Update on My Blogs

I've decided that trying to keep three blogs updated is just not feasible anymore.  I could barely do that with all the free time I had, and now, I've got a new job starting this Monday.  So, much less free time.  What does that mean then?  Since this was the original blog, I'm just going to do everything here.  There will be less science and less golf related news overall, but they're not going away.  I still want to blog, but I have to be realistic here, I can't do three at once.  I'm aiming to do at least one post a day, maybe two if it's not a busy day.  I think I can manage that, at least.

My Twitter

Writing Tips #4

I have an extraordinary difficulty writing anything more than a few thousand words.  I've only ever finished one longer story, and it is terrible.  The premise is bad, the writing is bad, everything about it is bad.  So I can't do anything with that.  I've certainly tried many times to get that first novel written, but I always get stuck at around 10-15,000 words.  Part of the problem is that the ideas thus far haven't been great, but my last novel attempt had a great premise.  A little vague, but there was something there.  But once again, I had gotten myself stuck.  The problem was that I was only ever writing these stories in a mostly conversational manner.  The stories were being told almost entirely through dialogue, which occurred simply because I like writing dialogue, and I'm pretty good at it.

So, what the advice here?  Today's little writing tip is to go outside of your comfort zone when you're writing.  Don't always write in the style that you like, because you end up not learning anything, the story ends up not going anywhere, and you might lose a promising idea because your writing bias got in the way.  Also, don't be afraid to completely start over on an idea in a different fashion.  I'm doing that right now, and so far the story is looking good.  We'll see how it works out.

My Other Blogs
Cool Science News
Cool Golf News

My Twitter

A Funny Little Story

I was taking a look through my old stuff, and I found this old homework assignment.  It's a little weird.

“I say, my good chap, my top hat is far superior to yours,” I addressed my colleague as we strolled through the park on our way to afternoon tea and crumpets.

          

“Dear sir, you are most incorrect,” Lord Haberdashery scoffed.  “Not only is my top hat taller and wider, but my monocle simply compliments the hat better than yours does.  You see, my monocle and top hat were designed alongside each other, they simply work together.”

           

“That may be true, but you see, my monocle has been in my family for 500 years now, and as for my top hat, it is an original.”

           

“An original top hat?”  Lord Haberdashery sputtered.  “Lord Baldersdash, you are surely in jest.”

          

 “In fact, I am not, for this top hat was created by the inventor of top hats himself, the Earl of London, Reginald Brimble.  I’ll have you know that this hat is over one thousand years old.  It has seen the rise and fall of empires, it has seen the world.  To be honest, Lord Haberdashery, to compare this hat to yours would be an insult to the British Empire and her people,” I said.

           

“Sir, you are a liar and a cheat,” Lord Haberdashery sneered.  “A second-rate nobleman trying to pass off a completely average top hat as something special.  Sir, I will not have it.”

           

“I say, good chap, that is poor form indeed,” a voice came from above my head.

           

“What was that?” Haberdashery asked.

           

“It would be the hat,” the hat said.  “I must say, you have hardly shown behavior worthy of a British gentleman.  Accusing a fellow man of lying about his top hat is questionable, sir, very questionable.  Perhaps your jealousy stems from the fact that Lord Balderdash here is from a very old family, while your own family only recently attained noble rank.”

           
Lord Haberdashery looked ashamed.  “Lord Baldersdash, you possess a wise and noble hat.  I defer to it and to you.  Shall we continue our walk?
         
“Indeed,” I said.   “Let us not speak of it again.”

My Other Blogs
Cool Science News
Cool Golf News

My Twitter
 

Writing Tips #3

This is a useful thing I recently picked up recently while looking at magazines for publishing.  I found one magazine that only published short stories that were fewer than 420 characters.  Yes, characters, not words.  You can see one that I did here.  It's actually a pretty interesting idea for practicing your writing.  Writing a coherent story with a definitive beginning, middle and end in so short a space really helps you cut through all the crap you would normally write.  We all do it, throwing in lots of fluff because it sounds good.  With so few words, you have to cut right to the point, and I actually kind of liked writing like that.  It was fun, and I would recommend it to any writer.  It helps.

My Other Blogs
Cool Science News
Cool Golf News

My Twitter

Ultra Short Story

A woman smiles at a man across a crowded bar.  She tossles her long brown hair, adjusts her tight black dress.  She sees into his hazel eyes and she admires his shirt.  She likes that movie too.  She watches him stare at his phone.

A man stares at his phone.  He reads the words of friends with happier lives, wishes it for his own.  He sees the bright screen in the dim room and he thinks about his shirt.  He could go for that movie now.  He misses the smile across the room.


My Other Blogs
Cool Science News
Cool Golf News

My Twitter

Writing Tips #2

Another writing tip for the aspiring writer out there.  As a fellow writer, I know how easy it can be to become a lazy couch potato(Do people still use that phrase?  I feel like a middle-aged parent using it).  I can only vouch from my own experience, but sitting around the house all day does very little to stir the imagination.  So, what I do is take a walk.  Take an hour or so and walk around the town.  Get some fresh air.  Let your mind wander in a new environment.  You'd be surprised how many ideas I gotten from walks.  Not to mention that walking really is good for you.  I suppose this is good advice for anyone who spends a lot of time indoors doing whatever, I find that walking is a great way to break out of bad habits like binge video game sessions.  I can't believe I said that, but playing a game for 12 hours straight isn't healthy.  It's fun, but not healthy.

Oops

So, it's been a while since I've posted on here, and that's my fault.  I've been busy, and I know that's a cliche to say, but it's the truth.  Honestly, I've been busier than I've ever been in my entire life, and it's taken me this long to get accustomed to the fact that I just don't have very much free time anymore.  Still, this is important to do, since I want to write for the rest of my life, I need to start somewhere.  I will say that daily posts are probably not going to happen.  I'll do my best to try, but there will be some nights when I am just too dead to write.  However, I will be posting at least once a week on golf-related news.  Probably more, but since being a golf writer is kind of my dream job, I really should focus on that.  And Team Fortress Tuesdays will continue, because it's such a great name, I can't pass it up.  Honestly, this post is as much for my own benefit as for anybody out there.  Just declaring my plan and writing it down so I can't pretend it didn't happen.  Right, service has resumed, commence wild excitement.