Have you noticed how many listicles there are out there about our favorite parks? Yet they all seem to hit the same subjects, favorite things to do, favorite places to eat, favorite rides, annoying people, ways to save money. It's the same things over and over. So I decided to generate a list of stuff you could could post about, to give us all some new fun stuff to read. Please steal my ideas. We all want more articles about WDW!
Read MoreFive Kinds of Words I'm So Over
If you're a writer or an avid reader, you're probably a little more sensitive to the value of words, than most. If you're an amateur writer like me, you're always looking at how words communicate, or don't, and how you can improve your own use of them. I love words. They're fun to analyze, talk about, and play with. But there are some words that I'd just assume never use again. They are overused, hateful, annoying, or just not very useful. I'm sure you have your own list of these kinds of pet peeves, words that just get under your skin, annoy you, seem to stab you right in the eye when you read them on a page. So this is a kind of exercise in actually identifying some words I'm going to stop using, or promise myself not to start using. I'm just going to briefly talk about three classes of them, categories I made up for the purpose. If it helps you hone your own list of "don't ever use these" words, I've accomplished the mission. Your list shouldn't be the same as mine, but I'm going to argue like the Dickens for the inclusion of some of my least favorites on your list. You're welcome to share any you've added to yours.
Read MoreResearch - No Lab Coat Required
I don't like to write too much about writing. It bores non-writers, and most writers have already heard it all. I'm not Stephen King or George R. R. Martin. No one cares about myprocess. But every now and then I feel the need to defend writers of all kinds. Yeah, I have a hero complex, I guess. I also feel the need to correct false information, no matter how well intended. And I love my fellow wordsmiths. So imagine what my reaction is every time a skeptical friend suggests that reading is not research.
Ok, to be fair, I am fully aware that they are referring specifically to people who think they can argue science with scientists based on a few hours of Google U. It's just that when you say people who do their research online, or in a library, are doing inferior research to those wearing white lab coats, you are doing a disservice to both groups. So, for my skeptical friends, and my many unskeptical friends and family, indulge me while I talk about research and its importance to writing.
Read MoreWhen a Writer Says They Are Researching–What’s Natural?
I know what nature is. I go hiking, caving, biking, swimming and camping. I’ve visited the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and the mighty Mississippi. I swam in the Black River and two of the Great Lakes. I’ve watched sunsets in Hawaii and Florida. I’ve caught lightning bugs and been startled by snakes. I’ve had poison ivy, and eaten wild blackberries. Doggone it, I know nature when I see it. You do too, right? So ok, what is it?
Read MoreBeating My Thyroid For The Sake of the Stories
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I planned to send that story off for publication at a traditional publisher. I even got some positive feedback and recommendation for some minor edits before acceptance. My dream was going to come true. See that period there? That one after what should have been a joyous exclamation? Yeah. That was the "depression". I couldn't be assed to do the rewrites. I couldn't motivate myself to send it back for review. I couldn't take the time to follow up on the inquiries. I hadn't written a short story in months. The longer stories languished in a few short notes on my computer. I went from writing two novel length books a year, even while working, to not even a few shorts no matter how much time I had to work on it. Retirement came and went.
And then, one day, after months of no pay and doing nothing about it, I drove to Tucson with my son for a last visit with a VA doctor before I could start receiving a pension.
Read MoreI Don't Know What I'm Doing
So I've apparently had this blog for months. Funny thing, I had no idea I was telling the world to go to Wordpress and type an example blog post. Luckily, only one person posted a comment to the effect that they were posting a sample comment. I hope Mr. Sample wasn't offended that I didn't respond right away.
Anyhow, I will get to work creating that there blog post immediately. Don't be too excited. I don't have a clue how to do this stuff and it will probably come out in little squiggles and symbols. I will surely be getting another comment from Mr. Sample about by cartoon cursing any day now.
Hey, the upside of being an unknown writer in a great sea of unknowns is, nobody notices when you totally screw up. Maybe somebody should make a motivational plaque on a wooden board with that on it.
See you in the next post. Now get off my lawn!