Richard Writes - A Blog by Children's Writer, Richard Carlson Jr.

My blog is being written while I have been recovering from my illnesses, therefore it has been influenced adversely by my condition. I apologize in advance for any confusion.

Beginning at around 1:00 p.m., I tried to continue. I have encountered a problem as I am unsure about how to end my picture book manuscript. I can only come up with a trite and very predictable conclusion. I am doing exactly what an author does, in that I am having difficulty developing and ending. At this time I cannot help but question my ability to write a superior ending with this manuscript. I also have two ideas for possibly another picture book which I might start before finishing this one.

I also am doing what people must do to be accurate in their writing by using the symptoms I experienced with my paranoid schizophrenia in the picture book. I also am using some ideas from my father because he was the main person who took care of me when I was first diagnosed, but didn't know, I suffered from paranoid schizophrenia which isn't to say my other family members were not considerate and caring toward me. It is not based on exactly what happened.

I do not know whether or not my book idea will be great enough even for me to approve.

I don't know what kind of publisher to look for as I'm new to the endeavor. Possibly I'm not going to be a published author anytime soon. I am extremely impatient with resolving the ending. I might actually have to abandon this idea.

I have no book illustrator in mind at this time. All I know is that by writing a peaceful picture book about friendship, family and the like, I am creating something people might cherish for a lifetime! I guess I'll just have to muse over the myriad of possibilities for an ending and discover the best or one of the best ones!

If you're an author, I suggest you take my word for it and be patient with your writing, produce a superior work of literature and look for, an at least, decent publisher who will provide readers with something of extremely high quality in regards to book design, cover art, proofreading (which is a must as so many published books are like garbage) and more.

Do you have any suggestions for a superior novel? I believe I already have one which isn't to say I could be wrong. That is a different writing project.

In the evening I came up with a brief outline of what should transpire between the main character and a boy his age at the very end.

I am in the process of developing a very well-written picture book. I believe it will win a literary prize.

I have come up with a realistic ending that explains how someone should handle someone who insults and possibly offends many of the mentally ill. I created a short list of how the picture book might and probably will end as I am working late after getting off work.

I look forward to being on television soon, hopefully, as I am still recovering after about two and a half years since realizing I have paranoid schizophrenia and about two years and two months since realizing I have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I began my writing for the day by proofreading and line editing the body text of my picture book manuscript, making insertions and deletions on a hardcopy. After I included the revisions on my computer, the body text was 935 words, 45 paragraphs and 94 lines.

About midday, I continued to write the manuscript. I made some progress. At the end, I typed notes about what will happen in the end. Most of my revisions, additions and deletions are done on my computer's word processing program.

At about 5:42 p.m. to about 8:10 p.m., I continued writing, spending some time eating dinner and more until I was tired. My manuscript is coming along well and it probably needs much revision. I no longer have a proper ending in mind, as I near it.

I continued to work on the body of my picture book manuscript. I think I am only certain of the main character's name. I made a lot of progress today.

Writing is still difficult for me as I am not all better. I still do not know how my story will progress as I am still very mentally ill with paranoid schizophrenia and possibly obsessive-compulsive disorder, which only time will tell if I am still suffering from.

Could I be doing something another author is already doing by recording steps I've taken in writing my manuscripts or could I be the very first? Please do not feel offended if I am doing your great idea as I've also thought of it as I am only assuming I never heard of anyone doing it.

I continued to work on the body of my picture book. I have included names of characters. I do not know how my story will progress and I do not have an ending.

My idea for a picture book has to do with mental illness. I started by taking scanty notes and writing dialogue on my computer from what seems to be the beginning of the manuscript. I got the idea while thinking of another picture book idea. I might already have an appropriate title.

I decided to keep a record of the steps I take in writing my best-selling children's novel.

In my first entry, I decided to state what I have already accomplished, but not necessarily in chronological order because I do not recall exactly when steps were taken.

In July 2004 or 2005, which might be incorrect, I started my manuscript by writing down scanty ideas. I was still recovering from paranoid schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. As I recover, I have paranoia which prevents me from progressing at all or very much, I do not recall which. I begin to feel better and gradually continue writing.

At some point, I come up with the main character's first and last name. Also, other ideas spring to mind for names of other characters. I do not know when I came up with the main character's age and story time period.

Still recovering slowly, I become more proactive. I gather ideas and write them down on 3 by 5 inch (7.6 by 12.7 centimeter) note cards which are kept in a secure location. At some point, I took out a white binder and put in clear sheet protectors which are clear plastic sleeves that hold two sheets of paper, one on each side. The sheet protectors are held in the binder from the binder rings. I also write down ideas on pieces of paper. Sometimes I carry a piece with me in a pocket in case I came up with an idea. I also record ideas on a digital voice recorder when I am outside on a walk, for example.

6. Printed out a monthly calendar of when the story takes place, noting approximately when it begins and ends

7. Started my outline and bibliography (I included two books as references I had already read and rightfully used ideas from.)

8. Gathered ideas about what the characters have to do such as eat and sleep, and what they like doing

9. Cut out pictures of a boy, another younger boy, a man and a woman from a newspaper advertisement which I use to represent the main character and his family which I put in the cover of the white binder which is a clear pocket.

I am still recovering from paranoid schizophrenia and possibly obsessive-compulsive disorder (I still might suffer from it, but do not know). I anxiously wait to get all better.