Author Archives: Richard Reilly

Burst of Imagination

Posted on by

I finished writing yesterday with a total of 4,800 words done on my new novel.  So far today, I am at 8,300 words.  I haven’t had a burst of imagination like this in years.  With the plan of keeping the novel in the 70,000-80,000 word area, I am already more that 10% of the way done–and I started working on April 8th.

It’s nice.  The more I practice at writing, the easier it is for it to burst out of me.  One of my more annoying problems with older novels is that they took too long to write.  This is more than just a nuisance.  So much changes take place in one’s life over long periods of times.  Those changes can affect the tone of the writing without meaning to.  By writing quickly, the novel will contain the same voice and I will be able to control when the tone changes.

Even after this mini-vacation is done on Saturday, I will continue to write like there is no tomorrow.  I live in such a way that I can give myself a few hours each day to write.  I want to give this project my full attention.  If I am able to finish it in a short period of time (two months or so) and keep it in the necessary word length, this could simeltaneously be the best and most publishable piece of work yet.

The Reading Log and Blog section of the website have been updated.  I’ll try to update with something new tomorrow.  Until then…I’m going to aim for 10,000 words by the time  my coffee shop closes.

Poetry Update

Posted on by

I spent a good deal of today writing updates for all of my blogs and reading “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”  I just finished writing a piece of poetry–which is linked below.  Tonight I will be working more on the new novel.  I hope to get to 10,000 words before Saturday–when I return home from this strange mini-vacation.  I will also be updating many of the “Blog” sections of this website with more recent pieces.  Enjoy the poetry in the meantime.  I have to run.  It’s Margarita night!

The Coffee House
I do most my writing at several different coffee houses around town.  Over the seven or so years that I have been going to coffee houses, I’ve seen a change.  It’s much harder to meet someone new when there are always electronics involved.

Novel Length

Posted on by

I don’t have an update for you today.  I promise I’ll get some sort of update for you tomorrow.  Today, instead, I want your thoughts on novel length.  I’ve spent the last three days in solitude and have pumped 5,000 words into a new novel.  With the creative juices flowing, I don’t plan on limiting what comes out.  Still, I can’t help but think about the possibility of getting something published some day.  With that in mind, I know full well that novel length is important.

My first novel was far too long for a Young Adult Novel (or any novel by someone who isn’t already published).  Fire Saviors was 123,000 Words.  My second novel–The Saints–was a publishable length at 76,000 Words.  Too bad it was a sequel.  My third novel was far too short for literary/mystery fiction: Only 46,000 Words.  Although I don’t consider word length all that important compared to content, I know it plays a role.  In order to give my new novel  a solid chance at being picked up, I know it needs to fall within a certain length.

I’m pretty sure that length is about 70,000-100,000.  Ideal length is somewhere around 70,000-80,000.  I want to know what everyone else thinks on the matter.  Do you even think about things like this when you write?  I don’t actively think about selling my work as I write.  I know what I need to do to get published on most levels…I just can’t bring myself to write for anyone but me.  That’s why I have a blog that may–some day–make it harder for a publisher to take me on.

~Richard

Flash Fiction Update

Posted on by

I’ve started working on what could possibly be a new novel.  It feels good to be immersed in a project once again.  I’ve already pushed 1,500 words into it.  There are a lot of things that I will be practicing with piece.  I’ll keep you updated on its progress.  In the meantime, a new flash fiction.

The Booklet
Writing about Alzheimer’s has entered the mainstream over the past decade.  It’s a difficult subject for more reasons than the obvious.  Since it’s nearly impossible for those suffering from the disease to document their experience, I cannot help but wonder.

Poetry Update

Posted on by

Here are the poems I promised.  I am now in my hometown of Greeley, Colorado for a full week. There is a great coffee shop here called Zoe’s where I will probably spend most my week.  If all goes according to plan, I will update this site with new material every day this week.


For Jaccob
When I was 17, I discovered that my girlfriend was pregnant.  We aborted.  I’ve written a lot on this experience–simple trying to understand what had happened and what I was feeling.  This is the first poem on wrote on the experience.

Forsaken Quest
In the months that followed my high school graduation, I realized it would be much harder to make new friends.  Simultaneously, I was frightened that I could not keep a friend for very long.  The combination was frightening.

Hour Upon the Stage
I wrote this after my final high school play.  The scene that this poem describes is still one of the most vivid in my memory.  I did my best to capture the moment in detail. I always used poetry for romance.  It wasn’t until college that I found other uses for poetry–making my writing much better.  I like romantic poetry–but there’s only so much you can do with it.

Flash Fiction Update

Posted on by

Happy Easter Weekend everybody. I’m about to head off to my friend’s 22nd birthday, so I will keep this quick.  I will probably be updating a lot in the week ahead.  I am staying in my hometown for a week to take care of the dogs while my parents are in Connecticut.  A lot of alone time means a lot of updating.  Also, I went through all my old poems and pulled out four that I will put up here soon (probably tomorrow or Monday).  Until then, enjoy the new flash fiction.

Dear Blue
While on vacation, I joined my friends at a coffee shop for several hours.  This piece of flash fiction came out of left field after my fourth cup of coffee.  It is one of my more unique pieces.  I don’t usually deal in personification, but I love this flash fiction nonetheless.

New Flash Fiction: Thirst

Posted on by

Thirst
In order to practice writing characters that do not remind me of me, I need practice writing situations that I do not normally encounter.  I Miss You, Dad was a way to practice the complex emotions of dealing with death.  Thirst is my attempt to enter the mind of an addict.  I hope to write several more flash fiction pieces like this soon.  I need the practice.

Up and Running

Posted on by

The website is now up and running.  I have sample chapters from my three novels.  I have three short stories.  There are six flash fiction pieces.  Unfortunately, I only have two poems up so far.  More will be uploaded soon.  I have links to my three other blogs.  There are also five columns that I had published in the local newspaper.  I also have links to my ghostwriting and a full list of the books that I have read.

As I upload more in the future, I will update the blog to share my progress on certain projects as well as link the newly uploaded work.  I wrote a flash fiction piece today that I hope to upload sometime within the next week.  I am also working on a couple fiction pieces and non-fiction pieces.  I need to decide which one to pursue in the days ahead.  I have a feeling that a dystopian story is something that I will pursue.

Thank you for all the support.  Let me know what you think.

~Richard

More Writing Updates

Posted on by

I am exhausted.  After working for several hours, the About Me, Columns, and Ghostwriting tabs are now compeltely finished.  I have put a lot of working into the blog section and will have it up and running first thing in the morning.  After that, the real work will begin.

Tomorrow I will focus on posting my poetry, short stories, flash fiction, and novel excerpts.  Why you are waiting, feel free to look over all that I have uploaded so far.  In the About Me section is a link to all of my work before the age of 18–it is rough but gives you a general idea of where my writing originated.

Thank you to everyone who has followed me so far–adamarmour, stellamarr, mothstoaflame, Jordan, ladyromp, MesAyah, and ClownPonders.  I assure you that I will return the sentiment as soon as I am done piecing this website together.

~Richard

Writing Updates

Posted on by

I will be working around the clock for the next 24 hours.  The dozen or so “Under Construction” signs will be removed and replaced with writing throughout the rest of today and tomorrow.  I will also give you tentative release dates on the release of my three novels–Fire Saviors, The Saints, and Stitch

Please follow my feed to stay up-to-date.  I will update periodically to let you know of my progress.  Thank you.

~Richard