Hello there everyone. I hope this post finds you all well. I wanted to take a moment to share some updates on what I have been up to. I realize it’s been quiet from my end and there’s a reason for that, but let’s start with some exciting updates.
About Time, Angels, Nightmares and Other Stories
Work on my short story anthology has been going very well. I have gotten seven (7) stories completed in second draft format and have two more in first draft format. I am working on the ninth currently. That story is a prose version of the podcast episode that I wrote for the Bane podcast, which is the premium podcast for Patreon members for The Grey Rooms podcast. That story has been fun to rewrite as a story as I can give it some more depth and detail. The podcast had a length limitation, and I don’t have that limitation with the story here, so it’s been fun keeping it in-line with the podcast, but elaborating a bit more to add the elements I mentioned previously. Here’s another cool thing, I officially passed sixty thousand (60,000) words last night!
I still have one more scene to write for the ninth story and then I am hoping to do at least two (2) more stories. I also have another story to get into second draft status and there is a chance the story will grow as I do that. I have been using my computer’s built in screen reading utility to read my writing back to me, which has not only helped me with grammar and typos, but also with flow and tense. It’s a great tool that is built into all computer operating systems (e.g., Linux, macOS & Windows) and I highly recommend it. I wrote a small post about it on Reddit, which you can read here.
What Else Have I Been Up To?
I reached out to a podcast that I like, Write Now With Scrivener, which is a great show hosted by journalist, Kirk McElhearn as he interviews authors and discusses how they use the writing application Scrivener. I think I would be a good guest on the show and sent them a lengthy email as to why. They informed me that their schedule is full for the next several months, but they would pass it along to Kirk to see if he would be interested in having me on, so fingers crossed for that one!
I had an article written up in our local neighborhood magazine, 53rd Street Neighbors, which is published by Best Version Media. They did misspell my last name in one section, but I very much appreciate the support. I should also mention they told me they would like me to be on the cover of their February 2022 issue! I am so happy for that and can’t wait for that to come.
Otherwise, aside from my work on the short story anthology, part of the reason I have been quiet is because I have bee in a sort of funk.
#RealTalk
I have been a little bummed that traction on my debut novel stalled out, but I keep reminding myself that this was bound to happen, that things would take time to build up and that each day I am improving my skill in the craft of writing. I recall Stephen King’s quote:
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”
Stephen King
Well, I am not afraid of hard work and that is what I am going to continue doing. Admittedly, my inner self-doubt can be rather crippling at time. I actually wrote down my inner dialogue to process it and perhaps one day I will share that to give people a sense of the sort of doubt that I deal with when it comes to not only writing but putting myself out there. Anyway, I tell myself two words when this sort of funk happens and it’s a phrase I have always used with my friends when we all sort of stall out or face some sort of setback. Those words, ever forward. Life may hold or knock me back, but I will move ever forward. I will not concern myself with the pace if I’m moving forward.
Well, that’s it for now. Thank you so much to those of you who read this post. I very much appreciate your interest and support. Until the next post, take care and happy reading.
Literally Jesse 