"Initiation" (First Entry)

Sorry about yesterday everyone. Life got in the way again. Been some heavy duty stuff going on (which I'm not a liberty to discuss at this time) but suffice it to say that yesterday some of it caught up with me and I needed a day to recoup.

Chapter Five "Initiation" has begun strongly and the outline I wrote on Monday morning is really helping to pull it together. I know I've said it before, but damn, I love the characters in this book. I feel like I could walk right into the pages and hang out with them. Never quite had that experience before. Writing seems like less work and more play because of it. Though, I'll be honest, I still don't have much endurance per day. I like to get in and out before things start to feel too awkward. I'll explain that some other time ...

I can't believe another week has slipped by so readily. It's so odd. You always hear older people talking about how fast the time goes, and now that I'm one of those "older people" I have to agree. One week blends into the next so that you don't really even know what day it is. Your watch becomes as much a day-keeper as it is a time-keeper.

Unrelated thought. I know a woman who's going through a rough experience at the moment and I wish to applaud her for the courage she's showing. There's a lot to be said about someone's character and it can be defined through such singular events.

Also, Eryk has finished the first draft of his novel, "Just Slightly South of the North" and I'm proud as hell of him! Work will begin on the second draft shortly and sometime early next year Wicked Pages Press will publish the manuscript. His humor/sci-fi book series will fill a gap that Douglas Adams' death has sadly left open, and I look forward to seeing his name on the bestseller charts!

Page Count: 113
Word Count: 25,816

Faustus; Lost in the Electronic Woods

This morning's writing time was spent creating an outline for the remainder of part two of the book, "Faustus; Lost in the Electronic Woods". Allow me to explain this a bit further.

As a novelist, I never outline the work before starting. I always know how a book will begin, and I always know (for the most part anyway) how a book will end. And while I have a strong inclination as to how the middle will play out, it's always those little steps that tend to elude me. Once I'm amid these middle steps, unsure of my daily direction, I create an outline to help "flesh out" the sections (or sometimes the entire novel). As an example, for those of you who read "Juggler", I created an outline around chapter four. That's how the Magician was born! Yes, he was NOT actually in the original concept of the novel. So as you can see, the outline was a powerful force in the book.

If I sound a bit defensive about the outline process, it's only because I don't want to give the impression that this book is in trouble. I'm just connecting the dots. I now know what's going to take place in every chapter and sub-chapter to the end of part two. The conclusion of part two is extremely climactic and leads us into the darker half of the novel. A very powerful seque.

Tomorrow begins Chapter Five, "Initiation".

I have some personal thoughts to add today as well. The last few months of my life have been a powerful cartharsis for me. I've taken a long, hard look at my life in the hopes of better understanding myself. It has become exceptionally important to me that I become the best man I can. My whole life is based around this, it would seem. Yesterday I came to full realization that I had been less than that in my past, and it caught up with me. It was a trial, torn between the guilt of letting someone down and the fear of doing what was necessary to make it right. A very painful experience. I now know the difference between being a selfish boy and a good man. The man realizes that he has done wrong, admits to his mistakes and takes the steps to both remedy the situation (if possible) and to learn how to avoid the same situation in the future. It sounds simple but it's not. And it's through that pain in which wisdom is gained. While it sucked, I wouldn't trade yesterday for anything in the world.

Also, I've been reading one of the first Matthew Scudder novels, a detective series by Lawrence Block (who I credit with giving me the understanding and motivation to write my first novel, with his inspirational how-to books on the craft of fiction). I've read plenty of his later Scudder books and have always enjoyed them. This older one though, had a much more severe edge to it. Harsh language and rough characters cover nearly every page. His later Scudder books are somehow less intense and yet much more enjoyable. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, when I compare the book I'm writing now to "Juggler". That book was angry and visciously-paced. The new book is almost leisurely in its approach. And while it still has my sense of vision, violence and sex, it also has a little something else. Kind of like the later Scudder books, not quite as crude but MUCH more enjoyable, both to write, and I hope, read.

Well, until tomorrow Precious Reader.

"Contrition" (4th Entry)

Hey there,

There was some concern over using LiveJournal as our writing journal of record. Mostly due to their insanely strict password limits. So, after doing a search, I've come across this place. We'll give this a shot and see how it works for everyone. :)

Chapter Four "Contrition" is now completed. Didn't get much writing done today, but at least this one's under my belt. I'll be giving some more thought over the next few hours of just how and what Chapter Five is going to look like. I'll be starting that in the morning.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was pretty spectacular as far as weekends go. Visited a Haunted Hayride . My lady friend said that I could talk about her, but would have to use another name, so we'll call her Evelyn for future reference. :) I felt like a little kid (I always do when I visit Halloween oriented places) and she found that quite endearing, which needless to say makes me VERY happy. She wrapped her arm about mine, placed her head against my shoulder and we laughed as things popped out of the woods in an attempt to scare us. I've been doing these things since I was a kid, so it's hard to "get" me, but I was "gotten". Most notably, the train, during the hayride and the embalming station throughout the walk through the haunted woods. And I must add, if you ever find yourself wandered the pitch black halls of a haunted house, NOTHING is more erotic and wonderful than grabbing the woman you're with and kissing her intensely. Except of course, her returning your kisses with fervor! ;)

Okay, that's it for now. I'll see you all tomorrow morning.

Page Count: 108
Word Count: 24,996