http://jrafferty.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by James R. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:10:32 GMT 2010-01-03T15:10:32Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977938067 Writing is a multi-faceted task.  First, there's actual writing, which can go on for a long time if you're writing a novel, even at NANO paces.  Once the draft is done, it's edit time.   Perhaps . . . Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:12:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977938067 James R. 2009-12-11T02:12:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977861830 Fall in New England is one of my favorite seasons.  I've lived in New England most of my life, but never tire of the variety this season brings to us.  Recently, I rode with a business colleague . . . Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:49:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977861830 James R. 2009-10-20T16:49:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977800624 Business travel took me across the country and I ended up in Los Angeles during a time when a large forest fire coated the northern horizon with a thick ridge of smoke.  Looking toward the downtown, . . . Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:22:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977800624 James R. 2009-09-05T00:22:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977723305 Last week I had a stimulating time exploring the creative scene in Asheville, North Carolina.  Over a couple of days, my son and I saw music, toured museums and galleries, followed in the footsteps . . . Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:37:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977723305 James R. 2009-06-28T02:37:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977698643 Last summer I took a memorable trip to Ireland and spent a day walking around Dublin.  I soon realized I had company; throughout the city the words and landmarks of famous Irish writers were . . . Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:38:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977698643 James R. 2009-06-04T01:38:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977690605 It's a long Memorial Day weekend and a chance to get ready for the summer ahead, in addition to remembering the true purpose of this holiday.  Our friend Pat S. has made it to her dream destination, . . . Sun, 24 May 2009 23:38:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977690605 James R. 2009-05-24T23:38:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977613765 We've all been there   You are working on a story and it has come to a dead end.   The characters seem to have lost the spring in their step.  The dialogue is wilting.   . . . Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:50:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977613765 James R. 2009-03-05T03:50:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977550436 It's that time of year again, the new year.  Time to take stock, look back and gaze ahead.   How do you like to kick the new year off?   Do you like to set goals?   . . . Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:19:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977550436 James R. 2009-01-01T20:19:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977549509   The cabin looked just the way it had when they had left last year -- boring.   Kerry and Kim Jackson entered the unit first and threw their bags into the small bedroom on the right.   . . . Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:31:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977549509 James R. 2008-12-31T18:31:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977494341 It's Halloween eve and a writer's thoughts turn to, the dark side?   Perhaps.   One of our duties as writer is to create a mood, offer an experience or otherwise, captivate our readers. . . . Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:42:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977494341 James R. 2008-11-01T00:42:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977453801 It all started in the Emerald Isle.  I was in the lands west of Dublin for a standards meeting and managed to meet the mysterious Vivian, a beautiful lady with light red tresses and a taste for latitude . . . Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:02:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977453801 James R. 2008-09-20T02:02:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977435384 Can it possibly be so?   Is the summer really just about over?   Didn't it just begin?  Looking back, I can see it was a busy time.    Here's a . . . Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:05:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977435384 James R. 2008-09-01T02:05:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977422392 A couple of weeks back, I spent a week at a pleasant hotel and resort to the west of Dublin.  The reason for the trip was to attend a standards conference.   I was plenty busy doing . . . Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:37:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977422392 James R. 2008-08-16T01:37:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977417526 Just a quick note to link this page to technorati.   I don't expect this post to be long lived.   Technorati Profile Let's see if this works. Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:06:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977417526 James R. 2008-08-09T16:06:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977402499 I began writing this post using a top ten motif, but decided there were more than ten experiences worth talking about on the family vacation which we just completed.   We did a grand . . . Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:05:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977402499 James R. 2008-07-20T20:05:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977384644 It's nearly July and I still haven't taken more than 2 days of vacation.   What my writing could really use now is a dedicated focus on it for several days or a week.   I have one ms . . . Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:27:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977384644 James R. 2008-06-28T15:27:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977379456 Today was a gorgeous early Summer day in Massachusetts.   Our resident wombat editor, Rachael, told me about a book signing for her friend Courtney.    I drove up and walked right past a . . . Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:10:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977379456 James R. 2008-06-22T03:10:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977357962 Summertime and the living is easy.   Yes, summer is just about here.   The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start and the official season is just weeks away.   Even in the Boston . . . Sat, 31 May 2008 04:09:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977357962 James R. 2008-05-31T04:09:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977354363 In writing groups, there is a great deal of discussion about genre.  For example, what is your genre?   Do you write different genres?   Have you tried to cross genres?   Then there . . . Thu, 29 May 2008 00:12:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977354363 James R. 2008-05-29T00:12:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337969 This has been a year of many frequent flier miles for me.  On the plus side, most of the places I've gone to have been warm, energetic or otherwise stimulating.   Recent trips have . . . Tue, 06 May 2008 21:05:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337969 James R. 2008-05-06T21:05:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977297348 This is the 3rd contest I've entered at Gather and there is always a mix of anxiety and relief as the close of another round approaches.   In this round, I entered a fairly new song that . . . Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:40:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977297348 James R. 2008-03-30T19:40:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977294356 We're a couple of days into Round 2 of First Tracks.   I've sampled a few songs and found the quality level to be pretty high.    Ideally, the winners in this round will . . . Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:43:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977294356 James R. 2008-03-27T00:43:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291654 Greetings.  After several threads talking about the aftermath of writing, let's talk about root causes.   After a long winter, with accidents, sore backs, wombat flu and more, we are . . . Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:01:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291654 James R. 2008-03-23T18:01:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291203 First Tracks is the first contest that Gather has created that is targeted toward the community of songwriters and musicians.   I found out about it since I was already a member of Gather.   . . . Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:05:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291203 James R. 2008-03-23T00:05:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284775 On Monday, I'll be wearin' some green and flying west, so I'll celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the west coast this year.   In the meantime, you can get a head start on the Irish . . . Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:21:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284775 James R. 2008-03-15T03:21:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278592 A while back I did a blurb for my original First Chapters entry (since re-written), Growing Up Single.  I got some feedback, so I'll post this revised blurb.   I'll keep the . . . Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:21:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278592 James R. 2008-03-08T01:21:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977270271 Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life.  I've had that good fortune on a couple of occasions.     About twenty years ago, I went for a special . . . Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:21:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977270271 James R. 2008-03-03T17:21:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249530   It was a day when winds swirled from a gathering storm and leaves twirled in random paths to the ground.    The sky was slate.    Arthur walked toward the commuter rail . . . Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:40:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249530 James R. 2008-02-05T00:40:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977210238 A while back, we talked about plans for the future, or not, as the case may be.   In this article, let's circle back and consider what this past year brought to us, the initial year . . . Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:18:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977210238 James R. 2008-01-28T18:18:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977209447 We have talked about Wombats lost and found.  Now let's look ahead.   Where would you like to be in five years?  What would you like to be doing?   Does this ambition . . . Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:53:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977209447 James R. 2007-12-21T04:53:51Z