26.1.14

And so it begins...

We all set goals for ourselves. We set them to achieve them. We set them to push ourselves. I'm setting mine to do something for me, for my family, something I want to do for us.

Every summer we go away to the same place in Cape Cod, a rental house in West Yarmouth. The house is small but wonderful. The kids talk about the Cape Cod week all year. I take photos, make videos, form memories. It is beautiful. Since we've had kids, we've been going to the Cape every year. It's a wonderful place for families. It's become familiar. Before we had kids, our annual trip was to Bar Harbor, another beautiful place that qualifies as "New England". A more affordable, but more distant place.

Now for the dream: to be able to have my own little separate corner of the world, in Maine, or should I say "our own" separate corner. A little piece of land. Perhaps at first a little "tiny home"... perhaps nothing more. It starts with the land. I've got places in mind - somewhere between Bangor and Bar Harbor, water front would be nice. Somewhere remote.

To start the dream, I'll need to start saving money... and start saving it aside from what the family brings in every week. I want to do this sooner than later. Selling writing projects. Hustling. Moving things around. That's what it's going to take. It's pretty exciting, not scary. If I fail, I fail. It won't ruin anything.

Wish me luck.


22.1.14

Next (non blog) writing project

I've decided this year I want to complete manuscript #2. Following the advice of Hank Moody to his daughter, I've stuck my first one in a drawer and left it there (yes, I take advice from fictional characters). I'm now deciding which of the following projects to work on. Any thoughts appreciated.

1. A piece about a missing person, loosely based on something that really happened. It turns out after nearly 30 years, someone comes forward with information but the characters mull over the aftermath of going back into their family history. After the police don't investigate the initial tip, the family must decide what to do. I've already got a few twists in mind, which I'm not putting here yet.

2. Three stories about three men raised without fathers and how it affects each of them totally differently (they are all three generation of men, but I've already developed the plot on how each man is raised fatherless). Overlying theme of being an only child as well in here. I've timelined this whole story already, which will be non-chronological. Think "The Hours" meets a guide on how to mess up a family and have mistakes repeat each other.

Thoughts?