I have dusted off an old story I started years ago and am rewriting it for Jukepop. Be sure and check it out and give me a +1 vote if you like it...
http://www.jukepop.com/home/read/955...hare&chapter=1
It is being posted a chapter at a time...and I hope this go around to finish the story.
You can vote once per chapter.
I hope you like it and keep checking back (and voting of course) to keep me on track.
Randy
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Writing away
Time for another update.
I have cut back on nonfiction quite a bit, and am working to improve my fiction output.
We started a Sci Fi/ Fantasy writers group at our local library and each month we have a writing prompt to share with the group. So after three months I now have three flash fiction pieces that I can market.
I have received seven rejections so far...my goal is 100 for the year...YAY! ...This means I am doing something and not just thinking about it.
The people in the group also take turns submitting a longer piece for a more detailed critique...I sent in my 3000 word "First chapter" last night. I like where it is going so maybe this will be something I can run with. I am writing it with a little different process than the stuff I have written before, we will see how it works out.
I also entered a 48 hr sci fi writing contest... They give you a title, line of dialog and a optional scientific theme, and then you have 48 to turn it into a 1500 word short story. My wife and I each entered and we each got different prompts. Tanya's seemed to be easier to write to and I think she did an awesome job with it.
Mine on the other hand had a crazy hard line of dialog (I had to look up the meaning of two words and then try to figure out how they related in the same sentence), I did what I could with it in the short amount of time I had. I have to say I am pleased with the result, even though there are things I want to change the 48 hour time limit wouldn't let me cogitate on the plot flaws I had. We should know the first week of May how we did.
I am still writing some survival/Prepping stuff so if you need something feel free to contact me about it. The nonfiction ain't payin' no bills yet...
Until next time,
Randy
I have cut back on nonfiction quite a bit, and am working to improve my fiction output.
We started a Sci Fi/ Fantasy writers group at our local library and each month we have a writing prompt to share with the group. So after three months I now have three flash fiction pieces that I can market.
I have received seven rejections so far...my goal is 100 for the year...YAY! ...This means I am doing something and not just thinking about it.
The people in the group also take turns submitting a longer piece for a more detailed critique...I sent in my 3000 word "First chapter" last night. I like where it is going so maybe this will be something I can run with. I am writing it with a little different process than the stuff I have written before, we will see how it works out.
I also entered a 48 hr sci fi writing contest... They give you a title, line of dialog and a optional scientific theme, and then you have 48 to turn it into a 1500 word short story. My wife and I each entered and we each got different prompts. Tanya's seemed to be easier to write to and I think she did an awesome job with it.
Mine on the other hand had a crazy hard line of dialog (I had to look up the meaning of two words and then try to figure out how they related in the same sentence), I did what I could with it in the short amount of time I had. I have to say I am pleased with the result, even though there are things I want to change the 48 hour time limit wouldn't let me cogitate on the plot flaws I had. We should know the first week of May how we did.
I am still writing some survival/Prepping stuff so if you need something feel free to contact me about it. The nonfiction ain't payin' no bills yet...
Until next time,
Randy
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Where I am today
I went through a phase a couple months ago where I was overwhelmed with work...as in I had 17 articles ordered within a 48 hour window...
Something had to give and it was me...I was unable to complete all the orders. It was a very stressful time, trying to make everyone happy.
Just a week or so prior I had my first real negative review of my work. Some quotes "this is junk" "I can't believe I waited this long for this Sh&^" (four days) "Have you even been in the woods before?"...as you can see it was a pretty harsh pill to swallow. I am confident in my abilities, but something like this can't help but bring to down.
So deadlines started dropping and I started missing them, I made up some ground but people kept ordering. Finally I turned off my ad so no one could order any more and tried to climb out of the hole.
I have a couple clients I write for directly so those clients were given priority, and I am now caught back up, but I don't plan on reactivating my ad anytime soon.
Instead I am working on a fiction project, along with the prepper e-book project.
Still looking to raise income to the level where I can stay on the farm and work and have the writing make up the difference in income.
Randy
Something had to give and it was me...I was unable to complete all the orders. It was a very stressful time, trying to make everyone happy.
Just a week or so prior I had my first real negative review of my work. Some quotes "this is junk" "I can't believe I waited this long for this Sh&^" (four days) "Have you even been in the woods before?"...as you can see it was a pretty harsh pill to swallow. I am confident in my abilities, but something like this can't help but bring to down.
So deadlines started dropping and I started missing them, I made up some ground but people kept ordering. Finally I turned off my ad so no one could order any more and tried to climb out of the hole.
I have a couple clients I write for directly so those clients were given priority, and I am now caught back up, but I don't plan on reactivating my ad anytime soon.
Instead I am working on a fiction project, along with the prepper e-book project.
Still looking to raise income to the level where I can stay on the farm and work and have the writing make up the difference in income.
Randy
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Two and a half years
I have not been keeping up on my blogs.
The reason?
I have been writing so much for everyone else! That's a good thing right? Well yes and no.
My farm work has suffered right along with my own blogs. I have so much survival and prepping content out there now it is incredible, but it is all for other people.
About 25% of it is under my name, the rest is ghost written. I have two ghost written ebooks out there also. One costs About $8 the other is $20. It has been a fun, if sometimes stressful experience.
I was approached by a print magazine for a couple articles and I made the mistake of writing and submitting them without talking payment first...turns out they didn't pay at that time(they started paying the next issue) I have a cover feature and another article in that issue. At least it is under my name.
I am currently writing for $.05 a word plus any fees and have been kept quite busy. I am still far from where professional freelancers say I need to be in regards to my fees. I started out at $.02 and have been increasing it for new work every time I get busy and people want bids. I have lost some older customers but have more than picked up the difference.
I really want to get into fiction writing but have been kept busy with the demand for prepping articles.
As an example right this minute I have in the hopper...5 -750 word articles, a 1200 word article and a 2000 word article...all due within the next week...this has become my typical workload.
I had a series of trapping articles (8) that I really enjoyed writing, with a few more (hopefully) in the works.
I am considering completely rewriting one of my ebooks and publishing it for myself.
I also have in the works "Trapping for Preppers" a guide to animal trapping for preppers.
That about sums up what has been going on.
Randy
The reason?
I have been writing so much for everyone else! That's a good thing right? Well yes and no.
My farm work has suffered right along with my own blogs. I have so much survival and prepping content out there now it is incredible, but it is all for other people.
About 25% of it is under my name, the rest is ghost written. I have two ghost written ebooks out there also. One costs About $8 the other is $20. It has been a fun, if sometimes stressful experience.
I was approached by a print magazine for a couple articles and I made the mistake of writing and submitting them without talking payment first...turns out they didn't pay at that time(they started paying the next issue) I have a cover feature and another article in that issue. At least it is under my name.
I am currently writing for $.05 a word plus any fees and have been kept quite busy. I am still far from where professional freelancers say I need to be in regards to my fees. I started out at $.02 and have been increasing it for new work every time I get busy and people want bids. I have lost some older customers but have more than picked up the difference.
I really want to get into fiction writing but have been kept busy with the demand for prepping articles.
As an example right this minute I have in the hopper...5 -750 word articles, a 1200 word article and a 2000 word article...all due within the next week...this has become my typical workload.
I had a series of trapping articles (8) that I really enjoyed writing, with a few more (hopefully) in the works.
I am considering completely rewriting one of my ebooks and publishing it for myself.
I also have in the works "Trapping for Preppers" a guide to animal trapping for preppers.
That about sums up what has been going on.
Randy
Monday, May 28, 2012
And still another bad thing
I worked on an article for four hours yesterday, when my comp just shut off!!
It was a very hot day and I'm sure it overheated.
Backup? haha whats that?
I now have my MS Word saving every minute.
Keep writing,
Randy
It was a very hot day and I'm sure it overheated.
Backup? haha whats that?
I now have my MS Word saving every minute.
Keep writing,
Randy
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Science Fiction Blues
I am a Christian. In fact I am an ordained minister; I was even the pastor of a church, and I love a good Science Fiction novel.
The problem is the overwhelming majority of Science Fiction today speaks down to Christians. I have stopped reading good authors because they can't help but to take a dig (consciously or sub-consciously) at Christians and conservatives when they write.
As an example a book I have out from the library right now a book that in the first two chapters: Has ridiculed conservatives on the fetal stem cell issue, by looking back in history (from the future) and painting them as backward. Then there are the ubiquitous gay characters shoved in our faces; and finally there is a complete liberal, anti-capitalist misunderstanding of how the commodities markets function.
The author tries to push the notion that speculators are pushing up the price of a certain commodity. This fiction is in the news daily pushed by liberals. If you would investigate how the commodity markets really worked you would find that, speculators make money no mater which direction the price moves; you can speculate that the price will go up or down and make a profit.
As a result I will return a well reviewed novel unread past the middle of the second chapter.
This has been very frustrating!
My library has a large Christian fiction section but I have mainly avoided it since it is overwhelmingly Christian romance with a few Frank Perretti and Ted Dekker novels thrown in. A couple weeks ago I got fed up with the Sci Fi section and decided to wander down the Christian section looking for some a decent Sci Fi novel from a Christian perspective.
What did I find?
Almost nothing...I picked up a book by Kathy Tyers called Firebird, it is a compilation of three earlier novels and is classified as a Science Fiction Romance.(I had started reading before I learned that) Ack! Actually it was rather good and while I recognized the romance theme is had enough action and suspense to keep me involved until the end.
When I finished and returned it I scoured the rest of the Christian section looking for more Sci Fi...only a couple obvious Romances set in the future...the Fantasy was the same way...only Christian Romance.
What is up with you people?
Can't you write a military Sci Fi novel from even a mildly Christian perspective? How about a good Martial Fantasy?
So come one all you Sci Fi writers out there...don't be afraid of your faith...and if you are not a believer please don't alienate those of use book lovers who are.
Keep your pen scratching,
Randy
The problem is the overwhelming majority of Science Fiction today speaks down to Christians. I have stopped reading good authors because they can't help but to take a dig (consciously or sub-consciously) at Christians and conservatives when they write.
As an example a book I have out from the library right now a book that in the first two chapters: Has ridiculed conservatives on the fetal stem cell issue, by looking back in history (from the future) and painting them as backward. Then there are the ubiquitous gay characters shoved in our faces; and finally there is a complete liberal, anti-capitalist misunderstanding of how the commodities markets function.
The author tries to push the notion that speculators are pushing up the price of a certain commodity. This fiction is in the news daily pushed by liberals. If you would investigate how the commodity markets really worked you would find that, speculators make money no mater which direction the price moves; you can speculate that the price will go up or down and make a profit.
As a result I will return a well reviewed novel unread past the middle of the second chapter.
This has been very frustrating!
My library has a large Christian fiction section but I have mainly avoided it since it is overwhelmingly Christian romance with a few Frank Perretti and Ted Dekker novels thrown in. A couple weeks ago I got fed up with the Sci Fi section and decided to wander down the Christian section looking for some a decent Sci Fi novel from a Christian perspective.
What did I find?
Almost nothing...I picked up a book by Kathy Tyers called Firebird, it is a compilation of three earlier novels and is classified as a Science Fiction Romance.(I had started reading before I learned that) Ack! Actually it was rather good and while I recognized the romance theme is had enough action and suspense to keep me involved until the end.
When I finished and returned it I scoured the rest of the Christian section looking for more Sci Fi...only a couple obvious Romances set in the future...the Fantasy was the same way...only Christian Romance.
What is up with you people?
Can't you write a military Sci Fi novel from even a mildly Christian perspective? How about a good Martial Fantasy?
So come one all you Sci Fi writers out there...don't be afraid of your faith...and if you are not a believer please don't alienate those of use book lovers who are.
Keep your pen scratching,
Randy
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Another Screw up!
This is just wonderful...
The article I sent in the other day by email had neither my address or phone number included with it.
The only way to get back n touch with me is by email.
OOPS!
I may just have to resend the whole kit and caboodle.
btw do you see the screw up in this post??
The article I sent in the other day by email had neither my address or phone number included with it.
The only way to get back n touch with me is by email.
OOPS!
I may just have to resend the whole kit and caboodle.
btw do you see the screw up in this post??
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