Gone Away
Dispatches from a life in America
270 posts
The Importance of Blog Design
I don't know about you, but the look of a blog is an important part of my decision to read it or not. There are some that are so ugly that I can't bear to stay on the page long enough to read it. As an instance of this,…
Anyone for Comments?
I have often been asked why Gone Away gets so many comments to most of its posts. Mark Cross of I'm Here So I Blog and I had a brief email discussion about this recently and then ProBlogger included a link to Digital…
How To Not Make Money Online
Two things came together yesterday to clarify my thinking on this blogging business. The first has been happening for a while and I have mentioned before: I am following ProBlogger's series on Strategic Blogging.…
The Writers Blog Alliance
I am pleased to announce that the Writers Blog Alliance (WBA) is in existence in beta form. Those who have been following its development over the last few days can rush off now to have a look - just click on this link…
What <em>Is</em> a Writer's Blog Anyway?
To begin with, let me apologize for writing yet another post on blogging (that's three in a row!). I do not want to turn this blog into a discussion on writing and blogging and am only too aware that I must get back…
Blog Thinking
Of late, I have been thinking a lot about this whole business of blogging. In my previous post, Writers' Blogs and the Mighty PR , I set down my thoughts on a way for writers to get more exposure to their blogs (if you…
Writers' Blogs and the Mighty PR
I have never made a secret of the purpose of this blog. It is intended primarily as a way of showcasing my writing, of becoming well enough known that an agent or publisher might become interested. There are several…
Opera
Yesterday, John Evans of Syntagma posted about RSS in the Google Personalized Home Page (read his article called "Google RSS is here" - it's well worth it). I followed it up, remembering in the process that I had…
Accelerate - Part 7
To read the first part of this series, click here . Lucky took no more tablets after the day of the bank robbery. He reasoned that the effects must begin to wear off sooner or later and he might be able to find a happy…
Accelerate - Part 6
To read the first part of this series, click here . Confirmed in his belief that his days were now brief moments in a normal day, Lucky swallowed another tablet. Then he pocketed the bottle and, with one last look in…
Accelerate - Part 5
To read the first part of this series, click here . Once back in his room, Lucky sat on his bed and examined the bottle and its contents. On the outside was a label with his name scrawled hastily upon it in black ink.…
Accelerate - Part 4
To read the first part of this series, click here . The next few days dragged for Lucky as never before. Many times he was tempted to proceed with later stages of the plan but he succeeded in curbing his impatience.…
Accelerate - Part 3
To read the first part of this series, click here . Lucky formed his plan that night, carefully and meticulously, wanting to be sure that impatience did not force him into a mistake. He decided that he would have to…
The Blogger's Return
Yes, I have returned. Yesterday was spent in recovering from the break and trying to get back into blogging mode. In answer to the questions posed to my last post: Update on Mad's Progress The latest information I have…
Going, Going, Gone!
I am taking a week off from the blog to go nosing around in East Oklahoma. Obviously, this is an unfortunate time to have a break from the point of view of the serialized story I have begun, but it can't be helped. It…
Accelerate - Part 2
To read the first part of this series, click here . Three days later, Lucky lost patience with the world. The lethargic mood that seemed to have gripped everyone had continued and, if anything, was getting worse. When…
Accelerate - Part 1
It was a while before Lucky understood what was happening. At first, he put it down to side effects from the drug he was being given. He was not even sure that it might not be some form of placebo effect; after all, he…
Burnt Sienna
After my last post with an excerpt from my daughter's fairy story, Burnt Sienna , many commenters asked to see the rest of the story. Boogie has given her permission for me to post it, so here it is: Burnt Sienna 1.…
And Boogie Too!
My sons, Mad and the Pootle, recently forced their way into this blog through their escapades (both are doing fine, by the way) and it seems only fair that my daughter, Boogie, should have her moment in the sun too.…
You Be The Judge...
Few Americans realize just how much other countries watch them. Whatever is happening in the States will be seen by the majority of the world's population and will be approved of or castigated according to each…