More reading and other fun stuff...

So I finished my 39th book of the year (and incidentally 16th Kurt Vonnegut novel overall) this morning.  I also started Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" this afternoon.  I've been reading a lot and my Goodreads account is faithfully following along.

I still think Goodreads is the best social media site ever.  The fact that you can interact with people, but most of us ignore each other for the books, is phenomenal.

Work is nuts...  Had some crazy and rude people over the last few days.   It makes for interesting writing material...  Speaking of which....

So I was on the bus, heading to work.  An old man who I had seen multiple times before was already on board and the driver had just stepped out to stretch.  The old man sat quietly and then calmly said to nobody, "Well, it's gonna be our time to die pretty soon..."   I don't think he even knew I was there and I was so taken aback that I couldn't even say anything.  I just watched him with a sad curiosity.

During the ride, the old man started having an outward but silent argument with someone.  He waved his fingers and made fists in the air while he mounted a verbal assault on the ears of no-one that could hear him.  This continued sporadically throughout the bus ride.  Punching the seat with little to no force, he stated some very harsh words in imperceptible grunts.

I couldn't help but to feel sad for this man...  He may have relived some of his life while at the same time accepting his mortality.  Intense stuff...

Hopefully he is still around for a bit.  

Hopefully I take a lesson and get off of my third point of contact to write...

We will see...

Joe

New fire, a bus ride and the future...

So, I have been toying around with the advice given to me by author Brain Herbert.  When I asked him some weeks ago, "How do I stop myself from writing and then hating what I wrote halfway through?", he responded, "Start with short stories and build it from there."   This is pure genius.

So with that, I have been panning through my old notes for my massive Post-Apocalyptic 3-4 book novel that I had started 3-4 years ago.  Now, I am looking at it with renewed vigor.  The places I can go with the multitude of short stories is staggering.   Let's see how this goes...

On the bus today, two people who link up on the bus every few days or so, met again today.  Both are around 18 and male.  One is a "MMA" fighter in training and the other just wrecked his 10 speed.  The conversation, which I tried desperately to ignore, was something like this...

"Bro, it was a gnarly hill."
"Yeah, I bet.  That place is hella sketchy."
"Yeah, I so wiped it at the bottom.  I was covered in blood."
"You could've died bro...  Heh, heh."
"Heh, heh...  Yeah..."

The MMA guy then went on to advise the other with a tale of why not to drop acid and then drive 10 miles.  

Needless to say, the collective IQ of the remaining passengers had dropped at least 60 points prior to the MMA guy leaving.   If these teenagers are our future, then we are screwed...

The future is perking up some.  Or at least it will be shortly.  Things are happening that I will speak of later, with one exception.  I am enrolling in school again so that I can get my BA in English finally.  Yay...  Go Me.   ;)

Finished Poetics by Aristotle and Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke this morning.  I was then sad because that was the only two books I had brought to work.  Nothing for my break or the ride home...  :(

Anyway...   Goodnight peoples.

Joe

And then there's this...

So I have been reading more than writing.  I know...  Sad.  Good.  Weird.   Don't know where the funk is coming from.  Maybe it is lack of sleep...  Maybe stress...  Working a retail job with my background is not exactly glorious and I am still on the hunt for new employment.  I keep pushing...

Maybe I can find something writing...  Maybe...

Think I'm going back to college again.   Probably online this time.  English degree is in my sights.

Finished Vonnegut's Player Piano.  Fantastic, of course.  Makes you re-look at humanity.

Working on Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End.  

Final Fantasy XII is still being a pain and interrupting writing time.  As is reading.   As is stressing.

Something's gotta give, right?

Goodreads is still my favorite Social Media site.  

There is a Beer called "Hoppy Bitch" that I tried tonight.  4 of 5 stars!  It was delicious.  Very hoppy as would be expected by its name.

I guess that's it.   Just trying to find some light at the tunnel's end and feeling like the tunnel is caving in...

Push forward, right?  I will...

Joe

Writing, Hunting, etc...

So it's been a couple of days since I last worked on the story.  This happens from time to time.  You get fueled, fire forth and then sputter around for a few days.  After it kicks back in and off we go....

I have been reading like crazy.  In the last five days I have finished:

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuinn
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Currently I'm working on Vonnegut's Player Piano.

I am also hunting for a way to write and make a living.  That hunt is interesting.  I think I misspelled "doesn't" on the last cover letter.  (I'm pretty sure I put "Dosen't".)  I am guessing the irony alone will keep me from that job.  Who knows, maybe they will think it's funny.

Back to hunting...

Joe

Another quick one.

Up to 46 pages today.  Moving at a decent pace.  I swear I will post something more blog like shortly.  

By the way, things went well today.  

Joe

The Head And The Heart is still amazing.  

Quick update...

39 pages and counting.   Short update.  Long day tomorrow.  Wish me luck.

Joe

The rides are productive...

So my experiment of writing on the bus is continuing to be a massive success as far as kick starting my writing.  I am now 33 pages into the story which is taking on a life of it's own.  The main character seems to be developing into something else with echoes of me and some assumed bits about what America expects from this type of character.  I realize this tells you nothing as to what I am writing, but I never like to give details until it actual gets written.  Of course, that has yet to fully happen.

I am just glad to be writing and letting it happen when it does....  Not gonna force it.

Rediscovered Netflix on my laptop.  Let the mass watching begin...

Joe