Details on my submission...

Right now, I'm still working on my submission. After I'm done and I've got everything solid and locked in. I think I'll probably put the details on this site. You know, like what the book's about and maybe a preview for you guys to check out.

All I'll say now is that it is somewhat different from my past works.
The title of the book is going to be S3: A Smack in Time.
It is not meant to be a part of a series.
It is designed to be more focused, simple, understandable and fun.

Coranite Chronicles was meant to be just some crazy fantasy with tons of characters, factions, wars, special powers/magic and stuff.

Awake was meant to be just like..well...almost like a dream.

The biggest change in S3 is the point of view. I decided to go for a first person perspective. The reason for this is because I wanted to focus on the main character. It's easier to get a grasp on how they view things if you're seeing things through their eyes.

The second biggest change is that I wanted to make this clear: my books are not really serious. I think some people misunderstand my stories. And that's perhaps I straddle the line too much. So in S3...I make things quite clear. This book is meant to be ridiculous, silly, and over-the-top. And that's how my books have always been, but I think people don't always understand that, so I wanted to make it clear this time.

Not quite over...

A quick thanks to whoever bought my book. We're now up to 41 total sales!

And now...I'm still working on my ABNA submission. It never seems complete no matter how much I work on it, so I might as well put as much time as I can into it.

I don't know how much time I have to work on it. Apparently I can still edit my submission until either the 6th of February or until we hit 5000 submissions in my category. Now...the 6th is easy to understand, but for the 5000 limit...they don't even have a counter or anything! So...yeah, pretty much just gotta work at it and check the site until it's totally over.

IT'S 6AM

It's 6AM...and no...I did not wake up early. In fact, I haven't slept yet! YAY!

Update time: my eyes hurt from staring at this stupid computer screen for over...18 hours?

Yeah...it's time to go to sleeeeep.

On a very related note. I have submitted my submission to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest! I was trying to submit it at 12 AM after working 12 hours on it. But then I realized I still had changes to make. Apparently SIX HOURS WORTH! And no, it's not done. I still have a lot I want to change. But I have submitted a decent copy just in case the submissions get filled up and closed. Now I'm SAFE! I'm definitely IN!

I know one of you (aka. Myself) is rooting for me. So thanks.
Yes. I'm talking to myself. Because it's 6Am.
And I've been writing and writing and writing...and...ow...my finger hurts.
And no, I do not rely on such methods as caffeine to stay awake.
SHEER WILL POWER!

Oh, my eyes! They buuuuurn!
Okay, I'm going to sleep for real this time. But for some reason I can't stop typing, but I can't really see either. Staring at the white screen of the word processor has made everything painful. Now I'm hearing...an alarm. Apparently I have an alarm that goes off at 6:10. But because I'm never usually awake at that time...I've never heard it before. Amazing.

Okay, I'm going to sleep for real again. Good morning.

Silence...

I've not been posting recently because there just isn't as much time as I thought there'd be. Tomorrow's the day for the submission! Just thought I'd let the world know before I hop back into seclusion and seek the way to perfect the manuscript and pitch.
So yeah, that's what's happening.

See you all on the flip side.

Oh, the agony!

I had forgotten how painful it is to write a pitch.
No matter how many times I read it...I just can't conclude the darn thing!
AAAAAAAAAH! It's driving me craaaaazy!
Darn it, why did the pitch have to be the first round?
Ugh. Only a few days left until the submission opens.
I'm really behind schedule. Nothing is going as planned.
THIS IS MADNESS!

Top 5 Songs that I randomly whistle from time to time

I said I'd do another stupid top ten list and here it is!
Well, I'd do a top ten...but they take forever to write up. So...top 5 it is!
Top 5 songs that I randomly whistle from time to time! (Not gaming related ed.)
They're not really in order, so I could continue with this at another time.
If I do continue it, tomorrow, it'll probably be only game songs.


1) Somewhere Out There
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTc03M4lPXU

Now, I don't know anything about the origin of the song(who wrote it/sang it/whatever), but I first heard it in American Tail. To be honest, I never really watched this movie much. Probably only watched it once...a long, long time ago. I don't remember ANYTHING from the movie...except this song(stuck in my head for decades!). And it's either a testament to how great this song is...or how painful it is to me. Honestly, just listening to this song on youtube is killing me inside, like someone is stabbing me in the heart, furiously and repeatedly, with unicorns and rainbows! HAVE AT THEE COLD HEART OF THE MODERN ERA!
Though I can fight back the tears, I can't stop the UNGHing.
It brings to mind a simpler time...when everything was perfect.

2) The Bare Necessities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o

Something something bare necessities, something something mother's natures recipes. I don't memorize words to songs. And the only way I'd ever sing it...is if I got the lyrics right in front of me. Thankfully, whistling a song is simple and easy. It's got a good rhythm. This movie I watched several times, but I forgot most of the plot by now. However, this song stuck with me...forever.

3) A spoonful of sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5IW9wK_HNg

Ah Mary poppins. I found bedknobs and broomsticks to be kinda scary when I was little. Aw, heck, I found Mary Poppins a bit insane (and some of the things were creepy, but not that much). But I also found it to be quite fun. The songs get stuck in your head and that's all you need to whistle. Did they whistle in the movie? I have a feeling they did. And it's that one-two punch that burns the melody in your head.

4) Hakuna Matata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEVczA8PLU

This song kind of reminds me of the bare necessities. It almost has that same concept to it. Maybe that is what is so enduring about these songs. When you listen to these songs (or maybe watch the video of it), your worries take a back seat. You start thinking, "Hey, maybe life ain't so bad!" HAKUNA MATATA! YEAH! No worries for the rest of your life! SWEEEEET! Life is great!
Then it hits you like a truck: even in the movie, poor simba had to get pulled out of his paradise to go fight skarfacedudelionthing. It's like a metaphor for: When this movie is over...you gotta get back to life too...suckah.

5) Somewhere over the Rainbow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HRa4X07jdE

Yet another movie that I've never really watched and still...the song resides within my mind. I'm not sure how it got there. Maybe people used it a lot in commercials or something because I sure as heck don't remember ever watching this movie. In fact, I don't even know the latter half of the song. I only whistle the beginning.

Public Bathroom Scares

Quick News: Another sale! YESSS! One more week till ABNA submissions start! NOOO!

Stupid Topic? Public Bathroom Scares.

There is something I dread about public places. And that is...THE PUBLIC BATHROOM.
It's not about the cleanliness. First of all, I am a guy. And, though I have never seen the inside of the women's bathroom, I can assure you that a men's bathroom is MUCH WORSE.

Just yesterday, I was at the urinal (or also known as...the waterfall of great relief...) and lo and behold...as I walk up to it...I step in a puddle.

Now, sometimes, it can be quite ambiguous. And my fears can be softened due to the uncertainty. Perhaps the flush was SOOOO POWERFUL that water may have accidentally and magically flown out. Or perhaps the pipes were leaking...and a bit of unlucky dripping occurred. But the ambiguity can only be applied...when the liquid is CLEAR. When the liquid is...( I dare not specify) a certain color, I proceed to scrape the bottom of my shoe all over the floor with fury and disgust.

But...again...It's not about the stains on the walls or the puddles on the floor. It's not even about the crazy people who look and laugh at you while you're trying to do your number 1 in pee--er, peace.
No, my issue lies with something else entirely. It's kind of due to my imagination.

You see...whenever I'm at the urinal, I watch my back. I listen for people walking through and glance over the shoulder whenever someone comes around. Why? I always have this fear that someone is going to slam my head against the wall or something.

It's really because of movies. Movies always use the bathroom as a battleground. And rightfully so, I suppose. After all, the bathroom is not monitored by security cameras, has easy access to water so you can wash away blood from yourself or fingerprints on areas you've touched, and last(but not least) bathroom are usually used as an ambush area because it is a place people let their guard down.
It's hard to "go" when you're worried about everything. The bathroom is place you have to relax.

If a rough and tough cop has to force an answer outta someone, it's in the bathroom. If a bad guy wants to ambush a good guy, it's in the bathroom.
Oh public bathrooms...how you have become such a messy place!

So, yes, I blame movies. Every time I go into the bathroom my thoughts turn to bathroom brawls, where people smash opponents against plumbing, stuff them into toilets, and pipes burst, splashing water everywhere.

An 80s/90s Revival

The 80's and 90's were interesting times. Okay, that was a pretty stupid statement. I suppose all time is interesting in their own ways.
But they were more interesting to me, I figure, because I lived through it(kinda, sorta).

And among those times came some amazing movies that were somewhat influential to my mind and life and whatever else.

Some of my favorite movies from those times are:
Back to the Future (Trilogy)
Matrix (1 mostly. I still can't remember what 2 and 3 were about.)
Independence Day
Jurassic Park
Terminator 2
Men in Black
Ghostbusters

And probably some others I can't remember.

I wouldn't consider these movies to be works of art, but they did fuel my love for that which is not real. And while these series/franchises/movies have had some breaths of life in the past. I've noticed recently that things have been coming back in the form of games. And really, I never would have ever in my life imagined that they would be making new games of such old movies(stories)!
Once again, nostalgia sells...especially after ten to twenty years.

Here's a quick look at some of the new games that have either come out or are coming out:

(no embeds cause it screws up when it's widescreen)
First, Ghostbusters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyVGSGynYpg

Came out two years ago (time sure flies). They got back the voices, got back to the basics and brought them back to life when we thought it was all over. Really, these things just come out of the blue. I guess it's the cycle thing, where they think they can just make a quick buck outta nostalgia (and they can...and they did). Still sweet though. Even just watching the trailer with that awesome music gives me the shiver-me-timbers.

Now you can do all that stuff you ever wanted to do in a real ghostbusters game! Like...cross streams! And...trap ghosts! And...listen to awesome "Who ya gonna call" music ALL THE TIME!


Next. Back to the Future! This one is done by telltale games, a company that specializes in point and click adventures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3blzGwd4xLg

Once again they just hook me with that music!
Doo, doo, doo doo...! "Tell me Docta, where are we going this time?"
UNGHHHH! ARRRGH! SO MUCH NOSTALGIA!

This one takes a more...cartoonish approach. However, they even did Marty's voice pretty well. Some of the characters can be hard to recognize due to the new look, but overall, it looks pretty fantastic! Now you can...time travel! And screw up time just like marty does all the time!


And finally. Jurassic Park!
This one's not actually a trailer. They haven't gotten around to it yet, but there are some screenshots here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOzH_9Ny6_M

This revival thingamabobie is really amazing. I know, I know...they kinda still do make Jurassic Park movies(so it's not really a revival)...but they just keep getting worse and worse! Here's hoping to a good game that does justice to the original!
Now you can...get...eaten...by...a...dinosaur? Hmm...well, that was the appeal of the movies wasn't it? To watch people get eaten by dinosaurs, I mean.
Doesn't sound pleasant. But...who knows? Maybe...you'll survive. (And then get eaten off screen).

Everything is slowing down...

Just thought I'd take a quick break from writing/editing to make a quick post.

I am not a big fan of fruit. That's not to say that I don't like fruit...because I do. Fruit's nice. It's healthy, packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. Nature's natural dessert (snack? treat?). And there's plenty of variety in fruit...that there's probably something for everyone.

Even so, I must admit that...unless I'm starving and fruit is the only option, I won't be eating it. Why is that? Well...I'm pretty sure it's the conditioning from the modern world. It's also the same reason I don't care much for water either.

Here's the main reason:
I'm lazy. I've always been told this strange tale where a man was sooooo lazy that he did not want to move or do anything at all. He did not even want to get up to get food. And so...he would only eat what people would give him. One day, his family went on a trip without him (naturally), and since they knew how lazy he was, they tied a large cake on his neck so that he would only have to bend down to eat the cake. When they came back from the trip...they found him dead...because he would only eat the top of the cake...but when it came down to the bottom...it was too far for him to reach for. Yeah...it doesn't make any sense. After all, he'd much sooner die of thirst than hunger with this arrangement. But that's not the moral of the story.

Anyway, I am sort of like that. To me...fruit is just something of a pain in the butt to eat. You either have fruit that you need to peel...fruit that has pits in it...fruit that you need to cut...fruit that is messy...or fruit that just isn't all that delicious. Or possibly even a combination of everything. They're such a hassle, which is why (not so coincidentally), some of my favorite fruits happen to be:
Apples and Bananas. Why?
Apples: you eat it and throw out the core. no mess.
Bananas: you peel off the sides, which are usually pretty easy, and eat the rest. throw out peel. no mess.
You don't have to get your hands sticky and you don't have to really work to get at the "meat."

And the other reason?
It's usually not that sweet. And this is what I mean when I talk about conditioning. The world has manufactured the treat. The only reason you enjoy a fruit is because it is a sweet treat with a natural sugar. But since I've eaten other man-made snacks all my life, it's hard not to pick one over the other at times.

There was a time in my life that I dreaded drinking water. I had to force myself to drink water! Why? Because I knew what awaited me when I drank...was something tasteless...and bland. I would look at a glass of water and long for juice or soda. After years of forcing myself to drink water, it's much easier to do it now.

Anyway...that's my pointless blog post for today. I'll get back to work now.

Aww...here it comes... (Super Long Multi Post?)

Free-Ebooks.net now has a ranking system for their top 10 most popular books. And now...the sad part...The Judge is falling off the chart. Barely hanging on at the 10th spot. And we were so close to 18,000 too.... But I suppose all good things must come to an end (I feel like I've said this a million times).
________________________________________________________

Anyway, things have been pretty crazy with the snow. I mean...we only had ONE snow storm...and that caused the whole county (not country) to not have school for a week! That's crazy. I've never heard of skipping school for a week because of snow.
Everything got messed up. Postal service got held up for three days. Trash guys haven't even showed up at all.

A little snow and all society falls.
________________________________________________________

At the moment, I don't know how I feel. I don't want to think about it. I try to blot out all thoughts, feelings, worries and concerns from my mind.

Am I sad that Coranite Chronicles was not as good as I had hoped? Yeah.
I don't really care about Awake, so it has exceeded my expectations in that regard and I'm satisfied with it.
But Coranite Chronicles...was kind of like a child...my child...even if that sounds totally weird.

But with the fall of Coranite Chronicles...I feel...that I really must give it my all in order to, at least, make it to the final round of the ABNA contest.
_____________________________________________________________

With that said, I'm just going to move on. I don't want to go to bed full of worry.
I'll finish this SLMP with a talk about video games.

Let's see.... What should I talk about? Something recent? Something old? Something popular? Or perhaps something...lesser known?

Maybe I'll start with...my favorite game(s) of all time.


That's right. Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 are my favorites games of all time. Now, of course, that's a bit silly to say isn't, it? After all...Galaxy 2 only just came out last year in...May. But I stand by the "of all time" statement...because quite frankly, you just know these things.

Now...for some people...there shouldn't be a need to explain my choice. It's not some obscure hidden gem or anything. It's a popular game...widely known...a big seller (though not as big as the 2D mario titles). But for those who don't quite understand the appeal of these games...I shall start...from the...beginning.

I grew up...in the age of Mario (the age of NES really). Got my first NES (Nintendo Entertainment System for those of you...who really have no idea what I'm talking about) when I was about four or five. Splendid games they were, those Mario games. I mean...just look at all the other games in those times! Most of them...we're pretty much badly designed or super hard for no reason.

But not Mario. No. They were hard...but fair. And they worked to bring tons of creativity in a genre where people just slapped their hands together and said, "We made a game!"

Honestly, if you gave me a NES today (due to your supreme generosity), there are very few games I would even bother to play on it. Many licensed games, games based on movies or cartoons...they were absolutely HORRIBLE. They rarely, if ever, made any sense. And...they were usually just simple run-attack-die type of games. Pointlessly hard, completely ridiculous goals and objectives, impossible to find secrets...the list goes on and on. Even flash games today are probably more fun than most NES titles. (And just think...those NES games cost over $50! And that was in the 90's!)

But I'm not here to complain about the NES (even though I will at any given moment). I'm here to explain about Galaxy!

And before I continue, let me add that I had never played a 3D Mario platformer before Galaxy. That's right. I've never played Mario 64 and I've never played Sunshine. And quite frankly, I don't really have much of an urge to play them. I mean, I would play them--if you strapped me in a chair, tossed me a controller, threw me in front of a tv, and turned it on for me. SURE! I'd play it. But...at the moment, I'm already super satisfied by what Super Mario Galaxy has to offer me.

When I first heard that Super Mario Galaxy was coming out, I wasn't sure what to think. I had never played a 3D Mario game, but the concept seemed tempting. However, what really sold me on the game...was nostalgia. A pretty lame reason, for sure, but I can't deny it.
Nintendo really can sell you your childhood.

The reason I remotely cared about buying/playing Super Mario Galaxy was really due to the mario games of old. Hearing those wonderful tunes that had been stuck in my head for twenty years...in a glorious orchestral remix...is really an experience hard to describe. Candy to my ears? Pure bliss in my head? I don't know what to call it. All I know is...that it works.

Every time I turn on the game and hop into a level...the soundtrack gets in my head...and lets all the little fairies prance on my brain cells. It is delight. It is sweet. It is...obsessive. How can music be this good? Nostalgia. Sometimes I wonder...if I had never heard those songs over and over again when I was a child...would it have the same effect? I can never find out.

But aside from the music...the design of the game is quite amazing as well. There is an incredible amount of variety. There are levels where you clumsily ride a manta ray down a huge roller-coaster of water suspended in midair. Then there's a little segment with fire and ice. Spin Mario around...and he skates along the ice like he's a gold medalist. Spin Mario around...and he shoots fireballs from his BARE HANDS(I've never seen any plumber do that before). There are even levels where Mario rides a giant ball (yeah...I didn't want to write it either) and learning to steer with the motion control is half the fun! On top of that...you never really have to play the game any specific way. Through tricks, you can find secret areas and shortcuts. You can go to places you never even thought were part of the game. You can try to challenge yourself because of how flexible Mario can be (again...I feel like everything can be worded better).

There are a million things I can say about this game--from the gorgeous environments, to the delightfully cute designs of the characters.

But there can be no easier way to sum up my feelings than this:
I can never get bored of the games.
Super Mario Galaxy 1/2 are quite literally...
the only games in existence...
that I can never get bored of.

And that's it for today. I still don't get why I have a blog. But sometimes it feels...relieving (almost like...going to the bathroom) to just write thoughts on something. It's a bit of a break from writing a story.

Some Random Thoughts (aka. Blog Post)

So here we are at another day in our writing/editing marathon.
I sold another book (Whoohoo!) and that brings the total up to 38!

I've been struggling with the editing for S3, as always.
I'm reading, editing and writing...and...everything is just a big blur.
It's like one of those things where you don't know where you came from or where you're going.

I got a comment on the Judge on that free-ebooks site that was a reminder of the biggest hurdle I face: grabbing the reader in the first few pages. If someone doesn't get hooked, BAM, you're screwed.

I got a similar comment for S3 a while back from a friend. I've been working at it...but...it will always nag me. I will never be sure if it's fixed.

I constantly read the first few pages and think...
How can I do this? Simple? Elegant? Extravagant? Do I throw the loop or do I play it safe? Do I hint at insanity...or bring it down-to-earth? Does this work? Or is it boring?

This book contest focuses on three things: a synopsis, an excerpt, and the full manuscript. Of course, I can't just throw myself on one. I need to make sure everything works. But...this isn't a test/an exam either. There are no right or wrong answers(except for the grammar portion, which, understandably is still an issue with me).

We've got eleven days left. I've reached chapter 8 in my editing (spree?). I still haven't prepared the synopsis...and I'm absolutely dreading that round. If you don't know...I got knocked out of the running by last year's synopsis. Even something like this synopsis is terribly important. But even then...it's 1/5 for the contestants. Only a thousand can pass the first round.

Oh boy...it almost feels like my stomach is twisting and turning at my thoughts.
Oh well...back to work. I was hoping this blog post would calm me down, but it's had the opposite effect. Figures. Maybe tonight I'll talk about gaming instead. That'll calm my nerves.

Another Sale

We're up to 37 on the sales!
It has slowed down a lot, but...that makes it about...one a month? If we're lucky, we'll reach 50 by the end of the year ;)

Anywayz, another snow slow day. Those crazy kids are at it again, totally clogging up the streets with their sledding. Can't believe they haven't gone to school for TWO DAYS IN A ROW. Back in my day, you only had off for one...and then the next day, they'd DRAG YOU TO SCHOOL(figuratively).

It's got me kind of worried. It's really cloudy...which means even the sun has abandoned us, refusing to end our plight. The snow (or white and shiny ice, whatever it is) isn't melting at all! What if they still have no school tomorrow? I'll still hear those kids going KKKKKSSSSSSHHHHH! down the road every few minutes.

Oh well, too much humbugging. I guess I should be happy for them.
Or not.

There's only one good thing I can hope for in this frozen time. Maybe the evildoers will stay holed up in their houses.

I'm ending the Wlog. We need posts with more impact. Shameless/ful impact. I think those pointless, random, everybody's-time-wasted top ten lists were pretty impactful. Maybe I should stick with those.

First Real Snow of the Season

Here in the south, we don't really get much snow. Most of the time it's really...just mushy rain or hard hail. However, just last night we've actually had some real snow. Probably not a big deal for most people, but it's been a while since I've last seen the whole landscape covered in a few inches of white snow.

For those of you absolutely buried in snow...you have my sympathy. While I'm excited to see such beautiful snow, I'm sure some of you are already quite sick of it.

It's 3AM

It's 3AM. And it's the weekend! Which doesn't mean much for me. But, hey, maybe it means a lot for you guys out there! So enjoy your weekend. Have a good time.
Life is too short to have a...bad time(?).

Breaking away from the Wlog for the weekend. Gonna do my usual pointless posts instead.

Quick updates. It's dark and quiet out there. And cold too. Kinda scary at 3AM. My neighborhood doesn't have lights.
But that's not the update I wanted to talk about.

Um...let's see. Judge is gonna hit 17k on downloads real soon...but today the downloads slowed down quite a bit. Is that the extent of it? *shrugs*
Congratulations(myself)! It's not setting the world on fire, but it's had a good run.

I'm still preparing for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. I've read through the first few chapters over and over. I can't tell if this book is any good, but I can hope like heck that it is! I wish I could somehow scrub my mind clean of this book and read it with a fresh start...but I guess that's impossible when I'm the author.

The submission period begins on the 24th and I want to make sure my book is submitted as soon as possible. That means I've only got about two weeks left. Not looking good. I need a miracle.

I think there's supposed to be some sort of fine line between genius and insanity. I'm no genius, but I think I can aim for insanity. One is better than none.

Writer's Log Day 3

Writer's Log, Earth Date 01.06.2011

It's been three days since I've begun this war...and already my hair has reached new heights--quite literally. I have taken an imaginary vow not to let my hair be cut during this month of struggle. And already the troubles have surfaced. It has become...an afro of sorts. It has always been something of an afro. It's nearly impossible to keep down. And now...my head feels twice as heavy and looks twice as big.

Even putting on my glasses has become a chore. I can no longer put the sides of the glasses over the hair, or else I threaten to bend the hinges of the frame in an unfriendly manner. I must insert the sidepieces through the hair, not over it.

This hair is no ordinary hair either. It twists, waves and curls around. They're like little feathers constantly poking the inside of my ear. When I go to sleep I feel like I'm sleeping on an extra pillow...a pillow of hair. It even gets in my eyes when I'm not looking. Just a turn of my head and I'm stabbed in the eye, betrayed by my own cells, by my own DNA.

The hair has gotten so out of control that many times I wonder...if something is living inside...without my knowledge.

Writer's Log Day 2

Writer's Log, Earth Date 01.05.2011

I encountered a strange difficulty in writing in my log just yesterday. Problems never cease.

I've had trouble sleeping and waking lately. I've also been having weird dreams and nightmares. My schedule has been thrown off. Even the dog's biological clock seems to have gone haywire. The dog hasn't bothered me in my sleep in a long time. Ever since I've been preparing the project, however, the dog has been waking me up very early in the morning...trying to eat my face.

Nothing makes sense anymore. I saw a huge man cross the highway, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. Even the world is bent on screwing with my mind. No man should ever dress as the Statue of Liberty. It's just plain...odd.

Writer's Log Day 1

Writer's Log, Earth Date: 01.04.2011

Due to some terrible decisions during the holidays, I was very tired and hungry in the morning. I woke up late and starving. To fill the emptiness of my stomach, I sought out meal scraps from whatever I could scrounge up. I devoured some meat, bread and water quite quickly and then proceeded to lock myself up in the room.

I only have three weeks. What was I thinking starting so late? Three weeks to life or death. My desperation has caused me to worry. Will I finish in time? Will I make a worthy product? Only time will tell. I can only pray and hope for the best.

Getting back into writing was harder than I anticipated. I have waited too long to get back into it. My mind has decayed to the point of uselessness. The day has just gotten started...and yet it feels like it will never end. Why must I keep on writing? I must never forget...the passion. For the passion is my fuel. And with it...I shall live.

Baby steps. Little by little. Step by step. That's what I tell myself I need. To write...I must read. It is a painful process for one such as I. Read. Write. Live. Die. This is going to be one heck of a month.

My hands shake. My skin crawls. I have become too weak. Years of writing has caused my muscles to degenerate. I have begun training my strength in order to improve both physical and mental health. It is still too early to tell if such things will help me now. But I have no choice. I must do all that I can...for the mission.

The winter months still remain cold. When will spring come? Not soon enough.

Writer's Log

Starting tonight, I'll probably do a little something simple for this blog. I shall make it a Wlog (a Writer's log) for this month. You know, like a captain's log in Star Trek...but not. Anyway, that'll be for tonight. Just a little heads up. It's nothing particularly special. Just kind of like a journal detailing my experiences as I prepare for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.

So...look forward to that...or not.

Strange News?

Mostly news is bad. Sometimes you get some good news. Most times you get bad news. And then...some days you get strange news...which can be bad too.

And today is one of those days.

In Arkansas thousands of birds fell from the sky...dead. That's a new one. I think in one movie(or perhaps several), I forget which, birds fall from the sky. But in those movies, they are alive...and smashing themselves to their deaths. In this real life story...they just fall dead?

They're still investigating the cause. I'm seeing stuff like new year fireworks forced the birds out of the trees and into some dangerous storm. But I don't think they have anything solid yet.

Anyway, I found that story pretty interesting. Real life is usually pretty mundane, but sometimes you get a weird event out of left field. But, however remarkable, it's also sad and scary. I suppose it's sad because birds are cute. If hundreds of scorpions fell dead from the sky...I don't think it'd be as sad. Maybe more scary.

All right. Time to move on from the strange news of today.
I've been reading reviews on the Judge and I've come to understand...that it has quite a few issues that I need to correct. Of course I can't fix the Judge now.... It's kind of pointless. But I do need to take these criticisms and think about how I can improve the sequel. But it's been hard. From what I can tell, the Judge suffered from too many characters, too little character development, and too many scene changes. I've been trying to work on fixing these issues but it seems almost impossible. Because all of the characters are indeed important in one way or another. *sigh* I hope I can work S3 through this as well.

Happy New Year!!!

A year has come and gone. Hard to believe we're already at 2011. Just think, 2012 is around the corner. I don't believe the world will end in 2012. Something else might happen though. Perhaps a world-changing event will occur. A war? A great, devastating natural disaster? Who knows? Or maybe it'll all be just fine. (Maybe...)

We'll see. We've got one whole year before then. But years tend to pass quite quickly, don't they?

I hope you've all enjoyed your vacations (if you had any).

Not much to talk about. I'm almost cured of this cold. Just got a little cough left.

My battle has just begun. I have 3 weeks to transform S3 into the best I can make it for the contest. I know I'm not that great of a writer, so I must use all of my power, all of my strength to do it (and loooooooooooots of prayer).

With some luck, grace, destiny, and somewhat soft hard work, we just might pull it off.

And to finish off this blog post, I'll just comment on the current situation. We're actually almost up to 15700 downloads! Each day we still get hits! It's amazing! I don't know how it's happening, but I'm grateful that more people are giving the Judge a chance. It's not a bestseller and it may never be all that popular but it's the work that I enjoyed writing the most.

Even more surprising though is that this blog gets so many hits. Before all the hits...it just used to be me, just wandering the lonely electronic halls of this website. Maybe all this random posting gets me somewhere?