Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Upset with technology (as usual)

 I did some editing on my website: renamed some of my pages and linked a short story excerpt to the magazine which published the complete fantasy. Things were going so well, I tried to do more. I did; I lost the excerpts from "Special." Totally my mistake, so I figure it's a spiritual message to put something else in there, anyway. But then I also find out some of the navigation buttons linking to the description of "Special" aren't working - mistake not mine. I left it, for now. I'm getting overly upset over these things because I'm broke. I've been running on empty for a long time, now.

That's only remotely true. I have a deep cache of wealth and riches, it just don't feed my pick-up's gas tank, or my belly. But, if I just sit here and write a little, they will sustain me - and maybe that will help someone else. If I sit here and write a lot, I'll end up with new and imaginative stories that will eventually impress an agent or publisher. I need to take time and go over "Special" anyway since I want it in perfect condition for The Pitch Conference in NYC next month.

I just realized what I dislike about blogging. I don't dislike the act; I dislike a lot of what I am reading in other blogs. I said something about blogging not coming natural to me. That's not true, either. If I blog about things I feel are important, it does come. What I like writing about is "now."

I am pretty distraught, right now. Aside from my writing, I have some personal commitments, which are causing me some stress due to my living and financial situation. By themselves, these factors are causing me to be quite irritable. What I find most disconcerting about the feeling is that their importance wanes compared to my need to write and edit more than I am currently doing - and READ. I've been on the same book for over a month (77 Shadow Street); of course, I know I read other things, but still, I know what is a good pace for me; I just haven't had the right kind of reading time.

Some reflection that has been taking place regarding this book and how long it is taking me to read it. I want to comment on my previous statement and I wonder if anyone else can relate to this fact; I have been aware of a question in my mind as to whether I am finding 77 Shadow Street less appealing as I normally find Koontz's books, because of my erratic current, lifestyle conditions, or is the reading going slow simply because I don't find the book that appealing. For a long time Koontz's books have been slam - bam reads for me, riveting right from the start. This story didn't strike me that way. The phenomenal thing which I am aware of, though, is that I knew my reading pace had slowed down, and when I grabbed his new book, instead of snapping out of my funk or rut, I ignored it. One of the things I love about Dean Koontz is, once I start a story of his, I can't ignore it. Normally, as I am sitting here typing about this, or if I were telling someone about it, I would be
wondering what was going to happen on the next page. I'm not. I do like the way the story is formatted. Maybe I don't, because the p.o.v. in my story Special changes with the characters, just like with Koontz's characters in 77 Shadow Street. I don't use the italicised scene subtitles to point it out like he does.

hmmm.

4 comments:

  1. Found you at LinkedIn. Here are my thoughts and I hope you don't mind if I'm forthright and honest.

    So far this blog is not working at all. If you want to rant and ramble, I'd waiting until you've established a blogging persona for yourself and an audience who will appreciate what you're saying. And by the time you've reached that point you may not feel a need to complain and bewail.

    My suggestion would be to start out by stepping back from your own feelings. Let the name of your blog speak for itself, but don't continue the theme in the posts with such indecisive uncertainty. In other words focus. It's a turn off to start reading these first two posts. It could probably work if they were immensely funny and entertaining, but they're not--you're just expressing your doubts and I as a reader am not encouraged by it.

    For example, in this post you should extract one specific idea such as the Koontz novel. And since you haven't completed that book you might focus on a specific topic such as why it's taking so long to read or what makes a book interesting.

    Or the third paragraph about "What I don't like about Blogging". This is a great topic in itself. Your declaration is just a generalized and vague statement. You could focus on some specifics about what you've read on other blogs or what you personally do or don't think you should be writing. Try not to be overly negative so you don't shun friendships from the get go, but try to be creatively constructive.

    What you are lacking so far is focus. In your posts you need to take specific points and say specific things about them. Put your writing creativity to work in order to show off your talent on your blog. The primary point of a writer blog is to build an audience base and establish your credentials as a writer. Your writing here should reflect your capabilities and cause the reader to want to rush out to see what you are really writing.

    Then, your next step after you've gotten a couple of decent posts up on this site, go visit some other blogs and leave comments. Leave your link so those bloggers can find your blog. Visit 10 and leave 10 comments and follow those 10 blogs and see what happens. You'll build your community if you do it the right way.

    You should consider adding a "Follower" widget to your sidebar so you give visitors the option of becoming "friends" so they might come back. Make your blog more inviting. Your blog right now has a very cold feel to it almost as though you'd rather not have visitors.

    Hope I haven't offended. Just trying to help since you seemed to be asking for it at LinkedIn. Check out my blogs. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have and offer other suggestions.


    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

    My other blogs:

    A Faraway View

    Wrote By Rote

    Blogging from A to Z

    A Few Words

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    Replies
    1. You read everything perfectly; thanks. Everything you stated is true; I knew it and am glad you concur, because I don't have time for any of it. I made time to post it because the people in my life that want to see me succeed are telling me to "put myself out there." I am taking time to post this, and then I will go back to working on my outline, query, and description for the website. I will probably be away from the blogging for a while, but now it will be easier for me to get back to it since I don't have to start from scratch.
      I am tickled "shitless" with the two quick responses I got, and your input, especially with its directness.
      No matter what comes down the pipe, I can put on the same size shoes as someone else, but they won't fit me until I walk in them a while.

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  2. Rodney, followed your linkined post to your blog. I like the honesty of your posts; I too am in the midst of needing to write and read more, and as with you I guess, life gets in the way. Though it is also feed for fodder. (right expressions?) I started blogigng about a year and a half ago and it took me a while to find my "voice" there. but that voice has also been what has really gotten me back to my creative writing after years of block. And figuring out what kind of posts attract readership and what do not.

    I would advise getting up the google connect gadget here, as well as linksy and Google + which are really the way people are blog following now. Also if you have a facebook Page, get up a like button as well as for twitter.

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  3. Thanks to you, also Sandra. Both you, and Arlee made points that I won't brush off lightly.

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