Monday night, all's well.. but...

Today was only semi-productive. I was tired from yet another completely unrestful weekend. Seriously, what am I thinking? Here's a rundown of my Saturday, so that you can admire my ambition.

Or just wonder what the heck is wrong with me. (for all three of you (okay, maybe four) who are reading this)

On Saturday, I woke up just before 7 AM. I then leapt onto my perfectly manly scooter (not all men need to have big Dodge trucks, although most of us crave one) and zipped up to the Y Mountain trailhead. I had invited the Elders Quorum along on my weekly hikes and had high hopes that a few faithful early risers would show up.

The Coles came. That was nice.

So we hiked and talked and stuff and they barely broke a sweat and I seriously don't think either of them even breathed hard. Meanwhile I had to stop regularly and try not to embarrass myself by sucking in breath too loudly.

Got back in time for a great breakfast (thanks Annemarie!) and some giggles with the kids and then I headed to the chapel to clean it. There was a good crew there so that I was able to really finally clean the bathrooms the way they needed to be done.

Got home and edged, weed-whacked and mowed. Then weeded, did a bit of second-stage veggie planting, weeded some more and then made a shopping list. I cook dinner on weekends and I needed some fresh veggies as sidedishes for what I was making. And I needed french bread and hadn't thought to soak some dough the night before.

So I went shopping, picked up groceries and some small trelllises (trelli? trellum? trella?) for our morning glories. Then I got back and stowed the groceries, reinforced the trellises... whatever.. and got them in the unbelievably rocky ground.

Washed up and then made dinner. Helped with kids getting clean and into bed, hand-watered a bit and then we labored through part of Lawrence of Arabia and then crashed.

That was Saturday. I'll stop there. Why did I write that here? I don't know. But I really enjoy my Saturdays, particularly since I can spend so much of my day outside and in dirt, working with my hands.

Anyway, I wrote an article for www.helium.com, a neat website that I've talked about a lot on this blog. I have nearly 900 articles there. Check out: www.helium.com/users/45690 to see them.

I also did some work for ChartedCourse, made a presentation and then fiddled around way too much.

My editor-folks got back to me, but not with comments yet. He said thanks for the installment and asked for a synopsis of the new version of The Mars Betrayal. I should have sent that today, but I will do it tomorrow. I will also get it to over 8000 words tomorrow.

So if you are reading this, and are in my writing group, please e-mail me later tomorrow asking if I hit my goal. Accountability rocks.

You can really tell I am a product of the eighties and nineties sometimes, can't you. Rad huh?

I will write a bestseller. I will be a bestselling author.

carpe somnium

Friday night lights?

Maybe not so much.

Actually I have only see the movie with this moniker, not the TV show. I like the movie somewhat. But truth be told, I number among the hordes who wonder why Friday Night Lights doesn't come on on Friday. Of course, maybe their network caught that error and has rectified the glaring problem.

Shows how in touch I am.

I have just sent off the two first chapters of The Mars Betrayal to my editors and am filled with self-doubt. If they hate it again, I am not sure what I will do next. So here's to hoping that they don't think it's crap and excoriate it again.

I think it's good. <-- (this said in a small voice)

Before I get back to writing, I am going to do a writing exercise: I will freewrite for two minutes on a random topic. Today's random topic is: Cannibals.

I begin now.

Cannibals really may have had it right. Think about it. They left no waste of their kills and they left no man behind. It's like a combination of Marines and Nader-ites, a totally unheard of combination to date, so it really makes sense.

What if I wrote a story about a cannibal boy who somehow got separated from his family just before the big tribal feast and then was transported to a modern society such as in LA. He could meet a girl and fall for her, but be so hungry that he kills and eats her parents. All the while she is a vegetarian.

But what would be his motivation and chapter and scene-level goals?

Maybe he's just hungry.

Okay, now I'm done. Hehe. Pure silliness.

So I shall now get back to work on The Mars Betrayal, but will soon be interrupted by a fellow named Luis. This is not precognition; Luis has an appointment for a company overview, and I have to do that overview.

Any readers who are reading this (I can't seem to figure out how to get rid of the redundancy in that phrase), por favor spread the word of my little blog. I know I had originally planned on just doing this for a year, but the writing thing is picking up and I am sticking with it for good. Now I just need people to read this, comment on it and give me validation.

Writers are needy. If you didn't know this already, file that eternal truth away somewhere safe. Maybe in your fire safe. Or your icebox.

Gotta run. I'll be back later. Oh, I want to hit 7000 words on The Mars Betrayal today.

carpe somnium

Here's a little song I wrote...

you might have to sing it note for note....

Okay, it's actually a poem I wrote a while ago. Just thought I'd post it:

A day in my life

body creaking its protests
I lunge from sleep
and I'm already bristling
at the baby's weep
and brothers' indifference
to sister's noisy plea
to let her participate
"you give it to me!"

after yelling and threats
they're all at the table
screaming their hunger
the food will enable
the smallest of quiet
the barest of peace
but their breakfast gets over
before I take my seat!

now I'm hungry and mad
while they run to play
I'm tempted to use DVD
to keep them at bay a
nd finally a few bites
then it's lesson time
out come the workbooks
but the baby just climbed

on the hamsters' cage
now there's crying and mess
I get out the broom
and ask Him to bless
this day in my life
with patience and love
because these screaming pests
are gifts from above

a trust so divine
in my beloved and me
the anger and battle
become a memory
when I stop to think
about years with my wife
the happiness grows
with each day in my life

My bed calleth

but I pay it no heed.

I haven't had a chance to work on any fiction writing today, what with preparing to pick up the sales reins at ChartedCourse for a few days. Ronnie's headed out of town for a few days, so I have to keep our momentum building. More to worry about.

Anyway, I did do writing for ChartedCourse today. Actually quite a lot. It's just not fiction writing.

I also finally finished 1776 by David McCullough. A remarkable, moving read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading, history, or simply wants to be entertained. It is a singular reading experience.

I'll add it to my list of recommended books on this site.

But now I'm paying heed to the call of the bed, so off I go.

Holy smoke...

I'm 3 for 3.

Okay, so if you've read many of my earlier posts, you will know that I have been writing for a company called ChartedCourse part time to keep some bills at bay. Of late I have been working primarily in my office at their corporate offices, actually doing my fiction writing there as well.

Anyway, I am the National Sales Director's Assistant, in that he and I hit around ideas regarding training and sales development. We're also good friends. I am also now functioning as a sales team leader and am actively recruiting sales people who want to make some good $$ while helping people get their finances figured out.

So today I led the corporate overviews for three prospective recruits to the sales team. All three committed to a second interview. Not bad eh? The reason this is so good is that as I get this team going I can actually get a commission percentage increase, which will be a healthy thing for my bank accounts.

This is supposed to be a writing blog, though, so enough of that. Should I sell my soul a little?

Nah.

The Mars Betrayal is at 6042 words. I will do a tiny bit now, then some more later. I need to run an errand or two, stop at home, then come back to the office tonight at 6PM for another overview. Of course, this one is with a guy who has scheduled twice before, so I'm winding up for his last strike basically.

If you haven't read How to Win Friends and Influence People, I recommend it.

I am still planning on sending two chapters of The Mars Betrayal to my editor on Friday. The thing is that I would like to have the whole new version done. This may be because I am a masochist and want to have my editor come back again saying it sucks so that I have to do it all over again.

Maybe I ought to work on those first two chapters a little more before sending them... but then my internal editor is being allowed to run amok before the story is done.

What to do?

No clue. I'll think of something.

I've added links to some blogs of new friends. Check them out.

carpe somnium

Happy Tuesday to you...

I am in the middle of ChartedCourse work, but I wanted to repent of last night's mistakes. I actually fell asleep in my easy chair pretty much right as the kids were going to bed, so I didn't do any more writing last night.

However, I hit the 6000 goal yesterday during that first session, so no worries!

I will be working on The Mars Betrayal today as well, from about 3:30 to about 5:30. I might not write later, as I am hoping to take a lengthy walk so I can sleep better tonight. I've been having trouble sleeping the last few nights.

It may be because of snoring or squirming baby, but it may also be because I need to be good and tired. I am trying to regularize my sleeping habits finally, since I am supposed to be a grown up now.

Discipline. As a young, naive (evian backwards) writer, I had not imagined that to be successful as a writer I would need to have discipline.

This morning I took my older boys up the Y hike. If you don't know what that is, too bad.

Only joking.

BYU has this massive white Y painted on one of the mountains surrounding Utah Valley. There is a well-kept, rather steep trail that leads to the Y, and the trailhead is about a 5 minute drive from the house. I had done the hike for the first time on Saturday, and had actually hiked from the house, so it was kind of long.

This morning I drove Thomas, Hintze and myself to the parking lot at the trailhead, then we headed up. It's good exercise and the boys really enjoyed it.

I have to get back to it now, so I'm off.

(Soul selling attempt #2):
Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson

Hehe.

carpe somnium

Just stopping by on my way...

... to Mars. I currently have 4212 words in The Mars Betrayal and will shoot for 5500 before I finish this session in about an hour and a half. My goal for the day is to get to 6000.

I am going to write without my internal editor shouting at me but will try to simply tell the story.

Incidentally, Annemarie read Janette Rallison's book: Fame, Glory and Other Things on My To-Do List. She liked it, so I have added it to my reading list, although I need to finish 1776 and a C.S. Lewis book first. 1776 is a great book.

I have to go, but I will report back later on whether I hit my goals. I plan to send in a chapter or two to my editor at the end of this week.

That's all for now.

carpe somnium

aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggg

Remind me to be patient!!! An agent consented to look at my stuff, due to a referral from my workshop's assistant, but apparently he decided it wasn't his style!

I have to be patient!!!!

Why in all the nine hells did I choose to be a writer? I am good at loads of stuff, math not the least of that stuff, as well as teaching and science... but I had to go and decide to be a writer. A fiction writer.

That's cool. I guess it's because I've always known I'm supposed to be famous.

Hehe. Or not.

But I will write a bestselling novel, I will be a bestselling author, I am learning this craft...

carpe somnium

Experiment ongoing

Okay. I'm back to catch up a bit. But quickly, because I need to get to bed. I have not been sleeping enough this week.

First off, I only had six hits since I posted the experimental soul-selling below. We will see what happens over the next couple of days. I guess it all depends on how well blogspot promotes its blogs.

This week I've been attending a writing conference for writers and illustrators of books for young readers. It's been fun, a huge learning experience, motivating, validating and just really nice. I've met a lot of impressive writers, some of them famous and successful. My workshop colleagues are pretty much excellent writers.

So the baby was born on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 7:34 in the morning. The midwife was a minute or so late, so my wife delivered him, I basically caught him, and then I handed him up to Annemarie.

It was fine and Benjamin Jared is a healthy, big kid. Annemarie is doing well and is recovering nicely.

I am making my first chunky commission off of ChartedCourse, with a few others on their way I expect.

The Mars Betrayal is finally coming together. I am rewriting completely from the ground up. I really need to take this work seriously and do it right, particularly since it is my trade of choice. I have to master this craft. I have to be patient, but I have to get it done.

And that's pretty much all I have to say.

Except for carpe somnium

I'll be back later tonight, but first...

an experiment.

I wanted to see how easily I could sell my soul to hits. So here goes:

Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Spears

Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson

I posted this with 1656 hits on the site. Let's see what happens, shall we?

I got the inspiration for this experiment from Jeanette Rallison, an excellent YA author.

Late Wednesday Night, June 11, 2008

I'm coming back soon, I promise. I've had to put my attention on other things for a month, but I'm on my way back.

We had a baby, I have started making money, and I have a huge conference to attend next week.

I can't seem to land a full-time writing job. Such is life, I will build my writing business, my chartedcourse business and my online business enough that I don't need a 9-5 trap.

I'll be around soon.

carpe somnium, and I mean it.