Fat Man in Paradise Turns One

Empire state building

Twelve years ago I decided I would write my great novel.  I enrolled in an on line writing course and learned all about writing:

1.      Query letter

2.      Synopsis

3.      Word Count

4.      Genre 

5.      Character development

Most importantly I learned

1.      To never send my writings to be reviewed as an attachment,

2.      To make sure all scripts were double spaced

3.      That I must use spell check

4.      Follow the rules of grammar.

There are a few comical aspects to the outcome of my writing course experience:

Jakarta Post article archives from March, 2001 | AccessMyLibrary

1.      I signed up for the course after four years of being published as a weekly children’s health feature for the Jakarta post; “Dr. Donya’s Kid’s Health Corner” Donya would compose the article and I would rewrite them in layman terms and edit them to meet the Newspapers requirements. 

2.      I did not know that the letter I wrote to the Jakarta Post to get published was called a “query”

3.      After taking the course and having my writing critiqued I felt like I was paying to relive 7^th grade English; not a fun time for me.

All my attempts to write my great novel have been complete failures that are painful for even me to read.  I must confess, accepting I am not capable of writing a book worth reading is a tough lesson to learn and a hard fact to swallow. 

FMIP Ghost Writer Chuck

I stopped writing for quite awhile even stopped writing in my journal but one day a good friend who loves to banter suggested that we work together.  He told me I had something worth saying and that he would publish my blog.  My ego got the better of me and in the case of a “Fat Man in Paradise” history has written itself.   Chuck introduced FMIP 52 weeks ago and during this period we have written and published 78 blogs.

The Fat Man has an international readership from countries such as Chili, Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines, USA, Germany, India, Canada and Indonesia. The top three blogs, year to date:

1.      “Why” posted in July 2011

2.      “I am so focused I do not see” Feb. 2012

3.      “Immortality isn’t easy” Jan 2012

13 yrs flys by popee age 9 mo's

When I share with others that I write a blog I am often times asked if I get paid for it or if I make money from it.  I have written around 60,000 words accumulated in blocks of 700 at a rate of one to two times per week for the last 52 weeks.   I feel proud, I feel accomplished and I feel exposed.  For me the blog is an open journal for public consumption. I write about the issues that I am dealing with in my quest to ideal mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and financial health and fitness.  The Blog is my therapy it allows me to focus on me and hear my body speak. Fat Man In Paradise brings balance to my life and I receive peace and calm from writing it.  To be honest the rewards I receive from exposing myself the way I have over the last year are better than any pay check I could imagine. 

I am only unique in who I am but not in the way I think or live. Writing is great medicine, journaling allows for complete honesty and honesty is a corner stone to success. let’s everyone make this coming year the year of truth;  if you are not keeping  journal begin and if you are continue to do so. Give yourself new material to write about and do something new and different each week even if it means traveling a different route to your neighborhood store, or going to a new market, reading a new book or breaking away from old habits.  You will know you are succeeding when you experience some discomfort from change. Just remember; change is good.

 Go have some fun.

Geo

verandering is goed