John E. Carson's Blog: The Phoenix, page 3
July 13, 2015
What if?
Imagine if you will...that the character you are writing about is really you. That you are your main character-or protagonist to use the jargon-what if your story was true?
That is how you write good fiction.
Now, imagine if you will that you can help inspire someone who wants to write; that you can raise their confidence level and sense of value; that you can help convince them that what they are trying to accomplish is important.
Would you do it? Would you just walk on by pretending you did not see them on the street? Would you just keep scrolling on Facebook?
Imagine if you will, a world where the norm is to help rather than criticize; where we do not have to be on the brink of annihilation before we take action; where a smile can change someone's life and a pat on the back is worth its weight in gold.
What if we could create that world one story at a time?
That is how you write good fiction.
Now, imagine if you will that you can help inspire someone who wants to write; that you can raise their confidence level and sense of value; that you can help convince them that what they are trying to accomplish is important.
Would you do it? Would you just walk on by pretending you did not see them on the street? Would you just keep scrolling on Facebook?
Imagine if you will, a world where the norm is to help rather than criticize; where we do not have to be on the brink of annihilation before we take action; where a smile can change someone's life and a pat on the back is worth its weight in gold.
What if we could create that world one story at a time?
June 23, 2015
Fringe Benefits
While writing for the American Legion Post 237 in Huntsville, Alabama has been both a privilege and an honor, it has also been a challenge that has tested and sharpened my skills as an author and a teacher.
It is an honor to write for an organization that was created and exists to help our country's veterans, families and their communities. An honor that I do not take lightly; although I work to keep my articles interesting and entertaining while staying on point.
Knowing that something I write may help someone or make a difference in their life makes the words I choose and the way I use them more important than any writing I have ever done before.
As a journalist I interview people, report on events, editorialize on important issues and in general further the goals of the Post and the Legion by informing members and non-members alike; excellent training for any writer.
And this training continues each week when I step into the role of teaching creative writing to the growing class at the Huntsville Senior Center-another honor and privilege I consider equally important.
Someone commented recently that they hoped I was well paid for these positions and while I believe that writers should be paid for their work, I replied that I am a volunteer in both endeavors and I was happy to use what skills I may have to help someone else.
Noting their concern for my financial well-being I just smiled and said, I get paid in other ways.
It is an honor to write for an organization that was created and exists to help our country's veterans, families and their communities. An honor that I do not take lightly; although I work to keep my articles interesting and entertaining while staying on point.
Knowing that something I write may help someone or make a difference in their life makes the words I choose and the way I use them more important than any writing I have ever done before.
As a journalist I interview people, report on events, editorialize on important issues and in general further the goals of the Post and the Legion by informing members and non-members alike; excellent training for any writer.
And this training continues each week when I step into the role of teaching creative writing to the growing class at the Huntsville Senior Center-another honor and privilege I consider equally important.
Someone commented recently that they hoped I was well paid for these positions and while I believe that writers should be paid for their work, I replied that I am a volunteer in both endeavors and I was happy to use what skills I may have to help someone else.
Noting their concern for my financial well-being I just smiled and said, I get paid in other ways.
May 6, 2015
Creative Writing
It's official! I will be addressing a full class on Thursday, May 7th at the Huntsville Senior Center on Drake from 1-3 PM. This will be the first of a series of classes designed to inspire and help new writers and share my experience to help them identify and reach their goals.
The process of writing can be and is often intimidating but there are some simple steps that can help someone scale that imposing wall. Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration and support along the journey in the land beyond the wall of Can't.
You do not have to be a senior to attend so if you are interested or even just curious contact the Center or just come on down. The writing life can be very rewarding to both the writer and the audience. Communication and story telling have been with us from the dawn of time and today's world would not exist as it is without the writers through the ages.
Whatever your writing goals are, I know
we can help you get there.
The process of writing can be and is often intimidating but there are some simple steps that can help someone scale that imposing wall. Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration and support along the journey in the land beyond the wall of Can't.
You do not have to be a senior to attend so if you are interested or even just curious contact the Center or just come on down. The writing life can be very rewarding to both the writer and the audience. Communication and story telling have been with us from the dawn of time and today's world would not exist as it is without the writers through the ages.
Whatever your writing goals are, I know
we can help you get there.
April 27, 2015
APRIL SHOWERS
Spring has brought opportunity to the world once again. As they have since the dawn of time, the seeds we have planted take root, embarking on their climb to the light of day. And so it is with writers; ideas planted in our minds start to germinate and begin their climb to fruition.
The perfect month for Mother's Day we celebrate new lives, youthful thoughts and new additions to the beauty and wonder of our world.
This May will see the publication of my contributions and a regular column for the American Legion Post 237 in Huntsville, Al and also my first talk on creative writing at the Huntsville Senior Center on May 7th; both welcome additions to my garden of words that I hope will inspire and enhance the world for my readers as much as the roses in my yard add pleasure to the passers-by.
It is the nature of a writer to create-to add to the wonder and celebration of life in all its myriad forms and like the world around us- the April showers do bring May flowers.
The perfect month for Mother's Day we celebrate new lives, youthful thoughts and new additions to the beauty and wonder of our world.
This May will see the publication of my contributions and a regular column for the American Legion Post 237 in Huntsville, Al and also my first talk on creative writing at the Huntsville Senior Center on May 7th; both welcome additions to my garden of words that I hope will inspire and enhance the world for my readers as much as the roses in my yard add pleasure to the passers-by.
It is the nature of a writer to create-to add to the wonder and celebration of life in all its myriad forms and like the world around us- the April showers do bring May flowers.
April 5, 2015
Spring Forward
The arrival of Spring has put one into my step; and like the trees, ideas for my book have been spouting and sending out shoots of creativity, energizing me and my work. A lot of thought and research go into a story-planting the seeds that eventually grow into a novel.
While this is a necessary process it is often more like work than inspiration. Fortunately, I have the winds of writing-related events to help fan my own enthusiasm. Promoting my books and doing talks at local venues to help inspire budding authors also works to fuel my own writing. "Give and it shall be given unto to you," is a truism that writers who stay the course will come to learn as they grow and blossom, creating works that will sustain them through the changing seasons of life, the winter winds and the new Springs to come.
While this is a necessary process it is often more like work than inspiration. Fortunately, I have the winds of writing-related events to help fan my own enthusiasm. Promoting my books and doing talks at local venues to help inspire budding authors also works to fuel my own writing. "Give and it shall be given unto to you," is a truism that writers who stay the course will come to learn as they grow and blossom, creating works that will sustain them through the changing seasons of life, the winter winds and the new Springs to come.
February 25, 2015
New Review
My thanks go out to Bill (Smitty) from Ohio who took the time after reading Last Resort to e-mail me a wonderful review. It is things like this that help fight the discouragement of writer's block and keep me going. It is so gratifying to know someone appreciated your work and enjoyed the story. The following are his comments:
"The primary reason for this is to tell you how much I enjoyed Last Resort. Due to my schedule I have to read in short bursts...just finished it minutes ago.
I tend to read the Navy Seal saves the world from the terrorist with minutes to spare type of book..a la Brad Thor et al.
But what touched me most was feeling your presence in the story. Few...if any...people get to know a bit about an authors real life and then read those details spun through fiction. I smiled more times than you can know."
Thanks Smitty for taking the time to send me your thoughts.
"The primary reason for this is to tell you how much I enjoyed Last Resort. Due to my schedule I have to read in short bursts...just finished it minutes ago.
I tend to read the Navy Seal saves the world from the terrorist with minutes to spare type of book..a la Brad Thor et al.
But what touched me most was feeling your presence in the story. Few...if any...people get to know a bit about an authors real life and then read those details spun through fiction. I smiled more times than you can know."
Thanks Smitty for taking the time to send me your thoughts.
February 2, 2015
Route 66
The farther down the road I get
the more I realize
How much more to life there is
than we see with just our eyes.
The road that we travel on
Holds more than we can see;
But I have been preoccupied
Just with being me.
When at last we come
To peace with self
The sights and sounds rush in-
Then the journey finally ends
And living life begins.
John Evan Carson
2015
the more I realize
How much more to life there is
than we see with just our eyes.
The road that we travel on
Holds more than we can see;
But I have been preoccupied
Just with being me.
When at last we come
To peace with self
The sights and sounds rush in-
Then the journey finally ends
And living life begins.
John Evan Carson
2015
January 2, 2015
Be Prepared
The Boy Scouts have a great motto, one we can all apply as we enter the new year.
Being prepared might sound ominous to some; those who live in fear of change or are not open to new things. One of the things this last year has reminded me of is that life is full of surprises and though we work to complete our own list of plans life can throw curves at us that we just can't see coming.
The phrase, 'that came out of left field!' is so appropriate to recent events in my personal life and if I was a ball player I would never want to play left field! You wouldn't believe what comes out of there!
But change happens and big ones are coming. The evidence is all around us that the world is changing; who would have believed that gas would drop to under two dollars a gallon and that electric cars would threaten the powerful oil companies that have reigned supreme for a hundred years?
Some people fear the rise of AI, artificial intelligence, while at the same time they use it every day on their smartphones and tablets. The future has been in the works for a long time and the cameras of Big Brother are now accepted as inevitable and indeed have been there all along.
So my only resolution in this new year is to be prepared; but in a good way. Perhaps it would be better to say Be Open to change; life is an adventure and the only thing constant is change. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Be prepared!
Being prepared might sound ominous to some; those who live in fear of change or are not open to new things. One of the things this last year has reminded me of is that life is full of surprises and though we work to complete our own list of plans life can throw curves at us that we just can't see coming.
The phrase, 'that came out of left field!' is so appropriate to recent events in my personal life and if I was a ball player I would never want to play left field! You wouldn't believe what comes out of there!
But change happens and big ones are coming. The evidence is all around us that the world is changing; who would have believed that gas would drop to under two dollars a gallon and that electric cars would threaten the powerful oil companies that have reigned supreme for a hundred years?
Some people fear the rise of AI, artificial intelligence, while at the same time they use it every day on their smartphones and tablets. The future has been in the works for a long time and the cameras of Big Brother are now accepted as inevitable and indeed have been there all along.
So my only resolution in this new year is to be prepared; but in a good way. Perhaps it would be better to say Be Open to change; life is an adventure and the only thing constant is change. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Be prepared!
November 29, 2014
The Wordshop
A week before Christmas I still needed a gift
Something special designed to uplift
Custom tailored like something to wear
A personal treasure meant to share.
In my search I’d been to the Malls
Been to the art shows, seen all the stalls
Gone downtown in the traffic and lights
Viewed decorations and all of the sights.
Still nothing quite fit and I stood on the street
Stamping the snow from my frozen feet
I guess I’ll give up; I’ve tried every place
Times growing short and there’s snow on my face.
Spirit sagging I shrugged and turned
Ready to quit though my heart still yearned
And that’s when I saw the old wooden door
Funny I hadn’t seen it before!
Storefront windows from bygone days
Cars and trains and books in trays
Horses and eagles and pewter knights
Magazines and ships and blinking lights.
Portable typewriters and Underwoods
Teddy bears and Geishas carved in wood
Not one for sale the sign proclaimed
Property of The Wordshop a card explained.
Drawn inside as the snowflakes fell
I turned the knob and tinkled the bell
Stomping my feet on the old wood floor
Here was a shop I’d never seen before!
Each wall was filled with cans and jars
Here one with A’s there one with R’s
Dashes and Dots and Exclamations!
Words and Phrases and Permutations.
Seasons and Reasons and Musical Notes
Plain Words and Fancy and Sugar Coats
Made To Order and Over Blown
Any Flavor and All Your Own.
Smiling in wonder I looked at them all
Framed and matted and hung on the wall
Poems and Stories already wrapped
Ideas and Plots recently mapped.
Jokes and Cards, some under glass
Words of Praise and This Too Will Pass.
I went to the counter to ring the old bell
Out came a man I seemed to know well.
His stomach was round as were his glasses
His smile was warm and spoke to the masses
I tried to explain and asked him my question
He stroked his chin and made a suggestion
What you need is a well-turned phrase
I’ll make one in back on my special lathe!
As he left I returned to the shelves
And caught a glimpse of his helpers and elves.
My wife and children, he said with a grin
As he gave me the gift coming back in
No charge, he said, I made this for you
I really hope that this one will do!
I found myself back out on the street
A touch of magic my shopping complete
Now I pass this present to you-
A Merry Christmas in red, white and blue!
Something special designed to uplift
Custom tailored like something to wear
A personal treasure meant to share.
In my search I’d been to the Malls
Been to the art shows, seen all the stalls
Gone downtown in the traffic and lights
Viewed decorations and all of the sights.
Still nothing quite fit and I stood on the street
Stamping the snow from my frozen feet
I guess I’ll give up; I’ve tried every place
Times growing short and there’s snow on my face.
Spirit sagging I shrugged and turned
Ready to quit though my heart still yearned
And that’s when I saw the old wooden door
Funny I hadn’t seen it before!
Storefront windows from bygone days
Cars and trains and books in trays
Horses and eagles and pewter knights
Magazines and ships and blinking lights.
Portable typewriters and Underwoods
Teddy bears and Geishas carved in wood
Not one for sale the sign proclaimed
Property of The Wordshop a card explained.
Drawn inside as the snowflakes fell
I turned the knob and tinkled the bell
Stomping my feet on the old wood floor
Here was a shop I’d never seen before!
Each wall was filled with cans and jars
Here one with A’s there one with R’s
Dashes and Dots and Exclamations!
Words and Phrases and Permutations.
Seasons and Reasons and Musical Notes
Plain Words and Fancy and Sugar Coats
Made To Order and Over Blown
Any Flavor and All Your Own.
Smiling in wonder I looked at them all
Framed and matted and hung on the wall
Poems and Stories already wrapped
Ideas and Plots recently mapped.
Jokes and Cards, some under glass
Words of Praise and This Too Will Pass.
I went to the counter to ring the old bell
Out came a man I seemed to know well.
His stomach was round as were his glasses
His smile was warm and spoke to the masses
I tried to explain and asked him my question
He stroked his chin and made a suggestion
What you need is a well-turned phrase
I’ll make one in back on my special lathe!
As he left I returned to the shelves
And caught a glimpse of his helpers and elves.
My wife and children, he said with a grin
As he gave me the gift coming back in
No charge, he said, I made this for you
I really hope that this one will do!
I found myself back out on the street
A touch of magic my shopping complete
Now I pass this present to you-
A Merry Christmas in red, white and blue!
November 5, 2014
The Halls of November
As we pass from one season to the next and put Halloween and the election behind us (strange that they seem somehow connected) and move through the halls of November our thoughts turn naturally, if not somewhat reluctantly, from the colors of Autumn and the sounds of dry crackling leaves under our feet to the sounds and smells of the coming holiday season. The smell of turkey and pies baking, the chatter of friends and family around the table and the swiftness of the retailers to rush us into Christmas.
But there is still a door to pass and that one is Veteran's Day. Back in 1969 when I was in the Navy, the unpopularity of the war in Viet Nam subjected service men and women to the disdain of public opinion and the sacrifices they had made in the name of their country went largely unappreciated by the masses. That is one hallway I would not care to revisit and this Veteran's Day seems almost like a healing salve to the cuts and bruises that unpopularity inflicted.
This Veteran's Day has given me one more thing to be thankful for as I move along the corridor towards Thanksgiving. Not only am I able to write again but I have also been given the opportunity to honor our veterans at the Veteran's Day Ceremony at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota when my niece will read one of my poems-An I.O.U. to the Veterans of The USA-during the event.
No matter what our politics, one thing I think we can all agree on is the fact that the freedoms we have in this country, indeed the country itself, owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who fought, suffered and died for the ideals this country was founded on; Ideals that seem to be especially tested in the halls of Congress as of late. And no matter where we are from, every person living in this country today owes a debt to those same men and women and ideals.
Once past the door of Veteran's Day, the hall becomes shorter and the smells of Thanksgiving dinner once again fill the corridor as we walk, our thoughts turning again to all the things we have to be thankful for in this great country we live in.
And as the Halls of November reach an end with our hearts and stomachs full, we look forward to the closing days of a long year and the coming of Christmas- and just beyond that the New Year and an end to all that holiday music!
But there is still a door to pass and that one is Veteran's Day. Back in 1969 when I was in the Navy, the unpopularity of the war in Viet Nam subjected service men and women to the disdain of public opinion and the sacrifices they had made in the name of their country went largely unappreciated by the masses. That is one hallway I would not care to revisit and this Veteran's Day seems almost like a healing salve to the cuts and bruises that unpopularity inflicted.
This Veteran's Day has given me one more thing to be thankful for as I move along the corridor towards Thanksgiving. Not only am I able to write again but I have also been given the opportunity to honor our veterans at the Veteran's Day Ceremony at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota when my niece will read one of my poems-An I.O.U. to the Veterans of The USA-during the event.
No matter what our politics, one thing I think we can all agree on is the fact that the freedoms we have in this country, indeed the country itself, owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who fought, suffered and died for the ideals this country was founded on; Ideals that seem to be especially tested in the halls of Congress as of late. And no matter where we are from, every person living in this country today owes a debt to those same men and women and ideals.
Once past the door of Veteran's Day, the hall becomes shorter and the smells of Thanksgiving dinner once again fill the corridor as we walk, our thoughts turning again to all the things we have to be thankful for in this great country we live in.
And as the Halls of November reach an end with our hearts and stomachs full, we look forward to the closing days of a long year and the coming of Christmas- and just beyond that the New Year and an end to all that holiday music!
The Phoenix
Now the author of eight published novels and many published poems I am proud to write for The American Legion in the monthly newsletter of the largest Post in Alabama where I live with my wife and co-
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