FUNNY HOW taking a day off can quickly turn into a week, or month, or whatever. To dispense with any sort of drama right away, I plan on being much more sparse over the summer. Posting only when I feel the overwhelming urge... in the meantime I'll try to wrap up work on the story I've been just about ready to publish for the past year.... or two.
It's my first longer piece that I intend on self-pubbing and I've been lost in edits and rewrites for so long I'm not sure if setting a completion date is even possible. This must be what it's like to be George R.R. Martin, minus any anticipation that people might feel for his works.
Still, I need to buckle down and finish up. So that's my focus for the foreseeable future.
IN OTHER NEWS, thanks to everyone who picked up a copy of my short story, Going Home, last month. I didn't quite move enough copies to pay off Ben Wolverton's entire medical bill, but after not exactly taking the internet by storm with my short story, I transferred my earned royalties directly to the 'help Ben' fund.
If anyone feels like that isn't transparent enough, I'll be more than happy to share sales data and my contribution details privately. Just let me know.
AND FINALLY, I like to have three things when I do these types of posts. And this is that third thing. I've learned that when I show up at Home Depot, I will be asked repeatedly by other customers where 'we' keep assorted items, how much they cost, or if I can help them load their vehicles. It doesn't matter that I wear gym shorts and a BLUE T-Shirt, or that I have a shopping buggy and a small dog with me. Apparently, something about me just screams 'Home Depot Employee' to fellow shoppers.
Weird.
*Yet
21 comments:
Which story are you publishing?
I guess there are worse things than looking like a Home Depot employee. Maybe you just look really smart when in that store? Maybe your dog looks smart?
Good luck on your projects. I'd really like to see with a novel published, plus I can't wait to read it!
No worries, writing comes before blogging. I'm taking time off in a couple of weeks to do a ten-day writer's retreat. The books are what drive our writing careers. Blogging is just icing on the cake.
Lol on Home Depot. People mistake me for a professor at my college. I think it's because I'm not 20.
Good luck on your writing. Congrats on your success with your story.
I demand an audit of your book sales!!! (not really)
At least now if you lose your job you know where to apply.
"This must be what it's like to be George R.R. Martin, minus any anticipation that people might feel for his works." <---I know what you mean.
And I am often mistaken for an employee in other stores (never Home Depot though) but it's probably because I'm always refolding other stores' displays.
I have that issue in some stores, too. That's why I avoid stores.
I own Home Depot stock. Now I know who to blame when it tanks.
Best of luck with your projects and congrats on contributing to Ben.
oh nice work, Rusty. What's the title?
You've got to hold back your book much longer if you're emulating GRRM. :) And make sure you kill most of the characters...
I need some duct tape. What aisle? Just teasing.
Best on getting your book done. I'm working furiously on my next one, trying to get it done. I haven't killed anybody yet. Maybe before the ending I will.
Good luck with the publishing.
Do you know where the hose pipes are?
Alex - Total Depravity. I sent you a draft of it a very long time ago.... the version I'm working on now is so different it's hard to believe it's the same story.
Cindy - thank you.
Sean - I seem to have forgotten that at various times.
Tonja - I'd much rather have your mistaken identity to deal with.
PT - I'd probably nail that interview when I tell them everyone thinks I work there anyway.
MJ - Hey, I have something to send to you.
Andrew - well, avoiding stores would be okay with me... it'd make it harder for me to buy some things though.
Michael - Yes, please blame me for any dips in your Home Depot stock.
Sheena - thank you!
Deborah - Total Depravity - I've been telling folks it's coming for over a year now. I'm ridiculous.
MPax - I'm all for killing my characters... I'd be thrilled if anyone actually cared that I did it.
Jo - I don't work here.
Hey Dude; nice to see you still kicking it. Good luck on your projects and congrats on being able to help Ben.
......dhole
It's funny how some people don't know how to look for name tags Rusty. If happens to me so often that I ask anyone, even if they have a huge Walmart sign, if they work there. Just to be polite.
They (the Home Depot shoppers) are probably just desperate for someone to help them. All I ever get when I go there and find an employee to help me is a shrug and "Aisle 14," which turns out to be full of weird types of pipes that I'm pretty sure don't go into ANY house, and are just there to frighten guys like me away from installing our own garage doors. Which: mission accomplished. I'm going on 45 years of not having installed my own garage door.
(WHICH IS A GOOD THING because pipes aren't part of garage doors, so far as I can tell.)
Looking forward to the masterpiece. The other thing that separates you from George R R Martin? A jaunty hat. He always has one on. Like he's an ex-sea captain. You should get one of those. Just don't hang around the harbor, though. People will bug you for shipping information.
Funny that about the Home Depot. I agree with Briane, they're probably just desperate. I used to that at our local Hobby Lobby, but only because I worked there for the better part of a year.
Good luck on your novel.
Do you wear orange aprons or something when you go to H.D.???
Glad you're not dead, by the way. Looking forward to whatever you've decided to publish.
Good luck on the new projects :)
Love the name of your blog! Glad you're working on your wip, and good luck there! Keeping on schedule can be hard when life keeps throwing round objects in your path to walk on! Keep going. That's what I keep telling myself and I'm almost there (on my current wip!)...
It's been a while again, are you still not dead? Your home depot story reminds me of this Best Buy prank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgUIbPfhSuo
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