WCMarchese

This week I came to a realization. I had something in me when I first started, a raw energy that lent hope and brought out some pretty damn good moments in my writing.  Then I went through multiple moments of doubt and worry. Am I good enough? Everyone knows what I want to do, and I'm such a loud mouth that if I don't do it I'll look like a looser. And there were more.  Then I had moments where I felt great, on top of the world. I had, if memory serves me correctly,  figured out something new, a different way of seeing things, and pushed on. I still had those days of self doubt, and maybe even gave up at certain moments. Yet I always got up the next day (and still do) with a refreshed attitude to go right back at it again. I had something new to work with. Of course sometimes it negated some older knowledge, but. I restructured and moved forward.  At one point, a long moment in time haha, work piled on and life gripped with a desperate choke hold--some wanted, ...

This one came late, but it's been crazy. Will try to have them sometime between Monday and Wednesday. Enjoy tomorrow night's show. Now here's a recap of last week's show. WCM: This show we went solo, if you look at us as one being, that is. According to Dedman, I'm a wimp for liking fancy coffee. Please. I love coffee, especially rich and strong. If it has a flavor, or two, thrown in, what's wrong with that? JD: Fancy coffee is fine. I just laughed hard on how you said it. I could hear the coffee snob. Mmmmmm, I only enjoy the rich strong taste for expensive coffee that use exotic coffee beans. We navigated the best we could with crap AT&T internet. You suck AT&T! Go choke on a 12 inch dildo and fuck off! Sorry, I'm still a bit pissed. WCM: Hyped up on caffeine, we then delved into writing quality, and if there is there really bad and good writing? I think there is a big difference. Though, again, we met somewhere in the middle once again. We ...

I've had fellow writers read a story of mine titled The Cat. This story is one I have worked over time and time again in the hopes of making it work. I have painstakingly attempted to rewrite and change aspects of the stories, without killing the core of each--which I have been told both have an excellent premise. It will not be an easy thing to do, but I'm up for the challenge.  One thing I know I've done, between the day job taking a huge chunk of my day, and family life taking another chunk, then various projects I had done for other magazines and such, I have put on hold the most important thing and that would be to write. And read.  I have enjoyed the extra activities I've become involved in. In the end, however, they have kept me from my ultimate goal--to become a writer who is capable of living off of that work.  Don't get me wrong. The activities I've done have gotten me out there, and helped me make acquaintances. Some of those activities, like th...

WCM: On last Friday's show, we had on Madeline Swan who discussed what she was doing and her writing career. We delved deep into her story The Occtopus in the Corner of the Room in the Deadman's Tome sci-fi edition Final Conflict, and where she got the inspiration to write such a piece. JD: Madeleine Swann has a brilliant mind that's tuned into the weird and psychedelic without the need of mind altering chemicals. Octopus in the Corner of the Room is more than a story, it's social commentary in an abstract way. We had some really good fan questions that dug into her method.  WCM: We also had Catman on, but he got cut from the show due to technical issues. So you may never get to hear that exchange between cat and Swann. JD: The internet at my house was compromised by damage from the flood and the repairs of such damage. Excuse or legit? Was I trying to silence Man Cat? WCM: What more is there to say? The show carried on and we are still seeking a beer c...

Sitting here in a Kohl's parking lot waiting for the wife and kid, hunched over my laptop pecking away at the keys. Trying to keep from peeking too much at twitter as I yank my conspiracy theory novel into current times--and apply current skills I've acquired.  But my watch buzzes with posts and replies and messages, and events in the parking lot pull me from the pages. It's okay, though. I'm getting some things done. And Twitter, though a lot of people say to the contrary, actually helps me quite a bit.  I had been debating which novel I should work on. There are two. One is the conspiracy one, that has to do a bit with MK Ultra among other things--with a horror twist, of course. The other is about a radio that is haunted. I know, cliche, right? Not necessarily. There are a lot of twists and turns.  I decided on messing with Safe Place, the first novel I mentioned with MK Ultra, because someone in my group likes conspiracy novels and offered to read it for ...

Some great news to report. I'm going to be in Aphotic Realms next anthology titled Banished. I will have a story in there titled Upon Reflection. Very excited. I am almost finished on another story I've been working on, psyched about that one. It's a premise I held dear for a bit; and although it's morphed into quite a different tale from the original, there are a lot of main aspects that remain. I'm very fortunate to have created a writing group that has grown to what it has. It's so important to have a bunch of like-minded individuals who share a common goal. New people come in, and some leave, but all in all things have been great. Someone recently pointed out that writing is mostly an act of solitude. And while I agree--and it needs to be this way at times--it's good to know there are a great bunch of people in the same game waiting to share their experiences and listen to yours. Someone you can talk to about issues with writing, or if something lo...

WCM: This week on the show we had a special guest. Amy Grech. We talked about her writing and day job as a self-employed SEO specialist. We also discussed the Horror Writers Association among other things.  JD: Amy was great. She's been writing for a long time, has over 100 stories published, a pro member of the HWA, and something of a SEO wizard! Above all, she has a great sense of humor and held her own during the stream of dick and pussy jokes. WCM: Even though we got off to a non-Dynamite start, I jumped on my laptop which even made me able to pop on video chat. Those Windows updates can screw things up, and I always seem to get one just before the show starts. Kentucky Bob had one of his famously colorful questions for Dedman and had even prepared one for Amy.  JD: I appreciate fan questions, even Kentucky Bob. It's all about having a fun time, and I'm willing to joke about anything and won't let that man break me. Though, he'll try. WCM: All in all everyth...

Today I am thankful that I know a thing or two about computers. The café where I write doesn't have Wi-Fi, so on my laptop the night before I open the document I wish to edit,  so it can be ready to go. I work on it, and when I get to the day job I log on and save my changes to the cloud.  Today I went to the café to do my Friday writing before hell starts and got pretty far in a story I'm working on. It felt good being able to focus like that. I even put off this post to continue working on the story. Everything was going great.  Before, I had arrived at the coffee shop late due to traffic. People were sitting at my favorite spots! The guy behind the counter even charged me for 2 flatwhites instead of one (and got the donut order wrong)! (Of course I asked nonchalantly if wow, did the price go up--I don't like confrontations if there doesn't need to be any), and he we fixed that situation. Maybe what happens to my document is karma for fixing the coffee problem? Ma...

WCM: Fridays podcast turned out to be a very informative show. We geeked out and talked about the dark corners of writing some may find taboo to discuss. But hey, writers are sending their careers down the river anyway with all this political mumbo jumbo anyway, so why not talk about a subject that actually matters, right? Dedman and I sort of went at it, but found we agree with each other more than originally thought. JD: I got drunk and was a bit contentious, but it was to prove a point. When the readers, on average, don't seem to mind "poor writing" then who exactly are we trying to impress, other writers? Please, there are plenty of writers that get green with envy. WCM: When writing these days, we found it's not hard to accomplish things. All you need is a basic understanding of how to write and a great imagination. Oh, and talent. It's not much different from painting a picture, except with writing you are using words instead of paint. When beginning the...

So it's September. The leaves will soon begin to turn colors, and all the fall and winter items are going to be put out for sale. Cinnamon spice pinecone and firewood. I've already been seeing Halloween things in different stores. I love this time of year.  I'm also finishing up a vacation visiting my parent-in-laws in Puerto Rico. Sad to be leaving, but I also look ahead to all I have to do concerning writing.  You have to be positive. There are really no endings until the ultimate ending on Earth. That's not to say don't cherish every moment, but remember it's not the end just because you have to move forward. Paths will meet again, visiting loved ones, God willing. If you keep yourself busy with tasks and other things, you will be OK in between. I like the mantra Tony Stark said to Pepper Potts in the Iron Man movie. There is nothing except this, the next mission. Keep busy. Depression can take a hold on lots of creative people because of the self doubt a...