Thursday, August 7, 2008

Have I seriously been that bad about posting to this blog? wow!

Okay... I've been writing a lot of articles, but otherwise, I haven't been writing much.

I'm working on a story for a writing board I'm a part of. I posted about it last month. I've done some background work, but I really haven't sat down to actually write. But with the background I have, I have a few ideas of where I want to go with the story. I just need to sit down and write it.

As for my novel, it's still stewing on the back burner. I need to work on that, especially with a new NaNoWriMo just months away!

I'll try to do a better job of posting here. I really would like to see my fiction make it to print someday!

Grady

Thursday, July 3, 2008

On The Nightstand -- The Other 90%

I just finished reading a great book today by Robert K. Cooper called The Other 90%: How To Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential For Leadership and Life. In the book, he talks about four keystones: Trust, Energy, Farsightedness, and Nerve. Cooper takes you through all four and shows you how to use them to improve your life and be a better leader.

Some of what I read in this book, I had heard elsewhere before, but I liked Cooper's way of relating it to his own life, and in particular his relationship with his grandfather. I found the keystone on energy to be most helpful for me right now. It helped me to see some things that I could do better and showed me how to do that. In just the couple of days that I've been working with this book, I have found what he said to be very helpful.

I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve themselves.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

On the nightstand

Here's some things I am reading (or have recently read)!

I just finished a series by Jonathan Stroud calld The Bartimaeus Trilogy. It is about a boy who uses magic to summon a demon and together, they solve some mysteries that will save the world as they know it. The first book in the series is The Amulet of Samarkand.

Although this is published towards teens, I found this to be an enjoyable series, though one I admit that I figured out most of what would happen before the eventual end of the series.

Another item on my nightstand is The Illiad and The Odyssey, both by Homer. I'm a little over halfway through the first one and it is pretty interesting. A lot of it is based on Greek mythology/history, which I remember liking a lot when I was younger, so some of the characters are familiar. It is not a very easy read, though.

Something else I've been working on is Herodotus's Histories, which covers the history of the area around Persia. It is an interesting book, but I'm having some difficulty ascertaining what is "fact" with what might be closer to "myth". Several characters have "gone to the oracles" and gotten "prophetic" information. Perhaps there were "oracles", but the lack of them today kind of makes me wonder.

I just finished reading Raving Fans, by Ken Blanchard. I would recommend ANYONE to read this excellent book on customer service. It can help you see that everyone has a customer in some way or another, and it is our job to make them a Raving Fans.

Not much else to report on now, but watch for this section to appear again!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Where did that come from

Well, I started work on my story for the contest. I'm still working on a few details, but I'm excited about this one. It just may be a fun one to write!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Almost, but not quite

Okay... So I haven't done as well as I intended on editing my novel...

On the other hand, a writing forum I'm a part of is doing a short story contest based on the theme "Where did that come from?" I have a basic idea of how to start this one. I just need to figure out the details :D

Today, I'll get started at least working on ideas for my new story and try to find time to do some editing as well.

Grady

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

When will "someday" get here?

I keep saying that "somday" I'll work on my writing. As I said in my last post, I have several projects in need of editing. Well, you're reading it hear first... I'm going to make "someday" be today! Part of doing this blog is to help keep me accountable as I work on writing the things I really would like to publish. And my goal is to work on something for at least 30 minutes a day. I can get so much more done if I just apply myself!

Any other writers out there? How are you doing?

Well, right now, I really need to rest, but after I wake up, I will strive to find at least 30 minutes to work on some piece of writing (other than my blogs ;)

Keep writing!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Welcome to my blog!

Writing is something that I find fun to do. Here, you can find information about how my writings are going.

Right now, I have a couple of projects that I'm working on. I have a novel, The Storm, that is in the editing process. I have another, Dragon Secrets, that I intend to finish and edit at some point. I also have a movie script, The Choice, that also is in need of editing.

I'll post some other things here from time to time as well. Hope you enjoy!

Grady