Balance

I'm reading through 2 to 3 chapters a day in my book and making a detailed outline as I go. It will probably be around 40 pages (single space) when I'm done. I think I also want to do the same thing to the Harry Potter books, just so I can do a deep analysis. I finally finished Da Vinci Code, but my deep analysis was abandoned when I got hooked into the story. I want to learn mystery-suspense from Dan Brown and world creation from Rowling. Now, if I can just find a way to make myself read Twilight. . .

I'm also getting time to practice sax again. It feels good. I spent last week brushing up on my bari chops since I had a rehearsal Saturday with the Salt Lake Jazz Orchestra (Jerry Floor's band) subbing for DB. This week, I'm focusing on tenor sax and R&B playing.

It's so nice to have all my students in the afternoon so that I can organize my mornings better. Of course, once my UVU students start up, that will completely change things.

This indecision's buggin' me

Now that school has started, my teaching is all shifting to afternoon. That gives me mornings to write or practice. I try to do both, but it seems after I do one, my creative brain needs a break and the other doesn't happen. I feel like I need to go back through my manuscript and write out a new, more detailed outline. I want to make a "bullet-point" outline so I can see each thing that happens and make sure important plot points line up.

But then I practiced sax for an hour and a half yesterday (no writing) and it was so much fun. I got the latest Smartmusic update which had several new Gordon Goodwin charts in it. Temptation.

Current Progress

I haven't posted here for a while. Facebook tends to get more attention right now since I can do a quick comment on it more easily. I know, I shouldn't be so lazy.

As far as writing goes, I finally finished making an outline of the sixth draft of book 1. I needed to do that so that I can quickly see the plot. Now I plan to write a new outline from scratch, using the main gist of the original but working the plot elements into the story better. Or, at least, that's the plan. As I've mentioned before, I have too many "band-aid" fixes and this is the only way I can think of to work them out. You could call it a "re-imagining" of book 1.

Musically, things are getting interesting. I've started playing with a blues band based out of Lehi. Also, the nine-piece swing band we've been trying to get off the ground for the last couple of years has a couple of dances coming up. We'll be playing the Apollo in American Fork on July 31. Yeah, I'm getting busy, but still not making any money.

Freedom Festival

Performed with the Wasatch Winds last night at the Marriott Center in Provo. It was for the Freedom Festival. I played alto sax. This year, the keynote speaker was Matt Holland, the new president of UVU. He gave an interesting speech about Abraham Lincoln. I looked over and saw Jeffrey Holland, his father, only a few feet from me. On the stand behind me sat Sen. Orrin Hatch and several other local political figures. Alan Osmond was there as well, since his sons were the other musical entertainment.

As far as writing goes, I'm going back to book 1. I'm in the middle of writing book 2 and have some good momentum, but I feel a need to get started on book 1 again to fix several plot issues. I don't know why, but I decided to follow my gut instinct.

Finally in step

It's taken me a while to get back into a rhythm after going to Alaska. I just finished chapter eleven today for book 2. I've been able to write a chapter every day this week. I just finished the book Conflict, Action and Suspense by William Noble. Now, I want to go through The Da Vinci Code and analyze how Dan Brown creates and maintains his suspense.

I'm still not hitting on all cylinders musically, but I'm doing better. I'll be playing on Sunday for the Freedom Festival fireside at the Marriott Center again. I did it last year when Glenn Beck was the speaker. It's symphonic/patriotic music with a seat close to the action. Of course, I have to go in a couple hours early for sound check.

Conduit

I went to the Conduit sci-fi/fantasy thing in Salt Lake on Friday and Saturday. These things are great resources for writers, where we get to rub shoulders with some of the best writers in the area. Some of the people there this year were Brandon Sanderson, L.E. Modesitt, Dave Wolverton, and Howard Tayler. I was on a panel on Friday about when to use and not use grammar rules. I, of course, am not an expert on grammar by any means. My main suggestion was to ignore grammar during the first draft, otherwise, it can make us lose our creative train of thought.

Tonight, I'll be playing a big band gig at the Apollo, a dance hall in American Fork. I'll be playing first tenor with the Moonlight Serenaders.

Missouri

I spent last weekend visiting Kansas City and Branson Missouri. I went with the American Leadership Academy show choir under the direction of Rick Lunt. On Friday night, we did our show before the Duttons, and then on Saturday we played it for the competition. Unfortunately, our group didn't make it to the finals, which I think they should have, but they learned a lot and had fun.

For me, it was just great to get out and see a couple of states I've never been to (Kansas and Missouri). My grandfather grew up just 30 miles from Branson, so it was neat to see the area he used to live in, though I'm sure it's vastly different. I was going to see if I could get a job there, but I couldn't find any openings for bluegrass saxophonists.