The JackB

"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'." Groucho Marx

Archives for October 2012

There Is A Rhythm To Writing

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Movember is coming and I am going to participate in it again. The idea behind it is to grow a moustache to help raise awareness for mens’ health issues like prostate and testicular cancer.

I know, it is a beard and not a ‘stache in the photo above. What can I say, I am a wild man who makes his own rules and looks ridiculous with a ‘stache.

There Is a Rhythm to Writing

There is a rhythm to writing but it is not one that I have to search for often. It is a combination of talent, ability and hours of practice.  When the words are flowing fast and furious from my fingertips there is a feeling of fulfillment.

It is the knowledge that this is what I am supposed to be doing. These words you read, the stories I tell and the experiences we share are all a part of it.

It is what is supposed to happen.

The moments when I am happiest are often tied into this. It feels a lot like the high I get from exercising. My adrenaline flows and I know that I am feeding my heart, soothing my soul and singing a song that others can feel.

You Can Force It

Some people suggest you shouldn’t force yourself to write. They say if you are not feeling it to walk away and ignore it. They are wrong. They are crippling you. They are hurting you because they are teaching you to stop finding ways to work through the hard spots.

I suppose if you aren’t a professional writer it doesn’t have the same impact, but it still bothers me. It bothers me because it is like you telling your boss you can’t work because you aren’t feeling it.

That doesn’t mean I don’t believe in sick, vacation or personal days because I do. I also believe that sometimes writing is a grind and you need to suck it up and do it.

When my children say they don’t feel like doing their homework I smile and give encourage them to keep going.

This isn’t a problem. It is a challenge and you overcome challenges by taking them on and not by running away.

Find Your Rhythm

You need to find your rhythm and your happy place. If you look at the picture above you can see I don’t have a dancer’s body. I am built like a big block.

My inclination is to go through, tear apart, dismantle and or destroy. That is not always the smart way, but it is my way and it works for me.

Still, I have made a point to learn other methods of making it happen and so should you.

We’re still talking about rhythm. We’re still talking about finding a way to make the words flow from finger to keyboard to screen.

It is a dance and you have to learn to lead.

Pictures, Music, Mood

Pictures are worth a thousand words. If you are among the 17 long time readers you know it took a long time for me to begin to become consistent about including pictures in my posts.

I changed my approach because I noticed that when I included a visual element in my posts readers hung out longer. I also noticed that sometimes they helped inspire me and or motivate me.

Music has always been a part of the post structure. Sometimes the songs are designed to try and set a mood for you and sometimes it is just setting the tempo and tone for me to write by.

I might have trouble finding rhythm with my feet but it is not a problem for my fingers and it shouldn’t be for you either.

All you need to do is take the time to do a little dance and find your own rhythm.

What It Takes

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President Lincoln’s assassination: Washington, D.C. Hanging hooded bodies of the four conspirators; crowd departing.
Photos pulled from Library of Congress

The picture doesn’t relate to the post as well as it could, but it fits my mood. I just paid almost $5 a gallon of gas and I am angry.

I am tired of feeling like I am being lied to. Tired of listening to political rhetoric from people who don’t know what they are talking about and from those who refuse to vote.

I am tired of listening to complaints from those who are unwilling to try to change.

Change is frightening. It is scary. I don’t like it much, but I am doing things differently because when things don’t work you have to shake it up, you have to mix it up.

I Am Committed

I am committed to making the changes I have to make to improve things in the areas I feel need improving. I wrote this post because I am going to make my book happen.

These are not just words but they feel a bit like it so I am making a list of things I have accomplished for myself. It is a way to see that I am making progress.

My pushup workout is moving along. I am not anywhere close to 500 day but I am on my way. Every day I work at it. Every day I make an effort.

I am impatient.

I am dedicated.

I will.

This was part of Stream of Consciousness Sunday. Five minutes of writing without editing. I cheated and grabbed the photo in advance but the words are what I came up with in 5 minutes.

Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger

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Mark Twain 2

“I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.”- Mark Twain’s Autobiography

There is a fine line between hype and promotion that I am always trying to straddle. This is just my way of saying I want to shout “I know things about blogging” but don’t want to seen as being obnoxious jerk that I make fun of.

Nor do I want to be the guy who doesn’t make use of his ability/talents because there is nothing I find more disappointing than unfulfilled potential.

If you are among the long time readers you know I see the blog as a vehicle which will help me convert some of my dreams into reality. Part of the conversion process requires taking a different approach which is why I am tooting my horn with this post.

What you have below are links to 25 different posts about blogging and writing. The information contained within is going to be incorporated into an ebook I am working upon and will eventually be made available to you.

But you don’t have to wait for the book to come out to take advantage of what you will find in these links.

I have been blogging for almost nine years now and have been writing professionally for more than 20. I have learned a few things along the way and am happy to share it with you.

A Couple of Comments

The problem with giving this away is that it will devalue my work in the eyes of some people. It is a psychological thing, but because I am not charging a fee for access it lose some luster in the eyes of some people.

At the moment I am ok with that. It is not organized the way the book will be which means people will have to work a bit harder to get something out of this.

I don’t expect everyone to love this or to think it is amazing. Some will and some won’t. I am good with that too.  In some respects this post is more important to me than to you.

Why? Because this is me taking time to figure out what is going to be included in the book. I see no reason not to try to take advantage of the opportunity and make the most out of my time.

One More Thing

I am not going to guarantee that reading these posts will make you rich, more popular or put more hair on your chest. I am sure the ladies are especially happy about that last part.

If you want to be successful at this game you have to be willing to do the work, put in the time and find a way to have fun while doing that.

Those three things will give you a significant advantage over other bloggers.

What reading these posts will do is help provide you with a greater understanding about how to do some things in a more conversational and less technical manner than some of the other resources out there.

Ok, it is bedtime in  Los Angeles. Hope you find this to be useful and as always feel free to talk about what you read in the comments here and on the posts.

  1. You Don’t Need A Niche To Be A Successful Blogger
  2. Using Content To Build Connections
  3. Building The Blog- What Should I Name My Blog?
  4. Writing Is Simple and So Is Guest Posting
  5. Is There A Benefit To Paying for Facebook Fans For Your FB Fan Page?
  6. Coming Attractions- A More Effective Way To Market Your Blog Posts
  7. How Do You Identify Your Best Posts?
  8. What Happens If You Don’t Post Every Day
  9. You Are The Biggest Liar In Social Media
  10. Drunk Blogging For Amateurs
  11. Writers Write Right Part 2
  12. Proper Etiquette For Commenting On A Blog
  13. The Summer Of Blogging
  14. How Much Does It Cost To Be A Blogger?
  15. Do We Really Need Another Email Newsletter?
  16. Can You Build Community Without Comments?
  17. What Is The Value of A Comment?
  18. A Blogger’s Guide To Writing a Five Minute Post
  19. How To Become a Better Writer In Three Easy Steps
  20. The Best Bloggers Are Storytellers Part 2
  21. Pushing The Envelope
  22. The Most Frustrating Part Of Blogging
  23. 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer
  24. Why You Should Subscribe To Your Own Blog
  25. Writing Is Not The Hardest Part Of Blogging

Who Tells The Story When Bloggers Sleep Together

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Dad Bloggers Don't Ask For Directions
Along the Oodnadatta Track, Australia- Picture taken by Jamie Brelsford

I stumbled onto an old bank statement today and screamed in frustration. That is because I saw a balance there and remembered what it was like to be flush with cash and how I didn’t worry about how I would pay for gas or if the gas station would run out of gas or simply choose not to sell it.

Ok, the reality is that we have a shortage here in California so some stations are having an issue and it is possible I could run into an issue regardless of my cash situation.

For the sake -of posterity, clarity and sanity it should be noted I am not homeless nor in any risk of being homeless. We aren’t hungry nor are we going to go hungry. I am grateful for all of these things and appreciate that my situation is superior to many others.

However that doesn’t change the fact that at 43 years-old I have a bank account that looks like it should belong to the 25 year-old I used to be. When people talk about the shrinking middle class I listen because that is me.

That old bank statement had a deposit on it from a deal I closed one week before my son was born. It wasn’t the largest I ever closed, but it was large and it was meaningful.

Dear Universe, Could You Send Me a $100k

A dear friend once told me he thinks I am at my best when I am simmering. His thesis is that old Jack is most active in all areas when he is a little bit pissed off and unsettled. Don’t know that I agree with that, but can’t say I completely disagree either.

Some of my best writing is built upon the fire in the belly. I have eviscerated other bloggers and conducted a rampage across, over, under and through the blogosphere because of that fire in the belly.

But I haven’t published anything like that in a long time because I am not trying to launch a new reign of terror. Some of it is because I don’t want to build my blog that way.

I could. It wouldn’t be hard to take go after some bloggers whose overblown egos and sycophantic readers have them believing that their size 4 head will fit inside a size 16 sombrero.

Take Off The Gloves

If I chose to engage I would use names and URLs and the flame wars would begin. The pageviews would increase and the readers would come in a hurry. People love to watch train wrecks.

But that is not how I want to do this. I don’t want to make more of a name for myself by pointing out the lies, lunacy and general idiocy that is being promoted and promulgated by people who likely won’t last much longer.

I know. Some of you will ask me to spell out exactly who I am referring to and you’ll accuse me of being passive-aggressive. I am good with that. I don’t need any bad juju.

I am on the path back up towards the top of the hill. I am on a journey that doesn’t need to be derailed by fighting with people. And that is why I am changing the topic and asking the universe to send me a $100k. BTW universe, if you can’t swing $100k this month I will gladly settle for $10k.

The Difference Between My Best & Most Popular Posts

Technically I should change that subhead so it doesn’t appear to be solely focused upon me. Technically I should open it up and make it more inclusive and I would do it if I wrote it as a separate post. However it is not, it is part of this post and it is on my blog.

Still, I think some of you will get something out of it. I pay attention to my stats because it is good business and interesting It is important to know which posts get the most traction here. That is knowledge you can use to build your community and expand your readership.

But it is also important to what fuels your fire. It is important to pay attention to what you are passionate about and write about those things not just because people respond to it but because you do. Ask Erin and Jason about the importance of passion in writing.

Sometimes writing is a grind and you need to know how to do it even when all you want to do is sleep.

About That Old Bank Statement

I told Old Mother Hubbard not to bitch at me about her cupboard’s being bare because I was going to give the big empty a taste of my size 12 boot in the butt. That is my way of saying that even if the universe decides to stiff me I will find my way back to where I want and need to be.

Blogging is one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given. I only hope I can give back as much I have been given. My thanks to all of you who visit and read these posts.

And to you lurkers, come out occasionally and leave a comment. Give me a chance to try to say thank you there too.

Final 5 songs of the night.

  1. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door- Bob Dylan
  2. Picture- Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow
  3. Busted-Ray Charles
  4. God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
  5. Sabotage- The Beastie Boys

Life is what you make it. See you in the AM, it is well after midnight and I am tired.

713 Words- Don’t Search For Meaning

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tracks

“Never let go of anyone that you couldn’t go a day without thinking about.  There just might be a very good reason why this person is always on your mind. Sometimes, its the brain that knows too well what the heart tries so hard to deny.”

That is a quote I used in a post I wrote several years ago called Full Circle. I don’t know who wrote it, but it wasn’t me. I really should find out.

Right now I am listening to Aya Korem sing Kayitz. The song is in Hebrew and the title means Summer. Sometimes I am not sure if I am thinking in English or Hebrew. If you are not bilingual you probably won’t understand that.

The funny thing is I don’t really think of myself as being bilingual anymore. There was a time when I spoke Spanish, Hebrew and a smattering of Yiddish, but that is long ago. Now I don’t really speak anything but English well.

I don’t have an accent in English, but in Spanish and Hebrew I have a thick American accent. It irks me. I like to try to blend in, but it doesn’t always work. Besides I walk, talk and dress like an American.

We aren’t always aware of the little cultural things that make us stick out. I am proud of being American. Not ashamed at all, but I still prefer to blend in I don’t want my presence noticed unless I want it to be noticed.

So there you are standing in the place in which you thought you had left, full circle is what they call it. You look out the window of your heart and see the place that you had started out and wonder how it is that you came to find yourself standing there way back when.

It is strangely familiar and inviting to be there but also disconcerting because you are not who you were when you left. The long journey and experiences you had have changed you in ways that you don’t completely understand. Though you recognize the place and remember the warmth of the sun upon your back you are not sure if you can accept what lies ahead of you.

That is another quote from Full Circle but I wrote that. That is all me. And now I am thinking about my grandfathers and wondering if they wouldn’t be able to give me the perfect Yiddish expression to share right now.

Full Circle is calling out to me because there is a message and a meaning. There are signs and symbols flashing at me but I can’t quite put my finger on it so I am just writing.

This is the sort of writing that I love best or at least among those that I love best. It is because it is free flowing, honest and unstructured. I spent most of last week and half of this one focused on structured writing.

I am good at it and I am getting better but sometimes I want to let the horse take the bit and travel where it wishes to go.

Write Your Fiction

Some people have written me to ask about my fiction. They want me to clarify what is real and what is not. I can’t and I won’t. Or is it I might and I won’t.

Don’t ask me to explain it all because that would ruin some of the magic. But suffice it to say I know about magic. I know about majesty, music and magnificence. I have lived moments that have changed my life and will forever be a part of me.

That is where I sometimes go to find these stories. It is my well, my refuge and sometimes it is my hell.

Write your fiction and or write your truth. Don’t fear the reaper. Sing your song and let the chips fall where they may.

What Are My Best Posts

I may have to devote an entire post to this. Hell, I am sure I will because it needs to be done for a million different reasons and one very important one. This blog has provided me with a path that I am grateful for having taken even if it has helped me go full circle.

The Birth of A Murderer

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Someone once said there is no satisfaction in murder, but they were wrong. I am sorry to say I know this to be true from personal experience but not sad to say I did it.

It took a long time to get to a place where I could say these words out loud and not feel pangs of guilt and disgust, but I am here….now.

Georgie deserved to die.

That day in the mountains was the end of one journey and the start of another. It wasn’t something I had planned but it wasn’t unexpected.

People had been telling me since high school that Georgie would end up dead, but none of them had thought I would have a thing to do with it.

They had warned me to stay away. They had told me he would take everything from me but I didn’t listen.

I was wrong.

Georgie took all that was good in my life and I helped him.

That day on the mountain things changed.

I didn’t know why Georgie did what he did to the guy tied to the tree and I didn’t want any part of it.

Georgie wasn’t used to me saying no to him. When I refused to take the knife I knew there would be consequences.

He might let me get off of the mountain, he might not do anything for a while, but sooner or later his anger would boil over.

For a moment we stood there starting at each other, like two prizefighters sizing each other up we shared a moment of silence.

Georgie was an animal who could hurt you badly without thinking about it. I was someone who had participated in acts of violence, but I couldn’t escape the sick feelings that accompanied it.

I couldn’t escape the feeling of dread that was wracking my body. I was scared and I didn’t know what to do.

Georgie wasn’t going to ignore the man tied to the tree and he wasn’t going to walk away. He wasn’t about to let me walk away either.

I didn’t know whether the guy tied to the tree would survive his wounds or if his friends would come looking for him.

My options were limited. I could walk back to the car and leave the guy tied to the tree to his own devices. I couldn’t talk about what I didn’t see, now could I.

I couldn’t do that because I knew what was coming for him. I wasn’t going to be considered an accomplice to murder.

And then it happened.

Want to know more? Click here.

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The words above are fiction and part of a story I am working on. I share them here in part because I am pushing and promoting it in advance and in part because it serves as a reminder to me to stay focused on this.

And by this I mean the story and the push to publish. There are dreams being manufactured here and I want to see them do more than occasionally float to the surface of my brain to be looked at, considered and then pushed back down again.

More on this to come later.