Surpassing The 60K Mark / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-Feb-2023

A quick update today on my current work-in-progress.

Earlier this week, I surpassed the 60,000 word mark and I am just plugging on ahead.  I have a goal to finish by April 1st, if not before.

Then, I am thinking about what to do next.  It'll be something different.

Stay tuned . . .

From A Widow's POV / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-Feb-2023

Last weekend, my girlfriend and I watched the movie "A Man Called Otto" starring Tom Hanks.

Given that we both had lost spouses, and from what we heard about Tom Hank's character, we had reservations about the movie since the character Otto was a widow, but we knew it would be good.  And it certainly was!  One of the better movies we had seen since Top Gun 2, which was also amazing!

Looking at the world through the lens of a widow/widower is not easy for some and not quite so difficult for others.  Both of us seem to be in the former camp now, as we have strong values when it comes to how we view death.

We are both Christians and with that comes a strong sense of faith and belief that death is not permanent.  We will both see our former spouses again in Heaven one day.  And that is not to say we do not grieve our former spouses.  We do.  But with our values, we have found a way to move on and live life the way God wants us to.

On a side note, there was an element to the movie that gave me pause on a personal note, and it will be a topic that I will dive into down the road.  I'm just not ready at the moment.  That topic is suicide.

But that, my friends, will be for another day.

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.

Sports, Baseball Cards, And Other Unfamiliar Things / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Jan-2023

Most, if not all, who know me, know that I am not a sports fan.

So why in the world did I start writing a book about baseball (and baseball cards) is truly beyond me.  But that's the way creativity works, I guess.

My current work-in-progress is a Middle Grade novel, inspired by my oldest daughter when we were out tossing a softball around many years ago.  The title struck me right away (I will share this at a later time), and I've had it on the backburner for a long, long time.

When I started it last summer, I didn't quite know the exact direction the story would go.  Well, truth be told, I never know the exact direction any story I've written goes right from the beginning.  Stories unfold as they're written, like opening a Christmas gift you have no clue as to what it is.

I knew the story was going to be about baseball and softball, the latter I'm slightly familiar with as I used to play on a youth softball league in my younger days.  Most of the kids in the town I grew up in played on this league, boys and girls.  But it soon delved into unfamiliar territory when baseball cards came into the story and, soon, baseball and sports in general.

I've done enough research to not completely botch it, but I know there will be details others may point out.  I don't care if I botch it, but I do care to write it with just enough authenticity that it appears I know what I'm talking about.

If you run into unfamiliar things, embrace it and learn.  Not that I'm going to turn into a sports fan or even an expert in baseball card collecting, because I'm not.  But learning new things has been quite fun.  Who knows where it will all lead?

It's Okay To Reset On Stalled Project / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Jan-2023

I'm not saying my current work-in-progress is stalled completely, but I'm at a point where I'm not clear as t the direction of the story.

All I need is time to think.

I've had a few things going on in the past week that has stalled this project a bit, but not completely.  My mind is still working, sorting out details and asking questions as to the direction on where the story is heading.

Never fear, it will be done.

So I took a few days, hit the pause button, and am now refocusing on the project.  I have no doubt that it will turn out well in the end.

Quick Update / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Jan-2023

Been a busy week with other non-writing activities--and writing, of course.

I am currently over 52,000 words in my current work-in-progress, a middle grade baseball-related novel.  My initial deadline was February 1st, but that will more than likely be pushed out a little bit.

But no worries, the story is plugging away and I'm loving it!

The Past Isn't Always Your Future / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Jan-2023

"I'm always bad at math!"

Or fill in math with something else.  Listen to what you're telling yourself.

Listen for the word . . . "always."

If always is followed by something negative, stop thinking about it.  Strive to think the exact opposite.  I recently had a conversation with a younger person who said they were always bad at math because their Dad was bad at math, so therefore they will always be bad at math.  I wanted so bad to reach across and yank the word "bad" and "always" from their mouth.

Then, I tested this person on some flash cards.  Out of two hundred, this person got . . . three wrong.  That's it.  Just three.  And it was multiplying large numbers too.

If you find yourself saying that you're bad at something, do something to fix it.  Or remedy it in a way in your favor.  For myself, I'm not much of a DIY person and would rather hire someone to do a job professionally.  The time spent on other tasks I know I'm good at, to help pay for those who are good at other tasks, is time well spent.

But if I truly had to, I could figure out a way.

Because there always is a way.