Watching the World Go By

I think one of the most interesting aspects of writing is when you discovered about yourself.

Mine -- I like to people watch.

I have the perfect venue to do it.  Secretly recording their actions, moves, mannerisms, interactions.   I wouldn't call myself a voyeur, mainly because don't those people usually watch for some... well... different desire.

I just sit back and watch.  It's amazing what people will do in public...  Pick their nose, belch, scratch their crotch...  Yes, that's the unpleasant stuff, but they also laugh, talk about the world, read, stare at electronic devices like they're in another world and nobody else exists.  (Now there's a topic I should write something about... It grinds my gears.)

I find myself wanting to grab people's phones and see what exactly are they doing. 
Are they texting someone to say they'll be late for dinner? 
Are they texting to see what's for dinner? 
Are they texting to find out if they need to pick up dinner? 
Will they even meet for dinner?

Have we become overly obsessed with our electronic equipment and media?  I don't know, but it seems to be something that I observe as I watch the world go by.

I once overheard an man complain about the library's computers being down and he couldn't get on the Internet.  He looked to be about 50s-ish.   I couldn't help think to myself (and I so did want to ask him) "You look like you're about 50.  The Internet has only been around since the 90s.  What did you do before there was so much access to it?

This leads to yet a whole other discussion and topic of study.  Maybe another day.  Right now, I'm too busy people-watching.   We're so interesting...

CSM

Working on book two, mopping the floor, painting the walls

As an in-experienced novice to the writer's life, I am curious to know about other writers schedules.  

Do they take time off to paint their apartment or living room walls?
Rearrange furniture?
Cook and bake?
Mop the floor?
Go shopping?

Of course, they have to be human.  At least I think they are.  

Sometimes, I berate myself into not taking time off for life.   I feel compelled to write all the time, but I don't.  I have either not reached a stage to call myself a serious writer or I'm afraid that it might really develop into something. 

So far, I've spent only a little time working book two, but with some success.  I'm over 20,000 words.  The Fingerprint of Jack ended with just over 47,000.  That seems like good progress on book two.

Writers have lives.  They take vacations.  They might write while on vacation, but none the less, they take vacations.  I take time off to sit around and watch TV.  I just finished a Golden Girls marathon.   I call recharging.  Taking time off after sending TFOJ out into the world.  Now, I waiting on some responses to it.   Do you like it?  Do you hate it?  It doesn't matter.  My attitude isn't based on reviews.  I don't like a lot books I've read, but I've never e-mailed a writer and urged them to stop.

Oh well, keeping writing... keep writing... keep writing...

CSM

 

Maybe a lost art in the making?

A week has passed since my book went live on Amazon and already people have asked about signed copies.   Well, remember, my book is starting its life out as an e-pub. 

I'm not convinced that e-pubs are a sign of a dying print culture, but it is the newest avenue for a new author, like myself, to follow.   So far, I've done 75% of all the work... writing, re-writing, editing, re-editing, reading other people's edits, meeting with a book cover designer (who did the other 25% of the work), re-reading, re-writing, crying over an aching back...

Why have I invested time and money then chose the "easy" way according to Sue Grafton?   It's because my best bet to getting a physical copy.  Slush piles frighten me.  My book becomes another pile of paper sent through the home printer.   Let's face it -- right now I'm a nobody to the vast majority of the world.

Yes, I have a blog.  I have a published book... an e-book.  But, is that the end?  Maybe...

But hear this... Not for me!  I have to go the printer to get business cards and postcards produced to market my first book.  And then there's book two.  I am working on book two.   You don't want to be left hanging, do you?  Sam and the club have more adventures to tell me about.  Then there are the book fairs.  One in October, one in December.  And the press releases to the local neighborhood papers.  And there's the national magazine that I have to pay for advertising space. Whew!  I'm exhausted thinking about it.

OK.  So back to the point of this post.  Signing books.  In the future, when many books may just be in e-pub format, how are we going to autograph them?  Rumor has it that John Green just signs the Kindle or Nook.  That's interesting.

CSM

 

Published!

When I started down this path, I never planned to write a book.  My aim was low.  Write a short story and enter it into a few contests to see what would happen.  Now, 2 1/2 years later, I completed a 40,000-word book with two more to follow.

I had a simple idea.   Write a short story about a boy, a friend, time travel, and Jack the Ripper.  From that one plot idea came an entire cast of characters, a full-blown plot, and a story that wouldn't be told in one book.

It's been two days since The Fingerprint of Jack appeared on Amazon for sale.  And I have to admit that I still don't feel like an writer.  My main reasoning is that I'm not done with the story. I have two more books and a ton of story to tell to complete the trilogy.  In addition, several other stories are wanting to be told.  Nagging at me, knocking at my mental door.  "Let us out," they shout!

Now, I'm worrying that I will die without telling all of them.  

Guess I've got a lot to live for!

CSM

The Big Day has arrived!

After 2 years of writing, editing, rewriting, reediting, numerous times of sore back, legs, and feet, blurry eyes, headaches, heartaches...

It is done and ready for the world. My first book, The Fingerprint of Jack, has been posted on Amazon's Direct to Kindle program.

Here's the link...

http://www.amazon.com/Fingerprint-Jack-Savers-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00AYQKHTO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1358107431&sr=8-10&keywords=the+fingerprint+of+jack

CSM

The New Year

I don't make New Year's resolutions.  I don't see the point.  Life doesn't come to a halt at the stroke of midnight on December 31st.   On January 1st, I got up, took a shower, ate lunch, and went on.  Just like I did last New Year's Day.

Will I diet and loose that extra 20 lbs?
Will I exercise every day for at least 30 minutes?
Will I write eveyday, at least 1,000 words down?
Will I aim for a number of pages?

Maybe.

It's not about resolutions.  It's about making realistic goals.  I prefer to make short-term goals that will have bigger effects. You have to keep moving.   My first book is almost ready to go out into the world.  That has been the most rewarding experience and transformation that I have gone through in a LONG time.  I actually feel like I have accomplished something.  I'm excited and now working on book two... and three... and other books... and some short stories.   Writing has created a whole new road.   It will be a rough road, but still one I think is worth the trip.

I truly feel alive again.

I am looking forward to 2013... despite the fact that the number 13 is involved.

Every year, right after New Year's, the winter depression sits in.   In the past, I've spent a lot of time coming up with a list of to-dos.  Maybe 20 to 25 things I want to do.  One year I listed "learn to make bread."   Did I learn how to make bread?  No.   Another list had "Go to the movies once per month."  Did I go each month?  No.

The bottom line -- I took on too much.  So, it's time to let to notion go.

One idea that has lasted was to name the up-coming year.   I felt like it gave me an overall attitude about the coming 12 months.  So, this December, I decided a title for the year 2013 -- The Year of Moving Forward.

I recently gave myself an attitude make-over.   Let go of the old values, ideas, and preconceived notions.   First, my job is only a job.  It pays the bills.  Stuff is only stuff.  That sits around, draws dust, and I have to clean.  Negative thoughts for the most part are nothing.  I sit bad and wrote a book.  That's an accomplishment.  I know people who call themselves writers, but I don't see their names on book covers.

Mine is.   And you will see it soon.

My new focus is writing.  My characters and their stories are awaking and I can summon them up in my head with just a few short paragraphs and off we go.  I swear the other day I actually saw Sam, Rose, and Mrs. Steers as they talked in her front parlor!  It was clear as if I were there myself.

So, move over sun and give me some sky...  I've got me some wings I'm eager to try...   I'm making 2013 one hell of a year!

CSM