How to Write a Novel in just Eight Short Years…

I have been asked by fans, coworkers and family members “How long did it take you to write a book?”  When I respond with “Oh, about eight years…” they seem somewhat shocked.  Why did it take so long?  Let me answer that with a warning:

Beware the demons of Apathy, Lethargy and Procrastination!

When I first started writing, I didn’t really think I could do it, so I didn’t take it seriously.  I did not discipline myself to write every day or even every week.  The result?  Sometimes months would pass (that’s right, I said months!) with my manuscript lying untouched on the harddrive of my computer.

Now, I will be the first to advise any writer, that you should strike a balance – don’t spend all of your waking hours glued to the computer screen.  Pay attention to your spouse or significant other, your kids and your family – they won’t be around forever and if you blink a few times the years will have passed you by.

But, that being said, make time to write!  Even if you have written yourself into a corner on your novel, step back and write a short story based on some of the minor characters.  I did that with four stories – it gave me some needed breathing space with my novel and let me explore the depths of those other characters.  As a result, I think it helps make their backgrounds richer.

Another suggestion – don’t listen to the negative little demon whispering in the back of your mind.  Shove the little beast into the darkest, deepest closet in your head and then slam the door shut and lock it.  Regardless of what that wicked little monster says, you CAN write and you SHOULD write, so put fingers to keys and get to it.

When I finally got serious about writing, I discovered that the more I wrote, the easier the ideas came – not always, but usually.  Staying in the habit of writing keeps the knife edge sharp.  Of course I need to take my own advice here, since you can see I’ve not updated my blog in a couple of months – that whole work/life balance thing again.

Lastly, something that helped motivate me to finish my story and continue writing was to network with other authors.  Join a writing group such as Bestsellerbound.com or Critters.org.  You will meet wonderful new friends and have a chance to share your triumphs and your tribulations.

So until next time, go write the story that has been rattling around your head for a while – unfetter your muse and go WRITE!

Signed paperback giveaway!

My writing partner, Idris, is not pleased with me.  You see, he occupies a prominent place on my desk near the computer, so he can supervise my writing from the comfort of his perch.

The problem?  Clutter.  Over the past few months I have allowed several stacks of papers, books and heaven-knows-what else to intrude upon Idris’ territory.  Not being one to mince words, Idris has told me in no uncertain terms to tidy up the desktop – or else. Now, I don’t know about you, but I find it best NOT to argue with a dragon!

So, what better way to eliminate some clutter than to give away some books!  I have five (5) signed paperback copies of my first novel ‘The Guardian’s Apprentice’ to offer.  Now here are the rules:

1. No purchase necessary – just follow these instructions and five (5) lucky people will get a signed copy of  ’The Guardian’s Apprentice’ shipped to their doorstep.
2. There is no cost – I will pay for the shipping.
3. This offer is without borders – I don’t care where in the world you live, you can still participate.
4. To enter the drawing, just leave me a comment on this blog.  Please let me know:

• If you have read the story, who (or what) is your favorite character in the series, and why?  (if you want to refresh your memory, check out the ‘characters/creatures’ tab over on my website at http://www.theguardiansapprentice.com)
• If you have not read the story, what is your favorite fantasy novel?
• Make sure you check the box that says “notify of follow-up comments’ when you leave your comment – that way you will know when the contest is over and I have posted the winners.
• That’s it – everyone who leaves a comment will be entered in the ‘pool’ of names.  On February 1st, I will draw five random names from the people who left comments and will send them a signed copy of ‘The Guardian’s Apprentice’.

Cheers!

Michael

Update on ‘Bloodstone – The Guardian’s Curse’

It is just after Thanksgiving and I’m pleased to say the rough draft of ‘Bloodstone’ is complete.  I am now in the editing phase, which means the dreaded 3 R’s – Reading, Revising, Repeat.  That being said however, I still find designing cover art to be far more difficult than writing.  I spent about three weeks searching for ‘THE’ image that spoke to me.  I finally found the one above, which captures the image I had in my head (more or less).

The cover depicts the villain, Sava, Stealer of Souls, clutching the Bloodstone in her hand.  The energy within the orb is from the thousands of souls she has ripped from her victims.

If all goes well, I hope to have ‘Bloodstone’ uploaded to Amazon and Smashwords by the middle of December.

An Unwelcome Visitor…

We just returned home last night after spending a week in Orlando, Florida where most of my life savings was surgically removed by specialists at a certain magical theme park.  It was late when we got in, so I didn’t pay much attention when my daughter brought a sack downstairs, opened the garage and took it outside.

This morning, she told me about the mouse.  That’s right, while we were 1,000 miles away visiting THE mouse, our house was invaded by one of his agents of evil.  She found the little fellow scurrying around the cat food bowl, apparently being batted around by our youngest cat, Mickey (I know, the irony…).

Now, our house is diligently patrolled by five cats.  So my question is, HOW did a mouse get in my house?  How did he manage to sneak by that many ferocious felines?  My only answer – an insider helped him.  Below I will provide you with a lineup of the suspects, making the case for each – after which I’ll let you, my readers, decide the case based on the evidence at hand.

Cocoa – My strongest evidence against Cocoa?  She’s evil.  Period.  This cat has the foulest temper of any feline I have ever known.  I suspect she ushered the mouse in through the back door under cover of darkness in order to watch the mayhem that would ensue, the entire time laughing her evil “mwa-ha-ha-ha” laugh…

 

 

 

 

Cookie - Cookie is next on the list of suspects.  Not as evil as Cocoa, she actually thinks we humans serve a purpose – namely feeding her.  She would never lower her standards to eat a mouse, but I can see her turning a blind eye and saying “whatever” when the vile little rodent asked to be let behind enemy lines.

 

Jasmine - Now Jasmine has a real ax to grind.  You see, she has been banished from the house and is no longer allowed upstairs, because when annoyed by the other cats, our kids, or the wind blowing the wrong way, she piddles.  Everywhere.  After scouring the upstairs and shampooing the carpet I have exiled her to the back deck.  Her motive?  Revenge pure and simple.  She escorted the rodent past the guard patrols hoping it would succeed in its murderous mission and catch me unawares.

 

 

Maddie - Now Maddie, our three legged cat, I would have thought above suspicion.  Normally a very sweet and affectionate cat, at first I could not find a motive.  But then it hit me – she too has a reason to be annoyed with us.  You see a few months ago, my wife brought home a starving kitten found at the local school.  Said kitten (Mickey) has since packed on the weight and considers Maddie to be his favorite chew toy.  Obviously this does not sit well with Maddie.  Her motive?  She planned to either (a) have the mouse kill Mickey in his sleep or (b) somehow pin the whole affair on Mickey and get him banished as well, so she can have some peace and quiet.

 

 

Mickey - Mickey is last on my list because I could not come up with a strong motive, other than this: a mouse would be a cool chew toy.  I can see him sneaking the little bugger in just so he could have a live action chase, and he was found at the seen of the crime by my daughter.  Alas, the only witness (the mouse) was released into a nearby field and refuses to testify…

 

 

Cat-tales

I have decided if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I want to come back as a cat.  They do as they please and care little for the opinions of others (much like dragons).  As you can see above, Mickey (the new recruit) is apparently narcoleptic – one minute playing and jumping, the next passed out asleep.  In this case, he plopped over mid-strike clawing at my son’s shoe.

And then there is Cookie – fickle is an understatement.  Cookie believes humans exist for two reasons – food and amusement.  And food again.  She has taken to circling the kitchen like a shark whenever anyone is cooking.  If said person is foolish enough to open the refrigerator, she STRIKES like a cobra and in a flash jumps onto one of the lower shelves (usually behind the soda cans).  As you can see below, she then hunkers down and refuses to budge until you go get a can of catfood to lure her out.

An Update on the New Recruit…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About three weeks ago my wife saved a starving kitten that had been found locked in a tool shed at school during sweltering 100 degree weather.  When she brought him home, you could see his ribs and backbone – I doubt he would have survived much longer.

I am pleased to report Mickey (yes, named after the mouse…) has made a full recovery.  As the newest recruit in my wife’s every growing cat army, he has survived basic training and is now ready for advanced training under the watchful eye of my dragon, Idris.

He is a ball of energy when awake and has decided his favorite pastime is to pounce on our three-legged cat, Maddie, and pretend she is a chew toy.

He eats like a horse and has developed a slightly rounded belly – which sways to and fro when he walks.  Based on the size of his ears, feet and tail, I’m guessing he will grow to the size of a small panther…

The New Recruit

After rather challenging day at work, I arrived home and began my usual routine of decompressing from the day’s events.  While removing my tie I was greeted by my loving wife of almost eighteen years.  With a bounce in her step and a lovely smile on her lips, she embraced me and asked about my day.

Granted, I should have been suspicious at this point, but I was tired – in Star Trek parlance, my shields were down.

My second hint came when she said “I have a story for you about something that happened today.”

*Yellow Alert* At this point, my eyebrow arched and I took half a step back.  ”Really?” I said somewhat guardedly.

Her next words, uttered with a coy look and somewhat sheepish smile, were “I brought home a kitten…”

*Red Alert*  Now I was fully awake and paying attention – my shields were now up.  Thinking of the four cats that already diligently patrol our home, I uttered the first words that came to mind:  ”You didn’t…”

She then proceeded to explain that a young kitten had been found in the storage shed at the school where she teaches.  The poor little cat had been trapped for at least two days in sweltering 96 degree Kentucky heat.  He was starving – you can see his ribs and backbone – and wouldn’t have lasted much longer.

So my wife, loving soul that she is, took him in and brought him home.  He is a very affectionate cat and seems quite happy to have a cool place to stay and plenty of food and water.  The kids have named him “Mickey” in honor of his large ears and to pay tribute to our annual excursions to Disney.  (Yes, I know the irony – a cat named after a mouse…)

So Mickey is now settling in as the newest conscript in my wife’s ever-growing cat army.  Cocoa, Cookie and Jasmine do not approve and are skulking around the back deck plotting his demise.  Maddie, our three-legged cat, is more accepting, though cautious.

Idris, my dragon, has said little on the topic, choosing instead to remain aloof.  Judging by his toothy smirk however, I think he plans on training our new recruit himself.