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.