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HISTORY MATTERS MORE THAN OPINIONS? USUALLY

History matters when someone starts explaining things beyond their grasp. If you don’t understand the basics of a single topic, then everything sounds authoritative. So how is it possible to tell the difference between a crackpot and a legitimate source? If you trust a blogger who gets with it an a daily basis, you’re on […]

NEEDY READERS? GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT

What do needy readers want? Tastes change, fads come and go, but the top selling book of all time is pretty clear. Across all platforms one book stands higher than all the rest. Do you need a hint? Think ‘Tale of Two Cities.’ Wait, that’s the title. Damn. The big question: Is it worthy? What […]

BOOMER WRITER WHO DOESN’T WRITE EXPLAINS ‘PROCESS’

You’ve seen the boomer writer in a coffee shop, or at least used to before covid took up residence. They have a table, a backpack, and coffee, while they unpack like a campout. That’s the early stage. Later, they show their work place, a replica of the one they wanted to avoid, their home desk. […]

BLOGGER COMMUNITY, NOT A WRITING COMMUNITY

The blogger community runs parallel to the writing community. From most vantage points, it’s looks similar, but it’s not. The biggest difference is accountability, and that means money, a question of either making money, spending money, or both. The correct answer is both.

BOOTLICKER: A TASTEFUL EXAMPLE OF STYLE

A bootlicker comes in all shapes and sizes. Baby boomers are bootlickers with years of experience. If you want some expert advice on how to lick a boot, find an old person, but not too old, and ask questions.

WRITERS WORK TO EXPLAIN WITHOUT BEING A JERK

Writers work, readers read, and somewhere between the two an agreement happens. Sometimes the agreement includes a reader who stops reading while the writer keeps writing. That’s what writers do. Readers look for the next story, something more worthy of their time. Then this happened:

WALKING THE WALK LIKE YOU MEAN IT, THEN TALK THE TALK

Walking the walk? I’ve heard it, so have you, but what’s it really mean? Really? It seems so obvious, but not when you hear people talk the talk without walking the walk. How can we tell the difference?

HISTORY SPEAKS IN A LOUD VOICE FROM A ROOF TOP

History speaks in a loud voice, sometimes too loud. And if it tells something uncomfortable, the only thing louder is denial. A boompdx reader checked in to ask about the Fox Theater posts. Why all the Broadway posts. “All two of them?” I said.

THE HISTORY WRITER YOU NEED, THE STORY YOU GET

Every history writer has a To Be Read stack of books. I like to think most people have the same stack. The difference for a writer is most of their books To Be Read explain how to write. I’m finally able to say they helped me. How? Thank you for asking.

EMPATHY ADDICTION: IT HURTS WHEN I FEEL

Is empathy addiction a call to action every time you feel something so intensely you have to do something? “That could’ve been me; I’ll make sure it never happens again.”