Kenn Ghannon: Blog

I can agree - when I'm not posting, my feedback becomes a trickle. My take is we have become so inured to constant advertisement and instant gratification, if my material isn't shown in the 'new stuff' list, we're forgotten. I don't mind - and it doesn't preclude me from writing. Actually, just the opposite - it means I need to write faster and post more - but it is the truth.

Now, why I have not been writing is something completely different. As most people know, in the corporate world the only thing constant is change. My job is going through a minor upheaval - not in personnel but rather in tools - and the ensuing chaos has meant my productivity has slowed. This means, I need to take more of my personal time - short term - to finish work. As I get used to the new tools and some of my new responsibilities - because, since we're all feeling the pinch, I've been asked to contribute in areas beyond my normal purview - things will improve. For example, rather than writing in Runesward, I'm currently writing a report due on Monday morning and, after I finish this one, another report due Monday afternoon. Real Life™ happens. :)

My current schedule should NOT affect Runesward Tome 2's debut - I'm still shooting for an end of May, early June release - because I knew this was coming and baked some time into the schedule (Scotty Montgomery rules). It is, however, what it is.

Thanks to everyone who has been patient and those who still write to me.

My previous post concerned 'nocking' vs. 'notching'. I received some feedback and I wanted to clear the air a bit. I wasn't whining. I'm actually really glad people felt comfortable enough bringing this to me. My blog was more to explain my thought processes behind using 'notching' to a wide audience - so people would know I'd heard their concerns and I hadn't just dismissed them.

I will NEVER take offense at someone critiquing my work (well, NEVER might be a stretch...). Even if you're critique is - this sucks! I'd prefer you tell me why you think it sucks so I can try to improve as a writer but...

All comments are welcome and I try to respond to every, single one that comes in. I don't always succeed - and I certainly don't succeed in a timely manner - but I try to respond each time.

Thank you for all of your help!
Kenn Ghannon

I've taken another week off of writing. Between work, hitting the gym (again) and other things, I've just not had the time. There are, I'm told, only twenty-four hours in a day. We really should look into changing this because I have twenty-six hours worth of things to do in any given day. Thirty-four, if you count sleeping (and I really need to). However, I'm back to poking things on my keyboard so we'll see how I do.

The title of the blog isn't about my lack of time, however. The title is a nod to a rather common concern I've received about 'Runesward'. The correct term for an archer placing an arrow against the bowstring is called 'nocking an arrow'. In Runesward, I've gone with 'notching an arrow'. Let me clear up the confusion.

The groove in the rear of the arrow is called a 'notch'. I took archery lessons as a kid many years ago and, honestly, I couldn't recall what term was used. Instead, I went on the internet and looked it up - the term I found, at the time, was 'notching an arrow' (in hindsight, I'm not perfectly certain this was placing the arrow on the bowstring or carving a groove into the arrow but...). When a reader first approached me about my incorrect term, I went to a colleague whom I'd just found out TEACHES archery to kids on the weekends. I asked him about it and he indicated the 'absolute correct' term is "nocking an arrow". HOWEVER, he also told me the two are used interchangeably by both teachers and students...so I can use whichever I want.

So, I'm going to leave it alone. For now. Going forward, I'll try to be more diligent about using the absolute correct term.

I have not written a single Runesward word in ten days.

I'm not proud of the fact - and I have the next bit of the story in my head and raring to go - but it's the truth. I just ... haven't had the energy to write it. The chutzpah. The drive.

Then I read this. I'm now ashamed - and strangely motivated.

I recommend EVERY WRITER read the article.

Yes, it's Fox News. Yes, I'm a fiscal conservative and social moderate (basically, I don't give two shits who you love as long as you don't make me - or anyone else - pay for it). However, I'm not here to spout any political rhetoric. There is NO political rhetoric in the article (you may have to avert your eyes from the ads if you're a liberal, but the piece itself has nothing political in it). It is an ode to writing - and I honestly think it can help all of us (as people who write) make strides in our projects.

I took a week off from writing. My real job heated up a bit and I just didn't have the strength at the end of the day to do any writing.

Part of my 'weakness' was because I was bogged down. After I finished the previous chapter, I started getting too focused on 'micro-time' - which is to say, I was describing everything which happened minute by minute. This story is not suited for play-by-play.

Unfortunately, there are things which need to happen to progress some plot points which make the most logical sense to be included at this point in time. Too many things, honestly, coming from too many directions. I hate when the story gets bogged down by minutiae - it starts reading like a technical guide instead of a story.

So, I scrapped the current chapter. Completely (the 'delete' key was my best buddy). I then tabled it for a week and pondered what I was trying to say here and started planning scenes out in my head.

Result: I've got the plan for the next two chapters! It hits all the points I need to - as well as a few I was worried about because I wasn't sure where the heck I was going to fit them in - and it doesn't get over-whelmed. Now if my brain-to-keyboard interface works the way it's supposed to ...

Thank you, muse!