What I like most about writing and what I think other writers like the most is just knowing you can create a character or place or an event that didn't exist ten minutes before. Writing is a sense of power in that you control everything on the page. After time and work when you see that character develop it is an awesome feeling. It is easy to get lost in this fake reality, as well as fun and rewarding. Writers are somewhat different I suppose in their personalities, I know I am, but I like how different I am and I like how different other writers are. I love to use my imagination and that's what all of us writers do, I thrive on it, as I am sure you do. Many times I meditate every morning and I urge everyone to get into this practice. I find it calming, stress relieving, and emotionally cleansing. Many writing ideas come forward as well as characters in my morning meditations. I generally meditate to practice dismissing negative thoughts. Over the years I have found that it works quite well. Sometimes it helps me to have patience in my writing when I have no ideas. Mediation keeps me grounded. Like I said I urge everyone to meditate. It takes practice and you may not see results at first, but keep trying because it is very helpful and healthy. For those of you that do meditate, what comes to you in your mediation? what do you find helpful in this practice? So to all my writer friends, keep creating.
Keith
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In the 25 years that I've made a living as an alcohol and drug counselor, whether in rehabs or prison's, I have seen so much talent in individuals. Addicts and inmates are some of the most talented people you will ever run across. I have seen talented writers, musicians, artists, the list goes on and on and is unbelievable. There is also great talent in street performers and in you, whoever is reading this. It appears it is in who you know in this world. That and a lot of hard work and dedication. That is ok, however, because we write not to be famous, or at least I don't. I write and play music, not for how much money I can make, but to live out my passion. I write and play music because I have something to say and I want people to hear it. The money part of it would be a bonus. It is simple for me, I write and play music or my soul dies. Sure, we want to make a dollar or two, and perhaps in the back of our heads there are the dreams of making a living at our craft, but for now, we have to be thankful for what we have. Some of the people I have worked with in institutions will never even have the opportunity for anyone to read their work, hear their music. So let's be thankful we have an avenue for our work to seen or heard. May we all have the passion, the obsessive dedication, the self-discipline, the desire and the confidence to keep doing what we do.
Keith Last week I signed a publishing agreement with www.ldbpress.com/ for three books titled the Symphony of Life, its sequel, The Instruments of Life, and a third one titled, Tomorrow Is The Last Day. A month ago I signed another publishing agreement with kellanpublishing.com/ for another book titled The Family Tree. I am very excited about the release of these novels, which hopefully will be released within this year.
The Symphony of Life is about a woman in a dead-end job, and what she feels a dead-end life. She is searching for herself in a world as we all are I suppose. She deals with the human condition through many quirky friends and situations. In the sequel, The instruments of life, it continues her story and the trials an tribulations she goes through. Of course, it is a quirky read as well. Tomorrow is the last day tells about a drug and alcohol counselor on the night before he retires. He is reflecting back over his career and life, and the mistakes he has made as well as his accomplishments. The Family tree tells the story of a family beginning in the late 1800s up until the present. It talks about each character of the time and also covers big events throughout the history of the last hundred plus years. It is full of struggles as we all go through in our families as well as the struggles in society. I will keep you all notified of these releases and thanks for your support. Keith I viewed the movie Green Book on Friday night. Excellent movie. There are few movies I watch and think to myself I could watch again, however this is one I could watch again. The flow between the two actor's character's is amazing. On one hand it is not surprising, on the other hand unbelievable how much racism there was back then and it was only fifty years ago. On some levels, as we all know it is still prevalent. Being raised in the South in the seventies and eighties, East Texas, I saw my share of racism towards African Americans. I remember my parents telling me as a boy, "Don't swim with black people because their skin comes off in the water," or "Don't drink after them or you may get sick." Unbelievable, my parents were ignorant to say the least. I will not give the movie away in case you have not seen it. It is a movie that can teach us all a lesson or two. A movie that will take us back to how we were raised and the thoughts that were placed on us by the people who raised us. Not necessarily about racism, but about many aspects of early teachings in our lives.
I was in the 5th grade in the late seventies when integration began in my town. We were traumatized, not by the kids being bussed in, but by what our parents told us about those kids. I won't go into what our parents told us, you can use your imagination. Anyway, back to the movie. The closeness that these two characters in the film developed is heartwarming and you can actually feel their emotions. Not many movies make me feel this way. What an excellent film. take care, Keith I look around each day and almost everyone I see are on some sort of electronic device. Cell phone, computer, I pad, you name it. People don't communicate face to face nearly as much.They just punch in a bunch of letters and hit the send button. People are not even aware of their surroundings anymore, they have no clue what is happening around them because they are always looking at some sort of screen. This can be very dangerous, especially the city I live in. The majority of people don't know who is even around them. Someone could knock them in the head and take everything they own, and they wouldn't even see it coming because of being on the phone, or computer, whatever. What really gets me, and try this yourself, if you are not preoccupied with your phone (lol) . I go to a restaurant and I see an entire family on their devices and they don't even talk to each other. I saw a family sit the other day for nine minutes and none of them spoke to one another. I noticed a couple the other day that sat there for thirty minutes and had on short conversation. Unbelievable. Go without your phone for a day, and let me know how you feel about it. Get this, I do not own a cell phone, I know you probably don't believe me, but it is true. I also have not watched television, besides movies on weekends, since 2005, life is much easier this way trust me. Cya.
Keith |
AuthorKeith Kelly currently lives in Rio Rancho New Mexico. Archives
October 2020
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