Endings are, uh, I think, reasonably important to us as readers. I am of course interested in what will happen (or why would I be reading the book in the first place?), but I don't really want to know how a book ends... until I get to the end.
(International) Friends
I was not going to write anything for another novel for at least six months. But when an idea hits, you have to write it down... because otherwise it may vanish from your mind never to be heard from again.
Use The “Mute” And Even The “Unfollow”
The U.S. is really, I always remind non-Americans, a continent (Finland has the population of roughly Connecticut), and over the centuries has demonstrated a resiliency and managed - it still does - to evolve.
“I don’t expect everyone to hang on my every word online, but…”
My (now late) uncle had warned me about that type. LOL!
(Social Media) Space Invaders
Nonsense that has nothing to do with our work or craft is pervasive on social media too. I have had a few idiots message or email me over the years, but I know I am fortunate I have never had to endure sexually suggestive DMs and emails from what appear to be real people. Obviously being a now slightly, uh, more mature man of course probably helps in that area.
Getaway To Ireland
We got back yesterday after three nights in Ireland...
The Fiction Writers’ “Club”
My uncle once cornered me back in those same long ago 1990s about how for his next novel he planned to "borrow" the name of a friend of mine for a French policewoman character and base the character on her personality. "Oh, dear God, no," I recall half-laughing and, horrified, blurting out in response.
“Often I have gazed at that painting…”
When I realized I would write another novel of that era, I decided to try something of a "gamble" for that next novel: I would this time put faces on the cover(s).
From This Author’s Desktop… Today
That was quite a post. You probably wish I would start writing a new novel sooner rather than later. After all, when I finally do, I will have less time to blog. LOL!
Story Time
Why we write. What we write. We all have our stories. And what happens if I ever become massively famous? Let's just say I'll cross that family/friends bridge when I get to it. LOL!
NaNoWriMo…NoNo
Writing a short story in "30 days" is probably not an unreasonable ask. However, writing a novel (meaning at least 40,000 words; below that, it's a novella really) is a much more complicated undertaking. What you begin today likely won't see light of completed day for at least a year and probably more.
On This Rainy 1st Of November
All of that - and about 1,000 pages more from just those two novels - is why I am here and why this blog exists: my writing.
“What’s your name again?”
I thought this was worth a full blog post. Here are some characters from my two most recent novels... and how I recall inventing their names. All of them - particularly their first names - were chosen for their 18th century reality and country of origin...
Three Points
I have only to look at the origin countries of my daily visitors. Often I find myself asking, "Who are you? Why are you here? I have never sold a book in your country (insofar as I know)?" Usually I never learn the answers to such questions.
Now That I Have More Time For Reading…
I have not the slightest qualms about - if I died tomorrow - those being my "literary legacy." They say what I as their author want them to say.
