PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 2022

 As you can see by the image on the right, I am getting closer to finishing my ANTHOLOGY STORY.

I'm 7,200+ words into it at the moment with a projected finish of the low 8,000s out of a 10,000 word maximum.

As usual, I wish I could say more but until I'm told it's okay to do so...

Afterward I still plan to finish my SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL. I left off still needing the penultimate chapter and the Epilog when I started working on my ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION.

After that, barring anything unforeseen, I will be starting what eventually will be SOLITAIRE 2.

All this, and I celebrate my SIXTYTH BIRTHDAY this Saturday! 🎂

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

27 February, 2022

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2022

TO NOIR, OR NOT TO NOIR...

At the moment I am still working on my anthology story.

Have entered the third act, starting to approach the climax, and am 6,100+ (out of an 8,000 to 10,000 word limit) into the story.

As usual, I can't say more about the overall project because I'm an invited guest and not sure what I can or can't reveal about it.

Yet why is such a relatively short project taking so long?

Because I've never fully worked in the Noir genre before.

The official definition of NOIR is: "a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity."

My working thought on the subject was: "Think of a cross between the classic Rod Serling Twilight Zone and the original half hour soap opera version of Dark Shadows but hold the monsters."

However you look at it, the style dates back to around World War 2, if not earlier, with such classics as The Maltese Falcon, Sin City, Vertigo, The Untouchables, classic pulps like The Shadow and so much more.

I may have had noir moments in some of my past projects but this is the first time I've gone full noir from start to finish.

Besides, I've always tended to look more at the bright side of life. 😎

The glass is half full, not half empty. Every cloud has a silver lining. There's always hope, etc.

In any event, I need to get back to my writing now.

Take care.
STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

20 February, 2022

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2022

I took last week "off" to talk about something very important to me, but I'm sure all my loyal readers and fans want to know how it's going on The Writing Front.

I sit at my trusty computer, aglow in the monitor's light as my fingers press keys at a rate that hopefully
keeps up with my racing thoughts, writing down my stories as I create them.

Poetic Job Description aside, I'm 4000+ words into the story I was asked to write for that anthology.

The submission is only supposed to be between 8 to 10,000 words, and I'll make that easily despite the fact I still have one more major scene to write before I can start the final act and the grand climax.

I know the above sounds kind of cryptic, but I've yet to receive an answer in regards to what I can and can't post about the anthology at this time, so better safe than sorry.

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

13 February, 2022

BAN BOOK BANS AND BURNINGS!

 The following are my personal opinions on the subject at hand.

"Censorship has NOTHING to do with protecting children. It is for protecting the adults who don't want to have difficult conversations with those children."— Laurie Halse Anderson.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Normally I don't like getting upon my Soap Box, but it would be totally irresponsible of me not to discuss the following.

Once again there has been actions upon the part of "concerned citizens" to either BAN or actually BURN Books that they deem unacceptable.

WHY?

If you personally don't like a book, that's well within your personal rights.

The simplest thing to do then is not to read it.

If as a parent there is a book you don't want your child/ren reading for some reason(s), then there is a simple 2 Letter response you can use when your kid(s) ask for said book.

"No."

There is absolutely NO reason for anyone to take such drastic measures to bar anyone else from reading something like Maus, an accurate portrayal of the World War 2 Holocaust told from one survivor's perspective, just because you don't want them to.

Or a book about Former First Lady Michelle Obama just because they want to "protect white girls".

There's too much going on in the world as it is.

Adding to the ongoing crises does not help anyone!

PLEASE, think about this and act accordingly.

Lee Houston, Junior

6 February, 2022

The above are my personal opinions.

All links were active at posting.