Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The Gavel's Echo, (1)

"The Gavel's Echo," has long been more of a title than any sort of a story. I have had several failed attempts to get a story beneath it. In truth, I regret the many starts I have deleted. That is something I must stop doing. BAD HABIT ALERT!

My problem, other than trepidations of failure, is that my ADHD riddled muse can't figure out the story she wants to tell, (That's as good of an excuse as any). In fact, it wasn't until I looked at my first blog that I realized the lead character was supposed to originally be named, Edward Blue. I like that name and may change it back.

There are several story ideas I like, which have some story under them, but only a few which consistently call to the ole muse of mine. To assist myself with staying on target, I recently joined a local writers' group. The first meeting I will attend is this Thursday. They do writing sprints and a critiques of submitted works by members.

The thing I like best about them is that they won't allow me to participate, or even be a full member, until I have attended two meetings. They are actually serious about the craft and require one to become vested as well as to submit material.

Now my decision is which story to work on while with the group. I am strongly considering, "The Gavel's Echo." I often refer to it as Echo for short, so don't fret when I do that.


Here is a rough excerpt, in need of editing/revision, which may be the prologue, but then again, it may be the start of the first chapter.

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Echo

“He wants to be famous,” I thought. That was my impression of the slick who now kept me waiting. The relentless bastard spent over two years sending me letters, begging for an interview, and was now late for his own appointment.

      The letters he sent, sometimes two a week, were annoying at first. Along the way, I do suppose they became a form of entertainment for me; a welcomed distraction from the doldrums of life, expected. Leaning back in my chair I allowed myself a slight chuckle as I fought off the thought that he had better not be wasting my time.

      Ha, time, I had that, so what did it matter. In fact, it’s all I had left as I waited for the end of it. My family and friends, not that there were ever many either, were either too old or too dead for visiting. The occasional arrival of a birthday card was all that let me know I wasn’t the only one left from the old days.

      Ah, the old days, how I missed them so. And truth be told, I missed more days than anybody justly deserved to. Then again, maybe that’s just my own bitterness rearing its ugly head.

      Nearing the end of my trail, I do spend more time looking back simply because there’s more to see looking in that direction. That’s just the way it is when there are more years behind than ahead. For many, looking back makes the good times better, bad times not so bad, and once frightening demons get tamed. How I wished I was among the many.

      Few, if any, left the trail behind them I have. Oh, I’m certain every man has encountered or created their own demons along the way. Mine were just bigger and harder to escape than most. Of that, I have little doubt.

      Death Row, that’s one hell of a demon to shed.  

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I'll see if I can't turn that into something more palatable to kick off the story. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I will try to update the blog after I attend my first meeting.

Happy writing and reading, y'all.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A First Blog and Why

Nothing profound or life changing herein lies. So, run like hell if you wish to be enlightened in any way what-so-ever. Should you be a, "Grammar Nazi," completely void of a sense of humor or just a curious bystander wishing to poke fun at a, "Big Dumb Animal," attempting to write, then this may be the place for you.

Why I am writing a Blog. Apparently, it is what I am supposed to do. When asking other folks whom are either published writers with an established readership, or other fledgling writers attempting to make their own mark, the advice is the same; write a Blog. From what I am told and from what I read, being a successful, (insert anything here), means having a social presence online. Now, all I have to figure out is what this Blog doohickey thing-a-ma-bob is supposed to be and do.

The Blog, from what I have read, is supposed to be some magical medium, bringing readers and would be adorers to follow me. Ok, sure, I'll buy that advice for what it is worth....free. It all sounds a bit narcissistic to me. After all, who am I to spout off about things and what do I offer that others may be interested in? That was my big question as I considered writing a Blog.

As it turns out, I have a wealth of information to share. Some of it may be as dry as licking dust off of a dirt driveway, but none-the-less, I have things to share. When asking what I should write about, I was told to just be myself and let my personality shine. That just wont do. If I am assuming correctly, most readers don't want to be kicked in the groin and have their noses rubbed in the dirt. Internet wedgies and noogies are probably not my best bet either.

Instead, I will focus on topics that help.... at least for the most part. I will write how to dos and share good to know information. Of course, I will write, on occasion, about my family, my pets and my hobbies. Oy Vey, you may have to endure an occasional rant about some political issue that is driving me nuts too. Take that with a grain of salt or just ignore it; it will pass.

A little about me is what I should introduce now. I have a beautiful wife and together we share six children. My wife is an Irish woman and a nurse; she keeps me in-line. Our pets include a dog, Marley, that is to no surprise, a Yellow Lab. Yes, the kids named her after the movie came out. We also raise chickens and rabbits. We have six red hens that remain unnamed except for one that we call, Princess Crazy Feather. We have nine rabbits but only meant to have two. The one we call, Ruby, got out of the run and the one we call, Jack, did what boy bunnies do. Thirty-one days later we had seven new additions. Luckily, they are cute as heck and we should have no problem finding them homes. Three are already spoken for.

My hobbies, if you are interested, are gardening, fishing, and writing, along with screaming at the television while watching a Viking's football game. If you have followed them or know anything about football at all, you will know I can barley speak after this season.

Well, there it is, a first Blog, but not yet complete. I have not adequately plugged my reason for  the Blog. I am a writer, so look for my work ahead.  "The Gavel's Echo,"  is in the works as well as is, "The Weatherman chronicles." It would be remise of me to not mention, Verbified Media, a fledgling online publishing house that offers to do the editing,  cover design, and promotion. I did speak with the owner not too long ago and he assured me that he would be getting back to it as the new year dawns. They will work with anyone having a publishable story, be it a short, novella, or a full length novel. Rest assured, the graphics, layout, and all other issues are supposed to be worked on within the realm of endless things to do.

There you have it folks, a first Blog done, just before the new year starts. Stay safe and be good to one another. As a friend of mine recently wrote, bloom where you are planted.