Thursday, April 24, 2014

Feeling Abandoned


By Keith N Fisher

Yes I know it's not Saturday, but the conference begins today, and I don't think the Thursday poster will be posting, so here it is:

Every year at this time, I’ve posted about the LDStorymakers Conference. I’ve begun with words similar to, I’m writing this from the conference, then I would go on to talk about an amazing thing I learned.

I’m beginning this post with, I’m not writing from the conference, this year. I’m writing from a place considerably farther south. Even if it had been held, like in previous years, in Utah County, I wouldn’t have been able to attend. Things, however, are looking up. Maybe I’ll make it next year.

I was reading posts on Facebook, about the conference, the other day and I felt a sense of loss. I will miss the networking and some of the presentations. I wonder if they will miss me. I lamented those feelings in a text to my friend, who also won’t be attending the conference and she helped me realize some things.

Without delving into those things, suffice it to say I will miss it.

I hope you find the classes and camaraderie all that you hoped for. Have fun and remember those of us who struggle with the written word. Have a good time, and I hope to see you next year.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Perplexed, and a Question

By Keith N Fisher

You should know. In my youth, I spent a lot of time in Boy Scouts. I also spent a lot of time drinking beer in Boy Scouts. As a scout leader, I never drank beer, but I could’ve in my private time.

As some of you know, I work nights at a convenience store. The other night I had two customers. They bought two 30 packs of beer and I checked their ID. One of them wore a T-shirt that said something about the BSA (Boy Scouts). I made a snide remark about Boy Scouts and drinking beer. One of the guys chuckled and they both left.

A few moments later one of them (not the T-shirt wearer) came back and told me they didn’t appreciate my comment about Boy Scouts and drinking beer. I was perplexed. If it’d happened twenty years ago I would’ve argued, but I immediately apologized.

I apologized four times in fact. When the guy with the T-shirt came in, I said please accept my apology. The other guy just kept on beating a dead horse. Finally, they left.

Now, if this had been twenty years ago, I would’ve said look, I’ve apologized four times now leave it alone. I would’ve taken it to another level and I would’ve regretted doing that. As it was, I shook my head and went back to business.

Now, I ask you, What was so offensive about my comment? I don’t get it. As I said, I’m perplexed. Have we really come to a place where humanity can’t speak to each other for fear of offending? Being politically correct is one thing, and using correct pronouns is a personal thing, but was my comment offensive?

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Yes, I’m Still, Alive

By Keith N Fisher

Although I’ve missed posting for too long, I assure you, I’m still here. While getting dressed the other day, I thought about the plot from a book I wrote, years ago. I suddenly realized I’d written something that could’ve happened.

Basically, a teenage girl sneaked out through her bedroom window. There were bushes and a lawn below. Later she tossed her luggage out the window and it landed in the driveway. Couldn’t happen in the same house.

Now I have to fix that in my rewrites. I’m sorry for not posting here. I think it might be time to move on, and turn it over to others. Maybe not—I’ll let you know.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.