Weekly Writing Status Update - 1

 I started reading another book on writing. This one is called Intuitive Writing by Jaqueline Fisch. It’s supposed to be a book about how to write more and with more focus. What I’ve found is that when she says “writing” she means all writing. Copy writing, writing emails, newsletters, etc. etc. Now she does talk about creative writing, which is why I picked this up, but the author means it all. 

She also encourages the reader to complete the chapter exercises. So I’m going to use this space to do just that. 

First Line in Love Will Tear Us Apart

I'm reading a series of series. I've just finished a few and now I'm back into the Stranger Times series. This is the most fun of all of my series. 

I love the characters. They're fun and it's light. Love this series. 

A Game of Thrones Again (Again)

I've been into series books lately. So, since I'm in to series, I went back to a series I've read several times. Game of Thrones . . . or more correctly . . . The Song of Ice and Fire.

I've read this several times. I read A Game of Thrones when it first came out. Then when A Storm of Swords came out I read Game of Thrones again, then read Storm of Swords. When Clash of Kings came out, I read Game of Thrones, then Storm of Swords, then Clash of Kings. See the pattern?

Second Time Reading Third Deadly Sin

 So, you read so much about not looking at screens before you go to bed, how it effects your sleep, that I decided a while back to listen to the advice and give it a try. The first book I read before bed was a book about Rangers, the next was a horrible book on Delta Force. The problem with these books is that in some respects I’ve lived the live, I know how hard it is, there is no mystique about being wet, muddy, tired, or pushed beyond your limits. And if you can’t actually write well . . . Pass.

ANYWAY, back to the point. I’ve been doing this for several months now. And does it seem to be working? Seems to be. 

First Line Right Now (at Night)

So, you read so much about not looking at screens before you go to bed, how it effects your sleep, that I decided a while back to listen to the advice and give it a try. The first book I read before bed was a book about Rangers, the next was a horrible book on Delta Force. The problem with these books is that in some respects I’ve lived the live, I know how hard it is, there is no mystique about being wet, muddy, tired, or pushed beyond your limits. And if you can’t actually write well . . . Pass. 

ANYWAY, back to the point. I’ve been doing this for several months now. And does it seem to be working? Seems to be. 

Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis

I heard a great podcast this morning that was all about ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a fungus that infects ants and drives them manic or insane. The podcast likened this fungus in ants to the idea that people need leaders, or that leaders are better and more apt that people. It was a bit of a libertarian podcast as you can guess. 

It's an interesting concept, the zombie ant, and anyone can easily see how it could be translated into a terrific zombie movie or zombie series. Fungus that is supposed to infect ants crosses over to infect humans. It writes itself to a degree. 

Make a Schedule

 I'm reading "How to Write Alot" by Paul J. Silvia. Yes, this is for a class  . . . my very last class thanks very much. It's on Writing and Publishing in the academic world. So, it should help me move forward on my white papers, my dissertation, and other writing projects. 

I'm trying to also apply his tips and tricks to my personal writing life as well. These . . . among other things . . . are the things I think would be fun to include in a podcast on writing if I ever decide to do "So I'm Writing Another Novel."

Finally Finding Silva

I hate when I read a book by a well-known and prolific author and find that I really enjoy the writing and the story. Why? Because it means for too long I didn't read the book and I should have. That I had been wasting my time NOT reading the author when I should have been. 

That is the case right now with Danile Silva. 

Bookstores

My pre-Kindle life revolved a lot more around bookstores than my post-Kindle life has. I remember going to bookstores all the time in the Army and reading, reading, reading. Heck, I read Gone with the Wind when I drove home from the Army by stopping at bookstores and picking up a copy of the book that they had and picking up where I left off. Never bought it, just read it throughout the drive at every bookstore I could find. 

I found myself at a bookstore the other day to find a book for my kiddos. My son is finally reading "chapter books" or what the rest of the world calls "novels" and he thinks he is only falling in love with reading because of this one author and this one series. Ergo, if he doesn't get this specific book in the series, the reading may stop. So off Dad goes to get that book!

Second Weekend Free

I believe this is the second weekend in the past three and half years where I didn't have some looming deadline, or homework due, or something to do. 

Usually on weekends, I wake up early, have some coffee and read a novel with Sadie. Pet a cat if she comes over and needs a lap. Eventually, after a chapter or two, Sadie comes over for a skritch and a head scratch, and I get up. I head upstairs and start working on homework.