Thursday, February 1, 2018

Writer’s Quandary


February 2018 Blog
Writer’s Quandary
I would cast my words upon the ether and give them life more eternal than my own.

Writer’s Quandary: A Haiku
What of what I write?
Hidden under a bushel?
Cast upon ether?

February 2018 Blog

What do you write when you want to write: “Life sucks and then you die” And, George (the dead girl form “Dead Like Me” who was killed by a toilet seat that fell from the space station) says, “It still sucks!”
Do I force myself to write something inspirational (and against my current mood), or do I go with the flow and embrace my “Debbie Downer” side? And does it matter anyway? This has got to be the least read blog of any out here in the blog-o-sphere.
Usually, when I’m in this kind of mood,  I just work on one of my novels and kill someone horrifically. But, today is the first of the month, and in keeping with my resolution from last year, I’m blogging.
Which reminds me, I didn’t  make any resolutions this year, so I don’t have to worry about breaking them. If I had made any, I’m certain they would have been broken by now. It’s been that kind of year so far. (Can’t believe that it’s only just started.)
So here I am free to write anything I want. Guess I’ll just practice crying in the wilderness.
I am not happy. I’m not happy with the current state of affairs in the United States or in the world, for that matter. I am not happy with myself, either. I don’t see either unhappiness being mitigated anytime soon. The only thing that seems to bring a smile to my face lately is sitting out in the sun in my back yard, watching the birds and the squirrels and writing.
Wait! That’s it! I’m happy when I’m writing! Within that statement may lie the solution. I need to write more.
I need to shut out the world I cannot control and immerse myself in the worlds over which I have complete control. Worlds in which the characters do my bidding and their existence is at my pleasure. Where they always do what I expect…
Okay, that’s not entirely true. Sometimes, my characters do exactly what they want to  do and turn my tales a whole different direction. Usually it’s for the best. They seem to know their own inclinations and can surprise me at every turn. They even make my job easier.
At times I merely put my pen to paper and their words flow scene after scene. That’s part of the joy of being a writer: the flow of words that make a cohesive story that you like even when you read it back to yourself.
That doesn’t always happen. There are times (during editing especially) that a writer comes to loathe the words on the page and would like to just to ditch the whole thing. In fact, we almost didn’t have Stephen King’s “Carrie” because he trash-canned it. We have it only because his wife Tabitha rescued it, read it and told him it had merit. One “Carrie” resurrected.
I wonder how many writers out there have become unduly discouraged and abandoned their “babies” before they even had a chance at birth.
Persistence, then, is the key. In fact, it is the key to so much in this world. Without it, we cannot succeed and in fact may fail just this side of a brilliant breakthrough.
I guess that is why I’m writing this blog. I am nothing if not persistent. (although it may take me a while to persist.)
I would advise all aspiring writers to make persistence part of their makeup. Write and keep writing. Edit, but don’t abandon. Pursue publishing vigorously, and repeat and repeat and repeat.
The breakthrough (however you define that) will come, or if it doesn’t, at least you will have spent quality time away from the world such as it is. You will also have yourself to thank for your success. You know I’m sure no one is going to hand success to you. It’s a battle all the way, but a worthwhile one.
I guess I’m feeling better now, and I know what I must do – spend more time in my happy place and write, write, write. Whether I’m widely read or not, I will have the satisfaction that I have said my piece and I will have some peace because of it.
I may not change the world, but I will give it a piece of my mind.
Okay, I’m smiling now. Catch you next month, when I may have some happy news on the publication of my next two Haiku chapbooks, my next Black Oak novel and my next Sam Rock, and then there’s my Acqueria sequel and prequel.
Oh, I am going to be so busy.
Until next month, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there:
All of my books are available on Amazon.
This month’s featured novel is my contemporary paranormal “The Cottage”


This month’s featured poetry chapbook is “The Castleweaver's Tales: A Dozen Glimpses of Medieval Madness: 25th Anniversary Edition”






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