THE KOSA INTERNET CENSORSHIP BILL JUST PASSED THE SENATE IT S OUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP IT( culture / writing )
The KOSA Internet Censorship Bill Just Passed The Senate--It's Our Last Chance To Stop It ... read more
A DISCUSSION ON FICTION WRITING( education / research / writing )
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 10:59:08 PM PDT:I found this video interesting as they discussed fiction. Some of you are writers. bitchute.com/video/zWGBT4fNkrEd/Watch on Bitchute ... read more
WRITING MANTRAS( culture / writing / advice )
No, not how to write a mantra. I mean here are a couple of mantras to keep in mind: 1) Most stories are about having something, losing it, and finding it again; 2) Just explain (clearly and concisely) WHAT HAPPENED, and keep it RELATABLE and INTERESTING.... read more
OUR 25TH YEAR( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
Can you believe we've been whois.com/whois/friendnews.comonline since 1999 !?!? Even more unbelievable, we STILL have almost no audience! Truly amazing. Shouting into the void for a quarter century. Quite impressive, no? Anyone reading this can honestly say they're special!
Please leave a co... read more
DIARY: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023( culture / writing / blog / chores )
Today started, as usual, with feeding /images/cleo-looking-out-window.webpCleo, our Boston terrier , and leaving the back door open. It was cool out but not too cold, and I prop the door open, weather permitting, so she can let herself out. With the back door and storm door being mostly glass, installing a pet door would be diffi... read more
BRAKES ARE IMPORTANT( culture / writing / blog )
I emailed this to my siblings, and the following conversation ensued...
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 03:22:31 PM PST:
Stumbled across this great old photo of our dog Stein attacking a strange man in the back yard of the Edison house
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 3:33 PM
yes, my att... read more
THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF MOVING TO NASHVILLE( culture / writing / blog / nashville )
/images/cities-nashville-reese-witherspoon.webp Tomorrow, August 26, will be my 30th anniversary of having moved from Los Angeles to Nashville.
Re... read more
DAD( culture / writing / poetry )
He came in like a lionAnd went out like a lambA loving gentle good-byeAs I held his soft warm handHis children Greg, Lucy, Steve, Don, Doug, Bill, and IWere his pride and joyLoved by all who knew himEvery man, women, girl, and boyHe would sit and watch his horsesAs they trotted u... read more
THE GREAT POWDER PUFF DERBY RACE( culture / writing / poetry )
The morning was cold and brightEverything was feeling rightI hooked up the horse to the cartOnto the track, we do dart
Jeppy Ho is the gelding I will raceHe has such a jazzy fast paceWe all are excited todayTo me this is just like play
My family is cheering me onThe horses are all pacing alongI pull to the... read more
DEAR BROTHER( culture / writing / poetry / obituaries )
by harmonyhaven.wordpress.com/author/jeanniewomack/Jeannie Number 4 of 7 The middle child was he In his final months of life We rushed to him to see He helped me with my music Keyboard and guitar The thought of him not being here Is really quite bizarre He always wa... read more
A BROTHER DEPARTS( culture / writing / poetry / obituaries )
Always a trailblazer, the first of us to go. Now after the fireworks, he's gone. Here is his neptunesociety.com/obituaries/brentwood-tn/donald-holmes-11357695obituary ... read more
STILL MORE ADVICE FOR WRITERS( culture / writing / advice )
I came across this video last night and thought, Yes! Thank you! This guy (and Lee Child) share my disagreement with the saying, Show, Don't Tell. As Child puts it, You tell a story. You don't show a story. That saying might apply to visual story-telling such as film and TV, not so much the written word.Anyw... read more
THE LAZY PUG CAFE( culture / writing / books / novels )
The Lazy Pug CafeThe Lazy Pug Café was a dilapidated old farmhouse abandoned years ago. A massive, ancient oak tree, Ol' Lightnin', lurked out back... read more
VISITED A FAMILY MEMBER TODAY( culture / writing / blog / health )
I visited a struggling family member today. He still has trouble walking. Has to hold onto things as he goes. Trouble seeing, too. You never know what he can see or not see in front of him. At least he was much less scary/out-of-it today. His ex-wife later told me the doctors had changed his meds, which helped tremendously. For those who don&... read more
FIRST DOCTOR'S VISIT IN YEARS( culture / writing / blog / health )
Yesterday, I had my first doctor's appointment in several years. Hey, I've been healthy. Shocking, I know.There was a sign on the outside door saying masks required, and a sign on the interior door saying the same thing. The receptionist was wearing a mask. I introduced myself. She asked if I needed a mask. I said sure, she gave me on... read more
ANOTHER WAY: BEYOND THE STATUS QUO( culture / writing / books / novels )
Anti-corporate crusader Dobie Pokorny wants to save the world from corporate titans like Colonel Charonne. The latter and his henchmen are determined to stop him. On Dobie's "speaking truth to power" to... read more
INSPIRATION FOR MY NOVELS AND NOVELLAS( culture / writing / books / novels )
I just put this together and thought I'd share it on this blog in addition to my writing platform. ... read more
IN THE MONEY?( culture / writing / books / novels )
Wonderful
On Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 12:19 PMwrote:
I'm waiting for them to buy the movie rights from me?
On Monday, February 21, 2022, 11:32:45 AM PST
Great!
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2022 12:29 PM
Wow... read more
ELEMENTS OF A STORY( culture / writing / advice )
They say...What are the main ELEMENTS OF A STORY? Setting; Character; Plot; Conflict; Theme; Point-of-view; Tone; Style;... but I would put them in order of importance: Character, Conflict, Plot, Point-of-view, Theme, Style, Tone, SettingRead,... read more
THE FADED PAGE( culture / writing / books )
Books in the public domain. Free eBooks forever. FP now includes 6312 eBooks in its collection. : fadedpage.com/fadedpage.com ... read more
INGREDIENTS OF A NOVEL( culture / writing / advice )
VARIOUS WRITERS' RULES Write a draft. Then let it rest. -- Stephen King;Read a lot. -- King;Never use a long word when a short one will do. -- George Orwell;Never use the passive voice when you can use the active voice. -- Orwell;Know and understand your audience... read more
RANDOM BOOK REVIEWS( culture / writing / books / reviews )
From Lionel, January 2013: I just finished reading amazon.com/gp/product/1984817884/refasliqfasiniltl?ieUTF8&taghepyacom-20&creative9325&linkCodeas2&creativeASIN1984817884&linkId4fc8f8cb658bee5dbd1097f488629d75 titleaffiliate linkThe Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour, a histo... read more
LEE CHILD QUOTE( culture / writing / advice )
Don't get it right, get it written! -- jackreacher.com/Lee Child /pages/new-rules-for-writers/New Rules for Writers -- /pages/your-novel-blueprint/Your Novel Blueprint -- /pages/advice-for-writing/Advice for Writing --... read more
FREEWRITE, THE DEVICE FOR DISTRACTION-FREE WRITING( culture / writing / tech )
Article wired.com/2016/02/freewrite/about it here , and the manufacturer's getfreewrite.com/website here . /images/freewrite-machine.webp And one of their founders has a... read more
MY MOST RECENT EBOOKS( culture / writing / books / novels )
Two of my ebooks are available free of charge all month (July) at Smashwords. The links are at the bottom of that page. I've already "sold" five c... read more
MORE ADVICE FOR WRITERS( culture / writing / advice )
People read fiction seeking clarity -- in the payoff at the end of the book -- so, one of the worst things a writer can do is to create confusion. People also read fiction for a taste of something better than their own reality. So, keep it clear and concise and, most importantly, interesting... without getting too implausible. It doesn't ... read more
POLITICAL COMPASS TEST( culture / writing / politics )
Welcome! It's timely to stress that The Political Compass has been on the internet since 2001. The uniqueness of our take on politics is reflected in the gratifyingly enthusiastic reviews we've enjoyed in the national media of many countries from our earliest years -- as well as from many teachers and academics who continue ... read more
THOUGHTS ON WRITING( culture / writing / advice )
Louis L'Amour once said he could write while sitting in the middle of the freeway. That didn't impress me at the time, but now it does.Not one, but two dogs threw up behind me as I wrote. Was that a commentary on my writing? Wouldn't be the first time.As I told these guys in the job interview, If you're wondering where ... read more
THE LAZY PUG CAFE, A NOVEL( culture / writing / books / novels )
My latest short story, based on our real life pugs Daisy, Chandler and Joey, the latter of whom is the only one still alive and barking. See www.amazon.com/dp/B085XM6QW... read more
REVIEW MY BOOKS( culture / writing / books / reviews )
If you've read any of my novels, please give them a review on Amazon (click the book's image, below or on the right, then click the Write a Customer Review button on its Amazon page, to the left), on books.apple.com/us/author/william-arthur-holmes/id1030403584Apple Books , ... read more
GOOD ARTICLE ABOUT STORYTELLING( culture / writing / advice )
Pop culture today is obsessed with the battle between good and evil. Traditional folktales never were. What changed?: getpocket.com/explore/item/the-good-guy-bad-guy-myththe-good-guy-bad-gu... read more
BEST FICTION OF 2019( culture / writing / books / novels )
NO ANNOYING PROMPTS( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
Aren't you glad we don't have any of those annoying pop-up ads asking you to join our newsletter? Ironic, isn't it, given that we are an online newsletter?Please support this website, should you be so inclined: buy one of williamarthurholmes.com/my novels/novellas ; buy ... read more
BEST AND WORST SELF-PUBLISHING SITES( culture / writing / advice )
Good site showing who to trust (or not) when it comes to self-publishing: selfpublishingadvice.org/self-publishing-service-reviews/Self-Publishing Services Rated by the Alliance of Independent Authors /pages/new-rules-for-writers/New Rules for Writers -- /pages/your-novel-bluep... read more
MOST POPULAR SITE ON THE INTERNET( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
This is the 12,157,539th most popular website in the world, according to nibbler.silktide.com/silktide.com ! Wow! We have hit the big time. See image here: /images/friendsnews-nibbler-report.webp... read more
SUPPORT THIS SITE( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
...should you be so inclined:Buy one of amazon.com/William-holmes/e/B00AOR8Y7U/my books at Amazon or smashwords.com/profile/view/holmes3804... read more
HOW TO SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
Please support this website, should you be so inclined: buy one of williamarthurholmes.com/my novels/novellas ; buy me a (virtual) cup of coffee ko-fi.com/holmeswahere or buymeacoffee.com/holmeswahere ; ... read more
HISTORY OF FRIENDSNEWS.COM( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
FYI for those researching insignificant corners of the web: web.archive.org/web/20060902062742/friendsnews.com/Wayback Machine Please support this website, should you be so inclined: buy one of williamarthurholmes.com/my novels/novellas ; b... read more
ALL OF MY BOOKS( culture / writing / books / novels )
Read, listen or watch the rest here: Novels/Novellas... read more
OPERATION DETOUR( culture / writing / books / novels )
Riva, a beautiful young "black ops" agent on her first assignment, tries to turn Alex into her own "asset" just to prove she can. When he loses both his job and his girlfriend, she thinks he's putty in her hands. When he decide... read more
TEMPORARY INSANITY( culture / writing / books / novels )
Long before winning the lottery and running for president, Benny was living in L.A. working as a temporary word processor (typist). For his latest assignment, he thought he was taking just another temp job. He didn't anticipate... read more
RECENTLY-DISCOVERED BOOK REPOSITORY( culture / writing / books )
HathiTrust is a partnership of academic and research institutions, offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world. hathitrust.org/Hathi Trust Digital ... read more
HOW TO MOVE A BOOK STORE( culture / writing / books )
A rent increase forced the owners of October Books to move locations in Southampton. They used a crowd funding campaign and loans to buy a former bank location about 500 feet down the street for $400,000.Cool! upi.com/Odd-News/2018/10/30/Human-chain-helps-British-book-store-move-down-the-street/37815409350... read more
BEST THRILLERS OF ALL-TIME( culture / writing / books / novels )
According to the Telegraph, anyway. An interesting list. Several if not most of th... read more
NOVELS/NOVELLAS( culture / writing / books / novels )
Did I mention I've written a few novels/novellas?Another Way: Beyond the Status Quo"A politically-incorrect manifesto. Anti-corporate crusader Dobie Pokorny wants to s... read more
CATS DISRESPECTING PUGS( culture / writing / pets )
So, I'm lying on the bed with the pug Joey between my legs. No, that's not a figure of speech. /images/sunny-large.webp I'm referring to an actual dog between my calves. Anyway, the cat (Sunny) comes up, thinks about jumping across my legs to the other sid... read more
NOVELLAS AND NOVELS( culture / writing / books / novels )
Free novellaTemporary Insanity"Long before winning the lottery and running for president, Benny was li... read more
WRITERS NEED FOLLOWERS?( culture / writing / advice )
Publishers and writing gurus preach that writers need followers. The problem is that emotionally-stable people don't want followers. They want friends, compatriots, people who listen, not followers. Especially zombie followers. They're the worst! :)But seriously, I don't trust anyone who actively seeks follower... read more
LAST TRAIN OUT( culture / writing / books / novels )
Clay and his adopted daughter, Jenna, look forward to their upcoming "homeland tour" to Russia. His intentions are pure. Hers, not so much. When she goes missing, his worst fears are realized. She is not the innocent little girl he... read more
RECENT TWEETS( culture / writing / tweets )
Note: I am no longer on Twitter or Facebook.
I remember when I didn't know what a tweet was, other than the sound a bird makes. It wasn't so long ago, either. Below is just a random list of tweets. Pathetic, I know, but I felt the need to put something new on the site. Anyway.Saturday, July 20, 2013: ... read more
MY NOVELS( culture / writing / books / novels )
Read, listen or watch the rest here: WilliamArthurHolmes.comGo to ... read more
REQUIEM FOR A PIGEON( culture / writing / poetry )
by BillWe witnessed a pigeon's demiseRight here on the dock o' the BayThere was nothing we could doNothing we could sayIt just wasn't the pigeon's dayWe tried mouth-to-beakAnd the Heimlich techniqueBut the pigeon had croakedDid you know pigeons float?Well, this one sure did today!... read more
ADVICE FOR WRITING( culture / writing / advice )
A writer's narrative perspective (their voice, or, how they come across to their reader) must be: This is me talking to you. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not: This is me 100 years ago speaking in a classical voice. It's not: Speaking as if from professor to student or from adult to child. It's n... read more
TWEETS PAGE( culture / writing / tweets )
Note: I am no longer on Twitter or Facebook, but here's what I've managed to salvage from back then.My Twitter feed: classtwitter-timeline hreftwitter.com/TheBillHolmes data-widget-id286155560313823233 by @TheBillHolmes Some of my better tweets, according to me ...Never work ... read more
HOW DOES WRITING AFFECT YOUR BRAIN?( culture / writing / health )
Interesting ... to me, anyway. Most of us write a little something everyday. It might be a grocery list, a poem, or a write-up on the infographic of the day. As we go through this daily ritual, however, we are probably not aware of the effects writing has on our brains.Read, listen or watch the re... read more
STARTED A NEW STORY TODAY( culture / writing / books / novels )
I started writing a new story today. Can't say much about it except that it's pretty much sci-fi, though it might wander into religion and politics. So, yeah, it should offend just about everyone. Then I took a break and... read more
CRACKING UP OVER LOTTERY PRESIDENT( culture / writing / books / novels )
Here's one of my brothers reading my book, Lottery President. He seems to be enjoying it. I swear I didn't pay him to do this. ... read more
LOTTERY PRESIDENT( culture / writing / books / novels )
GUEST POSTING( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews )
I've been following and listening to Jeff Goins's goinswriter.comTribeWriters program, and he says an important aspect to successful blogging (at least as far as getting noticed) is to guest post on other people's blogs. Jeff is a great resource, by the way. So, if you want to post somethin... read more
I AM NOW A PUBLISHED AUTHOR( culture / writing / books / novels )
It's SELF-published, but still ... It's called "Lottery President."Hopefully, it's at least slightly entertain... read more
BLOG CONTENT( culture / writing / blog / internet )
I'm as guilty as anyone about trying to add content to my blog just for the sake of content (because search engines look for and rate highly based on how fresh your blog's content is). But someone whose blog/newsletter I subscribe to has stooped to simply stating the obvious, maybe phrasing it differently, just to have an interesting... read more
YOUR NOVEL BLUEPRINT( culture / writing / advice / novels )
Good article for writers. "Writing a novel and building a house are pretty similar when you think about it. For instance, most builders or homeowners spend a lot of time dreaming...... read more
MY WRITER'S PLATFORM( culture / writing / books )
williamarthurholmes.comWilliamArthurHolmes.com is my writer's platform, with a page showing williamarthurholmes.comwhere you can buy, preview and/or review all of my books. Or, just look below... ... read more
FOOLING THEMSELVES( culture / writing / blog / politics )
The elites are adept at fooling themselves and too many others into thinking that they know best. The superiority they bestow upon themselves is a convenient justification for keeping us commoners in the dark, and themselves in power.... read more
A COUPLE OF BOOKS/NOVELLAS ON KINDLE( culture / writing / books / novels )
I've published a couple of books/novellas on Kindle recently: "Lottery President" is a political thriller; and ... read more
WRITING PAGE( culture / writing )
goodreads.com/quotes/tag/writingWriters on the subject of writing williamarthurholmes.comMy author's page titleBooks href/writing/books/Books titleJokes href/pages/culture/humor/jokes/Jokes titlePoetry href/writing/po... read more
NEW RULES FOR WRITERS( culture / writing / advice )
huffpost.com/entry/new-rules-for-writersb808558Anis Shivani: New Rules For Writers: Ignore Publicity, Shun Crowds, Refuse Recognition And More These rules totally go against every prescription for writing success you'll hear as a young new writer from all quarters: ... read more
SCREENPLAY SUBMITTED( culture / writing / screenplays )
I submitted a screenplay to Scriptapalooza today. See scriptapalooza.comscriptapalooza.com . The first deadline is Friday the 5th. The real deadline is April 15. I think first prize is $10,000, but the main thing is that real Hollywood industry people read all the scripts, so even if I don't win the cont... read more
THAWING OUT( culture / writing / blog / weather )
Hopefully. It snowed a good 5-6 inches Friday in and around Nashville. It wasn't good snowman/snowball snow, though. Not in our neighborhood, anyway. It was too crusty because of the freezing rain that came after. It made for great sledding, though, which Elizabeth and I spent several hours doing over the past few days. The pugs hate the ... read more
POETRY BY FRIENDSNEWS MEMBERS PAGE( culture / writing / poetry )
titleA Prince in Disguise href/pages/a-prince-in-disguise/A Prince in Disguise titleA Saga of Seven href/pages/a-saga-of-seven/A Saga of Seven titleHats href/pages/hats/Hats titlePeople you'll be missing and why href/pages/people-youll-be-missing-and-whyPeople you'll be missing an... read more
HATS( culture / writing / poetry )
by harmonyhaven.wordpress.com/author/jeanniewomack/Jeannie Joseph wore many hats in his life,the first one was of son,next an officer, a Dutch Marine,that to him was fun;In Maastricht, in '49,he married his childhood love,now he was Tina's devoted spouse,and together the... read more
PEOPLE YOU'LL BE MISSING AND WHY( culture / writing / poetry )
by harmonyhaven.wordpress.com/author/jeanniewomack/Jeannie The time has come for you to move on,but I'm sure you'll be missing us while you are gone;No more conversation with boss Catherine to really make you think,You'll miss your adventures with supervisor Stella who is always ... read more
A PRINCE IN DISGUISE( culture / writing / poetry )
by harmonyhaven.wordpress.com/author/jeanniewomack/Jeannie We met on the race track in '72I couldn't resist his eyes, so blueWe soon fell in love and started a lifeIn '76 he made me his wifeA teacher, leader, rebel and yesA son, brother, father, the bestBoss ma... read more
THE RUN( culture / writing / poetry )
by harmonyhaven.wordpress.com/author/jeanniewomack/Jeannie Running in the rain isn't the pain a non-runner might think it would be I put on my jacket that has a hood, lace up my shoes, and stretching is good I open the door, expecting more as the rain comes sprinkling dow... read more
A SAGA OF SEVEN( culture / writing / poetry )
This is a story in the style called rapthat'll surely encourage an afternoon napof a family of seven, their kids and their wivesand something regarding their travels and lives. Now first there was Greg, a Brooklyn-born lad;and then it was Lucy that Mom and Dad had.She was born at Sing Sing (no, not in the jai... read more
BOOKS PAGE( culture / writing / books )
amazon.com/dp/B085XM6QW8/... read more
THE LEGEND OF CONAN( culture / writing / poetry )
(Irish Traditional)Once there was a kittenConan was his nameHe grew to nearly 20 poundsBut a kitten he remainedHe grew to be ferociousFeared throughout the landHush, my child and you shall hearThe legend of ConanA harder working kittenThe world has never seenHe'd guard the yard from front to backA... read more
A GIRL NAMED LUCY( culture / writing / poetry )
from 1990This is a story 'bout a girl named LucyOtherwise known as The Rappin' WatusiShe lays down a beat that gets your toes tappin'If your toes get tired, let your fingers do the snappin'She says Hey buddy, don't you be no squareIf you can't find a partner, use a wooden chairOkay, s... read more
A DAY AT THE RACES( culture / writing / stories / horseracing )
from 1994 The first Saturday in May. What does this date mean to you? Probably nothing, except that Spring has arrived, unless you live in California where it's been Spring for two months at least -- real Spring, not calendar Spring. Ask any horse racing buff, though, and they'll tell you the first Satu... read more