2012: The Year We Flip! (Book) http://www.Writing.Com/main/profile.php/blog/bkcompton We met during a significant transition in my life. I was on a path leading further away from a professional career that defined me, then devoured me...broadcasting. I look back today to remember how she rescued me like some abandoned animal and loved me when I had run out of hope. Most people who know me realized I was a sensitive child who relied on the belief ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:09:28 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/747054 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 autho...[Read Full Post] Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:28:58 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746882 Kind of a retweet from my own blog because this is a constant in my life.... [Link to Book Entry #693523] 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. ...[Read Full Post] Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:01:23 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746850 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 ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:32:59 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746747 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...[Read Full Post] Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:18:22 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746711 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... [Link: 'http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/letter-freed-slave-former-master-draw-atten...'] [Link: 'http:/...[Read Full Post] Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:48:53 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746100 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 ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:44:34 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746054 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...[Read Full Post] Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:47:31 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/745642 Very pleasantly surprised to see my group Rising Stars awarded an old poem of mine: [Link To Item #1169069] 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 ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:13:33 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/745492 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 enc...[Read Full Post] Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:25:19 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744993 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 ...[Read Full Post] Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:43:10 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744852 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 fro...[Read Full Post] Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:46:03 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744092 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. W...[Read Full Post] Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:13:49 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744042 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...[Read Full Post] Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:43:14 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742600 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 ge...[Read Full Post] Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:39:01 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742599 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...[Read Full Post] Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:51:34 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742517 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 sna...[Read Full Post] Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:11:20 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742325 Experimenting with poetry again.. [Link To Item #1830739] Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:56:14 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/741181 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. ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:10:47 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/723234 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 p...[Read Full Post] Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:50:48 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/720231 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 g...[Read Full Post] Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:45:58 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/718643 "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 ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:01:26 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/718641 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 ...[Read Full Post] Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:16:09 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/717076 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... <span style="border:1px dotted #cccccc;padding:1px 3px 1px 3px;" title="Official FruitSlot Result!"><scrip...[Read Full Post] Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:46:05 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/711749 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...[Read Full Post] Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:24:49 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/711620 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 wi...[Read Full Post] Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:34:48 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/711355 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...[Read Full Post] Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:02:08 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/710839 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 gettin...[Read Full Post] Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:52:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/709821 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 definit...[Read Full Post] Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:17:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/709579 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....[Read Full Post] Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:33:15 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/709572 Tentacles are at half mast today... [Link: 'http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69P1PI20101026?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g4...'] Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:28:46 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/709490 I know I've said this before, but the last poem I will likely write... [Link To Item #1718489] Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:07:36 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/709033 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. Th...[Read Full Post] Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:40:28 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/708354 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 ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 04 Oct 2010 06:31:48 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/707628 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 g...[Read Full Post] Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:48:48 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/707302 I appreciate honesty and even one line reviews like this: [Link to Review #3388867] of [Link To Item #1166797] 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 word...[Read Full Post] Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:37:46 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706758 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...[Read Full Post] Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:41:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706718 [Link: 'http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sp3575'] Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:24:06 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705683 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 ...[Read Full Post] Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:24:09 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705368 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 exce...[Read Full Post] Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:19:38 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705330 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 ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:46:02 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/704246 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 seas...[Read Full Post] Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:02:30 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/703169 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 ma...[Read Full Post] Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:46:37 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/702178 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. Pla...[Read Full Post] Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:48:32 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701099 Just started sharing poems at a new website and one poem cracked the top 50 in "karma points" [Link: '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. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:36:01 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/700594 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... [Link: 'http://www.helium.com/items/924198-kobe-bryants-workout-plan'] [Link: 'http://www.helium.com/items/1001398-classic-car-revi...[Read Full Post] Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:54:35 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/700477 Another poetry site where I've decided to share some poems is here... [Link: '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...[Read Full Post] Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:55:43 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/699562 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, es...[Read Full Post] Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:50:14 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/698229 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 lis...[Read Full Post] Thu, 13 May 2010 07:09:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/696013 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...[Read Full Post] Sun, 18 Apr 2010 11:09:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/693523