| It recently occurred to me that writing is a lot like | | | | developing our thoughts into a timeless statement |
| that old story about those three portly brothers | | | | to the world. Yes, it is easier to pull together the |
| venturing out on their own. Let's call the first one | | | | stuff we already have and throw together |
| Lazy, because he was always trying to find the | | | | something fast, but that will blow away in the |
| easy way out. Let's call the second one Vain, | | | | wind just as quickly. And it is just as true that |
| because it was all about the looks. And the last | | | | when we tell people what they want to hear that |
| one, we'll call Coach because he was dedicated to | | | | we are like the water that ebbs and flows with |
| doing stuff the right way. | | | | no clear grounds or identify. Yet for us, we are |
| Well, here's what happened. One-day mama put | | | | eagles that perch high and look low. So, we build |
| them all out the house. They had reached the ripe | | | | our homes high in the cliffs. We labor in our |
| age of 18 and they had to go. So, they all set out | | | | thoughts and find themes that are universal and |
| to the forest to claim some land for themselves. | | | | timeless. We preach about the truths of our |
| Lazy stopped at the first opening he could find | | | | mothers and grandmothers. We retell the stories |
| and started putting together some scraps of hay | | | | of our fathers and grandfathers. We update and |
| and straw that was lying around. Vain stopped a | | | | upgrade that which works. And when necessary, |
| little further into the woods near a stream and | | | | we create new stories and devise new methods |
| thought, "I'll build my house right here. The ladies | | | | to reach more people. |
| will love this!" He used some sticks that sat alone | | | | Writer, teacher, preacher, speaker, singer, |
| the banks to make some walls and immediate | | | | presenter here's what I want you to do. Identify |
| went to Best Buy and bought a leather couch and | | | | your fertile ground. What subject is so close to |
| a 40" flat panel TV. Well, Coach went deep into | | | | you that you could consider it fertile ground, a |
| the woods and found a piece of land on the | | | | place that you could cultivate and develop a |
| highest hill. He spend days clearing a few acres | | | | unique statement to the world? Start writing |
| and used the wood to build a house that | | | | about that topic. Describe it in detail. Make a list of |
| resembled an HGTV Dream Home. | | | | stories you could tell about that topic. Identify the |
| Late in the fall, Hurricane Katrina came and blew | | | | lessons that you have learned. And list some tips |
| down Lazy's house and washed away Vain's new | | | | that you would give about navigating through that |
| color TV. They both ended up living with Coach in | | | | place. |
| the west wing for several months. | | | | This is the beginning of your endeavors to build a |
| Here's the lesson for us as writers. It is in our | | | | Dream Home. Send me an outline; I'd love to read |
| best interest to find the most suitable topic to | | | | it. If you need help, let me know. |
| write about and spend the time and labor | | | | |