Author J. Allen Tucker

I’ve heard that “ On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft ” by Stephen King is a great book about writing. I don’t recall where I first heard about it or who recommended it, but it was probably two years ago that it was first brought to my attention. This afternoon, I looked it up on Amazon , and it was just a little over six dollars for the paperback.  I ordered a copy. I assume, that King being such a prolific author for some many years, has lots of advice to offer other writers.  I will soon discover what he recommends.  I’ll most likely write more about the book, once I have had the chance to read it. Thanks, J. Allen Tucker

Yesterday, I had plans to get a quick oil change, before our evening plans.  I had my appointment for 4:30 pm.  I thought I would be done in 45 minutes to an hour. I noticed the tires were starting to wear some time ago, but i wasn’t expecting to leave the shop with a new set of tires, a new air filter and a new drive belt.  They showed me all the problems, and they were legitimately old tires, belt and filter. I wasn’t expecting to spend three hours there or to spend hundreds of dollars on repairs, but sometimes the unexpected happens.  You’ve got to deal with it and keep moving forward. With this delay and few others things that came up yesterday, I didn’t have the time to write.  I did give up or quit.  I got back to my 1,200 Words A Day Challenge today.  My time was not as limited, but I felt like my creativity was today.  I wrote 1,201 words. Thanks, J. Allen Tucker

I think with any challenge, there will come a time when you are unable to complete part of that challenge.  I've challenged myself to write 1200 words a day.  For fifteen days, I wrote at least 1,200 words each day.  On day sixteen, for various reasons, I was not able to write anything. Does that mean that I will force myself to write 2400 words today?  No, I think that mentally would quickly cause someone to give up a challenge all together. For me, most days I have written more than the 1,200 words.  After sixteen days, I should have theoretically been at 19,200.  Without writing anything yesterday, I was at 18,935.  I decided that would I catch up partially, in that I would like to reach or exceed the total of 20,400 word for today, which would keep me on track. By not trying to force myself to write 2,400 words, I ended up writing 1,738 and developed my story further, with some key elements starting to come into focus. If you don't reach yo...

If you are going to write, I think you need to figure out what is the most comfortable method, when is the best time for you to write, and where is the most comfortable place or places for you to write. If you like to write with a pen a paper, and then later transfer to your computer.  Great, do it that way.  Figure out what works best you. I seem to write more easily on my iPad with an Bluetooth keyboard than on my computer.  I find that interesting. If you don’t have a lot of free time, the “best time” might not always work out.  The best time for you might be 10 am, but if you’re working in the morning like most people, that isn’t an option.  I seem to have an easier time writing around 10 pm, verses the afternoon or earlier in the evening. You might get more work done away from home and some of the distractions there, or you might find a public place totally distracting.  I like to write at the local coffee shop, but I seem to get the most wr...

So far today, I've written 1,507 words of my novel.  I really had fun today.  I wrote for a couple of short periods earlier in the day, and I just spent quite a while writing.  I think for the first time, since starting this project on July 1, 2018, I had fun. It seemed so much easier to write today.  Oh course, it is Saturday which means that I have more free time and that hours of the day my brain wasn't consumed with things for work, which I'm sure helps as well.  However, it was more than those two things. I got to a place in the story that I found really interesting, and it since it was interesting it was easier to write and it was more.  It included some interesting back story, a lot of dialogue, and a few interesting set pieces. I guess that means I have expanded my three steps to four steps. Start! Challenge Yourself. Write! Have fun! Thanks, J. Allen Tucker

Today was day thirteen of my 1200 Word A Day A Challenge.  I wrote an additional 1,280 words.  I think the story is starting to come together.  A few more piece of the puzzle are being moved into place. I find it interesting when the protagonist or hero isn’t looking for the adventure or quest, but rather it is thrust upon them to undertake the challenge set before them.  I like movies like Die Hard, for example. In the first movie, John McClain was just a normal guy, who was an detective and was having martial issues.  He flies to California to see his wife.  He goes to her Christmas party and terrorists take over the building.  It’s really a brilliant setup for a story, which is probably why Die Hard has been copied so much the last few decades. I should also I guess mention, my story is not Die Hard on something, in something, or at something. Thanks, J. Allen Tucker

I wrote exactly 1,200 words today. It has been more time consuming the last three days, and I think part of the problem is there are so many different ways the story could go. I have not made an outline or a plan. I have some vague notions of some things, and some more defined ideas about other things. Today was day twelve of my challenge. I think some of the material written today is the best so far. I have added some new elements, that I think makes the narrative better. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m primarily dealing with the early 90s.  However, a key part of the story takes place in the mid 80s. The prologue features a scene that takes place in the 80s. I have nt decided if that part of the story will continue as a secondary timeline, throughout the novel. I think that is a cool technique, but at the same time, it has been done a lot. Let me know in the comments, if you think that two timelines as a story telling device has become passé. Thanks, J. Alle...