Write daily

Yehudi Menuhin was one of the most accomplished violinists in history.

He once said about playing, and I may not get it exactly right:
If I miss one day, I notice.
If I miss two days, the conductor notices.
If I miss three days, the audiendce notices.

If you are serious about writing, do you need any other reason to work on your craft every day?

Pretty Cool

I stumbled across this while reading the blog of an author friend of mine.

This is a blog that shows the covers of vintage mystery and crime novels. I thought it was cool, but then again, I'm a dork. I think the accompanying commentary is excellent.

Here's the link:

Vintage Crime Novel Covers

A couple of obits

Obituaries. We've lost a couple of great writers in the last couple of weeks.

Ira Levin

Norman Mailer

To be honest, I've not read much of Mailer, but enjoyed watching him interviews. Levin however, is different. If you don't know him, you've seen movies based on his works. Rosemary's Baby is one. I first discovered him when I read a Reader's Digest version of The Boys From Brazil. Wow...amazing writer.

A Shred story coming soon

I've received word today that my short story "The Donut Shop" will be published in Shred of Evidence magazine on Jan. 21.

When it is up, I'll provide a link.

NaNoWriMo Give me a break

It's National Novel Writing Month. It's the one month when thousands and thousands of people who want to write a book sit down and do it.

Whatever.

I don't understand why it takes a special month to get someone to do something — whether it is writing a novel, fighting breast cancer, studying African American history, whatever.

As if all the people who never had time to write a book before suddenly have time in November. Give me a break!

Look, writing a novel isn't that difficult. I've written 3 (of course they are all unpublished :-P).

And it doesn't take that much time.

Here it is. 500 words a day. That's it. Write 500 words a day, and you'll have a 60,000 word novel in 120 days. Even if you only get three writing days a week in, you'll be finished in one year.

It doesn't take a month. It takes only one special thing to get a book out.

Ass in chair. Start typing.

Simple.

Tired

Been tired lately. Well, more than tired...bone tired, if you will.

And frankly, more pissed off than usual. I can point to the reasons why, but does it really accomplish anything?

Got a great idea for a book - not a mystery though. I think it is fantasy, or more, modern fantasy, along the lines of American Gods by Neil Gaiman, except, well, no mythological gods in America, so maybe it's not along those lines.

See what I mean? I'm just tired and can't get my brain straight it seems.

Walter Mosely

Walter Mosely is on the road promoting his new "Easy Rawlins" book, Blonde Faith. Mosley, who writes on a broad range of topics — fiction and non-fiction — is probably best known for his mysteries and is one of the few black authors who enjoy mainstream success — and does so with black male heroes, something else you don't see often in mainstream fiction.

I discovered him by reading a collection of short stories featuring Socrates Fortlow, a murderer and rapist finally out of prison years later, trying to make up for his life. Abosolutely, utterly and completely fascinating. I've been hooked on Mosely ever since.

Here's a recent Walter Mosely Interview