How Could I Forget? / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Aug-2026

When you're working on your first story (or first piece of art or whatever you're doing for a hobby or business) it's easy to count the number of items you have created.  But as time goes on, that list begins to grow.

I highly suggest keeping a list of items you have created early on--very early on, in my opinion.  I have been keeping a list of stories I have written since I first started publishing, but truth be told I have written so much before that.

Over the past year I have been trying to be more organized.  I have a board behind me in my office that I have stories tacked onto.  Stories that are out making the rounds (i.e. Writers of the Future) and many that are works-in-progress.

Then, every once and a while or while I am going through folders (either physical or digital) I discover a story I either started or finished.  Or a story idea that was good at the time but did nothing with it.  Is the story still good?  Is it worth writing now?

I have three completed novels that I wrote long before I started publishing, and they are just sitting in the proverbial folder just waiting in the wings.  Two are horror novels and one is a large epic fantasy.  At last count I have well over 100 stories that I have either written/completed or have started to write.

And I am just getting started . . .

New Focus for 2026 and Beyond / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-April-2026

For the past few years, my focus has been on improving the craft of writing and publishing stories that I had already been written.  As you can tell from the last several months' worth of blog posts, I have done just that.

But what does the future bring to my writing?

One word: business.

I will be turning my focus of my writing toward the business side of publishing.  Learning more about copyright, contracts, trademark, and a whole host of other topics surrounding the business side.  I will continue to strive for improvement in the craft (I will always continue to push myself in that regard) but will be added the element from the business side now too.

To Each Their Own / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Dec-2025

There are times when people (usually authors) say or do things that make me shake my head.

Over a month ago, I came across a social media post by a local author.  This author stated that they had been chipping away at their next book (this author only has one book self-published) while starting school full-time to finish their bachelor's degree, volunteering at their church, being a parent to four younger children, and running a campground.  This author also wrote a weekly column for an area newspaper.  Quite busy, I get it.  Been there, got the T-shirt.

Then, this is the part that made me shake my head: this author had a conversation with one of their professors and, based on said conversation, decided to try the traditional route for publishing rather than self-publishing on the next book.

Pause . . . 

No, I did not comment.  Nor did I select an appropriate reaction to their post.  I just . . . moved on, all the while shaking my head in bewilderment.

To each their own.  If it works, I wish them the best of luck.

Deep down, I know this person will spend years regretting their choice.

Path Of Least Resistance / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Sept-2025

When I first started down the self-publishing path, there was a lot of trial and error.  More so than I care to admit, and much of that is between me, myself, and I.

Wait, let's back up.  To the beginning . . .

Yes, that far back.  When I first got an inkling, an inner spark, that I wanted to be a writer.  That urge to see my books on bookshelves, and in bookstores around the world.  Okay, maybe that's going back a bit too far, since that was 2nd grade and I was around seven.  Let's push the clocks ahead to my first few college years at Bemidji State University.  That was when I first started to get serious about being a writer.  I had a goal of writing one page a day.  That's it.  Then it was a bigger goal to finish the darn thing.  And I did.  It was a 1000-page behemoth of a novel in the horror genre (way too long, I know, but what did I know back then?).  Then I studied the market and sent query letters out to literary agents.

Want to know what I did next while I waited for agents to get around to reading my queries?  I started the next novel.  It ended up being another 1000-page behemoth, but the writing and finishing was easier this time around.  Why?  Because I had already done it.

With 38 individual works that I have self-published at this point, I have learned a lot and have set things up to make each story easier than the previous.  Since there is a standard template, that's where I start each new story.  I don't have to reinvent the wheel.  It's already done.  The path of least resistance.

And when it comes time to publish each new work, I already have the files set up and I have a checklist of what needs to be done.  Easy peasy.

As time goes on for the next quarter and beyond, I will slowly be adding things to do.  Easy things that have the path of least resistance.  I love learning new things, but I'm taking it one at a time, not overwhelming.  If it was, I'd probably procrastinate.

The Business I Am In / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Aug-2025

This classic scene in the hit show Breaking Bad sums up fairly well my feelings on what kind of business I am building.

No, ladies and gentlemen, I am not in the drug business.  But I am in the entertainment business.  Through my writing, I want to entertain.  That's it.

Realistic View Of Business / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Aug-2025

A few days ago, someone on social media (this person calls himself a "6-fig entrepreneur" which means this "entrepreneur" states he makes over $100K a year which is a flat out lie for a variety of reasons) posted this photo below, along with a statement about everyone getting comfortable doing what's easy, rather than what is difficult, and how he has achieved so much:

First, I want to point out how incredibly inaccurate this photo is when compared to reality.  No job, unless you are salaried (and this is for a single year, not over the course of a decade or more), stays completely 100% stagnant month after month.  And even then, there are increases (and other incentives) over the years and decades.  Also, for $2500 a month comes out to $625 a week (given a 4-week month).  Divide that by 40 hours is $15.62 or so an hour.  And so many jobs now offer that as a minimum wage.  Minimum!  When I was in high school, I made a fraction of that an hour for my grocery store job.  And if you wanted to make more money, apply toward a higher paying position or job.  You may have to work two or three jobs to provide for yourself and your family too, or even have a side hustle to bring in some money.  But the top line is highly inaccurate and should be angling upward and to the right.

Second, the bottom half of the photo is equally as inaccurate, if not more.  No business can sustain a growth trajectory of "up and to the right" all the time.  All business goes in cycles, even small businesses.  I work for a multi-billion-dollar company and its sales growth looks like a roller coaster over the months, years, and decades.

I hire a gentleman to mow my lawn.  That is his business.  A side hustle turn full-time gig.  He used to work a full-time job years ago and mowed lawns on the side, but the growth in his business over the years has earned him the freedom to do it full-time.  I can only speculate, but if one was to review his financials and chart it on a graph, he has a HUGE spike in the summer months for cash flow and a much less one during the rest of the year.  Now, this guy also has other side gigs in his business, from snow removal to vehicle detailing, to keep cash flowing during the "off" season, but the bulk of his business is during the summer when he mows lawns.

I am all for thinking positively and motivating yourself to better your life.  Why do you think I get up at the butt crack of dawn and write EVERY SINGLE DAY?  If you were to chart the cash flow for my writing business, it goes in cycles, much like a roller coaster too.  But I'm not going to lie, to call myself a "6-fig author" just to try impress others who don't give a rip about me.  Who am I trying to prove?  No one.  Also, I'm not going to boast about how much money I'm making.  Seriously, it's none of your goddamned business.

When it comes to business and money, keep it to yourself.  Seriously.  Keep.  It.  To.  Yourself.  Celebrate the wins quietly and, if you have to, only with your very closest loved ones.  Again, only if you have to.  Most of the time, I do not.  Whatever you do, don't boast online about what HUGE business you're doing when it's a complete lie.

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.

Questions / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Oct-2024

"How's the book coming along?" someone is bound to ask me.  At any time.

My reply is usually, "Which one?"

"Oh," they will respond back, "you have more than one?"

*sigh*

Although it has been a while since publishing my last novel (July 2023), I still write every single day.  My focus this year has been compiling short stories, learning more of the writing craft, and submitting these short stories for publication.

I still have over 30 published works.

Now, when I look to 2025, my focus may change once again and you may see more published works.  I'll still do short stories and work at publication that way, but you may see other novels being published too.

Dreams Are Great (But Ground It In Reality) / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-June-2023

You start a business.  You sell your first product.  Maybe you get a customer to sign a contract for your services/product.

Wow!  You are flying high!  You dream of vacations, houses, cars, all kinds of stuff!

Dreams are great.  I'm a dreamer.  But I am also a realist.  Having the responsibility of a family and current bills/debts, I cannot bank on my writing income to sustain me alone.

Maybe you just got your real estate license and sold your first house for a nice commission.  At what point to you throw all the chips on the table and go full bore?

These are questions you need to have with yourself (and loved ones), but honestly you'll probably just ignore me and do what you want.

My writing is what I love to do, and at this point is a side hustle.  There's nothing wrong with side hustles.  You need some sort of guaranteed income until the side hustle overcomes the day job.

And here's another piece of advice, to take or leave: do not proclaim every single victory from the mountaintop.  Keep them to yourselves, with the exception of your most loved one.  Celebrate the victories with that one, because chances are, they are also sacrificing something so you can do your dreams.

And, hopefully, one day that dream will become a reality.  But until then, keep your head down and keep working.

Lastly, have fun!

Planning For The Future / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-March-2023

Ironically, today is my late wife's birthday.  She would've been 51.

A few weeks ago, I read a blog post by Dean Wesley Smith on estate planning.  It is well-written and thought provoking, for sure.  Please take the time to read it, save it, and come back to it time and again.

It is selfish not to plan for the future, not to plan for your eventual demise.  It warms my heart to think about the words I'm publishing today producing fruit for my children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren and beyond for others to enjoy.

Do not put this off until tomorrow.  Do it today.

And do not--and I stress do not--instruct others to throw away your writing.  I can't think of a more idiotic way of disposing of your hard work.

If you don't know, there is a world of knowledge right at your fingertips.  Use Dean's post as a starting point.

Thinking To The Future / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-Feb-2023

A few weeks ago, a big-name musician announced that he sold his entire music catalog for (reports say) around $200 million.

I have mixed feelings about this, from an artist's perspective.  Obviously, my writing doesn't bring anywhere near this amount if someone were to ask me to sell my entire writing catalog to them, but down the road, what if someone would?

It's an interesting concept.

Now, a lot depends on the terms of the contract.  Would said-musician get all $200 million at once?  Of course, Uncle Sam will take a huge bite out of it, but taxes would come out anyway, even if it was much lower.

My first thought when I heard this was, "What about future heirs?  What about the rest of their life?  What if they create more music?"  The musician in question is very, very young.  Does this musician plan on not making anymore music?

If, over the course of their lifetime, the amount would bring more than what is offered, then it's a bad deal.  Then again, if you bank the $200 million (minus taxes) and invest it wisely, it may bring in much more.

I then ask, "Why not both?"  Invest earnings and continue to create?

Again, it's an interesting concept to ponder.  So much more than this tiny blog post.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.