tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19073452363175734662024-03-13T03:44:37.834-07:00Dane Baylis UndeterredAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.comBlogger407125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-3194987582066538252018-04-10T20:05:00.003-07:002018-04-10T20:05:59.755-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7akDddm2oMyABZ7tIDk0m4nNqRG8gzQcDX9cd2kfIOwwPeAn8sNXPluMiawRP-u8TlIMWgl7aXLO1AAmyh4sOL5O3XbQvCE0zi-eBDnKS7BoMZtx2IFiW2OWb4Sn7tOs8lMnzXrzSBjMj/s1600/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3MuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9jb250ZW50LzU2Mi82YjY3ZjMxODdiMWIzNGU4YjQ1NmMvMC0yNDAwLQ%253D%253D.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7akDddm2oMyABZ7tIDk0m4nNqRG8gzQcDX9cd2kfIOwwPeAn8sNXPluMiawRP-u8TlIMWgl7aXLO1AAmyh4sOL5O3XbQvCE0zi-eBDnKS7BoMZtx2IFiW2OWb4Sn7tOs8lMnzXrzSBjMj/s1600/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3MuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9jb250ZW50LzU2Mi82YjY3ZjMxODdiMWIzNGU4YjQ1NmMvMC0yNDAwLQ%253D%253D.webp" /></a></div>
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<u>TIMES COMING ON</u></h2>
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As I've been saying in the last couple of posts I'm moving my web presence to WordPress. There are a few reasons for this, the main one being I just felt it was time for a change. Tonight I won't be copying a posting from this page to paste onto that one. This will be the debut of a blog post written strictly for the new venue. It can be seen at <a href="https://danebaylisundeterred.blog/" target="_blank">Dane Baylis Undeterred</a> in a short while.</div>
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If you've been following or just visiting this site from time to time I'd like to extend a very warm invitation to visit at the new digs. No need for house warming gifts, just drop by and say hello!</div>
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Dane F. Baylis.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-49798499857483530672018-04-05T19:27:00.000-07:002018-04-05T19:31:44.847-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnXsK4K0NfUlSemACsSIhtGwSgvtnmr-sGxd7rd0ttnIXATDSOuG3r74GJgUMLi-FH4KVdIKC3GjPf-1oHIHTy7KiZQ8NqTuPm03dt4rgnJ2R1nTyamZaKv6KXXtXA0ZyRDpKuOixpQBZ/s1600/mailing-envelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnXsK4K0NfUlSemACsSIhtGwSgvtnmr-sGxd7rd0ttnIXATDSOuG3r74GJgUMLi-FH4KVdIKC3GjPf-1oHIHTy7KiZQ8NqTuPm03dt4rgnJ2R1nTyamZaKv6KXXtXA0ZyRDpKuOixpQBZ/s320/mailing-envelope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>AN UPDATE</u></h2>
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<u>I Said I Was Moving</u></h3>
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Anyone who has visited this site in the last few days or has been receiving my blog updates is aware that I am moving from the place I've occupied for sometime on Googles Blogger service. I have opened a new page with WordPress and taken the next step in my life as a professional writer by purchasing a domain name. I am not comfortable suddenly jumping from one platform to the other, so I will be transitioning from one to the other over the next couple of weeks. The new site bears the same name (<u style="font-weight: bold;">Dane Baylis Undeterred)</u> and can be found at this link <a href="http://danebaylisundeterred.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Dane Baylis Undeterred</a>.<br />
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I'm really looking forward to old and new acquaintances dropping by too check out the new address!!! See you there.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-53283466842252578782018-04-04T14:38:00.001-07:002018-04-04T14:38:59.467-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmT4wxhWW63JM_yjWEUrm64gYB791EpseoOfu4n9wN7uogjokosjw99RA-rBCpp0AY5-9JqOTFLErBGm87x4UAi7Cbi521m3XvG2vxffUtPe1Vv7Afu48ESAVwRvDIZGn8SQ_mSfgdQUk/s1600/4762000_l-Man-covered-by-lots-of-cardboard-boxes-moving-concept-810x540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmT4wxhWW63JM_yjWEUrm64gYB791EpseoOfu4n9wN7uogjokosjw99RA-rBCpp0AY5-9JqOTFLErBGm87x4UAi7Cbi521m3XvG2vxffUtPe1Vv7Afu48ESAVwRvDIZGn8SQ_mSfgdQUk/s320/4762000_l-Man-covered-by-lots-of-cardboard-boxes-moving-concept-810x540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO MOVE</u></h2>
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<u>This Isn't Goodbye. I'm Just Changing Neighborhoods.</u></h3>
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For those who have been with me a while, and those who come and go, I'm going to be moving. No, not in the physical world. Here in the digital. I've decided to open a new blog location featuring the same irreverent, and at times irritating, content. I'm heading over to WordPress where I'm in the process of constructing some new digs. (You have no idea the amount of stress and aggravation this entails).</div>
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The new place will have the same title, 'Dane Baylis Undeterred' but it will be at a different web address. More on that as I progress with the design and decorations. For those of you who have been with me a while I extend a heartfelt invitation to come over and say hi. If you're just finding this older site, hey, try the new one.</div>
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My thinking in this isn't all that original. It's a case of the old adage, "Location. Location. Location." Things have been really cozy here but just haven't produced the results I'd hoped for. Of course, I'm risking discovering it wasn't the place but the proprietor. Anyway, I've invested a few bucks to see what happens as far as how it affects exposure and response. I'd like to make it as welcoming as possible as I keep pushing out into the literary world in hopes of that break.</div>
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It's all a tad nerve wracking but I've got my fingers crossed. Hopefully it doesn't turn out that what was really crossed were my wires. I'll be posting in both locations for a while until I get a sense of what I'm doing at the other site.</div>
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Again, my deepest thanks for anyone who has been a repeat visitor. I hope that some of what I've said here has had a positive effect on you and maybe prodded you to take your own chances!!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-61031783594278882732018-04-02T16:16:00.003-07:002018-04-02T16:16:54.656-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41gN4hdkaovtY1v2tTx624ZmeTQ88pIc77u8rYuNwY-ko6iDdhKUs0mLh2Nhady3C5drMIOOIxJOesShh_8ew7LJ5TE7qLi9qDTXD7wq5ITwY0iosXMpiqI6T2rRwgun6K66tmn0YYRCr/s1600/research.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="481" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41gN4hdkaovtY1v2tTx624ZmeTQ88pIc77u8rYuNwY-ko6iDdhKUs0mLh2Nhady3C5drMIOOIxJOesShh_8ew7LJ5TE7qLi9qDTXD7wq5ITwY0iosXMpiqI6T2rRwgun6K66tmn0YYRCr/s320/research.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>EVERYTHING STARTS SOMEWHERE</u></h2>
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Any journey, great or not, has a beginning. Before the first step is taken. Before the first bit of dusty road, stretch of water, or mile of empty air is traveled the trip is begun. It begins, first, with the desire to go from here to there. Next comes the questions of what mode of transportation will be necessary? Is it possible to pick between more than one? How far are we going? How long will it take? When we arrive, what will the weather be like? Do we speak the language? Do we carry the right currency? Will we be welcomed or regarded with something less than bonhomie?</div>
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This is the real life of the writer. All the minute details that make up the stories we compose. Who is the protagonist? Is this a man or woman, a boy or girl? How old? From where? Height, weight, complexion, hair color? What is their educational background and social position? What do they do for work? Married? Divorced? How many times? Straight? Gay? Bisexual? Asexual?</div>
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Where does this person live? Have they always lived there? Are they just passing through? What year is this? What else is going on in the world? Who is their main antagonist? Is this another character or are they in conflict with something inside themselves?</div>
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The more questions you can think of to ask about your story and the characters that populate it the better able you are to bring depth and insight into your creation. You may very well not use a fraction of what you uncover, but how much more rich a world you will lead your readers into.</div>
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I've encountered a number of writers who skip past this step. They wander about in incomplete surroundings trying to get us to believe in characters who lack emotion and lineage. They give them abilities or revelations that don't hold up to investigation. They put them in places that are no more than the empty facades on which Hollywood screenplays are too often hung. In the case of fantasy and heroic fiction, they arm them with weapons without having any idea how they are to be employed or, worse yet, endow them with some magical 'ability' to make up for any lack of connection to the believable.</div>
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Research is everything to a writer. From the inception of a tale to finding a plausible market for the finished product. How many times have I heard of writers just shot gunning something out there in hopes it would hit a target? The literary marketplace can be a cold and lonely enough place even when you think you've applied due diligence. Getting something, anything, published can be a real arduous trek and an incredible accomplishment. How much more so when you are approaching all the wrong people with the wrong goods?</div>
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Right now, I have several pieces of short fiction, a number of poems, and a completed novel out to different venues for consideration. I spent days and untold hours getting to know the inhabitants of the fictions I created. I invested weeks, months, and years in the writing and re-writing of every one of them. I spent time researching queries and submissions. I've retired any number of works to the, "I'll revisit that idea again" file. Nothing gets sent out or resubmitted without being re-read and if need be re-written.</div>
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What's my point? Nothing great was ever created from thin air. Nothing worth reading was without history and complexity. That which went into the story or the marketing. If it seems such a simple, but precise, concoction you want to bet it was sweat over and worried about. Every thing you do as a writer demands you to live in its skin and breath its air. Research is the blood of the written word. Without it, you're dancing with cadavers. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-88396818147990681202018-03-16T11:06:00.000-07:002018-03-16T16:55:35.246-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt9F52_YrFj0gRVK3UnGDp7Xgsa7mCmgy198aVJfnm5v3WhItu5b3CqerXPA8_vWJ2U2i1_F9PqeEKtE0sJAHp3jlASBpMcSQKDOtPmmVuGSLJlPe-RXsdpvkfjk5HWAlW_R8vmXcqY2l/s1600/6254409229_02eb33069f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt9F52_YrFj0gRVK3UnGDp7Xgsa7mCmgy198aVJfnm5v3WhItu5b3CqerXPA8_vWJ2U2i1_F9PqeEKtE0sJAHp3jlASBpMcSQKDOtPmmVuGSLJlPe-RXsdpvkfjk5HWAlW_R8vmXcqY2l/s320/6254409229_02eb33069f_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>AT LAST!!!</u></h2>
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For those of you who have been following this blog, (God I hope someone is), you're aware I've been working on a novel length work of Science-Fiction for some time now. Well---Drum roll please---Ta-Da, I finally hit a point where I can say, I think I'm ready to start the next step! The writing's done, 315 pages and 83,000 words later, and I won't go into how many drafts, I have a story, <b><u>"EYES LIKE WALLS"</u></b>. Now all I have to do is find an agent who will give it a look, and hopefully they can find a kindhearted and forgiving publisher with the insights of a Jesuit Priest and patience of a Buddhist Monk.</div>
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I've been told time after time that the writing part is something you should enjoy because the selling part is a real uphill slog. I'm not unfamiliar with that process, though on a smaller scale. I write a good deal of short fiction and have to endure finding homes for those works. Honestly, the best advice I can give anyone is avoid the drama of sitting around idle while you're trying to pedal a completed project. Move ahead with another, and another! Getting published on any scale in any venue can be a slow process. If you're hitting the refresh button on your email account all day long you're only going to make yourself nuts.</div>
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I've been working on an outline for the next book while I was massaging the rewrites of the present one. During my breaks in between revisions I've written more short fiction and edited some poetry submissions. This has all been the easy part - Or at least that's what I'm supposed to believe - Marketing the thing (And myself in the deal) I've been told will make one wonder what the hell they've gotten into. Well, time to find out.</div>
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In the meantime, I'm considering posting some limited abstracts of the work for comment. Anyone have any ideas on this? I tend to be mildly paranoid about the idea. I had a bad experience with someone years ago involving a script. Let me know your thoughts, feelings, experiences. I'd REALLY like to hear from you!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-45942144153570809422018-03-04T15:14:00.001-08:002018-03-04T15:27:16.892-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0F8RD4Q5wA7COMYJmhtWHj7TvVAk9yqXK0965wLq4q2Zeo37_8xI7F2RKfAod0CSMhMxFLNRot1xp-14wT1fRRugo-aoDTPNiFhyGoIgqkYloardsAeSQN-ekrVwKV7HF-Rq5EqjBlkk/s1600/screen-shot-2013-01-02-at-9-53-03-pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0F8RD4Q5wA7COMYJmhtWHj7TvVAk9yqXK0965wLq4q2Zeo37_8xI7F2RKfAod0CSMhMxFLNRot1xp-14wT1fRRugo-aoDTPNiFhyGoIgqkYloardsAeSQN-ekrVwKV7HF-Rq5EqjBlkk/s320/screen-shot-2013-01-02-at-9-53-03-pm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>I WISH IT WAS MEANT IN JEST</u></h2>
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<u>LIKE A ONE ARMED MAN JUGGLING AXES</u></h3>
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Woke up this morning and reminded myself it was Sunday, my down day. So I got a cup of coffee, went about my ablutions, then stepped off to the kitchen. The lady who has been good enough to allow me to reside under her roof for thirty-eight years (Without bludgeoning me to death with a rock in my sleep) had expressed a desire for Mediterranean omelettes. In view of her tolerance and kindness, I felt it a small recompense.</div>
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The cooking done I perused the local paper and looked back on my week. Sixteen active short story submissions had become fifteen active submissions with the receipt of an email rejection. A problem easily rectified by finding another publication to inflict my warped world-view on. Another poetry submission sent out and a few more to pay attention to. First draft of another short story started, outlined in my head and only needs to be populated, put into a setting, the intricacies of human interaction given voice...etc.</div>
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Most of the week was consumed with the latest revision to my novel, EYES LIKE WALLS. Not going into which rewrite this is, suffice to say I've been at it since early August of last year. In the meantime, queries sent out or updated to the venues I've sent short stories to. Some of these are bumping up close to a year in the "Under Consideration" category. When you're pushing close to double the "Normal Response Time" you start fluctuating between wanting to buy a lottery ticket or gargle razor blades! Throw in agonizingly slow responses to inquires and you wonder what made you think writing fiction was a good idea?</div>
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Like I said - Today is supposed to be my fucking DAY OFF! But, in the middle of trying to shut it all down and read a book, I remembered I'd promised to be more timely in my blog posts. So here I sit, in the same chair I sit in pretty much six days a week, trying to be witty and creative while wondering if any one's reading these things besides me? (Something even I try to avoid except during the revision process.)</div>
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Anyway, tomorrow it's back to the title page of the novel and the start of another pass through that. Honestly, each time has gone quicker than the last and I've pretty much hammered out or body puttied over the more glaring wrinkles and dents. Now I'm down to the fine tuning and, this next phrase could be the hex, pretty happy with what I've got. 82,000 words in 44 chapters on 312 pages. All I have to do now as far as heavy lifting is concerned is send out the query letters and proposals to agents. But what's a couple of more hours a day at the keyboard?</div>
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Do me a favor once in a while? Go to the bottom of one of these posts and send me a reply. I won't sell you to the trolls of marketing, trust me. I would just like to know someone is reading this drivel and what your thoughts are. Thanks, Dane F. Baylis.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-4496345808671985412018-02-27T16:07:00.000-08:002018-03-02T15:22:39.298-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcEIcj780K1IGkpjpqQ2rIl-c97FITyJaHi440IoFoj7KBY7_XU_eaINVgkxwmh9kelzFr69g6tq-8wmpF2ZW074HRUymfKMWoNyXOuhCv4lqDg02kFRbjEt-V7VgApMzUQJLdojn2De-/s1600/sheep-herds-around-the-world-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="880" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcEIcj780K1IGkpjpqQ2rIl-c97FITyJaHi440IoFoj7KBY7_XU_eaINVgkxwmh9kelzFr69g6tq-8wmpF2ZW074HRUymfKMWoNyXOuhCv4lqDg02kFRbjEt-V7VgApMzUQJLdojn2De-/s320/sheep-herds-around-the-world-25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>TO FLOCK OR NOT TO FLOCK?</u></h2>
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<u>IS THAT A QUESTION?</u></h3>
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I'll be the first to admit this entire writing thing can be devastatingly lonely. However, if writing is as much a part of your makeup as eating, sleeping, copulation, and neurosis - There's only a few remedies open. The first, of course, is to become stunningly famous and spend the rest of your life on a never ending book tour (Want to bet how long it takes for adoring fans to start becoming life sucking drains on your time and creativity?) I get it, no fans = no income. The converse is also true. Fans equal demanding crowds who never want to see you evolve or change.</div>
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So, what else is there? Alcohol and drugs? Not bad, if you can find the balance between inebriation and creativity. Not to mention all the brilliant young careers, and lives, ended in a stupor. Of course, you could turn out to be the next Charles Bukowski and make eighty proof self-abuse into a genre. But the odds aren't with you, take it from a non-practicing alcoholic. (Then again, I was never really a practicing one. No practice necessary. I had it down coming out of the gate.)</div>
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You could throw in the towel. If you're like me you stand in front of the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning wondering, "What's the fucking sense?" An hour later, and a couple of cups of coffee, I'm in front of this damned keyboard - Write, revise, submit, rewrite, revise, submit. It's what you do. PERIOD!</div>
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There's another route. The 'Writers Group'. As they used to say, "Here there be monsters". Not all groups are the same, just as all writers aren't. With the Internet there sprang up any number of groups. I don't know about you, but the whole faceless entity judging my work from afar, robbing me of the opportunity to choke the life out of some bastard I'd reached an impasse with just doesn't play.</div>
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There are, of course, long running local writers groups. The ones that are dominated by either memoir writers or those devoted to illustrated children's books. The first generally turns out to be people committed to leaving a written record of their existence to their great grand kids. The second, well - I'll leave that one alone.</div>
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Lately I've run aground on the shores of 'Meet Up'. Again, I urge caution. Being the only entity in the room sporting gonads I immediately wondered after my sanity. When the main pursuit of the other faction turned out to be fantasy novels they've been working on far too long I definitely got the feeling I'd slid a bit over the edge of the map. Not that you can't get something out of any critique done with sincerity and candor, but sometimes gender warfare is camouflaged beneath the most pleasant of approaches.</div>
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I'm nostalgic for an earlier time. One when writers got together with one another through a shared mutual appreciation and knowledge of each others work. When we pushed one another for originality of subject, plot, and language. Before the entire world thought it was going to conquer the literati fortress with self-publication. I'd ask for honesty in that also, but I'd rather not be implicated in some inadequate sot's suicide.</div>
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What's my point? If you must have companionship, exert the same discretion you would choosing a puppy. Preferably pick one with some training and a bit of pedigree. Not a thoroughbred, but one that won't piss in your shoe, eat your lunch, and keep you up all night with its whining. Find that one you can spend a lazy day walking down the local rail line and splitting a beer with. (Yes, I have unabashedly contributed to the substance abuse of a canine.) Find the kind of companion who will help you dig an escape route under whatever fence you find yourself stuck behind. The one who knows where the free eats are and the occasional bitch in heat.</div>
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If you really feel out of place in a group, duff it and move on. Better morose and lonesome in front of a typewriter than listening to inane drivel you have utterly no interest in. Above all remember, if you write for any reason other than you simply have to write, you're a god-damned liar. Any really good endeavor should cause you great discomfort south of your navel before it lifts you to the stars.</div>
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Then, get up tomorrow morning, look in the mirror, and ask yourself, "What's the fucking sense?"</div>
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That out of the way, GET TO WORK! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-18613262011470497062018-02-11T17:25:00.001-08:002018-02-11T17:30:40.472-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVCkMLvyK_9wojgwf2DwKGDLj2vt-u9m0ZTUsF6r-23jvqrOXM0OEF3aGjU9lltJVU-bT02LErS1JJuoKUo1Rzgs754kV-MrduPRQnh_mviLQOeWxaL6ExmafQ5Xk-Gg9edgsZDh1Ss41/s1600/searching-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVCkMLvyK_9wojgwf2DwKGDLj2vt-u9m0ZTUsF6r-23jvqrOXM0OEF3aGjU9lltJVU-bT02LErS1JJuoKUo1Rzgs754kV-MrduPRQnh_mviLQOeWxaL6ExmafQ5Xk-Gg9edgsZDh1Ss41/s320/searching-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>IT'S ALL IN THE QUEST</u></h2>
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Here it is, late Sunday afternoon in mid-February and it dawns on me that so much of what I do to rest and recreate also is consumed by my creative process. Like the three different books I finished today. Well, I have to admit, one was a re-visitation. That was Miyamoto Mushashi's, "BOOK OF FIVE RINGS". The others were Dan Varley's "JAPANESE CULTURE, 4th Ed" and Leonard Koren's, "WABI-SABI for ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, POETS, & PHILOSOPHERS". The first of the three is research for the next long piece of fiction I intend to pursue. The second was for a refresher in history and to deepen my sense of a people and nation. The third was to tickle my aesthetic sense and artistic conceptions.</div>
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In the in-between time I have been writing and rewriting short fiction while researching markets. I've re-opened the novel I have in the works for another revision and am exploring possible agents. Fresh poetry has been put to ink and I've begun to conceptualize a new direction in my work as a painter which I'm hoping to open time for soon as I can get queries out the door for the novel.</div>
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Meanwhile - C'mon? You had to have seen that coming - I've made contact with a couple of local Writers Groups. Nothing beats putting something down in front of a fresh set of eyes that have the courage to speak honestly about what they see. Unfortunately, most of the groups I've encountered locally have been of the mind that you can't judge someone else's quality of work or artistic intent. Hogwash. That's a re-issuing of the same tired old crap I've heard for years from the timid or inept. Really? The Greats were all part of communities that spoke their minds openly to one another! Sometimes it led to hurt feelings - Or duels - But what's wrong with a little honest emotion?</div>
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What's this all about, just where am I going? I hope beyond both our horizons. Do you have the courage to admit that, without stimulus and input from outside your own thick dome, you will never really excel? Whether you are a musician, writer, painter, potter - What ever - If all you ever really delve into is your ego you're not getting out of the Kiddie Pool. I keep harping on this because I see so much of it. Artists who are afraid to venture out beyond the surf line where the really big 'Bite You's' swim. Those who will not take the plunge into an unknown because it is just that, UNKNOWN!</div>
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Nothing of significance would ever have or ever be accomplished without risk. No one in this world gets remembered for being boringly mundane. There are any number of examples of under-achievement in the self-published drivel being offered at a to remain unnamed mega-online outlet.</div>
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Go for a road trip, take in a concert outside of your usual comfortable listening habit, visit a church, tabernacle, or temple attended by a faith you have no reference to. Go to a land where you have no history or language. Learn to cook. Bake bread. Sew. Sail by wind power alone. Navigate without a GPS. Fly a plane or sky dive from one. Even if you never produce anything artistic - You will have led a life beyond the imaginations of the VAST majority of people crawling across the surface of this planet. When you finally come to the end of days you will know you have lived! But, just maybe, it will start a fire under that creative boiler that I believe exists inside every soul and you will be amazed at what's inside you!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-78578033465852853402018-02-01T21:02:00.002-08:002018-02-03T14:14:55.816-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkoFE16JyrKZC6jDURCBQE-KI8dxJkTt6k-xJuGH5oRSbBqzMI5x36l8nsS1wqvGXRhCqGYADeyxwqVqXqy2RewfnBQRNwS5xG2awFemnNY8jiZKLR5DA9YQXOclsufMXSzB4SYDQm8FY/s1600/scared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="360" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkoFE16JyrKZC6jDURCBQE-KI8dxJkTt6k-xJuGH5oRSbBqzMI5x36l8nsS1wqvGXRhCqGYADeyxwqVqXqy2RewfnBQRNwS5xG2awFemnNY8jiZKLR5DA9YQXOclsufMXSzB4SYDQm8FY/s320/scared.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>WRITE <i>SCARED!!!</i></u></h2>
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<u>YOU DON'T IMPROVE BY BEING CUDDLED</u></h3>
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Everyone wants to be part of a group. If for no other reason so you can behave like a Musk Ox when the wolves of reality start circling. You know you're familiar with the behavior. Trying to sink into the center of the herd so that when the predators make their move it's the ones on the fringe they take down.</div>
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That works for herd animals. Not so much for creative humans. Face it, we all go through it. I'm a poet so I hang around with poets. I'm a painter so I associate with painters. I play a kazoo so...You get the image, right?</div>
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It's not that being part of a community is a bad thing, unless that community is so afraid of criticism it avoids it like the dentist. Reacting with that, "Yes. I know the dentist is a necessity and I should occasionally submit to having him prod and poke me. But it huuurrrrtttssss!!!!" Of course the alternative is slow rot and decay. Which is the fate of a lot of people in the arts who barricade their egos inside a cuddly little group of ass-patters. People who tell them what wonderful examples of the aesthetic ideal they are and no one has the right to judge them. They all attend the same soirees. They all patronize the same venues and outlets. They all bore each other to tears with their patent, suffocating emptiness.</div>
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Truth is, if you're not being challenged by those around you - If you're not being pushed and prodded - Your chances of making any real headway starts to resemble an un-cared for water craft wallowing and sinking. If the people around you are so insecure in their own talent and dreams as to be deathly afraid of rejection, they will never push you to be better than they see all the members of their clique or, God forbid, themselves! They may even take every opportunity to make sure you never rise on your own two feet to walk like Homo Sapiens.</div>
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When you're seeking out the peers you deserve, find those with a brutal honesty. When you're looking for a place to publish, perform, or exhibit, aim higher than you ever though prudent. When you fail, take note of the possible reasons, get up off the floor, and try it again. Rewrite, repaint, rearrange. Then go right back into the maelstrom lashed to the mast. As the Samurai saying goes, "Three times down. Four times up."</div>
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I keep track of all my literary submissions in a spread sheet. There are a lot more entries in the "Rejected" category than any other. But I have had my successes and continue to do so. Last year was a marvelous year for my paintings and prints. I've won several prizes and now have art exhibited in a number of private homes. I've sat on a stage playing solo at a local Bluegrass festival and sweat and shook my way through the entire performance. But I did perform and was rewarded with some very kind applause. Every bit of it sharpened my desire and skill. Every bit of it made me a better artist.</div>
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When something I've submitted for consideration isn't accepted, it isn't a failure. It's a learning experience. I sit down with the piece and I say, how can I do this better. I solicit criticism, suggestion, and feedback. I research and experiment until I'm cross-eyed and dizzy. I write scared because I have learned if it doesn't scare the hell out of you, you're not trying hard enough!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-68922416468877294292018-01-25T17:40:00.004-08:002018-01-25T21:19:05.881-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpr9aFIfEcYz3zSoLJzeBCzvCN3KwxDNERgNJ80bCuFsrsc7oRXXHcXVfEPJrwRgxU86lv6GUjxcW5jAiZP18dy2-SmetGAeIMVxJ_Yfm_2JoQLgTCpNtZBKKhu47P_SzIfQHXyXp668u/s1600/leicester-centre-for-creative-writing-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="680" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpr9aFIfEcYz3zSoLJzeBCzvCN3KwxDNERgNJ80bCuFsrsc7oRXXHcXVfEPJrwRgxU86lv6GUjxcW5jAiZP18dy2-SmetGAeIMVxJ_Yfm_2JoQLgTCpNtZBKKhu47P_SzIfQHXyXp668u/s320/leicester-centre-for-creative-writing-banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>EATING THE ELEPHANT</u></h2>
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Today is a milestone! Just after Fall began I completed the first draft of my novel, <u style="font-weight: bold;">EYES LIKE WALLS</u>. I set it aside for a few weeks to allow the dust to settle and to work on a couple of smaller projects. Well, today I completed a major revision of that novel.</div>
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My main concentration was continuity and flow with care and attention given to grammar and spelling. I began work just before the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. Time was, of course, taken for family and friends both then and at Christmas and New Year. (I'm as obsessive as any writer but try to hide my neurosis). Working a schedule of 5 - 8 hours a day, six days a week eventually got the job done.</div>
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What's the final output? 320 double spaced pages in standard formatting for a total of 86,290 words, including chapter numbering and headings. I actually reduced the original by over 5200 words which I feel pretty good about.</div>
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What's next? As hard as it is I'm going to walk away from the manuscript for a week. During that time I'll be researching agents and editors to make my pitch to. Any suggestions from the viewers of this blog would be appreciated. It's a contemporaneous tale of science fiction tied into some of the more prevalent conspiracy theories and today's cutting edge developments in science and technology (Think DOCTOR STRANGELOVE meets THE X FILES with undertones of FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS). If you've had any experience with agents in this genre and can point out a useful contact I'd love to hear from you. You can shoot me a line in the comment box below. I review all such submissions before they go public, so if you want this to be just between you and me indicate that in your comment. But please leave an email so I can respond to you personally. I will not share it with others without your permission.</div>
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Is this next week going to be totally devoid of work? I can't even believe I posed that question. No. I am researching a new novel and have an idea in its rudimentary form for a new short story. I swear - I'm going to buy an old Underwood manual typewriter and have it, along with a ream of paper, buried with me when I finally go. All that time to myself with no phones, commitments, or interruptions! Ah.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-52933914670720886382018-01-16T16:18:00.000-08:002018-01-23T10:19:15.555-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIE8FVW6KY8r3gr-UIuL8OLtbNPvlGeyWGo0U14DkQ14CyOcFkE6n8XTHI7JmAFolrp9c1D08oBMMugV1c80SJvjLUuLKjm9nrHDDK5OaaLYrQirZXaF_hncx18dYX3eESh8GOolc1Rq9/s1600/cash-register-national-model-452-as51469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="398" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIE8FVW6KY8r3gr-UIuL8OLtbNPvlGeyWGo0U14DkQ14CyOcFkE6n8XTHI7JmAFolrp9c1D08oBMMugV1c80SJvjLUuLKjm9nrHDDK5OaaLYrQirZXaF_hncx18dYX3eESh8GOolc1Rq9/s320/cash-register-national-model-452-as51469.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>ARS GRATIA PECUNIAE</u></span></h2>
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EVERYONE WANTS SOMETHING</h3>
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The heading for today's entry was something I used to see in an art studio I was involved with on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. It's something that turns up from time to time among fine and graphic artists, copywriters, fiction authors, musicians. It's Latin and translates as, "Art for Money". The flip side of this is seen in the banner above the famous MGM lion. There you will find the words, "Ars Gratia Artis", which, in English is, loosely, "Art for Art's Sake". I doubt Louis B. Mayer (The last 'M' in MGM) took that at all seriously. He probably didn't think anyone watching his films in theaters would get past the roaring lion.</div>
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Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who don't value the artist. I worked in and around advertising photography, film, and video for a while and am more than familiar with hardball negotiations. Everyone wants the fruits of your labor but nobody wants to pay you what that fruit is worth. Even when they are looking to use it to fatten their bottom line.</div>
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If you've been around for a while then you know what I mean. If you write then you have been offered 'contributor's copies' over and over. These are fine the first couple of times, the ego swells as we pull it down from a shelf to show a friend, relative, or other writer. After a while though, the shine wears off and it's just another dead end. Especially if you've been paid a few times for your efforts. This alone is reason enough to look at offers of 'exposure' and request being exposed to a little more hard cash.</div>
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In the image industries (graphic and fine art, film, photography, digital production, soundtracks and theme music) there's the ubiquitous 'spec' projects. Work done with the understanding that you might get paid if it gets used and the final customer REALLY likes it. I'm not going to go into the details I've heard concerning the number of people who have been screwed like that. If nothing else, if you're still just starting out and are tempted by these type of deals, ask for a copy(ies) of the final product for your book or reel. Payment in kind is okay if it can actually highlight you as a creative personality.</div>
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In the end, in a world where the labor of the individual is devalued time and again by the system or corporations, the only way you can be treated fairly is by saying, "No thanks", to deals that are less than thinly veiled con jobs. Your time is worth something. Your education is worth something. Your materials and efforts are worth something. But if you don't stand up and say enough is enough you will be viewed as an easy mark. In the long run, the market only values what it is made to pay for.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-15335368056285465292018-01-10T20:46:00.000-08:002018-01-10T21:02:41.029-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwKNynLi49EAT_F8Q4zVa_UOy_VCYYtwEtZCL5N60JIuSYpR-dcX0fGsHLQ4CYl9D1EYz_rKqu7Vl-_fzhWv3wpyyVIQltv8sYm7b3i2e15xgKes-_EWGpkfwekdsA85CSo3Ia_LJ3e-L/s1600/IMG_1775-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="433" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwKNynLi49EAT_F8Q4zVa_UOy_VCYYtwEtZCL5N60JIuSYpR-dcX0fGsHLQ4CYl9D1EYz_rKqu7Vl-_fzhWv3wpyyVIQltv8sYm7b3i2e15xgKes-_EWGpkfwekdsA85CSo3Ia_LJ3e-L/s320/IMG_1775-1.JPG" width="246" /></a></div>
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<u>PERSISTENCE</u></h2>
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<u>IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY</u></h3>
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Okay, the holidays are over. That means that my office is no longer under the dominion of guest lodging and I'm back at the keyboard. Does this mean I haven't been working at all? No, though between the 23rd of December and the 1st of January I was out of my cozy den. Like a wolverine poked out of his lair. So long as you didn't make eye contact I was unlikely to go defense and start slobbering and growling.</div>
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In anticipation of being persona non grata in my normal territory, I printed out several chapters of the novel I'm working on so I could at least carry on with the revisions they needed. (Thank technology for the invention of the i-pad. Though I'm still a throwback comfortable with yellow pads and ballpoint pens.) I also wrote a few new pieces of poetry and debuted one in a weekly venue in the next town over. In between I spent some time selecting a couple of paintings for a show at one of the more prestigious public galleries in the area. The image above is one of the two entitled, "Frequency of Persistence". It's an original acrylic on canvas and something of an homage to the Japanese wood block print masters.</div>
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What does that have to do with revising a novel or writing poetry? A long time ago, a good friend and early mentor told me, "If you do something long enough, some notable will be fool enough to call you a master based strictly on longevity." In other words, if you PERSIST, you can succeed. Conversely, if you sit around on your ass waiting for inspiration and acclaim all you're likely to do is wear out the seat of your pants. The train you're waiting for probably already left the station, so your best bet is to shoulder your pack and get walking.</div>
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I could have waited for the holidays to pass while taking a vacation from my work - But why? We've all had the experience of setting something aside for a while only to return and find that those half-a-dozen ideas we were thinking of incorporating have either fled or staled. I don't tolerate that kind of sloth in myself. Which is one of the reasons I've enjoyed the success I have. Not because I'm brilliant or gifted. I just won't allow myself to stop.</div>
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Last night I was relaxing and watching a movie. Well, I thought I was relaxing. In the beginning of the film something tripped the synapses and made a connection to something I'd seen and heard the night before. This all chained into a thought that would make a great subplot in the next long work of fiction I've begun outlining. (Yes, outlining one while revising the other). This all bubbled to the surface through many years study in Zen Buddhism.</div>
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Confusing enough yet? In Zen we are taught that the path most people envision is the straightest route to the top of the mountain. (When you get there take a good look around. The wise old holy man you were expecting? Uh-uh.) Life has a habit of throwing insurmountable obstacles up right where we least expect them. The route we take is really determined by the forks we find in our road. We may even find that we never reach the summit. Who cares? If you're paying close attention to the trip, you'll find everything you ever sought. That's why we say in Buddhism that there are 84,000 gates (or doors) on the path to enlightenment. If the path you're trudging doesn't work, change course. Open a new gate and walk through. Realize though that everything is interconnected to a degree as unfathomable as the neurological paths of the human brain.</div>
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The glory of the brain and the creativity it harbors is that they are both boundless. However, if you don't stoke the furnace, if you don't run the machine on a regular basis, like any other device, it will rust and freeze up. Is every destination on the journey worthwhile? No. In fact, a lot of them are dead ends. But that doesn't mean that all you encounter on that particular branch is worthless. Like any pioneer on foreign soil, it's up to you to select things of possible meaning or utility and pack them away for when they're needed. This requires sorting and classifying and, sometimes, discarding or squirreling away some of your horde when it has no immediate obvious use. Notebooks, photos, audio recordings, video, your library and the libraries and museums of the world are the cache's of human fruition and knowledge.</div>
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But for any of it to work you have to PERSIST. Otherwise no one will ever know you were here or call you a master. Deserved or not. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-29326921125459052082018-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:002018-01-06T13:32:16.110-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's All About You!</h2>
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If You Don't Believe In Yourself, Who Will?</h3>
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The images at the top of the page are the front and back of my business cards. Simple, clear, and a statement of one thing - My belief in myself and what I'm doing. They are an introduction to people who don't know me and a statement of what I do. More than that, they are a reinforcement of my own self-image. I never leave the house without my card holder and at any opportunity I take it out of my pocket and present one of my cards to someone who has been kind enough to allow me a moment of their time.</div>
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Why? Is it about ego? Is it about putting on airs? Is it about striking a pose? Not at all! It's about letting the world know that I take what I do seriously enough to want to present a professional appearance at all times. It's letting that person on the other side of the conversation know that I'm willing to invest more in my craft and artistry than vague desire.</div>
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It also is a chance to deepen the conversation. What type of art do I produce? I'm a painter and print maker. What medium? Mostly acrylic on canvas. What do I write? Poetry and short fiction and I'm currently working on the advanced stages of a novel. Where have I shown or published? I've been in several venues in the Santa Barbara County/Ventura County region of Southern California and have placed work in a number of private collections in the US. I've been published in a number of smaller literary journals and am always working on expanding my recognition.</div>
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It's mostly about that catch phrase you hear everywhere today. Self-talk. Those words that originate in your thoughts and enter into conversation that validate who you believe you are. When people ask me who I am or what I do I have no hesitation - I'm an Author and Artist. Why capitalized? Because these are worthy occupations and something I have invested a lot of time in. </div>
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But does anyone else think that way about me? Well, this past year I've received several awards for my art, had photographs published online, and there's a shelf of books in my office that all have my written works of one form or another in them. Has any of that made me rich or famous? Hardly - At least not yet. But I have garnered recognition, I've been invited to present my work and opinions, and I've been asked to share my process and thoughts with other artists and writers.</div>
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Gee, if I'm not making bundles of cash - Why keep at it? Because it beats the hell out of television and video games. It takes time and research that gets me out of my own dome. It exposes me to other people's thoughts, ideas, and emotions and makes the world a much more interesting place. It teaches me that there are giants to be followed and emulated and some of them you've never heard of either. The belief that you have something to say is the spark. Someone else's belief in what you've said is the fire. But if you don't fan the flame who will ever know it was there?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-72178338569167021142017-12-19T15:18:00.002-08:002017-12-19T17:12:35.695-08:00<h2>
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<u>Writing</u></h2>
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<u>An Art or A Job?</u></h3>
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Too many people starting off to become writers take on a very unrealistic view of themselves as artists (spelled with a capital '<b><u>A</u></b>'). They wander around their cities or towns, a notebook under their arm, pen in their pocket, waiting for the elusive inspiration to fall from the sky. Inspiration to them is a divine thing sent down as a whole cloth with nothing lacking but their own precious name under the title.</div>
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Maybe this works a time or two, but eventually the muse will abandon them. They tear at their hair, they blame the quality of their pen, or the mundane nature of the world they live in, or the company they keep. Truth be told, the muse packed it in because he/she/it realized that they were doing all the heavy lifting. They didn't abandon John Q. Smith, Genius. They went looking for a partner in the endeavor. Someone who was willing to put in the W-O-R-K!</div>
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That's what 99% of art is - Work. Standing before an easel, picking up a maul and chisel, or sitting in front of a keyboard. It's the repetitious doing of those tasks that leads to the success your looking for. Doodling, noodling, and composing really bad sentences for hours on end. The inspiration lies in the experimentation, the one-in-ten attempts that yield a thought or project worth pursuing.</div>
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Here we are in the holiday season and I am sitting in front of my terminal five to seven hours a day, six days a week working on rewrites and outlines, sending out submissions, keeping track of what got sent where and how long it's been there. When I'm not actively working on poetry, prose, or painting, I'm researching possibilities for a piece. I'm in libraries or museums. I'm on the road or flying somewhere and absorbing the places I where arrive and the people I encounter. I relax with music, recorded, live, and what little I can create on my instruments, and I read-read-read!</div>
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I'm one of those people you encounter at open mic's. Like a good blues or jazz musician, it's not above me to - Uh - borrow a line, or a character, or a theme. But mostly I sit here, like I am at this moment, banging at keys. Has any of it made me famous? No, well maybe in some small ways, but I have the satisfaction of knowing I've reached audiences in any number of venues and, with the grace of that muse, and a lot of my own time and effort, have found the words to reach into their hearts and minds and deliver something that either lightened their load or let them know they weren't alone. All because I put in the TIME!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-63167656771060428842017-12-07T10:43:00.001-08:002017-12-07T14:20:43.665-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<u>REWRITES SHOULD REQUIRE TOURNIQUETS</u></h2>
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<u>RED, RED, EVERYTHING IS RED</u></h3>
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Sitting here in Southern California these last couple of days watching wildfires boiling through the hills around the town I live in I was struck by something I saw on Twitter that directly referenced the writing life. It went something like this:</div>
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The house is on fire, my car was stolen, and the cat exploded. 1500 easy</div>
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words today, things are good.</div>
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While the disaster spread through the surrounding area I continued on like a runaway locomotive with the task of rewriting the novel I've written. One chapter at a time, red pen in hand, being as ruthless and unforgiving as I can bring myself to be. Not one page has avoided this cyclone of correction and mark-up aimed at reducing verbal diarrhea and clarifying my thoughts. All the while I try to keep in mind that arcane bit of editorial advice I picked up along the way, "In writing you must kill all your darlings."</div>
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This homily has been credited to any number of authors through history - Oscar Wilde, Chekov, Stephen King. Never one to let sleeping dogs get in a nap if I can poke at them with a stick, I went looking for reliable attribution for this. Turns out it comes from a lecture given in 1914 by Arthur Quiller-Couch entitled, "On Style", in which he railed against 'extraneous ornament';</div>
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"If you require a practical rule of me, I will present you with this.: 'Whenever you feel an</div>
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an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it - whole-heartedly - </div>
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and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. <i>Murder your darlings."</i></div>
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What Quiller-Couch is telling us is to be as flamboyant as you want in the draft. Get the deadly sin of purple prose out of your system while you are still inventing plot, characters, and timeline, then be just as unforgiving with the eradication of the beast. What we feel to be the most precious turn of phrase, the most incredibly creative use of language, has no place in the reader's understanding of the story. All the flowers in the world will not cover the stench of self-indulgence.</div>
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Every phrase should serve only one purpose - advancing the tale you are telling. Do I need to understand why it took so long to potty train the main character? Probably not. Was the exact temperature centigrade necessary for me to understand it was a raw, damp day in East London? Doubt it. Is the character's name required in every line he or she appears in? Uh-uh.</div>
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Go like hell getting the story down and ignore all the surgical blood letting to come. But when the time arrives for fine tuning, your pages should come away looking like the runner-up in a knife fight - Bloodied from head to toe. Then, when you hit print the next time, the tawny beauty you envisioned will be on its way to completion. Do this enough times and eventually you can press the send button with a little less self-doubt - maybe.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-34889880413977665952017-11-28T20:42:00.001-08:002017-11-29T16:44:43.257-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<u>WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING ON THE MUSE</u></h2>
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<u><b>ANYBODY SEEN MY DATE?</b></u></div>
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Like so many other writers, I'm in the middle of something. Right now it's rewriting the novel I'm working on. The process is only different in the amount of freedom it entails. Writing the thing was a seat of the pants dream. Sit down and give full reign to the work itself. Just follow it where it wants to go and don't ask a lot of questions.</div>
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I set off with easy goals of a couple of pages a day, but before I knew it I was banging away a chapter per session. Ninety-one thousand words later - Voila, a first draft. Of course, a first draft is just that, a draft, a very detailed (In some places over-detailed) outline of an actual book. You know, that finely polished bit of literary art that someone besides your mother is willing to part with the requisite cost of a copy to own.</div>
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The fun's over. The work begins - all the way back at those fateful first words: CHAPTER ONE. This is where so many people end up flummoxed. After all, the stories done, the spark of creation is gone. Metaphorically, the child has been born. Just like child birth, it takes a lot of work after that point to take this squalling, red faced, wrinkled kind of almost being and raise it to admirable adulthood.</div>
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But where to start when the magic's over? Take small bites when eating an elephant!. Begin at the beginning by finding all those adjectives and adverbs. Are they necessary? Stephen King suggests you go after words ending in '<b><u>ly</u></b>' with ruthlessness. Can you find other ways to begin a sentence than with the ubiquitous '<b><u>The</u></b>'? Does every sentence involving a particular character need to start with the character's name or the gender correct pronoun?</div>
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'<u style="font-weight: bold;">THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE'</u>, '<u style="font-weight: bold;">THE ELEMENTS OF GRAMMAR</u>', and '<u style="font-weight: bold;">THE ELEMENTS OF EDITING</u>, plus an unabridged dictionary and thesaurus should be within arms reach. I'd also suggest '<u style="font-weight: bold;">REVISION AND SELF-EDITING FOR PUBLICATION</u>'. Yes, I know that's what you think an editor is for but a good one will cost you. Why not get as much of the work done before you have to start dragging out your wallet? Not to mention, if you're pursuing the traditional route of trying to entice an agent into taking you on, the more polished the product you deliver to them, the higher your credibility and the easier their job is when it comes to interesting publishers in your work.</div>
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Too often, neophytes get it into their heads that it's someone else's responsibility to tame the savage they've brought into the world. Your baby is yours. If you're not willing to help mold and shape it, then it's liable to end up an orphan.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-29789156452072799912017-11-25T12:53:00.000-08:002017-11-26T14:55:06.381-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back Cover Copy for the novel I'm working on under the working title, "<u>EYES LIKE WALLS".</u></h2>
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This is being released as a beta version. Feel free to offer comments or suggestions.</h3>
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"Vernon Dawson is slipping into that kind of Hollywood obscurity reserved for those who are no longer glamorous (or never were in the first place) and is settling nicely into his oblivion, thank-you very much indeed. That is, until he takes a gig photographing a private party for Valeria. What she leaves behind at his place following their intimate after-party encounter sets off a series of events that sucks Vernon into the world of the 'Deep State', staged and actual alien abductions, and a covert network of genetically engineered androgyny controlled by Valeria's superiors, 'The Handlers'.<br />
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Former National Football League superstar, and now full-time woman, Melanie (Melvin) Thorenson, Rides to Vern's rescue. She enlists the aid of the ne'er-do-well heir to Middle Eastern billions, Prince Sheik Mukhtar al Zaffir. But it's not until they encounter the cyborg "Five" and his bosses, "The Others", that the plot really deepens. Vernon Dawson isn't just an unwitting dupe, he's also the bearer of a specific bit of DNA that is key to the goals of one organization's quest for interstellar conquest and their opponent's hopes for thwarting them.<br />
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Vernon just wishes he'd never opened that damned valise he found in the back of his car. As it is, he may be humanity's last reluctant hope for salvation. Or at least a good night's sleep."<br />
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Presently I'm in rewrites of this work. It tips the scales at a bit over 93,000 words. I'd love to hear your thoughts so get back to me on the form below.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-82965410781209737532017-11-21T19:41:00.001-08:002017-11-22T15:10:01.802-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
REFRESH YOUR HEAD</h2>
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DOWNTIME DOESN'T MEAN DUMB TIME</h3>
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Last thing I want to do is sound like some one's Mom but, "Turn off the damned television and go do something."</div>
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Honestly, television is probably the greatest destroyer of creativity I can think of. It is a weapon designed to annihilate brain cells at an apocalyptic rate and aimed at reducing the IQ of the general population to the dreaded <u style="font-weight: bold;">lowest common denominator</u>. It's the great intellectual override. The minute the picture appears on the screen the lights go off in your eyes.</div>
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The same with too much of the music being pumped out by major labels. The same repetitive beats, the same repetitive lyrics, the same repetitive brain numbing effect. Why? So that you'll wander around all day going, "I could have done that." Given the resources of most recording studios and Auto-tune, yes, you probably could. Does that mean, just because you can, it will be better? I'm giving odds on the next person with a ten minute career.</div>
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Go to a museum. Go to the library. Go to a historic site. Especially one with devoted docents and re-enactments. Go to a beach, or a mountain, or the middle of a desert. Take up a musical instrument or art. Get involved in theater. Go to world music event.</div>
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Why? Because a challenged mind is a an active and imaginative mind. By getting out of your own head and into someone else's you expand the vocabulary of your own creativity. Take a good look at the painting above. This is by Marc Chagall. The intensity of the colors, the fanciful and playful composition. Other than right now, you probably would never encounter this work. I wouldn't if I hadn't taken the time yesterday to go to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I saw this and several other of Chagall's works, along with the costumes and sets he designed for opera and ballet.</div>
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When Chagall was asked why he chose such a broad palate and such dream like presentation he said, "Because I can." But it was the exposure he had to the music of Russia, the art of Paris, and the metropolitan life of New York that filled his 97 years with images and inspiration.</div>
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A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to visit the village of Ste. Paul de Vence in Province, France. It was a place that was special to any number of artists. In a small cemetery on the end of the old walled fortress, opposite the main gates, rests Marc, and his second wife Vava. I walked away feeling lucky to have been able to connect the man, his art, and his final resting place. Where have you been lately? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-33792104437623301352017-11-18T20:29:00.001-08:002017-11-18T20:34:54.344-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<u>WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING ON IMMORTALITY</u></h2>
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<u>IS THERE ANY SUCH THING AS DOWN TIME?</u></h3>
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I told myself I was going to take three weeks and let the novel I was working on simmer. Steep in its juices, so, when it was time to refine and season the stew, the fat would be ready to skim away. I was going to do nothing until then.</div>
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Well, two short stories, a couple of poetry submissions, and decisions taken and releases filled out for the next paintings to submit for an upcoming show - and three weeks have flown by. That's the whole secret to the artistic life. Write, paint, compose, stare at the ceiling until a vagrant idea flits through. Then write it down before it gets away.</div>
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Doodle. Noodle. Read, read, read, read, read.</div>
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Before I know it I'm headed for my twelfth art exhibit this year. I've taken four awards from the twelve, so far, and I have eighteen short stories out for consideration by eighteen different publications. Not to mention the four poetry submissions my gorgeous wife made for me. Everything from a maximum of three pieces to a complete chapbook.</div>
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This all occurs around researching markets, agents, building my platform, re-opening this blog which laid in neglect far too long, and ordering new business cards.</div>
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Then there's the constant research for the creative portion. Which involves everything from scouring libraries, the Internet, the daily newspapers, cookbooks (If you're going to crack one open - Damn it, cook something!). Add to this excursions to museums and historic sites, and just plain old fashioned road trips for the hell of it. If you're going to write about a particular area, you might as well know what it looks like.</div>
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Is there any such thing as down time? I eavesdrop and people watch, I flip over rocks and poke around tide pools. Take pictures. Make sketches. Whistle, hum, yodel, give out a barbaric YAWP! Down time is coming in abundance. When they put the pennies on your eyes.<br />
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Oh, did I mention I'm rewriting a novel?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-56163344017769251892017-11-17T20:30:00.000-08:002017-11-18T16:12:32.080-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<u>HAVE I REALLY BEEN GONE THAT LONG?</u></h2>
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WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?</h3>
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Probably the easiest of the questions to answer. I was wrapping up all those years I'd spent on an everyday job. I was spending a lot of time at open microphones and chasing after the recognition of poetry journals that paid in one contributor's copy. I was getting wrapped up in parts of the literary life I wasn't cut out for or comfortable in.</div>
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I was back in my studio, working on my painting and entering things in all kinds of shows. The challenging ones were the juried exhibitions. Who knows what goes through a juror's mind? Whatever it is I have garnered a few awards (some of them accompanied with cash). Sure, it was local, but it led to having pieces placed in Massachusetts, Virginia, Georgia, and other locales.</div>
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My wife and I have traveled to wonderful places. Alaska and British Columbia, the Mediterranean. All over the Southwest U.S. I photographed and sketched and compiled enough material for a whole other lifetime. Still, there was a nagging question. Was I really a "WRITER"?</div>
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Now I've embarked on a journey into that next level of difficulty. Chasing after that elusive goal of being published by literary journals and getting paid for the experience. Having been the other route, being thankful just for the chance to see my name in print, and, believe me, I always was, I felt it was time to kick it up a notch.</div>
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So, I sat down at this infernal machine and began banging on the keys with all the intensity of an enraged ape. I sent out story after story. I self-published two poetry chapbooks that I flogged at readings where, if you were lucky, they passed the hat to cover the gas it took to get there and you sold enough merchandise to cover printing costs.</div>
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Stories were sent out. Stories were systematically rejected. All this I have lovingly enshrined on a spread sheet created for just that purpose. What was the main lesson learned? Have some fun while you're driving yourself to distraction.</div>
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Don't take rejection personally. There are a lot of people pounding away at keyboards and a shrinking galaxy of outlets. The people who are tasked with reading what is sent to these journals and anthologies see an incomprehensible number of manuscripts all during their reading periods. What you felt to be so unique and divinely inspired may just be the three hundredth treatment of that same plot and setting.</div>
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Don't give up. If it gets kicked back with that perfunctory, "Not for us at this time", turn it right around. There are books full of stories about stories that were rejected innumerable times. You might just be the next Papa Hemingway, but even he had to be discovered.</div>
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Don't write what you think everyone else wants to read. Write what it is you want to say. Write it in the way you want to say it. Be you! It's all you've got. Most of all, don't quit. I had my first poem published in 1975. I've had dozens of fits and starts. I'm still here. Where's it going to lead. Who cares. In all reality, it is the journey and not the destination.</div>
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In the words of Jack Nicholson in, THE SHINING, "I'm baaaack!"</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-61764588860546076192014-01-12T20:50:00.001-08:002014-01-12T20:50:22.319-08:00Where to from here?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s200/DSC_2690.JPG" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author/publisher,<br />
Dane F. Baylis</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THERE ARE WEEKS WHEN THE WORLD SEEMS DETERMINED TO MOVE AT LIGHT SPEED!</span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, here I am again. I've been away from this site for almost a full week, and what a week it's been!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Monday night was the resumption of my Buddhist studies class at the Oxnard Buddhist Temple. Good to be back among the sangha and sharing our understanding of and occasional confusion with the Way. We have a new minister, the Reverend Masanori Watanabe late of Hiroshima, Japan. He replace Reverend Henry Adams who is now in San Mateo, California.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tuesday night I attended a reading at the Cobalt Cafe in Canoga Park, CA. The featured reader goes by the moniker, Urban Voodoo. His work was strong and subtly emotional with the kind of insight that doesn't just touch you but seems to reach in and take up residence in your psyche. A wonderful evening with an open mic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Wednesday I started work on some preliminary studies for a painting I'm working towards. Simple pencil sketches followed by more detailed graphite rendering of a mountain scape with a lake. The work was inspired by the Big Bear, CA area and I'm looking to a final work reflective of Japanese</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> monotone brush and ink work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thursday, another reading. This one was in Ventura, CA and featured Ron Alexander, organizer of the Whitman/Stein series in Santa Barbara, which is now expanding to include a venue in San Francisco. Again, a wonderful voice with a lively appreciation of language and linguistics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Friday I assisted at the inauguration ceremony for Ventura County, California's first poet laureate, Mary Kay Rummel. It was the usual scene full of hurry up and wait filled to over flowing with elbow rubbing and schmoozing, something I readily admit to being a total failure at. It was a smooth affair with the usual dignitaries or their representatives. By evenings close I was done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Saturday, off to breakfast with the Editor-in-Wife. Then a side trip to take photo's for another painting I want to get going on. Back to the house to push the mountain scape studies to the next level and work on a new poem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today, Sunday, it was down to Highland Park in Los Angeles for a resumption of the Bluebird Readings in the Avenue 50 Gallery, presented by Jessica Ceballos. Jessica was recently honored by the City of Los Angeles as the Angeleno of the Year. The woman has more energy then any ten of her guest readers and musicians!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All of this on top of my usual 40+ hours at the day job. Oh, and trying my darnedest to keep a chapbook project for a poet friend and colleague on track. That's without mentioning preliminary planning for a reading of my own in Santa Barbara on the 8th of February from 4-6PM at Grenada Books and a group all erotic reading in Ventura on March 9th starting at 2PM in the Sylvia White Gallery on Main Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of these days I want to be rich enough to hire someone to live my damned life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meanwhile...live, love, write like the keys were on fire!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The offer still
stands. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to follow or
subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the right side of
the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">page. You can leave
comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dbaylis805@gmail.com"><span style="color: #009eb8;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">dbaylis805@gmail.com</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . You can also find
links to some of the sites I visit from time to time on the right. I'm also
looking for submissions to the Your Work/Your Love page. Authors retain all
rights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dane F. Baylis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author/Publisher.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-30890030349175867312014-01-06T17:43:00.000-08:002014-01-06T17:43:06.503-08:00Day 365 of the 365 Days of Blogging<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" height="200" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author/publisher,<br />
Dane F. Baylis</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!</span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The challenge was to see if you could sustain 365 days of blogging. I accepted the challenge on the 7th of January 2013 and here we are one year later. I have learned how to post all kinds of links and info. I've learned how to post remotely. I've learned mostly that even a foul tempered old hermit can find an audience if he casts his net wide enough. Speaking of which, I've had visitors from the United States, Russia, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The United Kingdom, Poland, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Greece and a few others I can't find a record for at the minute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Total, I've had 19, 534 page views in a years time. This probably doesn't seem like much to some of you, but it's astounding to me. When I first started out I had visions of long periods of churning out page after page with no response and wondering if I'd lost my Internet connection. But not a day went by when there weren't several hits, and some when it seemed like a regular flood. To all who have been kind enough to take a look, and especially those of you who came back repeatedly, my heartfelt thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, as I said yesterday, I'm not shutting this blog down immediately, but I am going to go to a much more relaxed every third or fourth day schedule. Also, as mentioned, I am going to be working on migrating over to WordPress and taking things to a regular Internet hosting service. Which one I'm not sure, if you have any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. In the meantime I can also be found on Google +, Facebook, Twitter, and as of tonight on Linkedin. I'm working on Pinterest</span>, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as soon as I catch my breath.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rKGQ7z0A0TRLYB0ieUQCBasH9-wzcc2_TSwMMe7HZ3Cc-I1WdBBSqwk9Iw_KggtNKw80XS1NKADIb7VzUpNgJMZYIRiu6gHzRZ1f9a49SJSZqd0WryzdMIK25HMADrqxsn0ToEeFWVyv/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rKGQ7z0A0TRLYB0ieUQCBasH9-wzcc2_TSwMMe7HZ3Cc-I1WdBBSqwk9Iw_KggtNKw80XS1NKADIb7VzUpNgJMZYIRiu6gHzRZ1f9a49SJSZqd0WryzdMIK25HMADrqxsn0ToEeFWVyv/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meanwhile...live, love, laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The offer still stands. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to follow or
subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the right side of
the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">page. You can leave
comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dbaylis805@gmail.com"><span style="color: #009eb8;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">dbaylis805@gmail.com</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . You can also find
links to some of the sites I visit from time to time on the right. I'm also
looking for submissions to the Your Work/Your Love page. Authors retain all
rights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">See you in a couple of days,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dane F. Baylis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author/Publisher.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-3566771920957139902014-01-05T18:27:00.001-08:002014-01-05T18:27:59.923-08:00Day 364 of the 365 Days of Blogging<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" height="200" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author/publisher,<br />
Dane F. Baylis</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ONE MORE DAY AND I'LL BE THROUGH, I'LL BE GLAD AND SO WILL YOU.</span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's right ladies and gents, tomorrow is the last day of 365 consecutive days of blogging. Yes, I'm looking forward to it. Will I miss it? That really remains to be seen. What will I do as a replacement?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First of all, this blog isn't going to just self-destruct. Yes, I am still planning to move over to a WordPress format on another server, but that's only a transition, not an ending. In the meantime, I will continue posting through BlogSpot until I have the other up and running, and probably until I work the bugs and glitches out of my new home. So, despite all of those sighs of relief I heard being released around the globe, I'm still going to be here, just not as frequently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As for what I'll do to replace my daily appearances? Well, I'll be posting every three or four days after this. I'm also looking into opening a Pinterest</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">account and maybe going as far as setting up another page on Linked-In. There will be more photography, sketches, and paintings being presented, some of it for sale, some of it just for...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Other than that, I am looking forward to openings. Opening good books of fiction and poetry. Opening texts and technical manuals. Opening sketchbooks and paint boxes. Opening music books and guitar cases. Mostly, I'm looking forward to opening up new areas of discovery and endeavor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have my brand new publishing imprint, Dane F. Baylis Publications to nurture along. I have begun expanding my services and capabilities in that arena. I still have my studies in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and am looking at possibility entering the Minister's Assistant program, and there's always my own writing to tend to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">To think that, just over a year ago, I was wondering what the hell to do with a blog. Now it seems as if I've always done this very thing. I have a Twitter account and Facebook and more attention than I can handle at times. In the brick and mortar world I have found myself ever more involved with artists, writers, publishers, and their audience. The more involved I find myself, the more I see a need to devote a sizable portion of this daily time to other projects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tomorrow I'll release the final numbers of blog visits to this site and let you have my new schedule. It's been a hell of a journey and I appreciate every time someone has stopped by and given things a read or left a comment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meanwhile...live, love, write.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to follow or
subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on the right side of
the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">page. You can leave
comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dbaylis805@gmail.com"><span style="color: #009eb8;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">dbaylis805@gmail.com</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . You can also find
links to some of the sites I visit from time to time on the right. I'm also
looking for submissions to the Your Work/Your Love page. Authors retain all
rights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dane F. Baylis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author/Publisher.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-22405080911021555732014-01-04T18:57:00.002-08:002014-01-04T18:57:55.019-08:00Day 363 of the 365 Bayls of Blogging<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s200/DSC_2690.JPG" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author/Publisher,<br />
Dane F. Baylis</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">KUDOS TO THE EDITOR-IN- WIFE!</span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not only for the time she's provided to this blog, insuring my syntax is right, and putting up with the all of my pissing and moaning, but also for occasionally giving me that gentle nudge when the machinery seems bound up and I've no idea how to get things moving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tonight was one of those times. Here we are a couple of days away from closing out the 365 Days of Blogging and I had no idea what I was going to write about. She clipped the whole thing neatly together with one word. CREATIVITY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the last couple of days I've ordered a new easel (my last was a self-built H-Framed juggernaut that went bye-bye during a garage clean out), I've purchased a new supply of acrylic paint, pastel chalks, and several other things. I'm going through sketch books almost as fast as I do notebooks, and I see only an acceleration in this in the future. I've been asked to host another reading, to assist at the installation of Ventura County, California's first Poet Laureate, Mary K. Rummel, and I've been approached by a couple of other poets who were inquiring after the possibility of having their chapbooks produced under my imprint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm writing like a fiend. Poetry, short and long fiction, commentary, not to mention this blog. My consumption of the written word is through the roof and spans everything from 21st Century American poetry, the Fiction of Flann O'Brien and Isaac Babel to the CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE, 16th Ed., and the English Standard Version of the Christian Bible. (No wonder I'm going blind as the proverbial bat.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you've probably noticed, I've begun posting a bit of my own photography and go hardly anywhere without a camera in my hand. I am partaking of museums and galleries, movies and music, travel, cooking, and just quenching the fire in my soul with all the world has to offer. When I think how foolishly I let the rigors and boredom of the everyday get in the way of all this, I could be sick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The only thing that ever really stands in our way, when it comes to our own creativity, is our own doubts and sloth. You don't have to be killing yourself to mount a gallery exhibit or produce a three act play, all you have to do is sit down long enough with a pen, or brush, or pencil, or clay, or a musical instrument - or whatever your chosen medium is, and do <em><u>something</u></em>. You cannot make a finish unless you first make a start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You might say, "Well, I'd like to try but..." and I would find myself reminding you of what Yoda said. "Try? There is no try. There is only do." You might think I'm being facetious, but it was that, combined with the past advice of my boxing coach, Fitzie, who was fond of reminding me, "The fight don't start until you step in the ring, and it ain't over until we cut the tape from your hands!", that finally got me moving again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sure, creativity has its element of inspiration. There's that flash of an idea or a new technique that starts the motor but, if you don't do the work, it all comes to nothing. In the end it may only serve as a small marker to prove your own existence, or something that served as an augment to your income. But that's a hell of a lot more than will be left of the vast majority of people crawling across the face of this globe. It all comes down to to words - CARPE DIEM!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Meanwhile...live for it, love it for its wonder, and don't tell me about it - Show me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to follow or
subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on the right side of
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comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dbaylis805@gmail.com"><span style="color: #009eb8;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">dbaylis805@gmail.com</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . You can also find
links to some of the sites I visit from time to time on the right. I'm also
looking for submissions to the Your Work/Your Love page. Authors retain all
rights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dane F. Baylis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author/Publisher.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634733756331751614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1907345236317573466.post-44506484789638747282014-01-03T18:13:00.001-08:002014-01-03T18:13:14.775-08:00Day 362 of the 365 Days of Blogging<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s1600/DSC_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtipns6mziDijXKMS2Hv8Qebun-aLgg4qRBvZOfzLSFyZUuwAUXOM-UsKnQkUgSGHGP60dKkWzaBvQtzqqB6VLXfPWLSpF9i0LXh6y_1KnCsSV7YJvB-tx8OtvDTgd-4L8Sx75hfx100t-/s200/DSC_2690.JPG" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author/publisher,<br />
Dane F. Baylis</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BUT WHAT DID HE SAY?</span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Alright, when it comes to giving out my opinions, I'm no wallflower. Neither do I mince words. If anything, you could say I have the occasional rough edge. You could also say that about my prose and poetry . At least that's been my style, and if there are three things I believe in, it's clarity, consistency, and communication. Which is why I'm a little put out with some of the horribly artsy crowd I'm running into in the poetry scene these days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There's a trend that surfaces every so often among the wordsmiths in this game that gripes my ass. Someone steps up to a mic and begins reciting in the common language I'm familiar with, English, and before you know it, I have little or no friggin' idea what the hell it is they're trying to say. Words that one might only encounter in an obscure text begin to creep in, images are eviscerated and the mess that's left has little correlation with anything familiar, cadence is about as relevant as a John Cage composition (at least he had balls enough to be outrageous in a carefully calculated manner), and the author adopts a context so personal, the audience hasn't a clue as to what to derive from the performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I've been around long enough to see this attempted more than once. Each time with the same agonizing results. Can we agree that the literary arts are about communication - the transmission of emotion, tension, and conflict, resolved or not? If the words are not serving that function then they are like bird feathers hung from branches. Sure, if I do enough investigation, I might determine species, genus, and sex, but by then the beauty of the creature is lost in a clinical quest for substance. Am I impressed? Sorry, horseshit just stinks, no matter how you package it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Some of these budding young Ezra Pounds even make the stupid mistake of explaining what it is they're not communicating, either before or after they read their piece. Really? That is the resort of the gross amateur who hasn't the confidence or craft for what they're attempting. Jesus H. Fucking Christ on a crutch, ladies and gentlemen! If you're not able to say it with clarity in the body of your written words, what the hell do you think explaining it is going to accomplish?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Let me help you out with that one. You're either going to turn off your listeners, because they came to listen to your poetry, not your lecture on its arcane symbols and allusions, or you're going to piss them off because you're baffling them with bullshit instead of dazzling them with brilliance. Not only that, but when you become even mildly pedantic, you lose any claim to style, and Honey, you'll get a lot more kudos for a rough job done with style than a job lacking any style done roughly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbGrjX_b5-dXJSG99hhUO-m4kLljhtXlz7eJssDwHpNHeyGRtPpAZeYxpdDR0lCOBYxDeWNFGlx0PQEotKskXp9IjWS6fAN4lkPRCl7S6Ofa3q3__16ONzcIuCj8H2mRuCytM-KiyBY0X/s1600/DSC_1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbGrjX_b5-dXJSG99hhUO-m4kLljhtXlz7eJssDwHpNHeyGRtPpAZeYxpdDR0lCOBYxDeWNFGlx0PQEotKskXp9IjWS6fAN4lkPRCl7S6Ofa3q3__16ONzcIuCj8H2mRuCytM-KiyBY0X/s320/DSC_1615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Just a helpful hint from your Uncle Dane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meanwhile...live, love, write as if you're life depended on my getting it the first time - without addendum!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to follow or
subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on the right side of
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comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dbaylis805@gmail.com"><span style="color: #009eb8;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">dbaylis805@gmail.com</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . You can also find
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dane F. Baylis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author/Publisher.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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