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Randy B. Batten's avatar

So glad you have found your words once more, as we hungrily await them, and the adventures they provide. I have attempted to take the advice of King and yourself, and have opened my bedroom window, which is also my office window, while writing in the morning. The door remains almost closed, as my wife is a sleep during these hours with her door open, and the lights and noise bother her. Something you don't want to do, trust me! I have let the dog come in to watch me type from the bed, and her snoring is actually a comforting sound as I work. Thank you.

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Randy B. Batten's avatar

So glad your words are back, as I look forward to what new adventures you provide us. Have taken some of what you said to heart, and though my door remains 90% closed, to keep light and sound from annoying my sleeping wife in the other room

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Betty Brasen's avatar

So glad you’re back in the writing process! I love your work and read it all. Thanks for getting back on the horse. With the door open!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you, Betty! That encouragement means more to me than you could know. I'm very grateful.

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K Harris's avatar

So loved this, as sad as it made me in the beginning. I’m sorry for the bad things that came. And yet, God allows so we can learn about Him and us. It takes courage to let the words out that show our vulnerabilities. Thank you for sharing with us, your friends. I think we all need to “write with the door open,” in our lives.😉

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

And if this piece has that kind of impact on everyone who reads it, God is indeed using me to serve. And that makes me feel very happy. Thank you!

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Werner's avatar

Once again, Kevin, thanks for the inspiration. Like you, I moved my office from my distraction free basement man-cave office to a small sunroom off the living room. There’s a doorway, but the old doors were removed decades before we moved. So, I always write with the door open, and edit late at night when it’s quiet.

I too am a huge fan of On Writing. I have the hardcover (highlighted to hell with 3M bookmarks sticking out all over the place). I also have an audiobook version. I sometimes listen to it while taking a walk or commuting to work to inspire and help me when I get stuck.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I have that original hardcover! Which, I think, has the best of the covers they've done for that book. Much more attractive than everything that's come since.

And I also have both the audiobook and the Kindle version of it. I wanted to make sure that, any time I want to experience that book, I had a way.

Now I'm getting the itch to listen to the audiobook again!

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Werner's avatar

Hahaha! I already am while I work.

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Sean Flanagan's avatar

Wow!

Amazing insight (and I bite off "astonishing" as it could be thought disrespectful and demeaning). I liked King a *lot* - and especially for the Gunslingers ("No matter how you dance and prance, the last two drops go in your pants.') But … I became disenchanted with his works of recent years and eschew considering his books.

Thank you, I'm very grateful for your update and delighted that you have discovered a way to make headway. Be assured, I am not impatient for your next book, just very eager.

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Muz MURRAY's avatar

Love that. Kev! I think I need a dog to come and nose me while I'm working in my iovory tower.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

All humans need dogs.

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RW Burnop's avatar

So glad you were able to get the words to flow again! Have been praying for your situation. We need to be open to listening to the still small voice. Praise God!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I really appreciate the prayers! God is good, and he's definitely been speaking to me. This is all part of a plan for growth for me, and it was needed.

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RW Burnop's avatar

He will continue to try to grow you as long as you still breathe. I recently put a post on Facebook about how we are God’s children and children need instruction and guidance and training. He uses life experiences, other people and the Bible to do that.

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RW Burnop's avatar

Children of God. As long as we are on the earth, we will continue to be. Children need instruction and guidance. We are always being taught. The Holy Spirit is our guide, counselor, teacher. We learn through life experiences, people around us and God’s word, The Holy Bible (Basic instructions before leaving earth). Some of the lessons are hard to accept. We wonder why we have to experience them. When you look back, you realize they grew your spiritual knowledge, your faith and your trust in God. They are milestones on the path to maturity in heaven.

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Max Rohnen | The Rogue Author's avatar

I caught COVID in January of 2022 and for the first time in my life experienced real, life-altering depression. It passed, by the Grace of God, but it changed me. I used to be a home-body. After all, everything I enjoyed out of life was right here. Depression changed that. I would have to stand outside in the open air to find my breath and catch glimpses of hope. Now, over a year later, I'm not so much the home-body. I love to grab my phone and a Bluetooth keyboard and work from someplace different from time to time: the library, the coffee shop, the back porch, even the kitchen table. I can tell you for certain that you are supposed to be doing this, writing. It means something when you share a snapshot of your author life. It's a reminder that there's someone else out there who understands, who's been there. And it's great that the writing muse has returned! It gives me hope. Thanks again for putting your words out there.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

The pandemic taught us all a lot of lessons, for sure. I think it's ironic, how something that separated all of us taught us, finally, how important it was to be together.

Thank you for the kind words and support, Max! Bless you and your writing!

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Davina Purnell's avatar

If you don't want to smudge consider sound a bell or a couple of sticks and imagine as you start in the back and move twords the door that the sound is driving all the negative stuff out the door you could also plug in a radio in the back and as you Raise the volume imagine the same thing

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Sounds like good advice, Davina. Thank you!

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Davina Purnell's avatar

Your very welcome

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Maureen's avatar

Just from this single partial paragraph, I'm telling you that you are definitely supposed to be a writer.

"Those words bring power to the spell, you see. Words have great power, because they are literally thoughts becoming things. They are literally a manifestation of something that never existed until we conjured it out of the ether using our minds and our tongues and our lips. Or using our hands, to wave a little ink-filled wand or tap on rune-like keys arrayed in a grid on a keyboard in front of us."

It's about the coolest thing I've ever read. Such great imagery made my little reader's heart soar.

I'm so glad you got your mojo back!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you, Maureen! Such kind words! I'm so glad that paragraph resonated with you!

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Tawdra Kandle's avatar

I love this hard, and I feel it deeply.

Glad the words are flowing. Keep that door open. And if you'd like some sage and some other symbolic things for clearing your space, see me in St Pete Beach. :)

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

You got a deal, lady!

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Aug 16, 2023
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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Since I have, many times, taken a great deal of inspiration from Neil and his words, I consider it a great honor to be compared to him in any way. And as usual, he's nailed it. Magic exists. Words have tremendous power. It's why should always use them with caution and respect.

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