jg

Ah, my last Tales From October entry of the year. And how would I measure the success of the year vis-a-vis the contents of my blogging here? Well, if I judge it by the comments garnered, I would have to judge it as awfully poor.

The correct way to judge it is by the body of work. And overall, it was not my best work. I didn't write enough story writing, but what I did write was good. Only, I didn't finish either. One because I need more time and I need to find the handle to it again, as it were and two because it is an "ongoing" work that I need to align with the other comic works. But all in all, I can do much better with my Tales From October.

So...what should I do? Should do better, or...am I better served by discontinuing my blogging here? That is a good question. A part of me says no, no. But another part says to seriously think about it.

Then again, this has been a good week of writing. 

Ah, it's good to be decisive isn't it? Yes, it is. Unfortunately, I'm not decisive about enough things. And that just won't cut it. I've got to focus in on what I want. And chief upon that list is getting my work out there, send it through the rejection rounds until it finally gets accepted. Though when that would be...I wouldn't know when to guess. But not before I send anything out of course. Ahem!

As for judging the success of the year in general...oh look, I'm out of time. See you next year. Really, I have to go now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

Charles Petrie

lkg

I'm going to join a gym, for at least thirty days. There's a gym just what, two minutes from here, well, four at most. And they are offering a nice little deal for thirty days that is rather agreeable. I've developed a spare tire over the yearsthat I've finally acknowledged. Now, I could just go walking and running four times a week and not spend that money on that, but...Winter is nigh and I have this damn phugging cold that I've had since October so...a gym makes sense. Oh yeah, being in Canada, also means Winter is cold, brr. And on a real cold day, going out to walk or run would be rough.

Yeah, yeah. The money is an issue, but I've been slim for what, thirty of my thirty-five years so letting that slip away is not something I am about to do. Okay, it slipped away, but I am going to get it back.I don't want a damn belly, so...the money will be well spent.

But, come Spring and Summer, I can walk, run and bike around. And iniate my book while fitnessing. I'd say written, but the idea is to dictate into a digital tape recorder that I can download straight into the computer. And such a thing is available for a reasonable price.

Of course, this hinges on me having a job and using the "daily" writer's discipline. Two things that are easier said than done. Especially the job. Potential employers can't, or choose not to, see past the less than impressive paper history. Truthfully, it's their loss. Mine too, but I just have to work at it harder and better damnit!

Sigh! Blah! Argh!

Oh the book, the second of my Hyslin series is weighing on me. I'm going to have to write some notes down, something I don't like to do. But...I need to finish this series. I just have to. And I am going to! Easier said than done for sure but a book that grew from a story into a book and then a series just has to be finished properly.

Well, I'd love to stick around, but the usual applies, my time is up as I have a couple of other things to do so I'll be going now. So until tomorrow. I'm out.

 

Charles Petrie

gh

I could talk about my book, whet your appetite for it, but...no. It's going to be too many years before it comes out. Besides, you aren't even out there...are you? Well, someone might be reading me, but if they are...they aren't saying boo. But...I don't comment on other people's blogs either. So...

That book. The second in a four part series featuring my hero Phil Hyslin. That's the goal, but making it to that point...won't be an easy matter. The ease with which I wrote the first one faded and poofed away during the writing of the second one. I'm close to finishing it, say about 3/4, but...arrgghhh! Hmm, too many characters maybe.

But I am going to get it back! And then...I'll hammer out the third book by hook or by crook and then write the fourth. Hopefully doing all of this by the time I'm 40. That's doable as I've just turned 35.

The unknown is if I can begin making a living on writing during that time. It sure would be nice damnit! Failing that...if I can make a living as enjoyably as I am now. I don't make as much money here, as I did there, but I am happier. The season is just too damn short. And they don't have any other work for me the rest of the year. It's just too damn bad for me.

And when am I going to send out the first book, which is ready to be sent through the inevitable rounds of rejections? Ah, one of the big questions facing me. I'm writing to be published. This is how I want to make a living eventually. It's nice to blog and get whatever comments I get on my other sites, but...if I wasn't a writer, I wouldn't feel the need to blog. It's just another place to show my work. I don't see it happening to me, but it could...that someone in a position to help me could see my work and like it enough to introduce him or herself to me. My history suiggests thought that that aspect is rather farfetched.

Anyway, I'm out. I have things to do. Tomorrow.

 

Charles Petrie

Short Entry

Short Entry time people. I have time to write a longer entry, but I am...distracted. Somewhere there is that I want to where go. What?  Okay, that odd way of writing was intentional. I can do that because...damnit, I can do that just because!

I need to isolate the stories that I have to concentrate on. An obvious one is novel 2, A Squall Of War. That has to be the "priority" I can't let it sit undisturbed for years. More than one is enough already.

Another one? Well...the story I started here, yeah, throwing it on the list is a good thing. But by no means is it a priority. It has potential, but I'm drawing a blank on it. At least with A Squall Of War, it's part of something that I know how it ends. no such luck with the untitled.

There's a story on...okay, blog.ca is one of my other sites. You can check that site out if you should so wish. Look for Redleaf. Anyway, there's a story there that I absolutely need to finish. It has some cool visuals. The kind that some will go euck to. But hey, it developed naturally and I ain't about to change it. Hee hee!

Damn I'm good. Maybe you don't see it, or don't believe it, but I see it and I believe it. Sure, I'm biased. But if my own writing didn't inspire me, I'd say what the hell am I doing here. But it does and I am going to press on.

Well, there's a little about the list, but there is much more to touch on there, but as I said, well, typed. I'm waiting to go somewhere else. So...later. Tomorrow.

 

Charles Petrie

 

I don't know that I'll get to work on it again this week, but I will at some whenever. It's a good little story with potential and I want to see it through to the end. I've enough stories begun without being finished I've got start reducing that number.

And one of those stories is the second of my now four part series of novels. I stalled out on it back in April of '05 on page 568 .. Yeah, that's a book eh? I just don't know when it will be a book. It's not really in me to finish it. But damnit, I have to. I won't let my first book be just...nothing.

Phuggar, I've really got a few unfinished stories and that ain't good. I need to rectify that. Yes, I just wrote again what I wrote before, but it bears repeating! I need to finish what I start!

Hmm, am I listening to myself? I don't know. I would certainly hope to damn so. At this rate, I'll be lucky if I have a book on the shelves by the time I'm....what, 45? 50? 60? What? Ugh, bad eh, considering I just turned 35 this damn year. Phuggar me!

Poor Phil. As strong as he is, there ain't nothing he can do to get out here and kick my "sorry" ass. So I must wonder....umm, what must I wonder? There, that's what I must wonder. What am I supposed to wonder about?

Gee, this is entertaining isn't it? Umm, you don't have to answer it, I can guess at your answer. Well, to all my doubters...and there are a few of those, I'm coming, I just don't know when I'll arrive. Sigh.

K'Hell, is the usual going to happen after I am finished at Calendar Club? I go jobhappy to jobnot in the two quick passing of a couple of months. Arggh!!!

Okay, enough, before I fall asleep at the keyboard. What will be will be. If I want it, I've got yo make it happen, Hear that Charles???

Well???

 

Charles Petrie 

Phew!

It's a damn good thing I didn't make any promises about being back with story writing tonight because it ain't happening. It's after ten and I still haven't worked on my novel yet. And I'm not about to pass working on that because I took it easy today.

Not that it truly matters, I've made promises before and not followed through on them. And not just ones to other people. Oh heck no, I promise myself many things and don"t follow up.

Hmm...does this mean I won't follow through on my dream of a writing career? Umm, no. That I will make happen. I'm just too good and determined to not make it happen...it just may take many years more.

Sigh.

But first, I have to begin the secondary process, the actual writing of whatnots to send to an editor, that's "easy". It's the sending out that I've been too soft to do. So first things first!

Phuggar. I'm out. I need to get going on the book. See you tomorrow.

 

Charles Petrie

A week of Tales From October awaits you, aren't you excited? Yes, under the new approach, I work for a week on one blog then go to the next one. The problem is, I have five blogs and there are only four full weeks. One blog gets short shrift, not this one, but...if one deserves it...it's this one because of the almost complete lack of replies.

That's one strong reason for dropping it. But....not just yet. I want to finish that story I began back in January and continued with in February. After that? Well, I do have another story I started working on, but...I want to connect that to my eventual comic universe, so..."finishing" that isn't an option.

This story I intend to finish though, it would benefit from accompanying artwork too so...? But, I want to finish it, and I will. I can always turn it into a comic later on...and likely possibly mightly will.

;-P

Of course, getting an artist...to actually do some work for me...phuggar, that is...so phugging difficult. Phug! If I could draw...I'd have some comics done. But I can't and I'm not going to try and learn to. I've got enough on my plate with the writing to worry about drawing. I just need to keep searching for that elusive artist who's going to think bigger picture and see beyond today. That, or just not be so busy or...under-motivated.

Phuggar!

Time is running away from me as I have things I want to do. I dragged my butt on signing up for a breakfast at the mall and today is the last day to sign up so I'll be heading down there and it means two hours of travel. Ugh. And I also want to go see a book store manager. A movie and some buying of comics would go nicely too, as well as there being cheques to write...so I'm busy.

In fact, I should go now. Bye, see you tomorrow, maybe with story writing, but no promises.

 

Charles Petrie