The Basement Office

A conversation with myself and my creative endeavours

  • news & views
  • Snippets & Experiments
  • The Expensive Universal Instrument!
  • Capricornucopia
  • About Me

Cobwebs are officially off.

Posted by Frank Cote on May 1, 2024
Posted in: news and views.

It’s nice when the stuff is flowing.

Last week, I wrote two days in a row for over four thousand words a day, then another for two thousand.

Those are NaNoWriMo numbers. It felt easy, it was fun and it flowed.

Monday, Kiddo and I had a mini writing jam since the weekend was packed and I was off anyway and in just under ninety minutes I managed to get down over a thousand words without particularly feeling it.

I’ll put some of that to Kiddo, I love writing with her. I’ll put some of that on my lovely wife who I know supports and approves of this kind of activity. I’ll put a bit on the story. I didn’t plan it, I wanted to explore it and figured it might make a good short story but now that I’m almost twenty thousand words in, I guess it might make a novel (I personally don’t like writing novellas…it’s like playing 7/21…once you pass seven, you got no choice but to go all the way).

I have a new writing platform. Instead of trying finance a whole new gaming laptop this year (which I can’t and shouldn’t), I found a super duper cheap laptop and was surprised at the deal. The battery life almost tops five hours, it boots up super fast and it’s light and small (14inch). It’s very very portable unlike my regular one and doesn’t require a plug or an extra keyboard and mouse. Like Kiddo (who I’ve been jealous of, since I got her a new laptop not long ago for schoolwork), I can now just sit, open and write within two minutes of getting somewhere (instead of futzing, making room, finding a plug, booting up, fiddling to get the USB keyboard working etc..and maybe settling down to writing in ten or fifteen minutes). I really enjoy it.

I just wanted to touch base with this place. I plan on continuing to show signs of life. In fact, I’m toying with the idea of resurrecting The Expensive Universal Instrument periodical story I used to do on here because it was a lot of fun. Stay in touch and I hope you enjoy!

Dusting off the cobwebs

Posted by Frank Cote on April 12, 2024
Posted in: news and views.

It’s been a while.

I’m back, although I was never really away.

I’ve had two short stories published and I’m proud of them.

I quit my very very stressful abusive job and through a good friend found another which allows me to heal a decade of damage. It feels good.

I now have a writing jam (trying every weekend) with my lovely daughter who is cursed with the writing bug. The result of which is those aforementioned two stories, well definitely the second one (born of those jams) and a word count even if life gets away from me during the week.

And it’s daddy daughter time with kiddo, which is worth more to me than anything in the world.

I decided to start contributing to this blog now and again partly because of that. Everything is starting up again. This is part of it. I’ve had good ideas writing down my thoughts here. I want to play with that again.

Another reason is that during a chat with Kiddo (Hi Kiddo!) , I mentioned this website and her eyes got really wide and she said “You have a website????”, then scampered off saying “I have googling to do now!”. Never mind that she does not have to google me. I would have given her the address.

It definitely gave me the impetus to post SOMETHING here. There will be more. I can’t promise something new every day or even every week, but there’ll be something.

Keep writing folks.

Not really writing related, more personal from me to me. Goals and affecting change.

Posted by Frank Cote on February 17, 2020
Posted in: Life. Tagged: change, depression, goals, work.

I had a bit of a meltdown this weekend.  It’s no one’s fault, just a lot of little things and a lot building up over weeks and months.  I’m so very lucky to be surrounded by people who care and try to suggest solutions.  They don’t deserve my grumpiness.   It’s just becoming clear to me that many things need to change.   All those things are in one spot.  Me.

Continue Reading

I’ve had a story published and it feels great!

Posted by Frank Cote on January 6, 2020
Posted in: Beginnings, Writing.

Wow.  I’ve ignored this blog for way too long.

 

Well it’s a new year and I had a story published in the The 2019 Fark Fiction Anthology!

 

“Sparkle” was accepted by the editors and I get to see my name in print.   Feels good.

 

Still writing.  Working on some ideas.   I’ll try not to ignore this space in 2020.

A january day

Posted by Frank Cote on January 18, 2018
Posted in: Life. Tagged: life, nostalgia, writing.

It’s been hectic lately.   Time just slips away.

Today’s a bit different and I’m taking the opportunity to make the most of it.

Continue Reading

Winter is here, it’s cold but things are staying hot in here

Posted by Frank Cote on December 14, 2017
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: NaNoWriMo, space pirates, word count, writing, writing process.

It’s NaNo day +14.    There’s good and bad news, but the good news outweighs the bad because the bad isn’t that bad really.

I’m not finished my first draft.

BUT…I’ve been writing.

Continue Reading

So what now? (Beyond NaNoWriMo day 2)

Posted by Frank Cote on December 2, 2017
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: NaNoWriMo, space pirates, word count, writing.

So I’ve reached 50K. I’m happy.

Did you? If you did you might be asking yourself ‘what now?’. I am.
The answer of course depends on a lot of things. I gave it some thought and here’s what I have planned.

Continue Reading

Made it! Winner winner chicken dinner.

Posted by Frank Cote on November 30, 2017
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: NaNoWriMo, word count, writing.

I just crossed the 50K threshold. I validated. Made it.

I was a slightly bad boy. I was in a spot where I couldn’t stop typing. I’ll get some work done now.

Feels very good. More on that later.

Join me on the other side folks.

Banzai! Damn the torpedoes! Once more unto the breach lads! (NaNo Day 30)

Posted by Frank Cote on November 30, 2017
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: NaNoWriMo, word count, writing.

I cracked 47K yesterday. It was good.

I followed my own lesson learned and I wrote another 1644 words this morning before doing anything else. Now I’m 931 words away from goal.

Time to put the pedal to the metal people!
Continue Reading

1667 words is just an average. (NaNo Day 29)

Posted by Frank Cote on November 29, 2017
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: advice, NaNoWriMo, space pirates, updates, word count, work in progress, writing, writing advice, writing process.

We’re in the home stretch. I’m a little behind but not by much. All in all, I’m happy with how it’s been going.

Let’s be honest, a measly five thousand words in two days isn’t going to stop me from making 50K by midnight tomorrow.
Continue Reading

Posts navigation

← Older Entries
  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 34 other subscribers
  • Past Missives

    • May 2024 (1)
    • April 2024 (1)
    • February 2020 (1)
    • January 2020 (1)
    • January 2018 (1)
    • December 2017 (2)
    • November 2017 (10)
    • October 2017 (4)
    • September 2017 (1)
    • January 2017 (1)
    • August 2015 (2)
    • October 2014 (1)
    • July 2014 (1)
    • June 2014 (1)
    • May 2014 (1)
    • March 2014 (1)
    • December 2013 (1)
    • August 2013 (1)
    • July 2013 (2)
    • June 2013 (2)
    • May 2013 (1)
    • April 2013 (1)
    • November 2012 (4)
    • October 2012 (1)
    • September 2012 (1)
    • July 2012 (8)
    • June 2012 (2)
    • May 2012 (1)
    • April 2012 (1)
    • March 2012 (6)
    • February 2012 (2)
    • January 2012 (6)
    • November 2011 (2)
    • October 2011 (8)
    • September 2011 (8)
    • August 2011 (9)
    • July 2011 (24)
    • June 2011 (10)
    • May 2011 (8)
    • April 2011 (16)
    • March 2011 (13)
    • February 2011 (18)
    • January 2011 (3)
    • July 2010 (1)
    • March 2010 (1)
    1. Frank Cote's avatar
      Frank Cote on Dusting off the cobwebsApril 19, 2024

      Feels good! Finding my voice again.

    2. ratherastory's avatar
      mousme2012 on Dusting off the cobwebsApril 12, 2024

      Nice to see you posting again! <3

    3. Lu's avatar
      Lu on On health and NaNo (NaNo Day 8)November 8, 2017

      I hear you, brother!

    4. Kana Smith's avatar
      Kana Smith on Bad news: It’s bad, there’s not much I can do. Good news…January 9, 2017

      Oh, Brilliant! I've been in remission for some years, but I have Crohn's Disease, and I've never seen experience-of-illness so…

    5. Frank Cote's avatar
      Frank Cote on Bad news: It’s bad, there’s not much I can do. Good news…January 9, 2017

      This is the link I originally read: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ (My situation isn't anywhere NEAR that bad, I'm not sick. I'm just…

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
The Basement Office
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • The Basement Office
    • Join 34 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Basement Office
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...