I am quickly learning that one of the hardest things for a writer to do is to get and maintain focus. I feel as if sometimes I have my "Look! There's a Chicken!" moments... well, more than sometimes.
My affliction was brought into better focus this morning when I recieved an e-mail from my friend and editor, Karen Shor up in Erie, Pennsylvania. Now, I haven't read the whole thing (which I promise I'll do when I finish this blog), but what hit me was that I had given her the first few lines of a story I had started to write on and which I go back to every once in a while.
The working title of the story is Mayor of Middleburg. It's set in a small Texas town where no one has dared to challenge the mayor for re-election since anyone can remember. The hero in the story is goaded into running against this "Mayor for Life" by a same-sex couple who merely want city water and sewer run up to their house just inside of city limits.
Anyhoo, I got a running start on that story some months back, but put it on the back burner for a variety of reasons. Too many other distractions.
To date, I have several other stories I'm working on:
* The Magnolia Chronicles - A story about the arrival of a new pastor and his family in town.
* Return to Magnolia - Literally a chase, involving Glenn Michaels' son and a late night visitor.
* Short Stories - With Disclaimers - Putting some previously written short stories in a collection
* Whatever Happened to Suddsy Watters - Explained in a previous post.
* The Pecking Order - Small town expectations and what happens when someone exceeds their bounds.
* An untitled Murder Mystery - With a comic twist, no less.
* Geoffrey - A ghost story about a mischevious ghost living in an old house.
The last couple of nights I have been working diligently on The Magnolia Chronicles. Most of the story has already been written... all I need to do is to assemble the pieces and 'comb through' to eliminate any mistakes I may have made in the continuity of the overall story.
I'm making good progress. I have assembled about a third of the overall story, have another third ready to be installed, and have about a third which still needs to be written in order to tie all of the other elements together.
But I have come to the conclusion that I need to concentrate on getting those elements together. At the same time, I need to see about getting a 'day job' as well as working around the house (fixing plumbing woes at the moment) and paying attention to the fact that this is "Holy Week".
I thought that losing a job would leave me with lots of idle time. Boy, was I wrong. All I really need to do is to focus, focus, focus.
Damn! There goes a squirrel!
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Day Job
The day job ended this morning shortly after 8.
I had an inkling that the day job would be ending soon, so I was not surprized nor was I unprepared for the event. For that matter, I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I did, for all of about 20 minutes, but that was all. Either a window opens when a door closes or one makes lemonade when handed a lemon. I simply got busy.
For instance, my desk is clean for the first time in months as is my chest of drawers and the little area at the foot of the bookshelf. I have filled my 'DeColores' pen mug with actual working pens, got my tax forms from the library and have all of the little bits and pieces of paper with story ideas and plot lines all in one convenient place.
There is definitely a 'to do' list including doing some reading I have been woefully neglectful about, redoing my resume and working on a few church related things. I may even pay more attention to this blog if ever I get less busy between now and the next day job.
I look at my loss as opportunity. I've not really been happy with my situation for some time, now. I'm free... and that's scary.
We find ourselves bound to day jobs from time to time in our varied careers... leading lives of quiet desperation. We have to make a living. We have to eat; we need to have shelter. The ideal would be to have a job which not only takes care of the essentials, but also fills the need in us to aspire to a higher calling. While I am looking for my next situation, I will be looking for something that would appeal to my soul as well as my pocketbook. I will be looking for a situation which does more for me than enslave me.
Enough.
I managed to be in contact with a friend of mine who is looking at my endeavors and is looking for ways to help me in my next couple of books. This friend found herself in a situation similar to mine several years ago and managed to fight back. I threw her a curve ball... the start of a story which had been on the back burner since November. We'll see if it goes anywhere.
So... time's up. I need to get back to work. Lots and lots to do when one's day job goes away!
Be Seeing You...
bdharrell
I had an inkling that the day job would be ending soon, so I was not surprized nor was I unprepared for the event. For that matter, I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I did, for all of about 20 minutes, but that was all. Either a window opens when a door closes or one makes lemonade when handed a lemon. I simply got busy.
For instance, my desk is clean for the first time in months as is my chest of drawers and the little area at the foot of the bookshelf. I have filled my 'DeColores' pen mug with actual working pens, got my tax forms from the library and have all of the little bits and pieces of paper with story ideas and plot lines all in one convenient place.
There is definitely a 'to do' list including doing some reading I have been woefully neglectful about, redoing my resume and working on a few church related things. I may even pay more attention to this blog if ever I get less busy between now and the next day job.
I look at my loss as opportunity. I've not really been happy with my situation for some time, now. I'm free... and that's scary.
We find ourselves bound to day jobs from time to time in our varied careers... leading lives of quiet desperation. We have to make a living. We have to eat; we need to have shelter. The ideal would be to have a job which not only takes care of the essentials, but also fills the need in us to aspire to a higher calling. While I am looking for my next situation, I will be looking for something that would appeal to my soul as well as my pocketbook. I will be looking for a situation which does more for me than enslave me.
Enough.
I managed to be in contact with a friend of mine who is looking at my endeavors and is looking for ways to help me in my next couple of books. This friend found herself in a situation similar to mine several years ago and managed to fight back. I threw her a curve ball... the start of a story which had been on the back burner since November. We'll see if it goes anywhere.
So... time's up. I need to get back to work. Lots and lots to do when one's day job goes away!
Be Seeing You...
bdharrell
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Woot... I win!
My daughter, Sarah, has unique ways of celebrating little things. I can tell if things are going well with her if she just says "woot". If she says "Woot... I win", or even "Ha... I win", I know that things are going exceptionally well with her.
Today has been a "Woot... I win" sort of day for me.
It really started at about lunch time. It was too good a day outside not to spend it outside so I decided to tackle a project which had been haunting me for at least two and a half years. An acquaintance of mine had hidden a Geocache out along Wilson Creek shortly before it contributes to Lake Lavon at a large Sycamore tree which is, perhaps, one of the largest such trees in the State of Texas.
For those of you who are not familiar with my particular hobby, let me tell you that Geocaching amounts to a high-tech game of hide-and-seek where I use multimillion dollar satellites to hunt for Tupperware in the woods.
So anyway, I determined that I would go and find the cache hidden near the Great Texas Sycamore Tree. This was either my third or my fourth attempt to do so. The attempt demanded that I drive out to a parking area and hoof it four and a half miles in each direction just to get to the location, knowing that there was a possibility that my prey would elude me. To make a long story short, I found the damn thing!
Yes, it was worth it.
The walk was long and tiring and my feet hurt and the dog wants a walk, but it was worth it. Not only did I find an elusive cache, I was able to free my mind up a bit and talk over a few things with myself. For one, I came up with an exit strategy for the job I love to hate. That's something I have been contemplating for some time, now. Part of the reason I have been writing in earnest has been to explore another direction in my life. I have other options which I will be exploring here in the very near future, but writing will be among the ways I will attempt to make a living.
Which brings me to the other part of today's "Woot". I can now say that I am a professional writer.
Amazon informed me by e-mail this afternoon that I will be getting my first royalty payment sent to my bank account in the next few days.
"Woot... I win!"
Mind you, the payment is for roughly $22 and change, but it's better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Now, my problem is what to do with the money... or, more properly, what do I do with the notice sent to me by Amazon? There's really no way to frame the e-mail other than to print it and put it up that way, but it's not like having a check or a dollar bill to hang on the wall by my desk. What to do with the money is elementary. Spend it. Maybe I'll splurge on a trip to my favorite Chinese restaurant - Wen-Dee's, or put half a tank of gas in the car or go full out and buy something else totally useless.
Maybe I can make a partial down payment on a new pair of decent shoes. Nine miles of hiking around in the sunshine of a warm spring day looking for a geocache sure can wear down a pair of shoes, eh?
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
Today has been a "Woot... I win" sort of day for me.
It really started at about lunch time. It was too good a day outside not to spend it outside so I decided to tackle a project which had been haunting me for at least two and a half years. An acquaintance of mine had hidden a Geocache out along Wilson Creek shortly before it contributes to Lake Lavon at a large Sycamore tree which is, perhaps, one of the largest such trees in the State of Texas.
For those of you who are not familiar with my particular hobby, let me tell you that Geocaching amounts to a high-tech game of hide-and-seek where I use multimillion dollar satellites to hunt for Tupperware in the woods.
So anyway, I determined that I would go and find the cache hidden near the Great Texas Sycamore Tree. This was either my third or my fourth attempt to do so. The attempt demanded that I drive out to a parking area and hoof it four and a half miles in each direction just to get to the location, knowing that there was a possibility that my prey would elude me. To make a long story short, I found the damn thing!
Yes, it was worth it.
The walk was long and tiring and my feet hurt and the dog wants a walk, but it was worth it. Not only did I find an elusive cache, I was able to free my mind up a bit and talk over a few things with myself. For one, I came up with an exit strategy for the job I love to hate. That's something I have been contemplating for some time, now. Part of the reason I have been writing in earnest has been to explore another direction in my life. I have other options which I will be exploring here in the very near future, but writing will be among the ways I will attempt to make a living.
Which brings me to the other part of today's "Woot". I can now say that I am a professional writer.
Amazon informed me by e-mail this afternoon that I will be getting my first royalty payment sent to my bank account in the next few days.
"Woot... I win!"
Mind you, the payment is for roughly $22 and change, but it's better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Now, my problem is what to do with the money... or, more properly, what do I do with the notice sent to me by Amazon? There's really no way to frame the e-mail other than to print it and put it up that way, but it's not like having a check or a dollar bill to hang on the wall by my desk. What to do with the money is elementary. Spend it. Maybe I'll splurge on a trip to my favorite Chinese restaurant - Wen-Dee's, or put half a tank of gas in the car or go full out and buy something else totally useless.
Maybe I can make a partial down payment on a new pair of decent shoes. Nine miles of hiking around in the sunshine of a warm spring day looking for a geocache sure can wear down a pair of shoes, eh?
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Suddsy Watters
Last Thursday evening as I was helping to close the store, management inadvertently launched a new character. Inadvertent due to the fact that one of the assignments required was to mop a portion of the floor in my department. Normally I am loathe to do such tasks, but this time I figured that I may as well do a section of the floor as it appeared that someone had created a large spill earlier in the day. So... I went to the cleaning closet and filled a mop bucket in anticipation of my task and while doing so, I had an inspiration.
Suddsy Watters.
I started to imagine someone who was a kid's show host in the period 1959-1980. It was a golden period for that sort of show, wedged between mom's soap operas and dad's news late weekday afternoons. He was the person who introduced Three Stooges shorts, The Little Rascals or some sort of mindless cartoon involving cats chasing armed mice.
If you are around my age, you might recall some form of this type of character... growing up in the Cleveland area, I was a fan of Captain Penny on Channel 5. Channel 3 out of Huntington, West Virginia had Mr. Cartoon. The better half recalled watching "Miss Kittrick" on Channel 13 in Houston when she was growing up. There were dozens of these guys (and girls) who did essentially the same thing. One of the closest recreations I've seen recently was Michael Richards' portrayal of Stanley Spudowski in the Weird Al movie UHF. You know the bit... studio audience... the cartoons... the unrestrained commercial aspect...
The form literally died in the '70s due to a number of factors including the expansion of television news shows and the sheer costs involved in pulling off a live kiddie show five days a week. The advent of Sesame Street and similar educational shows helped to put the nails in the coffin of the kids shows, as well. Parents expected better than the mindless dreck and implied violence offered by some of the shows.
With a little help from my wife, Suddsy Watters started to have a life. We gave him certain traits - defined his TV personna (that of a loveable hobo) and outlined a story which I have started to fill in.
No, he won't be anywhere near Magnolia.
I am setting the story in the area of Richmond, Virginia... partly because I know of a nearby neighborhood where 'Suddsy' will be 'found' many years after his career collapsed. There are a few other factors which will play into the story line as well.
The next week will be dedicated to getting Suddsy Watters on his way... the following week, back to Magnolia where I am actively developing two stories at the same time.
-----
This past week has been beset with birthdays, including those of one of my brothers-in-law, three High School buddies and my favorite red-head in residence.
Suddsy Watters.
I started to imagine someone who was a kid's show host in the period 1959-1980. It was a golden period for that sort of show, wedged between mom's soap operas and dad's news late weekday afternoons. He was the person who introduced Three Stooges shorts, The Little Rascals or some sort of mindless cartoon involving cats chasing armed mice.
If you are around my age, you might recall some form of this type of character... growing up in the Cleveland area, I was a fan of Captain Penny on Channel 5. Channel 3 out of Huntington, West Virginia had Mr. Cartoon. The better half recalled watching "Miss Kittrick" on Channel 13 in Houston when she was growing up. There were dozens of these guys (and girls) who did essentially the same thing. One of the closest recreations I've seen recently was Michael Richards' portrayal of Stanley Spudowski in the Weird Al movie UHF. You know the bit... studio audience... the cartoons... the unrestrained commercial aspect...
The form literally died in the '70s due to a number of factors including the expansion of television news shows and the sheer costs involved in pulling off a live kiddie show five days a week. The advent of Sesame Street and similar educational shows helped to put the nails in the coffin of the kids shows, as well. Parents expected better than the mindless dreck and implied violence offered by some of the shows.
With a little help from my wife, Suddsy Watters started to have a life. We gave him certain traits - defined his TV personna (that of a loveable hobo) and outlined a story which I have started to fill in.
No, he won't be anywhere near Magnolia.
I am setting the story in the area of Richmond, Virginia... partly because I know of a nearby neighborhood where 'Suddsy' will be 'found' many years after his career collapsed. There are a few other factors which will play into the story line as well.
The next week will be dedicated to getting Suddsy Watters on his way... the following week, back to Magnolia where I am actively developing two stories at the same time.
-----
This past week has been beset with birthdays, including those of one of my brothers-in-law, three High School buddies and my favorite red-head in residence.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Reviewing Stand
The good news about publishing an E-book is that I don't have to tie up money in inventory. The bad thing about publishing an E-book is that I don't have any inventory.
My biggest challenge, now that my book has been out nearly two months is how to stimulate sales.
So, I am embarking on an experiment which requires a little bit of help.
I have purchased a guide which lists ways in which I can stimulate sales. One of the first things that I noted was that in order to get in on the front or even one of the side doors of promotion is to have someone write a review of the book and submit it to Amazon. Here's the catch... it has to be at least 5 someones.
I already have two reviews, for which I am eternally grateful, now I need at least three other reviews to see if I can generate some interest.
Volunteers?
As an incentive, I will e-mail (as an attachment) a copy of my short story "Ellen" to the next five people who respond to this challenge. It's a coming of age narrative set in San Antonio, Texas. I will also give a free copy of my next e-book when I finally get finished with it... some time in the next three months. The two existing reviewers will be getting their copy of my story here in the next few days.
-----
On another note, one of my sisters suggested that my next book be about 'zombies', or will at least contain 'zombies'.
I have never understood the fascination people have had with 'zombies' and aside from two movies I have enjoyed containing 'zombies', I have no interest in them whatsoever.
Sean (or Shaun or Shawn) of the Dead was a totally delightful film where the protagonist goes through the first part of the movie clueless to the 'zombie apocalypse' going on around him. There was definitely a great deal of British humor (humour) built into the film for this 'Python' fan, making it nearly a must-see or a worth owning. Four out of five stars.
Plan 9 From Outer Space - The classic 'stinker' made by Ed Wood was also essentially a 'zombie' movie. The inept writing and direction of this timeless movie never ceases to evoke a reaction... none of it anywhere near fear. I recall seeing it nearly 50 years ago on TV and even then, I was fascinated with the utter lack of movie making skills by Mr. Wood. Look for Bela Lugosi's final film appearance (all 30 seconds or so of it). Yes, I own a copy and no, I'm not afraid to admit it.
-----
So there. I've written two reviews. Pretty darn easy, eh? So... get your Kindles ready and start tearing my book apart!
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
My biggest challenge, now that my book has been out nearly two months is how to stimulate sales.
So, I am embarking on an experiment which requires a little bit of help.
I have purchased a guide which lists ways in which I can stimulate sales. One of the first things that I noted was that in order to get in on the front or even one of the side doors of promotion is to have someone write a review of the book and submit it to Amazon. Here's the catch... it has to be at least 5 someones.
I already have two reviews, for which I am eternally grateful, now I need at least three other reviews to see if I can generate some interest.
Volunteers?
As an incentive, I will e-mail (as an attachment) a copy of my short story "Ellen" to the next five people who respond to this challenge. It's a coming of age narrative set in San Antonio, Texas. I will also give a free copy of my next e-book when I finally get finished with it... some time in the next three months. The two existing reviewers will be getting their copy of my story here in the next few days.
-----
On another note, one of my sisters suggested that my next book be about 'zombies', or will at least contain 'zombies'.
I have never understood the fascination people have had with 'zombies' and aside from two movies I have enjoyed containing 'zombies', I have no interest in them whatsoever.
Sean (or Shaun or Shawn) of the Dead was a totally delightful film where the protagonist goes through the first part of the movie clueless to the 'zombie apocalypse' going on around him. There was definitely a great deal of British humor (humour) built into the film for this 'Python' fan, making it nearly a must-see or a worth owning. Four out of five stars.
Plan 9 From Outer Space - The classic 'stinker' made by Ed Wood was also essentially a 'zombie' movie. The inept writing and direction of this timeless movie never ceases to evoke a reaction... none of it anywhere near fear. I recall seeing it nearly 50 years ago on TV and even then, I was fascinated with the utter lack of movie making skills by Mr. Wood. Look for Bela Lugosi's final film appearance (all 30 seconds or so of it). Yes, I own a copy and no, I'm not afraid to admit it.
-----
So there. I've written two reviews. Pretty darn easy, eh? So... get your Kindles ready and start tearing my book apart!
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Back among the living - almost...
I am sitting at my computer terminal on a sunny Sunday afternoon, still a bit groggy from either lack of sleep or having had my teeth pulled or some combination of the above. The ordeal wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but in some instances it was worse. For one thing, I didn't feel a thing. The doctor and his assistant had me out and back in in no time... at least from my perspective. There has been no real hurt in comparison to the time I had two of my wisdom teeth removed when I was a teenager. Modern medicine has certainly advanced over the past few decades.
The biggest problem I have at the moment is that I don't believe that my doctor understands what I do at work, and my handlers at my day job don't understand what the doctor is telling me what to do and what not to do. To be more specific, my job requires me to play tiddley-winks with manhole covers; the doctor's instructions specify that I lay off heavy work for five days.
Oy vey!
There is no problem in as far as my avocation is concerned. I spent yesterday afternoon (Saturday) creating a chase from Houston to Magnolia with a couple of characters who meet by chance, yet are on the verge of finding out that they are tied closer together than they thought that they were when they meant. I actually spent six hours moving these characters over a thousand miles and three overnights in motel rooms while being chased by a pair of robbers who are intent on hunting them down and killing them.
I'm having a bit of fun with the story, you see.
When I'm not writing, I'm reading. I have picked up a collection of stories involving TOM SWIFT, the young inventor created by "Victor Appleton" back about 100 years ago. I read selected books in the series after having read the exploits of Tom Swift Jr. (written by "Victor Appleton II") when I was young. I still have a collection of the Swift books stashed in my closet which I read from time to time just for relaxation. The original set of books is somewhat predictable, involving the young inventor, his aged father and various auxilary characters who are inserted for dramatic or comic effect.
A couple of other oddities to note - For one is the author(s) breaking through the 'fourthe wall', addressing the reader directly as well as giving away tidbits of what will be happening in subsequent volumes. For the other, there seems to be lots and lots of eating going on. I read one of the books while sitting on the couch while the better half watched me snort and giggle about the mentions of food being prepared and eaten.
The newer Swift books are pretty much the same, except that Tom Jr. spent a considerable amount of time being hit on the noggin. What's this I hear about the ill effects of repeated concussions?
Anyhoo, it's good to be back among the living, albeit less a few teeth (with a promise that they will be replaced - eventually) and with most of my faculties intact.
Now, let's see how well I can advance the next set of stories...
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
The biggest problem I have at the moment is that I don't believe that my doctor understands what I do at work, and my handlers at my day job don't understand what the doctor is telling me what to do and what not to do. To be more specific, my job requires me to play tiddley-winks with manhole covers; the doctor's instructions specify that I lay off heavy work for five days.
Oy vey!
There is no problem in as far as my avocation is concerned. I spent yesterday afternoon (Saturday) creating a chase from Houston to Magnolia with a couple of characters who meet by chance, yet are on the verge of finding out that they are tied closer together than they thought that they were when they meant. I actually spent six hours moving these characters over a thousand miles and three overnights in motel rooms while being chased by a pair of robbers who are intent on hunting them down and killing them.
I'm having a bit of fun with the story, you see.
When I'm not writing, I'm reading. I have picked up a collection of stories involving TOM SWIFT, the young inventor created by "Victor Appleton" back about 100 years ago. I read selected books in the series after having read the exploits of Tom Swift Jr. (written by "Victor Appleton II") when I was young. I still have a collection of the Swift books stashed in my closet which I read from time to time just for relaxation. The original set of books is somewhat predictable, involving the young inventor, his aged father and various auxilary characters who are inserted for dramatic or comic effect.
A couple of other oddities to note - For one is the author(s) breaking through the 'fourthe wall', addressing the reader directly as well as giving away tidbits of what will be happening in subsequent volumes. For the other, there seems to be lots and lots of eating going on. I read one of the books while sitting on the couch while the better half watched me snort and giggle about the mentions of food being prepared and eaten.
The newer Swift books are pretty much the same, except that Tom Jr. spent a considerable amount of time being hit on the noggin. What's this I hear about the ill effects of repeated concussions?
Anyhoo, it's good to be back among the living, albeit less a few teeth (with a promise that they will be replaced - eventually) and with most of my faculties intact.
Now, let's see how well I can advance the next set of stories...
Be Seeing You!
bdharrell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)