On Getting Wrecked
On Getting Wrecked
A little vent on writing vs. life (and more).
Last week in a moment of frustration, I posted the below GIF on social media with the caption, “Life, whenever I'm on a serious writing roll.”
I wasn’t surprised when it struck a chord with other writers. It is, after all, a nearly perfect metaphor. Or is it a simile? (Images are a little harder than phrases to categorize properly).
Regardless, in this depiction, former professional wrestler (turned successful actor) Dave Bautista represents the strength and confidence of a writer in command. His championship belt only adds to his assurance. But all it took was one devious, unforeseen shot to the grapefruits from the “dirtiest player in the game,” Ric Flair (playing the role of “life outside of writing”), to bring it all crashing down.
And just so it’s clear who’s now in charge, life holds its arm between the writer’s grapefruits for a few extra seconds, clenching its teeth in self-satisfaction, and relishing in the writer’s pain.
I’ve found myself in this position a lot over the past couple of years, and the face I make on the inside when it happens isn’t all that different than Bautista’s.
Writers just want to write (which is one of the reasons I do these newsletters), and there are few things more coveted, in that passion, than getting into a writing zone. It’s where you’re focused, building momentum, and creating smart, quality work.
Unfortunately, I’m in a phase in my life that whenever I enter that zone, a whirlwind of interruptions, complications and downright crises (all of which have to be dealt with) drags me away from my keyboard (and other parts of my life).
The second half of last month was particularly brutal, as a huge professional opportunity (which I’ll hopefully be able to talk about a some point) was quickly bombarded with larger life obstacles.
But I’ll wrap up my venting (or maybe whining) for now. Priorities are priorities, and things are what they are. The good news is that the situation has calmed down a bit over the last couple of days. My head is back above water, but because I’m still playing catch-up, and mostly just wanted to check in with you all, the rest of this overdue edition of the Daly Grind will focus on some some notable tidbits from a couple weeks ago, and some items coming up soon (which I’ll share below in today’s “Hullabaloo”).
But first, on a very positive note, I have a little update…
Farrah got adopted!
It took almost a month and a half, but our super-cute foster-dog finally found her forever-home on Monday. She has a great new family, including a hundred-pound, four-legged brother who loves to slobber all over her.
Good luck, Farrah!
The Hullabaloo
I was the featured guest last month on the Spies, Lies, and Private Eyes podcast, hosted by fellow novelist, Terrence McCauley. I had a blast talking to Terrence (who’s a great guy). We covered thriller writing, old detective TV shows, my transition from a software developer, and a lot more. Please give it a listen.
On my weekly Daly Express podcast, I interviewed fellow novelist (another great guy), Daniel V. Meier Jr.
The laughs came easy as Dan and I talked about his novels, the critical acclaim he’s received, his personal adventures, and more. Below is a preview clip (that you may just get a kick out of).
You can watch the full episode on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to it on Spotify or Apple.
Later this week on the Daly Express, I’ll be talking to comedian, impressionist, and friend, John Di Domenico (the best Donald Trump impersonator in the world).
John has some interesting stories to tell, including the death threats he has received for his impersonations. (I’m not joking).
You’ll find the video version on BernardGoldberg.com, and the audio version on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Random Thought
Obligatory Dog Shot
Post-surgery pajamas are a way better option than a lampshade on the head.
Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers
All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.
Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.
Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.
Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!