I really got an eye-opening refresher course on writing novel length fiction last night at the Harmony Cafe. That's where the Green Bay Reading Writer's Guild held their 2nd Annual Guild Book Fest. The atmosphere was not unlike the cafe at Barnes & Noble with wifi that kept my laptop connected 30 seconds at a time. Six different regional authors were featured and addressed a sparse audience in the eatery inside Goodwill. They had my attention, since I could not interface with the inte... [More]

Kind of a retweet from my own blog because this is a constant in my life.... Much of what I write, especially in poetry, relates to the inner conflict with the world I live in. I think a lot of people need to look inside themselves to discover how they are reacting to the world without. ... [More]

Take the emotion out of your writing and what do you have? Logic? It is difficult to censor onself when trying to communicate an opinion that is intrinsically linked to your heart. As a writer, you try to separate yourself from the paste, but the harder you flail in this morass the more you're stuck. I want to shout from mountain tops, but the echos back reveal how illogical my rants can be. How else can I vindicate these feelings and be understood, even if I don't see eye to eye w... [More]

I was approached by someone today soliciting money for our local YMCA program for underprivileged kids and it gave me an idea: How to donate profits from my book to charity. I don't need the money. I do need the exposure as a writer. Though, the Y isn't the best place to find ebook readers of a particular genre like a collection of poetry that I have for consideration. So, what if I find other charities through my local library, school or bookstore that will allow me to pad my ebook s... [More]

I had a strange feeling wash over me when I read this line... Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me. ...which comes from a yahoo story I just read here... http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/letter-freed-slave-former-master-draw-attention-151653952.html http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html If you have time to read the story, a freed slave is propositioned to return to work by his former master i... [More]

Another poem that I hashed out in a steno pad that I likely will never finish... Shadows/ There's No Meaning In The End The weight of objects on light gives a meek soul fright (right there, see, cliche) You could step out at night (why am I forcing the rhyme scheme here) and still feel their shadows. When truth is a burden not something you overcome a restless mind is undone (yech!) They keep calling; you still run Your soul's wrecking ball swings withi... [More]

I wrote in my notebook today: Epiphany: I'm never going to be naive again, and I miss that. I felt more alive when I was vulnerable than the tired old skeptic I've become. Sticking with tried and true without the romance of taking a chance on something new doesn't mean you're wise but unwilling. Note to self: Take a risk today. Jaded is one word that comes to mind. Usually, when I see something unfolding, I'm already playing out the endgame in my mind. Apparently,... [More]

Very pleasantly surprised to see my group Rising Stars awarded an old poem of mine: Because it is part of my new Kindle offering "Such Longing", I hid the text to the poem and added a link to my book on Amazon. I have since edited "Soar" to make it viewable and reviewable after noticing 15 new hits for the item just today. It inspires a writer to keep penning new creations, while I run out of space here to display items. I sometimes consider the premium membership. Jus... [More]

You know, being 6'2" has always seemed a shortcoming for one such as I who had dreams of basketball stardom. I think my limitations were all in my head when I felt I needed to be taller, at least 6'5", to make something of myself as a professional athlete. It would have made things easier for one who did not have the necessary/desired encouragement until it was too late to find himself among the redwoods on the hardwoods. Now comes my son. He's always been a big boy and we... [More]

Just sold another book bringing the total to seven. That puts me in the top 150,000 kindle titles. I sold five when "Such Longing" launched on Christmas day at the introductory 99 cent offering. I've sold the rest at 2.99. I'm going to read a few titles at our church program next month and may drop the price again in February. Stay tuned for an announcement on that. I don't know how to promote myself, so I haven't done anything outside of this website and facebook. I t... [More]

Another poem I'm working on... Pressure cedes true beauty Pressure destroys unhusks a gem luffs off dead skin that I devour wish to live in Who will destroy me so I can gleam? I'm thinking about also writing an ode to my chili. Seems an odd choice but there's something poetic about never following a recipe and only making it from scratch with whatever I've got to throw in the pot. And it always turns out great. Live to write another day!... [More]

Words. Put them in a sentence. Put sentences together to make a point. And, collect all those points and they point to what? Well, if words and sentences are as aimless as mine.... I think each day about what I should write. I jot down ideas on scraps of paper that disappear for days and months on end only to be rediscovered in a cloud of confusion. What was I attempting? I push myself to make a blog entry now about what I don't write. And, I think, it's because I think too much. I... [More]

Just another note. This is the seventh straight day that I have over 100 views of items in my port. It's nice to have readers and even a few reviewers in the midst. I must confess, I keep updating my writing (about a dozen statics, twice a day) so the items will return to the top of the static heap where they are more easily noticed. The more updated, the more often I appear in the column for items 'by online authors'. Just a few tips for folks that want attention to their items.... [More]

Since my book landed on Amazon Christmas day, I have seen sales double! At 99 cents a pop its a bargain. I should mention I sold one book to my mother-in-law and thank you to the other buyer whoever you are! I really didn't expect much. This is too funny. My wife pushed me to publish. (She never reads anything I post without prodding and gets out of having to discuss what I write, so no real feedback from her) I know she thinks the world of me as a writer and wants me to put mysel... [More]

After much arm-twisting from my wife, I finally published some poetry. Only I did it on Amazon as a kindle book for 99 cents just so she can have a copy for Christmas and then I can go on with my life. I really was not able to put together a collection that I could tag with a much higher price tag like other authors do. I don't think anyone is looking to buy poetry anyway, but maybe family and friends can download it and share it. That would mean more to me. If by chance I find ... [More]

Hashing out a poem idea... Each moment of my life, a scrap of paper all piled high stained, faded mangled from each move divided into each corner of my life. Clean it up Scrapbook me so I can see what I've achieved, I assume nothing but maybe something with your tender, loving eye with glue and a little deserving glitter A snapshot or two? What am I without you. Just clutter. ... [More]

Experimenting with poetry again.. ... [More]

Why do I bother defending myself? That was the biggest question after my tirade at the end of the last game. I was getting harrassed by the same guy for the way I played. He bugged me enough Monday that I stayed away until Friday, but the straw broke my back and my desire to be cool and take the high road and let him know what I thought of all his criticism. I began thinking about the way I play and the way people perceive the game at the gym. It's sloppy ball at the best and I'... [More]

There's something about March that puts a spring in my step. It could be my own kind of March madness. It sneaks up on my and the next thing I know I boundin' all over the basketball court and making impossible plays. It's like the writer finding his muse and I am writing odes to the basketball gods inside a little YMCA gym where only a few people look on in awe at my former glory returning to life. It started last week when I nailed about 9 out of my first 10 three point attempts... [More]

Thursday was not a good day for me at the gym but it ended on a good/humorous note. I was filled with frustration that I could not persuade many players to share the ball with me on the floor. The few times I got the ball, I either choked because I was not in flow and was surprised by the charity OR I would perfectly swish the ball. Last game was going to be a long one...play to 21. But one of the players had brought his son, maybe three or four years old, into the gym to play alone while ... [More]

"There's no greater burden than a great potential," is the greatest way to sum up how I feel about my shortcomings in life. I was supposed to be great at a lot of stuff and was reminded at one point that I had become the 'Jack of all trades and master of none.' I overachieved for a time as a journalist in small market radio and burned out. I found some success in retail management and burned out. I had my eye on earning the title of world's greatest dad and can bare... [More]

Alex and a classmate took first place in Battle of the Books at his school among fourth graders who participated. He's excited because this means his class gets pizza. However, he doesn't get to advance to state competition because fifth graders who also participated in the competition took the overall first place finish and advance. Alex and other participants were instructed to read books over a three week period and tested each week. Alex's team consistently ranked first among ... [More]

Just refresh this blog entry as many times as you like and have a little fun...read on to see why... You know what...you don't have to fill up scroll with this new addicting game created by Storymaster. You can just type the code however many times you like in your blog and hit refresh and the results just keep achangin' ... ...or just refresh this blog entry... {code:fruitslots(7)} {code:fruitslots(7)} {code:fruitslots(7)} {code:fruitslots(7)} What's your highest s... [More]

I have got to get in the mood to respond to my emails. There are so many people who are kind enough to take time out to give me feedback and I'm worried that I need to be in a certain frame of mind before I can peruse and respond to what they have sent. I don't know if I'm burned out on the process, or what. I work hard to draw exposure to my work but then trouble with reading and responding in kind. Some days, I just want to veg out and think about nothing. The boiler is on th... [More]

I haven't given this too much thought. It just popped in my head and thought I should jot it down. And maybe this subject has made the rounds before, but it would be nice if static poetry items could be categorize by type/form. If someone wanted to search for poems of certain styles like haiku, tanka, traditional or free verse, you know. And within that, it could be categorized whether its about nature, love, erotica, etc. I know some readers would like to research to see how others... [More]

I need to step back and figure out what I'm doing. Some days I think I could make a great contribution here, but how. Other times I think I'm just spinning my wheels, buying and wasting time. I get these grandiose notions but don't act on anything. I see few encouraging signs to try. I guess the desire to write has left me. Or maybe I find too many other interests/obstacles/distractions bog me down. There are days like today when I just want to delete my account and walk away f... [More]

I don't want to be that guy who takes his ball and goes home. Yesterday, I was faced with that dilemma. It's been about three weeks since all these ills from cold, congestion and flu attacked my central nervous system. Two days of basketball to end the week were helping me clear out my lungs. I was panting like a dog and my game was getting better by Friday, so I thought a trip to the Y for some Saturday pick-up games was what the doctor order. It was a mixed blessing. My shoot... [More]

Can you solve this mystery? The internet is abuzz with an unusual clip from a 1928 Charlie Chaplin film that leave many scratching there heads. It looks like an old woman chatting away with a cell phone to her ear in front of a movie theater. The person who discovers the footage adds his discourse and theories with several close-ups but has no definitive answers. http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7152519-time-traveler-in-1920s-charlie-chaplins-circus I'm sure some historian... [More]

Had to take a break from writing.com today when the power cord on my computer fried. Fortunately, I was able to use a part from the old cord that died with a part of the new and allow this laptop to blur my eyes a little more today. I've been trying to tidy up my port and tweak a few items while scrolling and playing games at pogo.com or iwon.com. Added a few more poems at coffe connection's website, but getting little feedback from the Brits over there. Been sick off and on for th... [More]

Tentacles are at half mast today... http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69P1PI20101026?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r1:c0.662500:b38716450:z0... [More]

I know I've said this before, but the last poem I will likely write... ... [More]

I have many reviews from the past 10 days or so to respond to and I haven't forgotten about those who took the time to give me such well thought out feedback. I have been waiting for a chance to spend some time perusing these emails and giving the proper responses of thanks for all the attention. Hopefully, this weekend I can get caught up. Thanks to all those who have taken the time to view items and for those who took the time to respond. September launched a revival of sorts with m... [More]

When your head is oozing blood, you know it's time to quit. The problem with me is that I didn't want to. Two Fridays ago, I made a stupid mistake and got my head busted open for it. I was getting carried away and forgetting that I am actually legally blind and can't always do the things I want to try. It was basketball at the YMCA. It was after noon pick up games and five of us adults were taking on teenagers in full-court games. I was having my way with them. It was a pretty ... [More]

10 years ago today my mom passed. I've been thinking about her since her birthday earlier this week. It was a difficult time back then for me. I was old enough that I was ready to let her go, though her death was a bit sudden and I hadn't seen her at the nursing home in some time. So, I had my regrets. But she comforted me even after she was gone and I feel greatly inspired me to write her eulogy... What's sad is that I don't dream about her anymore. It was more of the... [More]

I appreciate honesty and even one line reviews like this: of I went to the author's port to get a better understanding and came away feeling sad for her. I remember having similar expectations as a writer when I joined and making the mistake of being a harsh reviewer and not tempering my words. When I get a review like this now, I feel its my duty to enlighten them to what they have just witnessed without attacking their effort to give me feedback. Tempering my words now. I&#... [More]

Alex has a story written for a fourth grade statewide writing competition. He needs help understanding how to develop a story and develop scenes and characters. I sent a manuscript with him to share with his teacher at school today but the ending fails to explain the mysterious events in his room. Completely fictional accounts that he and I dreamed up one night in his room and he decided to storyboard it and then lay out the story. We're getting to the end now and it looks like he's h... [More]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sp3575... [More]

Recently updated bio and today decided to change photo, which I may do frequently. It's from a wedding reception in Door County, Wisconsin. I wasn't exactly sober but the photo of me and my lovely wife turned out fine. Don't know if anyone peruses writer's bios the way they are set up. It's like we're on the doorstep of having an actual photo to represent, just can't get it on the front page yet. Hope that is coming. I think many people would like a photo to adorn ... [More]

Where’s the fun if you can’t boast a little. No one knows what a challenge it is for me out there on the hardwood. I can’t explain or get anyone to pay any attention to me when I want to rattle off the list of ailments that go with the painfully obvious physical appearances of age and the hidden trouble of near blindness. Thursday was no exception. I walked off the court within moments of pulling off the most brilliant defensive play that only one person acknowledged. I want... [More]

I know this is just a phase. I'm tired and anxious, but about what? Just feel hopeless and helpless, and aimless. I am going stir crazy not knowing what to do, yet there is a million things to do. Is it because there are so many things, or does it all just seem meaningless? Sometimes there's this drift in life, like a breeze that takes you in a certain direction. I'm too heavy, too idle to get caught up in some wave. Or maybe, it's just blowin' all around me and I'm... [More]

What a time to be on vacation with no internet access at this Black Hills, South Dakota lodge. I have ears thanks to satellite TV and the news about Favre today feels a bit surreal. I have mixed feelings. I adopted the don’t be so sure he’s going to play this year attitude and did not jump on reports that would indicate he would play this season. I didn’t take that ankle injury as seriously as I see now I should. But I have reasons to doubt the reports that he is telling tea... [More]

Is it me? Am I a fraud, walking out on that floor pretending to be a baller like the rest of them? I hate use that word, 'baller'. I hate it as much as I do referring to the orange orb as the rock. But how do I relate? I come into the gym shortly before noon after having a quick lunch with the wife and kids. I felt guity taking off, but how many chances do i get during the summer to play without the little ones in tow? I could tell they needed a player and they told me so moments afte... [More]

Don't react. I hear that young guy over there predict after the fact that I was going to fail. The tossed me the ball in the post and he acted like they were throwing the game away. The game wasn't on the line. I had been getting less than five touches per contest and he's grumbling because I had an opening and took a shot that missed. Playing noon ball at the YMCA provides a mix of young and old and many types of personalities. Many play like it's for the NBA championship and... [More]

Just started sharing poems at a new website and one poem cracked the top 50 in "karma points" http://www.coffeeconnectionpoets.com/poem-rankings.html I guess they rank poet's offerings quarterly. I started sharing my stuff over there about two weeks ago. ... [More]

My top earning articles at Helium.com for June. I haven't written anything new for many months, but still make nearly nine dollars a month sitting on the little pile of articles I've written so far... http://www.helium.com/items/924198-kobe-bryants-workout-plan http://www.helium.com/items/1001398-classic-car-reviews-1969-dodge-dart http://www.helium.com/items/382019-tips-for-washing-dishes-by-hand http://www.helium.com/items/336724-why-some-people-are-always-late-for-work http://w... [More]

Another poetry site where I've decided to share some poems is here... http://www.coffeeconnectionpoets.com/poems/BKCompton.html It's small and easy to use and allows comments and ranks your works and authorship as you participate. This site has been growing over recent years as I kept an eye on it. With all its new updates, it might be worth trying a new community of poets who could give some good insight into what a writer has to offer. ... [More]

I know it doesn't seem like much. To a nine-year-old today, it might. To a boy of a similar age 30 years ago, there were reasons to magnify it's importance. Alex just started playing baseball this year and he is far behind many of the other kids on his team. I feel so fortunate he does not face the pressures I did trying to learn the sport, especially from my dad who had so little patience and much less time to spend with me. I neglected teaching Alex the game for a host of a reaso... [More]

So, I thought if I deleted the authors from my favs in the pop-up window I could keep two separate favs lists. The authors I want to read and the ones I chose for my Fan Page. Little did I know they were connected. I deleted everyone I was a fan of, unwittingly, by deleting all those names that appeared in my favorites window. Now I know they were listed jointly and I've got to go through and find all those names again and rebuild the Fan page. Ah, me! ... [More]

Some Sundays what they preach seems to match my current thoughts. The sermon about Doubting Thomas gave me pause today. Intellectually, I might rebuff my own beliefs and what I was taught since a child. Somewhere deep inside I am constructed to live my life according to Him. Yet, on the surface, so many events in my life and the culture of this world tear me away. I am complacent in my thoughts of thanksgiving, go through the motions. All of what I have in my life should be a wonder. Instead... [More]

I'd keep my fingers crossed every time I visit the eye doctor, but it doesn't fit with my religion or the belief that I need any luck since it's been nearly 20 years since my first eye surgery to alleviate my troubles with glaucoma. Two trebulectomy surgeries in two years and I have been essentially trouble free since 1992. My vision did slowly deteriorate from my own ineptitude to properly medicate and take care of what vision is left, but it's still good enough. My visit ... [More]