tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61939391451445397412024-02-06T19:57:48.670-08:00RUGGLES' ROAMINGSDeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-61874087592051404172023-02-01T10:00:00.006-08:002023-02-05T08:14:20.672-08:00The Problem With Studying Drawing<p><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">One of the problems with studying art and learning to draw is there are no internally consistent rules and terms that all artists have agreed to use. Contrast this with mathematics, physics, astronomy, and computer programming, the rules just don't randomly change.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">According to one artist, music and dance have consistent rules and terms/phrases. This makes sense, as music is very mathematical.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Artists can't even agree on whether or not art has to say something, or whether it has meaning or not.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">They can't agree on who art is or isn't for.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Artists can't agree on what tools to use, or how to use those tools.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">One artist talks about the various ways gesture is explained. None of them show gesture the same way.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO258411481" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72cvyDLzh6Y" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">GESTURE DRAWING EXPLAINED! Is this part of the gesture or style?</span></a><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The problem of no consistent rules is very obvious when studying the Fundamentals of Art – Elements of Art, Principles of Art, and Compositional Types. Every list of these properties that I have seen has its own set of items that it includes or leaves out. No two lists include the same items.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">So I've decided to collect these lists together and include items from my reading to make my own list.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Another place where the problem of no consistency is studying the Reilly Rhythms. Frank Reilly left behind no official notes, no books describing his way of drawing the Rhythms he used. Everything we have comes from his students' notes, particularly one Fred Fixler, who ran his own art school.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Fixler's students included:</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Glen </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Orbik</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Fred sold his school to Glen.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">There are a few video clips of Glen showing the Reilly Rhythms </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">from a program that are available on YouTube.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Chris Petrocci from YouTube (Draw Juice)</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jeff Watts</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jeff was also a student of Gleb </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Orbik</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Runs Watts Atelier </span><span class="TextRun Highlight BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">– </span></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">YouTube Channel</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stan Prokopenko – YouTube Channel</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Bradwynn</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Jones – YouTube Channel</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ted Gula</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Has been on Proko YouTube videos</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Westermoe</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Teaches at NMA</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Every Reilly Rhythm picture I find has a different set of rhythms. So I have taken these various sources, plus the Loomis Head, my own observations, including studies of the muscles of the face, and generated my own version.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Another inconsistency is the proportions used to draw the face. Burne Hogarth describes the face as being 3 units high by 2 units wide. I've seen Loomis head videos in which they describe the head as being about 3 ½ units high x 2 ½ units wide. The difference being that the Loomis head uses a circle that contains the mouth, whereas the Hogarth method uses a circle that includes only down to the nose.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hogarth's method adds another half-circle to account for the space between nose to chin. And the ears fit on the outside of the original circle.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Loomis' method has a circle that needs a slice cut off of either side, and the ear fits inside that original circle, where the circle was sliced off.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The final problem with studying art and learning to draw is that it distracts me from my writing, that's why I'm trying to blog, to force myself to do some writing, including about how </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">art forces its practitioners into using their creativity and </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">eliminates step-by-step processes of math.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In conclusion, there is Absolute Truth, and true art reflects the beauty of the truth of </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">things that are so</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, just like </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">mathematics, physics, astronomy, and computer programming,</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Art should reflect its own internal truths.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">"There is a certain sense in which art is its own justification. If art is good art, if it is true art, if it is beautiful art, then it is bearing witness to the Author of the good, the true, and the beautiful." Our "impetus for producing … art is a desire for excellence. That desire stems from the … supreme example of excellence in all that is good and true and beautiful." - R.C. Sproul's teaching series about </span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO258411481" href="http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/recovering-the-beauty-of-the-arts/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Recovering the Beauty of The Arts</span></a><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and blog posts on The Christian and Art (</span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO258411481" href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Part One</span></a><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, </span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO258411481" href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-2/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Part Two</span></a><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and </span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO258411481" href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-3/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Part Three</span></a><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">).</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO258411481" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO258411481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO258411481" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-61932219235777406702023-01-01T00:00:00.001-08:002023-01-01T00:00:00.230-08:00My Writing Quest or The Hero's Journey <p> <span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I started my writing adventure in 1972, (discussed somewhat in “</span><a class="Hyperlink SCXO85611541 BCX0" href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2009/12/reflections_21.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Reflections</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">” and again in "</span><a class="Hyperlink SCXO85611541 BCX0" href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2010/01/hello-twenty-ten.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hello Twenty-Ten,</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">" and most recently, and in more detail, "13 Years") when my 7th grade science teacher gave us an assignment to write a 2-page science fiction story.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But wait, my journey actually started 5 years earlier in 2nd grade when the school placed me in a remedial reading class. I became such a voracious reader that 7 years after being placed in that slow reader program, I was tested, and as a Freshman in high school my counselor told me I had a reading vocabulary 3 grades higher than my grade level. Later, I was placed in our school's new QUEST program. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Later in life I realized I wasn’t a slow reader, I was reluctant to read in front of the class. This reluctance to get in front of a class would impact me a good portion of my life.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is certain that all my reading affected what I wrote for that short-story writing assignment, 50 years ago. My "2-page" story ended up being eleven pages long, and a day late. Something that still seems to haunt my footsteps. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When I got it back I saw my instructor had commented that it was a great story, and that he hated having to give me the "B" I got, but he had to mark it down since I was late.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">This assignment sparked the first embers of creative writing that started glowing inside me at age 12, and the many more assignments that followed throughout high school, in such ¼ and ½ credit electives as "Science Fiction," "Creative Writing," etc., added fuel to my smoldering writing desires, and I soon began writing stories on my own simply for the love of writing.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But at that point I never wanted to be a writer, because I didn't want to be a starving artist. At this point, however, I'm thinking the starving artist thing is looking better and better since I've been homeless a total of about 20 months over 4 separate times of living in my car, and even living in my car while employed.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In those high school electives we had the assignment to journal for 15 minutes a day, and so it was that I began to journal, if you could call what I did at that time "journaling." At that age I had nothing to say that I wanted to put in a journal - being diagnosed recently as having depression, and being told I probably had depression going back to at least high school, if not earlier, may explain why. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">So anyway, I would do these journal entries, and Mr. Capra would randomly collect our journals to see how we were doing. And most of what I had written was stuff like: “I don’t know what to write about. There’s nothing going on. I have to write in this journal for 15 mins, cause Mr. Capra is going to grade them. I have nothing else to say, but I have to write in this journal for 15 mins.” Well, you get the idea.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Only later, while in college in Alaska, did I actually start a journal in which I saved writing ideas. And then it became a life journal, etc. That journal evolved from a 3-ring binder, to Word, to OneNote, and is continuing to evolve as I left OneNote journalling for a time to journal in my sketchbooks, but I am now journalling in OneNote once again, which is what has gotten me to blogging again, in addition to my journal entries in my sketchbooks, sketchbooks that I had started using about 1 month prior to originally starting this blog article, but didn't start using to journal for another 2 months.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My U.S. History and Government teacher required us to give reports to the class. Refusing to get up in front to do the requisite speeches basically ensures a failing grade when you already have poor grades on your homework and tests. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">So I ended up having to take an extra year of high school to fulfil those credit requirements. It was during that extra year that I got interested in computer programming.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">During that extra year the school tested all the students, and I scored high enough that they put me into the</span><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> new "Quest" advanced placement program they were starting. </span><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My counselor had a meeting with my mom and me to discuss the results of the test. He told us "DeWayne is very intelligent, but he is a late-bloomer, and unmotivated." Depression at even that age may have had a tiny bit to do with being unmotivated.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">They asked each student enrolled in the program what they wanted to do that they weren't doing enough of in their classes. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Each student enrolled in the program was placed with mentors based on the area in which they were interested.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I naively said I wanted to write. </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I got paired with Doug Capra, one of my creative writing instructors from the elective classes I had taken.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Why, oh why didn't I take the blue pill and say I wanted to do more programming? I was already in 2 programming classes. I wasn't taking any new creative writing classes at that point. Quest was supposed to be designed to allow students to stretch in their interests and capabilities.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I didn’t have anything specific I wanted to write about, I just had decided I liked writing 6 years earlier and had been doing some writing on my own, besides the elective class assignments from earlier years </span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Getting no encouragement at home for my "strange" interest, and instead being told I should do what "normal" kids do, I had no external motivation, and so I never did write much of anything while in the Quest program.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO85611541" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXO85611541 BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXO85611541 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I still don't get much external motivation with encouragement from non-writing "friends," instead they still suggest I do more normal stuff - whatever that is, I never quite figured out that one. I do, however, get encouragement from my writing friends at NCWA and across the internet, via Facebook, by just being around them and seeing their successes. Particularly, the 2016 conference and meeting new Spec Fic writing friends was a big encouragement to me.</span><span class="EOP SCXO85611541 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-75303501811827012762022-12-21T10:00:00.017-08:002022-12-21T10:00:00.229-08:0013 Years<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">Happy Winter Solstice. It's been 13 years since I published my very first blog article.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none;">My blog is 13 years old, and I haven't published an article for almost ½ that time. </span></p><p><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">And prior to posting in 2016, I hadn't posted for 3 years.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I started this blog as an attempt to help me get my writing done. I guess it didn't work out so well.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As I write this article (OCT 4, 2022 – 9:42 AM) I am in Facebook jail for another 24 days. So I am hoping I will get a number of blog posts written that I can schedule for future publishing. I have written some on my "I Werewolf." I'm trying to figure out how to turn my "Blood of Patriots," in my "Twilight's Last Gleaming" series into </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">SpecFic</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> rather than leave it as a simple near-future thriller.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In my last post, I said </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">my drawing journey started 28 years ago in 1994. And yet my writing journey started 50 years ago, in 1972, when I was 12 years old, and in 7</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript BCX0 SCXO113792214" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> grade. M</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">y science teacher gave us an assignment to write a short story. I can't remember if the story was specifically to be science fiction, but mine was. It was based on all the comic books I had read, and two kids got superpowers after being radiated by a meteorite that had crashed to earth in the middle of town.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">That short story was 11 pages long and a day late. My instructor told me he really liked the story, but because it was late he had to lower my grade to a "B." It was that short science fiction story for a science class, not a writing been class, that got me started on my hero's journey, but I rejected the call to adventure for a very long time.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In high school, I took all the science electives I could, but I also took all the extra Writing class electives I could take, this included having to journal every day. In high school, I didn't want to blog my thoughts and feelings and have my teacher read it. So I journaled things like "well, here I am journaling. don't know what to write, but I've </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">gotta</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> write something." Imagine 15 mins of journaling that every day.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I ended up having to take a 5</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript BCX0 SCXO113792214" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> year of high school. It was during that time that the entire school system was given a special test. Based on my scores my high school counselor called in my mom and me, and told us that I was really smart, but a late bloomer, and </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I was put into a special program.</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> In this Quest program I was assigned any teacher I wanted to work one-on-one in a mentorship program. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When I was asked who I wanted to work with I told them, "Mr. Capra," who was my writing teacher at the time. Unfortunately the depression I've dealt with my entire life kept me from being to get any extra work done, so I wasn't able to take advantage of my high test scores, and being enrolled I the Quest program with a writing mentor.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Later in college I started journalling again. This time for real. I journaled by hand and kept my pages in a 3-ring binder. I did this until about 20 years ago (+/-), at which time I started journaling in word documents, one document for each year. I did this until 2015, and used OneNote to journal for two years. It was also in 2016 that I started drawing in my sketchbooks. I also used these same sketchbooks to journal in and it seems that may be why I no longer used OneNote to continue journaling.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO113792214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO113792214" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO113792214" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">And that brings me back to my drawing sketchbooks. Going through the old sketchbook pages got me wanting to start journaling again, and to even start blogging again. I'm also drawing again.</span></p></div>DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-66531186613571286342022-12-01T12:14:00.012-08:002022-12-04T13:20:44.987-08:006 Years<p><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none;">It's been 6 years to the day since I've blogged.<br /></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">T</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">hat entire blog article was:</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">"This Page Left Intentionally Blank." </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In MAY 2016, I went to my last NCWA Writers' Renewal Conference.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">After finishing up, I found some old drawing videos I had saved 5 years prior, in 2011. </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">That got me started down the road of watching more YouTube videos and learning how to draw. E</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">ventually, I started a channel so I could save my favorite videos in playlists that I organized according to subject. Then I could collect similar playlists into shelves.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I started using my sketchbooks to journal in AUG 2016, until then I had been using OneNote to journal. Before that I used Word for maybe a dozen years, and before that, I had hand-written my journal entries in a 3-ring binder for maybe 20+ years.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Back in AUG, 2022 I returned to journaling in OneNote in addition to using the sketchbooks to journal, and I started sharing those particular OneNote entries on Facebook. It is this that has started me thinking about beginning to blog again.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the past, I blogged mostly about my dealing with depression, particularly dealing with depression while trying to write, including while trying to blog, which is why my Blog is entitled "Ruggles' </span><span class="SpellingError BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBQAEAJECAP////8AAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAFAAQAAAIIlGAXCCHrTCgAOw=="); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roamings</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">", which pretty much describes where I went in my journaling travels.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Now I'm thinking about blogging the things I'm learning while I study drawing (and writing). I've been thinking about rewriting my sketchbook notes so that they are more legible, comprehensive, understandable, and just plain usable. Most recently, I've been trying to gather my notes together on the Fundamentals of Art/Drawing, Elements, Principles, and Composition Types. It was gathering together these notes that reminded me I had already been thinking about rewriting all my old notes. It was also what got me starting to think about blogging my notes about what I'm learning.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Part of my drawing habit was to keep my receipts for my sketchbooks and other supplies. According to one receipt, I bought my first sketchbook 14 years before I ever got around to using it. This would have been in 2002. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My drawing journey started 28 years ago in 1994. This was the year in college when I took a drawing class as an elective, so I could get 12 credits, and be a full-time student to get my financial aid while I finished up my Senior Project for my Software Engineering degree at Oregon Institute of Technology. Between 1994 and 2016 </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I started buying art books, which I only discovered later, weren't really all that helpful, and I've since given them away. </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It was during this time that I bought my first sketchbook.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It was when I started watching YouTube videos that I really started feeling like I was learning something. I have since collected a number of PDF books from places like archive.org that I can use as further reference on top of the videos I so enjoy watching. </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I hated art class in high school. It was more like a crafts class. My "teacher" couldn't teach how to draw to save his life. He taught me nothing about the fundamentals of drawing – elements, principles, and composition. He'd give us an assignment and not show us how to do it. So kids who could already draw could do it, and could do it quite well. This experience made me hate "art." </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I also love photography and wish I could do more of it as well, but there is only so much time in the day, and with trying to get some writing done, and trying to get back into learning to draw it pretty much eliminates any time/energy for any serious photography. So lately, most of my photography has been selfies that I posterized/desaturated to use as references for lighting the head.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My questions are:</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Should I keep the same blog name? I do want to focus on what I'm learning while studying drawing (and writing). But I may still keep including my struggles with depression, particularly when it is connected to my studies.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">If I should rename it, what is a good name?</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Or should I just start a new blog altogether, and what should I name it?</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I'll have to think about this for a while. Any suggestions?</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">****</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I am a Child of God and a follower of Christ.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I am a depression fighter.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I write Spec Fic, make photographic images, and draw.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I am a STEAMM lover and a 2A supporter.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">These are my stories.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXO129391036" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Watch the drawing videos I collected at:</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: WordVisiCarriageReturn_MSFontService, "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span><br class="BCX0 SCXO129391036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span><a class="Hyperlink BCX0 SCXO129391036" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Delta7ServicesGroup/playlists" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">https://www.youtube.com/user/Delta7ServicesGroup/playlists</span></a><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXO129391036" color="windowtext" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-59752273826116526242016-12-01T12:14:00.002-08:002016-12-01T12:14:59.945-08:00This page intentionally left blankThis page intentionally left blankDeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-82635161670562129772016-11-06T10:13:00.000-08:002016-11-06T10:13:00.394-08:00BALANCE and CHANGE! Hanging On, Opening Up, Letting Go, Letting God, and Receiving His Blessings.<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
NOV 06,
2016</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
This post
was scheduled for NOV 1, 2016. My
brother came by one week ago today, and in the spirit of the topic of this
article, I needed to balance spending time with him, and trying to do
"family stuff," verses sticking to my schedule to meet my
self-imposed deadline.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
With that
said …</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
My
September post went up as scheduled on September 01, and the next day I
finished the post for October. But I
mangled the process to set up the publishing schedule and didn't get it
published until October 02.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Since I
finished the October post well ahead of time and had a large lead time for
November's post, I wanted to get back to work on some Speculative Fiction, my
werewolf and I were needing to get in some hunting, and I was hoping to start
working on reviewing math at <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/">Khan
Academy</a> again. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
The Prozac
and Thyroid Meds I've been on since January to treat my depression have
suppressed my appetite and increased my metabolism, resulting in a loss of
about 30 pounds at this point. Now it's
time to lose some more weight. The
weight of the anchors from the past that have been holding me down.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Balance. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I guess
I've been doing pretty well at blogging on a regular schedule. To this point the schedule's been only once a
month, sure, but at least I've kept at it since I posted <a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2016/06/depression-writers-group-conferences.html">Depression,
Writers' Group Conferences and Board Positions, and Blogging Again</a> June
15th. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
This marks
6 posts, which is the most I've ever
done in a single year so far, and is the longest time I've continued regularly
scheduled postings. However, I did get
9 posts up across DEC 2009 - FEB 2010 before failing to continue posting at
least semi-regularly.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
My next
goal is to hit 10 regularly scheduled posts.
I also have the goal of perhaps posting twice a month, one post as I
have been doing, and one post as a report on the monthly <a href="http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/">Northwest Christian Writers'
Association</a> meetings, although that may not happen until next
September. Before that though I want to
build up a buffer again for getting out
posts.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It took me
about 3½ months to build up a 2 month buffer for getting out posts, and I lost
that lead when I got into a cleaning spree in the middle of September, a
cleaning spree to declutter my room, my life, and my mind. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As I start
work on this blog article for November I have only 3 weeks to finish and stay
on schedule and I must balance this decluttering I've started with writing my
next post.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And
drawing. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I've been
working on finding balance. Balance
between blogging and Spec Fic writing, balance between writing and drawing,
balance between these right-brained, creative activities,</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlmnE5kBnFrWahJgDzWsLualzFVESmTkPAWvVI9rCFsSI-x-4njOcAwZMQZP6cIvyVJ83VycnLLgS3ZA3DHyD9Y4pWoslkor7lRydgiwKewuqxXKBBJFpaYiHi8RP_leK6Qz1I9H-lPrI/s1600/Arts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlmnE5kBnFrWahJgDzWsLualzFVESmTkPAWvVI9rCFsSI-x-4njOcAwZMQZP6cIvyVJ83VycnLLgS3ZA3DHyD9Y4pWoslkor7lRydgiwKewuqxXKBBJFpaYiHi8RP_leK6Qz1I9H-lPrI/s400/Arts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
and
left-brained, logical, analytical activities like math, computer programming,
and science,</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yq4MkbwVZ4XN6ML6L0naHTz73_KbL8KI58dHB-qw2nv1r2B0vjLSRX3h7UkRdUBd8wBrdkD4t21CPvjQgcCAFUS6RBjXUQDXLsR-b51an_p57lHnU7Afr2UWe-x_rSrsiwA0PBor9752/s1600/Sciences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yq4MkbwVZ4XN6ML6L0naHTz73_KbL8KI58dHB-qw2nv1r2B0vjLSRX3h7UkRdUBd8wBrdkD4t21CPvjQgcCAFUS6RBjXUQDXLsR-b51an_p57lHnU7Afr2UWe-x_rSrsiwA0PBor9752/s400/Sciences.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
and
getting ready to get back to work tutoring.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
But also I
had to balance other activities.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
The
cleaning spree started partly when I wanted more, and better balanced, light
for my drawing. This required being able
to open the blinds on my window, blinds I'd not bothered to open in the last 4
years I've been here because I had collected too much junk which prevented the
light from getting through to me. But it
was time to shine a little light on things, and I started throwing out the junk
between me and the light I needed.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As changes
happen they cause more changes to occur and I am trying to adapt to those
changes, more specifically trying to instigate those changes and to use them as
opportunities. My moving the small
pebbles in front of the blinds started a
landslide of cleaning and I continued throwing away more of the old junk I've
accumulated, junk that has become dusty
anchors, anchors I've lugged around for far too long simply out of habit.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I have to
balance out how much time I spend on decluttering with how much time I spend
using the newly salvaged space. I can't
afford to get so focused on cleaning that I forget my goal is to eliminate
distractions so I can stabilize my environment and concentrate on writing and
drawing. I certainly don't need
eliminating distractions to become a distraction.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Balancing
my writing and drawing time also includes being observant and intentional of
how much time I spend listening to <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/">Writing Excuses</a> podcasts, reading <a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/">Writer's Digest</a> blog articles and
books, and watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Delta7ServicesGroup/playlists">my YouTube
playlist</a> drawing videos. Gathering information from podcasts , blog
articles and books, and videos is great, but I need to spend more time
practicing what I am studying. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Collecting
information and taking notes only goes so far, and I won't get better until I
apply the information. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Getting
better and finding balance includes not only making changes to my physical
environment, but also making changes in my habits as well.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As I get
rid of temporal possessions which I've mistakenly held close, it brings to mind
needing to get rid of old habits I've held on to so dearly, old ways of doing
things, and even eliminating entire activities that were distracting me from
the things I needed to do to improve my mood.
The things which I held that
distracted me from writing, and now drawing.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As with
throwing away the junk in my room I've been holding on to, some of the junk in
my life has been easier to let go off than other stuff. In order to make room in my life to receive
God's blessings, in order to move forward, I am trying to open my hands and let
go of the things that I've held so tight, so God can give me what He wants me
to have, and so I can cling more tightly to Him.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
How much
of the junk in our lives do we accept because those we call (or called)
"friend" expect it of us?
Because our family expect it of us, because that's the way they did
things? Because that's the way it's always been done?</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
How much
junk in our lives we hold on to was passed down from earlier generations? How much junk do we hand down to the next
generation, and how much junk do they pass down to the generation that follows
them? How many generations must inherit
the previous generations' junk? How much
is it costing us to hold onto this stuff?
How much has it cost me?</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Selling
some of the stuff, as friends and family have told me I should have done, even
if it may have had some small monetary value, would have cost me more than what
few dollars I may have gotten out of it.
Continuing to hang on to anchors, hoping to still get some good use out
of them, other than to be pulled down, is more a waste of energy and a
repetition of the old habits I'm trying to break out of. I simply need to get rid of this stuff so
that it doesn't continue pulling me back down into the crab pot.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
If you
always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Doing the
same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the
definition of insanity.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
In the
spirit of not always doing what I've always done, there is much I was going to
try to include in this article that I had to leave out, now with my being
delayed, there is even more. The closer
I got to finishing this post, the more difficult I found it to balance between
"getting it perfect," vs getting it
finished.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I was
attempting to balance getting this post finished on time, and saying what I
felt I needed to say with going too
long, saying too much, and being late.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
All I can
do is all I can do, with this article, with my cleaning and decluttering my
room, with letting go, and with Letting God.
And with doing what I can and leaving the results in God's hands.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Don't
worry, I still have plenty of fodder for future posts.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
1,000,000
words, 10,000 hours, 46 years, 7 months and counting worth.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Man going
to writing conferences can really be a
pain.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And so can
being a brother. But it was worth my being late on this post.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Until next
time.</span></div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-47013758115032153662016-10-02T18:10:00.000-07:002016-10-02T18:10:40.092-07:00Blogging, Conferences, Encouragement, Energy, Balance, and Therapy<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I started
back up on this blogging thing shortly after the NCWA 2016 Writers' Renewal
Conference wrapped up in MAY, and then finally made my first recent post
shortly after the last monthly meeting of the season in JUN. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Here it is
OCT and we had our first meeting of the new year just shy of a fortnight after
my SEP 1 post, and we will have our next meeting two days hence. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
After
finishing Starving Artist for the AUG post I took some time off and worked on
sorting <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Delta7ServicesGroup/featured">my
YouTube drawing video collection</a>. It
took me about 2 weeks of on-again, off-again writing to finish up the SEP
article, and then start this OCT article.
Even then I still continued to collect and organize even more drawing
videos according to topic so I can better use the videos for future references
as I continue this exploration of again trying to learn to draw. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Finishing
the SEP article early, and starting this article well ahead of time, encourages
me to believe I can actually get a cache of articles stored up for future
posts, rather than constantly struggling to get a post out by the first of each
month, especially like the AUG Starving Artist post. In fact I'm encouraged that I may be able to
actually start working on my Spec Fic again soon.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I also get
a lot of encouragement from my writing friends at NCWA by just being around
them at our monthly meetings, and seeing other friends scattered across the
internet, via Facebook, and seeing all their successes.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Several
friends have won or been finalists in various contests. The Realm Makers 2016 conference was JUL 28 -
30, and my NCWA friend Kim won the debut author award for her YA novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Fire-Under-Book-ebook/dp/B00V5PQTOA"><span style="font-style: italic;">Into the Fire</span></a> . </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Oregon
Christian Writers had their conference AUG 15-18, right after I started on this
post, and NCWA friend Kathleen won Unpublished Historical Fiction for her book <span style="font-style: italic;">Children of the Revolution</span>. Also 2016 NCWA Writers' Renewal Conference
speaker Ben Wolf won Published Children’s Book for his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Punch-Lion-His-Eye-You-ebook/dp/B0185N6R3W#nav-subnav"><span style="font-style: italic;">I’d Punch a Lion in the Eye For You</span></a>.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Congratulations
to these three, and to all the other winners, and to my other friends who were
finalists, and all the finalists. Well
done all.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Meeting
new Spec Fic writing friends at the 2016 NCWA conference and was also a big
encouragement to me. Ben Wolf had
mentioned that Realm Makers was wanting to do something on the west coast for
their 5th year anniversary conference in 2017, and so all of us at the NCWA
conference were hoping Realm Makers would be here in Seattle. But alas, next year's Realm Makers conference
is in Reno, NV., I have no idea how I'm going to make it, but sure would like
to go and meet more of my online Spec Fic friends. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It was
around MAR, after about three months being on Prozac, when my blogging
adventure was indirectly revitalized when I agreed to help out at the 2016
conference, which so greatly encouraged me to have made it through that
experience.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It was
that same time I also agreed to rejoin the board doing the AV support once
again, the position I originally took on 7 years ago when I volunteered in SEP
2009. The position I walked out of
during the OCT of 2014 monthly meeting.
After that I took a year off from attending meetings, and took 2 years
off from being on the board, after having done the AV / Tech support as a board
member since Spring of 2012, and as early as SEP 2009 before it was a board
position. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It was
only when our meetings moved out of Kirkland, to a more convenient location
that I started attending again. And on
occasion they asked me to sub for the guy who was doing the AV stuff that year,
which I suppose helped prep me to take on being in the position full-time
again. Right now though, at the end of
AUG, as I write this, fighting my way through trying to get ready for the 1st
meeting of the year in 12 days I feel
like an <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/2016/07/10/11-28-impostor-syndrome-with-alyssa-wong/">impostor</a>. I am hoping the energy from attending the
conference will stay with me a bit longer, and help me as I try once again to
organize my thoughts to get through making the Power Point slides for SEP's
meeting, and that this blog will keep me headed in the "write"
direction for getting things done.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Working on
this blog, rejoining the board, my renewed interest in drawing, my Spec Fic
writing, and my figuring out what to do with tutoring math and computer
programming is requiring me to work out finding the right balance.<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And in the
spirit of balance, I have to balance out how long to make these posts, and I
think we've come to the end of another installment.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Not only
is writing this blog, getting posts out on a regular basis, even if only once a
month at this point, and getting articles done ahead of time an encouragement,
so are the comments you give me, both here on my posts, as well as on Facebook. So thank you for reading and commenting.</div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-22772999162326766992016-09-01T11:00:00.000-07:002016-09-01T11:05:53.505-07:00We Return to our Regularly Scheduled 2016 NCWA Writers' Renewal Conference After Action Report<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
After I
got Starving Artist up on AUG 1 I kindda fell into a slump, writing that post
drained me more than I expected, and for the next 5 days I let myself get
distracted with watching and sorting drawing videos, and not doing any writing. And even during the following week I was
still not writing enough on this article.
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
So then,
where was I before I got interrupted by a writing assignment from Eric, my
counselor? Right, the 2016 NCWA
Writers' Renewal.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I was
saying I had made it to the 2016 Writer's Renewal Conference without turning
around and calling Mindy and telling her I wasn't going to make it, and without
leaving after I got there. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It was a
busy morning running around from room to room making sure workshop speakers'
tech was working. I ended up missing, or
just plain skipping most Friday workshops.
I did get to Ben Wolf's workshop about writing Speculative Fiction.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
While
running around doing tech, and skipping workshops, I was visiting with Spec Fic
writing friends, and we were talking about how we need a Facebook support
group, since most of us are so spread out across the state, and cannot get
together in person, except during the conference, and visiting once a year
isn't enough.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And it's
not always enough to hang out with other writers, even general fiction writers,
because while writers are generally a misunderstood lot, non-fiction writer
types often do not understand the act of writing fiction, and general fiction
writers don't get writing Spec Fic, particularly in the so-called Christian
publishing world - "Ewwww - 'Christian Fantasy' what's that all
about?" Apparently they never read
Lewis' Narnia Chronicles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH_QyY0fy02BLcMhaf6BMDOhOiXpYWfaGCgR-dTgflsWv2mvQL_YGJP4y6L2GYWzwx63Sip0vCz8LT5Ity3qP1CXW8wDeoD9rRIm3IYVQRvY1o4hVI3UquWRIFwA11D2CxEaYA8sK0XR5/s1600/snow+and+ice+2.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH_QyY0fy02BLcMhaf6BMDOhOiXpYWfaGCgR-dTgflsWv2mvQL_YGJP4y6L2GYWzwx63Sip0vCz8LT5Ity3qP1CXW8wDeoD9rRIm3IYVQRvY1o4hVI3UquWRIFwA11D2CxEaYA8sK0XR5/s320/snow+and+ice+2.BMP" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So that's
why, as I mentioned in </span><a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-does-it-mean-to-be-starving-artist_54.html#PART3" style="font-size: 14pt;">Part
3 of Starving Artist</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, after Ben's "Making it Weird" workshop I
went ahead and created </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1725981870982681/" style="font-size: 14pt;">a Facebook group for
NCWA's Spec Fic Authors</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> - come join us if you are a Spec Fic writing member
of </span><a href="http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/" style="font-size: 14pt;">NCWA</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> It is a place where we can gather, at least
virtually, and support one another, ask questions, whatever. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ben's
workshop was also the genesis of the idea to create a new blog, called
"Strange Realms - Spectacularly Redeemed," I intend it to be "A Place of Hope. A Place of Light. A Place of Healing. A Place of Life." The idea is to spectacularly redeem strange
realms creation in our writing. I want
it to be a place where Christian Spec Fic authors can talk about why they write
Spec Fic, what they write, and what they hope to accomplish with it, both what
they hope to get out of it, and what they hope their readers get out of their
Spec Fic.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I_SoT3pxGHgcidbkkRuA3tt2fEhU1YsyrpxGU-r7OX6Oagyv1HqTBj8qrAFGI49cRiYdpMT-yT09Dk5x39oE4h6QDvAI0FqlP_C5WG9Pr49T8vFIKpSjh2uy7CLd0YwllOgP6_Dp3laf/s1600/snow+and+trees0001.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I_SoT3pxGHgcidbkkRuA3tt2fEhU1YsyrpxGU-r7OX6Oagyv1HqTBj8qrAFGI49cRiYdpMT-yT09Dk5x39oE4h6QDvAI0FqlP_C5WG9Pr49T8vFIKpSjh2uy7CLd0YwllOgP6_Dp3laf/s320/snow+and+trees0001.BMP" width="232" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And one
thing led to another, and that is why I am thinking of also creating a Strange
Realms - Spectacularly Redeemed Facebook group for those who would be
interested. It would be open to all
Christian Spec Fic writers, and readers, whereas the NCWA Spec Fic group is intended to be a
smaller, local group, so if anyone wants to join, let me know, here in the
comments or tag me in Facebook, I need one other member before Facebook will
let me create a group (There cannot be only one).</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
The 2nd, and only other, workshop I went to was
Ben Wolf's Realistic Combat for Writers.
After which I spoke up and said, "hey maybe I could do a workshop
next year on Guns for Writers, since I like shooting and grew up around
guns." WHAT WAS I THINKING? I gotta stop going to writing workshops while
on drugs. Well, we'll see when it comes
time that they are looking for work shoppers for next year's conference, maybe
I will have regained my sanity by then, and maybe those who heard me will have
forgotten.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
At the end
of the conference they always give the attendees a chance to go up and talk,
briefly, about what they got out of the conference. I wasn't going to go up and say anything, but
then I found myself in the front talking about having depression and walking
out of the monthly meeting in OCT 2014, and almost not going to the conference
this year.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Not only
did I not plan on going up and speaking about my dealing with, and being
treated for, depression, I certainly didn't have plans to start writing
articles for this blog. I figured it had
pretty much died, and I was going to leave it dead and buried. But then I found myself working on this blog,
which meant putting down new words for a blog article, this blog article, for
example, or it might mean reading, re-writing, editing, shuffling, and even
deleting yesterday's words. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Writing
these blog articles gives me more ideas for writing more articles to post. Writing inspires me to keep writing. Blogging
even inspires me with my Spec Fic writing I need to schedule into my day.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Not
writing makes me want to keep not writing.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Writing
begets writing. Not writing begets not
writing. Like begets like.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am a
writer, therefore</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I must write.</span></div>
</div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-20150621953620932502016-08-01T10:23:00.000-07:002016-08-13T10:45:41.402-07:00What Does it Mean to be "A Starving Artist?" OR Why I Write Speculative Fiction.<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="font-size: 17pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good
Morning Campers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
We
were going to interrupt our regular schedule for a special blog post. My
counselor, Eric, asked me to write an "essay" on what it would be
like to be "A Starving Artist." Eric wanted this the next time
we were to meet, which originally gave me</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
2 1/2 weeks for this project. Sooooo my
regularly scheduled blogging was going to be pre-empted for this project. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
But
the morning of the appointment Eric called and said he had to cancel all of his
appointments for that day. So now the pre-empted schedule has been
pre-empted. And I will resume my regular posting schedule with this
article, and Eric can read it next time we actually meet. And I will use this next month to catch up on
writing what I didn't focus on during the last 3 weeks.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I
guess this will get me ready to have to take editorial redirection in my
writing plans, as I have to shift from one project to another.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As I
struggled to put down coherent thoughts, the first draft of this article, like
most, if not all, had grown excessively long.
And even with what I've cut, it seems like it's still going to be longer
than my earlier posts.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">An artist
is never finished with his work, he just finally has to abandon it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So here we go. You've been warned. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
When Eric gave me this assignment, I knew it would take up the time I would normally spend writing blog articles, that's why I wanted to post this, to try to keep up on a schedule. Sorry it's so long. <br />
<br />
I considered breaking this into separate posts, but decided against it, since I was able to add the anchors to each part and link to those anchors below, to enable readers to break this into smaller chunks of reading, without having to search where they may have left off in their reading.<br />
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-does-it-mean-to-be-starving-artist_54.html#PART2">PART 2</a><br />
<a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-does-it-mean-to-be-starving-artist_54.html#PART3">PART 3</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<a name="PART1"> </a>
PART 1<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
At this
point, I suppose being a starving artist would be no worse than being on
assistance for disability due to the depression I've been fighting. Now that I'm on the Prozac, maybe I will
start winning those battles, and get off assistance.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Hopefully
the fact I've been writing more regularly is indicative that I am starting to
win some of the battles. Because at this
point I'm thinking the starving artist thing is looking better and better. Even
though when I started writing in 7th grade I didn't want to be a starving
artist. Even though I still don't want to be just a starving artist.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
What
sparked this assignment from my counselor? </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I suppose
the assignment may stem from the fact I was telling Eric about the night when
as I lay in bed I was thinking about all the various drawing videos I'd
recently watched.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Or the
assignment may have been due to the fact that I was talking to Eric so much
about my writing, even this blog.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I started
realizing I'm thinking differently about writing.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I used to
say things like: "I started liking writing …," etc.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I now
catch myself saying things like: "I started writing …," etc.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I
recognized I was using the phrase " being a writer..," etc., while talking to Eric about being a writer,
and then pointing out to him that I had noticed that.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I know
these are small changes in wording, but to me they represent a big difference
in how I look at my writing and at being a writer.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I may have
also let slip that I've recently had the wild brained idea that I want to learn
the sax, so I could play the blues.
However, if I could actually afford a sax, and lessons, I could afford
to get a new camera, which I would do first.
And repair my 2-legged tripod.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
At least
drawing pencils and sketchbooks are fairly inexpensive. And lessons on YouTube videos are free. Free is good.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
As I work
on this assignment from Eric, I look back at the article "<a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2009/12/reflections_21.html">Reflections</a>." Again thoughts race through my mind, thoughts
covering everything from childhood to recent events, regarding my experience
with art, and I am having a very difficult time focusing on what to write.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Thoughts
also race through my mind about this blogging I'm doing. Thoughts about doing this writing assignment
as an article to post. Will it help me
to write more? Will it do my writing any
good?? Will it do me any good? Will I do anything with what I write?? Will any of you care? Will there even be "any of you" by
this point? And what about all this
drawing stuff? Where does it fit? If you
made it this far, congratulations.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<a name="PART2"></a>PART 2<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
What does
it mean to be "A Starving Artist?"
Shoot, what does it mean to be an artist, period?</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I suppose
it means putting up with comments like "Art is just a hobby." So says one "friend." I think he includes writing in that
statement, as well as my newly revived pursuit of drawing. According to him I'm wasting my time. I don't need that negativity. I believe his
comment came during a discussion in which I told said friend about the drawing
videos I'd mentioned to Eric - oops, and double oops. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
This
interest in drawing isn't something new.
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Recently I
found some old drawing videos I had saved about 3 years ago. I went back to YouTube to see what new videos
the artists had put up. I ended up not
even watching the videos by those artists, as I found videos by other artists I
liked better.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
When I
first started watching the videos I was just watching them for something
educational to pass the time while taking a break from my writing.
And of course I had to mention both the writing efforts and the drawing
videos to Eric. I wasn't really engaged
in the videos, as far as taking notes, etc., but soon I began to feel a
reignited interest in drawing and dug out old drawing supplies that had lain
forgotten, and gathering dust.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I found
some old receipts in those forgotten and dusty supplies. Some of the supplies are a dozen years
old. And some go back 2 decades to the
drawing class I took in college for an elective. This after being turned off from anything
having to do with art in my high school art class - hmmmm, maybe why the
supplies lay forgotten. Also, at some
point during the last 15 years, or so, I collected images to use as practice
drawing subjects. I also did still life
setups to photograph and study for lighting and shadows. After I started watching videos again I added
more potential practice subjects to my collection.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Soon after I started scribbling in one of my
sketchbooks I became more actively engaged in paying attention to the videos,
and started taking notes, rather than just passively listening. This note taking was in the form of
journaling in my sketch book, instead of jotting notes on scraps of paper, as I
had done in the past, and then I would have to track down the scraps to do
something with the notes.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I'm
not able to focus enough to take notes, so I just watch to take a break from
whatever else I am doing, like this blog article for Eric's writing
assignment. But eventually I go back to
the other videos to continue taking notes. <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Either
way, I also I usually listen to </span><a href="http://v6.player.abacast.net/4" style="font-size: 14pt;">98.1
King FM Classical Radio's Evergreen
Channel</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> during the day to feed my
creativity in general.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Beside
finding videos on how to draw I also found videos on artists, and on being an
artist.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<a name="PART3"></a>
PART 3<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Maybe
being "A Starving Artist" means associating with other "Starving
Artists," and living in an "Artist Community," whatever that
means. That would mean pure torture for
me. Maybe, it means, like some of them,
signing up on <a href="http://www.patreon.com/">Patreon</a> or another crowd
funding site like <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/">GoFundMe</a>, and asking
total strangers for help.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Maybe,
like they discussed on Writing Excuses, it means suffering from <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/2016/07/10/11-28-impostor-syndrome-with-alyssa-wong/">Impostor
Syndrome</a>. Or maybe it means really
being an imposter.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
There are
so many "artists" I really don't want to be associated with. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Some of
the videos I found was a bunch of TedX
"rah rah rah." I don't
do very well with "rah rah rah." </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Other
videos I found were along the lines of what to do or not to do as an artist, at
least one was even aimed at "Starving Artists," others were Advice to
Young Artists, and artists discussing their childhoods. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
A lot, or
enough, of these "artists" look like burned out dopers. So do some of those in the audience.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And, what
they call "art," well….</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
A lot of
people argue that art is a way to say something.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Yet others
say things like "Art doesn't have to have meaning."</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
So what
you are saying then has no meaning.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And then
there was the statement "Art is only for the 'open-minded'." </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Really? That doesn't seem to be very
"open-minded."</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Everybody
seems to have an opinion, an untrained/uneducated opinion on what is
"art."</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Or they
are over-educated and everybody oooos and ahhhhs over the so-called
"artist," and thinks everything they say about art is so
"deep."</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
No, it
makes no sense, and you are afraid to say so.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Whereas,
with math, there is a correct answer.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Hence my
past reluctance, even continuing, even growing, reluctance as being seen as an
"artist," starving, or not, and why I've stayed away from
"art."</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I do
believe there is Absolute Truth, that there are things that are right and
things that are wrong, regardless of what culture claims. And I believe that true art reflects that
these things are so.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
And if you
disagree, my truth is still valid, because if there is no Absolute
Truth then my truth is just as valid as your truth, according to the logic that
there is no Absolute Truth. Therefore if
I think what you call "art" is a pile of trash thrown against a wall,
then you shouldn't be insulted. After
all my truth is my truth, and you say all truths are valid. And … wait a minute. Where is this all going?</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Just like
math having a correct answer, I believe there is true art, and there is, well,
garbage. "There is a certain sense
in which art is its own justification. If art is good art, if it is true art,
if it is beautiful art, then it is bearing witness to the Author of the good,
the true, and the beautiful." Our
"impetus for producing … art is a desire for excellence. That desire stems
from the … supreme example of excellence in all that is good and true
and beautiful." - R.C. Sproul's teaching series about <a href="http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/recovering-the-beauty-of-the-arts/">Recovering
the Beauty of The Arts</a>, and blog posts on The Christian and Art (<a href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-1/">Part One</a>, <a href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-2/">Part Two</a>,
and <a href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-christian-and-art-pt-3/">Part
Three</a>).</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
That's why
I write Speculative Fiction. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Why, other
than our own local <a href="http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/">Northwest
Christian Writers' Association</a> Facebook group, <a href="http://www.realmmakers.com/">Realm Makers</a> is one of the only groups I
still follow, after almost totally disconnecting myself from Facebook, and I
hope to be able to go to the Realm Makers conference one day soon . (The 2016 conference just finished up, and
the 2017 conference will be in Reno.)
Why I enjoy the <a href="https://faithandfantasyalliance.wordpress.com/">Faith
and Fantasy Alliance</a> blog.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<a name="Why I Created a FaceBook group for NCWA's Spec Fic Authors"> </a>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Why I
created <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1725981870982681/">a FaceBook group
for NCWA's Spec Fic Authors</a>. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Why I am
also in the middle of creating a new
blog, called "Strange Realms - Spectacularly Redeemed." I intend it to provide Christian Speculative
Fiction writers, and readers "A Place of Hope. A Place of Light. A Place of Healing. A Place of Life." I intend for it to
spectacularly redeem the creation of strange realms in speculative fiction as
an art form. </div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMEDI1-PXbsYkrdFYegqZ140sgYgLyHCl5GmXyRS8lix8FDX8CL5-sgtvVSI-5-77VLZ39y2WskDqkcBrTAOiKKcvv3VPbiN4oLdaY5DY4hPPd8qnKv1Pt9GVySdeT3buwCw2Sq8Kqcny/s1600/One+Lonely+Tree.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMEDI1-PXbsYkrdFYegqZ140sgYgLyHCl5GmXyRS8lix8FDX8CL5-sgtvVSI-5-77VLZ39y2WskDqkcBrTAOiKKcvv3VPbiN4oLdaY5DY4hPPd8qnKv1Pt9GVySdeT3buwCw2Sq8Kqcny/s320/One+Lonely+Tree.png" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TW4wU9r-tMhfge8oFmMaj_69wNpMbBplhzRymZmJ8eYupmf9WKdoplO2n9lHTDbZkNREE4UaUyRiVrwvxsbSHvHuEW30pRfDR4Ttab4vimGuqnIMkwMkzxF9LWEFew5Nb1vULCksxaH7/s1600/B%2526W+Lonely+Trees.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TW4wU9r-tMhfge8oFmMaj_69wNpMbBplhzRymZmJ8eYupmf9WKdoplO2n9lHTDbZkNREE4UaUyRiVrwvxsbSHvHuEW30pRfDR4Ttab4vimGuqnIMkwMkzxF9LWEFew5Nb1vULCksxaH7/s320/B%2526W+Lonely+Trees.png" width="212" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6193939145144539741" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd9_UPIYOWKWrVQI9KSd-Ov5VACFKIJAim-GgxT86thogRpwj5rAYfVjXdWf_lzXNPkkRYEB74TMzmmL_GEkEE0Gabl1Y3AuNIGIp9TzQUJjHk8hpFGKyxCstUHclsNgh-ausUVL322Kc/s1600/Days+of+Creation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd9_UPIYOWKWrVQI9KSd-Ov5VACFKIJAim-GgxT86thogRpwj5rAYfVjXdWf_lzXNPkkRYEB74TMzmmL_GEkEE0Gabl1Y3AuNIGIp9TzQUJjHk8hpFGKyxCstUHclsNgh-ausUVL322Kc/s320/Days+of+Creation.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Why I am
thinking of also creating a Strange Realms - Spectacularly Redeemed Facebook
group for those who would be interested.
It would be open to all Christian Spec Fic writers, and readers, whereas
the NCWA Spec Fic group is intended to
be a smaller, local group, so if anyone wants to join, let me know, here in the
comments or tag me in Facebook.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
So what
does it mean to be "A Starving Artist?" I still have no idea.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Maybe,
just maybe, being "A Starving Artist" means being human, and letting
friends know your needs, hopes, and dreams.
Great Scott.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW338Odk3OB-AC__WWNupMg0JzcVxieLefUh9JR3ulEAFyr1gA6FCsPWkAaHNfbFJxznr263Bav37XttwBJJX2qwpA4hsfAJDH27qspQOTzh5aXir_h5FZH5mxq7r0-Bx6MimUY9eQprU/s1600/God+has+put+people+around+you..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW338Odk3OB-AC__WWNupMg0JzcVxieLefUh9JR3ulEAFyr1gA6FCsPWkAaHNfbFJxznr263Bav37XttwBJJX2qwpA4hsfAJDH27qspQOTzh5aXir_h5FZH5mxq7r0-Bx6MimUY9eQprU/s320/God+has+put+people+around+you..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Maybe it
means being open and taking what was originally an assignment from my mental
health counselor, and posting it as a rambling blog article (That's just crazy
talk). Maybe it means being where I am
right now. Maybe it means I'm heading in
the right direction.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
If I am
going to be a writer, an author, an artist, an illustrator, a photographer, I
will have to submit my work to someone to criticize and judge. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I better
start growing that extra layer of RINOTuff
™ Skin now. (I wonder if it comes in camo?)</div>
</div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-15343316631208308382016-07-01T18:18:00.001-07:002016-07-01T18:18:42.339-07:00Blogging, NCWA, and My Friend Prozac<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
No sooner
had I posted one blog article than I started the next one. Or
Next Several. I am writing a few
extra articles to stay ahead of my planned schedule of posting once a month.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It will be
easier to meet this self-imposed deadline without Facebook eating up my time,
especially my writing time, since I unplugged it in January. For the most part. Except my writing groups. More about that later. Also, I found myself writing about
unnecessary details in <a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2016/06/depression-writers-group-conferences.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Depression, Writers' Group Conferences and Board
Positions, and Blogging Again</span></a>, so it got too long, and took too long
to post.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
In order
to shorten the article and get it posted without more delay, I cut much of what
I originally had to say and saved those notes in OneNote for future blog posts
in which I could cover individual topics in more detail. I also now use OneNote to collect thoughts I
would have otherwise put on Facebook, which I can then expand into fully developed blog articles.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
When I
first started getting treated for depression the doc put me on a higher
dose of Prozac for 6 weeks, but with the
side-affects I asked her to lower the dosage.
After I got on the lower dosage the side-affects weren't so bad, and I
was doing nicely and feeling better. I
know it won't be an instantaneous change, but more long and gradual. Sometimes I still have bad days. Sometimes I still have really bad days.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
About 2
months on the Prozac, about 2 weeks on the lower dose, I wanted to help at the
conference. But when I saw that we had moved the location, I decided
I needed more time to think about whether or not I wanted to drive that far to
volunteer. Sometimes I still have bad
days.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
That was
about the time Mindy called and asked me if I would be willing to come and try
to help with doing the tech stuff at the conference. And to return to the board as the Tech
Coordinator. And so I ended up agreeing
to help at the conference, and to return
to the board. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Agreeing
to help, and being able to help can be two different things. I was extremely stressed getting to the
conference, and several times on the way there I almost called Mindy and told
her I wasn't going to be able to make it.
Sometimes I still have really bad
days. Hence my initial reluctance about
volunteering when I saw the venue had moved.
But we made it through without me walking out as I had done at our
monthly meeting in October 2014.
Sometimes I have really, really bad days.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Blogging
isn't just about sitting down and doing the writing. There's also that little problem of
developing a reader base, presenting a blog that people will want to read. So 3 days after starting this post I started
updating the look of the blog, besides working on several additional articles
for future posts.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Well, I
guess that's it for now dear reader. I
just hope I can keep up my planned monthly posting schedule, as this guy keeps
staring out from my monitor, </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP5Blkk-vlvijJymy2c6QKIs6cT62GqkeDzDdXL7qp7PciXdt3HtTw8MSqEVAEOpyk9AJq1Yso8vs9Hu8oGVDbajsy4Yxd4TFhdNW43IF1yF8IbhxAho3Q7dnZKkxq6sE_ZmUhn1ItxVg/s1600/Picture+of+me+15+gray.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP5Blkk-vlvijJymy2c6QKIs6cT62GqkeDzDdXL7qp7PciXdt3HtTw8MSqEVAEOpyk9AJq1Yso8vs9Hu8oGVDbajsy4Yxd4TFhdNW43IF1yF8IbhxAho3Q7dnZKkxq6sE_ZmUhn1ItxVg/s320/Picture+of+me+15+gray.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
threatening
me with <br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSCWBUVVYJ3SEpvpsQCZkJ73VSlyuwBw5-kBUStKsyyl6Gvh6h2HYVjBpUW5hSnf7-HdywqpwEpk5JQ3h59I4d-JUO3EBjxJxrxzNJdcSlJbkTtFiEWNxzFE7YeD2Q7ATug4cgPgBCXaW/s1600/Fairburnsykes+pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSCWBUVVYJ3SEpvpsQCZkJ73VSlyuwBw5-kBUStKsyyl6Gvh6h2HYVjBpUW5hSnf7-HdywqpwEpk5JQ3h59I4d-JUO3EBjxJxrxzNJdcSlJbkTtFiEWNxzFE7YeD2Q7ATug4cgPgBCXaW/s320/Fairburnsykes+pair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
if I don't
write. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
It's an
effective incentive. So please excuse me
for now. I have notes to turn into blog
articles. And I have Spec Fic to write.</div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-89839453656242551302016-06-15T14:20:00.001-07:002016-06-29T11:51:26.602-07:00Depression, Writers' Group Conferences and Board Positions, and Blogging Again<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
The last
monthly <a href="http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/">Northwest Christian
Writers' Association </a>meeting of the 2015 - 2016 season is done and
over. We will start back up in SEP -
come and join us if you are able. The
Writers' Renewal of 2016 has come and gone.
The <a href="http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/Renewal2017">2017
Conference</a> is already scheduled and speakers and events being planned.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
I worked
on doing some tech stuff at this year's conference, after my friend Mindy, the
president of NCWA the last two years, called and asked me if I would be willing
to come and try to help out. Between
trying to do the tech stuff I made it to two workshops, both by Ben Wolf, one
on Speculative Fiction, and one on realistic fight scenes in your work. More on how those workshops inspired me
later.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
My
depression had caught up to me in an ugly way in OCT of 2014, and I walked out
of that meeting, and skipped going to meetings for that season. I returned to the meetings in SEP 2015 when
we changed locations for the second time in 2 years, but only helped with tech
stuff occasionally. When she asked me to
help out at the conference, Mindy also asked me if I was ready, willing, and
able to return to the board. And so
after a 2 year sabbatical I have indeed
returned as Tech Coordinator. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
In JAN I
started taking Prozac, as well as thyroid meds, as low thyroid can be related
to depression. Those who know me well
say they can see an improvement, and I feel like I'm doing better. I just have to be careful to not try to over
do it and bite off more than I can handle as I get back into the swing of
things. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Being on
the Prozac helped me to start feeling better enough to want to start helping
out at NCWA again, and so I was able to agree to both help at the conference,
and to return to the board. The meds are
also helping with me getting more motivation to do write again, including
blogging, hence this new blog post.</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
Another
part of why I started trying to work on this blog is because as part of getting
back on the board, Mindy asked me for a head-shot and I sent her the head-shot I am now using.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">She told me "Very funny. If you're not careful I'll post that on Facebook." People should be careful of what they threaten me with.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uqzEgDNCxT1Vy11jSwvg_cE55UoQacq2Yn6mmyG0t2ULkpCG2QXaEr_ONVo9iXk2SDgE4qHFeED3ivp5g0nl9NuYXgEeASdSLZ5E8bve0q0mmCbBWSVa_oev7ljBSFbtAPy2kE50bQdB/s1600/Picture+of+me+15+gray.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uqzEgDNCxT1Vy11jSwvg_cE55UoQacq2Yn6mmyG0t2ULkpCG2QXaEr_ONVo9iXk2SDgE4qHFeED3ivp5g0nl9NuYXgEeASdSLZ5E8bve0q0mmCbBWSVa_oev7ljBSFbtAPy2kE50bQdB/s200/Picture+of+me+15+gray.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It
is again my Facebook profile pic, as well as the pic for this blog, and also
for my website, my NCWA profile, and all my other social media profiles.
I may change it again in the future, but have no current plans to do so.
As writers we are told to develop a platform. Well, since I've
often been told that my writing is "dark," I figure this is an
appropriate pic, and some of my friends that also write Spec Fic have said that with what I
write it is an appropriate pic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So that is
why my going around to all my social media sites and changing my profile pic to
the above started me looking at blogging again.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Writing is
like exercising. When you get back into
it, you want to be able to do all the "lifts" you know you should
have been doing. And yet you need to
make sure to work out enough to be ready later to do the heavy lifting. And now I have to be careful to not overdo it
too soon after getting back into it after such a long break away from it. So that's all for this post. I have plenty of material I've made notes on,
so hopefully I will be posting more regularly, at least for awhile.</span>DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-4948100019756141602013-06-10T07:36:00.000-07:002016-06-25T16:56:10.565-07:002013 NCWA Writer’s Renewal Conference Jesse Florea, Editor Clubhouse, Clubhouse Jr. -- Begin and End with a BangThe opening notes of your story need to grab your audience’s
attention and hold it long enough to get them to the end when the final notes
are heard.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So where should I begin?” you might be asking
yourself. Your opening must grab the
heart instantly. If your story has too
much of an introduction and doesn't start in the middle of the action, the
editor will probably never get to “the good part.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Start where the action is, and work backwards. Sometimes the lead is the first thing you write; sometimes it is the last thing you write. Find your opening and get it out front where the
reader will see it in the first 20-30 seconds, that’s 4-5 average length
sentences. If you are writing for
children you have about half that time to get a child’s attention. Do whatever you can to hook your reader as soon
as possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First impressions are inevitably
the strongest. The first two or three
paragraphs act as bait, enticing your audience into reading the entire story. They should guide the reader smoothly into
the rest of the story, conducting them to the finale. You want to stop your story before it
actually ends. Indeed, the story may end before it gets started if you allow
yourself to engage in a lethargic beginning and assume the reader is
automatically interested in what you write.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make your lead creative and
compelling. Study and practice making
openings attractive, so that your editor, and the rest of your readers, will reach
the end of your story, where the tone leaves the reader listening to a
satisfying symphony tinged with some dissatisfaction. Be conclusive, but not completely. Let your reader hear the echoes of the final
notes fading away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://nwchristianwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/2013-conference-reflections-begin-and-end-with-a-bang-by-dewayne-ruggles/" target="_blank">My NCWA Blog Article is Here</a><br />
<br /></div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-54241974557963017172013-05-20T12:25:00.003-07:002013-05-20T12:36:09.432-07:002013 NCWA Writer’s Renewal Conference – Day 2: After Action Report<br />
The worst part of the deep-sea adventure we called the 2013 NCWA Writer’s Renewal Conference was saying my good-byes when it all came to an end. Since Saturday evening I’ve spent some time in the decompression chamber preparing to surface back to reality.<br />
<br />
Two years ago when I went to the conference I volunteered some, and I went to editorial sessions, and workshops, but I spoke to no one outside of those event, except to friends from NCWA.<br />
<br />
This year I tried to be involved with helping out even more, and I actually spoke to Jesse Florea, the editor for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. several times outside of the workshops and editorial sessions.<br />
<br />
I asked Jesse if I could email him and get a copy of the submission guidelines, and also asked him how many people also asked for the guidelines. He said not many, usually only the ones he meets at conferences.<br />
<br />
I also spoke to Jesse about getting a copy of the Story Bible for FotF’s Adventures in Odyssey and he told me I could email him with a reminder that we had talked and he would forward my email and name to the person in charge at Adventures in Odyssey. <br />
<br />
We talked a bit about how they’ve recently redone Odyssey and so they have a new, shorter, Story Bible, and we talked some about some of the old characters and how the authors who created them used Easter Eggs for their names, etc. I may not be ready to start trying to write for them, but at least it is a target I now have to aim for. Jesse also told me that a published NCWA author is also just beginning the process of writing for Odyssey <br />
<br />
Also Jesse told me that he does accept true-life stories, so after I get the submission guidelines I will see about re-working some of my true stories of growing up I Alaska, and all the various ways we tried to kill ourselves as kids. Tonight is the last NCWA fiction writer’s group, and our last monthly meeting will be June 3rd, and so I will try to get a couple of my short stories to my critique group to get some feedback to work on until I get those submission guidelines.<br />
<br />
I never intended on being a children’s author, but then again I have ran from my writing desire since 1972. As I said in a recent post, if God doesn’t stop sending me to these writing conferences, and if He doesn’t stop arranging these divine appointments, I might just start thinking He wants me to pursue this writing stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-3019887992580990422013-05-18T06:34:00.005-07:002013-05-19T13:55:48.265-07:002013 NCWA Writer’s Renewal Conference – First Day’s First ThoughtsThe squirting-sea snail floats to the top of the classroom aquarium, it’s orange and black shell glows softly. Nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care how it got there. That classroom is mine, I notice I care. I line up the students to race out the door on my command, past the poisonous sea creature that has mysteriously appeared in our classroom aquarium. I tell the children “no dawdling now. When I tell you to Move! You MOVE!”<br />
<br />
<br />
I awaken. It’s 5:15 AM – O515 HRS. The sky is showing signs of morning crawling over the eastern horizon. The birds are chirping. I moan. It’s far too early to get up. “Get up, get up,” an inner voice tells me, “Jane Kirkpatrick is up by 4:00 AM and writing by 5:00.”<br />
<br />
“UGH!” I lay in bed, thoughts racing through my head from the first day of the conference yesterday. One more day to go today.<br />
<br />
“Get up and write,” that inner voice screams at me, over and over.<br />
<br />
I try to silence the voice by rolling over and ignoring it. It doesn’t work.<br />
<br />
I find myself standing in the shower, but it’s hard to tell with my eyes still glued shut. Somehow I have stumbled to the computer and have started writing something called 2013 NCWA Writer’s Renewal Conference – First Day’s First Thoughts. Where did that come from?<br />
<br />
Jesse Florea editor for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines quoted from Finding Forrester where Sean Connery’s character tells the kid “write first, think later.” OK, so I am writing first, thinking will come later when I am awake. It was 6 AM when I started writing, it is now a quarter after, and this morning’s alarm is going off. I have about an hour to get ready and get out off here to get for day two of the conference.<br />
<br />
I must write. For I am a writer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-85048432336056204512013-05-01T11:37:00.001-07:002013-05-01T11:37:09.550-07:00The Harpies Mugged my Muse<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Harpies mugged my Muse.
They pushed her down, knocked her over the head, tied her up in a
gunnysack and tossed her in the Marianas Trench. It’s taken awhile, but she’s back now, back with
a vengeance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On May 7<sup>th</sup>, 2012 I moved into my car, where I
stayed for 7 months. I was working at
Bellevue College at the time. Try
teaching two computer programming classes while staying in your car with your
cat. It was, to say the least,
interesting, and I have to be careful about what I say about this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I missed that evening’s NCWA meeting, but I continued to
write. After Spring term ended, I took
my Qosmio laptop to the local Starbucks, and library, and wrote, edited,
re-wrote, and read and took notes for other writing, until the Sandy Hook school
shooting in Connecticut on December 14<sup>th</sup>. Slowly but surely the Lord has put the desire
back in me to start up my writing again.
My friend Gigi Murfit from NCWA did a devotional at the April 1<sup>st</sup>,
2013 meeting which really helped me to not give up altogether and throw my writing
in the trash bin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly after writing my previous post some two years ago, I
was gifted with a Writer’s Renewal Conference scholarship by the NCWA board. Last year I was asked to volunteer at the
conference, and I would have gotten a 50% discount off the conference cost, but
because of moving into my car so close to last year’s conference I ended up not
able to go and help. Recently my friend
Judy notified me that an unnamed someone had provided another conference scholarship
for me. (The title of this article comes from a workshop at the conference.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About the time I started digging through some of my writing
to find an old short story to take and get critiqued, my Qosmio started dying
again, and I don’t think I can resuscitate it this time. I have to once more go through old files to move
and sort them. I gave a talk on March 18<sup>th</sup>,
2013 about using Google Drive, and am making a concerted effort to get some
cloud services set up so I can keep from having to do this in the
future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While going through these old files and trying to get cloud
technology set up I started re-reading my old blog posts, and this was the
final straw and I got the itch to write again, and once I get the itch I have
to write. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My last word? If God
doesn’t stop dragging me off to these writing conferences I might just start
thinking He wants me to work on being a writer.
I told Him I would go where He wants me to go, never thinking it might
mean something like this. Maybe I’ll be
able to fend of the Harpies a bit longer this go ‘round.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-75623133415459242082011-05-07T10:33:00.000-07:002011-05-07T10:33:20.970-07:00RUTS, CLOUDS, WAGONS & RABBIT TRAILSIt started so innocently (it always does, doesn't it?), with a Barnes & Noble gift card, applying for work at B&N, browsing for some books I might get with my gift card, and downloading the NOOK Study app for PC.<br />
<br />
One thing led to another, and I was off and running down yet another rabbit trail seeking up-to-date information on cloud computing. During my adventure I began familiarizing myself with some cool tools (toys?), and I started thinking about how I had been so used to doing it the way I was used to doing it, that I had totally ignored cool new ways of doing it. <br />
<br />
And so I started thinking about in what other ruts have I been stuck. And thus began this blog post. The original of this post began to grow quite lengthy and cumbersome, and so I chopped out bits and put them into another post that I will try to get out this next week.<br />
<br />
For now I will just say that I fell of the wagon with my running down rabbit trails, and have to climb back aboard and begin that part of my journey again.<br />
<br />
I will continue along this line of thought for the next few posts, including the possibility of a report on some of the cool toys I've been playing with. Remember this blog is another tool for me to use to practice getting into and staying in the habit of regular writing, but I do pray that something I say will bless you today.<br />
<br />
What ruts are you stuck in? What wagon have you fallen off of? Do you need to climb back on? Be blessed in Christ's Name.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-63868396514225212352011-04-24T14:00:00.000-07:002011-04-24T14:00:08.180-07:00NEWS UPDATE!It's almost 12 hours later from when I posted the previous article. I finally got back to bed about 3:30 this morning and slept only fitfully, waking at around 8:00 / 8:30. I called the bookstore where my brother and I had met to have our "picnic," and they told me they hadn't seen my wallet. Five minutes later I get a vmail msg saying the bookstore did have my wallet, so I am PRAISING JESUS for that WOO HOO! \o/\o/\o/<br />
<br />
So what next for this wantta be writer? Well, there is always starting next week's blog post. And speaking of next week's blog post, I have a bunch of notes on scratch paper I need to get typed. I also have a ton of articles I clipped from various sources that I intended on scanning "someday." For some of those notes "someday" was O'Dark:30 this morning, so I will continue working on scanning in notes for stories. And I also need to work on getting some editing done on <i>The Ayes Have It</i>, so I can hopefully turn in another submission for MAY. I have recently been browsing books at Barnes and Noble to see what I want to use the Barnes and Noble gift card that I was given for Christmas, so I might do a little more browsing for books. <br />
<br />
"Up from the grave He arose,<br />
with a mighty triumph o'er His foes.<br />
He arose a victor from the dark domain,<br />
and He lives forever with His saints to reign.<br />
He arose, He arose, Hallelujah Christ arose."DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-9518386441888375292011-04-24T02:28:00.000-07:002011-04-24T02:30:40.443-07:00Since I Can't Sleep I Might As Well get Up And Get Something DoneIt is 2:19 in the morning, and when I went to bed about 4 hours ago I emptied my pockets onto the night stand, and found that one of my wallets wasn't in its pocket. I checked the car, no wallet. I went to bed trying to leave it in God's hands, and got to sleep fairly quickly. However, I got woke up and had the idea to go back outside and check the ground between the house and car, and to look around the car, still no wallet. By know I am wide awake and unable to go back to sleep. I decide I might as well get up and try to get some things done.<br />
<br />
Amongst those things I figure I better try to get a blog article written to post - but what to write. Well, losing my wallet topped of a wonderful week where I've been busy subbing for Bellevue Christian Schools, and had an interview at Shoreline Christian School. So although I've been jotting notes on scraps of paper about possible blogging ideas for this week, I've not accomplished getting an article written. I decided I would cheat and post an old poem I wrote for a friend when we were in college, and she was going through some hard times. Considering how I am feeling right now about the missing wallet, I figured I need to remind myself of what the poem says. May it bless you as well.<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Sail On<br />
<br />
<br />
Behold, "there arose a great tempest in the sea,<br />
insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves...."<br />
<br />
And He "rebuked the wind,<br />
and said unto the sea,<br />
"Peace, be still...,<br />
and there was a great calm"<br />
<br />
And they marveled, saying,<br />
"He commandeth even the winds and water,<br />
and they obey Him."<br />
<br />
Matthew 8:24, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:25 KJV<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When the storms of adversity rage around you,<br />
and the waves of fear beat against you,<br />
<br />
I pray that you will look to<br />
The Man whom even the winds and waves obey,<br />
and that you put your hand in His,<br />
and that He will calm your<br />
heart,<br />
mind,<br />
and soul<br />
with the words<br />
"Peace, Be Still." <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When the windless days of <br />
doubt,<br />
discouragement,<br />
and depression<br />
beset you,<br />
<br />
I pray that Jesus will unfurl the beautiful sails of your life,<br />
and fill them with His gentle, benevolent winds of<br />
friendship,<br />
hope,<br />
and love.<br />
<br />
<br />
When it seems you've lost your way, <br />
and are going nowhere,<br />
and you don't know which way to turn,<br />
<br />
I pray that the merciful, compassionate waves of<br />
success in our Lord will wash over you<br />
to guide you to a place of rest in Him.<br />
<br />
<br />
May you find a safe haven in God,<br />
and May Christ be your<br />
Compass,<br />
Captain,<br />
and Companion.<br />
<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Blessings this Resurrection Sunday.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-46485074476105398642011-04-17T15:55:00.000-07:002011-04-17T15:59:18.578-07:00MIDNIGHT SNACKS--------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
It was TUES last week (12 APR) that I started writing last week's post. I'm going to try to post once a week, and this week I thought I would give you the aforementioned promised conclusion to <i>Midnight Snacks</i>. So without any further ado, I give you Part Two. (<a href="http://rugglesroamings.blogspot.com/2010/02/midnight-snacks.html">Part One is here</a>.)<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>PART TWO</b></span><br />
<br />
I decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and rather than foolishly going out into the living room and challenging the as of yet unknown numbers of intruders, I would make my escape as quietly and quickly as possible. It was a hot summer’s night and I had already opened the window, and had the fan going for some night air circulation. The fan may have covered any noises I may have made as I attempted to silently remove the screen from the, thankfully, first floor window. I eased the screen out of the frame and carefully set it aside where it wouldn’t fall or get knocked over while I proceeded to step two of my escape and evasion tactics. I slipped through the empty window frame and climbed outside and raced over to the neighbor’s apartment, where thankfully he had a phone, and called the police. Mike was insisting I had been dreaming and had been hearing things when I woke up. I decried his accusations as I dialed 9-1-1, and informed the dispatcher I had intruders in the apartment.<br />
<br />
While I waited for the police to show, I snuck back to the backside of our apartment where Greg’s room was and lightly taped on his window, and whispered “Greg, Greg, there’s somebody in the apartment.” I repeated myself until he responded and I told him the police were on the way, and to stay put, unless he wanted to join me in crawling out a window, and wait. He, like me, was a country boy, and we grew up using certain tools that more “refined” folk might look down upon. I told him to stay cool and stay in the room, and not to do anything stupid when the cops arrived.<br />
<br />
Eventually the cops show up (when seconds count, the police are only minutes away), and by now my adrenaline level is sky high. The cops show up and ask what’s going on. I tell them that there are an unknown number of unwanted visitors in my apartment and that I crawled out my window and after calling for them, went back and told Greg what was going on. The police went to go through the front door and it was locked. HUH??? How could anyone have gotten in if the front door was locked?? Apparently, when Wendy left, Greg turned the lock, but didn’t push the door entirely closed, so the door didn’t latch.<br />
<br />
The police made there way around to the back patio door, and because the curtains had been left open they could see the two visitors that had found their way into my living room. Apparently these two were well known by the local constabulary, as they called out their names, and told them to come over and open the closed and locked patio door. “John,” and “Joe” eventually managed to stumble over to the door and let in the police. These two had a bag with a liquor store label from across town. Apparently these two had bought their nightly supply of booze, stumbled back across town, stumbled into my apartment complex and managed to find our door had never been properly secured, and wandered in to have their beer bask. Thankfully, they were no more dangerous than this. If they had been the guy on the loose while I was house-sitting for friends in Alaska during Spring Break…, but that’s another story.<br />
<br />
The police got the two cuffed and stuffed into the back of the cruiser and came over and told me I was going to have to make a citizen’s arrest, and then release my prisoners into police custody. Apparently, the police can’t arrest for certain misdemeanors unless they see them committed, and so I made the ”citizen’s arrest” for trespassing, and signed the forms releasing the two into police custody. That was the last I ever heard of these two visitors.<br />
<br />
Oh, I never made it to the accounting test the next morning.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-39682525225670160592011-04-15T12:35:00.000-07:002011-04-15T12:35:14.271-07:00Getting Back in the SaddleRecently, I've been trying to train myself to get up earlier and to do a little writing. So I was up at 5:20 on TUES, 12 APR, scribing some notes I had scribbled down for this blog post while I was sitting in on a workshop at the Northwest Ministry Conference at Overlake church in Redmond, WA, where I had volunteered to help run the NCWA booth on SAT, the 9th. The workshop was discussing how to build an online community, not just a website. Part of the discussion included doing a blog. It was enough to convince me I needed to climb back up on the horse that had bucked me off last year. I've been dragging my feet about getting back into the saddle of blogging, mainly cause I didn't know what to write about. So I decided I would just write about needing to get back to blogging, and about why I haven't blogged for over a year.<br />
<br />
The longer I put off doing something - getting back to blogging in this instance, the harder it is to get back to doing it. When I was in high school I was in a drama class in which we were required to get up and do a monologue. I didn't mind getting up on stage and doing small parts, even though I hated getting up in front of class and giving speeches, but this just went against my grain. When the time came to perform the monologue, I came down sick with a tummy ache. I really was sick to my stomach, from nerves, and mom had MS and didn't have the strength to fight with me to get me up and to school. I ended up missing 14 days of school when my high school councilor finally came by the house to see what was wrong. We all talked, and I reluctantly agreed that I would return to school the next day. Talking about having creepy-crawlies in the tummy, walking back into the school that next day certainly gave me the heebie-jeebies.<br />
<br />
<br />
So why the long absence? It was about this time last year that my Toshiba Qosmio G25 started having heart palpations, and started giving me heart palpations. I managed to get my docs backed up on a flash drive and then copied them over to the Toshiba Satellite that a friend from church gave me. MAY & JUN of 2010 came and went, and I spent that summer sorting through the various copies of all the backup files I had managed to accumulate.<br />
<br />
I wound up throwing away some 7,000 files. Some of these files were back ups of back ups of back ups of ... well, you get the idea, going back to at least 10 years ago. All this to say: I got a little distracted from blogging for awhile, even when I did get a computer up and running. THEN in JAN I managed to kill the Satellite (or at least put it into a coma). In FEB a friend from NCWA gave me a replacement, and I've been busy trying to get all my files restored from the last backup I had performed to the flash drive. After I got close to finalizing this process I started dating my backup files, and working on keeping them organized a bit better. <br />
<br />
So, here I am a year later finally trying to figure out what to write about in order to get back into blogging. Last week I opened the old posts to try to get motivated to blog and spent a day fiddle-faddling with the layout and such, including renaming the blog "Ruggles' Roamings," from "Ruggles' Wanderings," wanting to get back into blogging, but a little reluctant to try to climb back into the saddle, after all - "What would my readers think of me having been gone so long, and now here I am expecting anybody to actually care about what I blog. I'm not really a blogger (worse - I'm not really a writer), just a pretender." It was thoughts like these that I had to overcome in order to sit down and write this new entry, and so here we are.<br />
<br />
So what's next? I've been working on my short story <i>The Ayes Have It</i>, getting it critiqued, editing / rewriting, getting more critiques, trying to move forward. Maybe I will write about that, maybe I will write about trying to write with a cat in the lap. I still owe you all the conclusion of <i>A Midnight Snack</i>, so I need to get that posted. If you already read the older posts, you may remember that I originally stated that this blog was supposed to be a tool in order to get into, and stay in the habit of a regular writing schedule. I'm hoping that between my recent attempts to get up earlier, and my renewed efforts to continue with my blogging that I will be able to get even more writing done. I need to go make sure my backups are current, and properly dated, so that I don't have to re-live last summer's adventures.<br />
<br />
Palm Sunday is coming up, Monday is the beginning of Passover, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday follow close behind, so as we enter into this holy season, be blessed, in Christ's Holy Name.<br />
<br />
Chesed v’shalom aleichem b’Y’Shua haMashiachDeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-14582870563341544432010-02-16T10:43:00.000-08:002010-02-16T10:51:05.322-08:00Beauty From AshesI’ve been kindda bummed out recently, and have let it affect my blogging and other writing. I think I have finally recognized what is causing me to feel so crummy.<br />
<br />
In DEC a friend died, and I attended his funeral. Early JAN marks the death of my mom. Late JAN marks the murder of a co-worker. Valentine’s Day marks my brother’s choking accident and his subsequent brain damage. FEB also marks the murder of my cousin’s son. MAR marks 4 years since I changed churches and marks 4 ½ years since being able to see my extended family.<br />
<br />
So why am I writing about this? Because it affects who I am and how much effort I put into writing articles for this blog, as well as the other writing I am doing. A few days ago I got into my dashboard and started fooling around with the design and layout of the blog. I added some images and linked them to some of my favorite sites, removing the link from the blog list. I fiddle-faddled around, while trying to think of something “meaningful” to write and post – nothing came to me.<br />
<br />
At the same time I had been involved in a Facebook discussion about facing intruders in the home and it reminded me of something that happened to me so I sat down and started recording that story. In the middle of editing “Midnight Snacks,” and in the middle of fiddling around with the layout I decided I needed to post “SOMETHING” so I posted the first two paragraphs below as part one of “Midnight Snacks,” thinking this would help me to sit down and write something more “relevant.”<br />
<br />
Time passed and I still never came up with anything I saw as having value. Last night was prayer meeting, and I was thinking about all the death and other losses in my family, and mentioned them for prayer. Today I made a quick FB post, and then started thinking that maybe I should post this here on the blog.<br />
<br />
So there you have it – a bit about me and who I am, and what makes me tick, what affects my stories and how. Seeing as how I have posted part one of “Midnight Snacks,” I will see about doing another edit and posting part two by the beginning of next week.<br />
<br />
A quote I am trying to remember was posted on <a href="http://www.spirit1053.com/">Spirit 105.3's</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spirit-1053/27591534505?ref=mf">facebook page</a>, - A good attitude and the right focus help us to handle life joyfully, even though it doesn’t change our circumstances. So what’s unseen and eternal that we can look at? The character of God is an excellent place to focus. He is good, He is just, He is forgiving, and He is faithful. Pondering God’s character can give us joy in the midst of our struggles. — Anne Cetas.<br />
<br />
And in checking FB to get the above quote I saw that a friend posted: “DeWayne, just remember, in your weakness He is strong. He will carry you through.” My response is that by posting this and admitting these things affect me and that I am indeed weak, that God can then indeed work through my weakness.<br />
<br />
God Bless.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-6068942233767608942010-02-09T13:30:00.000-08:002011-04-17T15:50:15.798-07:00MIDNIGHT SNACKS<span style="font-size: large;"><b>PART ONE</b></span><br />
<br />
The voices in the living room awakened me from an already fitful sleep. I’d gone to bed early – had an accounting test the next morning for which I wanted to be well rested. I’d left my summer term college roommate, and his female visitor chatting in the living room, and wished they’d argue a little bit quieter, and felt like going out and yelling at them, but that would only wake me up even more, so I tried to ignore them.<br />
<br />
Rolling back over and trying to ignore the voices, I hoped to get back to sleep. Recognizing that the voices were NOT those of my roommate and the girl that had been visiting him, and becoming more alert, any hope of drifting back to slumber land eluded me. Listening rather intently at this point to determine if it was our next-door neighbor, also a college student staying in the same apartment complex for the summer term I determined it wasn’t him either. Growing concerned I tried to place the voices in the room on the other side of my bedroom wall, and pondered what to do.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-69895033205798185482010-01-01T21:52:00.000-08:002010-01-01T21:52:52.671-08:00Hello Twenty-TenWell, here it is the first day of 2010 just about over. I started my day with my Bible reading, some exercise, and then later a short walk. So about this writing thing....<br />
<br />
I started to like writing in 7th grade, and in high school - after I took my required English classes, I took a bunch of creative writing classes. In at least one of these classes we were supposed to take 15 minutes to write in our journals. Although I didn't do much in the way of journaling during the high school classes I took, I finally took a creative writing class, which also required us to journal, while earning my Bachelor's of Science in Software Engineering Technology, and even though I ended up having to drop the class I continued to journal, and continue to journal.<br />
<br />
Even though I enjoyed the classes, and enjoy writing, I never wanted to be "a writer," after all most of 'em are starving artists, right?<br />
<br />
Besides not wanting to be a writer, I never liked math in high school, and I never liked getting up in front of a class and giving a short presentation. I ended up liking math, became a tutor, and then was told "you should be a teacher."<br />
<br />
Well, God does indeed work in mysterious ways, because now here I am pursuing teaching, and this "writng stuff."<br />
<br />
I probably won't be back on until after Monday, I still have a couple of submissions to the critique group to get read through and get feedback done.<br />
<br />
May this year be filled with new blessings. May you see God in a new way.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-49697192417457368202009-12-31T14:19:00.000-08:002009-12-31T14:19:54.395-08:00New Year's Resolutions<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"> or</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Books, Books, Books</span></strong><br />
<br />
Well, as I start working on this post, I just finished reading Leviticus, this last day of 2009, and I also wrapped up the year with some weights and a short walk. I thought I'd also try to wrap up the year with a post here at <em>Ruggles' Wanderings.</em><br />
<br />
My New Year's Resolutions are to keep up with the weights, walks, reading, and writing, oh and continuing to study more math own my own. As far as my Bible reading goes, I'll keep working on getting Exodus, then Genesis read, but I am also going to try to get started on another round of reading through the Bible. I've read Cannonically - that is Genesis to Revelation, OT interspersed w/ NT front to back, and in reverse Cannonical order - that is Revelation to Genesis. This time I think I will read the books alphabetically, that is Acts, Amos, ... Timothy 1 & 2, Titus.<br />
<br />
Why the variety of reading plans? So I don't get into a rut, basically - same reason I am going to read a different translation this time 'round. In the past when I started on a reading plan I only had the King James and New International Versions. Since then friends from my old church were dismantling their libraries, and I inheirited some of their books, including a collection of Bibles in various translations.<br />
<br />
So this will be finishing up reading through the Bible for the 4th time, and starting a 5th time - not the first time I've done double-duty like this. Also, the Bible is not the only book I have read 4 times, although I don't read most books that many times because I have so many I want to read the first time. I have read many of my writing resources more than once, but other than books like that, probably the only books I've read through as many as 4 times are <em>The Hobbit</em>, and <em>The Lord of The Rings</em>, and it's probably time I read those again.<br />
<br />
Although as a teen I never saw the value in reading through the Bible more than once, I've been a bibliophile since second grade. I originally hated reading - or at least reading aloud to the class, and because of this reticence I was diagnosed as a "slow reader," and placed in a class full of slow readers. Quickly I learned that whatever the problem was it wasn't an inability to read. I quickly started sucking down books as fast as I could check them out from the school library.<br />
<br />
Used bookstores, book fairs, garage sales, anywhere I could find cheap books in good condition, and I became good friends. Books quickly accumulated around me faster than I could read them. <br />
My first love was science fiction, mythology, and tribal folk tales. Later <em>Tom Swift</em>, <em>The Hardy Boys</em>, and <em>Nancy Drew</em> joined my bedtime reading list. Then I joined many of Jim Kjelgaard 's and Walt Morey's characters on a tromp theough the woods. There were, oh-so-many-others as a child learning the love of reading, so many in fact I got in trouble for spending too much time reading instead of playing outside sometimes.<br />
<br />
As I got older Alistar MacClean, Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy, among others, were added to my reading. My interests grew to include Ancient History, Greek and Roman history, the Middle Ages, the US and foreign intelligence services and militaries, shooting, weapons, the Bible, photography, writing, math, and computers. <br />
<br />
So, even though I was diagnosed as a slow reader in 2nd grade, once I got put in an environment where I could read what I wanted, how I wanted, when I wanted, I became the voracious reader I am today. It was the books I spent a lifetime reading that have impacted my own writing, but like reading there was a time I wanted nothing to do with writing.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193939145144539741.post-62616535148295790252009-12-27T09:04:00.000-08:002009-12-27T09:10:30.443-08:00The Habit of Bible ReadingJust finished reading Leviticus 12 - 18, with a little help from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/">Bible Gateway</a>. I was hoping to finish reading through the Bible by year's end - guess I'm not going to make it, still have Genesis, and Exodus to read. Got the bright idea in OCT 03 to read through the Bible in reverse cannonical order.<br />
<br />
I watched my grandpa read the Bible every evening when he got home from the sawmill, and he read it every morning while eating breakfast and getting ready for work. As a youngster I couldn't see the interest in reading the Bible more than once, after all David still kill's Goliath, Noah still builds the Ark, Abram is still told to "go west young man, go west," and Adam still eats the forbidden fruit. So I couldn't see what the big deal was. Grandpa usually read throught he Bible in about a year, and sometimes more than once I would guess.<br />
<br />
When I went off to college I found out that my church's denomination had (has) a yearly Bible quiz, and my brother and I ended up participating on the Bible Quiz team that first year in college - my brother ended up being the captain, and I was the team coach. The small town church we grew up in had nothing of the sort, and this was the first year our church had had a Bible Quiz team, and so none of us knew what we were doing. <br />
<br />
This experience caused me to want to start reading the Bible through (in a year like grandpa had done), but I'd get started in Genesis, read through Exodus, then get bogged down in Leviticus. I'd put down the reading for a while, and then when I picked it back up I had no idea where I had left off in reading. So I would start over, rinse and repeat.<br />
<br />
Eventually I picked up a Bible reading plan, and it had check-off boxes to put a tic mark in for each set of chapters you read. I eventually did read through the Bible, using that plan - didn't make it in a year, but hey. So now I've read through the Bible almost 4 times - quite the accomplishment for the boy who couldn't see the worth in reading the Bible more than once. I now see that every time I read through the same passage I am going through different things in life, and because of that I see different things that I hadn't seen in the previous reading.<br />
<br />
Well, I have to run to Sunday School - we are studying Systematic Theology, right now we are looking at the Holy Trinity and some of the heresies that sprung up in the early church. I will leave you with this thought: What about you? How's your own Bible reading plan doing? Making New Year's resolutions? I'll challenge you to add some daily (or at least as often as you can get started with) Bible reading to your schedule.<br />
<br />
May this Lord's Day be blessed.DeWaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03618848358292870490noreply@blogger.com0