How many times? And for what integrity?

The thing that frustrates me the most about non-fiction is the amount of detail that needs to happen. With fiction, of course, as an author, "Well that was explored, but not important to ultimate outcome." But with non-fiction, if a little hair is out of place, it's questionable.

I've spent the last week fixing errors after error that were minor. And the things that should have been minor that exploded into reformatting.

What have I learned?

1) Apparently with my multi-platform set up, I can only handle 240 pages total. Anything beyond that, and the document dies.

2) My thoughts for the History set up is going to change a little because of this lesson. In addition, History will be approached with different purpose.

3) Early complaints about the new book included, "It looks like busy work" And unfortunately, yes, busy work does have a purpose in Education. And busy work can lead to some other things. I will defend later. I apologize for being vague, I'm really tired of trying to stand on this leg of defense of busy work.

4) I _really_ hope that this is the last update. I'm glad I've been vigilant in fixing the errors, it'll look better long term. But otherwise, I'm at the desperate "please let it be done" of the design and finishing.

Drowning in Work

I think the thing I resent the most about being paid for my non-fiction work is the amount of research I need to do to make the bit of non-fiction be truthful. Or as truthful as I understand the world. And yet, I know I will have opposition as I have the words "Darwin", "natural selection", and "evolution", within my own, modern loving country.

But now I sit on my lap with history, and I know there is yet another controversy going to be lead to my feet. But I publish it anyway.

I have blood and gore in my Project Beta. It's being illustrated. Going to publish it anyway.

I have been toying with the idea of getting an intern next summer. Just to help with the research.

But I'm on the precipice of releasing a new book. I'm waiting to hear back from the publisher and I thought I would actually submit something to my Author's blog.

And I want to send a congratulations to my friend Jane. She has known for a while she's expecting. She and her husband, Tarzan, have waited 13 1/2 years for this to happen. I wish them the best of luck.

As for my adventures when I'm not doing work, primarily between the hours of 12 pm to around 6pm to help conserve electricity, I'll be gaming via hand held devices and writing by long hand or through my ipad (which will hopefully not kick off while I'm using it.)

So much to do, so little time. And I want to release at least 3 things this summer. Some people have babies, I have books.

Falling off the edge of the world and returning to do the hard work

So, I've been out and about trying to pull my written world together. I have been working on several books including illustrations. And keeping my job and running a company.

So while on a blogging hiatus, I have spent time getting caught up on recreational reading. And some things stand out as I read. Most recently the sprinkling of vocabulary. I was reading a new book the other day and I saw the reading level was fairly mild. Every now and then, the author would throw a special world, one of those sorts that I had to stop and re-read for context for the meaning. Doesn't happen often but it would come haphazardly through the reading. That annoyed me to no end. Not that I had to stop, find a dictionary, and look up the word. But just the way the author was allowed by their editor to do that to the reader. It is what my students do. And they are in 7/8/9.

So looking at what I really want to do as an author with my materials and I realize I need to perfect my polishing. I need to publish regularly, remind myself of my audience and my fans.

And publish. And write. And write. And edit with fidelity to my characters and my character. I owe the world that.

Creative Bursts

I have found that as I've grown older, that my discipline is much more fickle. I know I should write for at least twenty minutes every day, but I find that if I go away from my work, it makes sense and I will be much more thorough about my creativity. All the parts that need to be completed are filled with more attraction to my senses.

But what about those unfulfilled ideas? Well they are valid, I was thinking about them, they're half baked. They aren't any less than a fully formed idea. No this isn't symbolism for some other opinion in my life.

I know I have a finite amount of time in an undefined spectrum. I have a lot of projects just for work that need my complete attention. I will get to them all. And post regularly here as an author.

Horrible, Horrible Blogger

There comes a point in every blogger's life: do I keep going or do I just stop.

I have admittedly been overwhelmed with my life. And I just completed my 8th NaNoWriMo where I decided to try and aim for 60,000. I will tell you it is possible as long as you do not succomb to doldrums in the middle for any reason.

NaNoWriMo is about removing the excuse of "Oh, I can't write." So that seems silly on the surface that someone who is a NaNoWriMo veteran like myself can be stymied by something so simple as life. But life happens.

And things like running multiple blogs gets shoved aside.

Disappointments happen. I don't think my NaNoWriMo is as strong as it could have been. I also know I did abandon my NaNoWriMo early due to early setbacks in my month that had nothing to do with my writing.

I think in the future, I will find other things to write about. I will eventually have enough to work on shortly. But for now, do not get crazy if I do not post regularly.

What makes a hero?

When thinking about the construct of hero, I usually don't think about anything other than main character.

But in literary terms, the hero is the character that brings about the most change. It is the Hero who gives the story the purpose. He defines a role that we want to champion the defense and directions, moan poor choices and provide a self reflection that makes us better people in real life. 

Heroes in children stories can be very simple. They have faults like Arthur of the Arthur anteater. They give us hope like Frodo of Lord of the Rings. They remind us that even hero worship has limits like in Harry Potter.

But why the exposition? Because I'm looking at the construction of hero and teaching heroes. It could be a whole theme. I will sort out the ideas later. NaNoWriMo is on the horizon.

When Is It Time to Fall Short

I look at the work that consumes my life and I know that every day and every minute I don't work: I'm already behind.

I finally got a chance to review my first book I released this year and I look and I found an error, I won't say where because at this point, my few fans that know the difference haven't actually said anything. But that is the trouble that leaves me feeling like I know all the reasons why I won't "make it to the next level".

I struggle with the needs of the work that I undertake. I hope this is only temporary. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner.