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
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.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
So exciting and I did see you mention this on Facebook, but huge congrats again and sounds perfect for you. Seriously, very happy for you and I know about needing to be around others and why I join the PTA and signed up to be class mom for Emma’s class, because I realized I, too, needed to get out of the house a bit more and interact with others, as well. Have a great weekend now once again, Bill!! 🙂
Thank you, Janine! I’m looking forward to re-joining the human race, and I should get some material for some articles out of it. Have a great weekend.
Congratulations on your part-time job, Bill! Working the urban farm stand is right up your alley. It will be refreshing to get out and talk to new people. I went to a networking event last night. It felt wonderful to talk to real humans face to face. I think sometimes we don’t realize how isolated we become when we work from home. Definitely one of the negatives.
I evidently am a slow learner, Sha, because it took me three years to realize I was isolating, and for this alcoholic, that is not good. Thanks my dear, and enjoy your weekend.
boy! your title of new book is scary 🙂
I agree gotta stretch those neurons and challenge oneself…but am wondering after writing the above how did you maintain composure within? cause I remember when i wrote a death scene for choices…i was very disturbed for quite some time since a writer ought to get in the grains of the character…
i like the thought of doing something different each day…tickles the grey matter 🙂
have a happy friday and a fabulous weekend, Bill
Ruchira, this book is progressing slower than my last two exactly for that reason. I don’t write for very long because it is such a difficult character to portray and become. 🙂 Great question…thank you.
What a wonderful opportunity for you Bill. I agree, we spend far too much time alone!
Loved your excerpt!
Thanks, Sis! It should be fun…I need to meet people and interact a bit, and I love the purpose of the store.
Good for you! Enjoy the experience. I know you will me making observations and generating a renewed string of articles from it, as well.
Bill, that’s what writers do, right? Thank you and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.
Good and pleasant evening Bill.
Congratulations on coming “out”- back where you belong among fellow-real-humans , thus experiencing portion of our sufferings.
O, for a motto of mine ” happy, healthy and content;”
Taking your advise seriously, I would need to cut hours doing something frivolous in support of my writing harmony (? new word to me )- OK, want to say it correctly, I have need to keep harmonious balance in feeding my spirit soul and body. Thanks again.
My friend if you do not see written and do not hear me saying I L… you, I’m persuaded , you already know.
Good night and very prosperous weekend to Bev and to you.
Michael my friend, you are a good man, and I’m proud to call you my friend. Blessings and love this weekend to you and your family.
bill
I’m so honored to be your writer of the day! No wonder my stats were so high on Friday 🙂 thanks a million! Melissa
It’s my pleasure, Melissa! People helped me early on; now it’s my turn to give back. I’m glad you saw an increase in views.
Damn, I read this post too late. But I am stopping work half an hour early to do some yoga just now, yay! 🙂 Also, I think it’s about time I took half a Friday off, so that’s happening this week – can’t wait. Congrats on your part time job, Bill! That sounds right up your alley. And I’m 100% with you about the writing and being away from civilization. As nice as it is for me writing from home, I miss the interaction every now and then of being with other people. Not ready for a full time job right now, and part time daily – well we all know what companies think of THAT (squeeze in 8 hours of work into 4 hours and call it part time), so we’ll see! Just going with the flow for the rest of the year and experimenting a bit. Your book sounds really challenging – and you’re right, as writers, that’s the point. I’m actually itching to write something dark like that as well. This happy, healthy, wellness stuff is great, but sometimes I just want to unleash a bit of the dark side, LOL. Thanks for the reminder about the Christmas posts… I’ll get a jump on thinking about some topics for upcoming articles. Have a great day!
Mel, I always appreciate your responses…they are always so detailed and filled with great thoughts. Thank you..enjoy that Friday break…and I hope you do try writing a dark book…it is challenging and quite enjoyable. 🙂
I like the idea to do something frivolous. I can do that well and probably should on occasion. It’s great therapy! I know you are going to make a difference on that part-time job. It is good to get out and interact with others. That is why I work part-time teaching. Good thoughts here today and ones that will keep me motivated to write.
Thank you Dianna! Truth be told, I am not frivolous enough; of course, Bev is frivolous enough for both of us. LOL