Once in a while, before I totally catch myself, I start to fancy that I'll go off and write that book. What book, you say? Don't be silly darling, I wave you away with my fingers.

'Doesn't matter what book,

'shit, people don't even read 'em anymore anyway -- some of them make great doorstoppers? Back then, it was more to say I did it. Like joining that novelist club. The mere idea of prancing around in my fancy robes (one for each day of the week) -- and smoking a fancy pipe sounded just too sexy to me. A pipe dream.

'The reality is more like, 'girlfriend what type of crack pipe you been puffing? -- 'cause shit, man. Oh, man...

Writing.

Is.

Really F-ing hard - (with a major capital Fuck), yeah, that was then, and now is...so, okay, here's the deal.

I recently started writing a book, again. Haven't quite caught myself yet. I'm still floating down that denial river.

'Haven't got to that -- what-were-you-thinking? -- faze, just yet. Allow me linger in that dream, even if it's just a pipe dream (I'll stuff it in my pipe -- when I finally get one -- and smoke it).

According to my author gal-pal-in-my-head Lisa Scottoline's 9 TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED & STAYING MOTIVATED

I have gently embraced -- oh, ever so gently -- writing tip number four (cause two sounds way too much like a number two):

'Talking movies, I got some 'Splaining to do here. This years best movie by far is Kick-Ass. Allow me to leave that thought hanging out there in the wind for a few seconds.

I've recently seen my fair share of movies. Even done my reading about the state of Indie Films going leaner -- all for a bite of some eyeballs.

If you're anything like me you also hate watching movies that follow that tried-true but ooooh

so-tired-obvious-blue print.

I get this note on my Facebook page from good-buddy Christopher Rice -- truth is I'm thinking this was a mass cut-and-paste message, so I can't feel all that special -- it goes something like this:

• "Hey, my website, ScriptXRay.com, was recently contacted by the Screenwriting Challenge about their 6th annual challenge -- they wanted me to share the news with some friends and fellow screenwriters, so naturally, I thought of you! :)"

I'm totally buying the candy, thinking this script reader out in L.A. is all up in my panties (there's a visual for ya)...So what the hay, I'm totally going for it...

hook, line...and...

'Sitting here acting like a giddy school girl -- (might just be there's one inside us all) -- but, part of me is thinking if this keeps up I might need to talk to my shrink about it.

I'm talking about my Teenee Tiny blog post being run over on the mother of sites The Internet Writing Workshop -- I'm both honored and humbled to be a part of it (a big cyber-hug to them for being smart enough to notice me...I'm kidding, of course...at least I think I am).

Jokes aside, if you're pursuing the craft of fiction, well sites like that -- and other peer group are so important to the learning curve needed to wrap ones head around what is needed towards attempting to write well....and write stuff that somebody might be interested in reading.

I have been soooooo helped by the topics over on various Internet Writing Workshops -- (or IWW for those of us trying to be hipsters in the room...puff, puff, on my long-fake-Ciggie)...

I kinda think sites like that feels like a herd of fat cows...or a collective...maybe, like the Borg from Star Trek brings to mind the right visual...

where all us fiction wannabees can assimilate information and absorb the useful stuff without the whole world domination from that Sci-Fi show....unless that's your goal. I'd be happy with just a small slice of that pie.

Since back when I was a Wee Lad I've always had the bug to tell stories -- had this dream that someday I might get paid to write them...

That brings me to my recent Novel Writing Workshop (run by the talented author Jennifer Belle) which ended on Tuesday -- I've often asked myself the question on here...can good writing be taught?

The words of encouragement from my recent workshop has given me a clearer sense of what stage I am at with my writing -- yeah, I still have a lot to learn...

but, I know that I really enjoyed digging around my head for ideas...and learned to really listen to the world around me -- (and then to incorporate all that back into my writing)...

That other biggie for me is learning to love words...