Been Eventful, I’ll Tell You That

Well I’ve been away in Windsor watching over my sister’s two cats for the past two weeks – with good result – the cats survived, their level of pampering was maintained and they were allowed to prove their dominance over me by constantly making me let them in and out on a whim.But it was more than just the cats comfort that made this trip away from my wife worthwhile.

As I already posted, I submitted, for the first time ever, a novel to a publishing house. It wasn’t long after, that I finished the  first draft of the sequel to that submitted novel and, finding myself with more free time than I expected, I decided to go ahead and start the third. The third is coming together on the screen and in my head and I’m glad I decided to just ‘keep calm and carry on’

I have also managed to squeeze in some time for working on three short stories. I had sent them to my editor a little before I left and she sent them back with all her comments that are always insightful and helpful , both technically and creatively. I have done work on honing those stories into sharp little gems and am getting closer

The other notable thing that happened during this away mission was that, after twenty years, I finally bit the bullet and got a tattoo.  I am s very glad that I did. Not only is the image now on my arm amazing and meaningful to me but I enjoyed the process. I foresee more tats in my future

There – you area all caught up. Now I’m going to relax on my own couch for a change.

I Have Been Remiss

I know some of you read this because of my writing updates and I have been remiss in keeping those up. If you are really looking to catch every update on the writing side of my life you can do so over at my Facebook page – it is nothing but me talking about my writing.

So here is the latest few entries I made to make it up to any of you that care about that part of my life.

 

Today was less about words written and more about things accomplished.
I finished the first draft of the short story I was working on ‘Do As I Say, Not As I Did’, plus did a first edit of the short story I completed before that – currently titled ‘Just A Pine In My Back’, and started a new short story.
The new onet is going to be the story I started a while ago which then turned into the second of my paranormal P.I. novels. I am going back, rewriting most of it while keeping it true to the origin and concept I had when I first approached it. It will be much different then the direction the novel took.

The new short story is tentatively titled ‘Sort of Stolen’.
I think my word count for today is around 700 – not great but not bad because I also did some editing on the last two short stories I just wrote.
I am enjoying this run of short stories. There is a distinct difference in writing them compared to novels. They further a character in interesting ways as well, I find.
If I can get these three shorts done and then go back to work on one of the two novels, I would be a happy man indeed.

Today, I wrote just over a thousand words on the latest short story ‘Sort of Stolen’.
This is will definitely be the last short for a bit. I am enjoying it but the style difference to a novel is getting to me. I will finish writing this and do the edits needed for all three short stories then see where I stand on what to do next.

I had hoped to to get this last short story ‘Sort of Stolen’ written toady and 2000 words later it is.
I like it. It is tight and tells the tale I wanted to when I first started it, without any of the clutter that ended up getting caught up on it.
The ending might need some tweaking – I’ll do some editing myself and then see what my editor has to say about it.
It also is another short one around 4000 words. It nice to know I can write something under 7000 words still.
I did another edite the last one I finished, ‘Do As I Say, Not As I Did’.
Tomorrow, I will do another round of edits on all three short stories and maybe, if she has the time, send them off to my editor.

That’s all for now folks – thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to follow (and like) my Facebook writing page.

 

 

 

Kinda Wishing The Myans Were Right

Although this month has been a bad one and really shows no sign of letting up (wife in psych ward while I suffer one of my worst cycles in a long time – wife’s grandmother dying and being buried on the 24th – can’t drive truck because can’t get a temporary sticker {who knew you could only get two} ) I am going to post the good things that happens in the last little while.

First, this month has shown the kindness and patients my families and friends posses — from going out of their way, both in time and distance, to drive me in damn near every day to see my wife while I could not trust myself behind the wheel, to donations of money to help make sure we both had everything we could need, to delivering wood to my house AND cutting it up so I could keep the house warm and support and concern for us both.

Second, my wife is doing much better and came home yesterday (which gives 2.5 – I get to sleep in again because she can let the menagerie out in the morning) the new medication she is on is helping a lot, now that they have a more accurate understanding of her root issue.

And third – I wrote today!

This is a sign of my coming out of my cycle and a wonderful release for me.

(For those of you who do not care about my writing – this is the end of the post. Have a wonderful Holiday Those of you who do care – well here’s the details.)

I managed 500 words (and a short paragraph of point form notes on what comes next) and it felt great.

I worked on a short story that I had started a while back because I did feel like writing and wasn’t going to get that if I worked on the novel I had to put aside during my cycle of insanity.

It is a good thing though because all the short stories I’ve started, but have yet to finish, haunt me and nag at me/ This one is now that much closer to being able to be put in the ‘finished file’. The more I have in the ‘finished file’, the closer I get to having a collection of short stories featuring my paranormal P.I., that I can hope to publish after the two novels.

 

 

 

What a World!

Well, this weekend past I attended World Fantasy Convention and what a great time I had. That is no real surprise though – I can’t see how I could have gone wrong at a World Con.
For those who don’t know – World Fantasy Con is a convention for and about writers and writing. The panels are about themes, troupes and concepts and even world creation, publication and author interaction. It is a swirling whirlwind of authors from all different walks of life and degrees of professionalism.

Cons like these inspire and allow authors to meet, and connect, with others in their field – or editors, publishers and even reviewers. There are party rooms and drinking and while it is fun it is not entirely frivolous. This is not a convention for fans or followers or LARP (live action role playing). It does not revolve around entertainment of the masses. World Cons are a blast – but for those of us who think discussing the meaning of the term ‘Urban Fantasy’ and what it truly means, or covers, is fun.

So obviously I had a wonderful time and another World Con(either fantasy or horror) could not come to Toronto again soon enough for me.

Their was always food available (and yummy food at that), the alcohol flowed, the other people attending where friendly, fun and welcoming. Charles de Lint was there having impromptu jam sessions in a unused side lobby during the evening. The volunteers worked like mules with smiles on their faces and the whole show seemed to run effortlessly because of them. Those on panels did their best to inform, entertain and educate. The bag of goodies that came at sign in, made me think I’d entered the mail room of the north pole on December 20th and then I found the book exchange table and made out like a bandit.

If you are a writer – no matter what level you are at – and a World Con come to your area – GO! It is so worth every penny.

Burning the candle at both ends is bound to get wax on the keyboard

I am trying to maintain a schedule of edit/rewrite; my goal being an average of ten pages a night. I say average because that way I don’t beat myself up overly if I don’t do any work one night but pull off  fifteen pages on two other nights – it’s simply less pressure and I seem to actually accomplish more that way.

My current project is my paranormal investigator novel; ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ and I am enjoying the edit/rewrites I am doing. However, looming behind me and before me, actually,  is my other novel, the urban fantasy; ‘Veil’s Child’.

I am trying not to think about the fact that soon I will have to wade through all of the advice, comments, and suggestions made by my editor and proof readers so I can come out on the other side with as perfect a story as I can. My ability to put off the thinking about it is not perfect. An author friend directed my attention to a small press which may just be a perfect fit for the story and lately my wife’s reading and commenting on same have brought that novel further to my attention (not that I haven’t loved having my wife’s thoughts – for more on that there is THIS). I know, however, I can’t divide my thoughts.

So I am dividing them anyways. – Yeah, I suck at following my own advice.  Have I mentioned I’m bi-polar?

Part of me is dreading, looking forward with enthusiasm, and already – editing the other novel. The other part is whistling a tune by a band named Creepshow so it can’t hear its partner and is eager to leap forward the moment my fingers touch the keys.

I am at the half way point with ‘Tomorrow Wendell’ and because it is on the shorter side of the term ‘Novel’ I won’t be at it too much longer, which is good. Once I’m done, I can shop it out to those patient people willing to read and comment on it while I make the necessary changes to ‘Veil’s Child’.  Which will, of coarse,  start the cycle all over again.

I have a few short stories I’d like to finish, and a couple novels I’d like to revisit, and even one or two I want to start. This could start getting dangerous for my mental health if I don’t sort it all out soon……

Oh – right.  Well they say you have to be crazy to want to be a writer…. I definitely have the first part down pat, lets hope I can score on the second half too.

And now I have to go as some sheep just stampeded through my living room…