Previous month:
August 2014
Next month:
October 2014

ROW80-3 - 09/24 - Final check-in

This has been a peculiar session for me. I started back in July with one objective - to get novel #2 edited and out the door. All other writerly tasks were to be relegated to AFTER I edited each day. Well - as I feared - that didn't start off too well, with distractions from reading and Netflix and socializing in my 'hood' and, of course, summer. I finally had to commit to my group of Beta readers that I would send them their copy by the end of August. Which I did, after a 10 day blitz that focused on editing. Since then I've been catching up on other things, but my novel is still hovering around somewhere.

I'm still waiting for Beta feedback from two readers, then have to consolidate, adjust, send to editor/publisher, upload, publish, and launch. Maybe before Christmas, as long as there are no distractions. Such as NaNoWriMo.

I have a NaNoWriMo idea - since last year actually. I've been collecting great feedback on it and doing some research on the period in history, so would likely be ready by November 1. My concern is that if I can find time to spend every morning on writing, that could also be editing time. I really want to get this second novel done. It's not as if I need more manuscripts either, as I have two others already written and waiting for my red pencil. I'll wait and see how much editing I have done by the end of October. Maybe I'll be a NaNoRebel and just do a lot of little Flash Fictions and short stories exploring the topic - do those 'islands' that Mary Carroll Moore talks about. I got her writing guide, Your Book Starts Here on Monday, and like it so far. Lots of good tips and exercise that I can use to explore my new Portal story.

Continue reading "ROW80-3 - 09/24 - Final check-in" »


ROW80-3 - 09/21 - A Signing

I had a book signing last Saturday at Perfect Books, on Elgin Street here in Ottawa. They set me up right near the front, where I could - and did - chat up a lot of customers. I was there for about 4 hours, and sold 5 books. I sold three to strangers, one to a friend, and one to a famous author, Julie Czerneda. We've met casually via the Interwebs, but it was great to talk with her and her husband face to face. She was there to set up a book launch of her own, in a few weeks.  Besides the sales, I talked to a number of people about my book, writing, publishing, NaNoWriMo, Prose in the Park - all sorts of writerly things. Altogether a successful event, because that's what these signings are for - not just selling some books, but getting yourself out there too, for networking and promotion. I'll be repeating next Saturday, September 27th, at Books on Beechwood. 

Continue reading "ROW80-3 - 09/21 - A Signing" »


ROW80-3 - 09/17 - Comfortable yet challenged

That's the balance I'm looking for, to be comfortable yet challenged in life. Many of us do things because we think we have to, not want to, from demands of family and friends, from peer pressure, from self imposed targets. Eventually we learn to whittle that down to some basic obligations, and can focus on what we want to do. The danger of course, is in becoming too complacent, too risk adverse. Yes, we can live a life of hedonism. Nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not at the expense of others. But I think we owe it to ourselves to try to learn and improve as a part of our life, by pushing ourself, by nudging ourself.

I have writer friends that have written more than me, faster than me. And that manage to promote like hell, and leverage friends and peers into more exposure and bigger sales. Jealous? No - they're not me. I'm living my own life, comfortable as a writer, reader, grandfather, trombonist, friend, etc. Yet I still look for challenges. I do online Flash Fiction challenges, and commit to things like NaNoWriMo. I join book clubs, and commit to doing online book reviews. My band, even at the comfy Intermediate level, still challenges me with new music every session. So - a balance of sorts, finally, after all these years.

Continue reading "ROW80-3 - 09/17 - Comfortable yet challenged" »


ROW80-3 - 09/14 - Still in a Holding Pattern

You got it - I'm still not editing. not directly that is. While I wait for all my Beta feedback, i've been making notes on what to edit, and reading about editing. And, although not under much pressure, I still managing to forget to check in here on time!

But I have been enjoying reading, and wi-fi testing, and socializing.

Continue reading "ROW80-3 - 09/14 - Still in a Holding Pattern" »