Rewrites’ revenge

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It’s always dangerous to take a vacation in the middle of rewrites. The rewrites usually exact their revenge.

Here’s a current example. I just got back last night from a short, four day vacation. First thing this morning I opened up the True Story manuscript and began with the first paragraph of Chapter 27.

Before:
With all the extra chairs stacked about no one could mistake the room for anything but what it was, an office that was being used as a storage room.

After:
No one could mistake the room for anything other than it was, an office that some poor fool had unwisely allowed an extra chair to be left in an unused corner. Unwisely, because chairs, like every other creature in the universe, attract their own. Before the dolt knew what had happened, extra chairs from all over the building had migrated to his office and taken up residence in towering stacks that lined each wall. The poor guy tried to get someone to remove the surplus of chairs, but it was a lost cause. He finally gave up and carved out a nice little corner in the records room where he could do his work.

I’m not exactly sure how I got from B to A, and it certainly doesn’t look like an hour and a half worth of work to me!

I’d best move on to another type of work for today. Let my brain wrap itself around what it’s supposed to be doing and come at it again tomorrow.

Networking nerves

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Last night I went to a networking event for screenwriters. I rarely get the chance to rub shoulders with other writers, so I was rather nervous.

That’s the excuse I’m giving. I was nervous.

‘Cause when someone asked me what I wrote, a bunch of gobbledygook poured out of my mouth. A veritable flood of nonsense. I’m pretty sure it was unintelligible. It certainly didn’t make it seem I knew how to put two words together.

Even worse, my hands kept flapping about like I was swatting a swarm of mosquitoes. They were doing it all on their own, I had no control over them.

Sigh.

Obviously, I need to get out more.

Would you like ice in that?

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Summer is my favorite time of year. That glorious sun! I can’t get enough of it.

Hmm. Maybe I should rephrase that since I burn in about a minute and a half.

I adore the bright light of a summer’s day, as long as I can enjoy it from a shaded location. It’s not the heat I can’t handle, it’s those potent UV rays.

But there is one weird thing that happens in the summer.

My favorite order at Starbucks is a Venti extra hot latte. The ratio of coffee to milk is perfect, and I get a particular satisfaction when I drink a very hot beverage. Even in the summer.

But when I put in my order in the summer I always get the same question. “Would you like ice in your drink?”

Is it me? Or is someone not listening?

Father’s Day – 2019

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Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there!

That special mix of gentle yet stern is hard to accomplish. But you do it. Every day.

You, the good dad, the hard-working dad, the caring dad, show your children you care.

Every time you pick them up and brush them off after a fall.
Read a bedtime story.
Tell a corny joke.
Or mediate an argument.

Don’t let those little munchkins fool you, they know it’s because you care.

They even know you make them use their manners, pick up their toys, and go to bed at a reasonable time because you care.

Though they probably won’t admit that until they have kids of their own.

Enjoy your day!

Have you ever?

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Have you ever watched a new show because it sounded like a show you really love, only to find it’s a poorly constructed derivative of said show?

Have you ever had a remake butcher your childhood memories and rip them to shreds?

Have you ever been disappointed when a movie trailer shows ALL the good bits?

Yeah, me too.

I hate that!

But what I hate most of all is when a show or a movie tries so hard to appeal to everyone, that it appeals to no one.

Find your audience, people. Everyone isn’t going to like your show no matter how hard you try!

And let’s stick to original content already! Enough of the remakes!

True Story novel – end excerpt

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Okay, so maybe I have more to write before I actually reach the end. About fifteen pages more, to be exact.

But today I couldn’t help myself. After I finished the pages I intended to adapt I skipped ahead and worked on the very last page.

I figured it wouldn’t hurt since endings are important, just like beginnings. They need to leave the right impression, so need to have a lot of time spent on them. And since it doesn’t give anything away…

^ ^ ^

As the soft, yellow rose petals float slowly to the ground they morph into flakes of falling snow.

But this isn’t just any snow. It’s the snow every child hopes for on Christmas morning. The snow that hides chores left undone, covers toys not put away, and transforms the world into a magical land perfect for snowball fights and an entire village of snow people.

“History,” Vanessa’s voice shatters the calm.

A bright white light obscures everything as a train blasts out of a tunnel, followed by the blare of a train whistle. Any semblance of calm is now gone.

“Set in stone,” Vanessa continues, all the world as if she’s telling a story to one of her children. The train chugs purposefully on a long, straight track.

“Boring. Unchangeable.”

Without warning the train whips around a sharp curve and out of sight.

“You can believe that if you want to—”

In the distance the train reappears and begins a long journey over a high bridge. The kind of bridge that turns dreams into nightmares in the squeamish and faint of heart.

“—But that’s not the real story.”

As the last echo of Vanessa’s voice fades, the train completes its journey over the bridge and disappears into a dense forest. Only its smoke remains visible as it clears the trees and winds its way through the lonely countryside.

Far away, so far away it’s more a memory than an actual sound, a train whistle blows.

Scaredy-cat!

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Guest Post by Pepper Curious: 

When I took my person for a walk this morning I ran into that cat. Or at least I tried to.

That cat will never come over when I call, but always hides behind a fence. He is such a scaredy cat.

I probably could have caught him before he jumped over the fence but I had my person with me and I couldn’t leave her alone.

You see my person is a silly human who thinks cats are cute. She doesn’t realize that they are evil creatures just waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

I shiver when I think what would happen if my person ever met that cat and I wasn’t around to protect her. Ugh!

Snowpocalypse 2019

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7 am. Awoke to a winter wonderland.

Frankly, by 3:30 in the afternoon I’m ready for it all to melt. Doesn’t look all that likely.

Today is the 12th. Snowpocalypse continues.

We tried to drive yesterday but the car got stuck in the snow, and last night we lost power for several hours.

The lost power bit was actually kinda fun. We lit a few candles, listened to a windup radio, drank wine, and talked. It was a reminder that technology gives us a lot, but it often takes away even more. Like those moments when you need to entertain yourself.

I’d post another pic but everything looks just the same.