What A Year / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-Dec-2021

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe all that has happened in my life--especially in the last six months, and especially since July 20th.

But first, let's recap my current writing inventory as of this date.

I have 37 individual published works, which consist of:

11 full-length novels, which includes a romance one written under a pseudonym (and working on #12)

14 short stories (2 of which are free on my website)

7 novellas/novelettes

1 short story collection

2 box sets

2 nonfiction books

This year I published two short stories and I am roughly 65-70% of the way through my current novel, which is going to be longer than any novel I have published so far.

Now, what happened on July 20th?

First, let me back up about a month, on what would have been the 24th wedding anniversary with my late wife.  I made the decision to dip my toes in the dating pool.  I didn't know if I could handle it, and I didn't know what I'd find.  If all I could find were toxic women, I guess I would remain single for the rest of my life.

And if that was God's plan for me, I would accept it.

But God had other plans.  Oh, boy, did He ever.

Long story short, I am in a few private widow/widower groups on Facebook.  Now, living in the land of nowhere in northwestern Minnesota, I thought my chances of meeting anyone near me was almost impossible.  Well, nothing is impossible for God.

I started chatting with a younger lady, a widow who had lost her husband in March 2021, who lived in northern Minnesota.  151 miles away, to be exact.  We chatted for a bit that day, July 20th, as she told me about her dire tales of going through the Facebook dating app.

Lo and behold, on July 23rd, she asked me how my week had been.  One thing led to another, and we have been chatting/talking every single day since.  We meet every 2-3 weeks, as she is in the final semester of achieving her RN degree.

So to say what a year 2021 it has been is an understatement.

I am looking forward to 2022, and all that it will bring.

Jordan Smith, Johnny Cash, And Your Unique Voice / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-Dec-2021

It might be ironic that this post is going out on Christmas Eve, with its place in the history of mankind and our Heavenly Father.  Roughly two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a concert by Jordan Smith with the current love of my life and her parents.

Don't know who Jordan Smith is?  Don't worry, I didn't either.

To put it simply, he was the season 9 winner of the TV show The Voice.  Give this a listen, and be both amazed and inspired.  Note: the YouTube video I originally posted (twice now) has been taken down for whatever reason, so I urge you to just search for him and listen.

Jordan is one of great talent.  That much is perfectly clear.  He sang songs at the concert that we all knew, but he put his own vocal twist to it in such a dynamic and unique way.  Jordan will be one to watch as his career blossoms.

Reflecting on this, I am reminded of a scene early on in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line.  Cash sang a tune that was just like all the other songs.  But the record producer wanted something different.

Believe in yourself.

Find your voice.

No matter what it is, believe in yourself.

Where To Start / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-Dec-2021

I watched this video by Robert McKee last week, and found his insight valuable.  Although he gears it toward beginners, it applies to everyone who is starting a new project.

Enjoy!

And begin!

Winding Down And Thinking Ahead / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-Dec-2021

It's the second week of December and my current work-in-progress, a novel I started around April 2021, has surpassed the 71,000-word mark.

And there is so much more to be done.  It is not quite two-thirds complete at this point, so . . . if the math works out, it'll be one big book.  120-130K would be my ultimate guess.  When do I have it planned to be finished?  Maybe by the end of the first quarter, which is late March.  And if that's the case, I would have taken almost twelve months to write it.

I have written much faster before.

Next time, as my speeds and devoted time has now increased, and other aspects of my life has improved, I will write the next one quicker.

As the Christmas season draws ever-closer, and New Years right after, it is that time of year again when we reflect on what has been accomplished and what is in store for us all in 2022.

I should have titled this blog post "Not Winding Down" because I'm working on my current novel on a near daily basis, and I am not slowing down.

The plan for 2022 is, of course, to publish my current novel and contemplate which story to tackle next.  I could finish off my superhero trilogy, I could finish my epic fantasy, I could even complete the YA book I started in early 2019.

Or, there are others that could be written too.

Nobody Cares, Work Harder / Happenings In The Outhouse

There is a sign on the wall of the gym where I work out.

When it comes to working on your craft, no one really does care what you do and how you do it.  This may seem harsh, but it's true.  Even those closest to you, those who see you day in and day out, they may not understand the meaning behind what you do and how.  If they truly loved you, they would care.  It is okay to communicate with them, but I would limit it to them.

If they understand.

I see way too many artists who put themselves up on a pedestal, trying to be clever in what they do, and the echo chamber of those they surround themselves with are doing nothing but boosting their ego.

So the bottom line is this: no one cares what you do and how you do it.  Just work at your craft, put it out there, and work on the next project.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Being Thankful / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Nov-2021

Today, and everyday, I am thankful.

Thankful that I am alive.

Thankful for my health.

Thankful that I have been presented with opportunities, and I have been given the insight to pursue a number of those opportunities.

Thankful for my loving family, my extended family, and even the new family that God has brought us together.

It is easy to go through life looking at the negative side of everything.  I could say, oh sure I'm alive but my first wife died and many people I have known are no longer with us.  I could say, my health isn't the best as it could be and no matter what I do it doesn't seem to get better.  I could also say that I have a job with a steady paycheck, and I have published several stories of varying length, but I'm not rich and famous like I want to be.

I am thankful for what the Lord has given me.

Look to the positive side of life.  There is too much going on to focus on the negative.

Be thankful for what you have.  Even if you struggle with finding a single thing, it's there.

Long Than Expected, And That's Okay / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Nov-2021

My current work-in-progress is at the halfway mark near 60,000 words.

It has taken me longer to get this done, and frankly that's okay.  It's a larger book than any I've published so far--keep in mind, I say published, not written.  I have written three books--this being one of them--that are quite large in the similar word count range.

I looked back to when I started it, and honestly I thought by the end of the year I'd be able to publish it.  Now it will be well into 2022 when that happens, maybe by spring.

And I'm okay with it.

First, it is a larger book than usual--about double the length of many of my other novels, which run around 50,000 to 60,000 on average.

Second, I want to make sure the story is done right.  When it was first written, much of the writing was amateurish.  The story was still there, but there are new elements I'm adding now that are enriching the story.  Using the old story as an outline has both its challenges and advantages.

Lastly, my personal life has taken a turn for the better.  Now, it hasn't eaten into my writing time.  In a way, it has enhanced it.

It's all good.

The Jesus Moment (In Character Development) / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Nov-2021

I recall in the movie Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill as the fabled superhero Superman when, during a tornado, his earthly father (portrayed by Kevin Costner), was swallowed up by the storm.  Moments before, young Clark Kent was on the verge of racing to save him, but Jonathan Kent held out a hand and told him no.

It wasn't time.

That was his Jesus moment.

Throughout the Gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, there are numerous times when Jesus performed a miracle and then told the recipient to tell no one about what happened.  For the longest time, I never understood why He would do this.

Then, as I studied the Bible more in depth, I realized the timeline of the events in question.  They were during the times when Jesus chose not to reveal Himself yet as the Son of God.  He did what was right in performing His miracles, but did not want the truth behind it to be known until it was the right time.

Go back to many of your favorite stories to see where the Jesus moment is.  The characters go through much training, or journey so far, until their Jesus moment comes upon them.

How long did Luke Skywalker train before he was revealed to Darth Vader?

How long did Harry Potter lie in wait, until the protection of his aunt and uncle's home, before he was permitted to attend Hogwarts?

When did Batman become the famed vigilante that he is known for?

How about Bilbo Baggins?

Or Paul Atreides from Dune?

Or Clarice Starling?

The list, my friend, can go on and on.

Two New Short Stories / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Nov-2021

Last year, I wrote two short stories for publication, either through some contests or SWFA approved short fiction contests.

Alas, despite the lack of success on them being selected, I have decided to publish them now for you.

The first is "Outside In Job".

This was a fun story to write, inspired by a chance encounter when my youngest daughter was looking for something.  Here is the blurb: "There is something about Mitzy that Kent Schofield can't figure out.  Something strange, fantastical.  she has such an effect on him that she has him doing things he wouldn't normally do.

Like robbing a bank.

But what choice does he have?  He will do anything to please her."

The other short story is "Sloan's Mercy."

This is a superhero origin story about Gabriel Sloan, whom appears in my Order of Freaks superhero series.  Here is the blurb: "Gabriel Sloan didn't know where her special abilities come from.  Or why.  But despite her young age, she is determined to fight for justice any way she can.

Even if those ways label her as a vigilante."

Enjoy!

Let's Talk Villains / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Oct-2021

A few weeks ago, I watched the latest installment of the Halloween franchise on the big screen.  It was bloody fun and full of lovely gore, which you'd expected from a slasher flick.

It did not disappoint.

And the box office numbers showed too.

On the drive home, I pondered other fictional villains, such as Hannibal Lector, Darth Vader, Freddie Krueger, Pinhead, and Jason Voorhees, just to name a few.  I did a deep dive into the top villains from TV and the big screen, and the list was quite massive.

Do they have elements in common?

If anything, they're downright evil.  Their characteristics host a wide range from the clever and sinister to a single-mindedness of brute force.  On a side note, the same could be said about the side of good too.  Heroes and Heroines come in many flavors.

Another common element is that, by and large, they are not easy to destroy--the exception is the ending of Dracula.  The fabled vampire's death was so minimal, covering only a few sentences, that I almost threw the book in the trash.

The last element (okay, I'm sure there are others, but that's all I'm covering right now) is that they are unique.  No one can mistaken Hannibal Lector with other run-of-the-mill serial killers.  Or Freddie Krueger with other rules of our darkest nightmares.

So, many of the great and infamous fictional villains are pure evil, difficult to destroy/kill, and unique.

Routines And Impulsivity / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Oct-2021

Everyone has routines, whether they believe it or not.  Some have more than others.  Even if you seem to do little each day, that's still a routine of accomplishing little.

Being impulsive is acting against those routines.

So imagine the lazy bum who sits around all day, watching TV, accomplishing very little.  One day that bum decides to change it up and read a book.

Okay, maybe this is a little extreme, but you get the idea.

If you are a routine-minded person, how well do you take to change?

Adding a sense of impulsivity can make life a bit more interesting.  Or maybe a lot, depending on what it is.  It is easy to get into a rut, to do the same things over and over again.  Try it.  Be impulsive.  Go for a drive.  Someplace you hadn't planned on going.

Go to a restaurant you've never been to.

Go to a movie you would never go to.

Do something to get yourself out of a rut.  You may not even realize you're in a rut.

My life pretty much turned for the better about 2-3 months ago, depending on where you point.  This person pointed out my routines, which she admired, but at the same time I had to break myself out of.  And that's a good thing.

Life is about change.

Change can be good.

More Progress / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Oct-2021

I am making decent progress with my latest novel.  I have surpassed the 48,000 word mark, and I still have plenty left to write--honestly, I'm not even at the halfway mark.

It's interesting, looking over what I had written decades ago as an outline.  I am enriching the story so much more this time around, expanding storylines here and removing storylines there.

I don't have much more to say at this point.  Between work, writing, stuff at home, and juggling a new relationship, my time is precious.

And so is yours.

Don't waste it.

If you are overwhelmed, it's okay to start small / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Oct-2021

 Imagine being tasked with cleaning up a hoarder house.

Where would you begin?

Start small.  Start somewhere.  It doesn't matter where, but start.

Writing a novel is the same way.  It's a daunting task that most people won't even try.  But start writing.  It doesn't matter if those words are going to stay when it comes time for publication.  Just the act of writing it down, practicing your writing, is enough to get the creative juices flowing.

Starting a new book, or even a short story, can be difficult.  But slap some words onto the page.

Do you expect to look like the muscular men or women who grace the covers of magazines if you haven't stepped into a gym before?  Of course not.  But all great things have to start somewhere.

Don't be afraid.  Just do it.

The Old College Try / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Oct-2021

Since last week's post, I've been writing more and more.  As of this post, I am at the 46,000 word mark on my current work-in-progress.

I recently told someone that I probably won't finish this by the end of the year.  She asked why.  I didn't have an answer.

Having recently set my next five accomplishments for the last quarter of 2021, one of the biggest ones is finishing this novel.  It's possible I can get it done.  I have roughly 90 days to do it, minus a few days here and there for vacation, deer hunting, and holidays--okay, it might be more than just a few days.  If I say 60-65 days and write a minimum of 1,000 words a day . . . can it be done?

Maybe.

I'll give it the old college try, as they say.

And if I don't, I gave it one heck of a shot.  I'm estimating this novel to be around 100,000 words, give or take.

It's Official / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-Sept-2021

My current work-in-progress is officially a novel.

Which is over 40,000 words.

And it is far from completed.  The novel is in four parts, and I am roughly a third of the way through part two.

I have placed a deadline of December 31st for completing it, however . . . I have serious doubts.  That's no problem.  I want the story done right.  It's just taking longer than expected.

First steps / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-Sept-2021

A 1000-mile journey begins with the first mile.

A 4-year journey of completing your college degree begins with the first class/semester.

Whatever you're doing, starting can be the most difficult hurdle to overcome.  Taking the first steps is essential to starting your journey, no matter what it is.

If you have a huge task, the best thing you can do is just start.  Baby steps if you have to.  I know first hand that writing a novel is a daunting task.  But as each page, paragraph, and sentence is written, the closer I am to completing it.

Start today.

Start small if you have to.

What you may find is that once you start, continuing the journey and completing it is easier than you think.

Distractions / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-Sept-2021

Someone recently asked if they were distracting me from my work--my writing, that is, not my day job.

It is good to know what distracts you, what holds you back from achieving your dreams, and what doesn't.  Each person is different.  For some, it has to be absolutely quiet in order for them to concentrate on their project.  Or they have to be sitting in a certain place.  Or they need to be drinking their favorite beverage.  Maybe a fair amount of ambient noise is necessary.

Knowing what causes you to procrastinate will lead your further down the path of success.  If social media alerts distract you, remove all notifications while working on your dreams.  If the sound of classical music or country music or heavy metal helps spark the imagination, then by all means let it play.

I have been blessed to be able to shift in and out of what others would see as distractions.  When I used to work in an actual office, I'd bring my laptop or notebook or printed stories to work on while on lunches and breaks.  The noise around me didn't bother me.  Neither does the TV when I'm at home, sitting at the table, pouring my heart and soul into the latest creation.

What does distract me is more internal.  Sometimes I can control it.  Other times, not so much.

So when it was asked if they were distracting me . . . my answer was clearly no.

But that's me knowing me.

Know thyself . . . and the truth will set you free.

Buying Barriers (make it easy to do business/buy your wares) / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-Sept-2021

One of my daughters is at her first week in college and I wanted to send her something as a surprise.  The college had sent me info a few weeks ago on how I can order a care package for her, so obviously I'm all over that.  But when I start the process, there's a few problems.

I need the dorm where she's staying.  And her room number.  And a few other items, which made purchasing the care package a pain in the behind.

At the time, she didn't know any of the necessary info.

How many times have you just wanted go to some place, tell them what you want, hand over your money, and it's done?  All the time, right?

I hate buying vehicles.  Yes, you heard right.  Hate.  Not dislike or oh buying cars is a pain.  No, I hate it with so much passion that I'd rather drink the urine of a dead cow.  Why?  Because whenever I have bought cars, it's not easy.  Most of it did have to do with our financial situation, but still.  It could have been easier.  If the money portion was difficult, I would rather they say, nope we can't do it than the hours of waiting and waiting and waiting.

Amazon, for one, makes buying so damn easy.  Ebooks?  One click and done.  Merchandise.  Just a few clicks and done.

Almost two months ago, I went to a few hardware stores looking for yard maintenance equipment.  The two stores I frequented made it easy to buy.  I told them what I needed, and here you go, there it all is.  So easy.

The buying experience can either easy or not so much.  Put yourself in the customer's shoes.

One thing that irritates me is when authors offer incentives, but you need to download them in a different way than what you are used to.  I love my Kindle and I want to just read it on that.  Yes, there are ways of side loading items onto the Kindle, but that's too much hassle.

Make it easy to buy.

And people will buy more.

Part One Complete / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Aug-2021

On August 19th, I was officially one-fourth of the way through my current work-in-progress.  Part one is done.

Word count is a little over 32,000 words, which is a health amount so far.  Then, if you multiply it by four . . . that brings it close to the one hundred and thirty thousand word mark.  That's one heck of a big book when I hit the publish.  The longest books I've published so far are around 60-70 thousand words.

Then again, my first two novels I ever wrote were a 1000-page behemoths (my current work-in-progress was the second one) and if my word count is somewhat accurate on the amount of words per page on my word processor, 130,000 words is a bit light when compared to the original first draft, which brought the total over 200,000.

I'm still shooting for publication by the end of the year.  With school starting soon, my middle child heading off to college, and an exciting development in my personal life, the Peterson household will certainly be different.

Different, but good.

Setbacks As A Learning Tool / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Aug-2021

I read an article last week where it addressed the notion of not speaking out on any career setbacks as it may come across in a negative light.  Although I typically don't talk about my day job nor broadcast who my employer is, the article spoke to me as I use my setbacks as a training tool for folks not as far along in their career.

Early on where I work, I applied for a variety of leadership roles.  I always secured an interview with the powers that be, but advancing into leadership didn't seem to be in the cards.  No one could offer any feedback as to why.  I'm not blaming anyone for this.  With our litigious environment in society, messages back to me were vague and offered no direction.

Yes, your typical HR response, in cases.  Again, it was just the nature of the beast as they didn't have a mechanism for feedback.

After receiving the news on someone else being offered the job instead of me, I decided to take a step back and work on improving myself.  I held off on applying again until I learned as much as I could, working hard to better myself and my skills.

Then, a number of years later, a leadership opening in my department prompted me to apply again.  I chatted with the manager and director as I sat down for the interview.  After the first question, which led a fair bit of discussion, they advised me that the current leadership role I was applying for may not be a suitable for me and my talent/skills, but one they were creating had me written all over it and would be thrilled for me to lead in that position.

I accepted.

Don't use the lack of feedback as an excuse not to improve yourself.  Reflect on your current skills as well as the skills needed for what you want to do.  If you want to be better at woodworking, not only throw yourself into experimenting with it but also study those who do woodworking very well.  If you want to be a better painter, same thing.  Auto mechanics or public speaking, also the same.

I do the same with writing.  I've received feedback on what I do well, but I also experiment and study skills I'm lacking.

Strive to learn.

Strive to improve.

And best of all, have fun doing it.

Fueling Your Creations / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Aug-2021

Happy Friday the 13th!

I was recently asked, if I had all the money I needed in order to live and didn't need to work where I currently am, what would I do?

The answer was an easy one: writing.

For anyone who knows me, I love to write.  It's been in my blood since as far back as I can remember.  Stashed away in an old box somewhere could be a few worn and tattered tablets, possibly with Snoopy on the front, where I wrote many of my ideas and story starts.  How far back you may ask?  Thinking second grade, perhaps.  Now, these ideas are undoubtedly childlike and not very good, but for a budding writer they were my playground.

Since I have neither won the lottery (I don't play anyway) nor been granted a huge inheritance from a long lost relative, I use my current employment as a means to fuel my creations.  I can create what I want, when I want.  I still push myself to always do as much as I can, but without the added stress of a steady paycheck and health insurance.

I know a fair amount of writers who have jobs to fuel their creative side.  It isn't anything to be ashamed about.  In fact, it could be used as story fodder.  Let's say you're a trauma nurse.  There has to be stories there!  Or a corrections officer.  Bingo!  A convenience store clerk?  Of course!  Speak from experience and use that as an authority to speak about it, or to add color to your story.

If your goal is to have your creations fuel your finances by itself, learn all you can about the business side and work toward that as your goal.  Yes, I'd love it if I had millions in the bank and could do what I want.  But until that day comes, I have to be patient and keep creating.

Slow but onward / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Aug-2021

Although I have not been hitting the 1,000 word a day goal I had set roughly a month ago, I am still making some progress.

And some progress is better than none.

As of this date, I have surpassed the 28,000 word count on my work-in-progress.  I only have a few chapters left of part one, and there are four parts to the novel.  To be more realistic, I may set a goal of finishing by the end of the year.

There are a number of factors at play here with my delay, much of it personal.  Don't worry, I'm doing fine.  In fact, in some ways, I have been better than I have in a long time.

Pay attention to what you are neglecting / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-July-2021

Focusing your energy on one thing is good.

But if it means neglecting essential aspects of your life, the results can be harmful.  Even fatal.

When my late wife's health was failing, it was easy to just focus on her.  I mean, come on, she was worth it!  But if I neglected my own health, mentally and physically, the harmful effects wouldn't do the rest of my family or I any good.

It isn't selfish to put some of your essential needs ahead of someone else's.  Even Jesus, who gave all that He could for the people, including His life, went off alone quite often to reflect, pray, and rest.

A few weeks ago, I came to the hard decision to shift some of my energy from writing to cleaning up my yard--don't worry, I still write in the mornings.  I had meant to keep up with the yard work, and years of utter neglect showed, but it was the hard determination to just go ahead and do it that jarred it loose.  I gathered the tools I needed, bought ones that I did not own, and dedicated time each and every night to the task at hand.  It's not done, but it looks a heck of a lot better than before.

You see, through all the years of focusing my time and energy on my late wife, caring and loving her, these aspects of the family suffered.  This included my health.  Last June I joined a gym.  I needed to improve my health.  Weight loss was a must.

Exercise quickly became a daily habit.

Because I wanted to improve.

Because I wanted to serve others in a better capacity.

And to love?  Possibly the same kind of love I showed my sweet, precious angel, who let go of my hand on January 16, 2020, at 10:15am and grabbed the mighty hand of Jesus as He took her into Heaven?

I . . . I think so.

Am I ready?

That, my friend, I don't know.

But I'm willing to try.

Want something, make it a habit / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-July-2021

On June 15, 2020, I joined the local gym.  I desperately needed to get in shape, to lose weight, and with pandemic restrictions finally lifting then, I decided it was finally time.

No more putting it off.

Once I joined, I made it a habit of going at the same time every single day (okay, I do take 1-2 nights off a week, at the most to give my body a rest).  I find that setting a schedule of going in at a specific time, instead of "oh, sometime today" made my habit of going to the gym much more concrete.

And what's weird is that even on my "off" days, when my designated time rolls around, I get antsy to go.

Several years ago, I woke up at 5:30am every morning to write.  I was able to crank out a few novels during those times, and it was just something I needed to do.

What do you want to do?  What are you putting off?

Make it a habit.

Good luck!

Progress / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-July-2021

A short one today.

Many things going on, and yet I still make time for writing, even if it's for less than 30 minutes.

I'm currently past 24,000 words in the novel.  I doubt I will not finish by the end of the quarter, but the end of the year may be the true goal.

Keep plugging away, whatever your goal is.  Every little bit helps.

Try and try again / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-July-2021

Most people know the wise words of Yoda: "Do.  Or do not.  There is no try."

And although there is some solid wisdom in those words, even simply trying something gets one going in a certain direction.

Last week, I said I was going to have a daily goal of 1,000 words.

Well, since posting it I have failed.  I have had a few things I'm dealing with personally that have steered my attention away from my daily writing habit.

But I look at each day as something new.  I will keep trying.  And the more I try, the more I do.  And the more I do, the more I will succeed.

So keep trying.  Even if you have a set a smaller goal, do it.  Go for the easy wins early on and go from there.

20,000 Words And Counting / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-July-2021

My current work in progress is coming along nicely.  I've gotten through a few emotional hurdles lately in regards to my late wife and what would've been our 24th wedding anniversary.

But now, back to business.

As I do every three months, I review my "next five things."  Which are five things for me to accomplish on my to-do list this quarter.  I figure if I write 1000 words daily, I'll be able to finish this book by the end of the quarter--if not before.

So, that is my challenge: to write 1000 words daily and finish my current work in progress.

How the Conjuring Universe is affirming my writing / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-June-2021

Once again, I feel like I'm late to the party on this one.  I just recently discovered the Conjuring universe.  The latest movie, The Devil Made Me Do It, just came out in the theaters.  I binged the other two before watching this one, but as they're like standalone movies anyway there is no need to watch them in order.  Yes, they are truly based on true events.

There are other movies in the Conjuring universe (7-8 movies at this point) and what struck me when I watched the first one, it did something that I started in my writing long, long ago.

One of the old writing adages is that if you introduce something at the beginning of your story, it had better be resolved by the end.  For example, if a treasure map comes into someone possession by the first few chapters, by the end it better lead to somewhere important--think Goonies for example.

My very first novel I ever wrote was a deer hunting horror story, set in a fictional town in northern Minnesota.  This one has yet to be published, and there is a LOT of work I need to do on it IF it is ever to see publication.  Anyway, there were elements in the first story that I introduced that weren't going to be resolved until book two or three.

Then, I've introduced a few elements to the Central Division thriller series, like in a few prologues and side chapters, that won't be resolved until later.  True, mine is part of a series, but with how the Conjuring does it, it affirms that I'm on to something.

The pitfalls of having only writers as your followers / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-June-2021

There is an interesting trend I've noticed in social media, and it's not a new trend either.  It doesn't matter what business you seem to be in, those who seem to follow you are in the same business as you and seem to demand that you follow them back.  Business leaders follow other business leaders, actors follow actors, musicians follow other musicians, and so on.

I'm going to bring this to writing, since that's a business I know a bit about.  So, therefore, writers following other writers.

There is a local writer I know who self-published her debut novel last year--which is an amazing accomplishment!.  This writer is VERY active on Twitter, and I'm amazed at the over 18,000 followers.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of these followers are, much like myself, other writers.  Now, on the surface, you may wonder what the big deal is.  Here's the deal: who's buying your books?  Readers.  Readers of that particular genre.  Not necessarily writers.  Now, this is no fault of this author, because I follow a fair amount of writers myself, but you can't believe the ton of follows that I get and they demand that I follow them back.

But I don't.  Then they disappear.  Good riddance.

On a side note: I used to follow them back, until I noticed that they weren't the ones buying my books.  So I stop that in its tracks.

One of the pitfalls to this trend occurred just last week with this author.  She posted on Twitter that she was having a book signing.  Cool!  I read the Twitter thread and other authors gave her advice.  Good advice?  I'll zip my lip on that one.  Then, the day before the signing, she posted a picture of her "author" signing shirt.  It was pretty cool, and there was more advice in the thread.

But all this time I was wondering the key questions: where and when?

Of that, nothing.

Did any of the other writers ask this?

Nope.

You're right, I didn't either.  Maybe I should've, but I wanted to see if any readers would ask her.

In fact, this author didn't even say, "Hey if you're near (fill in the blank), I'll be signing my book at (date/time)."

Again, nothing.

Now, I'm a complete shit when it comes to marketing my own works too, but I at least posted a link when two of my stories was on a recent podcast and when I have a new book out I post links to it.  If I had a book signing, you better believe it that I'd be posting about it.

Be careful who you're attracting as far as followers.  For the business of writing, readers are your audience.  Go after them.  Don't follow others back if they demand it.  Readers only buy books.  Writers, not so much.

To put this in perspective, I checked out mega-bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson's Twitter numbers.  He has a little over 12,000.  Less than the local author.  And how many does he follow?  A few hundred.  Neil Gaiman?  Over 2 million followers.  How many does he follow?  Less than a thousand.  That's quite the ratio.

On a final note: she did post a picture during the author signing, but again there was no where and when.

Lesson learned?  I pray it does, and the reason for this post isn't to shame the writer.  I'm happy she was given an opportunity to have a book signing, in a real bookstore.

We all make mistakes.  We just need to learn from them.

Thinking Ahead / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-June-2021

I'm only on the sixth chapter of my latest novel and I'm already looking forward to what's next.

As you may (or may not) know, my latest project is a writing of a horror novel I wrote more than two decades ago, and is the second novel I ever completed.  I'm using the old book as an outline.  It's going great.

Beholder's Eye, which is my first full-length published book, was the fourth book I ever completed.  Between Beholder's Eye and my current project was another horror novel, set up in Lake of the Woods, in northern Minnesota.  This book actually got some interest from literary agents back in the day, but nothing came out of it.  Thank God.  Knowing what I know now about book contracts, royalties, and publishing rights, I'm sure I would've given as much away as possible with little to show for it.

Anyway, it's that book that I will be bringing to life.  And again, I'll be using the old book as an outline for the new one.

As a writer, what would you change? / Happenings In The Outhouse 4-June-2021

I recently went to the movie Cruella with my youngest daughter.  I was surprised that it was over two hours in length, as most movies run the gambit of 90 to 120 minutes.

In a nutshell, it was a fun, entertaining movie.  As we hopped in the car the drive way, my daughter asked me, "Dad, as a writer, what would you change about it?"

My, what a question!

As a writer, I do look at movies or books and ponder how I would change it if given the chance.  What do I look at in a good story?  My first threshold is the entertainment factor.  Did it entertain me?  Even some bad movies/books pass the entertainment factor.  Take the last three Star Wars movies.  I liked them, they entertained me, but I did find issues that made them pale in comparison to all of the other movies.  I also didn't care much for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book) as Harry was always yelling, as it was loaded with exclamation marks, and that took away from the story.  But it still entertained me.

I take those things that I would change and incorporate them into my stories--and this may be an area I'll expand upon later.

Besides the entertainment factor, I look at character depth and pacing.  If both are done well, then I call it a decent movie.

Cruella had a lot of character depth, it was intriguing, and the pacing was well-executed.  I don't recall a single moment where I wondered when it would ever end.  Also, you didn't seem to require any watching of the previous movies to understand it.

My answer to her: nothing.  I wouldn't change a thing.

Proud moments #prouddad / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-May-2021

Today is a truly #prouddad moment.  My beautiful daughter, Mariah, known by many as Mo, the ginja ninja, our little ginger, and oh so many more, graduates from high school today.

To say she has accomplished much in eighteen short years is an understatement.  Not only has she maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her entire school career, she went on to the state competition this year for speech and won 8th in the creative expression category (she probably would've gone on to state last year if it wasn't for a certain virus and the speech season was cut short), she has maintained successful employment at the local bank and is known by many who frequent it with her infectious smile and sense of humor, she has helped many of her classmates with homework over the years, is an avid golfer, is an accomplished vocalist in the high school choir, competed successfully in knowledge bowl, is on the church board as one of the youth advocates, teaches Sunday school, is an extremely talented actress in drama, and the list goes on and on and on . . .

She works hard at what she does, and has reaped the rewards of it.  This was especially shown at this year's senior awards ceremony as she took home 19 separate awards and/or scholarships.

Most of all, she has been like a rock to me and a voice of reason, especially throughout the past few years with the failing of her mother's health, eventual passing, and dealing with the daily grind of being a single dad and widow.  She will be sorely missed as she attends the University of Minnesota in the fall, majoring in biomedical engineering.

Love you, Mariah!  You have truly made me a #prouddad.

The many flavors of outlining / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-May-2021

Another short one this week as we prepare for my daughter's high school graduation next Friday.

My work-in-progress is progressing very well.  Far better than I could imagined at this point.  My last novel progressed very . . . very slowly.

But this one edged beyond the 11,000 word mark, and I'm only on the 5th chapter.

I've talked before about how much I dislike outlining in general.  Here is a link to all of my posts about outlining.  What's interesting is how much has changed over the years and whatever I'm working on.

For this project, I'm using each previously written chapter as an outline.  The plot is similar, the story is following a similar path, but the story is much, much better.

Outlining can come in a variety of packages.  I'll explore this topic more in the future.

The Grim Worlds Podcast - a new must-listen to / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-May-2021

Over the past few weeks, I've lamented the fact that I've cut back on the number of podcasts that I listen to.  Although this still remains true, once in a while I come across a podcast, a diamond in the rough, that cuts through and finds it way home to my earbuds.

Welcome to the Grim Worlds podcast.

At the time of this post, the podcast has two episodes, and you may find something familiar about the second episode--it features two stories (for the price of one, which is free) by yours truly.

The podcaster, Derek Olson, may be new to the podcast world, but its quality ranks up near the top when compared to all of the others I've listened to over the years.  This podcast, and other works he creates in the future, will be one you will want to watch out for.  Not only is he a unique voice, the music and sound effects put this in a podcast class all its own.

Be sure to subscribe and listen to this one!

Progress / Happenings In The Outhouse 7-May-2021

I am making tremendous progress on my "new" work-in-progress.

Now, I put new under quotes for a reason.  It's not a new story.  It's a story I first wrote back in college, when my late wife and I were dating.  So, yeah, well over two decades old--we were married for twenty-two and a half years before her passing.  But what's new is what I'm doing with it.

I'm using the old story as an outline.

I did this with a fantasy novel a few years ago, before moving on to another project--don't worry, I'll pick it back up again.  So far, I'm making great progress.

I know, I know, I have written about my dislike toward outlining before.  So I'm revising my thoughts toward outlining.  For me, for the most part, outlining is a waste of time.  But now, and a few times in the past, when I've hit a bit of a block, getting thoughts down on paper has helped dislodge the block.

I'm currently at the 6,300 word mark.  It'll be interesting how soon I can get this one published.

Wish me luck!

More trimming of the fat / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-April-2021

I can't believe it was only one and a half years ago.  Eighteen months when I last "trimmed the fat."  I'm talking about cutting back on the podcasts.

It happened just before last weekend, when I found myself struggling to get all of my podcasts in while neglecting my writing.

NOT GOOD!

I still listen to some, but I'm very, very picky on what I choose.

Keeping it short this week.  Speaking of short, I plan on publishing two short stories within the next month.

Which is good.

A new (but old) story in progress / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-April-2021

I am at work on a new (but old) story in progress.

As always, I'm holding back on the title, but the story is actually the second novel I ever completed.  It is in the horror genre, and if I had to give a teaser it would be something like Nightmare On Elm Street meets Dreamscape.

The genesis of this novel dates back to my days at Bemidji State University.  A few years ago, I went through the old chapters and made notes up through the first part--this novel is in four parts.  At the time when I originally wrote it, I set it in the future.

And that year was 2010.

Looking at it now, I'm dialing back the clock and setting it in the year 1996.  There are reasons for this, which I may expand on in future posts.

Tattered Robes is published / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-April-2021

Tattered Robes, the latest thriller in the Central Division Series, is out!

Synopsis: A Catholic priest with a dark past is brutally murdered in a ritualistic fashion.  But as Minneapolis PD investigators Kolin Raynes and Kelly King employ the latest advances in Forensics and DNA analysis, they soon discover solving this case leads them down an even darker path.

Here is a link to my website, which will give you the ebook option of your choice.

Enjoy!

The Chosen - a unique way of telling the same story / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-April-2021

Long ago, I said if you gave a writing prompt to the top 20 bestselling authors in the world, you'd have 20 different stories.

Well, let me ask you this: how many dramatic/theatrical versions of Jesus Christ have you seen?  Probably many, and some are favorites.  I recall one as a kid that used to play on TV quite often, usually around Easter, that fascinated me.

That being said, how many different ways are there to tell the life of Jesus?  Too many to count, would be my guess.  Well, The Chosen is a quite unique telling of the life of Jesus, mainly from the perspective of those around Him.

Season 1 (I believe there are either 7 or 8 planned seasons, all crowdfunded) is out on DVD, but you can watch the entire first season for free online, through their app.

Episode 1 of Season 2 is out now--it was released Easter Sunday--and I highly recommend it.  Even from a storytelling perspective, it's a unique way of telling a story many of us have already heard.

What's new? / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-April-2021

Another short one today.

As I finalize the fifth novel in the Central Division Series, Tattered Robes, I'm contemplating what's next?

I have a story I wrote several years ago--it's actually the second novel I ever completed--and I've been on the fence about rewriting it and then publishing it.

Basically, I'm using what I had written before as an outline--gasp!  I know, I don't outline, right?

Well, I've done this before two years ago, on a fantasy novel that I started and then went another direction when personal issues became more of a focus.  It should be fun as I love the story.

Imperfection Written In Stone / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-March-2021

I'm taking a slight diversion today as I am continuing the final edits to my latest work in progress.

Last weekend, I visited my wife's gravesite.  I've done this many times, and once we got the headstone last summer I had solar lights set up to see it at night.  It's a beautiful sight.

Anyway, I've read the words on the front and back many times before, but this time I spotted something different.  A typo.

In the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, starting at verse 4 it reads: "Love is patient . . ."  Well, on the headstone, it reads: "Love is paitient . . ."  It was at that moment that I could feel my wife's arm looping through mine, as she did numerous times before her passing.  I chuckled, and I'm positive she did too.  You see, in life we're striving so hard to be perfect, even though it's a feat we can never achieve.  Only one who has ever walked this earth has ever been perfect, and that is the Son of Man, Christ Jesus Himself.  Not even the likes of Billy Graham or Mother Teresa could ever achieve perfection.

But there it was, an imperfection written forever in stone.  In life, there are so many issues that are much bigger and more important than a simple typo.  The typo will act as a reminder not to take trivial issues like that too seriously, that we as humankind should strive to be as best as we can to one another.

I did look at the correspondence between myself and the funeral home last year and, sure enough, I approved the headstone--typo and all.  Oh, well.  My bad.

Tattered Robes / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-March-2021

 Tattered Robes, the fifth novel in the Central Division Series, is completed, coming in at a little over 78,000 words.  Which equates to around 350 pages.

I'm hoping to have the editing completed and published by the end of this month.

What's it about, you may ask?

I have not written the official blurb, but it centers around the investigation behind the brutal murder of a Catholic priest.

It was an interesting, complex story to write, and at the same time it was a bit of therapy.  Next week, I'll share the official blurb as well as the cover--crossing fingers.

Stay tuned . . .

Inches Away From Completion / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-March-2021

Just a quick update.

I surpassed 75,000 words on my current work-in-progress, the fifth novel in the Central Division thriller series.

By this weekend, it should be done.  I am nearing the climax as of yesterday morning.

Writing Is A Dish Best Done Daily / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-March-2021

Most writing advice is individualized, and is thereby crappy advice.

But there is one simple piece of advice (and this goes for most anything) is to make a habit of doing something daily.

Yes, even writing.

I'm in the middle of reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (yes, all fourteen books plus a prequel novel) and in looking at the publication dates, that man had an impressive writing output.  Another fantasy author I admire is Brandon Sanderson.  He can churn out the novel behemoths at regular intervals.  Yes, I'm still waiting on a few other fantasy novelists to finish their series . . . Martin?

What does this mean to me?  For the past month or so, I've had a few setbacks, which has eaten into my writing time.  And because of it, I find myself taking longer to get back into the story.  This could be the reason why George R. R. Martin is taking so long with finishing his monumental series, simply because he has written other things in the meantime.

I'm not comparing myself to Martin by any stretch of the means, but when you're busy with other obligations or distractions, it's harder to get back into the story.  I've had to go back to the beginning of my latest novel three or four times now to re-read the whole damn thing--I've enjoyed reading it, but for crying out loud I just want to finish it.

The same goes with exercise or any other habit.  Do something daily.  Even in little drips.  You'd be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Longer than expected / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Feb-2021

The latest novel is taking a bit longer than expected.

For the past few weeks, northern Minnesota has been hit with a long stretch of sub-zero temperatures.  Why should this matter to me?

Because I had other things on my mind, like vehicle troubles, not being able to go to the gym, and frankly the stress of it all came to a head.

This week, things are slowly getting back on track.  I went to the movie last weekend, The Little Things, and loved it!  I may write a review on it soon, but as far as serial killer style suspense movies, it ranked up there as one of the better ones.

For now, I'm cutting this short.  See y'all next week.

Writers Of The Future Workshop (Free!) / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Feb-2021

What if I told you there was an online writing workshop that was taught by three bestselling authors that was available for anyone who wants to learn how to improve your writing and storytelling skills?

These workshops can be done at your own time, and teaches everything from coming up with story ideas and plotting your stories to narration and writing at your own pace--and a lot more!

How much would you pay for this?

Believe it or not, the cost is free.

The Writers of the Future has set up a free online writing workshop.  Here is the link for the workshop.

The workshop is taught by bestselling science fiction/fantasy authors: Orson Scott Card, David Farland, and Tim Powers.  There are articles, practical lessons, and videos that accompany each of the workshop lessons.

I recently completed this workshop and I found the lessons valuable beyond measure.

The best part, this workshop is for writers of all levels.

Next Novel Almost Done / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Feb-2021

65,000 words and counting . . .

Looking back, the last novel I finished was in July 2018.  And the last book in this thriller series was published in September 2016.  Far too long.

Oh, sure, I've had a few other shorter things written, including two in 2020, but a full-length novel?  Nope.  Not for a while.

How long?  I'm shooting for the end of the month, but with the massively cold weather and car troubles, my mind isn't where it should be.

Be patient, my friends.  More details to come . . .

Wrapping Things Up / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Feb-2021

Last weekend, I surpassed the 60,000 word mark on the fifth novel in the Central Division thriller series.  For the week prior, I re-read what I had written (I have already done this twice so far) in case I had missed something.

Things are coming to an end very nicely.

What is it about, you may ask?

Patience . . .

Grief And Creativity / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Jan-2021

Throughout 2020, so many people rallied about how much 2020 sucked.  I'm not disagreeing with them.  But as I've stated before, this seems to be the theme every single year.  So stop calling 2020 a dumpster fire--your mindset is a dumpster fire.  You just need to put out the fire.  True, 2020 had some troubling moments with the pandemic and all, but we've rallied before and won.  Keep your heart where it's supposed to be.

That being said, I want to discuss creativity and grief.  More specifically when it comes to the creative process, but it can also bleed over into other areas of your life too.  I've touched on this before, last year.  Here is a blog post from last year.

I am a huge fan of Weird Al Yankovic, and have been since I was a kid.  So when the opportunity came for me to see him in concert, at the Chester Fritz Auditorium, on April 12, 2004, I jumped at the chance.  But something tragic happened on April 9: Weird Al's parents died in an accidental carbon monoxide incident at their home.

My heart went out to him as I knew my hopes of seeing him live were dashed.  But much to my surprise, the show went on.  He did a beautiful tribute to them in the middle of the concert.  It was an amazing show.

Years later, I read about how he dealt with his parents sudden passing.  Instead of cancelling any shows, including the night it happened, he went on.  And I must say, if there was any misstep in his performance, I certainly didn't see it.  The show was incredible.

Grief can take a toll on creativity.  I've been there, got the T-shirt, and then some.

Any form of stress can take a toll on creativity.  Not denying that.  But there are times when your creativity is the perfect outlet to help you along.  And if you can't, that's okay too.  Take a break.  Focus on something else for a while.

It's okay to grieve.  There is no timeline on it.

Not now doesn't mean not ever / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Jan-2021

Prior to my wife's passing in January 2020, I started to say no to a lot of things.  I could have had a to-do list a mile long when it comes to writing, but at the end of the day I knew they weren't going to be done.  I then had a not-to-do list.

Also, in 2019, I started at leave three novels and stopped.  At the moment.  I'll get back to them, but at the moment I wasn't in the right mindset.

Saying "not now" doesn't mean that you'll never get to them.  You're just delaying doing it.  No sense having so many things on your to-do list that you get bogged down.

Manage your time well by creating a list of things that are important.  If I look ahead and see troubles with doing something, I'll put them off.  Remember, putting them off for now doesn't mean that you'll never get to them.  You will.

One Year In The Books / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Jan-2021

One year ago today was the last full day of my sweetheart's life on earth.

The details are something I'll wait to write about, but even to this day I remember so many events that led up to my being called at work, my leaving, the texts with loved ones, and so on.

It was a difficult day.

But, unfortunately, not unexpected.

Tomorrow, of course, will be the anniversary of her passing.

These are all memories that I cherish.  Not to dwell on in doom and gloom, but to honor our time together.

49K and counting / Happenings In The Outhouse 8-Jan-2021

I'm past the 49,000 word mark on the latest thriller.  I'm still holding off on sharing the title as well as what it's about.

To tease it a little, think the Netflix show The Keepers meets Dexter.

Sort of.

I am well past what many writers call the messy middle, where writers get stuck and stop writing.  With a thriller, there are many things going on at once, so there were times I didn't know what was up or down.  I had to go back a few times and write everything down, every lead and piece of evidence, until I could clear them up.

It's been fun.

And it's been therapeutic.

But more on that later.

For now, back to writing . . .

Legal issues and traditional publishing / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Jan-2021

Take a moment and search the following on your favorite search engine browser: Alan Dean Foster and Disney.  Then do a little reading.  It's quite the rabbit hole.  Don't worry, I'll wait . . .

Done?  Good.  What are your immediate thoughts?  Distain toward the house of mouse?  Head-shaking toward an author who has written much in universes they didn't create (and still writing) and they should just move on with the money they've been given?  Indifference to both sides?

Keep in mind, this is just one author who is being messed over by traditional publishing.  I've read other articles where there are numerous others in this mess too.  When you peel back the layers of the corporate onion, this is what may happen when companies are bought and sold like cattle on the market.  Not everyone benefits in a positive way.

Now, first and foremost, I'm not an attorney and I sure as heck don't play one on TV, so I won't lay out all of the legal issues at play here.  That being said, the conglomerate involved in this should be absolutely ashamed of themselves--my opinion, of course.  Your opinion may differ.  Nothing screams corporate greed more than this--and I, for one, am a fan of capitalism, but this is just plain shitty.  Again, just my opinion.

When I told my youngest daughter what was done to Mr. Foster, she asked me, "What if Disney wanted you to publish a story?  Would you do it?"

Good question.  A challenging one too.  My answer: it depends on the contract and the money attached to it.

Go back to that same search engine and, this time, look up: friends (plus) residual checks.  One of the top hits states that the cast of the TV show Friends make several millions of dollars each year in residuals, from reruns.  Then, when you look at other TV series, even some of your favorites, the cast members in those do not share in the same residuals.

Why?

Answer: it depends on their contract.

My point in all this is simple: those who are in control seems to hold most of the money.  Keep as much control of your own work as possible.  If you want to license it away, educate yourself get proper legal advice.