I'm Glad I Learned MS DOS - Bruce Atchison

Why should anybody, particularly a writer, continue to use an operating system that was on its way out twenty years ago? With Microsoft Windows securely-established as the world's leading program platform, using DOS seems like going back to writing on clay tablets.

Two decades ago, I took an MS DOS and WordPerfect class at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). At the time, I believed both programs would serve me well for many years. Learning the commands of each was difficult, but I felt determined to master them all.

I bought my first DOS-based computer a year later and immediately realized the advantage of using it. Since my vision has always been very poor, writing felt like an irksome chore. WordPerfect 5.1 opened up the wonderful world of writing for me. When I began accessing the BBS at the public library and ventured onto the Internet in 1995, whole new vistas of research and writing opportunities presented themselves on my amber monochrome monitor.

I still do my serious writing with a DOS-based PC. Additionally, I've discovered that many commands work in Windows' Command Prompt. One of my favourites is the CHKDSK C:/F/R command. This tells the computer to check the drive and fix any errors. Even better, it works on floppy disks and flash drives. Just type the appropriate drive letter, such as A, E, or whatever My Computer reports as the drive letter for whichever storage device you wish to check. I've rescued many ailing floppies and disorganized flash drives by using this command.

Another example is a command that transfers types of files. , I found some cool clip art on old CD-ROMs that a friend sent me. Instead of laboriously dragging and dropping each image, I typed the following command.

XCOPY D:\*.JPG/S E:\JPG

When I pressed "ENTER," the computer copied all the JPG picture files on the disks to my JPG folder on drive E. I did the same with the BMP, GIF, PIF, PCX, PNG, and similar image formats. By the way, you can also click "START," "RUN," and type both of these commands in the edit box that appears.

Now I can dress up my blog posts with appropriate artwork. Every Tuesday and Friday, I post excerpts from my books at the Bruce Atchison - author page. Please check it out, especially if you enjoy memoirs.

“Do the dishes,” every day! - Denise M. Ford

“It doesn’t have a dishwasher, so we’ll have to wash our dishes every day,” my son pointed out as he and his fiancée showed me their new home. 

Flashbacks of dish duty in kitchens through the years spun through my mind, each one emphasized by a slap of a dishtowel as it hit my shoulder. Snapping, swiping, slinging towels swished through my memory with a soundtrack looping through country, Broadway, and camping songs.  Giggles, downright disgusting noises, shouts of frustration, belting choruses of choir songs, rounds discordantly mixed up sending my sister and I into various stages of soppy soapsuds battles during our supposedly simple task of dishwashing. 

“Sometimes you can create fun memories as you wash dishes together,” I silently smiled to myself.

Still in the throes of rapid recollections revolving into my conscious, I leaned against the sink counter remembering how I’d squish my towel towards the water puddles that always gathered and threatened to overflow onto the floor.  I turned to follow along on the tour of the soon-to-be newlywed home, as my fingers searched on my shirt for the faint memory of a damp spot on a well-worn apron conjured from the afternoons I would spend with my Nana cleaning up after family gatherings.   Even with the protection of one of her aprons, I often thought I would fall into her low, deep, double sink as I sopped up splashes while assisting her in the time-old tradition of “doing the dishes.”

Why has my mind wondered into the odd realm of dishwashing as I ponder setting goals for my writing?  Perhaps it is because this mundane task represents how I should set priorities.  Dishes need to be cleaned or cabinets and drawers will become barren of necessary utensils. Regardless of whether I use a keyboard or a manual pen and paper, I need to daily attend to the writing task if I wish to prepare for the next time the ideas gather for a period of “dining and delighting.”

Aligning “doing the dishes” with writing reaffirms that it is a continual process, repeating itself over and over again, not because it is something I hope to do, but because it is something I need to do.  Finding the suitable place setting for the venue at hand becomes my writer’s challenge.

At any rate, I am looking forward to delving into the dishes that line my shelves, clutter up my counters, and threaten to fall to the floor.  Mind you I’m muddling up the metaphors on purpose so that I remind myself that writing can be as much fun as “doing the dishes.”  Snap those ideas and sling around those memories; soak hands into the muck and grease, slop around until the squeaky clean shine makes its appearance.  Lean forward without fear of toppling but definitely enough to get wet. 

“Do the dishes,” every day.

To read Denise's personal blog and writing website go to:   www.WalkingWithDustyandDee.com

How to Write Fast - Karen Toews

Recently a "foodie" business acquaintance, Susan, kindly commented to me about my blog: "I really enjoy reading it, it's well written, as compared to a lot of blogs out there that I can't say the same for..."

"Hey, thanks" I replied, "I always appreciate hearing that - but I'm just so slow, it takes me forever to write it to the standard I want it to be."

Can anybody out there relate?

A few days later a message from an online business powerhouse, Marie Forleo, was waiting in my inbox. The topic of the free video? How To Write Faster - now how timely was that?!

Multi-tasking - kitchen clean-up and viewing the short video - I jotted down the following notes, not in a particular order and it's possible I missed some points when my hands were in the sink. I think I've correctly covered the basic thoughts; the italics are my personal notes.

A. Begin with the end in mind - what is the key point I wish to get across?
No more jumping in and seeing what I end up with.

B. Keep a topic list - written down. It's that universal tip of having a notepad and pen always available to remember those inspirational ideas. Include on that list other writing prompts, i.e. the questions that people/blog commenters ask.
Make one master list where all these idea bits and pieces reside in an easily accessible location.

C. Make it short and sweet. Focus on one specific tip.
I don't have to explain everything I know about something in one blog.

D. Plan it out. Make an editorial calendar that outlines your next writing week, month, 3-months: a plan so you know what you're going to do when you open the screen.
Don't worry, there will still be room for spontaneity amidst this structure.

E. Don't write and edit at the same time. Get it down and fix it later.
 Have I ever done it?!! Big learning curve here.

F. Flip the internal switch. From "I am so slow and this is going to take forever" to "I can do this well and in a timely fashion."
Self-talk with the same language I use to encourage those I love....

G. I am the vessel, not the source. To paraphrase Marie: as writers we show up at the page and whether we call it the muse, the spark, the inner flow, or Divine inspiration - the words will come and are often "beyond" ourselves.
Commit to the work, trust in the Spirit, believe in myself. God, you know my desire to share a wholehearted, meaningful message.

H. The amount of time you allow is the time it'll take.
I take that to be a "specific" not a "however long".

Of course there are factors like: what it is I'm writing, e.g. a book, a blog, a memo, or a newsletter - and the parameters of the literary expectations.  However, I'm here to say that my current writing exercise is learning how to apply these tips.

My allotted time is up and I am done.

A Good Name - Dorothy Bentley

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1


Being a writer is a difficult calling and it is a challenge to always act and react in a way which brings glory to God.

Not very long ago, one of my columns was cut from the local newspaper. I took it harder than I thought I would, and phoned the editor for explanation. It didn't seem fair, and as far as I knew, many people enjoyed my columns. As a Christian, I knew whatever I said would not only reflect on me personally, but also on my Lord. Even though I was hurt and disappointed, I bit my tongue and didn't say anything which I regretted, but I took my hurt feelings to a few trusted Christian friends who supported me, and prayed for me.

Not long after, I found myself working on a volunteer basis with a different editor from the same newspaper. She is a wonderful, talented lady. Just recently, she offered me a few freelance assignments, with the agreement that I would mentor a young writer with one of them, which I agreed to do.

I was thankful that I hadn't said or done anything to jeopardize my professional reputation. In the field of writing, no door is forever closed, and no editor is ever a person of the past. Editors move to new publishers, and new opportunities may come because of a good reputation.

Working hard, meeting deadlines, and keeping hurt feelings in check helped me to keep a good name. And even more importantly, I hope God's name was glorified as I put His reputation first.