How to Get into the Rhythm of Writing

Hear that stuttered beat? It’s intriguing, hopeful.

You don’t quite know where the song is going until after the 8-measure intro, and the full beat kicks in (after another mini intro).

That’s what writing is like sometimes. It’s difficult to sit down and just start typing or scribbling away all the time. That’s what NaNo has been like for me so far this month. Continue reading “How to Get into the Rhythm of Writing”

Haiku Sunday NaNo 2017 Edition – Name

“Name”

Is your connection

to your ancestors defined

only by your name?

I completely forgot to announce the NaNo 2017 edition of Haiku Sunday! Just as I’ve done for NaNo 2015 and NaNo 2016, my weekly haiku throughout this November will be based on themes from my NaNo project, The Warden of Everfeld: Legacy. Continue reading “Haiku Sunday NaNo 2017 Edition – Name”

A Hundred Thousand Souls: PVRIS’s Second Album Elevates their Sound

All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell, PVRIS’s second album, is perhaps my favorite new album this year. While it feels less emo-core and more electronic than White Noise, PVRIS still delivers hard-hitting music with even more piercing lyrics. Continue reading “A Hundred Thousand Souls: PVRIS’s Second Album Elevates their Sound”

Friday Write-Day: I Almost Forgot About NaNo!

I can’t keep track of October. Turns out, it’s almost over!

That means it’s almost NaNo time! I have done zero prep work for National Novel Writing Month this year. But I’m not quite pantsing either. Continue reading “Friday Write-Day: I Almost Forgot About NaNo!”

Making Time to Write

I intended to have an album review prepared for today. Instead, I fell asleep on the couch in front of Monday Night Football.

This time, at least, I can blame it on my new job. I’m still getting used to the idea of not working a set shift, so I left the office pretty late on Monday. This new schedule where it’s totally up to me when I show up, when I eat lunch, and when I leave has thrown off my entire day-to-day schedule.

I’m trying to iron out the kinks. For instance, how do I maintain a regular gym schedule (we have a gym at the office) when I may have meetings at varying times between 10am and 2pm every day?

The short answer is, go when I have time. But this is harder than it sounds.

Anyway, I’m not here to gripe. This is just an adjustment period for me. I don’t think I’ll need to adjust my blogging schedule once settle in, but I’m keeping my options open.

I’m sending a new batch of chapters to my editor tonight. She will reach a critical turning point in my story, so I’m asking to meet up and discuss her overall thoughts in person.

Hopefully, we’ll also be able to wrap our heads around a timeline for her revisions to the rest of the book.

Steve D

How to Focus When You’re Scatter-Brained

As you’ve probably read at some point on this space, the last two-plus months have been pretty hectic for me. All of my spare time has been consumed by buying and moving into a new house while also trying to finish the second draft of my novel.

Now, I’ve had to rethink the way I tackle the myriad of responsibilities that seem to persist every day. Continue reading “How to Focus When You’re Scatter-Brained”