I am so excited to have Brick Marlin on my blog today. He is on the blog doing a guest post. He is a great author and a must read for horror fans. Enjoy and be sure to check out the link at the end for more blog tour awesomeness and links to check out the book. - Robin B.
Writing Slump- Brick Marlin
Things could be rolling right along as you type your tale
(or free-hand old school, maybe do it the Kurt Vonnugut way, writing your
entire book on tiny pieces of paper. Cool, huh?) and you've been working hard
at this odd craft entitled Writing for a good while. Characters are acting up
to your standards. Behaving. Being a hero. Being a villain. Killing here.
Murdering there. The story blossoms, much like Audrey II, the plant from
“Little Shop of Horrors”. The plot is thickening. The teeth in the cogs are
greased up, linking together nicely.
Then, when you least expect it, if you don’t get
blindsided by the Literary Gremlins, Local Union 171, and achieve Writer’s
Block, you endure something worse: A Writing Slump. The liquid servo bugs have oozed
together, forming a plump, horrid creature with a ginormous maw and green in
color and an addiction to beef liver-flavored Fruit Roll-Ups, as well as the
ability to steer you into a Crash and Burn.
You’re burnt out.
You wish not to see or type another word.
You wish not to have to click on Microsoft Office for
anything.
You don’t even wish to read a book.
You sure as hell don’t want to pursue eating beef
liver-flavored Roll-Ups.
See, if you’re like me, I get obsessed with both crafts:
music and writing. Writing Slumps force you into a certain point where you are
overwhelmed. Writing five hundred to a thousand words a day is a lot. And
sometimes you crash and you need to snap the chain and pull away from the desk.
Or slam you head on it. Repeatedly.
Anyway, if you're burnt to a hellish crisp take time off.
Do something else. Workout. It clears the head. Ride your bike and log in 15 to
30 miles, that’ll do the trick. Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Read if you feel
the need. Because never fear, your characters and their story aren't going
anywhere. They'll be there when you get back. They
could be a bit pissed if you’ve left them dangling from a noose, not quite dead
yet or in the middle of baking cinnamon drops laced with caffeine. Probably be
mad at you for allowing them to leave the Nuke Zapper on so long, running their
electric bill sky high.
And, you might have to kick over a few stones or
kick-start your brain, rotating the knob to Writer from Out to Lunch and you
may have other issues, such as Where The Hell Is That Particular Writing Style
I Had Been Trying To Craft?
Be sure to keep close watch for the servo Gummi Bear
Literary Gremlins. New designs from the vats.
Same Local 171 union.
About the author: Brick Marlin has been writing since
he was a child. From an early age he was exposed to older horror movies. The
great ones making their mark in history. He also tackled reading the likes of
Stephen King, Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Dean Koontz, Charles
Dickens, Harper Lee, H.G. Wells, etc. Thus, he decided to engage himself and
write horror, dark fantasy and dark sci-fi, scaring readers such as his
parents, his friends, neighbors, and even leaving a few school teachers
scratching their heads wondering if the boy should be committed or not with his
gruesome tales of terror. Short story ideas continued to visit. A book idea or
two sometimes stopped by for a sit. In 2007 he decided to take a more
professional approach with his work. Hence, as a member of the Horror Writers
Association, already having nine books published by small presses – this you hold
in your hand, constant reader, makes his tenth – nearly thirty short stories published, adding
to the few anthologies and collaborations with other authors, Brick Marlin
trudges onward, hoping to achieve more creations, wallowing in the brain pans
of his characters, giving them the choice whether to twist the knob and enter
through the Red Door, or enter through the Blue Door where a group of servo
monkey badgers are consuming packages of cinnamon-flavored Pop Rock Candy with
a Kung Fu Punch of caffeine.
Book Synopsis for Shadow Out of the Sky: A scarecrow crucified on a wooden
cross made from a pair of two-by-fours sits in a field of corn, placed there to
frighten away birds and protect the crops. Under its straw hat large buttons
pose as its eyes, placed there by child’s fingers, view something sinister in
the grave sky, appearing in front of the full moon.
Twisting, it forms into a sleek black
mass, peering down upon the town of Woodbury. Four demons called The Reckoning
has pulled this shadow, this urban legend from the past, out of an unmarked
grave to bring terror across the planet, shoving it toward an apocalypse.
Now it cuts through the air, as if it
were opening wounds in flesh, peering down at the first house that it hovers
over...
Shadow Out of the Sky is Book One of
the Transitional Delusions Series
Author Links:
Website:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Brick-Marlin-182914455094243
Twitter:
@BrickMarlin
Tour Schedule and Activities
9/21 Erin Fanning Review
9/21 Beauty in Ruins Guest Post
9/21 Wag the Fox Guest Post
9/22 Novel-ties Review
9/23 Armand Rosamilia, Author Guest Post
9/23 Deal Sharing Aunt Interview
9/25 fuonlyknew Review
9/25 L. Andrew Cooper's Horrific Scribblings Review
9/25 Bee's Knees Reviews Guest Post
9/25 Azure Dwarf Guest Post
9/27 Sapphyria's Book Reviews Top-Tens List
9/21 Beauty in Ruins Guest Post
9/21 Wag the Fox Guest Post
9/22 Novel-ties Review
9/23 Armand Rosamilia, Author Guest Post
9/23 Deal Sharing Aunt Interview
9/25 fuonlyknew Review
9/25 L. Andrew Cooper's Horrific Scribblings Review
9/25 Bee's Knees Reviews Guest Post
9/25 Azure Dwarf Guest Post
9/27 Sapphyria's Book Reviews Top-Tens List
Tour Page URL:
Tour Badge URL:
Amazon Links for Shadow out of the
Sky
Print Version
Kindle Version
Barnes and Noble
