Good morning, Houston! With April behind me, what to do next?
I am the Mad Houstonian...
I like to write.
Always have, I guess, ever since I was in Elementary School (early 70's), then Junior High and High School (mid/late 70's), writing book reports, then letters to the editor of the local paper.
Writing Star Trek fan fiction for my eyes only, and letters to the editor of the local paper was followed, in college, by a fictional piece written for a criminal justice class and, as my interest in comics grew, letters to them as well, plus letters to political magazines.
Unexpectedly, an essay written in a failed attempt to get a subscription to a Trek Fanzine, led to my 1st published work (unpaid) in a popular Trek book Anthology.
For various reasons none of that ever translated into a career path.
Joining the online discussion through message boards in 1998, then becoming a blogger (2002), rekindled the urge to write.
You have the power to write...So take up your pen, open your heart, your mind, and your soul, and just let the words start flowing -- Caroline Joy Adams
I have discovered that not only was I a storyteller, and a humorist, but a poet, essayist, reviewer, journalist, photographer, and more....not only in my own voice (2 closed blogs came before this one), but those of my feline muses (The Opinionated Pussycats).
For over a decade several friends have encouraged me to continue my adventure in writing and maybe explore the possibility of publication somewhere down the road, earning some money with my ability.
I turned 60, in March...I am officially an "Old Coot".
Maybe the time is now, at last? I ain't gettin' any younger.
I read somewhere that we are always afraid to start something that we want to make very good, true and serious.
Rita Mae Brown once wrote: "Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts."
I once trusted myself to write something very special, over many chapters and many months.
Those stories were glorious, but I didn't know enough to save them for the future and regret it to this day (This was back when I had only had a computer for 3 years, before blogging was even a thought).
I have been afraid to try to re-write the series from scratch. It's been over 20 years, now.
I mean, how does one top the best writing he's ever done?
Write something that is even better, and finally get the courage to submit it somewhere, for one thing....more on that, below.
After my imagination and creativity lay dormant in the 90's discovering the internet changed my life, personally and creatively.
Over the years I've found surprising ways to share my creativity.
I am not the same person I was in 1997.
Re-discovering my creativity and learning how to use my imagination as a writer changed my life and continues to change my life today.
I once trusted myself to begin a creative writing journey with something I called Elbie's Bar and Grill, and The Storyteller, and am still, years later, trying to think of ways to continue and expand that little universe (I'm always looking for feedback on it!).
I have a lot to be proud of as a writer...
In 2004 the Mainstream Media first took notice of me, as the OC Weekly said "I'm Screwed!" and in 2005, as the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot interviewed me, and the legendary Instapundit plugged me for the 1st of several times over the years, hee, hee!
Media and famous people have been responding ever since...to me, and my cats.
In 2006 I found myself published in a book, again (A small quote, but that is far from my true contribution)! How To Live Well Without Owning A Car
For a couple of years (2008-09), due to my skill as a writer, I was invited to attend Orange County Pacific Symphony concerts of my choice, for free, helping to plug their work via my reviews, good, or bad....this was one, and it had an interesting follow-up (Though the link no longer works).
In 2009 I was invited to a cycling film premiere and wrote a review that got noticed by a prominent cycling publication (Though the link no longer works).
In 2011 I was a runner-up in the inaugural Purina® Cat Chow® Correspondent contest.
In early 2013 I had 2 guest posts published! One on a once popular blog...Remembering Mama's Kitchen and another where the link no longer works!
In late 2013 I was paid, for the 1st time, for my writing... Opinionated Pussycats Team Up With Hill's Pet Nutrition.
In 2014 a poem appeared in the Cat Writers' Association Quarterly Newsletter.
Also in 2014 there was another guest post... 18 Steps to Becoming a Writer - Feline Edition by Mr. Nikita
In 2016, the cats & I were approached to do a project (Unpaid)...Buffy the Cat and National Tabby Day.
Also, in 2016, I submitted a manuscript to a contest...and did not get even a certificate.
Somewhere, back there, there was a submission that was eventually not chosen, to a cat-themed book that became a popular series. I can't find the link to a blog post I wrote, at the time.
The past 3+ years have not been the easiest, but I have kept up my creativity in spite of it all.
As this year began I was determined to return to regular blogging and to consider doing new things, including things put off for years, that friends have encouraged me not to give up on attempting.
A return to submitting, not just for publication, but to contests.
Having rescued my legacy YouTube Channel, from Google Purgatory...thinking about posting again.
Regular posting on my Instagram.
A new presence on Twitter.
I did not let my injury, in February, hold me back...
Thanks to the encouragement of my creative writing friend Amanda Socci...
I took some bold steps:
I submitted a poem to the 20th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest in March.
I submitted a story manuscript to 2 contests, in April...
2020 Noemi Press Book Award for Prose
28th Annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
What else can I do?
Well, in 2015 I took the step of getting a Createspace account, for self-publishing eBooks and paperbacks...but let it sit.
Last year I learned Amazon took over Createspace, so updated my account...but let it sit.
I can self-publish eBooks and paperbacks for free with Kindle Direct Publishing, and possibly reach readers via Amazon, if I dare to take the step.
I have begun reading and exploring things on the site. It appears simple enough. We shall see.
Another thing I can do? Maybe purchase the newest editions of the Annual Writer's Market & Poet's Market?
The past (Not developing my writing interest in High School and College, and all the wasted opportunity of the past 18 years.) can't be undone, but maybe I can try to do something with my writing going forward.
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