And, with the strong of a key, the final draft of “The Stagner Chronicle” is complete. I’m so glad to be done and get it out for everyone to see. I am going to order a copy today via Lulu.com to make sure the formatting is alright. If it comes back clean, I will open the book for public sale and link it.
Four book down, a lifetime to go.
I would like to start off today with a great big thank you to all my readers. Yesterday, I uploaded a very personal piece that I hoped would grab a few eyes. I had no idea. Within 15 minutes of posting the writing, it had 200 views. I don’t know if my writing has gotten better or if I’m just becoming more honest in my writing (or both). But it doesn’t matter. Thank you for all your support.
Today I am starting what I hope will be a new routine. The coffee shop I write at is 2.5 miles from my house. It is the perfect distance to walk. Today I made the trek and feel great. It is the perfect way to get my mind going so I am prepared to write when I arrive. It is also perfect practice for the Peace Corps–which is less than 150 days away now. I hope this new routine will improve my writing, help me add some muscle, and shave off the final 30 pounds I need to lose. Only time will tell.
With Love,
Richard
P.S.–For any of you who missed my piece yesterday, here it is: Struggle & Love
I’ve taken an extended break from writing the last couple weeks. Now, as my world settles down, I am back to work. I am preparing a new fiction story that I will likely write into a novel…simply because I need a creative outlet. I hate it when I finish writing novels. It’s like being part of a play and then realizing you have nothing to do after closing night. Luckily, I’m in control of my own writing and I have plenty of ideas that I’d like to transform into words.
I’m also slowly working away on the final draft of The Stagner Chronicle. I will likely have copies available to general public in October through Lulu.com. I’ll keep you updated as I make some progress. I’m about a quarter of a way through my final read and it is still pretty clean. I can’t wait to get it out to you guys.
I am definitely at a crossroads right now. As my closest friend prepares to leave the state and I prepare to enter the Peace Corps, everything seems different. I’m trying to find myself a new social life. I’m continuing to edit The Stagner Chronicle….and it is so clean that I think this will be the last edit. I still want to edit and self-publish all four of my works before I leave for the Peace Corps. I think I can pull it off.
My writing of late has taken a strong non-fiction turn. I do not know if this is temporary, but I’m not going to fight it. Whatever comes, comes. I need to get back to a writing project, though. I have two non-fiction ideas that I’ve started and one fiction idea. They all seem incredible. I think I just need to write out the basic outlines and see which ones are doable. I’ll let you know when I figure that out.
With Love,
Richard
The Bechdel Test was created for movies. The whole point was to point out the inequality of the sexes on the big screen. In order for the movie to pass, it must succeed in these three simple tests.
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man.
It’s pretty simple. In order for a movie to pass the test, there has to be only one part of one scene in which two women talk about something other than a man. Unfortunately, of the 3,305 movies that The Bechdel Test Website has rated, 53% have failed. If you did the same test for men, I can guarantee you that less than 5% would fail. The point of the test is to point out the inequality that is seen on the big screen…and it is making a huge impact.
I want to make a vow today. From this moment forward, I will makes sure any Novella length (or longer) writing of mine passes this simple test. I did have this test in mind when I wrote The Stagner Chronicle–which is why it passed. I really want to look through my first three novels and see if I fell victim to the same problem. This type of sexual discrimination is unacceptable in my mind. I don’t want to be a part of it.
The next time you read a book or see a movie, keep this in mind. If you are a writer yourself, consider taking this pledge with me.
With Love,
Richard
Join the campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1162855402/the-stagner-chronicle-a-novel
Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”
I know it’s late, but seeing as I’ve been experimenting with everything in regards to blogging…why not. This is my 100th post. The past three months or so have been incredible. This blog is forcing me to do exactly what I wanted it to do. I write daily and am improving my craft at a far quicker rate than I thought possible. I even was able to pull a novel out of nowhere in a matter of weeks.
The next 100 posts will be very interesting. I am convinced that posting more often and writing about current events will become a permanent part of this blog. Writing and spreading the word about important matters is all I really know…I couldn’t stay away if I wanted. So…here is update number three from the Manifesto. Remember to check out the Kickstarter campaign.
We are up and running! The Kickstarter campaign was approved and we already have our first few backers streaming in. If you would like a copy of the book, reserve yourself a copy…and then help me get the word out. Kickstarters are all or nothing campaigns. So if we don’t reach the goal, no one is charged. I do not want to see that happen. Check it out!
Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”
This has been a long day. I woke up at 4:30a so that we could be at Denver International Airport for a 8:30a flight. We ended up having to deplane because the plane wasn’t in working order. Luckily we only had an hour and a half delay. I got to see the NYC skyline as we flew in. God I love that city. Now there is talk of doing NYC tomorrow with my family. Only time will tell.
I wrote a memory while on the plane. Since I told you about the announcement of my sister’s pregnancy yesterday, it felt right to tell you about the day she was born. A side note: My niece is here in Connecticut with me…about to turn seven years old. Time really does fly.
Day Fifteen: Birth of My Niece
I should be landing in New York in about 24 hours. It is the start of a very long month. I can’t wait to be in Connecticut with my family and celebrating my grandmother’s 80th birthday. I’m so lucky to have the ability to go see my family at least once a year even though they live so far away. It looks like this time almost the entire extended family will be there–from Florida, Colorado, and D.C. I can’t wait.
I am going to try to continue giving you guy at least one update a day while I am away. I feel like I am straddling a thin line when it comes to internet addiction, so I am going to be careful. If I disappear for a day or two, it is for my own sanity. I know most writers go insane eventually…but I would prefer for that not to happen until I am at least 30. Until next time, here is a new Memory for the 50-Day Memory Challenge.
Day Fourteen: My First Girlfriend
Richard T. Reilly 