I have a friend who says, (and I'm paraphrasing, probably incorrectly), "You can only call yourself a writer if you write." In other words, on the days you don't write you're not a writer. On a technical level this seems pretty obvious, and I often wonder: what is a plumber on the days she doesn't … Continue reading 798
Self-Perception
NaNoWriMo 2020
The relationship between Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner is legendary. It has been the subject of books and television documentaries, and during the period when it was happening, it was the subject of sports news pages on a regular basis. This pair of pictures seems to portray the Love/Hate nature of the relationship nicely. Same … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2020
Sensational
This pic gave me elementary school flashbacks. It's not particularly late. I think it has just turned midnight as I began typing this sentence. I used to stay up much later than this to write, sometimes until the sun started to insinuate itself around the edges of my window coverings which, though I measured twice, … Continue reading Sensational
When it Feels Like Work
On September 25 of this year I began the twenty-third chapter of my work in progress. I had a feeling then that there was a chance it might be a tough one. It was not the first such chapter in recent history. In the second book of my Cleanup Crew series, The Count of Carolina, … Continue reading When it Feels Like Work
Focus
I am in awe of this guy's (gal's) concentration. One of the things, as a writer, that causes me the most distress is my monumental lack of focus. I recently wrote a post that dealt with the things I do prior to getting ready to write for the day. A large portion of that preparatory … Continue reading Focus
Writing as Spectator Sport
I remember when I was a teenager and the Monty Python crew were releasing comedy albums (among all of the visual stuff that was still happening then). In 1973 they released Matching Tie and Handkerchief. That came to mind while I was writing today. And I'll tell ya why. My writing was going well today. … Continue reading Writing as Spectator Sport
Welcome to Disorientation
College Orientation as I remember it. I have vivid memories of college orientation. I got to experience two, as I went to Fordham University my freshman year, and then transferred to the State University College of New York at Potsdam, (or as we happily called it "SUCP," pronounced, of course, "suck pee.") The thing I … Continue reading Welcome to Disorientation
2020. Amiright?
Early Reflections This year. This insane year. I find myself at a level of reflection that I generally reserve for New Years Eve sorts of posts. "Oh, what a zany year it's been! The kids are all fine, but Pops has taken up hemp farming..." That sort of thing. But, to quote the band Genesis, … Continue reading 2020. Amiright?
The Process
Part One: He writes about writing about writing. Writers sure do love to write about writing. We're ridiculous. Anytime we're not writing for pay we're writing about the experience of having written for pay, or not for pay. Or whatever. We just love to hear ourselves go on. I have always likened this activity to … Continue reading The Process
Unexpected Progress
I didn't anticipate writing this. Certainly not tonight/this early morning, and probably not at all. I've been working on my new book, The Count of Carolina, for a while now. I'd have to open the file and check it's original creation date to tell you exactly how long, and I'm feeling rather lazy. It is 2:15 … Continue reading Unexpected Progress
