Ray Daley's Blog, page 26

Nano rebelling

I may not still be writing a novel, but I am still writing.

While I’m not writing every day, and I’m not about to reach 50,000 words written (maybe if you include blogging, tweets & Facebook posts?) I am still writing stuff.

Currently I’m working on “The Lanyards” which was an idea for a dystopian short which is naturally evolving as I write it. I see it reaching around 5000 words, possibly.

You’ve seen me post 2 flash pieces here but I’ve finished several other things since throwing in the towel with “On Reaching The Beach”. It’s possible that I may revive that at some time and just finish it as a short story.

The Marching Men By Ray Daley

The Marching Men By Ray Daley
11/11/16


 


I can hear them singing before I see them, they don’t come into view for at least another five minutes. And they’re singing the old songs I used to hear Daddy singing.


 


And some of them are crying, just like he used to when he was singing.


 


I can see a young boy standing near me asking “Why are they crying? Are they sad?” so I tell him what Daddy used to tell me before he went away forever.


 


“They’re remembering their old friends. They aren’t sad tears, those are happy tears,” I say.


 


Then the boy smiles, he’s glad they aren’t sad tears.


 


Back when Daddy used to cry, I’d always hug him and he’d hold my hand oh so tightly. “Never gonna let you slip away Johnny. Stay with me Johnny, just hold on a few more minutes.”


 


I was 12 before I found out who he was really talking to.


 


A man in a uniform knocked on our door one day, asking to speak to my mother. “My father gave me this, he wanted you to have it now. I’m sorry for your loss, Ma’am.” He’d given her a medal won by his father, someone Daddy once called brother and friend. but mostly called him Johnny.


 


“He saved a man’s life once, you should know that,” Mother told me.


 


So we come each year to watch the marching men go by, singing their old songs, remembering their old friends. Each year there are less of them, so it’s our job to remember their faces, remember their songs, and above all to remember their stories.


 


So we never repeat their mistakes.


 


So now I remember Daddy. And I remember Johnny too.


 


And we hope we’ll never have to march this way again.


 


THE END.

Ten Things You Can Do To A Newly Elected President. A flash fiction story (based in no way on reality) by Ray Daley

Ten Things You Can Do To A Newly Elected President.


A flash fiction story (based in no way on reality) by Ray Daley.
9/11/16


 


1) Assassination. It’s a country with many gun owners. Sniper rifles (including the Barrett .50 calibre which will deliver a kill shot from over a mile away) can easily be purchased from any half decent gun shop.


 


Assassination is a common way to dispose of a President you no longer want in office. It’s been tried many times too.


 


2) Set them on fire. Please note that the new President elect wears a wig, most of which are extremely flammable. Couple that with the amount of hairspray he probably uses and you’ve got a recipe for immolation.


 


The White House has burned down before, there is historical precedant for this too.


 


3) Complain loudly. The Constitution allows for Freedom Of Speech so put it to good use. Have a good old moan about the fool you elected.


 


4) Revolution. Well, you did it to get rid of the British. Who’s to say it isn’t a good idea now. They call them revolutions because eventually the time to have another always comes around.


 


5) Impeachment. This is an idea that is often suggested but very rarely implemented. This also has historical precedance and is an excellent option to those who don’t like getting blood on their hands.


 


6) Bankrupty. You are already too late for this option, your President elect is already emotionally bankrupt. We suggest you find another method.


 


7) Start a Civil War. So called because they aren’t very civil. Countryman stands against countryman, one nation separated by their countries desires. Lots of you want Chester Cheeto in office. Lots of you don’t. A fight to the death over who was right, go!


 


8) Ask for a recount. This didn’t happen for Al Gore and it sure as shit isn’t going to happen now. Sorry about that.


 


9) Tolerate him. Who knows, he might turn out to be a better President than Nixon?


 


10) Leave the country. America isn’t the only place to live. Leave your President with no citizens to preside over. Abandon him in your hordes.


 


All of these things are possible. It’s the land of the free. But you could make it the land of the empty.


 


“And the home of anyone stupid enough to vote for him…”


 


THE END.

NaNoWriMo – Day 4

NaNoWriMo – Day 4.

I’m calling it over and done for me.


 


My story doesn’t have enough to make it to novel length.


It was fine as a potential short story, I think I bit off more than I could chew to try and it into a novel.


 


Only having 1 character for most of it simply doesn’t provide enough to push the narrative forward.


 


Stick a fork in me. NaNoWriMo2016 is over for this guy.


I was crazy to even start.

NaNoWriMo – Day 3

NaNoWriMo – Day 3.


 


I’ve just called it a day.


Daily Word Count=1730. Total Word Count=6230.


 


I’m currently 1229 words ahead of schedule.


 


That was NOT easy. Thank god for the list of stuff aboard the liferaft.

NaNoWriMo – Day 2

NaNoWriMo – Day 2.


 


I’ve just called it a day.


Daily Word Count=2,288. Total Word Count=4500.


 


I’m currently 1166 words ahead of schedule.

NaNoWriMo – Day 1

NaNoWriMo – Day 1.

I’ve just called it a day.

Daily Word Count=2212. Total Word Count=2212.

I’ve got ideas for future chapters, about 40% of chapter 1 written and at least 70% of the final chapter written too.

I’m currently 545 words ahead of schedule.

Getting ready to write – A guide

Getting ready to write – A guide. By Ray Daley.


 


Here’s a simple checklist to making your writing time easier.


 


1) Set aside the time. I recommend 2 hrs to write about 2k words. Any average typist should manage this.


 


2) Is your chair comfortable, at the right height for your screen & keyboard? A comfortable writer is a productive writer.


 


3) Will you need the toilet? Or a drink/snack? Cover these before you start, so you can work distraction free.


 


4) Stay off the damn internet! You’re at the computer to write! If you need to research something, leave yourself a note & do it AFTER the writing session. If it’s plot critical simply put “insert research here” & add it later when you’ve done it.


 


5) Do you know what you’re writing today? Did you leave yourself notes, outlines, frameworks, a partially incomplete sentence? If you have ideas you don’t think you can get down today, leave notes for future you. Future you will thank you. Future you may even reward you with chocolate (or wine, or coffee).


 


6) Queue up music that will last however long you intend to write for. Studies have shown that music can aid creativity. Your mileage may vary.


 


And finally? Write! Write for as long as you said you were going to and ideally no longer. Getting into a routine can also help your productivity. Ray Bradbury swore by having a schedule.


 


Well I hope these tips help, especially with NanoWriMo coming up.

What I Did In My 10 Days Offline

I read stuff!

As it took a few days to sort out the room to where I could set the PC up, I spent my free time reading on my Kindle.

17th, 18th & 19th of Oct were spent reading.

I wrote stuff!

It took a few days to get to the point where I could get my PC up and running but once I was able to type, I started writing things.

So what did I write?

20th Oct – The Doomsday Machine Retires. 1562 words.

21st Oct – The Suicide Drive. 513 words. Handwritten on the 15th.

22nd Oct – Welcome To Your New Home. 1067 words. Started on 5th Oct.

22nd Oct – Cell 115. 3027 words. Started over a yr ago.

24th Oct – Diary Of An Evil Henchman. 1452 words. Another outline from last yr.

25th Oct – Bindlestiffs. 1145 words.

I also watched some old tv shows.

Spent the 26th and some of the 27th (until the internet man arrived) watching “Beyond Westworld”

Back once again with the renegade masters

I am back.

Internet now reconnected!

We moved house.

I missed you all.