Glenn Searfoss's Blog
August 26, 2023
Writing Thoughts
Well, I’m back. It has been a long hiatus, but it has allowed time for reflection.
I started a new technical writing job two months ago -bills must be paid – and it is structured such that I am completely exhausted by the end of the day. The job is sufficiently intense as to leave me bleary-eyed and nearly drained of creativity. When I power the computer down, the last thing I want to do is look at a computer screen and do more writing. There is no solace in writing for myself; I am electronically depleted.
I do not know how long this will last and if the old urges to write will resurface.
All that said, it has made me reevaluate writing…and publishing.
Writing in your spare time consumes your spare time. In fact, it can become your only life. If you have a family, it often means missing out on them; a fact I discovered after completing my book on Norse Mythology. It took sixteen years and nearly all my spare time. I missed time with my wife and our many dogs. When it was published, I looked back and saw all the time and events missed that could never be reclaimed. Many of our dogs passed away during this period and I found myself wishing I had spent more time with them. And I regretted not spending more personal time with my wife. She is supportive and understanding, and allowed me my head, but we would have had greater joy in each other’s company.
There is a vast difference between writing for yourself and writing to be published. The enjoyment of writing for yourself cannot be overstated. For me it brings a sense of creation and almost mediation watching the story unfold. Eventually – for me at least - the characters come alive and the magical point is when they begin telling the story.
But the moment publishing comes into the picture, joy drains away and personal anxiety creeps into its place. It becomes work and the pressure is on to produce; the writing is no longer just for yourself, but for some indefinable other. And once a manuscript is complete to your satisfaction, you must steel yourself to seemingly endless rounds of rejection by publishers and agents. A thick skin is needed here or the ability to grow one quickly.
And once it does get published, unless you are one of the top 10-20% of authors who get marketing backing from the publisher or if you choose to publish yourself, expect long hours chasing down any avenue for marketing the book, garnering reviews, and hopefully turning your efforts into sales. Let’s be real, if you have lots of money (and I mean many thousands) to pour into this endeavor, then you can wrangle some coverage, but it remains a question if the amount of resultant sales will cover your costs.
So, these are the issues that have plagued me since my last book was published. Right now, I wait for the inspiration to rekindle. There is hope. My mind has begun turning back to my last project and the characters are all there, tapping their toes, waiting for me to return.
In the meantime, I recall an introduction Kurt Vonnegut did for his novel, SlapStick. In it he recounted corresponding with his agent, Max Wikinson and telling him that he hated writing. The agent’s response was, “Dear Kurt - I never knew a blacksmith who was in love with his anvil.”
I started a new technical writing job two months ago -bills must be paid – and it is structured such that I am completely exhausted by the end of the day. The job is sufficiently intense as to leave me bleary-eyed and nearly drained of creativity. When I power the computer down, the last thing I want to do is look at a computer screen and do more writing. There is no solace in writing for myself; I am electronically depleted.
I do not know how long this will last and if the old urges to write will resurface.
All that said, it has made me reevaluate writing…and publishing.
Writing in your spare time consumes your spare time. In fact, it can become your only life. If you have a family, it often means missing out on them; a fact I discovered after completing my book on Norse Mythology. It took sixteen years and nearly all my spare time. I missed time with my wife and our many dogs. When it was published, I looked back and saw all the time and events missed that could never be reclaimed. Many of our dogs passed away during this period and I found myself wishing I had spent more time with them. And I regretted not spending more personal time with my wife. She is supportive and understanding, and allowed me my head, but we would have had greater joy in each other’s company.
There is a vast difference between writing for yourself and writing to be published. The enjoyment of writing for yourself cannot be overstated. For me it brings a sense of creation and almost mediation watching the story unfold. Eventually – for me at least - the characters come alive and the magical point is when they begin telling the story.
But the moment publishing comes into the picture, joy drains away and personal anxiety creeps into its place. It becomes work and the pressure is on to produce; the writing is no longer just for yourself, but for some indefinable other. And once a manuscript is complete to your satisfaction, you must steel yourself to seemingly endless rounds of rejection by publishers and agents. A thick skin is needed here or the ability to grow one quickly.
And once it does get published, unless you are one of the top 10-20% of authors who get marketing backing from the publisher or if you choose to publish yourself, expect long hours chasing down any avenue for marketing the book, garnering reviews, and hopefully turning your efforts into sales. Let’s be real, if you have lots of money (and I mean many thousands) to pour into this endeavor, then you can wrangle some coverage, but it remains a question if the amount of resultant sales will cover your costs.
So, these are the issues that have plagued me since my last book was published. Right now, I wait for the inspiration to rekindle. There is hope. My mind has begun turning back to my last project and the characters are all there, tapping their toes, waiting for me to return.
In the meantime, I recall an introduction Kurt Vonnegut did for his novel, SlapStick. In it he recounted corresponding with his agent, Max Wikinson and telling him that he hated writing. The agent’s response was, “Dear Kurt - I never knew a blacksmith who was in love with his anvil.”
May 4, 2023
My view of generative AI
There are many recent articles bewailing advancements in generative AI. From artists to writers — really anyone who makes a living in the arts — have raised their voices in concern. Just ask the Hollywood writers on strike, who have added a point to their demands regarding protecting their intellectual property and livelihoods from AI.
But, like Crisper for gene editing, the genie is out of the bottle for generative AI. Or, for those who prefer a more ominous viewpoint, Pandora’s box has been opened and we have yet to see the malign results.
I make no claim to knowing AI’s ability to generate creative stories and books but suspect at the current pace it is not far off.
However, one area where generative AIs will make an immediate impact is in technical copy writing where there is a high level of structure and churn, such as product announcements. And while this is not ‘creative writing’, it should rightly raise concerned eyebrows for those who are technical writers, technical journalists, copy writers, or marketing writers. Sure, there will likely need to be a basic content review of output, but when an AI can do in 5-10 minutes (with the correct prompting of course) what would typically take a copy writer several days or a week, then the cost/benefit falls on the employer side.
There are now a number of ai-copywriting solutions available on the market, so it is only a matter of time before their capabilities expand into the more structured world of full technical writing.
As you might surmise, I am a technical writer by trade — have been for many years (bills must be paid) — and have been keenly following the advance of this technology. With the writing on the wall, it looks like it is time to learn how to work with AI, cause it is not going away.
But, like Crisper for gene editing, the genie is out of the bottle for generative AI. Or, for those who prefer a more ominous viewpoint, Pandora’s box has been opened and we have yet to see the malign results.
I make no claim to knowing AI’s ability to generate creative stories and books but suspect at the current pace it is not far off.
However, one area where generative AIs will make an immediate impact is in technical copy writing where there is a high level of structure and churn, such as product announcements. And while this is not ‘creative writing’, it should rightly raise concerned eyebrows for those who are technical writers, technical journalists, copy writers, or marketing writers. Sure, there will likely need to be a basic content review of output, but when an AI can do in 5-10 minutes (with the correct prompting of course) what would typically take a copy writer several days or a week, then the cost/benefit falls on the employer side.
There are now a number of ai-copywriting solutions available on the market, so it is only a matter of time before their capabilities expand into the more structured world of full technical writing.
As you might surmise, I am a technical writer by trade — have been for many years (bills must be paid) — and have been keenly following the advance of this technology. With the writing on the wall, it looks like it is time to learn how to work with AI, cause it is not going away.
April 19, 2023
Research Sources and Herodotus
Sound research is essential to crafting a believable story. In fact, I am a big fan of research, often finding the act of researching a topic – with all its side leads - enjoyable and informative.
Creating nuanced environment color and character voice requires a level of immersion that is necessary to craft a believable story. This is why my historical or myth-based works include an Appendix of cross-references. The reader is always encouraged to use the appendix as a springboard to research a topic in-depth and create their own opinions. (I believe in a Herodotus-like approach. In his Histories, he provided multi-faceted viewpoints on the same regional stories. The interpretation of history is often local/regional-based, with different groups interpreting the same events to their own benefit. History is in the eye of those who interpret it.)
Here are a few topic review venues that I have found particularly helpful, as they allow me access to a broad scope of materials.
• Online: The web can be an easy place to locate information. But I always hold to being cautious of blindly accepting the information and encourage writers and to cross-reference web content against other sources. You might be surprised at how slanted or shallow some websites are.
• Public Library: There is nothing so lonely as walking through stacks of books collecting dust on shelves in a public library. But it is here that many nuggets of information reside. Use the tools in the library to narrow your search or cross reference against published books listed in other references. (In addition to using your own public libraries, here is a link to an online public library. OverDrive: https://www.overdrive.com)
• Internet Archive: This site provides access to an international library of digitized books. I have found it essential for locating difficult to find cross-references, especially old texts. (Internet Archive: www.archive.org , Open Library: https://openlibrary.org)
IMPORTANT: The Internet Archive is a crucial resource that is powered by donations. If you find the library useful, please pitch in.
• Book Stores: Searching for specific titles can often find newly published and reprints of older texts. There are times when purchasing new or used books is perhaps the only avenue to accessing a refence guide.
Many will say: “These approaches are obvious.” Or “ Who wants to take the time looking across that scope of material.”
To them I say: “It has been my experience that few people take advantage of the breadth of reference materials available to them when crafting a story. Be open to the conflict inherent in research as such perspectives can enhance your story, lifting it from mundane to brilliant. Too, such research can provide ideas for new stories as well as supplying background; killing two birds with one stone.”
Creating nuanced environment color and character voice requires a level of immersion that is necessary to craft a believable story. This is why my historical or myth-based works include an Appendix of cross-references. The reader is always encouraged to use the appendix as a springboard to research a topic in-depth and create their own opinions. (I believe in a Herodotus-like approach. In his Histories, he provided multi-faceted viewpoints on the same regional stories. The interpretation of history is often local/regional-based, with different groups interpreting the same events to their own benefit. History is in the eye of those who interpret it.)
Here are a few topic review venues that I have found particularly helpful, as they allow me access to a broad scope of materials.
• Online: The web can be an easy place to locate information. But I always hold to being cautious of blindly accepting the information and encourage writers and to cross-reference web content against other sources. You might be surprised at how slanted or shallow some websites are.
• Public Library: There is nothing so lonely as walking through stacks of books collecting dust on shelves in a public library. But it is here that many nuggets of information reside. Use the tools in the library to narrow your search or cross reference against published books listed in other references. (In addition to using your own public libraries, here is a link to an online public library. OverDrive: https://www.overdrive.com)
• Internet Archive: This site provides access to an international library of digitized books. I have found it essential for locating difficult to find cross-references, especially old texts. (Internet Archive: www.archive.org , Open Library: https://openlibrary.org)
IMPORTANT: The Internet Archive is a crucial resource that is powered by donations. If you find the library useful, please pitch in.
• Book Stores: Searching for specific titles can often find newly published and reprints of older texts. There are times when purchasing new or used books is perhaps the only avenue to accessing a refence guide.
Many will say: “These approaches are obvious.” Or “ Who wants to take the time looking across that scope of material.”
To them I say: “It has been my experience that few people take advantage of the breadth of reference materials available to them when crafting a story. Be open to the conflict inherent in research as such perspectives can enhance your story, lifting it from mundane to brilliant. Too, such research can provide ideas for new stories as well as supplying background; killing two birds with one stone.”
April 13, 2023
Take a mental health break
It has been longer than planned since my last entry, but I needed a break from the events roiling about in this world and my life. So, the dog, my wife, and I escaped the confines of Denver, Colorado and spent four days in the desert area around Moab, Utah.
What came of it? The stillness and silence of the backcountry, like the silence in the bowels of a live cave, rejuvenates the mind and body simply by being there. In the city, seized with the stressors of everyday life, it is easy to become habituated to the sounds of traffic, aircraft, the TV, all colored by a constant barrage of white electrical noise; never realizing the toll this compound pressure is taking on you.
But in the silence of the desert canyons, with each breath tension evaporates, hunched muscles relax in waves that settle your feet into the stones and sand.
I want to take this moment and encourage everyone to keep their mental health in mind. It is OK to take a break from everything. Don’t worry, it will all still be there when you return.
What came of it? The stillness and silence of the backcountry, like the silence in the bowels of a live cave, rejuvenates the mind and body simply by being there. In the city, seized with the stressors of everyday life, it is easy to become habituated to the sounds of traffic, aircraft, the TV, all colored by a constant barrage of white electrical noise; never realizing the toll this compound pressure is taking on you.
But in the silence of the desert canyons, with each breath tension evaporates, hunched muscles relax in waves that settle your feet into the stones and sand.
I want to take this moment and encourage everyone to keep their mental health in mind. It is OK to take a break from everything. Don’t worry, it will all still be there when you return.
March 29, 2023
New works in progress
I’ve struggled for years wondering if I really have anything to say and if anyone would be interested if I said it. By putting it through the test with 5 books, I can definitely say….sometimes😊.
Second Question: Are you working on anything new?
I have several projects in the works. They are at various stages and, if I am honest, some may never see the light of publication. Still, I enjoy working on them.
Which of these would you like to read?
Medea: A Prayer for Hecate. In Greek Mythology, Medea is presented as a scheming woman, a malicious sorceress, and—in Euripides’ play, Medea—a spurned mistress turned infanticidal with anger. It is my view that this perspective is nothing more than the prejudice of ancient Greek culture, which considered any woman who was clever and strong to be evil and conniving; all they allowed women was vengeance.
This book presents Medea in the light of a strong and capable woman. A priestess to goddess Hecate, who, through her abilities, helps the Argo’s crew survive the middle and final legs of the Argonautic expedition – from Colchis to Iolcus (remember Jason and the Argonauts?). On the successful return of the expedition, Medea helps Jason by engineering the death of his uncle King Pelias in a failed attempt to take back the crown of Iolcus, win a kingdom in Corinth, then spurned by Jason, kills her rival Glauce, daughter of King Creon, escaping to Athens where she challenges the social order through her encounter with Theseus, son of King Aegeus. Once again, she escapes, settling in the Iranian plateau among the Aryans, who subsequently changed their name to the Medes.
The Arsenic Waltz – A Sherlock Homes Mystery: In a swirl of emerald-green, the elegant woman sweeps across the dance floor and collapses in the corner. She is rushed to her rooms, lingering for a week among its brightly lit green walls and artificial floral arrangements, before expiring seemingly of pneumonia. But was it an accidental death…or an intentional poisoning concealed by the presence of a toxic compound.
This mystery uses the vehicle of arsenic-laced clothing to create the mystery.
In Victorian England, the zeal for bright colors in the fashion industry resulted in the production of Paris Green and London Purple colors. Arsenic compounds were used to set these vibrant colors in the fabric of lady’s clothing, wallpaper to brighten rooms, and floral arrangements. Prolonged exposure to the degassing and ingestion of the arsenic compounds led to sickness, and sometimes death.
This is as much a murder mystery as an expose of the inherent abuse in the clothing industry of Victorian England.
Rhinegold Trilogy: This book follows the Sigurd saga. It is divided into three parts. 1) The backstory of Fafnir and Regan. 2) Sigurd’s birth, his being taken in and raised by Regan, the slaying of the dragon, Fafnir to win his cursed gold, Sigurd’s adventures with Brunhilda, and his death at the hand of Gudrun’s brothers for the Rhinegold treasure. 3) The terrible vengeance of Gudrun on Atli for killing her brothers.
Second Question: Are you working on anything new?
I have several projects in the works. They are at various stages and, if I am honest, some may never see the light of publication. Still, I enjoy working on them.
Which of these would you like to read?
Medea: A Prayer for Hecate. In Greek Mythology, Medea is presented as a scheming woman, a malicious sorceress, and—in Euripides’ play, Medea—a spurned mistress turned infanticidal with anger. It is my view that this perspective is nothing more than the prejudice of ancient Greek culture, which considered any woman who was clever and strong to be evil and conniving; all they allowed women was vengeance.
This book presents Medea in the light of a strong and capable woman. A priestess to goddess Hecate, who, through her abilities, helps the Argo’s crew survive the middle and final legs of the Argonautic expedition – from Colchis to Iolcus (remember Jason and the Argonauts?). On the successful return of the expedition, Medea helps Jason by engineering the death of his uncle King Pelias in a failed attempt to take back the crown of Iolcus, win a kingdom in Corinth, then spurned by Jason, kills her rival Glauce, daughter of King Creon, escaping to Athens where she challenges the social order through her encounter with Theseus, son of King Aegeus. Once again, she escapes, settling in the Iranian plateau among the Aryans, who subsequently changed their name to the Medes.
The Arsenic Waltz – A Sherlock Homes Mystery: In a swirl of emerald-green, the elegant woman sweeps across the dance floor and collapses in the corner. She is rushed to her rooms, lingering for a week among its brightly lit green walls and artificial floral arrangements, before expiring seemingly of pneumonia. But was it an accidental death…or an intentional poisoning concealed by the presence of a toxic compound.
This mystery uses the vehicle of arsenic-laced clothing to create the mystery.
In Victorian England, the zeal for bright colors in the fashion industry resulted in the production of Paris Green and London Purple colors. Arsenic compounds were used to set these vibrant colors in the fabric of lady’s clothing, wallpaper to brighten rooms, and floral arrangements. Prolonged exposure to the degassing and ingestion of the arsenic compounds led to sickness, and sometimes death.
This is as much a murder mystery as an expose of the inherent abuse in the clothing industry of Victorian England.
Rhinegold Trilogy: This book follows the Sigurd saga. It is divided into three parts. 1) The backstory of Fafnir and Regan. 2) Sigurd’s birth, his being taken in and raised by Regan, the slaying of the dragon, Fafnir to win his cursed gold, Sigurd’s adventures with Brunhilda, and his death at the hand of Gudrun’s brothers for the Rhinegold treasure. 3) The terrible vengeance of Gudrun on Atli for killing her brothers.
March 21, 2023
A Question of Time - a new book by Glenn Searfoss
Since I began writing, I’ve fielded many questions—some of them actually having to do with my books. Over the coming weeks, I will attempt to respond to the various and sundry queries. As I do not like reading long drawn-out blog entries, each of my weekly entries will be brief and—fingers crossed—to the point.
First Question: Do you have another book coming out?
Why yes, I do. My next book is due out June 2023 from Orange Pip Books, a subsidiary of MX Publishing. It is titled, A Question of Time, and pays homage to three great Victorian characters of literary fiction: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. James Watson—with a sly aside to a nefarious criminal—and the Time Traveler of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.
It will be available in paperback and epub editions at your favorite bookstore and at online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Or order direct from MX Publishing: https://mxpublishing.com/products/she...
The publisher has started a Kickstarter campaign as one avenue of pre-announcement. This page provides a good summary of the book. If you are interested in donating to the project and getting an advance copy, here is the Kickstarter link to 'A Question of Time': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/.... As of this blog posting on 3/21/2023, the campaign has 20 days to go and is already 310% funded.
Visit Reedsy for a preview of the book: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/she...
First Question: Do you have another book coming out?
Why yes, I do. My next book is due out June 2023 from Orange Pip Books, a subsidiary of MX Publishing. It is titled, A Question of Time, and pays homage to three great Victorian characters of literary fiction: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. James Watson—with a sly aside to a nefarious criminal—and the Time Traveler of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.
It will be available in paperback and epub editions at your favorite bookstore and at online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Or order direct from MX Publishing: https://mxpublishing.com/products/she...
The publisher has started a Kickstarter campaign as one avenue of pre-announcement. This page provides a good summary of the book. If you are interested in donating to the project and getting an advance copy, here is the Kickstarter link to 'A Question of Time': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/.... As of this blog posting on 3/21/2023, the campaign has 20 days to go and is already 310% funded.
Visit Reedsy for a preview of the book: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/she...
