Creativity for me comes when I am manic. You see I have been Manic - Depressive since my early teen years. About 20 years ago I tried my luck at writing a song. It was country. As it turned out I co-wrote one other. Never really thought much about writing until one afternoon I stopped by a friend's house.
Doug was in the yard, is this starting to sound like a country song? He said he was writing a song. I said "that's not very good". Doug and I tell each other how it is. He stated that if I thought I was a song writer, have at it. Doug Schnorr is the kind of guy, whatever he touches turns out better.
I started writing my first song. Doug said "that's a good song". I said "yea I know". He said where did that come from? Now at this point (not wanting to lie) I LIED and said "oh I don't know". He said do you have any more? I said "maybe".
You see friends, my mother did not raise the brightest boy in Childersburg, Alabama, but I did go to AUBURN "WAR EAGLE" Sensing a business opportunity, we agreed to write more songs. Doug and I co-wrote another.
Please understand, when it comes to music. I would not know a treble from a cleft note if they ran over me in the middle of the street. I have no musical ability. I made a D+ in Mrs. Butts flutophone class in the fifth grade, and was happy I didn't fail.
Doug writes, composes, and produces music. I am a lyricist, a person who writes words for songs. I have learned over the years the best lyricists are good story tellers. With music today you have 3, maybe 4 minutes. This isn't the Beatles' "Hey Jude" 12 minutes.
As things turned out I filed with BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated). Received royalties, it was kind of fun.
Over the last number of years my efforts have turned to books. I have finished one book. Where do the Tumbleweeds go? This is for children from the age of about 4 to 9 years. No it's not on the shelves yet. The art work is yet to be completed. The next one. What can You see When You're Three Foot Three? Is almost finished. A book for the same age group. Same art problem.
The other two children's book series are a collection of stories which I shared with my son from the age of about 3 until the age of 12, at which time he informed me that he was to old to be told a story in bed. The reason for the characters I created, is that Drew had some learning difficulties from the time he came to us on (9-25-90. Book series number 3 is Robert the One-Winged Horsefly. You see Robert has only one wing, which causes him to fly side ways. Book series 4 is Herman the Left-Turn Worm, here again, Herman can only turn left, so he ends up in some funny places. Both have many friends. Four children's books. Maybe that's enough.
May I add, that through a great deal of hard work Drew finished high school in 2009. Yes, Drew is our adopted son. Matter of fact he reach his 21st birthday on Monday 8-22-2011. What a blessing God brought to our lives.
The last book I have started is my novel, East of Flagpole Mountain. The story of a boy growing up in rural Talladega County, Alabama. The chapters are all fleshed out, some are started and all have their titles. Someone once said, there is a novel in all of us, we will see.
Remember God only gives us a certain number of days. I don't plan on wasting the ones I have left.
Until we talk again.
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment