Argh! -- Or how things don't always work out as you planned

I had a plan.

Part of that plan included a strict schedule.

And a calendar.

And a deadline.

Actually, several deadlines.

Then, the day before the plan was to go into effect ...

Some things happened.

Now I have to put my plan on hold.

Because things happened.

What was the plan?

To write 3,000 words a day.

To finish a novel in one month. At least the first draft.

Now I can't do that.

Because things happened.

Argh!

True Grit poster

Somewhere online (I don't remember where) I ran across this made-up poster for the movie True Grit. Having just seen this movie a few days ago, I felt it appropriate.

Oh, and my opinion on the film: It's a damn fine film. In general, it's better than the 1969 version starring John Wayne, though I personally believe Wayne pulled off the "fill your hands" scene better than Bridges. Sorry, Jeff. I also liked that the Coen brothers stuck much more with the novel, which I also recently read. However, a few changes they made in the middle of the film kind of left me curious as to what they were thinking ... they didn't hurt anything in the story, but I didn't really see where their changes added anything either other than some mild confusion on my part. The portrayal of the bad guys in this movie I found quite realistic and fascinating. This was a solid character drama, and one of the better Westerns since Eastwood's Unforgiven sort of said everything there needed saying about the Western as a film genre (which isn't necessarily true, but Hollywood seems to think so since they can't hardly ever turn out a decent Western any more).

A change is afoot

Okay, I've decided to change the name of my blog to make it a little more friendly to the casual reader.

My old title, "Logical Misanthropy," was just fine 5 years ago when this was pretty much just a personal blog. But that ship has sailed. Readers and writers are starting to come to this blog, and I don't want anyone to be turned away by what they might consider an unfriendly blog title. Also, the search engines keep sending me people looking up the word "misanthropy," and I feel that's a disservice to them as this blog really has nothing to do with hatred of mankind.

Okay, well, not most of the time.

So, I need a new title.

Temporarily, I'm just slapping up some kind of title. Heck, I might even have fun with it and change it from time to time, at least until I settle on something for good.

Where do you come in?

I need suggestions for blog titles. I don't want something completely generic, but at the same time I don't want something so obscure that no one will understand it. I need something that will be a draw to readers and potential readers.

Something catchy.

A question about my 100 Days of Fantasy series

I originally started my 100 Days of Fantasy series looking at 100 books that have had a strong influence upon me as a writer because I wanted something that would force me to blog regularly.

It has done that.

But, has it been worthwhile for readers? Have any of you enjoyed it?

My concern is that this series has been a little too personal and not helpful to others. Blogs need to be helpful and interesting, and I'm not sure I've accomplished that. My blog isn't just for me, after all, but is meant to reach out to others.

I bring this up because I'm considering another series, quite different and potentially more helpful to writers, in 2011. But I don't want to bore everyone to tears. So, let me know what you've thought of the series.

Is it worth doing another one?

Privacy policy

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My schedule

This is for me, here at the top of my blog as a reminder. Anyone else reading this is more than welcome, but I want this online so I can't just set it aside so easily. Anyway, I've several writing projects going on right now, and I wanted to prioritize them.

Here goes:

1.) RoTB short story finished, edited and sent off
2.) Re-editing three chapters for third book in trilogy
3.) Editing Shannon's novel
4.) Starting the new novel

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Hah! That's not even including the dozen or so ideas for John Dee short stories I have at the moment, but I'm pushing them off to get this work done. Other than some rewriting and editing for my trilogy, I've been working on short stories for about a year now, and feel it's time to get back into a novel.

Reasons why I blog so many lists

I have lists of books I've read. Lists of weapons I've had experience with. I even have another blog where I list music I like.

Why do I do all this boring, obnoxious stuff?

Well, I mainly do it for two reasons.

1.) I do it for myself. I compulsively make lists online. It's just me. Call me weird. I suppose psychologically-speaking it makes me feel as if I have some control over my life, but I don't normally think about it that deeply. And yeah, of late I don't have a lot of control over my life. Hopefully that will change sooner or later.

2.) I blog lists so often because it allows me, when busy and stressed, to have an idea for a blog post without having to spend much time thinking about it. Call it laziness, if you will. But I like for my blog to be updated fairly regularly. I don't like going to a blog and finding it hasn't been updated in a month, and I don't want to leave anyone else hanging like that.

3.) Okay, okay, I lied. I said there were just two reasons, but there is a third. I blog all this boring junk for my readers. Yeah, I do. I know some of you don't care for my lists, but some of you do. And maybe some of you will learn a few things about weapons, or discover a new book you'd like to read, or remember a favorite song you haven't heard in a while.

Chow for now.

Why would anyone link here?

Every once in a while, while using Sitemeter to look in on who is checking out this blog, I discover other bloggers and/or writers have linked to this blog.

Nope, I'm not going to mention names. Don't want to embarrass anyone or look as if I'm pointing fingers.

Because most of the time these are people I've never met, don't know, haven't even had an online conversation with.

I just find this kind of funny in an unusual way.

Sure, plenty of writers and editors I know (some to a good extent, some to a lesser) have put up a link to here. That I get.

But I don't quite understand why others, folks I don't know, will link here.

Yeah, this is basically a writing blog, but I post all kinds of other junk, too. What's going on in my life. Lists and lists and lists of books I've read. List of weapons I've used. Some music. Mini book reviews.

I guess I find it interesting that anyone would link here, especially someone I don't know. Maybe in all this slush I'm spewing forth there is a little bit others find entertaining and/or believe worthy of their attention.

So ... press on, good writers! Press on!

Where I've been

Nowhere. I've been here all along, just busy. That's why I've not been posting much lately.

My small business has kept me busy with a big project, and I've spent a little time goofing with my RadioDarkbow project.

But what have I been doing with my writing? Well, I sent off about 20 packages to agents a week or so ago. Since then I've been researching other agents, and I've got a list of about another 30 I need to mail stuff to. Also, and more fun, I've been working on another John Dee story, "The Unconquered Man." I've also been working out what was wrong with the story, "Where the Baptized Drown," and I think I've got it worked out now so that I can straighten it out soon.

I'm back, baby!

That's right. My Internet connection at home has been fixed. Turns out it was a modem problem. And I now hate the company that provides my connection. So blah!

I have not been kidnapped

If you've noticed I've not been online of much lately, it's because what started as problems with my Net provider has turned into major computer problems. So, it might be a while before I'm back online regularly. Not sure how long yet.

As is, I can only get online at work when I have the time.

He's not dead, Jim

For anyone wanting to know ... no, I'm not dead. I haven't given up on blogs, or on Bayne or anything else. Just too busy with other stuff at the moment.

I will return to regularly scheduled airwaves when I get the chance.

Selling out

In case you haven't noticed, there is now advertising on my blogs. I'm going to try to keep it to a minimum on this site since this is sort of my personal writing spot, but any other blogs or Web sites I handle are open to advertising.

Yes, some folks would call this selling out. Some might even call me a whore. Some might just be sick and tired of all the advertising in the world. I agree, to all those things. Yes, I am selling out.

Why not? It's not as if I will get rich, maybe only an extra $10 a month or even less. But I'm blogging any way, so why not make a few exra bucks at it.

However, if the ads get annoying, or they cause you to have big page loading problems, please let me know. Yes, if the ads are more trouble than they are worth, I will eventually drop them. But until then, I'll keep at it.

Besides, I'm a writer. We're supposed to sell out.

Just so ya know ...

... one reason of late I've not been posting on others' blogs is because I'm having technical difficulties. My own blogger.com stuff seems to be working okay, but I get an error message whenever I try to leave messages on other people's blogs at blogger.com.

Not sure why this is happening, but just wanted to folks to know I'm not being rude.

Blog stats

Funny. Some days I have 10 to 12 people looking at my blog. Other days only 1 or 2, or even none. I'm averageing from 4 to 6 usually.

Not great statistics, but interesting to me. I also seem to get a lot of Google hits for D&D stuff, the word "misanthropy" and Tor/Forge.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm ...

Latest blog change

Since I've found a way to do labels on blogger.com, instead of having a separate blog for the books I'm reading this year (and maybe years to come), I've added the label "Books Read" over on the left side of this page. Enjoy my notes.

Busy, busy, busy

Just wanted to let folks know that if I'm not posting much here for a while it's because I'm busy. I'm still working my old job, looking for a new job and moving two hours away in a town where I've bought a house but still don't have a job. All the while I'm still trying to edit the third book of my trilogy.

Call me Stupid.

Merry Christmas!

As I'm going to be on the road for the holidays, and away from a computer, I wanted to wish everyone who checks this blog a happy holidays and Merry Christmas!

May all your writing dreams become realities in the new year of 2007!

Title change

Look up. It's not a bird. It's not a plane. It's a name change. At least for now, this is no longer "Darkbow's Domain." This place is "Logical Misanthropy."

Why? Because it sounds like something. It sounds like a title.

And I only hate humanity sometimes. Especially when I'm driving.

Hey, if it doesn't work, I'll get rid of it.

In the beginning ...

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ty Johnston, writer of sword and sorcery tales and more, whatever I feel like writing.
At this time I am working on the third novel in my "Kobalos" trilogy, a fantasy story. The first book is finished, though I'm always tinkering and editing it, and the second book too is nearly done after a recent second rewrite and some editing.
The first book had a working title of "Son of Kobalos" but of late I've been calling it "City of Rogues." The second book has a working title of "Road to Kobalos," while the third book has a working title of "Dark King of Kobalos."
I'm currently shopping the first book around to publishers and agents. So far I've had no acceptances, but I've had some positive responses.
Got to run! I'll add more here in the future.