Baby’s First Ballgame

We took my son to his first ballgame on Sunday! Eight months old and he loved it. He happily took in all the new sights, smells, and sounds, and for a while I think he was actually watching the game.

It didn’t hurt that the Giants won that day either. Seeing the world through my son’s eyes this weekend was fun, and everything from the train ride to seeing the sailboats circle the ballpark was all new and exciting to him. It’s something my wife and I would definitely do with our son again.

How was your weekend? What new experiences have you sought out recently or relived through another? How are the “dog days” of August treating you?  

Writing Short-Stories

How often do you write short-stories? How often do you read short-stories? What short-story contests do you follow?

I’ve been on a bit of a short-story writing binge, which is unusual for me, since I’m typically a strictly novelist type of writer (with some poetry once in a while). One thing I’ve really enjoyed about writing short-stories lately is that I can finish a 2,000 to 5,000 word story in a day, instead of taking three months to craft out an 85,000 word novel. So it’s pretty satisfying in that respect. Some of my favorite short-stories to read include Joyce, London, Irving, and Hawthorne.

What do you like to write? Novel? Non-fiction? Short-story? Poetry? Screenplay? Onstage drama? What types of contests have you found where you like to submit your work? 

Putting Your Dreams To Work

How do you utilize your sleeping hours? Do you ever use your dreams at night to get things done? Maybe you solve a problem or ruminate on something you’ve been thinking about?

I’ve noticed lately that I continue to dream about books I’m working on. Sometimes I’ll even come up with great plot elements in my sleep and later incorporate them into my writing when I’m awake. At first I thought this odd behavior until I looked online and learned that people all over the world from artists to mathematicians use their sleeping hours (their dreamtime) to help find solutions to whatever they’re working on in their waking hours.

So how can you better utilize your sleeping/dreaming hours? Do you ever get inspiration from a dream? How do you get in touch with your creative unconscious side?   

To Outline or Not To Outline

Do you create an outline before drafting a novel? How about for non-fiction or a short-story? How detailed do you get?

I’ve always been a pretty heavy outline user when it comes to prepping for my next work-in-progress. But for kicks lately I’ve been liberating myself and just flying blind, so to speak. I’ve been surprised at the results, and have actually liked some of the pieces I produced with little or no outlining. But I’m not sure if this is just a passing fad for me, or if I should really explore writing with a looser plan.

Do you find that an outline provides a path for you or restrictions? Do you find that an outline works better for you when writing in the third-person versus writing in the first-person? How do you strike a balance between inspiration and well-laid plans? 

Summer Rereading

Ever like to reread some of your favorite books? Maybe you find new meaning in a story you thought you already knew? Or perhaps you just enjoy the comfort of a book that you know ends well?

In the summertime, I like to reread books I haven’t touched in a while. Most of the year I’m conquering one novel after another, but it’s fun to just enjoy reading a story that I know I’ll really like. Lately, I revisited books on ancient Rome, 19^th century New England, and now I’m reviewing some Celtic myth in the Mabinogion. Hey, it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I dig itJ

 So what are your favorite books to reread? Any novels that remind you of summertime? If you could only take a few books with you during your stay on a deserted island, which would you bring (and survival books don’t count)? 

Working at Globant

Well, it’s been a busy last few weeks since I started my new job at Globant! I greatly enjoy continuing to work as a Technical Writer and am happy to add Globant’s wide offering of opportunities under my belt. Needless to say, it’s been a busy month, but I’m always happy to get paid to write for my day job.

It’s fun working downtown too, and I’ve got a great view of the city and bay from the 23^rd floor. My wife works nearby so we’re able to meet up from lunches sometimes, which is another plus. If you’re interested to learn more about Globant, you can check out their site here.

So how are things going for you this summer, so far? How do you incorporate writing into your day job? What are the little perks that make your day better?

I Survived!

I’m back from the 150^th anniversary reenactment at Gettysburg, and very glad to be amongst the living! I had a great time participating with the other 15,000+ reenactors as tens of thousands of spectators watched us recreated the three day battle that changed our nation’s history. I also had some time to tour the actual battlefield itself as well, which was great.

Our reenactment was only a few miles away from the town of Gettysburg, so visitors could hear us and we often drew large crowds to our battle scenes. The experience of marching alongside thousands of fellow reenactors from all across the country and the world really made it feel like we were part of a real army back in 1863. Needless to say, I’m also glad to return home after a week of smoke, bugs, and sore feet. But my fond memories of this weekend will last a lifetime.

As the 4^th of July approaches, what will you be doing with your summer weekend? Gearing up for BBQs? Hanging out with family and friends? How do you celebrate summertime?