Category Archives: Writing

Articles and news on writing

1 Jan

New Year’s Nostalgia

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Greetings,

I find myself with a few more free moments than usual, so I thought I’d write a few thoughts that have found their way into my head during this passage into the New Year.

I cannot help but think of all the people I have known and met over the years during this time of year, and with all the warm feelings brought by the memories of all those who have helped me over time, there also naturally comes the flip side of the coin, and the thoughts of those I will never see again.

In my last post, I mentioned how I had rediscovered my love of playing music, after being gifted a copy of Rocksmith 2014 by my daughters last year.  My uncle Ken had given me his bass, a 1987 Fender Precision Lyte, a year or two before he passed away.  My uncle was the youngest brother of my mother, and only fourteen years older than me.  I think of him whenever I play the game, which is more a training course on playing an instrument than an actual game, and I find myself each time wondering how he would react to the development of technology in relation to learning instruments, having taught himself to play seven of them, and my love of the instrument he gave me.

It was uncle that inspired me to draw and paint, and though I never made this a secret, I do not think he ever understood the impact he had upon my life, and that is something I will always regret.  Whenever I play the bass, I think of how things may have been if I had tried to connect harder with a man who was forced to live much as I do now, and went through many similar experiences.  Perhaps if I had, he would still be around today.

Not a comfortable thought.

The best I can do now, is honor his memory by trying to be the best I can, and to keep it alive through playing the wonderful instrument he bestowed upon me.

I miss you, man. I wish you were still here.  I’m sure we would have grown much closer with time, had we only been given the chance.

I don’t mean this to be a dark post.  We get all caught up in making resolutions, and looking forward to the coming year, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I think we should take some time to look over our past, and learn from it, as well as giving some time to remember those left behind.  You never know how you might improve your own or another’s future.

Just some random thoughts.

Until next time,

~Namaste

 

28 Dec

Audible Update: 12-28-23

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Greetings,

Another year is drawing to a close, but my artistic efforts have no signs of slowing,  I work on one or more projects just about every day, barring my daughter’s visits (although I do sometimes find the occasional opportunity in the wee hours), and on those days, I follow pretty much the same routine.  After work, I eat dinner and perform any errands that need completing before spending about an hour or so with my newfound love: my 1987 Fender Precision Lyte Bass, given to me by my uncle before he passed away. This takes the form of playing Rocksmith 2014, which was a gift to me from my daughters, and an excellent way to learn to play an instrument.  Once I’m finished with my musical release therapy (kidding…maybe), I then sit down to a good 2-4 hours of recording time.

Currently, I am working on part 3 of BOO! from ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘, the longest novella in the volume, and likely my third favorite.  The story is a little over a hundred pages long, and translates to a bit over 3 1/2 hours.  I’ve been learning more as I go, and apply whatever I learn to the next project, such as adding sound effect transitions and title music to the tracks.  I felt this was a definite positive step, but I do wish I had decided upon that course of action before I had recorded half the book.  Once I am done with the current story, I will have to go back and add these effects to the previous stories.  Not a daunting task, but one which will take a bit of time.  I do feel the result will be worth the effort, however, and look forward to being able to release this book in the Audible format in the new year.

Until we meet again,

~Namaste

14 Dec

Audible Update 12-13-23

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Greetings,

As promised, I am making an attempt to provide more updates on both my writing and art sites.  I have just finished my recording session for the night, in  my second attempt to bring my second work, ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’, to Audible.  On most nights, I follow pretty much the same routine.  Once home from my day job, I take care of dinner and other tasks, perhaps enjoy a bit of bass practice, before spending two or three hours on front of a microphone, and using an audio editor to process the recording.  As I may have mentioned earlier, I am adding sound transitions (and perhaps some opening and closing theme music) to my second attempt,  The upside to this is that it has steepened the learning curve, allowing me to hopefully bring a more rich experience to the listener.  The downside, is the fact I had this idea halfway through the book, and will now have to go back and add them to at least two of the stories I have previously recorded, if not more.  I don’t mind this, actually, if the final product ends being one of which I can be proud to have created.

Well, that’s about all the time I have for tonight.  I must rest in order to attack another day of relentless labor with something approaching competence, if not enthusiasm.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

4 Dec

Audible Update 12-4-23

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Greetings.

My goodness, time goes fast.  I am making an effort to update my blog on a more regular basis, but even so, the days seem to slip past me, and before I know it – boom – it’s December.

Anywho, I’ve been putting in as much time as possible in my effort to record ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’ for Audible.  I just wrapped up doing some post-recording and effects work for ‘Message in an Electromagnetic Bubble‘.  This story required a bit more effects work than most, as it is my first (and rare) attempt at sci-fi, and I felt it needed a bit more.  To this end, i have enlisted the Amazing Danika to assist with a few lines of dialogue, and will add them to the project when she is available.

During the recording of this story, I was also forced to reconsider how to translate transitions for an Audible project, as a line of asterisks does not translate into audio.  I decided to use some sound effect transitions for these, and may add an opening theme.  As i have often said, I am new to this type of creative endeavor, and am striving to bring the most interesting version of my work to that format as I can.  Only the future, and whatever feedback I receive, will tell if I am successful in that regard.

Next up on the recording schedule is ‘BOO!’, a hundred-page novella inspired by a story that has floated in my brain since I first began reading comics, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.  It was during the recording of this story – about a cursed castle in the mountains of New York – that my hard drive failed.  Coincidence?  I sure hope so…I can’t afford to replace yet another computer.

That’s pretty much the news for now, although there is plenty more coming, believe me.  In the meantime, a quick reminder (and shameless plug) my first novel, ‘Highway Hypnosis’ is available on Audible.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

22 Nov

Update: 11-21-2023

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Greetings,

Now that my new computer has been set up successfully, I will be making a greater effort to post more in the future.

There is much going on, and so many things to cover… Time will not allow for me to cover them all at this point, but I will be posting these developments soon.

I am continuing my efforts to record my second book, ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’, for Audible, and am almost at the point where my former computer died (RIP Asmodeus). Well, I will be after I complete the story following the one I am processing now.  I am continuing to learn the trade, and hone my narration and recording skills,  and it is my desire to bring the best effort I can to the table.

Although the recording is now my Main Project, there are many other creative projects on my slate in the upcoming year.  Two more books, minimum, are just the beginning.  I have also determined to renew my other art site, Reincarnations.com, and produce another slate of painted furniture.  As usual, I find myself wishing I could devote myself to my sites and creative work as my main profession, but all good things in time.

I will have more news coming soon.

Until Next time,

~Namaste

22 Jul

Update 7-21

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Greetings,

Once again, time has slipped by, despite my resolution to update on a regular basis.  It seems every time I make the determination to improve my life, it responds with a series of blindsiding events, often daisy-chained in such a way as to create a catch-22 situation in which forward motion is both difficult and limited, within a short span of time.  In the last two weeks, I’ve had to deal with not having a refrigerator for over a week, two major car repairs back to back to the tune of over $1600, and three other priority legal matters, all while working a grueling, physically demanding job. It has been said I have brought these matters upon myself, but I can pretty much dismiss this as utter horseshit; I both know my life better than those making such statements. and control neither random events, the deceitful actions of others, or a rigged system designed to siphon as much money and freedom as it can from the common man.  I can, however, do all I can not to allow such situations to repeat.  When I make mistakes, I do my utmost not to ever repeat them.

While this is helpful in the long run, it does not negate or prevent the short term effects.  I have had to pause in my audio production of ‘Strange Stories, Twisted, Tales‘ in order to deal with the latest set of crises, which came as expected once I committed to my plan to increase my income and better my environment, endeavors which alone are complicated matters, much less when planned in tandem.  Still, it will not matter in the end; life can throw whatever it wants at me, and I will persevere.  It may be the irresistable force, but when it comes to bettering myself, it may find I am the unmoving object.

So, as I will have little to no time to do anything but work on creating a less stressful and more profitable and peaceful atmosphere for myself, I regret my other projects will have to be on hold for a bit.  I will, however, return to them with vigor once I am successful, and will keep those dedicated few informed as things progress.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

 

26 Jun

Audible Update: 6-26-2023

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Greetings.

As is par for the course, life has been throwing its share of curve-balls my way, but I’ve managed to navigate them with my usual Aries stubbornness, and continue to record tracks from my second novel, ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘. I am currently working on recording ‘Easy Prey‘, and those familiar with the history of the story, know I never intended to write a vampire story, and wrote it intending it to be a jab at Twilight.  Somewhere in the writing, however, this changed, and I found myself enjoying the characters and events that flowed from my pen, which was my only available writing instrument at the time.  Recording these stories allows me to reconnect with the characters, and I find myself tempted to stop and write more about the adventures of what has become an interesting figure to me, but I stop myself.  All things in time, I say.

All things in time.

It might take longer than I anticipated to record this second work, however, as some of the aforementioned curve-balls include the need to find better employment and a new place to live, both sizeable tasks on their own, much less together.  I have faith I will be able to handle these as I have before – it’s not my first rodeo – and plan to build myself a dedicated space for recording in the process.

Onward and upward, folks.  Onward and upward.

Until next time,

~Namaste

13 Jun

Audible Update: 6-13-23

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Greetings,

My first novel, Highway Hypnosis, is now available on Audible, and should be available on Amazon and iTunes within the next few days.  I am now working on narrating the third story from Strange Stories, Twisted Tales.  The stories in this volume are something of a different challenge in terms of recording; the tales contained in that volume contain some passages that will require some audio effects in order to deliver the proper tone, and I am enjoying the learning process.   It is my hope to open myself to narration of other works on a freelance basis in the near future,  I have found I enjoy both sides of the process, and look forward to being able to create a home studio in order to deliver an even better listening experience.

So, if you are into audio books, stop by Audible and give my book a listen.  If you listen at home, you might want to keep the lights on.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

4 Jun

Update 6-4-2023

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Greetings,

It’s been an intense few weeks, with the promise of continuing to be so, but I cannot resist keeping my blog updated for my audience.  For those few intrepid souls, I salute you.

Anywho…I understood when I began my writing it would be a learning experience – as all things in this life are -and the writing journey, along with its narration counterpart – has not disappointed in this regard.  There have been some bumps along the road, but I have gained knowledge along the way, and it has been a rewarding process creatively, if not financially.  One such bump has seen the delay of release of the hardbound versions of my novels, but it appears I have overcome that particular hurdle (and learning in the process), and the revised hardbound additions should be available on Amazon soon.

On the Audible front, the audio version of Highway Hypnosis should be available sometime on or after June 10, 2023.  The files have all passed the ACX check on my software, and are awaiting QC approval.  Here’s keeping my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I have begun recording the Audible version of Strange Stories, Twisted Tales.  The first story, The Minstrel, has been recorded, and I have begun work on Roadkill.  I find I enjoy the recording process immensely – the audio processing not so much – but am determined to learn as much as I can on both ends of the process in order to produce the best result I can.  I have a lot of irons in the fire on any given day, and plan to add even more, in the form of a video blog, in the near future, but I am confident the results will be well worth the effort.

Until next time,

~Namaste

29 May

Audible Update: 5-29-2023

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Greetings,

Well, after many hours of recording and audio processing, I have uploaded my first novel, Highway Hypnosis, to Audible.  The files are in review, and I should get a response within ten business days, according to their website.  I will begin recording the various stories in Strange Stories, Twisted Tales within the next day or do…unless I can’t resist getting back to reading, in which case it could be as early as tonight.

It is my plan, hope really, that by the time I get to my third book, that  will have become proficient enough at the process that I may begin to do some freelance narration work.  I have to find something, after all – my current job is a narcissistic nightmare and both emotionally physically destructive.  The damage done to me physically by the results of narcissistic and legal abuse has left me technically disabled, and these effects are exacerbated by the physical demands of my ‘day job’.  Narration is not only something I enjoy, but is work that I can perform at my own pace, and around the limitations I face on a daily basis.

I’ll be sure to announce when the Audible version of my novel is ready for purchase.  Thanks again for any and all who follow this blog.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste