Thanks for the words about "writing". When I retired to Florida, I visited the local Masonic Lodge (not impressive at all)! I visited an interesting American Legion Post that was in early stages of forming. Their monthly newsletter had many problems. The Editor was a retired soldier, and a Mason from Athens WV. He admitted that his high school English teacher had told him he would never amount to anything. And he told me he couldn't read the letters in the display screen of his computer.
So I asked him if I could be his "proofreader"? He was overjoyed. I suggested about 40 improvements each month, and he accepted about 90% of what I suggested (by phone, even when I was traveling in Germany or West Virginia)! For 3 years, Bob Scott won recognition Awards for the best Florida American Legion Post monthly newsletter. I remained in the background, and Bob Scott went to the Florida A. L. Convention each year to accept his Award.
Bob Scott has since passed away, but I got to play TAPS for him at Bushnell Nat'l Cemetery after the A. L. Ceremony (TAPS on a real Bugle). Thanks for giving me an opportunity to "write" about Bob Scott, Florida American Legion Post 166 Newsletter Editor.
I'm not always the smartest guy in the room, but I have learned at the feet of some of them. On the subject of that authors critical friends, and their disdain for his writing, I'm reminded of two statements by men I admire.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (MWB T. Roosevelt speaking at the at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910.)
"The most honest compliment a man ever receives for his work, starts with the words 'pay to the order of'" Robert Heinlein.
I've long known of, and loved, that TR quote. Thank you for sharing it here.
The Heinlein quote is new to me, but I think also destined to remain in my memory. I've written for pleasure for a very long time, before people owning computers was common in fact, but I started writing a lot back when Blogger was the new and hot thing. But what made me actually feel like I was a writer was when I started getting paid for my writing.
any endeavor is worthy of our best efforts. Writing does not come "naturally" to most of us.....but I prefer to think about writing like this.....If the writing is truly heartfelt and not filled with a bunch of assumptions or craziness......it over comes any deficit in the writing abilities. I hope my thoughts make sense...LOL!
my hat is off to those who chose to write and pass along thoughts & ideas. I used to enjoy writing....actually journaling....but haven't done so since I attended community college approx. 30 yrs ago
What you write does make sense. Ultimately the deficits, or technical errors are much less important than the message or the story. Assuming that they don't destroy the flow of the piece anyway.
And heck, in this age of Ai, I've got to look at little spelling and grammar errors as a good thing! They show that an actual human is behind the work.
I've been writing papers and giving them in lodge, Chapter and Council for years. You inspired me to write my own journal articles here. Before that, I had never thought that any one would care to read or even consider my thoughts. That said, have you ever had an Idea that you had to write down to flush out your own thought and form opinions? I think this is a great long form tool for that.
Oh, yes, I often use writing as an aid to thinking. I find it an exceptional tool both for testing my thoughts, and expanding on them. Writing has certainly led me to change my mind from time to time through the years.
"Not because I can’t, but because politics is divisive in nature, and I would much prefer my legacy, if I have one, to be one of uniting people, not tearing them apart."
I think we too often fail to think of what we leave for others to inherit. At times forgetting curses are just as inheritable as blessings.
I always appreciate your perspectives Brother, keep up the Great Work.
Thanks for the words about "writing". When I retired to Florida, I visited the local Masonic Lodge (not impressive at all)! I visited an interesting American Legion Post that was in early stages of forming. Their monthly newsletter had many problems. The Editor was a retired soldier, and a Mason from Athens WV. He admitted that his high school English teacher had told him he would never amount to anything. And he told me he couldn't read the letters in the display screen of his computer.
So I asked him if I could be his "proofreader"? He was overjoyed. I suggested about 40 improvements each month, and he accepted about 90% of what I suggested (by phone, even when I was traveling in Germany or West Virginia)! For 3 years, Bob Scott won recognition Awards for the best Florida American Legion Post monthly newsletter. I remained in the background, and Bob Scott went to the Florida A. L. Convention each year to accept his Award.
Bob Scott has since passed away, but I got to play TAPS for him at Bushnell Nat'l Cemetery after the A. L. Ceremony (TAPS on a real Bugle). Thanks for giving me an opportunity to "write" about Bob Scott, Florida American Legion Post 166 Newsletter Editor.
I'm glad that you were able to help our Brother, and to honor him here.
I'm not always the smartest guy in the room, but I have learned at the feet of some of them. On the subject of that authors critical friends, and their disdain for his writing, I'm reminded of two statements by men I admire.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (MWB T. Roosevelt speaking at the at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910.)
"The most honest compliment a man ever receives for his work, starts with the words 'pay to the order of'" Robert Heinlein.
I've long known of, and loved, that TR quote. Thank you for sharing it here.
The Heinlein quote is new to me, but I think also destined to remain in my memory. I've written for pleasure for a very long time, before people owning computers was common in fact, but I started writing a lot back when Blogger was the new and hot thing. But what made me actually feel like I was a writer was when I started getting paid for my writing.
any endeavor is worthy of our best efforts. Writing does not come "naturally" to most of us.....but I prefer to think about writing like this.....If the writing is truly heartfelt and not filled with a bunch of assumptions or craziness......it over comes any deficit in the writing abilities. I hope my thoughts make sense...LOL!
my hat is off to those who chose to write and pass along thoughts & ideas. I used to enjoy writing....actually journaling....but haven't done so since I attended community college approx. 30 yrs ago
What you write does make sense. Ultimately the deficits, or technical errors are much less important than the message or the story. Assuming that they don't destroy the flow of the piece anyway.
And heck, in this age of Ai, I've got to look at little spelling and grammar errors as a good thing! They show that an actual human is behind the work.
I've been writing papers and giving them in lodge, Chapter and Council for years. You inspired me to write my own journal articles here. Before that, I had never thought that any one would care to read or even consider my thoughts. That said, have you ever had an Idea that you had to write down to flush out your own thought and form opinions? I think this is a great long form tool for that.
Oh, yes, I often use writing as an aid to thinking. I find it an exceptional tool both for testing my thoughts, and expanding on them. Writing has certainly led me to change my mind from time to time through the years.
The best revenge Cameron is success — as you know! I happy for your writer friend’s achievement and victory! 👏👏👏
"Not because I can’t, but because politics is divisive in nature, and I would much prefer my legacy, if I have one, to be one of uniting people, not tearing them apart."
I think we too often fail to think of what we leave for others to inherit. At times forgetting curses are just as inheritable as blessings.
I always appreciate your perspectives Brother, keep up the Great Work.
Thank you Brother. I think, as Albert Pike taught us, what we leave behind after we are gone is vital.