Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

The idea entered my head a few days ago that I was out of story ideas. The concept mildly alarmed me–I’m only a third of the way into my present novel, and I still occasionally prod a work-in-progress short story with a mental stick. In short, I’m not terribly in need of a new idea.

But.

But I’m working on these pieces and some days thrashing more than writing, and I started to wonder if the well was dry. Already. Washed up before I’d begun. And then today I’m reading a news article when I stumble across a bit of history and, just like my first stillborn attempt at a novel, I fashion the premise for a historical fiction story right then and there.

I am happy and sad for me.

There is, as mentioned, a half-finished historical fiction novel already consuming bits and bytes on my computer. Someday I feel I’ll go back to it, when I’m a stronger writer. While writing that first historical fiction story I felt like a third grader trying to drive a car–it was fun, but I wasn’t ready for it. So with that challenge already in the queue, do I really need another historical fiction idea, set in the same city no less?

It’s not really a question. I’m thinking of the story and I’ve got this sad grin, because I’m looking forward to writing it one day, and knowing what a challenge it’s going to be to do it.

Writers. What is wrong with us?

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Recent happenings:

* Winnings of near $200 in Vegas
* Roughly 500 words written this evening to bring the page total for unsold novel number two to 118 pages
* That’s nearly 32000 words
* And I netted about $30 at the horse track

A wise man once said “I don’t need help. I just need more credit.”

Subject-wise this post is all over the place. Just deal.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Not to become the “all iPhone, all the time” blog, but am I the only one with wireless connectivity issues on their iPhone? I get signal strength issues in places where I previously had no such issues. My house, for example. Laptop fine, can roam all the same places. My iPhone, post 3.0–no such luck.

I suppose I could just set the dang thing down for a while and deal with real life. The concept is mind-blowing.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

So although I’m not buying the new iPhone, I did take the plunge on the 3.0 upgrade. Worked just dandy. Sor I’m enjoying the landscaped mail, and have suprised myself by using the voice notes (hello to recording my parking location at airports).

Is it slower? I’ve seen speculation, but at the moment I’m unsure.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Lest the previous post confuse you, I’m all for Iranian freedom. I’m just not sure what a majority of the people on the ground are thinking.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

This may be wildly unpopular to ask, but two questions:

1: Was the recent Iranian election actually rigged, or is there just a vocal minority (I’m just asking)?
2: Is the other guy any better? I don’t know anything about him–is he likely to lift the “Great Satan” tag, or just hate us less?

Sincere questions. I am ignorant of the answers.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

I fast approach the thirty thousand word mark in my new novel. This is the danger zone, the portion of the novel-writing process where it is “oh so easy” to consider the whole enterprise a piece of shiite and toss it over in favor of television or video game zombie-blasting or that bottle of Smirnoff you’ve been saving for a rainy day (cheapskate–I mean Smirrnoff, really?). This is the make or break point for novel writers. Passing it guarantees nothing, but cutting and running at this point can become a crutch, and it’s easier to bail the more times you hit thirty and go “eh, the next one will be better”. While working on the last novel I made myself power through, and I intend to do the same this time.

First step on that road? Cease the blogging wankery.

Later, Internets. I’m off to write another ten thousand, and then some.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Recently I’ve been considering just what I want this blog to be, and whether I want the focus to remain on my writing, or whether I’ll leak in other bits of my life, such as my career in IT. My VP friend Anthony Ha triggered my ruminations via a Tweet and linkage to this article at The Rumpus. Is it enough to blog about my writing, when I spend the bulk of my time performing a vastly different function?

This post is somewhat of a setup, as I’ve already made the decision on the writing/work balance, but it’s still an interesting question. I’m inclined to agree with the article’s premise, which is that writer’s don’t write about their respective day jobs because “it’s not where their passion lies”. I’ve been conflicted over my investment level in work for a while now, but I think I’m gaining some clarity. IT, specifically the system administration and managerial portions I have experience in, interests me. Many facets of the industry and the job–the parts that have become a commodity–no longer interest me, but I think there are still areas where “the art of IT” can be practiced. It’s just getting harder to find those gigs.

Anyway, the simple fact that I’m interested enough to blog about it means I have some shred of interest left. I can’t write about writing 24×7–even I hit a limit on navel gazing.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

I composed my earlier post in a fit of delusion and under the influence of ignorance. Before I discovered that existing iPhone users would not be subsidized. Before I discovered a new iPhone would cost me nearly $500.

Urge to buy new shiny…falling.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

I feel the urge for new shiny. It is growing.

New iPhone. It is coming!

I missed the first generation of iPhone, but eagerly hopped on board for the second wave. I’ve been very happy with it, despite some of its quirks (no cut & paste–seriously?). Many of those quirks, like the cut & paste, are supposed to be rectified via the version 3.0 software upgrade. However, there’s new hardware coming. Do I need it? Of course not. Do I want it?

Well, ask me again on Monday.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

So today’s accomplishments:

* Wrote 1400 words of new novel. Initial drudge work turned into smooth sailing.
* Purchased, prepped, and grilled steak. Consumed steak. Mmm.
* Finished edits on short. Printed and resubmitted to one of the biggies. If one is to aim, aim high.

So will I reward myself for all this labor? Hell yes.

Away with you computer! Hie thee to a nunnery. I am off to spend quality time with the family and rot my brain with tv.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

8100 words down to 6800 words. I would rather have run a marathon.

And yet it is done.

I celebrate with the drinking of alkaloid beverages.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Offsetting yesterday’s upbeat rejection, I got a form rejection today. Rejecting a story I quite liked, actually.

Sigh. This is why they (they being the published) tell you not to read anything into rejection letters. They are no more and no less than they seem. A rejection of that particular piece for that particular publication at that particular time.

Still. It blows.

Epic fail such as this leads me to examine the state of my writing. I must conclude I am:
1. Within inches of a wildly successful career involving awards I will collect like garden gnomes, OR
2. Submitting my work to the wrong publications, and I must therefore resign myself to posthumous accolades, OR
3. Not as good as I think I am

The empty shelf on my left screams #1.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Another nice rejection today for one of my flash pieces. I sent it on a lark and got a quick response. The friendliest bit:

Some micro-fic horror market it going to be very lucky to get this.

Hopefully not just blowing smoke up my rear portion. Regardless, a nice ego boost. Not an acceptance, but not a punch in the face either.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Wow. Just…wow.

Did study technology allow him to shoot Jester below the hard deck? I’m just curious.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

So this story shows two rights don’t offset a wrong.

Dude shirks his privilege, his obligation to serve on a jury, so warrant is issued for his arrest. Success.

Dude pulled over for surpassing the posted speed limit. Outstanding warrant discovered and dude is detained. Success.

Dude serves 83 fricking days in jail. Texas court system plays golf and debates merits of Irish whisky versus Kentucky Bourbon. FAIL!

Jeez. Man breaks law. Man goes to jail. Man gets day in court. It ain’t that hard.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

So yeah for me and my iron-willed deletion of 7000 of 7600 words. Except now I’ve restored every crappy little word.

I was right the first time. Keep writing. Plow on through and move the story along and fix all but the most dire of mistakes at the end. I tried–twice–to work the story from another angle. I wrote sober. I wrote not sober. I did not eat them on a boat, I did not eat them on a goat, etc. Flat, flat, flat. Not acting, not genius. So finally, at my wit’s end, I went back to the beginning. To word 7601.

Lo and behold it actually frigging worked.

I’m not saying it’s all perfection, but it’s not as bad as I thought. And the story is rocking and rolling into chapter deux now. You’d think I’d know better than to toss that much by now, especially in the first draft. The second draft is for exclaiming “this is the worst drivel ever put to page!” The first draft is for realizing “I am the second coming of Christ!” Or something like that. Point being, the first draft is for getting the dang thing finished. Period.

Eh. What do I know?

I know I’m at word 8354. Fingers crossed I keep going.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

I just deleted 7000 of 7600 words. Yes, I started the story too soon. Still. 7000 words.

Ouch.

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Ok, Ecto. Thought I’d already published that last blog entry. Apparently you found it exciting enough to publish twice.

And while I’m radiating myself via electronics rather than the sun, I’d like to annnounce I’m 493 words into the new novel. Wohoos!

Originally published at Jeff Macfee. You can comment here or there.

Did some tidying of the outline and background material. No more excuses, I guess.

Book Number Two (unpublished)–you are about to begin.