Game Changer / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-April-2025

I am going to pause on sharing my experience with Heinlein's five rules of writing to share something that has absolutely changed the course of my writing.  To simply call it a game changer doesn't do it justice, but it truly is.  Not only is it a game changer, I now view stories in a whole new light.

Emotions.  Opinions.  Five senses.  Or in a single word: depth.

Author Dean Wesley Smith has an extensive lecture series on what it means to have depth in your writing.  It is well worth the money for the 7-course bundle, or you can go through each one individually too.

If anything, take the introductory Depth in Writing class.

Trust me, it's a game changer for sure.

Because after I took the class, my stories changed and were noticed more than before.

First Rule: Write / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-March-2025

The first rule Heinlein set out was  . . . well, you must write.

This sounds simple enough.  If you're a painter, you need to paint.  If you're a woodworker, you work with wood.  If you love fixing up old cars, you must have knowledge of auto mechanics.  So writers must write.

This doesn't necessarily mean "butt in chair" in order to accomplish this.  And one also doesn't need a computer or laptop in order to do so either.

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, known for writing large epic fantasy novels, writes using a stand-up walking desk.  Another fantasy/science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson takes his writing outside, hiking in the Colorado mountains, while using a handheld recorder to dictate many of his stories.  Neil Gaiman writes many of his tales by hand, in a notebook, using a fountain pen.

My earliest recollections of writing were when I was in second grade.  I would grab a notebook, scribble out a title, and then start writing a few pages before moving on to the next tale.  I never finished (oops, getting ahead of myself with rule number two), but I started many stories.  In 7th grade, I upgraded to a typewriter (imagine the one in the movie Misery).  I churned out 30-40 pages, single-spaced, of a ninja trilogy before stopping and never finishing.

It wasn't until I went to college at Bemidji State University that I wrote on my Brother word processor and became more serious about my writing.  There were many days where I wrote every single day, even if it was just a page or two.

Rules For A Reason / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-March-2025

Everyone loves rules, right?

Oh, you don't?

Well, you're gonna like these.

Or are you . . . ?

In 1964, science fiction author Robert Heinlein wrote an essay in a collection titled Of Worlds Beyond.  At the very end of the essay, almost as an afterthought, he stated his five basic rules of writing.  Keep in mind, he was talking about fiction, and speculative fiction to boot, but this can be used for all writing.

These simple rules are:

1) Write

2) Finish what you're writing

3) Do not rewrite except to editorial review

4) Put your story out on the market

5) Keep it on the market until it's sold

Sounds simple, right?  Not so fast, Sparky.  When you peel back the onion, you'd be amazed at how many people can't do even the most simple of these rules.

In the upcoming weeks, I will dive deeper into each of these rules, how they shaped my own life, and how you can use them to shape your future.

Also, you may think this is only for writers.  Wrong!  These rules can be put in place for any hobby that you want to take to the next level.

Be Healthy / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-March-2025

Late Monday night, I got hit with something (I'm still leaning toward food poisoning) that nearly took me out of commission for Tuesday and into Wednesday.  Needless to say, I got absolutely no writing done for a few days.

That being said, it's always good to be mindful of one's health.  Have regular check-ups with your doctor.  Do NOT skip them.  In fact, if possible, once you leave your appointment, schedule the next one.  Because once it's on the calendar, you won't forget.

This goes with everything, from dentists and eye doctors to your regular medical doctors and specialists.  What are you missing?  Don't skip it.

What's Up With Diners? / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-March-2025

When I reflect back on a number of my latest stories, many are set in diners.  Mostly roadside diners AKA greasy spoons.

Truth be told, I have never, ever worked in a diner.  Not even in the food industry.  However, I am fascinated by it and watch many shows about the food industry.  Many by Gordon Ramsey.  The Food Network is my jam.

I honestly don't know what my draw is to diners.  Or even restaurants in general.  I have zero desire to own one, to work in one, but I certainly write about them.

My latest novel is a cozy mystery set in a roadside diner.  I'm nearing the 30,000-word mark.  I'm hoping to have it completed by the end of this month.

When you look back at the books you read--or, to the authors, to the books you write--is there a common setting or theme?

Reliance On Power / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Feb-2025

The other morning, I woke up in the middle of the night to a deafening silence.  There was no hum of life.  No whirl of the fan in our room--or in any other room.

The only sound was the low ringing of silence . . . 

I sat up in bed and discovered that the power was out.  It was three in the morning, and although the streetlights were on, our electricity was out.

This happened late July last year, and the height of summer, in the sweltering heat, and most of the town was celebrating their annual festival.

It's interesting how much we rely on electricity.  Without it, there is no internet.  No computers (well, we can still work on our laptops, but if we rely on going to the internet or cloud for anything, we're screwed).

Growing up, we used to spend a lot of time at my grandparents' cabin in northwestern Minnesota.  It was so close to Canada, we could walk to the border.  There was no electricity, no running water.  If you needed to use the bathroom, for us males it was either pee in the woods or drop your drawers in the outhouse.  I loved it out there.

Imagine what your life would be like, even for a few minutes or hours, or even days, without electricity.

22K Words and Counting / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-FEb-2025

A quick post today.

I am over 22,000 words into my new cozy mystery that I'm writing.  It's been fun working on it, and going in directions I hadn't planned--which is usually the way I roll, since I don't outline ahead of time.

I have other publishing news too, but I'll wait on that until I know more.

Greener pastures revisited / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-Feb-2025

Last week, I touched on this subject of always looking elsewhere, never sticking with one thing, even though it's working.  Keep in mind, it may not be working as fast as you wish, but there is truly nothing long term for those seeking quick riches.

Many years ago, I sought out literary agents through query letters, for possible representation to publish my novels.  I repeated the process over and over again.

Then, I heard about self-publishing and was curious about it.  I researched it--I read about vanity presses and didn't want to go down that route--and then decided to dip my toes into the self-publishing waters in April 2012.  It was a small nonfiction book, but at the same time I was still writing and submitting with minimal success.

Once I dipped my toe in and researched more on it, I tried one last push for an agent, even connecting with them on social media . . . but in the end I self-published my books and have never looked back.

Will this work for everyone?

Everyone's path to success is different.  But when something doesn't work right away, don't dismiss it right away.

Some things take longer than others.

Patience . . .

Greener pastures aren't much (if any) greener / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Feb-2025

Looking elsewhere may seem like the grass is greener than where you are standing, but in most cases it is not.

What am I getting at?

Let's say, for example, that I write a bunch of stories in a certain genre and it doesn't seem to stick with readers.  So I pick another genre and do the same thing.  Nothing.  Then I see that a certain new genre is making the charts so I switch to that.

Again, nothing.

What seems to be the problem?  Well, it's . . . you.  You are the problem.  Work on improving your craft, whatever that may be, because switching genres or moving to a larger city, just because you think you can gain more sales (even though you already have existing clients) is the wrong move.

Because when you get there, the grass looks like where you first were.  In fact, it may even be worse.

More on this next week . . .

First Month of 2025 / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-Jan-2025

The first month of 2025 is in the books.

How has it been going for you?

Aside from challenges at work--my day job--my writing is progressing very well.  I am almost 13,000 words into a cozy mystery story--the first in a series.  I also have submitted a few short stories for publication, and I am still waiting on a number of others.

All in all, I am pleased.  Could it be better?  Sure.  Am I disappointed?  Nope.  Every step forward is a step closer to success.

Even if you have five minutes to work on something, commit to those five minutes.

It's Okay To Say No / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-Jan-2025

Last week, I blogged about my latest podcast fast.

This week, I'm taking it a step further.  I said no.  I said no to contributing to a Kickstarter project by someone that, if the project went high enough, it would've allowed me to write a short story for their magazine (a magazine that never opens for submissions unless by this method or by invitation) for submission.

I have contributed to their Kickstarter projects before, sometimes with the sole purpose of allowing me the invitation to submit to their magazine.  I am still waiting on a handful that I sent them--I seriously doubt any of them would be picked, but it's the feedback that I want more to help me become a better writer.

For the past few years, I have focused solely on short stories, and now I am back in the novel writing mode.  I am over 10,000 words into a new cozy mystery series, and I am loving it!  But because I'm loving it is the reason I said no to contributing to their project.  I still could've enjoyed the stories that went with the project, but this time I said no.

And that's okay.

What have you said no to lately?

And if you haven't, what should you?  Your time is precious.  Protect it.  Dedicate it to your craft, whatever it is.  The world will be a much better place if you do.

Podcast Fasting Revisited Again / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-Jan-2025

I have done this before, either cut down on the number of podcasts I listen to or pause listening to them altogether.

Well, I'm at it again, pausing them in its entirety and revisiting the list that I do have and possibly cutting them down.  Are there new ones to add?  Possibly not.  Are there ones to cut?  Possibly.

I looked at my podcast list and discovered I had not listed to a podcast since the end of October.

Why is this?

A number of reasons, truth be told.  I have some changes at my full-time job which is causing me to focus more of my energy on learning new work processes.  Also, I am listening to more audiobooks, so my listening is not completely going away.

Last year, I focused a lot on learning new writing techniques and writing short stories.  Now, I am writing a new novel (in a new series).  It is a cozy mystery series and I am around 6,500 words into it.  I am having a blast writing it.  I have a short story that I am using as the basis for it, but for now I am keeping the details under wraps.

Not Going As Planned / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-Jan-2025

You can plan and plan and plan all you want, and when it comes to doing something, always expect something to not go as planned.  Expect the unexpected, as the old adage says.

I've written a fair amount of stories.  And even if I do some outlining (which is usually minimal at best since I typically write into the dark with no plan in mind), something unexpected crops up which takes my story into another direction that I hadn't planned.

This past fall, my wife and I hired a contractor to help do some remodeling in our house.  New flooring, windows, doors.  Every step along the way the contractor has hit a roadblock or two--nothing being his fault, since he is at the mercy of the window/door manufacturers or the lumberyard in question.  Even the original patio door was two feet wider--yes, I said two feet!--than the old one.  The contractor measured it correctly.  Again, when it was ordered, it was ordered incorrectly.

One of the stories I had just submitted to Writers of the Future at the end of December was like this.  I had something in mind for how it would go, but suddenly as I wrote a scene early on, the story took a turn in another direction.  In my opinion, the story is much better than what I had anticipated.

The New Year, New Goals / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-Jan-2025

With the new year comes new goals.

2025 is now upon us, and with that, for myself, I will be taking a different direction for my writing than what I have been doing these past few years.

As you may recall, I have been focusing on short stories--writing them, submitting them.  I have quite the backlog of stories now to choose from and, honestly, I miss writing novels.

With the new year comes the new goal of getting back to writing novels.  I will still write short stories, especially for anthology calls, writing workshops, Kickstarter campaigns, and of course Writers of The Future.

But my main focus for 2025 will be writing novels.

First up is a new series.  It is a cozy mystery series that has been brewing--pun intended--for several years and now I'm ready to start writing it.