Well, like I said earlier – the Olympics are done with and I should be heading back to work on the novel. I am going to work like a madman in order to try to make up for some of the lost time. With the vacation coming up in a couple of weeks, I should be able to get a lot more done and might even finish since a couple of other plans may fall through – depends on funding issues. Bleh, I feel so tired right now and I only blame myself since I got caught in the web that is this site. I had an idea for a Japanese-ish horror comic (just needed someone to draw it) and I was looking up stories about the onryou (this movie is a great Western example) and the next thing I know, it’s 2:30 and I have to get up in about five hours. The Internet is going to be the death of me at some point. So, I got myself a few hours of sleep and will depend on caffeine to keep me going for the rest of the day. So – after the Olympics, everything is back to normal. 😉

The novel is going to get worked on really hard this week. I need to send that art package to Bindi so she can get started on the art work… which also reminds me that I’ll need to get the specifications to her as far as what CreateSpace wants so I can get the book printed and sold in the still popular dead tree version. Everything is coming together quite nicely… that is when I am focusing on it, when I am looking at something else… not so much. Well, there will be no further distractions in the morning for me until 2014 and I will hopefully be in a better position to deal with it – by staying home those two weeks and just glutting myself on coverage. I might even go on ahead and get another DVR to use to get even more coverage. Thankfully, these are every four years. I should be able to get some work done in that intervening period… I might even finish something! The mind reels!

There is little to say right now. I am still trying to wake up and get going. I can hear the rest of the house stirring, but no dogs. I guess that’s something to be thankful for. I hope that they will maintain this quiet stance for a while. I could use a nap. I’m not going to sleep, but rather I am going to try for my usual minimum word count and then maybe I’ll close my eyes for a while. With no road construction happening, I can cut it a little closer to when I am supposed to be turning on the work PC and complaining that no one’s fixed my desktop interface.

So, with that – I bid you a fond adieu.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

Well, the Olympics are done on Sunday and with that I should see an uptick in my productivity.  Obviously, since when you’ve hit bottom there is no where else to go but up.  When the Winter Games start, I intend to take those two weeks off (one way or the other) and not miss anything.  Now I get to look forward to the coming football season and try to get into a winter sport.  Hockey, mayhaps?

Well, I am writing this on Nook Color, so this will be a little shorter than my usual ones.  Also, there is nothing else really going on.  I am still working on the Poisoner’s School idea in my head and pushing along I/O Error in my head… and trying to get used to typing on this tiny keyboard.  I am still thinking about the disease.  I am tryig to think of something that would linger in the body for a while.  Given that the main character is a spy, I would think that something that would work on the mind would more dangerous.  I think that might be the route.  I’ll just ldt it turn around in my head.

All in all, while I am sad to see the Games end, I am happy to have my mornings back with the novel.

Sincerely,
Seething Apathy

The Olympics are winding down, which means I’ll let other people record things on the DVR. I still have a lot of Olympic coverage to go through, but now it won’t be ‘fast forward to the fifteen minutes I have to see so I can delete this to make room for the next four hours of coverage’. I’ll be able to sit back and watch the other stuff with some interest. At least I got to see some of my favorite Olympic sports (weightlifting, cycling, basketball and team handball). Now, there is a two year gap until the Winter Games and the better of the Olympics if you ask me. So after all is said and done, there should be a pleasant uptick in my productivity… and by uptick, I mean actually working.

I have been working on the ‘sick man’ idea, and I thought I would combine that with the idea of a positive Poisoner’s School story (taking an idea from Silence So Sharp). I like the idea that someone has to be trained to do something monumental, but there is a very hard deadline – death – to everything. Right now, I am just trying to figure out what sort of disease our main character has and whether or not it’s a lingering disease or something caught in the course of training. While I like the idea that this prospective poisoner making the ultimate sacrifice, I also like the idea of someone being passed over by all the other schools, but the least liked school takes this person and turns them into something far better than the others could have foreseen, if they knew that this school did something good. Now, I just to figure out the timeline and a decent enough set of crises – shouldn’t be too hard.

As far as the novel goes, I need to get a package together for the artist. Poor thing – she thinks I have an outline on paper for the novel. She thinks I’m prepared.

Anyway – there is something else I must discuss. Something near and dear to my heart: pens.

We are witness to the passing of an era, ladies and gentlemen

The pen you see above is no longer being made by Pentel. I looked. No longer in .5 mm (my favorite) and not even in .7 (which will do in a pinch), they no longer exist beyond the ones I have horded. I even ordered a package online once, but they’re not there. I can’t be the only one somewhat put out by this, but I might be the only one who is complaining about it. I would call on others to go to their website and protest the loss of this fine tool. No, I am being serious. All one of you. Hop to it.

Well, there is nothing else to report – the Olympics are winding down and my miffitude (that’s your new word, by the way) about my favorite pen being discontinued and a new novel eagerly awaits production. I hope your day is far more level than mine has been so far.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

I have my caffeine; I have my sounds (my favorite podcast) and I have my computer running. I also have a headache, but two of these things are going to alleviate that. Now that I am firmly in the routine, let’s put in the work. What do I want to talk about today? Well, I did see The Dark Knight Rises – on its own, it stands as a great summer film. As the final part of the trilogy, it wraps up everything nicely. I think it suffers from the flaw of too many villains and should have stuck with Bane and the not-so-subtle jab at the Occupy movement. However, if they did that, then the fanboys would have been howling for a Batman movie with Catwoman in it. If they had just Catwoman, then the movie’s theme would have to be different and (while sparking another ‘How I Would Have Done It Differently’ – I should get back to writing those) I think it might have taken away from the dark tone the first two movies labored so hard to achieve and maintain. Overall, this was far better than Prometheus, but as far as action and just plain fun goes – The Avengers is still out in the lead. The next summer film to take a shot at is Total Recall, which I will go to see next Friday.

My novel has languished somewhat, but I have an artist for the cover and hopefully they will be kind enough to do it for free. I have an editor (Hello, editor!), so I believe that everything is coming together (cue: ominous music) to get this book off the ground. I am looking for other e-book hosting options beyond Kindle and Nook. I have heard grumbles of dissatisfaction concerning Smashwords, so I might pass on them. Since I have the software to convert books to Epub format, I might sell them on the major sites, but also have a way to purchase them from my website as well once it’s set up. When it’s done, I’ll put up a link from here. I am still aiming for a November or December release. After that, I might deviate a little from my original plans and release a second volume of 4 Bits and a Dollar for October, making it a yearly thing. But I/O Error is going to be my second novel and I am going to have that finished by January (or so I hope). My goal is to have four books a year written, and at least three of them hitting the shelves in that year. This Saturday and Sunday, I am going to work to get the last three chapters finished, and with it the novel. Thankfully, I can write the ice cream scenes at work with my Color, so I can get a little more work done. I sincerely think this is going to work.

Wish me luck.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

Hello all.  I am using my Color to write this post at work.  This will be a short post because I have a short lunch.

I am a creature of habit.  Any little thing that happens to me that is out of my normal routine ripples through my day like a boulder tossed in a pond.  What threw me off today was people coming over to cut down some tree limbs that were coming close to power lines… so having someone knock on the door at 8:00 AM — an hour and a half before I needed to get up.  I couldn’t get back to sleep comfortably and I was too scatterbrained to write.   I tried to get something going — even if it was some planning on another novel.

How has your day been?  I promise to write something more pithy tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Seething Apathy

I haven’t posted a blog since the 3^rd of August. I would like to say that I decided to take a vacation, but that would be untrue. The fact of the matter is that I just stopped. I had told myself that I was going to write Monday to Saturday, but I didn’t feel like writing – especially after Saturday. I’ve also been a bit dodgy about the novel – I got a very little bit done on Friday. Sunday night, I stayed up to watch Curiosity land and went to bed at 2:30 AM rather than midnight. I woke up on Monday at 8:30 AM, but felt like I was trying to think through cotton and spider-webs. So I took a 2 ½ hour nap, with enough time to get ready for work and leave. I did do a little bit yesterday with the next ice-cream scene in the novel (I’m going to continue that today and take advantage of that app in the Color). Overall, this is the first major writing I’ve done in a few days.

But I told myself that I was going to put my nose to the proverbial grindstone on this. I was going to work regularly on the novel and blog on a consistent schedule – but as we can see, I am unwilling to be held to that. What’s even a harder kick in the pants is that this isn’t the first time. I am starting to consider that I am – and looking back over various things that meant a great deal to me at the time – in the habit of sabotaging myself. Why? I am not entirely sure (or I am completely unwilling to face the truth). It could something as simple as I’m lazy, or the fact that I feel as if I deserve nothing good in my life and doing this feeds that thought process. Well, now that I know this – I can work to either mitigate the effects of this thinking, or just float along… and thus, the purpose of this blog is revealed – to be a private sounding board.

Back to the novel – I started writing the ice-cream scene on my Color and I am going to finish it there and move it back to my computer. I’ve gotten a new idea and I don’t know if it should be in the same realm as Rhona and the others, or should it be its own book. The idea (and it is still working itself out in my head – so I am scribbling madly in between calls at work) is that the main character is stricken by some illness that is known to be fatal, but he has to accomplish something in a short amount of time… so it is a race between his illness and this accomplishment. I am intrigued by the idea of the hero being somewhat infirm and getting worse as time goes on. So, as far as research goes, I am going to look for diseases that are medium-term (two to six months) that have a set of highly visible symptoms. I’m not going to start it until I am done with I/O Error. The idea is that I have one novel I am working on writing, another novel that I am outlining and one that I am plotting. I am trying to keep busy, going along with the idea that while quality is going to get me fans; quantity is going to get me paid.

That being said, I have some work to do.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

Hello, all – you’ll notice that there was no blog post yesterday. Well, I decided rather impulsively that I would take a day off and finally get that Nook Color I had been drooling over. The drooling was worth it. This device is perfect for people who want to have something beyond an e-reader, but also don’t want to shell out the money for an Ipad. I’ve been very satisfied with it thus far – even found out there was a new “Dexter” novel which I am going to get today before I leave for work. As for writing yesterday, I had the best of intentions. I wanted to go to a certain Barnes and Noble store, since they had a Color cover that I liked (with a quote from Oscar Wilde: “At the New York Customs, I have nothing to declare except my own genius.“). The plan was to have breakfast, get the Color come back home and revel in its glory until I had to leave for work. Sure, extra gas was to have been spent, but it would be worth it.

I got to the Barnes and Nobel and pulled into the relatively empty lot… and saw that the store didn’t open until 10:00 AM. Fine. I had fifteen minutes to kill, so I waited and read a book. When it opened up, I walked calmly inside and told the person at the counter that I would like to get a Nook Color. Now, when I get into a high emotional state, I tend to stutter, stammer and flip words around. So, I took a deep breath and relayed my message. The counter person (probably thinking I had released myself from the local sanitarium) cheerfully grabbed a Color and offered me the standard discount card for the store, which I took since I plan on shopping there more often. I got that and the cover, making a beeline for the power socket in the café. My thinking was that I should do as much as I can here, and then go back home for a couple of hours. So, I grabbed an ice coffee and relaxed.

Oh, did I mention that it takes 3 hours for the initial charging? Yeah. OK – I figured that I was just going to have to make a day of it. I wanted it charged up so I could read something at work. So, while it was charging, I decided to get some apps – including QuickOffice Pro, so I can do some work if I don’t have a pen and paper handy (it’s compatible with MS Office). Instead, I bought the one book I knew was missing from my “Dexter” collection (#2: Deeply Devoted Dexter). I perused the newspaper and magazine collection (no hometown paper? Huh?) and generally made myself have a little fun. When the Color was finished charging, I unplugged everything and walked out with the intention of getting lunch, which I got from this place. I would also like to point out that for the amount of money I shelled out – I should have gotten a hot dog bigger than a pencil. I’m just sayin’. I had a good day.

Well, I need to get to work. I hope your days are as good as mine was yesterday.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

Hello, all – I am getting a late start to today for several reasons, but the chief among them is that I am tired and it’s only Wednesday (check local listing for actual date and time). There is little going on anywhere as far as the novel, my life or even movies (TDKR Sunday!). I’m just really, really tired today. I am going to get some work done on the novel, but as far as blogging goes – in between political fights on reddit (to quote Tom Araya: “Just me and my world of enemies”) and trying not to throttle people through the phone at work – there isn’t much to say. So, I turn it over to you: the fan(s). What would you like to read me expound on? Favorite movies? Movies that I would have done differently? Movies that I want to know why they were made (other than for money and to keep lazy actors off the streets)? There will be a caveat to this: I will not discuss political views. The reason being is when I started this blog, I didn’t want to have it devolve into a flame war. I have enough of those on other places, thank you.

As far as the novel goes (another reason for this blog has become me accounting my progress to the web and keeping me motivated and honest), the poisoning scene is going to wrap up and from there we get to meet Anya’s Poppa – not the person you would think would have that title. This, and the final scene (no spoilers) are the two scenes that I am really going to work on to get right, especially since everything that has happened has led up to that point in the book. I want it to be a powerful piece, so I am going to more than likely going to dither over it for a couple of days beyond finishing it.

Some other interesting news: someone admitted that they were going to buy my first book – and no, he was not under duress when he said that. This doesn’t bring me to the great $10.00 threshold, but it brings me closer to the point where I would buy it to get it over that point. When I do, I promised myself that I would buy myself a meal… of course, when I said that, I was thinking more along the lines of a nice steak – but a sub will do. I’ll be sure to capture the moment with a video.

Oh – there will be an announcement at the end of the month concerning this blog. It’s good news. I swear.

Well, I am going to try to wake up again and get cracking on that novel.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

First day back at work… and I have got to get this novel finished soon. There is no other way about it. If it’s not the people I have to talk to on the phone, it’s the people I have to talk to at work. They want us to give people confirmation numbers, but not enough time to finish the notes so we can give them confirmation numbers. To say that I work in a madhouse would be an insult to people who actually work in madhouses. I would quit, but I need to have money to pay for things… expensive things (like not getting the NFL Channel anymore) and I am not ready to part ways with my phone yet. So, I will grin and bear it, but the second I get books out there and hit the magical amount where I can quit for one year and live off of the royalties, I am gone.

OK – enough of the venting. The poisoning scene is wrapping up, so next is the ‘advice from Poppa’ scene, to be followed by the final showdown and Anya’s decision. Moe than likely, this scene is going to have a lot of re-writing ahead of it so I can get it just right. The ‘advice from Poppa’ and ‘the Scholars’ scenes are the two big scenes in the last third of the novel. I want to have them right before they go off to the editor. I am happy that this book is coming to an end and I will hopefully get to I/O Error and maintain that level of enthusiasm I have for it that I have for the current project. All I have to remember is that tone before I take the call at work. See? Inspiration is at hand.

I finally got to see some weightlifting (women’s – most of the events I’ve seen are women’s event. Are there any guys there?) and I have to hand it to the Thai weightlifters – they do not quit. Yes – it was too much. Yes – she wasn’t even a medal contender at that point, but she stuck it out and made the most of her appearances, even when she dropped the weight; she smiled and bowed. I must admit, I was crestfallen when I saw that. All I wanted to do was walk up to her and give her a hug. Sure, security would have dropped me or she could have handily thrown me into the crowd like a bag of garbage – it’s the thought that counts. I still have a couple of days left to watch, and I will more than likely glut myself from Friday night when I get home to Saturday night (that’s right, no sleep for 24 hours – it’s college all over again!). I will write during that time, but more than likely I’ll end up taking some naps during the events I am not too crazy about.

Well, I should head off to the novel. Hope everyone has a good day.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy

OK – I am now feeling well enough to go into work… which means I am going to have to come up with one more excuse and use up all my sick days. Any suggestions? No? Fine.

The Olympic coverage from NBC is not the best I’ve seen. The few sports I follow (or try to follow) are shown at the worst times and the ones I am blasé about are really the only things that are covered. I haven’t availed myself to the online coverage since I am not at work – but I will when I get the chance. When the Winter Games come, I will hopefully be working from home so I can drop everything and follow the game full time. I know I’ve said this before, but I really
love the Games. I’ve even stopped following my Twitter feed in the event of getting a spoiler from someone lucky enough to enjoy more coverage than me. For me, the world grinds to a halt every two years and I love it.

I am however, going to split my attention between weightlifting and the novel. Thank God for laptops. I have finally gotten everything set up in my head as far as Anya’s particular issues. I just need to get down on paper as it were. I am still aiming for a Christmas debut and will work to get I/O Error for a later October release and drop another volume of 4 Bits and a Dollar in between. I have three ideas in mind; I just need one more to complete it and try to get that finished so some more pocket change (I’m not kidding on this one, so far I’ve only made $7.00 with it). This one is going to be better than the last one, now that I know how to make a real table of contents. Might even try to design my own cover, but I will actually follow through with actually making it. I am really trying to make an effort to get through the novel, but there is only so much I can do in a day… until I do this full time. That’s my goal – write full time.

I am going to get a Nook Color this week for one major reason: it has a word processing app that can work with MS. While, yes, this Color is going to be nothing more than an entertainment suite for me (might even indulge in HuluPlus for the heck of it), I will have 30 minutes at work to read and maybe sketch out some ideas. I might also get a Kindle Fire for the magazine subscriptions and make it closer to an e-reader than the Color. I might have some pictures when all is said and done. For now, it’s going to be back to work while waiting for the weightlifting competition – I did get to see the women’s weightlifting – did you see the woman from Thailand in the 56 Kg event? Such a little thing picking up… well… half of me in the clean and jerk event. She dropped the weight and looked so crestfallen about it, I wanted to walk up to her and give her a hug and a pat on the back to tell her to try again.

Well, I’m off to try to salvage this day. Good luck to you.

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy