Writing, motivation and Joe's Story

While writing Joe's Story I had to constantly remind myself why I was writing it. The entire process took 13 years. Try not to laugh at my snail's pace but please bear in mind I'd never written an autobiography before and I was working with a reincarnated memory with no education in composition, grammer or journalism. The driving force was strictly recording the gift that had been returned to me after two years of amnesia and the possibility that it may accomplish some good in this world of ours. That was my reasoning. If you are presently writing something in hopes of publication ask yourself what your motivation is. Knowing that will get you through the tough times when words don't come so easily.

I've spoken to dozens of hopeful authors, their reasons are varied from financial to missionary from egotistical to gratitude. What do you hope to accomplish? Becoming a best seller author requires a dedication that doesn't come by chance. Focus is critical to success. If no one told you before I will tell you now a basic fact about becoming a published author: There are 10,000 other hopeful authors submiting their own literary wonders every month. Yes, that's right, every month. And, in my opinion that may very well be a conservative figure these days. So, if you are not 100% dedicated to your book and you don't have the time to promote it you'll remain an unknown author wannabe.

I'm not saying that to discourage you. I'm saying that to encourage you to write even more. However, write for the sake of writing something meaningful. Personal satisfaction comes from having completed your task. If your task is to write a best seller you must write with passion and motivation greater than 9.999 others are writing with at this very moment. Choose you subject well and educate yourself about it. My subject was as easy as it was complicated, it was my own life experience, how could I go wrong? Although I hoped it would reach the top ten list of best sellers that was not my motivation, I wanted it to accomplish some good for anyone that read it. From what I am told it is doing just that. Dozens of people have told me that reading Joe's Story has brought a change for the better to their life. One of my favorite comments was a fellow saying that reading Joe's Story did him more good than ten years of therapy by a psychiatrist. He bought another copy for his therapist. I think of that as a sign I have accomplished my goal. I hope you accomplish yours also. Remember why you are writing in the first place, don't lose focus. It will serve you well................Joe

Writing lesson

Yesterday I spent several hours composing one of the most interesting and informative postings I've ever done. At the crack of dawn I arose from my slumber with my head filled with ideas for this blog. Many comments and emails from friends and followers often ask questions I'm unable to answer at the time for one reason or another. So, I place them in a folder for future consideration. Yesterday was my day for future consideration. I was inspired and motivated. After church I sat down and researched the material. made notes and got started. My fingers flew across the keyboard as if they had a mind of their own. Everything was falling together like a mental jig saw puzzle. Letters formed words, words formed sentences, sentences formed ideas and ideas blended into massive accumulations of common sense. My writing was exquisitely fluent, professional and riveting.

The subject matter involved our quest for a healthy lifestyle without being consumed by it and limiting our total life experience. Some topics included: diet, exercise, meditation, faith, recreation, motivation and how to put them all together and be happy and stress free. Knowledge is empowering was part of the main theme. How to obtain correct knowledge was the driving motivator, driving home the importance of resources other than friends or self proclaimed know-it-all acquaintances. I was filled with enthusiasm through to my soul, my message was upbeat and filled with hope. I thought of nothing else while I was writing. The rest of the world was put on hold.

While I was busy writing the rest of the world went on without me. In my solitude I forgot something. The "save" button. My server went down and all was lost despite my efforts to retrieve it. Gone! I don't know what I could have done to prevent this from happening but I'm on a mission to find out just what that may be. You never know when I might wake up and write that way again. Meanwhile, stay healthy and happy......................Joe

What people say

Last night I watched John F. Kennedy look out across his audience and say: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!" Wow! When I saw it live, that statement had a profound impact on the rest of my life. In all these years since then I have done as much as humanly possible to not be a burden on society. He also reinforced our responsibility as a nation to not neglect the poor and downtrodden who need a hand up. I've done my best to honor that too. It's amazing how one man's words can influence us isn't it?

Throughout the history of the United States there has been controversy and disagreement. From a country made up of all the other nationalities and opposing cultures of the world I suppose it is to be expected isn't it? So why do we act so indignant when the politicians we voted in have differing opinions of just about everything? Isn't that what our government is set up to do? I don't particularly like it myself but at the same time I remind myself what all the bickering has brought. We've got a balance of power with separate governing bodies, the House, the Senate, the Judicial and then we have a President too. Of course there's going to be differing ideas and how to implement them, even among members of the same political party.

In light of all the words spoken these days I am still looking for someone to say something as profound as John F. Kennedy did back then. I remember the words of another man very well too and I think a lot of folks would do well to think about them. "Love your neighbor as yourself and Do onto others as you would have done onto you." I'll be watching and listening...........

I can't write today

Write, write, write! That's what my editor advised me to do. Write at every opportunity. Write whatever comes to my mind. Write for myself, write for others. Write, write, write. He'll take care of the rest. I do what I can. But, not today. There is nothing in my mind to write about. I'm all writed out.

For months I've been hard at it, writing on a number of subjects, sometimes all through the night, during breaks and lunch time at work and even eating dinner at the keyboard to get it all down. I think I emptied my mind out. When I try to think of something to write it comes out reading like a kindergarten paper, emotionless, forced, crude, without purpose. I think I need a break. Today I won't write. Maybe tonight I won't write. Perhaps I won't write for a long time. This has happened before. I know the routine. It's a necessary evil. I have to take time to refill my empty glass of motivation. I've poured it all out and now it's gone.

The garden awaits digging and seeding, the basement cries out for organization. My man machines in the garage beg to be filled with gasoline and explode into life. The brown trout in the nearby creek require harvesting. My boat awaits my loving touch and attention. My bicycles yearn for the open road. It is their time. Writing can wait. Today I expand my horizons, rekindling the zest and fire of life beyond the desk. Inspiration will follow. Wish me well........................Joe

Good Friday

Thinking over this whole "Good Friday" thing kind of makes you wonder doesn't it? Considering that Good Friday is the anniversary of the horrible death of a gentle and honorable man.

According to biblical as well as secular history, 2000 or so years ago a group of people grabbed a guy under false accusations with the help of a lying traitor, tried and found innocent, whipped, scourged, forced to carry a huge wooden cross, nailed to that same cross, speared in the chest and died while his mother watched. Not most peoples idea of a "Good Friday" is it? Unless, of course you knew ahead of time what would happen 3 days later. But even then the pain and anguish was real. So why do we call it Good Friday? As unspeakably horrible as it was, Good Friday was the beginning of something better. The world was changed forever. Regardless of your religious convictions I believe Good Friday has something to teach us all.

How often do we face life changing catastrophe? Life is full of such stuff. How do we handle it? When tragedy strikes do we have the courage to do what has to be done? Do we accept the pain of doing the right thing in the hope of a better future? I feel that each of us, at at least one time or another in our lives faces our own Good Friday. A lesson was shown us a few years back when a guy who's arm got stuck in a land slide. He cut that arm off so he could return to civilization and live. he is now without an arm but the rest of him is alive and well. The cost was worth it. Every day, sick people enter operating rooms, enduring surgery and the following recovery period, perhaps chemotherapy so they may live longer healthier lives. Other people sever abusive relationships, sometimes disrupting their own lives and the lives of their children, suffering poverty for years to stop further injury and finally be safe again, maybe in another state or country. None of those things are easy. However, any one of those decisions and thousands of others could be for each of us our own personal Good Friday. Sometimes, what may almost appear hopeless can be overcome, even in the face of tremendous pain and seemingly insurmountable odds.

I know a real crude, rather uncivilized guy that isn't particularly pleasant to be around most of the time. He has a tattoo on his chest saying in huge, bold letters, Good Friday! Accompanied by the sun breaking over the horizon. As crude and uncivilized and smelly as he is, he is known by a select few as a guy that quietly helps people in trouble, any time, any place. I asked him about his rather unique tattoo. He said he found out what it means when he was finally released from captivity back in Vietnam.

To some of us Good Friday means a lot. To some of us Good Friday means nothing. To all of us Good Friday and the resulting Easter Sunday may have a very encouraging message. A free message. But we don't all have to tattoo it to our chest do we now?..........................Joe