A Note from Don about this Site. Do I look like I run with a Rough Crowd?

Hi! I’m Don Martin. And, yes, I do have an undisguised sense of humor, which I will try to keep to myself while I’m teaching profound things like “How to Write vs. Sitting on your Butt.” I, personally, don’t think this picture is that funny, however, even though some people may snicker for no apparent reason. I call it “My Painful Eye Surgery. During Covid, While Wearing a Snazzy Hawaiian Shirt.” My aftershave smells a bit like vegetables cooking at the Waffle House.

Who am I? (Elevator bio)

I live in Nashville, TN. Like everyone else here, I am a musician, songwriter, live music sound engineer, and recording engineer. Unlike the others, I have also played with Porsches, Maseratis, and high-end homes (the THINGS, not the bands.) I have written and published about 30 books & 1000 articles. I’ve started and run some businesses in my time. I do communicate.

Why are you here?

There will be some time allotted for introspection at the end of the session, but for now, maybe we should start with these. (There are no snacks.)

1. You are one of my friends or my mom.

2. You enjoy my writing, and wouldn’t mind reading some more.

3. You enjoy YOUR OWN writing, and wouldn’t mind making some money at it.

4. You are here to read my stories for free, instead of joining Medium.

5. I owe you money.

6. You support the arts, even though this is technically not art. At all.

7. You want the free stuff.

Subscribe!

You can get all this sent to your in-box every Monday for FREE.

Folks who opt for a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) will also receive surprise item in the mail (not like the flaming sacks of you-know-what, like we used to light and leave on our Latin teacher’s front porch occasionally as a lovely parting gift. these gifts will more likely take the form of e-books and e-courses.

When I publish a new book, I’ll send it to you for free. Like it or not.

CLIFF NOTES MESSAGE

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO READ TO THE END

My health caused me to have to leave my comfy corporate world and figure out how to make a living with my laptop. Here is where I share what I’m learning about being a profitable creator, about my new life, and growing older whimsically, if not gracefully.

Why am I here?

Because I am learning to dislike most forms of social media… I am here to enjoy some snappy banter and lively repartee missing other places where it seems that algorithms, fact-checkers with no sense of humor, and a concert of Tories and Whigs have found ways to make our interactions compliant to their wishes or silence them altogether. <Subliminal = “SUBSCRIBE”>

But, sometimes, I just laugh.

I do love a good laugh. I love any kind of laugh. Sometimes, I can’t keep from laughing. It’s a defense mechanism for me. If you’re looking for Mr. Gloomy, you’ve been sent to the wrong address. <Subliminal = “SUBSCRIBE NOW”>

I also love writing.

We’re all writers here, maybe in various stages of completion, but writers nonetheless. We are a Rough Crowd. <Subliminal = “SUBSCRIBE RIGHT NOW”>

I also love writing. I have tried writing serious, academic non-fiction, but sometimes it still ends up a little funny. The line gets blurred where one ends and one begins. People ask themselves, “Is he seriously being funny right now?”

I am a business guy.

I am a business guy, though. I have a real estate firm and have been the broker/owner for 40 years, now. Somehow, at the same time, lately, I ended up started out writing around 32 books and 1100 articles. I am a professional, as seen here.

Circa 1973, me, at my home on Lookout Mountain, TN, resting after a Saturday of riding and jumping my dirt bike. Note helmet-hair.

I write about profoundly important things

Things like The Meaning of Life. Water-cooler stuff you can use.

I write almost every day, and send you a round-up once or twice a week. You can look here at the site anytime you wish. you can unsubscribe at any time and drop me like third-period French.

So, why subscribe?

Enjoy the published stories you may be missing right now, as well as a few backstories that may not be published anywhere else. We are a pop-up-free zone. I do have pretty great hair.

I will post the story on this blog whenever I publish a new Medium story, and a round-up during the week. You can always look at this site to see them all!

Don’s a keen observer and prolific reporter of truth, common sense, and the humor of everyday modern life. He is a WRITER|CREATOR|HUMORIST — Don@DonMartinBooks.com — Follow him at twitter.com/DonMartinBooks - Subscribe to his personal eList.

Do you like out-takes and bonus content? Do you like getting to know the writer behind the work you enjoy? If so, those are only some of the reasons to subscribe.

“After a long time, I just read (your) great piece of information that is going to inform about so many aspects simultaneously. You've ventured into writing techniques while dealing with human beings and tools of words wisely. Your article is proved to be a catalyst for polishing writing style.” - MK

“Thanks, Don. Keep on being you!” - KS

“You’re a genius! Totally agree with you on this!” - BL

“And I enjoy reading you.” - RW

Subscribe to get a note of all my Medium stories for FREE, extra content, missing content, and MUCH MORE any time at this website, and receive a regular “Hello” from me in your e-mail. Never miss an update. I will also print a few writing tips sometimes.

Also, get my undivided appreciation.

Run with a Rough Crowd. Kinda.

I see you are smiling.

You and I both know you want to subscribe. You worry, but at the same time, you are amused.

Every week you should expect at least 3 things. 1) Journal entries about my undercover, superhero, and everyday life, 2 )A beginning and free conclusion link to some Medium stories, in case you are not a member of Medium (just a little perk) and 3) Writer’s Tips, if you care. All will be clearly marked, so if you are not a writer yet, you can ignore them. I’m tempted to give away free stuff from time to time, but I’ve been advised that it may be way too much for some people to take. But I promise I will not heavy up on you, and tell you “Drop and give me twenty, you grunts!”

You don’t have to wipe that smile off your face, just hit this button.

Subscribe!

You can get all this sent to your inbox every Friday for FREE, and you can drop by here anytime and read more.

Folks who opt for a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) will receive a surprise item in the mail.

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What to Expect from this Substack.

I want to share with you what to expect from me here on Substack. Mainly because there are a lot of ways to do things. However, I want to make my direction clear.

Before discussing how I will share content on Substack, let’s talk about what kind of content I will write. You can expect to hear about three main areas from me.

Just do it: I have been writing online for two years, and recently, I committed to making it a regular part of my life. In that time, I have written almost 1,000 pieces of content (maybe more). I will share what I am learning with you and try and help you in any way I can. I try to write journal pieces every day.

Self-Publishing Stories and Books: I will routinely share the different steps it takes to self-publish on different platforms. This will come in the form of journal posts detailing what I am doing as I work on my books as well as guides to help you.

Building an Audience: I believe it is important for authors to build their audience outside of simply writing, publishing, and book sales. It takes a following, a tribe, and a lot of connections.

So, those are my three main topics for this space. My goal is to help you become a better writer and author. And maybe along the way we can sell some books and make some money too.

My Content Delivery Methods

I will write under three different content delivery methods using Substack each week. These methods come in the form of Free Posts, published here on this website, where you will probably be advised of each new one if you FOLLOW us on here, Paid Posts, which are the same as the free ones, and the regular email post that will be published and sent to your email.

Free Posts: These posts will come Mondays in the email. They will be on any of the topics discussed above. They will a Rubinesque and quirky post, packed with useful information.

Paid Posts: These posts will be the same as the free ones since I promised this Substack would always be free, but, of course, the paid subscription will include my heartfelt thank you, too.

And if you can’t deal with the $4.17 a week, I get it. I do feel bad for you. I’m the same way.

Now, I do post on social media and with Substack Notes, and those will be regular shorter, free posts, but you will need to have the app.

Here are some options on how you can support my content:

Paid Posts: $5/month

Buy Me A Coffee: One-time ways to support

Buy my books: more on that at the top menu tab.

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To clarify our current schedule…

Medium Stories posted Mondays and Wednesdays- free subscription

Back Pages Journal may ramble your way on Tuesdays and Thursdays. - free subscription

Fiction, once a week, often on Wednesday - paid subscription

A Deeper Doofus, lame commentary and writing secrets appearing at odd and often unpredictable times - paid subscription

Email recaps/digests sent weekly on Fridays - free and paid subscription

(Posted means only published on this website.)

Email Recaps Fridays… (hopefully soon)

And Fridays…

And I will be introducing some new sections, too. The goal of this publication is simple yet selfish- it is to grow more readers of my stories. Readers grow more readers.

Recaps/reviews/office memos on Fridays. You should receive a copy of the review on Fridays in your email. (G-mail users, my course on how to set up your G-mail filters to keep you from having to even see this newsletter, but without all the hurt feelings of unsubscribing will be out soon. FREE TO SUBSCRIBERS!)

I try to end this segment with a lovely nature/wildlife photo.

2023-2024

the IOBTY Club I’m Obviously Better Than You Club.