus's feet and listens to Him while Martha is busy with housework, trying to impress her guests.
Most of us either work a full-time job or busy ourselves with housework/media/social media/etc. Or both. Stand back and reflect on how you spend your time.
Sure, it may be fun to binge the latest season of whatever Netflix or Amazon Prime video is offering. And it may also be fun to play hours and hours of whatever video game is the latest craze. And housework? It's never done, is it?
Although it is perfectly okay to set aside time for rest, your art (or your purpose) may be neglected.
Don't schedule too much busy work when you have a project that needs creating.
Right now, I'm battling a few of these demons. I have a roof that needs new shingles, a wife that has been in the hospital since last Tuesday, and household chores are piling up. That's not all. My current project is not getting done--given how fast I've done projects of this size in the past, I should have completed it in 1-2 weeks.
My ideal world would be to have someone chose the shingles (because I don't care about the color since they're pretty standard anyway) and then have a contractor do the work. I'll just write the check. I see the value of my time, and I'm fighting with others who don't. My children, this summer, have finally stepped up their game and are helping more around the house. Our sixteen-year-old daughter has made supper nearly every single night.
What do you busy yourself with? What are you putting off because the endless list of "busy chores" are never done?
Most of us either work a full-time job or busy ourselves with housework/media/social media/etc. Or both. Stand back and reflect on how you spend your time.
Sure, it may be fun to binge the latest season of whatever Netflix or Amazon Prime video is offering. And it may also be fun to play hours and hours of whatever video game is the latest craze. And housework? It's never done, is it?
Although it is perfectly okay to set aside time for rest, your art (or your purpose) may be neglected.
Don't schedule too much busy work when you have a project that needs creating.
Right now, I'm battling a few of these demons. I have a roof that needs new shingles, a wife that has been in the hospital since last Tuesday, and household chores are piling up. That's not all. My current project is not getting done--given how fast I've done projects of this size in the past, I should have completed it in 1-2 weeks.
My ideal world would be to have someone chose the shingles (because I don't care about the color since they're pretty standard anyway) and then have a contractor do the work. I'll just write the check. I see the value of my time, and I'm fighting with others who don't. My children, this summer, have finally stepped up their game and are helping more around the house. Our sixteen-year-old daughter has made supper nearly every single night.
What do you busy yourself with? What are you putting off because the endless list of "busy chores" are never done?
Friday, July 19, 2019
A good problem to have / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-July-2019
Although it's a good problem to have, it does have its limitations.
I have ideas for books. Many books. Did I mention that it was many? I did? Oh, good. Yes, it's many, many, many . . .
The dilemma I face is what to write next. Some ideas came to me long, long ago, while others are more recent.
An even greater conundrum are books in series. If I start a series, whether a trilogy or something much longer (like the Central Division Series, perhaps), a frequent problem is whether to write the next book or do something else. I have a few series I want to start, but other book ideas poke their head up and yell, "Me! Me! Pick me!"
Whatever the dilemma you face, do one thing: start. Yes, start. There's the saying, analysis by paralysis. You can certainly overthink something to death and never get the next project off the ground. Don't do that. Just pick one . . . and start.
I have ideas for books. Many books. Did I mention that it was many? I did? Oh, good. Yes, it's many, many, many . . .
The dilemma I face is what to write next. Some ideas came to me long, long ago, while others are more recent.
An even greater conundrum are books in series. If I start a series, whether a trilogy or something much longer (like the Central Division Series, perhaps), a frequent problem is whether to write the next book or do something else. I have a few series I want to start, but other book ideas poke their head up and yell, "Me! Me! Pick me!"
Whatever the dilemma you face, do one thing: start. Yes, start. There's the saying, analysis by paralysis. You can certainly overthink something to death and never get the next project off the ground. Don't do that. Just pick one . . . and start.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Your time may not be now / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-July-2019
A number of years ago, I used to submit stories to the Writers of the Future contest--check the contest out, if you're able to submit to it. It's well worth it.
Unfortunately, I stopped submitting.
The reason: what if I won?
Now, this may seem like a stupid reason because of course one wants to win. But at the same time, there are a lot of perks that go along with being a finalist in the contest. The biggest is a week-long intensive workshop with a number of authors in the science fiction / fantasy genre, and the knowledge gained is priceless.
Unfortunately, given my wife's health, I stopped submitting. I cannot be away from her and our kids for a week--this would be in California and I live in Minnesota. For two weekends in November, I go deer hunting about an hour and a half away from our home. Even this is a feat, because I may have to return on a moment's notice--and I have, more than once.
At my full-time job, there is an industry experience program that allows 3-4 individuals to learn about various aspects of the electronics business. This goes for 7-8 weeks, with a full week at the end for travel. Again, I cannot do this but would love to experience other aspects of the industry.
I am fine with all this. Despite these obstacles, there are plenty of things I can do. I may not enter the WOTF contest, but I do continue to write on an almost daily basis. I also publish. And I support the contest by purchasing the books.
On a final note, I didn't write this for any sort of sympathy. I love my family and will do anything for them. They are the reason I write (and publish) in the first place.
Unfortunately, I stopped submitting.
The reason: what if I won?
Now, this may seem like a stupid reason because of course one wants to win. But at the same time, there are a lot of perks that go along with being a finalist in the contest. The biggest is a week-long intensive workshop with a number of authors in the science fiction / fantasy genre, and the knowledge gained is priceless.
Unfortunately, given my wife's health, I stopped submitting. I cannot be away from her and our kids for a week--this would be in California and I live in Minnesota. For two weekends in November, I go deer hunting about an hour and a half away from our home. Even this is a feat, because I may have to return on a moment's notice--and I have, more than once.
At my full-time job, there is an industry experience program that allows 3-4 individuals to learn about various aspects of the electronics business. This goes for 7-8 weeks, with a full week at the end for travel. Again, I cannot do this but would love to experience other aspects of the industry.
I am fine with all this. Despite these obstacles, there are plenty of things I can do. I may not enter the WOTF contest, but I do continue to write on an almost daily basis. I also publish. And I support the contest by purchasing the books.
On a final note, I didn't write this for any sort of sympathy. I love my family and will do anything for them. They are the reason I write (and publish) in the first place.
Friday, July 5, 2019
My next five / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-July-2019
The second quarter of 2019 has come and gone.
And what a wild ride it was.
As you may (or may not) know, I have a list of "to do" each quarter that I call "My Next Five." I list out five major things I want to accomplish in a given quarter. This list is personal (no, I won't share it here) and I do give myself the freedom to revise it as the quarter comes.
For example, my original plan for 2019 was to complete an epic fantasy novel. By early April, I had the first (of four) parts complete. By the time I was well into part two, I decided to halt the project and work on a few others.
One thing that derailed "my next five" for the second quarter 2019 was health-related. My wife's health took a severe turn for the worst. Although she is recovering nicely, she still needs some much-needed TLC.
My next five for the third quarter consists of completing my current project and writing another one, along with brainstorming ideas for future projects. I also hope to get a newsletter out by the end of July, so if you haven't signed up, please to do here on this link.
And what a wild ride it was.
As you may (or may not) know, I have a list of "to do" each quarter that I call "My Next Five." I list out five major things I want to accomplish in a given quarter. This list is personal (no, I won't share it here) and I do give myself the freedom to revise it as the quarter comes.
For example, my original plan for 2019 was to complete an epic fantasy novel. By early April, I had the first (of four) parts complete. By the time I was well into part two, I decided to halt the project and work on a few others.
One thing that derailed "my next five" for the second quarter 2019 was health-related. My wife's health took a severe turn for the worst. Although she is recovering nicely, she still needs some much-needed TLC.
My next five for the third quarter consists of completing my current project and writing another one, along with brainstorming ideas for future projects. I also hope to get a newsletter out by the end of July, so if you haven't signed up, please to do here on this link.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Knowing that you're going down the wrong path (and you still keep going) / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-June-2019
A few weeks ago, I had to halt my current work-in-progress as I had no way of knowing where it was going.
Some stories I've written completely in the dark, with little to no roadmap as to where it was going. I love those stories as they seemingly wrote themselves.
My current work-in-progress was like driving through a gigantic forest of dense brush . . . and there was no letting up. I've ran across obstacles (no, I will not call it writer's block!) where I slogged my way through the story until I finally found the way clear. Remember driving through the dense brush I mentioned moments ago? The clear path was right on the other side. All I had to do was keep going.
Not this time. I had to reverse . . . then, when I found what was causing the mix-up, I turned in the right direction.
My current work-in-progress now has a much clearer path. I know where it's going . . .
If you ever find yourself struggling with your story, stop and examine where you are. Could you be going down the wrong path? If it is, go back through your story and find the new direction.
Some stories I've written completely in the dark, with little to no roadmap as to where it was going. I love those stories as they seemingly wrote themselves.
My current work-in-progress was like driving through a gigantic forest of dense brush . . . and there was no letting up. I've ran across obstacles (no, I will not call it writer's block!) where I slogged my way through the story until I finally found the way clear. Remember driving through the dense brush I mentioned moments ago? The clear path was right on the other side. All I had to do was keep going.
Not this time. I had to reverse . . . then, when I found what was causing the mix-up, I turned in the right direction.
My current work-in-progress now has a much clearer path. I know where it's going . . .
If you ever find yourself struggling with your story, stop and examine where you are. Could you be going down the wrong path? If it is, go back through your story and find the new direction.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Stop dwelling; move on / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-June-2019
What's in the past cannot be changed.
So why are you dwelling on your past mistakes?
Stop dwelling.
And move on.
Think back to your New Year's resolutions. Let's keep it simple and say you had a personal goal to go to the gym four days a week. Doable, right? Then, after a few months, you decide to take a short break. You don't go to the gym for a week. Then two. Realizing what's going on, do you cram in a bunch of times to "catch up"?
No. Start over. Hit the reset button.
For roughly a month, I've been dealing with some weird medical issues with my wife. It has caused me a lot of stress, and in turn my writing has been dealt with one heck of a blow. What am I doing about it? First, prioritizing my life. Family is and always will be first. Without my wife and kids, nothing else matters. Alongside that is my health. After that is my writing.
Writing will always be there. Even if life happens and I don't get to the laptop for months, the stories will always be there.
I must stress that no matter what happens, take time for yourself, don't dwell on what you haven't been able to do, and just hit the reset button. Move on. It's okay to go slow.
I am currently at the 5,000 word mark on a new story. Will it be done by the end of June? Nope. Shooting for July.
And if I don't do that, it's okay. It will be published.
So why are you dwelling on your past mistakes?
Stop dwelling.
And move on.
Think back to your New Year's resolutions. Let's keep it simple and say you had a personal goal to go to the gym four days a week. Doable, right? Then, after a few months, you decide to take a short break. You don't go to the gym for a week. Then two. Realizing what's going on, do you cram in a bunch of times to "catch up"?
No. Start over. Hit the reset button.
For roughly a month, I've been dealing with some weird medical issues with my wife. It has caused me a lot of stress, and in turn my writing has been dealt with one heck of a blow. What am I doing about it? First, prioritizing my life. Family is and always will be first. Without my wife and kids, nothing else matters. Alongside that is my health. After that is my writing.
Writing will always be there. Even if life happens and I don't get to the laptop for months, the stories will always be there.
I must stress that no matter what happens, take time for yourself, don't dwell on what you haven't been able to do, and just hit the reset button. Move on. It's okay to go slow.
I am currently at the 5,000 word mark on a new story. Will it be done by the end of June? Nope. Shooting for July.
And if I don't do that, it's okay. It will be published.
Friday, June 14, 2019
Can you do better? / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-June-2019
Better is a fine line between perfection and just slapping something together with duct tape.
But is it really a fine line, as if one was balancing on a high wire? I would argue that it isn't. Better is a wide chasm, where you should have your sights set on the other side.
You should also resign to the fact that you will never achieve perfection.
What is perfection when it comes to art? This may be in books, movies, paintings, sculptures, houses, well . . . virtually anything that can be created. The deer stand that I sit in each hunting season may not be perfect, but it's better than sitting my butt on the cold, frozen ground.
How many movies have you seen where you enjoyed it and everyone else criticizes it to no end? Or books? TV series?
Strive to do better. If you really want to see this in action, look at your favorite artist, be it musician, author, painter, singer, etc., comparing from their early works to those decades later. Those who persist over time will be more refined and far along the "better" line than those just starting out.
But is it really a fine line, as if one was balancing on a high wire? I would argue that it isn't. Better is a wide chasm, where you should have your sights set on the other side.
You should also resign to the fact that you will never achieve perfection.
What is perfection when it comes to art? This may be in books, movies, paintings, sculptures, houses, well . . . virtually anything that can be created. The deer stand that I sit in each hunting season may not be perfect, but it's better than sitting my butt on the cold, frozen ground.
How many movies have you seen where you enjoyed it and everyone else criticizes it to no end? Or books? TV series?
Strive to do better. If you really want to see this in action, look at your favorite artist, be it musician, author, painter, singer, etc., comparing from their early works to those decades later. Those who persist over time will be more refined and far along the "better" line than those just starting out.
Friday, June 7, 2019
Write to your readers, not writers / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-June-2019
I watched an interview, by a famous CEO, who said one of the biggest problems companies make is that they focus too much on their competition.
Who should they be focusing on?
Customers.
This makes complete sense. I follow a number of authors on social media and I chuckle how much they seem to focus on other writers, comparing themselves to be better than other writers. In fact, they take great pains in critiquing other writers, only to build themselves up.
I have not watched the last season of Game of Thrones, as I do not have HBO and I only watch the shows on DVD. But I have seen many criticize how the last season was done. Again, I sit back and chuckle to myself, thinking, "If you think you can do better, do it!"
Honestly, that is what I should have titled this post, and I may expand on that notion next week.
So, to my fellow writers out there, quit focusing on other writers and delight your readers. Take them on a journey.
Who should they be focusing on?
Customers.
This makes complete sense. I follow a number of authors on social media and I chuckle how much they seem to focus on other writers, comparing themselves to be better than other writers. In fact, they take great pains in critiquing other writers, only to build themselves up.
I have not watched the last season of Game of Thrones, as I do not have HBO and I only watch the shows on DVD. But I have seen many criticize how the last season was done. Again, I sit back and chuckle to myself, thinking, "If you think you can do better, do it!"
Honestly, that is what I should have titled this post, and I may expand on that notion next week.
So, to my fellow writers out there, quit focusing on other writers and delight your readers. Take them on a journey.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Writing as therapy / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-May-2019
For me, writing is therapy. No need to lay on a couch and talk with a shrink. Writing, like reading fiction or Scriptures, is the best therapy for me.
If you have been following my blog for a considerable time, you'll know that my wife was diagnosed with leukemia back in 2011. Eight . . . long . . . years ago. She's still cancer free, but a variety of illnesses bring her down from time to time, not including she gets tired very easily.
Which brings me to May 19th, just a few weeks ago by this point. My wife hadn't been feeling well for several months, despite going to frequent doctor appointments, with a distinct yellowing in her skin. On this fateful day, she grew rapidly disorientated. By the next morning, with the help of my in-laws (her parents), we brought her to the doctor, who advised us to admit her to the ER ASAP. What they discovered was an elevated level of ammonia. Her kidneys and liver were failing, due to an infection (UTI), but it could be reversed. She spent most of that week in the hospital, where she received the best medical care. She had no memory of the events of the 19th and 20th, where she exhibited her odd behavior.
What does this have to do with writing? Doesn't this sound a bit selfish for me to think about my writing when my wife was severely ill?
Not at all. Her needs came first. At the same time, however, I had to take care of myself. With a severe lack of sleep, my stress level was probably off the charts. I rested when I could. Then, I set out to heal myself.
Enter: writing.
I am currently writing a new story. Originally, I planned on punching this story out in about two weeks. Well, it may be a little longer. Not much, but I delegate what I need to delegate (at home) and I'm setting aside more time for my writing--ahem, I mean therapy.
Friday, May 24, 2019
New short story / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-May-2019
I have a new short story that I just published: The Will of Mr. Rickenhauser.
Here's the blurb:
A billionaire is murdered.
Drug deal gone bad? Or sophisticated murder plot by heirs to cash in on their fortune?
Enjoy!
Here's a link for your favorite ebook retailer.
Here's the blurb:
A billionaire is murdered.
Drug deal gone bad? Or sophisticated murder plot by heirs to cash in on their fortune?
Enjoy!
Here's a link for your favorite ebook retailer.
Friday, May 17, 2019
New stories in the pipeline / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-May-2019
By next week, I'll have a new short story published.
Then, I have another shorter novel I'm going to write. It has a true crime and time travel twist, and I'm looking forward to writing it.
After that, I have a YA novel that's been sitting on the backburner for quite some time that I plan on writing. It's a softball-themed book inspired by my oldest daughter Mariah when we used to practice in the yard years ago. She doesn't play anymore nor do we practice catch, but the story has always struck me as fascinating.
It should be an interesting summer.
Then, I have another shorter novel I'm going to write. It has a true crime and time travel twist, and I'm looking forward to writing it.
After that, I have a YA novel that's been sitting on the backburner for quite some time that I plan on writing. It's a softball-themed book inspired by my oldest daughter Mariah when we used to practice in the yard years ago. She doesn't play anymore nor do we practice catch, but the story has always struck me as fascinating.
It should be an interesting summer.
Friday, May 10, 2019
Daily bites / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-May-2019
Back in college, when I wrote my first novel (a 1,000-page behemoth of a horror novel) I set a daily goal of writing one page a day. In fact, one of my first posts ever did I talk about this. Here's a fun read from August 2010.
Fast forward to today. As much of a struggle as it is, I am finding myself wanting to go back to this goal. A much easier goal to hit, depending on the day. Earlier this week, our kitchen sink has had a leak and needs replacing. Not being very mechanical--well, I can do something if I need to, but I don't have all the right tools--my father-in-law and our son helped with this task.
This may not seem like much, but to clean areas where my grandparents' piano will go, and do everything else on top of it, my writing time seems to have gone down to nil.
Again, I'm not complaining as I feel blessed with all that God has given me. The stress this (and a whole lot more that I'm not going to explain) has caused makes me realize that I also need some time for myself to decompress.
If you find yourself overwhelmed, take your bigger goal and break it up into small daily chunks. Is writing one page a day too much? Write for five minutes. Maybe ten. Do something that works for you.
Fast forward to today. As much of a struggle as it is, I am finding myself wanting to go back to this goal. A much easier goal to hit, depending on the day. Earlier this week, our kitchen sink has had a leak and needs replacing. Not being very mechanical--well, I can do something if I need to, but I don't have all the right tools--my father-in-law and our son helped with this task.
This may not seem like much, but to clean areas where my grandparents' piano will go, and do everything else on top of it, my writing time seems to have gone down to nil.
Again, I'm not complaining as I feel blessed with all that God has given me. The stress this (and a whole lot more that I'm not going to explain) has caused makes me realize that I also need some time for myself to decompress.
If you find yourself overwhelmed, take your bigger goal and break it up into small daily chunks. Is writing one page a day too much? Write for five minutes. Maybe ten. Do something that works for you.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Changing it up (again) / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-May-2019
I came to a realization earlier this week. At the rate I was going, I may not publish anything in 2019.
Don't get me wrong. I write pretty much everyday. Some days, more than others. But the pace at which I was going, my current WIP (work in progress), an epic fantasy novel, may not see publication until December 2019. And with that, I'm being generous in the timeline. It's currently around the 34,000 word mark and I'm estimating it will be close to 200,000 words by the time it's done. In reality, it may not be finished until . . well, a year from now. If not later.
Right now, I have a lot riding on my shoulders--trust me, I'm not complaining, so sympathy is neither needed nor requested. This has to do with my family life. A lot of things are piled on at once each night and before I know it, I'm exhausted and the best thing for me to do is go to bed. My writing time consists of the morning, after I drop my kids off at school and before I get ready for work. Roughly, an hour tops. Maybe 30-60 minutes each night, if possible--with a strong emphasis on the IF.
I have a lot of writing projects vying for my attention. Then, the other night, I asked myself if I should slow down on my epic fantasy and work to publish other writings. *ding!* That was all I needed.
Lately, during breaks and lunches at work, I've been sketching out (yes, one may call it outlining) future projects. Some I will tackle right away.
Stay tuned . . .
Don't get me wrong. I write pretty much everyday. Some days, more than others. But the pace at which I was going, my current WIP (work in progress), an epic fantasy novel, may not see publication until December 2019. And with that, I'm being generous in the timeline. It's currently around the 34,000 word mark and I'm estimating it will be close to 200,000 words by the time it's done. In reality, it may not be finished until . . well, a year from now. If not later.
Right now, I have a lot riding on my shoulders--trust me, I'm not complaining, so sympathy is neither needed nor requested. This has to do with my family life. A lot of things are piled on at once each night and before I know it, I'm exhausted and the best thing for me to do is go to bed. My writing time consists of the morning, after I drop my kids off at school and before I get ready for work. Roughly, an hour tops. Maybe 30-60 minutes each night, if possible--with a strong emphasis on the IF.
I have a lot of writing projects vying for my attention. Then, the other night, I asked myself if I should slow down on my epic fantasy and work to publish other writings. *ding!* That was all I needed.
Lately, during breaks and lunches at work, I've been sketching out (yes, one may call it outlining) future projects. Some I will tackle right away.
Stay tuned . . .
Friday, April 26, 2019
The power of a first (single) draft / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Apr-2019
I realized something the other day. I write the majority of my blog posts in a single sitting. Meaning, after one draft.
Even several of the stories I've published lately have only seen one draft.
Let me explain the process, which is stupidly simple. I do what is called cycling (here's a blog post I did a while back that explains it). I actually do a modified version of this. Depending on the size of the project, I will go back and do a casual read, as if I was a reader and not a writer, correcting any errors that I may come across. For short stories, novelettes, and novellas, I will typically read it through from beginning to end, mostly in a single sitting, making a few corrections here and there.
For my current project, which I know is in four parts, I will read each part in its entirety once I get to the end of it. After that, I won't read it again until the book is done. Then, I will do one more casual read, just in case something happens at the end that may affect something in the beginning. But I do not do the heavy editing like I did before I started publishing. I shake my head at how many years I wasted doing this--and I still come across several writers who feel the need to edit heavy-handedly over and over and over and over again.
This is essential Heinlein's five rules of writing. Don't trust yourself? Do it once and then test the waters.
Even several of the stories I've published lately have only seen one draft.
Let me explain the process, which is stupidly simple. I do what is called cycling (here's a blog post I did a while back that explains it). I actually do a modified version of this. Depending on the size of the project, I will go back and do a casual read, as if I was a reader and not a writer, correcting any errors that I may come across. For short stories, novelettes, and novellas, I will typically read it through from beginning to end, mostly in a single sitting, making a few corrections here and there.
For my current project, which I know is in four parts, I will read each part in its entirety once I get to the end of it. After that, I won't read it again until the book is done. Then, I will do one more casual read, just in case something happens at the end that may affect something in the beginning. But I do not do the heavy editing like I did before I started publishing. I shake my head at how many years I wasted doing this--and I still come across several writers who feel the need to edit heavy-handedly over and over and over and over again.
This is essential Heinlein's five rules of writing. Don't trust yourself? Do it once and then test the waters.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
A Legacy Of Hats
We celebrated my grandfather's 96th birthday this past Easter weekend.
My sister, her husband, and her two boys were there. Also, all of my aunts and uncles were in attendance, along with several cousins, their spouses and kids. It was a joyous event, to say the least. There were only five cousins and their families who were not able to come, but of those who did, we had a lot of laughs and heartfelt reminiscence.
As usual, my grandfather loves (yes, loves, I can't emphasize that enough) black licorice. We gave him an assortment of black licorice from a small candy store in town.
The weekend was also bittersweet as my grandfather has recently moved into an assisted living home and is in the process of cleaning out the house so it can be sold. For me, there were four-plus decades worth of memories in this home. There were items from the home my grandfather put people's names on, from his own children, their spouses, and then the grandchildren. I was given a piano, which had been a centerpiece for many Christmases when I was young as my grandmother (she passed away over 15 years ago) played it with skillful finesse. There were also many items one could just take. My grandfather had such an assortment of tools, they filled many tables in the basement and garage.
There were also bigger items for purchase. Another centerpiece was the dining room table. One of my cousins purchased it as he has a larger dining room and the table he owned was rather small. Many memories were spent there, and it will be the centerpiece for many more in its new home.
In the den was a writing desk. The price was reasonable--honestly, everything with prices were reasonable and none of us thought about the money as it was going to help with my grandfather's living expenses. I kept going back and back to the writing desk. It spoke to me, in a way. I put my name on it.
In a few weeks, it will be moved down (along with the piano and a corner couch) to my home.
One highlight of the day was what I'll call the legacy of hats. My grandfather and grandmother had quite an assortment of hats. Everyone picked through them and put one on. We had so much fun putting these on. One of my cousin's husband and myself each chose a fur-lined Cossack hat.
The legacy of hats filtered down to virtually everyone in attendance. My uncle Rod told me that my wife needed one. He chose one that he thought would work, then sifted through what was left, over and over again, always coming back to his original choice. It was fun to watch him choose just the right one for my wife. He truly looked like a kid in a candy store. He ended up with the original. It fit her well.
My sister, her husband, and her two boys were there. Also, all of my aunts and uncles were in attendance, along with several cousins, their spouses and kids. It was a joyous event, to say the least. There were only five cousins and their families who were not able to come, but of those who did, we had a lot of laughs and heartfelt reminiscence.
As usual, my grandfather loves (yes, loves, I can't emphasize that enough) black licorice. We gave him an assortment of black licorice from a small candy store in town.
The weekend was also bittersweet as my grandfather has recently moved into an assisted living home and is in the process of cleaning out the house so it can be sold. For me, there were four-plus decades worth of memories in this home. There were items from the home my grandfather put people's names on, from his own children, their spouses, and then the grandchildren. I was given a piano, which had been a centerpiece for many Christmases when I was young as my grandmother (she passed away over 15 years ago) played it with skillful finesse. There were also many items one could just take. My grandfather had such an assortment of tools, they filled many tables in the basement and garage.
There were also bigger items for purchase. Another centerpiece was the dining room table. One of my cousins purchased it as he has a larger dining room and the table he owned was rather small. Many memories were spent there, and it will be the centerpiece for many more in its new home.
In the den was a writing desk. The price was reasonable--honestly, everything with prices were reasonable and none of us thought about the money as it was going to help with my grandfather's living expenses. I kept going back and back to the writing desk. It spoke to me, in a way. I put my name on it.
In a few weeks, it will be moved down (along with the piano and a corner couch) to my home.
One highlight of the day was what I'll call the legacy of hats. My grandfather and grandmother had quite an assortment of hats. Everyone picked through them and put one on. We had so much fun putting these on. One of my cousin's husband and myself each chose a fur-lined Cossack hat.
The legacy of hats filtered down to virtually everyone in attendance. My uncle Rod told me that my wife needed one. He chose one that he thought would work, then sifted through what was left, over and over again, always coming back to his original choice. It was fun to watch him choose just the right one for my wife. He truly looked like a kid in a candy store. He ended up with the original. It fit her well.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Alienating your audience / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Apr-2019
A month ago, I posted a blog about two events, one of which involved two true crime podcasts. Here's a link if you wish to refresh your memory (the podcast event was at the end of the post).
Well, there has been a new development. Again, I apologize for doing so without naming names. But there's a reason for it, a lesson for all of us to learn without any names--besides, I don't want to be the target of any backlash so better safe than sorry.
The true crime podcast who did the shaming of the other has tackled some large cases in depth, one involving a young man who was charged and found guilty of murdering a fellow high school girl. Other podcasts have done deep dives into this case, including a recent HBO documentary, and I have clear opinions on the case--my opinions I'm keeping to myself.
However, last weekend, the podcast's host took to Twitter and ranted on and on, alienating many people as racist, etc. if they didn't take the host's point of view. There were even people who responded to the host, stating they are of the same political affiliation, and took the host's view as hypocritical. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the host's tirade.
In the end, not only did I unsubscribe from the podcast, I deleted all of the episodes I hadn't gotten to yet--which is pretty much everything after season one, about the case I indicated above. I will never listen to another episode of this podcast.
Authors, actors, and other creative types have also done this time and again--especially in today's age, with our current POTUS, social media is ripe with this kind of crap. I have also blacklisted them.
Beware of what you say or post online, for you may be alienating your audience. You may not care. That's fine, if that is the risk you want to take. Here's the approach I would take: focus on your art, your creation. That is what the fans want to see, not your personal views on controversial topics.
Well, there has been a new development. Again, I apologize for doing so without naming names. But there's a reason for it, a lesson for all of us to learn without any names--besides, I don't want to be the target of any backlash so better safe than sorry.
The true crime podcast who did the shaming of the other has tackled some large cases in depth, one involving a young man who was charged and found guilty of murdering a fellow high school girl. Other podcasts have done deep dives into this case, including a recent HBO documentary, and I have clear opinions on the case--my opinions I'm keeping to myself.
However, last weekend, the podcast's host took to Twitter and ranted on and on, alienating many people as racist, etc. if they didn't take the host's point of view. There were even people who responded to the host, stating they are of the same political affiliation, and took the host's view as hypocritical. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the host's tirade.
In the end, not only did I unsubscribe from the podcast, I deleted all of the episodes I hadn't gotten to yet--which is pretty much everything after season one, about the case I indicated above. I will never listen to another episode of this podcast.
Authors, actors, and other creative types have also done this time and again--especially in today's age, with our current POTUS, social media is ripe with this kind of crap. I have also blacklisted them.
Beware of what you say or post online, for you may be alienating your audience. You may not care. That's fine, if that is the risk you want to take. Here's the approach I would take: focus on your art, your creation. That is what the fans want to see, not your personal views on controversial topics.
Friday, April 12, 2019
What are you doing today to better your tomorrow? / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Apr-2019
What are you doing today to better your tomorrow?
This is a question I asked my team at work, and it also applies to one's own life at home. One should always be improving, even if it's to do one thing that wasn't done before.
First, I suggest looking at what you do everyday and eliminate what you can. Years ago, I was on the church council for my church, which was a three year commitment. I foresaw the construction of an addition from the brainstorm planning on the first year to the actual construction by the third. But the time I spent was time away from my family. So I made a commitment not to be on the church council again until our last child was graduated from high school. Every January, I am asked if I would consider it and I kindly decline. I appreciate them asking, but not at this time.
Last year, the writers group I was a member of for many, many years, decided to disband. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting every three weeks, discussing not only our writing but our lives as well. But the time commitment was troublesome when not all members would show up.
It's okay to say no to something. Even at my day job, I say no to many things because I want to be a better leader for my team.
What is important to you? Make the time for the important pieces of your life instead of letting others dictate your life and your time.
Then, as you free up your time, ask yourself: what can you do today to better yourself tomorrow?
This is a question I asked my team at work, and it also applies to one's own life at home. One should always be improving, even if it's to do one thing that wasn't done before.
First, I suggest looking at what you do everyday and eliminate what you can. Years ago, I was on the church council for my church, which was a three year commitment. I foresaw the construction of an addition from the brainstorm planning on the first year to the actual construction by the third. But the time I spent was time away from my family. So I made a commitment not to be on the church council again until our last child was graduated from high school. Every January, I am asked if I would consider it and I kindly decline. I appreciate them asking, but not at this time.
Last year, the writers group I was a member of for many, many years, decided to disband. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting every three weeks, discussing not only our writing but our lives as well. But the time commitment was troublesome when not all members would show up.
It's okay to say no to something. Even at my day job, I say no to many things because I want to be a better leader for my team.
What is important to you? Make the time for the important pieces of your life instead of letting others dictate your life and your time.
Then, as you free up your time, ask yourself: what can you do today to better yourself tomorrow?
Friday, April 5, 2019
Part one complete / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Apr-2019
This week, I completed the first of four parts in my new epic fantasy novel. It's running a bit over 32,000 words so far, and it's going well.
For the most part.
This winter has been particularly harsh for northern Minnesota--as is other areas of the country, I'm sure--and there were days I didn't do anything. Balancing that and caring for my wife, I have had to do a bit of reflection on how to best set up my day. When are the best times to write? To read? To play games or watch Netflix/Amazon Prime?
Even to rest.
In the book of Genesis, God created the earth in six days and rested the seventh. That means one must value their time of rest--and take the time for it. If you are completely exhausted, and working on your art just isn't cutting it, rest. It's okay. You're not being lazy by doing so.
Because even God rested.
For the most part.
This winter has been particularly harsh for northern Minnesota--as is other areas of the country, I'm sure--and there were days I didn't do anything. Balancing that and caring for my wife, I have had to do a bit of reflection on how to best set up my day. When are the best times to write? To read? To play games or watch Netflix/Amazon Prime?
Even to rest.
In the book of Genesis, God created the earth in six days and rested the seventh. That means one must value their time of rest--and take the time for it. If you are completely exhausted, and working on your art just isn't cutting it, rest. It's okay. You're not being lazy by doing so.
Because even God rested.
Friday, March 29, 2019
"The Beatles should own the rights to their music. And so should Motley Crue!" / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-March-2019
Dovetailing off of last week's post (if you haven't read it, here's a link to it), last weekend was the premiere of the Netflix movie The Dirt, based on the life of the heavy metal band Motley Crue. One scene in particular made me think about the post and if one is ready for success.
To paraphrase the scene in particular, Nikki Sixx (bassist for the iconic band) was talking with a record executive about the rights to their music. The executive said something like, "Not even the Beatles own the rights to their music." Nikki replied that they should. And so should Motley Crue.
I won't spoil the ending, but this made me think very hard about the rights to my own writing. As well as your own writing/art. If you're not ready for success, you may make stupid decisions and sign away all of your rights--not a good thing!
What I would do, to prepare yourself for success, is to read all you can about the business side. I know, I know, your art is just that. Art. Well, if you want someone to take advantage of you and steal what may potentially be tons of money from your pocket, ignore this advice. But if you want to be smart, learn what you can about the industry.
Kristine Rusch publishes a ton about contracts and rights--this is primarily for the book publishing industry, but much of her posts are applicable to other industries as well. Here is a link to her posts, which I highly suggest to read.
To paraphrase the scene in particular, Nikki Sixx (bassist for the iconic band) was talking with a record executive about the rights to their music. The executive said something like, "Not even the Beatles own the rights to their music." Nikki replied that they should. And so should Motley Crue.
I won't spoil the ending, but this made me think very hard about the rights to my own writing. As well as your own writing/art. If you're not ready for success, you may make stupid decisions and sign away all of your rights--not a good thing!
What I would do, to prepare yourself for success, is to read all you can about the business side. I know, I know, your art is just that. Art. Well, if you want someone to take advantage of you and steal what may potentially be tons of money from your pocket, ignore this advice. But if you want to be smart, learn what you can about the industry.
Kristine Rusch publishes a ton about contracts and rights--this is primarily for the book publishing industry, but much of her posts are applicable to other industries as well. Here is a link to her posts, which I highly suggest to read.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Are you ready for success? / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-March-2019
As the first quarter of 2019 winds down and the weather starts to get warmer here in northwestern Minnesota, I'm reflecting on my writing goals for the year.
First, I am currently around the 25,000 word mark on my epic fantasy and I'm quite a distance away from completing the first part--there are four parts to the book; the original plan was to write one part per quarter. That may not happen now. I'm still writing everyday but the story is taking longer to tell. Not a bad thing. The story will get done. Will it be done by the end of the year? Who knows . . .
Reviewing my 5 goals for the quarter, I have completed 2 of them. Yeah! What they are, that is between me and the Almighty.
I've written before about success and how success is different for each person. Here's one post from 2011. It still holds true, in my opinion.
But how ready are for you for success? What is the huge "pie in the sky" goal was to land on your lap? Let's say your goal is to have a book made into a movie. What if a big movie studio not only gave you a fat contract for your book but it also was speeding along to be made right away? What if, all of a sudden, a book of yours sudden flew off the shelves and you made five and six figures a month?
How ready are you for it? There's a mindset that needs to be firm in place. It's a rarity for someone to come into massive amounts of money (there are other metrics to success, but I'm focusing on money as an example) and not have troubles. Whether it's starting to do drugs and drink, or run around partying, or spending like money has no end, most who come into it aren't ready. But if you mentally prepare for what you're going to do, it will help guide you.
What are you preparing for today? What is your success metric?
First, I am currently around the 25,000 word mark on my epic fantasy and I'm quite a distance away from completing the first part--there are four parts to the book; the original plan was to write one part per quarter. That may not happen now. I'm still writing everyday but the story is taking longer to tell. Not a bad thing. The story will get done. Will it be done by the end of the year? Who knows . . .
Reviewing my 5 goals for the quarter, I have completed 2 of them. Yeah! What they are, that is between me and the Almighty.
I've written before about success and how success is different for each person. Here's one post from 2011. It still holds true, in my opinion.
But how ready are for you for success? What is the huge "pie in the sky" goal was to land on your lap? Let's say your goal is to have a book made into a movie. What if a big movie studio not only gave you a fat contract for your book but it also was speeding along to be made right away? What if, all of a sudden, a book of yours sudden flew off the shelves and you made five and six figures a month?
How ready are you for it? There's a mindset that needs to be firm in place. It's a rarity for someone to come into massive amounts of money (there are other metrics to success, but I'm focusing on money as an example) and not have troubles. Whether it's starting to do drugs and drink, or run around partying, or spending like money has no end, most who come into it aren't ready. But if you mentally prepare for what you're going to do, it will help guide you.
What are you preparing for today? What is your success metric?
Friday, March 15, 2019
Perspectives and paradigms / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-March-2019
How do you view the world? What lens do you look at things around you? Take an honest look at it. Take a step back, if you have to. Are you able to view events from varying perspectives, from another person's shoes? Or are you narrow in how you view the world, that your way is the only way?
Given the current political climate, those who lean toward the liberal (left) side may view everything that Trump does is bad and should be criticized accordingly AND that everything they view on their side is for the greater good. One may also say the same thing about the previous Obama administration in regards to conservatives/GOP.
But how much of it is true?
Two events happened last week, one personally on Friday and another more public fiasco on Saturday that spurned this post on perspectives/paradigms and how others view the world.
Friday, I saw a FB post from a science fiction author (no, I will not share who it is) who was criticizing the current President for signing Bibles while visiting the recent havoc caused by tornadoes in Alabama. Now, my first instinct was to ignore it, hide it, and move on with my life. But I was curious. I inquired as to why they saw it as a problem. In their opinion, people shouldn't be signing books they didn't write. And since he didn't write the Bible, he shouldn't sign it.
Okay . . .
So, I poked the bear a little more--grin. A gentle poke, mind you. Writers may be asked to sign other things, like part of someone's body or their Kindle/iPad. What did I get back? The same rehashing, that it was odd he was asked to sign a Bible, clearly a book he didn't write, this author said.
In viewing the other comments, it didn't take a genius to figure out how politically-slated the author's "friends" were, not to mention the pure hatred toward a single member of our society.
Keep in mind, with my gentle poke, I reminded them that if the President handed out copies of his books, signed and all, how would the media portray it? The response from said SF author? Same old rehash from before. The author didn't answer my question at all (I wanted to remind this author of how a certain president with the last name of Obama gave a gift of a iPod with all of his speeches on it, but thought better of it.)
In the end, I just deleted the comment, "snoozed" the author for 30 days, and went on with my life. This author clearly was too narrow-minded and hypocritical to expand their thinking, even to have a civil dialogue. Because a civil dialogue was my only intention.
The other event took the true crime podcast community by storm. Again, I'm not mentioning names, but a popular true crime podcast was removed from a network (a podcast network, not a media network like CNN or Fox; again, no names here) for posting a meme on Twitter. Looking at it from both sides, I saw people who were clear supporters of the podcast and those who hated it. There was much blaming on both sides.
I'll end this post quickly, as I see that it's rambling on for quite a length, but the true lesson learned from the true crime podcast fiasco is this: when dealing with something, be it a meme or a post, before responding, take a pause. Ask yourself: do I want to do this? What are the consequences, if I do?
Even though our natural response to a stimulus is to quickly respond, take a moment . . . and ask if you really should respond the way you want.
I could go on and on, but this post is long enough. I may revisit this topic at another time.
Given the current political climate, those who lean toward the liberal (left) side may view everything that Trump does is bad and should be criticized accordingly AND that everything they view on their side is for the greater good. One may also say the same thing about the previous Obama administration in regards to conservatives/GOP.
But how much of it is true?
Two events happened last week, one personally on Friday and another more public fiasco on Saturday that spurned this post on perspectives/paradigms and how others view the world.
Friday, I saw a FB post from a science fiction author (no, I will not share who it is) who was criticizing the current President for signing Bibles while visiting the recent havoc caused by tornadoes in Alabama. Now, my first instinct was to ignore it, hide it, and move on with my life. But I was curious. I inquired as to why they saw it as a problem. In their opinion, people shouldn't be signing books they didn't write. And since he didn't write the Bible, he shouldn't sign it.
Okay . . .
So, I poked the bear a little more--grin. A gentle poke, mind you. Writers may be asked to sign other things, like part of someone's body or their Kindle/iPad. What did I get back? The same rehashing, that it was odd he was asked to sign a Bible, clearly a book he didn't write, this author said.
In viewing the other comments, it didn't take a genius to figure out how politically-slated the author's "friends" were, not to mention the pure hatred toward a single member of our society.
Keep in mind, with my gentle poke, I reminded them that if the President handed out copies of his books, signed and all, how would the media portray it? The response from said SF author? Same old rehash from before. The author didn't answer my question at all (I wanted to remind this author of how a certain president with the last name of Obama gave a gift of a iPod with all of his speeches on it, but thought better of it.)
In the end, I just deleted the comment, "snoozed" the author for 30 days, and went on with my life. This author clearly was too narrow-minded and hypocritical to expand their thinking, even to have a civil dialogue. Because a civil dialogue was my only intention.
The other event took the true crime podcast community by storm. Again, I'm not mentioning names, but a popular true crime podcast was removed from a network (a podcast network, not a media network like CNN or Fox; again, no names here) for posting a meme on Twitter. Looking at it from both sides, I saw people who were clear supporters of the podcast and those who hated it. There was much blaming on both sides.
I'll end this post quickly, as I see that it's rambling on for quite a length, but the true lesson learned from the true crime podcast fiasco is this: when dealing with something, be it a meme or a post, before responding, take a pause. Ask yourself: do I want to do this? What are the consequences, if I do?
Even though our natural response to a stimulus is to quickly respond, take a moment . . . and ask if you really should respond the way you want.
I could go on and on, but this post is long enough. I may revisit this topic at another time.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Appeal to your niche / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-March-2019
Who is your target audience?
And please do not say the world. Even though books like Harry Potter seem to be read by most people on planet Earth, it was still written as a young adult book. That is the intended audience.
Find out who the niche audience is for what you're working on. Keep it as simple as possible.
Thriller readers that lean toward the political side.
Cozy mysteries with a bit of grit.
Fast-paced fantasies.
Romance with a flair of mystery, intrigue, and thrillers.
Serial killer thrillers.
Hard science fiction with a dash of romance.
Humorous thrillers that ride on the edge of satire.
You may not be able to narrow it down like I listed above. And (honestly) I just tossed these together in a matter of minutes.
Keep in mind, your niche is also . . . drum roll please . . . anything you write. Believe it or not, there are those who love what you write, no matter what it is. I have a handful of authors that I love to read, no matter the genre.
Speaking on genres, even though it is traditionally-minded not to mix them up, if that's your thing, if that's what you love to read . . . do it! Mix it up!
And please do not say the world. Even though books like Harry Potter seem to be read by most people on planet Earth, it was still written as a young adult book. That is the intended audience.
Find out who the niche audience is for what you're working on. Keep it as simple as possible.
Thriller readers that lean toward the political side.
Cozy mysteries with a bit of grit.
Fast-paced fantasies.
Romance with a flair of mystery, intrigue, and thrillers.
Serial killer thrillers.
Hard science fiction with a dash of romance.
Humorous thrillers that ride on the edge of satire.
You may not be able to narrow it down like I listed above. And (honestly) I just tossed these together in a matter of minutes.
Keep in mind, your niche is also . . . drum roll please . . . anything you write. Believe it or not, there are those who love what you write, no matter what it is. I have a handful of authors that I love to read, no matter the genre.
Speaking on genres, even though it is traditionally-minded not to mix them up, if that's your thing, if that's what you love to read . . . do it! Mix it up!
Friday, March 1, 2019
The (false) cost of stupidity / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-March-2019
"Beware of what you do online, as it may come back to haunt you."
"If I post this, someone may say bad things about me and offend me."
"My life is over because I used to be in pornography." Or the equivalent: "If I start acting in adult films (porn) everyone from my hometown will know what I'm doing for a living."
Attention. People crave it--not all, but it seems like a growing number of people do. I can't prove that it truly is a growing number. If you're on any social media network or if you watch any of the 24/7 news networks, there are people vying for attention.
Take a certain actor who recently decided to fake an attack on himself. Why? He wanted the attention. He felt he deserved more and wanted to do something drastic about it.
Stupid? Yup.
Did he get attention? Unfortunately, yes. He may end up in jail for a while because of it, but he may have wanted to risk it in order to garner attention.
Now, I'm not saying that one should act like an ever-increasing idiot to garner attention. Keep in mind, the attention is short-lived by and large--although for some, the attention may last much, much longer. Remember the childhood bully who tormented you? Everyone has one. What if that bully, now grown up, was a new employee where you work or a politician who wants your vote or a new business owner who wants your business. I don't know about you, but most people would lean toward not welcoming said bully.
"But, Mark, why is attention always bad?"
Sorry, I never said attention was always bad. The way one does it may be. Then again, go back to the quoted statements at the top of this post. Because so many people are garnering for attention, it makes one a very small fish in a large ocean. The first quote is a warning many older people give to younger people. If they do something stupid online, will it really haunt them forever? Chances are, it won't. The next quote may also be true, but ask yourself this: do you really care? I've tested the waters on this (not very often, as I don't post very many controversial things) with no comments or repercussions.
And last two statements about the adult film industry is interesting. I watched an interview of a previous adult film star who had converted their life to Christ, and those two statements were what she said about her life. I applaud her for making the right choice in her life, but viewing the statements, I lean toward the fact that unless the said adult star actually said something, no one would ever know what they did for a living.
Just saying.
The solution? Keep working on what you were meant to do. Treat people with respect. On your work, keep honing your skills and look to the future. Where will you be in five years? Ten years? Twenty?
"If I post this, someone may say bad things about me and offend me."
"My life is over because I used to be in pornography." Or the equivalent: "If I start acting in adult films (porn) everyone from my hometown will know what I'm doing for a living."
Attention. People crave it--not all, but it seems like a growing number of people do. I can't prove that it truly is a growing number. If you're on any social media network or if you watch any of the 24/7 news networks, there are people vying for attention.
Take a certain actor who recently decided to fake an attack on himself. Why? He wanted the attention. He felt he deserved more and wanted to do something drastic about it.
Stupid? Yup.
Did he get attention? Unfortunately, yes. He may end up in jail for a while because of it, but he may have wanted to risk it in order to garner attention.
Now, I'm not saying that one should act like an ever-increasing idiot to garner attention. Keep in mind, the attention is short-lived by and large--although for some, the attention may last much, much longer. Remember the childhood bully who tormented you? Everyone has one. What if that bully, now grown up, was a new employee where you work or a politician who wants your vote or a new business owner who wants your business. I don't know about you, but most people would lean toward not welcoming said bully.
"But, Mark, why is attention always bad?"
Sorry, I never said attention was always bad. The way one does it may be. Then again, go back to the quoted statements at the top of this post. Because so many people are garnering for attention, it makes one a very small fish in a large ocean. The first quote is a warning many older people give to younger people. If they do something stupid online, will it really haunt them forever? Chances are, it won't. The next quote may also be true, but ask yourself this: do you really care? I've tested the waters on this (not very often, as I don't post very many controversial things) with no comments or repercussions.
And last two statements about the adult film industry is interesting. I watched an interview of a previous adult film star who had converted their life to Christ, and those two statements were what she said about her life. I applaud her for making the right choice in her life, but viewing the statements, I lean toward the fact that unless the said adult star actually said something, no one would ever know what they did for a living.
Just saying.
The solution? Keep working on what you were meant to do. Treat people with respect. On your work, keep honing your skills and look to the future. Where will you be in five years? Ten years? Twenty?
Friday, February 22, 2019
Changing things up / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Feb-2019
A few weeks ago, I was irritated at the slow pace I've been writing my new fantasy epic. At the rate it's going, and the actual scope of this immense project, I don't feel I'll have it completed before the end of 2019.
Don't get me wrong. I've been writing quite a bit. 500 words here, 750 there. And at a fairly steady pace. But I knew something had to change.
You see, I've been using the previous written pages as an outline. Well, I had two tabs open on the screen. One with the new pages, the other with the old. Going back and forth was getting a bit daunting.
I knew where the story was heading. So, I sat down with a tablet and read ahead a half-dozen scenes. I scribbled notes on what I read.
Then, I closed the other tab, set the tablet off to the side, and wrote. I referred to the notes from time to time, but after a while even the story took on a slightly different direction. It was better.
It's okay to change things up. If what you're doing isn't working as efficiently as you'd like, brainstorm on what could be done differently. Experiment if you have to.
And if one thing doesn't work, try something else. Find the most efficient way to create. You'll thank yourself in the end.
Don't get me wrong. I've been writing quite a bit. 500 words here, 750 there. And at a fairly steady pace. But I knew something had to change.
You see, I've been using the previous written pages as an outline. Well, I had two tabs open on the screen. One with the new pages, the other with the old. Going back and forth was getting a bit daunting.
I knew where the story was heading. So, I sat down with a tablet and read ahead a half-dozen scenes. I scribbled notes on what I read.
Then, I closed the other tab, set the tablet off to the side, and wrote. I referred to the notes from time to time, but after a while even the story took on a slightly different direction. It was better.
It's okay to change things up. If what you're doing isn't working as efficiently as you'd like, brainstorm on what could be done differently. Experiment if you have to.
And if one thing doesn't work, try something else. Find the most efficient way to create. You'll thank yourself in the end.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Independence / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Feb-2019
I want to thank all of those who reached out to me to express their gratitude concerning my grandfather. The heartfelt outpouring has been humbling.
I went to visit with my grandfather Ray on Groundhog Day. Prior to this visit, I was on the fence about even seeing him. I was one of a few grandchildren who helped to celebrate his 95th birthday last April, and we always see him when we celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving at my parents' house. Between my wife and my sister, they convinced me to visit. And I am both glad and blessed that I did.
Seeing him in such a vulnerable position was difficult to witness. A hospital bed was situated in the living room, and pictures from his entire family (including his late wife Adelyne, who passed away close to 15 years or so ago) lining the walls. He slept for a bit, but when he was awake, boy did he love to talk.
At one point, he looked over at me and said something profound. "Mark, all my life, I've been very independent. I've always done stuff myself. This," he said, indicating the current living arrangements, with his children giving him literally 24/7 care (two of his children had come from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Bremerton, Washington while the rest live nearby), "I don't like people having to wait on me, hand and foot. Even the most simple things, I can't do without help."
Independence.
I cherish my independence and have instilled that notion in my three children.
Being independent is another reason why I have chosen to be an indie author when compared to a traditionally published one. Bookbub recently published a post about each of these paths. Very interesting read . . .
I went to visit with my grandfather Ray on Groundhog Day. Prior to this visit, I was on the fence about even seeing him. I was one of a few grandchildren who helped to celebrate his 95th birthday last April, and we always see him when we celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving at my parents' house. Between my wife and my sister, they convinced me to visit. And I am both glad and blessed that I did.
Seeing him in such a vulnerable position was difficult to witness. A hospital bed was situated in the living room, and pictures from his entire family (including his late wife Adelyne, who passed away close to 15 years or so ago) lining the walls. He slept for a bit, but when he was awake, boy did he love to talk.
At one point, he looked over at me and said something profound. "Mark, all my life, I've been very independent. I've always done stuff myself. This," he said, indicating the current living arrangements, with his children giving him literally 24/7 care (two of his children had come from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Bremerton, Washington while the rest live nearby), "I don't like people having to wait on me, hand and foot. Even the most simple things, I can't do without help."
Independence.
I cherish my independence and have instilled that notion in my three children.
Being independent is another reason why I have chosen to be an indie author when compared to a traditionally published one. Bookbub recently published a post about each of these paths. Very interesting read . . .
Friday, February 8, 2019
If a project doesn't work, do something else / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Feb-2019
For the latter half of 2018, I struggled to write. It wasn't that I didn't have something to write--I was working on my second romance novel written under a pen name--but, for whatever reason, I wasn't satisfied with it. Each word was like walking through a thick pile of sludge.
Looking back on it now, I know where I went wrong. There were parts of the story that didn't fit.
So, I put it on the back burner and wrote a novella titled Garbage Day. Then, I decided to work on what I had wanted to work on all along: my epic fantasy novel. I am currently around the 12,000 word mark and it's going very well.
When you find yourself struggling with your current writing project, stop. Do something else. Then, when you finish that "something else" look back at the other project. It's okay to put it on the back burner and work on another project, one you really want to do.
Looking back on it now, I know where I went wrong. There were parts of the story that didn't fit.
So, I put it on the back burner and wrote a novella titled Garbage Day. Then, I decided to work on what I had wanted to work on all along: my epic fantasy novel. I am currently around the 12,000 word mark and it's going very well.
When you find yourself struggling with your current writing project, stop. Do something else. Then, when you finish that "something else" look back at the other project. It's okay to put it on the back burner and work on another project, one you really want to do.
Friday, February 1, 2019
A life, well-lived / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Feb-2019
Have you ever read an obituary?
I have--I know, morbid huh? Most obituaries are nothing more than a cold recitation of facts about one's life, a list of living relatives, and who preceded in death before them. But every once and a while I come across ones that make me pause. It could be the same listing of facts, but written in such a way--with a bit of humorous flair, perhaps--that make me smile. It could also be that their list of accomplishments seem vast when compared to mine. In fact, those are the times when I feel like such a loser when compared to them.
But I shouldn't though. Everyone's life is different, no matter what age they leave this earth.
Today's post was originally going to have a different slant on a completely different topic--reviews. But I will save that for another day. The reason is my grandfather (my mother's Dad) is on, what my Mom she calls, his final journey in this life. He is 95 and, up to this point, has been the product of good health. Sure, he's had some bad spells here and there, but overall he was doing fine. Lately, however, he has taken a turn for the worse.
Reflecting on his life (at this point, he is still alive and kicking, but all of his children are around him, caring for him 24/7) he is the epitome of a well-lived life. One does not have to cure cancer or invent some doohickey that changed the world in order to have a well-lived life. I will obviously be sad once my grandpa passes away.
But at the same time I will rejoice. Rejoice at his life, well-lived.
Reflect on your own life. Live a full life, starting at no matter what age. So many wish for retirement days to be right around the corner, then kick the bucket with nothing to show for it. Find your purpose.
Find what defines your life, well-lived. Not a well-lived life. But life, well-lived.
I have--I know, morbid huh? Most obituaries are nothing more than a cold recitation of facts about one's life, a list of living relatives, and who preceded in death before them. But every once and a while I come across ones that make me pause. It could be the same listing of facts, but written in such a way--with a bit of humorous flair, perhaps--that make me smile. It could also be that their list of accomplishments seem vast when compared to mine. In fact, those are the times when I feel like such a loser when compared to them.
But I shouldn't though. Everyone's life is different, no matter what age they leave this earth.
Today's post was originally going to have a different slant on a completely different topic--reviews. But I will save that for another day. The reason is my grandfather (my mother's Dad) is on, what my Mom she calls, his final journey in this life. He is 95 and, up to this point, has been the product of good health. Sure, he's had some bad spells here and there, but overall he was doing fine. Lately, however, he has taken a turn for the worse.
Reflecting on his life (at this point, he is still alive and kicking, but all of his children are around him, caring for him 24/7) he is the epitome of a well-lived life. One does not have to cure cancer or invent some doohickey that changed the world in order to have a well-lived life. I will obviously be sad once my grandpa passes away.
But at the same time I will rejoice. Rejoice at his life, well-lived.
Reflect on your own life. Live a full life, starting at no matter what age. So many wish for retirement days to be right around the corner, then kick the bucket with nothing to show for it. Find your purpose.
Find what defines your life, well-lived. Not a well-lived life. But life, well-lived.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Please don't write down to readers / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Jan-2019
Writers, by and large, don't seem to write down to readers. Movies, on the other hand, seem to do so. Whether this is the fault of the director, the movie studio, the producers, the screenwriters, or a combination of them all.
Some of the fault may also lie in the movie-goer themselves. I was listening to a recent podcast where they analyzed Fantastic Beasts 2: Crimes of Grindelwald. Those on the podcast irritated me to no end. Not because they completely trashed the movie--hmm, it grossed $650+ million and was one of the top ten movies of 2018--but because they didn't see the big picture. They wanted all of the mystery spelled out for them--no, I will not share what the podcast is nor share a link, so please do not ask me.
First, let me express my deep distain for reboots of old movies. I've been noticing a trend the past decade or two that there are very few original movies--okay, there are, but they get overshadowed by reboots. I am a child of the 1980's, which, in my opinion, is the hallmark of original movies. Many of the classic movies that topped the charts in those days were original.
Then, in the past few decades, there are reboots upon reboots--Ghostbusters, anyone?
Back to the Fantastic Beasts discussion, what they mostly complained about was the lack of clarity for the future. They didn't see the mystery behind it. They also kept comparing it to both the original Harry Potter movies as well as the canon behind it.
I read a lot of various series. Years ago, I made a study on it, to compare first novels in series. All seem to do it differently. Some series are written where one can read any book in the series and not get lost. Others, you do need to start at book one. But there seems to be an underlying fact: the writer still leaves an air of mystery by not telling all in the first book. They also don't dumb down their stories. One must assume a reader is smart enough to know what you're talking about. And if they don't, they'll still keep reading until they do understand it.
I think this is a topic I'll tackle more later. As you can tell from the length of this post, I have much to say on this subject.
Some of the fault may also lie in the movie-goer themselves. I was listening to a recent podcast where they analyzed Fantastic Beasts 2: Crimes of Grindelwald. Those on the podcast irritated me to no end. Not because they completely trashed the movie--hmm, it grossed $650+ million and was one of the top ten movies of 2018--but because they didn't see the big picture. They wanted all of the mystery spelled out for them--no, I will not share what the podcast is nor share a link, so please do not ask me.
First, let me express my deep distain for reboots of old movies. I've been noticing a trend the past decade or two that there are very few original movies--okay, there are, but they get overshadowed by reboots. I am a child of the 1980's, which, in my opinion, is the hallmark of original movies. Many of the classic movies that topped the charts in those days were original.
Then, in the past few decades, there are reboots upon reboots--Ghostbusters, anyone?
Back to the Fantastic Beasts discussion, what they mostly complained about was the lack of clarity for the future. They didn't see the mystery behind it. They also kept comparing it to both the original Harry Potter movies as well as the canon behind it.
I read a lot of various series. Years ago, I made a study on it, to compare first novels in series. All seem to do it differently. Some series are written where one can read any book in the series and not get lost. Others, you do need to start at book one. But there seems to be an underlying fact: the writer still leaves an air of mystery by not telling all in the first book. They also don't dumb down their stories. One must assume a reader is smart enough to know what you're talking about. And if they don't, they'll still keep reading until they do understand it.
I think this is a topic I'll tackle more later. As you can tell from the length of this post, I have much to say on this subject.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Why am I publishing so many old stories? / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Jan-2019
I've been reflecting on the stories I've published in the past few years and some have noticed a trend. Whether the trend is good or bad is all in the eye of the beholder. In the "Afterword" of each story, I comment on the story itself--in much the same way Stephen King does in his books. Lately, I've noticed where either the story was written a few decades ago or the idea was conceived a few decades ago and I'm just now starting to write them.
Let me address something here. I have published a fair number of brand new stories. But when I've looked at the stories I've also written and never published, I noticed they were . . . you guessed it . . . never published. Hence the reason for the trickle of publishing those stories. I want them out in the world, I have the freedom to do so, and I want to entertain others as much as they entertain myself.
I am currently around the 6,500 word mark on my new fantasy epic. I will hold off sharing the title at this point.
Let me address something here. I have published a fair number of brand new stories. But when I've looked at the stories I've also written and never published, I noticed they were . . . you guessed it . . . never published. Hence the reason for the trickle of publishing those stories. I want them out in the world, I have the freedom to do so, and I want to entertain others as much as they entertain myself.
I am currently around the 6,500 word mark on my new fantasy epic. I will hold off sharing the title at this point.
Friday, January 11, 2019
I, hypocrite / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Jan-2019
I realized something the other day. I'm a hypocrite.
I dislike outlining with a passion--in fact, I consider it a colossal waste of time. Want proof? Here's a series of blog posts I have done on the subject.
However, with the epic fantasy novel I'm currently writing, I am using the old manuscript as . . . yes, you guessed it . . . an outline.
Oh, the horror!
Anyway, I do admit I'm a hypocrite in that respect, but keep in mind the original book was written sans outline and I'm taking great liberties with the new project. I am currently 5,000 words into it and it's going great.
In the meantime, I will be publishing three short stories within the first quarter of 2019. These short stories have already been written, but never published.
Stay tuned . . .
I dislike outlining with a passion--in fact, I consider it a colossal waste of time. Want proof? Here's a series of blog posts I have done on the subject.
However, with the epic fantasy novel I'm currently writing, I am using the old manuscript as . . . yes, you guessed it . . . an outline.
Oh, the horror!
Anyway, I do admit I'm a hypocrite in that respect, but keep in mind the original book was written sans outline and I'm taking great liberties with the new project. I am currently 5,000 words into it and it's going great.
In the meantime, I will be publishing three short stories within the first quarter of 2019. These short stories have already been written, but never published.
Stay tuned . . .
Friday, January 4, 2019
An epic beginning / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Jan-2019
Welcome to 2019!
I am in the throws of writing (or, rather, re-writing, using the original manuscript as an outline) the first book in my epic fantasy series.
This book was written close to ten years ago (honestly) and has sat on the proverbial shelf ever since. It has gone through a few re-writes, but since the original novel was close to 1,000 pages long, this was a daunting task.
One thing I had to consider now was the prologue. It had one, but was largely written in the telling, not showing vein. It was written, in part, much like the introduction to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, with an omniscient narrator. Looking at it now, I was planning to scrap it. I will write a shorter novel, documenting how my epic fantasy world came into being, but not now. Keep in mind, this was my thought a week or so ago.
Then, as I contemplated many of my favorite epic fantasy started, I remembered that many have prologues. Now, I'm not against prologues, per se. In fact, I love writing them. Here's a blog post where I touched on that subject.
So, I put it back in. I cut it down, starting at a crucial scene, but I'm having a blast with it. 2019 is going to be grand.
As the epic fantasy may take a while to get written and published, I may publish a few short stories in the meantime.
Stay tuned . . .
I am in the throws of writing (or, rather, re-writing, using the original manuscript as an outline) the first book in my epic fantasy series.
This book was written close to ten years ago (honestly) and has sat on the proverbial shelf ever since. It has gone through a few re-writes, but since the original novel was close to 1,000 pages long, this was a daunting task.
One thing I had to consider now was the prologue. It had one, but was largely written in the telling, not showing vein. It was written, in part, much like the introduction to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, with an omniscient narrator. Looking at it now, I was planning to scrap it. I will write a shorter novel, documenting how my epic fantasy world came into being, but not now. Keep in mind, this was my thought a week or so ago.
Then, as I contemplated many of my favorite epic fantasy started, I remembered that many have prologues. Now, I'm not against prologues, per se. In fact, I love writing them. Here's a blog post where I touched on that subject.
So, I put it back in. I cut it down, starting at a crucial scene, but I'm having a blast with it. 2019 is going to be grand.
As the epic fantasy may take a while to get written and published, I may publish a few short stories in the meantime.
Stay tuned . . .
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