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I have interests in writing, self-publishing, and investing.
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venturesverite
Jun 18, 202313 min read
In Third Grade….
In third grade, in the middle of music class, Ms. Traylor asked me to sing, then play the recorder. Amid the din of classmates warming up...
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venturesverite
Mar 17, 20236 min read
Writing Sanctuary vs. Reality...
Settling down in the writing sanctuary where words and ideas flow like... hold on, the cat found—and ate—a moth. Now, the cat is...
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venturesverite
Mar 14, 20231 min read
A Second Draft that Feels like a First
I've been slogging through a second draft of Insecticide Two and feeling unenthusiastic. I added a second character's point of view to...
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venturesverite
Mar 10, 202311 min read
Insecticide Excerpt:
Diana watched the body floating in the ocean. Lifeless current lifted the limp body up one wave, then buried it under the next. Diana...
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venturesverite
Mar 8, 20236 min read
Insecticide Excerpt:
Brandon could see clearly when he was four years old, with glasses. He remembered his fourth birthday. So, if was he was still a child,...
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venturesverite
Feb 24, 20232 min read
Can I (you) be a writer? And, how to be a writer.
I quit my job in 2016. After fifteen years, I’d had enough corporate life. But, I also felt if I stayed on the job longer, I’d regret it,...
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venturesverite
Feb 15, 20231 min read
Being a Writer...
Unfortunately it includes marketing. Our latest feeble attempts follow, as does how we became a writer. https://www.veriteventures.com/po...
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venturesverite
Feb 8, 20231 min read
Insecticide 2: Starting the Second Draft
I started the second draft of Insecticide Two. It feels like a process of zooming in. I started with the wide view. That required...
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venturesverite
Feb 1, 20232 min read
Elements of a Novel's Second Draft: Freeing the Red Pen
I'm starting the second draft of Insecticide 2 and thinking about what it needs to include. One important element of a second draft is...
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venturesverite
Jan 24, 20231 min read
Insecticide 2: First Draft is Done, Time to... Conceptualize
Ninety six hours into Insecticide 2 I finished the first draft. It took me 42 hours to outline, 54 hours to write...
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venturesverite
Jan 17, 20231 min read
Elements of Character Development
Characters drive a novel. Character development may be the most important aspect of crafting a novel. For me, it's generally the most...
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venturesverite
Jan 4, 20231 min read
Insecticide Two Update: It’s a Crime Scene…
I’m halfway through the first draft of Insecticide Two and entering a distinct, third emotional stage. First, was excitement. I had...
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venturesverite
Dec 29, 20221 min read
Standing Out in a Crowd
When self-publishing—if you market your own work—you are basically starting a marketing business. Today, marketing seems focused on...
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venturesverite
Dec 14, 20227 min read
Why I Write Slowly
Many writers give themselves daily or weekly wordcount or page goals. For me, it’s about time. I want to hit minimum time targets....
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venturesverite
Dec 7, 20222 min read
Insecticide Two Update: Back to Routine
I’m up every morning at the same time. I feed the animals (two cats and a dog), take a shower, then I’m at my desk. Over the course of a...
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venturesverite
Dec 1, 20222 min read
How to Find Comfort with Writing Weaknesses
I’ve started writing Insecticide Two. I put sixty hours into the outline, felt good about the path forward, and excited to write a...
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venturesverite
Oct 2, 20224 min read
How I Deal with Writer’s Block
Writer’s block can feel like a vise, slowly squeezing every word and creative thought out of you, until all that’s left in the world are...
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venturesverite
Sep 25, 20221 min read
Insecticide 2 Update: Singing in the Shower
I completed an outline version this week. I read the outline aloud after finishing to see how it sounded, and how quickly and simply it...
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venturesverite
Sep 18, 20222 min read
Insecticide 2 Update: Progress?
My outline for Insecticide 2 is growing—up to ten pages—but so is my To Do list. Bullet items seem to be spawning bullet items at this...
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venturesverite
Sep 10, 20222 min read
Insecticide 2 Update: Is the Final Cumulative?
When I was in grad school, every semester at least one professor would read the syllabus aloud during the first class—grad school...
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