Shit Happens...

So, I disappeared for a while, and I didn't do what I said I would, which was complete Chapters 3 and 4 and provide excerpts.  I'm like that sometimes, which is likely why I'm divorced;-)  Anyway, I'm back in the saddle, but no more promises.  I'm just bumbling along as best I can, and will have new material up as soon as it is ready. 

Thanks for the continued support, everyone.
CJ

p.s. If you want to check out a consistent and brilliant blogger, Kristen Lamb is my favorite.  She has a lot more important shit to say than I do, and she is better at it.  You can find her at the following link:
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/


 

Finally Moved

Hello, Everyone:

I have finally moved, and am working on settling into my temporary place with my Aunt and Uncle in Sarnia.  I will likely be here until the end of the summer.  As the Fall semester approaches, I will move into my own place, since I will have saved a little bit of money by then, and my income will increase as I am able to work more substitute-teaching days.

In any case, since I am finally moved, and mostly settled, I will begin working on my book in earnest, which, as you know, has been my plan from the outset.  I am really hoping to be quite deep into it by the end of the summer, so let's keep our fingers crossed.  (Actually, you better cross yours because I am going to need mine to type ;-). 

Best wishes to all,
CJ  

Comments, anyone?

First of all, thanks to everyone who has chosen to follow my blog, either as a member, or a casual follower.  Today, I shot past 200 page views, and it is all because of you!  I am flattered by the readership, of course, and I hope that you all continue to find the work that I post worth reading.  I would love to hear your thoughts, feelings, rants or any other expressions regarding my work.  So, please go ahead and comment. 

If nobody comments, I have no way of knowing for certain if people are following this blog because they find it to be an interesting and enjoyable read, or because they have a morbid fascination with its utter lack of literary merit;-)  All kidding aside, I really am missing out on the most valuable aspect of comments from readers, which is the suggestions you submit on how I might improve a given piece, or simply advice that you care to offer on writing, life as a writer, etc.

For those of you who wish to remain anonymous, you may do so.  I have set my comment settings to open to the public and to allow for anonymity.  If you're still uneasy about commenting in a public forum, but have something to say, please go ahead and e-mail me at chdcrvr@gmail.com

Cheers,
CJ

Moving tomorrow, May 6th.

Okay, so I was supposed to move yesterday, but my ex. threw a wrench in my plans at the last minute, (exes can be that way, I've found).  Anyway, I have re-planned it, and the move is happening tomorrow unless I'm incarcerated, hospitalized or dead.  So, sorry for not having the excerpts ready as promised.  I will post them and chapter 4 excerpts once I'm settled in my new place.


CJ

Big Six Publishing is Dead....

Click on the link below to read Kristen Lamb's insightful, and cogently-argued piece on the imminent demise of traditional publishing.  Also, you may link from there to find details on her book: We Are Not Alone.
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/big-six-publishing-is-dead-welcome-the-massive-three/
CJ

Another Poem? Ridiculous.

Whoever read this before, and didn't bother to tell me that I mispelled ridiculous in the title, is a booger face. 

Okay, so I am still not a poet, and I haven't bothered to learn any more about writing poems than I knew when I wrote the first one, which was nothing.  Nevertheless, an old friend of mine, Heather, gushed about how much she loved "Questions," so I offered to write something just for her.  She liked the idea, and I asked that she supply the theme.  For reasons of her own, she chose for me to write about failed relationships and giving up on love (girls are like that sometimes).  I completed it a couple of hours ago, and she is quite pleased with it.  She has allowed me to post it here, and has assured me that it's equal to the challenge of public scrutiny.  So, let's get on with it:

Written for Heather Parsons.
“No brighter a light in the darkness of one’s own night can there be than She.”
~ CJ Carver

No Explanation Required


When will it end?
How will it end?
Is the end a beginning?
Is the end just…

I think, you’re thoughtless
I speak, you ignore.
I listen, you’re silent.
I feel, you’re numb.

You’re gone, again.
I’m lonely, again.
It hurts, again.
I’m lost, again.

I’m tired of this shit.

Does any man know?
No explanation required?
An unfair desire?…

Try again?
You’ve changed?

Fine, show me…
If I think?
If I speak?
If I listen?
If I feel?

And, so you show me…
When I think, you think only of you.
When I speak, you hear only you.
When I listen, you talk only to you.
When I feel, you feel only you.

Must know you, to love me?
Yes, but…
Know me too?
No, only you.
You’ve forgotten me.

You’re gone, again.
I’m lonely, again.
It hurts, again.
I’m lost, again.

I’m tired of this shit.

Does any man know?
No explanation required?
An unfair desire?…

One more time?
Dare I?
You won’t go?
I won’t be lonely, hurt, lost?
Again.

I must try, but…
Not with him.

He’ll go.
I’ll be lonely.
It’ll hurt.
I’ll be lost...
Again.

I’m tired of this shit, but…

He doesn’t know.
Explanation is required, so…
No
I won’t!

I will try anew…
A new place.
A new face.
A new try.

Fear descends upon me.
Clothed in unfamiliarity.
My Heart, mind and spirit tremble.
Doubt reigns supreme.

Does any man know?
No explanation required?
An unfair desire?
Too bad.

New Place…
Is this the place?
Does he know this place? 
He who knows?

New face…
Are these the faces?
Would I know his face?
His knowing face?

New Tries…
Try what, with who?
Will he try, with me?
He will know, and try.

Hope glints peripherally...

His steel figure moves.
My magnet eyes follow.
His gaze shines my way.
My eyes held hostage.

He strides confidently.
He looks intently.
He Speaks slowly.
He thinks quickly.


He knows
No explanation required.
No unfair desire.
For, so he speaks…

I am a man who knows.
I’ll explain…

I know me, to love you.
And I’ll know you, to love you.

When you think, I will think of you.
When you speak, I will hear you.
When you listen, I will speak to you.
When you feel, I will feel you.

I will not go.
You’ll not be lonely, again.
You’ll not hurt, again.
You’ll not be lost, again.

You’ll not tire of this shit.

1000 Followers... Why Not?

If you're reading this, you either have a mild interest in what I am up to, or I have shamelessly cajoled you until you popped over just to shut me up.  Either way, I would greatly appreciate it if you click on the "Join this site" button by scrolling down to the panel under my Facebook picture, on the right side of the main screen, where the people are listed who are already following.  Then, follow the prompts to register through an existing networking service that you use, such as GMail, Twitter, Yahoo, or whatever.  I have this ridiculous goal of attracting 1000 followers - yes, one thousand - by the time I complete my autobiography. 

Assuming that the book takes me 2 years to complete, I will need to gain an average of roughly 1.5 followers a day.  So, yeah, it's not likely to happen.  But I don't care, and am going to try anyway.  I mean, I abandoned the pursuit of a full-time teaching career to try and make it as a writer, so there isn't much point in aiming low.  Besides, the odds against attracting 1000 followers are no more daunting than those against getting published, and I'm obviously trying to do that.

So, if you're still reading, you might as well got ahead and "follow," this blog, post it on your Facebook wall, tell a friend, tweet it or whatever else might be of help in my attempt to gain maximum exposure and attract 1000 followers. (actually, we're down to 996 as of tonight.)

Thanks for all of your support,.
CJ