Two forwards?

I've been back and forth about the format for the book revision.  I keep editing my forward, and then I was thinking of another forward, and then an introduction to some of the past stories I did.  I'm really leaning towards that right now.  This anthology is really sort of a mess at this point, and I've yet to start a couple of other things yet.  I really hate being so scattered, but that seems to be a theme with this project.  Still I feel like I'm trying to organize a cloud of dust sometimes, I can barely see it, and can't get my hands on it...

2012

I recently decided to postpone going back for a master's degree, until I can shore up my finances a bit more, and until I've finished the 10,000 pages or so I'm doing in research for some writing projects.  Its only about 20-30 books, so I figure a book every week to week and a half and I should have them all finished by the end of the year.  And I'm hoping to have the rough drafts on a couple of projects done as well.  I think this going to be great opportunity to focus on one goal instead of two or three, and let me put my sole attention on writing.  O.k. thats it I'm done talking now.

Jackpot

I think I may have come up with the centerpiece to my book revision.  It's a new story, with some cool plot ideas I've been toying with for a while.  I get very antsy with stuff so I want to make sure it all comes together the right, but it could be the one story I've been looking to tell for quite a while now.  Its funny, because I think the story itself sort of reflects a lot of things I've sort of had rattling around in the head for a while.  And I think its stuff I care about.  So its good motivation to make sure its written right, and leave everything on the table if that makes sense. 

New and Improved Preface

A while ago I put the preface to my book revision on here, but I think I like this one better.


In 2009, I went through a divorce. Yes I know not very uplifting. It was a very confusing time,
as many who’ve been divorced might tell you. Your brain kind of shuts down with something like that.  Somewhere along the way, I figured I needed to move on with my life, and tried my hand at writing. In 2011, I ended self-publishing a book of short stories, and poetry, and a letter to my daughter who is as of right now, will soon be four years old. The whole idea was really for me to try and mix my love of spy stories, and throw in some real world experience of what I’d been dealing with, in regards to divorce and things like that. So…the stories were kind of horrible, but at the end of it I was able to say that I’d written a book. This time however I added some stuff, and included those not so fantastical stories for you. And then at the end I put a new story, and the letter to my daughter, and a letter to someone else, you’re going to have to read it if you want to know who…see what I did there?
   Even though life is a complete train wreck, I’m still trying to strive for something. Not sure what
really, or why, but I’m just trying to do what I can. This is the book I should’ve done, and really have
wanted to do my whole life. I’m sure its got flaws, and is filled with lot of stupid, whiny feelings or
whatever. But that’s the way it goes sometimes. Thanks for making it this far into a preface, I usually
don’t read these myself, but if you made it this far, maybe you actually bought the book, and that’s good for my royalty check.


-Steven Dumas

This Is Going to Be the Preface to My Book Revision-(Kind of Self-Explaining Title)

I wrote a book called If That’s Your Real Name. Don’t go out and buy it. It sucks. I wrote a
couple of short stories I thought were good at the time, and looking back…they aren’t at all. I was writing to say I did something, and to try and climb out a massive life engulfing pit I’ve been in. It’s a horrible, horrible read. Somehow this book is supposed to be better than that one, but let’s be honest, I’m reprinting those little gems out of that book in this one so that you can see for yourself, what I’m talking about. I thought it might make a good monument to lousy writing.
    And I think it this maybe the book that I’ve wanted to write. Oh sure, its got some of my less
than great writings in it, but its me on paper. And that’s what I want to do, leave a message that covers
everything I can think, touch on everything I care about, and squeeze as much out of everything, say
the things that don’t get said, or that are overlooked. Quite the run-on sentence. So. Hopefully you can see if I got any better and hopefully I can see the royalty check.

I Have No New Year's Resolutions

I have prided myself on the fact that I have absolutely no New Year's resolutions.  That's right, I just maintain that same level of excellence year in, and year out... Actually I just have never found the point in trying to do some cliche thing like trying to diet, or run a marathon or something.  If you're not going to make some kind of effort even before a new year starts, the impact of a  new year starting ain't going to matter more than maybe a month.  I'm looking to redo my book, which while I thought I had it edited ended up being pretty crappy.  So I'm trying to do something about now, and have been for a little while trying to "fix" it.  Why wait till 2012 when 2011 isn't over?  Of course 2011 only has one week left in it...

It's Christmas

Bah humbug.  Apparently I'm in the mood for writing, as I started work on one of my projects for my book revision.  I really can't say too much right noe, but its likely after women read it, I'm not going to be well liked by women for a while.