Approaching seven years on WordPress! One thing remains the same: Everything changes.
February 13, 2018 site update
I’ve completed my first year and a half living in the mountains in Western North Carolina. It has definitely been an interesting time, between making what was once a family condo into my space, and marking it with my “scent.”
I experienced a spell of decreased writing, when what was the pull of the creative juices before turned into more of a condemnation for not doing it. Perhaps it was the fact I am adjusting to thin air (my condo is about 4,400 feet above sea level). Or perhaps it was the realization that after my bookend marriages (I call one my Starter Wife and the last one my Ender Wife), I’m uncertain at inflicting myself upon another person in yet another committed relationship. There are things I am good at. There are things I am not.
My companion Pomeranian of going on 12 years, Pippin, died of kidney and liver failure suddenly just before Christmas. His remains are contained in a tin urn on the mantel, and his collar and name tag are too.
After he first died, I kept hearing him, and from the corners of my eyes, glimpsed him scooting around a corner. When I got out of my car somewhere, I could hear his frantic/angry barking when left in the front seat. It was a habit I could never cure him of.
I decided to wait until after the year-end holidays were complete, and the traffic of family and friends had died down, before looking at the local humane societies for another companion. That search will have to wait until the summer, as I am now dog-sitting a tiny female Shorkie as a favor to one of my daughter’s dorm mates at a nearby college.
Gemma and I are becoming fast buds, and though she is going on 8
years old, follows me continuously –– which I like. At the end of the spring semester, her owner will come to take her, yet another excuse to delve into blue waters and avoid writing.
But I am writing. I completed the first rough draft of a two-act play I named Age of Descent. It revolves around Albert (my dad’s middle name) who is experiencing the one-year anniversary of the death of his wife of many years. His daughter, Missy, is understandably concerned that he needs to get his life going forward. A third character, Flo, will complicate Albert’s life and pose a threat to Missy, who thinks Flo is after Albert’s money.
If you would like to read it, email me at skiipwrite at gee mail dot com and ask for a PDF copy. By doing so, however, you are agreeing to read the script with a critic’s eye and give me valuable feedback.
End of update. From this point, the info is pretty much the same as before, with some minor edits.
My writing studio
I refer to this WordPress site as my writing studio. It’s where I do my work, and like any artist’s studio, is filled and cluttered with a wide range of work: poetry, short stories, beginnings of novels, plays, opinion pieces and more.
Your comments on my work are extremely valuable to me in judging what succeeds in what I write, and what doesn’t. Thanks for “liking” something, but as you might have learned through your own experience with your bah-log, it does not very reveal what you like specifically. I don’t mean to be rude — it’s that comments are better than likes for me.
While I try to respond to new followers, I’m the age where my intentions are noble, my followup rather pathetic. The number slowly clicks upwards, but I’m skeptical that most followers are really trying to mark my site with their icon so others will follow them.
I follow only a few artists, and they will concur I am not a very reliable follower. However, if you want my opinion on something you’ve produced, merely email me at skiipwrite at gee mail dot com, and I will respond. Promise.
A few rules I try to go by:
1. If you are a business blog and follow me, I shan’t contact you with a thank-you, unless you give me a reason. My thought is you are looking for a way to have your icon appear on my site, and have no intention of following my writing. You merely desire others to click on your icon to hyperlink to your blog.
2. If your profile picture depicts you as a nubile young woman, I ain’t going to respond. Sorry. I already look too much like a pedophile than to start doing things that appear that way. Actually, you should take it as a compliment! That’s generally for the under 40 or 50 crowd. That doesn’t mean that I think you are over 40 or 50 if I respond. Jeesh! There’s no winning here!
3. As much as they are appreciated for the thought behind them, I don’t respond to nominations — unless, of course, it’s for an Oscar, Tony, Grammy or the Pulitzer. I don’t understand most of the online “awards.” Plus I’m a curmudgeon.
4. I do all I can to get feedback. To that end I have joined some LinkedIn writing groups, but found these are very similar to Facebook. I am a member of a local writers’ group, and recommend you join one in your area. Remember, however, that some members/leaders feel empowered/destined/spiritually endowed to give critiques written in stone. My attitude is my opinion and $5 will get you a cup of coffee just about anywhere. Don’t give your writing to your friends or family for a reaction. Give it to people who will give you an honest reflection. Or pay someone. Not a lot, though. The goal is for others to pay you for your creativity.
5. Ultimately, my ongoing goal is to write. Along the way I’ve discovered that just because I peck it out onto my computer screen does not mean I have a finished product. That means editing and rewriting. And then editing and rewriting. And then editing and rewriting. Then editing some more.
(copyright © 2013, Lawrence S. Marsden)
Note: EVERYTHING above is subject to change! LSM
Contact information:
Email: skiipwrite at gee mail dot com.
Or, Facebook page: Skip Marsden. Like or request to friend. OR, Stinky and the Night Mare. If I don’t already know you, refer to my WordPress site to make this connection. I’m very trusting, but once burned, the lesson is learned.
LinkedIn: Skip Marsden
Twitter: @skipmars
Ah you sound like a cool Granddad and Dad!
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Sometimes, Catherine. But I’m still learning, too. Just as you are.
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Is life hard?
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Life can be hard. But at the same time, life can be satisfying. The two are not mutually exclusive. Which do you appreciate/value more: what comes easily, or what comes through effort?
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They say the more you work for something, the more you appreciate it. But I feel I’ve worked so hard to get to just ‘this’..I think I’m tired and need a break now.
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Well, you probably have. Can you appreciate what you have?
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Some days I can, some days it’s too dark to see what I have..
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Maybe that’s when you ask somebody else.
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Answers are rare..
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Where have you been?! Stranger..
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Moi? Writing and posting. Have you not noticed?
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I’m following your blog, but I’m obviously not being notified. That’s annoying!
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It must be the USA/UK connection! You guys do kind of talk funny.
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Passing by…to “meet” you. Thanks for your visits to my blog. Nice to “see” you when you stop by.
PeAce!
RoSy
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Hello. Where have you gone to?!
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I shall Honor the pledge!
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Well, impossible not to leave a comment. Enjoyed your bio post very much, so I browsed through your blog, very interesting and entertaining. Thank you for sharing and I hope I have given you a pleasant feed back. By the way “hello” and “goodbye” in Italian is one word and it is spelled ciao and pronounced chao. Have a nice one :), Lucia
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That’s why they invented editors! I will correct immediately!
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OK. I’m in . I’ll follow and I’ll comment. I liked your about page. I’ll explore your blog a little at a time.
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Thanks. I liked your work on the pov of the caretaker. I guess I’m staring down the barrel of an eventual diagnosis, and some of the evidence is beginning to ping in my life. I’m a reporter, and details (names, ages, etc.) are mysteriously becoming repetitive errors. I’m hoping, if this is the beginning, it will move slowly enough for me to react.
No way I’m going to refer to everyone in my life as “Dear.”
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Or could it be that your mind refuses to be cluttered with info that you can easily look up and is not all that important?
Keep positive. Because, why not?
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Sure. That too. That’s why I’m a big fan of sticky notes!
You sound like my editor.
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This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship then. 🙂
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Perhaps it could.
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I like your pledge – hadn’t seen it before
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It was a bit onerous, and I wanted to pluck it up a bit. Glad you like it.
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Dear Sir,
I’m glad that I stumbled across this fantastic blog of yours. I find your writing straight to the point, and somewhat comical. Age is but a number, no matter how old you are… as long as you breathe you can take up anything you want. You are always young at heart, as the saying goes.
Learning never ends. The more we learn, the more there is to learn. As it is, I’m following you, and will read more of your stuff as oftener as possible.
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Sounds like you have a good life! Great blog! 🙂
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On one of his albums, Bill Cosby said that the difference between the words “good” and “great” should be measured against the description of the creation in the Bible in Genesis, where the writer describes God as evaluating his work at the end of each day.
“And God saw that it was good.”
Good life? Yes.
Great blog? Not sure of that one. But I’m glad you enjoy my work all the same. 🙂
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Note: It probably isn’t PC to mention Cosby anymore due to recent allegations. Still, I think his mind is a wonderful bank of funny stories. The rest of his body? Eh.
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OK, you definitely win the nonexistent award for “Best About Post on WordPress”!!! Hurray!
I’m looking forward to reading more and getting to know your work. Nice to “meet” you!
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Isn’t the guitar just great?
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Learned the Baritone ukulele first, then advanced to guitar. Classical Tarrega, then a D26 Martin, and now on an acoustic Road King by Tacoma. I like the baritone and acoustic equally well.
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Awesome. Next you have to try an axe! (Stratocaster!)
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Not my genre. Peter, Paul and Mary; Simon and Garfunkel
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I use my strat in jazz!
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Never too late to try something new, I agree. I will enjoy reading your updates on your new journey. Blessings!
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Thank you.
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Wishing you a Happy Birthday today.
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Thanks. Reminds me of this Beatles’ tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD26gJVB4
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That doesn’t show as a Beatles’ tune.
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Really liked your poems “The Mango” and “The Winter of the Best Snow”. I’ll be back to read more.
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I see you became a newspaper reporter at age 62. I love to write and believe I do okay at it and have seen an ad for a reporter for a local paper in their want ads for several weeks now (must be energetic and be available nights and weekends). The bad thing is that I am 58 and don’t feel like I have the energy they require, which obviously shouldn’t be a problem, if one can have the required energy at 62. I also have a 9 year old, who doesn’t live with me, and my time with her is sacred. What I’m getting at is, when they say they need someone for nights and weekends, do you suppose they would be able to work with an applicant who would love to work for them but isn’t young and would put demands on them that every MWF after school for 3-4 hours is off-limits, and every other Friday night and Saturday is off limits, or shouldn’t I even bother? I’ll do what I’ll do, and soon, but I like input from people who I don’t already know.
By the way, very enjoyable blog.
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You won’t know if you don’t ask. The biggest question I ask myself at this age is “why not?”
Why not a novel?
Why not a play?
Why not ______________ (you fill in here).
As far as the family conflict, be up front. If you are a good writer and the paper recognizes that, you should have some leeway.
As my dad would say: “It couldn’t hoit!”
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Loved the poetry and shall read through your blog with interest. Thank you. I too am on an adventure having just moved to a new county in UK, it seems very difficult to find work when older so I congratulate you on working in your 60’s – it’s good to keep active and stimulated just because you reach a certain number shouldn’t mean you have to stop.
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I don’t plan to vegetate my life away. Work takes on all forms, and during my life, I’ve done all forms. The most satisfying, albeit least income-producing at this point, is to write. When potential writers ask how to, my response is writer’s write — a well-worn cliche. But it’s true. Nothing else will fill the immeasurable void that occurs when I do not write.
Good luck in the UK. Learn all you can while you are on this adventure. Soak it up! And, thanks for your kind comments.
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I, The Editor, pledge that I will comment on the things I read on this blogsite. I understand it does not have to be very long (1,000 to 20,000 words will do), AND it does not have to be complimentary — though I am hereby informed of the terribly weak state of the author’s confidence, and anything negative may possibly ignite a reaction that he (the author) is not legally nor morally responsible for.
I will also recommend this site to 10 of my best friends by the end of the day, or some really dark calamity will occur to me and I’ll rue my decision not to honor this pledge.
By the way, in the mere reading of this pledge, you are actually saying it in your mind (do you hear it?), and, therefore, have — by default — agreed to it, this 6th day of March, 2014.
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Tqo turn of phrases I like on this page: ‘shouting into a canyon’ and ‘it couldn’t hoit!’
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‘TWO’ that is. That ‘q’ is always trying to outshine ‘w’. Pushy little letter!
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Best part of ‘About me’ :-
“So, please — enjoy! And leave a comment, for goodness sake! That’s why I put my stuff up in a blog, to get feedback. Good, bad or ugly. Anything is helpful. At least I know I’m not shouting in a canyon and hearing only the echo of my own voice.”
lol .. 😀
Though I ll b visiting often for now I say Alvida( good bye in hindi) …. 😀
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Till next time, then. Thank you for visiting my writing website and choosing to follow my work. And, Alvida.
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🙂
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Very cool. Thanks for stopping by ~ Sea
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You’re welcome.
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“If you would like to be one of those bloggers I am looking to connect with writing-wise (I am all too exhausted and shriveled for any other kind), then let me know.” Loved this piece! 🙂 Too often our voice goes unheard, and I would be more than happy to offer my thoughts. So count me in (when I’ve finished the A to Z challenge, of course).
On a different note, I’m creating a free magazine called IWACA (Indie Writers And Creative Artists), Dream… Create… be who you are, and would love it if you would consider a feature piece in the Summer issue. I can’t seem to find any contact details, but if you are interested or would like further information, you can contact me here: contact[dot]iwaca[at]gmail[dot]com
Kindest regards
-Sarah (SD Neeve).
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Thanks for your willingness to give input. I’ll email you re the IWACA.
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Just saw your blog through another blog and would be pleased to share my work with you, and have you do the same. Like you, I think one of the greatest challenges for an indie writer is getting constructive feedback– the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I currently am publishing my novel ONE PERCENT SOLUTION, a satire of dysfunctional government and economic disparity, on my blog (Gregory James) at the rate of one page per day, and have gotten a lot of ‘likes’, but not much feedback.beyond that.
Please ping me back and lets try to connect.
Regards, Gregory James
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Sounds like a plan. Check my about me page for my email address.
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Hi Skip,
Thank you ever so much for introducing yourself. I appreciate it. I love your writing style, and feel I can certainly learn a thing or two from you.
Again, I appreciate the advice on my book I am yet to write. I want to, and have all great intentions to, make a start, but I become mentally stuck. I have a few ideas on titles, which is a start I guess!
It’s the same old story – I always feel like I’m punching above my weight. I am not qualified in anyway to write a book, nor have I been on any creative writing courses (although I would like to!). I don’t think I’m particularly good at writing. Let’s just say, I have a lot to learn.
I read a lot of peoples work on WordPress, but sometime this makes me panic even more so! It’s hard not to compare writing styles and ideas etc. It makes me question “Am I good enough?”..but I know this is due to my own self-confidence. This being said, I am inspired mostly by people.
Congrats on all your achievements. It must be an amazing feeling. Children’s books must be great fun to write. I’m a big fan of children’s stories, and read to my children every night – it gives me much pleasure. I will definitely look out for your book – it sounds very intriguing! I’m guessing you will put it up on your ‘creative space’ – I like this by the way, once it’s available?
Thanks again for the advice!
Amanda
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Roosevelt said “The only fear is fear itself.” Like the first time you rode a bike without training wheels. Like the first time you edged out the the end of the high diving board at the public swimming pool. Like the first time you stepped out onto stage and had lines.
Don’t compare yourself to other writers. As someone said to me once, find your voice. Or, better, your confidence.
Write and write and write. One day you will realize you are a writer.
Edit, hone, re-edit, re-hone. Writing is work — but such a rewarding work! Sure beats flipping pancakes — unless cooking is your passion.
Stinky will be highlighted in the first issue of IWACA (don’t ask me) in its first online issue this summer. I will announce that from my writing studio (see, doesn’t that sound so much better than “blog?”).
It may also be somewhere on my site, it you search for it.
Stinky and the Sandcastle, recently posted, is likely to be the sequel if the first succeeds.
So, Amanda, damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!
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Thank you, Skip.
I’ll keep my eyes open! I’m sure my children will love it. I LOVE the title!
For now, I’m going to stop flipping pancakes, sit down at my desk, and write (rewrite) write (rewrite) write (rewrite). Practice makes perfect as they say!
Thank you kindly for all the tips and encouragement. It’s just what I needed to hear. You speak very wisely, you know!
Amanda.
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Yeah. My mom used to call me a wise-ass.
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Haha 🙂
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Congratulations, L. Stewart Marsden!
I have nominated your blog for the Wonderful Team Membership Award.
More about this nomination is at
http://jessasmiley.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/wonderful-team-member-readership-award-nominee-with-gratitude-to-my-dear-kitty/
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Not sure what team that is, but, thanks. I’m a Panther and a Duke fan, if that makes any difference.
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Oh, welcome though 😀
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A great idea to connect with other writers, I shall endeavor to comment as much as possible.
I like your outlook on the whole writing ‘thing’.
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Yes, writing can appear like a thing — daunting and precipitous. But, if you HAVE to write — if the unction is unquenchable — then you will eventually write without thinking about all the “stuff” of writing. Like when you learned to ride a bike.
Good luck!
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I am overwhelmed by your integrity and I can’t express my happiness that there are people like yourself sir. Please accept me as a student who is willing to learn every bit of experience you can share. Please allow me to consider you my mentor, I will be very grateful.
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I will be happy to serve.
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Thank you sir.
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Thanks for following me too skip:) I’m a new blogger and not definitely good in writing yet
and I would like the idea of helping and giving feedback to one another!! I Need that!! Thanks for reaching out
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Can’t wait to read the new book.
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I love that I found you at the edge of your first book being published! And that you are actually being published rather than taking the self publishing route that everyone seems to be doing. It gives us all hope. I’m having fun wandering around your studio. 😊
You are right. Blog does sound like a plumbing problem! Lol.
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Well, it’s a combination of self-publishing and publisher commitment. Warren Press — a few miles from where I live — is spending quite a few bucks on the production of the book, including the illustrations and promoting as well.
It will not be wholesaled to retail outlets, but I will tramp about and distribute and book sign at mom and pop bookstores — the dwindling breed. Amazon has had its powerful impact everywhere!
Again, it’s not about the money — but the desire to get what I think is a nice story to the bedsides of sleepy children, and have them smile as they finally doze off.
Years ago I went to NYC and managed to get an agent. That whole scene, while still around, is so tightly woven.
Today, plenty of writers are actually making a decent living self-publishing. Yes, there’s a lot of tripe out there, but there is also some really fine writing as well. You have to prod about and look under a rock or two to find it.
If you look at the music industry, you will notice it is going through a similar transition. Artists are uploading to Youtube and other online sources. Incredible music of every genre is recorded at home — and with quality!
For artists of all ilks, this ought to be an exciting time to work.
So, good luck to you in your own efforts.
— SM
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Looks like you and I have a lot in common. I think it is called “old values”.
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Old farts like me tend to have old values. 🙂
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Stinky and the Night Mare review – Stinky and the Night Mare got my attention with its title. Very clever. I love the simple writing technic of this author and I think you will too. I do not wish to be a spoiler of the story so I will simply say….occasionally all children will need help with falling to sleep – bed time stories help relax and distract youngsters into drifting off, Stinky and the Night Mare is perfect for such occasions. From a wakeful wanting to sleep in her parents bed to drifting off to perfect dreamtime slumber, Stinky has the sleep adventure every child hopes for. Story well done by the author….illustrations perfect for the story and an ending that meets its goal. I rate this book a 5 star. ( I was gifted this book for an honest review and I feel I have given it)
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Well! I’ve slogged myself all the way to the bottom just to see what was here? Not exactly. Do you finally have those 100 followers and have you given away one of the two books you mentioned in your bio? Damn…seems I’m always late to the party……
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None of the last 3 winners took me up on it. You’re across the big pond, right?
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Hello skipmars, You know they really need to figure out a better place for the comment box. Every site I go to I spend most of my time Look for this . I rather spend that time reading, Anyway that is not what I am here for.I usually check a site To thank the writer for the like or better yet a comment. Which could create some interesting dialog.
Today is a first. I am not here for any of the above reasons.Actually it is to formally apologize.. I shared a link with some one and you came across it. Well the link was spelled wrong . A few extra letters.. well ok a whole extra word . So I am sorry if it caused you any inconvenience. And I’ll get out of here As I am too embarrassed to say any thing else. Thanks. nick
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Magnanimous, Nick! I didn’t mean to come across harshly, if I did. And I recognized that something was wrong with the link. Here’s an example of when to be embarrassed, by the way (my dad told this story with great embellishments):
A woman had just showered donned her bathrobe. She then put her hair up in curlers, and grabbed an armload of laundry to take down to the basement. In the basement, she grabbed her son’s old football helmet and put it on to protect her hair from the basement dust and dirt. Then she noticed a big stain on her bathrobe, and decided to include it with the laundry in a wash. At that precise moment, the city meter reader was checking the water usage on the woman’s house, and happened to look in on her. He grinned broadly and said loud enough for her to hear, “I don’t know what team you play for, Lady — but I sure hope you win!”
Skip
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Here you go: bell.curve.outlier@gmail.com
Nice, crisp writing there, Skip. No words wasted, everything easy to visualize. Loved the coin business.
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I am a reader; swooning from the Marsden effect.
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I read this and I got the impression that you’ve got a purple heart! Lol! You come out as someone who knows what he does and is by no means in pursuit of cheap approval. I love that. Such confidence and authority over your work is what makes the reader value it even more. I hate it when a writer has to force something down your throat and all you’ve got to do is just say his work is top-notch even when it’s not.
You lean. Unlearn. And Re-Learn. And then I might just happen on your blog to do the learning as well. This is a rich blog.
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Thanks, George. Much of that comes with whitening hair, wrinkly skin, far-sightedness, and what people of my age call The-School-of-Hard-Knocks. Nothing special, really. Sorry this is such a late reply. SM
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Skip, many many years ago you brought me back to consciousness after I got knocked out playing football with a bunch of little ratty campers. And you drew a picture of it, as well. I don’t know for the life of me what caused me to find you online, but there you are! Hope life’s treating you well.
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Fill me in a bit, Reid. What camp? How long ago?
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