Ok, Folks, Here's your chance...
...to tell me what YOU would like to have me write about here. I seem to be batting 0 these days, judging from the number of comments, so if people will suggest subjects they want to know more about, I promise to consider them in writing my blog entries. This would help me a lot in another way as I am feeling kind of written out. I don't mean writer's block, no, but in the sense that I can't think of what more to say about schizophrenia except to chronicle my daily life which would be horribly boring for all concerned.
But Readers, please, I know there are a lot of you out there who never comment...Why don't you do so this once, even anonymously, because I just know you have ideas for me that would spark some great entries that others would love to hear about! Regulars, of course, I love your loyal comments and welcome any suggestions you may have at any time. Warning: If I don't get suggestions, I will write about Joe and ALS to my heart's content and assume that since no one responded to my request you don't care one way or another.
Later: I see that some comments have come in to earlier entries since I last looked, and they were very insightful, but my request still stands, as I need the input, I really do. Thanks everybody! BD
Posted by pamwagg at August 31, 2006 04:53 PM
Hi Pam,
Whatever you want to write about is fine with me. I don't think it's a requirement that you have to write about mental illness all the time. Write whatever moves you when you're sitting down staring at your computer screen.
I'm one of your loyal blog followers and try to read your blog at least once or twice a week.
Since you're such a wonderful writer, can you give some of us some lessons on how to write and how to convey feelings and pictures. I hope I'm making sense.
For example, today I was looking at my flower garden. I have about 100 beautiful rose bushes in full bloom. My husband has threatened to get rid of all the pesky insects, bees, govers, and squirrels, but I love all of them in my garden. They make my garden so much more interesting and alive. I think I'm finally getting through to my husband that we don't need to sterilize everything around us. I love the critters in my garden. I would have loved to write about that, but I didn't know where to start.
yaya
Posted by: yaya at September 7, 2006 08:28 PM
Pam - Please keep writing, about anything, about everything. You have an amazing gift for helping us see the poetry in the everyday - I especially enjoy reading about your thoughts on the mental health system, schizophrenia, medication - your perspective has given me food for thought, and hope. Thank you for this blog - I am a regular reader, though I have never commented. Some of us can't write but are good at reading!
Posted by: Suzanne at September 6, 2006 10:36 AM
Pam,
I began to read your blog after I saw you speak at the conference in Sioux City on Mental Health. You and your sister were the most amazing speakers there and I learned so much from the classes. My mom's sister also had schizophrenia, but I only got to know her very briefly before she passed. I had to do an inservice on one of the sessions I attended in Sioux City and I picked yours. I work at a waiver home for teenage males with mental retardation and behavior disorders. I had to give the inservice to my co-workers only, but I recieved several compliments and everyone of them who has asked to read your book always tells me how AMAZING it is. I would also like to know more about "grey crinkled paper," and would love to read more poetry. I also dabble in writing poems. I actually went to college for photography and have a major in photojournalism, but got extremely burned out from chasing ALL of the news, ALL of the time. I have been at this job for 5 years now and LOVE IT!!!
BEST OF LUCK
Roberta from Iowa
Posted by: Roberta at September 3, 2006 10:53 PM
Pam,
I am a long time reader, but can be shy about commenting. I know from keeping my own online journal for years that the many comments you get from your readers can encourage you to write and share your life on a consistent basis. I will endeavor to aspire to be a more vocal and regular commenter on your journal.
I am 34 and also suffer from schizophrenia and extreme social anxiety. I am currently living in my car and gain access to the web via the many Wi-Fi spots around town with my laptop.
I would enjoy hearing about your day, your thoughts on the psychiatric system, your dreams and desires. Just a myriad of topics as you express yourself through written language so well.
Your devoted reader,
Andrew
Author of the The 4th Avenue Blues
Posted by: Andrew at September 1, 2006 09:01 PM
I would be really interested to hear about your writing process, your opinions on poetry and specific poems, what you have been reading...basically I would like to hear about your life as a writer and poet.
Posted by: Samantha at September 1, 2006 10:27 AM
Dear Pam,
I am one of your lurkers. I started reading your blog about a year ago after my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Your writings have helped me understand what my son is experiencing. I look forward to each entry in your blog. You write so beautifully, I enjoy reading anything you write. Your friend Joe sounds as if he is as inspirational as you. I'm sure we would all benefit from hearing how he is facing his challenge.
Thanks for sharing your world with us.
--Monica
Posted by: Monica at September 1, 2006 07:48 AM
Oh--write about anything at all. If you get tired of writing about schizophrenia then write about life and longing, saddle leather, middle age, papayas--anything. I really mean this, as your craft would redeem any content, and your content has never yet needed redemption.
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia at August 31, 2006 11:40 PM
I just went to your first listed entry and guess what the subject was? "Grey Crinkled Paper"! I don't quite get it and also wonder if you still believe in it...
Kate
Posted by: Kate K. at August 31, 2006 10:05 PM
Hello BD,
You might have written about this before, but I was wondering if you could elaborate on what "Grey Crinkled Paper" means. In DIVIDED MINDS you mention it several times and it seems to have played, maybe still plays, an important part in your psychosis. Regardless, I will start reading your blog from the beginning and try to make a few notes as I go along. Who knows, it might help.
Yes, do write about Joe. I'd like to get to know him and it's probably good therapy for you. As to your boring daily life, I would find it refreshing to hear about it. I've been thinking about your shopping problem today to see if I could come up with any remedies, but the only two things I could come up with were 1. always make a shopping list to bring with you (if you don't already) and buy only what's on the list and 2. shop in the wee hours when it's empty at a 24 hour supermarket.
Poetry, even poetry fragments would be great to read. Also you could list some of your favorite poems, maybe even analyze one and get some feedback.
Kate
Posted by: Kate K. at August 31, 2006 09:56 PM
Dear Pam,
As your most "regular" Regular and because I know so much about you, your plea is truly a challenge for me. I do know that everyone, including me, clamors for more of your poetry.One down-? to go.Perhaps you might dig down and come up with some entertaining anecdotes about your childhood-how about when you were in school abroad? How about giving Lyme disease a little press. I'm sure many people don't realize what a serious illness it can be, yet virtually no research is being done, and very little money is being spent on finding anything new or hopeful. That's about all I can think of for now. At least it's a start. I want to add my voice to your plea and ask your readers to help me out. Surely there are plenty of people who have suggestions for you. Show some support for all that Pam has done and give her a hand.My Scorpion intuition is assuring me that others will follow in my rather shaky attempt to provide ideas for topics for our favorite blogger!
I hope I'm right, Your biggest fan, Paula
Posted by: Paula Kirkpatrick at August 31, 2006 09:27 PM
Early
Schizophrenia Screening Test
Hi Pam,
Whatever you want to write about is fine with me. I don't think it's a requirement that you have to write about mental illness all the time. Write whatever moves you when you're sitting down staring at your computer screen.
I'm one of your loyal blog followers and try to read your blog at least once or twice a week.
Since you're such a wonderful writer, can you give some of us some lessons on how to write and how to convey feelings and pictures. I hope I'm making sense.
For example, today I was looking at my flower garden. I have about 100 beautiful rose bushes in full bloom. My husband has threatened to get rid of all the pesky insects, bees, govers, and squirrels, but I love all of them in my garden. They make my garden so much more interesting and alive. I think I'm finally getting through to my husband that we don't need to sterilize everything around us. I love the critters in my garden. I would have loved to write about that, but I didn't know where to start.
yaya
Posted by: yaya at September 7, 2006 08:28 PM
Pam - Please keep writing, about anything, about everything. You have an amazing gift for helping us see the poetry in the everyday - I especially enjoy reading about your thoughts on the mental health system, schizophrenia, medication - your perspective has given me food for thought, and hope. Thank you for this blog - I am a regular reader, though I have never commented. Some of us can't write but are good at reading!
Posted by: Suzanne at September 6, 2006 10:36 AM
Pam,
I began to read your blog after I saw you speak at the conference in Sioux City on Mental Health. You and your sister were the most amazing speakers there and I learned so much from the classes. My mom's sister also had schizophrenia, but I only got to know her very briefly before she passed. I had to do an inservice on one of the sessions I attended in Sioux City and I picked yours. I work at a waiver home for teenage males with mental retardation and behavior disorders. I had to give the inservice to my co-workers only, but I recieved several compliments and everyone of them who has asked to read your book always tells me how AMAZING it is. I would also like to know more about "grey crinkled paper," and would love to read more poetry. I also dabble in writing poems. I actually went to college for photography and have a major in photojournalism, but got extremely burned out from chasing ALL of the news, ALL of the time. I have been at this job for 5 years now and LOVE IT!!!
BEST OF LUCK
Roberta from Iowa
Posted by: Roberta at September 3, 2006 10:53 PM
Pam,
I am a long time reader, but can be shy about commenting. I know from keeping my own online journal for years that the many comments you get from your readers can encourage you to write and share your life on a consistent basis. I will endeavor to aspire to be a more vocal and regular commenter on your journal.
I am 34 and also suffer from schizophrenia and extreme social anxiety. I am currently living in my car and gain access to the web via the many Wi-Fi spots around town with my laptop.
I would enjoy hearing about your day, your thoughts on the psychiatric system, your dreams and desires. Just a myriad of topics as you express yourself through written language so well.
Your devoted reader,
Andrew
Author of the The 4th Avenue Blues
Posted by: Andrew at September 1, 2006 09:01 PM
I would be really interested to hear about your writing process, your opinions on poetry and specific poems, what you have been reading...basically I would like to hear about your life as a writer and poet.
Posted by: Samantha at September 1, 2006 10:27 AM
Dear Pam,
I am one of your lurkers. I started reading your blog about a year ago after my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Your writings have helped me understand what my son is experiencing. I look forward to each entry in your blog. You write so beautifully, I enjoy reading anything you write. Your friend Joe sounds as if he is as inspirational as you. I'm sure we would all benefit from hearing how he is facing his challenge.
Thanks for sharing your world with us.
--Monica
Posted by: Monica at September 1, 2006 07:48 AM
Oh--write about anything at all. If you get tired of writing about schizophrenia then write about life and longing, saddle leather, middle age, papayas--anything. I really mean this, as your craft would redeem any content, and your content has never yet needed redemption.
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia at August 31, 2006 11:40 PM
I just went to your first listed entry and guess what the subject was? "Grey Crinkled Paper"! I don't quite get it and also wonder if you still believe in it...
Kate
Posted by: Kate K. at August 31, 2006 10:05 PM
Hello BD,
You might have written about this before, but I was wondering if you could elaborate on what "Grey Crinkled Paper" means. In DIVIDED MINDS you mention it several times and it seems to have played, maybe still plays, an important part in your psychosis. Regardless, I will start reading your blog from the beginning and try to make a few notes as I go along. Who knows, it might help.
Yes, do write about Joe. I'd like to get to know him and it's probably good therapy for you. As to your boring daily life, I would find it refreshing to hear about it. I've been thinking about your shopping problem today to see if I could come up with any remedies, but the only two things I could come up with were 1. always make a shopping list to bring with you (if you don't already) and buy only what's on the list and 2. shop in the wee hours when it's empty at a 24 hour supermarket.
Poetry, even poetry fragments would be great to read. Also you could list some of your favorite poems, maybe even analyze one and get some feedback.
Kate
Posted by: Kate K. at August 31, 2006 09:56 PM
Dear Pam,
As your most "regular" Regular and because I know so much about you, your plea is truly a challenge for me. I do know that everyone, including me, clamors for more of your poetry.One down-? to go.Perhaps you might dig down and come up with some entertaining anecdotes about your childhood-how about when you were in school abroad? How about giving Lyme disease a little press. I'm sure many people don't realize what a serious illness it can be, yet virtually no research is being done, and very little money is being spent on finding anything new or hopeful. That's about all I can think of for now. At least it's a start. I want to add my voice to your plea and ask your readers to help me out. Surely there are plenty of people who have suggestions for you. Show some support for all that Pam has done and give her a hand.My Scorpion intuition is assuring me that others will follow in my rather shaky attempt to provide ideas for topics for our favorite blogger!
I hope I'm right, Your biggest fan, Paula
Posted by: Paula Kirkpatrick at August 31, 2006 09:27 PM