Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

October 4, 2019October 3, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

“Look Lucy. Friday is here.”
“I see it Little One. Thank goodness.”

It is Friday and it came just in time.

As you may know I’m helping C.S.Boyack with his launch of Viral Blues his new book. If you haven’t visited yet here is the link. I’m reading it now and am enjoying it.

I’m happy to say the first draft of my new book is done. I now need to let it rest for a few and then go back for the second run through. It is amazing to me what can be done when you make a committment. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement during the process. Today’s JohnKu talks about a journey. I hope you all have a great weekend.

The first step starts it,

Then it is rinse and repeat . . .

Until you are home.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

September 27, 2019September 26, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Today is Friday. Hold on. If that is news to anyone it is definitely time for a relook at your priorities. Yes, it is the last workday of the week. Yahoo. Always nice to recognize Friday.

This week has been pretty typical. I managed to meet my 1000 word a day goal and now my WIP stands at above 89,000. If I do seven more thousand next week the first draft will be done and total 96,000 words. Of course, the conclusion could come crashing in at fewer words but either way it will be done next week. (God willing and the creek don’t rise.)

Then the editing and rewrite will begin at the expense of the few hairs I have left.

I spent some time this week on Amazon ads. There was a weeklong workshop in which I participated. It was informative and gave me some pretty good ideas about Amazon advertising. I have vowed to conquer this beast or die trying. We’ll see how it goes.

I raised some concern about views and the need to maybe change some things on the blog. I took a look this week at visits to my blog in contrast to just looking at views and for the most part the visits are pretty consistant. Long story short I’m going to leave the format alone but continue to keep monatoring.

Today’s JohnKu talks about continued review of our chosen path to make certain it is still relevant. I hope you have a great weekend.

The path well travelled,

Should be evaluated . . .

So you won’t get lost.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

September 13, 2019September 12, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

Twiggy and Lucy — “Love your collar, Twiggy.”
“Thanks, Dad. You think Lucy wants to play?”
“After the sun comes up, I’m sure.”

Another Friday is upon us. For whatever reason this week seemed to last a long time. I think maybe it’s because football began in earnest last weekend and I spent a lot of time looking at a few games. I can’t say any of the games had the outcomes that I wanted but, hey. As a fan, it was good to see the games back again.

I am still working on the first draft of my WIP. Last week I was at 68,000 words and this week I fell slightly short of the 1000 words a day at 74,500. (It was only 500 words short but short nonetheless.)

I had a lot of research to do and just got lost in it. I guess I could have gutted it out to make up the 500 words, but it seemed forced, so I didn’t do it.

This week’s JohnKu talks about missing goals. I hope you have a super weekend.

It happens sometimes,

A well-planned goal is not met . . .

Shake it off, keep on.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

September 6, 2019September 5, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Twiggy — “It’s Friday. So much to do. So little time.”

“Here, we are again. Having to face another weekend away from our beloved work,” said no one ever. I hope you are looking forward to the weekend. I also hope your week was a good one.

Nothing much going on around here. Just plugging away on the WIP. Last week I finished up at over 61,000 words. This week’s total is over 68,000. That is still on the 1000 word a day goal. I am grateful I can continue the pace and don’t take the productivity for granted. We all know things could get in the way at any time, so I mark it up as a good run so far. It also means I’m about 75% complete on my first draft. Yeah, that feels good.

Today’s JohnKu talks about taking things for granted. I hope you enjoy your weekend.

We accomplish goals,

And tend to think it’s just us . . .

Fate is there to help.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 30, 2019August 30, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

Lucy and Twiggy — “Think we out to hit it, Lucy?”
“Well, it is Friday after all.”

Another Friday. Once this day is done, then there is a three day weekend ahead for all you productive prisoners of organized commerce. I certainly hope you all have a wonderful time and remember the rule of safe party behavior. The rule? No drinking and driving. There is another rule of thumb that should be followed when doing a weekend of celebration which is don’t yak in your own hat.

I’ve managed to keep the 1000 word a day regimen for this last week on my WIP. I was at 54,000 words last Friday and am over 61,000 words today. I am very thankful to keep moving. I was a little unsure how to get to the ending even though I had written the last three lines. I had a breakthrough yesterday courtesy of one of the characters.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the holiday weekend. I hope you have a fabulous time.

Monday holiday,

Takes forever to get here . . .

Then gone in a flash.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 23, 2019August 22, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

It is Friday again. This week has been more of the old heatwave. It has been 103 degrees for the last nine days. That kind of heat wears one out. We are expecting at least another two weeks of above 100 degrees. We can complain as much as we want, but it won’t help.

I spent another week on my WIP. Again I averaged above 1000 words a day and am currently at over 54,000.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the weather which is everyone’s favorite subject.

It’s one of those things,

We all talk about daily . . .

And never change it.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 16, 2019August 15, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

Looks like we made it to Friday. I hope your week was a good one. I can’t say much has been going on around here. We have had a full week of above 100 degrees F. Have to say it gets old after a while. Wednesday night we got a nice downpour. It was totally out of the blue. Not forecasted. It seems the big high-pressure area that sat over us all week moved slightly to the west. Nature abhors a vacuum so in rushed a little cold front and there we had it, rain.

I managed to keep the 1000 wood a day pace on my WIP this week. I’m currently at over 47,000. That means I did a little better than 1000 a day. I usually target about 90,000 so I’m a smidgeon over half way to a completed first draft.

Today’s JohnKu talks about unforcasted events. I hope you all have a super weekend.

It would be pleasent,

If every surprise was good . . .

Too bad some are not.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 2, 2019August 8, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

Another Friday is here and thank goodness for it. As you know from last week. I was on a break. It was terrific having mt eldest daughter visit. We did so many things, and she was a delight to have close.

I didn’t do any writing on the break. My goal was to be with my daughter, and that was accomplished. I did get back to work on Wednesday and have managed a thousand words a day since then. So in all, I took a break of six days, and I worked on my WIP for five days. I was at 28,000 words when I last reported, and I’m now at 34,000. That means the days I worked, I did a little over 1000 words a day. You may wonder why I am going through these gyrations? To stay on point is why. If I have to report my output to you guys weekly, then I’m more dedicated. So I think you for keeping my nose to the grindstone.

Today’s JohnKu talks about staying on point.

When there’s a to-do,

Best to commit to others. . .

To stay right on point.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

July 19, 2019August 1, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

“I call this living Little One.”
“Me too, Lucy. Me too.”

Friday is here at last. “Gee, I wish it was Monday,” said no one ever. Always lovely to see the weekend within sight.

If you checked out my post yesterday then you know the landscaping at our place is done. We are all so happy to have that item checked off. We were plagued with gumbo mud every time it rained, which was often. The dogs were forced to stay on a leash until the mess dried, which was about three days. Then we would get a day or two of no rain followed by rain and another three days of the leash. Well, those days are hopefully over.

My WIP is plugging along. I am at 28,000 plus words, which means my 1000 word a day goal is being met. The story is developing well, and it sounds like it might fit the speculative fiction genre. A lot of stuff happening that is not necessarily confined to one or more traditional genres. All I know is it is fun to write, and so I’ll just keep plugging.

Today’s JohnKu talks about fun and writing. I hope you have a very restful and fun weekend.

To have to work hard,

At something that brings no joy . . .

Must be hell on Earth.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – Hump Day

July 12, 2019July 11, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

Ah, delicious Friday. Eight more hours till Saturday eve. I hope your week was a good one.

If you looked in on yesterday’s post, you know we are getting some action on our yard. The way it goes is one day of furious activity and then one day of nothing. I’m sure you all have had the experience of doing business with busy contractors. They have several balls in the air, and so one has to go with the flow. We are supposed to get grass today, but I seriously doubt it since the concrete needs to be poured before the sod. Yeah, yesterday was supposed to be concrete. We shall see.

On my WIP I managed another 1000 per day week. So, now I’m over the 21,000-word mark. The characters are starting their “Let us take the wheel,” program which they always do at this time. The male protagonist wants to go to Wimbleton and find himself on the court facing Roger Federer. I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but it is a fun thought.

Today’s JohnKu talks about letting the characters run with the story. I hope you have a great weekend.

They sit for a while,

Doing everything you write. . .

Till they mutiny