Monday Madness - Workin' In A Coal Mine

There are times when I truly wish I had chosen another career path.  As you can see from the lack of posts last week, it was a busy time for me.  Between all the chaos at work and trying to finish up my class, I had absolutely no energy.  Working a 17 hour day on Friday until about 11 pm didn't help much either.

Yeah, the life of a glorified Server Administrator isn't all it's cracked up to be.  I know most people think we just hit a few buttons now and then before getting back to our Xbox game or something (heck, my wife mimes that very activity at me all the time when she feels like giving me crap).  After all, computers are usually quite orderly.  They do what they've been told to do.  When things truly break however (as opposed to those things we IT guys like to call features of the software), it's rare that the problem is easy to fix.  This is when us IT guys put in the extra hours, working through the night if need be to make sure Joe Schmoe can get to his email on Monday morning.

Needless to say, I didn't find much time (or energy) to say hi to everyone and put in a post or two.  I actually feel a bit bad because I didn't even stop by anyone's blogs this weekend.  I like to keep up on what everyone else has to say, even if some days I don't have anything to say :)

In any event, I'm performing cleanup from Friday's mess and still wondering why I chose this particular field.  Maybe that's why I'm trying to become a better writer.  Heck, if it weren't for the pay, I'd probably just shift gears and do it full time.  Sigh...

Audience - Guest Post By Michelle McLean

As part of her awesome blog tour, I am honored to present the incredibly talented Michelle McLean.  That's right, you'll only get to see this here on Da Muse (okay, her name is on every blogger's page on the tour as well as countless students worldwide - all of them in awe over her amazing literary skill - but let's focus here).   Without further ado, take it away, Michelle.

I think one of the most important things, if not THE most important thing, for any writer is this:

Know your audience.

When I sit down to write anything, I always have a target audience in mind. If I’m working on a YA novel, I’m thinking of teenagers between the ages of about 14 and 19. When I’m working on children’s picture books, I’m usually envisioning my own kids at ages 5 and 7. When I was in school and working on an essay or paper, I had my professor and classmates in mind. And when I wrote Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers, I had an audience of frustrated students who had to write a paper in mind.

If you know your audience, you can gear your book or project for them. You can keep the language appropriate. Now, I’m not talking about swearing or questionable jokes or anything. I mean using the big, field-specific technical language in your papers where your professor will appreciate them and keeping your young adult novels teen-friendly by using the type of language kids use when they speak.

How popular is your YA novel going to be if you use so many huge, unreadable words that your readers have to run it through a translator just to figure out what you are saying? How popular will your adult spy thriller be if your main character is a bunny named Buttons who solves crimes with his sidekick Terry Turtle? What kind of grade are you going to get if you turn in that college-level essay peppered with phrases like “So, dude, like you should totally just listen to me cause I like tooootally get what I’m doing.”

And how much help is a frustrated, confused student going to get from a guidebook that is so overly-technical and complicated they end up more confused than when they started? Probably not much. Which is why I made sure I kept my audience in mind while writing Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers.  

I want my readers to feel like I’m sitting right next to them, pointing out every single step of the process to them. I wrote the way I’d speak to them if I were sitting right there…non-formal, conversational, just me telling them step by step what they need to do.

No matter what you are writing, you’ve got to keep your audience in mind. I guarantee they’ll love you for it :)

Michelle McLean is a writer and the Chief Editorial Consultant for PixelMags, LLC. In addition to her non-fiction work, Michelle writes YA historical novels and other children’s books. If she's not editing, reading or chasing her kids, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book.

Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers is a fun, user-friendly book that guides the reader, step by step, through writing a dozen different types of essays, including the dreaded SAT essay. Using straightforward, plain English, this book shows the reader exactly what they need to do, from start to finish, and includes rough draft, edited, and final draft versions of every type of essay discussed. This book also provides chapters that include tips and instruction on researching, proofreading, and citations.

Thanks a ton Michelle.  If you stop by Michelle's blog, you'll see she has allowed me to put a post there as well.   You can also reach Michelle on Facebook or Twitter, and she's a contributer at Operation Awesome.  You can pick up a copy of Michelle's book Essays & Term Papers at Amazon, Borders, or Barnes & Nobles.  Or check your local retailer;  it's a sure bet they can get you a copy.

Fun Writer Moments

The wife and I are planning a huge - and super secret - trip for the family coming up in June.  I'll be spilling details on this later, but I wanted to relate a funny thought I had this morning.  The area we're going to happens to be home to a fellow writer (same state at least), and I thought this morning how cool it would be if I could arrange to meet the writer in person.  In fact, that realization excited me almost as much as the idea of the whole trip itself.

It's just really cool to think about meeting a fellow writer in person.  And if you'd ask'd me about it say...5 years ago, I'd probably have been like "eh, I guess".  Nowadays, I'm really psyched.  I mean, I'm going to be meeting Beth Revis in a couple weeks when she swings through my area.  How cool is that?  If I could travel and meet you all, I'd have a perma-smile for years.  Some of you however, are a little harder to get to than others (sorry Glynis LOL).

It's funny what direction life takes us and what joys we find along the way.  It's also funny that I think in writer terms now.  Don't get me wrong;  it's really cool.  But I can laugh at myself and how my thought processes have changed too.  I notice that I tend to see writing mistakes (punctuation, grammar, run-on sentences) more these days as well.  In fact, I just had to mention it to my boss for something he asked my opinion on.  What others call nit-picky, I now call proper editing.  Go figure.

I'll leave you all with some ACDC to kick off your Friday.  Because after all, we writers definitely rock!

Thursday Thoughts - Who Changed The Matrix?

I had a really odd moment of deja vu this morning.  I was dreaming about something, and then I woke up like usual, chatted sleepily to the wife, and turned off the alarm.  Then I REALLY woke up, sat up in bed, and noticed I had to turn off the alarm.  It was a very disorienting feeling, and only a longer warm shower was able to shake me out of it.

For those who don't know the reference to The Matrix (I imagine there's gotta be somebody who has never seen the movie), the idea is that we're not really living in the reality we perceive.  In The Matrix, we're actually being controlled by machines and the reality we perceive is nothing more than a intense computer-generated world piped directly into our minds.  The moments of deja vu however, occur when someone changes the Matrix.  For example, the masters of the Matrix realize that one of their captured subjects is becoming aware of their prison and they alter something to push that individual back in line, so to speak.  Like shaking off that feeling of a sixth sense telling you something is wrong with the world.

Don't worry, I'm not under the illusion (or delusion, depending on how you look at it) that our reality is nothing more than a fabricated computer fantasy.  But when you think about that type of scenario, it really takes your mind down the rabbit hole.  After all, if we were all really just asleep and the whole world was nothing but a dream, how would we know?  If we've grown up with this reality as our framework, how would we be able to recognize any other type of reality?  Or even imagine it in any sort of a concrete and believable manner?

To tie this in to writing and characters, this is a great opportunity for characterization.  Destroying a character's reality (i.e. making them aware of the Matrix) is a great way to really get to know who and what they are.  Take a sheltered princess who has never been allowed to know about any world outside of her palace (or even know that it exists), and toss her out into the real (and possibly savage) world.  She will either crumple into a pile or quickly learn how to survive.  And in learning how to survive, we get to see how she grows and changes.  She can then become a more complete character.

When was the last time you destroyed a character's reality?  Did their process of coping make it easier for you to flesh them out?

Ten Word Tuesday - The Query

Still not query-able.  Disheartening but less stressful.  Maybe someday soon...

Blog Chain - Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself...Wanna Bet?

After a relaxing weekend, it's time to dive back into things with the tough question posed by the ever-challenging Christine:

What is the main character of you current WiP most afraid of and why? Don’t use a previously finished work. This is all about discovering the inner motivations of your current characters – the ones you don’t know all that well yet.


I won't kid you.  This question actually scares me.  Delving into the psyche of my characters is a dicey business at best.  And since I don't do character profiles or character interviews or anything even remotely similar, it's a tough question for me to answer as well.  But I'm not one to ever back down from a literary challenge (at least so far), so here's my best shot at it.


The main character I've chosen for this is Jeremy.  I am actually in the process of fleshing Jeremy out more, so this is really helpful for that anyway.   Jeremy is a 26 year old computer geek.  He's getting evicted at the beginning of the story, is newly unemployed, has no real friends, has no strong emotional ties to family, and buys a cup of coffee with his last dime.  Even though these problems are huge to most people, they're tiny in comparison to the fear that really plagues Jeremy.  His greatest fear is being insignificant, being forgettable as a person.  And he believes that he has become this very thing.


This fear is the cause of all Jeremy's problems, and it paralyzes him.  He has no girlfriend because he can't hold an intelligent conversation with someone he finds attractive.  He recognizes that he's almost 30 and in his mind, that's a death knell for single guys.  After all, nobody wants to date an out-of-work computer geek over the age of 30, and at the beginning of the story, he has no prospects for improving things.  His fear of insignificance also includes the belief that he will grow old without having had any impact on the world around him.  He will die, and the world will not notice his passing.  Computer geeks are not remembered for their accomplishments, he figures (Bill Gates aside, of course).


Jeremy stumbles on an ad for a job, and this catapults him into a position of unthinkable power, influence, and responsibility.  He becomes nearly omnipotent, and he chooses to ignore his earlier problems.  It's a band-aid for his fear however, and in time he will need to come to terms with things or risk destroying everything he holds dear.


Whew.  I guess this wasn't as tough as I expected.  It has been a fun exercise though, one I will probably adopt for all my MC's.  Thanks Christine.  If you haven't had the pleasure of reading my predecessor Michelle Hickman's answer, you need to hurry on over there.  She even gives us a writing sample of her work, which is truly awesome.  And tomorrow you can look forward to an answer from the totally cool Michelle Mclean (who's non-fiction book Essays & Term Papers is now available, make sure you get a copy!)


What are your main character's fears?  Have you asked them?

Quick Celebration On A Friday

This is just a quick note for those who don't know.  The awesome and talented Erin Anderson (a.k.a. The Screaming Guppy) has landed herself an agent.  That's right, she's now represented by Joanna Volpe of Nancy Coffey Literary and her book Hound In Black And Blood will soon be gracing all our bookstores.  Okay, it'll take a little bit for that to happen maybe, but I'm excited for her nonetheless.

Erin (whom I affectionately call Guppster) is someone I admire a great deal.  She has provided me with wisdom when I've needed it, has helped remind me just how much I have to learn, and (though she may not know it) inspires me to constantly tweak my own writing so that it will be up to par.  Plus she is a Diet Coke w/ Lime drinker, so that vaults her into the stratosphere.  It's about time somebody else is now giving her an avenue to get her awesome works published.

Please take a moment and stop by Erin's blog to congratulate her.  She has worked incredibly hard to get here, and she deserves huge accolades.  If you know of anyone else who recently got picked up by an agent, let me know and I'll give 'em a shout out too.

Random Thursday

I had planned on putting up a writing excerpt yesterday, but unfortunately I had a really awesome idea lodge in my brain and it's been bugging me ever since.  And since this is something I think I'll want to turn into a full-fledged story, I didn't want to post it.  Also unfortunately, that left me no way to write anything else.

Such a thing doesn't happen to me often, where an idea just bugs me and bugs me and demands my attention.  It's kind of cool, but kind of scary when I imagine what the implications are.  Either I'm starting to really think like a writer or I'm losin' it big time.  Let's hope it's not the latter.

On another note, if you haven't noticed I've put up a counter to keep track of just how long I have to wait until Beth Revis' tour comes to Colorado.  Am I excited?  You're darn tootin'.  Beth is incredibly cool, she's managed to get her debut book to be #7 (so far and I won't be surprised if it climbs higher) on the New York Times Best Seller List, and she's going to be gracing us with a tour?  Maybe I can ask her if it's okay for me to tattoo the Godspeed across my chest.

Kidding Beth, totally kidding.  Besides, I already have Superman and the Incredible Hulk there, so it just wouldn't work.

Seriously though, yeah I'm excited.  It's been so much fun learning from Beth, and it's really cool to see her book literally take off.

I'm also reading Tom Clancy's new book Dead Or Alive, and although I'm not too far in yet, the fact that Mr. Clancy hasn't put anything out for a decade seems to have put a dent in his abilities.  For starters, it's not a good sign when an entire word is missing from the first line.  Okay, maybe that's the editor or publisher's fault, but it doesn't give me the reader a warm fuzzy.  I also have noticed that he seems to have decided everyone should know all the past history of his characters (stuff that occurred in previous books with these same characters).  Now thankfully I'm a fan and have read most of his books (both the fiction and non-fiction), so I understand the references he makes.  But if I were a new reader who picked him up for the first time, I'd be lost.  There are references to past events for his characters that even I don't remember.  I will probably post a review when I'm done, but it'll be a while since the book is a rather large tome.

That's all I have for now.  I'm off to do some outlining on this new idea I have.  Yes, I said the O word.  I'm trying out new things, and since this idea is so very vague at this point, I'm hoping a rough outline might help fill in the pieces.  Don't rip my Pantster membership card away yet though.  I'll still likely unfold most of the story as I go.

Ten Word Tuesday - Reading

Reading for fun...

...and improving my ability to write too!

Deep Thoughts On A Friday

Since my friend Shaun is delving into the well of deep thinking today, I figured I might want to broach a subject that has been on my mind recently.  If you are seeking Friday Fun instead of heavy contemplation, you might want to bop over to Michelle McLean's house instead.

So I've started being slightly more active in an online critique site where you can critique works that someone has posted as well as have your own works critiqued.  I won't mention which site, since I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

I picked a particular entry and started reading through it.  The problems began almost immediately however, and although I strove to find something positive in the person's writing, I found myself at a loss.  I'll be honest.  I chose not to post a critique, which may be the coward's way out.  I will say however, that I didn't just read through it one time and dismiss the writing as useless right away.  I spent a great deal of time reading and re-reading, agonizing over every bit of it, searching for something I could find to celebrate.  In the end, I could not bring myself to write a critique where I had nothing good to say.

Now I know I'm not a perfect writer.  If my last excerpt is any indication, I have vast deserts in my writing aching for improvement.  But I am honest to a fault, and I guess I chose to go with old adage "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

I guess what I'm seeking here is some really sound advice for what to do when I hit that wall again.  I do believe in the merits of critiquing, both for the person doing the critique and the recipient of said critique.  I truly do want to be better at it.

How do you deal with a difficult critique, where you're struggling to offer positive comments?

Maiden Voyage Of The Godspeed - Get On Board

I've been anxiously awaiting this day, and although I wanted to spill the beans, I've kept a tight lip on today's post.  For those who weren't aware, today is the launch of the incredibly awesome Beth Revis' debut novel Across The Universe.  And her publisher - Penguin Young Readers Group - is launching this book with all the fanfare they can muster.  It is astounding to me how much effort they have put behind assuring Beth's book is a huge success, as it rightly should be.  Amazingly enough, Working My Muse has been selected (among a number of other blogs) by the Penguin Young Readers Group to help get this party started and I'm very proud to be a part of it.

To get things kicked off, I want to provide you all with a look at the Across The Universe trailer:

I absolutely love this thing.   The narration is awesome, and it tantalizes in just the right way.  It's a little short, to be sure.  But if you think Beth and Penguin would leave you with only that little bit, you'd be wrong.  Check out this exclusive interview with the amazing author Beth Revis herself:



This is really cool, and something I personally haven't seen for a book launch (though I guess to be fair, I have to mention I haven't exactly been a part of too many book launches either).  In any event, I love watching Beth talk about the labor of love that is her debut novel.  She's worked hard on this, and it's great to see all her hard work pay off in such a grand way.

But what is Across The Universe?  Rather than try to stumble through my own description, I'll let Beth's words do the talking:

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

Now if you haven't had the opportunity to check out Across The Universe yet and are still just thinking about picking it up, there's one place you absolutely need to visit:  http://www.acrosstheuniversebook.com/  This is an amazingly cool website where you can actually check out various parts of the ship and learn all kinds of awesome stuff about the Godspeed.  There are even a couple areas that are off-limits, something I found cool because that way the story isn't spoiled.

Being an IT guy, I have to say I am very impressed with the technical and graphical beauty of this web page.  The images are crisp, the links bring up relevant information quickly, and moving around the page is actually really fun.  If I had to pick my favorite area of the ship though (based on what I see on the page anyway), I'd have to go with the Engine Room.  The image that pops up is really intricate.  A lot of work went into just that one image, and I absolutely love it.  My wife's however, would be the Farm - because she likes cows LOL.  There is of course, the descriptions Beth has so nicely provided too.  Awesome job!

As a writer, I also have to say that I am so proud of and impressed by Beth.  I stumbled on her blog a while ago (back when I first started this writing journey) and I've always found that Beth has so much to teach us and inspire us with.  Since she was a teacher before becoming a full-time writer, I guess that makes sense.  And the Penguin Young Readers Group is treating her the way she should be treated - with excellence and an amazing level of support.

I'm going to try scheduling this post (something I've attempted - and failed at - in the past before) for 11:11 AM - which would be really cool if it works, y'know (1/11/11 11:11AM).  And though I usually don't post link-fests, this is one book I absolutely must jump on the bandwagon for.  Oh, and check out the io9 link.  They are posting a 111pg excerpt from 11:11 AM Eastern to 11:11 PM Eastern today.  You can ONLY find this at io9, so don't miss it.

If you're a Facebooker, you can hit the Across The Universe page.  Beth's page is must visit, and if you aren't following her blog yet, you definitely need to!  You can also catch her on Twitter (for those of you Tweeters out there - is that right?   I have no idea, I don't Tweet yet LOL).

Check out what else Penguin Teen has as well.  They have a main page, they're on Facebook, and Twitter too!

If you like the banner at the top of this post (which I think is awesome looking), hop on over to Novel Thoughts and thank Jeremy.  He did an wonderful job on it.

Most importantly however, pick up Across The Universe at Amazon or whatever your favorite retailer is.  Do it today.  Pick up an extra copy for a friend (because we both know you won't want to lend your copy out).  And head over to io9 to get a glimpse at the exclusive excerpt.

This has been a long post I know, but feel free to tell me what YOUR favorite part of the Godspeed is.  And if you've already bought the book, spread the love.  Beth is an amazing writer, and she deserves all the support we can give her.

Blog Chain - Schizophrenia

Today we're going to talk about the very serious subject of Schizophrenia.

It's not serious.

Shut up and let him talk.

Ba dum dum dum!

Seriously though, welcome to a new year and to a new round of blog chain questions.  I seem to say this alot, but the question posed by the ever-challenging Sandra is another one I found really difficult to answer:

What do you think your strengths and weaknesses as a writer are? Did you have to develop your strengths, or did they come naturally to you? How are you trying to overcome your weaknesses?

The hardest part for me (which I'm sure surprises nobody) was coming up with strengths.  I hope I'm not alone in this, but identifying my strengths is a difficult task.  With that in mind, I'll start with my weaknesses.  

One weakness I have is not describing enough as I write.  I have an image in my mind, but I either forget to put details in or I subconsciously assume the reader is seeing what I see.  The good thing is that (thanks to recent critiques and people willing to tell me so) I am aware of the problem and am working on it.

Another of my weaknesses is the fact that I'm a pantster by nature.  I HATE to sit down and write in an organized manner.  In fact, it severely stifles my creative process.  I can't do character profiles, I can't chart out where I'm going with a story (on first draft at least), and it causes me alot of problems.  I leave out things and I find myself slamming into plot walls.

Probably the most important weakness I have is distraction.  If I don't actively focus on the writing task at hand (or if I allow external things to distract me), I easily lose momentum.  And once I get distracted, the quality of my writing plunges into ugly depths.

On the good side, I do have a few strengths.  Being a pantster is a good thing for me, in some respects.  I truly believe I find the story better by just writing it than by plotting it.  I discover the characters better this way, and I am (in later drafts) able to refine them easier.  I even surprise myself sometimes with where a story takes me, which I count as a plus since I figure if I didn't expect it, the reader won't either.

I believe I have a knack with creepy and suspenseful writing.  It's something I enjoy, and I can tell when the writing is not quite in the zone, so to speak.  I am also willing to sneak into the dark places where others might not tread.  If I need a truly evil character, I have no problem making it so and not pulling any punches.

I'm getting much better at beginnings, whether it's the beginning of the story or just a new chapter.  This wasn't always a strength, but I've worked on it and have improved.  I can see when an opening line isn't going to catch the reader's attention as much and when it's really good.

The reason I titled this Schizophrenia is because I don't think I'm of one mind with regards to my writing yet.  There are some weaknesses I have (which I'm improving on where I can) and there are some strengths (which I try to identify when I can, just for a pat on the back if nothing else).  Probably the only thing that comes naturally to me where writing is concerned is the fact that I'm a multi-headed hydra trying to control and refine myself AND my writing.

At this point I'm going to turn it over to the illustrious Michelle McLean for her answer tomorrow.  If you haven't had a chance to check out how Michelle Hickman answered yesterday, get on over there.  She's awesome, and so is her answer.

As you think through this question yourself however, be careful.  It's easy for us as writers to identify our weaknesses (and we probably see more than are really there).  Take the time to identify your strengths as well, and make sure you celebrate them.

Ten Word Tuesday - Vacation Effects

Two days back from vacation and already wanting another escape!

A New Year...With A More Refined Goal

Welcome to 2011, everyone.  Hopefully everyone's holidays were wonderful, with lots of good food, good times, and fun family moments.  I know some of you have had to deal with personal tragedies and difficulties recently, but I hope this new year will bring you great things - great enough to help you overcome those difficulties.

As you can see, I have made some changes here.  The foremost (to me at least) is the description of this blog (directly under the title).  It used to read "This blog is one author's attempts to work through those dry deserts known as writers block, using free writings, ramblings, and plain old storytelling."  I think the new description more adequately describes what I'm here for.  It's also a bit more of a positive outlook on who I am and what you can expect when you come here.  Rather than focusing on the moments when I am unable to write or have difficulty writing (which I hope will be less often this year), I've chosen to focus on what I really want to strive for.  In essence, I want to be a good writer.  There will still be some stories, some free writings, or ramblings.  I am just choosing to focus on the writing itself rather than the dry deserts between bouts of writing.  Heck, with a few rain dances, I might just eliminate those deserts completely.  Sorry, no Youtube videos scheduled for these performances.

I've also changed the background and colors, partially because I wanted something new.  I like the torn and yellowing page in the background.  In one way, it reminds me of my writing.  The edges are a little rough, but the page has lots of room for improvement.  As for the blue banner and tone, I guess I just like that color.

I'm really energized for the new year.  I got up this morning and did some exercise (pushups) before heading off to work.  I've made a few tweaks on the blog (and there may be more coming, who knows).  And I'm actually looking forward to getting home this evening and squeezing in some writing time.

My vacation was wonderful (the whole reason I was absent for the past 10 days).  I slept in a little bit, spent lots of time with the family, and didn't do homework OR writing.  Now some of you may be cringing out there as you imagine how much writing I could have gotten done during such a break, and I completely understand. But I needed to take a moment and examine where I was and where I want to be.  Take stock of things.  So while my goal of being an exceptional writer hasn't changed, I'm more energized to work on it because of the break.

There will be more fun coming as the week unfolds.  And I hope everyone else is ready for a great year.  I am overly optimistic, and I'm really looking forward to what new works I can create.  How about you?  Do you have some goals for this year?

Happy Holidays

It's been a while since my last post, and part of that is because I'm pretty busy.  I'm working through my classes of course, but also just the usual busy times that life hands us.  The other part of that is because I've been thinking about this blog, thinking about where I want to go with it, and what I want to do.  Some good ideas have popped into my brain.

I am going to be absent for a bit longer however.  I'm on vacation from work after today, and I plan on spending the majority of the time with my wife and boys.  After the end of the year, I will be back with new ideas, new energy, and some changes that will help make this blog a great deal better.

I wish everyone Happy Holidays, a very Happy New Year, and I will see you all again in 2011.

Take care

All Kinds of Things On A Wednesday

Yesterday's blog chain post really got the creative juices flowing.  I struggled to get my word count under the 100 word limit, but it was a fun struggle.  And by the time I finished, I felt like I'd written something really decent.  It's been a while since I've done that - felt like I've written something decent.  But man, did it feel good.  I got such a thrill out of it.  So thanks Michelle, even if it was partly torture.

On another note, I was driving to work and as usual, a great song came on just as I got there.  I didn't have time to listen to the whole thing, so I popped inside and looked it up on YouTube:

Granted, the video is something a fan put together, but I thought it went with the song perfectly.  Five Finger Death Punch (the band that wrote this song) might not be your usual cup of tea, but when they can come up with something as beautiful as this song, I figure they can't be that bad.  Of course, I'm a fan of their other stuff too so maybe I'm a little biased.

Then I stumbled on another Far From Home video (yeah, I get caught up in YouTube way too easily) and of course I had to check this one out:



Since I play piano, this one caught my attention right away.  I'd never heard of Jake Oken-Berg before, but I'll probably look up more music by the talented fellow.  He definitely knows how to tickle the ivories and sing some soulful words.

Last but not least, if you haven't signed up for the INSANE contest Beth Revis is hosting titled the Epic Contest of Epic.  You will not believe how much stuff there is to win, and the grand prize is...well, I can't even describe it adequately enough, so you need to rush over there and get your entry in.  If you haven't been following Beth on her journey as she sees her debut book Across The Universe published, you've been missing out.  In less than a month, this awesome story will be in the hands of the masses, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer author.  Beth is so cool, incredibly talented, and I'm really happy for her.  Now get over there and enter the contest.  You'll kick yourself if you miss this opportunity.

Oh, and any other great songs/books/artists I'm missing out on?  Fill up the comment boxes, ladies and gents!

Blog Chain - The Devil Made Me Do It

There he is, ladies and gents.  This is the image of who must be driving me around these days (and no, I don't mean John Candy).  About this time of year, the little red devil perches himself on my shoulder and starts to whisper in my ear.

"Nah, you don't need to finish that up.  Ain't there somethin' on YouTube?"

"You'll get back to that scene, don't worry.  We got some games to play, remember?"

"Eh, that bad feelin' in your gut ain't guilt over your abandoned projects, my man.  It's just bad chicken from last night - trust me!"

The Procrastination Devil is one I fight on a continuous basis, but for some reason he really gets ahold of my ear as the year begins to wind down.  I find myself getting distracted much easier, and next thing you know I'm forgetting things.  This would be how I managed (for the second time no less) to forget my turn on the blog chain.  But I suppose late is better than never, so I'll put up my entry nonetheless.

Michelle M. has really decided to challenge us as the year comes to a close, with her question:

In 100 words or less, write a story using the words ride, post, soulless, local, dehydrator, girdle. Your story may take on any form you wish. The only two rules are 1. you can't simply list the 6 words; you must actually craft them into something creative, and 2. you must use ALL six of them.


I won't kid you;  this has really made me sweat, particularly since everyone else has done such a great job with it.  If you haven't read any of the previous entries on the chain, you need to work through them all.  There are some impressive writers here.  Despite my reticence however (that little devil is buggin' me to pass), I'll give it a go.

The ride past the post office brought bad memories; He still saw the twisted bodies, like old meat sitting too long in a dehydrator.  Tim usually avoided Main, but tonight it was the only safe path.  The feeble beam cast by his flashlight poked holes through the black curtains between streetlights, but it was barely enough to see by.  He glanced at the sign hanging askew, a ragged woman’s girdle covering one end.  The Local Pub now read as The Abyss, a bloody scrawl gleaming through the pale fabric.  He pedaled harder, ignoring the soulless groans coming from within.  

I was supposed to precede Sandra, but I have ended up posting after her anyway LOL.  Check out what she came up with though.  Actually, work your way through them all.  This has been the most fun AND difficult post I've had to write in a long while.

Ten Word Tuesday - Background Music

Sammy Hagar for action...Joe Satriani for serenity...

Works here!

Blog Chain - Books Are...Late, In My Case

Somewhere on the far end, water droplets fell with slow regularity.  Leftovers from a heavy rain, leaking through the cracked cement ceiling.  Not surprising that the cellblocks are in disrepair.  It's a full house and not enough of us get out these days.

"Psst.  Museman, you got dat writin' thing done yet?"

"The longer you stand there jackin' and jawin', the less I'll get done, ya numbskull.  Now get movin' before one of the Bulls sees ya."

"Warden Quinn's gonna have ya in the box for a month, you watch."

I turn to glare at him through the dirty bars, the light blue paint flaking off beneath his grimy grip.  I'm not sure threats will buy his silence, but I toss on my fiercest glare nonetheless.  "If she finds out from you, there won't be enough teeth left to identify the body."

"Ain't scared, boy.  You're already hung; you just ain't feelin' the noose yet."  His maniacal grin splits into cackles as he turns away, pushing his cart of books down the row.

He's not that far off the truth either.  If I can't come up with something legendary, that lady's gonna have my head.  It's okay though.  I got a plan, and I'm bettin' she won't expect what's coming.  I pull the folded sheet from beneath the bunk, my fingerprints staining the off-white page.

It is hereby declared that prisoner 254733 be moved to solitary confinement indefinitely unless he can answer the query posed by the illustrious Warden Quinn.  Any unsatisfactory response will be deemed insurrection and will serve to display why said prisoner is no longer fit for housing amongst the rest of his fellow inmates.

I glance at the stained and cracking wall across from my bunk.  I've carved my answer deep, made sure it'll be there 'til they tear this whole place down.  Then I reach to grab a paperback from the top of the stack nearby.  She don't have a clue just where I've been every night.  Fighting dragons, shoot-outs in some old Western town, even fell in love (or lust maybe) with a dark haired beauty.  Tonight's different though.  I finally found one that's gonna do the trick.  CassaStar.  It's my ticket outta here.

I ease up and walk to the bars, checking up and down.  Lights are out, but there's a full moon tonight and the pale lady is giving me enough to read by.  I sit on the bunk once more, the springs groaning against my weight, and I open to the first page.  A few moments later, the book falls to the floor.  Nothing left but my words on the wall.

Books are...escape.  That's right, Warden.  I escape every time I crack 'em open.  I been fightin' outside these walls.  I've worked as a cowboy, sailed on pirate ships, and even killed a few monsters.  Tonight's different though.  I'm gone, flyin' in outer space and I don't plan on comin' back any time soon.  You save that box for me if you like, but don't expect it to be filled tonight.

My last conscious thought is for M.H.   I hope she don't get chewed out 'cuz of me.  That evil genius Sandra got extra rations for her answer, but I knew I'd never come close.  This is my only chance.

Back In The Saddle Again

I've been bucked off this horse more times than I can count at this point, but I don't care.  Much like a huge Texan fighting the evils of leafy green veggies, I refuse to give in.  I have successful passed my Cyberlaw class (happy dance, happy dance), and I have two blissful weeks of no homework before I launch into learning how to become a certified ethical hacker (there's something wrong with the idea of an ethical hacker, but anyway).

This means I have an opportunity to get back on the horse, get used to writing every day again, and somehow keep it up even after my class starts.  And I'm going to do it.  I may not have been able to do NaNo, but I CAN do this.

The next question is what will I work on.  I have an almost complete apocalyptic story (first draft anyway) that needs direction on the ending.  I also have my short story about a young man and the Fates.  I'm actually in the revision stage for this one.  And of course, I have a few other temporarily abandoned  stories that need my attention.  Plus I got a gem of an idea this morning while I was driving to work; the idea is a comical view into the life of this guy (so far unnamed) who would like to be more of a villain (with all the associated acclaim, cool factor, etc) but his attempts actually result in helping people rather than hurting them.

During my recent workshop fun with Jamie Ford, he stated quite emphatically that there really isn't a huge market for short stories these days.  While he could be wrong, it got me to thinking about my short story and the comments I got when it was critiqued during my short story class.  I think there is more to this young man and the Fates' effect on his life, so I may see about expanding the story into a full-blown novel.

And there we have it.  I may have been absent alot lately, but I'm a work in progress - just like the novels I'm writing.  Time to slap on the spurs once more and get back in the saddle again.

How is your writing going?  If you're doing NaNo, are you on track?  If you're not doing NaNo, are you trying to write every day too?

Honor To All Veterans

I've been spending all day thinking about Veterans Day (particularly since I am one), and I realized I had not put up a blog post about it.  This is unacceptable, so despite a bit of a delay, here is my thoughts on this wonderful holiday.

For those new to the Muse, I am a U.S. Army Veteran.  It's been many a year since I served, but I was in the service for 3 years on Active duty and 2 more years on Reserve duty.  I was initially trained as a Russian linguist, but I later changed to become a cryptologist.  Then while I was in the Reserves, I changed once more to be trained in psychological operations (PsyOps).

Even though it's been over 20 years since I served last, I am still military to the core.  I get up early (even on weekends), I make my sons keep their hair cut short and clean-cut, and I still sometimes find myself marching somewhere as opposed to just walking.  To say that the military will forever be in my blood is an understatement.  While I might have been a dumb punk when I went in (and I fully admit that this is true in most respects), I came out a much better man and I honestly believe I would not be as successful as I have been in all areas of my life had I not served.

For those of us in the U.S., we are lucky in that service in the military is a choice.  A privilege.  In many other countries around the world, this is not so.  It's also interesting that there was a survey done recently regarding how well people like their jobs, and the military was right up there at the top.  This speaks volumes for how much respect soldiers have for what they do and why they choose to do it.  In a society where so many people abhor the job they might be stuck with, soldiers would very likely choose the same occupation again if given the choice.

It might surprise some of you, but in order to be counted a veteran, you don't actually have to go to war.  You don't have to be injured either.  You just have to have served at least 3 years on Active duty.  This might seem like it cheapens the idea of who should be considered a veteran or not, but it really doesn't.  This idea is important to me personally, because I was lucky not to have ever been involved in a war.  Don't get me wrong; I would have done my duty just like any other soldier, but given what war sometimes does to a man, I'm glad I did not have to.  I've never had to aim my rifle at another human being, nor have I ever had to take a life.  I count myself blessed because of that fact, and I have a great deal of respect for all my fellow soldiers who have had to deal with those type of circumstances.

I used to question whether I should count myself among the honorable veterans who have placed themselves in harms way for our country, for the ideals we believe in.  I don't question anymore however, thanks to words that a friend told me.  He said, "You chose to stand up and do your duty, whatever that meant.  You signed on the dotted line when so many others didn't.  And you did so knowing that there was always the possibility you'd have to face war head on.  You're as much a veteran as anyone else."

He was right.  For every single one of us who have stood up and said yes, I will be a soldier and do my duty, there are countless numbers of soldiers throughout the world that do not get to choose.  For every soldier that agrees to throw themselves in harm's way because of the ideals we Americans believe in, there are countless Americans who choose to enjoy the freedoms without earning their right to them.  And that's okay, because we soldiers know we're doing this for you as much as for ourselves.

Thank you for listening.   And thank you all veterans of the U.S. military, for choosing the path you have taken.  For those who haven't had the opportunity to serve or chose not to serve for whatever reason, understand that you don't necessarily need to thank me.  But you should thank a veteran somewhere.  We owe our honorable veterans at least that much.

Blog Chain - Spontaneous Bouts Of Characterization

That's right Muse fans, you get a double whammy of posts today.  I couldn't skip Ten Word Tuesday, and it's my turn on the blog chain.  Today's question is brought to us by the ever-skilled Abby, who asks:

Where do your characters come from? And once they've been introduced to you, how do you get to know them?


This is an awesome question and a topic I like to discuss alot - characters.  I really enjoy noteworthy characters, and learning to create memorable characters is something I think about all the time.  But how do I come up with my characters in the first place?


I've tried following patterns of other writers, like those who watch the people around them and seeing potential characters from random strangers.  It just doesn't work for me.  I do wonder sometimes about people I see, like what they are doing and where they are going.  But when it comes to crafting a story around somebody like that, the muse clams up and refuses to budge.  I've also tried creating character sketches, or writing a description of my character; I get nothing compelling from that exercise.


No, in the end, I just create the characters as I go.  Sometimes I only have a hint of the person, a whisper of who they will become.  And as I write, they speak to me, drawing my fingers across the keyboard and across their lives.  Their various peculiarities unveil as we both walk through their respective stories, sometimes resulting in events that surprise us both.


As far as getting to know them better, I don't have any real techniques here either.  I've tried interviewing my characters, and sometimes I have some good success.  But on the whole, I've found my creative process works best when spontaneous bouts of characterization occur.  It is there that I feel closest to my characters, and it is there that I get to know them best.


If you haven't had a chance to read my predecessor the insightful Sandra's response, head on over.  Tomorrow, we can all expect to receive an equally interesting answer from the awesome Michelle Hickman.

Ten Word Tuesday - Inspiration

A single memorable moment can bring an avalanche of inspiration.

Meeting Jamie Ford - AWESOME!

I finally got a moment to share my experiences meeting Jamie Ford in person.  Jamie was in Broomfield, Colorado on Saturday (a suburb on the outskirts of Denver), and he was conducting a writer's workshop in the morning as well as a presentation/meet & greet in the evening.  Since Saturday was my 18th wedding anniversary, I couldn't blow off the whole day.   I did manage to make it to the writer's workshop however, and I'm really glad I did.

First off, I could use a hundred adjectives to describe how cool it is to meet THE Jamie Ford but as I was thinking about it afterwards, one word in particular came to mind - gracious.  

Allow me to explain.  As I entered the library and headed towards the right conference room, Jamie saw me and immediately called me over to say hi.  He was cooler than words, and even though I might have been squealing like a starstruck teenager inside, he made me comfortable enough that I think I managed to maintain some kind of intelligent conversation.  He then jumped at the chance to sign my copy of his book before I could even ask.  Before I knew it, we were chatting along like two colleagues.

Yes, I know it's a huge stretch of the word considering I'm the aspiring writer and he's the bestselling author of a book in who knows how many languages at this point (not to mention it being optioned as a potential movie maybe).

So even though it's a stretch, it was awesome nonetheless.  After we headed into the workshop, Jamie launched into a presentation on how to get our writing past the slush pile and into the zone where agents are requesting partials (see Jamie, I bet you thought I wasn't paying attention).  And I have to say that what Jamie put out there was spot on and made perfect sense.  We went through an exercise by reading poorly written first pages that Jamie had pulled out randomly from a critique site, and it was incredibly useful.  

Oh, and guess what Shaun?  I plugged your book The Deathday Letter as a recent favorite book I really liked, mostly because it has stuck in my mind as a perfect example of good characterization.   So a whole room of aspiring and published writers got to at least become aware of your book (if they weren't already, that is).

The two hours of the workshop went by quicker than I realized, and then it was time to go.  I could have sat there all afternoon and gleaned knowledge from Jamie (assuming he had nothing better to do and my wife could forget that it was our anniversary LOL).  I had brought my camera to get a picture with Jamie, but after the workshop there were a bunch of people huddled around and I didn't want to push my way through.  

There was another author (Clare Austen) at the workshop, and she and I ended up chatting for a while outside anyway.  Then just as I was getting into my car, here comes Jamie out of the library.  Wouldn't you know, he waves at me as he's walking towards the parking lot.  I managed to stumble out with a "would you mind", and he was overly gracious once more.  The person walking with him took the camera and quickly snapped a couple photos for me.

No comments on my lumberjack shirt.  Yes, I realize my wardrobe could really use an update.  And Jamie's shirt is actually a bright red, though the sun (or camera) turned it more of a bright pink.  

Getting a picture was more than I was actually counting on, so thank you Jamie very much.  For taking the time mostly, but more than that, for being an inspiration in so many ways.  And for making it a memorable day.

To quote your own words:

"Wishing you more sweet than bitter"

It doesn't get any sweeter than this.

Feeling Left Out...And No Time To Think About It

If you haven't noticed, I did not put up any announcements about joining in on the NaNo fun that so many of my fellow bloggers are enjoying.  Yeah, a part of me really wished I could do it but unfortunately deadlines with school and lots of essays still to write dictate my schedule these days.  So instead I've snatched tidbits of time to sneak peeks at everyone else's posts about their progress.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm very happy that so many of you have decided to do NaNo.  While it's not for everyone, I found it to be a great tool for getting a story started and blasting through a first draft.  I'm just feeling envious.

On another topic, I will soon be the envy of everyone else (okay, maybe not everyone but possibly a couple of you). Saturday morning, I'll be in an awesome writer's workshop with the one and only Jamie Ford!

Oh yeah, oh yeah!  Even though that day is our anniversary, my loving wife has agreed to grant me two hours of non-anniversary time.  Either she really understands how HUGE a fan I am of Jamie or she's planning on subjecting me to chick flicks and quality time for the rest of the day.  We're a pretty boring couple though.  I asked her the other night what she wanted to do for our anniversary and her response was less than earth-shattering.  She just wanted to go have dinner somewhere nice.

Yep, after 18 years of wedded bliss (not every single moment mind you, but enough of them), we don't really need much from each other besides time together.  And though I might make fun of my wife's choice of chick flicks at any opportunity, I guess I don't mind sitting through a Sleepless in Seattle-esque movie.  After all, she puts up with my crazy writerly dreams.

I just hope when I meet Jamie, I don't stumble over my feet and make myself look like an idiot.   You know how it is.  You see a celebrity on television and think how awesome it'd be to meet the person, but when you're there in the flesh, all common sense seems to evaporate from even the best of us.  Jamie seems to be a very down-to-earth guy though, so perhaps he'll forgive a bit of personal excitement on my part.  I'm taking my copy of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet too, with the hope that I can beg a signature or something.  I'll try to get a picture too and post it here.

Anybody else going to a workshop, meeting a famous writer, doing something we can be envious of?

Ten Word Tuesday - Vacation

The best aspect of vacations is when you return home.

Thursday Thoughts - Not As Old As The Number Indicates

Just a couple days ago, we celebrated my oldest son's 17th birthday.  My wife had a harder time of it than I did, saying she felt really old.  Here I am almost 40, and yet I have difficulty feeling old.  I just don't see 40 as being old, in spite of the fact that so many people seem to see that particular milestone as a big deal.

One aspect of getting older I notice all the time is my inability to remember things from days long past.  For example, I tried to picture my son when he was a little guy, and I drew more blanks than an old Western action flick.  Thank you for pictures we've taken over the years.

I thought back to what our family was like when we first had the little tyke, and it amazes me that we survived.  When our first son was born, I was working as a rental sales agent at Avis Rent-a-car.  Since sales have never been my forte, I only made the basic wage - not the sales incentives we got from helping renters purchase the insurance.  Yeah, don't get me started on what a scam that is.

Anyway, I am stunned when I think about the fact that our little family survived on only $800 a month.  That's net, not gross.  Our rent was like $375, so that meant one whole check paid for it.  The other check then had to cover food, diapers, formula (since my picky child wouldn't take anything but the most expensive can available), gas, etc.  And that had to be spread over the entire month.   I'd love to tell you we survived it without incident, but the truth is, we screwed up our finances and credit more times than I can count.  Don't pay this bill so we can buy diapers.  Don't pay the phone bill so we can have groceries.  Somehow we managed not to get evicted every month, but don't ask me how.

Though there have been some challenges we've faced over 18 years of wedded bliss, I have to acknowledge that my family has seen more blessings than troubles.  And through it all, I've somehow managed to keep my attitude more positive than negative.  Which is where I'm going with all of this.  Bear with me, I'll get there.

I'm headed to 40 next April, and I still have to grin.  I've got a 17 year old son and an almost 12 year old son (and I couldn't be prouder of them both), a beautiful and wonderful wife (who is still the most selfless, caring person I know), and we're all still together.  I have the capability and opportunity to work towards my Masters degree, which is no small thing.  I even find time now and then to enjoy a good video game - a definitive indicator that I've yet to grow up in some ways LOL.

At this point, 40 is just a number.  Maybe when I hit 50 I'll feel old, but I hope not.   I kind of like staying a kid at heart.  That way I have an excuse for why I refuse to grow up and join the rest of you adults out there :)

As an FYI, I may or may not be posting over the next four days.  The fam and I are headed down to Santa Fe, NM for a small vacation.  I will still have my laptop since the pressures of homework never stop, but I don't know that I'll remember to put up any posts.  I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll see you all when I get back.

Meeting New Authors...Through Their Works Anyway

     If you've read through the awesome answers by my fellow blog chainers (and the chain is not quite finished either, so stay tuned), you may notice something.  While some of us picked some higher profile authors (i.e. Poe, King, etc), some of the comments I've gotten indicate authors I've never heard of before.  And I can imagine that the rest of the chain will probably include more authors I'm not aware of.

     I have to hand it to Michelle, because she managed to come up with a question that has re-invigorated our chain with unique perspectives (not to take anything away from previous entries, of course).  I'm always interested in reading new authors, if for nothing else than to experience literature from a different perspective.  I've not been educated on the classics that so many of my fellow writers seem to be aware of, and sometimes I feel like I'm falling behind on my knowledge of excellent books and writers; there's just too many good ones out there.

     A fellow blogger friend of mine (and I'm proud to call him a friend) by the name of Matt Conlon has recently started writing non-fiction articles, and although I've been chatting with Matt for a while, I hadn't had the opportunity to actually read his stuff before.  After reading his articles, I was struck by the skill he displays and I'm sure his fiction writing is just as enjoyable.

     Then there's the awesome Alex Cavanaugh, whose debut book CassaStar just recently became available (I haven't picked up my copy yet, mostly because I'm hoping to win one).  I'm really looking forward to reading this, particularly because Alex shared a tidbit with us early on and I've been anxious to read more ever since.

     And of course there's the awesome book I read recently called Cinders, by the incredibly talented Michelle Argyle.  Michelle is part of the trio known as The Literary Lab, and Cinders is her foray into the world of self publishing.  Based upon my own copy, I'd say not only is the writing superb but the book itself is beautiful.

So what's my point (other than putting up a link-filled post and bragging about books I've read or am going to read)?  I guess my point is that meeting new authors (through their works) is something I enjoy, and I just had to share them all with you.

What new authors have you read lately?  Which ones do you highly recommend?

Blog Chain - Wanted...Dead Or Alive

Is it really that late in the afternoon?  And did I really forget that today was my day?  Yikes!  Sorry Michelle.

Yep, that's right author-fans, it's blog chain time and Michelle Hickman is the awesome creator of this edition's question:

If you could dine with any author, and I do mean any whether alive or dead (yes, we're going into the realms of time travel - but hey, we have science fiction writers on this chain so we can always ask for them to write up the time machine specs), who would you want to dine with? And if you can ask them for advice on one writing element you feel you might be struggling at, what would it be?

Wow, what a question.  This is a toughie, because their are so many good authors to choose from.  I'm going to take my queue from Michelle however and walk through how I came up with the right one (for me anyway).

I didn't seriously consider J.R.R. Tolkien (even though I'm a huge fan of his works) because I know I'd be stuck between complete awe of his ability and yet complete frustration at the lengthy description he tended to use.  Let's not even get me started on the Silmarillion.  So no, he wouldn't work.

One author I considered was Piers Anthony.  While perhaps not counted amongst the great authors of our time, when I was younger, the Incarnations of Immortality series was one that I read over and over and over.  But then I remembered what a travesty this guy has made of the Xanth series (dude, 27 books?  Starting a new - but similar - series with #28?  Are you freakin' kidding me?  Come up with a new idea fer cryin' out loud), and that pretty much knocked him out of the spotlight.

So I reserve the spot of honor (an honor for me, of course) for Stephen King.  I haven't loved every single book he's written (Gerald's Game, I'm looking at you) and yet other works of his (the holy grail known as The Stand) leave me dumbstruck at their majesty.  It's because of these extremes that I believe I could learn a mountain of knowledge from the guy, even in normal conversation.  He's had his highs and he's had his lows and he still manages to put out good stuff.

I honestly don't know what ONE question I could ask him; there's just so many things I would want to ask.  But if I were restricted to one (thanks alot Michelle.  What, does he have burly ogre bodyguards that clamp a iron plate over my mouth the minute I attempt a second question?), it'd have to be how to create the amazingly creepy aura that seems to pervade so many of his books.  He's a master at it, and someday I hope to achieve even a tenth of that.

That's all I have to say about that.  I'm following Michelle this round, so you can read what she had to say about her own question.  And tomorrow, expect wondrous things from our own awesome Margie Gelbwasser.

If you had to answer this question though, who would you choose and what would you ask?

Ten Word Tues...er...Wednesday - Sound Advice

A smart man once told me...

...Never pet burning cats!