Write It Forward

Today, I will answer the feedback in my inbox by providing an excerpt of a current work of fiction. A collaborator and I have been working on a science fiction television pilot about a very unique colony of humans far away. I won't reveal the big hook, not yet, but I have been working on a short story within that universe that explores a specific group of military leaders.

They are the Anrisan Air Captains and they are exciting to work with. However, I am not going to stop there, oh no. Today, I am kicking off my Write It Forward campaign. Everyone who reads this and is a writer must continue the cycle by posting an excerpt of one of their current or recent works as well.

Please, comment in my blog with a link to your excerpt, or hit me on twitter @MAWeeden so that your followers can see what you are up to as well. Facebook is an option if you don't have a blog. Instead of excuses, I'd prefer to actually do some reading tonight. :) Enjoy the following excerpt and remember Write It Forward!

*********

 

             

“Just a minute!” Brandyn called out as he rushed toward the door. A quick look through the small square peephole revealed his roommate, Prospect Arin Lushe, leaning on the other side. Brandyn backed away and activated the round dial to the left of the plasiglass doorframe. The door slid noiselessly down into a thin slit in the floor and Arin wasted no time in crossing over it into their room. He looked Brandyn in the eyes as he passed but said nothing.

             

“Nope. I’m not going to ask, Lushe. Not this time.” Brandyn joked.

           

His roommate didn’t reply. It was obvious, however that Arin was barely containing his mirth. Brandyn watched him saunter over to the closet door and began punching an identity code on the square buttons of the lockpad. 

             

Brandyn sighed but allowed a thin smile to show itself on his face. A face he only just remembered was half covered with hygiene gel. His eyes flicked down to the dress white military uniform slacks he was wearing and for a moment he panicked, afraid that in his carelessness some of the gel might have dripped down onto them. It would be nearly impossible to get the gel off the uniform and the material dried before the ceremony began later this morning. Thankfully, a cursory examination proved his fears unfounded.

             

He stepped further into the small training quarters to a set of twin sinks against the back wall. Brandyn looked in the mirror, reached down to reclaim his shaving edge, and resumed preparing himself for graduation. He slid the sharp edge along his jaw line delicately, careful to avoid nicking his cheek.

After today, Prospect Brandyn Teris would be an Anrisan Air Captain; he didn’t want his first battle scar to come via an embarrassing shaving accident.

           

“Hurry up, Teris! We’re going to be late!”

           

 It seemed Lushe finally felt like talking. Brandyn stopped shaving long enough to say “Look who’s talking! Instead of getting ready like your eminent roommate has been all morning, you’ve been off dallying with a nurse from the medical domicile.”

             

Lushe gasped in exaggerated shock as he stuck his head out from the small closet he was rummaging through, “Me? Dallying with a nurse? How dare you impugn my honor! Today is a remarkably solemn day and I would never disgrace myself by engaging in such activ-“

           

“She was a waitress from the meal room then, wasn’t she?” Brandyn interrupted.

            

 Laughter came out of the closet. A moment later so did Lushe carrying his dress uniform unceremoniously in his arms. Brandyn briefly wondered where the man would find time to get into it before they were supposed to report to the Brazen Courtyard. 

“Yes,” Lushe answered dramatically, “But she was so much more than a waitress. More like a deity of desire!”

             

Brandyn rolled his eyes and faced the mirror again. He finished shaving as Lushe prattled on about how this girl was the one he had been searching for but he had no idea how to proceed given that he was leaving the facility tonight. Instead of replying, Brandyn just let him talk knowing that Lushe sometimes accomplished more while he was running his mouth than he might if forced into a proper conversation.

             

Sure enough, by the time Brandyn dried his face from shaving and turned around, his friend was already in the uniform slacks and was pulling the white undershirt over his chiseled torso. He offered Lushe a sympathetic half-grin and then stepped over to the wall to his left and pressed a small blue button on the otherwise smooth white surface. A thin seam suddenly appeared along the wall and a short, flat bed with a dark blue covering emblazoned with the Air Captain Logo – a white Multi Craft silhouette flying through a silver wreath - emerged from the wall. On it was his dress uniform’s shirt and jacket. Both were startlingly white and unadorned. Prospects didn’t earn awards.

          

He examined the shirt carefully before removing it and sliding his right arm into a sleeve. As he started with his left arm he heard Lushe say, “Did that trick actually work; pressing it flat by leaving it in your combo bed?”

             

“Yes, Lushe, it did work. Why do you always doubt my methods?” The question wasn’t entirely serious, but it wasn’t completely in jest either.

            

 “Because I didn’t think of them!” Lushe fired back with a grin and a chuckle, “I’m always number two when compared to you, Brand. You are always one step ahead. First to fly.”

          

  Despite the laughter, he wondered if Lushe actually resented that fact. “First to die.” Brandyn stated automatically before adding with a wink, “Besides you are number one with the ladies, Arin.”

             

“That’s true,” Lushe said with a wide grin, “I deserve a medal for handsomeness. They should call it ‘The Irresistible Star’. Though instead of pinning it on my uniform, they should give me dozens of them to hand out to the ladies I meet.”  

In that moment Brandyn began to doubt his eagerness for it all to end. Arin Lushe might be a bit overbearing at times but Brandyn had become accustomed to having his friend around. For six years they’d been roommates together here at the Vanbourgolie Air Captain Academy. There could not have been two more different men in the entirety of the Corps but somehow that helped them achieve more in the team drills than anyone else. They’d become mild celebrities amongst the other Prospects. It seemed the duo could not be bested at any war game or trial.

“Sure, Lushe, whatever you say.”

Arin went to the sink and began to hastily shave his cheeks as Brandyn lifted his jacket from the bed and examined it carefully. Everything was in place and properly sewn. Nevertheless he meticulously double-checked the decorative buttons and seams. He knew there were no mistakes but it felt good to have a place to expend some nervous energy.

Brandyn had long anticipated this moment. He had expected to feel a sense of completion or fulfillment at accomplishing his lofty goals but now that the time was here he found himself feeling uncertain and a little overwhelmed.  

“Air Captain Brandyn Teris,” He muttered to himself as he pulled the jacket on, zipping it up the front and checking to make sure the short tail in the back wasn’t rumpled. His hands tugged at the bottom to test the jacket’s fit before finally turning to look in the mirror.

Tears threatened to well up in his eyes. Light blue eyes that matched the trim of his otherwise brilliant white jacket and dark brown hair that matched the belt and shoes.  His immaculate posture presented the uniform as proudly as his father once had. Suddenly it was not his reflection staring intently back at him from the mirror but his father’s. Brandyn imagined the lone tear rolling down his smooth cheek was actually traveling his father’s face as he looked on at his son with pride.  

           

 He wiped the tear from his jawbone with his thumb before realizing Lushe was standing next to him, speaking words that echoed his thoughts, “Your father would have been proud, Brand. You are doing more than filling his shoes.” Brandyn felt his roommate’s hand rest on his shoulder as he leaned in close, “You didn't just get yourself through the toughest school in the Free Nations, but me as well. I will never forget that.”

           

 Brandyn turned to face his friend and blinked back a new wave of tears. “I know.”

           

 He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as only he could before turning away to finish dressing himself.He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready. He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready.

There was nothing left to say. No words could communicate the bond they had forged here and it would have been foolish to try. Instead, Brandyn knew, they would honor each other’s memory by continuing to uphold the standard their new uniforms implied. They would honor their memory and the memory of everyone else who wore the same uniform by serving the people of the Free Nations of Anrisa either through commitment to their duties or, if necessary, self-sacrifice.

“Hey, Brand, have you seen my dress shoes?”

That is, if they made it to graduation on time.

******

I truly hope you enjoyed the read! Remember to Write It Forward by posting a link to an excerpt of your own work and then ask your readers to keep it going. Who knows, maybe we'll help someone out of writer's block or connect tomorrow's next famous collaboration. Can't hurt, right?

Just post it.

~Matt

As High As I Can Reach

Presently, there are no words to describe the creative high I am experiencing. I've always been one to take on a number of projects and see which has staying power and which will run out of gas, but lately, they all seem promising. I offer a massive thank you to everyone who I've networked with, begun a collaboration with, or otherwise worked with over the last few months. Because of what we've accomplished together and what I've been able to do on my own, I've never felt better about my abilities than I do right now.

But am I satisfied? Far from it. I still have much to learn if I want to reach higher still and achieve my dreams, lofty as they are.

You see, observing the actors rehearse my work in Florida caused an itch to form in my creative brain that writing prose has not been able to scratch. I've been lucky enough to start a project with game developer to write my favorite type of game but even that isn't where my heart truly is. I want to write for the screen, whether it be movies or television shows.

There is something beyond magical that happens when I see what an actor can do with one of my characters. Even the majority of the characters of my short-lived radio play resonated with me profoundly. The feeling was sort of like meeting an old friend you haven't seen for a while and then discovering that they've taken on some traits you never noticed before. It is nostalgic but fresh as well. Familiar and strange yet in a way that brings a smile to my face.

I can't get enough of it!

I am eager to see what comes of the characters and world I am working on for Bio's Remnant, but a large part of my soul will yearn for a time when I have the right people in my network to turn the television ideas currently in development (shout out to Sam, Samantha, and Christa, respectively) into fully filmed and produced pilots. I realize the odds against such things, sure, so I don't require any lectures. I will always be one who separates his eggs out into different baskets.

 Maybe it is fitting that both TV notions currently in development are science-fiction projects. I feel as if I am reaching for the stars. Maybe I'll ride a fictional ship out of my imagination into the figurative stars. Only time (as relative as it is) will tell.

~Matt

First Contact, Part 2 (Querying an Agent)

Last entry, I discussed what I've discovered to be true about where a writer or artist must be prior to seeking out someone to represent them to working professionals. Judging by the e-mails I received, I struck a chord with many of you. I am honored that you found something helpful in my words, but I should follow-up that entry by reminding everyone what I posted is simply one way to do it. Don't take my advice alone.

Also, apologies on the time it has taken for me to follow-up. As many of you know, I never want for something to write. I always keep myself busy with various writing projects in several different forms of media. Recently, however, I was interviewed and hired by Bio's Remnant, a new independent video game developer. My work with them kept me away from my blog for a time as the project got underway but now that I've established a pace and a rhythm, I feel comfortable setting it down long enough to resume my blog.

Anyway, today's entry will be tighter in focus. As the subtitle of my post indicated, I will be writing about the Agent Query process.

I want to start by mentioning this: This process is far less painful than it has been made out to be. The following is a quote I've copied from AgentQuery.com,

"Agents take queries very seriously, and yes, they really do read them. It’s not some universal rumor that agents have perpetuated because they all have a secret fetish for being bombarded with mail. Sure, agents make it sound like digging through the slush pile is the last priority of their day. Some agents even relegate the ambivalent task of reading unsolicited queries to an assistant or intern. But the fact of the matter is that most agents do read queries. Even more importantly, agents actually respond to ones that spark their interest.

So write a professional, intelligent, concise, intriguing query and not only will you entice an agent to ask for more, but you’ll move yourself one step closer to a book sale."

Doesn't sound all that frightening, does it? The reality is, the process is simple once you know what literary agents are expecting. As a writer, you only need two things prior to sending your query: Item 1 is something finished to pitch them. Item 2 is knowing exactly who you are sending your query to, and why.

Whether you've written a children's book, a book, or a script you should have it finished before you begin to query agents. As you'll discover when you begin to read Agent profiles at sites like the one mentioned above, they are assuming what you are pitching is finished and they'll have something to immediately begin to try and sell for you. Keep in mind, they are interested in your second work, as debut novels and scripts usually don't bring in all that much money. Having that first project done goes a long way in proving that you can finish what you start.

Item 2 is an often overlooked aspect of the query process, but you should be aware who exactly the person on the other end of that e-mail is and why you are sending it to them specifically. In fact, most agents state in their Submission Guidelines that you include this as part of your query. The implication here is to do your research and learn who the agent is.

Writing a query is the next point to bring up, and let me tell you, it is far simpler than you realize. Follow the formula below:

• Start with a one sentence description of your project. Remember: ONE sentence. For example, Sheriff James Toole has arrived in the town of Waterhouse with a plan to evict the dangerous outlaws living there and protect the hard-working families of the surrounding areas.
• The next paragraph should be an expanded synopsis that explains the first sentence.
• The third paragraph should be an explanation of who you are, your resume, and why you selected this agent.

And that's it! Everything else will be agent specific. They might want you to put a certain phrase, their name, or the name of your project as the subject of the e-mail. They may ask for the first ten pages of your book to be attached or they just might want an excerpt copied into the e-mail. If it is a script, they likely will want a logline and perhaps a few dialog samples. Regardless, this is another reason why you should do some research on the agent before you send anything to them.


Finally, here is a list of questions to ask yourself as you go about researching agents:

Does this agent have a sample list of published books and authors on their website?
Not having books advertised or mentioned on an agent or agency's website is a red flag. They make money via selling written works. If their site doesn't "Show-off" who or what the agent has successfully represented then it is likely they have not been successful. Exemptions exist, but make sure you find out what or who the agent has represented and how recently they have had success before you send your query.

Does the agent represent my chosen genre?
Should be obvious, but make sure you practice due diligence on this front. Don't assume they will represent science fiction because they represent fantasy, and don't assume they represent all forms of the genre you are writing in. For example, I've seen an agent list in his biography that he was searching for science-fiction with a female protagonist. Not all agents are this specific, but you get the idea.

Are they accepting submissions?
Again, sounds obvious but I've found myself sending an e-mail in to an agent only to be browsing their site later and find they weren't accepting queries. Research handles this question and the ones before it as well. Know your agent and you stand a better chance of success.


...And that concludes my blog post on this topic. Just remember to be patient and to never give up. Most agents I've queried have replied kindly to my submission, even when turning it down. Some have even given me some advice on how I might be more appealing in the future. Keep an open mind and I'm sure, you'll do find.

Good luck! And let me know if you find any success!

~M. A. Weeden

First Contact, Part 1

The Christmas tree is going down (a bit late, admittedly, but we hang on to Christmas like it'll make us rich) and snow is falling, but spirits are rising. And not the half-hearted rising current temperatures are doing, either. This is full-blown enthusiasm. Astatic excitement as a result of unexpected success.

I've conquered my fears, and I'd like to share this personal victory with everyone out there who aspires to write, act, direct, or anything else that requires an artist to approach other people. You see, my skills haven't taken a giant leap forward in recent months and I haven't stumbled upon a new character or setting that completely changed how I saw my creative limitations. I haven't even gotten anything published recently. What I have done is learn how to connect with others in a productive manner.

Sounds easy, I know. But recent conversations with nearly a dozen of my friends and fellow writers have reminded me of where I used to be. Perhaps, with this post, I can address what makes many of us in the creative field of work hesitant to make First Contact with agents, producers, directors, and managers.

Step One is identifying your strengths and weaknesses. My friends and family know, I'm definitely the outgoing sort. I even have the ability to adapt to my surroundings and survive at least a few hours with just about any social group. I could sit in a bean bag chair at a local library and quietly discuss a new fiction novelist for hours or I could toss shots of Jack Daniels at a bar while shooting pool and drinking pitchers of Yuengling. Point is, I am easygoing and relaxed enough to get along with most people. Even so, approaching someone with my literary work scared the bratwurst out of me.

It was ponderous; Here I am, a guy who has always has something to say, and when I'd open an e-mail to send something to an agent, I'd lose my words. Calling a production company on the phone usually resulted in me hanging up the moment they picked up. Call me gutless, and I'd agree with you. What was the deal?  Despite having social aptitudes, talking with people about my work was a serious weakness. Eventually, I sat down and wrote about my shortcomings, and what I came up with startled this social butterfly.

I was insecure. Not about my material, which I felt was great, but insecure about myself. I had no network and no one to open any doors for me to this big, "evil" industry that requires you to know people. I was also misinformed that I needed someone else to do some of these things for me. Ultimately, I had nothing to say to working professionals because I had no identity to sell.

Is this the same problem you have? If so, the answer is alarmingly simple. If not, then read on anyway because I have more to say to those of you who have the confidence in yourself and your "brand".

Okay, for those of you who aren't secure in your "identity" as a performer, artist, or writer, this paragraph is for you. While you are probably expecting me to say, "Climb that hill trooper! Overcome your weaknesses!", or some other clever variation, you would be wrong. Bludgeoning your way into the future by writing more or working harder is not going to help you. If you are in this category along with me, then you've created great characters that you've received excellent feedback on, you are confident in your stories, and you feel like you have plenty to say. If you can check those three boxes, then it is time for you to look at yourself.

A hard, long look. You need two things to gain the confidence you'll need, and you've done both already at least several times. Just like you did for your best character, you need to give yourself a Voice and an Identity.

This blog you are reading is my Voice. It is written not as I talk in person, not as an anonymous commentator, but as a blend of genuine feelings and carefully considered word choices. The resulting Voice is me, but with a bit of oomph. A sliver here and a morsel there of what you can expect to see in the works I do. Whether or not you like my Voice is moot, because it is mine, and it is consistent.

That consistency is what builds your Identity. Let's pull an example in here, such as Samuel Clemens. Eventually, he created such a strong Identity by consistently re-imagining the ideas and words of others (his Voice) that he ended up becoming that identity as Mark Twain. Obviously, we aren't all aiming to rename ourselves and travel the world to deliver scintillating social commentary, but we can learn from Mr. Clemens. The more you read the words of any author or see the movies of any director, the more you think to yourself one of two things: Either you "love" their Identity, or you "hate" it. Regardless, you know what to expect.

Which brings us to the question you should be asking yourself right now. How can anyone know what to expect when my voice is inconsistent?

I cannot inform you completely on how to craft your Voice or where to put it on display. That is up to you. I got my first legitimate writing gig by talking about my work with a complete stranger I met while playing Dragons of Atlantis on Facebook. I sold myself to someone who needed a writer simply by surrounding myself with people (via video game, but the principle is what counts) and having an Identity. Once you have that, no one can hype you up like you can. Tell everyone you meet that you are a writer (or musician, artist, etc) and do it in a consistent manner. The implication here is that you need to interact with people. Online or in person, it doesn't matter. You simply need to let people know.

That is the easy part. The hard part is fabricating those encounters in an environment that is not as 'loose' as say, a multiplayer game online or a bookstore. I'm talking about querying agents. This is the part that requires the most work, but really, it is pretty simple once the aforementioned concepts are in place. You just need to do a bit of research and see how to format a query and what sorts of information to put into it. After that, agents are easy to find. After all, they need you in order to make money.

Here is where the previous two paragraph unify: If you don't have an Identity, then you stand little chance of scoring an agent via the query process. Why? Because they are looking to make money on your second and third book, not your first. If you've got a TV pilot, having that first script be excellent is only part of it, they have to know you are a writer with a lot to say and that you will be good for many episodes. Debut novels and first time TV pilots don't rake in the cash as per the norm and they won't bet that yours will.

Lastly, the best way to know that you've successfully found your voice is by never being at a loss of what to say. You will always have something to comment on and always have something to write. You will know what to paint and which roles to chase after. Which songs to sing or to compose. Even better, you will be able to make yourself smile because you have added something to the world that wasn't there previously. THAT is a good thing, no matter if you sell it or not.

For those of you who already have their voice and identity ironed (if you do not agree with the previous paragraph, then you don't) out but are still fearful of Taking The Next Step, you have a different problem. In your case, you are suffering from insecurity toward your creative works. And you may not even know it.

Regardless which of the two types of insecurities I've mentioned belong to you, you need to be able to tell a prospective agent, producer, or other working professional that you are the best for the job you are seeking. When I wrote comedy scripts for an acting troupe, I told them that I could write the best comedy scripts for what they were trying to do and then I delivered. I wouldn't have had a job if I hadn't advertised myself as the best. Thus, if you have a strong voice, and you cannot convince others you are the best at what you are doing, then you need to take a step back and examine your skillset or your relevancy. If it is the former, then you have to improve by reading more, researching proper ways to write, and expanding your vocabulary (for a writer) or doing what is necessary to increase your skill level at whatever it is you are trying to do.

Harsh words? Maybe. But only through being honest with yourself will you succeed. Even if you are talented and intelligent however, it doesn't make your work relevant. For that acting troupe, I didn't just suddenly know how to write comedic scripts for a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, I put in the work to learn how to provide the right script for my client. The greatest script in the world would have meant nothing to them if it didn't provide the service they were looking for. Further evidence toward these concepts was shown when my good friend Janece joined in on the fun of writing these scripts. She had a voice, sure, but that was only part of why they loved her work. She learned how to provide what they were looking for. The point between some of these lines is this, neither Janece nor myself sacrificed our identity or our "craft" to write what we did. But we were able to apply that identity to something we could sell.

Relevancy is King, so ask yourself, is my work relevant? If it is not relevant yet (IE, no one cares that you are writing it) then it is time to work on something that is relevant. The reality of the industry is, you can self-publish and make more money that most agents and publishers can get you initially, but if you can't even sell yourself to someone who stands to make money by making you a client then you can't expect anyone to want to read your self-published eBook. (It should be noted that I am not bashing either method of getting yourself published. If you can publish an eBook that you know is relevant and well-written, then go for it yourself. It has definitely become a legitimate means of getting yourself out there and paid for your efforts.)

Eventually, there is a change in a writer, actor, or other working professional's life when everything he or she does becomes relevant simply because their name is attached to it. THAT is when you can start "teaching" rather than "Entertaining" with your craft. Just like Heinlein made himself relevant by appealing to teenage boys with his early books, your time will come.

My time will come too. No reason to be impatient about it.

~M. A. Weeden

(Next entry, I'll talk about Agents some more. I've located some pretty nifty ways of finding the ones who are looking for talent)

Keeping Warm Memories Instead of Warm Feet [Christmas 2013 Photos + Update]

Here we are, the last day of the first week of January and already we want 2013 back. Am I right? No? Okay, you are right, there are certainly a number of things to look forward to in the coming year once we get past this miserable cold.

Angie and I will be celebrating 6 years of marriage on the 27th, which is something we are incredibly proud of. Her most of all, no doubt, as that is more time than anyone should have to put up with me. I am unsure how she has managed it but remain grateful that she has. I'm still as crazy about her now as I always have been. Even now I get goose bumps like a gorram [that's right, snuck that in there for my fellow Browncoats] teenager when she gives me The Look. Perhaps Rex Harrison sung it best in My Fair Lady:

 

"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!
I've grown accustomed to her face.
She almost makes the day begin.
I've grown accustomed to the tune that
She whistles night and noon.
Her smiles, her frowns,
Her ups, her downs
Are second nature to me now;
Like breathing out and breathing in.
I was serenely independent and content before we met;
Surely I could always be that way again-
And yet
I've grown accustomed to her look;
Accustomed to her voice;
Accustomed to her face."

 

 

Granted, he was singing about a character played by Audrey Hepburn. I think anyone could get accustomed to that face in short order. A true classic beauty, much like my Angie. She is pictured below (second from the left) in an image that I think - thanks to her fellow image mates - shows where she gets her fantastic looks. As an added bonus, if you look to the far left you can clearly see who she has given them to in turn. To the far right of this generational photo is Nana, who left the warmth of Florida at a young and healthy 88 years of age to brave the harsh cold of northeast Missouri to help make our Christmas unforgettable.

 

 

 

Thanks to everyone who helped making our first Christmas as hosts to both sides of the family a massive success and wondrous day. The following are several images that more or less illustrate how special our day was.

 

 

 

Rick Schonert (my father-in-law) as Santa Claus (above) who conspired with not two, not three but FOUR Grandmas (pictured below; Bottom left is Nana, Bottom right is Gigi [short for Great Grandma], Top left is Grandma Laura, Top right is Omi) to make Christmas remarkably special for everyone and ensure our tree looked small in comparison to their kindness.

 



The rest should be self explanatory. If you were here for Christmas, then these will be a journey down memory lane and a reminder of the good day we all had together. If you were not with us for Christmas (and if you are one of my followers or friends from online) then I hope you are able to get a good sense of what comes first in my life and in the lives of my family members as well.

 

 

 

 

 

And, lastly, every Christmas needs a Preacher and a Grinch. These roles were filled by two qualified and professional men. The first being my father, Roy and my Grandfather (my mother's side) who I simply call, Papaw. 

 



 

Okay, fine, I'll put a picture of me up too. It is a picture of yours truly opening a present, which seemed to be something my mother was fond of when I was a kid. Perhaps she still is. This one is for you, Mom. (Yes, that is a picture of Clay Matthews on the wall over my shoulder)

 

 



 

My wife cooked Christmas Dinner (with some help from the other moms and whatnot, considering there was an abundance of that irreplaceable resource here), which was fantastic and we all eventually parted ways. Officially ending one of the best holiday seasons we have had since we merged these two great families.

 

Moving forward and changing the subject, I cannot express with the words I possess how excited I am creatively right now. As this blog might be partial evidence toward, my muse has lost its off switch and I am constantly working on something. Whether it is my science-fiction television pilot, a children's book (several, actually), a potential fantasy fiction, a second science-fiction endeavor with an old friend, an opportunity to pen the characters and story of a video game, or several other projects, I have definitely not been wanting for something to write.

 

I'll keep a running update of my progress in this blog and I challenge you, my readers, to do the same. Not because it is a new year or because I said so, but because I am truly interested in what my friends, family, and followers are up to.

 

In closing, I would like to extend an offer to anyone else who blogs regularly. Follow me, and I will return the favor. :) Just comment on this post with your blog information or send it to me via e-mail at the_last_penfighter@Hotmail.com.

 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy your week as we prepare ourselves for hump day.

 

~M. A. Weeden