R.W. Krpoun's Blog, page 24

UMP45

So I ran a hundred rounds through a H&K UMP45 last weekend, and fell in love. I had been unsure of the weapon because photos of it made it look bulky and awkward, two impressions that were completely false.

With the stock folded it is a neat little package. Firing, it is accurate, with little felt recoil; as to be expected, on full auto the muzzle climb was strong, but it was easy to keep the bursts short.

The magazine release was a lever behind the magazine well, which was easily accessible to either hand, but not as comfortable as the M-16/M-4 magazine release (at least for me, a right-handed shooter). The positioning of the magazine release was quick to find, but it added a step to the reloading process if you were planning on using a dump pouch.

The bolt release was in generally the same position as an an M-16/M-4. It had ambidextrous selector switches.

Although chambered for the One True Cartridge (.45 ACP) the weapon is light and handy; it was a joy to shoot.

My next full-auto weapon to try will either be the FN P90 or the H&K MP-7.

Buffalo Riders completes second stage of editing.

Things are moving much faster than expected, and I am hoping to publish by the end of the month. I will keep things posted.

The accelerated editing means I can get my writing ‘fix’ for a while longer, but I am not complaining.

Buffalo riders completes first stage of editting

I just completed the first review of Buffalo Riders, cleaning up plot and details, and increasing its size by a thousand words.

Meanwhile I am pondering and weighing various concepts and started projects; in the next week I will return to cranking out rough draft while my wife edits Buffalo Riders.

And I cannot ignore that Red Death Redemption 2 will be coming out soon; I have it pre-ordered, and if it is anything like the original, it will motivate me to write; one of the many positives of retirement is that I was plenty of time for my hobbies and writing.

The rough draft of Buffalo Riders is done

The rough draft of Buffalo Riders is complete, at this point 92,500 words. The first step of editing will begin later today.

Another project will follow as soon as editing permits; what it will be I cannot say for certain, but I will be hitting the keyboard again soon.

Buffalo Riders is novel length

It isn’t finished yet, but the rough draft word count has reached novel length, so it will be published when I finish. It’s always a great feeling when a project passes that landmark.

I’m staying focused on my writing, hammering away at Buffalo, and planning to jump on another project as soon as Buff is done.

It’s cool for Texas in September, which certainly doesn’t upset me. I’ll update as things progress.

 

I’m a terrible blogger

That’s a simple fact. I simply cannot think of anything I have to say on a routine basis that anyone would want to read, so when I hammer the keyboard it’s to write.

Anyway, I’m at 70,000 words on my next novel and the plot is doing very well (I hope). I should be publishing in the next couple months.

After that, ideas for the third YGAT series or Dark Journeys (Next PB story) are kicking around in my skull, and a half-dozen other projects are crying out for attention. Where the muse will carry me next, I cannot say. I try to stay focused on the project at hand so long as the words are flowing. It’s not the most efficient system, but for me it is more art than science.

I have had great luck in inspirational material lately, various media that inspire me to write. Hopefully this will continue.

Anyhow, that’s where I am at. I’ll post again when I have more news.

A shout-out to Saxon Tales

I’m reading Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales, and a great series they are. And as I read a great writer I am inspired to really hammer the keyboards, cranking out two thousand plus words of rough draft, even though my current novel is set in the Old West (occultist alternative history Old West, I should note).

The Saxon Tales are extremely good, and I heartily recommend them.

So I bought a boogie board sync

Its an electronic notepad. I work through creative issues by writing down questions and possible answers, but I have to do it by hand, not a keyboard (why, that is, I am not sure). This means I am forever burdened with piles of notes in my work area.

So I bought this boogie board because I can save my handwritten notes to my PC and phone, thus cutting the clutter. So far it seems to help.

Still pounding the keyboard; my net novel is past the halfway point, and the plot, with the usual adjustments, is still holding strong.

Got my first one star review

It had to happen sooner or later. As one-star reviews go, the reader was fair: he or she did not like the ending to Wastrel’s Tale.

I’m sorry they did not like the ending, but I write where the story leads, and that’s the ending my story led me to.

Well, now I’ve gotten a one star review, a landmark passed.

Meanwhile Buffalo Riders has passed the halfway point and is still doing well. If the Texas heat would back off, I would probably do better, but I am still plugging away.

Hope you’re all keeping cool and not in any fire zones.

And it is time to move onto the next project

Thanks again to all my readers, and a particular thanks to those who were kind enough to post positive reviews.

However, Wastrel is published, selling, and part of the past; it is time to focus upon my next project.

Buffalo Riders is an occult Western of the same sort as Sunstone (Yes, I’m predictable). I started it last fall but had to bench it in order to free up time for Wastrel. The week after Wastrel was published I returned to the project, and am currently on 34k words.

Now, I have many projects whose spark has flickered out (not necessarily a permanent condition; Wastrel spent a couple years on the back shelf), or for which I have enough of a setting idea to start it (to prevent the ideas from wandering off into the dark) but not enough to plot to take it all the way. Yet.

But Buffalo Riders broke the magic 30k limit, so I am hopeful that it will go the distance and become a published novel. I’ll keep you posted.