Click on Tina’s photo to watch and listen 
Oh…and be sure to watch both of them…the second one is when she was 9…
Daily Posts on Life
My daily scattered thoughts as I seek to unravel the mysteries of writing, publishing and marketing fiction.
You’ve probably never heard of Zach Sobiech. He was a teenage boy living in Minnesota, playing guitar and growing up. That is, until he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), when he was 14. This past Monday, he lost his fight with yet another form of this damned disease, 2 1/2 weeks after turning 18.
It seems young Mr. Sobiech has left a legacy of hope and optimism with all whom he touched, and it’s epitomized in a video he recorded, which has reached viral status on Youtube. I invite you to watch and listen. Zach Sobiech and friends play a song Zach composed about dying young – “Clouds”.
Click on Zach”s photo to listen and read more about this remarkable young man…
You’ve written what you hope is the next “Carrie”, have a cover that could have been fashioned by Michelangelo, and only a couple tasks remain.
First comes editing. Oh no, you think…anything but that. Who wants to edit? Sit hunched over a keyboard for endless hours, spell-checking, punctuating, and making sure you didn’t use “their” instead of “there”. Or that someone who was 35 and blonde two chapters ago is suddenly 21 and a redhead. Are there actually folks who enjoy this? I surely don’t.
Which is exactly why editing is far harder than writing. Not by virtue of bottom line effort, but rather because it’s so – boring. I mean, lookit, you’ve just returned from a sublime journey through a world where midnight dwellers with foot-long teeth have decimated the entire population of Houston, and now you have to actually work?
Yeah, you do. And not only you do, but you better. ‘Cause without all the spelling, grammar, punctuation and factology (my word, stay away) correctimundo, great writing is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Not only will readers not finish it, they won’t peer around in earnest for any more of your scribbling, either.
I design and draft commercial properties and residential neighborhoods in my other, less glamorous existence. I do it like thousands of other guys do, using the same software, same type of computer, and so on. So the only thing I have to sell is one) my timeliness and accuracy and two) the quality of my product. And trust me, the beauty of the drawing has much to do with the perception of whomever is ogling it at the time. If it looks like a bunch of spaghetti spilled on the kitchen floor, then I don’t care if it’s accurate enough for NASA, someone is going to think it’s a shitty drawing. Period.
So it is with books. Plot and characters go right out the window as soon as someone sees “It was simpel; Darian just couldn’t bring himself to reveal there identity.” you, my friend, are in File 13. I’ve seen in – alot – and recently too. Why would anyone, anyone, anyone go to all the trouble, the hours, the sweat, the nail chewing blank stare what the hell comes next why can’t I come up with the ending crap, and then decided to just skip the finishing touches?
Do yourself a favor. Finish your writing, and then hand it to someone else. Preferably a few someone else’s. Even more preferably not a friend, acquaintance, or business partner. No one that owes you money, who answers to you at work, or is waiting for your vote for Imperial Grand Poobah of the Knights of Elmer Fudd. Petition a few fellow scribblers, ask them to look it over – and be savage about it. Circle, highlight, and draw a line through every misspelled, misused, and mistook word, every phrase and nonsensical sentence, and all plot spots that drew there eyebuggers together in confusionundrum. And when you get the lists, look at each and every one of the endearing items and change as needed. Then put their respective names in your book with thanks. They built it too, right?
It’s called work – and there’s not a best-seller out there that wasn’t hard work.
So, tell me what you think
1. “Do Unto Others” (short story) – Jeremy is a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he is wronged by a local businessman, it becomes his mission to seek revenge. But his new enemy has friends – ones that don’t take kindly to intruders.
2. “Colors” (short story) – Harrison Smith. attorney, biker wannabe, coward. When he finds the bike of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. It is.
3. “Simona Says” (novella) – Simona has had it rough. Death, disenchantment, and disappointment are all part of her life. She wants to be happy for a change, and she’s willing to do just about anything to find some. Anything.
Click on the poster to read the full article…
It’s a tragic commentary on life in our world today…innocent children disappear on a daily basis. We as authors have a huge network of friends and collegues. Let’s use it for some good. Blog this, twitter it, face it, and digg it. Get the word out there any way you know how. Maybe it will be your post that gets her home…
It’s always special when a peer thinks of me – especially during award time
Thanks so much, Karen…
Drawing Room Days is marvelous site, and Karen has seen fit to fill it with bright, refreshing, colorful posts – a very nice change from the doldrums of daily living – you should stop by and say hello. Here’s the link:
Click to go to Karen’s site!
So. The questions and answers:
- What is my favourite colour: Any green except lime
- What is my favourite animal: Make believe, the werewolf, of course. Real, the Silverback Gorilla ranks high
- What is my favourite number: I have no idea why, but 17
- What is my favourite non-alcoholic beverage: coffee first thing, iced tea in the evenings
- What is my favourite alcoholic beverage: I actually make some pretty rippin’ home-made Kahlua…it’s cheap, and if done properly, it puts store-bought to shame
- Do I prefer Facebook or Twitter: Facebook, hands down…so much more personal and flexible
- What are my passions: My wife, fishing, a good movie, a good cigar, a good drink, and I don’t have to mention writing
- Do I prefer giving or receiving gifts: Giving, anytime. The appreciation and joy that results is the best gift, anyway
- What is my favorite city: I’m not much for cities, actually, but my hometown of Pittsburgh. It’s a melting pot of so many cultures – mix that in with the working-man mindset and you’ve got a heady brew of society
- What are my favorite TV shows: “Justified”, “Deadliest Catch”, and “Ghost Adventures”
Okay, so now I get to pass the torch, and it goes to:
Bob Atkinson
M.S. Fowle
Catherine Wolffe
Ruth Watson-Morris
Diane Major
Judith Atwood
Simon Okill
Maer Wilson
Lorraine Jean Bush
Victoria Dougherty
They get to answer the same questions – get to it, folks!
What an incredible outpouring of love. My post about my friend David’s passing – if you missed it, you can read it here – generated an astonishing response. So many generous words and prayers for his widow and family. You all have my eternal gratitude.
Now. Due to that tragic event, and some other ones as well, I’m woefully behind in my social stuff. I have 500 emails, around 30 friend requests in Facebook and a like number in
Goodreads. So today, I relax, catch up with all this, and Monday I’ll be back swinging. God bless you all.
Oh, by the way. Four weeks from today, I’ll take the time to mention my book “The Clearing” comes out. That was pushed into the back of my mind these last few days, of course, but now? Now it’s time to ROCK!
‘Nuf said…
Click on the cover to read the review!
Book description:
Doc White wakes up in a Las Vegas hotel suite a very confused man with a massive tequila hangover. As he reflects on the previous day’s events that included his wife walking out on him and with their joint savings, the return of the voice in his head, his subsequent loss of another $150,000 at the blackjack tables, and then waking up next to a total stranger, Doc’s already damaged life has taken another serious dip downward. In order to pay off his new debt, Doc is forced to do something he vowed years ago never to do again; take a corporate job. Doc’s new boss, an octogenarian Chinese casino owner with a taste for curling and political intrigue, along with the return of an old love help to reenergize Doc as he tries to rebuild his life in Sin City. At a major crossroads, Doc draws on the expertise of Merlin, his coke-addled, phobic colleague from a prior life and Summerman, a part-time ghost who is certain he can help Doc deal with the voice in his head. By the time this initial installment in B.R. Snow’s Damaged Posse series is wrapped up, Doc, Merlin, and Summerman have joined forces and are armed and ready to wreak havoc on the bad guys as well as themselves.
“A really strong opening novel in what has real potential to become an incredibly popular series. It’s unusual to see four fully-developed main characters juggled as seamlessly as they are here and B.R. Snow has set the Damaged Posse series up in a way that provides himself with a wide variety of directions to move in future volumes. The storylines are compelling, the characters pop off the page, and Snow displays a sense of irreverence which serves him well as he takes on greed, hypocrisy, and the vagaries of relationships. Best of all, he is one very funny writer. Don’t miss this one and the ones that follow. Comic crime hasn’t looked this good is a very long time.”
From the “About Us” page of Indies Unlimited…
About IU
We are at the beginning of a technological revolution in how books are written, published, marketed, purchased, and read. This site is dedicated to the independent authors, publishers, reviewers and readers who are on the cutting edge of that technological revolution.
A major challenge for any indie author is the lack of established infrastructure in place to market indie books. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get the word out about your book, to find reviewers, and to drive traffic to your website or Facebook page. As a new author, I was delighted to discover a very high level of mutual support and camaraderie in the indie author community. This platform is born from that spirit of mutual aid and support.
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Click on the image to go to the site!
My dear friend Erika M. Szabo made these badges for me. The first one reads “Thomas Rydder”, and the second and third ones read “Thomas Rydder, Author.” Beautiful, aren’t they? They are writtin in Rovasiras, the ancient language of the Huns. I’m going to replace my current “Follow me on Facebook” badge with one of these, but I’m not sure which one. What do you think? Comment your opinion
(SEO hint of the day – If you include your blog address with your comment, it creates a backlink on my site to yours. More backlinks = higher Google rating for your site )
Badge #1
Badge #2
