Why Demolition is a Good Job for a Writer

So, my income pretty much all comes from a cleaning job I have; a pastor handed it to us around the second week after we were in the country, and it’s been a huge blessing. Most everything major I’ve bought (like my computer and my smatchet 🤠) was because of this job.

Recently a cleanup project came up for a demolition job in the top floor of a five-storey building. We cart away all the pieces of walls and such that they’re taking out, and also help with the demolishing. I could write out a good-sized list of reasons why I like this project in particular: it’s nearby, so Papa doesn’t have to take so much time to get us there; we can actually talk to the person in charge of the project (not the case with most of our cleanup jobs); the people we’re working with are friendly; it has an amazing view (the vultures we often see flying around the area actually fly past the windows and perch on the balcony); our boss got some splendid respirators which are absolutely a relief for not breathing dust; and other cool things.

There’s one interesting benefit I’d like to talk about. I like to divide up types of effort into three kinds: speed, thoroughness, and carefulness. These are labels, of course, not exactly what the words normally mean. “Speed” doesn’t refer necessarily to how fast your limbs move, but refers to how much progress is made in how little time. “Carefulness” has to do with how much risk is avoided, how much is done to reduce it, not necessarily how hesitantly or deliberately one moves. “Thoroughness” is how much is done to make the product polished and perfect, intricate, detailed, large, and so on, rather than simply how completely it is done.

To put more effort in one of these categories one must take it out of the other two: you have to be less thorough and careful to have more speed, etc. Various people have preferences, and various jobs require various ratios of the three kinds of effort.

I generally prefer working most in thoroughness, next speed, then carefulness. However, when my work doesn’t have to do with my passion (the OOMlich, the strange and surreal), it is a very great relief when that work does not require the thoroughness kind of effort.

Which makes demolition perfect. It requires mainly speed and carefulness, very little thoroughness (there’s not many intricate ways to kick a piece of drywall in half). Since the job isn’t directly part of my focus (it has supported it greatly), it is a blessing that it uses an effort of a different kind.

That’s why I think demolition is a probably a good job for writers and artist types as a support job for their passion. I like it for now, anyway. 😊

The End to an Eventful Year

By: Judge and Alanna Rodriguez

Greetings all! First and foremost, Merry Christmas! As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I wish to thank you for joining us this month. Since this will be my last posting for the year, I figured I would post something a little different than the regularly scheduled story.

This month, as I normally do during this time of year, I thought I would share part of my end of year reflections to help reflect on the end of a dumpster fire of a year.

Not only has this been a year of new beginnings, but one of loss, of lost loved ones and friends.

For those of you that have paid close attention to my postings this year, back in July, I posted a memorial to my father, so he will be the first I will mention.

My father was a good man, I learned much from him, both from his successes and from his failures. Pop, you will always be with us in heart, mind and spirit. I just hope that you smile down on me from heaven, saying, “Yup, that’s my boy!”

Next I figure to mention is Officer Larry Craig. Ah-doe-day, Alanna and I will miss your conversation as well as your sage advice. I remember the number of hours we spent discussing things and listening to your stories. We will always treasure your words and your thoughtfulness. Both yours and Pam’s conversations never failed to bring smiles to our faces.

Beverly Terry. Though the last few years we haven’t really spoken much, you have been on our hearts. We have missed your efforts both with and for the schoolhouse. Your name will always be associated with that historic building and we will miss you.

Aunt Margarite. We both remember the visits with you and the family. Those memories will stick with us for decades to come.

Uncle Larry and Aunt Judy. We didn’t really get to know you very well, but your loss has been sorely felt, especially in Maureen’s part of the family.

Not all that has gone on this year has been loss, but there have been good things to happen as well. I have started a new job, we have been able to pay off (thanks to insurance) our car, and we have made plenty of memories from numerous events, most recently the Territorial Christmas Carol. We wish to thank those whom have helped support us in the making of those memories, Especially Maureen, Kelly, and Nicole.

Not only have we been able to further our efforts in the Legends of the Landrun series, but have also dedicated some time to writing other stories as well, including Book 1 of the Minoan Chronicles as well as most recently, Nibbles’ First Noel. We have also been able to finally release the hardback versions of the books that we have written in the legends series, an effort of several months.

We wish to thank those of you that have followed along with our articles and story-bits this year. Your endorsements have helped to reinvigorate our efforts.

Judge Rodriguez and his wife Alanna are currently co-authoring the Legends of the Landrun Series available in e-book, paperback, and now in hardback format. They can be found here.

What I Learned About Writing by the Seat of My Pants

Photo by Matt Moloney on Unsplash

First of all let’s take a moment to address the phrase “flying by the seat of your pants”, since “writing by the seat of your pants” stems from that original phrase. Where did that phrase come from and what does it mean?

The phrase “flying by the seat of your pants” came from the early days of aviation and first came into use in 1938 and was in relation to Douglas Corrigan’s flight from Ireland to the United States, when a mechanic had to help him rejuvenate the plane. It also was used because in the early days of aviation, they didn’t have a radio, instruments, or other navigational or communication equipment.

The phrase “flying by the seat of your pants” means you’re entering into the unknown and taking action without planning.

And that’s what “writing by the seat of your pants” means–writing without planning or just sitting down with your characters and an idea and simply writing as it comes into your head.

Pride, Profanity, and the Lord’s Name

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

This is Chris Wachter’s post. I posted it for her due to technical difficulties, but she is the writer of this post and she chose the photo.

There is a lot of talk lately about ‘pride’ and a good portion of it is directed at behaviors which should be questioned by Bible believing Christians. But, as a Christian, shouldn’t I be proud as well? Proud of Jesus Christ and what he had done for those who come to believe on him and give him Lordship in their lives. It seems to me, we back away too readily from anything that might cause conflict or controversy, or smack of exclusivity. Reality check. Jesus makes claims like, the only way to the Father is through him. The only way… ponder that. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.^[b] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’” John 11:25-26 ESV. He is the resurrection!

Today I want to talk about the holiness of the name Jesus Christ. As the only son of God the Father, the one who died on the cross to redeem his people from sin and eternal separation from God, his name deserves to be held in highest regard. Right? “…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” Phillipians 2:10 ESV. So why do we Christians accept without protest when his holy name is used as an expletive in film, TV, and the written word.

Character Depth

“Well, that’s my name too!”

I find character development can either make or break a story. Invincible heroes and everyday villains many can find boring, and people are quick to drop a story if some sort of connection can’t be made. Descriptives like hair color and attitude only go so far as well, and that’s why for me I wanted to go a bit further in my characters than just surface deep attributes.

When it comes to building a character for a story, it helps to have a process in doing it. For me, I want to know why they are there. Do they fulfill a requirement for the story, or are they just fluff? How important are they to the plot? Trying to make everyone have the spotlight is hard, and juggling a cast versus one central person may be that much harder.