Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Good News/Bad News




So, the past week has been a "good news/bad news" sort of week, here at the Means Ranch.


Good News: I found a job with a great, stable, company and a lot of potential/staying power.
Bad News: They don't hire on full time, so it's only part time, for now.

Good News: It's money coming in (which we need) and they're giving me more hours than I expected.
Bad News: No benefits....yet.

Good News: I'm working on a new writing project that has me excited about writing.
Bad News: That, along with the new job (as well as looking into helping my wife and sister-in-law set up another business), is cutting into my blogging/commenting time.

As far as the blogging/commenting goes, I want to apologize for not being as visible, as in the past, and let everyone know that I'll be trying to catch up very soon.

It's a blessing in disguise, though, as I've been grumbling (a lot, recently) about my habit of 'writing about writing more than just...writing'.

Now I'm "writing".

At this point I have:

  • A genre
  • A (working) title
  • Setting
  • Some protagonists
  • A vague inkling of antagonist(s)
  • Story framework


What I need to delve more into is:

  • World building
  • An outline(!!!)
  • Story tone

Did I miss anything?

Have a great week!

38 comments:

Brandon Ax said...

Writing is always > than writing about writing. Also glad to hear you are enjoying the new job. Can't wait to hear more about the story.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

plus on the job thing, i am going on the 5th year of non-steady job thing... the joy of writing is it can be anytime...

Elise Fallson said...

Good news about the job and don't worry about the blogging/commenting thing. Just drop in when you can and write on your new project every chance you get. Hope you get those benefits soon.

Andrew Leon said...

Sentences... I'm pretty sure you missed sentences. And, maybe, some paragraphs. I'm pretty sure you need those things, right?

Anonymous said...

Pleased to hear of your job although it's not full hours. Hope the benefits arrive soon and good luck with the writing.

Yvonne.

Melissa said...

Forget the bad news part. Just... WOOT! :D

Regarding your outline, try doing from the ending backward. Don't laugh. It really works. ;)

Mark Means said...

@Brandon: Agreed and thanks! I'll relay more info soon, I'm sure.

@Jeremy: Ugh, yeah it's a tough job market, for sure. I was lucky in that I knew someone already there who could put in the good word.

@Elise: Thanks and me too! :)

@Andrew: LOL....well, I -guess- so. The world never seems to run out of comedians :P

@Yvonne: Thank you very much, I'm holding out hope :)

@Melissa: Hey, I wouldn't laugh at backwards outlining. I've read about others successfully doing that. Something to think about, for sure :)

Jennifer said...

You have a job with the potential for full time, that's a good thing.

Don't worry about us in the blogosphere, we'll survive for a few days without you. Just make sure you stop by to feed and water us every once in a while.

Outline. I have no suggestions there. I'm a super pantser.

Manzanita said...

That good news/bad news thing gets to me a lot too. I don't appreciate distractions when all I want to do is garden during the summer. Life just often gets in the way, huh.
Good you found a job as I hear they are a premium.
You take care, my friend.

Regina said...

Yay! for job and writing! It's a start and that's something to celebrate :) Half-Full!

Mark Means said...

@Jennifer: Haha, I'll make sure I leave some water :P Yes, I'm usually a pantser too, but I'm trying to reform :)

@Manzanita: They are, around here...and thank you! :)

@Regina: Very true, thanks! :)

Robin said...

Glad you found a job and some inspiration for your writing. Stay positive on the hours and benefits. I am a big believer in one of two things happening: 1) Those things will come to you in this job, or 2) It is always easier to find a better job when you have a job. So, either way it will work out! Yay:)

Suzanne Furness said...

I'd say the good news outweighed the bad, Mark. Drop in and let us know how you are getting on whenever you are able. Good luck with the new job and of course the new writing project.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Congrats on the new job, part-time is better than unemployment. Glad you have a writing project going and best of luck. Your good news outweighs the bad and I wish you all the best.

Julie Flanders said...

Congratulations on such wonderful news!! I'm so happy for you and wish you the best with the new job. I hope it leads to more stability and also benefits down the road. Also wonderful to read that you have a writing project that excites you! Best of luck with it and enjoy! :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Mark .. so pleased for you - sounds like your glass is half full and there's always that potential for a top up ...

Keep cheerful and just enjoy the new job .. I'm sure things will materialise in due course .. cheers Hilary

Al Diaz said...

I think you have the most important covered already. It is a VERY good idea that you write less about writing and do the actual writing. Congratulations over that decision! We'll be cheering for you...whenever the lousy internet connection allows us. :)

jaybird said...

Congrats on landing the new job Mark. Sounds like you have more than enough to start on the new writing project. Some times I just have an abstract sentence, and I can go from there. Other times I am much more organized and have everything plotted out. Either way, it's a start.

Best of luck with the new job and helping out your wife and sister-in-law in the new business venture!

mshatch said...

Great news about the job and I can definitely relate as I am looking myself right now. And better news about the writing - have fun with your new new toy :)

Morgan said...

Ah, the joys of real life. We've missed you, Mark! But HUGE congrats on the job. Really neat. And don't worry about us--we'll just be here waiting for updates! You must keep us posted!

Mark Means said...

@Robin: Very true...very true...I'll remain positive and be open to both results, thanks :)

@Suzanne: Thank you and I have to agree about the good news being better than the bad. It's like the old Rolling Stones song, 'you can't always get what you want...but you get what you need'. :)

@Sheena: Thank you and, yes, you're right...a job is way better than none :)

@Julie: Thank you, I appreciate that!

@Hilary: A top up...I like that! Thank you, Hilary, people like you make it easy for me to stay positive :)

@Al: Thank you, Your Dragon-ness! I'll take any cheers you can muster, internet willing, of course :) (Hope you can get that resolved soon, too!)

@jaybird: Absolutely! Even a small start is a good thing and can really help jumpstart the ideas. Thank you!

@mshatch: Best of luck to you in your job search. I know it's tough out there, but stay positive...something will come along.

@Morgan: Thank you and I sure will....once I get things laid out a bit more clearly :)

orneryswife said...

congrats on the job. Hope it turns into full time with benefits for you soon, but meantime, what a great chance to write!

tm

Lisa said...

Well, in my book you've had more positive than negative. You can relax a bit knowing you have an income, even if it's less than you'd like right now, it is still better than nothing, right!? And the fact that you're writing again is FANTASTIC!!! So, count only your blessings and go for it dude!

klahanie said...

Hello human, Mark,

Good news about you working in a "stable". Sorry, that was kinda' silly. Actually, during these tough, austere times, you do realise that the job is a start and may lead to better situations.

I'm delighted that your passion for writing is transpiring. I'm still trying to teach my human how to be a better writer.

A great week to you, my human friend.

Pawsitive wishes,

Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

~Brandy~ said...

You have to put up with the rain in order to see the rainbow (or something like that...) Exciting things are happening for you and yours so that has to mean Good overall!

Brandy's Bustlings

Chancelet said...

Those are some good news and the bad news are definitely worrisome. Wishing you all the best with them. Great that you're writing instead of writing about writing. It's one of those things for me, that I always feel I should write more than I am - which is I should be working on the sequel to my first book as well as blogging and completing my book of flash fiction and poetry. Those "not doing enough" demons need to just go away. :) Writer’s Mark

PK HREZO said...

Hey Mark!

Congrats on the job!! Here's hoping it works out the way you'd like! And that's great about the shiny new story idea! I love that initial excitement and romance of a new story--then after umpteen revisions I"m usually sick of it. lol

PK HREZO said...

Hey Mark!

Congrats on the job!! Here's hoping it works out the way you'd like! And that's great about the shiny new story idea! I love that initial excitement and romance of a new story--then after umpteen revisions I"m usually sick of it. lol

Maurice Mitchell said...

Congratulations Mark since jobs aren't easy to come by these days. With a good framework the rest will fall into place.

Jeff Hargett said...

It sounds as though much of the bad news parts may be temporary, so that's good news. And your good news is indeed good news. Glad you're writing though. Something tells me you're going to do just fine. :)

Unknown said...

Congrats on the new job! It's a big step in the right direction and hopefully you'll be promoted to full time soon. Good luck on your WIP - it's exciting to have a new idea! :-)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hey, Mark,


Congrats on the job! IT's a start! TImes are tough and every bit helps. Besides all experiences in life is future material for our writing endeavors.

Don't worry about not being visible LIFE gets in the way with most of us and we all have varied schedules. Last year was my disappearing act for a while. I blogged infrequently and managed to do A-Z, but nowhere near as much as I would've have liked.

THIS YEAR... I AM EVERYWHERE ... LOL. Keeping up, posting regularly and visiting my blogger friends. When we can we can...

Have a great weekend and GOOD LUCK with all your new endeavors.

cleemckenzie said...

There's just so much time, Mark! Glad you're finding more time to write.

BTW: I've left something for you at The Write Game.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Its good news on the job front for you, don't worry about blogging and commenting, we understand.

Mark Koopmans said...

Yo Homie,

You need an Italian in there to mix things up... otherwise (wait for it...) fuhgeddaboutit :)

PS... CONGRATS on the new job - and here's hoping it flips to fulltime sooner than later (with full bennies :)

mail4rosey said...

Congrats on the job and good luck w/the writing. :)

Unknown said...

Hey Mark,

I hope everything levels out for you soon. :) Congrats on the new job.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Congratulations on the new job. And it sounds like a great start to the new book. Writing is always better than writing about writing. But not as easy to do sometimes :-)

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