Week of: 6/20/26

A day late, today, though hopefully not a dollar short.

Well, that too, I'm sure.

Writing-wise, I didn't have my most productive week ever, though I did start work on a new short story... and I have plans for another, which I might have to try to bang out, first. I'm really leaning into my Summer Reading project, and trying to take big bites of Karenina -- the only way I feel I have a real shot at completing it.

Speaking of which, I'm going to wrap this up to go read so I can get that time in before the family wakes. Writing isn't just writing, you know? It's writing in context, the context of one's life. It's like in martial arts -- and how you can't (or oughtn't) throw an attack without keeping yourself balanced. Or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about and just need more sleep...

But that's just it. Sleep. Food. Reading. Family. Friends. Work. All of the things that come up on a day-to-day basis, all of the little challenges along the way -- that's the true test of writing, beyond whatever it is that makes it onto the page, and that the reader will never know, never see, except in the myriad ways it becomes transformed into plots and characters and the rest. The story is only the beginning of the story.

But I'm putting my reading off. Till next time.

Week of: 6/13/26

So far, so good where Summer Reading is concerned. Two books up, two books down. Today, I plan on starting one of the true behemoths: Anna Karenina, this list's requisite Russian Novel, lol.

In writing news, I wrote a short story that I expect will never get published anywhere. It's irreverent, anti-Christian, specifically, and angry. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, of course. I asked myself a few times near the beginning of writing it whether it was worthwhile for me to write -- or even, perhaps, unadvisable. Because of what it might say about me. That I'm angry, sometimes, that I'm a jerk (most or all of the time).

But then I kept thinking back to the Harlan Ellison quote that I look at most every day:

"Don't be afraid...don't let them scare you...the chief commodity a writer has to sell is his courage. And if he has none, he is more than a coward. He is a sellout and a fink and a heretic, because writing is a holy chore."

And that put me back on the path to writing the stories that call to me, even if I know they won't be... oh, well-received, lol. Maybe I shouldn't be taking advice from Mr. Ellison on how to win friends and influence people...? But what can I say? He remains one of my heroes.

Publication-wise, another week gone and more rejections. Settling in the groove of it again, and it feels nice. See you next time.

Week of: 6/6/23

Another birthday has passed. This is my last year of my 40s, and I'd like to try writing a novel before I hit 50. I've never done that before -- and I'm intimidated! I've been told (probably incorrectly) that it's just writing a number of short stories, strung together.

Well... I struggle with short stories, too! But still: I have my eye on that target. A novel before I turn 50.

This week, I did put in time on a short story or two. Not nearly so much time as I'd like; life keeps getting in the way, lol. I've also thrown myself in on my Summer Reading Project, beginning A Deadly Education. I need to move and keep moving, if I'm to have any earthly chance at all at hitting this target. And I might not make it, even then. People sometimes tell me that I'm a "fast reader," but I've been around enough to know that's not true. Not particularly slow, maybe, but certainly not fast. If I want this, I'm really going to have to fight hard for it.

And hey, I've been doing this fairly regularly. Maybe it's too soon to celebrate anything -- maybe I should save that for the year anniversary? -- but one thing I'm trying to do, something I think we probably all should do more, is celebrate the small victories along the way.

So here's to another week!