Month: January 2004

For those about to shovel

Writer guy

There’s way too much snow outside for my liking. I can remember when this kind of weather was exciting; each new layer of fresh powder goodness was a blessed event. Then I lived in upstate New York for a few years and learned what real snow was. My love affair with winter began to fade.

The older I get, the less appeal winter holds for me, the more I think I want to pack up and live like Hemingway down in Key West, Florida. Under my sweater, I’m wearing my favorite T-shirt. It’s white with a black sketch drawing of a cat with six toes and the title, Hemingway House. As I write this, I’m sneaking glances at a panoramic picture of a tropical paradise that sits on top of my monitor, wishing I was in the photo.

But at the same time, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Living here was a choice, not a prison sentence. And that’s what I try and remember every day, that living here is a choice I’ve made. Even when it’s 0 degrees outside and there’s a half foot of snow on the ground.

May I have another?

Writer guy

I had a good day yesterday at the PC, despite the self-imposed distractions. But, I really, really had to know what the most excellent writer, Chris Moore thought about a particular subject. Despite the enormous time constraints he faces, he took the time to tell me. Everyone reading this, please go buy two copies apiece of each of Chris Moore’s books.

I’m aiming for fifteen pages or the first chapter of the next book by Friday. The title I’m keeping under wraps cause I’m not convinced it’s the right one.

And whatever happened to The Ridge Runner? Editor person got hit with some insane stuff at their day job, so they haven’t been able to finish working through draft four, version two. They won’t be ready until next week now, but this is one hundred percent out of my hands. All I can do is write on.

On another plus note, Spike finished the last of the graphics for the site. They’re cool and coming soon.

New York mining disaster

Writer guy

It’s after ten and the web site is up, the PC runs like a top, the wife is at work, the cats are asleep and my day is free for writing. There’s no contracting work today, no email from Spike, or Tech guy to distract me. It’s just me and the PC. That’s all I need.

All I need today is a PC and eight hours of quiet. Well, maybe I’ll need lunch at some point, but that’s it. A PC, eight hours, and lunch. And a snack too. I might even need that snack before lunch. So it’s a PC, eight hours of quiet, a snack and lunch.

I’ll need the Internet too, in case I need to research. But that’s all. A PC, eight hours, snack, lunch, Internet. And a comfy chair. Wait. Come to think of it, I’m not sure this chair can handle eight hours of abuse. It’s been squeaking a lot lately. Ergonomics are essential to the thought process. I better get a new on. Good thing I’ve got that Internet connection….

Yes, I have the memo

Writer guy

I had a pretty good day at the PC. I’ve got about six pages for the next book so far. Of the last three writing sessions, I’ve yet to have a single heads down writing day for book two. Heads down writing means no phone and I eat lunch at my desk, and no web surfing.

But the Internet is always calling. And I do so very much need to know about the latest and greatest on cnn.com and elsewhere. Right.

Over the last few days, there were distractions with the web site, because tech guy wanted my input on a bunch of things while he interfaced with Spike on the graphics. That’s tech guy’s phrasing not mine. I don’t ask why. I just want it to work.

It’s going to be fun to see how many balls I can keep in the air before dropping one.