Shinerdrinker: Blog

When I started posting my first original story a few years ago, I did not know what I really thought I could get out of it. I guess the biggest thing I got back was the euphoric feeling of realizing people are becoming emotionally involved with the world I have created. They want to know what happens next. Well, tell you what guys, so do I!

A popular question I get is "How many chapters do you think this story is going to reach? I don't want to start it and then have the story fall into the unfinished category."

Well, guess what neither do I! I am writing this as I go. While I have a strong outline I am following, I get to fill in the details and day-to-day occurrences to power the story along. That there is the fun part. If I do my job and follow the outline, the story will finish and hopefully tie up any and all loose ends.

Just a sec. Why am I writing this blog post? Oh yeah, now I remember.

When I started writing this story I used to give myself a deadline. Coming from the world of journalism, it just seemed natural. Also I knew that deep down I was a procrastinator and would find reason after reason to not write much more often than to write. I guess statements like that are why people ask me whether it's safe to start reading a story they will actually see finished some day. Anyways, the deadline was 10,000 downloads per chapter before the next chapter would go up. That eventually morphed into when 10,000 downloads hit, I'd start writing the next chapter.

At the beginning, the story would plod along and eventually after a month or so, the deadline would hit and I'd post the next chapter. The next chapter would come up quicker and so on until we have what we have now.

It took one day. IT TOOK ONE DAY! It took one day for the chapter to reach 10,000 downloads!

Wow! One damn day!

It's now things like this that compel me to continue writing story. I have also decided, I will take a tip from G Younger. I'm gonna cut the story off at, well at least, single high school years. Rather than one huge story that before it finished would resemble Spacer X's Six Times a Day or maybe Ascending Author's Deja Vu Ascendancy.

G Younger's Magnum Opus Stupid Boy has split each grade into two different books. Makes the story a little easier to keep up with and since he is now selling them on Amazon, he can make a little more cash. I believe I can do this as well, maybe not with Mayhem, but maybe another of the stories running around in my head chasing MILF porn stars.

So I will collect up this story and end this first book when he graduates to the next grade. The next book will begin with Mayhem during the summer before 10th grade. I do know one thing for sure, Mayhem will not be modeling of becoming a Hollywood star because G Younger is writing the shit out of that! Hell! I have not even decided if Mayhem would do another sport.

Good grief! 10,000 downloads in one day.

I am humbled and to let everyone know I stayed up all night writing the next chapter and with it creeping up on 7 a.m. here in San Antonio. I think it is almost time for me to try and get some sleep. Who am I kidding! Won't be the hard at all.

10,000. Damn. Thank you SOL!

Ok minions,

Your prayers have been answered and my editors have turned the poorly scribbled etchings on beer-soaked napkins I usually start with and made something barely able to be read and with a coherent line of thought. Chapter 30 of Mayhem in a Pill is in the queue.

I think they did a great job and fellas, you check is in the male.

-- Shinerdrinker

Hello.

Um. Merry Christmas. I have finished chapter 30 of Mayhem in a Pill and wanted to get it out before tomorrow but I was just a little slow. So chapter 30 is with the final editor and whenever he finishes, then I'll go ahead and post.

So this week coming up for sure there will be a new chapter and I will have time to start the next chapter this week as well.

Okay, what else? Um. Oh yeah. Santa already gave me my present for this year and it is exactly what I wanted. I'm not telling you lot since I know you'll blab. Especially since it is wrapped and under the tree for me to open in the morning.

Happy Holidays.

Laters,
Shinerdrinker

Here in San Antonio, we had actual snowfall for the first time in 15 years. Sure we've had flurries that melt when hitting the ground but this snowfall accummulated to just under 2 inches officially. But I remember the first year I moved into this house was 1985 and that year San Antonio, TX had to deal with 13.5 inches of snow. I remember having to climb a ladder and with an improvised tool made from a garden hoe and some folded over cardboard, I made a large shovel to clear the snow off of the patio roof since it was beginning to bulge in areas not supported by poles. A couple of the bulges are still there today. It wasn't the snow that was a problem, it was the 2 inches of ice ON TOP of the snow. But it was beautiful that morning, San Antonio covered in a foot of snow with a shimmering cap on top to make the visage pristine. This recent snow wasn't that great but it was nice to see the yard white with the frozen rain but even nicer there was no ice.

So of course, the city shut down. And my humble abode lost power for a few hours. Had some young kiddos here for the week and they got to see snow. First time in a long time I actually finished a game of Monopoly. I came in third. Damned Chicago Avenue no one landed on it except whenever I found that damned card. All in all. No writing but a few days spent with the family.

But then again, it has been a looong time for an update. So I pledge to you, I will get back on it and I can promise a new chapter before the 25th. Only because the next two weeks after that are all full and I might not even have a chance for more than an hour of actual computer time. Just stuff happening. Real life messes with Mayhem and I thought it would be the other way around.

So no more stalling, I have heard your cries. I'll get on it.

Congratulations to a well-deserving auteur G Younger for his winning of the Halloween contest. Of the stories submitted, I'm happy I guessed the correct winner. His was easily better than mine. I have no problem admitting that.

So know we know I also submitted a story for the contest but mine was a last minute failure. I actually came up with the idea for my story on Saturday October 29th. One of those just falling asleep and the flash of inspiration hits. I rolled my rotund belly off to the side pulling me over to the edge of the bed. I grabbed my notebook and pencil I always keep near the bed on the night stand right next to the alarm clock and in front of the small glass of water. (My mouth gets very dry at night while sleep especially after taking the nightly pills.) Anyways the idea for the story hit and I quickly jotted it down and hoped I could remember the idea once again in the morning. My wife calls it my Seinfeld. He did it in an episode of some joke he thought was hilarious and then takes the rest of the next day trying to remember why what he wrote was so funny.

Luckily I did remember what I wrote and I could even fill out the idea a little more than the original thought. So I spent a few hours that I had on Sunday to write and then cancelled some plans for Monday to try and continue the writing. I had until Tuesday to submit the story. I mean hell who couldn't use the extra scratch for the holiday times.

But I tried to send it in once I finished but the system would not allow me too. It was around 11:30 so it was still the 29th. So I emailed Lazeez and begged him to let me enter the contest. He said he would but since he was in an earlier timezone the time had expired but there was nothing in the rules about that so I think the next contest will probably see that fact corrected. I didn't mean to do flaunt the rules but Lazeez was nice enough to go ahead and take my story.

After reading what I sent over the next couple of days, I could totally understand why the numbers I was getting back from the voters was not that good. My story actually felt like it was cut off. I built up some characters and even got a really good description of the main place the story happens. But when I had to cut off the story to actually get to the scary, it totally read like there were missing pages in the transmission and stuff got lost. But even with that, the story was not that bad.

But I think it still did fairly well with the idea and me writing the whole thing in just a few hours. I think there is something there. But I need to fill it out more.

SO I have pulled it and even asked Lazeez to pull it from the Halloween entrants. Frankly speaking, it was embarrassing. But there is something there.

I have it still on my computer and have backed it up along with the original outline I created when I first sat down to actually start writing. I mean I even kept one eye writing and the other watching my Cowboys beat up on the Washington Racial Slurs the afternoon.

I WILL REWRITE OPENING NIGHT!!!!!!

My first draft was turned in for the contest. But I so wish I would have gotten that hit of inspiration a couple of weeks earlier. I can see the story being the second story under the Shinerdrinker moniker and if it comes out the way I want it too, then maybe I'll have a shot at some Clitorides!

Congratulations to G Younger, Auguy86 and Kris Me for there wins and congratulations to all the other authors who dared to send in stories for the contest.