PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 29, 2017

I was literally all over the place this past week whenever I had writing time.
In the far flung future with HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE.
In the 1970s working on my story for Jim Beard, and at {{undisclosed locations}} working on that new idea I've previously mentioned that just won't leave me alone.

It's great to have so many projects, considering variety is supposed to be the spice of life, but at some point I know I've got to knuckle down and start completing these things, considering what I want to accomplish in the future.

Have errands Monday and Friday along with a doctor's appointment Thursday. Otherwise, writing is the big thing on my agenda for this week.

Take care, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
30 July, 2017

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 22, 2017

IT'S STILL A QUESTION OF QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

Once again I spent the past writing week in the 1970s, working on my story for Jim Beard's project; when I wasn't trying to flesh out a new idea that has been running through my mind for some time now and wouldn't leave me alone until I did.

There are times when I wish I was a more proficient writer, at least from a quantity perspective, because there is so much I want to do just within the immediate future.

*Finish my 1970s story.
*Proofread the other contributor's 1970s stories as they are submitted.
*Finish what will become HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3 for Pro Se Press.
*Finish the short story I promised Nancy Hansen so long ago.
*Create another Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective story for Ron Fortier at Airship 27. The first one I wrote is (tentatively) scheduled for Volume 11 of that series, with Volume 9 being the latest release as I post this progress report.
*At least begin what will become PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 3 before the end of this year.
*Eventually start work on the book that will feature the new idea mentioned above.
*And so much more.

Thankfully, only the 1970s project has any true deadline(s), which is why I'm concentrating on that first. While it might goeth before a fall, I take great pride in the fact that I have never missed a deadline, and I don't intend to start now.

I know that there are only so many hours in a day.
One must rest, eat, do household chores, honor other life commitments, keep doctor's appointments, and so much more.
Just this coming week, there are errands Monday and Friday, with Tuesday probably a lost cause on the writing front.

I do try to write every day, and when I'm "in the zone", it's a marvelous feeling.
The words and thoughts are coming faster than my hands can type, and I have never been a great typist to begin with.😉
But how many words are recorded at the end of a writing session, let alone how many stay after I proofread any specific passage varies.

It's the age old battle. "Quantity versus Quality".
Do you want it done fast or do you want it done right?
In the end, I will always choose quality over quantity, because I want my creative endeavors to be the best I can make them.
It may sound selfish, but in the long run, I not only want my writing to be enjoyed and loved by its readers and fans, but I also would like to see my stories live on long after I have shuffled off this mortal coil to whatever lies hidden beyond the veil.

So, if I'm going to accomplish that goal, I better get back to writing now.
Take care.
Lee Houston, Junior
23 July, 2017

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 15, 2017

ON WRITING AND DOCTOR WHO

Wish the subtitle of this Progress Report meant I was asked to write a Doctor Who story but alas, one cannot have everything in life.

Anyway, I spent the past week working on my 1970s story for Jim Beard's upcoming anthology project, since that assignment has an actual deadline. The end of September.
Broke the 5,000 word mark, which is the half way point for submissions.
Whether or not I'll have it finished before the end of the month remains to be seen, but definitely going back to HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE soon.

The Internet is abuzz today (July 16th) with the British Broadcasting Company's announcement that ACTRESS Jodie Whitaker will be the next person to portray the title role in their long running series Doctor Who.
In all honestly, I was totally flabbergasted when I first heard this.
I have absolutely nothing against women.
I have nothing against the idea of female Time Lords. After all, we've had at least 2 Romanas and the Rani in prominent roles during the course of the series. Granted, The Mistress has been an interesting character, but I'm still having some difficulty believing that the Master and the Mistress are two different (re)generation sides of the same person.
Yet to cast an actress in the title role goes against 50+ years of established continuity in my humble opinion.
I know ♫the times they are a changin',♫ to quote Bob Dylan.
And I'm all for women in more prominent, heroic roles whenever possible.
But this...???
I honestly don't know.
How would the public react if an until now well established female character was suddenly recast as a man?
I sincerely hope you see the point I am trying to make here, dear reader.
Doing this could be the greatest thing to come along since oxygen, or by the end of Whitaker's first season, the BBC could find themselves in a real mess.
Only time will tell, and all we can do for now is wait and see.

In any event, I'm going back to writing now.
Lee Houston, Junior
16 July, 2017

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 8, 2017

My Editor's Hat

Wore my "Editor's Hat" for quite a while this past week.

First I went over the second submission for the 1970s anthology I'm co-editing with Jim Beard, like I said I would last week.
Then I got to go over the galley of an anthology that will have a story I co-wrote as one of its offerings.

After that, I resumed work on what will eventually be the third book in the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE series.

Now, considering that the 1970s anthology has a solid end of September deadline, I'll probably go back to work this coming week on my contribution to it.
Then again, I already know that because of life commitments, there are two days ahead of me this week that I will be unable to get as much writing done as I would normally hope to accomplish, so we'll just have to see how things go.

In other words, I'll just have to take it one day at a time like I normally do.
Better get back to writing now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
9 July, 2017

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 1, 2017

Definitely got a lot more done this past week than the few previous weeks combined.

Made some good progress on HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3!

Got to pause for a bit this week and put on my editing hat to read the next short story submission for Jim Beard's 1970s anthology that I'm co-editing, when I'm not working on either my own tale for that project or Hugh.

In any event, have a great week everybody!
Happy 4th of July to those celebrating, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
2 July, 2017