Sunday, April 15, 2012

One Small Step into the Blog Fog


What's the best thing about this writing biz? There are several candidates, but one of the best is emails from readers.
Okay, having a commute from bedroom to coffee maker to desk is right up there. Not having a boss ranks pretty high, too. Also on the list is the kind of research that involves hiking, skiing, and barbecuing at the beach.
Of course, there is a flip side to this dreamy novel-writing stuff, and that is the pesky business of actually writing the novels. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just sayin'... There is some work involved.
But waking up to letters from readers telling me that they enjoyed one of my books is the greatest of joys. They also tell me to say hi to Spot. Sometimes they write to Spot. (And sometimes they tell me that my book has typos on page 87 and 231 and 319.)
Many readers have suggested that I write a regular newsletter or a blog.
Yikes. A scary thought for a techno-phobic-jus'-me-and-my-Underwood-alone-in-my-cabin kind of guy.

But I get the point. While I respond to all emails, a book once a year isn't much communication coming from me to you. So a blog or newsletter would be a logical way to fill in some gaps.
When it was first proposed, I decided to sleep on it. Novelists are not usually blazing fast think-on-our-feet kind of people. If we were, we'd do stand-up. Or sell cars. Being slow – I mean thoughtful! – is in some ways integral to the process of writing a novel. The absence of fast-twitch neurons goes well with a career that involves the production level of one item per year, albeit a complex item.
So, nine years after it was first suggested that I blog, I'm acting on the idea.
I guess this introduction qualifies as my first blog. Will it be my last? Please check back and see.
Thanks for your time and interest.

Your humble author,

Todd


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