More Reasons and Updates

At the end of my last post, I mentioned that there were multiple reasons that I am starting this blog. One of the reasons has to do with a quote I read by President Thomas S. Monson. He said, "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." Now, he was not talking specifically about writing, but I think that the priciple applies.

I have been looking for a way to better motivate myself to write and on better schedual. I havce given myself deadline and peptalks in my head, but I seem to need a little more. I realized that I needed accountability. So, at least in part, I started this blog to report on what I have written and how far I am in my writing. I know that there are not a lot of people reading it, but I now have all of you to report to. I plan on making one entry everytime that I write. No writing, no entries. In other words, it will become very easy for you to know when I am writing and when I am not. When I hit a major milestone in my book (most likely chapter endings) I will post the current stats on the book.

And without further adue:

The Chromatic Wars
Chapters: 8/28 (planned so far)
Pages: 79
Word Count: 23,789

Why I am doing this...

For the most part, I have been avoiding ever starting a blog. I don't even make posts on the family blog that my wife started so people could stay updated on us. She has asked me to, and I have always found a way out of it. This may seem odd to some, since I am claiming to be a writer. Wouldn't I want to take any opportunity to write and declare my inner most feelings?

The answer is an astounding, no.

I have always felt that it takes a certain amount of presumption to feel like you can write something that people would want to read. I guess I never considered that people would want to know what I was thinking, or take the time to actually read it if I wrote it down.

"But Rich, aren't you writing a book? Isn't that the point? Aren't you trying to write somethings that people will want to read?"

"Why yes, I suppose I am. But this is different."

My book is about other people in other places. While there are things in it that are deeply personal to me, they are masked with magic and mystery, shrouded in suspense, and accented with adventure. In other words, bearing my soul through an adventure fantasy for young boys is a lot different than bearing my soul on the internet without anything to hide behind.

The truth is, well... I lack confidence. I am doing this to try and change that.

There are other reasons, but I will leave that for another day.