Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I Like It When Pigs Fly

I'm in yet another blog slump. But on the good side of that I have been doing much better with my fiction writing.

I'm also in a blog reading slump. I apologize for that, but there simply never seems enough time to make the rounds these days.

I've recently read and critiqued a couple of manuscripts and short stories for writing friends. All good stuff which reminds me just how stiff the competition is for the few meager opportunities out there for we unknown writers.

I did survive the NFC conference game, but just barely. Several of you emailed to ask and as my beloved New Orleans Saints battle the Vikings I nearly had two strokes, one heart attack, and a brain aneurysm.

I, as a lifelong Saints fan have had lots of people tell me the Saints would NEVER make it to the big game. Apparently the play by play man for the Saints Radio has heard the same. I love the end of his call of the game wining kick. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it.



I admit it, that clip brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

I, the guy who only a few short years ago swore of all organized religion, am in the process to become Catholic. It has been a long slow and reluctant religious journey for me, and one day I might share some of my thoughts over the years in regards to religion, but I feel with all of my heart that I have arrived where I need to be. Some who know me might suggest that along with the Saints going to the Super Bowl me finding religion is proof that the pigs have flown and that Satan is wrapped up in a Snuggie demanding Hitler to toss another log on the fire.

I feel optimistic about my writing career this year. More so than I probably have a right to given the fact I basically threw in the towel last year and wrote next to no new material. Nevertheless something, a hunch I suppose, tells me that my current project, a coming of age memoir of my days working at a feedstore for the world's most morally bankrupt man, will be the one to finally see publication. Why you ask? One I think it plays into my strengths as a story teller and two it is the one thing I've written that I'm almost afraid to let others read. I was but a naive and ignorant 16yo kid when I went to work at the feedstore and like most teenage boys I did lots of stupid stuff, had many an idiotic idea and thought and in order to tell the story right I will have to expose my own stupidity and confess things that I've previously shared with only a select few.
But as an agent once told me ... If you're writing is not strong enough to piss at least a few people off, then it's not strong enough to truly reach any one.

31 comments:

Monnik said...

My blog reading/writing slump is bigger than yours is...

That clip gives me goosebumps. Congrats to your Saints! And congrats to you on your newfound spirituality and your optimism about the future. 2010 is starting out well for you!

jerseygirl89 said...

Congrats to the Saints - I will be rooting for them. My blog slump has been awful lately so I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. And I look forward to reading about your spiritual journey, so don't slump too much!

Melissa Amateis said...

I haven't been very faithful with my blog reading, either. Hit and miss lately.

Congrats on your Saints winning!!! As my brother is a HUGE Colts fan, I'm looking forward to both of your FB statuses come game time.
;-)

sybil law said...

That is a damned smart agent!!
You're gonna do well this year.
:)

your other wife said...

I am excited for you that the Saints will be in the big game for once we will root for the same team and i will enjoy watching!!! I can't express in words how I feel about the catholic thing. You know how great i think it is. i love ya man!!!!

Laurie Powers said...

I think the combined topics of the Saints going to the Super Bowl and you becoming Catholic at the same time would make a good book. Congratulations on it all.

G. B. Miller said...

Sometimes, taking up to year off from writing can be a very good thing (I basically conceded 2008 as a lost year).

Terri Tiffany said...

Enjoyed your post:) we all have those slumps--they pass!

Miriam Forster said...

Hmmm... I think Satan probably does wear a Snuggie. In fact, I think he invented them.

alex keto said...

I forgive you. I watched the saints-vikings, first game this season, post season, whatever that I have watched. Was rooting for the geezer on the vikings side, but he threw the game away. Literally.

Now I will root for the Saints because, other than the Colts, what the hell is in Indiana other than corn?

Dancing With Fey said...

Please forgive me for not getting excited about the game...I'm not into sports...

I must say, though, that if you do ever write about your journey to Catholicism I will be eager to read it. Anything and everything to do with religion fascinates me. :)

Cloudia said...

Your life is getting even more interesting, Travis



Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Cloudia said...

Oh, and GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lana Gramlich said...

I like it when pigs fly 'cuz it means Pink Floyd's in town. ;)
I hear you about trying to find time to make the blog rounds. I used to spend wayyyyy too much time on it, myself (at least 20 hrs/week!) I've honed it down to make my life manageable. I can't visit & comment on every single blog post...I just CAN'T. I only do what I can these days. It's very liberating.
I thought Charles was going to have a heart attack watching the game, too. I may have to slip him a tranquilizer for the Super Bowl...

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Love that play by play clip! This is going to be one exciting Super Bowl for you!

And I second Sarita . . . I love hearing stories of people's spiritual journeys. When you're comfortable expressing it, I'd love to read about yours too.

And just FYI, I flirted with Catholicism once. But I balked at the doctrine of the Pope's infallibility. I just could not accept it. That's when I realized I truly was a Protestant. So I abandoned Christianity altogether.

the walking man said...

Maybe it would be worth the trip for you and Charles to meet somewhere in the middle and enjoy the Super Bowl together.

I know I wouldn't be watching the game but the show would be funny as hell.

Don't seat the blog block...you're writing and that is all that matters.

Mary Witzl said...

I like it when pigs fly too. And I manage, all unwittingly, to piss people off all the time, though I suspect it's not with the sheer power of my writing.

March2theSea said...

Congrats on your team getting there! Its a lot of fun so enjoy it.

also, I have been in a blog funk for 1.5/2 years?! hahaa

Writing Without Periods! said...

Blog slump...totally normal. I'm a creative coach and I see this all the time and experience it myself. Be selective about what you do...we all have only so much creative energy.
Mary

Charles Gramlich said...

man that brings a tear to my eye and a little pitter patter to my heart.

ssas said...

My greatest hope is to piss a bunch of people off. I've been practicing in person. :)

Eric said...

Congrats on your team making it. They give me hope. Hope that someday the Dolphins can make it there once again.

I feel your pain with the reading/writing slump. I had painted myself in a corner plot-wise and had no idea where to go. Then somebody (or something) bonked me on the head and I was off and running again.

If you need any beta readers for your memoir, I humbly submit my meager skills for your use. I would really enjoy a story like this coming from you. I already know you have a talent for this type of writing, and I am sure the tale would be well worth reading.

Unknown said...

Being born in Wisconsin, I think I'm legally obligated to be grumpy if the Packers don't make it. That said, I don't follow football, so congrats!

Good luck with RCIA (I assume) -- my husband and I were both born and raised Catholic, and for various reasons had never been confirmed, so we went through it a couple years back to finish the process.

And better luck in your writing year! I wrote almost nothing new in 2009 as well, so I feel your pain there. =D

Terrie Farley Moran said...

Great luck to the Saints for the super bowl and to you for the feedstore chronicles.

Terrie

Melanie Miday-Stern said...

Geaux Saints! They are going to give Manning a run for his money. I am happy they are in the big game. Now, if the Browns can follow, I think all the original teams might have made the big game..... But I will not hold my breath.

I will give Holgren a couple of years to get things together there first. I am expecting great things out of Cleveland b/c Mike Holmgren is a great football genius, and as the Browns President, I can only hope he brings life into the team!

Kathryn Magendie said...

I've been bad about creating posts that aren't kind of yawnish and about visiting lately too -- but, yes, our writing must come first - although, once the books out there and published, the social networking is expected, so it's all a big swirl of swirlity swirls!

AND YAYY SAINT'S - GMR is a New Orleans Native, and while I'm not from So Louisiana, I lived there many years -- been supporting the saints for-EVAH - so happy for them!

Barrie said...

Just checking in on you. I'm finding it tough to blog and make the round and read and get all the writing done too. So, I can definitely relate to all that!

Rick said...

Thanks God I'm not the only one in a blog reading/writing slump! And there might just be a relationship between less blogging and better writing. Yeah, that would get us off the hook, wouldn't it?

Phats said...

WHO DAT BABY!!! It took a Boilermaker to lead you all to the promise land :) I think the city of New Orleans has fallen in love with Drew just like we all did at Purdue.

I am in the same blog slump, but I am vowing to get out of it in Feb! Lets see how I do haha.

GO SAINTS!

That Janie Girl said...

You go, Travis. I'm behind you all the way.

(And way behind you on blog reading, as you probably can tell.)

pattinase (abbott) said...

Still here but also hit or miss with the blog reading. Maybe it just wears down. A lot of the folks I read in 2006-07 are gone now.