Author Archives: Richard Reilly

The Intimate Sunrise

Posted on by

It was strange watching the sunrise this morning.  It was the first time in many many months that I successfully stayed up all night and watched the sunrise.  It was beautiful, yes, but that barely explains it.  It’s almost like an intimate moment with a celestial object when you see it’s silver lining cross the horizon and fold into a dome over the next several minutes.  Those hours of waiting in darkness were well worth the wait.

Caffeine seems to be the perfect aide for editing.  I had three red bulls last night and got through about 20 pages of editing.  This afternoon, as I work my way through some espresso, I have almost completed another ten pages.  I now have only 28 pages of editing left to finish the second draft.  I’ve already worked out half the bullet points of things I need to work on.  This manuscript is already looking pretty clean.  My daydreams about sending it to an agent are starting to peak.  I need to control those daydreams until I have a clean manuscript.

With Love,
Richard

Friday All-Nighter

Posted on by

Considering the absence of any friends in my general area this Friday Night, I have taken it upon myself to make this night interesting.  I just got back from a short evening on the town.  I picked up a four-pack of Redbull on my way back.  Tonight will be a night that I need.  One where I fight my body, the urge to sleep, and come out the other side with a beautiful glimpse of the sunrise.

I wrote a short poem for everybody.  It is linked below.  I am going to spend tonight, editing my novel, writing memories, walking the dark streets around my neighborhood, and probably watching the movie “Brick.”  I haven’t had a night like this in a while.  I need it.  I hope I last past 3:00am this time.

Freckle
I wrote this shortly after wandering the roads of my new town.  I remember doing the same thing in my hometown–traveling around like an explorer.  Only this time, I was alone.  The difference was immense.

Editing While Stressed

Posted on by

I spent a very frustrating morning at the DMV.  After realizing that I would accomplish nothing today, I decided to declare defeat until a later date.  The stress of days like today is palpable.  My job is to try to focus that energy.  As I felt like bursting into tears, I went to my coffee shop instead.  I’ve been editing for the past hour and will continue to do so for a while (free refills on drip coffee is pretty much the best thing int he world).

Refocusing stress into the perfectionist mindset that is necessary for editing is beautiful.  I remember always trying to erase my stress by jumping in a hot tub or going for a walk.  I still do that from time to time.  But this is so much better.  I feel like I am using that stress to do something productive.  I am now almost halfway through the second draft of my novel.  I’m going to get back to it.  I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.

With Love,
Richard

Fun in the Sun

Posted on by

I just spent the last hour or so editing.  I want to keep going…but it is so beautiful outside.  I have a season pass to a “beach” up on a reservoir in the mountains.  Even though I know I should keep writing and editing…I can’t bring myself to do it.  I want to lay out in the sand and soak up the sun.  Nothing sounds better right now.

Until next time,
Richard

Novel Number Five

Posted on by

As I drove home today, I realized that a strange series of events I’ve been mulling over in my mind would be the perfect opening sequence for a novel I’ve been wanting to write for years.  I just spent the last hour rewriting the outline.  I really want to do this now.  I’m still going to spend a good deal of my writing time editing…but I think I’m going to try writing this book as well.

The thing is, the only way for this story to work is by making it fit into the literary genre.  That means approaching the novel from a third person present standpoint–something I have never been good at.  This will be good practice.  I’m starting to wonder why all my favorite authors stick to a single genre.  I like trying them all like I’m at a buffet.  Sci-fi here. Mystery there.  First person here.  Third Person there.  I love them all…so long as I get to express myself in a new and interesting way.

With Love,
Richard

Returning Home

Posted on by

I meant to start the “50 Day memory Challenge” yesterday.  I ended up editing way too much instead…then life got in the way.  Today will be different.  I’m back in my hometown today to babysit my nieces while my sister goes to class.  When I am down here, I have a long list of things I need to get done: reading, editing, memories, and fix up a poem.  That’ll take at least a good two hours.  I’m ready for it.

I feel like I haven’t been creative in too long.  I kinda want to just write a random flash fiction piece.  I might do that.  There really is something to the idea of always having that creative outlet open.  I fear that if I don’t keep using it, it won’t get better.  That’s why I love having this website.  It forces me to write because I have an audience.  That’s all the the encouragement I needed to get back on track.  I hope I don’t slip off this wagon anytime soon.

God I’m Tired,
Richard

50 Day Memory Challenge

Posted on by

I am back from the mountains.  While talking with some close friends I decided to do something I’ve been needing to do for a while.  I have a horrible memory.  In order to help me remember, I created a 50 Day Memory Challenge.  Starting tomorrow I will write down a memory.  There are a few guidelines.

  1. You must write about a new memory each day.
  2. Upon completion, you should have memories of each age (that you can remember).
  3. Upon completion, you must have at least one memory that falls under each:
    1. Happiest Memory
    2. Saddest Memory
    3. Memory you are not proud of
    4. Most excited memory
    5.  Craziest Memory
    6. Most vivid memory
    7. Memory you would like to relive
    8. Romantic
    9. Sexual Memory
    10. Embarassing Memory
  4. Try to include one memory of every person who was important to you at some point in your life.
  5. Memory must not be altered (to the best of your ability).

I will be starting this challenge tomorrow.  I may not upload everything that I write.  This is more of an excercise.  It may result in material that I may upload, but that is not the focus.  I will continue to edit and work on other things as well.  Now that it is summer, I have plenty of time to work.  Here is a quick poem I wrote last night.

Changing Perspectives
I’ve starting spending more time writing poems with regard to the past/present/future.  It may having something to do with my critique group wanting to do a theme night (time travel).  In the end, however, it is bringing out a strange sense of nostalgia.  I love it.

Summer Break Means Time to Write

Posted on by

When I finished substitute teaching today, I went over how many days are left in the school year.  Suddenly, I realized I was on Summer Break.  I am heading up to the mountains tomorrow for a long weekend of reading, writing, editing, and friends.  When I get back, I am going to a fundraising lunch with my mother and helping out my sister with babysitting.  After that, I’m pretty sure there is only one day left of school…and I’ve never much desired to sub on the last day of school.

With time abound, I have plenty to do.  I have four books on my immediate to-read list.  I need to finish editing my latest novel.  On top of all that however, I will continue writing.  I have two stories in my head that I may start working on.  I also have two poems in-progress that I will try to flesh out this weekend.  This summer break will be a godsend to my writing.  I must make sure I keep it up the entire summer.  I need to give my followers some new material.  When I get back from the mountains, you can expect some.

With Love,
Richard

Filling in Plot Holes

Posted on by

Ten pages of editing a day ended up being a bit much.  After three days of editing, I have 16 pages done.  Since the manuscript is already pretty clean, I don’t mind going a bit slower than expected.  Five pages of editing a day is great.  Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ll do much more this weekend.  I’ll be up in a family cabin in the mountains with no internet access for a few days.  It’ll be perfect.

It’s strange finding plot holes in your own work.  In some instances, I started something early on in the book and lost track of it as I wrote.  Other times, I didn’t plan on a certain plot turn and now realize the start of the book doesn’t line up with the end of the book.  I’ve come up with a good method of tracking all of them.   This is one of the main reasons I do at least three edits before letting anyone read my work.  By the time I’m done with the second edit, grammar and spelling is ususally fine.  It’s the plot holes you have to worry about.  I don’t want my first readers to be confused.

Time to go read.  The Handmaid’s Tale is quite interesting.

With Love,
Richard

Creating Free Time to Write (or Edit)

Posted on by

I remember all the tipsI found about writing when I was a teenager.  It was all great advice.  It’s just that I didn’t understand all of them.  One was: “Don’t find time to write.  Make time to write.”  For a high school student, this idea was brilliant.  I kept failing to write anything of length because there was always so much else to do.  Forcing yourself to write is one of the best things a writer can do for themselves.

As I quickly approach the district’s summer holiday, I realize there is a new layer to this advice.  It’s one thing to make room for writing in your day.  It is another thing entirely to make room for writing in your life.  I substitute teach and take odd jobs because it allows me to focus on writing and (most importantly) write every single day.  Lately, I only take about two days off a month from writing/editing.  I make the decision to write on a daily basis.  But I also take it into account when i make decisions about my life.

And I wouldn’t change a thing.

With Love,
Richard