While I may not be the rather fractious father of the gods, I certainly acted like I was last night. I spent about three hours re-doing The Mars Betrayal in its entirety. After really getting down how my main character acts and his motivations and flaws, as well as the other characters and antagonists' motivation and flaws, I realized that the plot devices I was using were not springing from the world and characters, but really just from my own desires for coolness.
So now there's no bacteria missile. The ending is happier too. If any of my writing group reads this, please check out the synopsis I uploaded yesterday and let me know if I am completely missing the mark.
Today I have quite a lot of ChartedCourse work to do, but I will be able to get to writing by 4PM, if not a little earlier. I will do some final tweaks on the synopsis and send it on to the editorial team so I can have my self-esteem smashed again. Or not. We'll see.
This morning I did the Y hike again, from my house. Yeah, it's not getting any easier yet. Whew. This is the second time I did the hike, although on Monday I started at the trailhead.
My garden grows well, by the way. I think I have finally succeeded in keeping pests away from my cucumbers to the point that they will make it. My only remaining pumpkin plant is doing well also. I do have a completely unidentifiable patch of something growing between my squashes, so I guess I'd better do some reasearch to figure out what it is.
But now I must work. I'll report later.
Showing posts with label Mars Betrayal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mars Betrayal. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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
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
Monday, March 17, 2008
Not a Manic Monday
It's late, but I need to record my writing work for the day.
I had to start my day, after exercising, with a jaunt out to the DMV, Driver License division so I could do a road test on my scooter. That took about an hour and a half, maybe two, because I had to wait forever. The test itself took less than five minutes and I passed with only three points off (I hit a cone a titch... watch out for the dangerous driver!). But I was at that place for an hour-- all for only a five minute test thingy. Yeesh.
Anyway, I then took the older boys out to Spanish School. Usually Annemarie does that but she is getting close to a deadline with her translation and she has a lot to do. Plus, I needed to go to the herb shop and resupply with some things. I really mean herbs, not anything illegal!
So when I finally got home, with lunch for Annemarie and I in hand, we ate together. I fiddled around with some applications for jobs, surfed a bit and did e-mail. Then I got to work. I wrote five articles for Helium and rated quite a bit. These articles were specifically to replace some lame ones that I wrote early on in my career at Helium. The lame ones were deleted, so I redid them and lengthened them. I am now at 810 articles there. By the way, tomorrow is the day that the Pulitzer Center decides who will become citizen journalists. So cross your fingers. I really don't know at all if I will be accepted, but I think I have a chance. My writing style is accessible and I used plenty of information in my piece.
By the time I got done with Helium, it was actually dinner time.
After the kids got to bed, I finished chapter 4, which is a big, important one, of The Mars Betrayal. It went well. This chapter is supposed to ramp things up. I may need to shorten it some, though, because the word count is getting up there and there is still a fair amount to go.
Anyway, I really have to get this book done! Tomorrow I think I will be able to spend most of my day on it. I will do some Helium in the morning, but then I think I can devote at least four hours to The Mars Betrayal. Gotta get it done as soon as possible. Maybe tomorrow!
I actually got a response from one of the jobs I applied for. This one is in SLC. The lady who I imagine runs the recruiting/marketing show would like to meet with me on Wednesday or Thursday, so that is hopeful! I may have to take the van and strand Annemarie and the kids at home one of those days in order to make this meeting though. But Annemarie said that will be fine. The thing is, if I need to meet her in SLC, I really can't take my scooter.
That's all for the day. I have to get to bed. See you tomorrow.
Carpe somnium and I am going to be a bestselling author.
I had to start my day, after exercising, with a jaunt out to the DMV, Driver License division so I could do a road test on my scooter. That took about an hour and a half, maybe two, because I had to wait forever. The test itself took less than five minutes and I passed with only three points off (I hit a cone a titch... watch out for the dangerous driver!). But I was at that place for an hour-- all for only a five minute test thingy. Yeesh.
Anyway, I then took the older boys out to Spanish School. Usually Annemarie does that but she is getting close to a deadline with her translation and she has a lot to do. Plus, I needed to go to the herb shop and resupply with some things. I really mean herbs, not anything illegal!
So when I finally got home, with lunch for Annemarie and I in hand, we ate together. I fiddled around with some applications for jobs, surfed a bit and did e-mail. Then I got to work. I wrote five articles for Helium and rated quite a bit. These articles were specifically to replace some lame ones that I wrote early on in my career at Helium. The lame ones were deleted, so I redid them and lengthened them. I am now at 810 articles there. By the way, tomorrow is the day that the Pulitzer Center decides who will become citizen journalists. So cross your fingers. I really don't know at all if I will be accepted, but I think I have a chance. My writing style is accessible and I used plenty of information in my piece.
By the time I got done with Helium, it was actually dinner time.
After the kids got to bed, I finished chapter 4, which is a big, important one, of The Mars Betrayal. It went well. This chapter is supposed to ramp things up. I may need to shorten it some, though, because the word count is getting up there and there is still a fair amount to go.
Anyway, I really have to get this book done! Tomorrow I think I will be able to spend most of my day on it. I will do some Helium in the morning, but then I think I can devote at least four hours to The Mars Betrayal. Gotta get it done as soon as possible. Maybe tomorrow!
I actually got a response from one of the jobs I applied for. This one is in SLC. The lady who I imagine runs the recruiting/marketing show would like to meet with me on Wednesday or Thursday, so that is hopeful! I may have to take the van and strand Annemarie and the kids at home one of those days in order to make this meeting though. But Annemarie said that will be fine. The thing is, if I need to meet her in SLC, I really can't take my scooter.
That's all for the day. I have to get to bed. See you tomorrow.
Carpe somnium and I am going to be a bestselling author.
Friday, March 14, 2008
What I did Friday
Today I spent my writing time on www.helium.com and on advancing The Mars Betrayal. I spent the first hour and a half on Helium, doing some rating and other such stuff.
Then I read through the completed skeleton of The Mars Betrayal. I penciled in some changes and then hit the PC. So I've finished three chapters now and am well into chapter 4. It's going well, although I had wanted to finish this week. I will try to get chapter 4 done tomorrow, despite it being Saturday. Then on Monday I hope to finish this second draft. That way I will read through it Monday night and have some others read through it as well. Then I will send it along.
I will also do some Helium stuff tomorrow and Monday. I think all of my responsibilities with ChartedCourse are fulfilled for now. I know there will be more to do in a couple weeks, but The Mars Betrayal needs my attention.
Arg. I really want to get to The Cabin. I'll make the time. I will.
I'm going to write a bestseller.
This is goodnight to anyone who is reading this. I recommend the movie August Rush. If you're a cynic, you won't like it. If you glory in your un-cynical nature, you will love it. Let it work its magic. This is probably number 2 or 3 on my list of favorite movies. Love it.
Then I read through the completed skeleton of The Mars Betrayal. I penciled in some changes and then hit the PC. So I've finished three chapters now and am well into chapter 4. It's going well, although I had wanted to finish this week. I will try to get chapter 4 done tomorrow, despite it being Saturday. Then on Monday I hope to finish this second draft. That way I will read through it Monday night and have some others read through it as well. Then I will send it along.
I will also do some Helium stuff tomorrow and Monday. I think all of my responsibilities with ChartedCourse are fulfilled for now. I know there will be more to do in a couple weeks, but The Mars Betrayal needs my attention.
Arg. I really want to get to The Cabin. I'll make the time. I will.
I'm going to write a bestseller.
This is goodnight to anyone who is reading this. I recommend the movie August Rush. If you're a cynic, you won't like it. If you glory in your un-cynical nature, you will love it. Let it work its magic. This is probably number 2 or 3 on my list of favorite movies. Love it.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Reporting on my Thursday
Thankfully, the pain of the last weekend has faded mostly away. I am still getting the occasional spasm, and sneezing still kills, but otherwise, I'm good.
So today was a nice day. I had to stay up a little to get what I needed to done in The Cabin, but that's fine. I can't finish it this week, particularly since I need to get lots of stuff done in The Mars Betrayal in a short period of time.
I started my day, as I planned, by getting to work on The Mars Betrayal. I wrote a new chapter that should take the book in the correct direction. I've ramped up tension and have tried to explore my characters more. In the first version, I know that I allowed the vocabulary constraints to affect the story telling I was trying to do. Not this time. I will tell the story and then work on the vocab. So I spent about 2 and a half hours on this project and stopped at noon to help Annemarie get out of here on time to get the older boys to their Spanish school. Lily, our only girl, went and had a play date at a friend's house, so it was just me and the little guy, Nathaniel. We took a walk, which I really enjoyed, then he got to watch a little Baby Einstein.
While he watched that, I had some lunch and read a little in the Book of Mormon. It's a good book, I tell you. When he was done, Annemarie was back, so we put him down for a nap and I went to get Lily so that Annemarie could read the chapter I did this morning. When I got back, she pointed some things out but mostly approved. Then I took a nap.
I did this nap thing because I haven't been sleeping very well. I think it may be stress related, as well as due to not sleeping at a consistent hour. Anyway, my nap was just over an hour, which was fine, but a little long. I ate a snack of raisins and then took a reading walk in the brisk afternoon. Annemarie had left to pick up the older boys, taking the other two, just as I woke up, so I was on my own.
With my walk done, I read a little more, but then got back to work and wrote an article on www.helium.com. Hey, I'm in second place in a contest that will finalize tomorrow! Isn't that shocking? I'm at 801 articles. I really hope to hit a thousand this year. One a day will get it done. I also rated quite a bit, as I feel like my citizenship on Helium has been sad.
Anyway, I then opened up The Cabin and started to go through it so I could pick up the thread. But it was dinner time.
After the kids were in bed, we watched the first episode of this season's The Office. Then I wrote in The Cabin. I did just over two thousand words in just over an hour! Woohoo! I got rolling, and it felt great. Mike is an enjoyable character to work with. I'm interested in his story.
So I did what I set out to do this morning. Making goals, doing them, and now reporting on them. It's a divine pattern. Now I need to hit the sack. Tomorrow I need to exercise, hit the chiropractor one last time, and then do more on The Mars Betrayal, The Cabin and www.helium.com. Hopefully I will get one of the jobs I've applied for. I would like the one at The Friend, as it's in my chosen field and pays well. But I would take the Testing Supervisor job here at BYU as well.
I need to stop. This is long. If you've made it this far, you are either a true friend or family. That's practically the same thing.
My dream. My bestseller that I WILL write.
carpe somnium
So today was a nice day. I had to stay up a little to get what I needed to done in The Cabin, but that's fine. I can't finish it this week, particularly since I need to get lots of stuff done in The Mars Betrayal in a short period of time.
I started my day, as I planned, by getting to work on The Mars Betrayal. I wrote a new chapter that should take the book in the correct direction. I've ramped up tension and have tried to explore my characters more. In the first version, I know that I allowed the vocabulary constraints to affect the story telling I was trying to do. Not this time. I will tell the story and then work on the vocab. So I spent about 2 and a half hours on this project and stopped at noon to help Annemarie get out of here on time to get the older boys to their Spanish school. Lily, our only girl, went and had a play date at a friend's house, so it was just me and the little guy, Nathaniel. We took a walk, which I really enjoyed, then he got to watch a little Baby Einstein.
While he watched that, I had some lunch and read a little in the Book of Mormon. It's a good book, I tell you. When he was done, Annemarie was back, so we put him down for a nap and I went to get Lily so that Annemarie could read the chapter I did this morning. When I got back, she pointed some things out but mostly approved. Then I took a nap.
I did this nap thing because I haven't been sleeping very well. I think it may be stress related, as well as due to not sleeping at a consistent hour. Anyway, my nap was just over an hour, which was fine, but a little long. I ate a snack of raisins and then took a reading walk in the brisk afternoon. Annemarie had left to pick up the older boys, taking the other two, just as I woke up, so I was on my own.
With my walk done, I read a little more, but then got back to work and wrote an article on www.helium.com. Hey, I'm in second place in a contest that will finalize tomorrow! Isn't that shocking? I'm at 801 articles. I really hope to hit a thousand this year. One a day will get it done. I also rated quite a bit, as I feel like my citizenship on Helium has been sad.
Anyway, I then opened up The Cabin and started to go through it so I could pick up the thread. But it was dinner time.
After the kids were in bed, we watched the first episode of this season's The Office. Then I wrote in The Cabin. I did just over two thousand words in just over an hour! Woohoo! I got rolling, and it felt great. Mike is an enjoyable character to work with. I'm interested in his story.
So I did what I set out to do this morning. Making goals, doing them, and now reporting on them. It's a divine pattern. Now I need to hit the sack. Tomorrow I need to exercise, hit the chiropractor one last time, and then do more on The Mars Betrayal, The Cabin and www.helium.com. Hopefully I will get one of the jobs I've applied for. I would like the one at The Friend, as it's in my chosen field and pays well. But I would take the Testing Supervisor job here at BYU as well.
I need to stop. This is long. If you've made it this far, you are either a true friend or family. That's practically the same thing.
My dream. My bestseller that I WILL write.
carpe somnium
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Taking more shape
The end of Thursday has rolled around and it was better than I expected. The entire day was better, I mean, not just the end.
Right. In any case, here's what I did:
I started my day by reading through some information that Blake asked me to integrate into the User Manual. I spent a couple hours getting through it and taking note of the highlights and some of the details.
By the way, I exercised again this morning and felt strong. It was a great feeling to lift that 130 lb. barbell twelve times, two more than I expected. What a rush. And I usually walk most of the time, with some good jogging thrown in here and there for my cardio and weight loss portion, but my legs didn't want to run. So I mostly just walked for about an hour. I intend to do over an hour tomorrow morning. I am too impatient and I keep hoping that my pants will get loose faster and that my chest will firm up overnight and such.
Being impatient as a weight loser and a writer doesn't really work. So I'm learning patience.
Anyway, by the time I finished going through the info from Blake, it was time to deal with kids. You see, at about noon, Annemarie (my hot wife) feeds the older boys (sometimes the younger two (a girl and a boy) as well) and then heads out to take them to Spanish School. So that leaves me and Lily and Nathaniel. I usually feed them, play with them and then put the toddler, Nathaniel (he's nearly two) down for a nap. Then I goof off sometimes with Lily, or sometimes she takes a nap a little later or sometimes I just make her go play. But I eat lunch usually after the little guy's in bed.
So today, after getting the bald-ish, albino monkeys dealt with, I rewrote the chapter that the information was supposed to go into. Then I let Blake know that I was ready to finish the manual if he could just get me the last bit.
However, I forgot something just now. Actually, while changing Nathaniel's mess before his nap, I had a pretty good idea for a graded reader. So before I wrote up the new chapter for the User Manual, I wrote the outline for this new idea I had. It is tentatively titled The Honeymoon, and it follows a young couple on a hike for part of their honeymoon. She falls down a long drop and breaks her leg badly and he has to rescue her. But he's terrified of heights. Anyway, it's an adventure/romance. So I wrote that outline proposal up and printed it out for Annemarie to look at when she got back.
Then I did the chapter and e-mailed Blake.
Then when Annemarie got back (soon after) I had her look at the outline. She thought it was really cool. So I reworked it a bit and sent it off to the editorial team.
Now, you remember yesterday's post, how I didn't think I would have the time to do much in The Cabin? Well, I made time and got right about 2000 words done. I really like seeing it take a different, more complete shape from the outline I wrote months ago. Mike is a fun character to follow around, and boy howdy, my past is full of rich things to add to the story.
Well, this is long, but it felt like a good day. I worked hard, actually made some money, and hopefully moved toward getting that bestseller I am going to write. Heck, I may be writing that bestseller now! But let it be said that, while I don't know when, I am going to write a bestseller. I know it.
carpe somnium
Right. In any case, here's what I did:
I started my day by reading through some information that Blake asked me to integrate into the User Manual. I spent a couple hours getting through it and taking note of the highlights and some of the details.
By the way, I exercised again this morning and felt strong. It was a great feeling to lift that 130 lb. barbell twelve times, two more than I expected. What a rush. And I usually walk most of the time, with some good jogging thrown in here and there for my cardio and weight loss portion, but my legs didn't want to run. So I mostly just walked for about an hour. I intend to do over an hour tomorrow morning. I am too impatient and I keep hoping that my pants will get loose faster and that my chest will firm up overnight and such.
Being impatient as a weight loser and a writer doesn't really work. So I'm learning patience.
Anyway, by the time I finished going through the info from Blake, it was time to deal with kids. You see, at about noon, Annemarie (my hot wife) feeds the older boys (sometimes the younger two (a girl and a boy) as well) and then heads out to take them to Spanish School. So that leaves me and Lily and Nathaniel. I usually feed them, play with them and then put the toddler, Nathaniel (he's nearly two) down for a nap. Then I goof off sometimes with Lily, or sometimes she takes a nap a little later or sometimes I just make her go play. But I eat lunch usually after the little guy's in bed.
So today, after getting the bald-ish, albino monkeys dealt with, I rewrote the chapter that the information was supposed to go into. Then I let Blake know that I was ready to finish the manual if he could just get me the last bit.
However, I forgot something just now. Actually, while changing Nathaniel's mess before his nap, I had a pretty good idea for a graded reader. So before I wrote up the new chapter for the User Manual, I wrote the outline for this new idea I had. It is tentatively titled The Honeymoon, and it follows a young couple on a hike for part of their honeymoon. She falls down a long drop and breaks her leg badly and he has to rescue her. But he's terrified of heights. Anyway, it's an adventure/romance. So I wrote that outline proposal up and printed it out for Annemarie to look at when she got back.
Then I did the chapter and e-mailed Blake.
Then when Annemarie got back (soon after) I had her look at the outline. She thought it was really cool. So I reworked it a bit and sent it off to the editorial team.
Now, you remember yesterday's post, how I didn't think I would have the time to do much in The Cabin? Well, I made time and got right about 2000 words done. I really like seeing it take a different, more complete shape from the outline I wrote months ago. Mike is a fun character to follow around, and boy howdy, my past is full of rich things to add to the story.
Well, this is long, but it felt like a good day. I worked hard, actually made some money, and hopefully moved toward getting that bestseller I am going to write. Heck, I may be writing that bestseller now! But let it be said that, while I don't know when, I am going to write a bestseller. I know it.
carpe somnium
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wednesday: A good day
Back again. Can't stop this. You can't stop this. I'm thinking of Hitch right now. You've seen the movie, yes?
So, yesterday (sorry I didn't post) I had no real time to write. The kids had appointments and I had to take the scooter in to get fixed. Oh well. I did, after much research and work, finally find a couple of places to try sending It's Not Tomato Sauce, my new picture book to. I sent it to Viking Books, to an editor I met a couple years ago. The response time will be at least three months, and possibly never! That's okay. Like I said, you can't stop this.
That's pretty much all I did yesterday.
Today, however, was great. I finally made it in to the Rec Center this morning and exercised for an hour and a half. I really am enjoying it more these days. The pants are a smidgen (merely a trifle) looser, and I am building good muscle. Then I got back and helped my second boy, Hintze, deal with being pukey. He was on the mend by noon, but he had to stay home from Spanish School.
Anyway, I was able to put about five hours into The Cabin, finally and I hope to put more into it tomorrow. I am at a little under 20,000 words, so I got about 6,000 done today, which was actually my goal. Tomorrow I was gonna shoot for the same, but Blake of ChartedCourse finally got back to me with stuff for the finalization of the User Manual. So I'm gonna get that done as fast as I can tomorrow and I hope to still have time to get at least a couple thousand words done. I am really enjoying this process, even more than with Brothers in Arms. I find I am getting to know my characters better, and I am also finding that I need to be more open for them to come alive and surprise me. This book is becoming more autobiographical by the page, and that's fine, but it is bringing up a lot of old feelings.
In any case, I am going to stay on target to get the first draft done by the end of this month. Which means by the end of next week. Friday, February 29th in fact. I think I can do it, even if they contact me again to work on The Mars Betrayal. Initial rumblings, by the way, about the latest outline I submitted, called simply Thief, are good. It would be great if that picked that one up too.
Apparently I qualify to join the National Press Corps, by the way. With all the articles I have on www.helium.com, they are inviting me and others like me to apply. Which makes sense for them, since yearly dues are at least $150 and probably more! Holy smackers! I think I will simply put, "Invited to join National Press Corps" on my resume. That'll be fine.
Anyway, all is well in Zion. Not really, but the writing is settling down finally. I am making the time to be more disciplined and it feels great. I really don't think I will be able to avoid going back to a job by the end of this year, but at least I jump started the writing. This way, hopefully, I will be able to permanently quit and write sooner. It's my dream, I'm gonna live it. I won't sleep my dream.
carpe somnium!
So, yesterday (sorry I didn't post) I had no real time to write. The kids had appointments and I had to take the scooter in to get fixed. Oh well. I did, after much research and work, finally find a couple of places to try sending It's Not Tomato Sauce, my new picture book to. I sent it to Viking Books, to an editor I met a couple years ago. The response time will be at least three months, and possibly never! That's okay. Like I said, you can't stop this.
That's pretty much all I did yesterday.
Today, however, was great. I finally made it in to the Rec Center this morning and exercised for an hour and a half. I really am enjoying it more these days. The pants are a smidgen (merely a trifle) looser, and I am building good muscle. Then I got back and helped my second boy, Hintze, deal with being pukey. He was on the mend by noon, but he had to stay home from Spanish School.
Anyway, I was able to put about five hours into The Cabin, finally and I hope to put more into it tomorrow. I am at a little under 20,000 words, so I got about 6,000 done today, which was actually my goal. Tomorrow I was gonna shoot for the same, but Blake of ChartedCourse finally got back to me with stuff for the finalization of the User Manual. So I'm gonna get that done as fast as I can tomorrow and I hope to still have time to get at least a couple thousand words done. I am really enjoying this process, even more than with Brothers in Arms. I find I am getting to know my characters better, and I am also finding that I need to be more open for them to come alive and surprise me. This book is becoming more autobiographical by the page, and that's fine, but it is bringing up a lot of old feelings.
In any case, I am going to stay on target to get the first draft done by the end of this month. Which means by the end of next week. Friday, February 29th in fact. I think I can do it, even if they contact me again to work on The Mars Betrayal. Initial rumblings, by the way, about the latest outline I submitted, called simply Thief, are good. It would be great if that picked that one up too.
Apparently I qualify to join the National Press Corps, by the way. With all the articles I have on www.helium.com, they are inviting me and others like me to apply. Which makes sense for them, since yearly dues are at least $150 and probably more! Holy smackers! I think I will simply put, "Invited to join National Press Corps" on my resume. That'll be fine.
Anyway, all is well in Zion. Not really, but the writing is settling down finally. I am making the time to be more disciplined and it feels great. I really don't think I will be able to avoid going back to a job by the end of this year, but at least I jump started the writing. This way, hopefully, I will be able to permanently quit and write sooner. It's my dream, I'm gonna live it. I won't sleep my dream.
carpe somnium!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Finishing my Thursday
Well, today was pretty good. I spent my morning at a local thrift store helping sort and hang up clothes. It was fine.
Then I got home, put my youngest down for a nap, had lunch and waited for my wife to get back from dropping the older boy off at Spanish school. When she got back, I went to a meeting out at Charted Course. I was right; I have a bunch more work to do. I need to finalize the User Manual by the end of Monday. Then I have other stuff to do.
When the meeting got done, I went to the library, checked out some books then worked on Mars Betrayal. I am at the last scene. I really wanted to get it done today, but I should have it done tomorrow morning. Then I will get to work on the Charted Course stuff. I'll take some time tomorrow to write at least one article for Helium, maybe two.
And that's really it. I will finally be getting paid for my work for Charted Course. Up until now, I have been doing my work on a trade basis: I am a client and a rep with no out of pocket money, and I gave them 100 free hours of work.
Now I am simply doing freelance work and I will give them a time summary and an invoice for each month that I do work. Woohoo! The pay will be $15/hour for now, but that will probably go up as things expand and I start doing more varied work for them.
It's possible I will be going to a conference in Vegas during the second weekend of February. Still not certain I'm going, but it's likely.
So that's it. We watched The Simpson's Movie and broke our 2 week sugar fast with some B & J tonight. Funny movie, but not spectacular. It was like three episodes rolled into one. And that's fine. And now I will go. Until tomorrow!
Then I got home, put my youngest down for a nap, had lunch and waited for my wife to get back from dropping the older boy off at Spanish school. When she got back, I went to a meeting out at Charted Course. I was right; I have a bunch more work to do. I need to finalize the User Manual by the end of Monday. Then I have other stuff to do.
When the meeting got done, I went to the library, checked out some books then worked on Mars Betrayal. I am at the last scene. I really wanted to get it done today, but I should have it done tomorrow morning. Then I will get to work on the Charted Course stuff. I'll take some time tomorrow to write at least one article for Helium, maybe two.
And that's really it. I will finally be getting paid for my work for Charted Course. Up until now, I have been doing my work on a trade basis: I am a client and a rep with no out of pocket money, and I gave them 100 free hours of work.
Now I am simply doing freelance work and I will give them a time summary and an invoice for each month that I do work. Woohoo! The pay will be $15/hour for now, but that will probably go up as things expand and I start doing more varied work for them.
It's possible I will be going to a conference in Vegas during the second weekend of February. Still not certain I'm going, but it's likely.
So that's it. We watched The Simpson's Movie and broke our 2 week sugar fast with some B & J tonight. Funny movie, but not spectacular. It was like three episodes rolled into one. And that's fine. And now I will go. Until tomorrow!
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