March 9th, 2010 by Neal

Can’t seem to get my game face on today.

Still, something beats nothing in a game of war.

March 8th, 2010 by Neal

Avast!

Another decent day. I’m still not motoring along like I’d like, but at least the work is getting done, which is a step up. It’s going to be a four day week because of the Emerald City Con, but all the same, things are motoring along at a pace that pleases me. My goal is to be finished by the end of June, so hey.

Outside can’t decide if it wants to be spring or winter. The trees look like spring, the weather vaccinates. I wish it would decide, because it’s a pain in my ass to open and close the window so much.

March 5th, 2010 by Neal

I am exhausted, and more than ready for this week to be over. So, despite a few more or less violently unproductive days, I am going to leave this week on a high note, a little early.

I needs a break, so I’m taking it. I realize I worked half the weekend for two weeks straight, and that’s probably why I backslid.

Also: Good news potentially coming soon. I can’t give any details, but there may be something in the pipeline.

March 4th, 2010 by Neal

Now I’m starting to come back to life.

I’ve licked the first chapter into shape, divided in two, and now I’m in the steam of things. Damn, coming back to your novel when it’s still a piece of shit and starting to knuckle it into submission can be daunting at first. But then you start to see the light.

On a completely unrelated note, I WILL for sure be at the Emerald City Comic Con. I have no idea what the breadth of folks who are reading this include right now because I haven’t had time to take a look, but if there’s anyone out there that wants to meet up or get a signed copy of any of my stuff or whatever and you’ll be there, let me know, and I’ll find a way to meet up with you, seeing as I won’t have a booth.

March 3rd, 2010 by Neal

I remember posting a while back about how wonderful it was that I was starting the book with the phrase, “I fart, and my house explodes.”

Now, after more than a week of letting the book simmer before coming back to it, I have worked that paragraph and its surroundings to the point where I had to step away from it and literally ignore it to go on, meaning it’s been three days and I’ve edited 14 pages, most of them today.

Forgiving yourself for not being able to write on a given day is one of the hardest things I do. Because I don’t.

Regardless, I’ve finally broken past the wall, and that means good work, and that means happy Neal. I’ve added some words, spruced up most of the first chapter, and that puts me firmly back into work mode, which was needed:

In the meanwhile, last week I wrote a comic script that I think might be a good first ongoing, to the point that I feel really confident shopping it around, and I just might at the Emerald City Con, provided any editors have an open ear or solicit. We’ll see. I hope.

The flowers are blooming on the trees, and I really needed that. It’s time for a long walk and a little bit of freedom.

February 25th, 2010 by Neal

I spent most of this week trying to read and failing. I spent the rest of it dealing with this new idea that sprung upon me for an ongoing, and as of today I have completed the first issue. More on that as it develops.

Monday I plan on resuming editing, so when that happens, more here.

For readers from the Homepage and the 2,300 view syndication crew, crazy and kind, who want to talk about Smallville, I really don’t any more. No offense. This will be where you find what I’m doing otherwise.

Thanks.

February 18th, 2010 by Neal

Every single Weird Al song, like, ever, has made me laugh at least once. I love Weird Al.

He finally did one that made me kind of sad and provided thought-provoking mental commentary. I suppose it’s funny if you’re not close to it.

Wonders never cease:

February 18th, 2010 by Neal

Three novels, one year. And this is not counting the 20,000 abandoned words of Hal 2. Shee-it.

I’m pretty pleased. So pleased, in fact, I’m gonna give myself a week of light duty before I pick up the editing. Reading. Research. People watching. Considering my next project. I will probably break this vow, but hell.

I added about thirty thousand words to the last two books, but they were ten thousand words shorter, so Hal 3 will probably be about 100-105 K, I am now estimating, though it is my goal to be bigger with the description despite minimalist inclination. Rough draft final count:

I begin to think I could just write novel after novel non-stop. This is a fairly leisurely pace since I’ve eliminated any and all side projects and distractions, and I’m still getting a lot done. That said, I would not be averse to doing a novel while doing comics, or a novel then a comic. I’ll think on it.

February 17th, 2010 by Neal

Fifty five hundred word day. Almost cranked the rest of the book out. Home stretch. Tomorrow will be the day barring hurricanes and dinosaurs.

February 16th, 2010 by Neal

Was having a rough day until an old friend told me she heard about my comics before hearing I’d written them, and that they were going to get their hands on them. Sometimes it doesn’t take much.

I’ve been wrought with a lot of misery in my head for the last day, which is an on-again off-again thing for the last few months. I had a good bout of a month there where all was well, but today was a bit of a spin until the ship set to rights.

I am realizing I have written two full novels, and will have finished a rough draft for a third, in less than a year. Crazy, man. I also realize spring is coming, which is a hopeful proposition.

I think I have two or three days more with this novel before it’s in the can. Depends on how long and hard the final scene is, and it’s a toughie. I’m tired.

Quick question, though. Does anyone read this? Are these updates fun for anyone? Am I wasting effort here I could throw into a journal and keep private?