The Pondering Absurdist

Within my head I have the concepts and basic storyline of a science-fiction novel that I want to write. They’ve been rattling around in my brain for several years now. I’m not getting any younger, so I’ve finally taken some initial stabs at putting my thoughts and ideas down on virtual “paper” (ala Microsoft Word). It’s a daunting task ahead of me, having never written anything of this length before. However, I know I can do it… it’s just that I want to do it right and be successful in my first attempt. I’ve started doing some of the research necessary to cover some of the topics I want to include, so I don’t sound like someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. I’ve saved entire Wikipedia pages about things so that I can refer back to them at some point if I don’t have access to the Internet. I know, the Internet’s pretty reliable, but it could happen… what if I’m out camping in the Nevada desert and decide to tackle a chapter or two? I even bought a special Terabyte thumb drive to keep all of my “ideas” on.

So many things to consider… after I get most, or all of it down “on paper,” then what? I guess I need to find a publisher… or maybe some place that helps you “self publish” for a small fee. And marketing… how do you find your readers? If my blogging is any indication, then I guess I’m shit outta’ luck. Then there are actual “writing” things to think about. I think I had a creative writing class back in school sometime in the past (probably around 50 years ago). I just ran across a page that talked about something called “the three-act structure.” It seems that there are plenty of resources available, people who are willing to help you out with how to write a book. I’ll be checking some of those websites out, to be sure… but as I said, I’m not getting any younger. I need to get cracking on my own stuff rather than reading other things all the time. That, along with all the homeowner chores, 40 hour work week, and any other little things that pop up to eat away at my time. Oh, woe is me!… maybe I’ll never get my book written, and it will go to the grave with me. I just got a flash of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” in my head. Have any other potential “late in life” writers gone through this much angst?

I guess I need better time management skills. Less playing games on my iPhone whenever I get a few minutes of spare time, and more thinking about, or actually writing. It’s now almost 8pm here in the Pacific Time Zone. I still need to take the garbage out to the curb, play with the kitties for a few minutes, then start preparing for bed so I can get up bright and early tomorrow morning and begin the last 8 hours of my work week. Saturday I’ll have to go back out to the garage and keep working on the little room that I’m building for my air compressor (it’s almost finished, but I accidentally created a little more work for myself this evening when I was working out there… and need to replace a bit more drywall, re-paint, etc.). I just don’t have the time to do all the things I want to do! And I’m an effectively single guy with only cats to take care of… I can’t imagine how parents of small children get anything done.

Wish me luck!

PA