I ride the same emotional roller-coaster, so I'm not lobbing accusations, just observing.

I've long thought myself an alien observer of human-kind, yet I possess qualities I find laughable in others. The duality of Man. The fragility of my writing ego one day, the raving mad-genius the next.

My favorite writers are very empathetic to their surroundings, not just observing but actually feeling emotions, immersing themselves in the story around them. Then they're able to convey not just what they saw, but what they felt AND make you feel it.

It's as easy as juggling flaming cats. Anyone can do it.

All you need to do is write 1500 words a day and eventually you'll fill in all the required pages. No need to wait for Inspiration or the never-there-when-you-need-him: Passion.

If applied to construction: Just keep nailing stuff together, eventually you can step back and see if the Classic Victorian you hoped for is in that popsicle-stick forest you just nailed together.

I just finished Steven Axelrod's latest entry. I felt something there I feel all too rarely: The silence of thought.

It also is an excellent example of a writer who's taken the time to not only learn his craft, but hone his skills.

I tried to be a part of a "writers forum" once. These infuriating gabfests about wanting to write something always rose to the grand heights of the lowest common denominator.

It is impossible to advance when there are always new people wanting to skip all the hard work and be told how to write the next great novel or screenplay in 2 weeks or less.

Some of the most asked questions by flaccid penises with faces pissing in my sacred pool:

What's the right brad to use for binding?

"You carefully remove the brad and examine it. Is it bright and shiny? Then it's right, keep gazing at it and repeat after me: I do not want to write. I want a check. I do not want to write. I want a check. I do not know how to write. I want a check. I do not want to be here. I'm going to leave."

What's the correct length of the brad for binding scripts?

"You could Google it or read a book. The preferred method is to shove the brad in your eye, if it reaches your brain it is the correct length."

I shall not suffer the fools, be gone with you, I grow weary of your presence. I'm trying to hone a craft and make myself better. I find I do this better on my own.

When I want to talk to writers, there are some good one's I can bitch with. We usually argue about politics or some book.

Rarely is "the writing craft" discussed. We all do our own thing and we all think we're doing it right. If someone were to ask about brads, we would immediately verbally stick the brad in their eye and pronounce them dead to us.

The Cheshire Cat smile is our deluded security that we all do it differently, but we all know our way is right.

And once again we'd all be right... and wrong.

A unique voice is not something to be taught, it is to searched for, in your writers journey (you may not find it).

If you cannot be bothered with brads or format you have not left The Shire. If you spend more time trying to figure out shortcuts than the odyssey that is writing, you will not be Lord of the Rings.

Be wary of books that make it sound easy: Congratulations! You Have Just Typed "FADE IN"! Begin typing your query letter to Steven Spielberg! Your Check Is In The Mail!!!!!!!!!

Lazy writing shows, even to idiots like me.

I must go, I'm just finishing my new book: Congratulations! You Have Just Typed "FADE IN"! Begin typing your query letter to Steven Spielberg! Your Check Is In The Mail!!!!!!!!!

Then I am going to shove a brad in my eye to see if it's right for the binding.