Month: July 2023

The Beta Reader Process Is Going About How I Expected

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

But for the fact that I need to focus on reading, I probably would start writing on the third draft of my first novel immediately. The Beta Reader process is going about a poorly as I expected. And given how bad, in general, I know the Public Beta is, I feel I can pretty much just write it off and throw myself into writing again without there being much of a problem.

And, yet, I do have some reading to do, so I continue to pause my writing on the novel until Sept 1st. I am doing — or trying to do — a lot of development while I’m not writing. I need to focus, though. If I don’t appreciate all this time I have, I’m going to waste two months of not writiing.

I really, really need to do some more reading.

My hope is that during this pause in writing that I will get back into the habit of writing to the point that even once I start writing again that I will continue to read in some capacity. I still am clinging on to the idea that I will write a total of six novels set in the same place featuring most, if not all, the same characters. That’s the dream, at least.

But the only way I’m going to make that dream come true is if I put some creative elbow grease into things. Reading — or, during research — is one way to take my characters to the next level. Some of my characters just aren’t as well thought out as they should be.

I continue to worry about at least one Beta Reader. I’m kind of afraid they’re going to drop a bomb on me of how bad they think the novel is. And, yet, I do need to know how someone who doesn’t really know me that well might see the project.

Anyway. I hope to take this novel to the next level, regardless.

‘Living In Sin’ #lyrics to a Dirty #pop R&B song

Living In Sin
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

playing with my quim
a head full of him
sliding in to do his duty
giving me a tap on ass
when I give him too much sass
but in the end crash into a puddle
of lust and rumble

don’t worry one bit
my thoughts will always be with you
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
we’ll be together to the end
living in sin

I arch my back with a crack
so he can break me into two
what’s a girl to do when a man
throws you around like a doll
leaving you hot and bothered
in the raw
I don’t know what to say
but I’ll never give it away

don’t worry one bit
my thoughts will always be with you
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
we’ll be together to the end
living in sin

(bridge)
dry as can be
waiting for the river to come
so I can come
to its edge
and get a sip
of your love

don’t worry one bit
my thoughts will always be with you
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
no matter what you do
we’ll be together to the end
living in sin

‘Overnight’ — #lyrics to an adult contemporary #R&B song

I see this is as what could be the basis for a Ariana Grande song. She likes dirty songs and this is a bit spicy.

Overnight
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

I love you during the day
’cause at night you’re away
earning the bread to put
a ceiling over my head
so when I give you head
the sky won’t be the roof
and we have some pri-va-cy

I love you no matter what
even if I have to love you at dawn
because you work overnight
leaving me all alone
to moan when I touch myself
with you on my mind

no matter what I’ll be by yourside
even if it means I’m poor without food
we’ll figure out some way to make fools
of the haters who want us to loose
butter me up with sweet words
when you come back from working overnight

I love you no matter what
even if I have to love you at dawn
because you work overnight
leaving me all alone
to moan when I touch myself
with you on my mind

(bridge)
at the middle of the night
when everything is a fright
and I’m alone in my bed
I stroke myself
with you in my head
’cause overnight is such a bore
without you to love

I love you no matter what
even if I have to love you at dawn
because you work overnight
leaving me all alone
to moan when I touch myself
with you on my mind

‘A World On Fire’ — #lyrics to a #pop #rock song

A World On Fire
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

the world is hot as can be
doesn’t seem to be getting any better
sweat is pouring down my face
into a puddle of disgrace
all I want to do is get into lace
so we can rumble between the sheets
with sweat flinging off
all around my loft

the world is on fire
there’s no going back
the world is on fire
and things are getting dire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire

my love for you will never end
there’s not a snowball’s chance
that I won’t be there for you
no matter how the globe grows
I’ll be the ice by your side
that makes you sigh
but we have to
accept that maybe this is it

the world is on fire
there’s no going back
the world is on fire
and things are getting dire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire

(bridge)
when things cool down
and our leaders no longer clown
maybe we can sit and watch the sun
drop from the sky
without fear that we’re going to
be broiled alive

the world is on fire
there’s no going back
the world is on fire
and things are getting dire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire
the world is on fire

Tiny D is Such A Fucking Fascist

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

The thing about Ron DeSantis is he will be an American Putin if he is elected POTUS. I say this because the Republican Party is a fascist party now and, by definition, our next Republican president will be an American Autocrat. And there really isn’t much we can do about it unless there’s something along the lines of a Resistance Revolution.

The great irony is, of course, that ding-dong Trump is so stupid, so lazy that he simply was not able to do what he was originally elected to do in 2016 — be an autocrat. Trump is well on his way to getting another shot at being an autocrat and this time, in 2024 – 2025, he’s probably going to be successful. There is, of course, a greater-than-zero chance that, like I said, there will be something akin to a revolution (Blues) or a civil war (Reds) no matter what happens in 2024.

But let’s get back to Tiny D, who tweeted this:

The hissy fit that fucking fascists like Ron DeSantis have over ESG is as stereotypical as it is depressing. Tiny D’s attack on ESG is a prime example of how we’re careening into fascism. There’s no going back. And the only way we don’t slide into autocracy be it through President DeSantis or Ding-Dong Trump, is something akin to a revolution.

And I hate violence. So, lulz, I would prefer we just slide peacefully into fascism that have any sort of violence. But the key issue that I have to accept if we go that path is things are going to get personal — ICE agents will be weaponized and either I get rounded up and put into a Trump-branded camp or just get a bullet in the back of the head.

I say this because I’ve really had the luxury of living in the Western liberal democracy. And when that is no longer the case, I’m not going to change my behavior — I’m never going to shut up.

I’ve Come Up With A Way To Flesh Out My Heroine’s Character

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I’ve come up with an interesting quirk to my heroine’s personality that I feel will both be something that audiences will enjoy and help the marketing of the novel down the road. In short, I have something of a “hook” that people will be able to hang their enjoyment of the character on.

I won’t tell you what it is, but I’m reading a book on the subject and every so often, I have an “ah-ha!” moment where I realize I can put a dollop of colorful content based on the subject into the text of the novel.

This fixes one of the issues that some of the early readers have had about the novel, which is I’ve not devoted enough energy when it comes to world building and fleshing out personality. Because the second draft is 80,000 words, I feel pretty confident that I can add about 20,000 words and people shouldn’t get too upset — especially if most of those words are done specifically for the purposes of fleshing out universe building and character.

So, I hope that I can spend the time between now and Sept. 1 read on the subject that I hope will be come to be associated with my heroine. In a way, of course, I’m kind of pandering to the audience because people will really love this particular obsession that my heroine has.

The trick is implementation. The only way it will work is if I lean into this particular obsession on the part of my heroine during the entire course of the novel. I will need some consistency. That is the issue I really have to keep an eye on — not just getting really excited over a neat idea than not using that particular character obsession throughout the novel in a way that seems cogent.

‘Guaranteed Not To Split’ -#lyrics to #pop #rock song

Guaranteed Not To Split
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

want you by my side
of that there’s no doubt
but can you promise me
when the pressures on
that you won’t split
and be done with it?

are you
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
that’s I expect
from the one I love

some lovers take cover
at the drop of a hat
are you the type who will stay
even if it’s much to my dismay?
I would like to think
that I’ve got you on a leash

are you
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
that’s I expect
from the one I love

(bridge)
keep you close
that’s the dose
that I hope to fill
I’m your doctor
I’m your thrill
but here’s the deal
you’ve got to guarteen
not to split

are you
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
guaranteed not to split?
that’s I expect
from the one I love

‘Make You Come’ — #lyrics to an #pop R&B song

Make You Come
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

your jewelry is fake
but the organism are real
and I’m a broke ass mutherfucker
it’s true
but once we tumble in bend
and we’re skin to skin
I know I’ll be the one
to make you come
make you come
make you come

you’re already here it’s true
but I can make you come closer
just you and me between the sheets
no need to bullshit when it’s
just me and you, doing what we do
‘cuase I know no matter what
when we’re in the buff
that I’ll make you come
make you come
make you come
make you come

(bridge)
I don’t know what to say
once we’ve both been laid (down)
the afterglow and cigrettes
is just thing thing
to put us in our place
but let me nudge you
so we can go another round.

’cause I know no matter what
when we’re in the buff
that I’ll make you come
make you come
make you come
make you come

‘Insurrection’ — #lyrics to a #rock song

Insurrection
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

if you don’t like the truth
and you’re an idiot to boot
grab a pole and bum rush the cap-i-tol
because we know what you got
on your mind
what’s left of it

insurrection
that’s the ticket
insurrection
that’s part of a thicket
insurrection
straight to jail
without a pause of thought

your leader tells you lies
things you think are the truth
no need to talk to you
it would be a waste of time
you’re part of a cult
that wants to bring it all down

insurrection
that’s the ticket
insurrection
that’s part of a thicket
insurrection
straight to jail
without a pause of thought

(bridge)
peace and quiet
it’s a riot
will do you some good
to keep your hate to yourself
sit on your hands
and let norms do their thing
no need to bleet out blood

insurrection
that’s the ticket
insurrection
that’s part of a thicket
insurrection
straight to jail
without a pause of thought

‘It Is What It Is’ — #lyrics to a #pop #rock song

It Is What It Is
lyrics by @sheltgarner
please give credit if you produce or perform

when you have no idea
what to say
when you’re in the wrong
to much dismay
when there’s nothing more
that you can articulate just say

it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is

no one will care
and no one will listen
when you you throw up your hands
and confess
that you’re in quite something
of a mess
so all you have to say
much to everyone’s dismay is

it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is

(bridge)
tell me the truth
if it is something that suits
what do you know
and when did you know it
otherwise shut the fuck up
I just don’t care
when you swear

it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is
it is what it is