-
When a Book Hangover Spills Over Into Your Writing
If you recall last week’s post, I wrote about book hangovers. Those are the books you read that you love so much that you find it challenging to start the next book because you just want to bask in the halo of the book you just finished. This happened to me recently when I re-listened to Charm City Rocks by Mattew Norman. Turns out the halo/hangover from that book not only caused me to listen to anything other than a new novel but also manifested itself in my writing. The Genesis of the New Project A few weeks ago at church, a friend of mine who is an actor started…
-
What Do You Take for a Book Hangover?
Ever had a book hangover? You know what I’m talking about. You read a book and you really, really get into it. The author’s words transport you, the ideas engulf you, you probably get emotional while reading, and the ending leaves you with a special feeling you’ll want to remember but will fade as time passes. In short, the book moves you. Famous books that did this trick for me: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Redshirts by John Scalzi, Replay by Ken Grimwood, and all three novels by T.J. Newman (Falling, Drowning, and Worst Case Scenario). On the romance side of things, Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman. I…
-
How the Parenthood TV Show Helped Write My New Novel
It’s fascinating what influences us writers. In my last post at the original blogspot version of DoSomeDamage, I wrote about finishing my latest novel, Mid-Lives. It is the story of four middle-aged men who grapple with a central question: where were you when you realized you were old? The idea began six years ago this summer, in 2019, with an odd observation: what would the characters from the Kevin Smith movie, “Clerks,” be like when they got older. As surprising as it may sound, I never watched any of Smith’s films until that summer when I binged them all. I recognized myself in the characters from Clerks and Mallrats and…
-
What Happens When You See Your Story Differently?
Sometimes, the ending of a story changes. I finished my latest novel today. And no, writing “The End” on a story—and I literally do that—never gets old. This story had its spark in 2019. I piddled with it off and on until New Year’s Day 2025 when I decided this book would be the book I finish this year. I intended to finish it by 1 April. That didn’t happen. But I’m really glad it took me this long because I never would have reached the ending I wrote. Am I Really Changing the Ending? As I walked the dogs on Thursday evening, I was pondering how and what to…
-
How to Talk About The Life of Chuck Without Spoilers?
I work in marketing. Glad I wasn’t on the marketing team for The Life of Chuck. I mean how do you market a film arguably best viewed knowing nothing going in? A week or so ago, Mark Hamill, who stars in the movie, was on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. They chatted up his role in the film, but then Hamill did the thing that must have frustrated the marketing team. He encouraged movie goers not to watch the trailer. Don’t read reviews. Just go in cold and experience the movie. That’s what my wife and I did on opening night. All I really knew about the movie was…
-
Harlan Coben’s Back Spin is as Good as a Hole in One
Somehow, I fell into a Harlan Coben trough. It’s not really a rabbit hole, but when I finished Back Spin on Thursday and noted it on my “Books Read” list, I noticed something. Of the 11 books I’ve read this year, three have been by Coben. And of those, two feature Myron Bolitar, sports agent and righter of wrongs. In Back Spin (1997) is the fourth book in the series. I hadn’t planned on reading it immediately after I finished Coben’s latest, Nobody’s Fool, but a co-worker with whom I converse about books is, via audiobook, rapidly catching up to me. Easy for him considering his commute one way is…
-
Sometimes a Story Sprint is Exactly What You Need
Sometimes you just have to sprint. I’ve been writing a novel for the entire year. Restarted on New Year’s Day with an end date on 1 July. We all know novel writing is a marathon, an endurance test of stamina and devotion. But last weekend, a fun thing happened. I was inspired to write a short story. A week ago yesterday, at work, I encountered a gentleman who works for my company. I’d heard about him, how his mind works, and how interacts with my fellow employees. In some ways, he’s on a different level altogether. In the course of my introduction, he dropped a quote about how he views…
-
What Makes a Thriller? Harlan Coben Provides One Answer in Nobody’s Fool
I’m relatively late in reading anything by Harlan Coben, having read the first Myron Bolitar novel just last fall. I’ve since read three Bolitar books but never a standalone entry in Coben’s 37-novel career. When Nobody’s Fool was published, I checked out the audiobook from the library and settled into what is billed as a thriller. What Does “Thriller” Mean To You? “A stunningly twisty thriller” are the opening words to the book description so my mind conjured up an idea of what that meant. “Stunningly twisty” told me that I was going to get what Coben is famous for: a story that turned on itself, subverting expectations while truths…
-
The Great Summer Writing Season
Here in the United States, summer officially begins this weekend. It ends 98 days later on Labor Day, 1 September. I know it is a great time to travel, watch summer blockbuster movies–Superman! Fantastic Four. Superman. Mission Impossible (it’s AWEsome!). Jurassic World. Did I mention Superman?–catch up on some TV, sit on the patio or beach or dock and sip something cold, and just enjoy the summer vibe. But it can also be used to write. Think of it: perfect bookends. There is a beginning and an end. There are 98 days of summer. If you were to write up to 1,000 words per day, you’d have a novel. Okay,…
-
How Does Fandom Change as We Grow Older?
Being a fan of something is different when you’re younger. A fellow Gen-Xer and I have discussion about fandom: what it was like as a kid or a young adult and what it’s like as we continue to get older. Recently he sent me a text and I’ve been reflecting on it. I think my new take is that something has to touch my life in reality for my mind to naturally lock onto it the way it did before. For example, a TV show doesn’t actually touch my life. I’m not part of the creation of it, distribution, marketing, etc. My role is the very last step, and it’s…