The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 139

The Mailbag keeps getting better and better, Bill. You've touched a lot of people and inspired curious minds.

BTW, I started Shadows Over a Hangman's Noose this weekend. I agree with you that this is the best Shadows yet. I started reading it while I was having my oil changed Saturday. I was so spellbound I gave up all thoughts of doing chores and sat on my back patio reading, instead.

Very cool :-)

Tamara

Not sure why I couldn't post yesterday, when I first read the hub, but at least it gave me the chance to read it again.

For me, Linda and Zulma's questions are linked.

I get small 'snippets' in my day, where I can write a couple of sentences. I do that, but then I might spend the next hour thinking through whether what I just wrote and whether it works or not. I suppose that's 'editing' but if I don't do it the likely I'll forget about the point and stuff gets left in that shouldn't be there.

I still need to do editing on the second and third draft, but that's more of fixing errors I've spotted since and making sure the story runs smoothly.

As you said though, we've each got ways of doing things that work for us.

Blessings

Lawrence

Very interesting questions and answers in this week's mailbag!

"There is so much angst and anger around us…serious suffering…serious fear…serious hate…" Indeed! But I bet that only a few of those who are guilty take the time to read anything. They seem to be driven by their emotions and personal convictions. Lacking knowledge, insight and vision is clearly their problem - and they don't even know it, because they don't read!

Still on subject, Bill, I saw on TV this morning where some legislator introduced a bill to keep textbooks by a certain writer of history textbooks (I forget his name) out of the state's schools because they included the perspectives of women and minorities. In other words our kids can read only the white male viewpoint of our history.

Dear Friend Bill, I finally got around to reading last week's mailbag. Thanks for including my question. I don't think it was the reader, I think it was the writer of the question who misunderstood what she was talking about. LOL I thought I had remembered something from when I first joined that said something about not crediting when a person opened a hub and then moved on without having enough time to read it. Thanks for putting that straight.

About the storyteller in us. Of the tribes and clans that kept oral histories, I wonder how many got changed in the retelling down through the ages. Today we have documentation and "fake" stories, but our histories still get changed depending on the viewpoints of the people telling them. gotta run, work is calling. BTW, I've really been editing some creative writing these last couple of months in my job as a legal editor. It can get challenging.

Well, I'm late arriving at this party.

I was interested to read what you said about being storytellers and informers.

If that is the case, then here is a question for a future mailbag. Is a journalist merely an informer or a storyteller? A journalist, as most people believe, report the facts of an event, but there are always two sides to a story. Do you think the role of the journalist has lost credibility and where do you see journalism heading?

It is getting more difficult to come up with original ones! LOL

Ann

As always, you have given your loyal followers a plethora of information. You have an uncanny ability to inspire people to get busy and write. Although I haven't published anything on HubPages in a very long time, I do write in other venues I have found more flexible and forgiving...if you know what I mean. Oh, and when it comes to poetry I too am no poet. I must confess to my inability to comprehend many themes in poetry. Gee, does that mean I'm lacking a creative gene? In any event, thank you again for sharing your words of wisdom with us.

Thanks, bill. You are kindness personified.

Have a fiction-frenzied Friday!

Ann :)

Thanks bill, for the lovely comment.

However, I won't be creating this evening - early bed for a totally exhausted girl. The journey back along the motorways is not my favourite and 3 hours of driving was covered in one go to get it over with! The torrential downpour will be welcomed tomorrow.

Home at last!

Ann

We all need that reminder, from time to time, that we are storytellers and chroniclers, that our input and slant on topical and historical events is important. It's easy to forget - but not when you're around!

Love the mailbag more than ever. Here's to it going on for ever and more power to your elbow, bill!

Just back from the funeral which was as good as they can be. Rather tense and full-on few days but we're back to our usual pace now. The plus was that we saw many good friends, all looking after the bereaved family, and that reminds you how good the world can be even amongst sorrow.

Ann :)

Thank you Billy...I just finished Chapter 2 of Mary Had a Little Lamb...Really good work...love the added mystery of how she got where she got... :)

I love poetry and was happy to see it mentioned in this edition of the mailbag. Thanks for sharing all the other information in this article, too.

So now this has me wondering, "Does it count (show up as a view) if we click on one of our own hubs under our section where we edit hubs? It doesn't appear to me that that way adds to the total views but the above answer has me confused. I'm thinking maybe it only shows up as a view if you go into it through your profile page or of course google it and click on it that way.

Writers are important, and they make a difference in this world. Now I know what a view and what an impression means. Another great installment of questions and answers, thank you.

Yes, we are storytellers and chroniclers and so much more. It was fun for me to read the questions people ask you and your advise, in my opinion, was spot on! I keep looking at your chair in the picture with no cushion and I keep thinking doesn't that make your butt hurt and your back. LOL.

I always love your mailbag questions and answers. specially when they answer something I keep meaning to ask but never get to! lol! great stuff!

Interesting to read your mailbag again, Bill. You're a very reliable mail man, that's for sure! Better leave politics to the cheaters, liars, morons, and salesguys with false hairpieces. Wish you a great week!

How about a Gimp coloring book graphic short story or novella or novel?

I, too, freewrite first drafts, usually in ballpoint pen longhand, usually in a continuous line spiral, which helps ideas flow. Sometimes I have the structure of the entire work in my head and sometimes I work from a log-line, a mind-map, and/or rough notes or prose sketches. While writing the first draft, with the goal of getting to the end quick as I can, if I'm stuck on something, I'll just make a note—choose murder weapon and choreograph murder—and move on. Hemingway, on the other hand, supposedly each day wrote a little, edited and polished that, wrote a little more, .... Either way, the hard parts for me are a) getting a work started, b) getting a final draft finished, and c) getting it right.

I do find that no matter what if I read the mailbag every week, I learn something. Maybe that is all I learn all week. Over the past few years I have grown fond of our poets around here so now I read poetry. That calming me down thing is no joke at all.

Bill, here is a question of vital import. Just how high do you let the garden weeds grow in your garden?

Always starting my week off right with your mailbag. Managed to catch it at the beginning of this week. This is nostalgia week for me with my B-day and all. Hope your week is great and inspirational. Oh, yes How does one keep from boring repetition when writing about something that has occurred in their lives? For instance I write about a certain period in my life and then I come up with another post but I feel it is necessary to remind others of what I wrote about previously.

139 and still going. I am sure that many of us have learned some valuable lessons from these 139. Personally, I have disciplined myself to a writing schedule and just write. I go off many times within my writing and outside as well doing other things but I have become more productive. I also have more confidence now to call myself a writer. I suppose herein lies the value of writing. You never know how much you bring to someone's life in inspiration, advice, or fun and enjoyment.

Hi Bill. Thanks for giving poetry a plug in this mailbag. I know all poets appreciate it when their work is appreciated as too often it is treated as a lesser form of writing. I am longing to write a piece of flash fiction or a short story but everytime I put pen to paper lately a poem flows out. I have managed to incorporate a story into my poetry recently however through the "Keto" series for instance so maybe that counts. Good to know the difference between views and impressions too.

The information on views versus impressions was helpful. As for poetry, I like it, but there's not enough poetry in the world to make me feel better about the road we've taken with this last election. Gonna go put on my uterus hat and take a long nap. Sleeping is the only thing that makes the pain of what's happening in the world go away. (Just kidding. I don't have a uterus hat, but I do have a nasty woman tshirt.)

Hi Bill. Another great mailbag this week. I learned a few new things this week, which is always good. The view versus impression seems to confuse a lot of people and I think Christy did a great job of explaining it. I did not know that when we visit our own articles that it counts in our stats. Have a great week.

I write with a sense of what I want to do and I also see a hazy goal. Other than that I just write. It has always come easily.

Your answer to Tom is cool. Let me add that there are those who say they write for therapy; healing ... they put their lives on paper, even the dark side and claim to get relief from letting it all go. Valid for them.

I always say that I write to serve; to elevate; to inspire; to reach the Heart ... but I'm also a story-teller, as well as a creative writer. Just don't do them so much now. My 400th Hub is one of my finest and there I'm telling a story of Love.

139! Nearly 150 Bro. I bet you did not see this. Aren't you proud that you cannot see the future?

This current stuff affects us all. I spent some time this evening consoling an American friend of mine, hugs and all, because someone had said something to him which was not so easy to pass by. You and I, Bro, let us pray for the Light. Ask them to read my Hub A Glimpse Into Sri Chinmoy's Vision of America (chuckle) At least it's all positive stuff. Glory be!

There once was a politician

named Trump

What a royal

pain in the....

I just can't finish

Happy mailbag # 139

Happy Monday Bill! Crazy busy day and I'm always so glad to take a break and read the mailbag. It's the only mail worth getting!

Hope you have a fantastic and inspiring week!

Another great week for the mailbag, Bill. I thought Zulma's question was especially interesting. I'm working on something right now that began with two opening chapters and an ending - nothing in between, just writing by the seat of my pants, as it were. It's been kind of fun approaching it that way, and I'm up to chapter 17. I don't think I'd want to do it that way all the time, though. Thanks for another great week of information.

I am tickled pink that you loved reading a poem and it gave you a good feeling. That's what poetry does for me......

What you say about the value of writing and writers is really encouraging. Viola Davis' acceptance speech at the Oscars did the same thing. She mentioned writers exhuming dead bodies and telling their untold stories as was done in her movie Fences. Sure, writers can impact life in various beautiful ways.

Thanks for answering my question about the colouring book this week Billy. I might check out GIMP. I downloaded something last year which I think was called Skeetch which was free software and I experimented with a few of my own images using it but as you say finding the right image is key to one's success. I guess having a theme for the colouring book might add interest, perhaps a colouring book using one politician we all know who has a bad hairdo and a few swear words would cut it!

Very nice advice provided by you as always to the questions in this mailbag.

I love poetry and read most of our hubs on poetry. You elevated the position of our writing profession which is a great gift for many writers. I watch some TV serials in my language and wonder at those dialogues writer who writes such beautifully appealing words.

Regarding that question from MizB, I am also of the same category. I read a part of the article, then leaving it, go into the kitchen to do some work and come again to complete it. Just now, I had to attend to the dining table clearing after my son completed his dinner (it is 10:30 pm). At times, to prepare tea at 3:30 pm, the same thing happens. So, the page keeps open for 10 to 30 minutes depending on the work.

Your coloring book seems a very nice project. Wish you all the best.

Hey Bill,

A great Monday morning to you. I loved all your advice this morning. I think the same way about artists and painters. It is our job to give a different point of view and hopefully a happier one, to a bleak and downcast world. Keep up the good work.

Blessings,

Denise

Bill, great mailbag hug as always. I used to write poetry a long time ago and haven't done it in a decade. One of these days, this spring, I'll ask a question or two for a mailbag segment. Great insightful hub, my friend.

G'morning! And it's still Monday morning!

Re: Coloring Books. Glad to know about GIMP. Will check it out. I'm currently using Pixlr for photo manipulation and it's good substitute for my previous Photoshop software.

Re: Poetry. You and I are in the same boat! I'm awed by the poetry I read. Sometimes confused. Currently, I can only write it with prompts and such. One day... one day. So to get myself acclimated to this out-of-my-norm genre, I get the poem of the day emails from the Poetry Foundation which is here in Chicago. It's free and sends a wide variety of examples.

Back to somewhat normal weather here in Chi-town. Hope all is good in your world. Have a great week ahead!

Excellent!

Given our current state of affairs, I think we should all start reading poetry. I read a lot when I was an English major in college but haven't for decades. But what better way to slow down, reflect, and appreciate words as a thing of beauty? Too many people these days use written words to spread hate and lies. I support the poetry idea, Bill, and I'm giving you full credit.