Sixteen years ago, I started The Juggling Writer.

Last year, aside from the, “Hey, The Juggling Writer is 15!” anniversary post, I did one other…about how quiet I’ve been with the blog.

This past year, not one post.

It’s not that I don’t think about The Juggling Writer — I do — but I suppose in many ways, writing doesn’t live in my head as much as it did 16 years ago. At least deeper thoughts about writing…I’m always writing and working on things.

And maybe that’s part of it: writing, recording, editing, and releasing stories for Not About Lumberjacks takes quite a bit of time. It’s also been a year in which a decades-old issue with my heart was finally figured out, requiring a procedure last March. It’s also the year my mom died…and that one’s still fresh: last month. (In fact, a month ago today.)

Clearly, The Juggling Writer still means something to me. If it didn’t, I’d not be here writing this.

So, we’ll see what Year 16 brings.

(I’d likely do well bringing writing back into my head more than I have, lately…)

Two days ago, this blog turned 15 years old.

I was coming up on the final months at my job at the time (only, I didn’t know it: I planned to leave the following summer, but ended up laid off the week before Christmas), and I decided to have a place to really talk about writing.

Over the years, it went from a more typical blog in which I thought, “Well, these things work for me…and maybe they will help others, so I’ll share those things…” to a place to post random thoughts about writing and what I was up to.

Writing Retreats and Thoughts

Even when I’ve not posted much, here, I always shared updates about the annual writing retreat.

I didn’t even do that this past year.

I made a video about last spring’s retreat, but never shared it here:

And while I’m always thinking about writing, I didn’t feel as compelled to share every thought. (Or…I’d start something and realize the effort and time should have gone to actual writing.)

Not About Lumberjacks stories, no matter how much I plan to shorten them, seem to all become novelettes these days. And it’s more than enough to get those stories out while working a day job and getting outside more.

In the last entry, I mentioned a little health thing I’ve been dealing with. The good news: the cardiologist isn’t too concerned and wants to try a supplement and some continued lifestyle changes before considering medication or other options. So, now that better news has come along, I’m not as concerned with that. (I just need to continue focusing on health before some other things — like this blog.)

So…

It seems each recent year, I close the anniversary entry with, “So…who knows what the next year will bring…”

I tend to share things on Patreon first, and often don’t feel like putting the effort in to cross post a rewritten version of things here. I tend to work on stories and just enjoying time off work more, now that I don’t see writing as a way out of a day job.

But I am thinking about about writing in different ways than I did just a handful of years ago.

So…who knows what the next year will bring…

Last year, I mentioned I was skipping the annual September Silence. I wasn’t sure if I’d return to it or if it would become a thing of the past.

I’m skipping it again this year, but almost considered it “just ’cause” at the last minute. But my reasons for skipping it last year are similar this year.

That said, I’ve been very silent here.

Why So Quiet?

Part of the reason for the silence is blogging became silent.

And while much of what I’ve written here has been for myself, I noticed a big drop in traffic.

I’m not one to just drop a thing because it’s not a “success” — if I were, I’d definitely have scrapped my narrated short fiction podcast, Not About Lumberjacks. But Not About Lumberjacks stories have become longer, and the show takes up a lot of time.

I’ve also been sharing more blog-like things on my Patreon, so rewriting things there for here or writing even more bloggy things takes time. (You can, if you so desire, join my Patreon for free. I open access to all things to everyone.)

Another reason for being quiet: I’ve been dealing with a bit of a health thing this past year that’s fortunately being addressed. The quick version: I have long had an arrhythmia, but I’ve noticed things a bit more this past year.

The first time I saw a cardiologist about it roughly 25 years ago, I was told to just keep losing weight and exercise. But this time around, I have a doctor who’s done much more — and while I don’t have terrible premature venticular contractions (PVCs), they are serious enough to merit treatment.

I find out the plan for that in a couple days…

Fifteen Years

In a week, this blog turns 15 years old.

Obviously, there have been years where I’ve barely written a thing…and others where I wrote nearly every other day.

Another reason for slacking is the hosting company I use for the site is sluggish. I need to have them upgrade some things, but that feels like yet another to-do on an already busy list. But I enjoy looking back over older entries and would like to share more here again.

So, that’s it: why I’ve been quiet, but…also not.

I’m putting out stories, sharing things on Patreon, and still active on social media.

At the same time, it’s nice to not always feel “on” and chasing writing as much as I once did.

Who knows, maybe Year 15 is the one where I do more here again…just for the joy of doing so…

The Juggling Writer turned 14 today. I was a few months from being laid off the week before Christmas when I started, and and so many changes followed. Sometimes I feel bad for not writing as much, here, because it was always a steady thing, even during unsteady times.

Other Things

Part of the reason I don’t write here as much as I once did is I now tend to update Patreon before this blog — and that satisfies that writing urge. But it’s also more than that…I think a lot has changed since submitting my last novel during COVID, not having an offer, and feeling a bit unsure of what to do with that story, especially when I have Not About Lumberjacks.

Not About Lumberjacks satisfies me in the same way this blog once satisfied me. There’s always something to do, whether writing, designing, or planning. Not About Lumberjacks has the edge because it’s fiction — not a blog largely about writing fiction.

I still love The Juggling Writer — and I don’t see just stopping…but there’s only so much time when working a full time job, having a life, and doing other things. That’s always been a message, here: you don’t have to do everything!

What To Say?

It’s not that I’m at a loss for words about what to keep saying, here, but I sometimes feel like what I write is stuff already read. That’s the nature of blogs, of course, but…I’d rather say nothing at all than writing something for the sake of an update.

Because I’m not even sure if I want to keep submitting fiction anymore, I’m not sure what more I can say here. Not About Lumberjacks is a bigger part of my writing life, and it’s satisfying enough that I’m not as driven to submit and succeed [traditionally] as I once was.

That’s not the makings of a very interesting blog.

But Still…

This will be the 4th entry of 2023…and the 692nd published entry overall.

I have no idea how many words I’ve written, here, but it has to be rather beefy. There will still be writing retreat updates (in fact, the next one is at the end of this month), sharing any news that pops up, and maybe more about AI/Large Language Models as things keep changing.

So, this blog isn’t going away. (It’s entirely possible a flood of interesting thoughts hits in the next year and I’m back to regular posts.)

Thanks!

I know there are a handful of people who were here from the start, and others who found it along the way. Friendships happened because of this site, and for me…that’s the best thing about it.

So here’s to another year of The Juggling Writer…I hope the rest of 2023 is snazzy for us all…

It’s that time of year: “The September Silence” — that month when I step away from social media and focus on writing.

Except, after 9 or 10 years of the annual September social media break, I’m not doing it this year.

The September Silence

I started the September Silence after taking longer social media breaks in the years leading to it becoming and annual thing. It was a time to celebrate — that while it will still be hot in Texas into November — my favorite season is approaching. (At least on the calendar. We get a few autumny days in October, but have to wait until November to feel like fall has arrived and stayed.)

It was a time to focus even more on writing than I already did.

But things change…

What Changed?

The quick version:

• The September silence bums out some friends who like staying in touch and seeing what I’m up to through social media.
• The writing I do is practically automatic.

Absence might make the heart grow fonder, but unless they are great actors, my friends are already fond of me. And I miss seeing friends I’m only in touch with through social media.

And since starting Not About Lumberjacks in 2015, I’m always writing, recording, and releasing fiction.

A Release Month

Speaking of Not About Lumberjacks, September is a story release month. In past years, I didn’t share that a new story was out there. Of course, many subscribe through podcast apps, but others count on a reminder on social media that I’ve released a new story.

While I’m not one to chase numbers or obsess over statistics, the show’s had steady momentum in the past year and I don’t see why I should let that slump just to take part in a tradition I started for myself.

And so, there’s really nothing to gain this month by disconnecting from social media.

A New Annual Thing?

So, is the September Sound now a thing? Will I become even more active on social media when September rolls around each year?

Nah! No change at all, really.

Maybe another September comes along when I need a month-long (or longer) break from social media, or maybe a new month becomes the month I step away. Maybe I never take another social media break again.

But one thing is certain: at least now, the September Silence is a thing of the past…

For years, I’ve wanted to document my writing process more.

Obviously, I’ve shared quite a bit, here, but never a true Beginning-to-End effort.

That’s about to change.

The Process Series

I finally started creating short videos about all that goes into creating an episode of Not About Lumberjacks.

My goal is, when it’s done, to be able to sit down and watch a playlist for 30-45 minutes showing what I do.

A handful of years ago, I did a talk about how to podcast fiction at a podcast meetup. I’ve only tinkered with YouTube (even though I always wanted to do more with the platform), and was surprised that almost 6,000 people have listened to my almost 50-minute talk.

Sadly, because I didn’t really pay much attention to YouTube, I only recently realized people were leaving comments on the talk…for years!

So another reason for the current series is to ensure I don’t make that mistake again.

Video One

I kicked off the current series with Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas.

The title is self explanatory, mostly meant to show people that if they want good ideas, they just have to be open to them (and always asking themselves: “What if?”)

Obviously, being new to making videos, there are things I would love to already change about this effort, but…if I’ve learned nothing else by writing and podcasting fiction, it’s to keep moving forward (not obsessing about changing things you’ve already done).

In time, with effort, things improve. (I’ve put together six videos so far, and the latest — about narrating stories — is the best yet.)

Video Two

The second video is about roughing out stories.

If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know I lean toward not planning much at all.

I typically sit down with a vague idea, begin writing, and discover the story in the process.

But sometimes, I have to do a bit more to see what’s in front of me.

This video is about that.

Video Three

The third video is only available for my Patreon patrons right now…and fittingly, it’s about how I use Patreon as a writer.

I was originally reluctant to start a Patreon account for my writing, but — because people asked for it (and I realized that’s a very fortunate position to be in…especially for a little show like mine), I did.

I’ve been having a blast with it.

I don’t do the usual, “Pay for more stuff,” Patreon tiers. Someone donating a dollar a month gets access to the same things as someone donating $20/month.

Schedule

So, the schedule for these videos…

New videos are released weekly.

Patrons get the “true” latest video a week before they go public. So…the video about Patreon was released to patrons yesterday, while the video about how to rough out a story was released publically on the same day. (Always make sure you say publically and not pubically…)

All this means the series will be finished for Patreon patrons on 04/25/2023 and to everyone else the following week.

I have my work cut out: releasing videos and continuing to release stories on Not About Lumberjacks.

The Remaining Videos

If you like lists, here’s what’s still to come:

• Writing
• Read-Through
• Recording – Narration
• Recording – Sound
• Music
• Editing
• Loading
• Promotion
• After Thoughts (I’m sure I’ll have some…)

Having Fun

Obviously, I hope the effort of making the process series brings a little more attention to what I’m doing, but mostly: I’m having fun.

I’ve wanted to do more with videos for years…and committing to a dozen weekly videos seems like a great way to do that.

It’s worked with podcasting and many other things in my life…just accepting things will not be perfect, but still doing them because you want to.

I can think of few better reasons to do a thing if one has the means…

The end of 2022 was a bit of a blur. With the holidays, a busy time at work, and the annual November and December episodes of Not About Lumberjacks, I never got around to writing about the 9th annual writing retreat.

The Retreat that Almost Wasn’t

The 8th annual retreat was a return to East Texas after skipping a year because of the COVID pandemic. The 9th annual retreat was looking like it might have been skipped because my friend Deacon and I were both very busy with day job work.

But we made the decision to schedule something for 2022 — work and preparation be damned.

November Retreat

The 2022 retreat took place at Cooper Lake State Park from November 13 – 15. It was our first fall retreat (we usually schedule things for April or May). We always wanted to do a retreat in cooler weather, and we got more than we planned!

It was a colder-than-usual weekend, and we were right on the lake. With the wind and rain, it made holing up and writing easier than usual…although evenings were clear enough to sit beside a fire.

“Why Don’t We Wait Here, See What Happens”

On the coldest night, it was misty, windy, and felt like 34 degrees. Miserable (but fun).

We joked about how it was like the ending of John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Still, we chatted about writing, life, and geeky things.

So, What Did I Work On?

I mentioned in last year’s writing retreat recap that the novel I’d been working on seemed to have run its course with submissions. This year, I worked on Not About Lumberjacks’s November tale, “Tin-Hearted Man.”

The last couple retreats have felt weird because, up until then, all retreats found me focusing on novels. But now, Not About Lumberjacks is a thing I can rely on, so stories for the show get my attention.

It was nice heading to the state park with some rough ideas for “Tin-Hearted Man,” and returning with a completed draft.

Deacon

My favorite thing about the retreat was seeing my friend Deacon’s return to writing.

The quick version: after years in a corporate environment (and another layoff) Deacon had enough. In his 40s, he decided for a full-blown career change.

He returned to school and became a nurse.

This meant recent retreats found him studying more than writing. And 2022 found him catching up on charting for work more than writing.

But this year, he wrote!

He’s back to the novel he set aside for a bit, and it’s great seeing him back at it!

The Importance of Doing It…

It would have been easy to have skipped the 2022 retreat — it would have been easy to say, “Well, work is busy for both of us, and the holidays are almost here…let’s pick it all back up next spring.”

But we’re not getting any younger. We picked our days and did it!

I missed an in-person team-builder at work, and Deacon had plenty he could have done, but…you don’t finish writing unless you claim the time.

We did, and it was another great time in a cabin east of home.

(And the good thing about doing the retreat so late in the year is that the next one is right around the corner!)

The Obligatory Photo Dump…

Now more than ever, being you is what makes art. AI-prompted images and text are here, and while much of it is still apparent, it’s not going to be long before it gets really good.

I see people saying AI will never create something on the same level as humans, but it’s already eclipsing the work of some. (Good work at that!) And it won’t be long before the best out there see the work they do competing against a thing that doesn’t exist in a physical sense.

AI-Prompted Works

Even if you believe AI-prompted images and stories will never be as good as a human, one must admit that there are already many enamored with what AI creates. Granted, what it creates is based on the existing works of others, without them opting in — but that’s a subject for another entry entirely.

Over the weekend, I saw someone on Twitter boasting they are now “a published author,” because they had AI create a kid’s book now being sold on Amazon. In the Twitter thread, there were already others popping in to say, “Hey, I’ve done that, too!”

I’ve seen graphic novels and other works “created” in a weekend.

If you’re an artist or writer, it might seem scary. At the very least, insulting.

AI’s “Style”

I’m fortunate to be friends with artists, writers, musicians, game designers, and other cool and creative people. Some (game designers, mostly) have already found ways to incorporate AI into the work they do. As a technical writer, I know it’s only a matter of time before it can either make my job easier, or take it away.

Many of my friends, though, see lifetimes of effort being used to feed machines they cannot control. Many visual artists already fight people using their images without permission on t-shirts, prints, and other things sold against their will. I can’t imagine being known for a style, having what I do fed to a generator, and seeing others prompting work that looks and feels like mine being sold. (At that point, with no legal recourse…because I technically didn’t make it — even though my work was used as the basis for the images.)

Showing Your Work

Humans will always have one advantage: creative people can show their work. We have personalities some followers like just as much (and maybe even more) as what we create.

I was apprehensive to start a Patreon for Not About Lumberjacks, but some people wanted a way to support me because they appreciate my efforts…and others wanted a peek behind how I write, record, and release stories.

AI can’t do that.

It’s possible, even likely, that someone creating an AI-prompted book will sell more copies of a work than me, but there doesn’t seem to be much staying power beyond the initial gimmick of, “Hey, I told a machine to make a book for me and it did…”

What is my motivation to follow that person prompting future works? (I don’t think I’m alone in wanting a connection to the people behind the art I enjoy.)

Humans Like Things Made by Humans

Even the most dicky among dude-bros have favorite bands. They have movie directors and actors they will pay based on name alone. I know people will buy comic books by certain artists no matter what they do.

AI-prompted work doesn’t evoke that same kind of loyalty…at least for the average user. (Admittedly, some people are already conceptualizing ideas and prompting images to tell a story in the same way a photographer might create a series of images.)

Still…even among people who claim to not be partial to certain creators, humans gravitate toward supporting people they like. (And in the example I just mentioned, it’s still the people conceptualizing visual stories that are the attraction.)

Is My Writing Threatened by AI?

I am more likely to see my work as a technical writer threatened by AI before AI creates fiction with the same feeling as a human. (Again, I know that day is coming.)

My work as a technical writer could be in jeopardy because why pay 50 tech writers when you can pay 5 editors to double-check AI-prompted documentation? Companies often look for ways to cut people and salaries, and if someone can point to how they saved the company 100s of millions of dollars by using AI, they will.

But when it comes to fiction, I’m not threatened.

AI and Me

Most people who set out to write fiction full time will never do so…simply based on numbers. Publishing seeks certain things, and if you fall outside what is sought, it’s a closed world. (And even many who are let in never see their books paying the bills.)

Self-publishing is always an option, but…most self-published writers don’t pay the bills with their stories either.

AI-prompted stories (when they get good) will take nothing from me that’s already behind closed doors.

AI-prompted fiction won’t prevent me from still writing, recording, and releasing stories for people who like what I do. I don’t worry about people turning away from what I do for AI-generated stories any more than I worry about them stepping away from my work for the works of others.

But Still…

Obviously, I say all this as someone who supplements income with fiction — not someone who makes a living from it. And I believe it’s harder for AI-generated work to take from writers of fiction than it is from the works of visual artists.

Tor Books has already used an AI-generated-and-then-enhanced image for a book cover that should have gone to an actual artist. (I mean, it’s a cover for an author who’s sold almost 45 million friggin’ books!) Were I an artist with a particular style…I’d be concerned about people prompting images that look like mine and selling them. (If it didn’t cut into earnings, it would at least be insulting.)

One of my biggest issues with AI-prompted work right now? Some artists simply discussing their concerns and trying to educate others about how AI-prompted art is made have been harassed online. Their years of study and craft are negated by not just online trolls, but people who don’t care to listen to — and understand — their concerns.

Sadly, it didn’t take an artificial intelligence to remind us how inhuman we can be to each other…

I’ve mentioned before that I’m friends with quite a few artists. Lately, I’ve seen quite a few of them share thoughts about artificial intelligence generating “art.”

Feelings range from machine-learned art taking jobs and stealing styles to it all being just another tool.

AI Writing

I friend recently posted a work of micro fiction on Facebook. He asked, “Can you tell which parts I wrote and which parts were written by a machine?”

The story was written in a very matter-o-fact style. Knowing this friend’s writing, I guessed the first and last lines of the story were his, only to discover he wrote only the first line — the rest was written by OpenAI’s playground.

While most of the story was rigid, it was clear — with a little touching up — one could create a readable story in no time.

An Experiment

Of course, I had to give it a try. I fed OpenAI this line: Emil always feared the ice cream shop on the corner of Elm and Main and clicked the Submit button.

This is the result:

Emil always feared the ice cream shop on the corner of Elm and Main.

He was never sure what it was that scared him about the place. Maybe it was the eerie red and black sign that hung in the window, or the way the security bars always seemed to be rattling, even when there was no wind. Whatever the reason, Emil had never mustered up the courage to go inside.

One summer day, however, his friends talked him into it. They said there was nothing to be afraid of, and that the ice cream was the best in town. Emil reluctantly agreed, and they went in.

The inside of the shop was just as he remembered it: dark, musty, and with an unsettling feeling in the air. But his friends were right—the ice cream was delicious.

After that day, Emil no longer feared the ice cream shop on the corner of Elm and Main. He realized that sometimes the things we’re afraid of turn out to be nothing at all.

Clearly, there are issues. Emil is terrified of the shop, but the algorithm mentioned it was “just as he remembered it.”

Nothing to write home about.

Still, with a minute or two of cleanup, you have a solid prompt that’s easy to turn into a serviceable story.

Touched Up

Here’s the story with a very quick clean up:

Emil always feared the ice cream shop on the corner of Elm and Main.

He was never sure what it was that scared him about the place. Maybe it was the eerie red and black sign that hung in the window, or the way the security bars always seemed to be rattling, even when there was no wind. Whatever the reason, Emil had never mustered up the courage to go inside.

One summer day, his friends talked him into entering Hell’s Cones. They said there was nothing to be afraid of, and that the ice cream was the best in town. Emil reluctantly agreed, and they went in.

The inside of the shop was just as he imagined it: dark, musty, and with an unsettling feeling in the air. But his friends were right—the ice cream was delicious.

After that day, Emil no longer feared the ice cream shop on the corner of Elm and Main; in fact, he craved all it offered. The day he was too busy to stop by, his stomach felt like he had swallowed embers. He couldn’t wait to get back in line with the others, all desperate to quench the pain within.

It was only then, knowing he could never skip another day, that Emil realized he should have trusted his gut…

On my own, with the first line I created, I would have spent more time working on a story I’m sure would have been completely different from this…but in a fraction of the time, I have something better than some stories I’ve read.

Should This Be Feared?

It’s easy to read the initial output and say, “Writers have little to worry about.” But this technology is only going to get better.

Right now, with a little dedication, decent stories can be created in a fraction of the time it takes even a fast writer to do their thing. For some people who write to formulas and race the clock, the technology is already good enough to match what’s being produced today.

In a matter of years, if not sooner, I’m sure a handful of prompts will produce a better first draft of a novel than what many of us meat-bag humans can produce. With some touching up (and eventually, not even that being necessary), technology will create better novels faster than those written by fast writers today.

So should writers fear this?

Maybe?

What’s In a Story?

This is where I’m supposed to say humans will always have the creative edge because they are human and know what humans like. What makes a story for many is voice, and that’s not as easy to replicate. But it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

As a reader, I’m not interested in AI stories. Part of that is that I like the authors I read — not just what they write, but their interviews and other things that better connect me to the stories they tell.

Maybe a day will come when someone says they are writing stories, but are actually having machine learning generate their books. Maybe an “author” will let algorithms do most of the work and they will be the personality behind their stories and I will be fooled.

But it would be a hard act to keep up; it seems like it would be easy to see through the human, in that case, even better than the stories. For many, though, a story is more than just words: it’s the person behind it appearing at book festivals and interviews and so many other things an algorithm can’t do.

As a Writer

I think most people who want to write will still put in the effort. Or maybe someone comes along and part of the charm is knowing they generated an AI novel they then revised into something their own. In that sense, it could be like a writing duo where one writer is better at drafting and the other, revising.

But mostly, I think writers want to challenge themselves — not push a button and call it done.

Perhaps some people will generate stories and sell them and make more money than writers creating stories from their heads. And people will say it’s not fair that someone who’s not a writer is making money selling books, when actual writers aren’t.

But publishing has never been fair. For as long as its been a thing, there are voices that have been ignored and writers who make it more by playing the right games than writing the right books.

Most of us, I think, will keep writing our stories no matter what the future brings…

fin

* * *

One More Example

If you want one more example of a line I fed OpenAI and what it produced…and what I did in a few minutes after the “story” was generated, here you go.

My line was: The thing in the corner stretched and made its was toward Bobby’s bed.

AI Draft:

The thing in the corner stretched and made its way toward Bobby’s bed.

Bobby’s heart started to race as he watched the thing slither across the floor. He tried to scream, but no sound came out.

The thing reached Bobby’s bed and started to climb up.

Bobby felt paralyzed by fear. He could do nothing but watch as the thing crawled closer and closer to him.

Suddenly, the thing was right on top of him, its vile breath washing over his face. Bobby tried to scream again, but still no sound came out.

The thing opened its mouth, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. Bobby knew that he was about to die.

And then, the thing spoke.

“Bobby,” it said in a hissing voice, “I’ve come for you.”

My Touch-Up

The thing in the corner stretched and made its way toward Bobby’s bed.

Bobby’s heart raced as he watched the thing slither across the floor. He tried to scream, but he was paralyzed with fear.

The thing reached Bobby’s bed and climbed up. He could do nothing but watch as it crawled across his legs and on top of him, its vile breath washing over his face. Bobby tried to scream again, but still: no sound came out.

The thing opened its mouth, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. Bobby knew he was about to die.

And then, the thing spoke.

“Bobby,” it said in a hissing voice, “you really need to cover your feet.”

The thing pulled Bobby’s blanket over his toes.

“You don’t want to give the monster beneath the bed an easy, late-night snack.”

From below, Bobby heard a whisper: “This is why we all hate you, Kevin!”

* * *

Image Credit: “Photo realistic image of a writer at his desk” fed into Midjourney AI.

The September Silence of 2022 is over.

With it being a bigger election year, the urge to return at the end of November is appealing…for many reasons. But…there are things I’ve missed this past month, and I can always step back again if things seem too noisy.

Another September Silence

This year, like last, I decided I’d still look at Instagram (because I have it set up to not be as noisy as other platforms). Still…in recent years, I’ve broken the silence to post about what friends are up to.

This year, I didn’t even do that…

What Was Up in My September?

I suppose my big-ish thing for September wasthe release of the latest episode of Not About Lumberjacks.

“In the Margins” closed out year seven of my audiofiction podcast. (Seven years! I love that!)

And man, I loved this story!

I described “In the Margins” like this: “When Kenna Baynes discovers a strange book in her college library, she finds something in the margins that changes her life forever…”

It was a story I started with no planned ending, and what ended up being written was better than anything I would have plotted. It’s a heart-felt story I really adore!

Much of my September was spent on day-job stuff. It’s a very busy time at work, but…I didn’t let it take anything away from the things I do. I’m fortunate to have a day job that doesn’t get in the way (too much) of things my job allows me to do without concern for any level of “success.”

It was a good month…

What I Didn’t Talk About…

Three friends had good book news in September. I suppose I’ll just post things in order…

I’ll start with Rubén Degollado, who’s latest novel, The Family Izquierdo, came out in early September.

There’s a reason it was a Kirkus Reviews most-anticipated book of the fall, and why it just got a write-up in the New York Times. It’s a beautiful book, and you should buy it!

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If you listened to the most recent episode of Not About Lumberjacks, you know the mighty Rick Coste has a book based on his educational podcast, Evolution Talk, coming out in October.

Rick is a big reason I started Not About Lumberjacks, and I’ve pre-ordered his book (and will also buy the audio version because I love hearing Rick narrate things).

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If you ever look at comments, here…or pay attention to people I talk about, you’ve likely heard me mention Paul Lamb. Paul’s novel, One Match Fire , also comes out in October.

I’ve read some of the chapters from the novel and…well, there’s a reason Paul is my favorite writer who should be known more. He’s just so damn good!

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Normally, I take a break from the annual September social media break to mention what friends have going on, but I know none of them would begrudge me staying away during my own writing new year. (In fact, it’s probably better to spread things out…)

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Writing Retreat 2022

If you’ve hung around here for any length of time, you know I do an annual writing retreat with a friend. Since starting in 2013, we only missed one year (for COVID).

It was looking like we might miss this year (we are both very busy with work and other things), but mid November will find us in East Texas for a long weekend.

I’m excited because we might actually have cooler weather by then…and maybe (just maybe) see some leaves changing color out east!

It’s important to claim writing time…even for only a long weekend with a friend.

It would have been easy to skip the retreat and pick up in early spring, but I’m glad we decided to not let it side away for 2022…

A Random Thing

My wife and I tend to watch YouTube more than television shows.

The September Silence found us watching a lot of Matthew Norway, an English cyclist living in Norway who documents his rides way up north.

I love that someone can make a channel like this on their own and then…end up working with a nation’s government to promote something he (and so many others) love…

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So that’s it, a recap of the September Silence 2022.

In ways, I want to keep going with it, but a break is always right there whenever it’s needed.

I recommend them anytime the mood hits…

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Photo: Carter Baran