I told myself to have a quiet day to myself and focus on my writing. With the grievance process underway, any time spent worrying over it would just add on to a depression that I really don’t need.
So, I took my own advice and managed nearly 3,000 words in one morning, plus getting to expand on a character who, in the first draft, was barely a background set piece. Now, she’s fully realized and so much fun to write.
An overly helpful but woefully unobservant Southern Belle? Absolutely. Also a blue octopus alien?
*cackle*
I’m working on weaving comedic moments into my storytelling, which looks effortless to some but is a ton of work for me. I’m never sure if my jokes will land, but I think we can all chuckle at the idea of a way too helpful Southern Lady cephalopod. With this section nearly finished, I’m at the halfway point for this rewrite.
It’s going to be one of those Sundays where I have to remind myself that finding solutions to old problems does not mean that I have to scrap an entire project. But it may involve a moment or two of consternation and the flipping of tables.
Metaphorical tables, I should clarify. I have several physical ones at hand, but I’d get scolded by my family.
I was looking over my story notes for Peregrine and readying the next chapter when I couldn’t help but notice: I was missing a connection in the plot. This is my attempt at writing one of the old-school, large-setting, multi-person point of view stories; I needed to make sure that each disparate element tied into the overall story arc. For the most part, I’ve done so and enjoyed crafting all of the necessary parts to make the story whole, up until I noticed two holes in the outline.
I knew Points A to Z, except for C and G.
I mulled it over and over, considering each option and character and discarding them as they came. I already had so many people in the story, but they each had a job to do already. I decided to take on a light physical chore (my doctor would kill me if I did anything over-the-top while letting pulled muscles recover) and let my mind wander.
That, of course, did the trick: the connections didn’t exist yet. Those plot points relied on levers that didn’t have their fulcrums in place. The thing that would move the story forward and make people make their tough decisions needed to make the difficult choice itself to inform those whose personal power could make even greater decisions.
I needed another protagonist: a Nobody.
From my limited education in creative writing, a Nobody Protagonist is a character you use when you want an ‘everyman’ to have an effect on the story. They’re nothing special, but their decisions and actions can alter the course of histories. They’re my favorite kind of protagonist, in fact. They’re an element that all of you and I can relate to, can understand, and even root for, while the Big Damn Heroes are showing up and kicking down the door.
And I never thought to include one in this story.
Flipping metaphorical tables ensues.
So, I need to go through the outline and see where and how to shoehorn this (placecard) person will fit. I also have to create this individual and give them the bits of information they need in their background. Who are they? Where will they be that makes them make their decisions? When will they be put in the inevitable position of making history? Why are they where they will be? What is going to drive them to step away from their ‘nothing’ existence? How are they going to be one of the fulcrums in this story?
That’s my job to figure out and though it reads like I’m complaining, I know I’m going to love every second of the process. It’ll be like meeting an old friend for the first time. Just roll with it, you’ll understand what I mean eventually.
Since I’m going to have to take a step back and craft a whole person into mental existence, I think I’ll keep whittling away at the short story rewrite. There’s a concern that it still wouldn’t be accepted as its own premise would call for additional stories (you don’t write about just one Tall Tale even if it’s a retelling), but there’s always a chance of publishing it through a company as a standalone story within a series. What I’d love to do is to write individual short stories for each and then write a whole novel with all of them involved.
Yes, I have ideas for several Tall Tales in that sci-fi setting. Johhny Appleseed is probably one of my favorites, though it has a bittersweet ending.
But before that, I have to get this story accepted. By thunder, William the Pecostian will lasso a black hole.
If you want to know how, either hope it gets published or buy it when I break down and go to some place like Amazon.
I have some 2,000 words to get through today, so it’s off to the same keyboard I’m in front of, right now!
(This is a Test Posting to see if I’m doing this correctly)
The Raptor Fleet series is my attempt to ‘step back’ in storytelling methods and concepts, recapturing the epic moments of larger-than-life settings, whether it was centered around a settlement or aboard a war cruiser during a battle.
This means, of course, that I’ve had to take the time and build the settings, adding history, scientific advances, and especially people.
-Why is the human interstellar government called ‘The Empyrean Imperia’? -What is the Empyrean Imperia modeled after, and what was added in? -Who was Dilip Varma, and why are the Emperors/Empresses called ‘Second’ or ‘Fifth’ of the Varma Line? -What happened to Old Earth, and why is the Throne set in Addis Adaba?
These questions, as well as Chapter Drafts, will be answered/available for subscribers.
Sarah and I used to make the joke that if she were ever offered a job whose salary could cover our household, I’d become a house-spouse that very instant. I’ve said this before at the office, mostly because it made the older men stare in confusion.
Welp, I now have the abundance of time that comes from being at home. I have to admit that this is very odd for me, but I’m game to learn what I can do.
I also have the caveat that my chest muscles are still recovering, so I have weight-lifting restrictions. That will drive me crazy, eventually, but for now I’m piddling around the house and learning what all I can do.
So, what can I do?
Gonna wander around and find out, so it’ll be an adventure for today!
Pray for my family; they’ve never had me around this much.
Penelope was mad that there was a kitten living in the carport and showed her displeasure by peeing on the bed. I’m reinvesting in those old “Don’t Pee Here” sprays.
But it just wouldn’t be the Swift Ranch if the animals weren’t a little weird.
…yup, that tracks.
Stay safe out there, folks. Gotta put a cold compress on my side, so it’ll be a quiet night.
I started working for the US Post Office back in May 2009, as a T.E. (Transitional Employee) but did not make Career until 2014. I’ve been wearing the uniform for 15 years.
On Tuesday, I was fired. I received a Letter of Removal and was walked off the premises.
At the time, I was (understandably) in shock. I called my wife, took a few minutes at home to let it sink in, and… I broke, again.
Folks, I like to joke that sometimes God thinks I’m Job from the Old Testament. If you’ve been following my posts and writings for the last eight months, you might see why I use that kind of acerbic humor. This just adds on to it.
Now, not all is lost. I’m still on the payroll and have been put on administrative leave. So, I’m still getting paid until late June. I also have a Union, so I’ve filed a grievance to have the Removal rescinded. The folks in Union leadership are considering my case and are, bluntly saying, ‘convinced this is bullshit and I’ll get my job back’. That will take time, though, and I can’t get around that (backpay will inevitably happen), so it’ll be a waiting game. I can’t go into the details surrounding the grievance at the moment. Legally speaking, a grievance is considered a lawsuit, so I’m under a ton of obligations to keep quiet about it on public forums.
Don’t worry, players and friends; I’ll talk about it on personal time.
To say that I’ve been pushed into despair would be an honest understatement. I’m a male Millennial from the 80’s, so I’ve been raised to believe that if I can’t provide, then I have no value. I’m not saying that it’s true, but it’s some strong brainwashing to go through.
On the other hand, I have a family for whom I must provide. My wife and children need to be fed, clothed, and given safe shelter. The bills don’t care if I’ve lost my job; they still need to be paid.
It’s a motivation that borders on the insanity with me; they need me to not fall apart, and more importantly, I need me to not fall apart.
‘Fall apart’ is something I will do, of course, but I’ve also been raised to believe that men can’t show emotions like that to other people, so it’ll happen during my more private moments. I do have friends and family to whom I can reach out, and I will. One of them, a buddy that’s also a psychologist and therapist, talked to me earlier this morning about everything.
He sent me a video of Jean-Luc Picard explaining to Data that “You can do everything right, make no mistakes, and still lose. That’s not weakness; that’s life.” He reminded me, in a moment of bleak thoughts, that I’ve done right by my family and that I’ll continue to do so, because that’s who I am.
It reminded me of something my father told me when I was 17.
Sidenote: I really need to dust.
I’ll be taking this time to fight the despair, take care of house and home, and write. I had started a rewrite of a short story for submission before this happened. I’m now extra-motivated to get some kind of publishing, and I do have time on my hands…
Might also start with the creative crunch for subscriber content and try to drive up donations. Lord knows, I’m going to need it. And yes, I’ll look into some kind of paying work to make ends meet. I can address my feelings, but responsibilities must also be addressed.
I want to take a quick moment to remind all of you that, if you’re depressed, don’t try to hide it, suppress it, or keep it to yourself. Please, if you have people, reach out to them and talk. If you don’t have those people, there are programs that can help you, even in this crazy world we live in. It’s weird and go against my instincts to say that, but that instinct was taught to me and it’s ultimately not a healthy one.
Men: fucking listen to me and talk to someone. Stoicism isn’t a panacea for despair.
Have faith, folks. I’ll still be around and will keep writing/posting. If I seem depressed, it’s because I am. But I’ll keep plugging along at my goals. I have people that’ll help me stand back up.
I wanted to end this essay on something that’ll lift our moods, so here’s the fat housecat stoned out of her mind on catnip and unable to move.
Yeah… Penelope was stuck like that but didn’t seem to mind or notice.
I had mentioned a while ago that I had received a rejection for a short story. After letting a few friends look it over (silently asking “WHHHYYYY?” in my dramatic fashion) and seeing the problems throughout, I thought I’d take a look at it myself.
If you’ve been here a while, you might recognize it.
Now, five or so years after it was finished, I’m starting to see what is wrong with the story. I can at least take pride in the fact that I’ve gained more experience in that time, right?
Now, this isn’t me saying that I’m putting my other WIPs on the shelf to fix this; those are still my priorities for writing. But if I can whittle away at this on occasion, and make it publishable, I can get my name out there while I keep working.
I just gotta figure out how to make a tornado in a vacuum!
Swift's Corner 