Savage Writings

What the hell is IN there!?!?

2009-07-26T17:40:00.001-07:00

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Disco Didn't Die!

2009-07-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning tv sucks. Even on MSG.

And, yes, that is a Roller Derby from 1975.

Writing Status

2009-06-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

Novel Deadline: September 30
Writing Day: 7
Pages: 21
Words: 3879
Days Until Deadline: 94

Chapter One is completed.

Playing on the MP3 Player:
"Super Bon Bon" by Soul Coughing, "The Great Defender" by Bell X-1
and multiple tracks by Snow Patrol.

-Drew

My New Author Photo

2009-06-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

Want a surreal experience? Let your friends give you a CAT scan.

Awesome.

-Drew

Writing Status

2009-06-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

Novel Deadline: September 30
Writing Day: 3
Pages: 17
Words: 3100
Days Until Deadline: 98

Playing on the earphones: With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails

"I'm just a face in the crowd
Nothing to worry about
Not even tryin' to stand out
I'm getting smaller
And smaller and smaller
And I have nothing to say
It's all been taken away
I just behave and obey
I'm afraid I am starting to fade away"

- Getting Smaller

Writing Status

2009-06-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Got myself a new project and a new deadline so I've decided to post my progress here. Why? Part therapy, part accountability.

Novel Deadline: September 30
Writing Day: 2
Pages: 10
Words: 2032

2009-06-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

I always thought that Koala looked too happy.

Hi George!

2009-05-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

"Oh won’t you tell us ‘bout those rabbits, George?"

2009-02-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

I wrote only 88 words tonight. But they were damned good words.

Often when I write, I compare what I've done that night to what I've done before and, yes, I used to average 20 pages a night. But tonight's writing was different.

The words I put down tonight were anguished over and mulled over and over and over again until they were just right. So, I only got 88 words down but they are eloquent and well-thought out, if I do say so myself.

I still compare it to my 20 pages and am a little disappointed, but I'm really proud of what I got down.

Those 88 words are perfect.

-Jack

Caution! Zombies! Ahead!!!

2009-01-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

Someone in Austin, Texas is my hero.

Not only is someone who busted open a Caution Sign panel considered a computer genius, that same someone figured out a way to befuddle a Texas traffic controller for more than two hours.

Awesome.

Rest Easy, Rock

2009-01-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

R.I.P
August, 1984 - January 19, 2008

There are no words ...

2009-01-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

Two pages done tonight. Not bad considering the Rangers were a little distracting.
For those of you actually following, I'm still in the middle of Chapter Two of DOWN THE SHORE.

Hoping to work out two shorts I'm tinkering with this weekend.

-Jack

You Can't Build a Reputation On What You Are Going To Do

2009-01-02T20:02:00.001-08:00

Henry Ford said it and it's as true today as it was then.

I am, then, proposing the following:
(and you, my fellow followers, can watch my progress over January...and then share a beer with me in February, whatever the outcome)

(Please note, these are not New Year's Resolutions. They are my writing goals. New Year's Resolutions will revolve around my weight and other things that will no longer concern me in three weeks. So there.)

1. I am going to write four chapters of DOWN THE SHORE (and then re-christen the damned thing).

2. I am going to write the three short stories that have been haunting me since October.

3. I am going to revise THE TAKEOVER in the hopes that I can submit it to a few editors to collect their rejections.

There. My goals for the month are not so big and not so bad.

See you on February 1st at The Pour House. (PS, I really hate winter)

2008-12-09T18:27:00.000-08:00

By the way, has anybody else seen this?

LIFE Magazine's photo archive, hosted by der google. There are so many powerful images here, I can't even believe it. Definitely worth a visit.

-Jack

2008-12-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Writing Progress -

Down The Shore - I organized some notes and reviewed what I've written so far. Nothing major.

Untitled Short Story - I fleshed out an idea I've had and am practicing a new style of writing. I'm concerned, though, because as I sit here with this particular character, and look at the notes that have PILED up this week for this story, it appears as if what I've been toying around with is actually a NOVEL and not a short story. There's simply too many characters and interactions that NEED to be told, too many details that SCREAM at me to write them than a short story can hold.

So, here's where the writer in me breaks out the ole "creative" tonic. I'm firming up the first chapter, seeing if where it breaks can be a good enough ending for a short story.
I think that will get me where I want to be. For now.

Currently Reading: A PRAYER FOR THE DYING by Stewart O'Nan. Just finished SNOW ANGELS by him as well and damn, I'm jealous. Wish there were more authors like him out there. Instead of this drivel. Yeah, crucify me. I could give a crap.

2008-12-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

If you write, you NEED to read this:
"Finding Time To Write" by Stewart O'Nan

You can find it on page 17 of the Spring 2002 issue of the Neiman Reports. (Link below)

He makes a great point in a handful of paragraphs. If you get your work on paper, you can't have "almost" written it. You'll have WRITTEN it. He's also got some interesting suggestions and, in the spirit of changing things up, I decided to follow one today and got a paragraph done at a time when I wouldn't have thought I could have before.

Check it out. I think you'll like it.

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/assets/pdf/Nieman%20Reports/backissues/02spring.pdf

-Jack

Go Giants!

2008-11-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Suck it, beetches!

Cloddiness Sucks

2008-11-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you give a clod the dangerous weapon like a pullover hoodie. Those things should be outlawed.

2008-11-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

Two quick updates:
1 - Writing - started up Chapter 2. Only a few pages in but only had an hour to write
2 - Running - got back into jogging the last 2 days--went to an indoor track at a local community college and damn, am I old. Not only do I hurt like hell for running 2 miles, but the girls playing basketball in the courts down below where I jog are starting to look too young. Today's a sad, SAD day. :)

Snow!!

2008-11-18T05:57:00.000-08:00

2008-11-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Writing Update: DOWN THE SHORE is now at 24 pages. Slowly but surely.

The Watcher

2008-11-17T19:30:00.001-08:00

Writing Update

2008-11-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

15 pages written. Not half bad.

Got a few minutes ...

2008-11-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

...so I thought I'd share some of the random posts (and random silence) that's been happening here.

1. NINE INCH NAILS

First off, last Thursday night I saw Nine Inch Nails at the House of Blues in Atlantic City. Best show I've ever seen. See that light on the left? My seat was just above it. Yeah, I coulda spit on Trent, had I not been busy thrashing around in my seat.

For those interested, my Ubuntu Desktop now looks like this (thanks to Picasa from Google and their new Linux port--ultimate fanboyism is a piece of cake):

2. Writing

I've decided that if I don't start focusing on the two or three projects I've had boiling for a while, I'm going to actually go insane. Work and family tends to overtax my free time and, while I'm not copmplaining, I have certain goals that I wish to accomplish in this incredibly short life. One of those goals is to become a published author. Now, while I've accomplished this goal in some sense (had a bunch of short stories published in various forms), I am officially making "published novelist" my goal. I've put together a task list, a plan on when I need to hit those milestones and I'm going to start holding myself accountable when I slip. After all, this is real. This is life.

-Jack

Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to take a moment and thank all those that served this country, past and present.

I, for one, appreciate your sacrifice and your service.

-Jack