And Write, And Write, And Write...

Okay, I get it. I'm taking this writing thing too seriously. I know I didn't start out that way. I remember writing short little stories when I was kid on my Dad's electric typewriter. I was swimming in sci-fi and fantasy visions even then. I can still remember the hum of the machine, the heavy striking of the keys that sent hammers out to cover the page of paper with letters, and inevitable use of the whiteout function. My dad brought home scrap paper that I used to tap out the little stories when I wasn't filling them with scribbles and pictures.

There was no thought for plans or hashing out details of career building. I  mean, I was a little kid. I was having fun playing with the typewriter. I was using my fertile imagination to create. I rekindled that  fun years later when I started messing with comic book writing. I wrote a short story in school. It was the only one I wrote and finished. Nothing more came of this thing called writing until I had consumed a fair amount of fantasy fiction. I am talking Tad Williams, David Eddings, and, yes, Robert Jordan. Epic stuff.

I started a novel and, a long time later, I did finish it. I've told that story enough. I've done tons of freelance writing, including articles and ebooks. I've written lots of short stories. I've written nonfiction and fiction books. The point is…I have been writing. I keep writing posts about how I'm having so much trouble writing, but I have produced a body of work. Am I meeting some self-imposed expectations? No. No, I'm not. And you know what? That is really okay. Or at least it should be.

I keep setting these goals and laying out expectations that I consistently fail to meet. Why do this? I reason that I need some level of organization if I am going to be consistent producing work and then finding paths to publication for the work. That's the more sophisticated thinking that I've picked up listening to other pro writers and since I became publisher.

But, I've misplaced the fun parts. I've got to recover the fun parts. So, I will keep writing.

Back On The Horse…Or Yep, I'm Writing Again

Seems like these points where I end up spending much longer away from writing fiction are coming pretty regularly. Maybe they're part of my process. The honest point to make is that it probably has a lot to do with procrastination. (I know, shocker right?) Anyway, I'm back on this blog writing something of an update.

First off, I don't have any new stories finished so I can add those to the list. However, I am working on a book. In fact, I could say that I'm working on two books. I've even put tracking meters up to show the rate of my progress on these two novel projects. Does this mean I'm not writing shorts or I've given up the challenge? Short answer: Nope. Not quitting. I'll get those stories done.

I'm just trying to get firing on some new work and thought it would be nice to have the meters up here for some form of accountability. Or just for fun maybe. I definitely don't want to do if it isn't fun.

I'm working on books. I might even have  nonfiction gig ramping up soon. I'll have to see what the client says when I present estimates. I like doing the co-authored work. It's fun to stretch myself as a writer. Part of that stretching surely happens when delving once again into the kind of nonfiction subjects I've written about before but I'd also add that I plan stretching in fiction as well. Particularly genres. But, that's all further down the pipeline.

Well, that's the update, folks. I'll catch you later. My collection of short stories Other Realms: Volume One  will be out very soon so I'll put something up about that in the next week or so.

NaNoWriMo 2013: Final Update

Despite my best efforts to cross that finish line, I did not complete 50K words on my novel Killer Of Dragons. My final word count was 32, 367 words. National Novel Writing Month is officially over. The next step for me is to continue working on this novel until it is complete.

I made some good strides this month even with life's familiar complications. I progressed farther on this book during November than any of the others. Though I have not done it yet, I believe that I will be able to write a novel in a month's time. There are tweaks to be made and flexibility is key to fitting in the right amount of writing into each day.

Writing every day is essential in this work. Each 1,667-word day matters. They add up and if you miss one they can quickly pile up to unrealistic levels. That is the main lesson for me this time. Do my very best to meet that minimal word count and I should have zero trouble getting to 50,000 words every month.

I am aware that not every novel fits neatly in to 50k. Some of them will be longer and that's fine. You just take the time necessary to get to the ending. Then the work of proofreading and checking the book takes over. That might spill over into the following month. That's also fine unless you're crazy enough to think you can write a novel every month. You might have to write more than seven pages a day.

Eight pages a day puts you a 2K words. That means you could do 60K in 30 days. Very nice.

Ten pages a day puts you at 2.5K words. That means you could do 75K in 30 days. Also nice.

If you want a fatter novel, say 90K, then you'd just have to write 3K words in 30 days. That's just twelve pages!

That's just a little math to put things into perspective.

I'm glad I participated in NaNoWriMo this year. I'll do it next year. With any luck, I will keep writing books in the meantime. Thanks for following along, folks. Later.

NaNoWriMo 2013 Update #3

Hit some roadblocks to writing lately. I've lost days with other business and in taking care of my son. Even the best plans are subject to the demands of reality. I only have about 10 days left in this month and that means 10 days to reach 50,000 words on this novel. The task has grown more difficult because the number of words I need a day keeps growing and the time I have available has been shrinking.

Does this mean I'm giving up again? No. Not yet. I don't like the idea of failing to finish NaNoWriMo another year. If I can reclaim time and if I can work around my other obligations more effectively then yes, it can work out and I can cross the finish line.

Right now Killer Of Dragons is at 13,663 words. Yeah, I know, I have to go a long ways to recover from this. Wish me luck.

NaNoWriMo 2013 Update #2

Well, I'm still writing the novel. Currently, Killer Of Dragons is at 10, 268 words. Given it is the 15th of November, I'm behind by about 15,000 words. It is the halfway point in this challenge and I still believe I will get to the end of the month with 50,000 words written on this book.

I've had gaps in writing this month which has upped the number of words I need to get written each day in order to cross that finish line. At this point, I have to write at least 2,500 words to have a shot at hitting this milestone. A few really good writing days where I could get over 2,500 maybe even double that would help give me more room to work out this book and have it completed ahead of the deadline.

Still, I am happy to be in this race. I've had enough of failure and am committed to seeing this through. I'm trying to see NaNoWriMo as a fun experience and one that can help liberate me. As  a writer I have goals. One of those is to be fast and free with my writing so I can write stories faster and in the white hot heat of the creative flow. And I want to be able to do it repeatedly.

I am trying to regain my footing so I can write every day though life does intrude with other important matters I know that I will make my way back to it. I hope everyone else participating in National Novel Writing Month this year is having fun creating stories and that you all consider publishing your works afterwards. Some of the best stories are written fast and furious.

See you at the finish line.

My First Appearance On TV

Just wanted to share this with my readers. I appeared on a local television news station with Brett Sheldon, my co-author on the book Kicking The Odds. We are trying to promote our book around the area through media sources and we do have plans to do some book signings throughout the spring and summer months. Brett, who is building steam as a motivational speaker, will be adding talks when he can and hopes to have opportunities to to talk at schools and other organizations. Other promotion efforts are being put into place. I hope you get a chance to read this great book. It was a wonderful story to tell. I did my best to give you a glimpse into Brett's life and how he has been able to overcome so many obstacles in his life. He is an inspiration. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.