Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 3
November 13, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'Judged by the seeds that you plant'
'Judged by the seeds that you plant'
“Don'tjudge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson
Bornin Edinburgh, Scotland on this date in 1850, Stevenson became one of theworld’s most versatile and “translated” authors in his short life (he died of abrain hemorrhage at age 44). The author of 13novels, including Treasure Island, Kidnapped and TheStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he created a host of greatcharacters like the pirate Long John Silver and Jekyll and Hyde (names thathave become part of the world’s vernacular).
Beyondhis celebrated novels, the prolific Stevenson wrote 7 collections of shortstories, 14 nonfiction books, and several books of poetry for both adults andchildren. His A Child’s Garden ofVerses remains a regular seller on the worldwide market with lasting poemslike My Shadow: “I have a little shadow that goes in and outwith me, and what can be the use of him is more than I can see.” And,The Swing: “How do you like to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue? Oh I do think it’s the pleasantest thing,ever a child can do.”
Andan accomplished pianist, he wrote or arranged more than 120 musical pieces.
Stevensonalways seemed to be able to connect with readers from all walks of life andwhen asked why, he simply said, “The difficulty of literature is not to write,but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect himprecisely as you wish.”
November 12, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'It's the most astonishing thing'
'It's the most astonishing thing'
“Whatan astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree withflexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But oneglance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody deadfor thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly andsilently inside your head, directly to you." -Carl Sagan
Bornin New York City on Nov. 9, 1934 Sagan was an astronomer, cosmologist,astrophysicist and astrobiologist who also wrote more than 600 articles and wasauthor, co-author or editor of 20 books. His novel Contact was thebasis for a popular movie, and he co-wrote and narrated Cosmos, oneof the most widely watched series in the history of American publictelevision. He died of pneumonia at the young age of 61, but justbefore his death he spoke the wonderful words above about the power and mysteryof books.
Agraduate of the University of Chicago, where he earned three degrees, he was alongtime professor at Cornell University. Among his many popular science books were The Dragons of Eden,Broca’s Brain and Pale Blue Dot.
“Writing,"Sagan said, "is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding togetherpeople who never knew each other; citizens of distant epochs. Books break theshackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
November 11, 2025
A Writer's Moment: An 'indispensable' writing factor
An 'indispensable' writing factor
“Icould not write my books without the library’s help. Even with the ease of Internet research, Ifind books to be indispensable when I am writing. . . . Books make me laugh, cry, and think. . . . They help me make important decisions, and they provide endlessentertainment.” – Peg Kehret
Bornin La Crosse, WI on this date in 1936, Kehret said she always loved towrite, and as a child wanted to be either a writer or a veterinarian. So, she included animals in most of her books. Nowretired from writing, she still volunteers with animal rescue groups and is therecipient of the Henry Bergh Award from the American Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.)
Apolio survivor – she beat three types of polio at age 12 – Kehret startedwriting while still in her teens, writing primarilyfor children and young adults. She’salso written plays, radio commercials and magazine stories, winning more than 50awards throughout her career. Among herawards are the PEN Center Award inChildren’s Literature, and the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’sBook Writers & Illustrators.
"I wasn't inspired so much by a person as by reading many good books," she said of her long and successful career. "I loved to write and I wondered if I might be able to write material that others would enjoy." Mission accomplished.
November 10, 2025
A Writer's Moment: Fired by 'The wonder of reading'
Fired by 'The wonder of reading'
“Ialways read poetry before I write, to sensitize me to the rhythms and music oflanguage. . . A novelist can get by on story, but the poet has nothing butthe words.”—Janet Fitch
Bornin Los Angeles on Nov. 9, 1955, Fitch is the author of White Oleander.
“Myfather was an engineer - he wasn't literary, not a writer or a journalist, buthe was one of the world's great readers,” she said, “and he instilled that inme. The wonder of reading. When you're a little kid, you are small,your life is small - you're terrifically aware of that. But when you read, youcan ride Arabian horses across the desert; you can be adogsledder." That, she said, is what she strives for her ownwriting to do.
Planningto be a historian shefound herself, instead, drawn to writing about things historical and soshe did. Among her other novels are the bestsellers Paint It Black, namedafter the Rolling Stones song and also made into a movie, and Chimes ofa Lost Cathedral.
“Iwrite all the time,” she said, “whether I feel like it or not. I never getinspired unless I'm already writing.
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November 8, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'Helping the truth erupt'
'Helping the truth erupt'
“Iwas not out to paint beautiful pictures; even painting good pictures was notimportant to me. I wanted only to help the truth burst forth.” – AliceDuer Miller
Bornon Staten Island in 1874, Duer Miller’s poetry actively influenced politicalopinion. Her feminist verses impacted the suffrage issue and her million-sellingverse-play The White Cliffs about an American girl coming toLondon encouraged U.S. entry into World War II. She also wrotemany successful novels, short stories and screenplays and was on the very firstadvisory board for The New Yorker. For Saturday’s poem, here is Duer Miller’s,
To An OldLady In A Train
Her hair was beautifully white
Beneath her bonnet, black as night,
Which, plainly of New England kin,
Was tied with strings beneath her chin.
And when she spoke I had no choice
But listened to that soft crisp voice;
And when she smiled, I saw the truth,
She had been lovely in her youth,
And with those quick, observing eyes,
Was charming still to all the wise.
And still, in spite of bonnet strings,
She thought keen, quaint, amusing things,
With gaiety that many hold
Remarkable in one so old.
We talked ten minutes in a train,
And when we came to part again,
‘Good-bye, enjoy yourself,’ said she.
I told her that ahead of me
No pleasure beckoned, no, I said,
Stern duty only lay ahead!
‘Oh, well,’ her parting answer ran,
‘Enjoy yourself the best you can.’
And so unconquerably gay,
She went upon her darkening way.
