by

Where’s Ben?

Dude I'm right here!

Dude I'm right here!

If I only had some glasses, I’d look a lot like Waldo.

So where have I been lately? Buried. Sorry for the lack of updates, but I’m neck-deep in writing at the moment. The novel is coming along nicely, just past the 60k mark, and should be wrapped up in another 15k words. Then after a short break the edits begin. I’m trying to have it all tidied up for a conference in May.

In the middle of all the writing going on this month I’ve had some visitors, and to top it all off my family is heading out to Japan next week–for a five month trip. Language boot camp for the kids. Time for them to understand what that Japanese half of them is all about.

It’ll just be me holding down the fort in the rainy Pacific Northwest.

Me and my novels.

Next time I’ll post about endings, both because I’ll have finished this draft, and because I’ve had some interesting conflicts going on about how to end this thing. So many ways to go, and each one has a substantial impact on the tone of the novel. I’m going with my gut. Time will tell if I’m right.

See you guys on the other side of “THE END”!

by

The Glorious Expedition

I’ve been quiet for a while on the blog because I’m really buckling down on the WIP. I’m at the 40k word mark out of a projected 75k words, so I’m past halfway. I’ve got a hard deadline: finished, edited, and ready by May for the LDStoryMakers conference. I’ll be pitching to Michelle Wolfson of the Wolfson Literary Agency.

I set a goal to read two books a month this year, and I’m proud to say I overachieved on that front. That may sound like a low bar, but consider that I’m attempting to write 2+ novels this year and also have a wife and four small children to tend to, and you’ll realize my time is actually rather short.

Oh, and I’ve got a day job, too.

So what did I read in January?

  • THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE – Amy Tan. A beautifully-written haunting account of a woman’s escape from war-torn China. It languished a bit toward the end, and some of the character arcs felt a bit repetitive in the second half, but overall a book I’m happy to have on the bookshelf.
  • THE ROAD – Cormac McCarthy. Also haunting, moreso than Amy Tan’s novel. This one is going to stick with me for a while. The story of a father’s struggles and journey in a post-apocalyptic world to find a safe haven for his son. McCarthy has a very unique style that may turn readers off, but I recommend you give it a spin.
  • FRANKENSTEIN – Mary Shelley. This one was a surprise. I bet most people, when polled, would have no idea that the monster not only speaks, he’s actually quite intelligent. The public conception of FRANKENSTEIN based on that old virtually unrelated Universal film is quite unfortunate. So many people think this is a simple monster tale, some sort of thriller or slasher, that they skip out on what is perhaps the most profound novel I’ve read in quite some time. It’s a brilliant study on mankind’s place in the universe, why we need companionship, and why we need our parents to love us. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to add it to your queue. It’s rather short (my version clocked in at 190 pages) and worth every second you spend with it.
Yes, that's Robert De Niro

From the 1994 film "Frankenstein". Yes, that's Robert De Niro.

And that also segues nicely into the Motivation part of this post. Writing is hard. Learning the craft is hard, finding the time is hard, understanding feedback is hard, and it’s very tempting to give up at times. Near the end of the novel FRANKENSTEIN (no spoilers, I promise!) Mr. Frankenstein gives a rousing speech in an attempt to halt a mutiny on a ship. I’ll only quote the first paragraph here, but the entire speech is rather motivational. I’m going to print it out and hang it on my office wall so it’s always nearby whenever I’m feeling the “I can’t do this / this is too hard” gremlins biting at my soul.

“Did you not call this a glorious expedition? And wherefore was it glorious? Not because the way was smooth and placid as a southern sea, but because it was full of dangers and terror; because at every new incident your fortitude was to be called forth and your courage exhibited; because danger and death surrounded it, and these you were to brave and overcome. For this was it a glorious, for this was it an honorable undertaking.” — Victor Frankenstein

Here’s to staying on target for your own Glorious Expedition.

by

Joys of Childhood

Maul and Yoda hug it out.

I took my oldest son to Target the other day where he bought his first Star Wars action figures. Yoda, Darth Vader, and Darth Maul. He’s got good taste, this kid.

I thought I remembered how wonderful childhood was. I was wrong. I realized how much I’d forgotten when I witnessed the joy on his face and in everything he’s done since we picked them up. From gazing longingly at the boxes all the way home in the car, to tearing them open at home and playing with all the accessories.

He went to bed terribly late that night because he had to play with them. And I thought he would sleep in because of it, but no, he was up before everyone else in the house, asking me if I’d get up and play Star Wars with him before his sisters woke up.

Of course, I did.

by

2012

Four simple resolutions for the new year.

1 – Finish writing three drafts. That includes the current work-in-progress, A PETAL OF CHRYSANTHEMUM, and two more, one an MG boy Asian-themed fantasyesque idea I’ve been kicking around for years. Oh, and have PETAL out on query by April.

2 – Cook something new every month. I don’t have a plan here much beyond closing my eyes, spinning a glove, and slapping a finger down on a random country. And then, via the glories of the internets, I shall find a traditional meal and cook it up. I love to cook, and it’s time I learned how to do it better.

3 – Read two books a month. One or both may be short depending on how hectic my month ends up, but either way, two is the goal. I’m already building a nice backlog for the year.

4 – Finish up some of the cross-cultural tales for the blog that are languishing in draft status. I’m nowhere near exhausting that material, I’ve just been sidetracked by all the novel writing. I’ve written 100k words since August of 2011 across two drafts. That includes 20k into the semi-final draft of the WIP. Time to focus some of that logorrhea back into the blog.

And that’s it. Nothing grand, nothing out of my control, no vague hopes and wishes. Mr. Chuck Wendig, whom I stalk on the twitters (@ChuckWendig) has a great post up today where he speaks eloquently to the point of only focusing on what you can control. Read it. Now.

Okay, 2012. Let’s do this. Before the Mayans kill us all, or something.

What are your plans for yourself this year?