The Bleeding Ink Well - Latest Comments

Re: 3 Words and why we should say them more.

Brian B Baker — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:19:08 -0000

I was talking to my wife about this post after she read it and she said, the idea of saying the three words to a girl friend and not to a guy friend never occurred to her.

So I guess it's a guy thing.

Re: 3 Words and why we should say them more.

Tameri Etherton — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:01:59 -0000

Interesting. Maybe it is a guy thing because I have no problem telling my female friends I love them. I even have a few male friends I'll say it to and they know I mean it in a platonic, best friend sort of way. Since my kids were little we've had code words for 'I love you' that we'd say if the kids had friends over or we were in public. Maybe guys could do that as well? Or maybe they already have them? Perhaps 'Dude' is code for 'I love you'? If so, then guys all over are saying they love people every day. Just a thought. ;)

Re: Finding Solace

Brian B Baker — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:51:57 -0000

You're so welcome my friend.

Re: Finding Solace

Tangolawson — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:59:40 -0000

Beautiful!!
THANK YOU BRIAN!!!!

Re: How ten years of separation made me a writer.

Brian B Baker — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:51:23 -0000

Living for myself is still something that I'm trying to incorporate more. Making the choice to write has helped with that. Knowing that I've made that choice and am still running down the street with it makes all the difference.

Thanks for your comments Kirkus. Hearing how you found yourself through the birth of your son is also a great realization.

Re: How ten years of separation made me a writer.

Brian B Baker — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:31:40 -0000

Thanks Tameri. The separation and what went with it was hard, but at the end I'm a better person. I like myself more and I'm moving forward with things. Thank you so much for your comments.

Re: How ten years of separation made me a writer.

Tameri Etherton — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:12:31 -0000

Ah, the power of separation. It gives us clarity and insight into ourselves that isn't otherwise possible if we're right in the thick of things and too stressed out to take a step away.

Realizing you don't need your father's approval (really, isn't that what it's all about ~ that need to for them to be proud of us, for them to give us that all-important approval that we crave?) is a huge step. I had to take that step just recently and it's freeing. You can see yourself for who you are and who you want to be in life, not who you think you should be to fit someone else's ideal.

I'm really proud of you for recognizing that and embracing it. I didn't comment on your moving post, but that's a huge step as well. Sounds like you've figured out what's most important for you.

Re: How ten years of separation made me a writer.

Kirkus MacGowan — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:39:25 -0000

Wow. Gave me chills. I'm glad you found the courage.

Finding yourself has to be one of life's toughest endeavors. The feeling, the relaxation, that comes with knowing that truth is truly a fine thing.

It sounds backwards, but I found myself the day my son was born. That day I knew who I was.

It's a conundrum. Living for yourself sounds as if it should be selfish, yet it allows us the freedom to know what we want, to help others as much as we can without losing that sense of self.

Making a choice because we "want" to feels so much better than because we "should."

Thanks for sharing, Brian.

Re: My what if…

Paulastewart55 — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:31:08 -0000

Love you Brian, sometimes life gets in the way.. I know this is what you want to do & of course I support you. But I am glad you will all be close for at least another year.. This is the mom & grandma speaking..

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Brian B Baker — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:07:03 -0000

I'm amazed at how much work you get done with dealing with all the kids, house and whatever else may come up. I'm getting better, but this new schedule is going to help immensely. Now that I have plan things should work out a lot better.

Thanks for your comment Michelle!

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Michelle Zink — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:59:41 -0000

I'm super fortunate to write for a living, but I still live and die by my schedule. The single parenting thing, especially, makes it too easy to get distracted otherwise. And it's not like I'm painting my nails and reading magazines. It's east to justify putting off writing when I haven't spent enough time with the kids or I need to drive someone to track or I need to go grocery shopping.

So I have a couple tricks that work for me. I do all my errands on Tuesdays. That morning running errands, buying groceries, filling the car up with gas, etc. is built into my schedule, so it doesn't make me crazy that I'm not writing. But the rest of the week I write from 9am-11am (the kids are at school), 7pm-9pm (this is after dinner, and the kids are busy with homework & showers anyway), and 11pm-12am (right before bed). I squeeze in all my promotion, blog posts, etc., whenever I can (I've gotten good and writing blog posts while something cooks on the stove! ;)

I've also found that scheduling downtime and time with the kids helps me stick to my writing schedule. If I don't do this, it's easy to slip, because it IS important to spend time with one's family. So I plan to have tea with my oldest daughter after school. She's going to college in the fall, and it's nice to sit and talk about her day. We both look forward to the ritual. I plan to make dinner and chat with the kids in the kitchen and sit down to eat with them from 5pm-7pm. And I plan to come down from my office at 9pm, make lunches for the next day, make tea, and watch an episode of LOST or whatever show we're all watching on Netflix at the time.

I try to sneak extra writing time in on the weekends, but I also allow for more time with the kids. I don't have a set schedule, but on Friday, I'll sort of think ahead to the weekend and figure it out, i.e. I'll get the garden going with the kids Saturday morning, have lunch with them, take a nap (because it's important to have time for YOU, too), and then work before dinner. Or whatever!

Anyway! Sorry this is so long! I can only imagine how difficult it must be to juggle TWO jobs, but you're doing a fantastic job and Anita is such a wonderful support system for you. You guys are awesome!
<3

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Brian B Baker — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:38:14 -0000

Thanks Tameri. This new schedule is going to kill me, but I need to get this done, and you're right, I don't want to get to the point where I'd have to fire myself.

Getting this one done has taken me longer than I planned, but I know that I will finish it soon because of my new schedule.

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Brian B Baker — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:33:01 -0000

Thanks Peter! I would get up at 7:25, go to work at the day job from 10-6, get home at 7, get the kids ready for bed, read with my son and help clean up dinner with my wife. After that I write until 12 or 1.

My new schedule changes that so I get at 6:15, get some writing done, go to work, get home, eat dinner with the family, get the kids ready for bed, clean up dinner, then write until 12.

It's going to be tiring but I can't write at the day job, I tried doing that and it just got to be too hard to concentrate.

Thanks for your comments it's nice to know I'm not the only one getting up at crazy hours to write.

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Peter Combs — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:09:16 -0000

Brian - I can completely relate to what you're feeling right now. I love to write - its not something that I do as a hobby, I HAVE to do it or else I am not being true to myself. That being said, I have found it extremely hard trying to balance writing around other obligations and goals that I have in my life such as going to work and working out at the gym. What I have found is that if I can get my butt out of bed at 5:00 AM (that's right, you heard me - 5:00 AM!) I can squeeze in an hour or two of solid writing before heading to work. But I don't stop there. As long as I have started my day off with a good solid period of writing, I can easily pick up where I left off and write in small increments throughout the day. I typically get two fifteen minute breaks and an hour lunch at my day job. Thats an hour and a half of time I can, and often do spend writing. I also try to spend at least a good four to five hours on the weekend. When it all comes down to is that there is never enough time during the day to write everything that you want to write - you just have to seize the opportunities that arise and trust that more will follow.

Re: Why I’m making a writing schedule, and you should too.

Tameri Etherton — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:17:12 -0000

Yep! I call them my 'office hours'. Every day between 10am and 1pm I turn off my cell and just write (or revise, if that's where I'm at in my process). This week I'm using those hours to get caught up on a few craft books I've been meaning to read. James Scott Bell and I have been spending many a day together while my book is at the editors and I have to tell you, he's a freaking genius. Kind of makes me want to take my book back and redo it, but that's just crazy talk.

You are a writer and this is your second job, so don't get to the point where you'd have to fire yourself for being a slacker! Good luck with the schedule and have fun writing!

Re: Why social media is the new voyeurism.

Brian B Baker — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:32:46 -0000

It's interesting to see how things play out on Social media. If you know both parties in an argument, watching them play each other or their friends is crazy.

Glad you found the new site Tameri.

Re: Why social media is the new voyeurism.

Tameri Etherton — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:23:11 -0000

Yep, I totally agree. Social media is a performance and one I find fascinating on so many levels.

Re: Level 2, Ready Player One Continued

Jethro 005 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:14:18 -0000

This sounds very much like something I would read. I normally rely on Elaine Charles from the show the Book Report, for my reading list, and I see that she is also reviewing this book on Sunday this week.

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Brian B Baker — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:17:52 -0000

The book doesn't have any words that would be tough to read or anything like that. I let my wife read it and she thought the same thing. She really loved it. We're both gamers and this book hit it out of the park.

I don't think it's too advanced for a thirteen year old. He might not get any of the pop culture references but I was kid in the 80's and I didn't get some of them either.

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Donna — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:11:44 -0000

I think this book sounds AWESOME - that might be because I'm kind of a gamer myself:) I have a question though - is the book too advanced for a 13 year old? My brother has to start a reading list for school over the summer and I think this might appeal to him -- any opinoins? I'm checking out one more review that's being aired tomorrow on an AM radio show I try to keep up with called The Book Report - its a literary show that has reviews and author interviews. Anyway, I have a tendancy to miss it when it's actually broadcasted so I'm constantly visiting the show's website to catch up with some streaming -- its actually how I noticed that this book will be discussed during tomorrow's broadcast. I'm not sure if the host will be discussing this issue so I wanted another opinoin.

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Brian B Baker — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:10:53 -0000

I really loved Robopocalypse. I read on IMDB that Spielberg is making a movie of it. It's supposed to start filming in June. I think him or Ridley Scott are the two directors that could pull off the movie.

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Brian B Baker — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:08:54 -0000

All the 80's references made the book better to me. My wife is reading it now and she's enjoying it as much as I did. Thanks for your comments Troy!

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Troy Sims — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:57:07 -0000

also failed to mention, I've read the first part of Robopocalypse (the samples from amazon are dangerous for me) and it's on my to buy list.

Re: Level One, Ready Player One review

Troy Sims — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:55:43 -0000

I finished Ready Player One a couple of days ago. I really enjoyed the book also... I loved all the 80's references and I could feel myself wanting to play along in the Oasis, especially the Monty Python Holy Grail scene!!! I've read that Cline is supposedly writing the script for a movie, hopefully it can be pulled off as good as the book.

Re: Bad things happen when you don’t use an outline.

Brian B Baker — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:14:48 -0000

Thanks Michelle. It took some time to figure things out with the MS and the site but I think I have it the way it works best for me, especially the MS.