The Writing Life, 17 August 2024
The school year is upon me... and I've got a few appearances coming up.
Back to work next week, and that’s just one of the transitions to look forward to as the month of August winds down. We’ll talk about that as well as what I’ve been writing.
The Home Front
This was my last week of summer break, although I did go into the new school for two days for new teacher orientation. It was great to learn more about the new place (Central Lee High School).
As before, I’m going to not get into too much detail about my teaching work, but I am looking forward to getting started. This will be the sixth school district I’ll have worked in during my career, which has mainly to do with budget cuts and moving for my wife’s work. You never know what will happen with a job, but it would be nice to settle into a district for a while.
I’m going to not get too much into all the stuff I write with my students, but it will be interesting to see if they find out about my blogging and writing all on their own. I remember hearing from some seventh-grade students at my last school district who had found my work online on their own. (My name tends to be Google-friendly as long as it’s spelled properly.)
Within the next few months, my wife and I will be working through closing on a new house and moving there. However, since the move’s only crosstown and I’ll be closer to my school district than I have with my past jobs, I’m feeling good about the time to come. (Once we get the place and I settle in to my new writing space, I’ll give you a look at the place.)
What I’m Writing
Now, onto the writing.
The Yank Striker 2, the sequel for The Yank Striker:
I’m nearly finished with a scene that was giving me trouble. There have been too many times that I’m wanting to get a story done so nice and together and then I remember it’s just the first draft and I’m an idiot for even thinking it should be close to being good.
I’d currently consider my plan to have a first draft of the book done by the end of the year are probably even odds (50 percent) at the current time. Good can’t become the enemy of completed.The Untitled Pro Wrestling Family Drama project:
Previously, I’ve been writing scenes as they came up and not in a coherent order. I’ve now put together a first draft of a single document and starting to add in the pieces of the story. Not all of them are going into the first draft, especially as I refine the storyline of the book.
My writing groups have been quite helpful to me as I continue to do the draft. Hopefully I continue to get good feedback.The Untitled Liegois Poetry Chapbook:
I’ve actually worked out a rough draft of this, although I’ve not totally formalized my formatting yet. The chances I get this done within the next fortnight are even at best, I think.
Of course, with school coming around, there will be less time for me to waste time and just write. Then again, maybe I do better with a deadline. It’s an old journalism thing.
Only time will tell if my writing productivity is affected by the new job and the move. I usually find time to write quite a bit, so I’m not worried.
What I’m Doing Having to do With Writing
After a relatively quiet couple of months, I will be making some in-person appearances in September and October. I’ll go ahead and list them here.
From 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 5 September, I’ll be out at Burlington By The Book, 301 Jefferson St, Burlington, Iowa. I’ll have some copies of my books The Yank Striker and The Holy Fool available for purchase and/or signing as part of the farmer’s market event there. It’ll be my first appearance here and I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m headed back to the Des Moines area from 12-6 p.m. Sunday, 6 October, for the Windsor Heights Book Fair. This will take place at the Agora Events Center, 7692 Hickman Road, Des Moines. This will be the second year I’ll have participated in this event, and I’m eager to return.
Finally, I’ll be participating in the Local Writers’ Book Fair, which will be part of the 2024 Iowa City Book Festival. It will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. This is again my second year of participating, and I am looking forward to being back in Iowa City.
Hope to see you around.
Writing Quote for the Week
Once again, the King gets to the heart of the matter.
So okay― there you are in your room with the shade down and the door shut and the plug pulled out of the base of the telephone. You've blown up your TV and committed yourself to a thousand words a day, come hell or high water. Now comes the big question: What are you going to write about? And the equally big answer: Anything you damn well want.
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Final Thoughts
That’s it for now. Should have a new poem the next time I post here. For you poetry fans.
Writers keep writing and everyone keep safe.