OOPS! That’s How I Write
I never took a writing course, … obviously. I overuse and misuse CAPITALS and (parentheticals). That is partly because I am too cheap to use “Word.” Copy and paste is not the best way to send documents…and therefore I can’t include BOLD or UNDERLINE.
Sad to say I rarely have an agenda when writing. If I did I could take credit for how purposeful they may seem. They serve no purpose other than trying to make sense of the world in which I live. Is there a logical solution to a problem? Is there a reason things are the way they are? But it isn’t even that straightforward.
I read tons of short articles (about everything). My takeaways: 1) Never believe the headlines. 2) Don’t accept what is said at face value. As an example, one article was asserting that the “white” population in America was growing. The author was not talking about whites as you may think of them, as Europeans, like from Sweden or France. The author was referring to middle-easterners, from Afghanistan, Palestine, and Egypt. Totally different cultures, sense of justice, and religions from most “European whites.” Yet, according to how they are recorded: white.
Sometimes in the opening paragraphs an article will spur an idea for a topic I would like to explore. When it does I stop reading the piece and write my thoughts, then I go back to the article to see where it was going. I know that my mind would go to auto-pilot and my pen would merely mimic what I read if I didn’t. This way I know that my words and themes are my own. It is easy to START an article, (I have many 2 paragraph starts) but not so easy to FINISH one. The problem is TIME. A decent post takes lots of time as it is. I research almost everything “factual” unless it is from my own experience. Research may take more time than writing. Then, finally, most pieces are far from ready after first draft. Sometimes there is scant information, or none, to assert a point. Sometimes I just have to drop a promising topic.
Other times something I am reading opens a question in my mind. For example a short article I was reading stated that “heavier items tend to sink faster than lighter items.” I remembered that e-cars (EVs) are heavier than ice-cars (internal combustion engine). Thus, the question popped into my head: ”So, does that mean that e-cars sink faster than ice-cars?” I researched it. It turned out that MOST e-cars will sink faster. Hmmm! “Isn’t that something which should be considered if you often drive on slippery roads by lakes, rivers, or oceans?” It turns out it is a concern for a FEW who have thought about this issue. Logic suggests that this subject should push manufacturers to build LIGHTER batteries, but right now the practical issue of miles-per-charge trumps weight.
Government stupidity easily captures my attention. I think almost any writer could write a series of “War and Peace” length novels based solely on that subject. Government is great at spending the most money for the least effect. It is often illogical and foolish. I submit that the IDEA of government is great, but the PRAXIS comes no where close to “good enough.” Having sat on financial committees over the years I know how easy it is for leaders to get hooked on OPM (pronounced like “opium”) which is spending “Other People’s Money.” Once I voiced against purchasing a van for youth events because it was too expensive and there were cheaper alternatives. I was overruled and they bought the van. That was just before COVID and the van sat unused for over 2 years.
Social issues grab my attention, too. Unfortunately it is difficult to write about most of these because those who have opposing viewpoints do not want those on the other side to have a voice. They even take control of our language so we cannot even SAY what we want to say. Worse, they insist that even their opponents HAVE TO use the “correct” pronouns and phrases which denies freedom of speech. That is not how I was taught to have a discussion. In a true discussion the goal is to find points of agreement in order to reduce the friction. In today’s world discussion is non-existent. The opposition is not granted any rights or value. I would love to see sensibilities return to the idea marketplace.
I love to talk about commonplace values (they were common not long ago) . If I can have an impact on one person to restore family, restore hope, or restore faith…I will gladly do it.
Obviously personal finance is a big topic. A personal budget should be based on logic. Most of the personal finance articles I have come across are mundane. They are written for upper middle class readers, not your everyday blue collar or independent owners. Further, they seem to repeat the same 6 inane points which everybody who has read ONE article already knows. Just this morning I found a true gem among the paste jewelry from Moneywise in an article by Amy Legate-Wolfe:
On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson contended that it’s fairly shocking that so many Americans have failed to visualize their financial goals. “It’s a miracle of stupidity,” Peterson said. “It’s the number-one thing we should be teaching people, and we don’t do it at all!”
Peterson told host Dave Ramsey that while poverty has many causes, the absence of a plan ranks high up there. And despite the widespread belief that only the rich get richer, Peterson stated that even the rich can’t achieve their goals — financial or otherwise — without planning.
You need to develop a vision for your life,” he stressed. “And that makes delaying gratification for example, and not engaging in impulsive momentary pleasure, worthwhile because you’re building towards something that you actually want to attain.”
Finally, fun. If there’s unusual humor in something…I love to share it. For example, my wife asked me to proof a “private” letter. As soon as she handed it to me I flipped it over to look at the back. If it was “private” then I could not look at the printed side, could I???
You won’t see these books in publication soon (when you do please buy a copy), but I have written, or am in the process of writing, several stories for children/teens. One is about a cat and rabbit on an adventure. That story got a stamp of approval from one of my adult daughters who loves books. Another is about a hidden prince (not the way you think) who defeats a long-time foe in an unusual manner. That story began when I needed a bedtime story for my kids and looked in a crossword puzzle for some thought-starters…I took 7 words and created a story line. Yet another is about a teacher’s return to joyful living after the sudden death of his beloved. The concept came out of thoughts based upon a simple tattoo I once saw. There are a few more.
The point is that a theme is almost all that is needed. Once a clear, concise topic is established the story seems to write itself. Then comes the hard part.
Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
MORE OF DON’S GREAT GUEST POSTS:
~ The RE-COLONIZATION of America, pt. II ~ Laws The U.S. Should Enact ~ The Re-Colonization Of America, pt. I ~
~ How To Retire On Less ~ State Song ~ The “Holier Than Thou” Attitude of “The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’” ~
~ THE TRUTH ~ H.A.L.T ~ Where’s The Clamor? ~ Parents Who Lie ~ Odd Places ~ Internet Is Fragile ~ Shopping ~ Student Loans ~
~ A Government ~ Going To Church ~ Anheuser-Busch ~ Hans Van Doorn ~ The Wrong Problem ~ Talking About Money ~
~ Trustworthy ~ A Life More Beautiful ~ TECH with ATTITUDE! ~ Black Drink ~ Public Schools III ~ Public Schools II ~
~ Public Schools I ~ 5-Star Reviews ~ Fractions Matter! ~ Small Spoons ~ Dumpster ~ Weird Forgiveness III ~ Weird Forgiveness II ~
~ Weird Forgiveness I ~ Classified Documents ~ Future You Needs A Friend ~ Feeling Understood ~ Starting The New Year Right ~
~ Awe! Aah! Ooh! ~ Christmas As A Poor (Rich) Child ~ Bigger Problems ~ Blessing ~ Climate Change – 2 ~
~ Medical Science Too Far? ~ Gravity and Light ~ Travel Fun ~ Fascinating People: Gloria Hartman Doughty ~
~ Sadly Magic Words ~ Mulberries ~ Climate Change? ~ SPURIOUS UBIQUITOUS NOISE ~ TEW ~ Credit Card Debt ~
~ Insect Oddities ~ DATA ~ Cities Got Name? ~ The Bible Does Not Say That! ~ Too Old?? ~ Be My Guest ~
~ IN-CRE-MEN-TAL-ISM ~ Bad Friends & Broken Tools ~ Pools Are For The Birds?? ~ Animals Hindering Your Financial Freedom ~
~ The Chicken ~ Finding The Exit ~ Allegheny Blackberries ~ Romantic Sunset At The Beach ~ Fun Facts About Carpenter Ants ~ Bad Habits ~
~ Doing Faith Wrong ~ Quirky! ~ Ten-Foot Trestle ~ Settling Estates ~ Living In High Horse Country ~ The Dying Generation ~
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