Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

Cafe Writer’s Ettiquette


22 Jun

Today I am enjoying the pleasure of writing at my favorite neighborhood cafe (Mission Creek on Valencia in SF. Word.) As I am getting my write-on, my brain tingling to the caffeine/fuel, looking at my fellow cafe goers, I am recalling a few passages scattered across various writing how-to books and blogs floating around in the mental miasma I call my brain.

The advice, for me, boils down to:

Buy something. Seriously. Doesn’t have to be much, but (for me) a couple bucks an hour in purchases seems not to small an amount to ask. You are basically renting a table, and rent means pay.

However, there is an interesting exception. If the cafe is not overfull, it does help to have some folks sitting around, busily enjoying their activities. It makes the place look more popular, and sucks passers-by in.

Somewhere in their is a balance, but a cheap cup of coffee, and the willingness to vacate your place in favor of a customer looking to buy a meal if the place is packed, feels about right to me.

Your mileage had damn well better vary, and I’d love to hear about it.

Cheers!

When Reading Meets Silence


02 Oct

Fun post over at the-bodhisattva.blogspot.com, Readathon.  I love the idea of combining reading with intentional silence.  Plus, the reflections on Walden are beautiful.

Reminds me of the local Shut up and Write! meetup.  Hmmm, I do have that next book I want to work on… (and the second draft of my last one to do.  Sheesh!)

Short Story: Games Within


07 Apr

I am trying a new online publishing site.  Still working out the wrinkles, as you will see from the formating on the page, but if anyone is interested please check it out here.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Cheers!

Whew! I Won!


01 Dec

nano_07_winner_large.gifWith one minute to spare, I won the National Novel Writing Month for the third year running. I crossed the line one minute before the midnight deadline, with a first draft of Special Delivery, with a word count of 50,068.

Several things were different about this year’s novel. It was my shortest by 6,000+ words. This was the first year I started the first year I had a false start. I got 400 words into a novel I had planned on writing for a whole month before the contest, doing a good deal of research and outlining. I got those 400 words down very slowly, like pulling teeth, then realized I would never make it. I cared too much about getting it perfect. So, I bailed and blazed into a story I had been thinking about telling for the last two years. Everything just rolled on great, this story was the first of my efforts where I really feel like I might have a book worthy of a full re-write and filling out. The words flowed out, and the ideas came bursting out of their own accord.

Then, I typed “The End.” That was at 46,000 words. It was too short. I added an epilogue, which was a hoot to write, then a prologue, which was also fun. That brought me to about 48,200. An interview of the team (it’s a super hero story), an interview for the position of base receptionist, and a battle with one of the super villains I had passed over in the first pass finally got me over the line. Just as I typed in the last witty line I looked down at my computer clock, saw the time was 11:58pm and flipped out. I got the file onto the NaNoWriMo website’s validation widget with 60 seconds to spare.

Each year has been a different experience. I had a great time this year, but I hope that next year I remember to not go so last minute. Definitely not good for my stress levels.

I Wish I Was This Clever


30 Nov

Writing exam

Travis Eneix

Dedicated to looking at the self.