 
Conversations with Calliope

Conversations with Calliope

# A Year with My Muse

### Joseph G. Langen

www.slidingotter.com
Copyright © 2018 Joseph G. Langen

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used for other than personal use without written permission of the author.

Sliding Otter Publications

5 Franklin Ave.

Leroy, NY 14482

jlangen@gmail.com

www.slidingotter.com

www.slidingotter.wordpress.com
An Ode to Calliope

Back when I floundered in faint hope of finding my way in the forest  
searching for ways to express what so grabbed me and spun my deep thinking,  
you came along to shine light on what stirred in me, mindlessly musing,  
waiting for me to start waking and know that I needed to write it.

You and not I could at last for once venture to speak through my writing.  
Stirring to life I could now find a voice so long hidden in silence.  
What has lain dormant inside me refusing to come to the foreground  
daring to challenge my wordless and courage-less way of not seeking?

Me as a spokesman for challenges forming to question life's torpor?  
How could I finally find my weak voice and thus let it now free me,  
daring to note my own carefully hidden, forgotten life message?  
Can I now, must I now say what I thought must stay locked up inside me?

You have now found me and made me stop twiddling my thumbs as I notice  
all of life's treasures and bounties which call me to finally voice them.  
Help me now share them with readers who travel alongside my path stones seeking together some ways to make holy our journey in friendship.

(I composed the above ode in dactylic hexameter,  
the favored meter in Epic Poetry, Calliope's specialty)

## Rediscovering My Muse

There is no classical Greek muse for fiction, yet I have a fiction muse. There was none for roller skating either, yet one appeared in the 1980's movie Xanadu. Something in that movie excited me. Was it Olivia Newton-John or her character? I thought it might be a rekindling of my adolescent fantasies. Partly by fate and partially by choice, I have not yet finished my adolescence. After seeing the movie three times, I realized that it held something more for me than just entertainment. For some time I wrestled with what it might be that stirred me.

For several years, there had been an extra feminine presence around my house. It was not my ex-wife or either of my two daughters. Nor was it the female presence of the dog or cat. At first, it took an ethereal form, like the memory of a purple negligee from Victoria's Secret. There was no form, no more than a shadow.

She did have some sensory qualities. I could hear her swish by or rustle near me. I could feel her warmth and softness against my shoulder or thigh. At times, I sniffed a faint lavender scent. Her closeness and the weight of the ideas she offered me drew my attention. She clomped around the house to show her restlessness and disappointment when I choose to read or watch television.

She first appeared after I attended a noontime concert at Hochstein Music Hall in Rochester, inspiring me to write a story about music and schizophrenia. I had not planned to write the story. Nothing creative flowed from my pen since my bungling attempts in high school English class. My publication credits consisted of newspaper articles about mental health. Psychological test reports comprised my only other writings.

When I bought a new computer, I knew there were no ideas inside. All the computer could do was say yes or no, although it did so in some very sophisticated ways. I sat at the keyboard and somehow my fingers typed the first story. Other stories followed, without my realizing where they originated or why I felt compelled to write them.

I discovered the hard way that muses do not like being ignored. I decided that I needed to concentrate on my finances for a while rather than on writing. Shortly after a break from writing, I found my attempts to compose anything creative yielding wooden outlines, stony starts and ideas quickly scattered like feathers on the wind.

Nothing worked. She was gone. Reading fiction prompted new ideas. Writer's Digest provided tools. Writer's Market listed publishing prospects. All too late. Nothing worked.

I thought she was gone for good. I guess I deserved it. I never thought much about how to entertain a muse. I have since come to realize that muses are much like people. If there is nothing to interest them, they move on. I did not invite her to come to me in the first place, and did not know how to get her back. Maybe somebody else could use the books I had bought about writing. I could go back to enjoying others' fiction.

While driving to northern Michigan one summer, I tired of thinking about money. My thoughts drifted to floating in the lake, hearing the squawk of the imported peacock and cry of loons and being transformed by the classic but youthful music at Interlochen Summer Arts Festival.

Sitting at a picnic table outside the cabin on the second day, I realized my muse was back. First the swish, then her warmth. Did I smell lavender in the air? Maybe I had another chance. But which muse was she? She was not Polyphonia. My writing could scarcely be called sacred poetry. Nor was she Erato, Euterpe or Calliope. I don't write love poetry, lyric poetry or epic poetry. What I do can not be considered astronomy, so she could not be Urania. My work is read, not staged. Therefore, it could not be inspired by Terpsichore, famed for choral song and dance. I clearly write fiction and not history, eliminating Clio. My writing does not feel like tragedy or comedy, leaving out Melpomene and Thalia.

That was nine. There were no muses left. Then I recalled that muses are not fond of revealing themselves fully. Nor, as I should have been aware, are they particularly logical. Yet there I was trying to figure her out. One of them must be my muse. Since there is none for fiction, I finally concluded that Calliope was most likely to take an interest in my writing. Epic poetry seemed closest to fiction.

Learning from past mistakes, I finally realized that my job was to make her comfortable, give her space in my mind, and listen to what she whispered to me. I will have to take better care of her. Next time Calliope leaves, she might not come back.

*****

The following account is based on my blog record throughout 2008. It tracks the events of my daily writing life and Calliope's influence on it. I have often been asked what it is like to write full time. Some writers love their muses, some wrestle with them. Mine has always been at the ready with the exception of one brief hiatus noted above for which I take responsibility.

I thank and acknowledge my two real life muses, Fern and Barnabas.

## Table of Contents

An Ode to Calliope

Rediscovering My Muse

Chapter 1 January

Chapter 2 February

Chapter 3 March

Chapter 4 April

Chapter 5 May

Chapter 6 June

Chapter 7 July

Chapter 8 August

Chapter 9 September

Chapter 10 October

Chapter 11 November

Chapter 12 December

About the Author

References

## Chapter 1: January

_Whose woods these are I think I know.  
His house is in the village though;  
He will not see me stopping here  
To watch his woods fill up with snow.  
_

~Robert Frost~

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

### January 02 Context for the New Year

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. Ready for a new year?  
JOE: I believe I am.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do yesterday?  
JOE: Not much of anything. I remember reading about crop rotation. Sometimes a field lies fallow for a growing season to restore itself.  
CALLIOPE: You're not going into hibernation for several months?  
JOE: No. Just yesterday I thought I would let my mind rest and not tax it.  
CALLIOPE: I guess I can live with that. What are your plans for today?  
JOE: First I have a column to write about a context for my life.  
CALLIOPE: Where did that idea come from?  
JOE: A talk by Steve D'Annunzio on Sunday. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I have a sense of where I am headed and why I am doing what I am doing, I will be much more focused. I guess you could say I just spent yesterday thinking about this and today I will write a column about it.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good. Anything else planned?  
JOE: I finished another chapter of _Marital Property_ after we chatted on Monday. I plan to finish another today about my two main characters in a counseling session.  
CALLIOPE: Do you expect fireworks in the session?  
JOE: I don't expect them, but you never know. I guess I had better get on with it and see what happens.

### January 03 Publishing Persistence

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. But I scurried around yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what?  
JOE: I had planned to get to work on my writing. However, I got waylaid by negotiations about health insurance and flight arrangements for February to get back from San Juan after my cruise.  
CALLIOPE: Is everything settled  
JOE: I hope so.  
CALLIOPE: Did you settle down for any writing?  
JOE: I wrote a blog for Saturday which I need to post this morning. I also did some editing on _Young Man of the Cloth_ and have only one more chapter to do.  
CALLIOPE: Any progress on permissions for _The Pastor's Inferno_?

JOE: No. I sent the publisher an email but so far no reply. I think I will call them today.  
CALLIOPE: Frustrating isn't it?  
JOE: Yes. I think people are still in their year end slump, but I hope they get back to work soon. I am anxious to get my book in print.  
CALLIOPE: Sometimes you have to be a pest.  
JOE: You're right. I think I'll get at it right now.

### January 05 Copyright Permission

JOE: Good afternoon, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon, Joe. I thought you might be away.  
JOE: No. I'm still here. Yesterday and today have been quite busy.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I encountered some communication problems about my Medicare Advantage program. It took me a while to get them straightened out, but I think it is finally settled.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?  
JOE: Yes. I called Norton about my request for permission to use quotes from Dante's _Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?  
JOE: They sent out a contract on Thursday. When I asked the nature of the contract, I learned that they wanted a fee of $200 to use 163 lines.  
CALLIOPE: What do you make of that?  
JOE: Not much. I think it's rather steep although I have not dealt with such permissions before. I decided to delete the quotes and publish the book without them. My only regret is that I wasted a month waiting to hear from them.  
CALLIOPE: Where do things stand now?  
JOE: I submitted my text just now to a printer. I am expecting a cover template so I can fill in my own cover material. It's exciting to be finally getting on with it.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck. I hope the process goes smoothly.  
JOE: So do I. Now I have to send out a post to remind my writing group of our meeting on Tuesday night. Talk with you on Monday.

### January 07 Reviewers' Comments

###

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. A little late this morning, aren't you?  
|JOE: Maybe later than you expected. However, I had to go to Rochester this morning for a visit related to a study at the University of Rochester on the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and the flu shot.  
CALLIOPE: I see. Commendable of you. What's new in the writing department?  
JOE: Glad you asked. I followed through on my decision to eliminate the quotes from Dante's _Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: So references to the _Inferno_ are just gone? Do you think that's a loss to your book?  
JOE: Hold on. They aren't entirely gone. I put in several references in the text without using direct quotes. Two of my reviewers of _The Pastor's Inferno_ were enthusiastic about the quotes and two found them distracting. So it seemed like a toss up and I am happy with my decision.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I spent most of Saturday working on the manuscript, formatting it appropriately with my changes. I managed to send it in by email Saturday afternoon.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. What's the next step?  
JOE: I am waiting for them to review it and send me a template for the book cover which is pretty well completed as well.  
CALLIOPE: So now it's just a matter of waiting and completing the final steps?  
JOE: That's about it. Now that it's finished, I will get back to working on _Marital Property_ and getting serious about marketing and publicity.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks. I think I might need it. It seems like a whole new adventure.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have some place to start?  
JOE: I have two books and some Internet information. I'm ready to start. Talk with you tomorrow.

January 08 Staying Balanced

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. I think I am making progress with my publication of _The Pastor's Inferno_ **.  
** CALLIOPE: What's happening there?

JOE: I received word that my text has been received. There were a few minor formatting errors which I think have been corrected. I am waiting to hear about that as well as getting a template for my cover.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting!  
JOE: It is. In my haste, I deleted the references to Dante's _Inferno_. Then I received information from people in a publishing forum about how to find material not requiring permission due to being published a long time ago.  
CALLIOPE: Now what?  
JOE: Nothing. I told you I received mixed reviews from my readers on including the quotes in the first place and have decided to leave them out.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds settled. What's up for today?  
JOE: I am having lunch with my daughter for my birthday which was a couple days ago. I also have a writers' meeting tonight. This morning I will get to work on Internet marketing for _The Pastor's Inferno_. I plan to work in a chapter of _Marital Property_ this afternoon. I have been a bit sidetracked with publishing concerns.  
CALLIOPE: It seems you are trying to do a lot at once.  
JOE: True, I suppose I could have waited until _The Pastor's Inferno_ was in print before starting work on _Marital Property_. However I have produced 175 pages of _Marital Property_ which would not be written if I had waited.  
CALLIOPE: Do you find the juggling a problem?  
JOE: Not usually. Sometimes it takes me a bit to reorient myself, but I think I tend to thrive on having several projects in the works at once.  
CALLIOPE: But only writing one at a time?  
JOE: Correct. I don't think I could concentrate on writing two books at once. At least one would suffer. Well, back to work.

### January 10 Structure and Communication

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I missed you yesterday.  
JOE: I'm glad you noticed. I was quite busy with two psychological evaluations, one in Batavia and one in Williamsville, as well as finalizing my book cover.  
CALLIOPE: Great progress. What else is going on?  
JOE: A surprise in the medical department. I don't think I told you that I went to my recorder group on Sunday. I have been unable to play recorder for the past six years due to my rheumatoid arthritis and concentrated on percussion. On Sunday, while driving over, I noticed that my hands felt particularly loose and I ended up playing for three hours straight.  
CALLIOPE: To what do you attribute this remarkable turnaround?  
JOE: I'm not sure. I know there are flare-ups but I have not had this level of flexibility since I started having difficulty. Not even Enbrel helped, at least with flexibility. I started taking red yeast rice for cholesterol a couple weeks ago. I don't know if it is just a coincidence, but I am dramatically improved. I am also much more flexible typing and can work much faster than I could before. I guess that's the big news.  
CALLIOPE: Good. I hope it keeps up. What's planned for today?  
JOE: My daughter, Sue, is taking me out for breakfast for my birthday what was on Sunday. Then I will work a little more on the cover and possibly get it sent in later today.  
CALLIOPE: Anything planned for _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Yes. I started a chapter on Tuesday but there were too many distractions. I plan to finish it today.  
CALLIOPE: What's it about?  
JOE: Strange you should ask. It involves a structured communication process called Vesuvius, after the volcano. It is designed to prevent eruptions or at least minimize them.  
CALLIOPE: Does it work for your couple?  
JOE: It's a little soon to say. They are still in the middle of the conversation. I guess I better get back to work so I have time to find out how they do.

### January 11 Balancing and Editing

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Pretty good. I am near the final steps of having _The Pastor's Inferno_ published.  
CALLIOPE: What remains?  
JOE: Uploading the cover. It is a bit hard setting up the format, harder in fact than the text. I was hoping I would receive a template but I am still waiting for it. I have the cover ready to go based on what I could figure out. I did it in Word, Publisher and PageMaker. They all have their own advantages and challenges.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds complicated. Did you get any actual writing done yesterday?  
JOE: No. I just worked on the cover. I am hoping to have it finished and submitted today.  
CALLIOPE: Will you get back to actual writing today?  
JOE: I hope so. I have a chapter of _Marital Property_ partly finished and would like to at least complete it today.  
CALLIOPE: A little slow going, isn't it?  
JOE: Yes. But for right now, I would like to get _The Pastor's Inferno_ done so I can concentrate on _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: I hope things settle down soon.  
JOE: I think they will. By Monday I expect to be back in a better routine.

### January 14 Internet Marketing, Publishing, Publishing Programs

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I missed you on Saturday.  
JOE: I missed visiting too. I immediately got engaged in working on my cover for _The Pastor's Inferno_ and spent the rest of my time available on it. In the afternoon I was at a pre-cruise party and on Sunday I visited Carol's Aunt Lucille in a nursing home in Buffalo.  
CALLIOPE: How's Aunt Lucille doing?  
JOE: She has been doing pretty well for being eighty six and having congestive heart failure requiring a CPAP machine for breathing. Yesterday she was quite unstable and was found to have pneumonia on top of everything else and was transferred to Sisters Hospital.  
CALLIOPE: Doesn't sound good.  
JOE: It doesn't. But she has bounced back many times when it looked like she wouldn't. It's hard to tell, but we are all waiting.  
CALLIOPE: Keep me posted. How about the publishing?  
JOE: I am learning the printer's requirements a little at a time. I finally got a good copy of my cover composed in PageMaker and transferred to PDF. Now I will have to see if it is finally ready for production. I am hoping to head in that direction soon. I also had to fill out a questionnaire with Ingram categories for listing and a 40 word description for them. I feel production is not far off.  
CALLIOPE: How do you feel about it?  
JOE: Thrilled. It's about time I got to this point. I have been working on some ideas about publicity and marketing and will share them with you when they are more developed.  
CALLIOPE: What about _Marital Property_.  
JOE: Unless some crisis develops with _The Pastor's Inferno_ , I plan to get back to _Marital Property_ this afternoon. At least I don't have anything scheduled.  
CALLIOPE: It will be good to get back to actual writing.  
JOE: I'll say. I am much more comfortable writing than with wrestling with publishing programs. Well, off to work.

### January 16 Marketing, Writing, Balance

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you yesterday.  
JOE: It was one of those days. I started the day with posting my latest column and writing a newsletter for the mental health clinic and board.  
CALLIOPE: No word on the cover for _The Pastor's Inferno_?  
JOE: Not yet. I am still waiting to hear if it is in final form. I did get another chapter of marital Property written. I also had some calling to do about various arrangements for my health insurance.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy. I'm glad you got to do some actual writing. Is it hard to switch gears among projects?  
JOE: It wasn't yesterday. I had quite a bit of energy and seemed to be able to move from one thing to another without much difficulty.  
CALLIOPE: What's on the table for today?  
JOE: I just got back from a mental health meeting. This morning I plan to work on marketing, probably starting with plans for a press release/announcement for _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Yes. This afternoon I plan to write another chapter of _Marital Property_. I have a counseling session planned for my couple.  
CALLIOPE: Is that hard to write?  
JOE: Not for me. I have conducted plenty of them so it shouldn't be too hard.  
CALLIOPE: Well don't let me keep you.  
JOE: Okay. Back to work.

### January 17 Internet Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Good, thank you. I had a productive day yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish?  
JOE: First I designed an announcement for _The Pastor's Inferno_ which can be used either on line or in print.  
CALLIOPE: Quite versatile. What else did you do?  
JOE: I wrote part of another chapter of _Marital Property_ consisting of a counseling session regarding communication. I will finish this chapter today.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else planned for today?  
JOE: You mean other than a dentist appointment?  
CALLIOPE: Yes. I mean writing.  
JOE: I think I will adapt my announcement to be used as a press release. Again I plan to design one to be used for print as well as online outlets.  
CALLIOPE: Good. How is the marketing coming along?  
JOE: Slowly. I am exploring options, focusing on ones which don't cost me a fortune.  
CALLIOPE: Wise idea.  
JOE: I thought so. I had better get going before the day wastes away. See you tomorrow.

### January 18 Contracts and Complications

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little disconcerted. I signed up for a bulletin board which I thought was a writers' forum. It turned out to be a cesspool of viruses which invaded my computer.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do about it?  
JOE: Fortunately I have a couple good anti-virus programs which I used to scrub my computer. I think it is clean again but will run them again to be sure.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything accomplished yesterday?  
JOE: Yes. I completed my contract with my printer and the files are on the way to the printer. Next is a bound proof.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting.  
JOE: It is. I am glad to get that finished. I was prepared for some fiddling with the PDF for the cover, but none turned out to be necessary. I guess the time I spent developing it was worth it.  
CALLIOPE: But no work on _Marital Property_?  
JOE: No. The viruses hit just as I was about to do some writing. I plan to get back to it today. I did some work yesterday and today developing an announcement and News release for _The Pastor's Inferno_ and plan to have them ready to go when the book is ready for distribution.  
CALLIOPE: You sound prepared.  
JOE: I am. After a sigh of relief, it's back to work.

### January 19 Adventure, Muse and Story

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I am feeling less frenetic than I have felt in the past few weeks.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: On account of having _The Pastor's Inferno_ at the printer as we speak.  
CALLIOPE: Are you taking a little vacation?  
JOE: No. I have been working on publicity. Yesterday I completed a news release and an announcement for _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Any writing yesterday?  
JOE: In addition to the release and announcement, I finished another chapter of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think will be the fate of your couple?  
JOE: I am inclined to think they will save their marriage. But I don't know for sure. I just write what you bring into my head and am following my characters to see where their story takes them.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an adventure. How about today?  
JOE: I am leaving soon to visit Aunt Lucille in her new digs at Brothers of Mercy Nursing Home. I am hoping to write another chapter of _Marital Property_ today.  
CALLIOPE: Better get to it.  
JOE: Right you are. Talk with you tomorrow.

### January 21 Marketing and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I have been quite busy over the weekend despite football.  
CALLIOPE: Oh?  
JOE: On Saturday, I finished another chapter of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Was that it for the weekend?  
JOE: No. Yesterday I worked on my next chapter about Caring Days.  
CALLIOPE: What's that?  
JOE: A couples' exercise where each comes up with a list of little things their spouses can do to show they care.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that idea?  
JOE: I'm not sure. But it's something I used when I was doing marriage counseling. It was helpful, even if just to see if spouses cared at all about each other. If they couldn't come up with anything, I concluded they either had no imagination or little hope for their relationship.  
CALLIOPE: Very interesting. Did you get anything else done?  
JOE: I did some work on marketing and publicity. On Saturday I refined my announcement and news release. Yesterday I worked on developing a list of publicity resources with the help of the Ross and Ross book, _Complete Guide to Self Publishing_.  
CALLIOPE: Did you come up with much.  
JOE: Yes. Quite a list. Most of the resources are rather expensive. My next task is to find a library which has them hand. That's one of my jobs for today. Off to work.

### January 22 Caring, Communication, Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's new today?  
JOE: I'm still savoring yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What happened?  
JOE: I had a nice conversation with my brother in Hawaii. It's hard to catch up with him due to the time differences.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you finally caught up with him. What's happening on the literary front?  
JOE: I developed quite a list of resources for reviews and publicity. Now all I have to do is track them down. I have found that some are available at various libraries within driving distance.  
CALLIOPE: How about writing?  
JOE: I finished another chapter of _Marital Property_ about things my couple would like each other to do for them.  
CALLIOPE: For example?  
JOE: I thought you knew everything that came into my head.  
CALLIOPE: Not quite? I know what I send your way for consideration. I don't know what inspirations you choose to follow.  
JOE: Oh. I'll give you one example from each spouse. Cynthia wanted Denis to tell her which of her paintings he liked best. Denis wanted Cynthia to draw a beach scene for him.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds rather tame.  
JOE: Baby steps usually are. They are trying to reconnect and are not really sure what each other are willing to do. I think that is why they are starting with very small requests. Besides, that is what their counseling homework consisted of.  
CALLIOPE: And what about today?  
JOE: I plan to follow up on some of the leads I found this morning and this afternoon will write about my couple discussing their lists of what they would like from each other. Time to get started.

### January 23 Creativity and Cross Pollination

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you sleep in today?  
JOE: No. I was up early as usual. I was looking at my email and followed up several links on Internet marketing. I just now decided to take a break.  
CALLIOPE: Quite noble. Glad you remembered me.  
JOE: I did want to update you on my efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Don't keep me in suspense.  
JOE: Yesterday I spent most of the morning and some of the afternoon pursuing marketing and publicity resources. It's a long process.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do in the afternoon?  
JOE: I took a break to string my guitar. I haven't been able to play it for years due to arthritis. However, it seems better now for some reason. I thought I would give the guitar another chance.  
CALLIOPE: A little creative expression not related to writing might be good for your writing related creativity.  
JOE: My thoughts exactly. It will take a while to get back into practice.  
CALLIOPE: Did you write yesterday?  
JOE: Yes. I did another chapter of _Marital Property_ _,_ this time a discussion of Denis's Caring Days list. Today will be a discussion between the couple of Cynthia's list.  
CALLIOPE: They sound pretty cooperative lately.  
JOE: I have a sense that things will not remain peaceful, but we shall see. Back to the grind.

### January 24 Collaboration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I expected you a little earlier.  
JOE: I was on my way but stopped by my email and found a teleseminar on web marketing by Armand Morin and decided to listen to it.  
CALLIOPE: Ah. Did you learn anything?  
JOE: Yes. He has quite a bit for sale but did give away some free information on getting people to my website and having something to offer once they get there as well as how to convert prospects to sales.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds worthwhile.  
JOE: I thought so. The more I read, the more I realize how complex a subject this is. But at least I'm working on it.  
CALLIOPE: Keep going. How about writing?  
JOE: I finished another chapter about Denis and Cynthia discussing her Caring Days list. They are both optimistic about their prospects at the moment.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think it might just be momentary hope?  
JOE: We shall see. The plot may thicken before things get resolved one way or another.  
CALLIOPE: Another mystery?  
JOE: You probably know better than I do how it will turn out.  
CALLIOPE: I don't know for sure but I have some ideas. So do you and your characters.  
JOE: I guess it will be a joint project including all of us. I can't wait to see what we all come up with.

### January 25 Bound Galley

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Excited. I got an email from the printer saying my bound galley of _T_ _he Pastor's Inferno_ is in the mail. It looks like I am very close to production.  
CALLIOPE: Are you ready?  
JOE: Not quite. But I would rather have the book and not be ready than be ready and not have it. I have an announcement and a news release ready.  
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to share these?  
JOE: Yes, when the book is available. I will make sure you get a copy.  
CALLIOPE: So what else is on your agenda?  
JOE: I am still pursuing publicity and marketing information. I found some good information from Armand Moran yesterday about setting up a website for maximum sales. Some things I had not thought about. He has a webinar this afternoon which I am planning to listen to.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today other than the webinar?  
JOE: This morning I plan to look over my website and plan some changes. I will write another chapter of _Marital Property_ in the early afternoon.  
CALLIOPE: Did you write yesterday?  
JOE: Yes. I got another chapter done. I have the next few planned as well. The next scene takes place in the bedroom after they exchanged their Caring Days lists.  
CALLIOPE: Will it be a sexy scene?  
JOE: I hope so, but you know how lovers can be. I'm not sure they are quite back to being lovers yet anyway.

### January 26 Internet Marketing

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. I have been very busy exploring Internet marketing for my books.  
CALLIOPE: What did you learn yesterday?  
JOE: More valuable information about layout and use of websites and email.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you learn that?  
JOE: Surfing as well as a live phone seminar by Armand Morin yesterday afternoon.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have a chance to do any writing yesterday?  
JOE: No. The whole day was taken up with learning about marketing.  
CALLIOPE: Aren't you afraid you will lose your momentum for writing _Marital Property_?  
JOE: No. When I started it, I made an agreement with myself that I would take breaks as necessary to work on getting _The Pastor's Inferno_ moving. In between efforts, I have had time to write. However sometimes publishing efforts take priority. I expect _The Pastor's Inferno_ to be available very soon and want to be ready to promote it.  
CALLIOPE: Why the urgency?  
JOE: With my other two books, I did not do anything of note by way of promotion and my corresponding sales (or lack thereof) were predictable. I think I am about ready to make at least a little money. I have come to realize that people can't buy my books if they don't know about them.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been doing specifically?  
JOE: Revising my websites and ways to get people to them have been my chief priorities. To get back to your earlier question, I am not worried about losing steam for _Marital Property_ since I have an exciting chapter ready to write. Now I'm off to visit Aunt Lucille. I hope to write the chapter in question when I get back.

### January 28 Marketing and Publishing

####

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news?  
JOE: Excellent news. I received the bound galley of _The Pastor's Inferno_ on Saturday.  
CALLIOPE: How did it look?  
JOE: Excellent. I couldn't find any problems. Even the cover surpassed my expectations and came out perfectly.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. Now what?  
JOE: I have already been busy finalizing arrangements for it to be listed on the printer's website. It is also to be listed at Ingram for distribution.  
CALLIOPE: What did you have to do to finalize it?  
JOE: I had to list basic information such as would be included in a News Release. It wasn't hard to find the information to include. But I was so excited I kept making typos. I finally got a clean copy and sent it off.  
CALLIOPE: When will it be available for sale?  
JOE: I think in a matter of a few days. I will post an announcement here instead of our usual conversation when the book is ready for sale.  
CALLIOPE: I can't wait. Did you get a chance to do any writing over the weekend?  
JOE: I must admit I spent most of it on marketing, specifically polishing my websites. However I did write the bedroom scene I was talking about last week for _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: How did it turn out?  
JOE: I was pleased with it, but must admit that my attention was mostly focused on getting _The Pastor's Inferno_ into circulation.  
CALLIOPE: What's on the docket for today?  
JOE: I have some more work to do on the web site and on preparing for sales. I will try to work in a chapter of _Marital Property_ this afternoon. See you tomorrow.

### January 29 Publication of The Pastor's Inferno

Good morning Calliope. I told you I would share my announcement of _The Pastor's Inferno_ availability. Here it is. Back to our regular programming tomorrow.

**About** _The Pastor's Inferno_ **  
**  
Some novels are designed to distract the reader from his or her daily routine. Others are meant to lead the reader to understand the human condition a little better. This is a novel of the second sort.

_The Pastor's Inferno_ is a fictional account of a priest's journey from denial to changing his life in a quest for redemption. Father John Spador learns how to confront his behavior and its consequences as well as his motivations and relationships. His story shows how an otherwise ordinary person can become lost to his demons and then work toward redefining his life.

The Pastor's Inferno is an insight into the mind of an abusive priest and explores why a priest might become abusive as well as what he might do about it. This story should have special importance for Catholic priests, the laity and hierarchy as well as those of other faiths touched by clergy sexual abuse. It will also appeal to readers interested in understanding the darker side of the human condition and how to approach it.

### January 30 Writing and Publishing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I enjoyed reading your announcement for _The Pastor's Inferno_ yesterday. How are you today?  
JOE: Well, thank you. Yesterday I went up to visit Aunt Lucille who is in grave condition and will probably die in the next day or so. I'm not sure she recognized us. But at least we got to see her one last time.  
CALLIOPE: You sound resigned.  
JOE: We all are. She has had a good life and told us she was ready to "get the show on the road."  
CALLIOPE: Did you have time to work on anything yesterday?  
JOE: I did. I was quite busy in fact. I wrote a newspaper column for Saturday. I also worked on a eulogy for Aunt Lucille which she asked me to deliver at her funeral.  
CALLIOPE: Any time for working on your books?  
JOE: Remarkably, yes. I redesigned my web sites in keeping with marketing information I have been learning and published them. I also sent them to all my contacts who have expressed an interest in my writing.  
CALLIOPE: You have been busy. Any work on _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Unfortunately I ran out of time before I got that far. I plan to get back to it today. I did write a chapter on Monday, a family scene around the dinner table.  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to proceed from here?  
JOE: I will get back to my regular schedule of working on marketing in the morning and writing in the afternoon. The publication of _The Pastor's Inferno_ has energized me. I'm ready to go.

### January 31 Characters' Sex Lives

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I've been waiting for you.  
JOE: I don't always start at the crack of dawn. I have been up but my back is bothering me. I think I overdid my exercise or did something wrong.  
CALLIOPE: Sorry to hear it. Hope it mends soon. What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: I sent out some more announcements as well as a news release to my local paper.  
CALLIOPE: Any writing?  
JOE: I was afraid I might not get to it, but I did manage to write another chapter of _Marital Property_ _._  
CALLIOPE: What about?  
JOE: This was a counseling session where my couple discusses their progress.  
CALLIOPE: Are they making any?  
JOE: As a matter of fact they are. They are starting to pay more attention to each other.  
CALLIOPE: Any stumbling blocks?  
JOE: I don't know if it is exactly a stumbling block, but their sex life is not what they would like it to be. It came up in the session and they were given some more assignments to spark things up a bit in the bedroom.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds like an interesting sort of homework.  
JOE: It is, but it can also be a bit scary to reveal parts of yourself you previously kept secret.  
CALLIOPE: Do you mean body parts?  
JOE: No, I mean emotional parts. I guess I better see how they are doing.

# Chapter 2: February

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments,  
embark upon a sentimental jouney, and enjoy every idle hour.

~ John Boswell

### February 01 Websites and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Nice to see you up and about at this hour.  
JOE: I had to get to the office to check on a few things before Carol left for work. Anyway, I here I am.  
CALLIOPE: What did you get done yesterday?  
JOE: I worked on my website. In my study of marketing, I found that search engines detest duplicate content on websites. I had the same readings from my books on both websites. Rather than being eschewed, I made the necessary corrections to both. I think they are both working well but so far have not gotten much feedback.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think your sites are the best they can be?  
JOE: If you mean do I think they are as effective as they can be, it is only a matter of time and experience. I discovered in my reading that how you set up a site is a matter of trial and error depending on who ends up at your site. All you can do is try something to see if it works and then experiment once in a while to see if another approach works better. I wonder if all advertising and marketing is so idiosyncratic.  
CALLIOPE: I don't know. But I do like your use of that nice Greek word at the end of your last sentence.  
JOE: So I guess I'm on my own for the time being.  
CALLIOPE: I guess so. What else have you been up to?  
JOE: I sent out a couple news releases and plan to work on more today. I also discovered that one calls them news releases rather than press releases to honor the sensibilities of those not engaged in print publishing.  
CALLIOPE: It's amazing what you learn when you start studying. What about writing?  
JOE: I started a new chapter of _Marital Property_ but didn't have time to finish it.  
CALLIOPE: What is your couple up to?  
JOE: Creative sex. I left them in the bedroom so I better get back to them before they become too frustrated. Talk to you tomorrow.

### February 02 Balance and Writing

###

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was beginning to think I wouldn't hear from you today.  
JOE: Never fear. Actually I have been quite busy with things I have let go all week to work on marketing. I won't bore you with the details.  
CALLIOPE: Okay. What progress have you made on marketing?  
JOE: I am busy finding contacts for news releases at the moment. I am making good progress, but finding detailed accurate contact information is not always so easy. I did search the library yesterday for newspaper contacts and magazine contacts. I also discovered Gale's, a wealth of information when I find the time.  
CALLIOPE: You sound quite busy. Any progress with _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Yes. I worked on the bedroom chapter with my couple. I thought I had reached the end of the chapter but they were having too much fun and wanted to continue.  
CALLIOPE: So did you leave them hanging, so to speak?

JOE: I did. It doesn't look like I will have time to write today. But I am sure they will both reach full satisfaction on Monday. It's not quite so frustrating to have to wait when it fictional. I hope they won't hold it against me.  
CALLIOPE: I hope so too. What's next?  
JOE: More work on _Marital Property_ next week as well as more marketing efforts for my other writing.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have a plan?  
JOE: Yes. First was to get my website where I wanted it. I am happy for the moment with it. Now I need to look for reviews and am scouring the country for possible sources.  
CALLIOPE: Are you doing any local PR work?  
JOE: I am developing a program which I think I will call Writing from the Soul. I plan to talk about the different kinds of writing I have done, give examples from my writings, and engage my audience in discussion of their writing or aspirations instead of a traditional signing. Of course I will have my books for sale as well. I guess I better get going. See you on Monday.

### February 04 Balance and Anticipation

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Better than the last few days. I did something to my back and haven't been sleeping well lately.  
CALLIOPE: What are you doing about it?  
JOE: I was hoping rest would be enough. But I keep aggravating it. I plan to call a chiropractor today.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. What's been going on besides that?  
JOE: Aunt Lucille finally died yesterday morning. She seemed close to death a few times but was finally ready to go and said, "Let's get the show on the road."  
CALLIOPE: She was quite a character from what you have written about her in the past.  
JOE: You're right. I will miss her as will Carol. But we have fine memories of our times with her. One of her last requests was that I do her eulogy.  
CALLIOPE: How's it coming?  
JOE: Just about finished. We have a cruise planned starting Saturday and were in quite a quandary about what to do if she lingered beyond then. I didn't want to disappoint her and Carol wanted to be there for her cousins. As it turns out, everything fell into place.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like quite a week so far. Any work on writing?  
JOE: I sent out a few more news releases on Saturday and also worked yesterday on a presentation in lieu of a book reading and signing. I didn't get to work on _Marital Property_. My couple remains in bed unrequited. I hope to give them some relief today and don't see why I can't finish their bedroom scene.  
CALLIOPE: I am sure they will be grateful.  
JOE: I imagine so. Still, I think they might be enjoying the antici---pation. I guess I better get going. Talk with you tomorrow.

### February 05 Marketing and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?

JOE: Better than I was yesterday. I visited a chiropractor who put my back in shape again so I can sit up straight during the day and sleep at night.

CALLIOPE: Sounds good to me. What did you work on yesterday?

JOE: I developed a business card for _The Pastor's Inferno_ containing its basic information. I thought it might be easier to carry around than announcements, especially on my trip next week.

CALLIOPE: Your trip?

JOE: I thought I told you. Carol and I are going on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean, our usual Valentine's Day jaunt to get away from the cold for a while. We are going with three other couples and looking forward to it.

CALLIOPE: Sounds great. How is the eulogy coming?

JOE: It's just about finished. I am still waiting to hear from a few of Aunt Lucille's children which might be last minute. I left them messages and they may or may not call. If not, I should see them at the funeral home tomorrow night.

CALLIOPE: May I see the eulogy?

JOE: Of course. I will post it Thursday morning. I think it only fair that the family see it first.

CALLIOPE: I agree. Any progress with our poor couple in _Marital Property_?

JOE: You will be relieved to know that their passion has been requited. They were relieved. Both seemed to enjoy themselves and each other immensely and are looking forward to their next practice session in the bedroom.

CALLIOPE: So am I. What's up for today?

JOE: I have some final work to do on the business card. I also plan to do some work on marketing this morning. This afternoon I will see if my couple is ready for another bedroom practice session. Talk with you tomorrow.

### February 06 Writing a Eulogy

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite well, thank you. My back seems to be working normally. It's amazing how one little disorder can change your outlook.  
CALLIOPE: Did it do that to you?  
JOE: I can't say it changed my life outlook, but it did hold me back some.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you're past that. What did you do yesterday?  
JOE: I worked on publicity materials, refining my business card, announcements, news releases and brochure to coordinate with my web sites.  
CALLIOPE: It sounds like you are making progress. Any writing?  
JOE: Denis and Cynthia are back in the bedroom in _Marital Property_ and from all accounts are enjoying every minute.  
CALLIOPE: Did you finish the chapter?  
JOE: No. I was a little pressed for time. Like my protagonists, I am enjoying this scene as well.  
CALLIOPE: Well, I won't bother you about the intimate details. I hope you all have fun. What's on the docket for today?  
JOE: First I have some refinements to add to Aunt Lucille's eulogy. I may not get some of the details I want until the wake this afternoon. I will probably have to come back here to touch up the eulogy tomorrow morning before the funeral.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds rather last minute.  
JOE: It's not entirely in my control. Several people still have not gotten back to me but I should see them at the wake. I'll send you a copy of the eulogy tomorrow morning if I have time. I'd better get going.

### February 07 Aunt Lucille's Eulogy

Good morning Calliope. I can't stay to chat but I did want to leave with you the eulogy I wrote for Aunt Lucille's funeral this morning. I will talk with you tomorrow.

**Eulogy- Lucille Rider**

Lucille loved to read everything from Edgar Allen Poe to _Chicken Soup for the Soul_. As I woke up this morning, I thought of a line from Lord Byron's poem, _The Maid of Athens_ , "Zoe mou sas agapo- My life I love you." I think this line summarizes how Lucille approached each new day.

Several years ago I was in the market for a better car and noticed that Lucille had her Buick for sale. I looked into it, thinking that a car owned by a woman in her 80's would most likely have relatively few miles on it. I was surprised to find that she had managed to travel 84000 miles in a few years without taking any long trips. I ended up buying her car, named it after her, and began to hope that it would have half the stamina she did.

I have written about her in my columns, marveling at her energy. My first visit to her house was shortly before Christmas. Carol insisted I see her Aunt Lucille's basement. There, amid her husband Jake's clock collection, were more presents than I imagined Santa Claus having in his workshop. She had been chasing around Western New York collecting presents for months. I suppose that is what accounted for at least some of the miles on her car.

I have not known Lucille nearly as long as most of you have. Being with Carol the past eleven years, Aunt Lucille has become a major part of my life. When Carol and I were first going together, I remember Lucille bringing a plate of her rolls to the door at Christmas time. She returned year after year, rolls in hand, until her recent decline. I felt privileged to be able to bake breads and bring them to her in return. She always talked about not being able to taste anything, but somehow she still found each of my breads delicious.

I learned that Lucille acted as Carol's mother despite having seven children of her own. I have met all of Lucille's children and grandchildren in the intervening years and have been impressed by how her family revolved around her especially in the last few months as she has moved from being the rock of the family to the one who needed care.  
She has lived her life in the sight of God, going to visit Him in Church when she was able. When she was no longer able to make it to church, Father Mike, Jerry or Liz brought her Communion.

If God did not express His will clearly, Lucille always had her own ideas about what should be done. I don't recall her ever being lost for an opinion on any topic whatsoever. She could tell you how a restaurant should fill its wine glasses as well as how people should conduct their lives.

Despite her strong opinions, I don't ever recall hearing her berate anyone or even speak to anyone unkindly. She could muster the troops to get someone moving, but often did so with humor. Still, she always took the time to listen to others.

She was a woman of various talents, many of which I only knew about from Carol such as her chair caning, re-upholstery, interior painting, wallpapering, and sponge painting. Gerry Diskin recalls that she could change the look of a kitchen in a single day with a roll of contact paper. Anto especially remembers her unparalleled rolls and her once devising a rope handle for a suitcase, stirring up images of the Clampetts.

She also used the same ingenuity to be sure she was dressed and groomed to perfection.

In recent months her physical stamina faded, but not her spirit. She was sharp as a tack until a few days before she died, and even then had moments of lucidity and was able to insert a wry comment into the conversation.

She was close to leaving us a couple weeks ago. She told us she saw George and Jake preparing a card table for euchre but they weren't quite ready for her. Another time she saw them again but she wasn't quite ready herself. When she finally was ready, she told us clearly.

Driving around Leroy lately, I missed having her to visit as she held court in her living room or at the kitchen table. There is a void in my life as I know there must be in all of yours. I have been struggling to put my finger on just what she brought all of us.  
Jon was her first child and lived only a few days. She was told she would not be able to have any other children. From heaven, Jon has watched her beat the odds and go on to have seven more children.

Her family shared with me some of their favorite memories. Linda remembers her mother's unconditional love and her faith which was deeply ingrained in her soul.  
Sandy especially remembers taking her mother to a 2006 New Year's Eve Party at one of her friends' houses and realizing how much can change about life in one year. She remembers her mother hugging and kissing everyone as she always did when anyone came to visit. She recalls her mother living for each moment. She lived unselfishly and made each person she was with feel special. She was gracious to the end, concerned and worried about everyone else rather than herself even in her last moments.

Mary Margaret remembers as a child seeing her mother never afraid to do anything and teaching her many skills by having her join in with whatever project occupied her at the moment. She especially remembers her mother's unconditional love for everyone as well as her constant forgiveness whenever it was called for. She accepted everyone and her door was always open to visitors. She especially provided a safe and accepting place for kids to visit. Her husband Jim recalls her as very caring. She always had a nice greeting and the inevitable kiss for everyone walking in her door. He also recalls her never being shy about expressing her opinion which always made him think when it was directed toward him.

Patty recalls her mother's directness, even about her own death with the words, "Let's get the show on the road." She had two caring husbands whom she had recently seen waiting for her in heaven. Keeping the family together was very important to her and she did her best to make sure it stayed cohesive.

Yvonne shared some of the lighter moments in her mother's final months. She remembers a time when she was learning to change her mother's oxygen. As she wrestled with the cylinder, it let out a poof of air startling Anto's cat. As she continued to struggle with it, it let out a larger poof of air, sending the cat scrambling for cover.

Another time, she was trying to figure out how to wash her mother's hair over a basin. Yvonne was not aware that a cup would have made it easier and was ready to dump the whole bucket of water over her mother's head, like Gatorade on a Super Bowl coach.  
Bob especially remembers his mother's consistent generosity which reached a fever pitch as each Christmas approached.

Mike could not find a way to put his memories into words. However he did display his characteristic grin when his mother was mentioned.

Amy recalls her grandmother always welcoming everyone with open arms to her home. Even when people in her family disappointed her or she disagreed with what they did, she still loved them unconditionally.

Catholic tradition holds that angels are bodiless spirits who act as messengers from God to relay to us what we need to know. I am sure there are also angels in the flesh. I have been privileged to meet several of them as they passed through my life. Lucille was one of them. Many times her message was one of love and acceptance, but sometimes one of caution when needed, always direct and to the point. I know I will miss her love and concern. Lucille, thank you for your life. We will always love you.

I would like to end with my favorite part of the Latin funeral service. It begins with the words "In paradisum deducant te angeli. (May the angels lead you into paradise.)"

### February 08 Eulogy, Publicity and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was the eulogy received?  
JOE: Very well. I received many compliments on it.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think made it successful?  
JOE: Listening and watching. I attended to what I saw of Aunt Lucille and her interactions with everyone around her. I also listened to what each of her children had to say about her.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good approach. Did the funeral take up the whole day?  
JOE: Between that and the burial as well as reception at Leroy Country Club, I was exhausted by the end of it after getting up at 4:00 AM to finish the eulogy.  
CALLIOPE: What about your poor couple in _Marital Property_?  
JOE: I hope to help them find some satisfaction in the bedroom today before I leave.  
CALLIOPE: Leave? For where?  
JOE: I will be cruising in the Caribbean for a week, leaving quite early tomorrow morning for San Juan.  
CALLIOPE: Oh, yes. Do you plan to work on your writing while you are gone?  
JOE: Not specifically. I do plan to take a new book on Internet marketing and will do some pleasure reading as well as talk to others about writing. I will also take some business cards with information about _The Pastor's Inferno_. I will also look for some new pictures for my blog. Mainly I plan to work on relaxing.  
CALLIOPE: Have a great time. See you when you get back.  
JOE: I'll bee back in touch when I return. Aloha.

### February 14 Letter to Calliope

Dear Calliope,

This is a note from Curaçao. I was busy enjoying all the adventures of my cruise in the Caribbean with Carol. Then we arrived at the slave museum here in Curaçao. It was a graphic reminder of how cruel people can be to each other in the name of money. Lloyd's of London and Barclay Bank were built on slave money and the American economy once had slavery at its root.

It is hard to imagine how we could see other people as chattel and use them as farm animals, disregarding any concern or appreciation for their humanity. Especially graphic were the child sized manacles since children were easier to transport and more of them could be crammed into a small space. I was also struck by the traps used to capture one native and his screams would attract others who would also be captured for transport.

It was an eerie feeling being in a reconstructed hold where forty to fifty people were manacled together for a two month voyage with only one break a month to dance. It amazes me to think that people could dehumanize others of different skin color and language to this degree.

Hearing about it was one thing. Seeing pictures, artifacts and reconstructions was quite another. I was also struck by the need to "season" slaves in Curaçao, meaning they were taught skills useful for slave work. Family relationships were apparently ignored and families were split up as needed for slave owner purposes as they were sold.

I left emotionally touched by what people had done to each other and still do in some places. I would like to think this does not still happen but it is not true and it still does. It was odd to be returned to pampering on a ship after knowing about such cruelty. I will carry the lesson of this visit for years to come.

### February 18 Slavery and Curaçao

JOE: Good afternoon, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon, Joe. How was the Caribbean?  
JOE: It was everything Carol and I expected: weather in the mid-eighties, a great time on the Adventure of the Seas and delightful company.  
CALLIOPE: Did you meet new people on the cruise?  
JOE: A few, but we spent most of our time with three other couples who went with us.  
CALLIOPE: Was it all fun or did you learn anything?  
JOE: You sound a little jealous. I always learn something. I finished reading a book about online marketing and got some good tips about where to start. I also visited the slavery museum in Curaçao I mentioned in my letter. I'm still thinking about the letter I wrote to you from Curaçao.

CALLIOPE: You mean about the slavery museum?

JOE: Yes. It portrayed the history of the slavery movement from the beginning through the civil rights movement.

CALLIOPE: What was most moving?

JOE: Two things. One was being in a replica of a hold section of a slave ship where forty to fifty people spent two months crowded together like sardines in a can. The other was child sized manacles. Seeing them brought to life for me the reality of this cruelty.

CALLIOPE: Did the experience do anything to help with your writing?

JOE: I think so. It reinforced my determination to continue using my writing as a means to help people think about their lives and their impact on others.

### February 19 Marketing and Social Websites

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. Where have you been all morning?  
JOE: I've been here but dragging around a little with a cold. I am trying to get back into a pattern but am having a little trouble doing it after a week in the Caribbean.  
CALLIOPE: I'm trying to feel sorry for you.  
JOE: Well, keep trying. I'm not asking for sympathy, just saying I am not functioning on all cylinders yet.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything done this morning?  
JOE: Not on my writing. I had some medical matters to attend to and don't have much energy.  
CALLIOPE: What about this afternoon?  
JOE: I have an appointment at 1:30 but hope to get some writing done before the afternoon is over. I am hoping to get back to my normal schedule by tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: You said you had some ideas about online marketing. I was wondering what they are.  
JOE: One is to maximize use of my website. I read that duplicate content makes search engines ignore one site. I checked in Google and found that both sites containing this blog are listed. I guess there must be enough differences for it not to be a conflict.  
CALLIOPE: So what's next?  
JOE: I would like to pursue social sites, becoming more active in writing related forums and explore links with other websites for starters.  
CALLIOPE: All new territory for me.  
JOE: For me as well. I guess we will learn together.

### February 21 Communications

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon, Joe, and late afternoon at that.  
JOE: I know, I know. Yesterday my computer and Internet phone service went off suddenly. I thought it was my modem and was waiting for a service call from Road Runner. Then I discovered it was a problem with my router and my computer still worked. I decided to get a cell phone in the mean time so I could answer important calls. I have been trying to contact Vonage to see whether I can get a new router.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds technical. Is it all settled?  
JOE: No. I'm still waiting for a response from Vonage. Hopefully it will be all settled fairly soon and I can get back to work.  
CALLIOPE: Are you back to working on _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Fortunately, yes. I completed the last of the bedroom scenes with my couple yesterday, at least for the moment. So their love is no longer unrequited.  
CALLIOPE: Now what?  
JOE: I am looking toward the end of the book. I still think they need one last crisis to prove they can work together to overcome it. I will give it some thought as see what I can come up with.

### February 22 Marketing Frustration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Everything back in working order?  
JOE: I wish. My phone is still on the blink. I sent an e-mail about my problem and got back suggestions which were not only confusing but impossible to do.  
CALLIOPE: So now what?  
JOE: I think I might talk with Time Warner to see about their service.  
CALLIOPE: Do what you have to. What's happening on the writing front?  
JOE: Very little. I spent yesterday scrambling around trying to fix the phone problem. It's hard for me to concentrate when I have such annoyances.  
CALLIOPE: Have you made any progress with the marketing?  
JOE: I have been reading and getting some ideas. I woke up early this morning realizing that scattered ideas won't get me anywhere.  
CALLIOPE: So what's your plan?  
JOE: That's just it. I don't have one. I think today I should review what I have found so far and then work on a well thought out approach for marketing rather than going off into a variety of directions.  
CALLIOPE: Can anyone help?  
JOE: I do have a forum of writers but have not approached it yet. I think this might be a good resource. I had better get on it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### February 23 Communication and Internet Marketing

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was wondering if you would show up today.  
JOE: Oh, ye of little faith. I am still dragging around from the cold I picked up on vacation. I'm still not quite back to normal.  
CALLIOPE: So what have you been up to?  
JOE: I did some more running around yesterday to finalize my phone business. I won't have a regular phone for a couple weeks and will have to make do with my new cell phone.  
CALLIOPE: What about incoming calls to your regular phone?  
JOE: Fortunately I can retrieve them from the computer or through my cell phone. However, it's a pain.  
CALLIOPE: Any work on your writing?  
JOE: No actual writing, but some progress on marketing.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: A book I read recently suggested using social sites. Instead of working on an overall marketing plan as I had intended, I set up a site and a My Space group for psychological fiction. Then I did some surfing and discovered My Space seems to be a playground for teens and young adults. I haven't yet figured out how I could use it, but I will do some more work on it.  
CALLIOPE: What are your plans for the weekend?  
JOE: I will follow my course intended for yesterday. I plan to review the marketing information I have and try to set a comprehensive plan for the near future. I hope I do better than I did yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: I hope so too.  
JOE: Off to work. Talk with you on Monday.

### February 25 Health and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Glad to see you are up and at 'em early again.  
JOE: I feel pretty well recovered from my cold and am getting my energy back. I also joined Weight Watchers for Men on-line last week and have already lost 8 pounds. Maybe there is still hope.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations, keep it up. What's going on in the writing world?  
JOE: I spent some time this weekend reviewing what I have found so far on Internet marketing. I also established some priorities.  
CALLIOPE: What are your top three?  
JOE: First is continuing this blog to track my progress with writing and keep those who are interested in my adventure informed.  
CALLIOPE: And second?  
JOE: Second is to develop a list of benefits from reading my books to include in my marketing efforts. I realize this is an approach best suited to non-fiction, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for fiction as well.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like it is worth a try. And number three?  
JOE: I woke up very early yesterday morning with the idea of celebrity quotes. I don't mean soliciting them from current celebrities. What I have in mind is quoting famous people in my publicity, using what they have (or had) to say to lend credence to my writing. I have never heard of this idea, but thought I might try it. Did you plant this idea in my head?  
CALLIOPE: Well...  
JOE: I thought so. I think it's brilliant or at least a try. I'm excited about getting to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

February 26 Writing Distractions

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Well, thank you. My cold is hanging on but is close to banishment.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get much done yesterday?  
JOE: Alas. I had other commitments which kept me from concentrating on creative pursuits.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: A mental health meeting, dentist appointment and exercise.  
CALLIOPE: I see. Did you work on your writing at all?  
JOE: I did wander around MySpace trying to figure out how I could use it to my advantage.  
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?  
JOE: Not too much. It still seems like an electronic playground. I will have to explore a bit more to see if it can be useful. I wonder how other writers use it.  
CALLIOPE: Me too. Maybe some of them will favor us with their opinions. What do you plan to do today?  
JOE: I write up an agenda for today already. I plan to work this morning on benefits of my books and finding famous quotes to support my writings. This afternoon I will get back to work on _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: You sound like you are still struggling with working consistently.  
JOE: I guess I am. Not having regular phone service has thrown me off somewhat. But I will keep working at it and try to regain my balance.

February 27 Writing, the Unknown and the Forbidden

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I feel like I am getting back to my old self. I had a productive day yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: After our discussion, I got to work on my plans for developing benefits to list under my book listings in my publicity efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Do you want to share them?  
JOE: Not just yet. I would like to refine them a bit and then we'll talk.  
CALLIOPE: OK. What else?  
JOE: I found some pretty good quotes about writing but not specifically on what I am writing about.  
CALLIOPE: Can you share one?  
JOE: Sure. Anaïs Nin wrote, "The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say."  
CALLIOPE: Interesting. What does it mean to you?  
JOE: There are plenty of things everyone can express but some things most people don't know how to express. It is the writer's job to make sure these things get said.  
CALLIOPE: How do you think that applies to your writing?  
JOE: In _The Pastor's Inferno_ , I delve into the mind of an abusive priest, a place few people would dare to go.  
CALLIOPE: Good example. Are you ready to get going for today?  
JOE: I am. I will have limited time since I will be out of town this afternoon, but I will do what I can this morning.

### February 28 Fiction, Conflict and Crisis

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Well, but I don't feel too ambitious. I am having a hard time getting started this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Any particular reason?  
JOE: None that I can think of. I guess I am just in a lazy mood.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think you can find to motivate you?  
JOE: Let me look at the writing quotes I found yesterday. Hmmm... Here's something by Isaac Bashevis Singer, "Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression. The chasm is never completely bridged. We all have the conviction, perhaps illusory, that we have much more to say than appears on the paper."  
CALLIOPE: How does that apply to how you are feeling right now?  
JOE: I want to get on with my novel, _Marital Property_ , but am at a crossroads.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I am nearing the end of the story. Although my couple has made good progress, I feel there is a need for a crisis to test how far they have come and I am having difficulty thinking of one.  
CALLIOPE: Where do you think you might look?  
JOE: I started this project by defining the traits of my characters. Part of what I discovered was each of their weaknesses and blind spots. I think a good crisis would plunge both of them into their worst fears about themselves and each other.  
CALLIOPE: Excellent. Does that give you some ideas?  
JOE: Yes. I will go back to my initial character descriptions and find out what kind of a conflict would hit both of them between the eyes. I'd better get going while I have the momentum.

### February 29 Painting and Writing

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I thought you might not show up today.  
JOE: Please have more faith. I got involved in various activities this morning and am finally getting to you.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: I prepared and mailed out a copy of _The Pastor's Inferno_ to a friend who agreed to do a review.  
CALLIOPE: Professional or ordinary reader?  
JOE: Professional. She teaches comparative religion.  
CALLIOPE: What else have you been up to?  
JOE: I assembled my materials for an art course I am starting on Monday.  
CALLIOPE: Oh?  
JOE: I guess I didn't tell you. A friend invited me to take a watercolor landscape painting course with her. I thought it would be fun since I have never had any formal art training but enjoy dabbling with painting and drawing. I'm looking forward to it.  
CALLIOPE: Any work on _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Yes. I made a list of characteristics of both major characters concentrating on parts of their personalities would clash. These will come into play in the crisis. I am working on a situation which will bring out the worst in each to see how they handle it.  
CALLIOPE: Is it ready to write?  
JOE: Almost. I still have to work out some details, but expect to have it written this weekend. I'll let you know how it's coming tomorrow.

## Chapter 3: March

It was one of those March days  
when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

**~Charles Dickens**

### March 01 Story, Characters and Crisis

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Struggling with my cold which I thought was about gone but is back.  
CALLIOPE: Sorry to hear it. Did you get any work done yesterday?  
JOE: I was dragging but did manage to work on _Marital Property_. I finished thinking about the crisis and think I have one worked out.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: Denis will buy an expensive sailboat, ostensibly for the family, without consulting anyone else. Cynthia will be quite upset that he did not consult her and Denis will be upset that she does not appreciate him. Then we will see what develops.  
CALLIOPE: I guess we will. It seems like it took you quite a while to develop this crisis.  
JOE: It did. I wanted it to be large enough to test them and also specific to their personalities, needs and fears.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. I can't wait to see what happens.  
JOE: Neither can I. I think I will get working on it. Talk with you on Monday.

### March 03 Stuck with a Character Crisis

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Better. I struggled with my cold on Saturday. Yesterday was better and today I feel almost back to normal.  
CALLIOPE: Good. Any work on writing?  
JOE: With how I was feeling, I spent some time on nutrition and health. I read Dr. Oz's book on staying young.  
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything useful.  
JOE: Yes. But much of it I am already approaching through Weight Watchers.  
CALLIOPE: Good. What about writing?  
JOE: I reviewed the materials I have on marketing and also found a good article in **Writers Digest** for older writers. It was encouraging and had some good tips.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: Use your experience and don't try to compete with young writers.  
CALLIOPE: How's _Marital Property_ coming?  
JOE: I have been doing quite a bit of thinking about it and finally feel I am ready to write about my couple's crisis.  
CALLIOPE: You have been stuck here for a while, haven't you?  
JOE: I have not thought about it as being stuck, just being at a very critical juncture in the story and wanting to get it right.  
CALLIOPE: This seems different for you. Before now you concentrated on writing the story and decided to save the polishing for later. What changed your approach?  
JOE: I hadn't thought of it that way, but you are right. I don't know what changed my approach and it seems like I am wasting time.  
CALLIOPE: I think you are. Why not just write what comes to you and edit later as you have done successfully before.  
JOE: Good suggestion. I'll write what I have today and see what happens.

### March 04 Character Crisis and Resolution

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I'm almost afraid to ask about _Marital Property_.  
JOE: Have more faith. I wrote the chapter, although I know I have promised to do it in the past.  
CALLIOPE: Whew! It's about time. How did it go?

JOE: Actually it was quite easy. They had a blowup at the dinner table after nice pre-dinner conversations with the kids. The sailboat purchase seems to be just the right crisis for my couple.  
CALLIOPE: Was it as hard as you thought it would be?  
JOE: I'm not sure I thought it would be hard. It was just that it was a critical scene and I wanted to get it right. But no, it was not hard to write, any more than any other scene. But it might have been easier due to all the thought I gave it.  
CALLIOPE: In any case it's on the table. Now what?  
JOE: Now they have to figure out how to deal with it. I imagine they will fall into their old blaming patterns at least for a while but hopefully they will come to their senses and deal with it.  
CALLIOPE: You don't know what will happen?  
JOE: How could I? It's their story. I'm just writing it.  
CALLIOPE: I will be interested to see how it turns out.  
JOE: So will I.  
CALLIOPE: What about marketing?  
JOE: It's a bit slow going. I am gradually discovering some resources. I guess I hoped there would be an easy, quick approach, but I am finding out it is just hard work despite various promises I have seen. Well, back to work.

March 05 Book Promotion

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's going on today?  
JOE: Just being careful not to become part of one of the car accidents I passed on the way to my office this morning. I saw two, one almost right in front of my house.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you are safe. Tell me about yesterday.  
JOE: I started on the next chapter of _Marital Property_ , where Denis is pondering the blowup at dinner and wondering what happened. Cynthia stormed off to the bedroom, and I expect to hear from her a little later. Last night at the Lift Bridge Writers Group, I read chapters 3 and 4. I had not looked at either since I wrote them. I received some nice comments about phrasing as well as some excellent suggestions for changes.  
CALLIOPE: For example?  
JOE: I have a thing about conversation tags. I don't like them. However some of my dialog was not clear as to who was speaking.  
CALLIOPE: How will you address that?  
JOE: I will work on it when I get to the editing process. What I have done before is to include something in the conversation which makes it clear who is talking or else add some description which points to the speaker.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good to me. Do you think it worked before?  
JOE: I was happy with it in my dialog in _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I am presenting a workshop at the Genesee County Mental Health Association tomorrow on **Writing for the Soul**. I need to polish it and make some selections to demonstrate different kinds of writing. I have done just about every type of writing except poetry. I plan to use this as a road show instead of book readings. Hopefully it will turn out well. Tomorrow is my debut.

### March 06 Poetry and Prose

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite well thank you.  
CALLIOPE: What brings on your good fortune?  
JOE: My cold finally seems to be receding with prompting from my new neti pot routine. I was also quite productive yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What did you produce?  
JOE: My priority was my workshop **Writing from the Soul** which debuts today at Genesee County Mental Health Association.  
CALLIOPE: What does it consist of?  
JOE: I plan to talk about why we write, for whom we write, what we write and how we write. I will also bring examples of various types of writings I have done including this blog, a novel, short story, newspaper column, journal entry and memoir.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds pretty comprehensive. How about poetry?  
JOE: That's the one type of writing which eludes me. I think I might bring along a poem but I don't write poetry. I'm not quite sure why, but I just don't.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think it doesn't fit your disposition?  
JOE: Possibly. I see poetry as "word painting" which is very precise. I can appreciate good poetry but don't seem to have the patience to hone my writing to the point that good poets do.  
CALLIOPE: Well at least you accept this limitation.  
JOE: I do. I think I will stick with the kinds of writing I like and am better at. See you tomorrow.

### March 07 Communication and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. It's just barely still morning.  
JOE: I know. I have been busy. I set up this blog so people could receive it automatically through their email. I also worked on Blogrush, a directory of blogs so more people could find mine. I also just got my new telephone connected so I am back in touch with the world.  
CALLIOPE: You've been busy.  
JOE: I have. I feel pretty well back to normal now. I even have a fax machine again.  
CALLIOPE: Good for you. What about your writing?  
JOE: I did the workshop **Writing for the Soul** yesterday and also completed another chapter.  
CALLIOPE: How did the workshop go?  
JOE: Quite well. I think it is ready for the road. I am in the process of booking one at the Lift Bridge Book Store in Brockport.  
CALLIOPE: How about your writing?  
JOE: Amazingly enough it went smoothly. I wrote a chapter about Cynthia pondering what to do about their latest conflict. I think I am getting my rhythm back. It went well.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it.  
JOE: I think it's time for a swim and then back to work.

### March 10 Networking and Sharing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you Saturday.  
JOE: Don't take it personally. BlogSpot was under construction or repair or something and I could not log on. But I did think of you.  
CALLIOPE: Thanks for that. What did you get done over the weekend?  
JOE: I was working mostly on networking. I found an organization called Linked In which connects like minded business and professional people. I signed up and already have one person to consider doing a professional review of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Good. What else?  
JOE: I finally found out where the writing forums are on My Space. I thought it was just populated by teens, but I have discovered I was wrong, fortunately. I will start doing some exploration to see what might be useful.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Yes. I also found some more forums for writers of various persuasions on Yahoo and will continue exploring these as well.  
CALLIOPE: You have been busy. Did you do any writing?  
JOE: Not on _Marital Property_. My couple is still in mid discussion of their conflict, trying to sort things out. I did get back to writing my personal journal the last few days. I will pay them a visit this afternoon and see if the three of us, or four if you would like to be included, can come to some resolution.  
CALLIOPE: Thanks for the invite. I'll join you. You sound like you have a pretty full agenda. You had better get going.  
JOE: You're right, I do. Talk with you tomorrow.

### March 11 Reacting to the News

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I started with a surprise. I saw a response to a posting here and tried to open it. Instead I got a message that I should scan my computer for malware. I realized there must be something evil associated with the message and deleted it. I haven't had that happen before but I was glad to be alerted.  
CALLIOPE: Nasty surprise. Glad you caught it. What are you up to?  
JOE: Working on networking. I saw news about interactive possibilities at the **Democrat and Chronicle** but was unable to sign up for some reason. I will try again today. Most people do not like the new setup but it does seem to have possibilities. Maybe it is just new.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe. Did you finish the chapter of _Marital Property_ you were working on?  
JOE: I did. Things seem fairly resolved, at least for the moment. Now I think there might be some loose ends to tie up, such as the children, people the couple have talked with about their difficulties and resolution of the initial problem which started their crisis. I think this is related to current news.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: Governor Spitzer was plastered across the front page of the paper this morning due to his indiscretion with a prostitute. It raised the question of why someone would risk his reputation and livelihood for sexual favors. If you recall the crisis for my couple started with a sexual indiscretion of the husband.  
CALLIOPE: I do recall. Where do you plan to go with this?  
JOE: I'm not sure. Perhaps it merits a column. I will think about it and discuss it with you further tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good to me. I will be interested to see what you come up with.  
JOE: So will I. Time to get to work.

### March 12 Understanding Deviance

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little frustrated. I have been working on network connections and thought the new format at the Rochester **Democrat and Chronicle** would be a good place to become involved. I have struggled with their registration process which seems to ignore me. Finally it told me my account was locked out without any explanation.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you do about it?  
JOE: Sent them an email to see what is going on and what to do about it.  
CALLIOPE: That makes sense. Why are you so anxious to be part of their community?  
JOE: With the Governor Spitzer sex scandal, I would like to be part of the discussion, especially in light of my novel _The Pastor's Inferno_ exploring sexual deviance. I would like to have my say but so far can only listen.  
CALLIOPE: Where else can you have your say?  
JOE: In my column which is due Saturday. I think I will make deviant sexuality motivation the topic since so little is written about it. The only column I could find in today's paper about motivation was by a psychologist who ended up by concluding that he had no idea. This is an area of great ignorance and I would like to see people at least think about it.  
CALLIOPE: I can see you are passionate about this. Do you think anyone wants to listen?  
JOE: I am not so sure. It is certainly an uncomfortable topic I think people would rather ignore. I guess my challenge is to find a way to get people to take an interest.  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to do that?  
JOE: I'm still working on it. I suppose the only way is to demonstrate the relevance to my readers' own lives rather than it just being an unsavory topic safe to ignore.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with that.  
JOE: I know it's an uphill battle, but if I stuck to what is safe to write, I wouldn't feel like I was saying anything worthwhile.

### March 13 Writing Priorities and Organization

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I guess okay but I'm feeling a little scattered.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I feel like I am going in quite a few directions and have some difficulty handling them.  
CALLIOPE: For instance?  
JOE: I have a column due Saturday. I wanted to write about sexual deviation but was not sure what to say. I sat down to write and it flowed easily. Thanks to you?  
CALLIOPE: Yes. You're welcome. What else?  
JOE: I was writing in my journal about all the things I have to do today. I have to post the column and then I have writing to do on _Marital Property_ , a news release to get out for my presentation at Lift Bridge Books on March 30, my taxes to start, bills to pay. You get the idea.  
CALLIOPE: Did you think of any ways to get organized.  
JOE: Yes. I wrote down what I have to do today so I don't forget anything. I will also organize the piles of paper which surround my workplace.  
CALLIOPE: Good start. Did you do any writing yesterday?  
JOE: None other than the column. I plan to write another chapter today.  
CALLIOPE: Good. Will I get to see the column?  
JOE: I have an agreement with **The Daily News** to publish it there first. However I will post it on my website Saturday in case you want to see it.  
CALLIOPE: Good. I'll be looking forward to it.  
JOE: I better get going if I want to put a dent in my list.

### March 14 Writing and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. A little late aren't you.  
JOE: I decided to treat myself to a massage this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Must be nice. Are you ready to get to work?  
JOE: I'm relaxed.  
CALLIOPE: What did you get done yesterday?  
JOE: Quite a bit I guess. I spent the morning working on a publicity flier for my presentation on Writing for the Soul at the end of the month.  
CALLIOPE: Can I see it?  
JOE: I'll post it at the end today's entry and see what happens.  
CALLIOPE: Okay. Anything else yesterday?  
JOE: I did some more exploration of publicity and updated information about me in various locales.  
CALLIOPE: Any actual writing?  
JOE: No. I had some research to do for my next chapter. I would like to have my couple revisit their siblings and friends who appeared earlier in the book. I had to go back to find out what happened the first time around and what these people would be interested in hearing.  
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to do some writing today?  
JOE: That's my plan for the afternoon. Talk with you tomorrow. Following is the release, but with some of the formatting omitted:

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Have you ever wondered about writers or wanted to be one?  
Did you ever wonder why writers write, who people write for or how they write? Many people say they could write if they wanted to or if they had the time and think writing is easy. Others don't write because they think it's too hard. Join Dr. Langen for a discussion of these topics, illustrated by selections from his writings. He will share examples of his journal, blog, short story, newspaper column, novel, memoir and inspirational writings. Maybe it's time for you to start writing too. This presentation is free of charge.

About the Author

Dr. Langen has been a psychologist for many years working in various agencies and in private practice. His book, _Young Man of the Cloth_ , chronicles his nine years in the seminary and monastery. He has also published a book of inspirational life observations, _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_. His novel, _The Pastor's Inferno_ , portrays how a sexually abusive priest seeks redemption for his misdeeds. He is currently working on his second novel, _Marital Property_ , about a couple coming to terms with their marriage problems. For more information about Dr. Langen and his writing, please see his website

### March 15 Staying in the Now

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite well, thank you.  
CALLIOPE: To what do you owe your good standing?  
JOE: Last night I watched Eckhart Tolle interviewed about his book by Oprah. I like what he had to say about being in the moment.  
CALLIOPE: How does this differ from being anywhere else?  
JOE: We tend to focus on the past and future and forget that all we really have is right now. If we can learn to stay there, we save ourselves quite a bit of trouble.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. How do you think it applies to your writing?  
JOE: The only time I write is in the present moment. Comparing what I write with what others or I did in the past or fretting about what will happen with my writing in the future is a waste of time. All that really matters is focusing on my writing as I do it without any evaluating it.  
CALLIOPE: I think you are right. Speaking of which, how's _Marital Property_ coming?  
JOE: Yesterday seemed to disappear with many small things I was trying to catch up with. I did start on a chapter with Denis exploring what happened in his fight with Cynthia and trying to make sense of it.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds reasonable. Will you be working on it today?  
JOE: Yes. I plan to finish this chapter and then move on to Cynthia's reaction in the next chapter.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it. Sometime you will have to post some of the book for my consideration as well as for that of your readers.  
JOE: Good idea. I will look for a representative sample. See you on Monday.

### March 17 Momentum and Taking a Break

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you?  
JOE: Dealing with reality. I have been doing well with Weight Watchers until this weekend when I went overboard with two get-togethers. Time to get back to reality.  
CALLIOPE: I guess so. Did you do much besides socialization over the weekend?  
JOE: I baked bread for our friends on Saturday night. Yesterday after going out for St. Patrick's Day and the occasional Guinness, I was busy sanding the walls of Carol's living room.  
CALLIOPE: No work on writing?  
JOE: I worked on the current chapter of _Marital Property_. But sometimes I feel I need to think about something else.  
CALLIOPE: And this morning?  
JOE: I worked on finishing up our photo scavenger hunt entries from the cruise. We had a list of pictures to find from A to Z and then distribute. Finally that is done.  
CALLIOPE: What plans to you have for today?  
JOE: I would like to at least finish the chapter I have been laboring on and start the next one.  
CALLIOPE: You seem to be losing some momentum.  
JOE: I hope it's just temporary and plan to get back to work this afternoon.  
CALLIOPE: I hope you do.  
JOE: I hope so too. Talk with you tomorrow.

###

### March 18 Newspaper Blog

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Where are we?  
JOE: I thought we would start meeting at the **Democrat and Chronicle**.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. Do you think your readers know what we're up to?  
JOE: Probably not. I'll tell them. Calliope is my muse and we have been having an ongoing dialog for several months about my writing, its progress, pitfalls and inspirations. Mostly we talk about my new novel in the works, _Marital Property_. You are welcome to tag along and listen or to join in our dialog if you wish. Welcome readers.  
CALLIOPE: Thanks for introducing me. What are your plans for today?  
JOE: As you know, I getting toward the end of _Marital Property_ and am working on my couple's reaction to their recent fight after quite a bit of progress in their relationship. Today I plan to work on Cynthia's reaction and her discussion about the situation with her two sisters.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good. How did it go with Denis yesterday?  
JOE: Good. He talked with his brother and best friend by phone and was able to look at himself a little more objectively. They still have work to do but are making progress.  
CALLIOPE: Good. I hope the marriage makes it.  
JOE: So do I. But it is at a critical stage right now. We shall see. Talk with you tomorrow.

### March 19 Novels and Dialog

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I got plenty done yesterday, including another chapter of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.

JOE: I wrote about Cynthia's conversations with her two sisters about her recent confrontation with her husband.  
CALLIOPE: How did they take it?  
JOE: Pretty well. They both had helpful suggestions and wished she had contacted them sooner.  
CALLIOPE: Was the chapter hard to write?  
JOE: No. I used their earlier conversations for reference and alluded to what they had talked about before.  
CALLIOPE: What's next for our couple?  
JOE: I think it's time for another counseling session. Things are looking optimistic at the moment but you never know.

### March 20 Muses and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I had a very busy day running around yesterday but today am a little less busy and I at least have the morning free.  
CALLIOPE: Were you able to do any writing yesterday?  
JOE: As a matter of fact I was. I had planned to write a chapter in _Marital Property_ about my couple's next counseling session. But lately I have been nagged by the thought that I didn't handle a previous chapter correctly. Was that your doing?  
CALLIOPE: Well... Why don't you tell me about it?  
JOE: After my couple's argument, I listened to them talking it over and coming to some resolution. Still I felt unresolved. Later I realized that they could have used a technique called Vesuvius to resolve their difficulty.  
CALLIOPE: Interesting. How did it come about?  
JOE: Denis went to the bedroom and suggested Vesuvius. When she agreed, he talked about his side of the argument while she listened. He then left for a while. When he came back she talked and he listened. This felt like a much better way to approach it than a normal conversation under the circumstances.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to be of assistance.  
JOE: I guess I don't always realize when you sneak up on me and subtly suggest a better way. Thanks for your help. Talk with you later.

### March 21 Planning and Consistency

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's going on today?  
JOE: I was just trying to figure that out. I have quite a few possibilities. I think I will work on writing for a while this morning before I have to go out and run errands.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get to do any writing yesterday?  
JOE: No. I worked on networking in the morning. I had planned to do some writing in the afternoon between appointments, but it didn't work out that way.  
CALLIOPE: You seem to have a hard time finding time to write lately.  
JOE: That's true. I had been writing in late afternoon which seemed to work for quite a while. Now other things seem to crowd it out and sometimes I don't get to it at all.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it?  
JOE: I think it would be best to start writing in the morning again and then I would be sure it gets done rather than pushed out of my mind by all the other things which are not as much of a priority.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. When do you plan to start this revised schedule?  
JOE: This morning. As soon as I get done here, I will write the next chapter of _Marital Property_. It seems ready in my mind but it is not doing much good there.  
CALLIOPE: Then I guess you better get at it.  
JOE: Right. Talk to you tomorrow.

### March 22 Taking a Break to Be Helpful

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was not sure I would hear from you today.  
JOE: I stayed out of town last night and went shopping this morning with Carol for so new living room decorations.  
CALLIOPE: Feeling creative, are we?  
JOE: I was just the helper today.  
CALLIOPE: How did you plan work out yesterday?  
JOE: It was a good idea. I wrote right after I finished our conversation and did not have time to be distracted by anything else. I think I will try to stick to that plan.  
CALLIOPE: But it's hard when you're not here.  
JOE: I can't argue with that. I just stopped by briefly to say hello and will be gone the rest of the weekend. I think I will take a break from writing until Monday and just work on some reading.  
CALLIOPE: Did you run out of words?  
JOE: No but sometimes it's good to see what others are saying and how they say it. I think of it as priming the pump.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.  
JOE: I will. Back to the grind on Monday.

### March 24 Marketing Target Readers

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Busy with Carol's house renovations and family gatherings. I enjoyed it.  
CALLIOPE: You said you were going to take the weekend off from writing. Did you?  
JOE: Yes and no. I wrote in my journal Saturday and Sunday. I also had some time to think about my writing yesterday but did not do any direct writing of my novel.  
CALLIOPE: What did you come up with?  
JOE: I realized that when I write, I focus on what I think should be said and how I think it should be said, taking into account what selected reviewers think.  
CALLIOPE: So what's wrong with that?  
JOE: I have concluded that I need to take marketing more into account even before I write?  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I can't tell my readers what they should be interested in. I think I have to redo my approach.  
CALLIOPE: What would you do different?  
JOE: I think I need to understand the needs and interests of my target readers as well as what would grab and maintain their attention and then write with those considerations in mind.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds like a good approach. Do you plan to try it?  
JOE: Yes. I will begin today and use the approach for the rest of the writing of _Marital Property_ and in the revision process.  
CALLIOPE: I will be interested to see how well that works.  
JOE: So will I. I'll keep you posted.

### March 25 Marriage and Reader Motivation

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. What happened to your schedule?  
JOE: I got as far as writing in my journal and then got waylaid by a variety of tasks. I won't bore you with them, but I just came up for air.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you decided to share your air with me. Did you write yesterday?  
JOE: Yes. I did a chapter about my couple discussing how they would try to prevent further conflicts, at least of the recent magnitude.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds conciliatory. What about your plan of balancing marketing and writing?  
JOE: I had some time to think about it but I don't have a definite plan yet.  
CALLIOPE: As I recall your first step was to decide on you audience and what might interest them.  
JOE: I thought of a number of target audiences including those struggling with relationships, those thinking about marriage, readers who wonder why people stay together and why they don't.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good start. What do you think these people are looking for? What would make them choose your novel about addressing marriage difficulties?  
JOE: I guess I have to do some more research on that one.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe some of your blog readers have some ideas about what would interest them.  
JOE: Good point. I'll keep my eyes open for replies.

### March 26 Writing and Mental Organization

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How is your house cleaning coming?  
JOE: I finished the rugs. Now I have to put everything back where it was or where it belongs if it was out of place.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a major spring cleaning.  
JOE: I guess it is. I had not exactly planned it but did find that my whole space was getting cluttered. I was beginning to have trouble finding things too. I have also discovered that if my space is cluttered, my mind is too.  
CALLIOPE: Good point. I will be interested to see how your mind is when you finish cleaning. How is _Marital Property_ coming?  
JOE: I spent most of the day cleaning yesterday and didn't get to writing. However this morning I was writing in my journal and realized my book is almost finished. It's an exciting prospect.  
CALLIOPE: It is. What remains?  
JOE: My family will be taking a little trip together to see how things are now among them. I think they will probably have another crisis but handle it better.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have a final scene in mind?  
JOE: I do but I want to think about it a bit more before discussing it.  
CALLIOPE: Fair enough. Are you ready to get started today?  
JOE: I am. Talk with you tomorrow.

### March 27 Energy and Focus

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I feel energetic and focused.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that about?  
JOE: Darned if I know. Maybe it was the beautiful sunrise this morning with its promise of Spring. Or maybe it was the progress I made yesterday getting my space organized.  
CALLIOPE: Whatever the reason, I hope to put it to good advantage.  
JOE: I hope to. I have a busy afternoon with an appointment and a mental health board meeting, but I'll do what I can.  
CALLIOPE: Did you do any writing yesterday?  
JOE: Yes. I wrote a column, _Living in Our World Community_ and got it sent to the paper this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Can I see it?  
JOE: It will be on my website Saturday.  
CALLIOPE: I understand there is an addition.  
JOE: Yes. For some reason my ending, Life Lab Lessons, was not included with the column, so I added it to this week's. I hope this doesn't become a habit.  
CALLIOPE: How about Marital Property?  
JOE: I got to start my next chapter at the dinner table, but the family is still eating. I will have to help them finish their meal today. Talk with you tomorrow.

### March 28 Writing and Scheduling

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Six inches of snow was rather daunting, especially this time of year when I am about done with it.  
CALLIOPE: Was there anything good about it?  
JOE: As a matter of fact there was. On the way from Leroy to Batavia, I noticed many trees clothed in snow, providing a beautiful scene by the dawn's early light.  
CALLIOPE: Interesting. Are you going to do any photography today?  
JOE: I might. I could use some good winter scenes for painting.  
CALLIOPE: That might be fun. How is your writing coming?  
JOE: I had to take time out to post my **Daily News** column for tomorrow and send it to my community. I also had a chance to finish the chapter of _Marital Property_ I was working on.  
CALLIOPE: The one about the family meal?  
JOE: Yes, that one. Next is a trip the family planned.  
CALLIOPE: What made it possible to finish this chapter?  
JOE: I stuck to my schedule yesterday. Knowing I would probably not have time to write in the afternoon, I did it as soon as I was finished with our conversation.  
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to do it again today?  
JOE: I do, but I have a little research to do about Nantucket, their destination. I had better get going on it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### March 29 Publicity and Focus

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite busy. My mind is swimming.  
CALLIOPE: What's on your plate?  
JOE: I have a presentation tomorrow at 1:00 PM at the Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport. I have done the presentation before but want to review it and make sure everything is ready to go.  
CALLIOPE: What's it about?  
JOE: I will be discussing the various types of writing I do and using examples of my work for people interested in writing. It is part public relations and partly for publicity.  
CALLIOPE: What else is going on?  
JOE: I received my first professional review of _The Pastor's Inferno_. I will post it on my website. The problem is that I can't access my e-mail or website for some reason. I am trying to reach my Internet service provider to see what the problem is.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Yes. I have come to the realization that I have been presenting _The Pastor's Inferno_ as a novel about sexual abuse with I think might be turning people off. It is really about the search for redemption and I think I need to stress this more in my publicity.  
CALLIOPE: Good thought.  
JOE: I better get going before I run out of time to do everything. See you on Monday.

### March 31 Internet Marketing and Resources

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Productive. I held my second presentation yesterday on **Writing for the Soul**.  
CALLIOPE: How was the turnout?  
JOE: Not too many people showed up but I did have productive conversations with those who did. I got some publicity in two newspapers which was a good thing. However neither listing was specific about the details of my presentation. I had a better turnout for the first one which was more specific. At least I got my name in the paper with a reference to _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Can't argue about that. How are you doing with publicity?  
JOE: I have been searching for all the information I can find, especially on Internet marketing, and am now starting to sort through it.  
CALLIOPE: Anything particularly useful?  
JOE: Yes. I found a series by Angela Hoy on Internet marketing on her newsletter, Writers Weekly at <http://www.writersweekly.com/>. I thought this was the same series her husband published a few years ago but just realized it was a new series. It looks quite specific and promising. I plan to work on her suggestions this week.  
CALLIOPE: It sounds like you are starting to get focused.  
JOE: I am. Sometimes the task seems daunting. Then I realize it is new territory for me and will take time to learn the lay of the land.  
CALLIOPE: Keep at it.  
JOE: I plan to. Talk with you tomorrow.

## Chapter 4: April

**The sun was warm but the wind was chill.**  
 **You know how it is with an April day.**  
 **When the sun is out and the wind is still,**  
 **You're one month on in the middle of May.**  
 **But if you so much as dare to speak,**  
 **a cloud come over the sunlit arch,**  
 **And wind comes off a frozen peak,**  
 **And you're two months back in the middle of March.** _  
_

**~** **Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time~**

### April 01 Ending a Novel

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I'm ready to get to work.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been working on?  
JOE: Mostly marketing yesterday. In the afternoon I sat down to write my Nantucket chapter of _Marital Property_. I looked over my research notes on Nantucket and came up with some other questions. I spent the rest of my time finding out about the fascinations of Nantucket and never got to writing.  
CALLIOPE: What about today?  
JOE: I just have to decide where the family will have dinner and will then write the chapter. It is first on my agenda this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I am starting to think about the ending. I think I am approaching it but don't have any firm ideas about how it should end yet. But I'll think of something.  
CALLIOPE: I'll give it some thought too. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow.  
JOE: I'd like that.  
CALLIOPE: What's up after writing today?  
JOE: I have an appointment this afternoon and my writers' meeting tonight in Brockport. Other than that I plan to continue working on marketing. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 02 Google Reader and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: My mind is full. I met with my fellow Lift Bridge Writers last night and had a good discussion of print on demand publishing, publicity, platforms and even got to read a couple chapters of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Have you been working on the book?  
JOE: Yes. I wrote part of the Nantucket chapter but am busy incorporating all I learned about the island. It takes extra time. My couple is still wandering about Nantucket enjoying their visit.  
CALLIOPE: Good. What's on the docket for today?  
JOE: As soon as we finish writing, I plan to return to Nantucket and continue explorations with the family. Their tale is nearing the end and I am looking forward to the revision process.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that up?  
JOE: When I read from my original draft last night, I realized how much work there is to do in making it more immediate, accessible and specific. It's always a challenge.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you enjoy it. Anything else you are up to?  
JOE: I was exploring Google Mail yesterday and discovered Google Reader. I have been looking for a good news aggregator. Windows doesn't seem to do a very good job. I have been assembling useful sources of information for publishing and for publicity of _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Never a dull moment.  
JOE: Certainly not. Time to get to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 03 Internet Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's new today?  
JOE: Actually it was new yesterday. I finally finished my chapter of _Marital Property_ about the family's trip to Nantucket. It took me quite a while to write since I included many details of the island. I have been there a couple times and was quite distracted by all I was learning. I wanted to take off a few days and visit.  
CALLIOPE: When do you leave?  
JOE: Not right now. I prefer going there in the Fall, although we have other plans this year. It is down to Gananoque, Ontario or Baden Baden, Germany.  
CALLIOPE: Wow, quite a choice. I will be interested to hear what you decide. What's going on closer to home?  
JOE: Other than finishing the chapter, I have been working on marketing. I feel like my efforts have been rather scatter shot. But I did find a site, Book Marketing Network which looks quite promising. I have already made a few contacts.  
CALLIOPE: How do you think your promotion efforts are going?  
JOE: Like I said, scatter shot. I don't feel I have a consistent strategy and have a great many ideas floating around in my head. I think I need to get focused and plan to work on this in the next week or so.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea.  
JOE: Glad you agree. I am also starting to think about my next project.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: Return to my nonfiction book, _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_. I plan to seek input from teens on MySpace. But that's a whole other project. I guess I better get to today's work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 04 Fiction, Poetry and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Elated.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I sat down yesterday to write another chapter of _Marital Property_ and could almost smell the ending of the book. I wrote until the last word was typed. Now I have a finished draft.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. What's next?  
JOE: Trying to stay in balance. I will start the editing process. I have already made corrections based on comments of the Lift Bridge Writers' Group to the six chapters I have read to them. Now is the process of crafting the right ambiance, characterization, phrases and words.  
CALLIOPE: You sound excited about the prospect.  
JOE: I am. I enjoy it. Even though I don't feel I know much about poetry, it seems to me that editing is more like poetry than fiction. I have to be very attentive to the nuances of each phrase and word in a way I don't when writing the story.  
CALLIOPE: Good observation. Maybe you need to invoke some help from my sister muses.  
JOE: I am happy with your input. If you would like to consult with them as we go along, I would appreciate all the help I can get.  
CALLIOPE: Will do.  
JOE: Thanks. Now on to the next phase.

### April 05 Changing Priorities

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. It is starting to look and feel like Spring. It brightens my spirit and adds to the good feeling I have from finishing the draft of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Have you started the editing yet?  
JOE: I have read that it is best to let a book rest for a while after finishing a draft. I guess I'm anxious to get on with it. The beginning of the book has had plenty of time to rest. I'll work on the editing for a while and see how it goes.  
CALLIOPE: What if it turns out to be too soon?  
JOE: I can always put it aside and do more with _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ which I was working on before.  
CALLIOPE: Why did you stop working on this book?  
JOE: I was getting a little frustrated. I talked with a publisher but we had trouble agreeing on how I should go about it. He wanted me to try to gather input from teens online and I had no idea how to go about it then. So I just put the book on the shelf.  
CALLIOPE: And now?  
JOE: I have learned more about how to get input and am ready to renew my efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks. Things always turn out to be more effort than I thought. But I have plenty of stamina these days. And so to work. Talk with you Monday.

### April 07 Writing Mission

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Good. In addition to losing three pounds last week while successfully negotiating parties and cakes, I got to work on some reading yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I continued reading Eckhart Tolle's book, _The Power of Now_. I am watching his series with Oprah and decided to reread his other book.  
CALLIOPE: What have you discovered?  
JOE: He presents a way of looking at and living life which frees us from guilt about the past and anxiety about the future. His ideas fit nicely with mine about commonsense wisdom.  
CALLIOPE: Are you thinking of using this in your marketing?  
JOE: Yes. I think it would not hurt to make the connection between what he has to say, what I have to say and also what Teilhard de Chardin and Thomas Berry have said.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like quite a group.  
JOE: It is. I don't have the fame or reputation any of these other authors have but I feel a kinship with them and it is good to have them in my company.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe they will inspire you to keep doing what you are doing.  
JOE: They already have. Reading their works has helped me focus what is important to me and what I want to share with others.  
CALLIOPE: How would you state your mission in a nutshell?  
Joe: My mission is to help people look at themselves and their impact on others. I think I have been doing this in everything I have written so far. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 08 Organization and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Excellent. I am feeling full of energy and ready to go.  
CALLIOPE: To what do we owe the honor?  
JOE: I had my last watercolor painting class last night and was quite satisfied with the nautical scene I painted. I think other forms of creative expression enliven my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Good point. I hope that is true. I was a bit concerned about you not writing during the revision process for _Marital Property_.  
JOE: I was too. I think it would be safe to say I am still writing even though new ideas are not the focus. In working on the manuscript yesterday, I was able to find some more creative and specific ways of stating what I had in the initial draft. It still feels creative to me.  
CALLIOPE: I can't argue with that. I still wonder whether it would be a good idea for you to continue writing to keep the ideas flowing.  
JOE: I think I am keeping my hand in. I still have my biweekly column to write and got out the materials for _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ yesterday. I could always work on that or possibly do an occasional short story to keep the wheels from getting rusty.  
CALLIOPE: Now we're talking. I guess I would like to see you keep creative writing as part of your daily work rather than just spending the next few months on revision.  
JOE: I can't argue with you. I will consider this and see if I can incorporate it into my plan.  
CALLIOPE: What plan?  
JOE: I am trying to balance revision, creative writing and marketing in my daily schedule. I could use more hours in the day, especially when I have outside commitments as well. Still, I will work to do my best to incorporate all this into the hours I have. Speaking of which, it's time to get to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 09 Reading and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine and ready to go. I am planning a trip to the Strong Play Museum with my grandson for his birthday today to see the Grossology exhibit. So I'm not sure how much time I will have for literary pursuits.  
CALLIOPE: Grandchildren are important too. Have fun with him. How about yesterday?  
JOE: I was quite busy. I started working on a comprehensive marketing plan I found at Authors on the Net. I am excited about the prospects of getting organized.  
CALLIOPE: Good. What else is going on?  
JOE: I started corresponding with some other writers at Book Marketers' Network. I am starting to develop some contacts. As part of my marketing plan, I set a goal of fifty network contacts in the next three months. I also found time to edit a couple chapters of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: You are busy. What's on deck for today in your limited time?  
JOE: I have a column due Saturday and plan to do it on what I have been reading of Eckhart Tolle in _The Power of Now_.  
CALLIOPE: What did you like about his book?  
JOE: I haven't finished it yet but was impressed by his statements that depression is associated with the past and anxiety with the future, while all we have to live in is the present. I thought it was a profound insight.  
CALLIOPE: I can't wait to hear what you do with it.  
JOE: I will post the column on my website on Saturday. Let me know what you think.

### April 10 Writing and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Excellent. Also excited.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I feel like I am making some progress with marketing. I have been working on a plan as outlined in the information on <http://www.authorsnet.com/>. It feels good to finally be getting organized.  
CALLIOPE: I suppose it does. Fortunately I don't have to worry about it. I am strictly in the creativity department.  
JOE: I guess I have to rely on myself and other mortals in this endeavor. I have been exploring and posting my works on free sites and also making contacts with other writers on the Writers Cafe and Writers Marketing Network websites. I am beginning to wonder whether I will need to limit this activity or whether it will regulate itself.  
CALLIOPE: I can't help you there. Maybe you should just see how it goes for a while. What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: I wrote a column with no trouble at all about how to stop making problems of life situations based on Tolle's Book, _The Power of Now_.  
CALLIOPE: I assume I can read it in the usual place.  
JOE: Yes. Saturday on my website. Please do and let me know what you think.  
CALLIOPE: What are you up to today?  
JOE: I don't have anything out of the ordinary planned. I will work on editing _Marital Property_ and also continue pursuing marketing connections and my marketing plan.  
CALLIOPE: That should keep you busy for today.  
JOE: It should. If there is a lull I might do a little painting as well. As some e-mailers and instant messagers say, TTFN.

### April 11 Internet Marketing Plan

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Raring to go. I've already added new friends through Writer's Cafe and responded to some reviews of stories I posted there yesterday. It is heartening.  
CALLIOPE: What's the best thing about all this?  
JOE: Being in contact with writers who appreciate what I write and from whom I can learn by the example of their writing. It's good to be part of a community after working alone for so long.  
CALLIOPE: There certainly is something to be said for it. I can't be your total inspiration.  
JOE: I don't expect you to be. But I do appreciate you. I just heard from another writer who hates his muse. I wonder if it could really be a muse or perhaps a harpie or some other vile creature.  
CALLIOPE: Perhaps. He should complain and get a proper muse.  
JOE: I thought so too and told him the same thing. I have been working on a marketing plan for my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Is it done yet?  
JOE: Not quite. I think the elements are coming together. My mentors at <http://www.authorsonthenet.com/> suggest "a written goal, a strategy to support that goal and tactics to use to execute the strategy." I am working on getting that together and plan to have it finished by tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: Will you keep me posted.  
JOE: Yes. I don't know if I will have it completed by the time we chat tomorrow but I'll be sure to let you know how it's coming.  
CALLIOPE: Thanks. I would appreciate that.  
JOE: I have plenty to do today and better get at it. See you tomorrow.

### April 12 Goals, Strategies and Tactics

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Busier than ever.  
CALLIOPE: What did you get done yesterday?  
JOE: I worked most of the day on my marketing plan. Strange to say, I felt disorganized about making my plan and it took quite a while.  
CALLIOPE: How did it turn out?  
JOE: I got a good start. I developed some goals I thought were realistic and measurable, identified a target audience, and developed some strategies.  
CALLIOPE: Is it finished?  
JOE: No. I am still exploring tactics to decide which ones I will use. I also need to understand my target audience a little more to know what they want and what would attract them. Then I will try to match tactics to my audience to fill out my strategies.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you have thought it out pretty well.  
JOE: I can't take all the credit for it. I learned a great deal from Phil Davis and the marketing plan information he has posted at <http://www.authorsonthenet.com/>. I am very grateful for his work and for the first time feel like I have some direction in my plan.  
CALLIOPE: Will you use the same plan for all of your books?  
JOE: No. Since they include an inspirational book, a memoir and a novel, I think they will have to be tailored quite differently. The target audience might vary widely as well.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you are making good progress.  
JOE: I think I am. This weekend I will work more on my target audience and understanding the various tactics available and working toward matching the two. Talk with you on Monday.

### April 14 Writing, Editing and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Ready for another week?  
JOE: Yes, but I have already been quite busy this week. I read about marketing most of the weekend and feel like I am starting to have my marketing plan come together. I also found a couple useful books.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: Well, I decided that MySpace and this blog should form two of the main pillars of my marketing approach. I found a good book by Denis Prince, called _How to Make Money with MySpace_. I have registered there and started a site with my blog included. But I am finding the approach for marketing is different from a personal page on MySpace. I'll have to make some changes. I also found a book by Jeremy Wright called _Blog Marketing_.  
CALLIOPE: Does that mean we will have to make some changes in our blog site?  
JOE: We'll see. Right now I'm concentrating first on MySpace which is more of a mystery to me than blogging. By the way, Phil Davis left us a nice note yesterday and will mention us in his blogs. I hope you don't mind if we have a few visitors.  
CALLIOPE: The more the merrier. I was getting to feel it was a little lonely with just the two of us here.  
JOE: I guess we could use a little help in our efforts. I would not mind some visitors either. Let's see what develops.  
CALLIOPE: How are you coming with _Marital Property_?  
JOE: I had time to edit a few more chapters on Saturday. I am up to Chapter 13 now and am still trying to balance time for marketing and editing. I'm pretty busy these days.  
CALLIOPE: That's what you get for retiring from psychology.  
JOE: I am glad to be this busy. I know people who retire and then just sit in a chair. Not for me.  
CALLIOPE: Me either. I'm glad we have a lot to work on.  
JOE: Me too. I'm glad you're sharing this journey with me. Enough of the mutual admiration for today. We've got work to do.

### April 15 More about Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Working hard.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what?  
JOE: Mostly further exploring Internet marketing. I worked on updating my MySpace page yesterday and think I have it about the way I want it.  
CALLIOPE: What else do you have to do to it?  
JOE: I would like to add some video about my books and forthcoming teen book project. I will have to do a little work on the technology though.  
CALLIOPE: Where do you think you can find that?  
JOE: I saw a section at <http://www.writersonthenet.com/> but haven't had a chance to explore it yet.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can do it?  
JOE: I don't see why not. I have a digital video camera and have made windows movies as well as converted them to DVD movies. I am hoping that is enough knowledge. I guess I will have to see.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck. It sounds like a challenge.  
JOE: Maybe. But I seem up for a few challenges today.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get to work on your editing?  
JOE: Yesterday I edited a few more chapters and am now up to Ch. 15 in _Marital Property_. It gives me a little variety from Internet marketing although I like both. Time to

get back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 16 Social Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I hope you are well, but I have a bone to pick with you.  
JOE: I am well. What is your bone?  
CALLIOPE: You said you would share your column with me and I am still waiting.  
JOE: Sorry. Rather than post the whole thing here, I will just leave you to find it in The Daily News published in Batavia, NY.  
CALLIOPE: I'll do that.. Now, on to what you are up to today.  
JOE: Yesterday I did some editing of _Marital Property_. I must admit my mind has been more on marketing lately. I decided to set up a separate MySpace page for my publishing company, Sliding Otter Publications.  
CALLIOPE: How did that go?  
JOE: I was happy with what came out of it after reading Denis Prince's book, _How to Make Money on MySpace_. But I had trouble activating my new account for some reason. Maybe it was too close to my personal page. In any case, I decided this morning to combine the two pages into one. I think that would be simpler. I am happy with the results.  
CALLIOPE: Can I see it?  
JOE: Of course, it's on my website. See what you think.  
CALLIOPE: Now what?  
JOE: The next step is to start looking for friends, people on MySpace who might be interested in what I am doing. I will start the search today.  
CALLIOPE: Busy, busy, busy. Anything else going on?  
JOE: That's about it for now. But of course I will keep you posted. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 17 Writing, Marketing and Sales

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I thought you had deserted me.  
JOE: No. This is just one of these days. I had an early morning meeting on criminal justice this morning. and just got back.  
CALLIOPE: What was it about?  
JOE: Cybernet crime, especially concerning sexual predators.  
CALLIOPE: Is this a particular interest of yours?  
JOE: Not exactly. Sexual predators are one concern as you know from my novel _The Pastor's Inferno_. I was interested to see if anyone had any understanding of them which has escaped me.  
CALLIOPE: And did they?  
JOE: It never came up although I did add it to my suggestions for future programs.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else of interest.  
JOE: I talked with a judge who was interested in reading _The Pastor's Inferno_ and might be willing to write a review.  
CALLIOPE: That would be helpful. What about yesterday.  
JOE: I was busy with Internet marketing and ended the day with in extended conversation with Phil Davis of Authorsonthenet.  
CALLIOPE: No editing yesterday?  
JOE: No I didn't get to it. I don't think I will today either. I have an Internet training call at 2:00 with Steve Harrison and hope to gain more information about Internet marketing. I also joined Nothing Binding, a site for writers, and Facebook for marketing purposes. I had better run. It's almost time for my call. See you tomorrow.

### April 18 Values and Balance

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: In high gear. It has been a very busy week and today does not look any quieter.  
CALLIOPE: How was the training conference yesterday?  
JOE: Interesting. I was looking for some more marketing ideas. Most of the ones mentioned were already familiar to me. I guess I am beginning to know my way around the Internet marketing field, at least a little.  
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything?  
JOE: Yes, but it was a bit of a surprise. I learned what was important to me. The focus of the training was on making money. One point early in the presentation was that your book was one of the least important elements and that it was leverage for making real money. I realized that I am not in this for the money. I would not mind earning some from my writing but my main focus is on what I have to say.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: My mission is to help readers understand themselves and their impact on others. I realize I need to do marketing to make people aware of my writing and also meet my expenses along the way.  
CALLIOPE: Noble of you. How do you balance your communication and the business aspects of writing?  
JOE: Good question. I have been thinking about that one for quite a while. There have been times I have been tempted to try writing something which would make a lot of money. Then I realized this was a distraction from what my writing is really about. I am struggling to keep a balance and stay focused. I wonder if there are other writers with this same dilemma. I would like to hear from them.  
CALLIOPE: So what are you up to today?  
JOE: I am off to Tonawanda shortly to do a police candidate evaluation, one of the few remaining psychological tasks I have. Then I will be back at the computer exploring the writing world and my place in it.  
CALLIOPE: Any specific goals for today?  
JOE: Yes. I have been planning to design a logo for my writing and plan to at least start working on it today. Time for work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 19 Writing, Editing and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Running a little late today?  
JOE: Just trying to catch my breath. The whole week has been extremely busy and I'm just catching my breath.  
CALLIOPE: So tell me about yesterday.  
JOE: I had to drive to Tonawanda to do a psychological evaluation. I had lunch with my son and helped him set up his Internet connection and then worked a little on marketing and editing.  
CALLIOPE: What are you working on specifically?  
JOE: Making connections. I started exploring MySpace to look for other writers and groups which might fit my needs.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds time consuming.  
JOE: It is. There is quite a bit to wade through to find what I want. But I think I will get better at it with experience.  
CALLIOPE: Did you find some interesting people?  
JOE: A few. Some of the marketing people I know are listed and I worked on connecting with them.  
CALLIOPE: Good. Any work on you novel?  
JOE: Yes, I did some editing of _Marital Property_ yesterday but I think I need a little more scheduling. I seem to get lost in marketing and run out of time.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe you need to do the editing first.  
JOE: Good suggestion. I will try it next week. I think it would help to be a little fresher when I am concentrating on my manuscript. I have plenty to do this weekend. I think I will get going. Talk with you Monday.

### April 21 Writing Development

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Ready for another week?  
JOE: I guess. I have been making some changes but having trouble incorporating them. I have a new logo which I created yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: I noticed. So you are doing a little drawing and painting as well as writing?  
JOE: Yes. I thought I needed to do something a little different.  
CALLIOPE: What else did you do yesterday?  
JOE: Quite a bit of yard work with Carol. Later, I finally got to read the current issue of _Writer's Digest_ and enjoyed finding a raft of websites related to writing. I will have to explore them when I get a chance.  
CALLIOPE: When will that be?  
JOE: Little by little. I will start with some editing of _Marital Property_ this morning. As I mentioned last week, my editing work tends to end up on the back burner with all my excitement about marketing. Sometimes it is hard to keep a balance.  
CALLIOPE: I can't argue with you there. I'll try keeping you upright in you chair and your fingers in motion.  
JOE: Thanks for the steadying influence.  
CALLIOPE: What else is on the docket this week?  
JOE: It's time for another column. I was thinking of writing one about priest abuse in reaction to the Pope's comments the other day.  
CALLIOPE: That's a bit controversial, isn't it?  
JOE: I suppose so. But this is an issue I have been thinking about for some time and just finished Marital Property about this issue. I think it's about time I said something public about the issue. Guess I had better get on with it. See you tomorrow.

### April 22 Writing vs. Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Excellent. I have been quite busy already this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what?  
JOE: I was accepted for Critique Circle writers group and was busy listing my personal information as well as information about my writing.  
CALLIOPE: What is the purpose of that group?  
JOE: It is designed for writers to critique each others' writing and gain wider feedback than might be possible otherwise. So far I have been limited to asking people I know and the other members of my writing group at Lift Bridge Writers. I am looking forward to the input and also practice reviewing others' work.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. Keep me posted. What about your editing of _Marital Property_ **?**  
JOE: To be honest, it was difficult yesterday to drag myself away from my marketing efforts and get busy on editing. I know I am trying for a balance, but I think my excitement about marketing has quite a strong pull despite my best intentions.  
CALLIOPE: So, did you work on your novel or didn't you?  
JOE: Sorry. Yes, I did at least for a while. Today, right after I get done with this posting, I will get busy on editing before delving again into marketing. I better get at it before the momentum fades. See you tomorrow.

### April 23 Online Groups and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I've been expecting you.  
JOE: Don't make it sound like I have abandoned you. Actually I was off in Rochester participating in an interesting study of the relationship between flu shots, arthritis and bio-terrorist invasions.  
CALLIOPE: Do you understand the study?  
JOE: Not really. But after all the help Strong Hospital Immunology program was to me with my arthritis in a former study, I am glad to help in any way I can.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you are making a public contribution. So what's happening on the literary front?  
JOE: I started with editing yesterday as I said I would. I'm glad I did. If I had put it off, I am sure I would never have gotten to it.  
CALLIOPE: What else is going on?  
JOE: I am continuing to explore MySpace and a number of groups for writers.  
CALLIOPE: What kind of sites?  
JOE: I found a critique group, Critique Circle Online Writing Workshop and have been exploring marketing forums for authors. There is quite a bit to choose from.  
CALLIOPE: How will you decide what is useful?  
JOE: I think I will follow the conversations for a while and also participate. Then I will see what is of most use to me. I am mainly interested in improving my writing and in marketing it. I will concentrate on those areas.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good.  
JOE: I sometimes feel it is more than I can handle, but I'll do my best to keep up with it all. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 24 Priests and Sexual Abuse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Again I have been busy early.  
CALLIOPE: What is occupying your brain in the wee hours?  
JOE: I have a column to write for the **Daily News** and decided to write it on priest sexual abuse.  
CALLIOPE: What prompted that?  
JOE: The pope's remarks as well as frequent articles on the subject in the papers.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to say?  
JOE: I want to talk about what I think has been left out of the discussion.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: The whole issue of what explains why priests, or anyone else for that matter, might engage in sexual abuse.  
CALLIOPE: Why priests specifically?  
JOE: Statistics I have seen suggest that priests are abusive at about the same rate as other men in the general population. But they are vowed to celibacy and consciously choose to renounce sexual expression as a way to free them to concentrate on their ministry. Yet this does not seem to diminish their abuse to a point any lower than the rest of the population.  
CALLIOPE: So what is your point?  
JOE: I think that in order to find an appropriate response to sexual abuse, whether among priests or others, it is important to understand why it happens. People can speculate about it, but the motivation lies in the thoughts, perceptions and emotions as well as behavioral control of those who engage in such practices. So far no one has been willing to explore this issue with priests although there has been some attempt to interview other abusers. My book, _The Pastor's Inferno_ , was designed to stir up some conversation about the issue but so far no one seems to want to talk about the whys. I guess I'll just keep trying to get some interest stirred up.

### April 25 Meditation, Silence and Thinking

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Okay. I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed though. I have joined a number of writing and marketing groups all of which have active conversations. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with them all.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe you have to be a little more selective.  
JOE: I think you are right. It would probably be a full time job to correspond with all of them and leave me little time for writing and editing.  
CALLIOPE: You do need to decide what is important.  
JOE: Where have I heard that before? It brings to mind something Eckhart Tolle stresses, awareness being more important than thinking.  
CALLIOPE: Care to elaborate?  
JOE: He talks of identifying with you thinking as a distraction. If you think you are your thinking, you can get lost in it. Actually we are our awareness which includes awareness of our thinking, and seeing it as separate from who we are.  
CALLIOPE: A rather deep topic. It bears some reflection.  
JOE: That's his point. But not reflection in terms of ideas or words but just being with things, ideas or emotions and just experiencing them.  
CALLIOPE: So how do you balance that with writing? Doesn't that necessarily involve words?  
JOE: I guess I'm not sure and it does to answer your two questions. Maybe it is important to be with events, feelings or thoughts first in an experiential and nonjudgmental way and then write about the experience if proves useful to do so.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you learn all this?  
JOE: Tolle recently wrote a book called _A New Earth_ which has been the topic of ongoing podcasts with Oprah. I have been watching them with Carol and was prompted to reread his earlier book, _The Power of Now_. Both books seem to be talking about meditation with which I struggled in my monastic days. Now I am starting to understand it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### April 26 Contacts and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Raring to go again.  
CALLIOPE: You didn't tell me how you made out with the column you were working on.  
JOE: I thought about it quite a while and finally decided I was ready to write it. I told you it was to be on priest sexual abuse. I have pondered this issue in the process of planning and writing _The Pastor's Inferno_. It was hard to distill into 500 words.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you decide?  
JOE: I focused on the aspect of the mystery of priest motivation for abuse and limited myself to exploring just this.  
CALLIOPE: And were you happy with the result?  
JOE: Yes. You can see it in the usual place on my Commonsense Wisdom website.  
CALLIOPE: I'll look at it. What's up for today?  
JOE: I have been making some new Internet friends this week in the various groups to which I belong. I want to get to know them a little better and might start this process today. I also want to continue responding to blogs as I find them of interest. I signed up for a 24 hour short story contest starting this afternoon through Writer's Weekly online magazine.  
CALLIOPE: Have you ever participated in something like this before?  
JOE: No. It will be a new experience but I'm looking forward to it.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes on Monday.

April 28 Short Story Contest

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How did the short story context go Saturday?  
JOE: Very well. As you may recall it was conducted by Writer's Weekly online. Just as promised, the theme and expected number of words appeared in an email promptly at 1:00 PM.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I got right to work. It was a 24 hour contest, but I had my story finished, edited and submitted in three and a half hours.  
CALLIOPE: What was the title?  
JOE: _The Child Bride_.  
CALLIOPE: Will I get to see it?  
JOE: Eventually. I won't know for about a month how the contest works out. The magazine keeps first electronic rights and will publish the winners. After that, I should be free to publish the story and make sure you see it. I am quite proud of it and can't wait for you to see it.  
CALLIOPE: I do have some idea what it's about.  
JOE: I thought you might. It was very easy to write. I thought you might be whispering some suggestions in the background somewhere.  
CALLIOPE: What else does a muse have to do on Saturday afternoon?  
JOE: Well anyway, thanks.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: Editing _Marital Property_ which I didn't get a chance to work on Saturday due to the contest. I also have a new marketing idea I learned from John Kremer.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: I want to work on it for a while before I share it. I'll tell you tomorrow.

### April 29 Don't Buy This Book

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What have you been up to?  
JOE: I decided to install Firefox browser yesterday and ended up taking quite a bit of time getting used to it and organizing my favorites, now known as bookmarks.  
CALLIOPE: All well and good. How about your writing?  
JOE: I did some editing of _Marital Property_ yesterday. I also thought about the idea John Kremer mentioned in his blog for April 20 about listing reasons for and against buying my book. I was intrigued and gave it some thought but didn't get around to writing any reasons down until this morning.  
CALLIOPE: So let's see what you came up with.  
JOE: Okay. Ten reasons to buy _The Pastor's Inferno_ are:

  * Start to understand about how abusive priests think

  * Take some of the mystery out of the abuse epidemic.

  * Discover some of the influences on the development of abusive behavior.

  * Learn how temptation seduces people to abandon their morals.

  * Understand why moral values sometimes fail to control our behavior.

  * See the relationship between pride and humility.

  * Appreciate how people come to ask for help with their shortcomings.

  * Explore the possibility of redemption.

  * See how you can benefit from those willing to help, no matter what happened.

  * Learn more about the human condition.

CALLIOPE: Very interesting. And how about reasons not to buy your book?  
JOE: Here goes:

  * I don't want to even think about evil.

  * Abusive priests should be punished, not understood.

  * It's not my problem.

  * Who cares? The crisis is over anyway.

  * There's nothing I personally can do about it.

  * It's up to the pope and bishops to handle.

  * These priests are hopeless. Lock them up and throw away the key.

  * They don't deserve a chance for redemption.

  * Counseling doesn't work for these people.

  * It has nothing to do with how I live my life

CALLIOPE: Wow. I'll have to reflect on those. What do you think other readers would make of them?  
JOE: I'd love to know. If you run across any muses, or even people who have any reactions, please ask them to come here and share them with me.  
CALLIOPE: I will. How about if we talk about this idea some more tomorrow after I've had a chance to think about it?JOE: Fine with me. See you then.

### April 30 Writing and My Muse

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. You seem to be running a tad late this morning.  
JOE: Well, a little. I had planned to talk with you earlier. Then I remembered unfinished business from yesterday and decided to finish it first.  
CALLIOPE: What was your business?  
JOE: I had planned to deliver promotional materials to the **Daily News** for them to consider coverage of _The Pastor's Inferno_ 's release. I had to change my writing brochure to include my new logo and also print a copy of the Ten Reasons For and Against.

CALLIOPE: I see. Speaking of which, have you had any further thoughts about the reasons.  
JOE: I made a few minor changes in the wording and decided I can always change them in the future if need be. I have been planning a series of videos for YouTube and MySpace. I thought I would try one on the Ten Reasons as a practice run. If it turns out okay I will post it and consider some other videos.  
CALLIOPE: Rather high tech these days, aren't we?  
JOE: I suppose so. If you're not up to it, let me know and I'll try it on my own. But I would like your help.  
CALLIOPE: I was thinking of the quote from Alexander Pope, "Be not the first by whom the new are tried, not yet the last to lay the old aside."  
JOE: So what kind of a response is that?  
CALLIOPE: Just to say I am with you in this relatively new adventure. We can both learn along the way and benefit from the experience of those who preceded us.

JOE: You're rather philosophical this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Remember I have been around for a long time. Someone has to remember the old sayings.  
JOE: Thanks for your contribution. On to the day's events.

## Chapter 5: May

_The world's favorite season is the spring.  
All things seem possible in May._ **  
**

~Edwin Way Teale~

### May 01 Umberto Eco and Salman Rushdie

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Excited.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: This afternoon I have the privilege of attending a PEN event in Rochester. Umberto Eco and Salman Rushdie are both reading their work. I happened across the announcement as soon as it was released and was able to get tickets.  
CALLIOPE: Are you a big fan of either?  
JOE: I tried reading _The Satanic Verses_ a while ago and had trouble making sense of it. Eco's book _Name of the Rose_ was one of my favorites. His more recent book, _The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana_ was, well, mysterious. I liked parts of it but other parts eluded me.  
CALLIOPE: Why do you think you had the mixed reactions?  
JOE: I think I like to read more straightforward work. I like to be able to follow plot and character development rather than having pieces of a jigsaw puzzle laid in front of me which I have to piece together to make sense of a book.  
CALLIOPE: Good way to put it. Do you write straightforwardly as well?  
JOE: I try to. I must admit a few forays into more speculative fiction such as my short story, _A Piecemeal Kingdom_.  
CALLIOPE: I forgot about that story. Is it posted somewhere?  
JOE: You can find it on Author's Den.  
CALLIOPE: With all your excitement, are you getting some work done?  
JOE: Yes. I revised several chapters of _Marital Property_ yesterday and plan to work some more on it today before heading off to Rochester. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 02 More about Rushdie and Eco

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Humbled.  
CALLIOPE: What brings you to this state of awareness?  
JOE: My presence last night in the PEN World Voices presentation.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: Salman Rushdie and Umberto Eco both read from their works and Joanna Scott hosted a conversation with the two writers. Both inspired me to be the best writer I can be and gave me some ideas about how to do it.  
CALLIOPE: Excellent. What did you learn?  
JOE: More than I would from one author alone. Joanna Scott did an excellent job facilitating a conversation between the two authors.  
CALLIOPE: Specifics please.  
JOE: Okay, one insight from each author. Eco sees fiction as inviting the reader to think about how we think. We step back from our practical world and look from a distance at ourselves and how we operate. This is similar to what Eckhart Tolle suggests as awareness in _A New Earth_.  
CALLIOPE: And Rushdie?  
JOE: One of my favorite insights he shared was that we often get stuck trying to answer the question why when reading. Concentrating in writing on answering the question how leads to the understanding of why.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds rather profound. I'll have to think about it for a while. What's up for today?  
JOE: I will continue working on editing _Marital Property_. I am reading the manuscript first for clarity and consistency. After that I will look at its musical properties, an insight I gained last night. But more about that tomorrow.

### May 03 Life Meaning and Questions

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Anything exciting going on this morning?  
JOE: Nothing like the story contest last Saturday. Just a quiet day at the computer.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have any more thoughts about Rushdie's comment on discovering the why by exploring the how?  
JOE: I have been thinking about it. I would enjoy having a conversation with him about this but can only speculate on what he meant unless I can find some writing of his which develops this further. I think one part of what he means has to do with product and process.  
CALLIOPE: Now you have some explaining to do.  
JOE: I think the question "why" leads to an explanation, the end result of whatever exploration takes place. This kind of answer is a product or a conclusion. Asking the question "how" looks instead on the process of arriving at a conclusion rather than on the product or final result. The process is much richer than the product. I also think it is more important to understand the process rather than the end result.  
CALLIOPE: In what way?  
JOE: If you look at the usefulness of both in living our own lives, it becomes clearer. The conclusions we reach about the nature of life are just facts to be listed and maybe shared. Our lives are more than a series of facts. We each live in an ongoing process of exploring who we are. In coming to understand our journey, why we are on our particular paths becomes clearer.  
CALLIOPE: I think I see what you are getting at. Don't you think it is important to know what your life means?  
JOE: I think it is the search which is important. If we reached final conclusions about our lives and could sum them up as an explanation for our existence, there would be nothing left to do but sit down and wait to die. There would be nothing else to explore.  
CALLIOPE: In other words life would effectively be over.  
JOE: That's the way I see it. I guess its time for me to get back to my exploration of today. Talk with you on Monday.

### May 05 Rushdie, Writing and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Pleasantly surprised.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I told you last week that I made another attempt at Rushdie's _Satanic Verses_ and again found it impenetrable at least for my feeble mind.  
CALLIOPE: You did. And now?  
JOE: I tried giving it one more chance. After I got past the initial pages, I found his story absorbing and very well written. I must admit I wandered a few times but for the most part am enjoying it.  
CALLIOPE: What made you persist?  
JOE: Hearing Rushdie read made me realize how good he is at lyrical expression and analogous ways of saying things, in short of capturing the reader's imagination in looking at pedestrian events.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a turnaround I'd say.  
JOE: Me too. The later pages took me by storm and captured my imagination. I found them a treat.  
CALLIOPE: And what about your writing?  
JOE: Hearing and reading Rushdie brought me to think about how I write. I came to realize I do so in three stages. First I write the story. Next I edit it for consistency and clarity. Finally I return to listen to my voice as narrator and the voices of my characters to see how they can become more immediate and expressive.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that approach?  
JOE: Hard to say. I remember reading about approaching one's writing from different perspectives one at a time. Maybe it arose from that. I'm not sure how I ended up with this particular plan or whether it is the best one for me. For now, I like it and am using it to write and edit _Marital Property_. I am open to other approaches and plan to ask some about their approaches. Time to get to business. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 06 Writing Words and the Right Brain

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Pretty good. I am enjoying the sunshine and promise of warmer weather.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been doing lately?  
JOE: I worked on editing _Marital Property_ yesterday. I tried to address continuity, clarity, grammar and voice all at once.  
CALLIOPE: Did it work?  
JOE: Not very well. I thought there might be some shortcuts in the editing process. But it just diffuses my attention so I can't concentrate very well on anything.  
CALLIOPE: Too bad.  
JOE: Maybe. Doing everything at once might work for some people. I recall that Mozart could write a finished work without any later editing. Genius seems to be in a different class. The rest of us might need to work one aspect at a time. At least I do. It takes longer but I think that is my best chance to produce polished work.  
CALLIOPE: I think it's good to know yourself, your limitations and what works best for you.  
JOE: No argument there.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I will read some of _Marital Property_ tonight at Lift Bridge Writers Group and would like to look over my selection. I will also do some more editing on the text. Saturday is coming up so I have to start working on a column. I cut it pretty close last time.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have a topic.  
JOE: _Giving Words a Rest_ comes to mind. My right brain attended a wind ensemble concert on Sunday. I enjoyed experiencing the concert without having to describe it in words. I think I will pursue that idea. I had better get going. See you tomorrow.

### May 07 Planning, Writing and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite excited.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I think I am starting to become established. On Monday, John Kremer posted a blog on my ten reasons pro and con for buying my book. On Friday I will be recording a podcast with Phil Davis on my writing and marketing efforts.  
CALLIOPE: How did those come about?  
JOE: Through my efforts in contacting both men. I have discovered that sitting back and waiting for the world to come to me doesn't work.  
CALLIOPE: Have you been making other efforts as well?  
JOE: Yes. I am starting to receive comments on our conversations after posting them for quite a while. We do seem to be developing a following. I hope it doesn't go to your head.  
CALLIOPE: Don't worry. I've been around long enough to take it in stride. How's the editing coming.  
JOE: Fitting it in is often a struggle. Today I have a column to write with everything else on my plate. I do have a new plan though.  
CALLIOPE: What is it?  
JOE: Glad you asked. I will start printing at least a couple of chapters to review at Carol's in the evenings. She is against having a computer in her house, so I have been limited to daytime writing so far. I might also ask her about keeping my backup computer at her house without an Internet connection. Frankly, I see some benefit in getting away from the worldwide brain sometimes myself.  
CALLIOPE: Let me know how it goes. Good luck with the column.  
JOE: Thanks, I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

### May 08 John Kremer, Phil Davis and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What are you up to?  
JOE: Planning.  
CALLIOPE: Anything in particular.  
JOE: Yes. My podcast for tomorrow with Phil Davis. He sent me a tentative outline for our interview. We plan to discuss my writing career, my marketing efforts and the famous ten reasons which John Kremer suggested.  
CALLIOPE: What will result from all this.  
JOE: Phil will edit our conversation and create an audio podcast for both of us to use in our marketing efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Are you ready?  
JOE: Not quite. That's why I said I was planning. When we finish, I will make sure I have everything together. I don't want to be shuffling around looking for things during the interview. But at least I know what I want to have handy when we talk.  
CALLIOPE: I hope it goes well. How did your column turn out?  
JOE: As planned, I wrote it with the title of _Time to Give Words a Rest_. I wrote about the recent student Day of Silence and a concert I attended on Sunday. The focus was on temporarily setting words aside in favor of awareness of our surroundings. I will post if for you to see Saturday on my Commonsense Wisdom website.  
CALLIOPE: Any other plans for today?  
JOE: I did some editing yesterday and will plan some more for later today if I have time after my interview is ready.  
CALLIOPE: Another busy day.  
JOE: It is. But I think the interview will give me a chance to gather my thoughts and assess how I am coming with my writing and marketing. I'll talk with you after the interview.

### May 09 Podcast, Editing, Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I didn't expect you so early.  
JOE: Surprise. I was planning to record my podcast with Phil Davis for Authors on the Net at eight A.M. It turns out that I will indeed be doing it at eight Mountain Time which is still two hours from now. I guess I am just too used to my little insular world and need to practice thinking globally.  
CALLIOPE: Well, it's nice to talk with you anyway. Are you ready for the podcast?  
JOE: Almost. I prepared some general comments on my writing background. We will also talk about my first and last books from which I have some selections ready to read. We will also discuss my marketing efforts.  
CALLIOPE: So all that is prepared?  
JOE: Just about. I have notes on my marketing plan but want to type them out so I don't have to struggle reading it during the interview.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you've thought of just about everything.  
JOE: I hope so. I would like it to sound spontaneous, so I guess it's not good to be overly prepared.  
CALLIOPE: Have you done this kind of thing before?  
JOE: I tried it once several years ago with a telephone interview. However the quality was quite "tinny" and not something I thought of sufficient quality to disseminate.  
CALLIOPE: You don't want to sound amateur.  
JOE: No I don't. As you know I have been considering video podcasts for my writing in general and for each of my books. I thought it would help to get this interview under my belt first. It might give me some ideas about the videos.  
CALLIOPE: That makes sense.  
JOE: I wanted to let you know I printed several chapters of _Marital Property_ to work on at Carol's last night. I think I did a more thorough editing job on the written text rather than on the screen. I will continue to see how I like it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 10 Writing and Podcast

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How did the podcast recording go yesterday?  
JOE: I was quite pleased with it. Fortunately I took the time to be prepared and had everything I needed at my fingertips.  
CALLIOPE: Any problems?  
JOE: No. The only one I anticipated was my tendency to say "uh" quite a bit when I'm thinking. I made a big sign and placed it in front of me during the interview as a reminder. I did well for the most part.  
CALLIOPE: What did you cover?  
JOE: It was comprehensive. First, we talked about my development as a writer. I talked about two of my books, _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_ and _The Pastor's Inferno_ and read a passage from the first one. Then we talked about my marketing.  
CALLIOPE: Any surprises?  
JOE: Only that I had made quite a bit of progress with marketing, more than I had realized.  
CALLIOPE: Is the column published?  
JOE: Yes. _Time to Give Words a Rest_ is ready for your consideration in the usual place.  
CALLIOPE: And the editing of _Marital Property_?  
JOE: I tried printing some chapters and editing them on paper. I found myself being much more critical and detailed editing on paper that I was on the screen. I think I will continue that practice.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I have to mail out a signed copy of one of my books. I signed up for Skype, an online video and audio service. I will spend some time today figuring out how it works. See you on Monday.

### May 12 Writing and Technology

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little frustrated.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: After my podcast interview with Phil Davis on Friday, I thought I was about ready to work on video podcasts for my writing and my books.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I found a video camera but was unable to install the software for it.  
CALLIOPE: What happened?  
JOE: My computer refused to acknowledge that there was any information on the installation CD or that I even had it in the drive.  
CALLIOPE: And then?  
JOE: I tried installing it manually through a roundabout process which seemed to work but when I tried to use the camera, it was not recognized.  
CALLIOPE: So what do you think the problem is?  
JOE: I think the drivers may not be installed.  
CALLIOPE: It's a little beyond me.  
JOE: Me too. I am beginning to think this might not be the right camera for me. I might try another one. Maybe it would be good to give this a rest and work on my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Did you do that over the weekend?  
JOE: Yes. I copied some chapters and edited them yesterday. It seems to be going much better editing on paper than on the screen. I don't know why, but I'll accept it. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 13 Creative Writing and Electronics

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Better.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: I solved my webcam problem.  
CALLIOPE: How?  
JOE: After considerable gymnastics (mental, physical and electronic), I reached the conclusion that my first webcam was a dud, or at least not about to cooperate with the machinations of my computer. Back it went, and then I tracked down another which worked fine from the outset.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it. Is your mind at rest?  
JOE: At least it's relieved. I still have much to learn about webcam workings but at least the immediate crisis is past. However I wasted time I could have used on my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything done along that line?  
JOE: I did some work on editing Marital Property and also critiqued a story on Critique Circle.  
CALLIOPE: What about creative writing?  
JOE: Critiquing stories reminded me that I haven't written anything original for a while with all my efforts going to editing and marketing. I have been working in a story idea.  
CALLIOPE: Care to share?  
JOE: I met a woman in Martha's Vineyard several years ago, best described as a character. Such denizens are in no short supply on the Vineyard. I thought it might be interesting to write a story about her, or at least about what I imagine her life to be about. I plan to start working on it this afternoon.  
CALLIOPE: I am looking forward to it.  
JOE: I will most likely post it in one or two of my writing groups and will let you know when it's ready. Off to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 14 Interpretation and Accountability

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Still trying to digest yesterday's letter to the editor about my recent column on priest sexual abuse.  
CALLIOPE: What's the problem?  
JOE: A reader interpreted my column as an attack on the Catholic Church rather than an inquiry into the nature of abuse.  
CALLIOPE: What did he say about you?  
JOE: That I seemed to be ignoring the abuse among others charged with care of children and was singling out priests, only a small minority of whom abuse teens.  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to handle it?  
JOE: I'm considering it. A friend suggested a brief acknowledgment of the writer's position and then moving on.  
CALLIOPE: How does that sound?  
JOE: It's good advice. At the end of his letter, the writer says, "Maybe Dr. Langen would agree with me that an honest, courageous and thorough study of this psychological condition is desperately needed because it is spreading."  
CALLIOPE: Do you agree with him?  
JOE: I do, but also think there are cultural and institutional factors bearing consideration as well. Maybe I can just restate that and move on.  
CALLIOPE: Good idea. I guess you have to be careful about what you write.  
JOE: I guess so. Explaining my entire position in a five hundred word column can be daunting. If it stirs up controversy or need for further discussion, maybe that's not so bad. See you tomorrow.

### May 15 To Be or Not to Be

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little weary. I spent most of yesterday working on revisions of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: How is it coming?  
JOE: I forgot how much work revising a novel text demands. It seems to take forever although I think the quality of it improves with each edit.  
CALLIOPE: That's encouraging. What's the hardest part?  
JOE: Knowing what to do with the verb "to be" and all its forms. It makes for dull writing but I can't always easily find alternative ways to express myself.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe it's just a bad habit.  
JOE: Maybe so, but I'm working on it.  
CALLIOPE: How are you going about it?  
JOE: Mostly by reading The New Yorker, Salman Rushdie and others who might teach me by example.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: I just try to keep focused on finding better ways to express myself. In my last novel, I avoided almost all conversation tags and found other ways to denote the speaker.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you could write a whole novel without this verb. "To be or not to be. That is the question."  
JOE: Very funny, but I have considered it. Could I do it? Maybe I can write a short story in that fashion. One is brewing in my mind about a woman in Martha's Vineyard. Maybe I'll try it on a smaller scale. See you tomorrow.

### May 16 Video and Podcast Presentation

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Excited.  
CALLIOPE: That's a nice change. To what do we owe the honor?  
JOE: To my intention of creating a video podcast. I finally found the wire for my Canon camera but could not get the camera and computer to communicate for some reason. I decided to try using the webcam with Windows Movie Maker and found the whole process relatively painless.  
CALLIOPE: How far did you get with the process?  
JOE: I recorded and posted the podcast about _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_ on MySpace and YouTube.  
CALLIOPE: With no difficulty?  
JOE: None. The whole process went swimmingly as the British would say.  
CALLIOPE: I'll have to take a look at it. Is it professional quality?  
JOE: Well, no. Just a conversation with me and a brief reading. Quite informal. But I don't think my approach needs to be slick. I tire of slick ads on TV and find them annoying in their competition to outdo each other.  
CALLIOPE: Agreed. How is your editing of _Marital Property_ coming along?  
JOE: Quite well thank you. I can smell the end of my initial edit and inch up on it every day. I make a conscious effort no to minimize the use of the verb "to be" in all its forms. I find it quite a challenge sometimes but I think my work sparkles more without it.  
CALLIOPE: What about your story?  
JOE: Haven't started it yet. Editing keeps my attention. This weekend might be the time. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 17 Editing, Marketing and Publishing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Not bad. I worked hard on editing _Marital Property_ yesterday and have only thirty pages to go to the end of the book.  
CALLIOPE: Great progress. Then what?  
JOE: I think that will complete the major editing. Next I will read the book aloud to see how it sounds and correct it for tone.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good next step. And after that?  
JOE: Next is to call my reviewers back into action. I have several who read my books in the past and made excellent suggestions for revisions. I plan to ask them to read it.  
CALLIOPE: Have you decided what to do about publication?  
JOE: No. I think I might take another run at agents to see if I can generate any interest. If not, I will probably use the same printer again and get started on _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_.  
CALLIOPE: How are your marketing efforts coming.  
JOE: As you know I completed my first video and posted it on MySpace and YouTube. I plan to work on others starting Monday. I will complete a general podcast about my writing, readings from my other two books, ten reasons to read or not read each book and one about my _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ project.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds ambitious.  
JOE: It is. I have plans laid out for the next few weeks.  
CALLIOPE: I hope you can keep it all straight.  
JOE: I hope so too. But at least I know where I'm headed. Talk with you on Monday.

### May 19 Editing Techniques

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you sleep in this morning?  
JOE: Actually, no. I've been hard at work for a couple hours.  
CALLIOPE: Really? Doing what?  
JOE: My brain started working before I climbed out of bed, planning my Vineyard story.  
CALLIOPE: You haven't started writing it yet?  
JOE: No. Finishing my first edit of _Marital Property_ gobbled up my time yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: So you finally finished it?  
JOE: Yes, I did and am ready to go onto the next stage.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: Reading it out loud to see how it sounds. I have tried this as an editing technique before and found it quite useful.  
CALLIOPE: I agree. What else did you do early this morning?  
JOE: Phil Davis sent a great audio recording form our recent podcast interview. Now I have to figure out what to do with it. No readily apparent way to upload an audio file to MySpace, YouTube or my website presented itself to my feeble mind. I guess that will be a major undertaking as well unless someone suggests an easy way. The best way I could see was to convert it into a video file and upload it as I did my first podcast. Maybe there is an easier way, but I haven't discovered it yet.  
CALLIOPE: Isn't technology wonderful?  
JOE: Once I figure it out everything seems to make sense. In the mean time, I just plod along. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 20 Creative Writing and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Cranking along quite well.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: Yesterday was technology day. I bought a new digital camera to use capturing more photos for you to look at while reading our posts in Blogger. It took a while to get the software involved and working  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun.  
JOE: Sometimes it can be a challenge.  
CALLIOPE: What else?  
JOE: Posting an audio proved harder than I thought it would be. I have posted it on my website, Commonsense Wisdom, and I think on MySpace but the message says they are still processing it, whatever that means. I also learned there are royalty free sites for music although there is still a download cost, at least for some of them.  
CALLIOPE: What other challenges await you today?  
JOE: I finally started my story, _Or Not To Be_ , last night. I also need to get going on my column for Saturday which I will base on a Simon and Garfunkel song, or at least that's the current plan.  
CALLIOPE: Let me know how it turns out.  
JOE: The Daily News also called and will come next week to conduct an interview for an article on Marital Property. I'm looking forward to it and feel prepared after the interview with Phil Davis.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you are making progress.  
JOE: I think so. Now it's just a matter of juggling everything and keeping all the balls in the air. See you tomorrow.

### May 21 Writing and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I started out feeling I was going around in circles. After I sat down to write my grateful things for today, I realized I have actually accomplished something this week.  
CALLIOPE: So what's new?  
JOE: I finally found a way to post my podcast interview with Phil Davis on MySpace (www.myspace.com/slidingotter). That took some doing but finally I installed it.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. I'll have a listen. Anything else?  
JOE: Yesterday was busy. I took my daughter out for a birthday lunch, and also took my son to an appointment. In between I managed to start my short story, _Or Not To Be_ **,** as well as my column for this Saturday on selective listening, title still under construction. I also worked on my second edit of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Make sure you let me know when these are ready for viewing. What do you mean by "second edit?"  
JOE: I will let you know. A second edit as I define it is an oral reading of my text. I have already made changes for continuity and clarity. This time I am listening to see how it sounds.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: More work on the second edit. As background music, a plumber will be boring into a wall to replace a drain pipe. I can't wait. My main goal for today is finishing my column so I can have Carol read it tonight and get it posted to the **Daily News** tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: So you're not loafing?  
JOE: No. I have a rehearsal dinner for Carol's niece's wedding on Friday night and the wedding on Saturday. We are having people for a party Sunday and will probably repair to the mountain on Monday or Tuesday where I would like to do some painting. So I will get a little break.  
CALLIOPE: Will I still hear from you?  
JOE: Probably sporadically over the next week depending on schedule. But now it's time to get to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 22 Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. My main goal was to finish writing my column for Saturday and I accomplished that.  
CALLIOPE: What is it about?  
JOE: The title is _Hear What You Want to Hear and Disregard the Rest_.  
CALLIOPE: Shades of Simon and Garfunkel. Tell me more.  
JOE: I wrote about selective listening and how people often listen to what they agree with or are ready to dispute, ignoring everything in between and creating misunderstandings.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. Will it be available Saturday as usual?  
JOE: Yes. On my Commonsense Wisdom website.  
CALLIOPE: What else did you do yesterday?  
JOE: Worked on familiarizing myself with my new camera. I feel like I am running short on stock photos. I also continued editing _Marital Property_ and gave Carol some initial chapters to read.  
CALLIOPE: You're making progress.  
JOE: I am, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all I have chosen to do.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you realized you have chosen your tasks. Some people feel like they just have things dumped on them.  
JOE: I know it is my choice and that I can work as hard and as fast as I want. I just need to keep my priorities straight. I think I might do better to finish the editing and then be free to concentrate on other tasks. On to editing. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 23 Writing and Organizing

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was beginning to worry that you might not show up today.  
JOE: I told you I would be here I have been staying flexible. This morning Carol and I prepared Strata, a fine dish for Mike and Joe who are in from New York for a wedding. Then we visited a friend and stopped by the house sale for Aunt Lucille's possessions.  
CALLIOPE: Did you need anything?  
JOE: No. I'm planning a column called _Remains of a Life_ and wanted to have a fresh image of the sale for my writing.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds interesting. Shall I expect it in a couple weeks?  
JOE: I would say so unless something more urgent arises.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: I plan to work on editing _Marital Property_ a while this afternoon. I think I told you sometimes I think I am juggling too much to stay organized and effective.  
CALLIOPE: You did.  
JOE: It finally dawned on me that I might be better off finishing some of the projects on my plate before moving on to others rather than being left with stale leftovers.  
CALLIOPE: Interesting way to put it. Do you plan to finish _Marital Property_ first?  
JOE: I do. I think I can finish it by the end of next week and get it off to my readers for final edits. Then I can focus more on my marketing efforts.  
CALLIOPE: I applaud your priorities.  
JOE: I'm not sure my current set of priorities is better than anything else I might have devised. But at least I have them and should be able to stay with a plan and not keep tripping over myself.  
CALLIOPE: I guess we shall see.  
JOE: Indeed we shall. With everything going on, I might not be able to talk with you for a few days. I'll be back on line Tuesday if not before. Aloha.

###

### May 24 The Writing Life, Isolation and Relationships

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I didn't expect to hear from you today.  
JOE: Surprise. I told you I might stop by.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about last night.  
JOE: I attended a rehearsal dinner for Megan, Carol's niece.  
CALLIOPE: And how was it?  
JOE: Very nice. It took me a while to feel social. I spend so much time alone writing and talking with you that I sometimes feel awkward in public.  
CALLIOPE: Not good. What do you plan to do about it?  
JOE: I think I need to stay more connected with people. When I don't get out, I still have several writers' communities where I can keep in touch with people.  
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to be more active there.  
JOE: I do. I had been meaning to be more active anyway but have been juggling quite a bit. I hope to finish editing _Marital Property_ sometime this week which should give me more time.  
CALLIOPE: Hopefully so. What about the wedding today?  
JOE: I will be with many of the same people who attended the rehearsal dinner. I will make an effort to be more social. Then back to work. I'll talk with you on Tuesday.

### May 27 Introspection and the Writing Life

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Very busy socially. I am so use to working alone most of the time, I found it a little difficult to adjust to being surrounded by people for three days.  
CALLIOPE: How did you handle it?  
JOE: I tried to keep up with the conversation. However I realized the writing life tends to make me more introverted that I realized. I have become used to the world in my head and more comfortable there than in the world of social relationships.  
CALLIOPE: Is that good or bad?  
JOE: I'm not sure. The problem is that I am stuck in my own world and am not sure I am on the same wavelength with others.  
CALLIOPE: You sound afraid you might be isolating yourself.  
JOE: I am.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it if anything?  
JOE: If I lived in a monastery again, I wouldn't be too concerned. Since I write for others, I think it important that I understand how they see the world, their hopes, fears and wishes.  
CALLIOPE: I couldn't agree more. I'm still not sure what you plan to do.  
JOE: All I can think of is to spend more time with people and ask them about their perceptions rather than dwelling so much on my own. I'll try it for a few days. I would also like to know if this is a problem for other writers and how they deal with it.  
CALLIOPE: Good. Let me know how it works out.  
JOE: I will. On to today's writing adventures.

### May 28 Intention and Creative Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. I have been busy. I was up at 5:30 to take Carol's son Mike and his partner Joe to Rochester for their bus back to New York. Then Carol and I had breakfast at Scooters and here I am preparing for my interview.  
CALLIOPE: What interview?  
JOE: The Daily News in Batavia is planning an article on _The Pastor's Inferno_ and is coming here to interview me for it.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to say?  
JOE: I've just been wondering about that. I sent them a copy of Ten Reasons for and against buying my book and might focus on that.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: I would like to discuss my writing development to some extent as well as what brought me to write the book. I sent them a copy and some publicity but don't know what focus they plan to take.  
CALLIOPE: Any other points you wish to make.  
JOE: I would like to stress its being a novel for the thinking person, my fantasy of what might take place in an abusive priest's mind. I think my main point is that understanding such a priest gives us all an insight into the human condition in which we all live.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds like a good approach.  
JOE: I hope so. I think it might sell more copies if I could make it sound slick, but that's against my nature and also the purpose of the book.  
CALLIOPE: Good that you recognize that.  
JOE: I think so. I'll do my best and see what happens. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

### May 29 Meaning and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Well, thank you.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your interview.  
JOE: Kristin from the Daily News arrived to interview me about _The Pastor's Inferno_. I felt prepared based on publicity I have been working on lately, particularly the live interview with Phil Davis.  
CALLIOPE: What did she ask?  
JOE: She was interested in the development of me writing, why I wrote the books I did, particularly _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: What else?  
JOE: She wanted to know about my perceptions of readers' reactions so far. I told her about some people seeing the book as an attack on priests.  
CALLIOPE: It isn't, is it?  
JOE: Of course not. The point of it is that we all make mistakes, some of them drastic. No matter what we do there is a path to redemption if we are willing to look for it and follow it no matter where it takes us.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you were able to clarify this with her?  
JOE: I do. I guess the only thing to do now is to wait to see her article.  
CALLIOPE: What's new on other fronts?  
JOE: I put marketing on the back burner this week to work on completing the edit of _Marital Property_. I have it over half finished, but still have quite a bit of work to do. I hope to have it completed this week. Talk with you tomorrow.

### May 30 Editing and Criticism

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Doing well. Despite a rather busy day, I did make considerable headway with editing _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: How much headway?  
JOE: I am within striking distance of the end and plan to finish it this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Good. What's the next step?  
JOE: I have two readers ready to go to work.  
CALLIOPE: Professional editors?  
JOE: No. But both tend to be quite attentive to detail and in the past have pointed out difficulties which eluded me.  
CALLIOPE: How did the difficulties get past you?  
JOE: When I am deeply involved in a manuscript, I sometimes overlook problems or typos which I think I would notice in someone else's manuscript.  
CALLIOPE: Have you had any experience editing others' work, particularly fiction?  
JOE: Yes. I joined a group called Critique Circle in which we read and comment on each other's fiction. I have found it helpful in approaching my own writing more critically.  
CALLIOPE: It sounds like you are on the right track.  
JOE: I think so. Later today I will return to my marketing efforts. But more about that tomorrow.

### May 31 Editing and Tedium

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Having a little difficulty realizing that I finally reached the end of my second edit of _Marital Property_ _._  
CALLIOPE: It's certainly a milestone. Next it is off to your readers?  
JOE: Not my public but to Carol and Gerry who have been most helpful to me in the past.  
CALLIOPE: What do you expect of them?  
JOE: H0nesty. I count on them to tell me how the story comes across to them and whether I need to make any major shifts in emphasis.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Yes. They will also tell me when they encounter awkward phrasing and when I am not clear in how I express myself.  
CALLIOPE: Good. Have you ever considered using a professional editor?  
JOE: The thought has occurred to me. I think there would be advantages and disadvantages. A professional editor would probably be somewhat more objective although my traditional readers have not pulled any punches in the past and I don't expect them to this time.  
CALLIOPE: Any other thoughts?  
JOE: I fear that a professional editor would look at my work chiefly in terms of its commercial potential, although this might not be entirely fair. My personal editors know me, what I am trying to say and what my goals are. I don't think a professional editor would approach my work in these terms. Of course, I can't say any of this for sure since I have never engaged one.  
CALLIOPE: Do you know what other writers' experience has been?  
JOE: No, but that's a good question. I would like to find out and will research it in my writer communities. Maybe someone will share their experience here as well. You're all invited. Talk with you on Monday.

# Chapter 6: June

It is better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise.

~ Mark Twain

### June 02 Creative Writing and Composition

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: I enjoyed it. On Saturday I worked on my story and on Sunday I relaxed and read.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the story.  
JOE: Okay. I told you I was working on it, but not furiously. I transferred what I had written to the computer and reviewed what I had written.  
CALLIOPE: How do you usually write a story?  
JOE: I usually start with a theme and begin writing. As I progress I develop the characters, plot and ending.  
CALLIOPE: Did this one work that way?  
JOE: For the most part. I took a walk after transcribing what I had written. When I returned, I had in my head quite a few ideas about ways to strengthen my presentation. I also had the ending in mind.  
CALLIOPE: Did you finish it?  
JOE: Not yet. I plan to today or tomorrow so I will have it ready for the Lift Bridge Writers Group tomorrow night.  
CALLIOPE: When can I see it?  
JOE: I will post it on Critique Circle and Author's Den probably on Wednesday and let you know when it is ready for your viewing.  
CALLIOPE: I can't wait.  
JOE: I'm excited about it too. This is the first short story I have written in some time. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 3 Creative Writing, Criticism and Self Doubt

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Okay.  
CALLIOPE: You sound a little glum. What's bothering you?  
JOE: I told you a while ago about the short story contest I entered. I thought I wrote a very good story.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: It won no prizes, not even an honorable mention.  
CALLIOPE: So?  
JOE: Now I am beginning to doubt my writing. I have noticed more difficulty lately being creative.  
CALLIOPE: Have you thought about seeking some other reactions to your writing?  
JOE: I have. Two people I respect are currently reading _Marital Property_ and will no doubt return honest appraisals. I will also post _Child Bride_ and _Or Not To Be_ in two on-line communities for feedback. I am also meeting with Lift Bridge Writers Group and will share one of my stories, probably _Child Bride_.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think the religious criticism overtones of _Child Bride_ had any influence on the contest judges?  
JOE: I wish I knew, but they don't offer any feedback. I do plan to read the winners and see how they differ from my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Good idea. It's always good to consider the source in assessing opinions.  
JOE: You're right. Maybe I'm selling myself short. I will defer judgment. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 04 Writing Mistakes

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Much better thanks.  
CALLIOPE: Do what do we owe this resurgence?  
JOE: I left for the Lift Bridge Writers Group meeting last night plagued by self doubt about my writing and also wondering why my efforts were not appreciated more.  
CALLIOPE: Did the meeting change your somber mood?  
JOE: Indeed. What I thought made for a good story contained some glaring errors and an obvious (to everyone but me) inconsistency in the age of my protagonist which thoroughly distracted everyone including me once it came to my attention.  
CALLIOPE: How did you end up submitting such a flawed piece?  
JOE: I just finished pondering that matter. In my excitement about developing a story idea so quickly during the 24 hour contest, I became carried away and ignored some of the basics. When I write, I like to let a story percolate a while before I reconsider it for necessary revisions. I did not allow myself enough time for this to happen and submitted it in its raw state. No one to blame but me.  
CALLIOPE: So you learned something from the experience?  
JOE: I did. Next time I will build in some percolation time to let the story settle before a final review.  
CALLIOPE: And you learned all this last night?  
JOE: Yes and No. Our new member, Cindy, pointed out how our unconscious mind can sense what we can't articulate at the moment. I think this happened to me last night and I didn't realize what I had learned until I started writing my journal this morning. Thanks, Cindy.  
CALLIOPE: So where is this story now?  
JOE: Posted on Author's Den if you are interested. Look for _The Child Bride_ under short stories at www.authorsden.com. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 05 Hubris and Humility

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Reflective.  
CALLIOPE: On what do you reflect?  
JOE: Mostly my writing. I was sailing along in a cloud of hubris imagining myself the next John Updike or Ernest Hemingway.  
CALLIOPE: What dissipated your cloud?  
JOE: I read the contest winners' entries against which I recently competed. I thought my story was great when it wasn't, either upon reflection of my writing group or in comparison with the other entries.  
CALLIOPE: What do you conclude from that?  
JOE: One conclusion is that I am not the literary equal of Mozart. Finished work does not flow from my pen, at least not at this point in my writing career and probably never will. Creating a polished piece involves hard work and concentration, while at the same time remaining in a creative mode, a delicate balancing act at least for me.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a realization. Does it make you reconsider your writing career?  
JOE: No, but I have a new respect for the craft of writing and what it involves. I can easily create pedestrian work, but that is not my goal. I have considered my mission to help readers understand themselves and their impact on others. But I have come to realize that no one will read what I have to say if I don't make it interesting and engaging.  
CALLIOPE: So it's not just a psychological challenge?  
JOE: No. It's also a literary one as well. I don't know why I never realized this before. Sometimes it takes me a while to discover insights which seem obvious once I unearth them.  
CALLIOPE: Well said. Now what?  
JOE: I will continue writing but try to avoid distractions from my craft or at least use them as challenges and try to convert them into something creative. I'll start working on it today. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 06  Podcast and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I just got back from a massage and am feeling quite relaxed.  
CALLIOPE: Ready to go to work now?  
JOE: I am. Yesterday I caught up on most of my marketing and correspondence.  
CALLIOPE: Most?  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I was just wondering that myself. I would like to review another story on Critique Circle and then post _Or Not To Be_ for review. Then I think I will get to work planning the videos I have had on hold.  
CALLIOPE: Why on hold?  
JOE: I am not satisfied with the video quality of my webcam. I am waiting for a new USB cable for my Canon camera so I can use it for recording my podcasts. I expect it any day.  
CALLIOPE: What's kept you from doing the planning?  
JOE: Procrastination. I focused on other things while waiting for the cable. But today I'm ready to get going. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 07 Creative Writing, Planning and Reading

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Hot, but otherwise fine.  
CALLIOPE: Did you accomplish anything yesterday?  
JOE: A swim, but not much else. I had little ambition yesterday and didn't even follow through with the few plans I had. However I did enjoy an outing last night with my grandson and favorite clown.  
CALLIOPE: I guess we all deserve a little down time. How about today?  
JOE: I don't have much time. I am baking bread and have coleslaw to prepare for this afternoon. I think the most I will accomplish will be to post my column on my website. Tomorrow I have little on the agenda and will get serious about planning my videos. I spent some time yesterday reading Maugham's _Of Human Bondage_ , recommended for its description, particularly of characters.  
CALLIOPE: And your conclusion?  
JOE: Cindy was right. He does an excellent job. Recent literary fiction of my acquaintance is tricky and intricate but does not seem to have much of a plot. I think that is a missing element.  
CALLIOPE: Why do you suppose this is?  
JOE: Maybe life is seen as not having much purpose any more. I guess I'm not really sure. This phenomenon does not seem to appear in short stories I have read.  
CALLIOPE: Something to consider. Anything happening with _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ _?_  
JOE: I have posted questions on several sites about the need for and process of obtaining teen permission for inclusion of their input.  
CALLIOPE: Is there a consensus of opinion?  
JOE: Questionnaire data seems OK to include but narrative seems to require parental input. The process remains somewhat of a mystery. But I will give it further thought. Talk with you Monday

### June 09 Inertia and Motivation

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Ready for another week?  
JOE: I guess so.  
CALLIOPE: You don't sound too enthused.  
JOE: I feel like an alligator sleeping on the shore, too lazy to move.  
CALLIOPE: What a way to start the week. Do you have anything planned?  
JOE: I do. Over the weekend, I spent my free time reading which I enjoyed. However I didn't start working on the videos.  
CALLIOPE: So what's your excuse?  
JOE: None other than inertia. But I did set them as my main goal for this week. I received a new cable for my video camera and will try it out today. If I still can't get me camera to connect to my computer, I will proceed using my webcam although I am not thrilled by the quality. But at least it would be a start.  
CALLIOPE: I agree. You seem to have trouble becoming motivated in general lately.  
JOE: I guess you're right. I wrote in my journal earlier this morning that I would just as soon spend the day sitting on the porch reading again today. But I don't think I will.  
CALLIOPE: Where do you suppose the answer lies?  
JOE: I think in just getting myself in gear. Once I am on the move mentally, I think I can keep going, the other side of inertia.  
CALLIOPE: See what you can do today. Otherwise we will need to look at more drastic steps.  
JOE: Yes Ma'am. I'll do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 10 Depletion and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Pensive.  
CALLIOPE: I think maybe you better explain that one.  
JOE: Okay. Yesterday my trusted reviewer Jerry sent me his reactions to my current draft of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: He liked the story but thought the characters were too stereotyped and did not come to life.  
CALLIOPE: Did his comments surprise you?  
JOE: No. I felt the same thing as I was writing the story. I tried to make some revisions but I am afraid they fell short.  
CALLIOPE: How do you think this happened?  
JOE: I talked with Gerry about it and concluded that I have been living a fairly isolated existence lately with most of my time spent before a computer screen. I think I have become too insular and introverted. My creative juices have been drying up.  
CALLIOPE: Not a good state for a writer. What do you plan to do about it?  
JOE: I think I need to take a break from writing and work on restoring my creative energy maybe through art, photography and spending more time socially. I see myself as a cotton field which has been over cultivated and exhausted. It needs time to recover.  
CALLIOPE: That seems to fly in the face of conventional writer wisdom to keep writing no matter what.  
JOE: I realize that but I have not always been conventional. In fact, I think I am at my best when I allow myself to be unconventional. We'll talk some more about this tomorrow.

### June 11 Frustration, Motivation and Refocus

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Still pondering my lying fallow.  
CALLIOPE: What are you pondering specifically?  
JOE: I tried to shut off my logical brain for a while, but it doesn't seem to want to cooperate.  
CALLIOPE: What is it doing?  
JOE: Bringing up thoughts of whether I should continue my writing efforts or just enjoy retirement or do something else.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds rather drastic. Where do you think those thoughts originate?  
JOE: Probably from realizing that publicity and marketing are much more complicated than I thought even though I have been learning all I can.  
CALLIOPE: Speaking of which, how are the videos coming?  
JOE: I guess that's part of the frustration. I have struggled with the technology to the point of frustration. Finally I have all the pieces in place and have developed an outline for the first video, _Ten Reasons To Read The Pastor's Inferno and Ten Reasons Not To_.  
CALLIOPE: So what's the problem?  
JOE: I felt my energy drained by the effort. I'm ready to go technically but flagging in my motivation.  
CALLIOPE: You mentioned recharging. Did you do anything in this regard?  
JOE: Yesterday I resumed work on a painting of the Block Island Lighthouse I promised to have finished by the beginning of July. I also attended a picnic for cancer survivors last night and got out of myself as well as having some help putting my good fortune in perspective.  
CALLIOPE: Those sound like positive steps. Now what?  
JOE: More painting today. I think I will also try a test video with the technology I recently discovered. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

### June 12 Technology, Video and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was afraid you might be sleeping in.  
JOE: No. I had an appointment with my doctor this morning to see what condition my condition is in.  
CALLIOPE: And what is your condition?  
JOE: Good. I have lost considerable weight and am ready to try a decrease in blood pressure medication.  
CALLIOPE: Good progress. What about your mind?  
JOE: We didn't assess that. I think my physical progress provides an incentive to pursue my emotional well being.  
CALLIOPE: What are you doing in that regard?  
JOE: Continuing to work on recharging my batteries.  
CALLIOPE: How?  
JOE: Concentrating on reading good literature and looking for inspiration to improve my own creative expression.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Any progress on the publicity videos?  
JOE: I finally have mastered the technology involved. I can now record, edit, convert and post videos to YouTube. This should also include MySpace although I have not tried it yet.  
CALLIOPE: Good, what about the planning for Ten Reasons for and against reading _The Pastor's Inferno_?  
JOE: I finished the outline a few days ago. Sorry I forgot to mention it. In my practice video yesterday, I recorded the introduction to Ten Reasons. I think it should go smoothly. I will continue working on it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 13 Creativity, Painting and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little more optimistic than I have been lately.  
CALLIOPE: To what do we owe the honor?  
JOE: I was just wondering that myself. Maybe taking a little time out to regroup has helped. I also found some marketing links in Writer's Digest, inspirational writing and a writing contest, all of which piqued my interest.  
CALLIOPE: I hope they all help. How are you coming with the videos?  
JOE: I have been ready to start. Unfortunately, construction hammers, saws and vacuums buzz upstairs and it has been too noisy to record my videos. I think they will have to wait until it is quieter.  
CALLIOPE: There's always something, as Gilda would say. So what are your plans in the mean time?  
JOE: I'm trying not to plan too much at the moment. My lighthouse painting continues to take shape. I am working on it a little at a time trying to pay close attention to detail. I am doing better in this regard than I have in the past.  
CALLIOPE: Do you see any connection between your painting and writing?  
JOE: Both involve creative ideas for inspiration, however in painting I usually work from a model or photo, whereas in writing inspiration comes from within. I am beginning to discover that with both pursuits, putting any old thing down on paper results in an amateur product. Although inspiration forms the start, the polished product, at least for me, results from going back and paying close attention to details which bring my writing and painting to life.  
CALLIOPE: Have you discovered this while painting?  
JOE: You guessed it. During the painting class I took a while ago, I struggled with concentration on detail. However, when I was finished, I had produced paintings of which I could be proud.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can apply this to your writing as well?  
JOE: I think so. I have been questioning my writing ability lately. Now I am wondering whether I am using all my inner resources to produce a polished and interesting piece. I will work on this. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 14 Life Meaning and Distraction

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you just get up?  
JOE: I think you know me better than that. I was up before five, read the paper, walked with Carol, served her breakfast on the porch, watered my plants, did some painting, wrote today's journal entry and now here I am.  
CALLIOPE: Impressive. And I thought you were loafing.  
JOE: I must admit the thought did occur to me. I thought you could survive for a day by yourself. Once I got painting, I felt more enervated and ready to do some writing, at least with you.  
CALLIOPE: I'm flattered. Is that all you plan to do today?  
JOE: No. My story, _Child Bride_ was posted a few days ago in Critique Circle (www.critiquecircle.com.) I plan to read the critiques posted and take them to heart. I am trying to be more observant, especially of myself and my inner workings.  
CALLIOPE: What prompted that?  
JOE: To some extent, reading Eckhart Tolle's _Power of New_ and _A New Earth_ **.** Yesterday I received a copy of Guy Finley's book, _The Essential Laws of Fearless Living_ and started reading it last night.  
CALLIOPE: What have you discovered so far?  
JOE: The message is similar to Tolle's but to me the writing is more accessible. His essential point is how to stop worrying about all the things you think about yourself and concentrate on just being who you are without worrying about it.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good if you can do it.  
JOE: I hope to. I think my recent funk came from fear that I wasn't a good enough writer. If I'm hopeless I might as well give up writing. Finley points out that entertaining such thoughts gives them life and lets them take over who I otherwise could be.  
CALLIOPE: Interesting point.  
JOE: I plan to read more of his book over the weekend and will let you know what I discover on Monday.

### June 16 Fearless Living and Awareness

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Feeling better in general and more optimistic.  
CALLIOPE: To what do you credit these developments?  
JOE: Mostly to Guy Finley's book, _The Essential Laws of Fearless Living_ _,_ which I read this weekend.  
CALLIOPE: What did you discover reading it?  
JOE: I tend to live in my thoughts. I came to realize that I become lost in them and let them distract me.  
CALLIOPE: Distract you from what?  
JOE: From living in awareness of myself, my experiences and life rather than thinking and evaluating it.  
CALLIOPE: How does awareness improve your state of wellbeing?  
JOE: By stepping back from what consumes me and being aware of what I am thinking, I can free myself from the anxieties which were beginning to cripple me.  
CALLIOPE: What anxieties have you identified?  
JOE: Worry about whether my writing is good enough, whether I have anything worthwhile to say and whether I can write in a way which makes my writing accessible to others. In sum, I worry whether I am good enough.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a waste of time.  
JOE: It is. Worrying about what might be has never led me anywhere positive. I remember seeing my father worry about just about every possible tragedy. I saw how it crippled him and kept him from enjoying life.  
CALLIOPE: It's always easier to see what others are doing wrong.  
JOE: Right. I have also come to an awareness that the things we criticize in others are usually what bog us down the most in our own lives. This process is something I will work on today and let you know of my progress tomorrow.

### June 17 Painting and Research

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are how this morning?  
JOE: Excited.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: As you know I have been wrestling with creativity, my value, and other related anxieties.  
CALLIOPE: I heard. Have you reached any conclusions?  
JOE: I have decided to follow Guy Finley's advice and stop worrying about what I am missing and focus more on what I do have to offer as I am right now.  
CALLIOPE: You said as much yesterday. How did you spend the rest of the day?  
JOE: I finished my painting of the Block Island Lighthouse and was quite pleased with my ability to remain patient, completing it over the course of a week or so. I also spent some time yesterday looking up sites where teens posted to get a better sense of how they write and how I could write to appeal to them.  
CALLIOPE: Any great discoveries?  
JOE: Not yesterday. I found quite a few sites and noted them for future reference. I think they will be helpful in regaining my "teen voice."  
CALLIOPE: Is that what made you excited?  
JOE: No. I still had many of the questions which have been in my mind about how to obtain teen writing for my book and how to get permission to use it without alienating teens. This morning as I reviewed some of what I had discovered, I realized that there was already a wealth of teen writing available on the Internet. All I have to do is to distill what would be useful for my book and obtain teens' permission to use their writing.  
CALLIOPE: It sounds like there is still quite a bit of work to do but now it seems more possible.  
JOE: Exactly. I am looking forward to the challenge and adventure. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 18 Creativity, Cross Pollination and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: A little slow getting in gear.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: Last night Carol and I attended our second concert of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, this time Gillespiana, a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie. I am still savoring the experience.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you enjoyed it. You said you wanted to be more involved in activities outside yourself.  
JOE: I did. I also made another discovery.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: I had suspected a relationship between various forms of creativity. I just finished my lighthouse project, taking my time to produces a polished work.  
CALLIOPE: That's nice. What did you learn?  
JOE: Developing patience with my painting translated into a more polished short story as well. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday revising _Child Bride_. I think it came out well.  
CALLIOPE: Would you like my opinion?  
JOE: Sure. It's posted on www.authorsden.com. Look up _Child Bride_ or my name.  
CALLIOPE: I'll do that and let you know what I think tomorrow.  
JOE: I'd appreciate it. Today I plan to continue working on creativity, starting a new lighthouse painting and using what I have learned about myself and my writing to revise my other recent story, _Or Not To Be_. I also have a column to write. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 19 Creative Writing, Feedback and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Excited and full of energy.  
CALLIOPE: I take it you had a productive day yesterday.  
JOE: I did. One comment from Authornation, a new site I am trying out, suggested that the fonts were confusing in the current draft of my short story _Child Bride_ _._ I wasn't sure what she meant and went back to read it. More than half of the story is internal reflection which I showed by using italics. It is confusing.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you do about it?  
JOE: I changed the voice and wrote the whole story in the first person eliminating the need for italics completely.  
CALLIOPE: Interesting approach. How do you think it worked?  
JOE: Too soon to tell. I have only received one comment so far suggesting the change made the story much clearer. Nice to know my efforts paid off.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything else done yesterday?  
JOE: I wrote my column for Saturday on walking out of a concert.  
CALLIOPE: Which I can find on your website Saturday?  
JOE: You're learning. It will be there.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I think I'm finally ready to start recording the Ten Reasons video, barring any untoward construction noises from upstairs. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 20 Anxiety, Mental Illness and Public Speaking

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's on your mind today?  
JOE: Antici----pation.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an interesting story.  
JOE: Perhaps. Several days ago my daughter asked me to sit on a panel today of people touched by mental illness. The audience consists of law enforcement personnel who will deal with mental illness in their work.  
CALLIOPE: Are you prepared?  
JOE: I didn't write anything out but I do have a general idea what I want to say. I will talk about wrestling with the idea of presenting, my background as a psychologist and some of my interactions with the police when various family members were beset by acute mental illness.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you have a lot to say. Have you ever thought of writing about it?  
JOE: I have written a couple columns and pieces for the Mental Health Association. I am afraid that going further would embarrass my family members. I guess it is up to them to tell their stories when they are ready?  
CALLIOPE: Wise move. I hope it goes well today.  
JOE: It's about time to leave. I will pause here and finish our conversation when I get back.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
\---  
JOE: Hi. I'm back.  
CALLIOPE: How did it go?

JOE: Quite well. Once I got started I managed to dispel my anxiety completely. This was the first time I ever talked without notes. I decided to trust myself and it went fine. Now to catch up on everything else. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 21 Balance Socialization and the Business of Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I have been expecting you for a while.  
JOE: I was feeling rather languorous this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Still not back in gear after yesterday?  
JOE: Correct. I spent most of the day in service to others. The whole morning was at the police training telling my mental health story as a parent and listening to others' stories.  
CALLIOPE: And the afternoon?  
JOE: I had planned to relax which I did for about fifteen minutes. Then my daughter asked me to go with her to look at a car.  
CALLIOPE: Which you did?  
JOE: Of course. What kind of father do you take me for?  
CALLIOPE: And the evening?  
JOE: I went to the first Jackson Square concert of the summer in Batavia for a Frank Sinatra tribute. It was a chance to relax and interact socially with others.  
CALLIOPE: So you spent your whole day with others instead of by yourself?  
JOE: I hadn't thought of it that way, but yes I did.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: I found a book on the _Craft and Business of Writing_ , a **Writer's Digest** book, and might spend some time reading it.  
CALLIOPE: What about the recordings?  
JOE: Ill fated. The construction continues upstairs. Either today or Monday I will get to them. Now I need to post my column on my website and get going for the day. Talk with you Monday.

### June 23 Patience and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite well, thank you.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your weekend.  
JOE: The construction upstairs finally settled down, at least for Saturday. I finally got to work taping my videos. I decided to begin with a brief general video on _The Pastor's Inferno_ and then move on to _Ten Reasons to read The Pastor's Inferno and Ten Reasons Not To_.  
CALLIOPE: Why did you decide on the general one first?  
JOE: I thought it might be easier to do and I could also refer to Ten Reasons at the end.  
CALLIOPE: I see. How did it go?  
JOE: I'm getting there. The process is working. I was able to record a video, transfer it to a usable format and edit it without difficulty.  
CALLIOPE: Any difficulties?  
JOE: A few things to work on. The sound level was quite low which I can fix by moving the camera closer to where I sit or using an external microphone. I have a few annoying mannerisms I will need to limit. I also rock in my chair while talking which I found distracting and think my viewers will too.  
CALLIOPE: So now what?  
JOE: More takes. Any video I know of goes through a series of takes much like a movie scene until it is acceptable or even exceptional. The hardest part for me will be remaining patient rather than rushing to get something posted for the sake of having it done. I thought people got more patient as the got older. I have in some ways, but in certain areas I have the same impulsive drive I always have had.  
CALLIOPE: Good that you at least recognize this.  
JOE: I agree. Holding my horses remains a major challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 24 Literary and Popular Writing Style

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Focused. I have been quite busy already today.  
CALLIOPE: Impressive. Doing what?  
JOE: I was puzzled about the sound level on the video I recorded yesterday. Then I discovered my computer sound was low. I adjusted it this morning and now it seems fine.  
CALLIOPE: So you finally produced a video.  
JOE: Yes. I have a little more fine tuning to do but it is close to being ready for broadcast. I decided to start with a general video on _The Pastor's Inferno_ and now will move on to the ten reasons.  
CALLIOPE: You are starting to make some progress. Has the construction noise upstairs settled down?  
JOE: Finally. It is now quiet enough to record.  
CALLIOPE: What else are you working on?  
JOE: A good friend suggested I read Danielle Steele to see what there is about popular writing that makes people buy it.  
CALLIOPE: And did you?  
JOE: I plan to go to the library today to review a number of styles including Steele's. I also did some research this morning on the difference between literary and popular fiction.  
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?  
JOE: Popular fiction concentrates more on character, hook, situations and story while literary fiction concentrates more on emphasis, tone, theme, strategies and moves. I think my goal would be to write challenging fiction which is also accessible. My challenge, should I choose to accept it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 25 Author's Voice and Accessible Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Feeling energized.  
CALLIOPE: By what?  
JOE: I followed my good friend Gerry's advice yesterday and started looking at the styles of popular writers to see what makes them successful.  
CALLIOPE: Is this a new venture for you?  
JOE: Not really, but I am looking in different places now.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: Before, I think I had a somewhat snooty attitude about good writing, feeling that "literary" writers were somehow superior to "popular" writers.  
CALLIOPE: So have you lowered yourself to consider "lesser" writers.  
JOE: I have. Gerry suggested I start with Danielle Steele. I resisted. He insisted. Finally I got her book _Safe Harbor_ from the library and started reading it yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?  
JOE: There is a reason she has sold over fifty novels. Her writing is immediately accessible to ordinary writers. She writes the way most people think, including observations of mannerisms, mixing together reflection, behaviors and speech in a way which I think mimics everyday experience. I think she meets writers where they live.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds impressive. Will you continue your explorations?  
JOE: I have a few other books I will explore and carefully note each author's voice and how they approach readers. An interesting challenge. Thanks Gerry.

### June 26 Observation, People and Self Consciousness

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. But most of today is busy with other people.  
CALLIOPE: Is that bad?  
JOE: Depends on how you look at it. I won't have much if any time to continue working on writing style.  
CALLIOPE: What's the upside?  
JOE: Most of what I read yesterday suggested or outright demanded that a good writer needs to be a good observer of people first and then combine observations with invention and fantasy.  
CALLIOPE: Is that a problem?  
JOE: No, but I wish I had done a better job of observing people over the years. I have mostly focused on thoughts and motivations and to some extent feelings but have largely ignored people's physical presentation.  
CALLIOPE: How do you suppose that happened?  
JOE: I can think of two influences. As a child I was always in trouble for one thing or another, usually mislaying one or another of my father's tools. My tendency was to become as unobtrusive as possible. I lived defensively.  
CALLIOPE: And the other?  
JOE: In the monastery we had a practice of mortification of the eyes, which meant not looking at others. Even though this was only for a limited time during my life, I think it had a lasting influence. It gave me the chance to continue the anonymity I sought in childhood.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a set of realizations. What do you plan to do about the situation?  
JOE: Work on being more observant and being comfortable having people see me observing. I'll start working on it during my hours of people contact today. That's the rest of the upside of having a busy people day. Talk with you tomorrow.

### June 27 Style, Practice, and Accessible Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Energetic.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that on?  
JOE: I'm not sure. How do you know it isn't my natural state?  
CALLIOPE: Maybe it is. What's going on?  
JOE: I awoke in the middle of the night thinking about where I am with my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Where are you?  
JOE: I have come to realize with the help of my readers that I need to do some work on my style and voice before completing _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: What did they say that brought you to that conclusion?  
JOE: They observed in their own ways that my presentation tended to be bland. They graciously suggested my characters seemed flat instead of my writing. In reading popular authors, I could see the difference between expression of Danielle Steele for example and my own. I have also been reading about the craft of writing. My writing needs some work.  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to go about it?  
JOE: Three ways. I will keep reading about style, reading writers with style attractive to the average reader and practice my craft with short stories for a while before returning to the manuscript of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Will you suspend your other writing in the mean time?  
JOE: Not exactly. I have also started gathering teen writings to include in _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ and getting that project back on track. I am going to Niagara Falls tonight for a Neville Brothers/ Dr. John concert and will be back probably tomorrow afternoon. I'll contact you then.

### June 28 Excitement, Performance and Sharing

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I see you saved the best for last.  
JOE: It's always a pleasure talking with you. I just got back from our whirlwind trip to Niagara Falls.  
CALLIOPE: Thank you for the compliment. So how was it?  
JOE: Very enjoyable. We drank wine and watched people in the park by the falls in the afternoon, notably families of Muslims and Amish.  
CALLIOPE: Why were they notable?  
JOE: I tend to think of people with different beliefs as being much different than I am. Just my preconception I guess.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you discover?  
JOE: When with their children, most people are the same regardless of their beliefs. It helped me see the common bonds between the world's peoples.  
CALLIOPE: I guess that was worth the trip in itself. What about the concert?  
JOE: Once we survived the smoke gauntlet through the casino and made it to clean air in the auditorium, we caught our breaths, literally. Then we thoroughly enjoyed The Neville Brothers and Doctor John's performances.  
CALLIOPE: Did anything stand out?  
JOE: I was impressed with the intensity of the performers' involvement in their music and their passion for it. Close up cameras let us see their expressions and mannerisms, which I don't recall being privy to in a concert before.  
CALLIOPE: Any personal message for you?  
JOE: Yes. In order to attain a high level of excitement in my writing, I need to feel it first and then portray it on paper. I will start looking for that excitement in me. Talk with you on Monday.

### June 30 Commitment, Passion and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Ready to go for another week. I have two ideas for this Saturday's column and an idea for my writing in general.  
CALLIOPE: What are the column ideas?  
JOE: One is a lighthearted presentation of my observations in a mall on Saturday of a girl photographing a chandelier. The other is about finding your passion.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a contrast. Which do you think will win out?  
JOE: Hard to say. Maybe I will write both and then decide.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds ambitious. How about the idea for your writing?  
JOE: At Unity Church yesterday, Steve D'Annunzio gave his farewell lesson. In it he stress the quote from the bible about your heart being where your treasure lies. I don't remember the exact quote.  
CALLIOPE: What did you take from it?  
JOE: It is a familiar quote. I have heard it before but have not taken it to heart as my treasure. For me, it means that whatever I focus on becomes the most important part of my life.  
CALLIOPE: How does that relate to your writing?  
JOE: Last week I wondered about how to redevelop my passion, or perhaps develop it for the first time. My passion is whatever I make the center of my life. In reading well published authors, I realized they wrote with passion and put everything they had into what they wrote. Although I have tried to write about things I cared about, I have not written with passion.  
CALLIOPE: And now?  
JOE: I will write passionately. My goal is to put my whole self including thoughts, feelings, observations and sensations into what I write. Talk with you tomorrow.

## Chapter 7: July

**That beautiful season the Summer!** _  
_**Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;** _  
_**and the landscape** _  
_**Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.** **  
**

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

### July 01 Creative Writing and Style

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I'm ready to go for the day.  
CALLIOPE: What's on your agenda?  
JOE: My first priority is to complete reports from police candidate screenings I did yesterday, one of my few remaining psychological duties.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I have a column to write for Saturday and also a writers' meeting tonight in Brockport.  
CALLIOPE: Have you decided on anything to read tonight?  
JOE: I did just this morning. I had planned on reading a story I have been revising, but decided to do something different.  
CALLIOPE: Are you going to tell me?  
JOE: Hold your horses. I'm getting to it. I was reading last night about personal essays and realized many of my columns were of that genre. I decided to write one about the chandelier in the mall and also take the column for review tonight at my writers' group.  
CALLIOPE: You have never submitted a column to the group?  
JOE: No. I have almost always taken a book chapter for review. Lately I am working on writing style and I think this might be a good chance for input on my recent efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan.  
JOE: I think so. I'll let you know you know how it goes tomorrow when we speak.

### July 02 Creativity and Imagination

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your writers' meeting last night?  
JOE: Very good. We had a new member, Carol, who is gifted in my opinion and who is also an insightful, respectful contributor.  
CALLIOPE: Always a nice addition. Did you receive good feedback on your story?  
JOE: Good in the sense of helpful, yes. I worked on the story carefully but still made mistakes others noticed instantly. Some observations touched on personal writing style but were still worth considering.  
CALLIOPE: So now what?  
JOE: I will make revisions and post it as my Saturday column. This will be a new direction for me. If it goes over well, I will probably start posting stories on a more frequent basis.  
CALLIOPE: What advantages do you see this providing?  
JOE: Sometimes I don't notice what is happening around me and struggle for a column topic. If I can rely on my imagination I don't think I well ever run out of ideas.  
CALLIOPE: But this story was about noticing details of ordinary life.  
JOE: It was. I have come to realize that an interesting article or story comes from the intersection of observation, imagination, creativity and invention.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a crossroads.  
JOE: I'll say. That's what I have been busy considering lately, especially how to juggle all these elements and bring them together to produce writing people will want to read.  
CALLIOPE: You seem to be up to the challenge.  
JOE: Sometimes it seems daunting, but I'll do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 03 Nature and Socialization

JOE: Good morning Calliope. How are you this morning?  
CALLIOPE: Hey, that's my line. But now that you ask, I'm in fine fettle, whatever that is.  
JOE: Glad to hear it. I have quite a few things I would like to do this morning and am not sure where to start.  
CALLIOPE: What are the front runners?  
JOE: I need to post my column to the Daily News and my subscribed readers before anything else happens.  
CALLIOPE: Was this your experimental column?  
JOE: Yes. I wrote it as a short story based on my recent mall experience. I am anxious to see how it is received.  
CALLIOPE: Let me know what happens. What's next?  
JOE: I have several other projects on tap. I have been thinking about publicity for _The_ _Pastor's Inferno_. It seems to me that it might scare people in light of its topic. I have been considering a short video for You Tube with the title, _Are You Afraid of This Book?_  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an interesting approach. What would you say?  
JOE: I don't have anything prepared. It's an idea which occurred to me yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it. What else is going on?  
JOE: I am heading for the Allegheny River tomorrow for a little camping and good company.  
CALLIOPE: A little socialization for a change.  
JOE: Yes. I have been a bit into myself lately. I am looking forward to some time with people and possibly some painting while I am out in nature.  
CALLIOPE: Enjoy it.  
JOE: I will. Talk with you either Saturday or Monday depending on when I get back.

### July 08 Character and Voice

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Better than yesterday. My computer was very sluggish for some reason and it frustrated me.  
CALLIOPE: Amazing how we come to depend on electronics. What was the problem?  
JOE: Hard to say. I was experimenting with some new programs. Perhaps one of them gummed up the works. I deleted some programs and found it working much better this morning.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get to work on your writing yesterday?  
JOE: I did. Later in the afternoon I did some work on _Marital Property_ revising it to a series of first person accounts.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that idea?  
JOE: The story needed more immediacy and insight into characters who were previously rather lifeless. I also remembered Barbara Kingsolver's book, the _Poisonwood Bible_ which I think we discussed before where she tells her story from rotating points of view of several characters. I thought this might work with _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: And is it?  
JOE: So far I think it is. I have revised only a few chapters but I think the characters are starting to come to life. I am still wrestling with whether to tell the story in the present or past tense. I am experimenting with present tense. So far, so good. But the jury's not in on that point.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you are experimenting. That's what writing is all about.  
JOE: I agree and am having a good time in the process.  
CALLIOPE: Good. That should keep you involved.  
JOE: So far it has. I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 09 First Person Present Tense

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Ready for another day. I have written in my journal and checked my email. Now I'm ready to go.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about yesterday.  
JOE: I worked on _Marital Property_ again. All of my major characters have made an appearance in the first person. I am still debating whether to use present or past tense in my narrative.  
CALLIOPE: Why is that an issue?  
JOE: I feared that present tense might get tiresome, especially in a novel length story. I decided to experiment with it and so far I like the results. I think I will continue with it at least for now.  
CALLIOPE: What if you tire of it?  
JOE: Then I will switch to past tense or a combination of past and present tense.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have any models to consult.  
JOE: I am reading Barbara Kingsolver's _Poisonwood Bible_ as I mentioned. She uses strictly first person and present tense for the most part although I noticed some sections with past tense.  
CALLIOPE: Which tense do you like better with her book?  
JOE: I think I like present tense better, but that doesn't mean it will work for me.  
CALLIOPE: True. It's fun to experiment though isn't it?  
JOE: It is. I am happy to have this opportunity to try various approaches and be free to choose whichever I like best. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 10 Internet Marketing, Fear, and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Relaxed. I spent last night with friends listening to a Coupe Devilles concert and dancing at Charlotte beach in Rochester.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun. I'm glad you're continuing to socialize. What's doing on in your literary world?  
JOE: I am continuing to work on my revision of _Marital Property_ , changing it to a first person account. The more I do the more comfortable I am with this approach.  
CALLIOPE: What do you like best about it?  
JOE: The characters are coming to life and all have a chance to share their perceptions on observations. I think it makes for a much richer story.  
CALLIOPE: I'm surprised you didn't think of it before.  
JOE: Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to see reality. I thank my readers for their incisive comments helping me sharpen the text.  
CALLIOPE: I agree that it's better not to write in a vacuum or at least let your story see the light of day for a little airing out. What do you have on the agenda for today?  
JOE: More of the same- work on _Marital Property_ and work on marketing.  
CALLIOPE: Speaking of which, how is _The Pastor's Inferno_ doing?  
JOE: Not so well. I think the book scares many people with its theme.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think you can do about it?  
JOE: I've been wondering that myself. I have been considering promotional material directly addressing these fears. I think it's at least worth a try. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 11 Priorities and Time Management

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Plotting.  
CALLIOPE: Plotting what?  
JOE: How to best use the limited time I have available today.  
CALLIOPE: What's limiting you?  
JOE: I have a massage scheduled this morning. This afternoon I will be doing a police candidate screening in Buffalo. Tonight I am attending a neighborhood concert.  
CALLIOPE: I see. So what do you plan to do with the time in between?  
JOE: I have two priorities today. One is to outline a video promotion for _The Pastor's Inferno_. The other is to continue revising _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: At least you have a focus. Will you have more time tomorrow?  
JOE: No. I will probably have time to talk with you but I am delivering Carol to the Oatka Festival Parade where she will march as a clown. Then we are visiting friends with a pool to make the heat more bearable.  
CALLIOPE: And Sunday?  
JOE: I might have some time then and can do some reading. I am continuing with _The Poisonwood Bible_ as an example of first person narration.  
CALLIOPE: At least you're keeping busy.  
JOE: I am, but sometimes I feel scattered. I think I need to be more careful about planning my time. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 12 People and Life Observations

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: So far, so good. Carol and I had a delightful breakfast and are ready for the day's events.  
CALLIOPE: Which are?  
JOE: Her first gig in a parade as Fuzzy the Clown. She's a little concerned about the predicted heat but we have water planned along the way just in case.  
CALLIOPE: What else?  
JOE: Pat and Dick invited us to their pool later to refresh ourselves after the parade.  
CALLIOPE: Any literary adventures planned today.  
JOE: Not particularly. I don't think I'll have time for any formal activities. I plan to take my camera to the parade to see if I can spot any characters or incidents worthy of note for future reference. That's about it.  
CALLIOPE: So, a little break from writing?  
JOE: Indeed. I think it helps every once in a while to step back and look around to see what is happening. I noted several unusual characters at concerts the past two nights. Unfortunately I forgot my camera last night to record the most unusual.  
CALLIOPE: What do you mean by unusual?  
JOE: Very strange body types as if a person were constructed by committee using spare parts. Also combinations of clothing left over from the show, What Not to Wear.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do with these observations?  
JOE: I would like to use them as characters in my short stories and perhaps as minor characters in my novels. Time to start observing again. Talk with you on Monday.

### July 14 Organization and Planning

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Raring to go.  
CALLIOPE: Good. I take it you had a refreshing weekend.  
JOE: I did. I chauffeured my clown Fuzzy to the Oatka Festival parade. While watching the parade I made two new contacts. Later we relaxed with friends in Penfield. Yesterday I found some sale books at the Leroy Library and continued reading **The Poisonwood Bible** and also completed my outline of the video, _Are You Afraid To Read This Book_.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy as well as relaxing. What's on the agenda for today?  
JOE: I have some library books out which I want to review for style today. I also have an evaluation to complete and the video to record.  
CALLIOPE: That should keep you busy. Any progress with **Marital Property**?  
JOE: No, I haven't had time to work on it. If I have time later today I will. If not, I will get back to it tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: You sound more organized today than you did last week.  
JOE: I'm working on it. I feel I have a better sense of direction this week. I think it will help me get more accomplished.  
CALLIOPE: I hope you're right.  
JOE: I hope so too. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 15 Fiction and Character Development

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I feel rested and energetic.  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to use this energy?  
JOE: I have several activities planned involving other people. Still, I have some time for myself. My first priority is to record _Are You Afraid of this Book_.  
CALLIOPE: Please refresh my memory.  
JOE: Okay. I think some readers are fearful of _The Pastor's Inferno_ due to its theme and content. Rather than hoping their fears will abate, I thought it might be useful to address them directly.  
CALLIOPE: Weren't you working on that over the weekend?  
JOE: I was. I completed the outline Sunday but didn't have time to record it yesterday. It seems the summer is busier than I thought it would be.  
CALLIOPE: So you plan to do it today?  
JOE: Yes. I also learned something interesting yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: Larry Shearer wrote a review of _Young Man of the Cloth_. He liked the book but commented that one particular conversation did not sound true to life.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you learn?  
JOE: That part of the editing process in fiction could be to read passages from the point of view of the narrator or other characters being described. I will be that character for a moment and consider whether the passage describes me accurately. I'll try it today and let you know how it works. See you tomorrow.

### July 16 Muse and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Relaxed and refreshed.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: I am planning a column on how music brings us together. Last night I had the pleasure and privilege of hearing a concert in Centennial Park of Batavia presented by the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.  
CALLIOPE: Did the concert provide you with some ideas for your column?  
JOE: Sort of. It provided me with experience but not with words. I know the feeling I would like to convey in my column but not how to express them. I can't even think of a good title for the column.  
CALLIOPE: Do you need some help?  
JOE: Of course. Would you be so kind?  
CALLIOPE: I will consider the matter and drop you some hints today if I am at all able.  
JOE: You're a kind muse. Thank you. Not too long ago I read a post by a person taking his muse to task. It seemed ungrateful to me.  
CALLIOPE: Me too. Muses have the job of inspiring people but not always with the inspiration they expect or want, or dare I say even feel they deserve.  
JOE: I agree. It is presumptuous to expect a muse to do one's bidding.  
CALLIOPE: As I see it, the point of having a muse is to stretch your imagination and offer you ideas you would not have thought of on your own. You can't expect to be thrilled by every idea which comes your way.  
JOE: Again I agree. I don't have to accept every idea you send me. But if you do send it, I think it is my duty to at least consider it and wonder why. Talk with you tomorrow.

July 17 Writing, Marketing and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Quite well thank you.  
CALLIOPE: How did work on the column go yesterday?  
JOE: Smoothly. I started out writing the text since I did not know what the title should be.  
CALLIOPE: Did the title arrive in time?  
JOE: Just as I finished the column. Thanks for the inspiration. _Learn to Appreciate Music as a Common Language_ seemed perfectly appropriate. I'm not sure if it will show up in exactly that form in the newspaper.  
CALLIOPE: Why's that?  
JOE: I wondered about my columns being retitled almost every submission and started working harder to find appropriate titles. I finally inquired and learned that they adjusted the title depending on how much space they had rather than for any other reason.  
CALLIOPE: Quite interesting. So what's on the docket for today?  
JOE: I had planned to record _Are You Afraid of This Book_ as promotion for _The Pastor's Inferno_ yesterday but didn't get to it. I couldn't face you this morning with nothing in hand so I recorded a draft of it this morning.  
CALLIOPE: So it's not finished?  
JOE: No. I plan to record several other drafts until I am happy with it. Maybe some day I'll move toward professional recording but not right now.  
CALLIOPE: Why not now?  
JOE: Financial considerations. But maybe in the future. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 18 Animals, Compassion and Cruelty

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was wondering what kept you.  
JOE: Sorry I'm late. I ran across a series of videos portraying the effect of our cruel use of animals and discussion of how it affects our lives at Transformation of Energy blog (http://gracefulgnosis.blogspot.com.) I also found a quote from Tolstoy, "As long as we have slaughterhouses, we will have wars."  
CALLIOPE: Quite profound.  
JOE: I thought so. As much as we would like to think we resemble Native Americans and others who thanked animals for giving us their lives to sustain us. We prefer to hide from the slaughter and the cruelty which accompanies it.  
CALLIOPE: What do you make of Tolstoy's quote?  
JOE: I think any violence, even done on our part without our direct knowledge inclines us toward violence toward each other.  
CALLIOPE: Quite a realization.  
JOE: Yes, and I think this includes sexual and verbal violence as well as physical.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think violence towards animals explains our violence toward each other?  
JOE: I wouldn't go that far but I think there is a connection.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it?  
JOE: Be more aware of my connection to animals through food, clothing and entertainment. I will also continue to make people aware of their effect on others and influences on how we act.  
CALLIOPE: Sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort.  
JOE: I do too. But not making the effort just allows us to become more callous. Talk with you tomorrow.

July 19 Writing and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Warm but well. We are experiencing a hot spell but still have a nice breeze most of the time.  
CALLIOPE: Enjoy it while you can. Winter in the Northeast comes all too soon. What's happening on the literary front?  
JOE: I am working consistently on _Marital Property_ chapter by chapter.  
CALLIOPE: Do you still like the first person narrative approach?  
JOE: The more I write, the happier I am with it. I think it will improve the book quite a bit.  
CALLIOPE: Any progress with marketing?  
JOE: I have been concentrating more on writing this week.  
CALLIOPE: What about the video?  
JOE: I completed an outline and recorded a draft. I would like to refine it a bit more and polish it before I publish it on You Tube and My Space.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. Any plans for the weekend?  
JOE: Other than a concert tonight, I plan to concentrate on reading.  
CALLIOPE: Does that help your writing?  
JOE: I'm sure it does. I think it is important to surround myself with creative expression to encourage me. Talk with you on Monday.

### July 21 Marketing and Technology

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine.  
CALLIOPE: Did you do anything exciting over the weekend?  
JOE: No. I was ready for an uneventful one. I spent it reading and relaxing.  
CALLIOPE: What are you reading these days?  
JOE: I finished Lee Child's novel, _Nothing to Lose_ and am working on a rereading of _The Poisonwood Bible_.  
CALLIOPE: Still working on on your voice for _Marital Property_?  
JOE: Yes. But I have decided I like the first person approach and plan to complete revision from this perspective.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you like the change. Anything going on in marketing?  
JOE: I have a draft for my video, _Are You Afraid of This Book_. Now I am working on the technology. One approach provides better video and the other better sound. I am looking for an approach which provides both.  
CALLIOPE: Have you discovered one?  
JOE: I think my video camera would work best but it is being uncooperative at the moment and will not connect to my computer.  
CALLIOPE: Have you narrowed down the problem?  
JOE: I have pretty well decided it is the camera. The cord and computer seem to be working okay. Maybe I'll take it to the shop. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 22 First Person and Present Tense Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good Morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Fine. I'm ready to go to work.  
CALLIOPE: What's on the agenda today?  
JOE: I plan to work some more on my video for _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Any progress with it?  
JOE: I am still sorting out the technical challenges. This is still a fairly new skill for me.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?  
JOE: Just work on revision of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: How is that going?  
JOE: I'm happy with it.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I am continuing to write in the first person present tense. Other writing I have seen in this style limits each chapter to one narrator. I have been experimenting with multiple narrators in the same chapter. I am happy with it but will see what some of my readers think. It's uncharted territory for me.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting. It's always interesting to break new ground. You realize that some readers might be jarred by the break with tradition don't you?  
JOE: I do. But I'm prepared for it. Then I will need to decide if it's too new. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 23 Revision and Viewpoint

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's been keeping you?  
JOE: I have been working on my camera problem, trying to get it to work with my computer again.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: No luck. Just a lot of frustration.  
CALLIOPE: What's you next move?  
JOE: I plan to talk with the dealer about it.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a plan. What's going on in the mean time?  
JOE: Further work on revising _Marital Property_ to a first person account.  
CALLIOPE: How's it going?  
JOE: I think I like the results. I had planned to review each part from the point of view of the narrator as I went along.  
CALLIOPE: You didn't follow through?  
JOE: Not yet. I tried it but decided it was too hard to revise and evaluate at the same time.  
CALLIOPE: What's your new plan?  
JOE: My new plan is to concentrate on one thing at a time. First I will finish the revisions and then reread the text from the point of view of the various narrators.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good to me.  
JOE: Me too. It just takes a long time. Sometimes I get frustrated with the process. But I'll keep on plugging. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 24 Goals, Life Purpose and Planning

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Okay. I am coming to some resolution of my video camera mystery.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I visited the dealer yesterday and learned that the camera is working fine. The problem seems to be with my computer.  
CALLIOPE: Does that surprise you?  
JOE: Not really. I have been having some other problems lately and think it might well be difficulty with an outmoded operating system.  
CALLIOPE: And the solution?  
JOE: Replace it with a more up to date one. It is rather a bother however since I will have to reload all my programs.  
CALLIOPE: Is that such a big deal?  
JOE: Not really. It just takes time, and time is something I have been thinking about lately.  
CALLIOPE: In what regard?  
JOE: I am beginning to realize I won't live forever. I can keep sailing on or decide how I want to spend whatever time I have left.  
CALLIOPE: Do you need to make a decision?  
JOE: Probably not. But I feel I am drifting lately and would like to be more focused. I will give this issue some thought in the next few days. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 25 Goals, Priorities and Life Focus

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I'm off to a good start.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I have been thinking that it's time to consider where my life is headed and whether I'm satisfied with my direction.  
CALLIOPE: How far did you get?  
JOE: Not very far other than having the idea. I thought about it this morning and remembered the guided journal, _What Really Matters to Me_ by Robyn Conley-Weaver.  
CALLIOPE: Did you complete the assignments?  
JOE: No. I just started the journal. I think that was when I switched to a regular journal and eventually to our conversations.  
CALLIOPE: So now what?  
JOE: I will review the journal. I think it might give me a framework for re-evaluating where I stand right now and where I'm headed.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. Why now?  
JOE: Several reasons. I am planning a move fairly soon and I have been weeding out the detritus of my life- deciding what to keep and what to discard. That has brought to mind reconsidering my life direction. I also feel a little unfocused and sometimes overwhelmed by my daily activities. Time to get organized.  
CALLIOPE: I'm all for it.  
JOE: I plan to start this morning. I'll keep you posted. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 28 Self Discovery and Socialization

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I thought we were to talk on Saturday.  
JOE: We were. However it turned out to be a nicer day than I thought it would be and I decided to go the air show with my son.  
CALLIOPE: I guess I can't compete with family. What's going on in your writer life?  
JOE: I continued the theme I started last week, evaluating where I am with my life, including my writing life.  
CALLIOPE: Have you reached any conclusions yet?  
JOE: Not really. I don't want to rush the process. There's no hurry.  
CALLIOPE: I guess not. Any work on your writing?  
JOE: Not this weekend. I have been busy with people- Air Show, church, visiting friends.  
CALLIOPE: It's good to be with people. As I recall that was one of the areas of your life you wanted to expand.  
JOE: Correct. I also had a chance to do some reading- _The Poisonwood Bible_ and W.W. Crocker's, _Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church_.  
CALLIOPE: I don't recall you mentioning the second book.  
JOE: I haven't. It is about the abuse of power in the reign of Pope John Paul II, whom many people revere as a saint.  
CALLIOPE: What does the book say?  
JOE: Despite the reputation, he ruled with a conservative iron fist. That was not a surprise. The papacy certainly has had a checkered history. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 29 Muse, Inspiration and Topics

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Ready to get back to my routine after a whirlwind few days. Yesterday was taken up with chauffeur and yard work duties.  
CALLIOPE: What's on the agenda for today?  
JOE: I have a column to write.  
CALLIOPE: Have you chosen a topic?  
JOE: I had an idea about addressing stresses and strategies.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to say?  
JOE: I said it was an idea. It sounds catchy but I'm not sure what I will say yet. I guess I will have to start writing and see what comes out.  
CALLIOPE: Sometimes that's the best approach. Any other ideas in the hopper?  
JOE: I have been wondering about all the murders and suicides, sometimes at the same time. I think I would like to explore this more before writing about it. I also wonder about people rushing to get somewhere and missing the experience of life in the process.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you have enough ideas for a while.  
JOE: I guess I do. I will just need to let them percolate until I am ready to address them.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds reasonable. Good luck with all of them.  
JOE: And your inspiration is also appreciated. Talk with you to tomorrow.

### July 30 Civilization, Change and Stress

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Getting back into the routine. Yesterday was taken up with financial arrangements and other tasks which kept me from my literary endeavors.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: I couldn't face you until I had at least finished my column for this Saturday. I wrote it on _Dealing with Stress and Its Discontents_.  
CALLIOPE: Vaguely reminiscent of Freud.  
JOE: Very astute. I have never been a great fan of Freud but I found a couple provocative statements in the introduction to _Civilization and Its Discontents_ which formed the basis for my column.  
CALLIOPE: What, pray tell, were the statements?  
JOE: One was that people would rather suffer than change. The other was that as long as there is culture people will be unhappy.  
CALLIOPE: Rather pessimistic I'd say.  
JOE: That was my first reaction as well. I went on to explain how much of our stress seems to arise from our unrealistic expectations about life.  
CALLIOPE: That's it?  
JOE: No. I suggested some alternative ways of viewing and handling our life circumstances.  
CALLIOPE: That's better. I'm looking forward to reading it.  
JOE: You will find it on my website on Saturday. Talk with you tomorrow.

### July 31 Life, Identity and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you feeling today?  
JOE: Much better than yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I think I was suffering from writing withdrawal for a while. Yesterday I wrote a column and worked on revisions for _Marital Property_. By the end of the day I felt like a writer again.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe you're right. Writing seems to have gotten into your bones.  
JOE: I seem lost without it. I think writing has become part of my identity.  
CALLIOPE: What are you working on today?  
JOE: I posted my column this morning and started work on _Marital Property_. I also visited a few writer sites and found I had neglected to post two stories, _Child Bride_ and _Or Not To Be_ on Writer's Cafe. I would like to get them up today as well.  
CALLIOPE: You seem to have plenty of irons in the fire.  
JOE: Astute observation. It's what keeps me feeling alive. Sometimes I wish I could just relax and not feel pressure to accomplish anything.  
CALLIOPE: Why don't you try it?  
JOE: Every time I do, I get restless after a day or two as I did this week. I guess I just need to keep busy. Talk with you tomorrow.

## Chapter 8: August

_In summer, the song sings itself._ **  
~** William Carlos Williams

### August 04 Computer Problems

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I wondered what became of you the past few days.  
JOE: I thought you might. I took my computer in for service and thought I could use my backup computer to contact you.  
CALLIOPE: What happened?  
JOE: It's a long story. Suffice it to say that it took me until now to get Internet service working on my backup computer.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to have you back. What's been going on?  
JOE: I spent Saturday and Sunday at Honeoye Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, with Carol and friends.  
CALLIOPE: A little vacation?  
JOE: Very short but quite enjoyable.  
CALLIOPE: Any work on your writing?  
JOE: I did some reading, more of **The** **Poisonwood Bible**. I also wrote in my journal but that's about it.  
CALLIOPE: Where do things stand with _Marital Property_?  
JOE: My backup copy is not quite up to date so I will wait until I get my good computer back, hopefully tomorrow.  
CALLIOPE: An in the mean time?  
JOE: I have some cleaning and organizing to do around the house. I think I will work on that for today. I'll talk with you tomorrow if everything is still working.

### August 05 Old Issues Revisited

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Is your backup computer behaving this morning?  
JOE: It is. Nice to be with you.  
CALLIOPE: What's on your mind today?  
JOE: I had an interesting conversation with my friend Gerry yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What did he have to say?  
JOE: His comments were about my exchanges with you. He knew me many years ago when I was trying to figure out the meaning of life and what to do with mine in particular.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: He saw our conversations as reminiscent of my earlier struggles. To him it sounded like I was still locked in the same struggles which plagued me then.  
CALLIOPE: Do you agree?  
JOE: I had to stop to think about it. I was not aware of the similarities before he mentioned them. In some ways he is right. I still have many of the same questions about the meaning of life, how it should be lived and what makes people act as they do.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you have changed over the years?  
JOE: The questions are still the same. Maybe my challenge is to spend my life pondering the same questions and keep coming up with little insights about them. In that sense I haven't changed. However I don't feel the desperation I once felt to have the answers. I now look on the same issues as life's mysteries. I can contemplate them and explore possible explanations but don't feel a life and death struggle or that my life will self destruct if I don't find the answers immediately. I think I have become more patient over the years.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think he was getting at?  
JOE: I think he would like to see me be able to relax more and enjoy life rather than being locked in a struggle to understand it. He encouraged me to explore activities such as painting which I did briefly and then jumped right back into the fray with my writing. I think I will do a little painting today. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 06 Releasing Old Demons

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. After a deluge last night, the sky is clear blue with a few friendly clouds. I am feeling at peace and optimistic.  
CALLIOPE: What brought all this on?  
JOE: I have been contemplating my conversation with Gerry which we discussed yesterday. I think he is right that to some extent. My early conflicts still plague me.  
CALLIOPE: Which conflicts?  
JOE: The ones which made me feel it was my responsibility to make sense of the world and to some extent contribute to saving it.  
CALLIOPE: Rather messianic isn't it?  
JOE: Now that you mention it, yes. I took it upon myself to contribute to making the world a better place in which to live. I chose to do this through my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Wherein lies the conflict?  
JOE: Despite what I have done in my own small way, I see the world as largely an egocentric pursuit by many of its denizens. It seems most people care mostly about themselves and not so much about others. Pursuit of what they want seldom seems to involve consideration of others' needs.  
CALLIOPE: Is it you job to change this?  
JOE: I am coming to realize that it is not. I think I have made suggestions in my writing of alternative ways to live including a better harmony between our own lives and those of others. But it is not up to me to make the world a perfect place before I leave it.  
CALLIOPE: Good realization. So what now?  
JOE: I will continue to offer any suggestions which occur to me for consideration of anyone who will listen. I will also concentrate more on enjoying the world as I find it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 07 Writing Books and Security

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Still a little vexed from yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: My backup computer caught a virus which took me a while to erase.  
CALLIOPE: Where did it come from?  
JOE: Strangely enough it seemed to be living in an anti-spyware program I downloaded.  
CALLIOPE: Odd. But now it's fixed?  
JOE: Seems to be. My main computer should be back shortly, but I have spent an inordinate amount of time on technology lately.  
CALLIOPE: Have you had time to do anything else?  
JOE: I painted yesterday (Cape Neddick Lighthouse, Maine) as well as doing some weeding of my apartment.  
CALLIOPE: What have you found?  
JOE: Old files I no longer need, clothes I don't wear any more and books.  
CALLIOPE: Is it hard to let go of books?  
JOE: That's the most difficult part for me. I have quite a collection of writing related books which I think I will keep as well as some of my favorite fiction which I keep for sentimental reasons. I could always borrow the fiction books from the library if I need them again. Still it's hard to let them go. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 08 Retirement and Clutter

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Doing well thanks. Yesterday turned out to be a busy one.  
CALLIOPE: Busy with what?  
JOE: Sorting through the remains of my life so far.  
CALLIOPE: You sound like your life's over.  
JOE: I don't mean it that way. It's just that I have accumulated so much over the years that I no longer need.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: All my psychology books, tests, papers and old records.  
CALLIOPE: How does it feel to let them go?  
JOE: Like the end of a chapter in my life. I have been hanging on to them thinking I might some day use what I have accumulated as fodder for my writing.  
CALLIOPE: And now?  
JOE: Most of what I have stored will never be useful again and is just cluttering my life and living space. I haven't used any of it in years. Plenty happens each day to inspire me in my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Aren't you afraid of becoming stagnant in your retirement?  
JOE: No. I stay involved with people to some extent and also have access to all the media I can stand. I don't think I will be at a loss for stimulation. If anything my challenge will be to keep it at bay. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 11 Muse, Inspiration and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you on Saturday.  
JOE: I'm glad someone did. The weekend was very busy with a family reunion and a birthday party. I am doing my best to stay socially active. Sorry I missed you.  
CALLIOPE: Being more social was one of your goals as I remember. Any literary progress?  
JOE: I wrote in my journal and was inspired for a column this Saturday.  
CALLIOPE: What's the topic?  
JOE: I planned to write about the birthday party for my eighty year old neighbor Russ. At first I just wanted to do it as a tribute to him.  
CALLIOPE: And it developed further?  
JOE: It did. I thought of how a large group of family members and friends could come together with no conflict. I wonder whether it would be possible for the world to do this rather than being at each others' throats so often.  
CALLIOPE: Good question. What do you plan to say?  
JOE: I don't have any particular ideas for what to say. I planned to just start writing and be open to your inspiration.  
CALLIOPE: Thanks for the vote of confidence.  
JOE: That's what you're best at, isn't it?  
CALLIOPE: It is my job and I will be glad to help if I can.  
JOE: Thanks. I'll get out my pen tonight. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 12 Balance, Focus and Life Purpose

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine, but a little preoccupied.  
CALLIOPE: With what?  
JOE: I am planning a move from Batavia to Leroy in the next month and have been busy preparing.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the process.  
JOE: Since I moved here twelve years ago, I retired as a psychologist and began writing full time. Much of the detritus of my former life still fills my apartment. Now as I prepare to move, I am sorting through the remains of my past life and preparing to move on.  
CALLIOPE: How does that feel?  
JOE: A little strange. I don't often stop to look back over past chapters of my life. I just close the volume and move on. Deciding what to throw out and what to pass on to others makes me think of what I have accomplished and what I still want to do.  
CALLIOPE: Have you come to any great realizations?  
JOE: I now realize I have been motivated mostly by achievement and helping others. I have become a little unbalanced, letting go of the opportunity to make sure I enjoy life in the process.  
CALLIOPE: How are you planning to become rebalanced?  
JOE: By making sure I spend more time with people and also making room for painting and photography.  
CALLIOPE: My sisters will be proud of you.  
JOE: Please put in a good word with your sister muses for me. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 13 Conflict, Peace and Coexistence

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. The sun's out and it's warming up.  
CALLIOPE: Enjoy it. You mentioned working on a new column a couple days ago. How is that coming?  
JOE: Done. I wrote it about Russ's eightieth birthday party and how I wish everyone in the world could get along the way people did at his party.  
CALLIOPE: That would be nice. Do you think it's possible?  
JOE: Possible- yes. Likely- realistically I'm not so sure. It seems people have been at each other's throats since Cain and Abel. We don't seem to have the patience as humans to cooperate with each other.  
CALLIOPE: Humans don't seem to get it.  
JOE: I can't argue with you there. It seems like we can get along for a while, at least some of us can. Then we dissolve into conflict. Having our own way seems to trump living with each other in peace.  
CALLIOPE: So what's the answer?  
JOE: I wish I knew. I have been searching for it as long as I have been writing. There probably isn't one answer or someone would have discovered it by now. The answer doesn't seem to lie in logic, emotion or belief. I don't know what's left.  
CALLIOPE: How about the arts?  
JOE: Maybe there's a better chance there. But the arts sometimes express and even incite conflict.  
CALLIOPE: I can't argue with you there.  
JOE: Maybe peace is the ultimate challenge for humans and it will only result from our combined efforts on all fronts. We shall see. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 14 Weeding and Simplifying

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Less burdened by possessions.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I recycled bags and bags of old papers and am packing up boxes of old books.  
CALLIOPE: Where did they all come from?  
JOE: My years as a psychologist. I had file after file of information which might come in useful sometime but seldom did. I also have a collection of early psychology books documenting the past hundred years or so in my field.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you might use them sometime?  
JOE: Hard to say but these days many old books are available online if I should need to consult them. So far they have mainly taken up space.  
CALLIOPE: How do you feel with a leaner collection of possessions?  
JOE: Leaner. It feels like I have been dragging things around for years which clutter my space. I'm glad to have more room. My mind has more space too.  
CALLIOPE: What's on your agenda today?  
JOE: More sorting and packing. I think I am ready to get back to work on publicity for _The Pastor's Inferno_ and plan to work on my video "Are You Afraid of This Book" with the equipment I have available rather than waiting any longer to get my video camera back in operation.  
CALLIOPE: You can always update it in the future if you aren't happy with it.  
JOE: My thoughts exactly. Time for work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 15 Focus, Organization and Planning

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A bit discombobulated.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I finally got my computer back from the shop yesterday. Now I have the task of reinstalling my programs which can be a challenge.  
CALLIOPE: How's it coming?  
JOE: Slowly. I think I will need the day to get set up again.  
CALLIOPE: No literary activity today?  
JOE: Probably not.  
CALLIOPE: How about over the weekend?  
JOE: Tomorrow I am scheduled for a writers' retreat at a farmhouse in Albion. I'm looking forward to meeting some new people and recharging my creative batteries.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun.  
JOE: I hope so. I also plan to meet some new contacts, particularly from the Linkup writers group in Rochester.  
CALLIOPE: What do they have to offer you?  
JOE: I hear they focus on publishing more than my group. I am hoping they can be helpful in my search for a home for Marital Property once it's finished. I have to leave early tomorrow. I'll talk with you if I have a chance. Otherwise we'll talk on Monday.

### August 18 Retreat

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you on Saturday. Too busy?  
JOE: Yes. I did not have time to talk with you in the morning and did not get back from the writers' retreat until late.  
CALLIOPE: Nice to have you back this morning. How was the retreat?  
JOE: Very good. I got a chance to meet some new writers from the Western New York Meetup Group which met with members of the Lift Bridge Writers Group. I found the day very stimulating.  
CALLIOPE: What was the best thing about it?  
JOE: I think the enthusiasm of other writers and the mutual support for each others' writing. I also liked being with a writers' group I was not in charge of.  
CALLIOPE: How did that help?  
JOE: I did not feel responsible for the group and could concentrate on my own writing and interactions.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you enjoyed it. Anything else happening this weekend?  
JOE: Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a fellow member of Unity Church in Rochester. She was most alive just before she died and was fully prepared for her next phase of existence after physical life.  
CALLIOPE: How does that strike you?  
JOE: I have been thinking about mortality lately. I find the prospect daunting. Donna's example will be helpful to me in living the rest of my life and being ready for the next phase of my existence when the time comes, or more properly, when my time ends.  
CALLIOPE: An interesting prospect. Do you feel any different because of this realization?  
JOE: I feel more at peace. I was beginning to become anxious about mortality.  
CALLIOPE: That's a welcome change.  
JOE: I hope that being freed from this anxiety will help me concentrate on what I can do rather than on what I might not be able to do in my life. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 19 Change, Distraction, Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Aren't you running a little late?  
JOE: No. I've just been busy. I moved my chair to Carol's house yesterday and decided to write my journal entry in the back yard before coming to Batavia.  
CALLIOPE: What was it like?  
JOE: I had the pleasure of listening to cardinals in the background while I was writing rather than the roar and fumes of great trucks and speeding cars. Very relaxing.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe the move will enhance your concentration and creativity.  
JOE: My thoughts exactly. I am looking forward to getting settled there.  
CALLIOPE: And in the meantime?  
JOE: I am quite busy with packing and letting everyone know of my move.  
CALLIOPE: That must make it hard to concentrate on your writing.  
JOE: It does. My mind has been on the move and not on anything literary.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: More moving related activities. I would also like to write out an outline for _Are You Afraid of This Book_. I know I keep promising to get to it. No excuses. I just haven't yet. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 20 Creativity and Disorder

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Doing well.  
CALLIOPE: What's going on?  
JOE: I am taking a friend for a colonoscopy today. My job is medical driver.  
CALLIOPE: Generous of you.  
JOE: Just returning a favor.  
CALLIOPE: What happened yesterday?  
JOE: More packing. I had lunch with my daughter Becky, helped her with her computer and found some things in my out pile she could use. The pile is starting to diminish, but I still feel like I'm living in a mess.  
CALLIOPE: Any writing progress?  
JOE: I thought some about the video we discussed yesterday but didn't get to any actual recording.  
CALLIOPE: Why do you think that is?  
JOE: My theory is that my mind patterns itself on my environment. Once I get my trappings back in order, I will have a more ordered mind.  
CALLIOPE: An interesting thought. So what's your plan?  
JOE: To get my situation back to normal or at least as close as possible as soon as I can. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 21 Fiction and Target Readers

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine, but busy.  
CALLIOPE: Still sorting and packing?  
JOE: Yes, although I'm beginning to see a dent in the pile.  
CALLIOPE: Any literary progress?  
JOE: A little. I started on ideas for the video _Are You Afraid of This Book_.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me the premise again.  
JOE: I have a suspicion that many people don't read _The Pastor's Inferno_ because it scares them off.  
CALLIOPE: Have you thought that it could just be your writing?  
JOE: That occurred to me, but I think it's more than that.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: The topic of sexual abuse, the darkness of the subject, more information than they want about the human condition.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think people look for in fiction?  
JOE: Escape, entertainment, reaffirmation of their views on society, a good story.  
CALLIOPE: So you think you challenge people's thinking too much.  
JOE: Maybe so. Let's talk a little more about it tomorrow.

### August 22 Technology and Communication

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Busy as usual. Moving is in full swing, or at least preparation for it.  
CALLIOPE: What did you work on yesterday?  
JOE: Notifying everyone who needs to know about my move.  
CALLIOPE: How did that go?  
JOE: Many places seem to have gone to automated interaction. I find it most frustrating to deal with automatons and would prefer actual people.  
CALLIOPE: Technology isn't quite up to snuff in this area?  
JOE: Not as far as I'm concerned. The most frustrating was Social Security which wanted to know my favorite vacation spot which it insisted I have shared with them before. After trying the Caribbean and Hawaii, I had only one more chance before I was in danger of not being able to communicate with them at all.  
CALLIOPE: How did you handle it?  
JOE: Logged off and finally found a live person to take action. After some frustration, I found a few people who handled my request very quickly and efficiently.  
CALLIOPE: So there was a happy ending?  
JOE: I'm not quite done yet and have a few people on my list for today.  
CALLIOPE: The rest of the day is for packing?  
JOE: It is. I'll talk with you tomorrow

### August 23 Adaptation and Change

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today  
JOE: Starting to get used to my new digs. I sat on the deck this morning writing in my journal to the tune of cardinal songs. Very relaxing.  
CALLIOPE: So you now think of Leroy as your home?  
JOE: I do. My apartment is becoming more sparse by the day. Pretty soon it will be empty.  
CALLIOPE: How do you feel about all this?  
JOE: I'm not sure the whole thing has sunk in yet. I feel like I am between my old and new worlds, suspended on the verge of a new existence.  
CALLIOPE: What will you miss?  
JOE: Lots of space which has been my own for the past twelve years. I have developed a routine here which no doubt will be different in Leroy if just not having to drive here to write every day. I will just go downstairs or out in the back yard.  
CALLIOPE: What are you looking forward to?  
JOE: A less busy place to walk and ride my bicycle, not having to commute, fewer expenses and probably a lot more I haven't even considered.  
CALLIOPE: It sounds like a positive move all told.  
JOE: It is. I am especially looking forward to being part of a more complete couple with Carol.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think it will change your relationship?  
JOE: Not if we keep talking about things which arise. So far we are doing very well in that department. It will be a change for both of us but I think we are both ready and prepared for it. Talk with you Monday.

### August 25 Challenges and Opportunities

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Gook morning Joe. How's the move coming?  
JOE: I did some packing Saturday but was busy socializing and attending church yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: What did you get from church?  
JOE: A chance to reflect on my life, how it has progressed so far and where it is headed.  
CALLIOPE: Are you satisfied with your progress?  
JOE: I learned some time ago that we only have limited control over our life paths. I have no major complaints but wish I had done some things differently in hindsight.  
CALLIOPE: Would that have made a difference in your life?  
JOE: Maybe, but then I would have missed some of the experiences I have treasured.  
CALLIOPE: I think of what Frost wrote about the two paths in the wood.  
JOE: I have been thinking of that quite a bit lately as well.  
CALLIOPE: You only have one life to live.  
JOE: I agree. All we have are the experiences and choices which face us from moment to moment. We never get a chance to go back and relive our lives.  
CALLIOPE: Quite true.  
JOE: I am busy trying to make the best of today's opportunities. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 26 References and Research

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Well, thank you. I spent most of yesterday packing again. It is finally starting to look like I will be out of here eventually.  
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything about yourself while packing?  
JOE: Yes, how little I actually need to survive. I once thought I needed to hang on to every book and scrap of paper I had.  
CALLIOPE: And now you don't?  
JOE: No. Things have changed over the years. Many books are available directly on the Internet. Many others are available through inter-library loan. I don't need everything immediately available as long as I can find it somewhere.  
CALLIOPE: What about papers?  
JOE: They aren't critical either. Things I wrote in the past are in the past. I am making an effort to live more in the moment. The past can clutter my life.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think there might be times when you wish you had kept your past writings?  
JOE: It's only happened once so far. I wish I had kept my position papers from my last years in the monastery. They would have been helpful in writing my memoir. But alas I didn't and the memoir turned out okay without them. I had to rely on my memory of those days. The book was probably different than it might have been on that account, but I don't think it suffered significantly.  
CALLIOPE: Then maybe you are doing the right thing. What's up for today?  
JOE: I have a column to write for Saturday which I think I will write about moving. I plan to at least start it today.  
CALLIOPE: Will we talk tomorrow?  
JOE: Probably not. I will be working in Leroy and away from the computer and staying in Rochester tomorrow night. I will contact you again on Thursday.

### August 27 Packing and Moving

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. Before you ask, no, I didn't get my column done yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Let me guess. Too wrapped up in your packing and cleaning?  
JOE: Exactly.  
CALLIOPE: What have you learned from your packing?  
JOE: A little about what's important to me.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: How much I can do without. The more I take out the door to the trash or give away, the freer I feel.  
CALLIOPE: Do you mean less encumbered?  
JOE: I do. It makes me realize how much our trappings tie us down.  
CALLIOPE: A good realization. What's on your agenda for today?  
JOE: I plan to get my column written and then get back to packing. Tonight I will go to Rochester for my final outdoor concert of the season with Ruby Shooz.  
CALLIOPE: Which is the band I presume?  
JOE: Just so. I'm looking forward to it but not to the close of the summer. I need to think of it as a cycle rather than the end of anything. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 28 Life Changes, Adjustment and Progress

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was yesterday?  
JOE: Good progress. In addition to packing, I sold my washing machine. I'm getting there.  
CALLIOPE: Did you make it to the concert?  
JOE: Yes. We met friends there for Ruby Shooz, the last concert of the summer season at Charlotte Beach. They were the best I had seen all summer and played oldies which we all enjoyed.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it. Did you get your column finished?  
JOE: Yes, and I had Carol read it last night. I kept putting it off until the last minute wanting to do just one more thing before I left. I finally finished it just in time to walk out the door.  
CALLIOPE: You sound a bit rushed.  
JOE: It's my own doing. I'm trying to do everything at once and would like to get back to a normal schedule, whatever that will be.  
CALLIOPE: Any work on your writing?  
JOE: I'm starting to feel the itch to write again which is good. I worked on my web site yesterday but could upload changes which can be read on Internet Explorer but not other browsers. Very odd.  
CALLIOPE: There's always something.  
JOE: There is. I am exploring other web site development tools. I found a free one which I will consider further.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks. I'll need it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### August 29 Websites and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. Before you ask, I didn't do anything literary yesterday other than to post my column.  
CALLIOPE: You're forgiven considering the requirements of moving.  
JOE: Thanks. I did spend some time working on my website.  
CALLIOPE: What prompted that?  
JOE: I have been reading about what makes for an effective sales site. I began to realize that although the site looked nice, it was too busy and difficult to navigate.  
CALLIOPE: So how are the changes coming?  
JOE: Quite well. I hope to finish and post the changes today.  
CALLIOPE: Are you doing just _Commonsense Wisdom_?  
JOE: No, I plan to revise _Sliding Otter_ too but not today.  
CALLIOPE: I'm surprised you had a chance to work on it.  
JOE: I can't let my mind run entirely fallow while I am moving.  
CALLIOPE: That's good thinking. When will I hear from you again?  
JOE: I will be working in Leroy over the weekend. I'll try to contact you on Tuesday.

## Chapter 9: September

The breezes taste  
Of apple peel.  
The air is full  
Of smells to feel-  
Ripe fruit, old footballs,  
Burning brush,  
New books, erasers,  
Chalk, and such.  
The bee, his hive,  
Well-honeyed hum,  
And Mother cuts  
Chrysanthemums.  
Like plates washed clean  
With suds, the days  
Are polished with  
A morning haze.

~John Updike

### September 02 Hiatus and Moving

Joe: Good afternoon Calliope. I am very busy moving and at some point will have to disconnect my computer for the move. I think it would be best if we discontinue our conversations for a couple weeks. I'll get back in touch with you once I am moved.  
Calliope: I understand. I'll be waiting.  
Joe: Thanks for your understanding. I'll get back to you.

### September 16 Moving Continued

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. Are you back with me now?  
JOE: Not quite. The move is coming along well. I plan to finish on Sunday with a truckload of big stuff.  
CALLIOPE: What about being online?  
JOE: I will be off for a few days during the move. I hope to be back in regular touch with you on Wednesday, September 24.  
CALLIOPE: I'll be looking forward to talking again. Good luck with the rest of the move.  
JOE: Thanks. I am not expecting any difficulty. I'm looking forward to being back with you on the 24th.

### September 25 Organization and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I've missed you.  
JOE: I've missed talking with you as well.  
CALLIOPE: Is your move finally completed?  
JOE: It is. Yesterday I finished cleaning my old apartment and handed in the keys.  
CALLIOPE: And your new space?  
JOE: Also fully functional. Tuesday the cable people came to hook me up to the Internet, VOIP phone as well as television, such as it is.  
CALLIOPE: So, back to work?  
JOE: Yes. I'm ready and have been a little restless during my hiatus.  
CALLIOPE: Where do you plan to start?  
JOE: By getting specific. I know the general commitments I have made to myself- blog, newspaper columns, marketing and working on _Marital Property_ as well as _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ _._  
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to get specific?  
JOE: By laying out objectives, tasks and time lines.  
CALLIOPE: Do you feel that is necessary?  
JOE: Yes. Lately I have felt like I have been spinning my wheels with all the balls I'm trying to keep in the air. I often don't know what to do next. I need to get organized. That's one of my goals for today. Talk with you tomorrow.

### September 26 Priorities, Writing and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I'm ready to get going on my writing.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: Less than I hoped. I wrote my journal entry, posted our blog and finished my newspaper column for Saturday. I was ready to get going on marketing but decided to check my calendar first to see if I missed anything. I almost did. I had fifteen minutes to get to Rochester for an arthritis study appointment. Needless to say I was a bit late.  
CALLIOPE: When you got back did you get to work?  
JOE: Sort of. I had some shopping to do in Batavia and decided a bedroom wall needed to be painted before our new bed was delivered.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like distractions.  
JOE: I suppose so. But I at least took a little time to think about writing priorities even though I did not make any concrete progress.  
CALLIOPE: And your plans for today?  
JOE: Fortunately I have nothing on my schedule. My first task will be to develop a list of tasks, priorities and time lines for my marketing activities (once again.)  
CALLIOPE: Do you have any general plans?  
JOE: Yes. My marketing efforts have been sorely neglected with the exception of sprucing up my web site. I plan to lay out specific marketing videos and get them recorded and posted by the end of next week on My Space and You Tube at a minimum. I am also thinking of posting them on my Sliding Otter website. I would like them available but don't want to slow down my Commonsense Wisdom website. That's my current plan.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds good. Keep me posted.  
JOE: I will. Talk with you tomorrow.

### September 27 Marketing, Writing and Promotion

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I was up early. I can't say with the sun since it has not shown its face today and doesn't seem likely to.  
CALLIOPE: How did you do with marketing yesterday?  
JOE: I told you I planned to work on my marketing videos. I realized I am still somewhat disorganized after my move. I couldn't find my notes on either video.  
CALLIOPE: Were you ultimately successful?  
JOE: I was and am happy to report that I finished my outline for the first video, Are You Afraid of this Book.  
CALLIOPE: Remind me what it is about.  
JOE: Potential readers seem to approach _The Pastor's Inferno_ much as the wolf did in the movie _Dancing with Wolves_ , skittish for quiet a while but approaching gradually. My observations of this phenomenon served as the basis of a promotional video.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: At the end I suggest viewing the next two videos, _Ten Reasons to Read_ _The Pastor's Inferno_ and _Ten Reasons Not to Read_ _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: What's your plan for completing them?  
JOE: They are my goal for the next week. I plan to have all three videos recorded and posted by next Friday.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks. I fully expect you will be there providing inspiration. On to the next adventure.

### September 29 Publicity, Marketing and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: I enjoyed it. I spent more time with people than usual. On Saturday I traveled to Wyoming (NY) for the Apple Umpkin Festival. Yesterday I went to church and visited friends with Carol. Now I'm back at the computer.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have a chance to work on your marketing tasks?  
JOE: Yes. I completed outlines for both sets of videos. I also fiddled further with my video camera to no avail.  
CALLIOPE: Sorry to hear it. How will you record them?  
JOE: I will use either my still camera which has fairly good video and audio capacity or my webcam which has lower capacity but is at least in working order.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you are making some progress. When do you plan to make the recordings?  
JOE: Today or tomorrow I will try some samples to see what I like. If I am satisfied, I will try for a final take in the next couple of days and get working on editing and posting them.  
CALLIOPE: It seems like it has been a long time getting to this point.  
JOE: It has. I think my concentration was thrown off by my move and all the mental energy not to mention physical work it entailed.  
CALLIOPE: I imagine you are glad it's over.  
JOE: I am happy to be settled in and adjusting to my new routine.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with your writing pursuits.  
JOE: Thanks, I'll keep you posted. Talk with you tomorrow.

### September 30 Editing, Promotion and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I was a little surprised to reach the end of my revision of _Marital Property_ yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Why were you surprised?  
JOE: I have been working on it a little at a time but had many interruptions during my move. I can finally sit down for some sustained work and reached the end.  
CALLIOPE: Great. What's next?  
JOE: I want to review comments my friend Gerry sent me. I was waiting to consider them until I had finished this revision.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear you are making progress. How about the promotional videos?  
JOE: I recorded a couple practice runs. One version is easy to edit. The other version with the better video and sound seems to need some editing with a program I bought but need an access code which eludes me.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have the code?  
JOE: Somewhere. I think I just need to find it.  
CALLIOPE: At least you are making progress on that front as well.  
JOE: I am beginning to feel I am getting back into the groove. I also looked up some references for teen stories to include in _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ **.**  
CALLIOPE: Great. Keep it up.  
JOE: I plan to. Talk with you tomorrow.

## Chapter 10: October

_There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce  
so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October._

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

### October 01 Internet and Book Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news?  
JOE: Progress on the marketing videos. I found the activation key for my editing software and got that working.  
CALLIOPE: And then?  
JOE: I recorded a video clip with my Kodak still camera and was able to edit it with Movavi Movie Suite and Windows Movie Maker.  
CALLIOPE: Are you satisfied with the results?  
JOE: Not yet. I plan to work on takes until I am satisfied with the results. Then I will move on to posting them on MySpace and YouTube.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like good progress.  
JOE: So far so good.  
CALLIOPE: Keep at it. I hope you're patient.  
JOE: I usually am but sometimes I get frustrated.  
CALLIOPE: Any other progress yesterday?  
JOE: I started looking on the Internet for teen writings to use in _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ **.**  
CALLIOPE: How's that coming?  
JOE: I'm just getting started but at least I'm on the move. One step at a time. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 02 Editing and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What have you been up to?  
JOE: I was in Batavia all day yesterday getting my car fixed and helping my son set up a print show as well as photographing his most recent prints.  
CALLIOPE: Does that mean you had no time for literary pursuits?  
JOE: Unfortunately it does. I guess I can't count on having every day available for writing.  
CALLIOPE: I guess you're right. What about today?  
JOE: A different story. I plan to get back to work.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what specifically?  
JOE: Further takes on my promotional videos for one thing.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can produce acceptable ones on your own?  
JOE: Good question. I was just thinking about that. I don't think they need to be highly professional for YouTube or MySpace. If I'm not satisfied I am considering looking for a communications student at Genesee Community College who might be in need of a project.  
CALLIOPE: Good thought. Anything else planned?  
JOE: I plan to get back to revision of _Marital Property_ and consideration of my friend Gerry's comments which he sent some time ago.  
CALLIOPE: How come you have not looked at them yet?  
JOE: I wanted to finish my first person oriented draft first. Now it is ready. On with the show. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 03 Editing, Promotional Video and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Doing well. I have been busy already.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what?  
JOE: Planning our cellar party for a couple weeks for now, doing AM Yoga with Rodney Yee and my journal. Now I'm here with you.  
CALLIOPE: Glad you could fit me in. What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: I finished reviewing Gerry's annotated comments on my _Marital Property_ manuscript. I also worked on the videos.  
CALLIOPE: What's next on the manuscript?  
JOE: I have Gerry's general comments to review again and then go through the manuscript to see how it reads out loud.  
CALLIOPE: And the videos?  
JOE: I recorded them and reviewed them for style and content. I could see ways where they could be improved.  
CALLIOPE: Do you still think you can do them yourself?  
JOE: I'm inclined to think so but will reserve judgment for a few more takes.  
CALLIOPE: Keep up the good work.  
JOE: Thanks for the encouragement. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 04 Editing and Feedback

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I thought I might not see you today.  
JOE: Never fear. I got involved in a movie this morning and then a floor project in the utility room.  
CALLIOPE: There's always something.  
JOE: No doubt about it.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do yesterday?  
JOE: Mostly worked on _Marital Property_. I am in the process of reading it aloud to see how it sounds.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I'll decide whether it needs more work.  
CALLIOPE: What kind of work?  
JOE: I need to decide if it's interesting enough for me and then get some feedback.  
CALLIOPE: What kind of feedback?  
JOE: Another point of view. I will take a chapter or two to my writers' meeting on Tuesday and then have Carol, Bob and possibly others read it.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you're on the right track. What about the publicity videos.  
JOE: I'll get back to them on Monday and continue recording until I feel ready to post. Talk with you then.

### October 06 Cancer and Self Care

JOE: Good morning Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your day yesterday.  
JOE: One thing led to another. I started the day participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.  
CALLIOPE: Does that have a personal significance for you?  
JOE: Yes. My girlfriend Carol is a three year survivor of breast cancer. Her mother and one of her sisters died of it and she has another sister and a fair number of friends who are survivors.  
CALLIOPE: How did participating affect you?  
JOE: I didn't realize it at the time but then spent last night looking at my life, what it means and what I need. I tend to ignore these most of the time and concentrate on what I can offer others.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do specifically?  
JOE: I spent some time playing the guitar, drawing, reading _The Mastery of Love_ by Miguel Ruiz and listening to music.  
CALLIOPE: What kind of music?  
JOE: I discovered a new music site, Pandora Radio, which lets you create music stations to fit your own taste. It also learns your taste, suggests and supplies music which fits them.  
CALLIOPE: What was that experience like?  
JOE: Extremely comforting and relaxing. I am listening to Enya Radio as I am talking with you. See you tomorrow.

### October 07 Writing, Marketing and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you sleep in this morning?  
JOE: If you consider 6:30 sleeping in, yes.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: Yesterday I discovered a site called Internet Career Builders run by Steve Weber with whom I have been familiar for a while. He has quite a bit of information about using the Internet for business. I have been pursuing what he has to offer.  
CALLIOPE: Did you need more information.  
JOE: I think so. I do have my website and blog but have not gotten much response from my efforts so far. I think I need to learn a little more about how to go about Internet marketing in a more constructive and organized manner.  
CALLIOPE: I hope this site helps.  
JOE: So do I.  
CALLIOPE: How are the videos coming?  
JOE: I did not get to them yesterday with my interest in the new site. I plan to work on them later today after yoga and lunch.  
CALLIOPE: Revived and fortified?  
JOE: That's my plan. I also have writers meeting tonight where I plan to read a revision of one of my chapters from Marital Property for feedback on my first person approach.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy.  
JOE: Yes and exciting too. I feel energized today. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 08 Money, Responsibility and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine.  
CALLIOPE: How did your writers meeting go last night?  
JOE: I heard from several members that they could not make the meeting. However only one other member showed up.  
CALLIOPE: Were you disappointed?  
JOE: It was not what I expected but Larry and I had a chance to compare notes on the literary scene and on marketing in particular.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you made the best of it. How did you do with your writing yesterday?  
JOE: I had planned to do some recordings but then realized the deadline for my next column was fast approaching.  
CALLIOPE: What did you write about?  
JOE: Credit and cash. I think personal and government choices to live on the basis of money we hope will come in create problems at both levels.  
CALLIOPE: You don't usually address political issues.  
JOE: No I don't. I didn't approach it from a political point of view but rather one of responsibility.  
CALLIOPE: Were you pleased with it?  
JOE: Yes. I am considering venturing out into some other politically charged issues. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 09 Social Websites and Search Engine Optimization

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was afraid you fell off the face of the earth.  
JOE: I didn't but my website did and it took me until just now to get it working again.  
CALLIOPE: What happened?  
JOE: I spent yesterday working on search engine optimization with Steve Weber's website.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I learned quite a bit that I was anxious to implement.  
CALLIOPE: How did that go?  
JOE: In the long run, okay. But along the way I managed to run into quite a few snags while trying to implement simplification.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a contradiction.  
JOE: Simplicity is not always easy to achieve. Just ask anyone who tried to simplify his or her life.  
CALLIOPE: Did it turn out okay in the long run?  
JOE: Yes. I still haven't figured out how to post an interview on my website although I had it working before.  
CALLIOPE: Something to work on.  
JOE: I guess I need some sort of challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 10 Marketing, Web Sites and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Are you finished with your marketing challenge?  
JOE: Not quite. My web site is again functioning well. There are a few refinements I would like to make such as adding my podcast and some keywords.  
CALLIOPE: Is that your plan for today?  
JOE: If I have time. This morning I am taking Carol for some outpatient surgery and then we will shop and have lunch. I'm not sure how much time that will leave me.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for the next few days?  
JOE: Carol and I are leaving for New York tomorrow morning and will be back Tuesday.  
CALLIOPE: Anything special going on there?  
JOE: We're just going to visit Carol's son who is just back from Germany after a stint in _The Barber of Seville._ We just thought it was time for a visit.  
CALLIOPE: Anything planned?  
JOE: No. We will play it by ear. But I will stay aware of opportunities to discuss writing and marketing.  
CALLIOPE: Enjoy your trip.  
JOE: We will. Talk with you on Wednesday.

### October 15 Marketing and Giving Away Books

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Welcome back.  
JOE: Thank you.  
CALLIOPE: How was your trip to New York?  
JOE: Great as usual. Flying was uneventful. We had no plans for the time we were there but used all of it to good advantage.  
CALLIOPE: What was the highlight?  
JOE: Seeing the musical _Spring Awakening_. I had wanted to see it for several years but didn't get the chance for one reason or another.  
CALLIOPE: What did you like about it?  
JOE: The depiction of the full range of human emotions through the lives of late nineteenth century teens.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little dated.  
JOE: It does sound that way. Although circumstances have changed, emotions and perceptions have not changed all that much in the past hundred years.  
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything about writing?  
JOE: More about marketing. I read several articles about the future of publishing, one in particular about giving away writing.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds self defeating.  
JOE: Again I agree about first perceptions. Nevertheless I think there is merit to the idea and will explore it further. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 16 Marketing and Search Engine Optimization

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: Trying to get back into a routine. I am catching up on my email and working on marketing.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: I worked more on search engine optimization, specifically keywords, and meta tags for my websites.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little involved.  
JOE: It is. Not like the old days on Mt. Olympus.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?  
JOE: I visited a physical therapist to see if I can increase the mobility of my hands which was compromised by my arthritis.  
CALLIOPE: Any progress?  
JOE: Nancy gave me some exercises to do. Hopefully this will help.  
CALLIOPE: What's on for today?  
JOE: More marketing work and revision of _Marital Property_. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 17 Book Reviews

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Reeling from yesterday's market research.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I worked hard to find an affordable auto responder for readers to sign up for my columns online without advertising attached.  
CALLIOPE: Did you find one?  
JOE: Yes and I downloaded it. Then I found all sorts of complicated direction about things I have never heard of. I don't know if is even possible for me to use it. I wasn't ready for such a challenge.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe it's the price of going cheap. Anything else going on?  
JOE: I am busy reading Richard Bayer's _The Good Person Guidebook_ which I agreed to review.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds a little more manageable.  
JOE: It is. At least I am on familiar ground. I am enjoying the book and have learned some lessons I can use in organizing _Commonsense Wisdom for Teens_ **,** my next project after I finish _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Have you thought any more about offering your book free?  
JOE: I have and found a place where I can offer most of a book free but not all. Since I have it before, I will consider this program.  
CALLIOPE: Probably easier than doing it on your own.  
JOE: I agree. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 20 Life Reflections and Reading

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you Saturday.  
JOE: I know. I got caught up in website development, e-commerce, etc. and never made it here.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have a busy weekend?  
JOE: Yes. We were out socially Friday and Saturday evenings and as I said I worked on my website. Yesterday I just felt a need to relax.  
CALLIOPE: Not a bad idea. Did you mention a book review last week?  
JOE: Yes. I have been reading Richard Bayer's _The Good Person Handbook_ and am planning to review it.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the book.  
JOE: It approaches many of the ideas I pursued in _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_.  
CALLIOPE: Does it differ in some ways?  
JOE: He is much more structured than I am. He is organized from page one and presents an orderly flow of ideas, one building on another.  
CALLIOPE: Do you like that approach than the one you took?  
JOE: Not necessarily. Mine is organized into categories. although not as structured in its development. I have had readers say they like to be able to read a brief self contained passage on a particular topic without belaboring it.  
CALLIOPE: How does his book compare with yours?  
JOE: I think we have different approaches. Some people like ideas to flow in strict order and others like more spontaneity. I think there is room for both approaches. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 21 Priorities and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Relieved.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: Because I finally decided I was spending entirely too much time on web site development. I was interested in web site optimization but everything else took a back seat including writing and editing. I realized I have other priorities.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds sensible. What did you work on yesterday?  
JOE: After I realized my morass, I worked on editing _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: I will be out for a while today. However I have a column to write and plan to make it a priority today.  
CALLIOPE: What are you writing about?  
JOE: I found a newspaper article about dirty tricks college applicants and their parents use against their competition, quite reminiscent of recent political ads. I thought I would write about the implications of such tactics for the author as well as for society and maybe some alternatives.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good topic. Good luck with it. Anything else going on?  
JOE: I plan to continue working on editing _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Is you website functional for now?  
JOE: I think so. Why don't you take a look? Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 22 Respect, Writing and Newspapers

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Mixed.  
CALLIOPE: What's going well?  
JOE: I finished and posted my column, _Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones_. You can read it on my web sit on Saturday.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: I read an article by Jodi Cohen from the Chicago Tribune in which she reported that high school students and their parents sometimes write nasty letters to colleges hoping to reduce their competition for freshman slots.  
CALLIOPE: I never heard of such a thing?  
JOE: I haven't either on the part of students and their parents but I saw an immediate parallel with political ads cramming the airwaves (or cable waves) lately.  
CALLIOPE: What did you make of it?  
JOE: I don't like the trend. As far as I am concerned it contributes to the disintegration of society.  
CALLIOPE: Did you suggest any alternatives?  
JOE: Yes, being more respectful of others and not feeling you have to trample others to get what you want.  
CALLIOPE: Good for you. What didn't go so well yesterday?  
JOE: I am having difficulty with my email hosting and haven't received any email yet this week. I'm still working on the problem. Hopefully I will have good news about this tomorrow when we talk.

### October 23 Websites and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I'm feeling back to normal.  
CALLIOPE: What threw you off course?  
JOE: Not getting any email the past few days and feeling out of touch with the cyberworld.  
CALLIOPE: And that's corrected?  
JOE: It is. I was working on a way to include an autoresponder on my website during the course of which my email was accidentally short circuited. All due to the omission of one hyphen. But now it's back in order and I have a ream of emails to wade through.  
CALLIOPE: You sound overwhelmed.  
JOE: Sometimes I am. I have signed up for quite a few notifications of articles related to my writing. It feels like overload at times.  
CALLIOPE: What are you working on today?  
JOE: Editing and marketing. I think I am finally getting to understand about keywords and ways they can be used to gain more traffic for my website. Maybe I'm a little dense, but it takes me a while to figure these things out.  
CALLIOPE: Maybe they are just complicated. How about your writing?  
JOE: I am continuing to read _The Good Person Handbook_ and have been planning a review to share with you.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.  
JOE: It's new venture for me. Hopefully it will be ready in the next few days. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 24 Life Priorities and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Restless.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that on?  
JOE: Yesterday afternoon I listened to a phone tele-seminar by Steve Harrison about being perceived as an expert.  
CALLIOPE: Did that make you restless?  
JOE: One focus of the presentation was on deciding what is important and being passionate about pursuing it. I woke up this morning debating with myself about whether I want to be passionate about anything at this point in my life or whether I would just like to enjoy life for a while.  
CALLIOPE: Does it have to be a choice?  
JOE: Most of what I read indicates that it does. Being successful personally or financially is said to involve a passionate commitment to something close to my heart.  
CALLIOPE: What would be ideal for you?  
JOE: I would like to be able to share with others what I have learned about life and suggest alternatives to dangerous directions I see our society heading in. At the same time I would like to have some time to enjoy life after many working years.  
CALLIOPE: So you want a compromise but read that it's not possible.  
JOE: Exactly.  
CALLIOPE: So what do you plan to do about it?  
JOE: Find a way to reach this compromise in my way of life. How, I'm not quite sure. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 25 Writing, Publishing and Mechanics

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: I almost gave up on you today.  
JOE: I've been busy. We're having people over tonight and I was busy preparing for them.  
CALLIOPE: Are you ready now?  
JOE: I am. I have a little time to work on writing.  
CALLIOPE: I assume you got your newspaper article posted.  
JOE: Yes. I have also been working my way through my most recent edit of _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?  
JOE: I realized this morning that with all my work on editing and marketing, I haven't done too much actual writing lately.  
CALLIOPE: Does that bother you?  
JOE: Yes. I wish I were writing. I realize there is much more to the whole writing undertaking that putting thoughts into words. Sometimes I wish the rest of the process would just take place on its own.  
CALLIOPE: You could pay someone to look after those details.  
JOE: If I had the money I could. For now, I have all the responsibilities.  
CALLIOPE: Has there been any benefit to that?  
JOE: I think I have reached an understanding of the writing and publishing world I would not have had otherwise. Time for me to stop complaining and get back to work. Talk with you on Monday.

### October 27 Review- Good Person Guidebook

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. I have something special to share with you, a review I wrote about Richard Bayer's _The Good Person Guidebook_ (NY, Five O'Clock Club Books, 2008.)  
CALLIOPE: I'm all ears.

*****

Inspirational books often tend to wander, appealing to the imagination more than to the logical mind. Not so with Richard Bayer's _The Good Person's Guidebook_. On the first page he makes it clear that the good person is "a person of moral excellence, but not in vacuum." Being good does not mean standing on a pedestal for passersby to admire. It means acting morally and responsibly in interactions with others.

The author describes his writing as inspired by religious principles and applicable to the business world. People not driven by religious beliefs or immersed in business will still find this book applicable to their daily lives.

Rather than simply musing about being good, Beyer presents an organized and well reasoned approach. His book is divided into three sections consisting of ways to consider living ethically, deciding what kind person to be and how to implement ethical choices in daily life.His Seven Stories exercise helps make sense of your life so far. His Fifteen Year and Forty Year Visions offer a framework for charting your future.

I have found that readers looking for inspiration often do not want to sift through page after page of reflections in search of suggestions on ways to handle a particular life difficulty. They like brief concise treatments. Bayer provides these along with frequent suggestions for practical applications. His comprehensive table of contents and index make it easy for the reader to find a particular topic of interest.

In these days of reckless self indulgence, _The Good Person Guidebook_ stands as a compass for readers looking to reorient their lives and live in a meaningful way.

*****

CALLIOPE: Thanks for sharing your review. I'll look for the book.  
JOE: Talk with your tomorrow.

### October 28 Reading and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I stopped by thee Internet to read more about _T_ _he Good Person Guidebook_ which you reviewed for me yesterday.  
JOE: And what did you think?  
CALLIOPE: Of the reviews I read, two focus more on business applications. Yours seems to stress the usefulness for a wider audience.  
JOE: I see myself more from a personal than a business vantage these days. I also don't see a distinction between my work and personal identity. This is a point made in the book too.  
JOE: I would prefer to read an actual book than something on a computer screen.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think an ebook is more like a computer than a book?  
JOE: They claim the opposite. I guess I would have to see one to know for sure. The price is a little high for me at the moment. Maybe I will run into someone who has one so I can take a look.  
CALLIOPE: What attracts you?  
JOE: The availability of a wide range of reading stored in a small space. I have limited storage room now.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Accessibility. I would like to be able to download books easily and have them ready for easy access. We shall see. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 29 Marital Property and What Rich Authors Know

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What have you been up to?  
JOE: I'm easing into the day. I read the paper, did a couple crossword puzzles and tended to my mail so far and here I am.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do yesterday?  
JOE: Some editing of _Marital Property_. I also worked on marketing and development. I listened to Steve Harrison's presentations on _What Rich Authors Know That Poor Authors Don't_ and _Publicity Strategies._  
_CALLIOPE:_ What did you learn?  
JOE: That it is important to start with a passionate dream. Earning money is not a good primary consideration. If you have something worthwhile to share with others, money follows. I learned how others approached and used media outlets to develop a platform for their sales and marketing efforts.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can use what you learned?  
JOE: I think I can incorporate it into a marketing plan.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have one?  
JOE: I did, but I have learned a great deal lately. I think it's time I reconsidered it to make sure it is complete and incorporates what I'm learning.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Is that what you will work on today?  
JOE: Yes, in addition to continued work on _Marital Property_ _._ Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 30 Commonsense, Goals and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was yesterday?  
JOE: Busy as usual. I worked on marketing and _Marital Property_.  
CALLIOPE: How about your comprehensive marketing plan?  
JOE: I decided to start with the big picture- how people approach the Internet.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you begin?  
JOE: With what I look for when I surf the web.  
CALLIOPE: What did you come up with?  
JOE: I look for free or reasonably priced information or tools for my writing or web presence.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I wrote down what kind of readers I want to attract. I want readers who are intrigued by common sense and would like to learn how to focus their lives in a way which will benefit them but be beneficial to others as well.  
CALLIOPE: And after that?  
JOE: I listed what such readers might want. I think they want suggestions about how to be more comfortable with choices they make, avoid making enemies, decide how to act in an ethical dilemma and live in a way which does not harm themselves or others.  
CALLIOPE: Will this form the basis of your writing and approach to marketing?  
JOE: I think it already does although I never put it into words before. I will use it as my guide. Talk with you tomorrow.

### October 31 Writing and Publication Strategy

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's going on?  
JOE: I went to Batavia yesterday to help my son take down his print exhibit. My car died. Actually it couldn't breathe because of a failed oxygen sensor. Fortunately it wasn't terminal and revived with a new part.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything else accomplished?  
JOE: Miraculously I did. I now have one article accepted with Ezine and two others in the works. I enjoy writing short informative and inspirational pieces and will continue this process as a way of sharing my thoughts and also as a marketing help.  
CALLIOPE: Does this take you in any particular direction with the rest of your writing?  
JOE: I have been thinking of another Commonsense Wisdom collection, mostly of columns.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that on?  
JOE: Writing out my goals and those of prospective readers. I have most of the material in hand but would have to organize and market it.  
CALLIOPE: What about Commonsense Wisdom for Teens.  
JOE: I will still work on it. But I know _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_ had a fairly good reception even with practically no publicity. I think I can build on what I did with the first book and continue with the teen book.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you have been thinking about strategy.  
JOE: I have. I think I could do a better job of marketing now that I have more tools at my disposal.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck.  
JOE: Thanks, I'm excited about the prospects. Talk with you tomorrow.

## Chapter 11: November

November always seemed to me the Norway of the year.

_  
~_ Emily Dickinson

### November 01 Cancer, Love and Writing

###

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Reflective.  
CALLIOPE: About what?  
JOE: In our travels yesterday, Carol and I spent the morning with a friend who is dying of cancer.  
CALLIOPE: What was that like?  
JOE: I was glad we did it but it wasn't easy. She has very little energy and spark left and was only barely able to carry on a conversation. I remember when she was bright, bubbly and full of life. Just an ember remains.  
CALLIOPE: That must have been hard.  
JOE: It was, but more so for Carol who lost her mother and sister and several other friends to cancer. She also went through a bout of her own.  
CALLIOPE: Have you ever had to face cancer directly?  
JOE: It depends on what you mean by directly. I struggled through Carol's diagnosis and treatments, but have never had cancer myself.  
CALLIOPE: What did you learn from yesterday's experience?  
JOE: That it is possible to remain loving and in love during the most extreme challenges. I am writing my next column about it and have it mostly finished.  
CALLIOPE: So you plan to share the experience with others?  
JOE: I do. The impact was quite profound. Talk with you on Monday.

### November 03 Cancer and Commonsense Wisdom

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Different. I didn't do any running around yesterday although it did occur to me.  
CALLIOPE: How did you spend your day?  
JOE: I stayed home and worked on my writing instead.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish?  
JOE: I wrote my next column called _Loving in the Shadow of Cancer_.  
CALLIOPE: Prompted by your visit on Friday?  
JOE: Yes. It had quite an impact on me. I realized we have more choice of how we handle life's challenges. We don't always get to choose what challenges we have to face but we do have a choice of how we react.  
CALLIOPE: Is that a revelation to you?  
JOE: Not really. But when I see love in action even given extreme circumstances, it is a good reminder of life's possibilities.  
CALLIOPE: I'm looking forward to reading it on Saturday. Did you accomplish anything else?  
JOE: I worked on my second commonsense wisdom book. I discovered that "quotes" would probably be a useful keyword for me in marketing the book. I decided to start each passage with a relevant quote and even added one to my next column.  
CALLIOPE: Is this a new idea for you?  
JOE: No. I had planned to start each chapter of _The Pastor's Inferno_ with a quote from Dante's _Inferno_. Then I ran into copyright difficulty. I did not realize I could use a public domain version of the _Inferno_ until I had already submitted the manuscript for publication. Oh, well. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 04 Writing and Personal Feelings

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Mixed. I am making progress on my writing. I have listed all the columns available for my next book, categorized them and started finding quotes to fit them. There is still quite a bit of work to do. I would like to have it ready for Christmas but it doesn't seem likely.  
CALLIOPE: All you can do is your best. What's not going so well?  
JOE: Technology. My printer was acting up and refused to print decently in black and white or color. After much ado, I discovered the print head was quite gummed up. Fortunately I had an extra one and installed it.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: Now it's as good as new.  
CALLIOPE: Everything else going okay?  
JOE: I have struggled with my latest column, _Loving in the Shadow of Cancer_.  
CALLIOPE: What's the problem?  
JOE: It is not just a general topic. I have had to wrestle with it in my relationship and have seen several people I know die of it. I think it's harder to write a column about something personal.  
CALLIOPE: Did you complete it?  
JOE: Yes. Carol read and reread it and showed me where it was lacking.  
CALLIOPE: And now?  
JOE: I think it is fixed and ready for publication as well as to mail to Kat and Paula. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 05 Progress, Technology and Writing

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Where have you been?  
JOE: Don't take offense. I had to leave early this morning for a presentation on eating disorders in Batavia.  
CALLIOPE: How was it?  
JOE: Fairly basic. I didn't really learn anything new but sometimes it's enough to confirm what you already know.  
CALLIOPE: Did you do anything else today?  
JOE: Yes. More excitement on the technology front. My Kodak printer died and I had to decide on a new one.  
CALLIOPE: How did that go?  
JOE: Quite well. I found a Hewlett Packard printer with reasonably priced ink. It does excellent documents and photos despite the low price.  
CALLIOPE: Any other items of interest?  
JOE: Yes. I have been wrestling for quite a while with why my video camera won't upload anything. In my research, I discovered that the Kodak printer can sometimes interfere with other programs. I uninstalled it and found that my camera now works fine. Quite a discovery.  
CALLIOPE: And what about your writers group last night?  
JOE: We had a small gathering of four. I was afraid we might be finished with the group but it went well and we will continue for the time being.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it.  
JOE: Me too. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 06 Writing, Publication and Commonsense

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Back to your regular schedule?  
JOE: As regular as it gets.  
CALLIOPE: What are you up to today?  
JOE: I have been working on my second volume of Commonsense Wisdom. I thought it would be nice to have it in print by Christmas but thought it was not possible.  
CALLIOPE: Do you still think so?  
JOE: I'm starting to wonder. I have about half the quotes I need. I should be able to finish gathering them in a day or two.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I have "Life Lab Lessons" to add to some of the articles. Then I would need to organize them into themes.  
CALLIOPE: What are the chances?  
JOE: Good I think. I tend to underestimate time needed. However I think it might be possible.  
CALLIOPE: So what's your plan?  
JOE: Keep forging ahead and see how far I get. If I can finish the manuscript by the end of November, I think it might be possible.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it.  
JOE: Thanks, Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 08 Writing, Reflections and Navigating Life

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Just barely. I missed you yesterday.  
JOE: It's nice to be missed. I got quite excited about the prospect of finishing my new book in time for Christmas and spent most of yesterday working on it.  
CALLIOPE: You must be excited. Did you come up with a title?  
JOE: The tentative title is _Navigating Life: Commonsense Reflections for the Voyage_.  
CALLIOPE: I like it. Tell me more.  
JOE: It is a collection of columns I have written over the past few years. I found over a hundred I would like to include.  
CALLIOPE: How will you organize them?  
JOE: A fair question. I have sixteen categories and have grouped them according to them.  
CALLIOPE: Will they all have the same format?  
JOE: For the most part. They generally start with a relevant quotation and end with Life Lab Lessons.  
CALLIOPE: Which are?  
JOE: Practical suggestions for what to do about the reflection I have just offered.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that idea?  
JOE: I'm not sure. I think it occurred to me at one point that life reflections are not much practical use unless you do something about them. I offer some ideas. Talk with you on Monday.

### November 10 Navigating Life, Manuscript and Editing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Very productive thank you.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish?  
JOE: In addition to raking leaves, I finished most of the draft of _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: What did you do specifically?  
JOE: I started with the list of articles I wanted to include. Then I organized them into themes. I found quotes for all the articles and also added "life lab lessons" to the articles which didn't have them. I also generated a table of contents.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you made quite a bit of progress. What's left to do?  
JOE: This week I plan to start with introductions to the chapters and to the book as a whole. I also want to review the chapter and topic headings to make sure they are both catchy and informative. I would also like to add suggested readings and possibly an index although I'm not decided on that.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds ambitions. You plan to do all this in a week?  
JOE: Yes. Then there is the proofreading. I would like to have someone do it quickly and thoroughly. Carol has already reviewed the articles but is willing to review the introductions as well. I am still considering another reader, but haven't decided on this.  
CALLIOPE: It's probably a good idea.  
JOE: I agree. However I would like to get the book in print by the beginning of December if possible.  
CALLIOPE: You will have to decide between thoroughness and expediency.  
JOE: You're right. Always a tough choice for me. Talk with you tomorrow

### November 11 Writing and Proofreading

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Good. I felt like I accomplished quite a bit yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Details please.  
JOE: I have all my selections in the right place and have the headings correctly formatted according to the table of contents I generated. I also wrote introductions to the book as a whole and to each section.  
CALLIOPE: Good progress. What's next?  
JOE: Proofing. I will read the whole manuscript out loud as I have done successfully in the past.  
CALLIOPE: What about outside readers?  
JOE: That's under consideration. I don't feel I can pay anyone for a professional reading right now as I would like to.  
CALLIOPE: Who read for you in the past?  
JOE: Carol and Gerry, both excellent at the job.  
CALLIOPE: So what about them?  
JOE: They are both familiar with most of the material in _Navigating Life_. I was interested in a fresh look.  
CALLIOPE: Don't you have others you could ask?  
JOE: I do. But I think they are all quite busy right now. I am afraid it might be an imposition, especially since I want to get the book in print for Christmas. I'll have to think about this further. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 12 Writing and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Ready for more work.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: I completed all the tasks for _Navigating Life_ except final reading and I started on that.  
CALLIOPE: Did you decide on outside readers?  
JOE: No. I haven't come up with anyone to ask yet but am still thinking about it.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have any trouble thinking of introductions to the book and to the various sections?  
JOE: No, it all went smoothly. I also found a painting my son Peter did which I am thinking about using for the cover.  
CALLIOPE: Have you showed it to anyone?  
JOE: To Carol. She liked it. That's a good sign.  
CALLIOPE: Any other progress yesterday?  
JOE: I looked through James Bell's book _Revision and Self Editing_. I think it will be quite useful in reviewing _Marital Property_ but it is geared to fiction and not specifically useful for _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: I see. What's up for today?  
JOE: More work reviewing _Navigating Life_. I plan to work a chapter at a time so I don't get bleary. I have a few other things to work on in between. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 13 Writing, Proofing and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A little bleary.  
CALLIOPE: Too much proofreading?  
JOE: Exactly. I don't usually do this much concentrated reading in one day.  
CALLIOPE: How did you approach it?  
JOE: I divided it into chapters and worked one at a time. Then I took a break to rest my brain and eyes.  
CALLIOPE: How far did you get?  
JOE: I have finished the first four chapters. It seems like slow going.  
CALLIOPE: Slower than other tasks?  
JOE: It seems so. It was easier selecting columns and pasting them into the manuscript. Now I am poring over words and grammar to make sure it sounds right.  
CALLIOPE: That does seem like work. Have you come to any decision about outside readers?  
JOE: I am leaning toward putting out a request to my column list to see if anyone is interested. I haven't done it yet but think I might.  
CALLIOPE: What's keeping you?  
JOE: I'm not sure. But I'm getting on with my own revision and need to make a decision soon. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 14 Navigating Life, Insight and Revision

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Doing well. I worked on reviewing _Navigating Life_ yesterday a little at a time and should have it finished in a few days.  
CALLIOPE: How is it coming?  
JOE: Pretty good. I realized I had forgotten to include a story I wrote about discovering you and added it yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Thank you. Any discoveries?  
JOE: I don't know about discoveries. I stopped to think about my writing in the middle of my revision and realized a few things.  
CALLIOPE: Such as?  
JOE: I came to see how repetitious I am at times and how I add tentative qualifiers to most of my statements. I am working on being more definite.  
CALLIOPE: What do you suppose that is about?  
JOE: I think I don't want to offend or stir up any of my readers.  
CALLIOPE: Is that such a bad thing?  
JOE: No. That's why I write in the first place. I'm not sure what I have been afraid of. If readers challenge what I say, at least I got them thinking.  
CALLIOPE: Good point.  
JOE: Thanks. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 15 Character and Plot Development

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Thank you but it's fading fast.  
JOE: It is. I have been a bit of a lazy bone this morning. I got watching the movie _Kramer vs. Kramer_. Yesterday I watched _Marty_.  
CALLIOPE: Into old movies?  
JOE: To some extent. But I have been wondering what makes movies and books successful and was doing a little research on the side.  
CALLIOPE: Why this sudden interest?  
JOE: James Bell's book, _Revision and Self Editing_ prompted me to pay more attention to successful works and approach them from a critical stance.  
CALLIOPE: That seems like a good idea. Are you taking notes?  
JOE: I did yesterday with _Marty_ and realized movies are not what they used to be.  
CALLIOPE: How do you see them as being different now?  
JOE: There seems more emphasis on being slick, fast moving and plot driven rather than character driven.  
CALLIOPE: Good observations. How does that affect your approach to writing?  
JOE: I'm still evaluating it. I realize what people are used to in movies as well as books. Still I am not sure there is much substance left in most new works.  
CALLIOPE: So what do you plan to do?  
JOE: Incorporate some of the more glitzy approaches while making sure my work still has substance. Talk with you on Monday.

###

### November 17 Writing, Preparation and Publication

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Busy. Carol and I did some shopping yesterday. I found a set of Bose speakers for my computer to enhance my many hours in front of the computer screen with listening to the radio stations I have created for myself through Pandora.com.  
CALLIOPE: My sister Euterpe would be proud of you.  
JOE: We also attended calling hours for the mother of Carol's coworker and dined out for our sixteenth anniversary of being together.  
CALLIOPE: Did you have any time for your _Navigating Life_?  
JOE: Yes. I worked hard on it on Saturday and had a little time yesterday as well.  
CALLIOPE: How far did you get?  
JOE: I finished reviewing the manuscript and worked on format as well as the table of contents. I am considering an index as well although I have never created one.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck. What else awaits?  
JOE: The only outside information was my Library of Congress Control Number which just arrived by email seconds ago. I still have the cover design to complete but have the template from _The Pastor's Inferno_ which should save me quite a bit of time.  
CALLIOPE: What did you decided about outside review?  
JOE: Most of the text has already been reviewed for prior publication as columns. I think it's in pretty good shape.  
CALLIOPE: Better read it one more time just in case.  
JOE: I will. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 18 Editing and Indexing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine, but busy.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: Finishing up _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: What did you work on yesterday?  
JOE: I figured out how to make an index. It's the first time I have done one.  
CALLIOPE: How did it turn out?  
JOE: Good so far. I have some editing to do on it but it is progressing.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: First I want to finish the index which I think I can.  
CALLIOPE: And then?  
JOE: I have the cover to produce. I also plan to convert the book to a PDF to see how it will look in that format.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you are reaching the end. Any other projects on tap?  
JOE: I just received book of photographs to review. I'm looking forward to it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 20 Editing and Format

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you yesterday.  
JOE: Sorry I didn't make it. I had an early breakfast with my daughter.  
CALLIOPE: All day?  
JOE: Well, no. When I got back I decided to work on finishing _Navigating Life_ before we talked.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I worked until late at night and never did finish.  
CALLIOPE: How far did you get?  
JOE: The cover is ready. No small feat. I used a template from my last book.  
CALLIOPE: And the text?  
JOE: I have it in a form I would like. But I still have one little problem.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: I can't seem to get the pagination and index to work together. I seem to have a choice of one or the other but not both.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about that?  
JOE: I'm not sure. I have been working on it for quite a while but no success yet. I have a book and a CD on Office 2003 which includes my version of Word. I plan to research this and see if I can solve the problem. Otherwise the book is ready to go. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 22 Promotion and Publication

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Relieved.  
CALLIOPE: On what account?  
JOE: My book finally stayed fixed, paginated and indexed long enough for me to send it to the printer.  
CALLIOPE: And the cover?  
JOE: Converted to PDF form and also sent.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. Now what?  
JOE: Now I wait for the proof copy.  
CALLIOPE: What will you do in the mean time?  
JOE: I have already started on marketing. I am exploring key words to use in the text of my promotional materials.  
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do by way of marketing?  
JOE: Publicity on my website, notification of my mailing list and friends on social sites. I also plan to request a spread in the local paper and some promotional videos to post on the Internet. I might be able to get some coverage in the Rochester papers as well.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good start. Anything else?  
JOE: Perhaps, but this weekend I would like to catch my breath before going further. Talk with you Monday.

### November 24 Publication and Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?  
JOE: Busy but productive.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me more?  
JOE: I was gone most of yesterday. Saturday night I received an online proof of _Navigating Life_. I did a little editing and returned it as a final copy for publication.  
CALLIOPE: Is your book ready for printing?  
JOE: Almost. There are a few details to settle such as the price and advertising advertising copy.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you're getting close. Did you have time to do anything else?  
JOE: Yesterday morning before I left for my travels, I composed a marketing brochure for _Navigating Life_. The brochure is getting good reviews from the few people to whom I showed it.  
CALLIOPE: Do you think it will help with sales?  
JOE: Yes. I have already sold some copies even before the book is printed.  
CALLIOPE: To what do you attribute this?  
JOE: The title, cover art, spiritual theme and my reputation based on selections from the book which I previously published.  
CALLIOPE: Great. What's next?  
JOE: I plan to start developing other promotional materials such as a sample chapter on my web site, print and video materials for MySpace, YouTube and other sites. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 25 Navigating Life Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I was up early to start soup and bread. Today is the beginning of our holiday entertaining. We have a noon and dinner seating.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy. How about the book?  
JOE: Yesterday I sent in the final manuscript and cover files. Now someone else's technology takes over and out will come a book.  
CALLIOPE: When do you expect it?  
JOE: I'm hoping it will be ready in a week or two.  
CALLIOPE: So what are your plans in the mean time?  
JOE: Yesterday I modified my web site to include _Navigating Life_ **.** I also started working on some marketing materials I have accumulated but not yet perused.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Do you have any other writing projects in mind?  
JOE: I have been thinking of doing a book of our conversations. I would like to take a little break until _Navigating Life_ is in print. Then I'll start working on our book.  
CALLIOPE: I can't wait. Have you looked back over our conversations?  
JOE: No, I haven't. But I think they give a glimpse into the ongoing progress and frustrations a writer faces on a day to day basis.  
CALLIOPE: There have been some of each.  
JOE: No question. Right no I'm happy with the progress. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 26 Writing and Marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I negotiated our two seatings of company yesterday and enjoyed the experience. I like not being quite so isolated.  
CALLIOPE: Do you find yourself isolating as a writer?  
JOE: Yes. I spend more of my time in front of the computer than anywhere else.  
CALLIOPE: Doing what?  
JOE: Writing, editing, marketing, research.  
CALLIOPE: How about interaction online?  
JOE: I have gotten away from it. I joined a number of online writer and marketing communities but have not spent time there developing relationships.  
CALLIOPE: What about spending more time interacting?  
JOE: A good suggestion. I'll try to keep it in mind.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: I was just thinking about that. I think my chief goal is to explore and try to pin down a marketing approach for _Navigating Life_. I'll talk with you Friday after Thanksgiving is over.

### November 28 Creative Energy and Internet marketing

JOE: Good morning Calliope:  
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Not very ambitious. I struggled to find much to write in my journal this morning.  
CALLIOPE: What's that about?  
JOE: I think I am still in my holiday mood from yesterday when I spent the bulk of my time visiting, socializing and eating.  
CALLIOPE: So you're not back in the groove yet?  
JOE: Nope. I feel like my mental field should lie fallow for a little while.  
CALLIOPE: Perhaps so. You have been in high gear lately.  
JOE: Right. I have been working hard to get _Navigating Life_ prepared for publication and finally have my files submitted.  
CALLIOPE: Is marketing your next task?  
JOE: Yes. I have been reviewing marketing materials and gathering more. I haven't set up a clear marketing plan for _Navigating Life_ yet.  
CALLIOPE: When do you plan to start?  
JOE: I think that would be a good task for Monday morning.  
CALLIOPE: And this weekend?  
JOE: Maybe some relaxing and continuing to read Patterson's _Sail_. I need to recharge my batteries. Talk with you tomorrow.

### November 29 Internet Marketing and Networking

JOE: Good evening Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good evening Joe. I've never known you to show up so late.  
JOE: I haven't. I started out several times to talk with you and got sidetracked several times.  
CALLIOPE: To do what?  
JOE: I relaxed for a while this morning. Then I went to the gym. After that I got involved in marketing.  
CALLIOPE: What are you doing with marketing today?  
JOE: Networking. I am working on forming new Internet connections and resurrecting old ones.  
CALLIOPE: How will that help with marketing?  
JOE: Next week I will be working on more formal marketing activities but I need people to spread the word about my activities.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: My network of people will help, I hope.  
CALLIOPE: I see.  
JOE: That's about all I did today. Tomorrow I will gear up for my marketing activities next week. Talk with you on Monday.

## Chapter 12: December

Love awoke one winter's night  
And wander'd through the snowbound land,  
And calling to beasts and birds  
Bid them his message understand.

And from the forest all wild things  
That crept or flew obeyed love's call,  
And learned from him the golden words  
of brotherhood for one and all.

~ Author Unknown

### December 01 Ten Reasons Not to Read a Book

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I never know when or if to expect you these days.  
JOE: Sorry. I had an early morning meeting and was wandering around doing some Christmas shopping. But now I'm back.  
CALLIOPE: You said this was your week to work on marketing. Any progress?  
JOE: It is turning out to be a busier week than I thought but I'll do my best. I did think of an approach.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: Some time ago I wrote ten reasons why and why not to read _The Pastor's Inferno_.  
CALLIOPE: Yes?  
JOE: I thought it might be good to expand on this theme.  
CALLIOPE: How?  
JOE: I plan to develop reasons to read and not to read each of my books and then post them as videos on MySpace and my website.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds ambitious.  
JOE: I suppose it is, but I've got to start somewhere. I had better get at it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 02 Writing and Publicity Strategies

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Glad to see you up and at 'em early.  
JOE: I have been the last couple days, just not at the computer.  
CALLIOPE: How did you do with marketing yesterday?  
JOE: I looked over my ten reasons for and against reading _The Pastor's Inferno_. I also wrote lists of reasons for _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_ and _Young Man of the Cloth_. I plan to write some for _Navigating Life_ although I still have a little time since it is not available for sale yet.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like good progress. What's on the agenda for today?  
JOE: Other than yoga class later this morning, I would like to work on refining my reasons and prepare to record them for distribution. I have a column to write and hope to at least get started with it.  
CALLIOPE: What's the topic?  
JOE: That's why I haven't written it yet. I'm still a little up in the air. I am considering our ethical crisis with more bad news than good and more notoriety for bad behavior which seems to be more prevalent lately.  
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it. Anything else going on?  
JOE: I'm waiting for news that _Navigating Life_ is ready for distribution which could be any day now.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like exciting times.  
JOE: It is. There's plenty to do. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 03 Self Respect and World Standing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Ready to get going again.  
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish yesterday?  
JOE: A fair amount. I finished working on ten reasons to read and not to read each of my four books. I want to let them percolate a bit before recording them.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: Yes. I started on my column for this Saturday, tentatively titled _Rebuilding Our World Standing and Self Respect_.  
CALLIOPE: That sounds like a large topic, maybe enough for a book.  
JOE: I agree but I'm in the middle of another book at the moment. I would like to at least stick my toe in the water of this topic first by starting with a column.  
CALLIOPE: What prompted this venture?  
JOE: I read an article recently about the recent proliferation of lying, stealing and cheating by teens. It got me thinking about where these trends originate. I concluded it must be in our eroding culture.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a worthwhile project.  
JOE: I hope so. It is part of my plan to raise people's consciousness about how they live their lives.  
CALLIOPE: You've got quite a mission.  
JOE: I do but I'm not alone. Sometimes I feel like the "voice of one crying in the wilderness." Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 04 Poetry, Fear and Challenge

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news?  
JOE: Plenty. Yesterday was busy. I managed to finish and post my column, _Rebuilding Our World Standing and Self Respect_. I also finished writing and revising my ten reasons for and against reading each of my books. Now I'll try recording them.  
CALLIOPE: Good progress. Anything else going on?  
JOE: Yes. I had a chance to browse thr Internet yesterday and found _Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer's Craft_ by Natalie Goldberg and _Starting from Scratch: A Different Kind of Writers' Manual_ by Rita Mae Brown.  
CALLIOPE: What prompted you to buy these?  
JOE: I thought I could use a little inspiration for my writing.  
CALLIOPE: I guess all writers can. What are you up to today?  
JOE: In addition to working on marketing, I found two challenges.  
CALLIOPE: Which are?  
JOE: One is a new online group coordinated by Ann Maid for local writers, some of whom I have met. The entrance fee consists of a poem, a genre generally scary for me.  
CALLIOPE: How will you approach it?  
JOE: I plan to write in dactylic hexameter in your honor since this meter is generally used in epic poetry. Maybe it will end up as an ode to you for your help.

### December 06 Navigating Life, Publication and Writing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Somewhat rested.  
CALLIOPE: Did you accomplish anything yesterday.  
JOE: I accomplished taking it easy.  
CALLIOPE: What else did you do?  
JOE: Some Christmas shopping and completion of gifts.  
CALLIOPE: Anything exciting?  
JOE: I had planned to give my new book, _Navigating Life_ to a few people. After some difficulty with the cover, I think it is about ready for the printer, but I haven't had final word yet. I'm not sure I will have copies in time.  
CALLIOPE: There's always New Year's.  
JOE: True. Part of the focus is what we can do personally to improve our own lives, the country and the world. Perhaps releasing it just before the inauguration would be timely.  
CALLIOPE: Perhaps. It's sensible to make the best of whatever circumstances present themselves.  
JOE: You're right. That's what I tell everyone else. Talk with you on Monday.

### December 08 Rita Mae Brown and Starting from Scratch

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Rested. I took the weekend to unwind and restore myself.  
CALLIOPE: How did you go about it?  
JOE: I planned no major activities this weekend.  
CALLIOPE: Did you just flop on a couch?  
JOE: Not quite. I worked on some Christmas presents for a while. I also did some reading.  
CALLIOPE: What did you read?  
JOE: I caught up on some of my recent New Yorkers. I also started reading Rita Mae Brown's book, _Starting from Scratch_.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.  
JOE: Her subtitle is "A different kind of writers' manual." She shares some good learnings and thoughts about writing I had not considered. She published it in 1988 but I have never heard of it.  
CALLIOPE: Where did you find it?  
JOE: At Borders Books used section. I just happened upon it.  
CALLIOPE: Do you find it dated?  
JOE: Just the brief section of computers which of course is from a different era. The rest of it is fresh and refreshing. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 09 Wisdom, Abuse and Seminary Life

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: I have to rush off to Tonawanda to do some evaluations.

JOE: Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 10 Marketing and Book Reviewing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Good. I'm ready to work on marketing.  
CALLIOPE: What happened yesterday?  
JOE: I spent most of my time traveling out of town to do some psychological evaluations. Then I had to work to get my computer willing to score them.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get a chance to work on writing?  
JOE: To some extent. I posted the guides I shared with you yesterday on one of the business community sites and plan to continue that today as well as posting them on my own site.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?  
JOE: I am reviewing a new edition of H.L Mencken's _Notes on Democracy_.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think so far?  
JOE: He seems quite cynical about our society and as far as I can gather questions the wisdom of the proletariat. I do find it useful to have my assumptions challenged and to have to reconsider them.  
CALLIOPE: So it is a useful project?  
JOE: I think so.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: More marketing efforts and waiting for the printed galley of my book, _Navigating Life_. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 11 Publicity and Search Engine Optimization

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Good. I have my Christmas shopping and report writing done and am ready to get back to work on my writing.  
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything literary done yesterday?  
JOE: I finished posting the reading guides I developed and shared with you a couple days ago.  
CALLIOPE: Did you do one for _Navigating Life_?  
JOE: Not yet. I need to wait until my book is listed on trhe Internet so I can include it.  
CALLIOPE: I see. What plans do you have for today?  
JOE: I think I will start posting this blog on the sites where I previously did.  
CALLIOPE: Don't you still have links there to this site?  
JOE: I do but decided it was too much to expect readers to travel here. I thought it might be best to just post them where I did before.  
CALLIOPE: Why did you change your mind?  
JOE: It had to do with Google. I thought that by listing my blog in several places it reduced the Search Engine Optimization qualities of the blog.  
CALLIOPE: Doesn't it?  
JOE: I think so but decided it made more sense to have greater visibility than to count on it optimizing visits to my web site. Talk to you tomorrow.

### December 12 Proofreading and Publication

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Not half bad.  
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to?  
JOE: Puttering around while waiting for my book proof to arrive. I've been catching up on my writer and marketing communities, listening to a marketing broadcast and preparing publicity for _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: You have been busy. When do you expect your proof?  
JOE: I was just getting to that. It arrived yesterday afternoon. Technically it is a bound galley. I was quite satisfied with how the cover turned out after all my grief in developing it.  
CALLIOPE: Why didn't you just pay to have it done?  
JOE: I'm not yet in a financial position to pay people for such services as design or even proofreading. Sometimes I wish I were.  
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything from doing all your own design work?  
JOE: I learned to appreciate all that goes into it. I also got to think about each component of my book more than I would have if I had farmed out the work.  
CALLIOPE: There are those benefits. How about proofreading?  
JOE: That is the one place I wish I had been able to hire someone professional. Many of the sections were proofread in the past. I didn't feel I could impose on friends to proofread this text. Maybe I will regret it. I think in the future that I will try to budget money for this.  
CALLIOPE: Good idea. When do you expect the book to be available?  
JOE: You'll be the first to know. Perhaps in another week or so. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 13 Editing and Publishing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?  
JOE: Struggling to stay calm and focused.  
CALLIOPE: How so?  
JOE: I received my bound galley of _Navigating Life_. After discussion I realized I had made some glaring errors in the manuscript.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: The bottom line is that I will need to correct them at an extra expense.  
CALLIOPE: How did that happen?  
JOE: ADHD strikes again. I thought I had that part of me under pretty good control.  
CALLIOPE: Doesn't sound like it.  
JOE: No it doesn't. I let my excitement about the project and rush to get it into print by Christmas lead to premature submission of the manuscript.  
CALLIOPE: Now what?  
JOE: I have been working steadily on corrections but taking breaks so as not to become fatigued.  
CALLIOPE: How is it coming?  
JOE: I think I have them done. I will look over the manuscript one last time to be sure I didn't miss anything. Talk with you on Monday.

### December 15 Networking and Publishing

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was beginning to fear you would not show up today.  
JOE: Never fear. I had some early morning appointments in Batavia.  
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?  
JOE: Even before I left for Batavia, I was up finalizing revisions on _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: So is it ready now.  
JOE: It is. I just now sent it off to the printer.  
CALLIOPE: When will it finally be ready?  
JOE: That's out of my hands. I need to wait for the printing wheels and presses to do their thing. I'm practicing patience.  
CALLIOPE: A good idea. Any other developments over the weekend?  
JOE: Yesterday I attended an Author Extravaganza at Lift Bridge Book Store in Brockport.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I found it most productive. I got to read a selection from _Navigating Life_ and also talked with some other authors about writing, publishing and marketing.  
CALLIOPE: Anyone special that you met?  
JOE: I finally met Bob Fussell, an attorney and author from right here in Leroy. I figured I would meet him sooner or later. We had a great talk and plan to get together again. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 16 Publicity, Marketing and Navigating

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: A tad rushed.  
CALLIOPE: How so? I thought you would be more relaxed with the book revisions submitted.  
JOE: I am. But I have two places to go this morning and also have evening plans.  
CALLIOPE: So it's hard to plan any marketing activities.  
JOE: That doesn't mean I can't be thinking about them as I drive around. I decided on an approach to marketing _Navigating Life_ this morning before I even got out of bed.  
CALLIOPE: Which is?  
JOE: Now that we have elected Obama and expect him to make some changes in the world, what are we going to do on our part?  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good approach. How are you going to go about it?  
JOE: I plan to list thirteen things we can do, one of them outlined in each of he chapters of _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: I'd like to see it when it's done.  
JOE: No Problem. I'll share it with you. Time to get going. Off to the races. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 17 Publication and Peace

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Trying to stay calm and focused.  
CALLIOPE: What's making it difficult?  
JOE: Continuing work on revisions for _Navigating Life_. We're getting closer to it being ready for publication with the exception of a few small details still in the process of being worked out.  
CALLIOPE: Anything you can't handle?  
JOE: No. But the closer I get to publication the more excited I get about the adventure and the harder it is to keep myself calm.  
CALLIOPE: Understandable. How is the publicity coming?  
JOE: I worked on a one page publicity blurb which I want to run by Carol before I share it with you.  
CALLIOPE: When will that be ready?  
JOE: Hopefully in the next day or so.  
CALLIOPE: How about your column on peace?  
JOE: It is just about finished. I heard from a good number of readers what gives them a sense of peace. It turned out as well as I expected. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 18 Navigating Life and Good Fortune

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I'm glad not to have a doctor appointment as I have had each day this week.  
CALLIOPE: Anything wrong?  
JOE: No. Two visits were checkups with my primary and arthritis doctors. All is in good order in my body as far as I can tell. I even came away with one less prescription than I had before. The third appointment was to give blood for an arthritis study on markers for arthritis. I don't quite understand the technicalities but I guess I don't need to.  
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear things are going well. What do you make of it?  
JOE: I remember my friend Steve D'Annunzio saying that misfortune in your life can be taken as a sign that you need to change something. I was just wondering if there is a message from God in good fortune too.  
CALLIOPE: What do you think it might be?  
JOE: Maybe that I am on the right track with alerting people to consider how they live their lives and what the effect is on people.  
CALLIOPE: That's the goal of your book, _Navigating Life_ , isn't it?  
JOE: It is.  
CALLIOPE: So now what?  
JOE: I had been thinking about what direction to take with my writing once this book is published.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I think I should continue with this theme. I have started on a book of commonsense wisdom for teens and think I should get back into that project. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 19 Lao Tsu and Inspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's with the new title above?  
JOE: It's a long story. My friend Gerry and I were corresponding about my publicity for _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: We got to discussing how to get people's attention with hooks, a skill which does not come naturally to me.  
CALLIOPE: I'm with you so far.  
JOE: He suggested that I was working too hard and expecting results when it might be more important to sit back and listen for inspiration.  
CALLIOPE: I could have told you that.  
JOE: I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake. I know you are constantly whispering in my ear but I'm too busy blathering to hear you.  
CALLIOPE: So what did you do?  
JOE: I started rereading Lao Tsu's _Tao Teh Ching_ yesterday.  
CALLIOPE: Then what?  
JOE: I woke up at 3:00 Am this morning with my head full of ideas which prompted me to get out of bed and write them down before they disappeared.  
CALLIOPE: I'm glad Gerry, Lao Tsu and I could help.  
JOE: So am I. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 20 Let Us Rejoice

JOE: Good morning Calliope. Haec dies quem fecit Dominus.  
CALLIOPE: Help me out. My Latin's a little rusty.  
JOE: Okay. This is the day the Lord has made.  
CALLIOPE: You sound excited.  
JOE: I am. Finally my book, _Navigating Life_ is on its way back to the printer, text, cover and corrections.  
CALLIOPE: Great. Now back to the waiting.  
JOE: Still, it's a relief. I suppose this gets easier with time. I find getting everything just right a challenge.  
CALLIOPE: I take it you're not the obsessive compulsive type.  
JOE: Right. I am more the impulsive type. I think my personality is more suited to the freewheeling process of writing.  
CALLIOPE: And less toward the minutia of publishing?  
JOE: Exactly so. As Clint Eastwood put it, "A man's got to know his limitations."  
CALLIOPE: Glad you recognize yours. Have you thought of seeking a traditional publisher for this aspect?  
JOE: I have, but so far it only led to frustration on my previous attempts. This time I did not even seriously consider finding an agent or publisher. Maybe one of these days I'll have a go at it again.  
CALLIOPE: At least you got this far. Now what?  
JOE: Back to work on marketing and publicity. Talk with you on Monday.

### December 22 Lessons of Cancer

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Not bad. Yesterday was quite a reflective day.  
CALLIOPE: What was going on?  
JOE: I attended a memorial service for a friend at Unity Church.  
CALLIOPE: How did she die?  
JOE: Metastatic breast cancer. Three members of our church were diagnosed with breast cancer in quick succession, including my life partner, Carol. Kat was the second one to die and Carol is the only survivor of the three.  
CALLIOPE: Scary.  
JOE: I've discovered there is no way to predict what will happen in life. Carol and I are grateful that things turned out the way they did for her but are sad to lose the other two.  
CALLIOPE: What did you learn from yesterday?  
JOE: That life is precious, unpredictable and to be treasured one day at a time.  
CALLIOPE: All good lessons.  
JOE: I think so. It's easy to take life for granted when things are going well. It takes incidents like this to remind us that we don't live forever and have only today to count on for sure.  
CALLIOPE: I hope you use your day productively.  
JOE: I will do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 23 Notes on Democracy

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Energized.  
CALLIOPE: What brought that about?  
JOE: I have started each of the past two days and this morning with cross country skiing in the streets around our house.  
CALLIOPE: I guess that's a benefit of feet of snow. What else is going on?  
JOE: Marketing. I have concluded that there are two possible audiences for my book. One thoughtful and one less thoughtful.  
CALLIOPE: How did you reach that conclusion?  
JOE: Through my review of H.L. Mencken's' _Notes on a Democracy_.  
CALLIOPE: What did you learn?  
JOE: Glad you asked. Here is the review:

*****

Review- H.L. Mencken- Notes on Democracy

H.L. Mencken's _Notes on Democracy_ reemerges in a new edition just in time to pillory the ravages of what democracy has become in our country, in practice if not in theory. I have always been an undying optimist and therefore approached this volume with some trepidation. Do I want my cherished beliefs shaken? Mencken assures us that none of us do, whether there is any reasonable basis for our beliefs or not. He categorizes "democratic man" as having an eighty percent chance of being by nature unable to think critically. He goes on to examine the faults of every aspect of our democratic form of government and of those who inhabit its various offices as well as those responsible for electing and/or appointing them.

In the end he leaves us with no suggestions for how to proceed, seeing himself as "not engaged in therapeutics, but in pathology." How can we respond to his scathing attack on democracy other than to throw up our hands in despair? This question haunted me throughout my reading of this volume. In the end I decided Mencken's work is best approached as one does a political cartoon. Lampooning our beliefs prods up to reexamine them with two thoughts in mind. One is Socrates' statement as his heresy trial, "The unexamined life is not worth living." The other is John Adams' observation, "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself." Is there a way we can create an exception?

*****

CALLIOPE: Interesting thoughts. Sounds like you stretched yourself in reading it.  
JOE: I did. I found it challenged some of my closely held beliefs about people and their capabilities.  
CALLIOPE: Did it help you in writing your publicity flier.  
JOE: Yes. It's not quite ready yet but I'll share it with you when it is. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 24 Christmas Greetings

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Fine. I just got back in the house with Carol from our fourth day in a row cross country skiing.  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun.  
JOE: It is, especially when we can do it in the local streets.  
CALLIOPE: Anything particular on your agenda today?  
JOE: Just preparing for Christmas. I created a few Christmas cards with Printmaker and also a few gift certificates for _Navigating Life_.  
CALLIOPE: Is the book ready yet?  
JOE: Not quite. I am waiting for the final proof which I expect to arrive any day. That's why I'm giving out gift certificates. I thought I would have the book in hand but not quite.  
CALLIOPE: You sound remarkably patient.  
JOE: I'm working on it. I think it goes hand in hand with maintaining a sense of peace which is my goal lately.  
CALLIOPE: Do you feel at peace today?  
JOE: I do and hope to stay that way. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you and all readers who wander by.

### December 26 Boxing Day and the Feast of Stephen

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your Christmas?  
JOE: Quite nice, I spent the last two days enjoying the company of friends and relatives and did not get near the computer (at least not for very long.)  
CALLIOPE: Sometimes it's a welcome break.  
JOE: My friend Gerry keeps reminding me that I tend to become over involved in writing and thinking about it and need a little variety in my life.  
CALLIOPE: Do you pay attention?  
JOE: Usually for a brief time and then jump right back in to the literary part of myself.  
CALLIOPE: And today?  
JOE: I think I might take a little time for myself now that I've been fully immersed in socialization for a couple days.  
CALLIOPE: And do what?  
JOE: Perhaps I will do some painting. I think I might spend at least some time at the next table where my art materials wait patiently.  
CALLIOPE: Do you have any projects in mind?  
JOE: I started a lighthouse sketch. Maybe I'll work on it. Talk with you tomorrow.

### December 27 Inspiration and Perspiration

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Inspired. By the way, what time were you at work this morning?  
CALLIOPE: Why do you ask?  
JOE: I was up at ten to five with two inspirations floating in my consciousness.  
CALLIOPE: Well...  
JOE: I thought so.  
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the inspirations.  
JOE: One was about inspiration and perspiration which had thought of for my next column. I realized I was on the right track.  
CALLIOPE: And the other?  
JOE: My friend Gerry had suggested a conversational tone for my publicity flier I am preparing for Navigating Life.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I wasn't quite sure how to do it.  
CALLIOPE: And that was your second inspiration?  
JOE: It was. Since I am distributing my flier mostly on the Internet, why not embed a video where I can introduce myself and my book?  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea.  
JOE: I think so. I'm on it. Talk with you on Monday.

### December 29 Cranking Up Publicity

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?  
JOE: Rested. I enjoyed my social activities the past few days and I'm ready to get back to work.  
CALLIOPE: You mean you put aside anything literary?  
JOE: For the most part. I spent some time yesterday painting. The rest was at church and out to friends' house for dinner and cards.  
CALLIOPE: What do you have planned for this week?  
JOE: I have a column to get out for Saturday and think I might start with that.  
CALLIOPE: What are you writing about?  
JOE: I think I mentioned my idea about creativity, inspiration and perspiration. I think I will use that theme.  
CALLIOPE: I recall it. Sounds like a good one to start the new year. What else is brewing?  
JOE: My idea about videos for publicity. I'm still waiting for my new bound galley for Navigating Life. I expect it sometime this week and want to be ready when it arrives.  
CALLIOPE: Give me some specifics.  
JOE: I told you about the introductory video I plan to add to my publicity flier. I haven't decided where to post it but am considering YouTube. That's first. I'll tell you about the rest tomorrow.

### December 30 Liber Natus Est

JOE: Good morning Calliope.  
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Help me out a little. I'm more familiar with Greek than with Latin.  
JOE: The title above translates as, "The book is born."  
CALLIOPE: Sounds like good news.  
JOE: It is. I received the revised bound galley of Navigating Life in the mail yesterday and am ready for my sales promotion.  
CALLIOPE: Where do you start?  
JOE: I sent a message to the printer saying everything looks fine. I am waiting for them to set up my sales page. I also have some personal orders to fulfill locally.  
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. It seem like it has been a long haul.  
JOE: It seems that way to me too. I don't seem to be getting any more patient as I age.  
CALLIOPE: At least you know your limitations. What's your next step?  
JOE: Publicity. I almost have my flier ready. Today I will work on recording a video clip to include.  
CALLIOPE: Anything else?  
JOE: As a matter of fact there is. Last night I ran across a wonderful little passage on Reflection by a fellow member of one of my online groups.  
CALLIOPE: And?  
JOE: I have asked his permission to use his passage in my promotional materials. I'm waiting for his response. Well, that's it for another year. Talk with you next year.

##  About the Author

Dr. Langen graduated from the University of Illinois in 1971 with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.

He worked at Temple University Counseling Center offering individual and group therapy for Temple students.

He next worked with delinquent boys at De La Salle in Towne, an alternative high school and treatment program in Philadelphia.

He then moved to Western New York where he worked as Supervising Psychologist at Genesee County Mental Health Services in Batavia, specializing in treatment of teens and substance abusers.

At DePaul Mental Health in Rochester he held the position of Chief Psychologist and Child and Adolescent Team Leader, offering individual, family and group counseling. He also participated in the Child Abuse Treatment Program.

He then entered private practice, offering individual and family therapy with children, teens and adults which he conducted in Williamsville NY and Batavia NY.

He began writing a newsletter for his private practice on commonsense wisdom topics. In 2000, he switched to Internet articles which he continues to publish online as **Sliding Otter Newsletter** which is available by free subscription at www.slidingotter/sign-up-for-free-newsletter. His articles are also available on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

### Books

Dr. Langen's books are all available at Smashwords. Here is the list:

**Series: Mindfulness for Today** (Vol. 1).–A collection of reflections on daily life.

Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life (Edition 2, Vol.1)–A collection of reflections on everyday life events.

Navigating Life: Commonsense Reflections for the Voyage _(Vol2.)–_ A second collection of reflections.

Series: Calming Emotional Storms in Your Life

Release Your Stress and Reclaim Your Life _(Vol.1)–_ a book about understanding and managing your stress.

From Violence to Peace (Vol.2)–An examination of violence and what to do about it.

How to Transform Your Anger and Find Peace _(Vol 3)_ –An exploration of anger, its origins, consequences and what to do about it.

Other Books:

Young Man of the Cloth–a memoir of his nine years in the Catholic seminary and monastery.

The Pastor's Inferno _–_ a novel about an abusive priest coming to terms with his abuse.

Make the Best of Your Teen Years: 105 Ways to Do It _–_ Poetry, stories and interviews with teens about their lives.

Stress Briefly Noted–A FREE abridged version of _Release Your Stress and Reclaim Your Life_.

What To Do About Violence–A brief ebook about the nature of violence and how to approach it on personal, family, community and government levels.

Conversations with My Muse: A Year with Calliope conversations with my muse about the writing process over the course of a year.

### Dr. Langen's Blogs

_Chats with My Muse–_ a dialog with his muse, Calliope, about the writing process: Its challenges and delights, available at http://www.slidingotter.wordpress.com **.**

_Anger in America–_ news and comments about anger available at http://www.angerinamerica.wordpress.com.

_Rethinking Violence_ –articles and thoughts about violence, available at http://www.facingviolenceblog.wordpress.com.

_Make the Best of Your Teen Years–_ articles and reflections for teens available at www.bestteenyears.wordpress.com.

### Free Newsletter

Sliding Otter Newsletter provides articles, reviews and excerpts from Dr. Langen's books. Available by free subscription at www.slidingotter.com/sign-up-for-free-newsletter. (No obligation, cancel whenever you want.)

### Website

See more information about Dr. Langen's writings at: http://www.slidingotter.com.

### Contact

Dr Langen would love to hear from you about his writing at jlangen@gmail.com.

### Personal Note

I wrote this book as a brief look at what I have learned about stress through my own personal experience and from my years of working with individuals, families and couples. I see this book as a brief lead-in to a more peaceful life for you and to a more peaceful world for you to live in. **If you agree and find this book helpful, please consider writing a review.**

## References

Dante Allegheiri, _The Divine Comedy_ , Signet, 1982.

Richard Bayer, _The Good Person Guidebook_ , Five O'Clock Books, 2008.

James Bell, _Revision and Self Editing_ , Writers Digest, 2008.

Jack Canfield **,** _Chicken Soup for the Soul_ _,_ HCI, 2001.

Lee Child, _N_ _othing to Lose_ , Dell, 2009.

Robin Conley-Weaver **,** _What Really Matters to Me_ , Walking Stick Press, 2000.

W.W. Crocker, III, _Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church_ _,_ Three  
Rivers Press, 2003.

Umberto Eco, _The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loanna_ , Harvest Books, 2006.

Gary Finley, _The Essential Laws of Fearless Living,_ Red Wheel/ Weiser, 2008.

Sigmund Freud, _Civilization and Its Discontents_ , Norton, 2005.

Robert Frost, _Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening_ _,_ Dutton, 2001.

Barbara Kingsolver, _The Poisonwood Bible,_ **Harper** Perennial, 2008.

Joseph G. Langen, _Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life_ **,** Sliding Otter Publications,  
2004.

Joseph G. Langen **,** _Marital Property_ _,_ Sliding Otter Publications, In Press.

Joseph G. Langen, _Navigating Life: Commonsense Reflections for the Voyage_ , Sliding  
Otter Publications, 2009.

Joseph G. Langen, _The Pastor's Inferno_ , Sliding Otter Publications, 2008.

Joseph G. Langen, _Young Man of the Cloth_ _,_ Sliding Otter Publications, 2005.

Tom and Marilyn Ross, _Complete Guide to Self Publishing_ _,_ Writers Digest Books, 2002.

H.L. Mencken, _Notes on Democracy_ , Holmes Press, 2008.

Laureen Moseo (Ed.), _The_ _Craft and Business of Writing_ , Writers Digest Books, 2008.

Denis Prince _, How to Make Money on MySpace_ , McGraw- Hill, 2008.

Miguel Ruiz, _The Mastery of Love_ _,_ Amber-Allen, 2002.

Salman Rushdie, _The Satanic Verses_ , Random House, 2008.

Danielle Steele _, Safe Harbor_ , Random House, 2004.

Eckhart Tolle, _A New Earth_ , Penguin, 2008.

Eckhart Tolle, _The Power of Now_ _,_ New World Library, 2004.

Lao Tsu, _Tao Teh Ching_ , St John's University Press, 1961.

Jerome Wright, **Blog Marketing** , McGraw-Hill, 2005.

