Yes, very busy. I have a few big things coming up next month that I am not at liberty to say just now. However, I want you all to know that my lack of posting isn't because of disinterest. No, it's due to spending time with my family, getting a little sun in between the rain storms. (We have been pounded lately) And working on a few changes to my story lineup, as well as an interview with 'yours truly' and a very, very important review of my short, Past Jumper.
Keep your fingers crossed for me folks! July could be a great month!
Oh! And July is also the month that my wife agreed to say "I do" at our wedding. Kinda the icing on the cake for this month!
The power to create a world, solely from the words written by your own mind, is a gift that should never be hidden.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Dear 16 year old me.
Dear 16 year old me.
Everything you think to be important right now, isn't.
Those girls you want to chase, the ones you think are beautiful. Well, they are beautiful, on the outside. On the inside they are (for the most part) shallow, insecure, lonely, lost, just like you are. They look like they have everything going for them, but they don't. It will take them years to get their lives straight, same as you.
Don't stress about finding the right woman, you will, when you are ready, and oddly enough, you will find her in the least likely place. She will walk into your life and change everything in a way you really don't think is possible. You will love her for it, even when she does things that just make you shake your head.
Pay attention in school! Yes, you learned how to read before you hit Kindergarten, but your spelling and grammar have sucked ever since. Learn to use a comma. Yes...I know it all sounds like the parents speaking on an episode of Peanuts, but try harder. It's much easier to learn now, than when you have just turned 39. Trust me on this one.
Start writing, you will love this. You didn't know it at the time, but you have creativity inside you. In fact, it is bursting out of you. Find the outlet. Make it happen. You will be pretty bad (and good) at it at first, but keep going. You have a knack for it and others will actually enjoy your stories. Tell them.
PUT. DOWN. THE. VIDEO. GAMES.
Did I make myself clear? Sure, some of your best ideas came from playing games, and those same games do offer you a chance to relax and drop the stresses of your day, but so does writing. The world you will open up inside yourself is a rare thing, a treasure. It is no different than walking down a creek bed and finding a pretty stone laying among the cast offs. Yet you can do it at will. Some of the days will be hard, trust me here, but others will make you smile. Even better, there are some people out there who will pay you to do that writing. If you start at it soon enough, you may even be able to make a career out of it. The choice is up to you.
I know where I have spent the last 18 years, you aren't happy there, even though you are good at it. You like helping people, it's in your blood, but one at a time isn't the answer. Your books can help other people escape the doldrums of their lives, you can help them in different ways.
Put down the controller. Pick up a pen, or find a word program on your computer. I know you have one. And...Get writing!
Everything you think to be important right now, isn't.
Those girls you want to chase, the ones you think are beautiful. Well, they are beautiful, on the outside. On the inside they are (for the most part) shallow, insecure, lonely, lost, just like you are. They look like they have everything going for them, but they don't. It will take them years to get their lives straight, same as you.
Don't stress about finding the right woman, you will, when you are ready, and oddly enough, you will find her in the least likely place. She will walk into your life and change everything in a way you really don't think is possible. You will love her for it, even when she does things that just make you shake your head.
Pay attention in school! Yes, you learned how to read before you hit Kindergarten, but your spelling and grammar have sucked ever since. Learn to use a comma. Yes...I know it all sounds like the parents speaking on an episode of Peanuts, but try harder. It's much easier to learn now, than when you have just turned 39. Trust me on this one.
Start writing, you will love this. You didn't know it at the time, but you have creativity inside you. In fact, it is bursting out of you. Find the outlet. Make it happen. You will be pretty bad (and good) at it at first, but keep going. You have a knack for it and others will actually enjoy your stories. Tell them.
PUT. DOWN. THE. VIDEO. GAMES.
Did I make myself clear? Sure, some of your best ideas came from playing games, and those same games do offer you a chance to relax and drop the stresses of your day, but so does writing. The world you will open up inside yourself is a rare thing, a treasure. It is no different than walking down a creek bed and finding a pretty stone laying among the cast offs. Yet you can do it at will. Some of the days will be hard, trust me here, but others will make you smile. Even better, there are some people out there who will pay you to do that writing. If you start at it soon enough, you may even be able to make a career out of it. The choice is up to you.
I know where I have spent the last 18 years, you aren't happy there, even though you are good at it. You like helping people, it's in your blood, but one at a time isn't the answer. Your books can help other people escape the doldrums of their lives, you can help them in different ways.
Put down the controller. Pick up a pen, or find a word program on your computer. I know you have one. And...Get writing!
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Errors in writing, the disclaimer.
I had an interesting argument conversation on twitter a couple days back that has left me thinking.
The general gist of it was, would you buy an Indie book if it wasn't edited by a professional editor.
I said yes.
I was told that I was wrong, sorta. The person I was having the conversation with originally was open enough to listen to my side. And we ended up agreeing to disagree on our opinions.
A listener however, decided to join the conversation, and they told me in no short terms would they ever buy an Indie book without an editor listed on the front page.
The funny thing about all this is, I do have some works that have been professionally edited. Not all mind you, but some.
So this person continues down the path of...If the work hasn't been through an editors hands, there is no way that it can be up to the standards they set for all books. No matter the cost. Free was even debatable.
I couldn't agree less on that one. It just so happens, I know some brilliant writers. Their skills at twisting words into excellent prose leave me weeping at times. (Okay, not really, but it sounded good right?)
I am the first to admit that I do need an editor.
English hates me.
However, I still do my BEST to put out work that is of good quality, and if/when someone points out an error that I missed, I am very quick to change it. I understand that this might lose me a reader here and there. That is a chance I have decided to take. I didn't just throw caution to the wind and toss my work out there for fun. I honestly spent a ton of time thinking about wiether to go Indie or not with some of my works.
Most of my readers come away with an appreciation for the story. Some have helped me improve my work. And one in particular just didn't like it at all.
The thing is, that is just how it goes.
My own personal library of books has errors in it. Some of those works have passed through countless hands before they saw the light of a book store, and they still have errors.
Now of course it is usually a single letter in a single word over hundreds of pages, while mine might be one error every couple pages. I don't know, I don't see my words, because I already know what I meant to say. It is a weird disease us writers get, Cantseewhatsinfrontofusitis I think it's called.
Where was I...
Oh yeah, I am not perfect, but I do my best, and as I continue to write I am getting better, and better.
However to be fair to those who don't know me, and who are grabbing my works with no prior knowledge of who I am, or how I write. I have added a disclaimer to all my non-edited works.
I hope that most look past the small errors (should there be any left) and see the story for what it is.
A good, entertaining, and enjoyable tale.
The general gist of it was, would you buy an Indie book if it wasn't edited by a professional editor.
I said yes.
I was told that I was wrong, sorta. The person I was having the conversation with originally was open enough to listen to my side. And we ended up agreeing to disagree on our opinions.
A listener however, decided to join the conversation, and they told me in no short terms would they ever buy an Indie book without an editor listed on the front page.
The funny thing about all this is, I do have some works that have been professionally edited. Not all mind you, but some.
So this person continues down the path of...If the work hasn't been through an editors hands, there is no way that it can be up to the standards they set for all books. No matter the cost. Free was even debatable.
I couldn't agree less on that one. It just so happens, I know some brilliant writers. Their skills at twisting words into excellent prose leave me weeping at times. (Okay, not really, but it sounded good right?)
I am the first to admit that I do need an editor.
English hates me.
However, I still do my BEST to put out work that is of good quality, and if/when someone points out an error that I missed, I am very quick to change it. I understand that this might lose me a reader here and there. That is a chance I have decided to take. I didn't just throw caution to the wind and toss my work out there for fun. I honestly spent a ton of time thinking about wiether to go Indie or not with some of my works.
Most of my readers come away with an appreciation for the story. Some have helped me improve my work. And one in particular just didn't like it at all.
The thing is, that is just how it goes.
My own personal library of books has errors in it. Some of those works have passed through countless hands before they saw the light of a book store, and they still have errors.
Now of course it is usually a single letter in a single word over hundreds of pages, while mine might be one error every couple pages. I don't know, I don't see my words, because I already know what I meant to say. It is a weird disease us writers get, Cantseewhatsinfrontofusitis I think it's called.
Where was I...
Oh yeah, I am not perfect, but I do my best, and as I continue to write I am getting better, and better.
However to be fair to those who don't know me, and who are grabbing my works with no prior knowledge of who I am, or how I write. I have added a disclaimer to all my non-edited works.
I hope that most look past the small errors (should there be any left) and see the story for what it is.
A good, entertaining, and enjoyable tale.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
My Son
Sorry for the lack of posts, seems what with editing, trying to write, writing and general life problems I have let this blog slide a touch. My bad...
So what's new? Well my 5yr old son has just started his first sport. BMX Racing. He really loved riding on the track by himself, so we asked him if he wanted to try and race. Turns out he did, and he loves it. Just one minor problem, we may have taught him the life lessons of sharing, and helping others too well.
He has no real competitive drive.
Don't get me wrong, he likes going fast, but when he actually catches up to someone else, he doesn't feel the need to pass them. He just hangs out behind and rides casually, up...and down...the bumps.
So the real question is, as a parent that wants to see my sons name at the top of the list, do I push him to try harder even though he is perfectly happy where he is. Or do I just let him do his thing and keep coming in last.
Before you get after me, dear readers, I want you to know that I am happy no matter what he chooses. He is having fun and that is all that really matters, it's just more of a me problem. Who doesn't want their son to come in first after all?
I congratulate him regardless of how well he does. I offer him tips to go faster, in a positive manor, but in the same token I don't lie to my son. He asks if he won and I tell him nope, not this time buddy. Maybe next one...
Sometimes being a good parent is really hard.
Kudos to my wife who does this 24 hours a day.
So what's new? Well my 5yr old son has just started his first sport. BMX Racing. He really loved riding on the track by himself, so we asked him if he wanted to try and race. Turns out he did, and he loves it. Just one minor problem, we may have taught him the life lessons of sharing, and helping others too well.
He has no real competitive drive.
Don't get me wrong, he likes going fast, but when he actually catches up to someone else, he doesn't feel the need to pass them. He just hangs out behind and rides casually, up...and down...the bumps.
So the real question is, as a parent that wants to see my sons name at the top of the list, do I push him to try harder even though he is perfectly happy where he is. Or do I just let him do his thing and keep coming in last.
Before you get after me, dear readers, I want you to know that I am happy no matter what he chooses. He is having fun and that is all that really matters, it's just more of a me problem. Who doesn't want their son to come in first after all?
I congratulate him regardless of how well he does. I offer him tips to go faster, in a positive manor, but in the same token I don't lie to my son. He asks if he won and I tell him nope, not this time buddy. Maybe next one...
Sometimes being a good parent is really hard.
Kudos to my wife who does this 24 hours a day.
And there is my boy waiting for his next turn to go. Yes, that is a pie plate with his number on it, next time he will get a real one.
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