Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A Most Refreshing Bath Was Had By All

Boy was that an overly long soak. Five days spent in the bathtub and I is the pruniest prune that you'd even seen.

Anyways, it was a most refreshing break from the blogging world and since I need to fill up this space with excess verbiage, to quote Ralph Kiner, let's go to the happy recrap.

Christmas was interesting simply because I didn't get any clothes this year. What I did get was the following:

1} A ream of paper.
2} A webcam for my computer, which I'll probably have to wait on installing/using until I buy more memory for my computer.
3} A mini DVD player. This was the only thing that I'd specifically asked for Christmas, simply because long story short, I lost the ability to play DVD's on my computer.
4} The traditional roll of sausage.
5} A homemade bookmark that my daughter gave me that says "To My Writer Dad" and has a picture of a scroll and a quill pen on it.
6} A gift card from B&N and various music magazines, along with a Neil Diamond album.

I also got the usual sugar free candy in my Christmas stocking (you can never outgrow a Christmas stocking) as well.

On the blogging front, I spent the entire break lurking on your blogs. No commenting to speak of, but I did enjoy what everyone has written on their blogs since Saturday.

On the real world front, I spent a few hours at my aunts and got caught up on things with that side of the family. Talked to my cousin and inquired on how her husband's novel (military fantasy) was coming along. She said it's been released as an e-book (self-pubbed) and they're just wrapping up the audio version of it. So as a good relative and fellow newbie writer, I am more than happy to give it a little plug here:


On the writing front, which was the main reason for the break to begin with, I dragged my muse kicking and screaming back from her well extended vacation and plopped her down on the floor next to the computer. I then plied her with drinks, food, good music, and anything else that she may have wanted/desired in order to stroke/pump up her ego.

It sort of worked as in between getting all of the last minute holiday stuff done and the residual stress of waiting for a potentially positive outcome of something, I managed to write another two pages of story. I know it sounds like squat and it might be to some of you, but for me, it does represent progress. I'm at the very end of the story and trying not only to write the final confrontation but write what I feel would be the proper ending is incredibly problematic.

Unlike the last novel I wrote, in which the main plot and subplots made sense from day one and I was able to complete the final chapter in about a week, this one is giving me one major league migraine. After writing the first chapter with relative ease, the remaining chapters have been like sitting in the dentist chair having multiple root canals.

I'm not sure if everyone else has experienced this issue from time to time while writing, but it's incredibly frustrating to have to perpetually re-read what you wrote to make sure that what you wrote is not only making sense but it's consistent as well.

Anyways, because I'm having such problems writing this schtuff, I decided to take a minor detour and start applying the 56 pages worth of editing notes to the book.

So with that being said, the update about what I did during my break is now complete and I leave you with this nifty little video of the song that was blasting through my headphones as I typed the last two paragraphs of this post.


12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a nice break, G. I'm glad you enjoyed your time off.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'll have to check out the "Raingun." I ate a fair amount of candy for Christmas too. But no clothes! And I don't take baths while I'm on vacation. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, you have to treat the muse very very sweetly, G. :) Good luck with the edit.

    Glad you're back - wrinkly prune that you are!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Santa was kind to you this year! You must have been a good boy. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Which Neil Diamond album? I like him, too. There, I'm unashamed ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lynn: Even though I had a few assorted mini-crisises that had to be put out, the break was very enjoyable.

    Charles: Makes for a very aromatic existence. :D

    I try not to eat too much candy 'cause the sugar free stuff is the OTC version of Ex-Lax.

    Talon: Thanks.

    Yes, the muse is often the biggest thing in my expense account. :D

    And a wrinkly prune beats a tart plum any day of the week. :D

    S.R.: Lord knows it was a difficult challenge to be good for 11 1/2 consecutive months. :D

    R: I don't remember the name of it, but it was one of his early compilations from the mid 70's.

    That's okay, we all have musical faves that are buried deep into the back of our closet. Some day I'll admit to what mine are.

    Oh wait, I already a few years ago:

    Children's music of the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I didn't get any clothes this year, either! (Although I DID get a few gift cards, which I'll probably end up using to BUY clothes... :)) Since we went to Texas, everyone stuck to small items so they would be easy to transport back to Chicago in our suitcases.

    I love your daughter's gift -- that's so sweet! Glad you enjoyed your break! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I took my blogging break and did NO LURKING. It was refreshing and yet it is fun catching up.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Still sounds like a working vaca to me!

    Good luck with the story ending. I always end up with alternative versions to decide between...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lisa: Thanks.

    Most, if not all, of my gifts were really no bigger than the record album that I got from my brother this year, which of course made it easier to misplace and lose. :D

    Bearman: I did my lurking simply because I needed something to occupy my time while I ate breakfats in the morning prior to getting ready for work.

    Still haven't forgotten about your offer as a few other things have unfortunately taken front and center. Will get that e-mail out to you by the weekend.

    Snaggle: Unlike other working vacations that I've taken over the years, this one was actually enjoyable to a certain degree.

    I want to come to a definite decision about an ending 'cause the last thing that I want to do is to write up to a chosen ending, only to find out that it doesn't work right and I have to do all over.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a good break. I bet that bookmark is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mama Z: It was pretty good. And yes, the bookmark is pretty cool at that.

    ReplyDelete

Go on, give me your best shot. I can take it. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have created this wonderful little blog that you decided to grace with your presence today.

About that comment moderation thingy: While yes, it does say up above I can take it, I only use it to prevent the occasional miscreant from leaving thoughtless and/or clueless comments.

So remember, all of your comments are greatly appreciated and all answers will be given that personal touch that you come to expect and enjoy.

G. B. Miller

The Legal Disclaimer

All the content that you see here, except for the posting of links that refer to other off-blog stories, is (c) 2008-17 by G.B. Miller. Nothing in whole or in part may be used without the express written permission of myself. If you wish to use any part of what you see here, please contact me at georgebjr2006@gmail.com