A Real Blog

I have made a decision. For some considerable time I have been
wanting to explain a few things as I go along but have been
constrained from doing so by not wishing to interrupt the flow of the
Journal. I am sure that most of you have realized that what I am
doing, in effect, is writing a book, right out there in the open (if
the internet can be so described). My original idea was that I would
wait until Mad had time to construct a separate page for comments but
I have realized that he is under enough pressure as it is.

So, I have come to the conclusion that the best thing I can do is to
treat the blog as a blog - a cross between a diary and a discussion
forum. So I will insert occasional posts when there is need for
explanation or when there is news that might interest you all (I guess
that should be "y'all" now). Mad is currently working on systems for
pagination (which will make it easier for you to go where you want to)
and for readers' comments (so that you can point out all my errors and
put your point of view). These should be up and running in a few
days.

While I am on the subject, I would like to record my thanks to Mad for
his hard work in designing and setting up my blog. It was all his
idea in the first place and he decided to build it from the ground up,
rather than use one of the bloggers that do the work for you. That
applies to his whole site too - it is entirely planned, designed and
coded by Mad. I am exceptionally proud of him and delight in being
able to say, "My son, the web developer". Please take the time to
have a look around his site - I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I would also like to thank the friend who helped me to decide that I
should treat the blog as more than just a book. That friend is a man
named Harry and I would urge you to visit his blog at
http://wayfareingstranger.blogspot.com - I can promise you that you
will be amply rewarded. He writes with sensitivity, humor and a clear
eye (and he took the best of Blogger's templates).

Kathy and I are driving to Amarillo tomorrow (Thursday) to visit
relatives for Thanksgiving. This should give me more fuel for the
Journal but will prevent me being online for a few days.

I have set myself the goal of posting at least one episode of the
Journal per week but I strive for two. Whilst apologizing for my
slowness, I should explain also that this is an inevitable consequence
of the way I write. I hate re-writes. In fact, I don't do them,
beyond editing out mistakes and giving a few tweaks here and there.
This should be my undoing according to all the books, lectures and
courses on creative writing, but I have my excuses. I get it right
before I set finger to keyboard. That may sound arrogant but I am
trying to be honest. Before I write any sentence, I compose it
carefully, making sure that the words and phrases are right and that
the flow fits with the rest of the passage. In setting it down I am
still correcting and refining. When I have finished a piece, I read
it aloud and again edit and change until it is as good as I can get
it.

So, I suppose you could say that I do my re-writing while I'm writing.
You could argue that I get no outside input as a result and you'd be
right. But I have to trust my instincts and insist that I will not
re-write. I would never begin if I thought that it all would have to
be re-written. Of course, that's how I feel now - but if a publisher
insisted, well, who knows? I might change my ways before you could
say Jack Robinson...