Wednesday, November 3, 2010

I Missed Another November Novel


I write a lot. I have written all my life. I have stacks of papers and journals with stories going back 40 years. And before you ask, YES, they are all gems. I have written 3 books and 5 graphic novels and started and stopped more scripts than I care to admit. Nothing though seems good enough to share with the world (my graphic novels are written by a genius but drawn by an idiot).

My blog is my book - my never ending novel of cool with over 6000 chapters.

I suppose I will have to take the leap one day but for now I am content with the way things are. I suppose I just don't want to fail. Self delusion is a wonderful and comfortable thing as long as someone doesn't come along and burst that bubble.

Fellow blogger and sometimes commenter on this site Alex J. Cavanaugh just saw the publishing of his new book CassaStar. I am on the hunt to find a copy to read and review.


I would love to pick his brain one day to see what the writing process was like for him. As I go deeper into his site I may find that he has discussed those topics as he went along. It must be tremendously gratifying for someone to be published.

So, let's encourage everyone who is taking this month to pursue their novelist dreams as they work to reach 50,000 words. Like me, their efforts may sit in a trunk at the end of 30 days. I hope not. The people I know and whose blogs I follow are all creative individuals who deserve a wider audience.

Thanks to WINGS for finding the above cartoon. "I'm on a horse" is hilarious. I think I will just insert that phrase randomly into conversations from now on. It's a brain stopper.

4 comments:

Wings1295 said...

It does get crazy, trying to write a novel with everything else going on. I have one chapter done. Not good, since it is already day 4! Ack!

Kal said...

Well good luck with the rest of the month. I will be keen to read anything you finish.

M. D. Jackson said...

The best tip about writing came to me from Mordechai Richler. But it didn't come directly from him. It came from the man who shared diggs with him when he was writing his early novels. He said that Richler would get up eaqrly, sit in front of the typewriter at the same time every day and write non-stop until noon. Then he'd take a break for lunch and then back again untill 2 or 3 and then a nap.

When I read that it just clicked. You can have all the good ideas in the world but unless you're sitting in front of the typewriter or word processor it doesn't do you any good.

After I heard that I set aside time in my schedule strictly for writing. I kept to my schedule and the result has been four novels and numerous short stories.

Many of the short stories are out there. The novels are still waiting to find a publisher. That's the part of the job that I haven't been as diligent at -- self promotion.

Plus drawing pictures is more fun.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, Kal! Feel free to pick my brain, although some days there's not a lot present. You should do something with your graphic novels - find an artist who isn't an idiot!