Summer

This summer has been a good one for me. Unfortunately, all good thing must come to an end. Our vacation to Michigan was great. Our last night there, my daughter and I stood out on the beach next to the great lakes, shivering from the chill night air and swatting mosquitoes as quickly as they landed, and watched a fireworks display. Though the fireworks were a mile or so away, they exploded high above the water. I couldn't help feeling a little sad that we were going home the next day. I would love to live there, but there's that thing that's called Winter. If I were a rich man, my family would have a summer home there.

I've not done much else this summer except some writing. I've also tried to follow the Cardinals. (They just swept the Dodgers.) I've written some test material for the ACT test which has kept me busy a little. I revised (Not for the last time I'm sure) a screenplay, and I've been working on a Young Adult novel. Lately, I've been experimenting with Facebook as a networking tool. I don't have it figured out yet, but I learn a little each day. I can see how people get addicted to it. I've already gotten back in touch with some people I haven't seen for years.

I leave you (My one follower and anyone else who might read this) a final thought. Don't get so fixed on the path to your future that you miss all of the sites in your present.

Writing for your life

I write about life. I try to put life into what I write. I write because it is my life. Though I seem to have the most luck with writing plays, I prefer YA fiction and screenplays. I'll have a tough time making it as a screenwriter and probably won't, but there's something about the format that I like. My screenwriting has improved dramatically throughout the years, but I don't know if it will ever be good enough. That doesn't mean I'll quit trying.

When you stop to think about it, writing is the ultimate futility. Whatever you accomplish is never going to be good enough. You're only as good as your last work. How many times have you read reviews of writers who were once great, but for whatever reason -- time has changed, they've changed -- their books don't seem to garner an audience anymore? I think it is nearly impossible for most writers to stay current. The same can be said for movie stars and musicians, I think.

When a person stops writing for him or herself, then he/she will always be subject to public failure. That's it from the common Joe.