Difficult Decisions / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Sept-2026

As I look at what I have accomplished so far this year over the past few years and what I want to do for the future, I am at a precipice.  I have some difficult decisions to make.

There are some things I have done, and done for quite some time.  But as I have now shifted to writing and publishing novels instead of short stories, and gradually seeing the fruits of those labors, I am reviewing what direction I am going.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what things could be stopped.  These were non-writing tasks.

Now I am evaluating where my time is best spent.

Starting Out Strong / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-July-2026

Hard to believe, as of this writing, that we are already in the middle of July.  It's been an interesting year so far.  Lots of stories being published, and lots of updates to older novels that just needed to be polished up a bit.

I am currently at work on a new novel.  I am roughly 26,000 words into it, and hope to get it out and published within a month.

My goal for the quarter is to publish two full-length novels.  I have other goals, but this one is a biggie.  I have a spreadsheet that I'm tracking my daily progress.  I have a daily, weekly goals, writing a particular amount of words in any given day and week to make that goal.

New Novel Completed - But Did I Fail? / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-June

I had a goal to complete two novels during the second quarter of 2026.

Needless to say, I did not complete that goal.  I wrote only one novel instead.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I wrote a novel within the last few months.

I had other goals for this quarter, but this one was by far the largest and most daunting (and can I say fun?).

Do I consider myself a failure for not completing two novels in 90 days?  Heck no!

When I look back at my output (I entered all of the word count data on a spreadsheet) I am immensely happy.  Now I know I can write a novel in 90 days.  It is a 75,000 word mystery novel (I had planned on at least at 60,000 word novel so maybe if it happened to be shorter I could've accomplished more?) and when I look at the days I committed, I had a great output.

But can I still do two novels in 90 days?  Let's see what the third quarter of 2026 has to offer?

Another One Bites The Dust / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-June-2026

 

Yup!  It happened again!

First, I am going to link back to these two blog posts, one from two years ago and the other back from 2017.  Here they are:

Views From The Outhouse: The Toxic Mix of Politics And Entertainment Creators / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-March-2024

Views From The Outhouse: The anatomy of a jerk / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Jan-2017

Well, it happened again.  A few weeks ago now as I write this (I typically write these a few weeks in advance, although the posts I've done lately on the short stories were done over a series of months) someone in the music industry now came forward and dishearteningly made a statement on them not participating in an event to celebrate . . . well, let's put it this way, instead of writing on the nose about this one and publicly stating who it is, let me just share that it's a leader of a band that I have been a huge fan of, and follower of, for decades.  Yes, decades!

All the way back to the mid-1980s rock scene, mind you.  Probably one of my favorite bands--if not my favorite.

Not any longer.

I unfollowed them.  Everywhere.  From all social media and even Spotify.

Am I being petty?

Maybe.  But as other entertainers have stated lately, entertainers entertain.  That's it.  Like me.  I'm a writer.  I write.  I write to entertain.  That's it.  Do not ask me my political opinion.  I will not state it publicly.  I do have views, I do have values.

I am just not going to share it.  There are better things to do.

Distractions And Focus / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-May-2026

There are a lot of distractions keeping you from achieving your goals.  Social media.  The news (is 24/7 news media really necessary?).  Politics.  Global events.  The stock market.  Funny videos/reels.  Online browsing, looking for deals.

You name it, it can distract you.

That is, if you let it.

I recently read a blog post (geared toward writers) about distractions and "how the world is right now" blah, blah, blah . . . 

Again, let me repeat: IF YOU LET IT.

What separates those who achieve their goals and those who do not is getting things done?  Finishing that novel.  Building that website.  Setting up that newsletter.  Submitting that proposal to whatever gatekeeper you name.  Finishing something, whatever that may be.

The phrase "how the world is right now" threw me for a loop because it all comes down to perspective.  Sadly, for many, their world revolves on who is sitting in the White House.  If "their person" is in there and "their people" are in Congress, then life is peachy.  If not, then it's all gone to hell.

For me, I don't like discussing politics (even with my wife, we don't like to discuss it, and we hold the same values and voted for the same) and don't like discussing politics with people who also hold our same values.  There are other things to talk about.  Family.  Dreams.  You name it.

Keep an eye on what is distracting you.  If it is demanding more and more of your time (there is a certain game on my phone that does that, and I am more purposeful on what time I devote to it) then you might ask yourself, "What's important to me?"

Is it your dream?

Or the distraction?

Mission Accomplished! Goals Achieved!

I did it!

Over the weekend, I finished publishing a horde of short stories to accomplish my 4th quarter goal of publishing a short story a week.  I will be posting a separate blog post for each story over the next number of weeks.

Now, I am in the process of starting on my next 5 things for the first quarter of 2026.  I still have a goal of publishing one story a week, whether it's a short story, novella, or novelette, and I have enough inventory to accomplish this.

What did 2025 look like for you?

What will you accomplish in 2026?

Pipeline For 2026 (And Beyond) / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Dec-2025

As 2025 winds down, I've spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas.  Not only for the upcoming quarter, but also for 2026 and beyond.

First, as I review the last three months of my "Next 5 Things" I have almost completed all 5 of my big tasks.  This is huge!  I have struggled to complete even 2-3 items on the list in the past, but almost all 5?  Amazing!  The last item to complete was to publish a short story a week, and honestly I almost made it.  I do not consider it a failure either even if I don't.  As you can tell from previous posts, I have published a LOT of short stories lately.

And there is quite a bit more too.

Then, I'll start compiling these into collections.

Fun times!

So, what is in the pipeline for 2026?

Aside from submitting a story each quarter to the Writers of the Future contest and getting more short stories out, I am in the middle of writing a vigilante thriller novel.  I am around the 17K word mark.  I have other short stories that I haven't finished either.  However, they may take a back seat as I may shift my focus toward getting more novels out there.

Lots to do.  Loads of fun!

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.

I Could Never Do That / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-Oct-2025

A few weeks ago, one of my daughters ran in her first full marathon.

When others hear about her accomplishments, their first thought is: "Oh, I could never do that!"

My question back at this is: Why?  Why could you never do that?  Barring any physical disability, what is stopping you from accomplishing and achieving your dreams?

I have heard the same thing about writing for all my life.  Others were so flabbergasted when they heard I was writing a novel back in college.  They'd ask, day after day, how much I had written and how long the novel was so far.  When it got past the 500 and 600-page marks, one even stopped believing that it was true.  She thought I was joking.  I wasn't.

Could I run a marathon?

Yes.

Not today.  But I could train for it, if that was what I wanted to accomplish.

Can I write a novel?

Yes, absolutely.  I've done it.  Several times.

Some tasks you do easily while others look at as insurmountable.

What's stopping you from doing something you want to do but somehow can't?  Want a hint as to who or what it is?  Look in the mirror.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What's In Mind For The Rest Of 2024 / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Oct-2024

At the start of the fourth quarter of the year, 2024, I'm mindful of what I have left to be done . . . as well as looking forward to what my plans for 2025 might be.

Wow, 2025!  Hard to believe with so much going on, in my personal, work, and creative life.  Seems like yesterday it was 2000 and then 2010 and 2020 . . .

But before we look to the future, to 2025, we have three more months left of the year.  My focus this year has been short stories, getting as many written as possible, and submitting as many as possible for publication.  I have gotten tremendous feedback, despite the lack of offers, but I can feel myself becoming a stronger writer.

Learning is a huge part.  I have taken a number of educational classes taught by the prolific Dean Wesley Smith.  One major class, which has had a huge impact, are the depth classes.  Those gave me a whole new perspective on stories and how they're told.

I'm going back through all of the short stories I have written since the middle of 2023 (there are a ton of them!) and adding in a bio along with an afterword.  It's been great fun rereading some of these stories and possibly coming up with a new series for a few of them.

Types Of Goals / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Sept-2024

I've touched on goals several times on this blog, and I want to enhance it a little.

If you're unfamiliar with Stephen Covey's time management system of the four quadrants, let me quickly summarize with this visual:

Now, where you want to spend the most of your time is quadrant 2.  This is where the works gets planned and executed.

For the longest time, I have planned out each quarter with my "Top 5" things to do.  But I recently discovered that this wasn't enough.  Back in college, I had a calendar where I tallied the number of pages I wrote in a single day.  I would total that number up each week, and it was my goal to make that number grow each week.

You may not have a top 5 for each day, but even a top 1-3 would make your life run more smoothly.  Set up daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and even yearly goals.  Each of these is different, and each works a different set of brain muscles.

Battling Complacency / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Aug-2024

It's easy to stay in one spot, be it career or job position or hobbies or place of residence or . . . well, just about anything at this point.

But what if . . . 

Now, I'm not saying that everyone should quit their job, abandon their hobbies, and move away.  But if you are given an opportunity to do something different, even for a little while, what's stopping you?

Best Time To Prepare / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-July-2024

There is an adage that says (I'm paraphrasing here): when is the best time to prepare?  Let's take retirement saving for example or career advancement.  Answer: five years ago (or some time in the distant past).  When is the second best time?  Today.

Obviously, no one has a time machine to go back, to give yourself financial or career advice years ago, knowing how it all ends up.  But preparing for whatever change is taking place, the best time is now.  Not tomorrow.  Not next week or month or year.  Now.

If you do not, then you'll look back five years from now and wish that you had done something different.

How is the world changing?  What can you do to study now that will pay dividends down the road?