Funner Tunnel. To those who have decided to peripherally monitor this train to see of it goes off the rails, I feel obligated to inform you that I am not a same time every day writer. It comes when it comes and the schedule allows. I would love to be a same time every day AM writer. Alas, there are days when I am a PM writer, and even late night writer. (In fact, that is most days) Happy Scribing.
Nov 22. – Day 22 – 642 Words
The start of another writing week. How do I feel about that? *Shrugs* *Then changes mind and begins to feel like a room without a roof* Okay, so, maybe I am not shruggy, nor am I really feeling like a lyric from Pharrel’s “Happy” song. A best bet would be somewhere in-between. I think sometimes I overlook the small successes because my mind is on the destination. Okay, right now I will stop and appreciate the completed three weeks of work to date on this book.
~Pauses in writing to play Jeesie J’s Price Tag song, (Acoustic, minus B.o.B.) which always makes me feel good~
Alright, thanks Jessie. Now, where was I? Oh, the start of another writing week. Onward and upward baby, let’s keep the train moving. Tonight I got deeper into the chase and ended it and am dealing with the aftermath. An aftermath to be continued the next writing day. Haven’t figured the whole aftermath out, but I do have the next step in sight, so I will walk until another is revealed. Happy writing people.
“What is this?! You crazy or something? Stopping in the middle of the street? What for? Do you know how far in my ass my boss is going to stick his foot for this? Don’t you people know how to drive in this crummy state?"
Nov. 23 – Day Jim Carrey Movie – 712 words
What to say about the night’s effort… Hmm… Oh, right, I was dealing with the aftermath of the car chase. Honestly, it went on for longer than I planned, playing out an interaction that I initially wanted to skim over. It was fun writing though, because the interaction was amusing from the point of view of my two MC’s – Detective Reginald Thomas Williams and Detective Reuben Garcia.
You know, I just thought of an epic fail on my part in this endeavor. I have yet to give even an iota of information on what the Irony series of books is about. Meh, not so much a fail. I mean, if you are reading these posts even semi-regularly, curiosity would have taken you to my smashwords page, or one of the other ebook outlets selling my work, to browse the synopsis at the very least, download a sample, or if you were feeling friskily adventurous, complete a purchase order and review. (Friskily adventurous people click here now)
I would say the best way to know what the series is about is to read the books. The second best way is to hear it from someone who has read them. Another way is for me to tell you. A write up for each of my books is coming soon to these pages, but for now, concerning what the Irony series is about, I will tell you what I told a friend.
I showed them my opening line for Irony 3, (I have since changed it) and they said that it might be a bit too much for the reader. They might be turned off right away by the graphic nature of it. No, it wasn’t cursing or anything, or someone being killed. It was just someone sticking something somewhere for a specific wholesome purpose. It is a normal, if not morbid, procedure that is perfectly acceptable in achieving a desired result.
Anyway, my response to that person was, “Have you been reading the books? Irony is a dark series of books about dark people doing dark things; and a detective who experiences a dark traumatic event, which puts him on the edge of his sanity, that is trying to stop them.” They did say I had a point, but still thought the line was a bit much.
So, folks, that is my one sentence synopsis of the Irony series. Dark people, dark deeds, chased down by a cynically jaded authority figure, complete with my quirky sense of dark humor. You want a romance novel of landscapes and mansions? Irony is probably not for you. (Though there is a romantic element, further explored in the 2nd book)
However, if you want a detective working his way through a real-life caustic event, initially hell-bent on retribution, while trying to chase down heinous killers? Click the friskily adventurous link above and start your journey. Happy writing people.
“As far as performances go, I’d give him and 8,” Reg said.
They heard the tardy back up sirens in the distance.
“I’d go as high as 8.5,” Reuben said.
“What’s the half point for?”
“For his continued act down at the station."
Nov. 24 – Day 24 – 583 Words
Hmm … Tonight I advanced the story. I know, I know, there I go stating the obvious again, but that is what it was. I am setting up one of my MC’s to go undercover, where some other stuff may or may not happen. However, before that, I have to have the conversation, and his reaction, and his Captain’s reaction, and blah blah blah. You see? Exactly! Advancing the story.
Not much more to say. I think my brain is numb. At least I didn’t have the problem of rubber-necking the television for the football game. (Day before day 10) My team fell behind early and turned in their cleats at halftime. The other team, however, wanted to keep playing, so that is why they didn’t call it. Even though they pretty much could have at that point. Final score- Rob/583 – Jets/2-9. Happy writing people.
He was right, and the memories came flooding back. A couple of polished con men were running a lease/buy-back racket on the senior and ‘English as a second language’ population, just on the other side of the Sag River. Reg and a female officer were put together as an immigrant couple and paraded in a neighborhood they had hit three times.
Nov. 25 – Day 25 – 633 Words
I don’t want to say ho-hum, I really don’t, but that is kind of what the writing was tonight. Yes, I enjoy writing and am drawn to it, like others of my profession, but some days, and I have said this before, it is about getting the words down on paper and closing the document. Feel a sense of pride that you are still following your dreams, and move on to the next writing day.
As others can attest, writing a novel is most assuredly a test of endurance. Akin, I think, to running a little every day to complete a 26-mile marathon. Some days you only run a block. Others, you get in a good five to ten blocks. Some days you feel like running and some days you don’t. (Did anyone but me just get an Almond Joy/Mounds Bar commercial flashback?)
The point being, just like in a marathon, it takes determinate effort to complete the task of a novel. You can’t tell me, even when speaking of the most seasoned runners, that every mile of the 26 felt great to run. Though I have never run a marathon, (bucket list) I am betting not. So, yeah, there you go. Tonight’s effort was completed in marathon-ish style. Get to the next mile marker by hook or crook and hope for a more enjoyable running day tomorrow. The only problem I have now is fighting this sudden urge to eat some chocolate. Happy Writing people.
“I’d be willing to--” Officer Sanchez jumped in eagerly, quickly getting Reg’s point. He didn’t have to think about whether the rumors flying around about Sanchez were true. He’d seen it firsthand. She liked the rough stuff, maybe a little too much.
Nov. 26/27 – Day Before Turkey Day And Off Day – 778 Words
The word for Day 26’s session is efficient. Efficiently, I coaxed chapter 5 away from the late night television it wanted to watch and put it to bed. Whether the context of that sentence made sense or not, I don’t know. I am not even going to read it again it to find out. And, no, I don’t know how a chapter of a book can have eyes to watch television, so don’t ask. (Hey, let’s see you find 26 different ways to say “Well folks, I got the job done”)
With that said, on to chapter 6, which will have to wait until after the Holiday, because I have decided to take Thanksgiving Day off. Speaking of which, Happy Thanksgiving people. Hmm, what am I thankful for? Let me first get the pandering out of the way. I am thankful for all who visit this website, and for everyone who either downloads or purchases copies of my books. Bam! Public relations slam dunked.
What’s that? Yes I did mean it, and I resent you implying that those were only words. I do appreciate you, I really do. How can you know that for sure? You mean you and I have not built up a trust over this past writing month? Where you can take my word for it? Aw, thanks, I appreciate the vote of confidence. (I know a few of you said no, but I was talking to the ones who said yes. :P)
Okay, so other than you guys, what am I thankful for? Instead of a list of things, I will sum it up. I am thankful for the light. The light that says that darkness will not prevail. We live on a planet where atrocities are committed daily, and following the news cycle, it is on to another just committed. We exist in a world where the cost of human life can be diminished to a $5 vial of chemicals. Where I saw the hidden video the other day of a babysitter violently slapping, throwing, kicking, and stepping on a helpless child. I need not go on. You all have televisions, read newspapers, and are privy to the things of which I speak.
So, yes, I am thankful for the light of God. Because, though sometimes I am a beleaguered believer, I am still a believer. I believe that good will ultimately triumph over evil. Some may think that makes me naive, and that perhaps I should “… Bash mister’s head open and think about Heaven later.” (The Color Purple) You are entitled and I respect your opinion. I just disagree. Naive? No. Enlightened? Yes. Happy writing and Thanksgiving people. God bless you.
Yep, that is what he figured was coming next, and because deductive reasoning was part of his job description, he said, “He asked for me personally, didn’t he? The Deputy Chief?”
“And the fact that you just figured that out is the reason. Buck up, Williams! The brass knows your name. I would consider that a good thing!"
Nov. 28 – Day 28 (27 for you nitpickers) – 586 Words
Subtitle: The Start of Chapter 6. Experienced a little delay at the start, which always happens, unless I have an idea the day before on how to begin the new chapter. I read where some authors do outlining chapter by chapter for the whole book, before they start writing a single word. I imagine then that they don’t have the problem of figuring how to begin a chapter.
The way I outline is write out what I want to happen in the book, (a small twist here and there, leaving room for in script creativity) figure out how I want the book to end, and then seat of my pants everything else. Maybe not the best way, and I may look to change for experimental purposes sometime in the future, to see if it makes a difference. But, um, too late now. I would say tonight’s session felt a little strange. The day off didn’t throw me, but it was an interruption in the flow.
The best way to describe it is “jagged progress to 586 words.” Which brings to mind what may be a mystery to some. Jagged Shards & Rose Petals. I planned a separate write-up, however, in short, JS&RP is the little brother to the now unpublished ‘Collected Works by Robert Shroud.’
I did the math and came to this conclusion: poetry is a niche thing, and mostly something people would rather, and are willing to, read for free. Paying for a poetry book? Meh – is the reaction of most. Yes, to those of us who enjoy the genre it is significant. In the mainstream, however, if the names Angelou, Poe, Frost, Dickinson and the like are not on the book, it probably won’t do that well in the market.
In ‘CWbyRS’ there was an eclectic array of over 90 poems. It had a nice standard poetry cover, and sold butkus. What I decided to do was put lipstick on a pig. I unpublished CW, cut the entries by half, and “purtied” up the title and cover. The selections I kept in run along with the theme of the title. I was waiting for all distributing outlets to pull the former before publishing the latter. However, I am presently waffling on publication to see if another idea comes to mind.
As it stands, I still want to publish, and that is why it remains as part of my advertised content, and still classified as ‘coming soon.’ I do have a few poetry selections posted in the month of October. That month’s link on the side of the page will take you there. I will also look for and post another after posting this. I would say it is more Jagged Shard than Rose Petal. A Period, A coma, and a Tale of Woe. Happy Writing people.
It was a rousing gala for all parties concerned, and apart from their wedding day, the happiest he’d ever seen his wife. The cake read ‘29 Forever,’ his sister’s idea, and inside joke between them and all women, and neither it nor the distilled spirits purchased for the evening survived the night.