Daily Update: The writing on Of Gnomes and Dwarves begins
Yesterday was a good writing day. Almost 2000 words written. I like days like that. I got a tiny tiny start on Of Gnomes and Dwarves, but stopped. As soon as I realized that I didn’t want to main city to be named Wellshire anymore, I got a tiny bit stuck. So I’m going to spend a little time getting the names all in place, but the character descriptions filled out, make sure I have everything in place that might slow me down. I know the plot very well for the story.
Of Gnomes and Dwarves was the first book I had ever written. I started it in 1988 and had many false starts with it until 1997 when I actually got it done. Then I spent a couple years revising that story. It was a painfully long time to write a book, but I didn’t have the level of commitment that I have now. I also didn’t have the writing skill that I have now. I’ve written so many more words and I feel that I can now write the story that I always intended to write.
Maus, Willie, and Slick will finally see life. Reeg, Dorg, Hermin, and the entire cast of characters are just waiting for me to put pen to paper and write once more. When I had written these books (yes books) before I had written them at break-neck speed. I didn’t get them out they way I wanted. The characters took shape, yes. The story took shape, yes. But my voice wasn’t there. My storytelling wasn’t at the level I needed it to be to tell the story in the way that I wanted to tell it.
I feel I’m there now.
It’s not that I’ve run out of ideas. It’s not that I think Of Gnomes and Dwarves will be a multi-billion dollar best seller. It’s that this story is a very personal journey. I know I’ve got a great concept for the story. I’ve got fun characters. The pacing will be appropriate. I’m better at showing vs telling (something I still see in novels that will drive me nuts). I know now how to avoid the data dumps and tell the story that will provide the background of the characters. I’ll be able to get inside their heads as much as they’ve been inside my head over the years.
For 25 years I’ve had them all running around inside my head screaming, yelling, fighting, and waiting for their story to be told. I have a good idea how many books it will span. I have a majority of the storyline already plotted out for the books. I’ve got backgrounds for each character. Each event will build on a past that I’ve already laid out in my notes and build on the future of the characters. It’s all primed and ready for me to go.
So what’s been the hold up?
All these years I’ve listened to the saying “Don’t write about your D&D characters and adventures.” I’m breaking that rule now only in the fact that I’m putting my D&D Characters into a story. Not just a story, but a fantasy novel. The novel could happen with any group of characters. The fact that I already have personalities for my characters will just give the story that little bit of life that it has been lacking. Knowing how to get inside the characters heads and tell third person focused narrative will allow me to let the characters tell the story instead of me telling the story with the characters. I want to become invisible and let the story come through.
To say I’m a little bit excited about this project is an understatement. I’m convinced that I will finally be able to get this story out of my head. After all these years and all this time I’ve spent writing I will be revisiting a world that I left behind and haven’t visited in nearly fifteen years. I wrote four books and trunked them all. They’re now out of the trunk and will serve as notes, a plot outline, a guide. Little else. The writing isn’t terrible, but it’s not the voice I want to use to tell these stories. I can do better. I will be better. And the stories will be better for it.
I’m off to play softball today. I did start collecting duck pictures. I’ll get to posting those as soon as I write my duck post.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Book Review: 11.22.63: A Novel by Stephen King
11.22.63: A Novel by Stephen King
I listened to this book on audio. I’ve got a lot of things to say about this book so get ready. There may be spoilers. You have been warned.
As a Reader: Stephen King hit the mark with this one. I was disappointed with the ending of his last couple of books so as this one neared the end of what I thought was the end of the story. I was quite wrong where the story was going to end. It kept going, and going, and going sort of like the Lord of the Rings. I loved that it didn’t just drop me and leave me wondering or have some weird/corny ending that left me miffed that I’d wasted my time.
King takes us from 2011 back to 1958 several times. Each time things are reset. When George Amberson (the character’s assumed name in the past) stays longer to prevent the assassination of JFK things get weird. There’s a long time for our main character to wait. I had a little struggle with how easily he accepted this task from a person eh didn’t know very well. This part seemed to be glossed over in favor of the person going back to a past he had never lived in. It bothered me, but only slightly.
There’s a lot of fun King had in the past. It almost felt like he was reminiscing about his boyhood. Perhaps longing for a simpler time. I’m not really sure. There are a lot of side trails along the way to stop the assassination and I really didn’t mind them. This is what King does best is to draw you into the characters life. It’s like the end of the Dark Tower. It’s not about the Dark Tower, it’s about the journey. He layers detail upon detail in a way that builds a tapestry you can believe in and learn to love. Then he yanks the rug out from under you, stand you back up, dusts you off, and does it again. Each time you curse what the characters are doing to each other and the lives they’re ruining even though this is only a book.
The end had me tear up a little I’m not ashamed to say. King has a way to get you to really care for the characters. He’s always done that, I’m sure he always will. But the ending of this book (as he mentioned in the afterward) was inspired by his son, Joe Hill, who recommended a different ending. It was a drawn out ending, but satisfying. A very enjoyable ending indeed.
As a writer: Mr. King, please stop feeling like you need to intermingle your works. Yes, you had nods to IT, Christine, and other works I’m sure I missed. Let a work stand on its own. This bothered me to no end as it only provided lines of thinking that lead no where and annoyed me to no end. As did the pie throwing scene. I read Mark Evanier’s blog and he went on and on about this. I wish Stephen King would have as it does relate to the era. One pie = funny, many pies does not equal funnier. Also, they’re not real pies. I refer you to http://www.newsfromme.com/2011/12/13/recipe-corner/ .
I really enjoy how Mr. King doesn’t just have someone go and buy a jacket or a hat, or a gun, but will take a small bit of time to explain what it is, why the character is buying it, introduce you to the person doing the selling, and spend a little time doing some things that might otherwise be considered mundane. He makes them interesting and fleshes out a story in a way that makes the world feel real. He doesn’t skimp. He doesn’t take shortcuts. He loves to drag you along before he slaps you with the reality he’s built in a real and brutal way.
Recommendations: Other than that, I’ve got nothing to complain about. Not that I was looking for things to complain about, mind you. This book was wonderful. If you read it, or listen to it as I did, you will enjoy it. Stephen King is a master at what he does. He doesn’t write horror or sci fi. Those are only trappings attached to his name. He writes stories about people. People you will like, some you will hate, some you will come to think of as real people. I’ve always liked that about his work and 11.22.63 did not disappoint. Well worthy of your time. Do pick up this book. I can’t wait to see what Mr. King has in store for us next.
Until Next Time!
WOO WOO!
Unorthodox Writing Tips 29 – Control
My favorite daughter plays volleyball. They do drills over and over and over again. The girls are still learning the basics of the game and one of the things they’re getting better at is their platform. The coach gets upset when they don’t have the proper form. Yet still some of the girls will swing their arms out instead of getting into the correct position. Why? It’s easier to just swing your arms wildly and how for a good hit than it is to actually move your feet, set your platform, and hit the ball correctly.
The varsity coach has talked to the girls about this for the upcoming tryouts for varsity and junior varsity. He doesn’t want girls who just go for it. Aggression isn’t as important as correct form. Sure, the aggressive girl who swings at the ball might get seven or eight hits out of ten, but the girl with the correct platform and doing the drill correctly can be trained to his ten out of ten.
I did some body building for a time oh so many years ago. I’d see these ripped guys in the gym and they moved very slowly when it came to lifting weights. I asked my workout partner why they did the movements so slowly when it was easier to just pull hard and snap the weight up. He laughed. “Because you’ll hurt yourself that way.”
What I learned doing my workout the wrong way and the correct way was snapping up a heavy weight puts a lot of stress on your body, mainly your lower back, and joints. Whereas lifting the weight with slow, controlled movements meant it would take longer to do those ten repetitions, but I was getting a lot more from the workout by controlling the weight. You lift the weight slowly and count as your bring it up, and you lower the weight slowly taking just as much time to lower the weight. This control works the muscle harder, giving a more localized workout and not putting undue stress on your joints or lower back.
When it comes to your writing you need to take similar approaches. Yes, it’s easy to write by the seat of your pants. I’ve done that many times when I had just an idea to start with and just began with the banging on the keyboard and waited to see what came out on the other end. Normally I’d have an ending in mind and I’d work toward that ending. On other occasions I’d actually go through the trouble of plotting out a story and working my way through each chapter and then going in and writing. Both styles work for me and I can use which ever suits my needs at the time.
The point is, I have a method. I now follow that method when it comes to story creation and my writing periods. I don’t just ‘hope for the best’. I plan my time, I make better use of that time, and I’m a more efficient writer for it. It hasn’t been easy. I didn’t have a coach along the way to explain each misstep and tell me how to do it better or even where I was making mistakes. Those I had to learn on my own. I had to build my own base of knowledge to work from. Using that base means when I sit and write I’m comfortable with my style and I enjoy re-reading what I’ve written as much as when I wrote it.
Beyond that, I’m getting a lot more practice because I’m taking the time each and every day to write something or edit something and usually to read something. I know what works for me and what doesn’t and why. I can sit and start typing and come out with a great work count when I choose to. I’ve developed my writing muscles, I’ve established my writing platform, and I can bump/set/spike with less effort than when I started.
You need to establish your own level of control. It’s easy to sit and just start typing and want your writing to be good. It’s another to sit and make your writing good. Sure, firsts drafts will always be first drafts and require edits and rewrites. Even a second or third draft will require more editing and beta readers will point out plot holes and story issues that you’ve overlooked. You job as a writer is to write the best story you can. To do that, you need to practice. But don’t just practice, practice control over what you’re doing. Don’t just let the words tell a story, make them tell the story you want to tell in the way you want to tell it. The story may be very different in your head. Your job as a writer is to control the words you put on the page to convey the images you see in your head.
Until Next Time!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Organization
I’m not the most organized person in the world. I let my personal inbox overflow (I think I have over 2700 emails in there). Tools can be found in drawers, bowls, and boxes. My workspace is cluttered with things that I rarely use and somehow just never put away. My clothes rarely find the laundry basket and instead reside on my closet floor (the laundry basket is in my wife’s closet).
But not when it comes to my work files. I’m almost annoyingly organized. I have two hundred emails in my inbox, but only because I haven’t gone through them in a couple months. I could easily reduce this down to 50 in a matter of minutes, I just need to move emails into the proper folders for the given project. All of my programming files are organized into folders for different file types, related sites, and on and on.
I’ve taken some of this organization to my writing files as well and Scrivener has done wonders to help be be even more organized. Rather than have a folder with all my short stories, I have one scrivener file. Rather than have multiple books in a series in a folder. I have one Scrivener file. Rather than have one huge file with all my chapters in it, a separate file for notes, research, character sketches…Yes, I have one Scrivener file.
I’ve said before that Scrivener has changed how I write. I still type like a madman and let the story drag me along for the ride, but I know have an easier way to keep track of characters, places, events, personal items. I can set a word target for a chapter or scene and see if I get there. I’ve had a blast keeping track of all sorts of different things.
I’ve also got my spread sheet that I just love. I’ve organized my daily word counts broken down by blog posts and fiction. I can see at a glance how I’m doing. Where I’m at with my goal. How many days ahead or behind am I. How many words ahead or behind am I (for the record, I’m 20 days ahead of schedule for 2012). I’ve plotted out fiction word counts for JuNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo. I’ve plotted out how many words I need to write a day to hit my annual goal.
I had decided that at the beginning of the year I needed to treat my writing more as a part time job rather than just a “Hey, I think I should write something” and I’ve written nearly 200,000 words so far. I’ve done that by organizing my writing life rather than letting it just be like the clothes on my closet floor; something I’ll get to later. I’ve made myself accountable to more people than just myself. There are a lot more words to come out of me. Not because I want to be a writer or even want to be a published author. That’ll happen in its own time. But because I feel the need to create. And not just create stories. That’s the easy part. But to create stories that people want to read. Stories that keep people coming back. Told in a manner that people can appreciate.
Getting organized has helped me in getting a lot of words written not because I created a spreadsheet or started using scrivener. Rather because I could now see where I wanted to take my writing beyond the story.It’s made me open my eyes and see that I can write a lot more than I ever thought I could if I just got myself organized, sat down, and wrote.
Sure I get distracted by shiny things (like yesterday’s post about a new mouse I’ll be purchasing soon). That’s going to happen. The trick is to try and free yourself of the guilt and know that you have a job to do and you need to get yourself to sit down and actually do it. I also have a job, a kid in volleyball, a wife, friends. I do a lot of other things besides writing, but I make time to get the words out.
I’ve organized myself so that when I sit down to write, it’s as simple as opening scrivener and BAM! Start typing. I’ve got my notes, my character specs, my plot outline all in one, easy-to-reach place. No more looking through notebooks, folders, files, or even scrolling through the WIP trying to find that name, the color of the dress, or anything like that. I know where it all is and it’s drastically sped up the process.
Sure it took some getting used to. Everything does. But now that I’m five months into 2012, I’ve done a little house cleaning every day to get to where I am and now writing isn’t a chore that I do once in a while. It’s a joy I do every day. Yes, I said a joy not a job. I still treat it like a part-time job insofar as I need to sit every day possible ans write something, but it’s not a labor it once was.
Take a little time to get organized. I’ll go find some pictures of ducks to start posting. Then I’ll write about ducks.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Mouse Hunt 2012
As I said yesterday I’m on a mouse hunt. This will be a reward for getting to the halfway point of my goal for the year (225,000 words is the halfway point). Not only that, I’m currently 20 days ahead of schedule. I’m very proud of that. This mouse hunt is to make my right hand more productive. I want/need more buttons than my current mouse offers to allow me more flexibility and to one click tasks that currently require multiple keystrokes and mouse click combinations. As any good gamer knows, the less clicks, the quicker you can get things done.
This will be my initial thoughts on a new mouse I will be purchasing. If you have feedback on any of these mice, I’d be glad to hear them. If you’re not interested in mice at all, you may want to skip this post. There will be more tomorrow on me, my writing, and ducks.
Onto the Mice:
My current mouse is the iHome Five-Button Cordless Laser Mouse. This is a great mouse. I’ve had no complains. The battery life is incredible. It has an on/off switch. It’s got the (now standard) five button cifiguration (actually 6, but one is hard to press on the fly) plus a DPI switch from lots of DPI to little DPI. It also has some nice software to configure all the buttons except for the wheel tilt. I’ve reprogrammed two of the buttons but would like more flexibility with my mouse. http://www.amazon.com/iHome-Five-Button-Cordless-Laser-IH-M827ZB/dp/B0046XVW7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337271201&sr=1-1
Fist up (and probably my favorite choice) is the SteelSeries WoW Cataclysm. This thing has a whole lot of programmable buttons. It’s got five thumb buttons, three index finger buttons, three middle finger buttons, one ring finger button, DPI button, and the mouse wheel plus click. I’m not sure if it has tilt click or not. It also allows you to take multiple configurations as well as onboard memory to save the current configuration. That means I could drag this thing from one computer to another and not have to have a profile on each computer. I really like that. Only complaint I’ve seen about this one is the size and looking at the videos I don’t really think that’ll be an issue. http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-World-Warcraft-Cataclysm-Gaming/dp/B004GZ2RCY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337271538&sr=1-1
Next is the SteelSeries World of Warcraft Legendary. This is considered the smaller brother to the Cataclysm. It has a couple fewer buttons, but to be honest, I’m not a fan of the look of the mouse. I’m sure it works great, but the big old WoW logo on it is a turn off for me. I don’t think I’d want to look at that all day while I’m working (like I said, I want this mouse for work AND play). It’s got a similar layout to the Cataclysm and is slightly cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-World-Warcraft-Legendary-Gaming/dp/B005L38QHA/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337271538&sr=1-3
The Cyborg R.A.T. 7 (or 9 if you want wireless). This one looks to be a highly configurable mouse with so many options, styles, adjustments. I could probably spend a week just getting used to all the different ways to attach all the pieces and weights. The software to program it looks easy to use. It’s got a scroll wheel and a thumb wheel as well. This one looks weird and I love that about it. This thing looks CRAZY! It’s also highly customizable, but with fewer buttons. http://www.amazon.com/Cyborg-T-7-Gaming-Mouse-MAC/dp/B003CP0BHM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337271735&sr=1-1
The Cyborg M.M.O. 7. This thing is intended for MMO players. It’s got a LOT of buttons just like the Cataclysm. It’s also higlhy modifiable just like the R.A.T 7. The biggest difference? The price. It’s nearly twice the price as the Cataclysm. Other than the price, I love everything about this one. If it were a tad cheaper it’d be a top contender. Heck, it still might be. We’ll just have to wait and see. http://www.amazon.com/Cyborg-M-M-O-7-Gaming-CCB437130002-04/dp/B006LVZEN0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337271921&sr=1-1
The Corsair Vengeance M90 looks to be good competition for the Cataclysm based on stats alone. The biggest downside I see is that a majority of the buttons are thumb buttons. The layout looks better than other mice with multiple thumb buttons, but I’m a ‘claw’ mouser so I don’t want to have to rely on my thumb agility for every mouse click. It does look like a great mouse though. http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Performance-Gaming-CH-9000002-NA/dp/B005QUQP8A/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337272045&sr=1-23
The Logitech G500 looks like it could be a good, solid mouse. I’m sure it is. It doesn’t have as many buttons as I’m looking fro though. That’s the only draw back I see. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G500-Programmable-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B002J9GDXI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337272188&sr=1-1
The Logitech G700, on the other hand, has more buttons and is wireless. Both pluses. I’m sure I could get used to the button placement. It’s also a very nice looking mouse. It has five more buttons than my current mouse (possibly six more). I’ll need to read more about this one before I make a final decision. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse-G700/dp/B003VAM32E/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337272188&sr=1-3
On first glance the Razer Naga looks like it’s be perfect for me. It has a 12 key keypad on the thumb. That should be great, right? Like I said about the M90, I’m a claw mouser and I don’t think that many thumb buttons will work for me. I love the grid, it’s be great to program it, but in real world use, I don’t think this would work out for me. I like the G700 and the Cataclysm where the buttons are more spread out. http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Naga-Special-Molten-RZ01-00280500-R3/dp/B004AM5RAW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337272376&sr=1-2
Finally there is the Razer Naga Hex. Much like the Razer Naga, a majority of the buttons are thumb buttons, but in a much better layout. I like that. This makes it far more desirable than the Naga as I would get confused with a grid layout of buttons. A nice looking mouse as well and I’m sure it’s quite comfortable. http://www.amazon.com/Razer-RZ01-00750100-R3U1-Naga-Hex-Gaming/dp/B006W3ZXEW/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337272376&sr=1-4
So I’ve got a LOT to think about. I know that no matter which mouse I choose, I’ll be getting a batter mouse than the one I currently have. It’s a lot to think about and if you have thoughts, feel free to drop them into the comments. Help me figure out what prize I’ll get for hitting 225,000 words this year.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: I feel like I’m running out of things to say.
Today I sit here looking at a blank page. Words escape me. Some would call this writer’s block. I just feel like my brain is empty. It’s not that I don’t want to write, it’s that I’m not able to think of what to type. I figured I’d type up a daily update and see if words begin to flow. Some times that’s all it takes is a little kick to get things moving. Ignore email for a moment. Ignore the twitter feed for a moment. Look away from the comments on those blog posts.
It’s not that I haven’t been writing words. I’ve done a great deal of work today. I took a break intending to write this blog post and perhaps get a little written in Golden West and all I could do was stare at the screen and wait for something to fall out of my brain.
I’m pushing 200,000 words on the year. When I hit 225,000 I’m going to get myself a techy gift. I like to do this for myself and I feel the halfway point is a good time to do that. You may ask yourself what I’m thinking about getting. I’ve been asking myself the same thing.
I’m a mouse fan. I’m not a big fan of ‘hotkeys’ of key combinations. Yes, I know them. Yes, I use them. But I want a mouse with a lot of buttons. One that’ll allow me to do multiple things with my right hand instead of typing. Yes, I currently have a mouse with two regular buttons, a scroll wheel (that clicks and tilts), the back and forward buttons and even a button above the scroll wheel. There is a DPI button but I cannot modify that one. The mouse I have is the iHome (I forget the model) and it was $40. It’s a very nice mouse. Lightweight, cordless. It’s a good mouse.
I want something better. So I’ve been on the hunt for a mouse with multiple buttons. Yes, more buttons. I want a mouse I can program so rather than do all the hotkey combinations I need to do, I can just click and go. I know having a mouse with more buttons will take some getting used to, but I’m prepared for the challenge. I have a few I’m looking at, but rather than cloud your thinking with that I’m looking at, I’m curious what others who have multi-button mouses are using and why. I’m a programmer, not a gamer, but I’d like a mouse that would work for both (eventually)
If you aren’t using a standard mouse and you have one with more than your normal share of buttons, what is it and why did you chose the one you have? How do you like it? Would you suggest that mouse? Does it have multiple profiles available? It is easily programmable? Are the keys easy to get to? Is there a steep learning curve or can you just plug, program, and go? Can I easily program a macro ‘on the fly’?
Like I said, I’m at 192,000 words and when I get to 225,000 I’m going to be getting a new mouse. I’ll take pictures, leave a review, post my thoughts and opinions on it. It’ll be just like a book review. What I like and why, what I don’t like and why. This is a present to myself. I’m not shy about price if the product is a good fit for what I’m looking for.
Are you a mouse manufacturer? I’d be happy to do a review (I can also do a video review) if you send me a mouse. Again, I’m not an avid gamer, but I’d find a lot of other uses for a mouse being that I’m a programmer and speed is the key. How quickly and efficiently can it assist me with tasks I do over and over in a given day.
See, I’m now primed and ready to do more. I knew once I got started I’d be able to pound out some words. I think I’ll go pound out some more.
I didn’t post about ducks yet, did I?
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: A good day.
Yesterday I got some good writing done on Golden West. I’m only 1/3 of the way through the episode and already I know it’s going to be a great cliffhanger. With three under my belt, the episodes are off and writing themselves. In my mind I’m already thinking through the next episode as well as the next season.
This is something I brought up with Mike when he thought that perhaps Boyscouts of the Apocalypse might not go for a second season. We discussed that it would be find to change it out for another story. The same would work for Scott if he feels that his story doesn’t continue into a second season. Perhaps he can use the same universe with a new character. The three of us will have to have a meeting soon and talk.
Speaking of talking, Mike and I did talk last night. As I’ve done to him many times he had to delay, delay, and delay some more. I’ve done that to him more than once. I took advantage of the time and got my writing done. I managed nearly 2500 words yesterday even through multiple interruptions. I’m going to try that again today though I doubt it’ll happen. Tonight I have a lacrosse game for the Millican’s son to go to as well as my favorite daughter having volleyball practice. Both are at the same school so I’ll be bopping back and forth between the two. It’ll be a hoot.
Work might actual have a slow period. That’ll be a plus before things ramp back up next week and the week after. I’ll be installing one project, ramping up for a new project, continuing with some lease roll projects. All this project management has helped me get a better focus of my time and usually helps with planning out my day and even when interrupted, getting back on the horse where I was and continue. Be it with a piece of code, a piece of story, of just getting a thought completed.
I know for some writers interruptions can be the death of flow. Last night I had many such occasions, but I’ve gotten to the point where I can brush them off and dive back in. It’s sort of like when someone wakes me up from a dead sleep. I can wake up quickly, do something, lay back down and I’m asleep before you know it. Others get woken up at night and have difficulty getting back to sleep. The same thing seems to work with my flow. As I’m typing this post, my favorite daughter it telling me about her day. I’ll stop, look at her. Listen. Then go back to my post. Sure it’s distracting, but life won’t always give you a quiet three hours a day to sit and get your writing done.
I’m going to try and take advantage of a little of this quiet time and get some more done on Golden West before practice and the lacrosse game. Last time we went to the game ducks flew over our heads and it reminded me that I need to get that duck post written. Soon. Very Soon.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: What a weekend.
This weekend was Mother’s day. I called my mom and we talked for a good long time. My mom owns a bar in the back woods on Minnesota so if you live in that area, let me know and I can tell you how to get there. She is AWESOME! My brother brought friends home from the Navy and she had the distinct pleasure of making sailors blush. She is a woman who’ll say what’s on her mind and not hold back. Ever. She might bite her lip or wish she’d not said something once its out, but she’s not going to hold back. You want her opinion, just ask.
I called my step-mom. She is also an amazing woman. Her and my father started up Murdock Laboratory twice. They moved from Minnesota, to Colorado, back to Minnesota, back to Colorado where she now resides. Since my father passed away she has taken on the running of the household and business on her own. The strength she’s had to continue I find admirable. When I used to call home I’d talk to my dad and I never really got to know her. I’m glad to say that I’ve not allowed her to unnoticed, but I have let her know that I’m sorry if she ever felt unappreciated by me. Since my father’s passing we’ve become much closer and I’m glad for that.
I also called my brother’s wife. He was in school on Mother’s day so they had celebrated the night before. She is also an amazing woman. My brother met her in Japan on one of his many tours over there. She made the difficult decision to come back to the United States to be with him leaving her family back in Japan. She’ll be taking a 10 hour flight back there for a month visit with their two children. I don’t know if I could do a 10 hour flight with a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. She is a brave, brave woman.
Saturday we went with the Millicans to Old Town. We had a great time going through a little market that had one of the side streets closed off. I wanted to buy a Godzilla sculpture made from wire, gears, chains, and spark plugs. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. The artist had a number of other cool sculptures also made from similar items, but none as cool as Godzila.
We ate at the Old Town Cafe. A wonderful place to eat. I had lunch there with CJ and Debbie when they came to town last year for Comic Con. I’ve never had a bad meal there. The hand made tortillas are just incredible. A little butter and yum yum yum.
Sunday was spent with the wife’s family. It was pot luck. We brought clam chowder (and didn’t bring any leftovers back home). There was a lot of food and we only got a little left over chicken to bring back home. Everyone showed up and it was great. I had a beer for the first time in months. My mother-in-law (another incredible woman who raised 7 children) was doing great. All my wife’s sisters (and their children and grand children) all came over. Yes, great grand kids were there.So we had four generations from my wife’s family there. It’s impressive when everyone shows up.
I had no intention of doing any writing this weekend. None at all. I did my very short blog posts and that was it. I did get some reading done and I need to do a review of Flash Gold. I picked up this novella for free. I’ve only read a few free books I’ve picked up and this one was great! Watch for the review in the coming days. I also picked up The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories(http://www.amazon.com/The-Weird-Compendium-Strange-ebook/dp/B006TXZD3G/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). This is 750,000 words of fiction goodness that I’ll be dipping into time and again over a very long period of time. Definitely not something I’ll get through in one sitting. I also picked up a few more books. I’ll have to post what I have on my kindle app one day.
I did also get through a terrible free story that I picked up. I would review it, but it was just awful and I have no desire to admit that I’d actually read the entire thing. It was a short story, but between the bad writing, the foul language on every page, and a story that really didn’t get me to like any of the characters, I don’t think this one deserves my time to review.
So it was a great weekend. I hope you and your family had a great weekend as well. I hope you called your mom (if she’s still with us).
I need to get to some more editing and some more writing. New stories should be coming from me soon! I’ll write about ducks tomorrow if I can find the time.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Mother’s Day
Today was an awesome day spent with family. I called my mom, step-mom, and sister-in-law then spent the rest of the day with the wife’s family. It was great to see everyone there.
Very short post again today as I ate too much and I am crazy sleepy.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Jack Kane Edits are done
Last night I had a marathon of editing and I got through the rest of Jack Kane. I got through the last third of the book and my oh my does my brain still feel like mush. Not in a bad way. More like the way when you decide to walk for the first time in months and you feel wiped out but there’s the surge of endorphins that makes you feel elated. I’m riding that kind of high today.
What Mike and I created together is a fun, fast-paced book. It’s still got a couple of holes that Mike and I will likely pass back and forth and fill in, but over all it’s a fun story. A little more polish and we’ll get it sent off to beta readers, some editing friends, and then it’ll be the big agent hunt. Our intention is to find an agent or publisher for this book. We’ve already talked that one through.
We’ve both read and re-read all the talk of going Indie, contracts, royalty rates, and the like. At this point in our careers it’s a matter of gaining momentum. Once we have that momentum, there’s nothing wrong with creating another property and going Indie. It’s a matter of keeping an eye on the contracts to make sure all the clauses are in order. I also have friends that know contracts and have offered to give them the once over to make sure we’re not signing over rights that we should retain.
I was going to write a long post about “To Indie or Not to Indie” but I will write that when my brain isn’t as mushy as it currently is. I tried to read a little before I went to bed and I could barely keep my eyes open. I also slept in until nearly 9AM. That hasn’t happened in a long time and it felt great. Nearly 12 hours of sleep. After the week I had and getting through the edits of Jack Kane, I think I earned that little nap.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I don’t know when I’ll get around to my daily update so Happy Mother’s day to all you moms out there. I hope someone special in your life makes the day extra special for you.
Today is too beautiful of a day to stay inside. Tomorrow I’ll write about Mother’s Day. And Ducks.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
J.R. Murdock 