What's In Store For 2023 And Beyond / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-Dec-2022

2022 was an interesting year for me, not to put it too mildly.  I saw a lot of changes, in both my work and personal life--and it's all for the positive!

What about 2023?

First, by the end of the year, I reviewed the number of podcasts I subscribe to and compared it with the ones I actually want to listen to.  Once again, I decided to cut many out of my feed.  I cut out roughly half so I no longer see them.  Why did I do this?  Because I found my time was best spent elsewhere instead of listening to needless podcasts.  Or, better yet, watching them add up in my "to listen to" feed and never getting around to them.

I also plan on focusing more on writing, now that certain aspects of my life are in order.  I am currently at the 45,000 word mark in my current work-in-progress.  I am planning on finishing it by February 2023.  Then, I will have to decide what to write next.

I do have some writing education courses stored up that I've been planning on taking for the past few years but for whatever reason have not done them.

2023 will also be the year of concerts.  As of this writing, there are 4-5 my girlfriend and I are planning on going to, and we're sure more will pop up as the year progresses.

The future is bright for sure.

Lessons Learned From A Vince Neil Concert / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-Dec-2022

Earlier this month, I went to a Vince Neil concert at a nearby casino.  It was a blast.  The guitarist and bassist were both from the band Slaughter (who will be playing at the same casino in the middle of January) and the drummer reminded me of Animal from the Muppets.  It was a smaller venue, but the crowd had a great time.  And the band looked like they were having the time of their life.

For those who know me, I'm a huge fan of 1980's hair metal.  Rock bands like Poison, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Warrant, Def Leppard, KISS, Van Halen, Cinderella, Tesla, and countless others (look up Hair Nation on SiriusXM and those are many of the bands I love).

Now, I had read articles prior about Vince's decline in his ability to sing.  But that didn't stop me from going and having a great time.  Heck, it was 1/4 of Motley Crue!  Less than an hour from my house!

And during the concert, this was evident.  However . . . the band made up for it by singing much of the vocals.  And what the band didn't, the crowd sure did!

They improvised.

How many people in life go through struggles, pitfalls, and then just quit?  Vince could just hang up his microphone and say, "I'm done!"  But he doesn't.  He keeps going on, keeps playing, keeps entertaining.  Because at the end of the day, that's all that matters.  What they may have seen as a weakness, they used as a strength.  Vince highlighted the great talents of the other band members.

What are you struggling with that can be turned around?

You Are No Mick Mars / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-Dec-2022

First, a quick update on my work-in-progress.  In the past month, I have doubled my word count.  It is over 44,000 words.  I am slating to finish by January 2023.

In late October 2022, Mick Mars, the guitarist for the heavy metal band Motley Crue, announced his retirement from touring with the band due to a medical condition he has been battling for several decades.  The next day, a guitarist named John 5 was named as Mars's replacement in the upcoming tour.

People love nostalgia.  If you don't believe me, watch the skyrocketing popularity of Stranger Things and everything 1980's.

People also love things to remain the same.  Bands to remain the same, authors to remain the same, companies to remain the same.  Even life in general, people crave it to remain the same.

But like everything, change is inevitable.

I am not familiar with John 5 and I can imagine people saying to him, "You are no Mick Mars" and dismissing him.

If that is the case, you are a fool.  Go to YouTube and search videos of John 5.  He is an amazing guitarist.  Rarely does a band have the same lineup for their entire career span.  And in reading John 5's bio, I am super impressed.

No, he isn't Mick Mars.

Then again, he shouldn't be.

And you shouldn't be whomever you are trying to imitate.

I'm not Stephen King, Rowling, Patterson, or Grisham.

Companionship Advantage / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Dec-2022

They say two heads are better than one.

But what if you are a solo artist/author?

Many artists do, indeed, work alone.  But if you can have a companion (i.e. spouse) who supports what you are doing, more than better.  I could be wrong on this, but I do believe that is how Dean Koontz got his start, that his wife worked full-time so he could write.  She gave him a five-year deadline to become a published author.  If he did, then they'd be set.  As you can see, he has accomplished that and much, much more.  There are other stories of supportive spouses from authors like Stephen King too.

My late wife was always supportive of my writing--not quite sure why, to be brutally honest.  In our twenty-two and a half years of marriage, she heard a lot about it and knew I was writing, but never broke into the bestselling list.

My girlfriend is just as supportive and even loves to do her own schoolwork (she's an RN working on her BSN degree) while I write.  When she leaves for work early in the morning, I'm always up with her, plugging away on my computer.

Other authors do not seem to have this type of relationship.  J. K. Rowling and J. D. Salinger are just two authors I can name who got published without a companion by their side supporting them.

Does it help?  I sure think so.

Using Time Wisely / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Dec-2022

I have blogged on time management before, on using time wisely.  Allow me to touch on it again.

I had a few days over the Thanksgiving holiday where the house was very quiet.  The kids were out doing their thing and my girlfriend had to work.  So I did what I love: write.

I wrote more words over the weekend than I did the rest of the week.  I am keeping track of how many words.  When my girlfriend works days, I'm up with her at 5am.  Because once she is out the door, I can write without distraction from the kids.

We can all find time to do what we want.  Even if it's a few minutes here or there, we can all find it.  Carve out time.  Be intentional about it.

And let your dreams become a reality.

Pausing The Extras / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Nov-2022

In the past two weeks, I have written close to 10,000 words in my new YA/Middle Grade novel.  It is close to 30,000 words long so far.

One thing I have realized lately the reason for my writing so much are two reasons: goals and pausing the extras.

Pausing the extras is basically putting a pause on some recreational activities that I do on a near daily basis, like listening to podcasts or playing certain games on my phone.  I may still play the games and listen to the podcasts, but not until I have written my daily goal.

What are your extras?

Can you pause these extras so you can achieve your goals?

New Daily and Weekly Goals / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Nov-2022

The first two weekends in November are practically a statewide Minnesota holiday.  Probably more so when I was younger than now, but, for me, when I see an event scheduled during the first two weekends in November, I cringe.  I wonder why.

Why in the world would you schedule that when you know people are out deer hunting?

The reason I say more so when I was younger may just be my own perception.  Fewer people seem to be hunting now (although I have no stats to back this up), yet the businesses that are centered around hunting still seem to thrive.

Anyway, I love to go out hunting, to be out in the woods, out in nature.  My mind has the freedom to think.

So, while I was out the past two weekends, I pondered my current work-in-progress.

And I came up with some new daily/weekly goals.

I also sketched out the next part of the story.

Life is good, ladies and gentlemen.  Life is definitely good.

Legends / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Nov-2022

A few weeks ago, I went to a Carrie Underwood concert.  Full transparency here: I was not an avid fan of her's but she put on one heck of a show.  One of her encore songs was the iconic Guns N Roses's song Welcome To The Jungle.  It was absolutely incredible!

On the way home, we discussed Carrie Underwood being a music legend, along with the band Guns N Roses.  Other names popped up from the country music genre: Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis.  Rock bands also made the list, from KISS and Van Halen to Led Zepplin and the Beatles.  Others would be: Prince, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson.

A few words define a legend: longevity, perseverance.  Maybe not the artists themselves, but the art at least.

Who is on your list of legends?

Back From Sidetracked / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Nov-2022

A few weeks ago, an idea for a short story sparked in me.  This wasn't unusual.  I get ideas often.  This time, though, I decided to put my current work-in-progress on hold and start writing it.  I truly thought I could juggle between the two projects.  Besides, one was short and the other long, so what's wrong with that, huh?

I got a decent start.  Then, after a short vacation with the family down to the Twin Cities, I made the decision to dive right back into the WIP once again.  Because, I hate to admit, I had done absolutely nothing on it while I wrote a few thousand words on the short story.

Good multi-tasking, to be honest, is a myth.  No one really does multi-tasking well.  You may do a series of small tasks that look like multi-tasking, but that's it.  Especially if it involves a creative endeavor.  Some authors will work on one project in the morning and another in the evening, but that's a rare event.  And they probably have measures in place to ease the transition between the two.

Anyway, it's good to be back to my YA/middle grade novel.

Supporting The Artist / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Oct-2022

A line from Robert Heinlein's Stranger In A Strange Land struck me right to the core:

"'I want praise from the customer, given in cash because I've reached him--or I don't want anything.  Support for the arts--merde!  A government-supported artist is an incompetent whore!'"

Wrap your mind around that one for a moment, shall we?

In the end, we want people to buy our product, our work of art.  That's it.  And if we've reached them at a certain level--at a fan level--they will shell out more of their money to support the work we produce.

We do not need to rely on a government to support artists.  If you feel this is the only way, step back and imagine how it could work.  What would need to be true in order to make it a reality.

Then . . . make it a reality.

Mind Your Own Bobber / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-Oct-2022

Do you know someone who concerns themselves with things/events either beyond their control or something that truly isn't their business?  I'm sure we all have.  Or we might be that someone.

If you have ever been fishing, you might notice some who use a bobber on their line like this:

If one is more focused on another person's bobber than their own, they may lose out on opportunities.  In other words, the fish may get away if you aren't paying attention.

So . . . mind your own bobber.

Don't Kill Yourself Over Numbers / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-Oct-2022

As times change, so do you.  You're getting older, life changes, and some things are just beyond your control.

There is an adage (blame this on the NaNoWriMo crowd) that you have to write 2,000 words a day, every single day, in order to be a successful writer.

But what if this isn't possible?  My writing career has its peaks and valleys, times when I was dealing with my late wife's health or something came up that I just couldn't put my butt in the chair to write a single word.

Give yourself grace.  Don't kill yourself over the number of words or pages you need to write.  Goals are arbitrary anyway.  Writing something is better than nothing.  And if you're dealing with a major life event, give yourself grace and take a break.  Even God rested after creating the universe, and there are many times in the Bible when Jesus rested.

So take writing advice for what it's worth.  Do what you need to do, even if it means taking a break.

I Want To Be Born Rich / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Oct-2022

Last week, I was in a meeting and the topic of money came up.  One person said, "I wish I was born rich."

Just that statement got my wheels churning.

How different would your life be if you were born rich?  And, for that matter, what is your definition of rich?

For those living in far off lands, those living in America must be rich.  One person's definition may be to be debt free and have enough to live off of for the rest of their lives.  Another is to have all of the toys a typical billionaire seems to possess: yachts, luxury cars, mansions, private jets.

Instead of focusing on something you have no control over, try concentrating on something you can: your life.  And then ask yourself, "What can I do to be rich?"  Wealth, as you may or may not know, is best achieved slowly instead of all at once.  Some people's retirement plan is . . . winning the lottery.  Seriously.

Maintain a winning mindset.  Instead of asking why your life wasn't different, ask how can you make your life better?

What Do You Dwell On? / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-Sept-2022

Last week, I touched on what you look for: the good or the bad.

This week I ask the question, "What do you dwell on?"

Do you dwell on things that you have absolutely no control over?  Like the weather, politics, the death of a celebrity, what someone thinks . . . and the list goes on and on.  Stephen Covey calls this the Circle of Control.

If it's outside of your control, don't worry about it.

Your health certain is in your control and something you could dwell on, but do you dwell negatively or positively on it?

As a writer, I don't dwell on whether or not people will like a story or not.  I'm learning new ways of telling a story, growing in my skills, and just telling a story the best way I know.  But I'm not dwelling on whether so and so likes it.  I don't care.

All I care of is whether or not I like it.

Looking For The Good? Or Bad? / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-Sept-2022

Do you look for the bad in things?  Or the good things?

Lately, I have been told that I have a "rainbows and unicorns" style of outlook on life.  Meaning, everything is going GREAT!

No, it's not unrealistic to know when something isn't going right, but if it's outside my control, what can I do about it?  What use is it to complain and moan about it?

Look at what you say.  Are you looking for the good in things?  Even in things you don't like, do you look for the good?

For an example on this, how to you speak about when you talk about the President?  Now, yes, this depends on your political affiliation, but by and large how to you speak about either the current President or previous Presidents?  Do you wake up in the morning and smile?  Or do you take up and grumble and wonder why in the hell you have to be up?

What will it take to turn the bad . . . into good?

My Competition Is NOT Other Writers / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-Sept-2022

I wrote a blog post 11 years ago about who my competition is.

To recap, it isn't other writers.  Because readers buy more than one author to read.  I don't know if I exactly agree with my premise at the time, that illiteracy was my biggest competitor.  In fact, lately, I know exactly who my competition is.

It's me.

I am my own worst critic, my own worst enemy.  My writing is all up to me to complete, doing all of Heinlein's five rules.  I need to keep churning out the products.

Last weekend, my girlfriend witnessed three people in two days come up to me and ask about my writing.  One even said they bought my last book and were halfway through it.  Another mentioned if I was rich.  Spoiler alert: I am not.

I love to entertain people with my writing.

I do agree that people who don't read--or can't--are people to go after, but in reality they need to be able to read first.  And want to read.

We need to give people a reason to read.

We need to write the best, most entertaining stories we can.

Quick Update / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Sept-2022

Keeping it short today.

I am roughly 17,000 words into my new work-in-progress, my YA/MG novel.  It's going quite well, despite it being sports-themed.

Next Season / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Sept-2022

Right now is the next season for many people: back to school.

Whether elementary, middle, high school, college, or just furthering your education through online seminars or reading, school is soon to be back in session.

As the kids go back to school, I find that the house is quieter (if I'm working from home that week).

Time management is also affected.  Instead of writing early in the morning, I'll need to be getting them up for school.

Times change.  Your life changes.  How well do you change with it?  If you are one that resists change with all your might, you may find that just dealing with change is enough of a distraction to keep you from your goal.

But if you embrace change, you may not be completely distraction free, but that may be one less thing to keep your mind occupied.

Are you ready for the next season?  If not, how can you prepare for it?

One Space Or Two / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-August-2022

A conversation came up weeks ago about whether or not to put one space or two after a period when writing.  For as far back as I can remember, it was always two spaces.  Without question.  Even during my college years, it was two spaces.  No college professors stated otherwise.

Two.

Not one.

Two.

Apparently there has been a change, years ago, that state only a single space is required instead of two.  Searching online can bring up a variety of articles written on the subject.  I won't bore you with the details.

When it comes to writing--and this goes for much of creative, fiction writing--as long as you can draw the reader into your story, it doesn't matter how many spaces you use after a period.  When I asked people that I know who read a lot on this subject, they shrug and say they don't even pay attention to it.  All they want is the story.

If you're writing a paper and your college professor requires you to put one space, then do that.  No sense arguing.  Just do it.  But if you're writing a story, write it so well-crafted that the reader doesn't even notice.  For me, it's habit to use two spaces.

And I will continue to do so.

Blending Creation And Consumption / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-August-2022

With so much vying for our attention, one may wonder how much should one dedicate to their craft vs. consuming entertainment.

I love reading and I love watching movies as well as my favorite TV series.  Streaming services have put much of this right at the tip of my fingers, and my Kindle makes it so easy to read any book at any time.

But with my writing, it's difficult to balance my time to write with wanting to watch some of the new shows coming out, like Stranger Things, The Sandman series, the new Rings of Power series on Amazon, and other movies/shows that have piqued my interest.

For greater success, it is better to create content than consume it.  Even famous authors have said their reading time has dwindled the more successful they become (a problem I wish I had).

It feels good to take a small break from creating.  Even God rested after creating the universe.  It is a lesson for us all, to take time to rest.

But don't rest too much.  Balancing rest and creating is something that isn't easy, and sometimes changes depending on the circumstances.

Mix Up The Basics / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-August-2022

Earlier this week, my youngest daughter passed her licensed driving test.  She can now drive legally on her own.

(one second while I catch my breath)

After it was done and we drove away, new license in hand, I asked what could be done differently.  We worked on a few things diligently, as they were automatic fails if she failed them.  But we did touch on other things too.

I live in a fairly small town (about 1,700 people) and the town where we did the testing was around 10,000+.  This much larger town had multiple stoplights, double lanes, turning lanes, and of course much, much busier.

"Next time, mix it up."

When I asked for clarification, she said to mix up the small town driving, where we worked on the "automatic fail" stuff, with driving in larger towns.

When looking at my writing projects, it's easy to use my strengths and stay where I know best.  But one needs to step outside and . . . well, mix it up.  Get outside of your comfort zone and try something new.  If you mess up, who cares.  Try and try again.

Too much practice on the same thing may not lead one to success.  Practicing and then mixing things up is usually the best route.

New WIP Nearing Completion / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-August-2022

Another short one today.

With all the chaos (good chaos, I might add) going on, I have been working on a new short story from time to time.  A few minutes here and there adds up over time.

It is an interesting short story based on the question all writers seem to get and hate to answer: where do you get your ideas?

Once it is completed, I'll share more about it.

Your Worth / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-July-2022

How much are you worth?

In the world of "doing everything yourself", does it truly pay to do everything yourself in the long run?

Some mundane tasks may seem easy enough, like mowing the lawn or shoveling the driveway or changing the oil on your car, but if someone else could do those tasks for you, how much time could you devote to your next project?  An hour here and there adds up over time.

"But, Mark, these things cost money.  I simply can't afford to have someone else do everything."

I get it.  I really do.  I've been so broke (many years ago) that my checking account had a negative balance more than it did a positive one.  I recall the days when all I'd have for lunch are ramen noodles.  Been there, got the T-shirt.

But a little bit here and there pays off in the end.  I have a guy who mows my lawn (truth be told, my mower broke down and it was a hassle to try fix it, since that's another task I'm not real good at: fixing engines).  Now, my lawn gets mowed weekly, and it's trimmed nicely.  It's kept up and I don't have to devote the hour or two each week to do it.

What tasks can you delegate to others?

What more could you accomplish by doing so?

You Are Never Ready / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-July-2022

"When we save enough money, we'll start our business."

"When I make just one more pass through this book, then it will be done."

Let me give you a small piece of advice: you will never be ready.  Completely.

That book?  It'll never be completely ready, in your mind.  You just have to do your best work and then send it out.  Then, start on the next project.

That woodworking project?  No amount of sanding or honing will make it absolutely complete.  Again, in your mind.

You have to start.  And then finish something.  And then start again on the next project.

Sure, there are plenty of stories of famous people (thinking Tolkien here) who worked on a project for years and years.  What would've happened if Tolkien would've not spent that time on Lord of the Rings and instead published much more in the world of Middle Earth?

Start your project today.  Finish it.  Don't dwell on it.  Finish.

Then start on another project.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

New Story and Vacation / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-July-2022

During the last week of June, as Sweet Dreams was making its way out into the publication world, my intentions was to crank out a short story for the upcoming Writers of the Future contest.

Well, life got a little chaotic (but in a good way) and I decided to hold off and work on it for the next round.  I have a few thousand words into it, and I want to do it right.

Last week, I was in Whitefish, Montana on vacation with two of my kids, the new love of my life, and her youngest kid.  It was a fantastic time.  A much-needed vacation.

The Power Of Delegation / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-July-2022

You come up with a great product.  It starts to sell, either slowly or skyrocketing, it doesn't matter.  As your business grows though, you need to start delegating.

Why?

Because you can't do everything.  You just CAN'T!

Steve Jobs didn't do everything at Apple.  He handed those tasks off to those who were best suited.  The same thing with Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and every entrepreneur who has come up with a great product/business.

Even small businesses that only has one person running it (thinking of the local plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, or lawn care owner) may have to delegate certain tasks to others.  I've touched on this topic before, but some recent events urged me to bring it up again and expand on it.

Some may feel the need to be in control of everything.  Don't do it.  It limits what you and your business can do.  If Steve Jobs felt the need to do all of the accounting and also mow the lawn and empty the garbage cans each night, Apple wouldn't be what it is today.  Even as an author myself, I know there are tasks I can hand off to others so I can focus on what I do best.

If what you do best is the creative part, let others do the rest.

Next projects / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-July-2022

With the publication of my latest novel Sweet Dreams, it's interesting to figure out what to write next.  Like the majority of artists, we do not lack prospects.

What troubles us is typically . . . what to do next?  Which project strikes our fancy the most, the one just bursting to break free from our minds and out into the world.

I have a short story and then a YA novel that may be next on the docket.  The YA novel I started back in 2019, got about 50 pages into it, and switched to another project.

Now is the time to come back to it.

And the short story.  And that one I may submit to the Writers of the Future contest.

Sweet Dreams Complete / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-June-2022

Coming in at 116,000-plus words, Sweet Dreams is complete.

It is 560+ pages and I am happy with the results.

Here is the cover:

Here is the synopsis:

13-year-old HEIDI EARNEST has nightmares so frightening that, as the weeks and months go by, she is too scared to even fall asleep.
But she soon finds solace in a mysterious necklace and an even more mysterious visitor who frequents her nightmares.  Is this the cure she's striving to discover?  Or will it lead her further into darkness?

Here is a link to my site, with links to all e-tailers.

Sweet Dreams by Mark S. R. Peterson (marksrpeterson.com)

Enjoy!!!!

Filling Big Shoes / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-June-2022

A sales manager recently lamented on the fact that he had some big shoes to fill when he took over for someone with over a dozen years of experience.  A new pastor at a local church lamented similar feelings in regards to the predecessor with over three decades of experience.

Those with such tenured experience may appear to others that their job was easy, while one forgets that they too were also in the same boat as the new manager and pastor, just several years ago.

Forgive yourself.

Learn.

And move onward.

Things take time.  As the old adage goes: Rome wasn't built in a day.

As a new parent, one sees their own parents and admires them for all that they've gone through.  But once again, those big shoes weren't filled overnight.  They were honed over years of trial and error.

The same goes for a new artist.  Give yourself grace, try new things, and always keep striving to better yourself.  Those who are accomplished in the field you are aspiring into had their own trials and errors before they hit it big.

You may your own worst critic.

Quit being so hard on yourself.  Give yourself grace.

Again, it takes time.

Patience.

Nope, Not Done Yet / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-June-2022

With roughly 80 pages left to go, I am thrilled to be on the final leg of getting Sweet Dreams to publication.

By next week, I should be done and I can share the cover as well as the synopsis.

Until then . . .

More Editing / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-June-2022

Again, keeping this short today.

I am busy editing Sweet Dreams.  I am over the halfway mark, and I am very happy with the results so far.  I'm praying that I can get this published in the next few weeks.

As I get closer, I'll share the cover as well as a quick synopsis.

Until then, feel free to peruse any of my other works.  I have plenty to choose from, in a variety of genres.

If You Can Do It Better, Do It / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-May-2022

Critics.

People love to criticize the artistic works of others.

Love 'em or hate 'em, there have been critics for as long as humans have walked the Earth.  But some criticize far more than others.

I was listening to a podcast about the upcoming Lord of the Rings series coming to Amazon Prime later this year, and I was struck by how critical the folks were about the process and what story they were using to tell.  It reminded me of the criticism George R. R. Martin has received in regards to finishing his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire.

The same goes with other successful people, like Rowling and the new fantasy world she has created, and many others.

It drives me crazy when I hear about all the people speculating about this and that about a new series in the Marvel universe or Star Wars universe or whatever.

Me?  I just sit back and enjoy the show when it comes out.  No speculating.  Why?  It's a waste of my time.

I would rather spend my time creating my own worlds than speculating about others outside of my control.  Think about it for a moment.  Would you rather watch the movie unfold or actually be a part of it?

I go with the latter if my money is on the line.  I control my own creations.

Also, and here is the crux of what I'm getting at: if you think you can do better, then go ahead and do it.

Still Working / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-May-2022

Another short post today.

I'm in the middle of editing Sweet Dreams.  I'll share more of it in the upcoming weeks as the work comes to an end.

As far as what's next, I'm still pondering the next project.

Sweet Dreams Is Completed / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-May-2022

My current work-in-progress, a novel titled Sweet Dreams, is complete!

Wednesday, May 11, at 9:29pm, I wrote the final words to the first draft.  It is 566 pages long and is a staggering 115,962 words.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be putting the finishing touches, editing, and putting the cover together, and then it will be published in short time.

This novel had its genesis back in my college days, and was actually the second novel I had ever written.  I put it on the back burner while I wrote other novels and even edited it a number of times, before finally revising it close to 13 months ago, using the original draft as an outline for the current novel.

It turned out much better than I thought, and I hope you all love it too.  I will expand on what it's about in later posts.

Stay tuned . . .

The Long Road to Success / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-May-2022

The road to success is typically a long one, and is usually filled with many obstacles.  These obstacles, I believe, are designed to make us stronger.  If you are striving to a major life goal, your body and mind may be weary, but your spirit may be the only thing keeping you going.

Last summer I met someone who was working so hard toward a life goal, I can't help but admire and encourage her.

Today, my girlfriend Melissa (yes, she shares the same name as my late wife, which I can only fathom as being part of God's plan and impressive humor) graduates with her RN degree.  She has been an LPN for around 20 years, and even got her CNA when she was 16 years old.  She has been in the medical field for a very long time, in a variety of positions and specialties.  She started her drive toward her RN degree 5-6 years ago, taking classes here and there, before finally being accepted into the RN program.

Throughout all of these years, she has overcome a smattering of obstacles--none of which I will mention here but they would definitely rattle anyone's cage.  But not her!  I am utterly flabbergasted by her tenacious drive to succeed in becoming an RN.  Her next goal is to get her BSN degree, which is already in the works, starting this fall.

Her road to success is a long one, and I am so proud of all of her accomplishments.  I feel so blessed to be a part of her journey.

What are you doing to achieve your dreams?  What is your purpose in life, your burning desire?

13 Months / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-April-2022

By the end of next month, I should have my latest work-in-progress published.  And, as you may guessed it from the title of this post, it took me . . . drum roll please . . . thirteen months to complete.

As of this posting, I am over 109,000 words into it and I have six more chapters to write.

Now the big question: why is it taking me so long?  The book had already been written and I'm using the old pages as an outline.  So it really shouldn't take that long, right?

Right?

For me, that would be a solid no.  Although it is nice having the finished product to look upon, it actually drags me behind a bit.  And this is a longer book than what I normally write.  I have also found periods of time where my productivity has amped up immensely, whereas other times it has lagged.

This has been an interesting project for me to tackle.  What I will do is take what I learned on this one and apply it to the next one in a similar situation.  I have three other books that were written previously, and when I come to rewrite them, I may do things differently.

I will share details of this project as I come closer.

More Progress (And Pondering What's Next) / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-April-2022

I pray I don't jinx myself for saying this, but I will finish my current work-in-progress by the end of May 2022.  I started it on April 23, 2021, and boy am I ready for it to be completed.  Just to let you know, it wasn't that long ago, I was fearful that I wouldn't finish by the end of June, just before our planned vacation out west to Montana.

I have 6-7 chapters left (including an epilogue) and I have surpassed 105,000 words.  I have also surpassed 500-pages on Monday in the current document.

As I always near the end of a project, be it large or small or somewhere in the middle, I ponder what to write next.  I have many to choose from, and some stories are itching to get out into the world more than others.

Multitasking / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-April-2022

Multitasking.

Even just the word "multitasking" can bring a wide range of emotions.  But define what it is?  Is it doing many things in a single day?  Or doing several different things in a single lifetime?

John Grisham has done well with his legal thrillers, but he has also written other stories which has broadened his audience.  King has done the same with horror.

And I could go on and on.

Brandon Sanderson may be known for writing a lot of fantasy, but he has dipped his toes in many different realms in the fantasy genre, and with an insane output of words to boot.  He recently had an impressively successful Kickstarter where he wrote a bunch of secret stories while slated by contract to write another tome in his Stormlight Archive series.  And not just one, but four!

This might be an area we'll explore more later on.  The point of this is based from a TED talk I watched where the speaker gave examples of multitasking but this was over a person's lifetime.  I find it okay to do several different types of things, to spread out your talents.

Again, it depends on what your definition of multitasking is.

Another (Short) Story Completed / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-April-2022

As the end of the first quarter 2022 winded down last week, I decided to take a small break from my current novel and crank out a short story for the "Writers of the Future" contest.

I submitted it the night of the 31st of March, with a few hours to spare, so crossing my fingers on it.

Now, it's back to my current novel, which is still coming along.  I have surpassed 100,000 words, which is no small feat.

No Excuses / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-April-2022

I recently listened to a podcast interview Tim Ferris did with the one and only Neil Gaiman, and it struck me as odd that us creatives no longer have any excuses when it comes to creating our work.  None whatsoever.

In the interview (it is well worth the 90 minutes to listen to it; it is absolutely golden), Neil talked about how he wrote many of his stories using a fountain pen.  Yes, my friend, by hand.  No laptop.  No computer.  Not even a portable typewriter.

By hand.

He also said that while vacationing, he thought he brought materials to finish one of his novels, American Gods.  It turned out he forgot them behind, so therefore wrote more on his bestselling The Graveyard Book.  Funny how life turns out, huh?

Kevin J. Anderson, bestselling science fiction and fantasy author, dictates many of his novels in a recorder, then has them transcribed.

Years ago, I wrote a few short stories by hand at work, and I will tell you that it was liberating.  Writing out by hand makes one think more about the words they're putting down.

It is something I may try again, when I find myself either in a place where I didn't bring my laptop or I want to start scribbling some notes.

Eleven Months / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Mar-2022

Eleven months ago, I started working on my current work-in-progress.

And I'm still not done.

I am currently around the 95,000 word mark, and roughly 15 chapters left, including an epilogue.

Keeping this one short since I have a lot going on and working as much of my writing in where I can.  My current deadline is June 2022 to complete this.

Crossing my fingers that I make it.

Make Change A Habit / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-March-2022

Life is full of changes.

When my late wife got her cancer diagnosis in April 2011, it turned our world upside-down.  Life was an endless series of doctors appointments, trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (a 382 mile trip, one way), and the extra financial burden on top of it.  And then it was juggling events with three young kids.  Upon her return home in December 2011, what we could do seemed limited.

In March 2020, a virus took the world by storm, changing the way business was done.  My employer implemented a work-from-home model, something completely unheard of from them until that point.  Now, two years later, my employer is having the working from home folks return to the office on a hybrid model basis, part at home and part in the office.  Changes.  Many changes and unknowns.  A number of people were not happy about it, but, when you examine it closely, it depends largely on how you handle change.

In June 2020, I joined the local gym.  I had wanted to join for quite some time, but I could not afford it in terms of time and money prior to that point.  Now, I go there 5-6 times a week on average, and I love it.  It's a way of me getting out of the house and doing something to physically improve my health.

Most times, I am alone and can plan my workouts ahead of time.  But when I have something in mind, let's say I had a weights day previously and planned on a strict cardio day on the treadmill, and all of a sudden there are people in the gym and all of the treadmills are taken, what do I do?  I change my plans.

I have made change a habit.  Yes, my first reaction on change is a slight WTF moment, but it quickly subsides.

I urge you to make change a habit.  If you do the same thing all the time, you don't grow as a person.  Change is what makes us better.

Blog Post 1000! / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-March-2022

What started in June 2010, with hopes and aspirations of being a published author (although the idea of what that entails has changed greatly since then), has now grown to a regular weekly blog where I write about my current work-in-progress, thoughts of the creative process, the writing process, or even life in general.

Most blogs are written the same week they're posted, and in some instances the day before I have no idea what to write, but then something pops in and I toss it down on the virtual page.

Regular readers of my blog have witnessed my late wife's sudden illness with acute myeloid leukemia in early 2011, then to her passing in January 2020.

They have also witnessed the publication of my novels, short stories, and novellas/novelettes.

This is blog post number 1000!

Hard to believe I have written so many posts, that so much has changed.

Now, onward to the next 1000 blog posts!

In The Middle Of Nowhere / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-March-2022

A few weeks back I wrote a blog post about the myth of a small town.  I want to expand on that for a moment.

I may live in a town that someone has called "in the middle of fields and nothingness."  She meant it a as a joke, but at the same time there is a little truth to it.  With a little over 1,300 residents, there are two towns with roughly 8,000 people, give or take, about 20-25 miles away, and another town of around 60,000 about 50 miles away.

I have been through some parts of our country where you can go for several miles of nothingness.  Literally.

I'm writing this as more of an irritation I have when media hosts (whether it on TV, radio, or even on a podcast) says something is in the middle of nowhere and literally less than a half hour drive there is a sizeable town.  No, it may not be Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, or even Minneapolis, but they're large enough to house some bad, creepy individuals.

Our words matter, depending on your circumstances.  Just because a town is small doesn't mean evil doesn't reside in it.

Ed Gein anyone?

Just Publish It / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Feb-2022

I was listening to a podcast a few weeks ago and something was said that resonated very well.  The person on the podcast said that he attributed his level of success to this axiom: "just hit send."

Now, he was talking about sending an email about the services his business can provide, but under it all he was talking how we can edit our works over and over again, right to the point of death.  At some point, you just need to be done with it and move on.

The same goes for writers in general.  If you feel the need to edit your "Great American Novel" to death, it will not sound original.  It will not stand out.

And standing out is what you want.

Now, I'm not talking raw works that have no flavor or substances, full of typos and punctuation errors.  There are a variety of editing methods, so use the one that works best for you.  Some of the best authors edit as they go.

But don't "fix" your piece of work too much or else it won't sound original, unique.  Your voice will be missing, and it will sound like everything else.

How much should you edit is up to you, but I caution you to not overdo it.

This Book Is NOT For You / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Feb-2022

It's okay for your book not to be for someone.  Even though you may want the entire world to read your book, it will not happen.  No, it will NEVER happen.

So it's best not to even try.

Your best route to success is to find out who your book is for, so they can enjoy it.

And here's the thing: just because it's different doesn't mean no one will like it.  Many readers that I know get bored from the same old stuff.  They want something new.

A close friend of mine can't stand anything NR puts out (I'm putting this author's name in initials, but this author is uber-famous, has put out tons of books, and is quite successful).  I have read a few of NR's books and at first I liked it.  Then, the more books I read, the more I noticed that the ones that I have read all had similar plot lines.

But who cares?

Legal thrillers weren't truly a thing until John Grisham put them on the map.  Horror didn't go mainstream until King put them on the map.

And even then, there are readers who do not like JG or King.

Create the best product you can.  Publish it.  Then move on to the next one.

Marketing Wall Drug / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Feb-2022

The dreaded M word: marketing.

Nearly all writers that I know HATE to self-promote their own books--yours truly included.  They want nothing more than to sit in front of their computer and plunk words down onto the page.  Going on book tours or lining up interviews makes them uncomfortable and are seemingly a complete waste of time because it doesn't seem to coincide with a sudden spike in book sales.

If you go anywhere within a few hundred (or more) miles of the Badlands in South Dakota, you will see billboards galore about a place called Wall Drug.  I have been through the Badlands and the Black Hills area a handful of times in my life, and truth be told I have never visited the store Wall Drug.

But I remember the signs.

Even still to this day.

When it comes to writers, the axiom of keep publishing, keep putting more and more stuff out there in the world, seems to be the most valuable advice when it comes to marketing.  Are there other pieces of advice to market your works?  Of course.  But the best overall is to keep writing.

The more inventory you have, the better your chances of gaining someone's attention.  When I finish reading a book and crave something different, I go through my list of ebooks to discover an author I had bought their book long ago or something in my mind reminds me to check out their books.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race.  Look at the most recent theatrical or television or streaming adaptations of books to come out in the last handful of years.  The majority are from books written a few decades ago.

With that being said, if you like serial killer thrillers, be sure to check out the first in my Central Division series: Beholder's Eye.  It is free.

Here again is the link to all ebook retailers for this book.

Lastly, on my current work-in-progress, I have finished with the third part (out of four) and my current word count is around 89,000 words.  Hoping to be done with this and move on to the next project by early summer.

Finding Support / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Feb-2022

Who has your back?

You have been working on something for a long time--or there is something you have been putting off and now is the time to get it started.

It doesn't matter what it is.  A project for the home.  A side business.  Getting in shape.  Furthering your education.  Moving forward in your grief.  And the list goes on . . .

Whatever it is, you may find yourself asking who has your back?  Who is supporting you?

First, let me tell you that you should be supporting you.  You should be the one to put the full weight of your decision into whatever it is that is driving you.  Letting others in, especially at an early stage, may be disastrous.

But this depends on who it is that you are letting in.

Find one who will be both honest and positive.  They should be an encouragement to you.  If something is completely unrealistic--like, if I wanted to be the next great NFL quarterback, when I've never played football and I could care less about the sport--the feedback should be something you should take to heart.  But if you have been in the business world for a few decades and want to advance your career by going for an MBA, that is more realistic.

It may be difficult to find the right one to support you.  But, if you trust in God, the support will be found for you.

But as a first step, give yourself grace, be positive, and be your number one supporter first.

Pushing Out The Deadline / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Jan-2022

I was going to title this blog post What the heck happened to January? but decided against it.

As I near the end of January 2022, surpassed the two-year anniversary of my wife's passing, and celebrating my new life with my next love, I am realizing that I will not achieve publication of my work-in-progress by the end of March as I had previously hoped.

I am near the 84,000 word mark, and am still in part three--the novel is in four parts, so yeah . . . math.  One long book.

End of June, perhaps?

Myth Of The Small Town / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-Jan-2022

I've been listening to a few true crime podcasts lately (don't I always?) and the same phrase keeps popping up over and over again.

"It was a small town.  A place where everyone knew everyone."

FALSE!  UTTER BS!

I can speak with firsthand knowledge that, no matter how small the town is, no one can possibly know everyone.  Everyone will have a past or desire no one knows about.

Because, in many of the true crime cases, that someone who ends up being the killer is one they didn't suspect.

What does this have to do with writing?  Plenty, my friend.  You see, it all comes down to character development.  Call it creating a "round" character if you wish, but everyone has motives and events in the past no one knows about.

Use that creativity and shape memorable characters.

And please, for the love of God, do not use the phrase "a place where everyone knows everyone" at all.  Strike it from your vocabulary, unless you are making a satirical statement about it.

I have surpassed the 80,000 word mark on my current work-in-progress.  I have a goal to hit PUBLISH by the end of March.  But there is still a lot yet to write, and I am only in the third of four parts to the novel.  So it might be beyond that date.

Quick Update / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-Jan-2022

Just a quick update for this week.

I have been blogging since 2010, and in that time we have been on quite a journey together.  I've tried to keep up with this weekly blog schedule, and I believe I have succeeded.

No, that is not going to change.  I will keep this streak alive for as long as I am alive, for it chronicles the stories I have written, the troubles I have had, and the positive aspects too.

My current work-in-progress is over 77,000 words.  My goal is to complete it by the end of March.  I'm crossing my finger that I make it.

Starting Up Again / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Jan-2022

2021 is done, no matter your feelings toward it.

Now it's time to start back up again.

What are you putting off?

Start it.

Do it now.

I did only a little writing over the Christmas/New Years holiday, but now I'm back in full swing.  My plan is to complete it by the end of the quarter and publish it.  And, if time allows, I have a short story I want to crank out too.

Don't put off what you have been putting off.