Jesse Kelber

  • Currently reading: Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg đź“š

  • Finished reading: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor đź“š

  • Finished reading: The Hunger Habit by Judson Brewer, MD, PhD đź“š

  • Currently reading: Breath by James Nestor đź“š

  • Sir Dingus has subdued the unruly sofa once again.

  • Recent entries in my list of amazing band names:

    • Non-Euclidean Narwhal
    • The Redacted Anecdotes
    • Smarmy Little Sycophant
    • Unrepentant Dickhead
    • A Cavalcade of Bozos

  • This is why Eric Barker is my writerly spirit animal.

  • Look at this magnificent goober.

  • He’s *helping me read.

    Because he’s a helper.

  • Finished reading: Treacle Walker by Alan Garner đź“š

    What an oddly enjoyable little book…

  • My first novel is nearing query state (meaning I have a final draft and will be contacting agents starting in January). I’m at the phase where I need to write a concise blurb that captures…well frankly the ‘gist’ of the story, and come up with a title. I see this as the first in a series about an Intuitive Investigator and am using his longhand case notes as a hook (there will be pictures of notebook pages full of his notes after each chapter. But that’s a secret so…shhh). The series line will be something like:

    From the case notes of an Intuitive Investigator

    or

    A case from the files of an Intuitive Investigator

    So as far as titles go…should I go more snarky (the book’s tone is decidedly NOT serious), or more flat/appealing for a wider audience (I know, I’m thinking big here)?

    A sample of options I’m pondering:

    Who’s Bots Are These?

    The Shenanigans

    Server Farms and Energy Trails (Oh, My!)

    Never work for a friend

    Thoughts (preferably kind ones) from the peanut gallery are truly appreciated!

  • You wanna tell him, or should I?

  • Well, now would you look at that.

    I just finished the final, final-final, no, I swear it’s the actual FINAL read-through and edit of my first novel!

    Now to prep a blurb that’s so good no agent could possibly say no, and start querying in the new year!

    GULP.

  • Reading in almost-comfort, courtesy of Sir Dingus and his felt need to jam his snoot into my armpit.

  • I can’t decide what to think of this house.

    Thoughts from the peanut gallery?

  • Just belched so loud I woke up his highness.

  • Finished reading: The Notebook by Roland Allen đź“š

  • Some recent shots of Sir Dingus McSplootyPants (and one featuring his sidekick, The Gremlin):

  • Spotted on a neighborhood walk recently, a JDM Toyota HiAce firetruck with the fire gubbins replaced by a Toyota TRD-painted pop-top camper.

    WANT.

  • Recent additions to my list of Amazing Band Names:

    • No Evidence of Malfeasence
    • Corrupted Balderdash
    • My Third Nipple
    • Drunk Bloke with a Swazzle
    • Non-Euclidean Narwhal

  • Someone wake me up when AI can do something useful like create a cracker sleeve that doesn’t refuse to open…refuse to open…refuse to open…RIP IN HALF SPRAYING CRACKERS ACROSS THE KITCHEN.

    That’s my day in a nutshell, how about you?

  • Currently reading: The Notebook by Roland Allen đź“š

  • Finished reading: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan đź“š

  • Sometimes, you just can’t. And that’s OK, dammit.

    Back at the keyboard after a week reset in the mountains of beautiful British Columbia. OK, I was at Whistler, not exactly roughing it, but that’s not the point.

    The Air Quality Index of 1 is the point.

    Being surrounded by mountains and trees is the point.

    I was able to take this time away (including sending Rufus to a boarding…ranch) thanks to cooperative family members and the settlement from being hit by a 4Runner back in March. And to say I needed the reset is wildly understating it. Like to the point of absurdity.

    I’m working on a longer write up of my week, with details like the realization that I need to be doubling down on finding and signing more freelance/ghostwriting clients, but in the meantime I wanted to say this:

    Sometimes, even external accountability isn’t enough to get me through a project, and that’s OK.

    I’m just not in a place where even 750 words/day is something I can manage every day, so have thrown in the towel on Writing Month. I’m still making progress on both book 2 and edits on book 1 (with a goal of being ready to query in the new year) in my series starring an Intuitive Investigator.

    I’ve also begun working up a series for my professional blog, still quite nascent but it will revolve around the value of what’s coming to be called “editorial content” for small businesses looking to increase brand awareness.

  • Currently reading: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan đź“š

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