Category: canon

the mungk – playlist

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I like to do a playlist for anything I write. I don’t set it up before I start writing; what happens is that random songs or albums play, and things grow organically from that.

Sometimes, as you’re writing or editing, a song will come on that perfectly matches the tone and feel of what you’re working on, and so, becomes inseparable. Probably half of the songs on this list came that way.

Other times, it’s more intellectual; I need a certain theme or mood, so we search through the piles until I find something that fits. See, all the shadow and nightmare songs.

Sometimes, it’s filler, because a song didn’t fit the theme, so you get “clever” and try and find something to wedge in there (see Helpless Dancer, which I thought spoke a bit to the theme of pointlessness and running us down over a lifetime of traumas, mini-traumas and unfairness.)

Anyway, in the end, I get something that helps me really feel the book, feel the story. I will never hear Skyscraper again without thinking about pulling up to the little country house, nor will I not think of Alice whenever Run comes over my headphones or speakers.

Enjoy. It’ll make more sense when the book comes out.

The House In The Country: Julian Plenti – Skyscraper
The First Appearance Of The Mungk: Alice Cooper – Welcome To My Nightmare
We’ll Get You A Nightlight: The Who – Helpless Dancer
What Does That Mungk Do?: Nirvana – Drain You
Cracks: L7 – Crackpot Baby
The Doctor: Snow Patrol – Run
Goodbye, Alice: Violent Femmes – I Know It’s True, But I’m Sorry To Say
Alice Aftermath: Billy Talent – Living In The Shadows
The Fight: INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
Bumps In The Night: The Rolling Stones – Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?
The Power Goes Out: The Tragically Hip – Frozen In My Tracks
The Storm: Bruce Springsteen – My Father’s House
The Aftermath: Beck – Morning

Target: 1000 words
Written: 216 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: Mindset (do I have to write it all out?  Be the growth mindset, kids), Dweck, Carol
Comics: The Boys: Dear Becky 7-8
Music: Nervous & Weird, Everclear (words to describe oneself by)

back cover

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I’m thinking my ugly mug sitting in a bed in a dying cornfield, but where would I find one of those around here? And who would donate their old, creaky bed to such a cause?

The photo is more than the blurb (a crime of a word, as a certain author once opined).

The blurb is the hook; the picture is the brand.

The book is everything.

Target: 1000 words
Written: 48 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, Dwecks
Comics: The Boys: Dear Becky 3-6
Music: Neon Ballroom, Silverchair

light work today

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The heavy lifting is over. The next couple of days are back copy, author’s bios and probably finalizing the playlist.

Anyway: I worked hard on this bio, as you can tell.

M.T. Williams lives in Southwestern Ontario, in the midst of the cornfield with his wife, daughter and more animals than is reasonable, thus ensuring he is never alone in the dark.
Target: 1000 words
Written: 36 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: Mindset: The New Pyschology Of Success, Carol Dweck
Comics: The Boys 71-72, The Boys: Dear Becky 1-2
Music: Nena, Nena (nanoo, nanoo)

production manuscript

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What’s a production manuscript?

It’s my attempt to set up for self-publishing, which I’ll do if no one ever thinks The Mungk is good enough (or long enough) to publish themselves.

Which, you know, I get. It’s short, real short. Like twenty thousand word short.

But it’s fucking good.

So, no matter what happens, it’s getting out there. I’ll give it one year to find a publisher, then boom.

Out the fucking door.

Target: 1000 words
Written: 1459 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, Carol Dweck
Comics: The Boys 67-70
Music: Neil Young Essentials, Neil Fuckin' Young

manuscripted

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All done.

There’s still some afterwork and maintenance to be done, but hell, by this time next week, I’ll be compiling a list of agents/publishers to send this bitch to.

Good night.

Target: 1000 words
Written: 885 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: The Sorrows Of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Comics: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker 6, The Boys 60-62
Music: The Needle And The Damage Done: Outcesticide Vol. 2, Nirvana

manuscriptin’

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No time for love, Dr. Jones.

This should be epic (and probably not be done today).

Intense concentration incoming.

So we pray. Bring on the Patti Smith and the Kurt Cobain. Gonna need all the classics for this level of focus.

Target: 1000 words
Written: 9100 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: The Sorrows Of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Comics: The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker 2-5
Music: Neck Of The Woods, Silversun Pickups

snow market

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Technically, it’s the Dresden Night Market, but whatever. It snowed all day yesterday and is slated to all day today and tomorrow and the next and the next, etc., etc., etc., until climate change murders us all.

Assuming our new fascist overlords don’t get there first. My hope is that Trump’s ego pisses off the rich and they start using their influence to fuck him over.

But for now, it’s winter markets and praying the world doesn’t collapse before I get a chance to finish all that I desire to do.

It’s just too goddamn bad I decided to leave the starting line after most people have already run the race.

Target: 1000 words
Written: 1559 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: I'll Be Gone In The Dark, Michelle McNamara
Comics: The Boys: Highland Laddie 4-6, The Boys 48
Music: Near Truths And Hotel Rooms, Todd Snider (DB Cooper is stuck in my head; that's where you'll find him)

according to my calculations

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The Mungk should be finished in ten to fourteen days.

Then, onto the scarier phase – trying to fucking sell it.

Writing it is the easy part, compared to all the gladhanding and sending and trying to build audiences and dealing with the constant rejection.

And it’s a lot of rejection.

I think maybe sometimes that the whole universe has looked at me with the most cursory glance and said, nah. Not interested.

Dismissed out of hand by god.

The question is do we disappear, or do we get pissed and say, oh yeah? Look at me now, while smashing everything around them.

How you like me now?

Target: 1000 words
Written: 1173 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: I'll Be Gone In The Dark, Michelle McNamara
Comics: The Boys 47, The Boys: Highland Laddie 1-3
Music: Nazi Punks Fuck Off, Dead Kennedys (because, you know, fuck 'em. Fuck all the Nazis. I'm looking at you, Conservatives and Republicans.)

ultimate draft

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This is it.

The separation of M.T. Williams and his first grand creation (though not his first creation).

We are on the last draft prior to manuscript.

A dozen misfires and then the final blow.

Kind of exciting, if not also terrifying.

Funny how those two always seem to be in cahoots. Everything exciting should scare the shit out of you, right?

Right?

Hello?

Target: 1000 words
Written: 2040 words, novella: The Mungk

Read: Good Sex, Jessica Graham (not been helpful for focus, but hell on the libido)
Comics: The Boys 43-46
Music: Navy Blues, Sloan (feelin' Canuck the last couple of days)