I Have Time to Write

 Often when people find out that I am an author, they respond with "I don't have time to write." Well, neither do I, but I make time for it. Also, folks will tell me that they're writing a book. I'll ask, what's it about? They'll pause, and then say, "Well, it's complicated." Or, "It's different, it's tough to explain." Yep. That's sounds compelling. A complicated, different, tough to explain book is all anyone wants to read. One thing I learned since being published is that if you can’t summarize your novel in a few sentences, then you had better figure out exactly what it is you’re writing. Since I was a kid I wanted to write. It's one of the few things that I do that is truly gratifying. It's like painting, sculpting, or any other art or craft. I do this for me — for myself —and the time I spend doing it is time well spent. If others enjoy the story, the experience becomes even more satisfying.

More Nice Guys

 I watched the Netflix special on Bob Ross. Without giving much away, he is described as being the same nice guy in real life that he portrayed on his program. A particularly poignant testimony to the power of his message comes from a man who sat down one day in his living room contemplating suicide. On TV was Bob Ross creating another landscape on his show, “The Joy of Painting.” After watching the entire episode, the man went out and bought a canvas, paints, and brushes and no longer wanted to kill himself. What a powerful combination of art and happiness this man wielded. Unfortunately, he died young at age fifty-three. The world needs art — and better yet — more people like Bob Ross.