Pushing Pause on Facebook

I'm currently on the third day of a 30-day break from Facebook. 

I needed a hiatus from the time-consuming social website and all the real and faux drama it entails—from politics, pandemic, news, and opinions. And practically everything else under the sun.

I can't say that I've missed it that much. It's similar to when I quit smoking 42 years ago; a withdrawal that gets easier by the day. 

I'm able to read items that appear on Facebook but without being bombarded by the noise of uninformed opinions, demeaning comments, and mean-spirited attacks that often accompany the posts.

So what am I doing with my time? Here are a few things:

• More time reading books
• Watching a few movies
• Research my next novel
• Decluttering the house (the more I toss, the more I uncover)
• Minimal yard work (it was almost non-existent except for mowing the lawn)

I also may begin edits from my publisher on my next novel (John Ross Boomer Lit Series), which is scheduled to be released next February.

My life wasn't consumed by the social-media behemoth. At least I don't think so; you be the judge. I generally logged on in the morning for an hour or so to read notifications from friends and scroll the latest posts, and then again for about an hour in the evening. 

As an author, I use Facebook to post articles and memes pertaining to reading, writing, and other literary interests as well as updates on my writing endeavors. I also belong to several writing/author groups so I'd check on what others were doing.

I don't want to give the impression that I've withdrawn from everything. I still tweet, save articles on Pinterest, read blogs on Tumblr and Medium, and opinions and advice on Quora. I also subscribe to several blogs from fellow authors.

My time on Facebook is suspended until Sept. 15. I'm not sure what will happen after that, but my guess is that I'll spend a lot less time there in what is becoming a virtual wasteland. 

I'll provide an update when it's over and done. I also plan to post more here about various and sundry things in my free time so follow if interested (hint, hint).

Please share your thoughts on how Facebook, or other social media platforms, affect your life.

A thought from comedian/author/actor Jim Carrey:

“Solitude is dangerous. It’s very addictive. It becomes a habit after you realize how peaceful and calm it is. It’s like you don’t want to deal with people anymore because they drain your energy.”

Until the next time . . .

 

 

One Step Toward Publication

My manuscript is in the hands of my editor and now I have a publication date: Feb. 1, 2021. It will be the fourth novel in the John Ross Boomer Lit series.  

I submitted the 95,000-word novel to her three times. Usually, one time is enough. The reason is I found two words used too often. She's busy with other manuscripts so perhaps it'll save her some time when she gets to mine.

One word was found on a routine Find search I do after completing a work in progress for specific words. I neglected to do it for a particular word. I don't know why the word skipped my brain. My bad. 

The second time came after I learned my original title had been used by a fellow Wings ePress author in 2019. I ran another Find on some keywords and discovered another word used excessively and needlessly in some places. 

By the way, after two days of wracking my aging boomer brain, I came up with a new title. I'll disclose it in the near future when there's a cover. 

Now there might be a few other words that fall into that category. My editor has a keen eye and will let me know. And when I receive her edited copy, I may run across some more during the editing. 

Until the next time . . .

Quick Trips on TV: A Taste of Travel

Many of us are going stir crazy during this pandemic, especially those who love to travel to faraway places. I had a trip to Eastern Europe postponed until next spring, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't happen again in 2021. 

A program I discovered a month or so ago while walking on my treadmill (my healthy way to travel nowadays) was A Taste of Travel. It's an Australian production from 2016, with 13 episodes featuring four guides and is available on Amazon Prime.

The shows are quick hits, lasting about 20 minutes and taking viewers to four different destinations for five minutes or so. The episodes touch on landmarks, hidden treasures, travel tips, and food in places such as South Africa, Greece, France, England, Canada, China, Fiji, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States. 

The photography is generally very good but I would caution that if you close your eyes for five seconds or more, you might miss something; it moves along that quickly.

Guides Carolyne, Lynton, Scott, Alana, and Savannah love to travel as evidenced by their enthusiastic and friendly presentations. They often bring along local guides to add more detail to their trips. Furthermore, you can sense they're having fun and that makes it even more enjoyable as it becomes a vicarious trip for the viewer.

So if you're looking for a travel show to watch, whether to take you to different places, whet your appetite for certain destinations, or simply to go along for the ride, you might want to give A Taste of Travel a view. 

Until the next time . . . 

 

Manuscript Finally Finished

The manuscript I have been working on for more than a year is now in the capable hands of my editor. For the next few weeks, I will take a break from the editing and rewriting that has dominated my life.

The manuscript, the fourth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit Series, is 95k words. Over the course of a year, and 10 rewrites, it doubled in size. By the way, this is my 10th novel and 14th book. I may have to go out and celebrate when it's published and the pandemic is over. 

My goal was to finish by July 31. I did submit the manuscript on that date, but I must confess, that after sleeping on it, I resubmitted it this morning with a couple additions that tied together loose ends. I promised my editor she wouldn't be hearing from me with any changes, edits, and whatevers. The next move will be hers, when she returns it with edits, suggested edits, and whatnots. 

I was hoping this novel would see the light of day by the end of this year, but that's doubtful. It's my fault for dragging my butt for a few months. I'll keep you posted when I hear something from the publisher. 

Be sure and check out the August releases from Wings ePress including a new novel, Divine Rebel, from friend Tom Wallace as well as Thomas Fenske's Penumbra, and Peggy P. Parsons's Apitcote. 

The title of my new novel? I'll let you know once I sign a contract. 

Until the next time . . .

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I've completed eight rewrites of my manuscript, the fourth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series.

While it has grown to more than 90k words, adding more than 12k, this rewrite took less than two weeks. For some unexplained reason, I got a burst of energy and creativity. That's an encouraging sign for someone my age.  

I'll begin work on the ninth, and hopefully, the last rewrite in the morning. My goal is to finish by July 31. If everything falls into place, I should do that with days to spare. (I hope I haven't jinxed myself.)

I've taken copious notes to guide me through this process and address problems that need to be fixed before submitting the manuscript to my editor. For the most part, it has been to tighten the narrative and focus of the story.

For those who are unfamiliar with the series, it's about the trials and tribulations of a baby boomer after he retires from a long career as a newspaperman. While he dreams of an idyllic life with his wife, Sally, it's anything but that as he deals with various and sundry problems—at home, in the neighborhood, and abroad.

So it's back to the work in progress.

Until the next time . . .

Seven Rewrites and Nearing the End

I met a self-imposed deadline for completing the seventh rewrite of my work in progress by June 30. 

But what I learned, in the end, is that I've got another rewrite or two before I can send the manuscript to my editor. I'm not sure if this is the agony of writing, making the necessary changes to improve the story, but it's the only way of getting things done.

As with the previous rewrites, I've added scenes and deleted scenes, added dialogue and deleted dialogue, tightened the narrative . . . well, you get the idea, just about everything.

I added about 5k words to the manuscript, and now it totals more than 78k. The first draft was only about 48k, so it's grown quite a bit over the past 11 months.

If all works out to plans (and it seldom does), I hope to finish the manuscript by the end of July. I see one more rewrite 

and then a fast read before I send this fourth installment of the "John  Ross Boomer Lit" series on the way to my publisher. 

I'll confess that it's never taken me this long to write a draft and get it ready for publication. It's usually about a six-month endeavor.

But because of the pandemic, and other things going on in my life, I found that I got more distracted than usual. I don't know if it's an age thing, or simply me, but my concentration levels aren't what they used to be. I guess it's a combination of the two since I'm certainly not getting any younger.

Furthermore, and most importantly, I wasn't pleased with where the story was going and had to make a few major changes. I hope it's smooth sailing the rest of the way (more wishful thinking on my part).

Until the next time

Slow Progress on Manuscript

I've completed six rewrites to my original manuscript, the fourth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series.

As with the other rewrites, it took longer than expected because, well, there was so much to edit and rewrite. I made progress, but there's still a ways to go before I'm ready to submit it to my Wings ePress editor. 

I did a line edit on paper on the latest rewrite. There were quite a few red marks on the manuscript. I'm amazed at how I see things on paper that escape me on the computer screen. That's why I print the manuscript so I can put different "eyes" on the words.

My next course of action is to review my notes and make sure there is continuity from the previous books. The storyline and time elements have to flow. I've also reintroduced characters so I have to make sure names and descriptions are true to the series.

As with any rewrite, I deleted some scenes and dialogues. I'll be expanding some parts in the seventh rewrite.  At this point, there are nearly 74k words; that should grow past 80k.

So that's where I'm at on this manuscript. Lots accomplished but more to do before it's ready to be published. I hope to reveal more in the coming weeks, perhaps the title and publishing date.

Until the next time . . .