It's been a while since Slim Randles has been here with an update on how Dud is progressing with his book. He's been writing his for more years than most of us put into a single book, and he shared some of his thoughts on the writing process in a post here on October 2013. He still isn't finished with his book, but, then, he seems to be having trouble with his characters. This is probably a good illustration of the importance of putting believable protagonists together. (See how I slipped the June theme in here.)
Dud was down at The Lunker Hole on Lewis Creek before it even turned yellow in the east. He had some thinking to do, and, as everyone knows, there’s no better way to think than fly fishing.
And The Lunker (and it’s capitalized on purpose) is a good trout to think by. Why? Because everyone also knows you’re not going to catch him, so it gives you thinking time.
Just about the time Dud could make out The Lunker’s rock at the head of the hole, he had gotten a tiny midge tied on some leader and sent it on its way to the general vicinity of the rock.
It floated slowly downstream without being bothered by piscatorial pirates, and when the line told him he’d reached as far downstream as he could on this cast, he picked it up, waved it dry and cast back up at the rock.
Okay, that was a decent thinking time, so it was well to get started.
It’s the book, of course. Dud’s worked on it for years now.
Why do I do it? It doesn’t make any sense. If I spent that time washing dishes down at the Mule Barn truck stop, I’d make more money. And the title? I like Murder in the Soggy Bottoms, but my friends keep calling it The Duchess and the Truck Driver. Maybe I should change it?
Okay, pick up the fly and send it back up to that rock again.
And the love stuff … the truck driver and the duchess are nuts about each other and have a kid in common from when he was in Europe on special assignment the last time. And the language problem. The duchess speaks a couple of European languages and the truck driver is from the South and likes to use air brakes as he comes down the hill past her castle. But if they are so different, how did they have a kid together?
Cast upstream again. Wait. False cast until the fly is dry then … yeah, like that.
You know, it doesn’t make any sense, but some people actually write more than one book!
They have to be cheating somehow… they’ve GOT to be cheating…
The Home Country radio show will be coming soon to a radio station near you! New, from Syndication Networks.
Dud was down at The Lunker Hole on Lewis Creek before it even turned yellow in the east. He had some thinking to do, and, as everyone knows, there’s no better way to think than fly fishing.
And The Lunker (and it’s capitalized on purpose) is a good trout to think by. Why? Because everyone also knows you’re not going to catch him, so it gives you thinking time.
Just about the time Dud could make out The Lunker’s rock at the head of the hole, he had gotten a tiny midge tied on some leader and sent it on its way to the general vicinity of the rock.
It floated slowly downstream without being bothered by piscatorial pirates, and when the line told him he’d reached as far downstream as he could on this cast, he picked it up, waved it dry and cast back up at the rock.
Okay, that was a decent thinking time, so it was well to get started.
It’s the book, of course. Dud’s worked on it for years now.
Why do I do it? It doesn’t make any sense. If I spent that time washing dishes down at the Mule Barn truck stop, I’d make more money. And the title? I like Murder in the Soggy Bottoms, but my friends keep calling it The Duchess and the Truck Driver. Maybe I should change it?
Okay, pick up the fly and send it back up to that rock again.
And the love stuff … the truck driver and the duchess are nuts about each other and have a kid in common from when he was in Europe on special assignment the last time. And the language problem. The duchess speaks a couple of European languages and the truck driver is from the South and likes to use air brakes as he comes down the hill past her castle. But if they are so different, how did they have a kid together?
Cast upstream again. Wait. False cast until the fly is dry then … yeah, like that.
You know, it doesn’t make any sense, but some people actually write more than one book!
They have to be cheating somehow… they’ve GOT to be cheating…
The Home Country radio show will be coming soon to a radio station near you! New, from Syndication Networks.
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Slim Randles writes a nationally syndicated column, Home Country, and is the author of a number of books including Saddle Up: A Cowboy Guide to Writing. That title, and others, are published by LPD Press.
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LOL. And so it goes. Good to hear from ol' Slim again. You keep workin' on that book, you hear now, Slim? It should get there eventually. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was glad to get an update from Slim on how Ol' Dud is doing with his book. I know the guys at the Mule Barn Truck Stop are just part of Slim's imagination, but after sharing their stories for so long, they have become like real people.
DeleteOl' Dud is someone Homey can relate too ... at least about the writing and thinking stuff. Fishing, not so much ... Homey isn't an outdoors man ... but I can see the attraction ... and I totally agree about those so-called 'prolific' authors.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from a "homey." I think we all secretly agree about those prolific authors, but then I wouldn't mind joining the James Patterson writing machine. LOL
DeleteSounds like the point in the book when you realize it ain't gonna work. Oh, how many times...
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling. Those are the projects I have finally learned to just let go, even though it pains me to lose those words and all that time. But, the professional knows when that has to happen.
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