Last week, I posted my eBook of poems. Since then I’ve devoted myself entirely to prose. But I’m still editing new poems. Here’s a little lyric about the dangers of light and electricity—especially when they travel in bulk to my incorrectly wired dryer at 220 volts.
Notice, how I distanced myself from the truth of this experience by casting it in 2nd person. That has the effect of protecting me from my own stupidity. But it also helps you feel the stupidity I felt. The whole poem becomes a kind of fated encounter leading each reader toward the inevitable (and temporary) darkness.
Anybody can write. It’s just a matter of sitting down at a keyboard and whacking out some words. As I’ve heard Camy Tang say, it’s a matter of getting BIC (butt in chair) with regular consistency.
But—as millions of completely worthless and boring blogs attest—not just anybody can write well. Your local bookstore is probably well stocked with books on writing and inspiration and how-to-publish-your-book-idea-and-get-on-easy-street. A handful of those books may even be worth the trees that died to make their pulp.
Just some fun stuff today, then I have to prepare for a big interview next week for TheHighCalling.org with the President of Walden Media. (I’m not excited about that or anything.)
First,Mary DeMuth is going on a blog tour for her new book Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern World. (I’ve got an ARC copy, and it’s great.) She may still have a few books to give away over at her blog. You should go check. And even if you don’t get her book, you should participate in the blog tour. We’re going to be measuring effectiveness again. Who knows what new secret formula we’ll discover this time?!
Second, my old man finally got onto the blogosphere. You may know him from the comment sections around here as “Shep.” Yesterday he became PapaPoet. I know he’d appreciate comments on his first poem there about his old man. (Love you, dad.)
Third, I talked with Dawud Miracle on the phone yesterday. This guy has some kind of incredible business sense. He and I talked about how to bring more focus to this blog. So look for that in the near future. I may actually start writing about editing again!
Everything is about relationships really. Liz Strauss once asked me why I blog. I blog because each reader can respond in comments or via email. And those comment and email relationships often turn into a moment like this picture. When I meet someone I’ve gotten to know online and give him or her a big bear hug.
I can’t remember if Craver got a bear hug or just this sort of manlier side hug that you see in the picture. But it was super cool to meet him in person.
First, the prose. Karen’s prose is professional and smooth and typical of current successful Christian fiction. I can’t tell you how tired I get with bad prose. Her sentences are good. That goes a long, long way for me.
Several years ago, the National Endowment for the Arts warned America: Reading is at risk. They proclaimed that literary reading is declining rapidly among all groups, especially the very young.
Two weeks ago, in one of the breakout sessions at Book Expo America, Jeff Gomez wondered about that study. Is print really going to die? he asked. As the director of internet marketing for Holtzbrink Publishers, he has probably earned the authority to state his bold answer.
The story goes like this. Mark Twain was reading the paper one morning, smoking a cigar and running his fingers through that nappy white afro. When he reached the obituary section, he saw his picture. Immediately, he picked up the phone and called the editor to say, “Sir, the news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.”
In a racy little commentary over at MediaPost, George Simpson has a few words to say about the brewing war between social media and mass media.Â
That just seemed like a good headline to tell you that I’m swamped with work for a few days. It’s all good but it means I must let GoodWordEditing lapse for a bit.
I love you all, and I’ll be back soon—with a very special FREE 24 page treat with NEVER BEFORE SEEN CONTENT. This SATURDAY (saturday… saturday… saturday…)Â
I think you’ll like it. Stay tuned…
(I know all caps are a no-no, but they are my attempt to simulate the tracktor pull announcer voice in text. The fact that I have to tell you that suggests that it didn’t work so well.)
Last week, I posted 
Anybody can write. It’s just a matter of sitting down at a keyboard and whacking out some words. As I’ve heard 
Several years ago, the National Endowment for the Arts warned America: Reading is at risk. They proclaimed that literary reading is declining rapidly among all groups, especially the very young.
The story goes like this. Mark Twain was reading the paper one morning, smoking a cigar and running his fingers through that nappy white afro. When he reached the obituary section, he saw his picture. Immediately, he picked up the phone and called the editor to say, “Sir, the news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.”
That just seemed like a good headline to tell you that I’m swamped with work for a few days. It’s all good but it means I must let GoodWordEditing lapse for a bit.
