Graham Hunt   
It would seem the assumption of this person, and others like them is that unless or until you are successful (assuming you gauge success by the accumulation of 'things") you have nothing to say. Not So. Your group Lipstick on a Pig Valerie is a case in point.
Really there are very few people who don't know something that would be of interest to other people.
Life experience is a good starting point. The sum total of my yesterdays is different from the sum total of yours. Even if we have had similar experiences we will have had them at different stages of our life;s journey and we would come to those experiences from different perspectives. But like everything, it is a case of try it and see. Don't expect to write the perfect novel or the ultimate solution to the world's problems the first time you take up a pen or sit at a keyboard.
Jun 10th 2007 11:01   

Graham Hunt   
There is a Buddhist philosophy that says
I have a truth
You have a truth
Together we create a greater truth.
How can that happen if neither of us share our truths to start with?
Jun 10th 2007 11:03   

Tom Show   
Depending on what I'm writing, I draw from lifes experiences to make a point, descussion knowledge when posting, anf from heart when it's of a personal issue.

Here is an article I wrote a year ago.

A Wedding

I knew this day would come, but I wasn’t really prepared for it. My youngest, a daughter, the “apple of my eye”, walked down the isle, on my arm, for the joining of these two in the bonds of matrimony.

My daughter, Deanna, took a job, as a cashier, in a local Publics grocery store; little did she know that her life would change upon meeting a fellow employee. This young man, Rick, was the Commons, Assistant Manager. Isn’t it interesting how God leads, his believers, on paths that fulfill his will in our lives?

They began to talk and get to know each other, off the clock, because he was her manager. One night he bought a dozen roses and arranged them on her car, so that when she got off and headed out to her car to go home - what did she see in the distance as she approached her car-----someone had decorated her car ---- what did she having waiting, for her to clean up, so she could drive home!

Isn’t love made of those “moments,” in a relationship, as you grow fonder of each other.
Moments are made of this!

Weeks turn into months, months then became a year and they were growing closer and closer. Both Christians, they were saving, themselves, for that special wedding night. I had bought her a ring, that was a symbol, among the young, of there commitment to their chastity. How proud, of her, I was.

Time passes by; Rick is promoted and moved about 3 hours away. Deanna, is in Jr College, with her sights set on a Nursing degree, had changed jobs a couple of times, bought herself a car (Dad had given her his vehicle when she turned 18; as a matter of fact, that was her Christmas one year.)

By this time they were a “couple,” making plans and talking about a life together. For several months, she knew that Rick was going to give her an engagement ring - but first he had to ask for her hand in marriage from her father. Ohhhhhhh

Time passes and there second Christmas is approaching - one night I receive a call from Rick - he is very nervous and finally pops the question - he would like my daughters hand in marriage, will I bless this union. Well, unknown to Rick I had already given my daughter approval of her choice in a marriage partner and would welcome him into the family.

I give Rick my blessing, with a straight face, and he relaxes. Then I laugh and tell him we had been expecting this moment for several months. He gives her, her engagement ring and they announce that they plan to marry the following March (2005).

I sit down and create a memories web site for them and encourage them to invite there friend to the web site to share specials moments with them.
March rolls around, Dorothy’s Dad dies a week before the wedding, her parents live in Shreveport, La. The wedding is set for March 4, 2005. Dorothy and I go to Shreveport and return home on Tuesday, the rehearsal dinner is Thursday night and the wedding is Friday. I’m fitted for a Tux and ready to walk her down the isle. Ooops, Daddy has a balance disorder and may have to use a cane as they walk the isle.

Friday, March 4th, 2005, the ceremony is scheduled for 2 PM at a local National Park. The bride is scurrying to get herself ready; Daddy has taken mediation to calm himself, the crowd has gathered, family friends, etc. The moment arrives, Daddy in his Tux, daughter in a beautiful, off shoulder gown and train, we step off, Daddy is calm, no cane, and we proceed down the isle where I announce that her mother and I give the bride to this occasion. I sit down; they take their vows, have a communion, and are finally announced as Husband and Wife.

Ricks Grandmother gives them use of a cabin in the North Carolina Mountains for a week, it snows while they are there and they are beside themselves with joy.

Now, I’m going through the “empty nest syndrome,” but life is happy and I see Grand children (plural) down the road to spoil and enjoy.

Tom Show, father of the Bride
Jun 10th 2007 11:22   

Robert McDaniel   Tax Professional
We don't have jet packs to take us forward in time from now to the future. It's a process and a journey to get from now to then. And that process and journey starts where you are.

If you want to write - the worst thing to do in nothing. Write about what you know from personal experience. Take it one step at a time. You may never arrive at the future world you currently envision. But the journey will be a grand adventure.
Jun 10th 2007 11:30   

Thea Westra   Adding Wings To Our Unique Life Journey!
Aaah, good old Nike again ..."Just Do It!"

Pretend you're speaking with a good friend and then type away.
Set a timer if it helps. You can edit, cut/paste later.

It's only ink and paper. It's not public till you make it so. :)
"It's never too late-in fiction or in life-to revise." says Nancy Thayer

Namaste, Thea
Jun 10th 2007 11:32   

Lorraine Lake   
People are passionate about what they know. That passion will come across in their writing & creates interest in what is being read. Isn't that the point of writing--to have someone understand where you're coming from, then to lead them where you want them to go, to experience? It really doesn't matter what you're writing about, why a product or service or idea is so great (or not so great), what ideologies you may have, writers are trying to get their message across to as many people as they can.

Writing is communication, and communication with passion whether written, spoken & heard gets noticed.

And Thea's comment from Nike's tag line---Just Do It, is perfect advice!
Jun 10th 2007 13:08   

Beth Schmillen   
Yes... anyone can write and even is it's plain speak (Ernest Hemingway was noted for that, wasn't he?) that's the best speak! Whatever you write, keep it simple and to the point. Very few people can write those compound, complex sentences that very few novelists craft.

That's what's nice about APSense. There seems to be a group of us writing and rewriting and getting better with practice at writing about what we know as well as writing about what we are learning.

Yes! Nike! Just Do it!!!

Yes! write what you know!

Yes! write and rewrite and write some more!

thanks for reading!
Beth
Jun 10th 2007 16:45   

Teodor M.   Blockchain Real Estate
Just start it! I did it in Romanina language since I was a child, and at the age of 40 I started to write in English, which isn't my mother's language... But I write, and I know I make mistakes, but who is perfect in the world we live?
Teodor
Jun 11th 2007 00:27   

Lisa Lomas   
I think we start with pen and paper???

I find writing it down ln long hand a habit I cannot break when its an article.

Lisa
CMU7
Jun 11th 2007 03:29   

producer  
Nice
Jun 11th 2007 04:33   

Collette Johnson   Collette's Naturals
Hi Everyone
I write about the things that mean something to me and that I feel may benefit others.
I think everyone tends to judge other people's writing. I tend to judge them on spelling rather than on content.

Blessings
Collette
Jun 11th 2007 07:17   

Graham Hunt   
Interesting point you make Collette, particularly when it comes to the Internet. There are different spellings, depending on where you live in the world (Most of it tends to be the US spelling vs the correct way) (8-)> (That's a smilie face folks, I wear glasses and have a goatee beard. )
Things as simple as the word center, for example. Where I live the word is spelt centre, but my html editor doesn't recognise (or is it recognize) that.
Jun 11th 2007 07:27   

Rhonda Cherryman   
Tom.

Edit: "there friend" to "their friends". Nice article.
Jun 11th 2007 18:59   

Collette Johnson   Collette's Naturals
HI Graham
LOL you are right about different spellings for different parts of the world and I do take that into consideration, lol

Blessings
Collette
Jun 12th 2007 04:41   

Valerie Hasara   Marketing, Web Designer, Owner
You have something to offer from you own personal perspective. I tend to always write in a manner that shows I relate to others. I like to hit the comfort zone.

Fear is a funny thing, and many people will never get outside their comfort zone unless they are pushed. So why not show them they never have to leave their comfort zone.

Jun 14th 2007 12:17