Onward and Upward

It's been over a month since my last post. What started as a weekly exercise has fallen into a bit of disarray (similar to my plans for physical exercise). During these past few days of contemplating what I'm most thankful for, my thoughts returned to "My Umbrella Project."

It's not like I haven't tried to come up with words to say during my silent period. I've started typing many times only to end it all with 'delete'. Those attempts line the recycle bin of my netbook.

What is it I want to say? Why does "thankful" make me come here?

For one thing, I definitely don't want to leave my last post as a farewell to thee. I haven't re-read the post and I don't intend to, but it probably came off sounding down and depressed. If so, it hit the mark pretty well.

But that's not what this site is supposed to be about. It's part therapy session but it's also a place to celebrate new steps, new goals, new ideas.

So where's a good place to go to rekindle those feelings, to remember why I feel thankful for an obsession that usually weighs me down with feelings of inadequacy.

I go to the beginning.

Welcome to My Umbrella Project

The short story on that page is why I write.

"I love to write and do it for the pure joy of watching characters and stories come to life. I love having the vague idea of a scene bounce around in my head, no real clue as to how it should unfold, then see it play out as the pages fill with words."

That's what I'm thankful for.

Somewhere along this journey I took a wrong turn. At some point I let myself think getting noticed for what I've created meant more than creating. That the worth of writing is based on attention, not intention.

It's time  to move back to my original mission statement.

"... to create stories that hopefully inspire and ring true. Stories to be enjoyed."

As the turkey wears off and football games wind down, I slide back in front of my keyboard and write...

... because I have a story to tell.

C.L. Blanton
(TTV approved)

Confessions and Apologies

Sometimes a break from the things you love most is needed. My wife yells that every Saturday morning as she bolts to Starbucks for coffee. (Who knew it could take hours just to get some Morning Joe?)

For me it’s been a break from writing. I’ve neither pinned tweets nor blog posts for a month. In all I’ve written maybe 1,000 words and those are in danger of running into the delete key. It’s not that I made a conscious decision to walk away as part of some grand plan to develop my fledgling writing skill; more like my drive to write has been sequestered. (Yes, I’ve used my new found time to scan more political news sites.)

Most days when I sit at my keyboard I feel less like an adult attempting to pour my soul into the pages and more like a child scraping a fat crayon across an outline of Woody from Toy Story, trying desperately to keep my marks within the lines.

In the past year I’ve grinned with pride, showing off my pretty creation to the world as it fluttered in the breeze, taped to the refrigerator door for all to see. Family members and friends have passed with caring expressions, praising my accomplishment while depositing kind pats atop my head. I have to admit, it’s been a nice feeling.

Then others walked by, but when directed to my artwork instead of joining the appreciation these disapprovers said my masterpiece had pretty colors but the jagged edges strayed too often over the lines making it appear childish and unworthy of the big fridge. How rude. Sure my hand got shaky every now and then. Of course it isn’t going to be perfect. I grinned through it all, unable to look at the finished product, unwilling to see any blemishes.

Another finished drawing sat ready to join the display so as I searched for the perfect magnet to use as a marker I caught a glimpse of Woody’s eyes. Wild squiggly lines cut gashes across his face. I retracted with horror at the monstrosity I had created. In place of my work of art stood an object so imperfect that its flaws made the original outline unbearable to view. My eyes were forced open to what I’d done.

The last month has been an ebb and flow of promises to get back to work mixed with deafening roars of “I’m not worthy.” (Now I need to see if Netflix is streaming “Wayne’s World.” Crap, no writing again tonight.)

Bottom Line: I invested a large amount of time into writing something I deeply believed in then gave my story a horrible disservice. I had a pretty picture but didn’t care enough to make sure my crayon didn’t drag hideous lines across the page because I was too busy taping it to Amazon’s big refrigerator door.

If I read a book, paid or free, and find more than a few errors, I’ll become judgmental over that author and his or her story. What I published was light years beyond a few errors. I have worked hard to clean it up. The eBook versions on Amazon and Nook have been reposted. I’m taking down the paperback version until I can get it reformatted. Anyone who received a copy of the original and is willing to give me a second chance, leave a note and I’ll make it right. I cannot apologize to you or my story enough.

Maybe this post will help restart my dreams. Maybe I can get back to doing something I love without kicking myself under the desk for my stupidity. I don’t know. And how I got here isn’t important. This isn’t a time for excuses, just confessions and apologies.

I try to end each post with an encouragement to keep writing but I’d feel more than a bit hypocritical to type that now. I guess the best thing I can say is to keep moving forward even if it hurts, even if your crayon slips outside the lines.

C.L. Blanton

The Ears Have Eyes

This is a different kind of post for me. I'm free writing. No idea where I'm going. No plan to create a catchy opening, informative middle, then sly ending to circle back to the original idea.

I'm typing without a net.

First thing that comes to mind is to give an update on last weeks post, "Ears Wide Shut."

I finished listening to my second novel, Always Remember Me, using text-to-voice. In doing so I learned a few things about my writing.

1- "Good Grief, Will you ever learn how to type?" Over and over I found typos, omitted words, and just outright misspellings. Word can only do so much to catch my screw ups and the wacky nature of the English language ain't helpin'. While I'd hope that multiple reviews and the use of an editor would reduce those instances, I have to say I really wasn't surprised. These edits fixed problems in my upcoming novel that I would have been ashamed of if they had made it into the final product. Reviewing my first book, Absolution's Curse, found even more errors which I've corrected in a newly uploaded version. I can hold my head a little higher.

The second discovery did startle me.

2- "That inner voice sometimes works against you." We all have a style. We're told to find our voice and embrace it. I've tried to write casually, letting the words and meaning flow as an extension of my thoughts. Sometimes it works but hearing an external voice read the sentences back reveals instances where I'd be better suited to alter my style.

I'm not saying I need to change my voice or abandon what I think makes my writing unique, but I do believe hearing the text provides a new perspective. Hearing your creation in a new dimension can only help.

3- "Sometimes advertisements in free versions aren't so bad." I downloaded a free version of "Natural Reader". This stops the voice after about five minutes and pops up a box inviting me to purchase the full version. At first this was very annoying, which I'm sure is the idea, but I soon discovered a hidden benefit. By making me click on a box at regular intervals, it required me to keep my focus on the screen. I couldn't lose myself in the voice or let my eyes wander to sports sites to see how the Braves were doing. I can usually keep focused for about five minutes before my mind slides sideways. A sharp cut in this voice helps bring me back to the job at hand.

I plan to incorporate text-to-voice into future projects. Plot, write, review, edit, listen. I look forward to seeing how it will help me grow.

Now, how should I title this post?
"Ears Wide Shut, Part Deux"? - A link back to my first post about text-to-voice.
"Write Free and Edit Hard?" - A callback to the opening line about free writing without a net.
Or maybe I should reference back to how I'm now experiencing my story in multiple dimensions; sight and sound. Hmm, what would do that?

That wasn't bad for an unplanned post. And yes, it is text-to-voice approved.

C.L. Blanton

Ears Wide Shut

Since I'm in the final steps of edits for my second book, I've been searching out blogs and articles on the subject. From that search I've found my new favorite tool.

A Little Background

Unfortunately I don't have many reviews posted for my first book but they all seem to have a similar theme. Good story. Developed characters. Too many editing issues. Mostly three out of five stars.

Now, I promise I've read through the book multiple times and used a professional editor. So what gives?

My working theory has been: When I went through the editing and formatting process I created multiple versions. My day job is as a systems analyst so I've been taught to save each step, giving the files incremental numbers so I can always go back to an earlier version if needed. Maybe somewhere along the way I stumbled and used a version that wasn't completely edited. I checked my versions and posted an updated file. Surely that will fix my issue.

Or not... and please, don't call me Shirley.

This second book has to be pristine when released. I've kept careful track of my most up to date files, ensuring nothing gets mixed up. All the while I've kept my head in the sand where the first book is concerned.

Honestly, I've read and re-read the thing so many times I didn't want to visit it any more. It's in the wild, on its own. Let it be.

So what's this new favorite tool? Text-to-voice.

I've seen others post that the best way to edit is to read your manuscript out loud or have someone else read it to you. Yeah, not gonna do that. But when I saw a post about a technology that could do it for me, I jumped.

Now, I know text-to-voice is nothing new, but I'd never really thought about using it to edit. I said something to my wife and she immediately told me some of her author friends have been using it for years. Once again, I'm late to the party.

I downloaded a free version of "Natural Reader" (not a plug, it was at the top of my Google search) to my PC and got my headphones ready for a listen. When I opened the folder with the most current version of my new book, I saw the final file for the first one sitting in the corner, untouched for a few months, acting ashamed and abandoned.

Should I get out the shovel and unbury my head? Should I open my ears to that loved but deserted story?

I loaded the dusty file and sat back. Holy Crap! I still subscribe to the theory that these words were fixed at some point but it was a mess. I can no longer pretend it didn't happen.

The last week has been spent going word for word through the file. Using text-to-voice brings both senses into play; visual as I follow the cursor across the page and auditory as I listen to the programs voice.

Next Week's To-Dos:

I've got to reformat this newly edited version and get it loaded to Amazon, Nook, and Smashwords. It will be almost like a new release without the fanfare, tweeting, or any hope for attention. There may be only a handful of downloads still coming but I owe my first born story that much.

Next, I'll be using the same method (although I may try a different program) to pick through the second book before releasing.

In another blog I read that a writer isn't really an author until they've written 1,000,000 words. By the time I finish my current book-in-progress I'll be more than a quarter of the way there. After this learning experience I'd like to add another line to that mantra.

You're not an author until you've listened to 1,000,000 of your own words.

Keep your ears wide open and never stop believing in yourself.

(And yes, I used text-to-voice to proof this blog before posting.)

C.L. Blanton

Categories and Key Words

Signs and tags drive the world today. I'm pretty sure the sign pictured here is trying to tell me something but I'll keep going until I can figure it out.

Street signs tell us to stop, merge, turn here for yummy fast food.

Twitter hashtags let us know what's trending.

Categories and Key Words hold some kind of mystical power over how items are displayed in Amazon, Google, and most internet search engines.

Now, let's be honest. With the online world we've come to depend on, if we didn't have a powerful search engine telling us we want yummy fast food, feeding us directions to obtain said unhealthy delight, and the necessary prompts to tweet our crave to get #itscrappymealtime trending, we'd be doing something utterly boring like sitting around a table looking at family members eating meals actually prepared in the same house. How discouraging.

My foray into writing keeps digging up new items to be added to a "Lessons Learned" list. Recently I've added a new entry near the top in big letters, "CATEGORIES", which sits only a few lines above "Key Words".

CATEGORIES

These are the magic words spoken as you waive your wand before the unmovable rock blocking your path.

The categories used to tag your book in Amazon (and other sites) determine how it will be promoted. I've seen in multiple places that you (the author) need to identify your audience (the readers) and target your efforts at reaching that group. Sounds easy enough, but in this magical online world how do I find and zero in on that group? Categories.

In doing some research and reading blogs about how Amazon prioritizes it's items, I've learned I needed to rethink how I choose a category and that periodic category changes can be a good thing.

I will soon be changing the categories for Absolution's Curse to Religion&Spirituality->Fiction->Science Fiction & Fantasy (think Frank Peretti mixed with Stephen King's The Gunslinger).

It's a dance. Play with your categories, try to find those that aren't saturated by drilling down to sub-categories where your work can stand out.

Key Words

This doesn't get all big letters but it's still important. These would be the words uttered by our wand holding reader to determine which rock needs to be moved to clear a straight path to your book.

My biggest "a-ha" moment (other than the music video of "Take On Me" which popped up when I googled "a-ha") was the idea of using author names, book names, or characters that are similar to your book's themes or characters.

For Absolution's Curse, I will be adding references to Stephen King's Dark Tower series and Roland since I believe that character closely matches Frank's journey.

The biggest caveat is to make sure any category or key words you use, especially if you use author names or other books, are valid. Don't list J.K. Rowling as your key word for your bloody vampire romance novel.

So watch your signs, give your categories and key words their due respect, and stay away from late night Crappy Meals.

I wonder what happens after I get to the dead end?

C.L. Blanton

The Egg and Basket Dilemma

Shark Week my dorsal fin, it's time for another installment of

"Shameless Plug Week"

(I decided to go with a picture of cozy eggs instead of lunging sharks to emphasize my point. Did it work?)

First, I'd like to announce that Absolution's Curse will soon be available on Nook.

That's right. I'm removing a few of my eggs from Amazon's over-sized basket. Now all you Nook owners can join the journey. Still working on Apple and Kobo.

I'll update this post with a link as soon as it's available on those sites.

Second, I've joined a site for readers and authors called Story Cartel. Visit this link and download a FREE copy of Absolution's Curse. Three lucky readers will be chose at random by the site to receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card. (Yep, throwin' them eggs right back into the big A's baskets.)

What's the catch?

You will receive a request to leave an honest review of the story. Visit the site for details then click around to find other books waiting to be downloaded and reviewed. I did. (I'm looking forward to reading Secondhand Sight by Rocky Leonard.)

Each book stays available for roughly twenty days so go get my book then check back for more offerings from some great authors.

Now it's back to the writing desk for me. My goal for this weekend is to complete the final outline for my work-in-progress. Wish me luck.

C.L. Blanton

? Backward Write You Do

I walk through the door and my wife greets me with that look. The ensuing conversation starts with "I have edits due tomorrow and..." followed by something the cats have done, a list of phone solicitations received which broke all hope for concentration, and a pseudo emergency involving our house's plumbing.

Eventually I get the question: "What do you want to do for supper?"

This can't be answered just by checking with my gut to see what its craving. There are options to be considered. Eat out? Fast food? Run to the grocery store? Leftovers? How big of a plumbing problem do we have?

But since I look at things backward, I don't start with the obvious choices. Here's my thought process:

I have meetings early tomorrow so I'll have to get up sooner than normal.
To get enough sleep so I'm not a zombie at that meeting, I'll need to go to bed at least an hour early.
I really want to finish writing that scene I started last night so I need to allow at least ninety minutes in front of the computer.
This plumbing problem may require a quick trip to Lowes so that's about thirty minutes used up.
How much time does that leave for eating and how long will each option take?

Get the picture? I can't answer a simple question without working backward from the furthest known constant. I know my meeting in the morning is unbreakable so all preceding events must be arranged in a neat pattern.

That's also how I write. I find the ending, a constant idea of how a given situation should be resolved, then work backward.

How many characters do I need to gather at the end to finish the story?
Who do they need to be and what is there involvement?
How do I setup each character or group of characters to get to that ending?
What scenes need to be crafted to get characters to a place where their future actions will be believable?
What side stories and characters need to be developed to further the story?
How should each character be introduced so their involvement will point to the ultimate ending?
What threads need to be entwined through scenes and story lines so all pieces meet at the end?

I'm pooped just looking at that list but that's how I work. My current project is a three book arc following separate groups whose stories will (I promise) converge. The final chapter of the third book was written before the first half of the first book. The entire second book was written before I had a clue how the first book would start.

That's not to say I'm locked into a strict liner outline from which I can't diverge. I know the ending and the characters required, but how they get there is a mystery until it unravels on the screen. Large and small story lines evolve then get tossed in the trash bin but the overall constant remains.

My thought process sometimes irks my wife. Hopefully I don't have the same effect on readers. One thing is for sure, I don't want to write any more three book story arcs. This has been one extremely long lesson learned.

Well, I've piddled around long enough that it's too late for fast food or eating out. Guess it's leftovers for all.

Do You Write Backward? (I knew all along that's how I'd end this post.)

C.L. Blanton

Staring Down the Wishing Well

My Umbrella Update - So far Absolution's Curse has not garnered enough sales to purchase a nice sized umbrella but it did manage to fund a few packs of sugarfree gum.

I'm done with the first round of edits for my second novel, Always Remember Me. Hopefully all changes will be complete by the end of July or early August. I still have to get a cover made but at least I'm drifting in the right direction. In future posts I'll give information about the story but for now I'll just say it's the next chapter in the tale of Frank and his adventure.

The third, and final chapter swims somewhere between the keyboard and my subconscious with a few scraps already clinging to life in scattered Word documents. But fear not, the end was written long before I had any thought of publishing.

This project has affected me in ways I'm not sure I was prepared for. I've jumped all over the screen for this post, first keying a moody, brooding version where I questioned my true writing intentions before typing a happy, uplifting version, thanking the 669 entrants to my Goodreads Giveaway. Now I have this one which dances somewhere between insightful and bleak.

I have issues.

[Oh crap, there goes another version in the trash bin.]

Anyway, I titled this week's post "Staring Down the Wishing Well" because I really like that picture looking down a staircase (ha, I made an Impressionist funny) but also because I've been reflecting upon my commitment to writing.

What am I wishing for? What do I want out of this adventure?

In Absolution's Curse, Frank wants to change his life. It's time to move past the lawless, reckless days of youth. Age and a strange sense of responsibility bring a new perspective. He's no longer looking for the big hit, that one scam to break the bank. He wants a simple, quiet existence. To be left alone to live out his days in an undeserved peace.

I'm not a scam artist like Frank, but I feel his longing. I want writing to alter my own story in small way. My wish, when I peaked down that stairwell, was to have my quiet voice heard. I want my story to find a home in reader's hearts.

But, as Frank finds when his good intentions go badly awry, wishes don't always follow the same path as coins tossed in the well. Sometimes pain and neglect must be endured.

Frank's story is not pretty, nor should it be. There's no light without dark. No joy without pain.

Absolution's Curse is his dark, his pain. Mine too. I don't write to be pretty. I don't believe in happily ever after. But I do believe in the heart of man. I believe if we keep moving forward, we'll find the light and joy.

My wish for writing (besides a spiffy umbrella) is to experience that journey to the end. I hope to see you along the way.

C.L. Blanton

Field of Heroes

Today's post is a little off the normal topic but represents something very close to me.

Baseball

I don't watch baseball like I used to. All through the 80's I was glued to the TV every night watching my Atlanta Braves win for a few years then lose a hundred plus games season after season. If they weren't on TV then we'd have the radio blaring. Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, and Ernie Johnson gave us the play-by-play, becoming as much a part of our family during South Georgia summers as any blood relatives.

The legends of Murphy, Horner, and Chambliss eventually gave way to a new collection of beloved winners. Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux took the hill. I looked up to those players. I fashioned my pitching style after Gene Garber, learned infield by watching Glenn Hubbard. Steve Avery was the first player in the Bigs younger than me.

I could go on, telling a personal story about more than half of the players in the past thirty years to wear a Braves uniform. The Catch. The Slide. The relief pitcher with a really long name who used to live a few houses down from my Uncle.

There were also the teams I hated. In the early 80's it was the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Philadelphia Phillies took that honor in the 90's.

Mitch ("Walk the bases loaded then strike out the side") Williams, John (my grandmother just called him "That Ugly Guy") Kruk, Lenny ("I can cram more crap in my cheek than you can") Dykstra, and Darren "Dutch" Daulton.

I couldn't stand those guys. Their dirty white uniforms with thin red stripes. Their ugly red hats with a deformed P. I wished every ill will possible on them.

It's funny how time offers perspective. Some childhood heroes are obvious. Those Braves I followed religiously while growing up qualify. Some you don't realize until later in life.

Those guys that gave my Braves the most trouble became players I begrudgingly respected, sometimes even admired. I would like to officially acknowledge Philadelphia Phillies longtime catcher, Darren Daulton's spot on that list.

It was announced earlier this month that Mr. Daulton would have surgery to remove brain tumors. Today, an article on cbssports.com stated he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a "hightly malignant" form of brain cancer.

His tough style molded my baseball life, teaching me lessons which traveled beyond the chalked fields as much as any other glove wearing hero.

I send prayers and well wishers to Mr. Daulton and his family. He is and always has been a hero.

C.L. Blanton

Read, Write, and Review

I hope everyone out there celebrated their freedom today.

America celebrates its Independence every July 4th but the idea that all men (and women) are created equally does not end at our shores. Every night the news is full of peoples and nations fighting for their rights. The right to live in peace. The right to pursue their own life's goals.

Whichever part of this world you call home, may you have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July.


I wanted to use this week's post to give a few updates.

READ

I'm horribly slow at reading. Mountain chains rise from level ground faster than I finish books. But if I wish to follow the advice of successful writers, I must overcome this weakness.

One thing I've learned from the last few months of trying to reach out and promote myself is the incredibly large number of talented authors fighting for attention. So now, instead of reaching for King, Koontz, or Grisham when I browse Amazon, I've chosen Jenny Milchman (Cover of Snow), Luke Murphy (Dead Man's Hand), and Jason Crawford (Chains of Prophecy).

I'll keep reading King while learning to embrace those lesser known names who offer wonderful stories. I'll just do it very slowly.

WRITE

June started with much promise. The chaos of birthdays and family obligations that filled May came to a close. June would mark a return to writing. <Splat> That was the sound of my word count goals hitting the windshield of life.

July will be different. It has to be. In the past week I've taken a new approach. I'm spending more time on outlining, writing the chapters in more of a play like form, focusing on dialogue and stage directions. It's helped me get past some big walls while developing another tool in my writers tool shed.

Writing will have competition this month. I received edits for my second book yesterday. Editing my first book felt horrible, having all my writing limitations pointed out with squiggly lines until I realized it was maybe the best opportunity to learn I would ever have. This book doesn't have quite as many menacing marks, but I look forward to what I can learn.

REVIEW

I never knew how important this feedback was until ABSOLUTION'S CURSE became available. I don't like to review. Who am I to tell a writer if their words are right?

But that's now what reviews are about. When you receive a review, it's a measuring stick to let you know, good and bad, where you line up. When you give a review, it's a way to breakdown a literary work to find what you do and don't like about the story.

The ability to read objectively and self review your own words is invaluable.


Keep Reading. Keep Writing. Keep Reviewing.

Keep fighting for and celebrating freedom.

C.L. Blanton

A Good Day to Read Hard

Yippi-Ki-Yay, Good Readers.

Time is drawing nigh. My Goodread contest to win a paperback of ABSOLUTION'S CURSE will be over soon; July 7th to be exact.

Let's review our checklist:

- Have you signed up for the contest?
- Have you marked "Want to Read"?
- Did you post a comment on this blog to receive a bonus if your name is pulled?
- Will you visit this Amazon page, deciding you can't wait until July 7th and must purchase a copy now?
- Do you follow CL Blanton on Twitter and wait breathlessly every Thursday night for his next blog post?
- Did you shave your head like Bruce Willis and visit Russia so you could blow up a few buildings, sneak into an airport, and extricate a certain snowed-in fugitive?

If you said "Check" to any of the above lines, I'd like to thank you.
2 lines and I sincerely appreciate your consideration.
3 lines and I will root for you to win.
4 lines and I'll ask you to DM me so I can offer my appreciation personally.
5 lines and I may cry.
All 6 lines and I'll become concerned about either yours or my sanity.

C.L. Blanton

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Absolution's Curse

by C.L. Blanton

Giveaway ends July 07, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

In Defense of The Water Boy

I've read articles and blog posts about how the publishing world is getting turned on its ear.

Some cling to the age old era of printed pages, agents, and publishing companies. Some tout the new landscape of ebooks, online promotion, and self-publishing. We're either on the front lines of a digital revolution or watering down the pool to hide the works of real authors.

Since I fall under the category of digital water boy, I thought I'd throw my two cents into this wishing well.

Self-pub was not my original goal. I have no scientifically obtained statistics to back this claim but I'd guess the vast majority of self-published authors at least gave the traditional route a try. I did. I sent query after query to agents. I sent samples to small publishers and short stories to contests, all in an effort to raise my hand and be singled out among the sea of other deserving applicants.

My name was never called. I had a few requests for partials but all inquiries ended with a similar "Thank you but we're not interested."

Does that make my story bad? Does it mean I, as a writer, am not good enough? Am I the water drowning out other more deserving works of art?

Or was I being caught in the same flood, ignored by agents and publishers standing along the shore while I frantically reached for an outstretched limb?

In the end, do any of these questions matter?

As a child, my family packed into a giant conversion van each summer and set out on a journey. (It was the 70's so yes, the van had shag carpet.) We drove west. The first trip I remember was to visit family in Texas. Next year we ventured further, traveling across the southern states until reaching California then turning north, eventually crossing the Canadian border. That trip lasted almost three months.

I'm sure there was quite a bit of planning involved but since I was just the kid, I wasn't privy to those discussions. We had no Garmin. We had no internet or cell phone apps to tell us where to eat, what attractions to see, or to help us bid for hotel rooms.

We had an atlas with dog-eared pages, a few travel guide booklets, and a goal to return home by a certain week in August. It was old school. It was organic. I was a true adventure. When we left home we didn't know what we would see or where we would go, we backed out the carport and rode away.

A few years ago I set out on my own trip from North Carolina to New Mexico for my brother's wedding. My son and I commandeered my wife's mini-van (sans shag) and headed west, armed with Google Maps, the Priceline Negotiator, and enough Android Apps to strangle Wile E. Coyote. Every stop was planned. Every sightseeing opportunity researched. It was digital. It was new. It was a true adventure. While driving north through New Mexico we saw the mountains change from rocky outcrops to snow covered peaks. My ten year old son shouted, "Wow. They look like Coors cans." Moments like those make a dad proud.

Both trips evolved in completely different forms. One relied on a worn paper atlas, another on GPS. One used every electronic aide available, another employed waitresses from local diners to identify the most interesting attractions within a fifty mile radius.

In the end, both methods created memorable moments. I'll never forget seeing the Golden Gate Bridge bathed in fog or Mount Rushmore with giant carved heads of people I'd never met. My son still talks about our visit to Coors Field and our stop at Indianapolis Speedway to watch Indy 500 practice.

Both trips contained little moments making them special. The method didn't matter.

In contrast, I've made trips that could have been guided by Arthur Frommer himself and they still would have been horrible. The three hour drive along I-10 from Tallahassee to Pensacola, Florida still brings shivers of fear and loathing.

It's not the directions, it's the trip.

It's not the platform, it's the story.

Maybe if I take enough bad trips they'll water down the memories of the good ones but I don't think so. Every trip, no matter how dull or boring, adds a little to my collective story.

Maybe my self-published book slops unwanted water onto the covers of more prominent tales, but I don't think so. Every story, no matter how strange or unrefined, adds a little to our collective trip.

I've called this attempt at writing "My Journey" and "My Project". Whether guided by GPS or atlas, traditional publishing house or KDP, my journey will be unique and memorable.

I believe in my novel. While the technique (and evidently spelling) could be improved, I won't apologize for the overall theme. I may not rise to the professional level of more celebrated authors with agents and contracts but I'm appreciative of modern technology which provides me an avenue to share.

My long term goal is to be accepted; to have an agent looking out for my best interest; to have a publisher use their platform to slide my books in front of would-be readers. Until that time I'll continue to use the tools available.

Didn't the same thing happen centuries ago with the advent of the printing press?

Those two cents have probably drifted to the bottom of the well by now. I'll end with this last thought.

It's not my goal to be a water hazard to more refined authors. I'm just trying to tell my story.


C.L. Blanton

Good Read Hunting

Looking for that next summer read?

Want a story that grabs, submersing you in a world from our not so distant past?

Please check out ABSOLUTION'S CURSE, available in paperback or ebook on Kindle.

Join my contest at Goodreads. Enter to win one of three paperbacks.

Contest runs through July 7th, but don't wait. Follow the link below to sign up today. While you're there, mark it as "Want to Read."

As a bonus, if you post a comment on my blog stating you've signed up and Goodreads pulls your name, I'll sign the cover!

[Not sure if that's any incentive but it's either a signature or I send Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to your house to write a sequel. Sorry, I don't think I can pull that last option off.]

C.L. Blanton

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Absolution's Curse

by C.L. Blanton

Giveaway ends July 07, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

The Long and Short of It

As stated on last weeks post, I'm giving away three copies of my book, ABSOLUTION'S CURSE, via a Goodreads giveaway. The contest will accept entries until July 7th.

To those who've already entered, thank you.
To those who are still to enter, thank you too.

If you don't mind, I'd like to take this week to say a few words about the story and offer up a short read, free to all.

While researching locations and time frames for ABSOLUTION'S CURSE, I stumbled across a true life tale of tragedy and sacrifice.

St. Louis of 1849 was brimming with excitement and new found wealth due to a growing expansion westward. When gold was discovered in California, St. Louis became the launching board for fortune seekers.

All of that I knew before starting my research, but I didn't know about The Great Fire of 1849 which almost destroyed the town. I didn't know about the daring and heroic efforts to save what would become one of our most important cities.

I'm posting a short story I wrote about the fire. It's not an excerpt from my book, but it does give a glimpse into the time and setting.

I hope you enjoy it.

Lance (C.L.) Blanton

Goodreadas

It's time to announce...

     [cue trumpets]

a Goodread giveaway...

     [I said, cue trumpets]

for my novel...

   [for the love of skydiving Andy Griffith's,
   will someone please cue the trumpets]

ABSOLUTION'S CURSE.


In the absence of any further fanfare, I'd like to offer everyone a chance to win a paperback of my novel, ABSOLUTION'S CURSE.

Please use the link below or visit Goodreads to join my giveaway.

I'll be giving away three paperbacks of my novel in exchange for your undying gratitude, a sincere thank you, or a passing "Wassup".

While there, click the "Want to Read" button as a reminder of your visit.

As a bonus, if you post  a comment on my blog stating that you've entered and Goodreads pulls your name, I'll sign the cover!!!

[Not sure if that's any incentive but it's either a signature or I send Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci to your house. Sorry, can't pay the price to make that happen.]

Lance (C.L.) Blanton

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Absolution's Curse

by C.L. Blanton

Giveaway ends July 07, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Dr. Strangebook or; How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Opening Line

We fret over words. Every scene, every paragraph, every sentence plays an important role in shaping our stories but few lines bring more trepidation or importance than that opening line.

"It was the best of time" - Why couldn't Dickens have stopped there?

I'm not a writer who can give instructions on how to craft any part of a story. I'm still reading, studying, gathering. I'd bet 99.9% of all writers worth their ink do the same, whether they have one or one-hundred works to their name.

Not only is the craft and writing environment ever evolving but we are individually searching for the unique voice that sets our stories apart.

But there is one constant. That opening hook.

"The best laid plans of mice and men rarely get mice or men laid" - me with help from Steinbeck.

Like most other writing techniques, I didn't really understand that when I started. I should have. I've been reading since elementary school. Even then, if the first glimpse at a story didn't spark my interest I'd slide the book back into its spot on the library wall and pick out another.

After my first manuscript was completed and ready to share with the world, I decided it would be a good idea to actually read some books on how to write. Just about everything they said not to do, I did. Everything they said I must do, I didn't. I spent a year studying the craft by reading self-help type books (first being Stephen King's "On Writing"), revisiting classics I'd held from school days, and investing in newer books. I made Amazon and Books-A-Million happy.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a new writer in possession of a good story, must be in want of a publisher" - me with help from Jane Austen.

The next year was spent deconstructing. I rewrote every scene, every paragraph, every sentence. I worked with an editor who showed me more problems and I repeated the above exercise.

The most constant feedback I received was about my opening. It didn't have a voice. It didn't hook the reader. One of my beta readers said she loved the story from chapter two to the end but if she didn't know me she would have dropped it before finishing the first chapter. That stung.

Back to the drawing board. I deconstructed, redeveloped, and shifted scenes. As a result, the first fifty or so pages were rewritten. I liked my story before the alterations. The final version is so much better. My opening isn't perfect but I'm learning.

We fret over words. I stared at my blank page for a while before typing those letters to begin this post, wanting to find the perfect opening lines to hook you, the reader, into wanting to read.

Dig deep. Find your opening. Set your hook then let your voice do the rest.

"Falcon shaded his eyes as he stepped out of his tent. The first rays of morning light streamed over baron edges of a seemingly endless mountain chain. Long shadows danced in vibrant colors across the desert floor. In an instant, the dark, featureless night transformed into a beautiful sight with every hue imaginable on display. The desert itself came alive." - C.L. Blanton, Absolution's Curse.

Lost In Publication

It's so easy to get overlooked.

With today's world of e-pub, all those monkeys locked in a room with typewriters can have their random whacking packaged into a .doc file and uploaded in seconds. Throw some poop against the wall, grab a camera, then use Photoshop to turn the artwork into a cover and they've got a book. Paste in a back cover blurb like "Ooo eee, ooo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang" and it's a global best seller about Monkey Witch Doctors.

Or it could sell five copies (one to the monkey's trainer, three to some missing link relatives, and one to the guy who had to clean the wall).

I've written on this blog in the past few weeks about how this has all been a learning experience. The numbers of promotional choices I've made correctly are far outnumbered by missteps and outright whiffs. But that's what I expected.

While writing my book, ABSOLUTION'S CURSE, I had more false starts than every offensive line in the NFL combined. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've leaned back in my chair, folded my arms, and proclaimed "It's done" only to realize later that "It's not."

But you only get one first book release.

It's something I knew would be a big blind swing in the dark with little chance of connecting but if you never step up to the plate then there's no chance of getting a hit.

(Like that? I snuck in football and baseball references. I'll work on adding basketball, hockey, soccer, and curling later.)

I've remained hesitant to throw cash at advertising, organized twitter campaigns, and other such marketing tools. No need to drain the bank account on a few shotgun attempts when I'm not putting together a full attack.

I tried to look at this as if I were the reader. When I flip through Amazon's pages of available books, I look for three things:

1) A story description that interests me - I believe I have that. It interested me enough to spend large amounts of time researching and writing. It's a story I'd like to read.

2) Reader reviews - I don't believe everything I see but they at least give a glimpse into the story. I'm woefully lacking here. If reviews are a writer's lifeblood then I must be embalmed.

I do have a few copies out for review so hopefully I'll have something soon but I guess I thought Review Ferries would sweep down while I slept, leaving nice 4 or 5 Star evaluations with minimal effort on my part. Big swing and miss.

3) The writer's name - I love reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Tom Clancy, etc... Those are names I know. Good or bad, I know what I'm getting.

Something I've learned from the past few months is the amount of wonderful writers out there without easily recognizable names that automatically require a press of the "Buy now with 1-Click" button. I'm vying to join that anonymously talented group.

So I think I have number 1, I'm working on number 2, and know I don't have a snowballs shot in H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks at number 3. (weak hockey reference)

What's next?

Here's my call to arms for ABSOLUTION'S CURSE. If you like the way I write here, if you follow me on Twitter and think I'm at least one half step above that room full of monkeys, please give the link above a look.

I'll have a giveaway on Goodreads from June 7 through July 7, more details on next week's post.

I'll pick a few upcoming days for free downloads on Kindle and ask nicely for anyone receiving these gifts to leave an honest review to help with number 2 (Reader Reviews, not monkey poop).

All this leads to my next announcement. My second novel, ALWAYS REMEMBER ME, is going to my editor today. My goal is to release it in 4th quarter of this year. I hope to create some momentum in the coming weeks, spring boarding off my unsure efforts for ABSOLUTION'S CURSE.

It will be no slam dunk (basketball) and I'll need to finish a third story to go for the hat-trick (better hockey reference) but I'm going to try.

(The fact that I call it soccer and not football is a giveaway that I'd be faking any terms. I don't have a clue what curling's about except they seem to be awfully interested in cleaning the ice with a broom.)

I offer my heartfelt thank you for your indulgence,

Lance (C.L.) Blanton

Blanton's Eleven

I've been writing this blog for three months and haven't made any lists. This must be some kind of  internet record.

Well, I'm succumbing to the urge. This week I turn the blog over to random writing thoughts. These are observations I've written down the past few weeks while staring at my keyboard.

Does this mean I'm already jumping the blog shark? (Please ignore that last statement. It was not an approved random thought.)

1) Cookie Butter. This belongs squarely at the top of my list. Each productive writing session must contain at least one bite of Cookie Butter from Trader Joe's. I'm addicted.

2) Writing Music. ABSOLUTION'S CURSE was written mostly to a soundtrack of "30 Seconds to Mars", "Default", and "Lifehouse" with the occasional "Tears for Fears" thrown in. Since then I've moved to solo piano, mostly David Nevue. For some reason I have a hard time writing when I hear voices outside my head. I think the inner voices get jealous. Now when I hear pianos I have a Pavlovian urge to bang on a keyboard.

3) Playing cards. When I write I have to have a deck of cards to shuffle. When one bends or splits, I throw the offending card away. By the end of a manuscript my stack of cards is almost half the original size. This means I rarely write with a full deck.

4) Writing Distractions. I get distracted by PC games (Civ V, Football Manager, OOTP, Sim City) and now that baseball season is in full gear, Atlanta Braves games. Twitter and this blog get in the way too but at least they are related to writing.

5) Twitter tools. I use Twitter app to manage my feed, Slices for feeds I follow, and HootSuite to manage everything else. Downloaded UberSocial a couple of weeks ago and giving it a trial run. (Takeaway from this line, I over complicate then don't understand why things are so complicated.)

6) Social Media learning curve. I'm still trying to understand retweeting and hashtags. I'd rather take a book to the face than get on Facebook but I may be relenting soon. Google+ is a complete mystery. Maybe Rosetta Stone can come up with a translation program. I'm pretty sure I occasionally violate online etiquette but I try not to make myself sound unintentionally stupid since I'm fully able to achieve absurdity on purpose.

7) Spelling. OMG. You would not believe how many times I misspelled words just writing this blog (including the word misspelled). How bad is it that I use Google as a spell checker? 

8) Writing tools. I use "Scrivener for Windows" for writing. It's a wonderful tool but I only use roughly 25% of its functions. When I write using Word I typically suffer from anger control issues. (Cue Andy Griffith using worty-dirds.)

9) Writing time. I like to write early in the morning but have a hard time getting up. I like to write late at night but typically work makes me tired. By the time the house settles down I'm low on brain activity. Best writing time is when I'm at work. (Takeaway from this line, I need to quit my job and write for a living. I wonder if the nearest overpass gets a good Wi-Fi signal?)

10) MUST MAKE TIME TO WRITE. Excuses about not wanting to get up early or being too tired to write do not move the pages forward.

11) Thank you. For your patience while I develop this part of the game. For making it to the bottom of this list. For being a Twitter/Blog/Online friend.

What writing idiosyncrasies do you have?

 (And look it up, I spelled idiosyncrasies right. At least Google says I did.)

C.L. Blanton

Not So Fast, Not So Furious

The slow build.

That’s how I’ve always looked at life’s more important moments. Take your time. Nothing built to last rises in just one day. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.

This slow build is difficult for someone with patience issues. I've learned to fake nonchalance. Sure I’d love a good get-rich-quick plan to drop wealth and glory upon my deserving head, but I don’t have any plans for that to happen any time soon. Instead I take the slow road.

When I started my business career I didn’t aim for a plumb job straight out of college. I entered low, the banking equivalent of the mail room without actually sorting mail. I worked my way up, sliding from one job to the next until I looked around and realized I’d reached a long ago stated goal.

For me, in my day job, the slow build worked. Sure I was vastly underpaid for a while. Sure others got higher quicker. But I understood my job from the ground up. I earned respect. And that wasn’t by accident or because I didn’t have any other choices. That was how I wanted to begin.

What about writing?

Internet, Twitter, and all other social media landing zones are full of get-rich-quick plans for thrusting your future prize winning missive before the yearning throngs (there’s that word again). I understand their worth. For as little as $15 I can have my link tweeted to thousands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have known what they were missing. They probably still won’t buy my book, but at least they’ll know they’re missing it.

I’m not saying I won’t eventually take a flyer on one of those offers. I’ll keep sending out tweets every once in a while touting my story. I’ll probably have a free day on Amazon to see if Frank (my book’s lead character) can con (he’s a con-man) a few bargain hunters to bite.

And don’t think for a second any of this means I don’t care. I bleed for this book. There isn’t a chapter, page, sentence, or word that at some point hasn’t been agonized over.

Would he really say that? What imagery should frame her reaction? Is this the perfect word to portray his thoughts or that setting?

ABSOLUTION'S CURSE is my youngest child and I've released it to the world. Like any loving father, I want it to do well. I try to stand back and watch it struggle to crawl, find legs, and someday walk on its own. I keep my hands out, ready to offer support or guidance when needed.

Maybe I should do more. Maybe I should just carry my story around on my shoulders, constantly singing its praise, pushing it (dirty diapers and all) into as many faces as possible. Or maybe I should wait and see where it wants to go.

That impatient voice wins at least once a day. I log onto the sales report with a feigned air of indifference but still feel my heart sink when the numbers don’t move.

(Note to Amazon: I appreciate the ability to see sales totals in near real time but I think I’d be better off if you could somehow limit my views since I’m obviously unable to stay away on my own.)

I have to tell myself, “Not So Fast.” Slow down. If I really want the art of writing to become something special for me then take the time to make it right.

I have to remind myself, “Not So Furious.” Don’t let the lack of comments, views, reviews, and sales turn what began as an internal challenge into an all devouring obsession.

The slow build tells me to keep my eyes forward, fingers typing, and face smiling. I’ve reached my goal. What percentage of others in the history of mankind can say they’ve completed a novel?

Everything from here on out is gravy.


Lance (C.L.) Blanton

Trouble with the Learning Curve

Picture Clint Eastwood sitting in the stands, watching Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake struggle to break barriers and open their hearts.

That image has little to do with this week’s message, I’m just a big Atlanta Braves fan and liked the movie.

Looking back at my previous posts helped me identify a few trends.

First off, sometimes I sound a little whiny. I promise it’s not intentional. Please. Please. Please. Don’t stop following me.

Second, they show my struggle to get a handle on this part of the writing game.

This is how I have to attack writing, by taking each step slowly, learning as much as I can at one level before moving on to the next. For the past few years I’ve concentrated on moving my writing from random words strung together with questionable style and bad grammar to plotted stories with coherent flowing meaning and bad grammar.

My learning curve up to this point has been a slow build, known only to me and immediate family. Now I’m out. Now I’m learning in front of an audience (okay, a gathering) (okay, those of you who stumbled into this post because you clicked a link.)

My book, ABSOLUTION’S CURSE, is very important to me. I strongly believe in its core message; the belief that forgiving yourself is more difficult than being forgiven by others.

I’m proud of the outcome from years of research, studying, and bleeding words into a keyboard. Although I still have much to learn (grammar), I’m content with how far I've come.

So where am I now?

Here. Drawing readers to my blog, forming a gathering, building an audience.

My hope is for it to pay off with a few honest reviews posted on Amazon or Goodreads to attract more readers to download my story and fund the purchase of a nice umbrella. (Please see my inaugural post to discover the meaning of that reference.)

In the grand scheme, I don’t know what, if anything, to expect from this release. Maybe something will catch. Maybe I’m building toward future success with my next book. Maybe I’m destined to bang randomly on my keyboard like a room full of underappreciated monkeys.

That’s the trouble with the learning curve. But it can only help to make the next attempts go smother, right?

The tagline of Mr. Eastwood’s movie is “Whatever life throws at you.” That’s how I’m approaching this phase of writing. I’ll take what’s thrown at me, learn, and hopefully apply it to future endeavors.

Keep learning. Keep writing. Keep swinging at curveballs.

Lance (C.L.) Blanton

If You Build It, They Will Follow (maybe)

I'm writing this post at work between meetings so it may seem a little disjointed. This week's subject is "Building a Platform."

No, this isn't a DIY about refurbishing a deck, although I do have a few rails that lean.

Oh look, Red Cross is in the hallway soliciting for a blood drive. I'd like to sign up but don't have time.

Where was I? Okay, this also isn't a how-to step-by-step guide on building a successful social presence. Look at my twitter and blog stats. I'm in no position to tell anyone how-to but you may be able to watch me then point and giggle at things not-to-do.

Oh look, co-workers are lined up outside the cafeteria entrance to collect food and clothes for those less fortunate. I'd like to stop and make a donation but I'm in a hurry.

Sorry, back to my subject. I've given quite a bit of thought to what I should do next. How do I build my followers to 10K and beyond? How do I spit out 20, 30, 50+ tweets a day. How do I get fully involved in as many platforms as possible?

Running from meeting to meeting, passing worthy causes for no other reason than I have pressing matters made me realize something relating to my frustrations in building a social stage.

Everyone has priorities. Everyone's timelines are flooded with information on an ever increasing basis. People, organizations, and groups, all worthy of attention on their own, must compete for eye space.

I may use twitter, or Goodreads, or this blog to jump up and down and yell, "Look at me. I have a book out." I may even throw in a polite, "Please visit my book page on Amazon."

The reality is, my posts flounder for attention in a sea filled with far greater distractions. (Get that? Flounder? Sea?  **lowers head in shame** Sorry.)

I've come to a simple truth.

When I started writing, I did so with the intention of making myself happy, not to grab the attention of the glaring throngs. (Had to double check to make sure I didn't type "glaring thongs." That would just be disturbing.)

 If one or ten or ten thousand others wanted to read my story, that would be great. If no one joined me, that'd be fine too. I write because I have a story inside that wants out.

I must look at social media the same way. There are an endless number of blogs and websites offering advice and help (sometimes for a fee) on how to expand your presence. They offer tips and tools on how to get YOUR MESSAGE in front of as many eyes as possible.

I've spent the last few weeks stressing about followers, worried that I may have violated one of those what-no-to-do rules.

What have I learned?

I have to do this for me in a way that's true to me. I'll use humor. I'll share. I'll grow slowly or maybe not at all. I'll slow down. Give more. Expect less. I'll take a breath. Return to the reason I typed out that first sentence years ago.

Everyone has their own goals. I needed a reminder of mine.

For all who actually read and follow, thank you. I'll keep writing and blogging and tweeting because it's fun. Twitter gives me a chance to fire off some random thoughts that otherwise would have only made me wonder about my sanity. This blog gives me a home base to sort out these unfamiliar voices clamoring for attention inside my head.

So if I still want to focus on "Building a Platform", maybe I'd be better off signing up for blood drives, donating a few cans of food, or just pushing away from the keyboard and pulling a hammer out of the garage. That rail really needs some work.


Lance (C.L. Blanton)

Book, Interrupted

I've finally taken that step. The link above this post is proof.

ABSOLUTION'S CURSE is published.

After dreaming up this story idea eight years ago while working one night (what else do you do on third shift?) all the effort is finally over. Plots. Drafts. Edits. All behind me. The pieces have come together to form one solid novel.

I can't begin to tell you how many versions I have stashed away in various folders on my PC. A few weeks ago I found one of the earliest files. I read it and cringed, much like I'll probably do in a few years when I look back at this book.

So all that's left is to upload and watch.

We all know that statement is delusional on so many fronts.

First, the upload part. I've used this experience to invent a few new worty-dirds that I'd prefer not to type here. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords have done amazing things to allow non-professional publishers to put their personal works of art into the public domain. Yet, each one had their own issues. Multiple times over the past week I've leaned back in my chair and relaxed, certain the job is done, only to find a few minor and occasionally major flaws. I imagine some format reviewer at Amazon is laughing each time they see my file return for another try.

Second, the work has only just begun (why did Karen Carpenter's angelic voice just echo through my brain?). I'm not very good at promotional stuff. I'm trying to learn twitter but still feel like an alien monitoring foreign communications. This blog has been fun to write but I still wonder what I'm supposed to say and where that line between interesting and disturbed lies. I've read writers doing guest blogs and received tweets from websites proclaiming they can boost sales figures. I'm still trying to figure out where I fit.

Third, the journey gives that strange drive to keep going. I play softball every weekend because of a push from inside even though I know my knees will bark at me for days. That same unstoppable, insatiable thrust has arrived in the form of a keyboard and blank page. I know the commitment required, the pain from rejection, the doubt, the overwhelming fear that all this is for nothing and it would be better for all if I just pulled away from the writing desk forever.

Yet, that voice keeps whispering. That tiny cry from somewhere undefinable won't let me stop.

My idea, born from a simple desire keep my mind busy during long dark drives into work, is published.

Now the real job begins.


C.L. Blanton

Stranger Than Non-Fiction

I haven't gotten much writing or publishing stuff done this week. Got a wild hair on Monday to reconfigure my home office. Spent the last few days trying to reorganize the chaos and remember which cords belong to which plugs. Posting of this blog indicates that I'm (almost) done and back to normal.

With my workspace back in order, I'll spend this weekend getting my novel, Absolution's Curse [ALERT-ALERT, SHAMELESS PLUG, ALERT-ALERT], published to the world. I can assure you I'll be dedicating future blogs and tweets to promoting but I decided to have this week's post trend toward another positive sentiment.

We all have the "Why do I write" story.

Wait. Don't roll your eyes and click away yet.

I'm not going to go into sappy stories about high school English teachers (sorry Mrs. Atwell and Mrs. Larson) or discuss epiphany moments where the clouds parted and my story came to me from on high.

It's about sticking your neck out to a place where you're not comfortable. It's about taking a chance you normally wouldn't just to say you tried, just to push yourself further than you thought possible.

In high school (wait, I promise it's not about English class) I was constantly the last guy picked in PE for any sport. Most of the time a few of the girls were picked before me. I didn't get too offended, they were athletic girls. Despite my lack of abilities, I tried out for the school baseball team. To my surprise I made it past all cuts. My junior year we won the State Championship with me mostly on the bench. My senior year I started at second base and set a school record for most errors in a season (I'm very proud).

But I always wanted to pitch. I spent entire summers in my backyard throwing against a wall with a strike zone outlined in bright red paint. I graduated without throwing a single pitch in a real game.

A year later I found an announcement in the sports section of our newspaper for tryouts with a semi-pro team. Before I lost my nerve I gave the number a call. The coach asked what position I played and, without hesitation, I responded with pitcher.

Holy crap, what have I done? I've never pitched to a real batter in a real game. I'm an impostor, a fake.

I went to tryouts despite the voices in my head yelling at me to stay home. Each day I avoided Coach at the end of practice so he couldn't cut me or ask why I was still there. At the end of the week he took us to the side and gave all of us our contracts to sign and uniforms. In a few short years I went from last kid chosen to a true semi-pro ballplayer. I pitched two years before injuring my knee.

I've looked at writing with the same eye. I usually fell like an impostor, a fake. I wonder why I'm here. In school, my writing assignments barely passed (oops, I did reference English class). Now I'm trying to enter the semi-pro league of writing by self publishing.

As I prepare to upload my novel I hear John Fogerty singing "Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play."

To all: Keep writing. Keep dreaming. Keep putting yourself into uncomfortable positions. You never know when you'll strikeout or when you'll connect.


C.L. Blanton

(Okay, you can click away now.)

Anatomy of An Errant Reference

Confession time.

When I wrote out my last blog I thought I had a great line. After the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" mention, I would include a nod to my home state of North Carolina by adding, "Cue the skydiving Andy Griffith's."

I loved the line. A funny reference: Vegas/Skydiving Elvis, Carolina/Skydiving Andy. With five words it compared two beloved icons from separate ends of the entertainment spectrum. A wonderful juxtaposition.

Only one problem.

The skydiving Elvis's are from a different movie, "Honeymoon in Vegas". Right city, wrong movie reference.

So, unless I changed the entire beginning of the blog or somehow alluded to Nicolas Cage, that line had to go.

That's a hard writing lesson to learn. When do you fight for your beloved line and when do you step away? When do you bend over backward, change setups, or rearrange timelines, just to include that clever idea?

Sometimes the decisions are easy (like when IMDB confirms you stink at movie references) but sometimes you stare at the computer screen for an eternity with a finger hovering over the delete button.

I've had to learn to trust my instincts. Be true to the story. Avoid forcing what I think is a great idea into a bad situation. Maybe the perfect setup waits within another chapter or the next novel. Don't be afraid to copy/paste that potentially prize winning line into a document solely dedicated to discarded ideas.

Treat them like refugees from the Island of Misfit Toys in that great Christmas TV special, "Frosty the Snowman" (or was it "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Crap, did I do it again?)


C.L. Blanton

Fear and Writing in North Carolina

Granted, that title is not as powerful as "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" but this is a free blog and ya get what ya pay for.

I was asked recently to explain My Umbrella Project. I must admit, I stared at my keyboard for a while and answered with what probably sounded like a weak, veiled attempt at the truth. I found that while I had an overall idea of what I wanted it to mean, it was hard to put into words, especially in 140 characters or less.

First I'd like to say what it's not.
Is it a charity?  No.
Is it an endeavor to create a better world?  No.
One day, in a wonderful universe where my little novel breaks into a best seller list, I would love to have it morph into something worthwhile to more than just myself, but that's a dream.

So what is My Umbrella Project?
That's where the Fear and Writing part kicks in. I'll leave the details of how the name was created to my first post but basically it acts as an irreverent motivation.

I've been writing for years but only a small handful of family outside my house had any idea about my hobby. This step, to open the doors and expose myself to the world, has turned out to be every bit as daunting as I expected. I try to use humor to dispel the anxiety but I'm forever worrying about what I've done or what I should do next.

To those who have pushed through this wall, who greet the physical and online worlds with poise and gusto, I sincerely applaud you.

To anyone else who struggles with self-confidence, who has a voice but isn't sure they have the strength to share it; I float down that same river, consistently wondering if my oar is good enough to dip into the rushing water.

I call this a project (both the CLBlantonProject and My Umbrella Project) because it's a work in process to develop a writer. I've closed both eyes and jumped into the water. I'll float or sink, but either way I pushed myself out of the relative comfort of the boat.

The overall theme of this blog is still developing but I hope to share the ups and downs of this journey. I'll be as honest with you as possible. Maybe this project will act only as my therapist. Maybe it can encourage others. There are no other grand agendas than to step timidly into the world and live.

C.L. Blanton


On a very personal note, RIP Sue. I wish we had worked together longer.
May your body become whole again and your soul always reside in the Keys.
Keep throwing cherry tomatoes at me from heaven, maybe one day you won't miss.

Absolution's Curse

Okay, time to start getting serious about this book thing. My goal for the last month has been to learn about social media by playing with this blog and my brand spanking new twitter account. So far I'd consider this a success (as long as success is defined as no lawsuits, overly harsh replies, or mass exodus of those uninformed enough to follow me).

I also have no idea if anyone is actually reading my posts/tweets, but that's beside the point.

Today I'd like to share what Absolution's Curse is about and why this story has pushed me into the world of writing.

The Setting

St. Louis of 1849 was in the eye of a slowly building storm fueled by a multiple year cholera epidemic and an expanding population of fortune seekers. It only took one spark in the middle of the night to light a tragedy.

The city of St. Louis was originally intended to serve as background noise while the main story played out. If that's the case then why would I lead this post with something as unimportant as the location?

Research into events of the time uncovered incredible tales of danger, loss, and bravery. The story I started with blind understanding wrapped itself around these events, drawing in meaning and purpose where I never expected.

St. Louis became more than a location, it's as central a character as any real or fictional person passing through the pages. It's my hope and prayer that this story honors those heroes who gave their lives in defense of this city.

The Main Character

Decades of scams litter Frank's past, but an impromptu return home brings a chance to start an honest life, setting into motion an adventure with stakes no ex-riverboat gambler should accept.

The son of a con man, Frank follows his late father's footsteps, ignoring childhood instructions to lead an honorable life. Time has finally arrived to put old debts to rest, but when the bodies of those he pledged to protect lay at his feet and a mysterious Indian elder uses his final breath to pass on an ancient burden, all hope for honor is ruined.

Images from the past haunt his dreams and an odd blue light, the portal to a strange land, follows his journey. Time passes but his reflection in the mirror doesn't change. Only a clean soul can end the curse but absolution is hard to find when best intentions continue to leave blood on his hands. Frank is faced with the prospect of carrying his sins into a new century, unaged and unforgiven.

The Meaning

God's forgiveness is there for the asking, but finding the strength to forgive yourself can take a lifetime.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my story. Feel free to post a comment so I'll know you made it all the way through (a sign of success for both of us).

C.L. Blanton

Continental Drift and Publishing

Roundball continues. My pick to win is still alive but everyone else has gone home. Such is life.

At this point I would like to say I picked Florida Gulf Coast to go deep into my bracket, but unfortunately I'm not a very good liar.

I'm inching forward on self-publishing my book, Absolution's Curse, but it looks like it will push into mid April. Only dead snails and continental drift moves slower than book publishing.

But I do have exciting news to share. I have a book cover!

What do you think?

I'm excited. Makes it feel real.

Anyway, I'm hoping to continue moving forward even if healthy snails and rising mountain ranges are laughing at me.


C.L. Blanton

March is a Special Month

Why?

It contains my birthday. Is there really any other reason needed?

Not enough? Okay.

How about the start of a certain basketball tournament with maddening rules restricting my ability to call it anything other than "The Tourney who shall not be named." (Am I going to be in trouble for writing that?)

How about the start of Spring Training? (I'm allowed to use that name, right?)

How about it holds the birthdays of my Grandmother and Grandfather who raised me?

How about it was my Grandfather who first got me interested in reading for reasons other than school assignments?

How about it's the month I've targeted for my first book release?

March will mark the publication of Absolution's Curse in honor of my Grandmother and Grandfather and the sacrifices they made.

March is and will always be a truly special month for reasons far deeper than just my birthday.

So, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to formatting and tweaking the pages into publishable form.

Oh, and I'll be watching that round ball tournament thingy too. And go Braves.

C.L. Blanton

Welcome to My Umbrella Project

A little over twenty years ago I began my career in the world of banking. I can't complain too much about that world. It has provided for my family and taught me many lessons. But something happened during that first year of employment that stuck with me.

Our building held a charity drive. All departments sent their employees to the meetings in shifts. All night I saw my co-workers returning to their desks with nice T-shirts, cool coffee mugs, and huge colorful golf umbrellas. Everything looked nice, but I wanted an umbrella.

Finally, my name was called for the last group of the night. I walked into the room, interacted nicely during the presentation, signed up to donate a portion of my meager paycheck, then walked to the back of the room to receive my prize.

Umbrella? No. Mug? No. A plastic Frisbee. Not even a really nice Frisbee. Plain blue with a faded white logo plastered across the top.

Not happy.

During my first annual review with my boss I was asked if I had any career plans. I responded that I wanted to work for the bank for twenty years and receive an umbrella. He laughed. It wasn't too much to ask.

I've reached my twenty year anniversary. During that time I've received key chains, note pads, and foam toys. I've also received cash awards, trips across the country, and a really nice food processor.

When the statement was first made I thought the umbrella part was a slam dunk, the years of service would be the part unlikely to materialize. But here I am, a few mergers, multiple departments and jobs later, still at the same bank, still no company provided umbrella.

I no longer want an umbrella from my employer. I want to earn my own.

I love to write and do it for the pure joy of watching characters and stories come to life. I love having the vague idea of a scene bounce around in my head, no real clue as to how it should unfold, then see it play out as the pages fill with words.

This is now my umbrella.

My new goal is to create stories that hopefully inspire and ring true. Stories to be enjoyed.

And one day, hopefully in fewer than twenty years, they will help me earn my own umbrella.

C.L. Blanton