The Time For Your Craft / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Jan-2024

I set my alarm at 6am every morning.  Well, not on the weekends, but during the week I do.

But I still write, no matter the day of the week.

We all feel like we're running a rat race these days, not knowing which way is up.  But if you are serious about your craft--whatever that craft is; in my case it's writing so that's what I'll use--you will make the time for it.  Even if you don't feel like it, carve out the time.  Even a few minutes here and there is good, although if you're serious, you'll want to set aside the time.

Lessons Learned From Hell's Kitchen / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Jan-2024

My girlfriend and I have been watching the Gordon Ramsey show Hell's Kitchen for the past few months.  We started with the latest two seasons, 19 and 20, then went back to the beginning.  It is interesting to see how the show has evolved over the years, season after season.

Now, full disclosure, my girlfriend has already seen most seasons of the show, and loves to see my reaction to who eventually wins each season when she knew typically about halfway through the season.  We are currently on season 10, and there are things I notice that each contestant of the show should learn.

Keep in mind, it's a reality TV show, which means it's not real.  Not reality.  Many things are set up for entertainment purposes, so a lot of the drama and back-stabbing I get is not real.

I wrote a blog post almost twelve years ago that delved into this very topic, about learning by watching TV.

Now, what we have learned so far is this:

First: never talk back to Gordon Ramsey.  Never.  No matter what.  Trust me, you'll regret it if you do.

Second: learn to take criticism.  He will call you every name in the book, but you should never take it personally.  He is testing you, to see how well you can take criticism.

Third: work hard and communicate.

Fourth: if you lost a certain challenge and need to do some awful task, do it with dignity and stop complaining.  All you're doing is making yourself look like a whiny prick if you do.  Also, when someone wins a challenge, be happy for them and keep working.

Fifth: if you win a challenge, it doesn't mean you are the absolute best.  And do not gloat over you winning the challenge.

Sixth: tell the truth.  Ramsey wants to hear the truth, short and sweet.

Seventh: stop victim blaming.  The reason a dish or dinner service didn't go as planned is just as much your fault as others.  Take it in the chin and move on.

Eighth: if something isn't the best, do not send it up to Ramsey.  Meaning, if you know something is under or overcooked, tell him immediately.  Communicate!

I'm sure there will be others that come up, but these are the top eight I can think of at the moment.  Now take these lessons into the rest of your life.

P.S.: Rest In Peace Petrozza.

Heading Into The New Year / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Dec-2023

At my day job, I ask my team members to look ahead to 2024.  What strategies are you putting in place to win?

The same goes for my own writing.

I have a strategy.  This strategy I am keeping to myself, but in a nutshell it involves focusing on writing, finishing, and submitting short stories to the short story market.

What are your plans for 2024?

Holiday Happenings / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Dec-2023

This week, I finished a short story.  I'm submitting it as part of a Kickstarter campaign I helped to fund.  It was originally going to be part of another short story submission, but this one fit better.

As we get closer and closer to Christmas, my family and I have been watching a long line-up of Christmas-themed movies.  From Christmas with the Kranks and Deck the Halls to A Christmas Story and Elf and everything else in between.

Making memories.

What do you think of when you think of the holidays?  From your childhood?

Merry Christmas!!!

Hitting Reset / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-Dec-2023

Keeping this one short again today.

As I reviewed the quarterly goals I had set, not only did I achieve a few, there were ones I hadn't even tackled.  It's okay.  A lot happened in the last three months of 2023.

But at the same time, I achieved quite a bit as far as learning, short stories written AND submitted.

Onward, and upward . . .

What Does Your 2024 Look Like? / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Dec-2023

 What does your 2024 look like?

And more importantly, what does it take to get there?

Be realistic in your goals, but at the same time push yourself a little too.  Knowing my limits and all the people/places that are vying for my time, it would be unrealistic to say that I want to finish and send out one short story a week.

But, I could push myself and say I could write two a month.  That's twenty-four in a single year.  Very doable.

Once again, think about your 2024.  What does it look like?

Another Story Done and Looking Ahead to 2024 / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Dec-2023

Another short story has been completed, sent off for publication consideration, and I am now working on the next one or three.  I do have three short stories planned out (all of these were done while sitting in the deer stand, waiting for that big buck to come along but didn't).  It's just to sit down and write them.

And, of course, there are other stories that crop up from time to time.  Ah, life as a writer . . .

Looking forward to 2024, I will be following the same path as I am now, which is focusing more on short stories and submitting them for publication in the short story market.