Well, I managed to complete the 30-in-30 personal challenge last week and it was everything I had hoped it would be.  Before I spend any time talking about the lessons I learned on this, let’s have a quick recap of the 30 days: February 19:     Title:  The Exhibit  (946) February 20:     Title:  The Blood Red Moon  (759) February 21:     Title:  Politics  (6) February 22:     Title:  The Story  (6)  February 23:     nothing… final edits on my book and packaging February 24:     Title:  Conscription  (1,189) February 25:     Title:  The Old Boys Club  (767) February 26:     Title:  To be a God  (1,064) February 27:     Title:  The Grunts Have It  (256) February 28:     Title:  A Disturbing Trend  (978)  February 29:     Title:  Responsibilty  (16) March 1:           Title:  The Power of Can’t  (501) March 2:           Title:  Explosion  (6) March 3:           Title:  Of Men and Mermaids  (1,387) March 4:           Title:  Our […]

I’m not afraid to say it:  I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.  But at the same time, I’m also rejoicing in the fact that I’m sick.  Maybe that just goes to show how really unwell I am. Seriously though, feeling like crap and not sleeping has given me story ideas.  In fact, when I told one of the stories I had thought of, my wife laughed out loud.  Since that was the intended outcome I thought that was a good thing. It has also given me more insight into what it means to be sick.  We’ve all been there, I expect, but as soon as we are well again, all is forgotten.  But what about those people who are […]

Aaron’s post yesterday made me laugh… and think.  Maybe that was Aaron’s intent, maybe it wasn’t, but for me, that was the net result.  So what about it specifically made me think?  Maybe it was the silliness of the post.  By his own admission, Aaron was feeling silly.  Why shouldn’t that reveal itself in his writing? I know we have all touched on the whole “Why we write” thing.  Most of us say that we have stories to tell and need to get them out.  I think I can include myself in that.  But here’s a different question… Should we enjoy writing those stories? The first novel I wrote took me seven years to complete.  Sure, part of it was written for […]

Paradigm is one of those terribly overused buzz words that I have come to hate.  In fact, it’s a word I try never to use, but for today, it is appropriate. For you few who haven’t ever heard, used or know what it means, the dictionary definition is: “an example that serves as a pattern or model for something, especially one that forms the basis of a methodology or theory” Great.  “So what?” you ask. Let me explain. In writing, the established model (or paradigm, if you will) is to have writers write, editors edit and publisher publish.  Traditional publishing is done on paper by publishing houses who distribute books to the masses.  Said masses purchase the books and eventually the […]