Non-writing 09 26 10

Sunday is my day for not writing. I use it to recoup and built up the courage to begin again on Monday. Courage is a strange word, because, let's face it, all I'm doing is sitting in a room trying to fill an empty (computer) page with words. But it's a struggle to do that and by Saturday I'm burnt out, and the other advantage of having a day off is it gives me a goal to work for. It's my reward for working at it six days a week. I work a minimum of two hours a day, and never feel bad if I don't go beyond that time - though often I do.

But enough of that - I want to write about my Sunday. It was wonderful. I started the morning by watching a line of talking heads news shows while reading the weekend advertising flyers, looking to see which store is 'giving' something away. In the afternoon I went outside, sat in a lounger that faces a lake and read a few chapters of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Around sundown I re-stringed my fishing rod, replacing the 10 lb line with a 25 lb line - and yep the fish in the lake has snapped my 10 lb line more than once. In the evening I watched the Dolphins battle the Jets - a hell of a game that the Jets won. I ended the evening reading more of Sense and Sensibility.

I seriously thought of stopping my writing and going on an extended Sunday, everyday just doing the same thing; relaxing and letting the world drift by.

On Monday, I woke up, did the first of my three-times-per-week power walking around the neighborhood, showered, wrote for two hours, and then drove to FIU for my Fiction Workshop class. Somewhere during the day it hit me that Sundays wouldn't be near as satisfying if I didn't earn my way there.

09 21 10 WRITING

Worked some in the a.m. on what I hope will be novel number three (though I haven't completed revisions of novel number two). Had to stop early because I went to a retirement party for a firefighter who was retiring. I had worked with him for many years. He is a good guy. I hadn't been back at the station for quite awhile and because it was his last day and he was one of the higher-ups and an old schooler the festivities included firecrackers in the middle of the engine bay, water balloons, hazmat suits and booster lines spraying water. As with my friend who was retiring, these antics were a relic of a different era. Most of the men and women are brought up in a different era; one of lawsuits, sensitivity, and political correctness. It's also a world of tighter budgets, more technology, less manpower and more calls. I enjoyed the old school antics but I wasn't sure I longed for it. I rather like the new breed, they're geared for today's world.

Back home in late afternoon: managed to get in more writing on novel number three.

Writing : 09 17 10

Working on a new novel - 1st drafts for me are like slogging up a wet mountain. Slow and laborious. I love 2nd drafts, they're like walking down the mountain after the water had dried. But I can't even think of that, yet. I'm only on the second chapter.

Attended Friday Night Writer's workshop. Interesting exchange between two of the attendees concerning proper etiquette on dispersing feedback. I think giving feedback in a way that helps the writer without destroy their ego is an art in itself. I sometimes wish I had said things in a better way, or emphasized good points. It's easier, for some reason, to evaluate weaknesses than strengths.

That reminds me (though I don't know why) of what 1960's teen idol Steve Alaimo once told me about listening to demos. He said, "I can't tell you what a hit song is, but I can tell you what it ain't. And most of them I hear, ain't."

09 14 10 WRITING

A few days ago I had a weird experience. I was revising part 3 of my long short story "Overdue" but I was having a major problem; a key part of my original ending was too obvious. I was nervous because I didn't know how to fix it. The following weekend I drank too much beer at a seafood restaurant. It was the wrong combination with my Shrimp Fra Diavalo. I tossed and turned all night, cursing my aching belly. Around 6am, amidst this agony, the solution to my story came. I jotted it down in the notepad I keep by the bed, tossed a few more hours and finally rose around 9p, feeling crappy and delighted at the same time. I still can't figure out how the solution came. It just did. Also, I'm happy to report my belly ache went away the next day.

A shout out to my good friend, Aralis. She's the goddess - and talented writer - who's showing me the ropes on how to put this blog together.

Writing : 09 10 10

Finished 2nd draft of the second part (of three) of my short story "Overdue" about a librarian who falls for a fireman who she is convinced is cheating on her.

Recenlty found out my short story, "The One Cupper" about a detective who confronts a waitress over a murder is going to be released in audio form on Sniplits.com. I'm excited because their voice talent and recordings are first rate. LOL - plus I'm vain enough to want to listen to it on my mp3 player.

Met some really cool people at IFWG forum - hi all!

Ended the evening at Friday Night Writers, the workshop I belong to. Because I'm working on my next novel, I haven't been able to contribute any pieces recently, so I've been only a reader of everyone else's material.  There's about 20-30 people. Our leader is the very talented and generous author John Dufresne. It's always a learning experience to attend. I come away each time a better writer.

Damn! This has been another good day.

Writing : 09 09 10

I'm waiting for critiques from a wonderful novel writing group I'm in before continuing work on my second novel. I'm about 2/3rds through with the second draft. But I write a minimum 2 hrs a day, everyday but Sunday, which is my re-charge the brain cells day. Today I started a rewrite of a long (50 pg) short story I wrote nearly a year ago called, "Overdue." Today I mostly gathered and typed out my notes and critiques from my main writer's group, The Friday Night Writers. They skewered my first draft so I had to really think about how to approach this version. It's getting there...

Halloween story "Of Toil and Trouble" to appear in Ethereal Tales

Hey,
Just found out some great news. My halloween story, "Of Toil and Trouble" is set to appear in the special holiday edition of the cool UK mag Ethereal Tales. Here's the link http://www.etherealtales.co.uk/ check it out!

First Post

At long last! You asked for it and you got it. Louis K Lowy has an official blog!! A  place for you to come and get all your up to date Louis K Lowy news.
How's Louis doing today? What is he currently working on? Is his book finally out? Will he ever stop speaking in the third person?
The answers to these and many more questions, right here at your fingertips.