OLD DOG FROM SILENT GEN. LEARNS NEW TRICKS

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Jefferson wrote "The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do." Why argue with the man who wrote America's "Declaration of Independence"? Yesterday, I wrote a sentence that ended with "an old building that once upon a time housed the famous Powell's Bookstore." How many times, I wondered, had I written "once upon a time" when "once" accounted very well for the longer phrase? I can't imagine how far along I'd be if I hadn't first had to deal with alcoholism and woman issues before I got down to serious attempts at successful writing. I can't fret about my wasted years and lack of confidence or I'll have regret to deal with next. One does what one can and at whatever pace he discovers he can do it at.

On the far northeast section of my daily walk, I sometimes enter a neighborhood of expensive homes, and I imagine living there one day ... if, of course, I can write one successful book that becomes a movie. I think I'm writing that book now, and walking through that neighborhood always fires my imagination. Who knows? More unlikely things have happened. Once that sentence would have read "More unlikely things have been known to happen"? See what I mean? I can now instruct Jefferson too: "The most valuable talent is never using two words when one will do." The superlative "most" eliminated the need for "of all" in Jefferson's maxim. Of course, history reveals that the pronoun "that" would have been required in Jefferson's time to refer to "valuable" and that historical circumstance is why Jefferson constructed his sentence as he did.

SILENT COMPLETES THE LAST REWRITE OF ANGIE'S CHOICE

A happy note! Wife Mertie did the final reread of Angie's Choice today. Five last chapters and only about six errors found. I will not look at it again, except to send it around to agents and directly to publishers. I culled through the 2013 Writer's Market and built a huge list of possible publishers. More of the kind of work that it would be nice to have an agent do for me as Agent Ruth Cantor once did for me back in the 1980s. 

Today I went into Portland to the Humanists of Greater Portland Sunday meeting. Then took an hour walk in downtown Portland and realized, as I enjoyed my walk, that under my original plan (to get someone other than myself to publish a book of mine) there lies another plan—to make enough money from one or the other of my novels to buy a modest condo in Portland. Well ... I'm 76 now and might just as well dream big as small. Eh? Of course the book I'm pinning my hopes on is Manning (working title). Also in the wings for complete revision is my most serious novel, Delinquent Lives. The Porno Writer could be a scorcher if I can write a final polished draft of it. It's done, but needs polishing. I think there's work enough ahead to carry me to the crematory but into a Portland condo...?

ANOTHER SILENT BOOMER, MANNING'S MODEL, JERRY ORBACK (born October 20, 1935)

Lennie Briscoe/Jerry Orbach

Today the writing went extremely well. Finished segment 14. I don't call them chapters because their length is irregular. In a filmed drama, they'd be scenes. That's how they break into segments—as scenes.

In this 14th segment, Manning's character becomes more fully revealed. I sometimes picture Manning as Jerry Orbach in character as Lennie Briscoe of SVU. Coincidentally, I was born on Oct. 20th, 1937. In this segment, one of Manning's longtime friends goes missing, and since it's Manning who has brought his friend into harm's way, he feels guilty. He's already lost an acqaintence to whatever the forces are he's dealing with, and he's pretty far from knowing what those forces are. He's certain they're pretty bad forces. Being a physically fragile ghoul, Manning would like to give up this job, but his friend is missing now. 

Also had an interesting sense of time today. I'm setting novel this in Portland, Oregon, 250 years in the future. Anyway, I've got Manning going to a Starbucks on Lombard Street, near U. of Portland. Then I stop to wonder if Starbucks will be there in 250 years. Two-hundred-fifty years is a long time as far as cultural icons go. Compare it to Sears and Roebucks which began in 1893 as a mail order catalog. That's a mere 120 years ago. According to some people, Sears is fading even as we speak ... or as I write. 
 
Zags won again last night! Olynyk is playing for Celtics. My feeling is Kelly's the type to make something of his opportunity. Maybe even moreso than the solid Ronny Turiaf.

BOOMER, SILENTLY BEATS ON

More than a week since an entry has appeared here. Had to do with a gap when I had nothing to say, then a family visit followed by another period of nothing to say. I've been working on a plot outline for Manning, rereading everything I've written and condensing the material into synopses to help me recall important information about characters and future plot elements. 

the Oregon Coast

I continually fear I'll lose interest before I finish the Manning novel. Many times recently, I've begun books only to lose interest after 50 or 100 pages. Ideas come easily, but the finger numbing job of sitting down and typing has not been a happy process for my poetical psyche. I'm good for the short dash, but the long haul is difficult. I've managed to complete four novels, but it's been awhile since that happened. 

Burroughs and Kerouac

Went to watch Big Sur, based on novelist alcoholic  Jack Kerouac's book by that name, and I wish we'd gone to the Oregon Coast this last summer. I don't know what can be said about his alcoholic take on life since it led to his own early & ugly death. I've always thought one section of Big Sur represents a true picture of Delirium tremens if you're curious about how it feels.

BOOMER GOES OUT TO TORQUE AND BLACK ROCK TO WRITE

A very productive day today, but not a lot to say. I finished another section of Manning earlier in the day and realized some interesting plotting to develop and a clue to drop to see how alert my readers are of what's gone before. I just now finished typing three more pages of The Man In The Mirror while my sweetheart was doing Bikram Hot Yoga up on 164th Avenue. This hot yoga stuff turns her on, relaxes her, makes her feel very good physically and mentally. She's always claimed there is something about physical routines that work wonders for her. She used to love Tai Chi, but that instructor was not of her political persuasion, and he would not let off, talking his talk, so finally, after years, she quit showing up. She's a very loyal person. She wouldn't quit on anyone without making an effort first. Oh do I love her! Walked by the Columbia today. Overcast, winter coming, and I took a few pictures of the I-5 bridge. Handed out a couple more Silent Boomer cards to baristas also where I do some of my writing when home office gets gray with overcast. Hello, there, if you're looking in.

REPORT FROM THE SILENT GENERATION'S BEATEST BOOMER

Picture: Daniel Selmeczi/Steve Bloom / Rex Features

My goal remains to get someone other than myself to publish a book of mine before I drop dead. Currently I'm working on three novels simultaneously. Mertie is making a final reread of Angie's Choice, and with each chapter she finishes, I correct errors she's spotted in that novel. She's only finding one to three minor errors every two chapters. I'm very grateful that she's doing it. When I send out the first chapter or first 20 pages (whatever an agent or publisher requires), I have been very certain that technically it's as correct as it can be. I read sections of it every once in awhile, and I KNOW the writing is solid, and I think there's sufficient suspense to keep an average reader interested. Now, it's like fishing. Have I got the right lure for the pilot fish I'm trying to catch? 

Every day or so, I sit down and slowly transfer the first novel I ever wrote—The Man In the Mirror—a page at a time, typing it into an editable file on my computer. Of course, the new novel, working title Manning, is my full time writing gig. Progress is steady. Today, on my daily walk, I came up with several more plot elements for Manning that will add to its suspense and, I hope, interesting reading for the reader. I can see several chapters into the future. I always carry a small notebook in my back pocket to write down my thoughts. Lately, I've also written some brief reviews on Amazon for the works of living writers I know and appreciate. The walks are getting colder now, and I'm stepping out pretty briskly, enjoying the trees, the clouds and the neighborhoods I pass through. 

Sidenote: on the very northern margin of my neighborhood walks from our condo, I pass through a very upscale neighborhood. Two homes of the wealthy sported political signs. One home had my favorites as their favorites. The other was not as intelligent.