Recently several unrelated events confirmed my theories on writing.

1)Dean Koontz released a new novel titled Velocity. While annoying in one sense, I invested so much time trying to find a title that had never been used before, it demonstrates that my title selection is sound. Besides several trips to number one on all the best seller lists, Dean has been a consistent performer throughout a very long career. Personally, I don’t care much for his subject matter or themes, but he has good ideas and his wife markets them well. Confirmations can come in all shapes and sizes even where least expected. A new title is in the works which I won’t disclose until the check for the book is in my hands. Cause like now I’m superstitious. 😉

2) I crossed the halfway point for the book formerly known as Velocity. There’s no certainties in this process, yet an invisible marker is behind me. A stack of index cards with remaining plot points sits on my desk, and I don’t feel short on content or ideas. In fact, I may have too much, which in my opinion is a good problem. Slicing the excess away is easy for me, getting it down right the first time – difficult.

3) After a few people read the first 50 pages, I was surprised in a good way by their comments. For instance, to paraphrase: “The few issues with Velocity can all be addressed with light revisions, rather than rewriting. Burn the Ridge Runner, concentrate on Velocity and don’t look back.” OK, so that’s positive. Perhaps burning something that I spent two years working on seems harsh, but it’s expected. Many authors first, second or third attempts are not as good as their famous works. I’ll take this as a sign of progression. Other comments – “The weakest part of Velocity is better than the best part of the Ridge Runner.” Again, more progress.

4) I learned about the rule of three. In short, the precept states that it takes about three years of consistent effort to become proficient in a discipline. Mastery takes ten years. While it may be possible to compress that time period, I don’t think there’s a shortcut ultimately. Even those lucky few who are successful right out of the gate stumble about until they’ve paid the toll in full.

Scheduled or not, my meeting Wednesday with the landlord went like most – a cancellation declared by absence. Since he didn’t show, I peeped through the frosted glass windows of the storage room in question. Inside, a garden hose, a mattress, and a fake Xmas tree. And space. Lots of space. The exact dimensions are unknown but the eyes say, or want to say at least, enough for eight to twelve shelves. Thank you, Jesus!

On the writing front, Velocity continues. Following a top down edit of the first one hundred and ten pages last week I tossed one and a half. I say again � after a thorough edit � just over one percent of the content was excised. That was, I must note, a personal record. Honestly, the cut scene had bothered me for six weeks, and I suspected death beckoned, but had hoped that time might alter my perspective. Time lost; scene terminated.

It’s pretty cool after investing months on a manuscript to discover that, for once, it’s not a big fucking mess. The trade off is the rate of output. A really good session nets two pages, and averages out to ten pages a week. Using this method writing a book will take nine months to a year. Perhaps a really big advance check might provide more incentive, but I doubt that. I was born two weeks late. Some things don’t change.

Even if no one really missed the site for the past few days, I missed blogging. Yes, I am comfortable sharing that sentiment with the Internet. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

Meanwhile on the domestic front the book listing drama continues.

The Wife: How much longer do you need to list all these books?
Sam: It’s coming along.
The Wife: Might it come along faster?
Sam: Is that a hint?
The Wife: It’s not a question.

The situation resembles the drinking song 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Only books aren’t drinkable and are so proliferate they literally are the walls. Solution: List and sell me some books. Right now!

After careful consideration the writer/agent workshop is on my schedule. That’s the good news. The bad news, unless a miracle strikes ( go see the movie – anything is possible ), Velocity won’t be complete in time for the workshop. However, on the advice of virtually everyone, I’ve let that go. In place of the finished manuscript I’ll storm the facility with a few copies of the synopsis, the first ten pages and a perfect pitch.

Still on the fence about the writer/agent workshop and stuck in 2 page a day rut. Perhaps sleep might clear a path to a decision.