Now editing the sixth chapter of my fantasy epic, I am beginning to find the flow that should make it easier for me to write on a routine base — and have time for other pursuits. Just last night instead of sketching out notes for the next chapter, as has been my wont while finishing one chapter up, I found myself mapping out the next four — and finally getting the main characters out of the fortress city of Nah-nathas and onto their adventure.
It has been an interesting process and I’ve been trying to take notes about it. At first, it was kind of overwhelming to find a story that had been kicking around in my head coming together as a written narrative I can share with others and possibly publish. And as I realize how much of a commitment I am undertaking as I begin to appreciate how much work is left to be done, even with the six chapters that are now “presentable.”
Unlike the time in the 1990s when I made the choice to write my first novel, this time I know that just following through on the inspiration, writing the story that just comes to you (and even manages to move others), is not enough to sell the book. This time, I am aware that I could succeed at a writing a novel, but fail at earning a living from it.
Still, the story is there and continues to come to me, like old memories suddenly rediscovered when dipping a pastry into a cup of tea. I finally understand why the dragon is not doing as the Dark Lord would have her do when he summoned her, why she threatens to frustrate his schemes to extend his domination over this imaginary world that exits within my mind — and now increasingly on my computer (and in the hands of friends).
As the novel emerges, as the characters find names and create relationships, I do find myself thinking again about politics — and expect to start blogging at a more regular pace, though perhaps not the same pace as I had before I started finding a means to share this story.
Sometime later today, our frequent commenter Kurt will be posting a piece here at GayPatriot under his own name.
This past summer, shortly after meeting when I passed through his adopted hometown, he and I started up a correspondence. I found myself seconding many of the observations he made . From time to time, I did disagree with him, but always found he offered thoughtful insights.
I expect I will share many of the sentiments he offers here, but that doesn’t mean I will agree with his every post — or his every thought. And I daresay, Bruce, Nick and Jeff will stand in similar stead. :-)
Just a reminder about our brunch tomorrow, January 20 in South Beach.
Drop me a note to RSVP and for details
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Just a reminder about our brunch in Miami this coming Sunday, January 20th.
And a Monday night steak dinner on the 28th in honor of the LA City Council’s declaration of Meatless Mondays.
Drop me a note to RSVP and for details.
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Hey folks. I haven’t talked about it much, but last year I made a career change to consulting & full-time blogging/conservative punditry.
So, unfortunately, that will require asking for donations throughout the year. This is one of those times.
If you like the things we do here at the GayPatriot blog and enjoy my ridiculousness on Twitter, please DONATE to our GayPatriot PayPal Fund.
I should also mention I am available for speaking engagements and my official business website (political & social media consulting) is HERE.
Much appreciated.
-Bruce (@GayPatriot)
As I, in returning from my family vacation, return to work on my fantasy epic, I am trying to work out a schedule similar to that I “effected” when I was writing my dissertation, spending the early part of the day and into the afternoon, “dissertating” and the late afternoon and part of the evening “blogging.”
While the dissertation seemed to require more work than does the novel, it didn’t drain me as this sometimes does.
Perhaps, I just need to get used to writing fiction again — or perhaps I find this writing draining because I am drawing from images that have been stirring in my “subconscious” (and conscious) mind for over a decade. And in the current chapter, I am providing much background information, notions and images that have been continuously simmering for sometime.
Or that creative writing is in itself more draining. Or that my sense of being drained is just my psyche seeking rest to allow the images to settle and then emerge. . .
Not sure what it is — but to hope again to restore the balance I enjoyed when I was writing my dissertation.
Until then, I have encouraged ILoveCapitalism to blog a little more regularly than we had initially asked him to blog. :-)
Because his posts have proven popular among our readers, Bruce and I have decided to invite our frequent contributor, ILoveCapitalism, to join us as an occasional blogger. He’ll be posting from time to time. His economic insight and free-market perspective should prove invaluable to our fans — and our critics.
I will be in Miami for meetings at the end of next week and should have some time about mid-day on Sunday, the 20th (the mid-way point of a failed presidency) for a brunch with readers.
Drop me a note if you’d like to join us.
I sit now in a Starbucks where I have found a slow Internet connection; I had retreated here precisely to access the Internet as I have issues with wireless connections at home.
Sometime last night, the mouse on my iMac (my primary computer and the one only which appears able to regularly to connect to the Internets from my home) just decided to start working erratically, sometimes not functioning at all, other times choosing to work only in certain segments of the screen. I did call AppleCare and a very nice woman named Chimika (sp?) very patiently helped me track down the serial number (since, at that point in the conversation, the mouse wasn’t working on the left side of the screen where is located the Apple icon–I had to climb up on a chair to read the number of the box which, packrat that I am, I had kept*).
Since I had been able to use the Wireless keyboard, she determined it had to be the (wireless) mouse (and not the port on the computer itself), so we set up an appointment (for Sunday) when I could take it in to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store. Fortunately, I have AppleCare so a replacement mouse will be free.
The long and short of this is that I do not have Internet a home. And the internet I found at this here Starbucks is slow. So maybe it’s a sign.
And with my fantasy epic backed up on a thumb drive, I can work on that (even on this laptop) at home. Or even here — because Starbucks’s slow internet shouldn’t impact the speed of Word.
I may try to post when I make an excursion to a neighborhood coffee shop. Or not. Next project now is to cut and paste a post that ILoveCapitalism has written for us.
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I am honored to have done so well in a contest in which I barely participated. Due to all the craziness surrounding my return from my family vacation, I didn’t even get to vote nor to check out any of the entries.
Please note that while I generally like the submissions from my fellow “council” members, I don’t always agree with what they have to say — or the way they say it. Each blogger (or blogress) what he (or she) believes to be his (or her) best piece of that week.
Council Winners
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Congratulations to Neoneocon, rising from Conservative Blogress Diva Regent to take on the tiara as Grande Conservative Blogress Diva 2012/13.
Joining her in her court will be Sarah Hoyt, as Conservative Blogress Diva Regent and Bookworm as Conservative Blogress Diva in Waiting.
Through the power of her prose and the wisdom of her words, each woman has demonstrated wit, intelligence, strength and confidence enough to command the respect of conservative men–and is thus a diva, as we define one.
May they continue to serve in loyal opposition to a failed presidency – and to demonstrate that despite the debacle of last November, certain smart and savvy conservative women remain confident about our vision for the country and committed to articulate ideas for real reform.
As I am vacationing with my family, I don’t expect to have too much time to blog this week, so encourage you all to visit the sites of the various blogress divas and vote in the contest, with the ballot below the jump.
Bear in mind that in addition to bestowing the Ethel, for the Grande Conservative Blogress Diva, we will also be electing the Conservative Blogress Regent, also known as the Agnes (or Endora) and the Conservative Blogress in Waiting or Lucy, each named for a conservative or Republican diva.
Due both to a family vacation and much thought/work on my fantasy epic, blogging will be slow in the coming days; I will try to get pieces up from time to time, but please do understand if I do not. In the meanwhile, enjoy some of these posts for the Watchers’ Council.
I just received the nominations and there are sure to be some solid submissions:
Council Submissions
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With apologies for the failure to get to this until today, I hereby announce the nominees for the 2012/13 Grand Conservative Blogress Diva. Bear in mind that we consider a diva to be a strong, confident woman who commands the respect of men.
And a conservative blogress diva need not be conservative herself, but must command the respect of conservative men. And I think you’ll agree that the ladies on this list do just that. And without further ado, here are the 14 nominees for Grand Conservative Blogress Diva with links to their blogs:
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