Artistry With Words

Well, a Friday post is a bit different, but I never claimed to be normal, did I?

Since I last wrote to you, I accepted a part-time job offer from the Urban Farm and Garden Center here in Olympia.  Why?  Well, it’s not financial desperation for sure.  I don’t need to work.  It’s more an attempt to get out and join civilization for fifteen hours each week.  I’ve been holed up in my writing studio for three solid years, and I decided that isn’t healthy.  It’s time for me to rejoin the human race and see what’s up with all you folks out there.

As you know, we have an urban farm, and this is one of my favorite topics, so when this part-time job came up, I thought it was perfect.  I’ll work the retail desk, and consult with them on business matters, since I’ve owned retail businesses before….and just enjoy myself until the time comes to do something else.

I’ve already adjusted my writing schedule, so I don’t think my output will suffer any….so there you have it.

And that segue leads us to this…..

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health, and prosperity are the result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer of the man with his surroundings.”

James Allen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

I am as guilty as any writer for being too obsessed, at times, with my writing.  What I need, and what I believe all writers (dare I say all people) need, is that harmonious balance that feeds mind, body, and soul.  Man does not live by bread alone….nor does a writer live by writing alone.

TIP OF THE DAY

For an hour today, toss your schedule aside and do something frivolous.  Allow yourself to totally enjoy life.  This will refresh your mind, which will, in turn, refresh your soul, and from that, energy will arrive and your body will be turned on to new possibilities.

And I’m all about seeing you turned on. J

PROMPT OF THE DAY

If you are going to write a Christmas-related article, now is the time. Do not wait any longer, or you’re wasting your time for online success this Christmas.  Take this picture and run with it.

MY SAMPLE OF THE DAY

From my new novel, “Shadows Kill”

“Wait a goddamned minute, Eli!  That’s it?  You’re all done talking about five men you killed?  Don’t you feel anything?  Any remorse?  Any sadness?  Any guilt?  You took five lives and you mention it like you’re reciting baseball scores.”

“Do I feel anything? Yes, Jimmy, I feel something.  They are with me daily.  They’ve hitched a ride on my psyche and they’ll be kicking my ass for the rest of my life.   Is that what you want to hear?  Then good, now you’ve heard it.  But here’s something you may not want to hear:  I’d do it again tomorrow, because these are animals we’re talking about, cold-blooded reptiles that need to be expunged so that the rest of civilization can sleep safely at night.  Fuck them, Jimmy, and their psycho-babble excuses, and their need to be understood through some warped artistic expression laced with blood.  I’m glad I killed them.  You asked me how a loving God could allow these horrors to happen.  I just think God says ‘fuck it, let them work it out.’  My way of working it out may not coincide with your view of justice, but it’s effective and it’s definitely final.

SECOND TIP OF THE DAY

I’ve talked about my latest novel before, but for the sake of this lesson, let me briefly mention it again.  This novel is dark, and by dark I’m talking about a trip into the regions of man’s mind that definitely is not PG Rated.  This is about a depraved serial killer, and the vigilante who is trying to stop him.  The sociopath is taunting the vigilante by killing women who are important to him, and there is a very fine line between sanity and insanity for both main characters.  Good and evil are not clear at all.

It is not an easy book to write, and that is the point.  I believe we, as writers, need to constantly stretch ourselves if we are to improve.  It’s all lovely being safe within our little cocoon, but true greatness comes from sticking our heads on the chopping block and risking abject failure.

WRITER OF THE DAY

Say hello to a new friend of mine…Melissa…you can find her on her website by following this link.  She has done some serious travelling and offers a unique perspective to life.

MORE NEXT WEEK

Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by today. Remember to take a break today and do something frivolous.

Bill

“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”