The Thirteenth Story

So, our family has been sick for the past couple of weeks, and it hit me earlier this week.  I was diagnosed with Bronchitis.  So, I haven't been driving to work, which means I haven't been listening to Neuromancer.  As a consequence, I've had lots of ideas streaming through my brain (making me lean towards the idea that it's the story not the mood as proposed in the last blog post).  Of course, I haven't been able to write down most of them (I only managed to get one written down), because I haven't had the energy to go find a pad and pencil, etc.  Hopefully, I'll get "the story" idea before I start driving to work again (likely Monday).

On that note, let's delve into the not so mundane stuff going on in my family life this past week:

Candice now has full-blown pneumonia along with a staph infection and an ear/sinus infection.  Donna has a cough that the doctor said we're going to treat as a cold.  Megi has recovered from her pneumonia (though she still has a cough).  Gabe has a cough and a doctor's appointment Tuesday.  And Grandma went into the hospital because we thought she had the flu along with her toe infection and was getting dehydrated and barely able to eat anything.  Turns out it was mostly about the toe infection, which required her toe to be amputated.  Then while checking her out because of her staph infection, they discovered that the infection was affecting her heart valve, so they've transferred her to a Denver hospital for heart surgery tomorrow.

So, all-in-all, a rough week for the family.

That's all for this entry, thanks for reading.  (And if you are a fan of my T. Allan Bishop Facebook Page, please click "like" on the link to this I post there, Facebook isn't showing them to most of the people who have clicked like on the page but nothing more, and so a lot of people aren't seeing the blog updates when they are posted there, and the only way to remedy this is by getting more "likes" on posts there...)

Sometimes they're inspiring, sometimes, not

Often times, when listening to books, I get struck by inspiration.  More times than not, it's just a tangential thought to something said in passing in the book.  Other times, I feel like the book drains the inspiration from me, and though the book might be filled with lots of stuff that could inspire me, it seems to do the opposite.

I don't know if that is caused by the particular books, or if the feelings of inspiration make me more or less perceptible to those side ideas.  But I do know that I've never had the "feeling" switch midstream in a book.  In other words, if a book starts out inspiring, it keeps inspiring until I finish it.  If a book starts out sucking away my inspiration, it keeps me in a non-inspired state until I finish it.

Right now, I'm listening to William Gibson's Neuromancer, which was a groundbreaking book that essentially introduced the genre of Cyber Punk.  Although it's entertaining, this seems to be one of those inspirational draining books, as I find I can't think of a single thing worth writing about while I listen to it.

In other news, Megi has pneumonia, but is in pretty good spirits.  Grandma and Candice both have the flu, and are both barely able to move around the house.  Gabe is excited about participating in the 100 mile running club, and is also trying much harder at math.  He isn't very good at math, but I'm very proud of him for wanting to try and be better at it (as opposed to before when he didn't care at all).  And Donna seems to be getting everything right on all the classwork that is sent home.  She can even read a few words now, too.

That's all for this entry, thanks for reading.  (And if you are a fan of my T. Allan Bishop Facebook Page, please click "like" on the link to this I post there, Facebook isn't showing them to most of the people who have clicked like on the page but nothing more, and so a lot of people aren't seeing the blog updates when they are posted there, and the only way to remedy this is by getting more "likes" on posts there...)

Reminiscing With People I've Never Met

It's been four months since I posted an entry to my blog.

Shame on me.

Since then, I've been on two vacations (including one without kids), the kids have started back to school, the youngest is mostly potty-trained, and I haven't made one iota of progress towards the book being published.

Yes, you read that right.  Not one iota.  To be honest, it has probably only crossed my mind about four times.  That fills me with shame and regret.  I need to get busy.  If I don't get it done soon, I'll probably just give up on it, which isn't really what anyone wants.

So, what do I need to do to make it happen?

Well, first off, I need to finish writing it.  I want there to be 13 stories in it.  I have 12.  I've looked through some of my past stuff to see if there's anything I could "polish off" and fill out the list, but none of them seem to fit correctly.  Which means I need to write another story.  To do that, I need three things:  an idea, inspiration, and motivation.

I have plenty of ideas, but none are currently inspiring my muse, which seems to also have gone on holiday for a while.  Hopefully s/he will return soon.  The last part of the equation usually sparks up when the inspiration strikes, so...

What happens after I finish writing it?  I need to have it edited.  Self-editing can only take you so far, because you know what you intended to say, and often will read it that way when reviewing it.  So, I need to find someone to edit it for me.  My wife and editor has dozens of projects on her books for her art career, and I don't want her to get sidetracked from them.  I also don't want to pay someone to edit them when I'll probably not recover the fees in sales.  (I'm realistic about how many I'll actually sell.)   We have ideas here, but don't need to worry about them until I'm ready to explore them.

Say I get it edited, then what?

Then I have to get a cover designed.  Even though it will only be an e-book, I still need a cover for it.  Covers are usually the first impression a potential reader has when deciding to try the book or not.  Also, several sites will not put them on their featured pages without cover art.  I'm not much of an artist.  My wife, who is an amazing artist, also has her own projects (as I mentioned before).  Assuming a time constraint in getting the cover designed, my best bet would be to develop a "temporary" cover art until a much better one could be put in it's place (the nice thing about e-publishing is that the product can be updated to change out plain cover art with better stuff, "also by this artist" pages with updated ones, etc.).  that would allow me to publish it shortly after finishing the writing/editing phase without having to "push" or "rush" my wife to do a better cover on my timeline.  I know she hates deadline type work and would then grow to hate the project if I did it that way versus allowing her to do it on her own timeline.

So, that being said, I will start carrying around an idea book and pencil more often (it'll also be easier since we're closing in on the time of year when I have my jacket with me when I'm out) in hopes of getting those key materials needed to getting the thirteenth story written for this collection.  Maybe I'll even force myself to write even when I don't feel inspired.  It's usually the advice famous artists/writers give to aspiring artists/writers.  Even if I throw most of it away, I might find one gem in the bunch.

What about future stories/books, you ask?

Well, those will almost certainly happen if I can get this one story written.  I have several ideas (that don't fit with this collection I think) percolating in the back of my mind.  Several involve splitting up larger story ideas I've had into smaller stories that build on each other for one larger tale when put together as a whole, but each of which could be a small story in itself.  Plus there's the "new takes on classic horror stories" of vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. that I'd like to include in the same book, but none of which are beyond the early idea stages yet.

Now, on to the fun stuff:

The Sharks only have one game in Colorado this upcoming regular season, so I bought better-than-normal tickets and got second row seats across from the Avs bench for the game this year with Candice.  Then right after I buy them, the school announces that the fourth grade concert (which is usually MUCH later in the school year) will be that very same night.  Gabe loathes going to those events DURING and AFTER they've happened, but generally HAS to go to them because everyone else is.  Since we know how he's felt about all of them in the past, we plan to divert his attention that night.  We're going to give him the Blu-Ray of Captain America:  Winter Soldier and let him watch it for the first time that night.  Should make everyone happy.

Also, this year, Candice will be playing Fantasy Hockey with me.  I'm excited that she'll be participating in a hobby I find fun.  Right now I have 5 teams in the league, all of whom I know, and most of whom are mostly new to fantasy hockey.  We need an even number, so I need at least one more, and preferably three more.  It should be interesting seeing her root even more for some players as the season unfolds!

Megi is mostly over her feat of the potty, and is essentially potty trained.  She also started preschool two days a week.  Donna started kindergarten this year.  My goodness where has the time gone?

We spent the money we had saved up for a new bed on getting the house painted to satisfy the HOA.  It needed it anyway, but I was hoping for another year or two before we were forced to do it.  Now, we're saving up for it again.

Halloween is just around the corner, and this year we have a crying angel statue to add to the cemetery.  Here in a couple of weeks, we'll take the kids to get their costumes and put up the cemetery fencing, then the week of Halloween, I'll set up the rest of the stuff.  Hopefully, we get a good deal on November 1st for something good to add to next year's exhibit.

Megi has figured out pedaling the tri-cycle, but still has a few issues with it, but at least we don't have to push her for the most part any more.  Donna, is getting really good at riding her bike, but needs a larger one.  We'll probably get that and then start on the no training wheels thing.  Gabe, as always has already outgrown his bike, but until he starts learning to use his hand-brakes, we're holding off as long as possible before getting him his first adult sized bike.

I also learned about the Elio around the 4th of July weekend and made a deposit on one.  I got my number in line the other day, and I should get the 5,751st Elio to roll off the assembly line next year this time.

I know I'm leaving out a bunch of stuff since I missed so many months, but thanks for reading anyway!

Lucky 13

I was looking through my completed stories and saw that I have 12 that are ready for editing.  For a short story book with dark stories, it seems more appropriate to have 13 in the book, so I need to get cracking and write another story (and get them edited) so I can get it published.

In other news, Candice has been suffering from a mystery illness for over a month now.  The doctor now thinks it is her gall bladder and/or an ulcer.  She goes in tomorrow morning for an ultrasound for the gall bladder, and sometime later this week or next for a throat scope to find out about the ulcer (and esophageal cancer possibilities).  Either way, we probably can't start and "hard" treatments until we return from vacation mid-June time-frame.  Of course, we are both fighting off a head cold right now, too.

I just started the sprinklers and cut the grass for the first time this year, so spring/summer has officially begun now.

Also, I need to take out the "missile" (luggage container that we mount on the roof of the Santa Fe for vacations) and rinse it out since it got a lot of mud, etc. in it in the rain storms last year before we were able to get it inside out of the elements.  We also need to start working on a "To Do" for getting ready for our vacation. (I'm pretty sure Candice just rolled her eyes as she read that.)

Anyway, that's all I have for right now, thanks for reading!

Juggling Stories

So, I was counting stories that I have in the works and finished.  I currently have 12 stories completed (they still need editing to get the final "polish."  I have 17 short stories I currently have in various stages of writing ranging from idea formed, but no words written, to over half-way written.  I also have two much longer stories that have a lot of words written, but I don't really like them in their current form, so I plan to re-write them.  I also have a story that was in the general genre of fantasy that I plan to turn into a series of about 20 short stories instead of one longer story.  I'll probably include them all together and get the same effect as a longer story, but also individual stories/chapters should be able to stand mostly alone.  So, all totaled, I have about 40-41 stories currently in work or completed.

On that note, I just finished one the other night. It is essentially a flash fiction story totaling around 750 words and 3 pages titled Modern Day Good Samaritan. 

My basic hope / plan for the book is to have it ready to be purchased before the summer is half over so that more people can enjoy it during downtime from work. Ideally, it would be out at the beginning of the summer, but I don't see finishing the editing and cover design that soon.

So that's the latest on the writing front, thanks for reading.

Depression is a liar.

I recently read something that said "Depression is a big, fat liar."  It got me thinking on the subject.  This advice is not meant to take the place of professional help, but rather to supplement it and for short term fixes:



Depression lies to you.  It tells you that you are worthless.  It tells you things are hopeless.  It tells you no one can help you, so it advises you to withdraw from others and even yourself.  All of these are untrue, and the advice is the worst possible approach you could take.

So, what can you do?

Some of the simplest strategies involve connecting and exercising.  Better yet, combine the two.  Go for a vigorous walk with a friend or loved one.  It breaks down the walls of isolation that squeeze you into an even tighter depression while producing endorphins to improve your outlook on the moment.

Call up a friend and talk.

Compliment someone you don't know.  Smiles are infectious.  Seeing a smile come across their face will nourish that feeling of worthwhile that's been dying of malnutrition deep inside your core.

Stop focusing on the negatives.  Try to find a positive in every situation for an entire day.  If someone says something to you that you'd normally take as a negative, examine it to see if you might have just pre-disposed yourself for it to be a negative and perhaps they meant it as a positive.  If they clearly did not, think of how much worse off their life must be that they feel like they need to try to drag everyone down to their level of misery.  Do this for a whole day, and you'll find a decrease in your stress levels.  Then do it again the next day.

Don't listen to "downer" or "angry" music unless it usually puts you into a happy mood.  Find happier music to listen to when you are in your most down moods.

Change your routine for a short period of time.  Don't let the same thing every day get you into a rut.  Try something different.  If you can't think of anything, try some basic stuff.  Try learning to use your non-dominant hand to do a basic task you do every day like brush your teeth.  Try pulling out a board game you haven't played in forever and playing it with a friend.  Sign up for a class to learn something you've always wanted to learn.  It doesn't really matter about getting a good grade as long as you achieve the objectives of a) changing your routine and b) learning something new.

Host a get-together for friends and ask them to invite someone they think you might like.  During the gathering, don't let yourself be a wallflower.

If you have any other ideas of quick, short-term fixes, PLEASE post your ideas in the comments, and thanks for reading.

Death Takes A Vacation

What's been happening since the last blog?  Well, not much in the writing realm, though there has been one significant happening on the writing front that I'll talk about in a minute.  First, I've only managed to write one day since the last blog post update, mostly because of lack of inspiration and desire.  I've just been kind of blah on creativity the past few weeks.  I suppose there are lots of reason, not the least of which is me not making myself write even through the non-motivational period (like I tell Candice she needs to do with her art when she gets into similar creativity droughts  - I am apparently a hypocrite - at least recently.

A little over a week ago, Candice's grandma suffered a heart attack and had to be carried away by ambulance.  She's fine now, but it was scary for a couple of days.  She made it home just in time for her birthday party (which was also Gabe's and Jeanette's party).  She's been tired a lot more since coming home, but seems to be getting stronger with each passing day.

Gabe has become a greedy little jerk.  Everything is all about "me, me, me" and "gimme, gimme."  I know we're not knowingly promoting such an attitude, and it makes us want to go without giving presents to him for a while if he doesn't grow out of it soon.

Now for the "big" writing news - yesterday I sat down and wrote for the first time in weeks, and not only did I start a new story, I finished a new story.  It's only 3 pages and about 1200 words, but it's a pretty decent story.  It revolves around who death is, and his decision to finally take a vacation, which turns into him taking off a whole year and covers how the world changes in that time.

It was a concept that occurred to me while listening to The Book Thief (which we're almost finished listening to).  It is narrated by death and he describes taking the souls away, so naturally, the though occurred to me "What if he didn't do it?"

Anyway, that's what has been happening with me and my writing lately, thanks for reading.