Writer Mick: Blog

Hi All

I am sitting in my hotel in Limon, Colorado. Of all the states in the US that I have driven in, Colorado, far and away, has the worst roads. They should be ashamed.

Tomorrow I drive to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and stay in a hotel for a couple of nights and then move into my new apartment on Sunday. Looks like the weather will be sunny and in the 60's after three days of thunderstorms and rain.

Good sign, I think.

I've gotten a few replies regarding the first chapter of "Friends and Family". I like the story I've written and DaveT's editing had made it better. I do hope that you like it.

Mick

Hi All

Well, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Rocky Springs, Wyoming. I drove through a great snowstorm in Salt Lake/Ogden, Utah and didn't crash.

Tomorrow on to Limon, Colorado just East of Denver. More snow? Yup!

Then on to Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Friday and another hotel until Sunday when I move into my new loft apartment.

Also, remember that tomorrow, I will post a teaser in the form of Chapter 1 of my new story "Friends and Family" As soon as DaveT is done editing it and is happy with the final version I'll begin to post the whole thing.

So before I take myself to the bar for my two free drinks and then hit the sack, I wish Laz, all here on SOL, and my wonderful readers a Very Happy Thanksgiving.

As a reminder, here is the proclamation that President Washington made to announce the first Thanksgiving.

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Thanksgiving Proclamation

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks-for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation-for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war-for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed-for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted-for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually-to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed-to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord-To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us-and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends

Mick

Hi All

My professional career took a turn about 15 months ago. I was fired from my job and I walked away, not liking where the profession was going.

I started doing a mindless job, driving a courier truck. I was delivering lab specimens to hospitals, both human and animal. I delivered human blood for the Red Cross and that was how I injured my left knee (sprained MCL and torn meniscus). I delivered all kinds of stuff. There was a lot of windshield time and a lot of time to think.

A month ago something happened that made me want to get back into my former world. I looked around with the knowledge that if I didn't find a job that fit my mindset, that I could keep driving.

I found that job, and made contact with them. Over the course of the next few weeks, we talked, they flew me in for an interview. I met a lot of people and answered a lot of questions and before I knew it I was hired.

Now at this point I could go off on the bogus moving company that cost me $600 or the stress of packing or discarding 5 years of your life, but I won't do that.

Instead, I'll give you a Thanksgiving gift.

I have had this ongoing battle with myself. Should I go to Patreon and monetize my writing or stay here on SOL and put my work out there for free. I've chosen to stay here on SOL only. The pressure of having to write would have taken a lot of the enjoyment out of this hobby.

So, on Thanksgiving morning I'll post the first chapter of "Friends and Family". It is being edited by DaveT and proofread by Oldgrump. Eventually all 26 chapters will be posted, but I wanted to give you a hint of what was coming as a thank you for your readership.

"Friends and Family" was supposed to be my breakout on Patreon. I am very happy with the story, even more so after the hard work of the editors. I've been rewriting the story as DaveT has been teaching me how to be better. He teaches and I go back and write the next chapter all over before sending it to him for his opinion.

The effect on my other projects has been amazing, something for which I am truly thankful for. So, thank you to DaveT, Oldgrump, and of course Askepot for his work on "The Strawberry Patch"

I am moving this week and that could upset my posting schedule a bit. I'll try to get everything to remain on the normal timeline, but moving can make that timeline go all wonky.

So! God bless all of you. Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you again for your readership and to those who have cared enough to write with comments, corrections, observations, and opinions. I appreciate and am thankful for all of you.

Mick

Hi All

This having an editor stuff is wonderful! At first I felt like a flipping moron because I would get a chapter of a story back and it would have at least one correction on every stinking page.

After I got through the initial shock and embarrassment of how poorly I was writing, I went back and rewrote several of my older short stories using the new skills I learned. I liked the way they read after the edits.

So, I said all that so I could say this.

I have a story in the works called "Friends and Family" and I really put all of my new skills into it. It is still a typical WriterMick story with some laughs and tears and some 'I can't believe he did that'. Now when I send a chapter to my editor, I get complements! I'm still making mistakes, mostly with those pesky comma's and a few fat finger spelling errors.

Now the big question is when to begin posting it. There are 26 chapters and 9 have been edited. I want to post a chapter a week like I do with "The Strawberry Patch" so what do you think? Should I start it now? Wait until it is all edited? Keep it hidden until "The Strawberry Patch: Book 3" is done?

Let me know what you think and I'll see if the editor can live with the pressure of it!

Mick

Hi All!

In an effort to improve my writing, I have actually begun to listen to my editor!

I've set myself the task of going back over my shorter stories and fixing the grammatical and spelling errors.

I've just posted the fixed version of "I Know You Do" and on Monday morning I'll post the final chapter of "You Are Going To Really Enjoy Swinging Again".

I hope that you'll enjoy both efforts.

I'll continue to rewrite and fix my previous, unedited, and very amateurish works.

Thanks again for your readership and for the constructive criticisms.

Mick