Good day, good day. Did I mention it was a good day? Everything seemed to click at the PC. I wrote three more pages for the second book. I apologize for the secrecy around the title, but what I have now is just a working one and I’d rather avoid pigeonholing myself later.

Besides, it’s one of those titles that have two meanings, and the secondary meaning can be mangled into a sort of connotation that some might feel is detrimental or catastrophic. Boy, I bet you can’t wait to hear what that title is now, eh?

Anyway, the instant I come up with something better, I’ll disclose the working title, and the new one.

On the getting an agent front, I began my assault on Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers. I’m formulating my plan. Also and this is related, I had three free hours last night because the wife had to answer level three support calls for her job, so I dove in headfirst and read Sol Stein’s – How to Grow a Novel.

Sol Stein has edited some of the biggest names in fiction. He has invaluable insights on the writing process and some of the unadvertised intricacies of the publishing business. I’m going to reread this book every time I start a novel well into the future.

I had a pretty good writing session today on the PC, although fine tuning the focus level continues to prove an issue. I suspect as the heads down writing on the second book enters full swing that will resolve itself. Still, I did get three decent pages out, and they read pretty well.

On Sunday I bought the following books to help me land an agent:

Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents 2004: Who They Are! What They Want! and How to Win Them Over! (Writer’s Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents.)

2004 Writer’s Market – by Kathryn S. Brogan (Editor), Robert Lee Brewer (Editor)

Editor person recommends both. I’m fast forwarding through to the part about writing query letters and the part about winning them over.

Stay tuned…

I’m off to the Barnes and Noble mega store near my house to pick up the latest guide to getting a literary agent. Almost off that is, because I don’t know the title at present, which just might pose a problem. Never fear, editor person will send me the official title in a few moments. Once the email hits the in box, I’m off to pick it up.

The wife and I went over to my mom’s for dinner last night. My stepfather got a new laptop for Christmas and he was showing it off to me. It looks like a nice piece of equipment, although I prefer a full size keyboard myself, as my fingers feel cramped on a smaller device.

I’m reading this great book this weekend called Shoot Out by Peter Bart and Peter Gruber who have loads of movie industry experience. The more I read about Hollywood the more it seems on the surface at least that the adage is true for writers in that business. Take the money and run.

Sounds good to me. I can live with a check a lot easier than an ulcer. And if I want an ulcer, I can always go back to doing what I was doing before.

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.