11/15/12

   I must apologize for not writing in here for so long. I have no real excuse. Yes, life has been "crazybusy." Anyhow, I've been working like a monk trying to finalize changes, page numbers, etc. After 11 long years, I finally wrote a query that I was pretty happy about. I e-mailed it and the first 5 pages of my story to an agent whom I hope & pray will represent it. Finding an agent is really tough, but I really respect one in particular. She is really helpful and has an excellent blog and website. She works hard to make all writers successful. That was what really made me want her for an agent. That, and she's a Christian, too. At this point, I better keep her name a secret. I'll give out more information in time.
   The story has never really been described. It is called Noah's Diary. It's just that.  4,000 year old tablets are found and translated. It's the eyewitness account of life before the Flood, while the Ark was being built, and their time aboard the Ark for more than a year.
   Hitting Send on the e-mail was like putting Moses in the basket and letting him go on the Nile. After 11 years, it feels like a child to me. That's probably weird to you, but that's how it is.
   In the future, I hope to build up this blog, and to create ways to involve you more. Your feedback is really important to me. Thanks for reading this. I appreciate your prayers.

11/8/12

   I feel badly. I haven't written here for weeks. I've barely had time to touch the computer. It's been a challenge just to briefly look at Facebook.
   Well, no, I didn't do the NaNoWriMo. I really wanted to try it. I DID have my daughter read my story and point out any problems. She found quite a few. I corrected those, and am in the slow process of numbering the pages. The last couple weeks have been ridiculously busy. As soon as the pages are numbered, I need to write my query, then off it goes. I have a really godly lady in mind who I pray will represent the book.
   Then, I start the outline for my next story. Please stay tuned.

4 days Left

    Well, I've been out of town/crazybusy for the last 3 days. Haven't worked on my story at all. Hope to as soon as I get done with this. Been with family. Much needed time away & family reunion.
   Now, to go read & type.

7 Days Left

   Well, just a week until NaNoWriMo. I honestly don't see how I can do it, but I'm giving it my best shot.
   I was sick the last couple days, but it was a blessing in disguise. It gave me some time to read my story some more. Sure enough, I found more mistakes. Amazing. I added a little bit of stuff, too.
   How's THIS for a scary thought: 2 months until Christmas! If you're anything like me, you're thinking, "AYEEEE!"  Poor people like me, who have no time or $ to shop, don't look forward to Christmas.
   What do YOU think about the whole holiday season?

9 days left

   Well, I finally worked on my story last night for the first time in days. I re-read & added things to it until I was falling asleep sitting up, literally. Too easy to make mistakes when you can't even keep your eyes open. It felt great to work on it again, though.
   So ... what do you think about NaNoWriMo? If you don't know what that is, check out my post from yesterday.
   Is ANYBODY reading this? Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello? I didn't think so. It echoed.
   Please contact me if you read this & if it means anything to you. I'm always open to suggestions, and really would love to hear from you. Otherwise, I won't waste my time with this. I don't want to just squawk about things. Your thoughts are important to me. Thanks.

10 days left.

   Counting today, there are 10 days left until the NaNoWriMo. That is, November, which is National Novel Writing Month. In it, you try to write a novel that's at least 50,000 words in length. Of course, that doesn't constitute a real novel. It's more of a backbone, but you can poilsh it up and add things later. I'm planning to do it. Are YOU a writer? Do you plan to try NaNoWriMo? If so, why? If not, why not? What do you think are advantages/disadvantages? Let me know. I'd love to hear what you think.

10/19/12

   I'm more frustrated than a toothless shark at a feeding frenzy. I've been to bed ridiculously late and up unbelievably early every day this week. I've been running around like a blind dog in a meathouse, yet I haven't gotten ANYTHING done that I want and need to. I haven't touched my computer at home to work on my story. If it wasn't for spare time at work, I wouldn't hardly be on a computer at all.
   Oy. What a waste of time. Granted, I've been at work, earning my piddley money. But I haven't done anything I LOVE to do and want to do. What an awesome thing to do what you love and get paid for it. I so envy those who are writers, artists, whatever who paint, write, etc. It's what they LOVE and they're paid to do it. How could life be better?

10/18/12

   Unbelievable. Today is our youngest son's 16th birthday. WHERE does the time go, and WHY is it in such a hurry to get there? Sixteen years old. I just can't believe it. I remember every detail of the day he was born like it was last week.
   It's times like these that make me want to hurry and get my story done. Maybe my family can have a better life before they all leave home. I hope.

10/16/12

   Wow... this month is flying by! Already 1/2 over.
   Was out yesterday, with our same car in the car hospital again. The radiator was faulty that was just put in. That got me to thinking about how dependent we are. We totally rely on cars,  computers, electricity, etc. What's frustrating is how reliant we are on our old junky cars that aren't even reliable! Our society would come to a sudden crash if we didn't have our gadgets - our iphones, computers, cell phones, etc. Granted, they are technological wonders. You can do amazing stuff with them all. But if they were taken away, we'd be totally crippled and helpless. I almost wish I lived in a simpler time with no gadgets. I think I was born about 150 years too late. Don't get me wrong - I love air conditioning, tv, computers, etc.   I love conveniences. But I feel like a slave to my phone, sometimes.
   What about you? Our your gadgets your helper or your master?

10/12/12

   Well, in reading the blog of a literary agent (whom I hope will be my agent one day), I was reminded that November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The challenge is to write at least 50,000 words in 30 days. I'm no mathematician by any stretch of the imagination, but that's like 1,666 words a day.
It took me 9 months to write like 46,000 words of my original version of my story. Granted, I didn't write every day, but still... wow. But Lord willing, I'm going for it. It will force me to not only finish my story now, but will really speed up writing my next story.
   I'll try to keep you up to date as November draws near!

10/10/12

   Today is just Wednesday. But tomorrow is 10/11/12. That won't happen again for a very long time. In fact, I'll be pretty old by then.
   I didn't write in here yesterday. It was a painful, expensive day. Our stinking radiator went out on our car. $500.02 later, at 5:30 p.m., we had it back. Wouldn't a horse be cheaper? At least when it gets too old, you can barbeque it. Just kidding. I can hear all the bleeding heart animal lovers throwing mental knives at me even now. I wouldn't really barbeque it. Maybe deep fry, but not barbeque.
   I lost all day yesterday. I was home from work, but got nothing done. I had a killer headache, plus I ran erreands all day. I hate days when I just spin my wheels like a trash truck in quicksand. I would like to say that I spent all day working on my story. Well, I COULD say that, but I'd only be lying to myself. That's no fun. I don't think I'd believe it.
   As you probably guessed, I don't have much to say. But I just wanted to give you something to read, in case you accidentally stumbled across this and wondered what on earth this is. Now you know. I'm glad you took the time to read this. Please feel free to contact me on Facebook or email. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

Area 51

   Well, today I leave Nifty 50 and enter Area 51. In other words, it's my birthday. 51 today. 50 was a big deal. 30 and 40 were big deals. 18 and 21 are big deals. Everything in-between are just birthdays. Another year older. Don't get me wrong - I AM glad to be alive. I hope God gives me another year. I hope & pray I can do better in every way in this new year. That never seems to happen, but at least it's something to shoot for.
   Last night, I read more of my story. I added a few things, deleted some, made some corrections. Amazing at this point there's still stuff to fix. It never will be perfect. But, man! SO many mistakes still! I hope I find 'em all before I submit it. I have a little more than 1/2 of the story to read, then that's it. I MAY have a couple people read it first. I've done that already. I just don't want to make any more stinking changes. I've worked on this thing for like 11 years! I want to get it to a publisher, and first to an agent! I want to see that story in print, in book form, and hold it in my hands. I want to see it in bookstores and autograph copies for kids who love to read, and for little old ladies who love the story, etc.
   Sigh... some day. Some day.

10/2/12

   Today is one of those days I'd be better off not writing anything. Like I say, there are really only two things wrong with me: 1. Everything I say. 2. Everything I do. The last few days have just been a never-ending series of stupid, clusy blunders. In trying to remove bricks from the front of the house, bricks fell & broke off the handle to turn the water on for the hose. A ketchup bottle explded upon opening, showering my youngest son in ketchup. I dropped my (glass) waterbottle at work, on a day when it was like 110 degrees. It exploded all over. The toilet overflowed late last night when we were all exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Those are just a few highlights. Stupid stuff has gone on nearly nonstop for a week. Or more. It hasn't been "one of those days." It's been one of those lifetimes.
    On apositive note, I read in my story from page 82 to 95, and made several corrections. I'm SO glad I didn't send this story in years ago when I thought it was ready. I would've looked totally stupid. There has to come a point, however, when you just can't find anything else to fix, and submit the thing. I hope that comes soon.

October 1st Already

   Wow... it's already October. September went by unbelievably fast.
   Well, I finally worked on the story again. I read through more of it Sat. Once again, I found a couple dumb mistakes that I somehow missed before, and I added a little bit. I'm only on page 80. I have 200 pages to go. It's really time consuming, mainly because I read really slow. I worked on it at night, too. I nearly fell asleep while reading. I didn't want to miss any mistakes, so I had to quit. This week's looking really busy. Don't know when I'll get to it this week. I SO wish that I could write and work on the story during the day, when I'm freah & awake. After working all day, running errands, etc., it's hard to stay awake, let alone do anything half-way intelligently.
   Maybe SOME day, I'll be able to write full-time. I hope.

9/28/12

   Last work day of Sept. for me. This month went by like a flushed toilet.
   I recently finished reading Getting Published for Dummies, and I'm now reading The Everything Get Published Book by Peter Rubie. In-between, I read The Hunger Games. I need all the writing advice I can get. There's SO MUCH writing help available now, there's almost no reason not to get published. The more I read, the more I want to write. I hope to write (at last) this weekend. Life's just been too busy.
   In my room, I have a picture of Mark Twain and beneath it, it says, "Writers write." It's just a reminder to myself that if I claim to be a writer, that's what I have to do. That, and learn how to type. I write like  three words a minute. Well, I'm not That slow. It's more like four.
   If you are an aspiring author, let me encourage you to avail yourself of the many writing helps out there. There is all kinds of help - books, Internet, seminars, blogs, writing groups.
   Thanks for reading this.

9/26/12

   Still going through writing withdrawals. I'm surprised I'm not hallucinating yet. Writing this and Facebook takes a little of the pain away, but it's not the same satisfaction I get writing on my story. It's like comparing eating a cocktail weenie with having filet mignon .
   If writing IS an addiction, may I never be cured. I'm gonna write (or at least TRY to) until I'm dead. Maybe in Heaven there will be stuff I can write about. We'll see!

9/25/12

   Well, it's 3 months until Christmas. That gives you just enough time to find me something nice. I accept cash, checks, all major credit cards, and real estate.
   Every new year, I really examine my life to see how I've done. I always hope the new year will be better than the last. They seldom are, it seems. It's really hard to get out of ruts. Most ruts in my life are comfortable and familiar. I hate change, even sometimes when it's positive change. Routines aren't necessarily bad. But they CAN become ruts. Ruts are nothing but a long, shallow grave. I want to force myself to write every possible day in what's left of this year. As they say, tomorrow is promised to no one. Every day could be our last. I don't want to waste any more time. Of course, there are certain things each day that we have to do. But, there has GOT to be some free time somewhere. Right? Finding it is the trick. Some days, I run in circles from the time I get up 'til I go back to bed. Those days can't be helped, sometimes. Just letting you know I'm aiming to make better - actually, the BEST use of my time from now on.

9/21/12

   Today is one of those "Why do I even bother writing this junk?" days. I've had a few people look at this, but never any response. Today, I feel like a  garbage truck in quicksand, spinning my wheels. I'm real busy, getting nowhere, and it stinks.
   I haven't worked on my story all week. I THINK about it all the time. Unfortunately, for me, thinking doesn't pay the bills.
   Maybe this weekend? Who knows? I wonder if I'll EVER get this story done.

9/20/12

   Well, it's been 3 days since I wrote in here. Sorry. I've been running around like a mule with his tail on fire, looking for water. I haven't even done my own journal at home for nearly a week. Up early, to bed ridiculously late, and non-stop running in-between.
   I hate days and weeks like this. I WANT to write. I WANT to be home. This week's just been crazybusy. I'm SO close with my story, I can nearly taste it. I just need to do a final reading and maybe add a thing or two. Number my pages & it's ready to go. If I didn't have to sleep at night, maybe I could get more stuff done. I hardly get any sleep as it is. I SO envy those who can write full-time. I hope to God I can join 'em some day.

What thinkest thou?

   These days, it seems to me that our freedom of speech and expression are more and more limited and attacked. Case in point, the whole mess with the "anti-Islam" movie, as the media puts it. I don't know the guy that made the film, or even much about him. I haven't seen the film. I don't plan to. I don't know too much about it. But I can't help but wonder, what about these people running around burning flags and shouting "Off with his head!" and "Death to America!"? Have ANY of them seen the film? I highly doubt it. It hasn't even been released, except for snips of it on the Internet. My question also is, is Mohammed and their beloved Allah so weak that they can't defend themselves? People blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ every day. Do we followers of Christ behead them and burn their homes? Do we pour into the streets in a frenzy like blood-crazed sharks? No. We are to pray for those who persecute us, to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. Why? Because vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will repay. Jesus Christ can and does defend Himself. God will not be mocked. Just because He is silent now does not mean that He does not see and care about what's going on. He will return. He will come in judgment. He is coming with rewards for those who love and serve Him.
   In the mean time, it seems that our freedom of expression is becoming increasingly limited. People are so afraid to upset these fundementalists and extremists.  As I mentioned, I don't know the maker of the film. I do not support nor attack him. I am just saying, is he not entitiled to his opinion? Do people on the other side of the world have the right to try to kill him? Is not their god (Allah) able to defend himself? Or is he so weak, his followers have to defend him? If we bow in fear to these terrorists, as it seems America and the media are doing, then they have won already.
   What do YOU think? Let me know. Thanks.

I need a (writing) fix!

   I didn't get a chance to write yesterday. I was running around like a blind dog in a meathouse from 5 a.m. until I went to bed at 10 p.m.  
   I crave writing. It's my thing, my addiction. I think about writing all day, all the time. I think I've always wanted to be a writer. I wanted to write stories as far back as I can remember. I just never took myself seriously. When I can't write for a couple days, I go through withdrawals.
   If God came to me and said, "Tim, you can pick any vocation in the world;  you may never be rich, but your needs will always be met. Your bills will always be paid, and food will always be on your table. You can have whatever job you want. Just pick." There would be no hesitation. I'd pick being a writer. It's my thing. I can't do anything else. If you look up "inept" in the dictionary, you'll see my picture next to it. But God has given me the ability to spell and write somewhat. What could be better than doing what you love for a living? Shoot - that's not working. If only I can get there. To write full-time is the dream of my life.

Eating the Elephant

   Many years ago while feeling overwhelmed by college classes, working full time, plus trying to raise a family, a good friend asked me a question. He asked me, "How do you eat an elephant?" I replied, "I don't know." He said, "One bite at a time." Granted, that's humorous, but it really helped me. It still does. When I feel overwhelmed, I realize that I'm looking at that big old elephant, and he's glaring at me. You may wonder, "How the heck am I gonna eat that whole stinking elephant by myself?" The same way: one bite at a time. Instead of looking at the whole "elephant," look at one thing at a time. Keep your eyes on one part of a project at a time. The next thing you know, you'll be looking for a toothpick, saying, "Dang, that was one good elephant! I can't believe I ate that whole thing by myself!" It may take time. The story I'm working on now, I originally wrote 11 years ago. It was the same year as the terrorist atatcks in September. A lot has happened in those 11 years. I've made countless changes, additions, deletions and corrections to the story. It's an historical novel, and I originally wrote it without enough research. Had I submitted it 11 years ago, I would've looked really ignorant and foolish. I believe the story is remarkably better now. Is it perfect? Of course not. But with one bite at a time over 11 years, I'm just about done with this particular elephant. Pretty soon, I'll be looking for my toothpick and wondering what's for dessert.
  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

About time!

   It's been way too long since I wrote anything here. Sorry.
   My story is coming along slow but sure. I made many corrections and additions to it over the summer. I was numbering the pages. I had to make some changes, which I hadn't planned on making. It totally messed up the page numbers. I had to erase all the page numbers. Now I'm doing one last read-through and a few additions. I'm planning on having a couple more people read the story for their thoughts. Then I'll number the pages (AGAIN) and pray I can find an agent. I have two in mind, one in particular.
   Oh, to be rich and to be able to just write full time! Maybe some day.
   Thanks for reading this!

I hope I'm doing this right. I haven't written in here since April. This whole thing's changed since then.
Anyhow, I just finished re-reading my story and adding to it today. It's over 89,000 words. I'm glad I decided to read it again. I found a few mistakes and added some stuff to it. Now, if I can only find an agent! Will really try to write again soon!

Done at last!

At long last, my story is finally re-written! I went from 46,000 words to 88,574. I did spell & grammar check. I'm reading thru it one more time, making tiny changes here & there. My daughter & wife are planning to read it thru for me, to check for any awkward wording, etc. Now, if I can just find an agent & a good publisher!

Another post at last!

   Well, I worked on my story for the last few days, off & on. I've gone from 46,000 words to nearly 74,000. The goal is 80,000. It's great to work on it again. Have a million story ideas. Haven't been able to do 'em, because I've wrestled with this story for so long. I hope to finish soon. Then I need to proofread it one more time, set up my page numbers, etc., then it's off to an agent. And then the real praying begins.

Howdy again.

   I can't believe how long it's been since I wrote on here. My youngest son had foot reconstruction surgery, and my wife and I got involved with an amazing home business called Melaleuca. Today was the worst work day of my life. A 14 year old boy from the high school where I work was shot and killed in front of his grandma's house. Apparently, he was "guilty" of being African-American. He reportedly had no gang ties. What a senseless, ridiculous, idiotic waste. When will this stupid, pointless killing stop? What's it got to take? I can't imagine the pain and anger of losing a child, especially to some cowardly little punk pulling a trigger to prove what a big man he is. Probably some gang initiation. Only cowards and dogs run in packs.

2/1/12

   Howdy. It's been entirely too long since I wrote in here, and I apologize. Life has been crazy. I've barely been able to keep up with Facebook.
   It's the 1st of February already. Unbelievable. Where'd January go? Seriously.
   My youngest son has surgery a week from today, which is also my Mom's birthday. It's foot reconstruction surgery which will take about 9 months to recuperate from. Then, they'll do the other foot. We just built an 8 ft. long cement ramp to accommodate his wheelchair. The next 2 years are gonna be tough, but I hope & pray it will all be worth it for him.
   My story is still in the works. Hope to work on it soon. Hardly have had time to write. Why does life get in the way of what we really WANT to do?

1/8/12

   Spent the last 2 days moving & rearranging furniture, cleaning and being frustrated because of more junk than available space. I now have my own little corner (literally) for typing my story. My wife's & my bedroom looks like a library with a bed in it. I love my books. I never want a stupid Kindle or whatever. They're gonna destroy publishing. You heard it here first. Or maybe not. Why are they called Kindles? And Kindle Fire? Because people will burn their books after getting one?
    I wonder sometimes if I should bother finishing my story. If people can snag books off the internet (often for free), who's gonna write books any more? Nobody's gonna write for free.

New re-write..

   Well, I reluctantly began the long, slow, painful re-writing of my story. The original story took 9 months to write. I hope & pray this will be a LOT shorter. Will keep you informed. Please stay tuned.