I'm actually writing the fantasy novel that's been bouncing around in my head for about 15 years!!!
Really, this thing has been growing like fungus in the back of my brain, and now the spores have finally burst. I have my oldest son and Dungeons and Dragons to thank for that. He bought some D&D stuff while I was working in Oman during June and we are now playing a game I hadn't even realized I sorely missed. The sci-fi thing I thought I'd be doing is still standing politely in the background, waiting for me to pay it some attention, but my high fantasy has taken off like mad.
Wizards of the Coast rock!
I'm excited, and I think my sweet lovely Anne is too. She's been reading the chapters and outlines and stuff as I crank it out. She's awesome. Anyway, it's 12:30 in the morning here in Oman, and I have to get up for a stupid driving class in the morning, so this will be short.
What I'm reading:
Loads and loads of 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks and assorted stuff.
Thanks again, Wizards of the Coast!
The Tower of Shadows - Drew Bowling
Finished. Quite nice.
Eldest - Christoper Paolini
Just started. So far so good.
Still not finished with The Gardens of Kyoto. Sorry, babe.
Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson
You have to check this one out. I love this guy. It's the second coolest magic system I've ever seen. Sorry, Brandon. Gotta give the top props to another Utah writer, David Farland. The Runelords system is super-sweet.
Read. Write. Be merry.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
It's been a while.
Well, friends, after a life-induced hiatus from the keyboard for other-than-work purposes, I am officially back at it. During my leave from creating worlds and the heroes therein, I can honestly say I have accomplished somewhere between little and jack diddley bupkiss. My time in Oman is mostly spent working on BRTs (Big Red Trucks), and that seems like an exercise in futility. All of our efforts to build idiot-resistant equipment only results in the onslaught of more clever idiots. I think I need to put more effort into using my down time in a wise manner, though. I honestly watch more TV and movies at work than I do at home. That’ll have to change this time, I think.
My home life, however, is still in full flower. A few minor storms were weathered, and we yet again bloom like… well, idiots, I suppose. (Blooming idiots, though, so I think it’s okay.) At any rate, I’ve received another rejection letter. I’ve only gotten 4 or 5 now, but the shock has worn off. The last one actually said I was in the “tentative yes pile” for a time. I don’t know if that’s true or what, but it’s flattering to hear, regardless.
I have let my ADD take me from idea to idea, and I have now lodged on another science fiction story line which I hope will actually pan out. I look forward to someday returning to all the unfinished worlds I’ve started, but time will tell. Maybe some other author out there can tell me how that works. Does Steven King or Orson Scott Card or any of the great, prolific writers have a whole closet full of beginnings? Do they revisit them, as I do, tweaking here and there, moving a word, adding a few phrases, but never actually seriously writing anything?
I have decided to add a What I’m Reading list to the page. It’s something to keep me coming here and checking in. My most fervent reader, my lovely Anne, has told me a number of times that she looks for new entries here and is always a bit disappointed that I haven’t added anything of late. So, the list:
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Just finished. It’s very good. I think it’s an excellent departure from the norm. Well done, sir.
The Well of Ascension – Brandon Sanderson
Just finished this one as well. Second book of the Mistborn trilogy. I’m excited to see what happens next. Visit www.brandonsanderson.com. It’s a wealth of information.
The Gardens of Kyoto – Kate Walbert
Halfway through. It’s a book I’m reading at my Lovely’s request. She found it beautiful and I must agree. The dust jacket blurbs say the prose is moving and unique and it really doesn’t even begin to describe it. No matter what you like, you should read it. It’s not in my normal genre of interest, but one must absorb everything to make sense of anything, I think. Thanks, Anne my sweet, for the recommendation.
I’ll add more to this in the coming days. There will be lots of stuff I’ve finished reading, as well as what I’ve started recently. I might find having a catalog of what I’ve read useful at some later date.
That’s it for now. See you all later.
My home life, however, is still in full flower. A few minor storms were weathered, and we yet again bloom like… well, idiots, I suppose. (Blooming idiots, though, so I think it’s okay.) At any rate, I’ve received another rejection letter. I’ve only gotten 4 or 5 now, but the shock has worn off. The last one actually said I was in the “tentative yes pile” for a time. I don’t know if that’s true or what, but it’s flattering to hear, regardless.
I have let my ADD take me from idea to idea, and I have now lodged on another science fiction story line which I hope will actually pan out. I look forward to someday returning to all the unfinished worlds I’ve started, but time will tell. Maybe some other author out there can tell me how that works. Does Steven King or Orson Scott Card or any of the great, prolific writers have a whole closet full of beginnings? Do they revisit them, as I do, tweaking here and there, moving a word, adding a few phrases, but never actually seriously writing anything?
I have decided to add a What I’m Reading list to the page. It’s something to keep me coming here and checking in. My most fervent reader, my lovely Anne, has told me a number of times that she looks for new entries here and is always a bit disappointed that I haven’t added anything of late. So, the list:
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Just finished. It’s very good. I think it’s an excellent departure from the norm. Well done, sir.
The Well of Ascension – Brandon Sanderson
Just finished this one as well. Second book of the Mistborn trilogy. I’m excited to see what happens next. Visit www.brandonsanderson.com. It’s a wealth of information.
The Gardens of Kyoto – Kate Walbert
Halfway through. It’s a book I’m reading at my Lovely’s request. She found it beautiful and I must agree. The dust jacket blurbs say the prose is moving and unique and it really doesn’t even begin to describe it. No matter what you like, you should read it. It’s not in my normal genre of interest, but one must absorb everything to make sense of anything, I think. Thanks, Anne my sweet, for the recommendation.
I’ll add more to this in the coming days. There will be lots of stuff I’ve finished reading, as well as what I’ve started recently. I might find having a catalog of what I’ve read useful at some later date.
That’s it for now. See you all later.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Further down the trail
Today, I decided that I'd have a look at my submission log. That's where I keep track of what's out, to whom, and when I can bug them about not getting back to me. I found that I had about a week before the query time was up on one of my short stories. I reviewed the submission guidelines, perused the publishers' sites, etc. Since I keep a personal email address and a prefessional one, I decided to see if my mail service was still forwarding my professional mail to my personal account. Test email, in the tube; FIRE!
And then guess what?
Two messages below my test email, there it was. My first real rejection.
I actually feel okay about it. It was very low paying, so it really wouldn't have gone far toward the furtherance of my career, but it would have been nice to have a hardcover anthology with my name in it on my shelf. I feel like a milestone has been passed, though. I knew going in I'd be rejected more than accepted. It's good to finally be getting something, though.
On another note, I started germinating an idea today that may just pan out. It's not a new tale by any means, but one that might just bear another telling.
As always, love to the family. Just over a week now, and I'll be kissing faces and hugging bodies and smiling my joy at the jewels of my life. I love you all.
And then guess what?
Two messages below my test email, there it was. My first real rejection.
I actually feel okay about it. It was very low paying, so it really wouldn't have gone far toward the furtherance of my career, but it would have been nice to have a hardcover anthology with my name in it on my shelf. I feel like a milestone has been passed, though. I knew going in I'd be rejected more than accepted. It's good to finally be getting something, though.
On another note, I started germinating an idea today that may just pan out. It's not a new tale by any means, but one that might just bear another telling.
As always, love to the family. Just over a week now, and I'll be kissing faces and hugging bodies and smiling my joy at the jewels of my life. I love you all.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Some headway
Well, this past month has been very unproductive in the writing arena. I've actually been doing my day job, believe it or not. My last hitch over here in Oman was slow, so I wrote a lot more. This time, we're actually busy, so I've had less time for words. I caught a bit of a break in the action a few days ago and have been able to put together a preliminary chapter breakdown of my novel. I'm happy with the story, but not so thrilled with the length. It looks like this thing is going to be somewhat shorter than I'd hoped.
Ah well, life goes on.
So, I'll be heading home to my family in less than two weeks now. I'm very excited to get home. The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that I'm not in the right place. Sure this gig is paying the bills, but my Sweet Love is constantly telling me how much harder it is to deal with everything when I'm gone, how much the kids all miss me and need my presence. I have always maintained that no job is so important that I'll let my family suffer to do it. Now I just need an exit strategy. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to do one more hitch over here after this one, and then I won't be back. I'll most likely try to go back to Wyoming for a little while if something else doesn't come up in the mean time.
I guess we'll see.
Anyway, I'll keep after the writing. That's my future. As long as I keep my chin up, it's bound to happen. I love all those who are supporting me in this, and hope to have good news about the stories I have submitted soon.
Ah well, life goes on.
So, I'll be heading home to my family in less than two weeks now. I'm very excited to get home. The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that I'm not in the right place. Sure this gig is paying the bills, but my Sweet Love is constantly telling me how much harder it is to deal with everything when I'm gone, how much the kids all miss me and need my presence. I have always maintained that no job is so important that I'll let my family suffer to do it. Now I just need an exit strategy. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to do one more hitch over here after this one, and then I won't be back. I'll most likely try to go back to Wyoming for a little while if something else doesn't come up in the mean time.
I guess we'll see.
Anyway, I'll keep after the writing. That's my future. As long as I keep my chin up, it's bound to happen. I love all those who are supporting me in this, and hope to have good news about the stories I have submitted soon.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saying goodbye.
I nuked an old blog today. I expected it to feel bad, but it didn't. Not like abandoning a story, really. More like just saying goodbye to a person you barely knew.
Anyway, it really only had one thing I wanted on it. A little poem to my wife, which I saved. So, no loss, really.
I have written almost half a chapter in my novel. I'm expecting to be hauled out of here to go do my other job at any time, but so far I haven't seen anyone.
For the fam: This will be over soon, I hope. I want nothing more than to come home to you all and stay forever.
Anyway, it really only had one thing I wanted on it. A little poem to my wife, which I saved. So, no loss, really.
I have written almost half a chapter in my novel. I'm expecting to be hauled out of here to go do my other job at any time, but so far I haven't seen anyone.
For the fam: This will be over soon, I hope. I want nothing more than to come home to you all and stay forever.
Back to work.
I'm back at work in the middle of nowhere. I submitted three stories to sundry publishers on my days off, but didn't actually write anything.
It's really frustrating that I can't seem to do the only thing I want to do in the only place I really want to do it. Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to make up for it by writing when I'm over here.
Anyways, here's a little message for my wife. I do this for us, babe, but one day I will be able to stay with you and still afford to live. That's a promise.
And I gotta get back to work. I'm trying to do a chapter a day. Wish me luck.
It's really frustrating that I can't seem to do the only thing I want to do in the only place I really want to do it. Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to make up for it by writing when I'm over here.
Anyways, here's a little message for my wife. I do this for us, babe, but one day I will be able to stay with you and still afford to live. That's a promise.
And I gotta get back to work. I'm trying to do a chapter a day. Wish me luck.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Not a word...
It's so hard to write when I'm home.
I miss my family and love to be around them. And, when I get home from over in the desert, I spend my time doing family things. So, needless to say, I haven't written lately.
I have a plan, though. Fear not.
It's late, so I'll write more later. Productive words, hopefully.
I miss my family and love to be around them. And, when I get home from over in the desert, I spend my time doing family things. So, needless to say, I haven't written lately.
I have a plan, though. Fear not.
It's late, so I'll write more later. Productive words, hopefully.
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