Weekly Goals - May 25, 2010

Unfortunately, couldn't get the editing done that I'd wanted. On the flip side, finished edits on a short story that had been languishing over a month. I'd call that a wash.

Results for this week:

1. 5100 /7500 words completed
2. Edited "Shell Games" and submitted to beta readers

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Edit 5000 words on The Cure

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)
"Shell Games" (with beta readers)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Time Management

The trick of starting new features is to remember that you have them...fortunately, it's still Saturday (barely). So, enjoy this latest post on time management.

As an author, the end result is always the same...to write. Whether we write for our own enjoyment, for others to enjoy, or for purposes of information transfer, that's always the same.

But for most of us, that means balancing our writing time with all of the other drains on our time, such as work, family, relaxation (whatever that is), and the like.

So, here are five tips for how to improve your time management skills, and to hopefully increase your writing output in the process...because only by writing more in the time you have will you increase your chances of success in your writing endeavors.

1. Set the goals you want to achieve and the time frame you want to achieve them in.

Those who've followed my posts for long enough know that I can never stress the importance of goal-setting enough. If you don't know where you want to go, you'll never get there...and if you leave it open as to how long you want to take to get there, you'll end up with the same results (or lack thereof, as the case may be). If you know you want to write a 80,000-word novel in a year, that breaks down to around 220 words/day, give or take. If you know you're only going to be able to write 3 days a week, that jumps you up to around 513 words each day you write. If you only have an hour free on each of those days, then you'd better not waste it surfing the internet or shuffling through your MP3 player.

2. Schedule your writing time and stick to it.

Going right along with setting goals is setting a schedule. The first thing to do here will be to figure out all the time you spend already, and what you spend it on. Work, meals, sleep, extra-curricular activities. It all takes time, time you can't spend writing. Set up a schedule of what time you have free, and set up a regular schedule for your writing. Obviously, sometimes things will come up which you have no control over, and that prevent you from writing. Those will happen. When they do, just get back on your schedule at the next available opportunity (just like when you miss a dose of medicine, only you hope it tastes better). Once you get into a schedule, things will get easier...much like when you set goals.

3. Don't let distractions knock you off-course.

This is one of the big issues most writers face. If you only have an hour to spare, you want to do other things. You want to check your e-mail, eat some snacks, shuffle through your MP3 player. But all of those things aren't writing, and only keep you from reaching the goal. If it continues to be a problem (and it often will, for even the best of us), set up another schedule for those things and stick to it the same as you're trying to do for the writing schedule.

4. Be sure to schedule time for yourself.

This is an issue even more serious than the one listed above. Burnout is a serious issue, especially if you try to write every day amidst the workweek and time with family and friends. You may feel that the only way to get anything done is to use every spare moment you can to write. But even writers need down time, time to relax and let the rejuvenation take place. Treat your free time as one of those distractions listed earlier, and set up a schedule for your own personal time...then stick to it. A happy writer is a productive writer.

5. Keep your eyes on the prize.

There are those who read all of this and will scoff at the idea of time management. You can't schedule creativity, they will claim. I beg to differ, and believe that if you set your mind to do something, you will do it. As I've mentioned several times, it's a matter of setting a schedule and sticking to it. Just like goals, that takes practice. And any type of practice is only as good as the effort you put into it.

Despair may set in when things don't turn out the way you'd hoped immediately. What happens if you don't get 40,000 words in the first six months? Will you give up? The trick is to keep your eyes on the prize, whatever it may be in your own writing hopes and dreams. You CAN do it, if only you keep running toward the finish line, and the victory you achieve will be even sweeter than you can imagine.

See you at the finish line!

***

T. M. Hunter has always had a fascination with interstellar travel, earning a B. S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. Twice a top ten finisher in the P&E Readers Poll for his short stories (2007, 2009), his book HEROES DIE YOUNG earned Champagne Books’ Best-Selling Book of 2008 award. FRIENDS IN DEED is his latest novel. For more information, including links to his published short stories and novels, please visit AstonWest.com. You can also find T. M. Hunter on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace as well.

Weekly Goals - May 18, 2010

It's become a bit obvious that I'm not able to get any new material worked while editing, so adjusting the goals to account for this...

Results for this week:

1. 5000 /5000 words completed
2. 0/1000 words completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Edit 7500 words on The Cure

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Ten Tips for Setting Goals

Greetings everyone! I'm starting a new feature to the blog, and hope you'll come to enjoy my new Saturday Specials. For the next few weeks, I'll be reintroducing a few articles that some may have seen on other blogs, while I put together fresh articles. So, in the meantime, sit back and enjoy this tidbit on goal-setting...

Does it ever seem like you can never get anything done when it comes to your writing? Weeks or months go by with nothing to show for it? Ever wonder why you never seem to have the time to write?

Perhaps it would help to set goals.

Those who've visited my regular blog already know that I'm a strong proponent of setting goals, and post sets of weekly goals every Tuesday along with a recap of where I ended up on last week's goals. I check my blog daily, so I have a constant reminder each day of what it is I'm supposed to be working toward.

I also post a set of monthly goals at several writers' sites I frequent, and post updates on those periodically (usually every week or so).

The reason is simple: constant reminders of where I'm at and where I need to be serve as motivation, and give direction on what I should be working on. If one of my goals for the week is already finished, I can move on to another.

So, if you haven't been setting goals (or even if you have), here are ten tips:

1. Break your major goals down to the lowest level possible.

What is your major writing goal? Finish your novel? Get an agent? Publish a story in a major magazine?

Break each of those down. For example, to finish your novel is going to require finishing a first draft, editing it, and polishing it. Start with the first draft and you'll need to generate around 80-120K words (or more, if you edit things down significantly). To do that, you'll have to generate so many words a day. I set goals based on chapters per week, but that's just me.

2. Set timeframes for your goals.

So, with your goals broken down, decide how quickly you want to get it done. Finish your novel in a year? 120K words? That breaks down to 10K words a month, which ends up being 2000-2500 words a week (and for you hard-core goal-setters, that's anywhere from 400-500 words a day, assuming you take the weekend off).

3. Make your goals achievable without being too simplistic.

Often, this will take some time to learn. If you've never set goals for yourself, start off small and see what happens. If you're hitting your goals every week/month with ease, set additional ones (or increase the amount you need to complete to reach your goal) to the point where it's actually an accomplishment.

If you're not able to hit your goals at all, then obviously you need to roll them back a bit. Maybe you aren't going to be able to hit 10K words in a month at first (even if you desperately want or need to). Try 5K. One of the tricks about goal-setting is, once you start rolling along, it becomes easier to hit your original goals, and that's when you start piling things on.

4. Post your goals where you'll see them daily.

Create a document and copy it to your desktop. Use it as your background image. Tape a printout (or hand-written copy) to the side of your monitor. Whatever you decide, make sure to put it where you'll see it and be reminded of what you've promised of yourself.

5. Check things off your list when you've finished.

Not only does this provide you with a sense of accomplishment on your journey, you'll also be giving yourself a visual indication of what you should be working on for the rest of the timeframe you've set up for yourself.

6. Celebrate your successes.

Finished your goals for the week? Take some time for yourself. Watch a movie. Read a book (which wouldn't work for me, because I put those on my goals from time to time). Go out to dinner with your significant other or your close friends.

7. Get together with other goal-setters and motivate each other.

This is one of the benefits of posting your goals on writers' sites. There's the double-benefit of being motivated by your fellow writers (by encouraging each other and congratulating your successes).

8. Don't get discouraged.

Sometimes you won't reach your goals. It happens. Just remember that even if you don't reach your end goals for the week or month, any amount of progress is going to get you farther than you were when you started. If you only get 6000 words each month (but desperately wanted 10K), that's still 72K words at the end of the year. And 72K words is a huge chunk of most novels.

9. Adjust your goals as necessary.

If you constantly miss your goals, lower the expectations (just as you should increase them if you hit them with ease all the time). There's no shame in it, and if it results in you being able to hit your goals in the future, you'll feel motivated and encouraged. As I mentioned before, goal-setting is a process. Once you get into the groove, things will become easier to accomplish.

10. Have fun.

Even though goals may seem all structured and calculated, have fun with them. Put other goals on there, such as reading a book or watching a movie. The most important part of setting goals is to motivate yourself on to achieve what YOU want. If you're not having fun, you won't want to do it.

***

T. M. Hunter has always had a fascination with interstellar travel, earning a B. S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. Twice a top ten finisher in the P&E Readers Poll for his short stories (2007, 2009), his book HEROES DIE YOUNG earned Champagne Books’ Best-Selling Book of 2008 award. FRIENDS IN DEED (January 2010) is his latest novel. For more information, including links to his published short stories and novels, please visit AstonWest.com. You can also find T. M. Hunter on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace as well.

Weekly Goals - May 11, 2010

Whew! A bit short on the goals this week, but going good on the editing so far.

Results for this week:

1. 5700 /5000 words completed
2. 0/1000 words completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Edit 5000 words on The Cure
2. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (Magazine closed to submissions, need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Mothers Day?

Oh crap, that was today????

Haha, just kidding... :-)
Thankfully, all I have to worry about is getting my wife to send out her Mother's Day Card(s?) on time...which she did. I haven't had to worry about this holiday myself for more than 18 years now. It does come up as a time of reflection, but that's about it. Good thing, too, because getting around into restaurants today would have been a huge pain in the butt.

In the meantime, I've been busy this evening putting together a book trailer for my latest book, FRIENDS IN DEED.

Enjoy it! (Comments and critiques are more than welcome)

Weekly Goals - May 4, 2010

Some great effort this week...not sure what got into me. Not only got through my weekly goals, but also completed all of my goals for the month of April as well. Woo hoo!

Of course, now I've come to a crossroads, and ended up having to make a choice. That choice has been made, and I'm now diving into the deep end of edits this month.

Results for this week:

1. 1400 /1000 words completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Edit 5000 words on The Cure
2. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - April 27, 2010

Came close this week, but stalled out on my work on the novel...

Results for this week:

1. 600/1000 words completed
2. 1000/1000 words completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on the new short story

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - April 20, 2010

Another week where the goals were completed...in fact, blown away. Let's hope this signals the start of free-flowing word generation...

Results for this week:

1. 2000 words completed
2. Submitted

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. 1000 words on a new short story

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (since April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - April 13, 2010

Yay! Completed all my goals this week (and a day ahead of schedule, even if I forgot to post my results on time). Now, time to continue the trend...

Results for this week:

1. 1000 words completed
2. Submitted

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1250 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit "Deadly Decisions"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (Submitted April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (since April 12)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - April 6, 2010

Almost back on track this week...Completed my goal (and then some) for the short story this week...trying hard to finish it up before tomorrow (the end of the month). Sadly, didn't submit my piece as I'd hoped...debating between two outlets I want to send it off to.

Results for this week:

1. Completed
2. Submitted
3. 700/1000 words completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit "Deadly Decisions"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (Submitted April 1)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - March 30, 2010

Completed my goal (and then some) for the short story this week...trying hard to finish it up before tomorrow (the end of the month). Sadly, didn't submit my piece as I'd hoped...debating between two outlets I want to send it off to.

Results for this week:

1. Over 2000 words on first draft of new story "Shell Games"
2. Not completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Complete first draft of "Shell Games"
2. Submit "Collateral"
3. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (submitted March 20)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - March 23, 2010

Still a little short, but did finish off the latest chapter in my third Aston novel. Also had some free time with a late-night insomnia bout, so was able to get some other work done that I hadn't planned on.

Results for this week:

1. Around 1200 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submitted
<3> Completed plots for three new short stories [bonus goal completed]

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1500 words on first draft of new story "Shell Games"
2. Submit "Collateral"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Collateral" (Rejected, need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (submitted March 20)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - March 16, 2010

Again fell a little short on the weekly goals...bummer.

Results for this week:

1. Around 1300 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Began editing, but not completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1500 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Edit "Deadly Decisions" and submit

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (since March 6)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Another Book Giveaway!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm gust-blogging today over at Lisa Pietsch's blog...anyone who reads and comments is entered to win a copy of one of my books. One winner will get a copy of Heroes Die Young and the other will get Friends in Deed.

Good luck!

Weekly Goals - March 9, 2010

Fell a little short on the novel output, but only because I slacked off the last couple of days. Time to get back on the horse this week...

Results for this week:

1. Around 1200 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Completed (on a recently rejected story)

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1500 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Edit "Deadly Decisions" and submit

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (rejected, re-submitted March 6)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

"Unholy Trinity"

Just a quick note to let everyone reading this blog know that my latest story "Unholy Trinity" is now online in the March issue of Digital Dragon. Enjoy!

Weekly Goals - March 2, 2010

I'm trying to remember the last time I actually met all of my goals for the week. Hoping to keep the streak alive...

Results for this week:

1. Just over 1000 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Completed

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1500 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Edit a story and submit

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (since February 28)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

My Latest Interview (and Giveaway)

Stop on by today at Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem where I've given a blog interview. Make sure to go leave a comment, which will get you entered for one of two free copies of FRIENDS IN DEED which I'll be giving away. I'm headed off to work at the moment, but will be back to answer questions and respond to comments later today.

Enjoy!

Weekly Goals - February 23, 2009

Back on track this week for the most part...hoping to keep things up for another. Finally coming down off a few days of sickness, so things are definitely looking up.

Results for this week:

1. Around 1350 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Almost did, but realized this story needs some editing...

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit one story to a magazine

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"Unholy Trinity" (Accepted )

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Reviews!

Just discovered that Coffee Time Romance has given Friends in Deed a 5-cups (their highest) review...woo hoo!

Another excellent Aston West Tale from Mr. Hunter. Aston is a complex type of guy who usually has too close a relationship with both the bottle and his onboard computer. The twins are a twisted and vicious pair, which comes across clearly from the first time you meet them. I would recommend this space tale to any sci-fi fans.

Weekly Goals - February 16, 2009

A miserable week in terms of completions...even with the convention, should have finished more.

Results for this week:

1. Around 400 words completed on Death Brings the Victory
2. Completed
3. Submitted one of two

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit one story to a magazine

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"Unholy Trinity" (submitted February 15)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - February 9, 2009

Finished on an up-swing this week. However, a convention this coming weekend will likely be another obstacle in the path of getting new , albeit necessary.

Results for this week:

1. Around 1650 words completed on Death Brings the Victory

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Finish the final draft of "Unholy Trinity"
3. Submit two stories to magazines

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Over the Top!

I rarely do these things, but since Angie came on by the blog to comment (and does so with great frequency) and awarded me the Over the Top award, I'll go ahead and post this one. ;-)

Your Cell Phone? Simple
Your Hair? Buzzed
Your Mother? Deceased
Your Father? Ever-Wandering
Your Favorite Food? Lasagna
Your Dream Last Night? Non-Existent
Your Favorite Drink? Pepsi
Your Dream/Goal? PowerBall
What Room Are You In? Office
Your Hobby? Writing
Your Fear? Drowning
Where Do You Want to be in Six Years? Above-ground
Where Were You Last Night? ((Censored))
Something You Aren't? Rich
Muffins? Buttered
Wish List Item? PowerBall
Where Did You Grow Up? Didn't
Last Thing You Did? ((Censored))
What Are You Wearing? Clothes
Your TV? Non-HD
Your Pets? Lazy
Friends? Few
Your Life? Hectic
Your Mood? Meh
Missing Someone? Temporarily
Vehicle? Mini-SUV
Something You Aren't Wearing? ((Censored))
Your Favorite Store? Wal-Mart
Your Favorite Color? Blue
When Was The Last Time You Laughed? 2:37:06
Last Time You Cried? Years
Your Best Friend? Lonesome
One Place You Go To Over and Over Again? Crazy
Facebook? Amusing
Favorite Place to Eat? Arby's

I am going to avoid passing this award along, because on the Information Super-Highway, I am the biggest roadblock you can find. ;-)

Weekly Goals - February 2, 2009

A fairly up-and-down week...and this week is slated to be fairly busy in my off-work time (tax time...oh boy), so not sure how much will get done.

Results for this week:

1. Completed the first draft
2. Nearly 400 words completed on Death Brings the Victory

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Generate 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Thanks Everyone!

Just wanted to give a word of thanks to everyone who voted for "Redemption" in the P&E Readers' Poll earlier in January. Just received word that the results are now official, and my story picked up a top-ten finish. It's all thanks to you fans out there!!!

Now in Print

For those who've been waiting patiently, Friends in Deed is now available in print from the fine folks over at Champagne Books. Enjoy!

And if you haven't heard of Friends in Deed, get on over and check it out!

Weekly Goals - January 26, 2009

Did much better this week, although again I'm not getting anywhere on my third Aston novel. Planning to finish my short story this week, so will be getting back into it again.

Results for this week:

1. Plotted
2. Nearly 1800 words completed on "Unholy Trinity"

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Complete the first draft of "Unholy Trinity"
2. Generate 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - January 19, 2009

Did fairly well, even if I didn't technically reach my goals on the novel output (again). Received a request to write a feature, so will be putting the novel on hold this week while I plot something out (and possibly get it started).

Results for this week:

1. Just over 1800 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Not started

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Plot one additional short story
2. Generate 1000 words on new story

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (since January 10)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - January 12, 2010

Overall, a fairly decent week...still need to get more written on the novel.

Results for this week:

1. Just under 1700 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submitted two stories
3. Developed plots for two additional stories

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Plot one additional short story

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (submitted January 10)
"Entrapment" (submitted January 12)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

The Final Days!

If you haven't already seen my comments on this via my other haunts, my short story "Redemption" has been nominated for Best SF Story of 2009, and I'd very much appreciate your votes here. Just as a word of caution, after voting, you'll need to click the verification link in the e-mail they send for the vote to count.

Thanks in advance!

Weekly Goals - January 5, 2010

Well, the last several weeks have been mostly a bust on the writing front with the holidays, and then the release of Friends in Deed (complete with a pre-release giveaway contest). Even still, since the first of the year things have been fairly decent, so we'll just pretend like my December 15 goals were made to be met by today.

Results for this week:

1. Just under 1500 words on Death Brings the Victory

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit two short stories

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

The Time Has Come!

The long wait is over, and my much-anticipated second novel in the Aston West series, Friends in Deed, is now available from the fine folks at Champagne Books. Enjoy! I know I am... :)


And for those who haven't heard about Friends in Deed (what rock have you been hiding under? :D )...


Aston West was condemned to life on the prison planet Lycus IV for spitting in a man's face. Being forced to reside with the likes of murderers and thieves, he owes his freedom to Lars and Elijah Cassus, who orchestrated an escape. Now the twin brothers call in the favor and force him to return with their team to Lycus IV to rescue crewmate Leah Jordan.

Aston discovers Leah's desire to leave the twins forever, but Lars and Elijah use fear and intimidation to control their group and no one leaves alive. It's a case of kill or be killed and Aston will need to become more like the brothers than he ever wanted.

And if you want to find out more, check out this excerpt.

Contest Winners!

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in my latest contest, giving away copies of my upcoming novel Friends in Deed. I'm deeply humbled by everyone's desire to win a copy, as we had right around 200 entries total.

But you're not here to listen to me wax philosophical...you're here to see if you've won...so let's get started:

First, a big congratulations to Jae / @o0omunkieo0o, who had the most entries by far out of all those in the contest (driven mostly by referral entries...watch for her in the 2012 Presidential Election, seriously!).

Second place in the most entries category goes to Meta / @saddy82. Interestingly enough, she won this simply by posting consistently across most of the entry locations on each day of the contest.

Again, congratulations ladies for your hard work that really paid off!!!

Now, the random picks from each of my four entry locations:

From my main blog: Tami Winbush (@twinbush) and Chels (@alltimeChels)

From my MySpace page: Pam Biddlecone and Beth Fisher (@BethGFisher)

From my Facebook page: Angie Lofthouse (@angielofthouse) and RJ Dennis (@rjdennis)

And finally, from all the Twitter entries: @lilmunkie and @Boodlezoid

Congratulations to all, and your copy of Friends in Deed should be on its way!

Thanks again to everyone who entered the contest, and if you weren't one of the lucky winners, be sure to get a copy of your very own when the book goes on sale January 2.

Merry Christmas! Didn't Get Enough Gifts? I've Got You Covered

Merry Christmas to all! Hope you're having a tremendous holiday season and are staying in out of the cold, ice and snow (for those in such weather...if you're in the tropics, make sure to put on the sunscreen).

I'm still in the gift-giving spirit, however, and as anyone who's known me for very long will attest, I get psychotic about giving away stuff. It just so happens that I have a new book, Friends in Deed, coming out January 2...but I really want to give away stuff before the new year. So, anyone knows what that means?

Yup! You're going to have the chance to WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!

So, here's the details:

I have ten e-book copies of my book available to give away (sorry folks, the print copy appears to still be about a month away). I'm going to hold separate points for everyone to get their entries in at my various haunts:

My Blog page
My Facebook page
My MySpace page
My Twitter feed

The general way you get entries is two-fold. Everyone who posts (or in the case of Twitter, @-replies me) can just tell me they want a copy and get one entry at each of the above spots. But if you know people (and most of us do), tell them about the contest, get them to enter and make sure they let me know that you referred them. That way, they get an entry and you get an additional entry for the referral. It's a WIN-WIN for everyone!

But it doesn't stop there (remember I'm a psycho when it comes to giving things away)...

There are going to be several days between now and when I give these books away on 12/31. So, you can enter once each day by telling me you want a copy (and thus get yourself multiple entries), and get as many referral entries as you possibly can.

In the end, I'm going to pick two winners from each entry location, at random, based on the entries received. From past experience, some of these locations don't get near-enough entries and I end up giving free stuff to everyone who posted. Go figure! Get your entries in at all those spots and increase your odds.

But wait, I'm an engineer (or at least claim to be). Two winners at four spots only comes up to eight winners, not ten...what's up with that math? Well, that's where the two final winners come in. I'm going to let sheer numbers decide this one. The two contestants with the most entries across all of the entry locations are going to win their own copy, hands-down. So, if you don't ever seem to have luck, hard work is going to be rewarded!

So, if that doesn't seem as complicated as it sounds, get on out there and win some copies of Friends in Deed!!!

And if you don't win, don't fret. Copies will be available for purchase shortly...stay tuned for information.

A Grand Old Holiday Tale!

This is an Aston West piece I created a year or two back...figured I'd dredge it back up for some good, old-fashioned Christmas cheer. Enjoy!

***

I turned toward the entrance, sighed, then finished off my glass. I’d been waiting forever for my buyer to show up, and had nothing but an empty bar to show for it. So much for making a quick sale. If it took much longer, I’d have to consider myself duped and take off for another spot down the shipping lane, a few credits lighter from topping off my tanks.

At least the bartender had an ample supply of Vladirian liquor. A near-empty bottle rested on the counter next to my other hand. I poured the glass full again.

The entry hatch slid open and caught my attention. I turned with a smile, only to turn into a sourpuss a moment later. This wasn’t the buyer I was waiting for, but some old, bearded fat man in a red jumpsuit. Small, round silver balls were tied to a black belt around his giant waist. They jingled with each step he took in my direction. I turned toward the front and slammed the glass back. The sweet yellow nectar flowed down my throat.

He pulled himself up on the stool next to me. I looked over with a scowl, wondering why he couldn’t have taken one of the many other seats. I was big on my personal space.
He pulled his red cap off and wiped gray strands across his skull. “Hello, Aston.”

I didn’t have a good feeling. “Do I know you?”

“I know everyone.” He held out a black glove. “Kris Kringle. You can call me Santa.”

I raised an eyebrow. I would have remembered this character. “And why do you need to know everyone?”

He pulled his hand back, finally realizing how futile the move was, then rested his elbows on the counter. “I give presents to good little boys and girls all over the universe. I have to know them all.”

A shiver ran up my spine. “That’s a lot of presents.”

“Tell me about it.” The bartender came over, but Kris waved him off. I idly wondered what he was doing here if he wasn’t going to drink.

“I don’t remember ever getting presents growing up.”

His cheeks turned bright red as he laughed deep from his belly. “Well, if memory serves, you weren’t exactly a good little boy.”

I let the insult slide. Life hadn’t dealt me a very kind hand with the death of my parents when I was young. I didn’t really expect this old man to understand.

“Unfortunately, even good little boys and girls have trouble believing in me. I have to pass them by, same as the bad ones.”

“Pass them by? Not give them presents?”

“Exactly. You can’t get presents from someone you don’t believe in.”

“And so these presents, how do you deliver them?”

“I enter their homes while they’re sleeping and leave the presents in secret.”

My forehead scrunched even tighter. “While they’re sleeping?”

“I’d never be able to deliver all of these presents if they were hanging onto me, begging me to stay longer.”

I emptied the bottle and raised my glass. “So, why do you give presents to them?”

“Because I love them. They’re all so innocent, untainted by the evils of the world.”

I shot a glance at the bartender, who had an equally concerned look before he shook his head and walked through a swinging door, out of sight. I turned back to Kringle, and eased myself a little farther away on the stool.

“So, let me get this straight. You love little boys and girls, sneak around their homes while they’re sleeping, and leave them presents?”

His mouth turned up and his eyes sparkled. “Exactly!”

“You sound like a sick freak to me.” I downed the rest of my drink in one gulp and turned to leave.

He gripped my arm, with surprising strength for such an old man. “What are you talking about? I bring joy to good little boys and girls all over the universe.”

I tried to pull myself free, but he wasn’t releasing his grip. “You need to let go.”

“Don’t you understand? I’m trying to spread goodwill and happiness, to let children keep a small piece of their innocence. I’ve come here to ask for your help, Aston.”

I reached inside my jacket and yanked out my Mark II blaster. Before he could react, I fired a single shot into his chest. He fell from the stool and crashed to the floor. I shoved the weapon back in its holster. “Sorry, Santa, you’re going to need more help than I can give.”

The bartender rushed back into the room. He took one look at the big man, and then glanced up at me.

“You might want to call the local authorities. I think they’d be mighty interested in talking to this one.” I continued toward the exit. He’d wake up later, a little sore, but none the worse for wear. I didn’t figure children really needed the goodwill and happiness this dirty old man was pushing.

Weekly Goals - December 15, 2009

Unfortunately, no excuses this week...just didn't get my stuff together. Christmas break is supposed to be coming soon, so we'll see how it goes.

Results for this week:

1. Less than 800 words

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1500 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - December 8, 2009

Well, as some of you may have noticed, I received my cover art this past week. I also received my final proofs to review...which is where most of my writing time has been spent. Although I was able to get some hand-written text generated, haven't had the time to work it into the computer. So, this past week has been considered a wash. Should have the proofs completed in the next day or so, though, so time to get cranking...

In case you weren't aware, my story "Entrapment" is now available in its entirety for free over at Smashwords. It's a little trial run I'm performing, to see how their operation works. It's a great story, introducing a new character whom I've already written three other stories around. So, feel free to take a read, and let me know how your experience is with Smashwords, so I'll get some data for my experiment.

Results for this week:

1. Not even started

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2500 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (now available for free at Smashwords)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Just Wanted to Mention

In case anyone skipped their cappuccino or latte this morning, looks like Fictionwise has discounted Heroes Die Young by 60% (not sure how long this will last)...enjoy!

Cover Art

For those who haven't already seen it, I recently received cover art for my new novel Friends in Deed (coming January 2010). Enjoy!

Weekly Goals - December 1, 2009

Thankfully (pardon the pun) the holiday didn't put too much of a damper on the writing...it helps to reduce the expectations. So, now we're in a new month...and time to see if we can build on the momentum and push through Christmas into the new year.

Results for this week:

1. Completed just over 2000 words

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2500 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (now available for free at Smashwords)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Belated Story Announcement

18 months after the fact, I discover that my story "No Good Deed" HAD in fact been published with Ray Gun Revival (back in May 2008). Makes me feel bad that I've been bugging them about this story. Sorry guys! (in my defense, the forum post doesn't mention the story, but open the issue and it's right there)

So, if you'd like to check out a really short, quick read, be sure to check out "No Good Deed" over this Thanksgiving break.

Weekly Goals - November 24, 2009

Well, I did end up writing the amount of words I wanted to this week...just happened to do it all on one project. Oops. With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I'm tempted to cut back...but won't. Let's see what happens.

Results for this week:

1. Didn't even get started
2. Completed over 2000 words (and finished the first draft)

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

New Interview

For those interested, I was recently interviewed by Author Offerings (don't worry, my interview is clean, despite the form warning about adult content).

Weekly Goals - November 17, 2009

Sadly, I've been seriously slacking when it comes to the writing lately. Not a good plan, coming up on Thanksgiving.

Results for this week:

1. Completed 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Didn't even get started

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. 1000 words (or first draft completion) on "Hiding in the Shadows"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

In Other Good News...

So far, this has turned out to be a rather fun month (at least on the writing side of things)...my novel HEROES DIE YOUNG is now available as an audiobook over at Audible.com for those who prefer listening to books over reading the written word.

Weekly Goals - November 10, 2009

Coming off some pretty nasty illness, things still went fairly well this week. However, with the holiday coming up, along with work stresses, I think I'm going to keep things light in the weeks to come.

Results for this week:

1. Around 1400 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Around 1600 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. 1000 words (or first draft completion) on "Hiding in the Shadows"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (rejected, need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

"Redemption" Now Available

Just a quick post to let everyone know that my latest Aston West story "Redemption" is now available to read (for free) over at Residential Aliens. Enjoy!

Weekly Goals - November 3, 2009

Well, things started off well, and then the sickness blew into town. So, unfortunately, fell a little sort on this week's goals.

Results for this week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Around 400 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. 1000 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (submitted October 25)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - October 27, 2009

A bit off this week...seems rather touch and go lately.

Results for this week:

1. 1000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submitted "Conventional Wisdom"

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. 2000 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (submitted October 25)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - October 20, 2009

A bit stronger this week, though I forgot one of my goals while I focused on the writing side. Still the acceptance of last week's submission sort of makes up for it.

Results for this week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Forgot to submit "Conventional Wisdom" off

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory
2. Submit "Conventional Wisdom" off to a magazine

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Redemption" (ACCEPTED)
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - October 13, 2009

Started off strong, but fell short where it mattered (not helped by a contract falling through on a short story submitted long ago). Hopefully this week will be much improved...

Results for this week:

1. 2000 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"
2. 500 words on Death Brings the Victory
3. Submitted "Redemption" off to another magazine (after previously mentioned contract issues) [added]

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory (the 3rd Aston West novel)
2. Submit "Conventional Wisdom" off to a magazine

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Redemption" (re-submitted October 12)
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - October 6, 2009

Well, a better outcome on the goals this week. Actually, I'd met my original goals with around 4 days left, so kept working on my latest short story. Unfortunately, I didn't get them typed in on time, so those will have to count toward next week.

Results for this week:

1. Sent the story off to its beta readers. Waiting for comments to return.
2. Completed over 2000 words on "Hiding in the Shadows" (with more handwritten, but not yet counted)

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. 2000 words on my new story, "Hiding in the Shadows"
2. 2000 words on Death Brings the Victory (the 3rd Aston West novel)

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Some Assembly Required" (need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (waiting on beta input)
"Deadly Decisions" (waiting on beta input)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Plotting a Short Story

So, how do I go about plotting a short story?

First, I start out putting my characters into a situation they'd likely be in (in the case of Aston, there aren't too many situations he *wouldn't* find himself in). Then, I began asking myself what could possibly happen (in most cases, I ask what could possibly go wrong) and how Aston will respond. From there, it's a simple case of repetition, continuing to ask those questions and determine Aston's response until I reach the end of the story.

Take my story "Ever Dark" for example (and if you haven't read it, be sure to check it out in Ray Gun Revival)

When plotting this story, I started off with a simple premise. Aston is sitting out in deep space minding his own business.

So, what could happen/go wrong? A ship can drop out of hyperspace right in front of him.
What does Aston do? Finds out the ship full of precious cargo.

What then? He discovers this ship has no crew.
What does Aston do? Boards it to grab some cargo.

What then? The law shows up.
What does Aston do? Tries to run.

What then? They catch him and want to board his ship.
What does Aston do? Weasels his way out of it.

Now, I could keep going, but then I'd be giving away the ending of the story to those who hadn't already read it. Needless to say, I eventually reach the story. Now, how I get between these points is open, but generally I keep the same points I plot out in this manner. This generally works for short stories...novels are a little tougher, because usually plot points are tied together so much that if something gets misaligned along the way, entire plot lines end up skewed later.

And that's how I personally plot out a short story. Hopefully it's been helpful to those new to short story writing (or writing in general), and given those experienced writers out there another tool in their belt.

Until next week...

Weekly Goals - September 29, 2009

A bit of good news this week. Along with the goals information, I also received my contributor copy of Golden Visions magazine. And on top of that, my story "A Thankful Heart" was accepted by Golden Visions as well. See my previous blog post for details.

Results for this week:

1. Completed editing on "Conventional Wisdom" (was "Trust") and sent of to beta readers
2. Only completed around 1000 words on "Hiding in the Shadows"
3. Completed edits on "Deadly Decisions" and still need to get some beta input.

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Send "Deadly Decisions" off to some beta readers
2. 1500 words on my new story, "Hiding in the Shadows"

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Seeker" (submitted August 10)
"Some Assembly Required" (rejected, need to re-submit)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Conventional Wisdom" (waiting on beta input)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"A Thankful Heart" (ACCEPTED)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

New Publication!

Just thought I'd share the news that my story "Profit and Loss" is now available in the October Issue (print) of Golden Visions Magazine. This is my first print edition (my contributor copy is on its way), so something I'm rather proud of.

Head on over and get yourself a copy. They have them available in print or PDF (the "buy now" buttons aren't labeled very well, so pay attention to what you're adding to your cart).

And of course, enjoy the story!

Why I Do What I Do

Wow, an actual blog post? I'm shocked as much as you are. I'm going to attempt to start working toward putting up weekly blogs (I'll still be posting up the goals posts) again. We'll see how it goes.

***

Writing is a depressing business. All sorts of work, relatively little pay (certainly not enough to live on, at least in my case anyway), giving up most of a social life in order to stay in and write your next novel/short story. Putting yourself and your abilities out there for a high risk of ridicule and rejection. It's a wonder that anyone does it. But there are so many of us out there who still do.

In my case, I tend to spend most of my time in front of my laptop, or working on notebook paper, scribbling out manuscripts, notes, or other assorted odds and ends. It's very rare when I won't take writing work with me places I go, even if it's a social setting. The trouble is, with a day job taking up most of my time, what I have left for writing is limited. So, I use up as much time as possible to get work accomplished. Otherwise, it would likely take several years to get a novel written, or several months to get a short story completed (not counting the endless amounts of time required for the query and submission processes). If I was satisfied with that pace, I'd never be a success at writing. To be a success, one has to complete a lot of work, and in a timely fashion.

Given the relatively small rewards available to writers, one has to beg the question...

Why do I do what I do?

To answer this, one probably needs a little background on me, personally. My mother was an English teacher before she died (I was a teenager at the time) and consistently harped on my skills, growing up. It's one of the things I'm glad for, because engineers (my day job) are generally notorious when it comes to spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc.

I started writing at a fairly young age, and she always encouraged me in it. I can't recall where I ever finished a piece while she was still living, so she never had the chance to read my work. And that's a good thing, as those early works were utter dreck. Ultimately, her death proved to be the spark that ignited my writing, and took it to the next level. Suddenly, I had a point of reference for a vast array of emotions that I'd never experienced before.

So, if I had to guess why I put myself through the abuse I do, I imagine it would be in part an attempt to honor her memory. Knowing she encouraged me down this writer's path leads me to think she's likely looking down at me and what I've accomplished so far, and I'd like to think that she's proud.

And as many have said before me, the best is yet to come.

Weekly Goals - September 22, 2009

Some good work this week, though slacked a little on the second goal.

Results for this week:

1. Completed this round of editing on The Cure
2. Only completed around 1200 words, but hit a scene break and stopped

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Edit "Trust" and send off to some beta readers
2. 1500 words on my new story, "Hiding in the Shadows" (tentative title)

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Seeker" (submitted August 10)
"Some Assembly Required" (since May 18)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Trust" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"A Thankful Heart" (since June 26)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - September 15, 2009

A week of vacation did me a world of good. Though near the end of the week, I began slacking off toward my writing goals, the relaxation more than made up for it.

Results for this week:

1. Completed around 9.5K words of editing on The Cure
2. Created a book trailer (see my last post -- added goal)

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Complete (approximately 6.5K words left) editing on The Cure
2. 1500 words on my new story, "Hiding in the Shadows" (tentative title)

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Seeker" (submitted August 10)
"Some Assembly Required" (since May 18)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Trust" (need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"A Thankful Heart" (since June 26)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Heroes Die Young - Book Trailer

Check out my first foray into creating a book trailer:

Weekly Goals - September 8, 2009

A bit better this week. Hoping to get some things done, since I'm taking this week off from work.

Results for this week:

1. Completed around 11.5K words of editing on The Cure

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Complete 10K words of editing on The Cure

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Seeker" (submitted August 10)
"Some Assembly Required" (since May 18)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (since August 31)
"Trust" (rejected, need to re-submit)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"A Thankful Heart" (since June 26)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals

Weekly Goals - September 1, 2009

Not so good this week...work stresses seem to be working their way into my down time.

Results for this week:

1. Completed approximately 3K words of editing on The Cure

And now the goals for this coming week:

1. Complete 10K words of editing on The Cure

Submission status for the week:

Short stories:
"Seeker" (submitted August 10)
"Some Assembly Required" (since May 18)
"Collateral" (need to re-submit)
"Entrapment" (rejected and re-submitted August 31)
"Trust" (since May 30)
"Deadly Decisions" (need to re-submit)
"A Thankful Heart" (since June 26)

Aston West
novels
short stories
writing goals