There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.
― Red Smith
A week ago Friday I did the unthinkable. While burning midnight oil, I accidentally hit publish on the draft of a post I’d been working on. Then I did a second unthinkable thing—I didn’t notice.
In the morning I was catching up on some favorite blogs in my RSS reader when–horror!–I discovered the error: my rough draft released into the wild for all to see.
If you subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed you saw it too: “Never Eat Alone,” a place-holder title that won’t appear in the final version, followed by my half-baked scribblings.
I un-published immediately. If you followed the link back to Just Add Father you got a 404 (“page does not exist”) error. But the damage, if only to my pride, had been done.
World News Roundup
WOLF PASCOE NIGHTMARE! READERS ABANDON BLOG IN DROVES!
“Just subtract me from Just Add Father,” says disgusted subscriber.
On top of that, another post, published long ago, apparently re-released itself spontaneously and sent out notification to the blog’s e-list. I have no idea why this happened.
LAYER IN GRADUAL
Each post here goes through several drafts in several places on my computer. I like to layer in things gradually over a few weeks. I don’t mind sharing a work-in-progress so long as it’s labeled as such, though I never have here.
To the left: one of my poetry chapbooks that Nora, in her graphic days, designed for me.
The back cover features the handwritten first draft of one of the poems, complete with cross-outs.
The entire cover remains my favorite.
The finished “Never Eat Alone” post will appear next week under a different title. Why go on about it–as screw-ups go it doesn’t rank as much, even from my point of view. The world continues turning, little noting nor long remembering, etc.
But I decided to take some time with this because it’s germane to some news I have about Wolf the Scribbler.
WOLF PASCOE WORD SHOP
I’ll soon be launching a new site, Wolf Pascoe Word Shop, which will be home base for the books, both fiction and non-fiction, I’m writing. It will contain book descriptions, links to where the work can be purchased, and writerly updates. I’ll announce here when it’s ready and I hope you’ll check it out.
Coincidently, Just Add Father has reached the ripe old age of two. I always feel funny writing about writing per se in the posts here, but more and more I’ve been thinking about writing per se, so Wolf Pascoe Word Shop will feature a new blog, Writer’s Notebook, where I’ll talk about the wrestling match that is my process.
I’ll continue to post my thoughts on fatherhood (more accurately, my thoughts filtered through the lens of fatherhood) here as always, though probably less frequently.
EGGSHELL DANCE
To the left, an advance look at my first foray into the world of ebook publishing. This one is non-fiction, about my scary day job. Here’s the pitch:
Ever wonder exactly why anesthesiologists describe their job as hours of boredom, moments of panic?
In Breathing for Two, Wolf Pascoe turns his pen to his medical specialty of anesthesia and unveils the eggshell dance that takes place at the head of an operating table.
A personal odyssey that goes deep into the heart of anesthesia’s scariest mystery–breathing–this short book will change the way you think about life, and breath.
Yes, I said ebook. There won’t be a printed version of this one, at least not for a while.
Breathing for Two is a short work, actually a very long essay, but it seemed a perfect way to begin my electronic book career. I’m going to price it at $1.99 on Amazon. It’s not available yet. I’ll release it when Wolf Pascoe Word Shop opens its doors. Until then I’ll provide occasional updates on my progress here.
One more thing. I’ve created an e-list for Wolf the Scribbler. And that is ready now. If you’re a fan of my writing and would like to be notified about new releases, click on the Wolf–New Work Updates graphic to the right (it’s also taken up permanent residence in the sidebar). You’ll be sent an email each time I launch a new book. (As with the e-list for Just Add Father, which notifies you of new posts here, your information will not be shared with anyone. And, of course, you can subtract yourself from the list whenever you become disgusted with me.)
How long has all this been hatching? Since a post on December 16, 2011, when I announced a five-year plan to make my living as a writer.
Excelsior!
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But enough about me. What do you think of my plans? Just Add Father is listening. (Add your thoughts by clicking a few lines below below, where it says comments or add one. I always respond here.)
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow – congratulations on making your dream into a plan into a reality! Way to go.
I remind myself of a movie I saw that had a Hollywood party scene–maybe it was Annie Hall–one party guy said to another, “Well right now it’s just a notion, but I think I can get the funding to turn it into an idea for a concept.”
I want to know about everything you write – here, there, anywhere. I’ve signed up for the email list. Please let me know when the carrier pigeon and semaphore options become available.
Toasting you today, my friend, as you take those brave steps of not only doing it, but telling us that you have.
To heck with Twitter. Let’s turn the whole thing into a semaphore!
I look forward to reading more of your thoughtful gems and insightful perspectives. I love it when people have a dream and make that dream reality – it is wonderful to behold! Congratulations.
Oh my goodness, thanks. These gems, where are they?
Good for you!! I know you have the talent – and with your self-discipline, I bet you beat your goal date! I’m eager to see your new site. At some point I’ll need to do the same thing. And of course, I’m signing up!
Thank you, Barbara. In all immodesty, I love my new site and I’m eager to see it up, too. I am my own closet graphic designer.
Oh I am looking forward to reading your essay/e-book. AND your new blog and web site. Yay! I LOVE reading about writing because it makes me feel so much better about myself, to know that others are just sitting there bleeding too.
I didn’t get your errant post – either of them. Not that I would have cared. I once wrote an email to my therapist and I accidentally sent it to my entire research lab. I was so horrified I got another job.
Ah, but there’s the beginning of a novel.
I’ve been around much less myself… Sorry!
This is thrilling! (And I’m about to click that graphic.)
Just sitting here bleeding.
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