I don't agree with everything my friend Johnny Pierce says, but his suggestions for writing are worth sharing. He should know - he's a pro. Good tips to remember when posting on social media as well.
1. Concentrate on writing, not getting published. The better the writing the more likely it will be published.
2. Read. See how others make use of words and sentences.
3. Write to communicate, not impress.
4. Unless reporting news, let your personality come through. Some people tell compelling stories that when put into writing for publication come across as stiff.
5. Seek feedback without being defensive. Every good writer benefits from the input of others.
6. Avoid wordiness. Use just the words and number of words needed. That applies to preaching as well, and emails.
7. Pay attention to both technique and creativity. One can write correctly and be boring. Yet good techniquesare needed to carry the creativity.
8. Stop after writing a few paragraphs. See if the first paragraph is necessary. Often the second one is the best place to start.
9. Be observant. Write down ideas that come to mind. Good material is all around, but we have to notice it and then ponder on it. Better to scribble on a bedside pad in the dark than foolishly think I'll remember in the morning, or stop the lawnmower to jot down three words that otherwise would be lost.
10. Submit something if you think it's good. Editors are often looking for suitable stories. But don't take rejection of the writing as a rejection of the writer. Good stories are pulled when a paid advertisement comes in.
11. Write for free. If it's good, an editor might ask you to write more often and offer a stipend. Maybe.
12. Write because there's something within that has to come out. Nothing makes for good writing better than the passion of the writer.
ME: as I've said in the past, I often write to figure out how I feel about a topic. Writing helps me sort out my beliefs and feelings. I say too much on my blog, both too much boring, trivial stuff as well as too much personal stuff. I'm concentrating on the writing, with the goal of posting something every day. Might not be Shakespeare or Mark Twain, but hopefully I have my moments every now and then. As the world becomes an increasingly restricted place, it's probably wise to keep some opinions to myself. Something else to struggle with.
Read an article by a Christian writer taking a contrary stance on a quite volatile subject. His readers are overwhelmingly Christian, mostly in the ministry. In the article he calls anyone who opposes his view naïve, emotional, simplistic. A former minister, most of this writer's social media posts these days are increasingly political, continuously putting down one political party. Claiming only one party to be narcissistic and practice nepotism is a joke.
As opposed to voting for the individual, I'll have to look at the entire platform. This goes for both parties. Trump may be a egotistic jerk, but dedicated to keeping the economy strong, and fighting other much needed battles. To get elected Biden is taking on the values of other powerful Democrats. Which candidate will do the best job keeping the country headed in the right direction? Is it wrong to want to keep America a constitutional republic, as opposed to Marxist communist?
As an adult I have observed and read extensively about many presidents. Unlike Jesus, none are without sin. Several have been downright evil. Some Democrat, some Republican. Even the good Presidents have their flaws. Why be more critical of a person because of a particular sin? I see a lot of imperfection, greed, and power-seeking in Washington. Folk willing to stop at nothing to eliminate an opponent, instead of working together to solve the real problems of the country. Some think social programs are most important, and to a certain extent they are. What about keeping the country defended in an increasingly unstable world? Keeping the economy headed in the right direction, in order to provide jobs and income for citizens? Should the usually inefficient government stick its nose into more and more things, or let the states and markets businesses run themselves?
I'll do my best to love my enemy. Isn't that what Jesus said to do? Perhaps I am naïve.
Friday night Ceil turned on a movie and went to bed. Just Desserts, from 2006. Starred Lauren Holly, who was also in Sabrina, the Harrison Ford remake of the classic.
After a long hot exhausting Saturday, after supper I mixed another 32 ounce bottle of Koolaide. I opened a new box of orange mix. Didn't realize it was an "energy" drink with 20 grams of caffeine. Didn't get much sleep.
Sunday afternoon I drove Ceil to Perimeter Mall. Many times I'll drop her off and sit in the car, but with the heat I decided to go look at sneakers. Not saying it was a mistake, but it was amazing the number of shoppers there in the mall. Most all had masks, but still.
Had to work past six tonight, to make up for taking time all afternoon on a personal matter. Got home too late to cut the grass. Now I'll be playing catchup all week.
This following article may have a liberal slant, blaming Christians for falling for the supposed QAnon conspiracy.
JOSH GIBSON [SABR Bio] was a highly-heralded 18-year old, who had two hits in his first game. Debuted with the 1930 Memphis Red Sox of the Negro National League. Generally recognized as one of the game's most prolific sluggers, his league single-season high in home runs was only 33. Credited with 33 HR in 1941 while playing for Veracruz in the Mexican League. Precise records of Gibson's accomplishments do not exist. Stat-keeping was haphazard in the Negro leagues and Gibson took part in a vast number of exhibition games and games against semiprofessional teams. However, Gibson is generally believed to have led the Negro National League in home runs for 10 consecutive seasons and to have had a career batting average of "at least" between .345 and .365. Most researchers hold that even perhaps the best-kept accounts of his career do not do him justice.
Buck O'Neil famously said that there was a certain sound—of a ball hitting a bat like dynamite—that he'd heard only three times: from Babe Ruth, Bo Jackson and him. "I played with Willie Mays and against Hank Aaron," Hall of Famer Monte Irvin once said. "They were tremendous players, but they were no [him]." When an opposing player asked if a certain broken bat belonged to him, he replied, "I don't break bats, I wear 'em out." Another Buck O'Neill quote: "Gibson was the best hitter I ever saw. He had the power of Ruth and the hitting ability of Ted Williams. Would have been outstanding in the majors and re-written the record book as far as home runs were concerned."
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