Vacation Expectation

Vacations are great. They're one of those things that keeps us going. Just knowing that there's a break from the norm on the way is enough to help push us through week after week of often boring and unfulfilling day jobs. Even as good as they are though, they often fall short of our expectations.

It happens to me all the time. Vacation is on the way, and there is so much that I'll be able to do in that time.  Time to read, write, and draw all the stuff that I've been thinking about at work for weeks or months is on the way. Then, the vacation is here, and before you can blink, it's gone. Where did the time go?

If you're like me, most of it was spent with family, while not reading, writing or drawing all the things that you've been dreaming of while at the day job for the past several weeks or months.  It happens, and it's okay.  

On the bright side, I did get some reading and writing in over the past week.  Just not as much as I would have liked.  As far as drawing goes though, I don't think I even made a doodle in the past week.  That kinda sucks, but it's the same problem that I've had for some time.  Not drawing enough.  To be honest, I'm not sure how to remedy that.  There's only so many hours in the day after all, and something always seems to get pushed to make time for other things.  Right now, the thing being pushed is the drawing time.  

So now that I'm back at work, there's not as much time to read, write, and draw all those things that I've been dreaming about.  I will get to them though.  I may not know how just yet, but I'll figure it out.  I'll let you know what I come up with.  In the meantime, good luck with all that you're doing out there.  

Time and What to do With It

This life is what we make of it.  It's filled with our decisions.  The things we do that mean so much to us, give form to our lives.  What do you do when you want to do too much though?  That's the problem I'm dealing with.  It's one that I've had for some time.  I would bet that many of you have it too.

I write.  I do it everyday.  That makes me a writer, but that's not all I do or all that I am.  Or should I say that it's not all that I want to do or be.  I try to draw a little whenever I get a chance.  Drawing is soothing.  To sit with pencil and paper and work on a piece of art is a very relaxing experience.  For me, it's a lot like writing. 

The thing about my drawing that I don't like though, is the lack of it.  It gets pushed to the side so often, and that's frustrating.  I want to draw more, but like writing and everything else, drawing takes time.  It takes even more time to be good at it.

That's the good thing about art though.  You can be good at it.  Whether you are writing, drawing or whatever else, you can be good.  It demands your time though.  There's no substitute for the hard work you put into your art.

That brings me to the next thing.  There's only 24 hours in a day.  That's a fact that we all have to deal with whether we like it or not.  There have been a number of times that I've not liked it, that's for sure.  With that in mind, sometimes we have to make changes to our lives.  Time management, if you will.  

For the past year, I've been going to the gym as much as possible.  Early in the mornings, before work was the best time for me.  The problem is that, in order to get up that early and hit the gym, you've almost got to get in the bed early.  If you don't, you'll end up paying for it all day long.  Going to bed early kills the time that I've always used for my art, be it writing or drawing.  After much thought, I'm going to change that.  I can get my workouts in at home, if I can discipline myself enough for that, and I think I can.

With that done, I should be able to create more, which is what I want more than anything else right now.  Even with that done though, life is busy, but would we really want it any other way?  I didn't think so.

What Makes a Good Short Story?

How about a short story? Where does it start and where does it end?  The answers to those questions are probably just as varied as the number of people you ask them of.

I make that statement after having read, listened to, and written many short stories. To admit here to you, that after all of that, these questions still hunt me down and haunt my dreams, is a little uncomfortable.

The good thing is, that I don't think that you have to have it just one way. Short stories can have little to no backstory, with just enough ambiance to imply a setting and be great. Contrasting that is the short that gives breathtaking description of time and place as well as some back story to the characters while still being somewhat brief about it. It works like that too!  The possibilities really are endless.

Within the past two days, I've seen examples of both and have been more than pleased with each.

It makes me think though. What is my style?  I've just cut a chunk off of the front of the story that I'm currently working, feeling that it was not necessary. To me, that's the key.  To feel your story and flow with it.  Cut when it needs to be cut and add to it when it needs a little something more.

Every story is different.  Some stories need more words than others and that's okay. You have to decide what's best for you as a writer, but ultimately, what's best for the story. Don't give the reader stuff they don't need and they won't get bored with it. At least that's what I'm trying to do.

I love a good short story that sets the imagination on fire, and hope to post some here soon.  Good luck out there!  Here's to hoping you read and write something great today!

Two Nights at the Beach and a Finished Draft. Now What?

Sketch of our dog.

The beach is a great little getaway for us.  It can be relaxing, but it can also be a little busy with all the family activities going on.  There's movies, shopping, biking, and of course the beach.  These past couple of days weren't that busy though.  For me, that was a good thing.

This trip was not only a getaway, but a time for me to get some much needed work done.  I've been working on a book length story for the past several weeks and thankfully I can now say that it's done.  With over 800 words one night, and over 600 the other, the first draft is done.  That's a great relief for me, but I have to ask myself, now what?

Well, I know that there's editing to do, but to be honest, that's going to have to wait a bit.  I need some time away from that story.  Some time to clear my mind, if you will.  What I'm thinking about is doing a few short stories.  Writing some and editing some.  I've got some stories written already that need some editing passes. so I may start with those and then get into writing some new ones.  I like short stories after all, and who knows, I may even post one or two here.

That trip to the beach was more than just writing though.  I got the chance to partake in one of my other favorite activities.  I was able to draw a little, which was awesome.  I sketched out our dog and then sitting on the beach, gave myself an exercise in perspective sketching out the pier that I was seeing at the time.  It was a blast and though I took some creative license with how many pilings there were actually holding up the pier, I was satisfied with how it turned out.  Perspective wise anyway.  It's not a drawing that I was really pleased with, but that was hardly the point of the exercise, in my mind anyway.

So, from here, we'll continue to write and continue to draw.  Oh, and I'll get some editing in there too.  I've had several other long works that I've scrapped after the first draft, knowing that they weren't good enough to even edit.  I hope that's not the case this time.

Anyway, it's time to go.  Thanks for reading.  Try not to be a stranger and I'll try to do the same.