Writing Essentials, or "How the F**k Do You Write All That?!?"

Greetings, blurkers, bloggers, readers and whomever else comes this way...earlier this week, I was issued an interesting challenge by my fellow writer, Christie Stratos.

Christie is my proofer, and has done excellent work for me on "Parasite Girls" and what MIGHT be my follow-up, "Drifters: Tales of the Southern Cross." More on that later.

So anyway, Christie challenged me to show/tell/explain to you how I write, and what in particular do I have around me when I do so?

Well...first let's see how Christie gets it done:

Okay! There are certainly no hard and fast rules as to how to write, but every writer does have their own little methods, ways, and so forth.

I pretty much write when I want, but when I'm on a writing/editing project, you can find me in certain places. There is no one place for me.

Now, since I don't own a video camera and I'm damned if I know how to use the one on my laptop, I'm going the old-fashioned way. I've taken lots and lots of pictures.

Work tends to make my hours different, so there is no set time you're going to find me at one of these places. I do not particularly like to write at home unless it's at night, and there's reasons for that. Several reasons for that...

First...I was challenged before Neil Young went off on a certain coffee franchise, and now everyone is in a, "WHICH MOTHERFUCKIN' SIDE YOU ON, BITCH?" mode. So you're gonna see pictures of a familiar place. 

As a former girlfriend likes to say: DEAL.

During the day, I'm at one of the places like this one:

This is my standard setup. Generally I will sit at one of the tall chairs, because the tables give me more space to spread my work out.

Note the necessities:

The laptop w/Zombie Snow White gets a lot of compliments and questions. Eye-catching but for that, and not usually what else I need.

My first book, "Parasite Girls" is out for all to see (shameless plug!), along with a flier, and I have business cards...always have business cards, people!

Other items: the ubiquitous jump drive, of which I have several. My entire literary career is on these things; one is stores in a fireproof safe, and I have Dropbox, and who knows how many other backups. Also good to kill off old drives and replace them.

To the right in the 2nd picture is my new external hard drive, a Seagate. Neat little thing, and a gadget I like a lot.

SCREENSAVER.

Pertinent to your work! People must see the SCREENSAVER. This is YOU that you are promoting.

Now, there are a few more things one needs; I generally work in public spots in order to have human contact. A necessity; people-watching is quite good, because character details, ideas, sketches, and especially fashions are useful future tools. It is not unusual for me to make mental snapshots of outfits that fit my characters.

COFFEE. LOTS OF COFFEE.

Since I don't drink anymore, this is my last drug of choice. Iced is how I usually drink it, but dark roast pourover is also good. Lots of cream, and cinnamon. Caffeine fuels the brain...remember that.

MUSIC. AN ABSOLUTE MUST.

I well remember the days of records (do you?), and typewriters (betcha don't). That album side had to get me through a few pages, and often I'd keep going and not get up to change it.

iTunes is good for something. My tastes run the gamut, and often I'll play the music that is working in tandem with my writing. Or it's whatever's on my computer. My desktop has all my rock, blues, Americana, etc., while the laptop has everything else, plus some duplicate stuff.

I have no set music to work to, whatever I feel like usually.

Now...that's away from the house. At home, I have two spots:

This is the Vibe Room. My office, studio, writer's room. The desk is a cluttered mess, from where I occasionally write, DJ, and do other things. You'll note two of my assistants at the left...more on them later.

Other side of the Vibe Room. Music, plus my altar.

Now since I'm weird about the keyboard that came with my desktop, and since Windows 8 has got a bunch of things that leave a lot to be desired, I don't write much with it. I use the laptop for almost all actual typing, writing and so on.

But...in the winter, it's damned cold in this house. So at night I opt for Plan B:

The bed is old but comfortable...you shall also note my assistants. Baldrick is in the foreground of this one, and he usually is close at hand to offer editorial advice. 

Namid also makes herself available to review my notes. Or sleep on them. Her brother Qi is in the background...when he is not offering advice he's usually either sleeping or doing something that causes the bed to feel like it's breaking 10 on the Richter Scale.

Then we have Sofia. This is usually where you will find her, between me and the keyboard.

So I'm certainly not left alone while I work.

Christie had noted she keeps a thesaurus at hand, which is a good idea. 

I keep a severely condensed bookshelf. There were more that I lost some years ago, and I gave away about 250 on Bookcrossing. These are reference materials, inspirations, entertainments, resources and other things.

I also have on my computer a ton of tabs for notes, and also the reference stuff, and Grammarly.com -- well worth the cost, let me tell you.

Well, that's a little look into my essentials for writing. But the main thing is, WRITE.

An old painter friend aptly said: the only way to accomplish anything is to DO IT.

Now...I hope in the very near future to have some big news about the next step in my career. I shall know more soon...but in any case, enjoy your writing. This is not a job, this is what you do.

Enjoy, Peace, Out.

An Update on Life

We are indeed busy...first and foremost, I'm back on the air once again tomorrow morning!  Shameless plug time, I know.


I'm hosting "Morning Edition" on WITF Wednesday and Thursday mornings, from 5-9 am.  Mr. Layne is on assignment, and he actually is.  So I get to navigate that madness once again, which is the NPR clock.


It's not as easy as you'd think; but once you get the routine down, you're pretty much okay.  There have been some changes in the past few months, due to cutbacks and other subjects that have come about.  In any case, the product is still a good one.


www.witf.org is where you can hear all the action, thrills and excitement that is...NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.  Haha...


I need whatever work I can get right now.  I had three ballgames last week for Clear Channel, and only one this week.  I did handle Radio PA Network Sports this morning, and that went pretty well.  I like being able to go on a moment's notice and be the go-to guy, which is now the case at WITF.  I've made myself useful and known; now it's wait my turn.


Working out is going well.  I have a new trainer; Jesse is a former athlete and he's devised the kind of workout I really need.  It is cardio, more than anything, because I now know that's exactly what I have to have.  Being aerobically and cardio fit is really best for my body type, but also how I feel.


11 days without a smoke...how about that.  


Anyway, the workouts do push me pretty well...I wanted to swim this morning, but the aqua class had taken over...so I hit the weights and also did some of the exercises Jesse set up for me.  Kind of an off-day thing.  


I plan to swim each off-day, alternating with the workouts.  That is, if I'm capable of doing them.  I have to get in better touch with my body to see what is up there.


Either way, glad I'm doing it.  I do feel better already, and I hope to look more like myself again one day.


Now, this routine does alter everything else.  I have a ton of writing to edit, and I do consider that part of the writing process, and always will be.  "Take Another Road" will reappear in the form of Chapter 6 soon enough, I promise.  


Anyway, needed to put this out.  I do not feel as depressed, thankfully; another of the peaks and valleys I must contend with.  


Food is definitely a big part of that...I've often gone a couple of days without real food, especially while writing.  That is not good, as any nutritionist or athlete will tell you.  My vegetarianism is still in place, but I can do better within the system, and I am working on that.  My diet I think has helped stave off the worst effects of what I did to myself over the past six or seven years, re: the cancer sticks.  In any case, I do feel better, and that will make me more productive.


Had an interesting conversation with a young fellow who works the Morebucks here in York.  I knew there was a reason to come in here, as I debated whether or not I should.  Chris is a nice kid; he is a member of the Black Forest Clan...never heard of them, but they are a spiritually eclectic bunch of folks and their association is a loose one.  Best to keep it that way, I've seen what happens when you don't.


Okay...keeping to my other pursuits, and we'll see where the rest of it goes.  Anyway, I must be up at 2 in the a.m. to get ready for Morning Edition...slept a bit this afternoon, need more if I can get it.