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Post by bill on Feb 7, 2022 5:30:56 GMT
I knew I haven't been posting but didn't realize it had been since last year. Yikes!
Terror Mansion - I finished my middle grade horror story (I don't know what to name it!) and have requested beta readers in Holly's forum. I would have finished by the end of December except the move delayed me. I'm starting to get back on track with my writing.
Mystery 4 - I started back on this story. I have around 38,000 words and a lot of revising to be done, as well as additional scenes to add. I started reading through yesterday to figure out what I needed to do. Will hit it hard this week.
Website - I had someone contact me through a Facebook page who is promoting other writers. I told him I would do author interviews on my webpage so now about once a week I'm posting author interviews. I wish I knew how to get more people to my website to see them. Hopefully over time it will help me build up a bigger following? I don't know. I may be wasting my time. But on the other hand I'm meeting (via e-mail) other authors from all over the world. I hope that's worth something.
PPWC - I turned in an application for a scholarship today. I'll know by the 25th if I got one.
January was busy but February is pretty open so I hope to get some good writing time in. Onwards...
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Post by Admin on Feb 16, 2022 22:03:06 GMT
I bit of a breakthrough. I'm beginning to move upward on my depression. Beginning to think again and make plans. I woke up the other day with the knowledge that, logically, the office will become the art studio and the art studio will become the framing and work room for projects. Joshua can get to the office way easier than he can the basement. Water is right in the room. I'll have to move the freezer to the garage and the desk has to be moved out. or maybe, I can move the office part to the east wall and keep the main part of the room art studio.
My beds are getting moved out of my bedroom and replaced with a single regular sized bed. It will give me more room in there and I don't have any memories associated with the new bed. The writing desk will be in my bedroom. If I wake up during the night and feel like working, I can without disturbing anybody. If I'm painting, or writing, I have a door I can close and be 'at work'.
Joshua is supposed to get his chair fixed tomorrow but I'm worried that the weather will cause a cancellation. I hope I'm wrong. He needs his chair.
I'm going to move my piano out to the entry. SHaron wants to sing every day for ten minutes and I need to get my fingers limbered up so I can offer music at church. I feel like I'm emerging from a dark pit. Just need to stay on an upward path.
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Post by bill on Feb 21, 2022 4:01:50 GMT
That's great news! Hopefully as the weather warms up that will help your depression too.
Terror Mansion - I had several people volunteer to beta read the story, including one teacher at Halstead Middle School who is going to have students read it and give me feedback. I can't wait to see what they come back with!
Murder mystery 4 - I reached a stopping point in my revision and felt stuck so I set it aside for a week or two. I'm making progress but am in that dreaded portion where it feels like I'll never get to the end. I have most of the story written, but several plotholes to figure out and it feels overwhelming, so I'm taking a break.
Murder mystery 5 - I'm starting to write the rough draft. I'd like to have 30,000-40,000 words written by the end of March. April will be busy for me and I'll want to take a break from the mystery stories before revising 4 and 5, and starting to write 6.
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2022 5:18:56 GMT
Phase one accomplished today. My beds have been taken to Connies and the full size bed set up in my room. Bigger than a twin but not as big as a queen. I put the futon in there. Gives me a place to sit and a place for Macy to sleep at night. I have a table in there where I can set up my computer and the printer is in there. If I wake up at night and want to work, I can. If I want to work during the day I can shut my door and have solitude.
Tomorrow, the office becomes an art studio. It will probably look terrible but all I require is function. The room in the basement will become my workshop. I can hang curtains to hide the clutter. But it will give me a place to frame, and paint furniture and repurpose stuff. I want to build an inventory. but most of all, I need the space to frame artwork.
Nola and I have worked out our difficulties and being able to talk to her again has eased a lot of my stress. I will continue with counseling. Its helping.
I'm going to Illinois the second week of March to take half of Hank's ashes to his cousin so they can be spread. I will bury the other half in the Gridley cemetery with Mom and Dad and Kathy. Josh and I will be there eventually and it comforts me to know he, at least part of him, will be there with us. I'm timing it so I can go to the book club. I miss them and it will be good to see them and visit with them again. We'll see Bill while we are there.
You're getting a lot of words written. I hope to have something to show soon.
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Post by bill on Feb 24, 2022 18:14:06 GMT
I just found out I'll receive a scholarship for the PPWC for half the conference expense!
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Post by Admin on Feb 25, 2022 3:26:59 GMT
That is excellent news. Happy for you.
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Post by bill on Mar 14, 2022 3:46:16 GMT
Mystery 4 - I got most of the scenes written that I needed to add. My goal this week is to shore up the ending so I can then work backwards through the manuscript to fix plothole issues. I'd like to finish by the end of March but I don't think that's likely.
Sydney is in town and getting her wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning. Susan, Zach, and Cole are coming on Thursday for a couple of days. Halstead, the great spring break destination. I can't wait to see them all!
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2022 5:05:51 GMT
How fun. Not the wisdom teeth thing but Susan and boys visiting. Glad you get to see everybody. Kara's daughter, Abbey, is going to attend Kansas University next semester. She got enough grants to pay for her dorm and her tuition.
I'm still making progress on my goals even if its at a snail's pace. Feels good. I had a breakthrough counseling session today. It wasn't fun, and it hit me hard, but maybe now I can get a bit more healing done.
I'm still struggling to get Jessica's info. I've decided I need to make an appointment with an accountant, take my papers and computer in and see if they can help me understand what I'm supposed to do. I feel so incredibly stupid not to understand the instructions and the IRS makes navigation so hard.
Josh gets a CT scan in the morning. we're still struggling to get his open sores to close. I want to rule out cancer and he's overdue for his scan.
Sharon lost her insurance on the car and it doesn't look like she can get it back until she gets a valid drivers license. She's sad but she didn't fall asleep which shows me she's getting stronger.
I'm trying to find somebody to till up some dirt for me so I can have a garden. I have dirt ordered. Third times a charm, I hope. I want sidewalks in this year. The guy who brings the dirt and gravel also does concrete so I'm hopeful that something will get done.
Marilyn is about the same. She's sweet and happy and sings to Josh. her body weight is very low and she has no interest in food at all. Worries me but God time is the right time. I worry most about Larry. He takes such good care of her.
That's about it, I think. We're busy and I'm beginning to be productive. I got to put in some time at the art place in town. I'll put in a few more days of training and then I can help out more. It feels good to be around other artists. Energy feeds energy.
Enjoy your visit with family. Love to all.
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Post by Admin on Mar 28, 2022 4:07:52 GMT
I'm getting stuff done. Not as much as I should but anything is better than nothing. I worked at Prairie Pastimes to learn the cash register and card reader. I attended the business meeting. I signed up for one workday in April and two in May. I finished an art project and began another one. I wrote two vignettes for a memoir. It's not fiction but if I get enough of them written I might be able to publish it as anthologies. They are in the style of my articles. slices of life.
I go to the counselor tomorrow. I don't feel any great needs to discuss this time but who knows what will pop out during discussion. I'm still struggling with goals. Feeling very mortal and wondering if my efforts are worth anything. Nola tells me to just do what I love and forget selling but having my work bought is validating and I'd really like to know what that feels like. But taking selling off the table did free me up to just create and that counts for something.
Tomorrow I'm supposed to get the garden tilled. I sure hope he shows up. I'm going to do yard work tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday. Josh's bath nurse gave us two buckets of daffodils. I want to get them planted. I want to get potatoes planted and if the garden gets tilled, I want to put onions and lettuce in.
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Post by bill on Apr 1, 2022 0:27:23 GMT
Aww, all of this makes me miss you. You know, most people in your situation would sit around and whittle away the rest of their lives watching TV or hanging out at the Senior Center (nothing wrong with doing that, but all day every day?) or whatever. You are drive to be productive and creative and I love that. I want to be that way until I die. Of course, sometimes life doesn't give us a choice, but I can hope.
I think Nola is partially right - do what you love. What is your passion? What are your goals? What are your priorities? That being said, if you have something inside you that wants to accomplish something specific, you can't just rely on what you love - you have to sacrifice some of that to grind through the mundane and hard work that will get you there. I face that every time I'm in the middle of revising a book. It's tough work but I won't experience the euphoria of the finished book without persevering. I guess it's a matter of finding the balance between doing what you enjoy and what will bring you that sense of accomplishment.
But give yourself some grace. The only reason you haven't published more fiction books is because you're spending your time, specifically your creative time, doing other things like art or other writing. You're still accomplishing A LOT. Take some satisfaction in that. I think it's awesome!
Speaking of the dreaded middle, that's where I've been living with my fourth murder mystery. I'm getting close and think I can see the light, but not quite there yet. It's been challenging because I've had a lot of other writing projects (business, not creative) going on plus I've seen Susan and Sydney twice in the last three weeks so I've been distracted with them as well.
Ozark Mountain UFO Conference - I leave next Thursday. The conference runs from Friday to Sunday. I think it's an actual conference, with basically the same people there for three days, so I don't know what to expect with sales. I wanted to try it once though and see. I had some new t-shirts made and should get them tomorrow. I'll post on Facebook when I get them. I made them for this and the UFO Festival in Roswell mostly.
I also bought two more domains - thevetrixseries.com and halsteadmysteries.com. I haven't developed them yet but need to do something the vetrix series because I had the web address printed on the t-shirts. Hopefully I can use the site as a marketing tool in the future. The mystery website is one I reference in the fourth book so I thought it would be fun to create one for real. Again, I hope I can use it for marketing purposes eventually. I won't roll that one out until I release the fourth book, still a few months away I recon. No real set date for it.
I'm also running author interviews on my author website, averaging just over one a week, so that's been something to keep up with. I don't know yet if it's helping me or them or both or neither, but I'm making connections and as I peruse other's websites I get ideas. So there's that.
When the Time is Right - I had another website review and give four stars.
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Post by bill on Apr 3, 2022 23:18:09 GMT
Murder Mystery 4 - I'm finally making good progress on my revision. Getting close enough I think I can have to beta readers by the end of April even with all that I have going on.
Ozark Mountain UFO Conference - I leaving Thursday morning. for the three-day conference. Am staying with friends near Springfield, MO. The conference is in Eureka Springs. I don't know what to expect but am hopeful I can get a few sales - enough so I break even at least.
T-shirt - I had new t-shirts made. I think they'll be a hit at the UFO Festival in Roswell. We'll see how well they do at the conference. Another something to sell and put on my website.
thevetrixseries.com - I have that printed on the back of the t-shirt. I bought the domain a couple of weeks ago and have it started, at least enough of a presence not to embarrass myself when people go there. Have a lot of ideas how to use it in the future.
Radio - I signed a deal to run a commercial overnight during the national radio program Coast to Coast in the Wichita market. Basically it will cost me $300 for a thirty-second commercial once a night for 11 weeks. If you've never heard the show, it's kind of a conspiracy talk show and they talk a lot about aliens so I thought I might find some buyers in the group for my books or t-shirts. I figured it was worth a shot.
Horror story - I plan to pitch this at PPWC so I need to write my query letter and synopsis. I have the blurb.
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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2022 1:01:54 GMT
I'm getting stuff done. larry and ron came over today and ramped the shed. the lawnmower and polaris are parked in it so that frees garage space up.
Joshua and I got through the event at Prairie Pastimes. I'm feeling more comfortable being there. I started to plan out my next paintings. I've written two memoir snippets. I'll keep writing them. They are fast to write and fun. I began to turn my bedroom into my oasis. Bought a beautiful quilt in colors that soothe my soul I'll pick out a paint color and get the walls painted. stepping into my space and closing the door feels very good.
I need to plan on my trip to Texas. JJ graduates on the 27th. We're going to be gone a week. I wish I had a house sitter but I'm taking my house sitter with me. I'll have to do some serious planning or I'll end up boarding the dogs and I hate to do that to them.
Sounds like you're marketing is expanding. That's good. Visibility is the hardest part about going the indie route.
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Post by Admin on Apr 10, 2022 6:24:11 GMT
I came across a scene from a book I started years ago. It triggered something in me so I sat down and began to write out all the books I had planned. I am at 14 and have 3 more that I could add. My next step it to put them in order of doneness. I'm beginning to get a glimmer of work hours and ways to fit time in for both art and writing.
I'm getting my house in order. Ron has helped with ideas. He is mostly retired now so he has more time. Nyla also put in her resignation so her hours are freed up also. I'm busy but its good busy.
Sharon is struggling with decisions on what she needs to be happy. She wants her freedom. I think she may have to opt for divorce. It is the only way she can get even a portion of her marriage assets back and she would be able to walk away and not have to deal with the monthly stress wondering if he will actually pay her or not. She hates discord.
Life is pretty good right now. Not what it needs to be but I feel more normal and productive than I did before.
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Post by bill on Apr 11, 2022 3:18:34 GMT
That's all good news. Well, except for Sharon's tough decision, but I think it's good in the long run.
I was disappointed in the UFO Conference. I didn't expect to do great, but I thought I would do better than I did. I only sold two t-shirts which really shocked me. On the plus side I had a lot of down time during the lectures and spent almost all of it working on my websites. I now have the ability to take payments online so I'm selling my books and t-shirts online. I really needed to get that done for thevetrixseries.come because my radio commercial starts tomorrow night and it directs them to that site. Plus my new shirt has that web address on the back, although no one bought one yet so that doesn't matter too much. I think they'll sell like crazy at Roswell so I'm not worried about that part. Hopefully I'll start selling some on the internet.
I thought I might get a lot of writing done at the conference but the websites ate my time. I was productive though. I'm really struggling with my murder mystery and think I need to walk away for a bit. I like what I have but can't seem to get the energy and focus to finish. I did get the query letter written for my horror story and started on the synopsis. I need these done before PPWC. I have moderator training this week for that so now I can start gearing up.
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Post by Admin on Apr 11, 2022 3:37:33 GMT
I wondered how your weekend went. You never know until you try something if it will work, or not. The t-shirts sound great.
I'm going to type up a new list and create the order plus a blurb for each project. Joshua will work on his coffee table art book. There is enough written for it that it can go together pretty fast.
I think organizing my surroundings will encourage productivity in all areas. It makes me feel like I'm in charge. Being in charge makes me feel like the CEO of my own business and being in business mode helps me get stuff done.
Marilyn was here today. Pretty good day for her. She was talkative and cheerful. She worries and talks about God a lot. On the 23rd of this month, Jody is having a dance at her farm. She wants to share her space with others. We're planning on going. I think it will be fun and dancing in the circle and hearing the drums is always uplifting for me.
I'm not writing new stuff but I'm getting closer. I know I feel better emotionally.
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