Writing asides

Daily Goal: 500 words.
I wrote 100 words.
Sundays/Stories Finished: 8/0.

I didn't touch my short story today. I got a little idea that I'd like to write up on another blog and I quickly got a hundred words down on paper. The short story is still waiting for a final editor's eye. It could really use it sooner rather than later, because I hope to post it for review somewhere and feedback might take some time. I can't attend to it, however, if I don't have an hour or so of free time to do it. I don't think the final edit, before I have a finished draft, is something to do during bathroom breaks.

The first session of the role playing game I meantioned some time ago is drawing near. I have had an hour of free time today, but instead of using it on the short story I used it on preparing my character. I'll play a barbarian who I based on Severian, from Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun. I don't think I would have used the hour to edit, even if I didn't have to prepare for the game. I have just been so tired today it was either preparing the character or reading The Name of the Wind.

My brother-in-law is the one who recomended the book, and lent it to me. I haven't been to a university class for a long time. It will be nice to finally be able to discuss a novel with someone, after reading it, instead of boring one's wife with countless synopses in desperation.

I should head towards bed now, but I am not that sleepy yet - tired, sure, but not sleepy. I might take a look at the short story after I finish this update.

Finished 'Citadel of the Autarch'

Daily Goal: 500 words.
I wrote 0 words.
Sundays/Stories Finished: 4/0.

I was going to skip posting on the blog tonight. I haven't written anything and I am dead tired. But some neighbour is partying and I can't sleep. As I write, however, I hear the music has stopped, so I'll make it brief and go to bed.

I have finished 'Citadel of the Autarch'. It is quite a decent end to a great series, but I wouldn't give it more than 4 stars, out of a possible 5.

I think I will do a more in depth review of the series sometime, but for now I will try to finish the short story. I hope to get a decent night's rest tonight, so I'll have more energy tomorrow.

Keeping the story alive

Daily Goal: 500 words.
I wrote 100 words.
Sundays/Stories Finished: 4/0.

My wife and I watched a movie tonight. There is almost no time for reading or writing left, but I had to write something to keep the story fresh in my mind. I think I managed about 100 words. I need to keep adding to it each day, even if I don't meet the daily goal. If I skip a day or two, the story stands the risk of dying.

I am still reading Citadel of the Autarch, by Gene Wolfe. I only manage a couple of chapters each day, since my free time is spent writing or socializing, instead of reading. I am thinking about doing an article or a review about the series (The Book of the New Sun of which Citadel of the Autarch is the fourth volume)  once I am finished with it. I don't know if I will ever get that far, but I do plan on finishing the short story before turning to reviews and articles.

I think I am going to squeeze another chapter in before bedtime. Tomorrow is looking to be another one in this series of very busy days, so I better get some sleep. Hopefully, it will be a short chapter.

What to read next?

Daily Goal: 500 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0 words.
Sundays/Stories Finished: 3/0.

I really shouldn't worry about what novel to read next. I should stick to reading a short story each day and spend the rest of my free time writing. I can't help getting excited, however, when I am nearing the end of the novel I am currently reading, about what I should read next. There are so many good, tantalizing novels still on he shelf.

I am reading Citadel of the Autarch, by Gene Wolfe. Although I have enjoyed the series, I do not think I will seek out another Wolfe novel quite yet. Though there are a number of novels set in the same universe as the Book of the New Sun series.

I have been feeling tired and down lately. Therefore I was thinking of reading something to cheer me up - a comedy. I have heard great things about A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, so when I finally do start another comedy, I think that will be it.

Another option would be to read a lugubrious novel, where I might identify with the protagonist. The novel Stoner, by John Williams, has long been on my reading list and might just fit the bill from what I've read.

A third option would be to drop the long, old reading list and try to keep up with what is current. I could pick up J. K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, which I am sure will play a larger part in literary fora for some time than the classics above.

I still have a number of pages to go through still, however, and as earlier mentioned, I shouldn't really be thinking about the next novel to read.

Finished Sword of the Lictor

Daily Goal 500 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0 words.
Sundays/Stories finished 3/0.

Another week has gone and I am nowhere near completing a story. I should have had three completed short stories now 'out there' being considered.

Alas the time I do have for myself I spend reading. I have finished Sword of the Lictor and started Citadel of the Autarch, the last in the series, by Gene Wolfe. I find myself already planning what to read next and I really shouldn't. I should stick to reading one short story a day and spending the rest of my free time writing.

Sword of the Lictor was wonderful. I ought to have written a detailed review, but I don't have the time and energy tonight. I found out there is an illustrated and signed edition of the four novels. How cool they would fit on my shelf, but what little means I rule are better spent elsewhere.

I will end this post here. Tired, as always, want to read more before I go to bed, as I mostly do too, Have plenty to say, but no energy to say it with. What is the title of that short story? 'I have no mouth but I must scream'. I feel like writing, but I am always too tired, it seems. Probably just a bad excuse. I just need more discipline and routine.

Reading Gene Wolfe instead of writing

Daily Goal: 500 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0 words.
Sundays/Stories finished: 2/0.

I had a busy day again today. My brother came back from Thailand, where he has been at a kickboxing camp (I write kickboxing, because I would probably misspell, Muy Thai, is it?), and me, my wife, with baby in tow, went to see him settled in. He is going to stay in Denmark for a few days, so perhaps we can catch a movie before he leaves.

Anyway, there hasn't been much time for writing. If I really wanted to, I could have spent perhaps an hour or so writing, but I spent it reading instead. The novel I am currently reading, I am on the last few chapters, is Sword of the Lictor, by Gene Wolfe. It is the third novel in his series called the Book of the New Sun. I have heard (read rather) great things about Gene Wolfe, but I have to confess that I have been a little disappointed until now. The first two novels of the series, The Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator, did not sweep me of my feet. Don't get me wrong, they are entertaining books, well written, set in an interesting universe, with a great protagonist. I wouldn't consider them candidates from the greates living English writer, however. The Sword of the Lictor, on the other hand, does enter into another level of quality. I'll tell you what I think when I finish the series.

It is late here, so I will sign off for now. I also want to finish the novel before I go to sleep and it is already too late.

Moving day

Daily Goal: 500 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0 words.
Sundays&Stories Finished: 1/0.

We moved today. It went quite well, but it still feels good to finially be finished with the day.

I am further in to The Sword of the Lictor now and I still want to introduce those of you unfamiliar with him to Gene Wolfe, but I don't have the energy tonight. I am already thinking about going to bed now, instead of reading or writing, so I should wrap this up. I just didnt want to finish the day without an update on the blog.

I am writing right now on a bluetooth keyboard with my Galaxy Tab. I hope to start using this combo to write short stories. At my parent's apartment I used their stationary computer. Me and my wife share a laptop usually, however, and sharing isn't that great a thing when it comes to the equipment you work with.

When I can afford it I might buy a new. That way I could grab the old one for writing. As for now this setu serves me well for there are fewer distractions on a tablet than on a pc.

A day of ideas

Daily Goal: 500 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0 words.
Sundays/Stories Finished: 1/0.

As expected the day went by quickly. There was not much time between taking care of the baby and getting stuff ready to move tomorrow.

I did finish a chapter more of How to Write Short Stories for Magazines, by Sophie King. The chapter was about getting ideas and writing them down. After the read I went for a walk with the stroller (baby carriage) - my girl likes to nap at about 9 o'clock in the morning and doing it in the stroller gives her mother a nice break. I had plenty of ideas while out walking and I wrote them down in a notepad I keep in the stroller for the purpose. I didn't count that into the daily word count.

I feel tired now after a long day. Tomorrow offers more of the same. I have started reading a novel as well: The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe. The author and the series of which that book is number three deserves a warm recommendation to anyone interested in science fiction, but I am too tired to go into details today.