Another Productive Night

Yesterday evening I was doing quite well whipping out another chapter in Spokes. Then I overheard the television in the other room blairing out the Republican Convention, more specifically, Clint Eastwood's speach. I couldn't help but meander towards the TV to watch the semi-retired actor talk to an empty chair. That broke my concentration so I did my nightly Facebook and Twitter thing and updated my website, robertdetroit.com then went to bed. At around 12:30, my eyes were open and my mind was clear as Crater Lake therefore totally void of the somewhat unusual speach Eastwood spat out. I went to work, knowing I could really get some stuff done without any inerruption. I managed to chuck out 2,234 words that fit into the stroy quite well. I did some online work then went back to bed. Here I am, after sleeping in late, not crawling out of the sack until 5:40. (Late for me.) I think I'll take care of personal business today and hit the story writing tonight when the coast is clear.

Until later,
Robert Detroit

Dream Come True

Just before the digital alarm clock beside my bed flipped to 3:30am, I awoke from a dream, a dream that I figured could just quite possibly be the next chapter (spoke) in my upcoming novel, Spokes. I felt like rolling over and going back to sleep. I'll remember it when it's time to get up, I told myself over and over. That never works so I reached up on the chest of drawers to grab a pen and paper, forgetting that I had just cleaned that thing off. My cell phone was the next best thing so I grabbed it, opened it and pulled up the memo app. Before I had five words put in that thing, I came to my senses and closed the phone, went into the other room and fired up the HP, knowing that I wasn't going back to sleep. I went ahead and typed in the rough draft for the next chapter and at six o'clock, I poured my first cup of coffee and turned on the news. Going back through the chapter that I had just written, I found that I am glad I did what I did, it actually turned out very well. If you have ever stumbled across anything in a dream or the middle of the night that just cannot wait, leave a comment. I would love to hear that I am not alone at being insane.

Until tomorrow,
Robert Detroit

Goal Not Met

Yesterday, I set my goal to write 3,000 words in my upcoming novel, Spokes. Well, I didn't reach that goal for several reasons. (Yes, I'm making excuses.) The main reason is I am starting a new chapter which I refer to as spokes in this book and my brain drew a total blank, much like what was following that blinking cursor on the screen, nothing. I thought, well, it's the medication so I'll just wait it out for a while then it'll come to me. It never did. I made myself get busy doing household chores and doing other things in hopes that an idea would pop into my head and I could begin Spoke Five instead of just looking at what I had already written there. The title of the chapter,Spoke Five, is all that I have so far. That's it. Nothing below that point. I went for my morning walk in hopes that I would find something that would spark and ignite a flame so I can continue. It hasn't happened as of yet, but it will. It always does. Writers block is something all writers run across at one time or another and more frequently for some. It'll be okay, Spokes will continue, I just don't know when.

Until next time,
Robert Detroit

What the...

I don't know if it is the weather, it is a somewhat dreary day we are having here in the Pacific Northwest, but everyone seems to be in a grouchy mood. Even on my morning walk, I passed one of the neighbors and said, "Good Morning," and she said nothing as she looked at me like someone had just fed her a fresh, warm, steaming road apple for breakfast. I don't know, I think what I will do is beam myself into another dimention, right into the world where everything seems to be connected, the world I am creating, Spokes. robertdetroit.com/in-the-works.php

Have a better day,
Robert Detroit

Critique Session

Yesterday evening I attended an online critique session through the Writer's Chatroom, hosted by Audrey Shaffer. I have been a member of the chatroom for about a year and it's always interesting and helpful but the critique session sets that one apart from all the others. I entered an excerpt from my upcoming novel, Spokes, and recieved good reviews. The only negative response was that I was telling and not showing. Well, in all due respect, that is because I plucked the excerpt from the middle of the book from the start of a new chapter or 'spoke' as I call them. The showing part comes just after the excerpt I sent in and if I were allowed more than 300 words, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten that negative remark anyway. All the other remarks were so positive that I can't wait to continue writing that book. Most of the remarks mentioned how the concept was excellent and original with the only character mentioned's name being Ultimate Jim, before he slipped into his stupor and became just simply Jim. It is a fun one to write but it does get a little confusing at times trying to keep the characters straight and not confusing one with the other. That'll keep the readers interested and focused. www.robertdetroit.com/in-the-works.php

Until tomorrow,
Robert Detroit

Quiet Time

It happens all the time. In the middle of the night my medication wears thin and I wake up from my coma which is induced by what I refer to as my 'dumb-dumb pill.' It's actually medication I take two times daily and I won't go into detail. It makes me tired and thoughtless. My brain goes basically blank to the point that I can't even write a decent story. When it wears down, usually about 1:30 am, I am awake so I fire up the HP and go to work. I have found that this is the best time to work anyway. There is no traffic, the phones don't ring, nobody knocks on the door, the dog is in dreamland, and basically nobody in their right mind is awake unless graveyard work is required. That is the best time to write and my mind is fresh from the 3 1/2 hours sleep I just had so the ideas just come flowing into my head and out into Microsoft Word. Usually, I can crank out about 2,000 to 3,000 words before I decide to crawl back in bed and hop back out at 5:30. Then it's time to update everything, blogs, website, etc. then breakfast, a short walk and get on with the day after I take my 'dumb-dumb pill.' About 2:00pm, I am able to write again but not quite as productive as the early morning hours because no doubt my cell phone will ring or vibrate, someone calling or texting. It's an interuption but that's okay. I know that I will have quiet time later when everyone is in bed dreaming away.

Weekend Blues

Now don't get me wrong, I love weekends, especially when I have a hiking trip planned out or something along those lines. I always try to promise myself that I won't work on weekends but that never works out. As a writer, when an idea plays with my mind on what should happen within the next chapter or even a few chapters down the road, I must sit down, fire up the HP and type it all out before my brain decided to replace it with some other important thought like what's for supper. Sundays, I really try to take the day off, mostly due to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on television. Now, I have discovered that I can follow what is happening in the race by logging onto Twitter and getting the inside scoop. This means that I have my laptop on my lap during the race. I'll give you three guesses what happens during cautions but you will only need one. Yes, the computer is on my lap so why not make use of that time during the yellow flag instead of watching commercials about bug spray? I open up my most recent file on the book I'm working on and begin typing away. Before I know it, the green flag has been flown for several laps and most likely the lead has changed in the race. I miss it almost every time. How do I avoid this? I don't know; I guess that's just the way it's going to be. Awe, the life of a writer.

Identity Crisis

Having two identities sucks! I was told by many people that since my first book is a memoir that contains highly personal information that I should produce a pseudonym to write my novels under. That means two of everything. Two email accounts on each provider, Gmail and Outlook (hotmail), two Facebook accounts, two Absolute Write accounts, etc. etc. etc. It really becomes a real hassle when I try to keep the passwords separated. It's bad enough when everyone and their uncle wants me to change passwords every month to avoid being hacked or phished but for crying out loud in the dark, that's a lot of work for one name, let alone two. It's my own fault though. Actually it's something that just needed to be done. I figure if I have enough brain power to write books, I can deal with this. It just gives me something to gripe about.

Until next time,
Robert Detroit

Long Journey

Getting a publisher to recognize an author's work is difficult to say the least. I know my work has been tossed into the slush pile more than once. My first book, Behind the Signs, has been sent to nearly every publisher that is willing to do memoirs, (and there is a lot of them.) The Literary Market Place is a great place to start except my public library doesn't allow the huge book to leave the premises. That ultimately means putting my laptop in the case and taking it to the library. When the book is finally accepted by a publisher, it doesn't stop there; the journey has only just begun. Here comes the copy-editing then all the other editing that the editing team at the publisher thinks will make the book more attractive to the prospective reader. Constant emails with corrections and changes, (thank God for Microsoft Word), then phone calls out the kazoo. Even grocery shopping becomes a hassle when the cell phone vibrates somewhere between the canned green beans and Pillsbury boxed potatoes. Even with voice mail, I believe the phone should be answered. Then it's back to the good old HP to see what changes occurred this time. Do I agree with the changes? Sometimes yes and sometimes I have to submit my own ideas. Even though it's my book, I still have to go along with the publishing professionals. It isn't a walk in the park where you just go home when you are done and watch re-runs of Matlock, it's a long journey where the laptop is where it is supposed to be, on the lap while watching TV and sipping a Diet Coke.

Until next time,
Robert Detroit

First Webinar

I attended my first webinar yesterday and it was, to say the least, interesting. It was almost like I was actually in a room with people except the instructor only posted what she wanted us to learn. No online pictures of what would be a classroom or any such thing but the rest was all there. Did I learn anything? I hope so. It was chucked full of information on building websites and hosting them and how to direct traffic towards a website. After all, what's the use of owning a domain if nobody is going to visit your site? Now I need to do a little more 'trafficing' and route more people to my site. Discharge is on the edge of being published so I really need support from the public to make it happen. I know the book is interesting and the story could very well become a reality but the people don't know that yet. They haven't visited my site. So here it is again:robertdetroit.com/discharge

Until next time,
Robert Detroit

Easy? Not

Anyone who says writing a book is easy is probably correct in their thinking. All a person needs to do is sit down, turn on the computer, bring up a word processing program such as MS Word, and start typing. That's the easy part. Editing, on the other hand, is time consuming, brain wrecking, and painstakingly difficult. Nothing is where it should be in the story until the editing is done several times. There are programs such as MS Word that help with typo's, spelling, and even some grammar. One thing to remember though, it's only a computer program and it will not distinguish between little things such as to, too, and two or even a missed character such as h so then is suddenly ten. Sometimes it might but sometimes isn't good enough. The story a person writes must be read by that author several times until he or she is so sick and tired of it that the toilet is about to be flushed. That's the beauty of it. Once it is done, it is then time to sit back and let others enjoy your creation.

Until next time,
Robert Detroit

Spokes is going well

My newest novel I have been working on for about six months is coming along nicely. Spokes is something different for me and I believe for everyone else. Instead of chapters, the individual episodes are called spokes because in the end, all spokes are connected to the outer rim and based on one single power which is the hub. It has been and continues to be quite interesting to write. I think everyone will enjoy it. Part of it is on my website under 'In the works'. Check it out. Here is the link.robertdetroit.com

Until later,
Robert Detroit