Cuyler Callahan's Writing Journal

2009-12-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

I haven't written on this journal in such a very long time, it's 2009 now. I have another journal you can go to to keep up with my writing. It is the new one, the better one. Find it at www.cuylercallahan.com

Cuyler Callahan

2007-11-12T12:33:00.001-07:00

I have been working on my writing course some more. I have one more assignment then I am done the course. I have also been working on a printed version of my journal entries. Soon all my journal entries- including this online writing journal- will all be abridged into one printed book that I hope I can get into a bound book form for family and friends when I am older.
I also have hopes to start working on The Thorn Prince again and get into the thick of writing once more. I also need to set aside time to just read, as I haven't done much of that either.

As a refresher, current projects are:

The Thorn Prince
Greywoods
Assignment Eight of course from ICL. Working title "Dryad Come Out"
Abridged Book of All Journal Entries

2007-09-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's been such a long time. I'm on my seventh assignment of my writing course, but I am on leave from the course cause I went through basic training this summer and right now my jaw is wired shut from corrective jaw surgery. But once I start feeling a little better I'll be right back on that course and finishing some other writing projects. Well everyone wish me luck.

2007-03-18T23:15:00.000-06:00

Got "Space Cows" out the door, to my instructor. It'll probably be a little late. But oh well. If she was an editor or something. I think it would be way different, but she's my instructor, so it's not as important. Though I should remember to treat her like she is, because it's good practice for the time I'll actually have a real editor waiting on a manuscript. Well, all done. So now I'm working on my grandma's story, then hopefully I can jump into one of my other stories, or abandon them and start something new.

Cuyler Callahan

2007-03-14T00:14:00.000-06:00

Well, I have my rough copy of my new story "Space Cows" complete. My fifth assignment is due tomorrow, or at the least, should be in the mail by tomorrow. So hopefully tomorrow morning I'll finish the story, and the cover letter, and a small note to my instructor, then I'll speed mail it with the one day mailing service to the institute. Thats if all goes well. I already rewrote space cows once now. First I had my main character Waret rescuing cows in crates during a heavy intense space battle, but because of word restrictions, I couldn't get the full detail out on the paper the way it should be. So I cut back, and just made the story of Waret securing the cows, and getting himself to safety. It still is very good I think, but I would like the space battle. What I'm doing is keeping my first draft. That way later I can rewrite the story once again for a magazine with bigger word restrictions, so I can get a better fuller story in.

Well, I'm going to bed. It's been a long day.

Cuyler Callahan

2007-03-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

I read my course material for my next assignment. Now it's all about getting down to the writing. I think it will go good. My teacher likes the idea, and says its like a space western. I liked the idea as well, and when I am enthused about a project, I think my writing comes out pretty good. I'll have more for you later, maybe even a snippet from the story.

Talk to you all later,

Cuyler Callahan

2007-02-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ya, Still no writing. I've been real interested in body building lately. So I have been writing, somewhat. Writing up my workout plans. I know, doesn't really count as writing, but oh well. Thought I would leave a link to my body building blog. You can check it out here.

Other then that, I did read up on my next assignment in my writing course. Have to write a story for the space cows proposal. Been feeling a little depressed lately, so that'll put a damper on my writing efforts, but I will have to get working on the march 14th assignment real soon.

Talk to you later guys. And don't worry, I'm not super depressed, just worried about stuff that's happening in my teenage years.

2007-02-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, once again, it's been a long while since I've posted on my blog. It's now the new year, two months in actually. I haven't written on any of my stories, accept some for my writing course. I have to write a story by March 14 for my writing course, so I'll be on that pretty soon. Then I have been working on a story my Uncle Ray and my Grandma have been writing. She had it all fixed up and ready to send out to editors, then somebody stole her laptop. Her wrists are to old, so she can't fix it up again because it hurts her to much, so now I'm fixing it up for her. Once thats all done, and my writing course assignment is done, I want to start working on "Greywoods" again, and on "The Thorn Prince". So thats how things have been going. Oh I did get some writing in. Wrote a poem for a girl I liked for valentines. She liked it, which made me super happy.

Well got to go and milk some beefers. I'll try to keep posting up to date from now on.

2006-12-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't posted in a while. NaNoWriMo started out good for me.... I think. I wrote everyday, hitting the minimum word count at the least, but most times exceeding it by at least 300 words easy. I did this for a week and a half, but with everything else I had to do, like work, homework, and just some time to relaxe, writing those words had me up to 2:00Am in the morning everyday. I couldn't handle it. I fell asleep in class, I was losing energy for sport performance. So I said, I'll write everyday, but I won't write that much. So now I write almost everyday around 400 words or so a day. I can do that, and it doesn't kill me at all. I am 37,000 words, but I didn't die getting them.
I have been getting into drawing people and stuff. I have an idea for some of my short stories that I know won't have a chance at publication without some serious work overs. So I thought if I get good a drawing I might try turning them into comic books. Don't know how well it will turn out, but it would probably be fun.
Well, better get going guys. Happy writing.

2006-11-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

Well, the story seems to come along nicely. I have trapped my inner editor so he can't bother me while I write, though I still try preventing mistakes as naturally should happen. I am currently at 11229 words. I want to figure out how to put a Work In Progress bar on my page. I'll have to read up on it, unless one of you good people reading my blog have any idea on how to do it.
My main character, Carl, has just stolen a wolf pup from a pack of wolfs for his trainer George and gets back with the pup just in time to start whacking crazy worms that could bite his head of in one chomp.
I am really liking how the story is coming along. Well, I better get my word count in.

2006-11-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a few days into NaNoWriMo. My story is coming along great. I'll finally give you a brief summary about what it is about. A man and his friend are rock climbing. His friend falls off the mountain and into a deep hole. He dies, but the main character goes into this hole and can't find his friend, but finds a weird sheild and spear ornament. He touches it and is teleported into a world created by the ancient antlanteans before Noahs flood destroyed them. The Antlanteans are the only magic people on earth and the last of them are in this world. So his adventures happen in this world.

Here is an exerpt from the story. I thought it to be a little funny and a good introduction to how the world of Greywoods will be:

Carl looked a George. “So this is what you call rabbit hunting huh. I think you have a messed up mind man. We are not hunting, we are the hunted, and usually the hunters aren't suppose to be fricken giant bunny rabbits!” Carl had begun to yell near the end.

George looked at him with a big toothy grin through his white beard. “Welcome to Greywoods Carl.”

Hope you all like it.

2006-10-23T20:35:00.000-06:00

Oh ya, oh ya. I'll be going to my first ever writing event. At first my boss said he needed me to milk cows at the time the event was because he and his wife had bought tickets to go to a concert, but he got the date mixed up. He thought I meant friday night I needed off, but really I needed saturday night. So after this was figured out, I now can go. It is the Fabulous Kick-Off Party for NaNoWriMo for the Edmonton Wrimo's- thats writers doing NaNo in Edmonton, Alberta. Can't wait, should be fun.

2006-10-03T22:48:00.000-06:00

Yay, October is here.

And everyone knows that mean the signups have started for Nation Novel Writing Month 2006 (NaNoWriMo 2006). I signed up October 2nd and met a group of people from my area of Edmonton Alberta. They have a chatting server up but everytime I log into it, there is nobody there. Either I am doing something wrong, or nobodies on. It doesn't matter really. When it comes down to it I'll probably be doing more writing in November then actual chatting. They also host little group events during November, so I would like to go to at least one of those. It will be my first writer get together. I think it should be pretty cool.

My friend and I are working on some ideas for NaNo 2006 and I think they are really coming along. Still can't release anything yet as it is still to new to announce. I should be able to announce them nearing the end of October.

Well it's getting late, but there is an update.

2006-09-28T23:32:00.000-06:00

Hey guys. Its been a while sense I've posted. I have been busy with school and work. But as an update, I have been working on my writing course, and for all of you interested in "The Prairie Fire", well "Realms Of Fantasy" didn't take it. They are pretty professionals, so I might try a magazine more suited for new writers. Also, if you guys have not heard of Critters, you should check it out.

It is an awsome site that deals with critiqueing Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, or a mix of all those. It is a really good site that makes sure everyone who participates actually is critiqueing others before their work gets critiqued. I want to send "The Prairie Fire" there and hopefully get some well contructed advice and opinions of my story. You can find the critters website at http://www.critters.org/.

I also need to get some samples from some fantasy magazines. My instructor from the Institute of Children's Literatuer (ICL) really wants me to get sample magazines. So I need to send of for some of those too.

I can't wait until NaNoWriMo. It is National Novel Writing Month in November, and this will be my first year. Hopefully I can do it. I plan on doing it. I will release more info on the story I am thinking of doing later.

I can tell you I was initially planning on doing a story about a girl in a boarding school during WW2 when they are forced to escape from it after being taken over by Nazi Soldiers. Don't
get me wrong, I like Historic Fiction- maybe not as much as fantasy but I like it. I do not however like searching through tonnes of textbooks, websites, and other articles of information to find nothing that I find relative to the specific topic of my story.

Thats what happened when I searched for information about boarding schools in Europe during WW2. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, maybe there are crap loads worth of info out there, but I really would rather make a fantasy world where the rules are my own, and the world is my own, where I can let my soul pour out into my own fantasy characters.

Maybe it sounds greedy, but I do not consider myself a very greedy person (Mabey I am but nobody has told me I am), I have to get my greed in somewhere.

So ya, if it is a hint, my story is another fantasy. I thought it might help my creative spark so when I am done I'll work full force on "The Thorn Prince". I still feel when I write that something is being forced, so I will try another story.

I was talking to some other writers at Forward Motion Writing Group and lots of them said that you won't complete your first novel until a few novel starts. They said with each new novel you start, you will get farther into it then you did with the last. So though I have like thirty some pages outline notes and countless diagrams, maps, and such on "The Thorn Prince" maybe it is that first novel that will let me get farther on the next. Hopefully I will finish it one day, because I really like the story idea, but right now I think it is best to write on. Oh if anybody is interested Forward Motion Writing Group can be found at http://fmwriters.com/community/. It is a great place and I recommend it all to everyone. Also the owner of FM also is an editor of a great ezine called "Vision: A Resource For Writers". You can find that magazine at http://www.lazette.net/Vision/ It is a great magazine with lots of writing and marketing tips. I recommend it to anyone.

Oh, and I am glad to announce that Holly Lisle has another great writers book in her store called "Vision: The Writing Workshop". Holly Lisle has many great books in her store, and I recommend them all. She is also working on the "Create a Culture Clinic" Which I can't wait to come out. I was so excited when the "Create A Language Clinic" came out. I jumped right into it and had great fun.

Holly's store can be found at http://shop.hollylisle.com/ and her website can be found at
http://www.hollylisle.com/. I recommend these to sights with great intent and hope you all visit them. Holly really has helped me in my own writing with her great writing tips and her writing journal which inspires me everytime I read it.

I found a really cool keyboard that I think will dramatically decrease the chance of repetative stress relate injuries (RSRI) in the wrist. It also has been known to eliminate the effects of RSRI's in the wrists of people who allready have experienced them. The keyboard is called the Safetype keyboard. It looks a little weird with the keys actually facing vertical- up and down- rather then flat. You can read about it at this website http://www.safetype.com/, and also for Americans, you can buy it there. If you are Canadian, you can order it at http://www.ergocanada.com, and if you are European, you can order it at http://www.ergotype.nl/. The prices ranges differently depending on which country you are from. For Americans it costs $295.00 brandnew and $179.00 refurbished. For Europeans it costs € 299,-. And for Canadians, which is me, it will cost $360.00. All in all said, I will have to safe up a bit before I give it a try, and it is moneyback within 30 days if you do not like it, so I think I'll give it a try. I am sure I'll like it to. I allready see a difference in just holding my hands in the position they would be on the safetype.

Well I need to get to bed. Right now in Edmonton it is 1:25 am, and I have to work early tommorrow on the dairy farm, so I really need some sleep. We'll probably be working in the shop, or out flattening corn for the cattle, or something like that.

So I bid you goodnight, and remember, if you never stop trying, you will succeed in your writing.

Cuyler Callahan

2006-08-06T21:05:00.000-06:00

I am getting published. My short story called "Halrak's Mission" is being published in issue 24 of "Swords Edge" magazine. Yay, my first published story. I don't get payed but it gets my name out there. I am so excited.

2006-07-24T16:14:00.000-06:00

Well I have been writing more now. I have a short story almost ready called Din. I am working on a another article for Vision: A resource for writers.

I am so excited. Today we got high speed wireless. By- by cursed dialup. Everyone cheer.

2006-07-07T15:04:00.000-06:00

Been a while since I posted last.
Well, things are going better then they were. I am now signed up into the "Beyond The Basics" course from the ICL (Institute Of Children's Literature). I am working on my letter to my instructor Veda Boyd Jones. She is the author of 31 books, 250 arcticles, and has been writing sense 1982. That is one thing I like about the ICL courses. You are instructed by professional authors; people who know what it's like to be a writer and have experienced the things you are just experiencing, or haven't yet. My last instructor was Daphne Hogstrom who has acclaimed publishing credits as well.
I can't waite until my first assignment reaches me. Still can't decide if I will do a science fiction, a fantasy, a historical fiction, possibly a contemporary fiction- if my idea of what contemporary fiction is, is correct, or one I am leaning towards, because it will be a break from fiction, a non-fiction article about some aspect of dairy farming.
Anyways, with that out of the way, my writing on "The Thorn Prince" is coming along better. I am liking what I am writing again. I tried an excersise I learned from the ICL and Holly Lisle's web site. It is called timed writing. You just set an amount of time you want to write for. An average would be ten minutes. Then you pick your topic. I picked the topic of why my writing was going well. Then I start writing about whatever comes into my head about my topic. You have to keep your fingers moving. If something pops into your head that is not about your topic, write it down anyways. You have to keep your fingers moving. I did this, and I found the problem with my story. I was just sticking to much to the outline I made for myself. I needed to write down Ideas that fit my guidline. Doing this helped me relax better and now my writing is better.

Well haying season is hear, so I haven't been able to write everday. On top of that my boss went to holland so I have to do the morning milkings as well. It is not really hard, but I am a littel tireder because I have to get up at 5:00 am. Do to this I have to go to bed earlier so I am awake for the morning. This leaves a little less ctime for writing. It will be over in two or so weeks, unless I ask to do morning milkings after the Dutch Exchange student leaves.

Everyone have a good summer

Cuyler Callahan

2006-06-23T22:47:00.000-06:00

Wow, I have been off track. I havn't written much in the last few days . Before that I finished most of my language for Holly Lisles Create A Language Clinic. It is amazing.
But the last four days, I have slacked. I have written about a paragraph for "The Thorn Prince". First off, I wanted a break. Then the next day I had an exam. When I got home, I was feeling a little sick, so had a nap. Then my friend came over and we played Warcraft 3. THen I went to work, came home, and didn't feel like doing much. So I played Civ 4. I haven't played video games in a month and a half, so it felt good to do so.
Then today, after my last exam. My friends and I went to a place called Mulhurst and ate at a restraunt. My friends came over, and we gathered some rocks for my mom. Then we played Warcraft again. After that I took my one friend to work with me. When we came home, we played Age Of Empires 2. Then he went home. Now I am writing here. I need to get on track.
I just keep feeling crappy about the writing. I know where I need to go, but everytime I try to do it, I feel like I am going the opposite direction, or I can't put it down right. I'll figure it out, but I won't if I keep stalling.
Tonight is late, so there is not much point starting. I need to be awake for tomorrow. I think we are going to parade. I don'treally want to. I want to stay home and write, figure out everthing. Oh well, I will.
I have also enrolled in the "Beyond the Basics" writing course at the "Institute of Children's Literature". It is the course after the one I graduated. They only accept the people that are recommended by their instructers. I was recommended. Anyways, I am doing that course.

This is totally off topic, but I needed to say it. FABLE 2 and HALO 3 are going to be so amazing. I watched the trailers. I can't wait until they are out. They are the reason for me buying the 360. I haven't boughten any games like I told myself, not until I beat the ones I have. But when each of these games come out, they are in my collection soon. They are exceptions to the rule. Like I said, they are the reason for my 360. Anyways, I just thought that had to be said. They look so cool. I recommend everyone check out the E3 Trailers.

ANyways, this has been an update in my writing life. I need to get back into it.

2006-06-15T00:16:00.000-06:00

Yay!!! Holly Lisle has put up "Creat A Language Clinic". I bought it right away. I printed it off and prepared everything I need to start creating languages. I thought I would use a language for the Petost people in "The Thorn Prince". Heck, Petost might not even be their names by the time I am done with the Language. Gavania might be something different. My main Characters could have different names. Though I plan to have Gavania and the main character names stay the same as I really am not up to going through everything I got just to switch names. Though if I come up with something cool, it might be worth it.

Speaking of "The Thorn Prince", I worked on it today a tad bit. Caught up to were I was in it, relearned some of whats going on; I have been busy with "The Prairie Fire". I will start working on it again, soon. Probably after I am done fooling around with the Language Clinic.

I also downloaded a two year course from Lyzette Gittford( I hope I spelt her name right). It seems promising. I might use it to write a book my sister gave me an Idea for. She dreamed a story, so she would like me to make a book out of it. I will see how that goes. I don't want to much on my plate.

I have "The Thorn Prince" and an unknown story a friend and I are working on, in the making. With my sisters story on top, it might be to much, or it might balance out nicely. I also have to remember those short stories I sent out. I should be hearing from "What If?" magazine. "Realms of Fantasy" in about three months.

Well I actually feel like I am in the world of Writing, imersed in it. I want to be more imersed into it. Eventually I will be out of school, and then I will have lots of extra time for writing, while working on the dairy farm.

Well, it is late. I am going to bed, after posting on Holly Lisles site about her clinic. I am so excited. Good night.

Cuyler Callahan

2006-06-12T10:11:00.000-06:00

I just finished "The Prairie Fire". I am mailing it today when I go to town. It was a hassle though. I thought I had it all ready and primed last night. Though I was reading it outloud and realized it had quite a few mistakes left. So I recorded my self reading it outloud and then this morning I read it while listening to myself. It helped dramatically. I fixed almost all the mistakes. When I read it in my head once more, I only found five mistakes to correct. It is now in it's mailing envelope, awating it's journey to the post office. Wish me luck.

2006-06-10T19:37:00.000-06:00

I didn't post yesterday. So yesterday I played my violin. I am trying to learn how to Vibrato. It sounds really cool. I can do it a little bit, but I need a lot more practice with it. I edited "The Prairie Fire" quite a bit. I have 4 more pages to edit. Then I will do a scan over edit one more time for any spelling and grammar mistakes. I'll then prepare the submission package and send it on it's way. I hope I will be ready by monday. That is the goal.
Today I woke up around 11:00 Am. I wish I hadn't, my day was wasted. Oh well. I went to work at 1:00 Pm. Me and the boss set up some lights. Then worked on a new compressor he bought. I cleaned the medical barn and milked the cows. Now I am home. I will do my thirty minute excersise- I have to stay healthy if I am going to write. Can't write if I die of a heart attack, lol- then I will edit the rest of "The Prairie Fire", maybe play some video Games, or play the Violin. I really want to learn that Vibrato.

Well I am off.

Cuyler Callahan

2006-06-07T21:44:00.000-06:00

I put in a considerable amount more of my chicken scratch into wordprocessor. I am very pleased with how it is coming out. "The Prairie Fire" is really shaping up well. Oh, by the way, if any of you are intrested, I use Openoffice as my wordprocessor. I find it a very well made program, and it is totally free. Just go to openoffice.com. Although I can still not figure out how to make seperate sections of chapter headings with it. It would be very nice to be able to put the name of the chapter at the top of the page. I can switch page settings, but only a little. I can not do lots of whole sections. Oh well. What I have right now seems to work fine, and it is editor friendly so I won't be rejected for haveing the wrong manuscript format.

Well, I have to go decipher some more of that chicken scratch.

2006-06-06T22:53:00.000-06:00

I put some of my chicken scratch editing into my wordprocessor. About a page and a half. "The Prairie Fire" is coming around. I should be able send it out the door in a few days. A week at most.

Well that is it for the day.

2006-06-06T21:14:00.000-06:00

Well, I finished my pen to paper edit of "The Prairie Fire". Now, after it looks like a pack of rats moved in, I need to interpret the new dialect of my messy editing and put into good word proccessing font so I can actually read it.

Cuyler Callahan

2006-06-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

Well, this is my first ever blog post. I will introduce myself.

My name is Cuyler Callahan. I am a writer, though I have only been published in a newspaper. I live in the Edmonton Area of Alberta, Canada. I have been writing ever sense I was twelve years old. I am now seventeen and have completed a writing course called "Writing for Childeren and Teenagers" from the Institute of Children's Literature.

I am currently working on a Novel called "The Thorn Prince" In which I have 46000 words and 213 pages. I am currently have a short fantasy story out to a magazine called "What If?" called "Halrak Hunter" I should be hearing from them soon. I am in the editing stage of a short story called "The Prairie Fire." I will be sending it to a magazine called "Realms Of Fantasy". A friend and I are in the planning stage of a science fiction story, based on earth, but we have no name for it. It is very sketchy. I am waiting for some faxes from him, of some concept art.

I have entered into a draw to test out Holly Lisle's "Create A Language Clinic". Hopefully I will be drawn. I recommend that anyone who likes reading, or writing, to try out her website. It can be reached at www.hollylisle.com.

Well, it was nice to meet you all and I hope that writing on this blog will help me get through the current writing slog I am in.

Cuyler Callahan