Patrick O'Scheen's Blog, page 20

Tuesday, It’s Raining Somewhere—Just Not Here

Maybe I should have looked over my shoulder when I said that I don’t worry. I try not to stress too much over the things I like. If I let writing become something that causes me anxiety, I won’t give it my all, but hesitate on every word. 

Of course I care what people think. I’ve offered up words that come straight from my soul. However, if I let myself become too tangled in the maze of publishing, and popular opinion, it will change my work—and quite possibly not for the better.

As one of the people who don’t work well under stress, I need  to let things go. I need to practice one simple rule : first you must please yourself.

To Reach You – A Sci-Fi/Fantasy Serial on this Blog

For many years I have observed my cats, playing, eating, sleeping, and generally doing what cats do. It occured to me that maybe they can accomplish more than meets the human eye. There have been times when I was certain that my cats have spoken to me, but that’s silly. Cats cant talk… or can they?

Life is Filled with Mysteries

As I polish off yet another chapter, I begin to wonder what’s in store for me. This is my second mystery. Granted it’s only less than half way complete, it echos the suspense of life. As a story-teller, my job is to answer the age-old question ‘what happens next?’, yet sometimes I am blind to the things happening around me. I make excuses where there can be none.

Another day…and I try to catch up to the next chapter before I can write no more chapters and the words begin to fail.

Here’s to the next chapter!

To ReachYou

To ReachYou.

Writing a Series of Mysteries

I have no idea as to the uniqueness of these tales. What I know is that they are fun to write , and writers — like anyone else– need a break sometimes. The advent of self-publishing has things in the world of the average writer rather topsy-turvy.  Where our forte is to write, we find ourselves in a world of self-promotion.  Now, I like to say nice things about my work, even consider myself talented, but am uncertain if I will be found in the myriad of other self-aggrandized authors.  For that reason, I chose to find a traditional publisher for my fantasy work. What I’m writing now, however, is for pure pleasure.

If you don’t seize the moment, squeeze the joy from everything, life has a way of passing you by.

Self -doubt

We all have it. Some of us deny the immensity of introspection. Nonetheless, self-doubt can raise its ugly head at the worst of times.

I’m a new blogger, with my feet relatively undampened by the sea of information telling me what to write, how to phrase and generally how to behave here in blog world.  To be perfectly honest, its terrifying, but has the excitement of a very new experience. 

I can ask my few readers to be patient while I try to determine where tabs and bells and whistles all attach to a written piece. Yet, somehow, they seem to know that I will muddle through this and come out improved.  I might not be a better person, but I will know–eventually–the hows and wheres of the process.

Unless, of course, I let the old self-doubt have a full hand in the experience.  While it makes me cautious,it can also make me sweat.  Here’s to trust and friendship while i wade through hopefully undaunted by my worst enemy.

I’m a great writer — I can do this.

Google & Amazon

For the first time ever I “Googled” my own name. It proves to be instructive. Says nothing about my being Irish.

I’m exposed! Well, everything I’ve put on the internet is available for anyone to peruse…while eating jelly donuts and wearing their underwear at 3 a.m.

Okay, yes, I’m a private sort of person not likely to say too much about where I’ve been or where I’m going.

I did, however, learn that my new release is available as an Amazon pre-sale.

Dreamer

A Taste

The creature had been running. The hot desert sands burned

through his coarse leather shoes. The suggestion of a city in the

distance seemed so real. Knowing he would not survive disappointment,

the beast slowed his pace, keeping his eyes fixed on

the heated sands. Time now separated him from disaster, but she

might follow. Tangled in paranoia, he found a second wind and

bolted forward… Toward a dream… Toward hope.

***

Magic looked down at his swollen feet as he sat on his bedside.

Dim light entered the dusty interior of his once-grand bedroom

from a gap in the heavy curtain. A small stream of bright sun

escaped the drapery and pierced the gloom. It was just another

day, just another chance. Yet today might be special. Today might

be Magic’s last chance. At least he could dream. Magic had always

believed in the power of dreams.

The young man could not remember how long it had been

since he last considered his appearance. Staggering to rise, he

studied his reflection in the dust-covered antique mirror. The man

who stared back had become thin. His beautiful blond hair had

become long, tangled, thin, and neglected, matted from months

of agitated sleep. There were gray circles under dark-blue eyes,

and his face wore the stubble of a light beard. A grimace crossed

Magic’s lips at the thought of how he had changed. In days gone

by, he had been called pretty enough to be a girl. The man who

grimaced in his reflection appeared to suffer from some internal

stress. What demons danced in this mirror man’s nightmares,

Magic denied knowing.

Turning away, almost sickened by his own reflection, he chased

negative thoughts from his mind. It was a new day. He rose,

passed the large oaken desk, and headed to the shower. Maybe

the water would clear his mind. Perhaps he could wash away the

changes that had taken deep root in his life.

The computer in the darkened corner of his room made a slight

sound, indicating a demand for his attention. For the moment, it

could wait. For the moment, he would allow the torrent of warm

water to pour over him and let him forget everything.

Life had a way of letting the mind drift only so long. The

phone was ringing, the computer signaling, the doorbell chiming,

all as he exited his shower and hurriedly dressed. He knew the

day was not going to be pleasant. Magic stumbled, numbly steeling

himself with the endurance he must find within to survive.

He must live now—one minute at a time.

Finally dressed, he swung open the door, ignoring both phone

and computer. There on the steps was Oliver Scheen, known to

him as simply Scheen, smiling in warm greeting.

“Come on in, I’m almost ready,” Magic called over his shoulder

as he turned away to locate his special shoes.

***

Scheen entered,his smile fading as he watched Magic stumble. Knowing how his

friend struggled with illness and medication was the most difficult

thing Scheen had ever faced. He had seen his own troubles,

was no stranger to them, but this was Magic. This was different.

He was taking Magic to the hospital again today.

Scheen scooped up the shoes in one large hand, turned to

scooped up Magic in his free arm, then carried them both to the

chair. The large man knelt and put Magic’s shoes on him, grinning

up into his face.

“Just thought I’d hurry things along a bit.”

“I know you just can’t wait to get back to the game.” Magic

smiled the words. “I know how you feel about it, but…let’s do

this. We can go back to Salandra as soon as it’s over.”

Yes, Scheen thought, keeping his desires silent. He could

not stifle his urgent need to return to a world where Magic was

whole, to return to the game, to see his friend well. He lived for

it. Scheen put out his muscular arm to steady Magic as they left

the security of his home, climbed into Scheen’s blue luxury sedan,

and threaded the path toward the treatment center. They would

soon be hurrying back toward more pleasant things, toward the

game, toward their roles in the world of Salandra.

So in Today’s News…

I’m what’s refered to on a video game as a noob. As I shamefully hang my head, I realize that I need to understand so many things so much better.

When I decided to write, I lacked the understanding that I would also need to sell my stories–if people were going to read my book.

Now at first, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t care. I wrote my books for myself and my loved ones because I sincerely believed that my stories could enhance their lives. I hid my light, so to speak, under a basket.

It’s time the lid was off. The light revealed. I’m climbing a steep grade from the blinded to the seeing…and sometimes it seems impossible.

There is one thing I know. With the help and patience of my friends online and offline, I will succeed.

Twitter Book Bananza

A SIGNED COPY OF THE SOON TO BE RELEASED TITLE, DREAMER, will be given away to one lucky follower of my tweets. Drawing will be random from all twitter followers on May 1, 2013 and the winner will be announced here.

So’come on down!’ follow https://twitter.com/PatrickOScheen to win.

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