I love road trips. I don’t know about you, but with me, I am never in a hurry. Hurry equals anxiety which I don’t need. What does a road trip look like for you?
I have a rough idea of where I need to end up around dark thirty. I don’t like driving at night, so I try to be situated in the vicinity of where I will spend the night before evening tea.
The road less traveled generally interests me as that is where you will find the small shops that time has almost forgotten. Since the box stores had all but killed the mom and pop shops, I look for them when I travel. Once there you will usually find “Mom and Pop!”
Those brave souls that dare to fight the box stores or the mega marts are a dying breed. I search them out and try hard to purchase something from them. Yes, it is usually overpriced, and of course, if it is food, it is probably not as fresh as I could get off the main drag. Still, the moms and pops have a story to tell.
Usually, if you are at a mega-mart, you will not find the stories there as their bosses will not be happy if they take a moment to chat. I do chat. I will learn their name, and try to learn something about them. Before I go, it is my goal to leave them with a smile.
Those that might be with me are amazed at how those people’s demeanor change when I am working magic on them. It is my magic, and no it is not witchcraft. I like names. I try to put a personality with a name, and I can only do that if I engage them. You have no doubt been somewhere in some line and the person checking folks out is surly or truculent while watching the clock until their break or time to go home. Folks that is depressing.
Those folks I try a little harder to leave a smile on them. Smiles are contagious you see. If I can get him or her to smile the next person in line might catch their smile and just maybe it will find its way to others who need one.
When you toss a pebble in a pond of water, the waves radiate away from it until the energy from the stone has dissipated entirely. If you can make an impact on the person behind the counter just how many others will see that impact and they themselves might be impacted?
That is the brilliance of comedians. Bob Hope, one of the all-time greats, sacrificed much of his life touring with the USO bringing joy and happiness to soldiers who were often in harm’s way or in grim situations. Before comedians became activist, they were delightful to watch. Now they spread hate and discontent.
The road we are on often has a fork.
Just like a smile is contagious so is hate. During the Christmas season when things are crazy how many times have you seen shoppers take out their frustrations on the person behind the counter?
That too gets passed down the line.
The twists and turns in life often take us by surprise, and that is ok. It is how we handle those revelations which define our character or who we are.
Yes, the long and winding road is a metaphor for life, and sometimes we need a GPS.
“Make a legal U-turn when possible!”
What does it take for you to realize that the path your on is not the right one?
My life often is fraught with “recalculating.”
As an author, our lives are different than most. We spend a lot of time alone with our thoughts. If we are inspired at three in the morning, we get up and write. A fun story for us may not be a best seller. Just maybe people don’t really want to read about the things that delight us.
“Veer right in 100 yards.”
Authors must be marketing gurus if they don’t have an agent. Even if they do have one, who is your agent? Do they know what they are talking about?
My novels are selling worldwide, and that makes me happy. I still have a day job because the royalty payments are just like those few good shots in golf that keep you coming back for more frustration.
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Robyn Williams did a brilliant skit on golf which I still remember. The truth is you get a few good shots that keep you coming back to the course to do it again and again. Why do it?
• I enjoy the outing.
• I enjoy the fresh air and comradery with friends and business associates.
• More business is transacted on the golf course than the boardroom.
• Writing is that way too, I enjoy what I do.
• I enjoy telling a story.
• I love reading what I wrote and making it better.
• I love the art of marketing what I write. What do I need to say about this story that will have people willing to download it?
Price is a small factor in the general scheme of things.
When the next release of 50 shades or Harry Potter were released, people did not care that it was $15, or whatever the price was. They had to know what happened next!
My Hole In time series was like that on Kindle Unlimited. Free with Prime and people read it and seemed to enjoy it. Would they have read it if it were not free?
Until I hit that magical place where the GPS tells me that I have reached my destination, I will continue to plug away. Thankfully I love what I write so at least one person will be thrilled when the next book is finished.
What about you? Where are you headed? Where does your road lead? Are you happy with your life? Are you an aspiring writer or artist? Perhaps you are a musician. What in your life makes you look forward to tomorrow?
I invite you to saddle up and ride with me as I travel the road less traveled. I might in fact cut across an open prairie, find a comfortable place and camp out under the stars.
Our ancestors did this, can you?
When I think of what their life was like without a smartphone or phone for that matter. To be isolated on a thousand acres of land where a trip to the store was an all-day affair. Can you imagine?
What if families actually talked with one another without the aid of facebook or SMS?
Much Love -TW
Blog from Author TWScott 