Gosh, it really shouldn't happen to me of all people. Here I am, a technology manager with many, many, many (okay, I'll stop now) years of experience and there I am, my laptop - the connection to my muse - is paralyzed.
Thankfully, it wasn't serious or permanent. I was without my instrument of obsessions because of the most mundane of problems … a dead battery charger. That's what I get for wrapping tightly and then unwrapping them, day after day. The wire, well, she break!
So, that means my progress was a bit impacted this week, but I have a few bits to report.
The Wayback Machine
There was a time in my life where I expected (not hoped) to be a rock star. I was born into a family where that music gene was strong on both sides and unlike my sister, I ended up taking advantage of this happy coincidence of twin bloodlines.
I was also born with more than a modicum of practical sense and realized while I may be able to make a living as a modern troubadour, I was never going get beyond yeoman first class - especially compared with so many of my peers. They started earlier than I did and more importantly, wanted it more.
However, during those halcyon days of yore when I was deluding myself, I was also writing music. Writing music is infinitely harder (for me) than writing fiction or anything else for that matter. It doesn't come naturally to me … I don't hear random tunes in my head like I come up with story ideas. As for song lyrics, I wrote exactly one song on my own - at the tender age of twelve. All of the other songs in my original repertoire were co-written, with most of my contribution coming on the music half of the song sheet.
My Life in Verse
So, how surprised am I that I've developed a strong affinity to reading (and writing) poems these days. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks? Is it you? Huh? Huh?
Yes, not only have I really never explored writing poetry much except when forced to in school - the same with reading it, I may add - I'm now having a total blast with both activities. My return to writing after so many years has been so helpful in opening my mind to an art form I long eschewed.
All of my poems - five of them now - are posted on my writing sites, so there's no reason to explore them here beyond mentioning that if you're interested, I'd love for you to read them and give me your feedback. Even if you don't, don't count out the old dog in your life (or yourself for that matter).
Meanwhile, Back At Short Story Central …
I finally finished the first draft of short story number #5, aka "Prized Possession." That was my original title, but my wife suggestion "Prized Possessions" (note the plural). In the end, I removed the "s" and when you read it, you'll understand why.
Anyway, this sucker is forty pages right now and I suspect I'll do some trimming before I call it "done." I think this one is humorous, perhaps darkly so. As always, I hope it entertains.
This story - and another seven to be written - will be included in my short story collection, tentatively entitled "In The Foothills" and expected to be published (by me, myself and I - the Three Wise Men) next February. Right now, I'm trying to decide if I'm going to include my poetry in there, too, or publish it separately ("Songs of Montrose" is my working title for that).
Closer to the Brass Ring
Scriptapalooza TV finally announced their 2006 contest winners and guess what? Leia and my reality show treatment made it into the semi-finals! We're hoping this will open up some doors for us … at the very least, we can get the idea sold.
To help in that regard, I posted the treatment on Inktip.com. It would be nice to get one interested party to take a look at it. Part of the thrill of doing this writing is getting discovered, at least as much as a 47 year-old man can be "discovered" these days doing something legal.
On Tap For This Week
Beginning this week, I return to On A Gelding's Trail, my first Lucinda Dreyer novel. Also, I will be starting act three of A Perfect Tenant my second screenplay. I won't start editing "Prized Possession" until next weekend … it needs time to ferment.
Next Post Preview
My lost novel … the cone of silence (part 2) … they put the "butt" in "rebuttal"
So, keep busy, keep reading and writing and have a wonderful week (and holiday weekend, those of you who have some extra time away from the daily grind).
Michael
http://www.editred.com/socalvillaguy
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/socalvillaguy
http://myspace.com/socalvillaguy
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