Spiral Effect Book 1: Alex Wonder

Another week before us. Last Thursday, as I was hoping, I finished chapter fourteen to Yahnolite Histories. So, this week, I decided I would begin work on the next part to The Spiral Effect. It has been awhile since I worked on this story. I think it was late June  or early July when I published the prologue/prelude to the series. Spent the weekend thinking of ways to start it and came up with some really good ideas. Much better than I had previously intended. About three weeks ago I had actually written three pages to this new arc in the series, but those are trash now. This new beginning is waaaaaay better. And I used six a's in that way, so you know I'm serious. This new beginning to the Alex Wonder arc has a much better flow to it. Definitely has a better pace and effect for not just this arc, but the entire series.

Pacing, wow, something I used to be terrible at in story telling. I must say though, over the years, reading Dostoevsky (That guy was in no hurry), and taking the advice of a couple of friends, I have learned to take my time, and give the story a good pace. Don't want it to go too slow, no, no. But I always had a problem with it going too quickly. I am sure taking adderall has helped some too. Nevertheless, the pacing is a big deal. While the prologue/prelude to Spiral Effect is around 36 pages, I plan on each individual serial novella to fall in 70-90 page range. I had been wondering how I would pull that off, but with this new beginning, which I can use as a kind of theme for the beginning to each arc, I see no problem hitting 70-90 pages. I want those pages to be important and necessary, not filler, so that's why I am stoked about how this new arc starts off.

Tonight, I got off to a good start and hit 781 words. I was a little worried and hesitant about starting tonight. Still battling a sinus infection (got some antibiotics on Friday, which have been helping, but damn this Oklahoma weather.) and I was pretty damn tired after work today. But, after buying some wine, I decided, watching TV and falling asleep is not a good way to end the evening.  So, I wrote for an hour, and definitely got in a good start to Spiral Effect: Alex Wonder. I hope to finish by early October to give me a chance to revise and edit so that I can have it up on Amazon no later than the beginning of November. I really want to release each episode of the series no later than once every quarter, have a good consistent flow to the stories and give readers a consistent time frame of when each arc will be released. A good many people have already told me they cannot wait until the next episode. Never been good at deadlines, but this is a good way to start.

Enjoy the evening my friends. Until later.

Another Night

Cranked out 585 words tonight. The chapter is flowing nicely, and I will probably have it finished either by tomorrow night or Thursday night, which means I will have all weekend to tweak my notes and go over the game plan for Chapters 15 and 16. I find it is best to plan the chapter out in its entirety before sitting down to write it. Once I finally found my niche in story telling, and hated wasting time on so many revisions, edits, and complete rewrites, I decided that this was the best approach when tackling a short story, novel, or script. Some friends of mine who have decided to test the craft have asked me if I ever deal with writer’s block. My immediate answer is always, “No.” They seem perplexed by this, especially when I tell them I don’t think writer’s block exists (a statement I read from Philip Pullman once and has always stuck with me). They ask me my secret and I just tell them you have to plan out your story, chapter by chapter, before actually writing it. That way, when I actually sit down to write, my brain can focus on the words and style because the content is already there.

Anyways, I am off to bed. Early night, I know. It’s not even 9 yet, but I am so damn tired. I hardly slept last night due to all that coughing. Hope these sinuses quit acting up soon.

Until another night strikes me.

Back to Work

Well it is Monday and a great time to return to work. And by work, I mean my real passion, writing. I took Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, which I hope to not make a habit. I think it’s good for me to take at least one day, but three, sheesh. I admit, I had pretty good reason. Friday evening, my brother-in-law, uncle, and family friend helped my dad and step-mom move into their swanky new house. My brother-in-law owns a 15 foot trailer and my uncle’s is eight, so you could say we packed a lot onto those beasts.

Well, it took quite a bit of time and arm strength, lugging and lifting, heaving and hauling those muscle tearing dressers, desks, vanities, piano, and the like. But we accomplished it with only four loads, two for each trailer. And yes, the beds of the truck were loaded as well. The move wasn’t all bad, however. I ate some free pizza (from a gas station, but good nonetheless) and the piano we moved made it to my house since my dad is getting a new baby-grand piano. So now, my four year old daughter and fifteen month old son can regale me with the beautiful sounds of tiny little fingers wildly punching key after key in no specific rhythm or order. Just complete chaos mixed with their screaming chants and lyrical nonsense. It is truly awesome.

On Saturday, that sinus infection decided it wanted a sequel and reared its ugly head again. Loaded up on some Naked Juice—if that’s the proper term—some Benadryl, and Sweet Dreams herbal tea. Then I laid down and partook in some college gridiron action. I’m glad to say that all the teams I rooted for won.

Tonight, things are back to normal. Worked on Chapter 14 for about forty-five minutes to an hour and wrote 583 words. Roughly 1 1/2 pages. The story is progressing quite nicely. Can’t wait till tomorrow night when I can add to it.

Enjoy the evening folks. This one will not come again.

Rolling Along

Wrote 2 pages tonight. Feel like I could probably write more, and just might, but not until the wife goes to sleep. Going to hang out with her for a bit.

I must say, I am enjoying the consistency again. The two pages took only about thirty-five minutes. Didn't feel rusty going into it. Need to keep this up.

Chapter 14

Well, it is nearing completion. A page a day may seem slow, but at least it is consistent. Definitely beats methods of the past which involved three weeks without writing followed by a frenzy of sleepless nights of sporadic, anxious riddled writing. I am hoping, and praying, that once the nicotine and withdrawal symptoms completely leave, my noggin will be clearer and more focused.

Ten pages done, five to ten more to go. After that comes a big question, do I move forward to chapter fifteen, or take a break and work on the next part to Spiral Effect? Question best left till next week. Finish chapter fourteen first.

Wow…Where to begin?

So, the first three weeks of the new school year are already over. If the rest of the year flies by this fast, I’ll be a happy man. Another summer break of writing like the one that just ended would be sublime. So far, not much writing has occurred since school began (none in the first week and a half), but I did come up with a game plan that will not only see me get closer to my publishing goals, but also save my sanity. I will write a page a day. Yes, that’s right, an entire page. No less, but more if I am capable and on a roll. I like this plan of mine, for me that is, because it surely keeps the pressure off. I figured that one page a day, for a little over two hundred days, and by summer, I should be finished with the novel and can work on other stories while pitching this one to publishers/agencies. I began this past Monday, August 26th, and have stayed true to my goal, with the exception of Friday and Saturday, due to a terrible cold/sinus infection. Now, this sinus infection probably came at the worst time and may be due to more than just the over abundance of pollen in the air. Last Wednesday, after an amazing writer’s club meeting with my new friend David Calvert, I smoked my last cigarette. I know…I know…I have said this at least two hundred and ninety-nine times (or five hundred more than that), but I am hoping that this is the last time I say it. As of 10:25 PM Sunday, September 1st, I have still not had a cigarette. Feeling good, but shaky, and am almost certain the withdraws have played part in weakening my body just enough to feel lambasted by this sinus infection/cold. I have popped so many different pills, I really am not sure I am entirely lucid. So, I will probably keep this short. Just wanted to post an update because it had been a couple of weeks. Hope the web finds everyone well and that we all venture out and check out the stars from time to time. It’s a beautiful world out there. Until next time.