PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 28, 2020

SOME THOUGHTS ON WRITING...

A More Dangerous Predator???

Despite the pandemic😷, the holiday weekend has still managed to throw a monkey wrench or two into everyone's respective schedules, so My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader is nowhere near finished going over the SOLITAIRE manuscript yet.

Reviewing her notes and thoughts on that potential novel is at the top of My Things To Do List once she sends it back to me, but I AM WRITING!

Don't really feel like discussing the specifics of my current project at the moment since it is still early in the game, so to speak, but I'm currently on the third chapter of a new science fiction novel that I hope to have done by around my birthday next March.

However that's just an estimate at the moment. I'm looking at TWO different Doctor appointments next week, and I still can't arrange a meeting with the TARDIS operator! Plus there's grocery hunting, housework, trying to acquire the appropriate presents for family and friends...

In other words, life is what happens while you're busy trying to make other plans.😉

At some point I know I should get back to whatever will become ALPHA 3 as well as a few other projects I've been thinking about for quite a while now, but like I said last week, I'm just not "feeling" Alpha at the moment.

Writing isn't just a "job", it's an artistic adventure.

Like the more visual creations of drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.; writing isn't just a method of expressing and sharing thoughts and ideas—it's feelings as well.

Hopes and aspirations. Comedy and drama. Happiness and tears.

In other words life and the adventures within it, whether factual, fictional, or somewhere in-between.

But however you care to look at it, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 November, 2020

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 21, 2020

While my Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader goes over the SOLITAIRE manuscript, I AM still writing.

But WHAT am I writing? Besides this Blog post, that is.😉

While Airship 27's door is always open for me to submit more SHERLOCK HOLMES mysteries, theoretically I know I should be working on the third PROJECT ALPHA novel, but for some reason(s) I just can't get into it at the moment.

I know at least part of the problem is that the basic premise of ALPHA is being a superhero set in the world you can see outside your window, but right now with the pandemic😷 and other issues, the world outside my window isn't really very attractive right now.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE, but until then...

With that in mind I've decided upon a science fiction

project I've been kicking around for some time set on a totally different world that I had to create from scratch somewhere else in the universe and no, it's not anything in relation to HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE.

Words are flowing pretty freely when I work on it😀, but not sure how much writing I'm actually going to get done this week with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching.

But please remember folks, with the pandemic not only still in full swing but apparently getting worse with the cold winter months approaching, you may not have the holidays you want this year but be thankful you are still here to enjoy the holidays you can.💖

In any event TAKE CARE!

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

22 November, 2020

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 14, 2020

I'VE FINISHED GOING OVER SOLITAIRE!😀

It's now in the hands of my very capable Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader for her thoughts and opinions.

Now the big question is: WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

As of posting this Progress Report, I haven't really decided yet.

Part of it is because of having a few different possibilities to consider.

Another part of the indecision is that at the moment, I don't really know what I feel like writing yet.

Writing isn't just a question of hard facts and other logistics, but emotions as well. Not just those of a character in any given scene but those of the writer as well.

Some days you feel like writing more than others.

Those lesser days you still try, but they're not always as productive as the ones when you're totally in "the zone" and your typing speed can't keep up with the speed of your thoughts.

Of course if I'm in "the zone" and suddenly see Rod Serling...😉

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

15 November, 2020

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 7, 2020

THE BLOG ATE MY POST! 🤯

My Editing Cap 😉

SERIOUSLY though folks, I have absolute no idea what happened and until today, I honestly didn't know anything was amiss.

But to briefly recap, I am trying to finish up my second pass on the SOLITAIRE manuscript before sending it on to My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader for her review and thoughts.

While she is doing that, I will start my next writing project, although I have absolutely no idea what that will actually be at the moment.

In any event, I better get back to it so take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet!

Lee Houston, Junior

12 November, 2020

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2020

Cover art by Rob Davis

Well, with this {censored} pandemic😷 not only in full swing but apparently on the rise again, I didn't get any Trick or Treaters👻 out my way and it was an ideal Halloween🎃 too between not only being on a Saturday but with a full moon🌕 as well!

That combination won't happen again until 2039!

In any event, besides promoting SHERLOCK HOLMES, CONSULTING DETECTIVE VOLUME 16, now available in both Print and Kindle E-book from Amazon; I spent time wearing my Editor's Hat making my second pass on the SOLITAIRE manuscript before I send it on to my Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader.

Editor's Hat

 I know this may seem like a lot of work to some people.

After all, the story's written, why not go on to the next project?

I will, but first I want to make sure the current project is as good as humanly possible.

I will definitely start whatever turns out to be next on my agenda while Nancy Hansen is going over the SOLITAIRE manuscript, and then pause that when she's done and it's time for me to review her thoughts on the book.

THEN I'll submit it to a publisher and resume what I was working on at the time.

WHY?

Why not?

Besides, I want to make sure readers enjoy what I write and hopefully will want more, and you certainly can't achieve that objective by cutting corners and just submitting first drafts.

Otherwise you wouldn't get very far in the publishing world.

So with that in mind I better get back to it.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

1 November, 2020