Where The F$%k Has Mark Been?

[Mark Arbour]

Jeremy sent me a whiny email asking me to post something to the forum, letting you all know what was going on with me, and that sparked a considerable amount of guilt, prompting me to do just that.   Or this.  I haven't checked the forums for posts, because I figured it would be better to share my point of view in an uninfluenced way. 

 

I've had some life challenges, but nothing that is dire.  It's more that my real life has absorbed an increasing proportion of my time, which is probably as it should be in a normal state of things.  The thing that has baffled me, and what has made me avoid this place for awhile, is that I've faced these challenges before, and my writing has never suffered as a result.  Yet now it is. 

 

I'm not sure why.  I constantly think about the two serials I'm working on (CAP and Bridgemont) and extensively plan out what I want to happen with the characters, at least in my mind.  But when it comes to sit down and actually write, I find myself unwilling or unable to actually do it.  In the past, I've been stymied by plots where I've written myself into a corner, or characters who didn't turn out like I wanted them to, but that's not the case this time.  In this situation, I know what I want to write, I just don't want to \.  That bothers me, because it's so different than what I'm used to, and because I know it bothers you. 

 

Conventional wisdom suggests to me that the writing bug will bite me again, that it's only a matter of time.  I can't imagine abandoning the characters and the world that I've built.  At the same time, it's just no fun if I have to force it, and that's going to impact the quality of what I'm putting out.  And I'm not willing to do a half-assed job.  On a positive note, I have three chapters of Black Widow in various stages of editing, and half a chapter of Valiant written.  There has been some activity, just not much. 

 

So the bottom line is that, as an update, I need to let you know that for the foreseeable future my productivity will probably be seriously diminished.  At the same time, I want to reassure you all that I'm fine, just a bit busy, and that I remain committed to continuing the stories I've been working on for such a long time.  And that my head is partially shoved up my ass.  That should surprise no one.  

[Timothy M.]

Thank you for letting us know, Mark. We will start hunting down your writing muse and cajole, bribe or force him to pay you a nice visit.

 

Failing that, we'll patiently wait for you to regain your inspiration to write.

 

Take care.

[Drew Espinosa]

Hey Mark,

 

If you ever have the time to write, maybe do so on something other than CAP or Bridgemont. I think it would be refreshing for your mind, working on a different plot and new characters. (Mind you, I ain't suggesting a new novel or series, just a short story or two to spark that interest in writing again).

 

Anyways, I'm glad to hear you are healthy and doing well. And thanks for letting us know!

 

-Drew

[Headstall]

I haven't been writing anywhere near as long as you, but I get it, Mark. Writing is fun, rewarding, an outlet for creativity, and so much more. It also takes up a lot of time, and it's damn hard work. I love your stories, but they can wait as you take the time to recharge, and just get away from it. I hope you don't feel any pressure because that would be robbing you of some of the benefit of taking some time for yourself. There is a reason you don't want to write right now, so just go with it. As the saying goes, 'you can't keep a good man down'... or is it 'hard man down' . Thanks for letting us know you're doing okay, otherwise. That's all we need. Cheers... Gary....

[mmike1969]

Good to hear from you and no, don't force yourself to write.

 

Please take care of yourself first.

[Kitt]

I am perfectly willing to wait till the writing bug bites again, and NO you should not force things! You would never be happy with the results.

 

Just please let us know you are ok when things like this happen.  Most of the fuss is we have no clue if you have been hurt or worse.

[K.C.]

Mark Arbour....who the hell is that??? LOL

[impunity]

 

Come back when you're ready. We'll be here. Maybe a bit worse for wear, but here, nonetheless.

Edited March 9, 2016 by impunity

[methodwriter85]

Jeremy sent me a whiny email

 

Oh, bite me.

 

Anyway, take your time. I'm just sick of people wondering if you're still living. LOL,

[mmike1969]

Oh, bite me.

 

Anyway, take your time. I'm just sick of people wondering if you're still living. LOL,

So... You admit it was a whiny email?

[CarlHoliday]

Mark, as my truly favorite series writer, I hope you’ll be able to weather this storm whether it is external or internal in short order and get back to posting some chapters. Though, I’m sure Sharon appreciates this break considering her new job and commute. Maybe I’ll get my stuff back sooner for a while  

 

Having been through blocks myself (I’m currently in a chemically induced semi-block), my only suggestion is to try writing other things, even if it isn’t fiction. Just putting words down and connecting them into coherent thoughts sometimes relights the creative flame. You might consider doing some blog entries, even if they’re nothing more than drivel. Or, when you do come back, slow down your production a little bit. You do seem to be rather prodigious in the amount of chapters you’re able to publish in CAP and Bridgemont at the same time.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT FORCE YOURSELF TO WRITE! That will only perpetuate whatever it is that is holding you back. Now is a time for reflection, contemplation, and, if possible, creative experimentation.

[Drew Espinosa]

So... You admit it was a whiny email?

And we all know how much Mark hates whining.

 

Which reminds me, how many characters in his stories hate whining?

[impunity]

And we all know how much Mark hates whining.

 

Which reminds me, how many characters in his stories hate whining?

Excluding the whiny ones...all of them.

[Coastguard]

What I have to say, Mark, is probably tantamount to GA heresy, but I cannot help but wonder if you are burned out with the actual stories. You have been writing about these characters for so long, is it possible they're boring you? Is it maybe time to bring both series to an end, and start something entirely different? To set the record straight (no pun intended),I'm certainly not bored with reading them, but don't nearly all stories have an ending sooner or later?

[methodwriter85]

What I have to say, Mark, is probably tantamount to GA heresy, but I cannot help but wonder if you are burned out with the actual stories. You have been writing about these characters for so long, is it possible they're boring you? Is it maybe time to bring both series to an end, and start something entirely different? To set the record straight (no pun intended),I'm certainly not bored with reading them, but don't nearly all stories have an ending sooner or later?

 

You've got an interesting point, but the thing is, Mark has set a lot of these characters into new territory, and he's focusing a lot more on the new generation.

 

I still wonder if maybe a leap forward of like a year or two (say we skip after this story to when Will is a sophomore in college in 2005) might be a good way to get the juices flowing. One thing I really liked about the multiple-year leaps was that it "rebooted" the story, in a sense, and Mark was able to explain about how the characters had changed and grown (or not) in the years since we'd last seen them. We pretty much lost that when every single year since 1998 is getting covered in CAP.

 

I mean, I get why we can't have these people suddenly waking up in 2010, but it might be cool if we skipped over a year or two, I'm just saying.

 

 

So... You admit it was a whiny email?

 

 

You know, I'd get angry at you, but honestly I picture you as a beefy hot former military Daddy, so I just can't.

[mmike1969]

You know, I'd get angry at you, but honestly I picture you as a beefy hot former military Daddy, so I just can't.

I'll just add delusional to your list of maladies.

 

(Bonus Like to the first person who correctly identifies what story I stole that line from!)

Edited March 9, 2016 by mmike1969

[impunity]

You know, I'd get angry at you, but honestly I picture you as a beefy hot former military Daddy, so I just can't.

I'll go along with hot but probably not beefy. And I think we're dealing more with a deviant ex(?)-hacker type. I doubt the military would want him.

Edited March 9, 2016 by impunity

[mmike1969]

I'll go along with hot but probably not beefy. And I think we're dealing more with a deviant ex(?)-hacker type. I doubt the military would want him.

You are wrong.

 

Army wanted me to switch MOS from commo to an Intelligence Job.

They even paid me a Enlistment Bonus for my Commo job with a security clearance (31C Single Channel Radio Operator)

[impunity]

You are wrong.

 

Army wanted me to switch MOS from commo to an Intelligence Job.

They even paid me a Enlistment Bonus for my Commo job with a security clearance (31C Single Channel Radio Operator)

So, they provided the essential hacker training?

[mmike1969]

No. I think in 1992 they had a COBAL (or some other computer language) class and not much else.

 

The DoD didn't even have a cyber command until recently.

[circawolfe]

New to the forum,and relatively new to CAP, but I wanted to tell you Mark that you have brought me a lot of joy during a somewhat depressing time of my life. I'm a huge fan and while I want you to be spending your time doing what is most personally fulfilling for you, I'm cheering that you are still writing for us, at whatever pace. Love you!

Edited March 9, 2016 by circawolfe

[methodwriter85]

I'll go along with hot but probably not beefy. And I think we're dealing more with a deviant ex(?)-hacker type. I doubt the military would want him.

 

Nah, he's a former marine. I figured he had that former military daddy vibe, like dkstories does.

[mmike1969]

Not a fucking Marine!

 

Fucked around with a Marine yes.

[impunity]

Not a fucking Marine!

 

Fucked around with a Marine yes.

Just one?

[mmike1969]

Just one?

Only one that I know of.

But definitely two former Air Force guys, and one Navy.