No rest for the Wicked

Life has been busy to say the least. But, as always, I have nothing to complain about. Aside from working a full time job and working as much as I can on my second novel, I've been traveling whenever I get the chance as well. Last week I went to Las Vegas, off the strip of course because the hustle and bustle of it sours my stomach. I stayed at a five star resort and I must say, it was quite nice. I have set a deadline for mid July regarding my novel and I received interesting news yesterday regarding my past works and a certain county fair. To say I'm excited is a definite understatement, but, again, I'll see how it goes. Three more trips planned this year and once the novel is completed, I have a tremendous amount of other things to do as well.

How I loathe Interruptions

I think everyone can admit that, if they've ever tried to accomplish something extraordinary, that there can be nothing more frustrating than needless interruptions. Be it a nagging injury, a full time job, family troubles, the necessities of life itself, whatever. There's no argument that the more of them you have to go through, the longer it takes you to accomplish your set-out task. It never fails no matter what I do, whenever I set about to achieve the laundry list of goals I set for myself something ridiculous happens. Mere obstructions to the result, true. But, then that age old saying pops in my head: Life is what happens when your busy making other plans. It truly does make me wonder.

Future Plans?

I must say that so far 2014 hasn't disappointed at all. But, in truth, all I have been able to do is continue to work on my second novel. I haven't had any time to think about articles or short stories. And that leads me to a valid inquiry: What my plans are when my novel is completed, and it will be completed. The truth is, I don't know at the moment because I tend to focus all of my energy on what I am doing at the present moment. But, it is a concern regardless. Do I try my hand at yet another novel, which would make three? Do I stick to writing short stories(right now I have completed 31 of them)? Do I focus all my energy on doing travel and haunting articles? Or do I take a completely different path with my writing altogether? I don't know. What really matters to me is that I continue writing, regardless of the outcome or endeavor. If I can do that, then the dream is still a reality. My reality.

Going With the Flow

Whenever I write, whatever it may be, I've noticed that more often than not my writings take on a completely different life of their own. They sort of write themselves, if you will. And instead of trying to figure out the reasons why such things happen, I find that it is best if I simply just let such things be as they are. With the new novel I am writing, nothing has changed one bit. Perhaps I am a vessel for the other side to express whatever it wants, I don't know. What I do know is that the more I don't interfere in such a process, the more of a benefit I get from it. One can imagine what lessons I have learned from simply leaving things as they are as far as my writings are concerned.

2013 in retrospect

Well then, another end to another year is upon us all. I feel that 2013 was, for me, a very productive year. I wrote my first novel in only three months time, completed three short stories, several articles and poems. I also started working on my second novel and have come rather along with it, if I do say so myself, a Gothic love story that, in my opinion, will rival any Shakespearean sonnet. I literally spent every available opportunity this year writing, and for a writer I don't know what could be more rewarding. In short, I truly hope that 2014 has the same premise as this year did, not just in writing but in positive experiences as well. For instance, I traveled to several cities this year which always holds with it plenty of excitement. As I always say, out with the old and in with the new, so long as the new is as, or more, positive as this year was.

Beyond Busy

Forgive the delay, but I've been keeping myself beyond busy lately. My second novel, though it is coming along rather nicely, is definitely taking longer than I would care to admit. And then I have had a constant torrent of family issues to deal with, none of which are even worth explaining. A wise person once said 'This too shall pass' and I know that the way things are, while in no way much of an emergency, are not going to last forever. My saving grace is my ability to consistently remain focused on my goals. The importance of them and the elation I'm going to feel when they are completed.

Wine to the rescue!

As usual, I have been spending the majority of my time working on my second novel. Unlike the first, when I virtually had no writer's block in the process, This novel has carried with it it's own unique series of obstacles and interruptions. From family issues and the usual tribulations of life, I find myself spending more and more time adding to the development of the plot, not that such a thing is necessarily bad. The one saving grace for this particular series of issues is one that many writers would agree can be a lifesaver. Wine. It doesn't have the same detrimental effects that other forms of alcohol(beer, liquor) possess. And, no matter what's going on, when I drink wine and I'm close to paper, the words flow out of me like magic. I also find it fascinating how in tune with the story line everything is. New twists and turn I hadn't even previously thought about reveal themselves in ways that are just amazing. Because I have several other endeavors going on at the same time, I have pushed my deadline for the second novel a few months. And as far as I know, it could definitely take longer. But, for now, at least I know that it WILL be finished. Now I understand why Galileo once referred to wine as the 'Nectar of the Gods'.