Nothin To Say, Don't Say Nothin

Boy if that isn't the truth.

Well, actually, maybe not so much the truth as an excuse as how and/or why I haven't written anything here since Christmas.

Was I recovering from mass consumption of liquored eggnog? 

Did all the gifts I receive weigh me down too much?

Was I bad during the year that Santa didn't bring me my wildly anticipated collection of Weird Al DVDs?

Now while I would love to say at least 1 of those were true, I don't believe any of them were. Though that first one would have been tempting... minus the egg and nog.

Actually I have been busy buying books. (and yes, for those who know me, I have actually read parts of them). And yes, I took my girlfriend and her daughter to the Weird Al concert last Friday at the Family Arena in St. Charles. (That's how I roll).

Books bought this year include: (no affiliate links included)

• “A Brilliant Novel in the Works” by Yuvi Zalkow
• “Whiskey-Pissing Unicorns: How to Lose or Quit Your Job and Become a Badass Writer” by  Lisa Creech Bledsoe and Sonja Foust
• “Bagels, Dirty Limericks, and Martinis: The Badass Guide to Writing Your First Book” by Lisa Creech Bledsoe and Sonja Foust
• “How to Write aNonfiction eBook in 21 Days - That Readers LOVE!” by Steve Scott
• “How I Wrote 2 eBooks in 21 Days; Damn Funny. Seriously” by Glen Stanford
• “Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify” by Francine Jay
• “Burst Productivity: How You Can Get It Done Now” by Dennis Crosby
• “Creative Writing Strategies: Writing Exercises Workbook” by Marjorie J. McDonald
• “30 Days to Unlock Your Creative Writing Brilliance: Creative Writing Ideas, Exercises, and Tips to Ignite the Fire of Your Creative Genius” by Katie Cavanaugh
• “Shut Up & Write!” by Judy Bridges

So yes, I have been stalling quiet well with the writing portion of being a writer, at least with how this blog gets along. And no, I haven't made it all the way through any of the above books (just bought Yuvi's today, so give me a break on that one).

With that in mind, I hope by reading some portions of these I am able to give that activity credit for this post being written.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the eggnog-less eggnog I just got last night.

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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I Missed Him as well Friend

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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David Stoddard
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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One Fine Mess Continues To Grow

What you see here is not necessarily my mess, though I suppose it does look a bit like this. My stuff is messily tucked away in drawers and cabinets and on tables and under tables and even in a drawer within the very table paper and stuff is on top of as well as under. (But I digress).

A few weeks back, (something like 17 weeks back), I started the process of maybe getting ready to get rid of some piles of papers. Many sheets (about 5 percent) made it all the way from their "home" no what was to be the lid where they would await my trip to the trashcan.

So, long story made longer, this lid has been their new current home for the past 17 said weeks. They will eventually find their way to the shredded (if needed) and the recycle bin.

I think they are still here just because I may need the information or random ramblings which may be found on them, in the near future. Actually, I have no real idea what is on them. That would involve re-reading it all again.

As I like to say (see title of this blog entry), ya gotta get rid of some stuff so you can make room for more (and better) stuff.

Well, during the past group of weeks, I have managed to squeeze in more stuff WITHOUT officially getting rid of previous stuff. So as viewers of hoarders can testify to, this stuff can really add up.(Just so you know, some of the new stuff has made it onto the seat of the rocking chair (well, a chair that rocks but not your typical rocking chair).

My suggestion, and trust me, I know what I am typing, is to get rid of some of your stuff. Get it out of the way. If you haven't looked at it for a few months and it isn't all that important for say taxes, business, birthday shopping lists or whatev, get rid of it. I can almost guaranteed there will be more to take it's place before you know it.

So tell me, how much of a mess are you living in?  Oh wait. I mean are you living in a mess of papers, files, stuff you once thought was important and would read it for years to come only to realize you have not looked at it since you got it/printed it?

Let me know. Your secret is safe here.

--David

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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Bullying Needs To Stop

Jessica Barba is a high school student who put this video together for one of her classes. The school suspended her because it interrupted the school.  Read the article here.

Help get the word out that it is time to end Bullying.





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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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Make Good Art - Neil Gaiman

Take 20 minutes and watch Neil Gaiman's graduation address to the 2012 class of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. So many tips we all can work with.

So tell us, if you were to give a commencement address, what would you say?
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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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Aww, You Shouldn't Have - The Liebster Blog Award

I must, I must, I must improve my bust. 

No, that isn't it.

I must take a moment to thank Paul for his "Out of his mind only for a moment" nomination of me, myself and I's blog. I take it he might have had better things to do, but I'll take it.

His blog It was a Dark And Stormy Night is not only named with the line which has never been overused in my own creative writing moments back in the day (Snoopy and I are like "that"), but it is humorous, educational and motivating. His post today (May 8th, 2012, in case years from now we are still reading blogs) also has me contemplating total home cleaning, which will obviously lead to the need to pitch a whole lot o stuff.

The Liebster is a pay-it-forward kind of award, meaning that once you receive the award, you pass it on to others. the rules are as follows:

1. Thank the person that gave you the award in a post on your site

2. Nominate up to five blogs with less than 200 followers

3. Let the nominees know they've won by leaving a comment on one of their posts

4. Add the Liebster image above so all your readers know that you are generally awesome.

I am guessing that 4th one is true as well, but I may never know since I creatively just copied those from Paul's blog.

In the process of coming up with those who fit the criteria, it dawned on me either I don't read much, or what I do read, seemingly everyone else is reading these folks as well. (So this too shall be something I must work on). 

So anyhoo... without delaying the proceedings any longer (other than starting this off with "So anyhoo... without delaying the proceedings any longer"), the nominees are:

• Sara Walpert Foster: Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition
• Laird Sapir: Shabby Chic Sarcasm 
• Angie Buckner Lay: Motivational Musings

I know there are probably a few million blogs I left out. So if there are others you'd recommend, feel free to add them to the comments. Make it a great day. Now get to reading.

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David Stoddard "What I Don't Know"
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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When Ya Started Writing - The Results

In a totally unscientific survey of only the best minds on Twitter, Facebook and pretty much the whole world wide web thing (meaning anyone who either accidentally or on purpose chose to answer the question in the survey of April 19th), we have learned that a majority of said folks started writing as a child.

My favorite (and I guess that's why it was an option) was the 1 respondent who choose "None of your business :-)  With the smiley face as part of the choice, I am guessing it was in jest or they are just being very very secretive about their pre-childhood beginnings.

The chart may be tough to read, so here are the results of the 17 votes:

• Started writing as a child - 9 
• Started in my teens - 6 
• Started in my 50s - 1 
• None of your business :-) - 1
  

The survey is still open (and probably will be until the Mayan Calendar says enough is enough). For those who may not have taken it, visit the survey here.

Last question since I need ideas, what are you planning on having for dinner on Mother's Day? (May 13th for those who may have forgotten).

Thanks for your suggestions.

~David

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard

Simple Survey For Writers

Call me nosey, or maybe just a tad lazy at the moment by putting a survey together (all 1 question of it). Part of this is just a test to see how it may work. The other part of this is because Blogger changed their look and I'm still getting used to it, so thought something simple would be nice to attempt before writing some long-winded post (which I've been known to do).

So feel free to take the single question survey. If you don't see it, that means the survey has closed. (It's a technical thing I vaguely understand how that will work).

Enjoy yourself for the next 17 or so seconds it takes to read and choose. Results will be published at the end of the month.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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I Gave A Speech Today

It was a day like any other day. I woke up, headed to the basement, found clothes, got dressed and headed to where the speech was to be held.

Had my room temperature glass of water, my notes in my head, shoes on my feet as the audience arrived at the precise time I was there. They were pretty quiet as they came in and took their spots. Their eyes wandering around just wondering what the speech would be about.

Here's the kicker, 

Neither Did I

I didn't have the heart to tell em that I really didn't know exactly what my own speech would be about, how long it would be or what good it would really do them.

But the speech went on. I talked about my own times of not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I talked of what I remember thinking as a child growing up. I wanted the audience to know that they were not alone in what they were thinking.

In the end, the things I wanted to let them know were that they were better than they believed. That they already had an idea in their mind of what they wanted to be, do and have if they would just listen to themselves. That they should just get back to what they started years ago. And that they should start today, no matter how small of a step it may seem.

Damn I can be good

After the presentation, the audience stuck with me. They seemed to be thinking of what I had said. As they moved along to their normal routine of the day, I can only hope that they took what I had said to heart and will begin doing something to move in the direction of their dreams.

I gave a speech today.

The audience was I, and I alone.

I only hope I was listening.

Writing Time...

• Write about a time you were by yourself
• Write about what you learned during that time
• Write about standing up and speaking out about something
• Write about having to write at the end of all of these postings

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Watch Out For That Train

I can not begin to tell you how many times I have found myself heading in the right direction, coming up with the right idea, the right plan of action, the perfect fit for what it was I was going to be doing.

I even wrote down these ideas, came up with goals, had a rough idea of what the steps would be along the way, what it would mean once reaching a given step on the journey and had them taped to every surface I would come in contact with on a given day to be sure I would see them.

And yup, there they were. On the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, front door, back door, pantry, computer monitor, desk drawers, underwear drawer, washing machine, hair dryer, television screen, pool table, radio, CD player, dog's water dish, oven door, coffee table, humming bird feeder, lawn mower, steering wheel, trunk, visor mirror, gas can and bird bath.

They were everywhere.

Problem came that not a lot got done other than having the idea, a goal of sorts and a whole list of things I was going to do to move things forward and a bunch of paper taped on every possible location as you just read. Yes, there was some space left for humans to exist. (just no where to set a drink).

You see, all of these ideas fit. They made sense. They were what I believed I wanted. But that's all there was, these ideas and sheets taking up space. For so long, not much else got done. Sure, I had to go to the office supply place and get more paper and ink, (so I sorta felt I was doing something). But in all actually, I wasn't doing anything about it.

Yes, I was on the right track.

But I was just sitting there.

As Will Rogers has been known to write:

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Now, to the best of my knowledge, I wasn't exactly run over by anything. But it did feel as if I wasn't getting anywhere despite having everything necessary to get moving.

Fact is, you need to do something with this information you have written down and act upon it.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Now don't just sit there, get up, go get that list of dreams, goals, ideas and whatnot you have in that bottom desk drawer you've been hiding from others (including yourself) and read it over. Feel free to add more things to your list(s).

Now look for something you want to begin this moment. What is the first step toward you doing that? Can you do it right now after reading this? Can you do it in less than 20 minutes? Is it within your control to do it or do others need to be involved?

Just do that first simple thing. It's a start. Momentum will begin to take you toward the next step. and the next and the next.

If you get stuck, start again with something simple and go from there.

--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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