Again! If you want someone to ask other questions, best of luck because I ain't doing it.
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)?
What are you writing?
How is that going?
Well, why aren't you writing / writing more (in general, not this very second)?
Is that just an excuse?
Really?
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life?
Anything you feel we should know about?
Did you do anything cool for the Fourth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in.
What do you mean: "other questions"?
Good luck with that one.
I spent the weekend with most of my best friends; haven't seen one of them in almost a year, and it was great to get together. Weather was unbelievably nice w/low humidity and temps. Food was great! Good wine, good conversations.
All-in-all, a 10 for the holiday! Hope everyone else's was too.
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)? Arrest Us story entries. Read over 100 now, still a load to go though. My reading habits don't change depending on the season. I just read whatever grabs me.
What are you writing? Another contest entry, 1,500 words on the theme of Shine.
How is that going? Draft 1 was done a while back, got some critique back, should be tackling draft 2 within the next week.
Well, why aren't you writing/writing more (in general, not this very second)? Because 153 entries for Arrest Us.
Is that just an excuse? Nope - in for a penny, in for a pound.
Really? Yup.
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life? Same old, same old.
Anything you feel we should know about? Nothing you'd be interested in.
Did you do anything cool for the Forth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in. It was my son's sports day at school, so we had a picnic and watched that. It was pretty good.
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)?
I'm still reading Russell Brand's first book but he tends to ramble a little too much and get way off topic. Normally I like that kind of thing but it makes his book boring for some reason. In the summer, I've been more interested in nonfiction, educational stuff like Malcom Gladwell and Tim Ferriss.
What are you writing?
I'm done with short stories for a while, I've had my fun. It's time to work on novels and I have one fully fleshed out in my head and a few chapters written so far.
How is that going?
Good, I just can't find the time lately because of my daughter and work.
Well, why aren't you writing/writing more (in general, not this very second)?
I have a daughter who's almost a year old and my limited time off of work is dedicated to her.
Is that just an excuse?
No, I'm really working a lot and the baby is a handfull all of the time.
Really?
YES. She's into everything. If I have something within her reach, she has to have it no matter what it is. She's nonstop, it's a blast.
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life?
Fine, I'm getting my finances in order, work is going well and I have tons of responsibilities and shares in the company and soon I'll have people working under me. I'm happy.
Anything you feel we should know about?
The Trews by Russell Brand on Youtube.
Did you do anything cool for the Forth of July?
Went to a low-key BBQ, it was nice. Their house was right on the lake so we saw fireworks across every section of the sky. The daughter didn't get scared at all, she loved it.
@SConley: Wow, I'm impressed that you're getting anything done w/a one-year-old! That's a chase-and-distract-them stage for sure.
I'm going to ask an other question. To anyone who has read Galveston by Pizzolatto (or anyone who knows anyway): why does he capitalize the word "Dumpster"? Is "Dumpster" a brand-name gone common, like Coke or Post-It?
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)?
Currently Consider Phlebas. I'll move on to read Arrest Us entries when I'm done with that.
What are you writing?
Short stories.
How is that going?
Slow.
Well, why aren't you writing/writing more (in general, not this very second)?
Because ... excuses.
Is that just an excuse?
Yes.
Really?
Yes, really.
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life?
Uhm ... well, as usual.
Anything you feel we should know about?
Not really. My life is quite boring.
Did you do anything cool for the Forth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in.
Uh, it's been such a long time ago. Can't really remember what I did three days ago, let alone a week ago.
Yep, Dumpster's a brand name, like Kleenex, Q-tip, Realtor, etc.
I'm in the WAR (Lit Demon) contest, and wrapping up my first short story entry, first thing I've written in ten months. Very exciting. Hopefully I'll get to continue in many more rounds to come.
My 4th was awesome; went to a fancy house party with lots of great food and drink.
Been traveling in a frigging whirlwind tour for work. Five cities in three days last week, and six cities in three this upcoming one. I feel like I'm traveling with the president: all on private jets with cars watiting on the tarmac to and fro (the only way it's possible given just a few hours per city), privy to executive conversations I shouldn't be, etc. But it's also like Groundhog's Day, the same event times eleven. It'd be kinda fun if I weren't the sole (video/sound) crewperson and tasked with documenting as much as possible with no free time.
@GH --- The others we've mentioned, I've seen them all, but never a Dumpster-brand dumpster that I can recall.
This is a neat little thread...
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)? The Yellow King. Fucking phenomenal book, man. Not really. The only thing about my reading habits that change in the summer is that I read less because the heat makes me miserable.
What are you writing? Geez, Louise... way more than I can handle! In the last two months I started writing again for the first time since middle school and since I started I've finished a rough, rough, rough draft of a novel, a short story that I submitted here and started another novel 'cause I'm a Silly Sally.
How is that going? Okay, I guess. I'm definitely learning a lot so that's good.
Well, why aren't you writing/writing more (in general, not this very second)? Because I don't really have any idea what I'm doing and I don't want to fail.
Is that just an excuse? I think it speaks for itself.
Really? Man, quit harassing me and go write your own damn stories. Pushy weirdo...
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life? Hot.
Anything you feel we should know about?
Did you do anything cool for the Forth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in. What's the "Forth" of July?
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)?
I'm hitting my TBR pile. Finishing up Chandler's "The Big Sleep" (a sin I never read it before). Then onto some Lawrence Block.
What are you writing?
Working on a novella that I need to have in submittable shape before 8/1. About halfway done.
How is that going?
Well...then awful...then really good...then FUCK THIS, I'M LEAVING.
Well, why aren't you writing/writing more (in general, not this very second)?
If I'm not writing, I'm reading, working, playing with the kid, or networking.
Is that just an excuse?
Nope
Really?
Yes, really.
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life?
Groovy.
Anything you feel we should know about?
I'm still high on winning an honest to gods award for my writing. Still waiting for the folks who decided on that to come along angry that I somehow conned them into that decision.
Did you do anything cool for the Fourth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in.
Slept, ate, and took the kid out.
@Aud Fontaine: ..."other parts of your life? Hot" very nice!
BTW, (if you are serious): the Fourth, aka July 4, is a holiday for us--our written liberation from our Brit Overlords in 1776. From then on we had to fight them, and we won, mostly because they gave up and we were persistent. Plus we fought guerilla-style, which the Brits weren't used to, twits! Every year, we eat BBQ, shoot off fireworks, and drink!! (Hey our national anthem is based on a pub drinking song; only drunks would attempt it at that time.) Oh, those awful twits came back in 1812, and we lost our capitol momentarily, but regained our senses and well, we won the day! (see ref. Monty Python). God help us if someone else tries again. :)
@Angel: good to hear from you! Seriously, you've never read the Big Sleep? well, never too late for the classics. Oh, the award---congrats!! Could you fill us in?
"took the kid out" ---good on you for being a good dad!!!
Thanks, Just!
I was very lucky to win the 1st Annual AJ Hayes Memorial Writing Contest. Check out the story at the link, along with Ray Nessly and Jen Conley's pieces (they are great).
What are you reading, and do you tend to read different things in the summer (or winter depending on location)?
Just finished Mrs. Poe--got sucked in to a disguised lame romance novel because I have a thing for Edgar Allan Poe. Now I'm reading Steal Like an Artist--a very quick read, but amusing and good reminders to keep at it. I have A Backward Glance waiting to get started--it seemed wrong that I'd never read my favorite authors quasi-autobiography.
What are you writing?
Working on revising a short story to submit by the end of the month and my 3rd attempt at a novel.
How is that going?
I'm using Scrivener for the first time, and I'm liking it so far--helps me keep characters straight, plot lines, etc. But I think I'm starting to get distracted by the shiny new toy instead of focusing on getting a draft spewed out.
Well, why aren't you writing / writing more (in general, not this very second)?
A 3 year old and a 17 month old mostly. Then there's the paying job and the two hours a day I waste in traffic getting to and from said job.
Is that just an excuse?
The kids aren't, but the commuting is really just making me bitter.
Really?
Yeah, really. I live in the Dallas area, so it's not like I could take public tansporation and use that time writing while someone else deals with the headache.
How are things besides that, you know in the other parts of your life?
I'd really like to find another job, but other than that I'm good.
Anything you feel we should know about?
The Conversations with my 2 Year Old Channel on YouTube
Did you do anything cool for the Fourth of July? You don't have to be an American to answer that, or in America, or such. If for whatever reason that was a cool Friday for you, chime in.
My youngest got yet another ear infection the day before so he was pretty miserable... making us miserable. Got to take the kids to see a fire truck, which amused them. We didn't go to the city's party because crowds make me want to hurt people. Pretty normal, boring stuff.
@Angel--congrats on the win. I remember you from Clevenger's class back in March.
*double post*
@SConley: Wow, I'm impressed that you're getting anything done w/a one-year-old! That's a chase-and-distract-them stage for sure.
We don't really get anything done most days. We have to do housework and things in short, intense bursts of activity when the baby is playing on her own or being babysat, which is rare.
