Have You Failed Lately?

Failure, to most of us, is a bad word. It’s a last resort. It’s the one thing we try to avoid at all cost. We choose alternate words and phrases to mask this painful word. Words like ‘unsuccessful’ and phrases like ‘come up short’ or ‘almost succeeded’. Either way you dice it, if you tried to obtain a goal and didn’t succeed, then you failed at attaining it.

But is failure such a bad thing? Life is full of lessons and every lesson is defined more by failure than success. Where would we be if we didn’t learn valuable lessons in life. I like to think of a failure as a reason to try harder, a reason to keep on keeping on. I’ve failed at many things in my life, but I know I’m not a failure because do not accept the ‘failure’ attitude.

So, whether you’re a writer, a teacher, a student, a homebody, or just anyone, keep striving to reach your goals, to grasp your dreams, to succeed. Being a true failure is only possible when you give up on what you believe in and embrace an attitude of failure.

Spiffy fact: In case you failed to notice: Failure, or some form of the word, was used 11 times in this post.

Darn! I forgot I had this blog here!

Not really... just been so doggone busy. In fact, I'm heavy into learning all about ebook conversion software. Why, you ask? Because like it or not, the doors are blowing off the traditional publishing model. Ignore it if you want. It's a quick fix society...has been for years. I've played by the rules, played nice, followed the guidelines, waited patiently.

Nobody has ever said, "You suck as a writer! Don't quit your day job...", so I've maintained the course. But I can't ignore the technology, the tools that are available in a free society. Or the growing tide of self-pub mania. Oh, I've not completely pulled out of the trad-pub realm, just keeping my options open. It's like this...if I came to your playground with my dodge ball and I saw you and your friends playing like a bunch of octogenarians wearing depends and sporting walkers, the dust collecting on the ball as it sailed through the air in some odd (and very slow) time warp, and was told I would have to be voted in to play, I would go form my own dodge ball game. I wouldn't care if yours was the Queens dodge ball league and had been around for 150 years. It's that simple.

My first book has undergone a metamorphosis that would put The Fly to shame. I've done all I can do with it, but it will be published. I will not surrender. My second book is coming along nicely and I just did a line edit on the first 200 pages. I've also "sold" a story to a literary publication that will be in print by January and I'm fishing around another short story as I write this. See? I have been busy!

Here's the deal with the trad-status, per say. I'm working with a trad-publisher to get my book in print, but when, no one can say. There is NO contract, just a "gentleman's agreement". I will not live forever. For the life of me, I cannot understand why traditional publishing takes so long! I know the ins and outs of the process, but there seems to be a floating lag factor that cannot be nailed down and stomped like the turtle-paced, snail headed monkey that it is. We've come too far to be operating like scribes from the 16th century. That's why I'm learning ebook stuff. Enough is enough. Sure, I know if I go that route it will be a struggle, but it will be a struggle that I have control of. It will be a struggle that will keep me engaged in the process and not sitting around waiting for the turtle-paced snail head to tell me what's going on.

Well, that was refreshing. Just needed to get that out.

What’s That Smell? Well, it’s NOT team spirit…

Along with all the good things about being a writer, there are a few that we’re not so fast to brag about to our friends and family. I’ve tried to list a few here.

1. First, there’s the “zone”. You know. That moment when your writing is smoking hot and nothing can stand between you and that Pulitzer Prize? When you’re completely engrossed in creativity of a divine nature so high in the planes of existence that you feel immortal? Okay, maybe that’s flourished-up a bit, but you get the drift, right? How you look and act to others is a different matter all together. To them you look “slightly out of it”. This is followed by, ‘Do you feel okay?’ and ‘Is everything all right?’, inevitably leading to the dangerous one, the one that you should avoid if at all possible: ‘Are you listening to me, dear?’

2. Time. Before you took up the task of covering writing media with words, time was pretty much a task master with specific lines, angles and rules. Day job? Arrive at 8, leave at 5. Movie? They’re scheduled for showing, so pick a time and don’t be late. Doctors appointment? 2 p.m. sharp! (plus one “not so sharp” hour while you wait for the doctor). But if you’ve truly taken up writing, truly committed yourself and jumped in with both feet, you’ll discover that “time”, for you at least, grows fuzzy, losing those lines, angles and rules. Appointments missed, trash not put out in time, missed the last showing of the movie you’ve waited months to see, and the list goes on and on.

3. Which leads me to that smell. My wife works outside the home. That said, I am left with the task of preparing certain foods over the course of the day. I’m good at getting it started. I’m just lousy at stopping it. (See 1 and 2 above.)

I mean, who can stop when they’ve got four injured/bleeding characters speeding to the hospital and one of them is about to lose her unborn baby, and perhaps her life, on the backseat of a half demolished minivan? Did I mention the fate of the world hangs on their success of failure? I’ve done countless mad dashes from my office to the kitchen once the smell of seared, burnt or flaming food has permeated my senses. Dangerous? Yes it is. Insane, actually.

I will have to find an alternative for this conflict of interest and necessity, but one thing is for sure: whatever the solution, it will not interfere with my Pulitzer Prize-winning work-in-progress.

Do you have quirks as a writer that go against the grain of the world around you?

Sneak Peek at Concept Cover for New Novel!

New cover art concept added on my website! Latest visual for my next novel. For bigger pic, click on it!

Encore! (Not)

Okay, I was trying to think of what to blog about next, but I couldn’t concentrate. Sentences jumbled together in my head, tripping over one another in a slapstick way. I almost walked outside without my pants on this morning. My coffee grew cold in the mug because I forgot it was sitting there. Why? Because of Gordon Lightfoot (is that an Indian name?) Yes, I’m talking about the Canadian singer/songwriter/poet, etc.. It seems my frontal lobe, in a conspiratorial fashion, booked Mr. Lightfoot for a marathon concert in my head. The song list consist of one song: If You Could Read My Mind.

It started a few weeks ago when I came across an article about this song. It renewed my interest. In my youth, it was one of many songs that came out of my transistor radio and made the summer months more enjoyable. Yes, I know. Why would a young boy be interested in such a sentimental song, right? Well, my musical taste varied greatly, even at an early age. But like most people, the actual lyrics were not all that clear to me. I loved the tune and most of the words. It wasn’t until I looked them up on the internet that I truly saw the lyrical beauty of Gordon’s words.

Two phrases that I never realized existed made this song familiar to my soul all over again. In one (I won’t quote these word for word) he said that heroes rarely succeed. This seems like such a raw and honest assessment of everyday life, and is probably why the few who do succeed are more endeared to our hearts. The second phrase was one of emotional candor that I thought was the crowning moment when the song becomes really, really personal. He tells the woman he’s singing to that for this moment, right now, let’s just be honest and stop all the pretense. These two phrases made the song special to me all over again. I saw it in a new light!

And that was the error of my folly.

I’m not a negative person. I am not an angry person, by nature. But I’ve had a few falling-outs with Mr. Lightfoot over the last week or two. Do you know what it’s like to be mad about something that only exists in your head? That in itself disturbs me greatly.

So, consider this an exercise in exorcising this song from my head. Yes, Gordon, it was and will always be a hauntingly beautiful song. No Gordon, I cannot live with it looped inside my head for the rest of my life.

Have you ever had a song to get stuck in your head? How did you get rid of it? If you listened other music to drive it away, did it work? Or did it get replaced by another song? Feedback, please, before they find me naked in the street screaming horrible things at Mr. Lightfoot and banging my head with a skillet.

And yes, he IS singing If You Could Read My Mind for like the 800th time today as I type this…[expletive deleted]!

New Author FAQs Page !

Come on over and check out my new Author FAQ's page!

The Soup of Life: A Personal Reflection

In my lifetime, I've come to realize that soups full of many things, are usually the best soups. The ingredients, taken individually, may not be to my liking, but blended with many ingredients and simmered adequately, they make a satisfying meal. Life itself is much like that. Each occurrence in our lives are like the individual ingredients, some good, some not so good, but in reflection, the soup was pretty good.

As my wife and I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary today, I couldn't help but reflect on that soup. As this year has unfolded, we've experienced some good and bad ingredients, and the combination has been rather bittersweet for me. The good has come in the form of the realization of what I want most out of life in personal growth: to pursue my writing, my passion. The completion of my first book, and the trails, errors and growing pains that a writer must endure, has been every bit as frustrating and satisfying as I would expect life to be. The excitement I feel now, as I write my second book, is fulfilling on a level that I've never had the pleasure of experiencing. My wife has been an solid supporter of this dream, and for that I am eternally grateful.

The bad ingredients, on the hand, have truly been bad. Yes, the bad has come in the form of the realization that we will lose a lot this year. As I stood on the shores of life watching countless people being swept away by economic disaster, I was blindsided by a disastrous wave of my own. The only consolation being that our children are making their own way now, building their own lives, and are no longer dependent on us.

Remember that soup? I'm not writing this to complain about those bad ingredients, or to toot my horn over my love of writing. Life is like a good soup. It will come with good and bad ingredients, but blended together and simmered over time, that soup will taste just fine on reflection. A soup full of those ingredients will be a life well lived. As for my wife and I, we will move forward and eventually reflect on how good the soup was in 2011. We will have each other, and we will survive. But one thing is certain and constant from this point on: I will write everyday, I will write with passion for what I love, and I will do it for the rest of my days. And if the first 29 years are any indication, my lovely wife will be there until the end.

Repetitive Phrases: Are they always bad?

Most writers will eventually hear the criticism “you’re using such-and-such (a phrase) too much”. You know, things like “{dialogue}, or so I thought.” Or “He could have left it like that, I guess.” There are thousands of examples, but let’s just say any group of words that are repeated throughout the manuscript.

But is it always such a bad thing? Well, I would say if it occurs like 238 times in your work, it’s probably excessive. But 50-60 times? It depends. In my opinion, the one place where you have to be really careful with repetition is in 1st person POV stories. While repeated phrases are generally not good, in 1st POV such phrases may be part of your character’s make-up. Or to be more precise, the “voice”. Like a person that says “you know?” at the end of most of their sentences (or at the beginning, as I did above). Sometimes it’s just part of who they are.

So, if you're paring down those repetitive phrases in your 1st person POV novel, be careful not to strip the “voice” from your MC. Find a good balance, one that minimizes but doesn’t sanitize. Try to stay true to your character.

Our writing characters...where do we get them? Every writer has a process of developing characters in their stories. And like every story, our characters are made up of bits and pieces, if I may, of characters we've used in the past, or read about, or saw on TV, etc..


But do you ever use bits of yourself in your MC? Or maybe in a supporting character? I think we all do, whether intentional or subconsciously.

But sometimes the evolution isn't as subtle as that. In my first book, my MC was a boy named Pete Travers. Pete actually started out as me. He was me. And the setting was the town I grew up in. But over time, the book evolved. The town got a new name and Pete, well Pete evolved into someone that only Pete could be.

I must admit that somewhere along the way I felt just a little sad when I realized that I had been replaced with another character. But the fact was, Pete was much better at pulling off this story than I was. (Yes, I know. This is getting borderline weird:-)

So, how do you develop your characters? I'd like to know!

Fiction Outlines: How do you approach them?

This is for the fiction writers out there. If you're an habitual outliner, I need your opinion. Do you approach it like a synopsis, or do you go commando with bullet style?

I'm a wordy person. My first book went through numerous revisions and whole blocks of chapters ended up in the wastebasket. I want to try a different approach with my second book. I'm three chapters into it and I'm just now embarking on an outline approach. But I chose the synopsis-style route, and to be honest, my first chapter outline is dangerously close to chapter length. And that's with "tight" writing.

Comments appreciated!

Wamego, KS is as Americana as you can get.

Standing in front of the Oz Museum, I felt the same isolation that I did watching the opening scenes on that rural Kansas farm some 45 years ago.

A moment in my mind...

When I was ten, Nana took me to see a piano recital. I hadn't wanted to go, but she insisted.

It was awful.

The tink, tink, tink, the swelling and falling of sound. I wanted to jump up, rip off my summer dress and dance like a Russian Cossack in my knickers and sock feet, all the while screaming Spanish curse words.

But one glance at Nana told me this would not be a good idea. So I suffered.

For art, no less.

*** Another character has surfaced in the author's mind. Will she be heard?

Laughing Triggers

I am flypaper in a world of buzz words and spiffy sayings. No, it's true! If you have the great misfortune to be anywhere near me when you utter some fabulously original and witty phrase, you will undoubtedly see it fly from your mouth and stick to the side of my laughing head (where it will be absorbed and cataloged for reference). But most of these quirky words and phrases don’t come from others. I have enough outspoken nutcase characters within myself to keep me entertained. (No, I am not the “Sybil” of the new millennium.) An example of my madness comes to mind.

Doodads. That’s right, doodads. I hadn’t heard that term in years. Probably would have never uttered it again, except for the fact that my young protagonist needed something to describe a certain part of the male anatomy. So, I threw it in…

…and read it out loud.

I didn’t expect to laugh, much less fall out of my office chair. (Probably a result of too much revising?) I crawled from the floor and sat down again, glancing at my screen. Why did I read it again? I don’t know, but I didn’t wait around to fall again. I literally ran from my office, tears streaming down my cheeks. I passed my wife at the top of the stairs. I ran through the den and out the side door, searching for copious amounts of fresh air to inhale. The result? It stayed in my manuscript, and my wife hasn’t divorced me…yet. I even reference “balloon hat” along with it. (You would have to read it to understand…or maybe not.) It will never win any Sexy Prose awards, but maybe, just maybe another person will get the same enjoyment from it that I got. Just maybe…

Addendum: *idea before I published*

Backstory: It’s dry here. Very dry. You spend 355 days a year moisturizing your skin. The other 10? Standing in the rain.

So…catchy phrase for my WIP is already down.

Ready?

**** The Itchy Nipple Tavern *scratch* *scratch*

Do you have a humorous saying or word that makes you grin instantly?

No? Well, go find something to laugh about. It’s a great stress reliever.

The Storyteller Within Your Story

Finding "voice" as a writer can be tough for some of us. It can be found in any number of POVs, but first person is usually the most obvious. Here's a question I have for you: while your "voice" as an author can be strong, especially in your MC, can you find a strong, compelling "voice" with your supporting characters? Can you create that kind of magic within your story? Can you hold the reader entranced with this character's voice? Can you create a powerful "storyteller" aside from yourself, or your MC? You'll know it when you do. And your readers will know it as well. It can be a powerful layer of depth for a writer to achieve.

IMHO #1

“Personally, as a writer, I’m not ready to surrender my work exclusively to cyberspace. I’m not ready for my work to be just a digital imprint in the ether. There’s no realness to that.
I want my books to be tangible, something to slip in a backpack, set your coffee cup on, something that you can rabbit-ear the pages of, pass on to a friend, find comfort in amidst chaos, and finally, something that will collect dust on a shelf as it awaits inheritance.” Byron Suggs

Writing and the "Junker"

I started on my next book a month ago. Or maybe it was two weeks ago...or last week. I don't remember.

Idea #1 started well enough. The plot fell at my feet. Ingenious, twisty and full of life. I cranked out the first chapter, thrilled at the possibilities. Then realization sunk in. This would be in the 200-300k word range if I pursued it. And some of the plot points would take a monumental effort to pull off. And then I would have to revise like a madman. I put it aside. It needed more thought.

Idea #2 struck around midnight. I rushed to capture the opening scene and I caught it well. But where was the plot? I'll never know. It was in a thousand places and there seemed no way to make it coherent. I put it aside. Maybe I would re-visit, maybe not.

Idea #3 slapped me like a ton of bricks. It came welling up from me like a tide. At that point I came to a realization that should have been evident the moment I started Idea #1. I've told you why the first two didn't work, but the excuses were all wrong. They didn't work because they had no real voice. Not like the third one.

Idea #3 will be my next book. The voice of my MC is strong and has a story to tell. And two chapters into it, the bond between writer and character has been forged and honed for the journey.

What about the Junker? Sometimes writing is like owning a "junker" car. It takes a few attempts to get it started but once the motor catches, you know it will take you where you want to go.

The Agent Game: Unlocking That First Door

     It took a while for me to get my thoughts together on this one, primarily because I had to reflect on my first few months of seeking publication to adequately address this subject. I know this has been covered a gazillion times (yes, I said gazillion >add to dictionary<), but here are my two cents worth. For those seeking to publish for the first time: if you decide to seek an Agent, the process will probably be a little shocking to you once you begin. For me, "oblivious" would best describe my prior knowledge of this ritual. So, here are the main points and lessons learned that I need to pass on to you:

 1. Do your homework. What does that mean? It means understand the process. I would start by searching for literary Agents and reading everything you can find about them. Read their blogs, bios, interviews, etc.. You'll get a better understanding about how they work and how the system works. You'll also come to understand the onslaught they face every day, day in and day out. I'm still amazed when an Agent describes the volume of queries they face everyday. But that's just part of the equation. When they represent someone, a good deal of their time must be spent taking care of that client. It's a pretty intense relationship, and it's important to both parties. When you land an Agent, you'll understand that all the better. They are relying on their skills and taking a chance on you and your body of work. It's their bread and butter. On that note, look for an Agent that's a good fit for you. That process will not always be easy, but pay attention to the info out there. You'll get a good feel for what they like and don't like, on a personal and professional level. It's not perfect science, just do the best you can.

2.  Patience. Lord knows, if you thought you were a patient person, you will see the error of your ways. You MUST be patient. You WILL be patient if you successfully navigate this process. Because of everything (and then some more) mentioned above, it will take time. Any impatience on your part will not speed up the process. Accept it.

3. Rejection. I know, I know. Who would reject your masterpiece? A lot would and will. But have faith. It's not necessarily because you wrote a steaming pile of....well, that's not always the reason. Think of an Agent as a buyer for a big department store chain. The company seeks product based on trends and needs. An agency seeks product based on that. You may have a masterpiece on you hands, but if the need is not there, or the agency is taking another direction on genre acquisition, the agency cannot justify taking your work. The Agent may love your book, but the agencies do not drive the market. Consumers do. But don't lose faith. Trends change like the seasons. Your ship may come in before long. Start that next novel! Anyone in this business will tell you that rejection is standard fare for every aspiring writer. Welcome to the writing life!

4. Finally, don't take it personal. Remember, Agents are real people, just like you! I won't elaborate...oh, wait. I did elaborate! (see above).

     Now, I have to go tally my rejections for the week.  But all is not lost. I have a few fulls out there in the dream world.

The Relationship of Writing (or My Obsession)

     It has occurred to me over the last few months that I am embroiled in an illicit affair of the heart. An affair so intense that it truly feels wicked. However, it is not adulterous...at least I don't think so, anyway. I'm talking about my current manuscript. You know, the one I finished back in January. The one that survived numerous revisions through February and March. The one I've tried to stay away from for the entire month of April and parts of May. Like a lover that you yearn to touch constantly, to help, to soothe and comfort. (Now do you see what I mean?)

     I'm not sure how many writers out there are like me, but I have a compulsion to fix, improve, fix, improve...almost to the point of fixing unbroken things just for the sake of fixing! For me, the ideal situation would be this: I finish my novel, do numerous revisions, final edits, etc., take it immediately to a Starbucks or a library, leave the book on a table, and walk around outside while an Agent slips in and leaves my contract and first advance in a discreet brown bag, and takes my book away to the Publishing machine to touch the lives of millions. Then my work would be safe from my constant whittling.

     Besides, I have two other lovely manuscripts in progress that are longing for my attention. I just hope my wife doesn't get jealous...

My Journey Through the Publishing World

This is my initial blog post and I thought it would be appropriate to start with the reasons for this blog.  In January of 2011 I completed my MG novel Rockapocalypse: A Boy's Tale.  Being fairly new to the publishing world, the learning curve has been tremendous concerning the mechanics of being published through traditional channels. Often I've wondered what it was like for an author 15 or 20 years ago, before technology changed the face of the industry. One of the first things pounded into my skull by those "in the know" was "platform, platform, platform".  This was a new one for me, but once it was explained it made perfect sense. In a nutshell, it's "branding" combined with "exposure" using social networks and the power of the Internet. I already had Facebook and Twitter, but blogging was not on my radar. Thus, here we are. And since I was seeking exposure for my book, what better chance than to create a blog devoted exclusively to my manuscript? My purpose is to brand both of us; myself and this part of me that I toiled to the paper.

I'll try to keep some running news of my success (and possible setbacks) posted here as often as possible. Maybe it will give up and coming authors some insight to the road they have set their feet upon....