It's the last day of February. The year sure is going fast.

I've been invited to submit to another anthology, so that is what I've been working on. I have two possible stories that I could submit: one is done, the other is a WIP. I'm going to finish this one before making the decision on which to submit. It will most likely be the one I'm working on now, since I'll be able to direct it more toward the specific theme of the anthology. I still have a novel in me that is begging to get out, but I'm not sure when I'll start on it.

Normally I'm the healthiest person around. I rarely get sick. But there is just something about having small children in your home that weakens your immune system. I now seem to have a touch of bronchitis, which has stolen my voice. This is bad since I talk on the phone all day at work. Also, today I bent down to pick up my daughter and threw my back out. What a week, and it just started.

That's about it in a nut shell.

I hope the words are flowing fast and free for the rest of you.

When Life Floods In

I don't have too much to report but I didn't want all of January to go by without letting you all know I'm still here. Work continues to conspire against my writing. Lately I've had all the productivity of a snail on a salt-lick. But I will prevail.

Life has a way of rushing in like a flood. All we can do is wait for the waters to subside. With that in mind, I leave you with a video of a flood that happened at my own home. It's bit hard to tell, but the water is probably about seven or eight feet deep in the middle. Enjoy.

Here at the End

It's been a strange year, and I can't say that I'll miss 2009 all that much. I have high hopes for 2010 even though we're not on schedule with those flying cars I heard so much about when I was a kid.

As far as writing goals go, I'm batting about 500. Some I accomplished, some not so much. But I'm pressing on. I'll confess I did have a few moments in 2009 when I asked myself "why write?" They were just short moment, though.

Just before sitting down to write this post I was messing with my latest WIP. I didn't get much done (just 500 words) but I feel better; less stressed; more focused. That's why I write.

Hopefully somewhere in 2010 hobby and career will meet. Until then I'll be satisfied with what I have.

I wish you all a happy and safe New Year.

Will Ya Shut Up Already

I had something happen to me recently that has never happened before. I abandoned a book (one that I was reading, not writing) after laboring with it for 120+ pages.

I hate giving up on books or movies. I usually will give it a once through just in case it redeems itself in the end. If it doesn't, then I don't read or watch it again. Besides, bad writing can sometimes teach you as much, if not more, than good writing. But this book, which I will leave anonymous, was just too much.

Maybe it's because I'm getting older and I just don't have as much time to waste. I'm not sure. It wasn't that the author was a bad writer. He was very good. The book was a New York Times bestseller (not that that means a great deal). What really sealed it for me was the chunk of back story that lasted for over 70 pages. I don't mind a bit of back story . . . a lot of back story if it carries the story along . . . but man, come on. Stephen King talks in his book On Writing about authors that fall in love with their own writing and ramble on just to see the words on paper. It's the equivalent of a blabber mouth who talks just to hear his own voice. There are few things more annoying.

So, away with it.

My wife and I are voracious readers (well, we were before children). I'm sure most of you are, too. You know the score. You buy books with the fervor of a habitual hoarder, and hope someday you'll be able to sit and read them all. So, my bookshelf is never void of a book to read.

I found one I got for Christmas last year: a collection of short stories by Clive Barker. Man oh man is it good. But my writing feels so remedial next to such a giant. My vocabulary is just too humble.

But that's a different post.

Writing wise, I haven't yet started my next novel due to a short story that popped up out of nowhere and derailed me. I hope to have it out of my brain soon so that I can start the long journey that is the novel.

50th Post

As the title reads, this is my 50th post. It's a tad pathetic considering I've had this blog for just over three years now. In the beginning I didn't post all that regular (if you look close you'll see a blank span of about seven or eight months) and I'm still not quite where I'd like to be. This year I tried my best to get at least one post in a month, two if I was really feeling it. In 2010 my goal is to get in a post a week. We'll see how that works out.

I have enjoyed all the new friends I've met through this blog, and I've learned a lot by following along with your adventures. It's been a tough year job-wise. I don't think I could have made it without sneaking a looky-loo at your blogs while pretending that I'm working.

Things are looking up. I see a light up ahead. My wife's schedule is starting to steady and solidify, which means I should be able to settle into a better pattern of writing. That makes for a less grumpy Gabe.

Now onto the writing news.

I know it is never a good idea to post about your agent rejections -- why promote how bad your are doing? -- but I'm not sure what the etiquette is for small victories. Who knows what agents and editors are lurking around your blog posts, using your little electronic journal as a judge of character? But what the heck. If it's bad form, please forgive.

Another agent has requested a partial of my novel GUARDING THE HEALER. I'm doing a little dance for no other reason than this lets me know I'm still on the right track. As you well know, it's a slippery slope and getting lost is an easy thing.

I was going to post about walking away from books too awful to read, but I think I'll save that for the next post.

If I don't talk to you before have a Happy Halloween.