Hi Everyone,
Hope you are all doing well in your respective places around the world. I am swamped at my full-time job which puts a slight damper on my writing activities. I did complete NaNoWriMo 2013 by writing over 51,000 words and haven't finished my story. I have a few more chapters to write but am near the end of the story I wanted to tell.
Due to the nature of the story I am telling that has given me the opportunity to revisit my past like I do on a regular basis as a way of rediscovering myself and learning about what got me to this point in my life. Old memories have opened up and the darkness that consumed me when I was a teen and a young adult have come to the forefront.
This has caused me to pull out the old Megadeth album So Far, So Good...So What! from my CD collection. For as painful as my teenage years were listening to this album recently has made feel like I am discovering Megadeth all over again. My teenage years come flooding back heavily and the memories of how this album helped me survive is with me. A reminder of how far I have come but have not forgotten where I once was.
Music is a wonderful gift. It is there when we celebrate, it is there when we mourn, it is there when we are lost and it is there when we are found. Music is a life line to so many things and for those of us who require it daily it is just as important as the air we breath.
Just for kicks I encourage everyone to dig out an album from your past and give it a listen. How does it make you feel? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section or drop me a line. I'm curious!
Take care all and hope the holidays are kind to you. Don't stress to much and enjoy yourself!
-Maynard
Content Warning!
This blog on occasion addresses depression, death, suicide and other sensitive themes. Continue at your own discretion in reading the content.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Random Things
National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org) is fast approaching and I will be participating in it this year. I hope some of you give it some thought and take the challenge. Even if you don't write 50,000 words in 30 days it is a fun activity and does take your mind off other things. Let your ideas flow. Whether you write in silence or crank up the music like I do, give it a shot.
Speaking of music, the folks at Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation could use some help. They are currently having a fundraiser to help kids across the country have access to music. All kids should have access to music in one form or another. The foundation is doing a lot of different things:
https://www.causes.com/v2actions/1761101-donate-to-keeping-the-blues-alive-foundation-inc
My current piece of writing is coming along at a steady pace. It's hard to write some days after I have put in a full day of work but I write at least two or three pages a night if I can.
I do encourage all of you to pick up a pencil or a pen and write. Even if you only write a sentence, a paragraph, a page, give writing a chance. Writing every day allows new ideas to come forth, solutions to problems and a release of stress. Writing is good for you. Trust me.
Rock on!
-Maynard
Speaking of music, the folks at Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation could use some help. They are currently having a fundraiser to help kids across the country have access to music. All kids should have access to music in one form or another. The foundation is doing a lot of different things:
https://www.causes.com/v2actions/1761101-donate-to-keeping-the-blues-alive-foundation-inc
My current piece of writing is coming along at a steady pace. It's hard to write some days after I have put in a full day of work but I write at least two or three pages a night if I can.
I do encourage all of you to pick up a pencil or a pen and write. Even if you only write a sentence, a paragraph, a page, give writing a chance. Writing every day allows new ideas to come forth, solutions to problems and a release of stress. Writing is good for you. Trust me.
Rock on!
-Maynard
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Special Days
I'll preface this post by saying that autumn-time in Vermont is very beautiful with the changing color of the leaves but it can be a very reflective time of year too.
If you've read my first book October Rain then you understand that the past can call to you as the leaves fall from the trees, the air grows colder for winter will undoubtedly make it's appearance in a short time.
Autumn in Vermont is a time of year when on starts to look back and prepare for what I think is the most peaceful time of year - Winter. Every fall I always feel reflective, sad, quiet and withdraw very much into myself as if I was preparing for a long nap.
This time of year makes me yearn for days of past to see faces of friends I have not seen in over 20 years, one in particular comes to mind.
To everyone who has stopped in to read, take a moment today, tomorrow, this week, month or sometime in the future and celebrate your life and those that matter to you. In nine days I will celebrate my 21st anniversary from a life changing event. An event that changed everything and am forever thankful for my friend, Michael, who helped me claim back my life.
The story that I have been stuck on for two years has started to write itself - finally!! It's coming together nicely and I'm glad that I after two years and six rewrites I have something that is working.
Music is an integral part of my writing as it helps me tap into the deepest parts of myself and bring what lurks down deep to the surface. Music gives me ideas and keeps me in a creative mind frame when I write or do other things.
So today I am going to share another Joe Bonamassa song with you. Thankfully, it's not raining outside otherwise I'd be crying while listening to this.
Take care of yourselves and do a random act of kindness! Someone out there could use a smile or know that someone cares.
Rock on!
~Maynard
If you've read my first book October Rain then you understand that the past can call to you as the leaves fall from the trees, the air grows colder for winter will undoubtedly make it's appearance in a short time.
Autumn in Vermont is a time of year when on starts to look back and prepare for what I think is the most peaceful time of year - Winter. Every fall I always feel reflective, sad, quiet and withdraw very much into myself as if I was preparing for a long nap.
This time of year makes me yearn for days of past to see faces of friends I have not seen in over 20 years, one in particular comes to mind.
To everyone who has stopped in to read, take a moment today, tomorrow, this week, month or sometime in the future and celebrate your life and those that matter to you. In nine days I will celebrate my 21st anniversary from a life changing event. An event that changed everything and am forever thankful for my friend, Michael, who helped me claim back my life.
The story that I have been stuck on for two years has started to write itself - finally!! It's coming together nicely and I'm glad that I after two years and six rewrites I have something that is working.
Music is an integral part of my writing as it helps me tap into the deepest parts of myself and bring what lurks down deep to the surface. Music gives me ideas and keeps me in a creative mind frame when I write or do other things.
So today I am going to share another Joe Bonamassa song with you. Thankfully, it's not raining outside otherwise I'd be crying while listening to this.
Take care of yourselves and do a random act of kindness! Someone out there could use a smile or know that someone cares.
Rock on!
~Maynard
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Writing To Music
I've been writing bits and pieces to a story I started two years ago. I'm on vacation from my full-time job so that has allowed me some time to do outlines and flesh out characters.
While writing, I have been listening to Joe Bonamassa's new album (Driving Towards the Daylight)and have put one song in particular on repeat. It happens to me often where I get a song stuck in my head and thankfully I like Joe's music a lot so I don't feel I'm being tortured. HA! Thought I would share with you. Here's the album version of Driving Towards the Daylight.
While writing, I have been listening to Joe Bonamassa's new album (Driving Towards the Daylight)and have put one song in particular on repeat. It happens to me often where I get a song stuck in my head and thankfully I like Joe's music a lot so I don't feel I'm being tortured. HA! Thought I would share with you. Here's the album version of Driving Towards the Daylight.
As an added bonus I'm including the version found on the An Acoustic Night at the Vienna Opera House CD. This is the version of the song I heard first and made me love this song.
I often listen to music while I'm writing. To some, music is a distraction but music is so embedded in my life that I actually write easier and more freely with music in the background. So for now, Joe Bonamassa is providing a nice music landscape while I write and thought I'd share his music with you.
Rock On!
-Maynard
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Writing Update
Hi Everyone,
The writing process continues on...
I have been working on a particular story for the past two years but it has not been working out as planned. After several attempts to rewrite it and improve on it I think I have come up with a new idea. Same story but different approach which I think will make it easier to digest.
In the past few months I have backed two short film projects. One about suicide and the other about the life of a woman who grew up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
When they come out I'll be sure to update everyone about where or how you can catch these short films.
I continue to work on my writing when life allows and am looking forward to National Novel Writing Month coming this November. I really do encourage everyone to give it a shot if you haven't before. It is quite fun and crazy - the best parts!
Take care and write on!
-Maynard
The writing process continues on...
I have been working on a particular story for the past two years but it has not been working out as planned. After several attempts to rewrite it and improve on it I think I have come up with a new idea. Same story but different approach which I think will make it easier to digest.
In the past few months I have backed two short film projects. One about suicide and the other about the life of a woman who grew up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
When they come out I'll be sure to update everyone about where or how you can catch these short films.
I continue to work on my writing when life allows and am looking forward to National Novel Writing Month coming this November. I really do encourage everyone to give it a shot if you haven't before. It is quite fun and crazy - the best parts!
Take care and write on!
-Maynard