Over the years I have sporadically attempted to keep a journal. Each attempt has failed miserably. I think they expired because I established rules that were too ridgid for them. So, this attempt will bring with it very few rules.
Recently, my entries ran over 500. I thought I was going to be shut down. But, lo and behold! I'm still going strong. So, the spiffy new logo I was going to use will have to be used here. What 'cha think about it?
There are many incredibly kind and thoughtful people in WDC. One of them is Sarah. Out of the blue she sent me this flower gift. It reminds me of the Bluebonnets of Texas. Thanks, Sarah. And, I must not forget the very talented katherine76 who created the flower...thank you.
Well, it appears that my blog is going to the dogs. It aslo seems as if folks have gotten me pegged as a dog lover....they're right. Our very own Anyea has gifted me with this Valentine card. Now I ask you, "How sweet is that?" Thanks, Anyea
I have been fortunate to encounter many generous and kind people during my tenure in WDC. Debi Wharton ♥ is one of them. She gifted me with the following sig. It shows how sensitive and caring she is. It also shows that she read some my entries. She'll never know how much I appreciate the gift and the attention to my blog.
Dan, I've done much the same and my blog has grown sparse. Someone once said that talking relieves too much of the much-needed pressure of writing, much like opening a faucet to dribble in bits instead of waiting and allowing it full steam.
Something like that, and it's true of blogging, as well. If I put so much emotional release into my blog, what's left for my stories?
So glad to hear you're moving forward with both jobs.
I have two distinct realities about my writing. Most, if not all of my writing activity that is "community" related happens at WDC. My professional writing I do on my home computer. For some reason, it always gets transferred to WDC, and my port. There's just something about trusting the reviews and community here that pleases me. I know you feel the same, and it is still completely unexplainable to me. I just accept it, as most things, for what it is.
I hope you will continue to speak through your blog posts to us. Your words are significant, timely, well-written, and expansive (discussion starters). Be well, happy and safe.
Primarily this is a writing site and still a pretty good one in my humble opinion, with far more options than just blogging sites.
I'm pleased you took my suggestion on board Dan Darlin' and will certainly check out your new Spam story in the near future. Printer out of ink at the moment and I like to read printed versions when renewing.
This just means you need to get an exterminator of mold spores in and clean house! Right? Right Dan? Huh? Wha? *sigh* Okay I'll watch for your spores to puff in on occassion. *sigh*
DAN! DAN THE MAN! Wow...I thought you had disappeared into the nether reaches of Invisi-Blogs as well as many others. Reviews reviewing and being reviewed. Hm. I know that all the experts (Don't ask me how they get to BE experts) say when reviewing to make it 'impersonnel', non-threatening and helpful. I found their advice to be a bit stymied with something, perhaps imagination and have always gone my own way to doing reviews. Mostly I have quit reviewing as those whose pieces I have spent considerable time reviewing never acknowledge the review at all. I wouldn't worry about what you write, as face it, you ARE writing. Here, that is paramount. It is the supposed life-blood of this site. I would think you won hands-down in this reviewer vs. reviewed on that point alone.
But...and I say this with great solemnity...you look so cute when you whine!
Now... I don't critique short stories... however, one line disses aren't helpful, ratings aside. At least when someone gave me a 1.0 for my blog I got an explanation.
Exposing one's babies to the real world can be painful. Too much kissy-kissy and too much meanness. Neither is helpful.
You don't have to take your medicine as far as I am concerned, I just finished reviewing your story, and it's delightful, full of fun and humor as well as being appropriate for Halloween!
Posted: 11-10-2009 @ 5:40 pm EST Edited: 11-10-2009 @ 5:51 pm EST
feature coming soon!
Gradually, over the last several months, my emphasis in Writing.Com has begun to morph. Actually, it has morphed back towards where it was when I first joined the community. I have become more inclined to write short stories and less inclined to create blog entries. I have always been somewhat sporadic in my entries in my blog, but recently I have succumbed to one or two entries per month. Much less than the once a day entry I had at my zenith in my blogging effort.
Now, that is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. It’s just the way it is. I decided that I needed to do two things. First, I realized I must spend less time in the realm of the Internet. I needed to walk the real world a little more each day. This stuff can be addicting. And like any addiction it can be harmful. To me it detracted from my work. I work at home. There is some small degree of discipline required to do that and be productive. The bottom line is that if one does not attend to his vocational activities, one does not eat and live the life of luxury enjoyed by those who do. I was getting hungry.
Secondly, I joined this site as an outlet for my desire to produce creative fiction writing. I love to write short stories. Writing.Com provided an outlet for creative expression of that effort. Of all the sites I have visited, only this site has consistently provided the level of professionalism and focus on writing for which I was searching. In this community, I have opportunity to display my work and receive critical and helpful reviews of that work. Everywhere else I have been provides significant opportunity to commune, and is little more than a forum for discussion and occasionally outright gossip. If one wishes to do that in this community, you can. But, the opportunity to focus solely on writing is available for each member of Writing.Com. You truly make it what you want it to be. Therefore, I determined I needed to morph away from the blogging effort and back to writing.
Since I have changed my focus I notice the logical results of my new efforts. First, I am once again gainfully employed, which means I am making money, chugging along the road towards retirement. Secondly, my portfolio of short stories is once again expanding. I have rekindled the excitement of creating fiction. One of those efforts has been fueled by a comment provided by Scarlett, who suggested I write a monthly addition to my Spam Hummer series. I have taken her up on that and have finished the one for November, with its Thanksgiving emphasis. "A Case of Black and White" (I leave this shameless plug here for you to rush off and read my latest offering.) I still don’t know what I will do with all these stories, which are steadily growing. I suppose I will self-publish a compilation of all my short stories in two volumes. One for the generic short story and the other for the Spam Hummer series. Why not?
Anyway for those of you who may be wondering to where in the world PlannerDan has disappeared—those one or two--I have returned to writing at the expense of the blog. I will wander back occasionally to these pages to post an occasional entry, just to let you know I am still among the land of the living--until then, good writing and good fortune to each of you.
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