Gutting a Story But For a Good Reason

I think I need to completely trash a story, but it should be alright.  I'm only about 3 pages in, and I think I found a better direction to use anyway.  It was starting to sort of stall on me, and I think if I change it up a little, it might flow better.  And hurray and hurrah, I'm making some progress on my little mystery too.  I think in another week or two, I'm going to have something that'll make sense and something I can work with.  Tonight I've been trying to get a rhythm going, and I'm actually having a halfway decent time of it.  I've been trying to visualize the story before I type, which has been helpful, but I could probably stand to make sure I do a better job of relating the imagery to the reader.  That's a little problem I've need to do a more thorough job of. 

I've been trying to tiptoe through my stories a bit at this point, and make sure things are going right, but its just taking a while, and it doesn't help, I'm being goofy on Twitter, or watching Rambo movies and stuff.  Ah well, can't always be creating literary masterpieces all the time, now can I? 

Break Time

I've gone back to trying to squeeze a day off from writing once or twice a week again.  It lets me recharge a bit, and then I feel like I have to catch up, so I work harder when I pick it back up again.  Its good motivation I think.  I'm done to about 5 projects left, and then I'm done.  I think.  I don't really get time off too much so its nice to kind of sit around and do absolutely nothing.  There's been some nice progress as of late, since I'm not all wound up, trying to finish in a hurry, and stuff.  I'm sort of a third of the way through trying to figure out a plot for my mystery story.  I've turned a corner of sorts with it, and hopefully I'll have an idea how to finish it soon.  I just realized in the last couple of days or so, that writing a mystery in modern times is a little diffcult because of all the forensic science and CSI-type stuff that's available now.  That won't always work in a mystery story, if you're trying to rely on sleuth's brain to figure out something.  Investigators don't have crime labs in their heads, so I think part of my problem is trying to tell a story, that might be able to fit in the 1950's, or the 1890's or some era where computers and the internet don't exist.  I want to be able to have it be something I could figure, or the reader could figure out.  Since its a short story, I don't want to delve into forensic too much, especially since I don't know anything about that kind of science anyway.  But for what its worth I am now a mystery writer, which is kind of cool, and yes I will be using that as a pickup line at some point.

I Had A Schedule

Well...since things aren't going as quickly as I'd hope.  I now have no idea when this book will get published.  And surprisingly what should have been a low moment, ended up being a good one.  Since I don't have any time constraints, I lost some of the pressure of trying to finish things, and I'm starting to get fill in some plot details I wish missing, because I wasn't stressing out anymore.  I got about 5 pages done I might not have otherwise, and I'm optimistic that things will move forward now.  I'm still working out a few things obviously, but now I can take my time and do it right.  Hurrah.

Stuck

I had a lousy day.  Spent four or five hours trying to fix something that didn't need fixing, and was on 5 different freeways, that ended up being a complete waste of time.  And now I'm trying to figure out if I want to read about puzzles, because I'm completely bored, and have no life.  I'm just trying to figure out what sort of puzzle to use in my writing.  On top of that I think I've managed to come up with a character that suits me for my mystery.  Finally.  I thought I would be farther along on all this by now, but things have gotten freakishly slow, after my initial start.  I'm not sure what my problem is.  I've been trying to keep at it, but its gotten horribly slow the last couple of weeks.  I have a sneaky suspicion I've been distracted, but in a good way.  I suppose I can try to relax a bit, and maybe read or something.  I am just really restless as of late, and can't seem to get anything good on paper.  At some point this will all fit together the right way, I just have no idea how yet.

Oooo! Methinks Something Good is Happening

I might be able to put in an extra story in the book.  I think I'm up to 6 or 7 stories now, with a few pieces here and there like poetry, and some letters, I wanted to include.  I might be able to push this up to around 100 pages.  That's a little better, since I think readers will be able to get more for their buck with that, and I can feel better about getting more done.  I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to keep writing after this.  I want to make sure I get everything I can down and not have any regrets about leaving something out.  I've been trying to see if I've got any more ideas for books, but the best I can think of is history book, and even that sounds too arduous to undertake.  I can't really think of much of anything past that. I might be ok being a one hit wonder, if it actually ends being that.   

On My Way

I feel like I'm really devloping some characters for a change, as opposed to just writing dialogue for robots to say to each other.  I'm really trying to give some thought behind some of these things for a change.  Its kind of fun, because I seem to be injecting myself a little more into the stories, and the people in them.  I think it helps to do that, because it makes you care about the characters, because in some way, you're looking out for yourself too.  At any rate, I think its improving my writing, and I think I can get some story from having people involvment as opposed to character involvement.  Ok.  That's it.  Back to work.

Mystery Solved....A Little Bit Anyway

I think I'm on to something finally with this mystery story.  Finally.  I got a few ideas to toss around.  At least ones that didn't seem so bad.  Part of my problem has been worrying too much about how much about it, instead of it just come naturally to me.  I have some real good places to start now, so it should be a little easier to put a plot together.  I'm fairly sure I've got some good angles to work with for a change, I've already started on it, a little, and I'm a little happy about it, I'm not in a hurry to get my hopes up yet.  Stay tuned.

Saturday

Originally, I was going to try and blog everyday this week, just to see how it went.  I usually blog about every two or three days depending on whether I've got anything good to say of not.  I was going to try and write last night, but I didn't make it home from till about 4 o' clock and my body hurts and I'm having a difficult time keeping my eyes open.  I'm trying to write a mystery, but I'm completely at a loss what to do with it.  I tried to take a day off from writing this week, to give my brain some time to recuperate, and maybe think up something good, but that didn't work, and I ended up trying to write anyway.  So...I guess I'll just have to try a little harder.  Even as we speak, I'm getting an idea for something.  I really just want to tell one good mystery.  Some of these other stories, seem to be slowly coming together, and yet that's the story I'm worried about.  I figure writing a good mystery will give me some bragging rights, and in a way I'll be able to show myself I can put together a complicated story.  Its one thing to just throw a story together, but I want to be able to intrigue someone, to baffle them, to present them a puzzle, that's what the draw is for me.  To be able to sort of outthink people, and outthink myself.  So that' what I'm going to try and do with the rest of my weekend, trying to solve the puzzle of coming up with a puzzle...

Wednesday

I'm very excited by this woman.  At times, I wonder what she sees in me, then, of course, I say to myself, it is me after all...alright, just kidding.  I am seriously blessed by this woman's entrance into my life.  She deserves nothing less, than everyone who meets to love her.  My heart has been healing in ways I didn't think would happen to me, and I owe her a great deal.  She's been a great motivation for me, as I try to write, and sort out what it is I'm trying to do with my writing, and with my life.  I'm sure I'd be plugging away in my own way, like I've been doing,

I've been trying to find a story for this mystery, and I think I know why it bothers me so much, that I haven't been able to come up with something.  I think in my mind if I can write a good mystery, then maybe I can solve them too.  I feel like I may have said this already...  I've been trying to hone my own observationals skills for whatever reason, as though somebody's going to randomly consult me on a murder case or something.  At this point, I'd probably settle on smaller solving smaller mysteries like figuring out where my socks are, what did I do with the screwdriver I was using, etc, etc.  I seem to do better writing, if I find ways to connect things to my own life, so this might be a good idea, if that makes any sense whatsoever.

Tuesday

I'm trying to write song lyrics, and trying to figure out what to do with this mystery, and this other little sci-fi piece.  Its tough trying to find the right "voice" sometimes, because I'm either trying to write something about a woman, some humor story, or whatever, and then I've got to figure out how to be serious.  I'm very slowly making my way through the two serious stories.  I think I forgot how to be serious or something.  This might prove to be a problem maybe... 

Monday

Today, I had a 15 minute lunch, and made 4 separate trips to Fed-Ex today.  Of course that was after trying to figure out how to move a 400 lb piece of equipment with a forklift, a pallet jack, a little pallet jack, and some kind of roller thing.  The best part I'd have to say, was when I got into my car, and the temperature gauge read 116.  That might be a new record for me.  I made some attempts at writing, or at least at some very meager attempts today, but its not going to well.  I really need something for this mystery.  Its really bothering me I can't put this thing together yet either.  I will figure this out at some point.  I hope.

Sunday

I am not sure what kind of day this is.  I woke early because I got called into work, then didn't actually do very much work.  Now I'm going to do a little writing and read a little on bionics, because I'm hoping to learn a little about artifical limbs and how they work, so I can maybe use that when I eventually construct my own robot.  I'm also thinking of looking into some post-grad robotics work, so I can maybe get paid to tinker.  Could be nice to have a real job for a change. 

And I've slowly managed to work in some very very very very small progress on this mystery story.  I think I got a total of three lines in today, and that might be stretching it.  I'm very tired today, so I've been power napping a bunch, and now I'm trying to come up with some cloak and dagger stuff too, and its not really working for me right now.  It's a little tough to think clearly, when you're mind is tired and distracted in a million different directions.  The only thing you can really do is to keep plugging away at times like this.   

Not Really a Writing Entry

So...this is about that lovely woman I am completely enthrolled with.  This isn't a dirty entry, or something, its just an extremely appreciative mention of someone who means the world to me.  I'm even hanging up some of my James Bond leanings, and focusing all of my attentions on her now.  Seriously, she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life, and I have no idea why I'm being blessed in such a way.  I've never imagined a better fit for me than this woman, I just hope I am just as much a fit for her.  She's been nothing but wonderful, and uplifting, and wonderful, and lovely, and wonderful.  She's been a great shot to my writing, and my life, and I don't think I'd be taking as many chances with my writing, and really in my life without her.  I feel happier, and healthier, and more willing to take on the world.I guess that's what I'm doing now, taking on the world, in my own little way, because of her. 

Robots!

I think I may have found a hobby worthy of my attention...robots!  I have a newfound interest in being able to build not one of those boring ones that carrys a tray of soda and crackers either.  I mean one that answer questions, opens doors, and actually open a frig and get someone a drink.  And can make facial expressions, and have a whole range of abilities.  The problem I'm having with undertaking a new hobby, is that I know zero, zilch, nadda, nothing, the big goose egg, about electronics.  I barely know how to build a salad, much less a circuit.  Today, I found some books on robotics, I'm hoping will get me started and I made a list of some I'd like to track down, so I can teach myself electronics and stuff.  I guess I was too lazy to learn this stuff growing up.  So that's going to be my after-writing project. 

As for writing, I'm making some progress, but I may have to backtrack and edit some stuff out, because I think I might be confusing myself for the mystery story.  I finally managed to get some more jokes for my humor story too, and its about to get completely off the wall soon, so that should be entertaining...I hope.  Things are looking up, and its Wednesday, so that's a plus too.  Ok kids, back to grindstone or something.

Finished? Not Quite

Last night I finished a story, and I'm already trying to figure out how to make it better.  It seems far too concise in some respects, and I've already started a small edit, and expansion of it.  And now I'm looking at countries with space programs, for one story.  And apparently I didn't need to look at space programs, because I just wrote around needing that information.  I also just realized I'm writing the same things just in different words.  And now I'm trying to see if I'm being lazy, or if somehow that might help this one story along, because well, the main guy is supposed to a little frazzled.  I'm trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about, and its not rocket science or anything, its just I tend to be either completly off the wall, or rather serious.  I think for the most part people know me as a the goof-off, so I'm trying my best to feign intelligence.  I just realized I'm writing about a scientists and science, and I have a bad habit at getting flustered and nervous when I try to talk seriously, even about stuff I know a great deal about.  I think I'll be ok if I can concentrate on some of the other story elements and not worry about it a great deal.  Should be interesting.

Onward

I finished my second story last night, so now I'm just down to just three stories.  One of which is science fiction, and its funny, because I'm trying my best to sound intelligent or something, and I get a good chuckle from that.  Right now I'm attempting to figure out how to weight lift, write, and make bad jokes on twitter, because I'm something of a multi-tasker who can't decide on what I should be doing.  I'd be happy if I can come up with a clever name for this other story I'm working on.  If I can just think of something catchy, my night will be made.  I'm really hoping that this is the last time, I'll have to come up with a name that's as rediculous as I need this to be. Anyhoo time for more multi-tasking.

One More Maybe?

I may have stumbled onto another story.  And that would probably be the last one.  I think.  Its more or less a science fiction story, I just need to decide on an ending for it.  Overall, I've been making good progress.  I'm closing in on some of those elusive endings, and I'm hoping to be done with a couple of these stories, maybe by the end of the month.  That would put about a month ahead of where I wanted to be, and give me a chance to relax a little and figure out how I want to put everything together.  I'm still thinking about some smaller projects to put in, so the extra time will really be helpful to me I think.  I was thinking of putting in some illustrations, but I don't think I want to do that anymore, and I'll just focus on a book cover I think.  And now I'm trying to recover from my little choking fit I had a while ago.  Not the best feeling in the world, but what can you do?  I'm trying to see if I can finish a few pages tonight regardless.  Ok back to work.

I Think Its Thursday

I'm trying to figure out to close a couple of projects now.  I've been confronted with a good problem, that I think I've touched on in the past, but its finally starting to become more of an issue now.  I want to finish these with a good ending, and not just end something that ends the story.  I'm learning more about plot devices and how to put things into stories that I can use later.  I'm really worried about sounding repetitive, or contradictory too.  I think that's one of the tougher things I deal with, making sure I didn't contradict myself or something 10 pages into a story, that I said on page 1 or 2.  Anyhoo, that's the current battle, but at this point I guess I'll take that over where I was a few months ago.  So that's where I'm at.  I'm trying to crank this stuff out, but I forgot it long it takes to finish writing first drafts.  Oops.