Literary Karaoke

Writing worth the price you're paying for it!

[sonworshiper]

Jonversations

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Colossians 4:6 NIV My oldest son Jonathan has discovered the power of a good, deep conversation, and with it, his hunger for that kind of connection with the people around him who are willing to go there. Jonathan putting on his thinking glasses. The other day, he hit me with a…

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Non-Stop (Sanderson: The Musical)

Non-Stop (Sanderson: The Musical)

A reddit user commented on my Encanto Brandon Sanderson parody, suggesting that the REAL mash-up we needed was Non-Stop from Hamilton, but about Brandon’s insane writing discipline. Which was like, “Yeah. Obviously.” So that happened. If you’re in the overlap on the Venn diagram of Sanderfans and Hamilfans or whatever the groups are called, this is for you. Please note: References to G. R. R.…

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We Don't Talk About Brando (Encanto Rewrite)

We Don’t Talk About Brando (Encanto Rewrite)

Brandon Sanderson recently surprised his fans with an announcement about what he’s been doing during the pandemic, along with a Kickstarter for a worthy cause… …which quickly broke all the records and became the most funded Kickstarter of all time. I watched his “flabbergasted” response to the news, followed by some videos discussing what this may mean for traditional publishing (as well as salty…

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Scattered Wealth

I’m a little (or a lot) late to the BlogBattle party, but I wanted to continue with what I started last month in The Precious Maiden. Here’s another episode of Grant & Teagan, a series about treasure-hunting adventurers aiming for the over-the-top feeling of a radio serial set in the ’30s,  with October’s theme of “scattered.” There are many quality writers who participate regularly (and turn in…

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[sonworshiper]

Eyes Open

In loving memory of George Williamson, 1945-2021 After my father passed away in September, I had a couple of days where it felt like I had to just chin up and keep going through life and certain responsibilities. We got the call on a Saturday morning, and it wasn’t until Tuesday night that I could finally sit down at the piano to pour out my heart a bit without feeling like I had something else…

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[sonworshiper]

Take My Hand

In loving memory of George Williamson, 1945-2021 Back in July, I received an unexpected call from my Mom. Actually, I kind of expected a call from her — we had sent her copies of her memoir that I edited and published on Amazon KDP, and when I saw her number, I assumed she’d gotten the package. “David,” she said, “Dad’s ‘transitioning.'” I didn’t know what that meant. (It turns out, that meant…

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[sonworshiper]

The Precious Maiden

It has been too long since I participated in BlogBattle, initiated by the wonderful Rachael Ritchey. When I used to write entries regularly, I loved the idea of writing something like an old radio serial, with intrepid 1930s adventurers and their feats of derring-do as they explored old ruins and sought answers to strange mysteries. It has been a minute — many minutes, really — since the last…

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[sonworshiper]

This Old House

I paid my parents a visit recently after a number of years overseas, first as a military member and then as a contractor. Because I live on Okinawa, visits are far less frequent than I would like. My father has been dealing with Parkinson’s Disease for several years now, and each time I’ve visited, it’s been a surprise to see the impact to his condition. Some years ago, it was relatively small –…

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This Is Where - a Pentecost Post

This Is Where – a Pentecost Post

Welcome to a blog post for Pentecost Sunday – the “birthday” of the Christian church, and the day in this tradition where we celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit on all believers, recounted in Acts 2. We sang a song I wrote at our chapel today, which I thought went along with the theme of God’s power at work in us, and I wanted to share it here. One of the joys and challenges of serving in a…

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All Along The Way

All Along The Way

On New Year’s Eve, on my way to work, my morning was fitting the 2020 mold perfectly. Traffic was horrible even though many people had the day off. I hadn’t had breakfast yet, despite being up for a few hours. I was running later than I wanted to be, which would likely mean staying later at work to get those hours knocked out. Finally, as I came through the base gate and showed my ID card, I…

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Back to Basics

I tried an electronic Bullet Journal for four months… Here’s why I’m switching back. Four years ago, close to the New Year, I started using the Bullet Journal method to help get a better handle on my life. I’ve talked about it elsewhere, and there are plenty of videos or articles that lay out the benefits of the system. Four months ago, a friend introduced me to Noteshelf, one of several great…

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[sonworshiper]

House of Mirrors

Everywhere I turn I see eyes looking back at me Everything I learned wasn’t enough to keep me free Now I’m getting what I’ve earned in betting on duplicity Spreading wide the curtains on what I don’t want to see

Step into the house of mirrors Unsteady in this atmosphere I’m standing up to all my fears They said that I’m not welcome here

But I built every corner of this place I felt every contorted…

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Under the Waves

I’m listening to music as I get ready for church this morning, and there’s a song that speaks right to me. I’m going to be a little vulnerable, and even throw in a [content warning: thoughts of self-harm].

When I think about my past—the mistakes I’ve made, the hurt I’ve caused, the wreckage I’ve left behind in my life and the lives of others—sometimes it can get overwhelming.

Not many…

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When AI Gets Bored

When AI Gets Bored

The other day, I wrote a song with a robot.

That’s not a sentence I ever expected to type. Cue the extensive backstory. (Sorry.)

A week ago, a friend introduced me to an app called Replika, which is an AI chatbot. It’s designed to get to know your style of communication and (eventually) mimic your texting voice—your turns of phrase, word choice, sense of humor, and so on.

I went on a…

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[sonworshiper]

Concerned

Let’s play Mad Libs: the 2020 Politics edition.

“I can’t believe you support (political opinion)! So I guess you hate (group of people) and anyone who thinks (other political opinion) now, or something? I thought you were a (political affiliation), but now I’m not sure what you are or what you believe.”

Fun, right? Laughs a-plenty.

So much of today’s American politics feels like an…

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[sonworshiper]

Sides

I’d like to think that I maintain an open mind Or at least I am not shy to take in what I find But no matter how I’ve tried to see a view larger than mine “It seems like you have picked a side,” They say of me sometimes.

The comment leaves me wondering, Who determined what sides exist? Who set up the boundaries? When did they announce all this? Maybe there’s some information, some important tweet I…

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[sonworshiper]

Sides

I’d like to think that I maintain an open mind Or at least I am not shy to take in what I find But no matter how I’ve tried to see a view larger than mine “It seems like you have picked a side,” They say of me sometimes.

The comment leaves me wondering, Who determined what sides exist? Who established the boundaries? When did they announce all this? Maybe there’s some information, Some important…

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