A New Direction

I'm working on a new website. I'm planning to incorporate my blog into the the new site. There isn't much going on, but the wheels are beginning to roll again. I'd like to have a new manuscript finished in the next year. Go to jrhetrick.com click on blog or jrhetrick.com/blog.html Thanks...

This rings so true in my ears...

This is worth the ten minutes or so... I relate to it so well. Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com

A Certain Sadness

It's taken a year or so to understand it, but I've been sad. Not depressed (I've been there - and am very happy and rich in family and friends), but sad, like attending the funeral of an elderly friend. When I turned 50, I slowly lost my optimistic drive. Opportunities to be a successful writer, photographer, designer, artist, desert racer, speaker and anything else I've ever tried, died. Silly, I know, but as I look honestly at myself, I believe I've been in mourning. Saddened by the realization that I'm not as agile of mind and the window of opportunity has closed. In years past, ideas crowded my mind in throngs, pressing together in a desperate rush to get out. I could reach in the rushing stream and extract ideas of every kind, not worrying much about what I missed in the bounty.

I've squandered so much. Bummer, huh, what a depressing entry, but it's an important realization. I've been in mourning and as we do when we leave the funeral of an elderly friend we say, "he had a good life." We miss them. We smile at happy memories and tear up in the sad, bittersweet. We fill the void, look back fondly and know it was a pleasure to have known them. Beyond that, we begin to realize we've learned from them and continue to learn more.

I say goodbye to so many hopes and dreams. Now, this deep sadness is over. The hollow wondering turns into a new, bittersweet, chapter. Less frantic, more mature and a little kinder - both to myself and others - I move on.

The Pitiful Swamp

I've been mired in a thick swamp of creative paralysis for months. A combination of turning 50, self-publishing Cyn and comfortable clients have drug me into the quagmire of apathy. Large leaves of personal failure block the sun and I'm tired of dragging through the dark shadowed mud. I stand in the everglade, overwhelmed by her vastness. I grasp vines of self pity and allow them to wrap around my wrists. Eventually, subtly, they twist around my bicep and slowly inch toward my neck.

My life is wonderful. I would venture to say, not all that far from perfect. I'm finding it's not the best environment for creativity.

Momentum

I've lost momentum. Ideas are plentiful, but I'm having the hardest time putting fingers to keys. This is a pathetic attempt to click one key, then another...

A friend, who is battling cancer, was asked to share at his friends funeral, a friend who committed suicide. One man fighting to live and another fighting life.

Tap, tap, tap... each keystroke slowly opens the mind and helps me move forward.

Tap, tap, tap... forming the thoughts, arranging the letters, unlocking the mind.

Tap, tap, tap... another beginning.

A Blast from the Past, when I was an extra on Hunter

Here's a clip of me as an extra on the set of Hunter. I'm an undercover cop busting a hooker, the blonde girl in the white top. Notice my nifty gold sweater. It's tough to see, but it's me.







There's a Hulu commercial and if you click on anything, it jumps to the Hulu site, shame on Hulu, but if you just play the clip, that's me in the gold sweater. It was a fun day, remember Marc?

Feedback for Cyn

To those who've read my book, thank you so much for taking the time. It means a lot!

I'm working on a new manuscript and covet your insight and feedback.

My goal wasn't to write a complicated novel, but a simple story to entertain. A fun escape. Did I accomplish that goal?

What did you like? What didn't you like? What sections/components were confusing?

How was the length? Was it difficult to keep track of the characters? What characters did you like best? Least?

What should I keep in mind as I work on the next project?

Add anything you'd like.

It is humbling that you cared enough to read my first attempt at fiction, I know it's not perfect. If you could take the time to help me out I would be very grateful.

You can post your feedback here, private message me on Facebook or email me at: jerry@jrhetrick.com

For those unaware I had a book, and are interested, go to amazon.com and type in jerry hetrick - Cyn is the name of the book and it will be the top link.

A deeply humble, thank you,
Jerry