Hello EngagedStudents aka Hello CampSamaria

I sat in the mirror for five minutes. There was something in me telling me to go back to bed. I fought it. I couldn’t. Today was important. After a few more minutes, I reached for my toothbrush. I hummed as I brushed. Eventually, I slowly walk in my bedroom. There were my jeans. I slide them on and then I grab my all black hi-top Converse that I threw on top of my wife’s Pastry hi-tops the night before. The time was rushing by. Running through the house towards the door, I kiss my wife and grab my backpack. 45 minutes later, I’m walking in a room with my bright yellow love people tee shirt on and twenty or so students sit spread out. I quiet them. They looked at me with a “nothing” on their faces. But from the sound of their hearts pounding, I could hear a sense of readiness. One-by-One the students begin to raise their hands for opportunity to speak. “I like Nike shoes”, the young man in the corner states. “School is a challenge for me because of other students”, she whispers. After asking a few students to be quiet while others were speaking, I point to another student. “My favorite thing to do is play Playstation”, the young boy states and then begins laughing. I then ask them to write down the 5 most important things in their lives. The room got quiet and the students begin to write. Hello EngagedStudents aka Hello CampSamaria

random list for headystory development: fiction

Here are some really random thoughts on my process for creating headystories. This was fun putting together. You should come out for the next headystory seminar where I share this in order for you to write your own headystories. I’m currently doing two camps this summer. When thinking about headystories, think fun, unique, creative, useful and short.

HeadyStory Development:

1. you must develop the story first in your mind or through random writing
2. you must gather words. words are your paint. the pen is your brush.
3. you must see big but imagine small.
4. you must experiment with the words to see which combination works.
5. the combining of the words must allow for a story.
6. first find your combination of two words and then write down 1 – 5 and then write five sentences.
7. i enjoy writing stories without giving the names of the characters so my readers can create who the character is from what they’ve read per the headystory.
8. i enjoy giving my characters name so i can better write the story.
9. too many sentences can make the story complicated.
10. capturing a story within 10 to 20 sentences is no easy task.
11. i write till the story comes.
12. i don’t write when nothing is there.
13. you should learn to spend your alone time with a dictionary.
14. sentence #1 is “she came without notice.”
15. Turn real life into fiction.
16. learn to section off your thoughts.
17. write to make an impact.
18. how did hello become the ending when it started as the beginning. hello.
19. what was or is your favorite subject in school? people.
20. learn to watch people.
21. you should sit in a library as often as you can and then go to a bookstore.
22. of course, read other people’s material.
23. write down five people you like and 10 people you don’t like.
24. look at as many photographs as you can.
25. read your bible. no better inspiration.
26. sentence #2 is “i rushed upstairs to change clothes.”
27. learn about other cities. especially street corners.
28. music has a way of bringing a story out of you.
29. converse with people you know. desperately find people you don’t know to converse with.
30. rewrite it. it won’t take long.
31. email it to as many people as you can. they might read it.
32. read your story aloud to yourself and listen for the rhythm.
33. sentence #3 is “i opened the door to only a cool breeze.”
34. sentence #3 was “she was gone once i reached the door.”
35. follow-up on your story.
36. let your story sit for as long as you want. it will only get better. maybe.
37. never write.
38. you must write if you want to tell the story best.
39. sentence #4 is “looking both ways breathing heavily, i didn’t see her.”
40. you should invite friends over for writing sessions.
41. sentence #5 is “she replied, i’m at the airport.”

Hello HardDecisions

Forget the fact the he was the only person standing in line with an education. He woke up on this Monday morning in his 1979 Malibu eager to find a job. It was about a month ago when Ted loss his high paying position in Houston due to the company needing to lay people off because of a scandal that took place. Ted was a brilliant man in his late thirties. He graduated college in the top ten percent of his class. But, this Monday morning was similar to the last three. He needed work terribly bad. His aunt gave him a car after losing his car, house, jewelry, etc which the car became his only place to live once his aunt kicked him out due to suspicion of using drugs. Ted pleaded with his aunt. He promised her he hadn’t been doing drugs, and it was her son stealing from her. Three more people stood in front of Ted before getting his opportunity for work via the employment agency that once hired for his company. Ted stood there with his black suit on holding his promising resume. “Next”, and Ted took one more step forward. With his head turning to the right, he catches a glimpse out the window. He watched for minutes as cars zoomed by day dreaming of the life he once lived. “Next”, and Ted took another step closer to what he hoped could be future employment. Now biting his nails and still looking out the window – his eyes catch life when he sees his ex-wife walk by with her hair bouncing and looking radiant. Ted was next to see the clerk but he wants desperately to go speak with his wife in hopes of rekindling the friendship they once considered priceless. Hello HardDecisions.

Learn more about HeadyStories.

Hello YoungMarriage.

Standing at the door with the key in the doorknob, I contemplated if I wanted to go in and face another evening of complaining from my wife. The last two months of my eight-month marriage have been difficult. With minutes going by, I ponder any task that I need to complete to prolong facing Sarah. “Hello Tony”, my neighbor shouts as he jogs pass. I give a half wave as I listen to Sarah’s voice penetrating the door. She is, with great passion, explaining to her mother over the phone how stupid I am and how fed-up she is with my inability to be a husband. Slowly I take the key out of the door and turn around, unable to listen any longer, and walk towards my car. The tears are from my disappointment in not standing up for this marriage. Finally, in my car, backing out – my wife runs to the door. I look. She looks…and I drive off with the tears still continuing. I look out the rearview mirror hoping to see my wife running after me, but no. There in the mirror were only rows of houses. Hello YoungMarriage.

Learn more about HeadyStories.

headystory book cover vol one

the goal is to do several volumes of headystories. it is in process. we are mapping out what this will look like. there is a desire to make this a real creative production. this is art. headstories are so unique and we want to put it out in unique fashion. we believe this starts with the book cover. we wanted to share with you volume one’s book cover.

learn more about headystories here.

Social House Pics: May 09

Heady Here! Well, we got our first Social House event out the way. It felt like the first time I did We Tell Stories Poetry Night at Java Dave’s. However, we had more people but I had that good feeling inside about the “big picture” for the Social House. It is a simple event. We are creating opportunity for fellowship. My wife has told me several times now that she had fun. She sat at a table with a group of ladies and laughed while drinking coffee. Well, here are some

we deeply appreciate the good people at vintage timeless coffee
pics.

me doing nothing but hanging out on my iphone or blackberry

calandra getting her sing on

my buddy mr. morgan reading a headystory.

people came and went all night. this is a casual event.

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