I've not said much about my writing lately simply because there hasn't been much progress. I'm still working on it with a few more short stories and one longer that will likely never see publication. Why? Because I'm still learning.

Some people seem to be born great writers. That's not true, but it appears that way. They show up suddenly with thousand page novels that need very little editing and are instant successes. That is really the exception to the rule.

Most writers, at least they used to, start off with short stories submitted to magazines and other publications and slowly build their style, voice, and story telling ability. Then longer novels appear.

I am obviously not in the first camp (which doesn't really exist anyway) and I haven't broken into the second with anything being published yet. So what am I?

I'm a hack, but you knew that already. Well, maybe not a "hack" but certainly I'm too undisciplined in my style and story telling to really be effective. If you've known me personally for any length of time you know I can tell stories - Remember "mouse milk" anyone? If you don't, perhaps I'll post a version here someday. But there's a disconnect between verbal speaking with facial gestures and voice inflections and the written word. It takes practice, some people more than others, to write well. So I practice.

What does that mean? For one thing I'm still enjoying myself and that's the main point. Will I ever see anything in print? I'd like to but I'm honest enough to know nothing I've written yet is really worthwhile. I think I'm closer with some works than others. It's like my painting. I'm better at landscapes and trees than with drawing and painting people mostly because I've had less practice. I'd like to think I'm talented enough that I could learn to draw people well (well enough, anyway) if I really tried. and I'd like to think my writing will improve, too. So more practice.

And more discipline. That's the real key. I don't know about others but I'm thinking up thousands of rabbit trails and have a hard time focusing on the real plot and direction of a story. It becomes a question of what to leave out as much as what to put down on paper.

I'm not in the habit of making new year resolutions because I have too much fun breaking them within minutes of stating them so I won't resolve to be published by the end of 2009 or anything like that. It won't work. But I will continue working and learning the craft of writing well. And, if God wills, I'll actually get better.